THE SOLUTION IS MORE LOVE

Issue VI, Volume CXXXII

December 8, 2014

www.theoakleafnews.com

THE SRJC NEWSPAPER

THE SOLUTION IS Beyond homeless stereotypes

- Center spread

2012 wet lab incident - Page 3

2

December 8, 2014

Wed.

10

15

16

Petaluma City of Lights Driving Tour • Through Dec. 28 • Take a self-guided tour of beautifully decorated homes and businesses throughout Petaluma • 6 p.m. • visitpetaluma.com/holiday • 707-769-0429 • Free

Follow us on twitter

17

Gypsy Trio • Live music • 4:20 p.m. • Lagunitas Brewing Company • lagunitas.com/ live • 707-778-8776 • All ages • Free

Songbook Night • Holiday sing-along with Matt Hererro • 8 p.m. • Sleeping Lady, Fairfax • sleepingladyfairfax.com • 415-485-1182 • All ages • Free

Rory McNamera & the Ring of Truth Trio • Americana music • 9 p.m. • Sleeping Lady, Fairfax • sleepingladyfairfax. com • 415-485-1182 • 21+ • Free

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 T. Randolph, Ben Steinberg, Sean Curzon Photographers Joseph Barkoff JoshuOne Barnes Jeanine Flaton-Buckley Advertising William Rohrs

@SROakleaf @theoakleafnews

Wed.

Community Holiday Dinner • Full dinner buffet brings the community together • 7 p.m.

• Aqus Cafe • 707-778-6060 • $22

The Petaluma Chorale presents “An Evening in December” • With soloist Gail Bowers and the Polished Brass Quintet • 7:30-9:30 p.m.

• Petaluma Valley Baptist Church • 707-762-8222 • $1012, free for children under 12

www.theoakleafnews.com

13

Sat.

Holiday Shopping at SRJC’s Shone Farm Winery • 11a.m. to 3 p.m. • mulled cider and kid’s craft area • shonefarm. com/winery • All ages • Free Steve Pile • Live music, life size Jenga, wine tasting and holiday cheer • 12:30-4:30 p.m. • Doors open at 11 a.m.

• VML Winery, Healdsburg • allyssavml@gmail.com • 707431-4404 • No tickets required; $10 tasting fee waived w/bottle purchase. • All ages

Vinyl with the Optimystics • 9:30 p.m. • Zodiacs, Petaluma • zodiacspetaluma.com • 707773-7751 • $10-15

Tue.

20@20: 20 Artists at 20 Years • Exhibition of established and emerging sculptors working in metal, stone, rope, wood, found materials and sound • 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Paradise Ridge Winery, Sculpturegrove • info@prwinery.com • 707528-9463 • Free

Section Editors: Copy Editor | Alex T. Randolph Calendar Editor | Jeanine Buckley 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 | Jeanine Buckley

SRJC Jazz Night • Featuring the Oaktones acapella group, SRJC jazz combo, big band and the “Night Band,” Dr. Jerome Fleg, director • 7:30 p.m. • Newman Auditorium • santarosa.edu/music/concerts • $8 general/$4 students, seniors and children

Chrissy Lynne and Danny Uzilevsky • 4:20 p.m. • Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma • lagunitas.com/ live • 707-778-8776 • All ages • Free

Mon.

Jarrett Rodriguez

Benefit Show • Indie/ alternative rock bands • 7-11 p.m. • 755 After Dark • Proceeds go to Aaliyah Woolf and family • greenlightsilhouette.com/ shows • 707-829-2722

Relax before finals with therapy dogs at Mahoney Library Gallery, Petaluma campus • 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and 3:15-4:15 p.m.

Starry Nights • Featuring the concert choir and chamber singers • Jody Benecke, director; Nancy Hayashibara, accompanist • 7:30 p.m. • Burbank Auditorium • $10 general/$5 students, seniors and children

Managing Editor:

Fri.

SRJC Holiday Receptions • 9:30-11:30 a.m. • Petaluma campus, Connie Mahoney Reading Room, Mahoney Library • Light refreshments will be provided

Cinema Series presents: “The Namesake” by Mira Nair • Pre-film lecture 6 p.m./ film screening 7 p.m./postscreening discussion until 10 p.m. • Ellis Auditorium, Petaluma campus • $5 general/$4 students and seniors/free for PFA Members

Julie Lee and Stephen Radley

12

11

Thurs.

SRJC Holiday Reception • 2-4 p.m. • Santa Rosa campus, Bertolini Student Center • Light refreshments served

Editors-in-Chief:

Calendar

Web Editor Devin Marshall

Calendar Jeanine Flaton-Buckley, Julie Lee, Robert Marshall Distribution Haley Bollinger, Jeanine Buckley, Nate Voge, Stephen Radley, Chantelle Bogue

SRJCOakleaf theoakleafnews

18

The North Bay Hootenanny presents: Ben Weiner • Live music, craft beers, wine by the glass, coffee bar, artisan cheese plates and desserts • 1 p.m. • Epicurean Connection, Sonoma • epicureanconnection.com • 707-935-7960 • Free Kinsey Sicks • America’s favorite Dragapella quartet return to Sonoma County for an encore performance of “Oy Vey in a Manger,” benefitting Congregation Ner Shalom • 7:30 p.m. Person Theater SSU • kinseysicks.com • nershalom. org • $30-50

Fri.

19

Mandela: the Hip Hop Shop • Arlene Francis Center • arlenefranciscenter.org/ calendars • 707-528-3009

The Chime Travelers • Classic rock • 8 p.m. • Redwood Café • redwoodcafe.com • 707-7957868 • Free

Disclaimer • Live music • 8 p.m. • 755 After Dark • All ages • $10

Christmas Jug Band • 8:30 p.m. • Zodiacs, Petaluma • zodiacspetalumainticketing. com • 707-773-7751 • $10 10th Annual Ugly X-mas Sweater Party with Frankie Boots & the County Line • Live music • 9 p.m. • Hopmonk, Sebastopol • hopmonk.com • 707-829-7300 • 21+ • $10

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

Multimedia Stephen Radley Jeanine Flaton-Buckley

Follow us on Instagram

Thurs.

14

Sun.

Contact Newsroom: 707-527-4401 Ads Office: 707-527-4254 Anne Belden, Adviser: 707-527-4867 abelden@santarosa.edu EMAIL oakleaf-ads@santarosa.edu oakleafonline@gmail.com oakleafpr@gmail.com

Like us on facebook

OakleafNews

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR We appreciate your feedback.

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.

Editorials do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the students, staff, faculty or administration.

Check out our website:

www.theoakleafnews.com

www.theoakleafnews.com

News

December 8, 2014

3

2012 incident sent drunk cadet to hospital SRJC District Police ‘wet lab’ training exercise went awry; college investigated JoshuOne Barnes News Editor wo years ago, before veteran Santa Rosa Junior College District Police officer Jeffrey Holzworth’s parking meter thefts came to light and before the current outsourced investigations of campus police, SRJC officials quietly dealt with another campus police controversy. It involved an inadequately supervised “wet lab” for cadets that went awry, leading to one cadet hospitalized with alcohol poisoning and senior officers in the department facing reprimands, according to an anonymous source with knowledge of the incident.

The Oak Leaf obtained a report compiled by Mark Paschal of San Francisco, a man who, according to the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, does not have a license to conduct investigations. The report was produced at the request of school administrators after discovering the police were conducting their own investigation into serious misconduct charges and violations of student safety at the hands of senior officers, all of whom are still at the department.

The report’s findings are available online at www.theoakleafnews.com.

Paschal claimed to be a private investigator when contacted by phone. When asked how he is able to investigate without a license, Paschal said during the wet lab inquiry he worked under a licensed investigator. “I assisted,” he said. He refused to identify the employer with a license. “If we should be subpoenaed or something like that we would definitely comply with that information, but only under a subpoena,” he said.

When Paschal conducted the investigation into the wet lab incident, Lisa Holmes, a

T

licensed investigator, occasionally accompanied him. The law governing the licensing of private investigators forbids stateregulated investigators from either hiring unlicensed investigators to conduct investigations or being employed by unlicensed investigators for that purpose.

Holmes would not return requests for information about Paschal.

The incident in question was a police cadet training exercise known as a wet lab held on April 14, 2012.

Sergeants Robert Brownlee and Steven Potter originally planned the wet lab, which Officers Joe Richards, Jeremy Jucutan and about 10 cadets attended, according to the report.

Sgt. Potter instructed three cadets to consume various amounts of alcohol on campus so the other cadets could study the effects of alcohol to better detect it during traffic stops.

According to Sgt. Potter’s testimony in the report, he instructed the cadets to drink enough to get intoxicated, but not to go above a 0.10 blood alcohol content.

According to the report, Sgt. Potter said he instructed a cadet captain to purchase the alcohol and he would reimburse him. That cadet captain also supervised the three cadets who volunteered to drink for the exercise and kept a record of how much they drank. All three were over 21 years old. The cadets drank shots of tequila in the cadet station located near the campus parking structure. The supervising cadet had them drink a shot every 10 to 15 minutes from about 4 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. One of the female cadets reported she drank five shots of tequila while the other two drank seven shots.

SRJC doesn’t allow students or faculty to consume alcohol on campus. According to SRJC’s Health

Report Findings Although an unlicensed investigator compiled the report, the findings of this inquiry into the “wet lab” contained many important points: • In March of 2012 Sgt. Potter arranged for the wet lab training; Sgt. Brownlee conducted the training. At the time there were no procedures in place to approve or disapprove cadet training exercises.

• No officers were present to monitor alcohol consumption. Sgt. Potter made the decision to have the cadets consume alcohol on campus.

•A cadet monitored the three volunteer cadets as they drank 1 oz. shots of tequila from 4-5:45 p.m. One cadet drank five shots while the other two drank seven each. The cadets were then driven to the training center at the campus police station.

• Officer Richards administered alcohol screening tests at 6:40 p.m. The cadets registered BACs of 0.159 percent, 0.153 percent and .09 percent. Richards took three videos of the cadets while they were intoxicated and forwarded the videos to other officers because he thought the cadet’s condition was humorous.

• The sworn officers left the station at the conclusion of the training exercise while two cadets were vomiting and one was passing out.

• When dispatcher Monica Chavez called for medical assistance for the alcoholpoisoned cadet, no officers or sergeants were present in the building.

• Paramedics arrived at 9 p.m. and transported one cadet to Sutter Hospital because her breathing was labored and she was unresponsive. She was treated and released at 11:50 p.m. to her mother’s care.

and Safety Policies page on its website, “In addition to being a violation of Federal and State laws, the possession and/or use of alcohol, the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of illegal controlled substances on SRJC campuses, offcampus centers, workplace site of employees, or at any Districtsponsored event is prohibited…

Violators of this prohibition are subject to criminal prosecution and/ or disciplinary action, including reprimand, probation, suspension or expulsion, and/or termination from employment.”

During Sgt. Potter’s testimony, when asked for his understanding of alcohol consumption on campus, he replied, “I understand that it is against the law.”

The report states that no officers were present during the consumption of alcohol, so there was no way for Sgt. Brownlee to know exactly how much alcohol the three cadets consumed.

Furthermore, Sgt. Potter stated that he did not ask the three cadets about medications they might be taking or whether they had eaten, but did suggest they bring snacks.

During the unregulated consumption of alcohol, the three cadets became intoxicated. When they arrived at the training center at 6 p.m., witnesses described them as loud and obnoxious. Later the two female cadets vomited on the floor and in trashcans. One passed out and was unresponsive by the end of the training. According to the report, breathalyzer tests showed the cadet who was later hospitalized had a BAC of 0.159 percent, nearly twice the legal limit. The other female cadet blew 0.09 percent BAC while the male cadet was at 0.153 percent.

SRJC District Police Officer Joe Richards was present during the wet lab training at the request of Sgt. Brownlee, according to testimony given to Paschal and Holmes. At one point during the training, while a cadet was vomiting and passing out, Richards made three cell phone videos, which he sent out to other senior police employees.

According to Sgt. Potter’s testimony in the report, he received the videos from Richards accompanied by a text message with laughing emoticons. Sgt. Potter responded to Richards with a text saying, “What the hell is happening?”

In the videos, while the cadets were vomiting and passing out, Sgt. Brownlee can be heard continuing his lecture on field sobriety tests. Officer Richards can be heard laughing and at one point calls a pile of vomit on the floor “a little evidence.” Sgt. Brownlee and Richards both refused requests to respond to allegations that they mishandled the exercise.

The Oak Leaf has obtained the cellphone videos and posted them online at www.theoakleafnews.com, but blurred the faces of the cadets.

Sgt. Brownlee stated that when he left after the training at 7:35 p.m. the cadet who was later hospitalized had her head over a trash can, but was not vomiting. He confirmed with other

An intoxicated SRJC cadet is helped to the floor by an SRJC District Police officer and another cadet during a wet lab training exercise that ended with one cadet sent to the hospital. The full video is online at www.theoakleafnews.com.

cadets that she had a ride home and someone to care for her.

According to the report, Rhonda Gowa, an employee of the Sonoma County Coroner’s office and an EMT, job-shadowed dispatcher Monica Chavez. After another cadet alerted her to the condition of one of the intoxicated cadets, Gowa and Chavez examined her, determined her breathing was labored and suggested she needed immediate medical attention. Chavez called for an ambulance. According to Chavez’s interview in the report, no sworn officer was in the building at the time.

The SRJC police academy in Windsor does not conduct wet lab training, but some police departments in the state do. According to a December 2012 report by ABC affiliate KRCR in Redding, California, the Redding Police department gives wet lab demonstrations to local media. During the demonstrations, members of the media who have volunteered are given alcoholic drinks and breathalyzer tests to determine how close to the legal limit for driving they are.

According to statements he gave to investigators, Sgt. Brownlee did not alert the chain of command about the plans for the exercise. The chain of command at the time included interim Police Chief Joe Palla and Lt. Dave Willat.

Palla and Willat did not respond to requests for information about the wet lab or its investigation. According to the source with knowledge of the entire affair, Palla asked Willat at the time to investigate the matter when it came to his attention that things had gone wrong with the training.

