Spring 2023, Issue 3

Fentanyl Crisis

Sizzling Salmon Making history

Seawolves join Chef Don and make Cacio e Pepe con Salmon.

Marika Lyszczyk makes CCAA history on the pitching mound.

SSU mourns the loss of Professor André Minor

COOPER PERRY STAFF WRITER

TheSonoma State campus community continues to grieve the tragic death of popular math professor André Minor who was killed Feb.11 while working on his fire-damaged property in St. Helena when an accident involving a tree falling occured around 11 a.m.

On Feb.13 SSU students and faculty were notified of Professor Minor’s passing. André was a beloved family man who recently welcomed his daughter, Maisie, into the world in early December with his wife, Tina. In addition to being a wonderful father and husband, André was adored by his colleagues and students.

André Minor was 38 years old and began teaching at SSU in the fall of 2013. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from UC Berkeley in 2006 and his Ph. D. from UC San Diego in 2011. He taught all levels of calculus as well as a variety of other classes in mathematics and statistics during his time at SSU.

Dr. Sam Brannen, mathematics and statistics department chair, recalled some of his favorite memories with André, “Talking about our favorite video game, “Breath of the Wild,” hearing about everything he was doing at his property in the Mayacamas Mountains; planting grapes, clearing land, rebuilding his home after losing it in the Glass fire, and seeing his big, friendly smile each time he walked into the office.”

Dr. Brigitte Lahme, a professor in the SSU mathematics and statistics department also shared some fond memories. She recounted her first time meeting André, “I met André when he applied to be in the lecturer pool at SSU in the Spring of 2012. I have worked with him since the Fall of 2013 when he started to teach in our department. In fact, I was the department chair when he started teaching for us.”

Dr. Lahme added, “André was the most enthusiastic and kindest person you could ever meet. He shared his love for math and learning with his students, who absolutely loved him and would rave about his teaching. He made math fun and non-threatening. He regularly brought applications inspired by his see STUDENTS AND FACULTY REMINISCE on pg. 4

Opioid prevention campaign kicks off at Sonoma State

Trevor Leopold was a freshman at Sonoma State when he died of a fentanyl overdose in 2019. Trevor was battling with addiction, so what he thought was oxycodone, a pain medication, was instead a fentanyl counterfeit. At 18 years old, that unknowing decision cost him his life. He was said to have a very positive outlook on life and was actively working toward a bright future. As fentanyl overdoses are becoming more common, no one is immune to the possibility of counterfeit drugs.

Michelle Leopold, Trevor’s mother, is now an activist for overdose prevention and will be speaking at an event hosted by SSU on Mon., March 6 in Ballroom A.

To prevent more stories like Trevor’s, Sonoma State and other colleges around California are increasing awareness and prevention in a new campaign.

A new state law, effective Jan. 1, calls for prevention measures to be more accessible to students. With 109 fentanyl-related deaths in Sonoma County in 2021, SSU is aiming to teach students that fentanyl is dangerous and present in counterfeit opioids and other laced drugs.

Nader Oweis, chief of police at Sonoma State, explains how information will be given to students, “We will be working with Student Involvement, REACH and the Health Center to discuss overdose prevention during tabling events through the semester and in the Fall.” The goal is to make sure that students know how to properly manage an overdose and understand the resources available, he added.

One of the most important resources is Narcan, or naloxone, a substance that can be administered at the time of an overdose of opioids to save a person’s life, and is carried by SSU police officers as well as given to students in the health center. The campaign is looking to increase awareness and training of Narcan so students can feel comfortable having it on hand.

According to the California Department of Public Health, “Naloxone can be quickly given through nasal spray in the nose, or through an injectable or auto-injector into the outer thigh or another major muscle. Naloxone is safe and easy to use, works almost immediately, and is not addictive. Naloxone has very few negative effects, and has no effect if opioids are not in a person’s system”. Narcan typically works in two to three minutes, and if not, another dose should be administered.

Julia Zavala, a third year Communication major, believes that the education of Narcan is important, “I just think a lot of college students are into partying and you never know where things are really coming from, so it’s great that students can become more educated on how to deal with an overdose,” said Zavala

The party scene in college often comes with a lot of impulse decisions and and altered decision making. What may seem like a new and exciting experience can quickly turn deadly. Fentanyl is undetectable by sight, taste, or smell, so any user would be ingesting the substance unknowingly. Fentanyl is an issue in every community and not just on college campuses.

Sonoma State University introduces the

Bundle in hopes to make textbook purchasing more affordable and convenient.

Students call for cheaper textbooks as costs continue to rise

TITO FUENTES STAFF WRITER

Later this Fall, Sonoma State University will be moving to a new learning material program called the Seawolf Bundle. This is the university’s version of an “equitable access program”. This program lowers the overall cost of learning material through volume agreements with publishers and provides the same price for learning material even for high-cost majors. Instead of purchasing required learning software, textbooks, and digital materials individually, this program compiles everything into one package.

Similar to how students pay for classes with one flat rate per course, the Seawolf Bundle is broken down to per credit hour. This means students will pay $18.50 per credit hour, or $277.50 per semester for 15 credit hours. This will be included into tuition costs and will result in many savings for students who have to buy a lot of textbooks. Those students who do not feel the Seawolf Bundle is a good value for them can opt out of the program.

Estimated by Financial aid, students spend nearly $500 per semester on textbooks and course materials alone. According to Neil Markley, Associate Vice President of Administration and Finance, this bundle is convenient, affordable, and will help prevent barriers for students who may not be able to

André Minor pictured with his daughter Maisie, who was born in December, two months before his tragic death Feb.11.

STAR// Kathleen Mootz

Seawolf

OLIVIA KEELER STAFF WRITER

THE STAR

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Asturias, Faculty Adviser

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Fentanyl crisis leads to preventative measures

Theweekend comes around, students are partying, having fun and often using drugs and other substances. But hopefully they are taking into consideration certain dangers that they may face in doing so. But what about the ones that lie unnoticed? How do you look and watch out for something you can’t feel, see, smell, or taste?

