IN THIS ISSUE
BSU’s Representation Black Student Union weighs in on Sonoma State’s representation. PAGE 3.
Lobo’s Pizza & Pub
Restaurant Week
SSU’s favorite on-campus pub reopens for the first time since March of 2020. PAGE 6.
Sonoma County’s Restaurant Week aims to highlight local restaurants. PAGE 5.
SINCE 1979
VOLUME 86 // ISSUE 4 MARCH 1, 2022 - MARCH 7, 2022
THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER
@SONOMASTATESTAR
COURTESY // Garry Knight Londoners stand in protest against Vladimir Putin and Russia’s current invasion of Ukraine which began mid-February.
SSU students and faculty react to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
COURTESY // @ssupuerta on Instagram Oswaldo Moya Diaz passed away after a seven-year battle with Leukemia.
Campus community mourns death of C Oswaldo Moya Diaz
WILLOW ORNELLAS STAFF WRITER
OLIVIA DOANE STAFF WRITER
onoma State University mourns the death of 20-year-old Oswaldo Moya Diaz who tragically passed away on Feb. 15, after a Sseven-month-long battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Many members of the SSU community were first alerted of Diaz’s passing on Thursday, Feb. 17, when Diaz’s fraternity, Nu Alpha Kappa, shared a tribute post via their Instagram, honoring their brother. The post read, “On behalf of the Nu Alpha Kappa Fraternity’s Three Gamma Chapter, we regret to inform you that one of our own has left us to join our fallen brothers at the Omega Chapter.” Diaz was a bright soul who had endless amounts of love and compassion for everyone around and was said to have been an amazing brother to his Nu Alpha Kappa family. Diaz’s sister, Paola Moya, created a Gofundme page on Feb. 16, to help relieve the costs of his medical bills along with other costs that come with losing a loved one. “On February 15, 2022, God received another angel into his realm. After 7 long months of an arduous battle with AML Leukemia, our dear Oswaldo has left us with heavy hearts,” read the Gofundme page.
onstant hostilities from Russia regarding political relationships with Ukraine have been going on for years, but the threat of war has become more real than ever before. Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, began his invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, Feb. 24, an invasion many are now fearing could lead to the next World War. Amid violent attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has refused to flee Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, despite declaring martial law. When martial law is in effect, the military commander has unlimited authority to make and enforce laws. “We are here, in Kyiv, we are defending Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said while surrounded by several top officials demonstrating the country’s leadership didn’t flee. On Feb. 25, Zelenskyy requested help from the rest of the world to defend Europe. “In all countries, in all cities, take the streets and demand peace for Europe, peace for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. “Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences,” U.S. President Joe Biden said hours after the Russian assault began on Ukraine, “Today, I’m authorizing additional strong sanctions and new limitations on what can be exported to Russia. This is going to impose severe cost on the Russian economy both immediately and over time.” Dr. Diane Parness, Political Science professor at Sonoma State University with concentrations in comparative politics, European politics, and Russia, understands that this conflict will have significant consequences for the U.S., both politically and economically. Parness cleared the air for students worried about getting drafted. “The last time a draft took place in the U.S. was 1973. We’ve been involved in a significant number of conflicts since then without any call for a draft. A draft would be politically unpopular for obvious reasons. It would be the last recourse of the Chief Executive,” Parness said. Parness also summarized where Putin is coming from in his attack on Ukraine, “This conflict could challenge many assumptions about post-Cold War Big Power confrontations. Putin is very powerful, but he is not omnipotent. In the past, when faced with confrontation and protest from his own people and the international community, he has paused, backed down, negotiated, and made
see OSWALDO MOYA DIAZ on pg. 4
see RUSSIAN INVASION on pg. 4
Daily COVID-19 case notifications halted after ‘overwhelming’ pushback ADDISON SMITH STAFF WRITER
n Feb. 21, the Sonoma State University COVID-19 Monitoring and Compliance Team released a statement about the numerous O COVID-19 case notifications students have been receiving on a daily
COURTESY // www.nbcbayarea.com Firefighters battling the 2019 Kincade fire which destroyed 77,758 acres of land.
PG&E faces 30 criminal charges for 2019 Kincade fire ANA FINGERSON STAFF WRITER
acific Gas & Electric Co. is currently facing over 30 charges related to the 2019 Kincade fire which, “ignited when equipment broke on a high-voltage transmisP sion tower in a fire-prone area of the Mayacamas Mountains. Prosecutors accused
the company of reckless conduct in its operation of the tower and also charged it with environmental crimes stemming from the fire’s noxious smoke.” stated Julie Johnson, a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle. Sonoma County prosecutors began laying out evidence and pursuing criminal charges against PG&E this month, on Feb. 8 and 9. However, Judge Mark Urioste offered Sonoma County and PG&E more time to allow for an agreement that would settle the case. The attorneys from both sides agreed they needed more time, but we’re coming to a resolution. The trial is scheduled to begin again on Mar. 14. The prosecutors of this case continue to make sure PG&E is to be held accountable and see PG&E TRIAL on pg. 4
basis over the last two years. The monitoring team intends to lessen the amount of notifications sent out each day in efforts to make students feel more at home on campus and less worried about the lingering threat of the pandemic. This change comes after multiple surveys and discussions with students and staff alike found that a majority of the campus community viewed the amount of notifications as unnecessary, concerning, and overwhelming. The statement, which was sent out by Associate Vice President for Risk Management and Safety Services, Tyson Hill, read,“Sonoma State University is changing the notification process in order to provide a single online location where information regarding potential COVID exposures is located. Students will no longer receive emails but…Close contacts and individuals who attend class with a COVID-19 positive individual will continue to be individually notified by the COVID Monitoring Team about the exposure and what steps are required or recommended. ” After a few months of research, the monitoring team felt that the change was necessary, “This change was prompted by conversations our office has had with students and employees about the process and our desire to provide the best information to the most people in the most convenient way.” While many SSU students and faculty were relieved by the news that the notifications were being scaled back, others were left feeling uncomfortable, despite the information being available to the public on the COVID-10 Case Information website. One of these students, Andrea Vanderschoot, a fourth-year Criminal Justice major said that she doesn’t think that many students realize that the case information is now available online, “I didn’t even know about it until you told me, but I feel like it’s not very fair in a sense that the majority of students don’t realize it’s on there so it’s giving false pretenses in a way. see CASE NOTIFICATIONS on pg. 4
2 Editorial THE STAR Editorial Board
MARCH 1 - MARCH 7, 2022
sonomastatestar.com
Title IX only doing the bare minimum for assault survivors
Myles Grabau, Editor-in-Chief Maych Rowell, News Editor Emily Cripe, Opinion Editor Cléa Upcher, Arts & Entertainment Editor Isabel Epstein, Student Life Editor Nicholas Roth, Health & Sports Editor Dana Scacco, Photo Editor Corinne Asturias, Faculty Advisor Staff Writers Willow Ornellas, Addison Smith, Ana Fingerson, Khanh Dao, Payton Mullaney, Rosalee Padilla, Holly Durfee, Jacqueline Garcia, Javier Hernandez, Rachel Yetso, Jake Morrissey, Tanner Ivey, Olivia Doane, Danny Serrano Photographers Montana Lahey, Mikayla Fritzemeier, Noah Clarke
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Editor’s Pick This week’s can’t miss article:
“SSU students and faculty react to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine” Read the article on pages 1 and 4.
