IN THIS ISSUE
Compton Cafeteria Riot
Duo Push Mobile
The HUB educates on Trans History with ‘Screaming Queens’ screening. PAGE 5.
Students weigh in on new two-factor authentication app. Helpful or not? PAGE 3.
Lip Jam SSU’s highly antipated philanthropic event returns to campus. PAGE 6.
SINCE 1979
VOLUME 86 // ISSUE 8 APRIL 5. 2022 - APRIL 11, 2022
THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER
@SONOMASTATESTAR
COURTESY // CSUEU.org CSUEU partners with USAS in new campaign.
CSUEU shows support for student assistants COURTESY // calstate.edu Dr. Jolene Koester fills in as interim CSU Chancellor after Joseph I. Castro’s abrupt resignation in Feb.
STAFF WRITER
Interim Chancellor becomes second woman to hold the position JAKE MORRISSEY STAFF WRITER
D
RACHEL YETSO
r. Jolene Koester, the former president of CSU Northridge, has been named the interim replacement for the role of Chancellor of the California State University. Koester will become the second woman to ever hold the role of Chancellor and is the first woman in the last 30 years. This hiring came shortly after former chancellor Joseph I. Castro’s abrupt resignation from the position. This was due to public backlash from how he mishandled sexual misconduct allegations on one of his former top administrators. Following her hiring, Koester released the following statement which can be found across various news sources: “The CSU and its 23 campuses make a significant impact on California and the nation, and I am deeply humbled by the opportunity to serve as their interim chancellor. The commitment of our world-class faculty, staff, administrators, executives, and trustees deeply align with my values to provide life-changing educational opportunities for our students. I look forward to learning and providing my skills to guide the university during this transformational time in CSU history.” Koester will begin the job on May 1, and will not be a candidate for the permanent position of CSU
O
n Thurs., March 17, The California State University Employees Union (CSUEU) hosted a “Pizza for Parity” event at Sonoma State in the Seawolf Plaza. This event was mostly aimed towards Student Assistants, as they partnered with United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS), working on the Good Jobs for the Future campaign, a new campaign within the CSUEU. According to their website, the CSUEU is a “union representing the largest block of nonfaculty employees at the California State Universities.” CSUEU’s 16,000 members support academics and operations, working at 23 campuses as well as the Office of the Chancellor. It was created in 1982 as part of the California State Employees Association (CSEA), and is now an independent affiliate of the CSEA. The main purpose of the CSUEU is providing support to both employees and employers within the CSU system and fighting for fair pay grades. They base this off the ability of employees to continue working in the CSU system, and work their way up in the workplace. According to csu.org, “the union strongly believes that employee compensation
see CHANCELLOR pg. 4
see CSUEU on pg. 4
SSU spends $843,000 on new classroom furniture WILLOW ORNELLAS STAFF WRITER
S
onoma State University purchased 1391 new tables and chairs, along with 670 tablet-arm seats, to ensure uniformity and accessibility across 53 classrooms. These purchases were priced around $843,000, and were funded through Academic Affairs. This purchase was made to improve ergonomics and provide improved useability to students, faculty and staff. This new classroom furniture consists of tables, chairs, and tablet-arm seats that will ensure all of the university’s classrooms and academic spaces are uniform and standardized by the The General Purpose Classroom Refresh Initiative. “The General Purpose Classroom Refresh Initiative began in the Office of the Provost in 2018 with the recognition by faculty, staff, students, and administrators that many of our classrooms were in poor conditions and needed technology upgrades to ensure the highest quality teaching and learning possible,” according to the 2020 General Purpose Classroom Refresh Initiative. These classroom standards were proposed based on faculty feedback from a November 2018 survey. Commissioned by the Academic Technology and Instructional Spaces Subcommittee (ATISS) and regarding preferences for next generation classrooms at SSU, the survey had 158 responses from faculty (107 tenure-track, 51 lecturers) according to the 2020 Classroom Report. Following the survey, a proposal for new classroom standards was released including improved audio capabilities, classroom computers, lighting control, mobile furniture, janitorial services, as well as wifi capabilities. According to the Classroom Report, it was decided that General Purpose Classrooms should maximize six guiding principles: flexibility of space, ease of movement and flow, accessibility, organization, climate control, and safety. Provost Lisa Vollendorf committed $3 million dollars to be invested in collaboration with The General Purpose Classroom Resee NEW FURNITURE on pg. 4
COURTESY // Northwest Indian College on Facebook Students at Northwest Indian College express their pride for Indigenous culture through their graduation caps.
New Native American/Indigenous cultural commencement ceremony
NOAH CLARKE STAFF WRITER
S
onoma State’s upcoming spring graduation will feature its first recognized Native American/Indigenous (NAI) Cultural celebration. Following some consideration from the NAI association and Sonoma State’s community, the university decided to implement this distinguished event to graduations in the future. The first annual Native American/Indigenous Graduation Ceremony will be hosted just a couple days prior to the university commencement ceremonies. The time and date for the ceremony is still to be determined, however the celebration is planned to take place in the ballrooms of the Sonoma State Student Center. On top of the university graduation, this gives graduating students part of the see NEW CULTURAL CEREMONYon pg. 4
2 Editorial THE STAR Editorial Board Myles Grabau, Editor-in-Chief Maych Rowell, News Editor Emily Cripe, Opinion Editor Cléa Upcher, Arts & Entertainment Editor Isabel Epstein, Student Life Editor Nicholas Roth, Sports & Health Editor Dana Scacco, Photo Editor Corinne Asturias, Faculty Advisor
APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2021
sonomastatestar.com
Journalists struggle with lack of progress around sex and gender discrimination
Staff Writers Willow Ornellas, Addison Smith, Ana Fingerson, Payton Mullaney, Rosalee Padilla, Jacqueline Garcia, Javier Hernandez, Rachel Yetso, Jake Morrissey, Olivia Doane, Danny Serrano, Mikayla Fritzemeier, Noah Clarke, Montana Lahey
Photographers Khanh Dao, Tanner Ivey, Holly Durfee
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:
“Government age caps: Capitol Hill needs a facelift” Read the article on page 3.
