Oak Leaf Spring 2016 Issue 1 by Oak Leaf News

The

Oak Leaf

SRJC’s band of the week, Boilermaker, coined their own genre: “Junk Fuzz.” A&E, Page 5

Estefany Gonzalez/ Oak Leaf

Puck Dynasty

Santa Rosa Junior College’s Newspaper

Hit and run case unsolved

Meet the makers of Boilermaker

February 8, 2016

Volume CXXXV, Issue I

Courtney Paige/ Oak Leaf

A hit and run in a Mendocino Avenue crosswalk sparked concern for SRJC students and faculty.

News, Page 3

Talent at any age

SRJC hockey team wins 4th straight PCHA Cup Lachlan Irvine Staff Writer

Treven Bulluck/ Oak Leaf

94-year-old SRJC student Catherine Atkinson spends her time creating biology-inspired sculptures.

Features, Page 9

To Qatar and back

Courtesy of Taylor Fatherree

An SRJC student’s informative and engaging voyage to the Middle East.

Features, Page 12

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t was the first Santa Rosa Junior College hockey championship game ever played at home, and fans did not disappoint. The building was packed to the rafters, and the noise level was deafening from the opening faceoff until the final buzzer when Polar Bear players came pouring off the bench to celebrate. “I’ve never played in the building when it was this packed,” alternate captain and team president Stephen Wolmarans said. Wolmarans scored a hat trick to lead the SRJC ice hockey team to its fourth straight Pacific Coast Hockey Association championship in a 7-3 win over archrivals University of California Davis in front of a sold out crowd at Snoopy’s Home Ice. “It’s an extremely special moment,” Wolmarans said. “It feels awesome to win at home in front of the fans.” SRJC captain Josiah Nikkel has been with the team for all four PCHA championships, but the win at home made this one the most memorable for him. “Every championship has been exciting,” he said. “But this one is by far one of the best, because it was in

front of all of our fans and [Snoopy’s] was packed to the front doors.” For SRJC head coach Blake Johnson, it’s his first championship from behind the bench after playing with the last three PCHA-winning SRJC teams. “It’s unreal to win something like that at home, and it’s a game that all these guys will remember,” Johnson said. UC Davis opened the scoring seven minutes into the game with Kaz Machida shooting the goal. Wolmarans tied it at the halfway mark of the period. Wolmarans scored the go-ahead goal with just 45 seconds left in the first, thanks to some nifty passing from teammate David Lundgren. It was a much slower start to the game than players were used to in a rivalry game. Nikkel said, “It took us a little while, cause I’m sure some guys had jitters. Once that was out of the way, we got back to how we normally play.” The second period was a tight defensive battle before rookie Max Brownlee gave the Polar Bears a 3-1 lead at the six-minute mark. Fellow rookie Evan Hastings and alternate captain Lundgren picked up the assists. Machida’s second goal made it a one-goal game with eight minutes to go in the second before Brownlee

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put home his second on an assist from Colin Ridenour. The third period was not without controversy, as Polar Bears goalie Chris Tomaszewski was given a 10-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Johnson subbed in backup goalie Jacob Pavsek with 17 minutes to go, a 4-2 SRJC lead and championship on the line. A UC Davis power play led to M a c h i d a’s third goal and a close 4-3 game with eight minutes left. Less than 30 seconds after Davis’ goal, Wolmarans completed his hat trick and restored the two-goal lead. Larry Hansen made it 6-3 SRJC and opened the floodgates for the Polar Bears. Ridenour and Alec Runge each picked up their second helpers of the night on Hansen’s tally. Nikkel put in an unassisted goal late in the game to finish off UC Davis and seal the PCHA title

with a 7-3 victory. SRJC goalies Tomaszewski and Pavsek combined for 27 saves on 30 shots in the win. Bringing home the PCHA Adams Cup in a rebuilding year was a great feat for the Polar Bears. This win was a longawaited accomplishment for several players. “It feels great to win as a team, but on a personal level it feels great to get the monkey off my back,” said Jackson Waldron. “I’ve been here three years and this is the first time I’ve got to hoist the cup on the ice. It couldn’t have been more special doing it in front of the home fans.”

Daniel Kong / Oak Leaf

Top: SRJC hockey captain Josiah Nikkel raises the Pacific Collegiate Hockey Association championship cup to his cheering teammates. The Polar Bears hockey team beat UC Davis for their fourth straight division title win.

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News SGA turnover

Estefany Gonzalez and Maci Martell

Staff Writers Laura Buel, Treven Bulluck, Jessica Carter, Zachary Chew, Arthur Gonzalez-Martin, Albert Gregory, Lachlan Irvine, Jynessa Lazzaroni, Rita Losch, Will Mathis, Daniel Medina, Kiana Medina, Jocelyn Mobley, Genesis Napel, Parker Dangers Oncken, Courtney Paige, Rico Pinola, Jaime Rodriguez and Frank Sumrall Photographers Treven Bulluck, Estefany Gonzalez, Daniel Kong, Jenner Dangers Oncken and Courtney Paige Distribution Jessica Carter, Tommy Dennen, Travis LaBrucherie and Jaime Rodriguez Layout Team Craig Gettman, Catherine Ramirez and all section editors and editors-in-chief

Treven Bulluck Staff Writer Since April 2015 the Santa Rosa Junior College Student Government Assembly has experienced an unusual turnover rate of elected and appointed officials with 14 turnovers this year. In December, an alcohol scandal forced three assembly members from office and two more transferred to four-year schools this semester. When asked about the SGA turnover, SGA Chair Joshua Pinaula said care of a family member or bigger personal responsibilities were the causes of much of the turnover. “Shit happens, basically,” he said. Despite the high turnover rate, Pinaula prefers community college systems. “What you see at CSUs or UCs is they have a lot more money. They have a lot more support and they have a lot more time to focus on one thing and get it done,” Pinaula said. “Here we’re seeing a lot more people who have lives.” SGA Advisor Zack Miranda

Newsroom: 707-527-4401 Ads Office: 707-527-4254 Anne Belden, Adviser: 707-527-4867 abelden@santarosa.edu EMAIL oakleafstaff@gmail.com Advertising Keshia Knight oakleaf-ads@santarosa.edu LETTERS TO THE EDITOR We appreciate your feedback. Send letters to oakleafonline@gmail.com or to the Oak Leaf office. Letters should include 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.

Courtesy of SRJC

The SGA started the fall 2015 semester with a full staff, but now have empty seats.

agreed. He said he understands things come up during school. “There is a natural turnover between a semester, but we did have a number [higher] than we’re used to,” he said. It isn’t always sudden personal emergencies. Both Vice President of Student Health Diana Kingsbury and Vice President of Finance (SGA Vice Chair) Hakeem Sanusi were accepted to four-year universities for spring 2016. The new assembly member system allows students to have a voice at the student government table without the power to vote. This has pushed the number of turnover up. “Those aren’t as official positions and that’s part of the turnover. We have four assembly members who have left us,” Pinaula said. “They haven’t officially elected members. They’re just appointed and they have about half the responsibilities. They get to choose their own responsibilities.” The turnover has had an effect on

Jynessa Lazzaroni

Santa Rosa Junior College advertising major and team leader Gage Stephens, 23, led a team of six SRJC advertising students to win the grand prize at the North Bay Business Journal Create-O-Thon. The contest, modeled after the long-standing Silicon Valley Business Journal Create-O-Thon competition, was the first of its kind in the North Bay. It brought both small businesses and advertising students together from three colleges to compete for $25,000 in advertising credit with the NBBJ. The competition kicked off with a mixer in September where students met with business partners and chose a business to design a

campaign for. Stephens and his team met with Don Hartung, owner of H3 Systems, a local information security agency. Stephens said he felt immediately connected to H3 Systems, which is why he chose to lead the team representing Hartung’s agency during the competition. “We’re going to win this thing,” Stephens promised Hartung upon meeting him and learning what H3 Systems does. The semester-long project involved several SRJC teams as well as teams from Sonoma State University and Dominican University. The project offered real world experience working for local businesses. The teams had to develop a creative campaign for their “clients” and the winning ad campaign would be used in any

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the SGA’s agenda. After the loss of Victoria Sheber, assembly member of student rights, the responsibility of creating the student bill of rights will fall to someone else. Losing the vice president of finance has put added pressure on Pinaula because of his experience with creating codes. “There are a few other campaigns that I want to do,” he said. “But I know the finance code is so important that I need to get the finance code done before I can do other things.” The assembly also lost the members of study; a position necessary for extending library hours and finding the location of new student lounges. Pinaula said the SGA lost a whole semester’s worth of work and now has to cram two semester workloads into one. “I don’t know if we’re going to get the student bill of rights done,” Pinaula said. “I think the finance code will get finished. I think there’s a couple members who are

interested in locating the student lounges, but we haven’t had the conversations yet.” Difficult as this may seem, there are upsides to the turnover. The higher student involvement has eased the pain. Pinaula gave a comparison when the previous student body president ran. “There were 23 positions that were available and three people ran,” he said. The higher participation has made filling some positions easier. After the representative for the Inter-Club Council stepped down for personal reasons last fall, Miranda said, “Part-way through that semester we actually had somebody from the cheerleading club on campus [fill the spot]. Chazz Medeiros came up and took over for that semester for those duties with SGA.” Election coordinator Billy Oertel is working on an elections packet for prospective students to fill out and run for student senate positions.

SRJC ad team wins $25,000 grand prize Staff Writer

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Editors-in-Chief:

February 8, 2016

Courtesy of Sarah Clark

The ad team, Gage Stephens, Sarah Clark and Joe Gray, revel in their success.

way the business chose within the NBBJ outlets. After each group paired with a business, participants were asked to develop and present an advertising campaign for their clients that would accurately reflect the business’ needs, target market and budget. With a total of 17 competing groups, the chance to win was slim, however Stephens had no doubt about his team’s ability to win. “I hand-picked my team,” he said. He attributed many hours of hard work and plenty sleepless nights to the overall preparedness that ultimately set their team apart. “We knew everything there was to know about our client,” Stephens said. Team participant Joe Gray, 26, said he thought the win had more to do with their graphics and wellthought-out design plan. “We had really good images, and the design plan was really cohesive,” he said. Both are correct, according to Chris Denny, founder and president of The Engine is Red, a local design and marketing firm. Denny said all the judges were very impressed with the presentation overall because it stood out among their competitors. Denny thought the team understood their client and represented them in a compelling and creative way. “Overall it was smart work that was relevant to their client’s customer and from a creative perspective it was really well executed,” he said.

Participating team members all agreed there were many moving pieces, and time management and constant communication were key to their success, as well as relentless preparation for the presentation. “We didn’t think that we had won at all, but a few weeks later Gage reached out to me and told to check my email because we had won,” said advertising student Sarah Clark, 21. The team’s victory will have a lasting impact on all of the students because for most of them, it was the first time working directly with a real business. However for Hartung this win means he’ll get $25,000 towards advertisements in the NBBJ. Hartung said he was very excited to have been a part of this whole project. The $25,000 prize will help him get a bit more exposure and he enjoyed being able to offer real work experience for the youth who participated. “I’m glad that I won, but more than that I’m really glad that the students won. This was about them. That was the real prize.” Stephens wanted nothing more than to win this competition and make good on his promise to Hartung. He put his time and energy into making sure that his team stayed on track, met the deadlines and performed well. He enjoyed the project so much that he changed his major to business advertising. Stephens said he was very proud of all of the work that he and his team put in.

News Investigation ongoing in hit and run case In the www.theoakleafnews.com

February 8, 2016

Know

Hit and run collision in front of campus sparks faculty concern

Transfer Aid and Scholarship Workshop

A workshop will be available for students to learn about transferring to universities and to supply financial aid and scholarship assistance, from 3-4 p.m. Feb. 9 in the Call Building, room 640, on the Santa Rosa campus.

