March 1, 2022

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War in Ukraine Professors react to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

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Bulldog Bowl to return Page 4

Family rooted in Fresno Page 8

INSIDE: ASI MEMBERS DISCUSS NEED FOR MENSTRUAL PRODUCT EQUITY

NEWS

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

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Professors speak out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

By Manuel Hernandez News Editor

Like millions of Ukrainians who have been impacted by the war between Russia and Ukraine, Fresno State political science professor Nataliia Kasianenko said she hasn’t slept in the past several days since Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, Feb. 24.

She was born and raised in Kharkiv, Ukraine and has lived in the United States for the past 10 years, but her family and friends in Ukraine are in the midst of warfare.

“They are in different parts of Ukraine… where some of the fiercest battles are at the moment as [Russian] troops are advancing from the east and then from the south of the Black Sea,” Kasianenko said.

She said her parents were staying in an underground shelter and that the “silver lining” is that they’re still able to communicate with each other by messaging photos and news updates.

On Thursday morning, President Vladimir Putin of Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine, and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law and officially broke diplomatic ties with Russia.

Kasianenko said even though she has studied Russia and Ukraine, has family in both places and has participated in seminars about the growing tension within Russian-Ukrainian borders, she was still in disbelief at Vladimir Putin’s actions.

She said her family was also in disbelief because they’re all Russian speakers, members of the Russian Orthodox church and have ties in Russia. An invasion from their neighboring country was a shock.

Kasianenko said her family members are all anxiously waiting because they have no idea what’s going to happen, and in the situation they’re currently in. “Uncertainty’s the worst,” she said.

“No one, really, could honestly predict that President Putin [would] engage in this attack…

That there [would] be a full-scale invasion of an entire country,” Kasianenko said.

Victoria A. Malko, a history professor at the university, said this was Putin’s attempt to show “the might of the Russian military,” pointing out that the invasion happened the day after Russia celebrated “Red Army Day,” also known as the Defender of the Fatherland Day. Malko said she is also deeply impacted by the war between Russia and Ukraine.

“It affects my immediate family. It affects my friends in Ukraine. I live with heartache ev-

ery day,” Malko said.

Her father, 84, and mother, 82, are both in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. She noted how they live six miles away from the Antonov International Airport, where bombings led to the destruction of one of the world’s largest aircraft, Myria, meaning dream or “hope,” according to Malko.

“Putin is trying to deprive Ukrainians of their hope; of their basic rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Malko said.

She’s communicating with her father every day, also updating each other about the ongoing news of the conflict.

Malko said her parents are in fear as they hear news about Ukrainian citizens being captured in buses as hostages to move Russian tanks forward.

Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, confirmed the country’s loss of Chernobyl, Zmiinyi Island – also known as Snake Island – and the dam of Kyiv, during a press conference on Feb. 26. Markarova also said that Ukraine suffered from marine attacks, aerial attacks and rocket launcher hits. Hospitals, schools, orphanages and residential areas have been destroyed as collateral damage.

Malko compared her parent’s experience to their past during World War II. Both of her parents were survivors when Nazi Germany occupied Ukraine. Her mother was orphaned after World War II and was raised by her aunt. “[My father] survived the German occupation. He remembers concentration camps, and now, he’s facing the Russian occupation. So it’s just incomprehensible… These are traumatic memories that we Ukrainians carry in our blood,” Malko said.

Kasianenko acknowledged NATO, the European Union (EU) and U.S.’s support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia to de-escalate the situation with troops in Russia before Feb. 24, but since Thursday’s invasion, she said her attitude has “completely changed.”

“I am angry. I am frustrated with the West – the lack of action. I am so tired of hearing things like ‘We are concerned.’ I’m so tired of hearing these statements of support,” Kasianenko said.

“I’m so tired of seeing statements such as ‘We’re praying for Ukraine.’ Prayers are great. However, this is not what’s going to save lives in my country right now.”

She said western countries were too preoccupied with “economic matters” regarding energy, gas and oil while her friends in Ukraine are fighting for their country.

She said her friends are scared if Ukraine is

Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images/TNS

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks after talks with his Azerbaijanian counterpart Ilham Aliyev in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 14, 2022. still going to exist a week from now. They also have frustration with the West and hate to be treated as a buffer zone between Russia and NATO countries, Kasianenko added.

After the invasion happened, Malko said there needs to be a “visible act” of retaliation from NATO and the U.S. to charge Putin for a case of genocide in the International Court of Justice.

