Issue 3 Fall 2020 Sonoma State STAR

IN THIS ISSUE

Flu Season

Theater Arts

Sports

The Student Health Center is wellprepared to tackle the ‘twindemic.’

PAGE 8.

Highlighting Sonoma State athlete Tito Fuentes.

PAGE 10.

Students and professors lament the loss of Tartuffe.

PAGE 7.

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 85 // ISSUE 3 SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 - SEPTEMBER 14, 2020

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

@SONOMASTATESTAR

STAR // Samantha Billingsly Last week, 17 employees tested positive for Coronavirus at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

Sonoma County receives revised health guidelines

SAMUEL SAYER STAFF WRITER

COURTESY // flickr.com

A

s the year of COVID-19 marches on, new regulations are being pushed out statewide, and businesses are receiving new guidelines for pandemic operations. In an announcement by the Office of The County Administrator for Sonoma, several types of businesses will be allowed to reopen safely this week with the implementation of new orders by Governor Gavin Newsom. While this does contradict previous health orders maintained by Sonoma County, this change has been acknowledged and approved by Dr. Sundari Mase, Sonoma County Public Health Officer.

Sonoma County’s cases have been relatively low, sitting at sixth highest of 10 total counties.

While the county’s 6,142 cases might seem low when placed up against Santa Clara county’s 17,993 cases, the risk assessment system is based on proportional number of cases overall and per day. Sonoma County is reaching an average of 14 new cases per 100,000, not including any cases developed in prisons. The qualifying number of average cases to be in the “widespread” category is 7, leaving Sonoma County still at double the rate.

As a county rises in tiers, it’s given reduced restrictions and more access to recreational activities.

The new risk system is a four tiered structure, which ranges from “widespread” to “minimal.” A county’s placement is flexible, but is determined by both the number of cases per 100,000 people, and by the percentage of people testing positive within that county. However, it must be improving in both areas, and Sonoma county is not currently in a state where it can advance. The county rests in the “widespread” category.

As for what guidelines have been introduced for barbershops and hair salons, the California Health department released an industry guide on all businesses and how to conduct safe work within them.

Physical distancing is required as much as feasibly possible, and both the customers and employees must wear appropriate masks at all times.

These guidelines, along with others such as regular sanitization and employee screening, are part of an 11 page guideline put out by the health office for businesses to observe.

The businesses being allowed to reopen with this change include barbershops, salons, and malls, with other business reopenings being contingent on the new identification of risk system introduced along with the Governor’s changes.

Undocumented immigrants in Sonoma County are being hit hard by COVID-19 and fire-related damages.

UndocuFund provides relief for undocumented immigrants

SIEANNA NARINE STAFF WRITER

I

n the past couple of weeks, the Latino and Hispanic community of Sonoma County is continuing to suffer at the hands of fires, heatwaves, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hispanic and Latino community in Sonoma County make up 27% of the population. Dr. Sundari Mase, county Health officer stated, “They are now statistically about nine times more likely than their white neighbors to become infected by the coronavirus.”

A total of 446 individuals in the community tested positive last Thursday, increasing the infection rate. Sonoma County continues to face growing local transmission rates of the virus, and is rated among the highest in the state.

Dr. Mase told the county Board Supervisors that, “We know where the transmission is happening and we’re reaching out. Even though transmission is happening, and it’s not a good thing, we know exactly who to test and where the secondary cases are.”

In the past couple of weeks, the Latino and Hispanic community of Sonoma County has continued to suffer at the hands of the fires, heatwave, and the pandemic.

see CDC’S REVISED HEALTH GUIDELINES on pg. 5

see UNDOCUFUND on pg. 4

COURTESY // Flickr.com Students from CSU Northridge protest for refunds after COVID-19 affected their college experience.

JAYLINE ALVARADO STAFF WRITER

A

Sonoma State student files lawsuit against the CSU system

s mid-March rolled around, students were sent home due to the pandemic. This led to lawsuits demanding that colleges and universities offer refunds to students for things like student parking, housing, and other campus fees that range from $800 to $4,000, depending on the campus. One of those was a class action lawsuit aimed at the California State University filed on April 27 by SSU student Akayla Miller.

