Vol 69, Ed. 4

‘Lady Bird’:

The Current reviews Greta Gerwig’s latest film, based in Sacramento.

Page 5

Wednesday 12.06.17

CURRENT The

American River College Sacramento, Calif.

AMI BERA:

Congressman visits ARC to talk about Trump, education and healthcare.

Page 6

Vol. 69

Ed. 4

ARC student arrested for flying drone FORMER CURRENT STAFF MEMBER UNDER INVESTIGATION BY FAA FOR DROPPING NOTES OVER NFL GAME

By Luis Gael Jimenez luisgaeljimenez@gmail.com An American River College student and former Current staff member was arrested Nov. 28 after dropping anti-media leaflets from a drone over separate San Francisco 49ers’ and Oakland Raiders’ games.

Tracy Mapes, 55, posted different variations of the leaflet on social media. He also uploaded videos of trial runs of his drone dropping pamphlets over Sacra-

mento State football games and the ABC 10 offices off of Broadway to his YouTube channel.

The leaflet contained a message alleging that “prostitutes and felons” had gotten jobs as journalists, politicians and judges.

Mapes, who is currently enrolled at ARC, claimed in a Nov. 27 interview with Bay Area affiliate KCBS that his goal was to spread his message. He also stated that he “did not know,” if he would or wouldn’t drop leaflets over a stadium again.

“He was effectively stalking me. I had to talk to the dean.

It got to the point that when I was coming to class, I was carrying pepper spray.”

Craig Martinez ARC Art Professor

According to Santa Clara Police Department Lieutenant Dan Moreno, Mapes was cited for violating a Santa Clara city ordinance that prohibits the use of a drone within half a mile of Levi’s Stadium

and a Federal Aviation Administration law that doesn’t allow the use of a drone within five miles of an airport or near an NFL game.

Moreno added that the case is still an ongoing investigation between the SCPD and the FAA. Over the last few years, Mapes has posted a public manifesto across various social media sites, including Facebook, detailing the ideology of what he calls the “Red ‘X’ Society,” an organization that appears to have only one member: Mapes.

In the various posts, Mapes claimed that 150 “prostitutes” he “dated” in Sacramento have gone on to high-level positions as news anchors, entertainers, and even

MAPES | Page 2

Photo courtesy of the Santa Clara PD

Tracy Mapes was booked into the Santa Clara county jail Nov. 26. He was cited and released the same day.

SEASON OVER ARC loses playoff heartbreaker on missed field goal

By Mack Ervin III

ne

|P ho

to e

d it or

me3current@gmail.com

American River College defensive tackle Caleb Tremblay is distraught after a playoff loss San Mateo on Nov. 25. The Beavers failed to repeat as NorCal Champions.

s yA to b o h P

to s-S e ay yH hle

@ARCurrent

@ARCurrent

INDEX

2 5

News A&C

3 Feature 6 Scene

American River College’s football team’s hopes of playing in a second straight State Championship game were dashed after missing a game-tying field goal with 20 seconds left, crowning College of San Mateo NorCal champions on Saturday, 24-21.

The No. 1 ranked Beavers played the No. 2 ranked Bulldogs in a rematch of their game from week 5 to determine who would represent Northern California in the CCCAA State Championship game against Fullerton.

San Mateo received the ball to start the game and used their dominant rushing game lead by running back Cameron Taylor to bring the team down to the ARC 15-yard line before settling for an opening field goal.

The Beavers answered back on the next drive with their own rushing attack by Jonathan Cooley and quarterback Hunter Rodrigues, but were also held to a field goal, tying the game at 3-3.

San Mateo looked to have another drive fizzle out, before a fake punt run on the fourth down for 37-yards put momentum back on their side, before Taylor capped off the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run.

ARC answered back two drives later with an 11-yard touchdown catch by wide receiv-

4 7

Sports Opinion

“It just came down to execution. You wish you could take some plays back and it just sucks. I love these guys and I’d do anything for them.”

Hunter Rodrigues Quarterback

er Devin Brocchini, tying the game at 10-10 right before halftime ARC received the ball after halftime and tried to establish some momentum early, getting down to San Mateo’s 15-yard line, but they were forced to settle for a field goal again, taking the lead 13-10.

San Mateo answered back with a one yard touchdown rush from Taylor to retake the lead 17-13.

A quick three and out by the Beavers gave the ball back to San Mateo, who capitalized with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jared Latu, putting the team up by 11 points.

The game started to slip away from ARC as they couldn’t produce anything offensively.

But their defense kept them alive with two stops on two crucial drives, giving the

/ARCurrentcom

IRON MAIDEN PAGE 5

Four artists display artwork at the Kaneko Gallery.

FOOTBALL | Page 4

2

December 6, 2017

News

MAPES: Student removed from multiple classes while at ARC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Supreme Court Judges.

“It’s been over the last 9 years that I discovered that the very girls I dated on the streets of Sacramento so many years before were all now gainfully employed as News Anchors [sic], Reporters [sic], a City Mayor [sic], and even a District Attorney [sic] named Jan Scully,” Mapes wrote in a Facebook note published March 28, 2015.

In another Facebook note published Dec. 13, 2009, Mapes rationalized the bombs mailed out by Ted Kaczynski, the infamous “Unabomber,” as part of a “secret war” that both Kaczynski and Mapes are fighting against what Mapes calls the “Secret Society.”