Have an opinion? We’d like to hear from you! The STAR welcomes letters to the editor
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.
T
he coveted “college experience” is one of the most appealing things about registering for higher education. A hard truth that comes with said college experience is the constant, elevated risk of assault, harassment, and sexual violence on university campuses. Sonoma State’s Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD), formerly known as the Title IX office, is in charge of controlling and decreasing this risk and, according to students, they haven’t put much effort into the issue in recent years. According to the Sonoma State website, “OPHD is a prevention, response, and compliance office that focuses on sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, dating and domestic violence, stalking, harassment and discrimination based on protected status, and retaliation. It is our commitment to the Seawolf community that we will work to provide an environment that is safe and equitable for all.” Every semester, the OPHD requires students and staff to complete an online training course about sexual assault and consent in a college setting. This seems like a great way to educate and prevent sexual assault on the surface level, but really it’s just the university doing the absolute bare minimum. What usually happens with these training sessions is that, while everyone does complete them, nobody pays attention to the content. The format is easy to skip through and ignore without absorbing any of the information. The only reason anyone completes them in the first place is because the university threatens to disenroll those who don’t. SSU alumna Emily Marfia said, “Every time I’ve done {the sexual assault training}, I’ve had people in my classes and dorm areas ask if they can send each other the answers. There needs to be a larger mandated conversation.” On top of the fact that the information in these courses goes in one ear and out the other for most people, the videos can be quite triggering for survivors of sexual assault. There is an option to meet with SSU’s confidential advocates for those who expect to be triggered by the course material, basically asking students to “prove” they are unable to complete
COURTESY // Fred Murphy for The Hill News
the course. Fourth year Psychology major Jenna Zager siad, “I honestly don’t really love Title IX because it is really triggering for me and a lot of my peers. I’ve had conversations about this and have opted out of the training numerous times. It feels like it’s all for show and it doesn’t seem like it really teaches the importance of consent.” When asked for a comment on this issue, the STAR received no response from Julie Vivas, SSU’s incoming Title IX officer and senior director of the OPHD. A recent statistic on the university’s sexual assault crime reports would be necessary information to include at this point, but the crime report does not currently list incidents that occured after 2020. This makes it tough for new and existing students alike, as it’s important to log incidents like this and make the community aware of danger. On Feb. 16, President Sakaki sent an email to the entire campus community reiterating and underlining the responsibility of the university’s Title IX programs. In this email, Sakaki states, “Remaining educated, understanding reporting obligations, and bringing information forward promptly so that all trained experts can respond appropriately are how we live those values on campus.” In light of this email, it is important to remember that Title IX is a university-run program first, meaning that maintaining a proper image for the school is a part of their job description. The program needs to be reformed, and even though most of the policies come from the federal government, there are still issues with the way SSU runs the program that need to be addressed. SSU’s actions regarding sexual assault contradict Sakaki’s promise. The problem here is that SSU is not working hard enough to keep everyone educated, obligated, or informed. Assigning a one hour video about what sexual assault looks like and moving on is not educating anyone, and it sure isn’t solving the problems the university thinks it is. The conversation needs to continue past the few hours students spend per semester “learning” about sexual assault.
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 // PhotoPhiend for Ms. Magazine
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.
MARCH 1 - MARCH 7, 2022
sonomastatestar.com
SSU’s Black Student Union weighs in on Black History Month
PAYTON MULLANEY STAFF WRITER
B
lack students celebrated their culture on campus and were able to freely embrace what it means to be Black. As Black History Month comes to an end, conversations took place about whether Black students felt represented on Sonoma State University’s campus this February. Every year Sonoma State faculty lines up numerous activities, speakers, and events for Black History Month in order to celebrate the Black community. Whether it be mixers, trivia nights, or guest appearances, students are excited to take part in the events happening on campus that encourage them to reflect and rejoice in what being Black means to each student. Mendel Murray, a faculty member at SSU, advocates for Black students and was the reason so many events took place on campus. Murray said, “A lot of students don’t want to be here because there’s no community to get them involved, which is why I work so hard to provide what the university is lacking.” Not only is it important that Black students feel heard, but that the staff and faculty members are represented. Mendel said “Throughout Black History Month, I felt empowered more than anything, and I learned that it’s imperative to show how we can be proud.” Outside of the events and activities, the community that the Black Student Union (BSU) created helps unite Black students
on SSU’s campus all year round. However, having other people from outside the club and residents of Rohnert Park band together to celebrate all month long is truly the definition of embracing everyone’s difference and supporting them and all the history they bring to other people’s lives. Sonoma State student, Residential Advisor, and BSU member Elijah Harris said, “We small but we loud,” when referring to the Black representation on campus. Amari Houston, SSU student athlete and member of the BSU, said, “Celebrating my Blackness looks like being unapologetic and Black.” She continued, “I didn’t want the ‘for a black girl’ behind every compliment, I just want to be me.” Not only is it essential to feel represented, it is essential for the students to feel like they have the freedom to speak their truth about what it means to be Black. Timothy Crawford, a first year, said, “This community has given me opportunities to learn about myself and make genuine connections.” It is only his first year on campus and he has been able to embrace the small, yet powerful band of brothers and sisters Sonoma State has through the BSU. Black students have had to overcome trials that other students will never know. They will never know the pain of being told they won’t make it by people they looked up to just because of their skin color, yet they continue to prove how they overcame it and how their Black History helps them persevere. A short play that took place during the closing ceremony was teaching the audience to take a different approach to racism. Rather than being in fear of the what ifs, Black people need to embrace who they are. As an institution that advertises, diversity, Sonoma State needs to continue to lift up their Black community, no matter how small they are.
