February 12, 2018

collegian.csufresno.edu

Monday, Feb. 12, 2018

Valentine’s Day

Fresno State’s Award-Winning Newspaper

‘My vagina’s angry.’

Page 5

Aly Honore • The Collegian

A Fresno State student delivers a monologue about infidelity during “The Vagina Monologues” in the North Gym on Feb. 8, 2018

COMMENTARY

Grizzly Fest

Fresno’s chance to flourish

By Selina Falcon | @SelinaFalcon

I

attended my first Fresno City Council meeting and witnessed my first council vote last Thursday afternoon. I attended because I knew the result of this vote, no matter the outcome, would change the future of music in Fresno for years to come.

Collegian file photo

See COMMENTARY, Page 2

OPINION

GOT OPINIONS? We want to hear them.

COLLEGIAN-OPINION@CSUFRESNO.EDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018

Selina Falcon • The Collegian

The community discusses Grizzly Fest on Feb. 8, 2018 during a Fresno City Council meeting.

COMMENTARY

While I was discouraged every time someone grabbed the microphone and tried to take a swing at Grizzly Fest, I was just as encouraged every time someone went up and defended it.

from Page 1

The outcome would either stifle our music scene and prevent opportunities for our musicians, or it could provide opportunities for our musicians, help grow our music scene and help Fresno become a live music haven.

With a 5-2 vote, the council approved a special event license agreement for the promoters of Grizzly Fest, a local music festival set to take place May 18-19 at its new location – Woodward Park in North Fresno.

Promoters originally wanted approval to allow festival performances to go until midnight. Councilman Garry Bredefeld delayed the vote to allow for negotiations between the city and the promoters after hearing complaints from residents in his district about potential disruptions in the area, including noise (Fresno’s noise ordinance deadline is 10 p.m.), traffic and parking.

The new agreement that resulted from negotiations was that the music would go until 11:30 p.m. Every minute after would result in a fine. After 11:30 p.m., $1,000 per minute.

After 11:40 p.m., $10,000 per minute. After midnight, $100,000 per minute. This would be on top of the $100,000 reservation fee promoters are paying the city to use the park.

Bredefeld and councilman Steve Brandau voted no.

I went into the meeting (which is archived on Community Media Access Collaborative) thinking I was going to be reporting. I charged my phone to take photos and audio.

I prepared questions for those in attendance, and I brought along my notebook and a pen to take notes.

Very quickly, I realized there would not be a news story out of this because it hit too close to home, and I felt very passionately in favor of Grizzly Fest.

In my time at The Collegian, I have watched Fresno’s small but insanely talented music scene grow and flourish thanks to venues like Strummer’s and Fulton 55, and large-scale events like FresYes Fest and Grizzly Fest.

Grizzly Fest is making big moves this year by leaving Chukchansi Park in Downtown and its one-day festival in order to expand and grow at Woodward Park for a two-day festival. A festival, might I add, that is bringing in nationally recognized musicians who our local talent will be opening for to an es-

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. collegian.csufresno.edu

timated 20,000 attendees over the two days.

As I sat in that room and listened to people either want Grizzly Fest to end at 10 p.m.

– or to not be allowed at all at Woodward Park – dread consumed me.

I wondered how they could not want to be a part of something so exciting and beneficial to our community. Next to highlighting our music scene, promoters said Thursday that Grizzly Fest would have a $3 million to $4 million positive impact on Fresno.

The parking and traffic issue is being taken care of. Promoters said they would be shuttling in attendees, for free, from three other locations where attendees can park.

They are also working with Uber to bring in 1,000 Uber drivers who will have a designated area to wait to give rides.

Safety seems to be top priority for the promoters, who said they have been working extensively with the police department to ensure Grizzly Fest will be as safe as possible.

Fresno police Chief Jerry Dyer was present and confirmed that once the council made a decision, the police department would meet with promoters next week to devise a security plan that meets police department approval.

Dyer said attendees will have to go through metal detectors to get in. A decision will be made about location of the beer garden. Officers will be stationed inside and outside the festival, and officers will be patrolling the area. He said that the promoters have taken on these costs.

Safety was also a concern when it came to moving Grizzly Fest to Woodward Park in the

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first place rather than keeping it downtown.

