Spring 2023, Issue 11

Frank Ocean Jazzercise Noma LAX

Seawolves can have some fun with this unique workout routine.

PAGE 6

The SSU Men’s Lacrosse club team make it to the final four of the playoffs. PAGE 7

Cotati keeps eyes peeled for new inconspicuous cop cars

ALLY VALIENTE STAFF WRITER

Residents and Seawolves of Cotati might have noticed a new addition to the police force lately - a Tesla electric patrol car, which was unveiled by the Cotati Police Department late September in 2022. Cotati becomes the second city to utilize an electric vehicle, the first being Fremont. Its goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

An all-wheel drive Dodge Charger, used as their typical patrol car, costs about $35,000. The Tesla Y Model, now owned by the Cotati police department, was $80,000 along with the amenities needed.

In a statement released to The Community Voice, a website about the latest news in Sonoma County, City of Cotati Mayor Mark Landman said, “Our police fleet was an obvious place to prioritize, as the old vehicles idle and driven extensively, with an overall efficiency of nine miles per gallon. Even with the higher initial costs of purchasing the car, it’s less expensive overall with gas and maintenance savings. We are happy to help lead the way to a healthier gas-free future with electric patrol cars that refuel on electricity from Sonoma Clean Power Evergreen that saves our residents money over the life of the vehicle.”

According to the Press Democrat, Cotati officials acknowledge the Tesla’s higher price tag, however, they say that because the Tesla costs less to maintain, the difference in expense therefore evens out. The new electric patrol vehicle will be the Cotati Police Department’s tenth patrol unit. There are plans for more electric vehicles to be purchased as the existing cars are phased out.

There are also reportedly plans for Mendocino and Marin counties to also acquire their own electric vehicles.

But it’s not just the police department that’s making strides towards sustainability. see TESLAS on pg. 4

RP assault brings fear during sexual assault month

On Sunday, April 16, an adult woman was the victim of a sexual assault on Fairway Drive in Rohnert Park. Her attacker was riding on a black bicycle around 8:30 p.m. where he then reportedly got off the bicycle, groped the victim from behind, tackled her to the ground and then proceeded to assault her.

The Rohnert Park Police Department announced their search for the suspect on April 20, four days after the initial attack. The suspect was described as Hispanic or mixed-race, short with a stocky build, as well as wearing a black beanie and black clothing.

That same evening a concerned neighbor alerted the neighborhood on the application, Nextdoor, stating, “Woman attacked on Fairview Way and Fawn. Hispanic male, around 30. He’s on bike. Rides near, stops, jumps off bike, grabs from behind.”

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Detective Ramirez at (707) 5842600. The suspect is unknown at this time. All information will be confidential.

The investigation is ongoing, and the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety states, “We would like to remind you to be aware while walking alone after dark. If you can, walk with someone. Only use one earbud or headphone so you can hear things around you.”

As the investigation continues, Sonoma State is observing April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Every year, SSU hosts multiple events to bring awareness as well as support to sexual assault victims. On April 26, SSU will be hosting the Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Denim Day Tabling. It is an event that dates back 22 years.

Denim day is described by the Seawolf Living website as, “Millions of people across the world will wear jeans with a purpose to support survivors, and educate themselves and others about all forms of sexual violence. Wearing jeans on Denim Day has become a symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault.” It is encouraged that students wear denim on campus that day. The event begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m.

California is not lenient when it comes to sexual assault on college campuses. In 2014, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill called the “Yes Means Yes” Law that, according to NPR, “Seeks both to improve how universities handle rape and sexual assault accusations and to clarify the standards, requiring an “affirmative consent” and stating that consent can’t be given if someone is asleep or incapacitated by drugs or alcohol.”

Any college receiving state funding, like Sonoma State, has to comply with the standards of the law while investigating sexual assault crimes.

While the law promises to help victims in investigations, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center states that, “Nationwide, 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime.” Sexual assault is common and this particular assault on April 16 occurred 10 minutes from SSU’s campus.

COURTESY// commons.wikipedia.org

Northern California’s Eel Wild and Scenic River represents California’s third largest watershed.

PG&E may be dammed with Eel River safety concerns

SACHA WEDNER STAFF WRITER

On April 18, national conservation organization American Rivers released their report “America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2023,” and listed Northernwestern California’s Eel River as being the sixth most endangered river in the U.S.A. American River publishes this list every year, and judges the state of different rivers based upon criteria including the river’s significance to people and nature, the magnitude of the threats presented to the watershed and surrounding communities, and how the public can influence decisions impacting the river’s future.

The Eel River is the third largest in California, stretching for 3,684 square miles, flowing northward from the coast ranges west of the Sacramento Valley before dumping into the Pacific Ocean on the coast of Humboldt County. Historically, the river has been one of the most productive and diverse fisheries within

see EEL RIVER on pg. 4

COURTESY// Kent Porter, Press Democrat One of the new Tesla electric patrol cars was debuted on September 15, 2022.

THE STAR

Editorial Board

Rosalee Padilla, Editor-in-Chief

Nicholas Roth, Copy Editor

Ana Fingerson, News Editor

Mikayla Fritzemeier, Opinion Editor

Adriana Gonzalez, Arts & Entertainment Editor

Cec Fernandez, Photo Editor

Zachary Gonzales, Student Life Editor

Javier Hernandez, Sports Editor

Corinne Asturias, Faculty Adviser

Staff Writers

Célia Aline Amaral, Rene Cassano, Mariah

Forster, Tito Fuentes, Mia Garcia, Elias Kaplan, Olivia Keeler, Kathleen Mootz, Alec Padilla, Cooper Perry, Kylie Perry, Bernardo Ramos, Jake Renteria, Justin Simpson, Ally Valiente, Sacha Wedner

Photographers

Dennae Taylor and Malia Teran

Nichols Hall 323, 1801 East Cotati Ave Rohnert Park, CA 94928

Telephone: 707-664-2776

Business & General Inquiries: sonomastatestar@gmail.com

Corrections and News Tips: star@sonoma.edu

Publication

The STAR is published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters. The weekly publication of the STAR is made possible by Instructionally Related Activities Funding.