“I sometimes feel frustrated that things move so slowly, and there’s enough evidence for that trial in the International Court of Justice to start immediately,” Malko said.

On Monday morning, Ukraine filed a genocide case against Russia in the international courts.

“Sanctions do not deter [Russia]. That’s fairly clear, but they do punish,” John P. Farrell, Fresno State history professor, said.

Farrell said that’s the problem when dealing with international policies: It’s difficult to stop a leader who actually does extreme things like what Putin is doing.

Farrell said Putin has grievances against the West, Europe, NATO and the EU “speaking as though he speaks for all the Russian people.”

As a historian, Farrell said he knows how Putin has been “abusing Russian history.” “[Putin’s] embellishing it, changing it, engaging in his own big lie,” Farrell said.

Malko said Putin is justifying his actions through Russian propaganda based on Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin’s ideals. Putin is “revising” the past to neglect Russia’s negative history on Ukraine, according to Malko.

Malko has published research on Russian history in Ukraine in “Women and the Holodomor-Genocide: Victims, Survivors, Perpetrators,” talking about how millions of Ukrainians died of famine under the Soviet Union.

Holodomor was recognized as a genocide of Ukrainians, and 70% of Ukrainian “intelligentsia” or highly educated class, 30% of teachers and 25% of farmers died.

Malko said books talking about Holodomor were removed in Moscow and humanitarian research organizations in Russia investigating the genocide were shut down.

Another Putin narrative Kasianenko wanted to refute was the belief that Ukraine is being ruled by a Neo-Nazi government. “[This belief] is completely ridiculous, but some people do believe that [Ukraine] has extreme nationalist government in place that discriminates against ethnic groups. It doesn’t make any sense,” Kasianenko said.

“People are losing their lives, innocent people, because of the actions of literally this one man.”

These Fresno State professors said Americans and the Fresno State community should be more aware of the history not only because it impacts the families of the faculty here, but also to avoid the misinformation being spread and realize it affects everyone.

“This is a military conflict, a war in the middle of Europe, we haven’t seen since essentially World War II… So the entire world, including the Fresno community, should be paying attention,” Kasianenko said.

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

THE COLLEGIAN • NEWS

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Lack of menstrual resources on Fresno State campus

By Adam Ricardo Solis Reporter

During the Feb. 23 Associated Student Inc. (ASI) meeting, Megan Torres, ASI’s senator of operations and resident affairs, spoke on the need for menstrual equity on campus.

Torres, a senior majoring in biology and double minoring in chemistry and psychology, presented a 15-page report of data, detailing her current efforts to personally stock 55 different restrooms with menstrual products.

Torres said the rules set by Assembly Bill 367 (AB367) do not provide much guidance for universities.

AB367 at Fresno State was the requirement to keep menstrual products in at least one central location on campus and not at every all-gender or women’s restrooms, according to Torres.

“If someone’s on the other side of campus [and] they have class in 10 minutes and they’re bleeding, that’s no help to them unfortunately,” Torres said. “[AB367] is a good step in the right direction, [but] it’s not enough,” Torres said.

Adam Ricardo Solis • The Collegian

Adam Ricardo Solis • The Collegian

Fresno State’ Student Health and Counseling Center said the menstrual products they offer to students come from donations outside of Fresno State.

A sign directing to an all gender restroom on campus.

AB367 was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October 2021.

It enacted the Menstrual Equity for All Act that required all California State universities and community college districts to “stock an adequate supply of menstrual products, available and accessible, free of cost, at no fewer than one designated and accessible central lo-

In Torres’ price breakdown, she explains how each unit would consist of 500 menstrual products and each unit would cost $125, making it 25 cents per product.

Torres hopes to have a meeting with campus administration but has yet to get a response.

According to AB367, Fresno State is required to post information about all-gender bathroom locations in at least one male restroom, which the university has fulfilled with multiple men’s restrooms.

Fresno State does not stock menstrual products in the all-gendered and unisex restrooms.

The only products found are the ones stocked

by Torres, which are not provided by Fresno State.

On Fresno State’s website, the listed locations for students to get menstrual products are listed as the Student Health Center, the Cross Cultural and Gender Center (CCGC), the Student Cupboard and the University Student Union (USU).

According to the offices of the CCGC, USU and Student Cupboard, they all receive their menstrual products from different entities and oftentimes rely on donations, none of which are Fresno State.