On another post on the Portland Independent Media Center website posted Nov. 23, 2014 titled “Direct Action - Modern Warfare - Tactics and Results,” Mapes outlined that any level of offense taken against himself or any member of the Red ‘X’ Society, would be met with four levels of retribution. He called it his “direction action list” and in it, he levied the threat of arson, property destruction and eventually homicide against those that he declared enemies.

Mapes also outlined a plan to “nail drop” his enemies—or drop nails outside of their homes and places of business.

Mapes also estimated the amount of damage a “nail drop” attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC would incur in a graphic he created himself. He estimated the damage between $50,000,000-$150,000,000.

It’s unclear whether or not Mapes was actually planning an attack on the U.S. Capitol, but according to several sources on campus, Mapes displayed a history of seemingly antisocial behavior.

Mapes had tumultuous relationships with many of his professors and fellow students.

When Mapes served on the Current in the spring of 2016, he got into a near-fist fight with then

Photo courtesy of Tracy Mapes’ Facebook page

On a Nov. 23, 2014 post to the Portland Independent Media Center, Tracy Mapes outlined his “nail drop” retaliation plan. On the same post, Mapes also referenced arson and homicide against his declared “enemies.”

editor-in-chief Jordan Schauberger because of Schauberger’s refusal to publish candid photos of women that Mapes had taken, according to Schauberger.

ARC Professor Craig Martinez also told the Current that when Mapes was a student in his Spring 2014 Art New Media 358 class, he would make lewd and inappropriate comments about women.

According to Martinez, after he asked Mapes to leave, he became increasingly aggressive towards Martinez and eventually ended up harassing the professor. “[Mapes] found my web site, and left a comment saying ‘I have a meeting with the dean. I’m going to get you fired,’” Martinez said. “He was effectively stalking me. I had to talk to the dean. It got to the point that when I was com-

ASB NOTEBOOK

ing to class, I was carrying pepper spray.”

Mapes printed out flyers which were allegedly meant to expose Martinez’s YouTube channel: Blue Collar Beer Snob. He had the flyers approved by the Campus Life Center, a group that has to approve any postings to campus bulletin boards.

Mapes then posted these approved flyers on several boards, which according to Martinez, accused the professor of hosting a YouTube channel centered around: “beer, booze, babes and beastiality.”

Martinez also told the Current that Mapes began a targeted campaign on Martinez’s 14-year-old niece after she appeared in one of his videos discussing alcohol and the effects of peer pressure.

“He took a screenshot of my niece and I and then sent that to the dean of the college, totally out of context,” Martinez said.

It wouldn’t be Mapes last confrontation with faculty though.

Student Annelies Veldman took a class with Mapes in the fall of 2015; the professor asked not to be named in this article.

Veldman said that the discussions in the class would often leave Mapes frustrated and that he eventually became enraged at the professor for “perpetutating the lies of the media.” According to Veldman, Mapes began standing up and yelling at the instructor on one occasion.

She added that the professor asked Mapes to leave several times before he eventually exited the classroom. The professor locked the door behind Mapes as he left.

“All I could think was: ‘is this the day I die,’” Veldman said. “In this day and age, it’s scary. If I have someone in class who has super hardcore political beliefs, well that’s why people are dying.”

When Mapes was reached for comment by the Current, he directed the paper to a Facebook Note published March 1, 2017 called the “Coup D’Etat of the United States Press” where he again reiterates that prostitutes he slept with went on to achieve international success as world leaders.

“I met over 150 Pimps [sic], Prostitutes [sic], and Individuals[sic] involved in criminal acts in the related to the before mentioned street crimes on the streets of Sacramento, California during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. Since my involvement with these persons over a seven year period, two of the persons involved in narcotics use and prostitution have become Presidents of the United States of America,” the post reads.

The ARC Office of Student Conduct was unable to comment on whether or not they had received formal complaints on Mapes.

Mapes is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 10, 2018 in Santa Clara, California.

briennaedwards@gmail.com On Nov. 30 the American River College Student Senate discussed signing and supporting a Title IX letter being sent to Secretary DeVos. DeVos has issued new guidelines which will change how public colleges and educational institutions must handle cases of sexual assault and sexual harassment in accordance to Title IX. These new guidelines will raise the burden of proof for victims.

The letter written by Chas Newman a senior at Georgetown University and has been sent to colleges across the nation requesting signatures of support before it is to be sent to DeVos. It is stated within the letter that

DeVos’ proposed revisions would place “...an undue burden on victims of sexual assault.”

Student Senate advisor Juan Blanco explained that the court’s decision is based upon a reasonable doubt, where as in the collegial system it is based upon preponderance of evidence. When a case is reported to a college or university they then have the right to intervene in the situation until the case has been solved.

It’s also up to the discretion of the conduct officer of the campus, after hearing statements from all involved, to make a decision as to whether or not to hold the student responsible, Blanco said.

“Raising the burden of proof may make it more difficult for colleges to act quickly,” Blanco said.

The topic has been tabled until the next Senate meeting, in which

URRENT An American River College student-run publication.

Editor-in-Chief Luis Gael-Jimenez Managing/News Editor John Ennis Copy Editor Claire Bathor y Features Editor Brienna Edwards Photo Editor Ashley Hayes-Stone Staff Nathan Bauer Lily Rodriguez Drake Jennifer Langston Hannah Yates Contributing Writer Mack Er vin III Faculty Adviser Rachel Leibrock Photo Adviser Jill Wagner

For weekly coverage of ARC student government, go to ARCurrent.com.

