The Sundial @thesundial @dailysundial csunsundial THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017 | VOL. 59 IS. 8 | FREE
HTTP://SUNDIAL.NEWS
SUNDIAL SPORTS PREVIEW ISSUE
3
Jiu Jitsu Master
Ashley Sage prepares for an upcoming competition
4 Athletic Supersitions
Two Matadors reveal student athletes’ pregame rituals
8
Sports Opinion
Racial politics behind NFL players’ decisions to kneel
The Matador from Mendota
Illustration by ALEJANDRO ARANDA
DEDE OGBUEZE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF t @DAILYSUNDIAL THE CSUN men’s soccer team’s most promising young star is a true freshman from a little-known California small town. He made a name for himself by shattering high school state scoring records in his senior season. Like many of CSUN’s Division 1 athletes (aside from the towering men’s basketball players), you may not have
noticed Daniel Trejo walking through the Oviatt Lawn, grabbing a bite to eat from the food courts, or taking notes in class. Trejo doesn’t command a lot of attention off the field, but on the pitch he is a lightning bolt, capable of changing the game with a single touch of the ball. He is currently the team’s second-leading scorer, and as his collegiate career progresses it may become more and more difficult for him to fly under the radar. Q: So first of all, when did you start to realize soccer might be your thing?
“When I started playing in little leagues, around second grade, my speed was the first thing everyone noticed. The parents of the other teams would always ask if I was actually my right age because I was so much faster than everyone.” Q: So you got off to a fast start. When did you realize you could take soccer to the next level? “When I started playing in club leagues around ninth grade, I would easily score three to five goals every game. SEE TREJO PAGE 6
2
SPORTS PREVIEW
OCTOBER 5, 2017 | SUNDIAL | CSUN | SPORTS_SUNDIAL@CSUN.EDU
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GO MATADOR
Matador stars ready to shine bright
RYAN BASULTO SPORTS EDITOR t @DAILYSUNDIAL
CHANNON FLUKER
TAVRION DAWSON
ASHELEY BAMBERG
SAVANNA HORVATH
Big West Player of the Year 2016-2017
Leading rebounder (6.9), and was also second in points per game (14.1)
All-American in 4x100 relay team for the 201617 season
Started all 53 games, Horvath hit .338 with 27 runs, 12 doubles and 13 home runs
CHANSON FLUKER’S stardom is unquestionable as she progresses every year as a player, going from 13.8 points per game her freshman year to 18 points per game her sophomore year. Also improving her rebounding per game from 9.9 to 12. She is a two time First Team All-American, Big West Freshman of the Year in the 2015-2016 season and was named to the USA National U23 team. The junior from Pasadena was the first player in 25 years to lead the conference in scoring, rebounding and in blocked shots. Compiling 21 double doubles, Fluker was only the second Matador in CSUN history to win the top conference award. After Fluker’s most notable games of grabbing 21 rebounds against Long Beach St., 33 points against Hawaii and her 20 point 19 rebound performance against Seattle University, her numbers are evidence of her high ceiling. Channon Fluker will look to help the women’s basketball team improve their 18-14 record in the 2017-2018 season.
NO ONE played on both ends of the floor better for the Matadors men’s basketball team than Tavrion Dawson. His rebounds per game were fourth in the Big West, and points per game placed him ninth in the conference. Dawson’s ability to score on any given game is attributed to his outstanding field goal percentage during the 2016-2017 season. With a field goal percentage of 52.1 and a 3-point percentage of 34.9, Dawson showed that he must be respected on all parts of the floor. After the CSUN men’s basketball team finished with an abysmal overall record of 11-19 in the 2016-2017 season, Dawson will enter his senior year ready to help the Matadors take the next step forward to become elite in the upcoming season. During the 2016-2017 season Dawson was an honorable mention for the All-Big West team, and was Big West Player of the Week twice for his notable performances against UCLA and Northern Illinois. Tavrion Dawson, will look to expand his game in the upcoming 2017-2018 season.