Have an opinion? We’d like to hear from you! The STAR welcomes letter to the editor
Publication The STAR is published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters. Printing is done by Sonoma Media Group. The weekly publication of the STAR is made possible by Instructionally Related Activities Funding.
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.
A
s Women’s History Month and Transgender Week of Visibility have come to a close, it is important to shed light on the sex and gender discriminaton in the workplace. In specific, the discrimination and lack of representation that many journalists are faced with throughout their careers is currently at an all-time high. With five out of seven editors on the STAR editorial board identifying as women and an editor that identifies as non-binary, it can be easy to not see sex and gender discrimination as a problem within journalism. However, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, only 27 states have prohibited employment discrimination based on gender identity and 27 different states prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, as of July 2021. Despite 67.7% of those who hold a degree in journalism in the United States identifying as women, they comprise only one-third of the media industry and this number is lower for women of color and transgender women. USA Today is one news source that is making strides in diversifying their newsroom. In Sept. 2021, USA Today reported that women make up a majority of their newsroom, approximately 51.7%, and that people of color make up 34% of their newsroom. This survey, however, did not include data on queer and transgender people. Nicole Carroll, editor in chief of USA Today stated, “Our goal is to reflect the diversity of the U.S. by 2025, so while we’ve made progress, we still have work to do. To be able to fully and accurately report the stories of our country, we must reflect it [in the articles that we publish.]” Lack of representation is only the start of the barriers that many female-identifying journalists and reporters will experience. Women in journalism face obstacles such as trouble earning leadership positions, stalking and sexual harrassment. They also have to work twice as hard as their male counterparts to earn the respect of the people they interview by being cautious of their body language, tone of voice and the clothes that they wear in interviews and press conferences. Journalists for the STAR, past and present, have even reported experiences of being talked down to and not being taken seriously by sources or potential employers due to their gender identity. “The process of job searching is exhausting, especially when you’re a woman. I constantly feel like my resume isn’t taken as seriously as male candidates,” said Spring 2020 Editor in Chief and SSU alum Venus Chaffer. “Even having a feminine name makes me worry that I won’t be considered as highly when applying to journalism related jobs. I’m always told
COURTESY // Ellen Weinstein
that things are getting better and that sexism is lessening but it’s hard to see that when constant rejection and judgment continues because of my gender identity.” Not only do they face discrimination from their colleagues and in their workplace, many female-identifying journalists find themselves being a victim of gender based violence from men they are interviewing. In 2021, the Coalition for Women in Journalism reported 348 cases of threats and violence against female journalists globally in the first quarter of the year, a significant increase from the same time period last year. There is virtually no data to be found online regarding the percentages of queer journalists and their experiences in the field. Having openly gay journalists and reporters such as Anderson Cooper and Rachel Maddow on air may seem like a win to most, but when we take a moment to think about how far we have come within the gay rights movement, this sort of representation feels like it should have come to fruition a long time ago. High profile non-binary and transgender journalists, on the other hand, are few and far between. There is even less data reporting on the experiences of trans and non-binary journalists but there are a plethora of articles informing cis-gender journalists on how to appropriately report on queer and trans people. While this isn’t inherently bad, journalism by and for trans and non-binary folks play an important role in correcting the misinformation that contributes to the acts of violence against marginalized groups, as well as humanizing queer sources and their experiences. Trans journalists who do break into the industry face a number of challenges, such as frequent misunderstandings of trans issues from editors, being boxed in by reporting on trans or LGBTQ beats and challenges with going through legal name changes. In 2015, Meredith Talusan became BuzzFeeds first openly trans non-binary writer, but they were met with much hesitation as they knew of the hardships and barriers that would come with being out as trans in every context. They are also an award-winning journalist, writing for The Guardian, The New York Times, The Atlantic and many other news outlets. Talusan is additionally the founding executive editor of Them, an American online LGBT magazine. “The fact that [BuzzFeed] made a concrete effort to hire a trans person is also unprecedented for a media organization of its kind,” said Talusan in an interview with HuffPost. “I do believe that my position is a huge step in media, but it will be an even bigger step when it’s no longer remarkable that good people with minority backgrounds are in influential positions within media organizations.”
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
APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2022
sonomastatestar.com
Oscars slap conversations consume the internet
MIKAYLA FRITZEMEIER
O
STAFF WRITER
n March 27, Will Smith slapped Comedian Chris Rock across the face at the 94th annual Academy Awards, and the internet will not stop talking about it. Smith resorted to violence after Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith who suffers from Alopecia, being bald. On April 1, Smith announced his resignation from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences following the academy’s announcement that disciplinary proceedings were initiated. This means that Smith will no longer be able to vote on Oscar-nominated works, but his work can still be nominated for Oscars.
Jokes and memes about the slap heard around the world are still circulating social media platforms a week after the Oscars. Popular comedy show “Saturday Night Live” made many jokes about the situation on their April 2 show and had a whole skit making fun of the event. Unfortunately, Smith’s actions are getting a lot more attention than big Oscar wins this year. Sonoma State student Jessica Davis said, “I just feel bad that some historical winners of the night were overshadowed by what happened.” An example of historical Oscars moments snubbed by the slap heard round the world was Troy Kotsur becoming the first male deaf actor to win an Oscar for actor in a supporting role for “CODA,” and the film’s writer Siân Héder becoming the second woman to win best adapted screenplay. Smith went on to won best actor for his role in “King Richard” and gave a five and a half minute long speech, which is significantly longer than the usual allotted time. Oscar winners are given 45 seconds for their acceptance speech, and this rule is often slightly broken, but a speech lasting more than five minutes has not happened since 1942. A tweet from the Academy’s Twitter account reads, “The Academy does not condone violence of any form,” yet Smith seemed to be rewarded for his behavior. He was al-
lowed to stay for the rest of the show and received cheers and praise from some of the audience. The Academy has launched an investigation into the event and it will take many weeks before a decision is made. If Smith had not decided to resign from the Academy and this investigation got him expelled, he would have been the fifth person to be barred from the Academy. New information about the situation has been coming out slowly, and there is talk about Smith losing his award. Ryan Harris, a third year sociology major at SSU, believes that Smith should not have his Oscar revoked since he earned it, but said, “Security shouldn’t have let him just walk up on stage, since it wasn’t his turn to be up there in the first place.” Smith publicly apologized on Instagram the day after the show, stating, “Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.” Rock has not released any statements about the situation besides a comment he made at a stand up show saying he is still processing what happened. He has decided not to press charges.
