The Runner 9-21-16

September 21, 2016

California State University, Bakersfield

Vol. 42, No. 3

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THE BIG STORY

Runner Nights shatters record

Nearly 1,500 students attend the annual campus event

By Annie Russell Features Editor The smell of cinnamon doughnut cakes and cotton candy touched the air as the sparkle of neon lights lit up the atmosphere. The constant sound of music from the DJ led the vibe for the night with students rushing to the front to dance.

“It’s great, it’s actually been a pretty large turn out,” junior biochemistry major and junior year experience staff member Yvette Hernandez said. “Each time it’s gotten bigger.”

Besides the normal booths and event games Runner Nights has produced in the past, like cartoon illustrations and the super-slide, students were also offered much more to do such as: balloon darts, a psychic reading, photo shoots, trivia and strength test.

The most popular of the night was the Ferris wheel that had a line of students from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

CSU Bakersfield swimmers got the crowd rallied up and pumped as they waited to be dunked in the dunk tank.

Unlike the past Runner Nights, students rushed to the dance floor showing off their best moves while the DJ kept

lively beats streaming through the night.

“It’s a lot of fun, more fun than I thought it would be,” said junior theater major Phoebe Pyne.

“Everyone is having fun it looks like,” said senior political science major Gilberto De La Torre holding his prizes. “I like the games.”

Besides the activities, students were also given two free tickets for food and dessert. Students could choose between fries and corn dogs from The Curbside Kitchen or nachos provided by the school.

For dessert students were given either the choice of cotton candy or mini cinnamon doughnuts from Baby Cake Donuts.

This Runner Nights event has been the standout from all the other Runner Nights hosted at CSUB. “It’s been absolutely well, we exceeded our past numbers,” said philosophy and political science major Mike Kwon.

An estimated 1,500 students attended last week’s Runner Nights event exceeding last fall’s Runner Nights numbers and surpassing attendance from the Alessia Cara concert.

“We had 960 students last fall,” said Poole. “That was for

Ben Patton/The Runner

Runner Nights boasted a Ferris wheel, a 20-foot slide, and numerous other carnival attractions. The event was held on the Don Hart East Lawn from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

the first one that we had which was the carnival and haunted house.”

In regards to a smooth running event, the Whack-aMole promised to students was

FAIR PREVIEW

nowhere to be found.

“The Whack-a-Mole, I think there was a mix up,” said Poole. “They brought the water game instead of the Whack-aMole. But again it was more

people, 17 people were able to play that, where the Whack-AMole was only 14 players. So I think it worked out.”

For those who missed the first Runner Nights of the year,

there will be more to come.

Next will be held on Oct. 28, with a Halloween theme.

See PAGE 8 for full gallery of the Runner Nights event

CAMPUS

Students and faculty adjust Kern County Fair returns today with 100th anniversary to the switch to semesters Changing often brings growth, especially with team effort.

CSU Bakersfield has recently transitioned from quarter to semester. While it has caused many changes, faculty continue to adjust to the new switch as the semester progresses.

John Dirkse, who has been an administrator at CSUB for 10 years, knew of and prepared for all of the changes that were made to the campus.

“Students and faculty are spending 50 minutes less in class per semester,” he said.

“Over the year, you’ll end up with the same number of minutes that they [professors] taught, roughly than when they had quarters, its just now it’s spread over two pieces instead of three. Also the amount of material in quarter course, a little had to be removed to make

room for a semester course.”

Communications student Cecilia Torres, 20, has noted the significant time difference and resounding consequences from her past two years at CSUB. “I’ve noticed that a lot of professors run out of time. Sometimes you’re just getting into a discussion and it’s already time to leave,” Torres said. “It still feels more manageable than quarter system because the workload is extended over a longer period of time.”

Professors have had to adjust to teaching an extra class with 35 more students. Professor Donna Simmons has taught communications at CSUB for the past 20 years and has experienced some big changes with the quarter to semester transition.

“It is much more time consuming than you think,” Simmons said. “You now teach four classes instead of three;

when teaching four classes you have forty students and four preps. The time spent teaching, grading and prepping hasn’t gone down. Going from three to four classes is a big deal.”

Changed calendar dates prove to be another consequence to the semester transition, though not unintended. CSUB used to give students six days to decide whether to add a class or not. Now the last day to add extends to the second week of class, something faculty have to adjust to.

“Students come into their class for the first time and a week and a half of school had been gone,” Dirkse said. “The instructors are shocked at the students and are thinking ‘you think you can come in a week after I have started and haven’t missed anything? You think you can catch up and that you’ll still pass?’

See SEMESTER, Page 2

OPINIONS

SPORTS

ONLINE

ROTS: CSUB students react to the recent athlete protests. Page 6 Staff Editorial: See what our editorial staff has to say regarding the steep prices of parking at its effect on the CSUB campus.

Page 6

Volleyball: CSUB splits matches in Roadrunner Classic.

Page 6 Soccer: Special performance from CSUB women’s soccer player leads to nail biting finish.

Page 7

Podcast: The Runner remembers 9/11. Hear different accounts of some of our runner staff.

Multimedia: Watch our multimedia coverage of the Hispanic Heritage Month kick-off.

Ben Patton/The Runner

Kern County returns for the 100th anniversary with carnival games, rides, contests and livestock showing . Musical acts include Kellie Pickler, Boyz II Men and Hinder.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

NEWS ASI: SGA advisor Nicky Damania stopped by to speak to the ASI board about the Measure J bond.

Page 2 NSME: Faculty talks about the scheduling challenges that come with the Q2S change. Page 2

FEATURES Profile: Retired business person Jerry Matthews gives lecture at the business development center.

