Issue 12

IN THIS ISSUE

Animal Crossing

Mother Nature Heals

Learn all the best tips and tricks for the popular game. PAGE 6.

Stay at home orders help wildlife populations grow. PAGE 3.

Cheating Via Zoom

Online classes can make it easier for students to cheat. PAGE 9.

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 84 // ISSUE 12 APRIL 21 - APRIL 27, 2020

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

Transforming SSU

@SONOMASTATESTAR

Masks required in public spaces TAYLOR HUMMEL STAFF WRITER

S

imilar to early on during the pandemic when California led the country in stay at home orders, now Sonoma County has taken the initiative as the first county in the state to mandate masks be worn in all public settings. While the initiative was announced on April 13, it was not enforced until April 17. However, declaring this public health order led multiple counties in the Bay Area to follow suit.

The order to wear a mask will stay until public health officials declare it safe to allow the public out

STAR // Seth Baldwin

The National Guard is converting SSU into an Alternative Care Site for COVID-19 patients.

SAMANTHA BILLINGSLY

STAFF WRITER

W

hile uncertainty shrouds COVID-19 and the world’s future, reports coming out from other countries shine a light on the few solid facts officials do know; that an immediate and efficient response to the virus saves lives. In order to combat potentially overfilled hospitals in the near future, Sonoma County has decided to make Sonoma State University an alternate care site.

An alternate care site, ACS, is typically a non-traditional site, in this case a college campus, where patients with COVID-19 can receive medical care and treatment.

There are two types of ACS, general care and acute care.

Acute care is when patients with severe cases of COVID-19 need emergency and life saving treatment.

Sonoma State, as of Friday April 17, will only be providing general care, which means only patients who have low to moderate level COVID-19 cases will be treated on campus. Seawolves can expect the arrival of these patients during the last weeks of April.

Sonoma State’s Provost, Lisa Vollendorf, commended Sonoma State’s efforts: “We have an incredible team of see ALTERNATIVE CARE SITE on pg. 5

Colleges fear dropping enrollment ATHENA FRANKLIN STAFF WRITER

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he coronavirus is impacting the majority of college campuses across the country, forcing many to close for the remainder of the school year. This is affecting methods of learning, teaching, and working for students, professors, and faculty. As college applications are turned in and acceptance letters are sent out to millions of high school seniors eager to make the big decision on where they will attend class in the fall, universities across the country fear lower enrollments and anxiously await formal student acceptance processes and fall registrations.

The New York Times reported, “The pandemic has already cost universities millions of dollars. As they consider the possibility of remote classes into the fall, they’re worried about losing students, too...Already, colleges have seen their endowments weakened, and worry that fund-raising efforts will founder even as many families need more financial aid. They also expect to lose international students, especially from Asia, because of travel restrictions and concerns usually paying full tu-

ition, represent a significant revenue source everywhere, from the Ivy League to community colleges.”

This is a busy time for high school seniors who are usually visiting campuses and going on campus tours to determine where they want to spend the next few years getting their education, but with campuses closed, that is not happening.

With no way of knowing how long campus closure will continue, current college students and potential college students are left with the uncertainty of how their education will continue. This can cause a drop in college enrollment numbers and contribute to high drop out rates.

The unexpected change from face-to-face to remote classes has impacted student’s mentally and financially, which can cause a delay for applying to college or determining if their safety and health is more important than continuing higher education all together. Many college students are in financial hardship with loans, debt, and job loss because of the pandemic, and with very little see COLLEGES on pg. 4

Relief coming to undocumented workers SALVADOR FERNANDEZ

STAFF WRITER

C

alifornia is the first state in the nation to launch a $125 million grant for undocumented immigrants during the coronavirus.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the $125 million relief effort on April 15. The proposal is to offer $500 cash grants to individuals who live here illegally, and the measure provides up to $1,000 for families.

Gov. Newsom said, “California is the most diverse state in the nation. Our diversity makes us stronger and more resilient. Every Californian, including our undocumented neighbors and friends, should know that California is here to support them during this crisis. We are COURTESY // Becker1999 all in this together.”

Newsom stated that undocumented Compassion and humanitarian concerns are changing politics. workers make up 10% of the California their immigration status. workforce, and they are overrepresented in providing esAmericans across the nation began receiving their sential services such as healthcare, food and construction. $1,200 stimulus check from the federal government this According to the Pew Research Center, there are 2.5 month. Others on unemployment benefits are receiving an million immigrants living in California illegally. additional $600 a week from the government for the time Approximately 150,000 immigrants will be able to they are ordered to stay home due to the outbreak. receive cash from this new fund. The fund only covers The $125 million grant will also include $75 million payments to a small portion of immigrants, and the gov- in taxpayer funds and $50 million in contributions to help ernor acknowledged the shortcoming. Gov. Newsom said undocumented workers affected by the coronavirus out“I’m not here to suggest that $125 million is enough, but break.

I am here to suggest that it’s a good start and I am very Undocumented immigrants can start applying for the proud that it is starting here in the state of California.” new fund starting next month.

This grant is partly funded by a non profit organizaThe additional $50 million will be coming from prition, Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refu- vate donors which could benefit another 100,000 people. gees, a foundation that focuses on immigration issues.

However, this money may have limitations in that the This relief effort came about due to the fact that un- grants could be more or less than $500 depending on the documented immigrants are ineligible for unemployment cost of living where the person lives. benefits and disaster relief under the CARES Act due to So far, only $6 million has been raised from the see IMMIGRANTS on pg. 5

STAR // Edgar Zavala

Masks are now required to be worn while in public in Sonoma County and the Bay Area. without them. According to the Sonoma County Health Office, in California, there is still substantial danger that faces the state as a whole. In order to protect the public from the easily spread COVID-19 virus, Sonoma County has chosen not to sit back and wait for more cases but instead work on preventing future cases.

Masks must be worn in any public indoor facility that is located outside of one’s own home. They must also be worn on any occasion outdoors where individuals will be within the social distancing measurement of six feet.

A mask is characterised as a facial covering with “any see MASKS on pg. 4

22 million file for unemployment

TAYLOR CLARK

STAFF WRITER

M

ore than 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment since President Trump declared a national emergency more than four weeks ago. The United States has not dealt with this staggering amount of job loss since the Great Depression.

Critics argue that the government has not responded in a fast enough manner to tame the coronavirus, and as a result of this, Americans are beginning to feel a slow burn because of what some perceive to be the government’s utter lack of responsibility and leadership.

Layoffs are coming from every which way. Restaurants, bars, parks, beaches, movie theaters, and malls were once a bustling aspect of everyday normal life, now it is seen as something we took for granted and slowly becoming more and more out of grasp.

Grocery store clerks, delivery workers, and hospital employees are showing us the true definition of an everyday superhero.

Businesses are being forced to close in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Hospitals are overflowing with sickly patients. Police, firefighters, and nurses are becoming sick.

The government was supposed to deliver a one time stimulus check for adults given that they were in a certain income bracket. This was put into place in order to help individuals fast, as many need the money now with so many job losses. Hardly anyone has received a check.

Everyone has, however, received vague answers and silence.

“We expect over 80 million hard-working Americans will get the direct deposit by this Wednesday,” said U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin at a Monday press briefing. The other millions of hard-working Americans were left wondering when they would receive assistance. In a press release, the IRS noted, “more than 6.2 million taxpayers have successfully received their payment status.”

So far, 29 states are moving toward sending out an additional $600 provided by the federal government for see UNEMPLOYMENT on pg. 5

2 Editorial

APRIL 21 - APRIL 27, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

THE STAR Editorial Board Gill Chaffer, Editor-in-Chief Travis Gillmore, News Editor Ashley Cobb, Opinion Editor Jack Messier, Arts & Entertainment Editor Devon Pique, Student Life Editor Olivia Verbeck, Sports Editor Natalie Dolan, Photo Editor Maria Pineda Contreras, Advertising Manager Jacob Loher, Copy Editor Joe Owen, Copy Editor Kylie Lawrence, Copy Editor Samantha Billingsly, Distribution Manager Corinne Asturias, Faculty Adviser

Staff Writers Taylor Clark, Taylor Hummel, Celeste Barajas, Clark Fahrenthold, Vinny Spence, Noah Philpott, Ana Lara, Jessica Sias, Eliseo Fragoso, Ryan Weiner, Athena Franklin, Maria Pineda, Joseph Owen, Salvador Fernandez, Kylie Lawrence, Craig Zschach, Isabella Simoni, James Harwell, Chelsea Pinkham, Leslie M. Levy, Genesis Botello, Samantha Billingsly, Angelina Infante Photographers

Brandon Sparks, Seth Baldwin, Lily Frazier, Edgar Zalvala

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:

“SSU faculty gives back to the community with masks” Read the story on page 9.

Corrections/Clarifications

The STAR values accuracy and works diligently to check facts before publication. However, if inaccuracies occur, we want to know. Please report errors to the editor at star@sonoma.

Publication The STAR is published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters. Printing is done by Sonoma Media Group. The weekly publication of the STAR is made possible by Instructionally Related Activities Funding.

Opinions

Opinions expressed in the STAR are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the STAR or SSU. The editorial reflects the views of the STAR Editorial Board on issues it considers to be of particular relevance to the campus community.

Letters to the Editor

Letter writers may expect prompt publication in the newspaper’s op-ed section, as space is available.

Letters of up to 400 words will be allowed and must be submitted no later than the Friday before the publication date. Published letters must be free of libel, since the publication is held legally accountable for all content. Although personal controversy will be tolerated, it is the responsibility of the editor to check statements purporting the facts. The STAR reserves the right to refuse publication to any letter and to edit for length.

