Issue 10

IN THIS ISSUE

Study in the sun

SSU opened up an outdoor study area at the Green Music Center.

PAGE 9.

Stroll through sculptures

Trans visibility

SSU celebrates transgender week of visibility.

PAGE 8.

Various artists’ work is being showcased alongside a hiking trail.

PAGE 6.

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 87 // ISSUE 10 APRIL 13, 2021 - APRIL 19, 2021

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

@SONOMASTATESTAR

COURTESY // Instagram Sheriff Mark Essick delivers a speech on Veteran’s Day. The Sheriff has been facing backash for recent decisions he’s made regarding the pandemic and budgets.

Sonoma County Sheriff facing multiple complaints from fellow elected officials GABRIELLA HERMOGENO STAFF WRITER

S

ince the beginning of the global pandemic, Sonoma County elected officials have been actively expressing their thoughts of disappointment throughout social media platforms in response to the series of events relating to Sonoma County Sheriff Mark Essick.

Back in May, at the beginning of social distancing and mask mandates, the sheriff wrote a post on Facebook which signified that all Sheriff’s Office staff should stop enforcing local health orders.

In an article written by the Los Angeles Times, they explain that Essick’s intention of the post was to show how Sonoma County does not want to uphold any restrictions that may affect the community.

“Based on what we have learned, now is the time to move to a risk-based system and move beyond blanket orders that are crushing our community,” Essick wrote.

In response to the announcement, former Sonoma County Supervisor Shirlee Zane and Santa Rosa’s Police Chief Ray Navarro responded in ways that contested to Essick’s decision.

In the interview, Zane expressed her disappointment with Essick’s decision to direct enforcement without consulting elected officials before his announcement and stated, “It’s a time for elected officials to stand together to get through this,” Zane said.

Navarro wrote a post on Facebook responding to the announcement, which states, “The Santa Rosa Police department will continue to support the health officer, who is the subject matter expert, leading a safe, strategic and data driven process for reopening.”

Later in August, Essick made another announcement on Facebook to inform the public that the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors plans to make a bud-

COURTESY // Sarah Stierch on Flickr.com Liam McCormick (left) and Dominic Foppoli (right), the mayor of Windsor, pose happily at a winery in 2015, before sexual assault accusations surfaced against Foppoli.

Windsor Mayor accused of sexual assault by 6 women

CALLIE ADAMS

STAFF WRITER

S

ix women have recently come forward to accuse Windsor’s mayor and winery owner Dominic Foppoli of sexual assault. The current timeline of alleged assaults begins in 2002, with the latest occurring in 2020.

Four women told their stories to the San Francisco Chronicle last week, another came forward two days later when she realized that she needed to share her story as well, and most recently, the sixth woman spoke up Sunday. Each woman claims that she was assaulted by Foppoli despite rejecting his advances, and in several cases, Foppoli was said to have been intoxicated during the assault.

Other women, besides the original six, claim to have been victims of predatory behavior from Foppoli. One woman shared that years ago, she had met with Foppoli for an interview and he seemed to be attempting to get her drunk before she was able to escape the situation. This particular detail appears to be

see SHERIFF on pg. 4

see MAYOR on pg. 4

COURTESY // Instagram STAR // Brandon Sparks Passengers wait to board their planes at the Oakland Airport. The CDC updated their travel guidelines to allow for future international travel through air.

CDC updates travel restrictions, sending mixed messages

QUINN MCKIBBIN

Courtney Shoda, a former SSU soccer player, is awaiting a heart transplant after a cardiac arrest.

Former SSU soccer player fights for her life after heart attack WILLY LEPORI

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

T

he Center for Disease Control (CDC) has been releasing many updates throughout the pandemic, but the newest update says that fully vaccinated people can travel internationally or domestically through air, as long as they wear a mask.

That means that If you’ve had your COVID-19 vaccination, you can skip any type of COVID related tests or self quarantine when traveling, as long as the country you’re traveling to allows it also.

This news comes as a huge relief for some, as prior to this update you had to show proof of negative tests when traveling.

However, according to Politico, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said, “that Americans should still try to avoid travel...However, traveling is lower-risk for fully vaccinated individuals.”

Some countries such as Iceland have implemented strict travel laws in response to the pandemic. In Iceland, you’re only allowed to travel there if you’ve been fully vaccinated from the COVID-19 virus. And once you arrive in Iceland, see TRAVEL on pg. 4

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ourtney Shoda, alumni of Sonoma State and former women’s soccer standout, is in a fight for her life in a Southern California hospital after going into cardiac arrest and collapse March 3.

Shoda, 25, was a three year varsity player for the SSU women’s soccer club and studied Kinesiology while at Sonoma State.

Shoda played defender for the Seawolves and while she excelled on the field, Shoda also thrived in the classroom, earning CCAA All-Academic team during her freshman year of athletics. see SSU ALUM on pg. 5

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

APRIL 13 - APRIL 19, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Sexual Assault Awarness Month shines light on disturbing amount of assault cases

Staff Writers Callie Adams, Emily Alvarado, Jayline Alvarado,

COURTESY // Instagram

Julia Blair, Kaitlin Breen, Cheyenne Carroll, Katlyn Dodge, Casey Fabbri, Sumiko Fong, Bryce Gallagher, Gabriella Hermogeno, Olivia Hughes, Nancy Insua, Willy Lepori, Quinn McKibbin, Caroline Morales, Samantha Pezzola, Noah Philpott, Anthony Pilotti, Mary Helen Rowell, Matthew Smith, Vincent Spence, Isabelle Barkey, Pammy Meyers, Andrew Savedra

Photographers KC Holtemann, Ileana Aleman, Sondra Ottenstein, Morgan Mitchell, Zena Bounsall

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:

“Campus Recreation Center reopens indoor facilities” 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

According to RAINN, the largest anti-abuse organization in the U.S., an American is sexually assaulted every 73 seconds. This shocking statistic highlights the disturbing reality of abuse and rape in this country--and for too many young people, this topic is close to home.

April of 2021 is the 20th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which aims to bring more attention to the growing issue of sexual harassment and violence. College students, especially young women between the ages of 18 and 24, are at a higher risk of being assaulted than other people.

Women in their first semester or trimester are most at risk, according to statistics collected for the Journal of American College Health.

Unfortunately, Sonoma County is no stranger to assault cases. Dominic Foppoli, the mayor of the city of Windsor, has been accused of rape and harassment by multiple women between the years of 2003 and 2019. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that other mayors throughout Sonoma County have demanded that he resign, and the police have launched an investigation. The disturbing reality is that many people in power have a history of committing sexual harassment and assault, and continue to be successful. Foppoli has received massive backlash due to the allegations, but his official title remains at this time, and he has refused to resign.

This story coming out from our own county proves that harassment can happen anywhere, by anyone—even those we want to trust and look up to as leaders.

Sonoma State University has had numerous assaults on campus over the years, and often, the college has struggled to inform students of these crimes.

According to the 2020 Annual Security Report, there were 10 rapes in 2017, 13 in 2018, and 16 in 2019. These numbers are likely lower than the actual

number of rapes, because only about 18% to 35% of assaults are reported, states the US Bureau of Justice Statistics. It is concerning that these statistics are getting higher, and only the 2021 Annual Security Report will tell if numbers have continued to rise. The University Police did not get back in time to share the numbers for 2020 and 2021.

There are many reasons why assault cases might be rising, or remaining high. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, more individuals are stuck at home with potential abusers. According to Women’s Law, 34% of women have been assaulted within a relationship. Many might assume that rape can only occur by a stranger at a party or in a parking garage, but the number of people who are sexually abused within romantic partnerships is substantial. It is important to understand that assault can occur in a multitude of situations, not just what one might see in a film or tv show.

Even if someone is able to come forward, backlash can follow. The #MeToo movement itself has faced massive criticism since its creation in 2017, showcasing the blatant misogyny in society, and the inability for many to believe survivors. Often when people come out with their stories, they are pushed to the side and referred to as liars, or are accused of only bringing up their story for attention. The reality is, so many individuals struggle to understand that what happened to them is harassment or assault—therefore, it might take a long time for someone to share what happened to them. Any form of harassment is incredibly traumatizing, and talking about it can often make it feel more real, and cause someone to relive their experience. Survivors should share their stories when they feel comfortable and when they are ready, and the community should be supportive and understanding.

Those against the #MeToo movement comment on how false allegations run rampant, though statistics show otherwise. The amount of false allegations are

incredibly low—studies show that it is between 2% and 10%.

According to BBC, “false rape allegations very rarely lead to convictions or wrongful jail time...the number of rapes and sexual assaults which are never reported or prosecuted far outweighs the number of men convicted of rape because of fake allegations.” Statistically, if someone comes out with their story, it is likely true.

College culture can contribute to these numbers being high. Dating apps where someone can meet a total stranger a few miles away can put people into uncomfortable or dangerous situations, and young people are usually the individuals on these apps. Drinking and drug use can encourage rape culture among college kids, and the trope of “loosening someone up” to try and have sex with them is much too common. “No means no’’ has been a big conversation on college campuses, though it is important to understand that coercion isn’t consent either—someone being unsure or hesitant before sexual activity doesn’t mean that they are consenting.

The NSVRC states that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men have been raped in the United States. These numbers are far too high, and the true number of individuals who have been harassed is unknown, and likely much higher—whether they have been catcalled, groped, filmed or photographed without consent, stalked, etc. Young people, especially college women, are at a higher risk of being assaulted, and unfortunately, numbers continue to rise, with those in power having allegations as well.

During Sexual Assault Awareness Month, it is crucial to listen to and support peers that come out with their stories, have conversations with loved ones about sexual assualt and harrassment, and remember that most women and many men, unfortunately, have a story.

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.

COURTESY // Instagram

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 13 - APRIL 19, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Starbucks begins trials of the “Borrow A Cup” program

ANDREW SAVEDRA

STAFF WRITER

S

tarbucks recently decided to try a new cup share program called “Borrow A Cup” in five of its Seattle locations. This move comes in early preparation for Earth Day, which is on April 22. The “Borrow A Cup” program is where patrons can order their drink in a reusable cup which they can return so Starbucks can reuse for another customer, helping them reduce waste.

With this new program’s implementation, customers can go to any of the participating locations and buy their beverage of choice in a reusable cup for a $1 deposit. When the customer is finished with their drink, they can return their cup at a participating store’s contactless kiosk or have a Seattle area service called Ridwell pick it up from their home. When the cup is returned to Starbucks, it is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized for the next patron.