Page 3 Election: CSUB faculty and staff talked about the effects that religion has on politics. Page 4

By Marissa Patton Reporter

2

News

September 21, 2016

ASI

Student governments discuss Measure J

By Javier Valdes Editor-in-Chief Bakersfield College Student Government Association President Matt Frazer and SGA Adviser Nicky Damania stopped

by Fridays Associated Student Inc. meeting to talk to the board about Measure J. Measure J is a bond that was recently voted on by the Kern Community College District Board of Trustees to be placed in the upcoming November 8 ballot.

The $502.8 million local education bond is meant to help repair and upgrade the KCCD’s college campuses.

Damania addressed the board noting that the 22-plus BC campus buildings which were built over 50 years ago are in high need of upgrades.

“There is asbestos in the ceilings, and the walls are falling down, and the chairs are being tortured, and we still have overhead projection because we can’t put in projectors or a screen on the walls because if we did that it would come crumbling down,” said Damania. “That’s what we are living right now at Bakersfield College.”

Porterville College and Cerro Coso College are going through similar issues said Damania.

Damania described the bond

as a property tax. For every $100,000 that your property is worth, the owner will be charged $25 in property tax, going toward the bond, for about 30 years.

“That money would then go into a pot where the Kern Community College District would be able to use it to influx and upgrade their facility needs, as well as their technology needs with our capable classrooms,” said Damania.

Damania said that this in turn would eventually decrease classroom waiting lists because building upgrades would increase classroom sizes and space.

Damania mentioned how this semester Bakersfield College had about 3,500 students on wait lists because there was not enough space to house those students. The problem was not that they didn’t have the faculty to teach the classes but the lack of physical space.

Damania said how this in turn may cause students to spend more than the expected two years at BC. “If we get more classroom spaces, we can educate more students and we’re able to get them through community college and on to their four-year institution at a faster rate,” said Damania.

Damania noted that Measure

Javier Valdes/The Runner

Bakersfield College Student Government Association adviser Nicky Damania addressed the ASI board asking for help in educating students on Measure J.

J will not benefit this year’s students but it will benefit the students in the future.

Frazer and Damania were there to ask the board for help in educating the CSUB community as the election nears.

CSUB and BC student government boards are attemptingto collaborate in educating students on the upcoming measure.

“We don’t want to push yes on J,” said Damania. “We just

want to make sure that we are educating our students on what Measure J is.”

ASI Executive Director Ilaria Pesco agreed with Damania on the impact that the measure can have on students.

“This is a really good opportunity for us to collaborate with Bakersfield College and really help them out, especially as we know, there’s quite a few of our current students who went there,” said Pesco.

CAMPUS

NSME faculty work toward fixing course scheduling

By Samantha Melendez Reporter The recent influx of students at CSU Bakersfield has brought about change in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering department. CSUB faculty speak about some of the difficulties in course scheduling and provide advice for students in regards to their future courses.

Faculty in the NSME department are aware of how trou-

bling scheduling is for students.

Todd McBride, interim associate dean, said the department chairmen meet once a semester, previously once every quarter, to discuss scheduling in their department.

This meeting is for the benefit of students in order for chairmen to create the best schedules and avoid their department courses to conflict with each other. But arranging complementing schedules is not easy.

“Scheduling presents a signif-

icant challenge in all departments,” said McBride.

McBride said the quarter to semester system has also made course scheduling more difficult, as many science classes have changed their requirements.

“There are going to be some glitches along the way.”

While faculty work toward better course scheduling, others think the problem is larger than trying to make a schedule fit the student’s needs.

Jorge Talamantes, department chair of physics and engineering, said the problem is more complicated because of how fast CSUB is growing.

“When we were a small school we didn’t have this problem,” Talamantes said.

Talamantes added that there is a higher demand for courses and in order to take in all students, the university would need bigger classrooms. This is something students can see every day, as they walk to

their classrooms, the halls are packed with students trying to get out or get into a classroom.

Even after assessing the problem, faculty is not large enough to accommodate the recent influx of students at CSUB. McBride said the science department has spoken about getting new faculty over the next few years. It is not certain whether this will happen.

It will take time for CSUB to accommodate students and offer them more sections in a

course and perhaps even build more classrooms.

For now, faculty in the science department highly recommend for students to follow their academic plan, speak to their advisor and be flexible with their schedules.

Faculty have also recommended students take classes in their early years of college to avoid a delay in their graduation date.

CAMPUS

Students and faculty adjust to Quarter-to-Semester transition

For daily content visit our website at therunneronline.com

[SEMESTER, Page 1] Most students agree but the instructor thinks ‘no way!’”

Another calendar date is graduation.

CSUB expects and wants their students to graduate in four years. Students were previously taking 15 units to accomplish that goal.

Now they have the option of only taking 12 units but may finish later.

THE RUNNER Volume 42, Issue 3 The Runner California State University, Bakersfield 9001 Stockdale Hwy. Bakersfield, CA 93311-1099 Telephone: 661-654-2165 Email: therunner.online@ gmail.com therunneronline.com ADVISER

Jennifer Burger jburger1@csub.edu

Working as CSUB’s provost and vice president for academic affairs for over a year, Jenny Zorn acknowledges the importance of keeping the graduation goal.

“In order to stay on track for the degree students need to enroll in 15 units each semester... they [students] are not taking that many units,” Zorne said.

“While we anticipated that, we tried to encourage them to

take full loads. We are hopeful they will respond by taking full loads of 15 units in the spring semester.”

Along with Zorn, Associate Vice President for Academic Programs Vernon Harper acknowledges the adjustments everyone on campus has made.

Having been at CSUB since April, Harper has worked with both quarters and semesters.

