Issue 2

IN THIS ISSUE

Local Art

Take Charge

Prospective leaders wanted for student government positions.

PAGE 8.

The Sonoma State Art Gallery is showcasing public art from around Sonoma County.

PAGE 7.

Black History

SSU collaborates with guest speakers to celebrate Black History Month.

PAGE 6.

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 85 // ISSUE 10 FEBRUARY 9 - FEBRUARY 15, 2021

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

@SONOMASTATESTAR

STAR // Isabelle Barkey

Well-known Friar Tuck’s pub on E. Cotati Ave has closed due to the pressure of COVID-19 and multiple shutdowns.

The end of the lockdown provides hope to struggling local businesses, but comes too late for some

CHEYENNE CARROLL AND CAROLINE MORALES

STAFF WRITERS

A

s of Jan. 25, the second regional stay-at-home order was lifted, and Sonoma County was categorized in the purple tier. For Rohnert Park, this could provide businesses with the opportunity to slowly reopen and boost economic activity.

Within the purple tier, businesses like wineries and restaurants, among others, “are permitted to operate only outdoors with modifications,” according to Daniel Virkstis, Public Affairs Program Manager for Sonoma County Transportation and Public Works, and Paul Gullixson, Communications Manager for Sonoma County.

Although the city took steps to help businesses during the lockdown, staying open is a struggle for many owners. Rohnert Park City Councilmember, Susan Hollingsworth Adams explained that the city “has reached out to every single business in town, on a personal basis, to help them learn what county, state and federal benefits are available. Many business owners were unaware of benefits available to them.” The move to outdoor dining, and limited opening of other businesses, has the potential to help small businesses in the area.

Because outdoor dining and restrictions changed often throughout the pandemic, owners got creative with services they offered to make some sort of revenue. Kevin Gingher, owner of Spancky’s Bar in downtown Cotati, managed to stay open by working two other jobs, and a delivery service of “cocktails in mason jars,” and plans to deliver “drinks, roses and chocolate covered strawberries,” for Valentine’s Day.

Likewise, Gerard Giudice, Mayor of Rohnert Park and owner of Sally Tomatoes and Heirloom Café, tried delivering family packed meals, offering to-go services, and providing some “individually sealed meals for essential workers,” to try and make up some of his lost revenue.

But even then, these solutions don’t provide enough for businesses to sustain themselves for an indefinite period of time. Gingher explains “these days, with people itching to get out of the house, the delivery market has dried up substantially”.

While outdoor dining is a start for struggling local restaurants, owners are quick to point out that limited service, and constantly having to comply with changing restrictions, often leads to other expenses.

Giudice explains “Anytime… the business is required to pivot, whether it’s pivot to close, or pivot to open, or increase services or take services away, it costs more money. And so every one of these missteps, if you will, whether it’s backwards or forwards comes at a price tag.”

Giudice continued, “I think we’ve been opened and closed six times since last March, so surviving is very difficult. I have one third of the staff that I had last March… we have managed to barely scrape by,” through qualifying for loans and programs like the Paycheck Protection Program.

In the long run, the shifting policies that come as a result of fluctuating case numbers

see LOCAL BUSINESSES on pg. 4

STAR // Pamela Meyers Edward Jicha and his father went to hit a few balls at the driving range at Bennet Valley Golf Course, which may become afforable housing.

STAR// Andrew Savedra Diane Feinstein Elementary is one of the many schools being considered for a name change by the SF Board of Education.

San Francisco makes controversial Recreation or housing: An uncertain future decision to rename 44 schools

for local Bennett Valley Golf Course

MARY HELEN ROWELL STAFF WRITER

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he future of Santa Rosa’s Bennett Valley Golf Course (BVGC) remains unclear as of Tuesday night after the Santa Rosa city council voted and approved the hiring of a housing consultant for $15,000 who will conduct an analysis of the golf course and determine the possibility of redeveloping the land into either affordable housing or additional recreational space.

According to the BVGC website, the 175-acre course was established in 1969 and aims to “promote and encourage the game of golf in the Santa Rosa area”.

In response to Covid-19 the course was temporarily closed in March until its reopening in May and has remained open while the course restaurant, Legends Sports Grill, permanently closed in November 2020.

In an article for The Press Democrat, Will Schmitt wrote that the city council faces pressures to find more land to develop in attempts to keep up with the city’s see GOLF COURSE on pg. 5

KAITLIN BREEN STAFF WRITER

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uring the last week of January, the San Francisco Board of Education decided to “erase” the names of 44 schools in San Francisco, in a 6-1 vote. The board controversially voted to delete the names of anyone “who engaged in the subjugation and enslavement of human beings; or who oppressed women, inhibiting societal progress; or whose actions led to genocide; or who otherwise significantly diminished the opportunities of those among us to the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Some of the schools to be renamed include schools with the namesakes of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Dianne Feinstein. Other schools that may be renamed include : Thomas Jefferson, Herbert Hoover, John Muir, and James Madison.

According to an article titled “The Debate Over San Francisco’s School Names” from the New York Times, the decision received criticism for being performative, for placing a strain on the already depleted budget of the San Francisco school system, and for being overly critical of historical figures.

One controversial figure on the list of schools to be renamed is Abraham Lincoln, whose name see SF SCHOOL BOARD on pg. 4

2 Editorial THE STAR

FEB. 9 - FEB. 15, 2021

sonomastatestar.com

Can the U.S. move past Trumpism and remain an example of democracy?

Editorial Board

Kylie Rose Lawrence, Editor-in-Chief Kristina Schmuhl, News Editor Katelyn Dodge, Opinion Editor Christy Chew, Arts & Entertainment Editor Myles Grabau, Student Life Editor Emily Cripe, Health & Wellness Editor Brandon Sparks, Photo Editor Gil Chaffer, Copy Editor Bryce Gallagher, Distribution Manager Corinne Asturias, Faculty Adviser Staff Writers Callie Adams, Ileana Aleman, Emily Alvarado, Jayline Alvarado, Julia Blair, Zena Bounsall, Kaitlin Breen, Cheyenne Carroll, Katlyn Dodge, Casey Fabbri, Sumiko Fong, Bryce Gallagher, Gabriella Hermogeno, KC Holtemann, Olivia Hughes, Nancy Insua, Willy Lepori, Quinn McKibbin, Morgan Mitchell, Caroline Morales, Sondra Ottenstein, Samantha Pezzola, Noah Philpott, Anthony Pilotti, Mary Helen Rowell, Matthew Smith, Vincent Spence

Photographers Isabelle Barkey, Pammy Meyers, Andrew Savedra

Nichols Hall 323, 1801 East Cotati Ave Rohnert Park, CA 94928 Telephone: 707-664-2776 Business & General Inquiries: sonomastatestar@gmail.com Corrections and News Tips: star@sonoma.edu

Editor’s Pick This week’s can’t miss article:

“Survivors remembered in Holocaust & Genocide Lecture” Read the article on page 9.

Have an opinion?

We’d like to hear from you!

The STAR welcomes letters to the editor at star@sonoma.edu

Publication The STAR is published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters. Printing is done by Sonoma Media Group. The weekly publication of the STAR is made possible by Instructionally Related Activities Funding.

O

nly three weeks after the Presidential inauguration of Joseph R. Biden and about a month after a failed attempt by right-wing conspiracists to storm the capital and halt the certification of a legitimate election, a shocking and successful coup attempt in Myanmar dealt another blow to democracy on the international stage.

While democracy glided on much thinner ice in Myanmar, one shouldn’t ignore the haunting similarities between the storming of the U.S. capital on Jan. 6 and the coup d’etat in Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s political capital.

Both events came after months of insistence of widespread voter fraud from ousted leaders and attempts to usurp the results of legitimately won elections.

In the U.S., Trump went on a 77 day campaign, starting from hours after the November election results came in and leading up to Inauguration Day. He attempted to overthrow the results of the election in every way possible; through unsuccessful court cases (60 failed cases to be exact), relentless denial of a peaceful transition of power, brazen attempts to pressure Republican governors and secretaries of state to “find” votes, and finally asking loyalty from Vice President Mike Pence to stop Biden from being inaugurated, something Pence had no constitutional authority to do.

Myanmar, plagued with decades long instability, saw a very similar campaign waged on free and fair elections after the military declared the results of their Nov. 2020 election invalid and called for a state of emergency. The military reacted harshly after the non-mili-

Courtesy // Wikimedia Commons

tary backed party, the National League for Democracy, won 396 out of 476 seats in parliament and their party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, clinched only 33 seats.

They then began a multi-month crusade to try to overturn the results through claims of fraud and an insistence that because of the pandemic, the election should have been delayed.

Many political scientists have pointed out the striking similarities between the events occurring just weeks apart, and believe that Trump’s rhetoric may be seen as inspirational to authoritarian military leaders-like those in Myanmar.

In an article for Insider, Brian Klaas, a political scientist at the University College London, said, “It wouldn’t be surprising if the generals in Myanmar saw Trump’s false accusations of widespread fraud after the election and decided to use a similar approach as a pretext for something they were already planning to do: seize power. In that way, Trump has given despots across the world fresh rhetorical ammunition to justify their authoritarian actions.”

Bill Maher, in his weekly political-themed talk show on HBO, has identified since 2017 the similarities between Trump and authoritarian leaders around the world, creating the “Dictator Checklist”. He claimed Trump had achieved 9 out of 10 specifications that are indicative of authoritarian leaders.