For returning the cup, customers receive back the $1 deposit and 10 Starbucks re-

wards points.

If this program succeeds, it could be expanded to reach more customers nationwide. Starbucks told USA Today that the company would “learn from, adapt and scale based on our learnings.” Starbucks stated that each reusable cup replaces an estimated 30 disposable cups, and this initiative is part of the bigger goal to reduce their waste by 50% by 2030. The company said that, technically, their current disposable cups are recyclable under the right circumstances due to the plastic coating on the inside, but they are still one-time use.

Starbucks’ efforts to create ecofriendly options are not the first efforts to come from the coffee giant. Starbucks has allowed patrons to bring in their mugs or cups for a small discount since the ’80s.

“For Here Ware” was also a popular option for many patrons who enjoy their coffee in a mug or their own to-go cups. This program was put on hold early in 2020 due to Covid-19 safety concerns but has since made a full return with proper sanitization.

In 2018, Starbucks and McDonalds committed $10 million in a partnership with Closed Loop Partners to help them create a new, eco-friendly cup. Kate Daly, from closed-loop partners, said in a statement, “Starbucks is helping to pave the way for a waste-free future for the foodservice industry.” Starbucks has also been researching how to make cups, lids, and straws easier to compost and recycle.

It is no mystery that our world is facing global warming and environmental deterioration to an extent never before recorded in human history. A significant part of that is due to our ecological neglect. Companies are too focused on profit versus making green products. While this is the sad truth, it can be hard to drop a cheaper alternative in a competitive market economy when it costs millions in the long run, even when that alternative saves the planet.

President Joe Biden plans to create a 100% clean energy economy and net-zero emissions no later than 2050. According to his campaign website, he intends to accomplish this goal partly by “decarbonizing the food and agriculture sector,” according to his campaign website.

With these optimistic goals, green and eco-friendly products may become defining factors of successful businesses in the future.

Starbucks patrons should be proud of their favorite coffee shop for initiating a green movement. Starbucks has continued to encourage patrons to use greener alternatives to sustainable cups for decades now. The bring your own cup idea for a small discount was ingenious in the ’80s, and could have influenced many cafes and coffee shops to implement the same concept in their own locations. For now, all eyes are on the “Borrow A Cup’’ program and seeing how Starbucks will set the trends for an environmentally conscious future.

YouTuber James Charles accused of sexual assault

SUMIKO FONG

STAFF WRITER

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ames Charles, one of the top Youtube content creators popular for makeup and beauty-related videos with 25.5 million subscribers. On April 1, Charles uploaded a video to his channel titled “holding myself accountable”. In the video, Charles admits he is responsible for engaging in sexual activity with underage boys over the internet. The video currently has over 7 million views and has been receiving a lot of attention considering this is the second time Charles has been involved in a scandal of sending explicit pictures and messages to minors.

Over the past month, numerous minors have been posting on Twitter about their interactions with Charles. They have been explaining the inappropriate actions that have taken place over their direct messaging. To divert attention away from the screenshots of direct messages, Charles has only fully admitted to three of the instances that took place on video, while not addressing all of the other allegations.

A lot of Charles’ fans and supporters are also disregarding the other accusations, claiming that those accusing him of his predatory behavior are using Charles as a way to gain

followers or attention online. Although this could be true, Charles still needs to be held accountable for the crimes that he is owning up to.

To defend himself, Charles claimed that he was not aware of the true ages of the minors he was messaging. In his video, Charles explains that he has screenshots and proof that the individuals lied about their ages and said they were 18 years old when in reality they were underage, Charles stated. This can also be considered as a way to victim blame and not a way for Charles to hold himself accountable.

The biggest point Charles tries to make in his video is the concept of power imbalance. He mentions that before this was brought to his attention, he was not aware of the power he has over people who do not have a following as large as his. He now claims that he is aware of this power imbalance, that he is able to make this apology because he has a better understanding of what he is apologizing for and how he has hurt people.

There is an outstanding number of people who are supporting Charles in this situation considering his video has almost 300 thousand likes in comparison to having 200 thousand dislikes. Charles mentions in his video that he involved himself in this reckless behavior because he was desperate for a relationship. “I finally came to a conclusion, it sucks and it is ridiculously embarrassing to admit this but, I am desperate,” Charles said. It is easy to empathize with Charles in that sense, to understand where he’s coming from and it is easy to relate to the fear of being alone. However, what makes Charles’ situation more severe is that for the majority of the public, no matter how desperate someone is for a relationship, they don’t make the decision to exploit minors.

Many of those who have seen the video believe that his apology is sincere and people should forgive him because he can fully ad-

mit where he went wrong. Although Charles is seemingly taking accountability for his actions so they should be understood and forgiven, the apology should not be enough to put Charles in the clear given the severity of the incidents.

Negligence and ignorance cannot be used as a defense for Charles in the legal system of California. His main point that he was not aware of the ages of the minors he was messaging is insignificant and it does not excuse his actions. Describing himself as desperate means nothing when it comes to his predatory behavior toward children As of now, the minors that have come forward to talk about their experiences are being harassed online by the fans of James Charles. This public conversation started

by Charles contains numerous accounts of victim-blaming masked by the idea that taking accountability is happening whether he intended for this to be the outcome or not.

This backlash is setting a bad example for the fans of Charles who are choosing to harass his victims online. Their behavior makes it more difficult for other victims of this crime to come forward. They are seeing what the outcome of speaking out is, harassment for being abused by a famous influencer.

Whether or not Charles is truly a predator or someone who just made severe public mistakes is up for interpretation. However, by continuing to give Charles his platform and letting him get away with no consequences for his actions, Youtube is enabling the power imbalance of these popular creators.

YouTube has since made the decision to fire Charles from hosting season two of “Instant Influencer”, a YouTube show focusing on promoting upcoming influencers that Charles hosted the first season of. Charles could be temporarily removed from YouTube’s monetization program. These are good first steps on YouTube’s part in terms of making sure that actions have consequences

Unedited Kardashian brings up body positivity conversation

RACHEL GONZALEZ

STAFF WRITER

K

hloe Kardashian stated on an Instagram post, “My body, my image and how I choose to look and what I want to share is my choice. It‘s not for anyone to decide or judge what is acceptable or not anymore”. This came after an unedited swimsuit photo was accidentally posted online and the public became aware of her and her team trying to take the photo off the internet completely.

According to Libby Torres, an entertainment reporter for Insider, the photo consists of Kardashian in a bikini and standing near a pool. The accidental post has been of high interest because it “appeared free of any airbrushing or photo-editing techniques,” wrote Torres.

The 36-year-old media personality has a whopping 136 million followers on Instagram and 29.3 million followers on Twitter. It appears all platforms have commented on the unedited photo. Before Kardashian came out with a statement on Instagram, it was understood among most people that the Kardashian’s team was attempting to remove the photo from the internet and that legal action threats were taking place. “Khloe looks beautiful but it is within the right of the copyright owner to not want an image not intended to be published taken down,” said Chief marketing office for KKW Brands, Tracy Romulus to Page Six. Kardashians photo circulating the internet is an example of copyright infringement. According to the U.S. Copyright Office, copyright infringement is “when a copyrighted work is reproduced, distributed, performed, publicly displayed, or made into a derivative work without the permission of the copyright owner.” If legal action does take place, some penalties can include going to court, jail, or paying the number of damages and profit that could range from $200 to $150,000.

A great number of people saw Kardashian taking legal action to take the photo down as a negative move for body positivity. As much as some could agree on social media that Kardashian looked beautiful unedited, they were also very upset that she was wanting to take the photo down and to keep up with the unrealistic ideology of a woman’s body. Kardashian took to Instagram Live and showed her audience the hard work she put into her body and revealed the upper half of her body, which appeared exactly like her previous posts of her body. This was a provoking move in itself but the message that followed it spoke even louder.

In her statement, Kardashian shares with Instagram and Twitter that she has struggled with her body image and recounts public judgment by listing examples of negative comments made about her appearance. She continued, not asking for sympathy, but to be acknowledged for just being human by the public. Kardashian did confirm lighting, filters, and edits are incorporated into her photos but that such things are similar to doing one’s makeup, getting their nails done, or even wearing heels.

Not to say males cannot be affected by the unrealistic ideologies that are perpetuated throughout our society, however, the young, female consumers on social media are vulnerable to being impacted by unrealistic images that are posted among all platforms. With that being said, body positivity is extremely important to bring up in moments like Kardashians. Though society, especially the marketing world, has made some progress to include more diverse subjects of all sizes and races, there is always more room for improvement. Celebrities can and should incorporate themselves into the conversation on body positivity, like Kardashian. Millions of people are subject to a celebrity post, and because of that, celebrities can bring more awareness of the insecurities some may deal with and build a community that can promote body positivity.

Social media is a platform for expression, and people, celebrities or not, should feel safe enough to be able to express themselves however they feel comfortable.

Is the United States going to boycott the Winter Olympics in Beijing?

ANTHONY PILOTTI

STAFF WRITER

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any countries around the world have considered the option of pulling out of the Winter 2022 Beijing Olympics over concerns about human rights violations and the repression and genocide of ethnic Uyghur Muslims in the Chinese province of Xinjiang. Amid this atrocious human rights abuse, China is trying to strong-arm the United States into competing, despite all concerns.

An article from the Washington Times stated that “Chinese officials

warned that a U.S. boycott will be met with wrath not only from the Chinese government, but also the Chinese people.

Major U.S. companies and American economic interests would suffer as well,” Beijing said. The Biden administration has declined to speak on their current stance in relation to the 2022 Winter Olympics. White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said, “We have not discussed, and are not discussing, any joint boycott with allies and partners.”

After the Chinese Communist Party has seized Hong Kong and diminished its two-party one system rule, taking Hong Kong politically and establishing its rubber stamp politicians as well as escalating aggressions in the Indo-Pacific, there seems to be no end to China’s lust for power. Florida Rep. Mike Waltz, according to Newsweek, has said he does not believe the United States in good conscience should participate in the quadrennial Olympics hosted by a “brutal dictatorship” which is following British

politicians supporting a boycott of Beijing in the 2022 Olympics.

