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Tuesday, April 5, 2022
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INSIDE: MEN'S RUGBY CLUB MAKES PROGRAM HISTORY OVER THE WEEKEND
Julia Espinoza · The Collegian
College Republicans club's 'Future of America' event spurs student protest.
NEWS
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2022
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‘Future of America’ event sparks protest at Fresno State
Julia Espinoza • The Collegian
Fresno State students, faculty and staff gathered at McLane Hall to protest against the “Future of America” event hosted by the Fresno State College Republican club on April 1, 2022.
By Manuel Hernandez & Edward Lopez News Editor, Senior News Reporter
On Friday, students, faculty and staff flooded McLane Hall right before the Fresno State College Republicans club started its “Future of America” event. On one side, event speakers John Doyle, Carson Wolf and Kai Schwemmer stood in front of a wave of protesters. Behind them, their supporters came to their defense wearing “America First” caps and waving American flags. On the other side, groups of counterprotesters chanted, “No hate at Fresno State,” holding signs that said “Equality” and “No Fascists.” Many carried rainbow-colored flags for the
LGBTQ+ community. Backlash within the university broke out after the College Republicans club announced the speakers for its event. Doyle, Wolf, Schwemmer and surprise speaker Tyler Russel have all been accused of having ties to white nationalists. “We are not white nationalists. We’re interested in conservative values… This is just a speaking event. The college campus is the place to discuss ideas,” the club said in a statement. Fresno State also released a statement denying any endorsement of “the views expressed by the speakers,” while also emphasizing the university policy of freedom of expression. “Fresno State remains committed to free expression, which is essential to its educational mission,” said Lisa Bell, public information offi-
Julia Espinoza • The Collegian
Event speakers Carson Wolf (left) and Tyler Russel (right) walk into the McLane Building in the midst of protesters.
cer for University Communications. “The students in the Fresno State College Republicans club followed the process of reserving the room through the Reservation Center.” Many counterprotesters disagreed with both statements. Nick McKenna, a Fresno State student and president of the History Graduate Student Association (HGSA), was one of the counterprotesters during the event. He said the speakers at the event endorse “fascist” ideologies in their social media, including anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and connecting Christianity to the government. “They’re coming here to say we don’t accept others. That’s not what any university is about. We’re here for open ideas and not excluding others. We’re here to accept people as they are,” McKenna said. McKenna acknowledged that freedom of speech is important and that conservative values are OK to express, but said it shouldn’t be allowed in Fresno State when that kind of speech discriminates against certain groups. “We got involved because we oppose the hateful rhetoric that these people are associated with. We believe in equality and civil liberties for all people,” Angel Rojas, Fresno State student and vice president of HGSA, said. He said events like these shouldn’t be held on campus because they go against the university’s policy of inclusivity and accepting others. “You’re not being so-called ‘America First.’ You’re not being pro-human. You’re being an-
ti-human because you’re excluding people who are different,” Rojas said. He said the same First Amendment right that allows the speakers to talk at “Future of America” also allows them to protest. He also noted that one of the speakers denied systematic racism, so it was more of a reason for him to protest. “Racism is still alive in this country… to deny that is denying the historical oppression not only to Black people, but Mexicans, LGBTQ+, women and also working-class white people,” Rojas said. During the protest, James Watson, Fresno State Chief of Police, reminded protestors and event organizers to clear the way for students, faculty and staff attempting to walk through the building. Justin James, a student majoring in political science, attended the event to learn different political ideologies and be exposed to another point of view. James had heard of the speakers previously, but this was the first time he had seen them in person. This wasn’t the first political event James had attended, as he took part in previous trucker rallies for Donald Trump. “I would say, come to events like this and just look at different points of view and stuff. I would encourage people to come to events like this. Rather, whether you are left, right or center, at the very least listen. That doesn’t mean you have to agree with them all. It is just respectful listening,” James said.
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2022
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THE COLLEGIAN • NEWS
Cesar E. Chavez commemoration advocates for farmworkers’ rights By Manuel Hernandez News Editor
Teresa Romero would listen to the TV and radio to learn English, repeating five to seven phrases a day until she mastered them. “I first came to this country in my 20s, seeking to make a better life for myself, like millions of immigrants before me,” Romero said. Now, Romero is the first female and immigrant president of the United Farm Workers (UFW) organization, coming from Zapotec descent. She shared her experiences immigrating to the U.S. in front of the Cesar Chavez statue at the Fresno State Peace Garden. Romero was one of many Latinx speakers who shared their stories at the Cesar E. Chavez Commemoration event hosted by the Latino/a Programs and Services, the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) and professor emeritus Sudarshan Kapoor on March 24. Fresno State students who attended the event on campus were introduced to the Latinx culture through music, food and informational booths hosted by university organizations. Fresno State student Toni-Rae Cerda hosted a booth for her Latina and multicultural based sorority, Gamma Alpha Omega. It was her first time hosting a booth and endorsing the sorority. She said she was “praying that it goes well,” but also noted that it felt good representing her culture. “I am Latina, so it makes me feel like part of the culture… I just think it’s a really great representation of [Chavez],” Cerda said. “I’m so happy this is happening. It brings a lot of awareness… especially for something Cesar Chavez led with, which was fighting for the rights of farm workers,” Armando Santos, pres-
ident of the Beta Gamma Nu fraternity, said. Each spring, Beta Gamma Nu plans to host a philanthropy event focused on feeding farmworkers by collecting donations and organizing fundraisers. It’s the fraternity’s second year doing this and with the money, it pays taco trucks to go directly to the farmworkers. Santos, who is completing his first one-year term as president of the fraternity this semester, noted that the Cesar E. Chavez commemoration was a good opportunity to collect donations. People at the booths signed postcards that were given to the farmworkers. Beta Gamma Nu also collaborated with Latino/a Programs and Services and CAMP, collecting donations of long-sleeved shirts and bandanas for farm workers to wear. “Once we made connections with folks that had these experiences working in the fields or had family that worked in the fields, it became really clear that it was important for us to shine a light on those voices,” Deyanire Del Toro, the Latino/a program coordinator, said. “Of course, this is a celebration of Cesar Chavez, but we want people to know the fight is still there, [it] still exists,” she said. It was Del Toro’s first time coordinating the event in-person, after the past two years were held virtually. The commemoration began with a folklorico dance performance from Los Danzantes de Aztlán, a Fresno State institution founded in 1970. “[Los Danzantes de Aztlán] has always been a source of welcoming for Latino students who want to connect with their heritage,” Victor Torres, director of the dance program, said. “They’re also asserting their sense of identity. That I am a Latino or Latina, Latinx, and I am proud of who I am.”