When asked, the CCGC, USU and Student Cupboard did not know where Fresno State’s own locations for free menstrual products were located. While the Student Health and Counseling Center does provide menstrual products out of their pharmacy, they are not free of charge.

The Collegian reached out to Fresno State regarding their efforts in fulfilling AB367 requirements, but Fresno State public information officer Lisa Boyles Bell said the university would not be able to comment by the time of printing.

cation on each campus and to post a designated notice.”

In her formal report, Torres quoted President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval when he said “the minimum is not enough” during ASI’s Feb. 9 meeting, speaking about Chancellor Joseph Castro’s handling of sexual harassment complaints.

“He did talk about how the bare minimum wasn’t enough, and that other issues wouldn’t be put on the back burner, and I’m just here to hold people accountable,” she said.

Torres proposed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the university and facilities to create a committee that would ensure that Fresno State and ASI dedicate a portion of its budget on menstrual equity on campus.

According to Torres, when visiting restrooms to restock, she noticed a lack of posted notices and menstrual products in certain areas.

“As of now, they are not meeting the minimum requirements,” Torres said.

In Torres’ report, she detailed her efforts of making menstrual products available including a QR code on each basket that, when scanned, will notify her when restocking is needed.

During the restocking process, Torres listed in her report that she restocks on a daily basis.

According to the proposed plan from Torres, the campus population and her estimate of roughly 15,000 people who need menstrual resources on campus, the average use of approximately 10 products per menstruation, she estimates that it would equal 300 units per year and 150 units per six months.

Torres said the six-month period would give the university enough time to get a better understanding on how much is actually needed.

A&E

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

COLLEGIAN.CSUFRESNO.EDU

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Bulldog Bowl planning to reopen for public use ‘very soon’ Ashley Flowers A&E Editor

Fresno State’s bowling alley plans to open in the next few weeks.

Bulldog Bowl, which is located in the lower level of the University Student Union, has 12 lanes, billiards tables and an arcade room. Initially, the bowling alley closed in March 2020, but reopened to bowling classes at the start of the spring 2022 semester.

The only reason it hasn’t opened to the rest of the public yet is due to a staff shortage, according to associate dean of student involvement Colin Stewart.

“So once we got approval [to reopen], we immediately posted the job description and then [started] interviews, and we’re very close to finalizing that process. And the second that we get that person hired, we’re going to aim to reopen the bowling alley as quickly as possible,” Stewart said.

Stewart acknowledged that the administration planned to open the bowling alley “much earlier,” but nationwide staff shortages have prevented that. Despite the setback, student involvement has continued the search.

“This has been one of our top priorities: to

get this position hired so that we can open the bowling alley as quickly as possible. But we’re very excited and optimistic that we’re going to be able to open very, very soon within the next few weeks,” Stewart said.

To keep the bowling alley safe for public use, several rules will be instituted in the bowling alley and billiards area. Individuals will need to wear masks at all times while indoors, and no food or drinks are allowed.

Every night, Stewart said staff will conclude with a “deep clean” to sanitize the facility, shoes and bowling balls.

Gus Anderson, a recent Fresno State graduate, said he feels “completely comfortable” bowling in consideration of COVID-19 concerns.

“I think the bowling alley is a fun place for students to blow off some steam while going to school. Students need to be able to socialize in a fun, light-hearted manner, and with everything being online, it’s difficult to find places to meet up and study as well as have some fun,” Anderson said.

“We know that this is such a critical part of the [University Student Union], and we know that students have been excited about it. So we’re equally excited and anxious to reopen the

Jesús Cano • The Collegian

Students participate at Bulldog Bowl during one of the elective bowling classes. bowling alley for everyone so that everyone can enjoy it and have a good time,” Stewart said.

Fresno State students and faculty members will still be able to receive discounted rates for bowling and billiards.

While the general requirement to use the

bowling alley is possession of a Fresno State ID card, Stewart acknowledged that some students have experienced delays in receiving their cards. For those students, equivalent proof of Fresno State attendance, such as Fresno State email accounts, will be accepted.

‘Taste of Counseling’ virtual event connects students with counselors Viviana Hinojos Reporter

The Student Health and Counseling Center (SHCC) hosted the “Taste Of Counseling Event” virtually on Feb. 23, encouraging students to find a counselor or program they enjoyed as much as their favorite cookie.