There are some other options--the Winter Olympics could be moved and hosted by a different country. The cost of the Winter Olympics is a huge factor, since it costs approximately $11.1 billion to host it. It would be a massive undertaking to move it so soon to the event. A report by the conservative American Enterprise Institute states, “Make no mistake, every country that sends a team to Beijing will be complicit in China’s worst abuses.” Every participant in the Olympics around the world should find a new venue other than Beijing or boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics. Genocide and ethnic cleansings are unacceptable.

Considering the United States and its historically neutral standpoint until aggressed upon, there needs to be some recourse for the actions China has taken.

The United States and its allies should participate in the 2022 Winter Olympics, but only if they are held in an-

other location. Perhaps they could be held in the USA, Europe, Australia, South, or Central America. There are many places in the world to hold the Olympics, that is if the host wants to foot the bill.

If the United States were to boycott the Winter Olympics, there stands a tricky ultimatum. According to CNBC and Eurasia Group analysts, “If a company does not boycott the games, it risks reputational damage with Western consumers. But if it does, it risks being shut out of the Chinese market.” So then what is more important to these companies-holding onto their reputation in the West or holding onto the Chinese market?

The answer will come in time. Until the Games begin, the waiting game has begun, and onlookers will have to choose what is right in their eyes and make a decision if the Winter 2022 Olympic Games are held in Beijing. Only time will tell if people will be complicit in viewing the Games, or if people will simply flip the channel and tune out.

4 News

APRIL 13 - APRIL 19, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Travel to resume at pre-pandemic levels soon according to CDC continued from pg. 1

COURTESY // Instagram Rohnert Park residents holding up signs to protest against Foppoli, the mayor of Windsor, who was accused of sexually assaulting multiple women.

Foppoli urged to resign by all 8 local mayors amid accusations of sexual assault continued from pg. 1 part of a pattern, wherein Foppoli seeks to disarm potential victims with wine.

Foppoli has even publicly stated that “if all mayors poured wine for people who are upset, you’d get through a lot of problems quickly” and that it is “hard to stay mad at your mayor when he keeps pouring you wine,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The women who came forward have said that they did so because they feared Foppoli would continue his behavior, especially if he continued to pursue positions of political power. Some said they feared coming forward initially because they were either unsure of what to do, or afraid of what would happen if they did.

“I wanted to tell who did that to me,” one victim said for the San Francisco Chronicle, “but I was too afraid because he was the mayor.”

The details of each incident are extremely troubling, although Foppoli has denied all of the allegations and refuses to heed the mounting demands for his resignation, calling the accusations “unfounded” and “false” in a statement released Saturday.

Many Sonoma County residents have come out in support of the women who came forward, and are furious with the Press Democrat for subduing the story when it first emerged two years ago. Editor Richard Green issued an apology for the newspaper, citing that though he was not an editor for the paper until six weeks ago, he feels compelled to ensure that the mistake will never be repeated.

“Our handling of the Foppoli story two years ago runs counter to our unflinching commitment to holding powerful individuals accountable for their actions. And on behalf of our entire leadership team, we again apologize,” Green wrote.

Foppoli is currently under formal investigation by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s office. He is to be expelled from The Russian River Valley Winegrowers Association; he is suspended by the Sonoma County Vintners; Active 20-30, a national civic group, plans to expel him; Leadership Santa Rosa is ousting him too.

Among those calling for Foppoli’s resignation are all eight other mayors in Sonoma County, at least two Council members, and several other state and local officials. All in all, over a dozen lawmakers have expressed their desire for Foppoli to resign.

The legal actions that can be taken against Foppoli are still disputed, as the California statute of limitations raises issues against using older allegations as anything other than evidence to support patterns of behavior described in more recent allegations. Other evidence against Foppoli is currently being collected and assessed, though it appears that there is a fair amount of evidence against him, according to details from the San Francisco Chronicle.

As this story continues to develop, Sonoma County residents will wait solemnly to see what becomes of Foppoli and the women who have accused him of sexual assault.

One such resident, Healdsburg freelance writer and editor Matt Villano, said that his “heart breaks for the women [Foppoli] victimized”, that “they are heroes for coming forward” and “this man’s depravity knows no bounds.”

“There is no place in our society for sexual predators. None. I also patently reject misogyny in all forms,” Villano said, “I believe women. I support women. I’m not making these statements as a ‘father’ or a ‘husband,’ but instead as a human being. And I hope Dominic Foppoli ends up in jail.”

Local residents call for resignation of Sheriff continued from pg. 1 get cut of $14.2 million which will ultimately affect two substations, the Henry 1 helicopter program, and would eliminate 26 jobs.

Essick’s video listed the effects of the budget cuts and informed local residents to contact the Board of Supervisors if they have any comments, suggestions or thoughts regarding the probodes bill.

One local resident from the Sonoma Coast area commented under Essick’s post and stated, “Come on be real this is not where cuts need to be made at a time when our country needs every bit of their policing and disaster responders.”

On the other hand, responses from multiple elected officials show that they are not in favor of Essick’s decision to post the video and explain their thoughts.

According to the Press Democrat, interviews from elected officials show their disappointment towards the sheriff’s efforts to utilize social media as a way for persuasion.

Supervisor Susan Gorin, the board chair, stated “I think each department could have gone onto Facebook and said, ‘Look at what the county is making me do.’”

Additionally, Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, the board chair, and Zane also contributed to the response by explaining how the video would make no effort to persuade them into changing the decision of the budget cuts.

“I am never persuaded by political posturing, which is how I view this. I’m persuaded by data, by numbers, by thoughtful conversations with constituents that are based on reality – not a particular view of reality,” Hopkins stated.

With Essick’s past and current decisions made without consulting elected officials, there seems to be tension rising between the sheriff and the Board of Supervisors.

“Now, you’re not only not supporting us, but you’re declaring war on us. Very, very poor judgment,” said Zane.

More recently, Essick asked a Sonoma County Superior Court Judge, Arthur Watking, to intervene in a current and pending case by issuing a temporary restraining order to restrict public records from being released relating to Hopkin’s accusations against Essick for harassment and bullying.

After Hopkins filed a formal complaint with the county’s counsel office, an investigation was led to look into the sheriff’s behavior where the findings were concluded in December, but still remain a secret due to the temporary restraining order.

In an article published by the Argus Courier, they state that Zane believes that the sheriff acted improperly towards Hopkins.

On the March 3 hearing, The Press Democrat was given the opportunity to intervene with the case and discussed California’s transparency laws being applied to elected officials.

Executive Editor of The Press Democrat, Richard A. Green stated, “We think Sheriff Essick’s lawsuit to hide these documents from the public was an evasive move to avoid being transparent to the constituents he serves, and we hope he complies with the county’s call for these records to be released.”

As of last Sunday, the Press Democrat reported a growing number of protestors in Santa Rosa who demanded for the Sheriff’s formal resignation due to the ongoing events.

The local Santa Rosa organization, Love and Light, rallied to protest in-person, but also utilized their social media account on Instagram to pinpoint all of the misconduct that the Sheriff demonstrated.

Love and Light’s Instagram post states, “Contrary to the Sheriff’s mission statement, he has repeatedly broken the good faith of the partnership with this community. He has tarnished the integrity of the office, and stands brazenly defiant, unapologetically, a roadblock to progress, rather than a steward of good will.”

you’re only allowed to visit and view certain select landmarks.

When Sonoma State University (SSU) student Kristen Monteverde was asked about any plans for traveling soon, she said, “I’m going to be traveling once I get vaccinated.” She went on to say, “I’ll be sure to wear a mask and bring plenty of hand sanitizer when I do decide to travel.”

Public Health experts have been reporting on the decline in COVID-19 related cases in Sonoma County for around two weeks. As many people are looking for guidance from federal officials, many are still uncertain about travelling due to restrictions and family commitments.

SSU staff member Eliza Hemenway said, “I have no current plans to travel, but that has more to do with my work and family commitments versus Covid restrictions.”

With restrictions and travel guidelines constantly changing depending on your county, Eliza also said, “With changing restrictions it makes it difficult to plan out, so I think shorter, closer to home trips make more sense from a practical standpoint.”

When travelling, you have to adhere by your own county guidelines, and by the counties guidelines that you’re travelling to. COVID-19 testing is usually mandatory for individuals when travelling by airline in order to skip the two week quarantine some states require.

When traveling to certain states, you must show mandatory proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of your departure and landing. With the testing having to take place within 72 hours, people are finding it difficult to plan everything according to the mandatory testing time.

Companies in the tourism industry are still taking financial hits. CNBC said, “Airlines, hotel companies and others in the tourism industry have urged government authorities to work toward lifting travel restrictions, such as a more than yearlong entry ban on most noncitizens from Europe into the U.S. and vice versa. They also called for government officials to set standards for digital health passports as more people are vaccinated.”

As Coronavirus cases across the country are slowly decreasing, Sonoma County COVID-19 cases are also dwindling down. The latest report by the Health Department states that around 4 new cases are popping up daily per 100,000 people in Sonoma County.

As residents of Sonoma County are still in the red tier for COVID-19, they’re hoping to be in the orange tier sooner than later. In order for counties to be officially in the orange tier, they have to have a number of under 6 cases per 100,000 people. The cases in the county also have to be decreasing for two weeks straight in order for the tiers to move. Sonoma County has been dropping in COVID-19 related cases since late March. With most surrounding counties already in the orange tier, Sonoma County businesses are gearing up for the change.

The wine industry in Sonoma County came to a sudden and harsh halt when the virus was first spread throughout the country. And that wasn’t the only thing putting their business to a stop, The Los Angeles Times wrote, “...the pandemic wasn’t the only cataclysm to befall the regions winemakers during last year. Massive wildfires, heavy smoke and 100-degree-plus summer days also took a toll.”

With CDC travel guidelines opening up, there almost certainly will be a demand and expectation that wineries will be opening up and having normal tasting options. California has announced that they will get rid of the colored tier system by June 15 and the entire state will be reopened to pre-pandemic standards.

STAR // Brandon Sparks Travelers wearing masks deboard a plane at the Oakland Airport. According to the CDC, travelers will soon be allowed to fly internationally.

News 5

APRIL 13 - APRIL 19, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Criminal justice department follows through on grievance with Dean

BRYCE GALLAGHER STAFF WRITER

O

n March 18, faculty members from the Criminology & Criminal Justice Studies department took to the Academic Senate’s weekly meeting to address their case with the Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Dr. Troi Carleton. Multiple professors within the department signed and filed a grievance with the University, stating that Carleton overstepped her role as dean, an accusation which she denies.

