Spring 15, Issue 2 by Oak Leaf News

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Issue 2, Vol. CXXXIII, February 9, 2015

Eden Anuskewicz, Madison Anuskewicz, Luke Heslip, Estefany Gonzalez Staff Writers and Features Editor Elizabeth Garcia, 23, met her worst date when she and her girlfriends made the trip from Sonoma to Santa Rosa. He and Garcia planned a dinner date at Shiso, a sushi resturant. Garcia who had never been there was excited but nervous because she liked her date so much. The date was going great until their server came by. “The waitress got too friendly and they had a conversation right in front me while we were ordering,” she said. “First it was awkward and then I kind of gave the girl attitude.” By the end of the night Garcia became uncomfortable because she felt like a third wheel on her own date. “I felt so bad I didn’t want to talk during dinner,” she said. Yet, Garcia figured she would make the best of the date and ignore that she had just witnessed her date flirt with another woman in front of her. The remainder of the date was quiet and awkward. Garcia wanted the date to end; she hadn’t enjoyed the sushi or the company she had. Garcia talked to he date after that and agreed to give him another shot a week later, but he cancelled the last minute. He then told her it wasn’t going to work, and that he wasn’t looking for a girlfriend.

Tina Larson, 18, was still in high school when she went on what she considered the worst date of her life. Larson, an SRJC Alumnus, agreed to go on a date she thought would be at a restaurant. Growing up in a small town filled with endless choices of great food, her date took her to a place she never expected for dinner. “He wanted to meet downtown at 6:30. So, of course, I wasn’t sure where,” Larson said. Excited, Larson primped for the night and got downtown on time. The Sonoma Plaza, filled with fivestar cuisine was a great place for a first date. After meeting with her date, the pair walked around downtown. Eventually Larson found her way into 7-Eleven with him. “He asked if I wanted anything. When I said no I would wait until we ate dinner, he looked shocked and said this is what we were doing for dinner,” she said. Larson had never been taken to a 7-Eleven or some place cheap for a first date. “I laughed and asked if he was serious and when he answered yes I just walked away, “she said. Larson did not return any of his calls and took a break from dating. Alexandra Hyde, 23, a SRJC alumnus, had her worst Valentine’s Day a few years back. Hyde decided to celebrate the special day with one of her good friends, Jessica. She invited Jessica for dinner at her parents’ house, along with her brother and aunt. This was Jessica’s first time visiting her house and Hyde wanted to make sure things went smoothly. Dinner was almost ready when her dad walked in and ripped a big fart, which caused them to run out to her porch gasping for air. Embarrassed that this happened in front of her friend, Hyde tried to make the best of the situation. She thought the dinner couldn’t get any worse when a Valentine’s day porno started up on the HBO channel she had left on in the living room and could be seen from the window. “The porno was on and we couldn’t go into the house to turn it off,” she said. Too embarrassed by the smell of her father’s fart, Hyde, her aunt, her brother and her friend were outside for 45 minutes until Hyde took one for the team and entered the house

to turn it off. Dinner continued and though Hyde was extremely embarrassed, it now is a story that is told every year with many laughs. Gina Isi, SRJC alumnus, met her worst date through friends at a pizza parlor. At first he seemed like a normal guy. “He asked me on another date and said he would come to me [since] he lived in Hayward.” Isi said. He drove to Isi’s house on his motorcycle. When he arrived, he requested something she didn’t expect; “He asked to take a shower,” Isi said. “My roommate at the time was home so I showed him where the bathroom was.” Weirded out by his request, Isi wasn’t sure what to expect next. “I heard the shower stop and he walks out butt-ass naked in front of both of us and asks for a towel,” she said. Now that he was clean and freshly showered, their date began. They proceeded to a sushi place for some rolls and beers. She had hoped that dinner and conversation would make up for the shower entrance. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case. “He proceeds to completely psychoanalyze me and ask all these deep questions, ” she said. She was relieved when the bill came, but surprised to find that her date had forgotten his wallet. After dinner he insisted on walking her home. When they got to her door, instead of thanking her for a great date, “He tells me he has to sleep over because he can’t drive because he had a glass of wine,” said Isi. At this point Isi was fed up with his actions and told him no and wished him good luck.“A few days later I got a letter telling me that he had a great time and would love to see me again if I work out my issues!” Isi had no further contact with this guy and took a break from dating Continued on page 10 after.

Joseph Barkoff / Oak Leaf

SRJC students and alumnus Alexandra Hyde (top left), Elizabeth Garcia (top right), Gina Isi (bottom left), and Tina Larson (bottom right) tell storiesof thier worst date.

Drew Sheets/ Oak Leaf

Jeffrey and Karen Holzworth standing outside the court in Dec. 2012 after first being caught.

Karen Holzworth on trial Candler Weinberg, Maci Martell Faith Gates Staff Writers and News Editor

The District Attorney prosecuting the wife of a former Santa Rosa Junior College police officer rested her case Feb. 6 after playing incriminating jailhouse phone calls and eliciting compromising testimony from bank tellers and detectives familiar with the case. Karen Holzworth is on trial for being an accessory and knowingly receiving stolen property. Former SRJC police officer Jeffrey Holzworth was convicted of grand theft and embezzlement in May and sentenced to four years in prison for stealing $286,000 from campus parking meters and pay stations between 2005 and 2012. Proceedings began on Feb. 6 with a hearing of the four jail phone calls made between Jeffrey and Karen Holzworth while he was in custody. The first thing he said on the first call was “I’m in big trouble, Karen,” with her response being, “Are you f------ kidding me?” Jeffrey Holzworth admitted, “It’s all me and I’m very sorry,” on the first call. In the second call Jeffrey Holzworth said, “You knew but you told me to stop doing it and I didn’t listen.” Later he said again that it’s all on him, with Karen responding, “Yeah but I knew about it. Doesn’t that make it on me too?” In the third call, Karen asked Jeffrey, “Do you have any that I don’t know about?” He replied no. “They took everything you had. They went into the attic. They went into the garage,” Karen said. Santa Rosa police detective Mark Azzouni testified Feb, 5 and 6. Azzouni followed Jeffery Holzworth for several weeks before he arrested him. He initiated the search warrant of the house, but was not part of the search. While Jeffrey Holzworth was in custody, Azzouni requested copies of the phone calls between the Holzworths and seven years of ...Continued on page 2

News

February 9, 2015

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Police investigations launch into BSU conflict

Daniel Kong/ Oak Leaf

People bowl at Double Decker Lanes in Rohnert Park, where a possible hate crime occurred between SRJC and Sonoma State University BSU members and another group in the parking lot in Nov. 2014.

Maci Martell Staff Writer Brian Masterson, Rohnert Park’s director of public safety, has launched an internal investigation regarding the conduct of some Rohnert Park Police officers with Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University Black Student Union Members after an altercation at the Double Decker Lanes bowling alley in November. Rohnert Park police recently assigned a supervisor to investigate the incident as a possible hate crime. BSU members said an intimidating group shouted racial slurs and told them to “Go back to Africa.” One woman shoved a BSU student. Masterson describes the requirements that constitute a hate crime as some type of overt act, threat or bodily harm. “We also have to be cognizant of the first amendment:

free speech,” Masterson said. Only when racial-based comments lead to threats or physical harm can it be determined a hate crime. Since one of the BSU members was pushed while being called the N-word, Masterson said this may constitute a hate crime if the RPPD can prove it through investigation and interviews. After two months of calling and requesting information, BSU president Elias Hinit spoke with RPPD Sergeant Troy Moore on the status of his initial complaint against the officers for their conduct with the BSU after the incident. Sgt. Moore, supervisor of the officers who responded to the call, told Hinit that his officers’ story was different from Hinit’s, but he declined to share his officers’ statements. The call for service report states the RPPD received a midlevel disturbance call at 12:05

Daniel Kong/ Oak Leaf

“The Friendly City,” Rohnert Park, turned out to be not so friendly to the SRJC BSU.

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a.m. regarding at least 20 subjects yelling behind the bowling alley on Nov. 11, 2014. According to Christine Giordano, the records supervisor of RPPD, when the officers arrived on the scene at 12:07 a.m., the subjects were standing in the bowling alley parking lot and were cleared from the area at 12:14 a.m. No violence was reported. By the time the officers arrived on the scene, the hostile group had left and the BSU members were saying goodbye to each other and preparing to leave, Hinit said. Hinit described the officers as unnecessarily intimidating in the way they spoke to the BSU members and said they raised their batons. Sgt. Moore told Hinit that yelling and waving batons is a tactic police officers use to break up a crowd. Masterson said batons are only used by law enforcement when people are being combative. “To say an officer wielded or held his baton up just doesn’t sound right,” Masterson said. “I’m not saying that couldn’t have happened, it just doesn’t sound normal for Rohnert Park.” Hinit said he and the other BSU members tried to make a citizen report to the officers telling them they were victims of a possible hate crime, but the officers were not interested in hearing their story and told them to clear the parking lot.

Giordano said the officers did not and charges should be filed. take any statements from the subjects The investigation into probable involved and did not write up a report police officer misconduct will of the incident. be more private and may take a The Double Decker Lanes manager while, according to Masterson. and employee working on the night It will include taking statements of the incident said they had no from all involved. knowledge of the altercation in the Masterson said there is a cultural parking lot and were not questioned diversity training program, which by the police. By the time they were is a part of POST (Peace Officer made aware of any incident outside, Standards & Training), that RPPD the crowd had officers are refreshed on dispersed. every three years. This Police did past year there has been not look more emphasis on racial “We expect our officers to profiling training. into three sur veillance In addition to be proper and respectful cameras in cultural sensitivity towards all people.” different training, Masterson - Brian Masterson, sections of said the RPPD likes the parking Rohnert Park’s director to focus on pro-active lot at the communication with of public safety bowling alley, the community. “We according to expect our officers the bowling to be proper and alley manager. respectful towards all The security patrolman on duty that people,” Masterson said. night did not witness the altercation. If the results of the investigation The hate crime case investigation into the officers’ conduct show a will involve interviewing the violation of policy, it will warrant students, bowling alley employees some form of discipline, which and nearby residents on what may include a verbal reprimand they remember from that night, or re-training. Masterson said. The RPPD will Masterson said he cannot share also have to identify the hostile details of an internal investigation, suspects to report the case to the but the filers of the complaints district attorney if they determine will be notified if there has been a hate crime has been committed a resolution.