There has been a rise of fentanyl overdoses in the United States. It is a drug chosen to be used but is also being used to lace other drugs, resulting in unwanted deaths and homicides. No matter how you choose to party, it is time to become more aware of what is going into your body.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, sometimes prescribed by a doctor. Known to relieve pain and bring pleasure to the brain, opioids are very addicting, range in strength and can quickly become lethal. Illegally manufactured fentanyl is often found in counterfeit pills made to resemble prescription drugs, such as but not limited to, pain relievers, methamphetamine, heroin and even adderall.

In a college town like Rohnert Park, students and many others are surrounded by different substances. It’s each person’s responsibility to make sure that if they are using something, it comes from a safe source.

When people are looking for the easiest way to obtain drugs are they ever checking for traces of fentanyl? Drug dealers are usually trusted by the people they supply, and although trust is very important, it is so easy to get ahold of something that may not be safe.

Eddy Garcia, mathematics major at SSU said although he doesn’t use anything that may contain fentanyl, he wouldn’t really think to check for it.

“I wouldn’t be aware, especially if it’s at a party I’m not familiar with. I may do research on what I’m supposed to look for, but right now it’s a blind test for me,” said Garcia

There are fentanyl testing strips which can be used to reduce the risk of fentanyl overdose. If it can prevent students from accidentally using something laced, perhaps it’s now necessary for college campuses to provide free fentanyl testing strips. This could save the lives of many, even prevent the use in the first place.

“I believe that Sonoma State could provide more education to faculty and students about the dangers of fentanyl exposure. My advice to my fellow students would be to be vigilant and to not accept substances if you don’t know what’s in it. Test kits are cheap and could potentially save your life,” said Addison Stewart, second year psychology major at SSU.

Many students share the same feelings that SSU could do a better job distributing information to its community.

Emily Montiel Peregrina, fifth year political science major said she believes that “something Sonoma State could start implementing is mandatory trainings, kind of how they make Title IX trainings mandatory.”

In a timely warning put out on Oct. 27, 2022 by Sonoma State University Police Chief, Nader Oweis and Dean of Students, Dr. Ryan Jasen Henne, they announced that the Drug Enforcement Administration found there to be “new colorful forms of illicit fentanyl.” These new forms seem to resemble candy like Skittles and Fruit Loops.

If fentanyl can be hidden in something like halloween candy, it is affecting more than just those that use opioids. It becomes a concern for families with children.

In 2019, SSU freshman Trevor Leopold died in his dorm due to an accidental overdose from fentanyl. A situation like this could happen to anyone.

Sonoma State Police are now equipped with Narcan to distribute to someone if they feel they have overdosed. This training and education needs to reach students. Even just knowledge on the warning signs of an overdose. Overdoses aren’t something someone experiences everyday, therefore may not know how to act or what to do if it does happen.

According to Mo Phillips, director of student involvement at Sonoma State University, SSU has future plans for informing its students about the dangers of fentanyl.

“We are currently planning for the Noma Nation Orientation Program in August. There will be at least one session during orientation for students to hear more about this topic, what to look out for and training on the use of/importance of Naloxone,” said Phillips

The CDC says Naloxone (or Narcan) reverses an overdose by blocking the effects of opioids. It can restore normal breathing within two to three minutes if a person has overdosed. Naloxone won’t harm someone if they’re overdosing on drugs other than opioids, so it’s always best to use it if you think someone is overdosing.

Fentanyl can affect anyone unfortunately. Students need to be careful of what, where, and how they use substances. Safety teams and other authorities should also become aware and provide support and resources to the community. Doing something as small as reading an informative article on fentanyl could help save somebody’s life as well as your own.

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.

Veterans and military students feel overlooked, lost at SSU

majority of people in my classes are younger than me.” said Jessica Bergler, a fourth year psychology student and a veteran.

Navy veteran Sean Pentecost, a third year business major and econ minor, says he didn’t go to the welcoming events put on by SSU because he couldn’t bring his wife and children.

If you don’t pay your tuition in time, you risk being dropped from your classes. Sometimes, the VA isn’t processed on time which can cause a panic in students.

“They really hammer on it but never once talked about any exceptions,” said Pentecost.

ture, goal-oriented, mission-driven, experienced leaders.” explained Alison Lightball in an article about student veterans.

MARIAH FORSTER STAFF WRITER

At SSU, the voices of veterans and military affiliated students can become lost because their experiences are different from the average student population. According to the U.S Depart ment of Veteran Affairs, “Only 15 percent of student veterans are the same age as traditional college students.” Most often, student veterans are older between the ages of 24-30. Some of these students have families of their own.

“Being a student here I am very aware of my age since the

“Really they were thinking about students trying to separate from their parents for the first time and didn’t want parents there. But older students weren’t considered”.

Military affiliated students often get overlooked on campus which results in them having to find the resources they need on their own.

“I feel alone when relating to others about the difficulties of being a student that gets benefits from the VA,” said Shawnia Ard, third year business administration student and the president of the Student Veterans Club.

Pentecost thinks there should have been a part of orientation focused on students using VA benefits.

If you’re using VA benefits, the school will put a hold on your account rather than being dropped from classes. Information like this is often hidden which leads to students having to scramble to figure out how to deal with their VA benefits.

One campus resource that can help students using VA benefits is MAVRC, which stands for Military and Veterans Resource Center. However, military affiliated students feel that it needs to be expanded.

“We have MAVRC but the size of it is insufficient for the amount of military affiliated students we have,” said Bergler.

Military affiliated students set an ex ample for other students on campus. “They are emotionally ma -

Bergler credits the military for helping her be successful at SSU. “The military taught me how to be disciplined, and how to manage my time.”

Pentecost went through two years of difficult schooling to be a nuclear operator for nuclear reactors on submarines. “I had to learn different study techniques that worked for me so I could become certified as an operator…Those study techniques I carry with me today.”

As midterms and finals approach, college students are often stressed out about preparing for exams or writing essays. For veterans like Pentecost, their experience in the military allows them to not get overwhelmed by school.