PROUD MEMBERS OF THE CNPA & JACC

SENATE DEBATES WHETHER OR NOT TO BACK TITLE IX LETTER

By Brienna Edwards

C

The

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 Ashley Hayes-Stone | Photo editor

Senators Laurie Jones (left) and Earl Crouchley III listen to the reading of a letter that could potentially be sent to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

members will have time to review the letter to a greater extent.

Beginning in the Spring of 2018

Student Senate meetings are to be moved to Fridays and will run from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

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

3

December 6, 2017

FEATURE

Bringing wireless eyes to the blind ARC EMPLOYEE INTRODUCES 3D CAMERA TO THE CAMPUS

By Claire Bathory clairebathory@gmail.com Navigating the everyday routine on a college campus has its challenges—for students, it can be difficult to reach the resources available to them, if they’re even aware of where and what they are. Educators and employees find what time to themselves they can, where they can, and no one ever quite manages to figure out where everything is amid the sprawl of American River College’s mismatched buildings.

For the visually impaired, however, there are all of these challenges and more. Inside of their classroom or office, they may be faced with difficulties in discerning what’s written on a board or having to find what’s on the page right in front of them.

In the case of Tiffany Manosh, a blind instructional assistant in ARC’s computer science department, a small case is agency. Inside are chargers, wires, an extra phone for when a different plan is necessary and a pair of glasses with a camera attached.

It’s what she needs to make use of Aira—an assistive community aid dedicated to aiding the visually impaired through augmented

be able to have any of the community’s agents from throughout the United States connect to them in real time and identify what the student is seeing through either the camera on their smart glasses or their phone.

Manosh described the difference that Aira makes with a story of her own about her first use of the service.

“The first ever difference it made wasn’t on this campus. It was traveling,” she said. “I was heading to [Washington DC], and being able to travel through an airport independently, without any assistance.”

Prior to Aira, Manosh had to be taken through security, to her connection, in a wheelchair.

“Now, I contact Aira. They help me find security, they help me through security… I find my bag, and off I go to my gate,” she said.

Photo by Ashely Hayes-Stone | Photo editor Through her effort, Manosh has Tiifany Manosh poses with her special made camera created by the Design Hub at American River College. taken the first step toward bringreality and third party assistance. right by connecting the three-di“I’m hoping that, from this, it’ll ing the service that changed her Aira connects the blind and vi- mensional images to Aira. really show not only this college— life to the college. With Aira, stusually impaired to a network of “They’ll be able to help me but the district—that this is a ser- dents will be able to have campus live professional agents through- line up the camera as far as ‘am I vice that can really empower and maps read to them on the spot in out the country, who interpret for in focus? Is the object in front of break down barriers for the visu- the midst of a college undergoing their client in real time. me, maybe a little bit to my right, ally impaired,” she said. significant redesign and confront Manosh, who has been em- to my left?’ To be able to grab Though the 3D camera’s devel- challenges on their own with ployed at ARC for 17 years, recent- that picture as a perfect image,” opment and the training neces- nothing but their phone or smart ly acquired a grant and in collabo- Manosh said. sary to use it will be a year-long glasses. ration with the campus’ upcoming Without Aira, she added, it process, Manosh noted that Aira That is, most of the time.

“Design Hub”—a hybrid system of would be almost impossible. will be available to students beManosh, with a laugh, admitted internships and classes made posFor Manosh, the camera is a way ginning next January. that getting a connection at ARC sible by a separate Maker Space to prove that Aira has the ability For a blind student on their first grant—is having a panoramic to give power to the visually im- day of class, she mused on how can sometimes be difficult—it’s camera designed. paired, so that moving forward it information wouldn’t be immedi- why she carries one phone with a With the camera, she’ll be able can become a service provided on ately available to them. However, Verizon plan and another with AT&T. to take pictures and get the shot campuses throughout the district. with Aira, that changes—they’ll

This Day on the Current December 6, 1998

FYI: “This Day on the Current” will be a consistent part of all publications going forward. It will allow us to look back in time and celebrate the Current’s history.

ARC’S SPEED RACER ZIPS PAST DISABLED STEREOTYPES

By Geri Knox It was a 575 mile bicycle ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles in May of 1998 that put David Van Brunt in the news.

He was the only person of 2,700 riding a three-wheeled hand cycle.

Van Burnt puts his upper body strength to use. If you’re looking for him at American River College he is “the guy who zips around campus and doesn’t even use a motorized wheelchair” said student Melody Martin.

In December of 1993 he had an auto wreck. He was riding his motorcycle under the influence of alcohol. As he merged onto the freeway he tried to veer away from a semi truck and Van Brunt was too drunk to bring it back.

He remembers the nurses’ encouragement: “If you can do 10 minutes in the wheelchair David, we’ll leave you alone for the rest of the day.”

They told him that once he could go out the door and push the wheelchair around the nurses station he could go

to the rehabilitation part of the hospital.

“I liked physical therapy. I could lift weights,” said Van Brunt. Before the wreck he enjoyed weight training, he was active in sports and he bicycled 700 miles a month.

The difficult part of rehabilitation for Van Brunt was speech therapy, which he says he hated. “I was a Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) student, and all of a sudden I couldn’t remember ball, cat and string 10 minutes after you asked me.”

Van Burnt faced three major hurdles. “How was I ever going to make money again—cause I dropped out of high school and construction was my money?

How was I ever going to have a relationship—nobody wold want somebody in a wheelchair? And I couldn’t play sports.

