Spring 2023, Issue 1

Students express concerns for mental health after series of school shootings.

Despite sunny days SSU students recall recent storm

COOPER PERRY STAFF WRITER

Throughout the first three weeks of the new year, Northern California saw a barrage of heavy rain and high wind speeds that triggered flood warnings for Sonoma County and much of the state. According to the Press Democrat, some parts of Sonoma County got over 33 inches of rain over a 23day period, from Dec. 26, 2022 to Jan. 17.

Sonoma State University freshman and geology major, Peter Xiao, was on campus throughout the duration of the storm. He recounted that “once, near the campus garden, a large branch got ripped off by the wind and the sharp end almost struck my face.” He added, “it took like less than a week for a whole big cafeteria garbage bin to be filled up with rainwater.”

The sudden onset of these storms was caused by several atmospheric rivers and bomb cyclones. As their names would suggest, atmospheric rivers are narrow streams in the sky containing large amounts of water vapor, which are crucial for California’s rainfall every year. Bomb cyclones are another type of tropical storm event similar to hurricanes, caused by the collision of warm and cold air. However, unlike hurricanes, bomb cyclones generate the worst weather at the edges of the storm instead of toward the center.

Charles Bottino, a senior geography major at SSU, recalled waking up to see the flooding of his friend’s house. “The creek had started to breach the slates on the deck of the bottom story. My bandmate was swimming in about three feet of water trying to save his potted plant below. Within an hour, the water was entering the bottom story and we had to move everything upstairs.”

At the time, there were no prior flood warnings issued in the area, but Charles and his friends were evacuated by the housing management shortly after. Charles added, “that was the highest the creek had gotten on the property since it was built in the 1970’s”, and the entire bottom story must be renovated as a result of the damage.

The flooding caused by heavy rain and overflowing reservoirs led to many mudslides across the state, totaling over 300 over a two-week period since New Year’s Eve, according to an article by NPR. Much of California is prone to mudslides due to its relatively young mountains and drought conditions. The drought has caused the sediment to become too dry and decreased its permeability, letting the water run off easily, and pulling dirt and debris with it downhill.

In addition, areas with wildfire damage such as Sonoma County are more vulnerable to mudslides. This was seen in the Montecito mudslides of 2018 that came shortly after a large wildfire swept through the town.

Sonoma State Professor of geography, environment, and planning, Tom Robinson told us, “From a hazard reduction

Seawolves join together and sip tea while interviewing President Mike Lee.

5.

Sonoma’s softball team was able to win 2 of their 3 games this weekend.

SSU community feels fearful after Monterey Park shooting

Hope, dread, and fear were emotions felt by students and faculty following news of the Monterey Park attack that occurred on Saturday Jan. 21, when a gunman stormed into a dance studio and took the lives of 11 people. A similar shooting happened two days later on Monday Jan. 23 in Half Moon Bay. Both shootings targeted the Asian community.

In a statement released to Sonoma State University, President Mike Lee said, “Despite its horrific repetition, this level of violence is senseless and insensibly devastating to the safety we should all be able to claim. ” He also stressed the importance of holding space for members of the community who wish to come together.

Brave Space Gatherings were held on Tues. Jan. 24 and Wed. Jan. 25 at the HUB, Student Center. The event was hosted by the Asian Pacific Islander American Faculty and Staff Association

alongside the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

These gatherings allowed for students and faculty to express their concerns and fears about the recent shootings, but also their support for the community.

Jerlena Griffin-Desta, chief of staff and vice president for Strategic Initiatives and Diversity, said, “When we are hurt and confused about everything happening to us, it is important to be able to come together and listen to each other and share. With the uptick of Anti-Asian hate post-quarantine, it feels heavy. It feels frustrating.”

According to an article by NPR, there have already been more than 39 mass shootings across the country since Jan. 1. In 2022 there were a total of 647 mass shootings. It was less than the total mass

shootings occurring in that year. 2021 remains the deadliest year for mass shootings to date.

Investigators say that there has been no probable cause or motive for what drove the shooter to target the dance studio in Monterey Park, nor has there been connections between the shooter and the victims. As for the shooting in Half Moon Bay, the shooter was prompted by a 100 dollar repair bill.

Alan Herbert, a first year business major at Sonoma State University, said that shootings have become too prevalent in the United States for him to be surprised anymore. Herbert stated that hearing the news about Monterey Park has made him “numb” and “disappointed.”

Alvin Nguyen, a director of the Transfer Center, shared the same sentiment. He said that when he learned that the shooter was Vietnamese, it added a whole new level of pain. “It really hit home and add

COURTESY//

see BRAVE SPACE on pg.4

Enrollment down, SSU executes plan for increase

OLIVIA KEELER STAFF WRITER

Sonoma State University has seen a decline in enrollment since fall 2018. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a decrease in enrollment in schools across the country, and SSU was no exception.

While the local government continues to lift restrictions and in-person instruction resumes, the Strategic Enrollment team is implementing solutions to attract more students to Sonoma State.

A strategic enrollment management plan is in effect and has increased the number of students that visit Sonoma State’s campus for tours. Robert Eyler, SSU’s public informant officer, explains, “campus tours are at a record high, with 60 scheduled school visits for as many as 2,859 students and 431 families visiting our campus.”

ALLY VALIENTE STAFF WRITER

apia.sonoma.edu

The Asian American Pacific Islander faculty and staff brought students together following the Monterey shooting.

COURTESY// canva.com

Following heavy rainsstorms throughout early January that plundered Sonoma County, students recount their experiences.

THE STAR

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Rosalee Padilla, Editor-in-Chief

Nicholas Roth, Copy Editor

Ana Fingerson, News Editor

Mikayla Fritzemeier, Opinion Editor

Adriana Gonzalez, Arts & Entertainment

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Javier Hernandez, Sports & Health Editor

Corinne Asturias, Faculty Adviser

Staff Writers

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Opinions expressed in the STAR are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the STAR or SSU. The editorial reflects the views of the STAR Editorial Board on issues it considers to be of particular relevance to the campus community.