STAR // Kevin Flores

SSU steps up with Alternate Care Sites; some students concerned

O

n April 8 Sonoma State University announced in an email that the school would be opening up Alternate Care Sites (ACS) around campus in accordance with a statewide directive as a response to the pandemic. Parts of the Sauvignon and Verdot villages, along with the Cooperage and Recreation Center are to be converted into places where general care patients can be looked after.

Images of the California National Guard setting up beds in the Recreation Center can look alarming and the thought of living in a dorm that housed sick people may not be the most enticing thing for incoming freshmen. However, with hospitals being overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is good to see the university step up and do their part to help the community. While creating these ACS around campus isn’t the most beneficial thing for students, it serves the greatest good to the county as a whole.

For those still on campus, the biggest concern is likely that they will now be in much closer contact to carriers of the COVID-19 virus. In around a week, patients will be moving into campus. This may put some students on edge, however, Sonoma State has announced that they plan to rehouse and consolidate students so that they are further away from the Alternate Care Sites. By practicing proper social distancing, wearing face masks,and reducing trips outside of the dorms, Seawolves still living

on campus shouldn’t worry about exposure to the virus.

Patients on campus are to be quarantined so there is no need to stress about running into them on campus. While this isn’t an ideal situation, Sonoma State has plenty of reasons for opening up these care sites.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) there are over 28,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in California alone, meaning hospital staff are overworked and medical facilities are quickly filling up.

Opening up the ACS on campus can help ease some of the enormous stress those working in the medical field are facing. By opening a care facility on campus, hospitals can treat more people, not just those affected by the virus. The ACS on campus will only be housing “general care” patients, patients who only have mild to moderate symptoms of the virus meaning that less care and time is needed to ensure that they make a full recovery. This allows hospitals to focus their efforts on patients that are in more dire need of assistance. By opening up the ACS not only is Sonoma State creating a space to help treat those affected by COVID-19 but it is giving others in critical care the chance to be better helped by facilities that have the resources to assist them.

Sonoma State opening up the ACS isn’t an entirely selfless act. The university will be receiving upwards of $5 million from the county for their efforts. The school has yet to announce what

they plan to do with the money at this time, however, even if the university is receiving money for this endeavor the community shouldn’t overlook the fact that this is still an invaluable resource.

The university is doing a good thing for the community, despite how it may upset some students. Yes, it isn’t fun for a prospective freshman to wonder if their dorm had a COVID-19 patient and sure, some people that still reside on campus may be uneasy living in such close proximity to those who are infected.

Seawolves should try to look past their fears and see the good that this is doing. Sonoma State is offering to care for sick people during this tough time while lending a hand to local hospitals.

It is giving those with extreme illnesses and conditions, not just COVID-19 patients, the chance to receive more thorough and focused care from the only facilities that have the proper tools to help them.

And of course, the university will be thoroughly cleaning the ACS after its use to ensure that Seawolves aren’t at risk of infection once everything is back to normal. So, although the ACS may appear to be a hazard to students, it is in fact a major resource for the Sonoma community.

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

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Opinion 3

APRIL 21 - APRIL 27, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

Quarantine helps wildlife flourish

Chelsea Pinkham

STAFF WRITER

A

s so much of the world remains on lockdown, countless people are yearning to return to their favorite outdoor destinations. But with the vast majority of National and State parks, beaches, hiking trails and public recreation areas closed, nature is seeing unprecedented benefits. Popular wilderness areas are having the chance to heal in the absence of tourist traffic, and wildlife is beginning to venture increasingly into urban neighborhoods. This unexpected side effect of the global pandemic could serve as an opportunity to change the way humans interact with nature.

In Yosemite National Park, visitors can take a serious toll on the resident black bears. Tourists who violate park rules and feed bears can cause them to seek out human contact, creating potentially dangerous animals who

must be “hazed” to discourage them from approaching populated areas. Speeding visitors also kill a number of bears on Yosemite’s roads every year.

But since the park’s closure in March, park rangers are reporting a spike in bear sightings and a positive change to bear behavior.

Yosemite park officials have stated the bears are “having a party” in Yosemite Valley, which is typically crowded with tourists this time of year. Though traveling on roads can usually be a death sentence for bears, the animals have been seen using paved roads to get around in the park. During a Facebook live event a Yosemite ranger stated that “bears also seem to be a little more relaxed when they are out in the open, possibly because it is much quieter in the park right now.”

Videos of wild boars roaming through European cities are garnering a buzz on social media, and sightings of urban wildlife such as raccoons, coyotes and wild turkeys have increased throughout the U.S. In South Africa’s Kruger National Park, a pride of lions were spotted snoozing in the middle of a road- according to the park’s Twitter, this particular pride is typically seen in a region of the park where tourists cannot visit, but the lions have become emboldened in the absence of humans.

While wildlife everywhere is receiving a much-needed break, wild spaces themselves are also getting the chance to heal. In February and March of last year, California experienced a rare “super bloom” of poppies, creating vibrant scenes of orange flowers exploding on lush green hillsides.

Selfie-seeking tourists trampled the protected poppies, wandering off designated trails and causing permanent damage to natural areas across the state. The city of Lake Elsinore in Southern California eventually had to close down super bloom hotspot Walker Canyon entirely, citing unruly and disrespectful tourists as simply being too difficult to contain.This year an abundance of rain in Southern California has caused beautiful poppy blooms, but tourists are unable to visit and cause damage.

Seeing the benefits that a lack of unruly visitors has had on wild spaces could inspire people to respect these areas in the future, making a greater effort to stay on designated trails, pack out trash, and refrain from feeding wildlife, speeding on roads, and other harmful behavior. If outdoor sightseers choose to interact with nature in a more respectful manner, wild spaces could continue to maintain the health they have gained during the lockdown.

Wealth and the privileges it holds

Ryan Weiner

STAFF WRITER

M

any prominent figures in media, sports, and politics have been tested for the coronavirus, as cases in the United States have been blowing out the competition. The U.S. leads the world in confirmed COVID-19 cases, but many people still find it difficult to get diagnosed due to a short supply of test kits.

If a particular country is leading the world in a pandemic, that country should have an abundance of test kits in order to keep track of illnesses and deaths throughout the population, which the United States is struggling to do.

On one hand, the U.S. has a staggering number of middle and lower-income Americans who do not have access to these highly sought-after tests, which affect those in their community and cause an even larger spread of the potentially deadly virus.

On the other hand, many wealthy

and famous faces have been easily tested- some numerous timeseven if he or she is not showing actual symptoms of the virus.

Many people are speculating as to whether or not these upperincome citizens have a “front of the line” pass to the new coronavirus tests, and President Trump was even questioned about it in a recent news conference. Trump implied he has no idea if this is the case, saying “you’d have to ask them that question…some people have been tested fairly quickly.”

Earlier in the year, eight entire NBA teams were tested after a confirmed case made its way into the league. Although it appears that any NBA team or other professional sports organization has special access to tests, it does not mean every team will take advantage of that.

Bob Myers, President of Basketball Operations for the Golden State Warriors, indicated it would be unfair if his team used their privileges to obtain COVID-19 tests. He understands that tests are in short supply and high demand, and if he were to seek special access on behalf of his team, that would not be right.

The only way that Myers would want one of his players or stafftested, is if the member is showing symptoms. This is a good mindset to have as this allows an equal opportunity to people that may have this horrible virus, but cannot get tested due to the shortage of kits.

According to Mayor of New York Bill de Blasio, he wishes the players a speedy recovery, but does agree that an entire NBA team who are not demonstrating symptoms should not be tested while there are patients that are ill in the hospital, stating “tests should not be for the wealthy, but for the sick.”

While many sick patients are in the hospital dying without being tested, many professional athletes not showing symptoms are given a test. As de Blasio implied, the rich are being tested over the sick which proves the disparity in the American health system. The amount of resources and connections a person has ultimately determines if he or she will be taken care of or not in a situation like this in America, and all over the world.

According to recent data from the Chinese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people at lower income levels are about 10 times more likely to have an existing health condition. Such conditions can make the coronavirus 10 times more deadly.

It is so important for people in this country who do not make much money to have the same access as the wealthy and famous, so it can be determined if they have the virus. If the United States provides adequate testing across the country, it would save many lives.

Mental health concerns for medical workers

Kylie Lawrence STAFF WRITER

H

ealth care workers across the world are risking their lives to protect their communities from the novel COVID-19 virus, but their noble work is putting their psychological health in great jeopardy. Not only are they suffering from the anxiety of caring for sick patients--while facing a dire lack of personal protective equipment and rapidly changing hospital protocols--but they are separating themselves from their families and loved ones for weeks on end to avoid the spread of the virus. Health care workers are sacrificing their lives for the well-being of others; they deserve more protection and resources for their mental well-being.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, shed light on the shockingly large number of health care workers who are experiencing high rates of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and PTSD symptoms. The study examined the mental health outcomes of 1,257 health care workers attending to COVID-19 patients in 34 hospitals in China.

Half of the workers reported experiencing symptoms of depression, 45% reported anxiety, 34% said they were having trouble sleeping, and over 71% were experiencing symptoms of psychological distress from the effects of the virus. If essential workers in our community are suffering, it is necessary that psychological support or interventions are provided. Not only do they deserve the help, considering that they are risking their lives and mental health for us, but also because we need our frontline workers to be strong, determined, and healthy in order to tame and hopefully at some point, end the pandemic.

The study also notes that during the 2003 SARS outbreak, health care workers feared they would infect their family or friends and felt stigmatized because they were in close contact with sick patients. They experienced significant long-term stress from their work during the outbreak, and the COVID-19 pandemic is likely causing health care workers similar stress.

