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Dressing with pride:
Cutting costs:
A new search engine helps students find cheaper prices for textbooks. Page 2
Starting off strong:
First Year Experience hosts a costume contest for freshman students. Page 5
Men’s basketball rolls over Occidental College. Page 6
Nov. 6, 2013
Four-year grad rates rank in system’s top ten Vol. 39, No. 7
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By Steven Barker Managing Editor
Spearheaded by the university’s emphasis on improving its students’ academic experience, California State University, Bakersfield’s fouryear graduation rates have become the eighthhighest in the state university system. Since 2006, CSUB’s four-year graduation rates have risen 1.4 percent. As of 2012, CSUB’s fouryear rates sit at 16 percent. Despite CSUB’s improvements, by 2012, the rates trail the California State University systemwide average by .002 percent. The rise in CSUB’s percentages can be attributed to programs targeting students with special academic needs, said Steve Walsh, coordinator of the Summer Bridge program, which helps high school graduates requiring remediation with the transition to college. “We have so many programs that work with special populations, it means everyone has a home,” Walsh said in an email. “While this may seem exclusionary at times, our campus over the past 10 years has grown to give everyone an opportunity to participate in retention-bolstering activities like first-year experience courses, tutoring, and advising. “
Editor’s Note: This is the third installment of By the Numbers, a news series comparing CSUB’s statistical rankings to other CSU campuses.
Dr. Richard Collins, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, thinks CSUB’s ability to better monitor students’ progress has improved their ability to graduate. “A number of systems helping to monitor advising and tutoring have been put in place, and a greater awareness of the importance of students’ progress on the part of faculty and staff has … been fostered,” Collins said in an email. In spite of CSUB’s recent successes, the school faces a number of challenges in raising the graduation percentage, some of which stem directly from the local community. A 2008 article by Forbes Magazine found Bakersfield to be the seventh-worst educated city in America. A study conducted in February by Central Connecticut State University found that, among cities with a population above 250,000 people, Bakersfield is the least literate city in the United States. [See GRADUATION, Page 3]
Professional bullriding comes to Bakersfield
Juana Martinez/The Runner
Shorty Gorham, left, and Lyndel Runyan, right, distract a bull at the Professional Bull Riders Lucas Oil Touring Pro Division event Saturday at Rabobank Arena.
By Josh Bennett Staff Writer
It is considered “the most dangerous eight seconds in sports” and it was certainly present in Bakersfield. The Professional Bull Riders Lucas Oil Touring Pro Division held an event at the Rabobank Arena on Saturday. After it was all said and done, Garrett Lange of Kingsburg, Calif., walked away with the victory, with a score of 88.5, edging out Reagan Avery of West Monroe, La., who scored 87.5. For those unfamiliar with the rules of bull riding, the event has two rounds, a qualifying round and a championship round. The qualifying round has 35 riders compete for 12 slots in the championship round. The bull is judged on the degree of difficulty it gave the rider during the ride, and the rider is judged on his control of the bull. Lange and Avery lucked out by advancing to the championship round, despite failing to ride their bull in the opening round. However, with only five out of the 35 successfully riding their bull, the final seven slots of the championship round were filled by riders who previously thought that their nights might be over. “It means everything in the world to have a second chance, just like in life,” said Avery on getting a chance at the championship round.
Casey Webb/The Runner
CSUB’s graduation rates have steadily increased during the last six years. They now rank slightly below the CSU system-wide average.
This proved to be crucial in the championship round. Out of the five riders who legitimately qualified, including top qualifiers Keith Roquemore of Farmington, N.M., who scored 88.5, and Bobby Roberts of Visalia, who scored 86.5, none of them were able to ride their bulls, leaving the win wide open for those with the second opportunity. “I wasn’t even sure that I made it back to the short run, didn’t have much time there [to prepare],” said Avery on his second ride. “He kind of came out of the chute backwards and came around to the right. He was a good, solid bull. It was pretty fun.” “There’s a fire that’s been lit under me for the last five or six years. I haven’t made the finals since 2005, and I want to go back,” said Roquemore. “That’s where bull riders dream of being is at the finals in Vegas. That’s where the big money is at, the big boys are at, and that’s where I want to be at.” Roberts had a different advantage than most of the riders involved. He was able to have two entries in the qualifying round, which proved to be critical, because he ended up with two slots in the championship round. “Having two chances in the final round is a little mind-racking, because it’s back-to-back. When you get on a bull, you hold your breath. It takes a lot of energy out of you,” said Roberts. [See BULLRIDING, Page 6]