In early February, Dr. Emily Asencio, a professor at SSU, was removed from her position as Internship Coordinator for the CCJS department. Carleton claims this decision was due to a “personnel matter”. Carleton then took over the position herself and opened up a new section of CCJS 499, the department’s internship course, with herself as the instructor.

“The filing of a grievance should always be the last resort. However, the CCJS faculty feel that our complaints have fallen on deaf ears,” said Dr. Napoleon Reyes in an email to the STAR, “The Dean continues to act as CCJS Internship Coordinator and still serves as the class instructor of the second section of CCJS 499 despite the fact that she is not a member of the CCJS Faculty and is not qualified to teach any CCJS class.”

The Academic Senate came to a resolution after the March 18 meeting stating that, “... the SSU Academic Senate opposes all acts of administrative encroachment into curricular matters.”

However, the CCJS department feels like just opposing the Dean’s actions isn’t enough.

“A strong statement from the SSU Academic Senate is needed in a case like this because administrative encroachment into curricular matters is a very serious violation of CSU and SSU policies,” Reyes said.

The Curriculum Committee of the School of Social Sciences also issued their resolutions in agreement with the CCJS department, condemning Carleton and calling for President Judy Sakaki to reverse the Dean’s actions.

“This is very significant because the Curriculum Committee of the School of Social Sciences is composed of all department chairs and program coordinators from the School of Social Sciences, and they called out their own school dean for violating CSU and SSU policies and encroaching into curricular matters,” Reyes said.

Even with the backing of the Curriculum Committee, the CCJS department is still struggling to reach a solution with the University. During the March 18 Academic Senate meeting, Interim Provost Karen Moranski made a claim saying that the University offered to settle with Asencio and the CCJS department, but the department denied the terms.

Reyes says that is not at all what occurred and detailed the events leading up to this claim.

The CCJS department did in fact agree to settle with the University but under significantly different terms than those that were finalized. The department sent a list of 6 proposals in which Moranski and the University had initially agreed to, but when the settlement was returned to Reyes and Asencio, it was not the same list they had sent out.

“My decisions continue to support the students. And the University President, likewise, puts students first. Student voices were left off the resolution that CCJS wanted the Senate to pass,” Carleton said.

Some of these requests include removing Dean Carleton as internship coordinator and instructor of CCJS 499, restoring Asencio’s position as internship coordinator, and a request

COURTESY // Sonoma State Staff members of the CCJS department pose for a photo in 2019. Dr. Emily Asencio (second from left) was restored as internship coordinator following an alleged improper removal by the Dean. that Carleton refrain from interfering with CCJS curricular matters. However, the only resolution passed was the removal of Carleton as instructor, with Asencio taking her place.

“We feel that the SSU Academic Senate should have issued a stronger resolution by including the rationale for the resolution, condemning what the Dean of the School of Social Sciences did, and asking the University President to reverse the Dean’s actions,” Reyes said.

Reyes also said that these types of issues are not new to SSU, as other departments and faculty have experienced similar challenges.

“Unfortunately, the issues faced by Professor Asencio and the other CCJS faculty members are not unique to the CCJS Department,” Reyes said, “Many SSU faculty members from other academic departments have been dealing with similar issues for a long time.

Most recently, the Sonoma Chapter of the California Faculty Association (CFA) filed a chapter grievance against the University as a result of faculty members being forced to teach larger classes or extra sections, which they claimed directly violated CSU and SSU policies.

“It is important that SSU faculty members and academic departments challenge these unlawful actions by University administrators. Otherwise, they become the status quo.

Silence is complicity,” said Reyes.

As the situation develops, administrators can only hope that the future of the department will remain bright, and that the students will have an optimal learning experience.

“CCJS students are among the most impressive students I’ve met and I continue to be inspired by their resilience, tenacity, passion, and curiosity,” Carleton said, “In the end, making sure they are supported by their faculty and administrators is what is important.”

Students with PTSD ask for trigger warnings, teachers want ‘academic freedom’ ISABELLE BARKEY STAFF WRITER

The classroom is a place where students are meant to broaden their minds and experience things they never have before. However, under what circumstances should a student be allowed to be exempt from watching a video or attending a lecture? Which topics are deemed too inappropriate for classroom settings?

In recent months, students at Sonoma State University have begun to push back against one professor they believed should have given better warnings about the graphic content of his lectures.

In one lecture this year, the students of Dr. Ajay Gehlawat, were allegedly forced to watch sexually explicit videos while being forced to have their computer cameras on during a virtual lecture. More than half the students enrolled left this class due to the traumatic nature of this event. Gehlawait declined to comment on the situation, but the matter was taken up by the Academic Freedom Subcommittee and Professional Development Subcommittees at the Academic Senate.

The Subcommittees worked together to come up with a document that outlines what they believe are the best ways to teach sensitive materials in school.

The document states, “Neither the Professional Development Subcommittee (PDS) nor the Academic Freedom Subcommittee (AFS) advocates for the removal of sensitive content. We do believe providing context with any assignment can be part of an effective teaching pedagogy, however it is entirely up to the instructor to determine the most effective pedagogical approach, as well as whether, how and when to provide such context,” The committees recognized that the classroom is not a suitable place to treat someone's mental health nor are professors qualified to treat PTSD. They came to the conclusion to send students to Disability Services for Students (DSS) and/or Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) if they feel the need to miss a lecture due to their mental health.

“A student who is reporting a diagnosis of PTSD or reporting that they have experienced trauma should be referred to DSS if they would like class accommodations, and/or CAPS if a psychological treatment consultation is desired,” the document stated, “Professors are encouraged to help guide students to these available resources. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the DSS office works with students and faculty members to provide accommodations to ensure equal access, while maintaining the academic integrity of the course.”

The statement was discussed at length at a recent Academic Senate meeting. Noela Brambila, the student representative and ASB president-elect, said that she believed that the point the students were trying to make was being missed.

“We're not asking you to remove content from your lectures or to change the way that you teach,” she said at the meeting, “We're just asking you that when you are going to preset anything that can be a trigger for someone that you make it known to the student beforehand. That's where the Associated Students is coming from. We do not feel that this is responding to what we were working for and what we intended.”

Gehlawt, who attended the meeting, believed it would be a mistake to see this as a direct response to the student’s resolution. “We are here to support our fellow faculty with a statement from the perspec-

COURTESY // Sonoma.edu SSU professor Ajay Gehlawat is one of the authors of the document for the Academic Senate. tive of academic freedom and just to echo what was just said, in order for faculty to be empowered to help and provide the best resources to their students, faculty in turn need to be supported,” Gehlawat stated, “In a lot of ways, by providing and disseminating this document amongst faculty, they can turn to a number of other resources on campus and they can direct students to those resources.”

When asked for a comment on the matter, the chair of the Professional Development Subcommittee, Suzanne O’Keefe, responded to the STAR saying, “There is still a lot of discussion surrounding these guidelines in the Senate and with the SSU administration, so I am not willing to comment at this time.”

However, there is an argument that teachers are not qualified to make these decisions. According to studies by Harvard University, the average professor does not have the training to determine whether a video will trigger someone’s PTSD or trauma.

One member of the Senate pointed out that she along with everyone there should really have no opinion on the matter because no one there is an expert in what causes triggers. She emphasized the point that every time this argument circles the University again they always come to the same conclusion; that CAPS and DSS should be left in charge.

The classroom is meant to be a place where boundaries are pushed and minds are opened, but it is arguable that there is a point where topics can be taken too far.

There is hope that the implementation of trigger warnings and direction to CAPS and DSS will expand the learning possibility in the classroom, not limit it.

SSU Alum awaits heart transplant after heart failure continued from pg. 1 In September 2017, Shoda had experienced a rare cardiac arrest, commotio cordis, during a soccer practice at Sonoma State, where she collapsed after taking a hit to the chest from a soccer ball. Head women’s soccer coach Emira Salzman and then husband, Mark Dunn performed CPR to save Shoda’s life during that practice.

After graduating from Sonoma State in 2017, Courtney moved back to her home of Torrance and currently works as an emergency room technician at Centinela Hospital while she is waiting to hear back from nursing programs she has applied to.

Courtney was talking on her cellphone when she collapsed then rushed to Little Company of Mary Hospital before being transferred to Keck Hospital of USC in Los Angeles.

In an article written by Bob Padecky for the Press Democrat, Shoda’s Mother, Dorene Crist “...confirmed that her daughter was on life support at Keck Hospital of USC waiting for a heart transplant.”

“The pain I am in is immeasurable,” Crist said in a text message about her daughter’s status.

Covid-19 regulations have made it very tough on the family to be able to see Shoda at the hospital. There are only two hours a day that they are able to visit Shoda while she rests waiting for a heart transplant.

The South Bay soccer community ( in Los Angeles), held a rally March 13 for Courtney. Shoda’s friends organized a “Run For Shoda” event to encourage people on running 2.22 miles any time of the day and post a picture tagging the instagram name (@Courtneystrong22), while using the hashtag #22strong.

Shoda’s hometown high school, West High, will wear “No.22” armbands for their season to honor the former athlete where she earned AllCOURTESY // Instagram Bay League second team and was voted three times for the coaches award for being a leader on the field.

A GoFundMe campaign started for Courtney has raised over 56,000 as of Sunday, Courtney Strong - GoFundMe. The Star will continue Courtney Shoda was put on life support to follow Shoda’s story closely to give up updates on her health and well being. after multiple heart failures.

6 Arts

APRIL 13 - APRIL 19, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Take a stroll through Sonoma’s sculpture trails

STAR // KC Holtemann SSU students, Tony Baldini (left) and Sam Housner (right) stand in awe by the 25-foot sculpture “Victory,” constructed by artist Bryan Tedrick.

STAR // KC Holtemann Also located on the Geyerville sculpture trail is the unique installation labeled “Windows,” by artist David Mudgett .

JULIA BLAIR

STAFF WRITER

O

ne attraction gaining popularity in the Northern area of Sonoma County is that of exploring sculpture trails which allow visitors to admire creativity in a tangible way. There are various exhibits that document historical moments in people’s lives and their communities.

Writer Patricia Lynn Henley, Sonoma County expert, reports in Geyserville, Calif. when one gets off the Canyon Road Exit and travels between the north and south ends of this trail, they can observe over 25 sculptures amidst the start and end points. One notable sculpture from this trail named “Victory,” is a tall horse made by artist Bryan Tedrick. This large statue demonstrates the resilience of the communities alongside it, those affected by wildfires who have grounded themselves after surviving devastating events.