During this pandemic, health care workers are also dealing with the stress of not having enough resources, such as ventilators and personal protective gear.

Compounded with the rising number of deaths and sheer exhaustion from working extremely long shifts, health care workers are facing a second crisis. “I’m one step behind on crucial information, lack essential equipment, and drowning in community panic,” wrote Laura Danso, a family medicine physician assistant from Colorado, in a Quartz article. “People look to me daily to provide some measure of reassurance. I have little to offer.”

She writes about how the official recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and her bosses change every few hours, along with she and her colleagues often receiving conflicting information from them. Additionally, there’s a shortage of masks, so they are supposed to use one surgical mask a day, regardless of the obvious risk of contamination from contact with ill patients. Danso shared how frustrating and frightening this crisis is for health care workers like herself.

Interventions to promote mental wellbeing in health care workers exposed to COVID-19 need to be immediately implemented. During the SARS outbreak, stress appraisal and coping framework, as well as principles of psychological first aid were recommended by the American Psychological Association.

Implementing these same services would likely benefit the mental well-being of our frontline health care workers now.

Protecting health care workers’ mental well-being is an important component of addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. More support and resources are desperately needed for those risking their lives and psychological health to fight the virus. Unless we begin to take action, the mental health crisis among health care workers is likely going to one of the most severe, long-term effects of this pandemic.

COVID-19 causes surge for food stamps

Joseph Owen

STAFF WRITER

D

uring a time of unemployment and isolation, low-income families are turning to food stamps to pay for their groceries. While many have applied for food stamps, most have not received the support they need from their state. States like Texas and California have seen huge surges of food

stamp applications that are unable to keep up with them, leaving families to wonder what they will do with no money for groceries.

Many who already receive food stamps will not see an increase in benefits either due to the large population of people applying. With every grocery store being bought out and lines that could take hours to get through, people are unable to get the groceries that they need.

Even with Congress approving $15 billion to help the food stamp program in low-income places such as Pennsylvania, improvements will be sparse.

Health officials recommend having two weeks of groceries in your home prepared, however, it is near impossible for food stamp users. Many live paycheck to paycheck and rely on food stamps.

It is nearly impossible for people using food stamps to buy enough groceries to

feed their families for two weeks.

People are also turning to online grocery shopping to help them get supplies without risking exposure to the virus. However, due to legal restraints, many states are having trouble passing a law that allows food stamps to be used for online grocery shopping. States like California and Florida have been able to pass food stamp grocery delivery, but smaller states continue pushing for online delivery using food stamps.

With billions using the food stamp program, it is difficult to ask them to stay home if they can not utilize online food delivery systems. People struggled to support their families before the outbreak let alone during it. Some are working overtime while having to put their kids in daycare, others are unemployed and are not receiving their normal income. Food stamps are a very necessary and important outlet as many

can not afford the basic necessities of survival.

During this time, millions are applying for stamps just to catch a break, while the people who desperately need them are struggling. Due to the constant overstock of essentials like toilet paper, they are not able to get a single roll.

The small population of the employed must work overtime and are unable to get to their essential groceries before stores close, while others who are unemployed and still able to make money, raid grocery stores and stock up unnecessarily. Grocery stores should be regulating large purchases of overstock for the people who need them, instead of pushing to make more money during hard times. Helping people in need as much as they can needs to be the top priority during these hard times. Food stamps are the best way to help.

4 News New mask ordinance continued from pg. 1

fabric or cloth that covers the mouth and nose,” according to the Sonoma County Health Office. This includes clothing items such as scarves and bandanas. However, it is preferred that community members use masks with a filter to better support the deflection of the COVID-19 virus.

Residents are not required to wear masks during outdoor exercise as long as they can follow social distancing rules. Masks are not required while driving but are required if the windows are rolled down to speak to someone outside of the household. As long as the population follows these guidelines, the spread is likely to begin a decline.

Face covering is no longer an option, as County Health Officials share that a “violation of any provision of this Order constitutes a threat and menace to public health, constitutes a public nuisance, and is punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both.” Therefore, residents who go out in public without a mask are faced with major consequences. Sonoma State alum and Rohnert Park resident, Jensen Bergvall, shares that she believes this to be an important and needed call from health officials in order to keep as many residents healthy as possible.

The order is to protect residents of Sonoma County by covering the ways of spreading the virus from person to person. By wearing a mask, a person is able to keep their germs to themselves therefore if everyone is wearing one, the virus spreading through the respiratory system will be drastically affected for the better.

Riverside and Los Angeles Counties have also decided to begin mandating the public to wear masks while running essential errands during social distancing. It is still encouraged for residents to stay inside their homes as much as possible and to only make trips to stores for essential needs only.

The county, state, and country still have a long way

APRIL 21 - APRIL 27, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

COLLEGES continued from pg. 1

help for college students specifically, this can cause many to rethink higher education.

President David Greene of Colby College, a liberal arts school in Maine, said, “Our whole model of education and of its power comes from close human interaction...If we had to start in October instead of September, that is not a real problem for us, If we had to start in November instead of September, that’s probably not a real problem. What if we started in January and went through August? That would be a very different kind of problem.”

Although that approach might work for certain colleges, many are still left with the uncertainty of not being able to open campus back up for face-toface learning. This will affect the number of students who do not come back and could cause many COURTESY // fernandozhi potential students to never start.

A great number of students also receive funding Masks are the new norm for many areas. through special programs such as athletic scholarto go to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. As infor- ships, which is the only way they can afford to attend mation is shared in intervals as the conditions continue to college, and without the athletics being held, there is change, it is increasingly more important to pay attention to no way for them to continue their academic careers.

All of these factors could cause a decline in higher health officials’ advice in order to slow the spread.

Currently, stats provided by Worldometer share that the education.

United States continues to dominate the global pandemic with case numbers in the high six hundred thousands. Unfortunately, the number of cases continues to rise, with little knowledge to when the pandemic will end. California holds nearly 30,000 cases, with Sonoma County topping over 150.

California’s hardest hit communities include Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Diego.

There is hope that through these new measures in place in Sonoma County and throughout the state that there will be enough containment to reopen the state to more normal activities. However, it is unclear as to what extent normal will be for the country in the coming months. Residents are advised to follow these updated safety measures and to continue social distancing.

NEWS IN BRIEF

STAR // Edgar Zavala

Empty campuses are bad for budgets.

World

Kansas

Authoritarian lockdowns are losing their grip on the populace, as protests have erupted in states across the U.S. in opposition to shelter-in-place orders. Similar, but more violent, uprisings have sprouted in Paris, France and Berlin, Germany.

In one of the first of many court challenges to emergency orders, two churches sued claiming their First Amendment rights were violated. U.S. District Judge John Broomes blocked enforcement of Gov. Laura Kelly’s lockdown orders.

California

Washington, D.C.

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers denied Twitter’s attempt to reveal the extent of government surveillance that exists on the social media platform. Twitter sued after negotiations with government agencies proved ineffective.

COURTESY // Gage Skidmore Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and more than 300,000 signers are petitioning the government for “In- Robert F. Kennedy Jr is questioning motives. vestigations into the ‘Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’ for medical malpractice and crimes against humanity.”

Texas

Canada

Luxury retailer Neiman Marcus skipped bond payments in early April and will be filing for bankruptcy, according to multiple sources. 14,000 jobs will be lost as a result of the firm’s high debt load and the coronavirus shutdowns.

Police claim a a 51-year-old man went on a shooting rampage in Nova Scotia during the morning hours of Sunday, April 19, while disguised as an officer. At least 18 people are reported dead, including a female police officer and the suspect.

Bay Area

Israel

Health experts from around the world are praising the early decisions made by officials in the Bay Area regarding the coronavirus and social distancing guidelines, and the consensus currently is that quick-thinking significantly slowed the spread.

Thousands demonstrated in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square on Sunday, April 19. The crowd opposed embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called for Benny Gantz and fellow Israeli leaders to “Save the Democracy.”

COURTESY // pxfuel

Small-town Nova Scotia, allegedly the scene of Canada’s worst mass killing.

COURTESY // Dark Journalist

Protests in Austin mirrored others worldwide.

COURTESY // Gnawme COURTESY // Piqsel Neiman Marcus’ upcoming bankruptcy is the first

San Francisco led the nation by quickly enacting strict distancing guidelines to prevent COVID-19.

in the luxury retail market.

News 5

APRIL 21 - APRIL 27, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

Unemployment

Lockdowns leave many without income continued from pg. 1

those who claim unemployment benefits. New York, New Jersey, and California were one of the first few states to do so last week. Some states will take longer to process the extra $600 due to outdated computer technology, Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia said this past Wednesday. But those who are unemployed will not lose out because of this, payments will be retroactive to as early as March 29. Those who are receiving these enhanced payments will see this for the next four months, as the program ends on July 31.

The delays are even longer for those who are independent contractors, gig-economy workers, and self-employed who are not typically eligible for unemployment benefits. However, they are covered under two separate provisions in the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act. The filing process is more involved than other workers and could make it even longer for those filing to receive benefits. “It’s a bit of a mess,” said Stephen Wandner, a labor economist and senior fellow at the National Academy of Social Insurance. “Congress was trying to do the right thing for this population,” he said of the expanded pool of workers. “But there was no simple way to do it.”

On Wednesday, April 14, Gov. Gavin Newsom noted that 2.7 million Californians filed for unemployment benefits in the past month. Newsom announced a $125 million relief effort to help 150,000 Californians without legal immigration status.