FACT Open House roosts on campus By Elizabeth Cortez Staff Writer
An open house event at the environmental studies area at California State University, Bakersfield featured live birds of prey, including a beautiful golden eagle and red-tailed hawks, for many local families on Saturday, Nov. 2. The event took place at the Facility for Animal Care and Treatment, a place where private citizens, wildlife biologists, and veterinarians can bring rescued and injured wild birds for rehabilitation. “I love the red-tailed hawks because they are the bigger birds — they are really beautiful. I just think their coloring is gorgeous,” said Cassi Cortez, a biology major at CSUB. The famous red-tailed hawks are often featured in films. Mistakenly, some people think they are vultures or confuse their majestic noise with that of eagles. During a tour by Cortez, a golden eagle named Holly was showcased to the spectators. The tour guide explained that golden eagles are very similar to bald eagles. The bald eagle, not actually bald, is the United States’ national bird, which was adopted as an emblem in 1972. In order to protect them, The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act was passed. Cleverly, FACT’s injured mascot with a broken wing is named Ill Eagle: a reminder that it is illegal to hunt or take these wild birds. “On average we take in between 250 and 300 animals a year,” said Marlene Benton, the program coordinator for FACT and the environmental studies area. [See FACT, Page 4]
Standing atop the WAC’s food chain
Brandon Barnes leads with confidence By Nate Sanchez Sports Editor
To the media, he is a first-team, All-Conference player. To CSUB men’s basketball assistant coach Jeff Conarroe, he is “The Mayor.” To his fans and fellow students, the Oxford, Miss. native answers to a different name: Brandon Barnes. Barnes’ earliest recollection of the game was as a fourth grader scoring 36 of his team’s 38 points. “My team wasn’t very good, but I thought I was pretty good for a fourth grader,” Barnes said. Despite his early connection with the game, Barnes truly started to love basketball during his sophomore year of high school. Barnes and his family had just moved to Oklahoma from Mississippi and Barnes felt out of place. “That was my hardest working year because I had something to prove,” Barnes said. “That was the first time I ever felt out of my comfort zone and I really fell in love with the game and hard work after that.” You can easily say that Barnes has taken to basketball simply because he’s good at it. But taking a step back – away from the great numbers, away from the court – you’ll see that it’s in his blood. [See BARNES, Page 6]
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Keep that freshman 15 away
Opinion
Volume XXXIX, Issue 7
THE RUNNER The Runner California State University, Bakersfield 9001 Stockdale Hwy. Bakersfield, CA 93311-1099 Telephone 661.654.2165 Fax 661.654.6905 E-mail runner@csub.edu therunneronline.com
editorialstaff
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Robin Gracia Robin.gracia88@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR Steven Barker SBarker220@gmail.com NEWS EDITOR Michael Wafford OPINION EDITOR Cache Cantrell FEATURES EDITOR Athena Skapinakis SPORTS EDITOR Nathan Sanchez PHOTO EDITOR Rebecca Grant WEB EDITOR Casey Webb BUSINESS MANAGER Brandon Mann BUSINESS TEAM Daysi Meza, Kassie Mullican, Brian Willhite ADVISER Jennifer Burger jburger1@csub.edu
newsroomstaff COPY CHIEF Melissa Taylor
WRITERS Monica Martinez, Selene Sorto, Ryan Barrera, Jacquelyn Russo, Myra Maldonado, Andrew Rivera, Selene Sorto, Shelby Parker, Jessica Martinez, Alexander Ripepi, David Aliaga, Josh Bennett, Sandy Ornelas, Bailey Torres, Elizabeth Cortez, Esteban Lopez, Josh Lofy PHOTOGRAPHERS Elyse Rivas, Tara Baraceros, Abi Khan, Juana Martinez
ABOUT The Runner is a laboratory newspaper published weekly, in conjunction with the Department of Communications at California State University, Bakersfield. The Runner believes all advertising to be correct but cannot guarantee its accuracy or be responsible for its outcome. ADVERTISING For information about placing an ad in The Runner, go to therunneronline.com/category/advertising/. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send letters to the editor to runner@csub.edu. All letters must be signed and verified for publication and should be no more than 300 words in length. Letters may be edited for clarity and length. DISCLAIMERS Views and opinions expressed in the Runner are not necessarily those of the editors, staff or the Department of Communications. Each quarter’s student staff determines content/advertising choices, with advice only from the adviser. Content creation and selection are all made by student editors. The staff of the Runner reserves the right to refuse or omit any advertising or material which advocates illegal activity, or which many be considered libelous, irresponsible or tasteless. The Runner does not accept tobacco-related advertising. COPYRIGHT Copyright belongs to the Department of Communications at California State University, Bakersfield.