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The “new and improved” Stevenson Hall

It seems that the wonderment of the new Stevenson Hall on campus has faded just a few weeks into the spring semester. With cold, barren walls and bathrooms that have yet to be cleaned, it seems that Stevenson may have lost its comforting appeal.

The spring semester began on Jan. 23, marking the first time that Stevenson would be fully open to the public. The old building was riddled with asbestos so the construction of this new space was highly anticipated. This project took a total of eight years to be completed by Truebeck construction. The overall design was handled by an architecture firm, EHDD, based out of San Francisco. This may have contributed to the very modern and minimalist ‘Apple store-like’ layout we see today.

Bowen Palengat, a third year GEP major, has a bio lecture in one of the larger lecture halls. In an interview with the STAR Palengat said, “I feel like the new Stevenson aesthetic is really open and sparse, and the way it’s set up feels, kind of, like a mall just without all the people.”

The three story academic building has a much more open concept, with classrooms now located only around the perimeter. This new Stevenson has a mission to be more inclusive and has gender neutral bathrooms located on the first floor. An exciting new addition to campus for all to enjoy. Unfortunately, this semester, the bathrooms seem to have not been cleaned. You can walk in and see overfilled trash cans

Letters

Letters

with paper towels littered across the floor. Why is this building, that cost the school $90 million to make, not being properly taken care of?

Lexi Schoonmaker, a third year women and gender studies major described the new building as “a warehouse meets medical facility.” She admits however that she prefers the updated building because of the new technology in each classroom.

The first floor is equipped with spaces for students to interact and study with one another, although the constant slamming of doors across the room may affect one’s concentration. It seems that there was no mechanism set in place to accommodate this noise. So if you are in class anywhere in the building, you definitely will be notified when another class has ended.

Sonoma State prides itself on the consistent move toward sustainability. SSU’s website states,“building a sustainable and resilient future is the global and ethical challenge of our time. To ensure our Seawolves are prepared to meet the challenge, Sonoma State infused these principles into everything we do.” The new Stevenson building fulfills this push to sustainability with its LEED gold sustainability standard. These buildings contribute to an overall lower carbon footprint. Overall it seems that Stevenson will continue to serve as a large selling point for incoming Seawolves, even though it falls short for those of us who are actually using it.

STAR // Dennae Taylor

Seawolves share how school shootings affect mental health

MARIAH FORSTER STAFF WRITER

Schoolisn’t always a safe place.

Many of us began to understand this concept at a young age. We took part in active shooting drills at school that attempt to prepare us for the worst case scenario. Not only did we take part in these drills, but we were exposed to mass shootings reported in the media.

Alex Gonzalez, who is a fourth year communications student, stated that he first became fully conscious of school shoot-

ings when the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting happened in 2012. While there had been other school shootings that gained national attention such as the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007 and the Columbine High School shooting in 1999, according to a journal published by Disaster Health, Sandy Hook shocked the nation due to the victims being so young.

“I was first exposed to the concept of school shootings when I was five and in Kindergarten…I remember not being able to go to class because the school was on lockdown,” stated Willow Ornellas, fourth year communications student.

Ornellas said her elementary school was on lockdown because a mentally ill old woman came to campus with a gun.

While students may not have encountered an active shooter directly, school shootings in the last decade have left an impact on our minds, making us live in constant fear of it happen-

ing to us.

Harlow Valez, a first year business management student, stated that they started experiencing anxiety in elementary school, fearing that someone might come to campus with a gun.

Kira Riehm, who is a behavioral health research scientist, explained to TIME magazine that children can still experience anxiety from school shootings even if they weren’t involved.

“These events are extremely high profile and they are portrayed hughley in the media,” said Riehm to TIME magazine.

Valez stated there is no doubt that hearing about school shootings have affected them “The crippling anxiety school shootings have made me, and many friends I know, develop has entirely altered the trajectory of our lives.”

While it is normal to think about safety in public areas, it is not healthy to live life in constant fear.

“I remember me and all my friends

had escape plans from every room in every building and signals in case anything were to have happened. I still have to selectively pick my seat in each class I have now because of the fear. I hate going to grocery stores or theaters or amusement parks, anywhere with big crowds,” said Valez.

The fear Valez mentioned can range from moderate to severe. Some students say that mass school shootings haven’t made a huge impact on them.

“It hasn’t really affected me much in my life, but it’s made me more cautious…whenever I go places, the concern in the back of my head is that I can be in the wrong place at the wrong time,” stated Gonzalez.

School shootings may not have a big impact on his life however, the what if’s linger in his mind.

“I think collectively the nation is extremely traumatized…living in a constant state of fear, I don’t know what can be done to remedy it and that’s horrifying,” stated Ornellas.

Students struggle to financially keep their heads above water

Being a student, as we know, is a full time job itself and having to worry about cost can increase the -already high- anxiety. Considering this, it is no surprise that only 34% of California adults have at least a bachelor degree as stated on the Public Policy Institute of California website.

all nine counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma, is $1,084,500.” This number, as we know, is usually higher, especially in wine country.

ally be significant for some students.

CÉLIA ALINE AMARAL STAFF WRITER

Food, gas, grocery, bills repeat: Those are the duties that every adult has to face on a weekly basis. Unfortunately, as inflation hits, the Californian students who don’t have the highest purchasing power to begin with, are hit harder than others.

According to the LA Times “Nearly two-thirds of California students say their biggest obstacle to succeeding in college is costs—including food and shelter—and juggling jobs with school.”

The cost directly impacts peers like Manuel who was originally enrolled to go to SSU. Unfortunately for him he had to go back to Santa Rosa Junior College even though he already had his associate because he could not afford tuition on top of housing, gas and grocery shopping. He stated “I earn too much to qualify for financial aid but too little to actually pay for tuition.” This could partially be explained by the price of housing.