“I was so upset, because my whole life revolved around this wreck. This was because of a bad choice to drive drunk,” said Van Brunt.

Tragedy turned to opportunity when Van Brunt was moved to call Mother Against Drunk Driving.

Photo by Olivia Arnold

David Van Brunt plays tennis at ARC. Van Brunt is a member of the United States Tennis Association at a student at ARC.

Van Brunt was afraid to call MADD because he had been the drunk driver. He learned that MADD is not against the person but the act of the drunk driver. He started speaking for them within a week.

Van Brunt did over 200 speeches his first year. He said speaking for public about your stuff is not for everybody but it helped him. “Helping other people is the main thing. I went

through so much as a result of my deal that I just wouldn’t want other people to go through that.”

Kathy Coppler, vice president of MADD, said his viewpoint is a good one to present with the Impact Panel, a group of victims who speak to drunk driving offenders about how drunk driving offenders disrupted their lives.

“He walked in their mocca-

sins and they sometimes realize they could have been David,” said Coppler.

“Since he called me, he has blossomed, I don’t think he thought he had much to live for,” said Coppler. “ I see him now as a happy young man.”

Further education has become important to Van Brunt.

He got his credential at ARC in counseling last semester.

“Giving speeches is well and wonderful, and I will still do it, but people can’t talk back to me. I couldn’t work with people, I was just telling them,” said Van Brunt.

Van Brunt has found his way back into sports. He plays tennis as a member of the United States Tennis Association. He is in the wheelchair tennis division currently playing in the B ranking, the third division from open.

“I’m grateful for things in general more than I would have been in the past,” said Van Brunt. His wreck and the results of it made him look at his relationship with alcohol.

“It forced me to reach out to something. It was God.”

4

December 6, 2017

SPORTS

‘No one can catch me’ JACKSON HAD THIRD MOST TOUCHDOWNS IN THE STATE

“[The team] has made me a better player and an even better person.”

Arthur Jackson

By Luis Gael Jimenez and Ashely Hayes-Stone

Wide receiver

luisgaeljimenez@gmail.com ashgstone@gmail.com As he waits for the kick return, Arthur Jackson III blocks out the noise from the roaring crowd. He imagines himself standing alone on the field. Just him, the ground in front of him and in just a few moments, the ball.

Jackson snaps back into reality just in time to track the ball in the air, get underneath it and prepares to allow the football to fall right into his arms.

He runs. He’s been here before.

He knows what to do. It’s been ingrained in him since he was a little boy: Run. Just run.

His heart pounding, sweat dripping from his forehead, Jackson sees the two walls of 200-pound men clashing right before his eyes. The soft thuds of bodies slamming into each joins the symphony of football helmets cracking and bodies falling onto the wet grass.

Without much effort, he flies past the kicker. The 50. The 40. The 30. The 20. The 10. Before he even crosses the chalk-white line Jackson can hear the stadium exploding with cheer behind him.

“When I open my strides, no one can catch me,” Jackson said.

Jackson is a wide receiver for the American River College football team and has been a consistent part of its offense for the past two seasons.

Jackson is attending ARC for his communication degree, but says he wants to pursue football on a professional level.

Photo by Ashley Hayes-Stone | Photo editor

Wide receiver Arthur Jackson runs the ball against Sierra on Nov.11. Jackson recently received a scholarship from the University of Hawaii.

“I want to take football all the And he learned from the best. way,” Jackson said.

Jackson started watching future Both of his parents were ath- Hall of Fame Wide Receiver Randy letes and the love of football was Moss. Jackson modelled his game instilled in him at a young age. after Moss’; he beats his oppoWhen he was 6, his fanents on the jump balls ther would take and then flat-out By the him out to the outspeeds them Numbers: park to toss on the ground the old pigwith the ball in skin around. his hands.

It was there “When the that JackTouchdown ball hits his Receiving receptions – son learned yards – the hands, he has the third most most on the the fundathe ability to in the state team mentals that make it into the have shaped endzone,” Coach his game: No. 1, Jon Osterhout said. run. No. 2, don’t get Once Jackson suits and caught. steps onto that field, he has one But it wasn’t until high school goal: “My mentality is to make that Jackson started analyzing things happen.” and studying the game at a straAnd make things happen he tegic level. does. Jackson finished his sopho“I fell in love with the work that more season with the Beavers football required,” Jackson said. leading the team in all major re-

13 686

ceiving categories.

Teammate Celeb Tremblay praises Jackson’s ability on and off the field.

“He is a dominant player, a good leader, and also he has good hands,” Tremblay said.

In fact, his 13 touchdown receptions put Jackson at No. 3 in the entire state.

After he scores, Jackson enjoys sharing that moment with his teammates, especially the offensive line.

“After I score I need to celebrate with my teammates because they are the reason why I got there,” Jackson said.

Jackson recalls a time were an opposing cornerback was trash talking him, hoping to get inside his head.

“I ended the game with three touchdowns and 171-yards on him,” Jackson said. “He got benched by the end of the first

half. I let my performance do the talking for me.”

The good sportsmanship is something Jackson says was taught to him by his parents; both were formerly athletes. Both ended up finding careers away from the field however. As proud as they are of their son, they push him to remember that there is a life after football.

“I will tell them about football stuff and they would wait for me to finish so they can ask me about my grades,” Jackson said. “It’s annoying but I know where they are coming from and I appreciate that about them.”