SHCC staff member Georgianna Negron-Long hosted the event to give students a taste of the services that the SHCC offers daily to students, using cookies to reference the variety of counselors at the center.

“Part of counseling is finding the right match as a counselor, and that can feel discouraging at times, but we try to make it easy for you by having a good variety of cookies here so that there’s something for everybody,” Malia Sherman, director of counseling and psychological services, said.

During the event, counselors introduced themselves, discussed their programs’ focuses and what groups they currently run, while also sharing their favorite cookie.

Sherman emphasized the importance of students finding a counselor whom they can connect with and feel comfortable with.

“We have so many different counselors on our team that we really have somebody who’s a match for everybody,” Sherman said.

One program discussed was Project Hope, led by Diana Karageozian, which helps students with issues that are impacting their education like financial hardships, interpersonal struggles and housing displacement.

Other counselors, such as Marie Haroutinian, discussed with students one-on-one about anxiety, depression and trauma to wellness checks.

“There doesn’t have to be a super serious reason to come to counseling. You don’t have to wait until it’s super bad before you come in. We are more than happy to just have you check in with us,” Haroutinian said.

Three-week, 50-minute group workshops available to students were discussed during the two-part virtual event.

Mental health counselor Live Mercer, who

currently runs the Anxiety Toolbox workshop, paints these group workshops as psychoeducational, which may be different than what most students envision group therapy is, Mercer added.

“I tell people to think of it as a live podcast where I’m going to be teaching you some good educational material and your participation is able to happen more so on your side of the screen,” Mercer said.

Mercer also mentioned activities such as journaling, mindfulness and visualization exercises, in which students can choose to participate as much or as little as they want to in the group workshops.

Fresno State sophomore Idali Guerrero said she attended the event after struggling with being online her entire first year, hoping to learn about campus resources that could help her with the adjustment.

“Being that this is my first semester on campus and in-person, I felt very nervous and stressed out, so I wanted to know more about counseling and to feel comfortable about it,”

Guerrero said.

She joined the Anxiety Toolbox workshop where she learned about other upcoming workshops and met some of her potential counselors.

“Getting to know the counselors really helped a lot. At first, when you’re going to look for a counselor, you want to get to know the person and see why they’re there and why they’re wanting to help,” Guerrero said.

Moving forward, Gurrero plans to join a group workshop that she learned about recently to help her adjust to being on campus.

Other students who attended the event were also able to sign up for upcoming workshops that stood out to them.

Students who were unable to attend the event can still learn more about SHCC resources and upcoming events on the SHCC website.

Students can also make appointments on the SHCC website or accessing a brochure further detailing available counseling programs, introducing current counselors and listing multiple on campus and off-campus resources.

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

THE COLLEGIAN • A&E

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True Black History Museum brings traveling exhibit to campus Adam Ricardo Solis Reporter

The True Black History Museum brought its traveling exhibition of rare and authentic artifacts to Fresno State for students and the community to visit on Wednesday, Feb. 23.

The museum has artifacts dating from the late 1700s to the 21st century displayed in chronological order.

The goal of the museum is to preserve the history of African Americans and educate others about the contributions of African Americans throughout history through a traveling Black history experience.

It was set up in the Leon S. Peters Ellipse Gallery on the second floor of the university library, where visitors had the opportunity to learn about significant contributions from African Americans in politics, art, sports, education and science.

Some of the artifacts featured in the exhibit included a signed photograph of Shirley Chisholm, the first African American to run for a major party’s nomination for president of the United States as well as the first African American woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, plus a signed letter from Barbara C. Jordan, the first African American woman elected to the Texas senate after Reconstruction.

Fred J. Saffold III, founder of the museum, spoke of the importance of selecting artifacts for display. He called the exhibit that had come together from those choices “a tribute to the African American journey.” “[African Americans] have a history that predates 1619, and our history is not rooted in savagery, but in loyalty and accomplishment,” Saffold said.

He said there were two reasons the museum was founded: to preserve the history of Black people, and to educate visitors of the exhibit about the value of African Americans and their history.

“People just have no idea of the journey that African Americans have gone through.

They have no idea of how important the contributions that Black people have made, how important they are to this country’s success,” Saffold said.