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News 3 Karen Holzworth faces incriminating evidence on trial February 9, 2015

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in 2005 to $34,192 in 2012. There was continued from cover... bank records from 2005-2012. a third bank account at Community After compiling several spreadsheets First under Jeffrey Holzworth’s name. of their bank records, Azzouni made In this account the cash deposits the assumption that Karen Holzworth started in 2006 with $1,100 and went was associated with her husband’s to $7,310 in 2012. theft of parking money. Defense attorney George Boisseau Natalie Brandon, the Redwood questioned Azzouni about his Credit Union bank teller that the observations during his investigation Holzworths used almost exclusively, of Jeffrey Holzworth. In November testified Feb. 3 and 5. Brandon read 2012, he and other officers followed transaction receipts Holzworth before showing both the he left home, all Holzworths would day at work, once regularly deposit he returned home “We’re in big large amounts of and sometimes small bills and later into the night. trouble, Karen.” coins several times They observed him - Jeffrey Holzworth, a month to a joint remove money bank account. from the parking former SRJC police Sometimes they meters and take it officer would exchange the to the house and amount deposited bank. They never for larger bills such followed Karen or as $100. Karen Holzworth would also watched the house once Jeffrey left, deposit smaller amounts of small bills but saw them together on occasion. into her personal bank account there. Azzouni never observed them taking Azzouni took the stand again Feb. money together or Jeffrey giving money 6 to go over financial spreadsheets he directly to Karen. made from bank records. In Karen’s Santa Rosa Police Department personal account at Redwood Credit officer Christopher O’Neill testified Union she made cash deposits from Feb. 5 that he was one of the officers 2005-2012 ranging from $1,333 in who searched the Holzworths’ house 2005 to $16,960 to 2012. In the joint in November 2012. On a bedroom account at Redwood Credit Union the counter he saw four large containers, cash deposits ranged from $7,102.50 two of which were filled to the brim

Senate members get punishment for disrupting DRD event Pio Valenzuela Staff Writer Joshua Pinaula and Virgina Kerr, members of Santa Rosa Junior College’s student senate, were subject to disciplinary action as a result of a November incident involving the Disability Resources Department. Pinaula, president of the student senate, was put on student conduct probation; meanwhile Kerr received a reprimand, which is the least severe punishment for a student conduct violation. The Oak Leaf previously published articles reporting on the incident. DRD was hosting a student orientation at the Student Activity center in Bertolini Hall when Kerr asked if she and Pinaula could speak to the students. DRD faculty member Tara Johnson decided there wasn’t enough time for them to speak at the event. Pinaula and Kerr left only to come back and start talking to potential students who looked “bored,” according to Pinaula, about college life during the event. Administrators repeatedly asked them to leave but instead Pinaula got louder and more agitated, according to DRD administrator Laura Aspinall. DRD administrators called SRJC police after the pair refused to leave the event.

Pinaula said his probation, which will last until May 22, means if he violates student conduct code again, he will be suspended for the semester. He will not lose any of his privileges as a student as a result of his probation. “Students are expected to talk to their accusers when filing a complaint, in hopes for resolving the issue before punitive actions are taken,” he said. “Had this complaint come from another student, and had they had a conversation with me, I’m certain I wouldn’t be on probation now,” Pinaula said. Kerr said she believes her punishment was less severe because she was perceived as less of a troublemaker. Patie Wegman, dean of student conduct, also supervises DRD. Pinaula requested someone other than her rule on whether he violated student conduct. “I think it was the right move for Patie Wegman to remove herself to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest,” Pinaula said. Ricardo Navarrette, vice president of student services, ruled on the senate president’s case. He declined to comment on the ruling, saying, “All student conduct is confidential.” Navarrette, Wegman and Pinaula discussed written complaints from faculty and staff on Dec. 15 of last year. The decision came the next day, on Dec. 16.

with coins. In the master bedroom, he searched a nightstand that contained a small stack of cash, some SRJC campus police patches, a Playboy magazine, and paperwork in both Karen and Jeffrey Holzworth’s names. Once he had finished his part of the search, he aided another officer in the search of the garage. “I found eight white canvas bags that I later found out had over $4,000 in cash inside,” O’Neill said. During the time of the search, Jeffrey Holzworth was in custody, and Karen Holzworth was not present. Boisseau argued that the photos mixed together both Karen and Jeffrey Holzworth’s items instead of photographing them separately. “They are easier to photograph that way. Sometimes they are photographed where they are found,” O’Neill said. Boisseau asked Santa Rosa Police Detective Patricia Steffens why it looked like all of the items were on the floor in the pictures. “Is it fair to say that you dumped all of the items from the dresser onto the floor?” Boisseau said. “No, I removed all of the items separately,” Steffens said. In the nightstand, there were several dollars in pennies mixed in with the other coins. “I don’t think SRJC parking meters take pennies,” O’Neill said. Boisseau used this fact to hint that the containers could hold normal

Erik Jorgensen/ Oak Leaf

Karen and Jeffrey Holzworth leave their court hearing in Santa Rosa on Feb. 2013.

change, not necessarily stolen change from the parking meters. Also in the nightstand with the money were several cards advertising scantily clad female escorts, which Boisseau showed as proof this was Jeffrey’s drawer and possessions, but O’Neill declined to make that assertion. Pictures showed a magazine for an assault rifle along with the currency in the nightstand. In the attic police found a SRJC police standard issue assault rifle along with bags of money. Boisseau tried to suggest that everything was Jeffrey Holzworth’s, not Karen’s. Steffans, the team leader of the home search, found Karen Holzworth’s personal diary and

“things of female nature,” in a second nightstand. She also found $585 in $1 and $5 bills, the denominations that SRJC parking pay stations accepted. Also found in the drawer were empty coin wrappers and additional notebooks with gambling notes. O’Neill was the officer tasked with counting all of the seized money in the house. The total was $10, 212.85. Azzouni concluded his testimony on Feb. 6 and DA Amy Ariyoshi rested her case. After deliberation between the judge and the attorneys, the defense will resume its case at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 9 in Courtroom 4. Ariyoshi and Boisseau both declined to comment.

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News Nurse sues SRJC again Civil rights advocate motivates SRJC

February 9, 2015

Faith Gates

News/Managing Editor Santa Rosa Junior College faculty member Daniel Doolan sued SRJC and won $308,000 in 2013, and now has filed two more lawsuits against SRJC. Doolan began at SRJC in 2001 as an adjunct faculty member for the Associate Degree Nursing Program and in 2009 became a full-time, tenuretrack adjunct faculty member. Doolan’s lawsuit alleged sexual discrimination, like being told to “speak more like a woman,” and claimed he was passed over for tenure. In 2013 he sued SRJC and won $308,000, but his charges of sexual discrimination were denied. The court awarded him money based on the court’s findings for defamation and that Doolan’s supervisors used false allegations to justify terminations of his tenure contract. One example of these false allegations was when Ezbon Jen, former dean of Health Sciences, used a testimony saying Doolan was a poor employee from a faculty member who was on academic leave during the semester in question. After the lawsuit, Doolan applied to return to SRJC, but was immediately denied consideration for the job. He has now started a second lawsuit over events that have happened since the first lawsuit and is asking for $15 million. This number is made to leave room for adjustment by the court, while Doolan’s attorney, Dustin Collier, estimates the actual damages to be at $2 to $3 million. The new lawsuit includes being denied the job and tenure because of his first lawsuit. It is still in the early stages. “The case itself will not be presented in a court or a jury for a while,” Collier said. He aims to have a court date by the summer. Although the second lawsuit is for events occurring after the first lawsuit, the defense is arguing it makes the same allegations as the first. Both sides will meet for a motion hearing on Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. to finalize the difference between the first case and the second. In light of this, Collier said Doolan filed a new lawsuit in September 2014 based solely on the “whistleblower” part of the lawsuit. “We filed this in case the court believes the first and second case are the same,” Collier said. If the second lawsuit isn’t ruled out, he hopes to consolidate the second and third cases into one. According to SRJC’s Director of Communications, Ellen Maremont Silver, SRJC will not comment because the cases are still in process.

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Matthew Koch Staff Writer

Dr. Charles Prickett shared with Santa Rosa Junior College students about the day he met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prickett was attending the historic Selma March in 1965 when his friend Charles “Chuck” Neblett saw Dr. King walking down some chapel stairs and offered to introduce Prickett to him. “At this time Dr. King had but recently won the Nobel Peace Prize,” Prickett said, “but he talked to me like we were equals.” Prickett was 20 at the time and still recalls how genuine and humble Dr. King was in those few moments they shared together. “Of the people. By the people. For the people.” These were Prickett’s words to the large crowd of SRJC students packed into the Bertolini student center, Jan. 29. Prickett, a strong advocate for the Civil Rights Movement, visited SRJC in honor of Black History Month, sharing moments and experiences he has witnessed and was a part of in the early to mid-1960s. As a student at the Southern Illinois University of Carbondale, Prickett was a member of one of the most important organizations of the Civil Rights Movement, known as the Student Nonviolent

Coordination Committee. Through this committee, Prickett would be a part of some of the most historical moments in history as the ‘60s began gaining momentum. Such moments include the 1963 March on Washington, where Prickett witnessed firsthand Dr. King’s “Dream Speech,” the 1964 Freedom Summer when he was a freedom school teacher and the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March. Prickett has long been a man driven toward giving a voice to the voiceless, helping oppressed people gain freedoms that others are granted. But Prickett himself wasn’t always clear as to what the next step in his own life would be, leading him to drop out of college. Prickett continued to cherish education, especially subjects like sociology, math and philosophy. “Education is important,” Prickett said, reiterating the concept continually to leave SRJC students with an important message. “Just stay in school and whatever you do, finish.” Prickett eventually received a law degree and is currently a judge in Sonoma County, where he continues to push back against systematic oppression. “We need to get rid of gerrymandering by becoming a part of the democratic process,” Prickett said, contesting the process that manipulates the boundaries of a vote to favor a party or class.

Daniel Kong/ Oak Leaf

Dr. Charles Prickett is a civil rights enthusiast and has been since the 1960s.

“The vote is the thing that will change everything,” Prickett said. By the end of his lecture, the students present applauded Prickett and lined up one by one to shake

hands with the man who still believes in human values, who will never give up and who still believes in a government of the people, by the people, for the people.

PEERS promotes identity and reduces stigma Maci Martell Staff Writer The People Empowering Each Other to Realize Success (PEERS) Coalition at Santa Rosa Junior College provided a safe space in the Bertolini Student Activities Center for students of various backgrounds to discuss how culture impacts identity and mental health on Feb. 5. PEERS member Julie Ferreyra, 23, was excited to begin the first coalition workshop of the semester. “It’s always a very positive, open space to raise awareness and reduce stigma,” Ferreyra said. The workshop, titled “Who Am I? - Culture, Identity & Mental Health,” began with the general rule that everyone should be respectful towards one another as discussions delve into the complexities that make up one’s identity and cultural background. Elise Krawchuk, 34, a member of PEERS, conducted a group activity in which the audience wrote down words they thought others might label them with, and then wrote down words they identify with themselves. Krawchuk then facilitated an open discussion for people to share some of the proudest moments in their lives. PEERS Coalition coordinator Stephanie S. Sanchez noted with a vast topic like diversity and

culture, it’s best to start with self-reflection and then expand outwards to connect with people from all cultures who have similar traits. Dr. Elisa Velasquez-Andrade, SRJC child development instructor, described in her presentation the importance of focusing on one’s strengths and good traits rather than weaknesses. Although barriers surround different cultures and disabilities, there’s still a way around them. Even temporarily confined to a wheelchair, Velasquez-Andrade never harps on her obstacles, but instead figures out how to overcome them. “I can do everything, just in a different way,” she said. This persistence to overcome hardship is rooted in VelasquezAndrade’s culture, as in many others. She describes the biracial challenges and crosscultural barriers involved with understanding others of different backgrounds and how these factors may affect mental health. Mental health is treated differently in various cultures, and in America, mental health issues are often stigmatized. Ferreyra said people with mild depression or anxiety are often labeled as crazy and this could impact their decision to seek help. With social stigma preventing people from seeking behavioral health care, PEERS notices the

importance of speaking out about these issues to combat the misconceptions about mental health and providing resources for people to get the help they need. Jeane Erlenborn, health promotion specialist with SRJC psychological health services, noted how beneficial the PEERS coalition has been to health services in terms of combatting stigma and promoting awareness. “PEERS has added so much to health services; they brought in a lot of creativity and energy,” she said. The members ended their workshop by upholding the ideal of cultural competency:

to interact with people of various cultures effectively and comfortably with patience, humility and a willingness to change negative attitudes. SRJC student Oscar Carillo Ramos was impressed by the aptitude the speakers presented and the overall message promoted. “I have a lot more awareness of people who are just like me who want to overcome fear of what people might think,” he said. The PEERS coalition’s three main goals are: “Increase knowledge, build skills to deal with life and provide plenty of helpful resources,” Sanchez said.