Opinions

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.

Editorial Policy

The commentary expressed in the unsigned editorial represents a majority opinion of the STAR Editorial Board on a topic facing the campus community in keeping with journalistic precedents of other major newspapers, and may not be shared by all staff writers.

Free resources waiting to be

ies have much more than books to check out. One of Sonoma State’s largest resources on-campus is the Jean and Charles Schultz Information Center. The library ranges from resources such as the 24 hour computer lab to reserved study spaces on the third floor. The building comprises three stories, each with their own noise level. The first floor is the most collaborative floor and it serves as a one stop shop for academic excellence. Students can book appointments with offices such as the Transfer and Advising Center or explore free tutoring options at the Learning Academic Resource Center (LARC). The STAR had an opportunity to speak with LARC’s Administrative Support Coordinator, Gillian Estes. Estes explained the concept of the on-campus program, “[LARC] provides one on one as well as small group tutoring… it’s all free for SSU students.” With over 10 subjects to get support in, the free study program brings out Seawolf success.

When logging into your SSU online services a purple app titled, “LARC WC online” is there to make an appointment with LARC and the Writing Center (WC) which is another feature of the program. WC assists in course curriculum as well as non-academic writing.

The second floor is the most overlooked creative outlet within the library. The “Makerspace” is an area with a vari-

much the HUB Cultural Center is dedicated to SSU students.

The HUB is a popular resource utilized by Seawolves that offers weekly activities that are no cost to attend. The office is located in the heart of our campus in Seawolf Plaza. Overall, The HUB represents a safe space for anyone and everyone. With its acronym reading, “Honoring the past, Uniting the present, and Building the future.” The HUB falls under the The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Aside from support groups, the space offers resources such as a mini kitchen and food storage. The HUB primarily serves as an educational resource in order for students to deepen their understanding of each other as well as those around us.

This FREE resource empowers ethnicities, sexualities and world wide views from across the globe. Every week the office hosts support groups for fellow Seawolves including: Queer, Trans, People of Color (QT-POC), Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI), Women of Color Collective (WOCC) and several more.

“Here at the HUB we really try to stay in tune to what’s happening on campus and support [students] in general with navigating this institution,” said Gomez. SSU provides and promotes these resources across campus for any student willing to look for them.

Letters to the Editor:

Letters to the Editor are encouraged and will be considered for publication based on relevance, accuracy and timeliness . Submit letters of up to 300 words no later than the Friday before the publication date. Send letters to star@sonoma.edu, include your full name, year in school and city of residence.

STAR // Zachary Gonzales

Can’t pay attention? Social media may be to blame

scrolling through and engaging with the content, rather than really taking the time to comprehend it.

Olivia Brice, a second year psychology major, said she uses Tiktok the most out of the social media apps, “because it is very entertaining and the content is different everyday.” She added, “The platform is a lot less serious than others”

fected our attention spans greatly, everything has been shortened people don’t want to pay attention anymore to things that are longer than a minute,” said Paloma Felix, a third year theater major. She went on to add, “Its a lot harder to sit through a movie because we have a harder time concentrating.”

Could social media apps like Tiktok and Instagram be the cause for shortened attention spans?

According to the Queen’s Journal “Social media has taken over our attention spans through quick and instant gratification. Affecting our brains ability to focus on anything else we feel is less interesting.”

On an average day, a TikTok user spends 95 minutes on the app. Considerably more time than other popular media platforms such as Instagram with people spending an average of 29 minutes a day, and Snapchat with 28 minutes. With platforms such as Instagram and Tikok people have gotten used to

There have been several studies that have shown that 77% of people between the ages of 18 to 24 have responded to “yes” when asked, “when nothing is occupying my attention, the first thing I do is reach for my phone.”

In today’s world we watch a lot more short term content such as youtube shorts and instagram reels rather than content that is longer such as the news or television shows. This could lead to long term entertainment having less viewership. Additionally it could lead to shorter versions of stories as opposed to longer more drawn out versions that we are used to.

“I do think social media has af-

On the other hand there are benefits to shorter attention spans. GenBiz states “one advantage of having a shorter attention span due to social media is increased ability to multitask. Some people can process multiple pieces of information at the same time which can lead to greater efficiency and productivity.”

Brice mentioned how she believes social media impacts her attention span “I think it makes it harder to focus on our school work. When we are working on homework we are easily distracted by social media and you cannot focus on one thing for more than twenty minutes at a time.”

Lauren Wenner, a fourth year psychology major, brought up how

social media apps are meant to draw you in “Obviously your brain is going to want to go back to those apps instead of reading the chapter” Wenner mentioned she uses Tiktok over instagram “ Tiktok is probably the only thing I use, I like how it is different everyday it is not just photos. People are actually doing things, I think Tiktok can be very helpful information to stuff out there.”

Social media apps are built to be addictive. The algorithms tailor content for each individual person, and the way that you can scroll on these apps for hours with no end in sight keeps people locked in. 100 one-three minute videos seems to be easier to sit through than a two hour movie or a one hour lecture.

Wenner said she keeps her phone far away from her and out of sight when she does homework, so she doesn’t end up distracted. Limiting screen time may be difficult for some but finding a new hobby or just learning when to put the phone down could be better for everyone’s minds.

Frank Ocean’s controversial Coachella performance

ing to his music.

RENÉ CASSANO STAFF WRITER

Frank Ocean took the stage for the first time in six years, Headlining Coachella on April 16. The Frank Ocean/Coachella debacle has been the Internet’s favorite jigsaw puzzle for the past week, which is impressive for the internet’s attention span. It’s hard to qualify how much Frank Ocean means to people. A girl on TikTok cried into her mom’s arms after he canceled his second-week Coachella performance. His lyrics are some of the saddest and most beautiful captions on Instagram, and he got Brad Pitt through his divorce. Many of us have fond and heartbreaking memories of listen-

Unfortunately for fans at home, Ocean vetoed the livestream of his performance last minute. At first, fans were disappointed in the show because it was an hour late. Masked figures appeared on stage walking in circles. Later, it was revealed an ice skating rink and routine were scrapped by Ocean hours before his set.

