Spring 2023, Issue 2

Sonoma State celebrates Black History Month

Commemoration and celebration are prevalent themes for this year’s Black History Month, and students are excited to celebrate black joy and posi tivity on campus.

Black History Month began on Wed. Feb. 1 and will continue to be cel ebrated until Wed., March 1. Black History Month commemorates and cel ebrates African Americans and their achievements throughout U.S. history.

Sonoma State University kicked off Black History Month last week with events on and off campus. A fundraising event was held at Chipotle in Down town Rohnert Park on Wed. Feb. 8. The event lasted from 5-9 p.m., with a percentage of proceeds going to the Black Student Union at SSU. Students also got the chance to celebrate with live music and food at the Black Student Union and Vibes block party on Fri. Feb. 10, which took place at the Sauvi gnon Village quad. The BSU also hosted a Super Bowl watch party on Sun. Feb. 12 at the HUB Cultural Center.

One of the events hosted by the HUB Cultural Center took place last week on Tues. Feb. 7, at the SSU Lakes, where students and faculty honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event lasted from noon until 1 p.m.

This is the first year that the event has been held.

Guest speakers included Dr. Mike Ezra, professor and department chair for American Multicultural Studies, Black Student Union Co-President Amanda Luckett, and Tramaine Austin-Dillon, interim director of Sonoma State’s mul ticultural center and manager in the office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Austin-Dillon said, “As Interim Director of the HUB Cultural Center, we make sure to start with the students and our Center values. With this particular event we connected with the Black Student Union and asked them how they wanted to kick off Black History Month.”

see BLACK HISTORY MONTH on pg. 4

Students targeted in Bitcoin, Exchange Bank scams

TheSonoma State Police Department was recently made aware of a scam targeting SSU students. At least two students have come forward so far as victims of this particular scam. According to SSU Chief of Police, Nader Oweis, Exchange Bank contacted the police department to inform them of this ongoing scam. This operation targets students through phone calls and email, impersonating the Sonoma State Employment department, which does not exist. This scam attempts to employ students to test Bitcoin machines in the area. The scammers send a fraudulent check for the student to deposit. Once it is deposited, they are told to withdraw the money and take it to the Bitcoin machine. They then ask the student to send the transaction receipt, which lets the scammers access their bank account.

COURTESY// Canva.com

Earthquakes in Turkey raise concern for SSU

OLIVIA KEELER STAFF WRITER

More than 23,000 are dead and tens of thousands are injured after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria on Monday, Feb. 6. Could an earthquake of the same magnitude affect Sonoma State?

Rescue teams are still trying to recover survivors and bodies in the middle of destroyed cities. Videos are being spread around social media showing the reality of the rescue process.

Keegan Chipman, a third year business administration major, explained how she felt watching these videos,“The rescue team was screaming to see if anyone could hear them in the damage and the silence afterwards was so sad and scary,” said Chipman.

More than 380,000 people are homeless and

see TURKEY EARTHQUAKE on pg. 4

SSU accounting major, Aaron Altona said, “It seems that scams like this are becoming increasingly common nowadays, and I think that for many of the people conducting these scams, they justify it in their own minds by thinking they’re taking from people who have more money than they need, or they are just so desperate or apathetic that they don’t think about the harm they’re causing. But in reality, these scams very often target people who are in financially vulnerable periods of their lives, such as retirees who no longer have a source of income, or in this case, college students who are often hard-pressed for money and are more likely to be lured in by the promise of payment. These scams are highly predatory, and it’s very sad to see this affecting my peers.”

Similar scams will contact students with job opportunities, posing as members of a school’s faculty. They offer easy jobs with flexible hours that sound appealing to college students. When someone applies for the job, they hire them without an interview and will send a check to deposit before the student has done any work. The scammer tells their victim to purchase gift cards or supplies for their new job to be sent to the scammer. However, the check they provide ends up being fraudulent, and any money spent and sent to the employer is lost forever.

Nadine Hisse, a psychology major at SSU, told us, “It’s really unfortunate that scammers are using the institution to manipulate students who are trying to get an education.“

In order to avoid being a victim of this, it is important to do research into potential employers. Make sure that their website is professional and their contact information is legitimate. It is also essential to check what other people have said online about their experiences with the company. Emails from scammers often include grammatical errors and typos, as well as promises of being hired without an interview or payment without working first. No reputable business will include these errors or promises in its hiring process.

If you are a victim or suspect a scammer is trying to defraud you with financial loss, you can file a report by calling the Sonoma State Police Department’s non-emergency line at (707) 6644444.

Mattress! SSU’s Theatre Arts and Dance Department put on the play ‘Once Upon a Mattress.’

Jayme Blackard’s last shot secures the win over Cal State East Bay.

STAR// Kathleen Mootz

Taneesha Porter and Ashante Lacy represent the Black Student Union at the block party held on Feb. 10 in Sauvignon village.

Turkey experienced a devastating earthquake leadings to destroyed building

COOPER PERRY STAFF WRITER

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 & Health Editor

Corinne Asturias, Faculty Adviser

Staff Writers

Célia Aline Amaral, Rene Cassano, Mariah Forster, Tito Fuentes, Mia Garcia, Elias Kaplan, Olivia Keeler, Alec Padilla, Cooper Perry, Kylie Perry, Bernardo Ramos, Jake Renteria, Justin Simpson, Malia Teran, Ally Valiente, Sache Wedner

Photographers

Kathleen Mootz and Dennae Taylor

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.

Correction

In last weeks issue on page five we mistitled the Filipino Martial Arts Club.

A call for football at SSU

Onceupon a time in Sonoma State history there was a NCAC (Northern California Athletic Conference) Football Championship team. In 1991, the Sonoma State Cossacks went on to defeat the University of California, Davis 23-12 in the final to win the program’s only championship.