“We are in the process, right now, of dealing with an unprecedented number of people making phone calls to our Employment Development Department,” said Gov. COURTESY // National Archives Gavin Newsom. “We’re trying to process these applications and we’re trying to turn Not since the Great Depression has the U.S. suffered this scale of job loss. around those applications in real time.”

Alternative care site on SSU campus continued from pg. 1

people working in our Emergency Operations Center and helping to lead our campus through this challenging time. I am very proud of everyone at Sonoma State for helping us help our entire community remain healthy and safe to the best of our ability while we continue to deliver remote instruction to our students.”

The California National Guard has been helping ready Sonoma State and transform it into a functioning ACS, since officials have estimated Sonoma County’s COVID-19 cases to peak in late May and early June. The Sonoma State Recreation Center will house those who are COVID-19 positive but only suffer mild to moderate symptoms. Verdot Village, Sauvignon Village, and

The Cooperage will all be used to quarantine and house those at risk and those waiting for test results. Those who possibly have COVID-19 will be separated and quarantined from others. These buildings have been thoroughly cleaned, and will once again be cleaned before students are allowed to move back into the dorm rooms. Those being held in the ACS will be quarantined away from the roughly 157 students who still remain on campus to ensure the virus is not spread.

Sonoma State may also be receiving up to $5 million from Sonoma County for helping during the crisis.

This total amounts to approximately $10,000 per bed, and while financially beneficial to the university, it has-

students asking questions about the future of the school.

As reported by The Los Angeles Times, there are more than 28,000 confirmed cases in California ,including at least 1,000 deaths, and both numbers are still rising. Sonoma State students must continue to be informed.

According to Provost Vollendorf, a great way students can help during this pandemic is by “abiding by all public health orders, including the strict shelter-inplace orders in place in many counties across the state.

We all have the opportunity to protect public health by practicing social distancing, staying at home as much as possible, and wearing cloth masks when we go out for essential activities.”

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contributors, including Emerson Collective, Blue Shield of California Foundation, the California Endowment, the James Irvine Foundation, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

In addition to the new fund, the state will be expanding the staffing in the Employment Development Department to speed up the pace of unemployment check processing for all Californians who have lost their jobs due to the outbreak. The state will add a new call center which will open on April 20. The call center will be open seven days a week for 12 hours a day starting at 8 a.m.

Governor Newsom’s announcement of the grant received negative views by conservatives and those who argue against illegal immigration. This backlash went as far as to create the #recallnewsom hashtag on twitter.

Some people such as Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove think the money would be better off used on food banks, online education, and local governments. According to the DailyMail, Grove said, “‘Instead of meeting these urgent needs, Governor Newsom has chosen to irresponsibly pursue a left-wing path and unilaterally secured $125 million for undocumented immigrants.”

This isn’t the first time that the state of California has taken a giant leap in benefiting undocumented immigrants. Just last year, California was the first state to provide taxpayer funded health benefits to low income adults who were living here illegally.

Gov. Newsom even proposed expanding those same benefits to seniors this year.

To follow up on those health benefits, the governor has mandated the state’s mediCOURTESY // National Park Service cal assistance program Medi-Cal cover care related to COVID-19 as an emergency National Parks are open and using humor in their COVID-19 advisory. service regardless of a patient’s health coverage or immigration status.

Students impacted CELESTE BARAJAS

STAFF WRITER

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he COVID-19 pandemic is leading students to live a traumatic experience that only leaves them to question when the ordeal will end. Recently, Sonoma County announced the extension of shelter-in-place orders until May 3, which means that students at Sonoma State will not come back to campus for the remainder of the semester.

All students from the U.S., whether they are K-12 or college level, are encountering some kind of hardship in the absence of face-to-face classes. There is enough evidence to say that college students’ mental health has been of concern for some time, attributable to the fact that students are experiencing high amounts of psychological problems.

In a survey shown by the American Psychological Association, anxiety is the top presenting concern among college students (41.6%), followed by depression (36.4%) and relationship problems (35.8%). This survey was specifically conducted to figure out how college students’ psychological problems are evolving.

With being isolated, stuck at home, students are now more susceptible to grow into a deeper depression and possibly become more anxious about how things will be different in each of their classes. Depression can affect students’ capacity to study, work, interact with others, and even take care of themselves. Being secluded to the outside world is very difficult when a young person has so much energy.

Before this shelter in place was announced, when everything was normal, students already had anxiety and stress because of regular class work. Some ways students coped with stress was going to work, working out at the gym, hanging out with friends, and even talking to advisors at school. As a result of the pandemic, now many are jobless, gyms are closed, and hanging out with friends is not recommended.

To assist students, Counseling and Psychological Services, CAPS, advisors at SSU are available through phone and video Monday- Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Jairo Villalobos, a third-year SSU student and member of the university’s men soccer team, said that for him, not being able to exercise has been the hardest because he exercises and trains about six days a week. Villalobos is a goalkeeper coach for kids in Santa Rosa, and he said that what is keeping him away from such stress or anxiety is being able to make at home workout videos for the goalkeepers that he trains.

Though he tries to keep himself busy with school and training the kids, he said, “I do miss seeing my friends, but being able to FaceTime or Zoom them has proven to be helpful. If anything, I just miss human interaction in general because you don’t feel as isolated and it makes things feel normal in a way. Clearly, if I was not a coach, I would be struggling because every time I stream these sessions I am surrounded by a group of kids who want to learn and get better.”

Students and teachers all over the country are having difficulties adapting to this new lifestyle. Teachers have had to change the way they are grading, change the assignments they are giving to students, and overall change the whole dynamic of the

STAR // Lily Frazier

Noelia Brambila, third-year SSU student on campus, studies in her room. class. Not only are college peers having this change, but all school systems are dealing with this new normal.

An SSU alumni who is now a high school teacher at Roseland University Prep in Santa Rosa, Mr. Doherty, shared his concern for how successful some of his students might be, “Typically when I meet with students face to face in class, I can get a good feel for the room and determine how to motivate them to complete their work. Without having direct contact, that makes things challenging. Those students who are curious and motivated will find ways to keep their minds active and will no doubt complete assignments to the best of their ability. I am concerned about those students who are indifferent or unmotivated.”

No doubt will there be students that are unmotivated, and it’s times with trauma like these where students need their teachers the most. Some students don’t feel comfortable enough to talk to their parents about how they feel or what they are going through. Mr. Doherty even brings up a chilling truth of what could be going on in students’ homes: “This crisis is scary. Not only is a virus causing fear and anxiety, but parents are losing jobs, people are turning to drugs and alcohol to cope, and families are forced to spend every waking moment together. As has been widely reported in the media, cases of domestic violence and substance abuse are sure to escalate in the coming weeks and months. Our students are experiencing all of this.”

He continued, “Additionally, the mental health issues caused by isolation and lack of physical activity and nature therapy is real and cannot be overstated. On top of all of that, students are now being forced to spend even more time in front of a screen, including being on social media, leading to an increase in all the well-documented problems those can cause. I’m still searching for answers as to how to best approach this situation and am extremely concerned for my students’ well-being.”

It’s times like these where we all have to come together by being apart. Students will remember this experience forever, which is why it’s so concerning and important to have them not undergo so much damage, for there can be serious consequences in the future. The disruption of their normal activities has become challenging, and so far, not in a good way.

6 Arts

APRIL 21 - APRIL 27, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

COURTESY// Guilliame Laurent Since its post-war inception in 1946, the festival had been cancelled just once: 1968, due to nationwide student riots, known as May 68.

Cannes, others among film festivals postponed to 2021 GENESIS BOTELLO STAFF WRITER

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rom the renowned to the local, events around the world have endured strenuous restructuring and rescheduling in light of the coronavirus outbreak. Yet, among the most prominent in the film industry, The Cannes Film Festival—an annual event that previews new films of different genres from around the world—has been canceled until June 2021.

The decision to postpone the festival from June of this year, “comes following much deliberation with our partners and customers as well as consultation with public health officials, the mayoral office of Cannes and the French Authorities,” said Cannes Lions in its public statement.

“We acknowledge the challenging circumstances facing us all as a community - we have and continue to be in deep consultation with many of our customers and partners as we adopt our contingency plans.

The health, safety and wellbeing of our customers, employees, sponsors and partners remains our first priority,” it added.

Once-excited attendees will be missing out on opportunities to network and recruit the industry’s top talent from around the world, as many companies send their top teams to work in Cannes. In addition to film creators, there are marketing, communications, experimental and creative professionals that continually immerse themselves in the highly regarded festival.

And most importantly, Cannes Film Festival is Hollywood’s largest movie market, where hundreds

of independently financed films find a distributor.

Solutions to help professionals connect during this trying time has gone into the virtual market.

Marché du Film will virtually premiere films that were meant to happen in Cannes.

The virtual market will include screenings and video meetings. Each theatrical screening will screen online and a second run will be available for people in different timezones. The new platform will be based on CInando’s technology and will have strict security measures. The video meetings will be done through the Marché de Film networking app, Match&Meet.

The virtual market will be open only to participants that registered online for a Marché badge this year.

The film festival’s response to the pandemic is creative and innovative for its efforts to support creatives around the world.

Yet, not all filmmakers and sellers are on-board with virtual festivals. Aside from the excitement of dressing in gowns and walking down red carpets, the experience of receiving people’s honest reactions to their films is something that cannot be replicated virtually.

Other reactions of organizers in opposition to the virtual option have been “physical festival” or “nothing”: raising consideration of pushing it further into August-September, affecting Venice and Toronto film festivals.

In response, the festival says, “Nevertheless,

since yesterday (April 15) evening we have started many discussions with professionals, in France and abroad. They agree that the Festival de Cannes, an essential pillar for the film industry, must explore all contingencies allowing it to support the year of Cinema by making Cannes 2020 real, in a way or another.”