Other works within this unique trail include “Shimmer” by Hynch Philip, “Blue Grass” by Joe Bologna, “Windows” by David Mudgett, and “The Chase” by Dan Good. She also mentions that the entirety of the Geyserville Sculpture Trail is sponsored by the Geyserville Community Foundation, which displays the collection of work in order from south to north.

In Cloverdale, the downtown area is home to the Clovertown Sculpture Trail, produced by the Cloverdale Historical Society. In this area, the town highlights 12 different pieces throughout the year. One dynamic learning activity would be to participate in the audio self guided tour of the trail that explains each element of the trail.

Both of these towns offer an experience with quality art, history, and dynamic historical landscapes that tell stories to visitors. There is something special about a piece of art that one can grasp as a literal figure in front of them, that aids their perception of historical events as time progresses. Visiting this attraction would be simple to do while following Sonoma County’s regulations regarding social distancing. This venue could also be a potential host for field trips and schools to eventually return to.

In the meantime, there is online access to the trail map and an overview of the sculptures for people to learn from. There are various ways to explore these trails, but regardless of the method the art one observes stands out and tells a story from history and/or passion that allows it to be possible. There is a great range of art

throughout these sculptures that let creativity motivate artists and their intentions truthfully.

Because these trails are always showcasing different works, one can revisit the same places while appreciating a diverse set of artistic ideas. These trails are very close to the heart of the food and beverage scene in Sonoma County, with plenty of choices to consider for either before or after a visit to see these sculptures.

These towns continue to breathe life into some certain historical topics by creatively telling the stories of past generations.

Sonoma County ultimately has an experience for everyone to enjoy and learn from and as restrictions continue to be lifted different experiences will start to return and our new normal will slowly set in. Although vaccinations have been somewhat elusive, access for all is continuing to expand as time goes on. In fact, according to the website provided by the Sonoma County Government, the county’s population has already achieved a 25% vaccine milestone, aiding in the continuation of local reopening’s. Ultimately, safe and informational attractions have and will continue to serve their purpose in neighboring communities.

‘Queer Eye’ star Jonathan Van Ness enlightens Sonoma State students

NANCY INSUA

STAFF WRITER

H

airdresser, “Queer Eye” host, and gymnastics enthusiast Jonathan Van Ness, or JVN visited Sonoma State virtually on zoom on April 5, for a live question and answer session. The night was put on by Associated Students and was hosted by two Sonoma State students, Mac Patefeild and Loren Smith. They engaged in fun conversation with Jonathan as they moderated student questions. Jonathan shared a plethora of personal anecdotes and imparted wisdom about the college experience.

The night began with Jonathan sharing their experience as a non-binary person in Hollywood, and expressed their gratitude for being able to live authentically. They also shared that the pressure to be a representative for the LGBTQ+ community and at times being unsure of how to navigate that responsibility. The spotlight was first put on Jonathan after becoming a favorite among fans on the Netf lix reboot of Queer Eye. Queer Eye has served as a place for 5 seasons now where Jonathan demonstrates their skills as a hairdresser and imparts self love wisdom to the guests on each episode.

Jonathan’s passion for hair began in the summer of 1997 on summer break when they felt the onset of boredom from the previous summer when they were fixated by the ‘96 Olympic Games. While Jonathan’s’ passion was clear, talent came later after a failed attempt to use a 90s staple hair product, Topsy Turvy, and an accident involving a round brush that resulted in a hair

disaster.

JVN has not shied away from using their platform to advocate for political policy, and remained an outspoken supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement and the LGBTQ+ community. During their time shooting Queer Eye in Atlanta, GA, JVN witnessed the growth and conversation around their political climate that they found to be very inspiring.

Alumni from the University of Arizona, JVN began their college experience at 17 years old, happy to be living out of their hometown for the first time in their life. They spent those years as a cheerleader and expressed their love for the sport of gymnastics while doing it. When asked about what advice their current self would impart on a collegeaged Jonathan they responded by wishing they had appreciated the opportunity to learn a bit more. Overwhelmed with the newfound freedom college afforded them, learning was not always their top priority, since then they have been able to fulfill this innate desire for knowledge through their podcast “Getting Curious,” that they started in 2015.

Being a bit of a self love guru Jonathan was sure to share some of their tips with Sonoma’s’ students. JVN reminded students that self love is not linear, but at times messy and unpredictable. They stressed that, “your relationship with yourself is important to nurture and honor” and is the most important relationship you will ever have.

STAR // Sondra Ottenstein The “Queer Eye” star spoke with students about their journey to self acceptance and self love.

STAR // Sondra Ottenstein SSU students Mac Patefield (top-left) and Loren Smith (top-right) from Associated Students speak with Van Ness on Zoom.

Entertainment 7

APRIL 13 - APRIL 19, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Film Program plans 50th anniversary of Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘The Godfather’ CHEYENNE CARROLL

T

STAFF WRITER

he Sonoma State film program is planning an event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” in 2022.

The event, which is still in its early planning stages, will potentially include a screening of the movie and possibly its sequels, interviews and discussions with the people responsible for the film, and a film scholar or critic to discuss the film.

The Dean of the School of Arts & Humanities, Dr. Hollis Robbins, wrote in an email, “We are planning to invite key people involved in the making of ‘The Godfather’, including scholars, actors, and people involved with the production. We would be particularly delighted if the director, Francis Ford Coppola, joined us.”

The event would be one or two days, and “would include talks by scholars of the film, talking about its impact and legacy on filmmaking, talks about the making of the film, and talks about specific aspects of the film, such as the memorable score by Nino Rota,” she continued.

Dr. Marco Calavita, who came up the idea for a 50th anniversary celebration wrote in an email, “With all of the technological advancements of recent years and the immediate access young people have to virtually any kind of entertainment they want, I think the appreciation and awareness of older and classic movies -- the kind that aren’t typically on Netflix, for instance -- has been declining. I think it is always good to promote that kind of cultural and cinematic literacy when we can.”

Both Robbins and Calavita explained that interest in this film was enhanced because the director, Francis Ford Coppola, has ties to the North bay area. Coppola owns a winery in Geyserville, and Calavita said that celebrating his film fits right in at Sonoma State.

Regardless of locality, potentially having people who made the “The Godfather” speak at SSU would be a great experience for students and faculty alike.

COURTESY //Fikirbaz

COURTESY // Facebook Francis Ford Coppola Winery will be hosting a 50th anniversay of “The Godfather” celebration.

The film itself secured three Oscars in 1973; one for Best Picture, Best Writing and Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor in a Leading Role, among several other nominations. References to the movie are still present in contemporary productions that range from commercial advertisements to movies and television shows.

Robbins wrote, “We are expecting that students will gain a great deal from this event… Students who are interested in careers in film will learn a great deal… including an understanding of what goes into making such a groundbreaking film.”

Professor Edward Beebout, the current communications department chair wrote in an email, “Not only is it a landmark film whose director is a North bay resident, but it also ties in nicely with our department’s effort to launch a Cinematic Arts BA degree program in fall of 2022.”

Francis Ford Coppola released the awardwinning film “The Godfather” in 1972.

The major will be an extension of film minor offered through the communications department. Robbins wrote that Professor Talena Sanders, who is the current coordinator of the minor, is working on expanding the minor to a major, and Beebout wrote that the major will be for students with interests in filmmaking and video production.

While the 50th anniversary celebration of “The Godfather” is still in its early stages, and for now sits as an idea that the communications department hopes will become a reality, it provides students with something to look forward to when it’s safe to go back to campus completely.

Calavita wrote, “I think it will be a great opportunity for the community and Sonoma State to come together and celebrate movies and our love of movies, and to point toward Sonoma State’s growing dedication to making and studying films as art and as entertainment.”

Indoor events and venues Read about the history of West Sonoma begin reopening process County

JAYLINE ALVARADO

STAFF WRITER

A

s Sonoma County moves into the orange tier and Governor Newsom has announced that after June 15 pandemic mandates would be lifted. However, the mask mandate would remain and starting April 15 indoor venues are to reopen depending on the county’s tier and with restric-

tions.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle’s website, Sonoma County has allowed “outdoor live gatherings like sports and performances at permanent venues with modifications, like limited regional attendance and in seat concessions only” but not, “indoor gatherings such as nightclubs, convention centers, festivals, and concerts.”

Variety reports that venues will now start reopening on April 15 with the condition that audience members provide proof of being fully vaccinated or testing negative for Coronavirus. Another caveat is that the number of attendees would coincide on the where the county falls under the restriction tiers.

Third year student, Rosario Gonzalez, thinks that “you cannot stop people from leaving their house and business need to run so I think that if we have to do indoor events, they should enforce the vaccine.”

Calif. wasn’t the only state reopening theaters and other sorts of venues. Other sorts of venues, including New York announced the reopening of indoor entertainment locations with 33% capacity.

Caitlin Aaron Vadnais, a third year student at Sonoma State University stated that she was “feeling optimistic about indoor venues reopening soon.” Vadnais went on to say that as a fully vaccinated person she feels comfortable going to outdoor venues but “that being said I still believe that these venues have an obligation to reopen as safely as possible. This means meeting social distancing and other CDC guidelines, and I even wouldn’t be opposed to the proof of vaccination or COVID test methods.” Vadnais added that despite not being able to “think of any Sonoma County venues that I’m itching to go, I’m definitely excited to go back to places like the Fox Theater in Oakland and the Fillmore in San Francisco as conditions continue to improve.”

The San Francisco Giants have welcomed back fans on April 9 who tested negative or were fully vaccinated. Oracle Park was separated into nine zones each with designated concession stands and bathrooms and only at 22% percent venue capacity, according to ABC7 Bay Area News.

Another notable reopening in April is that of Disneyland. They have announced that Disneyland will be reopening the parks as of April 30 with restrictions including that only Calif. residents will be allowed to visit the parks. Public Relations Director Michael Ramirez for Disneyland Resort stated that, “until further notice, only California residents may visit the parks in line with current state guidelines,” and that, “members of the local community to be the first theme park guests after more than a year of closure.”

Another third-year student Bryana said she “feels less hesitant to go out especially since my friends and I are vaccinated,” but worries that “many people are not vaccinated and are going out without taking precautions.” As a Marvel fan, she misses seeing movies on the big screen.

