Volume 75 // Issue 5

In this issue: Opinion: Government should focus on education.

Pg. 3

News: New act aimed to make textbooks more affordable Pg. 5

A&E: Bryson Tiller combines rap and singing. Pg. 7 Sports: Soccer Player Profile: Marissa Marabla. Pg. 11 Student Life: Study abroad fair educates students Pg. 8

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 75 // ISSUE 5

SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 5, 2015

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

State senator, alum honored by university J oseph Encinas Staff Writer

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ike McGuire admits that when he was attending Sonoma State University some 15 years ago, he was not particularly gifted academically.

“I was never a good student, as my mom knows,” said McGuire. “I would not be here without my Mom and Grandma. We struggled sometimes, but through thick and thin we managed.”

But it’s clear that McGuire learned a few things at Sonoma State and in the days since.

He is now a state lawmaker representing the second Senate District in the state Legislature.

And on Friday, he received the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Sonoma State University Alumni Association Members of the Alumni Association say they chose McGuire based on his accomplishments, both professionally and personally, and his ability to be a leader for the next generation of students of SSU. “[McGuire’s] leadership—outstanding leadership—pushes his pursuit for public service. Leadership and service, those traits are very defining for Mike,” said Dan Condron, vice president for University Affairs and a member of the award selection committee.

McGuire ‘s introduction to the local political scene came early. At the age of 19, McGuire found himself on the Healdsburg School Board where he worked to rebuild a decaying school system.

Following his victory on the School Board, McGuire

was elected to the Healdsburg City Council in 2004 where he later served as the youngest mayor in the city’s history.

As mayor, McGuire revitalized and stabilized one of the most successful economies in the region. Much of what drives McGuire stems from his never-ending service to his local community, he said.

He was elected to the state senate in 2014 “Mike has shown his support for his community, and the people of Sonoma State want to show support when one of our alums does amazing things after leaving this institution,” said Molly Rattigan, vice president of administration for the Sonoma State’s Alumni Association.

Prior to attending Sonoma State, McGuire attended Santa Rosa Junior College.

McGuire started off at the bottom of the community college totem pole, but worked his way through remedial English and math classes, which eventually opened the door to Sonoma State University.

When giving his speech, McGuire became overcome with emotion reflecting on his time in college.

According to McGuire, who was a political science major at Sonoma State, the university and the professors from the Political Science Department challenged his thinking, which laid the path for success. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in political science from Sonoma State in 2002, he went on to attain a master’s degree in public administration at San Francisco University.

See ALUM on Pg. 4

STAR // Sarah Fishback Author and Journalist Elias Castillo spoke on campus on Monday in regard to his book “A Cross of Thorns: The Enslavement of California Indians by Spanish Missions,” which discusses the enslavement of Native Americans.

Author Elias Castillo discusses Native American enslavement

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Nikki Bridges Staff Writer

onoma State University professor of Native American Studies Greg Sarris introduced author Elias Castillo on Monday in an event in the Student Center. Castillo, who wrote “A Cross of Thorns: The Enslavement of California Indians by Spanish Missions,” discussed how he believes Indians were the worst treated humans in North America.

An author and journalist, Castillo spent seven years researching life of Native Americans at the missions and what it entailed. He looked into historical documents, images and reports from Junipero Serra, a Franciscan Friar who founded

nine of the California missions.

Pope Francis canonized Serra during his first visit to United States last week. But from his research, Castilla said he found that the labor was intense and the environment was overcrowded along with an unhealthy diet needed to work all hours of the day.

When the Spanish governor, Felipe de Neve told Serra he did not approve of the Indians harsh punishment, Serra argued that whipping is something they need to do to keep them under control.

“We organized this event because these are the stories we want to be heard, and students need to understand the importance of this issue,” said Professor of Chicano and Latino Stud-

ies Leny Strobel.

The point of Castillo’s talk was to spread awareness of how Native American Indians were not converted but worked as slaves. Most California schools teach children how Indians were invited to stay at missions as a privilege. Castillo believes this is important to understand because the majority of people believe that Indians willingly worked for the missions but in reality they were punished to motivate them to work harder.

Some Native Americans were even poisoned by residents of the mission.

It’s estimated that 62,000 Native Americans have died at California missions.

See CASTILLO on Pg. 4

Chorus and conversation with Kristin Chenoweth

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Courtesy // Kristin Chenoweth Sonoma State University welcomed Tony and Emmy-Award winning actress Kristin Chenoweth on Friday at the Green Music Center.

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Lawrence Ricardo Staff Writer

t’s not every day that a Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress graces with her presence at Sonoma State University. Kristin Chenoweth, who is most known for her originating role of Glinda in the musical “Wicked” performed at the Green Music Center on Friday to conclude the summer season during her Coming Home tour.

Unlike most of the superstars that perform at the Green Music Center, Chenoweth has a soft spot for Sonoma County, she said. Though she has never been to the area, she expressed how welcomed she felt, feeling at peace when she briefly stopped by to see the sold-out show at Schroeder Hall the day before.

Chenoweth had mentioned that the Schulz Family was near and dear to her heart. Prior to her reigning days in “Wicked,” Chenoweth had originated the role of Sally Brown in the 1999 Broadway Revival of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Charles Schulz, who created the Peanuts Comic Strip, lived and worked in Sonoma County. The Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center, Char-

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lie Browns café and Schroeder Hall are locations that carry on the Schulz Family legacy.

Sonoma State’s Greek Life was also excited to learn that Chenoweth is a proud alumna of the national sorority, Gamma Phi Beta, in which she threw up the crescent moon sign on stage to give the ladies a shoutout who had come to her concert.

Chenoweth delivered a performance that was lined with humorous stories from years back and those as recent as the day before. During one instance, she spoke about a story of how she was cast as Val in “A Chorus Line” at Oklahoma City University in which the conservative nature of Oklahoma led her to change one of her solo songs, “Tits and Ass to Boobs and Butts.”

With a positive attitude, Chenoweth delivered her rendition of “Boobs and Butts” to the fullest. In addition, Chenoweth belted other musical favorites including “For Good” and “Popular” from “Wicked”, “Maybe This Time” from “Cabaret” and “Somewhere over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz.” See CHORUS on Pg. 9

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Editorial

Sep. 29 - Oct. 5, 2015

sonomastatestar.com

THE STAR Editorial Board Brandon Stachnik, Editor-in-Chief Kayla E. Galloway, News Editor Jenna Fischer, Opinion Editor Ashley Mar tin, Ar ts & Enter tainment Editor Shannon Brown, Student Life Editor Kory Arnold, Spor ts Editor Brennan Chin, Photo Editor Edward Goquingco, Copy Editor Kyler Khan, Copy Editor & Marketing Director Jalissa Tello, Adver tising Director Connor Gibson, Distribution Director Eddie Blake, Editorial Car toonist Paul Gullixson, Faculty Adviser Staff Writers Aubrey Anzelmo, Natalie Aro Justin Barrientos, Nikki Bridges Thomas Call, Francisco Carbajal Jerri Cohen, Sean Curzon Samuel Davis, Nicole Detmers Christine Edwards, Joseph Encinas Noe Felix, Justin Freeman Ryan Green, Florencia Hasson Olivia Hunt, Anna Kehrlein Olivia Lucchese, Rachael Newman Cassandra Owens, Lawrence Ricardo Aubrie Tolliver Photographers Megan Corcoran, Kaila Sanders

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: “‘The Intern’ neither sinks nor swims” Newly released Hollywood comedy ‘The Intern’ features Robert De Niro as a classy hard-working senior who interns for a clothing company. Arts & Entertainment Editor Ashley Martin illustrates the positives and negatives of the film with clever description.

Read the story on page 6

Corrections/Clarifications The STAR values accuracy and works diligently to check facts before publication. However, if inaccuracies occur, we want to know. Please report errors 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.

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 to any letter and to edit for length. Letters must sign all contributions and the editor must verify the signer and the writer are one in the same through personal conference. To send a letter to the editor, email star@sonoma.edu.

STAR // Eddie Blake

E

Advocating for more than just abortions

very year, a version of a bill to cut funding to Planned Parenthood is presented before Congress and every year, it’s rejected.

This year, a version of the bill that, if passed, will defund Planned Parenthood for a year has passed in the House of Representatives, but failed to pass through the Senate.

Much of the f lack against Planned Parenthood is in regard to the hot button issue of abortion.

Because this issue is heavily debated and strikes many emotional chords, advocates of both the pro-life and pro-choice camps hold no punches when attacking their opponent’s side.

Many stories are spun by the conservative party to claim that Planned Parenthood profits off of abortions in inhumane ways.