Julia Espinoza • The Collegian
Fresno State dance program Los Danzantes de Aztlán performs on campus at the Peace Garden.
Julia Espinoza • The Collegian
Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval speaks at the Cesar E. Chavez commemoration event at the Peace Garden. After they performed a dance from Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Fresno State student Mel Lopez spoke about her time working in the fields in the Central Valley. She said she spent her “childhood, teen years, summers and school breaks” working. After years of working in the fields, Lopez said she started to notice the tough demands of the job, and even for someone who started young like her, it was never enough. “I thought about my coworkers. What about the older people? What about pregnant women?” Lopez said. “My mother was [one of] the few workers who worked during her pregnancy till she reached the five-to-six-month mark.” She also noted that farmworkers continue to work with health problems like diabetes and asthma with no health insurance to treat it. Lopez ended her speech talking about “the need for better human and labor rights.” Fresno State Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Xuanning Fu followed with his own words honoring Chavez. After Fu, Romero gave her speech, starting off with Chavez’ history. Romero said it was “fitting” that the event was held in the Peace Garden, comparing Chavez’ strategies and principles of nonviolence to Mahatma Gandhi, who also has a statue in the garden. Chavez also fasted like Gandhi in order to protest against poor treatment of farmworkers, Romero noted. She felt honored to be following the steps of former UFW presidents Chavez and Arturo Rodriguez. Romero then talked about current issues the UFW is currently facing.
UFW recently sponsored a bill to ban the use of chlorpyrifos in California due to the damage it caused on kids and babies in the farm worker community. It also marched in Sacramento last year to push the Agricultural Labor Relations Voting Choice Act, which allows farm workers to vote for their union representative by mail. Romero said currently union members can only vote at their work premises, which can be intimidating for the workers. The bill was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in Sept. 2021 but was introduced again by UFW this year. “It’s angering to hear all the ways that we’re failing our farmworkers,” Del Toro said. “It was very touching to hear people speak on their experiences… but also kind of reminds you of how much left we have to go.” “This is a population in the labor force that is meaningful to our country,” Romero said.
“
I first came to this country in my 20s, seeking to make a better life for myself, like millions of immigrants before me. — Teresa Romero, United Farm Workers president
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2022
THE COLLEGIAN • NEWS
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ASI approves $158,865 in budget calls in senate meeting By Edward Lopez
Senior News Reporter Associated Students Incorporated (ASI) approved $158,865 in budget calls during the March 30 senate meeting.. The ASI finance committee presented 11 budget calls. Anou Vang, vice president of finance, acknowledged that ASI had sufficient funds to approve all of the budget calls in full should they choose to, but recommended that they did not, as it would greatly strain the reserve pool. Vang later clarified that going beyond the finance committee recommendation would mean that future budget calls and proposed project funding would be affected, estimating that it would take a couple of years before ASI could return to normal reserve levels. James D. Martinez, ASI director of operations, further clarified that the senate, due to policies passed following the 2008 recession, needs to have a minimum of $200,000 in its reserves. The ASI senate would go on to approve all budget calls to a varying degree of funding
going beyond the finance committee’s recommended amount, totaling $158,865. The ASI Senate approved $20,000 for the expansion of the Fresno State DXI group to expand its ongoing Bulldog Genie app to support students beyond their first year at Fresno State, for which the app was originally designed. The Cross-Cultural and Gender Center received a total of $14,500 to support the funding of a new graduate coordinator, diversity awareness week and the Social Justice Art Exhibit. The Maddy Institute received a total of $16,625 to fund the legislative inter scholar program, The Maddy Report and El Informe. The ASI senate allocated a total of $55,000 to student involvement to support both homecoming ($30,000) and Vintage Days. Program coordinator Shawna Blair said she was happy that ASI allocated an additional $15,000 beyond the recommended amount, as the extra money would be put toward funding events across campus to help instill a sense of community. Project Rebound, a program that supports recently incarcerated inmates seeking higher education, received $10,240 to hire additional
Edward Lopez • The Collegian
Fresno State ASI approved various budget calls during the senate meeting on March 30, 2022. student assistance to spread awareness of the program and to accommodate for the increase in student population. The Student Recreation Center (SRC) received $30,000 to replace the current fleet of exercise bikes within the SRC, which remained in operation since 2007. The budget call is expected to fund the SRC bike program and services for approximately 15
years. The Alumni Association was approved for $12,500 in the creation of a statue dedicated to past university mascots, which is planned to be placed in front of the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union. The ASI Senate approved $30,933 more in budget calls compared with the recommended amount proposed by the finance committee.