Jackson almost had to face the reality of his collegiate football career coming to and end when he didn’t receive a Division One scholarship offer after the regular season ended.

Jackson says being the underdog is nothing new to him.

“I play with a chip on my shoulder,” Jackson said. “I’ve been overlooked all of my life.”

And on Nov. 30, Jackson finally received a scholarship from a Division 1 school. The University of Hawaii offered him the chance to keep playing the game that Jackson says he was “born to play.”

Ultimately, Jackson gives a large portion of the credit to American River College and its football team. “[The team] has made me a better player and a better person,” Jackson said. “Coach O is teaching me how to be a man along with being a good football player.”

FOOTBALL: ARC fails to repeat as NorCal Champs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Beavers the ball with 7:23 left, down by two scores.

A 21-yard pass to Arthur Jackson followed by a 22-yard rush by Rodrigues set up a 5-yard touchdown run by Rodrigues to bring the game within reach. The two point attempt was caught by Jacob Sipes to close the gap to three points.

Another crucial stop by the defense meant the momentum lied with ARC, which had less than three minutes left to get a score that would send the game to overtime, or win it.

The Beavers drove down to the 10-yard line, but came up 6 inches short of a first down. With only 22 seconds left Osterhout sent out field goal kicker Julian Diaz for a 27-yard kick that would send the game to overtime.

“We had to make a choice on what was in the best interest of our football team and that was to try the field goal to push the game into overtime,” Osterhout said.

Diaz’s kick pulled too far to the left and it missed, meaning that after a couple of kneel downs, San Mateo won the NorCal Championship 24-21.

Rodrigues said the team failed to execute in the game and a couple of bad plays left them wondering what might’ve been.

“It just came down to execution.

It’s a game of inches,” Rodrigues said. “You wish you could take some plays back and it just sucks.

I love these guys and I’d do anything for them.”

Osterhout told the team he was “extremely proud of them” and told them to enjoy the moment they have with each other.

“It’s unfortunate that this good of a football team now never gets to play a football game together again,” Osterhout said. “That’s a tough pill to swallow at the end of the day.”

Osterhout also said that this will not impact recruiting and preparation for the next class.

“We’re just gonna reassess and reevaluate where we’re at, try to

get better, get back to the drawing board and evaluate what we’re doing well, get out and recruit and build towards next year’s class,” Osterhout said.

Jackson, who is one of many players who will depart the program, said that he will use the connections and friendships he has through the program for the next phase of life.

“Being part of this team has given me a brotherhood that I’ve never had, ever. It’s something special and I don’t want to lose touch with these guys,” Jackson said. “These guys are gonna be my family for a long time, probably for the rest of my life.”

While he doesn’t know what the next step is, Jackson says that he is ready for it. “Whatever life has next for me. Still waiting. Just waiting on the phone.”

ARC finishes the season with a 10-2 final record, going undefeated in conference play and averaging 40.2 points per game.

Photos by Ashley Hayes-Stone | Photo editor

Top: Quarterback Hunter Rodrigues is tackled down by San Mateo defenders while attempting to run the ball.

Bottom: Kick returner Michael Povey kneels down on the sideline before the final play of American River College’s loss to San Mateo on Nov. 25.

5

December 6, 2017

ARTS & CULTURE

‘Lady Bird’ puts Sac. on the big screen LOCALLY SHOT FILM BECOMES A MUST-SEE

By Lily Rodriguez Drake lilyrodriguezdrake@gmail.com Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird” is now a staple in the coming-ofage movie genre—it’s a heartfelt, painfully honest picture of leaving home and awkwardly slipping into adult life and independence.

The film is reminiscent of receiving a warm hug before leaving behind the comfort and familiarity of home.

Gerwig’s stellar film chronicles high school senior Christine’s (selfnamed “Lady Bird”) navigation toward college alongside having to come to terms with herself and having to navigate her tumultuous relationship with her mother.

Irish-American actress Saoirse Ronan as Christine brings a painful, open honesty to the difficult task of handling the angst of being on the brink of adulthood, desiring freedom yet unsure of how to grasp it.

Gerwig, a Sacramento native who attended St. Francis High School, rolled her fond memories of her hometown into the splendid 93 minute semi-autobiographical presentation of adolescence.

“Lady Bird” is a triumph both on

Photo courtesy of A24 films Lucas Hedges (right) Saoirse Ronan (left) star in Sacramento-born Greta Gerwig’s film “Lady Bird.” The film has become the highest rated in Rotten Tomatoe’s history after locking in a 100 percent score from critics on the site’s Tomatomoeter

the screen and in the box office, as it is now the highest-grossing film written and directed by a woman.

The complicated, lovely family dynamic portrayed in the film is undeniably relatable to a majority of viewers—Lady Bird’s tense closeness with her mother and endearing attitude towards her father mirror the complex teen years many endure.

What differentiates Gerwig’s film from other teen movies is her presentation of Lady Bird—a young woman who is wholeheart-

edly herself and who finds validation for her own dreams.

Gerwig graduated from St. Francis High School in 2003 and draws undeniable similarities between her experience and Lady Bird’s time at the fictional Sacred Heart, a homage to Sacramento’s Catholic school. Uniformed girls, endless church services and begrudging relationships with the nun-teacher hybrids are tributes distinct to Gerwig’s alma mater.

Gerwig’s fondness for Sacramento is conveyed through her

film—idyllic shots of the city are scattered throughout its running, creating a familiar feel within local and out-of-town viewers alike.