Every student interviewed agreed to say that housing is a big part of their monthly expenses as it can represent 40% of their budget. According to Norada real estate “The median sales price of this region, which includes

In an interview with the STAR, some students that did not want to be named, revealed that they were not renting a private room but a shared room to drop this price by half. Another challenge that students have to face is the price of tuition. Luckily SSU is not the most expensive school and figures below the national average. According to US News, “Sonoma State University’s tuition is $8,060 for in-state and $22,258 for out-of-state students. Compared with the national average cost of in-state tuition of $11,286, Sonoma State University is cheaper. For students coming from out of state, the tuition is cheaper than the national average cost of out-of-state tuition of $27,394.” Considering this fact, the price of tuition for out of state can re -

This is the case for Zoe, an international student from Germany. She explained that “back home and in Europe in general, education is not as expensive because public universities usually only charge an administration fee that is never higher than 300 € but having an American degree has always been one of my dreams so I am willing to make sacrifices”. During the interview she also revealed that she had some health issues and had to go to Germany because the flight ticket to go home was less expensive than payin but the purpose of mentioning it here is to emphasize the fact that it is a struggle to be a student in California as inflation hits.

It is important to note that students are not alone and support is available financially and emotionally at SSU. If needed you can visit the school website or speak to a faculty member on campus who will direct you to the resource that is right for you.

Online controversy leads M&M’S to change spokesperson

The idea that she was being made more “masculine” got a lot of people upset.

Chris Orsi, 22, said, “I don’t really see a problem with the company changing from heels to sneakers, they’re just shoes. Girls wear sneakers just as much as boys. I don’t see sneakers as a masculine item.”

discussed among people on the internet.

KYLIE PERRY

STAFF WRITER

Due to an overwhelming amount of negative feedback and controversy around the changes to the iconic M&M’S ‘spokescandies,’ the brand has decided to change their marketing strategy and get rid of the candy characters entirely, replacing the face of M&M’S with comedian and actress, Maya Rudolph.

The controversy that caused this change was a result of the female M&M’S in particular. The green M&M who is known for wearing high heeled boots was altered to wear sneakers.

The M&M’S characters were involved in another controversy earlier this year when the three female M&M’S stood alone on the packaging, a marketing campaign to celebrate this year’s upcoming women’s day. Money from these sales was to go to various women’s organizations. “I personally would have liked to see the three women M&M’S on their packaging,” said Skylar Ploshay, sophomore at Sonoma State. “Their target audience is children and it is good for them to see such a large brand empowering women (even if they are candy) and making them the star of the show.”

The decision to get rid of the M&M’S characters altogether due to these controversies has been heavily

Orsi also had a few things to say about the new face of the company. “In reference to Maya Rudolph, I personally think she’s a good fit to be M&M’S spokesperson,” Orsi said. “I believe that the company made a good decision in light of the situation. M&M’S are just a candy. It was almost weird that the candy mascots were getting ‘too sexy.’ I guess they were just following the theme that sex sells.”

Whether the company should have stuck with their original decision to change the characters or to get rid of them altogether is discussed more by Ploshay. “I think PR decisions in any situation are always tricky. Whatever they put out in the world someone will have something negative to say about it, so with that they either need to be able to take that criticism or explain their choice,” she said.

Ploshay stated that they should have done a better job at sticking with their decisions despite the turmoil

that it caused or would further cause, or let the consumers know what exactly caused this change of branding. “I think transparency is always important so if they would have talked us through their decisions instead of just jumping the gun and taking it down, people would have been more willing to roll with it,” Ploshay said.

When asked about how she feels about Maya Rudolph becoming the new face of M&M’S, Ploshay had positive feedback, although she stated that she “appreciated the old animated M&M’S.”

“She is a very funny actress and I think would actually match the vibes in the old commercials well and I think that will be a smoother transition, rather than someone who completely changes how things used to be.” Ploshay concluded, “This is a case where it could either be really successful for them, or not, and no one will know until it is actually out there in the world.”

Maya Rudolph will be introduced as the new face of M&M’S during a Superbowl commercial on Sunday.

Atmospheric rivers cause $1 billion in damage across CA

continued from pg. 1

perspective, this most recent storm tells us more about how atmospheric rivers work and, perhaps more importantly, how well our forecasting and prediction of them currently work. With so much tracking technology, meteorologists and climatologists learn a lot from each event.”

Damages from the storm are estimated to total more than $1 billion across the state, according to an article by NPR. The Press Democrat estimated that by Jan 10, Sonoma County had suffered $11 million in damages to local roads and other public infrastructure due to the high winds and flooding in the area.

Professor Robinson added, “Storms like this may also keep the potential destructive forces in the forefront of residents’ and community leaders’ minds, which hopefully leads to greater preparation.”

The LA Times quoted California Governor Gavin Newsom saying that the storms had claimed the lives of 22 California residents. This is a higher death toll than from wildfires in the past two years combined.

Our thoughts are with those affected by these storms, and if you are in need of disaster relief, you can call to register with FEMA at 1-800-621-3362.

Associated Students spring into action

Associated Students of Sonoma State University is diving into the spring 2023 election for the Senate Executive Board of Directors while also spearheading special events coming to campus this year.

Associated Students is led and run by the current students of Sonoma State University focusing on community outreach through special programs and services. This creates opportunities for SSU students to engage and participate through community service, co-curricular events and activities, childhood education/development labs, as well as student government.

President, Executive Vice-President, Vice-President of Finance, Senator for Diversity, Senator of Government Affairs, and Senator of Student Services are all positions students are able to apply for this coming school year. According to the university’s website “The Student Government exists to serve the students at Sonoma State University through awareness, advocacy, and representation.”

