Issue 5

IN THIS ISSUE

Calling all artists!

The City of Santa Rosa is looking for artists to decorate a parking garage.

PAGE 6.

Update on sports at SSU Remembering the civil rights activist on the 50th anniversary of his death.

PAGE 9.

Sustainability store Sonoma County introduced a new sustainability store PAGE 3.

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 87 // ISSUE 5 MARCH 2, 2021 - MARCH 8, 2021

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

@SONOMASTATESTAR

STAR // Ileana Aleman The body of Saul Morales-Ramirez was found on a path near the SSU Butterfly Gardens.

Dead body found in SSU Butterfly Garden KRISTINA SCHMUHL

NEWS EDITOR

An investigation continues into the death of a 23-year-old Rohnert Park man, whose body was found by passersby near the campus Butterfly Garden last Friday.

Saul Morales-Ramirez, who was not a student at SSU, appears not to have been the victim of foul play, sheriff’s office investigators said. The cause and manner of death is pending on autopsy results, toxicology screenings, and compiling of witness interviews.

Morales-Ramirez was a 2016 graduate of Petaluma High School but lived in Rohnert Park.

Students and faculty at Sonoma State were notified by email Friday afternoon that the body of a local man had been found by community members walking near the Butterfly Garden on campus that morning.

Community members who found the body called 911 around 7:50 a.m. on Friday morning and directed emergency personnel to where the body was located.

The Butterfly Garden is located on the northeast side of campus and is a part of the Sonoma State Botanical Gardens, a secluded area of campus with hiking trails and native plants designed to attract butterflies.

The death is currently under investigation by both the Sonoma State University Police Department and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department Coroner’s Division although officials say there is no solid information at this time to suspect a crime occured.

Morales-Ramirez had been arrested numerous times in 2017 for suspicion of felony evading, resisting arrest, possession of valium for sale and driving under the influence, according to records from the Sonoma County Superior Court.

Since then he was arrested multiple times for violation of parole and in 2020 for battery on a spouse or cohabitant. A criminal protective order was ordered by the judge in that case to protect the witness or victim of the crime.

This is not the first time a body has been found on Sonoma State’s campus. In Nov. 2016 the dead body of Kirk Kimberly, also not a student, was found in a shallow grave with evidence that he had been stabbed to death. After years of ongoing investigations, an arrest was made in 2020 for his murder. The suspect, Daniel Carrillo, has been held in prison since 2017 on unrelated charges but is facing 25 years to life for the crime.

This is an ongoing breaking news story that will be updated when more information is available.

COURTESY // Emily Asencio Dr. Emily Asencio works for Sonoma State University as an associate professor and as an internship coordinator for the Criminal Justice Studies Department.

COURTESY // Instagram The SSU Black Student Union posted on Instagram to kick off the start of Black History Month.

Black History Month ‘Zoom bombing’ hate crime details sent to FBI

MARY HELEN ROWELL STAFF WRITER

A

n email was sent out to the Sonoma State community on Feb. 22 providing more information on the Zoom bombing hate crime that took place on Feb. 16 during a Black History Month virtual event hosted by the University. The email let students and faculty know that law enforcement agencies were actively investigating the crime and the info was also forwarded to the FBI. The email, sent from Dr. Wm. Gregory Sawyer, vice president for Student Affairs, Nadar Oweis, chief of police at SSU Police Department, and David Chun, chief information officer read, “On February 16, 2021, during the Black StudentAthlete Experience lecture, one of several events held during Black History Month, an unknown individual in black face appeared during the Zoom program and spewed a racial epithet. The guest speaker’s presentation was disrupted when the Zoom screen was defaced with the ‘n-word,’ and additional messages were being sent through the chat with racial slurs and anti-Semitic comments.”

In the first response sent out on the day of the incident, the University made the initial decision not to disclose the details of the crime as to avoid giving those responsible the attention and platform they were likely looking for.

When asked about the decision, Assistant Vice President for Strategic Communications, Julia Gonzalez, wrote in an email, “The University responded quickly to inform the campus community of the incident. Initially we chose to not share details specifically describing what occurred in order to not give those persons responsible the platform they sought, and we didn’t want those who experienced the incident to have to relive it. In fact, some promising practices advise against ‘naming’ the incidents in detail and others believe that universities must be specific unless it risks looking as though they are trying to ‘hide’ something.” see STUDENTS DEMAND on pg. 4

COURTESY // Valerie on Flickr.com There was a mountain lion sighting at SSU near the softball field on Juniper Lane.

CCJS department letter accuses Dean Mountain lion spotted on SSU of overstepping her role campus ILEANA ALEMAN CALLIE ADAMS STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

F

aculty members of the Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies department at Sonoma State have signed a statement claiming that Dr. Troi Carleton, Dean of the School of Social Sciences, has detrimentally encroached upon curricular matters within the CCJS department.

The letter alleges that, without consent of the department, Carleton “appointed herself as CCJS internship coordinator, opened an additional section of CCJS 499 (Class No. 4419) and assigned herself as class instructor, and changed the CS code of CCJS 499 from CS36 to CS78 to circumvent the enrollment cap under CSU and SSU policies.”

On Feb. 5, Carleton assumed the position of CCJS internship coordinator after removing the previous internship coordinator, Dr. Emily Asencio, from the position.

Carleton declined to comment on the reasoning behind removing Asencio from her position, citing that the situation is a “personnel matter.”

When asked about her reaction to having the course removed from her instruction, Asencio said that she was “shocked.”

“The role of internship coordinator is decided by faculty in the department of CCJS and it’s not somesee CRIMINAL JUSTICE on pg. 4

L

ast week, a mountain lion was spotted wandering around Juniper Lane on Sonoma State University’s campus. The University sent out an email to students warning them about the sighting of the mountain lion and informing them of what to do if they come in contact with one of these big cats.

SSU’s police chief Nadar Oweis said in the email, “In an abundance of caution, we are informing the campus community about this report, to ensure everyone who is present on campus is safe and vigilant. If you spot a mountain lion on campus, walk away and leave the area. DO NOT run or approach the animal.

If a mountain lion approaches you, stay calm, face the animal, make noise and see MOUNTAIN LION on pg. 4

2 Editorial THE STAR Editorial Board

Kylie Rose Lawrence, Editor-in-Chief Kristina Schmuhl, News Editor Katelyn Dodge, Opinion Editor Christy Chew, Arts & Entertainment Editor Myles Grabau, Student Life Editor Emily Cripe, Health & Wellness Editor Brandon Sparks, Photo Editor Gil Chaffer, Copy Editor Bryce Gallagher, Distribution Manager Devon Pique, Format Editor Corinne Asturias, Faculty Adviser

MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2021

sonomastatestar.com

Students struggle with another virtual semester at Sonoma State

Staff Writers Callie Adams, Ileana Aleman, Emily Alvarado, Jayline Alvarado, Julia Blair, Zena Bounsall, Kaitlin Breen, Cheyenne Carroll, Katlyn Dodge, Casey Fabbri, Sumiko Fong, Bryce Gallagher, Gabriella Hermogeno, KC Holtemann, Olivia Hughes, Nancy Insua, Willy Lepori, Quinn McKibbin, Morgan Mitchell, Caroline Morales, Sondra Ottenstein, Samantha Pezzola, Noah Philpott, Anthony Pilotti, Mary Helen Rowell, Matthew Smith, Vincent Spence

Photographers Isabelle Barkey, Pammy Meyers, Andrew Savedra

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

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

“New variant of COVID-19 discovered in California” Read the article on page 10.

Have an opinion?

We’d like to hear from you!

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

Publication

I

n the past year, our entire world has been completely turned upside-down by an unforeseen disaster, forcing California to be locked down in quarantine for an undetermined amount of time. Amid the worst pandemic since 1918, a new generation of college students had no clue how to cope with this type of nightmare.

For most Sonoma State students, the Coronavirus pandemic couldn’t have come at a worse time. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented college students with a plethora of obstacles, and many college students are finding it increasingly difficult to adapt to the new style of studying virtually.

Prior to the lockdowns, Seawolves would hang out at the Recreation center, Lobo’s, or Charlie Brown’s to study with friends, but this has all become a thing of the past. Though the safety precautions are necessary, they have seriously impacted students’ mental health.

Moving classes from an interactive and engaging environment to an extremely isolated one has proven to be a challenge for many. Only being able to see classmates once or twice a week via Zoom makes it difficult for individuals to stay engaged with their peers, as well as to stay caught up with what is expected of them. One of the biggest struggles is being able to keep focus during Zoom classes.

While many professors require cameras to be on for the duration of class, students are often

STAR // Natella Guy

still distracted by what’s around them. Whether it be other people in their house, or just simply their own technology, it’s easier to fall behind when learning virtually.

There are a variety of issues that have deeply affected students in the past two semesters, but a severe lack of motivation is definitely the most common. It’s way too convenient to just stay in bed and relax in your pajamas during class, and a year ago, this would be a dream come true.

However, a year into the pandemic, this dream is turning into a nightmare for Seawolves, especially in terms of mental health and staying motivated enough to get their school work done.

Being stuck in front of a screen for hours while listening to a lecture is detrimental to everyone involved. Some students are sitting in front of a screen for a three hour class, and then have six hours of homework left to do after that. Taking a look at how much screen time that really is, it’s no wonder that young people are getting so easily burnt out and unmotivated during online classes. Whether you’re a teacher trying to get all of your students engaged and present or a student struggling to pay attention, Zoom classes are definitely not the most productive for either party.

With graduation looming closer, many seniors are afraid of taking the next step into the ‘real world.’ Being stuck in this virtual era has halted a lot of career and internship opportunities, which puts the graduating class at a severe disadvantage. On top of

this, Seawolves are unsure if they will even be able to walk at graduation, which is a huge stressor on top of finishing up their classes. Graduation is a milestone for everyone, and is what every college student looks forward to. Unfortunately, for graduating seniors this year, being restricted from having a ceremony is a dreadfully realistic thought.

On the other hand, some freshmen are more than halfway through their first year at college, and they haven’t even gotten to spend any time at SSU. Being able to walk around campus and smile and wave at other students is part of the ‘college experience,’ as well as being able to meet friends in in-person classes.