“In the navy, the stakes were a lot higher,” says Pentecost. Therefore, it makes the challenges in school easier to manage.

Is marijuana use more dangerous because of edibles?

CÉLIA ALINE AMARAL STAFF WRITER

Recreational marijuana has been legal in the California since 2016, but not many people know the risks of marijuana use.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), “Approximately 1 in 10 people who use marijuana will become addicted. When they start before age 18, the rate of addiction rises to 1 in 6”.

As a reminder, use of cannabis in not permitted on campus, including in the dorms. According to Sonoma State Police Chief Nader Oweis, “Anyone caught may be subject to disciplinary actions through the Dean of Students Office”. He also explained that under federal law, cannabis is illegal in the United States. Smoking cannabis in public is prohibited, especially where the use of tobacco is also prohibited.

The legal aspect of cannabis and the casualness of its use makes people forget that it can potentially be dangerous and life threatening. There are a lot of risks related to marijuana consumption. According to SAMHSA, those risks include health issues such as brain damage and mental health issues, “Studies link marijuana use to depression, anxiety, suicide planning, and psychotic episodes.”

Risks related to cannabis are am plified when it is consumed in an edible form. Cannabis can be in be gummies, baked goods or even beverages. According to Oweis “Many people who consume edibles are unaware of the dangers associated with their use. The amount of THC is difficult to measure and is often unknown in many edibles. Many products contain significantly more THC than labeled and people who consume these edibles can be caught off-guard.”

He also touched on one large dif ference between smoking marijuana and consuming edibles, “The most prominent difference…is the delayed onset of effects associated with edibles -- it can take up to two hours to feel the effects. Unfortunately, this causes some people to consume a greater amount of drug before it has taken effect”.

Some Students at SSU are ap -

parently not aware of these risks. The police have reported being called on “acute marijuana intoxication”, which is the term used to describe marijuana overdose. The symptoms from edibles are usually more severe than the one from smoking according to Oweis. He also expressed that students should call 911 if someone experiences those symptoms which include but are not limited to vomiting, anxiety, panic attack, agitation or paranoia.

Students may be nervous to call the police, but they ensure that students safety is always their top priority.

Lastly, the chief encouraged stu dents to join the discussion about drugs and alcohol, “One Pill Can Kill” that will take place on March 6 in Ballroom A. The one thing students can’t overdose on is information.

Rihanna’s halftime performance included an unexpected guest

Trends, Rihanna was searched on google more than 10 million times with the most popular searches being “Is Rihanna pregnant?” and other phrases involving her speculated pregnancy.

ing,” said Jadwet.

STAFF WRITER KYLIE PERRY

As Rihanna took the stage on Superbowl Sunday, Feb. 12, to perform live at the halftime show, there was a lot of speculation on whether Rihanna was pregnant or just holding on to some baby weight from her last child, who she had nine months ago. The rumors of Rihanna being pregnant were confirmed to be true with lots of rubbing and holding of her belly and later the confirmation in words by her publicist.

According to Google

Rihanna’s outfit was designed per fectly by her stylist to either conceal or reveal her pregnancy as he didn’t know she would be revealing it until the last minute.

A few SSU students watched the halftime show and had a couple of things to say on the performance and the pregnancy announcement.

“The pregnancy announcement was kinda over the top like why not be a normal person and post it on instagram?” said Aadil Jadwet, 24.

Paulina Vaclav, 21, thought the complete opposite. “I thought it was a great way to show off that she’s pregnant.”

Both students had something to say on the theme of the show. “The theme of the show resembled the game Super Smash Bros. I was dy-

“It definitely puts the viewers’ perspective strictly and easily onto Rihanna with the colors. The theme was great, I mean it was a little sad since I knew her mainly for her music and thought she would drop a new song but, it was a great way to throw back and show off her amazing music that everyone knows and loves,” said Vaclav.

When asked about what she thought when first seeing her on stage, Vaclav said, “Immediately I thought she was pregnant, but as I’m working on changing my perspective about that stuff, I then resolved to her just being her ‘baby fat,’ as others like to put it.”

Jadwet said, “When I saw her at the halftime show I automatically said to everyone she was pregnant and we were all in shock.”

Vaclav had a great time watching Rihanna’s performance. “I was having a great time listening and watching her perform. I was only like 14

when her last album came out so listening to her music choices that day brought back so many memories.” Jadwet thought that some things could be improved. “The halftime show could have been better in my opinion. She could have brought out Drake and Jay-Z.”

While Jadwet thinks that Rihan na’s music is “just as relevant today” and doesn’t make much of a difference to him that she didn’t release music in so long, Vaclav has a different perspective. “It might be hard for her since it’s been like 7 years, picking anything back up from 7 years ago is never easy for anyone but I’m proud of her.”

Rihanna’s pregnancy announcement was certainly unexpected and shocked a lot of people watching the show. It was definitely an eye-catching performance that caused a lot of speculation and is still being talked about by viewers of the show and people who didn’t get the chance to watch it.

Students and faculty reflect on memories with Professor

continued from pg. 1

work in his vineyard into his math classes. For example, he used the linear relationship between water pressure and water height to find the leak in an irrigation line. He measured the pressure at the bottom of the line, computed the elevation of the likely leak, and started digging. He was so thrilled when he found the leak exactly where he expected it based on his calculations.”

SSU biology major, Evan Spaulding, took Math 161 with André in the fall of 2020. Evan said, “I never met him in person but I met with him on zoom many times and he helped me pass the final math class I needed for my major. He was super friendly and is down to earth and always happy to help.” https://gofund.me/cf62d3e6

A memorial has been set up in Darwin 108 for students to visit if they wish to pay their respects, with a notebook for people to write their memories and a box for written cards to André’s family. In addition, a gofundme has been created in his memory and any donations will go directly to André’s wife, Tina.

Seth Nuzum, a computer science major at SSU also recounted his time taking calculus with André in 2020. “Professor Minor was always eager to help his students truly internalize and learn complex concepts along with showing us the power that these mathematical sequences have in the world around us. He was a great man and an inspiration to so many students. A true leader at Sonoma State.”