Some of those include, ‘lying so freely supporters don’t know what the truth is and don’t care...wanting to hold military parades, and musing openly about being president for life.”

Trump said in 2018 after learning China’s president, Xi Jinping, could remain president for life if China’s Communist

party took away term limits, “He’s now president for life.

President for life...he was able to do that. I think it’s great. Maybe we’ll have to give that a shot some day.”

Some may defend the President’s quote, insisting he was joking, but with the eyes of the world looking to the U.S. as an example for democracy everywhere, we need to once and for all denounce Trumpism.

If we do not use the coup in Myanmar as an example of how Trump’s rhetoric can inspire other countries with a more fragile system of democracy, we may see military strongmen around the world emboldened

by Trump’s unrelenting attack on democracy, elections, and the truth.

Being a source of inspiration for authoritarian leaders is the ultimate reason Trump needs to be impeached by the Senate and barred from running for political office again.

Not only is Trump a danger to democracy in the U.S., he is a danger to the ideals of democracy world-wide. He deserves no second chance to undermine the will of the American people and inspire sympathy from other leaders looking to bend the truth and act upon baseless claims that further their agenda, as opposed to the desire of the people they rule.

Trump’s rhetoric is dangerous and should not be taken in jest after the deadly attack on the Capitol in Washington killed five people and injured dozens more. Trump is unremorseful for his role as the enthusiastic leader of a slow-moving rightwing coup against democracy.

For his unapologetic attack on the democratic foundation of this country, we should unapologetically impeach him as soon as possible.

Opinions

Opinions expressed in the STAR are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the STAR or SSU. The editorial reflects the views of the STAR Editorial Board on issues it considers to be of particular relevance to the campus community.

Letters to the Editor

Letter writers may expect prompt publication in the newspaper’s op-ed section, as space is available. Letters of up to 400 words will be allowed and must be submitted no later than the Friday before the publication date. Published letters must be free of libel, since the publication is held legally accountable for all content. Although personal controversy will be tolerated, it is the responsibility of the editor to check statements purporting the facts.

The STAR reserves the right to refuse publication.

Courtesy // Nicolas Raymond on Flickr.com

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.

FEB 9 - FEB 15, 2021

sonomastatestar.com

Stay-at-home order lifted in Sonoma County

JULIA BLAIR

STAFF WRITER

T

he California Department of Public Health announced on Jan. 25, that the state would be returning to the purple tier, where there is growing access to outdoor activities and business reopenings. With mixed opinions surrounding this decision, there are many perspectives to hear from at this state of the new county status. However, the first round of federal relief for small businesses was announced by Governor Gavin Newsom’s office on Feb. 4, and this financial support could possibly aid businesses and customers alike in upholding proper safety measures.

The Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development Dee Dee Myers said, “This grant program offers needed help for these entrepreneurs as they continue to fight for their dreams, rebuilding and adapting

to this quickly changing marketplace.”

The increased safety measures come with an extra cost and many are glad to finally see some relief after this dark period. These extra costs include money for sanitation supplies, face coverings for employees, possibly gloves, etc. Last summer, Wall Street Journal discussed large corporations spending millions of extra dollars for their employees’ safety gear and bonuses throughout the tough period. This should not only help businesses keep their customers safer, but also allow people to shop again at a limited capacity.

Julissa Munoz, a senior at Sonoma State explained, “So coming from a person with a family who owns a small business I feel that reopening in a safe way is crucial to keep people employed and business’ running.” Small businesses have faced economic turmoil and should have some say in their ability to reopen safely since federal relief is not widespread at this point. Julissa continued, “There have been so many local companies that have lost their passion projects due to the COVID-19 closures and I feel that as long as people are being safe then it shouldn’t be any issue with reopening. That being said I do think that the county has to enforce the guidelines to ensure public safety and adherence.” If all procedures are being clearly followed and respected, there should not be an issue with allowing businesses to reopen in a smaller capacity. The integrity of health should not have to be manipulated for profit, and grants like these allow for businesses to prioritize the safety of themselves and their cus-

tomers.

Political Science Professor Gin said, “My own thoughts are that I understand why the shelter-in-place order occurred after the winter holidays.

There was a spike in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. This spike has begun to subside, so I can also understand the recent easing of some of the shelter-inplace orders. Nevertheless, I do understand that many people are suffering from pandemic fatigue, and the shifting policies seem confusing, and probably contribute to greater discontent with the government, especially when the shelter-in-place orders have taken place without adequate economic support for people and small businesses.” There is tangible frustration in the community surrounding mixed messages and the constant changes in regulations. From all sides, there is anxiety concerning the economy, especially because very few businesses have been able to grow throughout this pandemic. However, because of constant regulation changes, people must remain reactive and flexible with guidelines in order to avoid risk.

Ultimately, the decision to lift the order being followed by the governor’s announcement gives some hope to the community that businesses may be able to navigate this new normal safely and effectively in order to serve their respective communities. There are many people in a range of areas, from healthcare to restaurants, all working to create innovative solutions during this time, and only time will tell regarding the future of this order and its anticipated changes as information comes out.

AOC speaks on her experience during the capitol riots

NANCY INSUA STAFF WRITER

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n Feb. 1, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a U.S representative for the state of New York, more commonly known as AOC, took to Instagram live to recount in detail the events that took place surrounding the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. AOC is a member of the Democratic party and was first sworn into congress in 2019. She has remained a controversial figure to some Americans but remained a powerful figure of what young women can accomplish in government for others. Nearly a month after the attack on the capitol AOC used Instagram live to share her personal story of the day of the attack, the days leading up to it, and the disappointment she has felt in the proceedings that followed the attack particularly members of the Republican party.

AOC made it clear she was telling her own story, no one else’s. She shared how many were impacted, that Americans may have failed to

consider state employees like janitors, interns, and other staffers were terrified and paralyzed by the violence they witnessed that day. AOC went on to disclose that she is a survivor of sexual assault and found the events that day to be very triggering for her and lead her to deeper insight into the attack on the capitol.

When describing what types of conversations around the attacks have transpired since that day, AOC said, “these folks who tell us to move on, that it’s not a big deal, that we should forget what’s happened or even tell us to apologize. These are the same tactics of abusers”. She explains how the efforts to silence her force and others on their stories of what happened on Jan. 6 is mirrored by “the countless people who tell women and non-binary people that they’re constantly trying to get attention just for existing and for saying that they exist”.

In the live video, AOC detailed the days preceding the attack. Discussing that the added security that was put in place by capitol police was a single waist height metal railing blocking the protesters from access to the buildings and congressional staff. Compared to over the summer when Black Lives Matter protesters were at the capitol building and there were upwards of eight of these barriers in place, panic buttons were left intact in the offices inside the capitol.

ACO shared how these panic buttons had been removed from the building in the days prior to the attack. She was told by capital police a night before the attack that security measures

Opinion 3

were in place, and that they were to arrive at 9 a.m.. No other information was provided to those employed within the Capitol building due to potential leaks of the ‘planned’ safety measures. Wednesday the attacks insured as witnessed by the American people yet there was at least a week of knowledge that violence was planned for that Wednesday.

AOC expressed her growing sadness and anger at Republican politicians for their lack of acknowledgment and anger expressed towards the violence. She goes on to say how this is not about a difference of political opinion, and this is not about revenge but creating safety. “We are not safe with people who hold positions of power who are willing to endanger the lives of others if they think it will score them a political point”.

She goes on to mention Senator Ted Cruz and Senator Josh Hawley by name when describing her fears on future acts of violence. AOC stresses that downplaying such violence will only lead to a future in which attacks against government workers and buildings are imminent.

Events like what took place at the capitol building on Jan. 6 should serve as a warning sign to Americans for how fragile our peace is. It is crucial to see this violence for what it is and what it represents, an unstable democracy. The response that’s been witnessed since the attacks has proven just as alarming. It is important to raise up voices like AOC’s for their candor on the threat to democracy and safety at hand.

SSU sexual assault prevention compared to SRJC

ZENA BOUNSALL

STAFF WRITER

I

t’s time for Sonoma State University to address sexual assault on campus and in the surrounding areas of Rohnert Park. According to SSU’s annual crime report, there have been 29 reported rapes on campus between 2018-2019. Not only is there flawed preventionbut there’s a flaw in response.

According to The Oak Leaf News, Santa Rosa Junior College stated, “According to the Clery Act, Santa Rosa Junior College reported two sexual assault crimes from 2015 to 2017; Sonoma State University reported 19.” When SRJC experienced incidences of sexual assault on campus, their response was immediate by sending out text message alerts, emails, and sent notifications to all professors. Acknowledgment didn’t stop there, as every professor began class by addressing the incident, and held some sort of conversation about how we as a community can help prevent sexual assault on campus.

An anonymous Sonoma State student said “I think that sexual assault is an issue that hasn’t been addressed correctly from all parts of administration. Sweeping it under the rug does nothing but mask the problem. I’d like to see more changes when campus fully opens up again.” At SRJC events like these are treated as an emergency, as they should be. Thus, prompting for immediate changes such as assembling additional lights around dark lit areas on campus and hiring students to escort others from their night class to their car.

Stevie Coulthard, a former SRJC student recalls “When I was attending SRJC, I took safety in knowing that I would be alerted if any misconduct took place on campus, considering I lived in the Elliott buildings that were basically on school grounds. I remember receiving alerts with enough time to lock all my doors and windows while I was confident that campus police were handling whatever unfortunate event that had happened. I even recall a suspect hiding near our building but luckily I was notified.