According to the Bureau of Security

and Investigative Services, Willat is a licensed investigator. But when he began his investigation, the college quickly decided to hire an outside party to investigate.

It is unclear whether the findings of the report influenced any changes in policies in the department’s handling of training the shortterm non-continuing cadets.

Administrators have not responded to Oak Leaf questions and requests for information about the incident and its aftermath.

Matt McCaffrey, current SRJC District police chief, who was not chief at the time of the wet lab incident, is the public information officer for District Police. He did not respond to requests for information about the incident or questions about whether wet labs are still conducted during training.

In November, McCaffrey sent an email to all district police employees warning them against making statements to the press under threat of reprimands “including termination.”

The Oak Leaf filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the college in accordance with the California Public Records Act to determine the scope of the school’s involvement with the investigation.

The CPRA gives the school 10 days to respond to the request and produce any releasable documents. Twentyeight days after the Oak Leaf ’s request, Attorney Patrick Wilson, who represents the school, responded by email saying he needs another week to review all of the documents.

As more information becomes available about this incident and subsequent fallout, The Oak Leaf will report on it.

4

December 8, 2014

UC tuition on the rise

News

www.theoakleafnews.com

Increase causes grief, ignites protests across state Mariana Guevara Staff Writer

F

irst year college students entering the University of California system could see their tuition rise by 5 percent in the next five years.

On Nov. 20, the UC Board of Regents approved UC President Janet Napolitano’s plan to raise tuition, sparking disagreement from state lawmakers and students. The plan passed 14-7 by a committee vote that Student Regent Sadia Saifuddin and Gov. Jerry Brown voted against.

Napolitano argued that the raise was necessary given state budget cuts, pointing out that state support is at its lowest in 30 years. The UC system receives $460 million less from the state today than it did before the recession.

“It’s hard to go to school already. It seems like only a select few can afford it,” said Cameron Peter, a Santa Rosa Junior College student. “Students and parents have to rely on financial aid and the government has to give more money to provide it.”

Napolitano said her plan will allow the UCs to invest in faculty.

“This means we can increase course selection, speed time to graduation and better support graduate education as well as undergraduate education,” she said. “But we cannot continue to do these things without additional revenue.”

The University of California system’s current tuition is higher than the national average of $22,958 for students attending out-ofstate and $9,139 for residents. In California, out-of-state students pay $35,000 while residents pay $12,192.

With tuition climbing by 5 percent annually, the figures could rise to $44,759 for out-of-state students and $15,650 for residents.

SRJC president Dr. Frank Chong expressed disappointment about the plan. “It’s not a good thing,” he said. He added that UC tuition is already expensive.

Chong said he believes Napolitano might be using the plan as leverage to get the state to help with funding.

Napolitano and regents received a strong reaction following their vote, as protests from students erupted throughout UC campuses.

Brown voiced strong opposition to

Courtesy of ABC News

UC students protest the tuition increases proposed by UC President Janet Napolitano and approved by the UC Board Of Regents. The plan will increase UC students’ tuition 5 percent a year for five years.

the plan and urged Napolitano and the board to look to its budget and reduce costs to prevent rising tuition.

SRJC Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Mary Kay Rudolph, said that as a parent whose child attended UC Santa Barbara, she is unhappy and concerned about tuition rising.

“The good news is that we are here. It reinforces how critical it is to have a JC system at the caliber we have,” Rudolph said.

Rudolph highlighted that tuition costs in community colleges throughout California are the lowest in the nation.

Furthermore, SRJC offers financial aid resources and are bringing back the Doyle Scholarship. Rudolph also mentioned programs like the Associate Degree for Transfer to help SRJC students streamline their coursework before transferring to four-year universities.

Compressed schedule allows for faster completion Core classes offered in block schedule starting in spring Heather Breaux Staff Writer

S

anta Rosa Junior College students are in school longer than most community college students, as the semester begins one week earlier and ends one week later than most. But this may soon change.

Plans are underway for a compressed schedule, with some classes already available on the Petaluma campus in the upcoming spring 2015 semester.

These changes are just a beginning, and for now, the compressed schedule is a pilot program.

Michelle Markovics, an SRJC anthropology professor, said the compressed schedule means the spring semester would shrink from 17.5 weeks to about 14.5, affecting class scheduling.

The goal is to make available in block schedule all classes needed to transfer using the general education IGETC pattern.

“Students have a hard time getting into classes they need with the schedules. It is hard to find stable class times,” Markovics said.

The block schedule would mean transfer classes in the IGETC pattern would be scheduled between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Within the compressed schedule, there will be no fulllength classes; all will start late

and end early. more flexibility for students.

The traditional full-length Classes in this format are in the classes allow students to access block schedule, but only half a the material more frequently. semester in length.

Some subjects, like foreign The two classes will be held at languages, require more face- the same time, but each class is to-face interaction, which only eight weeks long. “Classes are is not completely lost with a at the same time and the student compressed schedule. can keep their The decreased set schedule,” number of weeks Markovics said. will not change This means a “Success increases the number of student can the quicker you get class hours or class finish two units. Students are classes during people through.” still in class for the the same time - Tara Jacobsen equivalent amount of slot in one time; material is just semester. compressed within a Tara Jacobsen, shorter time frame. interim dean “Students can of Instruction process more with fewer class and Technical Services, said, meetings,” Markovics said.

“The rotating eight-week classes In the spring 2015 semester, help prevent drop-outs and helps seven classes are available in students focus on fewer classes so the compressed schedule. They they are not spread so thin.” are Anthropology 1, 2 and two The idea is to help students finish sections of 31; English 1A, History their required classes quickly.

21, Psychology 3 and Spanish 1.

“We have concentrated on These classes will begin about being innovative to help busy one week later and end about students. We’re trying to think one week earlier than other SRJC of ways to help students finish classes. The best part is there is two-year programs in two years,” no finals week; the final is held Jacobsen said. the last day of class instead.

The compressed schedule “I’m hoping to have double the formats will help lower drop number of classes available in the rates, increase student retention next year,” Markovics said. of information and help students Plans for 2015 may add more transfer more quickly. science and language classes to Other colleges use the the Petaluma campus. compressed schedule too, with Another possible format offers great success. “National articles

about similar programs have high success rates. GPAs and transfer rates are higher while retention rates and drop rates are lower,” Jacobsen said.

However, SRJC’s academic program is already regarded as highly effective. The 2012-13 SRJC Annual Report quotes a U.S. Department of Education survey that ranks SRJC 10th in full-time student retention rate and 13th in the number of associates degrees awarded among other California community colleges.

The only catch is that students take three, four or even more years to finish.

“Success increases the quicker you get people through,” Jacobsen said.

In the future, several options are possible. Markovics would like to see major classes added to the IGETC pattern classes as well as themed tracks. A themed track could help students with particular interests or a specific major advance.

Learning communities might also be available in the future.

Jacobsen explained that the cohort base allows the same students to move together through their themed track to create a community.

“They would take the information learned in one class and use it to help them in another class,” Jacobsen said.

The compressed schedule may also provide the opportunity afforded from hybrid online

classes within the block schedule.

Hybrid online classes have a large portion of the class online, including discussions, weekly assignments and other material similar to a traditional online class. But online activities will replace only some seat time. Faceto-face class meetings, most biweekly, are required.

When deciding that SRJC students could benefit from a compressed schedule, trends in enrollment showed extremely high demand for certain classes over others.

“Hybrid online classes are bursting at the seams,” Jacobsen said.

But the trick is finding a balance. “Classes don’t always have to be all online. The hybrid is a nice middle ground,” Jacobsen said. Trying to create flexibility without compromising quality of pedagogy is important.

Increasing the availability of online classes can also generate out-of-state interest and greater flexibility for students. But setting up online and hybrid classes is a lot of work.

“Implementation costs money,” Jacobsen said.

The compressed schedule attempts to balance flexibility and efficiency, while helping students reach goals quickly.

The compressed schedule is still in a trial period to see how students respond.

www.theoakleafnews.com

News

December 8, 2014

5

Evening safety stroll discovers 282 items of concern Claudia Aceves

revolved around lighting, especially at night when students were walking to their cars or across campus.

“We were trying to come up with something that we could do to address those people’s concerns,” Kuula said. He instructed the participants to search for items such as lighting and trip hazards.

About 90 percent or more of what

needs to be repaired are burned out or not functioning lights and trees that need to be trimmed to allow for more brightness from existing lights. Kuula said that there is also lighting that needs to be installed in certain areas.

A majority of lighting issues discovered were at the Santa Rosa campus because it is the largest and

oldest of the facilities.

Although Kuula did not personally verify the items found by all stroll participants, they were able to put in service requests for each item.

Aside from problems with lighting in all facilities, the stroll group also identified sever al trip hazards and a clogged water fountain.

Kuula predicts it will take

several months to fix the lighting problems because there are only two electricians for the entire district.

Additionally, each item does not comprise a single light bulb or light pole, but an area or building with multiple light issues. An example is a pathway with several burned out lights, which amounts to one item.

“When you put it in context, then it’s a little different,” Kuula said.

“We have hundreds of acres and thousands of lights. We don’t want people to think [the electricians] are not doing their job. It’s just a big job.”

There are between 6,000 and 8,000 lights in the district, 500 of which are in the Zumwalt Parking Pavilion.

Although it’s difficult to predict how much the items will cost to fix overall, most of the concerns were maintenance issues, which can be covered under existing budgets.

Other items could be addressed as part of a bond funded project if they are in close proximity, Kuula said.

involved is unfitting for our student government leaders. They should Staff Writer know better.” n the Nov. 17 issue, The Oak Leaf Aspinal said she chose to call reported a story that took place District Police after Pinaula did not Nov. 4 when Disability Resources leave the orientation despite he and Department (DRD) faculty called Kerr receiving a request to cease their campus police on two Associated disruptions. Instead, Pinaula grew Student Senators at a DRD orientation louder and more agitated, pointed at for prospective students at the student Johnson, Aspinal, and Davis and told activities center in Bertolini Hall. them that they were the problem.

At the time of the print the faculty Aspinal said it’s appropriate to involve members involved declined to give a the police when an individual continues statement about the incident, citing to escalate their behavior. “Whether student confidentiality. For the original they are a student, faculty, staff member, story, two students came is irrelevant,” forward with their side of she said. “The the events. Now the DRD incident that faculty members Tara occurred that “I found the behavior night Johnson, Laura Aspinall and was of these two students purely one of Dianne Davis have all since to be rude and decided to comment with poor conduct their own version of events. on the part of a combative.”

Campus police responded student.”

- Dianne Davis to a call at an event regarding In the SRJC President of Associated Standards Students Joshua Pinaula of Conduct, and Vice President of Section 1, Item Organizations Virginia Kerr M describes alleging the two were being disruptive. continued disruptive behavior, failure Johnson explained that after to comply with directions of college Kerr’s initial request to speak at officials acting in the performance the orientation, she felt it could be of their duties and continued beneficial to the prospective students, disobedience as some of the categories but during the event explained that of misconduct. there wasn’t time in the schedule for “Equally as upsetting as the Joshua Pinaula and her both to speak misconduct that took place that that night, though future opportunities night was the manner in which my would present themselves. colleagues and I were spoken to,” After initially leaving, Kerr and Aspinal said. “Never would I consider Pinaula soon came back as the it appropriate, collegial, or productive orientation was beginning. They to engage with another member of a walked around and talked to students, shared governance body in such a way.” disrupting the flow and organization of Davis, who was also present at this the event. event, said she believes Pinaula’s actions “Students sitting on the sides of the justified police intervention in this back wall and those in the back rows situation. “I found the behavior of these did notice this event,” Johnson said. two students to be offensive, rude and “His behaviors were disruptive and combative,” she said. “They behaved his interaction was inappropriate. To like bullies. There is no question in interrupt an ongoing college event my mind that [Pinaula] would have without knowing who or what is continued to escalate his behavior and

would have disrupted the DRD student orientation event if Laura hadn’t called campus police.”

According to Pinaula and Kerr, they approached Tara Johnson to see if they could make a presentation at the orientation. When the faculty members declined their request, Pinaula and Kerr stayed at the orientation, observing and speaking to some students. They said they were not being disruptive, and believe the faculty members were unnecessarily harsh and disrespectful of their roles as student leaders.

Police advised Pinaula and Kerr stay away from the orientation for the rest of the night.

Pinaula, who is now facing student conduct violations, said he did not disturb the people in the audience.

“This whole thing was less than two minutes. It was a really short interaction,” Pinaula said. “There was never a situation that warranted a student conduct violation. I was doing my job. I was ready to leave, but they were the ones perpetuating the conversation.”

Pinaula said the faculty members are blowing the occurrence out of

proportion, and disagrees with their decision to charge him with a student conduct violation.

Pinuala also said he didn’t disturb the people in the audience.

“Even if they were distracted, they weren’t distracted enough to come forward with a complaint,” Pinaula

said. “The students I talked to said they were really bored, and I assured them that the college wasn’t really this boring.”

Kerr felt they were being bullied after receiving threats to call the police and believes that it was far beyond necessary to happen.

Staff Writer

S

anta Rosa Junior College staff, faculty and police participated in the 2014 Fall Evening Safety Stroll across all major SRJC facilities and discovered 282 items of concern requiring attention.

“We started a couple of years ago with just a few managers from Facilities Operations. This was the first time we invited others,” said Doug Kuula, the manager of environmental health and safety Twenty-six others from the Santa Rosa and Petaluma campus, Public Safety Training Center, Southwest Santa Rosa Center and Shone Farm also participated in this year’s stroll.

“Last year we found about 400 items, and we only covered the Santa Rosa Campus, so the program is having a positive effect,” Kuula said.

A safety survey conducted for students discovered many concerns

Stephen Radley/Oak Leaf

One of SRJC’s safety concerns are the poorly lit areas on campus found near the baseball field and tennis courts.