Not only is this not supported by any legitimate sources, but it stirs up extreme emotional reaction against Planned Parenthood.

Contrary to the public’s belief, abortion services only make up 3 percent of Planned Parenthood’s services, and the government funding it receives can’t be used for any abortions.

According to National Public Radio, the services offered by the clinic are 42 percent STI/STD testing and 34 percent contraception.

The other 21 percent consists of women’s health services such as breast cancer screening, reproductive health and safety classes, and rape counselling.

These services are crucial for women’s health and many young, low-income women would not have access to these services if Planned Parenthood was defunded.

As uncomfortable as it is to talk about, college students are a demographic that is in need of these services the most. The college years are a time when many young people are able to have sex without worry of intrusion by parents.

These new opportunities should be taken with maturity.

At Sonoma State University, students are

fortunate to have a spectacular health center.

However, the health center only offers some of these services, such as birth control and select STI/STD testing during the school year.

During summer and winter breaks, these services are not offered with the same low cost as during the semester.What about the first few years after college? Many young adults in their 20s aren’t able to find jobs that offer complete health coverage to provide for these specific needs.

One of the services many Planned Parenthood offices offer is counseling and confidential help for victims of rape. The only time Planned Parenthood can’t promise confidentiality is if the victim is under 18.

At Sonoma State, a victim can reach out to Counseling and Psychological Services but depending on the situation, confidentiality may not be promised if it’s clear the university needs to take action.

Planned Parenthood offers counseling on how the victim should proceed legally as well, which is not provided by CAPS. Students at Sonoma State are particularly fortunate with the services they are given, but even those don’t cover the scope that Planned Parenthood does.

Young people, women in particular, need the low cost services that Planned Parenthood provides. One in five women in the U.S. will visit Planned Parenthood in their lifetimes, according the Planned Parenthood annual report.

If this organization were to be defunded, it would be 2.7 million young women and men who would be out of this necessary form of health care.

Because of these facts stated above, no matter what one’s stance is on abortion, it is crucial that Planned Parenthood continue to be available for young adults who need it.

While some argue the clinic unjustifiably ends lives, it’s apparent they are primarily in the business of saving them.

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.

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Opinion

Sep . 29 - Oct . 5, 2015 sonomastatestar.com

Page 3

Funding for the future: Knowledge or war?

Ryan Green Staff Writer

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veryone knows that the United States military is too large, however, Americans aren’t told how large it actually is. According to a White House report, President Obama put aside $561 billion for defense for the 2015-16 fiscal year, which is already $38 billion over budget. On the other hand, the Department of Education was given only $70.7 billion. The United States is interested in its future, but it hasn’t decided which future to pursue.

The future the government seems to be pursuing is one of military might. The past century has been a great arms race, from the invention of the gatling gun to the atomic bomb. Nearly every diplomatic dispute has boiled down to a threat of war. Why have most countries decided to adopt a militant ideology?

The U.S. government has every right to be concerned about national security, between snarling dictators and clever computer hackers. But it doesn’t have to pour money into the military program to ensure the stability, safety and satisfaction of its citizens. To look towards a brighter future, we need to appropriate some of the defense budget into the Department of Education.

According to Forbes, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has a simple idea to address this enormous problem.

If the government were to cut only $18 billion from the defense budget (which is already $38 billion over budget) every year, tuition costs at state colleges would drop by nearly 55 percent.

Sanders wants to go even further and has the goal to make college tuition in public universities and public col-

Courtesy // Tiffany McGaughey leges free. Slate reports that Sanders has “a very rational framework for how we theoretically could make higher ed more affordable.” The idea is to eliminate the revenue universities pull from tuition costs (approximately $70 billion, nces.ed.gov), and instead have most of that money come from the government, money that could be pulled out of the hyper inflated defense budget.

The education plan that Sanders has proposed would benefit universities and the future generations they teach.

Although much to current students’ dismay, this plan would likely be enacted at least a year into the presidency, provided that Sanders wins the election. So most current college students would not benefit from this new legislation.

However, you may be surprised to hear that a very small part of the defense budget goes towards universities.

Not universities specifically, but to a program that takes place at every federally funded university and school in the country: recruitment.

Getting a grip on gun violence

Florencia Hasson Staff Writer

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know I don’t stand alone when I say that I am absolutely tired of reading headlines such as “Three Shot, One killed, Near Sacramento City College.”

My feelings of shock and surprise have long ago been exchanged with extreme emotions of rage and bitter annoyance above all.

Why does our so called “progressive” country still permit us to own guns?

The principle by which we are all now permitted to own guns was a great one, and a progressive one at that; however, it is no longer a reason that is applicable to our modern day American society.

The constitution, though brilliant and timeless in many aspects, is proving to show that it too needs adjustments. Allowing Americans the liberty to own a gun was the government’s way of saying, “the power stays in the hands of the people.” It was our way of ensuring that if the government ever tried going about any funny business we could fight back and return the power to the hands of the people.

A brilliant idea, and a great foundation to the values of which our country abides by today, yet this law is now very outdated.

Our government today, despite its problems, is very stable and continues to be an exemplary system around the world.

Now I cannot speak for those who believe in conspiracy theories, however I can say that it’s extremely unlikely that there will be a dictator, downfall or overthrowing of our government anytime soon.

If there were, no matter how many guns we all had, it’s highly unlikely we’d be able to overthrow our governments military; the largest and most funded in the world.

So when people say “I need a gun to keep our government in check,” let’s be honest, we all know you and your gun couldn’t do anything against the US military, and that’s assuming that you’d even volunteer to step up and challenge them in the first place.

Shooting for sport is another reason why people are so attached to their guns. Sure, if you have that dire need to go and shoot something whether it be cans or game, the solution could easily be found in setting up shooting ranges of various sorts where all your shooting desires may be fulfilled within their legal restrictions.

Such has been done in Australia after countless mass murder shootings and it’s had exceptional results. According to CNN, since the Port Arthur massacre, the danger of dying by gun violence in Australia has fallen by more than 50 percent.

A study by Andrew Leigh of Australian National University and Christine Neill of Wilfrid Laurier University in 2012 study states “the buyback led to a drop in firearm suicide rates of almost 80 percent in the following decade. In the 19 years since the announcement of legislation specifically designed to reduce gun massacres, Australia has seen no mass shootings.”

Implementing much stricter laws around guns and buying them back could mean we wouldn’t have any illegal hunting of endangered species in our country and we’d keep the guns (and the people who love guns) in designated areas, kind of like gamblers and casinos. In this way, everyone can be happy. Those who love guns and shooting will have a place to do so therefore there would be no need for people to feel the urgency to purchase a gun out of self-defense. The only reason we need guns to protect ourselves today is because so many other people carry guns without understanding the responsibilities and consequences that come with it. Moreover; is there any logic behind our country deeming us responsible with a gun at 18?

I spent this past academic year studying in Madrid and never once did I hear of an accident, police incident or murder involving a gun. During my first two weeks back in San Francisco I had already heard of two incidents involving guns and a tourist, in what is supposed to be a safe neighborhood.

The upsetting reality is that we are not a culture responsible enough with weapons and in all honesty there really is absolutely no need for them, aside from sport.

If we get rid of guns on our streets we get rid of so many other problems that come with them, from gang violence, accidental police brutality attacks, to murders in elementary schools.

How many devastating, disgusting headlines are we going to let stack up before we decide to change something about the frighteningly easy accessibility to fire weapons in our country?

Just the other day, I saw the US Army crew tabling outside the student center, handing out flyers and encouraging people to join. With the utmost respect to our soldiers and veterans, I don’t see why the Army would table at a university like Sonoma State. If students had already worked so hard to be enrolled at Sonoma State, why would they want to leave?

Of course, students could have a patriotic passion, and that is honorable. But there are already over a million men and women in active service, and nearly a million more in reserve. The military is already too large, and despite being over budget, it keeps pushing for expansion.

The government knows that its future lies with the current generation of students, but instead of pursuing a peaceful and beneficial future, it chases wealth and power. Roosevelt’s Big Stick ideology might have made sense a hundred years ago, but the times have changed.

The United States needs to step up and address the future of our country, and put down the Big Stick.

To tweet another day

Francisco Carbajal Staff Writer

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onoma State University at 7:50 a.m. is a war zone. How people don’t die at this time is mindblowing to me.

I know we are all supposed to be adults here but how Sonoma State students cross the damn street is for lack of better words, elementary.

Scratch that, elementary is too nice of a word, I have seen children cross the street with more alertness than even professors here.