New Asian-American ‘Sesame Street’ character met with backlash
KHANH DAO
STAFF WRITER
A
s the beloved children’s show “Sesame Street” welcomes their newest character, an Asian-American girl named Ji-Young, PBS is being met with heavy backlash from parents. Matt Schlapp, president of the Conservative Political Action Committee, criticizes “Sesame Street” for introducing the new Korean-American muppet. In an email to NBC, Schlapp said, “’Sesame Street’ must go back to the days when a show was dedicated to a letter of the alphabet and not a trend.” Schlapp continues, “If National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting System want to support the socialist movement, they must fund themselves.” “Sesame Street” is known for being inclusive on all fronts. They make an effort to represent a variety of sexualities, disabilities, genders, and other diverse topics that children will encounter throughout their lives. In addition, they help build global awareness in young children and teach them to be kind to themselves and others, even when things are difficult. While most parents find exposing their children to this kind of television beneficial for their future, some families disagree and argue that children’s minds are
too young to comprehend such complex subject matter. For some, discussing gender equality, race, disability, and relationships can be quite challenging and uncomfortable. This lack of exposure results in a lack of understanding and knowledge when one encounters situations different from their own. Considering this, having a television show like “Sesame Street” that creates a safe and positive space for families to have these conversations is endlessly beneficial. NBC News interviewed Alan Muraoka, a former ‘Sesame Street’ actor. He stated, “I believe it is very important for our children to understand these issues because they are real and are not going away anytime soon.” Muraoka makes a valid point—eventually, these issues will be addressed anyway when children grow up, attend school, and make friends. The topic won’t be awkward or uncomfortable if people are having the conversation and clearing things up while children are still young. Over time, this should create a more loving, welcoming, and inclusive society. When asked to comment on the topic, an SSU student said, “I grew up watching ‘Sesame Street’, and I still do. The show positively encourages inclusivity, and it encourages kids to talk to their parents.” “Sesame Street” is an interactive and fun show for children and their families to enjoy and learn. The show has been successful for 52 seasons now, and adding a muppet with a whole different culture shouldn’t be such a controversial concept. Exposing children to different races, genders, sexualities, and disabilities early on will lead to a more understanding, accepting society in the future.
Opinion 3 Gun safety issues on ‘Rust’ set lead to lawsuits ROSALEE PADILLA
O
STAFF WRITER
n Oct.21, actor Alec Baldwin and renowned cinematographer Halyna Hutchins were involved in an incident during the filming of “Rust” that left Hutchins with a fatal gunshot wound. Since this horrific event, Baldwin has been under major scrutiny, and the entire situation presents the question: how did a live round end up in a prop gun? It seems that crucial safety protocols are not being taken seriously. This is not the first time something like this has occurred and if no changes are made, this won’t be the last. Earlier this month, Hutchins’ family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Baldwin and other members of the “Rust” crew. According to CNN, “The lawsuit, filed in Santa Fe, alleges numerous industry standard violations by Baldwin and others charged with safety on the set” Other actors that have lost their lives due to improper gun safety on set include; Brandon Lee and Jon-Erik Hexum. In the months after the “Rust” incident, on-set safety protocols and proper gun training have been at the forefront of the discussion. As of February 2022, Halyna Hutchins’ family have filed a wrongful death lawsuit. Baldwin has continuously explained that what happened on Oct. 21 was an accident, but admits no fault in the situation. Matt Hutchins, now a widower, explained that Baldwin should still be at fault. In an interview with Today, Hutchins stated, “...the idea that the person holding the gun and causing it to discharge is not responsible is absurd to me.” . There has been no resolution in the case of Halyna Hutchins, no arrests have been made and no responsibility has been taken. This accident was completely preventable and it seems that there are multiple people at fault. Hannah Gutierrez Reed is the armorer that was hired to handle all of the props on set. It is important to note that Gutierrez Reed had only worked on one other set, prior to working on the set of “Rust.” After the incident that occurred while filming, many crew members came out and spoke about how production was not taking the necessary precautions to protect everyone on set. In an ABC news interview, Baldwin claims that he underwent 90 minutes of gun safety training from Gutierrez Reed. When taking any other sort of firearms training, it is said, time and time again to treat any gun like it is loaded. It is understandable that Baldwin was following the directions given by Hutchins, but there should be a new policy in place that has the actors check their firearm before every scene. In an interview with the STAR, a background actress, Christina Rangel, discusses her experiences with safety protocols on set: “Everyone behind the scenes goes through security checkpoints to ensure the integrity of the set. Some productions even collect your cell phones so that no information can be leaked.” These productions are obviously willing to go to major lengths to protect their content, so there shouldn’t be an utter disregard for safety protocols that are arguably much more important. It is also interesting that there are prop alternatives for all other weapons used on sets, except for guns. Considering the dangers that go along with the use of firearms, there should be a realistic option that does not fire any live ammunition. The bottom line is, Hollywood needs to reform its weapons safety protocols, and this incident with “Rust” was not the first time someone has died due to lack of safety precautions.
