Injustice

Issue II, Volume CXXXII

September 22, 2014

www.theoakleafnews.com

THE SRJC NEWSPAPER THE SRJC NEWSPAPER

Injustice

Vaporwave:

the virtual plaza welcomes you

- Page 6

Beyond the yellow tape - Center spread

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September 22, 2014

25 Santana tribute band Caravanserai performs for Concerts Under the Stars 5:30-8 p.m. in Village Court at Montgomery Village.

Copperfield’s Books hosts a book signing for Peter Gabel’s “Another Way of Seeing” 7-9 p.m. at the Arlene Francis Center, 99 6th St.

30 Tuesday Movie Night is free 9-11 p.m. at Heritage Public House, 1901 Mendocino Ave. Ten percent off your tab during the movie. www. heritagepublichousesr. com SLAMAZON welcomes anyone who identifies as a woman or genderqueer for open mic and two rounds of competitive slam poetry, 8:30-10 p.m. at Redwood Cafe, 8240 Old Redwood Hwy. in Cotati. Admission is $5.

Men welcome to attend.

Editors-in-Chief:

Julie Lee and Stephen Radley Managing Editor:

Jarrett Rodriguez Section Editors: Copy Editor | Alex Randolph Layout Editor | Chantelle Bogue A&E Editor | Devin Marshall Features Editor | Nate Voge News Editor | JoshuOne Barnes Opinion Editor | Nathan Quast Sports Editor | Robert Marshall Sports Photo Editor | Joseph Barkoff Multimedia Editor | Stephen Radley

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Calendar

26 SRJC men’s soccer team plays against Delta College, 1 p.m. on SRJC Cook Sypher Field.

SRJC women’s water polo team plays Foothill College, 3:30 p.m. in the SRJC Quinn Aquatic Complex outdoor pool.

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28 29

The annual World Pillow Fight Championships features a 30-foot pole and a mud pit from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sonoma Mountain Village, 1400 Valley House Drive in Rohnert Park. Admission is $15 for contestants and $512.50 for audience members. worldpillowfight championships.com.

“Mars” offers an investigation, 7 p.m. in the SRJC Planetarium, Lark Hall Room 2001.

Admission is $8 for general and $5 for ages 5-14, students with ID and seniors at the door.

Cash only.

The Gypsy Jazz Trio perform during Sunday Music @ the Toad, from 9 p.m. to midnight at the Toad in the Hole, 116 Fifth St. 544-TOAD.

SRJC football team plays against No. 40 Laney College 5 p.m. on SRJC Bailey Field.

01 Petaluma Cinema Series screens “A River Runs Through It” at 7 p.m. in the Carol L. Ellis Auditorium at SRJC Petaluma campus.

Optional lecture at 6 p.m. petalumafilmalliance.org/ cinema-series.

Sign up for the open mic, from 8 p.m. to midnight at Arlene Francis Center, 99 6th St.

Staff Writers Claudia Aceves, Haley Bollinger, Anne-Elisabeth Cavarec, Brennan Cole, Nikko Edwards, Faith Gates, Sal Gebre, Arthur Gonzalez-Martin, Mari Guevara, Deanna Hettinger, Hannah Kooistra, Andrew Lino, Kelsey Matzen, Alex Randolph, Ben Steinberg, Pio Valenzuela Photographers Joesph Barkoff JoshuOne Barnes Jeanine Flaton-Buckley

02 Tommy Lee Jones new film “The Homesman” opens the Mill Valley Film Festival, 6:45 p.m. at Sequoia 1 and 7 p.m. at Sequoia 2 in CineArts, 25 Throckmorton in Mill Valley.

Carolyn Wonderland with the Dirty Cello Band performs at 8:30 p.m. at the Mystic Theatre, 21 Petaluma Blvd. N in Petaluma. Admission is $19-21. Doors at 7:30 p.m. mystictheatre.com.

Advertising William Rohrs

Monday Night Edutainment features DJs Jacques and Guac from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at HopMonk Tavern, 230 Petaluma Ave. in Sebastopol. Admission is $7 and free for ladies before 11 p.m. Shots of Red Stripes for $3 and Jameson shots for $4.

Santa Rosa Copwatch offers a “Know Your Rights” training 1 p.m. in the Bertolini Student Center.

03 04 SRJC Theatre Arts Department’s production of “Prelude to a Kiss” opens at 8 p.m. in Newman Auditorium.

SRJC Polar Bears play against Stanford University, 8:30 p.m. at Snoopy’s Home Ice.

Award-winning comedian Nick Offerman of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” performs onstage, 8 p.m. at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts.

Admission is $40-55 at wellsfargocenterarts.org, by phone 546-3600 or in-person at 50 Mark West Springs Road.

SRJC football team plays against Sequoias College, 5 p.m. on SRJC Bailey Field.

Web & Social Media Chantelle Bogue, Julie Lee, Stephen Radley, Jarrett Rodriguez

Admin Assistant Mike Sjoblom Multimedia Stephen Radley, Joshuone Barnes, Jeanine Flaton-Buckley

Contact Newsroom: 707-527-4401 Ads Office: 707-527-4254 Anne Belden, Adviser: 707-527-4867 abelden@santarosa.edu

Distribution Brennan Cole, Nikko Edwards, Sal Gebre, Deanna Hettinger, Andrew Lino, Mike Sjoblom, Pio Valenzuela, Nate Voge

EMAIL oakleaf-ads@santarosa.edu oakleafonline@gmail.com oakleafpr@gmail.com

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Send us your letters to oakleafonline@gmail.com or to the Oak Leaf office. They should include your first and last name and be limited to 300 words. Letter may be edited for style, length, clarity and taste. Libelous or obscene letters will not be printed.

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News

September 22, 2014

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Measure H Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee Police blotter Nate Voge Features Editor

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easure H is a bond measure on the November 4, 2014 ballot that would provide SRJC with $410 million.

The Board of Trustees propose that the bond money will improve classroom technology, attract highquality faculty, help more students transfer, and ensure all the buildings are up to current earthquake codes.

The two biggest ticket items include $91 million to replace and expand math and science buildings and $49 million to replace labs and classrooms in Barnett Hall.

The proposed bond would cost typical Sonoma County homeowner about $67 a year.

In addition to the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, annual audits will assure the money is spent responsibly.

In 2002, Measure A, a $251 million bond, passed with 70 percent approval in Sonoma County.

The Press Democrat backed Measure H in a September editorial, urging the community to invest in the future generations of Sonoma County by supporting SRJC.

Board of Trustees, who have the fiduciary responsibility for all matters of fiscal expenditure.”

Staff Writer Santa Rosa Junior College President Dr. Frank Chong said hen there are millions while some districts try and of bond dollars on sneak in other projects after the line, there’s little room for the list of projects is finalized, mistakes or CBOC ensures stray dollars. this doesn’t That’s where happen at SRJC. “CBOC’s role is not the Citizens’ The committee Bond Oversight one of veto power, but requires at least Committee seven members, one of compliance (CBOC) steps in. each of whom The CBOC plays a specific and oversight.” was created role in the as a result of community, such - Pam Chanter, Bond Measure as a member chair of CBOC A in 2002. It active in a verifies that senior citizens’ the spending of organization, taxpayer money one in a is legal and in compliance with taxpayers’ organization, one the declared bond projects and active in a business organization informs the public about these and a student representative. expenditures.

The CBOC is comprised of “CBOC’s role is not one nine members, all of whom of veto power, but one of are new to the committee this compliance and oversight,” said year: Chanter, Charles Judson, Pam Chanter, chair of CBOC. Nelson Weller, Frank Briceno, “Dr. Chong has assured the Kerry Mahoney Davison, Brett college community that students Martinez, Michael Coutre, Paul and faculty will have input, but Kelley and Joshua Pinaula. the final decision sits with the The length of each member’s Claudia Aceves

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term is a minimum of two years and no more than three consecutive years without compensation.

To avoid any conflict of interest from Dr. Chong’s selection of citizens, the Board of Trustees recommends potential members based on the citizen’s expertise in the purpose of the committee.

“Part of the criteria to serve was the ability to understand complex financial statements and to be an independent thinker,” Chanter said.

During the CBOC meeting in July, Dr. Chong gave the new members a thorough overview of Measure H, the $410 million dollar bond on the November ballot. Because it is still a proposal, there has been no oversight yet.

If there are questions or concerns regarding bond matters, community members are welcome to speak at oversight meetings where committee members can address the questions or issues.

“They take their job very seriously,” Dr. Chong said. “I think it’s a committee of qualified and very well-respected citizens.”

Wild fox recently calls our school home Kelsey Matzen Staff Writer

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hat does the fox say? It’s a question that’s been plaguing fans of novelty music since Ylvis’s “The Fox” in 2013, and students at Santa Rose Junior College may finally have an opportunity to learn the answer to this pressing question. If they keep their eyes up on the trees, they may

discover that this semester they have a new type of classmate: a plucky fox who has chosen to make its home in a large oak tree near the Bertolini Student Center.

While it is not unusual for students to spot quails or squirrels running around campus, seeing a fox is a rare occurrence, particularly during an active semester. Foxes may visit campus a few times during the quiet summer, but their natural fear of people usually keeps them

away during busier times. This fox seems to have overcome this instinct and has become a part of the college community, making appearances all throughout campus.

Though the sight of this frisky fellow brightens the days of some students and faculty, others are understandably concerned about a wild animal freely roaming around campus. According to the Humane Society, unless rabid or manhandled, foxes are not aggressive to humans

and are more likely to flee from them than fight them. In fact, due to their timidity, it’s unlikely the fox will even approach someone on campus.

As the fox poses no harm to students and faculty, the administration seems to have accepted its presence and, for the time being, is allowing it to stay without charging any enrollment fees. If students listen closely, perhaps they will learn exactly what it is that the fox says.

