Diet Culture
IN THIS ISSUE
The Barlow
Back-to-Back Champs
Mainstream diet culture throughout Hollywood becomes more publicized. PAGE 3.
SSU’s softball team celebrates as they win their second straight CCAA title. PAGE 7.
The Barlow in Sebastopol hosts small businesses and collectives year-round. PAGE 5.
SINCE 1979
VOLUME 86 // ISSUE 13 MAY 10 - MAY 16, 2022
THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER
@SONOMASTATESTAR
Leaked Supreme Court draft raises concern around abortion laws
COURTESY // ah.sonoma.edu A&H Dean Hollis Robbins will be leaving in July to start her new position at the University of Utah.
SSU says goodbye to Dean Hollis Robbins
STAR // Maych Rowell Students sit outside The Student Center with signs after a Supreme Court document regarding Roe v. Wade is leaked. RACHEL YETSO STAFF WRITER
JAKE MORRISSEY
STAFF WRITER
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rom staff recruitments to the creation of new majors, Arts and Humanities Dean Hollis Robbins ticked off some of the things she’s most proud of from her nearly four-year tenure here, as she prepares to depart for the University of Utah at the end of the semester. Since coming to SSU in 2018, Robbins has always done what was best for the school and department and she will be missed by the campus community. Over her time here at SSU, Robbins says that her proudest accomplishment was the creation of two new majors: Native American Studies and Cinematic Arts and Technology. When asked what led to the creation of these new majors Robbins said, “students have told us that this is what they would like to focus on as undergraduates and we are glad to serve them.” It is clear that the students have always been the biggest priority for Robbins while she has been at SSU. In fact, she says her favorite part of the job has been getting to know the students and learning what their plans are after graduation, “Getting to know the students makes it all worthwhile.” Since 2018, Robbins has also recruited faculty and staff to teach at SSU, and many of these teachers have become favorites of their students. “We have been very fortunate to attract some stellar scholars to teach in our school, including Dr. Patrick Johnson in AMCS; Sena Clara Creston in Art Studio; Dr. Silvia Soto and Dr. Natalia Villanueva-Nieves in CALS; Dr. Gina Baleria in COMS; Dr. Theresa Burruel Stone and Dr. Jennifer Johnson in English; Dr. Kevin Nguyen in Hutchens; and Marie Ramirez Downing in Theater Arts,” said Robbins. When asked if there was anything she would like to say to the Arts and Humanities department before her departure, Robbins gave the following statement: “When I first arrived at Sonoma State I remarked see ROBBINS on pg. 4
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or years, lawmakers and political parties have controversially debated the issue of women’s rights, specifically their right to an abortion and control over their own bodies. According to a leaked copy of an official Supreme Court draft, the Justices are ready to put the argument to rest. Roe v. Wade, the federal case from 1973, states that under the 14th Amendment’s Due Process Clause, women have a constitutional right to choose whether or not to get an abortion before the third trimester of pregnancy. In 1992, Planned Parenthood v. Casey specifically identified the age of fetus viability as 24 - 28 weeks into the gestational period, and put in place the undue burden standard for abortion restriction. These
two cases have been the basis of regulating abortions in America for years. If the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, there is no prior laws on abortion set in place for a nationwide standard. Politico released a 98-page initial draft majority opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, voting to overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. These two cases allow women the right to have an abortion before fetal age of viability. An article from the Washington Post highlights Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s points as to why, “Roe has outlived any role it once played in improving women’s economic security.” Alito states, “Federal and state laws ban
see ROE V. WADE on pg. 4
Hate crime committed at Zinfandel Village pool
NOAH CLARKE STAFF WRITER
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drama filled spring semester just continues to amplify at Sonoma State University. Early last week, on May 2, the university sent out a campus wide email regarding what SSU described as hate crime committed on campus. The notice reported that university staff had found a barbecue grill sitting at the bottom of the Zinfandel Village pool, located on the north-western side of campus. Found on the grill, was a rope, with the loose end of the rope fashioned into a noose and left hanging on the pool’s accessibility lift. Following a brief description of the incident, the University provided a disclaimer within the email, “There is no suspect information at this time. We do not know the motives of the individual(s) involved in this incident.” see HATE CRIME on pg. 4
2 Editorial THE STAR Editorial Board Myles Grabau, Editor-in-Chief Maych Rowell, News Editor Emily Cripe, Opinion Editor Cléa Upcher, Arts & Entertainment Editor Isabel Epstein, Student Life Editor Nicholas Roth, Sports & Health Editor Dana Scacco, Photo Editor Corinne Asturias, Faculty Advisor
MAY 10 - MAY 16, 2022 sonomastatestar.com
Six years of passive leadership strikes a chord with students
Staff Writers Willow Ornellas, Addison Smith, Ana Fingerson, Payton Mullaney, Rosalee Padilla, Jacqueline Garcia, Javier Hernandez, Rachel Yetso, Jake Morrissey, Olivia Doane, Danny Serrano, Montana Lahey, Mikayla Fritzemeier, Noah Clarke
Photographers Holly Durfee, Khanh Dao, Tanner Ivey
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fter the past few weeks of turmoil and unanswered questions, one thing remains certain: the campus community’s confidence in President Judy Sakaki has been on a steady decline for the past few years, and this current situation was the last straw for most students. In light of the no-confidence vote deliberations last week and the faculty’s no confidence vote in Sakaki on Mon., it’s important to remember that this latest scandal is not the only reason Sakaki is being deemed unfit to continue by many faculty members and students. From the perspective of someone who entered this university in 2018, Sakaki has handled many delicate issues poorly over the years. In 2018, one of the hottest topics was the stabbing that occured in the Sauvignon Village dorms just before finals week in the Spring. In a press conference, Sakaki stated, “All of us at Sonoma State are shocked and saddened by this tragic event. Our hearts go out to all who’ve been impacted. Our focus today will be continuing to make sure the needs of our students and our campus community are met.” This seems