Promoters said that nearby tall buildings and overhangs are now considered security risks after a gunman killed 58 people and injured 422 in Las Vegas last year at Route 91 Harvest Festival.

Noise seemed to then be the only issue left, and it was something I couldn’t understand. Grizzly Fest is not taking place in the middle of the week. It is taking place on a Friday and a Saturday. Noise would not happen after 11:30 p.m., or the fees would have to be paid, which promoters said they are well aware of.

I assume when you choose to live next to a public park and an amphitheater, you have to know what you’re getting yourself into. If an amphitheater wasn’t wanted, it should have been more fiercely fought against before it was built. It’s there now. It needs to be used, and it will be used. So, what’s so bad about noise going on for an extra 90 minutes over just two days of the year?

The point could be made that if an extra 90 minutes isn’t a big deal, then why not make the noise deadline at 11:30 p.m. year round? Or, does this mean the city can be paid off every time? It’s a valid point, but Grizzly Fest is a festival. Festivals are unique and should not be equated to a standard concert where there are almost universal-like procedures set in place (i.e. four performers, one stage, a 10 p.m. noise deadline, etc.).

Then came the moment when I understood the fire behind a few of those totally opposed to Grizzly Fest.

It came in the form of a person who had printed out some lyrics from a 1992 Dr. Dre song and proceeded to yell Snoop Dogg’s verses. Snoop Dogg is a headliner for this

2

year’s festival.

This person yelled the lyrics into the microphone, profanities included. This person asked why this man and his “vile” messages should be invited into our community. This person was cheered on by some, then escorted away from the microphone by security, still yelling.

I wondered to myself, is this a race thing?

Other community members who got up and spoke confirmed my suspicions by saying, basically, hey, this is a race thing.

After community members had spoken, Bredefeld said, “I’m really disappointed when people bring up and play the race card.”

I was not. Things finally began to click.

The times I have seen people take issue with Grizzly Fest, Snoop Dogg was always brought up for some reason. Would it be the same if a white rapper were headlining? Or, if Foster The People were the sole headliners, would they be an issue? I, genuinely, don’t think so.

While I was discouraged every time someone grabbed the microphone and tried to take a swing at Grizzly Fest, I was just as encouraged every time someone went up and defended it.

At its core, this festival is a chance for our community to support and showcase our local music scene – which also includes venue workers, promoters, advertisers, writers and photographers. It is a chance to put Fresno on the map as a city that can try to do cool things and succeed at it.

A thanks is in order to the council members who realized this and were willing to take a chance on this chance. I hope to see you in May.

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THE COLLEGIAN • NEWS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018

PAGE 3

STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY

‘Year of the Bulldogs’ Castro’s push for Valley leaders

By Razmik Cañas & Hayley Salazar @Raz_Canas & @Hayley_Salazarr

Fresno State President Dr. Joseph Castro has goals of sending home-grown leaders to tackle the Valley’s top issues.

During his third annual “State of the University” speech last Thursday, Castro announced his plans for sending new graduates out to flourish in their prospective industries.

With Chinese New Year beginning this month, and it being the Year of the Dog, Castro deemed it appropriate for this push for success to be called the “Year of the Bulldogs”.

“Fresno State sits in the heart of our Central Valley and plays a pivotal role in our region’s economic development,” Castro said.

“The Valley is a special place with many unique assets, including talented students from close-knit families who are committed to our region.”

The address at the Save Mart Center was an opportunity to showcase the university’s past accomplishments and future ambitions to university donors and local public figures.

University Provost Dr. Lynnette Zelezny highlighted student accomplishments through various campus programs.

Ramuel Reyes • The Collegian

Fresno State President Dr. Joseph Castro presents Fred Ruiz of Ruiz Foods with the 2018 President’s Medal of Distinction, the highest non-degree award presented by Fresno State, during the 3rd annual State of the University on Feb. 8, 2018.

“Student success is the result of the great work of our talented faculty and staff who encourage, mentor and guide our students,” Zelezny said. “I applaud your efforts to integrate research and technology and to promote innovation.”

Zelezny said that the new service-learning courses, advancements to agricultural facilities and the Jan and Bud Richter Cen-

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ter for Community Engagement and Service-Learning have played a role in advancing the academic experience for students.