Students needing assistance in processing this loss can visit CAPS during office hours or call 707-664-2153 at any time. Counseling services for faculty are through Empathia, that can be reached at 1-800-367-7474.

New purchasing method sparks concerns

continued from pg. 1 afford high cost learning materials. This will also create an equitable model across all courses and majors. Markley said, “In my time in higher education, this is the first industry-changing shift I’ve seen to lower the price of learning material across the board.”

There are many “equitable access model” programs and hundreds of campuses around the nation are adopting something similar for learning material. Schools like UC Davis and San Diego State have had a program in effect for a few years now, and Cal Poly Pomona will be implementing a program next Fall.

For years, students have been asking for lower priced learning materials but the costs have continued to rise.

First year business and management major Jose Martinez said, “These books can get expensive and if it isn’t required i’ll usually skip out on it.”

Although some rental programs, digital delivery services, and peer to peer websites have helped with price relief, the overall price of learning material from publishers continues to increase. In addition, some majors have learning material costs that are higher than others causing potential equity issues for students wanting to take high-cost courses. “Any change raises lots of questions, but I think we worked through most of them and this will really be beneficial,” Markley said.

Various campus constituencies and campus consultation vetted this program which culminated in the resolution of support by the Associated Students and Campus Fee Advisory Committee. With this new model implemented, there are no restrictions in the learning materials you select. From any publisher students need, to any preferred format, all learning materials are available.

Although students will be able to opt-out, all students will automatically be enrolled into the program, and once successfully selecting your courses the university will prepare each student’s order. The ordering process remains the same and it is important to turn in the learning material selection by the adoption deadline of May 1 to the University Store for the Fall 2023 semester.

For further information or questions please visit seawolfbundle.sonoma.edu or join Neil Markley and Steve Higginbotham, Director of SSU’s University Store at the Seawolf Bundle Q&A Session(s) on March 10 or April 14 at 12-1:30 p.m. at CTET’s seminar room (Salazar 1061).

“I think this is a good program, if I’m taking a lot of courses with a lot of required materials this will be beneficial” Martinez said.

Narcan accessible following increase in overdoses

continued from pg. 1

Jackson Rice, a third year Business major, commented, “L.A. and San Francisco have such a huge drug problem, and getting the proper services for addicts is just not available and it’s sad. People are very discriminatory towards people trying to help themselves, so knowing schools are now starting to take action may push the state to take action in our communities in general, so I think it’s a great first step in getting in control of this problem”.

For more information about Narcan, events, or other resources, contact the Sonoma State Police Department on their 24-hour non-emergency number or the Health Center.

Sonoma State emergency protocols could use revision

ALLY VALIENTE STAFF WRITER

Shootings can happen in a blink of an eye when you least expect it - anywhere, at any time. Grocery stores, churches, malls, and most infamously: schools.

So, does Sonoma State already have emergency safety protocols if a shooting happens?

The answer is simply yes, but just how effective would those protocols be?

Since 2020, Associate Vice President for Risk Management and Safety Service, Tyson Hill said that the Covid-19 pandemic has allowed for an opportunity to review and revisit safety protocols “in a different lens.”

“In the areas of emergency management and campus safety, we made a number of updates to our campus response procedures, the way information flows within the executive leadership and campus emergency response teams. We collaborate with the Chancellor’s office and other campuses in the CSU system when it comes to reviewing and exercising our safety protocols,” said Hill. Safety protocols are continuously being updated to ensure that it is inclusive, comprehensive, and thorough. Hill also said that the department has reviewed the Emergency Operations Center to ensure that there is enough staffing to be able to respond in the event of an emergency.

In a statement released to the university, Police Chief Nadar Oweis said, “The Sonoma State University Police Department is saddened by the recent spate of mass shootings we’ve seen nationwide, most recently at Michigan State University and El Paso, and closer to home in Half Moon Bay and Monterey Park. Our thoughts remain with the victims, and our deepest condolences go out to their families and friends.”

According to the 2023 Campus Safety Plan, there are a number of initiatives that the university has implemented to increase awareness and safety among students. Some of those ways include launching the SafeSSU campaign with a planning committee and website. Their main goal is to “ensure students could safely demonstrate on matters related to social justice; this plan will serve as a template for future student demonstrations,” according to one of the initiatives. An emergency functional exercise was also executed to test emergency response plans at a campuswide full-scale.

The Sonoma State police department has also rolled out a new app called Rave Guardian Mobile Safety which is now available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The app will allow students to access various procedures in case of an emergency.

“If an emergency situation does happen, my first instinct isn’t to be like, ‘where’s the app?’ My first instinct is to run,” said second-year student psych major Mia Perez. She would, however, call the emergency hotline if she were stuck in a classroom or press one of the emergency blue buttons scattered around campus.

Perez also said that she would feel safe on campus if there were more student organizations protesting gun violence. “Of course we want change to happen, but we’ve been fighting for it for so long, I don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon.”

Other students such as second-year pre-nursing student Cristina Lopez said that she would feel safe if the police did regular perimeter checks on campus. Lopez said, “I don’t see them on campus a whole lot. I only see them driving around. However, I feel a little safe because it’s a college campus so I don’t particularly have to know everyone here.”

Students are encouraged to visit the Emergency Notification site at emergency.sonoma.edu to find information about the school’s emergency notification system.

Students can also call or text the Sonoma Police Department, or call the number 707-664-4444, if there is an immediate emergency or any suspicious activity.

“The safety of our campus and its learning and work environment is a responsibility we all share,” Oweis said. “Together we strive to avert such tragedies here at Sonoma State.”

Listening and speaking up: Black Student Voices

are, but also the strides toward a better future. Interim Manager of the HUB Cultural Center, Tramaine Austin-Dillon wondered: “Why is BHM the shortest month of the year!?”. HUB Programming Student Assistant Olivia Blades said BHM “has always been positive for me. Yes, slavery was a part of it, but it isn’t ALL of Black History. There’s joy, love, happiness.”