Coffee with a Cop

Courtney Paige Staff Writer A Santa Rosa Junior College student suffered minor injuries in December when a car failed to yield at a busy crosswalk in front of the college campus. The student safely entered the marked crosswalk around 11 a.m. Dec. 18, and began to cross Mendocino Avenue at McConnell towards the college campus when a car collided with him. After activating the crosswalk warning light at one of the city’s

busiest corridors in front of SRJC, a light-colored sedan rolled over his backpack and clipped his hand with its front bumper. The female driver fled the scene after asking the student for his phone number. “We have a society where we are in a fast-paced environment, cell phones and texting are a huge distraction,” said SRJC District Police Lt. Robert Brownlee. “People roll through stop signs. People speed. Drivers don’t yield to pedestrians when they are in a crosswalk.” Referring to how often driver and pedestrian collisions occur, Brownlee said, “In general, we may have two to three per year

Know your rights: Laura Buel Staff Writer For illegal immigrants it is crucial to understand basic human rights, yet many are unaware of what is guaranteed by law. Representatives of the Santa Rosa Junior College Undocumented Student Union, Bismark Torrez and Hecter Jimenez-Carreno, held a lecture titled “Know your Immigration Rights” Jan. 30 in Newman Auditorium. The atmosphere during the lecture was of concern not only for the people these issues directly affect, but for anyone looking to gain information to share. An intimate group gathered to learn what Immigration and Customs Enforcement can and cannot do. “Deport one and you destroy one family; deport most of us and our whole community is gone,” said Torrez, co-chair of Undocumented Student Union. Torrez and Jimenez-Carreno said the lecture emphasized the importance of knowing how to prepare before, during and after being detained. “It is very important to be having this conversation with families,”

Torrez said. “It doesn’t matter how young or how old the person is, the reality is that no one is really completely safe when dealing with immigration. They are sneaky, they will lie to you and they are completely allowed to do that.” Both Torrez and JimenezCarreno shared practical advice for undocumented immigrants. If ICE shows up in your life, never incriminate yourself, even if you are undocumented, Torrez said. Once detained you have the right to remain silent, but you have to say it out loud. The only question ICE can ask that you have to answer is your immigration status. “It’s important to remember once you are detained not to sign anything. Remind them you will not sign anything without speaking with your lawyer,” JimenezCarreno said. If ICE shows up at your door, you do not have to open it. Have the officers slip the warrant under the door and always make sure it has your name on it and has been signed by a judge, Torrez said. “Step outside very calmly, peacefully, and immediately shut the door behind, so nobody else is harmed,” Jimenez-Carreno said. It is important to have a family

on the main corridor in front of the campus.” According to police officials, traffic safety awareness is as much the responsibility of the pedestrian as it is for the driver. Students’ safety cannot depend on peripheral vision alone. “Once the pedestrian enters into the crosswalk the driver, by law, must yield,” Brownlee said. On the contrary, “If a pedestrian enters a crosswalk abruptly, the pedestrian is at fault.” Despite the law favoring pedestrians the majority of the time, Brownlee encourages pedestrians to take personal responsibility for their safety and make eye contact with

the driver, be present and aware of their surroundings. SRJC District Police officials are currently in discussions with the Santa Rosa Police Department to create a safer environment for the community by considering options for better signage, colorful indicators for crosswalk areas and proactive policing. The investigation is ongoing and SRJC District Police are asking anyone who was in the area around the time of the crime and who may have witnessed the collision or the events afterward to come forward by contacting Officer Brett Wright at (707) 527-1000.

Undocumented Student Union members explain immigration laws

SRJC students and the surrounding community will have the opportunity to ask Petaluma Police Department and SRJC District Police officers questions and express concerns over coffee, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 10 in the Petaluma campus café.

Transfer Transition Workshop

This workshop will help guide and inform students transferring out of SRJC to a university; noon1:30 p.m. Feb. 16 on the third floor of the Bertolini Student Center.

Deciding on your Career Workshop

Faculty members will help guide people with their career exploration through analyzing students’ personal values, personality, work preferences and conditions; 3-4 p.m. Feb. 17 in Bertolini, room 4875.

Black History Month Events “The Loving Story”

SRJC presents this documentary screening on an interracial couple who fought Virginia’s miscegenation laws in 1967. View this civil rights love story starting at noon Feb. 16 in the Bertolini Student Activities Center.

“Selma”

Treven Bulluck/ Oak Leaf

Undocumented Student Union members provide helpful tips on immigrant rights.

plan, practice it, and start saving money for situations such as these, according to Jimenez-Carreno. It is always important to build up as much credit for your case as possible. Don’t be afraid to ask for badge numbers or take photos and videos to help with your case, Jimenez-Carreno said. Just because it wasn’t your family this time does not mean you shouldn’t take action, both Torrez and Jimenez-Carreno said. “Access to information is key; a lot of my students have really busy lives they work, they have families, they go

to school, and they can’t necessarily come to things like this, so I like to get information I can bring back to them,” said English as a second language instructor Ellen Licht. Roseland University Prep student Giselle Gonzalez said, “I think that it’s important that people know their rights and share it because you never know what may happen, and you need to be prepared at all times and you need to spread the word so others are ready and prepared as well.” Report raids as soon as possible so they can be investigated by calling 1-844-878-7801.

A film screening and panel discussion will focus on prominent Civil Rights leaders who organized the Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches in 1965. The screening will be at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. followed by a discussion, Feb. 18 in the Carole L. Ellis Auditorium on the Petaluma campus.

“Managing Diversity in Today’s World”

Dr. Richard Johnson will lecture on cultural competence for public managers, which will delve into the social equity and human rights within public administration and go through Martin Luther King Jr.’s Civil Rights Movement; noon2 p.m. Feb. 22 in the Bertolini Student Activities Center.

February 8, 2016

News

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Trains, planes and automobiles vs. sustainability Genesis Napel Staff Writer As global levels of greenhouse gases skyrocket, those aware of the issue question their own personal carbon footprints and search for other viable, long-term options. Amy Jolly, of Santa Rosa’s Center for Climate Protection, addressed the issue of rising GHGs in her Jan. 28 presentation, “Transportation and Sustainability,” at Santa Rosa Junior College’s Bertolini Center for Student Leadership. “If everybody in this room decided to walk or ride their bike to school, or to work, or those short trips one day a week we could save about 1.5 tons of CO2 in a year, and these numbers keep growing,” Jolly said to the room of about 20. “What if all the students in the JC decided to do this? What if all the students in Sonoma County decided to do this? What if all the students or all of us in the U.S. decided to do this? All of a sudden our small and insignificant seeming act is powerful and impactful.” Jolly began by asking attendees to take a moment to think about how they got here. For most it was simple; they hopped in a car and drove. For those without a car, either due to their economic situation or, as Jolly put it, “a conscientious lifestyle

Genesis Napel/ Oak Leaf

Left: Students Eduardo Mendez and Kyle Munson say they use public transit as their primary form of transportation, reducing their carbon footprints. Right: Resources like bike parking and tools for minor repairs and adjustments may make biking to school more enticing to students. There are several bike stations around the SRJC campus for students’ convenience.

choice,” it is another question entirely. For some students, commuting to school means riding their bike through the rain, or waking up early to catch the bus, which is often late. Those who do this by choice do so knowing that they are drastically reducing their carbon footprint. In 2011, Sonoma County CO2 emissions totaled 4.2 million tons, a 14 percent decline since 2008. Even so, 60 percent of 2011’s emissions were still due to transportation, only a 2 percent drop, according to the Sonoma County Greenhouse Gas Report. “We have to address the issue of transportation,” Jolly said. There are two primary transportation strategies students can use to reduce their CO2 carbon footprint. The first

is “mode shift,” changing the kind of transportation one uses to active transportation or public transit. The other is “fuel shift,” switching the cars they drive from combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles. Jolly’s evidence showed people riding their bikes or the bus instead of driving a “single-occupancyvehicle” are largely decreasing their emissions by doing so, whether intentional or not. Daniela Lopera, an SRJC international student from Columbia, said, “I use my bike and the Sonoma County Transit because they are sustainable and I have free access to them. This is also because I don’t have a car, but it is a way to move freely. I ride every day if I can, even if it is raining.”

Lopera has a current student I.D., meaning she can use Sonoma County Transit for free. Joey Franceshi, CyBear Center employee, said if students are currently enrolled in classes this semester they can get a validation sticker in the CyBear Center. With this sticker, Sonoma County Transit is free. Lopera said, “We have a lot of parking lots and they are all full,” and suspected only about 25 percent of students bike or ride the bus to school. In 2010, 2,747 teens died in motor vehicle accidents, while bicycle injuries only accounted for 63, Jolly said. “The risks of a sedentary lifestyle far outweigh the risks of being in a bike or

pedestrian collision.” Jolly questioned how we get out of our single occupancy vehicles and begin reducing our carbon footprint. She left participants with “three to-dos” on how to start this process. 1. Start with self. “Start thinking about ways you can travel that are healthier for you and the planet,” Jolly said. 2. Engage with your community. “Community can make the needed changes not just possible but easy,” Jolly said. 3. Dream big. “We need you to do things that quite frankly, we haven’t thought of yet,” she said. Jolly encourages this generation to have big ideas and not be afraid to go after them.

Debate team No. 2 in nation GET

A DEGREE IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE Graduate degrees in: Nursing • Teaching • Counseling Financial aid and scholarships available

CONTACT US TODAY 707.527.9612 santarosacampus@usfca.edu Information Meetings held at least once a month. For dates, go to: www.usfca.edu/santarosa

CHANGE THE WORLD FROM HERE

Courtesy of Justin Webster

The SRJC debate team preps for a debate at the Chabot Gladiator Invitational Jan. 29.

Daniel Medina Staff Writer The nationally ranked Santa Rosa Junior College forensics team continued domination of the collegiate debate circuit after it was crowned champions of the Chabot Gladiator Invitational in Hayward Jan. 29. The SRJC debate team is ranked No. 3 in the country and No. 2 amongst community colleges nationwide. Hal Sanford, director of the SRJC forensics department, attributes the group’s success to “invaluable team coaching and group preparation.” Sanford spoke of the team’s dedication to excellence. “We have had a lot of intelligent people, but this team is able to discipline that intelligence with hard work,” he said. In the open division parliamentary debates, Kevin McDermott-Swanson and James Rogers decimated the field of orators, finishing the tournament unbeaten. Virginia Kerr and Bailey Farren argued their way into the semifinals, and in the novice division Bear Cub standouts Lanea Florence

and Davis Shen advanced to the semifinals. Kerr attributed the group’s success to their dedication and cooperation. “I’ve never been with a group of students more accepting and encouraging of one another,” she said. Debate topics range from U.S. immigration policy to the winner of this year’s Super Bowl. Kerr said harmony is crucial and the Bear Cubs have been singing their victory song for all to hear. In parliamentary debate, the topics are heard 20 minutes before arguments begin, then the entire team develops and arranges cases during “prep.” McDermott-Swanson, who received an award for speaking excellence, addressed the team’s effectiveness. “The primary reason SRJC has been so successful is because we are able to share information more quickly and effectively than other teams during prep,” he said. The SRJC forensics team is more than a bunch of smart students who can articulate and win trophies. McDermott-Swanson said, “I have made more lifelong friendships on this team than in any other class…and I think faster.”

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A&E

February 8, 2016

SRJC band of the week

An inside look in how the band Boilermaker got its start in music Estefany Gonzalez Co-Editor-in-Chief

shot of whiskey and a beer. A drink named boilermaker found at almost any bar. But for the band Boilermaker, this drink means more than taking the edge off a long day. Three years ago, when the band sipped a round of these beer cocktails and brainstormed names, none seemed to fit as well as the drink in their hands. The band describes its sound as “Jazz-fuzz,” a term members came up with to describe what would happen if band members’ musical influences were all thrown into a blender. “We all have different influences. Punk, blues, funk, psychedelic, what isn’t there?” said Daren Ross, guitar, mandolin and bass player. Band members all work more than 30 hours a week and drummer Daniel Fuentes attends night classes at Santa Rosa Junior College. Regardless of their busy schedules, members set aside Sundays to practice. “We play as much as we can until we’re burnt out,” said Weston Lee Ball, who sings and plays guitar and keyboard. Practices can go as long as six hours at a time. “Some people go to church; we do band practice,” said vocalist and bass player Zachary Walker. Together with back-up vocalist Katie Hugill, Boilermaker has played at bars across Sonoma County. Other venues the band plays regularly include Aubergine After Dark, the Phoenix Theater and the Arlene Francis Center. Over the years, the band had the opportunity to record EPs and

demos but it held off in order to bring fans a full album. “We never focused on music as small releases; everything was album format. We’re kinda old school like that,” Lee Ball said. “Concept albums and 60s music wrote through an album like that and I guess that’s where we were coming from.” As the band prepares for its first album release in April, band members share their musical inspirations, celebrity crushes, favorite drinks and more. Can you describe the day you came up with your name? Ross: “We were pretty much sitting around drinking boilermakers coming up with all these hilarious band titles and laughing our asses off. I think I was just like, ‘We should just be called Boilermaker,’ and it just stuck.” Lee Ball: “I always bring up ‘Shattered Dwarf.’” Fuentes: “Yeah, no one was considering that. It was just in his head.” Ross: “They were all hilarious and there was no way anyone would call their band that.” Walker: “It was all offensive punk titles.” Drink of choice? Fuentes: “IPA. I work at a brewery. I enjoy beer. It’s a little cliché, but I do.” Lee Ball: “I’m not drinking right now, but when I did drink, everything. But mostly beer.” Walker: “Boilermaker.” Hugill: “I guess I’m going with the boilermaker thing or just whiskey.” Ross: “Either boilermaker or gin and tonic.” Your car stereo breaks on a road

trip and you’re forced to listen to Fuentes: “Julian Casablancas.” only one album on repeat. What Lee Ball: “Bernie Sanders.” album do you hope it is? Walker: “Matthew Mercer.” Ross: “Queens of the Stone Age, Hugill: “Bill Plympton.” ‘Songs for the Deaf.’” What inspires you musically? Fuentes: “Casino Versus Japan, Ross: “Anything unique really. 1998 collections.” I’m inspired by bands that have a Lee Ball: “Parliament, ‘Let’s particular Take It to the Stage.’ It’s a sound funkadelic album.” Walker: “The Who, ‘Quadrophenia.’ It has to be something that flows.” Hugill: “Captain Beefheart, ‘Safe as Milk.’” Celebrity crush? Ross: “Jennifer Lawrence.”

and that when you put it on, you know it’s that band. That it couldn’t just be any band in that genre. People don’t have to like it, but they know who it is.” Fuentes: “No matter what genre, it just has that sound.” Walker: “Yeah. It’s distinct. Anyone who knows who they are when they play their instrument: they’re not trying to be someone else.” Lee Ball: “A lot of weird noise and prog [progressive] stuff is what I’ve been listening to lately. Like Can and Captain Beefheart. There’s so much music out there and everyone is trying so hard to get their voice heard, especially when you’re a smaller band or someone who’s on the weird end of a niche market. Just weird people, who make weird music. That’s kinda what we do, or what we are.”