Now that indoor venues are allowed to open back up, venues and event planners are going to have to put concerts and other productions together as well as booking artists and production companies in a safe manner following CDC guidelines and other restrictions as well. It’s yet to be seen what challenges they’ll face in the coming months amidst an ongoing pandemic.

COURTESY // Anirudh Koul Many people are excited to see the process of re-openings for indoor and outdoor events, including sport centers and concert venues.

MARY HELEN ROWELL STAFF WRITER

O

ccidental Center for the Arts (OCA) hosted a virtual book launch on April 11 for “Occiden-

tal (Images of America)”, created by Barbra Gonnella, Mary Pozzi, and Bob Dougherty.

The free event began at 4 p.m. on the OCA’s YouTube channel and remains available to anyone interested.

“Union Hotel proprietor Barbra Gon-

nella and educator Mary Pozzi worked with author Bob Dougherty and local historians to create this visual history of Occidental.

Many unpublished photographs are drawn from Gonnella’s and other private collections as a tribute to the pioneers of this unique community,” reads the book description.

The event began with local writer and artist Marylu Downing sharing an excerpt from her novel “Tales from the West Pole”.

STAR // Zena Bounsall

For the remainder of the event, owner of the

The cover of “Images of America Occidental” during the official live streamed book release.

Occidental Union Hotel and Sonoma State University alumni, Barbra Gonnella was joined by Sonoma County historian, Gaye LeBaron, in a discussion on the history of

companied with a short description of the

Occidental.

history and significance of that image. The

Occidental, a small town in West

virtual event shared many of these images

Sonoma County, became home to many Eu-

as their stories were told by Gonnela and

ropean settlers in 1849. The book itself main-

LeBaron.

ly focuses on the first 50 formative years of

“The Images of America series cel-

the town, from around 1875 to 1925, begin-

ebrates the history of neighborhoods,

ning in the early 1870’s when Italian immi-

towns, and cities across the country. Us-

grants first began arriving in the town.

ing archival photographs, each title pres-

“Probably one of the greatest inspira-

ents the distinctive stories from the past

tions for the book, along with memories,

that shape the character of the community

were the fact that our ancestors had the cour-

today,” reads the back cover of the book.

age to immigrate to Occidental,” said Gon-

At least 90 viewers were in atten-

nella, “I believe we are so blessed to live in

dance for the initial release of the pre-

this exquisite setting, to be surrounded by

recorded virtual book premier, with some

lovely people and wonderful cuisine.”

leaving comments stating how much they

Many of the images used in the book

enjoyed and appreciated the images being

were found by Gonnella in the Union Hotel

shared and the conversation between Gon-

which was built in 1879 and has been in her

nella and LeBaron.

family since 1925, “The Union is such a hub

The book was first released in Sep-

for history, I’m so grateful to have a lot of

tember of 2020, but due to the COVID-19

pictures and articles to honor those who have

pandemic, there had not been a book re-

come before us,” said Gonnella in an article

lease party, until the OCA offered to host

for the PacificSun.

one. Today, copies of the book can be

Each image published in the book is ac-

found online or at the Union Hotel.

8 Student Life

APRIL 13 - APRIL 19, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Social Justice Week comes to a close NOAH PHILPOTT STAFF WRITER

J

ust this last week, Sonoma State presented its seventh annual Social Justice Week. The school held various zoom meetings to provide a space for not only the SSU student body, but the community as well, to contribute ideas, gain perspective, and get an understanding of current social issues.

SSU’s Social Justice Week began March 23, 2015, with the support and leadership of faculty, including professors Dr. Peter Phillips and Dr. Diana Grant. It consists of 30-60 hours of lecture, discussions, films, presentations, panels and activities from guest speakers, students, and other faculty. This is a yearly event that covers a range of topics from teachings

by Dr. Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz.

The annual event at SSU was founded by a student named Shelby Wade, who was a transfer student from Sierra College. Wade’s ultimate goal was to bring the passion and activism from her old school to SSU. “My goal was to stimulate information and social action at a school that had lost its 1960’s era activism of people like Ruben Salazar and Mario Savio. Beginning in 2015, Social Justice Week at Sonoma State started a conversation and ignited the campus and community in a week of engagement that hasn’t stopped since. I am so proud of what this event has become and cannot wait to see it continue to increase community awareness and create students who are socially engaged in justice work,” Wade explained.

SSU wanted to highlight the people and organizations that are creating new ways to lift up and bring attention to the social injustices happening to marginalized groups in our communities. The university held 20 different virtual zoom meetings to spend an hour at a time getting to know the changemakers in our community, meeting different faculty, playing games, and having the chance to win prizes.

The various meetings included discussions about diversity and social justice, sustainability and environmental inquiry, connectivity and community engagement, as well as adaptability and responsiveness. The movement will distinguish itself as a diverse, socially responsible learning community. Drawing from the cultural, intellectual, and economic resources of its location, it works to enrich and strengthen its educational programs and community connections that result in more equity on campus and in the region.

“Social Justice Week will reach a new level as we want to intellectually open the mind of the community to attract many members in order to help pursue a future of equality that we desire. Sonoma State is taking on the challenge to fulfill that gap of social disparities and fight for a future that will be a positive impact on many different groups and solve inequality issues,” says SSU student Luis Diaz Mendoza.

To wrap up the event, faculty organizer Caitlin Henry and President

COURTESY // Sonoma State University On April 8, SSU held an online event about how to support immigration through public art, as apart of Social Justice Week. of the SOCI Club Tania Arango Rodriguez held a virtual zoom meeting to present awards for the week, as well as a closing ceremony. The three awards given were the Justice Impact award, the Justice Awareness award, and the Seawolf Commitment award.

Director of Native American Studies, Dr. Erica Tom, received the Justice Impact award for her efforts of going above and beyond in the classroom practicing social justice in the larger SSU community.

Tom is responsible for bringing an Ethnic Studies perspective to the English curriculum in the Summer bridge Program, centering texts by writers of color and supporting students in developing their unique voices.

Student Amal Munayer was awarded the Justice Awareness award for dedication to supporting first ge ne r at ion college and historically low income students. She did her part, and more, by guiding students as an academic advisor, as well as supporting all her fellow students holistically with an understanding of the complex trauma, imposter syndrome, and resilience experienced by many students of color.

Last but not least, Vice President of the Native American Progressive Students, Tori Millendez, won the Seawolf Commitment award for her activism and participation in important events, as well as amplifying marginalized voices and centering critical social justice issues. Millendez has been an important guest speaker, where she has talked about intersectionality, and moving beyond racial stereotypes.

Arango Rodriguez closed out the week by saying, “My heart is so full with gratitude of everything we have heard over the week, with what it means to highlight injustice and how that shows that every social justice issue that we plug into is interconnected. Knowing that the work that you are doing in these topics is just going to continue to build this more sustainable world that we are all working to build together.” Rodriguez went on to thank everyone for participating in Social Justice Week, and looks forward to continuing the tradition next year, hoping to get the full effects in person.

Sonoma State commemorates Transgender Week of Visibility

COURTESY // Instagram For Transgender Week of Visibility, Sonoma State celebrated transgender people and their contributions to society, as well as raised awareness of worldwide discrimination.

KAITLIN BREEN STAFF WRITER

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nternational Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual event, occurring every year on March 31, and it is dedicated to raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of transgender people and their contributions to society.

SSU commemorated this day by hosting a Transgender Week of Visibility, complete with events hosted by the HUB. These events were moderated and facilitated by a team of individuals who all have varying experiences in the trans and/or gender diverse community.

The various events hosted throughout the week ranged from fun activities, like a game night hosted by a local LGBTQ+ non-profit organization, to informative ones, like the trans-inclusive sex education workshop hosted by Planned Parenthood. There were also panels, which allowed space for trans* individuals to talk about their experiences with transphobia, among other different types of discussions..

The Transphobia Workshop hosted by the HUB was a space for allies to learn about the harmful impacts of transphobia, and to hear from individuals who have experienced it personally. The workshop encouraged participants to think about what harmful things they have been taught to believe about transgender people.

Melle Browning, the first moderator of this event, is a queer, gender non-conforming trans man and counselor at SSU’s Counseling and Psychological Services. Browning is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, earning his Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Dominican University of California. He also earned a BA in Psychology with a minor in Women and Gender Studies from Sonoma State University.

Browning works from an intersectional, trauma informed, anti-oppression lens and a focus on equity in care.

Another facilitator, Orlando Kai O’Shea, is a transmasculine student at SSU studying psychology. He is a long time volunteer at Trans Lifeline crisis hotline and a founding committee member for TransLife, which holds a yearly conference in Sonoma County for the transgender community. He is on the board of directors of Positive Images LGBTQ Center, and co-facilitates the SSU transgender support group.

The last facilitator of the event, Ariel Erskine, is a pansexual woman with a trans experience and is a filmmaker and illustrator, and drummer for folk-punk band, Gender

Trash. Erskine is a mother of five children, and currently lives in Northern California with her girlfriend and their blended family. She seeks to bring attention to the rights of the LGBTQ+ community and other social and civil liberties issues through her art and community activism.

The workshop began by discussing the myth that transgender individuals can just “try harder” to live within the sex they were born into, rather than cisgender people actively working to validate and accept transgender people. This myth leads to transphobia, and violence against transgender people.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, “2020 has already seen at least 44 transgender or gender non-conforming people fatally shot or killed by other violent means, the majority of which were Black and Latinx transgender women. We say “at least” because too often these stories go unreported or misreported.”

Checking in is critical, because many times, even the best intentions can lead to unsafe situations for trans* individuals; Erskine talked about their own experiences with someone who introduced her to everyone as their trans friend, which essentially minimized the other parts of Erskine’s life, while placing their trans* identity frontand-center. O’Shea bounced off of Erskine’s comment, and said, “be really careful about not outing people.”

O’Shea talked about the dangers that outing someone can create, saying that with every time he is outed to someone, is “another opportunity to put me in danger,” and said, “there are a lot of risks to being openly trans and that’s a good thing to understand.”

Browning discussed privilege, and how having trans-masculine privilege (though not necessarily, male privilege), among other types of privilege, can affect how someone navigates the world as a trans or gender non-conforming person.

There are resources on campus for transgender, queer, and questioning students through SSU’s campus. The HUB hosts workshops, groups, and events which encourage conversation about gender and sexuality in an open environment; the Queer Students Alliance is also a safe space for transgender, gender diverse, queer, and questioning students. Students in need of support, or facing transphobia, can reach out to Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) to get the support they need.

