Issue 13

Feel good food

IN THIS ISSUE

Summer Movie Season

Jessica Setnick discusses healthy relationships with food.

PAGE 11.

Save the Butterflies

Check out what new shows and movies SSU students are excited to watch.

PAGE 6.

Find out what you can do to help save endangered Monarchs.

PAGE 3.

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 85 // ISSUE 13 MAY 4, 2021 - MAY 10, 2021

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

@SONOMASTATESTAR

COURTESY // Sonoma State University A post from @nomalax Instagram highlighting Giving Day. The digital fundraiser raised money for programs at SSU.

STAR // Morgan Mitchell Residents showed up early to grab evacuation tags for themselves and neighbors.

SSU digitally kicks off inaugural ‘Giving Day’

Sonoma Sheriff gets early jump on evacuation tags S

GABRIELLA HERMOGENO STAFF WRITER

BRYCE GALLAGHER STAFF WRITERS

W

ith California’s fire season rapidly approaching, public safety officials in Sonoma County are working hard to make sure they are prepared for whatever may come. One of the newest ways the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office is preparing is by issuing brand new “evacuation tags” to some of the most at risk areas in the county.

The tags, which began distribution in late April, are being used as a more efficient way for sheriff’s deputies to find and help those who need more assistance during evacuations. Homeowner’s will put the tags on their door to notify authorities that they have left the area.

“We saw that other counties were using these tags, in particular Napa County right next door, and we saw them as a really valuable tool to help speed up evacuations, which keeps our community and our deputies safer,” said Community Engagement Liaison for the Sheriff’s Office, Misti Wood.

Wood, a Sonoma State alumni, went on to explain that tags are available for people who live in unincorporated Sonoma County, the town of Windsor, and the City of Sonoma and can be picked up from any of their designated distribution spots, which can be found at sonomasheriff.org.

For those unable to physically go pick up their tags, there are a few other options they can use to ensure they receive one.

“We have some people who are elderly or disabled, and may not be able to drive to the station to pick it up, so for those folks who need a little extra help, we’re happy to do deliveries as well,” Wood said. see EVACUATION TAGS on pg. 4

onoma State University’s inaugural Giving Day, a 24-hour virtual fundraising event for anyone interested in making donations, was held on April 29. The donations go toward campus campaigns and programs to support the school’s community, diversity and student success.

Although SSU has participated in other giving day events and originally planned to initiate Giving Day last year, the university was inspired to push the event to this year.

Senior Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving, Tiffany O’Neil, explained the hard work behind Giving Day and its inclusiveness of everyone involved in the school community helped to push the fundraiser forward on a digital level.

“The website was one thing we spent a lot of time on designing and wanted to make sure that it is simple, user friendly and had the mobile capabilities for people to access it and find the cause that they are passionate about,” O’Neil said.

Donors are able to decide which campus organization, cause, program or department their donations will go to and the highlighted organizations listed on the event’s web page (https://givingday.sonoma.edu/) consists of Lobo’s Food Pantry, student scholarships, academic departments, university programs, student led organizations and many more causes.

There were a wide array of campaigns and programs listed on the see GIVING DAY on pg. 4

STAR // Morgan Mitchell LoCoco’s restaurant in Santa Rosa hosts packed indoor dining but clearly displays a sign saying, “No mask no entry”.

Breakthrough cases of COVID-19 post-vaccination

COURTESY // Instagram Courtney Shoda (center) smiling and having fun with teammates from the SSU Seawolves Soccer team. Shoda recently recieved a new heart via transplant donor.

SSU alumna receives a new heart after successful transplant

SAMANTHA PEZZOLA

WILLY LEPORI

A

A

STAFF WRITER

lthough COVID-19 cases have significantly decreased in California, data is showing instances of the public catching the coronavirus after receiving their full vaccination. According to the Department of Public Health, there have been a total of 1,379 cases of COVID-19 post-vaccination statewide. Sonoma County reported 39 breakthrough cases in the month of April.

Sonoma County’s Health Officer, Dr. Sundari Mase, commented on breakthrough cases saying, “While breakthrough cases are rare, they are not unexpected since we know that the see BREAKTHROUGH CASES on pg. 4

STAFF WRITER

lumn of Sonoma State and former women’s soccer standout Courtney Shoda, received a heart transplant after two months of waiting and fighting for her life after she went into cardiac arrest in early March.

Shoda was talking on her cellphone when she collapsed, then was rushed to Little Company of Mary Hospital before being transferred to Keck Hospital of USC in Los Angeles. And that was where she has remained since her collapse.

Shoda played defender for the Seawolves during the years of 2014 to 2016 where she excelled on the field. She also thrived in the classroom, earning CCAA All-Academic team during her freshman year of athletics. see NEW HEART on pg. 4

2 Editorial THE STAR

MAY 4 - MAY 10, 2021

sonomastatestar.com

SSU shouldn’t turn a blind eye to triggering content in Gehlawat’s classroom

Editorial Board

Kylie Rose Lawrence, Editor-in-Chief Kristina Schmuhl, News Editor Katelyn Dodge, Opinion Editor Christy Chew, Arts & Entertainment Editor Myles Grabau, Student Life Editor Emily Cripe, Health & Wellness Editor Brandon Sparks, Photo Editor Gil Chaffer, Copy Editor Bryce Gallagher, Distribution Manager Devon Pique, Format Editor Corinne Asturias, Faculty Adviser Staff Writers Callie Adams, Emily Alvarado, Jayline Alvarado, Julia Blair, Kaitlin Breen, Cheyenne Carroll, Katlyn Dodge, Casey Fabbri, Sumiko Fong, Bryce Gallagher, Gabriella Hermogeno, Olivia Hughes, Nancy Insua, Willy Lepori, Quinn McKibbin, Caroline Morales, Samantha Pezzola, Noah Philpott, Anthony Pilotti, Mary Helen Rowell, Matthew Smith, Vincent Spence, Isabelle Barkey, Pammy Meyers, Andrew Savedra

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

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

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

“The buzz behind the Sebastopol Makers Market” Read the article on page 7.

Have an opinion?

We’d like to hear from you!

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

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

Opinions

I

n the last two weeks, students have come forward regarding classes taught by Ajay Gehlawat that have not only caused them trauma, but have forced victims to relive trauma from their past without warning. The STAR published an article last issue, “SSU professor faces backlash from students”, detailing students experiences of being forced to watch graphic sexual assault scenes in Gehlawat’s class. This situation has spiraled into a serious ethics issue that needs to be addressed by the school, as professors shouldn’t be able to get away with ignoring their own students’ concerns, nor should they be able to gawk or laugh at them for saying that they are uncomfortable with the course content.

To hear from anonymous students that the content shown to them in Gehlawat’s classes “left [them] in a horrible place” or caused them to “stress and panic” is a more than adequate reason for concern.

If professors like Gehlawat feel like they need to make disturbing content mandatory and ignore the voices and feelings of their students to “exercise [their] academic freedom,” it starts to feel like an abuse of power. When a student takes a look at classes taught

by Gehlawat, the course description is vague and misleading, but it should go without saying that classes should contribute to an enriching, respectful, and accepting environment. These qualities are not present in classes taught by Gehlawat, as

COURTESY // Instagram.com

the classroom setting “...felt humiliating and disrespectful, with an extreme lack of understanding or consideration for students’ feelings and/or past trauma,” said one SSU student in his class.

Multiple students have come forward to talk about the invalidating, misogynistic, and traumatizing nature of the courses taught by Gehlawat in specific. He has even gone as far as requiring students to jump through hoops and go through a time-consuming process to be diagnosed with a mental disorder to even receive as much as a warning about the content. This, in itself, is concerning, as this completely strips students of their own academic freedom. Gehlawat fails to see that the term that he preaches so often does indeed go both ways.

Next semester, Gehlawat is slated to teach COMS 320, as well as AMCS/LIBS 390, and in both of these courses, students are required to analyze films and look at “topics and trends in mass media, including propaganda and persuasion...children and the media” and more.

Looking at these course descriptions, one can understand why students might be misled when signing up for these courses. Students often choose courses that are required for their majors from a list of applicable courses, and a vague description doesn’t prepare students for what they are truly in for when they take one of Gehlawat’s classes.

SSU has advertised CAPS, as well as other types of mental health workshops throughout the school year, but the school has failed to acknowledge how often

professors contribute to these stressful, damaging, and traumatic situations - specifically this situation with Gehlawat.

While professors are essentially given free reign to show whatever content they see fit for the course, this is no excuse to show students inappropriate content without warning or alternatives, and the content shown to students

by Gehlawat should definitely be looked at closer by SSU staff. Given Gehlawat’s track record, professors should be required to release a list of the films that are going to be shown during these courses in the class description, so students are able to drop from the class if the content doesn’t suit their interests or, more importantly, makes them uncomfortable and causes them trauma. Teachers have a responsibility to make sure disturbing content is put into appropriate context, and taught with compassion.

On top of everything aforementioned, it should go without saying that Gehlawat should issue a formal apology to the students affected by the class content. Going forward, more professors need to acknowledge the importance of trigger warnings, as people with PTSD resulting from traumatic experiences are subject to “severe anxiety, agitation, emotional detachment,” as well as a variety of other symptoms. Trigger warnings should be mandatory for content that could potentially be harmful or traumatic to students and victims.

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

Letters to the Editor

Letter writers may expect prompt publication in the newspaper’s op-ed section, as space is available. Letters of up to 400 words will be allowed and must be submitted no later than the Friday before the publication date. Published letters must be free of libel, since the publication is held legally accountable for all content. Although personal controversy will be tolerated, it is the responsibility of the editor to check statements purporting the facts.

The STAR reserves the right to refuse publication.

COURTESY // Instagram.com

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

Opinion 3

MAY 4 - MAY 10, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

COVID-19 protesters exploit Holocaust symbols

STAFF WRITER

O

n April 24, a protest titled “Unite For Freedom” was organized in London, England to show objection towards the current public health precautions such as lockdowns. They were also protesting against COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine passports. Thousands of people attended this protest and some attendees were seen wearing the yellow Star of David symbol in the form of pins or printed designs on clothing with the phrase, “No COVID Certificates” written in the star.