All of this has been stripped away from the incoming class of Seawolves, with no definite date on when we’ll be able to resume in-person instruction.

All in all, going virtual is a compromise that the CSU system had to make in order to further college students’ education while keeping everyone safe, but the transition has been anything but easy, for most. It’s important to sympathize with those who aren’t used to this type of learning environment, and recognize that mental health, as well as motivation, has seriously plummeted during this pandemic. As vaccines are being rolled out over the next few months, Seawolves remain hopeful that we will be able to return to a sense of normalcy soon.

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.

STAR // Brandon Sparks

Editorial Policy: The commentary expressed in the unsigned editorial represents a majority opinion of the STAR Editorial Board on a topic facing the campus community in keeping with journalistic precedents of other major newspapers, and may not be shared by all staff writers. The board encourages readers to write letters to the editor about all topics, including the editorial.

Opinion 3

MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Elderly imposters scam vaccine

JULIA BLAIR

STAFF WRITER

T

he Pfizer-Biotech and Moderna vaccines have begun to roll out in large quantities, with the CDC reporting that providers are currently administering around 1.7 million doses every day. New York Times outlines that in Florida, vaccines have been administered to over 2 million healthcare workers as well as those 65 and older or otherwise eligible for the vaccine. The majority of the population remains ineligible to receive the vaccine, and many are anxious to seek this long-awaited defense Two women, age 33 and 44, disguised themselves as old women wearing bonnets and mittens, in an attempt to receive the vaccine in their home state.

Unfortunately, these women’s tricks may not be a new oc-

currence. At the time, the women were in possession of seemingly valid CDC vaccination cards that had records of an initial dose. Dr. Paul Rino, a physician in Orange County mentioned that staff needs to remain vigilant, “Agencies have had to be very careful about people faking it. It’s probably higher than we suspect.” This problem shows an overt selfish nature that exists within our society.

Situations like these are inconceivable, but those are the lengths that some resort to in order to prioritize their perceived health security.

Washington Post reported that the women were only scolded by local officers and reminded of the cruel nature behind their intentions. One deputy told the women directly, “You’ve stolen a vaccine from someone who needs it more than you.” The time spent dealing with those trying to gain early access to the vaccine completely disrespects the valuable time of healthcare workers, those trying to provide the vaccine fairly and authorities. There is no excuse for a lack of patience at this point. There is clear logic behind the vaccine rollout plan, seeing as it serves those most at risk first, and no one should be able to prioritize themselves ahead of those more at risk.

ABC News reported that the women were only warned by police, not charged for their wrongdoings. There should be harsher consequences for these actions, to set the standard that fairness needs to

be allocated. There is nothing right about these women not being held accountable.

If they had been sentenced to community service or having to contribute to one’s community, perhaps they could put themselves in a positive direction for better decisions going forward.

This story discusses a frustration around selfishness that many have seen throughout this time. Whether it has been public figures ignoring guidelines, or now people disguising themselves, there are immeasurable lengths people seem to go to prioritize themselves. There has been such a blatant lack of responsibility amongst the public. The inability and unwillingness of some people comes when refusing to comply with safety guidelines.

These actions prove there is a certain deviance that some people may take pride in, others just follow in. It is up to people like the deputies, to correct people and inform them what they are taking away by trying to give more to themselves.

That is the key takeaway here; learn from this charade and be reminded that being genuine and morally sound in a time like this matters. One must remember that there are so many people who are also waiting their turn as well. Ultimately, the time will come when more and more people can gain access to the vaccine, but this access does not erase that everyone should continue to conduct themselves as safely as possible.

The downfall of the smartphone

ZENA BOUNSALL

STAFF WRITER

H

ave Millennials and Gen Z ever wondered what they might be missing out on- or has it ever dawned on them that their perception of time is speeding faster the further they look into a phone screen? Technology has transcended from a tool to a complete distraction with the help of social media. The internet used to serve as an escape from real life. Now, real life is an escape from the internet.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information said “Research has shown that college-age students in the US may spend an average of 8–10 hrs per day on a smartphone.” Now, imagine what could have been done with these precious hours of daylight. Taking the time to master painting, sewing, poetry, or read a wealthy amount of books. If 8 hours is the daily average screen time amount, that averages out to 98 days de-

voured by a screen per year. Time is precious, and the hours allotted for healthy habits should override the attention given to someone else’s life via social media.

At night, after a long and stressful day, many people lay in bed, decompress and scroll through Snapchat observing other people’s experienceswhich sanctions no solitude to process the day or contemplate potential lessons that could have been acknowledged over the past 24 hours. Summer Lindsey, a Sonoma resident, says “When I go to bed, it’s hard to have a clear mind or set my intentions for the following day because I’m so hypnotized by my phone and keeping up with what my family and old friends are doing on social media. I wish I could stop, but scrolling really helps to lull me to sleep. You could call it a crutch of some sort”. When replacing good habits with bad ones, it is clear that there is an issue- such as forsaking sleep and mindfulness for scrolling through Instagram.

As a collective, most college students are hooked into addictive patterns relating to social media for reasons that surpass staying in connection with old friends. The addiction lies within the scroll. As people wander through platforms such as Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, they are exposed to new information every few seconds. This has transformed the attention span, and the only place us-

ers are able to indulge in instant dopamine is through a screen. Ultimately, this experience detaches people from the real joys of reality.

Quitting a bad habit such as obsessive social media use can be prompted by a multitude of reasons, one being frustrated with the repercussions of technology that include painfully lazy days that loom over someone’s desire for productivity.

Taking time off social media can result in treasured outcomes like experiencing a full day that feels longer and more full of real life. On a similar note, there is a chance someone might feel more confident after deciding to not paralyze their self-image based on the comparison to others. The beauty standards and lifestyle expectations have dramatically inclined, causing many people to compare themselves to something that is somewhat fiction.

Always trying to be pretty enough, and prove worth to others through social platforms can feel like the ugliest thing.

Cutting back on smartphone usage and offers the chance to see the real in reality can make all the difference.

In this seemingly bizarre and technological world, there is still hope. With a little self-control, anyone can pull themselves out of the internet’s abyss, and into real-life hobbies that add productivity and purpose back into life. It is vastly important to reconnect with the inner-self, and not the wifi.

Sonoma’s new sustainability store

NANCY INSUA

STAFF WRITER

S

onoma County has introduced its second refill and sustainable living store in the past year.

Refill Madness opened its doors on Feb. 23 in Sonoma Valley located near Sonoma Market. They sell a range of household essentials including dish soap, shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, body wash and laundry detergent in bulk with the goal of customers returning with reusable jars and containers to stock up.

Buying in bulk has become one of the many trends we have seen in the boom of sustainable living and being environmentally conscious in the past few years.

Jana Wang co-owner of Refill Madness said to the Press Democrat that she was inspired to open up the sustainable living store because of the excess free-time she had because of COVID-19. She hopes stores like this will help set a precedent that makes sustainable living more plausible and teach young children sustainable practices they can grow up with.

Sustainable living stores have been appearing more frequently across the country. The growth and expansion of this type of business model will be essential in more Americans living a sustainable lifestyle. To move the United States into space where the normal behavior revolves around this type of sustainable shop model, stores will need to open in more rural communities to promote this lifestyle to Americans of all social classes and demographics. Opening up shops outside of major cities is going to be a huge step in families implementing this kind of lifestyle as the precedent and aid in the trend of not running its course.

In a Harvard Business Review paper, Tensie Whelan and Randi Krinthal-Sacco looked at studies that tracked the growth of products marketed as sustainable. They found that “Products that had a sustainability claim on-pack accounted for 16.6% of the market in 2018, up from 14.3% in 2013, and delivered nearly $114 billion in sales, up 29% from 2013. Most important, products marketed as sustainable grew 5.6 times faster than those that were not. In more than 90% of the CPG categories, sustainability-marketed products grew faster than their conventional counterparts”.

It is clear that an environmentally conscious lifestyle is desired among consumers. There is a growing understanding of the climate crisis it is pushing consumers to make even more sustainable choices. Brands are likely to continue to promote products that can be marketed as sustainable and leave consumers with a somewhat clear conscience.

Businesses that use the model Refill Madness has implemented are set to do well on paper. They are marketed towards a growing population that is conscious of the 2,072 pounds of waste sent to a landfill a single American is producing on average each year. While this model of store is growing across the country, they remain fairly scarce. This provides a growing need in our community and others that provides a place where consumers can shop semi-guilt-free about the amount of excess waste they are contributing to. If refill stores can fight the fad of becoming just a growing trend and last the test of an unpredictable market our world would be taking a big step in reversing the mistakes of single-use plastics.

Stores like Refill Madness are aiming to become the staple for household goods. With a growing number of Americans switching to zero-waste alternatives, sustainability stores are becoming a center for many communities. With the help from sustainability stores, offerings by Refill Madness help create a healthier environment for everyone.

Airplane engine explodes, debris falls from the sky

JAYLINE ALVARADO

STAFF WRITER

P

assengers on a United Airlines Flight bound to Honolulu from Colorado were met with engine troubles at the start of their flight when the engine exploded causing debris to land in the surrounding Broomfield area for a mile around.

For someone who’s afraid of flying this is a person’s worst nightmare. An engine exploding during a flight is never something

that should happen. CNN Opinion writer Les Abend, who’s also a retired Boeing-777 captain stated that the preliminary findings found that the most likely culprit for the engine failure was a fan blade coming loose. This is known as a catastrophic failure when the engine internally comes apart and as a result “Causing major damage -- enough that the engine no longer produces functional thrust,” and uncontained because pieces of the engine are falling off.

However, this begs the question for United Airlines on how maintenance missed this and why they continue to use an engine that is known to have past incidents. USA Today reports that it’s only the US planes that have this engine. United Airlines also tweeted that they were “Voluntarily & temporarily removing 24 Boeing 777 aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney 4000 series engines from our schedule” and improving inspections by focusing on the fan blades. Abend’s arti-

cle goes in depth as the steps a flight crew takes when an issue comes up.