Pio Valenzuela/ Oak Leaf

SRJC child development instructor Dr. Elisa Velasquez-Andrade addresses SRJC students about how to overcome obstacles and to focus on your good traits and strengths.

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Sports 5 Alec Kobre: Former Bear Cub February 9, 2015

SRJC star now playing in Division I Robert Marshall Sports Editor

Joseph Barkoff/ OakLeaf

Alec Kobre skies a rainbow from down low against DVC Feb. 18, 2014 in Haehl Gym Santa Rosa. Kobre now plays DI basketball for the University of Pacific.

ivision I is the dream for most collegiate athletes, and for Alec Kobre, that dream is coming true. After being part of the Santa Rosa Junior College men’s basketball state championship season in 2014, he is now playing DI basketball for the University of Pacific Tigers in Stockton, California. In the state championship game against San Bernardino Valley College March 16 he scored a team-high 17 points in the 73-67 win, giving the Bear Cubs their first state championship in school history. Kobre was also named California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) state tournament MVP and Honorable Mention All-State 2013-14 and Big 8 Conference All-League team. The 6-foot-2-inch, 185-pound guard averaged 15.3 points a game, 1.8 assists and three rebounds a game in the 2014 season. He led the team in 3-pointers, with an incredible 113. He was ranked seventh in conference in 3-pointers, and led the Bear Cubs to an overall record of 12-2 in conference and helped the team accomplish a Big 8 Conference championship. “Kobre has a great work ethic, high basketball IQ and

Dec. 3 game Shooting:

23 points 8-8 free-throw line 5-5 from 3-point range is obviously a great shooter,” said former teammate Corey Hammell. Kobre redshirted his first year playing for the Bear Cubs, which gave him two extra years in preparation for the next level. “Redshirting was the best thing that happened to my basketball career,” Kobre said. “It helped me get stronger and better.” After two successful seasons with the Bear Cubs he transferred to play for the Tigers. Kobre’s biggest game of his DI career came in a game Dec. 3 against Cal State East Bay, when he shot a career-high 23 points, going 5-5 from 3-point range and 8-8 from the free-throw line. “My 23-point game was really cool,” Kobre said. “My teammates did a really good job getting me open.” He’s played 23 games so far and has started three games for the Tigers, shooting 37.8 percent

from the free-throw line and averaging 7 points a game. The Montgomery High School alumnus caught the eyes of UP basketball coach Ron Verlin. “I picked Alec because he was an outstanding young man from a very high quality junior college program,” Verlin said. “I felt his ability to shoot the basketball would really help our program.” Former head coach Craig McMillian believes in Kobre and knows he has a bright future ahead of him. “He’s a hard worker and a dedicated player,” McMillian said. “He’s taken advantage of what was put in front of him.” Kobre is majoring in education, with hopes of getting his B.A. while playing basketball at the DI level. “I think it’s great to see him play at Pacific,” Hammell said. “I know the work he’s put in to get there and he’s just he’s living his dream of playing DI basketball.”

SRJC athletes bring their rituals to life Matt Rubel

Staff Writer

ohn Henderson likes to get slapped in the face and LeBron James throws a cloud of chalk in the air. Athletes are a different breed and their pregame rituals are some of the most interesting things about them. Bear Cub athletes are just as guilty of pre-game rituals and superstitions as the professionals. The age-old tradition includes athletes from every campus, including Santa Rosa Junior College men and women’s basketball, softball, baseball and hockey. For Santa Rosa Junior College men’s basketball player Corey Hammell, game day rituals are a must. Like many athletes he listens to music, but also eats a particular food. “I like to eat pasta,” Hammell said. “I listen to certain songs that get me going, ‘Till I Collapse’ by Eminem or ‘Hate Me Now’ by Nas.” This season Hammell leads the team averaging 15.1 points with 11 rebounds a game.

Averaging a double-double on the season confirms the successful implementation of his pre-game ritual. From the women’s basketball team, Niambi Saint Louis uses a professional football player and team motivator to get herself ready for the game. “Before I head over to the Haehl Pavilion I absolutely have to listen to some Ray Lewis motivation,” Saint Louis said. “It pumps me up and gets me ready every single time.” In particular, Saint Louis listens to Lewis’ pre-game speech for the Stanford men’s basketball team that he delivered before a March 2012 National Invitation Tournament game. Niklis Nisja, SRJC Polar Bear defenseman, participates in ritualistic acts when suiting up for a game. “My biggest pregame ritual is that I always put my left skate on first, and say a prayer before I head out,” Nisja said. Professionals like James with his patented chalk that he throws into the air before a game has become a trademark in Cleveland, so much so that people love seeing the

powdery substance fly through the air in the arena. Michael Jordan wore his lucky shorts under his Chicago Bulls’ uniform. Also, professional tennis star Rafeal Nadal has unordinary habits before his matches. He takes a 45-minute cold shower before every match. Golf star Tiger Woods wears a red polo shirt every Sunday. Something his mother told him to do. Rituals are prevalent to all athletes one way or another; the order of events, in which a player does something, a particular food they eat and a favorite song or person they hear before a game, are all things players do to prepare themselves. Some cases border on obsessive-compulsive, acting as a supernatural entity necessary for success in a player’s sport. Athletes who participate find these quirks as influential as wearing proper footwear. The rituals don’t make the player, but if anything can boost their confidence and make them a more effective player, Joseph Barkoff/Oak Leaf and have become a vital part of Corey Hammell serves the ball to the hoop against Sierra College Feb.5. the game.

February 9, 2015

SSScoreboard

Scoreboard Men’s basketball

Jan. 27 SRJC-58 Consumnes River-69 Jan. 30 SRJC-65 Modesto-52 Feb. 3 SRJC-61 SJD-65 Feb. 6 SRJC-69 Sierra-70

Women’s basketball Jan. 23 SRJC-57 Diablo Valley-70 Jan. 27 SRJC-63 Consumnes River-42 Jan. 30 SRJC-50 Modesto-48 Feb. 3 SRJC-47 SJD-67 Feb. 6 SRJC-48 Sierra-68

Baseball Jan. 29

Anthony Sosa Staff Writer

t was only four years ago that Jonathan Nadale laced up his spikes as a pitcher for the Santa Rosa Junior College baseball team. Now he is back on that same field, no longer a pitcher, but pitching coach. Nadale pitched for the Bear Cubs from 2010 before transferring to Western Carolina College where he played from 2012. He is in his second season as the pitching coach for the Bear Cubs. “It was a great feeling to be able to come back after my four-year college career, and be able to coach where it all started for me,” Nadale said. “It’s not too often that you see a former college player coach for the team he played for, let alone just four years later.” SRJC baseball had a big impact on Nadale, not just in the sport, but also in his overall life. “SRJC baseball not only made me a better player, but a better man in the process,” he said. Nadale gives the Bear Cub pitchers guidance. He knows the school well, and has gone through the same process as them. This will be a huge help for a pitching staff full of first-year college pitchers. The relationship between a pitcher and pitching coach can elevate a player and lead to greater success

Jan. 31 SRJC-4 Chabot-3 [F-10] Feb. 2

Anthony Sosa

SRJC-9 DeAnza-1

Staff Writer

Feb. 5

Softball Jan. 30 SRJC-10 Mendocino-0 [F-5] SRJC-8 Redwoods-0 [F-6] Jan. 31 SRJC-5 Cuesta-4 SRJC-7 Hartnell-3 Feb. 5 SRJC-1 Napa-6

Joseph Barkoff/Oak Leaf

Jonathan Nadele observes Garret Hill take warm up pitches in the bullpen before coming in for relief against De Anza Feb. 5 at Sypher Field. Nadale is now a SRJC pitcing coach after four years ago pitching for the Bear Cubs.

both for the individual and the team. “Nadale works them hard and tough, but he does it because he knows what they are capable of,” said Bear Cubs catcher Ryan Haug, who works with Nadale and the pitchers in bullpen sessions. “With there being younger guys you have to prep them for the speed of the game at this level and battle them,” Nadale said. “I think it helps them [current SRJC pitchers] because they know they have a coach that has been through the program and the Division I

program as well.” Haug commented, “I think it’s a bonus, because he has experienced it himself, he knows what it takes to be great and he understands the mentality.” Nadale played under head coach Damon Neidlinger and is now his assistant coach. Nadale knows how Neidlinger runs his team and coaches. Along with that comes great chemistry among the coaching staff. “I’m proud to say I’m one of his coaches,” Nadale said. He gives a

lot of credit to Neidlinger, and has learned a lot from his former coach, both as a player and a coach. “The great thing about him is that he knows so much about the game,” Nadale said. “I still am learning more everyday just on the coaching side.” Nadale plans to move up in the coaching ranks. “I aspire to be a Division I pitching coach in the future,” Nadale said. He hopes to lead the Bear Cubs back into the playoffs and get them geared up for a state title run.

Questionable call cost Seattle Super Bowl

SRJC-6 Chabot-7

SRJC-10 DeAnza-0

www.theoakleafnews.com

Meet Jonathan Nadale Former Bear Cub comes back home as SRJC coach

Jan. 23 SRJC-68 Diablo Valley-56

Sports

Opinion

t’s crazy to think that just one bad decision can change the whole outcome of a game. Nobody knows this better then Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks, who watched their chances of a second consecutive Super Bowl championship diminish with a single play. Offense wasn’t a big impact in the first quarter of the game, as backand-forth exchanges resulted in no score by the end of the first quarter. A huge impact play happened late in the first quarter by Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane, when he intercepted a pass thrown by Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the end zone. You would think this would benefit the Seahawks, but Lane was injured on that play, putting him out for the reminder of the game. This turned out to be a huge help for the Patriots later in the game, because the Seahawks had to use backup cornerback Tharold Simon. In the second quarter, both the

Patriots and Seahawks went back and forth on offense, scoring two offensive touchdowns. Seattle scored with two seconds left in the first half, and received the ball in the second half. It looked like the Seahawks had a heavy advantage and a good chance at winning the game. The third quarter was all Seahawks; they put up 10 points, shutting out the Patriots. Heading into the fourth quarter, all Seattle had to do was hold the Patriots. New England was down, but they certainly were not out. With Brady’s experience and head coach Bill Belichick, you can never count the Patriots out of any game. They fired back with two touchdowns of their own, and held Seattle without scoring. Down 28-24 with two minutes left Seattle had to score a touchdown, or give up the comeback victory to the Patriots. Seattle drove down the field with a big completion from quarterback Russell Wilson to running back Marshawn Lynch that got Seattle near the 50-yard line. Another huge play for Seattle on this drive was a completed pass from Wilson to wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, bringing it to the 5-yard line. As he was falling down, Kearse’s catch bounced off a couple of his limbs and fell into his hands, in what was probably one of the craziest catches in Super Bowl history. I believe, I can speak for everybody when I say that

