August 31, 2021

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Tuesday, August 31, 2021

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SCHOOL'S BACK IN SESSION STUDENTS RETURN AFTER BEING GONE FOR 18 MONTHS. SOME WITH CONCERNS. Page 3

Photo Illustration by Marc Anthony Lopez

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021

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Mixed feelings: students reflect on first day back

By Adam Solis Reporter

As the new school year is underway, many students enter this semester at Fresno State as second- or third-year students without ever having stepped foot on campus before.

“What I’ve liked coming back to school from online has been the face-to-face interaction of you with the teacher ... and seeing everyone back makes you feel like everything’s back to normal,” Aaron Vega Mendoza, returning senior and plant science major, said.

As of Aug. 30, 25,047 students are currently registered at Fresno State, Fresno State public information officer Lisa Boyles Bell said.

For many, this was their first time experiencing campus culture and studying away from home. Fresno State’s campus remained partially closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, with students taking virtual courses during a majority of the 2020-2021 academic year.

“Sometimes at home it would be noisy and I couldn’t have a quiet space, so being here is way better because I can actually focus,” Emilio Delgado, first-year criminology major, said.

An aspect absent during the virtual year was the experience of student activities and clubs,

Edward Lopez • The Collegian

Students congregated around the Henry Madden Library between classes. and Fresno State Student Affairs and Enrollment Management welcomed students with a live DJ and gift giveaways as introductions to campus life.

“I’m looking forward to participating in all of the campus activities like the student sunset and maybe join a fraternity or something.”

Preston Sisana, a freshman criminology major, said.

“What I enjoyed most was watching people because I’m a freshman and this is all a new experience to me, and I feel like I’m in a movie being able to see people go to college and just feeling the vibes and everything,” Sisana said.

Concerns have been expressed about the delta variant and how it may affect students’ classes and health. Comparisons are also being discussed about current in-person classes and

the convenience and safety of online learning.

Worries of overcrowding in classrooms has caused students to be apprehensive about the idea of in-person classes, causing discomfort over mask practices of other students.

“The university is trying to mandate masks but I don’t know, just looking around and seeing people without their mask on defeats the whole purpose,” Cindy Her, a senior majoring in child development, said.

Some classes remain a hybrid of both online and face-to-face. The rollout of hybrid courses in many class schedules is causing some frustration and confusion for students.

“One of my labs have been canceled and is being held online ... but I feel like it should be the other way around, where like all my classes that are lectures ... need to be online and like labs will be in person so that we get that handson feeling and experience,” Her said.

With classes back to in-person, the thought of transitioning lectures to a virtual format is something Her considers a safe option so students can use in-person time gaining experience through hands-on courses in labs for their major without having to worry about issues with class schedules or health concerns.

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THE COLLEGIAN • NEWS

Vaccines are required for fall 2021, students weigh in

By Edward Lopez Reporter Life returned to the Fresno State campus this week as students arrived for in-person classes alongside new vaccine verification status prior to reentry on campus.

Students are required to verify their vaccination status through the student portal - or request a medical or religious exemption - in order to return to campus.

Currently, the Fresno State COVID-19 planning task force is developing a system to verify and document the vaccination cards that students have submitted by students.

“We will be validating student vaccination cards through a third-party platform Point and Click used by our Student Health and Counseling Center (SHCC). An interface is currently being developed with our student common management system,” Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer Debbie Adishian-Astone said.

The current timeframe for the completion of the system is unknown at the time of reporting.

The Collegian reached out to a number of students, and many said the common classroom conditions included relatively full classrooms with little to no ability to adequately socially distance from one another.

Robert Delatorre, senior business administration major, described his classroom condition as a bit uncomfortable as he had yet to readjust to in-person classes.

“Today, my first experience was like a cramped classroom; everyone’s got their mask on. It was a lot of heavy breathing around me.

I'm going to have to get used to it because I've been virtual for the last year and a half,” Delatorre said.

Jayson Davis, 20-year-old junior psychology major, felt overwhelmed being back at the university after a year and a half of what he described as a rather boring virtual learning experience.

“It honestly feels pretty good. It's been a year and a half since I've been here so the atmosphere is pretty nice,” Davis said.

Having been vaccinated himself, Davis said that he felt safe coming to the university for in-person classes.

He noted that the general atmosphere made him feel safe with the majority of students wearing masks indoors and even outside.

“A lot of people are wearing masks. Inside my class, everyone was wearing a mask ... Not everyone is super close and ... they are wearing masks,” Davis said.

Jannah Geraldo • The Collegian

The club pathway across the University Student Union filled with activity after the reopening of campus for the fall.

Davis decided to take the vaccine for his job in addition to being able to come to the university in person.

Davis noted he also took it in part to avoid having to be tested for the COVID-19 virus on a regular basis.

Currently, the university is requiring daily health screenings for students, faculty and staff prior to arriving at the university through the Fresno State Mobile App or through the Fresno State website.

