January 29, 2020

FRESNO STATE HYPE MAN PROFILE Fresno State’s Award-Winning Newspaper

Page 4

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

CODEBREAKER Fresno State student deciphers inmate communication

Page 3

Courtesy of Tribune News Service

Grizzly Fest hiatus; Video Studios return in question opens in library Page 6

Page 2

INSIDE: PREVIEWS: BULLDOGS BASKETBALL UPDATES DURING BREAK

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

GOT TIPS? We want to hear them.

COLLEGIAN@CSUFRESNO.EDU

PAGE 2

Videos Studios open at Fresno State Henry Madden Library cancels main commencement ceremony for 2020

By Larry Valenzuela Multimedia Director

Fresno State is making significant changes to spring 2020 graduation ceremonies.

The university will no longer hold a main commencement ceremony honoring the entire graduating class, but instead will opt for separate ceremonies by specific school/college, according to a news release from college president Dr. Joseph I. Castro.

Castro said Fresno State will be joining 21 out of the 23 California State University campuses no longer hosting main commencement ceremonies.

"Celebrating commencement the way graduates have indicated matters most to them — in more intimate college ceremonies that recognize them as individuals with classmates from their own disciplines," said Castro in the

Commencement and celebration ceremonies at the Save Mart Center: Friday, May 15: Craig School of Business, 8 a.m.

College of Social Sciences, 10:15 a.m.

College of Arts and Humanities, 12:30 p.m.

Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, 2:45 p.m.

College of Science and Mathematics, 5 p.m.

Kremen School of Education and Human Development, 7:15 p.m.

Saturday, May 16: Lyles College of Engineering, 8 a.m.

College of Health and Human Services, 10:15 a.m.

Asian American and Pacific Islander graduation ceremony, 12:30 p.m.

African American recognition program, 3 p.m.

Chicano/Latino Commencement Celebration, 7 p.m.

release.

Graduates will be able to participate in a number of ceremonies for their specific school or college, such as Asian American and Pacific Islander, the College Assistance Migrant Program, International Students and Rainbow Graduation.

In the news release Castro said attendance at the main commencement ceremony had been declining in recent years as affinity ceremonies have become popular.

In the May 2019, main commencement ceremony, only 703 graduates out of the class of almost 6,000 participated, according to the news release.

The Chicano/Latino Commencement, which is the largest of all the ceremonies, will again be held at the Save Mart Center (SMC).

Fresno State has provided a schedule of the ceremonies for 2020.

Other celebrations around campus: Friday, May 8: EOP graduation recognition ceremony, 4 p.m., Satellite Student Union Friday, May 15: Department of Physical Therapy, 9 a.m., Satellite Student Union Athletic Training Program Promotion Ceremony, 5 p.m., North Gym 118 Saturday, May 16: College Assistance Migrant Program, noon, North Gym 118 International Students Commencement Celebration, noon, Satellite Student Union American Indian Graduation Honoring, 1 p.m., Table Mountain Rancheria Reading Room ROTC Commissioning Ceremony, 4 p.m., Satellite Student Union Rainbow Graduation Celebration, 5 p.m., Peters Educational Center in Student Recreation Center

Tyrus Ramos • Contributor

Library Dean Delritta Hornbuckle, Fresno State Provost Saul Sandoval, and Media Specialist Terry Lewis cut the ribbon for the launch of the Video Studios in the Henry Madden Library on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020.

By Edward Lopez Contributor With signs, balloons and a ceremonial ribbon cutting, the Henry Madden Library Music and Media Resource Center announced the grand opening of the Video Studios Monday, Jan. 27.

The newly constructed Video Studios are situated just east of the resource center of the third floor of the library.

Library Services Specialist Terry Lewis said, “The primary purpose of the Video Studios is to provide an environment in which students are able to record videos, podcasts and even theater auditions, all in the Henry Madden Library for free.”

Fresno State Dean of Library Services Delritta Hornbuckle is credited with spearheading the creation of the Video Studios. Hornbuckle sought to augment students’ experience in the Henry Madden Library by creating an area dedicated to help students familiarize themselves with recording technology in the age of multimedia.

The studios come equipped with everything one would expect from a modern video studio: remote controlled cameras, lights, directional microphone and SD cards.

All this equipment is available to Fresno State students and faculty to check out.

The Video Studios boast white soundproof walls suited for recording needs. Plans to expand the Video Studios are still being worked on with ideas, such as a portable greenscreen.

“Both students and faculty on campus are able to use the studios; however, students have the priority when reserving the rooms.

Faculty and others would have to submit an application that is reviewed on a case-by-case process,” Lewis said.

“While the Video Studios implies that students with multimedia majors would benefit from such an installation, it’s really open to anyone that might have a use for it,” Lewis said.

Public Relations Specialist Heather Parish said the facility will be useful students interested in video media.

“Communication through video media is becoming more common,” Parish said.

“With the creation of the Video Studios, it will help others on campus with more options to complete coursework.”

Attendance to the exhibition was rather lively with roughly 30 to 40 visitors present throughout the two hours.

The Video Studio is available for reservation for a maximum of two hours daily (30 minute sections) corresponding with the Music and Media Resource Center hours.

However, Lewis noted that “if students have a group project to complete, they’re able to check it out for multiple hours assuming they reserve it (Video Studio) in succession.”

“The Video Studios were created due to the demands of students,” said Lewis.

Lewis hopes that students carry on this momentum moving forward as without their support the Video Studios would not be possible.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

THE COLLEGIAN • NEWS

PAGE 3

Fresno State grad student cracks prison language code that helps convict murderer

By Ashleigh Panoo News Editor

A Fresno State linguistics student cracked a language code that helped put a murderer behind bars last year.