“I think all of the adjustments,

editorial staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Javier Valdes

MANAGING EDITOR Esteban Ramirez

BUSINESS MANAGER Gina Butler

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Jonathan Wells

NEWS EDITOR Julie Mana-Ay

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Megan Oliver

FEATURES EDITOR Annie Russell

MARKETING MANAGER Daniela Miramontes

OPINIONS EDITOR Anthony Jauregui

ADVERTISING MANAGER Ricky Pimentel

SPORTS EDITOR Syleena Perez

ASSISTANT EDITORS Maria Rodriguez Alejandra Flores Devon Halsell

PHOTO EDITOR Karina Diaz

students, faculty, staff and our entire university are making are very short term,” Harper said. “Over the next year or so students will adjust to the differences in time periods and parking. Faculty will adjust their curricula more to semester structure. Everything we are seeing has been planned for and we’ll be part of an overall transition over the next year.”

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send letters to therunner.online@gmail. com. All letters must be signed and verified and be no more than 300 words in length. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.

ABOUT

The Runner is a laboratory newspaper published weekly, in conjuction with the Communications Department at California State University, Bakersfield.

DISCLAIMERS

Views and opinions expressed in The Runner are not necessarily those of the editors, staff or the Communications Department. The stafff of The Runner reserves the right to refuse or omit any advertising or material which advocates illegal activity, or which may be considered libelous, irresponsible or tasteless.

COPYRIGHT

Copyright belongs to the Communications Department at California State University, Bakersfield.

Features

September 21, 2016 FAIR PREVIEW

3

County Fair celebrates 100 years

By Annie Russell Features Editor

Ben Patton/The Runner

The Ferris wheel sits in display at the center of the carnival at the Kern County Fair as crowds of people walk around.

CSU Bakersfield students had the opportunity to jumpstart their fair experience with CSUB’s Runner Nights hosted on Sept.16.

The fair experience is far from over, the annual Kern County Fair is just right around the corner celebrating it’s 100th anniversary with the public starting today to Oct. 2.

Comfortable shoes are recommended, there will be many activities throughout the days to keep the public on their feet with many options such as, deep fried food stands, carnival games, carnival rides, cooking contests, rodeo activities, exhibits, concerts and livestock showings.

This year in attendance at the Kern County Fair will be big artist like R&B group Boyz II Men, rock band Hinder and country singers Kellie Pickler

and Clay Walker.

Fireworks will be set off after every concert this season.

“I like the atmosphere and everything. It’s cool,” said junior kinesiology major Khalil Reed.

However, Reed said it wasn’t much fun unless he was going with friends. “If I don’t get invited I don’t go.”

Unlike Runner Nights, the Kern County Fair isn’t free unless you are under the age of five or active or retired military.

Tickets for children ages 6-12 will cost $5, tickets for seniors age 62 and up will cost $9 and tickets for adults is set up to $10.

In addition, parking is $8 per car and wristbands for carnival rides are $30 each.

Houchin Community Blood Bank recently started off their annual Fair Wristband Drive with the theme this year being “Giving Blood is the Fairest Thing to Do.” Donors were given a chance to win carnival

wristbands, as well as adult admission tickets.

Donors who win the prize will be required to pick up their prizes today.

Students stressed from their job, homework or life in general can enjoy themselves at the fair which offers a sociable atmosphere, activities, and the smell of funnel cakes, corn dogs and fried gourmet desserts.

“Everyone goes there for junk food,” said senior English major Roberto Banda who is still deciding on whether to go. “I hear it’s really fun.”

Monday through Thursday the fair will be open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. On Friday Sept. 23, the gates will open at 10:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The following Friday Sept. 30 the gates open at 3 p.m. and will close at 11 p.m.

During the weekend the fair will open at noon and will close at 11 p.m. on Saturday and 10 p.m. on Sunday.

CAMPUS

SHRM host speaks business to CSUB students

By Zachary Fennell Reporter

Retired business person Jerry Matthews gave a lecture focusing on trade practices in the business development center at CSU Bakersfield on Sept. 13.

The Society of Human Resource Management hosted Matthews at Tuesday’s event where he spoke on different practices and exposed attendees to ways one should think in an

administrative environment.

Matthews, retired Southern California operations regional vice president of the Frito Lay company addressed attending students and faculty on the kinds of mindsets one should or should not have when looking to enter administrative careers.

“There were a lot of people who helped me along the way, so if there’s an opportunity to share some of my experiences with people who are at an early

stage in their career, I am happy for that opportunity,” said Matthews.

Matthews discussed his extensive background and career with the Frito-Lay corporation by providing tips on how to lead people in a business environment and what business owners should take into consideration when staffing a workplace.

Students and faculty alike attended the lecture, and each

What’s Happening Around Campus SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 21

Bakersfield Fan Forum Presents Harmony Holiday 4 p.m., Todd Madigan Gallery

27 Walter Stiern Library Presents Moctesuma Esparza 6-8:30 p.m.

Dezember Reading Room

We Poppin’ Wednesday SU Lobby all day

22

Family Movie Night “Instructions Not Included” 6:30-9 p.m., Runner Park Kegley Institute: John Quiñones “What Would You Do?” 7-9 p.m., Doré Theatre

Candlelight Event for Suicide Awareness 6-9 p.m., Student Union Patio 28 Resume Development CECE Workshop 12-1 p.m., DDH Room 106E 29 Volleyball vs. NM State 7 p.m., Icardo Center

Wellness Workshop: Stress Less 6-8 p.m., SRC Solario 23

Library Renovation Phase 1: Ribbon Cutting 4 p.m., Walter Stiern Library Volleyball vs. Grand Canyon 7 p.m., Icardo Center

24

2nd Annual Honoring Our Ancestors PowWow 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Alumni Park and Don Hart East Lawn

25

Men’s Soccer vs. CSUN 7 p.m., Main Soccer Field

26

Suicide Prevention Talk 6-9 p.m., Doré Theatre Fruits & Veggies-More Matters!