University Affairs and Special Projects Director Madelyn Elena Williams says “this is my second family on campus, they mean everything to me and I’m so proud of all the work that we’ve done and will do.”

Student Government Representative, Khanh Dao said that “Associated Students is truly a welcoming, supportive and fun community. It’s more than just a job, workplace or office, the people truly make the difference.” Dao and Williams both agree it is more than being a part of a program, it’s a family.

Dao also expressed her feelings about the elections thus far “I feel elections are going good, we do have a few people interested in running, however we would love to get more students to push themselves to run. We think it’ll be a great learning experience and opportunity for them.”

While there aren’t any prerequisites to run for positions in student government, there is a checklist of things they must complete in order to do so. Students must attend at least one Election Info Session, they need to have a petition signed by at least 15 other students and a 200 word statement. Dao also said that it is not required to have any previous student government experience to run, and anyone is encouraged to join.

The application deadline to apply for any of the AS student Government Executive Board of Directors positions is Feb. 23 at 11:59 p.m.

The next available info session is held Monday, in the Erin Fisher Room from 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Located in the AS office on the second floor of the Student Center). Student Government campaigns are from Feb. 24-March 14. Voting days are March 13-14.

Williams prides herself and her team on focusing on the students and their communities. “I’m excited to see all the student leaders ready to make a change.” said Williams. AS is also responsible for running programs and services which enhance student-life. Williams mentioned that AS brings students events such as “Big-Night”, movie nights, club events and services like Lobo’s Pantry.

If students aren’t interested in running for office, Williams and Dao both assured that there are many ways to join AS and help the community. They had mentioned the different avenues such as Join Us Making Progress (JUMP), which is a community service program providing SSU students opportunities for growth, leadership, and education. JUMP has a variety of service options from semester long commitments to single days of service.

The next available JUMP event is Friday, “Day of Service Volunteer Event: Mary’s Table-COTS” from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at 900 Hopper St, Petaluma. Information and updates can also be found on the AS instagram page @ as_sonoma.

For any questions please contact Student Government Representative Khanh Dao daok@sonoma.edu.

Campus busy in midst of enrollment decline

continued from pg. 1

Because of the strategies, enrollment is expected to increase. In fall 2022, the number of first time first year students was the largest increase in two years. As of spring 2022, there are 5,999 students enrolled, which is 14.3% below SSU’s target. With the current plan, SSU has a goal of 7,810 students by the 2026-2027 academic year.

An increase in enrollment can also be attributed to an increase in in-person instruction. In the spring 2023 semester, 77% of courses are in person, opposed to 71% in fall 2022. A Pew Research study found that, “sixty five percent of students preferred in-person instruction, compared to the eighteen percent who prefer a hybrid model and a 9% who reported they’d rather learn remotely.” The switch to entirely online courses steered many students away from school.

Lynn Lyzenga, a pre-nursing student, describes an experience felt by many, stating, “I didn’t have a lot of friends who dropped out, but almost all of them failed classes or barely passed them. They had to repeat semesters because of it, it was really rough.”

While some students already had difficulty with in-person instruction, many factors could contribute to a harder learning experience online.

Harmony Simmons, a third year English major, explains, “lots of colleges were more prepared than others to go online when the pandemic happened, and life has changed for a lot of people. Some people have always struggled, but I think during the pandemic everyone struggled, and the best way colleges could recover from that is to be more easy-going on students.” The transition back to the normal college experience is encouraging the return of SSU’s goal numbers.

While enrollment numbers are lower than target, the campus seems to be busy. The recreation center as well as the student center are always full of students. The newly-renovated Stevenson Hall is attracting more students to that area of campus. Student life still carries on and there are events almost every day. A lot of the students have never had the in-person experience that is returning.

Yesenia Verduzco, a third year Kinesiology major, states, “Events have influenced students coming here. A lot of us were online when the pandemic started so people didn’t get that exposure to campus. I know that people have been saying enrollment has been dropping over time, but this is the most students I’ve seen on campus since I’ve been here.” Sonoma State’s student life has helped the campus feel more full and busy, and students don’t seem to notice a difference in enrollment.

With the pandemic winding down and campus life returning, we may see pre-pandemic enrollment numbers in the coming academic years.

Brave Space Gatherings provide solace for students and staff

continued from pg. 1

ed a whole other level because of my Vietnamese-American background. It hit differently. I appreciated the check-in and being able to be in a space where we can talk about it.”

Katherine Lee, assistant professor of American Multicultural Studies and Charlene Tung, professor of Women’s and Gender Studies, expressed concern about not being able to open up and talk about violence surrounding the community. Tung said, “ It doesn’t surprise me; nobody wants to talk about fear and violence. I wasn’t even ready to address it in class today. So I appreciate the space so we can have these conversations.”

Ultimately, professors and faculty alike agree that it is important to check in and check up on other members of the community who are having a hard time throughout this period of violence.

“At the end of the day we’ll log off and continue on, but it’s so important to reach out and check in,” added Griffin-Desta. “Check in on our students, on our staff, and our faculty.”

COURTESY// seawolfliving.com

Sonoma State University is seeing its largest enrollment increase in two years.

STAFF WRITER RENE CASSANO

Arts & Entertainment

Cashing in at Casino Night

The energy on campus is palpable during LoboFest, with crowds and events around every corner.

Student Involvement hosted a variety of games at Casino Night on Friday for both students familiar with casino games and those less initiated, such as Poker, Blackjack, and then Apples to Apples, Connect 4, and PLINKO.

The turnout for Casino Night was no different, with every game table full of players from the beginning of the night. Playful casino decorations adorned the ballroom, with pizza and Crumbl cookies provided for attendees.

Students were given a box of 10 chips to start at the front door and given a whole floor of games to spend it on, being able to refill their chips at any time. Some students had almost zero chips after a few games, and others had chips practically spilling out of their boxes winning big.