Kelsey Matzen Staff Writer Student computer stolen from bookstore cubby An SRJC student was the victim of grand theft when her computer was stolen from a cubby at the SRJC bookstore Sept. 10.

The victim visited the bookstore, leaving her computer in a cubby near the front of the store at 10:30 a.m. When she returned to the cubby 11:10 a.m., the computer was gone.

District Police reviewed the surveillance footage for the area, but it did not reveal any suspicious activity. The suspect is still at large.

The estimated loss was $1,020.

Outstanding warrant and driving without a license District Police Officer Jeremy Jucutan was driving on Steele Lane when he ran the license plate of the car in front of him at 3:20 p.m. Sept. 13. The registration was expired despite the car’s current license plate tags, which indicated that the driver had taken them from another car.

Jucutan proceeded to stop the driver, identified as Erasmo Sevilla, 33. In addition to driving without a license, Sevilla also had an outstanding warrant from Menlo Park.

Sevilla was arrested on charges of driving without a license and having an outstanding warrant.

Felony warrant for grand theft While driving down Mendocino Avenue, District Police Officer Joseph Richards stopped and detained a man he recognized as having an outstanding warrant at 4:52 p.m.

Sept. 14.

Richards recognized the man as Darrin Dean Bezuhly, 53, a local transient with a warrant for his arrest from the Petaluma Police Department.

After confirming the warrant for grand theft, Richards arrested Bezuhly.

Suspicious man on campus District Police observed a suspicious man outside of the Santa Rosa Junior College Police Department at 3:07 p.m. Sept. 15.

Officers found the male suspect taking photos of the building and surrounding parking lot through the fence. As the officers weren’t sure what the man was taking pictures of, they considered it to be suspicious circumstance. Before officers were able to contact the man, he walked away and they chose not to pursue.

District Police is not concerned about the suspicious man becoming a future problem.

Joseph Barkoff/Oak Leaf

A common practice among wild foxes, this vixen decides to make her den in an urban environment, specifically Analy Village in Santa Rosa Junior College.

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September 22, 2014

News

www.theoakleafnews.com

Ambassador issues a passport to the world Julie Lee Co-Editor-in-Chief

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.S. Ambassador Lewis Lukens explained how the State Department addresses global threats, shared his experiences abroad, promoted the importance of becoming a global citizen and encouraged a career in the Foreign Service during “Passport to the World,” a Q-and-A session noon Sept. 15 in the SRJC Bertolini Student Center.

“This is a world in which other people in other societies will inevitably have their own realities, not always identical to ours; it does not mean we have to accept those perspectives or agree with them or indulge them — but it does mean that understanding them is the starting point for sensible policy,” Ambassador Lukens said. “It’s a world in which there’s no substitute for careful priorities in the application of American power and purpose, but it’s also a world in which the power of our example and our generosity of spirit can open the door to profound advances.”

Huy Pham, president of the SRJC International Club, worked closely with Dr. Brian Phifer, multicultural events chair and assistant director of student affairs, to contact Ambassador Lukens in July while he was still in Washington, D.C. “I wanted to do something really special to elevate the reputation of our campus,” Pham said. “His appearance can be an emphasis on both our school’s international programs to earn support from the community.”

Pham asked SRJC political science instructor Jeanette Ben Farhat to moderate the Q-and-A session with the Ambassador.

“Having a moderator who understands politics is very helpful in narrowing down questions [from the] audience for the Ambassador,” he said.

Many questions from audience members concerned timely issues, such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the recent Ebola outbreak, or were related to Lukens’ post in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau.

Ben Farhat said she was pleased by Ambassador Lukens’ extensive experience and ability to distinguish the challenges facing developing countries like Senegal and Guinea-Bissau and countries struggling to transition to democracy like Senegal and Iraq.

“The challenge of building strong states and sustainable economies, especially in former colonies, is an issue I discuss at length in my International Relations class,” she said.

Lukens said the U.S. is experiencing a shift in our relations with Africa by moving away from an aid-based relationship to a trade-based relationship.

“We have a values-based foreign policy in our country.

We have certain things we believe in America that we push through our foreign policies overseas. We believe in free trade. We believe in rights of

Stephen Radley/ Oak Leaf

Stephen Radley/ Oak Leaf

SRJC political science instructor Jeanette Ben Farhat moderates the Q-and-A with U.S. Ambassador Lewis Lukens during “Passport to the World” hosted by the International Students Club noon Sept. 15 in the SRJC Bertolini Student Center.

people for self-determination,” he said. “We really believe that by encouraging trade, economic development and economic connections, we can help grow the middle class in these countries that will then spur local economic growth.”

Lukens stressed the importance of staying engaged in the world, whether through trade promotion or the aid approach, despite our own domestic challenges.

While the audience guessed that as much as 30 percent of the federal budget went to foreign aid, he undertook the overestimated public perception, noting that less than 1 percent of the federal budget goes to foreign aid.

“One of the greatest challenges of advocating for human rights, especially LGBT rights, as U.S. ambassador, comes from encountering criticisms of highly controversial U.S. policies, such as the death penalty,” Lukens said.

He also emphasized the importance of a civil society and free media as essential foundations for a democracy.

“You need a civil society as a counterbalance to the government, and you need free, independent press that can report to the people what’s happening, without fear of imprisonment or worse,” he said.

Lukens recognized that many countries struggle with democracy as a result of the historical borders built by colonial powers.

Lukens went on to say the State Department recruits people from a wide variety of backgrounds to reflect the diversity of the U.S. and represent American values to audiences across the world.

“I was heartened to learn that women were well-represented in postings all over the world and could advance to the highest levels of the service,” Ben Farhat said.

“I was actually a little shocked to learn that past policy was to remove women from their foreign postings if they got married.”

“Each of you can be diplomat representatives of your countries, whether you’re in foreign services or not.”

- Lewis Lukens, U.S. Ambassador to the Republics of Senegal and Guinea-Bissau

Working in the U.S. Foreign Service to service the American people is one of the most rewarding careers, Lukens said. “Being ambassador is a huge honor and privilege. To serve as the President’s personal representative in a country is really an incredible experience, a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he said. “I encourage all of you to seize the opportunity to travel, work and study overseas.”

He said students interested in working for the Foreign Service should take international relations classes and learn as many languages as possible.

“If you don’t speak a foreign language, we can teach you,” he said. The State Department has many intensive language programs of varying durations depending on the language. For

example, German usually takes two months, whereas Mandarin takes two years.

Ben Farhat said, “Many students ask me about about the Foreign Service exam and how to prepare for it, so I was glad to see that the State Department has made the exam process more transparent and that Diplomats in Residence like Ambassador Lukens are reaching out to encourage students to explore careers in the State Department.”

Pham said the Ambassador’s visit relates to SRJC’s study abroad and international students programs because Lukens informs international students what they need to know before going to the U.S. and American students who they need to contact when in trouble abroad.

“He definitely understands all aspects of international education to share with students,” Pham said.

Elton Largoba, a student from Guinea-Bissau was happy to come to the event and greet Ambassador Lukens.

Pham added that international students who couldn’t attend still closely followed up with the event. Other members enthusiastic about international politics and foreign services came to see federal officials and asked questions about the U.S position in current international affairs.

“Most importantly, I ask you to remember that no matter where you are or what you do, you can make a huge difference in your communities in the world,” Ambassador Lukens said. “This is a world with no shortage of troubles, but plenty of opportunities for creative and determined American leadership.”

www.theoakleafnews.com

A&E

September 22, 2014

Supertaster’s tasty licks Jeanine Flaton-Buckley Staff Writer

I

ndependent recording artist Jackson Rosenfeld of Supertaster performed at a CD release party in support of his new album “Life With Oxygen” Sept. 11 at 755 After Dark in Sebastopol.

Rosenfeld identified himself as a “supertaster,” a clinical term for a person with an extremely heightened sense of taste, and now uses a fork to represent his musical brand. “I came up with Supertaster while considering changing my artist name, to a name that could eventually evolve into a band scenario,” he said. “I decided it was a fitting approach to my music.”

Adorned with a gold fork medallion around his neck, Rosenfeld mingled with the crowd before the show while tuning up a Fender Telecaster strapped to his body like an extra appendage.

As he waited quietly on stage, a Morgan Freeman-esque style voice narrated the humble beginnings of Supertaster’s life. Projected on a makeshift screen on stage was a large graphic “S” representative of a superhero and his newest music video “Life in Motion,” a story about his father, filmed in and around Sea Ranch and Bodega Bay. Born from three years of songwriting and producing, “Life With Oxygen” is Rosenfeld’s pride and joy. “I know this

project will continue to evolve. It’s the ‘If you build it, they will come’ mentality,” he said.

“My influences have spanned a wide range of artists, mostly classic rock bands that were before my time,” Rosenfeld said.

From Hall and Oates to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and everything in between, his musical influences are as eclectic as his own musical style. Not to be pigeonholed into any one genre he classifies his music as a hybrid of alternative, pop, rock, with a bit of hiphop sprinkled on top.

“Jackson is an innovator,” said Callie Dilbeck of local band The Frobeck Trio, who also performed at the CD release party. Her husband and fellow bandmate, Kris Dilbeck, engineered and co-produced Rosenfeld’s new album.

“All his songs are layered with lush production and attention to detail.

He’s a Renaissance man for a new millennium, quirky and fun with many artful pursuits,” she said.

Rosenfeld studied under the guidance of James “Jim” Helmer in the video ArtQuest program at Santa Rosa High School. Rosenfeld credits the program for his success in graduating high school. He moved onto Santa Rosa Junior College where he focused on filmmaking and multimedia-related arts.

He used the skills he attained at SRJC to design his website, brand his

Managing Editor

Review

T

o say that “Destiny” is an ambitious game is somewhat of an understatement.