Centennial story: the beginning of the Uhuru Na Umoja By Edward Lopez
Senior News Reporter The minority supplements were approved by the board of publications on May 2, 1969, following a 5-to-2 vote. It received criticism from the general public and the journalism department at the time. The vote established that the editorial processes of the minority supplements solely reside with the minority students working on the supplement as opposed to having direct faculty oversight. Six days later, the student senate voted in favor of the minority editions in a 17-to-8 vote , establishing two minority supplements that were published on a weekly basis as a special edition of The Daily Collegian. The First Supplements The first official minority supplement was published on May 5 under the title of La Pluma Morena, or The Black Pen, as a shared supplement between Latinx students and African American students. The publication release coincided with the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo. The supplement intentionally focused on issues affecting people of color as well as opinion
pieces by people of color. The only other minority newspaper published in Fresno at the time was the African American-run The California Advocate, which began in 1967. This was done by design, as the editors felt that current news outlets like The Fresno Bee and even The Daily Collegian failed to grapple with the issues faced by people of color. “This is the first Chicano, Black Coalition paper. Its contents and posture will and should reflect our combined points of view, for it has been granted through our efforts, yet we have also gained it for all those students who have need of it,” editor John F. Ramirez wrote in the first issue La Pluma Morena later split into two different supplements for African American students and Latinx students. The African American students created The Uhuru and the Latinx students created La Voz De Aztlán. The Uhuru The African American supplement was given the name The Uhuru, which is Swahili for freedom, and was published on May 16, 1969. The Uhuru staff consisted of co-editors Gloria Davis and Micheline King, campus news editors Al Williams and Dorthy Smith, city
news editors Sam Germany and Rosemary Lee, sports editor Fritz Allen and advertising manager Charles Francis. Much like La Pluma Morena, The Uhuru focused primarily on issues pertaining to the Black community. The issue of education within the Black community was featured throughout the supplement, with articles calling for the need for Black educators, the equal opportunities program and dropout rates. The editorial team criticized opposition to the minority supplements, reasoning that the creation of the supplements would help ease the racial tensions present throughout the country. “If whites are really sincere about avoiding violence, then they should work jointly with the victims of racism and oppression to eliminate such conditions. However, and working with minority students, whites must begin to survey the problems and frustrations of minority students,” The Uhuru wrote. The Uhuru in the Modern Day Now known as Uhuru Na Umoja, the fourpage supplement is produced by editor-in-chief Dessalines Yamoussou, staff reporters Joanna Lopez, Zion Sanders, Clarence Curtis, Rashad Flood and staff adviser Angel Langridge.
Manuel Hernandez • The Collegian
Uhuru’s Editor-in-Chief Dessalines Yamoussou. Yamoussou became editor-in-chief of Uhuru during the spring 2021 semester. He said he encourages his reporters to write about the Black experience, which he described as unaccepted in the U.S. “This is not something that we’re doing that isn’t going to matter. This absolutely matters because that one Black kid who’s going to pick up the newspaper and read it,” said Yamoussou.
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2022
THE COLLEGIAN • NEWS
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CCGC hosts ‘Conversations that Matter’ on media bias By Manuel Hernandez News Editor
Fresno State political science professor Everett A. Vieira III questioned why he was asked to speak about the war in Ukraine during a recent event, but hadn’t been asked about the war happening in Tigray, Ethiopia, the civil war in Syria or the famines happening in Yemen. “I’m not trying to negate what’s happening in Ukraine. [These are] absolutely horrible human rights violations, war crimes and just victimization of noncombatants and civilians,” Vieira said. “But I don’t want us to lose sight… I don’t want us to only be focused on one conflict.” On Thursday, Vieira led a workshop hosted by the Cross-Cultural and Gender Center (CCGC) as part of a series called “Conversations that Matter” at the University Student Union. The series focuses on open conversations with the Fresno State community about various social issues. Vieira’s open discussion focused on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and led to conversations about why the Russian-Ukraine war is
getting more media and social attention over other issues. The event started with a video by Andrew Conteh, a professor at Stanislaus State, where Vieira used to teach, which explained a brief history of why Ukraine and Russia are at war. Vieira followed with a lecture about updates on the war and explained why people should care. “Anytime a nuclear weapon state gets involved in the conflict, we all as human beings – regardless of your nationality, ethnicity, identity, citizenship – should be concerned,” Vieira said. People at the event were asked if the world has a bias because of the attention on Ukraine. One attendee asked if other conflicts around the world also involve nuclear weapon states. Vieria answered no, but pointed out the last conflict between a nuclear power was between the U.S. with Afghanistan and Iraq. “If we point the finger and are concerned about Russian aggression, I think we need to take a long, hard look at ourselves in the mirror and say we’ve, we [as] the United States, have also engaged in aggression,” Vieira said. He then gave updates on other issues hap-
pening around the world. Since 2011, at least 350,000 people have been killed in Syria, Vieira said, emphasizing “at least’’ because the cited report only documented casualties. Vieira noted that over 100,000 people have been recorded as killed in Yemen since 2015, with millions of refugees having fled their homes in South Sudan, and more than 50,000 people having been killed in Ethiopia in the past three months alone. The conversation led to questions about whether media coverage is putting other world issues to the side. The state of emergency in El Salvador, where 62 people were killed by gang violence in one day on March 26, was brought up in the discussion. “It’s not covered in the media, right? But what is? We’re getting robbed at the gas pump,” Vieira said. He questioned why publications like The Los Angeles Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune and The Fresno Bee don’t focus coverage on El Salvador when “it’s in our backyard.” Vieira also discussed social bias with immigration, because multiple countries have opened their borders for Ukrainians, but many
event attendees felt like asylum seekers from other countries were not as accepted. One person at the event said the Ukraine news coverage shows “what people of color from across the world have experienced for millennium,” while another person said it’s a case of “white privilege.” “Correlation does not equal causation, but of all the conflicts that I listed up on the board, those all involved brown and Black people. They’re not getting the same kind of media coverage. They’re certainly not getting the same kind of support from the U.S.,” Vieira said. Political bias was another topic to factor in. When one person asked Vieira what Ukraine offers that other countries don’t, he noted the region’s natural resources and the location as a buffer from Russia for NATO countries. He said places like Africa don’t affect U.S. oil supplies, and when African countries suffer massacres like the Rwandan genocide, NATO is less likely to offer aid than other non-member regions such as Bosnia and Kosova. Vieira ended the discussion by encouraging people to write letters to members of Congress or reach out to media sources.