Estefany Gonzalez / Oak Leaf

Top: Members of the band Boilermaker Zachary Walker, Weston Lee Ball, Daniel Fuentes, Katie Hugill and Daren Ross (left to right) practice on Sundays while others go to church. Bottom: Weston Lee Ball sings, plays keyboard and plays guitar for the band.

A&E

February 8, 2016

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On Cue Calendar of Events

Happy Hour

Feb. 5 First Friday Night Sky:

7-8 p.m., 8:30-9:30 p.m. The Planetarium’s first Friday night presentation will be about stars, constellations, planets and other facts about the night sky.

Stark’s Steakhouse

521 Adams St. Santa Rosa, CA Monday-Saturday 3 p.m.-6 p.m. (707) 546-5100

Feb. 7 Astronaut Lullabies: Song writers Jim and Kathy Ocean will visit the planetarium with a collection of songs about science and astronomy, 3-4 p.m.

Feb. 10 MAD Wednesday: Every Wednesday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rotary Plaza on the Petaluma campus and Bertolini Quad, Santa Rosa Campus. Free food: every Wednesday – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Rotary Plaza on the Petaluma campus.

Feb. 12-21, Weekends Astronomical Oddities: Showcases the strange oddities in space that are sometimes seen in the universe; sometimes “reality can be stranger than fiction.” 7-8 p.m. in the planetarium.

Feb. 20 Polenta Feed: The SRJC Bear Cub Athletic Trust will sponsor a polenta feed, which will support SRJC athletics and feature a dinner, dance and auction. The feed will start at 5:30 p.m. in Becker Hall at St. Eugene’s Cathedral; $25 admission.

Feb. 21 SRJC Wine Classic: The

culinary department holds its second annual banquet to raise money for the culinary department and help students connect with employers and contacts in the world of wine, food and dining. The banquet is 2-5 p.m. and will take place in the Bertolini building’s culinary café; $75 admission.

Courtney Paige/ Oak Leaf

Burger Superburger

1501 4th St. (707) 546-4016 With sizzling grills and a plethora of toppings, a good burger joint is a find to be treasured. Superburger, on the east end of 4 Street, is a hole in the wall in the most literal sense. The interior of the diner style restaurant is cozy at best and stuffy at worst, but its outdoor seating offers a comfortable alternative, if the weather will allow it. Their menu features a huge selection of regular burgers, cheeseburgers, bacon cheeseburgers, lamb burgers and Hawaiian style burgers with a sweet barbeque sauce. Every burger is cooked to order and can be upgraded to grassfed beef for a small additional fee. If you’re a messy meativore and looking for a menu with endless choices and perfectly cooked meat, Superburger is the place to be. -Devin Schwarz

Feb. 22 Movies Change Lives: SRJC media instructor Tony Kashani will present a lecture on his new book in a “pedagogy of constructive humanistic transformation through media.” Noon-1 p.m. in Newman Auditorium. - Zachary Chew Courtesy of Yelp.com

Devin Schwarz/ Oak Leaf

Cup of Coffee Soco Café

1015 4th St. (707) 527-6434

With the extra rain El Niño brings, it’s nice to hug a warm mug inside a cheery shop. Local coffee shop Soco has not only the perfect cup of joe, but a pristine ambience to go with it. Unlike traditional Americanos, which just have a shot of espresso poured over a hot cup of water, Soco’s full-bodied Americano is double brewed, which gives the coffee its extraordinary flavor. Once the espresso drippings are added to the hot water, the baristas run it through the grounds again to make the coffee stronger and more robust. They take their time creating your coffee, making sure it is made with tender loving care, a vibe that is carried throughout the entire café. Next time you are looking for a good cup of coffee on a rainy day, go to Soco and ask for their “Special Americano.” -Jocelyn Mobley

Stark’s Steakhouse is on the right track with its dependable happy hour six days a week, 3-6 p.m. Not only is its sip and nibble a great value, the food is consistently tasty, and the ambience is always charming. The only true challenge is nabbing a seat. Happy hour tends to fill up fast so consider sending a friend early to grab the hot spot next to the fireplace. You don’t have to be a meat lover to enjoy the menu—it has something for everyone. Vegetarians can enjoy a delightful roasted potato dish with a personal fondue crock. For something fresh and light, pescatarians may consider the tartare tacos perfectly paired with a pour of the house white wine. If wine isn’t your preference, Stark’s features bartender extraordinaires who create artistic signature cocktails. “Happy hour has become a very good time for a visit, with $2 Beefeater Martinis on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (limit two per guest) and appetizers, along the lines of barbeque oysters, tuna tartare tacos and yam fries for $1.50 each,” said owner Terry Stark. Stark’s rustic yet elegant atmosphere will pique your interest even if you have a picky palate. Patrons rave about the generous portions and affordable prices. -Courtney Paige

Devin Schwarz/ Oak Leaf

Burrito Taqueria El Favorito 565 Sebastopol Rd. (707) 526-7444

Taqueria El Favorito is located on Sebastopol Rd. and has built a reputation for serving the best burritos in Santa Rosa. Not only does it serve authentic Mexican cuisine, but unlike most Mexican restaurants Taqueria El Favorito has evolved with the times and opened up a drive thru. Taqueria EL Favorito has been in business since 1995. The menu consists of burritos, tacos, tortas and many other traditional dishes. Most of the items cost under $10. -Rico Pinola

Devin Schwarz/ Oak Leaf

www.theoakleafnews.com

Metamorphosis

A&E

February 8, 2016

SRJC to showcase Hiroshi Fuchigami’s ceramics Courtney Paige Staff Writer The Santa Rosa Junior College residency at the Jingdezhen art department’s spring exhibit Sanbao Ceramic Institute in debuts this semester with China. Jingdezhen is worldfamous as the historical “Spiritual Journey,” followed by capital city of a showcase of student works porcelain. of art at the Robert F. Agrella The exhibit Art Gallery. reveals a unique The gallery, precisely interpretation of poised in the campus library, China’s porcelain embodies a boundless legacy. Fuchigami, bandwidth of rotating cultural a full-time art expression. This SRJC ceramics semester’s exhibits are i n s t ructor sure to bring worldwide has titled cultural insight to the his exhibit, local community. The gallery’s premier spring exhibition “Spiritual Journey” features ceramic works of art by H i r o s h i Fuchigami and Gary Erickson, created during t h e i r

“Metamorphosis from 1997 to the present.” Erickson’s theme showcases “Ten years of autobiography in America and Jingdezhen, China.” The “Spiritual Journey” exhibit debuts Feb. 22 and continues through March 18. A reception welcoming the exposition is held 4 - 6 p.m. Feb 25, followed by a talk with featured ceramic artist Gary Erickson Feb. 27 in Analy Hall, room 790 on the Santa Rosa campus. The Robert F. Agrella Art Gallery will showcase the SRJC’s student expo premiering May 1-14, highlighting SRJC art students’ tremendous talents. The platform grants students the opportunity to share their works of art with the college community en masse. SRJC art department offers classes in ceramics, drawing, design, painting, digital and darkroom photography, printmaking and sculpture. Student

Courtesy of SRJC

Hiroshi Fuchigami and Gray Erickson will have their functional and abstract ceramics displayed in the “Spiritual Journey” exhibit at the SRJC Robert F. Agrella Art Gallery.

achievements from each discipline are showcased. Each piece lists the student’s name, the course where the work was created, the instructor’s

name and the medium. The students’ art expo reveals multiple medium methods acquainting students with various assignment examples.

Studying haze? Video games be praised!

Spring releases to cure your academic blues Devin Schwarz A&E Editor Videogaming in 2016 is set to be a collage of diversity and excitement full of sequels, reimaginings and even some things we’ve never seen before. A number of the most anticipated titles this year have unannounced release dates, but there is still a heavy concentration of exciting games coming out in the first quarter of the year. “Far Cry: Primal” on Feb. 23, “Tom Clancy’s The Division” on March 8 and “Uncharted 4: A Thief ’s End” on April 26 set out to fulfill your craving for action. “Far Cry Primal” reinvents the series in a way we have never seen before—instead of self-appointed kings, psychotic pirates or deliberate social unrest, “Primal” takes us back to the Stone Age and has us playing as a simple hunter-gatherer who slowly climbs the ladder of a local tribe in an attempt to lead it. This installment of the franchise will take on even more survival-oriented gameplay than any of its predecessors with finding heat and food being a major concern. The classic gun and vehicle

Courtesy of FromSoftware, Firaxis Games and Capcom

The Dark Souls knight, XCOM alien and Ryu are all iconic images from their respective game franchises. All three will be making reappearances in the next 3 months with the greatly anticipated releases of “XCOM 2,” “Dark Souls 3” and “Street Fighter.”

elements of the previous games won’t be found in this title. Instead, players must craft their own weapons and travel on foot or, presumably, on the backs of animals. Husbandry is also a major part of “Primal.” As Takkar, the main character, you’ll use your animal taming skills to rise in power and battle the harsh environment you’re in. “Tom Clancy’s The Division” and “Uncharted 4” are both new installments that take their respective franchises in new and exciting directions. “The Division” is taking a

page from games like “Watch Dogs,” allowing you to manipulate your environment with complex hacking processes. “Uncharted 4” continues the escapades of Nathan Drake. This time he discovers his longthought dead brother Sam is still alive. This installment is promised by the designers to be his greatest adventure yet. For retro gamers, the return of Street Fighter Feb. 16 and Ratchet and Clank April 20 is a dream come true. “Street Fighter V” will bring

a variety of new features to the classic franchise, including four new fighters released upon launch. There’s also a new in-game gauge similar to the EX gauge present since “Street Fighter 3.” The aptly named ‘V gauge’ will allow players to perform a number of special moves never before seen in any of the classic characters’ repertoires. As a life-long fan of the Ratchet and Clank series, I’m personally brimming with excitement for the upcoming reboot of the 14-yearold action-platformer series. The

new game will be more than an HD reboot of the 2002 original; it will feature new weapons, cinematics and a total rebuild of many of the levels. The game’s release will coincide with the film depicting the action-packed lives of the alien and robot main characters. “XCOM 2” Feb. 5, “Dark Souls 3” March 24 and “Mirror’s Edge Catalyst” May 24 all fill holes that, for many fans, have existed for far too long. Dark Souls fans have the shortest wait since their last title released only four years ago. Mirror’s Edge came second with a seven-year wait. XCOM fans had a three-year wait since the release of the previous title in the series, “XCOM: the Bureau,” although the first “X-com” came out 22 years ago. All three don’t break any new ground in terms of their design or mechanics, but promise to bring their franchises into the next generation with stunning graphics and promises of amazing gameplay. This school semester will certainly be a hard one to focus as a buffet of games for every type is released. Now’s the time to get your hands on an Xbox One, PS4 or a top-of-theline gaming PC as there’ll be no lack of games on these systems.

A&E

February 8, 2016

www.theoakleafnews.com

Bigger and better than before

Thousands attend Bay Area’s second and only annual comic convention in Petaluma Alex T Randolph Assistant A&E Editor More than 3,000 people attended the second annual Lumacon—the Bay Area’s own local comic book convention Jan. 30. Conceived by librarians and high school teachers collaborating together and funded by local companies such as Copperfield’s Books, the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Outer Planes Comics and Games, the convention opened with a new venue at the Petaluma Community Center at

Lucchesi Park. Compared to last year, the event had more activities for participants of all ages and a bigger space for local artists and writers like Maia Kobabe and Paige Braddock to mingle with fans, promote literacy and libraries and share their mutual love of the comic industry. Attendance was free, but organizers encouraged donations to support local public schools. Just like the earlier event, there was live-action role playing outside for kids to enjoy, cosplay contests divided by age, panels where professional comic writers and artists could talk about their

Courtesy of Pio Valenzuela

experiences, a bake sale and an artist alley featuring both professionals and amateur artists hoping to break into the field, some of whom were still in middle school. Local stores such as Outer Planes, Ryan’s Comics and Copperfield’s Books also returned with booths full of comics and graphic novels. New events included a fanfiction story contest, a stand for T-shirts, a cosplay parade for kids age 8 and under, a separate room where the Brick Hut in Santa Rosa provided Legos for kids to play with, and an Courtesy of Pio Valenzuela area where people could play and buy new cards for Magic: the Gathering. Lumacon attendees dressed like their favorite characters and compete over the best cosplay. “We were so surprised at the number of people that came last four to choose from.” Spauldin multiple languages. Subjects covered year that we wanted to try it again,” and the other organizers picked by the panels included the regular said Connie Williams, librarian- the Community Center because life of a professional artist, comics’ teacher at Petaluma High School of its central location and separate usefulness as a literary device and the and one of the event’s founders. rooms for different events. Spauldin comic book community as a whole. Most of the attendees were kids “And anything that, you know, said they picked Jan. 30 as the date because “there’s no professional and young adults, many of them we kinda messed up last time we football being played today; it’s an dressed as their favorite heroes, wanted to correct.” off week before the Superbowl. ” from Spider-Man to Doctor Who. Part of that was finding a bigger Special guests at the panels included “It’s very cool, ” said Armand site; the last ‘con took place at Nick Draggota, artist and co-creator Baltazar, a visual development artist Herzog Hall in the Sonoma-Marin of the comic “East of West, ” Bryan at Pixar that visited the con. “This is Fairgrounds, a small building that Crane, creator of the newspaper strip great for Petaluma. This is great for mostly consists of a single room. Diana Spaulding, teen librarian “Pickles,” Alexis E. Fajardo, creator Northern California.” According to the organizers, at the Petaluma Regional Library of “Kid Beowulf ” and Tom Beland, whose long history of working in next year’s Lumacon has already and core organizer of the event, comics includes writing the Marvel been scheduled for Jan. 28. They said “We knew we needed one comic “Fantastic Four: Isla De La will meet at a later date to decide of the biggest venues in town, Muerte!, ” the first comic published if it will be at the Community because we had outgrown Herzog by Marvel simultaneously released in Center again. Hall, and there are only three or

The infamous lord Vadar models the Lumacon t-shirt, available for purchase this year.