Zachary Metzler is now using his experience for further research in his field. He will give a talk Feb. 27 in the Peters Business Building, room 192, from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. about cracking codes with phonology.

The graduate student said Fresno police had several phone recordings from an inmate who was suspected at the time of shooting a 50-year-old man in Fresno in September 2018.

Translators at the police department couldn’t make sense of the language, so investigators turned to the linguistics department at Fresno State for help. The department said it then put Metzler on the case.

“They had someone in custody speaking what they thought at the time was a minority

language,” Metzler said. “As I listened to it I realized, OK it’s not a natural language, it’s not a real language that humans normally speak, it's some sort of code.”

He likened it to a language game, such as Pig Latin, or Ubbi Dubbi, which was popularized in the PBS show “Zoom.”

Investigators asked Metzler if he knew what the inmate, 30-year-old Damone Mayberry, was saying in the recordings.

“And I said, ‘Well, no. But I can figure it out.’”

So he went home and started transcribing each recording and creating a formula for how he thought the language worked. He listened to the recordings for hours through a special computer program.

While Metzler did not have experience in cracking language codes, he works specifically in phonology, “which is the organization of sounds in language,” he said. “You can think of it like syntax and grammar … but instead of

nouns and verbs, it’s different types of sounds and there are orders they are allowed to go in and ways they’re organized.”

Mayberry could be heard speaking the code to his mother and sister, who spoke it back to him, Metzler said. He initially thought it was a language game they had made up as a family, but he later learned it was likely a prison code used to relay messages.

He said his big break came when Mayberry was having trouble saying the phrase “critica conica dishica.”

“He kept messing it up over and over and over again,” Metzler said, “and he finally just said it in plain english.”

The phrase was “critical condition.”

That phrase “had the last 10 percent of what my hypothesis was missing and now I had a direct translation for it,” he said.

It didn’t take him long to translate the rest of the information. A few months later, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office contacted

Courtesy of Zachary Metzler

A Fresno State grad student used a special computer program to analyze a prison code being spoken by an inmate later convicted of murder.

him with about 40 hours of more recordings from Mayberry, which they wanted to use as evidence in his trial, according to Metzler.

That’s when he enlisted two of his friends, one a current linguistics student, and another a former, to help him out.

Metzler said a lot of what the trio translated was mundane.

“A lot of it was complaining about being in jail,” he said. “A lot of it was ‘the food sucks and it's depressing.’”

There was a certain part of the recordings that did make it to the trial, which was held in fall 2019.

“He was talking to his mother and his sister and wanted them to relay to a third person an alibi,” Metzler said. “He wanted his family to tell a third person, ‘Oh, when the cops ask, tell them this is how it happened.’”

He was called to testify at the trial, which he described as “awful.”

“It was the worst job on Earth,” he said. “It’s nerve-wracking. I had to get cross-examined and that was really bad.

At the end of it you’re like, maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about.”

Mayberry was convicted of murder, first degree residential robbery and assault with a firearm, according to Fresno County Superior Court records. He was sentenced on Dec. 12, 2019, to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Metzler has traveled with Fresno State linguistics professor Chris Golston to work on projects around the country, including in North Dakota and the Southwest.

Golston calls him “a great student and a friend.”

“It’s great to see a student so interested in linguistics and in applying what he knows,” Golston said, “from documenting and preserving languages in the Great Plains, to presenting his research in conferences in Canada and England, to catching criminals in Fresno."

During his presentation, Metzler will speak more about what he calls “hidden organization” in language.

He says there are rules that we all obey in language, but that we aren’t aware of.

“It’s there for speakers, but no one knows about it, they’re not aware of it, and it doesn’t show up in writing,” he said. “That’s what we study in linguistics -- this hidden structure that no one sees.”

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

THE COLLEGIAN • NEWS

PAGE 4

Travis Morris remains humble post-Ellen

By Anthony De Leon Editor-in-Chief

Those looking for a taste of fame through social media, going viral may never come. It often happens at the most unexpected times, and it takes more than just wanting it. It takes capturing a pure moment, the backing of an audience that has made a connect with the subject, and most importantly, a bit of luck.

For Travis Morris, business major and Fresno State marching band member, all the components of viral status came together following a video of him playing his cymbals with reckless abandon during a mid-November Fresno State football game.

In hindsight, many could see how the video taken could be appealing, so there is no surprise that the video has now accumulated nearly 325,000 views and 6,000 likes on Twitter alone.

But at the time, the video didn’t seem like much, and even to Morris, the possibility of his video going viral and becoming what it did never crossed his mind.

“I did not expect it at all. When I first saw the video get released, I was like, ‘OK, this is pretty cool,’” Morris said. “But when I saw Bleacher Report pick it up and then I saw other news channels pick it up I was like, ‘Woah, this is bigger than I thought.”

As the video began to take off, Morris got an unexpected call while at work and realized that his video would be shown to a national audience the next morning.

“I got a call from “Good Morning America” (GMA) at work the day before I appeared on the show, and I remember telling my manager that I was on the phone with them and her telling me, ‘Go take your 10 (minute break),’” Morris said. “They told me they would like to do a story on me. On the morning of, I woke up at 6 a.m. to make sure I was ready to watch it, and I was in shock.”

Even with his early success, his true personality came into question and his persona of the ultra-enthusiastic, lovable hype-man left a few doubters unsure whether all of this energy was real or a façade.

“When people see me, they will ask me, ‘Is this real?’ I am the same way with everyone, with my parents and friends -- being a hypeman is just me,” Morris said. “When it came to the video, someone happened to be at the right place at the right time capturing something I do all the time.”