AFTER COMING off of an All-American year last track season, Bamberg is someone to watch out for in the 2017-2018 season. Bamberg became an All-American after helping the women’s track and field 4x100 relay team. The relay team ended up finishing 10th in the nation with a time of 44.44 seconds. This time was the second fastest in CSUN women’s track and field history. The San Jose native is still a threat when it comes to running a longer distance. Bamberg was also a part of the 4x400 relay team that won the 2017 Big West Championship, with a time of 3:39.45. After Bamberg completed a 55.71 400m time in the 2017 Big West Track and Field Championships preliminary round, she showed her clutch factor and finished third in the final round running a 54.02 time. With a personal best of 24.70 in the 200m race and 54.01 in the 400m, Asheley Bamberg is ready to take on the 2018 season. She will look to help lead CSUN women’s track and field team to an 11th Big West conference title.
THE TRACK team and basketball team are not the only CSUN sports that should be excited in the upcoming season. Savannah Horvath is going into her senior year for the CSUN softball team and is already a three time First Team All-American. The best ability is availibity for most coaches, and Horvath showed her availability by starting all 53 games. During her 2016-2017 campaign she also attributed 41 RBIs, 12 stolen bases three triples. She led the conference in home runs, RBI and slugging percentage along with 10 multiple-RBI games and 13 multi-hit games. Horvath has not missed a game and had started as an infielder in all 167 games in the past three seasons for the CSUN softball team. The softball team’s 31-22 record will look to be surpassed as Horvath will be on the verge of becoming a historic softball player for the lady Matadors.
OCTOBER 5, 2017 | SUNDIAL | CSUN | SPORTS_SUNDIAL@CSUN.EDU
SPORTS PREVIEW
3
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu master prepares for competition ETHAN HANSON CONTRIBUTOR t @ETHANAHANSON ASHLEY SAGE will be competing at a tournament hosted at CSUN on Oct. 22nd. The tournament will be hosted by the Jiu Jitsu World League and Sage will compete in both the elite adult class as well as the elite youth tournament. Sage will be competing against opponents in her own weight class. “It’ll be fun because I will have all my friends and family there,” Sage said. “It’s going to be a great event and I think I’m going to compete well. This time I’m coming in with a better mental mindset. “ Sage is considered to be one of the best grapplers in Southern California. She recently posted two second place finishes at tournaments throughout the state and wants to compete at the highest level. “It’s a love that I carry with me,” Sage said. “Jiu jitsu is very therapeutic. If I’m having a bad day I’m going to roll. If I’m having a good day I’m going to go roll. That’s my Saturday night. I have friends that invite me to places but mostly I just want to go roll.” Sage has been practicing martial arts since she was nine years old. BJJ, which she started at 13 years old, has helped her both on and off of the mat. In April, her mother passed away from pancreatic cancer and so her intensity heightened to help handle her loss. “Just coming [to the BJJ studio] really helped because I was dealing with a lot,” Sage said. “It really helped me focus more.” It is a love for children that has carried her to Cal State Northridge where she hopes to become an elementary school teacher because of her experience teaching martial arts. She walks up and down the halls of Cleary Court and the Education Administration buildings
before heading back either home or to the studio to train students. Her high level of patience comes from helping raise two younger sisters while her single mom went to work to pay the bills. She is highly respected among the parents who watch her show students to throw punches but also maintain inner-strength as the intensity slowly picks up. Priya Sodhi, has had her two boys Krish, 7, and Yash, 4, train with Sage for
the past two years “I love her,” Sodhi said. “The fact that she is so personable and direct with the kids is what I like. Whenever she feels there might be trouble she doesn’t embarrass them. She handles it with them internally.” According to instructor Nathan Carlen, who met Sage when she was 13 years old, the intensity and competitive level was still the same that matched her fiery attitude.
