WORLD AIDS DAY
December 3, 2014 ISSUE 14 VOLUME XCIX GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
Serving the San Francisco State community since 1927
December 1
AIDS memorial promotes prevention for new generation
Protests erupt in the Bay Area
Student groups commemorate SF State-related lives lost to AIDS DAYVON DUNAWAY
ddunaway@mail.sfsu.edu
In observance of World AIDS Day, SF State student groups rolled out a series of events on campus Monday to commemorate the lives lost to the disease and educate students. The 2014 theme, Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDSFree Generation, marked the event’s 26th run. “The diagnosis of HIV or AIDS used to be a death sentence,” said Alexandre Santos of the Sexual Health P.E.A.C.H. “Now it’s more of a ‘OK, we have an illness so what are we going to do?’” Santos, who identifies as gay, was always told that he was going to get HIV The diagnosis or that he of HIV or was going to die. He AIDS used to said that be a death people sentence. Now today have more it’s more of a concrete ‘okay, we have information an illness so reinforcing the idea what are we that anyone going to do? having sex can conAlexandre Santos, tract the P.E.A.C.H. disease. According to amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, approximately 1.2 million people in the United States live with HIV. It is estimated that of those living with the disease, one in five are unaware that they are infected. “Getting tested is very important because HIV doesn’t always present symptoms,” said Sexual Health P.E.A.C.H. Jennifer Goranson. STUDENTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
HELEN TINNA / XPRESS
CONFRONTATION: Police form a line to keep protesters off of Interstate 580 after hundreds of people walked on it and stopped traffic Monday, Nov. 24.
PETER SNARR
T
he Bay Area experienced a string of protests this week after a St. Louis County grand jury decided Nov. 24 not to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown. A total of 93 demonstrators were ar-
psnarr@mail.sfsu.edu
rested after two major protests took place in Oakland and San Francisco Friday. Approximately 25 demonstrators chained themselves to BART trains at both West Oakland platforms, which shut down transbay service for two hours and led to the arrest of 14 protesters
while 100 more demonstrated below the platforms, according to BART Media Resources Department Manager Alicia Trost. Later in the evening, demonstrators took to the San Francisco streets under FERGUSON CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Suspect pleads not guilty to Valdez murder LULU OROZCO
ohlulu@mail.sfsu.edu
MUNI SURVEILLANCE / SAN FRANCISCO POLICE DEPARTMENT
RECORDED: Surveillance video captures Nikhom Thephakaysone, who is charged with the murder of SF State student Justin Valdez, riding a MUNI train Monday, Sept. 23, 2013.
@XpressNews
FACEBOOK /GoXpress
The man charged with the murder of SF State student Justin Valdez pleaded not guilty to three felony counts Tuesday at the Hall of Justice, one month after new evidence was presented against him. Public defender Robert Dunlap entered the plea on behalf of Nikhom Thephakaysone in response to charges of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of an illegal assault weapon and the murder of Valdez. VALDEZ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
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NEWS
DECEMBER 3, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
HELEN TINNA / XPRESS
REMEBERING: SF State faculty and students visit tables in Malcolm X Plaza that are designed to teach and create awarness on National AIDS Day Monday, Dec. 1. Blue flags were placed in the grass of the quad to honor staff and alumni who have passed, with The Red Ribbon in the middle acting as the universal symbol of awareness and support.
Students revisit sexual health for World AIDS Day
CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT
“You should always know the status of yourself and your partner before engaging in unprotected sex.” For the most part, students tend not to think about contracting HIV or AIDS, according to Goranson. “Most college students, more specifically if they’re in a heterosexual relationship, are worried about getting pregnant rather than STIs when the chances of getting an STI are much higher than the risk of getting pregnant,” she said. This isn’t the case with criminal justice major Lanberto Palominos, who decided to get tested with his girlfriend before becoming sexually active.
“It’s vital because before you have sex with anyone, that should be the number one thing on your mind,” Palominos said. “I know some people usually don’t do it because it takes time and they don’t want to wait.” Activities kicked off at 10 a.m. at many locations across campus, ending at 9 p.m. with poetry against AIDS. In addition, HIV/AIDS testing and workshops filled Monday’s schedule, with a reception at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Richard Oaks Multicultural Center. Palaminos said that having a conversation about getting tested is crucial to any relationship. “The other person has a right to know if you have any diseases,” he said.
