Vol. 70, Ed. 2

Wednesday 10.17.18

Beavers football ARC wins nail-biter against Siskiyous in OT, 44-37

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C URRENT American River College Sacramento, Calif.

Vol. 70 Ed. 2

The

Women in STEM Club encourages women to take on male dominated sciences

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Promise Grant provides tuition for 39,000 Los Rios students

By Patrick Hyun Wilson patrickhyunwilson@gmail.com

The California College Promise Grant, enacted to waive tuition costs for first-time students attending community college, will provide approximately 39,000 students in the Los Rios Community College District with free tuition.

Written by California Assem-

blymember Miguel Santiago (DLos Angeles), the California College Promise, or AB-19, was set to provide free college tuition for first-time students who enrolled in at least 12 units at the community college level. Governor Jerry Brown signed the bill on Oct. 13, 2017.

Approximately 19,000 students at American River College are taking advantage of

the program, according to Gabe Ross, Associate Vice Chancellor for Communications and Media Relations for the Los Rios Community College District. “We are combining a number of different local, state and federal funding to offer greater access to free tuition,” Ross said.

The California College Promise program replaced the Board of Governors Fee Waiver pro-

Hate speech found on Los Rios campus

gram in fall 2018, providing free tuition for California community colleges in the BOG Waiver’s place.

In January, the office of Governor Brown released his proposed budget for California community colleges, providing $46 million for the implementation of the California College Promise program.

By Tracy Holmes

tdholmes@gmail.com The Los Rios Police Department sent out a Rave Alert across the Los Rios District on Monday regarding a third incident of racist graffiti found on the Sacramento City College campus.

The graffiti was found in a women’s restroom stall on the first floor of the Business Building at SCC, according to the Rave Alert On Monday Oct. 8, a swastika was found tagged on a bulletin board in the south gym at SCC. The incident followed an incident of hate graffiti discovered in the men’s bathroom in Rodda Hall North at SCC on Oct. 1.

The college administration waited a few days to send out emails notifying students, faculty and staff in the first incident. This upset much of the SCC community because of the delay in notifying students and staff, as well as the delay to clean up the graffiti. The administration sent out an email on Oct. 8 regarding the second incident, launching efforts to improve “[p]rocedural flow to improve communication to students,” said Kaitlyn MacGregor, SCC’s communications and public information officer.

SCC administration said they would take action to notify students, faculty and staff more quickly if and when these incidences take place in the future. In contrast, the Oct. 8. incident was handled quickly.

SCC President Michael Gutierrez addressed the events in two separate emails.

“Hate has no home on our campus. Speaking up when you see something can help us build a safe campus community,” Gutierrez wrote.

These events raised questions at SCC and across all Los Rios

Promise Grant | Page 3

pated in a debate held by AppealDemocrat, a local news source for Sutter and Yuba counties. Kim used the opportunity to address his stances on free healthcare, implementing rent control and providing free tuition for college students.

California’s fourth State Senate district includes all of Yuba, Butte and Sutter counties, among others. It also covers parts of Sacramento and Placer counties, including Rancho Cordova, North Highlands, Citrus Heights, Carmichael and Roseville.

Republican incumbent Nielsen has held the position since 2013; previously he served on the Senate off and on since 1978.

During the event, the panel asked questions about several topics such as housing, immigration and their concerns about education, which Kim had a perPhoto by Ashley Hayes-Stone | Photo and Multimedia Editor sonal perspective on as a former California State Senate candidate Phillip Kim poses in front of the American River College sign on Sept. 27, 2018. Kim is a former ARC student. student at ARC and is now running for office as a Democrat.

“Our community colleges are awesome. I was taking music and recording classes at American River College a few years ago and the quality of education there was on par with, or better than the four year university that I went to,” rickety black fold-out chairs. his way to his seat at the table. Kim told the audience. “I think it’s

By Ashley Hayes-Stone An American flag stands off Behind him came Philip Kim, ever an amazing system and we need & Jennah Booth to the side, another attempt to Neilson’s contrast, dressed in a to do all we can to ensure them ashgstone@gmail.com transform an otherwise typical simple plaid shirt and jeans. financially and make sure it’s all jennahpage@gmail.com high school into a suitable place Kim, a former American River funded.” for a California State Senate can- College student, is running as the Before Kim found himself dePeople shuffle, one behind an- didate debate.

Democratic nominee for Califor- bating Nielsen for a seat on the other, through narrow doors into A distinguished man appeared nia’s State Senate against 4th dis- Senate, he studied music at ARC. the stuffy cafeteria of Yuba City first. With gray hair, a perfectly trict incumbent Nielsen.

High School, taking their seats on tailored suit, Jim Neilson made On Sept. 19, the two particiPhillip Kim | Page 2

Former ARC student runs for California State Senate

Hate speech | Page 3

AB620 put into action with Pride Center

By Hannah Yates

hannahjycurrent@gmail.com This semester, American River College took a step towards more inclusivity for students by opening a staffed Pride Center, along with the designation of an AB620 officer for reports of harassment or mistreatment.

Assembly Bill 620 concerns LGBTQ students in higher education.

The bill, passed in 2011, covers nondiscrimination and training related to sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression under the education code.

In the Donahoe Higher Education Act, under Article 3.5: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Equity in Higher Education, Cali-

INDEX

“... Having a representative on every campus to address issue(s) related to the LGBTQ communities is an important step on having the needs of said communities addressed.”

Emilie Mitchell

Pride Center Coordinator fornia colleges are “requested to designate an employee at each of their respective campuses as a point of contact for the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans

faculty, staff and students at the respective campus.”

The purpose of this representative is to advise and advocate for students who are looking to report harassment, find resources, or to indicate their “affirmed name” on eServices.

Emilie Mitchell, professor and coordinator for the Pride Center, is the officer who will take reports for students, along with the Title IX officer.

“I think that having a representative on every campus to address issue(s) related to the LGBTQ+ community is an important step in having the needs of said community addressed,” Mitchell said.

“As with anything new – it just takes time to get the word out.”

@ARCurrent

@ARCurrent

2&3 News 4&5 Sports 6,7&8 Feature 9&10 A&C 11 Opinion

LGBTQ communities and educational institutions have used “preferred name” to describe the name a trans or gender nonconforming student chooses to use. Mitchell and the Pride Center are working on changing the language used in eServices, the site that students use to access their academic information and courses.

“It is important to understand that being trans is not a preference but a lived experience and deeply rooted identity,” Mitchell wrote in an email to faculty.

“For this reason, the use of the term “preferred” when discussing names and pronouns can ultimately be invalidating to a student.

AB620 | Page 3

Bassist uses skills learned at ARC to take on music industry.

Demon in Me | Page 6

Students work at NASA facility to launch payload near space.

/ARCurrent.com

‘WHO YOU Non-profit charity group honors GONNA CALL?’ the legacy of the film

PAGE 7

franchise.

ARC at NASA | Page 8

2

Oct. 17, 2018

ASB NOTEBOOK

NEWS

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

AMERICAN RIVER REVIEW ARGUES FOR FUNDS FROM ASB

By Breawna Maynard maynardbreawna@gmail.com The American River College Associated Student Body Senate met Friday, Oct. 12 to discuss the Bill F-17 that would grant the American River Review money for its production cost, office space and materials for ASB officers, the Bill F-18 Parliamentary procedure, and food pantry access on satellite campuses. All eight committee members were present.

Students of the American River Review spoke out during the public comment. They proposed to the board the reasons senate should approve their bill and what the money will be going towards.

According to Review students, it is a very successful program and the magazine has won many national awards competing with different community colleges and also four-year schools, such as Stanford and Harvard. The Review is funded by donations and it costs $14,000 to produce a 1,000 copies each year.

The Review also explained that all of the money raised goes to-

CORRECTIONS

Photo by Breawna Maynard | Staff Writer Associate Student Body President Rebeca Rico-Chavez runs the ASB meeting on Oct. 12, 2018.

wards producing the magazine, a release party and going out and selling the magazines but promoting the educational aspect is just as important to them.

Student Senate announced to adopt the bill with no objections from the board so the bill was passed.

The Student Senate then proceeded with unfinished business

regarding office spaces and materials for ASB officers. This bill addresses more spaces for the ASB offices in any location on campus and to seek funding for the minimum of four new offices. With a vote of 5-2 between the board, the bill was adopted.

The Senate also passed Bill F-18 Parliamentary Procedure. The bill is to potentially take action on not

exceeding $2,000 for the Senate’s budget for this fall semester. No objections were made and the bill was approved.

The idea of having the food pantry more accessible on McClellan and Natomas satellite campuses finished out the meeting.

Senator Laurie Jones moved to expand the food pantry to ARC satellite campuses with herself as chair and any members that were willing to join her and it will be reported back Nov. 9.

Adviser Frankie Johnson said that the food pantry is already in motion on other satellite campuses.

“It is not happening now but it is already in the process of ordering food to take to any place on campus,” Johnson said.

The next ASB meeting will be on Friday Oct. 19 to finish reviewing more bills for the semester.

In Edition 69 on the cover, the headline of the coverstory incorrectly stated that “ARC’s funeral services program in planning stages to open chapel.” The funeral services is not yet in the planning stages to open the chapel.

In Volume 70, Edition 1 of The Current, the following corrections are listed: In Edition 70 on the cover, the deckhead above the cover story incorrectly states that Howard Hall is being demolished. Howard Hall is not being demolished, the Liberal Arts building will be demolished.

In Edition 70 on the cover, the caption for the cover photo incorrectly refered to Brian Hansen as “Brain Hansen.”

In Edition 70 on the cover, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics facility was incorrectly referred to as the “Science, Technology, Engineering and Mechanics facility.”

