Fall 2015, Issue 3

press GOLDEN GATE

Men’s soccer keeps record unblemished PAGE 10

Serving the San Francisco State community since 1927

Remapping planned for Muni routes CREO NOVENO

September 9, 2015 ISSUE 03 VOLUME CI GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

SF State reforms Title IX LINDA KARLSSON

cnoveno@mail.sfsu.edu

lkarlsso@mail.sfsu.edu

IMANI MILLER / XPRESS

Destination: The 57-Park Merced

route Muni bus approaches its stop on Arballo Drive and Acevedo Avenue Friday, Sept. 4.

In response to a number of new laws to protect students from sexual harassment on university campuses, the California State University system released an updated policy forbidding sexual misconduct on all 23 CSU campuses.

“A campus that is safe for all students is a necessary condition to a supportive learning environment,” said Luoluo Hong, Title IX coordinator and vice president for student affairs and enrollment management.

The June 23 revision replaced the primary term 'sexual violence' with the umbrella term 'sexual misconduct' in the policy text. In an email sent to all SF State students, faculty and staff Sept. 1, Hong explained that the term, sexual misconduct, which is strictly prohibited, will now encompass sexual violence, harassment and discrimination, among other things.

The policy is part of Title IX, a federal ordinance stating that all universities that receive public funding must prohibit sexual misconduct. The updated policy now states that consensual relationships between students and faculty or staff are also prohibited, Hong said.

“Prior to the June 2015 change to the CSU Executive Orders, sexual and/or romantic relationships between students and employees were not prohibited,” Hong said. “And yes, not unlike other campuses, some of the complaints we received did involve these kinds of behaviors.”

Bethany Gregonis, a 21-yearold recreation, parks and tourism student, said she was torn on the new policy prohibiting intimate relationships between students and professors.

“That’s where it gets tricky because it’s like, if you genuinely have a connection with that (professor) and it’s not just for a grade or to pass a class, I mean

SF State students will see changes to their Muni routes beginning Sept. 26 as part of a citywide Muni improvement program, according to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority.

The changes are part of SFMTA’s Muni Forward campaign, an effort to update the transit system to make it "better, safer and more reliable," according to the project's site. The plans involve increasing service to the busiest lines in the Muni system and reorganizing routes to provide riders with more convenient connections, the report said.

The campaign proposes extending the 28/28R-19th Avenue route to Van Ness and North Point, according to an SF Examiner report. The plans also include improvements for the 57Park Merced route, which will provide service to the Daly City BART Station and to SF State at Mary Park and Mary Ward Halls EMMA CHIANG / XPRESS along Font Boulevard, the report EXHALE: Senior Chris Lee, a mechanical engineering major, takes a break between classes to vape outside of the said.

Creative Arts Building Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Natalie Lam, a freshman in business management, said she was looking forward to the 57's new route.

"Not having to walk all the way to the Administration Building for the Muni sounds really convenient," Lam said.

The 57 will travel along Lake Merced, replacing the 18-46th risen across the country, so have “The President’s office careBRIAN GRABIANOWSKI Avenue's usual stops, according concerns about potential negfully examined its smoking polbgrabian@mail.sfsu.edu to the Muni Forward site, which ative health effects. SF State's icy,” said Adrianne Bee, interim showed that the 18 will now new smoking policy will ban associate vice president of SF As clouds of vaporized nicoTITLE ix Continued ON PAGE 2 bypass the Lake Merced loop their use on campus beginning State. “SF State joined the more tine syrup from e-cigarettes have Sept. 8.

Updated policy bans vaping on campus

MUNI Continued ON PAGE 4

VAPE Continued ON PAGE 2

Percussion ensemble threatened by cancellation SAMANTHA LUSIGNAN

RYAN MCNULTY / XPRESS

RHYTHM : Zayn

Mufti, a mechanical engineering major, plays on old drum brakes from a car during the percussion ensemble class Thursday, Sept.

3, in the Creative Arts Building at SF State.

slusigna@mail.sfsu.edu

Scattered around the room of SF State's percussion ensemble class, everyday objects are tapped and beaten to create musical cadence.

While traditional instruments, ranging from acoustic guitars to drums

are used, unusual tools are scavenged by members of the class and repurposed.

One student slaps the palm of his hand with a black wooden panel in time with the beat. Later, he bangs a bright orange safety cone against a table, creating an ominous thud. Three broken hubcaps double as marimbas.

The class, which is

taught by Allen Biggs, is in danger of being cut due to the SF State's minimum class size requirements.

Students were supposed to start class Aug. 25, but the course disappeared from the SF State Class Schedule site, according to Biggs.

The administrators added another section of the course, but the roster had

zero people enrolled because the students had not been transferred over from the originally cancelled course.

There has also been some confusion about the class being cut, according to Biggs, who said that

ensemble Continued ON PAGE 6

2 NEWS

Wednesday, September 9, 2015 goldengatexpress.org

RYAN MCNULTY / XPRESS

E-JUICE: An SF State student holds their personal vaporizer outside of the Creative Arts Building Tuesday, Sept. 8.

E-cigs restricted to designated areas

Vape Continued from front

than 1,500 universities nationwide that are taking a protective stance by banning their use.”

E-cigarettes, which are defined by the Federal Drug Administration as battery-operated devices that turn chemicals into an inhalable vapor, will be included in the existing policy that currently prohibits smoking on campus.

SF State will enforce the restriction on e-cigarettes using $58 fines as an incentive to limit smoking to designated areas.

The on-campus ban includes smoking in Universityowned buildings, owned or leased property, and University-owned vehicles and moving equipment, according to the current policy text.

The injunction comes in the wake of warnings from several groups, including the World Health Organization, to consider the negative health effects of e-cigarettes.

There is little known about the lasting health effects of smoking e-cigarettes, according to SF State health educator Christine Morley, who said the devices have only existed since 2003.

“There aren’t any long term studies about the health effects (of e-cigarettes),” Morely said. “But there have been some short-term negative health effects that have been found.”

Potential effects include shortness of breath, burning, dizziness, sore throat, nosebleeds, headaches and chest pains, Morely said. The nicotine used in e-cigarettes can

even stunt brain development, according to Morely, who also said e-cigarettes have been occasionally known to explode in the user's face due to an overheated battery.

Because e-cigarettes are not FDA approved, the amount of nicotine in the syrups can vary wildly, Morely said. A recent study by the California Department of Health found that the syrups contain at least 10 chemicals known to cause cancer and high levels of formaldehyde.

