Students re-evaluate safety

continued from pg. 1 shooting that occurred in Nashville Tennessee, and the recent shooting in Santa Rosa, students are reinforcing safety precautions in public.

“I usually carry pepper spray with me when I go out as a safety measure because you never know what can happen, although this wouldn’t be super useful in a shooting situation. When me and my friends go to events or parties, I have to know my surroundings so I like to know my exits in case we have to leave quickly,” Said Madrigal-Lorenzo.

Students have also come to rely heavily on technology for safety, specifically using their cell phones to share location information with their friends and families. “I share my location with fellow friends who are attending and those who stay behind at home for emergencies,” Said Gonzalez. She even added that she has emergency services on speed dial.

There are shortcuts on cell phones to contacting authorities. For example, on the IPhone, if you press and hold the side and volume up button, it gives you the option to contact emergency services.

When it comes to safety, communication is key. “I always text my friends and family, when I make it home safely,” Says Balderas. Gonzalez stated she feels safer attending small gatherings with people she knows. Much of the details are still being investigated and witnesses at the party have not been cooperative according to authorities.

Mudslides along 101 create commuting difficulties

Amudslide created a break on Redwood Boulevard, along the freeway in Novato on Tuesday, March 21. A few days later on March 25, Southbound US 101 had to be closed to prevent further gas or water damage from Petaluma to Novato. It was reopened at about 1:30 p.m. the next day, according to the Marin County Sheriff.

Marin County Officials said this mudslide uncovered one of two PG&E gas main lines possibly creating pressure on a North Marin Water District aqueduct, which runs from Sonoma County to Marin County. Operating pressure was reduced because PG&E reported that they couldn’t visually assess the potential impact of the slide on the buried pipeline.

According to Marin County Fire Chief Jason Weber, “multiple agencies had to work together with PG&E to stabilize the hillside as much as possible to avert any additional damage to gas and water infrastructure.”

Faculty members and students commuting to campus were impacted by the closure of it.

SSU biology major Noémi Jackovicks lives on campus but commutes to Marin to see her family. She found the break “inconvenient and unfortunate for something like the weather to cause this but California had record rainfall this year so it makes sense. The roads are not ready to drain and handle flooding or a storm properly.”

Sonoma State communication professor, Gina Baleria commutes to campus from San Francisco, and stated that she “felt sorry when she saw the damage and destruction.”

A week after the incident, PG&E continued to manage the damages on Redwood Boulevard because “even under the dry conditions, the hill is moving. The landslide is moving. We further anticipate more land movement is very possible and anticipated,” said PG&E.

Katie O’Brien, the international student school advisor at SSU was also not surprised to see this incident with the current ground saturation. She also mentioned having a geology background and studied how to identify landslides, and potential landslide markers. For her “there are plenty of local hills that currently have those markers.”

“Right now, there’s no vehicle access. There’s not going to be any access along the bike path or the road until this gets repaired,” said Chief Park Ranger Vince Anibale.

PG&E says its engineers will have to wait until all the seasonal rain is over before they can conduct a thorough investigation and come up with a more permanent solution over the next coming months.

Johnson’s art recognized internationally

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Johnson grew up in the Bay Area and would study art at the University of California, Davis in the 1960s. He was renowned for his great art pieces constructed from steel and salvaged old-growth redwoods, made distinct via handcrafted detailing, copper etching and pounded metal. He described his art pieces as crosses between shinto shrines and Stonehenge. Many of his art pieces were so large that they had to be moved with trucks and cranes. According to his website, the Stonehenge inspiration is reflected by the “primal sense of scale, mass, and physical presence of his work” and the shinto shrine inspiration is shown through “the elegant craft and exquisite detail of sacred wood architecture.” Despite his rural base of operations, Johnson’s work would receive international recognition in Taiwan, Italy, and Spain, plus many private and public collections across the U.S.A.

Interim Art Gallery Director and Lecturer in Art History Jennifer Bethke says that Bruce’s works are deeply reflected in Sonoma County and the surrounding areas. “Crafted from massive pieces found in redwood embellished with copper, his art really speaks to the redwood-shrouded and ocean-bounded landscape of Sonoma County,” says Bethke.

In addition to sculptures, Johnson also used his skills in other projects, such as the construction of unique buildings, gardens, playgrounds, fountains, and so much more. Some of the work that he held close to his heart was work done on important buildings such as the historic Sea Ranch Chapel at Fort Ross, the Moon Gate at the Asian Art Museum, and the beautiful “Poetry House.”

Our thoughts are with Bruce Johnson and his family during this time of mourning. If you want to know more about Johnson’s work you can go visit his website at formandenergy.com. The Green Music Center and University Art Gallery will also be hosting a dedication for Johnson’s new sculpture on May 11.