In Edition 70 on page 3, co-managing editor Alexus Hurtado was incorrectly refered to as “Alexus Hertado” in the byline.

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“It’s inspiring that over 42,000 people support a progressive, working-class agenda by voting for me.”

Phillip Kim

California State Senate Candidate

His involvement in political justice continued throughout his life and into his time attending community college. While attending ARC in 2015, Kim became involved with the Bernie Sanders campaign in Sacramento because he found that his political views aligned with Sanders.

“I think democratic socialism and the politics of Bernie Sanders [are] appealing because things have gotten so bad in our economy that a lot of young people are struggling,” Kim said. “Struggling

An American River College student-run publication.

Editor-in-Chief Jennah Booth Co-Managing Editors Alexus Hur tado Hannah Yates Copy Editor Hannah Yates Photo Editors Ashley Hayes-Stone Tracy Holmes

Opinion Editor Tracy Holmes

Kim seeks to represent fourth district “At first I just took a couple classes, but I really liked the [music] program and so I started taking more and more classes,” Kim said. “I got a chance to play in a lot of the different bands, the jazz band and the concert band.”

Kim belongs to two bands, the pop-punk band Red Hearts Bleed and the reggae band Vigilant Roots. Both are currently on hiatus while he campaigns.

In high school, punk bands like Bad Religion and Anti-Flag, which had a strong stance in political affairs, resonated with Kim and sparked his interested in politics, but it wasn’t until the tragedy of 9/11 that Kim really got involved.

“It wasn’t really until 9/11 happened when I was in college, that I got involved by protesting against the Iraq War. I saw how the public was manipulated to go to war,” Kim said.

URRENT

Multimedia Editor Ashley Hayes-Stone

Social Media Editor Alexis Warren Sports Editor Gabe Carlos

cont. from page 1

In Volume 69, Edition 8 of The Current, the following corrections are listed:

C

The

Staff Itzin Alpizar Breawna Maynard Felix Oliveros Imani Smith Christian Sutton Patrick Hyun Wilson Hameed Zargr y Faculty Adviser Rachel Leibrock Photo by Ashley Hayes-Stone | Photo and Multimedia Editor Phillip Kim, who is running for state senate, speaks to Professor Kathleen Collihan’s international relations class to discuss volunteering opportunities for his campaign at American River College on Sept. 27, 2018.

to pay their rent, struggling to pay for college, struggling to find a decent job.”

From there, Kim worked as a community organizer for the Medicare for All campaign, which has since become his day job when he’s not campaigning.

“The campaigning I’m doing is on the weekends and in my spare time, but I don’t have the luxury of being able to quit my job to campaign full time,” Kim said. “I’ve taken very few donations. Just enough to pay for flyers, but it’s very much a guerrilla, grass-roots campaign.”

Kim’s work paid off in the primary midterm election when he won over 42,000 votes, making him the top winning Democratic Socialists of America vote getter since 1996, despite running in a longshot, right leaning district.

“It’s inspiring that over 42,000 people support a progressive, working-class agenda by voting for me,” he said. “Even when it’s a long shot, you have to run progressive candidates to build the movement and try to win.”

Now, running on a democratic socialist platform much like Sanders’, Kim says he believes in Medicare for All and strongly supports Senate Bill 562, or the Healthy

California Act, in his venture for a senate position. “[SB562] would create a medicare for all system, that would guarantee healthcare for every resident of California,” Kim said.

“This would be a cheaper and more efficient and more humane system than what we have now.”

SB562 would combine all forms of federal medical aid into one fund and the difference would be made up through taxes, according to Kim. “So it’s true that our taxes would go up but it would replace the huge insurance costs that right now individuals and employers are paying,” he said.

Nielsen however, disagreed during the debate.

“Single payer will bankrupt us.

What did Obama-Care give us?

Higher premiums, diminished care. It did not solve the problem,” he said.

Instead, Nielsen said he believes California should focus more on making it easier for nurses and doctors to work.

Many questions asked during the debate touched on the recurring topics of homelessness, rising rent and housing costs in California.

Phillip Kim | Page 3

Photo Adviser Josh Clemens Student Worker Luis Gael Jimenez

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: 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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Oct. 17, 2018

NEWS

Hate speech at Sac City

Promise grant replaces BOG

cont. from page 1

cont. from page 1

Community colleges about when students should be notified of hate crimes and hate speech and how the administration decides if or when it is necessary to notify students.

Pamela Posz, a reference librarian at SCC, said she believes there should be a different process in place for reporting hate speech. She sent out an email to SCC faculty and staff Oct. 3. detailing her concerns.

“All of us need to take an active role in reporting hate speech.

This should be the equivalent of mandated reporting for child abuse,” Posz wrote in the email.

Scott Crow, American River College’s public information officer, referenced the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics, or Clery Act, in regards to the district’s policy on how it notifies students of crimes and, more specifically, hate crimes.

Each year, along with all fed-

erally funded colleges, ARC is required to report crimes on its campus. The Clery Act, signed in to legislature in 1990, requires campuses to do so.

The Los Rios Police Department released the annual Clery Report on Oct. 1. Students and the general public have access to the report which lists crimes at the college on the Los Rios Police website.

There were three reported hate crimes on ARC’s main campus in 2017, according to the report. These incidents consisted of one assault for sexual orientation and two intimidations for race.

Crow said it’s important for students and staff to report anything they see that seems off.

“See something; say something,” Crow said.

ARC has counselors to assist any students affected by the hate speech that has been circulating at SCC and UC Davis, according to Crow.

“We stand in solidarity with Sacramento City College,” Crow said.

Photo by Hannah Yates | Co-Managing Editor

Emilie Mitchell, professor and faculty coordinator for the Pride Center, handles reports on harassment or mistreatment.

AB620 prompts LQBTQ resources cont. from page 1 Currently, eServices still uses the term “preferred”. The Pride Center is working on getting our systems changed and updated.”

This fall is the first semester that the Pride Center is fully open.

Alejandra Fernandez Garcia, a student personnel assistant at the center, says that implementing changes following AB620 guidelines and promoting the center will take time.

“Now that we’re here, just trying to like be a resource to staff and faculty at our campus, let them know what we are producing out of the [Pride Center], and just letting them know that our trainings are available to them,” Fernandez Garcia said. “They are available to come consult with

us if they don’t know how to go about a specific situation.”

A representative for students is a part of the center’s plan to fight against academic disadvantages or harassment, according to Fernandez Garcia. There will have to be a system for how to handle reports, and a guide to what steps students should take after reporting, in addition to reporting to the Title IX officer.

“We’re trying to get the word out there,” Fernandez Garcia said.

“That if students are experiencing these situations and they have not made it over here to like meet with us, or know who we are, there’s also this option available to them if they’re experiencing some type of mistreatment that they can come here and report it to us.”

CAMPUS PU

SE

“My favorite [scary] movie is ‘The Shallows’ because it’s relatable and has good graphics.”

-LILY NAGY Business major

The money provided for the program exceeds the $26 million that the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office proposed in 2017.

The California College Promise Program is funded through Proposition 98. Since 1988, Proposition 98 has guaranteed minimum funding for K-12 school districts and community colleges in California.

Some students who enroll through the California College Promise program may also be eligible for additional years of free tuition, according to Ross.

In order to apply, students must

be enrolled in a minimum of 12 Sorosh is attending classes at units and complete either a Free ARC for the first time this fall and Application for Federal Student hopes to find work in finance.

Aid (FAFSA) or a California Dream “I want to have a higher educaAct form. tion,” Sorosh said. “I think Younus Sorosh, a degree will be a economics major, very good thing Students receivapplied to the in my life and ing funds from program for will change the 2018 fall Promise Grant: s e m e s t e r. my life.”

Before apStudents plying for seeking to California Students within apply for the Students at College Promthe Los Rios California ColARC ise money, he District lege Promise would have had program can apply to pay $600. online or at the finan“Through the BOG cial aid office located on the ARC waivers, I only paid $50,” Sorosh said. campus.

39,000

19,000

The ‘revolution,’ according to Kim cont. from page 2 Kim and Nielsen offered different opinions on what role the government should play in California’s housing crisis.

The Democratic nominee strongly advocates for Proposition 10, which would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act. Enacted in 1995, it places restrictions on local governments and cities to pass certain types of rent control. With the CostaHawkins repealed, Kim said he feels that it would give power to local governments to handle the housing crisis in their cities.

“By repealing Costa-Hawkins, cities would be able to decide: ‘hey do I want to control the rents in a reasonable way,” Kim said.

“And it would still allow the landlords to make a profit but it has to be reasonable.”

Nielsen’s views contrast Kim’s in that he believes that government regulation itself is at fault for the skyrocketing rent and housing costs.

“Housing costs are crazy and off the line in California because of government regulations,” he said. “A new imposing of almost $10,000 on every new home in California for solar. What’s that going to do for the cost of housing? Make it better? No.” When it came to the topic of education, Kim suggested that full funding and adopting the European model of free college is the answer, while Nielsen referenced his previous work in education as a reason why he is the best candidate for community college students.

Over 44 million Americans hold nearly $1.5 trillion in student debt, according to CNBC. As a former student himself, Kim and his friends witnessed the skyrocketing increase of student debt.

“The student debt crisis is getting pretty crazy. A lot of my friends have tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt, which they’re struggling to pay off because there’s a lack of decent paying jobs also,” Kim said.

The panel asked the candidates about their concerns regarding grade schools and higher education at the debate. Nielsen said that public education needs to be held accountable for low test scores, not more money, and that reducing testing was not the answer.

“As far as higher education is concerned, I am the author of the review of the Master Plan of Higher Education that defined the missions, goals and interrelationships of the three levels of higher education that was done in the 1980s,” he said. “The greatest beneficiary of that review and the reforms that we put into effect afterwards were [community colleges].”