Hot, cold, sandwich gold: -Arthur Gonzalez-Martin, Staff Writer

Mr. Pickles

TOGO’s Sandwiches

Alternatives to Subway for your lunchtime needs

Charley’s Grilled Subs

Fourth Street Deli

Ike’s Place

Devin Schwarz/ Oak Leaf

• • •

Open 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. 4100 Montgomery Drive 3.2 miles away from SRJC

Located off Montgomery Drive, Mr. Pickle’s is about a 15-20-minute drive from SRJC. Mr. Pickle’s screams sandwich shop with checkered floors, old diner chairs with glassy tables and a man out front of the building in a giant pickle suit waving a sign. You can make your own sandwich for about $6.49 if you have time, or choose from a pre-made menu with sandwiches ranging from $7.29 to $7.99. Each sandwich comes with mayo, tomatoes, garlic sauce, onions, pickles, mustard, lettuce, and pepperoncini’s and a free cookie. With chips and a drink it ran about $11, for 99 cents add avocado or a whole pickle to any sandwich.

• • •

Open 10:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. 1537 Farmers Lane 3 miles from SRJC

Off of Famers Lane across from Johnny Garlic’s and next to O’reilly Auto Parts, is a small sandwich chain which is about a 10-15 minute drive from SRJC. Togo’s has a dine-in feel with more decor than the other businesses in the strip mall. It has cold sandwiches, but the hot, slow-roasted sandwiches like “the clubhouse” or the “triple dip” have a good deal of meat. All sandwiches can also be made as salads. Add on extras like bacon for $2 and avocado for $1. I walked out paying $12.50 for a large sub, chips and drink. You can order ahead of time and avoid the wait, but if you don’t trust your credit card information with a website, you may have a good wait ahead of you.

• • •

Open 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. 1071 Santa Rosa Plaza 1.4 miles from SRJC

In the Santa Rosa Plaza food court, down the street from SRJC, you’ll find Charley’s nestled next to Hot Dog on a Stick. Standing in line you’ll see a small train of hot sandwiches being grilled right in front of you, Charley’s has everything from the classic Philly cheese steaks to grilled club sandwiches. Charley’s employees are fast and friendly. Charley’s also has a rewards card for returning customers. A hot sandwich, fries overflowing out of a cup and a soft drink or Rockstar will run you about $10, however, Charley’s doesn’t offer much customization of their subs with only mayo, lettuce, salt, pepper and tomatoes.

• • •

Open 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. 1780 Mendocino Avenue 0.1 miles from SRJC

Right across the street from SRJC you’ll find Ike’s Place, a contemporary sandwich shop that you can walk to from campus. Ike’s sandwiches range from hot Philly’s to vegan friendly subs with creative names like “Mayoose’s CA-BLT” and the “Don’t F’ with Elvis Kieth.” There’s a mix of bottled sodas and a chip brand I’ve only seen at Ike’s. The restaurant also delivers or makes orders for pick up. The problem with pricing is almost everything costs extra. Sauces other then mayo or dirty sauces cost more, and the avocado is about $2.25. It took longer to get the sandwich than the walk there. I ended up paying $13 for the meal, $15 when I added bacon, so if you have money to burn, go to Ike’s.

• • •

Open 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. 300 Mendocino Avenue 1.2 miles from SRJC

On the corner of Fourth and Third street in the heart of downtown Santa Rosa sits Fourth Street Deli. It offers pre-made sandwiches for about $5 and made-to-order specialty sandwiches for about $7.50 and includes a range of sides. It is not only a delicious sandwich shop, it’s a coffee shop too. It also offers a variety of beer, candy and chips that busy professionals on a break downtown or meandering students can enjoy snacking on. You can also buy the meat there to make your own sandwiches at home. As well as pre-made side salads to enjoy with your meat. I spent about $12 for a sandwich with a bottled soda and a bag of chips.

www.theoakleafnews.com

Features

February 8, 2016

From sketches to sculptures

94-year-old student creates art

Rita S. Losch Staff Writer What do protozoa, copper pot scrubbers and gnarled tree roots have in common? They are all inspirations for the sculptures of 94-year-old Catherine Atkinson, a Santa Rosa Junior College student. Two afternoons a week, she stations herself among the other advanced students in the back room of Michael McGinnis’ sculpture class in Analy Hall. In this lively space amid the hiss of a welding torch, the scream of a chop-saw and the banging of hammers, Atkinson works quietly on her delicate but somehow substantial copper pieces. Atkinson is grace personified. She’s a lovely balance of intense focus and serene, easy exploration. Her blue eyes bright, she says she has “a perfectly wonderful time twisting little wires into trees.” Her fertile sketchbook is alive with her intricate biological drawings. Her current work is based on protozoa. “I landed on the protozoa because they are so fascinating in their shapes. And protozoa are so linear that they can be done in wire,” she says. She bends shiny copper wire into curvy organic forms, then stretches “veiling or netting” across them. She paints the netting copper. Her use of netting

began in her early dressmaking studies. Her continuing fabric skills – and her lifelong love of trees – are evident in the sweater she is wearing: she has cut out and carefully hand-sewn royal blue and turquoise cloth leaves onto the garment. They cascade down her back. To the wire forms spanned by netting, she adds bunches of copper to represent protozoan “clumps of flesh.” “That’s when I grab a whole handful of my scrubber,” she says, making energized and sculptural hand gestures. She buys copper pot scrubbers at the grocery or hardware store and unravels them. She explains the manufacturing process: tiny copper strips are “knitted into a sleeve” which is in turn formed into “a donut.” She was disappointed to discover that these scrubbers now have sponge inside, instead of copper. Atkinson is deeply interested in processes. She is detailed and articulate about the making of things. She started at UC Berkeley in 1939, majoring in decorative art. There she worked on tailoring and pattern drafting. The model, wearing a T-shirt over her underwear, was wrapped in brown paper tape, which was then cut up the back and shellacked. That form was then given to a woodworker who fabricated a stand. For the next three decades

she was busy with her married life, raising four children and traveling with her Coast Guard officer husband. She finally resumed her formal education in 1971 at College of Marin. There, in her art classes, she “stitched an etching.” She invented this new art form, a perfect bridge between her sewing past and her art future. She continued her schooling at Sonoma State University, where she says she “picked up etching, because I like the permanence of the line.” When she arrived at SRJC, Atkinson discovered yet another medium. “Knowing I liked the line, I decided to work with wire, which is very linear. I had to pick a linear subject,” she says. “One evening, I looked at my etching of protozoa on the wall. It was a good moment!” What is she working on now? She points to a trapezoidal drawing in her sketchbook labeled “Dictyocha fibula” and holds out a curved square copper wire shape. Her activities outside of school? “I’ve been a gardener all my life,” she says. “I have an interest in gnarled roots and twisted trunks. I have so much fun with wire trees, because you can bend the convoluted roots.” On her deck at home, she tends to 54 potted plants. She is active on an art committee in her retirement community. She

Top: Rita S. Losch/ Oak Leaf / Bottom: Treven Bulluck/ Oak Leaf

Top: Catherine Atkinson creates copper wire sculptures into curvy organic forms. Bottom: Atkinson points to a trapezoidal drawing in her sketchbook where she keeps intricate biological drawings of her ideas for upcoming art.

is chair of the photography hall and puts on six shows a year. She still does some sewing, both on the machine and by hand. Her classmate Tina Marie describes Atkinson’s curiosity and fearlessness, “She was soldering last semester,” she says. Lab assistant Sam Cagle admires Atkinson’s effort and says she is “inspired and inspires

everybody else. She just does it!” Instructor McGinnis also praises Atkinson: “She is one of the most impressive learners I’ve ever met. She has a continuous appetite for knowledge,” he says. What are Catherine Atkinson’s secrets for living a good long life? How does she stay so young? She answers with one word: “Enthusiasm.”

Love in the m

Estefany

Co-Edito

ove at first swipe. Meeting in plain sight. With an abundance of phone applications, dating websites and social stigma about commitment, Santa Rosa Junior College students are swiping away during class or meeting love matches in person and rethinking what relationships and commitment means to them in the millennial age.

Online culture

Sustainable agriculture major Cuahtemoc Landeros said it’s important to experience a plethora of dating to understand what works best for different personality types. “There are 31 flavors when you go to the ice cream store,” Landeros said. “Do you always get the same flavor? You got to switch it up a little, right? I wonder what bubble gum’s like or oh hey cinnamon.” The 29-year-old said he prefers to meet people in person because he can’t read body language or facial expression through phone applications like Tinder. “Yeah, I’ve Tinderized a couple of times. I’m better face-to-face,” he said. Meeting organically is easy. “Just be like, ‘What’s up stranger? how are you doing?’ As long as you’re not creepy, I guess it’s cool,” he said. There’s a fine line between complimenting and being a creep, according to Landeros. “You have to be very sensitive when you’re commenting on a woman’s physique,” he said. “You don’t know people’s story as far as how they feel about their birthday suit.” Landeros said for him, there’s no social stigma about having a Tinder account. He thinks it could help those who are too nervous to start up a conversation in person. “If you were really bad at talking to people, it could be good,” he said. For SRJC student Aleks Eklund, initiating a conversation isn’t a problem. She’s never tried online dating; she prefers to talk to people in person. “If

I think they’re cute, I talk to them. It’s not that hard,” Eklund said. “My parent’s always told me never use apps for stuff like that. Person to person is a lot better.” Some students found that online dating can lead to disappointment once you meet in real life. Claudia Ruiz, 18, said it would be hard to meet someone genuine online. “We have all this technology and people tend to be fake on their profiles saying ‘I’m this type of person’ but when you get to meet them, you realize they’re a whole different person than they say they are,” Ruiz said. Though online dating is out of the question for Ruiz, she would consider using an application like Binder, which is Tinder in reverse. The app will text or call your lover and break up with them with messages like,“It’s not me. It’s definitely you.” “I think I would benefit from that,” she said. Ian Johnson, 19, tried Tinder but doesn’t take it seriously. He’s never met anyone he’s matched with in person. “Tinder is fine to waste time on, just swiping left and right,” he said. Johnson said friends who’ve met their matches in person discouraged him from meeting anyone on Tinder. “They all said it was a pretty weird experience. It wouldn’t be natural,” he said. Instead he prefers to meet face-to-face and start a friendship that could lead to a monogamous relationship.

Commiting

Johnson may be in the minority for millennials ready to commit. Human sexuality instructor Dr. J. Davis Mannino said the reason millennials don’t commit is because they are more passionate about other things. “I think millennials are more laid back about relationships. Relationships are not the ‘be all and end all,’” Manino said. Art major Cory Oleson, 26, said

something as minimal as being part of two different eras of technology can play a role in commitment expectations. “People who live in a smartphone existence live a faster paced life, because there’s more information flying by them at any given time,” he said. According to Olesen, these people aren’t likely to click with those who grew up watching Disney movies and chase a happily ever after. “One person will think children and marriage and the other person will think, ‘Who’s the next person I’m gonna Tinder with,’” Oleson said. “There’s a gap, and it’s not a good or bad thing.” Another reason Olesen thinks those his age have trouble committing to relationships is because they would rather move on to a new person than fix existing relationship problems. “That’s part of our throw-away consumerist culture,” Oleson said. “Everything’s moving that direction, whether that be dating, the house you live in or the car you drive. You throw it away once you don’t like it.” For psychology and art major Natalie Mar, 26, it’s the opposite. Growing up, her parents encouraged her to work as hard as she could to make it work with her partner. “A lot of my friends seem really petty about why they don’t want to be with someone. They’ll say, ‘They’re really great, but there’s this or there’s that. We could work it out, but I don’t want to deal with it,’” Mar said.

She admits there’s only so much she can do on her part and there have been times when she couldn’t make a relationship work. “You can give as much as you want, but if they don’t want to, you can’t make it work,” she said. The high divorce rate is another reason Mar thinks people her age are scared to commit.

“They m a y h a v e seen their p a r e n t s , grandparents or aunts and uncles not working out,” she said. “The experiences around them haven’t been the most positive, and they’re afraid to go through that pain.”

Estefany Gonzalez/ Oak Leaf

An SRJC student takes a break from taking notes and learning to look for potential love matches during a classroom lecture.

millenial age

y Gonzalez

or-in-Chief

Marriage

A 2014 blog post by the United States Census Bureau explained t h a t

because l i f e expectancy rose to nearly double from 1890, the American population is making a commitment earlier in life. Americans today are only waiting one-third of their lives before getting married, compared to waiting more than half their life span in 1890. Divorce rates may be up due to people having to commit for longer than in the past.