APRIL 13 - APRIL 19, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Student Life 9

SSU opens up outdoor study area

CAROLINE MORALES STAFF WRITER

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ue to the COVID-19 pandemic, many Sonoma State students have missed studying at some of their favorite spots on campus. Starting this month, Sonoma State Associated Students opened a new Seawolf Outdoor Study Area on campus at the Green Music Center to allow students to safely return to study on-campus.

The Seawolf Outdoor Study Area will be open each week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Due to the need for social distancing, students are only allowed to sign up for a maximum of two, one-hour time slots each day.

The Seawolf Outdoor Study Area will have tables, chairs, hand sanitizer, power strips for charging devices, and wireless printing. Prior to entering campus or the Outdoor Study Area, students must complete a Daily Wellness Screening to ensure the safety of themselves and others.

While using the Seawolf Outdoor Study Area, students must wear a mask and socially distance from one another. There will be SSU staff present to ensure all health and safety guidelines are followed.

Erik Dickson, Associated Students Executive Director said, “we all believed that having a space on campus that had stable internet and was on-campus was going to be helpful to our students who needed to get out of their house and get a new space to study.”

Over the past year, SSU student Rachel Beckmann has missed studying on campus, whether it be throughout the semester or during finals week. “The library was one of my favorite spots on campus to study. I loved going to the library with friends to study and get a chance to study somewhere other than my house,” Beckmann said. Many SSU students enjoy studying outside, in a new space, all while being surrounded by the beauty of Sonoma County.

“Sonoma State’s campus is a big reason I chose to go to school here, mainly because of how pretty its campus is, and how it is surrounded with trees. Having the opportunity to go back on campus and enjoy all that it has to offer is one of the main reasons I am excited to take advantage of the Outdoor Study Area” Beckmann shared.

SSU freshmen that have not had the opportunity to truly explore Sonoma State’s campus other than the dorms are just as excited to utilize the Seawolf Outdoor Study Area.

“Being a freshman, I have not had many opportunities to familiarize myself with Sonoma State’s campus quite yet. When the Outdoor Study Space opens

STAR // Lily Frazier The Seawolf Outdoor Study Area at the Green Music Center has opened up for students to safely study outside from Tuesdays to Thursdays.

on campus, I look forward to getting a change of scenery as I find it hard to always study inside my dorm,” SSU freshman Erin Boyle shared.

Erik Dickson, along with those who are part of Student Involvement and Associated Students, are hopeful that the Outdoor Study Space allows students the chance to safely return and feel connected to campus once again.

“We want to provide a safe space for students to come to campus and study. Not all students have easy access to the internet in their living space, plus the added advantage of the feeling of getting back to campus,” Dickson said.

With finals and the end of the semester near, SSU anticipates that many students will utilize this space as a way to get a change of scenery. More information about the Seawolf Outdoor Study Area can be found at seawolfliving. com.

Veggie Mijas impacts the community

PAMELA MEYERS

STAFF WRITER

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my Quichiz is the founder of Veggie Mijas, an inclusive collective of vegans that aim to share plant-based recipes and create a safe community for people with marginalized identities. Based on their website, Veggie Mijas is “a women of color/trans folks of color/gender non-confirming collective for folks that are plant-based or are interested in a plant-based lifestyle that have marginalized identities and/or experiences with food insecurity/food apartheids.”

Veggie Mijas’ mission is to create a safe place for people to share their recipes, experiences, and plant-based diets through an intersectional lens. Based on their website, their main focus is “sharing space, relearning ancestral practices through foods, sharing our plant-based recipes, and providing access to information our community needs. This is done through organizing events such as potlucks, vegan panels, farm sanctuary trips, learning how to plant herbs, and much more.”

The collective first started as a helpful Instagram page with easy recipes for college students to turn to, and later became a nation-wide collective after the founder realized the problem of food accessibility. Now, the collective puts on events like plant-based potlucks, community events, and educational farm sanctuary trips.

Their recent project was a cookbook called Casa Verde Cookbook that consisted of recipes from ten different countries. The collective has also grown to have 11 chapters throughout the country, in places like Orlando, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Houston. Veggie Mijas has also put on other events like a beach cleanup in Los Angeles, a Queer Healing Circle in Philadelphia, and a Seed Starting Workshop in Miami.

Amy Quichiz is from Queens, NY, and is of Peruvian and Colombian heritage.

She is a first generation college student and got her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Women and Gender Studies from Syracuse University. Quichiz herself has been on her plant-based journey for seven years and was introduced to this new lifestyle by people of color during her first year attending college.

At first, her parents weren’t accepting of her lifestyle and thought that it was disrespectful. Her parents thought that she wasn’t getting enough nutrients from her new diet and just didn’t understand it at all. Later, her parents became more understanding after doing their own research and found that it was more helpful to them and their health and soon, their household became mostly plant-based.

COURTESY // Facebook Veggie Mijas, founded by Amy Quichiz, aims to create a safe space for folks to share their experience with having a plant-based lifestyle.

Quichiz spoke during “Actions You Can Take For Food Justice” as a part of Sonoma State’s Social Justice Week. The event took place on April 6, as one of the many events during Social Justice Week and discussed food justice with the help of Veggie Mijas. Amy Quichiz originally turned vegan after watching the film, Earthlings, and now sees veganism through an intersectional lens. To her, it is much less about the animals and much more about people of color.

At the end of the presentation, there was a Q&A where students were invited to ask Quichiz any questions about her journey and her collective. She was asked about what Sonoma State students can do in our own community to help, and what actions we can take for food justice. She responded by saying that “the first step is seeing if anyone is already doing the work” and getting involved with them. Other things that students can do is go to farmers markets and see if there are any workshops to get involved in and also see “if people are doing anything to let people know how to cook with the produce that they are buying.”

If you want to start a chapter in your own city, email recruitment@veggiemijas. org to get involved with a chapter, and there is also ”a short process to be an organizer at Veggie Mijas.”

Club sports set to resume in-person MATTHEW SMITH

STAFF WRITER

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ith COVID-19 cases showing signs of slowing in Sonoma County, club sports at Sonoma State are starting to resume their regular activities. Although some activities can resume, clubs have to abide by certain COVID-19 guidelines that the school has required. This past week, club sports officials received an email from the Club Sports Advisor Michael Dominguez, with rules and guidelines for how they can return to play safely.

Some of the guidelines that are listed include, “... SSU faculty or staff members being present at all times during the event, masks being worn at all times, maintaining 6 ft. social distancing at all times, events staying within a 2-hour time limit, and individuals pre-registering to attend through Engage.”

With these new guidelines in place, club sports can finally resume in person activity, which is something they haven’t been able to do for over a year now. Dominguez touched on the importance of getting the students back out onto the field, saying, “I think our students have really missed this, and haven’t really been motivated to do much. We’ve encouraged Zoom workouts and things like that, but students are pretty much “zoomed out” with classes and internships, and they just want to get back out and play the sport they love.”

In order to schedule an event on campus, students must first fill out an event request form on Engage. After the event gets approved they will then need to reserve an outdoor space through Conference and Event Services. Once the area is reserved and your request is approved, students can create the event via Engage so other club members can sign up to join.

There are always going to be concerns about COVID-19 and the safety surrounding events such as practices, but Dominguez provided some reassurance on just how safe SSU’s guidelines are. “When it comes to COVID-19, everyone has their own level of concerns.

Some are very concerned and some are not concerned at all. We want to be open and under-

standing of where anyone is coming from,” he said. “We’re working with risk management to put a plan together on safely coming back to play. If people don’t feel safe, of course we are not pushing anything on anybody. If you do come back, we have rules on masks and staying six feet apart and things like that. We are putting a lot of emphasis on the safety aspect of it because the last thing we want to do is...get people sick and have the numbers trend in the wrong direction.”

Despite the new guidelines, not many clubs have signed up to host practices and conditioning sessions. “There haven’t been that many clubs,” Dominguez said. “For us, Men’s Lacrosse have been saying they want to get back and resume activities and there’s two or three that maybe want to be back, but that’s it.”

Jack Reynolds, the President of the Men’s Ultimate Frisbee Club, was able to give some potential insight as to why some clubs might not be returning to play quite yet. “Unfortunately we are a smaller club, meaning we don’t have a large number of members,” he said.

“Due to the current pandemic, many are not living in the area so we will most likely not be able to run any practices.”

Even though it may not be the right time for all of the club sports to return to play, the future is looking up for a return to a new sense of normalcy. Although it’s hard to predict exactly what will happen with the pandemic and the resulting guidelines, Dominguez was able to give a little bit of insight as to what the next steps may look like for clubs in the coming Fall semester.. “Hopefully we’ll be back to regular practices, for travel there’s gonna be some different stipulations. Are we gonna have a list of people being vaccinated, or have testing for traveling out of the area? Whatever we can do, if it’s something to help the students, let’s go for it,” Dominguez stated.

Although there is still some uncertainty with how club sports will look moving forward, but fortunately, things are trending in a positive direction for club sports at SSU.

10

Health

APRIL 13 - APRIL 19, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

On April 5, students were allowed to return indoors at the Campus Recreation Center for the first time in over a year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

STAR // Pamela Meyers

Campus Recreation Center reopens indoor facilities

CASEY FABBRI

STAFF WRITER

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fter a full year of closed doors, students and staff are eager to return to the Campus Recreation Center, which opened its indoor facilities back up on April 5. With a goal of promoting exercising and living a healthy lifestyle, Campus Rec will be fully functioning indoors Mon.-Fri. from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. for the remainder of the Spring semester.

Director of Campus Recreation Shelbi Long stated, “Opening the Recreation Center has allowed our students that ability to get back to a sense of what we had pre-COVID. Our students have been waiting for us to re-open and we are very glad we can give them this opportunity.”

She added, “Campus Recreation has missed them!”

In order to keep all staff and students safe, Campus Rec has implemented a limited capacity of up to 16 students, on a first-come, firstenter basis. All students are required to wear a mask, follow signage and markers, and complete a waiver upon first entry.

The health and safety of students is of the utmost importance to Campus Rec staff. Rec employee, Sam Walter stated, “The Rec team will be monitoring who is in the Rec Center to make sure we are at the correct capacity at all times. We will be sanitizing all equipment and encouraging students to sanitize their areas, as well.”

The indoor opening of the Rec is the first, big step that the University has taken to bring students back on campus. Unlike the Outdoor Workout Space that launched in March, all of the Rec’s workout equipment will be available for students to use indoors. “[The Outdoor Workout Space] was a great opportunity for our students as in interim and it’s always fun to workout outside, but opening indoors was always our goal,” Long stated.