For filmmakers, premiering their hard work on an iPhone is not what they had envisioned.

“Films by Wes Anderson or Paul Verhoeven on a computer? Discovering ‘Top Gun 2’ or (Pixar’s) ‘Soul’ elsewhere than in (a) theater? These films have been postponed to be shown on a big screen; why would we want to show them before, on a digital device,” questioned festival director Thierry Fremaux.

Despite the promised, high virtual security, there are still lingering concerns on piracy and rights issues when sharing the films.

Cannes Film Festival has been occurring since 1946, right after World War II. Since then, the festival has been cancelled once in 1968 during the nationwide student riots, known as May 68.

The protest was against capitalism, consumerism, American imperialism and traditional institutions.

Filmmakers of the time included Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut and Claude Lelouch, who showed solidarity with striking students and workers resisting Charles de Gaulle’s government.

Nonetheless, one year’s wait for the traditional Cannes Film Festival will be one that is worthwhile.

‘Animal Crossing’ tips and tricks CRAIG ZSCHACH STAFF WRITER

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pon its March 20 release, Nintendo’s “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” Switch-exclusive video game has seen tremendous success among demographics across the globe. The game sold 1.88 million copies worldwide in its opening three days, still selling strong today. Yet, as game popularity grows among SSU students, different approaches to the game— tips and tricks included—are as useful as they are timely for users across a quarantined America and nations alike.

IGN video game and media contributor, Samuel Claiborne, explains the start of the game in his overview piece, “Animal Crossing: New Horizons Review.”

“At the outset, two brave villagers and a very industrious raccoon family are the island’s only residents.

Cut off from any mainland,” he continued, “it’s just you, trees, water, rocks, and slow accumulation of buildings and animal villagers over the course of several (real time) days,” said Claiborne.

“New Horizons” starts slowly, but, after a couple of days, the game expands—whereby bells, the currency in the game, become a real problem.

One of the quickest ways to earn bells is by visiting Mystery Islands. The player can exchange miles (a different currency received when completing achievements) for a “Nook Miles” ticket and travel to a deserted island.

The game’s “Nook Miles Tickets and Islands Guide,” presented in writing by Julia Le, discusses ‘Nook Miles’ tickets: “With 2,000 Nook Miles, you can buy a Nook Miles Ticket from the Nook Stop at Resident Services,” Le continues, “take the ticket to the airport, and you can fly off to a Mystery Island to harvest resources like wood, stone, or Iron Nuggets,” she said.

Le also discusses various islands that can generate resources and what to look out for when on each island.

When visiting the “Mystery Islands,” look for exotic fruit, rocks and rare animals. Exotic fruit that is not native to the player’s starting island will sell for 500-bells-apiece. The fruits can also be planted to sprout a fruit tree of the same type three days later.

All islands have rocks that, when hit with a shovel or axe, will drop different items of high value. These items are usually iron, clay or rock pieces, which can be useful for many players crafting recipes. Some islands will also spawn rare fish or insects that, when collected, can be sold for a high profit.

One of the most profitable insects is the tarantula.

STAR // Genesis Botello The player (left) pays Tom Nook (right) mortgage on home improvements in ‘Animal Crossing.’

A tarantula island is an island where tarantulas will spawn regularly. This, while very difficult to find, is quite easy to create. If the player uses a Nook Miles ticket past 7 p.m. and gets an island that is relatively flat with small amounts of inland water, they can create a tarantula island. The player needs to spawn on the island, cut down all the trees and remove all of the plants. By making an island where there is only grass, only a few different types of insect will be able to spawn: spiders, wharf roaches and tarantulas.

Once the island is cleared, the player needs to scare or catch all insects that spawn and eventually tarantulas will appear. After 30 minutes to 60 minutes, the player can have a full inventory of tarantulas, which sells for about 300,000 bells.

Another great way to make money with little-to-no work in the game is through buying turnips on Sunday morning from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.; buying turnips in “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” is similar to buying stock in the stock market.

In Lottie Lynn’s article, “‘Animal Crossing’ money-

making: How to get bells fast in New Horizons explained,” she describes the process by saying, “If you’re looking for a high-risk, high-reward investment, then the stock market in New Horizons is for you.”

Largely, earning bells is not a problem if the player does a few different things on the island. Visiting Mystery Islands and collecting the resources there can increase the player’s profits substantially. The fruit collected on these islands should be planted on the main island and harvested for money as well.

If enough trees are planted (around 300 fruit trees), then every week the player can collect at least one million bells from fruit alone. If the bells earned from the islands and fruit trees are then invested into buying turnips on Sunday, the player can generate millions of bells every week.

While approaches like these, beyond growing and playing in one’s island, will take some time to get into, every user from SSU students to impassioned players alike can become rich when following along diligently, as lucrative rewards await!

Entertainment 7

APRIL 21 - APRIL 27, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

Americans can now add ‘essential service’ to lengthy list of WWE descriptors JESSICA SIAS STAFF WRITER

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cross the nation, entertainment-sports have been cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic.

The 2020 Olympic Games have been postponed until 2021 and all sport games have been paused; this, in order to prevent players and fans from danger in any close contact with anyone who may be infected. However, as only few essential pieces of infrastructure remain open in cities well throughout the country, many cite convenient stores and take-out restaurants as those that immediately come to mind.

Think again.

While there are places that remain open, as deemed essential, like grocery stores, pharmacies, and restaurants offering takeout orders, Americans can now tack on World Wrestling Entertainment, known as the WWE, to that list.

On April 3, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) was officially deemed an essential service according to Florida’s Division of Emergency Management. It was added to the list of essential services because its preventative social distancing measures for, “employees in professional sports and media production with a national audience” are not in place if “the location is closed to the general public,” WWE stated.

As public health officials have emphasized the importance of only conducting gatherings if really necessary, it has shocked many that entertainment pro wrestling receives an exception.

Although it is closing the arena to the public, WWE’s pro wrestlers now have opportunities to hold matches: even after an employee of WWE tested positive with the virus.

“The news came as the WWE had recently acknowledged that an employee who had tested positive for the virus only heightened the criticism. According to the WWE, the infected employee was not an ‘in-ring performer,’ and had no contact with anyone else from the WWE since being exposed last month to two people working

in health care,” said Mihir Zaveri of the New York Times.

All WWE performers and staff are required to participate in medical screenings prior to entering the set.

Just as all national entertainment-sport games, matches and events alike have been cancelled, it raises questions as to how, exactly, does the WWE receive a rightful exemption?

The answer appears to be rooted in yet another classic instance of, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”

Zaveri stated in an article for the Times, “The move has also raised questions about the political inf luence of the WWE’s leadership, especially Vince McMahon, the chairman and chief executive of the WWE, and his wife, Linda McMahon, a former head of WWE,” he continued, “The couple has donated millions of dollars to President Trump’s foundation — and Ms. McMahon was appointed by Mr. Trump to lead the Small Business Administration (she resigned from that role in March 2019),” Zaveri said.

The ordeal raises questions surrounding whether President Trump is granting special treatment to his allies.

Governor Ron DeSantis said that his office was considering adding essential business onto Florida’s list on a case-to-case basis.

Gov. DeSantis said, “I think people have been starved for content,” as he continues to encourage support of content of sports and events that do not require crowds in attendance.

While the spread of Covid-19 was happening in Orange County, WWE taped COURTESY // Matt Brink of creative commons shows and featured Wrestlemania on its online network before the Orange County Sheriff’s office visited the Performance Center and Former WWE pro-wrestler Alberto Del Rio stands victorious before demanded that they close down. a sea of fans in one of his first titles. Now, as wrestlers like Rio will In Florida, WWE will continue to film live square off without any fans in attendance, questions raise as to episodes in its performance center without a whether or not performance levels will match up to the challenge. live audience as well as a reduced camera crew.

It is still uncertain if other sports are to follow.

Your next showFree virtual art museum streaming opportunity tours available globally CARSON MILLER STAFF WRITER

MARIA PINEDA-CONTRERAS STAFF WRITER

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s shelter-in-place regulations arrive at the 30-day mark, people are growing increasingly eager to return to their regular lifestyles. This has led to a common thread of citizens feeling as though their typical ways of entertainment are simply not cutting it as they once did at quarantine’s beginning. Thankfully, for the culturally curious, there is still a way to indulge in cultural manifestations and education while staying safe at home.

Fast Company, a monthly American business magazine that focuses on technology, business and design, reports that Google Arts & Culture has partnered with over 2,500 museums and galleries around the world to bring people virtual tours and online exhibitions of some of the world’s most famous museums in the comfort of their very own homes.

Google Arts & Culture, created by the Google Cultural Institute, has a massive virtuosic collection of artistry comprised of works from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the Guggenheim in New York City and hundreds of other places where people can find information on art, history and science.

The collection is a great resource for college students that want to stay on top of their studies while schools are closed, or for those who simply desire another way to fill the days with things to do. While there is an overwhelming selection, the site gives guests a place to start, curating a shortlist of its top 10 virtual museums.

The digital platform utilizes highresolution image technology that allows the viewer to virtually tour collections and galleries of partner organizations as well as explore the artworks’ physical and contextual information. The platform includes advanced

search capabilities, educational tools and is available in 18 different languages.

Though not all famous museums and galleries are included in the Google Art and Culture collection, some museums are taking it upon themselves to go online. According to Fast Company, the Louvre also offers virtual tours on its website. Other museums around the world are jumping on the virtual-sharing trend by posting their greatest art on social media to help people cope with being home.

This includes New York’s Metropolitan Opera, which will be offering free digital shows every night at 7:30 p.m.