How Sonoma State students and faculty make their way across campus in the morning is infantile. It’s like making a baby cross the street.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not an angry driver or an “everyone get out of my way” kind either. I’m just a “not trying to commit manslaughter before my History class” kind of driver.

The other day, near the tennis courts, three students decided to cross the street, not on the crosswalk, without even turning around to check if it was safe to walk into the 7:50 a.m. madness. When I suddenly hit my brakes, they just stared at me as if it were my fault that I didn’t guess their death wish and then, realizing they were in the middle of the road stopping traffic, gave

me an embarrassed wave. This all happened because they were staring into their phones.

Everyone talks about the dangers of texting and driving but no one talks about the dangers of texting and walking. An Ohio State University study reported that accidents involving phones and pedestrians have tripled since 2005. I have seen people crash into poles, fall off bikes, and walk straight into other people because they were distracted on their phones.

The worst part is that it isn’t even just our generation who grew up with these devices, it’s professors too who text and cross the street ever so slowly. I caught my professor from last semester on her phone trying to step on the road first to make traffic stop without even looking up to see if we were stopping.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not anti-technology. I love my phone.

I can find a song I heard in a commercial instantly or tweet an emoji to get pizza delivered. If I’m running late to meet someone, I can text them. How people found each other in public places before sounds just exhausting. We have it easy, but it doesn’t mean we have to constantly be on our phones. It’s an epidemic.

Coming out of the library one day I stopped and stared into the quad. I swear, 25 out of the 27 people outside were on their phone. That’s scary. Before people would be forced to say hello to each other passing by in the quad. It created an opportunity for people to meet one another.

While the phone is a great tool to do so many things, it needs to be put down whether one is walking, at a concert, driving, in class, or just living. Putting it down could let you live to tweet another day.

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News

Sep. 29 - Oct. 5, 2015

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Campus adapts to smoking ban Aubrey Amzelmo Staff Writer

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calstate.edu The California State University system is offering 200 internships to students who attend the 18 Hispanic serving campuses as well as the other five campuses including Sonoma State University.

University system offers internships aimed at battling drought Kayla E. Galloway News Editor

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onoma State University students will soon have the opportunity to take part in the Watershed Management Internship Program made possible because of a $2 million grant the CSU received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This grant will fund 200 internships primarily for students at 18 CSU campuses of which have at least 25 percent of Hispanic enrollment as well as students from the other five universities including Sonoma State. Beginning in January, the CSU will offer 50 paid internships across the university system per year until 2020.

Even though he internships are primarily for Latino students attending one of the 18 Hispanic serving campuses, they are open to students from all CSU’s, including Sonoma State and California community colleges, according to Elizabeth Chapin, public affairs web communications specialist for the CSU. Senior and member of Sonoma State’s MEChA cultural and political organization Gustavo Vasquez believes the internship program could po-

tentially increase retention rates among Hispanic students in the CSU. However Vasquez doesn’t believe the internship program should be primarily offered to students at Hispanic serving institutions.

“There are many factors that create distractions and situations where students have to leave school,” said Vasquez.

“This internship will help increase the retention rate of Latino students and make these students more competitive in today’s job market.”

The internship program, which began in 2012, is in response to California’s water crisis. In the program, students will have the chance to address the crisis head-on by learning water management techniques and how to be more sustainable in their water usage. The internship program is administered by the CSU’s Water Resources and Policy Initiatives consortium, which began in 2008 and is dedicated to promoting water management research and solutions.

The director of WRPI, Boykin Witherspoon III believes the paid internship program will help underrepresented students in the CSU secure future employment as well as learn essential strategies to con-

serve water during the drought and in the future.

In the internship program, students will have the opportunity to assist professors at their university with watershed research or work for an agency that deals with conserving the state’s water supply.

“Educating California’s future water managers is vital to maintaining the state’s water supply,” said Chapin. “This is especially important during our drought and into the future, since drought is a recurring event in California.”

The CSU hopes this program will help students secure a job in the related field following graduation.

The internship program will also allow students to work with experienced professionals in their career field and receive career advice.

By offering the Watershed Management Internships primarily to underrepresented students, the CSU hopes to increase graduation rates among them.

To apply for the paid internship program beginning in January, students can visit wri. csusb.edu/watershedManagementExper ientialLear ning. html.

ALUM: McGuire serves as a role model Continued from Pg. 1

“I will put the education we received here from Sonoma State up against the best universities in the nation,” said McGuire.

Aside from educational accomplishments at Sonoma State, McGuire met his wife of five years, Erika, which he holds to be the best gift Sonoma State has given him.

“I met my wife at Sonoma State,” said McGuire, “it is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Since graduating from the university, McGuire has maintained a very healthy relationship with the school. According to Sonoma State University President Ruben Armiñana, the senator comes back often and gives lectures to students.

“His relationship with the university continues and grows every day,” said Armiñana during the presentation of the Distinguished Alumni Award. “[Distinguished alums] become models for our students. I have to tell you, Mike, you are a wonderful model.”

Apart from the busy schedule that a senator carries, there is always space for some down time. McGuire has played on the same softball team for a number of years now, and although the team does not boast a winning record, he claims that the real winners are the players who actually get a hit and have an opportunity to run the bases. Apart from losing in a graceful manner, McGuire enjoys the pizza that always follows a softball game.

McGuire is third-generation Northern Californian. With the backbone of his mother and grandmother, McGuire worked through the community college system all the way to the four-year Sonoma State University. During his time at Sonoma, the youthful senator learned how to challenge himself and challenge those around him, he said.

“There are very few times in life where you can say something changed your life,” said McGuire.

“This campus changed my life. I was just shocked when I found out I would be receiving this award.”

The award was presented at a reception held in the Privé, a private ballroom that is a part of the Green Music Center. This was followed by a concert for those who attended the private affair.

McGuire represents the 2nd Senate District which embodies the North Coast and North Bay and reaches from the Golden Gate Bridge all the way to the Oregon border.

STAR // Kaila Sanders Senator Mike McGuire is the 2015 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award.

onoma State University officially went smoke free July 1, and the campus community has been trying to adapt ever since. The policy includes smokeless tobacco and e-cigarette products, such as vapor cigarettes, and extends to off-campus sites under university ownership or control, which includes Sonoma State’s nature preserves.

“The challenge for campus adaptation at this point is to ensure that students, staff, and visitors are fully aware that SSU is now 100 percent smoke and tobacco free,” said Georgia Schwartz, director of student health. “It seems that most people who are aware of the details of the policy are trying to comply.”

Schwartz also said she has been told by the Student Health Advisory Committee and some staff that there’s still some confusion on campus because they see some people smoking in parking lots and campus wooded areas.

This exposes others to the health risks of secondhand smoke, she said, creates a fire risk, and undermines the campus community’s ability to support health and well-being she said. Suggestions have been made to increase the number of signs to more consistently convey to message to students, employees, and visitors that the policy applies to 100 percent of the campus.

Sonoma State does not have an ordinance, so Police Services cannot and will not ticket individuals who are smoking. The policy is being enforced similarly

to other universities that have adopted the same policy. The first offense will result in a warning, however, repeat offenders will be required to speak with a campus official, and students who violate the policy will be referred to Student Affairs. Employees who violate the policy will be referred to their supervisor or manager, human resources or faculty affairs.

Visitors who violate the policy will be referred to University Affairs.

Since the policy is so new, the departments in charge are still allowing the campus a grace period to adjust. The university is not tracking statistics on how many people have violated the policy. Their hope is that people will comply with the new policy.

However, the university may begin to collect data for statistics after Jan. 1, 2016.

“The initiative for the ban was brought forward by students, but got stalled for almost two years because of the need to take it through the meet and confer process with employee unions on campus,” said Tammy Kenber, chief human resources officer.

“I am glad they passed the smoking ban; it is frustrating to walk to class and have to inhale other people’s smoke,” said Freshman Daisy Agers, Sonoma State became one of the first CSU campuses to become smoke and tobacco free.

There are three other CSUs who are also smoke, tobacco and ecigarette free including San Diego State, CSU Fullerton and San Jose State. There are several other CSUs with smoke-free policies being developed, and Santa Rosa Junior College has been smoke and tobacco free since 2009.

CASTILLO: Author discusses Pope’s visit Continued from Pg. 1

“Indians were butchered and then their pieces were fed to dogs so they would the scent to go hunt for others to kill,” said Castillo.

Castillo also discussed the treatment of women during Monday’s discussion. Once over 10 years old, women were locked in a room with up to 400 other women. This was done to keep them free from sinning.

They only had two buckets to use the restroom and were locked in all night.

This then caused disease and spread to the other Indians once released from the room.