According to Mannino, 50 percent of marriages end in divorce within five years for many reasons, one of which is women no longer need to look at marriage as a source of survival. He said millenials are choosing to wait to get married due to persuing careers, education, travel and adventure. “As I tell my students, that institution may be bankrupt. It may have to be demolished and rebuilt,” he said. Some SRJC students are taking their time to get married. Accounting major Juan Macias has been with his girlfriend for two years. “We treat each other equally. She’s my best friend, she’s my girlfriend, she’s someone I can count on,” Macias said. Though the two are committed to each other, they aren’t in a rush to get married. Macias would prefer to finish school and make a career for himself before he’s married and starts a family. That’s five to seven years away. “Marriage is going to be later on. We still don’t know when,” he said. Others see marriage as optional. Haylee Moss-Thayer’s parents never got married. The 19-year-old journalism major said she would like to get married eventually, but doesn’t see it as something she needs to do. “If it happens, cool. If it doesn’t, whatever. It’s not super important to me,” Moss-Thayer said. Societal pressures to get married are diminishing, according to Moss-Thayer. “More and more people aren’t getting married and are choosing to stay single,” Moss-Thayer said. Being successful is more important to Moss-Tahayer than getting married. While she would like to have both a relationship and a career, the latter is most important. “If a relationship were to hinder my

career or what I wanted to do in the future I would probably get out of it,” she said. Regardless of statistics, there are those who still believe marriage should only happen once. SRJC psychology major Kellen Hanson, 24, believes in eternal marriage. “What we in the church believe is that when we’re married, we’re not only married in this life, but in the next life,” Hanson said. He and his wife Brittni Hanson, 20, have been married for two years. Although neither thought they would get married as early in life as they did, they knew it was the right move. “She’s my best friend. I wanted to live with her and share everything that I had with her,” he said. The pair corresponded for two years while Hanson was away in West Virginia on a mission for the Mormon Church. “Almost every week I received a letter

from her and we were able to maintain a friendship that way. As soon as I got back I asked her to be my girlfriend,” Hason said. “Our first date was the day after I got home.” He said that though there might be trials or disagreements in a relationship, they can be overcome by love. “The odds will always be in your favor if you really care about the person that you want to be with forever,” he said. For Brittni Hanson, the best part about being married is the support she receives from her partner. “I will always have someone I can depend on for anything, having someone who will have my back,” she said. For her, getting married young is an advantage because she got to “learn life” with her partner. “When we’re young, we combine the little stuff that we have and that’s what we’re going to carry on as we grow older,” she said.

Courtesy of United Sates Census Bureau

Because life expectancy rose to nearly double since 1890, Americans have to commit for twice as long as in the past. SRJC students like Juan Macias and his partner are choosing to take their time to get married.

Estefany Gonzalez/ Oak Leaf

SRJC students Brittni and Kellen Hanson take a break to relax during their shared night class on the Santa Rosa campus.

February 8, 2016

Features

To Qatar and back: Albert Gregory

country in the world when the group went to see Ras Laffan Industrial City, a huge liquid natural gas facility. Staff Writer Fatherree learned the government Qatar isn’t typically on most is involved with almost every aspect students’ top vacation destination of the country. Everywhere she went lists, but for Santa Rosa Junior there would be government officials College student Taylor Fatherree, or government involvement of some who stayed in the country from Nov. kind. The Qatar Foundation, which 27 to Dec. 5, it was an exciting and runs Education City, a program that enlightening experience. has branches in American universities Fatherree was one of 10 students such as Texas A&M and Georgetown and five faculty members selected in Qatar, is supposed to run as a nonnationwide to travel to Qatar through profit, but according to Fatherree, is a Model Arab League study program controlled by the government. sponsored by the National Council of Qatar is more than 80 percent U.S.-Arab Relations (NCUSAR). emigrant workers who mostly come Fatherree is president of the Model from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Arab League club at SRJC. After she Her main concern when meeting became an alumnus of the Model these groups was the conditions for Arab League program and her advisor migrant workers, which she brought recommended her, she was eligible to up with every committee, group or apply for the trip. government official she met. “I don’t The Model Arab League, similar think this is something that can be to the Model United Nations, has tiptoed around,” Fatherree said. students develop diplomacy and When asked about the estimated leadership skills. The main difference thousands who would die from between the two is Model U.N. focuses building stadiums and other things on the 193 member states, while the needed for the World Cup, all Model Arab League only focuses on Fatherree could say was the World Cup 22 member states, according to the committee said it’s not happening. NCUSAR. The member states include She believes it’s a much larger issue nations like Jordan than the World and Egypt. Cup. “It’s good Qatar is the that it’s brought “As a student of richest country in the attention, but the world, mostly it’s a much larger the Middle East, because of its supply issue. We need to I really wanted to of liquid natural make sure that gas, according to the reforms they spend some time the International claimed are actually there and see what Monetary Fund. going to create real Fatherree had change for people they had to offer.” little expectations on the ground,” before going to Fatherree said. - Taylor Fatherree, Qatar. She didn’t Although Qatar know much about made some steps to Model Arab League the country and improve, “It has not President tried to go in with been sufficient and an open mind. “As [the government] a student of the doesn’t have the Middle East, I really teeth to to get it wanted to spend some time there and done,” she said. The international see what they had to offer,” she said. media scrutinized Qatar after the Fatherree’s level of clearance country suffered numerous human surprised her. She was able to meet rights violations. with powerful groups like the World Fatherree noticed there’s a great Cup committee and the foreign juxtaposition throughout the ministry. She even got a first-hand look country socially, economically and at how Qatar has become the richest environmentally. “It makes for quite

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An SRJC student’s enlightening experience in the Middle East

Courtesy of Taylor Fatherree

Fatherree with the students and faculty members who traveled to Qatar as part of a Model Arab League study program.

the study in contrast,” Fatherree said. Some of the richest people live in huge buildings surrounded by the extremely poor. Western businessmen walk around as women are cloaked in burkas. Even the landscape of the city is filled with ultra-modern, giant buildings surrounded by desert. Although she has her concerns, Fatherree believes the country has a lot going for it right now. It developed a strong unity expressed through a plan called National Vision 2030, which focuses the country’s economic, environmental and social goals as one combined effort. Every group the students and faculty met throughout the trip spoke about how they are putting themselves in line for that improvement for the country. Fatherree believes the World Cup will be a symbol for the country’s future and its past. “[It] intertwines both their ambition for the country and the plight of the migrant workers,” she said. According to Fatherree, when you see the country like she and the other students and faculty did, you see what Qatar’s government wants to be seen. “I think the same would be true of people coming to the U.S.,” she said. After completing her trip, Fatherree takes part in the NCUSAR fellowship program for one year, which involves sharing details of her trip to Qatar and getting people to think about the Middle East. She has already presented her trip to the Model Arab League at SRJC. “They treated her like an

Daniel Kong/ Oak Leaf

Taylor Fatherree, president of the Model Arab League, describes her trip to Qatar as a whirlwind, as she had the opportunity to absorb the country’s culture and customs.

investment…having her there can change [people’s] perspective,” said Estefany Chavez, a member of the SRJC Model Arab League. The program was started because a lot of people from the Gulf States travel to America, but not the other way around. Hearing personal experiences from Americans who have visited Middle-Eastern countries can alleviate misunderstanding and misperceptions. Fatherree was always interested in peace as a subject, so when she returned to school in 2014, it became clear to her the Middle East would be

something she wanted to focus on, especially after taking Eric Bruce’s history of the modern Middle East class at SRJC. The Model Arab League wasn’t officially a club at SRJC when she started it the previous year, but became official in the fall semester of 2015. Fatherree is majoring in social and behavior sciences and humanities and looks to transfer to UC Berkeley to major in peace and conflict studies as well as Middle-Eastern studies. To get involved with the Model Arab League, contact Taylor Fatherree at tada77sick@yahoo.com.

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Features

February 8, 2016

The Living Room

A safe haven for homeless women in Santa Rosa Nikki Goetz

Social Media Editor Alejandra Garcia sleeps at an overnight shelter in Santa Rosa. When she’s not there, she’ll take her daughter to a long brown and white building on Cherry Street to an organization called The Living Room. Women who are homeless or staying with friends or family in a temporary situation and don’t know where to go can hang out at The Living Room. It’s a non-profit organization that helps homeless and at-risk women and children. The Living Room staff talk with those at risk about their current life situations and challenges and then try to support them in areas they need. Women can stay there from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Living Room’s goal is to help connect women with needed viable resources and to get their basic and fundamental needs met. Funding comes from private groups and events that bring awareness to the organization, such as an annual spaghetti feed. The Women’s Program provides connections to public resources like telephones, Internet and mailboxes to help women find housing and jobs. The organization also provides necessary items for women, such as clothes and blankets. “[Finding housing] is much harder than it sounds. It’s not just you do one thing and the next thing and magically you’re housed and you’re fine,” said program staffer Pat MacKenzie. “Sonoma County is a very high rent, very high cost- of-living county and many of our women are really hard workers looking for places to live.” The center also provides mental health counseling for women with substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder, a common combination in the population. MacKenzie was a part of the Community Health Worker Program at Santa Rosa Junior College, earning her certificate in 2013. She saw homeless people on Mendocino Avenue and wondered what she could do to help them. She donated clothing to the Living Room and did an internship there before she was hired as staff. She facilitates “Seeking Safety” meetings, where participants look at how PTSD and substance abuse can intertwine and trigger each other. She also helps her manager make sure people in the room are as calm as possible and provide women with food. Women come in with different challenges, such as those who’ve survived domestic violence and childhood abuse. The Mother and Child Program is a day service that provides a safe environment for mothers and their children, from infants to 18-yearolds. Children have their own

space in the back of the building. Outside there’s a jungle gym and a grassy field for kids to run around and play while being watched by moms or volunteers. In the corner is a small, colorful room with toys for kids to play with, small tables to eat at and a rug where the children can read or play. Mothers receive care from staff, including basic supplies such as baby clothes, bottles and diapers. They also serve breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks. The program staff offers mothers recommendations for health care, schooling, childcare and nurturing support. Volunteers help with the kids if the mothers are working on resource gathering with staff. The Living Room has a partnership with Heavenly Treasures thrift stores where women can get two vouchers a month. They can get six to eight pieces of clothing each time. The MAC program also has a kids’ clothing shed that moms can access once a week. Garcia was told about The Living Room through other women at the shelter where she, her husband and daughter have been staying. She visits The Living Room four times a week with her daughter. When the day is done, her husband picks them up and they wait until they can go back to the overnight shelter. “Sometimes I wondered where I was going to take my kid to feed her. [The Living Room] has provided us with food and clothes and stuff that we need,” Garcia said. Jessica Quintero has three children she brings to MAC around three to four times a week. She’s received necessities from the program. When the program is over, she and her kids go back to the Catholic Charities shelter.

Treven Bulluck/ Oak Leaf

Top: Mother Alejandra Garcia and her daughter participate in arts and crafts in The Mother and Child Program at The Living Room. Bottom: The Living Room is open 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and offers counseling, food and clothing to help homeless and at-risk women and their children. The staff helps the mothers with health and education recommendations.

“It’s a place you can come during the day. You can get fed. I have received strollers, clothing and other resources and it helps,” Quintero said. Jen Parr, program coordinator for MAC Program, has worked there for eight months. She holds a place in her heart for women and children in need as she also grew up with a single mother in poverty. Among other tasks she helps mothers seeking health care and

education for themselves and their children and communicates with the staff and volunteers to make sure everything runs smoothly and safely. “One of the things I love about The Living Room is that there really is a community here,” Parr said. “The other side of that, which is the difficult part, is if people are still here, it means they are still homeless and we have an increasing number of people who

need our services. The housing prices in this country are so bad that even people who have fulltime jobs and no families can barely afford housing.” Homelessness is a major struggle, especially in Sonoma County with high housing and rental prices. The Living Room is a grain of hope for women, offering necessities to support them in difficult life circumstances.

February 8, 2016

Opinion

www.theoakleafnews.com

EDITORIAL

Pushing the boundaries of a nation’s trust A

common perception persists among the nation’s informed public: consistently declining trust in federal and state government officials. While this phenomenon is nothing new, recent public distrust rapidly turned to wariness of health department officials, and justifiably so. Due to tragic events in Michigan, and more recently in California, citizens are becoming concerned with their environmental safety and weary of what health officials are telling the public. On April 25, 2014, the city of Flint, Michigan made the cost-saving switch from using Detroit’s water system to taking water from the Flint River. Soon, people started having concerns about possibly harmful bacteria in the water due to its taste, color, odor and subsequent reports of rashes. The city government responded with a news release: “Flint water is safe to drink.” Only recently have public officials finally admitted there’s a problem. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder declared a state of emergency on Jan. 5, long after health officials reported lead and coliform bacteria in the water supply. Since the switch in water usage, 10 residents have died from Legionnaires’ disease and thousands of children been diagnosed with lead poisoning from water nearly 900 times the EPA recommended limit for lead particles. But the most far-reaching concern is the spiraling distrust in local, state and federal officials.