Nov. 6, 2013
By Athena Skapinakis Features Editor
The dreaded Freshman 15 may be just a legend, according to a 2006 study published in the journal Obesity, but that’s no reason to avoid living a healthy and fit lifestyle during your college years. Because face it, we’re all bound to pack on some weight eventually. Why not develop good habits now? As a Fitness Nutrition Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, I can provide some helpful tips. Food Selection at School Can be tricky. California State University, Bakersfield is home to many things (like jaded students who pay too much in tuition and textbooks, hectic class schedules and swampy marshes to fight your way through just to barely make on time to class), but an awesome food selection isn’t one of them. The Runner Café isn’t what I’d call a haven for clean eating, but you can find some healthy options such as: yogurt, cottage cheese and peaches, salads, fruit, hardboiled eggs and pita sandwiches. Togo’s, near the science buildings, can offer some healthy choices as well. I advise packing your own lunch, though, that way you can measure out your portions beforehand and can also avoid succumbing to cravings as you pass by the salad bar and beeline for that bomb-smelling pepperoni pizza. Your Diet Should be balanced and proportioned efficiently. If you get in your veggies,
fruits, whole grains and lean protein meats (skinless grilled chicken, lean cut steak and fish), and drink lots of water, you’ll be in great health. Avoid sugary beverages like and sodas energy drinks. Even fruit juices made from pure concentrate (sugar) can be detrimental. Don’t forget your milk either. It contains key nutrients like calcium, vitamin D and potassium. Your body requires a certain amount of vitamins and nutrients in order to perform proficiently. If you need a better, more in depth guide on how to maintain a balanced diet, check out http://www.choosemyplate.gov/. The website offers daily food plans, eating healthy on a budget, healthy recipes and tracking your food intake. Snazzy, right? You Can’t Stop, You Won’t Stop Drinking. I mean, you’re in college and you want to party, party, party! I can’t blame you. It’s okay — if you’re of legal age — to have one drink (women) to two drinks (men) a day. However, just because you evaded drinking Monday through Friday and plan to make up for it Saturday doesn’t mean you’re in the
clear. Binge drinking can seriously screw you over. Your body’s natural response to alcohol is to immediately get rid of it. Other important functions being to cease and slow down (such as calorie burning). All the alcohol is accumulating as fat in your liver while you’re seeing enough blurred lines to turn Robin Thicke green with envy. Also, drinking tends to make you want to eat, and drunk-food options usually end up being the unhealthiest choices like Taco Bell or other fast food chains. Be Your Own Gym Class Hero By putting that cookie down and getting yourself to the Student Recreation Center. Your tuition pays for a free, very clean and fantastic gym. The Rec Center is seriously one of the nicest gyms I’ve been to out of what Bakersfield has to offer. The staff is super friendly, helpful and more than happy to assist you in getting on the right track for leading a fit lifestyle.
Because, let’s be real, you need to exercise if you expect to keep weight off. What’s wonderful about the Rec is that you can sign up for a personal trainer or attend fitness classes, which range from cardio and aerobics to yoga, core workouts and weight training. Did I mention it’s FREE? Just by walking 30 minutes to an hour every day, you’ll avoid gaining weight and maintaining health. Don’t be afraid to lift weights either. If you’re unsure about how to exercise, ask a staff member. There’s nothing quite like the rewarding feeling of being sore after an intense workout. There’s a Silver Lining To all of this madness, I promise. Okay, I know I was mean and told you to put the cookie down. Forgive me. You don’t have to give up every single food you love and crave for the rest of your life. It’s okay to indulge from time to time. The same way just one workout won’t make you a bodybuilding pro, one bad meal isn’t going to make your stomach expand like a big balloon. It takes time to pack on weight as it does to lose it. I’d have to say that I’ve fared pretty well in terms of leading a fit and healthy lifestyle while in my college years. I’ve been skinny, I’ve been average, I’ve been chunky and now I’m experiencing being fit because I’ve made some wonderful lifestyle changes. It’s not always easy, but it’s definitely worth it. And as the saying goes, nothing feels as good as fit and healthy does.
Cheaper alternative for buying textbooks Alex Ripepi Staff Writer
The burden of preparing for the next quarter is a mandatory hassle. Among the preparations is purchasing the required books for those classes. Fortunately for our wallets, websites like www.campusshift.com have search engines for finding the cheapest available textbooks. While renting books is often lauded as the most efficient and cost effective way of saving money, it can also be nearly as expensive, if not more, than a new copy from a different source. In the same vein of logic is the prospect of selling books after you’re done with them,
often back to the provider you’ve purchased them from, but many problems can arise from this option. For example, if a bookstore has no need of a book that you’re trying to sell, that loss of reimbursement may mean next quarter is going to be filled with Top Ramen. However, websites that allow you to search for textbooks streamline the process of finding the cheapest online source. With Campus Shift’s search for each title taking about 10 seconds, using this tool is extremely simple. There’s no sifting through long lists of results. The cheapest book is available for purchase new or used, for rent, as an e-book or for later buyback.
A quick search revealed in a very short amount of time that the textbook “A Brief Guide to Biology” by David Krogh can be bought cheapest used at $4.49, which is a 97 percent discount from the $148.53 suggested retail price. However, if you want the book new, you can still snag it for $31.47, a 79 percent discount. According to co-founder and CEO of Campus Shift, Jeff Lorton, the average savings from the search engine is 95 percent off of the suggested retail price of a textbook. The huge savings don’t all stem from one method of purchase, however. After a few cursory searches of random textbooks, the highest amount saved per title was varied
through each option of purchase. No one category appeared dominant in savings.