4 News
MARCH 1 - MARCH 7, 2022 sonomastatestar.com
DREAM Center prepares celebration of life continued from pg. 1
COURTESY // World Health Organization on Instagram The World Health Organization shares information on how to remain COVID safe.
COVID-19 monitoring team ends daily case updates continued from pg. 1
With an email it’s easier and more accessible but with all these notifications no longer coming our way, it makes me feel a little uncomfortable and sketched out. Like why not tell us in an email where they can be upfront?” The monitoring team has clarified that while students and faculty may not be receiving the emails daily about exposures and outbreaks, possibly infected individuals will still be notified about potential exposure with an email from them. “Exposure notifications are still going out to people who have been directly exposed and for the people who want to know about it on a daily basis, it’s still available publicly,” said third-year Music Education student, Ryan Ristine,”This new method puts less spam in our inboxes and makes the important notifications, like the direct exposure ones, harder to miss or skip over.” “While I miss daily update, I do like the new way of getting notified because it tells you the exact class of the person you were exposed to instead of just the general building,” said Gabby Achiro, a fourth-year major. According to Interim Senior Director for Risk Management, Emergency Services, and Campus Safety Operations, Missy Brunetta, the “change in how we notify students was only intended to be more efficient and make the information from multiple cases more easily combined for a clear picture.” This big picture ideology will hopefully provide a more fleshed out and expansive idea on how students will receive COVID-19 information moving forward. The team at SSU has taken a clear stance to further provide assistance without the daily notification system that used to send out emails to students and faculty. While all this info is readily available on the website, Brunetta wanted to stress, “It’s also very important to remember our office continues to notify individuals who were in direct contact or were present in a classroom with a COVID positive person. The community notices only identify general locations where someone may have had passing or short-term contact with someone with COVID. These types of casual contacts are generally low risk, especially for those who are vaccinated and wearing masks.” For students wanting any more information about COVID-19 exposures or outbreaks on campus, the COVID-19 Case Information tab on the Sonoma State website will be readily available at all times with information dating back from Jan. 1, to present day.
PG&E denies fault in 2019 fire as trial is temporarily put on pause continued from pg. 1
that the company faces the consequences of unsafe precautionary actions. For those who were impacted by the fires, the trial could mean peace and a look into PG&E’s lack of safety, an important step in a kept collection of evidence filled public records. PG&E was recently released from a five year probation period which stemmed from the deadly San Bruno gas pipeline explosion in January of 2010. PG&E has also been convicted of 91 felonies, not including the 33 felonies that were added since the current trials revolving around the fire. “PG&E tried unsuccessfully to get those charges tossed out by the judge before Tuesday’s preliminary hearing” wrote Brandon Rittiman, a staff writer for abc10, in an article published on Feb. 8, which included details found in the investigation that revealed PG&E being at fault for the start of the fire. The 2019 Kincade fire first began on Oct. 23, at 9:27 p.m., just northeast of Geyserville, CA on John Kincade Rd. and Burned Mountain Rd. According to Cal Fires website, 77,758 acres were burnt and the fire was not fully contained until almost 2 weeks later, after almost 200,000 people were displaced, 174 homes destroyed and over 100 people killed. Evidence was found by Cal Fire investigator for the Kincade Fire, Gary Uboldi, helping to prove the fires were the fault of PG&E. Uboldi showed photos to the court, “revealing details of the broken jumper cable on a high voltage PG&E transmission tower blamed for starting the fire” stated Rittiman. Rittman’s article also included further information on the investigation progress including the cause of the fire which investigators found was started by a powerline hitting a metal tower and showering the ground with sparks. This instance was similar to the 2018 Camp fire which destroyed the Butte County town, Paradise. Although evidence and investigation has proven PG&E to be at fault, the company argues they were making “good faith judgement calls” and “not crimes.” “We are having discussions with PGE to determine if there is an equitable settlement to the proceedings short of continuing through preliminary hearing, and ultimately a jury trial.” wrote Chief Deputy District Attorney, Brian Staebell, in an email to the Press Democrat. Victims have stated concern about a settlement and have asked that their safety be prioritized in efforts to bring this trial to a working solution. Will Abrams, a victim to the 2017 Tubbs fire, stated his concern in an article written by Andrew Graham of abc10. “It concerns me that courts keep settling and kicking the can down the road,” Abrams said, “because what happens with that is that the evidence gets buried, and we are less safe in our homes because these things are not pursued.” Abrams wasn’t alone with these feelings. Celine Guenther, a third-year Geography and Environmental Planning major at SSU and long term resident of Sonoma County, stated that, she felt “worried about any future displacement” and “the unpredictability of what could happen if another fire were to start.” Sonoma County residents have stated nervousness for the future and their safety while feeling hopeful the trials will bring this unease to an end.
“At only twenty years old, he inspired many. He was a son, an older brother, a friend, a cousin, a Sonoma State student, a boyfriend, and a light to this world. Positive and brave as he was, he battled his illness every single day. He was taken too soon, too young and there will be a void in our hearts. We will remember him with love and remember him as the loving, kind, and courageous young man he was,” wrote Moya for the page. While the Gofundme page is no longer active, a total of $18,339 was made in just over a week and his family has expressed their gratitude to the community for coming together to support them in this difficult time. Acute Myeloid Leukemia or Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), is one of the most common types of Leukemia among adults, however, it is rarely diagnosed in people under the age of 40. Many of SSU’s Greek life organizations expressed their condolences and well wishes to Oswaldo’s family and fraternity beneath Nu Alpha Kappa’s Instagram post stating, “We send our condolences to your chapter and the loved ones of Oswaldo.” According to Diaz’s LinkedIn, he started attending SSU in 2019 as an undeclared student with plans on majoring in Wine Business and Administration. Diaz was also a student intern at the SSU DREAM Center, a safe space on campus where undocumented students could go for academic, personal, and professional guidance, where he began in 2019 and worked up until his passing. Along with his internship at the DREAM Center, Diaz was also a part of SSU’s PUERTA program. This program aims to help Latino and Hispanic students reach their goal of becoming a teacher and earning their teaching credentials. Diaz is remembered by his parents, friends, fraternity brothers, siblings, and girlfriend of almost two years, Jaidyn Ramirez, who all stood by his side through it all. Ramirez expressed her love for her long-time boyfriend in an Instagram post honoring the time she shared with Diaz, “My soulmate, my partner, my best friend, the love of my life. You have blessed life more than you will ever know. I will never forget you and I will think about all the memories we made this past year and a half every day. I still don’t know how I got so lucky. You will forever be my person.” In collaboration with the DREAM Center, SSU will be holding a celebration of life on Thursday, March 3, remembering Diaz as the kind, bright student he was. The celebration of life will be held on the third floor of the Student Center in Ballrooms B, C, and D. Participants are encouraged to bring memorabilia to include in a memory book and for those unable to attend in person, a live stream of the event will be available over Zoom.