When reaching out to Miller, the student who initiated the lawsuit against the CSU, she was unable to comment, explaining that she would need to speak to her lawyer in order to share any information regarding the case so far. However, in an article from the Press Democrat, she stated, “It sends a message that they can’t treat students like this. It’s not fair to pass their financial hardships on to students in a time when it can be so tumultuous. It’s not fair for them to treat us like this.”

According to the court documents, the CSU has no right to retain money paid

for by students because the services they’re paying for aren’t being provided by their school. These include mandatory fees like the Health Center, student association and student center fees. They even go on to say that the CSU system would receive $350 million dollars from the Coronavirus Aid and Economic Security Act. The CARES Act was a $2.2 trillion stimulus bill passed by Congress back in March from which Sonoma State received $9.7 million dollars.

The Senior Director of Public Affairs, Michael Uhlenkhamp stated that, “Mandatory fees support programs that benefit the campus community as a whole. For example, many students will not use the Health Center, but the services it provides are extremely important to some members of the student body. And services like the Health Center continue to operate remotely and continue to remain available to students.

see SONOMA STATE STUDENT FILES LAWSUIT on pg. 4

2 Editorial THE STAR

SEPT. 8 - SEPT. 14, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

Not playing games with justice

Editorial Board

Travis Gillmore, Editor-in-Chief Kylie Rose Lawrence, News Editor Maria Pineda Contreras, Opinion Editor Christy Chew, Arts & Entertainment Editor Devon Pique, Student Life Editor Noah Philpott, Sports Editor Brandon Sparks, Photo Editor Taylor Clark, Digital Editor Kevin Flores, Editorial Cartoonist Samantha Billingsly, Distribution Manager Staff Writers Taylor Clark, Emily Cripe, Sieanna Narine, Samuel Sayer, Jayline Alvarado, Natella Guy, Katelyn Dodge, Isabella Simoni, Nancy Insua, Edgar Zavala, Max Robinson, Myles Grabau, Moragh Graf, Amanda Koba, Rachel Gonzalez, Kristina Schmuhl, Vincent Spence, Ryan Weiner, Eliseo Fragoso, Sean Kenneally, Isabelle Barkey Photographers Samantha Billingsly, Sarah Gallagher, Sarah Ramos

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:

“Vote with your wallet and change the world.”

Read the article on page 3.

Have an opinion?

We’d like to hear from you!

The STAR welcomes letters to the editor

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

D

uring such a tense moment in history as right now, with Black Lives Matter protests taking place all over the world, it is the perfect time for white sports fans to uplift Black voices, help share their message, and stand with them in solidarity and understanding. Instead, a lot of “fans” did quite the opposite.

Young--mostly white, male-sports fans took to social media to share their thoughts on the boycott and the Black Lives Matter movement. The comments were racist, negative, and overall, very unsupportive. President Trump responded that he didn’t like Lebron James and that he favored “Michael Jordan...he wasn’t political so people like him better.”

In reality, Jordan recently donated $100 million to racial justice causes and has spoken about “ingrained racism” in the United States, according to The Guardian.

Lebron James, an extremely popular basketball star of this generation and also an important political figure for the American youth, believes that he should express his right to share his thoughts on politics and he “Will definitely not shut up and dribble...I mean too much to society, too much to the youth, too much to so many kids who feel like they don’t have a way out,” James said.

Golden State Warriors’ player, Stephen Curry, has also been known to speak out about politics and the mistreatment of Black athletes. “People kind of try to put athletes and black ath-

STAR // Kevin Flores

letes in a box, to say basketball is the only thing you can provide in the world,” Curry said. “This is not all that we’re about. It’s not all that we contribute to the world. There are guys that are going out, putting in resources and funds and raising awareness in the community.”