“We like to joke with her sometimes that ‘her mouth’ matched her spirit,” Carlen said. “Nothing much has changed really. Ever since she first came in here she was always a hard worker. It’s just when you’re put into an environment you sort of just blend into it.” Sage is hoping to get a first place finish in her upcoming tournaments after suffering CONT JIUJITSU PAGE 4
ETHAN HANSON / THE SUNDIAL
Ashley Sage uses martial arts to inspire her students and hopes to use her knowledge to compete, teach and train at the highest level.
SPORTS PREVIEW CONT JIUJITSU PAGE 3
multiple defeats. It is a sport where losing can be mentally agonizing because of having to tap out. She admitted the constant losing was a struggle at first. “I was super bad with my mental mindset when I did my first tournament,” Sage said. “I just sat on the bench until they called my name, went up and lost. I lost by a collared baseball choke and I lasted only a minute and half through a six minute round. I can roll all day but there is something different about doing in front of people. Everything is intense, you’re freaking out but I learned the way to get better is just by going through the repetition.” Instructor Alexander Bondarenko is Sage’s main training partner and also trains with her Tang Soo Do and Dog Brothers martial arts. The duo will go from grappling to training for Dog Brothers which is derived from Filipino stick fighting. The two will switch up styles. Bondarenko’s goal is to become a full time instructor and also trains in Mixed Martial Arts and Muay Thai. He has fought in 10 amateur bouts and has only one loss. He says training with Sage is a brother-sister type of relationship. The two will go past 10 o’clock at night, training in which ever style the latter feels like choosing. “When you have a training partner you get used to the way each one works,” Bondarenko said. “She has great arm bars and she has improved greatly since we have begun working together. Her timing needs a little work but there’s no doubt that she is on a path to success.” Sage wants to do more than just compete in tournaments. She wants to use her talent to compete at the highest levels while still expanding her knowledge of BJJ. She hopes to one day travel to Brazil and learn under some of the world’s finest instructors. If anyone is expecting to see Sage outside of either school or her dojo, good luck trying to make plans. For Sage, Jiu Jitsu is a way of life. Her devotion is to family, her school and mixing it up from dusk to dawn.
OCTOBER 5, 2017 | SUNDIAL | CSUN | SPORTS_SUNDIAL@CSUN.EDU
Superstitions alter athletes’ success ATHLETES AND athletic teams are known for being superstitious. Although a team’s success is attributed to practicing and training constantly, players and coaches cling to superstitions as part of the equation to winning. You have seen this in professional sports. Whether it would be Michael Jordan wearing his North Carolina shorts under his uniform every game or even as weird as the famous baseball player Wade Boggs eating a chicken before every game, superstitions hold true for individuals. The CSUN women’s soccer team may attest to this as they are coming off an impressive season finishing as the 2016 Big West conference league champions. The soccer team has many superstitions they find themselves holding onto, as well as some individual ones. Former CSUN goalie Cynthia Jacobo arrived at CSUN midway through her freshman year for the 2009 season. She earned All-Big West honors in all three of her playing seasons, including Big West Goalkeeper of the Year in 2011. As far as superstitions go, she believes sticking to them is why the Matadors have been sustaining success. Jacobo shared some history about one superstition which has been with the Matadors for years. “The starters, and the girls who are on the bench will stand behind each other holding hands for the national anthem,” Jacobo said. “They link arms while they kick their right foot back against their teammate’s shin guard and once it is at the end, the end person will begin the same trend working its way back up to where the chain started.” Individual traditions are also a large
COURTESY OF GO MATADOR
4
part of the women’s team as well. Sophomore midfielder Gabriella Hinojosa, shared how she always has to write a Bible verse, Psalm 46:5, on her right arm or she feels she will not play well in a game. “It was a crazy experience rushing to find our athletic trainer Matt Brandt, to have him give me a sharpie before we started warming up against University of San Diego.” Hinojosa said. “In that moment it totally slipped my mind to write my verse on my arm, I felt as if I couldn’t function once I realized I forgot to write it.”