The Richter center celebrated 10 years of service.

Castro also joined in telling the community leaders about the university’s recent accomplishments. He spoke of the launch of the bachelor of science program for city

and regional planning and the mathematics and science teacher initiative, which awarded more than 90 credentials.

The Hawaii Bowl victory by the football team was also noted.

Fred Ruiz, co-founder of Ruiz Foods, was surprised when Castro awarded him with the 2018 President’s Medal of Distinction.

It is the highest nondegree award presented by the university.

“You are a pioneer and role model,” Castro said to Ruiz. “You have embodied caring for community through your investment of volunteer leadership, advocacy and giving.

Among his contributions to Fresno State, Ruiz helped found the Institute of Family Business through the Craig School of Business.

Castro also touched on a potential project that was revealed last year, a creative and performing arts center.

He explained that the “President’s Commission of the Future of Arts and Humanities” is currently finalizing a report that will showcase the need for a facility that could help bridge the community and university through the arts.

“The College of Arts and Humanities is the one college that serves all Fresno State students,” Castro said. “Writing and oral communication are taught through this college and are essential when a graduate enters the workplace.”

Castro emphasized the importance of partnership between the university and the community to benefit students.

“As a university president, there are many levers to ensuring the success of our students, and today I’ve emphasized one of them,” Castro said. “...that when a university and community intentionally collaborate, regional challenges can be tackled and the next generation of leaders can grow.”

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A&E

4

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018

REVIEW

Lambert lacks liveliness in Fresno

Benjamin Cruz• The Collegian

Miranda Lambert woos the crowd at her ‘Livin’ Like Hippies’ tour at the Save Mart Center on Feb. 9, 2018.

By Eric Zamora @ehhreec



ACCEPTABLE

Miranda Lambert slowly walked onto the stage of the Save Mart Center as her band played, lacking much of the staging or choreography of other artists who have come to Fresno.

It was a low-key entrance and set the tone for her set during her “Livin’ Like Hippies” tour.

Friday night started off with the two opening acts: Lucie Silvas, a British singer-songwriter, and Jon Pardi, a country singer who seemed to be well-loved by the audience.

While the two opening acts can be labeled “country,” their approaches were definitely different.

Silvas had similarly stripped back staging like Lambert. Her music was reminiscent of Adele, if Adele went country.

Pardi surprisingly had the most staging of the three artists, with elaborate lighting that looked like the stars on the American Flag set up behind the singer. It was patriotic.

When the two were compared, it made sense why Pardi was chosen as the main opening act for the entire tour. He has recently had a string of top-five hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and was well-known by the Fresno audience. Silvas was met with a lukewarm response, al-

though she had the better songs out of the two opening acts.

At about 9 p.m., Lambert came on stage, performing a cover of John Prine’s “That’s the Way the World Goes Round.” The setlist included a mixture of her bigger hits with songs from her critically-acclaimed latest album, “The Weight of These Wings.”

Behind Lambert was a set of five screens, displaying graphics that went along with each song.

Many artists use a setup like this, seen in the stages of artists like Selena Gomez and Janet Jackson

when the two came to Fresno as well.

In this case, it often detracted from the performances. The graphics looked poorly made.

The screens worked best when they were used to show different angles of Lambert performing on stage.

A highlight was her performance of “Mama’s Broken Heart,” one of her biggest hits written by country singer Kacey Musgraves.

The screens projected comic book style graphics in red, which mirrored the high-octane energy of

the song.

It was one of the few moments when Lambert looked totally in the zone.

Another great moment was when Silvas was brought back out to perform a duet of Aretha Franklin’s “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man.” The two singers rehearsed the duet that day according to Lambert, and harmonized beautifully throughout the stripped-back performance.

While Lambert may be a country star and has the hits and acclaim to prove it, the concert

seemed to be lacking something.

Maybe it was the fact that it ended so quick. The night ended a little past 10 p.m. It felt like the night was just beginning. I may have been the only one who felt slightly disappointed. The crowd was roaring the entire night.

As Lambert began to perform “Pink Sunglasses” from her latest album, an audience member in front of me screamed and then yelled in her friend’s face, “This is my jam!”