After his GMA debut, Morris felt love and support from his hometown bestowed upon

Courtesy of Fresno State News

Fresno State business major and marching band member Travis Morris made a recent appearance on "The Ellen Degeneres Show." him, and after a grassroots social media campaign by friends, family and strangers alike,

ing with him.

So when Morris sat down for his interview

Ed’s Pizzeria, which has commented on nearly every one of his posts.

his campaign reached its culmination on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

The dream for Morris to make the show was a long shot, but the people supporting him made a push to get him on the show.

“It was amazing. Just to see the whole community back me and say, ‘Hey, let’s get him on the show and let’s have someone represent Fresno,’” Morris said. “That was huge for me to see that Fresno would back up one of their own, because they said, ‘He is representing us.’”

Morris’ dream would soon become a reality as a representative of the show would contact him following his GMA appearance. He was set to make an appearance, but there was one caveat: he could not tell anyone.

“I remember them telling me, ‘You can’t say anything. You have to keep it on the low,’” Morris said. “And that was so hard for me because people would keep asking me throughout the month what the deal was with “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and couldn’t say anything.”

While many people were under the impression that Morris had failed at getting onto the show, he was actually having Facetime calls with the show’s staff a month prior to his Jan. 20 appearance.

The plan for Morris was for him to fly down to the show, do an interview with one of the assistants, and make an appearance in the crowd during the show. The plan was not what he had expected it to be, but Morris said he was grateful to just be in that position.

“I felt like we got here Fresno,” Morris said.

“We are at ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show.’”

Little did Morris know that there was more in store for him than he had imagined. What he thought was a video shoot was actually test prep for the interview that Ellen would be conduct-

in December 2019, the experience was genuine disbelief.

“The whole experience from beginning to end was just crazy,” Morris said.

Very few can match the energy that Morris exudes, but if there was one person that could go head-to-head with him in the energy department, it was Ellen.

“Ellen’s energy was everything I dreamed of, that and more. I was just so excited to be there right next to her,” Morris said.

“I was kind of nervous, but at the same time I knew I was there for a bigger purpose,” Morris said. “I thought of it as it is not me sitting here, it is Fresno sitting here. So, I had to represent the best way I could.”

Riding high after achieving what he set out to do, Morris made a happenstance run-in with Jamie Foxx, who was taping an interview for the show.

Morris received a few words of wisdom from the legendary actor.

“He was a big supporter,” Morris said. “He said, ‘You keep doing what you are doing and you are going to do great things for your community. That was huge for me.”

With the goal of making it onto Ellen in the rearview, it could leave many people wondering if this was as far as one viral video could take Morris. But he is still doing everything in his power to catapult himself and build his brand.

“This has all been a big promotion. I knew from the beginning that if I released that Tweet, this was the right time to do it,” Morris said. “I knew if there was ever a time to capitalize on it, that was now.”

Morris is now in talks to appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Beyond that, he is looking to get involved with local businesses, including Me-n-

Morris has also put his business background to good use by starting his own merchandise line, Boogie Mode, capitalizing on the exposure that he has received.

The brand is a performing arts-based line, and he says that sales have seen an increase since his Ellen appearance.

“Any time I am in a zone and locked in, that is my boogie mode,” Morris said. “I see it as a clothing brand for the performing arts. You have Nike and Adidas that are geared towards athletes, but anyone can wear them. That is the same thing with my brand.”

But even with all the national media attention, TV appearances and his own merchandise, Morris understands that he could not have gotten to the heights he has reached in the last month without the support of the Fresno State community.

“Fresno State is very family orientated; my dad graduated from this school. That is why I picked this school over every other school,” Morris said. “The Bulldog marching band was the first ones to take in my personality and tell me to be myself. Do what you want to do and represent our school.”

As Morris’ last few years at school start to take shape, he will continue to perform for the Fresno State marching band.

He hopes that what he has done in the past month will inspire people to open themselves up to opportunities.

“For myself, I am taking the path less traveled. My path was cymbals, but I let people know that their time is short and it is going to go by very quickly,” Morris said. “You want to cherish all the moments. Get involved at this school because there is so much you can do, and you are going to love it.”

A&E

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

COLLEGIAN.CSUFRESNO.EDU

PAGE 5

Fresno State alumnus publishes bilingual book

By Avery Johnston Reporter

cial work and her master’s in school counseling.

She was always “Proud to be a Bulldog" because school wasn’t always easy for Solorio. There were many challenges along the way. She was a first- generation college student out of eight children. She encourages students to, “Never give up on your vision.”

"As a counselor, this [book] was a way to honor my time at Fresno State,” Solorio said.

Solorio now works as a school counselor at Avenal High School in the same school district she grew up in. Solorio now reads to her children ages 1 and 3.

She states on her website that, “Her two children were her biggest inspiration to write” the book.

Since the book was published, her life hasn’t been the same. She recalls an instance earlier in the day that she was recognized at a local coffee shop.

While growing up, Perla Solorio’s parents would read to her often. That’s where her love for books and language began.

Years later, Solorio has turned those loves into “Fresno State: First Words/Primeras Palabras” - a bilingual book that explores the campus of Fresno State for children.

The book introduces children to such Fresno State landmarks as the library, the stadium and the César Chávez statue.

Primeras Palabras released date was October and sells for $11.99 on Solorio’s company’s website, Libros for Small Hands.

Solorio started the company in 2019. The goal of the company is for parents and little learners to choose from a variety of comprehensive books with introductory concepts, such as first words.