Fortunately, this catastrophic failure occurred two minutes into the flight rather than over the ocean and they were able to return safely to the airport. Videos show the engine shaking and in flames and smoke billowing out. There’s also audio from the pilot’s mayday call saying that there’s heavy engine failure and that they need to turn around immediately. However, once the plane was grounded the passengers cheered for a safe landing. It’s an understandable reaction in a terrifying situation and were fortunate that they were able to return to the airport instead of somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

In an article by Eric Levenson for CNN, Travis Loock who was sitting near the engine described it as “A big boom and the kind of sound you don’t want to hear when you’re on the airplane,” and another passenger Mike Vena feared that they

wouldn’t see their kids again.

Pictures of debris show engine pieces in people’s yards in Broomfield, Colorado. One person reported debris crashing through the roof while they were making a sandwich. No reports seem to suggest that anyone was hurt by the falling debris. A lucky fact considering the pieces of metal could have seriously hurt somebody down on the ground.

The flight attendants should also be recognized for a great job done. They didn’t make a scene and kept people calm rather than raising alarms. The simulations that pilots go through were beneficial because it seems that they acted quickly and appropriately and kept everyone safe.

Despite some passengers not being aware, those who were and could visibly see the engine didn’t make an enormous scene and freaked out the other passengers on the plane despite being in a scary situation, some even continuing on their path to Honolulu.

4 News

MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Seawolves demand more details from University on BHM hate crime continued from pg. 1

A student editorial from the HUB, the University’s cultural center, was shared on Feb. 22 with students and faculty. The editorial, Black Students at Sonoma State Deserve Better, written by Loren Smith, HUB intern, and Jor Grapentine, Gender & Sexuality Program coordinator, expressed the concerns and

issues many students had in response to the event and how it was handled.

Smith, a fourth-year majoring in Women and Gender Studies, HUB intern, and vice president of SSU’s Black Student Union wrote in response to the initial omission of details saying, “This expectation for the Black population at

SSU to simply move past a direct infringement of their well-being, without properly educating the rest of Sonoma State on the incident puts more work on our Black peers.”

In a follow up interview, Smith voiced that while she understood the perspective of not wanting to give those responsible a platform, but by avoiding specifics this put the responsibility of sharing the details back onto the black community that was in attendance.

Smith said that when going to classes the next day, most educators and students had little to no information on what had actually taken place but were curious because they knew there had been a hate crime. Because of this, Smith felt the responsibility to inform her professor and classmates on what had happened.

“After reflecting even upon that, it was difficult because I’d imagine that for other black students who were there who don’t feel as outspoken as I am, how do they cope with even acknowledging the fact that this happened and addressing it to professors and having to be the one to address it, and that’s where I really feel the fault was,” Smith said.

The University heard these concerns and decided to send a follow up email with more specific information.

“In a subsequent communication where we updated the campus community on the status of the investigation, we provided specific detail of the incident so that the campus could know what specifically was being investigated. We also heard from a few students that they prefer the University specifically describe the incidents that occurred, so we also wanted to honor

that,” wrote Gonzalez.

Unfortunately, this was likely not an isolated incident. With most jobs, organizations, and schools going virtual for the last year, racist-based zoom hackings and virtual hate crimes such as this have been seen across the country. The University is in contact with law enforcement in other jurisdictions, who are investigating similar incidents that have happened in the last couple weeks, along with the FBI. The University and University police are also working with the Information Technology Department and the Center for Teaching and Educational Technology to create Zoom security training workshops and practices to reduce the risk of virtual intrusions.

“The Center for Teaching and Educational Technology is preparing a series of workshops targeting event users (faculty already have similar workshops all year) to familiarize the campus community with the various security features of Zooms. We are also planning to move larger open public events to webinar format. In the upcoming months, an online web conference subcommittee of university community members will be formed to develop long term sustainable strategies for virtual events,” wrote Gonzalez.

A message to the University from the Black Student Union, posted to their Instagram page on Feb. 18, in response to the hate crime read, “For those looking to help the SSU BSU community, and black student and faculty populations during this time, we simply ask for your presence and support throughout the rest of black history month, as well as moving forward as we transition back onto campus.”

COURTESY // US Fish and Wildlife on Flickr.com Hikers are encouraged to hike in groups and be loud if they spot a big cat in the wild.

COURTESY // Sonoma State Dr. Troi Carleton stands by her decision to take over the internship coordinator role, citing her commitment to student success and the timely graduation of students.

Crim. Justice internship protocol complaint continued from pg. 1 thing that the Dean has, according to policies and pro- cations under Dr. Asencio and were directed by her recedures, the ability to decide,” Asencio said, “She ap- garding placements. However, there were some gradupointed herself as the internship coordinator and then ating seniors whose internship required modification opened up a section of the course and assigned herself in order to comply with COVID safety protocols. For as the instructor, but she is not a CCJS faculty member the handful of students who had not yet secured inand she hasn’t been qualified to teach this class.” ternships by the second week of the spring semester, Carleton has proceeded to instruct the CCJS 499 I worked with these students to find an internship that internship-focused course herself, while members of was consistent with the types of internships that the the CCJS department claim that she also changed the department was approving. In two situations, interncourse code as a means of evading the enrollment cap. ships were not possible, so students designed projects Classes can only accept a certain number of stu- involving community engagement and CCJS discidents in order to maintain the quality of the course. plinary knowledge,” Carleton said.

A change in a course’s CS code can change the numThis incident marks the second letter of comber of students permitted to enroll in that course. If plaint filed against Carleton, the first having been suba course has more students than the curriculum was mitted last Nov. by the CCJS department regarding a designed to accommodate, the extra burden on the similar matter. The first grievance accuses Carleton of professors can prevent them from providing the nec- having, “unilaterally increased the enrollment cap of essary individual support for students, among other five classes offered by the Department of Criminolissues, which can affect the overall performance of the ogy and Criminal Justice Studies (CCJS) and cut by class, according to Asencio and Dr. Napoleon Reyes, half the resources allocated to its internship program Chair of the CCJS Department.

– an action that violates CSU and SSU policies and “The proper procedures for changing a class be- infringes on faculty rights under the CFA/CSU Colgins with faculty initiating those changes and there’s lective Bargaining Agreement.” a process through which any curricular changes go The statement further claims that Carleton’s acthrough,” said Asencio, “And deans are involved tions “demonstrate a lack of concern for the impact with that; there is a step where the Dean reviews [the her action will have on our students, many of whom changes] and gives their approval or not. So what Dean are struggling to stay engaged in an educational enviCarleton did is just completely bypass that process and ronment that has continually increased class sizes and decide that she was going to unilaterally change that faculty workload.” code, which is not only violating the process, but is Carleton disagrees with these accusations, statdisrespecting the process and the system of shared ing, “My first priority is and always will be student governance, which is that faculty control the curricu- success and the safety and well-being of our students.

And I am responsible for ensuring University policies lum.”

Reyes is in agreement with Asencio, and said, and safety protocols are followed. We are working to “Most students don’t realize the impact that [over- ensure the return of the [CCJS 499] course to CCJS.” Carleton also responded to the letter’s accusation crowded classes] have long-term on the learning conthat she lacks the authority to manage the Internship ditions for all students.”

However, Carleton denies that she has changed Coordinator position and instruct CS 499, stating that she believes she acted according to the responsibilities the course code.

“The CS code for CCJS 499 has remained CS36. of her position as the Dean.

“As Dean of the School of Social Sciences, it is No changes were made,” Carleton said in response.

The letter further claims that Carleton, “has my duty to ensure that students can graduate successbeen approving internship applications and allowing fully in a timely fashion and to ensure the safety of our students to enroll in CCJS 499 without considering students, faculty and staff,” Carleton said. whether the proposed internships meet the standards When asked what the CCJS department hopes set by the CCJS Department for internship place- to accomplish through the grievances filed, Reyes said ments. Students were also told that ‘projects’ would be they hope to ensure that administrators and departallowed as substitute for an actual internship required ment faculty members follow the established protocol. under the CCJS B.A. curriculum.”

“We just want all parties to follow what the Carleton addressed this as well, defending her CSU and SSU policies require and to respect faculty’s decision and insisting that she considered how best to control over curricular matters,” said Reyes, “And that handle internship requirements during the COVID-19 applies to everyone. We’re trying to play by the rules... pandemic. if [administrators] truly are concerned about the qual“The majority of internships I approved were for ity of education, then they should support faculty and students who had commenced their internships appli- departments.”

Mountain lion sighting on campus, students encouraged to stay calm continued from pg. 1

try to make yourself appear larger by waving your arms or putting your arms over your head.”

The last time a mountain lion was spotted roaming around the streets in Sonoma County was in April of 2019, the lion was at the Santa Rosa Plaza and was very alarming to local residents, many of whom shared the sighting on social media. The mountain lion was put to sleep by animal rescue professionals with a dart and then released back into the wild. This is the first mountain lion to be seen in the populated areas of Sonoma County.

The term “mountain lion” refers to a species of large cats which includes panthers, pumas, and cougars etc. Mountain lions play a large role in the ecosystem and mountain lion specialist Dr. Quinton Martins, Director of the Living with Lions program in Sonoma County, suggested that oftentimes mountain lion sightings can be confused with other wildlife animal sightings, like coyotes. But in the case that this was a confirmed mountain lion sighting, he gives his insight and knowledge as to possibly explain why a mountain lion was seen on campus.

“It’s quite likely to be a younger animal moving through trying to avoid prime mountain lion habitat. The younger cats live with their mom for 12 -18 months and then the mom gets tired of them and kicks them out. Then for the next two years they are on their own and don’t know where they are and they are just exploring trying to find a place to inhabit,” said Martins.

Martins specifically works with mountain lions by tracking them and learning more about their whereabouts, in order to be able to educate others about the importance of mountain lions to the ecosystem. He also explained how he uses his knowledge of mountain lions to help dispel common myths and fears that people have about them.

“Acknowledging that mountain lions are living around us and respecting the fact that they are around is important,” Martins said. “The mountain lion is a great ambassador to connect people to wilderness and the fact that they are here makes it accessible to educate people about the environment and the importance of having intact ecosystems. They are at the top of the chain and it is important to educate others on the importance of habitat conservation.