Freshman midfielder, Pay ton Jo Armijo, said team members who share an apartment do a little ritual before each games, whether that would be huddle up and do a handshake, or get your group together and do a certain dance. “We just want to have fun with it,” Payton said. Entering the upcoming Big West conference games, the Matadors may need all the superstitions to keep them as close as they can be to defend their title once again. Kirsten and Kaetlyn Von Meter are contributors to The Sundial
5
OCTOBER 5, 2017 | SUNDIAL | CSUN
Success Lives Here!
Living at CSUN Student Housing will offer you a full, well-rounded college experience in a safe, fun environment that sets you on a path to success. • Build lifelong relationships. • Gain independence and self-reliance in a safe environment. • Have access to year-round social functions. • Have leadership opportunities.
http://housing.csun.edu
• Receive easy access to academic assistance and emotional support. • Excel academically — freshmen living at Student Housing on average have higher GPA and graduation rates than freshmen living off campus.
To learn more, call or email the Student Housing Office: Phone: (818) 677-2160 Email: housing@csun.edu
6
SPORTS PREVIEW CONT0 TREJO PAGE 1
That’s when I told myself that if i start really working hard, I can maybe play after high school.” Q: Alright, so let’s back up a bit. Where did you grow up? “I grew up in Mendota, California. We’re known as the Cantaloupe Capital of the world.” Q: Cantaloupes? “Yeah. There are these huge cantaloupe fields where a lot of people in the town work. Obviously it’s a big part of who we are.” Q: Did any of your family members work there? “Yeah, both my mom and my dad worked there. I would work there too over summers.” Q: What was that like? Not too many people can say they’ve worked in a cantaloupe field. “It was really hard work. In the fields it’s hot and we work all day, pretty much nonstop. So for me, that’s why soccer is pretty easy, because in the fields there aren’t really any breaks. Playing soccer for a few hours isn’t too hard for me.” Q: So how was it growing up in Mendota? “Mendota was like our own little world. It’s a really small town so pretty much everyone knows each other. Our town is really close knit. I like that about it. I feel like no matter where I go, I’ll always have Mendota with me.” Q: How has Mendota shaped how you are today? “Like I was saying, it’s the work ethic. In Mendota, everything is earned, and that’s where I get my mentality.” Q: Is it nice to be in a big city now? “Honestly that’s not why I came here. I wanted to go to CSUN because I felt like it gave me the best chance to learn, be great at soccer and be at a program that can win games.” Q: What’s the biggest difference being away from home? “Well, L.A. is a huge city. Just being here at CSUN you see someone new every single day. I was surprised by how many people really go to school here, but it’s not a bad thing. Just something new, definitely.” Q: You mentioned learning, what’s your major? “I’m a kinesiology major.” Q: Why Kinesiology? “Just being an athlete, I’m curious about the body and when you get hurt you wanna understand the injuries, so that’s a big part of it. Really learning about the body. I would like to be a Personal Trainer.” Q: How challenging is it being a student-athlete?
“For me, it hasn’t been too hard. My schedule is pretty organized, so I know what I need to do every day. That helps me stay on top of things.” Q: Has it been easy to get adjusted with the team, being a star freshman? “Well at first it wasn’t because you have to really prove yourself to the upper-classmen. Just because you were good in high school doesn’t mean you step on the field and everyone respects you. You have to earn it and I feel like I did that, just by working hard.”