As the love child of developer Bungie and first-person shooter (FPS) juggernaut Activision, “Destiny” aims for the stars as the latest game to hit the newgen consoles.

The question remains though; is it too ambitious for its own good? The answer is no. It hits the right points and succeeds as the most successful new franchise in video game history.

Bungie dreamt up “Destiny” while working on Microsoft’s own big-name game, “Halo.”

After they wrapped up their series with “Halo: Reach,” Bungie decided it was time to set their goals much higher.

Thus “Destiny” was born.

A hybrid of most games out there, “Destiny” sets itself apart from the competition with its polish and design. It has the tight controls of “Halo” and “Call of Duty,” the loot system of “Borderlands” and “Diablo”

and the massively multiplayer online (MMO) experience of “World of Warcraft.” It’s quite the undertaking for one company to take on any one of these genres, let alone all of them, in one single experience. Luckily, Bungie succeeds where all else have failed.

Let’s get the bad out of the way.

Though not horrible, the story is as bad as the Master Chief ’s sense of humor. The plot centers on one of three guardians who must fight to protect the solar system with his or her two guardian pals. That’s all there is to the story; a basic setup for you and two other friends to team up and kill bad guys and gain awesome loot. Really that’s all you need.

Though the plot seems shoehorned in, the gameplay experience does not. From the moment you design your character you can feel that you are not playing a normal game.

This is even more apparent when you make it to the Tower, a hub world to trade and buy things with local shops, and to meet up with other players in the world who are doing the same thing.

The social aspect of this game is amazing, and even though it can be played in single player, it’s meant for playing with friends.

You won’t get much enjoyment

Webcomics for beginners Arthur Gonzalez-Martin Staff Writer

Review

Do you love comic books and manga but can’t afford to keep up with your favorite characters? Here are the top five free webcomics that you can read right now.

#5: Looking For Group (LFG) Courtesy of www.facebook.com/supertasterband

The 3D-printed fork flash drive represents Supertaster’s musical brand.

image, produce an album and create music videos.

“He’s a really genuine talent, yet he treats those he works with with nothing but respect,” said Miles Levin, an independent filmmaker from Sonoma County. Levin has collaborated with Rosenfeld in the past, most recently as the director of photography for the “Life in Motion” music video.

“Life With Oxygen” can be downloaded from iTunes or Spotify; CDs and 3D-printed fork flash drives designed by Rosenfeld in Autodesk are available by contacting him at his website, supertaster.co.

“Life in Motion,” the official music video promoting the release of the Jeanine Flaton-Buckley/Oak Leaf album is available on YouTube at www. Jackson Rosenfeld performs at a CD release party for his new album. youtube.com/user/getjaxon.

Legends start somewhere Jarrett Rodriguez

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out of it without some compadres in there with you.

From the empty vastness of the moon to the lush jungles of Venus, everything is teeming with detail and the remnants of what was once a thriving civilization. The locales in the game tell a better story than the actual story.

This game was clearly made for new-gen consoles, so do yourself a favor and pass on inferior versions until you can get a PS4 or Xbox One. The gameplay is exquisite.

With tight controls and hundreds of different combinations for weapons and gear loadouts, there is very little to get tired of in “Destiny.” Add three different

classes and the ability to upgrade not only yourself but also your weapons and armor, and you have a game that is ‘destined’ to voraciously devour precious amounts of your time.

That’s the point of “Destiny;” it wants you to lose hours getting lost in its vast game world. There is so much gameplay and so many missions to complete, and since it’s a MMO game, it has the ability to evolve and change over time. In the coming months, we will be treated with new areas to explore, missions to accomplish and loot to gain. Beating the story is just the start. “Destiny” may have its flaws, but the great thing about legends is they all start somewhere.

A heroic elven hunter, his killhappy undead warlock friend and an ill-tempered priestess head on a straightforward generic fantasy quest based off of World of Warcraft. It grows into an epic adventure, from time travel to stopping an evil empire from invading a longlost city. It’s got enough action and humor to last anyone for a good long while. Visit http:// www.lfgcomic.com/.

#4: The Adventures of Dr. McNinja

Doctor McNinja is a doctor of medicine, who also happens to be a ninja from a proud Irish ninja clan that hates his choice of profession. The story follows him dealing with everything from unruly patients to evil fast food chains to meatheads with organic jetpacks to dinosaurs… lots of them. It has a semirealistic art style, which goes hand-in-hand with the tonguein-cheek writing style. Visit www.drmcninja.com.

#3: Grrl Power

Newly-recruited super heroine Halo is a comic book nerd and comic shop owner whose powers must remain a secret. After a bank robbery gone wrong, it’s up to the first mostly-female superhero team to save the day.

A great read that pokes fun at the superhero genre. Visit www. grrlpowercomic.com.

#2: VG Cats

As the name implies, it is about two video game playing cartoon cats, with video game spoofs from time to time. It’s more of an online comic strip than a comic book. Something akin to “The Odd Couple” or “Seinfeld” if they were about hard core gamers going back in time to stop one of the cats from being born out of annoyance from poorly made gamer jokes.

Visit www.vgcats.com.

#1: Eldritch

Photo Courtesy of bungie

From left: Titan, Hunter and Warlock Guardians posing on the moon.

A young art major named Faith gets attacked by a werewolf and - you guessed it – she becomes one. She tries to find the werewolf that bit her while dealing with Saint Francis-based cultists and finding out most of her friends are supernatural critters as well.

Visit eldritchcomic. blogspot.com.

A&E Puzzles and turnabout 6

September 22, 2014

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Photo Courtesy of ign.com

Professor Layton and Luke Triton (left) team up with Phoenix Wright and Maya Fey (right) to win trials and solve a baffling mystery in “Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney” for Nintendo 3DS.

Alex T. Randolph Copy Editor

Review

I

n the “Professor Layton” game series, players assume the role of Professor Hershel Layton and solve various logic puzzles to unravel a greater mystery. In the “Ace Attorney” series, players gather clues and cross-examine colorful characters as defense attorney Phoenix Wright to prove his client’s innocence.

Both franchises are exclusively

made for the Nintendo DS and 3DS and have gained a small but loyal fanbase.

Apparently, that’s reason enough for a crossover game. “Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney” for the 3DS is somewhat of a misnomer, as the main characters never come into conflict. It’s also unashamedly, if unsurprisingly, geared toward fans of both series, and suffers a bit from an uneven playing style. It has hallmarks of both series; great writing, an intriguing plot and memorable characters.

The plot starts out with both sets of characters independently coming to the defense of a mysterious girl named Espella; Layton and

his eager young apprentice, Luke Triton, protect her against strange attackers who appear to use magic.

Wright and his assistant, Maya Fey, later prove her innocence in court.

Both parties are then transported to Espella’s home, the medieval town of Labyrinthia, where magic is real and witch trials are commonplace.

Layton and Wright must team up to discover the town’s secrets while protecting the innocent from horribly burning to death.

For a crossover, the gameplay is surprisingly segregated. With one or two notable exceptions and small details like the ability to use “Layton’s” hint coins when you’re stuck in a trial, solving puzzles and attending trials are two very

distinct parts of the game. It’s much less a blending of game styles than portions of each snipped and pasted together. The puzzles are much easier than in “Layton,” but the trial scenes come with a difficulty level that surpasses the last “Attorney” game.

The trials have changed in an interesting and welcome way, but also further illustrate how the puzzles suffer. On the bright side, the puzzles replace the tedious investigations of the “Attorney” games.

While the gameplay doesn’t really cross over, the characters certainly do, and it’s here that the real joy of the game comes to light. Wright’s group may not meet Layton’s until Labyrinthia, but when they do, they’re inseparable. Layton’s gentlemanly nature and Wright’s awkward earnestness contrast nicely with each other, and the youthful exuberance of both Maya Fey and Luke Triton add an extra sense of fun.

While it’s a little disappointing that no other established characters from either series make more than a cameo appearance, the original characters more than make up for it. From the mysterious waif Espella to the knightly Inquisitor Barnham to the town drunk Emmer Punchenbaug, the characters are all distinctly entertaining in their

own way. Especially notable are the menacing High Inquisitor Darkclaw and the enigmatic Storyteller, the latter of whom writes the stories that determine the fate of everyone in town.

One of the game’s major problems is there’s little replay value. This is also a problem with both parent series: the trials are heavily scripted, so there’s no reason to replay once you’ve beaten them. By the same token, there’s little reason to redo puzzles when you already know the answer. This problem is alleviated slightly in the free downloadable content that’s available after you beat the game, although so far each downloadable chapter has consisted of one puzzle following a humorous skit with maybe some concept art thrown in for good measure. It’s not much, but a little more gets released every week, so it’s at least motivation to play again for a little while.

People who aren’t fans of either series won’t get as much out of this game as fans of both, and fans who prefer one series over the other might find it annoying to switch gameplay styles. However, the game remains a worthy entry to both franchises and can serve as a gateway for curious newcomers to check out both game series.

Wake me up when November ends Sean Curzon Staff Writer

Review

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etired CIA agent Peter Devereaux (Pierce Brosnan) is pulled in for one last job that predictably goes horribly wrong, ultimately forcing him to run for his life from the CIA. “The November Man” tries to be a grittier modern spy thriller like the Bourne series or the more recent Bond films, but also attempts to play off Brosnan’s work as a past Bond. It makes him feel weirdly out of place, creating a soulless ride.

Leading the hunt for Devereaux is his former protégé David Mason (Luke Bracey), who has a chip on his shoulder about proving he is a better spy than his old trainer.

Watching Devereaux and Mason try to out-man each other is just dull.

Soon, social worker Alice Fournier (former Bond girl Olga Kurylenko) finds herself embroiled in an actionfilled chain of events as she is hunted by an assassin and

the CIA; naturally, she comes under Devereaux’s protection.