At the end of the night, students cashed in their chips for raffle tickets to place on a range of 65 prizes. These prizes included a 32” TV, tickets to a basketball or football game, gift cards, all types of tech and school merchandise, and many more.

Director of Student Involvement Mo Phillips expressed pride with how LoboFest has turned out this year. “I am very happy with the events and do feel very proud of our team and the students for helping to create these opportunities. We had great turnouts for [the events] SO yes, it has exceeded my expectations!”

Students had a few different reasons for showing up. Third-year dance major Mikaili Thomas said “I was hoping to make more friends, play the games, and maybe get a couple of fun prizes” regarding why she attended.

Fourth-year communications major Devon Bly said “I came to play some games and meet some cool people. I’m also trying to go for that Toy Story toy set.”

Bly did not end up winning that Toy Story prize, but many students won big and were

satisfied with their prizes, and after all, those prizes were not the only thing to take away.

Speaking generally about the goal of LoboFest for students, Phillips said Student Involvement hopes that students will create meaningful relationships and find a sense of belonging among campus communities, as well as a sense of purpose either academically or career-wise.

Phillips said on-campus events are “all designed to give people things to do on campus that are alternatives to drinking and that are fun, help people find a community, etc.”

When all was said and done Casino Night was a pleasant and wholesome experience that brought together some of the campus. Discussing the benefit of Casino Night, Thomas said “Overall, I hope [Casino Night] will come again because it’s pretty fun,” and for those that didn’t come out for LoboFest: “don’t be nervous if you’re new coming into the events, you’ll find your people and what’s fun for you here.”

The tea was spilled with President Mike Lee

BERNARDO RAMOS STAFF WRITER

Sonoma State interim President Mike Lee sat down on Tuesday, Jan. 31 to spill the tea and answer questions from students. The students asked questions that ranged from lighthearted and fun to more serious questions that some students wanted answers to. Spill The Tea with President Lee was hosted by Associated Student Productions, ASP. Aside from possible answers to any pressing questions one might have, Seawolves were also encouraged to show up to the event for free bubble tea. The first 100 people to show up were able to get their hands on the treat while waiting for the event to begin. Although there seemed to be plenty to go around at the start of the questions and answer session.

Many of the questions asked were fun and a way of getting to know President Lee better. Some of which were, “What is a day in the life like for President Lee” and “what are some of your favorite foods?” Lee gave his responses which drew some laughs from the crowd as well as head nods of approval. After the pre-submitted questions were answered the students in attendance were allowed to ask questions.

Initially, students were able to submit questions via QR code but when the projector stopped working the host had to switch back to the old-school method of picking people who had their hands raised. This is when hard-hitting questions about mold in the dorms, increasing diversity, and enrollment were brought up.

The president gave his responses to the questions which included emphasizing student

feedback on any problems concerning the dorms, making SSU a fun and safe campus for people of all backgrounds, and making it easier for junior college students to enroll at SSU.

When asked about whether or not a question and answer session similar to Spill the Tea with President Lee would be helpful in the future 4th-Year communications student Madison Hernandez said, “It’s a good way of keeping people informed and is kind of like a state of the union address.”Hernandez felt that the event was an overall positive experience in which a student who may have any problems can be heard and get an answer from those who may have the power to help.

The question-and-answer format of the event let students get a better understanding of who the president was and his priorities on campus. Parker Oria, a first-year business major who attended Spill the Tea with President Lee at the last second said, “I think he answered all the questions appropriately, he seemed respectful, kind, and genuine.”

A lot of other students seemed to attend the event spontaneously like Oria, Aiden Spencer, a first-year pre-nursing student, didn’t make plans on attending the event. Even though he didn’t have any questions for the president Spencer said “All I knew is there was Lee and tea, but I still found it very informative.”

After Spill the Tea was over President Lee talked to some of the students who stuck around he also thanked everyone for taking the time to come out.

Spotlight: SSU Mixed Martial Arts Club

To some, learning martial arts is nothing but learning how to properly defend yourself in a threatening situation. However many people tend to forget that martial arts are considered an art form, and the meaning behind it is much more skin-deep than just learning how to fight. The SSU FMA Club meets twice every week on Wednesdays from 4-5 p.m., and on Fridays from noon - 1 p.m., both in Niagara Studio on the second floor of the Rec Center.

Established in the fall semester of 2021, the FMA club is relatively young when compared to other student organizations on campus, founded soon after the first-semester escrima class was offered as a P.E. credit class. As the name suggests, the SSU FMA Club centers itself around Filipino Martial Arts, specifically the most well-known form, escrima. Escri-

ma, also known as arnis, kali, or kali escrima, is the national martial art of the Philippines, centered on combat using blunt, bladed, and improvised weapons, as well as empty-handed techniques.

While students can learn to master many self-defense techniques, however, learning Filipino martial arts, as well as any other martial art for that matter, can provide so much more than that. SSU FMA (Filipino Martial Arts) Club President Lucas Tomkins says that he hopes “they never have used their training in a self-defense way. The values they learn and incorporate into their day-to-day lives.”

When learning a martial art, you are both improving your physical capabilities, and your moral code as well, allowing students to learn respect, self-discipline, humility, and many other essential morals.“The longer someone stays committed to the martial arts, the more of these values they will see spread into their everyday lives,” says Tomkins.

Fourth-year communications and media studies major, and club attendee, Daniel Capone-Buchanan says that “Fighting should be a last resort but should also be used for your own protection”.

In the future, if the club has enough members at the right time, club members might attend escrima tournaments to see what full mastery is like, and possibly readily prepare a group to compete in a match. However, Tomkins says the current objective is recruiting new members and preparing for the demonstrations for the Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage month and Pacific Culture Night later on this semester.

If you want to learn more about the club, you can follow their social media account on Instagram, @SSUFMACLUB.

STAR // Kathleen Mootz Seawolves playing blackjack at Casino Night on Friday.