Very few people currently know about the football team, as its last official season was in 1996 with the team going 2-8. After that season the team was cut due to budget constraints and new Title IX regulations being put into place. The football team’s history started in 1969 but only lasted a short stint as in 1972 it was discontinued. Then again in 1980, the team was brought back again but this time as a club sport and then shortly in 1983 joined the NCAC. The team then existed for another 13 years till its demise.

Fast foward to today, it might be our love for sports here at the STAR or Super Bowl Mania taking over but we decided to dig deeper into the team. Ultimately we believe the football team should come back and even more after hearing some of the stories from former players from that 1991 championship-winning team.

Now to many, Sonoma State winning the championship in 1991 came as a surprise, some would even call it an anomaly but not to the players of that famous team, including our very own current SSU advisor Andre Bailey. Bailey was the starting running back on the team and was a focal part of the offense. We had the honor of interviewing Bailey and to say he was an integral part of this story is selling it short. Bailey is one of the most long-standing faculty members here at SSU and has been an immense part of the school’s culture.

A fundamental part of the team was its ferocious defense which was a complete team effort all around with players like Orlando Henry, Jason Drake, Sam Hernandez and Corey CheneyRice leading the way. “The practices were much harder than the games, the actual games themselves were easy man,” stated Bailey when talking about how good the team’s defense was.

According to Henry or also known as “Landy,” the defense was ranked top three in the nation and averaged four turnovers a game while only allowing 112 passing yards and 52

rushing yards in that 1991 season. “Our defense fed off big plays, we were like piranhas when you drop some meat into the water, everybody wanted to attack it,” said Henry. The team was always on their toes and never bowed down to a challenge, Bailey talked about how it felt going to other school’s homecoming games. “When we would go play homecoming games at other schools we ate their cake, it was no longer their party it was ours. Everyone on our team typically got to play and by the end of the third quarter the starters were out and the fans were chanting.”

Another reason the 1991 championship season was so special was that prior to that, UC Davis had won the past 20 championships in a row. “When we finally beat them (UC Davis) we made ESPN because they had the longest conference championship winning streak at that time,” said Henry. This meant so much to the team because the year before the team lost to UC Davis on a fumblerooski (trick play). Henry continued, “They beat us 12-7 on a trick play the previous year, so we were ready to get them back. When we beat them at Sonoma State there were over 4,000 people watching and it was like the biggest thing ever. I played with broken ribs, that’s how bad I wanted to beat them that game.”

The whole 1991 championship team is inducted into the Sonoma State Hall of Fame and will forever be remembered in the school’s history. But the stories of the team will only be remembered by those who were there to witness it or were lucky enough to hear them like we were here at the STAR. Stories like those of “Landy” and his reference to “year of the five” (wore number five) when referring to himself. Or how Bailey’s inspiration was a former All-American SSU football player, Mike Henry, and how he wanted to be just like him. These are reasons the STAR decided to write about the team, to find out the real history of the program.

The STAR believes football should make a return to our beautiful campus given how successful it was in such a short time. Football in the 90s at Sonoma State was “family” and Bailey stated it best himself, “It wasn’t just a culture of winning, it was a culture of support, all Sonoma State sports teams supported each other like a family.”

STAR // Javier Hernandez

Embrace of naturally textured hair seems long overdue

lecturer at the University of Maryland.

Tameka Elington states that African American’s hair was compared to animals by Whites. Hair was one of the many characteristics that was used to justify the belief that Blacks were inferior.

MARIAH FORSTER STAFF WRITER

Hair is one of the first features we notice about a person. In the Black community, hair is a form of expression; it is their crown.

While textured hair has become more accepted in mainstream culture, it hasn’t always been considered attractive. In fact, discrimination against textured hair can be traced back to slavery.

During slavery, Black women were forced to cut their hair or cover it to make them less attractive to male slave owners, according to Jason Nicholas,

Centuries after the end of slavery, the bias against Afro-textured hair still exists socially and systemically. If you ask any Black woman if they’ve ever felt insecure about their hair, almost all of them will answer yes.

Olivia Blades, a fourth year psychology major, remembers being teased in elementary school when she wore her hair in two big puffs. “They were just pointing and laughing at me and I cried.”

Although Blades was upset by the teasing, she credits her mother for reminding her of the truth, which is that her hair is beautiful.

“My mom told me that my hair was beautiful and that they were just jealous,” said Blades.

In 2016, Perception Institute conducted the “Good Hair” study to test implicit bias towards Afro-textured hair. The results showed that on average, white women have implicit bias towards Black women’s natural hair. The study also revealed that although all women worry about their hair, Black women experience more anxiety over their hair than white women. The anxieties that Black women have about their hair often leads them to take extreme measures to manipulate it in order to fit the “beauty standards”.

Amari Houston, second year psychology student, stated that she damaged her hair at a young age by using excessive heat and wearing sew in weaves.

Like many other Black women, these students are on an ongoing journey of embracing their natural hair.

“To be honest, I’m still learning to love my hair,” stated Taneesha Porter, fourth year sociology and women gender studies student.

Houston, who also recently started to embrace her hair, credits her relationship with God for helping her become more comfortable with her natural hair.

“In order to love yourself, you have to love every part of yourself, including your hair,” stated Houston.

Embracing hair texture looks dif ferent on everyone. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to wear your natural hair out everyday. There are many different styles those with textured hair can experiment with.

“If they want to celebrate their hair by wearing bantu Knots, let them do it,” said Blades.

“I like trying out different hairstyles with different colors that sometimes express my mood,” stated Houston.

Blades states that the first step to embracing natural hair is by learning history.

“My hair is my roots…my ancestors used their hair to escape slavery…so why not embrace it?” stated Porter.

CPR saves lives; Why are classes not offered at SSU?

do “more harm than good.”