Otherwise, I would not have locked my door that faces campus”.

Sonoma State on the other hand has kept sexual assault on the hush. Practically none of the professors brought this conversation to the surface- but that might be because they were not alerted themselves. The campus has made an effort to make students feel safer by providing emergency alert buttons across campus, but the problem is that there are 33 across the entirety of the Sonoma State Campus, residential areas included. In addition to these flaws, there are hardly any lights surrounding the campus lake, and areas near the track. To exclude some blame from Sonoma State, Rohnert Park, in general, is not a safe area for most young women relating to assault, rape, kidnapping and sex trafficking.

Sonoma State should take a leap of moral pursuit and inform their students of the dangers that surround them, as a good reputation is far less important than the safety of students. Bohemian newspaper states, “Human trafficking happens every single day in Sonoma County..” and some refer to Rohnert Park as a human trafficking “hotspot”. Students come to SSU from all over the grid, and without local knowledge, they are left completely unaware. Within a three-mile radius of Sonoma State, there are sixteen registered sex offenders according to the Megan’s Law website. With these details accounted for, the administration should include students by warning them and listening to their input for improvement.

Marilyn Manson accused of sexual assault

JAYLINE ALVARADO STAFF WRITER

S

eemingly out of nowhere, shock rocker Marilyn Manson, a.k.a. Brian Warner, was dropped from not only his record label, but also his agency.

Actress Evan Rachel Wood confirmed on social media that it was Manson who she was referring to in front of a House Judiciary subcommittee in support of the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Bill of Rights Act. Wood had also campaigned for the

Phoenix Act in California, which would “create more rights for survivors, not harsher punishments for perpetrators. Under specific circumstances, there should be exceptions to the statute of limitations for domestic violence crimes,” stated the Phoenix Act website, where Wood’s testimony can also be found.

The Westworld actress testified that “It started slow but escalated over time, including threats against my life, severe gas-lighting and brainwashing, [and] waking up to the man that claimed to love me, raping what he believed to be my unconscious body,” Wood said. “And the worst part: Sick rituals of binding me up by my hands and feet to be mentally and physically tortured until my abuser felt I had proven my love for them,” Insider reports.

This comes as no surprise because Evan Rachel Wood had been sharing her story for a few years now. But, the straw that broke the camel’s back was simply

naming her abuser. These allegations even led to Senator Susan Rubio calling for an FBI investigation arguing that “Individuals who partake in this kind of abuse are often serial offenders.”

Relationships with barely legal girls have a significant power imbalance despite the argument that they’re of age; they might not have the mental or emotional maturity to grasp what situation they’re in.

Looking through Instagram or TikTok and finding clips of celebrities that have partners with a not only a significant age gap but also a large power imbalance --like that of Marilyn Manson and Evan Rachel Wood--could create an environment for men to groom young women.

Insider tracked their relationship and found that Marilyn Manson dated Evan Rachel Wood in 2007 when Wood was only 19.

Following Woods’ confirmation, multiple people came out stating that they

were also survivors of abuse at the hands of Marilyn Manson. Sarah McNeilly stated on social media “He [Brian Warner a.k.a. Marilyn Manson] lured me in with ‘love bombing...Before long I was the one being tortured. I was emotionally abused, terrorized, and scarred. I was locked in rooms when I was ‘bad’, sometimes forced to listen to him entertaining other women. Kept away from certain friends or if I didn’t he would threaten to come after them. I was told stories of others who tried to tell their story and their pets ended up dead.”

When stories like these keep coming to light, can we continue to separate the art and the artist? Or is there too much intersection between the two of them?

Whether it’s an actor that starred in a box office hit or a favorite singer, can we continue to sing along or are we going to condemn one and turn a blind eye to another?

4 News

FEB. 9 - FEB. 15, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

STAR// Sarah Gallagher Rohnert Park’s famous Jaded Toad restaurant is still open for outdoor seating and entertainment.

Local businesses either find a way or close almost a year into pandemic continued from pg. 1

hurts local owners.

Since the number of COVID cases in Sonoma County determines which reopening tier the county falls under, it’s important for the community to maintain practices that slow the spread of the virus. The only way to permanently end the lockdown is if community members and bigger businesses take necessary precautions to try and push Sonoma into the red tier and so on, to help save local businesses from having to close again.

One employee and Sonoma State student, who works in retail and prefers to remain nameless for fear of losing her job, explained the lack of precautions her workplace has in place.

“There have been multiple people at my job get the virus and management doesn’t let us know, and there have been people that I have had direct contact with and we only find out when

we don’t see them for a couple weeks,” she explained.

“They don’t do any deep cleanings, we are definitely not six feet apart, and I don’t feel like they are keeping a cleanliness standard for us employees,”she said.

As the pandemic continues, it is chain stores and franchises that front most of the business, but small local businesses that front the cost of the pandemic. Adams said, “you can shop at the big box stores… but... [the city is], for all intents and purposes, closed.”

Unfortunately Friar Tucks Pub was another Cotati busi-

ness that was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Friar Tucks Pub closed its doors this past month after being a favorite Irish Pub of Sonoma County residents and Sonoma State students for nearly three decades.

Randy Nixon, owner of the pub, explained, “Prior to COVID-19, our business was healthy. We would host pool tournaments for 17 billiards teams, trivia nights with Sonoma State Professors, fundraisers for youth athletics, and Sonoma State athletic nights,” “When all these avenues such as shared entertainment, athletics, or social gatherings are eliminated, I no longer have a business” Nixon said.

Once COVID-19 drained these forms of business, Friar Tucks Pub chose to close the bar on their own terms; not when someone else dictated when their business needed to close.

Friar Tucks Pub did have a few times they were open during the pandemic last year, strictly outdoors, but the experience just wasn’t the same.

Jacob Ramos, a May 2020 graduate with a degree in Financial Management, explained that “during the pandemic, there were limited people and you could only eat and drink outside… I wouldn’t say it was stressful but it was definitely a different vibe.”

The bar provided many Sonoma students with memories and experiences that last after graduation. Former SSU

continued from pg. 1

SF Board to remove names of people who contributed to oppression and genocide

STAR// Andrew Savedra Mission High School in San Francisco may undergo a name change. was taken from schools due to his role in the execution of 38 members of the Sioux tribe.

Another figure on the list was former California Senator Dianne Feinstein. She was the first woman to hold the office of mayor in San Francisco, but was ultimately on the list of schools to be renamed because of an incident in 1984 in which a Confederate flag that was vandalized in front of City Hall was reinstalled during her term as mayor.

A San Francisco resident interviewed for the New York Times called the decision “embarrassing,” and “a caricature of what people think liberals in San Francisco do.”

In a similar vein of criticism, Mayor London Breed criticized the Board of Education for making this decision at a time when they should be focused on conversations regarding plans to return to in person-instruction.

She went on to say “Let’s bring the same urgency and focus on getting our kids back in the classroom, and then we can have that longer conversation about the future of school names.”

Janet Hess, professor of Native American studies in the Hutchins School of Liberal Studies at Sonoma State, “[the renaming of schools should be] consistently coupled with broader institutional change, such as teaching culture and history in the voices of, and from the perspectives of, individuals whose ancestors were oppressed or who themselves experience oppression today.”

Hess still remains hopeful that “those who attend renamed schools are taught to question the systemic racism that permeates the U.S., and that students and faculty use the opportunity to advocate for extending the voices of marginalized individuals.”

The research that determined which schools met the criteria needed to be renamed was done by a volunteer committee for the San Francisco Board of Education. The historical accuracy of this process was criticized in an article for The Atlantic for using non-credible sources, and being overly-critical of historical figures.

The spreadsheet used by the committee to document the research process is available to the public; in this document, each school name is listed, as well as the reasons for the decision to rename it, and the sources used for the research.

Sources used to research each historical figure that the SF schools were named after, range from the History Channel website, to Wikipedia. This is seen by many historians as a non-credible source for information.

Kat Rodriguez, a History student at Sonoma State said that even as a student she’s been told not to use Wikipedia by multiple professors in the history department because “Anyone can edit websites like Wikipedia and they aren’t all editing these pages for the betterment of others.”

Hess said “I don’t think consensus on removing their names will be achieved, but if San Francisco’s actions lead to the naming of institutions after heroic women of color, and after other prominent individuals who have advanced the cause of social justice, that’s a desirable goal.”

She also added “Architecture changes; human language changes; social awareness increases. Why should we not attach the names of enlightened individuals, rather than oppressive individuals or corporate institutions, to our buildings?”

student Garrett Grubaugh, who also graduated virtually in May 2020 with a Business Marketing degree, said, “Friar’s was a great place for students to come together and experience community. The Thursday night Crawl is a tradition that started with Friar Tucks and it’s a tradition that many Sonoma State students, including myself, loved to be a part of.”

“The class of 2020 appreciates specifically Friar Tuck’s but also the Crawl as a whole for helping us make memories during our time at Sonoma State,” he continued.

Hopefully, with the direct consequences of the pandemic in our own community, Sonoma County residents can remember the impact of their own choices, and find a way to save small businesses the financial hardship of having to close down again.

Giudice explained, “nearly half of the tests that are being given at the Rohnert Park Health Center are coming back positive… so if all of us could really follow... basic guidelines of masking and the sanitizing and the social distancing I think we can knock the numbers down in short order.”

Small businesses rely on the communities they serve, and with all the hardship of the pandemic, it is time for residents to come together and help these businesses stay open through slowing the spread of the virus, and ultimately preventing another lockdown.