why the book is being banned. If it’s disrespectful or doing harm to someone then it should be. Who is the author and what is the story line? I think of banned books as not being in the library because they represent a side of history that makes someone uncomfortable.” In the United States, book bannings are a topic that children first come across in elementary school. “There are some books that are obviously not suited for children at a young age, so it makes sense that those books are banned for them. However, I think once they reach an age where they’re able to comprehend the situation and or context of the books, then they should be able to read any books,” said an anonymous SSU student. Books are usually banned on the basis that they are taboo or inappropriate, and it’s important to recognize the difference between the two terms. According to merriamwebster.com, taboo is defined as: “Banned on grounds of morality and taste.” Considering something taboo is subjective and where one person might find it to be, another might not. . Grouping topics like sex, religion, and race into both innappropriate and taboo influences one to grow up believing they can’t talk about any of them. It may be inappropriate to talk about these topics in certain settings, but when it starts to become censorship of history and real things happening, a space for ignorance is created. Ashworth, a student teacher at a local elementary school, said, “A lot of the teachers here incorporate books that talk about learning disabilities. They’ve chosen to include these
books into their curriculum because this is reality for some of their students and students’ families. These kids are among other students with disabilities and diverse backgrounds which teachers feel should be taught through books and reading. It opens a space for conversation and acceptance of their peers,” she said. It’s important to ask why a book is being censored. In 2019, US citizens demanded removal of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter because of its depictions of magic, witchcraft, and actual curses and spells. Yes, the topic of magic is offensive to some, but on the other hand, Rowling’s books were also marked to be banned because of the author’s transphobic opinions. Looking from both perspectives and understanding offense from both sides, one can cause more harm than the other to a group of people. If writing, in any form, is educating, creating a fantasy or anything that is not degrading or oppressing a certain group of people, it shouldn’t be the choice of a higher official to make it inaccessible. “Fahrenheit 451”, written by Ray Bradbury, fictionalized banning and burning books. In the 1953 dystopian novel it was taught that in order to keep society happy and avoid conflict, people were not allowed to form opinions. Bradbury wrote the story in a way to prove the importance of knowledge and identity in society. Essentially, Bradbury’s work encapsulates this entire issue and all its follies: Without knowledge and identity, ignorance and censorship can distract from reality.
the question of “how old is too old” for politicians seeking public office is not asked enough.Younger Americans find it essential for an age limit to be imposed for elected officials running for office to encourage people to vote more and bring new ideas into Congress. “ When I vote, I expect candidates to represent my beliefs and follow through with what they promise. I don’t think anyone above the age of 70 will be able to do that,” said Esmeralda Moreno, second-year Women and Gender studies major. The relationship dynamic between U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 82, and the U.S. New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 32, is a prime example of why the inclusion of age limits would bring new ideas into Congress. Ocasio openly criticizes Pelosi as a gatekeeper of leadership positions for young people and demands that Congress should represent more of the younger voter population. “AOC is my personal hero. My admiration comes from her passion and drive. It’s refreshing she isn’t just another 50 or older dude,” said Julis Louis, a fourth-year Chicano and Latino studies major. There’s a need for fresh ideas to reach Congress every so often to ensure that we aren’t being blinded by comfort. Age limits would help to make that happen. Having young people like AOC with new ideas and preservatives helps prevent
the government structure from solely following a traditional course of action. In this period of political transition, the old ways of politics are fading in favor of the new ideas of the younger generation. Younger candidates on ballots encourage younger voters to vote, as it gives newly-minted adults someone to relate to and makes them feel seen. Introducing an age limit helps prevent candidates above 50 from becoming the norm. “It sounds a bit cliché, but every vote counts. If we don’t vote out the old people, we can’t make room for new leaders,” said Alex Ranalli, a third-year computer science major. A YouGov poll stated that more than half Americans support a maximum age limit for elected officials. The current average age of Congress members is 65. Implementing the poll data would result in 71% of U.S senators not being eligible to hold office. The same principle would apply to President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. The only two presidents who would have been eligible to be in office in the past 40 years had age limits existed would have been Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Whether a person is too old or too young to be an elected leader is up to the individual voter to decide and consider if age should determine one’s capacity and ability to lead as an elected official.
single login on your Sonoma State account. While that may not seem terrible, it is several unnecessary steps that are required every single time you log in, even if you’re already logged in on a different platform. The main complaint students had with Duo Push was the fact that you must verify yourself on the mobile app. Most websites these days that use two-factor authentication have ways that make it easier on the user to verify themselves while still ensuring security. Duo Push requiring the user to open the app and verify through their server is nothing short of exasperating. The general consensus from students regarding Duo Push is that it’s inconvenient and not worth the trouble. Damien Wall, a junior Earth sciences major said, “So unnecessary, you’re telling me if my phone’s dead, I cant get my assignments done.” Graduate student Isaiah Usher said, “It’s God awful. If these are the responses from several students, it’s easy to assume most students likely feel the same way. Two factor authentications are becoming more and more common across all platforms. However, most of those authentications make it easy to verify yourself while only requiring use of one device. Duo Push’s need for the second device to verify your authentication wastes valuable time and energy.
The alternative to Duo Push would be a simpler two factor authentication program. This would ensure that the students who want that added security get it, and those that don’t, don’t. While Duo Push seems to be a widely disliked new change, a few students did seem to have some appreciation for the program’s added security. Jon Burgess, a third year Business major said, “Duo is incredibly annoying when you need to access your Sonoma account quickly, but all other times I don’t mind because I usually have my phone next to me.” He continued, “Modern single step passwords are very weak, and I enjoy having all of my valuable information safe and only accessible through myself with the two-step authentication.” Another student, who asked to remain anonymous, said, “I got hacked on my Yahoo email account last year and ever since then I’m super aware of my accounts and I’ve been using Duo for all my compatible accounts.” Everyone appreciates having the ability to choose the way they like to do things. Some don’t mind using Duo Push, some love it and use it for other accounts, and some people just hate it. With all the different feelings associated with this new way to protect sensitive information, one might think it would be simple to allow the students a choice in using Duo Push or not.