However, these chemical concentrations are significantly reduced compared to traditional cigarettes, Morely said When SF State's Student Health Center conducted the National Health Assessment at SF State last spring, they found nearly 14 percent of students on campus smoke cigarettes and more than 10 percent smoke e-cigarettes, according to Morely, who said these were significant numbers.

Chemical levels in e-cigarettes are brand dependent, according to Magic Dragon Smoke Shop owner Naji El-khuri. The high-end artisan brands that he sells at his shop are composed of 99-100 percent vegetable-based glycerin, El-khuri said.

El-khuri said he has noticed that e-cigarette smokers often will blow the vapor into people's faces or smoke the devices inside restaurants. He said this may be because people do not equate the second-hand vapor from e-cigarettes to regular cigarette smoke. E-cigarettes should be limited to outdoors, according to El-khuri, who said that creating designated areas is overkill.

"I agree (e-cigarettes) should be banned indoors," El-khuri said. "A lot of people just don't want to intake

nicotine."

Student Health Services Director Dr. Alastair Smith said the change has been more than two years in the making. In 2012, the University of California President Mark G. Yudof sent a letter urging all UC chancellors to include e-cigarettes in their college's smoking policy, which went into effect January 2014. In 2013, a letter from California State University Associate Vice Chancellor Ronald E. Vogal announced plans to create a tobacco-free CSU system. Using the UC as a model, the CSU aimed to ban use of any tobacco products on all 23 CSU campuses, according to the letter.

Opinions regarding the ban are mixed for students at SF State.

"I already smoke in the designated areas," said second-year biology major James Nickelson." (The change) is not that bad. It won't affect me much."

Terra Marchant, a biochemistry major at SF State, said the change in policy was bound to happen, because she believes e-cigarettes are linked with the proven health dangers of traditional cigarettes.

“I think as long as e-cigarettes are treated the same as cigarettes and not completely banned, then it makes sense,” said Darin Vergara, a computer science major at SF State. “Vaping is still a freedom that should be allowed.”

Locations of the designated smoking areas include Lake Merced Boulevard near Maloney Field, Holloway Avenue near the Library and Mary Ward Hall and outside the Humanities building on State Drive.

Sexual misconduct prohibited at all CSUs

Title ix Continued from front

go for it,” Gregonis said. “But if it’s for wanting the grade out of it, obviously I’m going to say it should be banned. But where do we draw the line?“ According to Hong, SF State will release a report no later than Oct. 1 including information on how the University has previously responded to incidents involving sexual misconduct.

Annabel Flemate, 21, a third-year history student, said she hopes the report will bring awareness to the issue of sexual harassment on campus.

“I feel a lot of stuff has just been left on the back burner and not really been presented, because you don’t really hear about stuff happening,” Flemate said. “I feel like once those records come out, people are going to be shocked at the amount (of information) and just getting out the awareness. This actually does happen, and it could happen to you.”

In a second email sent out to SF State students, faculty and staff Sept. 4, Hong said there are a number of students who have experienced sexual misconduct within the past 12 months.

In the email, Hong wrote that 8.2 percent had experienced sexual touching without consent and 3 percent had experienced sexual penetration without consent.

Another important change in the policy, according to Hong, is that it now explicitly prohibits sexual discrimination and harassment on the basis of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.

Lindy Velasco, assistant director of the Queer and Trans Resource Center, said that it is essential that the policy explicitly mentions LGBTQQIA students.

“My issue with Title IX on campus is that it’s not as explicit about the LGBTQQIA community as it needs to be,” Velasco said. “Especially when you have LGBTQQIA students of color who are also may be undocumented. People don’t know if (the policy) actually applies to them, and it absolutely does.”

Velasco said she would like to see more campus resources and activities aimed at bringing awareness and understanding to Title IX, as the issue of sexual misconduct is more complex than it sometimes seems.

In response, the Queer and Trans Resource Center is hosting a workshop called “Queering Title IX” Oct. 20, because, according to Velasco, it is important to inform, educate and complicate the narrative whenever possible.

“It’s an ongoing conversation that we’re having in society as a whole where it’s like, campus rape this and that, and it’s always

JAMES CHAN / XPRESS

SUPPORT: (Left to right) Laurene Dominguez, SF State’s SAFE place advocate, and Derethia

DuVal, director of San Francisco State’s Counseling and Psychological Services pose for a portrait

the frat boy with the sorority girl,” she said.

“It’s actually a lot more complicated. Men experience sexual violence— transgender men experience sexual violence at higher rates even— especially people of color and transgender people of color.”

Earlier this year, the Golden Gate Xpress reported that SF State was under federal investigation for a possible Title IX violation. Also under investigation were 105 other colleges, including University of

California, Berkeley, suspected of improperly handling sexual violence cases. The investigation is still ongoing, Hong said.

“It would not be appropriate to comment on a pending investigation at this time,” Hong said. “I would note that, unlike many of the grievances filed with OCR by college students, the one related to SF State came from a (person accused), not a (victim).”

NEWS 3

Wednesday, September 9, 2015 goldengatexpress.org

XPRESS yoursELF

“I don't think it is very moral, but it could happen."

Sandra Munoz, 23 BIOLOGY MAJOR

"If they’re 18 and up, it's okay, but I think they should keep it separate from school. I think they should have a good relationship before they do anything."

arron turner, 24 Sociology major & Spansh minor

WE ASKED SF STATE STUDENTS:

What is your opinion on consensual student- teacher relationships?

"For me, I’m 26, so if you’re older, it's not as bad as if you're a 19-year-old, fresh out of high school."

marie aadnesen, 26 RELIGIOUS STUDIES

"I think it's gross. It’s not like, "I would say it’s a situational gross, but I would say no. I basis. There is definitely a think there is an imbalance of blurred line. If there is a line, power in that relationship." it’s not defined."

stacy castellanos, 23 social psychology major

kevin macaraeg, 19 BUSINESS AND MARKETING MAJOR

UNIVERSITY CRIME BLOTTER Between Wednesday, Aug. 26 and Tuesday, Sept. 8 the University Police Department responded to 47 incidents. Here are some of the most notable reports.

Friday, September 4

MENTAL HEALTH Police responded to a report of an individual on the roof of a

storage container at the Children’s Campus at SF State at 3:25 p.m. Officers determined the individual was a danger to herself and/or others and took her into protective custody. She was taken to St. Francis Hospital for further evaluation.