Hayley Lopez, freshman biology major, shared a similarly overwhelming experience with her first semester on the Fresno State campus after graduating high school last year.

“I think it's a little overwhelming because you have to be very independent … they just throw you in there and you have to figure things out on their own,” Lopez said.

The atmosphere of the university felt a bit standoffish, Lopez said, with many people not making eye contact, talking with friends and not interacting with others.

“I think it was really nice in my class. They had interactive things so I liked that a lot, and being in groups because I don't know anyone on campus so I feel like it's really hard,” said Lopez Lopez said she estimated that there were roughly 30 students in her class at the time but

noted there would likely be about 300 students during lectures, according to her professor.

“The day that I went to class there was only 32 students, but he said at lectures there is a lot, like 300,” Lopez said.

Although vaccinated, Lopez said she disagreed with the vaccine requirement for entering in-person classes on the university campus.

She said the language employed by the university during the vaccine rollout made it seem as if vaccination was the only way to return to campus for the fall semester.

“I don't think the way they handled it was very good. I think they shouldn’t have made it a mandated thing. It kind of seems like they pressured us to get it even if they didn't want to,” Lopez said.

Lopez acknowledged that students could opt out of the vaccination requirement with a medical or religious exemption.

However, she questioned whether or not Fresno State would accept her request in the first place.

As of Aug. 30, 8.47% of the student population is unvaccinated and requesting either a religious or medical exemption, Fresno State public information officer Lisa Boyles Bell said.

If given the option to take the vaccine or not, Lopez would have elected not to take the

vaccine.

“I am vaccinated. I didn't really want to but since the school kind of made it a mandated thing I got it … The vaccine is just an immune booster so you can still COVID regardless. So I don’t think it is necessary,” Lopez said.

At this time, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that “vaccines continue to be highly effective at preventing hospitalization and death, includinwwg against this variant.”

For others, the COVID-19 vaccination process took an even more personal toll.

Kaitlyn Escutia, a third-year agricultural science and education major, lost her grandfather during the previous semester.

“One you lose someone with COVID your world changes. This past semester I lost my grandpa and that made me fail a lot of classes so that really took a toll on me,” said Escutia.

She said the issue of whether or not to take the vaccine affects everyone and not just the individual, which is something she felt many people lose sight of.

“It's not just you, you have to think about everyone around you. Your lab partner, your study buddies and your professors,” Escutia said.

Escutia said that she believes the university is doing a good job in ensuring the health of students when coming back on campus, and attributes vaccine hesitancy not to the fear of the virus itself but rather the political polarization of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Registering for kindergarten, you had to have your vaccines. Every year you had to have your vaccine, you didn't have a choice,” Escutia said.

“I feel they don't want to get the vaccine because of political issues. I feel like it's not just because of COVID. All I can say is hope no one dies in your family that you are really close to. Once that happens, I feel like people will change,” Escutia said.

BY THE NUMBERS

8.47% of enrolled students have requested a medical or religious exemption from the vaccine.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021

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THE COLLEGIAN • NEWS

Fresno State reopens campus, but some students are staying virtual

By Jannah Geraldo News Editor Fresno State welcomed back students on campus for the fall, but some chose to remain virtual during what some students consider an uncertain time of the pandemic.

“I’m fine with being in-person as well, but during these trying times right now I don’t feel safe to do so,” Ashley Glougie, third-year business administration major with a focus in management, said. “Let alone being in one class with 250 students mixing with vaccinated and unvaccinated [students].”

The university currently requires that students on-campus verify their vaccination status or request a medical or religious exemption from the vaccine, but unease remains for some students concerned about the delta variant and COVID-19 transmission.

As of Aug. 30, 74.77% of students are fully vaccinated, 11.20% are partially vaccinated and 8.47% are unvaccinated with either religious or medical exemptions, Fresno State public information officer Lisa Boyles Bell said.

5.55% of students are unvaccinated and not accessing campus, Boyles Bell said.

Glougie said that a major reason behind remaining virtual for the fall is that she does not want to put her father at risk for COVID-19.

“I live with an elderly father; he's about 71 years old. He has health concerns of his own … So I'm going through my vaccination process still, but my problem is I could still bring COVID to him,” she said.

Jose Fernandez, first-year business administration major, also expressed a similar sentiment in electing to remain virtual for the semester.

“I chose to remain online because everyone’s health is important,” Fernandez said.

“With more cases rising again, the only right thing to do was to remain online. Not only for my safety, but for the safety of others.”

According to the Fresno County Department of Public Health COVID-19 data, there are a total of 113,854 confirmed cases in Fresno County as of Aug. 27.

Ricardo Lozada, second-year media, communications and journalism major with a focus in broadcast and sports administration, said he chose to remain online after seeing news that the delta variant was a growing concern in the United States.

“After I saw this news, I was found with the same uncertainty of 2020 where we didn't know what would happen ... I chose to stay online, as I didn't want to be moved online right in the

Melina Kazanjian • The Collegian

Students seated themselves at the benches and on the grass near the fountain across the Kennel Bookstore. middle of an in-person semester,” Lozada said.