The Pope’s visit to Washington D.C. was also discussed at the event. It has struck much controversy with Native Americans and they have began protesting.

The Pope plans to elaborate on Junipero Serra, who was a founder of nine California missions. The reason Native Americans are opposed and protesting is because they don’t agree that Serra should be confirmed as a saint.

Indians believe that the other Indians that brutally died are not getting their proper recognition.

During the event, there was a healing dance performance to give those who died the proper appreciation along with their names being projected on a screen.

“There were up to 20,000 Indians in my tribe during that time and half of them were killed,” said Sarris. He then asked for members of his tribe at the event to stand and receive recognition of their survival.

News

Sep. 29 - Oct. 5, 2015

sonomastatestar.com

Page 5

News in Brief Pyongyang, North Korea A 21-year-old New York University student, has been illegally detained in North Korea since April of this year. Joo Won-moon is a South Korean citizen as well as a permanent resident of the U.S., and he admits that he illegally crossed the Chinese border into North Korea. He spoke during a press conference by North Korean authorities on Friday in the country’s capital city of Pyongyang. Won-moon stressed that he is healthy and hopes to return home to the U.S. soon.

During the media conference, Won-moon never offered an explanation as to why he illegally crossed the border, but he praised the country and spoke highly of its government. He is in fact being held against his will, and it is suspected that government officials had coached the NYU student on what to say before the media conference began. It remains unclear whether the North Korean government plans to charge or release the man.

Philadelphia, Pa. Pope Francis rounded out his six-day tour of the U.S. for the World Meeting of Families on Sunday, with his final stop in Philadelphia where he was greeted by hundreds of thousands of people.

This is the Pope’s first tour of the U.S. His prior stops included New York and Washington, D.C. The message he brought with him was primarily focused on spreading love, unity and acceptance not only within one’s families, but to the families around them. He stressed the need for this country to help those who are the most vulnerable in our communities, such as the homeless and victims of sexual abuse. Pope Francis returned to Rome Sunday evening.

Ashville, Ohio Court proceedings continued Wednesday for John Mogan, 28, and girlfriend Ashley Duboe, 24, for a bank robbery they allegedly committed on Aug. 24 at an Ohio Savings Bank.

The couple handed the teller a note demanding cash, and the teller complied.

They made away with the cash without an arrest. Four days later when they posted several pictures of themselves flaunting the stolen cash on Facebook. An arrest was made after police received a tip via Crime Stoppers when an individual alerted the police to the photos posted online. The couple is being held on $250,000 bond at the Pickaway county jail.

No date has been set for the grand jury, and the robbery remains under investigation.

Nogales, Ariz.

Maya Donnelly, an Arizona woman, had a rude awakening on Sept. 8 when she was jolted out of her sleep by a loud thud coming from outside of her home. Believing it was a storm, she went back to sleep, however upon later investigation she found a huge hole in her carport on the side of her home.

She discovered a package wrapped in black garbage bags containing 24 pounds of marijuana.

It’s likely that the package mistakenly fell from a plane smuggling drugs from across the nearby Mexican border.

She called the police and surrendered the marijuana, even though she admitted she could have used the money for home repairs, including the $500 damage that she will have to pay to fix her carport.

STAR // Megan Corcoran The Texbook Affordability Act, which is intended to make textbooks cheaper for students in California, is awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature.

Texbook act aimed at lowering debt Rachael Newman Staff Writer

T

he Textbook Affordability Act, or Assembly Bill 798, was passed in the state Senate and Assembly on Sept. 11 and is intended to relieve students of the financial burden of expensive textbooks.

The bill is now awaiting to be passed with the signature of Gov. Jerry Brown. The bill encourages faculty within the CSU and California community colleges to adopt lowcost textbooks that are available through open educational resources.

The Open Educational Resources Adoption Incentive Fund is organized to make textbooks and other necessary materials more affordable for students.

This will require faculty and staff to use other resources as well as alternative ways for the instructor to design specific material for each course.

Junior Dane Miller believes textbooks should be free for students.

“Out of all of the industrialized countries, students in the United States pay the

most [for textbooks in college] compared to other countries,” said Miller.

The Associated Students of Sonoma State made an effort to support this bill last fall by creating the Textbook Affordability Project, a group of seven Sonoma State professors participated in making textbooks more affordable for students with a $10,000 grant.

This project served as a trial for this year’s Textbook Affordability Act, which would require professors to adopt different open resources as an alternative to expensive textbooks.

The Textbook Affordability Act is aimed to help alleviate students from debt.

Katie Crabtree is a junior and has purchased textbooks in various ways, attempting to get the best bang for her buck.

Getting in line at the campus bookstore and waiting to hear the total price of the semester’s textbooks can often leave students with a pit in their stomach, knowing the price is not right.

“I think textbooks should definitely be more affordable to all

college students,” said Crabtree. “They are a valuable resource that all students need. Students should not have to struggle to pay for something that is absolutely necessary in order to succeed.”

The Congressional Research Service explains that part of the process the grant does that helps relieve students of expensive textbooks is requiring digital content that is user friendly.

Anyone must be able to download their textbooks, as well as edit them, completely free of charge. The program is designed to give students the highest savings possible Associated Students has requested a grant for Sonoma State as a resource for the students to help make textbooks more affordable.

The materials connected with courses open textbooks will be included such as videos, articles, and audio recordings. The price of the open textbooks will drop to about $20 to $40, instead of around $150 to $200.

For more information on the Textbook Affordability Act, visit legislature.ca.gov.

Washington, D.C. Popular rap artist Drake made his way to the Howard University campus on Saturday, Sept. 26 creating a frenzy of college students hoping to meet Drake or get a picture of him. He reportedly stopped by the campus bookstore to purchase Howard gear, however this is not his first trip to this university. In 2012 he performed with 2 Chainz for the school’s homecoming ceremonies, and excited Howard students are hoping this may be a hint that he is gearing up for a performance at this year’s homecoming, which is set to take place next week.

Berlin, Germany Martin Winterkorn, CEO of German carmaker Volkswagen reigned Wednesday amid the emissions scandal that he admitted to on Sept. 22. He explained that 11 million cars had been equipped with software to hide actual emissions on diesel vehicles, making them appear to be compliant with environmental laws.

The cars have been tested at up to above 40 times the legal emission levels allowed in the United States. The German auto industry is a “poster child for German engineering prowess,” according to Reuters and employs over 750,000 Germans. Since the scandal came to light, the stock for the company has fallen by 1/3 in a matter of one week. The 68-year-old executive announced his resignation just one day after he alerted the public to his involvement in the scandal, and the automaker’s future remains unclear.

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Arts

Sep. 29 - Oct. 5, 2015

sonomastatestar.com

‘The Intern’ neither sinks nor swims Ashley Martin Arts & Entertainment Editor

Review

facebook.com Netflix’s new series “Narcos” enhances a very real part of history.

Netflix nails it T with new thriller Jerri Cohen Staff Writer

Review

A

s the weather cools down, more weekends will be spent inside curled up under the covers, marathoning T.V. shows for hours on end.

Netf lix is the go-to source for watching countless hours of superior T.V. programs.

Netf lix’s first hit shows were “House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black.” Both had viewers on the edge of their seats, glued until the final episode.

Netf lix’s newest series, “Narcos,” is the next show viewers won’t be able to stop watching.

It depicts the criminal and gruesome escapades of notorious Colombian drug lord, Pablo Escobar in the 1980s.

The story is told in a narrative style, from the perspective of two DEA agents played by “Gone Girl”’s Boyd Holbrook and “Game of Thrones”’ Pedro Pascal. The infamous Pablo Escobar is played by Wagner Moura.

Because it’s told in this style, the audience gets to see both sides of the story and really gets a varied view of the way Escobar changed drug trafficking forever.

For some background, Escobar dealt primarily in the cocaine

business in the 1980s, when cocaine usage was at its peak. Escobar is credited for creating narco-terrorism in addition to making Columbia the murder capital of the world at the time.

The show is mainly in English, but it also targets a Spanish audience by keeping a lot of the dialogue in Spanish with English subtitles.

One of the most unique things about this show is that it cuts to bits of real footage of Escobar and his cohort throughout the show, acting as a constant reminder that the show depicts true stories and events.

This show, however, isn’t for the faint of heart, as it is gruesome at its most timid moments and induces eye and ear covering at it’s worst.

To be fair, it isn’t violence just for violence’s sake. The show really captures an important part of America’s history.

To quote the character DEA agent Steve Murphy, “When I started, a one kilo grass bust was cause for celebration, before long we were seizing 60 kilos of coke a day.”