At Wednesday’s event, Jomei Greer of the SSU Jazz Ensemble kicked things off with a piano performance. Faculty and students shared their stories with the room. Austin-Dillon, EOP Advisor Andre Bailey, and former Outreach Coordinator Ivona Williams shared their alumni experience and the community they built here. Blades and Black Student Union (BSU) co-president Amanda Luckett elaborated on their quotes they contributed.

Williams highlighted the positives of Sonoma which make students want to apply, like an intimate campus and beautiful environment. She encouraged students to bring what’s culturally lacking over to campus from other parts of the bay. “We would do that, you know? Maya Angelou has been on campus, Cornel West has been on campus, and various reggae artists have been on campus.”

To celebrate and amplify Black perspectives, HUB Cultural Center and SSU Common Read committee hosted a reception for the Black Student Voices Project in Ballroom B of the Student Center Wednesday. Ten students responded to: “What has been your experience being Black at SSU?” Their quotes plus more were displayed so attendees could discuss them. Black History Month brings up reflections on the past and how things

BERNARDO RAMOS STAFF WRITER

Many of the quotes on display had a common theme of unity and support that organizations like HUB and BSU offer. Camille Johnson shared: “I’ve found a great community within BSU.” Jeremiah Kitavi said there are “A lot of great people on campus. I just wish we had more Black unity.”

According to SSU’s website, 3% of the students that attend are Black/African American. Blades identified “that creates a whole ton of challenges trying to find other Black people, and if you did, whether those Black people even like Black people. Dealing with going out and people saying the N-word at a party, being ostracized.”

Williams continued: “That’s what an educational institution is all about. Bringing in a diverse group of activities to build the richness of the education experience.” Williams shared that when she attended SSU “I would share my cultural experiences with my professors because a lot of them had these misconceptions about who we are as people.” She found that cross-cultural communication helped everybody be better and more aware.

Williams said “BHM is a month for awareness. You should always remember your past because it points to your future.” In terms of Sonoma’s support of Black students, Williams praised SSU’s BHM events, and HUB, as well as “putting on programming that is specifically geared towards black students.”

Luckett’s quote at Wednesday’s event read “Seas of white, islands of Black, no bridges, no boats, construction in progress.” By her and everyone else’s willingness to be vulnerable, that construction advances more and more.

Tuesday Night Trivia kicks off

On Valentine’s Day, Lobo’s Pub hosted a trivia night with a romantic theme. Associated Students Productions (ASP) hosted the event that took place in Lobo’s Pub which stayed open later to serve food to the participants. The night started at 6:30 p.m. with students lining up outside of Lobo’s and then being seated inside. Once inside students were given a whiteboard and marker to write down answers. Five people were the maximum that could be on a team. While most did have five members, some teams only had three or two participants.

Before the first question students were given some time to order any food or drinks as well as come up with team names. Many of the participants took their time in crafting the perfect team name as this took around 10 minutes to get everyone’s team name in.

Several of the students who went to the event learned about it from fliers posted around campus. Ryan Shatkin, a History major said, “I didn’t really have anything else going on and saw the fliers so here

I am.” The first question that kicked off this trivia night was, “Besides roses, what are the most common flowers purchased on Valentine’s day?” By the amount of groups that got this question right you could tell some groups were not as familiar with Valentine’s Day trivia.

However this was not the case for Xavier Swanson, a second-year political science and economy major Swanson said, “We’re going to win because we are confident about being overconfident.” When it was revealed that orchids were the correct answer there was a mix of excited cheers and disappointed faces. The night went on with more questions including: “Who is the Greek goddess of beauty?” and “In which Italian city did Romeo and Juliet occur?” and “What are the names of the two main love interests that Spider-Man has in the comics?”

Not all questions were counted equally, questions that had multiple parts and random double-point questions made answering every question right cru-

cial in order to win. After 25 questions that really tested everyone’s Valentine’s knowledge, a team by the name of “Slayers” was crowned trivia night champions.

The night ended around 7:30 p.m. which was earlier than the 8:30 p.m. that the flier showed. After the event students finished up the last of their meals and started to leave. Chris Hernandez, a second-year Biology major said, “ It was super fun, I wish they had more than one round. I really wanted another chance to win.” Even though they might have ended this trivia night a little early, Seawolves will get more chances to show off their trivia knowledge throughout this semester.

ASP will be hosting a trivia night every second Tuesday of every month until May. The themes for each trivia night will be “Musical Madness in March” and “TV and Film” in April and “Are You Smarter than a Highschooler?” in May.

SSU Celebrates the return of Faculty Art Exhibition

SACHE WEDNER STAFF WRITER

SSU faculty and students came together at the University art gallery to celebrate the opening of the SSU Faculty Art Exhibition on February 16. The show itself is a way for SSU’s art faculty to display their work outside of the classroom to students, other faculty members, as well as the general public.

Stefan Kisbye, the Department Chair for the Art & Art History Department and an Associate Professor for creative writing, sees the event as a way for the art faculty to show off their merits as artists. “For me, it’s wonderful to see colleagues as the working artists they are. They do fantastic work, and they are not only gifted teachers but acclaimed and wonderful practitioners,” said Kisbye.

Carla Stone, the Art Department’s Exhibitions Coordinator, hopes that everyone, from students to faculty, as well as the general public, enjoys the opportunity to learn about the faculty’s personal art practices and displays. As for SSU students, Stone hopes that this gallery is a window for students to see what their teachers and mentors are doing outside of the classroom, and hopefully encourage them to sharpen their talents as artists and further their future careers.

“This group of faculty are all practicing artists who maintain professional careers and participate in regional and national exhibitions in addition to being committed professors in the classroom,” said Carla Stone,

the Art Department’s Exhibitions Coordinator.

Sena Clara Creston, an Assistant Professor of Art, whose work is being showcased at the gallery said that she hopes that students and faculty understand what artists in their community are creating. Creston’s own work, Plantscape, is made up of discarded plastic bottles and Walmart bags.“Recent personal memories of these beautiful and destructive plastic materials exhibit how animated, materialistic, and ecological responses reflect the impact of our actions.”, said Creston.