CÉLIA ALINE AMARAL STAFF WRITER

C PR can save lives.

It is as simple as that and yet according to the American Heart Association only 15% to 30% of people experiencing a cardiac arrest received bystander help.

When students are asked if they would be willing to help in case of a cardiac emergency the answer is no longer simple. A lot of them said they would love to, but never received training and would have no idea what to do. Some mention that they would be worried to

According to firefighter paramedic Jason Patton, without having CPR performed before professionals arrive on scene “chances of survival are less than 10 percent.” This is explained by the fact that brain damage happens after only four minutes without oxygen and death can occur as fast as four minutes later. This information is provided by the American Heart Association when a person takes one of their courses but is mostly unknown by others.

Another reason for this lack of help is directly related to this lack of training as it involves the fear of legal risks. Paramedic Patton explained that it should not be a concern because there is a protection to whoever is trying to help called the “good samaritan law.”

This law is primarily put in place to encourage someone to step in during an emergency without having to fear legal problems in return. This is important because if,

for example, a rib is broken while performing chest compression, the person who is trying to save a life would not want to get in trouble for it especially since according to all health care workers, it happens often.

Knowing how to perform CPR will make those who decided to learn CPR essential assets of the Sonoma State campus but also of their community. In fact, an app has been created to link those who know how to perform those skills with those in need. It is stated on their website that “ PulsePoint Respond is a 911-connected app that can immediately inform you of emergencies occurring in your community and can request your help when CPR is needed nearby.” After talking to nearby fire agencies, as long as the program has been adopted by a local public safety agency, anybody with this app will receive an alert to provide help to someone nearby.

According to nearby public safe -

ty agencies, California is one of 10 states where CPR is not required to graduate high school. Even more surprisingly, despite the number of classes and activities offered at SSU, learning how to save life is not available for all students.

SSU offers one emergency response course (KIN 241) that is restricted to Kinesiology majors only. Offering more sections of this class and opening it to all students would allow for more SSU students to be trained in life saving first aid techniques.

As unfortunate as it is, there are o ptions for students in Sonoma County, including Rohnert Park. American Heart Association and American Red Cross both offer classes to people who want to learn basic life support, first aid or CPR. Hands-on only CPR can save lives and it is so easy to learn that even children or teens are welcome to join those classes so why not SSU students?

Seawolves offer relationship and dating advice

significant other on campus. Zimmerman comments “I love going to school with my boyfriend. It’s fun to see him around campus and know that we’re both doing our own thing yet, I can still go say ‘hi’ to him anytime.”

STAFF WRITER KYLIE PERRY

Valentine’s Day is here, and SSU students have started to make plans with their loved ones, that being their friends, family, or significant others. But, dating in college can be a lot to deal with. Trying to juggle a relationship as well as a full schedule of classes can be hard to manage. Though some SSU students seem to have it figured out.

Addison Renard and Melia Zimmerman both have a

“It’s a lot more fun and it’s nice having someone you’re super close to, to go to any given day. It makes it easier to communicate and hangout,” said Renard.

Renard’s relationship is stronger than ever because of their ability to communicate and be there for each other. “I always have someone to eat at the dining hall with and it’s really strengthened our relationship.”

Zimmerman and her boyfriend both have different majors which she really enjoys. “It’s fun to learn about his experience of school and share mine with him.”

When asked what her valentine’s plans were, Renard commented, “We are going to have a picnic

and walk around Taylor Mountain and then go to ice cream after.”

Zimmerman’s Valentine’s plans may be on a different day, but they definitely plan on doing something. “For Valentine’s day I have a late class so I’m not sure if we’re doing anything on the day of, but we found some coupons for dinner deals that we may take advantage of.”

One student that preferred to stay anonymous has been seeing someone but is not yet exclusive. Some people may feel pressured to have a date on Valentine’s day but not this student. “I have never felt pressure at all because why choose to have a day where we appreciate someone. It should be every day you should appreciate and love her.”

While some students go to school with their significant others, some manage long distance relationships.

Akela Cannon is one of these students. “Long distance is really

hard but worth it when it’s with the right person.”

Cannon offered some advice for those in long distance relationships. “Communication is really key. Dedicating time to each other whether that looks like talking on the phone or just sitting and texting and sending pictures of random things throughout the day helps to feel like we’re not so apart. Long distance is something I never thought I could do because it’s so hard to be apart from your favorite person, but when both of you are willing to make it work, it doesn’t seem so hard.”

Dating may be the last thing on many students minds as their studies take priority. But for those in relationships, or looking, it can be tricky to manage.

Cannon offered one last piece of advice, “Just let it all come naturally. Just stop searching and eventually you will find someone worth it all.”

BSU event honors Dr. King

He added that Dr. King exemplifies the idea of ‘Black Resistance,’ which is the idea that Black institutions, organizations, and individuals have the tenacity to advocate for justice. He said that the events held by the BCU seek to honor Dr. King’s history and carry forward the legacy of resistance.

“This event is imperative for the Black Community at SSU because it expresses gratitude for one of the most pivotal Black heroes and leaders that has contributed to our shared American history and culture,” Austin-Dillon said.

The main goal of the event was to dedicate time and space to honor Dr. King, as well as celebrating social change, cultural expression, and creativity.

Other students, one being India Garcia, said that celebrating Black Joy was integral for Black History Month. “It’s important to celebrate my authentic self unapologetically,” Garcia said.

‘Black Joy’ is an expression that is used to highlight positive experiences and joyful moments in different aspects in their lives, and the other lives of Black people.

“I’ll be celebrating Black History Month by going to the Block Party,” said Taneesha Porter, a student representative for the Black Student Union.

“I’m excited to attend the events and have fun.”