The yellow Star of David, also known as the yellow badge, was utilized from 1939-1945 in Nazi-occupied Europe. It was mandatory for Jewish people during this time to wear badges of the yellow star as a form of identification. The star was intended to segregate and discriminate against Jewish people. It was also used to identify them for deportation to Nazi concentration camps for industrialized genocide.

According to CNN, those who chose to wear the yellow star during the protest in London believe that having to show vaccination documentation

is comparable to Jewish people being forced to wear the yellow badge. David M. Perry, who wrote the article for CNN is extremely against the idea of these protesters using these symbols. “Such an analogy is, to say the least, both offensive and incoherent,” Perry said.

Currently, the United Kingdom protesters are not alone when it comes to the decision of using holocaust symbols as anti-vaccination or anti-lockdown symbols. Last November, protesters in Germany compared themselves during the COVID-19 lockdowns to Anne Frank, a famous Holocaust victim who was forced to hide for two years. In Feb., Israeli protesters were seen correlating the yellow star to the idea of vaccine passports.

They featured the symbol in comparison to vaccine passports on posters and signs.

Even in the United States, Republicans from Minnesota in addition to people in a right-wing group from Colorado thought the mandatory mask mandate was similar to Jewish people having to wear the yellow badge.

Using this symbol as an analogy for COVID-19 related aspects such as lockdowns or vaccines is extremely offensive.

Having to show documentation of a vaccination to travel or enter certain establishments is not the same as being forced to wear a yellow Star of David badge to be identified as a Jewish person during the holocaust. Regulations and vaccine requirements are put in place to keep the public safe and to proceed to normalcy as soon as possible. Therefore, having protests against these safety measures and the vaccines is already irresponsible, but choosing to use these Holocaust symbols as a way to get their point across is disrespectful to the thousands of people that

lost their lives.

Currently, the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine is not equal in all parts of the world. Some countries are not able to receive the vaccine in the quantities that they need to ultimately stop the spread of COVID-19. Many individuals who want or need the vaccine are having trouble receiving one. Having these protests in countries that are fortunate enough to have decent access to the vaccines is insensitive to those who are unable to get one.

The Jewish community is also very distraught about the news of these protesters making analogies and using symbols that represent such an oppressive time for their ancestors as symbols for their year of wearing a mask or getting a vaccine. A spokesperson for the Auschwitz Museum spoke with The Independent and stated, “Instrumentalisation of the tragedy of Jews who suffered, were humiliated, marked with a yellow star, and finally isolated in ghettos and murdered during the Holocaust, in order to argue against vaccination that saves human lives is a sad symptom of moral and intellectual decline.”

Having frustrations towards the lockdowns and the challenges that are caused by COVID-19 are completely valid. Many people can relate to agree that the pandemic has caused a lot of setbacks and problems. However, using holocaust symbols and events to express frustrations with COVID-19 issues is horrible and offensive. These symbols should not be used, especially by those who are using the yellow Star of David badge as Holocaust appropriation and there is no situation where the usage of it would ever be appropriate.

France banning hijabs stirs worldwide conversation

RACHEL GONZALEZ

STAFF WRITER

A

t the end of March and the beginning of April, the French Senate approved a new amendment that would ban Muslim women who are younger than 18-years-old from wearing their hijabs in public. Following that, another amendment was approved soon after, banning parents from participating in school activities with their children if they too are wearing religious clothing, such as hijabs. However, both amendments are still required to be approved by the National Assembly before becoming law.

The amendment banning women of 18-years-old or younger from wearing their hijabs in Paris, France had a 177 to 141 vote, that involved senators from the Socialist Party, Communist Party and the Republic On the Move Party, which is led by President Emmanuel Macron.

The amendment is correlated to Macron’s “anti-separatism” bill, which has been discussed since

March. According to the Daily Sabah, if the bill is approved “the French government would ban homeschooling for Muslims, make formal education obligatory and would be able to close associations, schools, and mosques if a suspicious incident occurred.”

One French politician shared his reasoning on why he supported the amendment by saying “it is not up to the parents to impose dogmas on children.”

Though this is taking place in France, the world is aware of the French senate’s decision to try and ban women wearing their hijabs and they are not happy.“France, the world is watching,” said Muslim American Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn) on an Instagram post on April 9, along with the hashtags #handsoffmyhijab and #stopobessingovermyhijab.

According to the United Nations Human Rights website, there is an international standard on freedom of religion and belief, which includes that “everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion; this right includes freedom [...] either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.” With this being said, the two amendments that the French Senate is attempting to get approved by the National Assembly break these international standards.

Religion is a significant aspect to those who choose to have one. It is not up to politicians to impose laws that tell their citizens when and where it is appropriate to follow one’s religious traditions. Rather it is up to the one who is personally involved with their religion to make their own decisions, such as choosing whether or not they want to continue following religious beliefs; such as wearing a hijab.

Politicians have no rightful authority imposing such an invasive law, and the French Senate allowing these amendments to be approved sends a prejudicial message about the Muslim demographic that lives in France. The amendments that were voted into place target the Muslim community and could potentially provoke harm towards individuals who wear hijabs, burqas, or other religious items. It is clearly shown, by the support garnered for these amendments, that the French Senate is disregarding human rights for the Muslim community, and does not have concerns about the potential problems these laws may bring.

Now, the world waits to see what happens next to these amendments.

Will the amendments be approved by the National Assembly and stifle religious freedoms to comfortably and safely express their religion? Or, will they be denied as law, and Muslims are rightfully allowed to wear what they are comfortable with wearing.

Monarch butterflies head toward extinction

ANTHONY PILOTTI STAFF WRITER

N

atural Ecosystems include all of the resources that humans have today. The life that lives in the soil and in the natural environment has sustained planet earth since life began to formulate. Nature doesn’t just include natural resources, ecosystems are what create diverse habitats for all living creatures. It is our social responsibility to protect our environment in order to create a habitable, hospitable, survivable world for all living organisms.

The Monarch Butterfly population has seen a 99.9% decline since the 1980s. Megan Ashley, a curator at the Hallberg Butterfly Gardens in Sebastopol, said, “Monarch butterfly counts in the 1980s were 4.5 million, in 2020 the population was less than 2,000. For every 2,250 monarchs counted in 1980, that would equal just one left today.”

Monarchs were already endangered species and were thought to go extinct when the population reached less than 30,000 butterflies, the Monarch population has been less than 30,000 since 2019. The east coast has seen an 80% decline.

These declines are due to climate, habitat loss among other variables. Butterflies are indirectly creating habitat for other types of wildlife, helping to conserve the ecosystems that exist and grow life as they migrate.

This is a very important reason why there is an effort to restore their natural population and it will require everyone’s support. Ashley explained, “Focusing on native species and creating corridors and sanctity of space to thrive.” Some solutions are to take hospitable potions of both public and private land, big and small, and try to create a lush environment for pollinators to continue their natural life.

With the decline in Monarch Butterflies, insects, invertebrates, honey bees and native bees, across the globe due to interacting stressors. People not only have the power to destroy the natural ecosystems, but people also have the power to reverse the decline of the insect population. “Yes we caused the issues but we can also have positive effects as well,” Ashley said.

There are ways to help, plant native flowers to Sonoma County. These could include Sonoma sage, baby blue eyes- otherwise known as nemophila menziesii, milkweed, Pacific hound’s tongue, lupins, Douglas iris, western blue-eyed grass, checker lily, California buttercup and more.

Just including these plants in your garden could help the pollinators survive through the spring and help their populations begin to grow once again.

Ultimately it is people’s responsibility to be aware of their environment and understand that it is these natural wonders, such as butterflies, that helps sustain it. Humans have desecrated natural spaces for human life to thrive and have been selfish in not adhering to the balance of nature. Nature provides and people should sustain the flow of life, making sure that if the natural ecosystem is taken then it is replaced. The sanctity of life, the sanctity of the natural process, the balance with which nature creates or destroys and people choose to live within, it is society’s responsibility to preserve and sustain what nature we can.

Monarchs are in decline, however, there is still hope. Visit Xerces.org for more information on helping the butterflies and pollinators in Sonoma County. Sonoma County is a priority zone for overwintering species such as the Monarch Butterflies. It is crucial for Sonoma County residents to be aware and help protect the Monarch butterfly population, as well as other insects and invertebrates. So, plant native plants and flowers for pollinators, don’t use pesticides, and help provide for a hospitable environment for the good of all nature’s creatures.

Disney embraces change with new inclusive policies

ANDREW SAVEDRA STAFF WRITER

D

isney Parks announced that it is changing its employee dress code policy to be more inclusive for a more diverse workforce. Disney said, “our new approach provides greater flexibility with respect to forms of personal expression surrounding gender-inclusive hairstyles, jewelry, nail styles, and costume choices; and allowing appropriate visible tattoos.”

According to Disney, more freedom of expression will create a more authentic

environment overall. This push by Disney to make a more inclusive working environment is part of a bigger goal to better represent the unique backgrounds of guests and employees through Disney experiences.

In 2019, Disney surveyed its employees to find out what they thought would help create a more accommodating and inclusive working environment. According to Disney, more than 100 new ideas were introduced, and one idea, in particular, stuck with Disney; inclusion. Inclusion connected with Disney so much that they added it to their list of core values, called ‘keys,’ making it the fifth key ever added to the list of Disney ‘Keys.’

Every Disney employee knows the four, and now five keys. The four keys, safety, courtesy, show and efficiency, have guided Disneys’ approach to the working environment for the past 65 years. Now, these five keys, with the addition of inclusion, are the first thing Disney employees learn about when they join the brand; whether it

be the experiences, like the parks, or products, such as films and toys. These keys are enforced routinely, and Disney asks that every employee use the keys as a blueprint for their daily decision-making. The new fifth key, inclusion, will be a part of the guide that Disney will use moving forward.