I want to bring CSUN a national championship, of course. That’s the only goal that’s really important to me. - Daniel Trejo Freshman Attacking Midfielder
Q: Take me through a game day, from the moment you wake up, right up until game time. “I like to wake up early in the morning and get started stretching. Then I’ll eat something light and get to practice before it starts. Usually on game days we have a light practice and then it’s classes right after. After class I’ll head to the trainers and get some treatments. Then I pretty much relax and get my head right before game time.” Q: During the season, do you ever practice on your own or do you strictly practice with the team? “I spend a lot of tie dribbling and working on skills by myself. I’m always at the SRC fields doing drills in my free time.” Q: Tell me about breaking records in high school. “In my senior season in high school I broke the california single-season record with 65 goals in a season.” Q: Wow. How is that even possible? “Honestly, it just happened naturally. My team knew I had the talent to score, so they put me in positions to make goals and I did the rest. My brother actually had the record before I did.” Q: Wow, so it runs in the family. How many goals did he have? “He scored 56. My freshman year I had scored 47 goals, and ever since I realized I had the potential to catch him I had been trying. Finally by my senior year I knew it
OCTOBER 5, 2017 | SUNDIAL | CSUN | SPORTS_SUNDIAL@CSUN.EDU could happen.” Q: What did he think when you got it? “He knew all along I would catch him. He was just glad it stayed in the family.” Q: What is your ultimate goal here at CSUN? Plan on breaking any records? “I want to bring CSUN a national championship, of course. That’s the only goal that’s really important to me. We’re so focused this year we want to go for it now.” Q: What do you think you need to do to accomplish that? “We just have to come together. We have all the pieces, but it will take more than talent to get there.” Q: Got it, so what should CSUN students and fans know about you? “Just that I’m here to help our team win as much as possible. And that I’m a good guy and I’m focused. Soccer and taking care of my studies is my main focus.” Q: Do you play FIFA? “I do. I didn’t bring my Playstation to school with me, but I definitely play when I get the chance.” Q: What team do you play with? “I use Barcelona.” Q: Something tells you’re a Neymar fan. “Definitely. That’s my favorite player.”
Photo Illustration by ALEJANDRO ARANDA
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DANIEL TREJO
Daniel Trejo has proved to play a significant role in the Matadors attacking scheme.
Trejo, the Matadros attacking midfielder, credits some of his play style to studying players like Neymar.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DANIEL TREJO
SPORTS PREVIEW
OCTOBER 5, 2017 | SUNDIAL | CSUN | SPORTS_SUNDIAL@CSUN.EDU
7
Women’s basketball preview Men’s basketball
preview 2017-2018
ETHAN HANSON CONTRIBUTOR t @ETHANAHANSON
ORLANDO MAYORQUIN CONTRIBUTOR t @ORLANDODMAYO
CSUN WOMEN’S basketball
team comes with many veterans along with a few surprises in the 2017-2018 season. Five players to watch: Channon Fluker: The junior was named Big West Player of the year after averaging 18 points per game and 12 rebounds per game last season. The center was invited to the U23 USA National Camp over the summer and will lead the Matadors into the 201718 season. Tessa Boagni: Last season she averaged 6.8 points per game and has solid mid range jump shot. The senior’s biggest improvement is defensively and will provide depth with Fluker in the paint. Serafina Maulupe: The redshirt senior last season averaged 13.5 points after transferring from Virginia Tech. Maulupe is ranked second in Matador history in three pointers and during preseason workouts has sharpened her trigger. If the Matadors are down with the game on the line, expect the ball to find Maulupe. Eliza Matthews: Matthews became the second consecutive Matador to win the Big West freshman of the year award after averaging 4.6 points last season. Matthews has an improved defensive mindset along with an infectious energy that exudes confidence with her team.
TREVOR STAMP / THE SUNDIAL
Women’s Basketball 2014-2015 bench on March 5, 2015.
Jordan Smith: The senior from Australia might be one of the secret keys to success for the Matadors this season. Offensively Smith’s confidence has grown as evidence by her three point shot being witnessed in the offseason. Surprise player- Taylor Nate: The fifth year senior played softball during her first four years as an athlete at CSUN and hasn’t played basketball competitively since high school. Nate has flowed seamlessly into the team by showing off refined footwork and toughness on defense. She may not start but might be a solid addition off the bench last a lock down defender. Coach Jason Flowers on his expectations of Fluker: “We are always trying to get better each and every day. Regardless of
what comes along with what our record is or what awards someone has won, that mindset remains a constant within our program. For us it’s just a matter of having Channon do what she does all the time.”