NBA commissioner Adam Silver embraced the players’ actions and said, “I’m incredibly proud of the players for using the platform they have on social media to speak out on issues...there is an enormous amount of racial tension in this country, enormous amount of social injustice, and I do see a role for this league in addressing those issues.”

After the postponement of several playoff games that undoubtedly captured the attention of many sports fans, NBA Players met Wednesday night to discuss the decision. Meetings among both players and the NBA’s Board of Governors took place on Thursday as the league and its union decided what to do about the rest of its season.

Eventually, the NBA claims in a recent press release that “The players decided for themselves to continue playing. That included those who initially opposed the decision, such as LeBron James.” According to the report, The Lakers and Clippers initially both pushed to end the season during Wednesday’s meeting.

Players were reportedly up late into the night discussing issues within the bubble. “That, combined with the time players had to cool down after Wednesday’s emotional meeting, seemed to lead to the budding consensus to

restart the season,” said the NBA press release.

On Thursday, the NBA announced it would resume playoff games on Friday or Saturday. They said that they wished players could stay off the court until all police officers acted as if Black lives mattered, or “At least until sports fans across the country recognized the problem of systemic racism and took it upon themselves to solve it. But, then, who knows when the NBA would ever play again.”

Douglas Hartmann, a sociologist at the University of Minnesota and the author of Race, Culture, and the Revolt of the Black Athlete, claims that the aversion to supporting Black athletes in political discussion has been a “...pattern since the late 1960s. People try to protect this sacred space of sport. What doesn’t happen is engaging the protesters’ actual ideas about race and racism.”

How can we continue to allow Black Americans and athletes, who we claim to love and support, feel hopeless about the society they live in. White sports fans who love the NBA are supporting an organization made up of 75% Black athletes. But when their favorite players speak up about the injustice they face on a daily basis--even as wealthy, famous athletes--the majority of white fans resent them.

It’s truly frightening to think about. White people who call themselves “fans” and who idolize these players, won’t support their favorite players when they are calling out for our help.

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.

Opinions

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

Letters to the Editor

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

The STAR reserves the right to refuse publication.

COURTESY // Sonoma.edu

Opinion 3

SEPT. 8 - SEPT. 14, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

Shelter-in-place benefits animal shelters

NATELLA GUY

STAFF WRITER

W

ith stay-at-home orders placed across the United States to stop the spread of Coronavirus, demand for pet companionship within households is on the rise. Pet adoption became increasingly popular when residents realized the reality of staying indoors all day and the boredom that they could face. Riverside County Animal Services said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a spike in pet adoptions. In New York City and Los Angeles, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) said applications to foster dogs and cats are up 200 percent.”

Different protocols are being put in place to follow the regulations for adoptions. According to Maria Puente from USA Today, “Appointment-only and call-ahead adoptions, drive-up fostering and curbside adoptions, online training and at-home volunteer projects (such as making

pet toys) are some of the solutions being used nationwide to help care for vulnerable animals during the pandemic.”

Although this is a fantastic thing to rejoice over, there are some risks and consequences of people adopting animals under pandemic conditions. Thankfully, Matt Bershadker, president and CEO of the national ASPCA, stated, “I just confirmed with a random sampling of shelter leaders that they are not seeing an uptick in animal intakes at shelters in their communities.”

Though Jim Tedford, president, and CEO of the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement, also said, “We don’t know what will happen as the numbers of sick and deceased increases, nor do we know what impact the financial stresses might have.”

In fear of people not ready for having this level of commitment, some shelters have agreed to do short term foster families where they can bond with a family at home and slow the spread of COVID-19. While there is always the possibility that people return animals, most will find loving forever homes.

With the boom of fosters and adoptions going up around the United States, it is having a massive effect on millions of families, animals, and shelters. The Humane Society of Greater Rochester in New York state said, “it was waiving adoption fees on Friday, March 13. The next day, about 50 pets were adopted, and 20 more

went out for short-term foster care. A typical “good” Saturday this time of year would normally see around 20 animals find new homes.”