By Daysi Meza Advertising Manager
Perhaps the main reason your mother feels that she has to keep an eye on you is that she has grown used to being overprotective. She is supporting you to the best of her ability. Murray Bowen, a family theorist, defines independence as “individuation of self from the family of origin,” in which individuation comes from knowing that each of us is separate individual who also belongs to a group. Furthermore, Bowen suggests to individuals seeking to become more independent the following steps: identifying personal strengths, developing assertive skills, developing appropriate communication skills, setting appropriate boundaries with others, listening to others with whom we are in a relationship with, and considering the feedback they may give you. Start looking for ways to incorporate these steps in your daily life. They will make a huge difference in your attitude, and eventually on your interpersonal relationships. Keep in mind that being involved in a romantic relationship is not just a matter of compatibility, but most importantly, you must be able to connect with that person on an emotional level. This can only be
ʻA Brief Guide to Biologyʼ by David Krogh can be bought cheapest used at $4.49, which is a 97 percent discount from the $148.53 suggested retail price.
Lorton explained that the pricing variables weren’t static either.
“It depends on timing, demand, the particular book,” said Lorton. “I have personally seen a textbook price change dramatically in less than five minutes.” An infographic available on the website explains that day by day, the price of any given book can even double, making the search engine more valuable by allowing a repeatable, simple way of finding textbooks. So this coming quarter, fear not while purchasing books, because there is a streamlined process that can save you money to pay tuition, buy clothes, eat food or save for later. Campus Shift can greatly reduce the strain of a new slew of classes.
Dear Daysi: Parentsʼ divorce hinders relationships
“My parents got divorced when I was 5 years old. Shortly after that, my dad moved to another state. He does not put much effort in coming to see me. The last time I saw him was 12 years ago. Luckily, my mom has supported me all along. I am now 25 and attending college. In relationships, I don’t have the best luck. A lot of guys find me attractive, but lose interest when I don’t interact with them. I really want to find Mr. Right, and eventually form a family, but I am afraid my attitude will impede me from forming meaningful relationships. How can I be more independent?” Dear D.G:
I understand that you may not have the happiest family memories as you experienced the separation of your parents at a very young age. You may not have counted on the emotional support of both parents, but you are very fortunate to have the unconditional support of your mother.
accomplished by genuinely caring about that person. So next time you go out on a date, try to make your best effort to connect with that person by asking personal questions. This will allow you to get to know him on a more personal level. Just be patient. According to Janet Millar, a CSUB counselor at the Counseling Center, students facing similar situations should read books on relationships and self-development. They can also work through difficult times by talking with a clergy person, counselor, a trusted trained professional or even a family member. For anyone that may be having relationship issues, feel free to contact the campus Counseling Center. If you feel that you could benefit from discussing personal issues with a professional, please don’t hesitate to make an appointment.
If you have an issue that you would like to be addressed in Dear Daysi, submit your question via email to runner@csub.edu or drop it off at The Runner office in Modular East 1, room 103. All names and identities will remain confidential.
Are you a talented writer, photographer, or graphic designer? Looking for experience in business management, marketing, or advertising sales? Join the staff of The Runner for winter quarter! Sign up for Comm 214/414 to join.
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Six-year grad rates on the decline Nov. 6, 2013
By Steven Barker Managing Editor
While California State University, Bakersfield’s fouryear graduation rates have slowly improved during the last seven years, Dr. Horace Mitchell, president of CSUB, says six-year graduations are the national standard for academic performance. However, of students that remain enrolled at CSUB past their fourth year, the percentage that graduate has plummeted. According to a report released by the California State University Chancellor’s Office, CSUB’s six-year graduation rates have dropped from 44.5 percent in 2008 to 38.6 percent in 2012. Additionally, a 1998-2003 report of six-year graduation rates revealed that, of the four schools comparable to CSUB in terms of student body size and ethnic diversity – Dominguez Hills, Humboldt, Monterrey Bay and Stanislaus – CSUB’s six-year rates were the second-lowest in that group. By the 2012-2013 academic year, CSUB’s six-year graduation rates were 12.8 percent lower than the system-wide average of 51.4 percent. Dr. Richard Collins, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities, and Dr. John Emery, dean of the School of Business and Public Administration, agree that the difficulty of balancing life and college-level coursework plays
Casey Webb/The Runner
CSUB’s six-year graduation rates have trended downward since 2008, increasing the gap between CSUB’s performance against the CSU system-wide average.
a significant role in student graduation. “Our students have complicated lives,” Collins wrote in an email. “Their average age, while falling, tends to be higher than at other campuses like Chico or San Diego, and many of them have families and jobs and other complicating factors.” “Life gets complicated,” Emery said. “Just, life intervenes.” “A lot of students take the scenic route, where they have to drop out and work, or you have a broken romance and your broken heart messes you up for a half-a-year or something; that’s just life,” Emery continued.