to be an appropriate way to proceed, but unfortunately, no action followed this statement. There was no continued effort to make the dorms safer, not even after a multitude of articles published by The Star criticized the campus for being poorly lit, poorly patrolled, and any effort to protect students in the dorms was described as poorly maintained. After this on-campus tragedy, emergency call buttons across campus were found to be non-functional, and many paths leading to the dorms from campus still remained unlit. Sakaki merely said her piece via email and her PR team stated they wanted to move forward, continuing on with business as usual. SSU alum Christie Quinn lived in Sauvignon Village in Spring 2018 and explained that, “The response time of the campus police was about five minutes in dorms that were directly across from the police station. They sent one dude on a bike.” She went on to explain that, once the dorms reopened after the incident, everyone living in Sauvignon Village was being hounded by media personnel looking for commentary, as well as curious students looking to see the scene of the crime for themselves. Sakaki and the university did nothing to protect students from intrusions, and Quinn noted that the stabbing served as a reminder of how easy it is for outsiders to break into the dorms. Quinn also noted that the university placed her in a dorm the following year that was right next door to the man who sexually assaulted her. In Spring of 2019, the campus experienced sediment contamination issues with the well water supply, resulting in restricted access to clean water all across the university. Students in the dorms were told not to brush their teeth, wash their hands, or cook with the water from their faucets, the cafeteria shut down their water dispensers, and Sakaki’s solution was handing out one plastic water bottle per person per day for about a week. On top of all that, the news that the water was contaminated was not made public until over 24 hours after the initial findings, so students drank the cafeteria water and washed their hands with their tap water all
STAR // Brandon Sparks
day until the news finally broke. That same semester, news that the dorms would be closing for the remainder of the school year struck the campus community right in the heart. As a result, classes were moved online and remained full price as Sakaki scrambled to deal with crippling budget cuts. Riley Smith, a third year student who transferred to SSU in Spring 2019, said, “It was really disappointing to have my college experience ripped out from under me so soon. The worst part of it all is that I had to pay full tuition. I didn’t even know what campus looked like until this semester, yet I paid the same price as if I had a completely different experience.” One of the most recent developments was an issue with donated art decorating the walls of Sakaki’s private residence when it should have been brought to campus. In an article by the Los Angeles Times, it is explained that nearly $85,000 worth of artwork was reduced to rubble after Sakaki’s home was tragically burned down in the 2017 Tubbs fire. Upon further investigation, that artwork was not merely being stored in the couple’s home, it was being displayed in the hallways as if it belonged to them. A university spokeswoman claimed the art was displayed there because the president often hosted university events in her home, but one of the artists quoted in the LA Times article stresses that this is not what the donation was intended for. Events like these shake a campus to its very core, and the lack of response from Sakaki was alarming both in the moment, and looking back. Taking on the role of president will be extremely stressful under any circumstance, and it is understandable that nobody will ever do the job of president perfectly. Pinning everything wrong with this institution on Sakaki is not the goal here, and it never was. These judgements of Sakaki’s leadership do not come from a place of contempt or malice, rather from students’ concern for the university’s future. The current sexual harassment scandal involving Sakaki’s husband, backed by everything Sakaki has done in the past, is taking away from the purpose of an institution like Sonoma State: to teach people about their passions in a safe, judgement-free environment. If students are expected to follow the Seawolf Commitment – which asks students to commit to integrity, respect, excellence, and responsibility – then students should be able to hold SSU’s faculty to the same standards. We need a leader that will own up to the university’s mistakes, addressing them and speaking about what will be done differently moving forward. Instead, Sakaki’s responses to the many controversies, scandals and tragedies in the past four years have been focused on saving face with a positive message. This almost makes it seem like Sakaki wants to prove to the CSU system that she is fit to continue leadership, instead of working with the university to suggest different ways to solve students’ issues. With all this scandal, it’s nearly impossible to simply turn your head and focus on your studies, and that is why Sakaki needs to own this mistake and resign. As long as her name remains attached to this university, staff and students will know no peace.
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. The board encourages readers to write letters to the editor about all topics, including the editorial.
Opinion 3
MAY 10 - MAY 16, 2022 sonomastatestar.com
Overturning Roe v. Wade will cause more harm than good way.
ANA FINGERSON STAFF WRITER
T
he American government has once again shown its inconsistency revolving around certain topics. Abortion has been and still is one of the biggest issues that divides Americans. It’s a choice between moral and tradition or someone’s safety and choice. In a country that prides itself on liberation and freedom, choosing on behalf of another shows how the legislators are using their power in an unfortunate
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said in an initial draft majority opinion, “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled. The Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision…” Alito also argued that rights protected by the constitution must be strongly rooted in U.S. history and tradition. As a result, a lot of progressive changes that have happened over the last decade will most likely get challenged, starting with abortion. One of the most concerning things about abortions being criminalized is the fact that they’re not going to stop happening, they just won’t be safe or regulated anymore. If implementing tradition into the constitution is so vital to Alito and the rest of the senate, how can Americans be sure they are being prioritized as citizens? The legislators are being ignorant and lack acknowledgement of the issues this ban could actually cause.