This series strength is its dual story lines: On the one side you have Escobar, an extremely violent, business-oriented and fast-paced character.

His world in the drug cartel is completely fascinating.

One the other side ,we have the DEA agents. The agents give a viewer a protagonist to root for.

They are on a mission to defend the United States from the insane amount of cocaine coming in and they are ready for war.

In contrast to many shows on television today that glorify the usage of drugs, “Narcos” doesn’t hold back in showing the horrible repercussions the drug industry can have in both the places they come from and the places that they arrive.

Viewers that like high intensity, violent, male-driven, dark television shows like “Breaking Bad” or “Sons of Anarchy” are bound to love “Narcos” as well.

The main difference between this show and other ones in the same genre is usually these shows have you rooting for the bad guys while this show has you rooting for the good guys which is a nice change of pace.

Squeamish, sensitive viewers who enjoy female character driven shows, and like to watch T.V. with their parents would certainly less likely be a fan of “Narcos.”

It does have a good amount of explicit language and sex, so it would be a good idea to keep from watching this Netf lix series with granny after Sunday night dinner.

here are three types of films that make it to the box office: the mediocre, the critically acclaimed, and the feel-good. “The Intern” may not be critically acclaimed- but that’s okay.

With Nancy Meyer’s direction and writing, “The Intern” neither sinks nor swims. It’s one of those films that manages to float- albeit, lifelessly- as not every director can be an overachiever, and not every film can be Oscar-worthy. One can’t always watch films like “Les Miserables” or “Jackass.” The occasional middleground movie can be nice; cue “The Intern.”

“The Intern” certainly hit the jackpot with their cast of a couple hollywood greats, as Robert De Niro portrays the charming widower Ben Whittaker, a man bored with retirement and in desperate search of something to fill his days with. Anne Hathaway plays Jules Ostin, the founder of an online clothing company that just happens to have an internship program specifically for senior citizens.

While watching this film, it’s extremely difficult not to compare it to “The Devil Wears Prada.” It would have been interesting to have seen Hathaway come in to Meryl Streep’s shoes, and play a more frightening character such as Miranda Priestly, yet Meyers failed to fully develop Jules’ supposed tough exterior. Anyone who rides a cruiser bicycle around the office can’t be too frightening.

The script tries excessively to fixate on the fact that Jules is supposedly a tough boss, but she never truly exemplifies that demeanor. Rather, she seems to be an intelligent, inexperienced, yet determined woman who isn’t easily shaken. The fact that these traits are supposed to make Jules a crazy neurotic woman highlights this very real issue in the workplace, which is interesting to see on the big screen.

Robert De Niro, who is famous for playing “intimidating until you get to know him” characters, dips his toes into a completely new character with Ben Whittaker. De Niro depicts a genuine, classy, hard-working older gentleman that is extremely likeable. As with nearly every film that introduces an older individual to the younger world, a scene in which Jules shows Ben how to use Facebook comes off as a ‘freebie’ scene that was adapted out of pure laziness.

Anders Holm (“Workaholics”) plays Jules’ husband Matt, a stay-athome father who seemingly has a bit of bitterness about his wife’s career success. His new scruffy appearance does

not do his character any favors, (He’s supposed to be married to a C.E.O, for goodness sake) and he comes off as extremely unlikeable, not only because of his character, but because of his monotonal portrayal of the character. This is a great shame considering his reputation as both a competent comedic actor and writer.

Adam DeVine plays- well, Adam DeVine. His character spectrum is fairly restricted, and his acting in this film is no exception. His character, Jason, is head intern at the office, and evokes the question, “How did he get a job in an office in the first place?” DeVine all too often plays naive yet cocky characters, as we have seen in “Pitch Perfect” as well as the T.V. series “Workaholics.” If he continues this predictable streak, his personality will be more relevant to Hollywood than his ability to actually act.

Where this movie does shine is in the chemistry between Hathaway and De Niro. It’s refreshing to watch a movie that is not explicitly about two people falling in love, but rather, two people falling in like. Ben needs companionship and excitement ever since his wife passed away, and Jules needs some peace and someone to talk to about her personal life crumbling as a result of her career. That’s where the magic happens, and the father-daughter relationship that develops on screen is sweet to watch unfold.

Although the film does not build up to a huge climax, the audience is left with a few silly scenes that will leave any viewer giggling, such as a scene in which Ben recruits a few of the youngermore frantic interns to break into Jule’s mother’s house in order to delete an email.

There are a few too many obvious quips about ‘elderly relations,’ but even those earned a roar of laughter from an audience almost exclusively consisting of senior citizens. Audience involvement in the theater was almost half the fun during the film.

Although this movie will never be a recipient of any major award, “The Intern” is the type of movie that millions with still flock to see. It may lack depth, but it has an abundance of relatability, and sometimes that’s all a movie-goer is looking for.

facebook.com “The Intern” earned a strong $18.2 million during its debut.

‘Metal Gear Solid V’: one solid game Justin Freeman Staff Writer

Review

I

f you’re in touch with gamer culture, you’ve probably heard of “Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.” Developed

by Kojima Productions, this action-adventure shooter has received some of the highest praises from critics. Major video game media outlets such as IGN, Gamespot, and Famitsu have given perfect scores to what many are already calling the game of the year.

Firstly, “The Phantom Pain” is absolutely massive in size. Players can expect to sink over a hundred hours into the game without completing it. This will surely be refreshing to today’s gamers, as these days one can expect to buy a $60 game for only a few hours of entertainment. With “The Phantom Pain,” consumers’ money doesn’t go to waste.

There’s a lot to do in this game, but what’s truly great is that there’s actually good reason to do these things. While many games today throw gimmick after gimmick your way, “The Phantom Pain” doesn’t follow this pattern.

“A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” said Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Kojima Productions’ latest game embodies this philosophy well with its innovative design and clever core mechanics, which interweave ingeniously to deliver a memorable experience.

In the game, you play as the character Big Boss, who is trying to build a private military. In order to bring soldiers into your ranks, you need to kidnap them off the battlefield and convince them to join you, which is sometimes easier said than done. Once they start working for Big Boss, they can offer their assistance in various ways, such as providing intelligence on enemy positions or helping to develop more powerful weapons.

Having an upgraded grenade launcher can be extremely helpful against some of the game’s tougher foes, though blowing them up means they won’t be able to work for you anymore.

Decisions like these often rest in the player’s hands.

The world of “The Phantom Pain” feels very organic. It’s almost like an ecosystem, in which all the player’s actions have realistic consequences. For example, if players make a habit of sneaking into enemy bases at night, the enemies will eventually become equipped with more night-vision goggles,

facebook.com “Metal Gear Solid V” released Sept. 1, and earned raving reviews from critics and gamers alike. so that they can see the threat coming. Or, they’ll start wearing more helmets if they often find themselves being put to sleep by the tranquilizer darts you’ve been shooting at their heads. If players want to disrupt the flow of these countermeasures, they can send the soldiers they’ve kidnapped on missions to sabotage the enemy’s supply lines. Of course, by kidnapping large numbers of enemy soldiers and getting them to work for you, the enemies will take action to ensure they stop losing so many comrades. All the aspects of this game cycle back into one another, so that nothing feels pointless or superfluous.

One thing often mentioned by critics is the subject material of the game. Being set during the Cold War, an era of political differences, widespread proxy wars, and fears of

nuclear devastation, “The Phantom Pain” has a lot of inspiration to work from. Torture, and technology’s influence are just some of the themes explored. There is also a presence of philosophical undertones to the story, which can be seen with the numerous references to George Orwell’s “1984” and Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick.”

“The Phantom Pain” deserves the praise it has been receiving. It’s one of those games that has raised the bar and pushed the boundaries of what people think is possible for video games. The most common negative criticism is that the plot lacks focus, despite touching on many subjects in a meaningful way. However, many have noted that this hardly blemishes what is otherwise a masterpiece in game development.

Entertainment

Sep. 29 - Oct. 5, 2015

sonomastatestar.com

Page 7

Bryson Tiller mixes rap and rhythm Noe Felix Staff Writer

Review

facebook.com Franchises often change over time, and when done correctly, can enhance the franchise overall.

When franchises shake things up

Sean Curzon Staff Writer

L

Commentary

ast week saw the reboot of “The Muppets.” In this new series, The Muppets produce a talk show starring Miss Piggy while a film crew documents it.

Think “30 Rock” funneled through “The Office.”

The internet went ballistic.

Shouts of betrayal and “not my Muppets” filled social media.

Statistically, it’s doing a little better. “The Muppets” pilot episode is sitting at a 67 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

The general consensus is that it’s too adult, too depressing and that the Muppets are supposed to be a theater troupe and not T.V. producers.