One thing both candidates

“I would encourage the students to get involved, be informed and consider many opinions.”

Jim Nielsen

California State Senate Incumbent agree on on is that more young people should be involved in politics, both encourage young people to take an interest in their government so they can make a difference for themselves.

“I think it’s super important for young people to get involved, otherwise these wealthy corporate interests are making decisions for us and they don’t really

care about the people, they care about making a profit,” Kim said.

Nielsen encouraged young people to consider many sides of an argument and the authenticity of a candidate. “[S]tand up and vote. I would hope, that however you vote, you would vote for someone who is candid and honest … Too many do not do that,” he said to the Current. “I would encourage the students to get involved, be informed and consider many opinions.”

Kim’s is running for senate as a part of what he calls: “the revolution,” a fight for reform of the government, society and quality of life in the United States.

“The revolution is people getting involved and taking back control of their government and having a decent society where healthcare and housing are provided for and people can work a decent job and be able to retire with dignity. That for me is the political revolution,” Kim said. “I want a more decent and fair society and economy, where we’re not having to just work all the time, because there’s more to life than work.”

After ‘the revolution’, Kim said he’d like to get back to the music he had supported at ARC. “In a more just society I would be playing more music, and maybe not even being involved in politics,” he said, but until then for Kim, there’s work to be done.

“For me, socialism is creating a world more like ‘Star Trek,’” he said.

“And what we’re fighting against [are] these Republicans and corporate interests that want to turn it more into the world of ‘Mad Max.’”

What is your favorite scary movie?

“My favorite scary movie is ‘It’ because it was suspenseful and creepy.”

-CHELSIE THOMPSON Psychology major

“[My favorite scary movie is] probably the new ‘Evil Dead’ because it’s very gory and disturbing.”

-ANTHONY ALVAREZ Hydrology major

“I’m going to have to go with ‘The Conjuring’ because of the jump scares and it’s creepy.”

-JESSICA SUMI Science major

4

Oct. 17, 2018

SPORTS

Beavers rally past Siskiyous in OT, 44-37 ARC FOOTBALL MOVES TO 3-3 ON THE SEASON

Football Schedule

By Tracy Holmes tdholmes80@gmail.com

Oct. 20 @ Sierra

American River College’s football team pulled a win out in overtime against the College of the Siskiyous on Oct. 13, bringing in a crucial win for the season.

Running back Mike Green ran the game-winning touchdown in overtime, to give ARC the win, 44-37. The team is 3-3 after seven weeks of the season.

Marco Baldacchino, Beavers quarterback, said he’d like the team to improve on missed opportunities before the team plays Sierra College.

“All that matters is that we got a W and got out of here. We’re 1 and 0 at conference, ready for Sierra next week,” Baldacchino said.

Siskiyous had a jump on the Beavers in the first quarter. The Beavers answered with a touchdown of their own. At the end of the half, Siskiyous kicked a field goal making the score 14-10, with ARC in the lead.

Julian Diaz of Siskiyous forced a fumble in the third that led to a touchdown for the Eagles. Running back Daniel Wright Jr. had a 49-yard run for a touchdown that sparked the offense in the second half. Baldacchino had a 39yard run in the in the fourth for a touchdown.

After Siskiyous scored a touch-

1:00 p.m.

Oct. 27 @ Butte 1:00 p.m.

Nov. 3 vs. Shasta 1:00 p.m.

Nov. 10 @ Feather 5:00 p.m. River

Photo by Tracy Holmes | Opinion Editor

Running back, No. 28, Mike Green celebrates a touchdown against Siskiyous with teamates Donovan Hawkins, No. 84, and with Jacob Pinola, No. 87, at ARC on Oct. 13, 2018. American River beat Siskiyous 44-37 in overtime.

down to take a 37-34 lead, ARC drove down the field with 1:47 left in the fourth quarter, to kick a 38 yard field goal to tie it up 37-37, and send it to overtime.

Baldacchino handed off to Green. Siskiyous won the overtime toss and deferred the ball and gave ARC the ball on offense.

ARC took possession in overtime and in five plays the Beavers scored a touchdown.

Beavers quarterback Baldacchino said he realized in the fourth quarter how to execute the offense and pull the win — but the team didn’t have the chance to run the play until overtime.

Photo by Gabe Carlos | Sports Editor

Folsom Lake College defender Eddie Ramirez takes a free kick as (left to right) Pedro Hernandez, Miguel Jurado and Santiago Moreno line up to block the shot. ARC lost 3-1 on Oct. 2, 2018.

ARC men’s soccer falls to district rival FLC, 3-1

By Jennah Booth jennahpage@gmail.com The American River College men’s soccer team played its district rival Folsom Lake College Oct. 2, losing the match 3-1.

ARC center forward Andrew Stoltenberg kicked off the game but quickly lost possession of the ball after a failed trap.

FLC’s offense dominated ARC’s side of the field in the first half.

ARC’s goalkeeper Christopher Sampo said he felt frustrated with how his team played the first half.

“The first half sucked,” he said.

Miguel Medina, a midfielder for FLC, scored the first goal of the game in the 12th minute, shortly after a missed shot on FLC’s goal

by ARC’s Raunak Manandhar.

ARC player Renzo Bozzalla was yellow carded for being too aggressive in the 25th minute. The

free kick allowed FLC’s forward Tanner Boyea to cross into ARC’s penalty box but his teammates were unable to follow through and score.

ARC tied up the game 10 minutes before halftime with a header

by Santiago Moreno, who was yellow carded shortly after for blocking a throw-in from FLC with his hand.

FLC’s offense picked up after that, scoring two goals, back to back in the last two minutes of the half, the first by defender Dylan Huft, then less than a minute later by midfielder Erik Mattice.

ARC head coach Paul Hansen said he felt that was where FLC took control of the game.

“We just kind of blew it right before the half,” Hansen said. “Giving up those two goals … We were excited to get the tying goal and then … I don’t know if we just

“I had faith in the offense and went into overtime, shoutout to the defense for sticking it out for us.”

Marco Baldacchino Quarterback

“I communicated with coach what we wanted to run, I had them wide open there and I just missed them,” Baldacchino said. “I had faith in the offense and went into overtime, shout-out the the relaxed mentally, but we had the next five minutes where they were all over us.”

While they picked up their offense and tightened their defense in the second half, the Beavers had already lost the mentality game, according to Hansen.

“The game was sort of done then and that was a little unfortunate. If we could have gone into [the half ] one, one I think we would have had a chance,” he said.

ARC tried to save the game by playing more aggressively and pushing up it’s defense while FLC tried to take wide shots and lock down their goal.

“We threw some more attacking players into the game but at that point [FLC] could just sit back and play good defence and finish us off. So, it was a little rough,” Hansen said.

Sampo said he felt he and his team did better in the second half when he blocked a penalty kick

by Mattice and then took another shot to the face.

“The second half we picked it up, we began bringing more energy over the 90 minutes,” he said.

But it wasn’t enough as the second half ended with no goals for either team, closing the game at 3-1.

“In the next practice [we need to focus on] training hard, brushing this off and looking forward to next friday,” Sampo said.

Despite the disappointingmatch, Hansen said he felt confident going into their next game.

“Our next game should be a winnable game for us and the guys are actually excited to actually have a friday home game … so we’re looking forward to it,” he said.

ARC played Modesto at home on Oct 5, winning the match 3-1.

defense for sticking it out for us.”

Head Coach Jon Osterhout said he thinks the season is still salvageable with the team’s win on Saturday.

“We just gotta win the conference,” Osterhout said.

According to Osterhout, the Beavers will not get the at large bid. They have to win out the conference. Osterhout explained to the team will work tirelessly to be 2-0 at conference.

Osterhout said he feels the team has quite a few kinks to work out, but is also optimistic. With some of the teams first-string players out for injuries the Beavers are still

making plays, however they are also missing opportunities.

“The two blocks we had on pump blocks were critical and then we don’t capitalized on the pump block we had down there, those are where we need to scoop and score,” Osterhout said.

“There’s no way this game should have been this close.”

Green was put in, in replacement of first-string running back Evyn Holtz, who is out on injury.

Baldacchino is the new starting quarterback, who replaced Jacob Cruz. Osterhout said he feels Baldacchino managed the offense well.

Women’s soccer controls Sacramento City, 9-0

By Alexus Hurtado alexush09@gmail.com The American River College women’s soccer team defeated Sacramento City College on Friday Oct. 5 in a highly competitive game that resulted in a score of 9-0.

ARC began the first half with great ball movement and good passing, defender Josie Baca and midfielder Kistia Pelayo did a great job of passing, according to their teammates.

“I think in the beginning we had an idea that we can take [Sacramento City] on and we really wanted to connect and I think we had a lot of good passing and we had a lot of good chemistry,” said ARC midfielder Sophia Peceli. “I think our one thing was that defensively we got a little broken up and a little scared.”

ARC and Sacramento City players both actively communicated with each other on the field during the first half. However, ARC was not spreading out well along the field, not covering potential defensive weak points and leaving themselves open to Sacramento City stealing the ball.

Sacramento City proactively strategized their placement on the field while ARC wasn’t getting to the ball fast enough due to Sacramento City’s defense.

ARC forward Halle Powe and midfielder Tanya Rodriguez skillfully stayed on Sacramento City players and were continuously physical throughout the game.

ARC kept its momentum going

and regained control of the game by spreading out along the field more efficiently to score the first goal of the game from forward Savannah Tijerino-Santos, 19 minutes into the first half.

“I agree that we had a positive attitude going into [this game]. As a team we were pressing together and making sure we won our battles,” said ARC defender Averi Roberts.

Sacramento City continued trying to corner ARC players toward the outside of field in defensive attempts to get themselves closer to the goal to score.