It’s good to know that other people enjoyed it.

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THE COLLEGIAN • A&E

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018

PAGE 5

PERFORMANCE

Don’t fear the ‘vagina,’ monologue performers say

By Eric Zamora @ehhreec

As Ashley Juskalian sat in the Cross Cultural and Gender Center’s offices, she listened to cast members practice their monologues.

Juskalian and many others are part of Fresno State’s 2018 production of “The Vagina Monologues,” a play written by Eve Ensler, featuring stories told by different women and their experiences in life.

As the sole director of the show, Juskalian then introduced the next monologue, “My Angry Vagina,” recited by Emma DenBesten.

“My vagina’s angry. It is. It’s pissed off,” DenBesten begins.

As she practices her monologue, Juskalian motioned with her hands, trying to tell DenBesten to slow down.

That was the mood at practice two days before the opening night of the show.

This is the second year that Juskalian has been a part of the monologues. Last year she was the co-director.

“It’s interesting to take a step back from my vision [of] how the monologues should sound and [leave] room [to see] how someone does it differently,” Juskalian said.

This year, the show has much less staging in comparison to last year, according to Juskalian, leaving it to be much more stripped back with the show focusing on the words.

“I want people to know that even if they are hesitant to come to this show, the worst that can happen is that they come to the show and waste 90 minutes on a show that they didn’t like seeing. Nothing bad can happen,” Juskalian said. “Keep an open mind, and I think you’d be surprised [about] how much [of] what you hear speaks to you.”

Opening Night The opening night of “The Vagina Monologues” was on Feb. 8 and was hosted by Fresno State’s Women’s Alliance and Fresno State’s Cross Cultural and Gender Center in the North Gym at 7 p.m. Before the show began, Juskalian started the night off with a joke.

“What’s the difference between pussy and parsley?”

The audience stayed silent. They waited for the answer.

“Nobody eats parsley,” Juskalian told the audience. That set the tone for the night.

Each cast member has a different monologue to recite, with topics ranging from the truths of having a vagina, to the multiple, varying experiences of being a woman.

While serious topics are discussed in the monologues, there is still a sense of humor displayed within each of the stories told.

DenBesten, who performed one of the more humorous monologues, “My Angry Vagina,” discussed having to feel the emotions presented in her monologue. While she gave an upbeat and lively performance, the story brings up many uncomfortable

Aly Honore • The Collegian

A member of Fresno State’s “The Vagina Monologues” cast delivers a solo monologue about sexuality and embarrassment in the North Gym on Feb. 8, 2018.

truths about having a vagina.

“I’d never said the word ‘vagina’ so many times in my life, and that was a new and exciting thing for me,” DenBesten said.

The cast members had been preparing for this show since the beginning of January, with it all leading up to the two performances in February.

“We’ve been rehearsing for this for a long time so to actually perform it in front of people and see everyone’s reactions is just great,” said Devyn Contreras, an equestrian science and sign language interpreting major and performer.

One of the positive differences members noted this year was being able to connect to the monologues after performing them for the audience.

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“Hearing it live now with an audience, it feels not only like we’re hearing it for the first time and actually absorbing it, but also like we’re able to share our stories and their stories for other people to relate to, people with vaginas and so forth,” said Elizabeth Castillo, a political science and women’s studies major and performer.

Audience members took away vast knowledge about the different experiences brought up in the performances.

“I didn’t realize that so many women would grow up scared of their own body part,” said Kevin James Prill, a pre-business student. “It was really interesting to understand a different gender’s plight.”

The proceeds of this production benefited Marjaree Mason Center in Fresno.

NEWS

6

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Bineet Kaur • The Collegian

A sign displayed at the Mass Incarceration Recognition Chalk Out on Feb. 8, 2018 at the Free Speech Area.

Chalk out brings focus to mass incarceration

By Bineet Kaur @hellobineet

The Fresno State chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) collected petition signatures last week and encouraged students to write message of freedom during the Mass Incarceration Recognition Chalk Out. The messages written in chalk on the cement included: “13th Amend [sic] world’s greatest loophole” and “Since 1980, California has created 22 prisons but just one UC Campus – #SchoolsNotPrisons.”