He noted that it is frustrating to not have experienced events such as moving in with friends or the typical college life.

“Yes, it is a bit frustrating, but I think I overall made the best decision for me and my family, as COVID is, day by day, changing,” Lozada said.

Virtual learning has also offered the opportunity for students to discover a new means of learning while balancing school and work.

Raymee Corona, fifth-year forensic behavioral science major, said that she recently moved to Visalia.

After having her daughter in May, the accessibility of online courses made remaining virtual an easy choice.

“Initially, COVID-19 impacted me significantly because I lost my job and couldn’t pay rent. Luckily, I was able to move back home,” Corona said. “Virtual learning has helped me by allowing me to have a bit more freedom and flexibility to get assignments done while juggling so much in my personal life.”

With the course of online learning throughout the pandemic, Corona noted that she has grown used to virtual learning, but she still hopes to eventually complete her final semester back in person and have the graduation ceremony she dreams of.

“I also don’t mind adjusting to [online learn-

ing] as time passes if it means keeping myself and my daughter safe,” Corona said.

Accessibility and safety are common factors for many students remaining in online courses.

However, not all courses are virtual. Glougie said that there is a need from many students who wish to have the option to remain fully online during the course of the academic year.

Glougie said she currently has two courses in-person. After contacting the department chair of her school for help on finding virtual options for classes, she said she has also been reaching out to students through the Fresno State Book Trade and Advice Facebook group who are also struggling to transition to fully online courses.

“Virtual learning or virtual teaching is com-

pletely doable, especially if it's a lecture [and] if it's going to be a presentation,” Glougie said.

A class of concern was Glougie’s management 110 course, and after communicating with the management department, Glougie said she was able to attend the course virtually.

“One thing I've advocated big time is if we're going to have ... an in-person class, we should also have a virtual alternative, and I've advocated for that,” Glougie said. “I hope that the school looks into it, and I know there's courses, too, that we can't necessarily be virtual for and that's understandable. But again, we also made it through during the first year of COVID with these classes being in, you know, online.”

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Fresno State alumna wins Ms. World America

By Sydney Morgan Reporter

Fresno State alumna Chantea McIntyre is now a triple crown pageant winner after being crowned Ms. World America in Miami in late August.

McIntyre has previously held the titles of Mrs. California, Miss Fresno County and Miss Tulare County.

Her latest accolade, Ms. World America, promotes tourism, philanthropy and personal growth.

“It's about a well rounded woman, it's not just about who is the prettiest or who has the most expensive dress,” McIntyre said. “You have to be able to communicate, have a decent physique, be able to be passionate about something and explain it clearly.”

She competed for four days in events that consisted of beauty, interview, fashion, career and philanthropy.

This specific pageant was unique because there were 56 contestants in total, but they varied in age with contestants ranging from 20 to 50 years old.

“I wanted to see if I could compete against a 20-year-old and look like I belong.” McIntyre said. “Again, I’m really competitive.”

Her competitiveness stems from her athletic nature and upbringing. She grew up in San Bernardino, a suburb community located in Southern California’s Inland Empire located an hour away from Los Angeles.

As McIntyre’s skills progressed, she received all kinds of offers from schools but decided to commit to Fresno State.

As a student athlete at Fresno State, her schedule was packed full of practices, conditioning, games, study halls and classes. Still, McIntyre managed to find time to participate in some traditional Fresno State events.

“Football games were so much fun,” McIntyre said. “I remember going in the incredible heat of August and September and then freezing our butts off in November and October.”

One event McIntyre always looked forward to: Vintage Days.

“I remember going after the season, dragging my sore knees or sore back from the basketball court to Vintage Days and getting cotton candy,” McIntyre said.

However, a sore back and sore knees were the least of her worries as she had multiple injuries throughout her basketball career such as tearing her ACL and breaking her shin.

McIntyre had been a starter on the Fres-

Courtesy of Chantea McIntyre

Former Bulldog Chantea McIntyre was crowned Ms. World America in Miami on August, 15, 2021. no State Women’s Basketball Team since her freshman year and had worked her way up to team captain as a senior.

“Sweat. Bleed. Bulldog. Basketball,” McIntyre said.

During her senior year, injuries forced her to sit on the bench for most of the season. As the season progressed, she realized that pursuing basketball as a career post-college was not going to be an option.

“It was a very humbling journey. I felt like my identity [before] was solely a basketball player but at Fresno State I realized there was more to me than just this sport,” McIntyre said.

Through this realization, she found something else that wasn’t so hard on her body but would give her the kind of competition she craved.

“That’s when I entered my first pageant and I won,” McIntyre said.

McIntyre won Miss Fresno County in 2004 after learning a song on the harp and performing it in the talent section. The following year she had another win, this time as Miss Tulare County. Her talent for this pageant was choreographed and included a basketball medley with some added transitions.

“Pageantry is a different animal, there are mental aspects and preparation,” McIntyre said, “and you can still workout and see the benefit of working out.”