Marisa Williams, student coordinator for the African American Programs and Services (AAPS), said that the collaborative effort between AAPS and the University Student Union (USU) Productions team allowed for a “a space for people to get talking about the pivotal mo-

Wyatt Bible • The Collegian

The True Black History Museum brought rare and authentic artifacts from the late 1700s to the 21st century, such as signed photographs and letters, as part of its traveling exhibit to Fresno State’s campus on Wednesday, Feb. 23. ments in history that were started by African Americans.”

Williams pointed out that this was the first time the museum had visited Fresno State’s campus, which she said could highlight aspects of Black history many may not know about.

President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, who also visited the exhibit, acknowledged the opportunity for students to learn from the traveling exhibition.

“I would have liked to have this museum stay here for longer, because I think we could have reached out to more students. But I would like them to see how our history is a very complicated history. It’s a very painful history, and we need to embrace that history in order to move forward together as a multicultural society,” Jiménez-Sandoval said.

Maribel Flores, a senior majoring in public health, said the museum personally impacted her when she saw the artifacts related to athleticism and famous athletes on display in the exhibit.

“Muhammad Ali really made an impact on his sport and was able to put his race out there,” Flores said.

Flores added that visiting the museum was a good learning experience and encouraged other students to take advantage of future events such as this to inform themselves more.

Wyatt Bible • The Collegian

The one-day event attracted multiple attendees to learn about contributions from African Americans in politics, arts, sports, education and science.

OPINION

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TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

Letter to the Editor: U.S. should enact full sanctions against Russia

Collegian centennial celebration Manuel Hernandez News Editor

(Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images/TNS) Anatoliy, a Ukrainian soldier with the 56th Brigade, in a trench on the front line on Jan. 18, 2022 in Pisky, Ukraine. On Saturday, U.S. President Joe Biden again warned Russian President Vladimir Putin in an hourlong call that any move to invade Ukraine would be met with a strong response that would impose “severe costs” on Moscow.

Victoria Malko

Department of History Dear Editor, While Ukraine is in the headlines of newspapers around the world, it’s important to raise awareness about Ukraine in our local community.

After Russia celebrated the Red Army Day, in the early hours of Feb. 24, 2022, its Armed Forces started shelling peaceful cities in an attempt to subjugate Ukraine to Moscow’s imperial rule and deprive Ukraine of its sovereignty.

The United States and its allies must stop the Kremlin’s premeditated atrocious war against Ukraine, Europe and international rules-based order.

If we continue to kick this can down the road, as we did when Russia devastated

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.

Chechnya, invaded and partitioned Georgia, annexed Crimea and occupied Donbas, Putin will escalate further.

Russia’s greatest weakness lies in the reliance of the Russian elite on our banks, safe investment-grade assets, diplomas and knowhow from our universities and think tanks, and comfortable living and vacations in the United States and European countries.

Today, Russian troops bomb and march on Kyiv, but recent history has taught us that Putin will not stop there.

China, of course, is also watching intently how we respond.

Weakness in our response to Russia will embolden China on Taiwan.

Failure to act decisively on Russia now risks wider war and also signals to our adversaries that it’s a war we no longer have the resolve to

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win.

All peace-loving people and nations must act with unity and resolve now and support the Ukrainian peoples’ right to statehood and independence.

Specifically, I urge the United States and its allies to: • Immediately enact full sanctions on Russia, including cutting it off from the SWIFT system • Deliver anti-air, anti-rocket, and naval defense systems to Ukraine • Implement a full trade embargo on Russia and seize all assets held in the West owned by Russian oligarchs and government officials • Ban Russian ships from Western ports • Stop buying oil from Russia and make the U.S. energy system independent.

Jannah Geraldo Jesús Cano Manuel Hernandez Ashley Flowers Estela Anahi Jaramillo Stacy Hurtado Edward Lopez Adam Ricardo Solis Viviana Hinojos Aidan Garaygordobil Tyler Van Dyke Jermaine Abraham Julia Espinoza

Staff Photographer Staff Photographer General Manager General Sales Manager National Sales Manager Local Sales Manager Special Projects Manager Special Projects Manager General Manager Financial Manager Advertising Faculty Adviser Editorial Faculty Adviser MCJ Department Chair

On Feb. 8, 1922, The Daily Collegian published its first newspaper under the journalism department at Fresno State College. Our newspaper is now celebrating its centennial year, and following the years of successful journalists paving the way in history, it’s crazy that I’m a part of this one pivotal moment.

The staff of the 2022 spring semester and I are part of the “Centennial Collegian Crew” – I’m in the process of trademarking this. Also, I’m just kidding.