Women’s basketball games to watch @ OREGON- NOV. 10: The Matadors open the season against the Ducks. VS ARIZONA OR TCUNOV. 25- A win against either
a Pac-12 or Big 12 opponent would build steam. @ LONG BEACH STATEMARCH 3- Last season the
49ers won the Big West title .
COACH REGGIE Theus is looking for the 2017-2018 season to set the culture of CSUN men’s basketball for years to come. Youth is the overwhelming characteristic of this year’s squad as the roster features only three seniors. “The best part about our team right now is that we’re young. The worst part of our team right now is that we’re young,” said the former NBA player and now CSUN head coach. He commends his team’s enthusiasm and hard work, but acknowledges that there is an inherent learning curve that comes with youth and inexperience. The seniors on the team have taken on an obligatory leadership role to help expedite that learning curve. “As seniors… we have been trying to set an example for them and help them out,” said senior guard Reggie Theus Jr. Tavrion Dawson says he has high expectations for the young team. “Everyone listens, everyone wants to get better so our expectation is to win the Big West and become champions. I think we are very capable of that,” said Dawson, an honorable mention in last year’s
Big West Conference. The Matadors come into the 2017-2018 season looking to improve from last year’s overall 11-19 record and 7-9 Big West record. Last year’s squad secured a Big West tournament berth as the sixth seed and saw a quarter-final exit after a loss to California State Fullerton. Theus believes that this year’s schedule will be more competitive relative to the team’s talent level. They kick off the season in the Matadome on Nov. 10 against Life Pacific College before hitting the road to compete in the Cancun Challenge, making stops in Fresno and Virginia before touching down to play in Cancun, Mexico on Nov. 21. The team will continue to play non-conference games throughout the month of September before they kick off Big West play against Hawai’i on Jan. 16. Theus says the team is very much in “discovery mode” and that there are three things they need to do to be successful, “We have to be a good rebounding team, we have to be good in transition and we have to have a solid base for our team defense.” Despite being in “discovery mode,” he believes in his team, “I think this is a team that is going to take the CSUN basketball program to the next level. This is the start of what I believe is going to be a great run for us.”
8
SPORTS OPINION
OCTOBER 5, 2017 | SUNDIAL | CSUN | SPORTS_SUNDIAL@CSUN.EDU
A nation divided between “us” and “them”
W
hen former San Francisco 49ers qua r terback Colin Kaepernick chose to kneel instead of standing during the national anthem last season in protest of police brutality, he received a great deal of criticism. Last week he got it from a very particular source: President Donald J. Trump. Instead of acknowledging the problem or ignoring it altogether, Trump decided to condemn the protests at a rally in Alabama, calling athletes like Kaepernick who have since joined the protest “sons of b------,” and suggesting the NFL should fire athletes who kneel during the anthem. Seemingly missing the point behind the protests, Trump called it a “disrespect to our great American f lag,” and a “total disrespect of our heritage, a total disrespect of ever ything that we stand for.” He also implied that it ruins the game when “you see those people taking the knee when they play our great national anthem.” W ho is Trump talking to, or about, when he says “our” and “we” and “those people”? Let us recap: in August, Trump implied that some of the white supremacists that marched in Charlottesville, Virginia, a march that resulted in the death of a civil rights activist, were “very fine people” and implied there were faults “on many sides.” A month later, he called black athletes that peacefully protest racism “sons of b------,” and fired off several ang r y tweets suggesting that they should be thankful for the “privilege of making millions of dollars.” Similarly, Stevie Wonder kneeling during a concert prompted a tweet from
