November 1, 2022

Fresno State community shares concerns on motorized scooters on campus

By Bianca Palma Contributor

The Fresno State community has become increasingly accustomed to the sound of motorized scooters zipping around campus.

In a Facebook video welcoming incoming Bulldogs, Fresno State President Saúl JiménezSandoval encouraged students to consider “investing in a bicycle, skateboard or scooter” to use to travel across campus.

Many have embraced this message, but some students, faculty and staf have shared their concerns about the potential risks of oncampus scooters.

“It defnitely seems like there are more scooters on campus than last year,” said Maya Thurmon, a Fresno State student.

Thurmon said she does not own one herself, but acknowledged the appeal in having a scooter despite having “almost been run over multiple times.”

The scooter trend has garnered the attention of Debbie Adishian-Astone, vice president for administration. In a campuswide email, she reminded students of wheeled-device restrictions following incidents this semester.

Adishian-Astone wrote that scooters create the risk of trips and falls indoors, and that the devices might block exits or hallways during an emergency.

Despite the risks, one beneft for students is the ability to make it to class quickly. Fresno State student Christopher Major lives in student housing and enjoys using his powered scooter because his classes are farther, he said.

However, Major’s scooter can reach a maximum speed of 25 mph, which is 66% faster than the speed limit cars are not advised to exceed in parking lots.

One issue arising at Fresno State is the possibility of a pedestrian-scooter collision due to unawareness or ignorance of campus policies for wheeled devices.

A scooter-related incident proved fatal recently when San José State University’s Camdam McWright, a freshman on the Spartan football team, was struck by a bus while riding his electric scooter to school.

Wheels-of areas are marked in various spots on campus to note areas where the use of skateboards, bikes, hoverboards and scooters are not allowed. Despite signs that say “Wheels Of” between the Library and the University

Testing Center, many students are no stranger to the countless scooters speeding by.

Fresno State relies on an honor system when it comes to enforcing this policy, but other universities opt for verbal reprimand.

Arizona State University hires student employees armed with whistles and strong voices to stand guard and enforce the wheelsof rule.

“It’s a known thing. All the kids on campus talk about it. Professors even joke and say, ‘You better not be riding in the wheels-of zone,” said Thaiger Flowers, a former Fresno State student.

Major wasn’t aware of the wheels-of areas and said that they should not exist where students pass through on their way to class. He suggested a separate lane where scooters and bikes can pass.

Another student, Julia Vidrio, said using the same pathways as students on scooters feels like she’s walking into “oncoming trafc.”

Student Andy Lopez said that, after nearly being struck by a scooter in a wheels-of area, the student on the scooter was upset with him.

Adishian-Astone wrote in the email that the university is concerned over students ignoring

wheels-of area expectations and explained it would be very difcult to enforce unless observed by campus staf.

Not all students on scooters ignore the rules.

Brandon Xiong has a non-powered scooter and said he is aware of wheels-of areas and walks rather than rides through them. Although Xiong does not see scooter use in wheels-of areas as an issue, he noted that strict enforcement would ensure safety.

Motorized and non-motorized wheeled devices, including unicycles, scooters, skateboards and hoverboards, are not allowed inside of any university buildings.

Signage around campus intended to relay this message is scarce.

In the Resnick Student Union (RSU), printer pages showing a stick person riding a scooter with a red no symbol are posted on walls and inside elevators.

In the campuswide email, Adishian-Astone said that she is planning on increasing signage around campus for wheels-of areas and creating ofcial signage to remind students that scooters are not permitted inside of buildings.

As for storage, Lisa Kao, the director of the Ofce of Environmental Health and Safety and Risk Management, recommends that owners of scooters and other wheeled devices consult with the device manufacturer to determine efective methods to secure their device to regular bike racks currently available on campus and in the city of Fresno.

Electric scooter parking will be installed in locations throughout campus in upcoming weeks.

According to an email sent to students Wednesday morning, seven new scooter parking locations will be available later this semester.

Scooter parking spots will be located at the Student Recreation (REC) Center, Science II Building, McLane Hall, University Center, Library, Student Housing Atrium and North Gym.

“These racks are a secure option when used in conjunction with U-lock security devices,” said Debbie Adishian-Astone, vice president for administration and chief fnancial ofcer.

For students currently looking for secure locations to park their scooters, they can utilize “Bike Barn” locations at the REC Center, Student Housing and Professional Human Services Building, according to Derek Brantley, parking and transportation manager, and Adishian-Astone. Student ID cards are required to access these areas.

Adishian-Astone also advised students to “be mindful” of pedestrians and their safety when navigating campus.

“We want everyone to be safe, and we need those who are using wheeled devices to travel safely when on campus, at a slow speed,” she said.

On Oct. 26, University Communications sent a campuswide email announcing the installation of scooter parking locations throughout campus later this fall.

Scooter parking spots will be located at the Student Recreation (REC) Center, Science II Building, McLane Hall, University Center, Library, Student Housing Atrium and North Gym.

Despite risks and restrictions, the convenience of scooters is undeniable.

Fresno State’s administration will continue fnding solutions and the campus community will continue adapting, because the scooter trend will continue to progress.

Fresno State students can park their boards and scooters in the parking location by the Speech Arts Building. Manuel Hernandez — The Collegian

Journalists of Color program welcomes second cohort

News in brief

COVID-19 vaccine clinic

A COVID-19 vaccine, booster and fu clinic will be held on Thursday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Resnick Student Union (RSU) lobby.

This clinic is ofered in partnership with UC San Francisco and is available to all Fresno State employees and students.

Both monovalent and bivalent Pfzer, Moderna and Novavax vaccines and fu shots will be available at no cost.

Day of Giving 2022

By Jannah Geraldo Editor-in-Chief

The Journalists of Color program is entering its second year with 14 students now in the program, which aims to improve diversity in newsrooms throughout the San Joaquin Valley.

“Not many people get to start working on their future careers until after receiving a college degree. I am getting paid to learn and work in the feld I hope to pursue professionally one day,” said Jazmin Alvarado, a frst-year journalism major at Fresno State.