Book bans: Does it censor important topics?
ANA FINGERSON
STAFF WRITER
T
hroughout time, book banning has occurred across the globe, influenced by society and major events happening at the time. In 1954 Mickey Mouse comics were banned in East Berlin due to theories that Mickey was an “anti-Red rebel”. In 1807, Dr. Thomas Bowlder, an English physician, revised and put out “modest” editions of Shakespeare’s work. Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” was banned by the governor of Hunan Province in China in 1931 because he said putting animals and humans on the same level was disastrous. Something a majority of these bans and burns have in common is that the act is driven by fear. When understanding why books are being banned, it’s important to see whether it is because of differing morals/beliefs or if it is to prevent actual harm. Zoe Ashworth, a Hutchins major, said, “It depends on
Government age caps: Capitol Hill needs a facelift
JACQUELINE GARCIA
STAFF WRITER
I
f it seems like elected leaders in the United States are getting older and older, it is not just your imagination. Look, this is not meant to be ageist, but after the 2020 presidential election, primary candidate Joe Biden took office at 77 years old, becoming the oldest president in United States history. The question of whether an age limit should be imposed on elected officials has become more prevalent. As a society, we value age. Older people are supposed to have the knowledge and the experience. But is that enough? A recent YouGov poll found that the current members of Congress are the oldest on average of any previous in at least the past 20 years. Politicians like Sen. Strom Thurmond served 47 years until he died at age 100 in 2003. However,
Is Duo Push inconvenient or a necessary security measure?
MONTANA LAHEY
P
STAFF WRITER
icture this: You’re already late to class when you realize you forgot to print out an assignment that’s due today. You book it to the Lib, grab a computer, and log in to Canvas. Until you’re stopped with good old Duo Push. You grab your phone, and it’s dead. Duo Push is a new double authentication security measure that Sonoma State has put in place to supposedly protect staff and student accounts from hackers. While the thought and effort is there, this security measure is proving to be more aggravating than helpful. Basically, the Duo Push app allows you to verify every
4 News
APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2022 sonomastatestar.com
Jolene Koester named SSU adds new cultural CSU’s interim Chancellor graduation ceremony continued from pg. 1 continued from pg. 1
Chancellor. Koester will be on a $625,000 annual salary, with a $7,917 monthly housing allowance and a $1,000 monthly auto allowance. After taking a job that has been under a lot of recent scrutiny, Koester will attempt to restore the loss of credibility. According to Koester, she wants to repair the relationship between the Chancellor’s office and the rest of the CSU community. In an interview with Edsource, Koester said, “A primary focus of my work and those who work with me will be to renew and establish trust.” The former CSU Chancellor, Joseph Castro, resigned amid scrutiny for mishandling a sexual misconduct case for Frank R. Lamas, a former vice president of student affairs at Fresno State. To announce his resignation, Castro released the following statement: “I have been honored to serve the California State University for more than eight years, including as its eighth Chancellor, and the decision to resign is the most difficult of my professional life. While I disagree with many aspects of recent media reports and the ensuing commentary, it has become clear to me that resigning at this time is necessary so that the C.S.U. can maintain its focus squarely on its educational mission and the impactful work yet to be done.” While president of Fresno State University, Castro reportedly ignored many complaints of sexual harrassment, bullying, and retalion from Lamas. Rather than discipline Lamas for these complaints, Castro gave him raises, good performance ratings and even endorsed him for a lifetime achievement award. While in office Koester will surely look to amend the past discrepancies from the CSU chancellor’s office. Koester has already made history as the second female Chancellor of the CSU system and will continue to build off that during her tenure. “With her institutional knowledge of the university and long-standing history of service to higher education, Dr. Koester is the perfect person to lead the CSU during this time,” said CSU Board Chair Lillian Kimbell, in an article for the Los Angeles Times.
STAR // Isabel Epstein SSU spends over $800,000 on new classroom furniture to ensure uniformity and inclusivity across the campus.
SSU brings in new inclusive campus furniture continued from pg. 1
fresh Initiative’s intentions to ensure academic excellence and innovation as well as improving classroom conditions. Out of the $3 million 2018 investment, $300,000 was dedicated to the deep cleaning of general purpose classrooms, $1 million was intended for technology upgrades, and $1.7 million was designated to the purchase of new campus furniture. The on-campus buildings where the new furniture will be installed are Darwin Hall, Ives Hall, Physical Education building, Salazar Hall, Carson Hall, Nichols Hall, International Hall, Art, Schulz, Music, and Chalk Hill. The existing furniture will be donated and/or recycled depending on its condition. Most of these furniture pieces were delivered to campus over Spring Break, however due to supply chain delays, 120 tables remain on backorder. SSU’s Assistant Vice President for Strategic Communications and campus spokesperson, Julia Gonzales, explained via email that the backordered tables are expected to arrive later this May. Until they arrive, a few classrooms will continue to use the existing tablet-arm seats. “The purchase of this new classroom furniture is the result of a campus wide initiative that began in 2018 and has served as a national model of shared governance,” Gonzalez said. “This initiative integrates with the Facilities Master Plan and the Capital Plan, which includes the renovation of Stevenson Hall and its classrooms.” SSU Students are excited to see more inclusive desks to arrive. Kaylee Carnahan, a 22-year-old Human Development Major said, “I think the news desks are great as they are more plus size friendly and accommodating to all body types. I’ll be graduating in may so I’m glad at least, in the future, the desks will be more comfortable.” Carnahan isn’t the only student looking forward to the new campus furniture. Logan Knowlton, a 21-year-old Psychology student thinks the new furniture will be enjoyed by everyone. “As a psychology student, I think it’s great that Sonoma State is making an effort to be inclusive and considerate to our diverse community in California. Something as simple as providing a comfortable and accessible place to sit can make all the difference for some students,” Knowlton said. “I hope to see SSU continuing to make the shift towards inclusivity as that is what Sonoma state was built on.” While many students are excited for new furniture, some students voiced frustration at SSU’s attention to inclusivity while the wifi on campus is worse than ever. It’s been a long held complaint that the wifi on campus, and especially in the dorms, is not conducive with the current expectations teachers hold for their students to properly participate in online classes during the era of COVID-19. Sean Kim, a 28-year-old Political Science major wrote in a Facebook comment, “It’s great to see them trying to get new furniture, but I think they should try to spend more money on getting better internet on campus. The internet is so slow, and some places, wifi gets disconnected. They need to do something about it,” Kim said. When the $3 million dollars was invested in collaboration with The General Purpose Classroom Refresh Initiative’s, some of that money was intended to go towards improving the internet connection campus-wide. However, four years after the designation of this money, a top complaint among students is still the poor campus wifi.