Katy Hansen from the Animal Care Centers of NYC spoke on how they received over 5,000 applicants to foster animals since March 13, and currently have 300 in homes already.

The Humane Society of the United States writes on their website that they have in fact launched a COVID-19 Relief Fund, to support animal shelters, rescue groups and other organizations that are responding to the economic impacts of the virus, with the goal of keeping people and their pets together during this crisis.

Contributions to the fund are being used, “to provide veterinary care, pet food, horse feed and animal care supplies, as well as other costs related to caring for animals during the outbreak.”

Suppose one cannot adopt or foster an animal. In that case, there is no need to feel shame or guilt, because one can help in other ways, such as cash donations to a local shelter, bedding or food supply donations, or ship them items from an online shop if they are practicing social distancing.

To find out more about how one can help an animal in need, head over to the Humane Society of the United States website.where one can find an adundance of knowledge regarding the issue at hand.

Students question rising textbook costs

KATELYN DODGE

STAFF WRITER

A

s a new semester begins, the book lists continue to grow for many students across the country. How important are some of these texts?

Students will find themselves only using these books for a single chapter or a few pages more often than not. The prices for educational expenses continue to rise, and many teachers continue to assign expensive textbooks to students already struggling in this COVID-19 society. The average semester book cost is $250, along with the $2,871 tuition costs per semester, cost per class, and lab fees. How is this reasonable for every student?

Many students are trying to find alternative sources for these books, but few resources are available. With most students self-isolating, living at home, and attending classes online, the library no longer can be offered as a free resource to access textbooks for all students.

Nevertheless, there are still texts demanded from teachers instead of finding other resources to make it more accessible to all.

Anneliese Thorpe, a Santa Rosa Junior College transfer student, reported her book costs, saying, “I had a class in the spring semester and the book was released a month before the class started. There were no used ones available and I had to pay the new book price of almost $250.”

While the newest texts can be substantial, most textbooks are copies of each other with only about a chapter of updated information.

With much cheaper versions available, these options should be given to students. Additionally, if the information provided is crucial for a student’s success in a course, it should be taught rather than a required purchase.

Students at Sonoma State often are asked to buy readers for courses that provide small readings by the teachers or single chapters that can be viewed as PDF readings on Canvas; instead, we have to pay upwards of $60 to the school.

These outrageous textbook prices are not just central to Sonoma State University. Across California, these texts’ costs have been ridiculously high with little reason. Down in southern California at the University of Irvine, student Ruth Newman shared that she bought “the school’s version of [a] textbook… it removed one-third of the chapters and incorporated one to three chapters of the professor’s inclusion.” She continued, “The chapter we were required

to have was only four pages long.

Instead of photocopying that, we had to purchase the school’s version, which included less information, not available to rent, unlike the full text for $15. I am spending between $200 and $230 in texts for this class.”

Reports with new data from CampusBooks.com, a leading textbook price comparison website, show that overall prices and new textbook purchases have increased, while rentals and used book sales are declining. Alex Neal, CEO, and founder of CampusBooks.com, stated, “[Covid-19] has caused a drastic shift in trends – moving away from used textbooks and rentals and an increase in new books and more online sales. Campus bookstores as we know them may be a thing of the past.”

It is unimaginable that students are paying more money during a pandemic. According to those same reports, they show that in June, average prices were up 27% year over year, meaning that textbook companies are aware of the opportunity to reach remote learners and capitalize on it.

The blatant up charging and disrespect of students’ money is insulting. Textbooks do not need to be free, readers do not need to be free, but costs should be reasonable and fair for all parties involved. Instead, college students’ debt grows while the pockets of the wealthy continue to be full of money.

Union and public

school battle over remote learning plan

NANCY INSUA

A

STAFF WRITER

s the fall season approaches, we are getting to see how American schools are adapting to a COVID-19 era school year.

Taking a look across state lines to Chicago Public Schools, CPS, the nation’s third-largest school district. The district decided on Wednesday, Aug. 5, to go entirely virtual for the fall school year. The school year will start on Sep. 8, moving ahead virtually for students. However, the Chicago Teachers Union, CTU, has now filed a grievance about the proposed plan.