Students recall COVID-19 exposures ILEANA ALEMAN STAFF WRITER

A

t Sonoma State University students, a total of 93 COVID-19 cases have been reported, 86 of which were reported off campus and 7 of them on campus. Whether they’re living on or off campus, SSU students continue to balance remote learning with the existing threat of COVID exposure and the state of their mental and physical health.

While SSU has taken multiple safety measures with the purpose of minimizing the spread of COVID-19 on campus, such as requiring students to live in singles, this doesn’t completely eliminate the potential threat of the virus.

After speaking with students who chose to live on campus, it became clear that some students continue to congregate, potentially exposing others to the virus. For many students with roommates, an added stress factor is not knowing whether those they live with are gathering in large groups or not.

A female biology major at SSU that wished to remain anonymous said, “My roommate had texted me saying she was feeling ill and that it would be a good idea for me to get tested.” Later that week the student received confirmation of a positive COVID-19 test result. She was sad but not surprised by the outcome.

The bio major said, “I felt a little scared because I honestly didn’t know how the virus would specifically affect me given my medical history and all I could think of is how the news advertises covid patients.”

The student explained how she has a heart condition called long QT syndrome which, according to Mayo Clinic, is, “a heart rhythm condition that can potentially cause fast, chaotic heartbeats. These rapid heartbeats might trigger you to suddenly faint. Some people with the condition have seizures. In some severe cases, LQTS can cause sudden death.”

While the anonymous student feels confident that she wasn’t having any contact with anyone other than her housemates, she felt frustrated that she couldn’t control the decisions her housemate made.

“I felt like it was very irresponsible of her and she gave me no context to the situation so I felt confused and alarmed all at the same time. I also wish she would have broken the news to me in a more sincere way rather than just saying ‘go get tested...it is what it is,” she said.

Another student, a male English major living on campus, shared his experience after he came into contact with someone who had COVID-19, explaining what measures the school took to address the situation.

He mentioned that the school immediately contacted him in order to isolate and remove him from his dorm to avoid the risk of infecting others.

He said, “What they did was they scheduled a COVID test for me and had someone from REACH [Residential Education and Campus Housing] contact me. They gave me like 20 minutes to move my stuff from my dorm into Sauv [a dorm building for freshman housing]. It sucked because I don’t have a car at the moment so I was basically sprinting back and forth from my dorm to Sauv with COVID because I did test positive... I know it had to be done so no one could get infected which is good.”

The student also shared that at the time when he was told to isolate, he only had enough food to last him four to five days, meaning he had to ration it to last 11 days.

COVID-19 not only affects students’ learning, but also their ability to focus on academics and their mental health. While students continue to make efforts to minimize the amount of contact they have with others, the most effective precautionary measure proven to work is isolation.

Several publications have explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on college student’s mental health. As part of an ongoing series by PBS NewsHour, “Rethinking College,” Hari Sreenivasan reports that “College students have long been prone to stress, anxiety and depression. And three out of four Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 report poor mental health tied to the pandemic, according to the CDC.” Students take on this semester with an added stress, compared to past years because of the pandemic. Whether they contract the virus or not, poor physical and mental health has increased among college students during the past year.

News 5

FEB. 9- FEB. 15, 2021

sonomastatestar.com

STAR // Christian Dasilva

COURTESY // DonkeyHotey (background) and NASA NASA’s Nuerodiversity Network finds employment in STEM-related fields for learners on the autism spectrrum.

David House (left), Jesus Gonzalez (middle), and David Story (right) work together in the SSU science lab before the pandemic hit.

NASA awards $4.96 million to SSU for STEM program CALLIE ADAMS STAFF WRITER

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ASA has awarded Sonoma State almost $5 million to fund NASA’s Neurodiversity Network, or N3, a program designed to get neurodiverse learners, such as students with autism, involved in STEM. According to NASA’s N3 website, this fiveyear program aims to provide neurodiverse learners with education and experience in STEM-related fields so that they may pursue careers at NASA or in similar professional pathways.

Multiple groups participated in the progress of N3, including Sonoma State’s own faculty, autism experts from the Education Development Center, and informal education experts from the New York Hall of Science. These groups are currently working with neurodiverse learners to redevelop existing NASA resources for implementation in local high school classrooms. They anticipate that N3 will diversify NASA’s national Science Activation program, which has previously never included programs specifically developed for neurodiverse learners.

Leading the charge is Sonoma State’s own Dr. Lynn Cominsky, a professor of astronomy and physics and the leader of EdEon, an SSU STEM learning center.

Cominsky is enthusiastic about her work with N3, stating, “ I am very passionate about this project as it was inspired by my work with several autistic physics majors, as it became clear to me that they could work for NASA, or other STEM-related careers that take advantage of the unique strengths that they can bring.”

Cominsky herself, as the Principal Investigator for N3, led the team that successfully proposed the project. She explained that N3 is still in its early stages, but is partnering with certain Bay Area schools to beta-test its redeveloped courses with neurodiverse learners. Beta-testing helps ensure that the program succeeds on a small scale before it can be implemented on a larger scale. One such resource they have devised is an at-home astronomy resource involving a robotic telescope at Pepperwood Preserve in Santa Rosa.

“Next year, when we expect to have in-person instruction again,” Cominsky said, “we will work on building model rockets with experimental payloads and launching them.”

Currently, N3 is aimed at high school students transitioning into college, but Cominksy said she would like to expand it to include support for college students transitioning into the workforce as well.

EdEon STEM Learning, another STEM group at Sonoma State led by Cominksy, also promotes STEM education for students. EdEon’s mission statement, according to both their homepage and Cominksy, is to “develop exciting formal and informal educational materials that inspire students in grades 5-14 to pursue STEM careers, to train teachers nation-wide in the classroom use of these materials, and to enhance science literacy for the general public.”

EdEon includes resources like the Astronomy from Home program, or AfH, which will be used alongside N3. Meghan Miller, a student assistant at EdEon, describes AfH as a “one-stop shop for learning about many components of space including the life and death of stars, galaxies, and exoplanets.”

“We are hoping that AfH will be a website that is accessible to neurodiverse students,” Miller added. “I really enjoy working at EdEon and I am very excited to see how this N3 project goes.”

Regarding EdEon, Cominsky said, “Besides astronomyrelated activities, we also have developed curriculums in rocketry and building experimental payloads for rockets and drones. Our largest project at the current time is Learning by Making, a ninthgrade integrated STEM curriculum that teaches coding and electronics so that students can design and build their own science experiments.”

She invites students to visit EdEon’s offices on the third floor of the Schulz library, as EdEon is always looking for students to work with.

One local Ukiah High School student lauded the Learning as Making program, saying, “It’s helped me problem solve on my own and helped me learn how to code. I am glad I am in STEM.” With such high praise bestowed upon other STEM programs, Sonoma State is optimistic about the future of N3 and the promise it brings to neurodiverse learners.

STAR // Pamela Meyers Two girls enjoy their lunch at an outdoor dining table by the driving range at Windsor Golf Club, while golfers tee off in the background.

Sonoma County golf course could be closing to allow for more housing continued from pg. 1

increasing need for affordable housing and recreational spaces.

Along with these pressures, Schmitt also reports that the city is also concerned about the “long-term viability” of the course as golfing rates across the country have continued to declined over the last couple decades and the over $4 million debt the city carries as a result of a bond the city issued to the BVGC back in 2005 for property upgrades.

However, members of the BVGS and local golfers argue against the closure, citing the surprising increase in the number of rounds played nationwide in the last year.

Despite most courses being closed for a majority of the year, due to COVID-19, golf courses across the country experienced a large increase in active golfers.

In an article for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Greg Robertson said, “Close to 60 million more rounds were played on courses across the United states in 2020, pushing the total to just about 500 million for the year.

That represents a 14 percent increase from 2019. Just once in the past 20 years had there been an increase of more than 3 percent year over year.”

Once golf courses around the country began opening back up, many people were excited for access to an activity that naturally offers lots of outdoor space, making social distancing much easier than with other sports.

“Fueled by a combination of avid players, newcomers and infrequent golfers, 2020 demand for all things golf surged during the second half of the year. The 2020 spending reached near-record levels, as overall golf equipment sales eclipsed $2.81 billion, the third-highest annual total, trailing only 2008 ($2.91 billion) and 2007 ($2.87 billion).”, reports the Golf Course Industry staff in an article on their website.

In this last year, many people have been looking for new ways to fill

their time and extra opportunities For many golf has been a healthy diversion to look forward to Jason Schmuhl, head professional at Windsor Golf Course, said, “This year has been an overall exciting year for the golf industry. With more free time to dedicate because of remote work [due to the pandemic] people are reigniting their love for the sport or starting to enjoy the game for the first time. I have seen more young adults enjoying the sport in the last year than I can ever recall.”

He also added, “I think it’s a great thing for a young person to get into, or really any age. It teaches you patience and determination, as well as how to take time for yourself and relax in nature. It keeps you mentally and physically sharp.”

On the potential redevelopment of Bennett Valley, Sonoma State University Head Men’s/Women’s Golf Coach, Val Verhunce, says that while the options for the course would not have a huge impact on the University teams, instead, they could have a larger impact on the local golfing community.

He urged that local golf courses like BVGC serve as a place of community, for older players especially, as the sport becomes a way of life to them, a way to keep them a part of society. Both before and during the pandemic, golf courses have been a place where people can gather, even those who have retired from the sport remain active members of the community.