New system eases student registration process JENNAH FEELEY
jfeeley@mail.sfsu.edu
The University debuted a new tool that will allow students to personalize schedules based on graduation needs and availability in time for priority registration beginning Dec. 5. Students can insert general education requirements and breaks through the Gator Scheduler feature to better plan around other activities such as work, sports practice and club meetings. “We have heard from students and advisors that students often have difficulty putting to-
gether a class schedule that takes account of their busy lives," said Senior Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management Jo Volkert in an email. “This tool will enable students to develop ideal class schedules and make better and speedier progress toward completing their degrees.” Robert Strazzarino, a California State University Chico graduate, created the tool after recognizing a need to facilitate class scheduling that would accommodate other aspects of student life. The program was initially launched at the University and has since been brought to 19
other campuses within the CSU system. The CSU Chancellor’s Office negotiated an agreement to cover the $35,000 cost for the program during its first year and subsequent years will be paid through the regular operating budget of the university, according to Volkert. Students can find the courses they need by submitting their unfulfilled requirements into Gator Scheduler, which will identify the classes that both satisfy their requirement needs and fit into their schedules, Volkert said. Plans made in the scheduler can be imported into their online
shopping cart, which will be accessible during registration. Noelle Abuda, a communications major, thinks the new scheduling tool will help students sift through general education requirements and speed up the scheduling process. “Just finding all the classes and their numbers and then bringing them over to the registration page was so time consuming,” Abuda said. “I’m still finishing my GE so that (Gator Scheduling) would be helpful for me.” As a senior, psychology student Crystal Lanuza doesn’t see much use for the new system
now, but thinks it would have been a convenient tool when she was juggling multiple jobs and classes. “I ended up overlapping some classes,” Lanuza said. “I wish that tool had been there before though. If I were a freshman I would use it.” While Gator Scheduler is not required in order to register, over 5,000 students have already started using it to plan ahead for their upcoming classes, according to Volkert. The tool is available through the Student Service Center to assist students choosing courses for the Spring 2015 semester.
NEWS
DECEMBER 3, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
SF State’s Crime Blotter COMPILED BY XPRESS NEWS STAFF
Between Monday, Nov. 17 and Tuesday, Dec. 2 the University Police Department responded to 32 incidents. Here are some of the highlights.
Friday, November 21 SPEED CONTEST Officers driving near Mercy High School noticed a vehicle driving at high speeds at 8:43 p.m. and conducted a traffic stop. Police cited the suspect for exhibition of speed and released them without further incident.
Valdez murder trial date set for next year
Sunday, November 23
Monday, November 17 THEFT Officers took a report of a bicycle theft at Mary Ward Hall that amounted to a $3,700 loss. The theft occurred sometime between 9:30 a.m. and 6:40 p.m.
Tuesday, November 18
EXPLOSION Police received report of an explosion at University Park North around 8:10 p.m. Officers, along with firefighters and PG&E, responded to the report to investigate the scene, but could not determine the cause of the explosion.
HEALTH CONCERNS Officers responded to reports of a woman who refused to leave the HSS Building at 9:55 a.m. Upon arriving, officers determined she was a potential risk to herself or others and took her into protective custody. She was taken to San Francisco General Hospital for further evaluation.
PUBLIC INTOXICATION Police were notified of an intoxicated man on 19th Avenue. Officers made contact with the man around 10:47 p.m., determined he was unable to take care of himself and took him into protective custody. The subject was arrested for public intoxication.
Thursday, November 20 LEWD Police received a report of a man masturbating in the men’s locker room showers at 6:27 p.m. in the Gymnasium. Officers responded to the scene but were unable to find the suspect after a sweep of the area.
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Saturday, November 29 CAR BREAK-IN Officers responded to a call from someone who said their car had been broken into between 11:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. at University Park North.
CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT
Superior Court Judge Bruce Chan said at the arraignment hearing that Thephakaysone willfully and illegally discharged his weapon on the night of Sept. 23, 2013, when the suspect allegedly shot the 20-year-old student as he exited the M-Oceanview Muni train at Randolph and Bright streets. Thephakaysone, who also attended SF State at the time, was arrested by police the day after the incident at his Oceanview home where officers found assault weapons, four knives and $20,000 in cash. During his preliminary hearing last month, investigators found two fingerprints to an ammunition magazine, but said only one was usable for analysis and the identification of Thephakaysone. Additional evidence revealed in court by Assistant District Attorney John Rowland included photographs, the .45 caliber handgun and a bullet casing. Crime scene investigator John Evans said at the Nov. 8 hearing that the firearm and magazine were found in a storm drain at the intersection of Orizaba Avenue and Lobos Street, less than
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a block away from where the shooting happened. The firearm number had been obliterated or defaced, according to Evans, and the .45 caliber handgun was unloaded when they found it. Forensic pathologist for the medical examiner Ellen Moffatt, who was at the scene of the crime, said that Valdez was not killed as a result of a gunshot wound to the back of the head, but from a gunshot wound to his back. She concluded that Valdez’s death was a homicide. A Muni surveillance video prior to the incident shows both Thephakaysone and Valdez on the same train, with no sign of interaction between the two before the shooting. A sustainability advocate and member of the water polo team and Dragon Boating Club on campus, Valdez was a sophomore and active member of the SF State community, Xpress previously reported. Thephakaysone transferred to SF State in Fall 2008 and was enrolled in Open University classes at the time of the incident. He is set to appear back at the Hall of Justice Feb. 6 at 2 p.m.