Since their creation in the seventies, the Muppets have had multiple shows and films with very little continuity between them.

In “The Muppets Show” (1975) they were a theater troupe in a sketch show, but “The Muppets Movie” (1979) was a roadtrip film about the Muppets making a movie themselves.

In fact, every Muppets movie has had the Muppets doing something different such as journalism and acting.

So, why the hostility? Franchises change all the time.

In order to grow, franchises need to take what made it unique to begin with and fuse it with what the modern audience wants.

A good example of this is the “Batman” franchise. If one looks at the most famous Batman projects, “Batman” starring Adam West (1966) and “The Dark Knight” (2008), these two pieces have nearly nothing in common.

Both the Batman and the Joker look and act like completely different characters; but one isn’t more ‘Batman’ than the other. Batman hit this weird sweet spot where one could take the character in nearly any direction and still work.

This is due to multiple factors. Being based on a long running comic character, allowed multiple writers to work on him over the years, each one bringing out a different aspect of the character.

Also, there was a lot of time between the different Batman adaptations.

The most important thing about Batman is not based on

characters, but on mythology and history. Mythology can be reinterpreted in many ways to fit the time.

On the other end there is the “Superman” franchise.

While Superman also had a long list of writers and a rich mythology, one would think the character would be varied as Batman, but the public seemed to latch on to the Richard Donner film as their main idea on how Superman should be.

If writers stick too closely to the original portrayal of the character, many characteristics may not age well. “Superman Returns” (2006) is a good example of this phenomenon, while if you stray from the norm as writers did with “Man of Steel” (2013), people tend to freak out.

If writers stick too closely to the original portrayal of the character, many characteristics may not age well.

Spiderman, on the other hand, is a good example of a franchise that didn’t stray enough from its original film.

“Amazing Spiderman” (2012) was not well-received despite being well-made and remaining true to the Spiderman character.

The problem was that it was too similar to “Spiderman” released a decade earlier. Both films have a similar tone and hit the same beats story-wise.

Hopefully the next Spiderman movie, which will forgo the original story and feature Spiderman interacting with other Marvel characters, will shake things up and serve as the much needed modification to the franchise.

The key to keeping a thriving franchise is time and variety. It’s good for franchises and characters to experiment with new ideas.

Not every go at it will be a success. Remember when the “Looney Tunes became “Loonatics Unleashed?”

It was awful, but sometimes one just has to try to change things up. You might shine a light on an old property and bring it to a new generation.

I

n today’s over-saturated radio, it’s hard to stand out from the crowd when everything sounds so similar. It’s difficult to try to bring new life into a genre, without succumbing to the mainstream clichés. New artist, Bryson Tiller, is trying his hand at reinventing the rap-singing genre. There are not many artists besides Drake that incorporate such a style.

The act of rapping and singing at the same time does not come easily, but Bryson Tiller makes an honest effort in his debut album “Trapsoul.”

Tiller’s approach to music is different from most R&B artists we are used to. He sings and raps, but switches styles effortlessly on the tracks. It’s clear that he’s been taking cues from Drake and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, since they are pioneers in that style. When Tiller croons, a listener can feel it. When he raps, his bars and ferocity come to the forefront. It’s his ability to do both that makes him a unique artist and one to watch out for.

The production on the album is smooth, sleek and atmospheric. It leaves behind the synths that many R&B songs have been using all year, and instead focuses on bass heavy hits and ticks for a different sound. Some songs have hints of sonic elements that add to the immersion.

Most of the tracks on “Trapsoul” deal with the struggles of relationships, as well as the hardships of becoming discovered. On the album highlight “Exchange,” Tiller sings about how he’s still in love with his ex. He prays for another chance with her, knowing he did her wrong. “I shouldn’t have played no games with you/ Just left without my rang/ Last time I saw you we didn’t speak that was strange.”

“Exchange” also has the best production on the album, using soulful background vocals to add to the drama.

On the lead single “Don’t,” Tiller tries to convince a woman to leave her man for him.

“Girl he only f**cked you over cause you let

him/ f**ck em’ girl guess he didn’t know any better/ girl that man didn’t show any effort.”

Another album highlight “Overtime,” finds Tiller becoming the man a woman is cheating on her boyfriend with. Tiller begins to fall in love with her, and pleads her to only be his. “Now I done caught feelings worth more than millions/ and I feel it, hurting you and I’m healing/ girl that n**ga ain’t worth it I know you feel me.” It’s hard to not hope Tiller gets the girl, as his delivery and voice really sell the song.

His debut is not without its faults though.

Some of the songs were on the short side, making them feel incomplete at times. Tiller can add more depth to his music, so the fact that he didn’t was disappointing. Lyrics on certain tracks feel cheesy and cringe-worthy at times, especially on the rap heavy track “Rambo.”

“I’m a true f**king killa’ like Rambo/no ammo they see me on the sand yo/ n**ga I just kill them cause I can oh.” It is difficult not to press the skip button on a track such as this one. Songs that are more rap heavy are the ones that are the weakest on the album.

The album is at its best when Tiller is constantly switching between rap and singing on tracks about heartbreak and strife. When he uses his emotion to convey a story, Tiller shines. It’s a decent debut for him, but not a great one.

facebook.com Tiller’s debut album“Trapsoul” will release Oct. 2.

Page 8

Student Life

Sep. 29 - Oct. 5, 2015

sonomastatestar.com

STAR // Megan Corcoran The Go Global! Study Abroad Fair featured a variety of different study abroad opportunities from countries around the world as well as the Peace Corps. Representatives from each program attended to give students information about majors, credits, financing and dates.

Go Global! study abroad fair showcases traveling opportunities

E

Olivia Hunt Staff Writer

ver consider taking an education beyond the normal limits - perhaps to the extent of venturing into another country? With about 20 booths advertising their programs, students wandered over and browsed the assortment of options in preparation for a potential study abroad trip. Traveling overseas to continue their education is a concept most students contemplate while in college but are intimidated by the idea.

The purpose of the fair is to educate students on the different options they have and what program suits their major. Because there are many concentrations within a particular major, it’s vital to research a program that meshes well with one’s singular interest.

There are many programs that are able to accommodate financial, location, housing and course credit needs. For example, DIS Study Abroad in Scandinavia is a program geared towards those studying early childhood development.

Other programs that tabled at the fair have a broader spectrum of options such as CEA study abroad, which accommodates more majors and is involved in twelve countries. Matthew Janus, regional director, took the time to discuss the details of his program. Janus said

a big focus of their company is career development in order to attract students hoping to gain experience outside of the classroom with internships, service learning and volunteer opportunities.

“We have internships in a lot of places that count as academic credit combined with courses students take so they’re always embedded in an academic framework,” Janus said.

CEA offers a global development certificate, meaning a student is matched with a professional in their field of interest and meets with them periodically throughout the semester in order to learn how business works in that country.

“We are also focused on students gaining language acquisition,” Janus said. “Most of our locations require students to take at least one language course while they’re abroad in order to enhance the experience.”

Going abroad on an academic level while in college is only one approach to travel. Regional representative Barbara Smith, was at the fair to discuss joining the Peace Corps. The only requirement for this program is a Bachelors degree in any area of study. In order to be considered, the online application must be filled out 9-12 months before the departure time. The student is required to complete three months of training in order to acclimate to the environment and learn the local lan-

guage, followed by 24 months of actual hands-on work.

While in the country the student is working for, they receive a stipend that covers the cost of the flight, food and housing. Upon return, they are also given $8000 back in order to integrate back into the U.S. This is an example of how one can gain valuable life experience and education that may be less pricey with less specific requirements.

Global Student Ambassador Paige Cummings attended the event to make sure everything went smoothly and the students got what they came for.

“We offer a lot of different programs at Sonoma for working, interning, volunteering and studying abroad,” Cummings said. “Right now we have a lot of different vendors here to show their different programs as well as our own programs that we can give information for.

We’re just trying to get as many people as we can to at least have a little bit of interest in going abroad and give everything an equal opportunity.”

The programs mentioned are only a portion of the many options students are given if they wish to travel abroad. International Hall is currently holding both group and individual informational meetings regarding studying abroad. More information on the dates and times of the meetings can be found at seawolfliving. com

The little, local coffee shop

W facebook.com Cotati Coffee offers a $2 small iced coffee and a menu that has a wide variety of food and drinks to choose from.

Nicole Detmers Staff Writer

all to wall wood combined with the smell of fresh coffee wafting through the air, the little shop in downtown Cotati teleports you to a cabin near the north coast beach.