No definitive decisions on the possible redevelopment of BVGC have been made yet and there is still a lot of information that needs to be acquired before any other decisions are made. For now the course will remain open and available for golfers young and old as a safe outdoor option during the pandemic.

6 Arts

FEB. 09 - FEB. 15, 2021

sonomastatestar.com

Art Department presents: The Artist Lecture Series

EMILY ALVARADO STAFF WRITER

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he Art and Art History Department at Sonoma State University is well known for its excellent facilities and degree programs. This spring, the department is hosting an Artist Lecture Series that will take place virtually on Zoom every Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 12:55 p.m. starting Feb. 3, 2021 through May 12, 2021.

These lectures are free and open to anyone, the Zoom ID number can be found on the Art and Art History Department website under the spotlight tab. On this tab there is also a list of dates and artists, along with the artists’ websites, so you can check out their work beforehand.

The Art and Art History Department offers both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a variety of emphases ranging from art history to 3D sculpture and ceramics. According to the department website, “It is the departmental philosophy that a grasp of the history and theory of art is indispensable…”, so this series is a way for students to continue their education with advice and information from professional artists. Assistant Professor of Art Sena Creston is in charge of organizing the lecture series. Creston said, “I chose the artists based on the interests of the students, and intentions of the program; considering the diversity of media, career, and culture.”

The series will be covering a variety of topics including painting, video, 3D animation, performance and more. From the Art Department website, “The Visiting Artists Lecture Series provides our students with valuable insights and exposure to art professionals and their work.” The first lecture of the series took place Feb. 3, 2021 featuring artist Yashua Klos. Klos is known for his woodblock carvings and more recently, his collages, all inspired by the Black experience and construction of identity.

To find more information on Klos, his website can be found on the Art and Art History Department website under Spotlight.

Up next on Feb. 10, 2021 is Snow Yunxue Fu, she is going to touch on her artist practice and some of her artworks. Snow is an international artist based in New York where she is working as an assistant professor of art at New York University Tisch School of the Arts. While Fu is currently working with new media to create art, she is originally a painter. She remains the youngest artist with work displayed at the National Art Museum of China. According to her artist statement, Fu works with 3D software to create, “scenes of experimental abstraction that translate the concept of liminality into the digital experience.” The word liminal pops up quite a bit in Fu’s artist statement in which it is explained that “liminal” is a word common in the field of anthropology. According to anthropologist Victor Turner, liminal is, “the quality of ambiguity or disorientation that occurs in the middle stage of a rite of passage…” which Fu uses to put the viewer in an intersection of the physical, virtual, metaphysical and multi-dimensional, a liminal space.

Students are welcome to interact with the artists after the lecture, with questions and comments. Again, the information regarding artists and dates can be found under the spotlight tab on the Art and Art History Department website along with the Zoom ID number. After Snow’s lecture, there will be 11 more lectures, so be sure to tune in and check out the wonderful art.

COURTESY // Sonoma State The Artist Lecture Series will be happening every Wednesday at noon.

STAR // Christy Chew Yashua Klos started the series with his woodblock prints and sculptures.

‘Music and The Black Culture’ come to Sonoma State

KC HOLTEMANN STAFF WRITER

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o help celebrate Black History Month throughout all of February, Sonoma State University is collaborating with various guest speakers of different artistic categories such as music, theater, art and much more in effort to honor the history, leaders and accomplishments of the black community.

All events are via zoom for everyone to enjoy socially distanced and in the comfort of their home. One of the upcoming events, called ‘Music and The Black Culture’ is next Friday, Feb. 12. This covers an in-depth conversation with the director Shomari Smith, who produced the documentary, ‘93 Til Infinity: The Souls of Mischief’, and how music influenced him and his work throughout the years.

Dr. Patrick Johnson will also be in attendance during this event.

The event and Black History Month in total are creating a lot of buzz on the ‘virtual campus’ this semester.

Sonoma State senior, Joey Hernandez explained, “It’s so exciting and refreshing to see all these events for Black History Month.” SSU junior, Zack Lewis also commented on the topic, saying, “There are a couple events that really interested me, I can’t wait to check them out!”

The documentary gives the viewer a detailed look into the hip hop crew, The Souls of Mischief and their 1993 debut album. The album, ‘93 ‘Til Infinity is a well-known album from the 1990’s, which is known to some as a golden era for the genre. The album and the film dive deep into describing how influential Oakland and the Bay Area was for people living in it during that time, showing how music can influence an entire generation and still be impactful for years to come.

Storytelling and personal experiences heavily influence the lyrics and is explained with great detail in the documentary. Smith travels across the country finding hiphop notables to interview, and listen to their stories associated with the group as well as interviewing the entire crew back home in Oakland. The film was praised for giving the viewer a unique and more personal look at the famed hip-hop group.

The two are planning to have a great conversation around music in the black community and culture. The conversation also looks to show how music can be used as

COURTESY // The Federalist Black History Month continues throughout February with many guest speakers from the black community. a tool to express people’s culture and represent where they are from. Being born and raised in Oakland, California while being a multi-dimensional artist, Smith has found inspiration in where he is from and exerted that into his work. From working with filmmaking, photography, graphic designing and many more mediums he has used his upbringing and culture to help express his work to the world. He has worked with many people in various industries that include Hall of Fame basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bay Area native MLB pitcher CC Sabathia. From his experiences Smith looks to share how he used music as a tool to express his culture and self-expression. Which in part helped him in his path to being a well-known and respected artist in the Bay Area.

As a part of Black History Month, Sonoma State and Seawolf Living encourages all staff and students to come out and participate in this zoom-based event. As stated above, the event will take place next Friday, Feb. 12, at 11 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and is free for anyone to join and watch. For any more questions or concerns about this event please visit the Seawolf living website under the virtual events tab for more information about these events and ticket availability.

Entertainment 7

FEB. 09 - FEB. 15, 2021

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STAR // Isabelle Barkey In 2017, Chor Boogie painted the Birds and the Bees in Santa Rosa.

Local art colors Sonoma County V SONDRA OTTENSTEIN STAFF WRITER

ibrant dripping rainbows consume the side of the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma. A spineless cactus intertwined with a latex balloon snake stands sixty feet tall on the Roseland Silos. The portrait of a young Pomo man posing in traditional regalia painted in an alley on Santa Rosa Ave. These are just some of the murals on display online at the Sonoma State Art Gallery that give color and life to Sonoma County.

The Sonoma State Art Gallery is presenting the exhibition, “Spray It Like You Mean It: Contemporary Murals of Sonoma County” showcasing public art from around Sonoma County. The exhibit can be viewed online at artgallery.sonoma.edu until Feb. 28.

The exhibit takes viewers on a virtual journey enabling them to see parts of Sonoma County they might not have known existed. These massive and beautiful murals are reflective of their communities giving viewers a taste of the cultures within them.

In the past murals like these were labeled as “graffiti” and quickly painted over by the city, but today these public art works are celebrated. Murals have provided a way for communities to tell their stories, honor their diversity and bring

awareness to often overlooked neighborhoods.

The idea for the exhibition was prompted by Carla Stone, the Exhibitions Coordinator at the university Art Gallery, who started noticing more and more murals popping up in her town and while traveling through the neighborhoods. “It occurred to me that a show about these and other murals would make an interesting show and it would be the perfect time to feature murals in our virtual gallery,” stated Stone.

Since moving to a remote environment, the staff at the university Art Gallery have been creative and innovative in navigating new ways to bring art to students. Having this different medium has given them the chance to think outside the box for exhibitions.

Some of the murals that were chosen for this exhibit stand 100 feet tall or reach up to 600 feet in length, “These are huge, on-site works that of course we’d never be able to bring into the Gallery, so we thought it was an opportune time to create an exhibition featuring them.” stated Jennifer Bethke, Interim Gallery Director at Sonoma State.

The exhibit is curated by Carla Stone with collaboration from Spring Maxfield, a graduate of the art department at Sonoma State. Maxfield has been a longtime advocate of

public art projects and has worked with many of the artists in the community.

Maxfield has been involved in many art projects throughout the community as well as co-producing the Great Handcar Regatta festivals from 2008-2011 in Santa Rosa. She has a love of art and a passion for helping bring beautiful mural pieces to unexpected places, she says she can’t help but get involved in these types of projects, “I want to see my community looking great!” She says this exhibit is, “a great opportunity for people to see art outside that’s been overlooked.”

This exhibit gives students a unique chance to interact with their local community. “Hopefully after viewing the exhibition online, students will be inspired to go outside to find these murals to view in person. Spring is just around the corner, this is a great time to venture outside and explore,” stated Stone The murals are available to view online with each one being paired with information about its location, the artist, and how the project got started. A few come with videos of the making of the art using time lapses and drone footage, giving viewers an in-depth look at how these murals came to existence.

awards come its way including many national awards.

Students have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize award which is a very distinguished award around the US. Students have also received awards for the editorial vision and graphic design.

Nicholas Hadd, a senior at Sonoma State is interested in sending in his work to the magazine. He said, “This is something that I have wanted to do for a while.

I found Zaum online and read through it and thought this would be a great opportunity for me.”

The magazine gives great opportunities for students every year and the application process is extremely straightforward. To be eligible for the magazine an applicant must be a student, not have been already published by another magazine and submit a maximum of 15 pages of prose and 5 poems. A student will send a submission in and if accepted during or after May it will be in the print version. If a student submitted during or after December and is accepted it will be a part of the online version.