The program is a four to fve year fellowship that ofers high school seniors and frst-year college students in journalism programs at Fresno City College and Fresno State training and support in pursuit of a journalism career.

The program runs from October to June, and students are paid $300 monthly while publishing articles and multimedia news projects through The kNOw Youth Media, a program that started in 2006 to help develop young journalists’ skills “to tell their stories and the stories of their communities,” according to its website.

The Institute for Media and Public Trust at Fresno State created this program in partnership with the Youth Leadership

Institute (YLI); the journalism program at Fresno City College; and the Fresno State Department of Media, Communications and Journalism (MCJ).

“We believe San Joaquin Valley newsrooms must be more diverse if local media outlets are going to tell the full stories of their communities,” said Jim Boren, executive director of the Institute for Media and Public Trust at Fresno State, to Fresno State News.

Alvarado, who joined the Journalists of Color program in September 2021 after learning about it while attending Fresno High School, said having the opportunity to do “hands-on work so early on” is one of the most rewarding aspects of the program.

Gloria Yanette Flores, a second-year criminology major and journalism minor at Fresno State, also joined the program in September 2021.

Flores learned of the program from her brother, who was informed about it by his professor, Matthew Jendian.

Flores said the opportunity to work toward a future where people of color are “adequately represented within journalism” sparked her interest in the program.

The Journalists of Color program was developed in 2021 after noticing a need for

more journalists of color covering issues and topics within their communities, according to Johnsen Del Rosario, program manager of The kNOw Youth Media.

“You know, we’ve noticed that there aren’t a lot of journalists of color representing the communities that they’re reporting on, and Jim [Boren] noticed that too, and he kind of wanted to change that,” Del Rosario said.

Del Rosario, alongside kNOw Youth Media Program Coordinator Daniel Gonzales, help guide and train members of the Journalists of Color program with a goal for students to fnd careers at newsrooms throughout the Central Valley.

Flores said she hopes opportunities like the Journalists of Color program can help.

“In terms of diversity within newsrooms, I hope to see Journalists of Color assist in expanding beyond the barriers and creating an environment where underrepresented minorities have the opportunity to voice their thoughts, opinions and experiences,” she said.

Alvarado hopes to see more diversity within newsrooms through programs like these.

“I hope that one day newsrooms can be full of all diferent kinds of people... To see everyone working together without one group of people as the majority,” she said.

The Day of Giving returns for its sixth annual fundraising event. In honor of Fresno State’s founding year in 1911, the fundraiser will last for 1,911 minutes, beginning Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 5 a.m. and ending Thursday, Nov. 3, at 12:51 p.m.

All fundraising will occur online through the event website, featuring donation challenges and social media challenges for potential bonus funds for colleges, schools and programs at Fresno State.

Cultivating compassion

The Alegría Mental Health Task Force will host an event on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m., featuring a presentation and discussion on well-being and mindfulness. It will ofer selfrefection tools and campus resources and snacks will be provided.

The event will be hosted on Zoom and in Resnick Student Union Room 207A.

Front Cover — Graphic by Wyatt Bible

Top: Zane Pope (2) and Jake Haener (9) during the game against the Aztecs. (Aidan Garaygordobil/The Collegian)

Bottom: Cala Gala hosted an exhibit with altars to honor those who have departed. (Viviana Hinojos/The Collegian)

The Journalists of Color program hosts an orientation meeting for the second cohort of Fresno State students. Courtesy of Journalists of Color

Cedar Hall will no longer be demolished

By Manuel Hernandez News Editor

Students discussed student housing, campus updates and club sports during an open forum hosted by Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval on Oct. 26 at the Satellite Student Union (SSU).

Cedar Hall will no longer need to be demolished for low-cost student housing, according to Debbie Adishian-Astone, vice president for administration.

Initial plans for a new low-cost housing complex were announced at an Associated Students Inc. (ASI) meeting in March, where it was indicated that the Cedar Hall dorm, as well as the grass felds west and east of the building, were to be demolished.

“We’re going to move forward with [Fresno State’s afordable housing project]. We’re not going to need to demolish Cedar Hall like we thought, so we won’t be losing any inventory,” she said.

The university will be looking for a new location for the housing.

The project for new low-cost residence dorms started when Fresno State received a $35 million grant from the California State University (CSU) system in March, according to Adishian-Astone.

She said the new dorms will be suite-style apartments and that rent will be at 50% area median-income (AMI) levels.

Adishian-Astone also said the university is pushing back the timeline due to a “fnancial gap.”

It is working with the CSU chancellor’s ofce to obtain additional funding, so students may not see anything for the next three to four years, she said.

“I just received confrmation that since they’re apartment style, [the new dorms] will be open to our student parents as well,” said Caroline Alvarez, the ASI president.

The student open forum was held at the SSU from 3-4 p.m., and Jiménez-Sandoval was also joined by Alvarez.

There were few students present, with a majority of the SSU empty, so the event started later than scheduled.

Alvarez opened the forum with updates about ongoing campus projects.

Alvarez also said that ASI currently is working with organizations like the Student Cupboard to raise more awareness of its free resources for students.

ASI is also working with Athletics Directory Terry Tumey to provide a playing feld for club sports like rugby, she said.

One student at the open forum, who said she’s also a player from the women’s rugby team, told Alvarez and Jiménez-Sandoval that the team’s current playing feld, Vinland Park, is hazardous for the players.

“It is historically a dangerous park. There’s a lot of crime, and that park is really crowded. Or we’re faced with paying about $5,000 to purchase lights with the men’s rugby club to practice on the [Fresno State Aquatics Field],” the student said.

The team currently are allowed to play on the Kinesiology Field on the weekends for games and tournaments.

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Associated Students Inc. President Caroline Alvarez (left), Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval (center) and Debbie Adishian-Astone, vice president for administration, speaks at open forum on Oct. 26. Manuel Hernandez — The Collegian

“ We’re going to move forward with [Fresno State’s affordable housing project]. We’re not going to need to demolish Cedar Hall like we thought, so we won’t be losing any inventory.