Students and faculty face anxiety around Russian invasion continued from pg. 1
concessions.” “As you’ve heard many times, Putin considers the breakup of the Soviet Union the greatest disaster of the 20th Century. He feels Ukraine is part of Russia and should be returned to Russia. So do many Russians and many Ukrainians, especially in the East. But that doesn’t mean he seeks to conquer Ukraine in one piece. If he comes away from this battle with two new independent Republics (Donetsk and Luhansk, in the Donbas region) on his western border, he will declare that a victory. He will bide his time, heal the economic wounds Russia will suffer from the sanctions, and wait for the next opportunity. He already has the Crimea,” Parness went on to state. Parness recognizes that her students understand how important it is to follow the current world news. She has been hosting a discussion at the start of every class for students to participate in to encourage their sharing of ideas, which they’ve been very active in doing. A large portion of the SSU community has been following the current invasion as conversations surrounding the news can be heard around campus. Tessa Vandenberg, a 20-year-old Political Science major said, “I’m more worried than ever about the state of Ukraine and its people suffering due to this unnecessary use of force. Putin continues to push the idea that Russia is simply reclaiming its historical boundaries while completely ignoring the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. I truly hope that sanctions and the political measures that NATO allies are taking against Russia bring the country and Putin to their senses and end the prospect of WW3.” Sean Stanley, a 21-year-old Economics major said, “It feels like the start of WW3 and what’s even more jarring about it is the media coverage. With social media now, I have literally seen videos posted of Russian soldiers and Ukrainian refugees each from their own perspectives. It looks like a joke and is hard to take seriously sometimes. I hope that action can be taken to stop the violence immediately before Putin is allowed to do whatever he wants with no repercussions. What happens here is gonna play a big role in world politics for a long time and, much like COVID, will be a major incident in the history textbooks our children will ask us about.” Stanley isn’t the only student who’s received most of their news updates via social media. “A totalitarian leader is invading a country that he considers a part of his own and is refusing to acknowledge the individuality of a completely sovereign nation. It’s imperialism and colonialization…and a lot of it just comes back to old white dudes being in charge,” Kristen Arnett, a 37-yearold Geography, Environment, and Planning major said. Arnett has seen history repeat itself in devastating ways multiple times over. “When I read the news Thursday, I thought about the war in Afghanistan beginning the year I graduated high school. Here we go again.” Arnett easily sympathizes with all of the people impacted by the current events taking place and recognizes the privilege she has to be able to raise her child in a war-free country. “As a parent, you’re going to do whatever you can possible to get your kid out…I saw footage of fathers putting their wives and children on buses and I just can’t fathom having to do something like that. As a mother, I would die.” On Fri, Feb. 25, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Response Force was activated to assist the allies on Russia’s border. On Sat, Feb. 26, The U.K. Defence Ministry said British forces had arrived in Eastern Europe to further reinforce NATO’s eastern front. Countries are also continuing to escalate sanctions on Russia’s economy. “We commit to ensuring that selected Russian banks are removed from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication’s (SWIFT’s) messaging system. This will ensure that these banks are disconnected from the international financial system and harm their ability to operate globally,” the leaders of the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, said in a joint statement on Feb. 26. On Sunday, Feb. 27, the European Union and Canada closed their airspace to Russian planes as Putin placed Russia’s nuclear deterrence forces on high alert. Ukrainian and Russian officials were set to meet on Monday Feb. 28, “All we can do is keep our eyes on the news and hope for the best,” Knowlton said.
MARCH 1 - MARCH 7
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Arts & Entertainment 5
Campus Rec kicks off spring semester with Rec Fest JAQUELINE GARCIA STAFF WRITER
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STAR // Montana Lahey Daring students are able to take on the TRX challenge with the help of a trainer.
STAR // Montana Lahey Seawolf Linda Jacobson was one of the lucky raffle winners at Rec Fest.
STAR // Montana Lahey With the help of Campus Rec staff, students could try and walk across a slack line suspended in the air.