Women of Color Collective gives Seawolves a voice

MALIA TERAN STAFF WRITER

The Women of Color collective (WOCC) is a group of women that meet weekly on campus in the HUB. It is a drop-in support group facilitated by CAPS psychologist Isa Avila Saiter and Senior HUB Program Executive Shelly Gomez, M.A. The goal of the program is to offer a safe space for women of color to come in each week and be able to share their stories. The Women of Color collective assists in connecting the community. The people who attend the program sit down together in support, with hopes of empowering each other.

The facilitator’s goal is to provide an environment that makes participants feel relaxed and comfortable. The Sonoma State STAR had an opportunity to speak with CAPS Staff Psychologist Isa Avila Saiter, who is one of the co-facilitators of the group. Saiter explained the significance of the support group, “The Women of Color Collective is a welcoming place to navigate the joys and challenges of our beautiful, intersectional selves. This group is for all Cis and Trans women, as well as Non-Binary SSU students of color who are comfortable in a space that centers on the experiences of women.”

The WOCC is entering its ninth year on campus. Over the years, WOCC has

developed into a well attended, drop-in discussion and support group with a diverse group of participants. The co-facilitator, Isa Avila Saiter told the STAR what a typical meeting consists of, “The main activity is our weekly, confidential meetings. Meetings consist of a check-in, open dialogue and exchange of support between members (facilitated by Isa and Shelly) and a mindful check-out.” Saiter also mentioned in previous semesters the program has invited a couple “WOC Mentor Speakers” who are SSU women of color faculty, to tell their story and engage in a casual dialogue with WOCC members. “One year [The WOCC] even took a field trip to UC Berkeley for the legendary Empowering Women of Color Conference… over the years, the friendships and mentorships that have developed through the group have been wonderful to see!”

During COVID-19, the group held meetings via zoom.The WOCC aimed to provide support and a sense of community to students throughout the pandemic. This program provided by SSU HUB, has been utilized as a resource for many students over the course of nine years. If you are interested in this group, contact gomzs@sonoma.edu or avilai@ sonoma.edu for more details. The Women of Color Collective takes place every Wednesday from 12-1 p.m. in the HUB, located on the second floor of the student center.

Group Cycling classes available at the Rec Center

how to set up the cycling equipment for the workout. Throughout the class, Instructor Uhrich gives tips on how to replicate the cycling technique she uses . Emily Uhrich describes the class as,“a 30 to 45-minute class structure where we do cycling sprints and jumps. [the class] combines a wide range of cardio motions without it just being in-motion cycling.” Cycling is a proven method to burn calories and improve one’s overall stamina.

Fitness Instructor Emily Uhrich saw the opportunity to “spiff up” the original cycling program from pre-covid. She told the STAR that this semester, the Rec Center is receiving plus size cycling bikes for the dance studio. One of Uhrich’s goals is to help others get into fitness. In her class, she maintains a positive, upbeat attitude while encouraging others to keep pushing themselves. The 45-minute workout is based on a music playlist. Throughout the cycling class she explains how to move to the beat of the music.

MIA GARCIA STAFF WRITER

The Sonoma State In-motion cycling class is back at the Recreation Center. The class offers a way for students to work on their health and fitness in an inviting atmosphere. SSU Recreation Center is now resuming their group fitness cycling classes that were originally offered at SSU before COVID-19. Cycling is one of four group activities that students are able to participate in for free. Other classes include: Buti yoga, rock climbing and jazzercise. The group cycling classes are held in the dance studio every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The class is filled with music and a chance to meet fellow Seawolves. All SSU students are welcome regardless of their cycling experience. Emily Uhrich, the fitness instructor, makes the class easy for all skill levels. At the group class, she teaches everyone

With the new year and the spring semester beginning, Seawolves may find themselves stressed. The cycling class offered at the Rec Center can be used as an outlet to relieve stress. On Jan. 24 fellow Seawolf Evelyn Vanderville attended the group fitness cycling class. When Vanderville was asked why she showed up to the event, she said “I want to better myself and my fitness… [the class] is a great way to get my mind off of school” She goes on and says, “As a person who hates cardio, I despise it... the [in-motion cycling] is a great way to get my cardio in without feeling obligated to do it. The class makes cardio a fun activity.”

Cycling is one of the ways a Seawolf can stay active and achieve a stress free state on campus. The SSU Rec Center is making a comeback with the different classes that are offered. Many students have a fear of working out. Uhrich gave some advice for students who are hesitant to show up,“Just go! The worst that can happen is that you sweat too much and that’s not a thing… It’s like a trophy if anything. Try to forget whatever fears you have in entering the gym and just go and you will love yourself more for it.” The Recreation Center provides a positive atmosphere for students. View which group exercises are available at campusrec. sonoma.edu.

Semester kicks off with seasonal Lobofest

Sonoma

State students gathered in Seawolf Plaza this past Wednesday to explore several clubs and organizations during the seasonal Lobofest showcase. The event gave an opportunity to over 100 clubs and organizations to show off what they’re about and potentially attract students who could benefit in joining. Lobofest had a variety of groups to be involved in, everything from fraternities and sororities to mental health services were tabling.

The majority of what was on display during Lobofest was student run such as the entrepreneurship club. In true entrepreneurial spirit, Senior Connor Saal worked on establishing the club to help other aspiring students become successful. They aim to be a resource for any and all students; operating based off of the needs and demands of the members who join. Saal hopes to see an influx of students, particularly undergraduates, who can carry on the mantle of the club once he graduates. Connor has many plans and ideas for their weekly meetings including hearing from a guest speaker on the Forbes list. A Sonoma State service worth checking out is Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). CAPS is an SSU service that offers therapy from licensed psychologists. SSU student Mckayla Louie was seen tabling for CAPS and is currently interning with the organization. Louie shared her thoughts on the service provided by Sonoma State, “[CAPS] is something for anyone and everyone who wants to reach out because it’s good to check in every once in a while.” CAPS is a highly encouraged service for SSU students to utilize because they already pay for this resource through their college registration fees. Seawolves are entitled to 10 one on one therapy sessions per academic year.