Fourth-year Johnny Hershmann found the singer’s performance disappointing. “A lot of people most likely bought tickets just to see him and to have him and the concert [late] must really suck.”

In the middle of the show, a DJ played Frank Ocean remixes for 10 minutes while the man himself hung out on-stage. There were minutes of silence between songs and Ocean was hard to see apart from the jumbotron. That would all be fine, but fans wanted as much of the singer as possible. Six years since his last performance, a bad first impression made it easy for people to hate on the weird and rougher parts of the set. When he was

singing his songs though, it was mesmerizing.

Days after the controversial set it was announced Ocean would not be returning for Coachella’s second weekend due to a leg injury.

Ocean left thousands standing in the desert for an hour like some cacti, and let down a lot more people around the globe. Initially confirmed to headline months before his brother passed in 2020, memories with his late sibling at Coachella complicated things emotionally.

Fourth-year Devon Bly thought Ocean was being neglectful of his job. “I understand that he had a significant loss of a family member, but these famous musicians/celebrities have such a profound privilege when it comes to taking time off. Like if my brother died tomorrow, I wouldn’t have years to wallow and grieve, I would have to immediately get back to work.”

In hindsight, it’s clear Frank should not have headlined Coachella in 2023, but he did, so he should have taken the opportunity to redeem him-

self on the second weekend.

In a 2017 leaked interview Ocean, speaking on getting through a creative rut said, “If you’re gonna be here, you gotta keep moving, ya gotta try, ya know. Momentum helps with that.” Six years since his last show left zero momentum though, and headlining a massive music festival is an overwhelming way to re-enter live performance, especially for a recluse with a fractured leg.

Fan expectations and Ocean’s enig matic presentation make some forget he’s human. Sometimes humans lie, sometimes they have to motivate themselves to keep going, and sometimes they fail.

Frank Ocean failed expectations for his set, but the world is not as black-and-white as success or failure. A lot of people praised the performance and Ocean created great memories for many.

Ultimately, Frank did deliver on how he’s advertised his shows since his 2011 tour PSA video. “Fun, thought-provoking, and um… emotionally stirring.”

Ticket resellers are ruining concerts for actual fans

JAKE RENTERIA STAFF WRITER

Being located only an hour from the Bay Area, Sonoma State students find it is easy to make trips to see their favorite artists in concert. Oakland, San Francisco and even Sacramento play host to a variety of concerts from stadium tours to small venues. However, with rising ticket prices and the secondary ticket market taking advantage of marked up resale prices. It has become harder than ever for college students to afford and attend these shows.

If you are buying tickets online, chances are you are paying much more than the original ticket price. This is due to ticket resellers taking over the market and causing significant markups for most events. The biggest example of just how much of a problem this has become for concert goers is the ever so popular Taylor Swift. If you want to attend her Eras Tour show at Levi Stadium in August, even the farthest back nosebleeds will run you $1,084 a person after fees according to the ticket selling website StubHub.

This is because most of the cheaper tickets were sold for face value when they were released, which caused a flurry of issues on its own if you were trying to get them for yourself. With most people not able to get them the first time, the only tickets available become ones people, possibly not even fans, selling their tickets for hundreds of dollars more than they got it, strictly to make a profit. These

resellers are buying out tickets with no intention of attending the event. This is morally wrong and not how these websites were originally meant to be used. This process has become more of a business and caters less to the real fans who want to see their favorite singer perform.

When asked about the steep price for the Eras Tour tickets, Junior Nicole Rodriguez said, “Yes, I think that is way too much for tickets. I remember Taylor Swift was outraged when she found out just how much some of her tickets were going for.”

After the whole Taylor Swift situation, the ticket selling company Ticketmaster urged Congress to help give artists control over third-party ticket sales. Which would decrease the surging prices that we see now. This has always been an issue with sports or any event that requires tickets. The people with more financial wealth will always have the upper hand,

that’s just life. Swift’s tour prices just reminds us how dramatic it can be and why there should be more rules put in place to lower the prices.

“It makes it difficult for people to support artists when they are willing to spend money to go to their shows and buy merchandise and such, but don’t end up going at all because of the ticket prices. It doesn’t allow true fans to be able to go to the concerts,” said Rodriguez.

Whether you attribute it to inflation, resellers or the fact that most activities in the Bay Area are pretty expensive. There is no denying that concert prices are just too high for the average college student to afford. This trend with ticket prices doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. There needs to be more regulations put on the industry so that prices can come down and the real fans won’t get priced out.

STAFF WRITER KATHLEEN MOOTZ

Police become harder to spot amid costly Tesla upgrade

continued from pg. 1

Sonoma State is also planning to expand their fleet with an electric vehicle of their own.

SSU Police Chief Nader Oweis said, “We are currently exploring electric vehicles for the Sonoma State Police Department, and even spoke with a manufacturer last week about what it would take in the future to utilize them as police vehicles.”

Oweis said that the department currently has a hybrid police vehicle in the fleet, and are analyzing the purchase of additional hybrids in the short term, until they are ready for fully electric vehicles. He acknowledged that there are infrastructure needs for charging stations, which is why the police department has begun to explore grants to fund their needs.

“Plus, with the new solar project about to start, we want to be mindful of how to integrate with this project too in order to maximize our sustainability efforts,” said Oweis. “Obviously, there is still some work to do before any final decisions are made, but our goal is to get to electrical vehicles in the next few years. And, this isn’t just for police vehicles but all vehicles owned by the University.”

Students such as second year Samantha Miravillo and Jenni Bazteriullo welcome the opportunity of an electric vehicle.

Miravillo said, “I think it’s a pretty cool idea for being sustainable. If they can somehow make the funds for it then I don’t see why it’d be a problem.”