The vibe is continued through the rustic metal bar stools that line the sidewalls. Seating is relatively limited but available both inside and out on the patio.

Order a small iced coffee for $2 (a small is about the size of a Starbucks “Grande”). Their house cold brew iced coffee is robust with flavor and always fresh. Their menu includes a number of choices including lattés and Thai ice tea.

“We’re really working to stay local. Our coffee is from Fort Bragg,” said barista Christina Gri.

Featuring the occasional live band and typically buzzing with people, the little shop on the strip is known to locals as the “Cotati Crawl.”

Cotati Coffee also provides a loyalty stamp card where after purchasing 10 coffees and picking 10 cool stamps to use on one’s card, they are able to get a coffee for free.

“Half the fun is picking out your stamp,” said senior Molly Denison.

Following the Sonoma county trends including ‘go local’ and ‘keep Cotati weird,’ Cotati Coffee holds itself to these standards; obtaining its coffee from Fort Bragg up the coast, as well as following the motto ‘keep Cotati wired.’

According to Gri, Cotati Coffee intends to feature more art and is open to ideas on increasing seating and opening more hours per demand.

Cotati Coffee is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Student Life

Sep. 29 - Oct. 5, 2015

sonomastatestar.com

Page 9

CHORUS:

Chenoweth performs at GMC Continued from page 1

Chenoweth’s goal of the night was to show her audience how important arts education and young talent is to her. Her strive to inspire others to reach their full potential and chase their dreams was both remarkable and uplifting.

“If you think that there is anything else you could do and be happy, then do that. But if you absolutely can’t, then you go for it.

And don’t let anybody tell you no,” Chenoweth said during her last few moments on stage.

Chenoweth founded the Kristin Chenoweth Theatre in her hometown, Broken Arrow, OK, after she realized that her hometown had no musical theater outlet and wanted to make a change for the better.

For those who have followed Chenoweth’s journey, this greatly inspired the storyline she had on FOX’s “Glee” in which her character, April Rhodes, donates money to fund William McKinley High’s auditiorium named The April Rhodes Civic Pavillion.

At one part of the night, Chenoweth brought an aspiring musical theatre student to perform “For Good” with her on stage to

further showcase the importance of young artistry. Audience member and Sonoma State Sophomore Katie Kelly had much to say about Chenoweth bringing a young artist on stage with her.

“That girl’s voice almost topped [Kristin Chenoweth] and that was pretty amazing. It was cool that she brought someone up to sing with her.”

Though Chenoweth had to be back on the road again for her next tour stop, she didn’t hesitate to take the time to meet a few of the fans that had come out to support her.

Sonoma State Senior Lauren Funaro, was one of the lucky few who met her postconcert.

“It was so exciting meeting someone who I deeply admired since I was a kid,” said Funaro. “She was a very sweet and endearing person too, and it was surreal being able to joke and laugh with her.”

Chenoweth’s on-stage persona transcended to her meet and greet. She was very personable and even remembered some faces that she had seen the day before at Target.

For ticket information and tour dates for Kristen Chenoweth’s Coming Home Tour, visit officialkristinchenoweth.com/ tour.

Tuesday,

10 p.m.

Sept. 29

Double Decker

Study Abroad

Lanes

Information Meeting 3 p.m.

Friday,

International Hall

Oct. 2 Keiser Cycling

Blue Print Series: Find

Training

Your Style, Find Your

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Place

Silver Strand Studio

4 p.m.

Erin Fisher Room

Saturday, Oct. 3

Wednesday,

Barrel Room

Sept. 30

Weekend Event:

ASP Presents: “We

Craft and Care

are all Trayvon,” an

7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

evening with Tracy

Barrel Room

Martin 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Scene It Movie Night

Student Center

Featuring “Minions”

Ballroom

9 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Ives 101

Thursday, Oct. 1 ASP Free Bowling facebook.com Kristen Chenoweth visited the Green Music Center on Friday to perform as well as show her support for student involvement in the arts.

Nights: “80s Disco” Courtesy of seawolfliving.com

Page 10

Sports

Sep. 29 - Oct. 5, 2015

sonomastatestar.com

Women’s volleyball continues hot streak Aubrie Tolliver Staff Writer

T

he Sonoma State University Women’s Volleyball team left their opponents helpless and winless this past week in their sweep of CCAA rival Chico State (25-16, 25-19, 25-21) on Friday and Cal State Stanislaus (25-16, 25-19, 25-17) Saturday.

The two wins boosted Sonoma State’s record to 3-1 in conference play and 7-3 on the year, which pushed them up four places in the standings. They now sit in third place, trailing only Cal State San Bernardino and UC San Diego, who are tied for first.

274 fans were packed inside the Acker Gymnasium in Chico Friday night, looking to be a part of the infamous Seawolf-Wildcat rivalry.

Beginning the first set, the Seitz sisters were responsible for the first three points.

Caylie Seitz had two kills and Calan Seitz tacked on a service ace before Chico could score their first point.

From then on, the Wildcats could not catch up to the Seawolf offense. Caylie Seitz had six kills in that set and by the end, the Seawolves led 25-16.

The second set was a different story for Sonoma State. They began the set with a service error and two attack errors and it wasn’t until the Wildcats committed a service error of their own, that they were on the board.

Nearly half way through the set, Chico held a 5-point lead but the other half was all Sonoma. The Seawolves were able to tie it up seven plays later and run away with the set.

Ultimately, it was the Wildcat errors that led to the win for the Seawolves in the second set. Chico committed nine errors and the Seawolves only led the set by six points when the game was over. The third set happened to be the closest out of the three.

Once again, it was Chico State blunders that kept them from prevailing. The Wild-

cats committed a total of seven errors throughout the third set.

However, the score remained close throughout the set. Chico overcame a 5-point deficit and tied it up at 15 apiece.

After a controversial call that went in the Seawolves’ favor, making the score 21-18, the red-wearing fans began the “Chico State” chant.

However, the crowd was soon silenced when a Wildcat attack error gave Sonoma their 25th point and the win. The Seawolves’ 0.344 hitting percentage, along with the 22 Chico errors were enough to complete the sweep. Densberger and Seitz led the team with 13 kills each. Senior Kaitlyn Connolly had a thriving game of her own defensively, giving her team 16 digs.

The Seawolves were looking for their third sweep in a row entering Saturday’s match against the Warriors of Cal State Stanislaus.

The Warriors, who began their season 7-0, were looking to bounce back in the standings and gain an important win that would put a stop to their 4-game losing streak.

However, the hot Seawolves, who had won four of their previous five mathces, would not allow it.

Sonoma State obtained a 0.358 hitting percentage, compared to Stanislaus’ 0.225 in just three sets. It was a game of personal bests for the Seawolves. Sophomore Kelsey McIntire had a career-high 10 kills.

Caylie Seitz led both teams with 15 kills, while Densberger led in digs with 15.

Densberger also added 10 kills to her Saturday performance. The 3-0 win marks their fourth sweep in six games; a very promising start to their 2015 campaign where they will be hoping to defend their CCAA Champion’s trophy earned last season.

The Seawolves will look to continue their hot streak at home, taking on three CCAA opponents this week. They will face Cal State San Marcos on Tuesday, at 4 p.m., Cal State San Bernardino on Friday, at 7 p.m. and UC San Diego on Friday, at 7 p.m. all taking place in the Wolves’ Den.

sonomaseawolves.com The Seawolves completed match sweeps of both Chico State and Cal State Stanislaus last week to improve their record to 7-3 on the year.

Left: Junior Emily Papale prepares a serve to begin the set. Right: Sophomore Courtney Seda goes for the kill.

Men’s golf tees off new season Tommy Call Staff Writer

T

he Sonoma State Men’s Golf team tee’d off for the first time for their 20152016 campaign last week at the Oredigger Invitational, held as the NCAA National Preview. The tournament was hosted by the Green Valley Ranch golf course in Denver, Colorado, the same course where the Men’s Golf National Championship tournament will take place in May 2016.

Seniors Brandon Lee, Nicholas Daniels and Kenny Maroney led the way for Sonoma State in the tournament, along with juniors Justin Shulker and Mathew Potter, with Potter making his debut for the Sonoma State golf team.

The Seawolves could not put their shots together, posting scores of 291-288-309, a plus-24 mark for the 54-hole tournament, finishing 15th out of the 22-team field.

Kenny Maroney led the Seawolves, finishing 39th overall.

Being the CCAA freshman golfer of the year in 2013, Shulker tied teammate Daniels for 49th.

Potter’s debut led to a final score of 233, plus-17 finishing at 89th overall out of the 110 competitors.