Faculty gives their version of orientation controversy Kelsey Matzen

I

6

A&E

December 8, 2014

www.theoakleafnews.com

Every day is Christmas at Dickens Fair Devin Marshall A&E Editor

I

magine a whimsical place where every night is Christmas Eve — carolers sing in the streets, and you can waltz, fence, shop, drink and sing to your heart’s content.

Check your “humbugs” at the door, because here your dream becomes reality. This is the 36th Annual Great Dickens Christmas Fair and Victorian Holiday Party, which began Nov. 22 this year and runs every weekend until Dec. 21 at the Cow Palace in San Francisco.

Guests are immediately welcomed to the festivities at Fezziwig’s Warehouse dance hall with musicians and characters representing all of Charles Dickens’ works telling their stories.

While the Cow Palace has hosted the fair for as long as many can remember, it has been in other locations as well.

“Dickens was originally at Pier 45,” said Warren Nordendahl, also known as Father Christmas in Sutter Creek and Nevada City. “The year after the Loma Prieta earthquake [in 1990], the Cow Palace was unusable, so we relocated to the Sacramento Cal Expo building. The sprinkler system froze

over and went off. It turned the whole place into an ice rink!”

Thankfully, there were no such incidents this time around. The 120,000 square feet are jam-packed with attractions this year. There are taverns, tarot readers, art workshops for children, pewter smiths, sailor’s sea chanteys performed by the Paddy West School of Seamanship, vintage books, carnival-style games, hot roasted chestnuts, tea shops, corset shops and haberdasheries, mock science displays, puppet plays, handpainted eggs, can-can dances and even a naughty French postcard show for

Devin Marshall/Oak Leaf

An actor playing the author Charles Dickens delivers the opening speech to guests in Fezziwig’s Warehouse dance hall.

AVAILABLE NOW

Transfer to Success Scholarship

patrons ages 18 and up. working there for his second year. He’s Aside from the restaurants and craft managed to turn his passion for music shops, there is also a telegraph service into a business, first playing at music and a functional newspaper print shop. festivals and then using his knowledge “I’m a scurrilous editor of the of carpentry for restoring violins.

Bulletin newspaper,” said Don Cox, one His shop is covered wall-to-wall in of the employees at the Elite Printing instruments, including fiddles, banjos, Company who goes by the penname guitars, harps and accordions, as well “Justin Case.” as accessories like violin bows and He’s one of those responsible for conductor’s batons. running The Bulletin, a paper that “[Business] is off to a good start, started in the 1980s. The Bulletin and it’s early yet,” Joynes said. “I was focuses on maintaining a period- encouraged because of last year. I was appropriate format, writing humorous told that first-year vendors don’t usually articles about characters around the fair make a profit, but I did.” for print on-site with a He has not regretted manual printing press. his decision to return.

They also have ads for “I think I’ve worked real shops and short hard all my life as a serial stories.

“I feel like I’ve run contractor, and this is “When we published away and joined the my payback,” he said. the story about circus. I love doing “I feel like I’ve run away Fezziwig’s daughters, I and joined the circus. I this.” got six death threats!” love doing this.”

-Stephen Joynes Cox said. “That’s how Ron and Phyllis you know you’re doing Patterson, the original something right. Yellow founders and directors journalism here.” of the Renaissance The fair is worth more to them than Pleasure Faire at Black Point in Marin, just a job or an obligation. started Dickens Fair in 1970. Both of “This is how we spend five weeks the creators have died within the last here with our extended family and five years, but their memories live on in friends,” Cox said. “We spend the day each incarnation of the fair. in London, Christmas Eve in Dickens’ Rumor has it that the chimney Christmas Carol. I can’t think of a better sweeps carry collectable cards this year. way to celebrate.”

Dickens Fair is open from 10 a.m.

Bulletin employee Texx Woodworth to 7 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday added his two cents. “There’s a number until Dec. 21, at the Cow Palace, of us who go into a natural depression 2600 Geneva Ave. Tickets are $30 this time of year,” he said. “The days each for those ages 13 and up, $12 for are shorter and darker. Being able to children ages 5–12, and free for those concentrate on Dickens Fair keeps us under 5. Parking costs $10. For more focused on one thing. I’d say there are a information or to buy tickets, visit significant number of people for whom www.dickensfair.com.

Dickens keeps them from jumping off a The catchphrase of Dickens Fair bridge, myself included.” is “Happy Christmas!” Celebrate Many vendors and craftsmen have this Christmas Eve and eat, drink worked at Dickens for years. However, and be happy. new businesses and stalls crop up from For a full version of this article time to time. and more photos, visit www.

Stephen Joynes of Fiddles N’ Such is theoakleafnews.com.

Up to $5,000 Award Automatically Awarded to Qualified Students Transfer Friendly Year-Round Enrollment A Private Nonprofit University Serving the Public Good™

Call Today • (408) 236-1100 Applicants must meet eligibility requirements and be formally accepted to National University. Funds paid in accordance to the scholarship terms.

Some restrictions may apply.

nu.edu/transfer Devin Marshall/Oak Leaf

© 2014 National University_1399

Vendor, musician Stephen Joynes fixes up a banjo to sell at “Fiddles N’ Such.”

A&E 7 Winter is coming. Get warm with pupusas.

December 8, 2014

www.theoakleafnews.com

Joseph Barkoff Sports Photo Editor

Review

T

he light at the end of the tunnel is just out of sight, and with the walls all closing in at once near the end of another semester, it’s important to remember to eat something to keep your strength and faculties functioning.

Yes, winter is coming with the holidays in tow, and money is as scarce as time, but make your way to Pupuseria Salvadorena at 1403 Maple Ave. in between classes for a quick and affordable lunch or to-go order of pupusas to provide the sustenance and nourishment needed to keep you going.

The resurant is obscurely located on Maple Avenue, a one-way street adjacent to Hwy 12 between a 7-Eleven and a carniceria. It’s worth the drive, despite the tight parking lot.

A parking hack would be to head west at the streetlight on Maple and immediately get into the left hand lane, turn on your signal and slide into the always-vacant parking lot underneath the freeway. From there, it’s just a couple hundred feet

across the street toward 7-Eleven for your salvation.

Calling ahead of time at (707) 544-3141 can also increase your efficiency on return time to campus for your next set of classes.

Your salvation is called a pupusa. The Salvadoran dish, approximately a 6-inch diameter, is made with an outside shell of masa de maiz, similar to a tamale.

The insides, which can be made of a variety of ingredients, become infused to the masa dough as the cooks pat them back and forth like a person playing patty-cake for one. Cooked in an iron skillet until golden brown on each side, they are melt-your-to-go container hot.

Eat with a fork, or just rip pieces off and enjoy dunking each nibble into one of the two delightful accompanying salsas: one red with the smoke of sweet peppers and a small touch of a mild serrano-like heat, yet an enjoyable achievement for the heat intolerant; the other green with a spicy tomatillo, unstrained, coulis-like salsa that counters its warm red companion with a zenlike duality.

Curtido, served in a plastic sandwich bag to-go and in a

bowl for the eat-in customers, is a spicy crisp cabbage coleslaw reminiscent of kimchi, yet designed from Central American stores. It is light with the perfect amount of spice to introduce to the taste buds between bites, or in the same chomp, as your pupusa.

The menu at Pupuseria Salvadorena offers seven varieties of pupusas to choose from, including other inspired, simple and well-executed creations, like prawns diablo.

The food is all handmade fresh daily, and it is truly only made once your order is walked through the swinging kitchen door.

It’s a frugal investment with a large return at only $2.50 per pupusa, and two seems to be enough to feed most folks. If you are “hangry” or in need of an afternoon calorie redemption meal, you might try to eat four: two pork, bean and cheese, and two spinach, squash and cheese.

Don’t let the coming of winter dampen your days. Hit the Pupuseria for some hot fresh handmade goodness any time of year when your budget, battery or both are running low, or you just Joseph Barkoff/ OakLeaf want to escape and enjoy comfort Pork, bean and cheese pupusas served with their curtido and salsa accompaniments from Pupuseria Salvadorena in Santa Rosa on Maple Avenue. food from another country.

Top five ‘A Christmas Carol’ adaptations Sean Curzon

follows the adventures of a time traveling alien known only as “The Doctor.” Considering that “Doctor Staff Writer Who” has been on air on and off here are few books that since 1963, it is surprising that it have been retold as took them this long to make an “A much as “A Christmas Carol” Christmas Carol” episode. In this

by Charles Dickens. First version, the Doctor finds himself published in 1842, the story of on a planet that is like Victorian the Christmas-hating miser, England. His human companions Ebenezer Scrooge, being visited are trapped on a space liner that by the spirts of Christmas past, will crash and burn in the planet’s present, and future and changing atmosphere. Fortunately, the his ways has made a home in the planet has a device that can control heart of the Christmas season. It the atmosphere; unfortunately, it is has made phrases such as “being owned by the most uncaring man a Scrooge,” “Bah! Humbug!” and in the galaxy. even “Merry Christmas” popular This telling of “A Christmas in today’s culture.

Carol” forgoes the ghosts, instead It has been adapted into having the Doctor use his time countless stage plays, radio machine to act as the ghosts of Christmas Past and Future, with his companion trapped on the liner as the ghost of Christmas Present via hologram. This special has what is properly the most original take on the Ghost of Christmas future scene in any Christmas carol. No spoilers here; check it out for yourselves.

3. “Batman: Noël” (2011), graphic novel Gotham, Christmas Eve. The Joker is planning an attack on Gotham, and the only way for Batman to find him is through a low-level henchman named Bob. Meanwhile, Batman is haunted by the memory of the death of Jason Todd, a signal for things to come.

Photos courtesy of wikipedia.org, muppet.wikia.com and rgapfrost.com Once again there are no “ghosts”; Adaptations of the classic tale, “A Christmas Carol,” star unlikely characters including the Muppets and Batman. but instead, characters filling out

T

dramas, TV specials and feature films. Nearly every franchise has their own retelling with their own set of characters filling out the roles of the “Christmas Carol” cast.

The main reason why this story has been retold time and again is to tell the simple message of being a good person. Dickens uses the holiday season to reinforce this message. It is a basic story of second chances, which appeals to people. Here are the five best adaptations of the beloved story of Scrooge.

5. “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” (1983), animated theatrical short This short features Disney characters, like Mickey as Bob Cratchit, Jiminy Cricket as the Ghost of Christmas Past and

Scrooge McDuck as his namesake Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge is voiced by Alan Young, who plays him with the perfect cruel indifference at the start of the story and with whimsical joy in flashbacks and at the end. Mickey, with his kind heart but pushover attitude, makes the perfect Bob Cratchit. Pete makes a surprisingly great Ghost of Christmas Future.

The scene when he sends Scrooge to his own grave with nothing but a lit cigar lighting his face is chilling.

The story is a straightforward, albeit abridged, retelling of the classic, and an effective one.

4. “A Christmas Carol (Doctor Who)” (2010), television special “Doctor Who” is a long-running British science fiction show that

the roles: Catwoman is the Ghost of Christmas Past, Superman is the Ghost of Christmas Present and the mad clown himself, Joker, is the Ghost of Christmas Future.

“Batman: Noël” is a fresh and fun take on the “Christmas Carol.”

2. “The Muppet Christmas Carol” (1993) feature film Best Scrooge. I know that isn’t what you would expect from “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” but it’s true. Michael Caine gives the performance his all as Scrooge, and frankly blows everyone else in the role out of the water. Caine brings all the dignity the role of Scrooge can bring, despite talking to Muppets for most of the film. This was the first Muppet movie made after Jim Henson’s death and the first to be released under Disney.

Thankfully, it does not disappoint.

The Muppets are charming and the songs are fun, but Caine is the most standout aspect of this movie.

1. “A Christmas Carol” (1984), made-for-TV movie If you just want a straight up telling of “A Christmas Carol” without any gimmicks, then look no further. Featuring George C. Scott as Scrooge, this is just “A Christmas Carol” adapted to movie form. The movie aired on CBS. This is one of the few adaptions that feels like a ghost story —the Jacob Marley scene is chilling. The ensemble cast is amazing, filling each role perfectly. Beautiful set designs and strong performances all around make this a must-watch.

8

December 8, 2014

A&E

Trivia for the win:

www.theoakleafnews.com

Comic shop hosts geeky get-together

Photo courtesy of Melissa Andrade

The team “Get Some Iggy On Ya” won Trivia Night by 12 points on Nov. 22. From left to right: Michael Hartley, Julie Hartley, Tanya Sierra, Logan Peter Hammond-Anderson, Reo MC and Jake Martin.

Arthur Gonzalez-Martin and Devin Marshall Staff Writer and A&E Editor

C

omics FTW (For the Win) is a comic book shop that’s been in business for four years, selling comics and figures as well as hosting Geek Trivia Nights every Saturday or occasionally Friday. The events can be themed, depending on the holiday or what’s coming out in the “nerddom” at the time. Nevertheless, there are always fun and sometimes random questions.

The host and owner of Comics FTW is Kris Bartolome. The winning team of the trivia night gets store credit or figures as a prize.

If it’s your first time attending, you may even walk away with a booby prize just for showing up.

“I take every customer’s opinion

Aries: If space is what you need, grab a telescope and explore.

People need time to respond and not react to a situation. Other times, people just put off emotions like dirty dishes. Deal with reality or it will deal with you.

of the shop seriously, and with the trivia night becoming a big thing, it’s important to me that folks have a positive experience,” Bartolome said.

Three Little Piggies BBQ catered Trivia Night on Nov. 22: $10 for a spiced pulled pork sandwich, rice and bean salad and an Ibarra chocolate chip cookie. However, those who didn’t want to partake were still allowed to bring their own food and drink as long as they cleaned up after themselves. This means that patrons 21 and up can bring their own beer as well.

One of the six teams for this event was called the “Stabby 6.”

“I’ve been going since February, but they’ve been running trivia night for close to a year now,” said Adrian DuMay, a “Stabby 6” teammember. “[Bartolome] definitely tries some new stuff. The newest thing is called hip-hop samples where he plays a clip from a hiphop song, and we have to guess if it’s from a movie, a TV show or a

video game.”