Bazteriullo said that switching into electric cars would be worth it and a good investment, not only for the school but for the environment as well. “With the [recent] celebration of Earth Day, I think it’s definitely a good idea. Less gas, less costs, and less problems. More importantly, less pollution!”

Other students such as third year students Roy DePuente and Katalia Gomez agree that electric vehicles would help the environment, but are skeptical as to how the department would acquire it.

“As long as they purchase the vehicles honestly without touching student tuition, then sure, why not?” said DePuente. “Seeing those kinds of vehicles on campus would be pretty dope.”

Gomez said that seeing Teslas driving around campus would be ‘off-putting.’

“Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s neat wanting to switch to electric cars. If they ended up using Teslas though, it’d be pretty weird. Those are ridiculously expensive,” Gomez

Cultural significance emphasized for Eel River

continued from pg. 1

within California, supporting a wide and assorted array of native fish species, by part thanks to the high elevation and cool waters of the Eel River’s headwaters.

The reason behind the Eel River’s place within the American Rivers’ List has to do with the construction of the Scott and Cape Horn Dams in 1922 and 1908 respectively, as a part of the Porter Valley Project. Both dams divert water from the Eel River towards the Russian River down south and have been linked towards the delayed recovery of multiple critically endangered fish species. These include federally protected species, as well as habitat destruction and environmental pollution, and the loss of culturally and economically significant fish runs for indigenous communities. Recovering fish populations have also taken a heavy blow. The dams completely block native fish migration patterns and access to spawning grounds, such as 89 miles of Chinook salmon and 288 miles of steelhead trout spawning habitat, both of which have been blocked off by the dams.

The dams impact not just the native wildlife and surrounding habitat, but also affects multiple local tribal nations and indigenous communities. The Eel River has long been the ancestral homeland of several indigenous peoples, including the Yuki, Wailaki, Sinkyone, Wiyot, Catho, Pomo, Lassik, and Nongatl, as well as other nations that were forcibly relocated to the area during the early 20th century. Many of these peoples continue to live alongside the river and the surrounding areas, as well as maintaining the river’s health, as it holds massive cultural significance, and is also used for sustenance.

In addition to environmental effects, there have also been numerous safety concerns surrounding the two over 100 year-old dams. Scott Dam is one of the 1,680 dams across the U.S.A that have been treated as a high hazard facility, meaning that loss of life is possible in the event of dam failure, which is not too far from reality, given that California is known for being a well known hotbed for seismic activity. On March 16, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced that Scott Dam’s spillway gates will be open going forward, starting this spring, due to the potential and devastating outcomes for downstream communities, especially when the impounded Lake Pillsbury reservoir is at full capacity.

Because of the problems presented, PG&E planned to decommission the Porter Valley Project in July 2022, surrendering their license to operate both dams. Even with this massive opportunity, based on American River’s list, the decommission and removal process is becoming a slow one. According to American Rivers, the next steps PG&E must take to restore the Eel River and its communities include “removing both dams, repairing the damage they have caused, and ensuring the safety of downstream communities. They must also take immediate steps to reduce the impacts to already struggling fish populations caused by the current operation of the dams.’’ American Rivers also says if PG&E is unwilling to commit, the Federal Energy and Regulation Commission (FERC) should hold them accountable and further request the full removal of Scott and Cape Horn.

In addition, the removal of both dams would result in the Eel River becoming California’s longest free-flowing river.

However, these calls to action do not remain unopposed, mainly from residents who rely upon the Russian River watershed. Even though urban water providers such as Sonoma Water will still have access to the same water if the plans go through and the water is diverted towards Lake Mendocino, people who still rely on the Russian River could expect to lose their right to withdraw from the Russian River for the time being. The low water flow also means the temporary suspension of an agreement on Russian River water sharing agreement, which permitted participants with older “senior” water rights to share water allotments with those whose rights have been lost. In addition, there is not enough water in the system for people to share their own water supplies, let alone supply themselves.

Sexual assault hits close to home on Denim Day

continued from pg. 1

Rohnert Park has neighborhoods divided into sections. According to Neighborhood Scout, the section where the crime took place is the second safest in Rohnert Park. No matter where you reside, attempted assault is always possible.

If anyone has been a victim of sexual assault, SSU states, “You are not alone. Qualified, caring, confidential help is available on-campus and in the community. Sexual assault can happen to anyone of any gender, age, or circumstance.” The Student Health Center can be reached at (707) 664-2921, as well as Counseling and Psychological Services at (707) 664-2153.

COURTESY// Rohnert Park City Data Rohnert Park F section neighborhood outlined in red above is where the assault occured.

not surprised with recent shooting of Ralph Yarl

MARIAH FORSTER STAFF WRITER

Ralph Yarl is finally home after what should have been a simple misunderstanding, turned into a nightmare.

Yarl, who is 16-years-old, was just doing what his mother asked him to do, which was to pick up his twin brothers from someone’s house. Little did Yarl and his mother know that he would have to run for his life after being shot twice for knocking at the wrong door.

CNN has reported that Yarl’s attorneys stated that while he is out of the hospital, a long road to recovery lies ahead for the 16 year old. CNN shared an Instagram post by Shaun King, the spokesperson for Yarl’s family, with the caption “He’s home and looks great. Ralph is a WALKING MIRACLE with a head of steel…Had the bullet hit his head a fraction of an inch in any other direction he would probably be dead right now.”

Yarl’s siblings were at 115th Terrace in Kansas City Missouri. He mistakenly went to 115th Street, where the suspect, Andrew D. Lester lived. When Yarl knocked on the door, Lester was waiting for him with a 32-caliber revolver, stated NPR journalist, A Martinez.

According to Yarl, Lester said to him through his glass front door “Don’t come around here” and then shot him. A bullet to the head wasn’t enough for Lester. While Yarl was on the ground, Lester shot him again, this time in the arm. Lester told police that Yarl was trying to open the glass door. When he saw that Yarl was a young Black man, he stated he was “scared to death.”

Chance Lujan, a third year history student is not surprised that Lester said he was frightened when seeing Yarl. “It’s common for Black boys to be seen as men, take Tamir Rice for an example.”