Locals will bask in the tender light Gerwig sheds upon her hometown, with scenic shots spanning well-known landmarks as a focal point of the film. Pastel panoramas of the valley leave viewers with a comforting, cashmere warmth.

The Tower Bridge, the nowdefunct New Helvetia Coffee, and the Fab Forties of East Sacramento

beckon nostalgia within the audience.

Gerwig’s quietly victorious “Lady Bird” exceeds what most films aspire to achieve: recognizing undeniably hilarious and familiar parallels between the story and the audience’s own life. “Lady Bird” is a tribute to hometown nostalgia and its message rings true for those in the throes of any crucial transition in life.

Kaneko Gallery hosts all-women metalwork show

By Lily Rodriguez Drake lilyrodriguezdrake@gmail.com A diverse array of metal sculptures is on display at American River College’s Kaneko Gallery.

The exhibit is called “Iron Maiden”, and is comprised of a quartet of local female artists with a specific interest in metalwork.

The artists featured are Laura Parker, Linda Raynsford, Kristen Hoard and Sandi Escobar.

Artist Laura Parker cites Asian pieces as an inspiration, with bronze etchings and symmetrical metal altars featured in her contribution A Sacramento local, Parker studied for her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Sacramento State University. In addition to practicing art as a passionfueled career, Parker is also a professor of sculpture here at ARC. The metalworker started her career in art as a painter, but transitioned to sculpting as her main medium. Parker wanted to “see [her art] in the round”,

and while painting and drawing were her starting points in art, eventually she realized sculpture was her prominent passion.

Another artist, Sandie Escobar, has roots of Latino influence that is prominent in her sculptures. Escobar’s artistic process is intricate and time consuming, and results in pieces unique to the artist. Escobar crochets and knits the bases of her pieces before encasing them in bronze.

One of Escobar’s most prominent pieces is entitled “Tras la Puertas del Camino Real”, or “Behind the doors of the Camino Real”. The elaborate work is a bronze bell hanging in a door frame, with chains dangling below. Her piece is inspired by missionaries and the suppression of Native culture during the colonization of California.

The Iron Maiden exhibit will be on display at the Kaneko Gallery until the final day of the semester, Dec. 14, with an artist’s reception on Dec. 7 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

This will be the last show of the fall semester.

Photos by Jennifer Langston | Staff writer

Left: “River of Possibilities” by Kristen Hoard is hanging on display in the Kankeo Gallery. The piece is made with recycled aluminum and color changing LED lighting.

Right: “Anna” by Linda Raynsford, hangs on display in the Kankeo Gallery. The mask was made with steel and recycled metal with LED lighting.

6

December 6, 2017

SCENE

Congressman Ami Bera visits ARC LEGISLATOR SPEAKS TO STUDENTS AND FACULTY

By John Ennis johnalexanderennisiii@gmail.com

On Nov. 20, Congressman Ami Bera (D-CA 7th District) visited American River College to give a speech on education, immigration and President Trump’s “harmful rhetoric.”

The event was hosted by the Los Rios College Federation of Teachers. The LRCFT is a union of teachers that supports workplace rights for faculty members.

“How I look at Congress as well as how we move the country forward really is buried in my perspective and my life story,” Bera said.

Bera described himself as the son of Indian immigrants who moved to the United States in the 1950s and a product of California’s public schools.

“I know I didn’t get here by myself. I got here because America gave my parents a chance to immigrate and to be part of that American dream. I got here because we invested in public schools and I

think I had a great public education,” Bera said.

Bera said he believes that the affordable education he received when he was going to college should be something that his generation passes on to future generations so that they aren’t burdened by high tuition costs and debt.

After graduating medical school, he added, he had less than $10,000 in debt from student loans, which is significantly lower than it is today for the average student.

When it comes to the topic of immigration, Bera said he is opposed to the Trump administration’s ending of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program and believes in changing the law to create certainty for the future of DACA recipients.

“We know the public opinion is on our side, so we will do what we can to try to get it done in December as best as we can,” Bera said in regards to passing a law to help DACA recipients.

He recalled visiting schools where teachers told him about how DACA students worried that, when they returned home, their parents wouldn’t be waiting for them; they feared action by immigration officers.

“That shouldn’t happen. A third grader should be a third grader

Photo by Ashley Hayes-Stone | Photo editor

Congressman Ami Bera speaks at American River College about the importance of education, the status of DACA recipients and on the “harmful rehetoric” of President Donald Trump on Nov. 20.

and they shouldn’t be worried about that. It’s not enough just to take care of the Dreamers,” Bera said. “We’ve also got to think of the parents of the Dreamers as well and how we start laying the groundwork to address that situation.”

Bera said he worries about the

rhetoric that the president uses and how he negatively impacts the world’s view of the United State’s diplomacy, especially relating to North Korea.

“Every time he tweets out ‘little rocket man’ or ‘fire and fury’, he closes the door on diplomacy because they won’t come to the

table with that rhetoric,” Bera said, adding that he “believes in diplomacy.”

“You don’t have to like the person sitting across the table from you, but you have to be willing to talk [and engage them] to find a path forward.”

Longtime ARC student passes away

THOMAS ROBERTS ATTENDED ARC SINCE 1989

“He was probably the most positive person I ever met in my life. For everything that he’s gone through, his disposition never changed.”

By Luis Gael Jimenez luisgaeljimenez@gmail.com American River College student Thomas Roberts, 62, died Oct. 22 from cancer while in hospice care.