As news editor of this paper, I take great pride in being part of this publication. We have seen this paper’s coverage of the Vietnam War, important civil rights moments in Fresno State history and even internal conflict with the journalism department itself.

I think this staff is a perfect representation of what local journalism, Central Valley reporting and 100 years of The Collegian have to offer – I might be biased.

Whether it be an on-campus protest on Title IX cases, university president scandals or international warfare, this staff made sure everything important is reported and every voice at Fresno State is heard.

Yes, this paper is probably not everyone’s first choice to start their journalism career, but it is for me.

Everyone who is in this centennial crew, from advisers, reporting staff and the advertising team, deserves credit for the work they’ve done. My gratitude and appreciation are also given to every other Collegian staff member before my time and the time after me also.

I hope the quality of work for The Collegian never waivers and only improves like I feel our team this year has done.

Melina Kazanjian Wyatt Bible Lexee Padrick Hannah Hieber Mackenzie Brazier Carli Medina Teagan Riley Brenda Valdez Richard Marshall Kevin Fries Jan Edwards Timothy Drachlis Betsy Hays

The Collegian carries four different ethnic supplements inserted several times throughout each semester into its print publication. Each supplement is produced by its own staff and advisers and is separate from The Collegian.

The news stories or opinions in the supplements do not reflect those of The Collegian.

Each member of the campus community is permitted a copy of The Collegian. Subscriptions are available for $25, on a semester basis. Staff positions at The Collegian are open to students of all majors. All content Copyright © 2022 The Collegian.

Letters to the Editor (collegian@csufresno.edu): All letters submitted to The Collegian should be between 250-500 words in length, must be type-written, and must be accompanied by a full name and phone number to verify content. The Collegian reserves the right to edit all material for length, content, spelling and grammar, as well as the right to refuse publication of any material submitted. All material submitted to The Collegian becomes property of The Collegian.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

COLLEGIAN.CSUFRESNO.EDU

PAGE 7

Bulldogs persevere through early season injuries

Estela Anahi Jaramillo • The Collegian

Fresno State utility Savannah Fitzgerald goes for a shot in the game against Fresno Pacific on Feb 19, 2022 at the Fresno State Aquatics Center.

By Estela Anahi Jaramillo Sports Editor

Fresno State water polo team has been able to continue their 10-7 overall record as they head into the midseason, carrying a 6-0 home game record despite being plagued with injuries.

Head coach Natalie Benson said she is impressed with the way her team has been able to handle the adversity.

“We’ve got a super competitive schedule up to this point, and the next few games we play are going to be high level. We’ve been bit by an injury bug. So, we’re kind of playing around with some people in some different positions, but it’s only going to make us stronger going into conference play,” Benson said.

Benson highlighted key players this season, starting off with Paula Nieto Jasny, returning goalkeeper for the Bulldogs. “[Nieto Jasny] holds it down. She makes

great passes. [She’s] really athletic. It gets some big blocks,” Benson said.

The team’s top scorer this season is freshman Fanni Muzsnay, with 49 career points for the 2022 season. She’s followed by Daphne Guevremont with 43 career points.

“Fanni, she’s done a really nice job so far as a freshman and is hyper, athletic, shoots the ball well, defends well and has really good speed,” Benson said.

The coach also highlighted freshman Brooke

Ochoa for her explosive defense and offensive spark. Benson called attention to Emily Nicholson’s strong hold in the center position.

The Bulldogs have participated in several tournaments this season such as the Arizona State Tournament, where they went 1-3.

From Jan. 29 to 30, the Bulldogs competed in the Cal Cup in Berkeley. They went 2-2, with two losses to Cal and San Jose State and two wins against UC Davis and Long Beach.

Before the 2022 Fresno State invite, the Bulldogs lost two games against USC and UCLA. They took two wins against San Jose State and Biola. They went 4-0 in the Fresno State Invite with wins over Fresno Pacific, Indiana State, Long Beach State and San Jose State.

This past Saturday, the Bulldogs continued their home winning streak in the GCC opener with a win against Santa Clara University with the score of 19-6.

Benson said the tough non-conference schedule will prepare the team down the road. “[The games are] giving us some extra reps, some extra runs, to allow some people to be ready for conference play starting next week,” she said.

“If we were able to win our conference, we would get a berth into the NCAA Championship tournament, and that’s what our goal is: to win our conference and go to NCAA,” Benson said.