Nearly two years went by as city officials and state regulators downplayed the lead levels and insisted the water was safe. Not only is the city outraged by officials’ initial denial and delayed response to the situation, but the nation is growing evermore skeptical of public officials, and probably with good reason. How can you trust officials who say “everything is fine” when people are dead and children have lead coursing through their blood? The public distrust of local government agencies and health officials spread out from Michigan to California, where the common perception is the state has strict environmental safety guidelines protecting its citizens. But since the tragic events in Flint, even California residents have grown suspicious of public agencies’ pandering. A Southern California Gas Company natural gas reserve in Porter Ranch has been emitting greenhouse gases into the air since late October of 2015, provoking nearly 3,000 families to evacuate their homes. Even though thousands suffered side effects including headaches, nosebleeds and vomiting as a result of the strong-smelling gas, health officials who tested the air quality deem it safe and insist there are no long-term health effects. But residents haven’t been quick to believe the public officials’ reassurances and instead grew more frustrated with Gov. Jerry Brown’s delay in declaring a state of emergency Jan. 6.

Out of 21 Santa Rosa Junior College students interviewed, only three said they still trust California officials. Nine said they trusted authorities in general in the past but are more skeptical now after the Flint and Porter Ranch incidents, and nine said they’ve always been skeptical of state and federal officials. Even in California, where we’ve taken pride in our government’s health and environmental safety standards, caution is mounting and trust is depleted among the public. Without the foundation of public trust, a nation could crumble into

anarchy and revolt. Conditions are ripe for such a revolution if public agencies continue to hide their mistakes and push the boundaries of peoples’ confidence in their officials. If SRJC students, among the rest of Sonoma County residents, wish to avoid incidents such as the Flint water crisis, it is imperative to stay informed and get involved with local government policies and agencies like the Russian River Watershed Association, which we need to hold accountable for the treatment of the watershed several cities rely on. In Sonoma County, agricultural

interests often conflict with human interests where water quality and availability are concerned; therefore it’s crucial for citizens to take part in legislation regarding water use to ensure fair distribution of this basic commodity. The people of California and Michigan, as well as the rest of the nation, demand and deserve complete honesty and transparency from their public health departments and other agencies that have a duty to keep us safe and healthy.

time to wipe out our Trump: An election joke Mosquitos: It’s smallest, deadliest enemy say “hey America, you just got punked.”

Tommy Dennen

Assistant Opinion Editor

he Zika virus is quickly being recognized as a global pandemic. But what is it? The Zika virus is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae, and it’s spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitos. The virus is named after the Zika Forest in Uganda, where it was first discovered in the 1940s. The A. aegypti mosquitos happen to be a vector for a handful of lifethreatening and economically significant pathogens, which is a disease or an organism that invades and compromises the host’s health. Aedes aegypti mosquitos are responsible for the spread of yellow fever, malaria, and dengue. Recently in Brazil, the World Health Organization declared a national epidemic, as nearly 1.5 million cases of Zika virus were documented. This is an unusual surge in the number of cases typically reported per year, and has been loosely attributed to the massive influx of international travelers to the country for the World Cup. Most of the symptoms for these 1.5 million infected individuals were commonly a mild fever, headaches, joint pain and skin rash; treatable items with modern medicine.

However, concerns rose when Brazil reported over 3,500 cases of infant microcephaly as of Oct. 2015. Infant microcephaly, which translates to “small head,” is a condition where pregnant women infected with the Zika virus give birth to infants with shrunken and distorted heads. The back and top portions of the skull are deformed and too small to allow their brains to mature properly. Affected infants are thus physically and mentally disabled; a tragic result that has severe socioeconomic implications: the health care these infants require taxes both the families of the affected as well as the government’s ability to sustain a population of helpless individuals. Researchers point to climate change and globalization for the 20fold surge in Zika virus cases. Prior to 1980, A. aegypti mosquitos were not fit to survive in the western hemisphere. Now that global temperatures have risen, these mosquitos have taken advantage of previously-forbidden wet regions and are rapidly reproducing. So far, less than a dozen cases of Zika virus and only one incidence of a microcephalic infant have been reported in the U.S. The aforementioned infant was born outside the continental U.S. in Hawaii. Lucky for us in California, conditions are generally too dry for mosquitos to survive, and the

majority of A. aegypti mosquito populations are found in the southeastern United States. Recent efforts have been made to genetically engineer batches of A. aegypti mosquitos so their immune systems suppress the viruses they carry, thus when female mosquitos take blood from humans, they don’t pass on any pathogens. The hope is these mosquitos will reproduce with unmodified species and confer the artificial modification. Ideally one day mosquitos will no longer spread disease. It’s time to take it to the next level. With the advent of air travel and globalization in general, it’s only a matter of time until people inadvertently spread the disease to unaffected areas, as it’s sexually transmitted. The race is on for either mosquitos to virally-neuter each other via the genetically modified population, or for them to proliferate and continue to infect millions at a huge financial cost to global health works. It’s time for concerted efforts from researches and doctors to squash this pest for good. They serve absolutely no benefit to the human race. Worse, they cost us billions of dollars a year caring for those infected by malaria, yellow fever and the dreaded Zika virus. If we do not act soon, humanity may lose the battle of natural selection to an oblivious group of bugs.

Parker Dangers Oncken Senior Staff Writer

hile many friends of mine like to toss around the, “I’ll move to Canada if Trump gets elected” hogwash, I refuse to go that far. How many of those people actually followed through on their promises to move when Bush was elected to a second term? Considering I still talk to these people regularly, they obviously haven’t moved anywhere. While making bold statements might be en vogue, I don’t buy into it. I love where I live, and as a young, white male, I do not feel directly threatened by Donald Trump’s ignorant and brash spewing of hatred towards minorities. As an American citizen, I feel threatened by Trump’s overall attitude, and the way he gains supporters by acting like an immature teenager, touting a “they hit us, let’s hit them harder” attitude as his primary course of action for every type of issue. The fact that a blatant racist like Trump is getting sustained support in the polls and is the runaway leader for the Republican nomination is mind-boggling to me. How can a nation built on the words “all men are created equal,” support a man who often sounds like a 21st century Adolf Hitler? Trump calls upon other narrowminded people to shut out Muslims,

Mexicans and any other minority group he doesn’t value as an addition to our country. It undermines the pillars of equality and openness our country’s greatness was built upon. When I first watched Trump speak, I saw a man who looked like he was talking down to the American people, often repeating himself and clarifying things. Quickly, I came to realize that Trump wasn’t talking down to anyone, he was simply operating at the highest level he is capable of reaching. Trump’s campaign has played out like a bad reality television show. It features a shameless entertainer who gains supporters by taking advantage of an American voting public that is so discontent with all aspects of contemporary Washington that it is willing to latch on to the hollow words of a man so arrogant, he has referred to himself as “The Donald.” The thoroughness with which Trump is mocking the country is almost as impressive as it is pathetic. The man changes his opinions seemingly every other day, manipulating the minds of the public into believing he is an expert on everything from Christianity to tube socks. In reality, Trump is the master of only one thing -- acting like a clown. While Trump’s campaign slogan may be “make America great again,” I truly believe it should say “Hey America, you just got punked.”

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Opinion

February 8, 2016

Are we text robots?

Texting taking over lives in the modern age I

seems hopeless. Overwhelmed by pressure and unending feelings of shame and incompetence, the modern human selfmedicates or seeks spiritual refuge. Since pharmaceutical sales have zoomed past our closed universe, it is plain to see that most of us self-medicate. Alcohol and drugs, especially those scratched out on small Rx note pads, are what most of us use to escape the pain of modern life. There are numerous strange behaviors that accompany fear; alcohol/ drug abuse, overeating, gambling, hoarding, Facebookeritis and maybe even texting.

There are medical professionals who say that obsessive behaviors and the consequences of those behaviors are the results of a collective spiritual malady. To make it plain, you can take almost any social problem or addiction and apply the same prognosis; we are full of fear and we put chemicals in our bodies to not feel fear. “You keep eating rocks. Rocks are not good for you. You should stop. We all love you. This is my friend, Dr. Phil,” and so on. I have engaged in self-medicating and became one the most infamous pleasure monkeys to wear a skin suit. It is clear to me that we all need something or someone outside of

ourselves to feel complete. The thing or person that we choose to need may be our demise or greatest triumph. This brings me back to humor; it is the tool I use to deal with reality and I believe it has been given to me for that reason. I choose to share it with anybody who will engage in it. It is not my business whether they choose to read or not to read, I will continue to write humor. It is my purpose. That was a Matrix moment, sweet readers. Texting does have a purpose, but let’s not forget that we are human beings, we are all unique and filled with passion, love and hope.

Facts of science over myths of religion Assistant Sports Editor

od(s) are not real. By God, I mean a supreme being that people believe is the creator of all things. Religion, as a whole, is a way for certain institutions to act as shepherds herding their sheep followers into acting and thinking in a certain way. If you cannot tell by now, I’m an atheist. I don’t believe in an all-powerful creator. I don’t believe the heavens and the Earth were created in six days. I don’t believe in Adam and Eve. I don’t believe the Earth is only 6,000 years old as it is told in the Bible. I don’t believe in any heaven or hell, nor do I believe in reincarnation. Believing in an afterlife is narcissistic because it says you can’t imagine a universe without you. I believe in science. I believe in evolution as fact and theory. I believe the universe began 13.82 billion years ago with the Big Bang. I believe that when we die, we end; we cease to exist. I was not raised an atheist, nor did I become one in spite of any one religion. I became an atheist because I learned about science in school. Science is fact-based, whereas religion is not. Science adjusts its views based on what’s observed. Faith is the denial of observation so that belief can be preserved. Well-known ethologist and writer Richard Dawkins describes faith as “The great cop-out. The great excuse to evade the need to think and

Masturbation is key Opinion Editor

Staff Writer

Austin Burmester

Just the tip Robert Marshall

Daniel Medina

s anyone alive anymore? Are we all paralyzed by fear? Why text when we can just call? How many poor souls have perished behind a “lol”? How many relationships have been severed by the Facebook samurai sword? What happened to the phone booth romance that I used to cherish? I’m passionate about remaining human and I miss the 10-cent phone-booth romance speech with my girlfriend ‘back in the day’ when there was nothing to do but listen to each other’s voice and talk about “Love”! The billions of folks who subscribe to Facebook and other social media sites are fooled into thinking that in some way they are behaving socially. This is not true. I could copy and paste a definition of the word “social” to make my point but that would not change a damn thing. When I first engaged in social media, I thought foolishly it would be a perfect forum to freely share my humorous writings. Not for the sake of ego did I pursue this idea, but for the sake of solidarity in a world consumed by greed and fear. In this sad world we live in, humor may be our only refuge. When the modern human is consumed by fear and regret, life

evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence.” Religion is based on faith, which is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof. My brain doesn’t work in a way that allows it to believe in something has no factual basis or proof of its existence. There are more than 4,200 religions around the world. If you think about it, believing your religion is the correct one and the other 4,199 religions are wrong based off of “faith” and not fact is extremely arrogant. The observable universe, which includes the 54 galaxies that include the Milky Way Galaxy and the Andromeda Galaxy, the Virgo Supercluster — which is about 100 billion times the size of the Milky Way and billions of other galaxies with an infinite number of suns and planets—is but a small portion of the universe in which we live. Physicist Peter Walker said, “The supreme arrogance of religious thinking: That a carbon-based bag of mostly water on a speck of iron-silicate dust around a boring dwarf star in a minor galaxy, would look up at the sky and declare, ‘It was all made just so that I could exist.’” It is not only the completely irrational reason why people believe in God(s) that grinds my gears. What I really don’t like about religion is all of the harm it has caused throughout the history of mankind.

Sure, religion does a lot of good. Churches and religious organizations have been known to enhance their communities. Some say that without religion, people wouldn’t learn morals and ethics, as they should. Many religions teach morals and ethics that their followers should abide by, but the negatives outweigh the positives a million to one. Thousands of wars have been waged in the name of religious ideologies since the beginning of man. These wars have no doubt taken millions of lives. As you’re reading this, religious extremists are killing people all over the world.

I’ve heard a rebuttal argument to my statements from someone who said, “Well Stalin was an atheist and he killed many people.” This statement is true, but he did not kill in the name of atheism. Religious extremists kill in the name of their God and in the name of their ideologies. I became an atheist through the study of astronomy and science as a whole. If a real evidence surfaces of God or the afterlife and is backed by science, I will immediately change my view. I believe in science, nothing more, and nothing less.

Being healthy is important and one thing that is healthy is masturbating. Masturbation is a way to stay healthy for men and women. It can take a few minutes or a couple hours, if you want to go that long. According to thesexmd.com, there are benefits to getting it on alone downstairs. One benefit is it encourages blood flow down there. It brings blood flow to the erectile tissue. Since the body has a “use it or lose it” method, maximum blood flow helps the arteries and tissues remain healthy and function well. If you don’t have a regular sexual partner, masturbation could be the best way to perform sexually and relive tension. This is especially important for people over 50; it could be one of the best ways for women to prevent vaginal symptoms after menopause. Another benefit is stress reduction. It helps release oxytocin and endorphins, which helps people feel calm and relaxed. Relaxation is also important for woman during orgasm. It’s one of the few times that women get to relax their brain. It also lowers blood pressure, while bringing down overall stress and anxiety. Millions of people use it to sleep better according to thesexmd.com. For men this is a big benefit: masturbation helps the prostate. If you’re not sexually active, don’t worry, masturbation is recommended. But in a healthy way, regular masturbation and ejaculation can help maintain the health of the prostate and prostate cancer in men. For women, masturbation increases pleasure. Women need to explore their bodies, and learn what they like, what works and what doesn’t work. Once they know what they like, they can communicate to their partner and the sparks start flying. This is good for women who mainly receive pleasure from stimulation of the clitoris externally rather than from vaginal penetration. Seventy percent of women need to have this external stimulation during intercourse to reach orgasm. Bringing this into the bedroom with your partner can make all the difference. Masturbation is also a way to get to know your body. No one knows you like you, so get to know yourself. Figuring out what you like is key to a good sex life. It’s an activity that isn’t talked about. If it is, not willingly. I encourgae and promote it. I always tell my friends to masturbate when you get the chance. You’re doing yourself a favor and you deserve it after a long day at work, school or stressful day. You’re not getting anyone pregnant in the process. It reduces sperm count, produces clearer semen and the big “O” feels amazing. So the next time you have the chance, masturbate. Your semen will thank you later.