Courtesy of Nola.com

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates after winning Super Bowl XLIX.

ball did not look like a catch from first view, but upon replay it was a catch, a spectacular one. Following a 4-yard rush by Lynch, Seattle stood at the 1-yard line with 1:30 left to score. Everybody expected Seattle to run the ball in with Lynch, but for some odd reason Seattle chose to pass and the result was an interception. The ball ended up in Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler’s hands, sealing a 28-24 Super Bowl win for the Patriots. Passing in that situation is almost inexcusable, especially when you have such a talented goal-line running back like Lynch. This will go down as one of the worst play calls in

Super Bowl history, if not the worst play call. While watching the game and seeing them pass the ball, most people, like myself, wonder why was Seattle not running the ball. If I were the offensive coordinator without a doubt I would have handed the ball to Marshawn Lynch, because it’s a guarantee Seahawks win. Why did the Seahawks choose to pass the ball in that situation? Were they hoping to catch the Patriots off guard? Were they trying to make Wilson the hero of the game? We will probably never know. No matter what the reason, it was the wrong decision and cost Seattle back-toback titles.

www.theoakleafnews.com

Sports

February 9, 2015

Regular season finale

SRJC hockey finishes with blowout win over San Jose State University

Top: Andrew Mason congratulates Colin Ridenour after scoring against SJSU Feb. 7 at Snoopy’s Home Ice in Santa Rosa. Top Right: Matt Katicich slaps a wrister to go up 2-0 at 13:36 in the first, 9 seconds after Josiah Nikkel scores first for the Polar Bears. Bottom Right: Stephen Wolmarans transitions from skating backwards to forwards while eyeing SJSU’s net to line up a slap shot.

Photos and Story by Joseph Barkoff Sports Photo Editor

n a packed house with standing room only, fans lined up around the glass like Pliny the Younger was on the ice Feb. 7 at Snoopy’s Home Ice Arena to see Santa Rosa Junior College’s last hockey game of the 2014-15 regular season. The Polar Bears wanted to end the season with a ruckus, and that is exactly what they did against San Jose State’s Division III squad, soundly defeating the Spartans 14-2. The game started a little slow, despite the turnout and the beating SRJC put on them the last time the teams met. It wasn’t until 13:45 in the first period when Josiah Nikkel found the hole in the dam, and broke it. Nine seconds later Matt Katicich followed with a puck into the back of the net, and 18 seconds later Andrew Mason put another one in. By the end of the first period, the Polar Bears were up 9-0. “It was amazing to have the turnout we did,” said Polar Bear Stephen Wolmarans. “I think that was probably the most packed arena and the livest arena that I have ever had the pleasure of playing in.” As offensively heavy as the first period was, the Polar Bears remained relatively silent in the second period. SRJC netted only two goals, one off the stick of Wolmarans and defensemen Colin Ridenour’s second goal of the night. The team tacked on three more goals in the third for the win. “It was a great feeling to win the season closer at home in front of a packed barn. We came out and played a strong team game, got a quick lead and didn’t look back,” Katicich said. Defeating SJSU and ending regular play with a win will

definitely help the Polar Bears’ rankings heading into next weekend’s Pacific Coast Hockey Association playoffs. The Polar Bears will likely face SJSU in their first game of the PCHA tournament. “We swept the season series against SJSU, but we can’t overlook anything. We just have to go in there and play our game,” said defensemen Niklis Nisja. Head coach Mike Kovanis echoed Nisja’s sentiments. “I feel like there is some unfinished business,” Kovanis said. “The big thing is we are looking forward to most likely seeing [UC] Davis in the championship game. They’ve won the season series two of three games this year and I feel like we need to prove that we are the best team in the league once again and at least we will be able to do that when it matters, hopefully.” Kovanis explained the plan for meeting Davis again and it sounded simple enough. The plan is to limit Davis’ two best players, but there’s a catch. “They are really world-class players at our level,” Kovanis said. “It’s going be a challenge, but I think if we can control two of their guys and then capitalize when they aren’t on the ice that’s going be the difference of the game.” With a 17-8-3 record, the Polar Bears are hopeful to bring the PCHA Championship title back home to Santa Rosa for a third straight time. “Playing as a five-man unit when we are on the ice is going to really separate us,” Wolmarans said. “Get it deep and be physical, ‘cause they have a short bench and we need to make them feel it with the body.”

Sports Stars Dana Thomsen Softball

Ryan Haug Baseball

Niklis Nisja Ice Hockey

If you could be one super- Favorite place to eat at If you could be an animal for one day, hero for a day, who would in Sonoma County? what would it be? it be? And why? And why?

Iron Man. He’s an average human who made a suit that only keeps improving

Batman. Who wouldn’t want that ride and the ability to kick ass like that The Hulk. Just to break stuff

Ike’s. I go there so often that most of them have my order memorized

Ohana’s Center BBQ because of their bomb katsu chicken and BBQ chicken

A Lion. They are my favorite animals and they are the kings of the jungle

Shark. It’s a dominat force in the ocean with great sense and fight

Art’s Place. A Polar Bear. They have bomb Because who pasta wouldn’t want to just chill and slide around the ice all day?

Oak Leaf

Best places to take a date Vertex Climbing Center Spring Lake Regional Park

Sift Dessert Bar

idden in a business park less than three miles from the Santa Rosa Junior College campus is Vertex Climbing Center, a jungle gym for adults and one of the best first date spots. It’s a great place to take a date to build up an appetite before dinner and release some endorphins. There is no better way to break the ice than to experience a humbling fall in front of a date. Laughter and conversation will most likely come easier than the climbing. With a current student ID card all-day admission is just $10 and Vertex stays open until 10 p.m. Monday though Friday.

pring Lake Regional Park offers a variety of options for a potential first date. You and your date can take a walk around the lake or go off on some trails through the woods. Outdoors adventurers can also fish, ride kayaks, ride horses and bike on paved trails. The park also has 200 picnic tables and plenty of hidden spots along Lake Ralphine and Spring Lake for a secluded picnic lunch. For an extended stay, check out the campgrounds, open May through September and on weekends and holidays from October through April.

et them eat cake — cupcakes that is. Frosting shots, blondies, and sprinkles galore. Sift Dessert Bar, the Food Network’s “Cupcake War” champions have a plethora of sugary treats to take your Valentine’s Day beau for a quick sugar high. The menu includes The Sky Is Falling, a double chocolate cupcake, and of course the Pink Champagne cupcake that won them the “Cupcake War” challenge, a raspberry cake with champagne frosting.

The Pottery Studio

3rd Street Cinema

Taylor Mountain

aking ceramics at The Pottery Studio offers students a way to get down and dirty on the first date — getting covered in clay, that is. What better way to skip the small talk and build memories then to throw yourself into a project with a potential new love interest. Take a page from Patrick Swayze in the movie “Ghost” and recreate the iconic pot-throwing scene. Perhaps this new date will turn out to be “the one” and the fruits of your labor can be shown to your children later.

ho doesn’t love a cheap date? Receive a movie adventure for fewer than four dollars each. Third Street Cinemas offers film enthusiasts burnt out on Netflix or Redbox an affordable place to catch a movie out of the house. They offer date nights on Wednesday that include admission, popcorn and soda for two. While the theater is rough around the edges and may require students to bring a blanket on a cold night due to their poor heating system, it offers an excuse to snuggle up with a valentine.

eed a place to take a date that is not too far away but still feels like it? Hit up Taylor Mountain, which will give you and your date the perfect view of Santa Rosa. The hike is pleasant and not overexerting, allowing conversation to flow smoothly without feeling out of breath. The wildlife is active too, so get ready to see plenty of animals running around. Make it all the way to the top and the two of you will get a stunning view that can be shared together. Just remember, you have to come down.

f guide to...

Best places to go after a break up The Barbery

Yogurt Farms

Russian River Brewery

hidden gem for guys, the Barbery is the place to go to feel refreshed. Maybe you just broke up with someone and need to take the edge off or need to be cleaned up. Well this barber spa for men has you covered. Walk in and you’re greeted with smiles and beer. Free beer that is. As long as you’re over 21, complimentary beer or other beverages await you. Take a seat and get your hair and your head massaged. Don’t skip out on the hot towel wrap; you’ll be thankful you paid extra.

royo lovers beware; local-made yogurt will put other frozen yogurt shops to shame. Located close to the SRJC Campus, Yogurt Farms offers students a place to binge eat after a break-up, that won’t make them feel guilty afterward. The small chain features rotating flavors that change frequently to keep customers guessing before they walk in the door. Lucky patrons can walk in throughout the week and smell the employees making their delicious house-made waffle cones. The flavors range from classics like chocolate and vanilla to more exotic flavors like pistachio or Nutella with sugar free and soy options available.

f being single means being lonely, there will be plenty of new people to meet in the blocks of eager Pliny lovers lined up outside Russian River Brewery. Pliny the Younger is only available for two weeks out of the year. The global pilgrimage to taste Pliny the Younger, a hoppy, triple India pale ale, brings beer lovers from across the world to Santa Rosa once a year. Opened in 2004, Russian River Brewery serves house-brewed beer and pub grub to buzzing crowds year-round.

Treehorn Books

ree Horn Books is the perfect place to get lost. This privately owned bookstore offers stacks upon stacks of books, and though haphazard, they are all organized into sections and in fine condition. Take your time, the tall bookshelves hide coves of subgenres. Ask about the secret room, and see some of the rarer books in Santa Rosa.

Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery Gary’s at the Belvedere

ush grass and heavy, old oak trees line the shaded pathways. Off in the distance, almost too perfect and symmetrical in the tangled landscape, a palm tree rises from the tombstones. A walk through Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery demonstrates nature’s ability to create an abundance of life from death; and anyone strolling though might realize humanity’s ability to open new doors when others close. A break-up doesn’t have to be sad and dreary, and neither does a cemetery.

onveniently located under Joey’s Pizza and a mile down the street from the Santa Rosa campus, Gary’s at the Belvedere is casual, cozy and offers students a place to loosen up. It’s not the type of place you ask for a drink menu. Affordable prices make the casual dive-bar a perfect place for SRJC students to grab a drink, shoot some pool, or play air hockey with friends without breaking the bank.

February 9, 2015

Features

www.theoakleafnews.com

Tinder

To use or not to use? Craig Gettman Staff Writer Have you been looking for love in all the wrong places? Maybe you should try Tinder. Tinder is a free app you can download to your smart phone. It allows you to search for fellow Tinder users in the area, which you can define with the app’s settings. You can also select age range and preferred gender. The app searches for people within your set preference and shows you pictures of potential matches. You can then swipe right or press the “like” button if you’re interested and want to meet the person, or swipe left or press the “dislike” button if you’re not interested. Tinder was designed by Sean Rad, Justin Mateen and Jonathan Badeen. It launched in 2012 and has since become one of the more popular dating apps with a plethora of users. It’s uncertain how many people use Tinder on a daily basis because the app’s

designers have yet to comment on the actual number of users. Santa Rosa Junior College students have had mixed experiences with the app, but a few have had positive ones. Kyle Obranovich, 28, feels it’s a good way to meet people. “A lot of people are very introverted. Tinder allows a way to seek people out of their little internet bubbles,” he said. The app can bring two unlikely people together. Obranovich has met a few women through the app, one of which happened to come in to the coffee shop where he works. The two had matched four hours earlier. “I asked her, ‘Have we been talking on Tinder?’ And she was like ‘Oh my God, that’s you?’” he said. Cyrene Howland, 18, views Tinder as a tool for people who can’t find people their age. She sees it as being useful for professionals or those who can’t necessarily go out and date as often. Howland added that she might consider using the app when she’s older.