4 NEWS Collection set for travel following delayed move
DECEMBER 3, 2014
GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
LULU OROZCO
ohlulu@mail.sfsu.edu
The University Museum’s plans to move two collections into the Fine Arts Building this spring have been postponed until Fall 2015, allowing artifacts to be temporarily loaned to other museums and galleries until the grand opening. The Treganza and Sutro Egyptian collections were originally scheduled for a Spring 2015 move into room 203 of the Fine Arts Building, but safety concerns from dance students over moving into a temporary space in McKenna Theater delayed the relocation of the collections. “It delays an opening by a semester, but that's a small price to pay to ensure the safety of our dancers,” said Daniel Bernardi, interim dean of the College of Liberal and Creative Arts, who added that there are plans to convert another large space in FA 203 for curricular and storage needs. The move of the collections and relocation of the dance studio comes as the LCA attempts to optimize space that is currently spread into six different buildings across campus, according to Bernardi. “Having the extra semester is very helpful and it respects the process that dance has been going through,” said Edward Luby, Museum Studies professor and director. “You walk into a situation where you can do some good, and we are doing good to make the university happy.”
The recently unveiled Treganza collection has been in the stewardship of Luby since last semester when it resurfaced out of the Science Building, where it had been stored for almost two decades. “In the past, the Treganza collection was linked to the anthropology department,” Bernardi said. “However, anthropology is a department and its faculty are responsible for teaching and research — not archiving, conservation, inventory control, etc.” Previously, there was one person with the proper credentials assigned to do that work, Bernardi said. The collection is now in the hands of a professional to fit the desires of anthropology faculty. Since its rediscovery, Luby has been given support in terms of supplies and the resources required to take care of the collection. On the other hand, the Sutro Egyptian collection, which is currently housed in the fifth floor of the Humanities Building at the University Museum, has no plans to reopen before the move, but a few items will be loaned to the San Francisco International Airport Museum. “They are an excellent museum. This is a way to get our collections out there,” Luby said. She added that the airport museum already has a few pieces of the collection and are getting ready to exhibit the pieces in the next couple of months, but will not include any mummies. The Sutro Egyptian collection
ERIC GORMAN / XPRESS
TRANSITION: Priceless artifacts of the Treganza collection are wrapped and stored in an undisclosed location while the Museum Studies Program prepares a new space Tuesday, Oct. 21.
houses over 1,000 diverse pieces from Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome societies, including two mummified remains — one of which is considered to be one of three sarcophagus triple-nesting mummies in the nation, called Nes-Per-N-Nub. The second mummy is referred to as Yellow Sarcophagus, also from Ancient Egypt. The Treganza collection currently carries artifacts from Mexico, China, Philippines, East
Asia and South America to name a few, and will be loaning out its items to the Fine Arts Gallery. “We are going to continue and re-house the collection,” Luby said of the Treganza collection, adding that the extra semester does not affect any plans to move into the new space next spring. The number of pieces that will be loaned to the Fine Arts Gallery is currently unknown, the gallery director and Luby will have to decide what artifacts will best fit
the gallery's current exhibit. Luby also mentioned that museum studies graduate students will be helping with the relocation every step of the way. "Having more time to plan everything can only be useful," said museum studies graduate student Sophie Laidler. "The students will continue to be involved in proper planning and organization, and we can have the new students next year start the year with a great project."