Wednesday, September 2

DUI Police arrested a 25-year-old man for driving under the influence after a traffic stop at Arballo Drive at 11:03 p.m. Officers took the suspect into custody and his vehicle was towed.

OUTSTANDING WARRANT Police responded to a report of an seemingly intoxi-

cated and unconscious subject at Hensill Hall at 10:19 a.m. Officers determined that the 31-year-old man had outstanding warrants and took him into custody.

Monday, August 31

PETTY THEFT A student reported his books stolen from Tapia Drive between 1:50 p.m. and 2:50 p.m. Police responded and took a report. The total loss was $210.

ATTEMPTED CART JACKING Police responded to a report of a man attempting to break into the campus work carts in the rear parking lot at 4:23 p.m. The subject was contacted and advised to move along.

Sunday, August 30

ASSAULT An SF State student reported that his roommate was assaulted by two

unknown subjects in the Centennial Village Garage at 3:49 a.m. Police responded with medics, but the subject declined medical assistance.

4 NEWS

Wednesday, September 9, 2015 goldengatexpress.org

CSU faculty fight for fair compensation

negotiations expressed frustration at the way CSU management and Chancellor Timothy P. White handled the university system.

Lecturer and SF State CFA Vice President Georgia Gero-Chen said University administrators are placing money in unnecessary improvements to athletics and additional salary bonuses for themselves while losing sight of the CSU system’s mission to provide high quality education at an affordable price.

“The CSU does not understand its core JOEL ANGEL JUAREZ / XPRESS mission,” Gero-Chen WAGE RAISE: Chapter President for SF State California Faculty Association (CFA), Sheila Tully, writes notes on said. “We’ve reached surveys regarding CFA and California State University’s collective bargaining agreement in her office Tuesday, Sept. 8. the point where we are outraged, and hopefully MOBY HOWEIDY the work that faculty and staff do for the that outrage can be mhoweidy@mail.sfsu.edu university system. There is a serious lack channeled into action.” of investment in the faculty and students The current salary for CSU faculty across the entire CSU system, Tully said. has made it difficult for teachers at SF State faculty are demanding "I think faculty feel disrespected," SF State to live comfortable lives, higher wages as the California Faculty Tully said. "The CSU is not a business. according to Gero-Chen. She said many Association and California State It's an educational institution. Faculty teachers resort to working two to three University administrators renegotiate the are angry across the system; we think 5 jobs around the Bay Area and that San current collective bargaining agreement. percent is fair."

Francisco has become so expensive The CFA, a union for CSU faculty Negotiations began in May 2015, that many faculty are forced to move to and staff, is demanding a 5 percent and both sides met three times over the Marin County or the East Bay. Gerogeneral salary increase for all faculty summer. The talks became unproductive Chen said more than half of her paycheck as well as a 2.65 percent service salary in July, leading to the first rounds of goes to rent alone. increase for any eligible faculty for mediation on Aug. 31. in Sacramento, Toni Molle, CSU director of public the next two years, according to a CFA according an update on the CFA website. affairs, said University administrators collective bargaining update.

“At the end of the day it’s about budgeted for a 2 percent salary increase Sheila Tully, SF State CFA chapter respect. It’s about how you’re valued,” and do not intend to change their stance. president, said that many of her Tully said.

“We believe our employees should be colleagues in and out of CFA feel that Faculty involved with the fairly compensated, but there is only so CSU administrators are undervaluing

much money we can give,” Molle said.

“What they’re asking for is beyond what we have budgeted. We have other things like campus infrastructure and student success initiatives we need money for.”

Molle said administrators have made efforts to invest in faculty by allocating over $129.6 million throughout the CSU system for projects related to compensation. Of that money, $64 million was designated for university faculty across all CSU campuses.

“We value our faculty and all our staff," Molle said. "We are negotiating in good faith and we know that faculty is important to the CSU. We are committed to work with them in the bargaining process.”

Although the conflict is between faculty and administrators, CFA members strongly believe this issue impacts students, according to SF State CFA chapter Vice President Catherine Powell.

CSU faculty have made numerous sacrifices over the past 10 years, and they have become fed up with losing money doing a job they are passionate about, Powell said.

The situation has become so dire, according to Powell, that some teachers have contemplated leaving teaching all together, and University administrators' unwillingness to raise faculty salaries is an indication that their priorities do not lie in maintaining the well-being of the students or teachers experience within the CSU system. The administration’s emphasis on financial gain is coming at the expense of the teachers and their students, Powell said.

“The faculty and staff are fundamental to the work we do on these campuses,” Powell said. “The CSU is incredibly important. It’s the people’s university. It’s supposed to be meant for anyone who wants to go to school affordably.”

Muni announces campaign to improve services 29) pass as often as the 28,” he said.

“It gets really crowded.”

Jackie Muni is Cakmak, a senior a popular in business transportation administration, choice for students said she lives at SF State, along the stretch according to a of Lake Merced 2014 University Boulevard that Transportation will be cut out Committee survey, of the 18’s which found that route and is not 29.8 percent of SF covered by the State students and 57. faculty take Muni “I used to to campus, with the be able to hop 28/28R and the 29 off the M (at the most frequently Stonestown) taken routes. and take the 18 The Muni right to my front Forward initiative door,” Cakmak debuted in April said. “Now I 2015 with the Rapid have a long walk, Network, in which and it gets pretty the 28-Limited dangerous at was renamed night.”

IMANI MILLER / XPRESS the 28-Rapid, as The ALL ABOARD: SF State students ride the 57-Park Merced bus on 19th and Holloway avenues Tuesday, Sept. 8. previously reported adjustments were in the Xpress. recommendations “We based changes on an Geneva Avenue, according to Senior history major Further changes are in store from the Transport analysis of how many people a news release from Mayor Christian Escobar said his stop as other Muni Forward projects Effectiveness Project approved would be benefitted and how Ed Lee’s office. The redesign is not affected by the changes will be put into effect in the in March 2014, a planning many would be hurt by it,” will cut out the seven stops on to the line because it is just coming months, according to process that sought to identify Kennedy said.

Geneva Avenue and Mission short of the Ocean Avenue Kennedy who said SFMTA and solve transit issues using The project will also Street, saving riders an reroute, but thinks other also hopes to launch an all-day technical and community streamline the 29-Sunset route, estimated three minutes per alterations would have made a service for the 28-Rapid in the expertise, according to Sean creating a more direct path via trip, according to the SFMTA bigger difference. spring.