The film hits every spy cliché made.

Director Roger Donaldson also directed such ’90s classics like “Species,” a movie following a weird alien having silly random sex, and “Dante’s Peak,” a film in which Pierce Brosnan fights a volcano.

At least these two could be enjoyed for their silliness, while “The November Man” is just dull.

The first half of the film feels aimless, leaving it unclear who the protagonist and antagonist even are. It is difficult to figure out how the director wants you to feel about the characters because they are written so unevenly.

One minute a character is a nice guy, and the next he is a jerk. The filmmakers attempt to create a feeling of ambiguity about the characters, but the scenes are so jarring that they take you out of the film.

The story is no better.

Characters and subplots are introduced and then dropped without any development.

There is a reporter who pops up at random points of the movie and ultimately does nothing. The last scene ends so abruptly that it takes a while to register that the credits are

Photo Courtesy of blackfilm.com

David Mason (Bracey) looks on as Peter Devereaux (Brosnan) taunts him in the newly released “The November Man.”

already rolling.

The action scenes are poorly shot, containing random moments of slow motion that don’t add up to anything. There is not one, but two different scenes of a car exploding in poorly-executed slow motion.

The first scene has Brosnan and Bracey walking away from it without even noticing, and

it’s just as ridiculous watching as it is reading about it. The scene is like something out of a parody, except played completely straight.

The acting is weak. Most of the lines are half-screamed by the actors. The majority of characters come off more annoyed than angry. All the actors whine loudly and just

sound fake-mad. However, given how forced and silly the dialogue is, it would be hard to get a good performance out of the actors.

“The November Man” may not be entirely painful to watch, but it is completely forgettable.

www.theoakleafnews.com

A&E

September 22, 2014

7

Vaporwave: the virtual plaza welcomes you Devin Marshall A&E Editor

D

espite its ephemeral name, vaporwave music seems here

to stay.

“Vaporwave is an interesting offshoot/progression of the chillwave scene,” said producer of local electronic music project ALGO AND THE RHYTHMS, Jonathan Souvannavong.

“Imagine falling asleep while your ‘90s era computer is booting and you have a bizarre musical adventure. Or, it’s kind of hazy, weird, kinda catchy electronic pop music.”

An electronic genre that started in 2011, vaporwave is still going strong despite the naysayers who declared it wouldn’t last this long. It has varying characteristics, but most agree on a few common themes: 1990s-era electronics, strange artistic aesthetics including statues, anime characters or video game homages, sampling other pre-existing songs, sounding like mall or elevator music and oftentimes including Japanese text or voices. Songs or albums almost always feature accompanying art pieces to the tracks that fans might argue are just as important as the music they complement.

“I would describe vaporwave as a tongue-and-cheek jab at late ’80s consumerism,” wrote local producer and sound engineer John Schaefer. “From pink Lamborghinis to sunset palm trees.”

Vaporwave is also an entirely Internet-based phenomenon, mostly shared on YouTube, SoundCloud and Bandcamp but also streamed over various “e-venues” where people can gather and listen.

In an interview with e-venue/ chatroom SPF420 on gumballmag.com, curator Liz elaborated on vaporwave’s tendency to be different and do its own thing. “Vaporwave, in my opinion, is our current ‘punk scene,’” she wrote.

“The digital rebels. The ones who ‘steal’ others’ music, just to manipulate it and

Aries: White men imposing ideas and culture on others was so last-century. Everyone possesses a concept of reality as valid as the next, except for fellows like Hitler.

chop it up a bit.”

Some music labels are often grouped together with the genre, even though they are not specifically vaporwave.

“KEATS//COLLECTIVE has never been a vaporwave label,” wrote founder Dan Bombard in an email interview. “Nothing against vaporwave artists, we just care not to associate our sound with the genre. My main issue with vaporwave is that I can’t tell if I’m supposed to think it’s a joke, or aesthetically ‘high-brow.’”

The label, based in Denver, Colo., is run mainly by three individuals and features over 20 artists along with various compilations. While the tags “chillwave,” “future funk” and “spacebop” may frequent their page, it is true that “vaporwave” is not one of them.

“I would describe vaperwave as a toung-and-cheek jab at the late ‘80s consumerism.”

- John Schaefer

However, one of the label artists, Saint Pepsi — dubbed “the Skrillex of vaporwave” by Schaefer — has released music that fans tend to shoehorn in with the genre. Even though those releases were not directly through the label, the association remains in people’s heads. Thus, there is confusion about Saint Pepsi’s true classification, and the controversy rages on as purists war back and forth about whether his music fits the genre or not.

“My main rule of thumb with samplebased music is that you need to do your research,” Bombard wrote. “Having said that, I do hear vaporwave music that comes from an intelligent place.

Off the top of my head, Luxury Elite, クロス MACROSS 82-89, Vektroid, Secret Attraction and Topaz Gang are some examples.”

Like any kind of music, there are renowned artists to whom fans look up and respect. One of the most famous artists of vaporwave is Macintosh Plus, an alias of the artist Vektroid. Her 2011 album release “Floral Shoppe” is practically synonymous with the genre. It is also generally considered more listenable than many similar bodies of work.

“If anything, the genre is little more than the acceptance of something too abstract to be palatable, but too interesting to be ignored,” said Santa Rosa musician Cory Oleson. “‘Floral Shoppe’ is basically My Bloody Valentine’s ‘Loveless’ of vaporwave. It is a seminal record that defines the genre.”

The album became so big that fans created spin-off memes featuring images of the bust of Greek god Helios.

These are a reference to the cover art of “Floral Shoppe,” which is wellknown in part to being featured on Photo courtesy of 8tracks.com the “Internet’s Busiest Music Nerd” The iconic bust of Helios decorates memes and album covers like this “Dad Anthony Fantano’s YouTube channel, I’m 6 What’s Vaporwave” mix by vladmesters.

“The Needle Drop.”

An album titled “Floral Shoppe 2” was released this year by the artist THE DARKEST FUTURE, alias of the artist known as D▲RKPYR▲MID. However, it sounded nothing like its namesake and instead slowed down the music beyond recognition, added different vocal samples and included the artist’s own “ragga-style” rapping.

This caused a large controversy, with many voicing their displeasure and stating that it was not “real vaporwave.”

The backlash was so pronounced that D▲RKPYR▲MID issued an open letter through his Dream Catalogue label, explaining that the album was an experiment in pushing the envelope and creating something unlistenable. It all circles back to the changeability of the genre and unwillingness to color inside the lines.

“This is ultimately the next innovation in music, and people who say ‘vaporwave is dead’ are completely off base, I think,” he wrote. “I say instead that music is dead, and may vaporwave Photo courtesy of warosu.org continue to live.”

This cover of “Floral Shoppe” by Macintosh Plus remains the most famous example of vaporwave to date.

Astrology

Capricorn: Connect with your creative side. Allencompassing self-loathing only causes clutter and late papers. Let go of self-judgment and free your mind, and the rest will follow.

-Haley Elizabeth Bollinger

Taurus: You are definitely not a boring person. People are just accustomed to being zombies on occasion, and like easy entertainment. Do not take rejection personally; people reject themselves without even knowing.

Cancer: Humans are pack animals. Make time for your friends and enjoy whatever group suits your interest. Being around like-minded people will empower you.

Virgo: We are one. Energy connects. Measured, yet far too complex to truly understand. Are you imagining exploring space now?

I hear there should be tours by 2020.

Scorpio: Art takes fresh forms when left alone. Expressing yourself through different mediums might be your new forté. Destroy negative perceptions and water your soul. The wilt will end.

Aquarius: You’ll never need to fear an army of llamas bent on conquest, unless your imagination holds you hostage or you really mess up on your adventures! Keep it fresh, my friend.

Gemini: Individuals talk about willpower; in reality, sometimes “won’t power” wins in the long run. Transforming negative behavior into positive habits requires you to realize what not to do.

Leo: If you think you are odd, imagine how rigid it would be if you were even! Together we form an unusual algorithm as a species. Be even or odd. We need both.

Libra: When life gives a wondrous illusion of steadiness, it will usually at that point explode all over again and continue to confuse you. Dust sparkles as the winds of time elude choices.

Sagittarius: A solid belly laugh will invigorate your senses and keep you earnestly eager for more. Make time to explore what you find funny.

If that does not work, there are always cat videos on the Internet.

Pisces: A tadpole must survive their delicate state in the pond before metamorphosis occurs and they grow into a frog.

Keep swimming and enjoy the transformation; you will be leaping onto lily pads in no time.

Oscar Grant

Feb. 1986 - Jan. 2009 Grant was unarmed and shot in the back by a BART Police officer, killing him instantly.

BEYOND T

community persist Julie Lee, Pio Valenzuela, JoshuOne Barnes, Jeanine Flaton-Buckley Co-Editor-in-Chief, Staff Writer, News Editor, Multimedia

rominent civil rights P attorney John L. Burris, who has represented Trayvon

Trayvon Martin

Feb. 1995 - Feb. 2012 Martin was unarmed, shot and killed during an argument with George Zimmerman.

Martin, Oscar Grant, Tupac Shakur and other well-known figures in police brutality cases, said prejudice has become a serious impediement to law enforcement during “Deconstructing ‘Protect & Serve,’” a panel discussion organized by the SRJC Black Student Union Sept. 18 in the Santa Rosa Junior College Bertolini Student Center.

The seven panel members, including Burris, unanimously agreed that recent national and local accounts demonstrate an undercurrent of police brutality, a double standard of policing and an implicit bias inherent within the criminal justice system.

“Racial profiling essentially means that you substitute race with probable cause,” Burris said.

He cited that AfricanAmerican and Hispanic males

Andy Lopez

June 2000 - Oct. 2013 Lopez was shot seven times and killed by an officer while carrying a fake gun.

are arrested at a rate six to eight times greater than those in white communities, despite similar frequencies of marijuana use.