Yet, what sets the Google Arts and Culture app aside from guests viewing art tours through, say, Youtube videos or from an Instagram post, is its Virtual Gallery Tour, or Gallery View, creation.

Users can virtually ‘walk through’ the galleries of each partner cultural organization, using the same controls as Google Street View or by clicking on the gallery’s floor plan.

Although a lot of museums had the virtual tours already set in place preCovid-19, the demand for new and different entertainment ramps up as the days go by.

This has inspired other institutions to also go virtual, like The Cincinnati Zoo, which holds a daily ‘home safari’ on its Facebook Live Feed around 3 p.m., daily. Another is Walt Disney World, which has virtual tours guests can take that include Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Epcot, to name a few.

Next time Sonoma State students, professors and faculty members alike find themselves struggling to find the next series to stream or movie to queue up on Netflix, consider checking out a prime way to switch up and diversify one’s entertainment options through touring virtual art museums.

COURTESY // Nicco of creative commons

Users of Google’s ‘Google Arts & Culture’ platform often find a convenient, easy-to-use medium in the service’s offerings.

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ovid-19 has left millions of Americans unemployed, out of school and trapped at home. However, the seemingly never-ending break from school and work has left citizens with more than enough time to stream all their favorite television shows and movies. But what, exactly, is out there for students to enjoy during the hiatus of, well, daily life?

Various streaming service viewership has unironically increased following the stay-at-home orders across the country, informed Netflix Chief of Content Ted Sarandos.

“We’re proud to be part of that, which is trying to make that stay-home experience a little more bearable for folks, a little more enjoyable, even, and give some families something to gather around,” continued Sarandos, “something for people to talk about, making us feel a little less isolated while we are being physically isolated,” said Sarandos in a CNN interview in late March.

The extended time at home has bestowed sites such as Netflix, Hulu and many other well-known streaming sites with heightened viewership of their shows. With access to new and old television content, more and more Americans create video streaming accounts everyday.

Covid-19 has left many Americans on the couch raving about a popular new Netflix docuseries called “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.” The seven episode documentary reveals the lives of the employees at the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, known for being home to hundreds of tigers and for its notorious owner, Joe Exotic.

The “Tiger King” documentary shares the background and personal experiences of the staff at the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park and the other individuals who had a connection to Joe exotic before he was sent to prison for hiring a hitman to kill Carol Baskin, owner of Big Cat Rescue; another tiger zoo in Florida.

“Tiger King” was held as the number one most popular show on Netflix for 25 days and was the most popular show in the United States for almost a month. The documentary left millions of viewers in shock after every episode and even gained so much national recognition that celebrity talk show host Joel McHale released an eighth episode on April 13, 2020. The episode featured his own current, personal interviews with each employee of Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park.

Hulu is another well-known subscription-based, on-demand service that has had success with a mass amount of American viewers. Of course, the spike in viewership, like that of the other platforms and shows alike, is attributed to consumers’ ample time to purchase Hulu subscriptions and start binge watching new shows.

The new Hulu drama series called “Little Fires Everywhere” was released in March of this year and is another fantastic option for students to check out. The mini-series is based in the late 1990s, diving into the life of an upper-middle-class mother known as Elena Richardson, who is played by well-known actress Reeese Witherspoon. Her four adolescent children are also along for the ride throughout the course of the series.

In the show, Richardson offers a young African American mother and her high school daughter to move into their rental property and work as a maid at her house.

Throughout the mini-series, the maid begins to mess with Richardson’s family; although being a journalist, Elena begins to investigate her newly hired maid as stories from their pasts begin to come to light.

“I have enjoyed this show because there are a lot of different storylines to follow that all combine and unravel throughout the show,” said third-year Sonoma State student, Hannah Opiel.

Fortunately for viewers across the United States and throughout the world, the plethora of subscription-based streaming services has equipped people with a never ending amount of content to please the eyes. Due to the unprecedented nature of COVID-19, which has left millions of Americans inside for over the past month, there has perhaps never been a better time to stream all of the new Netflix and Hulu favorites.

8 Student Life Student Spotlight: Emily Hicks

APRIL 21 - APRIL 27, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

TAYA ANDRADE STAFF WRITER

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ll students leave their mark on campus one way or another, but the mark that Associated Student (AS) Director of Traditions and Orientation Leader, Emily Hicks has left is something truly unique. Hicks is a third year hutchins liberal arts major with a concentration in human development. Hicks has used her leadership roles to impact the lives of students on campus in more than a few ways.

Not every student can say that they made it snow for a night on campus. As the mastermind behind this year’s largest event and newest Seawolf tradition, Hicks has brought student life to the next level.

Sonoma State’s first annual “Snowma Globe” brought live music, delicious free food, massive games, and real authentic snow to its students. Seawolves danced the night away in front of a giant stage that emanated neon lights into the crowd. Others challenged each other to an oversized game of Connect Four or Jenga. Some Seawolves started snowball fights or hit the slopes on sleds.

Hicks hopes that in the years to come Snowma Globe will have even bigger artists, more slopes and even more snow!

“As the University Traditions Director for the past two years I have been able to create countless events for students to attend and create lifelong memories… I have made connections with countless students and campus partners across the university who have enriched my experience at Sonoma State,” said Hicks.

As an orientation leader, Hicks is essential to welcoming incoming freshmen. Sending new Seawolves off the right way is only a part of what she does.

“Once I was accepted and attended my own orientation, I saw all of the orientation leaders and turned to my mom and said ‘That’s what I want to do.’ I knew in an instant that I wanted to impact other students by having the opportunity to be a student leader.”

Hicks said in a Faces of SSU article.

Students can thank Hicks for some of Sonoma State University’s (SSU) largest events. This year she helped plan yet another successful Big Nite and all of the Green Music Center concerts.

“Being able to collaborate on some of the largest university events we have like Big Nite, Green Music Center Concerts, and Snowma Globe has let me bring creative ideas to the table and advocate for what events students would want to attend,” said Hicks.

When Hicks isn’t planning major events she likes to wind down and enjoy some of the simpler things in life. Reality television and

COURTESY // Emily Hicks Hicks juggles being a member of ASP, an orientation leader, and a face of SSU. staying active with her friends are some of the things that Hicks likes to do in her spare time.

“Anything about the bachelor franchise, Real Housewives or American Idol is right up my alley,” said Hicks.

Hicks and all of her accomplishments

are exemplary of how much one person can affect their campus.

“Although I have one year left on campus, I hope to leave a positive footprint on campus and have created experiences where students have had fun and memorable experiences,” said Hicks.

Virtual Career Week aims to help students find employment during COVID-19 LESLIE M. LEVY

STAFF WRITER

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he job market is shifting, and both regular employment and internships are morphing into various virtualities, disappearing, or frozen in the what ifs of the shelter-in-place orders both across the country and close to home. However, although it is shifting, it seems to be adjusting to new needs and standards relatively quickly.

Kelsy Bensky, a career advisor with Sonoma State’s Career Center, said, “We are working really hard at the Career Center to learn about what’s happening in the economy and to identify new resources for our students that will support their career development, now and in the future.”

Career Services Coordinator Audra Gray Verrier is excited about the Virtual Career Week coming up soon, along with career advisors Bensky and Becky Sandoval Young.

Young acknowledged that while the format isn’t necessarily new, the scope of the joint virtual event is beyond anything they have previously done.

“I do imagine we will have some issues to work through, and adjustments to be made but the career team is practicing what it might be like so that we can address any issues that arise,” Young said.

Virtual Career Week, May 5-7, will look different than all of us are accustomed to, but it will involve that interactive element that can’t be found scrubbing through listings on the web. Another way it will differ is that Santa Rosa Junior College is co-hosting the event, so students from both colleges will have access to the same group of employers in one joint career fair.

For students who prefer the face-to-face, guaranteed, immediate demand job opportunities afforded by making the rounds at Career Fairs, approaching everything online can be overwhelming and frustrating.

Students may be wondering how this will work and what kind of jobs will be available. Verrier thinks they have come up with a good plan that will feel as close to a real event as possible. Students will have to pre-plan a bit more than they would for a regular come-and-go setup with all employers present at once, but the face-to-face interaction may actually be more meaningful than two minutes at a bunch of booths in the real world.

According to the Career Center’s email blast last week, “Each employer will have a specific date and time during which they will host a 75-minute virtual ‘booth’ and will have a Zoom link associated with that session. You will be able to sign into your Zoom account and use the link provided to connect with each employer.”

Young said, “Each day we will have 3-4 tracks. Each track can host up to 5 employers throughout the day.”Pull quote: “Once we get more employers registered we will email out students who might be interested in specific tracks with the times that employers will be hosting the Track.”

--Young]”Students can pop in when they want to talk to an employer, ask questions, get advice and learn what job opportunities are available. I would suggest that if a student is interested in a track they pop in when each employer is hosting the room.”

The official list of employers sits at 25 at the moment, but Bensky said this is normal at this stage of planning and more employers are signing on daily. The event can accommodate up to 50 employers with the tracks currently planned just like an in-person Career Fair, and Bensky is confident students will have plenty to choose from.

Graduating seniors, especially, are feeling the pressure of the shifting landscape. “While we are always available for any Sonoma State students or alumni, we are currently focusing our efforts to specifically support our graduating seniors who will have the most significant challenges to address in the coming months,” Verrier said.

The new Graduating Senior Hours program was designed for that purpose. Each session will begin with an informal workshop and Q&A session, and follow with dedicated drop-in hours for seniors looking for more one-on-one assistance. It’s a good place for seniors not just to find support navigating their post-graduate transition in this uncertain job climate, but to connect with other seniors about their job search process.