Kennedy, the Muni Forward Ocean Avenue instead of along site.

“I’d like it if they had (the program manager.

MUNI Continued from front

news 5

Wednesday, September 9, 2015 goldengatexpress.org

ALEX KOFMAN / XPRESS

SPEAK OUT: Naeemah Charles, the vice president of external affairs for Associated Students, Inc., works at her desk in the ASI office in the Cesar Chavez Student Center Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Student promotes voter registration on campus ALLISON MICHIE

N

amichie@mail.sfsu.edu

aeemah Charles, the vice president of external affairs for SF State's Associated Students, Inc. describes her parents as “pretty radical.”

“That is what first got me into politics, and with my background of being an African American woman of color, even if I didn’t want to care about politics, politics constantly affect me,” Charles said.

Her political involvement has led Charles to the forefront of political engagement at SF State and in San Francisco. Charles led a press conference at San Francisco City Hall Aug. 26 that spotlighted the current lack of political engagement among the college population, an issue she said she hopes to address on campus.

Charles said that growing up in the Nation of Islam is what first sparked her interest in politics, because the religion focuses not only on spirituality, but also on changing the American system.

The youngest voters in the U.S. have shown decreased engagement over time, with the voting rates of 18-24-year-olds dropping from 50.9 percent in 1964 to 38 percent in 2012, according to a 2014 U.S. Census Bureau report.

"On the national level, whether looking at the voting-age population or the voting-age citizen population, in every year of this analysis, young adults had voting rates below all other age groups," the report said.

SF State has been working to increase student political engagement and voter turnout, according to Charles.

“We have an on-campus polling place, so students are able to vote between classes, hold events before every election to keep students informed and many students are increasingly taking their message to voters through social media," Charles said.

Charles also works with UpVote, a non-profit organization that helps register voters in San Francisco and informs them of the candidates and the current issues on the ballot, according to Charles.

This year, Charles said she has already registered 200 voters

and plans to help many more students register as the November elections approach.

The resources at SF State help promote political engagement of students, Charles said. SF State's polling place is located in the Towers at Centennial Square.

“With everything at stake and with a polling place being on campus, I know there will be high student turnout, and my focus at SFSU is to make sure every student knows their voice is heard," Charles said. "With rising housing costs and the cost of living in San Francisco, students know they cannot afford to be silent and must have their voices heard."

Luoluo Hong, vice president of student affairs at SF State, said Charles is respected for her dedication to increasing student participation in politics.

“I think her devotion to getting students engaged has had a direct positive impact on increasing the number of students involved with politics and coming out to vote,” Hong said. “I really admire her passion and commitment in this regard.”

Charles said even her decision to attend SF State was politically motivated.

“SF just has 10 times more of an engaging political environment for what I’m looking for," Charles said, compared to her second choice, California State University, East Bay. “Of course people probably have different opinions, but (SF State has) the type of po-

litical environment that I want to be in. Everything is so fast paced and everyone is so passionate.”

Charles, who is very politically active, has worked on several campaigns, including President Obama's presidential campaign and Supervisor Norman Yee's campaign for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

On campus, Charles is the president of the College of Democrats at SF State, an organization that encourages political participation and represents students both on the state and national level. The College of Democrats is where she first met her mentor, Jared Steven Giarrusso.

“Naeemah, as long as we have known her, has always been top of our list as people who can represent students and can speak eloquently and passionately about what the issues are,” Giarrusso said. “We can put her in meetings with elected officials, and she can really work operationally in those meetings.”

According to Giarrusso, while there is no current existing total of registered student voters at SF State, it is important for students to be involved in the upcoming election and voting process in order for their voices to be heard.

"If our leaders in Sacramento know our students are engaged, and we have 470,000 of them in the state, that has an effect," Giarrusso said. "It doesn't matter who our students vote for, it just matters that they vote."

PHOTO COURTESY NAEEMAH CHARLES

REPRESENTATION: Naeemah Charles, the vice president of external

affairs for Associated Students, Inc. gives a speech in front of the San Francisco Department of Elections. The press conference was held by Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi’s for the 50th anniversary of the voting rights act at San Francisco City Hall Wednesday, Aug. 26.

6 LIFESTYLE & CULTURE

Wednesday, September 9, 2015 goldengatexpress.org

Music class repurposes found objects for percussions

D

ensemble Continued from front aniel Bernardi, interim dean of the College of Liberal and Creative Arts, told him to refer to Dee Spencer, the chair of music and dance.

Biggs said that when he asked Spencer, she told him to refer back to Bernardi and that the class was still on the course schedule.

Biggs said the ensemble performs at various venues in the Bay Area, such as the Berkeley Community Theatre and Presidio Theatre.

“I wanted to bring the percussion ensemble class back, like how it was when I was in school here,” Biggs said. ”At the time, there would sometimes be three students, but we would still hold performances for the community in places like churches and

performance halls. I have been doing this since I went here to SF State, so it would be a shame if it got cut.”

His students follow a tradition of dumpster diving in Chinatown for new and interesting pieces that could be used for instruments, Biggs said. Percussion ensemble enables

“

We make great music and these students love performing and expressivng themselves creatively.

-Allen Biggs students to create their own music and perform without the usual pressure of professors telling them what to play, according to Biggs.

RYAN MCNULTY / XPRESS

DRUMLINE: (From left) Mike Kiely, a music major; Allen Biggs, percussion ensemble instructor; Daniel Delorimier, a jazz guitar major, and Peter Stone, a jazz studies major, play drums together during their percussion ensemble class Thursday, Sept. 3 in the Creative Arts Building at SF State.

As a senior earning her degree in math, SF State

RYAN MCNULTY / XPRESS

TEMPO: Emily Persico, a cinema major, plays old drum brakes from a car during the percussion ensemble class Thursday, Sept. 3 in the Creative Arts Building at SF State.

student Gen Katoa said percussion ensemble helps her relax and get in tune with her creative side. It is also one of the only classes that she still needs in order to graduate for her last semester, she said.

"If the class gets cut, I will have to look for another course and reapply for another semester," Katoa said. "It’s frustrating because the administrators keep going back and forth, saying the class is safe and then it will be cut."

The minimum class size is 12 students for upper division classes and 17 students for lower division, according to a policy memo from the SF State College of Liberal & Creative Arts provided by

Spencer. Biggs and Spencer have spoken numerous times about the class’s current standing, and Spencer told the class Aug. 25 that as long as the course had "double-digits" of students, the class would not be cancelled.