For more information on upcoming events celebrating Black History Month, visit diversity.sonoma.edu

Is campus community ready for the ‘big one’?

continued from pg. 1

struggling to find shelter.

Experts warned that the areas affected could not handle a large earthquake as recently as last November. Turkey has been collecting earthquake taxes since 1999 when a large earthquake killed over 17,000 people. There is little evidence that the tax revenue was used for prevention or for relief. The Special Communications Tax has raised around 3.8 billion USD, but economists believe the fund should be worth 30 billion USD after adjusting for changes in exchange rates. The Turkish government has never explained where and how the revenue has been spent.

Both countries lacked the infrastructure needed to withstand an earthquake of that magnitude. Many buildings completely collapsed making it difficult for rescue teams to recover bodies. Esha Malik, third year psychology major, explains, “I’m used to seeing a lot of tragedy in the Middle East, so I saw that and thought it was heartbreaking”.

In California, the possibility of a 7.8 magnitude is not unlikely. Sonoma State is an hour north of San Francisco where an earthquake of a greater magnitude destroyed the city in 1906.

Kevin Fang, SSU assistant professor and director for the Center for Sustainable Communities, explains, “The San Andreas fault was responsible for the 7.9 Great Earthquake of 1906 which resulted in the destruction of San Francisco. The San Andreas runs right along the coast here in the North Bay before running off into the Pacific.”

The Rodgers Creek fault is the closest to Sonoma State’s campus and is now reported to have enough strain to produce a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, according to James Lienkamper with the U.S. Geological Survey. An earthquake of that magnitude could result in a lot of injury, death, and structural damage.

Jeff Baldwin, a professor at SSU with a Ph.D. in geography, expresses, “As a geographer, what I find most concerning is that all three if our major hospitals in Santa Rosa are within one milk of the Rodgers Creek fault, and so emergency medical care might be significantly diminished in the case of a major earthquake”.

Earthquakes are inevitable in this state. Vanessa Dodge, a biology and geograpgy professor at SSU, states, “It is predicted that the North Bay has a thirty-three to ninety-nine percent chance of having a quake of 6.7 or greater by 2043”. There are no ways to predict when an earthquake is coming, so experts recommend having a plan at all times. Infrastructure is held to an earthquake standard in California, but damage and injury is as unpredictable as the quake.

According to ready.gov, to be fully prepared you should make an emergency plan with family and friends and a supply kit with enough materials to last several days. Securing any loose objects and making structural improvements to your home is also recommended by the website.

The infrastructure in California is better prepared than it was in Turkey and Syria, but an earthquake of the same magnitude could still do significant damage to Sonoma State and the surrounding areas.

Students react to Rohnert Park events celebrating‘Kindess Week’

The I Heart Rohnert Park: Be Kind and Unwind presents National Kindness Week and is putting on daily special events city-wide to celebrate. This year the city of Rohnert Park invites everyone to a week full of special events, food, and kindness.

National Kindness Week has become globally recognized, sharing two holidays; Valentines Day and Random Acts of Kindness Day. Deputy Director of Community Services Cindy Bagley said this celebration started in 2018 and she is looking forward to this week. “This is the first time ‘I Heart Rohnert Park’ has done a multi-event celebration,” said Bagley.

Since most programs benefit the youth, she said that there will be several activities for the older community as well.

Word is starting to spread around Sonoma State University. Students are excited about the events coming up and are planning to celebrate National Kindness Week to spread the love.

Sonoma State senior and human development major Jake Hernandez plans on celebrating Kindness Week by volunteering and donating to local animal shelters. He also is looking forward to Trivia Night with some friends.

“Kindness week to me does not mean much, only because I believe everyday, everyone should be kind to each other,” Hernandez said.

Another great way to celebrate the week is with ‘Taste of Rohnert Park.’ This event offers eclectic bites of cuisine from various local restaurants to celebrate these events. Restaurants like Turmeric Cuisine of India, Honey Badgers Coffee, and Amy’s Drive Thru are all participating in this year’s Kindness Week. “In past years we have hosted these places, but this year we decided to bring the celebration to them at their stores,” Bagley said.

Sonoma State senior, Emily Eaton, majoring in Marketing and Wine Business Strategies was surprised by the holiday but was nonetheless supportive and excited.

“I didn’t know kindness week was a thing! But I think every week should be Kindness Week. It should mean being kind in any capacity you have! Whether it’s smiling and waving at a stranger on the street or paying for the order behind you in the drive through. I think everyone deserves kindness no matter how big or small. Out of all the events the workout and yoga classes definitely peak my interest the most.” Eaton said.

Throughout the week there will also be special events to take advantage of like yoga classes, workout day, and trivia night at Spreckels Performing Center. To be eligible for these events first register in-person or online and get a pass from the Rohnert Park Community Center. Since most projects are focused around the youth, this week has plenty of chances for the older community to take part. “This is a good opportunity for the community to spoil themselves through the city,” Bagley said.

This week is special to many people because of the amount of kindness being shared and spending time with people you love. “I’m very excited because I enjoy seeing smiles everywhere and spreading the love. It’s really all about peace, love, and positivity and doing numbers. Staying healthy and organic is the key,” said Hernandez.

Junior communications major Jalen Wallace was also unaware of the holiday but is ready to share the love and celebrate kindness. “I was unaware of kindness week, but was aware of Valentine’s day. I love giving back to my community and helping in any way I can, I also love seeing so many happy people” Wallace said.

Wallace plans to pick some flowers and hand them out to people. “It’s okay to be single on Valentine’s Day, that’s why I try to give everyone some sort of treat or nice gesture, flowers can make anyone happy.

TITO FUENTES STAFF WRITER

COURTESY // rpcity.org

Rohnert Park celebrates Kindness Week with ‘I Heart Rohnert Park’ events.

COURTESY // @ssu_bsu on instagram Scan the BSU QR code for a list of programs and events.