ampus Rec celebrated Recreational Sports and Fitness Day on Feb. 23 from 6-8 p.m. with Rec Fest, an event filled with food, music, laser tag, and an opportunity to win an Apple watch, while also giving students an insight into what Campus Rec holds for them this spring semester. “... All students pay for these services that are available to them through their tuition, so I think they need to utilize them as much as they can. We have amazing and awesome services like bike rentals, outdoor trips, and a lot [more]. The space itself is really awesome to utilize as well; students can come in everyday and workout, take time to play basketball, hang out with their friends in the lobby, and just have a good safe place they can go to on campus.” said admin support coordinator Michelle Aung. Rec Fest featured various activities to get students moving, offering the opportunity to enjoy a game of laser tag, compete in a friendly rock climbing competition, participate in TRX challenges, or try out highlining for the night. Students’ attention was drawn to the big prize of the night, Campus Rec’s first-ever Apple watch raff le. Each activity completed meant a raff le ticket entry. The number of entries varied depending on the activity; the more activities completed, the greater the chance of winning. Hot chocolate was provided for students encouraging them to stick around and enjoy the event after participating in the activities. “Rec Fest is just a tease of what we have in store for students. We want to shift our approach with students doing more interactive and informational events that highlight all we have to offer and more,” said Jazmin Palma Alonzo, Campus Rec member and third-year sociology major. Students seemed eager to enjoy the first in-person semester at Campus Rec. When asked what they enjoy most about Campus Rec being open, Christain Giver, a third-year communication major, said, “The community coming together and just being one whole family; everyone’s so friendly, everyone’s so willing to support each other, and it’s a great environment for bettering yourself.” Campus Rec offers access to its facility, services, and programs to all students. The group fitness class InMotion Yoga is offered twice a week for students seeking a relaxing way to start their mornings. Intramural Sports are provided, alternating sports once a week, such as indoor soccer, basketball, f lag football, and volleyball. Students are welcome to assemble their own teams or drop in and join a team. The rock climbing wall and gym are open to students of all skills levels, with personal trainers available if desired. Services to get a quick bike fix or rent one are available at the Seawolf Cyclery inside the Outdoor Resource Center. “I [would] say [Campus Rec] is a very relaxing area; no one really bothers you too much. You come in, get your workout done, get ready for class, get ready for sleep, whatever you gotta do, but it’s pretty much a peaceful environment,” said Luis Davis, a third-year business major. The services and programs offered by Campus Rec go beyond the Rec Center. Gear rental and skill classes are available, as well as the Adventure Program, which focuses on giving students knowledge and tools for their next outdoor adventure. Campus Rec also holds Outdoor Pursuits Trips: an off-campus trip that offers a weekend escape to explore and appreciate the outdoors. Campus Rec encourages students who are interested in teaching a group fitness class, or in becoming part of the Campus Rec family, to visit the Campus Rec employment web page and apply. “Students should expect exciting events, awesome prizes, f lexible hours, and of course, friendly and helpful coworkers,” said Ryan Fitzpatrick, Lead Recreation Coordinator. Check out the Campus Recreation website to learn more about future events and Campus Rec programs and services.
Restaurant Week brings hungry patrons to Rohnert Park businesses HOLLY DURFEE STAFF WRITER
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t’s that time of year again, near the tail end of winter, when Sonoma County’s restaurants open their doors to patrons for Restaurant Week. Sonoma County has continued to make Restaurant Week a priority throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in hopes of supporting local businesses. Eighty-seven restaurants participated this year by offering reduced or fixed-price menus. Every eatery partaking in the event offered five-dollar “perks”, lunches that ranged from $10-$25, as well as dinners ranging from $25-$55. The event took place from Feb. 21 Feb. 27. Family-owned and -operated Bear Republic Brewing Co in Rohnert Park offered a fixed menu for guests partaking in the occasion. Patrons could choose from several appetizers and entrees and receive creme brulee cheesecake for $25 per guest. The brewing company is located a few miles from campus, off of Roberts Lake Rd. Unfortunately, the restaurant only saw a dramatic increase in traffic on the first day of Restaurant Week which also coincided with Presi-
STAR // Mikayla Fritzemeier Bear Republic Brewing Co. in Rohnert Park showcases a large tank in front of the establisment with their original IPA recipe “Racer 5” emblazoned on the front.
dent’s Day. Bear Republic manager Janon Spencer explained, “It has been a lot colder and windier. Last weekend [President’s Day weekend] was the busiest weekend we have had. If all the factors were the same as last weekend, as in if it was warm and 68 degrees without the wind, I think it would be a little bit busier.. Saturday and Sunday will be the real determining factors, to see how the week will play out.” The establishment includes sprawling outdoor patios that face a man-made lake. Many parties could be seen huddling next to heaters or occupying the smaller indoor dining area due to the sudden decrease in temperature. Fay Rasmussen, a St. Mary’s student and Sonoma County resident, shared her thoughts on Restaurant Week while waiting for her food at Bear Republic, “I actually didn’t know they [Bear Republic] were participating in Restaurant Week until I walked in and saw the signs and special menus.. I think if you’re hungry, it’s hard to turn down a threecourse meal for $25.” Other restaurants participating in the event also experienced an inf lux of patrons during President’s Day and the first day of Restaurant Week. Dawn Zaft, owner of Criminal Baking, a popular bakery that serves pastries as well as breakfast and lunch said, “President’s Day was particularly busy paired with Restaurant Week. Whenever there is a holiday paired with a special event, it almost becomes chaotic.” Criminal Baking had two locations offering deals for the occasion. The primary location in Santa Rosa, off of Donahue St., offered four different lunch options and a five dollar pastry “perk”. The lunch options included a pulled pork hand pie, chipotle chili, a focaccia club sandwich, as well as a “bomber bowl,” which consisted of a variety of ingredients including arugula, roasted garnet yams, bacon, goat cheese, oranges, candied pecans, and vinaigrette dressing. Each meal on the special menu was under 15 dollars. Although seeing more guests come to Criminal Baking due to Restaurant Week was great, Zaft expressed some of her concerns, “We are actually understaffed, like a lot of restaurants nowadays. So, we get a big wave of people in, but we aren’t necessarily able to staff up as much as we normally would for something like Restaurant Week… To be trying to encourage business growth and bring new people in, but then also possibly having to tell them to wait longer is not ideal.” Nonetheless, Zaft said, “We love Restaurant Week. The year is usually very slow, and then around Valentine’s day, it starts to pick up, so Restaurant Week comes in at just the right time to help encourage business, and that’s really important to us.”