“We wanted to recognize those from the community that have been disproportionately incarcerated because of the stereotypes and the sentences that are commonly tagged on black and brown men and women,” said Charie Payne, president of the Fresno State chapter.

In the Free Speech Area, signs were displayed with facts on mass incarceration. One read: “If African-Americans and Hispanics were incarcerated at the same rate as whites, prison and jail populations would decline by 40 percent” Another read: “There are more African-Americans under ‘correctional supervision’ right now than were in slavery in the

There are more African-Americans under ‘correctional supervision’ right now than were in slavery in the United States in 1850.

— Chalk message United States in 1850.”

The Fresno State NAACP collected signatures for a petition in favor the proposed federal “Reverse Mass Incarceration Act of 2017.”

The bill would implement a grant program to reward states that reduce the number of individuals incarcerated in prisons. Payne said that enacting change to incarceration laws requires more than raising awareness. And for that reason, the event also included the petition.

“We wanted to recognize that there is an overrepresentation of black people in the American prison complex. But we also want

to do something about that, not just bring awareness,” Payne said.

She said that in addition to being incarcerated in high numbers, people of color are underrepresented in politics.

“In politics, there’s a small percentage of African-Americans and Latino people,” Payne said. “We don’t get to a be part of those conversations predominantly that regard our well-being and progression in American society.”

Kwone Robinson, a Fresno State psychology major, wrote a Fannie Lou Hamer quote in chalk. It read: “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Lou Hamer was an activist in the civil rights movement.

“I just think that quote was personally really powerful for me,” Robinson said.

“There’s just a lot of struggle in the world, and if people aren’t trying to change, then nothing will change.”

Robinson also signed the petition for the incarceration reform law.

“In these times, you do see a lot of more ethnic people being arrested for small things than you would people of non-ethnicity [sic],” Robinson said. “I’m not saying that’s always the case, but it does happen a little bit more often.”

James Hernandez, a Fresno State graduate student, also signed the petition.

“I think [mass] incarceration is deplorable,” Hernandez said. “It’s basically the new slavery. It’s the new Jim Crow law.”

Hernandez said he believes strongly in the cause that the petition centered on.

“They’re trying to make people aware of the injustice and inequality that’s going on in this country – that America is not great; that it could be great,” Hernandez said. “We need to work on it.”

Payne said the event was held in honor of Black History Month. She said Black History Month is a way to honor black historical figures who might not receive much recognition.

“There’s so much credit that was not given to black people because of the time and period that we were in,” Payne said. “We want to make sure those people are recognized from here on out.”

Payne also said that Black History Month can be an opportunity to highlight past as well as present-day race relations.

“We live in a society that holds onto titles like ‘multiculturalism’ and ‘diversity’ to make it seem like we have progressed, when we really haven’t gone too far from where we were 50 years ago,” Payne said.

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BRIEF

Debate team earns third place The Barking Bulldogs Debate Team, a fairly young debate group on the Fresno State campus, is said to be running out of space to store its trophies.

That was the report from Tom Boroujeni, director of debate, after the team’s recent competition in Long Beach.

Boroujeni said varsity speaker Primavera Leal-Martinez earned the eighth place award in the Winter at the Beach Speech and Debate Tournament at California State University, Long Beach held Feb. 2-4.

Hunter Sansom took home the 12th place speaker award in the varsity division.

Leal-Martinez and Sansom placed third overall in the varsity division of the tournament, Boroujeni said in a news release Sunday.

The two competitors had won four of the six preliminary rounds of the competition.

They advanced to the elimination rounds, where they defeated Arizona State University in the quarterfinals and then moved on to compete against Weber State University, Boroujeni said. But the winning streak ended for the two students after going up against Weber State University.

Three younger Barking Bulldog debate teams also competed for the first time during the Long Beach tournaments.

Among the new competitors, Aaron Lowe and Nick Mirza earned eighth and 14th place speaker awards respectively in the junior varsity division. The judges had grouped the “novice” and “junior varsity” competitions during the tournament.

The Barking Bulldogs will next face off against other schools at the Pacific Champs Debate Tournament, which will also be held in Long Beach on Feb. 23.

A series of wins at fall competitions landed the Barking Bulldogs in the national spotlight at times. The debate team ended its first half of the 2017-18 season last semester in third place.