“I love independent literary publishing and like to provide an opportunity for students to create their own magazine both at Sonoma State and once they graduate.” said Conoley. “Literary magazines are the lifeline of literary publishing. Most great works of literature first appeared in literary magazines.”

Zaum’s contributors take great pride in their work.

There are all different types of art, to poetry about singing and dancing, smiling to misery and prose writing talking about Homemade Hummus. The magazine allows students and writers to be creative as they want and lets them be themselves in a freeway. Zaum has been described as a great first step for many young writers. Submissions for the magazine can be sent to zaummag through their gmail account.

Zaum submissions open for creators

VINCENT SPENCE STAFF WRITER

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onoma State University’s Literary Magazine “Zaum” is releasing its twenty-third issue. Zaum is a magazine 100% done by the students of SSU. It consists of anywhere between 70 to 100 pages of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, or visual art to help around 20 to 30 students interact and voice their art in their own way. Each spring the magazine has a new theme for the students to interact with.

The magazine is dispensed all around the bay area and in some cases all over the world it has been extremely successful over the years. It has been at Sonoma State for over 35 years and was first called Mandala but has since been changed to its current name. On the Zaum magazine online “about” page it describes how it got its name saying, “Zaum” is a Russian Futurist term that describes a thing as being transrational, existing beyond what can be perceived with the senses or understood by rational analysis. This definition is indicative of the aim of ZAUM as a literary journal, which is to push boundaries and challenge conventional forms of writing.

Gillian Conoley, a poetry Professor at Sonoma State in past years has described the experience as, “wanting the students to have the experience of running their own magazine without professorial intrusion.”

Over the years, the poetry magazine has seen many

COURTESY // Sonoma State The final deadline for Zaum submissions is Feb. 28.

Buccaneers take victory in 2021 Super Bowl

ANTHONY PILOTTI STAFF WRITER

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his year, we prepared for what was likely the greatest match up in history: Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs Vs. Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in Super Bowl 2021. In a normal year, there would be large gatherings at restaurants, bars, pubs, sports lounges and events happening around the State.

During these times however, it appears that most of us will be having a more low-key watch party, while some of us will be out working and providing service during the day.

Emily Klunis, a Junior at Sonoma State University stated, “I’m worked on Super Bowl Sunday all day.” While restaurants will be having outdoor dining, they will be limiting capacity and trying to avoid a large Super Bowl crowd. Russian River Brewing Co. was serving drinks available for takeout in Santa Rosa, while the Windsor location will remain closed until later in February.

Ricky Mayes, an SSU Rugby player and Sophomore said he “Barbecued and watched the game with [his] family,” which seemed to be the consensus among most. While some may not be so inclined to watch the event, or maybe just make it relaxing instead of a hype, Gerardo Parrish a Sophomore at SSU stated, “I am going to go about my Sunday normally-stay in and relax.”

It seems this Super Bowl Sunday in California

was going to be different, allowing time for family and friends in a closer, less packed environment.

Bradley Ancora a junior at SSU stated, “I just watched the game with my roommates at our house in Rohnert Park and maybe have some people over--not super interesting.” Watching with roommates and or family seemed to be the consensus among most people this year. Josiah Butler, an alumnus of Sonoma State said, “Super bowl has been pretty dry for plans this year.

I do love to be around people in that environment of competitions, but haven’t really looked. The ideas are enticing, but I have to be careful.”

Most people stayed at home with family and had little to no plans--with the exception of watching the game. For the most part, it seems we all were much more cautious this year. Also, because there really isn’t much we’re able to do, events for the most part, such as watch parties, have been stalled or minimized.

Evan Minturn, a Senior at SSU stated, “For Super Bowl Sunday, I just watched the game with my family.” All in all, it appears that is what most people will be doing during Super Bowl Sunday.

Nonetheless, this Super Bowl made history with two legends and their teams going at it in a showdown of who’s the greatest, with an ending victory from the Buccaneers. The Super Bowl was quite a competition to see go down.

COURTESY // Instagram The Buccaneers became the 2021 Super Bowl champions on Sunday, Feb. 7.

8 Student Life

FEB. 9 - FEB. 15 2021

sonomastatestar.com

P r o s p e c t ive le a d e r s w a nt e d fo r s t u d e nt g ove r n m e nt p o sit io n s

MORGAN MITCHELL

STAFF WRITER

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re you a natural-born leader who likes making decisions, while also having fun?

If you answered yes, you should consider running for student government! The student government at Sonoma, also known as the Associated Students (AS), puts on fantastic events for the students all year round, as well as representing the student body.

The website boasts that they “provide students with community service opportunities through Join Us Making Progress (JUMP), cocurricular events and activities through Associated Students Productions (ASP), early childhood education and child development laboratory through the Children’s School and Student Government involvement opportunities.”

Specifically, the student government here at Sonoma State “exists to serve the students at Sonoma State University through awareness, advocacy, and representation. We also work to empower students of SSU to engage in shared governance, representing the student perspective to members of the campus community through leadership and active citizenship.”

The current Associated Students President Melissa Kadar was excited to share her experience, saying “I honestly wished I had heard of these opportunities sooner because it has changed my life for the better. The positions in Associated Students allow you to be a part of and drive the changes you would like to see at Sonoma State. “ Kadar recommends learning the ropes first, and stated that, “so many people think you can just run for President with no problem but there is so much to learn about the Associated Students, the university, and yourself. Starting off as a Senator and then going to Executive Vice-President and then President made me so much more successful at each level than if I had jumped right in.”

When asked about what the most rewarding and most difficult experience that AS has given her, Kadar said that “making changes on campus and working to make the lives of SSU students better. This year has definitely been the most challenging and has taught me a lot about leading a team in a time of crisis. Although it was hard to have my work, school, and home all in the same

Associated Students gives Seawolves a chance to apply for student government.

space, I have become a better leader because of it.”

Although her term landed in the midst of the pandemic, she was able to continue leading confidently from home throughout this dreadful time in our history.

Their Instagram page (@ssu_as) gives insight into what they have been doing during the pandemic, including posts about scholarships, fun virtual events, and more.

The student government body is made up of five executive officers and 11 senators, with all 16 being voting members. There is a senator for each school, as well as community affairs, diversity, involvement, student services, sustainability, and undeclared students. You work as a team representing your niche in

COURTESY // Instagram

the school, as well as your fellow students.

Info sessions are coming up, with the next one being Wednesday, February 10 at 4 p.m. The Zoom link for these info sessions are available on the Associated Students website, as well as through Seawolf Living. To apply, there are three easy steps: read the election codes on the AS website, fill out the application, and schedule a one-on-one meeting with a student advisor.

If you are interested in contributing to the everchanging campus community, make sure to apply soon as applications close on February 16 at 11:45 pm. For more information, feel free to email the student government coordinator at l.castro@sonoma. edu.

Scholarships available through Associated Students I QUINN MCKIBBIN

STAFF WRITER

f you have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, you may be eligible for 1 of 20 $500 scholarships! Associated Students of Sonoma State University will be giving out 20 available $500 scholarships to all students. Applications are open now with a deadline on March 5th, 2021.

Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher to be eligible for scholarships. Seawolves can apply for scholarships on the Engage@ SSU website.

Associated Students (AS) is a student run program that provides services and programs to ease and enhance the lives of students. They are the official student body organization and student run corporation at Sonoma.

The Associated Students program also annually offers community service opportunities and co-curricular activities through Join Us Making Progress (JUMP) and Associated Student Productions (ASP). According to the AS page on sonoma.edu, “AS provides funding resources to chartered student clubs and organizations, club accounting services, short-term loans and transitional housing for students of Sonoma State University. ” Sonoma State Associated Students have opened up an opportunity for students to receive one of 20 $500 scholarships the program has got together. Applications have recently been opened for all SSU students until the March 5th deadline. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher to be eligible for scholarships. Students can apply for scholarships on the Engage@SSU website. If students have questions or need information, email Student Government Coordinator Libia Marquez Castro at l.castro@sonoma.edu.

After the applications are turned in and processed, Associated Students committee will meet in March to review applications, and they will then announce the scholarship award winners in April. According to Associated Students Executive Director Erik Dickson, eligible students should be interested in applying to scholarships because “one of the biggest concerns of students from every campus is the cost of education and the growth of student debt. Scholarships are a way to help finance education and avoid debt through loans.”

Every Sonoma State Student has a different background and financial status, and scholarships can give students the financial boost that they need to help take the burden of debt off their shoulders. The biggest concern on college campuses throughout the country is the cost of education and the growing debt students are left with after college. Scholarships are a great way to help finance the education you’re receiving. Students are able to focus more on school work rather than stress with the help of scholarships, it can ease the stress of payments students are having to come up with during the pandemic. With the help of scholarships, Seawolves can get the full access and benefits education has to offer, while getting help throughout every step of your academic journey. Scholar-

COURTESY // Instagram Associated Students gives Seawolves a chance to receive a $500 scholarship.

ships like this one give students the opportunity to network around campus, making valuable connections that can help later in life. On top of these connections, scholarships are a nice addition to resumes to show potential employers your academic drive. If all of this isn’t attractive enough, there’s also a chance to earn $500 toward your studies for the 2021-2022 school year.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sonoma State Associated Students have transitioned to online and will only be taking applications online through email. Students are working remotely in almost all departments on campus. Email is the best way to contact Sonoma State Associated Students and staff for questions or concerns. Students can also visit the SSU COVID-19 site for more information on the pandemic and how Sonoma State is working around it.