— Debbie Adishian-Astone, Vice President of Administration

Students honor loved ones in Cala Gala event

By Viviana Hinojos Reporter

Arte Américas’ Cala Gala event on Oct. 29 celebrated the cultural arts center’s annual Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, exhibition curated by Leticia and Claudia Martinez, two artists from Visalia.

The event was part of Arte Américas’ ongoing exhibit which runs through Dec. 1.

Arte Américas has held a Dia de los Muertos event since its founding 35 years ago. This year’s exhibit placed an emphasis on nostalgia and home, named “La Añoranza,” or “The Longing.” It continued the tradition with food trucks, art vendors and cultural dances.

Although they now live in the Valley, Claudia and Leticia were born in Puebla, which is in east-central Mexico. In homage to the annual Dia de los Muertos celebration that would happen in Puebla, they replicated the event in their artwork.

The exhibit is adorned with marigolds, believed to attract the souls with their bright colors and strong fragrance, and decorated altars to honor those who have physically departed. Artist volunteers, who were part of Arte Américas’ volunteer networks, painted art on the exhibit walls. Two of the volunteer artists were Fresno State student Idaly Rodriguez and alumna Stephani Ayon.

Saraí Ramos, the program director, celebrated her one-year anniversary with Arte Américas during the event and emphasized that this year’s exhibit brings people together to both celebrate and mourn.

“This is a place where we can all commemorate those who have departed – our families, [and] our loved ones, as well as our ancestors and even strangers,” Ramos said. “With the recent happenings of mass shootings and very traumatic immigration experiences, it’s really a space to commemorate all of that.”

On display near the exhibit was a large pink area covering a section of the foor displaying the words Dia de los Muertos. While it looks like a regular carpet, it is actually made of sand wood.

Tapetes, which is Spanish for rugs, are made out of sand and fnely fltered sawdust. They are traditionally used in southern Mexico to welcome the souls of the dead.

Among those who came out for the Cala Gala was Lydia Serrano, a Fresno State alumna with a master’s in criminology.

“I’ve become more interested in Dia de los Muertos since both of my parents have passed

on now, and as a tribute to them we have an altar in our home,” Serrano said.

Serrano, who has been coming to the annual Dia de los Muertos events at Arte Américas for 10 years, said she wishes more people would come to experience all of the beauty the exhibits have to ofer.

Adults and kids gathered around the plaza to take pictures with Letty “La Catrina,” who is one of the strongest and most recognizable symbols of the Day of the Dead.

La Catrina is a tall female skeleton on stilts who wears an elaborate hat with feathers. She is meant to embody the message of Day of the Dead celebrations, which is that death

is something to celebrate rather than fear or mourn.

Curator Leticia Valencia, who has previously designed and created a diferent dress for every Cala Gala event she’s attended, has been honoring La Catrina for over three decades with her work, according to Ramos.

“Her roots of Dia de los Muertos go back to pre-Hispanic times, so she knows what it’s like to celebrate before colonization,” Ramos said.

Local vendor Jessica Castro is the owner of Casita Bilingüe Decor Co., where she sells handmade Spanish-English bilingual home decor centered around sayings that her parents and grandparents used in her home.

“For me, it’s about representation because when you go to Hobby Lobby, you don’t see Spanish signs or bilingual signs. That’s why I started my business,” Castro said.

Castro said she plans to continue to come back as a vendor at Cala Gala each year due to the overwhelming support she has received since her debut the year prior.

After Castro’s son passed away in 2020, she began to celebrate Dia de los Muertos as a way for her and her daughters to fnd healing.

“It’s a way for us to celebrate his memory and talk about stories of him, because I really don’t want them to forget how he was and who he was and all of the diferent things we miss about him,” Castro said.

Another vendor, Karina Orocio, owns Quetzalli Shop, which she named after her daughter, and sells handmade arts and crafts from Mexico.

Orocio sources her products from women in Mexico who are survivors of domestic violence or have been sexually exploited.

“I like to support them because I know how important it is for them to be able to make some income and I am able to help them by selling these items,” Orocio said.

For Orocio, Cala Gala is important because it’s a way for her to celebrate life and to remember her loved ones.

“My grandma just passed away three weeks ago, and it’s a little more meaningful to me this year because it hit me really hard,” Orocio said. “Even though she’s gone and not here physically, in spirit she will always be with me in my heart… Dia de los Muertos is a very important cultural day for us Mexicans, and hopefully, we can continue to celebrate.”

Part of the yearly tradition is Baile Folklórico or folklorico dance.

This year’s Baile Folklórico featured performances by Abigail Cabezas, Rose and Juan Nuno and Vanessa Sapien from Ballet Folklorico y Marimba de Fresno (BFMF), who danced in traditional cultural clothing to pay tribute through movement and music.

Ariana Salinas choreographed this year’s dance, which took the dancers a year to learn.

As locals enjoyed the art, food and cultural festivities, the theme of celebration was shown through smiles and people embracing one another.

Mexican culture celebrates what most fear through Dia de los Muertos and is centered around memories of their loved ones to pass on from generation to generation.

Top: Los Mixteco Unidos La Danze de Los Diablos perform a dance called “La Danza de Diablos.” Bottom: Abigail Cabezas dances with the Ballet Folklorico y Marimba de Fresno. Viviana Hinojos — The Collegian

‘Misery’ is a terrifyingly superb performance

By Diego Vargas A&E Editor

“Misery” premiered on Friday, Oct. 28 at Fresno State’s University Theatre, giving audiences a scare to celebrate the Halloween season.

The script for the production was written by William Goldman and based on the wellknown horror novel by Stephen King, which was made more famous in a 1990 flm of the same name starring Kathy Bates.

Fresno State’s premiere of the production was directed by Thomas-Whit Ellis.

“Misery” revolves around Paul Sheldon, an author of romance novels that feature Misery Chastain, a fctional Victorian-era woman. After being caught in a freak winter storm, Paul is saved by Annie Wilkes, his selfproclaimed “No. 1 fan.”

The play begins with Paul, played by Fresno State alumnus Stephen Cloud, waking up inside a cabin.