“We are struggling to get a pulse on how students really feel because for every student there is a different challenging scenario they are up against right now,” Verrier said. “And all of this on top of the grief that they may be experiencing related to the pandemic itself, and the possible loss of loved ones.”

Verrier explained that while all students are being impacted by the changes in the job market, certain SSU students are more impacted than others. “We are seeing that low-income families are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and all of the associated impacts and consequences of this. We have to work even harder to support our first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students right now and we want them to know that we are here to support them,” said Verrier.

Although the Student Success & Advising Zoom Lobby room is open for drop ins Mon.-Thurs. from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., not as many students have taken advantage of them as they would like to see yet. Verrier said, “Right now we haven’t seen high numbers of drop-ins, and our assumption is that this is due to students just really getting settled in with remote work, adjusting their work to the remote setting, or the loss of jobs, being back home and all of the challenges of this transition.”

The Career Center is taking this all in stride and working hard to provide students not only resources, but reassurances.

Verrier said, “It is hard to be in the shoes of students, and honestly, I can only share what I am seeing, which isn’t the full spectrum.”

Young said they have roughly 5000 jobs posted on Handshake right now compared with the 6000 that is typical for this time of year. The numbers aren’t down as much as they thought they might be, and this is good news for all students looking for work.

So, if any hopeful students are looking for employment, stop by the Virtual Career Fair and see what’s out there.

Student Life 9

APRIL 21 - APRIL 27, 2020 sonoastatestar.com

SSU faculty gives back to the community with masks ANGELINA QUEVEDO STAFF WRITER

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onoma State University staff is working together to give back to the Sonoma State community during this difficult time. A group of Sonoma State staff will be volunteering their time to make masks for essential students and faculty that are still on campus.

Production Manager Vikki Del Rosario, is organizing the group of 10 makers. This project is a collaboration between the Sonoma State Library and the School of Art and Humanities. The amount of staff members involved is continuing to grow daily.

“We hope to share these masks with essential staff and students on campus very soon and make a big difference in our campus community as we support the larger effort to stay safe!” said Rosario.

The supply for masks will continue to be in high demand during the crisis, making the group of sewers very essential. “I am grateful to have found a way to make a difference within the SSU community during a confusing and uncertain time. Gavin Newsom recently shared the African proverb, ‘If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together’.” said Rosario.

The group members are still very early in mask production but a few members that are involved include Vikki Del Rosario, Costume Director Martha Clarke, Dean of Libraries Karen Schneider, Costume Shop Tecnician Teresa Kopaz, Beaujolais Village Area Coordinator Cookie Garrett, Art Preparator and Collections Assistant Claudia Molloy, and Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities Hollis Robbins,.

Clarke, longtime Costume Director is giving the group of volunteers equipment,

supplies, and tutorials. Clarke has been sewing since she was a young child and she has always taken this art for granted but at this moment skillful sewers are needed due to the fact that masks are extremely hard to come by during the COVID-19 crisis.

“I am very happy to be able to contribute to the health and safety of our campus community and beyond with my skills that I have always known were essential,” said Clarke.

Dean of Libraries, Karen Scheider has helped make their plans possible with the help of a grant from Chevron.

“This ingenious people-centered partnership between the library and the School of Arts and Humanity showcases our ability at Sonoma State to innovate, collaborate, and take care of one another,” said Schneider.

Beaujolais village area coordinator, Cookie Garrett is very thankful to be involved in this group.

“As a part of the REACH team I get to see first hand how some of our residential students work tirelessly to perform academically and provide for themselves.” Garrett continues, “Anything that we can do to help support their success and safety, especially in such unprecedented times as these, is worth every bit of the effort.”

Garrett believes giving back to the community will help slow the spread of the virus.

“The safer they are the safer our community will be. Long story short #NomaCares.”

Claudia Molloy, art preparator and collections assistant said, “As an artist and member of the Art and Art History Department this project fulfills both my creativity and sense of community. I am a proud member of the SSU community and am thrilled to give back in this small way.”

COURTESY // istockphoto SSU faculty is working together to create masks for essential students and faculty still on campus.

Hollis Robbins, dean of the school of arts and humanities admits she is extremely excited to be a part of this community project. Robbins says, “I am thrilled that we are working to support innovative face technology to protect the health of our community as we maintain social distance for the next several months.

Robbins continues by saying, “We will

be making masks as well as new designs that support Sonoma County and CDC guidelines for appropriate facial covering. It’s very exciting” Once the group produces a mass supply of suitable masks, they will reach out to essential students and staff online to share where and when they will be available on campus.

Plagiarism and cheating in the age of Zoom ELISEO FRAGOSO

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STAFF WRITER

t has been challenging for some students at Sonoma State University to focus in their online Zoom sessions.

Cheating and plagiarism has been easier than ever to do with an online class. It has been easy for people to look up the answers in different tabs because there is no one to regulate the students. The switch to remote classes also increases the chance of students cheating on their assignments and quizzes or exams. Teachers can’t tell if a student is taking the test honestly, with someone else, or if they are using other website’s to find the answer to the question which may frustrate other students who take their academic integrity very seriously.

To combat this, the Academic Senate Office sent out an urgent email to professors letting them know on how to stop these issues. In the email statistics from Acadmeic Integrity showed that “ 62% of undergraduates admit to cheating on written assignments, 68% of undergraduates admit to written or test cheating”.

The Dispute Resolution Board, Student Affairs Committee and the Academic Senate requested that professors report all incidents where students were caught cheating or plagiarizing. The faculty governance also “... urge all faculty to follow the policy on cheating and plagiarism so that SSU can be a beacon of academic integrity”.

Pamela Abbott-Enz is a professor who teaches Gerontology 300 at SSU. She sent an email to her students saying “ I really don’t want to have to apply any of these punitive measures to students, so I want to give you a gentle reminder and a fair warning”.

Students in her class are turning in their assignments for the rest of the semester through Turn It In, which detects any internet based plagiarism. Once the assignment is turned in the software will detect and scan the document, if any copying was done then the words or sentences would be highlighted in red. Red f lags would pop up on the screen if at least 80% of it is not the students original work.

Communications Professor, Elizabeth Burch said “I will be using Turn It In next semester,” liking the idea of students turning their assignments through this effective program that can catch plagiarism.

It makes it easier for the professor to catch any cheating and then they can begin the process of reporting it so that students can be disciplined for their actions. In some cases students that are caught will be given a zero for the assignment that they

COURTESY // copyleaks.com With classes being moved to Zoom, cheating and plagiarism has become much easier to do. plagiarized on but Burch doesn’t agree with it saying, “I will fail a student if they are caught plagiarizing in my class”.

Gina Baleria, another communications professor, has her own method of how to avoid plagiarism saying, “I generally try to avoid plagiarism in person and online by avoiding traditional midterm and final tests to measure knowledge. Instead, I like to have some students engage in projects that have some sort of time based and/or personal component. For multiple choice exercises, I generally allow multiple attempts to ensure the students actually learn the material rather than feel

pressure to get the highest score”.

Seawolves are required to cite their quotes or any phrases used from an online source in order to avoid being caught. If a student is turning in an assignment that he copied from a classmate’s work it’s considered plagiarising even if it is a paper or math analysis. A common way of plagiarizing is using an electronic device during an exam even if it is online. Getting a surrogate to take an exam is also a form of plagiarism and is discouraged. Students can read more on different ways of plagiarism on the Universities Cheating and Plagiarism Policy page that is on the university website.

10 Sports Athlete spotlight: Men’s soccer player Sean Rohane APRIL 21 - APRIL 27, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

NOAH PHILPOTT STAFF WRITER

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s a third year undergraduate student, Sean Rohane has big plans to make his mark on the world either on the soccer field, in the classroom, or in the office. Rohane is a finance major and plans to bring his findings or learnings at Sonoma State to the real world.

Rohane grew up in San Diego, down in Southern California. He has been playing soccer ever since he could remember. Rohane also played many sports: from baseball, to basketball, to football, to tennis, to golf, and a few more.

Rohane is the youngest of three siblings. Rohane’s oldest sibling, Alyson, played soccer at Little Rock, Arkansas, while his other sibling, Ryan, played at Sonoma State a few years prior to Rohane attending the university. His parents were athletes as well.

His mom played basketball at University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and his father attended the University of New Mexico (UNM). Rohane is upset that the COVID-19 virus is putting his junior year season to an end.

“I was upset about the spring season getting cancelled because of COVID-19, mainly because I felt like our team was making massive strides and we were looking good. As for school, it is definitely unique, but I just had to adjust and make sure I stay on track with all of my classes,” said Rohane.

Rohane has had a very wild ride throughout his soccer career here at Sonoma State. During his freshman year, he went forward with redshirting to receive an extra year of eligibility. The following year, he fractured his collarbone in a preseason game causing him to be out the whole season. With that being said, Rohane was very determined to get back out on the field and do what he does best. It is very unfortunate that now the spring season has gotten cancelled considering how the rest of his college career as an athlete has gone. Last fall, Rohane had four goals and two assists with 17 shots on goal.

“I was super excited to be able to play this last season in the fall finally, but it did not turn out as we planned. With a lot of our games coming down to one score games or overtime finishes, I think our maturity will help us in the upcoming year,” said Rohane.

After Rohane graduates with his Bachelor’s Degree in finance, he would like to obtain a job as financial advisor or planner. This is something he has always been good at, as well as interested him. Rohane would also like to continue his life after school

COURTESY/ Christine Rohane Rohane’s older brother Ryan, is a SSU alumni who also played soccer under coach Marcus Ziemer.

in Germany. There, he wants to receive dual-citizenship and continue to play soccer.