‘Once Upon a Mattress’ debuts on-campus

SACHE WEDNER STAFF WRITER

On Feb. 10, students filled up seats in Person Theater to watch the first premiere of “Once Upon a Mattress,” hosted and put on by SSU’s Theatre Arts and Dance Department. The play, “Once Upon a Mattress”, is a musical and comedic version of The Princess and the Pea and centers on Princess Winnifred/Fred as she tries to prove she’s worthy to take Prince Dauntless’s hand in marriage, whose mother, Queen Aggravain states that he must marry a “true” princess. The musical demonstrated this creative take on a classic fairytale, and the cast showcased their acting abilities and musical performances, which were well received by the audience.

“Without giving too much away I was roaring in my seat at the hilarity that ensues as the play goes on.”, said second-year psychology major Luis Escobar, one of the attendees for Friday night’s performance.“The lighting was beautiful as it reflected each vital moment in the play and I loved the music as well as the dancing,” Escobar explained.

However, Doyle Ott, the show’s stage director and musical director Lynne Morrow, also say that the show can be seen as a reflection of how long we’ve come in terms of gender equity and what still needs fixing. Considering that the play revolves around marriage and the need to get married and that the show was written back in 1959.

“First and foremost I hope audiences have a good time. This is a comedy and if people have fun watching it we have largely done our job.”, said Ott. The production of the show was something that took months of behind-the-scenes work, and despite difficulties, the cast has had a meaningful experience.

Ott said, “For theater and music students covid took a few years of precious time learning to navigate being with a live audience, so the learning opportunity here is perhaps even more meaningful.”

Amber Kalijumagi, who portrays one of the princesses and Lady Ma-

belle, said that one of the best parts of production was growing closer with the other actors.“We have a lot of fun putting on this show, and the entire musical has become an inside joke for us.”, Kalijumagi said.

“Personally, this production means a lot to me because I have grown so much as a performer and person during the run of this show,” said second-year biochemistry major, Lauren Toledo, who portrays Princess Winnifred on stage. Toledo hopes that the struggles her character endure during the play resonate with the many college students in the audience.

“Princess Winnifred goes through a lot of the same emotions that I as a college student go through, for example, she cares what others think about her, she gets homesick, she falls in love, and she feels alone at times.”, said Toledo. “Once Upon a Mattress” will be showing later this week on Friday, Feb. 17th, and Saturday, Feb. 18th at 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. Upcoming performances from the School of Theater and Dance include senior projects from March 16 - 18, “War Circus” from April 6 - 8, and “Spring Dance” from April 27 - 30.

FAASSU teaches Pag-Apir to Seawolves

which is a Modern Hip hop style dance.

Pag-Apir is a traditional Filipino dance that shows a royal manner of walking usually performed before an important event and performed by the ladies of the royal court. The dance originated from the Maranao people who lived near lake Lanao. The dancers use fans or apirs as they are known which is why it’s commonly referred to as the fan dance. Leah Vallespin, a fourth-year biology student and the first-time instructor was leading the dance. Although it was her first time instructing, Vallespin had watched videos of Pag-Apir and was ready to show the Seawolves some new moves. When asked about why students should try out Pag-Apir, Vallespin said, “It’s just a fun dance, the simple and intricate movements make it look so graceful.”

Students from Sonoma State came out to try out some new dance moves. The Filipino American Association at Sonoma State (FAASSU) hosted a Pag-Apir lesson open to all students interested in trying it out. The event was hosted in the spacious Ballroom D of the Student Center. As part of Pacific Cultural Night, FAASSU had a schedule of activities that students were able to try out. Some of the things that students could try out were Eskrima, Kapwa, Bangko, and Tinikling. The activities for Tuesday, Feb. 7 were Eskrima, Pag-Apir, and Kapwa which lasted from 7-10 p.m. Eskrima is the national martial art of the Philippines which involves stick and sword fighting, Pag-Apir is a traditional Filipino dance that incorporates fans, and Kapwa

Although it takes time and practice to make it look graceful, that didn’t stop students from having fun and giving it their best shot. Laughter and chatter filled the room as traditional Filipino music played and fans waved throughout the air. Another member of FASSUU Yoselyn Navarrete was also there helping out and teaching students about PagApir Navarrete who has done other types of dancing like the traditional Mexican dance, Folklorico was happy to practice Pag-Apir with others. When asked about why dancing is important to her Navarrete said, “My favorite part about dancing is learning new dances from other cultures which gives me a diverse perspective.”

Students new to Pag-Apir had a great time getting the movements down. Lexi Regan, a second-year women’s and gender studies major was attending the event and gave her thoughts on the event and Pag-Apir, “I saw that they were having a session and I thought it looked pretty and graceful.” If you are interested in attending an event in the future you can follow FAASSU on Instagram @faassu for info about any future events.

Students test their music knowledge at W&B

If there is one common unifier that brings people together, it’s music. Knowing that, Friday Night Live: Song Burst is a perfect opportunity to engage with one’s fellow Seawolves. Located in Weyden and Brewster in the Student Center, Seawolves had an hour from 8-9 p.m. to excavate their memories as a team for songs to name. Students pulled from old childhood memories of music as well as TikTok audios they had only briefly heard to compete. Teams took turns naming one song at a time until only one was left.

Hosted by SSU resident advisors (RA) Grace King and Johnny Hershman, at Song Burst students formed teams for a rapid-fire tournament of song association. Over 8 rounds, hosts would give a specific word and the teams had to take turns naming as many songs with that word in the lyrics as possible. In the end, goodie bag prizes were distributed to the winning team. RA and fourth-year psychology major Johnny Hershman spoke on what they hope students get out of the event: “We just wanted to give students a chance to have fun on a Friday night if they want to win prizes and stuff; it was just a fun time.”