SF State music major Sean Thompson is one of the many students who oppose cutting the class.

“We have a lot of students with varying educational backgrounds to music, but there's a lot of cool things we do here," Thompson said. "We write music to perform at concerts, and this class is used to express that.”

Biggs said he exhumed this class in the hopes of instilling the same musical

experience he had while attending.

“It was such a great experience for me and I want to share this tradition with other students," Biggs said. "We make great music and these students love performing and expressing themselves creatively. We are moving forward and we remain optimistic.”

Students said they hope to incorporate a chant describing their experience for their next performance, if the class continues to see another session.

“Please refer to your department chair, hiding in their office way up there.

17! Double digits! Open the door, don’t ignore— give us what we’re paying for!”

Global Museum delay lends to learning ASHLEY BOWEN

anbowen@mail.sfsu.edu

The SF State community will have to wait a little bit longer to see artifacts from around the world at the new Global Museum in the Fine Arts Building on campus.

The exhibition reopening has been postponed to early Spring 2016 due to construction delays, according to the museum studies program webpage.

Daniel Bernardi, interim dean of the College of Liberal and Creative Arts, said that the discovery of a concrete subfloor during the construction of the new dance studio in the Creative Arts Building pushed back the opening of the museum, since the museum is taking over the dance studio's old space in the Fine Arts Building.

“The University community can expect that the collections it houses are done so with the upmost of respect and professionalism, that our educational mission is advanced to one of the world’s best museum studies programs and that the community will have access to some amazing diverse cultural artifacts,” Bernardi said.

The museum was previously on the fifth floor of the Humanities Building, which Edward Luby, director

and chief curator of the museum studies program, said “wasn’t the greatest.” He stated the move would not only provide greater visibility and attract more viewers to the collections, but would also “reflect more of the needs of today.” With proper climate control, ventilation and lighting, the new location will provide the appropriate conditions to house the collections, Luby said.

The themes of each exhibit are still being developed, but Luby noted the Egyptian collection would feature the well-known mummy, Nes-Per-N-Nub. “Nes” is a triple-nested mummy with three sarcophagi who wows school groups from the community that come to visit, according to Luby. Cultural artifacts from Oceania and Africa from the former Treganza collection will be presented as well.

Luby said he also sees the delay as the perfect teaching opportunity for his graduate students. SF State’s museum studies department is the only one of its kind in the entire California State University and University of California systems, and students from all over the country and across the world come to study in the department, according to Luby. The program currently offers an exhibition design and planning course to further involve students with the museum reopening.

“In putting this museum together, we have this

incredible opportunity to have our students work in this museum,” Luby said. “It is unusual in a museum studies program to have a real, functioning museum where we will put exhibits on, have education programs and really help be a part of this cultural hub on campus, and the dean is really supportive of it in the Fine Arts Building.”

Kelsey Clark, one of the co-presidents of the Museum Studies Student Association, has been working with Luby and other students to prepare for the collections' final transition into the museum. Clark said that the delays have allowed the team to give their full attention to each object that will be going on display in the spring.

“This has translated to real-world opportunities for museum studies to enact the best practices we are learning in class,” Clark said. “We are going to be able to enter into careers with practical experience building a museum from the ground up. Not everyone can say that.”

Luby remains excited for the opening, as well as the education and community that the museum will bring.

“Students are going to be involved in every element of running this museum, and since we’re a pre-professional program, I can't think of anything better than to actually give them experience running this,” Luby said.

“It’s the best combination of academics and practice.”

Wednesday, September 9, 2015 goldengatexpress.org

Lifestyle & CULTURE 7

RHYME: Graduate student Austin

Messick (left) reads a poem to the audience at the first poetry reading event of the semester, held by the Velvet Revolution Reading Series at the Poetry Center in the Humanities Building at SF State Monday, Aug. 31.

QING HUANG / XPRESS

SF State poets lead Velvet Revolution

T

CODY WRIGHT

crw@mail.sfsu.edu

he Poetry Center on the 5th floor on the Humanities Building transforms Monday nights from a quiet sanctuary of thoughts into an animated community of friends and aspiring writers called “The Velvet Revolution Reading Series.”

Since 2004, poets and writers, students and professors, have met on Monday nights to read their work and enjoy the work of colleagues. However, the series "is a bit insular,” according to Jenny Alton, one of the show's three curators.

“We want to see people not only from our creative writing department, but people from other majors and degrees,” Alton said.

The series, which kicked off Aug. 31, highlights the works of writers on an array of topics from drugs, abuse and sex to contemporary politics.

This year's VelRo soiree opened with last year's curators Loria Mendoza, Kar Johnson, Austin Messick and Kacy Cunningham, who returned as featured writers. They kicked off the series with a slew of poetic and fiction works.

According to Alton, the series usually features two to three writers per evening, each of whom are allotted 15

minutes. Alton added that there are five-minute, open-mic sections interspersed, during which anyone can jump up and contribute.

The gathering brings together many talented writers from SF State and the community, Alton said. Even so, writers like Austin Messick never thought his writing would turn into anything but a hobby.

“I started writing when I was 11 or 12," Messick said. "I didn’t think I could do it seriously until I was 19 or 20.”

Messick has been published in various publications and was honored during the Spring 2015 semester with the Mark Linenthal Award for his poem "Kiev."

Curator Dirk Petersen described writer Kacy Cunningham, who is in her final year in the Master of Fine Arts program at SF State, “as a non-fiction writer masquerading as a fiction writer.” Cunningham told a visceral story about finding love and hate abroad.

“I knew he hated me for bringing him to San Francisco, and I think I hated him too for letting his love turn to hate,” Cunningham said. “I think pain gives already good art a new electricity.”

People from throughout the community also came to support the show. Steven Gray, a poet who has lived in San Francisco since the 1970s and attended SF State, said the poetry scene is still “very active.”

Evan Morris, an open mic participant, shared that sentiment.

“The scene is really taking off, especially at (SF State)," Morris said. "There’s a lot of great performers that consistently come through."

Authors showcased comedy and tragedy as they stepped up to the microphone, with the help of a supportive crowd.

Johnson jazzed the attendees with an alter ego East Coast accent to introduce herself to the crowd.

“Anybody on a date tonight?” Johnson joked. “Everyone bring dates! Literature is going to die if you don’t make it sexy.”