Her most challenging title to win was Mrs. California. She competed and lost in Mrs. California her first go around.

“It was a different rhythm,” McIntyre said.

“I was embarrassed about how terribly I did, so I treated it like a basketball game.”

She ended up hiring coaches, working with film and continuously asking herself how she could be good at this specific competition.

McIntyre said she felt better about her performance in her second attempt, and ended up winning first place and became the 2014 title holder. During the championship, she faced personal struggles with infertility.

On that same night, she finalized the adoption for her son, but fate had some unexpected plans to throw her way. As she moved up to the Mrs. United States pageant, she found out she was pregnant with her third child and ended up ranking 4th runner up while in her first trimester.

As her life progressed and with the help of a bachelor's degree in business entrepreneur-

ship, and a master’s in education, she became an administrator for Fresno Unified School District.

She worked at Fresno Unified School District for 15 years before deciding to quit to pursue her passion for pageantry full time, as well as being a mother of four. With her husband and college sweetheart, Micheal McIntyre, and her four children, McIntyre was ready to start her trek to Ms. World America.

However, after she quit, COVID-19 struck, and the competition was canceled until further notice. That didn’t stop McIntyre, and as a mother she was able to stay busy until the time came to compete again.

That time came in August, and after four days of competition in Miami, she won once again.

This time, she became a three crown winner, which meant she won at least once in Miss pageants where you can’t be married; Mrs. pageants where you have to be married,; and now Ms. pageants.

McIntyre described her pageant experiences in a few words: unorthodox, purposeful and both fun and competitive.

It was unorthodox because “I came straight from the basketball court to pageantry,” McIntyre said.

Purposeful, because she always had a cause to champion, such as advocacy for others who have or are struggling with infertility through her own experiences.

As for fun and competitive? “Those for me are synonymous,” McIntyre said.

With her devotion to competition, McIntyre plans on continuing down the path of pageantry. Her next stop: Ms. World International.

Courtesy of Chantea McInytre

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021

THE COLLEGIAN • A&E

PAGE 7

Critically acclaimed art exhibit memorializing the Stonewall Riots opens at Fresno State

By Miranda Adams Reporter It was a hot August night in 1969, and the Stonewall Inn, a tavern in New York City, was just about to make history.

The mafia-run bar could be argued to be progressive; it welcomed members of the LGBTQ+ community at a time when anti-gay laws were rampant.

A routine raid turned out to be anything but when patrons fought back against the long experienced discrimination, harassment and brutality.

Critically acclaimed art exhibit, "Nobody Promised You Tomorrow: Art 50 Years After Stonewall," is now showing at Fresno State's Phebe Conley Art Gallery to reflect on the uprising through the lens of LGBTQ+ artists born after this pivotal moment in history.

"My hope is that people just really engage with this exhibit and come in without any expectations other than to just sit with the artwork, engage, learn, and ask questions; because those questions lead to thoughtful conversations, they lead to new perspectives, they lead to being allies, they lead to friendships, and they can lead to healing," said Cindy Urrutia, director of the Center for Creativity and the Arts (CCA).

The various media combine to tell a story of revolt, heritage, care and desire.

The exhibit explores the pain of the past, but also the promise of the present and hopes for the future.

"As someone who is part of the community, when I see all of this work, it is really uplifting and reminds me that we have a very strong community," Erin Ryan, gala sitter and Fresno State art graduate student, said.

Urrutia adds that the exhibit is also inclusive of voices of color, such as African American transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson, who first famously said, "nobody promised you tomorrow," a phrase that remains a rallying cry for the LGBTQ+ community today.

Most of the artists featured are also members of the BIPOC community.

David Ordaz, a senior in the arts program at Fresno State, believes art can be an especially powerful tool for minority groups.

"Art is one of the strongest mediums you can use to communicate ideas, concepts and language," Ordaz said.

Kameron Thorn • The Collegian

The "Nobody Promised You Tomorrow: Art 50 Years After Stonewall" exhibit celebrates crucial LGBTQ+ voices like that of Marsha P. Johnson.

"I'm Hispanic, and one of the reasons Hispanics, especially here in the Central Valley, were able to gain political power was because of the Chicano movement, and behind the Chicano movement was a ton of art."

The exhibit was originally featured in 2019 at the Brooklyn Museum.

Additional latinx artists from the West Coast have been included in the Fresno State gallery.

A generous donation from the James B. McClatchy Foundation paired with the hard work of the CCA made the local showing possible.

The exhibit is free and will run through Oct. 31.

Doors are open to the public from Tuesday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday by appointment.

Masks are required.

A reception will be held at the Phebe Conley Art Gallery on Sept. 9 and a catalog of the artwork will be made available Sept. 6.

"Our House," a resource room across from the gala, will be open for visitors to sit back, relax, and read more about the community.

Kameron Thorn • The Collegian

The acclaimed exhibit is open through Oct. 31 in the Phebe Conley Art Gallery.