Lester’s grandson, Klint Ludwig told CNN news that he wasn’t shocked by what Lester did. “The warning signs were there…I believe he holds racist tendencies and beliefs.” KMBC reported that Ludwig stays away from his grandfather because of his racist views. While Ludwig believes there was a racial motive behind his grandfather’s actions, his older brother Daniel reportedly denied that race was a factor, according to CNN.

Lester is being charged with assault in first degree and armed criminal action, but not for a hate crime.

Alice Tikoibau, fourth year sociology major, sees that what happened with Yarl is similar to what happened with Emmit Till in the 1950s. “It’s all historically accurate, a white woman was saying Till was whistling at her and felt threatened… but he was a young Black boy.” Said Tikoibau. “It’s not a surprise that he would lie and say Yarl was advancing at him.”

Zachary Thompson, who is the prosecutor of Clay County, states that while Lester is not being faced with ‘Hate Crime’ charges, there was “a racial component to this case.”

Tikoibau stated that there is no way to deny Lester’s actions were racially motivated. “If you see someone over another complex and you feel fear…that’s a problem.”

According to Thompson, Lester is not being charged with a hate crime because it would hold less weight than an assault charge in the criminal justice system. He explained that in Missouri, hate crimes are a lower level of felony and that charging Lester more than once could be considered double jeopardy.

“I definitely think it should be considered a hate crime on top of the assault charges.” Said Lujan. “The fact that he shot through a glass door furthers that the suspect took race into account.”

Many

Arts & Entertainment 5

Sonoma State’s Instrumental Repertory Recital

the site that showed the program for the afternoon’s pieces.

About 15 minutes prior to the performance’s begin ning, several students were already in Schroeder. There was a lot of chatter but when it hit 1 p.m., there was complete silence. A few more students showed up late but remained silent when coming in. The lights went dim and the stage lights came on.

forward and share music with kids who may need it.”

The marimba was pulled off stage after the first performance. After each piece, the lights would go dim and the stage lights would come on to introduce the next performer.

On Wednesday, April 19th from 1-2 p.m., SSU had its Instrumental Repertory recital in Schroeder Hall where music majors came together to listen and perform musical pieces. Instrumental Repertory happens every week but the recital only happens two to three times a semester. Students were asked to put their names on the sign-in sheet if in the class to get participation points. There was also a QR code at the desk upon entering the building that led attendees to

Charlie Gomez and Colin Bartlett opened the recital by playing a short piece on the marimba. Charlie Gomez, a junior and music education major, plays percussion instruments such as marimbas, xylophones, timpani, etc. He has performed in this type of recital before along with other larger recitals that involve everyone. Gomez explained what Instrumental Rep is. “It’s usually a class where we students have the opportunity to perform for our peers and receive feedback. Most of the time, Marilyn Thompson, our professor for the class brings in professional musicians from our own adjunct faculty to members of the San Francisco Symphony to give us feedback on our performance.” Gomez has a strong passion for music and wanted to share a little bit about that. “To me, music has always been there.” Gomez grew up around a family of musicians and music lovers. “It’s part of how we communicate with each other and sits at the center of our best memories,” Gomez said. “Music has done a lot of good for me, and now I want to pay it

The following performance began with Marilyn Thompson the piano teacher and instrumental accompanist who also runs the class, playing on the piano. Alexander Brown performed with Thompson but on trumpet. This song was a longer piece and was accompanied by a loud round of applause from the audience.

Thompson came out again to play on the piano for the next piece with Hunter Richison on the trombone. Richison gave a summary about the piece he played called “Ages 6 and 15” by Susan Mutter which describes how at six the child is basically carefree and at fifteen more rebellious and adventurous, through musical notes. Richison was very passionate about this piece as he moved his body with the rhythm.

There were eight more performances in the after noon, each player passionate about their music and instrument. Aja Gianola who sang mezzo-soprano and Hikaru Hallberg who played the piano got a huge round of applause on their pieces of “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man of Mine” and “Ride on, King Jesus.” Hikaru Hallberg ended the recital with a solo on the piano.

Jazz Forum welcomes a Brazilian jazz band

Is there any better way to spend class time other than listening to live music? On April 19, the Jazz Forum held an open event in which students were welcomed to sit in and listen to live Brazilian jazz. The event was hosted in Schroeder Hall where the Jazz Forum class is taught. It was free to attend and didn’t require a ticket to attend. The musicians playing were Edu Ribero on the drums, Noah Garabedian on the bass, and Vinicius Gomes on the guitar who would be playing Brazilian Jazz. The event officially began at 1 p.m. and ended a little after 2 p.m.

Upon entering the classroom where the event took place you could see a crowd of around 40 seated students. Each student had a chair to sit in which was arranged in a half circle surrounding the three performers. The event officially began with each musician introducing themselves and giving some information about themselves as well as thanking everyone who made it

out. Edu Ribero and Vinicius Gomes are from Brazil and on tour in America. After those interesting facts about the performers, they started playing. Their first song was a smooth soulful piece that had great guitar sections from Gomes which were elevated by Garabedian’s bass and fun drumming from Ribero. As they played, the head bobbing from students clearly enjoying the music seemed to be contagious and soon most of the room seemed to be doing it.

The students that were able to attend this performance mentioned how fun it was to hear this unique type of music. David Curran, a second-year biology major said, “I haven’t really heard anything like it before I’m not into jazz so this is my first time hearing it.” In between songs Ribero, Gomes, and Garabedian would teach the audience about the unique rhythm that Brazilian Jazz can have by having everyone in the audience clap along with them. Some like Aaron Daniels, a first-

year business major, expressed how much he enjoyed it, “My favorite part of the whole thing was when we all clapped along and got to see how complex the rhythm of those songs were.”