Roberts was a well-known face on campus; he attended ARC for nearly 30 years after sustaining a traumatic brain injury during his first semester in 1978.

After the accident, he would be in a coma for 14 days, but eventually recovered enough to attend school and re-enrolled in 1989.

It was at ARC that Roberts began working with the Disabled Students Programs and Services Department and the Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injury Support group where he would build lifelong friendships.

One of these friendships was with counselor Barbara Westre, who had known Roberts for nearly

Toni Peters

DSP&S Desk Clerk

Photo courtesy of Barbara Westre

Thomas Roberts had attended every semester at ARC since 1989.

two decades.

“Tom always had a positive outlook. I never heard him say a bad word about anyone or anything.

He left an impression on everyone he met,” Westre said. “His motto was ‘keep smiling.’”

Roberts also built a strong relationship with Professor Linda Gelfman in the ceramics department.

CAMPUS PU

LSE

“I’ve been in an emergency situation here once. I think the emergency number should be in an email and not just in the bathroom, where I had to find it.”

-CRYSTAL MOORE Fine Art

According to Westre, Gelfman really helped shape Roberts’ love for ceramic art.

Westre described both DSP&S and TABIS as a “family” and said that Roberts was an integral part of that community. Westre added that even in while in hospice, Roberts kept up the good spirits.

“He never lost his sense of humor, even at the end,” Westre said.

“When I think of Tom, I just smile.”

Westre recalled a memory of visiting Roberts while he was in hospice. Westre told him: “If I could just wiggle my nose and make this better I would,” Westre said, adding that Roberts just “laughed and laughed” and it became an inside joke between the two when she

would visit him.

DSP&S Desk Clerk Toni Peters also described Roberts as a goodhumored person.

“He was probably the most positive person I ever met in my life. For everything that he’s gone through, his disposition never changed,” Peters said. “He was always happy.”

Roberts was recognized elsewhere on campus as well; earlier this year he was featured in the Current for an article that chronicled his life story.

That printed article now sits on display in the DSP&S hallway covered in signatures from Roberts’ friends and colleagues.

Peters even ended up turning the DPS&S desk into a gallery for some of Robert’s ceramic art pieces.

Roberts is survived by his three brothers: Mark Roberts, who is a fisherman in Alaska and who Thomas Roberts would spend summers with, Joe Roberts, who shared a house with Thomas and Greg Roberts who lives in Des Moines, Iowa.

Robert’s ashes will be spread out in the Pacific Ocean up near

Alaska by his brother Mark, Westre said.

According to Westre, Roberts had an especially strong bond with the ocean and enjoyed travelling.

“His plan was to buy a boat and sail up to Alaska. Actually, at one of the first TABIS meetings, Tom drew a map of the earth on the board and asked what everyone thought about him sailing to different locations around the world,” Westre said.

Westre and the TABIS group will hold a “Celebration of Tom” ceremony in honor of Robert’s memory on Dec. 13 in Community Rooms 3 and 4 in the Student Center.

ON THE WEB To read more about Thomas Roberts and the TABIS group, go to ARCurrent.com

“Do you know what to do during an emergency situation on campus?”

“I’m not sure about sexual abuse or physical assault on campus, but a teacher did tell me what to do if an ICE officer came to our class.”

-KEN DUFF Welding Technology

“Not on this campus but in general, I have some idea of what to do. I feel like people in general have a good enough idea of what to do.”

-ARIELA BRODBECK Forensic Science & Chemistry

“I would probably call 911, right? And I know there are those little kiosks all over the place with the blue light. I’d start there.”

-TAYLOR JARRELL Nursing

7

December 6, 2017

OPINION

CURRENT EDITORIAL

LRPD stonewalls the Current ARTICLE ON CAMPUS SAFETY POSTPONED By the Current Editorial Board current@arc.losrios.edu

The Current recently set out to write an article on campus safety. The intention was to provide students with a detailed layout of different emergency procedures in the event of an active shooter, earthquake, fire, flood, etc., and to remedy some of the questions and conflicting information.

After reaching out to several students and faculty members around campus, the Current concluded that there is no consensus among American River College’s population on what the first step should be if a crisis were to develop.

We, as a paper, felt that it was important information for the students of ARC to know the procedures before a situation ever arose.

You will notice however, that we did not write the article. You will also notice that none of those questions have been answered anywhere in this edition of the paper.

This wasn’t by choice.

On several different attempts, we contacted the Los Rios Police Department to serve as a primary source for the article and each of these attempts was met with absolute silence. We still don’t know what to do in the event of an active shooter, we don’t have

Photo by Ashley Hayes-Stone | Features Editor

The Los Rios Police Department has continually shut down the Current’s attempts to contact them. They have not responded to email requests or in-person attempts to contact them.

a solution for students with physical disabilities who fear becoming trapped on the third floor of Davies Hall if a fire overtook the building. We still don’t have any of the answers to the many questions we wanted to ask; the Los Rios Police Department has made sure of that.

We repeatedly sent a letter to the email listed on their website for general questions; we tried to make direct contact with them by walking into the station and we even emailed LRPD Chief Chris Day directly.

Each of these different paths of attempted communication were effectively shut down before they really ever began. The Current can say in good faith that those failures were no fault of our own.

And while it is to be understood that the negotiating grounds between the press and the police here have often been tense, the Current has at least tried to host those negotiations.