A&E
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2022
COLLEGIAN.CSUFRESNO.EDU
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Award recipients announced at 2022 Senior Art Show By Adam Ricardo Solis
She was also one of three award winners of The President’s Showcase Award for her “Self Portrait” drawing. Lesnikowski, who felt like she couldn’t stand out when she first started as a freshman in art, said she felt “a lot of affirmation” after winning her awards. She describes her artistic medium, as seen in her piece “The Coyote vs. Bird. Which one are you?”, as oversaturated landscape paintings with a black figure interacting with the space. After hearing that “Self Portrait” was selected as one of the three award winners for The President’s Showcase Award, Lesnikowski said “it makes me feel acknowledged by the president and his wife.” “I’m happy that they chose me out of the other students. There’s three of us together,
Reporter
Fresno State’s 2022 Senior Art Show held its reception for projects created by graduating seniors at the Phebe Conley Gallery and announced award recipients, including the President’s Showcase Award, on April 1. The art show displayed a variety of pieces ranging from self-portraits, acrylic and oil canvas paintings to ceramics, sculptures and mixed media. Andrew Turner’s sculpture, “The Four Horsemen,” was on display at the event. Turner describes his sculpture, which includes four handmade knights’ helmets, as a “correlation” between social class and mental health. “In my body of works, I [show] that I struggled with my own issues with mental health and PTSD due to a trip when I moved to Guatemala in 2005 and experienced Hurricane Stan, which was about two weeks after Hurricane Katrina,” Turner said. He said that during his firsthand experiences with Hurricane Stan, he saw a lot of things that he still deals with today, and that through his work on “The Four Horsemen” he has been able to address his experiences in a healthy way. “It’s better than a psychologist, right? Like, the creation of art is where I can zone out,” Turner said. Later during the reception, Turner won the Sculpture Award for “The Four Horsemen.” He said that leading up to the announcement was “gut wrenching,” but he is excited he won and felt that the award is “well-deserved” after working “really hard” for it. Other art projects on display included self-portraits, such as the ones submitted by Jose Soria and Angel Lesnikowski, who both won awards for their works. Lesnikowski’s “Self Portrait” won Best In Show and the Edward O. Lund Foundation Award, while Soria’s “Seven of Hearts” self portrait won the Painting Award. Soria said he was surprised when he found out that “Seven of Hearts” was chosen for the Painting Award. He said his self-portrait displays his relationship with religion and how it changed during the beginning of the pandemic. “Because [‘Seven of Hearts’] being a self-portrait, it’s tied to a specific person. I didn’t think that something like that would get chosen, just because there’s other things that are more universal in what they represent. But I felt pretty happy that my self-portrait stood out to them,” Soria said. After finishing “Seven of Hearts” less than
[and] I know the other two, as well, so it just feels really nice,” Lesnikowski said. The 2022 Senior Art Show is free and open to the public until April 8. The exhibit is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Phebe Conley Gallery.
Wyatt Bible • The Collegian
Top: Andrew David Turner’s sculpture, “The Four Horsemen.” Bottom: Angel Lesnikowski’s “Self-Portrait,” which won Best in Show. a month ago, Soria said having the chance to display his projects in the Senior Art Show was “bittersweet.” Soria described the process of his peers coming from class and working on their projects to seeing them on display for the community as an opportunity he was glad to have been
given. Lesnikowski won two awards and one honorable mention at the reception, including honorable mention for “The Coyote vs. Bird. Which one are you?” in Best in Show and the Edward O. Lund Foundation Award- Drawing for “Self Portrait.”
Other award recipients included: • Honorable Mention - Painting: “The Coyote vs Bird. Which one are you?” by Angel Lesnikowski. • Painting Award: “Seven of Hearts” by Soria. • Drawing Award: “Self-portrait, 2022” by Natalie Inthisane. • Sculpture Award: “The Four Horsemen” by Turner. • Ceramics Award: “I Am” by Adelina Ruvalcaba. • Mixed Media Award: “Modern Figures” by Orlando Lopez. • Printmaking Award: “Lovers” by Lily Castillo. • Animation and Video Award: “Tortilla Bot” by Veronica Torres Corona. • Photography Award: “Echoes of the Past” by Roberto R. Sandoval. • The Fresno Printmaker’s Guild Award: “The Chosen Path” by Roberto R. Sandoval. • The President’s Showcase Award: “Self Portrait,” a drawing by Angel Lesnikowski; “Scenes of Monterey: Shoreline Park and Lovers Point,” a painting by Lyndsie Lyman; “Three Familiar Monsters, The Old West, and Untitled” series of three drawings by Hernan Angele. • Best in Show and the Edward O. Lund Foundation Award: “Self Portrait,” a drawing by Angel Lesnikowski.