NAI community an opportunity to attend their own separate ceremony and commermate their accomplishments. The Sonoma State website states, “SSU students, staff, and faculty coordinate the Cultural Graduations that complement (not replace) the university’s commencement ceremonies.” In years past, there have been a number of Cultural and Affinity graduation celebrations planned. Some of which include recognized ceremonies for African Americans, LGBTQIA members and other cultural groups. However, the Native American/Indeginous community had always been meshed with the Asian/Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern Graduation ceremony. This caused some disapproval and prompted members of the NAI community to advocate for their own graduation ceremony. The NAI ceremony came to form through the help and support of a few individuals within the community. Director of the Native American studies department, Erica Tom served as a strong inf luencer in bringing this ceremony to fruition. Erica Tom shared her gratitude towards her colleagues who helped pave the way for this event, “I am including my colleague, Dr. Mary Churchill, and the students who are the energy and direction behind the first Native American & Indigenous graduation, Cambria Whipple, Alexis Britton-Dalson, and Christina Gomez.” Erica Tom went on to express additional appreciation for Sonoma State professor, Dr. Mary Churchill, “I am grateful to my colleague, Dr. Mary Churchill, for her ongoing support and guidance in the development of opportunities for our Native American & Indigenous students.” Dr Mary Churchill teaches in Women’s and Gender Studies, American Multicultural Studies, and Native American Studies at Sonoma State. Erica Tom also stated how much of a pivotal role Tramaine Austin-Dillon served in supporting this development, “I am also grateful to Tramaine Austin-Dillon, Programs and Policy Specialist, Vice President Dr. Jerlena Griffin-Desta, and Office of the President, for their support in this exciting new opportunity to celebrate the success and achievements of Native American and Indigenous students at Sonoma State University” The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion tries to recognize the importance of graduation. The Cultural Graduation Celebrations provide students with the opportunity to publicly thank the people who helped them on their journey. The department’s site page mentions additional thoughts on the cultural ceremonies, “They also honor the importance of overcoming barriers within higher education and affirm the different paths that lead to academic success.” More information on the NAI and other cultural graduation ceremonies can be found on the Sonoma State website under the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion page.
Student Assistant union shows potential continued from pg. 1
should not only be competitive to enable the employer to recruit and retain good employees, but it should be perceived by employees as being fair and reasonable. CSU employees no longer believe that the current system is fair and reasonable. As a result, many employees leave the system after discovering they have no way to reach the upper end of the salary scale in their classification.” The Pizza for Parity event was co-hosted by two organizations: the Good Jobs for the Future campaign, and the United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS). Emily Hake, the Academic Programs Coordinator at California State Stanislaus and Member Organizer of CSUEU’s Good Jobs for the Future campaign is helping host this event. Alongside Hake, Angel and Camila Rivera, who are both representing USAS. USAS is the nation’s largest youth-led, student labor campaign organization, and has a long history in amplifying student voices against labor exploitation. Good Jobs for the Future is a relatively new campaign, with a mission of unionizing Student Assistants in the CSU system statewide. When asked about the connection between the two organizations, Emily Hake says, “Student Assistants are unique since they’re both CSU students and employees. CSUEU has experience and history bargaining with the CSU for their employees, while USAS is both composed of students, and has experience and connections with advocating for students in the labor movement. Together, CSUEU and USAS form the ideal team to advocate for Student Assistants.” The Good Jobs for the Future campaign believes that Student Assistants across the CSU system deserve to be represented by CSUEU, as they are employees of the University as well as students. Student Assistants have a wide range of jobs, from office and clerical support, helping to maintain campus grounds, assisting in libraries, supporting student housing, parking security and enforcement, providing IT support, and more. When Hake decided to help organize Good Jobs for the Future, she found many student assistants feeling in need of representation. “As we talk to Student Assistants, many are expressing to us that they do the same type of work as CSUEU staff, so they should be represented by the same union. Student Assistants have the same right to protected, concerted activity as all workers and CSUEU is listening intently to their concerns. All staff are dedicated to the CSU mission and that includes student assistants.” Hake was once a Library Administration Student Assistant at her Alma Mater, CSU Stanislaus, and knows first hand the hard work Student Assistants put in for their jobs. Common concerns from Student Assistants regarding joining any union often involve cost and benefits provided. Hake explained that, “signing a membership card as a Student Assistant means you want to join your fellow student and staff employees as a member of CSUEU, but Student Assistants will not pay any dues until they have voted to ratify a contract.” For an idea of what to expect if a contract is ratified, CSUEU members currently pay dues at 1% of their pre-tax salary. They also gain benefits such as low cost healthcare, free vision and dental, better workplace protections, and collective representation. More details of the union with CSUEU can be found online at https://www.csueu.org.
APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2022 sonomastatestar.com
Arts & Entertainment 5
The HUB highlights new perspectives on the untold story of the Compton Cafeteria Riot
COURTESY // Screaming Queens Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton’s Cafeteria shares a lesser-known piece of transgender history with viewers during Trans Week of Visibility at SSU. ROSALEE PADILLA
I
STAFF WRITER
n honor of Trans Week of Visibility the HUB Cultural Center screened the documentary “Screaming Queens”. This film discussed the very first transgender riot that took place in a part of San Francisco known as the Tenderloin in 1966. Many are unaware that the Compton Cafeteria riot took place three years prior to the widely known Stonewall riots. The HUB showed this film to educate students on this lesser known event, as it is integral to understanding the ongoing battle against trans discrimination. The HUB’s main focus is creating an inclusive environment regardless of an individual’s background, hence their push to educate SSU students on important topics, and their coordination of the Trans Week of Visibility. “The HUB stands for Honoring the past, Uniting the present, and Building the future.”, as seen on the HUB homepage. After the documentary screening, there was a discussion facilitated by Dr. Lauren Charles Stewart, who works as a HUB programmer. This time allowed for students to ask questions and discuss their opinions on the film. Stewart also offered her thoughts on the documentary, “One of the things I like most about this film is the discussion of what it means to say ‘trans people have a right to exist.’ Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are supposed to be guaranteed to every American under capitalism.” Stewart went on to say, “If people aren’t able to work, buy food, and have places to live, then they don’t have a chance to make it in America. I think this film does a really great job of showing collective action in the name of trans people. This is a huge part of LGBTQ+ history that is often overlooked.” Susan Stryker is a trangender professor, writer and filmmaker who directed “Screaming Queen’s”. When she was conducting research about transgender
history, she stumbled upon a document that discussed the Compton Cafeteria riot; this event allowed drag queens and trans people to join together and protest against police brutality in the Tenderloin. This inspired Stryker to continue researching this event, and she was able to interview multiple women who recounted the riot. In the documentary Stryker describes the Compton Cafeteria riot as “...the first known instance of collective, militant, queer resistance to police harassment in United States history.” Trans Week of Visibility is all about the recognition of the discrimination that trans people face on a daily basis. The screening of “Screaming Queens” allowed students to learn more about the experiences trans people faced during the late 1960’s in San Francisco. Trans women were denied basic rights and rejected from certain institutions (i.e. housing and jobs). In the Tenderloin, trans women and drag queens were being aggressively policed because they were going against the gender binary. This event offered a new avenue to meet fellow students also interested in LGBTQ+ history. Group discussions accompanied by free food and drinks made for a good experience for students looking to expand their knowledge and meet new people.The entire event lasted around two hours, and if students did not want to partake in the discussion they were able to just sit back and listen. A weekly event that the HUB hosts is a Friday support group for trans and gender questioning SSU students. The HUB is located on the second floor of the Student Center. They have an office space, a living room area, as well as a mini kitchen equipped with a microwave and refrigerator.
Students get creative at SSU’s latest Getaway Trip ADDISON SMITH
O
STAFF WRITER
n March 31, a group of 11 students got together and traveled by van to downtown Sebastopol in Sonoma County for an unforgettable pottery painting experience at the CreateIt! studio. The small art studio can house about 30 people simultaneously, and hosts pottery making classes, pottery painting sessions, painting classes, and other activities for people of all ages. This Getaway Trip was hosted by Student Involvement. The owner of Create It!, Jennifer Balleto, welcomed the students into her studio saying she was excited to welcome SSU students into the space she built up herself, and she hoped that everyone would have a good time painting. After a brief introduction to the studio, she explained her story, starting from the very beginning, when she bought out the pottery store that had previously occupied the space, and created her own shop and studio that has been thriving in downtown Sebastopol ever since. After her story, Balleto showed off the different pottery selections. Some of the pottery included various plates , bowls, and cups. After each student chose their piece, Balleto and her father, Rich Balleto, brought students up in groups of four to discuss the different paint options, glitter options, and describe the differences between a single coat of paint and a second coat of paint. Balleto explained, “These paints each have a special gradient that can work with the pottery, for example, our paint color ‘Anchor’s Away’ is a light ocean-blue, but with a secondary coat, it becomes a deep, dark, ocean-blue as seen on our example plate up on our wall.” After the students were given the
STAR// Holly Durfee SSU students Evelyn Munguia (left) and Alexis Perez (right) tagteam a drawing at Create It pottery and glass fusion studio in Sebastopol.
rundown on colors and paint they were set free to work on their masterpieces. As students got started on their pottery session, the Balleto’s were available for the students to ask questions, get advice, or for general inquiries like brush style, paint type and so on. Hannah Goldman, an early childhood studies senior at Sonoma State said, “I created a mini plate. I painted it with terracotta and decorated the piece with small white flowers and leaves.” Another student, Logan Svenson, was creating a hanging potted plant fixture for her dad as a gift for his birthday. She used a step-by-step guide and created a turquoise-blue ocean pattern that seemed to melt over the entire planter. After about an hour, students began to wrap up their pieces and were setting up to pay. The payments revolved around a half-and-half pricing setup; students paid for half and Student Involvement paid for the other half. The price included the pottery, use of the paints and paintbrushes, the firing process, and the glazing process, both of which would be done by the studio in-house. The fully glazed and fired pottery will be shipped to Sonoma State for students to pick up in the student center when it’s ready. Overall, it was “...a good way to destress and take a break from school responsibilities,” according to Goldman. Getaway Trips are held through Sonoma State periodically throughout the month, and students can get tickets at the StuSTAR// Holly Durfee dent Center help desk or online on the Seawolf Living website.
Students Angeliah Vicente (left) and Dottie Aschwanden (right) concentrate on painting a variety of pottery pieces at Create It studio in Sebastopol.