11 a.m.-1p.m., Red Brick Road Bakersfield Fan Forum Presents Kate Durbin 4 p.m., Todd Madigan Gallery

Brown Bag Discussion Do You Speak Mexican?

12-1 p.m., Stockdale Room

30 Piano Recital: Ian Gindes 7:30 p.m., Doré Theatre $10 General Admission $8 Seniors, $5 Students 1

Volleyball vs. UT Rio Grande Valley 1 p.m., Icardo Center

2

Men’s Soccer vs. Seattle U 1 p.m., Main Soccer Field

3

Breast Cancer Awareness Outreach 10 a.m.-1p.m., Red Brick Road

4

CSUB Art Lecturer: David Korty 5 p.m., Visual Arts Building Room 103

5

LinkedIn CECE Workshop 5-6 p.m., DDH Room 104K

Calendar sponsored by School of Arts & Humanities, Walter Stiern Library, and the School of Business and Public Administration. To be included, contact gbutler2@csub.edu.

had his or her own reasons for doing so.

“There were a lot of life lessons one could apply for anyone who just wants to learn,” said senior human resources major Michael Gaytan, 26.

SHRM often invites guest speakers to address the students and talk about their experiences, senior business major Jessica Salinas has attended some of the previous events.

“They teach us more about

their actual life rather than us just listening to it,” said Salinas.

This event and events like them are available to students from all parts of campus.

The events are not just for human resources majors; Salinas suggest all CSUB students attend these lectures.

Matthews also left the lecture by giving students and faculty a few words of wisdom and phrases to live by:

“Good performance yields good outcomes. Poor performance yields poorer outcomes.”

“Put your staff first, customers second, and shareholders third.”

“The cost of hiring a bad candidate is tenfold the cost of missing a good one.”

4

Features

September 21, 2016

POLITICS

CSUB informs on religion and politics

By Carla Chacon Reporter Chatter escalated in the softly lit Dezember Reading Room on Thursday evening as an estimated group of about 100 people waited for “The Election, Politics, and God” presentation.

The panel, featuring Vice Provost David Schecter, political science professor Jeanine Kraybill, and political science chair Mark Martinez, focused on the voting process and the effect religion has on politics.

“The Constitution was a design to act as a firewall against human failure, not as an incubator for Christian beliefs,” said Martinez.

Despite the founders’ belief in a secular Constitution, religion has played a major role in this nation’s politics and continues to do so.

As Kraybill pointed out,

“Anyone can run for political office without the need of a religion test…ironically, we, the American people, still have a religion test.”

She offered examples of presidential candidates who had to endure religion tests such as JFK not kissing Pope John Paul VI’s ring and, more recently, Mitt Romney’s explanation about his Mormon faith.

Although the United States is highly religious, “we’re seeing an increase in those not affiliating [with a religion],” said Kraybill.

But how does religion affect political races?

“Whoever wins the popular vote in a particular state, all of those electoral votes go into the bucket for that particular candidate,” explained Schecter.

Candidates use religion where citizens vote according to their own religious beliefs as a tactic

to get the popular vote and secure the electoral vote.

Attendees left “hopefully, better informed about the relationship between the church and the state in the United States,” said Martinez.

Barbara Ward, 87, a student at CSUB, working on her master’s degree in history said that the presentation, “…was very good. The three that did the presentation were great. I thought Dr. Kraybill was very enthusiastic.”

Clarice Poblete, 19, a nursing major, said the panel was “very informative.”

“I didn’t realize the relation politics had with religion. The most interesting point was the increasing number of nonaffiliated people.”

The Historical Research Center’s “Winner Takes All: The Race to the White House” exhibit runs through Dec. 15.

Ben Patton/The Runner

Audience members raise their hands in response to the question, “How many of you have already decided who you are voting for?” posed by David Schecter during the “Election, Politics, and God” event on Sept. 15 in the Walter Stiern Library.

CAMPUS

CSUB director works to reform vocal music program

By Victoria Coronado Reporter Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Angel Vazquez-Ramos, director of choral and vocal studies at CSU Bakersfield, is reforming the vocal music program on campus.

Angel Vazquez-Ramos grew up in a humble home of three boys, him being the youngest.

His mother, a science teacher, implemented not only the pursuit of education in her sons but wanted them to fall in love with learning.

“I think that’s what I learned the most from her, truly loving pursuing knowledge through education; that had a strong emphasis,” he said.

Vazquez-Ramos looked to his oldest brother Carlos as his inspiration for his passion in music. As a boy, he would sit completely mesmerized as his older brother would practice on the small organ their family could afford.

“I really felt that I lived with a musical genius” he said.

Five years after his first encounter with the organ, Vazquez-Ramos began taking lessons and eventually embraced the piano as his instrument. He attended a music school throughout junior high and high school, where he was required to be in the choir due to the difficulty of joining an ensemble as a pianist, and his choral path was created.

Heavily influenced and guided by his oldest brother, Vazquez-Ramos followed in his footsteps. He received his undergrad at the University of Puerto Rico and then received his masters in music education from Florida University, where his life was completely changed by his professors.

“I came thinking like a soldier,” Vazquez-Ramos said.

“I came thinking I was gonna save music education in Puerto Rico…I had no desire to stay.”

Until he was convinced by André Thomas, director of choral activities at Florida State University, to get some experience working in the field before

Karina Diaz/The Runner

Angel Vazquez-Ramos, director of choral and vocal studies.

he went back to Puerto Rico.

In the years that followed, Vazquez-Ramos worked with middle school choirs and decided to go back to Florida State University for his doctorate in Music Education.

Shortly after receiving his degree, he spent five years at Chapman University as assistant professor and director of choral music education. The program there was established

by William D. Hall, the found-

ing dean and artistic director for the Musco Center for the Arts at Chapman University.