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THE COLLEGIAN • A&E
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Health center to provide gender-affirming care by fall 2022 By Ashley Flowers A&E Editor
Students and staff have advocated for over a year for the Student Health and Counseling Center (SHCC) to offer gender-affirming care (GAC) for transgender and nonbinary students. In response to their efforts, the SHCC now plans to incorporate GAC by fall 2022. Jordan Fitzpatrick, a first-year graduate student in the master’s in social work program, planned an informational meeting for students via Zoom on April 1 in response to students and staff being met with reluctance or refusal by the health center to incorporate GAC. GAC includes counseling support as well as medical support, such as providing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on campus, for transgender and nonbinary students. Fitzpatrick was expecting to involve students in advocating for the inclusion of GAC. Instead, he was able to present attendees with the SHCC’s plan for GAC, with both counseling and medical support, including having an “experienced physician [to] provide HRT services on-site,” according to the plan. The plan states its primary goal is to “provide a sustainable programmatic operational plan supporting our students with gender-affirming care.” The plan includes counseling and psychological services, medical services, an improved website with updated resources, a GAC care group, additional SHCC positions to hire for and a Cross-Cultural and Gender Center (CCGC) student liaison, all by the start of the fall 2022 term. Fitzpatrick, who also uses the pronoun they, explained that offering HRT on campus rather than being referred out is particularly important due to the limited options for GAC within the Central Valley. “Most people have to travel outside the Central Valley in order to receive basic care. Often, when transgender and gender nonconforming people do seek medical care in the Central Valley, they face doctors who are not informed on how to care for [them], or refuse care, or are outright hostile to [them],” they said. Fitzpatrick noted that these students, who paid for services at the health center as part of their tuition just like other students, should be able to receive this care and not be denied hormones due to gender. During the meeting, Fobear explained that the refusal to offer GAC, and in particular HRT, is an “equity issue.” Fobear noted that currently two women can
go to the SHCC, one cisgender and one transgender, and one can be given hormonal treatment in the form of birth control, and one can be denied it in the form of HRT, and called this an instance of discrimination. “It’s really important that we make sure that this actually happens and we hold them accountable, and that we have a way to make sure that it stays in place,” Fitzpatrick said. Fobear and Fitzpatrick assured attendees that despite the promise to incorporate GAC, there was more to be done, and that the process to get there hadn’t been simple, either. The need to begin offering GAC care arose “about a year and a half ago” before the meeting, according to Fobear, when John Beynon from the English department spoke to the Fresno State LGBT+ Allies Network on the need for and the possibility of providing GAC at the SHCC, which he had seen being done at other CSU campuses, such as Chico State and Cal Poly. Concerned campus members formed a GAC subcommittee focused on bringing GAC to campus, and have been in talks for the last year on how to begin offering this care to students as well as protecting transgender and nonbinary students seeking GAC from discrimination, Fobear said. “[The talks] intensified within the past four months, where the biggest sticking issue was about providing HRT on campus. There seem to have been a lot of maybe reticence, maybe roadblocks, but basically no sort of commitment into providing this,” Fobear said. Recent talks, which Fobear described as “intense,” showed no sign of improvement. Despite initially hesitating to involve students out of reluctance to “stress out” transgender and nonbinary students, Fobear said this is when she and Fitzpatrick decided to reach out. Fitzpatrick sent out the invite to the first informational meeting for the student collective, but on March 31, the SHCC sent in its care model before the meeting even took place. Still, due to the struggles to get to that point, attendees stressed the need to ensure accountability by the health center. Fobear encouraged attendees to continue advocating for the need for GAC on campus and to stay involved in the process, attributing the current successes to student and faculty’s efforts and attention. The logistics of ensuring accountability and making the GAC sustainable were discussed at the end of the meeting, and will continue to be specified in any upcoming meetings. Other topics pertaining to LGBTQ+ stu-
dents were discussed during the meeting, such as the possibility of turning the University Student Union into an LGBTQ+ center once the Resnick Student Union (RSU) opens. Concerns raised about gender neutral bathrooms in the RSU were settled by ASI President D’Aungullique Jackson, who also attendes and assured
other attendess the gender neutral bathrooms would be available. Students who are interested in attending future meetings and participating in these discussions can email Fitzpatrick at gac4fresnostate@ gmail.com to be added to the mailing list and be alerted when future announcements are made.
Wyatt Bible • The Collegian
The health center plans to offer comprehensive gender-affirming care, including hormone replacement therapy, by fall 2022.
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2022
THE COLLEGIAN • A&E
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Mochinut celebrates grand opening, more Campus Pointe restaurants to come By Julia Espinoza
Multimedia Reporter New businesses are making their way to Fresno’s Campus Pointe. On April 2, Mochinut hosted its grand opening celebration at the first location in the Fresno and Clovis area. Mochinut takes the name from its popular mochi donuts, which originated in Hawaii. It is a combination of American donuts and Japanese mochi. “It has this really airy, kind of crispy texture on the outside, and really kind of stringy elastic interior, and it’s delicious,” said David Palecek, owner of Mochinut. The eatery also specializes in Korean corn dogs and bubble tea drinks. It was no secret how much people anticipated the first Mochinut location in Fresno. “I’ve been wanting them to open since October, so literally every month I’ve been waiting,” said Victoria Soares, an attendee of the grand opening. The line of customers, some of whom were holding umbrellas to block the beating sun, stretched all along one side of the building.
Julia Espinoza • The Collegian
The line to enter Mochinut on the grand opening day stretched down the block. Due to the overwhelming support, Mochinut is looking for more employees and is currently hiring for the Campus Pointe location. “I think it’s a fun food. I think it’s something different and kind of exciting,” Palecek said. “It’s taken us a long time to bring it to the market here in Fresno, so I think it’s something that
was kind of lacking.” Campus Pointe has also seen other businesses pop up in the shopping center recently. Wayside Noodles hosted its soft-opening last weekend. As a Central Valley grown, family owned restaurant that sells Vietnamese fusion food,
this will be its second location. “Fresno’s growing their small businesses. We love it,” said Lauryn Fifer, a soon-to-be Fresno State transfer student. Although there is no set anticipated opening date, the signage of Lee’s Sandwiches is set up at one of the storefronts in the shopping center. It specializes in Vietnamese banh mi and Euro-style sandwiches. The shopping center is located just across the street from the Fresno State campus, and is not only home to restaurants, but offers a place for students to relax or work on assignments. One of its newest additions, the Kennel Marketplace, offers a large selection of Fresno State gear and is also home to a Starbucks, which is located in the northwest corner of the building. It seems that people are keeping a close eye on the new businesses that are filling up the spaces at Campus Pointe and eagerly anticipating new ones. “We need to fill up all these little open slots, because I’m here for it,” Sambria Morgan, a Fresno State student, said. Campus Pointe is located on the corner of Chestnut and Shaw avenues near the Palazzo apartment complex.