THE COLLEGIAN • SPORTS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018

PAGE 7

WRESTLING

Fresno State Athletics

Fresno State Athletics

Freshman Danielle East won her first collegiate game against Stanford on Feb. 10, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. The ‘Dogs will host the Bulldog Classic this weekend at Margie Wright Diamond.

SOFTBALL from Page 8

The ‘Dogs concluded the classic with a 5-4 comefrom-behind victory over Notre Dame.

The Fighting Irish jumped to an early 4-0 lead after a pair of 2-run home runs. Trailing, the ‘Dogs cut that score in half after sophomore Miranda Rohleder singled up the middle to record two RBIs. Pitcher Tiffany Kennedy-Cummings took over

for Mejia in the circle and went on to throw 4-and-athird scoreless innings and nine strikeouts to hold Notre Dame.

McHellon and Galvan then homered to tie the game, 4-4.

Relieving Kennedy-Cummings with bases loaded, East held the Fighting Irish in the final inning with a strikeout, lineout and groundout.

In the bottom of the seventh, Castellon walkedoff with a home run to secure the ‘Dogs’ 5-4 win and

end the classic.

“In our first weekend finally being on the field with everyone, I was very happy with how we played.

Of course we had our ups and downs, but it’s early, and I thought, overall, it was a good start to our season. We were able to see the fight this team has, and I can’t wait to see us grow over the season,” Castellon said.

Fresno State will host the Bulldogs Classic this weekend at Margie Wright Diamond.

Sophomore Josh Hokit prepares to face Iowa State’s Joe Teague at Hilton Coliseum on Feb. 9, 2018. The ‘Dogs’ last regular season dual is on Feb. 18, 2018 at the Save Mart Center.

‘Dogs fall to Cyclones Fresno State’s wrestling team fell to Iowa State, 26-22 last Friday at Hilton Coliseum.

“We fought tough tonight, but we can’t get ourselves into position to give up bonus points with falls and technical falls if we want to win close duals,” said head head coach Troy Steiner.

Redshirt senior Sean Williams set the bar for the ‘Dogs with a 10-2 major decision win over Sinjin Briggs.

Other wins came from freshman Chris De Loza, No. 21 Khristian Olivas and redshirt sophomore Dominic Kincaid.

With a fall over Fresno State’s Angel Solis, Iowa State extended its lead to 2316.

Sophomore Josh Hokit countered with a fall over Joe Teague at 197 pounds to cut the Bulldogs’ deficit to 23-22.

The dual came down to heavyweight AJ Nevills against redshirt junior Marcus Harrington.

The Bulldog freshman jumped out to a 3-1 lead, but Harrington was quick to notch a fall and tie the match, 3-3. The match was sent to overtime after both heavyweights made an escape.

Harrington went on to win 6-4 after a takedown.

Fresno State will host its last regular season Big-12 dual against No. 4 Oklahoma State on Feb. 18 at the Save Mart Center at 1 p.m.

New Student Union Voter information:

This vote is for a fee referendum to construct a New Student Union at Fresno State. The fee referendum will be conducted as an online election and voting will require a Fresno State student login. Polling will open March 20 at 8 a.m. and close March 22 at 12 p.m.

Background:

The University Student Union (USU) opened in 1968 and was intended for a campus of just 10,000 students. Fresno State’s students have mobilized to build a larger New Student Union to meet the needs of the 25,000+ growing and diverse campus community. In 2015, the Association of College Unions International (ACUI) conducted an external consultation study, which was followed by a feasibility study by Stantec in 2016. It was revealed through the studies that the current USU did not meet the needs of the campus, and the facility was inadequate for a campus of our size. The studies also revealed there was a lack of space for community building, programming and socializing.

The studies stated that a new student union would provide the campus community with a place for students to learn, build relationships, and complement the co-curricular experience.

Did You Know?