February 8, 2016

Sports

www.theoakleafnews.com

Scoreboard

Bear Cubs

Athletics Scoreboard

Baseball Feb. 2 vs. De Anza W, 4-0 Feb. 4 vs. Redwoods W, 14-0 Feb. 5 vs. Redwoods W, 16-1

Men’s Basketball Jan. 29 vs. American River W, 93-71 Feb. 2 at Cosumnes River L, 61-59 Feb. 5 vs. Diablo Valley L, 64-67

Women’s Basketball Jan. 29 vs. American River W, 51-47 Feb. 2 at Cosumnes River W, 78-61 Feb. 5 vs. Diablo Valley L, 68-48

Hockey Jan. 29 at UC Davis W, 9-5 Jan. 30 vs. UC Davis W, 7-3 Feb. 5 at San Jose State (DII) L, 7-3

Jenner Dangers Oncken / Oak Leaf

Santa Rosa Junior College sophomore center Arnold Silva wins the tipoff against American River College Jan. 29 en route to a 93-71 Bears Cubs victory at SRJC’s Haehl Pavillion.

Bear Cubs playoff hopes remain high despite recent two game slump Frank Sumrall Staff Writer

The Santa Rosa Junior College men’s basketball team [14-10, 5-5] faultered in a physical game as they lost to the Diablo Valley College Vikings 67-54 at home on Feb 5. Using press defense early, the Vikings locked down the paint on the Bear Cubs, causing them to take wild outside shots with no success. The 6-foot-7-inch, 290-pound Damien Banford anchored the Vikings’ defense while he displayed an array of offensive talent on the other end. He hustled after loose balls, threw great passes and conquered all of the defensive formations SRJC head coach Craig McMillan threw at him. The Bear Cubs’ offense struggled throughout, scoring a total of

Feb. 4 vs. Napa W, 9-1 Feb. 6 vs. West Valley Feb. 6 vs. Shasta

Women’s Tennis Feb. 4 at San Francisco W, 8-1

Men’s Golf Feb. 1 vs. Big 8 Tournament #1 2nd Place

obstacles throughout the season. McMillan’s unique and adaptive offense creates opportunities for it to succeed; a big reason they’re in the playoff hunt. Fighting the hard fight down low in the paint is challenging for the squad, but McMillan spreads the floor with ease to make the defense too thin to cover the entire half court, letting the “big” men get easy buckets. Injuries to 6-foot-4-inch freshman Kiel Long made the roster drop to nine players and only three low postmen. Niklasson and sophomore guards Josh Douglas and Siaan Rojas stepped up with dramatically increased minutes and efficiency. Over the last seven games they averaged a combined 49.4 points. The team averages 80.8 per game. Douglas is shooting 54 percent from the 3-point line while Siaan Rojas averages 7.2 rebounds per

game and 5.2 assists on the floor; the closest thing the Bear Cubs have to a triple-double player. As a team, the Bear Cubs rank well in many statistics across the entire league, especially in 3-point shooting. With SRJC ranked 47 out of 92 teams in rebounds due to small lineup and height, its 3-point shooting is a necessity. Its ranked 12th at 38.1 percent, despite attempting the ninth-most 3-pointers. Losers of their last two games, the Bear Cubs need momentum in order to clinch a playoff berth. “I believe we deserve where we stand [in the rankings],” McMillan said. “We have to tighten up our defense, be more aggressive and we have to step up and make our shots [in order to make playoffs].” The Bear Cubs look to get back to their winning ways when they face Modesto at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 9 in Modesto.

Bear Cubs stay optimistic after tough loss Anthony Sosa

Softball

54 points, the second lowest all season. Freshman David Niklasson was the silver lining, scoring on most of his shots whether they were running jumpers, layups or deep threes. “We need everyone if we’re going, to have a deep run in the playoffs,” said Niklasson after the game. “It doesn’t matter if I score 25, we need everyone to contribute to win.” Despite another conference loss, SRJC’s men’s squad is geared at a playoff shot. “We’re going to have to play better but mathematically we have a chance [at playoffs],” McMillan said. “If we play like this we’re not going to though.” The Bear Cubs rank third in the Big 8 conference and 22nd in the California Community College Athletic Association power rankings, despite numerous

Sports Editor The Santa Rosa Junior College women’s basketball team [15-10, 6-4] suffered its first home loss of the season to Diablo Valley College Feb. 5 in blowout fashion with the final score 68-48. The Bear Cubs started out hot opening up with a 10-2 run. The Vikings fired back with a 16-5 run and ended the first quarter with an 18-15 lead. DVC led for the remainder of the game. “The way that we were successful early on we thought it was going to continue and it didn’t,” said head coach Lacey Campbell. A low-scoring second quarter

sent the Vikings to the half with a 30-24 lead. SRJC failed to convert on many shot opportunities in the second half due to the tough interior defense of DVC. “The bigs on the inside change shots and alter what we do,” Campbell said. “They [DVC’s bigs] played a big role.” DVC pulled away from the Bear Cubs in the second half and outscored them 38-24. Bear Cubs guard Jenna Dunbar led the team with 18 points. Brooke Santander and Kerianne Noonan each contributed nine points. Campbell doesn’t believe this loss significantly affects the Bear Cubs’ playoff chances. “We have to make sure we’re winning towards the end of it,” she said. “It’s mainly believing

Anthony Sosa / Oak Leaf

Bears Cubs sophomore point guard Kerianne Noonan attempts the free throw against American River College Jan. 29 in a nail-biting victory at SRJC’s Haehl Pavillion.

in themselves [the players]. We the confidence that they can use.” put them in tough situations. We SRJC takes on winless Modesto challenge them a lot. We need to Junior College at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 make sure that we’re giving them in Modesto.

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Sports

February 8, 2016

Bear Cubs catcher chasin’ success Anthony Sosa Sports Editor Playing for a sports team at the collegiate level takes an immense amount of time, hard work and dedication. Similarly, running your own business takes a tremendous amount of devotion. Sophomore Chase Cianfichi, 20, does both. The Santa Rosa Junior College Bear Cubs’ catcher started playing baseball at age 5. Out on the diamond, Cianfichi focuses on helping his team make a championship run. Off the field, he runs his own goat grazing company, Chasin’ Goat Grazing. What exactly is goat grazing? “You have someone with a piece of land or in some cases ranches that are overgrown with ivy, poison oak, or star thistle that is overtaking the grass. You then bring in the goats and they graze the land,” Cianfichi said. Cianfichi explained that the goats eat the star thistle on ranches, which allows the grass to grow back stronger. For residential areas, the goats clear anything edible. He participated in both 4-H and the Future Farmers of America in high school. He received goats from a friend after working for her family. “I didn’t know what to do with them [the goats] at first,” he said. “So I was going to feed them up and sell them.” Cianfichi looked for a way to feed the goats without purchasing feed. He and his father brainstormed ideas and thought of goat grazing. “I made some flyers, talked to some people and started collecting goats,” he said.

Thus Cianfichi’s “Chasin’ Goat Grazing” business was born. “I said gosh, how entrepreneurial,” said SRJC baseball assistant coach Tom Francois after hearing about Cianfichi’s business. “He’s not selling lemonade on the corner or hot dogs. He’s got goats.” Cianfichi, just five months into his business, already turns a profit from his 22 goats. He charges $2 per goat for a day’s worth of work for a total of $44 a day. Five customers are currently involved with Cianfichi’s business. He also talked to SRJC about using his goats to graze the Shone Farm campus. “Less than half of these young men [players on the SRJC baseball team] will go to pro ball,” Francois said. “To have your own business at this age, and to realize that your future in this game is limited; I think that’s a reality check. I think it’s smart to have something in your back pocket for the future.” On the baseball field Cianfichi works hard at earning as much playing time as possible as a catcher. “There’s nobody on the field that works harder than him, except maybe [head coach] Damon,” Francois said. Cianfichi’s baseball career after SRJC is still unknown. As for his business, Cianfichi focuses on the future. “Right now it’s [the business] not at the volume it needs to be, but it’s a work in progress,” Cianfichi said. “I think it’s going to be successful.” Along with expanding his business, Cianfichi plans to transfer to Fresno State University or California State

Courtesy of Chase Cianfichi

SRJC student Chase Cianfichi balances his time between the Bear Cubs baseball team and running a goat grazing company that helps farmers rid land of ivy, poison oak and star thistle.

University, Chico. Animal science is his intended field of study. Within the next year, Cianfichi plans to own 1,000 goats. He credited

Swim season is here

Staff Writer

Joseph Barkoff / Oak Leaf

Santa Rosa Junior College’s swim teams are rebuilding for a new year with new members.

that’s pretty typical for a twoyear program, it turns around,” McCormick said. “So the nice thing about that is we have some really nice sophomore leadership on the team this year that had a high level of experience both at conference and state level last year.” She’s excited for the men’s team this year. “Our men’s team is larger and has more diversity of widespread depth and talent than we had last year,” McCormick said. She believes the men’s team is more competitive and has a better chance of finishing higher in the state meet than they have since their last championship. Currently the men’s swim team is

working to create a line for the relays they think will be most effective in competitions. “I’m not big on defending the title because every year is a new year. That’s thinking in the past and we need to be focused on the present,” McCormick said about the women’s team. She mentioned some experienced athletes are returning from last year’s roster. She’s thankful the returners have the opportunity to share their experiences of winning with the incoming freshmen. The swim team is here and ready to work hard to make this up-and-coming season one to remember.

Bronco’s 7 sacks, 4 turnovers, takes Super Bowl 50 Frank Sumrall

Staff Writer The Denver Broncos defense tore apart the Carolina Panther offense en route to a dominating 24-10 victory in Super Bowl 50 Feb 7 at Levi Stadium. Von Miller was named Super Bowl MVP after a huge performance, sacking Carolina quarterback Cam Newton 2.5 times, forcing two fumbles that led to Denver’s only touchdowns. It was a defensive slugfest on both sides throughout the contest. Peyton Manning finished with 141 yards passing with one interception for a passer rating of 56.6. League MVP Cam Newton threw for a passer rating of 55.4. Newton threw for an abysmal 44 percent. Denver’s defense shined all year, carrying the team to the playoffs. The Denver defense sacked Newton seven times on 12 hits and forced errant throws despite open receivers. While Manning didn’t carry the team to the win, his career ended on the highest note. Manning added to his already overwhelming resume by becoming the oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl at age 39, and becoming the only quarterback to win a Super Bowl on two different teams. This win gives him 200 in his career, most all time, and finally a winning record in the postseason [14-13], a demon he faced his entire career. Manning now walks off into the sunset from his 18 year career. “Don’t make an emotional decision” former Manning coach Tony Dungy told him. Manning can enjoy his win now and decide on his future later.

Women’s tennis thrives, as men’s hopes to survive Albert Gregory

Jocelyn Mobley

A new year brings the beginning of a new journey for Santa Rosa Junior College’s men’s and women’s swim teams. Both teams are rebuilding with a new mixture of fresh swimmers. Last season the women won the state meet and the men broke into the top 10, which SRJC swim coach Jill McCormick explained is extraordinary. The history of the swim team is a successful one. It has won the state championship in 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2015 for the women’s team, and 2012 for the men’s team. “We have a lot of returners. Last year we had a larger influx of sophomores, and this year we have more freshmen. So it’s kinda like a flip-flop, but

his hard work to his friends and family. Cianfichi’s business’ future is still unclear, but with continued hard work, success is just a few goats away.

Santa Rosa Junior College women’s tennis team looks to repeat last year’s amazing championship season, while the men’s team enters a rebuilding period after losing nearly the entire team from the 2014-2015 season. The men’s team completed last season with a 6-2 record in conference play and 10-4 overall, while the women’s team finished 10-0 in conference play and 11-5 overall. The women’s team looks to answer last year’s season with a very deep and talented roster led by Betsy Rose Samonte, last year’s NorCal ITA Regional Champion. “They are stacked,” said redshirt Adison Mowforth of the men’s team. Head coach Jay Samonte believes his women’s team can repeat their previous success. ‘This is one of the toughest teams in Northern California. Compared to past teams this is [in the] top five,” Samonte said. There are high expectations

for the women’s team from the coaches and the players. Coach Samonte believes it’s a legitimate goal to win conference again this year. “We are better than last year,” said Betsy Samonte. The men’s team lost their top two players, Jonathan Pike and Landon Brown, from last year along with three of their other starters. The team went from nine to six players leaving the roster depleted. No tryouts occurred this season. Samonte understands the men’s team will be a challenge this season and will be working with the players to develop their talent. The lone return from last year’s team is Mathias Burlingame. He, along with newcomer Oscar Lam, are two talented standouts from the men’s team. The season is still very early, and it should be noted that both team’s lineups are not fully decided as of yet. Next up for both teams are meets against Modesto. The men’s team will play an away game Feb. 11, while the women’s team has a home match Feb. 9.