Asian Faculty and Staff Association hosts Zoom panels on community issues By Adam Ricardo Solis Reporter
The Asian Faculty and Staff Association (AFSA) held the first of two Zoom panels March 30 to focus on anti-Asian crimes and other challenges the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) community in California are facing. Hosted by the AFSA, the “Community Dialogue: Exploring AAPI Communities in Central California” event raised concerns about the increase in anti-Asian crimes and other ongoing concerns over safety and issues within the AAPI community. Members of the panel ranged from Misty Her, the deputy superintendent of Fresno Unified School District, to Monika Joshi, the president and CEO of Studentnest INC. Members shared how their experiences during the pandemic and life in their communities have shaped their behaviors as members of the AAPI community. Her has noticed that students in particular have been impacted deeper from both the effects of the pandemic and anti-Asian sentiment.
Screenshot captured by Adam Ricardo Solis
The first Zoom panel featured three local keynote speakers and panelists. “Our students didn’t necessarily speak up because either they were afraid or, if something happened to them and they went back home. The natural inclination for our Asian-American students from their parents is [to say] ‘It’s OK, we don’t want any problems,’ and so they just let it go,” Her said.
After noticing rising anti-Asian sentiment, Her said it was important that she made sure that every adult in their system knew what was happening to their students. Empowering others to find their voice was something Her said she thought was important to make sure students were comfortable with
when incidents occur that need to be shared with an adult. Her said that when working with the families regarding those incidents, oftentimes the families dismissed the incident altogether than address it at all. “I think it’s really important that we teach our community and that we teach our children that it’s OK to speak up, and it’s OK for you to surface it. But as a system it’s our responsibility to make sure that when our adults do something or say something that is not right to our students [or] to our families, [that] we hold people accountable,” Her said. At the end of the panel for the AAPI Community Dialogues, panelists shared resources such as links for the Fresno Center, Stone Soup Fresno and Student Nest for anyone in need or interested in volunteering. The next AAPI Community Dialogue is Tuesday, April 5 from 4:30 - 6 p.m., and will feature five Fresno State faculty, staff and administrators who will share their personal experiences as well as give insight into the unique aspects of the AAPI communities within the Central California region.
OPINION
PAGE 9
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2022
Reactions to Kardashian-West drama hurt domestic violence survivors By Ashley Flowers A&E Editor
Nearly three years ago, I was granted a restraining order against an ex-boyfriend who was bombarding me and my loved ones with messages, threats and accusations across multiple social media platforms even after I moved 300 miles away from him. That’s a trauma I now relive every day that Kanye West makes headlines for his latest harassment of Kim Kardashian. I’m not here to debate the eldest Kardashian’s worthiness of fame or fortune, but I will take a stand for her right to move on after a breakup without being constantly harassed. It’s almost impossible to find someone unfamiliar with the situation of some of the wealthiest and most famous people in the world, but here’s a brief synopsis. Kardashian and West married in 2014 and have been hyper analyzed ever since. Their divorce has proved increasingly messy due to this fame, and West’s outbursts over the last month, particularly in response to Kardashian’s attempt to move on with Saturday Night Live comedian Pete Davidson at the end of 2021, have included frequent negative comments toward his former wife and her new beau, as reported by the Rolling Stone. West has consistently critiqued the way Kardashian raises their children publicly on social media platforms, despite repeated requests by her to stop and despite repeated refutes of his accusations, including the infamous fiasco where he claimed she barred him from his daughter’s birthday party and took to Instagram to find the address. He has released the song “Eazy,” in which he raps “God saved me from that crash/Just so I can beat Pete Davidson’s ass,” complete with a claymation video where he kidnaps and kills Davidson – not to mention he nicknamed the man “Skete” during his constant attacks. When comedian and host of the Daily Show Trevor Noah, who said he grew up in an abusive
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(Jean-Baptiste Lacroix/AFP via Getty Images)
Kim Kardashian, left, and former husband Kanye West attend the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party following the 92nd Oscars at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California, on Feb. 9, 2020. household, called out the abuse with the public comment of “What I see from the situation is a woman who wants to live her life without being harassed by an ex-boyfriend or an ex-husband or an ex-anything,” West responded with a racial slur that ended up getting him suspended from Instagram and led to him being barred from performing at the Grammys. Of course, the Internet has fallen into several camps: Team Kanye, Team Kim and Team Chaos. Many have embraced West’s mean-spirited taunting and replicated it themselves, lashing out against Kardashian and Davidson via social media. But here’s the thing: Kim, Kanye, Pete – none of them will ever read your online messages or hear your comments about domestic violence, stalking and abuse. They’ll never know whose side you took, and they’ll never care.