Features:

The proposed New Student Union’s 80,000 square foot facility will be designed to accommodate the 25,000+ students and will be responsive to the needs of both current and future Fresno State students. The facility includes the following features:

· New dining areas that will feature healthy food options · Dedicated space for student organizations · Vast indoor study and meeting spaces · Napping and meditation spaces · An outdoor terrace and amphitheater that can be utilized year-round · A veterans and military dependent center · A welcome center and student leadership center · Office space for Student Involvement and Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) · Several multipurpose meeting rooms · A 24/7 study and computer space The proposed New Student Union will be an inclusive space that fosters a sense of belonging. The New Student Union will serve as a hub for learning, student involvement and help develop the next generation of leaders.

Fee

Planning for the New Student Union is guided by a student leadership committee comprised of students from across the campus. This committee is led by student leaders from the USU Board of Directors and ASI. The Campus Fee Advisory Committee recommends the fee amount for the referendum, of which more than 50 percent of the members are students. The USU Board of Directors, ASI and student feedback from forums, surveys, listening groups and the New Student Union website have all contributed to the vision for the New Student Union.

The $149 semester fee for the New Student Union will be implemented once the facility opens (estimated opening in 2022-2023). The fee will include an inflation increase of 3% per year. The fee would be used to fund the design/construction and support new building services, additional staffing, additional programming, capital repairs, and debt services for the new union. Operating costs will include additional employment and internship opportunities for students. All students enrolled in Fresno State would have access to the services and programming offered at the New Student Union.

Currently, Fresno State has the lowest fees in the California State University System, which has hindered the USU’s ability to provide services to support students in their academic endeavors, create more involvement opportunities and foster a sense of school pride.

The New Student Union leadership committee’s aim is to keep the fee as minimal as possible through fundraising and additional revenues generated by services.

Financial Assistance

For students who receive financial aid to assist with their educational expenses, the proposed fee increase will be added to the Cost of Attendance (COA) used to determine a student's financial aid eligibility.

If the project is approved, students will remain involved in the project during the construction phase.

Pros/Cons: PROS Student quote: “Love the idea of expanding our campus. Really like the idea of a new student union, especially since there isn't a lot of space for students to hang out and eat.”

Student quote: “I think this new Student State Union is an amazing idea! It'll definitely allow local students to get that full college experience.”

Student quote: “I believe Fresno State definitely needs a new Union. Although the USU is a great facility for students, with our student population growing, we definitely need safe places for students to study, eat, and converse with faculty and staff.”

CONS Student quote: “Looks amazing. But if it involves raising student prices in any way, then it's a no for me.”

Student quote: “I do not like the new student union idea. I feel that the library and USU provide more than enough space.”

Student quote: “I don't think we should be wasting that money on a new student union”

Ballot Language Should a New Student Union be constructed on campus for a fee of $149 per semester, which will not be implemented until the new facility opens in approximately four to five years?

YES

I vote in favor of constructing a New Student Union.

NO

I vote against constructing a New Student Union.

For the details on forums, a list of Q&As, and additional information on the New Student Union project, please visit: www.NewStudentUnion.com

SPORTS

8

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2018

First-ever home victory WATER POLO

By William Ramirez @willoveslakers2

I

f you heard a ruckus around the Fresno State Aquatic Center last Friday evening, you can pin it on the Fresno State water polo team.

In front of a packed crowd, the Bulldogs’ water polo team dominated Fresno Pacific University 16-6 in the program’s first-ever home match.

Cheers for both teams echoed throughout the evening – from the introduction of the teams’ rosters up until the final buzzer.

“It’s why I came here. Water polo is respected, and people want to come watch, and people are going to come support the team and support the athletes,” said head coach Natalie Benson. “I think that’s what’s gonna make the athletes feel like legitimate Division I athletes – is because they have some fan support – and also what will attract recruits here.”

Sunbirds fans had little to cheer about. Their team got down early and struggled to find any sort of momentum.

The Bulldogs established a 7-2 lead to close the first quarter and never allowed the Sunbirds to threaten a comeback.

“I’m really happy with how [the team] came out. They executed. We stuck to our game plan.

We put on a pretty heavy, clean press and were able to force some perimeter turnovers and capitalize on the counterattack,” Benson said.

The ‘Dogs swarmed Sunbird players, making it difficult for them to find any sort of offense.

Even on the Sunbirds’ power plays, they struggled finding the goal.

Ramuel Reyes • The Collegian

Freshman Callie Woodruff attempting a shot against Fresno Pacific on Feb. 9, 2018 at the Fresno State Aquatic Center. The ‘Dogs won its first-ever match in program history, 16-6.