Even so, Vazquez-Ramos decided come to CSUB. “I know that when I was at Chapman, I was living his dream,” Vazquez-Ramos said.

“I’ve been dreaming about building my own thing too and when I came to audition here, what I saw was the potential to build something unique and special.”

“I think that I can contribute to building our choirs and our vocal program and making sure we are providing enough musicians and music educators to the central valley [and] contribute to raising the profile of the university,” Vazquez-Ramos said.

Prior to Vazquez-Ramos’s arrival, Courtney Sangis, a fourth year general music major said, “[The choral program] was sort of lost and directionless. We knew what we needed to do, but we weren’t really driven to do it.”

Vazquez-Ramos has entered

into the program with hopes of completely changing the way the choral and vocal program has been run. Although the first year has probably been the hardest, he remains patient as the culture of the program shifts into tune.

“The program’s atmosphere definitely has changed since the establishment of new leadership. Changed in a positive direction. Mainly intensity has been brought to the building along with the sense of urgency and self awareness…But Dr. V has made the transition work, making his vision clear for the coming years,” said Jordan Espiritu, a fourth year music education major.

A new level of excitement, anticipation, and dedication has begun to show as the quality of the program has taken a tremendous leap forward.

“We have seen a great increase in both student enrollment numbers and community participation [in the choirs],” Sangis said. “That’s very encouraging to see and I hope

it continues in that direction so that someday it might be two or maybe even three decent sized groups that are all composed entirely of students.” ”I can’t wait to see how many more students hear about the awesome things happening here and decide to apply here,” Espiritu said.

Within the past year, the choral and vocal program has been given a breath of new life, and the change is certainly felt in the faculty, staff, students, and community members.

Vazquez-Ramos has earned the trust of many high school choir directors as he visits and gets to know the community and the prospective students in the area.

“I am really happy to be here and I am convinced that God put me in this place. I really believe that. I am happy and I am really looking forward to the future,”Vazquez-Ramos said.

A reformation of the choral and vocal program has begun at CSUB. The fruit of all the hard work is starting to show and can only continue to flourish.

Opinions

September 21, 2016

5

RUNNER ON THE STREET

By Brandon Redmon / Photos by Allison Lechman

This week The Runner asked, “How do you feel about athletes protesting at sporting events?”

Karina Rocha 23 Liberal Studies I see the reasoning behind [Kaepernick’s] protest and I am all for it. People should do something about it, and it takes someone brave to stand up and start it.

Edward Bae 20 Petroleum Engineering [Kaepernick] has the right to protest what he wants to protest and I feel like he is not forced to do what someone is telling him to do.

Jose Barajas 32 Communications

Toni Lopez 18 Sociology

I understand that [Kaepernick] is trying to bring attention to a certain issue, but as him not standing and honoring the national anthem, I don’t agree with that.

I think [Kaepernick] is pretty stupid for doing that because he isn’t standing for his own national anthem. And he plays football for America, so I think it’s pretty stupid that he did that.

STAFF EDITORIAL

Parking issues never end at CSUB Since the start of the fall semester, students are spending more time finding parking than rapist Brock Turner spent in jail.

That’s right.

For the past three months, there have been sightings of sedans, two door coupes and even four door extended cab pickup trucks spewing invisible emissions from extended hours of aimlessly waiting for an open parking spot to appear near their class.

Like alcoholics, abusing family members, driving drunk and failing to appear in court are all symptoms to the disease that is alcoholism.

Similarly, parking across campus, avoiding the $93 pass and risking a $35 fine for parking on campus without a parking pass are all symptoms for the disease that is CSUB’s lack of preparedness for an expanding university and insufficient parking to support its students.

The packed parking lots have even driven students to park across campus by Finish Line and the Marketplace, where citations have reportedly been seen on the windshields of vehicles who sport CSUB mem-

orabilia and/or expired parking passes that were once $45.

It’s apparent CSUB students are struggling with one of two things: The lack of parking on campus or the refusal to pay $93 for a 3 1/2 by 2 inch slab of adhesive, which leaves your windshield stained with a mucosal grime for the rest of your car’s lifespan and ultimately determines whether you park on or off campus.

Before the semester system, quarter parking passes were $45 and with a combined three quarters in a year, that added to a collective $135.

Since the switch to semesters, the price of parking passes rose to $93 and with a total of two semesters in a year, that’s a whopping 22-page sociology textbook or for a more sweet understanding, $186.

The arithmetic of the price increase does not seem justifiable because students pay more for the same amount of time they did when CSUB was on quarter system.

With that type of increase, you’d expect to see more voluble efforts to building parking garages, lots or even providing a shuttle service for students who don’t like putting steps on

their FitBits that cost a parking pass and a half.

Because the hike in prices seems more like a scam rather than a logical repercussion of the switch from quarter to semester, students are taking matters into their own hands and making their own parking spots along Kroll Way near the cul-de-sac before entering CSUB on the west side of campus, and as previously stated, the Marketplace and Finish Line are no strangers to CSUB student vehicles.

However, the circumstances that motivate students to avoid campus and risk parking their cars elsewhere are what needs to be addressed.

The problem here isn’t that students can’t find a parking spot or that prices are too high, it’s that our administration and facilities management lack a big picture mindset.

Rather than focusing on CSUB in 15 years from now, let’s focus on it today. Let us deal with the issues as they arise, instead of preparing for the future.

Like the color of a cement parking curb, there is a light grey lining to this debacle.

Facilities management is set

to begin development on a new parking lot adjacent to J and K, where one could get away with parking without a permit if lucky.

The development would have begun sooner, but the Bakersfield Business Conference had claimed the land prior to

facilities’ bid to establish new parking there.

Once again, if the snooze button hadn’t been pushed that fourth time, we’d potentially be sitting on new parking.