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I do. The people in your life who are victims will hear it and they will remember it. It will shape the way they perceive you and their relationship to you. And it’s more people than you might think. Intimate partner violence (IPV), which is abuse or aggression that occurs in a romantic relationship, including with current and former partners, affects 1 in 4 women and nearly 1 in 10 men, according to the CDC. Ten percent of women and 2% of men have been stalked by an intimate partner. Oftentimes, if unchecked, IPV can result in death. 1 in 5 homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner. Over half of the female homicide victims in the U.S. were killed by a current or former male intimate partner. Hopefully, the “Kimye” online drama stays just that, and doesn’t escalate any further. But for many out there, like me, things did escalate
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further. Things did begin with social media taunts and harassment in my situation, and got worse until I found myself sitting before a judge and next to my abuser, locked in a room filled with strangers, guarded by security guards, reliving the worst days of my life in hope that someone would believe me and not them. Those are the kinds of moments I don’t wish on anyone and that have taught me not to see behavior like West’s as innocent. Next time you find the urge to laugh at victims like Kardashian or sympathize with abusers like West, consider how many loved ones in your life may have suffered from something similar. Don’t like the memes. Don’t post a joking TikTok on your story. Don’t try to spin the harassment into a sympathetic story of mental health struggles. Because Kardashian and West aren’t listening, but I am.
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SPORTS
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2022
COLLEGIAN.CSUFRESNO.EDU
PAGE 10
Fresno State tennis takes back-to-back wins this weekend By Aidan Garaygordobil Reporter
A.C. Hummel finished her final weekend at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center with back-to-back, match-clinching victories. The fourth-year German native won both of her matches in the third set at No. 4 singles, and her second matchup proved to be the deciding factor on her Senior Day. Fresno State’s women’s tennis team ended the weekend with two wins in Mountain West play, the first a 4-2 victory over UNLV and the second a 4-2 Senior Day win over No. 66 San Diego State. The ‘Dogs have now won six consecutive matches and finished their season on a 13-game winning streak dating back to February 2021. The ‘Dogs now hold a 14-3 record overall and a 4-0 record in Mountain West competition. “The entire day was amazing with the girls’ performances and all the support we got. Clinching on Senior Day is everyone’s dream come true. I was very nervous at the end and my heart was beating, but it was the best way to finish,” Hummel said. The first match of the weekend began successfully as the ‘Dogs picked up the doubles point by winning 2-of-3 sets against the Rebels. The pairing of Pang Jittakoat and Matilde Magrini dominated their opponents at the No. 1 spot in a 6-1 victory. They were shortly followed by the No. 2 spot duo of Carlotta Nonnis Marzano and Carolina Piferi sealing the doubles point with a 6-2 win of their own. Now leading after doubles play, Fresno State began singles competition by extending their lead. Jittakoat took the first win at the No. 1 spot against UNLV’s Molly Helgesson with scores of 6-2 and 6-4. She was followed by Piferi at the No. 6 spot, taking down the Rebels’ Coco Zhao with scores of 6-4 and 6-2. Despite trailing 3-0, UNLV picked up a couple wins in singles play to pull within one. However, Hummel clinched the victory for the ‘Dogs by winning at the No. 4 spot with scores of 6-1 and 6-4. Fresno State’s second match of the weekend came against a considerably better opponent in the No. 66-ranked San Diego State Aztecs who entered the game riding a six-match winning streak. The ‘Dogs began the match with a strong showing in doubles play as the pairing of Jittakoat and Magrini once again secured a 6-2 win at the No. 1 spot. They were then followed by Marzano and Piferi who won at the No. 2 spot to clinch the
Melina Kazanjian • The Collegian
A. C. Hummel in her singles match against Colorado State on March 27 at Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center.
Estela Anahi Jaramillo • The Collegian
Jane Ellis and A.C. Hummel celebrate a point for their doubles match against Fresno Pacific on March 18 at Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center. doubles point for the second consecutive match. Jittakoat began scoring again for Fresno State in singles play by winning at the No. 1 spot with scores of 7-5 and 6-2. This marked her eighth straight victory in singles play, each of which she’s won without losing a single set. San Diego State followed the No. 1 spot loss with two wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots. However, Piferi won her 10th-straight match at the No. 6 spot to give the ‘Dogs a 3-2 lead. The match came down to Marzano and
Hummel competing side-by-side in their third sets. Both led as the game came to a close, but Hummel sealed the win once again by taking the No. 4 spot with scores of 6-2 and 6-2. The Bulldogs are now riding a six-match winning streak as they head into their final six matches of the season. Assistant coach Calvin Song was especially proud of the team as it hit the half-way point of its conference schedule, and closed out home play for the season. “Everyone is ready to dig deep for every single match, and no one is ready to throw in
the towel. Sometimes when it’s the middle of season, it’s easy to do that but these girls have so much focus and grit,” Song said. He also emphasized the sense of pride given from the effort of his senior players in their final home matches. “Getting to know the [senior players] these past couple of years was a really beautiful moment. I think they’ve come so far from their freshman year, to end it the way Hummel did on her terms. We’re super proud of her and all of our other seniors,” he said.
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2022
THE COLLEGIAN • SPORTS
PAGE 11
Fresno State men’s rugby club makes program history
Estela Anahi Jaramillo • The Collegian
Ray Aguirre (left) and Travis Hansen (right) in the rugby game against Sacramento State for the Pacific Western Conference League Championship game at the Fresno State Kinesiology field.