This year’s Faculty Art Exhibition is also a very significant one, as it wasn’t just a celebration of the personal art projects of SSU faculty, but also the return of the show after a long, five-year hiatus. In previous years, this event was biennial, but the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the show being put on hold for half a decade. Years later, the show is now back on the road, and while planning for it certainly wasn’t easy, the outcome was more than worth it. There was a 12-day period between the art gallery and the gallery’s annual Art from the Heart benefit auction, and this planning process was by no means an easy one.

As Stone explains, despite all the logistics that required cooperation and adherence to the deadlines of all the artists involved, the work would most likely have not been done in time if it wasn’t for the seven student

interns working with Stone, who has been invaluable in making this event possible.“There’s a great sense of pride and accomplishment when I see the result of everyone’s efforts to produce a professional quality exhibition right here on campus,” said Stone.

Despite major setbacks and delays, SSU’s art department still managed to overcome many obstacles, and reestablish an old SSU tradition, in the hopes that others will be inspired by the work shown, and motivate them in their own artistic endeavors. The SSU Art Faculty Exhibition will be on full display from Feb. 16 - March 12 at the University Art Gallery.

RENE CASSANO STAFF WRITER

STAR // Dennae Taylor

Amanda Luckett speaking at the Black Student Voices Project on Feb. 15.

STAR // Dennae Taylor Sarah Crecelius and Taylor Nelson admire artwork.

CalFresh grants $150 in grocery money per month

What is CalFresh? According to one of the program’s coordinators, Ember D’Agosta, “Calfresh is a nutrition program that provides eligible households and individuals with a monthly allowance for groceries.” Once accepted into the CalFresh program, eligible students can receive $150 or more towards food expenses.

A member of the CalFresh team, Jason Arellano, is an assistant who described the program as, “An easy way students can schedule an appointment and receive a customized level of support through an EBT card.” Near Sonoma State there are many retailers who support the CalFresh program, six of which are within a one mile radius of the school. EBT cards can be used at popular stores such as Safeway and Walmart, as well as sonoma county farmers markets.

Calfresh Coordinator who aims to normalize the use of the program. Gardea described how “There is nothing wrong with needing support when you need it.”

Do you ever feel like you have to prioritize education over your basic nutritional needs? As a student, money can be tight and balancing your own checkbook isn’t easy. If this is relatable, CalFresh may be a program fit for you.

D’Agosta spoke about how, “Our CalFresh office on campus is where we work with students and find out if they are eligible for the program.” They also work with students who do not qualify for CalFresh to find other resources around or near campus that may be helpful to them. Additionally, they work closely with other schools to continually improve the CalFresh program.

The CalFresh coordinators are happy to help those needing assistance. Alyssa Gardea is a

Calfresh requires appointments for interviews to see if students qualify for the program’s support. If you are off campus and wish to find a more local way to get an in person appointment, CalFresh is available throughout the entire CSU system. They also have offices in several local counties allowing for students anywhere to participate. Qualifying students must follow at least one of the many requirements. Some of these requirements include: working at least 20 hours per week on average, receiving CalWORKS benefits, working in CalFresh employment or another job training program accepted by CalFresh.To contact CalFresh online, you can reach them by email at CalFresh@ sonoma.edu or fill out the intake form at forms.gle/ La8hvz1ubccwRKY48. For any further questions, the programs office is located on the second floor of the student center.

Even if you are not sure if this is for you, there is zero downside of seeking the consultation of the CalFresh team. Student life can be stressful, so don’t wait to take advantage of this opportunity and take a hold of your situations.

What’s cooking in The Kitchens?

Quick and easy food recipes are hard to come by. Luckily here at SSU we have Executive Chef Don Cortes to help fellow Seawolves replicate tasty and affordable meals. Each semester, culinary services offers free cooking classes. Not only do students learn valuable life skills, but they end the class with a free meal.

Wednesday, Feb. 15 at The Kitchens, Chef Don hosted a cooking class where students made Cacio e Pepe con Salmon; a delicious Italian dish. This free hands-on cooking tutorial allows students to gain experience and learn new culinary techniques Chef Don said, “I think it’s great to teach life skills to students…I want to make sure that the ingredients are achievable, cost-effective, and at the same time impress family and friends with the type of dishes that I teach.”

These free classes are for all students-regardless of their cooking skills. Carina Bautista, one of the students who was in attendance said, “I would rate my experience a 10/10. I learned how to make a pasta dish which seemed difficult at first, but the instructions were easy to follow.” The Cacio e Pepe con Salmon pasta is quick to make and the ingredients the recipe called for are most likely already in your pantry..

“In Chef Don’s class, he is very energet-

MALIA TERAN STAFF WRITER

ic when teaching his students how to cook Cacio e Pepe con Salmon.” According to fellow Seawolf Jincie Zadrozny. She also said that, “This experience was amazing. The moment we stepped into the kitchen, Don made the cooking class captivating… He’s a great chef and an even better teacher!” Chef Don is passionate when he teaches the classes which make students want to attend. After he demonstrates the steps the recipes call for, students then get to cook the meal under the supervision of Don.

Classes are taught in The Kitchens where Don and several other other chefs work regularly. Student Kaylie Richards said, “ [the cooking class] was really fun. I thought it was cool to be in a commercial kitchen and experience something different. [the Cacio e Pepe con Salmon] was a yummy recipe… It’s a great life skill and it’s a good activity to do with your friends.” Richards attended the cooking class with her best friend and viewed the activity as a “fun bonding experience.” This experience allows students to cook their salmon, pasta and make their own sauce.

Chef Don explained to the STAR why SSU students should attend the cooking class,“They will leave here fed, knowing another skill, and making new friends.” Always stay on the lookout for cooking classes with Chef Don and make sure you RSVP

in advance. Chef Don said, “I’ve been fortunate that these cooking classes have been very popular. I always sellout a month in advance... I have a lot of returners and new faces. So that’s good, that means someone elbowed someone to get into the class.” If this interests you, stay on the lookout and browse the Seawolf Living page for more student events.