THE COLLEGIAN • A&E

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021

Deals and discounts for students

PAGE 8

By Ashley Flowers A&E Editor

Use your student ID or Fresno State email to score some of these discounts!

Food Boba Pub 20% off with student ID. Bulldog Burger Bistro 10% off with student ID. Hino Oishi 10% off with student ID. Ike’s Love & Sandwiches daily $7 special sandwiches from 2 p.m. until closing for students and faculty.

Pieology 10% off with student ID.

Shopping & Entertainment Banana Republic 15% off with valid ID for students and teachers.

Converse verify your student status online for 15% off.

Levi’s verify your student status online for 25% off.

Madewell verify your student or teacher status online for 15% off.

Apple Music Apple Music and (for a limited time) Apple TV+ for $4.99/month.

Spotify Premium Student plan includes Spotify Premium, Hulu (w/ ads), and SHOWTIME for $4.99/month.

Tidal Student Premium for $4.99/month, or Student HiFi for $9.99/month.

Vendila Yang • The Collegian

The Save Mart Center reopened once more to students and staff with a Bull riding event taking place the weekend of August 28, 2021.

Save Mart Center Opens Again

By Ashley Flowers A&E Editor

After more than a year without events, the Save Mart Center has reopened to the public again.

The Save Mart Center hosted its second major event, Professional Bull Riding (PBR) Velocity Tour over the weekend.

Fans and riders alike welcomed the long awaited return to the arena.

Kirk Rhinehart, Regional Live Event Marketing Director for this tour, explained that this event was originally planned “the weekend everything went down,” being delayed at least three times due to the spread of COVID-19.

Bull rider Bryan Titman was able to do local events in his home state of Texas, but was glad to be back to major tours.

“It’s amazing,” Titman said. “The louder the crowd, the more we feed off it.”

Titman, a third generation bull rider, started his career at 3-years-old mutton busting in Texas before working his way up the ranks to professional bull riding.

At 33 years old today, he’s been professional for 13 years now.

Titman is no stranger to the Central Valley either, having won at the Clovis Rodeo in 2018.

Wes Ibrahimi, stock contractor and owner of twelve of the bulls in attendance at the event, was glad to be back in Fresno, saying “There’s always a huge crowd, it’s very impressive.”

Ibrahimi has been in the bull riding business for 30 years, starting out as a bull rider himself in junior rodeos before getting into contracting.

“A lot goes into these bulls that people have no idea about,” Ibrahimi said, explaining bulls have to eat right and are oftentimes bred and trained just to buck. Bull riders consequently train to stay mounted on the bull throughout the bucking.

“It takes a special bull to go up against these riders,” Ibrahimi said “We like to see our bulls win, but we like to see our riders win sometimes because our bulls get more recognition out of it.”

Fans were just as excited as riders to get back in the saddle.

Corina Jaurigue and Trinidad Herrera traveled from Sanger for the event just for “something to do to be back to normal.”

After being confined by quarantine for the past year, Jaurigue was happy for any reason to get out of the house.

Due to the event’s multiple delays she had

previously received refunds for her tickets, only to purchase them once more for a chance to “feel normal again.”

Bull riders took rapid COVID-19 tests upon arrival at the Save Mart Center, something Rhinehart says they’re used to since PBR events started again in July.

While Rhinehart said there’d been “lots of tests” since the tour started up, he felt fortunate to have avoided any sickness.

Titman agreed that the COVID-19 protocols were part of the new normal for events.

“It sucks, but it's doable. When life throws something at you, you go with it.” he said.

The Save Mart Center's current stated health protocols rely on something of an honor system - a "self-attestation policy outlined by the State of California's Beyond the Blueprint Framework.”

However, starting September 20 all event guests will be required to show either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours upon entry.

Throughout the event staff was seen sanitizing high-touch surfaces.

Masks were strongly recommended, but not required at this time. It was the second event in two weeks located at the Save Mart Center.

OPINION

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021

The Collegian is back. Here is what to expect

PAGE 9

By the Collegian Editoral Board

On Aug. 23, students once again traversed down the walkways of the Fresno State campus, heading to their in-person classes after over 18 months of mostly virtual instruction.

Campus is back to normal - somewhat.

Areas that were previously closed are now back open, such as the Student Recreation Center and the University Student Union.

But the question remains: how long will we remain open?

We’re not all completely sure. The seven-day-average in COVID-19 cases in Fresno County as of Aug. 25 is 418. Just two months ago, it was just 23. This is about a 1,717% increase. That’s a lot.

This large spread in cases can make its way to Fresno State and could spoil the anticipation for a full year back on campus.

Despite this increase in numbers, we plan to continue to provide campus coverage to the Fresno State community, whether we’re in print or online.

Over the last three semesters, our staff has offered vital local coverage of Fresno State published solely on our website.

For now, we will return to a weekly print format and provide even more coverage than before.

We’ve expanded our staff, adding an extra reporter and a photo editor. We’ve also made it a goal to strengthen our social media presence and be more interactive with you, the community of Fresno State.