Transgender Day of Remembrance illuminates LGBTQ issues
DAYVON DUNAWAY
ddunaway@mail.sfsu.edu
At three years old, Mitch Hymowitz told his parents that he couldn’t wait to get older and be a man. His parents fired back by reminding him that he was born a girl. “My whole life has just been conformity,” Hymowitz said. “Conforming to femininity and gender roles and gender expression.” Hymowitz was one of the panelists who shared their experiences as a transgender person in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance, Nov. 20, in the Richard Oaks Multicultural Center. The Queer and Trans Resource Center hosted the event to memorial-
ize people killed in anti-transgender violence according to Assistant Director of the Queer and Trans Resource Center Justin Boese. According to the Trans Violence Tracking Portal, 102 transgender people were murdered in the first four months of this year. “Trans issues are still largely absent from LGBTQ discussions,” Boese said. “These issues in part are that we really want to bring awareness to on campus.” Hymowitz and fellow panelist Queer and Trans Resource Center Director Sebastian Ochoa-Kaup triggered deep emotions as they read the names of those killed by anti-transgender violence and the details of their death. Ochoa-Kaup called for a moment
of silence in honor of victims before opening the panel to share stories of identity and experiences of being transgender in the college community. "In college I began to question what being trans meant and if it was for me," Ochoa-Kaup said. "I kind of filed that away and years later I started to articulate my own gender identity." The event kicked off at 4 p.m. and captured audience members with stories of identity, struggle and perseverance. “Besides highlighting the violence that transgender people face and honoring those whose lives have been lost, it is important to talk about the larger issues," Boese said. "Transphobia, racism, classism and others are factors that lead to the discrimination
and inequality that pervade the lives of transgender identified people." Attendees shared laughs as panelists detailed what it was like identifying as transgender in a college environment. Discussions included gender-neutral bathrooms, dating, name changing and appropriate references to people in the LGBTQ community. SF State student Jenelle Williams felt that she came out of the panel with a better understanding of LGBTQ issues and how delicate they are. “People should just be treated as people,” Williams said. “It was really sad and heartbreaking when they were reading the names of people that have been killed and that’s not what you hear about everyday.”
AWARNESS: Students and alumni gather to talk to panelists on the Transgender Day of Remembrance at the Richard Oakes Multicultural Center Thursday, Nov. 20.
RYAN LEIBRICH / XPRESS
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NEWS
DECEMBER 3, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
HELEN TINNA / XPRESS
HANDS UP : (LEFT) Police guide a protester as part of crowd control in downtown Oakland during the Ferguson protest Wednesday, Nov. 26.
HELEN TINNA / XPRESS
SYMBOL: (RIGHT) A man holds up a Michael Brown drawing after protesters march on Interstate 580 exit ramp and start a dumpster fire in Oakland Monday, Nov. 24. HELEN TINNA / XPRESS
FORCE: (BELOW) Police form a line to remove protesters from Interstate 580 after they walk up an exit ramp in Oakland Monday, Nov. 24. PETER SNARR / XPRESS
FREEWAY: (BELOW RIGHT) Two women walk with a group of protesters on Interstate 580, stopping traffic in Oakland Monday, Nov. 24.
AMANDA PETERSON / XPRESS
FLAG: (ABOVE) James Cartmill holds an upsidedown American flag during the protests as demonstrators overtake Interstate 580 in Oakland Monday, Nov. 24.
FERGUSON Bay Area set aflame after officer not indicted CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT
the banner of #BlackoutBlackFriday and marched to Union Square during Macy’s Great Tree Lighting Ceremony. Protesters smashed windows and spray painted stores as shocked holiday shoppers looked on. Police made 79 arrests and two officers were injured. One was hit in the face by broken glass and another was hit in the chest with a brick, according to the San Francisco Police Department. Protests began Nov. 24 in Oakland with a “die-in” at 6:30 p.m. and the shutdown of Interstate 580 that lasted approximately 30 minutes. The protests started off peaceful, but turned violent around 10 p.m. when Oakland police blocked off Broadway Street between 7th and 8th streets. “We’re angry and we don’t have anyone to back us like (police) do,” said Cadine Williams, whose brother, O’Shaine Evans, was shot and killed in October by a San Francisco police officer. “We’re expressing ourselves so let us get out there and express ourselves. My hope is to stay peaceful.” Masked protesters lit fires and broke shop windows at the intersection of 8th and Broadway streets, leaving a Starbucks ransacked. Police moved in at 11:33 p.m. and made 40 arrests, according to a statement by Oakland Mayor Jean Quan.
Quan said police officers showed "tremendous restraint" in the face of hundreds of demonstrators who provoked them for hours. While violence started to become predictable in the later part of the evenings, many protesters said they wanted to remain peaceful. "It's really anti-productive breaking into stuff," said protester Adyan Abraham, who added that she hoped for peaceful demonstration and to keep people informed. The second night of protests started with a brief shutdown of the I-980 and of the I-580 in North Oakland a couple hours later. The night turned violent when protesters stopped at the intersection of Telegraph Avenue and West MacArthur Boulevard and attacked a police cruiser, set off fireworks, smashed windows and started fires. Oakland police arrested 92 people that night after three officers suffered injuries, according to Oakland police spokesperson Johnna Watson. Throughout the series of protests, many demonstrators said that the lack of charges highlighted the ongoing problem of police brutality in the United States. “If justice was served, we wouldn’t be here,” said San Leandro resident Adela Muhammad. “Same thing, different day. We need to restart the system.”