former Republican Cong ressman Joe Walsh, calling him, “another ungrateful black multi-millionaire.” Who is he ungrateful to? Whose “heritage” was Trump talking about? Let’s be clear, this protest was never about the f lag, it is about racial injustice. At the beginning of his protest in 2016, Kaepernick told NFL media “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a f lag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” “There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder,” he said. The notion that black celebrities who choose to protest injustice are “ungrateful” is not only incredibly degrading, not to mention wrong, but also very telling of the mindset of Trump and his supporters; it implies that a black professional athlete’s wealth and success isn’t earned, but rather given to them. There is this perceived ownership of black culture, and black people in particular. Black people are here for our entertainment. Black people are celebrated when they contribute to our entertainment. But a black person with a voice? The First Amendment seemingly no longer applies. People rallying in the name of white supremacy elicited an awfully untroubled attitude from Trump, but when a black athlete knelt on a field, he was a “son of a b----.” This isn’t about disrespecting the flag; black people know what the f lag represents because they have sacrificed for it more than anyone. Let’s not forget that African Americans have also fought and died for this country that discriminated CONT DIVIDED PAGE 10
JEFF SINER / CHARLOTTE OBSERVER / TNS
Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, front, and safety Eric Reid, back left, kneel during the playing of the national anthem on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
OCTOBER 5, 2017 | SUNDIAL | CSUN
9
10
SPORTS OPINION
OCTOBER 5, 2017 | SUNDIAL | CSUN | SPORTS_SUNDIAL@CSUN.EDU
Who is Trump talking to, or about, when he says “our” and “we” and “those people”? CONT DIVIDED PAGE 8
against and oppressed them. You can argue that if there is anyone who has the right to voice their opinion and speak out against injustice in America, it is African Americans. Time and time again black people have needed to prove their patriotism, but why? Are they not as American as their white neighbors? Have we forgotten that patriotism comes in more than one form? Athletes using their constitutional rights to peacefully protest against injustice is, precisely, patriotism. The American f lag is not just about U.S. history; it is about ideals and values. Incidentally, Kaepernick’s protest
of the lack of justice and equality is ironically mirrored in the criticism he has received for it. “Unpatriotic” was one of the kindest things people were calling him on social media at the outset of his protest. The act of protesting, regardless of whether it is violent or nonviolent has never been equal between races. Black people protesting in the streets are called thugs; black people protesting via social media are told they should lose their jobs (e.g. ESPN’s Jemele Hill); black performers, like Beyoncé, and black athletes, like Kaepernick, are pushed to “stay out of politics and be grateful.” It is as if they not only forgot their constitutional rights in return for what “A merica has given to them,” but their rights as citizens
and human beings as well. It is no different telling a constr uction worker or a chef that they cannot have a political or cultural opinion. Protest is uncomfortable. T he A frican A merican students who sat down at lunch counters during the Civil Rights Movement weren’t cheered on. There is never a method of protesting that people are unanimously comfortable with, but that shouldn’t take away their right to do so. So my question is when will it ever be OK for a black person to protest in America? Daniela Barhanna is a contributor to The Sundial.