And even if we suddenly have to return to online classes, we will remain committed to providing the best coverage of Fresno State.

Here are some things you can expect from us in the first print edition of The Collegian: How are campus procedures changing as students come back to campus? Where does Fresno State stand in COVID-19 vaccination numbers? How do students feel about returning to in-person classes?

With the vaccine requirement at Fresno

The Collegian is a student-run publication that serves the Fresno State community. Views expressed in The Collegian do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or university.

Melina Kazanjian • The Collegian

Students relax in the Quad on the first week of school as in-person classes are back in session at Fresno State.

State, information continues to be updated on the number of students who are vaccinated and those who are seeking exemptions. Students have mixed feelings: some are confident with the safety of campus and some are worried about the resurgence of COVID-19 due to the highly transmissible delta variant.

We will continue to follow ongoing information about COVID-19 protocols at the university and will report on any changes as the semester continues.

What can students look forward to on campus? What events and exhibits are open for students?

The Save Mart Center has opened again after over a year without events.

We covered the second major event of the season, professional bull riding, and are looking forward to the rest of the events booked this year.

Fresno State always has plenty of local

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events, art exhibits and more to check out. Our staff visited the “Nobody Promised You Tomorrow” art exhibit reflecting on Stonewall 50 years later.

Our sports staff spent their Saturday enduring the 100 degree weather during Fresno State’s home opener against the University of Connecticut, where Ronnie Rivers became the

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new Bulldog touchdown king.

Although campus has reopened, not all students are planning to come back for the fall.

Alongside print, we will continue to publish stories on our online platform and will have stories accessible virtually for all students.

We hope to continue to be a place that serves you, the students. Stay tuned.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021

THE COLLEGIAN • OPINION

PAGE 10

SPORTS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021

COLLEGIAN.CSUFRESNO.EDU

PAGE 11

Ronnie Rivers tops record book in Fresno State opener vs. UConn

By Jesus Cano Managing Editor In January, Ronnie Rivers announced on Twitter that he would be returning for one more season with the Fresno State Bulldogs. After all, there was some unfinished business left for Rivers.

Heading into the Bulldogs’ opener, Rivers shared the record with Anthony Daigle, who played from 1991-1993, for the most career touchdowns in Fresno State history.

But it didn’t take long for the fifth-year running back to break that record, as Rivers caught a 61-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jake Haener to score touchdown No. 45, en route to the Bulldogs’ 45-0 shutout win over the UConn Huskies on Saturday afternoon.

It came at a special moment as fans were finally allowed back into Bulldog Stadium for the first time since 2019. Among the crowd was his family, which included his father, Fresno State football hall of famer Ron Rivers.

“This is my last season,” Rivers said. “To be able to play in front of Bulldog fans again was great. I know a lot of guys were excited and brought the energy. We can’t wait until the next home game when they’re out there again.”

Haener said he was waiting to throw the ball to Rivers for his record-breaking touchdown.

Rivers missed his chance last season during a game against Nevada. He ran the ball into the endzone for what would have been the touchdown No. 45 for him, but officials called the play back due to an illegal block by Haener.

“I’m happy for Ronnie,” Haener said. “He

The first touchdown was a short slant pass across the middle of the field to his favorite target Jalen Cropper. Cropper then burst down the sideline for the 86 yard touchdown. The other touchdown was a short pass to Rivers where he caught and jetted down the field for a 61 yard touchdown.

Those two touchdowns accounted for 147 of Haener’s 299 yards in the first half.

Haener went down in the third quarter with an injury, allowing quarterback Logan Fife to lead the Dogs offense for the rest of the way.

The redshirt freshman started off with an incomplete pass to receiver Erik Brooks.

Four plays later, while the Bulldogs offense was down at the UConn 12-yard line looking to score, Fife threw a pass that was tipped and intercepted at the UConn three yard line, halting the momentum of a long drive for the Bulldogs.

Even though Fife had a very rocky start, he did manage to settle down and complete seven of 13 pass attempts for 51 yards.

He also passed for his first career touchdown on a one yard toss play to senior tight end Raymond Pauwels Jr. Although Fife was capable of handling the pressure of against UConn, he isn’t quite there yet to be the starting quarterback in a big game, but he definitely showed he is a formidable backup.

Fife also showed that he can rush the ball running for 14 yards on four attempts.

The Bulldogs’ next game is against the Oregon Ducks at 11 a.m in Eugene.

Fresno State’s offense will have to weather the storm of a noisy crowd that Autzen Stadium prides itself on as one of the loudest home stadiums in college football.

Tyler Van Dyke • The Collegian

Jake Haener and Ronnie Rivers celebrate after Rivers scored his 45th career touchdown. works really hard on his craft and he’s really fun to be around.”

Arron Mosby, making his first start at defensive end after playing last season at linebacker, ignited the Bulldogs’ scoring drive as he forced and recovered a fumble to give Fresno State its first lead of the game with 2:40 left in the first quarter.