Johnson, a second-year participant, said she sees the importance of creating a community.

“I think working creatively with your friends or a larger community is incredibly important,” Johnson said.

The series is organized by the department's students.

They provide complimentary food and wine out of pocket, so donations are always appreciated.

"I just love words,” Morris said. Though he graduated last year, Morris said he can't stay away. “This community so tight; I just keep staying around,” he said.

“The Velvet Revolution Reading Series” is held every Monday night —except holidays— from 5-7 p.m. in Humanities 512.

8 opinion

Wednesday, September 9, 2015 goldengatexpress.org

press

GOLDEN GATE testing is an Standardized

artificial measure of success

NASHELLY CHAVEZ

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF nashelly@mail.sfsu.edu

DARCY FRACOLLI

MANAGING EDITOR dfracoll@mail.sfsu.edu

RISTI TEWOLDE

ONLINE SUPERVISING EDITOR tewolde@mail.sfsu.edu

EVA RODRIGUEZ

ART DIRECTOR erodrig2@mail.sfsu.edu

HARLAN FROST

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR hfrost@mail.sfsu.edu

EMMA CHIANG

PHOTO EDITOR echiang@mail.sfsu.edu

AVERY PETERSON

NEWS EDITOR averylp@mail.sfsu.edu

KALANI RUIDAS

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE EDITOR kruidas@mail.sfsu.edu

REID CAMMACK

OPINION EDITOR reidcamm@mail.sfsu.edu

VINCENT FAUSONE IV

SPORTS EDITOR vfausone@mail.sfsu.edu

GENESIS CHAVEZ-CARO COPY EDITOR gchavezc@mail.sfsu.edu

LULU OROZCO

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR ohlulu@mail.sfsu.edu

JOCELYN CARRANZA

ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR jcarranz@mail.sfsu.edu

JESSICA NEMIRE

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR jdn@mail.sfsu.edu

RACHELE KANIGEL

PRINT ADVISER kanigel@mail.sfsu.edu

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FACULTY ADVISER toland@sfsu.edu

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PHOTO ADVISER tucker@sfsu.edu

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ADVERTISING & BUSINESS echarles@sfsu.edu

ARUN UNNIKRISHNAN I.T. CONSULTANT arun@mail.sfsu.edu

SAMANTHA LOPEZ CIRCULATION

SHAWN PERKINS

STUDENT GRAPHIC DESIGNER 99xads@sfsu.edu

WRITE US A LETTER

The Golden Gate Xpress accepts letters no longer than 200 words.

Letters are subject to editing.

Send letters to Reid Cammack at: reidcamm@mail.sfsu.edu

ABOUT XPRESS The Golden Gate Xpress is a student-produced publication of the journalism department at San Francisco State University.

For more information or comments, please contact Nashelly Chavez at: nashelly@mail.sfsu.edu

A

person’s life shouldn’t be defined by the failure of one standardized test, and California Gov. Jerry Brown is trying to make sure that it isn’t.

On Friday, Brown asked Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla to amend Senate Bill 172, which would retroactively grant diplomas to California high school students who have failed the California Exit Exam but satisfied all other graduation requirements.

The amendment is a step in the right direction. The National Center for Fair and Open Testing compiled data from 2014 that showed that students from every income bracket outperformed students from the income bracket

STAFF EDITORIAL

california senate bill can give students a second chance below them on the SAT, which demonstrates that the test is a better indicator of affluence than intelligence. Another report from the NCFOT said young people of color disproportionately fail state and local high school exams.

“Young people of color, particularly those from lowincome families, have suffered the most as the explosion of high-stakes standardized testing in U.S. public education has undermined equity and school quality,” the report said.

Standardized testing, as it stands today, doesn’t take the myriad of factor that influence

students’ exam performance into account. Where a student goes to school, whether their parents are native English speakers and their socioeconomic background all significantly impact standardized test scores.

Brown isn’t the first to oppose standardized testing methods. In March, parents and students across the nation chose to opt out of standardized tests as a form of civil disobedience.

However, the bill itself, which seeks to change the test in light of changes to the California core curriculum, is

even more important than the amendment. We believe that eliminating the test altogether is paramount to the continued quality of education in this state. The next 100 years of high school students are even more important than the last 10. Denying citizens the right to attend college or university and earn their bachelor’s degree because of one, solitary standardized test is wrong.

Proponents of standardized testing argue that it’s a fair way to adjudicate students’ progress, but teaching students to pass a test encourages a lifelong mentality of learning to achieve and forget rather than learning to further the pursuit of knowledge.

California, and the nation’s education system, should focus on improving the quality of education, not quantifying it.

Gender-neutral bathrooms cause unnecessary panic

E

arlier this year, hundreds of Americans applied for a oneway ticket to Mars with no chance of ever returning to Earth, but when it comes the thought of sharing a bathroom with the opposite sex, many seem to be terrified.

When I moved to San Diego in 2011, I often partied with my roommates. At the time, I was 21 and had just moved from Sweden to California and, needless to say, I was eager and excited. Late one Saturday night, at a dingy dive bar, I went to use the restroom and the line for the women’s bathroom was enormous. I decided to use the men’s bathroom.

“Hey! That’s not your restroom,” yelled the ladies in line. Surprised, confused and frankly, a little tipsy, I let go of the door handle and hurried back to my friends. I believe I had just encountered my very first culture shock.

The fear surrounding the topic of gender-neutral restrooms in America needs to be discussed. Why are many afraid of shared bathrooms?

This is yet another hurdle to overcome in the fight for equality.

I grew up in Sweden, and the idea of a genderneutral, well anything, is simply normal to me. From kindergarten to high school, I only experienced genderneutral bathrooms. Even in public places, such as airports and shopping malls, where gender-specific restrooms often exist, there is still a third, gender-neutral option. I am not sure why, but sharing a bathroom with the opposite sex, although most of us do in

LINDA KARLSSON

lkarlsso@mail.sfsu.edu

our own homes, seems to be a terrifying and too progressive move for many.

SF Gate published an article last week about a San Francisco elementary school that implemented gender-neutral bathrooms.

Many people in the comments were furious.

“Stop all of the ridiculous nonsense. You go to the bathroom by what equipment you sport,” someone said. “More insanity from the radical progressive left! This entire idea offends me!” someone else said. “Tomboys I understand, but transgender ELEMENTARY school (kids?) (Seriously?)” said a third person.