Annie Wilkes, played by Fresno State student Bethany Rand, informs Paul that he has broken his legs following a car accident outside Silver Creek, Colorado.

With a run time of an hour and 50 minutes, the play explores the deepening insanity of Annie as she attempts to keep Paul within the confnes of her cabin.

Paul’s gratitude quickly turns into a worried concern, with Cloud’s performance throughout the play taking him through fear, anger and determination as he faces a hopeless situation at the mercy of Annie. The audience can feel his panic and frustration in his attempts to escape the cabin.

Annie’s delirium and constant shifts in mood keep audience members on their toes. Rand’s remarkable performance showcases Annie’s infatuation with Paul and his work. Her expressions, body language and dialogue deliveries perfectly conveyed the derangement of Annie Wilkes.

At a later point in the play, Buster, a sherif played by Sabrina Ramirez in her acting debut, visits Annie’s cabin to speak to her about Paul’s disappearance.

Ramirez’s portrayal of Buster successfully captures the sherif’s growing suspicions of Annie’s involvement in Paul’s disappearance as she pieces together the clues surrounding the car crash.

Joel Ayala’s lighting design and Liz Crifasi’s sound design make the production and the portrayal of the characters much

more organic and convincing. Thunder and lightning roar throughout the stage, with strobe lights reinforcing the tenseness of each scene.

The subtle change in lighting as Annie spirals deeper into her madness makes Rand’s performance much more unsettling.

As the light slowly turns from a neutral light into a deeper red, audiences can feel a growing sense of panic and danger, coming together for a truly terrifying fnal climactic scene.

Friday’s showing was a reminder that audiences can expect an expertly crafted production when they attend University Theatre shows.

All in all, “Misery” is a strong follow-up to “4,000 Miles” and is an incredible production with superb use of lighting, sound, props, stage design and a talented cast and director. It is the perfect play for Halloween and is sure to give audiences a scare.

“Misery” will continue to show until Nov. 5. Tickets can be purchased on the University Theatre’s website.

Stephen Cloud (left) plays Paul Sheldon, an author who finds himself at the mercy of his No. 1 fan, Annie Wilkes, played by Bethany Rand (right). Blake Wolf — The Collegian

“Misery” is Sabrina Ramirez’s acting debut. She plays Buster, a sheriff in Silver Creek, Colorado. Blake Wolf — The Collegian

Students brave the ‘Carnival of Nightmares’

By Blake Wolf Reporter

Fresno State embraced the Halloween spirit with a “Carnival of Nightmares” on Oct. 27.

Spotlight Events hosted the event and transformed the Satellite Student Union (SSU) lawn into a dance foor where all the ghosts and ghouls enjoyed the monster mash. Admission was free for all attendees and included free candy, tote bags, card readings, mini pumpkins and bracelet-making stations in abundance.

The event featured a spooky maze that took students who were brave enough through a series of dark hallways with creepy characters decorating the walls, flled with scares that were guaranteed to get the blood fowing.

Along with the maze, there were food trucks, tarot card readers, mummy wrappings, a balloon artist and face painting, all fueled with music by DJ Kay Rich.

The event had a slow start due to the line to enter, which started in front of the SSU and wrapped around to the back of the Speech Arts Building.

Attendees were greeted by multiple clubs and organizations related to Fresno State, including the Food Security Project, Associated Students Inc. (ASI), the Cross-Cultural and Gender Center (CCGC) and Vintage Days.

The mummy wrapping contest was one of the bigger events of the night, with Fresno State students Amanda Adams and Gwendolyn Edminston coming out on top.

Costumes were on full display, featuring

multiple dinosaurs, an Among Us crew member, a plague doctor and even Jesus Christ in attendance.

The Food Security Project employees committed to their organization’s theme with their costumes.

Coordinator Michael Ballin was dressed as an eggplant, while Jose Rivas dressed as a carrot and Logan Mouawangyee dressed as a tomato.

The ASI booth featured a tossing game in which players were able to win candy and mini pumpkins.

Food trucks were available for students, with Where’s The Food (WTF) reigning as the most popular with “freestyle fusion comfort food.”

Aguas Las Rancheritas was also a popular addition, featuring an array of favors of agua frescas.

Karol G’s concert at the Save Mart Center welcomes new life

By Anahi Jaramillo Sports Editor

Fans from across the Central Valley sold out the Save Mart Center (SMC) to see Colombian singer Karol G as she kicked of her Strip Love Tour. What would have been a night of reggaeton took a turn for one Hanford fan who went into labor during the concert.

Baby Anahi made her grand debut to the world and to Fresno along with Karol G that night.

Save Mart Center announced on Facebook last Wednesday that a fan went into labor during the show.

“We are happy to report both baby and mom are doing great,” it wrote.

Most attendees were unaware of the birth during the show, with many not noticing until Karol G’s Instagram story went live later that night.

The Colombian singer visited the mother and her baby at St. Agnes Medical Center. She posted a photo of the visit on Instagram when she visited her newest fan.

“Anahi the baby is incredibly healthy

and beautiful! Her mommy is too and I’m speechless. Happy, blessed and grateful for these incredible experiences that God adds to my life,” she wrote in Spanish on her Instagram story.

Fresno State student Sabrina Salas had no idea that a fan went into labor during the concert, but said she was impressed to see the woman create more than one memory that evening.

“My frst thought was, how? [Especially] with the pain someone endures during labor. Did the mother stay? But then [I] also give her props for it because she made three memories out of one experience. One: She saw one of her favorite artists live. Two: She gave birth at a concert. Three: Karol G personally visited her when she heard the news,” Salas said.

The show itself was flled with excitement from the moment fans entered the arena, Salas said.

“From beginning to end the concert was flled with so much joy and happiness. Honestly the experience was much more fun when we were vibing and dancing with the people around us,” Salas said.

With over 50% of Fresno coming from a Latine background, fans like Salas were touched to see their community and diferent Latine cultures come together to celebrate Karol G.

“With Fresno being a primarily Hispanic populated community, I think having artists such as Karol G is such a blessing being that she is so well loved and respected for how she proudly represents the Latino community,” Salas said.