Caitlin Gormley has been attending trivia nights at Comics FTW for about six months. “Even though we never win, it’s always fun to get together,” she said. “The group is super welcoming to new people. And the questions are a pretty wide range, so even if you don’t read comics you’re sure to get a few right!”

After the hip-hop segment, there was a racier portion in which the players had to name which derriere belonged to whom. Along with some suggestive team names, it is important to note that the faint of heart could be offended.

“I definitely wouldn’t ever want anyone to feel uncomfortable, but we do have more of an adult crowd,” Bartolome said. “I try to make it clear, either directly or subtly, that everything is in fun. In fact, I’ve told people several times that the competitive aspect of trivia night is less important to me than the social one. That’s why there’s a large group

of people who never win, but still come back every week, because we try to foster a fun environment.”

They try to keep nudity to a minimum, and with sexual questions they aim to maintain a balance of both male and female bodily representation.

Entry is $5 for this weekly geek entertainment, a chance to exercise your brain and make new friends.

Comics FTW is located at 1435 Santa Rosa Ave. Suite C5.

You can check their website at www.comicsftw.com, call (707) 284-2272 or visit their Facebook page for updates on the times and to RSVP to each trivia night. They host other events too, such as artist signings, sing-alongs or games, so it’s important to stay up-to-date and keep informed.

Photo courtesy of Melissa Andrade

Team “He Googles My Yahoo With His Facebook And Makes Me Twitter” enjoys Trivia Night while drinking refreshing beer on Nov. 22 at Comics FTW.

Astrology

Capricorn: Do you feel like you’re in the middle of a quarterlife crisis? Mars sparks voices of inner communication; listen to intuition that’s speaking. If changing life in a big way seems like the right choice, do it.

-Haley Elizabeth Bollinger

Taurus: There’s no turning back. What once was, will never exactly be again. Life does not have a rewind button, especially since the VHS is out of date.

Cancer: Crabs like to dig, but when do they hit bottom? When they stop digging. You intuitively know when to stop but right now your body’s saying, “go-go-go.”

Your hole is deep enough; sit tight and wait for the wave to crash over.

Virgo: Learn to let go of anger.

Exercise. Vent to a loved one. Sit with the pain. Write down whatever is bothering you on a piece of paper, burn it and then imagine those problems dissolving away. Emotions help us grow, and this too shall pass.

Scorpio: Love comes in many forms, and surrounds all of us at every moment. Take judgment away from your thoughts, and watch your thinking and aura transform. Every time we judge we allow negativity to spread through the body.

Aquarius: Tolerance will help the voices of confusion slow down. It’s the ultimate acceptance of your feelings and others. Love comes in many forms. Which type will you acknowledge?

Gemini: Realize which part of your thinking brings negativity and remove it. It will take you further than any encouragement a friend could give. Being part of a community is important, but make sure you have love for yourself first.

Leo: Laugh when it hurts - that’s when the hormones will help most.

Pride holds you back, but the pack does not. Share with others what wisdom you have learned, you don’t need gray hair to know what does and doesn’t work.

Libra: Hold tight to your seat on the rollercoaster of life; whether you bought the ticket or not, you’re going to take the ride. And if you’re into that, Six Flags has great decorations this time of year.

Sagittarius: Anxiety slips the present away. Lately the future brings fear and it’s dissipating the natural fiery spirit that would usually burn the stress down. Extinguish the fear; it’s all in the head.

Pisces: something in your life is causing you to not be at peace with Earth. Change brings about peace.

Try thinking about the situation from a different viewpoint.

Jeanine Flaton-Buckley/ Oak Leaf

Future SRJC student Malee Rodriguez and her children are one of 152 homeless families in Sonoma County. They have benefited from the many resources available at Catholic Charities.

BEYOND STEREOTYPES homeless yet hopeful in Sonoma County Julie Lee, Nate Voge and Jeanine-Flaton Buckley Co-Editor-in-Chief, Features Editor and Multimedia Editor On a rooftop near downtown Santa Rosa, Benjamin “Brutus” Gruey, a former Santa Rosa Junior College student and co-editor-in-chief of The Oak Leaf, pulled a queen-sized mattress up with a rope and made himself at home with blankets and pillows. For two years this was his favorite sleeping place.

“Most people live in two dimensions and so they don’t look up,” Gruey said. “There was a parking lot nearby where people in suits parked and went to work. I’d watch in the morning so I could get down without being seen, and I don’t think anyone ever looked up at me.”

After a falling out with his family, a two-month backpacking trip in Southern California near the Joshua Tree National Park and a break-up with his girlfriend in fall 2009, he used his limited savings to attend SRJC, instead of trying to find housing and a 9-5 job.

Gruey mostly ate leftover muffins from various coffee shops and grabbed recently expired food from a few unlocked grocery store dumpsters. After finding 30 avocados one time, the hungry student decided that he liked avocados.

“A nice classmate bought me a bunch of Ramen noodles, too, one time. That was nice for a change,” he said.

With only a few exceptions,

Gruey kept his living situation secret. “It immediately put me in a different class of people,” he said.

“Even though I was getting As in most of my classes, the fact that I was homeless either meant people avoided me or looked at me as a curiosity when they found out.”

Gruey, now pursuing a double major in physics and math at UC Santa Cruz, recalled that he was not treated much differently. “Well, except from cops who would demand that I have a job and pay Sonoma County house prices, or else they’d give me a ticket,” he said. “I stayed away from them as much as I could and thankfully succeeded.”

While Gruey did not seek outside help for his situation, both Sonoma County and SRJC offer a myriad of resources – from shelters and rehabilitation programs to free food and psychological counseling – but funding levels are nowhere near adequate to serve the county’s homeless population, which is more than double the national average.

For homeless students like Gruey, the criminalization of homelessness deepens the entrenched stigma against them and compounds the stress of college with the stress of homelessness.

A Systemic Problem

A 2014 report by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty found the criminalization of homelessness is increasing throughout the country based on the surveyed 187 cities’ municipal codes.

Citywide bans on fundamental human activities effectively crimi-

nalize a homeless person’s very existence, according to the report.

For example, citywide bans on sitting or lying down in particular public places have increased by 43 percent, while bans on sleeping in vehicles have increased by 119 percent since the Law Center’s previous report in 2011.

Meanwhile, 74 percent of homeless people do not know a place where it is safe and legal for them to sleep.

“It immediately put me in a different class of people.”

- Benjamin “Brutus” Gruey

Nine percent of cities even ban sharing food with homeless people, said Dr. Solen Sanli Vasquez, an SRJC sociology instructor, referring to the same report.

Criminalization, the most expensive way of dealing with homelessness, also makes homeless people’s situation more difficult. “If a homeless person is arrested due to such behaviors, their chances of finding housing or employment in the future are lowered because of their criminal record,” Sanli Vasquez said.

She also said people need to get rid of their preconceived notions about the homeless, like that home-

lessness is the result of substance abuse. “Many homeless people become addicts and/or mentally ill after becoming homeless,” she said.

The report proposed constructive alternatives such as affordable housing, citing that more than 12.8 percent of the nation’s supply of low-income housing has been permanently lost since 2001.

Family homelessness has been on the rise since the inception of the foreclosure crisis in 2007, according to the National Law Center study.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development budget has been reduced by more than 56 percent since the 1970s, cutting approximately 10,000 assisted housing units per year in the stock of publicly assisted housing. This reduction denies federal housing assistance for 75 percent of low-income households that are income-eligible.

Utah’s Housing First program has proven to be a success model, reducing chronic homelessness in the state by 74 percent since 2005.

“This program is more cost-effective than criminalization,” Sanli Vasquez said. “It cost taxpayers $11,000 per homeless person in 2013 in the cost of an apartment and a social worker, whereas without the program, the state would have paid $16,670 per person in the cost of emergency room visits and jail stays.”

She encouraged individuals to contact their representatives and advocate for policy change, in addition to donating to or volunteering for individual homeless shelters or soup kitchens.

“Homelessness is unconscionable in the wealthiest nation in the world,” she said, “and the misconceptions about the homeless need to change.”

Catholic Charities Support Center

Family

Malee Rodriquez’s husband Chris is a U.S. Army veteran who served honorably in Guatemala, but because her husband was active in the military for less than two years, the family — including their three children, ages 15, 14 and 9 — doesn’t receive health or housing benefits.

While on a three-month waiting list from May to August to get a room at the Catholic Charities Family Support Center, the family commuted between a hotel in Santa Rosa and Sacramento, where Chris worked in a warehouse and Malee attended Folsom Lake College.

The cost of gas and a hotel room caught up with them and they got behind on their bills. Some nights the family of five had to sleep in their car.

But it wasn’t always like this. For 14 years they paid for housing and health care without any financial aid from government or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Rodriguez family left their Sacramento apartment in May only after they discovered their landlord was using the same key on their door as the key to the laundry room door. When confronted, the landlord asked them to leave.

“It really wasn’t our fault,” Rodriguez said.

Due to the overcrowded state

A spotlight on homeless youth in

Sonoma County Among 277 unaccompanied minors and 851 transitionaged youths under 24:

21%

felt “not at all safe” in their current living situation. had been placed in foster care at some point of their life.

20%

less than a high 39% hadschool degree.

9%

were currently attending school

would like to go to college someday.

9% of

homeless youth had traded sex for housing,

50%

5% of

homeless youth had traded drugs for housing

9% had traded both

35% were less

than 18 years old when they first experienced homelessness

Source: 2013 Sonoma County Homeless Pointin-Time Census & Survey Comprehensive Report

Left: SAY Dream Center residence will house 63 residents for up to two years. Center: The working urban SAY Sunflower C

of homeless shelters in Santa Rosa, the threeThe events that led to her homelessness folmonth waiting list the Rodriguezes endured is lowed the typical pattern of domestic violence, considered normal. A family can expect a threedeterioration of social support, loss of stable month wait, a six-month stay to take required housing, substance abuse and sale of drugs. The classes and to fill out paperwork, another threestudent’s mother had been jailed for dealing month wait and then a final six-month stay drugs, he added. during which they can receive credit help and Mannino recalled that the student often arvouchers for affordable housing and wait for rived first to class. “It provided some of the only housing to open up. stability she had known in many years,” he said.

She hopes her family will be able to find a He said mental health issues among the place to live once their first six months are up homeless often reveal a dual diagnosis, involvin February. She feels more optimistic now ing a comorbid substance abuse problem. that her husband has a job at the “The stress of homelessness post office in Santa Rosa. may lead to posttraumatic stress Although things have now setdisorder (PTSD), which a student tled down for the Rodriguezes, may then try to ‘self-medicate’ The essay due next living in a homeless shelter with through use of alcohol and sub38 other families has not been week means nothing stance abuse,” Mannino said. easy. There is an 8 p.m. curfew “Studies show the homeless have when there is no and a computer lab that closes at three times the rate of PTSD and roof to stay warm, 5 p.m. with no Wi-Fi. Rodriguez twice the rate of substance abuse.” no food to eat. said completing homework asAlternatively, people with dissignments within those limited abling health conditions become hours is nearly impossible and chronically homeless once stable she has heard of people in the housing becomes too difficult to shelter dropping classes because they could maintain without help, according to the Nanot switch their work shifts. tional Alliance to End Homelessness.

According to Allison MacDonald, a supportMannino said homeless people are four times ive services manager at Catholic Charities, three more likely to show delayed development and families staying at the shelter have members who twice as likely to have learning disabilities comattend SRJC, and 85 percent of them work. pared to the non-homeless. “The data is clear, Rodriguez plans to attend Santa Rosa Junior whether one uses the Department of Health or College in spring 2015. A speech major, she is Education, academic research or nonprofit realso interested in international economics and search institute data,” he said. “Just one of the political science. Her current living situation aforementioned conditions is enough to affect partially fuels her academic interests. She added academic success.” that one of her goals is to get more funding for Despite the odds, the homeless student affordable housing for other families in similar earned As. situations. She also believes a college education is the way out of homelessness for her family.

Redwood Gospel Mission Though many consider a college education Tolls on Individuals important to long-term success, it’s not a priSRJC psychology instructor and psychologist ority for others under different circumstances.

Dr. J. Davis Mannino, who has taught several Jeff Wright, 26, said he’d like to eventually homeless college students in his 42-year teachstudy music theory at SRJC, but his immediing career, said a recent student reported her ate goals are to stay sober and finish the New homelessness in his “Getting to Know You” asLife program at the Redwood Gospel Mission signment. in downtown Santa Rosa.

“The student lived day to day on living room Addicted to prescription pills and alcohol couches of friends she’d met at college,” Manfrom the age of 15, Wright spent a month in jail nino said. in Santa Rosa, then spent another month on the streets. He grew up in West County and did not return home after his release from jail.

Santa Rosa Fire Department Captain Matt Dahl said he has witnessed a trend of people who are released from the jail and walk 2.5 miles on Mendocino Avenue to downtown, where many homeless services are located.

After Wright’s month of homelessness, he had an altercation with the police that left him hospitalized, and the judge allowed him to join a six-month program at Salvation Army Transitional Housing. He disliked the program, so he left and joined the New Life program at the Redwood Gospel Mission.

“It’s much more like home. There’s couches; I can wear my sweatpants,” Wright said.

As part of the New Life program, Wright must start working or attending SRJC before his six-month stay is over. He plays bass guitar in the Worship Team, a four-person band at the Mission. “I think that’s one of God’s gifts: the Jeanine Flaton-Buckley/ Oak Leaf music,” Wright said.

Jeff Wright, 26, resident of the New Life proThough Wright has set an education goal, he gram stands in front of a newly painted mural knows he won’t reach it right away. He lives life Nov. 29 outside the Redwood Gospel Mission.

one day at a ti MacDonald Maslow’s hier theory, best homeless stud man needs — be met before The essay due there is no roo

Sonoma Co Homeless

Georgia Be noma County said the bigg lessness is tha cannot be fixe “That’s a my to fix it. There She said tho ernor Ronald all mental ho tients back on homelessness “It’s not a n said. “Society have people sl Berland sai and services struggle to ret than perpetu $9 million per gency room se Before her a executive offic Services Com “There were for anyone,” B The commi ous programs ter, Children’ pire Food Ban Unfortunat — and with h cy rate of less ty, there simp The Califor a $100 million ily Housing P Supportive H ignate at least development homelessness leaving institu Berland said the street was according to a ology survey.