Understanding how important it is to coexist will prevent individuals from just killing them, because this doesn’t fix the problem or make any sense, and instead, just messes up the system.”

One thing to consider is that mountain lions are always around us-whether we see them or not. It is important, though, to keep in mind that many things pose a threat to human life, like vending machines and large tree branches. An article by The Press Democrat said, “Since 1890, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that only 17 verified mountain lion attacks on humans have happened in California. In more 130 years, only six resulted in human fatalities. By comparison, 13 unlucky Americans are killed by falling trees, every year.”

News 5

MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

COURTESY // Sonoma State Hilary Homzie, the Communications internship coordinator , shared that students are doing remote internships not only in Sonoma County, but around the Nation.

COURTESY // Instagram Lily Frazier, an intern for the SSU Career Center, believes she is getting a spectacular experience interning remotely because it accomodates her busy schedule.

Sonoma State students find ‘endless’ remote internship opportunities as a result of COVID-19

CAROLINE MORALES STAFF WRITER

T

hough the COVID-19 pandemic has hit college students harder than ever, as it has taken away from their in-person college experience, many Sonoma State University students have found the silverlining of the pandemic to be the endless remote internship opportunities nationwide.

In March 2020, all California State Universities halted their on campus activities and have yet to reopen.

However, There are, however, set plans for the CSU campuses to return in the fall. Former CSU Chancellor TImothy White said in an early December email, “In keeping with previous efforts to provide current and prospective students and families with information, clarity and time to plan, the California State University (CSU) has announced that it is planning for an anticipated return to delivering courses primarily in-person starting with the fall 2021 term.”

Since 97% of Sonoma State’s classes, excluding various advanced art and nursing classes, are remote, internships are supposed to follow that same protocol.

According to Communications Internship Coordinator Hillary Homzie, “All students who are doing Arts and Humanities internships are currently completing them virtually. This is to comply with SSU COVID-19 safety requirements.”

Sonoma State University Internship Coordinators are keeping a close eye on students’ internships ensuring that they are remote and following protocol. If students were to be completing in-person internships, they would not be able to receive units for their completed internship hours.

“We are able to check-in with supervisors through a regular review process to ensure that everything is going smoothly and that students are following SSU COVID-19 safety protocol,” Homzie said.

Overall, there is not much more SSU internship coordinators can do to ensure that students are interning remotely. Coordinators are instilling trust in their students that they are closely following the University’s regulations.

This semester, a record number of Arts and Humanities students are interning remotely. This “virtual world” is creating a surplus of opportunities for students.

With internships being remote, students can procure internships from all over the world from the comfort of their own home and still get the same internship experience remotely as they would

in-person.

“We have had students working on projects for PBS (out of New York), interning for a race car company (out of the Midwest), and apprenticing video-editing skills for LA based companies,” Homzie said.

In addition to students interning remotely across the nation, many students are interning right here in Sonoma County as well.

Sonoma State has students interning for PR firms in Sonoma County, for Santa Rosa City Schools, for the SSU Career Center, and beyond.

Many SSU students feel as if they are getting just as good of an experience interning remotely as they would in person. In addition, students like the flexibility in schedule that interning remotely provides them.

SSU Career Center’s intern Lily Frazier said, “I think that I am actually getting the same if not a better experience interning remotely as it works better with my busy schedule by not having to meet in-person.”

Other students also agree that they too are getting a similar experience interning remotely.

“I think I get the same experience interning remotely as I would in person because a lot of the work I do for my internship are online based tasks such as managing social media accounts,” Senior Communications student Sam Walter said.

However, for other SSU students, they feel as if they are missing some key learning experiences while interning remotely.

“I don’t feel as if I am getting the same experience interning remotely because I can’t connect with my boss, coworkers, or clients the same in a digital platform,” Lauren Fernandes said.

“I wish there was more of a sense of connection when interning remotely and I wish I were able to check in with my boss and coworkers more to see how I can assist them best,” Fernandes continued.

Students and Internship Coordinators at SSU remain optimistic that even when classes return to being in-person there will still be as many remote internship opportunities as there are now and inperson opportunities for those who prefer it.

STAR // Rachel Gonzalez East Cotati Ave, on the border of campus, after trees have been cut down due to some of the projects on the President’s Climate Leadership Commitment.

Campus sustainability update brings light to new projects and ‘sustainability’ minor KAITLIN BREEN STAFF WRITER

S

onoma State recently released the Campus Sustainability Update for Spring 2021, which contained the Fall 2020 Sustainability Snapshot, an informational spreadsheet containing all of the progress that has been made towards achieving sustainability and resilience goals during the Fall 2020 semester.

One of the major goals which Sonoma State is working towards, is achieving the resolutions set forth in the President’s Climate Leadership Commitment, which President Judy Sakaki signed in April 2019. One of the key resolutions in the commitment, is that SSU will need to become carbon neutral in the near future.

The President’s Sustainability Advisory Council was in charge of compiling the Fall 2020 Sustainability Snapshot, as well as advising SSU on their way to achieving their climate goals. The Council meets once a month, and consists of faculty and staff, who each represent a faction of SSU’s community.

The Fall 2020 Sustainability Snapshot covers four

categories of projects: Zero-Impact Campus, Regional Resilience, Academic and Student Life, and Strategy, Communication, and Advancement.

The Zero-Impact Campus initiative encompasses all projects which deal with reducing SSU’s carbon footprint; this includes projects which monitor, assess, and control energy conservation and efficiency, water conservation, solid waste, landscaping, sustainable construction, and transportation.

Regional Resilience projects aim to work on campus preparedness in the face of natural disasters in the North Bay Area, including wildfires, and raise awareness of regional sustainability and resilience challenges facing the North Bay. Projects in the Students and Academic Life sector strive to engage students in sustainability focused curriculum, research and inquiry, internships, and living.

A few of these projects include: fire resilience internships, residential life contests, and new-student ori-

entation programming that seeks to enhance student awareness surrounding sustainability.

The last category, Strategy, Communication, and Advancement, encompasses all action by the university towards the SSU Strategic Plan, as well as the Presidents’ Climate Leadership Committment, and all campus communication, media, and outreach regarding sustainability.

Some of the highlights of the Spring 2021 Campus Sustainability Update include: a new sustainability minor for students, sustainability measures being put into place in the Stevenson Hall renovation, and contracts being awarded to Recology, and Ecoshift for 3-stream recycling on campus, and tracking greenhouse gases, respectively.

At the same time, many projects have been put on hold due to COVID-19. One of these projects is the development of a bike-share program to bridge the one mile distance between the SMART train station on East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park SOMO Village, and SSU’s campus. While students are away from campus during COVID-19, the project is on hold.

Another project on hold is a survey which aims to quantify the commuting footprint of SSU faculty, staff, and students to use in a sustainability assessment. The project will move forward as a survey added onto the parking permit purchase process when campus reopens.

SSU is also striving for sustainability when it comes to student life. Associated Student Productions, also known as ASP, is planning an Earth Day event to get students involved in sustainability.

Tim Wilbur, the SSU student planning this event said, “The event I am planning is a Q&A with Isaias Hernandez [@queerbrownvegan] who is an environmental educator who uses social media platforms like Instagram and Tik Tok to inform and educate on environmental issues.”

The event will take place on Earth Day, April 22.

Wilbur described the event, saying, “...it’s really just an event to talk about the environment and how we educate ourselves in a time of social distancing and social media. It’s half a moderated Q&A with prepared questions and then half questions from the audience.

We’ll also be doing some giveaways of sustainable products that he recommends.”

Associated Students also plans to have members from the SSU Sustainability Coalition attend the event to discuss SSU’s commitment to sustainability. Associated Students also wants to encourage students to pitch their own ideas for Earth Week events.

6 Arts

MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2021

sonomastatestar.com

Santa Rosa’s parking garage is getting a makeover SONDRA OTTENSTEIN STAFF WRITER

T

he city of Santa Rosa is on the hunt for local North Bay artists to submit their ideas to fill the space on the downtown facing Fifth Street parking garage. The makeover of this space adds to the many murals and art installations seen across Sonoma County and hopes to draw more people to the area.

The Art in Public Places Committee (APPC) helps advise the City Council on public art matters, as well the APPC oversees matters relating to the Public Arts Program. They are the ones responsible for many of the public artwork that can be seen while driving around Santa Rosa such as the Fish Mosaic sculpture in Prince Gateway Park, and the Maple Avenue mural that spans over 600 feet in the Luther Burbank neighborhood.

The project proposal for the Fifth Street parking garage was, “Actually approved a few years ago but was delayed due to fires and the pandemic,” stated APPC Arts Coordinator Tara Thompson. The artwork for the Garage was put on hold for some time but the city of Santa Rosa is ready to get it started by approving the search for artists earlier this month.

The Fifth Street Parking Garage or “Garage 3” as it is often referred to was built in 1982 and contains five floors with a total of 708 vehicle spaces. The ‘canvas’ for this project is the downtown facing exterior wall which has an approximate dimension of 901 square feet.

The artwork for consideration is not limited to just painted murals, the city is encouraging all artists through different mediums to submit ideas. According to the city’s project plan, “2D materials,

such as painted murals or other flat applications are encouraged, however, 3D materials including light-based installations will be considered with proper engineering and mounting/installation.”

The City of Santa Rosa has secured funding through the city’s parking department and public art fund giving the project a total budget of $25,000. According to the city’s project description this project will help attract more people to the garage, “The goal of this completed project is to draw positive attention to and increase the visibility of the Fifth Street Garage.” and that, “The art will distinguish the garage from nearby structures and serve as a wayfinding element through identification and draw people to the site.”

Sonoma County residents enjoy the beauty that these public art works bring to the area. Katelyn Bowman a Sonoma State Junior and Santa Rosa resident said, “Looking at the murals around Sonoma County never gets old. It is amazing to see not only the creativity in others, but the passion they put into their work,” adding, “it is beyond impressive to see what people can do and I can’t wait to see more in the future.”

Artists who submit an application will hear from the selection panel in April and the finalists chosen by the panel will be given to the APPC in July. Santa Rosa is projecting the installation and completion of this project by Feb. 2022.