This year, Karol G and Brazilian pop star Anitta became the frst Latinas to have been invited to perform at Coachella’s main stage, the Coachella Stage.

Karol G paid tribute to several Latine artists during her performance, including Selena, Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Carlos Santana, Celia Cruz and her fellow Colombian star, Shakira.

“Her music sends out a message of empowerment to women,” Salas said.

“She is such a humble, kind and amazing person that never fails to give back to her community and it makes me so happy to have someone like her to represent my community.”

“Carnival of Nightmares” was hosted by Spotlight Events in front of the Satellite Student Union on Oct. 27. Blake Wolf — The Collegian

Karol G, a Colombian singer, performed at the Save Mart Center on Oct. 25 as part of her Strip Love Tour, with a pre-show featuring DJ Agudelo 888. Marcos Acosta — The Collegian

Conley Art Gallery presents second graduate show

By Ramon Castaños Reporter

The second graduate art show of the fall semester kicked of with a reception on Oct. 27 at the Phebe Conley Art Gallery, showcasing three Fresno State graduate students’ artworks.

Jose Lopez, who is pursuing a master’s degree in sculpture, has many pieces on display as social commentary on issues that he and other people are facing in the country, like gun violence, COVID-19 and climate change.

One of Lopez’s pieces, called “Interval Caching,” illustrates a foating earth covered with trash with four skull sculptures beneath it.

”These four skulls represent presidential election cycles, where they get concerned with pollution, they get concerned with all the top main topics, and then you kind of forget about it, or they don’t pass laws,” Lopez said.

The trash on the earth represents the planet covered with pollution by people who don’t care about the environment, according to Lopez.

“I fgured to personalize it myself and make something related to some kind of social aspect, which in this case, would be pollution and the political cycle,” Lopez said.

One of Lopez’s other pieces on display, titled “E Minor,” uses microchips to replicate a city, representing how people use technology in everyday life.

Lopez collected these chips from a warehouse that he lived nearby that often

discarded electronic toys. He also noted that the work represents electronic waste.

Lopez also said the artwork comments on the state of developed nations exploiting third-world countries for chips.

The second hall features paintings by Priscilla Yamamoto, who is pursuing a master’s degree in drawing and painting.

Her art focuses on the abstract of the human mind, illustrated by one of her pieces titled “Butterfy.”

“Butterfy” is split between the gallery halls, representing parallel worlds.

“It could be life and death could be two diferent feelings, physical and spiritual, all kinds of dual ideas,” Yamamoto said.

Another of her works is a set of three paintings called “The Vortex,” illustrating two people who look as if they are tired and touching the wall. In the middle canvas is a vortex.

According to Yamamoto, the person standing has a wave of music because he is a composer and that “they want to revisit this place where they both share.”

Yamamoto’s “Ghost of Fly,” is also on display, depicting a person falling into a bathtub to represent escaping to another world. When drawing, Yamamoto said took inspiration from one of her favorite novels by Haruki Murakami in which a man is sleeping in a well and is dreaming.

“When he emerges from the well, it’s like he kind of solved a lot of his subconscious or psychological issues, and you come out kind of brand new,” Yamamoto said.

According to Yamamoto, a majority of her art is left to the interpretation of the viewer because she believes that the audience has diferent meanings and feelings when it comes to seeing her work.

The work of Erin Ryan, who is pursuing a master’s degree in art, is also on display. Many of Ryan’s pieces are centered on their personal experiences transitioning from their gender assigned at birth into their nonbinary identity, serving as a “documentation” of their experiences, according to their artist’s statement.

In particular, Ryan’s artwork works to examine the “liberating potential of acceptance while also challenging Julia Kristeva’s theory of the abject: ‘that which disturbs system, identity, order’, and encompasses a borderline uncertainty -- ambiguous, horrifying and polluting.”

A series of three self-portraits are on display, with the frst in the series created in 2020 depicting the self-portrait from Ryan’s own perspective looking at their refection through a mirror.

Through the artwork, Ryan said they hope to illustrate that LGBTQ+ people love themselves for who they are.

Another of Ryan’s artworks on display titled “Daydream of a Peaceful Future” depicts a sunrise transgender fag as the sky with clouds.

“I see a peaceful future as a trans future. It’s not about singular individuals in society, it’s about the collective trans community and our future together,” Ryan said.

The graduate art show will be open for viewing through Nov. 18 on Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Native American Heritage Month resources and events

By Ashley Flowers Managing Editor

What resources are there on campus for Native American students, staf and faculty?

Cross-Cultural and Gender Center (CCGC): The CCGC plans and coordinates events focused on diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice, according to Asian Pacifc Islander and American Indian Programs and Services interim coordinator Kathy Moua. It has multiple afnity groups, including the American Indian Programs and Services, which Moua said is intended to highlight Native and Indigenous students, cultures and

their presence on campus. The CCGC is located in the Thomas Administration Building, Room 110A.

Neum Native American Student Association (NASA): A student and faculty club on campus for Indigenous and nonIndigenous individuals interested in learning about the Native community’s experiences.

Fresno State American Indian Faculty and Staf Association: An organization for Fresno State Indigenous employees.

Outreach Counselor: Amber Esquivel is an outreach counselor who works with the Native American Initiative.

She can be reached at esquivelamber@ csufresno.edu.

What events can students attend this month?

Nov. 5: Fresno State 2022 American Youth Conference.

The conference is being held in collaboration with Esquivel at the Satellite Student Union (SSU) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is currently at max capacity and will not be taking any more guests.

Nov. 8: American Indian Movie Night

Hosted and headed by CCGC’s American Indian Programs and Services student coordinator Amelia Holguin, the flm “Running Brave” about Billy Mills, the frst Native American to win a gold medal for the 10,000 meter race in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, will

be shown in Library Room 2206 from 6-8:30 p.m.

Nov. 15: Land Acknowledgement

Informational Workshop

Held in collaboration with Students for Quality Education, Holguin will put together a presentation for this event discussing land acknowledgements across California and what they mean for the Native community. More details will be released on the CCGC’s social media accounts leading up to the event.