6 Student Life
APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2022
sonomastatestar.com
Highly anticipated Lip Jam returns to SSU
OLIVIA DOANE
S
STAFF WRITER
onoma State’s Greek Life is a big part of the campus community. Every year, Alpha Gamma Delta (AGD), one of the many sororities on campus, puts on their philanthropic event called Lip Jam. During this event each sorority and fraternity compete in a lip-sync battle, performing to popular bands, soundtracks and artists to win the title of Lip Jam champion. The event is held at the Green Music Center and proceeds raised from this event go towards their philanthropy. Lip Jam is one of the most anticipated philanthropy events at Sonoma State and is the highlight of many college students’ experiences. Students, friends and family are all encouraged to attend each year and are able to purchase tickets. This year’s coordinators for the event were third year students, Annie Watts and Chrissy Young. Putting on such a large event takes tireless hours of planning, practicing and dedication, which they have put in to produce a great show. “What I love about Lip Jam is how it brings our whole campus together and how all of Greek Life at Sonoma supports not only our chapter but our philanthropy. I’m going to miss the bonding we all experience as we learn our dances. Even though it’s stressful at times it’s worth every moment,” said senior AGD member Lena Weingand. Weeks prior to the event, the fraternities and sororities partake in a tabling event in Seawolf Plaza called Penny Wars, which encourages them to raise the most money to be able to choose the band of their choice to perform on stage. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lip Jam was not able to happen over the 2020-2021 school year, so many seniors felt bittersweet about their last performance. Ambar Gutierrez, a senior in AGD shared her experience participating in Lip Jam: “I was really excited to be able to participate in this year’s Lip Jam especially since there hasn’t been one since the pandemic. Practicing for the senior dance was probably my favorite thing leading up to the big night because I got a lot closer with my sisters.” Her experience was similar to the rest of the seniors in the chapter, “Lip Jam, much like the rest of the semester, has felt really bittersweet. It’s going to be really strange being graduated and not participating in something I’ve grown accustomed to,” said Gutierrez. The show kicks off with the new members of AGD performing their own piece, followed
COURTESY // @pinkers05 on Instagram Alpha Delta Pi performed to songs by The Cheetah Girl’s. The sorority ended up as Lip Jam champions.
by the seniors performing at the end of the show. Some of the bands for this year’s performance included Maroon 5, ABBA, Queen, The Jackson 5 and the Cheetah Girls. Each sorority and fraternity dedicates their time learning choreography and practicing for long hours to perfect their performance. The highlight of this year’s show was a performance by Luke Wallace, a member of Sigma Lambda Beta and one of this year’s MC’s. For the first time in Lip Jam history, he performed solo. The audience didn’t hesitate to cheer him on as he danced across the stage representing his chapter in a one man show. Alpha Epsilon Pi won over the hearts of the people for people’s choice, performing to The Jackson 5. Students, friends and family were able to donate directly to the group they believed should win people’s choice. Pi Kappa Phi, who performed to One Direction won the small group award and Alpha Delta Pi, performing The Cheetah Girls, took home the large group title. Lip Jam remains one of the most exciting events that members of Greek Life look forward to every year. Year after year, the sororities and fraternities bring more energy than the last. “What I loved the most about Lip Jam this year was seeing the genuine excitement from performers, AGD’s, friends and family. It was a feeling I haven’t felt since the last Lip Jam and it’s a good reminder of why I joined AGD in the first place,” said third year Izzy Lunderman. With Lip Jam 2022 coming to a close, girls of Alpha Gamma Delta took to their instagram to share their gratitude, “Thank you to all the performers, our alumni and our friends and family for all the support, we could not do this without you”.
Social Justice Week encourages involvement on campus PAYTON MULLANEY
S
STAFF WRITER
onoma State University’s eighth annual Social Justice Week began on Monday and there are several events for students to attend as a way to get involved on campus. SSU is offering in-person and virtual events from April 4-8 for students to attend as a way to honor Social Justice Week and to educate themselves about the equality gaps that still persist. The theme for this year is “Empowerment Through Social Justice.” Each day, there are about four to six events that students are able to attend to learn more about disabilities, prevention techniques and to ultimately learn how to build up the courage to stand up in times of injustice. It is emphasized that all are welcome and encouraged to attend. Social Justice week is aiming to present on a broad variety of topics so there is something for everyone. Social Justice Week kicked off on Monday with an opening ceremony. There was a performance by the Aztec dance group, Calpulli Tonalehqueh and a presentation by Yei Tochtli Mitlapilli on “Decolonizing and intergenerational healing as a justice practice”. Later that day, there was an in person bystander intervention training. Being a bystander is just as dangerous as being the perpetrator and in order to change the narrative, the SSU Title IX and Discrimination, Harassment, Retaliation Compliance Investigation and Training Specialists gave a presentation. An anonymus student said, “I have experienced a lot of discrimination and harassment based on my skin color and I am proud that my campus is putting on a week to educate people. I was excited to go to the by-stander training because I never want to be put in a situation where I don’t help someone and regret it later.” On Tuesday from 2:30-3:30 p.m., students can head up to the third f loor balloons in the Student Center or attend via Zoom to learn about how neurodiversity relates to social justice. The Senior Disability Management Advisor, Christy Giambastiani will be the presenter. Neurodiversity refers to differences in socialization, learning, attention, mood and other cognitive functions. This seminar aims to further explain what neurodiversity means and how it applies to creating equality for everyone. Freshman Tayley Mitchell is looking forward to attending this event. Mitchell said, “I have never heard of a presentation on campus like this so I am very excited to listen to what they have to say. One of my close friends has ADHD and I think this will help me understand her experiences more.” Another event offered this week is, “The Role of Systemic Racism in Journalism,” presented by Otis R. Taylor Jr., the supervising senior editor of race and equity at KQED. This event is on Wednesday from 4-5 p.m. in the Student Center ballrooms and on Zoom. This presentation is going to touch on the reality of what is going on in journalism in our world today. Sonoma State student Ricky Cruz said, “I’m excited to hear this social justice presentation. Systemic racism is something I have witnessed and learned about throughout my years of schooling and I’m interested to see what other ways racism has affected our society and social structures.” There will be many more events for students to attend throughout Social Justice Week, however these are just a few that students are excited about. Some events on Thursday and Friday include a presentation on sex
COURTESY // Facebook SSU’s eighth annual Social Justice Week is here. There are a number of events and presentations for students to attend to get educated and invoved.
and disability, a human trafficking presentation and a presentation on understanding how privilege operates and impacts the classroom. Students can head to http://www.seawolf living.com/featured?category=Social%20 Justice%20Week to learn more about the events, dates and times. Students that are interested in attending via Zoom must register online.