Find your chapter; Greek life at SSU

Greek life is a popular hobby among SSU students; nearly 10% of Seawolves are involved with Greek life. Sonoma State currently has 19 active chapters, some of the most prominent Greek life chapters at our school include: Pi Kappa Phi, Alpha Omicron Pi, Sigma Pi Alpha, Phi Sigma Sigma and Nu Alpha Kappa. There are three governing councils within the system known as the Interfraternity Council, the Multicultural Sorority & Fraternity Council, and the Panhellenic Council.

The most important part about Greek life is philanthropy, each chapter organizes fundraisers in order to help a nonprofit. Gamma Phi Betas’ philanthropy is called “Girls on the Run (GOTR)” which is a nonprofit running program for elementary and middle school girls. Throughout the academic year they raise money by helping coach running teams as well as volunteering at the GOTR 5k each semester. Pi Kappa Phi’s philanthropy is known as “Ability Experience”. They hold an event every year called War of Roses which is a two day event where all Pi Kapps ride stationary bikes for 24 hours in order to raise money for their philanthropy. Alpha Sigma Psi has five philanthropies but their biggest one is RAINN which is the nation’s largest network for sexual as-

sault victims/prevention. They hold a RAINN week every fall and have raised over $2,000 in five days. Fraternities and sororities look a little bit different here than other schools. SSU sororities and fraternities do not live by the traditional housing known as, “Greek row”. At a typical University, the majority of the chapters live on the same street creating a community of Greek life members. Joey Boutta, who is currently the treasurer for Alpha Sigma Psi, says that he feels like they lose out by not all being in one house and not having a Greek row. Boutta trys to make it work by living off campus with his four brothers from the fraternity. Kiele Costello, who is the Membership Vice President for Gamma Phi Beta also says she feels like she is missing out on traditional Greek life. Nick Loudermilk, the chapter president for Pi Kappa Phi, says that SSU could benefit if chapter houses were built in Rohnert Park. The main reason most students join Greek life is to find community and it may be difficult to do that when chapters are not living together. However, they do a good job at doing what they can to overcome these obstacles. Several fraternities and sororities are renting houses off campus with a few other members. This past week on campus you may have

seen representatives from each chapter tabling in Seawolf Plaza. This is because most chapters within the past two weeks were holding informal recruitment, known as Continuous Open Bidding (COB). During formal recruitment, the days are already planned out for you and all of the sororities/fraternities to participate. The week of COB, each chapter gets to decide which days they want to hold informal recruitment. Each day you visit the house of the chapter you are interested in.the events are usually laid back, participants talk to the chapter members. If it seems like a good fit from both parties then the potential new member will receive a bid from the house.

From the loud music to the herds of people around the tables in Seawolf Plaza, Greek life may seem very intimidating to most people, but it shouldn’t be. Greek life can be a way of networking with fellow Seawolves and a way to discover what communities SSU has to offer. Kiele Costello says, “Have fun and be yourself.” Nick Loudermilk recommends that you, “Go with your heart and find the people that will boost your Greek life experience.” Overall, Greek life offers a space to meet new people and adds to the community here at SSU.

JUSTIN SIMPSON STAFF WRITER

MIA GARCIA STAFF WRITER

STAR // Dennae Taylor Haley Azevedo tabling for CalFresh Outreach Days.

STAR//Mia Garcia Seawolves pose with their cooking creation.

JAKE RENTERIA STAFF WRITER

Lyszczyk makes CCAA history

Sonoma State Baseball made program and CCAA history this past Friday when Marika Lyszczyk became the first female to play in a game on what has traditionally been an all-male team. Lyszczyk is originally from British Columbia and signed with the Seawolves this past year. There was plenty of buzz early in the season about the new recruit. Coming in to pitch in the 9th inning, Marika recorded three outs while giving up one unearned run on her way to history.

Sonoma, playing in their final non-conference series against Fresno Pacific, started out the game rough. Giving up a home run in the top of the second inning to Fresno’s Miguel Ortiz-Montilla. Sophomore third baseman Cooper Callison made a nice jumping snag in the third inning. Sonoma got out of a bases-loaded no-out jam in the bottom of the fourth to keep the game close. Junior right fielder Jared Esperaza saved a run with a great throw home in time to tag the runner.

Unfortunately, Fresno Pacific blew the game wide open with a five-run inning in the top of the seventh to make it 8-0. A wild pitch got the Seawolves on the board in the seventh. Sophomore

Kenny Decelle hit a three-run shot to left field to close the gap, making it 8-4. A blooper single by Sonoma in the eighth inning made it an 8-5 ball game. Then came the 9th when Sonoma looked upon new sophomore pitcher Lyszczyk. After the first batter she faced flew out to deep center, Lyszczyk gave her team a strong half inning and put the baseball world on notice. After the final out of the inning, Lyszczyk was received with a bundle of support from fans and players including high fives and screams from the dugout that could be heard everywhere around the field.

After Lyszczyk’s top of the ninth outing, It was time for the Seawolves to get to work, adversely needing a four-run inning to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. The team couldn’t ask for a better start as Sonoma loaded up the bases after back to back singles and a walk. Even with the bases loaded, no runs would come out of it for the Seawolves as they fell to Fresno Pacific by a score of 9-5

After the game Lyszczyk had this to say, “It means the world to me

and I feel beyond blessed that I had the opportunity to make history today with my brothers. My coaches and team push me every day to be the best I can be and support me through it all. I truly couldn’t ask for a better program to do this with.”

Sonoma State Baseball had

never had a female player on their roster therefore this was a first for the program as well as the CCAA conference which had never seen a female player play in a game. Despite the loss, this game was a great moment for Sonoma State and college baseball as a whole.

Softball stamps off week with a perfect game

ALEC PADILLA STAFF WRITER

TTheSeawolves Softball team dominated last week with everything from continuations of old games to ninth inning walk-offs to a perfect game by Nichole Sarra. They outscored their opponents with a cumulative score of 54-8.