Craig Gettman/Oak Leaf

Kelsey Matzan swipes through Tinder, an app that lets you search through other nearby Tinder users, on her phone in search of a date.

John Charlton, 20, uses the app in a more casual way. “It’s good if you’ve got 20 minutes to spare and you’re bored,” he said. Neil Canon, 20, has had a different experience. “When I would match people, I’d only get matched with [women] I think were prostitutes,” he said. Canon complained that he’d get sent to obscure websites, and he chose not to respond to these women as a result. A majority of students were skeptical about using the app. Joshua Woodruff, 20, claimed that Tinder is full of fake profiles.

“Of all the actual encounters on there, out of maybe 10, two are real,” he said. Rose Kitchel, 20, has never used Tinder and refuses to try. The app is “like a cesspool of humanity waiting to get laid,” she said. Nancy Martinez, 19, said, “I think it’s really stupid. People are very desperate. Why would you go on an app and like pictures? People are thirsty [horny], that’s why they download these apps.” Tinder seems to have a reputation for being sketchy, but is it really deserved? Benjamin Howard, 20, doesn’t

think so. He thinks technology is convenient. “It can find someone quickly and easily for someone who maybe does not want to find a potential partner in a more conventional manner,” he said. Regardless of what students think, it’s hard to argue that Tinder is not a potentially useful app. It’s a quick tool to find someone in your area. Though the connection between you and this person is initially based on a picture, it remains a useful tool to find someone with whom you may form some sort of connection. Just be aware of the potential pitfalls.

Eight worst date stories... SRJC students and almnus share their personal experiences Continued from Page 1 Brandon Smith, 19, a Santa Rosa Junior College alumnus never had a valentine before, and then he met Crissy Beck. For months Smith laid the foundation of friendship and prepared himself to ask her out. “We talked almost every day,” Smith said. He was infatuated with her and head over heels. “I was enthralled,” he said. He finally was able to muster his confidence and decided he would express his intentions on Valentine’s Day. He was fully equipped when Feb. 14 came around with a bouquet of flowers and a homemade card in hand. “I felt like I had a shot at something that could change my high school career,” Smith said. On that fateful February afternoon, Smith met his prospective valentine outside of their high school’s quad on their lunch break. He approached her, the eyes of many of their friends and peers looming as Smith opened his mouth and asked her to go out to dinner with him. “Yes!” she said, and they hugged. Smith was overjoyed. “This had never happened to me before,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier.” The joy didn’t last for long. The next day he received a text from Beck saying she wasn’t going out with him and that she made a mistake and shouldn’t have said yes in the first place. Smith was crushed.

Suffice to say that was Smith’s worst Valentine’s Day memory. He and Beck don’t talk every day now. Kenny Fielder learned during an awkward episode in January that Tinder is quite the box of surprises. It’s open to everyone and attracts a colorful array of users, many of them a little different in person than online. The 20-year-old SRJC alumnus met a girl named Elise on Tinder, who seemed to share many of his interests. They were both Jazz musicians studying in Boston and seemed to get along well. “On Tinder she seemed pretty normal,” Fielder said. They met at coffee shop for a lessthan-promising first encounter. “When I showed up I didn’t even recognize her,” Fielder said. Elise had apparently misrepresented herself in her Tinder photos. “She looked like a whale,” he said. It got weirder though, Fielder said. As soon as they started talking he realized she wasn’t really into music or anything else they had connected over online. “She got really weird and nerdy,” Fielder said. At one point she informed Fielder “she was a mere mortal.” Feeling too guilty to leave, he stayed for over an hour of awkward silences and talk of her favorite Lord Of The Rings character, Treebeard. “I felt swindled and catfished,” Fielder said.

He’s wary of people he meets on Tinder now. Namiko Morales, environmental studies major met her worst date three years ago. The 23-year-old first met Kevin at the coffee shop where she worked at the time. The pair went out for Indian food at Morales’ favorite restaurant, Taste of the Himalayas. She was so nervous at the time she started asking him personal questions. “I asked him how often do you exercise, are you a vegetarian, oh you used to be a vegan and do you believe in God?” Morales said. “He thought I was weird.” After dinner Morales admitted that it became clear both of them were feeling awkward. “We got over the interrogation I gave him, and I thought, ‘whatever he’s hot,’” she said. Unfortunately, things kept getting worse. After dinner Kevin suggested they go for a drink only to have Morales surprise him with the fact that she was only 19 and not yet old enough to drink. “He never asked me my age or anything and I was the one doing most of the questioning, even though I asked him about God and everything.” Afterwards, the two decided to call it quits so he awkwardly leaned over to kiss her but she got nervous again and dodged the kiss. “I gave him a hug instead then drove him to his car,” she said. But there is a silver lining. The pair went out again and have now been together for three years.

Photo courtesy of Ashley Harteis, Brandon Smith, Namiko Morales and Kenny Fielder

SRJC students and alumnus Ashley Harteis (top left), Brandon Smith (top right), Namiko Morales (bottom left) and Kenny Fielder (bottom right) tell stories of their worst dates.

Ashley Harteis, a Santa Rosa Junior College alumnus, was working at Mary’s Pizza Shack in Sonoma six years ago where she met her worst date, a guy named Jeremy. He invited her to a party that one of their co-workers was having for their first date. “He offered to get me a drink and I remember it being so strong that I could only sip it,” Harteis said. “I actually ended up pouring most of it in his cup. After what she felt was an uncomfortable amount of time, he asked her if she wanted to leave, but he was too drunk to drive. “Jeremy was always a very socially awkward kind of guy, so taking me to this random party, with music blasting and

girls popping in and out of the bathroom with obvious coke residue on their noses, was weird,” she said. “He had this crappy old Jeep Cherokee and asked me if I would drive us.” After 20 minutes of adjusting the seat so she could reach the pedals, they drove away and he began directing her to what she thought was his house. When they reached their destination, she realized he had led them to an old empty parking lot in the middle of nowhere. “I got a little weirded out,” she said. He then got out of the car and puked. Eventually they got back to his house and hung out until he was able to drive back to her car. The date made work a whole lot more interesting.

Features 11 Learning to learn: recognizing different learning patterns February 9, 2015

www.theoakleafnews.com

Mason Smith Contributing writer A new semester may bring students high ambitions, hopes for straight A’s and the opportunity to turn past mistakes around. One week later reality can strike disguised in the form of used textbooks, mountains of assignments and pages upon pages of illegible notes scribbled furiously in an attempt to record all of the information instructors cover. Even with all the necessary information to pass the course readily available, and despite instructors’ thorough coverage of the material during lectures, it may still prove difficult to retain it all. This may be due to a lack of the essential study skills necessary to achieve success in college; it’s time to learn how to learn. According to a study from New York State University at Cortland, students have a relatively even split between visual, auditory and kinesthetic learing preferences, with still a little room for students with mixed preferences. A visual learner would greatly benefit from power points, overheads, and book assignments. Those with auditory preferences would excel from heavy lecture and class discussions, while kinesthetic learners may

appreciate more “hands-on” experience with the material. These findings are not “one size fits all,” as the study further divides preferences into various scenarios including speaking, reading, studying and even socializing. The student services center at Plover Hall offers free

“Set specific goals, create a plan to achieve that goal, assess how well you met that goal, then reevaluate that goal and repeat.”

- Abigail Zoger, Life Science Instructor evaluations, workshops and seminars to help students gain the skills necessary to be an effective learner and achieve academic success. The Disability Resource Department specifically helps students identify and overcome learning obstacles they may not even be aware of. The internet also has an abundance of online tests which allow students to analyze and assess their individual learning styles. Although these tests may lack the impartial personalization necessary to truly benefit students in a specific classroom setting, they

do provide an adequate basis for self-evaluation. Students who still have difficulty processing information after assessing how they learn should talk with their instructor. The absence of adequate collegiate study preparation has not gone unnoticed by the junior college faculty and administration. Many instructors even have specialized training in various teaching methods for the exact purpose of methodized instruction. Abigail Zoger, an instructor in the Life Sciences Department, offers two different workshop times outside of her regular class schedule. She specially designed the workshop to address necessary study skills for her course of instruction and uses course material for specific examples. For instance she covered a hands-on pliable wire with assorted beads, all representative of amino acids forming a protein chain. “It is part of my job to teach students how to study,” Zoger said. She bent the wire and enthusiastically explained how the shape of the protein structure factors into its chemical stability. She would do this for a student with kinesthetic learning preference, and present the material in a way appropriate to the learning method. According to Zoger’s Sabbatical Leave Report, in which she outlines her

investigative findings on the cognitive science of learning and new models of teaching science, metacognition is an immensely important factor in learning. “Metacognition is the ability to assess our own thinking, and in this context our own learning,” Zoger said. Essentially, thinking about thinking enables us to assess our strengths and weaknesses and address them appropriately. Zoger suggests a helpful way to assess one’s own thinking: “Set specific goals, create a plan to achieve that goal, assess how well you met that goal, then reevaluate that goal and repeat,” she said. For some, institutionalized education simply doesn’t fit into

their lives as it does for others. Wanda Burzycki, Instructor and department chair of the College Skills/Tutorial department, says that some students enroll who are not adequately prepared to study in a collegiate atmosphere; they need to live life, travel, experience the world, grow and mature on their own before deciding if college is even the right choice for them. “We offer second, third, fourth, even fifth chances,” Burzycki said. College can be a challenge. Though it is not custom tailored to fit everybody’s individual needs, students can take it upon themselves to use SRJC resources and get the most from their learning experience.

Kissindre Kimbrell/Oak Leaf

Abigail Zoger, Life Science instructor, teaches her class with different learning patterns.

A journey through independent study Luke Heslip Staff writer In the classroom five days a week, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. One instructor per 30 students and a 35-minute lunch break. Public education is largely uniform for

American students. This format may work for a large portion of Santa Rosa Junior College students, but this was not the case for Parker Dangers Oncken, 18, a first-year SRJC student. In independent study, “No one is looking over your shoulder,” Oncken said.

Photo courtesy of Parker Dangers Oncken

Parker Dangers Oncken thrives in his academic career thanks to independent study.