Towards the end of the first half, ARC scored three more goals, two again from forward Tijerino-Santos, giving her a hat trick, and one from forward Mia Jaraba.

In the second half, ARC dominated the rest of the game and continued the use of the same defensive and offensive schemes throughout the game.

Sacramento City became lazy towards the end of the second half with its defense grouped together on the field instead of spreading apart.

ARC forwards Jaraba and Mairenn Atkinson both scored two goals as well as midfielder Hildelice Medina who scored one goal to finish the game with a total of nine goals.

“I think being prepared [helped us with this game], yesterday at practice we were really running through the same drills that we did today for our game so that put in perspective the expectations,” Rodriguez said.

5

Oct. 17, 2018

SPORTS

Adaptive PE professor to retire after 22 years RAYE MAERO LEAVES LEGACY

By Christian Sutton christians1998@gmail.com Any time a college professor retires, they leave behind a legacy.

When American River College’s adaptive physical education professor retires in December, she will leave a legacy that initiated a transformational program for the lives of students with disabilities and an impact on anyone else who knew her.

Raye Maero, the adaptive physical education professor and women’s golf coach at ARC, renewed the adaptive P.E. program in 1996.

Brian Sprinkel, an instructional assistant who has worked for Maero for 13 years, stood in the adapted weight room and says that this is her legacy. According to Sprinkel, the adapted weight room wasn’t on campus until Maero wrote a grant for it.

Maero says she taught adaptive P.E. in K-12 schools for many years in Southern California. She earned a master’s degree in Adaptive Physical Education at California State University Long Beach in 1992 then relocated to Sacramento and worked as an interim professor at Sacramento City College.

“I just feel lucky that I had the chance to have this job and be a part of so many awesome people’s lives,” Maero says.

Maero says she enjoys working among the culture in community college and with disabled communities. She says she sees transformation in students who didn’t

know they could even take a P.E. class, and pretty soon, they would have an associate’s degree.

“That is really inspirational to me - working with people who are beginning their journeys to learn what they need for a positive lifestyle,” Maero says.

Nisha Beckhorn, a coordinator and counselor for ARC’s Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS), has known Maero for 17 years and worked with her for three years. She says Maero was fundamental in the development and initiation of the program.

“A lot of programs throughout the state are getting rid of their programs, but we want ours to grow,” Beckhorn says.

The students set goals, achieve them and make progress. Beckhorn says Maero’s adaptive P.E. program supports the different levels of academics very closely.

“I just feel lucky that I had the chance to have this job and be a part of so many people’s lives.”

Raye Maero

Adaptive P.E. Professor “If a student in a wheelchair tries to sit and take notes for an hour, they need to build their strength to sit that long,” Beckhorn says. “When they are physically strong, they can take courses and keep their strength to walk across campus.”

Allison Murdaugh, a computer

science major, takes Maero’s adaptive weights class to improve her posture in her wheelchair.

Murdaugh says she has taken Maero’s classes for more than 20 years since the program started in 1996. She is in her chair upwards of 18 hours a day and the exercise helps her stay in her class, she says.

“If I dont work up to where I can stay in my chair for an extended period of time, I have to build up that stamina to sit in a regular class,” Murdaugh says.

Throughout her career, Maero says she has seen students walk for the first time and transition out of a wheelchair after taking her classes.

“I knew one girl who was uncomfortable being in the crowds at the cafeteria and taking classes here helped her deal with the size of the campus,” Maero says. “It enhanced her life, and to see people grow like that is inspiring.”

Maero says that to successfully teach the class, she has to step outside the box and be able to adjust on the fly. Empathy is an important characteristic for Maero; not that she feels sorry for the students but that she really understands their problems and experience.

“If you’re in a wheelchair or can’t keep up with a sports class, we have lifetime sports, where you don’t have to wait on the sidelines — you can be the star,” Maero says. “We made a self-defense class for people with disabilities and that’s the best thing ever because people take advantage of people with disabilities and they have more sexual assaults than the general population.”

Photo by Christian Sutton | Staff Writer

Professor Raye Maero assists computer science major Allison Murdaugh with seated row exercises during an adapted weight class at American River College on Oct. 8, 2018.

The adapted weight room is the only building on campus that has adaptive physical exercise equipment that is specialized for people with disabilities, according to Sprinkel. “[Maero] has made it her daily goal to help this program succeed,” Sprinkel says. “Without [her], this program couldn’t be where it is at or where it is heading. She has the students’ interest first.”

Sprinkel says the program gives disabled students a place that is free of judgement.

The necessity for the program is understated and the type of people it takes to serve this community is very special, Sprinkel says.

“We treat [the students] with respect and support them with a strong environment that they can

come to and feel supported, but also improve the social aspect,” Sprinkel says. “They are treated equally, like anyone else.”

“I’m hoping with all my heart that they hire someone to take my place and [the administration] still think it’s important that students with disabilities have a quality physical education program,” Maero says.

Beckhorn says she has told Maero not to leave the program .

“If she has to retire, we will continue what she started,” Beckhorn says. “I feel like [Maero] has lived adaptive P. E. at American River College and we have to make sure that we support the program and help the program grow even more, so that [her] legacy lives through this program.”

Sports Schedule Women’s Soccer

Men’s Soccer Oct. 23 vs. Napa Valley

Oct. 19 vs. San Joaquin Delta

4:00 p.m. @ ARC

4:00 p.m. @ ARC

Oct. 26 @ Cosumnes River

Oct. 23 @ Cosumnes River

4:00 p.m. @ Cosumnes River

3:30 p.m. @ Cosumnes River

Oct. 30 vs San Joaquin Delta

Oct. 30 vs. Sierra

5:00 p.m. @ ARC

7:00 p.m. @ ARC

Nov. 2 @ Santa Rosa

Nov. 2 vs. Diablo Valley

3:00 p.m. @ Santa Rosa

3:30 p.m. @ ARC

Nov. 6 vs. Folsom Lake 6:00 p.m. @ ARC

Photo by Alexus Hurtado | Co-Managing Editor

Butte College takes American River College down the field on Aug. 31, 2018.

ARC lost 2-1.

Nov. 6 @ Sacramento City 6:00 p.m. @ Sacramento City

Men’s Water Polo

Women’s Volleyball

Oct. 17 vs. Santa Rosa

Oct. 17 @ Modesto

2:00 p.m. @ ARC

6:30 p.m. @ Modesto

Oct. 24 vs. Modesto

Oct. 19 vs. Sierra

Oct. 26 @ West Valey

Oct. 26 @ Diablo Valley

5:00 p.m. @ ARC

6:30 p.m. @ ARC

6:30 p.m. @ Diablo Valley

10:00 A.M. @ Moe Invitational

6:30 p.m. @ ARC

12:30 p.m. @ Moe Invitational 10:00 A.M. @ ARC

Oct. 31 vs. Santa Rosa

Oct. 26 vs. Ohlone Oct. 27 @ Alumni/Soph.

Photo by Patrick Hyun Wilson | Staff Writer

Wide receiver Eric Davis Jr. attempts to move around Fresno College players during a Sept. 29, 2018 game at ARC. American River College lost 17-3.

Nov. 2 vs. Sacramento City 6:30 p.m. @ ARC

6

Oct. 17, 2018

FEATURE

Photo by Patrick Hyun Wilson | Staff Writer Demon In Me features (from left to right) ARC alumnus Julian Grenz, drummer Ciro Abraham and singer guitar player Kylle Reece, during a show at Holy Diver in Sacramento on Sept. 23, 2018.

Demon In Me endures daunting obstacles ARC ALUMNI PAVES OWN PATH IN MUSIC

By Patrick Hyun Wilson patrickhyunwilson@gmail.com Musical instruments sat in the snow on the side of a Wyoming highway. The sun began to set over the icy tundra as the group of men waited in the freezing January wind. A drum set and guitar were destroyed and the rest of the equipment was exposed to the open air through the ripped side of the trailer.

The band’s debut tour was cancelled and their gear was trapped in impound. Demon In Me was left in limbo.

It wouldn’t be the last time Julian Grenz and Demon In Me would face setbacks on their journey from the backyard bands that formed their dedication for music.

The band hasn’t let the obstacles of the industry — or the weather — stop them from pursuing their passion.

It’s been two and a half years since the accident and Demon In Me has only just paid off the debt it caused. Grenz, the band’s bassist and American River College alumnus, has maintained his passion for the music scene since he started learning bass guitar by playing in bands that never quite escaped the backyard.

“I didn’t think about it as a career. In the ideal world, I was going to be a rock star,” Grenz said.

Throughout the early years of his musical life, he learned through a workshop offered by Skip’s Music, a store that offers lessons for young musicians in Sacramento. He played in the store’s annual Stairway to Stardom event, a multi-day musical workshop in which professional musicians teach students to play with bands comprised of other students in the workshop.

Grenz says he used tools he acquired at ARC — including his commercial music degree — to craft his future in the music indus-

try.

“I took a business law course,” Grenz said. “It taught me how to look at contracts, see how they’re developed and what they can mean.”

Currently he works two parttime jobs, as a booking agent at Live Nation and at Ace of Spades, a Sacramento music venue, playing in Demon In Me as often as possible. Working jobs in the music scene has given him insight to the inner workings of the industry itself from small venues and bands, to larger performances.

“People see it as this competition sometimes, and that’s just not

realized that he couldn’t push himself to the extreme every night. He was forced to learn how to deliver consistent performances over the three-week tour.

“When you’re playing every night you have to learn ‘what can I do? What’s too much, what’s too little?’” Grenz said.

Their tour took the band through the midwest over the course of three weeks, eventually leading to a show in Salt Lake City, Utah. The direct route to their next show was shut down, forcing them to go through windy Wyoming in order to make it to their show on time.