6 Student Life
MARCH 1 - MARCH 7, 2022
sonomastatestar.com
Lobo’s Pizza & Pub reopens on campus
RACHEL YETSO
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STAFF WRITER
obo’s, Sonoma State’s very own on-campus pub, has reopened after nearly two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The grand reopening took place on Monday Feb. 28. As one of campus’ most popular restaurants and hang out spots, Lobo’s attracted a large crowd of students on opening day. Lobo’s menu includes sandwiches, pizza, classic American appetizers like nachos and wings as well as desserts. The most enticing part of Lobo’s menu is its list of local Sonoma wines and craft beers available to all restaurant visitors 21 years old and over. Lobo’s is currently the only location on campus that serves beers on tap. It is also a popular hang out and study spot on campus, with its fun indoor atmosphere, complete with pool tables, along with a spacious outdoor patio area. Students of all grade levels and backgrounds are excited to return to their favorite locations on campus, and for many, it’s Lobo’s. Sonoma State student Blake Stanberry said, one of the things he was most looking forward to about being back on campus is, “being able to see all my friends in between classes and being able to grab a beer at Lobo’s.” As stated on their website, culinary services at Sonoma State’s mission is to, “value community and create spaces to build lasting memories where you can study quietly or gather with friends over a meal.” All food locations, including Lobo’s, offer various menu alternatives for students who are vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free or allergic to certain foods. Ther website description continues by stating, “we strive to make sure your specific dietary needs are met to make your dining experience just how it should be - enjoyable and easy.” Returning to campus post-quarantine has left everyone with lots of questions about how certain locations will run, and how safety will be enforced. Culinary services states, “Employees have access to gloves and wear face coverings while at work, and all customers will be required to wear face coverings per CDC guidelines. Handwashing is readily available to all employees and hand sanitizer is available for all guests. We are helping lessen the contact of guests and staff with self-swiping Seawolf ID cards, plexiglass barriers, and physical distancing.” Students are encouraged to mask up and social distance while ordering food and waiting for their order to be completed. A new and
STAR// Mikayla Fritzemeier Students anxiously wait to order their food at Lobo’s for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic.
STAR// Mikayla Fritzemeier Students wait in line to order from Lobo’s on the day of the restaurants grand reopening.
exciting feature of Lobo’s and all other restaurant locations on campus is the new contactless ordering feature, GrubHub Campus! “Grubhub campus accepts points from meal plans, Wolf Bucks, and credit cards. Simply place your order on the Grubhub app, pay, and then pick up when your order is ready,” according to the contactless ordering information page. Culinary services is also looking for new hires for all restaurant and dining locations on campus. Special perks of working for culinary services is that they are required to work with your school schedule, and are the largest employer of SSU students on campus. Students who work 2 or more hours get a free meal per shift. Those that are interested in a job with Culinary Services, should apply via Handshake, the official job search board for SSU students. Lobo’s is located in the Student Center on the first f loor, and across the quad from the Rec Center. They are open Mon. through Fri. from 11:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m., and are closed on Sat. and Sun.
Students find the art in community building
STAR// Montana Lahey Students are able to visit seawolfliving.com to find more events like ”Late Nite Art”.
STAR// Montana Lahey In hosting “Late Night Art,” Lotus Wong taught students how to build community through artistic activities.
JAVIER HERNANDEZ
S
STAFF WRITER
onoma State University is uniquely known for the sense of community that is shared around the campus. The small campus creates many opportunities for students to interact with their peers and form genuine connections and relationships. On Thurs. night, Feb. 24, The Hub and Student Involvement collaborated to host “Late Nite Art” in Ballroom A of the Student Center. This event was a part of the ongoing events for Sonoma State’s LoboFest and was hosted by artist, coach and founder of S.O.U.L. (School of Unconditional Love), Lotus Wong. Wong stated in the very beginning of the event that although the title of the event suggested this was an art-focused program, it was actually a communitybuilding workshop. The goal was to get students to interact and build relationships around activities that have to do with art. When asked about what was their favorite part of the event, Sonoma State student Michaela Wang said, “I felt like people really stepped out of their comfort zone and showed a lot of bravery! I liked connecting with people I had never met before.” The event setup consisted of a particularly long table with construction paper covering the entirety of it like a tablecloth. Placed on the table there were colored pencils, watercolors, and crayons available for students to use to draw on the table. To get the night started, Wong’s first activity was for students to share something they celebrate within their community or culture with the person in front of them. This was a great way to get the night going because students got
to listen to how people celebrate things that they might not have known about before. To wrap up this activity, Wong instructed the group to take a colored pencil and write down on the paper-covered table what their intentions were for the night. Another activity that proved to be impactful was when Wong instructed the group to move around the room and sit across from someone they didn’t know. Each pair of partners took turns telling each other a three-minute story about something that has recently changed them. Afterward, Wong told the group to draw a painting summarizing their partner’s story or something that they could remember from the story. Using the materials on the table the group turned into modern-day Picasso’s and got to work painting on the table. To wrap up the event, Wong asked everyone to get up from their seats and walk over to the hallway between the ballrooms. Once everyone walked over, Wong instructed everyone to form a big circle where everyone was going to take turns to share something they took away from the night. This was a very pleasant ending to the night because everyone got to share what they enjoyed the most about the workshop, helping to create a respectful campus community. Wong had mentioned that this was the very first “Late Nite Art” event that she coordinated in-person in almost two years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior “Late Nite Art” events were hosted through Zoom. “I got used to it being on Zoom and how easy it was to set up. But now being in-person it was very different but a lot of fun. I enjoyed seeing all the students moving around and seeing all the joy in people was fulfilling,” said Wong.