Steve Walsh, coordinator of the Summer Bridge program, says the discrepancy between CSUB and the CSU system is not reflective of the quality of CSUB’s academic programs. “As for the 10 percent difference, it is not that we offer a sub-par educational experience,” Walsh said in an email. “Our staff are dedicated and creative, our faculty are gifted, our leadership is visionary, our programs are self-evaluative and relevant to the world of work. We create and innovate.” Mitchell thinks CSUB’s rates have, in fact, already begun to rise. Since the report’s earliest information reflects the sixyear graduation rates of the
freshman class of 2006, Mitchell thinks CSUB’s implementation of new academic programs has positively affected freshman that have enrolled at CSUB since that time. He also believes CSUB’s commitment to improving the academic experience of its students will reflect positively on the university’s rates when the reports are updated. No date has been given such an update to the reports. “As we continue to have a focus, an increasing focus, on students’ success, retention and graduation now, we anticipate these rates to go up over the next several years,” Mitchell said.
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Four-year rates improve at CSUB
[GRADUATION, Page 1] This year marks the second consecutive year in which Bakersfield has been named the least literate city. In their email responses, Collins and Walsh floated a number of possible solutions to CSUB’s graduation rates, including providing more academic tools for students and solving students’ remediation needs. Of the solutions mentioned, impaction –the act of limiting the number of eligible students that can be accepted to the University, and then accepting only the highest-performing students out of that group >– was not mentioned. When asked if impacting CSUB would improve the university’s graduation percentages, Collins, Walsh and Dr. John Emery, dean of the School of Business and Public Administration, all rejected the solution. Emery said that rejecting local students invalidates the fundamental reason for CSUB’s existence: that is, to serve its region. For CSUB, this includes Mono, Tulare, Kern, Kings and Inyo counties. Walsh agrees. “One easy solution would be to declare impaction ourselves,” Walsh said. “We would ‘cream the crop,’ and our retention rates would go up.> We could wait for all the students who are denied admission at other CSUs to find their way here, stay for five years, and move back home.” “I dislike both options because they work against the spirit that built this institution—the belief that our local, underrepresented, middle- to low-income students who have proven themselves in high
school have a right to quality higher education in their own back yard.”> Walsh added that, since 73 percent of CSUB’s students are first-generation students, the academic pressures they face obstruct them from graduating. Dr. Horace Mitchell, president of CSUB, thinks that, as the university gains access to greater financial resources, the ability to hire new academic advisors will help students mitigate the pressure of college. “One of the priorities we have moving forward is to hire more academic advisors,” Mitchell said. “We believe that, over the period of time that we’ve had these major budget reductions, we’ve not had enough academic advisors in place to assist students in being as successful as they needed to be.” He later added that advancing students beyond remediation would improve their ability to begin degree-related coursework, thus improving students’ likelihood of graduating. “The sooner we can get students beyond remediation, then the better chance they have of being successful,” Mitchell said. Mitchell is optimistic that CSUB’s graduation rates will improve in the near future. Walsh, too, is optimistic about the effect of increasing student support. “Many who are given an opportunity to succeed – the skills to achieve academically, the vision to conceptualize a better life, and the ongoing support and encouragement to persist –will do exactly that,” Walsh said.
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News
Nov. 6, 2013
FACT event raises funds to save wild birds
[FACT, Page 1] “We got an endowment several years ago that provides most of the funding that we need for the facility. [However], we also host fundraisers and open house events. That’s a way to get additional funds so that we can provide better care for the animals. Also, funds help to update our facilities,” Benton added. The event was fun for the visitors and the kids participated in a scavenger hunt. The children were instructed to act like a kit fox scavenging for things such as owl pellets, pine cones, seeds, and feathers. Upon seeing the first owl, the children
were amazed that the owl could completely turn its head in a full circle. “I think it’s wonderful that they are taking care of the animals. I like that this is a safe place where people can bring animals. When [FACT’s employees and volunteers] find them injured, and they rehabilitate them, and then their ultimate goal is to release them into the wild,” said Nicole Horton, a mother of two young children. “My favorite owl was the great horned owl that they took out up close, and we got to see it really near our face, and got to check out its eyes. It was pretty
By Bailey Torres Staff Writer
One Bakersfield, One Kern has selected ‘The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks’ as its community read,” said Skloot via email. “I’m excited and encouraged by how open the public and scientists have been to really discussing the issues raised in my book and using those discussions to begin working toward a future that involves more transparency about research practices and better communication and trust between scientists and non-scientists.” Skloot’s presentation will have a direct message to students. “Follow your curiosity. Take classes that interest you, even if they’re outside your major. When you hear things that make you curious, ask questions.” Skloot will be discussing how the HeLa cells and Henrietta Lacks first intrigued her. Henrietta Lacks was a poor, black woman whose cells were taken without her consent at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1951. Her “immortal” HeLa cells have been used in many medical advancements including the polio vaccine and gene mapping. In her email, she
Linguistic expert talks local lingo By Jacquie Russo Staff Writer
Abi Khan/The Runner
A great horned owl perches on a staff member’s hand at the FACT Open House on Saturday, Nov. 2. The owl can not fly due to a damaged wing and will remain at FACT.