Nov. 24: Thanksgiving Social Media Push

Hosted by Holguin, this social media push will be on the CCGC’s Instagram to educate viewers about Thanksgiving and analyze the holiday from a Native American perspective.

“Whirlwind” by Priscilla Yamamoto is an art piece made using chalk and acrylic. Wyatt Bible — The Collegian

The Collegian editorial board opposes Measure E

By The Collegian Editorial Board

In a little over a week, Fresno County voters will be determining the fate of Measure E, a proposed 0.2% countywide sales tax that would bring Fresno State $36 million per year for the next 20 years.

The Collegian’s editorial board voted on whether or not to endorse Measure E. Of the seven members of the board, two members abstained due to being out-of-county voters. The remaining fve voted to oppose Measure E.

Managing Editor Ashley Flowers was appointed by the editorial board to write the following opposition to Measure E. In recognition of the opposing viewpoints of other Fresno State students, reporter Al Scott shared his endorsement of Measure E.

In opposition to Measure E

While Measure E intends to take Fresno State “from good to great,” the intentions and motivations behind the proposed tax increase are too murky to garner my support.

I was born and raised in Fresno and am now only a month away from being a twotime Fresno State alumna. I will readily acknowledge that while I’m a proud Bulldog, there are many areas on campus desperately in need of renovation and impacted majors in need of relief. But it’s clear that the Fresno State Improvement Zone Committee backing the measure isn’t being transparent enough about its intentions.

It starts with Richard Spencer, the Harris Construction company owner leading the committee and bankrolling the campaign.

On Oct. 27, Fresnoland’s Danielle Bergstrom shared the most recent contribution report for the Yes on Measure E campaign on Twitter, which revealed that Spencer last week donated another half a million dollars, bringing his donation total to

nearly $1.5 million.

If Measure E passes, Spencer – whose company has worked with Fresno State and profted from it before – stands to gain much more than any taxpaying resident.

In 2016, Mackenzie Mays’ article for The Fresno Bee shows that Spencer has already seen similar success with this plan – his $30,000 gift to the committee behind Measure Q, a $280 million bond Fresno Unifed passed in 2010, led to him being awarded nearly $115 million in leaseback contracts paid for by funds from Measure Q. It’s also landed Spencer in some hot water.

“Fresno Unifed’s use of leaseback contracts with Harris Construction has landed it in court, with questions raised about whether it has led to a pay-to-play system,” Mays wrote.

This is not the kind of controversy I want the school I love and attend to be involved in.

Another area of Measure E I’m uncomfortable with is that one-third of the $36 million – $12 million per year – would be going to athletics instead of academics.

There’s no doubt that Fresno State football is big for the Valley and that the Red Wave’s passion calls for a bigger, better stadium.

Taxing the entire county of Fresno voters – many of whom will never attend a Fresno State class or even a football game – isn’t a reasonable way to achieve that.

Fresno State needs help, but the burden of that help shouldn’t be on the shoulders of everyone who happens to live within Fresno County – especially not when the tax increase is part of a rich man’s scheme to get richer.

In support of Measure E

While Valley Children’s Stadium is a fun and exciting place to watch a game, it is not without its glaring weaknesses.

Golf carts being driven by volunteers going through crowds of drunken football fans is a recipe for disaster. The walkways in and around the stadium are rocky and unsafe. Those in wheelchairs or walkers need at least 20 minutes to get from their seats to and from the concourse.

That needs to change.

If Measure E passes, supporters say the tax could take the university from “good to great.” While the majority of funds raised will go to academics, Fresno State will have up to $12 million annually to work with to fund athletics. Where would that money go, though?

The venue, formerly known as Bulldog

Stadium, would certainly be a place to start.

There are certainly other areas on campus and in the athletics department that could use the money, but Fresno State should consider spending a large chunk of money on renovating Valley Children’s Stadium should the measure pass.

They could start by highlighting the extra lane for golf carts on the ramps around the concourse to make it safe. As it is, there are two yellow lines that people disregard, and it’s hard to blame them when you can’t see the ground well late at night.

Another improvement would be redoing the roads and pathways around the stadium. The asphalt is unsafe and should be No. 1 on a list of things to be fxed. Those in wheelchairs or walkers would especially beneft from this.

Elevator access from the concourse level to the ADA section of the stadium should also be a priority. It shouldn’t take someone an entire quarter of football to go to the restrooms or grab concessions.

As with any large facility, updates are essential to ensuring the highest quality possible. Valley Children’s Stadium is no exception and has seen a few renovations over the years.

In 1991, they added 10,000 seats –increasing the stadium’s capacity from 30,000 to more than 40,000 – along with 22 sky suites.

The stadium also added additional restrooms and concession facilities.

In the years since, Fresno State has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into the stadium, and it would be wise to continue to do so considering the cost to build a brand new facility.

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

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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 refect those of The Collegian.

For the rest of this story, visit collegian. csufresno.edu.

THE FULL STORY

Measure E would generate $36 million per year for Fresno State through a countywide sales tax. Manuel Hernandez — The Collegian

Midseason updates: men’s golf, women’s golf and cross country

By Dylan Gonzales Reporter

Men’s golf

The Fresno State men’s golf team got its season underway on Sept. 26 at the Nick Watney Invitational hosted by Kings River Country Club in Kingsburg.

As a team, Fresno State fnished in third place out of 16 schools. The ‘Dogs at 22-underpar 22 fnished eight strokes behind frst place Long Beach State (-30) and three strokes behind second place CSU Fullerton (-25).

On the individual side, Fresno State junior Matthew Sutherland fnished fourth with a -11, and sophomore Joseph Lloyd placed sixth with -8.

“Really solid play from [Lloyd] and [Sutherland] this week. We’re looking forward to competing at Nevada in a couple weeks,” Head Coach Chad Spencer told Fresno State Athletics.

Fresno State then traveled to Reno for the Wolf Pack Classic on Oct. 10. The Bulldogs weren’t as successful this time, tying for 10th place out of 12 schools and fnishing with a -5. Sutherland put up another strong performance as the Sacramento native fnished fourth and shot -9.