The Fitness Center and Cardio Alley are fully open with treadmills,

ellipticals, free weights, and squat racks. Campus Rec sought to open its resources to students and staff during this time, in order to provide normalcy and a sense of hope for the future opening of campus resources.

Executive Director of Student Affairs, Erik Dickson stated, “I think it’s great that the Rec Center staff has worked so hard to get us to a point where we can start to have student resources like the Recreation Center starting to open up again.”

The university is preparing for a full return to campus during the Fall 2021 semester, and officials are still working out all of the details of what this may look like. Campus Rec is hoping that their slow progression towards fully reopening will contribute to a successful transition back into the bustling student presence that everyone misses so dearly.

When asked the reasoning behind the push to reopen so soon, Long stated, “We have been preparing for this moment, so for us it didn’t seem like a big push, just our next step to get our students back working out. We knew at some point we would be able to re-open and we have a detailed plan in place that we have been working on for some time now.”

All departments on Sonoma State’s campus are working hard to ensure that their services are safe and useful for students. The opening of the Campus Rec indoors has given students the tools that they need to stay active during the pandemic, as well as an opportunity to participate in activities that make life feel “normal” again.

“I think it’s important not only to give students the opportunity to have their Sonoma State Rec Center back, but to give students a reason to get back on campus as well,” Walter stated. “It’s very exciting that after a long, stressful year we can look forward to slowly opening more things on campus to bring back some sort of normalcy to Sonoma State!”

All adults eligible for COVID-19 vaccine in April CALLIE ADAMS STAFF WRITER

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resident Biden has announced that all American adults will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine by April 19 due to rising cases and new variants spreading.

This date is two weeks earlier than May 1, the original date by which Biden planned to make adults eligible.

This declaration comes as welcome news to many Americans, who are eager to see themselves and their loved ones vaccinated and protected against the disease that has held the nation hostage for so long.

Elizabeth Oliveira, health outreach officer and second-year student at Sonoma State, said, “It’s amazing that Biden is taking control and ensuring that everyone in the United States is safer from the virus than before and receiving adequate healthcare. I was fortunate enough to get vaccinated early on because I work in healthcare, so I’m thrilled that my family and friends are also going to get that same chance.”

However, Biden has warned that even though vaccinations are going to increase, there should be no premature celebrations.

Variants of COVID-19 are still spreading, such as those originating in Britain, Brazil, and South Africa, with the British variant dominating, according to data from the Washington Post.

“New variants of the virus are spreading and they’re moving quickly,” Biden said last week in a White House press conference, “Cases are going back up, hospitalizations are no longer declining. While deaths are still down—way down from January—they are going up in some places.”

Over 21 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been provided to Californians, and approximately 37% of Californians have received at least one dose. In Sonoma County,

COURTESY // Sonoma News President Biden recently announced that all adults will become eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting April 19, which is much earlier than the previously announced eligibility date of May 1.

where shortages still jeopardize vaccination efforts, 221,266 people have received one or both doses of the vaccine. As it remains, less than 45% of Sonoma County residents have been able to get at least partially vaccinated.

At this time, officials recommend that we stay cautious, and seize the opportunity for vaccination whenever it presents itself. As close as the light at the end of the tunnel may seem, it is imperative that we continue to encourage those around us to mind safety regulations.

“It’s crucial for people to understand how important masks still are. We have not reached herd immunity yet and many are not vaccinated. We must continue wearing masks to protect those around us, regardless of being vaccinated,” Oliveira said.

In a press briefing last Wednesday, Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said that since all adults will become eligible for the vaccine in less than two weeks from now, we can expect a much safer environment in the near future.

“What we will almost certainly see as we get more and more proportion of the population vaccinated, that those case count numbers will come down. But we would not recommend doing anything different until we get well below the level where we are right now,” Fauci said.

For now, the best course of action is to get vaccinated and abide by basic COVID-19 safety regulations in order to accelerate the country’s return to normalcy.

Wellness 11

APRIL 13 - APRIL 19, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

UK now conducting COVID-19 human trials VINCENT SPENCE STAFF WRITER

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he United Kingdom (UK) has been authorized to start the world’s first human trials for COVID-19.

Scientists from the UK are interested to see what the smallest dose of COVID-19 can be to actually affect a person. This will help doctors understand how much of the vaccine will be needed when giving them out.

The study started on February 17, after being approved by the UK government. The trial will be based on volunteers, specifically adults between the ages of 18 to 30; people who are much less likely to be hospitalized or die when infected with the virus.

In a Forbes article by William A. Haseltine, the journalist went into great detail about what exactly the scientists will be looking for while conducting this study: “It’s to establish the smallest amount of virus needed to cause infection, which will give doctors greater understanding of Covid-19 and help support the pandemic response by aiding vaccine and treatment development.”

During the experimental stage of the study, volunteers will be given a dose of the virus that researchers believe to be the smallest dose needed to result in infection. Volunteers will then retire to isolated rooms and will be monitored around the clock. This research will provide health officials and medical professionals with important information regarding how varying exposure levels affect people differently.

While this is much needed research and will provide valuable information, this trial has not gone without criticism.

In a Science News article by Jonathon Lambert, Seema Shah, a bioethicist at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, described the unpredictability of the situation by saying, “I think a case could be made that the risks are acceptable for young, healthy volun-

teers, people might still disagree,” she adds, “especially with the uncertainty about longer term morbidity.”

The ultimate goal for this study is to help neutralize the virus and learn more about the end outcome for later down the line. In learning how different exposure levels infect people differently, researchers will be able to understand how the vaccines can be changed or modified for maximum efficiency. The argument that many people have including prestigious individuals like Shah has is that there are new strains of the virus that are developing that could be stronger and may even be more lethal than the original strains.

When asked how he felt about human COVID-19 trials, Jim Connors, a senior Psychology student here at Sonoma State, said, “I believe that it probably shouldn’t happen, but I do understand it. I understand that COVID-19 is something very real and we need to learn every aspect of it. For myself I just would not want to go under the microscope.”

The details and discoveries from the study have not officially been released to the public yet.

The study the UK is doing will provide more data about what exactly we as a world is up against when it comes to COVID-19. Researchers will be more informed about the many different strains of the virus, which strain is stronger and how to combat all of that with the right vaccine dosage.

COURTESY// Pixabay UK scientists began human COVID-19 trials in mid-February, and their goal is to see if varying exposure levels determine how the virus infects humans.

STAR // Zena Bounsall As Sonoma County enters the orange tier phase of re-opening, Healdsburg is one of many cities in the county encouraging residents to visit their downtown area.

Sonoma County enters orange tier EMILY ALVARADO STAFF WRITER

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onoma County has now moved into the orange tier, the second most lenient tier of the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

The move was announced on April 6 and was made official the next day, April 7. California met another goal of four million people in low-income neighborhoods receiving vaccines, so the tier restrictions were adjusted again. With a virus transmission rate of 4.2 new cases per 100,000 people, Sonoma County was cleared to move to the orange tier.

When California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the state’s initiative to vaccinate two million people in low-income neighborhoods, he also announced that when this goal was met, the state’s tier restrictions would be adjusted. That goal was met mid-March and sent Sonoma County into the red tier on March 14.

The orange tier means quite a lot for Sonoma County, especially because the county had been stuck in the most restrictive purple tier for over nine months. In just over three weeks, the county made the jump from the red tier to the orange. According to Martin Espinoza at The Press Democrat, restaurants can now expand indoor service to 50% capacity or 200 people, whichever is less. Retail stores can open to full capacity as can libraries.

With almost the entire state in the orange tier now, California officials have started to discuss reopening. June 16 is said to be the statewide date to mark the end of the tier system in California. The state’s mask mandate will stay in place and Dr. Sundari Mase, Sonoma County’s health officer, is still cautious of lifting pandemic restrictions. Individual California counties will have control over other restrictions, like social distancing.

According to Luke Money and Taryn Luna at the Los Angeles Times, state officials have said that in order for the state to stick to the

June reopening date, there needs to be enough vaccines for all eligible citizens and low numbers of people hospitalized with Coronavirus.

In an article by the San Francisco Chronicle, Susie Neilson interviewed several experts on what reopening means. These experts said that there will still be some restrictions, like masks and social distancing. The yellow tier, currently the most lenient tier of the blueprint, describes most businesses as open indoors with some modifications. One of the experts, Robert Siegel, said that perhaps this reopening will see that all businesses will be open indoors. Both experts, while hopeful, said that things will probably never go back to what was considered normal in 2019.

With all of the rapid changes in COVID-19 restrictions and promises of a statewide reopening, students at Sonoma State University are looking towards the Fall semester with questions and cautious optimism. According to the University, the county’s move to the orange tier means little change for the school. Currently, the Recreation Center and the athletics weight rooms are open to a larger capacity, most recently increasing indoor occupancy from 10% to 25%. Even with an increase in on-campus activity, the University said that COVID-19 safety protocols will stay in place, such as wearing masks, social distancing and sanitization of campus facilities.

In order to keep up with the ever-changing status of COVID-19, the University said, “We will continue to adjust planning based on federal, state, and local guidance.”

While SSU emails students with important information, students can also find information on the University’s COVID-19 page on the school’s website. There, students can find information about on-campus monitoring, what is open on campus, vaccines for students and more.

12 Photo

APRIL. 13 - APRIL. 19, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Sonoma County enters orange tier; reopening begins

STAR // Zena Bounsall

STAR // Zena Bounsall Crowds safely gather together in downtown Healdsburg after reaching the orange tier phase of re-opening.

Healdsburg residents enjoy the local wineries outside.

STAR // Zena Bounsall Many people gather in the square of Healdsburg to enjoy festivities that they have missed for the past year, due to COVID-19.

Local artists showcased at Sonoma hiking trails

STAR // KC Holtemann

STAR // KC Holtemann SSU students, Tony Baldini (left) and Sam Housner (right) admire the sculpture, “Victory”, created by Bryan Tedrick.

The Geyserville sculpture trail, right off of Highway 101 North towards Ukiah, is one of 4 trails in Sonoma County that is showcasing these unique art pieces.

STAR // KC Holtemann

STAR // KC Holtemann Art of all different forms and mediums are being showcased at the sculpture trail.

The metal horse dubbed “Victory” stands tall in the sunlight.