impressive for the kids,” Horton added. FACT holds its free open house the first Saturday of each month while school is in session. The next one will be held Dec. 7. Students can attend and
learn about the conservation of wildlife through the rehabilitation project at CSUB. The open house hours are from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call FACT at 661-6543167.
explains that until she became interested in Henrietta Lacks, she planned to be a veterinarian. She said, “I would be a veterinarian today, and I’d still be
my God. I have to tell people about this.” In his email, Case mentions that at this event Skloot “will discuss her writing and research experience.” “Students can expect to have the opportunity to hear a published, best-selling author speak directly about her work – about how she was inspired to write the book, how she gathered the evidence, and the writing process that she went through,” continued Case. Case said that he is expecting about 2,000 people to attend the free event. There will be free parking in Lot I after 6 p.m. Skloot will give a 25 to 30 minute presentation on her book that will set the stage for the audience’s questions followed by a book signing. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. “I think the main thing is that students will have the opportunity to see that Rebecca Skloot is a normal, living breathing person just like they are, and that hopefully they will be inspired to go off and research and write their own work in the future,” said Case.
ʻHenrietta Lacksʼ author presents to students, community tonight
Best-selling author of “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” Rebecca Skloot, will be at California State University, Bakersfield tonight at 7 p.m. in the Icardo Center. This is the culminating event of the One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern project. The project is led by the Kern County Library and “encourages the entire community to share experiences related to a single book through discussions, educational programming, and entertainment,” according to the project’s website. Skloot’s visit is “an opportunity for all of CSUB and Bakersfield to come together as a reading community,” said Dr. Emerson Case, coordinator of CSUB’s first-year experience program, which assists freshmen in achieving academic success throughout their college career. The first-year experience program has joined with the Kern County Library on the One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern project. “I’m thrilled that One Book,
“I always believed that the facts of this story are so incredible that if I could get them out to people, they would have the same reaction I did.”
Rebecca Skloot, author
wondering who Henrietta Lacks was,” had she not followed her curiosity. In regards to the success of her book, Skloot expressed happiness and gratitude. She said, “There are so many factors in the publishing process that are out of the writer’s control. I knew all that going in, but I always believed that the facts of this story are so incredible that if I could get them out to people, they would have the same reaction I did, which was, “Oh,
For years, California State University, Bakersfield has hosted a series of lectures on linguistics that focuses primarily on California-based speech patterns. The series continued on Oct. 30 with a lecture covering the differences and similarities of language, as well as gender and age, found primarily in Bakersfield, Merced, and Redding. The lecture, titled “The Other English: California Sociolinguistic Variation in the Central Valley,” was given by Dr. Robert Podesva, an assistant professor in Stanford University’s Department of Linguistics, who conducts research on segmental phonetics, prosody, and voice quality. Segmental phonetics is the discrete part of a word that can be noticed either physically or by hearing it and prosody is the emotions of the person talking. Linguistic patterns in larger cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco are frequently studied. For that reason, Podesva’s collaborative research project, Voices of California, focuses on places outside those heavily populated cities. When observing the distinctions between vowels, such as the characteristics between “pin” and “pen,” Podesva said, “in most parts of the South the two vowels are not distinct (whereas in) most parts of the North they are distinct. In California we get a mixed bag.” Southern roots of speech can be traced to California in large part due to the 1930s Dust Bowl migration from states such as Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Kansas. “We can characterize the California vowel shift in terms of moving from these locations,” said Podesva. Podesva also said that “we have this peculiar thing going on where the back vowels are fronting the California English, the California vowel shift, but they are also fronting in the Southern vowel shift.” A back
vowel, according to Wikipedia.org, is when “the tongue is as far back as possible without creating a constriction that would be classified as a consonant.” One example of how Bakersfield, Merced and Redding residents differ is how they refer to highways. For example, Bakersfield interviewees showed a mix between “take the 101,” “take Highway 101,” or “take 101,” whereas in Redding it was almost always “take Highway 101.” Research was also conducted on how people fill verbal pauses with the use of “um” and “uh.” In keeping with most English-speaking areas worldwide, the three California cities studied showed that women favor “um.” However, as women age the use of “um” decreases greatly. The conclusion is that “um” is attributable to an age factor in women and not a change in the language. The research done on Bakersfield residents further showed country music as being important. When asked about Bakersfield, interviewees spoke about the South, Oklahoma, and Texas as well as the local Basque community and oil. Conversely, people in Merced spoke more about agriculture and people in Redding spoke more about water. Jacob T. Valenzuela, who hopes to someday attend CSUB, said as a former Northern Californian resident he could relate to Podesva’s findings. Valenzuela cited as an example friends who might say “I went out last night” versus others saying “I gone out last night.” The coordinator for these events, English professor Dr. Sophia A. Adjaye, said she tries to find California speakers from outside the local area to enhance student education and understanding of linguistics. These lectures are made possible by donations from the Warren family, and sponsored by the Department of English and Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society.