FEB. 9 - FEB. 15 2021

sonomastatestar.com

Student Life 9

The Holocaust and Genocide Lecture Series aims to educate students about survivors’ experiences throughout history.

COURTESY // Sonoma State

Survivors remembered in Holocaust & Genocide Lecture Series

BRYCE GALLAGHER STAFF WRITER

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or the last 37 years, Sonoma State University has taken the time to remember the 6 million lives lost during one of the most tragic events of our history by hosting the Holocaust and Genocide Lecture Series. In 1983, The Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide was created at Sonoma State to share the stories of survivors, thus this lecture series was born.

This year, the lectures are being held every Tuesday from January 26th to May 11th at 5:00 p.m. to 6:50 p.m. via Zoom.

“Those who began this collaborative effort between the community and members of the Sonoma State University faculty promised to let the world know of the atrocities that had occurred,” President of the Alliance, Dr. Barbara Lesch McCaffry stated at the beginning of the February 2nd lecture. “The initial intention was primarily to learn the facts, act on them, and never forget.”

For political science professor Diane Parness, the Academic Coordinator for the Holocaust & Genocide Lecture Series, remembering these incidents is imperative now more than ever.

“I think there’s no question that this relates completely to what’s been going in this country for many years,” Parness said. “It can become a part of [Sonoma State students] lives all too quickly. Certain segments of our country are facing this sort of repression or attack every day. We might not be completely aware of it, but we need to be!”

The lecture series also doubles as a General Education course in the D5 section, so students may take one of the three discussion sections and earn credit for attending as well. One of the main takeaways from the course, Parness says, is how these tragedies come to be.

“That’s one of the objectives of the course,” Parness said, “that students will be mindful of what circumstances lead up to a holocaust, what leads up to a genocide, and what creates what we call the ‘dry tinder’, what allows those stresses to ignite.”

Parness, a professor at SSU for 30 years, has been Academic Coordinator

for the series for 7 years now, and even with a new online format, she is very optimistic for the future of the series.

“Typically, we can’t afford to bring in people from outside of the country, but now that we have Zoom, the expenses go down, so if this goes on, we’ll probably have a hybrid format.” Parness said. “We’ll have people coming physically to campus… and I hope we’ll always have this Zoom component so we can bring international scholars in.”

These guest speakers are some of the most knowledgable people in the field, as they’ve either studied the history of the Holocaust and genocides for a large portion of their lives, or they lived through it, and are survivors themselves.

“What we originally did in this Holocaust series was have as many survivors as possible come and speak about their experience,” Parness said. “Sadly, they’re passing on and there aren’t that many survivors left. Now we’re shifting to the second generation and many of them feel it’s imperative that they carry on the message.” That message has been retold throughout multiple generations and will continue to be told for those in the future.

The Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide is encouraging students to attend this incredibly informative lecture series by making it as accessible as possible.

“If anyone is interested in receiving a Zoom link for any of the lectures, they need to send an email request to alliance@sonoma.edu by no later than 5 p.m. the day prior to the lecture.” McCaffry said in an email.

As those on campus and around the world remember those lives lost to these heinous acts, one must also remember to retain the information on how to prevent this and inform others, so something like this never happens again.

“I think that’s really one of the main and most important elements of this course,” Parness said, “to alert people to how imperative it is to take a stand and to not shy away from the news. Find out what’s going on. Read about what’s happening today, as well as 75 years ago.”

Study abroad applications are now open for students through CSUIP and NSE

CASEY FABBRI

STAFF WRITER

S

ince Spring of 2020, the pandemic has halted all travel, which limited opportunities for college students to study abroad. This has been a crazy year and students are more eager than ever to travel and see the world.

With hope for change in the future, California State University International Program (CSUIP) and National Student Exchange (NSE) applications are now open. Both programs’ goal is to provide the experience of a lifetime for students, while also giving a clear understanding of financial obligations and educational expectations.

CSUIP gives students the opportunity to study abroad in one of 18 different countries. For competitive countries such as Australia, Japan and South Korea, it is critical that students meet the application priority deadline of February 15th.

After studying abroad in London, SSU alumna Nicole Hickmott said, “If there’s one thing I wish I knew before studying abroad it would be that there’s no right or wrong way to study abroad. Surround yourself with positive people, be open to new experiences, and don’t worry about not getting to visit that one country you thought you’d go to.”

Sonoma State also offers the NSE program, which allows students to study in another part of the U.S. or Canada, or in a different country. It is important to note that students who apply to NSE or NSE Study Abroad for Fall 2021 and/or Spring 2022 by February 15th will receive $25 off their application fee.

Both CSUIP and NSE translate Sonoma State tuition rates and financial aid, so studying abroad can be an even cheaper option for students. Academic credits are also transferred directly to Sonoma State, which eases stress and prioritizes exploring the country.

When asked about the balance between school and travel, Hickmott stated, “The balance between school and exploring while abroad is manageable. Many of the classes I took abroad gave me a different experience than I would have had in classes domestically.” Hickmott also stated that she was, “ I was able to travel to 25 European countries over the course of two semesters (and breaks), while maintaining an honorable GPA.” Studying abroad not only broadens horizons in education, but can help students pave their future career path.

Challenges such as culture shock, language barriers and communication are all prevalent when studying abroad.

These obstacles can be applied to post-grad experiences for students and give them tools that are hard to find else-

STAR // Genesis Botello Brandi Norum, second-year psychology major (left), and Jessica Cardinale, fifth-year psychology major (right), recruit students for the Study Abroad program. where.

When asked how studying abroad affected her career path, SSU alumna Malia Ford stated, “My time abroad enhanced the skills I use every day in my job. I currently do outside sales for a family winery and each day I talk to dozens of different people for work.” Ford added, “I gained a sense of confidence in myself abroad that helps me in my job every single day.”

Studying abroad is an opportunity that students should take advantage of if they are interested. The first step in studying abroad is to attend a virtual meeting to get a grasp on requirements, steps and deadlines. Students then must start the application, and they should seek guidance from an advisor to help them fill it out. The Global Engagement Office is a great resource to answer questions and provide support to students.

Global Engagement Coordinator, Dr. Hope Ortiz stated, “Not only is it an adventure of a lifetime, but studies have found that students return from studying abroad with more confidence, cross-cultural competency, indepen-

dence, f lexibility, and adaptability.” Ortiz also stated, “This experience helps students to become more aware, global citizens, that are more knowledgeable of and empathetic towards people with different backgrounds from themselves.”

It’s common for students to be on the fence about studying abroad, but Malia Ford says, “Do it! Going abroad pushes you out of your comfort zone and allows you to learn more about yourself and grow in ways you couldn’t imagine.”

In regards to hesitation, Dr. Ortiz also stated, “Oftentimes, when students are asked what they enjoyed the most or benefited the most from their study abroad experience, it is also the thing that they were most nervous about or found the most challenging initially (learning the language, making friends, learning the culture, etc.).”

The deadline to apply to study abroad with CSUIP and NSE is February 15th 2021. Questions and inquiries should visit the Global Engagement’s Study Away webpage at https://international.sonoma.edu/study-away.

10 Health and Wellness

The CSU Board of Trustees held a Zoom meeting to vote on expanding student mental health services across all 23 campuses.

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STAR// Pamela Meyers

CSU Board of Trustees to expand student mental health services GABRIELLA HERMOGENO STAFF WRITER

D

uring their virtual Zoom meeting on Jan. 26, the California State University Board of Trustees voted to sponsor a proposed bill. This bill plans to expand student mental health services across college campuses in California by the 2021-2022 school year.

The proposed bill aims to implement the College Mental Health Services Program, which would accumulate administrative funding from Proposition 63. From this, the distribution of funds will go towards the California State Universities, the California Community College system, and the University of California campuses.

The goal is to open more student mental health programs on campuses and hire more counselors in order to provide students with the support they need.

In Nov. 2004, Proposition 63, also known as the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), was passed. Since then, there has been a 1% increase in state personal income tax that reaches up to $1 million. This provides the ability to financially support services and programs that support students’ mental health.

According to the California Faculty Association (CFA), data reports from 2014 show that California State Universities have an average of 2,506 students per counselor system-wide. According to the data collected by the CFA that same year, Sonoma State University has 1,935 students per counselor.

Dr. Steven Filling, a political action chair for the CFA and professor of accounting at Stanislaus State, said, “It is clear from the data and the lived experiences of our faculty, that the most effective mechanism for increasing the availability of quality student mental health services is to engage more full-time tenure-track counseling faculty.”

Once the CSU Board of Trustees receive notice of the final appropriation from the funding, the number of additional counselors and potential programs will be decided.

Senior Legislative Advocate at California State University, Nichole Muñoz-Murillo

said, “The timing of this bill could not be more appropriate with our campuses currently experiencing significant increased demand for mental health services.”

By Feb. 19, the bill will be introduced to the California State Legislature, followed by policy committee hearings in March and April and a fiscal committee in May. Additionally, as the CSU moves their attention to restoring campus communities due to COVID-19 measures, the Board of Trustees Committee on Finance called for a state investment with a budget plan of $556 million, which will replace lost financial funds from 2020-2021.

This budget plan is also a part of the recurring funding from Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal. The proposal stated, “$15 million recurring is for student technology access and student mental health.”

Newsom’s budget proposal plans to provide additional financial support to all CSU campuses, faculty, staff and students. The CSU Board of Trustees Committee on Finance’s agenda states, “$225 million in one-time funding, including $175 million for deferred maintenance and $30 million for emergency assistance to students who were previously working full-time.”