The Bulldogs were able to rebound after their disappointing performance, with a sixth place fnish out of 16 schools at the Visit Stockton Invitational on Oct. 20. The ‘Dogs were once again led by Sutherland, who placed ffth. Junior Matthew Manganello also fnished tied for ffth place. Both fnished 8 under par.

The team heads to Pebble Beach for its fnl match of the fall at the Saint Mary’s Invitational from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.

Women’s golf

The women’s golf team opened up its season in New Mexico at the Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational on Sept. 12. Fresno State fnished tied for 12th place out of 17 schools. Bulldog senior Harriet Lynch fnished third place after shooting 4 under par.

“It’s the frst tournament of the year so there are defnitely going to be things to improve on and learning moments. We struggled the frst two rounds, but we regrouped with a team meeting and fnished strong,” said Head Coach Lisa Ferraro.

Lynch built of her strong season opening performance with another top 10 fnish after placing ninth at the Golfweek Red Sky Classic in Vail, Colorado. Fresno State freshman Katelyn Lehigh tied for 18th place.

The ‘Dogs started of slow at the Ron Moore Intercollegiate in Denver, but a strong fnal round propelled the ‘Dogs to a top 10 fnish. Lehigh was the top fnisher for Fresno State, placing tied for 13th and shooting -1.

Fresno State’s fall season concluded after its visit to Hawaii for the Rainbow Wahine Invitational. The Bulldogs fnished tied for sixth out of 13 schools. Lehigh earned her frst career top-10 fnish and shot +2.

The Bulldogs season will resume on Feb. 6 at The Valley Invitational in Bakersfeld.

Cross country

Fresno State’s men’s and women’s cross country teams started their season Sept. 3 at Woodward Park for the Seawolf Invite. The men’s team fnished third, while the women’s team fnished second.

Corie Smith led the women’s team with a ffth-place fnish. The men’s team was led by Mohamed Saleh, who placed seventh.

In The Riverside Invitational, Smith had one of the best races in Fresno State history. With a time of 21:47:05 in the 6K, Smith had the 17th fastest time in school history. Smith fnished in 84th place.

As a team, Fresno State struggled, placing 28th out of 31 schools.

The men’s team also had a poor performance, fnishing 30th out of 30 schools. The team was missing junior Juanathan Reyes, who had a top-20 fnish at the meet last season.

Saleh once again was the frst Bulldog to fnish the race as he fnished 165th.

“It was nice to start the season in earnest today. We had some good things, but it shows us we have a lot of work to do. We will get back to work for another solid training block, and be better in two weeks, and more importantly in the month of October,” said Head Coach Jason Drake.

At the Pacifc Collegiate Invitational, the women’s cross country team got eighth place out of 12 schools, and the men’s team got ninth place out of nine schools.

For the men, Saleh was the top Bulldog runner and fnished 45th. On the women’s side, Smith fnished 14th.

In the Bronco Invitational, the fnal meet before the Mountain West Championships, the women’s team got 22nd out of 28, and the men’s team got 25th out of 26.

In his return from injury, Reyes placed 165th and was the second Fresno State runner, fnishing behind Saleh.

For the fourth straight race, Smith was the frst Fresno State runner to fnish, as she placed 61st.

The ‘Dogs are scheduled to compete at the NCAA West Regional in Seattle, Washington on Nov. 11.

‘Dunks and Donuts’ with men’s basketball

By Alexis Castellanos Reporter

Bulldog fans lined up outside the Save Mart Center to join the Fresno State men’s basketball team for an open practice on Oct. 29.

The ‘Dogs hosted the “Dunks and Donuts” event to provide donuts and cofee to fans who got their frst look at the team prior to the start of the season.

Fans saw the players in action as the team ran through a few drills, games and a scrimmage. Those in attendance could also hear Head Coach Justin Hutson, who was mic’d up through a majority of the practice.

“It really is exciting to be out,” Huston said about being back in front of the fans again. “We had a nice tip of dinner last week and now we’re out in front of the fans. This is awesome.”

In between drills while the players took breaks, the fans were treated to giveaways, including a jersey signed by former Bulldog Paul George.

To end the practice, Hutson and his players introduced themselves to the crowd.

After the event fans were given the opportunity to grab a poster and have it signed by each of the players on the Bulldog roster.

Fresno State will play in an exhibition match against Stanislaus State on Nov. 2 prior to tipping of its season on Nov 7. at the Save Mart Center against Fresno Pacifc.

Matthew Manganello shot a career-low 66 in Stockton on Oct. 20, 2022. Courtesy of Fresno State Athletics

Basketball players sign posters. Alexis Castellanos

The Collegian

Pang Jittakoat and Matilde Magrini become

2022’s dynamic duo for women’s tennis

By Aidan Garaygordobil Reporter

Entering the season as the reigning con ference champions, Pang Jittakoat and Matil de Magrini fnd themselves in a Fresno State women’s tennis program with high expecta tions they head into their season this Novem ber.

This, combined with their all-conference honors, have left the pair in a rare situation of being expected to outdo an already great 2022 season. However, rather than shrinking, the ‘Dogs’ two tennis rising stars are welcoming the pressure.

“At the beginning of the fall season I felt [pressure] a little bit. But then I felt like I was focusing on the wrong things. I know me and the other girls did well last year, but I feel that I can be better at another level,” Jittakoat said. “I’m not taking it as pressure, I’m just excited for what I can do to become better.”

One of the major infuences on the pair’s resilience to pressure is their considerably busy fall season, in which both have found success in singles and doubles play of various tournaments.

Their doubles play in particular refects the bond these two athletes have formed through out the year, and comes as no surprise from the pair that received all-conference honors.

“To be honest I feel like this season has been so much better compared to last season,” Jittakoat said.

Despite having fnished with an 11-3 record in doubles play last spring, the two only be gan competing together in late February, nine matches into the season.

“I feel like at the beginning it was tough to play with someone and you don’t know how to play with each other. I think this year it’s so much better, not only in the play but in the confdence. How we approach the match and how we are on the court when we’re compet ing is so much better,” Magrini said.