The International Education and Exchange Council (IEEC) provides students with the opportunity to study abroad as well as welcome international students to our very own SSU campus. Hope Ortiz is the global engagement coordinator who represented the IEEC during this past Lobofest. She spoke about why students should consider joining, “The purpose of the IEEC is to bring international students and Sonoma State students together to form a global community.” They provide a unique opportunity to study in another region of the world. The IEEC is an affordable and alternative way of learning for

students. If interested, contact the Global Engagement Office goglobal@sonoma.edu.

Another popular student run club that will catch the eye of many Seawolves is the Hiking club. For those looking to soak up the sun and get away from the campus with friends, the Hiking club is definitely for you. Robert Norbutas and Rachel Burson were tabling during Lobofest and described the club as, “positive and inclusive vibe for SSU students.” Hikes are slated to be every other Sunday in the Sonoma County area.

The club realizes Sonoma county covers a lot of terrain and may be too long of a trek for some students. As a solution, the hiking club has decided to keep most hikes within 30 minutes of campus. Many of their past hikes can be found on their social media @ssu_hiking_club if students are curious about where they have hiked in previous semesters. Rachel Burson believes, “[the club] allows students to unwind and meet outside of school.” Burson added how family members and pets are also welcome to come on hikes.

Whether it is hiking through the beautiful Sonoma county or finding ways to travel the world, one thing is for sure, Lobofest has given students opportunities for it all. If you are a Seawolf looking to join a club, browse the “Clubs and Organizations” page at getinvolved.sonoma. edu or contact studentinvolvement@sonoma.edu for any additional questions.

JUSTIN SIMPSON STAFF WRITER

STAR // Mia Garcia

Seawolves riding into the new semester at the group cycling class.

STAR // Dennae Taylor

Rachel Burson and Faith Miller running the table for the Hiking Club at Lobofest in the Seawolf Plaza on Feb. 1

Sonoma State Golf teams ready for a big season

ALEC PADILLA STAFF WRITER

Sonoma State Men’s and Women’s golf teams are gearing up for yet another successful season. When asked what his expectations are regarding the upcoming season, Head Coach Val Verhunce said that doesn’t like expectations, but he did state that, “If we manage ourselves correctly, results should be good.” Coach Val has coached some impressive teams in the past, including the 2009 National Championship-winning team. Someone else who has National Championship pedigree is the team’s new assistant coach, Jess Stimack. His own team at Chico State finished second at Nationals in 2004, so it’s safe to say the team is under sturdy leadership.

The women last fall fought hard and earned three top-fives out of four tournaments which included a third-place finish at the Dennis Rose Invitational. Additionally, the women managed to outperform every team in the classroom while managing an intense practice schedule. The women achieved the highest GPA out of any sports team in the Fall semester averaging a 3.7 among all 10 students.

The men, on the other hand, started off hot and won their first event of the season, the West Region Preview. Freshman, Colin Huang, lead the team and finished second. They continued their success with a third-place finish at the Wildcat Classic where SSU standout, Griffin Pace, won his first collegiate event with a score of 11-under-par-205 for the tournament. Throughout the fall season, the men placed in the top three in all but one of their five events. This consistency has contributed to their rankings.

Both teams look to improve on their performances from last semester with great hope for this coming season. Freshman, Talia Gutman, had no finish worse than nineteenth and had a season-best finish of seventh place. Sophomore, Lauren Garcia, also had a top-ten finish. Their team has a lot of promise and Co-captain Sam Smedshammer said that, “We have a lot of new faces and new talent this year, the spring is going to be exciting for us.” The women have five tournaments this spring season, the first being the Bay Area Invitational in Oakland. This tournament is hosted by Holy Names University and they will be playing at La Positas Golf Course. Last year, the men had a chance at Nationals after winning the CCAA Champion-

ship, but were cut short after finishing thirteenth at Regionals. This year, they enter their spring season ranked first in the region and ninth in the nation. Although they will not be playing with two of their starters from last season, they look to continue their success and give it a run at winning a national championship. The men have six tournaments before the postseason and they will continue to show who they are and sharpen their skills to look at making another attempt at the National Championship.

Co-captain, Jules Lavigne, had nothing but positive things to say when asked about his confidence going into this new season. He said, “I feel like I’m very confident because we have our Regional tournament at home which is a great opportunity to qualify for Nationals.” He strongly believes that his team is close and that they have a roster full of good players who can consistently shoot under par.

The men’s first event this semester is Feb. 13 at Shadowridge Country Club which is hosted by Cal State San Marcos. Each team’s full roster and schedule can be found on the Sonoma Seawolves athletics website under the men’s and women’s golf tabs and you can follow their journey on @sonomastategolf or @sonomaseawolves on Instagram.

Home Run, SSU Softball is back!

Jesse DuPuis. Having lost both aces this year, there are big shoes to fill. Great pitching is a key aspect of making any kind of deep run into the playoffs and the Seawolves hope to get good production from senior Nichole Sarra and junior Bailee Reed as they look to step into the spotlight this season.

With several returning players this year, the team’s chemistry is a big advantage over other teams. When talking to senior outfielder Reagan Hunt about the upcoming season, she told me, “We are taking what we accomplished last year and rolling with it, our team is looking great at practice and our heads are up high.” A sense of confidence is what this year’s team is all about.

Sonoma State softball is back in action this spring and the team has big expectations after last year’s stellar season. Sonoma finished 42-18 and 24-12 in conference play last year and made a statement by winning the CCAA championship while recording the most runs in the tournament’s history. Last year’s squad also made a strong run in the Division ll West Regional tournament and they look to keep the momentum rolling into this season. The team is ranked number three in the Preseason Coaches Poll but have their sights set on higher expectations. The Seawolves also have four players who are continuing their All Conference performances from last year on the CCAA Preseason Watchlist.