In the process of deciding how to publish the book, Solorio went the licensing route and decided to donate a percent of sales back into Fresno State.

Solorio felt that it was important to introduce biliteracy and readiness for college to children at a young age.

“There was a lack of bilingual books, and

Courtesy of Perla Solorio

First generation Fresno State Alumnus, Perla Solorio, her bilingual childrens book.

I wanted to be a part of the solution,” Solorio said. “I don’t want to lose the language.”

The process of writing and illustrating the book took around two years and another year to get the book published. It was hard for her

to balance family, a career, and writing a book.

“A few times I was doubtful,” Solorio questioned, ‘Can I really do this?’”

Solorio graduated magna cum laude from Fresno State with her bachelor’s degree in so-

“I didn’t realize I’d get so much attention from the media or that I would get recognized in public,” said Solorio. “I’m glad to be able to reach more families." Solorio hopes this will be the first book in a series of bilingual college introductory books for kids, and she plans come out with more this year.

For more infromation, you can purchas Solorio's book at librosforsmallhands.com

University theatre to showcase Detroit '67

By Leticia leal Reporter

"Detroit ‘67", a play written by Dominique Morisseau, will showcase this March in the Dennis & Cheryl Woods Theatre in the Speech Arts building at Fresno State.

According to the synopsis, "Detroit ‘67" will tell the story of conflicting siblings against a backdrop of the race riots that shook Detroit, Michigan, in the summer of 1967.

A brother and sister by the name of Chelle and The Lanks recently inherited their childhood home. Scraping up enough money to make ends meet, they decide to convert their basement into a small private club. The Lanks find a badly beaten white woman by the name of Caroline on their way home one night.

Fresno State play director Thomas-Whit Ellis describes the play as a very good look at present day racial injustice and intolerance

through the lens of America 50 years ago.

“Much of what we see today in terms of rampant excessive force by law enforcement, judicial bias, under employment and poverty, is pretty much the way it was then, “Ellis said. “In most of the important social and political aspects of this nation, the needle hasn’t moved.”

Auditions for the play took place Tuesday, Jan. 21, and Wednesday Jan. 22, many students auditioned, including Jimmy Haynie.

Haynie has been in many plays previously and hopes to land the character Sly. "He is very vibrant, radiant and full of life." Haynie said.

He’s not used to playing these sort of characters, and believes this will be a good experience.

"Detriot ‘67" will begin on March 20 and run until March 28. All performances will be at 7:30 p.m, except for the 2 p.m. matinee on March 22.

No performance will be held on March 23.

For further information contact Thomee1@ gmail.com or ambersmithj@gmail.com

Larry Valenzuela • The Collegian

Derek Brown and Jimmy Haynie audition for the play "Detriot '67" in the Dennis and Cheryl Woods Theatre on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

THE COLLEGIAN • A&E

PAGE 6

Grizzly Fest enters into hibernation Anjanae Freitas A&E Editor

Fresno’s annual music festival, Grizzly Fest, will not return in 2020. The festival announced that it will be in “hibernation” this year, awaiting a long-term agreement with the city of Fresno, according to Grizzly Fest’s Instagram.

Grizzly Fest was first held at the Fresno Fairgrounds by local Fresno rapper Fashawn in 2012. The event was moved to by Chukchansi Park in 2015 to 2017 for a successful two years.

In hopes for more space that would allow the festival to expand and manifest year after year, the festival was then moved to Woodward Park from 2018 to 2019 for a two-day event put on

by IAN Group.

In 2018, The Fresno City Council expressed both support and backlash for the Grizzly Fest.

According to The Fresno Bee, Councilman Steve Bredefeld, whose District 6 includes the park, said he received about 100 noise complaints about the music festival last year and said he looks forward to the city completing a noise study during the event this year.

Bredefeld supports Grizzly Fest but feels it

would be better suited downtown.

Councilman Steve Brandau, who last year opposed having the event in Woodward Park, said he has changed his mind. He said he drove on the streets in his District 2 and the Woodward Park neighborhood during the 2018 event and didn’t find noise from the festival to be overly disruptive.

The 2018 festival brought in a crowd of about 16,000 and continued on in 2019 with headliners such as G-Eazy, Jessie Reyez, Schoolboy Q, and Matt and Kim. The event’s cancellation has come as a surprise for local fans and members who have worked to keep this festival going for as many years as it has.

Not only did the event’s cancellation come as disappointment to fans, but it also impacted vendors, radio stations and bands.

Local bands in Fresno such as Cloudship had were saddened about the cancellation.

Brandon Freeman, drummer/keyboardist and singer for Cloudship shared their band’s past experience.

Freeman said that Cloudship Peformed at Grizzly Stadium as well as at Woodward Park,

Larry Valenuzela • The Collegian

Snoop Dog headling the First Grizzly Fest held at Woodward Park on Friday, May 19, 2018.

while seeing it grow and become a really good thing for the city. " I think it is more of a setback for the people who are throwing the festival more than anything, but it is definitely a setback for local business. I know for a fact that it brought a lot of money into the town,” said Freeman. “Having a gap in between that, we are basically going to miss festival season and that doesn’t look good for the town. We were growing and now we’re shrinking.”

The Grizzly Fest allowed for local vendors and bussinesses to promote their business and get their names out in the community, he said.

A place like Grizzly Fest is a perfect opportunity for locals to profit and make connections during this festival.

“We were really disappointed in hearing that today. We have been a vendor at the Grizzly Fest for the last four years,” said Damon Miller, owner of Chicken Shack. “The IAN group and their crew really work hard to have an amazing event for the residents of Fresno and this was definitely sad to hear.”