One of the most significant ways this new key has already impacted Disney workers is by allowing them to express themselves as individuals. “Moving forward, we believe our cast, who are at the center of the magic that lives in all our experiences, can provide the best of Disney’s legendary guest service when they have more options for personal expression – creating richer, more personal and more engaging experiences with our guests.”

Disney said in a Disney Parks Blog post.

Disney also mentioned that their inclusion key “will continue to guide us as we interact with guests, collaborate together, create the next generation of Disney products and experiences, and make critical decisions

about the future of our business.”

The world is changing at a faster rate than ever before. More people are living on this earth, and everyone has their unique background and identity. Past traditions within the U.S. and across the world have been built around values that have not accommodated a diverse, ever-expanding population. Visitors will surely find a diverse Disney experience refreshing. It is inspiring to see Disney, one of the largest brands in the world, embrace change. They will undoubtedly gain more recognition for the great things they are doing to accommodate a more diverse workforce. At the same time, however, it makes sense why Disney decided to lead the way towards creating an inclusive work environment. Since they are recognized globally, if they do not change their core values to accommodate a more diverse audience, it might be detrimental to their success in the coming decades. Nonetheless, this move by Disney is motivating and inspiring.

4 News

MAY 4 - MAY 10, 2021

sonomastatestar.com

SSU alumna recieves new heart after months of waiting continued from pg. 1

STAR // Morgan Mitchell According to authorities, hanging these tags saves precious time for first responders during the evacuation process.

Evacuation tags distrubuted to rural residents continued from pg. 1

Tags may also be picked up in bulk for those looking to distribute them throughout their community or neighborhood. Woods says the Sheriff’s Office has, “found that this kind of ‘grass-roots’ distribution has been working really well.”

While the tags are meant to be something beneficial from Sonoma County, some members in the community have expressed concerns over the tags becoming a possible target for looting during evacuations.

Facebook user Daniel Bryant commented under the Sheriff’s Office’s post regarding the tags saying, “I’m torn on this greatly, because while I know they need the support, I’d hate to have my home looted.”

The Sheriff’s Office is well aware of these concerns and have put plans in place to do their best job protecting people’s property.

“When we have a large fire and issue evacuation orders, people who want to take advantage already know that you’re gone,” Wood said. “We know that’s the case and that people’s property and homes are vulnerable during an evacuation order, and we have really beefed up security in those areas.”

According to Wood, the Sheriff’s Office has averaged around a dozen arrests per fire each year, and of those, only a handful have actually been charged with looting.

“What we’re finding is we’re catching people before they cause problems. We can’t say for certain that every person in there is there to loot, we can’t prove that. However, when somebody is there who doesn’t live there… it’s clear that they’re not there for a legitimate reason,” Wood said.

All residents in the affected areas are encouraged to pick up the tags, and while they’re not mandatory, they will be a huge factor in how evacuations are handled in the future.

“These are optional, but we would really encourage everybody to take advantage of it, because this is the idea of ‘small things making a big difference during a crisis,’” Wood said, “That’s really our goal. We want to get you and our deputies out of the way so the firefighters can focus solely on their mission.”

First ever Giving Day at SSU is a virtual success continued from pg. 1

Giving Day’s website, but the other programs who were not listed could be navigated through SSU’s designated web page (http://www.sonoma.edu/give).

In addition to participating in the event by donating, other ways of contributing included marketing branded content and sharing stories throughout social media to promote the event using the hashtag, “#AllForSonomaState” and the social media toolkit from Giving Day’s web page.

The social media toolkit consisted of elements such as a profile image frame, themed images and designs for various social media platforms and pre-made sample posts to post before and during the fundraiser.

“We wanted to be sure that we provided assets that could be shared on social media for each group to push out the information however they wanted. Students, teachers, faculty and staff are super busy and we wanted to make it as easy as possible to streamline the same look so that the event could have an impact,” O’Neil added.

With the entirety of the event being virtually immersive, social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter were utilized to engage everyone as much as possible.

On Instagram, 100+ posts allocate in the search results using the hashtag “#AllForSonomaState” and show posts from student organizations, clubs, academic departments, and alumni.

SSU’s Instagram, (@sonomastateuniversity), consistently posted leading up to the event which included testimonials and stories from individuals within the Seawolf community.

In a video posted on SSU’s official Instagram, Gerald Jones, a SSU Alumni stated that not many students are able to complete their undergraduate degree due to lack of financial resources.

“I want students from underrepresented backgrounds to have the same opportunities that I had when I earned my

college diploma,” Jones stated.

On the other hand, Facebook had an abundant amount of posts flowing through the platform’s news feed when viewing posts with the hashtag.

The Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Achievement (MESA) program at SSU and the school library posted on their Facebook pages including their own designs incorporating Giving Day’s premade photos.

The school’s library Facebook page posted, “On Thursday, April 29, the SSU Library is participating in Sonoma State University’s first-ever one-day online fundraising event, with a goal of raising $2,500, which will go directly to support the student-centered services, collections, and activities provided by the SSU Library. “ MESA’s Facebook post stated, “We’ll be using the funds to directly impact students’ experiences with mentoring, research and honors!”

Giving Day’s success was able to reach a growing number of 300+ donors and is still in the process of counting. (Tiffany will text me on Monday in the afternoon for the proper estimate, but if not we will just provide a close approximation) In a Zoom interview, O’Neil said,“It was exciting to see it happen and to see causes on campus rally. It was all about unifying us because we have been apart for the past 14 months. I am really proud to see that this brought us together as a campus community and we are only going to make it grow year-over year.”

The university plans to host Giving Day as an annual event moving forward because of the positivity and has brought more attention to the Seawolf community by supporting on-campus programs, opportunities and campaigns.

“It wasn’t just about programs and academics. It was really about supporting our students and having a really inclusive campaign that we were able to do,” O’Neil said.

Shoda had experienced a rare form of cardiac arrest called commotio cordis during a soccer practice at Sonoma State, where she collapsed after taking a hit to the chest from a soccer ball. After graduating from Sonoma State in 2017, Courtney moved back to her home of Torrance and currently works as an emergency room technician at Centinela Hospital while she is waiting to hear back from nursing programs she has applied to.

Shoda’s family has been posting weekly about Courtney’s health on Instagram and Facebook to keep loved ones updated. After many tests and available hearts that didn’t seem to work for Shoda’s body, they finally received a perfect match that worked.

Shoda’s family posted on Instagram after Courtney received her new heart saying, “We got our GIFT from GOD. Surgery started at 4:30pm. Doctors will call us then they are done. Will be at least 6 hours.”

Shoda surgery was successful after many hours of operation, and she is currently on the road to recovery. While it may be a long journey for Courtney, the Shoda family is thankful for everyone who has been there in support.

“We have a long road ahead still with PT, OT and speech therapy. We will get there. I tell Courtney everyday that she has an army of love out there fighting and praying for her,” said Courney’s mom.

The last update on Courtneys health was April 30, where the family informed everyone that doctors officially closed her chest and would be working on the process to take her off a ventilator.

The family wrote, “Her heart transplant surgeon stopped by yesterday and said she is doing everything he wants he said to be patient. She Is looking great and is so strong.”

COVID-19 regulations have made it very tough on the family to be able to see Shoda at the hospital. There are only two hours a day that they are able to visit her.

A GoFundMe campaign started for Courtney has raised over $57,000 for her medical bills.People can follow the Instagram page @courtneystrong22, to get all the updates on Shoda’s well being during her road to recovery. The Sonoma State community is joyful that Shoda is on track to recovery and will continue to support her endeavors.

Breakthrough cases of COVID-19 rare but emerging continued from pg. 1

vaccines are not 100 percent effective. We do know that the vaccines offer the best protection against COVID. In COVID positive individuals who have been vaccinated, symptoms, if any, are mild, and there have been no deaths due to the COVID of a vaccinated individual. It is still important for vaccinated people to maintain proper health protocols, including wearing a mask indoors in public.”

Although alarming to some, the vaccine doesn’t make a person fully immune from getting the virus, but instead is designed to reduce symptoms and death rates. These newly reported cases account for less than one percent of California’s total cases out of 3.74 million positive cases recorded since the pandemic started.

Across the U.S. we have seen 5,800 cases of individuals infected with the virus after receiving the full vaccine. According to the Center for Disease Control, there have been 243 million people fully vaccinated in the U.S..

With vaccinations in place, and all ages allowed to get the vaccine, California has mostly entered into the orange tier with moderate virus eliminating restrictions but overall a much safer place than 6 months ago.

Major social impacts like the closing of schools, bars, restaurants, and any social-related gatherings had been implemented for over 6 months before individuals’ access to vaccines rapidly improved. While getting a vaccine is proven to reduce symptoms of COVID, it does not make anybody completely immune to getting it.

Tracy Eaton, Interim Director at SSU’s Health Center, provided her insight on the matter saying, “No vaccine is 100% effective so these “breakthrough” cases are to be expected. The COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective though and there have only been about 1400 documented cases in California of vaccinated people testing positive for COVID-19. That’s less than 0.00005% of vaccinated Californians and 0.001% of total COVID cases.

Even though infection after vaccination is unlikely, vaccinated individuals should still continue to follow all safety guidance including wearing masks.”

While there has been a high success rate in receiving the vaccine, there is still a small chance of catching this virus. Health experts still urge others to wear masks as everyone is not fully vaccinated across California, and the public is still at a small risk of receiving an infection given the vaccination does not completely bar someone from this virus. Following all safety precautions is imperative to see a major reduction of COVID-19 variants and for all social gatherings and schools to resume back to normal.

STAR // Zena Bounsall Community members sign up for their walk-in vaccines at SSU’s Cooperage building. Recently, there have been breakthrough cases for vaccinated residents.

News 5

MAY 4 - MAY 10, 2021

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California set to lose Congressional seat after 2020 Census results QUINN MCKIBBIN STAFF WRITER

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n the upcoming year, California is set to lose one seat in the House of Congress. The state is set to lose a seat because the population has failed to grow to a certain point in the past 10 years, making California lose its first seat in its 170 years of existence. This change was recently announced by the U.S Census Bureau and it means that in 2022, California will contest 52 House of Representatives seats, and will lose an electoral vote in the 2024 and oncoming elections.