“This year w she said.

She said SRJ gram, open a b “I mean, wher asked. “They’r here. Their on place where th The task fo scattered site m has been succ individual spo Berland said than renting $90,953 for th 50-vehicle cap average of 18.

Homeless in San Francisco Dr. J. Davis Mannino Contributing Writer

Jeanine Flaton-Buckley/ Oak Leaf

Community Garden employs displaced youth. Right: Emergency shelter Redwood Gospel Mission is home to the faith-based New Life program.

ime. d of Catholic Charities said rarchy of needs, a psychological illustrates the challenges facing dents. The most basic levels of hu— food, water and shelter — must e someone can do anything else. e next week means nothing when of to stay warm, no food to eat.

ounty Task Force for the

erland, executive officer of the Soy Task Force for the Homeless, gest misconception about homeat it’s an intractable problem that ed and should be accepted. yth,” Berland said. “We know how e just aren’t enough resources.” ose born after 1967 — when govd Reagan’s public policy closed ospitals in California, evicting pan the streets — have always known s. natural product of capitalism,” she y doesn’t have to accept that we leeping outside on the streets.” id providing affordable housing for people with disabilities who tain housing is a cheaper solution uating homelessness, which costs r year for law enforcement, emerervices and more. ask force position Berland was the cer of the Sonoma County Human mmission 1981-94. e no shelters in those days, at all, Berland said. ission has since founded numers, such as the Family Support Cen’s Trust Fund and Redwood Emnk. tely, shelters are still overcrowded historically high rents and a vacanthan 1 percent in Sonoma Counply is no housing available. rnia State Budget 2014-15 includes n General Fund for the MultifamPrograms, half of which goes to the Housing Program required to dest 40 percent of the units in each to those experiencing chronic s, homeless youth and individuals utional settings. d the average number of deaths on s 30.8 per year in Sonoma County, a 2006-10 public health epidemi-

we’ve lost 11 in Petaluma alone,”

JC could create a safe parking probathroom or allow people to camp. re else are they going to live?” she re local people. Their only family is nly jobs are here. There isn’t another hey’d be better off.” orce is adopting Santa Barbara’s model, a safe parking program that cessful for over a decade, assigning ots for a designated time period. d this model is more cost-effective the county fairgrounds lot for hree months. The program, with a pacity, was underattended with an .

SONOMA COUNTY 2013 POINT-IN-TIME COUNT

Sheltered vs. Unsheltered Homeless Population TOTAL POPULATION: 4,280

SHELTERED

UNSHELTERED 7.7 out of 10 people were unshelterd (n=3,309)

2.3 out of 10 people were shelterd (n=971) SHELTERED INCLUDES

Emergency Shelter 12%

Transitional Housing 11%

UNSHELTERED INCLUDES

On the street 34%

She added that 20 percent of the homeless population owns a vehicle.

Minors, who cannot legally stay in an adult shelter, tend to camp outside. “But look at the weather. It’s cold, wet, dangerous,” she said.

SAY Dream Center

Abandoned building 10%

Car/ vans/RVs 20%

Encampment Area 20%

campus on Ripley Street, provides supplies like food, tents, clothing and toiletries for anyone under the age of 24.

According to the 2013 Sonoma County Homeless Point-in-Time Census & Survey Comprehensive Report, 95 percent of unaccompanied minors and single transition-aged youth, ages 18-24, were unsheltered and comprised 26 percent of the total Point-in-Time homeless population in Sonoma County in 2013.

To further combat this issue, SAY plans to begin construction on the SAY Dream Center, a proposed 63 unit housing facility, within the month of December. They want to raise $8.5 million and are currently at $6.6 million, with over 40 donors including major support from Bill Friedman of Friedman’s Home Improvement and Connie Codding of Codding Enterprises.

One out of 45 children in the U.S. is homeless, which equates to 1.6 million homeless children, according to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty’s “No Safe Place” study.

“Sonoma County has the highest rate of youth homelessness for a non-urban county in the United States of America,” Berland said, citing the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A third of those living outside are under age 24, and youth constitute a quarter of the county’s homeless population.

The Social Advocates for “Sonoma County has Campus Resources Youth (SAY) offers housing, The Sonoma County Task Force the highest rate of supplies, counseling and job for the Homeless’ annual 80-page youth homelessness support to Sonoma County “Sonoma County Homeless Refor a non-urban homeless youth ages 12-24. source Guide” provides inforcounty in the United mation on 22 different sections, SAY served 1,800 meals in States of America.”

2013 and provided jobs and including alcohol and drug repaid internships for 196 youth. covery, emergency shelters, health - Georgia Berland Tamayo Village, on Yulupa care, immigration services and Avenue in Santa Rosa, houses youth services. many SRJC students who are The SRJC Student Health Serover 18. It offers affordable vices offers this guide to homerent, education, job support and counseling less students, said Dr. Bert Epstein, licensed referrals. SAY communications manager Caitpsychologist and assistant director of Mental lin Childs said many SRJC students staying at Health Programs.

Tamayo Village are financially putting themEpstein said Student Health Services was selves through school. instrumental in starting the Food Pantry on Childs said most homeless young adults in the Petaluma campus this year, complementSonoma County are locals. ing the existing food distribution on the Santa About 50 Sonoma County youth age out of Rosa campus. the foster care system annually. In most cases, Redwood Empire Food Bank provides a individuals who age out of the foster system weekly drop-off including produce and bread, are first-generation college students who often depending on what is available. “Last week they take longer to complete college and need more gave us 250 pounds of potatoes,” said Cindy counseling and financial aid.

Dickinson, an SRJC college nurse practitioner.

The SRJC Foster and Kinship Care Education “We also would like to have a source of protein, Program is a resource for students who have like beans, rice or nut butter.” aged out of foster care and refer students to SAY. The Food Pantry serves about 100 students The Dr. Coffee Teen Shelter, near the SRJC each week, including those who are homeless

In 1972, I arrived in San Francisco fresh from New York City, with a B.A. in Social Sciences from the University of New York at Stony Brook. I was 22 and had just concluded a seven-day cross-country trip in my Chevy! My dream was to attend graduate school in the Bay Area. A fellow student at Stony Brook offered me a place to stay at his apartment in San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury when I arrived. Somehow I failed to remember he was to be out of town the entire week. Thus, would begin an ordeal I would never forget.

The first day I drifted in and out of panic, as I did not have a credit card — they weren’t common in the early 1970s. I only had cash, which was quite limited since I had spent more while traveling than I thought I would. I needed to be frugal in case I had to drive back to NYC with what I had left in traveler’s checks. I hail from a very poor immigrant family who would not have the money to bail me out, at least not in the short run. I knew I had to find some quick work.

The first night I stayed in my car in Golden Gate Park. That proved a bad decision. Police shining a flashlight in my car at 2 a.m. were less than sympathetic if not downright disbelieving of my story.

They told me to move on.

I soon became resourceful by talking with other homeless people. I found the free places for daily meals, like Glide Memorial for my nightly meal; I still write them a check every year as I have for over 40 years. I secured a complimentary free pass to a gym for one week – the gym hoped I’d like the place and sign up for a year or longer — and used the gym to stay clean, not to mention fit. I learned to park late at night in the “all-night” Safeway on Market Street, which surprisingly was filled with cars coming and going at all hours.

I stood in the “day laborer pool” in the Mission District, and surprisingly was chosen to do demolition work in apartment buildings undergoing remodeling. I secured three days of work with one contractor for $1.25 an hour. By the end of the first day, the contractor and I hit it off, and I told him my plight. He was a young guy himself. He allowed me to stay at the apartment building I worked in.

For the next four days, I stayed in the one unit that wasn’t stripped down to two-by-fours. He found me an electric heater, and for the next several days I lived in this construction site in the heart of the Tenderloin. I was also the “night watchman”!

On the eighth day, my friend finally picked up his phone and said, “Davis, where the hell you been? I thought maybe you were stuck homeless in Texas!” I replied, “Something like that!”

And so San Francisco became my home for the next 30 years. but also those with very limited financial resources.

“All find that food is one of their major expenses,” Dickinson said.

Dickinson said she has formally met about four homeless students since January. “There have most likely been more, but they don’t often share that information,” she said.

Two students shared with Dickinson that they had recently lost their places and were living in a car.

The high prices of housing is one of the biggest challenges to student success, Dickinson said. “It’s a little easier to live in your car in Santa Rosa, as they’ve passed an ordinance that allows sleeping in a parked car,” Dickinson said. “The ordinance wasn’t countywide.”

She added, “This time of year gets harder for people.”

Epstein said Student Health Services — located in both Santa Rosa and Petaluma campuses — also provides a free therapy assessment to all SRJC students taking at least one for-credit class.

“We have provided mental health services to many homeless students since there are a significant number who attend SRJC,” he said. “Most have similar issues to other students, but the challenge of being homeless adds significant stress to any other situation.”

Not just numbers:

SRJC students on the streets

Estefany Gonzalez Staff Writer

For six months, Audrey Stallings stayed at a residential hotel in San Francisco that cost $1,300 per month. The room, which she considered to be a box, had no kitchen or bathroom, but eventually even that became too much for her to pay for.

“It was outrageous I was spending all my money on that” Stallings said. “But I didn’t want to be on the street.”

After a month with her parents in Los Angeles, Stallings moved into a friend’s rented house. She lived in the house for two weeks before an electrical fire burnt it down and destroyed almost everything inside.

While her roommates didn’t have much in the house, Stallings feels lucky that she retrieved all her valuables. “I had a ukulele which was a gift from my father; I had a camera which was a gift from my grandfather,” she said.

“It was those things I got out with, and I am incredibly grateful.”

The most assistance for Stallings came from Social Advocates for Youth (SAY). “I don’t know much about the organization. I found out about it through my roommate because he grew up

Jeanine Flaton-Buckley/ Oak Leaf

Left: Audrey Stallings, 23, formerly homeless, poses with her dog Cooper Dec. 3 in the house she now shares wth her boyfriend and roommates.

Right: Stallings sought services from the Dr. James E. Coffee House, SAY teen drop-in shelter in Santa Rosa, which is open 24 hours a day, 364 days a year.

homeless,” she said.

Though neither she nor her boyfriend was considered youth, SAY welcomed the pair. “If a disaster happens they’re not going to turn you down,” she said. SAY offered clothes to Stallings, who only had the pajama pants she was wearing at the time of the fire

and even gave the pair breakfast vouchers for a nice café.

Her former roommate’s mother was willing to take the pair in.

At first his mother said Stallings could stay for a month, but kept changing their move-out date because she was unstable. “She was going to the methadone

clinic, on pills, constantly hitting us up for money,” she said. “It was really sad to me the way that her and her family live. It was hard being there, but I appreciate that they let us stay.”

Stallings eventually found a room for rent in a large two-story house. Steve Decosse, owner

of Acre Coffee, offered her a loan, even though she’d only worked there for a month. “He was really cool about it. He takes it out of my check, so I don’t even have to worry about it,” Stallings said.

“I really appreciate Steve. I don’t know what I would have done if I couldn’t have done that.”

Becca Hinde, was 16 when she first attended Santa Rosa Junior College and left for medical reasons. She returned three years later as an anthropology major, but put her studies on hold again when she and her then-husband were awarded full custody of her four-year-old sister Aileen.

Hinde became homeless after she and her husband separated. The transition was hard for Hinde because she was used to structure. “I had been a house-

wife and ‘mother’ for a year,” Hinde said. “I had no means of income, no job history and no one would take me in because they believed the lies my ex told.”

Hinde was forced to send her younger sister back to her mother in Wyoming. “Giving her up was the hardest part of the transition,” she said.

Hinde lived in various tents in camps she and her boyfriend set up. “The hardest part, if I have to pick one, was never feeling

safe,” she said.

She had help from friends while she was homeless, but Hinde mostly relied on food banks, food stamps and general assistance. “I grew up lower income, which helped with figuring out resources and making food last,” she said.

Although Hinde has managed to come out of her situation, she still feels as though others look down on her for having been homeless. “I’ve been indoors for

a month now, [but] people still treat me like I am of lower intelligence because they know I was homeless,” she said. “As soon as I became homeless it was assumed I was an alcoholic tweaker, a prostitute at times, that I was moronic.”

An IQ test revealed Hinde was a genius when she was a child and did great in all her classes before she had to leave school.

She’s now on track to start classes next semester in spring 2015.

Cary Escovedo, an SRJC alumnus, couch-surfed at a friend’s house in Rohnert Park after graduating from SRJC. The commute from Windsor where he lived at the time, to Sonoma State University would have taken him over an hour each day.

“I needed to move physically closer to SSU after transferring from the JC, since I didn’t have a car and found work in Petaluma,” Escovedo said.

His friend’s family, the Anzoreses, offered him a place to sleep. Before that, Escovedo had been living with his parents, where he felt like he didn’t have much control in the house.

“They were letting me stay there free of rent for several months. I didn’t feel comfortable asserting myself as much in their house,” he said.

This problem continued while couch-surfing. “My schedule was also really crazy and I usu-

ally wished I could come home to my own space and relax, but I could never do that,” he said.

“I didn’t have many places to go to get a lot of schoolwork done independently.”

Escovedo was working fulltime at Acre Coffee in Petaluma while going to SRJC and SSU, but he managed to keep up with the academic workload.

“Fortunately, I didn’t fall behind in school even though I was working the whole time,” he

said. “It was hard to work and go to school, but I knew I had to do it if I wanted to get a degree.”

While Escovedo didn’t use any public resources, he said he found the Anzores family was his biggest support system.

“Without them I wouldn’t have been able to save up money to pay rent anywhere else, or buy a car. They even let me drive their car when they weren’t using it,” he said.

“John,” a college student who remains anonymous to keep his former homelessness a secret, found himself homeless after his second year of school. “I kept it a secret from most of my family and most of my friends partly because I didn’t want to worry them and partly out of embarrassment,” John said.