Fatty Cakes and Pastries (FCAP) lead singer Amber Fargano and backup singer Staci Mc-

Dowell said their band had a positive experience at Grizzly Fest meeting new friends and fans. The people most supportive of them were the people in charge of the stage, and their performances gave them templates to use for their future shows, they said.

“ “Having a gap in

between that, we are basically going to miss festival season and that doesn’t look good for the town. We were growing and now we’re shrinking.”

— Brandon Freeman Cloudship Lead Singer

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

THE COLLEGIAN • A&E

PAGE 7

FCAP shared their thoughts on the dialectics between Grizzly Fest having its location move from downtown to Woodward Park.

“There is a lot of conversations at City Council because the previous years of having Snoop Dogg as the headline. I know a lot of more northern bases who are generally more white population were upset about it being in Woodward Park,” said Fargano. “I definitely think it was a different crowd this last year. I think there is something about having it downtown, maybe having it more community- based.”

The festival’s cancellation has certainly come as a surprise to locals.

Fresno State student Elenore Oliva said that the festival was an amazing opportunity for the community to see local music and local businesses.

"I remember the first I went, I was in awe.

Fresno does not get things like this often and I wanted to soak up every minute of it,” she said.

“I unfortunately was not able to go last year, but I told my friends who had never been before that this was our year to go. So when they announced it was not continuing on, I was disappointed for our town from the progress we were making,” For further updates on the festivals outcome, fans and locals should follow Grizzy Fest’s social media accounts @grizzly_fest.

Jose Romo Jr. • The Collegian

An axious crowd awaiting for headlining act G-Eazy to peform Day 2 of last year's Grizzy Feston Sunday, May 5, 2019.

Specials Every Day | Watch All Your Sports with Us Go Bulldogs!

OPINION I am out on an island, but I am not one WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

GOT OPINIONS? We want to hear them.

COLLEGIAN@CSUFRESNO.EDU

By Savannah Moore

Reporter

I spent a good deal of my life terrified of talking to people. It wasn’t all people, just the ones I didn’t know. With them, I was silent, always.

The college classroom made being silent far too easy. There was something about being in a room full of unfamiliar people that made me seal my lips shut.

Each time I considered talking to classmates, every excuse in the book ran through my head.

What if they thought I was annoying for trying to talk to them?

What if I ran out of things to say and the conversation awkwardly fizzled out?

I was just fine with my silence in the classroom. I felt connected outside of school, so I didn't feel pressured to connect within it.

I wrongly considered my classmates, when

Courtesy of Tribune News Service

it came to community, as unnecessary. They were just people I had to spend two hours a day, twice a week with.

Except my classmates are people I spend two hours a day, twice a week with. They are constants in my life for an entire semester.

For just one of my classes this semester, I will spend approximately 3,520 minutes or 58 hours with my classmates. They are not just people seen in passing.

When I transferred to Fresno State, I found myself spending the majority of my time on

PAGE 8

campus, where I knew no one, entirely alone.

I would go a full day without talking to another person. I felt isolated, like an island in a sea of people. I craved community.

As it turns out, I already had one. I’d just been ignoring it the whole time.

I realized that many of my classmates felt the same way I did. I was walking through college falsely assuming I was the only one on campus who felt like an island.

By ignoring my classmates, I was not only isolating myself but allowing other students to continue their college careers isolated as well.

I met one of my best friends by doing what was once unthinkable. I turned to the person next to me and introduced myself.

I decided to speak because this school and its classrooms are a community and should be treated as one.

Because no one wants to spend their day isolated, without being acknowledged.

Because I am not an island.

Classrooms should practice pronoun inclusivity

By Rachel Lewis Reporter

As a women’s studies minor, I have an understanding of the importance and necessity to include people’s gender pronouns when introducing themselves.

During introductions at the beginning of the semester, my women’s studies professors encourage students to use pronouns alongside their names when speaking to the class.

This practice, however, has not been practiced in any of other classes.

While the women’s studies department has

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.

embraced this inclusionary practice into its classroom etiquette, many others have not.

Though I understand the infancy of this trend, it has still become a common habit at conferences, meetings and events in a wide range of settings.

All this to say, it is important that professors and students begin the process of including pronouns in introductions.

In delaying the adoption of pronouns, Fresno State professors and students are allowing themselves to be governed by outdated practices.

Pronoun preference can stretch from he/

The Collegian California State University, Fresno 5201 N. Maple Ave., M/S SA42 Fresno, CA 93740-8027 News Line: (559) 278-5732 Business Line: (559) 278-5735 Advertising Line: (559) 278-8179

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Arts & Entertainment Editor Sports Editor Multimedia Director Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Staff Reporter

him and she/her to they/them and he/they.

This pronoun distinction is meant to create an environmental setting where those who do not abide by binary gender identities are able to clarify their preferred terms with ease.

Pronouns may, to some, seem redundant and unnecessary, but with a growing population of people who identify as non-binary or gender fluid, the importance of pronoun inclusion is increasingly important.

In the next few years, pronoun inclusion will become the norm when it comes to workplace etiquette.

Some companies have even started includ-

Anthony De Leon Samantha Domingo Ashleigh Panoo Anjanae Freitas Zaeem Shaikh Larry Valenzuela Marc Anthony Lopez Leticia Leal Rachel Lewis Jennifer Reyes Avery Johnston

Staff Reporter General Sales Manage National Sales Manager Art Director General Manager Financial Manager Advertising Faculty Adviser Editorial Faculty Adviser MCJ Department Chair

ing their preferred pronouns in their email signatures.