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
DECEMBER 3, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
Band conceives album in Sunset apartment CECILIA ABATE
cabate@mail.sfsu.edu
Local band Builders recently released a self-produced album, “New Lungs,” against incredible odds. Sawyer Fox and Josh Pearlman worked together over several months to put the album together in an apartment in the Sunset District. Pearlman, a student at SF State, is a part time employee at Trader Joe's and works with Fox on the band during his spare time. The pair share a practice space with other bands in the Bayview District and convene there every Monday and Wednesday to play. “New Lungs” is the group's second full-length album. Fox recorded parts of songs in a room off of Pearlman's garage, and both recount that the process was frustrating due to noise from upstairs neighbors and outside traffic. "There's no windows—we recorded the whole album in there," Pearlman said. "It was a pretty frustrating process, but now it makes it really rewarding. I'm really happy with the way it turned out." Recording and mixing “New Lungs” took Builders several months. The album was professionally mastered, and the duo agreed it was a beneficial experience.
ANNASTASHIA GOOLSBY / XPRESS
MUSIC: Builders, a two-person band composed of Sawyer Fox (left) and Josh Pearlman, stand together for a portrait Friday, Nov. 21. The band recently released its latest album called “New Lungs.”
Fox relocated from Southern California a year ago to be more involved in the band. "I moved up here because of Builders," Fox said. “I only started singing and writing songs two years ago and I like it a lot. I've been playing music my whole life." The two produced songs long
distance until Fox moved closer. The pair were in a band together in high school in their hometown, Thousand Oaks, where they first met. "Thousand Oaks is basically suburbs," Fox said. "It was difficult to get a lot of shows out there. Here, there's actually a music scene. The biggest benefit
is meeting other bands." Builders underwent structural changes during its beginning. Fox and Pearlman agreed that the change—losing a member and changing vocal duties to Fox— was what really made Builders what it is today. "We had another member," Fox said. "It kinda didn't fit with
what I had envisioned. I kind of decided to just take it on." Since Fox fulfills many roles in the recording studio, the pair enlists friends to play with them when they preform live. Gerald Held, a graduate of University of California Santa Barbara and longtime friend of the band, has seen every show Builders has performed. "Builders incorporates all of the best aspects of Elliot Smith and Brand New into one beautiful, fluid sound," Held said. "’New Lungs’ is a great album to put on when you want to be able to immerse yourself in an album and listen to all of the little intricacies." Builders has been playing shows all over San Francisco and is enthusiastic about expanding its fan base. "We wanna play as much as possible and we want people to hear us." Fox said. "We learned that it's possible to do it without knowing anything," Pearlman said. "Obviously, students aren't going to have the necessary funds to go into a studio. If you want to do something like that, there's so much out there. You can do it yourself." The band wants to tour California to gain exposure after Pearlman graduates in the summer. Builders' next show is Dec. 5 at the Connecticut Yankee in San Francisco.
Bright future ahead for artists’ space NICOLE PARADISE
Thirty years ago, a group of students from SF State created a new future for art in San Francisco. Today, artists still use the space, known as The Lab, on the corner of 16th and Capp streets as a place to go for shared studios, events and exhibitions. Because of rising living costs, space for artists to display their work in the city has become limited. Laura Brun, John DiStefano, Tami Logan, Alan Millar and Nomi Seidman found a solution to the problem by starting an experimental art space in their own apartment to continue their work after graduation. In 1984 the Co-Lab, now known as The Lab, was born. Millar was crucial in founding The Lab and is now the president. The Lab produced excellent exhibits in the beginning of its journey, but has fallen on hard times in recent years, according to SF State Art Department Chair Gail Dawson. Since August, The Lab has been under new leadership and has undergone extensive renovations. Dena Beard, the newly appointed executive director of The Lab, has been working hard to give the experimental art space the push it needs. The Lab recently hosted a hugely successful 24-hour telethon to raise money. More than 2,300 viewers tuned into YouTube to watch a live stream, according to Beard. She said they surpassed their goal and made approximately $57,000. Although they have never netted that much money before, Millar said the most important aspect of the event was that it re-energized the audience and members of
nparadise@mail.sfsu.edu
The Lab. “We’re back," Millar said excitedly. "We were never gone, but we’re back." Robot demonstrations, flame whistles, music, comedians and drag performances kept visitors busy from dawn to dusk during the Nov. 15 telethon. “It was a total celebration of what The Lab does and the energy of San Francisco,” Beard said. The space has always exhibited new artists, including interns. During an internship, students work on a project, taking ownership over a part of The Lab, according to Beard. Interns get familiar with installation work, selling and marketing inquiries, art language and what is required to put on exhibitions. SF State art student George Carpenter said The Lab is a good place for student artists. “There's no better place for an art student to be than your local gallery,” he said. Although Carpenter has never interned before, he said he would enjoy interning at The Lab. "I thrive in artistic work environments and gallery settings," Carpenter said. Carpenter participated in the LAST Festival at The Lab in October. The festival celebrated the confluence of art and science. Carpenter helped his professor Carlos Castellanos set up microbial fuel cells, which were the main component of the art piece. As a graphic and musical artist, Carpenter likes The Lab for its stance on experimental art and its importance in San
PHOTOS BY DANIEL PORTER / XPRESS
REFLECTION: (ABOVE) Joseph Dwyer, an artist with a piece in the installation, takes a glance in a mirror as he walks through The Lab in the Mission District in San Francisco Tuesday Dec. 2.