The hard-working biology major lived in the dorms at Sonoma State University for his first two years of college,

but moved to an apartment for his third year. When his bills and housing costs grew insurmountable, he turned to living out of his car. “I rented monthto-month so it left me with a little less than 30 days to move out,” John said.

His full-time job kept him fed, his gas tank full and sometimes allowed him to pay for a hotel room to sleep in and shower.

Although John knew that there were resources that could help

him, he preferred to not reach out. “I didn’t use any public support system, I think, mostly because I was too ashamed to admit that I had nowhere to go,” he said.

Although he had always worked nights to support himself while in school and spent days doing homework, John had to abandon his college education halfway though his third year. “I couldn’t keep up with the workload while employed and with

no place to live,” he said. “The hardest part of losing your home is the emotional experience of feeling lost and alone. I felt very hopeless and defeated and became very depressed.”

Eventually, a friend from high school moved back into the area and offered John a room in her grandmother’s house, where her grandmother became very attached to him. “She did a lot to help support me and get me back on my feet,” he said.

www.theoakleafnews.com

Features

December 8, 2014

13

Katra: drawn to digital Hannah Kooistra Staff Writer

F

ormer Santa Rosa Junior College student Dan Katra creates art that is difficult to categorize as he has carved out a niche easily overlooked by a generation raised in the digital age.

He is both designer and fine artist, drawing inspiration from psychedelic poster art of the ’60s with the jovial or somber quality of Chicano art.

He produces his initial sketches organically with pencil and paper then primes them using digital software.

Katra turns imaginary places into reality by transforming Americana and psychedelic images into curious and wide-eyed symphonies, scenes on glossy cardstock, paintings, beverage labels, concert posters, murals, logos, poems and album covers wherever they land. The images feel familiar and warm, playfully inviting a closer look.

Q: What classes did you take at SRJC? A: I started going there in 2005, maybe. I had already been living here for a year and had started apprenticing with Stanley Mouse. He got me going to a lot of figure drawing classes in the Bay Area in general. I was a complete novice along those lines. He didn’t specifically tell me to go to the JC, but I enrolled anyway and met my other mentor pretty early on in that process through the art department: Alan Azhderian, who is a legendary figure

drawing instructor who only teaches one section a semester.

This guy has the entire class standing up drawing on large sheets of paper with the charcoal and cutting back into it with the eraser. It was just an entirely different form of drawing than I’d ever seen before, and he is just like the most brilliant poetic guy. So that was huge.

I think I did four semesters with him.

During that time I think I took all the other foundation art classes too.

Q: How did Stanley Mouse become your first mentor?

A: He had done like half the [Grateful Dead] record covers. I was too young to really comprehend. I didn’t know him by name until I was living in Colorado years later.

Q: Why did you move to California?

A: I was kind of trying to finally make my West Coast break then. I’ve always traveled out here since ‘97. I spent two summers in Oakland as a kid. My dad rented a house there. I’ve just always loved everything about California. But I was jaded too in that I was reluctant to [move] and kind of a little scared honestly.

Q: What do you mean jaded?

A: The same reason a lot of people don’t. There are a million weird things associated with California — half of them true. Still to this day I mean there is a certain level of people resent[ing] you for being out here on some level.

Like, “Oh that must be nice. Are you selling weed and stuff?” Or, “How do

you afford to be out there?’ And all this stuff. And it’s like yes, well it’s not easy, but you know. It’s as easy as anywhere else. It’s just funny. For years I’ve just thought the people who are meant to be out here are here and the ones that aren’t just aren’t so.

Q: Why did you choose drawing and painting as your medium?

A: That is just the foundation of art, to be able to draw what you see. Stanley or somebody said it. If you can draw what you see, you can draw anything.

People focus too much on the outline.

If they are trying to draw a tree they get it all wrong because they are set so specifically on one thing. But if you view it more like a shape, you know, do the artist squint, the shaded areas become a mass like a shape. Rather than seeing a hundred branches, if you squint you’ll see it’s just a general shape and not just a shape. But it has kind of a flavor to it. It has a gesture.

It’s like a person. A tree has a vibration.

Some trees seem very confident in the way they’ve branched out, and there is some logic to it and some trees have this amazing sort of chaos to them.

Q: What is your favorite thing about making art?

A: It’s just magical. It just defies all reason. You cannot only give yourself this crazy joy by seeing the image come into being; then you start to tap into these weird realms of higher consciousness where it’s almost like you know what needs to be done. You start to see things before they actually

Jeanine Flaton-Buckley/Oak Leaf

Local artist and former SRJC student Dan Katra opens the doors of his Santa Rosa studio to show samples of his artwork, including album covers and restaurant menus.

happen. That is some crazy stuff. It’s like being in sports and all of a sudden you know it’s going in before it even leaves your hand. It’s like the weird higher state of consciousness.

Q: What advice do you have for aspiring artists at SRJC? A: Be conscious about artists you admire. Go ask them. Go to the source. I think people are too content with receiving information third-

hand. They take a class in something art-related and hear about artists that are around. Basically because people don’t have confidence or don’t want to embarrass themselves to go knock on this guy’s door or call them up. I think that’s the only way to really learn a trade is to have some. Be really conscious about who your inspirations are. And go try to talk to them, basically, and watch them work.

Gripping, artistic ‘Valley Uprising’ is now available Nate Voge Features Editor

S

onoma State University featured the Reel Rock 9 Film Tour showing of Sender Films’ “Valley Uprising” on Nov. 6. The documentary will not be screened at any big-screen theaters but the Blu-Ray, DVD and download is available on www.senderfilms. com for $29.95 and under.

“Valley Uprising” follows the evolution of rock climbing in Yosemite National Park from daredevil mountaineering to a socially accepted, yet not always lawfully accepted, athletic sport and lifestyle.

SSU’s Associated Student Productions, Campus Rec Adventure Programs and Campus Life put on the free, well-attended screening and raffled off climbing gear donated by local businesses.

“We just love seeing people from Santa Rosa, Petaluma, from even down near San Francisco,” said Kevin Hill of Campus Rec Adventure programs, an avid rock climber who has helped SSU host the Reel Rock Film Tour for the last five years. “Everybody coming together and just really enjoying the movie as a community.”

The story of these rebel climbers comes to life through what Sender Films calls “digitally-animated archival photography.” Layered

black and white photographs of Yosemite’s majestic cliffs create an effect similar to a Japanese woodblock print, with shadowy mountains fading into the distance. Digitally enhanced stills of the landscape and the “Golden Era” rock climbers are contrasted by the rugged ’60s film footage of the bearded men in hiking boots pounding metal stakes into the side of a cliff with a mallet.

Like many social movements in post-World War II America, the rock climbing revolution embodied a counterculture lifestyle and spurred numerous flare-ups with law enforcement.

Following the trend in law enforcement during the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam protests, Yosemite Park Rangers outlawed rock climbing and militarized their forces to combat the longhaired freethinkers.

The film states that before the emergence of rock climbing, park rangers were biology majors, and now they are trained like police.

There is a seven-day camping limit in Yosemite Valley during the summer climbing season and a 30day camping limit in all of Yosemite Park for the calendar year.

These rules were implemented, according the climbers interviewed in the film, to limit their ability to set up big climbing projects, spend time on difficult routes and recreate the climbing culture of Yosemite’s

“Golden Era.” The rangers feel they need to protect the landscape for the millions of tourists who visit the park each year and don’t want to see chalk marks all the way up the face of El Capitan.

Though tensions are still high, the end of the film sheds light on the fact that both climbers and rangers have the same mission in protecting the natural beauty of the park.

As the “Golden Era” progressed into the “Stone Masters” era of

the ’70s, climbers began to “free climb,” using only their body power, instead of aides like rope ladders, to ascend the cliffs. This style of climbing advanced the sport athletically and created the image most people think of when they picture rock climbing.

Interviews with the “Stone Masters,” or, in their own words, “stoned masters,” are bolstered by vintage footage of these top athletes training in the wilderness and dropping acid on the side of cliffs.

In search of a bigger rush, climbers and adventurers of the modern era, the “Stone Monkeys,” face new challenges with law enforcement.

First-hand footage and interviews with the adrenaline junkies who ignore laws against opening a parachute give the viewers a never before seen glimpse into their incredible, criminal lives.

The three eras create the storyline of rock climbing and give historical context for each generation. This film appeals to any lover of nature, adventure, the ’60s and, of course, climbing.

Courtesy of http://www.grindtv.com

The ’70s climbers dubbed the “Stone Masters” climbed without aides and only a rope for protection, a style known as “free climbing.”

14

December 8, 2014

Opinion

www.theoakleafnews.com

Y

ou’re walking down the sidewalk of in an unfamiliar neighborhood when you see a man approaching you. You turn to avoid him, but he also alters his course, clearly intending to meet up with you. As he gets closer, panic rises in your mind. You’ve heard stories about people like him, what “they” have done: violent, frightening things.

But who, exactly, inspires this fear in you? A young black or brown man in a hooded sweatshirt, or a white police officer carrying a badge and gun?

It’s all in where you’re standing.

It’s uncertain how Michael Brown stood in Ferguson, Missouri – with his hands up in surrender or moving with intent to attack officer Darren Wilson.

Witness accounts released from the grand jury hearing differ wildly, but the autopsy report at least confirms Brown faced Wilson as he died.

A bystander’s video clearly shows Eric Garner standing his ground against the commands from plainclothes NYPD officers, noncompliant but nonaggressive. Garner was standing his ground until officer Daniel Pantaleo attempted to restrain him from behind with a chokehold maneuver too close to which the NYPD has banned its officers from using since 1993. Garner’s autopsy detailed the compression of his neck and chest as causes of his death.

If these deaths don’t incite a response in you because they’re not close enough to home, consider the Nov. 10 incident Santa Rosa Junior College’s Black Student Union

members encountered: standing outside a Rohnert Park bowling alley when confronted by a racial hatred so vicious they felt it was almost from another time and place — and further compounded by responding officers’ actions of indifference and hostility when the BSU students tried to make their case.

The relationship between America’s minority communities and the police has always stood on shaky ground, but the ever-eroding lack of trust between them has growing lethal consequences.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics’ most recent ArrestRelated Deaths report, about six in 10 arrest-related deaths from 2003-2009 were considered homicide by law enforcement, and that number may be higher. On its first page, the ARD report admits “arrest-related deaths are under-reported” and that the BJS makes no attempt to estimate for nonresponding jurisdictions.

Of the nearly 5,000 deaths included, 58.4 percent of the homicides were minorities, with blacks making up the largest portion at 31.7 percent of all reported arrest-related homicides.

The fear cycle will perpetuate if men like Brown and Garner are celebrated as martyrs instead of victims. Martyrs sacrifice themselves standing up for a cause they believe in. Victims are killed by an outside force, and unfortunately, Brown and Garner are victims of a nationwide force of ill-equipped and unprepared police. While the modern officer has an arsenal of weapons and

Illustration by Nate Voge

EDITORIAL

the training to use them, he lacks the proper psychological training to earn and maintain the trust of the people he’s meant to serve and protect.

Resigning Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. promised Dec. 1 to announce “updated Justice Department guidance” to eliminate racial profiling by federal law enforcement. Guidelines help in the short term, but laws make lasting change. An “End Racial Profiling” bill has been put forward at every Congress since the beginning of the Bush administration to no effect.

Congress can’t afford to stand on the sidelines anymore; it needs to make this bill its top priority.

That cycle also revolves around the manner the justice system determines fault in officer-related homicides — but just as Brown and Garner are not martyrs, neither should Wilson nor Pantaleo become scapegoats in attempt to relieve tension.

Santa Rosa felt that tension in the wake of Andy Lopez’s death when the district attorney’s decision not to prosecute Deputy Erick

Gelhaus strained the trust between law enforcement and the Latino community. But instead of brushing aside these concerns, Sonoma County created a task force that’s been working for the past year on ways to implement an independent civilian review body. This method could make all the difference in growing the trust between minorities and police, and stand as a model for all communities impacted by these tragedies.

him Strong in the Force, Abrams is; doubt you should not! yet, the trailer opens on the desert in Tatooine and a Stormtooper without his helmet, played by Managing Editor John Boyega, appears on screen. hanksgiving this year People began complaining about brought us more than we Boyega’s casting, who happens to ever could ask for. No, I don’t mean be one movies main leads. This spending time with is not only blowing our families and something out of saying thanks for all proportion, it’s we have. We were downright racist Abrams has gifted given our first official and juvenile. us a tremendous look at J. J. Abrams’ No one treat with this upcoming “Star complained because footage, and Wars: Episode VIISamuel L. Jackson we choose to The Force Awakens.” was one of the condemn him for leaders of the Jedi Many, myself no other reason included, were order. Other than looking forward to than a lightsaber Han Solo, the other our first taste of a new smoothest talking and a black “Star Wars” movie character in the Stormtrooper? since Disney made original trilogy was the announcement.

Lando Calrissian, I sat gleefully at the another black man.

TV as the trailer began. And then So why attack Boyega? It’s 2014; I watched it again. And again. I am let’s get over this already. I think it finally excited for something in is completely ignorant of people to the Star Wars universe that is not a complain about a black character cartoon or video game. in a movie. It’s Star Wars; keep What I did not expect was the racism out of it. backlash fans gave Abrams for 88 As for the other complaint, seconds of footage. well, it’s more of a fanboy After its release, the Internet argument than anything. The exploded into a frenzy as people new lightsaber shown included a complained about everything crossguard similar to a claymore in the trailer, from the black sword from the Middle Ages stormtrooper to the design of the with two little beams coming new lightsaber. from the sides. Crying foul, many For the few who have not seen it attacked Abrams for ruining Jarrett Rodriguez

T

their childhood and explaining how having a crossguard like that would be counterproductive for anyone wielding it.

All right, Star Wars fans, let us calm down a bit here. This is not the end of the world. I see no problem with any of the footage that was shown; it had a similar feeling to episodes IV and V, the latter of which was written by the same writer as episode 7. (Irvin Kershner, you are my hero.)