Not only could this decision mean abortion rights would not be protected, it also means doubts for protection of same sex marriage, sexual education, contraception and other reproductive rights. Sexual education, which is already insanely flawed in this country will become non existent. People of all ages are going to continue to have sex, and instead of educating and having resources for them to do so safely, it will likely cause issues including unwanted pregnancies, STIs and sexual assualt. “It’s already terrifying being sexually active, and now that I might not be able to have a choice if I were to get pregnant makes it even scarier. I definitely want to put more priority voting in the midterm elections.” said Nico Schwartz, a fourth year early childhood education major. From a conservative point of view, abortion is wrong because it destroys the fetus who they believe has full personhood from conception. Although some take heart to this view and nobody should be belittled for believing what they want. It
is ignorant to look past what abortion laws could mean for someone’s life. It should never be up to someone else what you choose to do with your body even if it means it could save someone else’s life. We volunteer to be organ, blood, and egg donors and from this decision we could save a life or let one die. There are no laws telling us we have to do so, so why when it comes to making sure a fetus is birthed, is a ruling being decided to not allow for the choice. What makes that fetus have more worth than someone who needs a blood transplant? Or how about the mother who could die during delivery? This decision being so close to becoming reality shows that no matter how clear the consequences are and how illogical the reasoning may be, our government is corrupt and designed to favor a conservative view. America is a country proud of its right to freedom, so then how is making a choice for someone else and their own bodily freedom?
be closed for the remainder of the semester. At the end of April, in the middle of the other campus drama, Sonoma State slipped in an email that Lobo’s would be closed for the remainder of the semester “...due to staffing challenges.” It seems as though the university is having issues either paying student workers or keeping them safe from COVID-19. Perhaps if the hours of operation made sense, then Lobo’s could have stayed open for the remainder of the semester. This semester, Lobo’s was open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Typically though, no one wants a ceasar salad or quesadilla at eight in the morning. Brody Niksa, a Criminal Justice student, said, “Obviously it doesn’t really make sense that they’d shut it down with how close we are to summer. Why not just leave it for another week or two? But I mean what else do we expect from Sonoma
State?” Had the hours been thought through before opening, to open later in the morning and stay open later in the day, more people would have been able to eat at Lobos and spend more money to then keep it open. In addition to adjusting the hours to make more sense for college students, the University could also solve the problem of staffing shortages by paying student workers a more competitive rate. The issue student workers tend to have when they work for SSU, is the once a month pay day. This is an ongoing problem that the school needs to face and fix if they want to have a full staff of student employees. A previous student employee of Lobos who wishes to remain anonymous talked about how difficult it was to live with only being paid once per month. They mentioned how hard it was to
balance paying their bills when they were paid in the middle of the month and the paycheck would vary month by month too. They said, “It didn’t make sense to keep working there when I had to live my life based on when I would be paid.” Dominic DiGrande, a Communications major said, “It’s disappointing that the last place to go and eat on campus has closed this close to the end of the semester. Not only did Lobos open very late into the semester, but now the only other option for food on campus is Sip, which has a very limited selection and they close super early in the day.” The school could have made more of an effort in order to keep this beloved on campus pub open, but unfortunately there was no further explanation other than staffing shortages. Perhaps there is a larger issue at hand within the University, if they were unable to keep their employees for the remaining three weeks left of the semester.
In 2021, the podcast industry didn’t just grow — it exploded. In the world of visual culture and rapid technological advancements, the popularity of such a simple format like the podcast seems to be surprising. Podcasts have been around for nearly two decades, but the format has come into its own over the last few decades and consumption has nearly doubled in the last five years. In 2016, only 21% of the population were podcast listeners. According to the Infinite Dial 2021 survey by Edison Research, 41% of the U.S. population aged 12 and over listen to podcasts monthly. Offering listeners the ability to multitask, considering it has become second nature to us, also sets podcasts apart from any other media enter tainment format.“Listening to podcasts has become part of my daily routine. I’m literally unable to work out without listening to one,” said Gabriel-
la Corres, a fourth year business major. One of the most appealing aspects of listening to downloaded episodes of a podcast episode is that the listener has playback controls. Especially when listening to an interview podcast, it is much easier to choose your own pace and to be able to rewind and fast forward. Podcasts give listeners the ability to dive into topics without setting aside time to read or watch a video. Giving listeners a large variety of content to choose from, typically updated weekly or daily, keeps them engaged over a long period. “I love listening to podcasts. They give me entertainment and information I crave without much effort,” said Alex Torres, a second-year linguistics major. Although the podcast industry is relatively young, they’ve renewed the dying form of verbal storytelling. “Whether you’re looking for a good laugh or, like me, the experience of human
connection, podcasts can provide this and much more,” said Abbey Marcos, third-year Spanish major. For centuries, entire epic poems like The Odyssey were passed down from generation to generation by storytellers who memorized the whole work. This oral tradition has been seen in other cultures throughout history, but written and visual media has nearly killed the storyteller in American society today. However, podcasting has rejuvenated this tradition, and storytelling makes up a huge margin of podcasts. It used to be that consumers would listen to podcasts during downtime, particularly during their commutes to and from the office. But as the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into its third year, more and more consumers are experiencing screen fatigue and looking for ways to multitask while working around the house.