Jazz Forum is a class that all jazz studies majors must attend so at times it could be hard for students from other majors to understand what was being talked about. Leah Nelson, a second-year business major said, “I couldn’t understand all the details they were talking about but I still really enjoyed the songs they got to play for us.” Luckily the musicians did ask if everyone was a music major and tried to make concepts more understandable to those in attendance that were not familiar with the intricacies of music composition. Although this was not an official concert it would be great to hear these great musicians play in the Green Music Center where more students would be able to experience an amazing performance.

‘Open Mic Night’ in the Alumni Amphitheater

abilities, poems, and whatever their hearts desired, such as stand-up comedy.

Alex Boyle, who is a sophomore mathematics major who runs for the school’s distance running teams, attended the event and recited two poems. Boyle really enjoyed the night as a whole and her favorite part was getting to see the talents and creativity of everyone else that performed. When talking with the STAR about poetry, she said really enjoys the diversity and creativity of poems as well as having the power to express so much in so many ways.

Boyle also emphasized how poetry allows her to unravel some of the craziness that she feels while being able to express it for others. When asked about what she takes away from performing in front of an audience she said, “Performing gave me the opportunity to put myself out there and step outside of my comfort zone.” She also noted how it made her feel confident and part of a community, even if it was just for a brief moment.

ALEC PADILLA STAFF WRITER

This past Thursday at the Alumni Amphitheater, students gathered for Open Mic Night which was hosted by ASP (Associated Student Productions). There in the amphitheater, people shared their musical

Another student, who performed an array of songs, was singer Chris Daniels. He is a junior who recently transferred to Sonoma State. Daniels practices his singing at home as well as performing here and there and he hopes to join the school choir next semester. Aside from his practices, he likes the open mic nights as they serve as a great outlet for him to perform for other people. Daniels conversed

with the STAR about the influence of public performances and he noted how it has helped him greatly in many other aspects of his life such as public speaking, effective communication, and performance etiquette. He really enjoyed performing in front of the tight-knit group and said “Something I like with smaller, more intimate crowds is that we kind of have that sense of comradery.” Daniels’s music filled the crowd with great vibes and visible serotonin. Asides from serenading the listeners, he engaged everyone by having them sing at certain parts to enhance the music which was a really nice touch.

Senior psychology major Sara Wenger was one of the many people in the audience. This was her first time attending the open mic event and she talked about how she enjoyed the positive and supportive atmosphere of the event. Wenger hit the nail on the head with this observation as no matter how each person performed, they were met with roaring cheers and widespread applause. Wenger also said, “It was fun to see everyone support the performers and to see everyone enjoy themselves.”

ASP hosts two of these Open Mic Nights per semester and they have a list of activities for students to partake in. Associated Students (AS) host tabling each Tuesday near the student center where they inform students about their activities as well as hand out postcards that contain monthly event schedules.

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STAR // Dennae Taylor

Seawolves enjoy the participants at Open Mic Night on April 13.

STAR // Kylie Perry

A performance during the Instrumental Repertory Recital.

‘Out of This World’ in The Kitchens

ment The Kitchens had many students try a variety of decorative space-themed food, hang out with fellow seawolves, and try to win prizes like a star projector and moon lamp. With every food station there are fun facts about the galaxy keeping everyone informed.

A section of the Kitchens was decorated with galaxy tablecloths, space balloons and an astronaut cutout version of Harry Styles. Fellow students enjoyed The Kitchens like fourth year Cassidy Korgan, GEP(Geography, Environment, and Planning) major. She said, “I think the ‘Out of the World’ theme is super creative and fun.” A theme like this is not something you see every day and makes others want to join and have fun in The Kitchens as well.

The Kitchens host many events throughout the year so students can come and try something new. Kacey Bates, whose favorite theme at The Kitchens was pajama themed, said “I really wanted to get in on this themed dinner and see what kind of food they have.” There were many different dishes and the ‘Out of this World’ was inclusive to students who may want to choose a more vegan option. Bates encourages students to come and try new foods that The Kitchens provides.

really surprised to see something with truffle in it on the menu, and thought it was really cool to see it from a (relatively) local area. Just a little extra to something simple can really go a long way.”

Gustavo Perez, culinary assistant manager partnered with Student Involvement and the science department, especially with a teacher named Thomas Target, to get advice on how The Kitchens should be decorated. Perez said, “Over by the Salad Bar we have the star maps where you can learn the different sizes of stars and their temperatures. There were a lot of fun facts that came from him.” The Kitchens want to keep up with college students and pay attention to detail. Perez continues, “We try to be informed because we are working with college students and they will see if we mess up.” With all this delicious food stationed everywhere, it seemed that the dessert ice cream spaceships were the most popular with the students.

On April 20, The Kitchens at Sonoma State had a themed dinner called “Out of This World,” or some might describe it as a space theme.’ With the help of Student Involvement and the science depart-

JUSTIN SIMPSON STAFF WRITER

In honor of the theme, the Kitchens had many dishes designed in each section. For example, Pizza Planet, Mission to Mars, Captain EO’s Space Junk Buffet, Space Station Deli, etc… Korgans favorite meal was the Tremor Burger. Korgan also said, “I was

Student Involvement workers Libby Sarto and Hailey Glass partnered with The Kitchens to help with activities, decor and some games. Glass said, “We are the organization on campus that manages all the clubs and sorority life.” If a student wanted to make a club, Student Involvement would help. They are located on the second floor of the Student Center across from the HUB. Make sure to keep up with student events at getinvolved.sonoma.edu or follow their instagram @ssu.studentinvolvement.

Sustainable Grocery Bingo at W&B

Students got to taste sweet victory at the latest Grocery Bingo Night at the Student Center. This time round, the theme was Sustainable Grocery Bingo, with participants competing to win various utilities such as tupperware and water bottles. Residential Advisors Jonathan Werner and Mia Caparaz ran the games, calling out numbers with the excited crowd on the edge of their seats.

The atmosphere was vibrant and welcoming with about 30 to 40 students involved. Werner described the turnout as, “really good for us, the most we ever got was around 80 for Grocery Bingo.” Grocery Bingo is the most popular variant of Bingo that happens; with roughly three to four events of a variety of different types taking place every week on campus. This one showcased the fun yet competitive environment that all students are welcomed to participate in.