But the development will begin as soon as the conference is over at the start of week Oct. 10.

Our professors tell us to start on that research project due at the end of the semester during week two to avoid falling behind, the same should apply for a university and its infrastructure.

COMMENTARY

Kaepernick’s protests raise hell and awareness

By Riley Heffernan Reporter

49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sparked national controversy that has only escalated since his refusal to stand during the pre-game national anthem on Aug. 26.

In a statement released to NFL Media regarding his decision, Kaepernick said “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” Though not officially aligned with nor endorsed by the Black Lives Matter movement, his continued protests have brought Black Lives Matter back to the forefront of the American consciousness.

His protests even prompted President Barack Obama to issue a statement supporting Kaepernick’s right to free expression, saying “he’s generated more conversation around some topics that need to be talked about.” As week 2 of the regular NFL season wraps up, Kaepernick shows no sign of stopping.

And why should he? Kaepernick’s actions have divided his fans, NFL fans, the media and the American public, forcing

a national conversation about race and tolerance while also topping the charts in jersey sales, selling more in the first week after his protest began than he had in the previous 8 months combined. Kaepernick pledged to donate the profits from his jersey sales- over 1 million- back to the community.

Former 49ers quarterback Trent Dilfer said “this is a backup quarterback whose job is to be quiet and sit in the shadows and get the starter ready to play Week 1. Yet, he chose a time when he became the center of attention.”

There is an ironic symbolism in a white man telling a black man to “be quiet” and “sit in the shadows. ”As Kaepernick pointed out in response, “the fact that you say ‘you’re a backup quarterback, stay in your place’… THAT’s an issue.”

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson raised concerns that Kaepernick’s protests were disrespectful to the U.S. Armed Forces, saying in an interview with Hip-Hop-Wired.com, “every time I get to put hand on my heart it’s truly an honor to the military for me.”

Former NBA star Shaquille

O’Neal questioned Kaepernick’s methods on FOX Sports, saying “I would never do that; my father was a military man. [...] Why now? Why not last year?” referring to the fact that the system of injustices that Kaepernick is protesting has existed for a long time.

Athletes protesting during sporting events is nothing new.

As far back as 2012 following the shooting of Trayvon Martin, the NBA’s Miami Heat posted pictures of the team wearing jackets with their hoods up and the hashtags #WeAreTrayvonMartin and #WeWantJustice.

In 2014, the St. Louis Rams of the NFL entered the stadium with their hands raised following the shooting of unarmed teenager Mike Brown, and later that year The NBA’s L.A. Lakers wore black warmup jerseys with the text “I Can’t Breathe” in the wake of Eric Garner’s death.

Though the most notable protests came from the WNBA beginning in July 2016, when the New York Liberty, the Indiana Fever and the Phoenix Mercury wore black shirts instead of their normal warm up attire. The league decided to fine each player $500, and

each team an additional $5,000.

The usual fine for dress code violations is $200.

The NY Liberty’s Tina Charles posted the following statement to Instagram in response: “my teammates and I will continue to use our platform & raise awareness for the #BlackLivesMatter movement until the @wnba gives its support, as it does for Breast Cancer Awareness, Pride, and other subject matters.”

It’s important to keep in mind that #BlackLivesMatter doesn’t imply that other lives don’t mat-

ter. It’s meant to call attention to the existing pattern of white privilege that has prevailed in this country, giving way to radically disproportionate rates of violence, incarceration, and ultimately cultural repression against Black people.

We should also remember that there are black people who serve in the armed forces that some believe Kaepernick to be disrespecting, who fight for liberty and freedom in the U.S. and come home to a country that enables the extrajudicial

killings of minority races. And we should also remember that the most harmful thing we can do toward the fight for justice in this country is silence.

Kaepernick’s protests have consistently been the most effective and peaceful recourse for raising Black Lives Matter awareness.

If we don’t keep periodically thrusting the matter back into public focus, we run the risk of contributing to a system of injustice and hypocrisy.

6

Sports

September 21, 2016

COLUMN

Final goodbyes for Bakersfield Blaze Fans reflect on the end of era

By Esteban Ramirez Managing Editor As the final pitch was hit into the night sky for a routine popup for the Visalia Rawhide, the fans of the Bakersfield Blaze were filled with gratification and sadness.

For the past 75 years, fans in Bakersfield enjoyed Minor League Baseball, but it ended Monday, Sept. 12 when the Blaze fell to the Rawhide, 6-3.

The Blaze are now headed to the East Coast to join the eightteam Carolina League.

“I loved bringing my kids and it’s something to share with them, and now I know that it is not available for us and makes me a little sad,” said Jim Stevens, 40, who has been going to Blaze games for the past 10 years.

It was the end of an era.

Fans at the ballpark chanted, “one more game, one more game” but fans were denied.

For weeks, Blaze fans knew that the move was coming.

However, the moment the final out was called was still sentimental for those in the crowd.

“It’s emotional,” said Sean Johnson, 45, who has been coming to Blaze games for the past 28 years. “I’ll probably shed tears when I get home.”

The move wasn’t a surprise to most people because of how Sam Lynn Ballpark had fallen

far below the standard for Minor League Baseball.

Sam Lynn was smaller compared to other ballparks and was still built on the wrong side causing batters to have to stare into the sun when it was setting.

Still, for many people in Bakersfield, going to Blaze games had become tradition and something they will miss dearly.

“It’s a very avid fan base,” said Stevens. “We would just need a better facility. If we can get the AAA Dodgers team here, I’m sure it would be great here.”

Though there’s talk about bringing another team to Bakersfield, it should not happen at least not now.

It will be a disservice to any minor league team to have them play at Sam Lynn. It will also be a disservice to the loyal fans to bring another team and have that team taken away as well because of an underwhelming ballpark. I’m not saying it wouldn’t be great to have another team, that would be awesome and more than welcomed.