He described a good and hikes and focused on art and independent study student as nature. “We tried to stay down to someone who has the ability to earth,” he said. want to learn and When he reached self-motivate. seventh grade he Oncken enrolled started meeting with into an independent his Orchard View study program in “I didn’t get the high instructors with third grade and greater regularity school experience continued the and his parents’ for better or worse, program until he involvement graduated from high whatever that entails.” diminished. school as a junior. Once a week he - Parker Dangers He said that for him, met with a resource Oncken, SRJC there was no draw to teacher who gave traditional education. him study materials. Student “My parents didn’t During high want me to turn into school, Oncken a sheep,” Oncken spent three to four said. “They wanted me to find days a week at Orchard View, myself for myself.” covering courses like chemistry Oncken attended Orchard View, and algebra. “A lot of the stuff is the an independent study charter same kind of stuff you would do at school in Sebastopol. conventional schools,” he said. He said when he was younger it He was fairly autonomous by was a lot like homeschooling. His high school and knew how to selfparents were his main instructors motivate, which he said is crucial and had a “huge involvement” in to independent study success. his education. “You have to be able to do the The exposure he did have in work with nobody pushing you,” a classroom setting was in the Oncken said. “For the most part, Waldorf style, with an emphasis I came, I went, the teachers were on artistic learning that abstained the teachers, I liked them.” from heavy media use. He spoke to the struggles of Oncken said his small group independent study, particularly the of peers went on many field trips social opportunities, which he said

lagged behind public high schools. “I didn’t get the high school experience for better or worse, whatever that entails,” Oncken said. “For me it was alright because I am a social person,” he said. “If you are shy it would be rough.” He also said procrastination hurts more in independent study because so much of the work is submitted in large increments. Oncken said his transition into independent study was organic and he liked the flexibility it afforded him. Doing course work on his own time allowed him to enjoy spending weekdays outdoors while most students his age were in class. “I could spend my Fridays out by the coast hiking,” Oncken said. Oncken credits his experience in independent study for preparing him to take classes at SRJC. “I enjoy how college is structured. They know you’re making the decision to be there,” he said. Independent study programs have been instituted in California since 1976, according to the California Department of Education, which also stated more than 100,000 students took 50 percent or more of their classes through independent outlets during the 2013-2014 school year.

February 9, 2015

Gotta get out of here ASAP Estafany Gonzalez Features Editor

Santa Rosa Junior College students often say they’re too busy for a vacation. It costs too much money, takes too much time and it’s stressful to plan out. Taking a vacation may sound like the worst idea to students taking a full load of classes, but they need it the most. It is important to take time off to reduce stress, maintain a healthy immune system and be happier overall. When students spread themselves too thin their performance suffers because working too many days without time off can create stress. According to Dr. John Mason in an article written for Forensic Magazine, stress can impair our decision-making. His theory is that without time off, concentration can be disrupted from too much internal noise and cause people to lose creativity or fall into negative self-evaluations. The article also states that stressed people can have a harder time communicating with others. This skill is imperative for any job, from the waitress who needs to get orders to the kitchen to the surgeon who needs to interact with the nurse during an operation. “We do not communicate as effectively to get input, to make good decisions, and then to communicate and motivate people to get the required actions to successfully carry out a decision,” Mason said. Just like computers need to be shut off every once in a while so they don’t overheat, humans need vacations to regulate their stress levels. An online article for Health.com by Anne Krueger states people who take vacations are happier than those who don’t. Krueger suggests that people who take vacations tend to be better at their jobs, have less stress, have better moods and get less sick because stress compromises the immune system. Taking a vacation doesn’t have to be an expensive and rare luxury. A three-week vacation to Spain isn’t necessary to reap the benefits of taking time off. “Even just a day playing golf or a weekend getaway can help reduce stress hormones and even lower your blood pressure, studies show. So, imagine what a week or more could do for you,” Krueger said. Taking a few days off to enjoy a family barbeque and a trip to the river can offer a break from work and school. Tons of resources online offer tips for affordable and inexpensive travel. Taking a vacation isn’t just a luxury that only the wealthy can afford; it is a necessity for SRJC students to recharge.

Opinion

www.theoakleafnews.com

EDITORIAL Proposed legislation could require all college students in California to receive the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination in 2017. Of the 103 measles cases to hit California during the 2014/15 outbreak, three are college students in Southern California and two cases are close to home in Marin County. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all college students get the vaccine. The measles virus, which lives in mucus and can survive on any surface for two hours, thrives in late winter and early spring. College campuses have historically been areas of concern when a case of measles pops up. In 1985 two students and the daughter of a faculty member at Principia College died from respiratory complications due to measles. The student population at the Illinois Christian Science college was largely unvaccinated due to the shared religious belief that prayer cures disease. Out of 712 students, 113 contracted measles. California is one of 22 states that does not require the MMR vaccination for college students. California law requires children receive two doses of the MMR vaccination, but parents can exempt their children on religious or philosophical grounds. And many do. In the 2013-2014 school year, 17,000 Californians chose not to immunize their children for non-medical reasons. An Emroy University study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that in the United

Ilustration by Chantelle Bogue

States, MMR exemptions—medical, religious and philosophical—rose 13 percent annually from 2005-2011. Although scientists debunked the moronic theory that the MMR vaccine leads to autism in the 1990s, public figures like Jenny McCarthy reignited the immunization scare in the early 2000s. California also has communities of wealthy, liberal and misinformed people who chose not to immunize for other reasons. This creates areas where the vaccination rate has tipped below “herd immunity”— a condition in which a large, immunized portion of the population protects the nonimmunized and thus the disease is contained. In the pre-vaccine era, 3 to 4

million people in the U.S. contracted the disease every year, and 400 to 500 died, according to the California Department of Public Health. The vaccination, introduced in 1963, reduced measles cases in the U.S. by more than 99 percent. Yet 27 people die every hour from measles worldwide. The death rate for measles is around one death in 1,000 cases—so every death means 1,000 others get sick. That’s a lot of sick people. Measles is highly contagious and agonizing to endure. After a week of coughing, fever and pink eye, a rash spreads from your neck down to the rest of your body. Deaths are often caused by other complications, such as pneumonia. The same year of the Principia

College deaths, Boston University confirmed 82 cases of measles among students and took swift action to combat the outbreak. Boston University required all students prove immunity before they return from spring break, and provided 5,000 doses of the MMR vaccination to college-based clinics. Hopefully it doesn’t take an outbreak to convince Santa Rosa Junior College students. According to the SRJC Spring 2013 Executive Summary Report, only 47.2 percent of SRJC students reported they have received the MMR vaccination, well below the ideal herd immunity threshold of 83 to 94 percent. SRJC Student Health Services offers the MMR vaccination for $58. For now, it’s still up to every individual to help the herd.

Bugaboos, creepers, stalkers and scrubs Domanique Crawford Opinion Editor

My spidey senses are tingling. The hairs on my neck begin to rise. My palms start to sweat and I can feel the intensity of eyes burning into my back. At first, I feel paranoid. A casual glance around reveals no one’s watching. Still, the feeling persists. The rapid pitter-patter of feet echoes down the street. My heart pounds as the steps gain in speed. Another quick glance around. I see him. Has he been following me? “Aye Ma, hold up. I was watching you from across the street and I think you’re one hot piece of ass. Can I get your number?” said the man as he waddled up to me, pants anchored just above his knees. The search for love can be an interesting and intricate process. The subtleties of flirtation are a learned skill, usually taught through trial and error. Sometimes the reason for a failed attempt at seduction eludes us. However, the reason in this situation is clear. Three. Fatal. Mistakes. Within the first five minutes of his introduction this man has already scared me to death and disrespected me. He embodies

three out of the four archetypes I like to categorize as love fallacies: creepers, bugaboos, stalkers and scrubs. These archetypes represent characteristics that would frighten off any potential spouse who isn’t confined by gender roles. Anyone can encounter a love fallacy personality. His approach was stalker-esque, his delivery was creepy and his appearance was scrub-ish. Subtle forms of stalking, like searching a social media page, are socially acceptable. All the same, there’s a line that should never be crossed. Following someone with the intent to ask them out isn’t strange within itself. However, it’s all about the approach. There’s something unnerving about being pursued in such a primal manner: the feeling of being hunted, cornered and trapped. Instinctually, you’re afraid until the threat is revealed. When it happens in the form of a crude pick-up line, instead of getting my number, you might get a sneer of disgust. Stalking isn’t the best way to find a date. A creeper is a person who approaches you in a weird and mysterious manner that is neither expected nor acceptable. He doesn’t hold the type of mystery that clings to a man

and has you wishing to know his secrets, but the type of mystery to cause an instantaneous shudder, while the actual word “creep” needles your brain. Calling me a “hot piece of ass” will not encourage affection. Your speech is just as important as the approach. Crude language will not win any points. As the man draws near I notice the ragged shape of his boxers, the dried spittle curled around his bottom lip, and the scent of tobacco that clings to him like a second skin. Obviously, the man is content to wallow in filth, uncaring of his appearance. This is a scrub. Someone who clearly doesn’t care for their well-being, an overall bum. An unwillingness to take care of yourself makes one wonder how you’d support a relationship. You don’t have to be decked out in popular brands or be rolling in money, but is adhering to the basic rules of hygiene really too much to ask? Luckily, this man doesn’t exhibit any sign of being a bugaboo, a person who can’t take no for an answer and will bother you until either they snap or you do. Someone is likely to get hurt feelings, and I have to admit: in most situations, it’s not going to be me. Persistence is only cute up to

a point. When it becomes a consistent badgering - we have problems. While I have e n c ou nte re d all four individual archetypes over the past year, here before me is a triple threat. When he asks for my number, my m i n d tries processing every possible manner in which I can turn him down with as little drama as possible. Should I try the passive approach and thank him for the compliment but kindly refuse his offer? Should I set him down, hard, for even thinking about looking my way? No. The only way to handle a stalking, creeping, scrub is to be direct. With my brows arched, I project a look that says, “As if.” I reply with a firm “no” and walk away. Posed with his hands grasping his crotch, spitting in fury at my lack of explanation, I leave him there to ponder my refusal.

www.theoakleafnews.com

Opinion

February 9, 2015

Syriza’s victory signals new future for Greece Luke Heslip Staff Writer

The political landscape of the eurozone shifted on Jan. 25 when the anti-austerity party Syriza seized the majority position in the Greek Parliament. The reformoriented Leftist party rose on a wave of populist resentment over Greece’s harsh bailout terms exerted by its creditors. Syriza’s ascendency renders a significant improvement for Greek prospects, as the country can now address the debacle of austerity. Resentment of austerity measures is paralleled in President Obama’s 2015 budget, which calls for tax increases on the super wealthy and corporations to pay for his community college initiative that would allow millions

of Americans to go to college. The budget also allocates more money for infrastructural modernization. Since the Greek economy collapsed in 2009, the country has endured mounting fiscal problems and depends on massive loans from its eurozone partners amounting to over 240 billion euros in bailouts. The unemployment rate, at 25 percent, is the worst of the 19 countries in the eurozone, Trading Economics, an international economical database reported. Syriza is the first anti-austerity party to become the majority faction of a eurozone government, setting an exemplary precedent for countries like Italy and Portugal. The party represents a growing mandate in Greece for economic relief and renegotiation of its enormous debt to its eurozone

Courtesy of Aljazeera.com

Alexis Tsipras, Syriza party leader, speaks up for Greek sovereignity and hope.