As more organizations and individuals begin specifying their pronouns, it will become commonplace for those entering the workforce to have a pre-established understanding and appreciation for pronoun inclusion in personal and professional relationships.

If Fresno State really is preparing its students for the work force and the furthering of its students’ professional and educational careers, then more classrooms should adopt the practice of pronoun identification when beginning class introductions.

Armando Carreno Diane O'Canto Jacob Mullick Jeff Vinogradoff 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 © 2020 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.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

THE COLLEGIAN • OPINION

PAGE 9

"Jimmy G" accurate, sports talk is not Armando Carreno Reporter

The Jimmy Garoppolo conundrum, or at least the one the mainstream sports media has decided to highlight going into the first week of the Super Bowl matchup between the Chiefs and the 49ers, has been Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ stellar postseason play and questioning of whether the 49ers can win in spite of Garoppolo.

Garoppolo’s ability to lead the 49ers in crunch time has been the topic of every sports talk shows for most of the playoffs and seems to be based more on statistics than context.

The reason for the question marks surrounding Garoppolo are his last two playoff starts, in which Garoppolo has barely been relied upon to throw.

In the divisional game against the Minnesota Vikings, he completed 11 of 19 passes for 131 yards and in the championship game against the Green Bay Packers, Garoppolo attempted just eight passes and completed six for 77 yards for the entire game.

49ers’ head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked after the game why San Francisco ran the ball 42 times and only threw eight passes.

Wally Skalij • Los Angeles Times

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) spikes the ball after scoring a touchdown against the Rams in the 3rd quarter at the Coliseum on Oct. 13, 2019.

Shanahan responded: “Because it was working.”

This whole idea that the 49ers are scared of letting Garoppolo throw the ball is ridiculous.

There was a time during the season when the

49ers went through a tough stretch of games, where they needed Garoppolo to step up.

Following Week 9 of the season, there was an eight-game stretch where Garoppolo threw 18 touchdowns and only six interceptions, and

the 49ers went 6-3 with Garropolo coming up big in crucial games.

There were a few games during the regular season that come to mind, in which Garoppolo came up big for his team. For instance, in the game against the New Orleans Saints, the 49ers were involved in a shootout. Garoppolo carried the team on his back, putting up four touchdowns and 349 yards through the air.

The problem with the mainstream sports media is that they forget what Garoppolo has done all year and are only thinking about the last two games.

Instead of thrashing and questioning Garoppolo, maybe the media should praise him for not being selfish and doing whatever it takes to win games, even if that means he doesn’t have the flashiest numbers.

Flashiness is just not the way this team has been built. It doesn't rely on only one aspect of their offense. This is a well-rounded team that can run, throw and will do whatever is necessary to win. There are no egos on this team.

The 49ers may not have a Patrick Mahomes under center on Super Bowl Sunday, but they also won’t have a game manager, like Trent Dilfer was in Super Bowl XXXV. Garoppolo can get the job done, if the 49ers choose to do so.

You are never alone, asking for help is OK

By Jennifer Reyes Reporter

The anxiety had started right away my first year at Fresno State; I was aware of where to get the help that I needed, but too afraid to reach out.

The transition from high school to a university was huge, but luckily I was enrolled in the First Year Experience (FYE) program, which made the transition comforting, but not too comfortable.

The classes became a challenge loaded with essays, quizzes, tests-- one after another for five classes. I agree, I was crazy enough to start my first year with five classes, but the FYE program chooses your classes.

Unexpectedly, I had fallen into the hole of stress, trying to juggle school and my life together while holding in emotions from the past.

I was not at ease with myself and the problems that I had gone through as a child. I sought the Student Health Center for counseling services, but unfortunately I was not ready to open

up about my situation.

Every appointment with the counselor, I always stated that I was OK and everything was going fine. In reality, nothing was fine. Each night I tossed and turned finding sleep and a way to overcome my emotions.

The second year at Fresno State, I attended counseling services again, and I thought I was going great at every appointment.

I was speaking and finding new strategies on how to overcome stress, emotions and family problems.

Unfortunately, I could not attend any longer, even if everything was going better than in the past when seeking counseling.

I continued to be anxious during classes and had trouble controlling the anxiety.

I was overwhelmed.

My junior year, I tried something different and sought out to a psychiatrist at the Student Health Center.

I had always been opposed to taking prescription medication for my anxiety, but I gave it a try.

Courtesy of Tribune News Service

The outcomes of this medication went unexpectedly better for me than speaking with someone in a small room, while they are taking notes about you and acknowledging every movement you make.

To my point, after attempts at counseling not working out and finally finding a solution

that I feel more comfortable with, I recommend to speak out and get help.

Although my counseling experiences did not work out for me, it does not mean that it will not work for you.

Every person is different and every person has their preferences in what is best.

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

COLLEGIAN.CSUFRESNO.EDU

PAGE 10

Armando Carreno• The Collegian

Noah Blackwell (55) pulls up for a three pointer against a Boise State defender at the Save Mart Center on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020.

Armando Carreno • The Collegian

New Williams (0) drives into the paint against a Boise State Defender for the field goal at the Save Mart Center Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020.

Armando Carreno • The Collegian

Orlando Robinson backs down a San Diego state defender in the paint for a field goal at the Save Mart Center on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020.

Despite big losses, Dogs hold out hope

By Zaeem Shaikh Sports Editor

After the Fresno State men’s basketball team suffered a devastating defeat to the Boise State Broncos, the Red Wave was no longer cheering.

The Save Mart Center, which seats up to 16,000 people, was silent.

In the 2019 preseason predictions, the Bulldogs were expected to finish sixth, but no one expected this.