Me. “It was honestly really touching,” Grenz said. “I don’t think [we] understood the severity of what happened at the time. We were very lucky no one was hurt.”

Grenz returned to classes at ARC following the tour. The trauma of the incident caught up to him one day on his way to class.

“I was sitting next to a bunch of cars [at Winding Way and Walnut Avenue] and I realized I was just terrified of being in a car right then. I pulled over and had to sit there for an hour trying to calm myself down,” Grenz said.

A brush with serious injury or

Photo courtesy of Julian Grenz The members of Demon In Me stands near the wreckage of their trailer in Wyoming, near the end of their first tour.

true,” Grenz said. “People coming out to shows more helps everyone.”

Kylle Reece began Demon In Me as a hard rock band in the style of Thrice and Taking Back Sunday in San Jose. The band was in its early stages when Grenz and Reece noticed each other at shows they had each played at.

“I needed a bassist [for the first] tour,” Reece said. “He stuck his neck out and said ‘I want to do this’ so we went on a tour and he ended up joining the band as a permanent member.”

Playing show after show, Grenz

“The trailer we were using was a little too lightweight for the conditions we were in; the wind picked up,” Grenz said. “The trailer ended up flipping. … We were all okay so that was a nice thing.”

Demon in Me ended up missing the final few shows of their tour and were left stranded in the middle of Wyoming with a destroyed, uninsured trailer. Friends and family came out in support, creating a GoFundMe page to help them pay off the damages. Bands including The Mighty Guys and Movements began to share the page, attracting more attention to Demon In

death during a tour could cause a person with less resolve to quit entirely, but his fear didn’t hold Grenz back; in less than a month he was ready to go back on tour.

For their next tour they picked up drummer Ciro Abraham, someone Reece had met in their hometown of San Jose, CA. “My old band was in the process of sort of fading out, they were getting married and having kids,” Abraham said. “[Reece] said: ‘Hey I need a drummer for this next tour do you want to be my drummer?’

I was like: ‘Yeah sure, I got nothing else to do,’” Abraham said.

On Sept. 2 the band released “Here’s Your Way Out” through Standby Records, a North Carolina-based record label that signed the band. It was a big step for the band’s future but they were unaware at the time that it would be the only album they released with Standby Records.

“It was a lot of exactly that: standing by, waiting for something to happen,” Grenz said.

The record label had left the band in limbo again. Demon In Me waited for word from the label for months with no signs of change.

In May of 2018, the members of Demon In Me decided to buy out of their contract to go independent. Reece paid out of pocket to free the band from the stagnant record label.

“The industry is so full of rules, ‘Yes do this, don’t do this,’ that you kind of get caught up in trying to play by the rules that everyone is playing by,” Grenz said.

Going independent has created new obstacles for Demon In Me. Grenz is forced to use his experience as a booking agent and the skills he learned at ARC to learn the business of the music industry on the fly.

Demon In Me is taking advantage of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music which allow artists to publish their content independently.

“We just released our first single on Spotify [since leaving the label] and it’s done better than anything we’ve done before,” Grenz said.

The possibilities are within their grasp and Grenz’s mother, Vicki, thinks their trust in each other will carry them through.

“They take it very seriously and they respect one another,” she said. “They’re dedicated to the work.”

Demon In Me embarked on their longest tour to date on Oct. 5, ending with a show at the Naked Lounge in Chico on Nov. 15.

Grenz will be there, giving it his all, every night.

“It’s success through failure,” Grenz said. “If you stop that’s on you.”

7

Oct. 17, 2018

FEATURE

Former U.S. Army interpreters will graduate from ARC “ARC equipped me and prepared me to move forward to pursue my dream and accept the challenge to study in one of the best universities in the United States,” Khadimi said.

Before attending ARC, Khadimi found it was difficult and impossible to get into a prestigious fouryear college like UC Davis.

Haidari said faculty at ARC played a vital role in developing his educational skills and goals.

ARC ALUMNI CONNECT TO THEIR ROOTS

By Hameed Zargry hameed.zargry@gmail.com Three former interpreters who once put their lives in danger in Afghanistan working with the United States military have, in recent years, moved to Sacramento because they received threats from the Taliban. Now, two of those men have graduated from American River College and the third is set to graduate in May. Mohammad Wafai, a political science major completing his last semester at ARC, says he saw many lives threatened during the six years he spent working with the U.S. Army.

“It was not an easy job and I was working just like a soldier. I was injured several times while working with the U.S. Military,” Wafai said.

“We had to investigate the insurgents and during the interview, they were threatening to kill me and my family. Interpreters were called U.S. military ‘spy’ and ‘infidel.’”

“I

Photo by Hameed Zargry | Staff Writer Mohammad Ewaz Wafai, political science major and former interpreter for the U.S. Army, reads in the library at American River College on Oct. 3, 2018.

Wafai was issued a special immigration visa; the visa is only for those who work with U.S. army or government.

Ali Haidari, a business administration major, recently transferred to Sacramento City State. He says he made the most important choice of his life as soon he arrived in the U.S. He joined ARC in spring 2015 to take advantage of all the resources the schoolhad to offer

as an institution.

“I joined ARC right after I arrived here in the United States. As a recent immigrant, I found ARC to be only a well-known academic institution,” Haidari said. “The diverse community where I found the opportunity to interact across cultures and get myself accustomedto the American life.”

Haidari says he found ARC to be a robust educational center where

students from diverse backgrounds can find their passions and values. He says it’s a great place to learn about and find common grounds with people from different cultures.

Zakaria Khadimi is also a recent ARC transfer to UC Davis as a civil engineering major. Khadimi says he believes ARC was a key factor in his ability to transfer to a fouryear university.

“ARC equipped me and prepared me to move forward to pursue my dream.”

Zakaria Khadimi

UCDavis transfer student

found most of the instructors in that department to be leading experts in their fields.” Haidari said. “They teach classes at ARC because they are enjoying doing it and do not look at their job a merely a teaching career.”

Read more at ARCurrent.com

Sac Ghostbusters reminesce on their past haunt of ARC

By Ashley Hayes-Stone ashgstone@gmail.com Halloween is just around the corner, which means thrift stores are crammed with customers who want to assemble their festive attire on a budget. Aisles overflow with Halloween items, broken devil pitchforks, faded witch hats and a plethora of used costumes with missing accessories litter the floor. Here, customers become hunters adventuring into the unknown, not knowing what lurks behind the next corner.

However, thrift stores are also an unlikely place to stumbleupon unique equipment parts — ghost hunting equipment, that is. Not unlikely for Sacramento Ghostbuster founder Andrew Whatley and his crew. The charitable cosplay group has discovered that thrift stores are a great source to gather parts for proton packs and Psychokinetic Energy Meters all year-round.

American River College alumnus Whatley is one of the founders of the Sacramento Ghostbusters, a non-profit organization. Whatley and his team of Ghostbusters attend charity events and comic conventions to give back to the community they grew up in.

“We are just a bunch of geeky guys who like to go out and have a good time as Ghostbusters,” Whatley says.

Before he was busting ghosts, Whatley studied art new media in 2003 and roamed the halls of ARC with his friends. During lunchtime, Whatley and his crew were either found playing arcade games in the cafeteria, headbanging to music or watching movies in one of the lecture rooms in Raef Hall.

They even referred to themselves as “The Lunch Club” — a parody of the classic 80s movie “The Breakfast Club.”

“I think [ARC] prepared me for the new world,” Whatley says. “It gave me a taste of what things are going to be out there for me.”

In 2007, Whatley graduated and

Photo by Ashley Hayes-Stone | Photo and Multimedia Editor

Sacramento Ghostbusters founder Andrew Whatley poses with his Ecto-1 model car and his slimer prop on Oct. 11, 2018. The Sacramento Ghostbusters is a cosplay non-profit organization that attends charity events to help raise awaress of the charity.

started working as a paraprofessional educator in a preschool.

Two years later, Whatley’s father died and he realized he wanted to make a difference while paying tribute to his late father, but didn’t know how. It wasn’t until he heard about a Stormtroopers cosplay group that did charity work that he had an idea.

“I was like I want to do that, but I am a chubby guy so I’m not going to look good in a Stormtrooper outfit. Then I thought: why not Ghostbusters,” Whatley says.

Whatley says he chose to cosplay as the Ghostbusters in order to pay tribute to his father because it was the first movie they watched together.

Longtime friend and fellow ARC alumnus Alex Ortega helped Whatley establish the non-profit organization.

The Ghostbusters are not only a passion but represent something

“We are just a bunch of geeky guys who like to go out and have a good time as Ghostbusters.”

Andrew Whatley

Founder of Sac. Ghostbusters personal to Ortega.

“I love watching the movie with my dad and [Whatley and I have] been best friends all our lives and if he wanted to do this I will do this with him,” Ortega says. “In the beginning, it was just the two of us.”

In order to be a Ghostbuster, one must obtain the iconic jumpsuit. So Whatley and Ortega assembled their ghostly attire complete with the iconic symbol.

The second thing they needed was the equipment. They created their own proton packs and P.K.E.

meters with items found in thrift stores. But Whatley didn’t stop there, he converted his father’s old truck into a ghost-catchingmobile. By 2010, the Sacramento Ghostbusters were in business.

Whatley has formed a whole ghost-fighting crew, with each team member having personality traits similar to that of the original Ghostbusters.

“My ‘Ray’ would be my longtime buddy and my hetero life mate, Alex, that I have known since kindergarten,” Whatley says, comparing his friends to the characters in the original film. “The ‘Venkman’ in our group would be our buddy Shawn who drives the other truck and our ‘Winston’ would be our buddy, Jay. I am ‘Spengler’ because I make a lot of my stuff.”