Abrams has gifted us a tremendous treat with this footage, and we choose to condemn him for

no other reason than a lightsaber and a black Stormtrooper? We have yet to see this lightsaber in action.

Who knows what is in store for us when, what I assume is a Sith, actually wields that thing in battle?

And Boyega is an up-and-coming actor who deserves the benefit of the doubt; Mark Hamill was once an up-and-coming actor, too.

Even Roger Christian, the original creator of the lightsaber, said Abrams knows what he is doing and that everything in the trailer, including the so-called “broadsaber” had to be thought

of before putting it in the trailer.

He would not show it if it was not important.

So I say let us all put our torches and pitchforks away and breathe.

We should all be rejoicing the fact that we have a new Star Wars movie that’s not done by George Lucas. We actually have a chance, folks, to get the movie we deserve and not some really bad CGI film.

Let us come together, cross our fingers and hope that the return to a galaxy far, far away brings a new Empire for fanboys and girls to be happy about.

Courtesy of Lucasfilm

The teaser also includes scenes confirming the Milennium Falcon’s return, a less controversial sight for ‘Star Wars’ fans.

www.theoakleafnews.com

Opinion

15

December 8, 2014

Cats in the cradle and the silver spoon Alex T. Randolph Copy Editor

“I’m sorry,” said the female voice on the phone. “He’s not going to get better from this. We give him about six months.”

I thanked her for the call and hung up. I sat there for several minutes in silence until Mom and her wife came and hugged me as hard as they could. I didn’t cry.

It’s been seven years since I received that call. Seven years since my dad succumbed to bladder cancer and died about a week later.

I still haven’t cried.

I was not surprised by the news.

After all, Jack Randolph was an old man, already in his 60s when he married my mom. By the time I received that call, he was 86 and had been a chess master, a barbershop director and a pilot.

He had, by all accounts, led a long, full life. He wasn’t in bad health before the diagnosis — but he, every friend, family member and I — knew something was going to happen to him, and it would happen soon. It was expected, and for the most part, accepted.

My dad and I got along famously.

He was kind, sweet, loved to spoil me and for the most part let me do whatever I wanted. After my parents’ divorce when I was 11,

visiting his house was a kind of a mini-vacation. I grieved, but between my acceptance and my good memories, I had little reason to cry. I still don’t.

That doesn’t mean I don’t regret.

He was the youngest child of a massive amount of brothers and sisters, and I regret never learning their names or how many there were. I regret that I don’t know his mother’s or father’s names, where he grew up or what his high school was, when he got his pilot license or how he became a chess master.

I learned most of these things from family and friends, but never spoke to him about them. Dad rarely brought up his past.

It was hard to talk to him, quite literally, as he was deaf. He went deaf long before I remember, but it was still pretty late in his life when it happened. This meant, among other things, that he was completely tone deaf. I never got to hear him sing like he used to, something that bothers me more than I can say.

More importantly, talking to him was a struggle. He could still speak perfectly fine, thank goodness — but he couldn’t hear you coming, or modulate his voice, and he never learned to compensate for his deafness. Learning sign language isn’t nearly as helpful when the person you’re learning it for barely knows it himself. I didn’t go out of my way to avoid talking to him, but

Defense budget plans to play offense Andrew “Beau” Lino

N

Alex T. Randolph/Oak Leaf

Jack Randolph lived a full life before his death due to bladder cancer at 86.

long conversations were a chore for us both, so they never happened.

One would think that a person’s imminent death would change that.

One would be wrong.

I had seen people get sick and go to the hospital before. But it’s different knowing that he’s never going to get better; he’s only going to get worse until he dies. I didn’t want to deal with that, so I stayed in my room and let others help him use the bathroom and work out which pills to take. I watched an old movie with him, and he fell asleep halfway through, but I didn’t really talk to him. I stayed in my room and watched YouTube and tried to ignore his limbs gradually wasting

away into sticks.

His smile was the last I saw of him, when they carted him off to a rest home. Well, no. Technically the last I saw of him was when I went to see his dead body a day or so later – I still don’t know if that was a good idea – but by that point Dad had vacated the premises, so his smile was my last sight of the real him.

They say when you look back on your life, what you regret most are all the things you didn’t do. They should add that the same holds true when it’s someone you care about.

I was there for him, but there are a thousand little details that I’ll never know because I thoughtlessly never asked for them.

What’s your favorite holiday song?

Chantelle Bogue “Christmastime is Killing Us”

Sean Curzon “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”

Nate8Dog “Little Drummer Boy”

Jeanine the Troll

Robert Marshall “All I Want for Christmas” - Mariah Carey

Alex T. Randolph “Jingle Bells” -Barbra Streisand

Jew Lee “I Have a Little Dreidel”

“King” Arthur

Frank the Printer “Frosty the Snowman”

Jarrett Rodriguez “Jehovah Witness Rap”

Kelsey Matzen “This is Halloween”

hockeystephen14 “Where would We be without Christmas?”

“When the River Meets the Sea” -Kermit the Frog

“Copyright-safe Christmas song”

Staff Writer

ew president same as the old president? At least in regards to war, or in this administration’s choice of rhetoric, “Overseas Contingency Operations” (OCO). It used to be “War on Terror,” unfortunately the concept is the same. Maybe in the future we will be calling it Global Peace Initiative. But does it really matter what we call it?

On June 26, 2014 the Department of Defense (DOD) released its fiscal year 2015 Overseas Contingency Operations Budget Amendment requesting $58.6 billion for continued support of fighting terrorist efforts.

The proposed budget states, “OCO funding will help our military reset from over a decade of fighting by providing the funds needed for DOD to repair and replace equipment and munitions.” This is a reference to bringing equipment and personnel home from a conflict in the Middle East we entered while George W. Bush was in office.

Better late than never.

While giving the commencement speech to the graduating class at West Point Military Academy, President Obama announced that he would ask Congress to fund a new Counterterrorism Partnerships Fund to provide the flexibility and resources required to respond to emerging threats around the globe.

The budget plan focuses on diplomacy and partnerships as a means to end terrorism, diplomacy and partnerships in countries with limited resources and poor infrastructure.

Perhaps the question is: what happens when diplomacy fails? What happens when those countries are unable to sustain their partnerships because their leaders are compromised?

The budget focuses on terrorism as our greatest threat and because that perceived threat is based on an abstract faceless enemy called a “terrorist” and not a declared nation, there is no end in sight to this war of many names.

Saying we are going to use our military as a means of peaceful diplomacy is like sending a great white shark to break up a dispute between baby seals.

Building a military presence worldwide is not an act of diplomacy; before we’ve completed one conflict it is not in our best interest to insert our military into every new conflict that arises.

Perhaps diplomacy has a chance of success if we send in diplomats and not soldiers. We are nearing the end of one conflict, and moving towards military involvement globally to repress “terrorism.” They could have called it world war.

16

December 8, 2014

Hart to Hart A passing of basketball legacy Ben Steinberg Staff Writer As Amber Hart begins her sophomore season at Santa Rosa Junior College, she enters not only her last year of SRJC basketball but possibly her last year competing with teammate and sister Ashley Hart.

Amber, the oldest of four sisters, has coached and played basketball with Ashley since their youth basketball days in Middletown.

“She’s not only my teammate that I stand by but she’s my sister and I’ll always stand by her whether she is struggling or excelling,” Amber said.

The sisters are at different stages in their athletic lives. Amber is entering her final campaign at SRJC while Ashley begins her freshman season. Amber has already been through the challenges of a college season and helps Ashley adapt to college life.

“She was undersized and from a small town, and not used to playing against such a range of talent available in big cities,” said Tony Hart, their father.

“Growing up our dad was always our coach, from youth ball to high school. Here at the JC was both of our first times really experiencing a new coaching system, it can be tough but having Amber around who’s been in this system for a couple years now has been huge for me,” Ashley said.

Tony Hart has not only been their loving father, coach and teacher, but their biggest fan.

“Watching those two grow up they always wanted to be better than each other instead of working together to help each other improve, but now they’re growing up and working so hard with each other to get better,” Tony said. “It’s a joy to watch.”

Playing under coach Lacey Campbell has transformed both the Hart sisters.

“No offense to my dad, but she is the best coach I have ever played for,” Amber said. “She brings something new to the table each practice. Defense comes first and is most important for our team. She really gets the most out of us every day.”

Amber is currently starting power forward, averaging more than five rebounds per game in only 20 minutes a game so far in the young season. She has seen a big spike in playing time this year, and currently in talks with an unnamed school about a possible scholarship next season.

Amber, Ashley and the rest of the Bear Cubs look to improve off their frustrating playoff exit last year as the team prepares to make a run at the state title this season.

The first home game of the season will be in the SRJC Tournament at 8 p.m. Dec. 11 in SRJC Haehl Pavillion.

Sports

Meet Joe Stornetta: Robert Marshall Sports Editor

In 2001, Joe Stornetta Jr. strapped into a Beginner Box Stock, a 5-horsepower engine he used to win main events, heat and trophy dash races.

Stornetta, 20, a Santa Rosa Junior College student from Napa, is trying to make it big in the racing world, a dream since he was a kid.

With many interests, Stornetta could have choosen between baseball, football or racing. But it was a no-brainer: racing was his choice.

“I guess the biggest surprise would be that at the age of five-and-a-half, he won the main event the first night in a race car,” said Joe Stornetta Sr. Throughout his career at Vallejo Speedway, he raced Box Stock and 125cc Intermediates and then jumped into 600cc Micro Sprints for five years.

In 2010, he moved into the bigger, faster Wingless Spec Sprint car division and started racing at Petaluma Speedway. In his first season in a sprint car, he finished fifth in points. Two years later he was crowned the Wingless SpecSprint champion.

“2012 was simply all around a spectacular year for us,” Stornetta said.

But he couldn’t take all the credit.

Stornetta’s grandfather, a huge supporter of his racing career, always came to his races and gave him the best advice. He passed away in October 2010.

“I always looked up to my grandfather,” Stornetta said. “Not only when it came to racing, but with anything I needed encouragement with. Not including my mom, he was my No.1 fan on and off the track. He always believed in me and felt that I was good enough to make it very far in racing.”

Another racer Stornetta looks up to is Andy Foresberg, “Mr. Excitement” from Auburn, a fan favorite and one of the top California drivers.

“His racing style is not one that many others can or will ever match,” Stornetta said. “He’s aggressive when he needs to be aggressive; you can race wheel-to-wheel with him for laps at a time without even so much as touching and most of all he is fast.”

Stornetta is working on getting his general education classes out of the way before transferring to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo to get his bachelor’s degree in mechanical enginerring.

Stornetta also hopes he can expand his racing career into new realms.

“It’s December 2014, and quite

www.theoakleafnews.com

SRJC student carves the dirt on the track and in the classroom

Courtesy of the Stornetta family

Joe Stornetta Jr., stands in victory lane with his dad, Joe Stornetta Sr., and his mom, Karen Stornetta, after a 2014 main event win.

honestly I’m not sure what or if I’ll be driving this upcoming March,” Stornetta said.

In the sprint car world, having a ride for each season can be year-to-year as the racing world is always revolving.

But Stornetta’s main goal is to be involved in racing for the rest of his life.

“There have been a lot of wins and championships, and there is nothing

that I would change in his career so far, which has spanned 15 years,” Stornetta Sr. said of his son. “I get to spend almost every weekend with [Joe] and work on his car. Nothing can compare to being around your family and friends, all the while keeping an eye on your kid, watching him grow to be a man right in front of your eyes.”

Volleyball team looking for 2015 comeback Niko Edwards Staff Writer A promising women’s volleyball season came to a close in the first round of the CCCAA Regional Playoffs as the Bear Cubs were defeated in a three-set match against

Foothill College Nov 26. Though their season ended a bit sooner than they had hoped, there is a bright future ahead of the team for years to come.

The women attributed much of their success this season, especially in the early goings, to team chemistry.

“In the summer, we had already bonded so we were all really close,

and in the very beginning of the season we were a very young team, as a majority of us were freshmen,” said libro defensive specialist Bryce Gevas.

“The team chemistry helped us because we were so young; it helped us trust each other.”

From the onset of the season, the Bear Cubs looked like they were on track to meet, and even outdo their preseason goals, which included a return to the postseason, and a few others.

“We started off with a goal to make it to the playoffs,” said libro defensive specialist Rebecca Steiner.

“We also had the goal of remaining consistent over the course of the season, and progressing rather than being on a roller coaster and going up and down.”

The first 10 games of the season came on the road, and the Bear Cubs played exceptionally. Despite

Joseph Barkoff/ OakLeaf

Top: Tori Garzoli and Alexia Seda sends the ball back into Sacramento City College’s side of the net with a double-tea block Oct. 29 in Haehl Gym in Santa Rosa. Left: Emily Bonfigli serves an overhand jumper towards Sierra College Oct. 5 in Haehl Gym in Santa Rosa. Right: Mimi Flower recieves services from Sierra College Oct. 8 in Haehl Gym.

the unusual schedule and tough opponents, they persevered, earning an 8-3 record heading into their first home game.

As the season progressed, and the trust grew stronger, the consistency that the coaches and players were looking for continued to grow. The Bear Cubs had two different fourgame win streaks and another of three games over the course of the season.

Of their 14 wins this season, they were convincing, as only three of the matches lasted all five possible sets.

Steiner and her teammates noted that accomplishing their goal of increasing consistency also helped propel the team to success.

Setter Emily Bonfigli said, “at the beginning of the season we kind of wavered at times and would play well, and then be off for a few points, but near the end we really remained consistent throughout the match.”

The Bear Cubs were a very young team this year, which gives them even more to look forward to next year.

With eight returning players, and the chemistry paired with this year’s improvements, next season should be an exciting one.

“I’m really expecting big things from us,” Bonfigli said. “I think the rest of the league is probably expecting that from us, too. I’m really excited to go to work in the offseason, and turn it up again next fall.”