The Chicago teachers have brought up their concerns regarding specific procedures taken or the lack thereof. Selected staff is still required to be on campus at the start of the school year, including clinicians, clerks, and tech coordinators.

The CTU’s Vice President, Stacey Davis Gates, outlined the concerns they had about staff returning to campus. She voiced that clerks are having no gloves provided to them despite having to deal directly with the public and the school building not being equipped to promote social distancing. According to Gates, no face guards were being implemented, and no six feet social distancing markers. Other concerns included ventilation issues in small office spaces and how temperatures would be monitored.

Additionally, it comes into question why these staffers even need to be on campus at all. Back in March, when closures due to the pandemic began, these positions were being done entirely from home. Gates also expressed that there is no reason a specific staff’s presence is even necessary.

With Chicago public schools being one of the nation’s largest districts, districts across the states are looking upon them for ideas on how to plan out the quickly approaching school year. Unfortunately, they have fallen short due to their lack of awareness. For them to fail to implement some of the most basic protocols known for Coronavirus planning is dangerous and not helping in the fight to lower the case numbers for the virus.

This is not the first time we have seen the CTU in the spotlight. Questions have arisen concerning racism within their practices. “Policies and practices had a disparate racial impact on AfricanAmerican teachers and para-professionals. This impact was the natural result of the fact that CPS... remain segregated by race.” Time and time again, we have seen CPS come under fire for their lack of action on serious issues within their schools with little progress made.

While the idea of children returning happily to school this year is excellent in theory, the nation’s current state does not allow for the public’s ensured safety should schools reopen. The day students can return to their classrooms is one we can all look forward to, but it should not come at the cost of putting more lives at risk. The Chicago public school system needs to look at all the ways they are undeserving their students, not only in dealing with the pandemic but also the education itself compromised as racism has been allowed to fill the halls without consequence.

Vote with your wallet and change the world

ISABELLA SIMONI

STAFF WRITER

T

he dictionary defines sustainability as “The quality of not being harmful to the environment, or depleting natural resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological balance.” Sustainability can be applied to the type of foods one consumes, the clothes one wears, and things commonly found in the bathroom and or kitchen. If it is a part of one’s lifestyle, chances are

there is a way to do it sustainably.

A sustainable lifestyle can open the eyes to things that one mindlessly spends their hard-earned money on, which serve no actual purpose. However, let us unpack how one can become more sustainable, and why one might want to consider this as a potential new lifestyle.

The Earth is struggling to produce natural resources considering that we, the Human Race, live in excess. Everything that we do as consumers affects what happens to Earth in regards to climate change.

One of the main ways we contribute climate change by way of consumer culture comes from plastic. It is in nearly everything we buy, and it is detrimental to the Earth. In a National Geographic educational video, Angeli Gabriel states, “Most of today’s plastics are man-made and derived from fossil fuels. Crude oil and natural gas are primary sources as they provide a cheap alternative to plastic made from plants.”

So, where to start? Well, aside from the obvious, use fewer plastic bags, drink from a reusable water bottle, reusable steel straws, et cetera; One of the most forgotten ways to reduce the plastic that we at times mindlessly consume comes from the clothes that we wear.

Most clothing companies are not entirely ethical or sustainable, considering their use of microplastics in their clothes.

Why does this matter? Well, in the unfortunate position of being the bearer of bad news, the clothes in the closet are probably doing more damage than the straws.

According to Thomas Barrett of the Environmental Journal, “Each time an item of clothing is washed, up to 700,000 microscopic fibers make their way into our oceans, where they are swallowed by sea life.” He later specifies that the fashion industry alone produces approximately 1.2 billion tons of CO2, without considering the clothes that later make their way into landfills.

As a society, we must start being more conscientious consumers. Taking the extra step to see the kind of materials fashion brands use for their clothing and whether they package plastic-free is not a laborious task. Especially since sustainable fashion is on the rise, and the clothes are just as show-stopping. Countless new brands have become so incredibly creative with the clothes they produce, from making them out of recycled items or by using Earth-friendly materials completely.