partners, which have required Greece to adopt austerity measures. These measures drastically cut domestic spending and expenditures and have caused the Greek people to go without certain government resources such as unemployment and pensions. The austerity measures failed to yield an economic recovery, and a dilapidated Greece responded by electing a young and energetic populist party. Syriza is the vanguard of Greek sovereignty and hope. Alexis Tsipras, the vibrant new Prime Minister and Syriza party leader has vowed to restore vitality to Greece. His agenda includes stimulating the economy by rehiring laid off workers, raising the minimum wage and seeking forgiveness for portions of Greece’s astronomical debt, accounting for more than 175 percent of its GDP, The Washington Post confirmed. Tsipras’s defiance to the eurozone’s austerity-minded political establishment, led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, has deepened an ideological rift in Europe. On one side is the center-right, fiscal responsibility argument helmed in Brussels and Berlin, advocating discipline and adherence to the standing bailout agreements. On the other are the progressive, idealistic-minded reformers like the Spanish leftist party Podemos, an ally of Syriza and

fellow austerity opponent. Such parties are bent on stimulating their national economies and reaching eurozone monetary compacts favoring growth. Syriza has received support from France’s socialist president, François Hollande, who congratulated Tsipras on Syriza’s victory and invited him to come to Paris in February to discuss solutions to Greece’s debt, Radio France Internationale reported. Merkel’s chancellery has acknowledged Syriza’s legitimacy and expressed willingness to work with them, but maintains Greece’s debt is valid and that the German taxpayers do not need to continue bailing out Athens when its coffers dry up. Greece should harness control of its future. Its irresponsible domestic spending policies, particularly regarding social benefits, drove the country to bankruptcy. Greece’s solution to its predicament should be its own, and that solution is Syriza. Rev. Michael Ludder, a political science instructor at Santa Rosa Junior College said, “The Greeks have a political right to selfdetermination in deciding who best represents their views and interests.” The austerity shock treatment was a failure. It bled Greece too wantonly. Austerity didn’t aid Greece and it certainly didn’t aid the eurozone. Syriza is a proactive, albeit slightly radical solution to

Greece’s predicament. Tsipras and his ministers promise Greece a return to prosperity and an alternative to the political establishment, which has been widely criticized for corruption and impotent governance, not to mention overseeing Greece’s considerable decline, according to The New York Times. Syriza’s proposed future for Greece does consist of many of the generous social benefits that wounded it in 2009, but it also demands the rich business class contribute justly to the tax base and that government greed be systemically uprooted. Greece still needs to settle it debts with its eurozone partners, though perhaps pay a renegotiated sum. Greece should seek to thrive and rebuild. Casting off the wrecking ball of austerity is a good start. Syriza’s idealistic vigor and exuberance may be the necessary jolt to salvage the Greek economy. Syriza’s coalition with Independent Greeks, a stern right-wing party that shares Syriza’s disdain for austerity and Greece’s bailout terms, has the opportunity to build a new and more stable Greece. A more prosperous Greek economy will improve the state of the euro and by extension the eurozone. If Syriza proves to be committed to that, then it warrants Europe’s cooperation and support. Regardless, Greece’s future is its domain and it should retain sovereignty over it.

Reality TV: a genre of unreality and lies DeAnna Hettinger Staff Writer

The genre of television programming known as “reality TV” is a misnomer, portraying itself as a straightforward recounting of events while making stars out of untalented people and creating offensive shows intended to humiliate or exploit participants. According to Wikipedia, however, America’s love affair with reality TV includes a staggering 1,500-plus TV shows in the United States alone, not including the ever-growing sub-categories. Due to cheap production costs and high demand, these shows are able to deliver instant gratification to their viewers. Santa Rosa Junior College student Hira Sadiq, 18, initially said, “Reality TV is bull.” She grudgingly admits, “For a second I was watching ‘Jersey Shore’,” but then quickly added, “for a long time,” showing the dichotomy of not readily wanting to admit dedication to a particular reality TV show. “Their stupidity makes me laugh and it’s a fun drinking game,” Sadiq said. I have to admit, with my tail between my legs, that I have a lovehate relationship with reality TV shows. I find myself checking in on a regular basis with The Learning

Channel (TLC). While I stare with disbelief at the hoarders who find dead cats under their own rubbish and astonishment at those struggling with enormous weight on “My 600-lb Life” trying to get down a staircase in their own home, I can’t help but feel like a peeping tom, feeding my morbid curiosity. As the reality TV industry dishes out more shows, TV junkies of every kind meet in one place to get their daily fix. For example, I’m an addict hooked on watching other addicts trying to recover on “Intervention,” which I religiously watch, caught like prey in a spider’s web. “The Real Housewives of Orange County” with all that plastic surgery floating around is unreal, literally, and “Botched,” a show about plastic surgery gone wrong seriously pushes the envelope. Another show that makes me cringe is “Toddlers and Tiaras,” where toddlers are paraded around on stage and dressed up to look like grown ups, make-up and all. Come on, a child beauty pageant for pre-pubescent little girls, it doesn’t get more disgusting and creepy than that. The upside to all this is that what we watch can tell us a lot about ourselves. Our fears, desires, obsessions and dreams are depicted in reality TV shows and there is

literally something for everyone. What we watch can tell us a lot about our own state of mind and that there is a lighter side to all of this darkness. SRJC student Hakeem Sanusi, 20, loves to watch “The Voice” because he thinks it has substance and urges caution to others to not let reality TV affect their morals or mind-set in a negative way. “Reality TV is not actually as real as they tout it to be. But if it’s entertainment that you’re looking for, why not go for it?” Sansui said. Is this contributing to our moral decay so long as free expression ideology remains dominant? Is this genre becoming more destructive and getting even worse as the producers raise the stakes for cheap and vulgar thrills? SRJC Introduction to Mass Communications instructor, Tony Kashani, and co-author of “Lost in Media,” believes the more appropriate term for this genre should be “staged reality TV,” relying on sensationalism and shock value to drive the ratings up. “What we are witnessing is a deterioration of culture. These programs cast some of the most underdeveloped people in our society who are willing to do anything to be on TV and achieve fame,” Kashani said. “The result is a perpetuation of a culture of humiliation for

entertainment, a normalization of vulgarity and of soft pornography in the wider culture.” Obviously, not all reality TV is bad, so make peace with yourself if you choose to indulge. We are not evil, but merely human.

But watching tabloid TV trying to keep up with the Kardashian clan puts us at risk of wanting to live vicariously through the lives of others. We become obsessed, ending up as voyeurs, even against our own better judgment.

Kissindre Kimbrell/ Oak Leaf

Top: Hakeem Sanusi, 20, watches “The Voice” for entertainment purposes. Bottom: Hira Sadiq, 18, feels reality TV is “bull” but used to watch “Jersey Shore.”

A&E

February 9, 2015

www.theoakleafnews.com

Find another project: this “Almanac” is awful Sean Curzon Staff Writer Someone somewhere could make a good “found footage” time travel movie, but “Project Almanac” isn’t it. This movie not only combines all the clichés of time travel movies with all the clichés of found footage films, but throws in the clichés of teen movies as well. The paper-thin plot is about a teen boy who finds blueprints for a time machine his dad created. The teen, his two friends, his sister and the girl he has a crush on then travel through time. Things, predictably, go wrong. The sole characteristic of the main characters is they are high school students. All the dialogue between

Courtesy of www.movienews.me

Project Almanac: wait for the Netflix release.

them is basically interchangeable. The only character development is when two characters start dating. The actors do the best with what they are given, but it’s not much. Hints suggest that a plot might start, but then nothing comes of it. When they first find the blueprints, the main character, David, mentions that his dad mysteriously died in a car crash and he will use the time machine to find the truth, but it is never mentioned again. What he does is use the time machine to win the lottery and get laid. At one point they use the time machine to sneak into Lollapalooza and spend the next 15 minutes dancing to Imagine Dragons. The movie doesn’t know how found footage works. Found footage is when a character instory is filming what is happening on screen and all the footage is later found. There is no real explanation to why they are filming everything. All the characters are walking around with at least 10-year-old giant home video cameras, filming everything and none of the teachers or parents find this strange. There are minute-long scenes of them sitting in class or driving. They film themselves finding the camera that they use to film themselves. Why is there a musical montage in a found footage movie? There is

Courtesy of collider.com

David (Jonny Weston) and his friend Quinn (Sam Lerner) examine the time machine created from the blueprints David’s father drafted.

no explanation why the characters decided to make a party montage in their experiment video. There is no explanation to who put all these different tapes together. Maybe the characters edited them together off screen, but that begs the question: who put the last 15 minutes on the tape? The cinematography is the traditional found footage junk: a lot of close-ups and constant shaking of the camera. The old home movie cameras capture HD pictures and

can zoom perfectly because of course they can. Don’t bother trying to figure out the time travel in this movie as the film makers didn’t bother to make any coherent rules on how it works. Sometimes they have to get rid of their past selves; other times they just walk in and fill in their space. There is a particularly stupid scene where they go back in time and one of the teens draws a smiley face on

his past self and an invisible hand draws it on his present self. Their past and future selves can’t see each other or else they both blink out of existence. Why? Because it’s time travel, shut up. Speaking of time travel, the movie can’t stop mentioning other better time travel movies that you could be watching. “Project Almanac” is a dull ride filled with things other movies have done better.

Planetarium show Dying Light: erupts information Zombie parkour simulator 2015 Rebecca Dominguez Staff Writer

efore the presentation, viewers may believe they know all there is to know about volcanoes, but when they leave, their knowledge will have expanded to other worlds. The planetarium show “Volcanoes,” presented by Travis Job and Ed Megill on Jan. 31, is interesting and educational. Viewers first explore volcanoes here on Earth and then travel to surfaces of other planets to explore volcanic activity there. “I enjoyed the stars coming up and going to Venus, and everything about the moon, Io,” viewer Brenda Cross said. Showgoers learn about what contributes to volcanic eruptions such as hot spots, silica and plate tectonics. They also learn about the most deadly eruption in the U.S.: Mt. Saint Helens, on May 18, 1980. Throughout the show various planets and their volcanoes are

examined. Venus, the planet with more volcanoes than any other planet in our solar system, and Io, one of Jupiter’s moons and the most volcanically active body in our solar system, are some of the planetary bodies explored. The show is loaded with tons of information accompanied by fascinating visuals. The domed ceiling of the planetarium surrounds viewers with projections. The show included a folky and educational song called “Plate Tectonics” by Jim and Kathy Ocean. The presenter, Job, lectured with clear and detailed information interspersed with humor and levity. The show was interesting even for those who are not generally interested in science. From start to finish there are many new things to be learned. “I never knew that if you didn’t have volcanoes, you didn’t have life,” audience member Paul Mazzoleni said. “Volcanoes” will continue in the planetarium every weekend through Feb. 13.

Courtesy of OregonLive.com

The show “Volcanoes” at the planetarium discusses the Mount St. Helens eruption.