5 First Year Experience celebrates Halloween
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Features
Nov. 6, 2013
Along with the costume contest, students could enjoy food and drinks and also participate in many other activities such as a scavenger hunt, beanbag toss and a game where you guess how much candy is in a jar. The winner who guessed the number correctly received a prize. Costumes ranged from a gruesome zombie to a strong-looking construction worker. Among the many contestants, there were three chosen winners. With creative costumes to choose from, the four judges, J.R. Perez, Steven Walsh, Raine Brinsfield and Miguel Cuate, had a tough decision to make on who would be the winners. “We narrowed it down to the top three. This was a lot better than last year’s Halloween,” said J.R. Perez when he announced the winners.
“We want our incoming freshmen to get involved as much as possible.” Jesus Calderon
Elyse Rivas/The Runner
Costumes varied from simple to elaborate as students participated in First Year Experienceʼs costume competition Oct. 31.
By Ryan Barrera Senior Staff Writer
First Year Experience held a costume contest on Oct. 31 as part of the Halloween celebration in an attempt to increase student involvement at California State University, Bakersfield.
“We want our incoming freshmen to get involved as much as possible. So the Halloween events are for student involvement,” said Jesus Calderon, the data tracking specialist for First Year Experience. The contest was targeted toward freshmen. However, other students from CSUB could participate.
Third place was freshman Avery Clark, who dressed as a zombie. Dressed as Sora from “Kingdom Hearts,” Jack Redstone took second place. First place went to freshman Kelly Aragon dressed as Lady Loki from the Marvel Universe. Kelly, who was encouraged to participate in the costume contest by her teacher, spent two weeks working on her costume and said she enjoyed these types of events at CSUB. “I think these events at CSUB are really fun. I’ve been to volleyball games and letter day, but this was the first party type thing,” said Aragon. With First Year Experience getting students more involved in campus activities, students at CSUB can expect more events in the future. “The events are for incoming freshmen, so that they can get involved and come in and use our services,” said Calderon.
CSUBʼs Jazz Coffeehouse is wonderful entertainment By Jessica Martinez Staff Writer
CSUB’s Jazz Program launched its first Jazz Coffeehouse concert of the 2013-14 academic year on Saturday, Nov. 2, inside the Music Building. The concert featured four sets of musical groups: Bakersfield College’s jazz collective, CSUB’s small jazz ensemble, CSUB’s jazz collective and original compositions by CSUB jazz students. BC’s Jazz Collective started off the evening with a set of four songs. With only five students, their set started off timidly, but they were a great opening performance. The small venue and the limited seating created a warm and intimate atmosphere for the show. The Jazz Coffeehouse concert had a
great turnout for its first concert of the year - a near-full house. BC’s collective was led by trombonist Omar Murillo, a sophomore music major at BC who has been playing for six years and is also part of the CSUB Big Band. “It was actually pretty full. It was more people than I expected,” Murillo said. CSUB’s jazz ensemble took over after the BC collective. The evening’s performances included tunes by Horace Silver, Miles Davis and the group Snarky Puppy. The dedication of all four groups was evident by the sweat on their foreheads and their red faces. Their passion for the music was visible, and their energy was contagious. This show was a real gem. Each song impressed me more than the one before, especially the students’ original composi-
tions. Their hard work truly paid off - each and every single one of them shined. I made sure to buy a Jazz Club T-shirt, only $15, and all proceeds go toward the club’s funding. I will definitely be back for the next two shows. Jim Scully, the director of jazz studies at CSUB, announced at the show that the Jazz Club released its first CD on Nov. 2, and it is currently available for purchase on iTunes. It consists of 13 songs composed by CSUB students in the program. Alejandro Arvizu, a senior music education major at CSUB, said, “It’s a project we did over the summer with songs that we wrote the year before. We chose the best couple ones out of the year, and we over the summer recorded them. We went to the recording studio, we mixed and matched it and all that good stuff, and now it’s a
CD.” This show was the first of a three-part series that will be held throughout the year. All shows are held in CSUB’s Music Building, Room 127 beginning at 7:30 p.m. The next shows are March 1 and May 24, 2014. Admission for the Jazz Coffeehouse concerts is $10 for general admission and $5 for students and seniors. Seating for these concerts is limited to 100 guests; reservations can be made by calling (661) 654-2511. For more information, contact Jim Scully, director of Jazz Studies at CSUB. Keep up with other performances by “liking” their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CSUBmusic. Mark your calendars - these shows are worth it.