February 8, 2016

Sports

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Both the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders look to improve for the upcoming 2016-17 season, both teams take different paths this offseason, as one team is on the rise and the other hopes to avoid downfall.

Changing of the guard: Austin Burmester Assistant Sports Editor

Opinion The 2016 offseason for the two Bay Area NFL teams will decide their fate and future. The San Francisco 49ers were hopeful going into the 2015 season, but ended with an extremely disappointing 5-11 record under head coach Jim Tomsula. The 49ers already made one big change this offseason by firing Tomsula and hiring former Eagles head coach Chip Kelly. This is a huge move because most people thought the Niners were going to move on from quarterback

Colin Kaepernick. But with the hiring of Kelly, the mobile QB may have just received his second chance. Kelly is known for having a soft spot for running QBs. He successfully coached Marcus Mariota at Oregon and tried the same with multiple Eagles’ QBs. Kaepernick is a below-average NFL QB, but may work well in the quick, no-huddle, Chip Kelly offense. That is, if he can improve his accuracy and the way he goes through his progressions. Another focus for the 49ers is what they’ll do with their high draft pick. If they don’t trade it away, the Niners will have the seventh pick in the 2016 NFL draft. Before hiring Kelly, their main necessity was a QB, but if Kelly decides to work an offense through Kaepernick

Niners littered with question marks, Raiders make push for playoffs

the Niners will look to draft an offensive lineman. With 53 sacks allowed last season, tied for second most in the NFL, the 49ers need to protect their QB. Other than the draft, 49er fans want to keep up with other offseason moves such as signing free agents and whether or not they re-sign some of their own. Across the Bay, The Oakland Raiders had a promising season, living up to expectations of improving from last year. The Raiders went 3-13 in 2014 under rookie QB Derek Carr, but after another great draft class, a new coach in Jack Del Rio and an more experienced Carr, the Raiders improved to 7-9 this season. The Raider’s biggest focus is figuring out where they’ll play in 2016. Owner Mark Davis tried to solidify another

one-year deal with the Oakland Coliseum after the move to Los Angeles fell through. Other than a stadium, the Raiders have much to look forward to. With five players in the Pro Bowl, this young team is doing nothing but improving and will no doubt have their eyes set on the playoffs in the 2016 season. If the Raiders want to make a playoff run, they need to continue a lot of things they did this season and improve on parts of their game that wasn’t as efficient. Carr’s improvement and the Oakland offense as a whole is the main reason for improvement. Their offense produced a QB in Carr with 3,000+ yards, a running back in Latavius Murray with 1,000+ yards and a receiver in rookie Amari Cooper with 1,000+ yards.

Track and field jumps into season Jaime Rodriguez Staff Writer Santa Rosa Junior College’s track and field team is looking to build upon the success it achieved last year. The men’s team finished third in the Big 8 Conference, while the women’s team finished fifth. With only a few key players transferring or graduating, head coach David Wellman is optimistic of how his team’s season will play out. “I can see us progress a little further [than last year],” he said. Wellman’s team is quite young and features a lot of new faces. This year’s team has 60 athletes, but a lot will be greyshirting or redshirting. Team members look forward to the challenge of representing SRJC and continuing to improve their position in the Big 8. Assistant coach Mark Wilson says his athletes are motivated to make a name for themselves. Freshmen Justin Zimmerman, out of Rancho Cotate, will participate in the high jump. His

jump is five inches short of SRJC’s 7 foot 2 inch record. Stephanie Fernandez will participate in the 400 hurdles, 4x4 relay and the 4x100 relay. “I’ll bring some speed to the teams,” said Fernandez, who’d like to break the school record in the 100-meter hurdles. She continued, “I want our relay teams to do well. We have strong girls out here.” Jacob Campbell is another name to remember. He’s trying out for track for the first time since high school. His personal record for the 110-meter hurdles is two-tenths of a second from SRJC’s school record. “I know I got better [since high school],” he said with a confident smile. Julia Grimm is an impressive returning athlete for the Bear Cubs. Last year she earned three medals in the javelin and high jump. She looks to maintain her collegiate excellence by continuing to rank among the best in her events. The Bear Cubs’ first track meet will be Feb. 25 in Chico.

Courtesy of Bleacher Report

One main problem Oakland needs to address this offseason is their defense. With a pass defense ranked 26th in the league, the Raiders are in desperate need of talent in their secondary, especially with their Hall of Fame safety Charles Woodson retiring. With the 14th overall pick in the draft, Oakland will most likely draft a cornerback depending on the free agents they sign. Some possible free agents are safety Eric Weddle from San Diego and safety Tashaun Gipson from Cleveland. There is a lot of time and money to be spent before we can predict what the 2016 season will look like for either team, but there is no doubt the front office of both teams have a lot of decisions to make this offseason.

Courtesy of Golden Boy Productions

Saul Canelo Alvarez will square off with Amir Khan for the middleweight title May 7 amid controversey from fans who say there is a significant weight difference between the two fighters.

Canelo vs Khan set for May 7 Kiana Medina Staff Writer

Opinion Golden Boy Promotions announced Feb. 2 their Golden Boy fighter Saul Canelo Alvarez [46-1, 32 KO] will face Amir Khan [31-3, 19 KO] on May 7. Canelo comes off a historical win against Miguel Cotto in November 2015 for the middleweight title. Criticism from boxing fans came shortly after the fight was announced because of the weight difference between Canelo and Khan. Khan is a

welterweight fighter. Khan agreed to a catch weight of 155 to fight Canelo. However, Canelo is known to do his best at 155. Khan hasn’t fought since his bout against Chris Algieri in May 2015. It will be almost a full year until he fights again, with 155 being the heaviest weight he’s fought since the start of his professional career in 2005. For many fighters, taking a year off either hurts their mentality or makes them come back stronger. However, I don’t believe Khan has what it takes to beat Canelo. Khan is well known for his amazing speed, and that’s something nobody can take from him. However speed can

only get you so far when you’re facing Canelo, who has power, speed and the defensive skills which make him such a fun fighter to watch. Canelo is setting out to be one of boxing’s most legendary fighters, and one of Mexico’s most popular. Since starting his professional boxing career at 15 years old, Canelo’s created quite the name for himself. He’s a fan favorite and has the capability of going far in the boxing world. Canelo always promises fans a great show and he’ll do just that on May 7. With my money on Canelo, the fight won’t go the full 12 rounds. The fight will go up to the eighth round, ending in a knockout by Canelo.

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Sports

In full swing

February 8, 2016

SRJC baseball team starts season 4-1 Will Mathis

Staff Writer Fifteen batters came to the plate during the Santa Rosa Junior College baseball team’s 10-run fifth-inning, leading to a 16-1 win over College of the Redwoods at Cook Sypher Field Feb. 5. College of the Redwoods committed three fielding errors, walked four batters and threw three wild pitches in the fifth, influencing the 10-run outburst. Mitch West, who leads the Bear Cubs with six RBIs this season, contributed a two-RBI single, making the score 7-1. Jeff Bart, who replaced West during the onslaught, capped off the inning with a two-out, two-RBI double to make the score 15-1. Bart had a team-high three RBIs for the game. The game started shaky for SRJC’s starting pitcher Ezio Bruchier. He struggled to throw strikes. After falling behind 3-1 to the leadoff batter, Bruchier allowed a double to start the game. That eventually led to College of the Redwoods only run of the game when a single to right field gave them a 1-0 lead. Bruchier’s day ended after walking the fourth-inning leadoff batter on four pitches. He threw 26 of 53 [49 percent] pitches for strikes, allowed three hits and

walked two batters. Zach Hall got the lead back in the second inning by smacking a 1-2 pitch to the right field wall for an RBI triple. “That was awesome,” Bryce Nagata said. “Zach and I have struggled to start the year and we finally broke out. I’m excited he hit that.” Two pitches later Hall scored the games winning run on a wild pitch. “He hung a curve,” Hall said about the first of his two triples. “I saw it right out of his hand and hit it.” Ladd Ah-Choy came in to pitch with a one-run lead in the fourth. With runners on first and second and nobody out, Ah-Choy induced a double play and struck a batter out to keep the Bear Cubs’ lead intact. With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, George Foster hit into a potential inning ending double play but beat the throw to first to keep the inning alive and extend the Bear Cubs lead to 3-1. The next batter, Jake Scheiner, ripped the first pitch down the left field line for a two-RBI double to open up the Bear Cubs lead to 5-1. Foster and Scheiner have five RBIs each through the seasons first five games. “We’re getting strikes and hitting the ball hard,” Foster said of the team’s offense that scored 30 runs in

Melyra Nicolis Basketball

their two games against College of the Redwoods. “That’s what we do.” Head coach Damon Neidlinger turned to his reliable lefty Evan Hill with a four-run lead. Hill gave up one hit and struck out one batter in each of his two innings. He has now thrown eight shutout innings, struck out seven and allowed five hits on the season. “He’s 120 pounds wet,” catcher Charlie Magana said. “He shoves like he’s 6-foot-5.” The Bear Cubs won three games in a row. Ryder Kuhns contributed to the teams’ success batting .412 [7-17], scoring six runs and driving in two. Alec Rennard set the tone on the mound for the Bear Cubs, picking up the wins in each of his first two starts. “You know when he’s pitching by the look on his face,” Magana said. “He brings the same mentality every day. Nothing fazes him.” Rennard struck out 12 batters, allowed eight hits and gave up three runs in 12 and two-thirds innings pitched. Top: Daniel Kong / Oak Leaf; Middle, Bottom: Micah Young The Bear Cubs’ next game is Top: SRJC’s Matt Bone connects for an RBI single in a 4-0 win over De Anza College. against Laney College at 2 p.m. Middle: Third baseman George Foster safely slides into home during the Bear Cubs 16-1 win. Feb. 9 at Cook Sypher Field. Bottom: An SRJC pitcher throws the ball against College of the Redwoods Feb. 5.

Preston Bernd Tennis

Jalen Hemphill Track

Kadeem Hemphill Track

Dutch Bros. or Starbucks?

Dutch Bros. They’re friendly and you get stamp cards.

I’m a Dutch Bros. addict. I go every morning.

I got to go with Starbucks. I’ve never been to Dutch Bros.

Starbucks, because their fraps are hella good.

What’s your favorite postgame snack?

The McDonald’s Mini Meal. It’s quality food at a great price!

Usually something light, like a sandwich.

Trail-mix and cereal. I love cereal.

Tostitos Lime Chips, and queso dip. Why? Try it and you’ll know why.

What was your favorite movie of 2015?

“Amy,” the movie about Amy Winehouse.

My favorite movie of 2015 was “Creed.”

“Avengers: Age of Ultron.”

“Beasts of No Nation.” It’s powerful.

Who would be your celebrity valentine?

J. Cole. He’s brilliant and a great rapper.

Justin Bieber. I’ve always loved him since he first started.

Hands down Nikyee Heaton for sure!

Oh fo’sho Selena Gomez. She’s gorgeous, and making music and movies.

Crossword

Across

2016 Issue #1 By Travis LaBrucherie 1

25 28

38 43

2 Being here adds ten pounds 1 The time to confess 3 Emblem on Ryan 8 Awesome Difficulty: Monday Gosling’s jacket in “Drive” 11 Super Bowl 50 network 14 Burn these for aromatherapy 4 Super Bowl XXXII MVP 5 Golfer who won record 15 Earth friendly prefix 12 13 16 Once a Roman colony in north 82 PGA tournaments 6 Apologetic text Africa 7 “Super Mario Bros.” 17 They get points console 18 Buddy 8 Glue again 19 They shed light on the activities of some Republican org. 9 Exotic berry 10 Barbie or Chucky 20 To place in proper order 11 Animal and nature 21 Enya’s “Orinoco Flow” conservationist Jeff alternate title 12 _ of dog 23 Pumped 24 Jerome Bettis is compared to 13 Finn’s friend 21 1993 film “_ Ninjas” this 22 Super Bowl XLV MVP 25 French river 23 To assert in pleading 26 Bride’s mask 24 You can find one on a 27 Super Bowl XXXIV MVP head or in an oven 30 Tarantino’s exgirlfriend 27 “Unbreakable _ 31 A fire engine or an ant Schmidt” in the “Transformers” universe 28 Not right 32 1999 Ford film “_ Hearts” 29 Darth to Jar Jar 34 Made a farm noise 36 37 38 Video game with toy soldiers 33 It can be mined 35 Outback hopper 42 Cost 36 It’s used to avoid listing 43 Super Bowl XXIX MVP 37 Snider and Wallace 46 Fairy tale opener 39 Alpine singer 47 They look for UFOs 40 “Puddle of _” 48 WWE move 41 Tree-like creature from 49 Perimeters “The Lord of the Rings” 50 Plane gauge 43 Ship in Blue, Red and 53 “Street Fighter” character Yellow 54 Where the top Swiss go top 44 She plays Grace in the cheddar “Hawaii Five-O” reboot 55 Officer from “Futurama” 45 Online stock brokerage 56 Gambled 49 Giant sea wave 58 ‘sup gesture 57 51 Some fourth downs 59 Comes twice after a whip result in this 60 Justin Timberlake hit 52 Baseball stats 61 Before to Shakespeare 53 Scottish word for sore 62 Inc. that published “D & D” 56 Microsoft app. use for 63 Do this to dirty dishes audio, video and images 57 Former French pol. of the Socialist Party 1 Sleuths, for short

Down