LIGHTING: (LEFT) A bar was set up for an art installation at The Lab in the Mission District in San Francisco Tuesday Dec. 2.
Francisco, “a city with a long legacy for radical ideas and experimentation.” One day he hopes to get the opportunity to show his art at The Lab. The future looks bright for the space, with many plans for 2015. There will be opportunities for coworking with new artists, workshops where different artists
from the Bay Area can meet each other, as well as a new program that will introduce musical performances and exhibitions. “The Lab is like a family," Beard said. "You come in, have mentorship and social events."
SPORTS
DECEMBER 3, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
9
VOLLEYBALL JOHN MONTOYA
jmontoya@mail.sfsu.edu
After a season where the Gators exceeded expectations, a group of freshmen were put into situations that allowed them to adapt to college-level volleyball while helping their team win. The athletic transition from high school to college sports is rarely an easy one, according to head coach Jill Muhe, but for seven freshmen, the transition was smoother with a group of upperclassmen leaders that were there to set an example. “All the upper were pretty good at taking us under their wing and showing us what’s right and wrong,” said freshman Samantha Krakower. With a group of talented but raw freshmen, helping them adjust to the everyday commitment of playing a Division II sport was something Muhe emphasized throughout the season. “I’m happy with all of our freshmen and how they have come in, and how they have been open to learning new things,” Muhe said. “They’ve been working hard to get better and I think they’ve done a really good job of that.” Freshman Catherine Feathers was used to the long hours that came with playing the sport, which made her experience easier. “I’d come home really late from practice in high school,” Feathers said. “In college, I actually feel like I have more time to plan out my schedule
ANNASTASHIA GOOLSBY / XPRESS
TRANSITION: (left to right) Freshmen volleyball players Catherine Feathers, Willa Henderson and Samantha Krakower stand together on the SF State court before a game against Monterey Bay Friday, Nov. 7.
Volleyball freshmen look to fill greater roles next season and figure out when to do my work.” Freshman Willa Henderson spent her first season as a redshirt freshman, which gave her time to observe the rest of her teammates.
Redshirting offered Henderson a different experience compared to some of her freshman counterparts that played on the team. “I’ve used it to learn a lot since I’m not playing,”
Henderson said. “I’m watching the other girls and seeing how they play during games so I can better my game.” Feathers is trying to learn from setter Jacquie Brice so when the time comes for her
to become the starter, she is prepared. “Brice has helped me out a lot,” Feathers said. “She is in the same position I am. She has so much more experience than I do and all the other hitters tell me how to adjust a set.” Krakower has seen her fair share of play during her first year and Muhe has seen good things from the freshman thus far. “Sammy has come in some crucial times for us and done some really good things,” Muhe said. “Her spacing when she’s hitting has gotten better which is making it easier for her to find the floor on the other side of the court. She really brings a good energy to the court and she does her job.” Freshmen year for these women comes at a time when SF State is going through changes in its athletic department. The volleyball team took a big step this year playing better than expected and beating some quality opponents. The freshmen have a chance to grow with this new program and to possibly be the benefactors of these moves. “It’s awesome being somewhere and then growing with the program,” Krakow said. “Starting from where it is now and seeing it when we’re seniors, it’s probably going to be completely different and I’m excited for that.”