Much like Venkman, Shawn Pugh says he’s passionate about what he does, that’s why he’s acting operation officer, responsible

for a majority of the group’s promotion and organized events that they attend.

“For me, it’s more like a second job and it’s a way to escape from the daily grind and at the same time go out, have fun and give back to the community in ways that others can’t or couldn’t,” Pugh says.

Whatley’s Ecto-1 car isn’t just for hunting ghosts — he also uses it to drive for Lyft, which gives Sacramentans a piece of nostalgia.

While driving around, locals often call the phone number on the side of the mock Ghostmobile to ask about investigating paranormal activity in their houses. Whatley, a skeptic of the supernatural, informs them that they are just a non-profit organization and don’t actually hunt ghosts.

While people are calling him for his assistance, they frequently ask, who Whatley is going to call?

When asked the question that every Ghostbuster is bound to be asked, Whatley has one simple reply. “‘He-Man,’ it’s an inside joke.

In ‘Ghostbusters II,’ they go to a birthday party and they start playing (the Ghostbusters theme) song and the kids start shouting ‘He-Man, He-Man,’” Whatley said.

“So whenever somebody asks me that, it’s my own personal thing I say: ‘He-Man.’” Piling in their Ghostmobile, the crew sports its ghost gear at several charity events such as the Susan G. Komen breast cancer walks, Vehicles for Veterans and toy drives.

They even became a part of Sony Ghost Corps, a branch that unites all Ghostbusters groups.

Whatley says he will keep their ghost busting legacy alive by spreading positive messages through their charitable causes and keeping the people of Sacramento ghost-free.

“I am proud of what we accomplished and I look forward to what else we can accomplish in the future,” Whatley says.

8

Oct. 17, 2018

FEATURE

Club seeks to empower women in STEM fields

By Imani Smith imanirose14@gmail.com The smell of pizza and desserts filled the room as students and professors gathered in the American River College STEM, or science, technology, engineering, and math, building center for the first Women in STEM club meeting Sept. 28.

According to chemistry major and club president, Natasha Skidmore, the club seeks to empower women in STEM fields and give new STEM students support and a sense of community as they work towards a career in the field. The college will eventually expand its support for STEM students with a new three-story science facility.

“The Women in STEM club is a club for a women and men, but it’s supporting the idea that we need more women in STEM fields,” Skidmore said.

Although there have been some women who have paved the way, according to Skidmore, there

“We are trying to bring the idea that more women can be successful as STEM majors.”

Natasha Skidmore

Women in STEM Club President

Photo by Ashley Hayes-Stone | Photo and Multimedia Editor

Natasha Skidmore, chemistry major and Women in STEM club president, poses in front of the Women in STEM banner in the STEM Center at American River College on Oct. 15, 2018.

are still students who don’t think working in STEM is a viable career option.

“We are trying to bring the idea that more women can be successful as STEM majors,” Skidmore said.

According to a 2017 report from the Office of the Chief Economist,

women make up 47 percent of all jobs in the United States but hold only 24 percent of STEM-related jobs. The OCE report also reported that women with STEM degrees are less likely than their male counterparts to work in a STEM occupation and instead work in

education or healthcare.

Taylor Pratt, a kinesiology major, says she joined the club to receive information on becoming a successful STEM major.

“I feel like hearing background from professors and other students in the STEM area will make me better equipped for my upcoming classes,” Pratt said.

Construction is underway on the new three-story STEM facility on campus and, according to Kirstin DuBray, the college’s director of donor relations, the new building will be beneficial for all STEM students.

“First we are raising money for a

three-story STEM building and the second phase is to modernize the science wing,” DuBray said.

According to the STEM page on ARC’s website, private funding will be used to enhance the lighting, technology, and lab equipments used by students on a daily basis.

This new facility will also offer students state-of-the-art wet labs for biology and chemistry classes.

The Women in STEM club welcomes all students and urges women and any new student considering a career in STEM to stop by the STEM center, according to Skidmore.

“We want new students to come here and feel welcome, you can meet friends at club meetings and we have free food,” Skidmore said.

The club gathers every first and third Thursday of the month and hold events for all STEM majors.

Students interested in joining the club can visit the STEM center located in Portable Village 603B. Students can also find more information on the ARC website.

Team works at NASA for international project ASTRONOMY AND PHYSICS CLUB LAUNCHES PAYLOAD INTO NEAR SPACE

By Jennah Booth jennahpage@gmail.com Space may be the final frontier, but American River College has gotten closer than most. On Sept.

4, a team from ARC’s Astronomy and Physics Club launched a payload into “near space” from in Ft. Sumner, New Mexico as part of the High Altitude Student Program (HASP). “[HASP] is designed to carry up to 12 student payloads to an altitude of about 36 kilometers … using a small volume, zero pressure balloon,” according to the HASP website.

Students worked on location at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas for integration, where their payload was tested to see if it could withstand nearspace conditions.

The team of students worked for over 16 months to develope the payload they called Stratospheric Spectropolarimeter Gamma-X (SSGX), which detects and records gamma and X-rays in the stratosphere.

Stacey Burrows, an ARC evolutionary biology major, served as the project leader and the club’s president last semester. Burrows had a large part in writing the 48page proposal for the project.

Burrows said the project itself found its way to ARC through astronomy professor, Paulo Afonso, who has been trying to get it started since 2014.

The project’s goal was to study the smaller radiation waves on the electromagnetic spectrum; gamma and X-rays, which could only be measured outside of the troposphere, according to Burrows.

“The reason we’re studying [gamma and X-rays] is because professor Afonso actually studies quasars, and what quasars specifically are are an active galactic nucleus,” Burrows said. “It’s in the middle of [another] galaxy and it shoots out a lot of gamma and xrays.”

In order to measure gamma and

X-rays outside of the troposphere to see distant quasars, the team needed a specific device.

Colleagues in Bologna, Italy provided the ARC team with a device to do just that: the Compact Array of Cadmium Telluride Micro Spectrometer (CACTµS). The problem was that the analog system that runs CACTµS was much too large to launch, according to Burrows.

They needed something small and digital. Alfonso, who had been following the project, realized all the CACTµS device needed was someone to design a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), which works much like a processor except it’s faster and more efficient and would be small enough to launch.

“In some ways, Professor AfonPhoto by Ashley Hayes-Stone | Photo and Multimedia Editor so’s been trying to do this for Jessica Shults, an astrobiology major at American River College, was part of the SSGX team. She hand-soldered components and years ... but they really didn’t have designed logos for the project, which she wore as patches on her team jacket on Oct. 9, 2018. the technical know-how to go anywhere with it,” Burrows said. which would have normally been “So much of the project actu- were going to fly off and our weldThat’s when Burrows and firm- done by a machine. ally happened in my dining room,” ing wasn’t going to hold ... but ware engineer Justin Forrester, Shults also used her artistic Burrows said. “There’s been a lot everything went better than exstepped in to take on the project skills to design logos for the pro- of offsite work and extra hours. pected,” Shults said. along with the other core mem- grams, the payload and the team I could not even estimate how The launch proved successful bers of the club, Jessica Shults, logo for the launch crew, which many hours we’ve put in this... it’s for the SSGX team and the group Neeraj Menon and Yaroslav Ka- wore them on team jackets. a ton of work.” is already looking to the next projminskiy.

Menon, a computer science maOnce at the NASA facility in ect, a new detector and a higher Forrester graduated from Sac- jor, also designed a program that Texas for integration, all schools resolution for a more accurate ramento State University with a processes the data provided by tested their projects for the high study of gamma and X-rays, accomputer engineering deCACTµS and DAISI called the pressures and low temperatures cording to Burrows. gree. In March 2017, he Aggregate Software for of near space.

Shults said she’s fully invested began to design a Technical Execution SSGX was accepted as a pig- in the next project and feels optiprototype for a and Retrieval (AS- gyback project which meant the mistic about the research they’re Data Acquisition TER).

SSGX launch team didn’t have any doing.

Integrated Stor“What ASTER live downlink telemetry, which “Think the most important age Interface does is... it plots meant no live data. thing is that what we were trying (DAISI). and handles all “[W]e were flying blind. We had to do is something that’s among “DAISI is the of the data and no idea at all what was going on. sort of the final frontiers of astro[printed circuit that allows us to Normally we would have been physics,” she said. “What can I do board] itself, just handle more able to check every ten minutes, with my tiny insignificant life that Jessica Shults that we designed easily,” Burrows there would have been data re- will help benefit humanity and Astrobiology major to receive voltage said. “So DAISI talks to cord,” Burrows said. propel it towards the future that it data from the detector,” CACTuS and then ASTER Because of bad weather, SSGX could have?”

Burrows said. “So a gamma ray tells us about it.” finally flew on Sept. 4, a day after comes in, it hits the detector’s arThe team collaborated with the team had flown home. ray, the voltage is recorded, it gets ARC’s Design Hub to build the The launch team held its breath For more informaread out by … the CPLD and then project and make sure the data over the approximately 10-hour, stored on a SD card, like what’s in survived when it crashed back live-streamed flight, according to tion on the science your phone.” to earth. They worked countless Shults, hoping that the countless behind the Shults is an astrobiology major hours, in and outside of school hours and over 16 months of work and used her limited soldering hours to design, build and test wouldn’t be wasted as SSGX fell to project, go to skills and steady artistic hand to SSGX before integration in July earth. put the board together by hand, 2018.

“We were just afraid that things

“I love how you can mesh art, science and philosophy together.”

ON THE WEB:

SSGX

ARCurrent.com

Oct. 17, 2018

ARTS & CULTURE

9

Photo by Itzin Alpizar | Staff Writer Artist Haleh Niazmand reveals her experiences as an activist, artist and mother of a child with autism during a reception at the James Kaneko Gallery at American River College on Sept. 25. Her exhibit “Considerations Sanity In Surrender” will be on display until Oct. 18.