“Unfortunately, cancelling the season is the right move, and hopefully we will be back on track to have our fall season on schedule,” said Rohane.

Rohane describes soccer as more than just a sport. It is a time where he can just let everything go and to have fun while doing something that he loves. Rohane has always lived by a saying he came up with himself stating that pain is temporary and to push himself further than his mind thinks he can go.

Rohane’s friend and teammate Sahr Mattia spoke highly of him. “Besides being a great teammate, he is a great person to get to know. He is a very genuine and kind human. We instantly clicked when I transferred here. On the field he is very competitive and always wants to win, which I love. Him and I would always go at it at times during practice and just laugh about it after. I do not think there is anyone that I have played with that can strike a ball the way he can. He is a very special player who I enjoy playing and being around with daily,” said Rohane’s friend and teammate, Sahr Mattia.

UFC to host ‘Fight Island” JAMES HARWELL STAFF WRITER

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ana White, the founder of UFC, is pushing hard to get his sport up and running again during the COVID-19 pandemic. White is on the record making claim that he has secured an island to host fights and as of April 17, he has filed for trademarks on terms such as “Fight Island.”

Brett Okamoto, an ESPN Staff Writer, Reported on April 14, “UFC president Dana White has promised that his company will be the first major sports organization to return to a normal schedule amid the coronavirus pandemic, and he is already planning his next event for May 9 at a location to be determined.”

White told ESPN on Tuesday that he is “deep in the process of building out the card, despite the recent postponement of a UFC 249 pay-per-view event scheduled for this Saturday. The UFC has had to postpone events on March 21, March 28, April 11 and April 18 due to the coronavirus.” Dana White believes he can host these fights and have very little, to no problem with coronavirus spread. It makes sense, no fans means a group of about 50 people, all of which would be tested.

On March 6, Dana White told a reporter in a video interview that “It would be no problem, we would test everybody.” White found it necessary to not expose a location of this island that he would use for “International fight” he claimed. White told TMZ the location of the ‘fight island’ would be ESPN in a way that seemed to purposely hide the island’s location.

COVID-19 has created a lot of indecisiveness sweeping all over the world, but White continues to pursue UFC in the near future. As long as fighters, doctors and personnel are all on board with safety precautions, then this seems like the easiest avenue back into sports. White also pushed that “there would be no fans of course.”

Dana White has received mixed responses from the sports world with his recent decision making, as expected. Many have ridiculed him for not respecting the severity of the situation.Cris Cyborg, a headliner name in MMA and Bellator Women’s Champion said in an interview with Jensen Karp of The No-Sports Report on YouTube, “It’s the rules for everyone. You know a lot of people don’t want to be home. A lot of people are struggling now, and I think he should do something (other) than just think about himself and

boxing and MMA fights. … I think it’s better to wait, like everyone – respect everyone,” she added.

According to The New York Post, “California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the ‘highest levels’ of ESPN and Disney told White to stand down and not stage his pay-per-view fight card on the Santa Rosa Indian Reservation outside of Fresno, Calif. As determined as White was to put on his show, he had no choice but to cancel the card after going through the considerable expense and effort to make the fights happen. But this is not a time to go rogue.”.

APRIL 21 - APRIL 27, 2020

Sports 11

Death of Oilers forward Colby Cave stuns fans

sonomastatestar.com

CLARK FAHRENTHOLD STAFF WRITER

On April 11, the world of hockey and sports was in shock. As it was announced that Edmonton Oilers Forward Colby Cave had unexpectedly passed away due to a brain bleed that he had suffered earlier that week. Cave had been in the hospital since Tuesday when the brain bleeds first occurred and had been placed in a medically induced coma as doctors attempted to mend the bleed, and remove the cyst that was causing the pressure and swelling of his brain.

No one in Cave’s family was allowed to visit or see him in the hospital due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Caves wife Emily, conveyed that the situation had worsened on Thursday asking for prayers and to be thinking of Cave. Following the tragic death of her husband, Caves’ wife released this message on social media confirming the tragic passing of her husband saying “ It is with great sadness to share the news that our Colby Cave passed away this morning,” the statement said. “Both our families are in shock but know our Colby was loved dearly by us, his family and friends, the entire hockey community and many more. We thank everyone for their prayers during this difficult time.”

The new’s of Caves’ death, who had played 4 years in the NHL(three with Edmonton and one with Boston) sent shock waves around the NHL, with many players and former teammates reaching out to send their condolences to the Cave family.

Teammate Connor McDavid posted a tribute to his passed teammate, said “ Just doesn’t make any sense ... Heavy heavy heart today as I try to wrap my head around this. You were an amazing person and always brought so much energy and positivity into the room and in people’s lives. You will be deeply missed, Caver.”

The Edmonton Oilers Head Coach Dave Tippet called it unbelievably Targ-

gaic and released a statement saying “ He was just an outstanding young man that I really feel for,” Tippett said of the 25-year-old Cave on Friday during an NHL media call. “He worked for everything he got.”

“It’s just an unbelievable tragedy. A freak cyst on his brain that took his life.

It’s been a sad week for the Oilers. He was a very well-respected player and teammate. Just an all-around really good guy.”

Cave, a Battleford, Saskatchewan native was a player to many that defied the odds. As even after going undrafted in 2017, Cave signed with an American Hockey affiliate of the Boston Bruins, and within the year he had become a part of the fourth line with the Boston Bruins at the NHL level. In the years following, he would play a combined 67 games between the Bruins and Oilers. In 11 games this season he had totaled 2 goals and 1 assist and was looking to help the Oilers continue their playoff push late in the season as the team’s record stood at 37-25-9, good enough for second in the Pacific Division and 3rd best overall in the Western Conference.

Along with statements made by former and current teammates of Caves, the NHL also released a statement after receiving the tragic news, saying “ The National Hockey League family mourns the heartbreaking passing of Colby Cave, whose life and hockey career, though too short, were inspiringly emblematic of the best of our game. Undrafted but undaunted, Colby was relentless in the pursuit of his hockey dream with both the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins organizations.

An earnest and hardworking player, he was admired by his teammates and coaches.

More important, he was a warm and generous person who was well-liked by all those fortunate enough to know him.”

STAR // NHL.com Cave’s cause of death was due to a brain bleed at the age of 25.

Athlete spotlight: Softball player Cameron Kirtlan

COURTESY // instagram.com Kirtlan’s season was cut short due to a fast ball pitch that broke her arm.

VINCENT SPENCE

STAFF WRITER

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ameron Kirtlan, a junior on the Sonoma State Softball team is from El Dorado Hills, Calif. Kirtlan was recruited to play softball at Sonoma State, but was a two sport athlete in high school playing softball as well as basketball and track.

Cameron grew up playing sports but found her true passion in softball and now is a large contributor to the team.

The 2020 season for the Seawolves was sadly cut short, but not before they were able to put up a promising 17-8 record. Right as COVID-19 derailed their season, they were scheduled for a premier match up with Chico State who were the number one seed in the California Collegiate Athletic Association league with a 14-2 record in league play. Sonoma State finished their short season with a 12-4 record in league play.

Kirtlan felt for her senior teammates when she talked about the shortened season saying, “My heart goes out to our seniors who did not get to finish their last year, it is devastating.”

Cameron along with her team believed that the 2020 softball season was going to be something special but along with COVID-19, Cameron’s season was cut short by a broken arm by a hit by pitch. She has a long road to recovery with a few more weeks in the cast and rehab but describes her situation as “ideal” with the situation the world is in.

Cameron is determined to come back for her senior season better and stronger than ever saying, “Breaking my arm is just another minor speed bump but it has and will

make me mentally stronger. ” The junior season of Kirtlan was strong before the injury. She batted .212 with 7 hits, 2 homeruns, and 7 RBI’s while only playing in 12 games. he 2019 season was outstanding for the Seawolves softball team going 36-20 with a 21-15 record in conference play. Kirtlan in particular had an outstanding season batting .335 with 53 hits, 12 doubles, 5 homeruns and 32 RBI’s. She also was spectacular in the outfield with a 1.000 fielding percentage, not recording an error all season.

The Seawolves ended the 2019 season in spectacular fashion by winning the California Collegiate Athletic Association championship by winning four games in four days. Kirtlan drove in the first run of the championship game to give the Seawolves an early 1-0 lead and Sonoma State never looked back from there.

Senior Pitcher Nalani Scates described her teammate as, “Someone who can always keep her cool underpressure. She is a great teammate and a great player. She’s fun to be around and always makes people around her smile.”

After Cameron graduates from SSU, she would like to continue her education at a nursing school with the military. She is a biochemistry major with aspirations to work in a trauma center in an emergency room. Cameron wants to work in that department because she loves helping people and with the job it would bring a new day every day on the job.

12 Photo

APRIL 20 - APRIL 27, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

Quarantine: Trapped on campus

STAR // Lily Frazier Third year, Noelia Brambila, sipped her coffee as she peered out of her dorm window, looking over the newly unihabited campus.

STAR // Lily Frazier Noelia adjusts to classes being online by continuing to sit at her dinning table.

STAR // Lily Frazier Noelia scrolled through her phone alone after all of her roommates moved back home.

STAR // Lily Frazier Noelia Brambila, third year, made her way back to her dorm through the deserted Sauvignon Village after doing a load of laundry on Thursday afternoon.

STAR // Edgar Zavala People outside Chase Bank in Santa Rosa, after their stimulus check hit their accounts on Wednesday April 15.

STAR // Edgar Zavala Rohnert park citizens line up, six feet apart, outside Redwood Credit Union to collect stimulus checks.