10 OPINION
DECEMBER 3, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
Ferguson decision: racism isn’t the issue MICHAEL DURAN
BRADLEY FOCHT
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF bfocht@mail.sfsu.edu
MICHAEL BARBA
PRINT MANAGING EDITOR mdbarba@mail.sfsu.edu
LAUREN SEWARD
ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR lseward@mail.sfsu.edu
EVELYN CAICEDO
ART DIRECTOR ecaicedo@mail.sfsu.edu
KAITLIN AGUILAR
ART ASSISTANT kaitlina@mail.sfsu.edu
SOFIA LIMON
ART ASSISTANT slimon@mail.sfsu.edu
FRANK LADRA
PHOTO EDITOR fladra@mail.sfsu.edu
NASHELLY CHAVEZ
NEWS EDITOR nashelly@mail.sfsu.edu
IDA MOJADAD
Michael Brown, 18, lost his life to former policeman Darren Wilson on Aug. 9. What made this shooting so controversial, besides that the altercation between Brown and Wilson escalated to the gunshots that killed him, was that the victim was black and the policeman was white. The rest of the world saw the colors of the two people involved, instead of viewing the incident as a policeman who was trying to do his job and protect himself. This has always been an issue for the rest of the world to grasp. We like to say that segregation is over or that we want to end racism, but we constantly contradict ourselves. Protests and riots erupted all around the U.S. after the Nov. 24 hearing relieved Wilson of all potential punishment. Thousands of people flooded the streets of major cities across the states, protesting the untimely death of an innocent black man. Windows of local businesses were broken and bonfires sparked throughout the streets of downtown Oakland. The Oakland Police Department did their best to prevent any further damage to the city caused by protesters. Demonstrators and the rest of the world turned this into a race issue. People have
michaeld@mail.sfsu.edu
said that Brown was innocent and that his death was wrong, but since he was black, the issue became bigger than it needed to be. All the destruction and anger is completely unnecessary. Why do we do this? Every time a person of color is killed, the situation is blown out of proportion. Hundreds of people are murdered every year, but when anything like this happens, we tend to ignore those other deaths and focus on the ones that involve race. Another similar situation was the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida Feb. 26, 2012. Martin was shot while walking in his community when a neighborhood watchman named George Zimmerman thought he looked suspicious. The two got into a disagreement, which resulted in Zimmerman shooting Martin in the chest. Later, the court decided there wasn't enough evidence to refute Zimmerman’s claim of self-defense. This was an unfortunate, unnecessary situation, but when it hit the news, the rest of the world blew it out of proportion. Just like the Ferguson protests, many took to social media to express their thoughts about a white man shooting a "suspicious" black
kid. Our society took a deadly miscommunication between two individuals and totally changed it. The news cycle during the time of the Martin shooting was primarily filled with interviews with his parents and the debate over racism in the U.S. Recent protests over Ferguson reached the intersection of 5th and Market streets on the night of Black Friday. The San Francisco Police Department was prepared with helmets and batons ready to protect themselves if needed. One sign read ‘Black Lives Matter.’ This reinforced the idea that race is always an issue. The protesters were not fighting the fact the policeman was trying to do his job, but the fact that a black man was innocently shot. Due to many threats, officer Wilson resigned on Nov. 29. The end of racism in the U.S. could be near, but if instances like this keep occurring then it will never cease to be an issue. The problem is that people see color instead of crime. In order to change it, we need to stop connecting situations like these back to race. We need to focus on the real problem, which is a cop shooting an innocent civilian.
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Mandatory tips diminish dining experience HANNAH MULLINS
hmullins@mail.sfsu.edu
I’ve never had the privilege of receiving tips for good service. I’ve worked in retail since I turned 18 and I've never understood why people who work in the food industry complain about a slow night. Most restaurant employees that I know get paid an average hourly wage, similar to mine, on top of their tips each night, which doesn’t seem like a reason to complain. With the minimum wage increasing to $15 by 2018, averaging about a dollar each year, five Bay Area restaurants have eliminated tipping from their tables to be able to afford the raise and distribute the tips evenly among the staff. Instead of tipping, these businesses are implementing a 20 percent service charge for each table with no additional gratuity accepted. These Bay Area restaurants are hoping for other restaurants to follow suit — and that’s when I started to become concerned with my ability to dine out. Questions like, "Will it be affordable?" and, "How will the wait staff act?" immediately crossed my mind. As an avid foodie who dines out at least once a week, I have experienced a range of waitresses and waiters who don’t deserve a full tip as well as those who deserve so much more for their contributions to my experience during a meal. If the service charge is in effect the minute you sit down at a table, you have to take into consideration that the wait staff will already receive a tip regardless of how they treat you. This ultimately takes the control out of the customer’s hand, and increases the possibility for employees to slack off with nothing to work for in addition to their wages and tips at the end of the night. This situation started to remind me of
ILLUSTRATION BY KAITLIN AGUILAR / XPRESS
something similar to a long-term relationship. Every relationship starts out with learning more about each other and what your likes and dislikes are, similar to the bond between restaurant patrons and their waiters. When you’re still unsure of how you feel about the other person, there is that push to impress, to go above and beyond to guarantee yourself a secure relationship with the other person. For service staff, it’s the money and recognition of their attentiveness. For couples, it’s the company of a person who likes you for you.