“So, if we hit some bumps along the way, that’s all part of the process.”

Tennis shows strong outing in non-conference play

By Estela Anahi Jaramillo Sports Editor

Fresno State’s women’s tennis team clinched their eighth win of the season at home, defeating the Pacific Tigers 6-1.

This season the Bulldogs are 8-2 in their overall record, with a 3-0 home match winning streak. They brought home wins over UCSD, Point Loma, Sacramento State, Saint Mary’s, BYU, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Pacific.

The two losses the ‘Dogs carry are against San Diego and Cal Poly.

This season, two players have been named Mountain West Player of the Week: Pang Jittakoat and Matilde Magrini, receiving two Mountain West Freshman of the Week honors.

Head coach Denise Dy said an athlete playing high in the line-up as a freshman is a special thing, referencing Magrini and her performance so far this season.

“I think the reason why she is where she

Wyatt Bible • The Collegian

Carlotta Nonnis Marzano in match against Saint Mary’s College on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, at the Spalding G. Wathen Tennis Center. is is because she’s probably one of the hardest workers on the team. She does a lot of time on court. Outside the court she’s a very responsible student athlete, a high level D1 athlete and her goals are to play pro tennis when she graduates,” Dy said.

Magrini praised her teammates for the level she’s reached as a freshman. She highlighted

their energy and the opportunity to play with her teammate Dalia Ahmed, 2021 MW Player of the Year “It’s amazing for me to play with them. And right now I think the team [is] really good, really good energy,” Magrini said.

With wins over St. Mary’s and BYU, the Bulldogs have continued to make a run with

their eight wins this season. Dy said she hopes these wins will continue in future matches, noting the challenges that will continue into the season.

“But at the same time, you’re just going to have to really be ready and understand that people are going to get after us now,” Dy said.

With Ahmed’s plans on playing professionally after college, she said she hopes to have her name on the tennis court walls just like her sisters, Rana Ahmed and Mayar Ahmed, who each earned MW Freshman of the Year honors. Rana Ahmed became the first four-time All-MW Singles Team selection at Fresno State, and teamed up with Mayar Ahmed in 2016 for All-American honors in doubles.

“I’m trying to achieve that with playing, to have All-American and doubles. I’m trying to achieve that. I’m very excited for my senior year and I will do my best to achieve my goals,” Ahmed said.

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

THE COLLEGIAN • SPORTS

PAGE 8

Holland’s career at Fresno State comes full circle for family

By Estela Anahi Jaramillo Sports Editor

Patrick Holland said seeing his son, Anthony Holland, play as a Bulldog is dear to his heart.

Growing up in Fresno, Patrick Holland attended Fresno State basketball games at Selland Arena. Now, he gets to watch his 21-yearold son Anthony Holland play for the Bulldogs at Save Mart Center.

“My dad is my first coach,” Anthony Holland said.

Anthony Holland said his parents introduced him to sports, and it was his dad who first showed him basketball when he was 3 years old. Since the day his father introduced him to basketball, he continued to stick with it.

Looking back at the coaches in his career who have made him the athlete he is today, Anthony Holland said, “I will say my dad first.”

He also highlighted his high school coach Robert Robinson, who is now coaching at UCLA, and his IBP basketball league coach, Keith Howard.

Besides his father’s ties to Fresno and having family here, Anthony Holland played with the Elite Basketball Organization (EBO) based in Fresno. Besides playing high school ball, Holland played in other leagues such as the AAU circuit and IBP basketball league.

With Patrick Holland being from Fresno, Anthony Holland was familiar with the area when it came time to move here for his collegiate career. He noted that having another group of people there to support him helped with his decision to move, but Fresno State’s basketball program solidified his decision.

“I came here on my visit. I really liked the program, I really liked the campus, I really liked what the coaches were about, and I just felt like that was the best fit for me,” Holland said.

After Anthony Holland chose to play basketball at Fresno State, Patrick Holland noted how surreal it felt, due to his own roots in Fresno.

He’d moved to Riverside after graduating high school to play basketball, so the parallel of his son coming to play in Fresno was a blessing to him.

“Everybody thinks I have something to do with it, but he played with EBO and the coach offered him, and it was just like a dream come true for us,” Patrick Holland said.