Burris urged the audience to consider the fine line between legitimate law enforcement and police brutality. “An officer has the right to react in certain situations and the information that may cause him to stop a particular person,” he said. “You might think it’s police brutality, but the police think they’re doing their job.”

For example, Sonoma County sheriff ’s deputy Erick Gelhaus shot 13-year-old Andy Lopez because he thought Lopez had a gun, only to be proven wrong.

“The police have a right to be safe, but that doesn’t mean that in order to be safe, [they] get to shoot whenever [they] want to shoot,” Burris said.

Burris said the use of video footage in the Rodney King case was revolutionary, encouraging the audience to use video cameras vigilantly in public.

“Before 1991, you could not have police brutality cases of that kind because people would not believe it, because they don’t want to believe that the police would engage in this level of brutality,” he said. Burris added that video clips serve as evidence that can trump police statements.

Robert Edmonds, chair of the Community Policing Task Force and former SRJC student trustee, said the SRJC District Police could be improved dramatically.

“We’ve had, for a number of years, some severe dysfunction in the Junior College’s police department,” he said. “There are many accusations, which at this point are not proven, but that demonstrate some level of dysfunction that’s been ongoing.”

Michael Brown

May 1996 - Aug. 2014 Brown was shot six times and killed by a police officer while unarmed after trying to flee.

“

This is for the kids who die, B live on awhile, As always, Eat

THE YELLOW TAPE:

tently seeks answers to police brutality Santa Rosa Copwatch activist a space for that pain, that fear Raquel Mack stressed the lack and that rage to get transformed of access to constitutional into sorting out those ideas, protections for black and brown figuring where they stand within youth, the most vulnerable of these issues and joining national American citizens. conversations,” he said.

“The loss of black and brown SRJC administration of justice life at the hands of police without instructor Mike Grabowski said, any real accountability, justice “We’ve lost two generations of or policy change must stop,” she kids’ respect for police.” said. “It’s our responsibility as Women’s Justice Center American citizens, as descendants advocate Taylor Andersonof those who gave the ultimate Stevenson brought up the absence sacrifice to demand that our rights of women in law enforcement. be protected, that our judicial She cited a Los Angeles Police system is transparent, and that Department study that revealed our humanity is restored.” that an increased number of SRJC English professor Dr. female officers decreased the level Michael Hale read an excerpt of excessive force. from “Kids Who Die,” a Langston “It’s an abuse predominantly Hughes poem from 1938 that committed by male officers,” she remains relevant today. said. “I think if we increase the Hale said he developed a sense number of women in policing to of survivor’s guilt as a white male 50 percent or more, you will see who went to college a dramatic drop in after growing up excessive force and in a multicultural police brutality.”

It’s more important for neighborhood in While other Los Angeles. the Department of Justice speakers addressed “Many of the specific aspects of to find out whether people that I grew police brutality, there are issues within up around didn’t Damion Square, make it out. They co-founder of the that department that is were in prison, or SRJC Black Student they were shot. In causing this high number Union, implored the riots they had of death cases to occur in the audience to M16s pointed right recognize the a short period of time. at their heads,” he covert root of - John L. Burris said. “I understand racism. He said the very clearly that fear of white genetic while I did many of annihilation drives the foolish things the incarcerations that a lot of young of millions of black people did, I was not subject to the men to remove their genetic same levels of brutality, the same material from the population. levels of harassment, the same Square said Africanlevels of being basically over- Americans must remain calm, policed and underprotected.” serious and focused to raise Dr. Hale said it is important awareness to this systemic for young people to become problem. activists and intellectuals, despite “We have the opportunity as the easy trap of nihilism. “How the first predominantly white do we not just ignore the crises college to come out publicly and that are going around us? I see it take an affirmative stance against all around me, this sort of total white supremacy,” Square said. checking out into escape. How do In a follow-up interview, Burris we avoid that? How do we avoid said he was not surprised by the the trap of fear, paranoia and police department’s absence at hatred?” he asked. the event, stating that they are “Students have good hearts unlikely to be in an environment and good minds,” Hale said. He where they will be criticized. encouraged professors to support Burris said open discussions students who are processing between the police and the feelings of rage and confusion. community are needed to resolve “Allow their good hearts and allow the longstanding issue.

Damion Square, cofounder of the SRJC Black Student Union Courage is the first cousin of selfrespect, and when self-respect is at a sufficiently low level there is no courage. We have demonstrated that we don’t have the courage to consistently talk about racism white supremacy.

Robert Edmonds, chair of the Community Policing Task Force and former SRJC student trustee We’ve had, for a number of years, some severe dysfunction in the junior college’s police department.

Mike Grabowski, SRJC administration of justice instructor We’ve lost two generations of kids’ respect for police. California is one of the worst states when it comes to training for police with juveniles.

Taylor AndersonStevenson, Women’s Justice Center advocate Nobody is talking about the absence of women in law enforcement. I think if we increase the number of women in policing to 50 percent or more you will see a dramatic drop in excessive force and police brutality.

Dr. Michael Hale, SRJC English instructor Allow [students’] good hearts and allow a space for that pain, that fear and that rage to get transformed into sorting out those ideas, figuring where they stand within these issues and joining national conversations.

Black and white, For kids will die certainly. The old and rich will ting blood and gold, Letting kids die. - Langston Hughes,

”

“Kids Who Die”

www.theoakleafnews.com

Sports

September 22, 2014

Here to save the game Nikko Edwards

O

Staff Writer

n the heels of a short two-game stint on the road, the Bear Cubs men’s soccer team looked to earn a victory in their final non-conference game of the year against the Rams of the City College of San Francisco Sept. 19.

From the opening kickoff and throughout the first half, both teams were tactically conservative, spending little time on the attack.

The first half ended quietly, with a total of one shot on goal for both teams.

When the whistle blew for the second half, it was a completely different game.

In the 52nd minute, an impressive move put SFCC in the box with a great

chance to net the first goal. But keeper Andrew Tepping sprawled for a diving save on a point-blank attempt from a Ram’s striker, and a failed clearance from a Bear Cub defender gave SFCC another chance. Tepping quickly got to his feet and came to the other side of the 6-yard box to make a second save.

The Bear Cubs’ defense committed a few turnovers that lead to opposing attacks, but played very well otherwise against a strong and fast Ram’s attacking front. Freshman defender Nick Klimenko said, “As a team we are playing very well defensively. Having both of our captains playing in the defense brings a great leadership perspective to the defensive side of the ball.”

In the 72nd minute, a through ball

put the Rams back on the attack and a cracking shot from a forward required an impressive retreating punch save from Tepping. “Drew [Tepping], our goalie, played exceptionally well and made a couple great saves to keep us in the game,” Klimenko said.

Tepping finished the game with six saves, all in spectacular fashion. “I’m just doing my job, and that’s what matters,” said Tepping, a freshman from Honolulu.

With 15 minutes remaining in the game, the Bear Cubs found some rhythm on offense. Forward Omar Nuno put a shifty move on a Ram’s defender, putting a curling shot on net, but SFCC’s keeper Emmanuel Jimenez saved it.

SFCC’s defenders thwarted the

SRJC Bear Cubs defense deflects a corner kick by San Francisco City College Sept. 20 at Sypher Field Santa Rosa.

Bear Cubs’ offense with clinical tackles and clearances in the offensive half of the field.

Of SRJC’s three shots on goal, its best chance came in in the 85th minute.

Nuno sent a free kick from 45 yards into the box, and a failed clearance by a Ram’s defender put the ball at Andrew Carlile’s feet at point-blank range.

He controlled the ball nicely, but was ultimately unable to net the shot after a diving save from Jimenez. “We’re creating chances, but having some trouble scoring.” Klimenko said.

The game ended in a 0-0 tie, giving the Cubs an overall record of 3-2-2 heading into the regular season. The Bear Cubs’ next game is at 4 p.m.

Sept. 23 against American River College in Sacramento.

Photo by Joseph Barkoff/Oak Leaf

Bear Cubs heading strong into regular season Sal Gebre Staff Writer

S

anta Rosa Junior College women’s soccer team shut out Feather River College 2-0 home Sept. 20 to finish the preseason on a 3-0 winning streak.

The Bear Cubs came out strong, creating multiple early chances. In the 10th minute, freshman Julia Lambert high pressured the defense, creating a turnover. A dangerous cross from Lambert sailed past the far post out of bounds for a goal kick.

Building from the back, freshman Kendra Kane connected with the midfield by passing the ball to Kayleen Belda; Belda then set up forward Lambert for a two-touch shot that went wide of the goal. Coach Tracy Hamm said that this was the best soccer they’ve played so far this season, having “great rhythm and good possession.”

At the 43rd minute Belda dribbled down the line and kicked the ball off a defender for a corner kick. Sophmore Taylor Halstenson hit a beautifully placed ball into the box, where

Natalia Picano lead the ball into the net for a 1-0 lead before the end of the first half.

FRC had its best opportunity when Ghana National player, Sherifatu Sumaila, with only the keeper to beat, fired the ball wide left.

In the 53rd minute, goalkeeper Morgan Jernigan intercepted a cross that was intended for a FRC forward at the far post. SRJC’s goalkeeper Jernigan earned a clean sheet for the match.

In the 57th minute, the Bear Cubs extended their lead to 2-0 when Belda chipped the goalie after receiving a through ball from Mar Alinas. With 14 minutes remaining in the game, the Bear Cubs had another close opportunity when freshman Darcy Forsythe shot a target that deflected off a FRC defender’s head for a corner shot. On the set piece, Halstenson played a nice ball into the middle of the six-yard box but a Golden Eagles’ keeper ended the chance on goal.