Hershman explained how organizing the event was a collaboration between the RAs and Student Involvement “We had a lot of help from Mo Phillips and her people. They helped set up a lot of the event we’re just here more to facilitate it.”

“It’s interesting because everyone has their own different taste in music so

you get to hear answers from different genres being bounced around,” said Hershman. Throughout the night students came up with a huge range of songs, including pop, hiphop, country, rock and roll, and other genres. King shared: “My favorite songs that people named at the program were songs from the Disney Channel Original Movie “Let It Shine”. It showed such a diverse music taste that I really enjoyed.”

Speaking on the community-building aspect of events like Friday Night Live, Hershman said that as a RA in a building for first-years, these events are supposed to be fun and loose so students can feel more comfortable on campus and meet new people, as well as spreading their wings a bit since many first-years have just left their parents’ or guardians’ homes for the first time.

An event like Song Burst is a perfect occasion for community-building because you can learn a fair amount about your teammates and the opposing team’s taste from the type of music they name. You might be surprised at who shares a lot of the same music taste as you and the eclectic type of music some students can pull out.

Even if you are on an opposing team, if someone names a song that is a favorite of yours it can be hard to not sing along and finish the lyrics, so the night felt more like a small community of students playing a game together instead of a competition where they are pitted against one another. For more events, you can check the Seawolf Living website at seawolfliving.com.

RENE CASSANO STAFF WRITER

BERNRDO RAMOS STAFF WRITER

STAR// Dennae Taylor

First premiere of ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ at Person Theater.

STAR// Dennae Taylor Seawolves practicing Pag-Apir in Ballroom D of the Student Center.

MIA GARCIA STAFF WRITER

Pizza is my Love Language

What is your love language? Words of affirmation? Quality time? Or receiving ifts? Sonoma State residential advisors in Sauvignon hosted an event called Pizza is my Love Language to help students get more in touch with themselves. Events like these allow for more life-long memories to be created at SSU.

With Valentine’s day around the corner, Seawolves may find themselves thinking about love. Events such as Pizza is my Love Language can help students get out of their dorms and have something to do. Kaylah Sanders, a residential advisor said, “This event is to get residents to learn more about themselves… as the planner of the event, we provide the food and a safe environment for students to discover themselves and meet more Seawolves on campus..”

Pizza is my Love Language served free pizza and a love language test. This test allows a person to find out how they want to be loved and how they reciprocate love back to others. Residential Advisor Grace King said, “Pizza is my Love Language allows residents to more insight into their personality and just have fun.” The test has a series of statements and the resident must circle which statement best describes them. The student then tallies all their answers and scores them to see what love language suits them. Resident, Johnny Hershman was one of the residents

who attended the event and took the love language test. After taking the test, Hershman described the results of his test. “My love language was a close tie between words of affirmation and physical touch.”

Residential advisors for all on campus villages take the time to plan and come up with ideas for events. According to Grace King, Pizza is my Love Language differs from other events.The residential advisor said, “It’s laid back because we have a lot of events such as obstacle courses or capture the flag. I like how this is a focus on chatting and sitting down.” Kaylah Sanders, a residential advisor said, “I love interacting with residents and getting them to learn more about themselves… I always encourage students to attend on campus events.”

Fellow seawolves should come to their village events. There is free food, engaging activities, and friends to hang out with. Resident Johnny Hershman said, “It’s fun to get out of the dorm every once and awhile... I enjoy attending the free RA events that they put on. Pizza is my Love Language is just one of the many events where students can make memories with one another. It’s an opportunity to make more friends and explore what events SSU has to offer. For more information on events such as these, go to getinvolved.sonoma.edu.

BSU and V.I.B.E.S host block party

At the event, there were multiple student run businesses who were advertising some of their products. Fourth year student Roberto Campus was tabling for his crystal shop while Rafa was displaying his unique clothing brand. You can find both the student run businesses on instagram @lunetauro and @rafa.rare.

The block party featured an aspiring artist and fellow Seawolf, Freddie White. Throughout his freshman year, White began to attend BSU meetings. In an interview with the Sonoma State STAR he said that, “[the club] allowed him to have a safe space as a black student on campus.” Freddie is grateful for the BSU because it gives people of color a way to express themselves. Along with being an SSU student, White enjoys being a musician and creating music. At the block party he performed three of his original songs. The songs he sang were “Across The World”, “One Sided Conversation” and “That Body.” It was his first time performing in front of a live audience. You can Freddies music on all streaming platforms if you look up his username, “Freds World”.

Every student who attended could be seen with a big smile on their face and a trail of laughter that follows. There were dozens of Seawolves who came out to attend and show their support.

On this past Friday V.I.B.E.S and the Black Student Union (BSU) hosted a block party to kick off Black history month. Students gathered near the Sauvagine lawn to take part in the celebration. The fragrant smell of the delicious food provided by Everett and Jones BBQ could be smelled across the entire village. There were several friend groups dancing, it truly was a party.

The BSU block party was planned by RA Nyree Johnson. Johnson is currently a third year residential advisor for the V.I.B.E.S learning community located in Sauvagine village. The SSU student spoke to the Sonoma State STAR and explained why she created this event, “The purpose of organizing the block party was to create a space where black students, faculty, and leaders within Rohnert Park can come together… I wanted the community to get to know each other.” Throughout her freshman year, Johnson felt alone because she didn’t know any black students or faculty. She explained how, “These emotions are what fueled my love in creating the block party… I wanted students to gain a feeling of community, mentorship and love.”

At the event, the Sonoma State STAR had the opportunity to speak with Residential Advisor Sunni Urquhart, who attended the celebration as an ally to their students of color. Urquhart was one of the dozens of smiling faces spotted at the block party. The SSU student is an active member in the BSU club.