Published weekly by the Department of Journalism at California State University, Northridge Manzanita Hall 140, 18111 Nordhoff St. Northridge, CA 91330-8258 News (818) 677-2915 • Advertising (818) 677-2998 http://sundial.news Editor in Chief Dede Ogbueze editor@csun.edu Managing Editor Marja Ziemer managing@csun.edu News Editors Lauren Turner Dunn Nate Graham city@csun.edu Sports Editor Ryan Basulto sports_sundial@csun.edu Senior Culture Editor Ivan Salinas ane@csun.edu Assistant Culture Editor Breanna Burnette ane@csun.edu Opinion Editor Samantha Fuller-Hall opinion@csun.edu Photo Editor Alejandro Aranda photo@csun.edu Visual Editor Kelcey Henderson sundial.multimedia@gmail.com Copy Editor Michael Herrera Steven Workman Community Engagement Elizabeth Vazquez Print and Projects Editor Fathima K. Mohaideen
Sundial Production Agustin Garcia Bradley Iverson Lisset Sánchez Illustrator Kiv Bui Marketing Manager Joey Ramirez sundial.marketing@csun.edu Marketing Representative Andrea Araiza Bello sundial.marketing@csun.edu Sales Manager Greg Wilson ads@csun.edu Sales Representative Addie Ehlenberger Kelly Salvador ads@csun.edu Technology Support Frank Addelia Web Development Cory Dransfeldt Business Development/ Entrepreneurship Anita Manuelian Publisher Gretchen Macchiarella General Manager Jody Holcomb Business Coordinator Sandra Tan
SPORTS PREVIEW
OCTOBER 5, 2017 | SUNDIAL | CSUN | SPORTS_SUNDIAL@CSUN.EDU
11
Music has different effects on student athletes AGUSTIN GARCIA REPORTER t @GARCIAAGUE IT IS common to hear music at stadiums prior to a sports game and this is largely due to the positive effect music can have on athletes. The common ritual of listening to tunes while being physically active is something that CSUN student-athletes do as well. In an article published by PBS, researcher Costas Karageorghis shared the various areas of the brain that react when music is played. It was shown that listening to music affects critical areas in the brain like the parietal, occipital, frontal and temporal lobe. “These parts of the brain are necessary for athletic performers,” he said. Karageorghis is also the author of “Applying Music in Exercise and Sports” according to an interview with PBS SoCal. “If you are thinking about using music for yourself, here are some ideas,” said Ashley Samson, a CSUN sports psychology consultant for athletics and professor kinesiology. “Basically, think about music that has some meaning to you because that is whats going to help you perform better.” The effect of music on student athletes varies. According to Samson music can help some student athletes during their practices and before games. When they listen to music before their practices and games it can help them get into a more optimal emotional state that they [might need] for their performance, but for others, it can just be background noise. Reggie Theus, Jr. plays for the Matadors men’s basketball team as guard. He shared what kind of music he listens to when he trains: “I listen to a lot of instrumentals, just beats and no words… The reason I do
The CSUN pep-band plays during CSUN sports games. Mainly, they are present on the soccer and basketball games.
that is because it allows me to think about what I need to do for the game and not hear anybody else talking to me… it makes room in my head to think about the things that I want to prepare myself mentally and physically for the game,” said Theus. Ashley Samson also said that, although she has not done any experiments for students who listen to music, it can have a significant effect on their performance depending on the impact certain genres of music has on them emotionally.
For example, some athletes listen to heavy metal, and that calms them down. “In general, people tend to believe that listening to heavy rock or intense rap music would pump up the individual and classical music would calm them down; however, it depends on the person and how she or he depicts the meaning of the song which would lead to either calm them down or hyping them up,” said Samson. “I do work with several student-athletes. Listening to music is sort of their pre-game...
TOMAS RODRIGUEZ/ THE SUNDIAL
That is something they felt very strongly about in terms of having their headphones in while getting their clothes on,” the psychology consultant added. More than a simple habit, music has become a tradition for sports players. “I can’t remember the last time I went into a game without listening to music,” Theus said. “But I don’t think it’s necessary. I think I just enjoy what it does for me physically and mentally, I think if I was to shut it off I would probably be okay.”
A Z U S A PA C I F I C U N I V E R S I T Y
m.s. in biotechnology MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AN INDUSTRY T H AT ’ S C H A N G I N G T H E W O R L D . A rigorous curriculum merges science, technology, and business coursework with field experience, all based on a foundation of ethics. Designed for working professionals, a flexible program format combines evening classes with online options. Partnerships between APU and major biotech companies open a door to the industry with opportunities for internships and careers.
APPLY TODAY
a pu. e du / b i o t e c h
21684
12
OCTOBER 5, 2017 | SUNDIAL | CSUN | CITY@CSUN.EDU ADVERTISEMENT