All CCAA and all-west region golfer Lee had a disappointing start to the season, finishing 78th overall with a score of 228, plus-12 for the tournament.

Even though the scorecards weren’t impressive, Lee is proud of the way the team golfed in Colorado.

“I am proud of the resiliency we showed; Nobody played well, we had bad breaks all week and still kept fighting,” said Lee. Lee sees the many things the Seawolves can improve on going into the season that he hopes will end with a National Title.

“We can improve on our strategies and maybe we were a bit too

aggressive but we can build on the fact that it was a tough field and we fought hard,” said Lee. Kenny Maroney came out firing on day one of the tournament putting together a solid day on the course shooting a career low 66.

Maroney was on top of the leaderboard and in the clubhouse after his career day and ended up standing as the tournament low.

Maroney’s commitment to his game in the off-season and laser-focus helped him on day one.

“My focus was at an all time high for my career round, I trusted my putting along with my game plan which helped me succeed in that round,” said Maroney.

Even though Maroney dominated in round one, it ultimately led to his demise in the tournament.

He would eventually shoot a 79 on day two and a 76 in the final round where he finished 39th overall with a score of 221 at 5 over par.

“Going into round two, I was trying to not let my previous round fixate my other rounds,” said Maroney. “I didn’t trust my game plan and my focus was off due to my first round which hurt me overall.”

Maroney vows to learn from the mistakes he made in the late rounds of the tournament and build off the positives he saw in the first tournament of a long season.

“Its a huge positive to get exposure to the course we hope to win a National Championship on,” said Maroney. “We haven’t done a preview before and it was great to see where you stacked up against the best in the nation.”

The Seawolves’ golf team will try to move on from a not so stellar performance when they travel to Las Cruces, New Mexico for the NCAA regional preview at The University Golf Club on Sept. 29th.

The Seawolves will then return home to host the Sonoma State Invitational at Foxtail Golf Course in Rohnert Park on Monday, Oct. 12th.

Sports

Sep. 29 - Oct. 5, 2015

sonomastatestar.com

Page 11

Men’s soccer triumphs over rival Chico State Justin Barrientos Staff Writer

I

n a highly anticipated matchup between the Seawolves and Chico State, the Sonoma State University Men’s Soccer team came out victorious, winning 2-0 against their rival from the north on Sunday afternoon.

The Seawolves, who held a 4-2-1 record coming into the game, including a sub .500 record in conference play (1-2-0), were looking to get back on track after losing two important conference road games on their Southern California road trip last weekend by a combined score of 6-1.

However, the Seawolves built on their momentum following a crucial overtime win against Humboldt State on Wednesday and began a two-game winning streak.

To add to the winng streak, both of the team’s wins came against conference opponents.

The team looked to buckle down and improve upon their defensive effort and it showed in Sunday’s game.

Goalkeeper Mitch North put up a clean sheet, despite Chico STAR // Sarah Fishback outshooting the Seawolves 12-10, and 6-4 shots on goal.

The score remained tied at the end of the first half before the Seawolves took North now leads the conference with 37 total saves on the sea- charge and scored two goals to defeat the rival Wildcats. son.

Following a scoreless first half in which both teams couldn’t break through the seal, both teams were eager to be first on the board.

The Seawolves came out on the attack early in the second half, netting two goals roughly 15 minutes apart.

Junior forward T.J. Perez was the first to score, in just five minutes into the second half, when he was assissted by teamates Ryan Rohane and Josh Sanchez.

Perez now leads the team with five total goals on the season, which is also third best in the conference.

Olivia Lucchese throughout her freshman and sophomore Senior forward Brenton Frame would later put the game away years.

Staff Writer with a beautiful strike that had head coach Marcus Ziemer in awe.

Howerver, she stuck it out and earned a “That was a really important one for us; Brenton’s goal was a starting spot during her junior year and has wonder goal, he bent it far post from at least 25 yards out,” said enior Marissa Marable is a senior on been a starter ever since.

Ziemer. Ziemer spoke about the importance of the victory. the Sonoma State Soccer team, a ki“I am expecting great things this year “After losing two games down south, it was important for us nesiology Major, President of SAAC, with this group of girls and I hope to see us to get back on a win streak and get our confidence back,” said while also the leader of Athletes in Action. do well,” said Marable.

Ziemer.

With so much on her resume,one might Marissa also serves as president of the The Seawolves look to continue this upward trend as they wonder, what can’t she do?

Student Athlete Advisor Committee (SAAC), travel down the California coast this weekend beginning with Marable has been playing soccer since a committee of student-athletes, who put toa Friday matchup against San Francisco State. They will then she was nine years old while growing up with gether events and provide community outtravel for another conference game against CSU Monterey Bay two younger siblings who also play sports. reach for other student-athletes here on camon Sunday.

She was recruited for soccer during her pus with giving back to the community. senior year of high school, which came as a “Juggling all of these leadership roles shock for her because at the time, she was not can be tough at times, but having my other sure if she wanted to play college ball or not. leaders really helps a lot,” said Marable.

She came to the Sonoma State Soccer “They work so hard and we all are able to camp after being recruited and after arriving work well together and communicate.” to campus and meeting the team, she loved Marissa helps leads the club Athletes In everything about it and committed immedi- Action in part with leading the SAAC. Athately. letes in Action are a youth Christian organiHaving a very supportive family and zation joined by student-athletes but anyone parents that make it to every game that they is welcome.

Tuesday,Sept. 29 Men’s & Women’s can, she has really enjoyed her time on the Marable is a kinesiology major hoping to team. be a physical therapist.

Women’s Tennis Taking on a large leadership role this She plans to take a year off of school to Volleyball at USTA/ITA Fall year, she has experience in all categories on take a little mental break after graduation vs Cal State San Regionals and off the field.. and then start applying for graduate schools.

Marcos All Day She’s made some great memories with “It is easier to balance my work load 4:00 p.m. with her teammates and friends, but is very when I am so busy because it helps me stay Saturday,Oct. 3 sad to be ending her career. organized and meet my deadlines, if I had too “Its been a long road but I think while much time on my hands, I wouldn’t do anyMen’s Golf Women’s Cross being on this team, you find out who you are, thing,” said Marable. at WNMU Country which I think is a great thing to walk away Balancing all of these leadership roles, Intercollegiate/ vs Sonoma State from when ending your college career,” said Marissa will graduate college with a great NCAA Regional Invitational Marable. deal of accomplishments.

Preview 9:00 a.m.

Like most collegiate athletes, the beginShe hopes that these organizations will All Day ning of one’s career can be a bumpy start. continue to grow on campus after she leaves Marissa received barely any playing time for the many years to come.

Women’s

Student-Athlete Profile: Marissa Marable

S

SEAWOLVES SPORTS

Women’s Golf at GolfScrimmages. com NCAA National Preview All Day

Thursday,Oct. 1 Men’s & Women’s Tennis at USTA/ITA Fall Regionals All Day Friday,Oct. 2 Women’s Soccer at San Francisco State 12:30 p.m.

Men’s Soccer at San Francisco State 3:00 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball vs Cal State San Bernardino 7:00 p.m.

Volleyball vs UC San Diego 7:00 p.m.

Men’s & Women’s Tennis at USTA/ITA Fall Regionals All Day Sunday,Oct. 4 Women’s Soccer at Cal State Monterey Bay 11:30 a.m.

Men’s Soccer at Cal State Monterey Bay 2:00 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 5 Women’s Golf at Dixie State Invitational All Day

Courtesy of sonomaseawolves.com

sonomaseawolves.com Marissa Marable, a senior on the Women’s soccer team, proves that student-atheltes can do much more with their time than just focus on their sport.

Page 12

Photo

Sep. 29 - Oct. 5, 2015

sonomastatestar.com

STAR // Sarah Fishback The Sonoma State men’s soccer team defeated the Chico State Wildcats 2-0 last Sunday afternoon.

STAR // Megan Corcoran Author and public speaker, Dr. Maura Cullen, spoke to students at the “35 Dumb Things Well Intentioned People Say with Dr. Maura Cullen” lecture on Thursday.

STAR // Megan Corcoran Dr. Maura Cullen spoke to students at the “35 Dumb Things Well Intentioned People Say with Dr. Maura Cullen” lecture.

STAR // Megan Corcoran Dr. Maura Cullen invited a Sonoma State student to participate in a magic trick before she gave him a signed copy of her book.

STAR // Kaila Sanders Mike McGuire addressed the crowd after he received his award.

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STAR // Kaila Sanders Mike McGuire accepted an award from Sonoma State President Ruben Armiñana during the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Ceremony on Friday.

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