In the past 10 years, the U.S. population has increased overall by just over 7% at 334 million people, according to numbers recently put out by the Bureau. That’s the second smallest population growth California’s had in 24 decades, with the smallest being just under at 6%. In the past decade, more people have moved to other states from California, rather than moving to California.

According to PleasantonWeekly, officials are worried that, “The loss of a congressional seat is also likely to fuel a narrative peddled by conservatives that Californians are fleeing an expensive Democratic-governed state in search of cheaper, less regulated climes.”

While California will lose a seat due to its population size, some states, such as Texas and Florida, will gain seats due to its increase in population. Notably, Texas is set to gain two seats in the upcoming 2024 elections due to its flood of population in the past couple years. In the past decade, around 1.5 million more people have left California rather than moving to it.

According to the SacBee, “Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon will each gain a seat.” While states like, “California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia will each lose a seat.”

California became a state on September 9, 1850 and started off with two house members, California then immediately gained popularity and rose in population. By the year 2000, the population had risen to more than 34 million residents.

Judy Sakaki, SSU President divulged that via relations the school has with Congress, that the lost seat may be coming from Southern California as opposed to someplace closer to campus. She said, “CSU staff that interact with our [U.S.] Congress suggests the Los Angeles area will most likely lose a congressional seat… We are hoping this is not an indicator of lower population levels in California to continue, as losing more seats means losing voices in Washington DC.” Sakaki also emphasized the importance of an accurate Census and how this affects the state at large. She said,“ We need as large an engagement in future Census gathering as possible. We cannot lose ground on our social or economic initiatives as a result of this change as a state, and we do not expect this to upset the balance too much in the short term. That said, losing a district means the current Congress people may see enough change in their current districts to retire or not run again because of their constituency changing.”

She did hold out hope that with the Congressional number change new leaders may emerge, “including SSU alumni.”

COURTESY // Instagram.com A chart from the U.S. Census Bureau shows the states who lost and gained congressional representatives after the 2020 Census was finalized.

California losing a seat is said to be partly due to its recent spike in housing costs and property taxes. California residents have been looking elsewhere with lower housing costs to live in the United States due to this.

The good news is that although the loss of a house seat may be a psychological blow, Paul Mitchell of California-based Political Data Inc., in an interview with Mercury News, said California won’t give up much political power on a national level.

He also noted that if the 2020 Census efforts had been more comprehensive, other states might have gained more seats. Some officials in Texas predicted picking up several more seats.

“Those states are really upset,” said Mitchell.

While restructuring takes places and states work on redistricting to work around their new house representative totals, only time will tell as to how the Census results will truly affect the look of the 2022 House of Representatives elections.

COURTESY // Instagram.com A worker uses a leaf blower to assist with a controlled burn in Kansas. Officials in California are using this technique to mitigate the impending risks of fire season.

Prescribed burn method heats up the North Bay

ISABELLE BARKEY STAFF WRITER

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very year for the past few years, Sonoma State students along with thousands of other Sonoma County residents have watched the skies turn dark with smoke.

This year likely will be no different. A few weeks ago, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a drought emergency in Mendocino and Sonoma County a San Francisco Chronicle article reported. Residents across the counties are preparing for an early and intense fire season.

One common tactic for fighting future wildfires is prescribed burning, a practice that has actually been around for a very long time. According to University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE), Sonoma County, “Prescribed fire is the use of fire under predetermined conditions to achieve specific objectives. It is an important tool in wildfire hazard reduction, ecosystem restoration, vegetation management, and wildlife habitat enhancement; it is also an important cultural resource, and it has application in forest management and rangeland improvement. Prescribed fire has unique effects on ecosystems, and most of those effects can’t be achieved without fire.”

Controlled burns are nothing new to Sonoma County.

According to an article published by Sonoma magazine, “Prescribed burning has a long history in Sonoma County, where tribes have long used flames to manage and maintain diverse landscapes for food production and other beneficial uses — until European settlers quashed those traditions,” Mary Callahan reported.

Another article by the Gazette explains, “For thousands of years, the Bay Area was home to some of California’s highest populations of Native Americans, who used fire for a multitude of reasons,” These included creating more land

for animals to graze, stimulate the growth of valuable materials, to clear brush for paths to travel easier, and to try and avoid wildfires like we do today.

Callahan also wrote about a rancher named Bob Cooley who had been doing prescribed burns since he was five years old. “‘It was one of our summer activities,’ just as it had been for his father, Bob Cooley said. The family and a few friends would burn as much as 4,000 acres before they were done,” Callahan wrote.

UCCE Sonoma County has reported that permits are going to be required of anyone who wants to have burns on their property. “To conduct any outdoor burning (beyond fire pits) in Sonoma County, approval must be obtained from your local district of the California Air Resources Control Board (CARB). CARB establishes the framework for the burn program and local air districts implement and enforce local rules and regulations… Best practices is to contact your local CARB district office early in the process.”

According to an article posted by the Sonoma Gazette in January, prescribed burning could have very positive impacts on the environment, “In the North Bay specifically, nearly all of our terrestrial ecosystems depend on site-specific fire regimes. Here, nearly all plant species depend on regular fire to thrive—each system with its own unique relationship with fire and specific fire needs. Our open spaces are adapted to a specific fre- quency, intensity and timing of fire as a result of those millennia of fire-adapted stewardship by people.After over a century of fire suppression, however, California landscapes remain in a dire fire deficit,” The article goes on to say that California is likely to continue to use controlled burns in the coming years, “The

use of prescribed fire (i.e. controlled burning) builds resiliency in wildland ecosystems, reduces hazardous fuels and may enhance public and firefighter safety. Local communities can benefit in other ways too. When relatively small areas are burned under optimal conditions far less smoke is emitted than would occur during a major wildfire and the potential for post-fire erosion is reduced,” “The term we like to use is resilience. Resistance implies a fire won’t enter an area again,” Lenya QuinnDavidson, fire adviser for the UC Cooperative Extension, told the San Francisco Chronicle in September 2020, “What we’re looking to achieve is resilience in a forest, landscape or community structure, where fire can be part of the system but won’t remarkably change it ... and actually preserve what’s there.”

The Sonoma County Fire District website warns locals of the risks of doing their own controlled burnings and reminds them that, “Both the [Bay Area Air Quality Management District] BAAQMD and the [Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution District] NSCAPCD determine permissible burn days based on air quality, not on the basis of fire safety.

Therefore, it may be “permissible” to burn but not be safe to burn. Sonoma County Fire District has the authority to prohibit burning even on permissible burn days if weather or other conditions make it unsafe to burn,” Many believe that last year’s fire season was particularly bad because of lack of preparedness. It is no secret to Sonoma County locals that fires will likely return annually going forward and it is good to see that this time, leaders seem to be thinking ahead and preparing us the best they can for what is to come.

6 Arts Passionate seniors produce end of the year event: Senior Project Festival

MAY 4 - MAY 10, 2021

sonomastatestar.com

CHEYENNE CARROLL

STAFF WRITER

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ith the end of the semester coming up quickly, the Theatre Arts and Dance department is debuting this year’s filmed senior projects as a weekend event the department is calling the “Senior Project Festival,” and will feature projects from seven theater and dance majors.

The student-run festival will be streamed on May 6 through May 9, and attendees will be able to register online for free at the Theater Arts and Dance website. Each project will be shown twice and specific times can also be found on their website.

Francelle Mariano, the production stage manager for the festival wrote in an email, “There are a total of 6 performances where we will see two senior projects per night and each pair gets two performances. We have a student written play titled “Ask Her Out!” shared with a co-directed dance piece titled “Change, Shift, Flow.” Then we have a play titled “Interviews with Loneliness,” shared with another dance piece called, “To Be Seen Is To Be Heard...This Is Who I Am!” Lastly, we have a play titled “Nine” combined with another student written play titled “What Now?”.”

“Seniors who wanted to participate created their own projects, and all actors auditioned collectively. The different directors then collaborated and negotiated who would get which actors based on those auditions and callbacks,” said actor Allison Dominguez, who performed in senior Lindsey Abbott’s production of “Nine”, written by Jane Shepard.

One of the dance projects, “Change, Shift, Flow,” co-directed by seniors Sierra Parkhurst and Brandon Leong, “consists of 9 new dance films that we choreographed, directed, filmed, and edited all ourselves… [and] explores concepts of water and the environment through an embodied lens,” according to Parkhurst.

The pandemic impacted their process, and getting to their final product required a lot more than good choreography and costumes due to the pandemic. “[It] involved a mix of Zoom and in person rehearsals, filming at different sights, and lots of editing. One of the pieces I made called “4 Million Acres” was danced by Rian Dixon who currently lives in Boulder, Colo. We choreographed everything on Zoom, I sent her filming and lighting equipment, she would film herself and send me all the footage which I would then edit. The whole process was really collaborative,” Parkhurst said.

Leong explained how the project helped him expand his skillset. “I learned to choreograph, film and edit for dance works because it is so much more different than choreographing for stage and for live audiences. I feel like this whole process has made me more comfortable navigating a side of dance theater that I never explored before.”

Joelle Joyner-Wong, the playwright of “Ask Her Out” explained the challenges she faced while trying to create her project, as she’d written the play in 2019 and pictured it being performed on a stage, in-person.

“The most challenging thing was figuring out how to film the project… covid happened and we had to figure out how to film. We at first were going to film it in person off

COURTESY // Instagram

The Senior Project Festival will begin online Thursday at 7 p.m. until Sunday. campus with social distancing but the school said no because of health reasons. Then it was about should we add the green screen backgrounds to the green screen while they film or add them in,” said Joyner-Wong.

Overall, everyone involved felt their finished project turned out well, and the festival provides a way for students and faculty to celebrate graduating seniors who worked on the festival.

Annaliese Van Sickle, a student who also performed in “Nine”, said, “I’m so excited for everybody to see the final product… we all put our heart and soul into it…

I know some of the other seniors that are doing their projects and it’s going to be the major is going to be a lot different without them.”