She has been a part of BSU for the past four years. She recommends that anyone who is interested in getting involved with the BSU should attend a meeting. They meet on Tuesdays from 7-8 p.m. in the HUB, which is located on the second floor of the student center.The Seawolf explained how, “you don’t have to be brown to get down” and encourages any students to attend, as long as you come with an open mind and heart. The BSU is hosting several events this month for black history month. The next event will be on Wednesday, February 15th The “Black Student Voices Project’ This is put on by the HUB and the SSU Common Read Initiative. They will have 10 black students share their response to the question, “What has been your experience being Black at SSU?” For more information about this event email austindi@sonoma.edu.

International student talks going abroad

Traveling is something that you’d have a hard time finding somebody who wants to do less of it. People have aspirations of seeing the wonders of the world though not many get the opportunity. The privilege to travel often requires a great deal of money and to most college students it’s merely a pipe dream, but not for SSU students. SSU’s study abroad program might sound like a complicated or confusing process; yet it is remarkably easy.

The Global Engagement Office is your one-stop-shop for all information about international travels. Hope Emry Ortiz is the head coordinator of the GEO. She along with the Global Engagement Ambassadors, made up of current international students and study abroad Alumni, provide students with the necessary guidance to succeed as a student studying abroad or an international student. There is a vast system of support for students interested in capitalizing on the once and a lifetime opportunity.

The International Education Exchange Council has your back. Every Thursday in International Hall 106, the club gives an opportunity to socialize with fellow Seawolves who are currently studying as well as a chance to familiarize themselves with the study abroad program.

In an interview with the STAR, third-year transfer student Anna Rinaldi spoke of her experience. Originally born and raised in Bologna, Italy, Rinaldi traveled to the U.S. at a young age and attended highschool in Missouri. After a year of traveling under her belt, Rinaldi was no beginner to international schooling.

This time, she traveled without the support of family, making it a much more challenging task. After studying two years at Southern Utah University, she eventual-

ly discovered Sonoma State University. As intimidating as it seemed, she appreciates the social opportunities the school offers her. In the absence of her family, she stated, “It’s nice to have other international students you can connect with,” referring to the IEEC and the ability it has to connect students to bond over their similar situations.

Rinaldi further explained why studying abroad is such a great idea, “Living in another country changes your perspective on life and everything surrounding you. You become independent, you grow up and you learn about yourself as well as others... [studying abroad] is an amazing experience that I encourage everyone to do. It will open your eyes.” For more information you can stop by International Hall Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m.5:00 p.m. to get in touch with Hope Emry Ortiz or a Global Engagement Ambassador.

JUSTIN SIMPSON STAFF WRITER

STAR // Kathleen Mootz Seawolves getting their groove on at the V.I.B.E.S and BSU block party.

MALIA TERAN STAFF WRITER

Women’s Basketball wins at the buzzer

Luckett with three blocks.

Gonzalez, the team’s top scorer, fired off 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block. She said commitment, energy and heart were on her and her teammate’s minds. Gonzalez is in her last year at Sonoma State and she said that the “determination to just actually work hard with my team with grit had a lot of contribution to how I was playing today.”

Sonoma State Women’s Basketball team defeated Cal State East Bay on Feb. 11 with an instrumental last-second buzzer-beater. In the last few seconds of a five-minute overtime, junior Jayme Blackard pushed the ball up the court to the right wing where she pulled up over her defender and knocked down the mid-range shot at the buzzer with no time remaining. The moment sent a bolt of electricity through the building as

JAKE RENTERIA STAFF WRITER

Blackard was swarmed by her teammates after one of their season’s defining moments.

The score was tight all game and needed extra time after concluding regulation with a score of 55-55. A tight defense helped the Seawolves to a 67-65 win in overtime over the Pioneers. The team had six blocks and 12 steals. The team leaders defensively were seniors Cielo Gonzalez with three steals and Amanda

The team’s second top scorer, Blackard finished with 14 points and a highlight buzzer-beater. Her ‘grit’ as Gonzalez talked about was clear, especially in overtime where she scored four points. She was asked about what was going through her mind moments before the shot. Blackard said, “I knew the game was tied and I knew that we only had time for one shot. I put it up and I just hoped it went in and it did. I saw the buzzer go off as the ball went through the net.”

Earlier this season, the Seawolves and Pioneers faced off which resulted in a 56-51 loss for the Sea-

wolves. Coach Des Abeyta attributed their success to healthy development throughout the season and fighting to get into the CCAA (California Collegiate Athletic Association) tournament as motivation. The Seawolves are currently tied for fifth in conference standings and Abeyta said after the win that “this game showed us that it doesn’t matter the stage, they are ready to compete.” Abeyta is in her first year of coaching at Sonoma State and she looks to take the team to new heights as they have not made it to the NCAA Tournament since the 2008-09 season.

The women are now 10-8 in the conference and 13-11 overall as they continue their hunt to make the postseason. Their next game is this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at home versus Cal Poly Pomona. The Mustangs and Seawolves are tied for fifth place in the CCAA standings so that matchup will carry a lot of importance. The last time they met resulted in a 68-65 win, consequently, the team is hoping to maintain this momentum to another win.

Seawolves suffer 2 tough defeats at home

The Sonoma State Men’s Basketball team had a two-game home slate last week. It kicked off on Thursday night when the Seawolves faced a shorthanded Cal State Dominguez team. Dominguez Hills came into this game with the worst record in the CCAA at 4-12 and suited up only five players for the game, while Sonoma was perched in third place in the conference at 9-7.

Both teams started off slow, trading buckets, with an emphatic dunk from junior Jaylen Wells being a highlight. The tide started to shift as Dominguez Hills got hot from the three and went on an 11-0 run to set the pace early in the first half. Jaylen Wells was doing the bulk of the scoring for the Seawolves putting up six of the first 11 for the team.