Ever since the Met Gala concluded on May 1, the internet has not stopped discussing the fact that Kim Kardashian lost 16 pounds in just three weeks to fit into Marilyn Monroe’s iconic 1962 “Happy Birthday Mr. President” dress for the event. There has been much speculation on how she achieved this, thus encouraging people online to overanalyze a person’s body and leading them to believe they have the right to discuss a person’s weight in such detail. An anonymous SSU student said, “Instead of doing a tribute to Monroe, [Kardashian] contributes to an already toxic diet culture by wearing a dress that was not meant to be worn by her. The Kardashians are constantly promoting diet teas, lipsticks, and shape wear so young girls can try to look like them, as they are fashion influences, but they do not look like them.” Kardashian was open about her weight loss at the event, which has caused some backlash from fans and other celebrities. She made los-
ing so much weight in such a short time just to fit into a dress seem like an ordinary thing, and some people are ignoring the harmful weight loss and praising her for her looks. This is even more concerning when taking into account the fact that the Kardashians are known for their frequent endorsements of diet teas and treats. Registered dietitian Elaina Efird told Buzzfeed, “The issues that arise from Kim Kardashian perpetuating a narrative to alter yourself to fit into a garment have many negative implications. Most notably, it perpetuates the narrative that you shouldn’t wear clothes at your current size and that instead you should be changing your body. It perpetuates the narrative that thinner is ‘better.’ It perpetuates the narrative that you have to look a certain way in order to wear nice clothes, which is absolutely NOT true; you can wear nice clothes at ANY size.” Strange and dangerous diet fads have been around for decades, often being labeled as a way
to lose weight fast. Many people do not understand that weight loss takes time and can not be done instantly. Social media only makes diet culture more damaging and toxic, with easy access to hundreds of weight loss plans and “thinspiration,” which is images on social media that encourage people to be thin. Seeing these things online can really chip away at someone’s self esteem and cause serious mental health issues and eating disorders. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, eating disorders often begin between 18-21 years of age, when many people are in college. Just Google “freshman 15” and you’ll be horrified. College is stressful as it is and adding on the pressure to be thinner can be very damaging. Everyone’s body is unique, and no one should ever have to change their looks to fit in. Physical appearances are not as important as health and general-well being.
Lobo’s closure narrows campus social areas to none
MONTANA LAHEY STAFF WRITER
W
ith the weather getting warmer, and the semester coming to a close, wouldn’t it be nice to sit and hang out outside with your friends while enjoying some good food on campus? Unfortunately, that perfect scenario is no longer possible now that Lobo’s, one of the only places to hang out on campus and actually have fun, will
Podcasts have revived the storytellers of American society
JACQUELINE GARCIA
STAFF WRITER
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et’s be honest, you probably aren’t going to read this whole article. There’s always something better you could be doing than sitting down to read some newspaper on the internet, right? But what if it was read to you aloud while driving to work, working out at the gym, or completing chores around the house?
Hollywood’s toxic diet culture has gone too far this time
MIKAYLA FRITZEMEIER STAFF WRITER
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owadays, diet culture is everywhere. Advertisements, social media, television, it’s impossible to escape harmful body ideals and toxic fad diets without shutting off the internet for good. One of the largest contributors to toxic internet diet culture is celebrities and influencers, and in light of Kim Kardashian’s recent escapade at the Met Gala, they need to be held responsible for their actions.
4 News
MAY 10 - MAY 16, 2022
A&H welcomes new interim dean continued from pg. 1
sonomastatestar.com
Abortion rights advocates protest Supreme Court draft continued from pg. 1
and collaborative culture even though we were spread across so many different buildings. How could we be one cohesive unit when we are so fragmented? The answer is our mutual respect and collaborative ethic. We trust and support one another; we trust and support our students.” Over the past week, SSU has named Edward Beebout to be the new interim dean of Arts and Humanities. Beebout has been at SSU since 2007 and currently serves as the department chair of the Communications and Media Studies department. During his time here, Beebout has taught many broadcast journalism courses and is the advisor for Studio Blue, the student-run video media outlet at SSU. His main goal as interim dean is to do what is best for the students and staff of this school. “I truly hope I can make a difference. The university as a whole faces major challenges due to the recent declines in enrollment and a budget deficit,” said Beebout. “I want to make sure everyone in Arts and Humanities feel like their voices are being heard as we work together to find our way forward.” When asked if there was the possibility of him moving from an interim to permanent role as dean, Beebout simply said that he was focusing on what he could do in the year ahead. Just like Robbins, he also had a statement for the arts and humanities department: “I’m grateful to be part of the School of Arts and Humanities. There are so many talented and passionate people here,” said Beebout, “ I’m looking forward to getting to know more about them in the year ahead and discovering new ways we can work together for the good of our students.”