Are bathrooms really the root of the problem? Or are they a distraction from what we should really be discussing, which is not only gender neutrality, but also gender equality.

Following television shows such as "I

Am Cait," "Orange is the New Black" and "Becoming Us," it seems a new, genderconscious movement is taking hold in America.

In Sweden, the question of whether to use male or female bathroom signs is a thing of the past. In Stockholm, my hometown, there are even several gender-neutral preschools, where the use of gender-specific pronouns is prohibited. Children who attend these preschools are treated equally regardless of gender and referred to by their given or chosen name.

I think most people would agree that the notion of separate but equal is not actually equal. Separating people by gender is the same. We need to discuss today's existing fear of gender-neutral restrooms, not only to benefit trans identity and expression, but also to help society progress and evolve.

The fact that women make 78 cents to every man’s dollar over their lifetime is something we discuss in class and complain about to politicians, but isn't it contradictory to fight for gender equality while still holding tight to the idea of gender-specific restrooms?

Let’s be honest, it is not about bathrooms. It is about equality, freedom and liberty, all of which America prides itself in exercising. In order to promote equality and a free society in which people can truly be who they are, we need to realize that separate but equal is a contradiction in itself.

Take it from someone who has shared bathrooms with the opposite sex my entire life – it is not scary, it will not hurt you and it will definitely not destroy America.

GRAPHIC BY HARLAN FROST

Wednesday, September 9, 2015 goldengatexpress.org

Trump tells the truth

RENEE ABU-ZAGHIBRA rabuzagh@mail.sfsu.edu

Amid the blur of politicians who try to win the voters over with big smiles and happy-go-lucky attitudes, Donald Trump's unapologetic demeanor sets him apart from the rest. His ability to be himself, even if that self is showy and arrogant, is one of many reasons why he just might be a stellar president if elected.

While other candidates try to play the role of an average American, Trump shows the world who he is with no apologies. I believe that he can take our crumbling economy and make it whole again, thriving as it once was. As a man with proven business savvy and with a net worth of $4 billion, he could be the person to get this country on the right track.

Trump told Time magazine that he doesn't feel the other candidates are real, and I agree. While the other candidates are told what to wear, what to say and how to act, Trump comes in and does what he has always done, regardless of his presidential ambitions or what other people might say.

A perfect example of this was during the Iowa State Fair last month, where the Republican candidates dressed in casual attire and enjoyed fair food.

Trump, on the other hand, flew in on a helicopter with his name adorning the tail and wearing an expensive suit.

It seems like I'm not the only one who favors his candor. After the first Republican debate, he polled

ILLUSTRATION BY EVA RODRIGUEZ

higher than all other Republican candidates. In a recent CNN poll, Trump was beating Jeb Bush, his biggest competition, by 10 points.

While some may say that Trump is just putting on a show, he has proven to have good ideas. In the same Time article, Trump said he would tax the wealthy because he doesn't think it's fair that they try to avoid taxes. He also wants to put a stop to companies that move to foreign countries to evade taxes.

Another issue that really moves me is his stance on women's health. In the article with Time, Trump said he was against Bush after Bush stated that he wouldn't fund women's health issues.

"I watched Jeb Bush last week talking about, you know, women’s health issues like they don’t even exist," Trump said in an interview with John Dickerson. "I couldn’t believe what he said... I mean, it’s very important. To me it’s vital."

Despite his stance on women's health, the way he has treated many women is unacceptable. The remarks he's made towards women like Fox News host Megyn Kelly, for example, are definitely not something I look for in any human being. His comments towards Mexican immigrants were also not, to use his terminology, classy or correct.

I don't stand by what much of Trump has said and I feel that his way of treating people is often condescending, but that is just the way he is. Rude, but honest. He doesn't feel the need to play pretend to get people to like him.

Swift can’t shake off her ignorance Reid It and Weep is a weekly column highlighting the frequent disappointments in contemporary pop culture.

REID CAMMACK

reidcamm@mail.sfsu.edu

As our lord and savior Taylor Swift prophesied, the haters are going to hate, hate, hate. The thing is, I don’t think the pop goddess expected the haters to hate her newest music video so much.

Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” music video drew controversy last week because it was set and filmed in Africa but only featured white actors. NPR even accused the video of “romanticized colonialism.”

Many online publications and bloggers debated whether or not the video was, in fact, racist.

Many, like the video’s director Joseph Kahn, claimed the video was a period piece based on a 1950s film crew filming a movie in Africa.

“We collectively decided it would have been historically inaccurate to load the crew with

more black actors, as the video would have been accused of rewriting history,” Kahn said in a statement.

I personally don’t know if the video should be considered racist, but I do know that Swift is an idiot for getting herself into this situation.

I spent most of my life hating Swift. Pop-country crossover just wasn’t my thing and I couldn’t have cared less about the teardrops on her guitar. But late last year, all hell broke loose.

Swift released "1989," her first album of 100 percent pop songs and it was then that I saw the light. I suddenly had a 5.0 GPA, my crops started to flourish and my grandpa was raised from the dead. The album was too good to deny and I couldn’t stay in the closet any more. I loved Taylor Swift’s music.

My love for "1989" led me to make an overly long, 225-second Snapchat story at her world tour, play “Welcome to New York” on an obnoxious loop for an entire plane ride on my way to the Big Apple last winter and scream a loud “yaaasss” every time a Swift song came on in a club.

It’s my new-found love of Swift that makes me so disappointed in her acting like a raging idiot. Swift was originally accused of racism with her “Shake

it Off” video for “perpetuating and mimicking racial stereotypes.”

I remember shaking my head in disappointment at the video because, just months before, Lily Allen faced the same criticism for her “Hard Out Here” video.

Artists like Swift and Allen aren’t alone though. Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Avril Lavigne have all been accused of cultural appropriation. You would think it would be easy for white women to make music videos that didn’t enrage people, but apparently it’s a job requirement. I understand they’re all pressured to constantly reinvent themselves, but there’re many ways to do that without being culturally appropriative or insensitive.

With two music videos accused of racism, either Swift and her team are blatantly ignorant or they’re purposely doing this to garner attention. I don't think they intended to hurt anyone, but there’s no excuse for an entire team to produce a very expensive video like this one and not be able to step back and think about the possibility that it could be taken the wrong way.