Burning Man 2021 cancelled

COURTESY // Facebook

There will be no in-person festival for Burning Man in 2021, however there is hope for 2022.

JAYLINE ALVARADO

STAFF WRITER

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espite the return of other festivals this year, Burning Man has made the decision to not return for another year due to the novel coronavirus.

The annual festival takes place in Black Rock Desert, Nev. In a blogpost released by the Burning Man Project on April 27, they stated that despite things looking up in the United States in 2021, there’s still a pandemic going on and therefore made the decision to return in 2022.

“I have always been interested in Burning Man and possibly attending the future, and although the decision of not returning in 2021 is sad, I am happy to see the project taking all precautions necessary for a safe event next year, said Senior Jenny Quintero.

According to NPR, the Washoe District Health Officer, Kevin Dick, said that Burning Man made the right decision in order to stop the further spread of the coronavirus. Especially, since Burning Man attracts thousands of people from around the globe where there are variants of the coronavirus and lower rates vaccination.

Burning Man also stated that despite some believing that the trauma caused by the pandemic could be healed by returning to the Black Rock Desert, “The physical, psychic, and emotional impacts of this pandemic are real and the recovery from this experience will happen at different rates of speed. This is the time to gather with our friends, crews, families and communities.”

Locally, residents of the neighboring areas are glad that the event has been postponed another year. The main highway that leads into the Black Rock Desert and where Black Rock City sets up camp every year.

Janet Davis, the Chairwomen of the Pyramid Lake Pauite Tribe said it’s a

“sigh of relief” that Burning Man isn’t happening another year. Instead, this recognizes that there’s still a pandemic going on. In an email for NPR, Davis stated that, “We don’t know who’s vaccinated and who’s not. We’ve been trying to keep our reservation safe and that happening was too soon for us to open.”

Despite the loss in $63 million in revenue brought in by the festival annually, not only is the tribe happy, so are others in the surrounding communities. The Reno Gazette journal Kervin Jervis is happy that rogue burners who showed up despite the event being moved online last year and said “represented the festival’s freewheeling roots” and that, “I’ve had friends that have been going since ‘94 and they said it was a lot more like it used to be. We didn’t have to go by regulations,” he said.

“Since the project is at a halt this year, it will bring even more excitement and most likely a better organized event for the future,” said Senior Catherine Crain.

The criticism stems from Burning Man becoming much more expensive with tickets prices at around $400. This has been viewed as a contradiction against their principle of radical inclusion that states that “Anyone may be a part of Burning Man.” There’s also criticism of those who pay others to create the works of art seen rather than doing it themselves, defeating the principle of radical self-reliance and radical self-expression.

Despite the event not returning this year, like last year there’s going to be a virtual Burning Man, starting Aug. 21 to Sept. 4. They also acknowledge those who will be going to the Black Rock Desert despite there not being an event and encouraging them to support local businesses and Leave No Trace. Overall, they emphasize the importance of community.

COURTESY // Facebook

What to watch in May Many new movies and seasons will be available to watch in May.

NANCY INSUA

STAFF WRITER

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ith the start of the month of May comes the start of the summer movie season. And summer being only a few weeks away, Seawolves can get ready to binge watch several returning and new shows coming to streaming platforms. This month will bring to premiere and return of many highly anticipated shows and with streaming services continuing to dominate in award season some highly anticipated films are starting to appear across platforms.

On May 14, Netf lix is to debut the highly anticipated thriller film “The Woman in the Window,” starring Amy Adams. “Monster,” the story of a 17 year old honor roll student is charged with felony murder is also set to premiere on Netf lix this month. Another Netf lix original starring Amanda Seyfried titled “Things Seen and Heard,” is available for streaming now telling the story of a woman uncovering secrets of her husband when they leave Manhattan and move to a rural town.

Disney fans can get excited for the end of the month when “Cruella,” the live action story of Cruella de Vil from “101 Dalmatians” starring Emma Stone will be available to stream on the premier Disney+ platform as well as in theatres. Junior Malina Evans said “I’m so excited for Cruella to come out, I have missed going to the movies so much this past year”.

Several shows are returning this month as well as a couple premieres.

Fans of the Hulu Original “The Hand-

maid’s Tale” will be excited for the long hiatus to end with the series fourth season with new episodes every Tuesday. Fans of FX’s “Pose” can watch the third and final season this month, and for those new to the series the first two seasons are available to stream on Netf lix now. “I’m so happy “Pose” is coming back, I binged watched the first two seasons and now I’m obsessed!” said Sophomore Emily Laureno. “Shrill” is returning to Hulu this month for its third season starring SNL cast member Aidy Bryant. True crime fans should anticipate “Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story” coming to Netf lix on the 30, the series details a love story gone horribly wrong. Comedian Bo Burnham has announced the release of a highly anticipated special titled “Inside,” that was inspired by his year in quarantine.

Streaming services have allowed us to consume content in an entirely new way and there’s always an opportunity to visit fan favorites you might have missed. Sonoma State Senior Kiley Cardamone said “I’ve been watching “Schitts Creek!” It’s so funny and captivating to watch, it’s addicting!”.

The first and second season of the Netflix reality show “The Circle” is streaming now. Other student favorites were “Big Mouth,” “You,” “Bridgerton,” “Shadow and Bone,” “Peaky Blinders,” and “American Horror Story.” With such a range in content students can rest assured they will have plenty to binge watch this summer.

MAY 4 - MAY 10, 2021

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Entertainment 7

The buzz behind the Sebastopol Makers Market

JULIA BLAIR

STAFF WRITER

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he push for supporting local businesses as well as enjoying handmade creations in partnership with local artists has recently been in the Sonoma spotlight. With vaccines continuing to rollout, there is now a safe way to support local creators and their work amidst the pandemic. Visiting the Sebastopol Makers Market has become a popular activity for many locals to enjoy on a day where many choose their settings differently. Free admission, “The Makers Market” will be hosted by the Sebastopol Downtown Association on the first Saturday of every month from 12 p.m. 4 p.m. at the Sebastopol Plaza and is marketed as, “Savor the Bizarre, Shop Handmade Items and one of a kind Gifts.” Visiting the market’s website, more background information is disclosed, “Downtown Sebastopol is a friendly Bay Area destination, full of small town charm with unique independently owned businesses.”

There is a lot going on in this area and there are many opportunities for Sonoma State University students and locals to shop from backyard vendors and merchants. Allowing handmade marketplaces to reopen after a hiatus of closures will be vital for small businesses and may give sales a chance to pick up in this stage of reopening. Additionally, people can easily submit ideas to their website, telling the public, “We are seeking vendors who are Artsy/Makers/Starting a Cottage Business, to Be a Part of Our Monthly Makers Market!

Please send us a message with your talent along with any social media profiles that we may peruse to learn about your craft.”

The Sebastopol downtown area also offers a very wide variety of activities and opportunities for locals to enjoy. In addition to this monthly market, there are an abundance of shops and restaurants in the area. Before or after visiting the handmade market, one can also take part in some self care or see a professional expert for a meeting. There is such a wide range of opportunity that goes far beyond the buzz of the market itself.

STAR // KC Holtmann The Makers Market takes place every first Saturday, where vendors can display different art mediums.

Locals and visitors alike may appreciate the depth that they discover behind this market and the town that hosts the entire event. Cultivating communities around creative artists during a pandemic has been challenging for many cities to navigate, but Sebastopol has set a strong example of what it means to set a standard for those who follow them.

Additionally, in California, things have continued to reopen gradually. Yesterday, Sacramento’s public radio station, CapRadio spoke about the new in-person openings stating, “Disneyland has reopened in Anaheim, cruise lines are announcing sailing dates by midsummer, and more doors and venues are swinging open now that over 100 million Americans have been fully vaccinated

against COVID-19. These reopening’s will only continue to allow locals to support small businesses hands on and in their own communities.” The hiatus in retail shopping that occurred in the last year is unprecedented and companies have been waiting for open signs to return.

Ultimately, this has been a challenging time for many creative minds in various fields, and exposure to artist’s work has been limited for months at a time in a tangible setting. For a vast amount of art pieces, they may not be fully appreciated for the same details as an in person viewing of the same work may gauge. These artists have continued to push through limited distribution of their work in an unusual time but vaccines have made events like these more feasible in recent months.

and also demystifying stereotypes about the industry.

Each day also includes a portion on esports wellness by AimStrong. Discord user Shiro Kusanagi, who is a part of the SSU Esports discord server, expressed an interest in the Esports Wellness segments writing, “The stereotype of a gamer is a 20 something teenager locked in parents’ basement subsisting on snack foods so hopefully that can prove it wrong.”

Tuesday’s event, “Monetizing Through Streaming,” provides insider tips on how to best monetize content and successfully develop individual brands.

On Wednesday, participants are invited to join with industry leaders in conversations on how to combat online toxicity and “…ways we can improve our communities through mental and physical wellness to create inclusive and healthy spaces on campus for everyone,” reads the CSUEA Esportspreneur Expo schedule.

For Thursday’s event, “Path to Pro and Careers,” San Francisco Shock, a professional Overwatch team, will share personal experiences on what it is like to be professional esport athletes while providing advice on how to beat the competition and build a successful ca-

reer in esports.

To wrap up the week, Friday’s “Event Management” program will give viewers a chance to, “Hear from specialists like professional esports team Envy’s VP of Events, Justin Rojas, pro NBA2K player Brent ‘Lord Beezus’ Aasgaard, and Boise State’s award-winning Head Coach, Dr. Haskell, along with a variety of backgrounds and perspectives on what it takes to put on a successful event,” as stated on the schedule.

Discord username Liam, who is also a part of SSU Esports, wrote, “I was most interested in the panel on event production, because esports event production seems like a discipline for which there are not a ton of textbook examples. This is especially true when esports are compared to other conventional sports, which have had far more time to mature and distill an ideal formula to attract as many spectators as possible. The infrastructure and dedicated staff required to put on something like this definitely dwarfed my expectations, so the scarcity of opportunities to host events on the scale of something like a “CS:GO” major makes me value that panel more than some of the other panels and seminars.”