The Toros continued to hit from behind the arc throughout the

first half. SSU hit their first shot from downtown around the 6:30 mark by junior Pierce Rexford. Sonoma couldn’t seem to muster up a flow on offense while the Toros remained hot. Three-pointers were the difference in the first half with Toros Jeremy DentSmith and Jordan Hilstock going a combined 6-12 from behind the arc. The Seawolves also coughed up eight turnovers as well.

Junior Dillon Iyawe got busy in the paint early in the second half delivering six points to cut the Toros lead to seven. As the half went on Dominguez Hills stifled every run the Seawolves attempted. Sonoma got into foul trouble early which allowed the game to slow down and Dominguez Hills to maintain their lead.

Despite already being in the bonus, Sonoma eventually shaved down the lead with a hard fastbreak

layup from senior Damian Wallace. After a timely 3-pointer by senior Nick Klarman, who was playing in his first game in weeks due to injury, you could feel the energy rising in the crowd. By the next possession, you could hear “Defense!” being chanted throughout the Wolves’ Den. With another 3-pointer by Pierce Rexford and good defense, the Seawolves found themselves in a two-point game with three minutes remaining. Unfortunately, just when you could sense the game turning in the Seawolves’ favor, fouls and some untimely shots from Sonoma gave Dominguez Hills just what they needed to finish out the game and escape with a 72-61 victory Thursday night.

In Saturday’s game, Sonoma played 8-14 Cal State East Bay. This game was a completely different story in the first half for the Seawolves.

They carried an 11 point lead into halftime with a strong performance from junior Julian Bryant with nine points at the break. However, they couldn’t hold the momentum in the second half and ended up being outscored 40-18 in a 66-55 loss to East Bay.

Despite both losses this week and a now fourth place ranking in the conference standings, players still have confidence moving forward. When I asked Jaylen Wells about how the team plans to maintain their position in the conference, he told me “Just taking it one game at a time, our coach likes to call it a one game season, so the next game is always the most important one.” Sonoma’s next home games are this Thursday and Saturday as they take on Cal Poly Pomona at 7:30 p.m. and top seeded Cal State San Bernardino at 3 p.m. You can view their schedule at sonomaseawolves.com.

Athletes Spotlight of the Week: Anna Zoia-Buescher

Last week, Sonoma State University’s Softball player Anna ZoiaBuescher won the CCAA (California Collegiate Athletic Association) Player of the Week award. She finished the week off with a .700 BA, two doubles, one home run, two RBIs, four runs, two stolen bases and two three-hit games. This week, we discuss where the SSU softball team is headed as their season wages on.

Zoia-Buescher is excelling in the field and in the classroom as an economics major with a business administration minor and is in her fourth year at Sonoma State, but she plans on taking a fifth year. She lives the typical student-athlete life including many hours spent in the library studying and working to keep their grade up.

To add to this, she picks up hours for her job whenever she can. Other parts of Zoia-Buescher’s day-to-day life includes finding herself some “me time.” Considering how fast a student-athlete’s life is, it’s necessary to find time to reset, collect yourself and breathe. For her, this looks like spending time with teammates off the field and seeing

friends from home, considering she’s a local that’s never too difficult.

When asked why she plays the sport of softball, Zoia-Buescher brought it way back to when she was eight years old and first found the sport. She fell in love with it and has been playing ever since. Her love for the sport stems from multiple factors; how healthy and active it keeps her, along with the challenges that the sport brings mentally and physically. “I was a junior transfer from Santa Rosa Junior College last year and I never thought I would be where I am today, but here I am, living the dream,” ZoiaBuescher added.

Zoia-Buescher was asked how she felt about receiving not her first, but her second CCAA Player of the Week award, she said it was an honor to receive it. “I love playing with this team because we have an amazing culture that facilitates such a supportive and competitive atmosphere,” adding that this allows every team member to grow. “This group is like no other; so relentless, so passionate, so electric. I have never felt so alive… playing with

a team full of such amazing women.” This type of mentality is likely to lead this team far this season, ZoiaBuescher commented that her team is more than prepared to take it all the way. This past weekend, SSU Softball competed against Dominican University in a doubleheader on Friday. The Seawolves won their first game against the Penguins 1-0 and

won the second game 2-1 to finish the night off, with Zoia-Buescher scoring the winning run. The softball program is ranked seventh in batting, pitching and second in fielding in the CCAA. Now, with a 4-1 record, Zoia-Buescher and the rest of her team are preparing for their next doubleheader tomorrow against Holy Names University at home. The first game will start at 11 a.m.

ALEC PADILLA STAFF WRITER

ELIAS KAPLAN STAFF WRITER

STAR// Kathleen Mootz

Jayme Blackard facilitating the offense as she dribbles up the court.

Anna Zoia-Buescher won her second CCAA Player of the Week award in her career.

STAR // Kathleen Mootz Robbie Campos helping keep the peace with his crystal healing shop, Lunetauro.

STAR // Dennae Taylor

Pierce Rexford catching some air in attempt to scare against Cal State East Bay during Saturdays game.

STAR // Kathleen Mootz Chasity Spady and Jayme Blackard work together on the court in a game against Cal State Dominguez Hills .

STAR // Kathleen Mootz Jordan Denham, Deuce Davis and Devon Mcgtt represent Rafa Rare, and share the inspring story behind the shop.

STAR // Kathleen Mootz

Mia Aponte and Arianna Aponte ---- their vintage Y2K inspired clothing shop, Miss Sinister.

STAR // Dennae Taylor

Each character can be seen dressed in costumes designed by Teresa Kopaz & Katie Goff.

STAR // Dennae Taylor

‘Once Upon a Mattress’ was brought to life with scene designs from Anthony Bish, Chris Petterson, and Aissa Simbulan.