discrimination on the basis of pregnancy… Leave for pregnancy and childbirth are now guaranteed by law in many cases… [and] costs of medical care associated with pregnancy are covered by insurance or government assistance.” In the 98-page initial draft, Alito shares points on the court’s opinions of Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood. “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak… The Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision… Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division.” It is important to note that the Supreme Court does not want to ban abortion nationwide, but they believe that, “It is time to return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.” The Supreme Court wants to overturn Roe v. Wade so there would be no federal laws supporting legal abortions, therefore allowing state’s to make their own laws and regulations on abortions. With the controversial issues remaining unresolved, the Supreme Court’s decision will not be made official until June or July. Politicians are confident that the state of California will still allow for safe and legal abortions. However, the New York Times predicts that up to 28 states are likely to ban or further limit abortion. Their analysis includes, “four ‘uncertain’ states — Kansas, Michigan, North Carolina and Wisconsin — that either have pre-Roe bans or other gestational limits on abortion… Texas, which banned most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy last year, and… Florida, which recently enacted a 15-week ban.” There are 22 other states predicted to enact abortion bans or restrictions, and if these states criminalize abortion, approximately 33.6 million women will be unable to get an abortion within their own state. Faith Long, an SSU alum with a degree in molecular biology, shares that, “...for the last 50 years, the US has had consistently higher child mortality rates than the 19 other developed nations, and still has the third highest infant mortality rate today. Mississippi alone has a higher infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate than the US average, while also having extremely limited access to health care for women before, during, and after pregnancy. It would be more appropriate to term the movement pro-birth since the care for human life does not extend past pregnancy.” If Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey are both overturned, women seeking an abortion in these states will either have to travel across state lines, or purchase abortion pills online (as of now, there is no way to restrict online abortion pill purchases). These options are costly, time consuming, unobtainable, and just plain unsafe for some women. Abortion laws and regulations can be a death sentence to impoverished, undocumented, and unpriviledged women. Elizabeth Warren, a state senator for the state of Massachusetts, spoke to the Supreme Court Decision. “This will fall on the poorest women in our country. This will fall on the young women who have been abused or victims of incest. This will fall on those who have been raped. This will fall on mothers who are already struggling to work three jobs to be able to support the children they have.” American women of all political parties, racial backgrounds, and economic status will be anxiously awaiting to see what the US Supreme Court’s decision will be this summer. The Supreme Court’s war on abortion doesn’t simply stop women from getting abortions, but it does make it more difficult for these STAR // Tanner Ivey women to find safe ways to get them.
Hate crime committed at campus pool causes pool to close down for unknown period of time.
Hate crime forces oncampus pool to close continued from pg. 1
The email continued, “Sonoma State University is committed to maintaining an inclusive and equitable community that values diversity and fosters mutual respect. Any act of bias or discrimination based upon a protected class is prohibited pursuant to the Interim CSU Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Exploitation, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, Stalking, and Retaliation.” Freshmen SSU student Ajai Daner, lives on campus in Cabernet Village, located right next to the scene of the incident. Daner caught a glimpse of the scene before any University Staff had arrived, “Initially, me and my friends were just kind of confused and found it kind of ridiculous. We took a minute or two just looking at it.” Daner continued, “We had seen the rope attached to the grill, but it wasn’t until I read the email afterwards that I realized it was fashioned into some sort of noose. That’s pretty messed up and really isn’t something that should be joked around about”. Roommate of Daner, Austin Negrete described his witness of the scene, “I at first found it kind of funny and absurd, like who throws a grill in the pool? I also didn’t get a good enough view to see the rope, so when I read the email I was a little shocked. I hope they find who did this and resolve the issue”.
COURTESY // @roevwadeleak on Instagram
MAY 10 - MAY 16, 2022
sonomastatestar.com
Arts & Entertainment 5
FAASSU hosts annual Pacific Cultural Night
ADDISON SMITH STAFF WRITER
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n May 7, the Filipino American Association of Sonoma State University held their 11th Annual Pacific Cultural Night in ballroom B for Sonoma State students to enjoy. While this event has been going on for 11 years, this was the first virtual showcase they have done. Every year, FAASSU and other clubs host a slew of events throughout the month of May to promote and showcase Asian-American and Pacific-Islander culture during Asian-American and Pacific-Islander month. Vivian Stegura, a third-year Creative Writing major said “This is my first year in FAASSU and I love it so far; to me, the club is about learning and understanding my culture more, it makes me feel more connected to others and it makes me feel like I have a home here.” The Pacific Cultural Night (PCN), held in student center ballroom B, was a celebration
“...The club is about learning and understanding my culture more, it makes me feel more connected to others and it makes me feel like I have a home here.” of Filipino and Polynesian culture through dances and celebrations. Students were led into the ballroom to see rows of chairs and a giant screen with the PCN video showcase ready to run when all the students got seated. After everyone was settled into the ballroom, the president of FAASSU, Hannah Alferez, introduced everyone to the virtual PCN video showcase, featuring multiple cultural dances and choreography throughout the 26 minute video. Some of the dances shown were: The Hula, a dance to portray the words of the Oli or Mele; Tinkling, a dance to mimic the movements of birds over sticks; Haka, a cultural dance from New Zealand to represent the passion and pride of the Māori; Kapwa, which is a dance with modern hip hop elements; and Magalatik, which is supposed to mimic a fight between the dancers. Each dance from the video came with a small intro on screen explaining what the dance was and where it originated from, such as the Hula, a “Polynesian dance that can be done sitting or standing. The dance is usually accompanied by chanting or songs”. Each dance would show the previous years PCN performance starting from as early as 2016, and going to their last in-person showcase before the pandemic in 2020, and then transitioning to the current years’ dance filmed throughout campus in student ballroom A, Person Theater, and Parking Lot F near Tuscany village. Second-year communications and media study major, Sacha Wedner, who appeared in
STAR // Holly Durfee FAASSU’s logo was front and center on t-shirts for sale at Pacific Cultural Night. some of the dances throughout the showcase said, “Honestly, I’d say this event was pretty fun, coming from someone who was in a couple of the dances. In all seriousness, this means a lot to me, coming from a half Filipino background myself, and I found it as a new way to connect with my heritage. Plus, I thought having the opportunity to showcase it to other students was super cool.” Once the showcase video was over, FAASSU president Alferez once again took to the podium to do a small outro and introduce the new executive board, the Friendship Games Board who work on preparing for the annual friendship games held by different Filipino-American Associations, and the graduating seniors of the Filipino-American Association. Yellow roses were handed out to each new member of the executive board as a commemorative symbol. After the show, Anthony Tha May, a fourth-year Applied Mathematics major said, “The event helped promote different cultures and how they’ve all come together with dancing. It was cool seeing the different dances from each culture and I could definitely see it bringing people together, that’s the beauty of it all.” FAASSU and other clubs on campus will be hosting more events throughout the rest of the school year such as the Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Bystander Training on May 12 to show people different techniques to prevent verbal harassment from escalating to physical harassment in response to the surge in hate incidents targeting the Asian American community.