Cal State Universities presents: Esportspreneur Expo

MARY HELEN ROWELL STAFF WRITER

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his week, the Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is working with the California State University Entertainment Alliance (CSUEA), Twitch Student, and UCI Esports to host a five-day virtual Esportspreneur Expo.

The free virtual event is open to all students, higher education professionals, and the general public.

Events start on May 3 and will continue daily from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., until May 7. Recordings for each event will be available on the CalStateEsports Twitch account for anyone unable to attend the live events.

According to the CSUEA website, “Esports job platform Hitmarker saw an 87.03% increase in new jobs between 2018 and 2019, with California seeing the most growth, demonstrating significant new employment opportunities. This expo aims to create connections, elevate innovation, and inspire engagement in our growing esports communities.”

The week of virtual events began on Monday with, “Esports 101 and Entrepreneurship,” which invited esports and gaming experts to explore the basics of esports with viewers while sharing their own stories on how they were able to create such successful enterprises

COURTESY // Facebook This week, the virtual expo will be avaliable online to those who wish to participate in the live event, with a new topic each day focusing on professional gaming.

8 Student Life

MAY 4 - MAY 10, 2021

sonomastatestar.com

SSU celebrates Disability Awareness Month NOAH PHILPOTT

STAFF WRITER

T

his past month of April, Sonoma State University’s Neurodiversity Student Panel has hosted a variety of Zoom meetings to talk with SSU students about neurodiversity and their experiences at SSU for Disability Awareness Month. The student panel has held eight different zoom meetings that consisted of different lectures and discussions from guest speakers, students, people of the community, and other faculty.

The first two meetings held on April 5 were titled, “Exploring Neurodiversity,” and “Disclosure and Accommodations: Disability in the Workplace.” The Neurodiversity movement regards people with differences in brain function and behavioral traits, like autism or ADHD, as another form of human variation like ethnicity, race, or gender. People with a neurodiverse profile can have significant challenges, as well as strengths or talents that can increase innovation and productivity of not only a college campus, but our society as a whole. This presentation discussed the concept of neurodiversity and how to motivate and educate your campus community to successfully support this ever-growing population through education about their unique needs and the implementation of universal design for learning principles and practical strategies to help foster a positive and inclusive campus environment. These ideas can not only help retain this student population and help them achieve their goals, but also help our campuses to learn from their unique perspectives. The second meeting presented information about how to navigate accommodations in the workplace and more.

The third meeting took place on April 6 and was titled, “Catch Up On Reading: Study Hacks with Online Study Tools.” This was a free Chrome extension and learning tool designed to help students make the most of their study and research time. This handson workshop for “study hacks’’ mainly helped students read documents posted on Canvas aloud. It also

helped students to highlight and annotate documents to collect and transfer the highlighted text onto a Google Doc for tests and research papers, and more.

The fourth and fifth meetings on April 15 and April 20, introduced the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) and the creation of flyers to spread awareness for students and others with disabilities. DOR assists people with disabilities with finding a career and will work with you individually on your vocational goal. The program can support college students with disability-related needs and some financial aid support.

The sixth meeting on April 22 was titled “Disability and Graduate School,” and it included a presentation regarding students with disabilities applying for graduate school.

The seventh meeting was titled, “Understanding Our Experience: A Fireside Chat with Students with Disabilities,” which consisted of a gathering of six students for a fireside chat, focusing on their experiences as DSS students at SSU. Lastly, the eighth and final meeting was titled, “Neurodiversity Student Panel - ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’. This event included students of SSU discussing their type of neurodiversity and their own personal experiences at SSU. “I just want to hammer the point in. The reason I agreed to come on this panel is to try and share my voice and give the face to show that Autism is not the stereotype. If you met me, you wouldn’t be able to tell that I have autism. There are so many other people out there that are like me.

It’s exhausting to hide it. I want people to be more knowledgeable that autism is not one thing and that it has many aspects. It’s not a stereotype. Just be patient with us,” SSU student Molly Morgan said.

Overall, this year’s Disability Awareness Month was a huge success. “I didn’t attend all of the meetings, but the ones that I did attend I thought were very

COURTESY // Twitter The Career Center will be running Alumni Takeovers on Instagram Live weekly.

Alumni Takeovers help to give students motivation CAROLINE MORALES

STAFF WRITER

W

ith finals quickly approaching, many SSU students are lacking the motivation needed to push through, with school being virtual. However, the SSU Career Center’s Alumni Takeovers are a great way for students to gain motivation and see a day in the postgrad life of an SSU alumni. This past Thursday, SSU Class of 2019 alumni Daisy Agers hosted an Alumni Takeover on the SSU Career Center Instagram.

Agers was excited when the SSU Career Center reached out to her to host a Takeover. She went on to say that she “...is a very proud Seawolf and loved my time at Sonoma State, so I felt that doing a takeover would be a fun and perfect way to inspire recent graduates.”

When reflecting upon her four years as an Early Childhood Major, Daisy strongly feels as if her time at SSU as an undergrad prepared her for a teaching career. “During my undergrad, we did a lot of observation hours which allowed us to explore a wide range of developmental stages. Observation hours are similar to an internship experience which taught me professional development skills,” Agers shared.

After completing her undergrad, Agers returned to SSU to earn her teaching credential. Agers thoroughly enjoyed her time in the SSU credential program as it gave her the tools necessary for her career. She told the Instagram Live audience that, “in the credential program, we really talked about lesson planning and how to meet grade level standards and curriculum. I had two really awesome mentor teachers during my credential program that taught me a lot about classroom management and resources.”

Agers enjoyed the questions aspect of the Instagram takeover as it allowed her to provide current SSU students with advice whether they are currently undergrad students or in the credential program. “My best advice is to get a substitute teaching certification to allow yourself to start getting classroom experience. With my substitute teaching certification, I was able to see so many different classroom structures as well as grade levels,” Agers said. A substitute teaching certification was a great way for her to get classroom experience, as well as a strong resume booster, as this certification allowed her to show employers her flexibility.

In addition to getting this certification, Agers encouraged students to stay organized while in the credential program. “I would recommend investing in a planner while in the credential program.

There are a lot of projects, assessments, and tests that need to be completed while student teaching in addition to your coursework at SSU, so it is important to stay organized and on top of what you are doing,” Agers advised.

Many SSU students enjoyed watching Agers’ Career Center Takeover as it gave them a fresh perspective on what to expect in post-grad life. SSU Early Childhood Education major Hunter Petretti was excited to hear that someone who graduated in the same major as her was doing a takeover on the Career Center Instagram. “I really enjoyed being able to see a day in Daisy’s post-grad life. I enjoyed being able to see the behind the scenes of her classroom as well as the COVID-19 precautions that are currently being taken as elementary schools return to in-person, hybrid learning,” Petretti remarked.

At times, Petretti finds herself worried that she is not on the right track for a career as an elementary school teacher. However, Agers’ takeover gave her the reassurance that she is on the right track to eventually becoming an elementary school teacher. “Watching Daisy’s takeover was the exact motivation I needed entering finals week. Her takeover made me realize that all my hard work will be worth it in the end and showed me just how excited I am to eventually be in the exact same position as Daisy,” Petretti shared.

Agers hoped that her takeover allowed students to “...learn that being a first year teacher is hard, but with support from others, it is worth all the hard work.” The Career Center is aiming to continue running Alumni Takeovers, as they have proven to be a great motivator for students that are struggling to find motivation throughout the semester.

informational and informal to students, faculty, and the community. I learned a lot about neurodiversity.

Not only about what it is, but how certain people have dealt with it and how they have overcome it. I thought the month of events was very interesting, and I am excited to see what DSS has to offer in the future,” SSU student Dylan Hellar said.

Disability Services for Students, or DSS, ensures equal access to students with disabilities by providing appropriate accommodations and specialized support services, and by providing guidance to faculty, staff, and the campus community. For more information regarding Disability Awareness Month, the Neurodiversity Student Panel, DSS, or other resources and services visit dss.sonoma.edu.

COURTESY // Pinterest This month, Sonoma State celebrated neurodiversity for Disability Awareness Month.

Computer Science Department holds showcase for final projects O MATTHEW SMITH STAFF WRITER

n Weds. April 28, the Computer Science Department held a virtual showcase to show students’ advanced software design projects from one of their classes this semester. Sonoma State seniors in the CS 470 class got a chance to show off their projects that they have been working on for the entirety of the Spring semester.

The students worked in groups and were tasked with creating a software application that people could use and relate to. Dr. Anamary Leal, the professor of this course and host of the showcase, shared what the initial assignment was in a little more detail.

“The core assignment was to research, design, develop and evaluate a software novel engineering project that met some human or societal need or opportunity,” she said.

“This goal was designed so students have a project that anyone can relate to, from a recruiter, software engineer, CEO, or, really anyone. By having a human need, students learn the challenges and nuances of creating technology.”

Alondra Gradilla, one of the CS 470 students from the showcase, talked about her group’s project called Cinerama. “It’s designed to help people find recommendations for movies they have watched. If you have seen a movie and want something similar or the same genre, our website will give you recommendations based on your search,” she said. “There are options like Top Rated, Now Playing and Popular to show users a variety of films. Additionally, we have a foreign film option where you can find movies from different countries if you are looking to expand your movie knowledge.”

In terms of how they came up with the idea, Gradilla said, “Since COVID, there has been way more time on our hands and some of our group members started watching more films and thought it would be a good idea to create something that can ease the decision making when it comes to what to watch next. In addition, foreign films have so much to offer, so we also wanted to make it easy for people to venture out and try something brand new.”

The next group of CS students to present at the showcase created a website and app called Fruck. One of the members of the group, Liam Schroth, gave more information on what exactly their software does. “[Fruck’s] purpose is to be like DoorDash, but for food trucks, and without the delivery. It is mainly used to locate food trucks and sorts them by what you’re interested in,” he said. “We’re also planning a rating system down the line so you can see how others rank food trucks. You don’t need to sign in or anything, you can just go to the app or website and see all the trucks in your area.”