But there needs to be a better ballpark to show Minor League Baseball games.

“I love Sam Lynn and I love the history here… but if we are going to get a new team, I want a bulldozer to come and trash this place or keep it for

Chris Mateo/The Runner

Bakersfield community member Sean Johnson, 45, celebrates with fellow Blaze fans Sept. 12 at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

high school or something,” said Damon Ford, 39. “Build [a new stadium] over in the west side.

We won’t get baseball without a new stadium.”

Ford has been going to games for the past 3 1/2 years.

Johnson said it is not the fault of the front office.

“I blame the city, the county and local Dodgers’ fans,” Johnson said.

However, Johnson had plenty of good memories in that ballpark, whether it was this final game or seeing players such as MLB Hall of Famers Mike Piazza or even Ken Griffey, Jr. “I saw a future hall of famer [Griffey, Jr.] here, wearing ironically enough the uniform

VOLLEYBALL

CSUB splits matches in Roadrunner Classic

By Juan Garcia Reporter The CSU Bakersfield volleyball team opened the Roadrunner Classic with a straight set win against UC Riverside (5-7) Friday and would later conclude the Classic with a 3-1 loss against UC Irvine (5-9).

CSUB would start its match with UCR with an early 10-1 lead. It would win that set 2515. CSUB would play to eleven ties in the second set, until Roadrunners would pull ahead with three consecutive points to hold onto the lead and win it, 25-23.

The third and final set would include 17 ties and 8 changes of team in the lead.

With the score tied up at 23, the Highlanders would take the lead with a kill but due to an illegal substitution for the Highlanders, the point would be taken and given to the Roadrunners putting them at a 24-23 advantage.

UCR freshman Mickayla Sherman with a kill to tie the match and a service ace by sophomore Chelsey Doyle would return the lead to Riverside. A kill followed by two back-to-back aces would tie then secure the lead and finish the set for the Roadrunners, 27-25.

“We gained a little bit of confidence after watching Riverside this afternoon,” said CSUB director of volleyball Giovana Melo on gorunners.com.. “So we knew if we came out strong we would be in a good situation.”

The Roadrunners would later be edged by UC Irvine 3-1 in the final match of the Roadrunner Classic Saturday, Sept. 17.

AJ Alvarado/The Runner

Middle blocker Katie Dunbar-Lowe spikes the ball toward the during the first set against Northern Arizona Sept. 15.

The first set was the only win for the Roadrunners, which featured 13 ties and 7 lead changes.

A hitting error from Anteaters’ sophomore Idara Akpakpa gave the Roadrunners the victory, 26-24.

“The first match we came out strong and played as a team,” said senior outside hitter Carol Grasso “I feel like after the first one we just let it go and we weren’t as communicative.”

Melo added to the feeling of the first set.

“The only game that I thought that we played well was the first game that we won,” said Melo. “We weren’t the team that we were in the last two

games we played.”

CSUB looked strong in the first half of the set holding onto its lead. UCI slowly found its footing and won the second set, 25-23.

CSUB attempted to take the lead but lost the second set.

UCI won the match 3-1 over CSUB with a 25-18 win in the third set.

The Anteaters would continue their charge into the fourth set by further controlling the Roadrunners and limiting their hitting to zero percent and took the match 25-13.

CSUB will open the Western Athletic Conference Friday, Sept. 23 as it hosts Grand Canyon at 7 p.m.

of a Seattle Mariners’ minor league team, and we end it all here as an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. It’s kind of like it has come full circle.”

This may be considered the end of Minor League Baseball in Bakersfield, at least for the time-being, but the memories for the staff and fans will never end. “[The Blaze] were good family entertainment, decent quality of baseball and our piece of the grand, old game here in Bakersfield,” said Johnson.

While Sam Lynn will no longer showcase the Blaze, Hardt Field at CSU Bakersfield still offers America’s pasttime for baseball fans.

Ben Patton/The Runner

Designated hitter Justin Seager walks off the field of Sam Lynn Ballpark after a 6-3 loss against the Visalia Rawhide Monday, Sept. 12.

Sports

September 21, 2016 WOMEN’S SOCCER

CSUB wins behind five points from Delgado

By Peter Castillo Reporter Sophomore midfielder Sabrina Delgado put on a show as she had a hand on every goal as CSU Bakersfield beat the University of Idaho by of 3-2 on Sunday, Sept. 18 at the Main Soccer Field.

Delgado scored two goals, including a penalty shot in the first half and assited on the final goal.

She matched her career best for goals in one game and finished with five points in the game.

She earned Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors.

It was the second time this season she earned the honor.

“My first goal was just a reaction, I just turned and shot.

The penalty kick, I really focused on trying to get it to the corner,” said Delgado The Roadrunners (3-6-1) jumped out to a fast start thanks to Delgado who netted the first goal of the afternoon in the third minute.

She scored off of a rebound from a shot by freshman forward Darian Gambetta.

Gambetta was credited with an assist on the play.

The Roadrunners controlled the match for much of the first half. The ball always seemed to be on Idaho’s side of the field.

In the 41st minute, redshirt-sophomore forward Aminah Settles was taken down inside the box.

MEN’S SOCCER

Roadrunners snap losing streak

By Joe Macias Senior Writer

completely fouled. He was carried off the field. That was a tough one because the goal The CSU Bakersfield men’s came from that.” soccer team snapped its fiveCSUB sophomore midfielder game skid thanks to a late goal Jacob Alatorre was taken down from redshirt-junior forward

by Higgins before the goal and Julian Zamora. stayed down on the ground.

The game was all tied, but at CSUB trainers came out to the 71st minute, Zamora scored tend to Alatorre, who had to the game-winbe carried off

ning goal as after the goal CSUB (2-5) was scored by beat Loyola Higgins.