Once you have achieved a labeled relationship with a significant other or a loving relationship with a restaurant, they both start to put forth less effort. It could just start with always wearing sweatpants, not cleaning around the house or never letting your loved one know how great they are because you are comfortable in your situation. What if that happens with you and your favorite restaurant? If waiters already know they're going to receive a tip at the end of your dining experience, some may become lazy, inattentive or even rude. A service charge is unnecessary, devalues customer service and could potentially ruin the food industry for those of us who really love what the Bay Area has to offer. When waiters walk into work each day, it’s with the intention of getting paid for doing their job well. If they are guaranteed pay without putting forth effort to improve your day, what exactly is the point to go above and beyond? Conversely, what if you received exceptional service and think your server deserves more than a 20 percent tip? This could lead to a less attentive staff. When I go out to eat, I expect a personal experience with the diners, chefs, waiters and hosts. Without monetary motivation, eating in restaurants with a staff that don’t care becomes more like a fast food stop than a personalized experience. A mandatory service charge would prevent any additional tips from being left for individuals who excel at their jobs and create that excellent venture for you in the corner booth of your favorite restaurant. This movement of service charges could negatively impact the atmosphere of restaurants throughout the Bay Area. It takes the power out of the consumer’s hand, where it has been for centuries. It may sound selfish, but then again, dining in a restaurant is a choice, just how the option of how much you tip should be.
OPINION 11
DECEMBER 3, 2014 GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG
Violent protesting is contradictory to the cause PETER SNARR
psnarr@mail.sfsu.edu
Regardless of affiliation, a black bloc activist's purpose is the same: participate in acts of vandalism, build barricades, agitate other protestors to create in-fighting and create general disorientation. Typically aligned with the political ideology of anarchism, they can be an individual or a group. This form of activism has increased in popularity in the last few years, particularly in Oakland, and is a detriment to large scale protest movements because it dilutes their messages. Similar to their actions at Occupy Oakland in 2011, they have now latched onto the Michael Brown protests that swept the Bay Area last week. They're easily identifiable, which is ironic considering their purpose is to be faceless. Black clothing, black gloves and something black to conceal their faces is the uniform of black bloc activists. My first interaction with them was in 2011 at the height of the Occupy movement in Oakland. I drove up from San Jose that November to photograph the Port of Oakland shutdown, which ended up drawing the largest crowd of the Occupy Oakland protests. The narrative is now all too familiar. Protests started out peaceful but at 10 p.m., like clockwork, masked faces joined in with the rest of the demonstrators. Once the protest made its way back downtown, masked activists started pulling dumpsters
into the street. By 11 p.m. black bloc activists had taken over a vacant building, destroyed storefronts, lit a massive dumpster fire, graffitied buildings and barricaded the intersection of 16th Street and San Pablo Avenue. Even as a naive 19 year old, I could see that black bloc activists are opportunistic leeches that attach themselves to any major protest and use it as a cover to exercise their mayhem when peaceful protests start to thin. They are anonymous cowards and bullies that attack photojournalists and gang up on individuals that protest their actions. This past week had a similar timeline, when demonstrators took to the streets to protest the non-indictment of Ferguson, Mo. police officer Darren Wilson. Black bloc activists arrived later in the night to light off M80's, break windows and intimidate bystanders. These activists believe that power has been usurped from the
people by corporations in an increasingly prevalent police state, which you can certainly make a case for. Where my ideologies quickly diverge is when they believe that by causing disruption to major corporations, they are returning power to the people. By their own admission, they do not gather to protest, but to cause as much material damage they can to render social change. However, the facts are not on the side of black bloc. Erica Chenoweth and Maria J. Stephan released "Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict (Columbia Studies in Terrorism and Irregular Warfare)" in 2011 where statistical and sociological research show that violent protests are not as successful as nonviolent. Between 1900 and 2006, nonviolent resistance was nearly twice as likely to achieve full or partial success as violent resistance. In 2012, Oakland Mayor Jean Quan estimated the dam-
They’re easily identifiable, which is ironic considering their purpose is to be faceless.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY SOFIA LIMON / XPRESS
age caused by Occupy to be $2 million, with an additional $4 million being lost from the port shutdown alone. While the targets of black bloc are typically major corporations and banks, the residual effects to smaller businesses are more harmful and can't be ignored. Damage estimates are still coming in from last week's Ferguson protests, but some local businesses estimate upto a 60 percent drop in sales despite the targeting of multi-national corporations by this type or protestors. Chef Simone of Desco, an Italian restaurant in downtown Oakland, estimates that he lost $3,000 from the first night of protests alone.
If peaceful demonstrators want to be taken seriously, they need to distance themselves from these groups and practice what they preach. Destruction and vandalism only further remove the public from a cause and create resentment among people that could otherwise be convinced to support you. The problem Ferguson and Occupy protests have is that they are an open invitation. As a result, they are unorganized and offer the opportunity for different messages and ideologies to slip into the ranks. The organizers of these events need to better oversee who they let march — and denounce violent ideology.