6 Sports ʼRunner basketball destroys Occidental in 41-point exhibition blowout
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Nov. 6, 2013
By David Aliaga Staff Writer
The CSUB men’s basketball team saw its first action of the 2013-2014 season in an exhibition game against Occidental College on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Icardo Center, where the Roadrunners rolled past the Tigers with a final score of 104-63. The Tigers kept it interesting in the opening minutes as they came out with high intensity while Bakersfield looked to melt away the offseason rust. Occidental built an early 6-10 lead, but a dunk by senior forward Corey Hall shifted the momentum in CSUB’s favor. The score was tied, 17-17, for the last time with nine minutes remaining in the opening half as Bakersfield showcased a scoring clinic. The ’Runners closed the half with a 25-point lead. CSUB continued its aggression in the second half as the team expanded their lead by shooting a little more than 55 percent from the field. The ’Runners’ athleticism proved to be the benefiting factor as Occidental could not find a way to limit CSUB’s points from the inside.
Juana Martinez/The Runner
A rider holds on to beat the eight-second mark at the Professional Bull Riders event at Rabobank Arena Nov. 2.
“I wanted guys to do what we needed to do to win. One of our biggest things today was we thought we can get the ball in the paint through the drive or get in inside on a pass,” said Head Coach Rod Barnes on the team’s ability to score in the key. Barnes was pleased with the way his team stuck to the game plan as they pounded the ball down low resulting in 72 points in the paint compared to Occidental’s 22. Redshirt-senior point guard Issiah Grayson led the team with 14 points and eight assists. After watching his team struggle without a point guard last year, Grayson said, “It just felt good to be back out there and feel the crowd atmosphere. I’m just glad to be back with my brothers.” Despite the Tigers’ Division III status, the ’Runners used the game as a learning tool. Redshirt-senior guard Zach Lamb said, “It was more about just working on what we do, so we can get used to playing how we play.” CSUB opens up regular season play on the road Friday, Nov. 8 against Washington State. They will return to the Icardo Center on Monday, Nov. 11 as they face UC Merced at 7 p.m.
Bull riding stampedes into Bakersfield
[BULLRIDING, Page 1] He also had a home field advantage going into the event, being from Visalia. “There’s not so much pressure, because I get to drive home and sleep in my own bed. But then there’s a little bit of pressure because being so close to home everybody around here knows [me] and they all want to see [if I] do good and you have that on your shoulders the whole time,” he said. For those hesitant to catch a PBR event, you are missing out. Many riders are young adults, which makes watching them even more impressive. While the action is short, the adrenaline and suspense of each ride is an experience to witness.
Abi Khan/The Runner
Redshirt-senior point guard Issiah Grayson directs the offense against Occidental College on Saturday, Nov. 2. Grayson led the team in points scored with 14.
Barnes leads team into conference play With the regular season rapidly approaching, Brandon Barnes and company anticipate making an impact in their new conference.
[BARNES, Page 1] CSUB Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rod Barnes is his father. “It’s a great feeling to coach my son,” Coach Barnes said. “Not too many dads get a chance to be around their sons at this particular point in their lives and I’m excited to be able to watch him grow.” From the Barnes family’s point-of-view, the closeness is an advantage and an excellent avenue for constructive criticism when Barnes isn’t playing well. The only disadvantage Barnes sees comes from the outside. “People think I don’t work hard or I have a lot of things because of my father,” he said. Teammates and coaches can attest to the opposite. Conarroe praises Brandon Barnes for his veteran experience and workfirst mentality. “He’ll be a workhorse for us,” Conarroe said. “He’s respected as a player throughout the league and he’ll do whatever needs to be done to help the team win and we know he’s focusing on that.” “He’s an aggressive player and he brings a lot of physicality to the game,” teammate and redshirt-junior guard Javonte
Maynor said. But basketball doesn’t consume all aspects of his life. Barnes enjoys watching movies and playing video games. He also enjoys spending time with friends and family. “He’s a great guy and he comes from a great family,” Maynor said. “Brandon’s a good guy,” Conarroe added. “We call him ‘The Mayor.’ As fierce and competitive as he is on the court, he’s almost the opposite off the court.” Barnes was recently named to the All-WAC first-team roster by conference coaches and the media. Amid the praise and expectations, Barnes finds that among all things, his faith keeps him grounded. “My ultimate goal is to impact as many people as I can for Christ,” Barnes said. “Hopefully the way that I live my life is a testimony or a help for someone to take a stand for Christ in their daily life.” As one of three team captains, Barnes shoulders most of the responsibility for the team’s success. However, Barnes will be the first to say that he is a part of a team, working toward
Abi Khan/The Runner
Brandon Barnes drives to the basket against Occidental College on Nov. 2.
the NCAA Tournament. “My objective is to serve,” Barnes said. “I’ll do the dirty work. I’ll dive for loose balls. That’s my role.” “Our main goal is to put the city of Bakersfield on the map. I see us holding up a trophy at the WAC Tournament in Vegas and heading off to the NCAA Tournament to go and make some noise there.” Along with all his success on the court, Barnes’ aspirations extend beyond the game. The senior is scheduled to graduate this year with a degree in business management. The ’Runner basketball team was ranked third in its first year in a major conference, but Barnes and company have much more to play for than first place. The WAC Tournament is in sight, and the ’Runners intend to win it all.