The Bear Cubs kick off conference play at 3:30 p.m.

Sept. 23 against Sierra College at SRJC and then at 3:30 p.m.

Photo by Joseph Barkoff/Oak Leaf Sept 26 against Cosumnes River Freshman defender Alissa Hickling keeps the ball in bounds driving towards College in Sacramento.

Feather River College’s net Sept. 20 at Sypher Field Santa Rosa.

11

Polar Bears win home opener Joseph Barkoff Sports Photo Editor

I

went to a fight, and a hockey game broke out.

Santa Rosa Junior College’s Hockey team, the Polar Bears, skated to victory against UC Berkley’s Bears in the season home opener at Snoopy’s Home Ice Sept. 20.

Despite Cal drawing first blood six minutes into the first period, the Polar Bears John Keshishian answered 40 seconds later to tie it right back up.

Keshishian finished the game with a hat trick. “It was a good start to the rest of the season.

It was just hard work from the whole line,” Keshishian said.

The Polar Bears came out a little slow in the first period, falling victim to early season rust and penalties that disrupted the flow of the lines. After the second intermission, the Polar Bears responded to the raucous packed crowd and rewarded the fans with an 8-4 win.

Head coach Mike Kovanis is confident in his team’s ability this year. “I feel really good, pretty optimistic. I hope we can make another run at the PCHA [Pacfic Collegiete Hockey Association],” he said. “If we do well against the opponents we have on our schedule, we have a very legitimate chance of being ranked very high.”

PCHA, Regionals and Nationals are on the Polar Bears’ radar again this year and Kovanis thinks their chances of returning are high.

The next home game is at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 3 against San Francisco State.

Photo by Joe Barkoff/Oak Leaf

Upcoming games Sept. 25: @ College of the Canyons, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 26: @ College of the Canyons, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 27: @ CSU Fullerton (ACHA D2), 9:15 p.m.

Oct. 3: vs. San Francisco State, 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 4: vs. Stanford University, 8:30 p.m.

12

September 22, 2014

Scoreboard Football

Men’s Soccer Sept. 12 SRJC-0, Lake Tahoe-0 (T) Sept. 19 SRJC-0, SFCC-0 (T) Women’s Soccer Sept. 12 SRJC-2, SFCC-1 Sept. 16 SRJC-2, Las Positas-1 Sept. 20 SRJC-2, Feather River-0 Men’s Water Polo Sept. 12 SRJC-6, Merced-19 SRJC-6, DeAnza-7 Sept. 13 SRJC-6, Ohlone-8 SRJC-10, Cabrillo-11 Sept. 17 SRJC-8, SJDC-11 Women’s Water Polo Sept. 12 SRJC-10, Cerritos-6 SRJC-8, Mt. San Antonio-13 Sept. 13 SRJC-3, Golden West-11 SRJC-4, Riverside-20

Ben Steinberg Staff Writer

Opinion

T

he incident in an Atlantic City hotel elevator involving Ray Rice and his thenfiancée Janay Palmer forever tarnished National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell’s legacy.

Similar to Major League Baseball’s commissioner Bud Selig after the steroid scandal, Goodell can never be seen in the same light he once was.

Police arrested Rice and Palmer Feb.15 in a casino elevator after Rice assaulted Palmer.

Rice was indicted on March 27 on a third-degree aggravated assault charge by an Atlantic County grand jury.

On May 1, Rice was accepted into a first-time offenders program and charges will be erased after one year. Rice pretty much got away with only a slap on the wrist for throwing a punch to the face. But his wife didn’t want to press charges, so nothing could be done after that.

On July 2, the NFL announced only a two-game ban for Rice, after he met with Goodell on June 16 and admitted to Goodell the full details of that night.

On Sept. 9, TMZ released the video of Rice striking Palmer in

Nikko Edwards Staff Writer

Volleyball

Sept. 17 SRJC-3, West Valley-0 SRJC-3, Taft-1 Men’s Cross Country Sept. 6 10th place [5th in Big North] Sept. 13 2nd place Women’s Cross Country Sept. 6 12th place [6th in the North] Sept. 13 5th place Hockey Sept. 20 SRJC-8, Berkeley-4 Wrestling Sept. 13 SRJC-45, Shasta-12 SRJC-35, Delta-23

the elevator, and the monstrous image of Rice was brought to light.

The Ravens immediately cut Rice; Goodell suspended him for a second time, this time indefinitely.

Goodell instituted a new conduct policy regarding domestic violence instances and suspensions. Suspensions will start at six games for first offenses and a lifetime ban for a following offense.

According to the Associated Press, the infamous video of Rice striking Palmer was sent to the NFL office April 9, and a corresponding confirmation voicemail was received.

How did the video actually get sent? Did Goodell see the video?

It doesn’t matter. Rice already admitted his crime to the league and his team. Domestic violence and violence against women should not be tolerated.

Does seeing a video of the incident change what happened in that elevator?

No, it doesn’t, if Rice had already given an accurate description of events to the league.

But we all know Goodell did see the video. How is it that the most powerful man in the NFL, who presides over all suspensions, didn’t see the video that was sent to the league regarding a disciplinary incident? I highly doubt that Goodell didn’t see that piece of footage before it was broadcasted all over the world.

I’m not saying Rice is the victim, but the man was not given a fair trial by the league.

Rice admitted his crimes, had evidence to show and was suspended. Rice didn’t make the decision on how many games he was suspended for. Should he be re-suspended for footage released to the media?

Being in the NFL is a privilege, and many would do anything to be in the league. It’s a cherished

elite fraternity of men looked to as role models.

In a situation where Goodell should have stood up and made a statement that domestic violence will not be tolerated, he simply fumbled.

Whether or not Goodell loses his job, the complacency and lack of urgency he applied to the Rice incident, will forever tarnish his reputation.

Photo courtesy of nfl.com

The postseason is in full swing

Sept. 17 SRJC-9, SJDC-16

Sept. 12 SRJC-3, Alameda-0

www.theoakleafnews.com

Goodell fumbles; Rice knocked out

Sept.13 SRJC-24, Butte-17 Sept. 20 SRJC-32, Sacramento-31

Sports

Opinion

T

he 2014 MLB season is nearly in the books. After the long everyday grind of the season, contending teams start to zero in on the real goal - October success.

For some teams, like the Seattle Mariners or Kansas City Royals, a simple playoff birth denotes marked improvement from their 2013 season and shows lots of promise for years to come. For others, like the L.A. Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals or Oakland A’s, another early postseason exit is unacceptable, and their eyesight is tunnel vision for the Midsummer Classic.

A few division leaders have punched their tickets to the playoffs, while others are fighting for the right to play in the division series, decided by the recently implemented makeor-break one-game playoff series.

With fewer than two weeks remaining in the schedule, barely a handful of teams can afford the luxury of a day off before the season ends. This is the home stretch of the season and the teams are fighting for their playoff lives.

In the American League, both

the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Baltimore Orioles are sure to be in the Division Series, but their opponents remain to be determined.

With an extremely tight race unfolding in the AL Central, the perennial postseason contender Detroit Tigers and the upstart Royals are battling to stay out of the one-game playoff. Currently, the Royals trail the Tigers by 1.5 games, after a series between the two teams.

The winner of the AL Central will face the Orioles, and the loser drops into contention for one of the two Wild Card spots.

Atop the AL Wild Card sit the A’s, who after a nearly historical collapse look to have righted the ship heading into October. The Royals trail the A’s by just one game, while the Mariners are two games out of a Wild Card spot. The winner of the Wild Card game face the Angels in the Division Series.

In the National League, much is in flux as the season comes to a close. The Washington Nationals secured their spot atop the NL East, but are not a lock for the No.1 seed in the playoffs.

The Cardinals lead the NL central by 3.5 games and the Dodgers lead the West by four. In the NL Wild Card, the Giants lead by 2.5 games, trailed by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Milwaukee Brewers are sticking

around as well, trailing the Pirates by just a game and a half.

As of now, the winner of the Wild Card game will face the Nationals in the NLDS game, while the winners of the NL West and NL Central will square off in the other NLDS game.

As we have seen many times before, mid-September is still too early to lock a team into the playoffs.

With about 12 games remaining for all teams, nothing is set in stone.

The Giants have been nothing short of amazing since the AllStar break and could easily use

the remaining three-game series against the rival Dodgers to vault themselves further in the standings. The Pirates, Cardinals and Royals are still very much within reach of their respective Division leaders as well.

Teams, managers and GM’s are fighting for their jobs, league-wide respect and most importantly a spot in the grind that is the MLB playoffs.

And there’s no question, when it gets this late in the season, every game counts.

Photo courtesy of mlb.com

www.theoakleafnews.com

Opinion

September 22, 2014

No simple cure for jihadism

EDITORIAL A

Anne-Elisabeth Cavarec Staff Writer

L

Illustration by Chantelle Bogue

ndy Lopez died at age 13.

Six seconds, seven 9 mm bullets, fired from the gun of a 24year veteran of the Sonoma County Sheriff ’s Department.

The community’s anguish poured out in rallies and protests. A week after Lopez’s death, more than 1,000 people marched through Santa Rosa, beginning at Courthouse Square, stopping at Santa Rosa Junior College and concluding at the Sonoma County sheriff ’s office. Similar events played out over California, from Sacramento to Los Angeles.

While these events gave the community an important release of its sound and fury and a chance to gain national consideration, the sad fact is that the modern 24-hour news cycle soon left them behind in pursuit of the next big story, taking the nation’s attention with it.

To gain any kind of lasting change and healing, the community needs to have more say in how its guardians conduct themselves.

Sonoma County’s board of supervisors initiated the Community and Local Law Enforcement Task Force to evaluate and recommend actions for creating a citizen’s review board of the county’s police and sheriff ’s departments, independent of any internal assessment systems. The task force includes teachers, attorneys, representatives from youth outreach programs and the former and current SRJC student trustees.