The Seawolves got things going this past Wednesday when the Seawolves and the Holy Names Hawks played a doubleheader to make up games that were suspended earlier in the season. In the first inning of the first game, the Seawolves scored four times to take an early 4-0 lead. Senior Reagan Hunt was up to bat first and kickstarted the game. She sent one just right of the right fielder who dove for the ball but missed. She said, “The second I saw the right fielder miss the ball I knew I had the possibility of getting a triple.”

With the extra time, Hunt managed to round all three bases before being waved in to come home. “I definitely didn’t think I would come out with an inside-the-park home run.” With a happy Hunt and the team in high spirits after their first win of the doubleheader, the continuation of the second game was underway.

The Seawolves went on to win their next game in a 6-5 battle that needed nine innings. In the bottom of the ninth with one out, senior Cassidy Romano blasted one over the left field wall to walk-off the game. With Wednesday’s games completed the team never looked back and swept San Francisco State, outscoring them 39-0. One attribute of the Seawolves’ success is the offensive performances of Giana Hays, Anna

Zioa-Buescher, Rylee Nishimoto and Jordyn Martinez. Hays was asked about what helps her be proficient on the offense and she said that, “hitting is something I am always working on and trying to adjust to find what works best for me.” Hays explained that she’s keeping her approach in the box simple and she said that “I’m trying to find the grass wherever I can to help my team score runs.” The team’s offense has been unstoppable this season as they have outscored their opponents 69 to 17. The Seawolves have made winning so easy in part by the success of their pitching from Bailee Reed and Sarra in particular. Reed’s pitching has been especially instrumental to the team’s success this season so far. She currently has a record

of 6-0 while pitching 58 innings and allowing only nine runs. When asked about her mindset on her success so far this season, she said, “I truly trust in my abilities. I go into each game knowing that they’re going to have to do something really special to rattle me.” Sarra on the other hand is 5-1 and added an exclamation to the 8-0 win against the Gators by pitching a perfect game. Sarra was so lights out on the mound she didn’t even realize she had a perfect game going. “I knew I hadn’t walked anyone but I didn’t realize no one had gotten a hit.” With just two strikeouts, her defense backed her up nicely and she said, “It was a team effort and I’m so proud of everyone, not only for that game but for the whole weekend.”

Hip, hip Hooray for Senior Day

secure the win over the twelfth ranked team in the nation but fell short in the final moments. After losing 85-81, the team is now 11-15 overall and 10-10 in conference play.

As every season comes with successes and challenges, Men’s Head Coach Richard Shayewitz notes that as they’ve been battling significant injuries, they’ve had a few losses this season, “but that’s the nature of sports.” As they learn how to overcome these situations, the team gets closer and closer to the playoffs as they have now secured their spot.

From joining the program as transfers, recruits or even walk-ons, to walking with loved ones at their senior ceremonies. Sonoma State Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams celebrated their graduating class this past Saturday after the Women’s team clinched a win and the Men’s team suffered a tough loss, fighting tooth and nail to the last seconds of the game.

SSU’s Women’s team is now

headed to the conference tournament for the sixth year in a row as a result of their win on Saturday night beating Cal State San Bernardino 59-56. Senior Camille Johnson, a kinesiology major and one of the team’s captains, mentions that “the energy of this team is unbeatable.” This attitude is clearly a huge part of what has led them this far in the season.

The Men’s team overcame a 21-point deficit against CSSB to almost

Coach Shaywitz wanted to mention his praise for seniors’ efforts in how they have led their program back on track as they build for the future. “Nick Klarman, Damian Wallace, and Preston Blakely serve different roles for this team… they have led in their own way, made their own path, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.” He notes that the team will continue to be in debt to them for their contributions to the program.

To see the other side of the story, Nick Klarman comments on what the team has taught him. He spoke about how the program taught him to “always stay true to who you are,” and that doing so allows things to fall into place

in one’s life. Klarman is clearly more than thankful to be able to spend his entire collegiate career with Sonoma State’s basketball team, he shouted out to his teammates as well, “the people are what made it great here.” Klarman will be earning his master’s degree in business administration this summer after his final season with SSU.

Seniors Wallace and Amanda Luckett mention how hard it is coming to terms with their time at SSU coming to an end, describing it as surreal and bittersweet, after both playing ball for almost two decades. As some players plan to end their basketball careers once the current season is over, there are a few that are still planning on hooping after their time at SSU ends. Luckett and Cielo Gonzalez, another senior on the team, are both looking to continue their careers by possibly playing overseas.

The Sonoma State Basketball teams will finish their regular seasons on the road playing against Cal State LA this Thursday along with Cal State San Marcos on Saturday. Watch the men’s team get a shot at their first CCAA tournament berth since 2017 and the women’s team finish strong as they have clinched their berth.

ELIAS KAPLAN STAFF WRITER

COURTESY// Justin Ferrari Marika Lyszczyk made history as she took the mound in the ninth inning.

STAR// Dennae Taylor

(Left to right) Seniors Camile Johnson, Amanda Lucket and Chasity Spady playing defense.

STAR// Dennae Taylor

Senior Nick Klarman passing the ball to Nick Medeiros.

Black Student Voices, loud and proud

Seawolves prove they’re top dog against CSUSB Coyotes

STAR // Dennae Taylor Olivia’s voice was displayed at the event that night.

STAR // Dennae Taylor

Camille Johnson stands gaurd against San Bernadino’s Mia Finnie

STAR // Dennae Taylor

Cielo Gonzalez passes the ball to Chasity Spady as they make their way to the net during Saturday’s game against Cal State San Bernardino.

STAR // Dennae Taylor

Olivia Blades speaks about how her experiences in the Black community and the Sonoma State Community intersect and effect her life.

STAR // Dennae Taylor

Student statements were shared around the event on Feb.15.

STAR // Dennae Taylor Michael Benz pitching during the Baseball game against Fresno Pacific on Feb. 18.

STAR // Dennae Taylor Shane Callison makes contact with the ball during the Baseball game against Fresno Pacific on Feb. 18.

STAR // Dennae Taylor Christopher Wright running to first base during Saturdays game.