MARCH 1 - MARCH 7, 2022 sonomastatestar.com
Sports
7
Superstar freshmen lead Seawolves to victory in Track & Field Invitational
TANNER IVEY
T
STAFF WRITER
he Sonoma State Women’s Track & Field team faced off against Cal State Eastbay on Saturday, Feb. 19th, their first event in over two years. SSU won 8 of the ten events they competed in at the Cal State East Bay tri-meet with Sonoma State, CSUEB, and Dominican University on Feb 19, including the 100-meter dash, 400-meter, and 4x100 meter relay. Some new faces for the Seawolves cross country squad made their SSU track and field debut. Last week’s CCAA track and field athlete of the week, freshman Alex Boyle, made her track and field debut in the 1500 meters and the 4x400 meter relay. She assisted SSU to a first-place victory in the 4x400 meter relay with a timing of 4:22.00, about 20 seconds quicker than runner-up, Dominican University. Boyle also finished second in the 1500 meters clocking a time of 4:55.32, with Cal State East Bay’s Chase Worthen taking the top spot. “East Bay traditionally has had a strong distance program throughout the years,” said head coach David Lawrence. “At SSU, we are building a balanced program on the distance and trackside, which will always be to our advantage when we compete against teams in our conference that are one-sided.” The Seawolves have now had back-to-back dual meet victories versus Cal State East Bay stretching back to the 2020 season, before the pandemic. After a tremendous fall season, head coach Lawrence continues to make significant advances with both the cross country and track & field departments. Freshman Brittney Glor would extend the program’s recent success in the shot put, winning by more than four feet, 29’5.” Mia Oggenfuss, a dynamic competitor, would also participate in the shot put, finishing second with a mark of 25’4.” Oggenfuss would also make her SSU debut in the long jump, finishing in the top-5. The race of the day, the 5000 meter, was also taken by Seawolves as Freshmen Abby Ribet carried her cross-country success from the fall into the spring track season. Ribet finished first with a timing of 19:40.50, more than a minute faster than the second-place finisher. Another freshman, Maddy Petersen,
COURTESY // sonomaseawolves.com The Sonoma State womens track and field team poses for a photo after a successful meet where they took home 8 wins of the ten events they competed in.
finished second in the event with a timing of 20:48.14. Freshmen Katie Sheldon and Sydney Lopes would make their SSU debuts in the 400 meters, finishing first and second, respectively, in the 2022 track & field season. Coach Lawrence is confident in his team to be great but feels they’ll just become better and better as the season goes on. “This season will be somewhat of a rust buster early on for most of our athletes because of the Pandemic the last few seasons,” said Lawrence. “Our sophomores are competing for the first time since their senior year in high school and our freshmen had their senior season cut short. I expect our athletes to develop during the course of the year and become more skilled at their individual events. As a program, we want to qualify as many athletes as we can to our conference championship in May in order to place higher than the last championship in 2019 prior to my arrival. “ The Sonoma State Women’s Track & Field team is looking forward to the Kim Duyst Invitational, held by Stanislaus State March 4th and 5th.
SSU loses to top-ranked CSU San Marcos
Graduate Student Jacob Salinero brings the ball up the court in the Seawolves loss to #19 Cal State San Marcos on Feb 24.
STAR // Montana Lahey
JAKE MORRISSEY
O
STAFF WRITER
n Thursday night, the stage was set for the Seawolves to host Cal State San Marcos in men’s basketball. It was Pack the Den night, an event to encourage students to show Seawolf pride at home basketball games. In fact there were 275 people in attendance for the contest. However, the game did not go as the Seawolves had planned, as they fell to San Marcos with a final score of 84-59. The Seawolves defense could not contain CSU San Marcos senior guard Blake Seits, as he torched them with 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals. Also for San Marcos, junior guard Greg Milton scored 16 points and junior forward Tyrone Nesby added 12 points of his own. For the Seawolves, only one player broke double digit points and it was freshman forward Jaylen Wells with 20. “I was able to get to the basket and finish, or draw a foul to get to the free throw line,” said Wells. “On top of that, my teammates were finding me for open looks on cuts and fast break opportunities.” Wells has been the silver lining for the Seawolves amid an generally rocky season for the team. As a true freshman and one of the youngest players on the court, he has been able to lead the team in scoring, averaging 12.6 points per game, and 5.8 rebounds a game. Wells has certainly made a splash in his first season at SSU and the program will surely build around him for future seasons. “Jaylen Wells has been a consistent bright spot for us this season,” said SSU Head Coach Rich Shayewitz. “As just a freshman, he has proven he can play with the best in our league.”
SSU knew they were in for a tough matchup as CSU San Marcos has a record of 16-4 overall and 12-4 in CCAA play. This record has them sitting in third place among other CCAA basketball programs, while SSU sits last in the standings, via goccaa.org. According to Shayewitz, San Marcos is even tougher of a matchup than their record shows. “San Marcos is a top notch team in our league and in the country,” said Shayewitz. “We competed for 28 minutes and we ran out of gas. Hats off to them for making a lot of tough shots.” This tough loss comes in the second to last regular season game in what has been a rough season for the Seawolves. They currently have a record of 3-26 on the season and 3-19 in CCAA play. After losing the last game of the season to Cal State Los Angeles on Saturday, Feb. 26, the SSU men’s basketball team is done for the season. “This was a tough season coming in and teaching the group my system along with dealing with the inconsistency of COVID-19,” said Shayewitz. “We often had players missing practice and games, and went through a stretch where we didn’t have our full roster for over a month. Hats off to our group who has been resilient all year and never gave up.” After a difficult and overall unsuccessful season for the Seawolves, they will head into the offseason looking to build on the positives from the season. Hopefully with more consistency and continuity the team will be able to make improvements before the next season. Look for Jaylen Wells and the rest of the men’s basketball team to try and make a splash in the CCAA next season.
8
Photo
MARCH 1 - MARCH 7, 2022
sonomastatestar.com
Sonoma County hosts Restaurant Week
STAR // Mikayla Fritzemeier Bear Republic Brewing Co.’s indoor dining area has a beautiful mural and widespread seating. The restaurant is one of many featured in Sonoma County Restaurant Week.
STAR // Mikayla Fritzemeier If you choose to dine outdoors, Bear Republic Brewing Co. in Rohnert Park offers a gorgeous view of Roberts Lake.
STAR // Noah Clarke This Brew Coffee & Beer House Barista takes pride in their freshly made beverages.
Students rejoice over Lobo’s grand reopening
STAR // Montana Lahey These Phi Delts took a break from tabling to get back to their favorite restaurant on campus.
STAR // Montana Lahey Seawolves are thrilled for the long awaited reopening of Lobo’s.
STAR // Montana Lahey SSU students and faculty members stand in line for the grand reopening of Lobo’s Restaurant & Pub. The on-campus eatery hasn’t been open since March 2020.