The current draft of the task force’s goals for this potential review board include increasing the accountability of law enforcement at the level of offices and officers, strengthening public confidence in the law enforcement agencies, and improving the transparency of how these agencies operate.

This board shouldn’t restrict law enforcement from performing their duties, but it does need to ask questions to give the community insight as to how enforcement

agencies go about their business of protecting the citizens of the community.

In a panel discussion held Sept.

18 in the Bertolini Center, Robert Edmonds, former SRJC student trustee and current task force vice-chair, put forth several questions that such a board might ask of the SRJC District Police.

Why does SRJC pay $2 million for 13 officers to patrol an area where five law enforcement districts already overlap each other?

Is this money spent wisely?

As reported in the Sept. 8 issue, the SRJC District Police currently has only one sworn officer stationed at the Petaluma campus; the remainder serve on the Santa Rosa campus. An Oak Leaf analysis of the past two years of arrest records show that 72 percent of arrests occurred in the neighborhoods surrounding SRJC. What is or should be the jurisdiction of SRJC District Police?

What further assurances can

the SRJC community have to deter another Jeffrey Holzworth scenario, in which a 28-year veteran officer stole more than $285,000 from campus parking meters?

The department has already taken many steps towards addressing this specifically around the handing of the parking meter revenue: two people collect the physical monies from the machines instead of just one, and multiple people go over the electronic receipts. Still, such an egregious breach of the community’s trust will continue to need attention by SRJC District Police Department in all its operations.

Edmonds also referenced researching SRJC’s Clery Reports in his address. These reports are federally mandated by the Clery Act, which states that educational institutions with a police department must provide these reports as a public crime log detailing the “nature, date, time and general location of each crime” within two days of the incident.

The district has not updated its website with current Clery Reports since July 2, 2014, “due to county Wide [sic] Software upgrades.” The regular crime logs have a similar notice and have not been updated since July 1.

Does it take a full month and a half to perform a software upgrade? Copies of the logs can be acquired by calling 707-527-4922 during business hours and by requesting an emailed version, but the growing gap between the last online entry and the current date is troubling.

The Community and Local Law Enforcement Task Force intends to create a more permanent forum for the public to find the answers to these and any other questions.

The task force welcomes the community to its meetings, the next of which will occur at 5:15 p.m. Sept.

29 in Room 102A of the County Center Board Chambers on 575 Administration Drive.

Stop the culture of violence

The right to bear arms isn’t disputed by the left; what’s important is the future Andrew “Beau” Lino Staff Writer

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glass of good American whiskey, sipped clean, and conversation with my Grandpa.

He’s a veteran of the Korean War and talks like a borderline socialist. He rarely goes more than 10 minutes without mentioning the failures of the far right. His views are biased and sometimes skewed.

But he’s intelligent and keeps himself informed, reading the “The New York Times,” “Time” magazine and “The Economist.”

He watches various news stations with the fanatical tenacity of a religious extremist who’s memorized his Holy Bible. He owns his own firearms and used

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to let me shoot his pellet gun.

As for me, I am a gun-toting, deer-hunting Democrat who loves popping off a few clips into a hillside littered with aluminum cans and discarded cartridges.

I own four firearms: a .22, a 25-20, a 30-30 and a 410 shotgun. I hold no grudges against Tea-partiers or libertarians, Republicans or Ralph Nader.

I am, however, disturbed by America’s fascination with firearms and the dangers they pose to wellintentioned, untrained citizens.

My grandfather mentions how quick police are to shoot rather than disarm. “Shooting doesn’t keep the peace,” he says.

He wants to see gun laws tighten up; he wants to see the sale of firearms restricted. He wants full background checks, licenses is-

sued and the size of magazines restricted. He doesn’t understand why police need so much firepower on their person.

We turn on the news to find that a young black male was shot dead in Ferguson, Miss. by a white policeman, Darren Wilson.

The victim, 18-year-old Michael Brown was, and remains, unarmed. Though now he’s unarmed and dead.

My grandfather and I sit in silence, taking in the weight of the Michael Brown shooting.

We finish our glasses of whiskey, each of us wondering how this recent act of aggressive manslaughter will affect gun laws in this country.

Perhaps it goes against our coveted Second Amendment to regulate the buying and selling

of firearms. But I think it’s time we do what’s best for the children of our nation. According to the Brady Campaign website, “In 2007, more pre-school-aged children (85) were killed by guns than police officers.”

I am by no means suggesting that firearms be made illegal; in the face of the gun violence that plagues this great country, my grandfather and I will continue to own and use firearms to hunt for sustenance, shoot aluminum cans and to protect ourselves from the dangers of the wilderness.

I only want to see the lives of the innocent preserved, as it is our children who will define the future of this nation.

ast month, 30,000 men, women and children from the Yazidi community took refuge without food or water in the Sinjar mountains to escape atrocities committed by jihadist fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Currently, 70,000 Syrian Kurdish refugees are crossing the Turkey border.

According to the United Nations, 1.8 million Iraqis, primarily Christian, Yazidi and Turkoman minorities, have been displaced this year to flee persecutions.

In the name of Islam, ISIL fighters gave themselves the right to amputate, crucify, rape and kill anybody who does not follow their rules and beliefs. The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton denounces these atrocities as crimes against humanity.

In the past few months, the 30,000 ISIL fighters established their power on a large area extending from Raqqah in Syria to Fallouja and Mossoul in Iraq. Its radicality, brutality and military and financial power in addtion to its goal to control Muslim countries represent a significant threat that democracies must fight.

A coalition of almost 40 countries is currently working on a plan to militarily destroy ISIL’s strategic positions in Iraq and Syria.

The goal is “to eradicate a cancer like ISIL,” President Barack Obama said. However, ISIL is not an illness that can simply be destroyed by some established process.

President Obama’s over-simplification of this organization as a “cancer” fails to consider its complexity. This jeopardizes the opportunity to destroy the movement completely. ISIL is a well-organized movement with a strong political goal and knows how to manipulate the Sunni’s preexisting grievances against the Shia and to attract new people into its ranks.

The fight against these militants could be efficient only if the political complexity of the situation is considered. Using air strikes as surgical operations will not be sufficient to destroy the roots of this terrorist organization – which is a state in name only, and which perverts Muslim religion to its benefit.

We are not talking about an illness that suddenly appeared on the body of Earth, we are talking about a terrorist movement born during American military intervention in Iraq in 2003 and is using propaganda to enroll new fighters every day.

Military action is not enough.

Political and diplomatic ways are essential. The coalition must support Syrian rebels groups and promote political structures in Iraq in the long-term.

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September 22, 2014

Features

www.theoakleafnews.com

Meet the new faculty Elizabeth Simas Speech Q: What drew you to SRJC? A: The teachers are high-end and so are the students. I’ve been teaching for eight years, even at four-year schools and the students are more participative.

Q: What inspired you to work in your chosen field?

A: When I was at Solano I took speech my first semester. I wanted to get it over with and my teacher suggested I join the debate team and I absolutely fell in love with speech.

Q: What does learning mean to you?

A: I think it’s really important that learning is not just memorizing, it’s interpreting. It’s questioning what does this mean and how does it relate to my life.

Q: What is the sound track to your life?

A: Weezer’s “The Blue Album.”

When it came out, it really resonated with me.

Regina Guerra College Math Skills Q: What drew you to SRJC? A: I really like working with adults that historically have struggled with math and helping people on the journey into college level math classes. There are so many resources and [plenty of] support for students.

Q: What inspired you to work in your chosen field?

A: I always liked math. I’m not a genius, but it always felt like a puzzle to me, a fun thing to do. I would like to bring that perspective or playful approach to numbers.

Q: What does learning mean to you?

A: When I teach there are three stages: the knowing, the doing and the being. Each represents a deeper level of learning.

Q: What is the sound track to your life?

A: Maurice Ravel’s “Bolero.” I like to listen to it before I take a test. His music is empowering and puts me in a state of confidence.

Andrea Thomas Kinesiology, Athletics & Dance.

Q: What drew you to SRJC? A: It’s a great college academically, the locations wonderful and I have a lot of family in the area.

Q: What inspired you to work in your chosen field?

A: When I learned how to take care of myself through fitness, exercise and nutrition, and realized the huge difference it made on my quality of life, I got passionate about that.

Q: What does learning mean to you?

A: Learning is when [people] take in new information and use it in a way that their thinking or their behavior changes for the better, where they can improve their life or the lives of people around them.

Q: How do you like your eggs?

A: Kind of like a quiche with no crust… and I put hot sauce on it.

Tony Ruiz English Q: What drew you to SRJC? A: The setting in Sonoma County was one of the primary attractions.

Yet, the setting suggests the opportunities for community that distinguish SRJC, a quality that is essential in a strong college. I also value a college rich in activities in support of student and faculty, which is certainly a central part of the SRJC mission.

Q: What inspired you to work in your chosen field?

A: I was an English major, but I had the support of teachers that inspired me.

Q: What does learning mean to you?

A: On a broader level, I want students to become selfreflective—on their education, the opportunities presented, and the privilege we enjoy exploring, together, meaningful issues in our community. Ultimately, I ask students to be self-reflective on what constitutes literacy.

Q: What is the sound track to your life?

A: All the soundtracks in Wes Anderson’s films. Enough said.

AC Panella Communications Q: What drew you to SRJC? A: I was waiting for a reason to come back to Northern California.

So this was a great reason to come back.

Q: What inspired you to work in your chosen field?

A: During graduate school I realized what I enjoyed was what I had learned in my first undergrad, which was teaching.

Q: What does learning mean to you?

A: It’s about being curious.

Curiosity and wonder are the two things that I really believe in and hope that I foster.

Q: How do you like your eggs?

A: Poached.