After losing to Boise State 87-53 – the worst loss for a Fresno State team at the Save Mart Center – the ‘Dogs dropped to 6-14 on the season and 2-7 in the Mountain West (MW) conference.

This put the Bulldogs at 10th in the conference only in front of Wyoming.

In the past ten games, the Bulldogs have only won against San Jose State, Wyoming and Air Force.

They’ve lost three of their past eight games by double digits.

One of the many reasons for all the losses is Fresno State is battling a slew of injuries.

Bulldog senior guard Noah Blackwell missed an extended period of time due to a knee injury, and recently came back on Jan.

14 against No. 7 San Diego State. Other Fresno State players that missed time due to injury were Chris Seeley, Aguir Agau, Anthony Holland and Nate Grimes.

After Saturday’s loss against Boise State, Fresno State used its 11th different starting line-up in 20 games.

Bulldogs head coach Justin Hutson said the injuries have made it very difficult for the offense to run smoothly.

“When you've had so many injuries like we've had and guys in and out of the lineup, you're playing different rotations,” Hutson said.

“It's not going to be very easy to flow.”

Another ongoing development is Grimes’ suspension as the Bulldogs suspended him for conduct detrimental to the team.

Hutson said in the press conference that they’re teaching Grimes a life lesson, and he “warranted not being here.”

Grimes ended up learning his lesson and bouncing back against Air Force. He put up a dominant effort, scoring 21 points and grabbing nine rebounds.

Through the woes of this season, Fresno State has had some things go their way.

One thing Bulldog fans can find peace in is the huge development of freshman Orlando

Robinson.

Robinson is averaging 15.9 ppg and 6.12 rpg in the last nine games. Over this stretch, he’s established himself as the go-to scorer for the Bulldogs with his dominating presence in the post.

The ‘Dogs also set records against San Jose State on Jan. 4 when senior New Williams scored a career-high 32 points and made 10 3-point field goals.

He tied Braxton Huggins’ school and Mountain West record, becoming one of four MW players to make 10 3-pointers in a single game.

When Williams was asked about his night, he chalked it up to the shooter’s mentality.

“As a shooter, you just keep shooting so when you miss one you think the next one’s going in,” Williams said. “It’s always the ‘next shot.’ Even when I make it, it’s on to the next shot.”

A recent addition that brought more attention to the Bulldogs was guard Jordan Campbell.

Campbell was eligible to play in January since he enrolled at Fresno State last year as a mid-year transfer.

In his home debut against San Diego State, Campbell provided a huge spark off the bench

and energized the crowd early in the game.

As a slasher, he is able to drive to the rim with ease and create opportunities for his teammates.

It remains to be seen whether Fresno State can regroup and make a run in the last half of the season.

However, the Bulldogs have talent.

Their talent was on display Tuesday night when they went to Air Force Academy, Colo. and beat Air Force on their home turf by 11.

Williams had a huge performance, leading the team in scoring with 25 points on 7-of-16 shooting from the field and 6-of-13 from three.

With the win, the ‘Dogs are now tied for ninth seed in MW and are creeping up on the eighth seed.

Despite their season woes, Fresno State is a tough team to face.

The Bulldogs have multiple weapons in Robinson, Williams, Blackwell and Grimes.

If those four can shoulder the load, Fresno State can shock teams in the remainder of the regular season.

It remains to be seen whether the Bulldogs can be fully healthy towards the end of the season, but if their 3-pointers are falling they’re very hard to beat.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

THE COLLEGIAN • SPORTS

PAGE 11

Coach DeBoer adds new coaches

By Zaeem Shaikh Sports Editor

Armando Carreno • The Collegian

Aly Gamez (22) celebrates with her teammates after shooting the game winning layup at the buzzer against Colorado State Rams at the Save Mart Center on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020.

Best start in years for 'Dogs

By Zaeem Shaikh Sports Editor

The Fresno State women’s basketball team has been on a hot streak over the past month.

With a win against Boise State on Saturday 85-80, the Bulldogs moved to 16-4 on the season and 9-0 in conference, putting themselves at first in the Mountain West (MW).

The ‘Dogs eight wins in the past nine games have come against Boise State, Colorado State, Wyoming, San Diego State (twice), New Mexico, San Jose State and UC Merced, with their lone loss coming against Santa Clara.

Bulldog basketball has been on a roll, due in large part to the play of junior Maddi Utti and freshman sisters Hanna and Haley Cavinder. Utti is averaging 17.1 ppg this season, and Haley and Hanna are averaging 16.4 and 15.6 ppg respectively.

The Bulldogs have been on a scoring tear, averaging 77.8 points per game over a nine-game span.

This season the ‘Dogs are 15-0 when scoring more than 70 points, but they’ve shown they can win at any moment.

Fresno State rallied back twice in the fourth quarter against San Jose State and New Mexico to win two close games in overtime.

In those two games, the Bulldogs outscored their opponents 78-45 in the fourth quarter and overtime.

The ‘Dogs have also been able to find ways to win without hitting the 70-point mark.

On Jan. 15, the Bulldogs were caught in a tough contest against San Diego State.

Down eight with seven minutes left in the third quarter, Hanna injected life into Fresno State, hitting shots and getting other teammates involved. The ‘Dogs ended up winning 65-60.

The second time was on Jan. 22 when Fresno State was struggling to shoot the ball against Colorado State at home.

When their star trio was in a slump, the ‘Dogs got a huge boost from freshman Kendyll Kinzer and junior Aly Gamez.

In the first half, Kinzer scored nine points off of 3-pointers to energize Fresno State. In the second half, Colorado State tied the game up at 53, and Gamez’s lategame heroics saved the day with a game-winning floater off the glass.