For an in-depth version and video footage of this season’s recap interviews be sure to check out theoakleafnews.com.

www.theoakleafnews.com

Sports

17

December 8, 2014

SRJC hockey semester finale Intense battle ends in tie for Polar Bears

Measure H can benefit SRJC Athletics Brennan Cole Staff Writer

Joseph Barkoff/Oak Leaf

(Left) Dominic Jones uses his butterflies, stopping the shootout scoring attempt by SJSU’s Schlayer Krawczum. (Right) Josiah Nikkel is upended by a SJSU’s defender while flying the puck into the SJ zone Dec. 6 at Snoopy’s Home Ice Arena in Santa Rosa. The game will go down as a tie on the record depite SJSU making the final score due to division status.

Joseph Barkoff Sports Photo Editor The Polar Bears skated to a tie against San Jose State University’s Division II squad Dec. 6 at Snoopy’s Home Ice. Having lost 5-3 the previous night on SJSU’s home ice, both

Joseph Barkoff/Oak Leaf

SRJC’s Stephen Wolamrans and Dylan Farinacci congratulation Captain Blake Johnson’s line after scoring a goal against SJSU Dec. 6.

SRJC athlete Joe

Stornetta

–Racecar driver

Jacob Wilson

teams knew exactly what to expect when the puck dropped in Santa Rosa.

The first period opened like a tug of war despite SRJC missing five players to grades and injuries. Both teams traded the puck in each other’s zones, but 11:32 passed before the first penalty was called.

San Jose went into the box first, but the Polar Bears found themselves in back-to-back-toback penalty kill situations, even skating five-on-three for one kill.

The PK line held fast, and regardless of SJSU’s team size and players, the first period ended with zeroes on the board for both squads.

It would take almost 30 minutes of ice time before either goalie would allow anything into their nets. San Jose struck first, but four minutes later Blake Johnson, off a sweet touch pass and rush to the net from Josiah Nikkel, to even the score at 1.

San Jose was extremely aggressive in the second period, putting twice as many shots on

goal as Santa Rosa, but both teams skated clean as far as the score sheet is concerned, having only three penalties between both squads in the second period. Period two ended with the score still tied.

The third period began and SJSU’s frustration started to become more apparent at what seemed like a sense of entitlement playing a team in a lower division that they beat the previous evening.

SJSU accumulated 10 penalties in the third, including five game misconducts and one disqualification for head contact, to SRJC’s one.

As the one-minute mark was reached, over the PA, announcer Jacob Fitzpatrick informed the rink “One minute remaining in the period.” Just 18 seconds later, in a breakdown of defense, SJSU slipped the puck past Dominic Jones to go ahead 2-1.

With 10.2 seconds left in the game Nikkel took a face-off for Santa Rosa in SJSU’s zone.

Winning the face-off, and a quick touch to Johnson, then

back to Nikkel for a shot from the right. Nikkel then tied the game with 1.1 seconds left on the clock.

The crowd and bench erupted with roars of excitement, but the game went to a five-minute overtime period, which ended in a scoreless tie.

Despite SJSU sneaking a puck past Jones in the following shootout, the shootout was just for the fans. Division III play ends after the overtime period.

“I’m pretty happy with the resolve of the guys to rally and not put their heads down,” said head coach Mike Kovanis. “They stayed motivated and realized they had time to get it done, and pulled it off.”

The Polar Bears have one more away game in Oakland against San Francisco State University before the holidays.

Be sure to look for University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Boise State University’s Division II teams coming to Snoopy’s in the third week of January next semester.

Jock Talk

Who is your sports What are your plans Who’s better: Kobe Bryant Star Wars or Star Trek? Who’s better: Tom Brady or LeBron James? or Peyton Manning? mentor? for the holidays?

Travis Pastrana. Any- Work and spend as thing. Anytime. Any- much time as possible where. Don’t call what he with my family. does athletic? Try doing what he does on a daily basis.

Matthew Dellavedova. Family coming over to San Francisco.

LeBron.

Star Wars.

Manning.

Kobe Bryant.

Star Wars.

Tom Brady. His name sounds cool.

Star Wars.

Tom Brady

–Men’s basketball

Becca Steiner

–Volleyball

Emily Bonfigli –Volleyball

When I see others Spend time with my succeed, it pushes me family and boyfriend. Kobe, he has more rings. to succeed. It’s hard Eat lots of good food to think of a specific and relax a lot. person My coach at the JC, Mostly shopping for presents I’m not a big fan of Kaitlin Ferguson, and for my family and friends either, but if I had my highschool coach, and seeing some friends who to choose I would Anna Waller. are home for winter break. say Kobe.

Star Wars.

Tom Brady is my favorite, but Peyton Manning is a close second.

Santa Rosa Junior College’s historical, and out-of-date, athletic facilities remain the solitary roadblock with the school’s athletic training department and its aptitude to efficiently and properly continue serving the college’s athletic needs.

Although SRJC recently renovated its baseball and softball facilities, the dinosaur Tauzer, Quinn and Haehl complexes are all in need of modernizations.

Constructed in 1935, Tauzer Gymnasium has served center stage for nearly 80 years, playing host to various sporting events and classes.

“Tauzer definitely needs a real volleyball net and holes in the floor for the poles,” said volleyball player Emily Bonfigli. “The day before our senior night we had to practice on the old, extremely low net in Tauzer.”

The Quinn Aquatic Complex was built in 1973 and Haehl was assembled nine years later in 1982.

All three of these buildings have seen their fair share of wear and tear, while also serving as the platforms for hundreds of diverse events.

With such high calibur sports teams, the need for up-to-date facilities is crucial to the athletic department’s success. Thanks to the November passing of Measure H, buidlings like Tauzer Gym, Haehl Pavillion and the Quinn Aquatic Complex can be revamped.

Measure H is supposed to provide SRJC with $410 million; part of which was propsed for building improvements.

“Hopefully with the passing of Measure H we will be able to upgrade our facilities for all kinesiology, athletics and dance students which would also allow us to host championship events,” said head athletic trainer Monica Ohkubo.

It remains to be seen what Measure H will be put towards, but it’s fair to speculate that some will support renovations to SRJC’s outdated athletic facilities.

“We are hopeful to modernize as much of the campus as possible through the added funds brought in with Measure H, but it’s premature to make solid commitments before the completion of our facilities master plan, which should be done within the year,” said SRJC President Dr. Frank Chong.

“Tauzer is one of the items listed in the bond, and we hope to modernize not only Tauzer, but all of the athletic facilities.”

18

December 8, 2014

Sports

Cross Country Review:

an in-depth look at the numbers The men’s and women’s cross- women took fifth. Nazarek placed second with a time of 20:53.6. Logan Robert Marshall Stanley placed ninth with a time of 21:44.8 for the men. Jon Ahnberg Sports Editor placed 19th with a time of 22:13.4. country season came to a close Luz Sanche-Huerta placed 12th Nov. 22 at the CCCAA State with a time of 20:10.5. Ruiz placed Championships. The season had eighth with a time of 19:46.9 a lot of bright spots with the men In the Pat Ryan Invitational Oct. finishing ranked fifth and the 17 the men took first while the women seventh. women earned second. The men had “I was really impressed with the three placers in the top 10. Nazarek way both teams finished,” head took first with a time of 20:00.23. coach David Wellman said. “This Stanley placed fourth with a time was supposed to be a rebuilding of 20:50.30 while Ahnberg placed year with a large number of seventh with a time of 21:15.36. newcomers, but we performed well For the women, Ruiz placed first and look good to improve on our with a time of 18:45.33, Sanchezplacing next year.”

Huerta placed fourth with a time of Both teams started their seasons 19:20.92 and Trixie Scolari placed by taking first and third place at the twelfth with a time of 20:56.14.

Beat the Heat Invitational Aug. 30 On Halloween the Bear Cubs in Eureka. Cristian Nazarek took traveled to Sacramento for the Big first with a time of 21:24 seconds for 8 Championships where the men the men and Sarah Brandt with a placed second and the women time of 19:58 for the women. placed fourth.

The men placed 10th in the On Nov. 8 the Bear Cubs Fresno Invitational Sept. 6. Nazarek competed in the NorCal placed fourth in 20:51.7 seconds in Championships where the men the four-mile. The women placed placed fifth and the women placed 12th with Erica Ruiz hustling in eighth. Nazarek placed ninth with a with a time of 20:04.6. time of 21:49.1. Ruiz placed eighth In the Big 8 Preview Sept. 13 with a time of 19:03.4. the men placed second, while the The Bear Cubs competed in the women placed fifth. Nazarek led CCCAA State Championships Nov. the way 20:46.9 seconds in second 22 where the men placed 19th and place. Ruiz came in fourth with a the women placed 25th. time of 19:45.6 “The day of state, I was terrified,” Nine days later the Bear Cubs Ruiz said. “I have never gone to state traveled to San Mateo to compete in for anything, so it felt so surreal. the Crystal Springs Invitational. The “Wellman took my hands, looked men placed eighth with Nazarek me in the eyes and told me that I got taking fifth with a time of 21:46. The this.” women did not place.

The Bear Cubs overall had a In the Toro Park Invitational Oct. great season and look to improve 10 the men placed fourth and the into next year.

SRJC Sports Medicine on the rise

Joseph Barkoff/ Oak Leaf

The SRJC athletic trainers responsible for the sideline duties at Bear Cubs football games enjoy a brief moment of respite before the game begins against Diablo Valley College Nov. 14 in Pleasant Hill.

Brennan Cole Staff Writer Santa Rosa Junior College’s Sports Medicine and Athletic Training program is one of the most sought after two-year programs in the nation. One of only a few in the state and one of its kind in the region, it comprises the school’s 20 sports teams and various dance groups associated with the school.

“I would like to think we have a positive impact on all of our athletic teams,” said athletic trainer Monica Ohkubo. “It is our goal to treat all student-athletes with the same respect and attention. Our job is to keep our student-athletes safe and healthy, and it doesn’t matter if you are a starter or a redshirt.”

The program was founded in 1971 with the intent of combining inclass coursework correlated to sports medicine and athletic training, with hands-on experience with the college’s numerous sports teams.

Program students enroll in various

the rollercoaster : Football 2014 ride has ended Joseph Barkoff

Sports Photo Editor The 2014 Santa Rosa Junior College football season felt like a ride on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s Giant Dipper. Height is achieved early, followed by a plummet with numerous ups and downs, banks, twists and turns, but upside down never quite happens.

The Bear Cubs opened with five straight wins including an exciting overtime win, dethroning last year’s national champion Butte College.

“Seeing our team run on the field

after we beat Butte in the overtime and seeing how happy all those guys were.

The coaches, the fans, that was just a great night,” said head coach Lenny Wagner about his favorite moment from the season.

One of the toughest losses of the season was losing to College of San Mateo by three points Oct. 18 in San Mateo. Missing a chance to knock two nationally ranked number one teams in one year.

“I think it was a really good season,” Wagner said. “I think it was progress from where we were last year, and as a coach sometimes it takes a week or two

www.theoakleafnews.com

kinesiology courses, in addition to certain athletic and dance classes.

In the spring, Ohkubo and fellow program leader Dr. Nancy Chinn attended the NASPA Excellence Awards in Baltimore where they were presented the 2014 Grand Silver award for SRJC’s Concussion Management Program.

Ohkubo and Chinn stress the importance of incorporating computerized baseline testing while also providing comprehensive education to over 1,500 studentathletes. Furthermore, all SRJC contact sport athletes must complete an indepth concussion education course and pass a baseline assessment before beginning their sport season.

“It really is amazing how dedicated and talented the entire department is,” said SRJC President Dr. Frank Chong.

The program’s hands-on approach has proven beneficial at both limiting and treating injuries experienced throughout its services.

“This program better prepares students with hands-on experience by working in the athletic training

room with hundreds of athletes who are seen throughout the year,” said Daniel Salinas, a current student in the program. “I could not be happier with my experience in the athletic training program.”

Students are presented opportunities to tape-up various athletic injuries, as well as treat their battle wounds. They are also privileged to observe SRJC’s world-class trainers firsthand.

“What makes our department great are the people that work in it. The faculty, coaches and support staff do what it takes to get the job done,” Ohkubo said.

The mindset of wanting to be the best is consistent throughout SRJC’s athletic programs, and is ultimately responsible for the profusion of sustained achievements regarding the school’s athletics.

“We all work hard and do what we can to create the best athletic and academic experience for our students in kinesiology, athletics and dance,” Ohkubo said. “This leads to our successful athletic teams and constant drive to be the best.”

to feel the right way about a season. As a coach you want to win every game, and you remember the losses a lot more than you remember the wins and those games stick in my head. But after having a couple weeks to digest the whole thing, I think it was a really successful year and I’m really happy for my guys.”

The Bear Cubs ended the season 7-4 overall, 2-3 in conference and 5-0 at home and with Wagner at the helm 2015 should be just as exciting.

Joseph Barkoff/Oak Leaf Be sure to check out SRJC defense swarms Butte College ball carrier, causing and recovering a theoakleafnews.com for all the fumble Oct. 13 at Bailey Field in Santa Rosa. photos that didn’t make it to print.

Joseph Barkoff/Oak Leaf

Left: The SRJC Bear Cub defense executes a perfect example of gang tackling, crushing a would-be rushing attempt at Diablo Valley College Nov. 14 in Pleasant Hill. Bottom right: SRJC football’s coaches, players and fans storm the field after upsetting National Champion Butte College Sept. 13 at Bailey Field in Santa Rosa.

SAME

PROFESSORS.

SAME

JESUIT VALUES.

SAME

FIRST-CLASS EDUCATION. USF SANTA ROSA CAMPUS

Complete your bachelor’s degree at USF in downtown Santa Rosa. Degrees now available in Management and Psychology.

LEARN MORE AT AN

INFORMATION MEETING at the USF SANTA ROSA CAMPUS Wednesday, December 10, 5:30pm

To RSVP call 707.527.9612 visit www.usfca.edu/santarosa or email santarosacampus@usfca.edu

COUPON

5 classes for $25 Valid one per person with this coupon, new students only.

Expires Jan 31, 2015

Voted Best Yoga Studio Past 6 Years

available on our website & in studio

www.bikramyogaofsantarosa.com 522 Wilson St, Santa Rosa 707.545.9642