Participants left with smiles on their faces, as Caparaz put it, “people were really having a lot of fun.” Nineteen prizes in total were given out, so roughly half of everybody who went came home with something free. The Women’s Track and Field team came out in numbers to try and see what they could win. Track and Field Jumper and Thrower Kathryn Rust came away with a water filter and a water bottle. She said “It was a great feeling… I was so excited… And won a water bottle!” Another Track and Field com-

petitor Mia Cecilo, explained how she came to find out about the event and proceeded to get her teammates to tag along. Cecilio explained how “I saw it on the screen in the dining hall… I just saw bingo and I knew there would be free prizes.”

Free prizes there were indeed. Also on the Track and Field team, Aliyah Ford was another lucky con testant; walking away with some free snack bags for her trouble. Ford said “I live far but still I am going to use them [the snack bags] to steal from my friends when I visit.” Aliyah would not be the last track and field member to get rewarded for their participation. Lily Garcia found herself rewarded in a different way. As Garcia put it, “I did not win anything but I was very happy for everyone else and Kathryn won the Brita (water filter) and we are going to be roommates next year so that is going to come in clutch.”

Many other participants were attending with their friend groups or getting to know some formally ran dom fellow students. The environment was a breed ing ground for enriching and wholesome fun that had even those unlucky enough to not have won prizes happy to have come at all. It serves as a great alter native to a night-in and gives many students a chance to win items that are often difficult to find the funds for. Whether it is simply your groceries or it is the tools you need to cook them up, Grocery Bingo night

might be your best bet for a shot at some free stuff that could make your college life just a little easier.

Seawolves get moving with Jazzercise

SSU students have the opportunity to participate in one of the six free group fitness classes offered in the Recreation Center this semester. Jazzercise is one of them and is offered every Wednesday from 5 to 6 p.m. and is open to all fitness levels.

According to the campus Rec on the SSU website “Jazzercise is a dance-based full-body workout, blending dance with pilates, yoga, kickboxing, and strength training. Each class incorporates cardio and strength training, set to top 40 music”.

Laura Krier, the instructor of the class, has been practicing Jazzercise for 14 years and decided last year to become an instructor. After teaching three classes last semester, she now has a slot every week on campus but also teaches in Sebastopol and Santa Rosa.

According to the Jazzercise website, the movement that was created in California got “so popular that it created a fitness revolution.” They follow by saying “It’s true that we were the original dance party work-

Molly Clemons, who majored in environmental studies says that she attends this class whenever she can as well as other classes offered in the Rec Center.

These classes are important for Clemons as she states “I mostly come to manage my stress, I am a very anxious person with a lot of energy and need movement which helps me regulate my emotions.”

According to Krier there is a core group that is always here and sometimes up to 12 students join the class which makes it ideal to have space to move.

Azucena Ferrusca, a SSU student in communications came for the first time last Wednesday. She hadn’t heard about the class prior to joining, she originally planned on going to the gym where she goes every day but because it was full, she was able to discover the class that was in progress.

Ferrusca is planning on coming again as she was happy with her experience, “I really liked it especially

the abs part, I don’t think I would have done any on my own but with this class I did exercise that I normally don’t do”.

Clemons also relates a positive experience as she states, “I really like this class, it is really nice to move around especially since this class moves at a faster place.”

According to the SSU website, “These classes are a great way to stay active, have fun and meet new people. Group Fitness classes are offered during the academic school year and are FREE for students and members.”

The Jazzercise website informs that their participants usually “burn up to 800 calories per class” which makes it the perfect fun cardio for any seawolves seeking to find their new favorite group class activities. And when they ask why their participants stay, the Jazzercise website answers, “We keep it fresh so you never plateau and never get bored.”

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CÉLIA ALINE AMARAL STAFF WRITER out.”

STAR // Dennae Taylor

One of the several vegan options to eat at the themed dinner.

STAR // Zachary Gonzales

The Track and Field team posing with their prizes.

Golf shows out at CCAA Championship

is ultimately my love for the sport itself and the people I get to play with,” she mentioned when asked what keeps her playing after so many years. Gutman also mentioned that the communal aspect of golf deserves credit for her love of the sport since it’s given her so many opportunities to get to know the women around her in tournaments.

Gutman said that the program has taught her the true value of teamwork, “Having a strong team to support you in your efforts is important.” Golf may be an individual sport considering it’s oneon-one aspect, but having a group that looks out for you as if they’re a second family is essential to a player’s success in this sport.

nities that life throws at him. Instead of having a fast-paced, “go-go-go” type of mindset, it’s beneficial to look forward to the small things in life. “Appreciating a movie or a show has been an example of how a little downtime can go a long way,” he said. Huang participated in his first collegiate-level tournament earlier this year and he found himself breaking out with a double-digit under par finish.

As Spring grows near, the Sonoma State University Men’s Golf team finished fifth in last week’s CCAA Championship (California Collegiate Athletic Association). The Women’s team had a bittersweet finish, ending the championship in a tie with Cal State Los Angeles for fourth place. Unfortunately, that brings the women’s season to a close while the men’s team looks ahead to NCAA West Regionals.

SSU freshman Talia Gutman made program history with the best individual finish when she placed second overall at the championship tournament. Prior to Gutman’s incredible performance, former Seawolf Samantha Cabung finished in a tie for third in last year’s conference championships.

Gutman picked up the clubs when she was only seven and has been playing ever since. “What keeps me going

Sophomore Colin Huang finished tenth individually for the Men’s team in last week’s CCAA Championship. Huang talked about the plenty of highs and a fair share of lows experienced this season, mentioning that the travel team had one win during the regular season. Having said that, “We are excited to showcase our talent during regionals in hopes of making a push toward a national championship.”

Huang has also learned the importance in appreciating all the opportu-

The head coach of the Golf program Valentine Verhunce has been with SSU for the last two decades. “I am learning more from them than they are from me,” he mentioned when asked about what he enjoys most about coaching. Verhunce also stated that having good communication between coaches and players is what helps all of them reach their highest potential, giving them great satisfaction.