To sum up the Bulldogs’ identity, Gamez said one thing.

"I think we're tough. We don't stop fighting. I think that's how we've been all year long,” Gamez said. “We're not going to back down to anybody. No matter if we're up 10 or down 16, we're going to keep fighting."

Fresno State is not backing down, and they’re breaking records in the process.

As the ‘Dogs were routing the Wyoming Cowgirls, Utti made history on a layup in the third quarter, scoring 1,000 career points and became the 25th player in program history to join the 1,000-point club.

Utti was emotional at the press conference, and said she never saw it coming.

“Coming in freshman year I didn't know what to expect," Utti

said. "I had no expectations really and then freshman year, it really opened my eyes that I could be a big part of this program."

Hanna was another player for Fresno State that made history. On Saturday, she had her seventh 20-point game of the season, passing Jaleesa Ross for the freshman record of 20-point games in a season.

Bulldogs head coach Jaime White said the team’s defense has vastly improved this year.

“Well I think with the addition of our young, quicker kids and our transfers – Haley and Hanna - they’ve been able to come in and add more speed, which is causing more problems with ball pressure for the other teams,” White said. “I think we’re creating more turnovers, and we’re getting out and transitioning off of those turnovers.”

Currently sitting in first, it’s very likely that this Fresno State team can finish undefeated in conference play and lock up the No. 1 seed going into the MW Tournament in March.

Fresno State football head coach Kalen DeBoer announced four new hires for his coaching staff on Monday.

The four new additions are assistant coaches Lee Marks, Chuck Morrell, Eric Schmidt and William Inge, according to a Fresno State Athletics press release.

Looking at the coaches, Inge will take over as the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach.

He worked with DeBoer for one season with the Indiana Hoosiers as the special teams coordinator.

Marks will take over as the running backs coach and assistant head coach for the Bulldogs. Previously, he was the Boise State Broncos’ running backs coach for five years, and Boise State had a 1,000-yard rusher for every one of his seasons.

Morrell will be the safeties coach for the Bulldogs, making the transition from Montana Tech.

He was the head coach for the past nine seasons and was named the Frontier Conference Coach of the Year three times.

Lastly, Schmidt will be the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator for the Bulldogs.

He met DeBoer at the University of Southern Illinois where they coached together.

DeBoer said these men have proven themselves and can take the team to the next level.

"This is a combination of guys who are expert teachers, that first and foremost is what I believe we have to have is great teachers," said DeBoer. "When it comes to X's and O's, these guys are proven, they're veteran coaches whether it's been defensive coordinator positions, special teams coordinator positions, we have a great combination of guys that are going to come together to make sure our players are put in good positions to be successful on the football field."

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2020

PAGE 12

THE COLLEGIAN • SPORTS

Esports makes history vs. UNLV

By Marc Anthony Lopez Staff Reporter

Fresno State makes history and officially joins the rest of the Mountain West in the realm of esports.

On Jan. 25, head coach Tommy Lee and his League of Legends (LOL) varsity team competed in the first eSports match in Fresno State history.

The newly formed Bulldogs team competed against UNLV 8-Bit eSports, however, came up short losing the match 2-0.

Although the team was shutout, Lee was proud of how well his team performed.

“I was superproud,” Lee said. “They were hitting on things they didn’t even know at the start.”

For the inaugural game in school history, everything ranging from equipment to production ran smoothly.

Fresno State team captain Noah “Chunkmonkey50” Martinez said there were no issues during his time on the gaming setups.

“The setup here is great. These computers are awesome. There are no latency issues, nothing whatsoever, including the chairs,” Martinez said. “The chairs are far better than what I have at home.”

On the production side, the match was streamed live on the Fresno State eSports Twitch channel and ran well for being produced by one person.

A total of 28 peak concurrent viewers were watching the match at one point, even with little to no social media push from any of Fresno State’s social media to show the match was live.

Before the match began, Lee made sure to calm down his members before the histroic game, telling them to remember to “just have fun."

Martinez said Lee really explained the gravity of the moment.

“It’s really surreal. Just before the game [Lee] was telling us how big this is, how influential and how big of a deal for us to play in the first-ever match,” Martinez said. “It’s really humbling to be a part of something that is bigger than yourself.”

The “official” unveiling of both the League of Legends roster and Overwatch roster will take place at the esports launch party on Feb. 3 in the University Student Union’s bottom level.

The festivities will begin at 10 a.m. with speeches from Fresno State President Dr. Joseph Castro’s cabinet, members of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management and more.

Kelsey T. Schulteis Psychology Major, Fresno State SJCL Juris Doctor Candidate

“If you are contemplating what to do with your bachelor’s degree in Psychology consider law school. A bachelor’s degree in any major fulfills the education prerequisits for law school.”

Law School 101 Thursday, January 30, 7-9pm

You’re invited to this free program to learn more about the legal profession and what a law degree can do for you! At this forum you will be introduced to law school, from courses offered to admission requirements.

Register now at www.sjcl.edu or 559/323-2100

A Degree in any Major Qualifies you to Apply to Law School.

Marc Anthony Lopez • The Collegian

Gia Huy "Bakon Yummi" Pham competing alongside teammates in the first esports match in Fresno State history inside the eSports Areana in the USU on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020.

SJCL ADMITS STUDENTS OF ANY RACE/ COLOR, RELIGIOUS CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN/ANCESTRY, AGE, GENDER, MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY, MEDICAL CONDITION, MARITAL STATUS, OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR THE MARCH 30 LSAT IS FEBRUARY 11