She needs to get a grip, start observing her own actions and stick to making music videos like "Blank Space" where all she had to do to impress the world is walk down some stairs in a lace gown.

opinion 9

10 sports

Wednesday, September 9, 2015 goldengatexpress.org

QING HUANG / XPRESS

MID-AIR: Max Talbert (25) defender for SF State, heads the ball toward the goal during the first half against Concordia University in a 1-0 win at SF State’s Cox Stadium Sunday, Sept.6.

Men’s soccer grinds out second 1-0 victory

T

TYLER LEHMAN

tlehman@mail.sfsu.edu

he SF State men’s soccer team won their second consecutive game of the season, defeating the Concordia University Cavaliers of Portland, Oregon in a 1-0 contest that saw a combined 23 fouls, two yellow cards and one red card.

“It was a physical game,” said Gators defensive captain Max Talbert. “But that’s soccer— it gets physical and you get some good friendly nudging.”

The lone goal of the game was scored by forward Sam Merritt on a laser shot from 20 yards out on a free kick.

“Me and (midfielder Emmanuel Serrrano) discussed what we wanted to do with the kick,” Merritt said. “I saw the goalie take two steps to his right, so I shot it in the upper left corner.”

The free kick was a product of a red card issued to Concordia goalie Arne Niermann. After a Gators scoring scoring opportunity 43 minutes in, Niermann slid and punched the ball outside of the box, resulting in an automatic red card.

Mitch McCaw came into the game to replace

9/6

W W

1-0

the ball during the first half at Cox Stadium Sunday, Sept.6.

GATOR GAMES RECAP

MEN’S SOCCER 9/4

Niermann and almost immediately gave up the goal to Merritt.

The Cavaliers played the entire second half a man down due to the red card on Niermann.

Despite playing 11 men against 10, Gators head coach Matt Barnes said the game was still a challenge.

“When a team goes down a man it usually means they play harder,” Barnes said. “It was a tough game.”

The Gators offense outshot the Cavaliers 19-9, with seven shots on goal for the Gators and four on goal for the Cavaliers.

“After 10 minutes into the game we started to settle in,” Barnes said. “We looked good offensively, but still missed some opportunities to score.”

Barnes said his team needs to focus on finishing off opponents. “We had a few opportunities to go up 2-0 or 3-0, so we need to work on finishing games.”

The Gators will look to build on their 2-0 season QING HUANG / XPRESS record against Dominican University Thursday, COMPETITIVE: SF State Gators midfielder Emmanuel Serrano (5) Sept. 10. and Tevin Lowe (8), midfielder for Concordia University, vie to head

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

9/4

1-0

9/4 Win 1-0 vs. University of Missouri - St. Louis, Scoring 52:11 Jakob Velega, Assist Sam Merritt 9/6 Win 1-0 vs. Concordia University (Ore.), Scoring 43:07 Sam Merritt GRAPHIC BY EVA RODRIGUEZ

L L L L W 0-3 9/5

9/4

0-3

1-3 9/8

9/5

0-3

3-0

9/4 Loss 0-3 vs. Concordia University (Calif.), 20-25, 18-25, 23-25 9/4 Loss 1-3 vs. Regis University (Colo.), 25-20, 21-25, 19-25, 13-25 9/5 Loss 0-3 vs. Colorado Mesa University, 15-25, 24-26, 17-25 9/5 Loss 0-3 vs. Point Loma, 20-25, 23-25, 18-25 (ABOVE GAMES AT SEASIDE INVITATIONAL) 9/8 Win 3-0 vs. Fresno Pacific University, 28-26, 25-21, 25-21

WOMEN’S SOCCER 9/5

9/7

L L

1-2 0-2

9/5 Loss 1-2 @ Central Washington University, Scoring 9:44 Laura Shea 9/7 Loss 0-2 @ Northwest Nazarene University (Idaho).

sports 11

Wednesday, September 9, 2015 goldengatexpress.org

FLEXIBILITY: SF State cheerleaders stretch out their legs before practicing in the Gymnasium at SF State Friday, Sept. 4.

Cheerleading squad diversifies CORY RODAS

G

crodas@mail.sfsu.edu

rit and hard work come naturally to junior cheer captain Abdallah Mahmoud, but stereotypes and social stigmas almost kept him away from competitive cheer.

“I came from wrestling and football; I always thought cheerleading was like, cheer the crowd on and that’s it,” Mahmoud said. “You never think of touching the sport.”

Mahmoud said he joined the cheerleading team his freshman year and has seen the number of men jump to 12 members this season.

The increase was encouraging, if not surprising, for assistant coach Reuben Rivera.

“In college, there are actually more guys in cheerleading than girls, and most schools are like that,” said Rivera. “The ratio is almost two guys to one girl.”

Zachary Ramos, a sophomore entering his second year on the team, saw cheer as an opportunity to learn values, especially because of its coeducational aspect.

“You’re never going to work with all males or all females,” Ramos said.

“You have to learn how to work with the opposite gender.”

Mahmoud said he enjoyed the camaraderie, understanding and closeness between teammates, which he said promotes competition within the team.

“It’s a real eye opener,” Mahmoud said. “I’ve seen some girls who are complete monsters. They show up the guys all the time.”

Rivera said the team is building their skills for nationals in Daytona, Florida this April. He said he remains optimistic about the team's prospects and hoped to see the school’s support grow along with the team.

“I think the program here at San Francisco State is growing. I’ve seen it in the past, and it’s mostly been girls,” Rivera said. “Now that they’re bringing more guys, I think it’s going to open it up and drop the stereotype.”

Many men have been ridiculed for their role in the sport of competitive cheer, according to Ramos, but he said he persisted, undeterred and optimistic.

“You just flip it around and shove

it in their face,” Ramos said. “You show them what you can do and hopefully you can show them your talent. If anything, you can use that to your advantage.”

Junior cheerleader Karla Lopez has been on the team since her freshman year and has seen how the team has benefitted with an increase of male teammates.

"It's taken away the typical stereotype of cheerleading being just girls doing basic cheering," she said.

"It has given us the opportunity to practice more elite stunts and attract a larger audience."

Rivera said he emphasizes strength of character in the cheer squad.

“I think a cheerleader is someone who leads by example no matter what the situation is,” Rivera said.

“Cheerleaders help out whenever they can. They support and they’re team leaders.”

IMANI MILLER / XPRESS

WARMED UP: Samantha Swanson, SF State cheerleader, performs a stunt during practice in the Gymnasium at SF State Friday, Sept. 4.

IMANI MILLER / XPRESS