‘Head West’ for the summer at The Barlow
ROSALEE PADILLA STAFF WRITER
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ow that summer is swiftly approaching, it is the perfect time for the Seawolves to discover more of Sonoma County. The Barlow, which is located in Sebastopol, offers a variety of activities to partake in. On May 7, an event known as “Head West” welcomed small businesses and local organizations creating an outdoor marketplace. Patrons were able to browse freely through the market to discover what participating businesses had to offer at their own pace.. “Head West” is truly about the vendors and allowing them to connect one on one not only with each other but also with customers. This creates more genuine connections, which have been lacking since the beginning of the pandemic. The event is located outdoors, so this also allowed for safe, socially distanced, face to face contact. Danella Mckinnon, who assists with the curation of the “Head West” event, spoke to the Sonoma State STAR about her business and their partnership with The Barlow. “I am a co-owner of Mckinnon Collective, we do hand crafted leather goods for everyday people. I have loved being a part of Head West for the community that we are able to make together as creators and small business people.We all support one another and enjoy sharing our creations with the city of Sebastopol and really all of Sonoma County.” You can find an array of small businesses like Mckinnon Collective at The Barlow year round. There are also established storefronts to explore in The Barlow when the outdoor marketplace is not running. You can explore shops offering household plants or even sign up to make cheese. There is a vast selection of jewelers that attend the Head West event in order to get more buzz for their businesses. Christmas Stewart is one of these local jewelers. In an interview with the SSU STAR, Stewart discussed the importance of this event, “I am the owner and maker of Drugstore Cowgirl Jewelry. Head West is one of my favorite events to participate in. It is the best run event in Sonoma County and they really foster a feeling of community here. It’s truly a great way to get local artists in the public eye.” Jimmy Brower is the individual behind the event. On the “Head West’’ homepage, Brower discusses the importance of an accessible and affordable space for the community. He also discusses the inclusivity of “Head West”, and how makers can use the marketplace to further promote their businesses. The STAR interviewed Amanda Jensen, the creator of Golden Hour Designs, who discussed Head West’s ability to create a fun and engaging communal space.
“I have been coming to this market for about a year now and it is just so cool and fun to be a part of. There are tons of different artisans here and just so many people around in general. I love being able to share my designs here and I will keep coming back for as long as they let me.” Along with the outdoor markets, there are food and drink options located all around the main strip of vendors. There is anything from sushi to hand tossed pizzas. Looking for a cold refreshment? Crooked Goat Brewing is a local brewery that offers unique beverages and live music every weekend. The Barlow offers a great way to get involved with the community. In addition to the abundance of options for day to day items like clothing and jewelry, there are also booths dedicated to LGBTQ+ and BIPOC organizations. This outdoor marketplace offers locals so many different options to choose from. If you want to support local businesses or just want to discover a new destination this summer, check out The Barlow.
STAR // Rosalee Padilla Patrons enjoy blue skies and mild spring weather as they peruse the “Head West” marketplace at Sebastopol’s The Barlow on Saturday afternoon.
6 Student Life Spring Carnival takes over Person Lawn
MAY 10 - MAY 16, 2022
sonomastatestar.com
DANIEL SERRANO STAFF WRITER
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ast friday, Associated Student Productions (ASP) hosted a Spring Carnival. The carnival was held on Person Lawn from 5-7:30 p.m. to celebrate the conclusion of the semester. With the weather a bit breezy at 63 degrees, that didn’t stop students from showing up for free entertainment as students from all years came out for the free games, music and shirts. As the sun was beginning to set, the DJ was just getting started to help set the tone of the event. After students showed their green wellness screen and signed a liability waiver, they were able to roam around the lawn and participate in whatever activity they wanted. There were games spread out all over the lawn including life size checkers, high striker, ping pong and more. There was also a bouncy house that students were able to jump in. The atmosphere of this event was reminiscent of what college life was like, prior to COVID-19. “It’s exciting to see that events like this can bring the campus together. I haven’t seen a ton of events like this one and it was really fun to get to go to one,” said third-year business major Surina Dhanota. Playing the carnival games for fun wasn’t the only incentive to get students to participate as those who gained enough tickets were able to win prizes. The prizes included STAR // Daniel Serrano stickers and a chance to win a JBL speaker or a Nintendo Switch in a raffle. Students gather on Person Lawn to play carnival games and to jump in the bounce house. To bring the authenticity of a carnival, there was also a free funnel cake stand where students got to pick the flavor of their choice. Carnival was a success with hundreds of Seawolves in attendance at a very interactive event. Angela Larsen, a third-year early childhood education major said, “ Supporting Listening to a DJ play classic songs to dance along to, the sweet taste of funnel cakes and receivmy roommate who helped organize the event was the main point of me coming out. I also ing a free shirt are just a few of the many perks from going to an event like this. From air hockey didn’t go out to events like this often but now that we’re finally back on campus, I don’t to bouncy houses, students were able to find an activity that they enjoyed. want to take stuff like this for granted. Getting free funnel cake and being able to play Dhanota said, “I wish there were more events like this since it is a great way to get out games also played a big role in me coming out to this event.” on campus. I love our campus and how inclusive everyone and everything is. If there were more These events are what helps to bring the seawolf community together. The Spring events like this I would definitely come to them more.”