The women’s golf team fell short in continuing on to regionals, but Gutman is hoping she can be accepted to go as an individual. Coach Verhunce and the Men’s team still await their seeding for the 2023 NCAA West Regional, hosted by SSU on their home course in Rohnert Park, the Foxtail Golf Club. The tournament is slated to start in few weeks on May 11.

Seawolves fall short to Cougars in series

The Sonoma State Baseball team’s season is coming down to the wire as they are hunting towards making the playoffs. This past weekend the Seawolves faced off against California State University San Marcos for a four game series.

During the home opener on Friday, April 21, the action was packed as the

game went on for nearly four hours and ended in the eleventh inning. SSU’s offense started early with three hits in the first two innings leading to a quick pair of runs to make it 2-0.

Junior right hander Nick Kamages started the game and battled through four hard innings only allowing one run, but in the fifth he ran into trouble. The Cougars stayed alive by hitting two singles and reaching on an error allowing them to score and tie the game. They scored two more that inning, forcing Kamages out of the game and making it 4-2. Sophomore Chase Banks came in to get the next batter to fly out and end the rally.

The offense was not done for Sonoma as they picked Kamages up in the bottom half with four runs to retake the lead, 6-4. Kenny Decille got the scoring started with his third homer of the season. A string of hits and walks led Italian transfer student Daniel Monti to clear the bases earning his seventh and eighth RBI.

Banks would go on to pitch three scoreless innings but in the ninth a pair of singles and a two out walk would load the bases for San Marcos. The next batter jumped on the first pitch, hitting it down the left field line, scoring two runners to force the extra innings. Sonoma States bats fell asleep and the Cougars took advantage.

Sonoma started the eleventh with a walk and an error on a sacrifice bunt. Another sac bunt was retired but moved the runners into scoring position. A line out to center would score one run and a single to right would score another. Sonoma fought until the last pitch but ended up losing 8-6.

“The team and I share the same challenges, those include the facts that we are not currently producing at the level we would like to. Falling short at the moment of putting runs together when we need to. We are beating ourselves. We are a good team with great players and we are going to stick to our game plan to finish strong,” said third

baseman Niko Tejada.

The following games were a double-header resulting in a split on the day. Sonoma State fired back with a 12-hit, 9-run performance to take game one 9-3. Decille and Chris Ortiz both had an outstanding game. Decille earned himself a three-run double in the second inning and three-run home run from Ortiz in the fifth inning to break things open. In game two the Seawolves faced off against the Cougars ace, Pat Macdonald Jr. only salvaging one run off of six hits to fall 3-1 to conclude Saturday’s games.

On the final day of games Sonoma would drop the series losing the finale 3-0. Senior right hander Jake Dent had a career performance pitching a strong seven innings only allowing two runs and striking out four. San Marcos’ deep bullpen kept Sonoma’s offense at bay, leaving seven Seawolves on base and only allowing seven hits. Sonoma State falls to a 15-21 overall and 9-19 in CCAA play.

Noma LAX is headed to the Final Four

The Sonoma State Men’s lacrosse club team has reached the final four of the playoffs after Santa Clara University forfeited the first round. The game will take place on Saturday in the south bay at Los Gatos High School, against Cal Poly, SLO.

SSU was originally scheduled to play this past Saturday on campus at Beaujolais Field against Santa Clara University. However, SCU was forced to forfeit the game due to their players having “prior recreational commitments.”

The game was then supposed to be played against Stanford as a stand-in. But because Stanford had failed to qualify for the playoffs, their season had ended and they could not get all their players together on short notice. This led to a complete cancellation of the first round, meaning the Seawolves advanced to take on Cal Poly in the CCAA semi-final tournament weekend.

Cal Poly SLO is currently ranked #17 in the MCLA Coaches Poll in Division I club lacrosse, with a 7-5 record this season and a 3-4 away record. Similarly, The Seawolves’ current record stands at 7-6 with three wins and four losses away

from home.

The Mustangs and Seawolves appear to be evenly matched heading into this weekend. With the teams meeting in the south bay, both teams will be disadvantaged playing away from home.

Junior Seawolf, Danny Beglin says that despite the complicated start to the playoffs, the team’s mentality against Cal Poly is the same, “We need to do whatever it takes to keep moving forward because if we lose we’re done. And so is everything we’ve worked so hard to achieve this year.”

Beglin believes that one of the major accomplishments this year has been the team’s growth as a family. He said, “Since the start of this year our main theme has been building not just a team but a family. The bond we’ve created with each other is something truly unbreakable and has been evident throughout our season. And we will continue to grow as a team and family until the final whistle of this year blows.”

Senior Michael Trujillo echoed the same sentiment, highlighting the

team’s chemistry, “We are an integrated team more than ever. Every player is on the same page, and the feeling of brotherhood is evident.”

Trujillo continued, “The team has grown enormously since the beginning of the season. We play to each other’s strengths more than ever and pick each other up when someone waivers. We have formed a new work ethic and cohesive community.

Trujillo believes that the team’s key to beating Cal Poly will be the Sea-

wolves’ ability to play a full four quarters, being able to keep possession, and play their style of lacrosse.

Beglin told us that the team’s underdog mentality has been a strength during the regular season and will continue to help them in the playoffs. He said, “Everyone has counted us out from the start. Every team we’ve played has gone in expecting to beat us. And time and time again we’ve proved people wrong. The fact we’ve been counted out has just driven us more.”

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COOPER PERRY STAFF WRITER

TITO FUENTES STAFF WRITER

COURTESY// Will MacNeil Talia Gutman lining up a putt during the CCAA championship.

COURTESY// Kieran Friedman Daniel Beglin dodging on Michael Trujillo down the right alley.

COURTESY// Justin Ferrari Sean Pauly fighting hard during his at-bat.

COURTESY// Will MacNeil Colin Huang shot 2-under-par 214 for the championship.

Open Mic Night at the Alumni Amphitheater

STAR // Dennae Taylor

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