Artists can apply individually or as a team. The deadline for artists to submit their applications is March 15 at 5 p.m.

The City of Santa Rosa encourages all eligible artists to apply at the Santa Rosa City website.

STAR// Willy Lepori Santa Rosa is searching for artists to help install artwork on the Fifth Street parking garage.

Black History Month ends with a beautiful closing ceremony VINCENT SPENCE STAFF WRITER

O

n Thursday Feb. 25, the clos-

their different experiences and what

His speech centered around Black His-

continue to shed light and wisdom on

ing

for

Black History meant for them. The fi-

tory being all history, and it is more

new things. Dr. Sawyer’s speech was

Black History Month here at

nal Zoom conference call for the month

than just the month of February.

directly to African Americans when

Sonoma State University. It was tre-

taught viewers why Black History

“I am Black History, so when the

describing, “I am Black History”. He

mendously led by students and faculty

Month was in February. The speakers

month of February is over, you know

went into great detail about how he and

of the school, in specific Mendal Mur-

described the reasoning to pay hom-

I’m not. I am still here! I am going to

all people are a part of history and that

ray, William Haering, and Olivia Chil-

age to leaders like Frederick Douglass

keep making history, recording our

everyone should be proud of black his-

ton with the keynote speaker for the

and President Abraham Lincoln whose

stories, and changing our lives. When

tory. Dr. Sawyer illustrated that a per-

night being Dr. WM. Gregory Sawyer.

birthdays are both in February. Freder-

the month ends I ain’t going nowhere.

son should make a difference on this

Throughout the month African Ameri-

ick Douglass because he was one of the

No month defines me or limits me. A

earth and when he or she passes it shall

can organizations on campus have in-

many first African Americans to fight

month matters little in a history that

be known that the earth is now a better

vited all to join Zoom meetings to learn

the natural order of affairs and wrote

spans a thousand years” said Dr. Saw-

place because I was there.

more about the culture, hardships and

many antislavery pieces. And notewor-

yer.

ceremony

begun

The closing ceremony ended, however, Black History shall be celebrated

triumphs faced in the African Ameri-

thy Abraham Lincoln because he was

Dr. Sawyer went on to describe

can communities. Each week there was

the President who abolished slavery in

that just because the month is over,

in all months, not just the month of

a new event for students and communi-

the United States.

the communities around the world will

February.

ty members to attend centered around Black history and experiences.

Camille Johnson, a sophomore student-athlete at SSU gave an excep-

Lead speaker Mendall Murray, an

tional poem read during the ceremo-

academic advisor at Sonoma State

ny. Many students including Johnson

opened the ceremony by saying, “I

gave a small sample of their story in

just want to say, all these are just high-

a question-and-answer type interview

lights. A lot was packed into this month

on the Sonoma State University’s Ins-

that is not shown. But through it all,

tagram page on the “I Am Black His-

we’ve learned that we’ve cried togeth-

tory Month” saying, “Black History

er, smiled and laughed together. But

Month is important to me because we

despite the negative feelings that rac-

celebrate and recognize all the ups and

ism and discrimination may want us to

downs black people live through.”

feel, we have proven that the best way to combat hate is with love.”

After the main speakers presented, the students and faculty gave their

The ceremony went on to have

pieces, the keynote speaker, Dr. Saw-

many beautiful poems by students

yer gave a magnificent speech about

and faculty members who spoke about

what it means to be black in America.

STAR// Pamela Meyers Mendel Murray, a Professional Academic Advisor at Sonoma State, highlighted the achievements of the Black community during the 2021 Black History Month closing.

Entertainment 7

MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

‘Alphabet Rockers’ groove at the GMC

STAR// Willy Lepori Tommy Soulati and Kaitlin McGaw of the ‘Alphabet Rockers’ shared their thoughts with the GMC Executive Director Jacob Yarrow on Feb. 27.

KC HOLTEMANN

F

STAFF WRITER

amily Week is a yearly event hosted by Sonoma

world anymore. They have built a reputation for cele-

The lyrics state that girls deserve to be celebrated and

State University in hopes to connect Seawolves

brating all walks of life and not degrading anybody and

shown in the media as the strong and powerful people

and their families with the SSU campus. The

are proudly embrace Black liberation, Queer liberation,

they are.

celebration this year includes hearing from some of

Indigenous rights, immigrant rights, and intersectional-

Another song that was played during the event was,

the school’s administration and officials, indulging in

ity. SSU Sophomore, Rob Nagle stated, “I’ve heard of

‘Stand Up for You’ which is all about having each oth-

school traditions and showing families where the stu-

them before and they do great work. What they do for

er’s back and no matter the circumstance. The message

dents home away from home is. With this year’s events

kids and people who don’t have a voice Is inspiring.”

in this song is that standing up for one another is a good

being all virtual, SSU has put on several zoom-based

The event was hosted by Green Music center Ex-

thing to do and helps others become a better person

ecutive Director, Jacob Yarrow while McGaw and

as well. To SSU Junior, Jett Guretin, the catchy tune,

One event in particular that stood out and turned

Shepherd were guest speaking. The three dove deep into

“Resonated a lot with me. Standing up for others and

out to be a student favorite was the Alphabet Rockers,

what really, Alphabet Rockers truly means. The group’s

having your friends back no matter what is something

who are a hip-hop dance group that advocate for equal-

core mission is to advocate for the youth while giving

that I think very highly of and think it’s an important

ity and ending racism and hate. Founders Kaitlyn Mc-

them important life lessons to carry on throughout their

lesson to be taught.

Gaw and Tommy Shepherd, created the group in effort

adulthood. They displayed this in the event by showing

The whole event was filled with positive and inspir-

to create brave spaces to shape a more equitable world

many hit songs that talked about ending hate and loving

ing lessons that help adults and children really recog-

through hip hop. They have two GRAMMY nominated

each other no matter how anyone looks. The conversa-

nize that it takes every single person to help eliminate

albums that they are accompanied by kids who sing

tion was an engaging workshop that included dancing,

racism and hate in this world. With helping the com-

on the album as well. The group focuses on empow-

singing, and spreading positive messages to all.

munity and the future, Alphabet Rockers aim to spread

events for everyone to enjoy.

ering children and letting them know that their voice

One of the songs that was performed in the event

positivity by light of hip hop and music. For any more

is heard and being listened to. As the next generation

was, ‘My Light’ sung by the Alphabet Rockers. This

questions regarding the band and when they next will

grows into tomorrow’s leaders it is important to teach

hit single was all about showing children, in particular

appear in Sonoma County, check their ‘Alphabet Rock-

them that there is no place for racism and hate in this

girls, that they are the ones in power in their own life.

ers’ website online for more information.

Sonoma Film Institute starts Spring season EMILY ALVARADO

T

STAFF WRITER

he Sonoma Film Institute (SFI) has been around

perception of race and gender. Both films are directed by

since 1973, which makes it the oldest film reper-

Shatara Michelle Ford and Shalini Kantayya, both wom-

The next film screening will be “Coded Bias” which

tory in the North Bay. The Institute is located on

en of color, and were made by people of color and women

will be screened Fri. Mar. 19 through Sun. Mar. 21. The

in science.

documentary, directed by Shalini Kantayya, follows the

the Sonoma State University campus and works closely with the Arts and Humanities Department to coordinate events with the SSU curriculum.

For students interested in watching any of the films on the SFI film schedule, contact Eleanor Nichols directly

moving drama and thriller.

research of Joy Buolamwini and her discovery that artificial intelligence has a racial bias.

The Institute’s purpose is to educate and expand the

a day before the screening, her information can be found

The Sonoma Film Institute is an important and valu-

cultural horizons of the campus and community. Eleanor

on the SSU website on the SFI page. The films are also

able asset to the community and has shared a diverse

Nichols, the director of SFI, said, “I try to show as broad

available to the public, rental information is available on

catalog of films with the public since 1973. The Institute

a range of films as possible, ranging from silent cinema

the SFI webpage.

relies on support and donations from the community to

to the avant-garde, from contemporary American fare to

“Test Pattern,” the next film on the SFI schedule, was

continue screening unique films. If you are interested in

released in 2019. This is the first feature film by writer

making a donation, check out the Sonoma Film Institute

This semester, SFI is showing seven films, all free to

and director Shatara Michelle Ford. The film has been

webpage on the SSU website.

students. The semester kicked off with “Citizens of the

recognized with awards from Blackstar Film Festival,

World,” released in 2019, and “My Little Sister” released

deadCenter Film Festival and New Orleans Film Festival.

in 2020. Up next is “Test Pattern,” released in 2019, show-

In 82 minutes, Ford tells the story of Renesha, a

ing from Fri. Mar. 5 through Sun. Mar. 7 and “Coded

Black woman who is reeling from a sexual assault, be-

Bias” (2020) from the weekend of Mar. 19 through Mar.

ing dragged around the city by her white boyfriend in

21.

search of a rape kit. The races of Renesha and her boy-

films from the Third World.”

Nichols said that she chose “Test Pattern” and “Cod-

friend, Evan, are important to note, as Ford examines the

ed Bias” specifically for Women’s History Month. “Test

couple’s relationship and the broader issues of race and

Pattern” is about a Black woman seeking medical atten-

gender in medicine. With intimate shots of a happy rela-

tion for a sexual assault. “Coded Bias,” is a documentary

tionship, tiny details to illustrate the passage of time and

examining the errors in facial recognition technologies’

subtle music to set the viewer on edge, “Test Pattern” is a

COURTESY// Sonoma State The Sonoma Film Institute will be hosting seven films for free during the Spring semester.

8 Student Life Family Weekend makes a return to SSU

MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2021

sonomastatestar.com

CASEY FABBRI

STAFF WRITER

E

ven in a virtual world, some Sonoma State traditions remain as strong as ever. This past weekend, students invited their parents, siblings, and grandparents to Family Weekend. Family Weekend was full of fun events for all age groups and family dynamics, and welcomed students’ families to Sonoma State’s sense of community.