There is no resentment on our end towards campus peace officers. We merely report on the facts available to us. It is no fault of ours that those facts have recently painted the police in a negative light. Facts such as the sexual assault and rape allegations levied against former LRPD officer Noah Winchester, or the recent incident at a Sacramento Charter High School football game during which an LRPD officer allegedly began spraying mace into a crowd.

The LRPD, however, has made it clear that they have no inter-

est in even entertaining the notion of talking to the press.

Whether Day and the rest of campus police like it or not, the Current serves as the most public steward of information for the largest college student body in Northern California. And when it comes to the matter of public safety, we attempted to provide this school’s 30,000 students with what could eventually prove to be life-saving information.

We attempted to actively help make the campus a safer place by distributing the information that could potentially create the difference between an emergency and a tragedy.

This isn’t a declaration of dislike against the LRPD. If anything, it’s the exact opposite. It’s

The ‘Giving Season’ should be year-round WE SHOULD CONSIDER DONATING TO CHARITY OUTSIDE OF JUST THE HOLIDAYS

By Brienna Edwards briennaedwards@gmail.com The leaves begin to fall from their posts on the branches of the many trees that surround Sacramento, littering the ground with a plethora of color. The air becomes crisp, chilling the noses of the pedestrians shuffling to their next destination.

Street corners and grocery store fronts will soon be patrolled by volunteers in Santa hats; ringing bells and asking for donations.

Coffee shops will decorate boxes, calling for unopened toys. The radios will begin to rattle off drop off locations for jackets and shoes, pajamas and stuffed animals.

Churches make care packages.

Good Samaritans will be running 5Ks, 10Ks, in shirts proudly embossed with their cause.

Each organization has its purpose. Each organization wishes to help those in need, to provide services for those who are hungry or homeless or without funds. And for three months of the year people care. No longer do those who are homeless need to “just get a job.” For three months of the year

it is society’s duty to love each other, to help those in need. But what about the other nine months of the year?

In a survey posted by the Nonprofit Research Collaborative, over half of the nonprofits surveyed said that a quarter of their contributions were donated between October and December. Sixteen percent of all organizations reported receiving half of their years total profits between those same months.

In the 2012 survey called “The Effect of the Economy On the Nonprofit Sector,” it stated that 50.5 percent of the charities surveyed reported that the majority of their donations were received between the last months of the year.

This says that the majority of non-profit organizations receive anywhere from a quarter to nearly all of their charitable donations between October and December Another report posted by Charity Navigator stated that $281.86 billion was donated by the public.

This accounts for 72 percent of all giving.

If we combine these statistics and assume that all charities re-

“It is important to remember that hunger, homelessness and poverty are yearround afflictions and not only confined to the ‘Giving Season.’” ceive half of their yearly profits from the holiday season we can conclude that the donations from individual peoples totals to approximately $141 billion. Alternatively, that same number must then be divided throughout the remaining nine months of the year averaging only $23 billion a month.

Now this may seem like a large sum of money until we consider that this is the total for all reported charity groups across the country.

According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics there are over 1.5 million nonprofit organizations registered in the United States. If we were to divide that $281.86 billion equally between every nonprofit organization

listed, that would leave only $188 thousand each. When we look at the numbers like that it doesn’t seem like as much money.

Now what if we could donate the $141 billion raised in October through December, consistently throughout the rest of the year? If that were the case $563.72 billion would be donated year-round for charities. This would provide $376 thousand for every charity annually.

For the 3,665 people experiencing homelessness in the Sacramento County in 2016, this differential could make a difference.

For the 428,000 children currently in the U. S. Foster Care system as posted by Transitions Children’s Services, that differential could make a difference.

So although your donations and charitability are appreciated, it is also important to remember that hunger, homelessness and poverty are year-round afflictions and are not confined only to the ‘Giving Season.’

a call for some sort of stalemate to whatever disdain the LRPD seemingly has against the Current.

This shouldn’t be some political slugfest between the news and the cops. This is a college campus with tens of thousands of students all asking the same question: ‘What do I do when that fire alarm goes off? What do I do when I hear gunshots on campus? Who do I call? Where do I go?’

What the LRPD seems to have forgotten is that the journalists on the Current are more than just reporters, we are also the very students that they have sworn to protect.

The Current serves as the voice of students at ARC, and the LRPD has refused to acknowledge or communicate with that voice, meaning they seem to have no interest in communicating with the students they are supposed to be watching over.

For example, did you know that you’re not supposed to call 9-1-1 to report a crime on campus? The LRPD has its own number, which is (916) 484-8383.

Many students don’t know this information because it hasn’t been made readily available to them.

If the LRPD would like to provide this information that students so desperately need, we welcome it in whatever form it may come.

Whether that’s a scheduled interview with Day and the LRPD or just a Letter to the Editor outlining what different procedures are, we are all ears and open to communication.

CORRECTIONS In Volume 69, Edition 04 of The Current, the following corrections are listed: In edition 03 on page 3, we incorrectly referred to ARC Foundation Director Kirsten Dubray as “Kristen.”

In edition 01 on page 4, the Current incorrectly stated that the New Faculty Academy was only a semesterlong commitment when it is in fact a year-long commitment.

Letters to the Editor Do you have an opinion on any of the articles published in the American River Current?

Send us a letter to the editor at current@arc.losrios.edu or find us on Facebook at Facebook. com/arcurrentcom

8

Illustration by Brienna Edwards | Features editor

December 6, 2017

Backpage