Kaneko exhibit shows the beauty of symbolism FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF GLASS: “CONSIDERATIONS SANITY IN SURRENDER”

By Itzin Alpizar itzin.contact@gmail.com The new exhibit “Considerations Sanity In Surrender” at the James Kaneko Gallery is an individualistic journey into societal struggles in which artist Haleh Niazmand reveals her experiences as an activist, artist and mother of a child with autism.

At a reception on Sept. 25, Niazmand spoke about her journey from her motherland Iran, as an activist against the control of the Shah, then her struggles in Turkey, until she came to the United States, which she thought was a “land of freedom and justice.”

“What happens in the United States, what happens in Iran, what happens around the globe, is the way I work,” Niazmand said to the audience about the importance of using art as a medium to communicate subjects that matter.

It was that passion for politics that made her create a group of seven small rounded canvases with painted images of crumpled pieces of paper and words written in red and ending in “-ism.”

Derrick Powell, art and financing major, said he was intrigued by the piece.

“This one impacts me a lot,” Powell said, adding that he wondered why capitalism was on top. “ [it] feels like all these words impact our society in different ways and every single one of these will have an impact on each individual person.”

Niazmand said that all of those “-isms” become a group of words that define methodologies or ways to define how groups of people embrace particular ideas and how those ideas have consequences.

“I always have seen that at the center of all of these other -isms is capitalism with the way it controls our system today,” Niazmand said.

The next group of paintings consisted of nine small “stories” inspired by objects the artist found around her neighborhood during the time she lived in Oakland near the Fruitvale BART station. “[The paintings] became almost like little statements especially by the time I found the [high heeled] shoe in a little grassy patch by my art studio,” Niazmand said.

Niazmand said that she witnessed that the area was a hub for prostitution and child prostitution trafficking and made her think if it belonged to a prostitute running for her life, she said at the reception.

Niazmand then signaled a painting with a little doll she’d found thrown with garbage in the area, to which she related to the housing crisis.

“There is so much eviction going on in Oakland right now. There are so many full time working people that live in their cars, live in tents,” Niazmand said. “What kind of pride do you have in your neighborhood if there are four families living in a two-bedroom, literally, and the fact that you can get evicted any time?”

The last section of the exhibit is a group of large oil paintings on linen. Niazmand used photographs of her partner, herself and her son as the base of the paintings, and then with text and symbols “on the other side of the glass” creates a “barrier of space” to portray her experiences raising a child with autism.

“I thought that while my child cannot self-express perhaps I can express my experience of raising him,” Niazmand said. “The frosted glass really represents the isolation; when you have a child with autism, you become extremely isolated because most of your friends are doing other things.”

Each painting has a two sided meaning coming from empathy and no judgement because,

Photo by Itzin Alpizar | Staff Writer Students look to a group of paintings from the exhibit “Considerations Sanity In Surrender” by artist Haleh Niazmand at its reception on Sept. 25, 2018.

“whenever you separate members of society from one another, you are going to create prejudice on both sides,” Niazmand said.

Jade Jacobs, a fine arts and gallery certification student, said that it was an honor to help the artist set up the show.

“It is one of my favorite shows I have ever seen on a technical level,” Jacobs said. “It’s very invigorating seeing something behind glass. It is a very hard thing to make, so visually even without the messages, it stands alone, it is wonderful.”

The artist spoke about the importance of creating art with purpose and the influence of major museums, which she said are more interested on the “spectacle” of “major league funded art” than art that produces meaning and moves people.

“We’re a society that [doesn’t] care about art. We need to look at the history of the type of art that has been promoted,” Niazmand said.

Photo by Itzin Alpizar | Staff Writer Top of a group of seven small rounded canvases with painted images of crumpled pieces of paper and words written in red and ending in “-ism.” by artist Haleh Niazmand on Sept. 25, 2018.

Jacobs said that ARC students should not miss this exhibit and to read the artist’s statements because Niazmand experiences tie up with the paintings.

“I love everything that she has to offer and with this being something that’s not imaginative on a

level by everyone on a mass level, it’s very individual and I loved that,” Jacobs said.

“Considerations Sanity In Surrender” will be on display at the Kaneko Gallery in the Fine Arts building until it’s closing reception on Oct. 18 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

10

Oct. 17, 2018

ARTS & CULTURE

Lil Wayne’s album soars, Logic’s falls flat Sept. 28 was an exciting day for fans, as two of hip-hop’s biggest names dropped albums on the same day: Lil Wayne’s “Tha Carter V” and Logic’s “Young Sinatra IV.”

Photo courtesy of Young Money Records

Photo courtesy of Def Jam Records

‘Young Sinatra IV’

By Gabe Carlos legitgmc@gmail.com

‘Tha Carter V’ Originally planned for release in 2014, “Tha Carter V” was held back by Birdman, co-owner of Cash Money Records, as Wayne wanted to be released from the music label after Birdman violated the contract’s terms and agreements.

This is Wayne’s first album to be released under a label other than Cash Money Records, which he signed with in 1995.

The album features plenty of well-known artists including Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, labelmate Nicki Minaj, and Wayne’s daughter, 19 year-old Reginae Carter.

The first song, “Don’t Cry,” which features the late rapper XXXTentacion, starts with vocals that are similar to X’s in his song “Jocelyn Flores,” as Wayne raps about his emotions, hard situations throughout his life and his morality.

The track ends with Wayne rapping: “triple extension on my afterlife, rest in paradise,” paying homage to his collaborator, X, who was shot in South Florida earlier this year.

The fifth track of the album: “Let it Fly” features Houston rapper Travis Scott. Scott ranted in a series of Tweets in 2014 about the song he had recorded with Wayne and

how he wants his album to be “free.”

On the track, Wayne demonstrates his skill with wordplay by using a rhyming “Young Sinatra IV,” (stylized as “YSIV”) is scheme through a story that shows his the final installment to Logic’s Young Sinaskills. tra series.

“Mona Lisa,” featuring Kendrick Lamar, “YSIV” is Logic’s fourth studio album and was one of the most anticipated tracks on makes 2018 the tenth straight year that he the record. Featuring Kendrick and his dishas released a project. tinct voices, the track sounds like The first song of the alit was recorded either bebum is Logic thanking fore or after the recordhis fans. Logic actuing of Lamar’s third ally put his phone album: “To Pimp a number on Butterfly.”

Wayne’s “Tha Carter V” is a Twitter to tell Wayne had fans to leave stunning album and can be conan extra five a voicemail or six years sidered one of Wayne’s best. Logic’s and he will to work on “Young Sinatra IV” is just another incorporate this album them in to album. Wayne hadn’t released an and perfect his album. it in the way album since 2011, but fans won’t be “YSIV” has he wanted to dissapointed as the rapper hasn’t plenty of feawhile he was tures, includdealing with lost a step in the seven years since. ing Jaden Smith, his lawsuit with Logic, on the other hand, failed to Hailee Steinfeld, Birdman which impress.

Wale, and the entire was settled for $51 Wu-Tang Clan. Logic million in June. was able to get the entire This is a damn-near perWu-Tang Clan, under one song fect album by Wayne. One that called “Wu-Tang Forever.” will be remembered for ages and could It is a very old-school 1990s, New York possibly be Wayne’s best album to date. style track that doesn’t necessarily fit with the album but feels like more of a brag from Logic that he was able to score the Wu-Tang Clan for this album.

The ninth track on the album, the title track “YSIV,” is more of a freestyle that Logic had already used to announce the album

The breakdown:

ARC’s ‘West Side Story’ is the whole package

By Imani Smith imanirose14@gmail.com The provocative showing of “West Side Story” opened at American River College on Friday.

The production showcased many musical numbers as well as intense dance breaks.

Usually, the first time an ensemble performs in front of an audience many things can go wrong.

The adrenal rush combined with the stress of giving a perfect performance can cause many mistakes to be made. However, this opening night did not fall victim to that and there were no noticeable mistakes on stage.

The cast gave a powerful performance and took the audience on an emotional journey.

The plot chronicles the lives of star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria. Tony is a member of the Jets, a white American gang. Maria is the

younger sister of Bernardo, who is the leader of the Puerto Rican gang, the Sharks. When Tony and Maria kiss at the school dance, tensions rise between the rivaling gangs.

Alexandria Wilson, who plays Anita, the fiery love interest of the

“Opening night was wonderful, everyone’s adrenaline was flying... it was very moving to me.”

Sam Williams

‘West Side Story’ Director

leader of the Sharks, said the musical is not as lighthearted as some

that have come before.

“This one is controversial, this show involves love, racism, death, violence,” Wilson said. “Although it’s not the most child friendly, it is definitely something everyone can enjoy.”

The iconic musical performance was directed by Sam Williams, cochair of ARC’s theater0 and film department, as well as a longtime performer.

“Opening night was wonderful, everyone’s adrenaline was flying and there were some technical mistakes but that’s what is wonderful about live theater,” Williams said. “It went really well and it was very moving to me.”

Ethan Mack, who plays Action, the bad-to-the-bone gang member of the Jets, truly stood out.

His character was dark, funny, and kept the audience entertained.

The orchestra played every song beautifully and without it,

in a video on Youtube, but just a few things were tweaked in the album version and the freestyle was used as the second verse.

Logic uses the song to remember the passing of the Pittsburgh rapper, Mac Miller, who overdosed in early September. Logic says Miller is a big reason why he wanted to rap full-time and to start his Young Sinatra series.

“YSIV” is a fun album, but it’s an album just to put on if you want to have music in the background. Logic has been putting out the same projects for the past three or four years now. “YSIV” could be the worst release of the rapper’s career.