Craig Gettman Staff Writer

“Dying Light” aims to, among other things, simulate being eaten by zombies for you in full HD. It’s a first-person shooter, which immerses you in the world more than a third person or an isometric view. This lends a more cinematic, visceral feel to the game as a whole. You’d think this would make the game scary. Sure, if you’re not used to zombie games. But if you are, then you’ll likely shrug off the slow, shambling default zombies that have overrun practically the entire city of Harran, the setting for the game. This is true during the day. Night, however, is a different story. When night finally arrives, it’s a harrowing experience. The game harkens back to the survival horror of the old days, much like the first “Resident Evil,” where you’re scrambling around nearly blind in the dark with only your flashlight as a companion. The sound department did an excellent job making the game genuinely scary. All the screams, groans and indescribable sounds are more frightening when you’re virtually ensconced in darkness. Another thing “Dying Light” has going for it is the story. You play as Kyle Crane, an operative for Global Relief Effort, who is sent into Harran to find a GRE agent who has gone rogue. At first, Crane seems like the typical action hero, but you

“Dying Light,” developed by Techland is a game for PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

learn this is a man who is morally conflicted by the mission at hand. The GRE winds up being a villain of sorts, but more of a minor one. The main villain, who provides unintentional comic relief throughout, is Rais. He’s a typical, insane, over-the-top ‘supreme ruler’ type, whom Crane is forced to work with. Unfortunately, the rest of the game tends to be difficult and frustrating. The parkour element, which features prominently throughout the game, devolves into annoying bits of platform-style

Courtesy of Gamestop

jumping, where if you miss a jump, you’re backtracking a long way. Either that, or you’re dead due to the fact that you’re probably climbing a tall building, and it’s almost impossible to grab something on the way down. This game was obviously supposed to be a mix between “Assassin’s Creed” and “Dead Island,” which isn’t a surprise since “Dying Light” and “Dead Island” were made by the same developer, Techland. Unfortunately it ends up being a tad difficult at times and downright tedious at others.

www.theoakleafnews.com

A&E

February 9, 2015

Listicle of local live music for the masses Kyle R. Schmidt Staff Writer Even with the progression and accessibilty of streaming online music, students still desire to hear their beloved music live in-person. The only problem is the lack of venues in Sonoma County to go to without finding a shabby song shack of ol’ hillbilly harmonies. Use this list to guide you to the versatile selection of music venues and upcoming events often desired by students , unless you like hillbilly harmonies of course. BottleRock Napa Valley (Festival) If you’re looking for a grand celebration of musical performances, an impressive lineup commences at the Napa Valley Fairgrounds including: Cage the Elephant, Imagine Dragons, Snoop Dogg and Foster the People on May 29-31. The three-day event hosts portable wineries and breweries serving all the beer and wine you can afford with the accommodation of various food concessions. Tickets are available online at bottlerocknapavalley.com. The Phoenix Theatre Into the hard rock punkscene? In the heart of Petaluma on Washington Street lies The Phoenix Theatre playing hard rock and hip-hop variations by new and

young bands. Most performances are available to all ages and are shown almost every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Many shows are free or sold at a low price of $10. Visit thephoenixtheater.com/ for more information. Mcnear’s Mystic Theatre If you want to hear the greatest classics, the Mystic Theatre offers numerous tribute bands in genres like reggae, hip-hop, rock, R&B and more, portraying bands like Led Zeppelin and The Beatles. Independent bands and film festivals also frequent the Mystic Theatre. However, most shows generally require a minimum age of 21. Visit mystictheatre.com/ for more information. Hopmonk Tavern Sometimes a soothing environment and a relaxing atmosphere is all you need. If you’re interested in the folk and reggae genre, the Hopmonk Tavern is the place for you. Located in three different locations: Sebastopol, Novato and Sonoma, its warm and comfortable environment is perfect for artists to create their craft with a cold beverage. Visit http://www.hopmonk.com/ for more information. Spancky’s Bar Spancky’s adaptive venue provides many musical admirers with a local DJ every Thursday and

Kyle R. Schmidt/Oak Leaf

“Burn the Ruin,” a Santa Rosa based Metal-Progressive-Hardcore band, plays an act ridden with intensity at the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma.

a comedy open-mic night every Wednesday. Spancky’s Bar serves as a thrilling musical epicenter for many blues lovers and Saturday hard rock concert goers. In downtown Cotati, Spancky’s Bar has a wonderful atmosphere and venue for those who are curious. Visit http://www.spanckysbar.com/ for more information. Courtesy of Bottlerock Napa

Be sure to catch this local festival with huge musical acts. Tickets are limited so act fast!

Must watch Valentines Films for you and your loved one

Nikki Goetz Staff Writer

Valentine’s Day is nearing and romance is in the air. If you are staying in on Feb. 14, here are five romance movies to watch while spooning with your sweetheart. (500) Days of Summer “(500) Days of Summer” is a quirky, relatable movie for anyone who has ever been in a relationship. It is told from the point of view of the protagonist, Tom, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He meets a girl named Summer, played by Zooey Deschanel, and falls in love with her, but she doesn’t believe in love. The eccentric romantic comedy focuses on their relationship in an untraditional form, and shows a realistic, current take on relationships. Though the film is centered on relationships, bear in mind that it is not a love story, as is warned in the beginning of the film.

Walk the Line If you are a country fan or a fan of movies in general, then “Walk the Line” is a great film for you and your loved one. A biopic of legendary country singer Johnny Cash, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, and the struggles he endures while trying to woo the love of his life, fellow country singer June Carter, portrayed by Reese Witherspoon. The film outlines the struggles Johnny and June go through, especially with drug abuse, and how their love gets stronger with time. This film praises growth in a relationship with somebody you love no matter what troubles you may go through. Though the movie can fall under the category of a love film, any guy should have no problem sitting down and enjoying it, as Joaquin Phoenix drums up an amazing performance and Withersponon is just as good. Plus, it has Johnny Cash music. What more could you ask for from a love story?

50 First Dates Looking for a humorous movie? “50 First Dates” is a film that will have you laughing from beginning to end. It’s hard to find a more charming duo than characters Henry Roth and Lucy Whitmore, played by Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore in this romantic comedy, who team up again after the successful chemistry they shared in Sandler’s earlier film, “The Wedding Singer.” After they meet, Henry transitions from island player to loving boyfriend. The conflict is that his perfect girlfriend has short-term memory loss, and relives the same day over and over, making it hard for Henry to keep the momentum going. This is a film that delivers bursts of laughter, but at the same time is a mushy romance feature without the “Notebook” seriousness that a lot of men didn’t enjoy. Both of you can enjoy this one.

Slumdog Millionaire “Slumdog Millionaire” is a testimony of how far one man will go to be united with his love. This film, based on the book of the same name, portrays a penniless man, Jamal, played by Dev Patel, on the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” His reason for being on the show is his hope that his love, Latika, played by Freida Pinto, will find him after a series of events keep them separated, including being detained by police before he can answer the last question that will make him a millionaire. It shows a blend of love and fierceness. It holds up as a great movie and the love story is easy to swallow as its settting is really the star of the entire thing. Flashbacks are used to great effect to tell the story. The Bollywood style of the film is great for both lovers to enjoy.

Casablanca You cannot beat the classics, and “Casablanca” is not only one of the best romance movies ever, it is one of the best movies of all time. It may be famous as a romance, but is much more than that. It has aspects of a crime film with the intensity of a war flick, centered around one of best cases of chemistry between Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. The supporting cast of characters is fleshed out very well for a movie that was made so long ago; in fact, the whole movie feels more modern than expected due to the use of lighting and camera angles. If you haven’t watched it, you may feel you already know everything there is to know about “Casablanca,” but it is more than its famous lines. It captures you and pulls you in fast. This classic is nothing short of tremendous enjoyment.

Courtesy (From left to right) of hellogiggles.com, rogerebert.com, sonypictures.com, movie-blogger.com, lasvegascritics.com, filmmakeriq.com

(500) Days (2009), Walk the Line (2005), 50 First Dates (2004), Slumdog Millionaire(2008), Casablanca (1942)

February 9, 2015

Chow down downtown Devin Schwarz Staff Writer Sonoma County is widely regarded as a melting pot of cultural cuisine. Downtown Santa Rosa perfectly embodies the culture of its numerous restaurants. Haku Sushi is a magnificent hole in the wall and a wonderful new addition to downtown’s Brickyard. The restuarant offers a selection of a number of classic and recognizable rolls such as spicy tuna and Alaska rolls; as well as its own unique creations like the “Space Odyssey” roll, which consists of spicy blue crab, cream cheese, mayo, tobiko and green onions. Haku Sushi also has an impressive selection of hot dishes; my favorite is the “buildyour-own” Bento Box. Overshadowing their quality and selection is their atmosphere. The polite staff, the décor and quiet private seating will make you feel as though you died and went to Tokyo. La Vera Pizza is a grand restaurant in the food centric 4th street in the middle of downtown. The various sauces and array of toppings makes the pizza selection at La Vera virtually infinite, along with the equally vast selection of salads, sides and sandwiches.

The servers at La Vera’s seem to be tripping over themselves to be polite in the best way possible, attentive to refilling glasses and accommodating every need you didn’t know you had. The food itself is the closest thing to true Italian pizza that I have found in Santa Rosa thus far. The prices at La Vera are not for those on a tight budget but are a steal for the quality. Quantity is also something that I noticed; though the price may be high you get plenty for your money, more than enough to feed any party. Almost directly across the street sits Mac’s Kosher Style Delicatessen, a wonderful diner with ‘80s style décor. The sandwiches are to die for, but this place isn’t a one-trick pony: Mac’s Caesar salad, in my opinion, should be its signature dish. Prices are affordable and the location is large enough for big parties, as well as being snug and confortable for a date night. Unfortunately, I arrived at the establishment late and was not able to purchase a hot sandwich but, despite them being so close to closing, the quality of the food I was able to order was not at all lacking. Mac’s is a great choice for those who want a quick bite on the go and those who want a traditional diner setting for a lunch downtown.

A&E

www.theoakleafnews.com

Astrology

-Haley Elizabeth Bollinger

Aries: Expect a surprise. Don’t be shocked if you say or do something out of the ordinary in response. Uranus possesses an energy that will wake you up and force you out of the rut you’ve been in. Shake it off.

Virgo: Mercury in retrograde gives an opportunity to revise and refine your dreams and directions. Look at life with a less egotistical perspective and a detached view. You’ll be refreshed by truly understanding what’s important.

Sagittarius: Saturn swirls in your aspect and is inviting you to look at your limitations. Figure out what’s holding you back. Escape the quicksand before it swallows your hopes and dreams; the jungle of life is waiting to be explored.

Taurus: Worry creates worry. It’s a great strength to learn to refocus confused energy and practice gratitude. Trust whatever happens, because this is the universe teaching you something.

Libra: Stress and pain are necessary for growth, but these emotions have overcome you and no longer serve a purpose. Let them go and take a long steamy shower - or maybe not, we are still in a drought.

Capricorn: Life and time are loopy. Right now you’re spinning around a lesson you need to look at until your response aligns with the truth. Keep circling until you twirl with the proper flow.

Gemini: Feed the side of your personality that loves new experiences. Geminis excel in activities involving talking, writing and entertaining. Your nature is changeable; embrace it.

Leo: Life is currently full of good fortune. With Jupiter hanging around for the next week you will have a flow of prosperity, both monetarily and spiritually. Use this abundance for the greater good and don’t overindulge it won’t last forever.

Aquarius: Brain cells die and regenerate, but don’t burn them all out. The sun is flaming in your aspect and your ego is running wild. Check yourself before you end up checking into rehab.

Cancer: The moon brings up

Scorpio: As a Scorpio you are a natural detective. Whether you’re seeking a situation, or it comes into your life by chance, use your ability to uncover the situation with the right words. Don’t be relentless if it doesn’t go your way.

Pisces: Wow! Venus, Mars, and Neptune are all buddied-up in your aspect. Use the harmony Venus brings and the confidence of Mars to spread the compassion Neptune is building inside. Reflect the positive energy onto others.

emotions that seem stronger than usual. Feelings you haven’t been conscious of in years are present and will inspire you to change your outlook about the past.