“That play I just gave my full speed,” Mosby said. “They just happen to not even block me.

Picking up the fumble was the hardest part.

Returning it for a touchdown was probably the easiest.”

Mosby went on to be named Mountain West defensive player of the week.

TAKEAWAYS CONT.

Tyson Maeva who is also a captain for the defense, each contributing a team leading four tackles. Gates totaled three solo tackles and Maeva with two solo stops on the day.

Staying aggressive all game long, the Bulldogs plowed through the UConn’s offensive line and got to Zergiotis, sacking him four times on the day.

It was the first game since playing Utah State back in 2020 where the Dogs were able to put the quarterback on the turf four times.

Forcing 11 punts, two turnovers on downs and Mosby creating that momentum changing fumble recovery for a touchdown in the first quarter all on just 14 possessions for the Huskies, the defense looked unbeatable and

It took a while for the Bulldogs offense to start producing, as the Huskies limited them to just 32 yards in the first quarter. Head Coach Kalen DeBoer attributed the offensive woes to his players just not being able to find a rhythm early on.

“I think that was probably the biggest thing,” DeBoer said. “We got the one first down with Ronnie and then couldn't get anything more after that… we do emphasize our capacity to do a better job on the offensive next week.”

It wasn’t until the first five minutes of the second quarter when Fresno State’s offense got rolling.

The Bulldogs extended their lead in the sec-

ond quarter on a four play, 69-yard drive that started with Jake Haener connecting with Josh Kelly for 37 yards. A couple plays later, Haener sailed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Ty Jones.

Jones, a transfer from Washington, recorded his first score as a Bulldog.

“I told him I was going to go to him on a fade in the red zone,” said Haener, who also transferred from Washington. “I wanted to give him a shot to make a play.”

Rivers added his record-breaking touchdown on a 61-yard touchdown pass from Haener to put the Bulldogs up 21-0 with 3:50 left in the second quarter. Next drive, Haener connected with Jalen Cropper for his third touchdown of the game, an 86-yarder.

As the clock expired, kicker Cesar Silva added 3 points to make it 31-0 at halftime for the Bulldogs.

Haener went down in the third quarter that forced him to miss the rest of the game. Haener ended the night completing 20 of 26 passes for 331 yards and three touchdowns. Backup quarterback Logan Fife entered the game but threw an interception in the red zone later in the drive.

It wasn’t until late in the third quarter that Fresno State added another touchdown, an 8-yard rush by senior running back Jordan Mims.

Fife rebounded in the fourth quarter, connecting on a short 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Raymond Pauwels Jr., making it 45-0.

The Bulldogs travels to Eugene against Pac12 powerhouse No. 11 Oregon. The PAC-12 network will broadcast the game at 11 a.m.

unfazed by the Huskies offense in the opener.

Slow, but promising start for quarterbacks Despite the criticisms of their slow start the offense was anything but slow in the second quarter to end the half.

Haener flipped the script in the second quarter offensively for the Bulldogs with 299 yards passing and three touchdowns through the air on 17 completed passes out of 23 attempts at halftime.

Haener also spread the ball around to 8 different receivers in the first half.

Granted two of those touchdowns were short passes that turned into huge gains for touchdowns.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2021

THE COLLEGIAN • SPORTS

PAGE 12

Three takeaways from Fresno State vs. UConn

By Tyler Van Dyke Reporter

After nearly two years without seeing the Red Wave, Fresno State football finally got to play in front of its fans.

The fans woke up to a rare 11 a.m. start time and the Bulldogs endured the blazing Central Valley sun, where temperatures reached up to 120 degrees on the field. Even through the heat, Fresno State dominated its season opener against the UConn Huskies 45-0 for their first win of the season.

Here are four key takeaways from the Bulldogs’ opener of the 2021 season: Offensive start not what they hoped for The Bulldogs came out of the tunnel looking fired up and ready to play their first game in front of 26,000 fans in attendance. But when it was their time to be on the offensive side of the ball, they had a very slow start.

In the first quarter, Fresno State punted

three straight times and only were able to convert one total first down for the entire quarter.

Fresno State’s starting quarterback Jake Haener couldn’t seem to find much of a rhythm to open the game. Haener only completed two passes for 6 yards on the first drive of the game resulting in a punt.

After running back Ronnie Rivers ran for a 16-yard gain on the first down of the second drive, Haener then followed that up with two passes that were complete for 4 yards and an incomplete pass on third down and six yards to go, leading to a second consecutive punt for the Bulldogs.

Their last drive of the quarter was the same result as the other two, with Haener having consecutive incomplete passes and then hitting wide receiver Keric Wheatfall for four yards on third and ten ending the drive on an ensuing punt.

The offense did start driving the ball down the field and scoring in the second quarter.

With a four play 69-yard drive that started

Fans make long-awaited return to Bulldog Stadium

By Manuel Hernandez Sports Editor Two Fresno State alumni reignite their love for football and return to the tailgating experience they’ve shared at Bulldog Stadium since being roommates in 1983.