APRIL. 5 - APRIL. 11, 2022 sonomastatestar.com
Sports
7
Pace leads the Seawolves to third place in Turlock
JAVIER HERNANDEZ STAFF WRITER
T
he Seawolves men’s golf team had a historic showing this past week at the Hanny Invitational that is hosted by Stanislaus State in Turlock, Calif. The Seawolves opened the tournament with a score of 17-over-par 305 and a second-round score of three-over-par 291. After the slow start in the first two rounds, the Seawolves were in ninth place going into the third round of the tournament. In the third round of the tournament, the Seawolves turned it around and propelled themselves to tie for third place in the tournament with host school Stanislaus State. The team had a historic round shooting 16-under-par 272, breaking the school’s record for total score under par in a round. This score tied the school’s record for the lowest team strokes in a round while breaking the tournament record. The previous school record for total score under par in a round was 10-under-par in 2009 at the GCU Thunderbird Invitational. They tied the school’s record for lowest team strokes in a round from when the team shot nine-under-par 271 at the 2007 St. Martin’s Invitational according to Sonoma State men’s golf website. “I feel like we dug deep and found a common goal between all of us to go out and prove ourselves on the course,” said third-year Business Marketing major, Griffin Pace when asked about what the major keys were in moving from ninth place to tied to third place. “Sometimes low scores just come to you and we were really fortunate to have everybody play well in the same round.” To go with the record-breaking performance in the third round, Pace finished tied for fifth place in individual scoring with a score five-under-par 212 for the tournament. He also had his lowest round score of the season with a three-under-par 69 in the third round powered by birdies on 13, 14, 15 and 16. This performance led to Pace winning the CCAA (California Collegiate Athletic Association) Golfer of the Week award. “I couldn’t be any prouder of this team. I actually had no idea the team was playing well until I finished the round. After the way we’ve been playing this year it was really good to see positives come from
COURTESY // Evan Roehrig Third-year Griffin Pace smashes a drive during a tournament this season. He shot a three-under-par 69 earning him CCAA player of the week honors.
our last tournament before going into the postseason,” said Pace. “Griffin is a unique player in the sense that he has a lot of confidence in his ability to play and it comes out in a way that he doesn’t get rattled,” said Head Coach Val Verhunce. “He loves the grind of fighting and that is one of his biggest assets.” Pace stated he enjoyed getting recognition for his solid play for his performance after being a bit disappointed he didn’t win the tournament individually. “If anything, it helps me to remember how good I played instead of focusing on the bad. This just boosts my confidence and makes me hungry going into the postseason knowing our team is strong.” The Seawolves will now prepare for the postseason as the CCAA championship is right around the corner. The championship will take place from April 10 through April 14. For more information on the team and the tournament make sure to head over to sonomaseawolves.com.
Seawolves downed by Bears
STAR // Tanner Ivey The SSU Men’s Lacrosse celebrates after a goal against the sixth ranked California Golden Bears on Saturday April 2. The Seawolves lost 17-7. They play Nevada on Saturday April 16 for their senior day. DANIEL SERRANO STAFF WRITER
S
onoma State’s men’s Lacrosse team continued its woes, as they dropped yet another game last Saturday to the number six team in the nation, U.C. Berkeley. The Seawolves lost 17-7 to the Bears in a two and a half hour game. With a clear sky and sun beaming down, it was a perfect day for lacrosse and the sidelines were packed with fans of Berkeley and SSU. Playoffs are at the top of the Seawolves priority list, as they need to secure a win during their next two games to qualify. Sean Kenneally, a fourth year Communications and Geography Environmental Planning double major, remains very optimistic about the coming games. “As long as we get one win, we are going to go onto the WCLL (Western Collegiate Lacrosse League) playoffs. Both games are opportunistic, and we are confident we will see ourselves making playoffs once May comes around,” said Kenneally. Other players on SSU’s team offered some insight on how to be efficient in these next couple games, so they can achieve their playoff dreams. Prentice Lohr, a freshman and Economics major, had this to say about the rest of their season, “I’m going into this game like I’m on the titanic. If I don’t go hard and reach my full potential, as well as my team, then we may not make the playoffs or have a chance to go further in playoffs. I want to do great to get our program’s name out there and keep playing great teams.” Since Lohr is a freshman, he has not been able to get all the playing time he has desired, but he did start this past weekend. Lohr started at the long stick middie position, while also getting some
close defense reps. Lohr is taking this year as a learning experience, as he looks into his future on this team. “We have had our ups and downs but it’s been fun to get some playing experience as a freshman and I will push us to be great for the remaining games we have and for these 3 more years I have coming. No matter what age anyone is on the team it’s still a learning experience for our team to strive for greatness,” said Lohr. The Seawolves Men’s Lacrosse team are a division one team, and face the likes of Stanford, Cal Poly, and U.C. Santa Barbara all season long. These teams are extremely competitive and test the Seawolves talent. However, this is not new for senior Sean Kenneally who had his sophomore and junior seasons taken away from him due to COVID-19. As team president, Kenneally not only has his personal responsibility as a player, but he has a responsibility as a team leader to help fire up his team. Kenneally admitted that this year’s schedule has been the toughest he has played in. “To be the best, you have to play the best, and I thank our staff for putting us up against that challenge. I hope to see the program be back in the top of the MCLA(Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association) like in years past.” With the WCLL playoffs inching closer, SSU hopes to win one of their next two games to go on a playoff run. Their next game will be on Saturday April 16, which will be their senior day and they will be taking on the University of Nevada Reno. Come out and support our senior Seawolves as they play their last game of the regular season.
8
Photo
APRIL 5 - APRIL 11, 2022 sonomastatestar.com
Men’s lacrosse faces off against Berkeley
Cal Berkeley has possession of the ball and Sonoma State steals the rock during the action-packed lacrosse game at SSU on April 2.
An offensive strike takes place as #3 puts his team in a great position to score during the SSU men’s lacrosse game.
STAR // Tanner Ivey
STAR // Tanner Ivey
SSU springs into action with special events
STAR // Holly Durfee SSU alumni Hannah Goldman poses for a quick picture while painting at Create It pottery and glass fusion studio in Sebastopol.
STAR // Holly Durfee Sonoma State students Heather Becker (left), Madeline Hansen (across) and Dottie Aschwanden (right) begin their pieces at Create It pottery and glass fusion studio.
The Sonoma State sorority Alpha Gamma Delta command the stage during their performance at Lip Jam in the Green Music Center.
STAR // Holly Durfee