They are bringing back Santa Rosa native and senior slugger Anna ZoiaBuescher who boasted a .396 BA and senior catcher Jordyn Martinez who hit a team high nine HR’s and 51 RBIs in 2022. One of the key reasons last year’s team was able to make a deep run was the standout pitching from seniors Camille Rodriguez and

Head coach Jennifer Bridges returns for her thirteenth season as the leader of the program. Sonoma is also welcoming to the program new assistant coach Bry Castro. Castro brings a multitude of high level softball and coaching experience. In 2017, she played for Division 1 team Ole Miss, where they became the lowest seed ever to win the SEC tournament. After working for two seasons on the University of San Diego’s softball staff, she is bringing her expertise to Sonoma State. Castro knows what it takes to win at the highest level and is a great addition to the team this spring. With the season just getting started, everyone is focused on repeating last year’s success and taking it to the next level. The Seawolves started off their 2023 campaign at the Seawolf Round Robin this past weekend. After moving their games to Santa Rosa JC, because of weather concerns, Sonoma State came out firing versus Saint Martin’s hitting four homeruns on their way to a 9-6 victory. On Saturday, they kept things rolling with a 3-2 win thanks to Anna ZoiaBuescher’s bases loaded walk-off single. Cassidy Romano and Giana Hays also came up big with spectacular plays on defense. Unfortunately due to rain, the remaining games on Saturday were postponed as Sonoma finished 2-1 on the weekend. The next home game for the team is on Friday at noon as they take on Dominican University. For more information on the team head over to sonomaseawolves.com.

Seawolf Lacrosse opens up season

As 2023 warms up, the Seawolves grow hungry. Sonoma State Men’s Lacrosse team is ready for a season of redemption. After a week of two-a-days (two practices a day) and the beginning of official practice, the season opened up with a scrimmage against the Sacramento Brewer’s Men’s Lacrosse Club on Jan. 28 . The Seawolves won 15-9 with everyone from seniors to freshman stacking up goals. Thankfully, for the older guys on the club team, injuries were kept to a minimum aside from a pulled hamstring. By the end of the day, hands were shaken, laughs were had, and joint team photos were taken.

As soon as you come toward the East side of SSU campus, you can hear echoing yelps, hoots, and hollers before you even see the team. Once you reach Beaujolais Field and see the boys in blue, you can feel how spirited the team is from hundreds of yards away. It is clear to see that helmets are strapped in, sticks are hot, and minds are focused when these athletes step onto the field.

Recently named team captains Casey Hoops and Michael Trujillo are both returning to the program, using the extra year of eligibility as a result of the halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hoops mentioned that for the current seniors, fifth-years, and even sixth-years, it is a dream to go and play out of state in the national tournament. They came back to make that happen for the program, to recreate what the 2002 National Championship Team was able to accomplish. Alongside the captains and one of the leading scorers in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association returning for another year Kieran Fara, an incredibly strong freshman class joins the team this year. You can tell that with a heightened sense of morale and grit, confidence has been successfully instilled in each member of the team.

When asked about what they expect to see from this season, the captains had so much to say. “We have nothing to lose and everything to prove this season, we are on nobody’s radar… and that is a good place to be,” said Trujillo.

On the Preseason Coach’s Poll located on the MCLA website, Sonoma State is currently unlisted. There is no doubt that this is quite the opposite of a discouraging factor for the SSU Men’s Lacrosse team. This fed the Seawolves’ hunger as they won their first game of their season 9-4 against Stanford this past Saturday. This was a redemption game for the team as last season the Seawolves lost to Stanford 13-9, and as these two teams have played each other since the 1980s, the rivalry grows stronger with each new year.

“This is a big deal for us,” noted Head Coach Ben Hewitt when asked about his thoughts on playing Stanford before any other team. He and the rest of the coaching staff have come into this season wanting the team to reach its highest potential. After a hard fought battle, Sonoma State was victorious in the official first game of the 2023 season.

ELIAS KAPLAN STAFF WRITER

JAKE RENTERIA STAFF WRITER

COURTESY// Evan Roehrig

The Women’s team poses during a photoshoot.

COURTESY// Evan Roehrig

The Men’s team is all simles during their shoot as well.

STAR// Dennae Taylor Reagan Hunt making contact during her at-bat.

STAR// Dennae Taylor The team celebrating a big defensive play.

STAR// Dennae Taylor Nichole Sarra locked in as she is about to throw a pitch.

COURTESY// @nomalax

SSU Lacrosse poses together for a team photo.

COURTESY// @nomalax Team captains, Michael Trujillo and Casey Hoops.

The week continues full of festivities

STAR // Dennae Taylor

Jordyn Martinez keeps her eyes on the prize as catcher during the SSU Softball game on Feb. 4.

STAR // Dennae Taylor

Marissah Perez and Alexis Guerrero Gomez set up their canvas for crayon melting art at Crafteroon Jan. 29.

STAR // Dennae Taylor

Arianna, Remi, Isabel Morrow, and Stephanie Im showing off their stuffed animals at Crafteroon in Ballroom A.

STAR // Kathleen Mootz Avery Funk, Greta Fast, and Taylor Frickman enjoy free boba at the Spill the Tea event with President Lee.

STAR // Dennae Taylor Daric Curry and Marcus Grundmann representing Greek Life at the Spring Club Showcase on Feb. 1.

STAR // Kathleen Mootz Seawolves test their luck at Casino Night on Feb. 3 in the Ballrooms as they wrap up Lobofest.

STAR // Dennae Taylor

The crowd cheers on the SSU Softball team during their Saturday game vs Saint Martin’s.

STAR // Dennae Taylor

Anna Zoia-Buescher and Cassidy Romano high five during the SSU Softball game vs Saint Martin’s University.