Waiting for the opener against the UConn Huskies, Keith Storton and Jay Anderson sipped cold beverages under 100-degree weather while reflecting on their 35-year relationship with Fresno State football.

“It’s all about the experience,” Storton said.

“It’s all about connecting with new people, eating great food and socializing with the people that you really love and enjoy football with.”

On Saturday at 11 a.m., Fresno State football played against UConn in a game opener Bulldogs fans have been anticipating since 2019. In July, Fresno State Athletics announced full capacity for fans attending any outdoor sporting events, including men’s football.

The Red Wave surrounded the stadium with the smell of barbecue grilling and the booming chants of the Bulldogs’ fight song. The energetic aura was infectious as friends and family

caught up, laughed and shared food and drinks before the game.

“I love the idea of getting back to day games,” Anderson said. “We haven’t seen day games in the last few years. It’s been perfect.

It’s so nice to be able to socialize again. Meet some new people.”

The season opener showed the wide variety of fans that make up the Red Wave. Fans like Storton and Anderson plan the entire day in order to come early in the morning to watch.

“We come from a distance,” Anderson said. “ Keith comes from the San Luis Obispo area.

I’m from the Sacramento area. We got family and friends here in Fresno… so we put some effort into doing this.”

Anderson’s wife, Robin, dressed head to toe with Bulldog apparel, talked about their love for Bulldog football. back when Derek and David Carr played, former Bulldog quarterbacks.

Many noticeable figures were also present at Saturday’s game.

Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval and Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer made appearances in the Bulldog Stadium..

Fresno native and Houston Rockets No. 2

with a big completion from Haener to receiver Josh Kelly for 37-yards and was capped off with a nine yard touchdown pass from Haener to Washington transfer Ty Jones. Then, on a very quick one play drive Rivers took off on a catch and run from Haener for a 61 yard receiving touchdown.

Nevertheless, the Bulldogs offense cannot afford to have that kind of a slow start in the first quarter with the quality of opponents they will face like Oregon and UCLA.

Defense looked every bit impressive in shutout win Saturday was the first time since 2017 that the Bulldogs were able to complete a shutout, with the last game being against New Mexico winning that game 38-0.

Defensively, the Bulldogs looked dominant against UConn’s quarterback Jack Zergiotis and the Huskies offense.

The Bulldogs dominated in the first quarter when defensive end Arron Mosby sacked Zer-

overall pick Jalen Green also made an appearance in the stadium and was shown on the Bulldog’s Jumbotron, where he recieved a warm reception by the Red Wave.

Curtis Stubblefield was a former member of the 1988 Fresno State football team that won the Big West title before going on to win the California Raisin Bowl.

Stubblefield talked about the difficulties he dealt with when games were closed to the public.

Tyler Van Dyke • The Collegian

Fresno State fans showed up to watch the game on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021.

“It was very depressing and sad. You especially felt for the players,” Stubblefield said.

“They deserve to be seen and applauded for their efforts… Even their families couldn’t go to

giotis for a 10-yard loss, stripping him at the UConn 38 yard line. Mosby then recovered his own forced fumble for a 31 yard return touchdown to put the Dogs on the board 7-0 in the first quarter.

The 6-foot-4-inch senior, named Mountain West defensive player of the week, became the first Bulldog defensive end to convert a “scoop & score” since 2013 when Ejiro Ederaine accomplished the feat at San Diego State.

Mosby looked like he belonged at the position creating such a momentous play to get the Bulldogs on the board in his first start at defensive end.

Third and fourth down stops were easy all game long for the defense throughout the 45-0 shutout. They held the Huskies to two out of 16 third-down conversion attempts.

New faces for the Dogs this season led the defense in tackles with UCLA transfer safety Elijah Gates and Boise State transfer linebacker

CONTINUE TO PAGE 11 the games, most cases. That was the worst part for me.”

Stubblefield comes from a generation of former players.

Both his grandfather and father played for Fresno, and he became the first in his family to play in Bulldog Stadium when it was built.

“Born and raised in Fresno, I’ve been a fan since I was 6 to 7 years old when they played at Ratcliffe stadium,” Stubblefield said. “When something is taken away from you that you love or you cherish, it’s even more important to you” Students currently enrolled have also shared this gratitude and anticipation they felt when they couldn’t go to a game since 2019.

Fresno State students Eztevan Lopez and Arik Bains grew up watching Bulldog football.

Lopez’s dad was an alumnus, and Bains’ family have been tailgating at the stadium since 7 a.m.

“As a student being a year and a half online, we’re all looking forward to this day,” Bains said. “You can’t sleep Friday night because you’re getting ready for this game. You’re getting ready to see people you haven’t seen in a while.”

The Bulldogs won in a blowout against UConn, finishing 45-0.

All the people who contributed to the game day atmosphere were finally reunited from the cheerleaders to the marching band to the fans.

There’s one reason thousands of people will get up early in the morning in bad air quality and blazing heat: the community.