Patrick Holland said the one thing he told his son was that when it came to his hometown of Fresno, he had to win. He highlighted the Red Wave fanbase and the community support

Melina Kazanjian • The Collegian

Fresno State’s Anthony Holland looking for a pass in the game against New Mexico on Feb 28, 2022 at Save Mart Center.

Fresno State receives.

“You know, we got a big support. We don’t have a lot going on. So you have to make sure that, if you guys want people to come, you guys got to play hard,” Patrick Holland said.

Anthony Holland explained that playing collegiate basketball has always been a dream for him. As he continued to grow, he saw this dream slowly forming into a reality. Countless hours of hard work landed him a spot as a Bulldog.

Like many other basketball players, Anthony and Patrick Holland bonded while watching professionals, like Kobe Bryant, play.

“We love watching [Kobe Bryant] play. I used to play in the intramural leagues after college,” Patrick said.

Anthony Holland grew up in Riverside, where he attended Notre Dame High School, helping lead his team to a league, regional and state championship. Holland averaged 15.5 points, seven rebounds, two assists, nearly two steals and a block per game in his high school career, which included 1,940 career points in 125 games.

During Anthony Holland’s senior year of high school, for the 2018-2019 season, he received the John R. Wooden Award in 2018 and 3A Player of the Year honors while also being a three-time allstate and three-time All-CIF honoree.

Patrick Holland attended Central High School where he

played basketball and said that his own love for basketball is what introduced his son to the world of basketball. He attended UC Riverside after playing basketball for Central High School. He noted that, after Anthony Holland saw him play in adult leagues, his son fell in love with the sport.

“And since then, just as many things, just play basketball. Play the right way.” Patrick said.

As Anthony Holland got older, his connection with basketball grew and watching Kobe play for the Lakers continued his love for the sport.

“I started having a little more fun with basketball. I started watching on TV a lot more, and I started watching Kobe. And I was like, ‘Man, he’s just so amazing.

I just want to be like that.’ And I was wanting to stick with it,” M eli na said Anthony Holland.

Ka za n ji He said an •T he Col his experil e gi a n ence with the Fresno State men’s basketball team has been great, noting the different things he’s been able to go through with his teammates and coaches on campus overall.

“It’s just his honor to be in that situation. I put a lot of work in, and that’s just a result of my work. So, I’m just happy and thankful for the opportunities,” Anthony Holland said. “You always watch March Madness every year and stuff like that. So, just being able to play at another level was very exciting for me.”

Anthony Holland said his favorite moment as a Bulldog was the game when Fresno State retired Paul George’s jer-

sey. He highlighted it as an exciting game for the team and said he played as a Bulldog for that game.

After playing basketball for most of his life, Anthony Holland said the sport has taught him to work hard for the things he wants. He emphasized the game of basketball and its unforgiving nature.

“It’s [taught] me how to work hard for things I want. You know, that’s the main one, because you got to work for anything you have in life,” he said.

For this 2022 season, Anthony Holland has played a total of 40 minutes for the Bulldogs, carrying 22 career points for the season. He has 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block. Anthony Holland’s highest scoring game was against New Mexico with 22 points. His career statistics include a total of 386 career points, 65 assists and a total of 1,836 minutes played.

Patrick Holland noted that his son’s hard work, as evidenced in his career statistics, have shown how hard he has worked to get a scholarship and to hone his craft. After coaching him at AAU and being hard on him to be a good player, Patrick Holland said it has been rewarding to see where his son’s talent is today.

“I’m just focusing on finishing strong, you know. We got a really good team and we can play with anybody in this conference if we want to,” Anthony Holland said.

Holland said his 10-year-old self would have never imagined his basketball career to turnout like this.

“I’ll just be shocked. Just to see myself like who I am today. I’ll just be shocked if I was a 10 year old looking at me,” he said.

“Just keep going. The sky’s the limit, you know, just always be positive. Just be a leader, be a team player. Just everything that we’ve created,” Patrick Holland said in a message to his son.

Patrick Holland said that Anthony’s mother, Mina Holland, is really influential to what he does, noting that she’s really one of the backbones to how “he’s so humble and so sweet.”

“They say [he’s] like a nice kid, but he has that inner understanding that you have to play hard,” he said.

With Kobe being one of Anthony Holland’s favorite players, Patrick Holland said that, to have the mamba mentality of Kobe Bryant, you have to do the mamba mentality.

“It doesn’t make you a bad person, it’s just the inner person that brings it out. So, when it comes out and we put it back in there [then] you go about your day,” he said.