While the pair share many similarities in terms of their accomplishments and sharing of the court in doubles play, the two are in substantially diferent situations in terms of personal circumstances.

Magrini is entering the season having reached the upper echelon of conference hon ors as a freshman for the ‘Dogs.

“To me the level I’m starting from this year

is a much diferent situation. Right now I’m focused on beating everyone who I didn’t last year. [That’s] my biggest goal,” Magrini said.

Now as the lone sophomore on a team seemingly stacked with freshmen and seniors, she serves as an example of what newcomers to the team can become.

“[The freshmen] have asked me for advice because they’re unsure about where they’ll ft into the team this season. I tell them not to worry and just focus on what you can do. If you go to practice and are giving 100%, things are going to work out itself,” she said.

In comparison, Jittakoat is entering her se nior campaign as the reigning Mountain West player of the year. Having had such a remark able junior season, she is quickly setting much larger goals for herself.

“I feel like last year the team helped, and this year we have a much more competitive schedule. One of my goals is to become nation ally ranked, and be amongst those top play ers,” Jittakoat said. “I feel like those awards validated me and the entire team last year. I don’t want to stick to them, but it gives me confdence.”

With the two having had so much expe rience from last season, they are set to lead Fresno State in an attempt to repeat as cham pions.

“I think we’re in a really good position, if we lost the Mountain West we wouldn’t be where we are now. It’s a great opportunity for the whole team to show that we are better,” Magrini said. “I feel that every team is going to want to beat us, and that’s something that motivates me and tells me to keep going and improve.”

Jittakoat shared Magrini’s feelings and said she hopes the team can add on to their opportunity.

“I feel like the team took [last season] in a positive way. Now we know what we’re capa ble of and we’re moving forward to become a better team and compete next year,” she said.

With the confdence of last year’s champi onship fueling the team, they are not shying away from the target they may have painted for themselves.

“It’s just exciting knowing that a team has to give their best to beat us,” Magrini said. “Every time we go on the court every single player can bring their best performance, and competing like that is the best part.”

Matilde Magrini (top) and Pang Jittakoat (bottom) in their singles match against Colorado State on March 7, 2022. Melina Kazanjian — The Collegian

With the return of Williams and Haener, ‘Dogs secure Old Oil Can Trophy

By Dylan Gonzales Reporter

After missing the previous four games with a high ankle sprain, Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener made his return on Oct. 29 in Fresno State’s 32-28 thrilling comeback win against San Diego State.

The 18-point comeback was its biggest since Derek Carr led a 21-0 comeback win against New Mexico on Oct. 27, 2012.

Trailing 28-10 into the fnal play of the third quarter, Haener delivered a touchdown pass to wide receiver Zane Pope to cut the lead to 2817. After stopping the Aztecs at the 29-yard line on 4th-and-1, the Bulldogs drove down the feld and entered the red zone. They were unable to capitalize as Haener was intercepted in the end zone.

Fresno State got the ball back three plays later after defensive end David Perales forced a fumble that was recovered by defensive tackle Johnny Hudson Jr.

After three incompletions from Haener, the ‘Dogs still had a chance to cut the defcit to eight points.

However, kicker Abraham Montaño’s feld goal attempt was blocked. After the blocked kick, the Bulldogs had a 1.3% win probability, according to ESPN analytics.

Fresno State recovered the onside kick attempt from kicker Dylan Lynch and had a chance to take the lead with good feld position.

On the frst play of the drive, Haener connected with Remigio for a 37-yard touchdown pass. The crowd, which had emptied out throughout the game, erupted as the Bulldogs came all the way back from 28-10 down.

An interception from defensive back Carlton Johnson closed out Fresno State’s improbable come-from-behind victory. Bulldog wide receiver Josh Kelly and defensive back Evan Williams also returned from injuries on Saturday.

Both Haener and Williams were named to the Mountain West preseason all-conference frst team.

In the week leading up to the game, the media was not told if Haener would be playing. The team, however, knew that Haener would play.

“At the beginning of the week when we saw that he could move, throw on move and do all those types of things, we felt like it was going to be [Haener’s] game to play,” Head Coach Jef Tedford said at the post-game news conference.

The Fresno State football Twitter account confrmed the return of the three players with a Tweet 47 minutes before kickof.

In Haener’s absence the team was led by yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Both of the interceptions came in the red zone as Haener failed to connect with Kelly on the frst one and Remigio on the

Haener was named as one of the eight Manning Award Stars of the Week, which is awarded to the quarterbacks with the best performance each week.

The team was led by receivers Pope and Remigio. Both obtained their season highs in receiving yards, with Pope totaling 143 yards with a touchdown and Remigio getting 126 yards with two touchdowns, the second of which was the go-ahead score that put Fresno State ahead 32-28 with 1:05 remaining.

Pope also recovered the crucial onside kick one play prior to Remigio’s 37-yard touchdown.

One week after giving up zero sacks against New Mexico, the ofensive line struggled to contain San Diego State’s pass rush, as it allowed a season-high seven sacks.

Midway through the game, the team lost

right tackle Dontae Bull to an injury.

Bull was also named to the preseason Mountain West team. Tedford said the injury is likely “signifcant.”

After giving up touchdowns on three of the fve Aztec possessions in the frst half, the Bulldogs’ defense held the Aztecs scoreless on their fnal four drives in the second half, forcing two turnovers in the fnal three drives.

In his frst game with Fresno State, Carlton Johnson picked of San Diego State quarterback Jalen Mayden with 44 seconds remaining to seal the victory for Fresno State.

With the win, Fresno State retains the Old Oil Can trophy and has won four out of its last fve meetings against San Diego State.

The Bulldogs are now 3-1 in Mountain West play and 4-4 overall.

They are tied with San Jose State atop the West division. The Aztecs fall to 2-2 and are tied for third with UNLV.

Fresno State will host the 2-7 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on Nov. 5 at Valley Children’s Stadium.

Evan Williams suits up for the first time in six weeks for the game against San Diego State. Aidan Garaygordobil — The Collegian

Jake Haener looks for a pass. Aidan Garaygordobil — The Collegian