Brianna Scott Behavorial Sciences Q: What drew you to SRJC? A: As an instructor I want students who want to be in the classroom, that don’t feel like they’re being gouged for money, and that are engaged, and that’s what I’ve found here already.

Q: What inspired you to work in your chosen field?

A: I ended up taking a neuropsychology class and it just blew me away. I got so excited about neurons, which is super nerdy to say that out loud. But I got really excited about neurons and how our brains work and how the fact that these electrical impulses that are moving around in your brain and your body are influencing your behavior, your thought processes.

Q: What does learning mean to you?

A: I love learning. I just want to be around it. I get energized by students being excited about stuff.

And so it’s sort of selfish. I just want to continue to learn and get the newest research that’s coming out.

Q: How do you like your eggs?

A: Currently I’m an over-medium person.

Roberto Alverado Counseling Q: What drew you to SRJC? A: Having the opportunity to continue what I love to do.

Q: What inspired you to work in your chosen field?

A: What social work taught me was how to help and work with people. And I get an opportunity to do that on a daily basis as a counselor.

Q: What does learning mean to you?

A: If we don’t constantly evolve and change the things that we do, the way we think, then we grow stagnant.

And when we grow stagnant that’s when we’re not happy.

Q: How do you like you eggs?

A: Scrambled, hard... I don’t like any runny.

Carmen Castillo English Q: What drew you to SRJC? A: I went here as a student. I was a re-entry student and I had never felt like college material before, so I took classes here. I had such an amazing experience and it took me so far.

Q: What inspired you to work in your chosen field?

A: For me, reading alone is so powerful, but reading with a group is exponentially powerful. And that just made me realize I would love to do this for my life. And if I get paid for it great, you know.

Q: What does learning mean to you?

A: I think learning is that process of studying something and then getting to this point where all the things that you’re studying coalesce and then you have this exciting experience in your mind.

Q: How do you like your eggs?

A: I like them over easy and I like them scrambled. Preferably eggs Benedict. Eggs Benedict with no bread but just country friend potatoes underneath.

Katy Metzler Life Sciences Q: What drew you to SRJC? A: I always had an interest in this area because I’d flown out here to interview and thought, “Oh, it’s so beautiful, I really like it.”

Q: What inspired you to work in your chosen field?

A: I got excited about biology for the first time when I was in high school.

My biology teacher had us read this book called “The Hot Zone” which is about the Ebola virus. Which of course now is having a huge and scary outbreak in Africa.

Q: What does learning mean to you?

A: I think learning means reorganizing the stuff in your head into a more accurate structure.

Q: What is the sound track to your life?

A: Lately it’s been things like Jose Gonzales. Like in the evenings just kind of chill-out, nice music, or piano music from movie soundtracks.

Eira Klich-Heartt Nursing Q: What drew you to SRJC? A: It was just a great opportunity to teach nursing in a clinical setting at the hospitals that I was familiar with.

Q: What inspired you to work in your chosen field?

A: I was an early nurse; I went to nursing right out of high school.

In the end it’s been a good career path. I think its more holistic than medicine.

Q: What does learning mean to you?

A: To me it means to be curious and to constantly ask questions, and to consider possible solutions and to be kind of playful with the material that I’m with — to constantly see if there is a different angle on it.

Q: What is the sound track to your life?

A: There is a heavy metal band in Germany called “Die Ärtze,” and they’ve got very contemporary, sarcastic music. They’re pretty funny.

www.theoakleafnews.com

Features

September 22, 2014

Text the ‘stache for a ride

Photo by JoshuOne Barnes/Oak Leaf

Lyft driver Maxwell Austinweil offers a “lyft” to riders who use the smartphone app to seek transportation. The pink mustache is the company’s trademark.

Estefany Gonzalez Staff Writer

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here is an app for almost anything imaginable these days, even to train for the zombie apocalypse. While there isn’t an app that can magically teleport people where they want to go, there’s Lyft, the mustache ride.

Lyft is a mobile-to-mobile service that connects people who need rides with drivers.

What’s unique about the service is that the drivers are everyday people using their personal cars sporting the company’s trademark pink mustache.

As soon as the rider turns on the app, it offers a quick description of nearby drivers and their cars. The rider then chooses from the list, and an alert is sent to the driver with the rider’s current location. The rider uses the app to finalize the transaction and leave a tip.

Santa Rosa Junior College students Terra Flinn and Grace Davis both use Lyft regularly.

They first used the app on vacation in San Diego. The taxi ride cost $40 to get from the airport to their hotel room, but with Lyft it only cost $15 to get from their hotel back to the airport.

Flinn and Davis now use Lyft when they need a designated driver. Flinn said she finds the app

helpful after drinking too much to paying for a ride home. “It’s a call someone to pick her up. little cozier, like a cottage versus “I can work my phone, but a hotel room,” he said. calling is a whole other thing. You Stice has heard many horror can just use your location too, so stories about the rift between it’s not like you have to tell them Lyft drivers and local taxi drivers. where you’re at,” she said.

Taxi drivers’ outrage towards Davis and Flinn prefer Lyft Lyft was made public recently in to a taxi not only for financial a KOAT ABC 7 report, in which reasons, but because they feel the taxi drivers in Albuquerque, New drivers are friendlier and tend Mexico sued Lyft for not being a to be their age. “It’s usually just licensed taxi company. college students According to the trying to make report, taxi drivers money,” she said. in New Mexico Although Davis make only a third “I really like the and Flinn usually of the money empowerment never meet the they made before behind it, in driver until the Lyft expanded the terms that ride, they feel into their area. it’s just people safer getting into They see Lyft helping people.” a Lyft car than as an unfair a taxi because service because - Dilyn Stice, drivers use their the drivers aren’t SRJC student personal cars. required to have a SRJC student special license or Jill Larson said pay taxes. that although M a x w e l l she’s never taken a Lyft ride Austenweil, a full-time Santa herself, her co-worker Alicia Rosa Lyft driver, admits the taxi uses Lyft frequently. “She was business has been affected due to all stoked because she likes to go Lyft. He said the reason why Lyft out and know she has a safe ride is cutting into the taxi business is home,” Larson said. that Lyft drivers are reliable and SRJC student Dilyn Stice has a don’t leave passengers waiting. friend who works as a Lyft driver. “Cab drivers will tell them they’ll “I really like the empowerment be there in 15 minutes and behind it, in the terms that it’s sometimes leave people waiting just people helping people,” Stice for a half hour,” he said. said. He likes the fact that Lyft Austeweil explained that Lyft offers a more personal touch to works on a five-star system. The

drivers will no longer receive alerts for riders if their scores fall too low. “People have gotten kicked off for having a four-star review. I currently have a 4.9, which is really good, but it is pressure,” he said.

The star system also controls drivers’ priority; if two drivers are in the same area, priority goes to the driver whose rating is highest.

Austenweil said he has had to deal with strange characters but hadn’t any damage done to his car until about two weeks ago when he picked up three drunk women from a bar downtown.

One of the women threw up on his car window, and he had to take his door apart with a mechanic to clean it.

“I didn’t report it because Lyft has a very specific way you have to report it. You have to take pictures and other things. I thought it was just easier to deal with it myself,” he said.

Lyft offers the first ride for free in order to introduce people to this new form of transportation.

“When we first started we offered 25 free rides up to $25 in a twoweek period,” he said.

As Lyft gains popularity however, these free rides are becoming extinct — but even then Lyft’s fares are still cheaper than a cab’s fares.

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Barbecue on a budget Nate Voge Features Editor

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uthentic barbecue is hard to find. Doing it yourself is surprisingly easy and cheap.

Juicy, smoky barbecued meat requires time, not money.

The key to barbecue is keeping the temperature low, opposed to grilling where the meat is charred and cooked quickly over high heat.

When people say the term “BBQ,” they often mean “grill.”

The two methods are confused because both use hardwood or charcoal as a heat source. Propane grills and smokers with electric components to smolder wood chips are more expensive, less authentic options.

Barbecue — wood smoke, lowheat cooking — is an American tradition. Christopher Columbus learned the technique from the first indigenous tribes he encountered, terming the cooking method “barbacoa” in Spanish. In addition to the native technique, Europeans brought pigs for meat and African slaves brought the tradition of seasoning meat with peppers. These three contributions are what make authentic American barbecue.

Regions throughout the U.S. developed their own styles of barbecue and differ in the type of wood, sauce and cut of meat.

In the Carolinas and Virginia, pork is the only meat qualified to become barbecue, and traditionally, only whole-hog.

The meat is served with a variety of sauces from mustard-based to pepper and vinegar.

Kansas City-style barbecue is famous for hickory-smoked pork ribs and cuts of pork, beef and poultry smothered in a sweet and spicy tomato-based sauce.

Texas is the farthest west traditional regional barbecue extends. German immigrants first brought cattle ranching to Texas, and bovine barbecue with simple seasonings has been the Texas way ever since.

Traditional styles provide a framework, but a homemade smoker allows for complete creative control.

There are many different DIY smokers on the Internet. After testing celebrity chef Alton Brown’s electric smoker, coals proved the better option. Brown’s design includes an electric hotplate, which is placed inside a large terra cotta pot with another pot as the lid. Wood chips are placed in a frying pan on the hotplate, and in theory, the hotplate will provide enough heat to smolder the chips.

It did not work.

Instead, use all the same materials in Brown’s model and replace the hotplate with hot coals.

Place the hot coals on top of dead coals, with wood chips directly on the coals to create smoke.

For a more detailed description of the DIY smoker and a stepby-step smoked pork tenderloin recipe, check out the video on www.theoakleafnews.com.

THE SRJC NEWSPAPER

With: Jarrett Rodriguez Watch Jarrett recap the highligts of this and past issues in 60 seconds or fewer

Online www.theoakleafnews.com