CSUB Marymount Grant came University 2-1 out on the Sunday, Sept. field as well 18. and argued Loyola Marymount LMU pressed with the referand had a ee that a foul chance to tie the should have match in the final minute. The been called which would have Lions put the ball towards the prevented a UC Davis third CSUB goal but was deflected goal from being scored. out by a CSUB player.

It did not stop there as after LMU had one last chance as the game Grant continued to it earned a corner kick with argue and question the referee 34 seconds to go, but the shot about his calls during the match went wide and CSUB broke its and had to be pulled back by losing streak. some of the other CSUB coach“It was a great response from ing staff. the whole team in the second CSUB strong after the first half,” said CSUB coach Richie half and had opportunities to Grant to gorunners.com. take the lead but couldn’t conOn Sept. 15, UC Davis’ junior vert its chances. defender Kyle Higgins scored “I thought our team did the game-winning goal at the excellent,” said CSUB senior 71:41 mark to give Aggies a forward Hugo Vinales. “Just a 3-2 win over the Roadrunners little unlucky. That’s how our on Thursday night at the Main season has been so far. It’s been Soccer Field. a little unlucky and little details “I thought our lads did really we have to work on.” good tonight,” said CSUB head CSUB is scheduled to host coach Richie Grant. “I’m exCSU Northridge Sunday, Sept. tremely disappointed with the 25 at the Main Soccer Field at officiating on the third goal.

7 p.m.

“We think that our lad was

2

1

Ben Patton/The Runner

Sophomore midfielder Sabrina Delgado attempts a shot against the University of Idaho on Sunday, Sept. 18 at the Main Soccer Field. Delgado scored two goals and had one assist.

CSUB

3

Idaho

2

The play resulted in a yellow card for the goalkeeper for Idaho and a penalty kick for the Roadrunners.

Delgado was selected to take the kick and drilled another goal to put the Roadrunners up 2-0.

Despite leading at the half and outplaying Idaho, CSUB lost all of its momentum in the second half.

Idaho knotted the game up at two after a sequence that saw them score twice in a 37-second span.

“I felt we controlled the momentum in the first half and unfortunately we let it slip, but it takes character to get back up and we showed that. So I was really pleased with them,” said CSUB coach Gary Curneen following Sunday’s win.

The second half went back and forth, but neither team scored again until late in the second half.

With just under five minutes remaining, CSUB was rewarded with a free kick on Idaho’s side of the field, and Delgado came to the rescue again.

Delgado placed a pass in the

center of the box.

Redshirt-sophomore midfielder Alexa Orrante was on the receiving end and headed the ball for the game-winning goal.

“When I scored the winning shot, I was like ‘Wow! We just won with like 4 or 5 minutes left.’ We’ve been losing lately so it felt good to finally get a win,” said Orrante after scoring the go-ahead goal.

It was Orrante’s third goal of the season.

Delgado earned the assist, which was her first on the season.

The Roadrunners are scheduled to play at Grand Canyon University in a WAC game Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.

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8

Spotlight

September 21, 2016

RUNNER NIGHTS

CSUB students dance the night away

Javier Valdes/The Runner

CSU Bakersfield students shoot water for prizes at Runner Nights celebration at Don Hart East Lawn Friday, Sept. 16.

Ben Patton/The Runner

CSU Bakersfield senior Enrique Valeriano tests his strength at Runner Nights at Don Hart East Lawn.

CAMPUS

Etelvina Castillo/The Runner

Brenda Nava organizer of 16 De Septiembre makes a speech at the Hispanic Heritage month kick-off at the Student Union patio on Thursday, Sept. 15.

Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off with performance

By Uzziel Hernandez Reporter CSU Bakersfield is currently in the midst of celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month which began on the Sept. 15 and will last until Oct. 15. Director of Campus Programing, Emily Poole, defines the event as being “a celebration of culture, of Hispanic pride, and first and foremost, it is a celebration of the Mexican independence on Sept.16th.”

“We’re in our third year of planning,” says Poole, “Campus programming takes the lead but we have representatives from all over campus: we have faculty members, cabinet members, staff, and student leaders who sit in the committee and help coordinate the events.”

Since the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, CSUB has hosted several events.

President of M.E.C.H.A., Guadalupe Nunez, 22, said, “M.E.C.H.A. was able to be a part of the ‘Hispanic Heritage Month Kick off’ held on Sept.

15.

“We were able to have members perform a skit of the people who were significant in the Mexican War as well as inform our colleagues that it is not only Mexican Independence Day, but other Latin American Countries as well.” Nunez said.

She added that earlier in the day they also hosted ‘El Reventon Latino,’ which was a dance for all CSUB students to come out and enjoy.

Despite the events that have already been celebrated this month, CSUB has several other upcoming events in store to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month such as the health and awareness fair.

“On Thursday, Oct. 6, the

health and awareness fair is going to be held in the Student Union patio at 11:30 a.m. The health and awareness fair is going to highlight the resources available in the community to Hispanics,” said ASI Director of Diversity Affairs Anthony Briseno, 20.

Briseno mentioned they will have on-campus and off-campus resources that are catered to both Hispanics and students.

“It will promote all these different auxiliaries that are available to students and educate students and on what kind of help it is they have,” Briseno said.

Some resources that are being considered at the moment are “Latina Leaders of Kern County, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, High School Equivalency Program (HEP), CAMP, and United Farm Workers (UFW),” said Nunez.

Javier Valdes/The Runner

CSU Bakersfield students dance the night away during the Runner Nights event at the Don Hart East Lawn Friday, Sept. 16.

Ben Patton/The Runner

CSU Bakersfield senior Damien Lomack danced through the night on Friday, Sept. 16 on the Don Hart East Lawn.