Orientation and New Programs Coordinator Colleen Mahoney stated, “Family Weekend is a reminder that we see the whole SSU family unit, and that includes guardians, grandparents, siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, anyone a student counts on. We hope that we give them a few moments of fun, silliSTAR // Andrew Savedra ness, and laughter, and hopefully a few memories to One of the many Family Night Weekend events was a ‘Wonder Woman’ showing at Drive-In Movie Night. include about time at SSU.” With a variety of engaging events over Zoom that SSU’s departments are becoming well-versed in. tories, blends, and pairings. After graduating from and YouTube, families were able to spend quality The difference in platform for Family Weekend this Sonoma State with a Bachelor’s in Business Adtime with one another. The chosen activities are year proved to be much different in forming con- ministration, and a Concentration in Wine Business special for different age groups and interests. A few nections with the families who, before the pandemic, Strategies, Osburg-Head was able to relate to faminoteworthy events are a Seawolf Scavenger Hunt, would be walking through Seawolf Plaza. lies who visited his event and was reminded of the Noma Nation Bingo, a Cyber Sorcery magic show, “It may be more challenging to do this with fam- close-knit company of his alma mater. and a wine workshop. ilies and/or students when we are not right in front After 11 years in the wine industry, OsburgWhen developing the list of events for Family of each other, but we are still sharing an experience,” Head was able to give insight and educate attendees Weekend, Director of Students Involvement Mo stated Phillips in regards to the switch to virtual with his expertise. “I hope SSU families are able to Phillips stated, “I chose events with two things in events. “We are promoting Sonoma, showing that we learn a little more about the specific varietals Charmind. One, for families, but also for students who care enough about them to show up even if it’s just donnay and Pinot Noir, and possibly understand the may not have the traditional family, or for those that on screen. whole “grape-to-glass” philosophy and all the variare here and maybe their family is at home, wherever Although Zoom lent a helping hand to the orga- ous steps involved,” Osburg-Head stated. that is.” nizers of Family Weekend to connect families with “Sip. Swirl. Learn!” was a highlight of the weekAlong with the “active” events that took place, faculty, Sonoma State’s sense of community was end, along with many other events that brought loved there were also “passive” events that families could clearly displayed. ones together. Sonoma State continues to outreach to do whenever they pleased. Some examples of pas“Family Weekend encompasses the community students, families, and the community even in this sive events were baking, arts and crafts, and draw- that surrounds the student, for it takes a village for virtual world. Family Weekend was one example of ing. These opportunities gave families f lexibility one to thrive and succeed in college,” stated SSU many that showcased the care and consideration that throughout the weekend and gave them a chance to alumni, Tyler Osburg-Head. “This also helps the staff and faculty show during these unprecedented step back from the screen. family understand what the student will be experi- times.

“We didn’t want to overwhelm everyone with encing in an educational setting as well as being fun “We are all in this virtual world together, and if choices or have those choices mean that participation and engaging with diverse parts of the community.” we can share laughs with people across a Zoom at other activities wasn’t possible,” Mahoney stated.

Tyler Osburg-Head hosted the event titled “Sip. screen, imagine how amazing it will be when we can “We had to pair it down to what we hoped would be Swirl. Learn!” during Family Weekend. It is only fit- return to campus and hear the laughter up close,” interesting to the widest variety of age groups and ting to have an event solely dedicated to the drink of Mahoney stated. “We are anxiously waiting for stuinterests. choice for Sonoma County; “Sip. Swirl. Learn!” is dents to be able to return to campus to be a part of Planning events in a virtual setting is something meant to educate families on different wines’ his- the “in person” community we love so much.”

Leadership in a virtual world D MORGAN MITCHELL STAFF WRITER

r. Joshua Fredenburg, an internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, is traveling the country to present work-

shops while facilitating and training students to reach

their fullest potential as a leader.

This week, Fredenburg hosted a seminar called “Leading In A Virtual Environment.” During this hour and a half presentation, he recalled how almost a year ago in Mar. 2020 he was about to board a plane to speak at a college when he got the call that his seminar was canceled due to the coronavirus.

In the following days, he found that his entire spring calendar was canceled and his entire career was put on pause.

He, like all of us, went home and relaxed on the couch for days, weeks, and months to come. Fredenburg then recalled that Martin Luther King Jr. once said that, “the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” From this quote, he was able to craft a new way of public speaking by embracing the “virtual adversity” and picked up on speaking via Zoom.

COURTESY // Facebook Dr. Joshua Fredenburg spoke with Sonoma State students via Zoom to show how leading in a virtual environment can be efficient. inspire them to embrace the new virtual world that we have been living in.

To thrive and succeed with being a leader, you need to get

To be a better virtual leader the first step is to identify the existing and likely problems you

acclimated to doing things virtually. The differences between

may face. To combat these problems, you must create a set of solutions to overcome these chal-

virtual and in-person leadership is that the communication

lenges and help keep your team accountable to implement them. Fredenburg went on to note that,

and organization of leading look different because of the new

“to be able to thrive as a virtual leader you must evaluate your entire personal and leadership

integration of technology.

rhythm, innovate and create new rhythms that work for you, and consistently modify, assess and

Many companies have adopted the “work-from-home

improve yourself and your techniques.”

model”, and have embraced it so much that they are offer-

The keynote speaker then goes on to ask whether we see ourselves as an adaptable or agile

ing it as a future alternative post-pandemic. Jack Dorsey, the

leader, giving the following example of what a combination of both are. An adaptable or agile

co-founder and CEO, of Twitter talks about ”remote working

leader is someone who is “not only innovative, solution-focused, and socially aware, but also

becoming a real option for businesses moving forward,” fur-

someone who has an ability to modify or change their methods, behaviors, style, or communica-

thering Fredenburg’s emphasis on becoming well-versed in

tion to produce positive results.”

virtual leading.

“Remote managers need to consider things like imposter syndrome, communicating intentionally with their remote

Many leaders are set in their ways, which doesn’t give them a chance to learn something from their team, which is why being an adaptable and agile leader creates new possibilities and potential for growth.

teams, finding ways to talk about their productivity and com-

Directly following this segment of the seminar, a quote from Charles Darwin pops up on the

municating in writing rather than face-to-face chats” says

screen. It reads, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It

Becca Van Nederyan, a help scout that Fredenburg references

is the one that is most adaptable to change.” The best leaders that are going to come out of this

during the presentation. Fredenburg goes on to list interesting

pandemic are the ones that embraced the changing times and are able to come out much stronger.

statistics about working in teams. According to Fredenburg,

As the seminar came to a close, Fredenburg put a lot of emphasis on making sure that you are

46% of people working in teams feel isolated from their team,

taking care of yourself. Being an all-encompassing leader does not mean you have to burn your-

while 30% said it is challenging to collaborate with them. Ad-

self out, as you can’t pour from an empty cup.

ditionally, 39% of workers did report feeling a “greater sense

Throughout the seminar, Fredenburg kept the audience engaged, even on Zoom. He was able

of belonging” when they were checked-in on personally, which

to do this by running polls, playing Kahoot, as well as Wheel of Fortune Live. Fredenburg was

led them to be more likely to reach their potential.

able to lead the presentation, while also keeping the audience engaged, displaying great qualities

Through Fredenburg’s experience this past year, he has been able to reach students all over the country virtually and

of a virtual leader. If you would like to find out more about leading virtually, visit his website at www.visionxy.com.

Student Life 9

MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Advisors release updates on club sports BRYCE GALLAGHER

STAFF WRITER

W

hen the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S., the entire sports world went silent. No games, no practices, not even team conditioning was allowed in person, leaving everything on hold for multiple months. Now, nearly a year into the pandemic, sports and other outdoor activities are finally beginning to start up again with all the necessary safety precautions being put in place.

Unfortunately for students participating in the 17 club sports on campus, they’re going to have to wait a bit longer to pick up where they left off, as talks are still happening about how to move forward.

“It doesn’t seem like with everything going on that we’re going to have any sort of season as far as this school year which is really sad for students, especially our graduating seniors who missed their senior season,” said Sport Club Advisor, Michael Dominguez.

“We’re trying to do whatever we can to get them something for at least a little bit of the school year.”

Dominguez went on to explain that he’s consistently communicating with the athletics department on campus, as well as sport club advisors from other campuses all over California, to make sure that resuming team

and club sports will be done safely and efficiently.

“Right now, there’s not a single school that I know of that’s practicing on campus because of COVID rules, but some people are getting close and some schools right now are allowing conditioning with up to 10 people in an outdoor space and other precautions,” Dominguez said. “So it seems like, as we get into the red tier, that will be the next step.”

A lot of the main struggles these clubs are facing aren’t from the logistics of resuming, but holding on to the team chemistry that was built before the pandemic.

“We can’t practice, or have games, STAR // Isabelle Barkey so we are trying to meet on Zoom evWhile wearing masks and social distancing, the Sonoma State Softball team continues to ery other week to stay connected as a practice on campus. team,” said Captain and President since we’re losing a good chunk of our roster due to of the Women’s Club Soccer team, athletes stay involved.

“My greatest fear is that we drop students. having a lot of graduating players,” Patefield said.

Mackenzie Patefield. “Team cohesion is a huge factor that determines That those who haven’t thrived in this atmosphere “If you want to join club soccer, please find our if we have a good season or not, so aren’t going to come back,” Dominguez said. Engage page, or feel free to email me patefiel@soI am trying to make sure the girls “We’re trying to reach out and do all that we can to noma.edu and we can get you hooked up.”

Dominguez also emphasized this fact, and stay as connected as possible so keep them engaged and a part of the team so that when we can get back on the pitch, when we can come back, they can get back to do- added that one of the most common regrets they hear from club athletes is that they didn’t join ing what they love.” it will feel as if we never left.”

While the season may be on hold, all 17 sport sooner.

This feeling of separation is “The hardest part is taking that first step and happening in all aspects of life, clubs are accepting new members for the upcomnot just on the field, and the team ing school year, where hopefully, they will be al- sending that email or reaching out to that club president,” Dominguez said. “We’re always looking for presidents and advisors are doing lowed to compete again.