By Estela Anahi Jaramillo Sports Editor
got it,” he said. Playing in his ninth year of rugby, Banuelos said how exciting it is to win a championship for Fresno State since growing up in the Valley there wasn’t anything like what he experienced in college. “It’s amazing. We had stuff in high school in the valley, but there’s nothing quite like this. Being as committed as this,” he said. He shared the struggle of switching to a new practice field, and other things that might’ve set the team back, but said they remained resilient through it all and have landed at winning the championship, especially with a home-field advantage. “Great, great that we got to host with nobody who was tired enough to stay in hotels. Everyone got to stay at their own house. We’re well-rested. We didn’t have to play Friday. It was great to have the home field advantage,” Banuelos said. Jacobson said how well-deserved it felt for his team to win the championship trophy and home receiving the MVP title for the game. He highlighted the team’s hard work this season, and seeing the progress some of the athletes have built in the four years they have been with the club team. “I didn’t know what I was getting into when I signed up and started playing in college. But as soon as I fell into the community, it was really heartwarming. And I think this is what we deserved,” he said. aramillo • The Colle gian ahi J An
For the first time in program history, the Fresno State men’s rugby club won the Pacific Western Conference League Championship against Sacramento State. With the home-field advantage at the Fresno State Kinesiology field, the Bulldogs beat the Hornets, 36-0, in the first championship game Fresno State has hosted since joining the conference in 2013. “Today’s game didn’t go our way in a lot of ways, but they never gave up and they held them to zero which is saying a lot,” said head coach Patrick Quan. The athletes were presented with a trophy and medals for their win, and senior Joshua Jacobson was named the games MVP. Jacobson noted that at the beginning of the game, things didn’t go well for the Bulldogs, but they were able to complete a quick turnaround and succeed. “I felt we needed to put in a little bit of effort. Right before the game, we had some mix around of guys but we made it through it. You know most of our guys can play all different positions, so it really helps us out when you learn every position you play so you can just switch around guys, and it doesn’t affect our game too much,” he said. For the first time in his seven-year stint at the helm, Quan has won his first championship title. “It was great. We have been [working] for seven years, you know. We kind of started out and we had a long way to go. But we are building, hopefully at this point, and we’re really thrilled,” said Quan.
He noted that moving this far had always been the plan for the team, and even through the struggles of the pandemic and practicing on an unkept field last semester, the rugby team has been able to rise up to the championship game. Quan said The strength and size of the Bulldogs was in their favor this season, and highlighted that even mentally, the team has gained strength through the obstacles it’s faced. “We were just concerned that, you know, something would change. Everything just seemed like it was shifting. But we’re thankful that this season happened. And we’re really proud of the players,” he said. “We have been through a lot as a team. And it’s really made us stronger. I’m really proud of the players. And, you know, they are basically changing the way we program at Fresno State.” Fresno State junior Carlos Banuelos highlighted how important the championship win was for the rugby club. The club being only nine years old, one of the youngest in the league, and winning the championship after coming close before COVID-19 was amazing, Banuelos said. “We’ve all worked hard for the past nine months. Everybody’s been committed hard and when coming up every practice, they can go into class doing their work. Whooping grinder for this. It’s finally
After working tirelessly for multiple days a week, and at undesirable hours since most of the athletes came after work or school, Jacobson said the team deserved the win. Jacobson said the rugby club coaches don’t get paid to work with the athletes, so their dedication to showing up after their day jobs to teach the team more about the sport meant a lot. “So I want to thank them, my coaches come now teaching us and sticking with us and even when we won’t be in the best place, and even though we had attitude, they kept with us,” he said. “My fellow teammates, I’m honored to have such great friends and brothers that I made on this team, and I really feel blessed about it.” The conference is a Division 1 AA conference that competes for the USA Rugby National Collegiate Competition in the 15’s. Since Fresno State qualified along with Sacramento State, it heads to Washington to compete in the West Coast Regional Competition to determine if they move on to Nationals at the end of April. “Everyone knows their job. Everyone’s gonna step up. We all know what we need to do. It’s just a matter of doing it,” Banuelos said. Quan noted that the main thing the team needs to do is win a national championship, which they are now three games away from. The team leaves for Seattle in two weeks where it will play Sacramento State, UCSD and Western Washington. The winner of those games will move on to the national finals in Texas. “That’s a very, very good rugby team with some wonderful athletes, and they just need to do what they’ve always done. They could win it all,” Quan said.
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2022
THE COLLEGIAN • SPORTS
PAGE 12
Bulldogs win the Basketball Classic Championship By Estela Anahi Jaramillo Sports Editor
The Fresno State men’s basketball team defeated the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in the championship game of the ERACISM Basketball Classic tournament on Friday. The Bulldogs took the 85-74 win in their last game of the season on the East Coast. This is the second national postseason tournament championship that Fresno State has won since the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in 1983. The championship game is also the third for the Bulldogs’ postseason appearance in its Division I era since 1971. The four top scorers, Orlando Robinson, Destin Whitaker, Jordan Campbell and Leo Colimerio, all scored in double digits and led the ‘Dogs to victory. Robinson scored 20 points, Whitaker followed with 18; Campbell with 13; and Colimerio also with 13. Robinson joined the 1,400-point club after their win on Friday, in what could possibly be his last game with Fresno State.
Fresno State started off the game with a 13-1 lead over Coastal Carolina and continued on to lead by 44-24 late in the first half. In the postseason finale, Fresno State held a large point advantage over the Chanticleers, as much as 24 points, to secure its win on the other side of the country. Whitaker tied a school record by going 6-for-6 from behind the 3-point line during the game, the fourth time a Bulldog had a perfect 3-point percentage with six makes since 2013. The Bulldogs shot 53% from the field and 60% from the 3-point line. The Bulldogs’ defense had six blocks, five steals and out rebounded the Chanticleers 2723 on the defensive glass. The Bulldogs 85 points for the Basketball Classic Championship game was their highest score for their overall season. Robinson was named the Basketball Classic’s MVP, and also received All-Tournament Team honors with Whitaker, Colimerio and Isaiah Hill. The Bulldogs finished the tournament undefeated and ended their season with the overall record of 23-13.
Melina Kazanjian • The Collegian
Jordan Campbell and Leo Colimerio celebrate in the semifinal game against Southern Utah on March 28 at Save Mart Center.