Rock out with Night Train: Tunes @ Noon OLIVIA DOANE STAFF WRITER
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s a way to help students relax between classes before finals week, Associated Students Productions (ASP) presents Tunes @ Noon. This event takes place this Thursday from 12-1 p.m. in the Seawolf Plaza with performances from the San Francisco based cover band, Night Train. Night Train is the Bay Area’s “most rocking dance party band,” as they state on their website. Their ability to connect with the crowd and put on an amazing show is unmatched. Night Train is comprised of four individuals with Ashton Chevallier on guitar and vocals, Michael Young as lead guitarist, Travis Morgan on bass and vocals, Drew Yurkov on the drums and lead vocals by Nikki Milliner. Night Train is looking forward to bringing their contagious energy to campus. “We could not be more stoked to rock out on the SSU campus. Night Train are big believers in the power of rock and roll to bring people together – there’s virtually no problem that can’t be solved with big, loud guitars.” the band stated. “From 80’s metal to 90’s alternative and grunging up some modern rock slammers, we’ll bring a little something for everybody who has a head to bang. All you need to bring is some dancing shoes.” The type of entertainment that Night Train is able to bring to their performance is what Sonoma State students need to take a much needed break before finals and to take their minds off the many controversies that surround the campus. “I think this is going to be a nice break from our current situation and will allow students to look forward to something fun and exciting too, especially with the end of the year coming closer it will be a nice stress reliever from the craziness of finals,” said a third year student, who wishes to remain anonymous. Not only do they play songs from the 80’s and 90’s, Night Train takes it back to the 70’s with hits like Rock and Roll by Led Zeppelin and Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond. They perform all kinds of popular dance songs from the last 40 years including songs from Michael
Jackson, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, ensuring that there’s something for everybody to rock out to. Students can look forward to hearing songs like Jesse’s Girl, Hit Me Baby One More Time, Get Lucky and Pokerface to name a few. With no admission required, all students are welcome and are encouraged to bring their lunch to the Seawolf Plaza and rock out to some music with Night Train.
COURTESY // as.sonoma.edu Come out to Seawolf Plaza on May 12 to hear live music from cover band, Night Train.
Stress Free Zone for students during finals week
PAYTON MULLANEY STAFF WRITER
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onoma State will be offering a Stress Free Zone on campus for students to unwind after dealing with the overwhelming tasks of moving out and studying for finals. The Stress Free Zone will take place in Weyden + Brewster from May 15-18 where students can relax, play games and make crafts all while enjoying the company of others. All events will take place from 8:30-10 p.m. On Sunday, there will be tie blanket making and trivia followed by fairy garden making and a game show on Monday. Tuesday’s event will include flower pot painting and puzzles and on Wednesday, students will get the opportunity to make collages and compete in a Jenga tournament. Snacks, coloring books, Play-Doh, humma beads and board games will also be available at every session for students to relieve some stress. One activity that will not change over the four-day event is grad cap decorating. This is a way for students to take a break from finals, gather some friends and reminisce on the good memories they have from their time at SSU. Graduating senior Rachel Marie said, “I am so excited Sonoma is offering these activities. I feel very lucky to be a part of the graduating class that gets a commencement so I will definitely grab my roommates and come decorate our grad caps.” Opening up about mental health can be hard and trying to find the right coping mechanisms can become an added stressor for some, which is why these activities are a good way for students to explore different kinds of outlets. An anonymous student had this to say about the Stress Free Zones: “I have been very overwhelmed lately and my mental health has not been in a good place, but when I saw one of the choices we could do was painting flower pots, my spirits immediately lifted. Tending to my plants is a really good stress reliever for me, so it was a sign I need to attend.” The Stress Free Zones are for students and are designed for them to use the space however they choose. That may be making new friends, sitting in silence or doing crafts with friends. The purpose is to benefit the students and make sure self-care is still happening through the stress that the end of a school year can bring.
COURTESY // @bykirstco on Instagram Students are welcomed to Weyden + Brewster to indulge in a Stress Free Zone from May 15-18. Lauren Brown is looking forward to this event as a way to make some friends. “I love going to the on-campus events and I try not to take them for granted because I wished to be a part of a community all throughout completing school virtually. I just go by myself sometimes and try to strike up conversations with my peers in hopes of making new connections,” said Brown. College can be a very overwhelming time, especially while most students are having to make the difficult transition from remote learning to in-person learning. For some students, they are learning what it’s like having to take care of themselves for the first time. Through events like a Stress Free Zone, SSU encourages students to take a break and do something for themselves. To learn more about the Stress Free Zones, head to http://www.seawolfliving.com/featured.
MAY 10 - MAY 16, 2022
sonomastatestar.com
Sports
BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS!