A new release every year from Logic isn’t fascinating, nor is it something to gear up for a ton of excitement. The rapper is writing himself into a corner in order to meet the yearly release schedule.

Sure this album has great boom-bap kicks to it, and plenty of trap sounds throughout, Logic calls it “the best album he has ever made,” but it’s not; it’s just another Logic album.

One thing that differentiates Wayne’s “Tha Carter V” from Logic’s “YSIV” is the effort that is put into the album. Wayne might have had an extra five or six years to put into the album because of the lawsuit, but the added time helped turn it into one of his best records to date.

Logic’s album, on the other hand, sounded like there wasn’t enough time or effort put into it. Logic just wanted to meet his yearly album quota. He made another album because he wants to make money or appease his fans, but whichever reason it is, it wasn’t the best decision.

Photo courtesy of the American River College Theater Department

The main actors on the American River College West Side Story posing for publicity photos by Brian Williams. The first fall production opened on October 12, 2018. the show would not have been the same.

The entire theater did an amazing job with this show. From the acting, to the powerful vocals and the well choreographed dancing,

the musical was the total package.

“West Side Story” will be shown through Oct. 28. For more information on showtimes and ticket prices, visit www.arctheatre.org

11

Oct. 17, 2018

OPINION

CURRENT EDITORIAL

Partying this Halloween? Drink responsibly

By Current Editorial Board current.arc.losrios.edu Drinking and partying are considered staples of the college experience for many students, especially during Halloween.

However, there are many students who use holidays as a reason to binge drink and over-party, thus putting their safety in jeopardy.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, binge drinking is a drinking pattern that brings blood alcohol concentration levels over the legal limit quickly. Binge drinking according to the NIAAA is considered four drinks for women and five drinks for men, consumed in a span of two hours.

As students, we need to examine holidays like Halloween to shine a light on how binge drinking and over-partying impacts us and how we can be more safe.

Halloween is a day mainly meant for children to enjoy horror movies, candy and for dressing up but like many other holidays, New Year’s Eve, Saint Patrick’s day, or Cinco De Mayo for example, the purpose is lost in the midsts of the partying and drinking.

There isn’t a problem with drinking itself, but there is an issue when drinkers are not being safe or responsible in their decision making and when overconsumption can result in blackouts, physical fights, arrests, or a trip to the hospital for alcohol poisoning.

However, many young people disregard the possible consequences and forgo safety precautions they should be taking when they go out. When most students go out to party they’re primarily thinking about the fun they’re going to have.

“I think it depends on who your friends are, but for the most part people do use [Halloween] as an excuse [to drink excessively],” said Emilee Durbin, early childhood education major. “But I don’t think [binge drinking is] necessarily an issue if you’re

Photo illustration by Patrick Hyun Wilson | Staff Writer Halloween is considered to be one of the heavier binge-drinking holidays, especially for college students. Students can take precaution by planning out their night and knowing their drinking limit.

with friends and you’re in a safe environment.”

Staying safe while going out first requires planning and coordination beforehand. It’s important to know where you’re going and what you’re doing.

As a precaution this Halloween and in general, you should surround yourself with people whom you trust and will hold you accountable for your drinking. Whoever you go out with, there should be a reciprocated understanding that all involved will take care of the other in the event one person drinks too much.

“Choose your group wisely, pick people who will take care of you if you do get too drunk,” Durbin said.

Knowing your limit in terms of alcohol intake is something everyone needs to take accountability for and will be a tool in keeping you safe when you go out and

drink. Another part of taking accountability for your drinking is being able to resist peer pressure to drink more when you’ve already had enough. “[If ] you care about your body, you should know your limits and not over do it,” said Santi Erra X, sociology major.

Many students feel the need to relieve stress from school by drinking and partying.

“I think when we start to drink it’s like ‘oh I’m stressed I need to take a load off and [drinking] is going to help me do that,’ plus it’s also fun so that’s a double plus for me,” Erra X said.

Young adults see Halloween as the perfect night engage in drinking games, bar hopping and reckless behavior, which can all result in drunk driving. “[If you drive drunk] you’re not only putting yourself at risk, but it’s a kid’s holiday it’s not for college students,” said Sarah

Jones, liberal studies major. “[Halloween is] for my niece or your brother, and to drink to excess, yes, you are in a way celebrating, but when you [drink and] drive you could hit a trick or treater and that’s the real horror story.”

While holidays are already dangerous times to be on the road due to drunk driving, Halloween has become especially unsafe. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fatal drunk driving collisions occur three times more on Halloween than on New Year’s Eve. The NHTSA also reported that between 2012 and 2016, 44 percent of all individuals killed in a car accident on Halloween involved a drunk driver.

Children are at risk as well, as they accounted for 14 percent of pedestrian fatalities on Halloween nights between 2012 and 2016. Young people aged 21 to 34 are the largest group of people at risk for drunk driving fatalities at 46 percent on Halloween night in 2016, according to the NHTSA. The obvious solution to avoiding drunk driving is to plan accordingly before your night out and have a ride to your destination and back from a responsible individual.

“The designated driver — you have to have that and if you don’t, don’t go out.

[You need to] have a ride or have somewhere to sleep and if you have to sleep in your ride, do it,” Jones said.

If you to plan to go out on Halloween, as another precaution, make sure to let people you trust know where you’ll be going and what your plans are for the evening.

Taking accountability for the safety of your friends and yourself when you go out is simple and will ensure you can enjoy your night and have fun without worrying.

Halloween should be enjoyed by all, however we may choose to celebrate it, but only if we take the precautions to be smart and safe.

Student journalists are not the enemy

By Itzin Alpizar itzinalpizar@gmail.com The Current is the American River College’s student-run publication, which gives voice to the student’s concerns on topics of interest, news, events, and services on campus. The publication wouldn’t be possible without the journalism students that work to provide trustworthy, relevant information.

Some information on campus is only available with the help of faculty and staff, and without it, the Current would not be able to provide information to the students. As an ARC student myself and as a member of the campus press, I have been denied information from resources a few times this semester, which has made me question: What information is exactly provided to students? Are all ARC students equally deserving of the same resources and information needed to be successful at this college? Or, does the denial of information have to do with the current public opinion about journalism?

My most recent experience happened when I asked for information about housing resources for students on the Former Foster Youth Program at the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services office. I presented myself as staff for the college newspaper to

staff members and said I was looking for information on housing resources for an article. They answered that they would not speak with me about it; instead I would need to send an email requesting the information I needed. Without any other explanation, I sent the email as requested, but never received an answer.

Other former and current staff members of the Current have had similar experiences. Some have been denied information about incidents on campus by the police; others by faculty that have said they will not talk to the newspaper at all; and others have not taken interview appointments seriously.

Many faculty and services staff are helpful and have had a cooperative relationship with the Current. However, there are still areas to improve in, considering the time and effort that journalism students are investing for the good of the ARC community.

The College Media Production class, which offers a newsroom experience is not like a regular class where you go to the lecture, take notes, do tests and go home.

The Current staff spends several hours attending events, getting interviews, researching, transcribing, fact-checking, writing, rewriting and editing for hours after the class, sometimes even after midnight and on weekends. Some students take this on in addition

Photo by Itzin Alpizar | Staff Writer Co-Managing editors, Alexus Hurtado (left) and Hannah Yates (right) work in the campus newsroom at American River College on Oct. 3, 2018.

to a full load of other classes, which adds a lot of work to our schedules.

Many of us do this not for a grade, not to be liked by the professor, not to just pass the class, but to provide accurate information to other students who might need it.

This is a team operation where we deal with editors, fact-checking, deadlines and having to use multiple mediums of communication between the team members, working together as a one unit to get a story to your smartphones and in your hands.

As students, we are being trained to report the news in an accurate and truthful way to the public, starting with the students at ARC, but we need the resources and information from those who have it.

Treating the Current students with more respect and cooperation would result in making resources and services on campus better available to all students through our reporting.

The change we want to see in the journalism profession starts with helping the ones that are learning the profession and that won’t be possible without open

dialogue and access to information.

ARC is an educational institution and we are students still learning and preparing ourselves to continue our duty to serve the people and the truth.

Faculty and services staff should be more accessible for the good of the student population on campus. In times of fake news, misinformation, scandals and lack of public trust, we need to work better as a college community to bring the most accurate and trustworthy information to all ARC community.

12

Oct. 17, 2018

BACK PAGE

The 4 Paws 2 Freedom class receives a $9,500 oversized check from RRUFF Healing Heroes, a non-profit organzation that helps fund the class on Oct. 5, 2018. (Photo by Hannah Yates)

Paws For ARC

“I see more miracles in a month than most people see in their lifetime.”

- Terry Sandhoff, master service dog trainer

(Top) The service dog training program class members walk their dogs on the trail behind the horticulture department. (Bottom) Brandy Hernandez-Jam’s dog Buda, a 3-year-old Shepard Shire mix, is being trained to assist her with activities of daily living. (Photos by Hannah Yates)

By Ashley Hayes-Stone and Hannah Yates ashgstone@gmail.com | hannahjycurrent@gmail.com Graphic Illustration by Patrick Hyun Wilson The

grass in the Technical Education department is kept green for the service dog training program which is facilitated through 4 Paws 2 Freedom and the Healing Heroes programs. The nine-month course prepares veterans and their dogs for a service dog certification test through a weekly meetup on the American River College campus. The veterans’ enrollment fees are paid for by other non-profit sources. On Oct. 5, trainers led the third class session of the program on the quad near the technical education classrooms. Veterans say that the process of training grows a special bond with their dogs.

Lisa Barnett shows positive reinforcement to her pitbull, Raleigh, during a Paws For Freedom service dog class at American River College on Oct. 5, 2018. (Photo by Ashley Hayes-Stone)