“We always need new players, especially more students, especially now more than ever. the best they can to make sure their

Geology professor hosts rockin’ event QUINN MCKIBBIN

STAFF WRITER

I

f you are interested in geology and different types of rocks, Professor and Geology Department head Nicole Myers will be hosting monthly online Zoom lectures. These lectures, titled ‘Dig Into Nature: The Rock Beneath Your Feet’, will focus on rock formations and geology.

Myers has had a passion for rocks and volcanoes since childhood, and since then, she has been pursuing her passion.

Myers tells her zoom audience, “I grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado where I learned to love nature at an early age. I began my first rock collection when I was 5 years old, and decided I was going to be a Geologist. My family moved to Santa Rosa, and after my first visit to Lassen Volcanic National Park at age 10, I decided I was going to be a Volcanologist. I pursued my passion in college, where I learned that I love teaching. For the past 12 years I have taught geology, paleontology, meteorology, climatology, oceanography and more.” She’s been a professor in the Geology Department at SSU since 2007, and also teaches the inMotion program in the Rec Center.

This lecture series will feature monthly Zoom meetings where you will explore the rock cycle and how they

adapt and change over time. Myers says that she , “will be focusing on the information and data collection that goes into the creation of geologic maps, and how scientists and citizens can use geologic maps to identify geologic patterns in the Earth’s crust” and goes on to state more of what will be available for students to learn through these meetings. The Rock Cycle will be taught and shown as a tool to help participants understand why and how the rock cycle works. Keeping it local, these zoom meetings will revolve around the rocks and geology that make up Western California. You’ll learn about the unique changing life cycle of different types of rocks, as well as their distinct characteristics. Attendees of the Dig Into Nature series will be encouraged to explore and download the innovative app, Rockd.org, and see how rocks are formed beneath your feet and how they continue to change and evolve.

There will be monthly online meetings on Zoom where students and participants will learn as much as they would like about geology. Students are encouraged to sign up and join the monthly meetings even if you have no previous experience or knowledge on the subject.

According to Seawolf Living, “This event

COURTESY // GidonPico Geology Department head Nicole Myers takes students on an adventure, teaching them about rock formations and other aspects of geology. is recommended for ages 16 and up. During the event, we will take time to go out into our own “local nature” areas such as the surrounding areas of your own home to look for rocks. Zoom meeting details will be sent to you upon registration.

Many different types of rocks and rock formations surround us, and make up the ground that we walk on today.

Rocks are constantly being used to develop new technologies that are used daily, and you’d be surprised by how often they are used each day.

Learning about rocks is an important step in learning more about the earth and the materials it has to offer. When asked about why students should be in-

terested in the program, Meyers says that “everyone relies on the materials that we acquire from our own environment, from the minerals that make up the walls of our homes to the rocks that form our roads and sidewalks. The ingredients that are necessary for technology come from the planetary surface, and they provide a window into the past to help us predict the evolution of our future, helping us to sustain the environment and human civilization.” This type of information is important for the next generation, because it allows us to do our part to keep our planet healthy. Registration for the online Dig Into Nature zoom series is available at seawolfliving.com.

Student Involvement builds connections

SAMANTHA PEZZOLA STAFF WRITER

T

hroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been quite a challenge for students to become more involved with SSU, but that doesn’t stop them from being able to join clubs and organizations virtually. Student Involvement is a great option for SSU students looking to participate and be active with organizations involved with the Seawolf community. This is also a unique way for students to build friendships, network with their peers, and become more active with their college.

While students have the benefit of virtual clubs and organizations, this is something students can add to their resumes to show affiliations with SSU, outside of working on campus or taking classes. This community can provide opportunities to connect with peers that share the same interest as you, and if you have a hobby that you are passionate about, our organizations and clubs can foster this passion. They can also provide opportunities to build important leadership skills, such as being presidents of clubs or Greek organizations through the school. Any of these options could help to create knowledge and skills to help students along the way.

Mo Phillips, Director of Student Involvement says, “This is an opportunity to make your col-

lege experience exciting and challenge yourself by getting together with student clubs and organizations on campus.”

With over 120 organizations established, there is definitely an outlet to build upon your passions for leadership and personal interest Leo Serrato, Fraternity and Sorority Activities Officer, explains the benefits one can find taking part in SI, “When moving to college, students enter into a new world, one in which they probably don’t know many people (if any), and no one knows them. Sure, they make friends in class and during orientation but getting involved on campus is also a great way to help remedy that. At Sonoma State, we offer a wide range of organizations from students to get involved in from social clubs, sports, performance, multicultural, academic, faith base, fraternities and sororities, and even volunteer opportunities.

Benefits from getting involved on campus go far beyond making friends, though it is excellent for that as well. It is also a great way to expand your interests and learn about new things, and hone skills that future employers could value from learning leadership skills. It also serves as a great way to create network opportunities, and it has been proven that involvement improves student success during their time at college. Of all these benefits, the most important one is that it is a way for students to connect to their new

environment and create that feeling of being a part of the campus community.” .Former Panhellenic Recruitment Counselor and SSU student Molly Armstrong recalls her positive experiences with clubs on campus, stating that, “ Being involved at Sonoma State has given me opportunities that I never would have expected, and it has helped me grow as a student, leader, and an individual. I have had many opportunities in clubs and organizations such as Panhellenic and women’s club volleyball that have brought me new friends and constant activities to participate in.”

Amidst this pandemic and the lack of in-person interaction, Student Involvement encourages all students to use Engage through their MySSU account.

Engage is a platform where you can connect with students at Sonoma State, sign up for clubs and organizations, and much more! This online site can register you for any club or organization to confirm your spot in that certain atmosphere. If you can’t find a club that suits your interest, you can always start your own club. In order to form a club/organization, you must have five registered members, and adhere to the CSU System student office requirements to register successfully. Students interested in getting involved can reach out to student assistants hosting virtual office hours can be found at http://getinvolved.sonoma.edu/ engagessu.

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COURTESY// PIRO4D Amidst news of different variants of COVID-19 popping up around the world, scientists discovered that California now has its own variant of the virus, as well.

New variant of COVID-19 discovered in California S MATTHEW SMITH STAFF WRITER

tarting in early Sept. Scientists discovered a new variant of Covid-19 in California that showed signs of being deadlier and more infectious than other variants of the virus.

Scientists first became aware of this new variant in the winter when the cases in California were spiking to all time highs. However, after research it is believed to have first been detected in September. Although the research and findings on this new variant are in the early stages, the findings are causing some scientists to be concerned.

A study conducted by MedRXiv found signs that the new variant could be more contagious, although it is important to note that this study has not yet been peer reviewed. The study said, “...detection of the variant increased at a logistic rate similar to those observed elsewhere, with a doubling rate of a little over a week and an increased transmission rate of 35-45%.”

People often get confused when percentages get used to describe the rates of transmission for all of the different variants. Sonoma State Virology Professor Joseph Lin was able to provide some explanation on what an increased transmission rate of 45% really means. “The percentages mean that in a normal situation, if 100 people were infected, the new variant would result in 145 people (45% more).”

He also explained it in relation to another study claiming this variant had a 24% increase in mortality rate. “Same goes for 24%,” He said. “124 instead of normally 100 people die. It does not mean that 24% that get infected will die.”

An article by Sciencemag.org went into further detail on just how exactly the new variant is thought to be more effective at infecting people.

“One of those mutations, dubbed L452R, is thought to stabilize the interaction between the spike protein and the receptor it uses to attach to and invade human cells, increasing infectivity,” they said, “None of those three spike mutations is found in the three other variants of concern, which emerged in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil.”

Professor Lin also weighed in on the new variant, and gave some context on how all of these different variants come to be and why they happen.

“Variants form when viruses make mistakes (mutations) replicating their genomes as they reproduce,” he said, “If the mistakes are beneficial and provide an advantage for the virus, it can ultimately become a new variant.”

Although the new variant has shown cause for concern, the research on it is still in the early stages. The good news is that the vaccine is still anticipated to have a positive effect on this strain. While other variants have proven to be more resistant to the vaccine, this variant does not seem to be as resistant as some of the other ones. This variant is reportedly less resistant than the South African variant according to Livescience.com. They went on to say that the South African variant produced six times lower levels of antibodies compared to other strains while the California variant only produced two times lower levels.

The California variant is another new mutation of this virus and should always be taken seriously. That being said, the research is in the very early stages and more studies will be conducted in the future to obtain more accurate details of what this variant is really all about. To better protect yourself and others, the CDC recommends wearing a cloth mask on top of a surgical mask.

Johnson & Johnson vaccine approved by FDA for emergency distribution

SUMIKO FONG

STAFF WRITER

I

n addition to the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, a third singledose vaccine has now been approved by the FDA. Johnson & Johnson, the corporation that is best known for creating Tylenol, has produced a vaccine with new advantages.

According to The Mercury News, a review by the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Advisory Committee for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was conducted on Friday February, 26th 2021 and it was authorized on Saturday February 27th, 2021, therefore, Johnson & Johnson can start immediate shipping.

With the Johnson & Johnson vaccine getting authorized, many are optimistic about the future in this pandemic. Including, Sonoma State University Biology Student, Danika Cristobal. “I think the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a great advancement in the efforts of getting more Americans vaccinated. As a well known company like Johnson & Johnson, it can be more persuading for families because the company is portrayed as the trusted family brand,” Cristobal said.

Even though this vaccine is not as effective as the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, it isn’t as difficult to store and it isn’t as hard to ship out. It is also effective after only one shot instead of two. This is a big advantage considering how many people need to be vaccinated.

Dr. Warner Greene, a professor of medicine at UCSF, spoke with The Mercury News and stated, “It’s not the world’s best at preventing you from becoming infected or developing minor respiratory symptoms, But this vaccine protects you from severe disease — having to go to the hospital and dying. And frankly, that’s what we want from a vaccine. That is fantastic.”

In The Mercury News, experts state that in terms of effectiveness, this new vaccine is doing fairly well in the United

COURTESY// Instagram A new single-dose COVID-19 vaccine created by Johnson and Johnson was approved on Saturday and will promptly begin distribution in the United States.

States. “The Johnson & Johnson vaccine provided complete protection against death from COVID-19 28 days after vaccination,” say experts.