Schroth went on to say that he and his group received a lot of good feedback after their presentation on Wednesday. “I was really surprised at the amount of people that came in and critically thought about how they’d use our website,” he said. “They were asking detailed questions and were trying to contribute with features that they came up with, many of which had not crossed our minds before. We saw a lot of praise towards just the idea itself too.”

One last group that presented at the showcase was a website called Wardrobe Wizard. One member of the group, Julia Otten, shed some light on what exactly their website does. “Our web application is an online closet organizer that allows users to upload pictures of the clothing in their closet and then use the images to create outfits by using a collage-like canvas where they can view various articles of clothing together.”

Another member of the group, Diana Arce-Hernandez, said that they received a lot of good feedback regarding their website from other people at the showcase. “The Colloquium definitely provided us with some really good feedback – there were a lot of suggestions we received that we wouldn’t mind trying to implement even after the course is done.” she said. “Someone even suggested adding a feature for sorting the clothes by colors and I thought that was actually a really great idea, especially for users that like to color-code for work or other events.”

The showcase ended with all of the seniors getting feedback on their projects in the form of a survey and hopefully, a sense of accomplishment as they prepare for graduation.

Student Life 9

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Educational Zoom lecture shows students the dangers of Sudden Oak Death

PAMELA MEYERS

STAFF WRITER

S

udden Oak Death (SOD), an “exotic disease that arrived in California in the 80’s” is ravaging our forests in California. Based on the training video that students are required to take before attending the Zoom event, Dr. Matteo Garbelotto at UC Berkeley’s Pathology and Mycology Laboratory explained that “Sudden Oak Death, when it arrives in site, can kill almost all of the oaks in about a decade.”

The educational zoom event took place on Friday, April 30, and was held by the Center of Environmental Inquiry at Sonoma State. Upon registering for this Zoom event, students are also given the option to participate with their own leaf collection packet. In this packet, there is an envelope to collect leaves from trees that students’ survey which will be sent to a lab at UC Berkeley that will be tested for SOD for free.

Kerry Winiger is a program coordinator for Sudden Oak Death, and is involved with the Center of Environmental Inquiry. Winiger led the event and opened the floor for SOD Specialist Master Gardeners, Janet Calhoon and Alan Chesterman. Janet Calhoon talked about Sudden Oak Death and the symptoms of infection. She explained that the pathogen doesn’t like a lot of heat and is seen in more moisture filled habitats. Calhoon talked about the symptoms in Tan Oak trees in specific, mentioning that “it will kill the leaf, it will turn black, moving up the petiole, the center part of the leaf.” She also talked about secondary infections where “beetles and microorganisms identify the trees that are distressed, they congregate on them and destroy them.” Calhoon also cautions against buying plants and then planting right away, because of the fear of planting an infected plant to spread the disease to nearby oak trees. Her advice is to quarantine the plants for around a month before planting in the ground and adding water to it.

This destructive forest pathogen can be detected on Bay Laurel and Tan Oak leaves. In Bay Laurel trees, you can identify the disease on infected leaves by dead, brown leaf tips, a dark line margining the dead tip, a yellow halo just above the margin, and small, dark dots throughout the leaf. On Tan Oak trees, you can identify the disease on the leaves by a brown area surrounding the petiole, going down the midvein. The dead spots that can be found on Bay Laurel leaves are identifiers of different diseases on Tan Oak trees. These trees are surveyed because their spores spread the disease. Another indicator of Sudden Oak Death is “bleeding”

STAR // KC Holtemann The “Deep Dive & Citizen Science” lecture educated students about Sudden Oak Death.

on a tree, which is when a dark substance looks like it’s dripping out of the bark. Calhoon explained that it is “a natural reaction of the tree to get rid of something that is injuring it. Oak trees cannot spread the pathogen to other oak trees and need a foliar host to spread it through spores. These two types of trees are a part of a list of 100 foliar hosts that help spread the pathogen.

Alan Chesterman, another Master Gardener at the event, talked about taking samples and how to properly survey trees for collection and testing.

Chesterman even went out and collected some samples before the event and mentioned that he has only done it a couple times. During his demonstration, he explained how to fill out the data sheet that comes with the collection packet and stressed the importance of accurate coordinates of collection sites. Chesterman also gave advice on where to look for susceptible trees and said that “if you’re looking for Bay trees, look for a habitat with more moisture” because that is the environment that they usually grow in.

This widespread disease can be found in Sonoma County, and even in your own backyard, so being aware of the symptoms of Sudden Oak Death could be beneficial to your community. So, if you have Tan Oak or California Bay Laurel trees, look out for browning leaf tips, a shepherds hook at the end of a branch of leaves, and even “bleeding” on the tree, which are all indicators of Sudden Oak Death.

Seawolves SPEAK! “What made you choose to attend Sonoma State?”

KAITLIN BREEN STAFF WRITER

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he pressure is on for high school seniors to decide where they will be attending college in the fall. National Decision Day is May 1, a day in which students must commit to a university. According to the Common Application, applications have increased from previous years; Harvard University received over 57,000 applications, which is a 47% increase from last year.

The data from the Common Application shows that roughly the same amount of students are applying to college, but total applications were up by 11% this year. This means that even though the same amount of students are applying to college, they are submitting more applications than they have in previous years.

It is too soon to tell how this will affect colleges and universities in

the fall, although it’s no secret that many universities have been battling to keep student enrollment up during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sonoma State University has faced the steepest decline in enrollment in the California State University (CSU) System, with almost a 10% decrease in enrollment from 2019 to 2020. With an increase in student applications, and the planned return to in-person instruction in the fall, one can hope that this increase in applications will lead to an increase in enrollment at SSU. Many Seawolves have loved the experience that they have had at SSU, and are reflecting on why they chose SSU when they made the very same decision.

“Anytime I have a concern or question, I am able to receive input from the staff. This school helps me reach my goals.”

“I fell in love with the atmosphere and the people at Sonoma State. I loved the energy I felt from everyone I met.”

- Patrick Connor, Sophomore, Computer Science major

- Sophia Tsue, Sophomore, Liberal Studies major

“I chose Sonoma because I felt a sense of rightness the very first time I stepped foot onto campus. I knew that it was the place for me, and I have found my second home”

“I thought the campus living arrangements were amazing, the campus in general was beautiful, and it was close enough to home that I could visit on weekends if I wanted.”

- Abby Reitman, Junior, English major

- Justin Brasil, Senior, Biology major

“Sonoma State was my top school.

I was super happy to have a school actually choose me!”

“It’s so beautiful and peaceful here. It was really just the best fit for me!”

- Kat Rodriguez, Freshman, History major

- Casey Ditzhazy, Senior, Early Childhood Studies major

10

Health

STAR // Zena Bounsall Students seated for their COVID-19 vaccinations at Sonoma State’s Cooperage building in Sauvignon Village.

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STAR // Zena Bounsall A SSU student making their walk-in appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine on campus.

SSU hosts two-day COVID-19 vaccine clinic EMILY ALVARADO STAFF WRITER

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n a press release published on April 22, the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) announced that vaccination against COVID-19 will be required for all students and staff for the Fall 2021 semester.

To assist community members in fulfilling this requirement, Sonoma State University hosted a vaccine clinic in partnership with Rite Aid. According to a CNN article by Aya Elamroussi published on April 29, over 100 colleges and universities in the U.S. will be requiring students and faculty members to be vaccinated against COVID-19 for the Fall 2021 semester.

The vaccine requirement is contingent upon the full approval of one or more COVID-19 vaccines by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As of right now, the Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have only been authorized by the FDA for emergency use.

The vaccine clinic at SSU took place 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday April 28 and Thursday April 29 in the Cooperage in Sauvignon Village on the SSU campus. Appointments were available to schedule online.

According to the SSU vaccine clinic webpage, only Pfizer vaccines were administered. Vaccinations at the clinic were available to anyone 16 years or older for free and did not require proof of medical insurance. Identification was required to check in for an appointment, either government-issued or an SSU ID card.

Second doses will be scheduled 21 days after the first, Wednesday May 19 and Thursday May 20. Rite Aid will assist any students that will no longer be on campus with scheduling an appointment in their area, though it is recommended to receive both doses at the same location.

Tracey Eaton, the interim director of the Student Health Center at Sonoma

State, commented on the success of the clinic, saying, “Many community members participated and were very excited to be getting vaccinated.”

Vincent Spence, a writer with the STAR and current SSU student, went to the clinic to receive a vaccine. He said that there were approximately 10 stations spread across the Cooperage with doctors administering vaccines at each one.

After receiving the vaccine, people were asked to wait 15 minutes to make sure they didn’t have any adverse reactions, and then were cleared to go.

Spence said, “I had a good experience getting my vaccine and am happy that it’s here at Sonoma State now.”

Along with the new requirement of the COVID-19 vaccine, SSU will still require face makes, social distancing and regular sanitation of facilities on campus during the Fall 2021 semester.

For any students or faculty members that are unable to get vaccinated or do not want to, the CSU and UC systems allow students and faculty to request exemption from vaccines for medical or religious reasons. According to the Student Health Center at SSU, in order to receive such an exemption, a waiver is required as well as confirmation of a medical condition preventing a specific vaccination. The doctor treating the condition must also provide a letter including the duration of the exemption.

If any students interested in receiving a vaccine were not able to attend the clinic at SSU, the Student Health Center (SHC) is still compiling a list of students interested in getting a vaccine. In order to add your name, you can sign up by following the instructions on the SHC website. By adding your name to this list, you will be contacted by the SHC if vaccines become available to SSU once more in the future.

CDC announces COVID-19 vaccine reduces transmission

CALLIE ADAMS STAFF WRITER

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ecent findings from a study conducted by the Public Health England (PHE) show that a single dose of a COVID-19 vaccine can reduce transmission of COVID-19 by up to 50%. This means that when COVID-19 enters a household, if the individuals in the household have been vaccinated against the virus once, they are up to 50% less likely to get infected than a household of unvaccinated people.