The Sunbirds only hit 28.6 percent of their shots, and scoring on Bulldog goalie Madelynn Garcia proved to be quite an arduous task.

Garcia’s long arms honed in on nearly every shot that came her way and she finished the game with 10 crucial saves. “[Garcia] is a fantastic goalie.

Even when I recruited her, we had to have her on the team because she’s so fluid. She’s long. She has a great physique for a goalkeeper.

She’s able to execute the outlet passes and protect the cage well,”

Benson said.

Garcia’s outlet passes were on full display against the Sunbirds – she finished the game with five assists. Her passes soared through the air and into areas where her attackers could capitalize.

Garcia said it helps to have such reliable teammates to pass to.

“I trust my teammates 100 percent, and that’s what teamwork and having a team is all about, is trust. If you can’t trust your team, at the end of the day, it’s not going to work,” Garcia said.

Attacker Isabella Magno was the recipient of one of Garcia’s assists and was the Bulldogs’ leading scorer for the game. She finished with four goals on six attempts.

Magno described the experience and victory as, “one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in my life.”

The rest of the ‘Dogs were also efficient with their shots, finishing 16-for-35 for the game, with five Bulldogs pitching in multi goal efforts.

But Magno said they could

have been much more effective in the second half.

Magno was not wrong; the team scored 12 goals in the first half and only four in the second.

“We did get a pretty good lead, but that doesn’t mean we can back off. I think the biggest thing for us is just keeping that momentum and keeping the spirit high no matter if we’re up or if we’re down,” Magno said.

The ‘Dogs will be in action again this Saturday for the Aggie Shootout in Davis.

SOFTBALL

Season opens at Kajikawa Classic

By Vanessa Romo @VanesssaRomo

The Fresno State women’s softball team opened its season at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona last weekend. The ‘Dogs came out 3-2 after facing five Power-5 schools. They dropped their first game against No. 3 Oregon, 8-0, last Friday morning.

The Ducks finished last season as a national semifinalist in the Women’s College World Series and returned their entire pitching staff with a combined 54-8 record.

One of those pitchers, Miranda Elish, held the ‘Dogs to one hit and a walk while she threw nine strikeouts in the contest.

That lone hit came from senior Savannah McHellon in the first inning.

Five ‘Dogs made their Fresno State debuts in the game, including starting pitcher Danielle East. The freshman gave up six hits and four runs in her first two innings.

Sophomore Samantha Mejia relieved East. She, too, gave up four runs, including her first pitch that turned into a home run.

Fresno State is now 3-2 in its

last five season openers, with both losses to Oregon in Tempe. The Bulldogs moved on to play two more Pac-12 teams on Saturday – Stanford and No. 7 Arizona.

Back on the mound for the ‘Dogs, East threw a complete game shutout to help notch a 2-0 win against Stanford as well as her first collegiate win. Unable to score, the Cardinal and the Bulldogs went into extra-innings.

On a 2-0 pitch in the eighth inning, junior Vanessa Hernandez launched a 2-run home run to secure the ‘Dogs’ first win of the season.

Fresno State lost 13-1 to Ari-

zona.

The Wildcats won the Pac-12 championship last season as they led the NCAA Div. I with 94 home runs and a .583 slugging percentage.

Arizona built an early lead after hitting three home runs and four doubles by the second inning, including Jessie Harper and Alyssa Palomino’s 2-run home run.

All-American Harper continued her reign with another 2-run home run to extend the Wildcats’ lead to 11-0 at the top of the fourth inning.

The ‘Dogs got on the board in the bottom of the fourth after a leadoff single by sophomore

Hayleigh Galvan. Junior Dominique Jackson sent pinch runner Brooke Coates home with an RBI double to right center.

The Wildcats finished strong with another run to secure their 13-1 win. Heading into Sunday, the ‘Dogs kicked off their last day with a 13-4 win over Purdue.

Senior Katie Castellon, McHellon, junior Rachel Minogue and sophomore Schuylar Broussard each knocked in a home run to help secure the win over the Boilermakers.

Fresno State improved to 7-0 all-time against Purdue.

See SOFTBALL, Page 7