According to the New York Times, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine utilizes a virus called adenovirus that is harmless to the human body and immune system. Adenovirus carries a genetic code, in comparison to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines that use messenger RNA that works by giving a portion of the genetic code to cells.

The New York Times states that all of the vaccines are similar in terms of the way that they use this genetic code to make a protein, also called a spike. The spike causes the body to create antibodies because the immune system will see the spike as a contaminant. Therefore, later if the body comes in contact with a COVID-19 pathogen, the body is able to respond quickly to prevent disease.

When it comes to side effects, the trials in the United States

show that they don’t seem to be as bad as the side effects that come with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The Mercury News states, “All three vaccines have modest side effects, such as pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle pain and joint pain. Significantly, because no one suffered a severe allergic reaction, also known as anaphylaxis, which is seen in Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, people who get the J&J vaccine might not have to be monitored for 15 minutes after injection.”

The FDA review states that this vaccine is proven to be effective throughout demographic groups. According to The Wall Street Journal, the panel for the review was made up of 22 specialists in the medical field, ranging from internal medicine to pediatrics. The all-day meeting consisted of “representatives from the FDA and J&J discussing the safety and effectiveness of the company’s vaccine in a 44,000-plus subject study, according to an agenda, as well as how effective the J&J vaccine is in preventing new cases caused by variants,” The Wall Street Journal states.

MARCH 2 - MARCH 8, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Health and Wellness 11

Mental health organizations support students through pandemic

GABRIELLA HERMOGENO STAFF WRITER

W

hen Sonoma State University turned to remote learning at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals in the school’s community started to experience struggles with their mental health in response to the life-altering restrictions of virtual learning, lock-downs, social isolation, and so much more.

Therapists and counselors on campus are continuing to receive high volumes of requests from students in need, making it difficult to seek guidance on a regular basis. If students or faculty are unable to find mental health resources outside of campus, the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is still around to help, but there are other resources that offer similar mental health support programs.

The Jewish Community Free Clinic (JCFC) is a free clinic in Santa Rosa that works to provide quality care to everyone, especially the uninsured. Services consist of solution focused therapy and free counseling, and their free clinic supports everyone in the community.

Their healthcare policy states, “By acknowledging how our clients are affected by the social determinants of health they have often faced throughout their lives, our JCFC volunteers can help clients in so many profound ways.”

Similarly, the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) is a nationwide organization with 600 affiliates across the country and 60 in California who strive to educate, support and guide all individuals struggling with mental illnesses. Mary-Frances Walsh, executive director of NAMI Sonoma County, states, “There are a wide variety of reasons why people contact us and we handle it accordingly. We don’t provide clinical support, but we are here to help people understand, to educate them and to provide support.” Walsh also explains

that NAMI provides many different means of support, including housing, family support, support groups, practice sessions and educational programs.

They also encourage youth engagement in local communities, which is especially helpful to students who face challenges during the pandemic. Julia Barragan, youth mental health coordinator of NAMI and SSU alumni, states, “There is a lot of value in our peer programs and it’s a great way to support each other and share knowledge.” Barragan explains that all of NAMI’s services are free and they’ve recently built all of their programs to fit the needs of the community since the pandemic.

In the Bay Area, the Mental Health Association of San Francisco (MHASF) is now remotely supporting communities through their peer-run warm-line.

Over 90% of their staff is peer identified, and they proudly serve all of California as the largest 24/7 warm line in the nation. The MHASF advocates for peer support as a part of their recovery treatment and to treat mental health at the equal level of physical health. President and CEO Mark Salazar, says “All our work is peer informed so at every decision and level of the agency, there is advocating at making sure the work is peer informed to empathize and understand the people that we affect.” Their services consist of their warm line, peer programs, screening tools and peer support groups which are now accessible remotely and digitally.

Seeking help digitally and virtually has always been one of the more accessible options in the mental health realm and is needed now more than ever before. 7 Cups and Your Life Your Voice are organizations that created digital platforms for anyone to be in touch with a counselor or peer supporter through free 24/7 chats online, email, text and

COURTESY// Creative Commons For students struggling with their mental health during the pandemic, there are many different resources available in Sonoma County and beyond. calls. 7 cups aims to be inclusive to all communities and states on their website, “Community is at the heart of 7 Cups. You can find support and friendship in chat rooms and forums for many issues, like depression, anxiety, relationships, LGBTQ+ and more.”

Similarly, Your Life Your Voice offers a variety of communication tools such as call, text and email. Their website states their mission as, “Whether caring for a child in crisis, treating complex health care conditions or helping families find the parenting resources they need, {Your Life Your Voice} is here for you and your family with expert, compassionate care and a proven track record of helping children and families heal and grow in mind, body and spirit.”

For those in need of immediate help or those unable to access resources outside of campus, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is one of the main mental health resources, but the campus community also offers different options that can help students relieve stress and practice self care.

This semester, Dr. Andy Wallace, professor, chair of the philosophy department and a program coordinator/instructor for the School of Extended and International Education (SEIE), is presenting mindfulness and self care classes where anyone to practice mindfulness meditation. “My greatest advice to students who are dealing with stress and feeling a lack of motivation is to be kind to themselves. It is also important to reach out and connect with others in any way possible, even if it is virtual on Zoom,” Dr. Wallace stated. To learn more or to register into these upcoming classes, visit the SEIE’s webpage for more information (https://seie.sonoma. edu/mindfulness-and-self-care).

There are countless organizations, support groups, warm-lines and peer supporters throughout California and beyond that aim to provide means of care, treatment and support to those who may need it. Each of the resources mentioned in this article have thier respective websites accessible to anyone searching for more information.

Golf legend Tiger Woods’ career at stake after car crash injury NOAH PHILPOTT STAFF WRITER

G

olf legend and 15-time major champion Tiger Woods had gotten into a rollover car crash last Tuesday around 7:00 a.m. in Palos Verdes.

Woods’s future on the course is now uncertain due to a severe leg injury he obtained during the crash.

With an unfortunate turn of events, “The 45-year-old... in his SUV crossed a median and veered across two lanes of road before hitting a curb, hitting a tree and landing on its side in the brush,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said. Woods sustained severe injuries to his leg, but just mild enough that, “...surgeons likely believed would save his leg from amputation,” according to CNN. Woods had to be rushed into immediate leg surgery requiring a rod, screws, pins, and a surgical release of muscle shelter due to shattering his tibia and fibula in his lower right leg. “I do think the fact that he was wearing a seatbelt and that the vehicle safety features worked as designed by the manufacturer likely resulted in either reducing his injury or saving his life,” Deputy Carlos Gonzalez told CNN’s Chris Cuomo.

Though this is the most severe instance, this is not the first time Woods’ time on the golf course was threatened to be cut short.

The golfer just recently played in the PNC Championship tournament last Dec. alongside his son Charlie Woods, and was experiencing some nerve pain. He then underwent his fifth back surgery to repair a pressurized disc fragment on Dec. 23, 2020 and has been recovering ever since.

Even before the accident, the future of Woods’s athletic career hung in the balance with a long, uncertain road of recovery ahead of him.

Now, there is even more uncertainty surrounding the fate of Woods’ career. According to CNN, he was last seen conscious, responsive, and recovering in Harbor-UCLA Medical Center after telling officials that he had zero memory of the crash.

The question remains, will Woods be able to play golf again and be as dominant as he’s been in the past? Woods has had some major setbacks throughout his career ranging from previous car accidents, surgeries, a DUI ticket, a divorce, alcohol addiction, reckless driving, dependence on opioid painkillers, and more, but will this impediment stop the legend from getting back out on the course?

No is the last thing the professional wants to hear, and Woods has proved the public wrong in his past before by overcoming major obstacles.

“He has done it before,” competitor Rory Mcllroy said. Many have spoken to Woods about his fame, downfalls, upbringings, and success in his past, but he always responds with, “I don’t feel comfortable with it,” because he does not want others to be satisfied with his craft or simply being human.

Woods not only has some recovering to do, but some making up to do as well. The golfer is now clean and healthy, but will he ever be able to bring back his reputation as a good guy despite being a lethal weapon on the course?

“Ever since Tiger enlisted himself in the world of golf, he has brought an absurd amount of viewers from all around the world. Even

COURTESY/ Instagram Tiger Woods’ golf career hangs in the balance after a recent car accident left him with a severe leg injury.

though he doesn’t have the trophy from most major championships, many people see him as the greatest golfer of all time today, and he has always been a household name. Only time will tell if Tiger can bounce back to catch the great Jack Nicklaus,” senior at SSU Eliseo Fragoso said.

Just before the accident, Woods’s two-point biographical docuseries “Tiger” was released on HBO. It is based on the 2018 novel called, “Tiger Woods.” The docuseries illustrates the details of Woods’s relationship with his father and how he not only developed as an athlete, but as a man during his time in the limelight. It includes his rises, falls, and his return to the world of golf.

As Woods begins his long road to recovery, the future of his career continues to hang in the balance. With an athletic career under his belt that will leave behind an everlasting legacy, there’s no telling what will become of the golf legend after this tragic accident. Woods has made many comebacks in his days on the green, but will this uncertain road to recovery ahead lead him to hang up his golf clubs for good?

12 Photo

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Softball team continues practice despite restrictions

STAR // Isabelle Barkey Catcher for the Sonoma State Softball team practices with the pitchers while wearing a mask on campus.

STAR // Isabelle Barkey The Sonoma State Softball team running drills on March 1, 2021.

STAR // Isabelle Barkey Team members of the Sonoma State Softball team have been meeting to practice while wearing masks and social distancing.

Murals begin to decorate Fifth Street

STAR // Willy Lepori On Sebastopol Rd. in Santa Rosa, this mural was used as a template to show how Fifth Street will be decorated by North Bay artists, who are currently being hired.

STAR // Willy Lepori This mural in Downtown Santa Rosa by the Roxie movie theater is one of many murals that will decorate Fifth Street as North Bay artists are hired.

Internships still required at SSU during pandemic

STAR // Rachel Gonzalez Point West Flower Market offered an unpaid internship position for SSU students in 2019.

STAR // Rachel Gonzalez Previous internship provider, The Point West Wholesale Flower Market, is located in Rohnert Park.