Steve Relyea, executive vice chancellor and chief financial officer at California State University shared reassuring thoughts that the federal government proposes to provide a significant amount of one-time funding to the CSU: “The governor is proposing increasing both one-time and recurring funding for the CSU in the 2021-22 fiscal year and we appreciate that support and level of competence by the governor’s administration.”

To stay posted with this bill, visit The CSU’s webpage for the Board of Trustees (www2.calstate.edu/csu-system/board-of-trustees).

Health Center Staff Spotlight: Jessica Lee B SUMIKO FONG

STAFF WRITER

ecoming a nurse takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and the nurses at the Sonoma State University Student Health Center work extremely hard to make sure that all students are assessed correctly.

Among these nurses is Ms. Jessicca Lee. Lee completed the nursing program at Santa Rosa Junior College in 2012 and she has worked in the areas of skilled nursing, long term care, and clinical triage until early 2020. She then applied online and received a nursing position at Sonoma State University in May 2020.

Lee describes her journey in becoming a nurse as her highest achievement.

“My biggest accomplishment is putting myself through pre-nursing education and then later Nursing school all on my own while working 2-3 jobs up until graduating at age 30.” Lee said.

When deciding on a career, Lee chose the health care route because it gave her the opportunity to help her community. “I liked the idea of choosing a career that provided me with a sense of purpose and the ability to assist other members in my community with their health care needs.” Lee said.

Lee especially enjoys working with college students because she is able to learn more about their specific health requirements. For

example, STIs and safe sex education. “Being a nurse at SSU has changed my life in that I can better identify with the college age group.” Lee said “I love working with the young adult age group, students who have a unique set of healthcare needs that I can educate myself about in order to provide the best care for them.”

When she isn’t working, Lee likes spending her free time hiking. She also watches and plays Jeopardy every evening at home. In addition, Lee also has a two year old daughter that she loves to dance-ercise with. “I am proud to be a nurse and the only other job I feel is more important than that is my other full time job of being a mother to my two year old.”

Lee said.

Lee’s role at the Student Health Center is crucial right now because she is the COVID-19 nurse. She handles all of the concerns revolving around COVID-19 for the students at Sonoma State.

She is responsible for screening COVID-related symptoms in students, triaging and scheduling appointments and answering all questions in relation to COVID. “My favorite part of the job is learning about the COVID-19 virus and getting up to date on the newest information and ever-evolving healthcare facts so that I can educate our students.” Lee said.

STAR// Willy Lepori Jessica Lee, registered nurse and staff member at the Student Health Center, loves working with young adults and learning from them.

Not only do students rely on her for COVID help, other staff members do as well.

With her knowledge on the virus, her co-workers often get advice from her. “She has been a tour de force with the management of our COVID surveillance and I have come to rely on her clear clinical judgment.” said Dr. Timothy Kaczmar, Health Center physician. “She has become a valued member of our team at SHC.” In addition to her COVID responsibilities, Lee also provides all the other required immunizations in order for students to meet the Sonoma State requirement while attending the Health Center currently.

When it comes to her direct patient care obligations, Lee works closely with the physicians to ensure that the assessment of a patient is accurate and thorough. “Jessicca is a pleasure to work with.” Dr. Margot Brown, Health Center physician, said. “She is very detail oriented; we are very lucky to have her on our team.”

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Health and Wellness 11

The Student Health Activities club: promoting healthy habits and educating Seawolves MATTHEW SMITH STAFF WRITER

T

he Student Health Activities Club, (SHAC), is a club that partners with the Student Health Center in order to help promote healthy habits for Sonoma State University’s students Theodore Bussell, SHAC president, explains, “Originally, we started as an advisory committee to the Student Health Center, but our club has grown to do a lot more,” he said. “We promote wellness activities for students, and we also provide opportunities to learn about different health-related career paths by inviting guest speakers to share their experiences at our meetings.”

Another focus of SHAC, in addition to promoting health related events for students is, “To inform SSU students about Health Center services and provide outreach on campus health issues,” according to their bylaws.

The club is always advertising health events on campus for students to participate in. One of the more popular events that SHAC puts on is the Puppy Play Days that happen periodically throughout the year. “During my time at Sonoma State I find that our most notable events (pre covid of course) would be our Puppy Play Days, which is also my personal favorite,” said Events Coordinator Simran Jorgensen. She went on to say, “We held these events once a month and allowed students to take a mental break and relax during a stressful day of classes.”

The club also puts on clinics for free HIV testing a couple times throughout the year, most notably on National AIDS awareness day. These are some of the more popular events that the club puts on, although since COVID-19, the club has had to find new ways to reach the student body.

Since the start of the pandemic, SHAC has been focused on making sure they stay engaged with SSU students. In

COURTESY// Sonoma State The Student Health Activities Club (SHAC) is a great way for students to make a difference on campus and connect with people in the medical field.

order to do so, the club has turned their attention to hosting online lectures with special guest speakers to talk to students about their experiences after college, as well as giving them information about their careers.

As far as what they will do this semester, Bussell said, “We plan to continue having guest speakers this semester, as well as improving the Student Health Center website so students have an easier time accessing health services.”

The club has also become more engaged on their instagram page, @shac_ssu, to ensure that the Seawolf Community can stay up to date on what the club is doing. Bussell aslo said the club has set up an online “question/suggestion box” where students can anonymously contact employees from the

health center to ask health related questions.

Although the club is designed to inform students about health related topics, being a part of SHAC provides many extra benefits to students. One of the best parts about being in the club is, “[seeing] what the possibilities were for future jobs, and...the networking opportunity inherent in joining the club,” Bussell said, “My biggest takeaway is that the club has the power to improve access to health service for our peers.” SHAC allows for students to help bring awareness to various health needs, SHAC meets every other Thursday via zoom from 1-2 p.m. For more information about the club, head over to health.sonoma. edu and click on the SHAC tab on the left hand side.

Sonoma County forced to cancel thousands of vaccine appointments

After a glitch in the Sonoma County vaccine website, hundreds of hopeful recipients were turned away and had their appointments cancelled.

STAR// Isabelle Barkey

NOAH PHILPOTT STAFF WRITER

T

he COVID-19 vaccination rollout process has had its ups and downs, however, it just hit an all-time low with a total of more than 9,000 cancelled appointments.

OptumServe, a scheduling website operating over the course of a week for a clinic in Rohnert Park, was forced to cancel thousands of appointments following a mix-up in the requirements for the vaccine.

The company mistakenly listed the eligible immunization age at 65, but intended to list the minimum age as 75 years or older. The Press Democrat states, “County officials said 85% of the vaccine appointments set had to be canceled,” due to the fact that the individuals were ineligible to receive the vaccine at that time. This led to the turn away of many patients and the cancellation of thousands of vaccination appointments.

If an individual has already received the first dose of the injection in the age range of 65-74, one can expect to have their appointment for the second dose cancelled and rescheduled accordingly. The main focus is to distribute the vaccine to folks that are 75 years and older, because they are more likely to attract the virus. This age group has comprised 60% of the 265 virus related deaths in Sonoma County. “County officials hope to begin vaccinating residents aged 65-74 sometime in late Feb.,” The Press Democrat said.

The County is offering the vaccine at a variety of six different health clinics for the desired age group. Those being the Rohnert Park Community Center, Sonoma Valley High School, etc. Each site will ask for the proper identification and if their information is ineli-

gible, they will be turned away immediately.

Although officials are slowing down the process of a possible spread of the virus, there is hope going forward as they will vaccinate the individuals more at risk first and work their way down the line. “I just want to say that I’m sorry to the thousands of people who were confused and disappointed with the events of the last few days,” said county Supervisor Chris Coursey.

The vaccine itself has to stay a certain temperature. Meaning, once taken out of the freezer, it has to be used before a certain amount of time. Sonoma State University Senior and essential worker Autumn Watters was fortunate enough to receive the vaccine after another essential worker missed their appointment, leaving a dose of the vaccine unused. Watters explained that the experience was like, “...hitting the lottery. You are guaranteed the second dose after getting the first one no matter the circumstance and you even schedule it before you leave. I can now breathe easier being around my family.” The senior goes on and says that the location she went to for the vaccine located in Santa Rosa called the Department of Health Services was a very pleasant experience. “Everyone in the building was pumped. Not one person didn’t have a smile on their face,” explained Watters. The clinic uses a different scheduling website called Calvax that is quick and easy to manage. “They have three doctors and issue thousands of vaccines a day. They are more about getting you in and out, but making sure it is done right and efficient,” said Watters.

For more information regarding receiving the vaccine, visit SocoEmergency.com for possible dates, times, and eligibility.

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Golfers find time to play during pandemic

STAR// Pamela Meyers

STAR// Pamela Meyers Edward Jicha focuses his attention on the ball at Bennet Valley Golf Course.

Many golfers head to Windsor Golf Club to practice on a warm Saturday afternoon.

STAR // Pamela Meyers Avid golfers gather at the driving range at Windsor Golf Club to enjoy the beautiful Saturday afternoon, playing while also being socially distanced.

Some SSU favorites remain closed

STAR // Isabelle Barkey Cafe Mimosa in Santa Rosa remains empty and closed, and hasn’t opened since the pandemic started. The Rohnert Park Cafe Mimosa has reopened as of now, however.

STAR // Andrew Savedra The only drink being served at The 8 Ball Tavern is the neon drink on the sign.

STAR // Isabelle Barkey Friar Tuck’s was once a community favorite, but has permanently closed.