Getting vaccinated impacts transmission in that it is much harder for the virus to spread from a vaccinated person to another person. The vaccinated person’s body has the tools to fend the virus off, and when the virus cannot infect the person, the person is protecting those around them. Viruses cannot spread when they cannot survive.

While partially-vaccinated people are partially protected, new CDC data shows that fully-vaccinated people do not transmit COVID-19 nearly at all, except in extremely rare circumstances. These rare instances are known as vaccine breakthroughs, but the CDC thinks people should not worry.

“Vaccine breakthrough cases occur in only a small percentage of vaccinated persons. To date, no unexpected patterns have been identified in the case demographics or vaccine characteristics among people with reported vaccine breakthrough infections,” the CDC said.

The news that even partially-vaccinated people, who have not yet received the second dose of a two-dose vaccination, are much more protected from COVID-19 than previously thought, comes as a great relief to many. In the wake of nationwide vaccine shortages, those who have been unable to procure a second dose can rest understanding that even one dose of a vaccine can boost immunity.

“COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing people from getting COVID-19 and, if they do get infected, preventing serious illness. Vaccines are our most important tool in getting back to our normal activities,” said Tracey Eaton, interim director of the Student Health Center at Sonoma State.

According to data from the CDC, a person is only considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose. As there are weeks between the administration of the first dose and the second, and it takes another two

STAR // Morgan Mitchell The CDC recently announced that the COVID-19 vaccine prevents vaccinated individuals from transmitting the virus back and forth, on top of the already known information about preventing infection. weeks after the second to reach its highest efficacy, there is a decent-sized window wherein a person getting vaccinated can still catch COVID-19.

This should not deter anyone from taking the vaccine, however. While it is still possible for COVID-19 infection to occur in partially-vaccinated individuals, the vaccine significantly reduces the severity of the symptoms.

“Vaccinated people can still be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and suffer the symptoms of COVID-19, though this happens at a much reduced rate and severity, and vaccination eliminates the risk of death,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said.

If you become infected with the virus before or between vaccinations, you will still need to get vaccinated.

When asked what she wished more people knew about the COVID-19 vaccines, Eaton said, “You can still get vaccinated even if you have had COVID-19.”

The best way to protect yourself and those around you is still to get vaccinated. Because not everyone is eligible or able to get the vaccine, establishing an umbrella of those who are vaccinated can shield the vulnerable.

“Herd immunity means that enough people in a population have immunity to a virus (either through vaccination or past infection) that it is difficult for the disease to spread from person to person,” said Eaton, “We can all do our part in reaching herd immunity by getting vaccinated and encouraging others to get vaccinated.”

While the first dose of the vaccine can cut transmission rates in half, by getting the second dose, a person can ensure that they are almost completely halting transmission and keeping others safe.

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Wellness 11

Jessica Setnick discusses the importance of a positive relationship with food

CASEY FABBRI

STAFF WRITER

A

t five years old, looking in the mirror was how we made sure there wasn’t any mud on our jeans. Now, looking in the mirror is our way of comparing ourselves to unrealistic societal beauty standards, and obsessing over bodily imperfections.

Americans’ relationship with food has become twisted due to dieting fads, weight loss products, and cosmetic must-haves. In a Zoom event hosted by Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Certified Eating Disorder Dietician Jessica Setnick preached to Sonoma State students about the importance of adopting a child-like mentality when it comes to food and how we are caring for and looking at our bodies.

Setnick said, “You may not love your body. You may not even like your body. You may be just disappointed in your body. You may really wish you could have a different body. However, the body that you have is the one you get to live in. So as tough as it may seem, it’s really important to care for your body.”

Some topics of Setnick’s talk included false perceptions, the obsession of “fitting in,” unhealthy advertising, and intuitive eating. On Setnick’s personal website she writes, “I’m a dietitian who was trained in school to look at the word through anthropologist eyes. I try to understand dysfunctional eating behaviors in all of their forms without making assumptions or generalizations about an individual’s experience.”

With an educational background in anthropology, Setnick was able to bring scientific evolutionary evidence to human’s feelings and emotions when it comes to fitting in with others. Setnick stressed that yearning to fit in is normal; it is something that we are trained to do as humans. It is also normal to judge ourselves based on our appearance because it has been falsely configured in our minds over time. Human perception is off, therefore we do not perceive ourselves accurately.

“We all long to feel accepted and loved just for our perfectly imperfect self. And yet, what we all often feel is that everyone else fits in and we are somehow different,” Setnick said, “We are either flawed, or different, or not included, or left out, or somehow feeling like we don’t fit in. It’s not actually accurate because in a lot of ways there is no ‘everyone else’ fits in and we are left out.”

Americans get the idea of needing to fit in with others from many external influences. Setnick explained that advertising, configured clothing sizes, and the popularity of cosmetic body surgeries have altered our brains to spend money on products that will make us look a certain way. The messages that society is giving us is to compare our ordinary selves to photoshopped celebrities and computer generated imagery, when this is not realistic.

“Would you rip up a Picasso because it’s not the Mona Lisa?” Setnick

COURTESY // Jessica Setnick In partnership with CAPS, Certified Eating Disorder Dietician Jessica Setnick gave a presentation about forming a positive relationship with food.

said, “Lots of things can be appealing and attractive regardless of what they compare to. If we are comparing ourselves to glamorous celebrities it becomes a lot more challenging to feel good about ourselves.”

So, how can we be kinder to ourselves, appreciate our body, and make food our friend? Setnick explained that in order to feel good about ourselves, we must nourish our bodies, eat consciously, and be active. Food and emotions are inherently linked, and according to Setnick, the more that people obsess over food, the more that professionals see disordered and dysfunctional eating.

Setnick’s closing statement was that it is never too late to change your relationship with food. The first step in learning to love your body, is learning how to fuel your body. There is help out there for those who are struggling with their relationship with food.

CAPS Staff Psychologist, Isabel Avila stated, “At CAPS, we offer individual counseling that emphasizes healthy coping and self-compassion that can address some of the issues students may be facing around body image and their relationship with food.”

CDC updates outdoor mask mandate for vaccinated individuals VINCENT SPENCE STAFF WRITER

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ast week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) put out a statement that lowered mask mandates for citizens who have been fully vaccinated. The health officials released a new mask guideline for outdoor activities involving fully vaccinated people.

The new recommendations describe that people who have been fully vaccinated do not have to wear a mask outdoors in public if they are by themselves or away from large crowds.

This new mandate does express that the masks must stay on in large groups, even if a person has been vaccinated.

This announcement is a positive one for sure, as it follows the newfound vaccine eligibility of all Americans 16 years and older.

Governor Gavin Newsom reacted to the news on April 27th by tweeting, “CA will be aligning with the new CDC guidelines. If you’re fully vaccinated, outdoors, and not in large crowds -- you do not need to wear a mask. We’ve administered 29+ million vaccines and have the lowest positivity rate and case rate in the nation.”

This reaction from the Governor comes as no surprise after the announcement of his June 15 goal to open the state of California officially back up to “normal” standards.

The two criteria that were given for a June 15 reopen are sufficient vaccine supply for all eligible Californians and stable, low hospitalization rates. As of now, COVID-19 cases are going down, counties are progressing in the colored tiers assigned by the CDC and vaccinations are being distributed to all who request them.

In an article by Marissa Wenzke, a writer for KTLA, she explains, “...the state has a positivity rate of 1.2% and 33 new

daily cases in every 100,000 people. By comparison, the total nationwide case rate is 116.4 cases per 100,000 people in the US according to the CDC database.”

With fully vaccinated people being allowed to walk outside without a mask on, many health officials are worried that people who are unvaccinated or even 50% vaccinated will do the same. Health officials across the state have made it clear to citizens who are not fully vaccinated, must still wear masks at all times because it could put the rest of the population at risk and most of the state is not fully vaccinated yet.

This news is all leading up to a hopeful and “normal” semester for Sonoma State in the Fall.

Last week, the CSU system announced that all students who plan on attending in person classes must be fully vaccinated by the start of the next semester, in the event that the vaccines get approved by the FDA. Sean Barron, a Junior Business Marketing major at SSU communicated his excitement about the new mask mandate, “I personally am happy with the new mask mandate. This is a positive step in the right direction. I really hope that the school will be able to allow us students to sit in class with no masks on as well because everyone will be fully vaccinated by then.”

The Sonoma State campus has slowly been coming back to normal and with the new mask mandate across the state, the school will continue to look more and more like it has in the past. Continuing to follow whatever CDC health guidelines are needed to be able to come back to campus in full.

For updates on CDC guidelines and more information on COVID-19 in general, visit the CDC website.

STAR // Zena Bounsall Sonoma State students arriving to campus after the CDC changed mask guidelines for those fully vaccinated.

STAR // Morgan Mitchell With outdoor seating opening up in Sonoma County, Jaded Toad is becoming a popular spot for a Friday night drink once again.

12 Photo

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Sebastopol Makers Market reopens for vendors

STAR // KC Holtemann Michael Bridge writes personal, unique quotes and messages as his craft and was handing them out to people at the market.

SSU senior Sam Housner and vendor Lada Ladik discussed her shop, Sova’s Art, which specializes in original art, prints, greeting cards and more.

STAR // KC Holtemann Ellen Gordon (left) and Christine Paschal (right) chatted it up with each other as the market is a great place to socialize and find like-minded people that enjoy art.

STAR // KC Holtemann

STAR // KC Holtemann Sebastopol Makers Market takes place the first Saturday of every month from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sebastopol Plaza.

Restaurants continue busy weekend nights during pandemic

STAR // Morgan Mitchell The ambience and the firepits at Jaded Toad attracts guests of all ages, especially college students who are looking for a way to get out and get some fresh air with friends.

STAR // Morgan Mitchell SSU favorite, Jaded Toad, is packed full almost every Friday night.

STAR // Morgan Mitchell The outdoor dining at Mi Ranchito in Cotati is a great venue for a margarita.