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COURTESY // sonomaseawolves.com SSU’s Softball team celebrates their second straight CCAA title after defeating Monterey Bay in the championship game. They won 10-5 behind a homerun from Jordyn Martinez. DANIEL SERRANO STAFF WRITER
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n Sunday May 8, the Sonoma State Seawolves won their second straight CCAA (California Collegiate Athletic Association) championship title hosted by Cal State Monterey Bay. The Seawolves defeated Monterey in the championship to secure their second straight CCAA title and the fourth seed in the West Regional Tournament.. The opener was an absolute slugfest, with the final score being 16-8 against the Cal State East Bay Pioneers breaking the CCAA tournament runs record. After the second inning, the Seawolves had a seven run lead. Hays had this to say about a lead impacting the game, “When we’re ahead by so many runs the main thing we’re all feeling is we’re just having fun at that point. We’re able to breathe a little more and just have fun at the plate. We’re also able to not have as much pressure on us when we’re in the field. It feels really good to have so much cushion for our pitchers and put them in the best position for success.” The Seawolves went on to the second game to take down their rival, the Chico State Wildcats in extra innings. With the end score being 6-5, the game was very close until the end. The score was just 2-1 until the sixth inning when first baseman for the Wildcats, Reilani Peleti homered to deep center field to tie the game. During the seventh inning, both teams managed to score three runs in their half of the inning. After this, it went into extra innings where junior Courtney Jack had what
would prove to be the game winning RBI. After their huge win against Chico State, the Seawolves went on to play the number one seed, Cal State San Marcos in the semi-finals. After a big seven-run first inning, the Seawolves never looked back as they won the game 12-8. Following the win against San Marcos, this propelled the Seawolves to the championship game against Cal State Monterey Bay. The Seawolves quickly found themselves in a three-run deficit in the first two innings. They finally answered back in the fourth inning thanks to a two-run home run from senior Jordyn Martinez, her third of the weekend helping her earn MVP of the tournament. SSU was able to tack on an 8-run sixth inning to secure the lead for good. After winning the championship on Sunday, Martinez had this to say, “It was so exciting to win it all. This team is so special and we are so competitive, and have so much fight. Hitting a home run in that game was honestly one of my favorite home runs I’ve hit this year. It was just one way that the momentum went on our side & it was just so much fun to celebrate that with my team.” After coming into the CCAA tournament as the three seed, the Seawolves overcame the odds and took home the victory. They will now compete in the Division two West Regional tournament starting this week on Thursday May 12. Fans can stream the games through the NCAA network.
SSU baseball sweeps San Bernardino JAVIER HERNANDEZ STAFF WRITER
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his past weekend was a successful and special one for the SSU baseball team as they swept Cal State San Bernardino and clinched a spot in the CCAA(California Collegiate Athletic Association) tournament. That wasn’t the only reason for celebration as the Seawolves also had senior day during the final game on Saturday. The team commemorated its 12 seniors on their special day as they wrapped up the weekend with their fourth straight win. “It feels so good to be back in the playoffs after an eight year drought. It was hard fought throughout the whole season. All the hard work and dedication my team has put in is paying off.” Said senior Josh Medina. Junior Nick Roth got things going for the Seawolves as he started the first game of the series. Roth had a solid outing as he went six innings with three strikeouts and only gave up four runs. The Seawolf offense was a complete team effort as nine players on the team recorded a hit. In the seventh inning, sophomore Hogan Weaver came in but only faced two batters as he was shortly relieved by junior Michael Benz as he wrapped up the inning. Benz would go on to pitch one more inning before the Seawolves brought in their swiss army knife Medina to close the game in the ninth. Medina would earn his fifth save of the season as the team won 8-6. The early success for the Seawolves would follow in the doubleheader the next day for the team. The Seawolves would take the first game 5-1 with the highlights being freshman Blake Janowicz going seven innings while only giving up one run and senior Nick Simmons hitting his second home run of the series. With the team being up 2-0 in the series they would now look for their third win to seal the weekend and hopefully secure their spot in the CCAA tournament. For the third game, Benz would get the nod from Head Coach John Goelz. Benz had an excellent showing as he pitched a walkless four innings with two strikeouts and didn’t give up a single run. Offensively, the team was led by junior Logan Douglas, senior Otis Statum and senior Cole Brodnansky as all three batters had multi-hit games with Douglas being the standout going three for three with three RBIs. In the fifth, Medina would relieve Benz and wrap up the game as he pitched three shutout innings and propelled the Seawolves to an 8-0 win. The victory not only secured the series win but also the team’s first CCAA tournament appearance since 2014. The final game of the series was a day of celebration as it was senior day for the team. This however didn’t impact the drive of the team, as the Seawolves kept the pedal to the metal with another dominant 7-1 win. All twelve seniors made the field at some point during the game with Medina once again showing his versatility. He went four for four with two home runs and four RBIs. Other highlights included senior Sir Gomez getting his first start of the season and senior Josh Lopez hitting his third home run of the year. “Senior day was something out of a movie or book. Everything went perfectly
COURTESY// Justin Ferarri Seniors Otis Statum Jr. (left) and Josh Medina (right) celebrate one of Medinas two home runs on senior day.
and I couldn’t ask for a better game to end my career as a Seawolf,” said Medina. The Seawolves will head to Chico State on Wednesday to play San Bernardino once again at 7 p.m. in the first round of playoffs. Fans can watch the Seawolves compete for the CCAA title at ccaanetwork.com.
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MAY 10 - MAY 16, 2022
sonomastatestar.com
Bachelor of Fine Arts exhibition honors SSU artists
STAR // Holly Durfee The 2022 BFA Exhibition features art work from talented SSU artists all month long in the University Art Gallery.
STAR // Holly Durfee Work by fourth-year art major Carlos Vega Aquilera was showcased at the BFA exhibition.
Art enthusiasts gathered around to browse the assortment of pieces being showcased at the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Exhibition at the University Art Gallery.
STAR // Holly Durfee
FAASSU hosts 11th Annual Pacific Cultural Night
STAR // Holly Durfee FAASSU’s current president Hannah Alferez joked with fellow groups member at the organization’s Annual Pacific Cultural Night on Saturday.
STAR // Holly Durfee During FAASSU’s 11th Annual Pacific Cultural Night, new board members were announced and congratulated with roses.