Before buying that next cute top or cool pair of shoes, make sure to check the tags to see if it states if the materials used to make the garment were sustainably extracted and produced. Take advantage of the fact that businesses respond to market pressures by purchasing items from companies that share the same values as you and cater to the urgency and sustainability needed to save our Earth.

4 News

SEPT. 8 - SEPT. 14, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

continued from pg. 1

COURTESY // Sonoma.edu Sonoma State University hires former employees to fill a new Anti-Racist Curriculum Design position.

Sonoma State searching for faculty to fill anti-racist curriculum role

EMILY CRIPE

STAFF WRITER

O

n September 1, SSU announced to its faculty that they would soon hire current staff members for a Faculty Fellow for Anti-Racist Curriculum Design position.

The new position is a part of a collaborative effort between six CSU campuses to begin redesigning current classroom curriculum to include anti-racist themes and expose students to issues of race they may not have applied to a given subject before.

The decision to create a position dedicated to exposing students to racial injustice could not have come at a better time. In light of the current state of unrest throughout the country, students who have anti-racist curriculum embedded in their courses will come out with a unique understanding and a new drive to help promote change. Eyler states, “Given the glacial pace at which racial justice has been achieved in our society, we want SSU graduates to access a robust and relevant curriculum. [This] funding has provided Sonoma state with an opportunity to support real change for racial justice.”

The goal of this initiative, according to the university’s Public Information Officer Robert Eyler, is to, “Ensure our campus is properly valuing the contributions and perspectives of a diverse population of scholars. This position will create programs to secure success for all of our students, not only those primed to achieve it.” Six CSU campuses (Chico, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Pomona, San Diego, and Sonoma) have come together and created the Faculty-Led Curricular Design for Student Achievement effort, an initiative that is funded by the CSU Chancellor’s office, the Teagle Foundation, and the College Futures Foundation. The position was made possible thanks to a grant, as well as professional development funds. When asked what the position would entail, Eyler states, “The position will allow a current faculty member with expertise

in anti-racist curricular design to help lead a campuswide movement toward a racially just curriculum.” He explains that the Fellow will consult with a variety of different programs throughout the university and will work towards providing workshops, resources, and honest conversations regarding social justice issues in the context of higher education.

Change is coming, and SSU students won’t have to wait long to see it. The description for the position explains that, “Consultancy will begin on a limited basis in Fall 2020. The majority of the work will take place in the Spring 2021 semester with the possibility of extension through Fall 2021.” This means that whoever fills this position will begin brainstorming and working with other faculty members on their curriculum as soon as they are hired.

When asked what she thinks about the prospect of this new fellow, Associated Students’ Senator for Diversity Morgan Beatty says, “From my experience as a student at Sonoma State, I believe that they should have anti-racism material implemented in the curriculum. This sounds like really exciting news and I think it’s an amazing idea.”

She also added that she would like to see the person in this position report to the AVP of Diversity and Strategic Initiatives, Jerlena Griffin-Desta, because she specializes in diversity, equality, and inclusion in the campus community.

By creating this position, Sonoma State is taking a huge step towards inclusivity and justice for all of its students. Through acknowledging the existence of racial injustice in our society, SSU is attempting to provide students in marginalized communities a safe environment.

continued from pg. 1

UndocuFund provides relief for undocumented immigrants

COURTESY // Flickr.com Protests for refunds are taking place in Berkely, CA. continued from pg. 1

Sonoma State student files lawsuit against the CSU system

The Interim CSU Refund Policy also states that mandatory fees would not be refunded because they would continue to provide credit for academic courses, even if it was remotely and therefore “not warranted.”

In an email from President Judy Sakaki, she explained that those $9 million would be split between financial aid grants to “mitigate the pandemic’s financial impact on the university and its students,” and to recuperate money lost to the “unexpected costs” in the transition to a remote learning. Chair and Vice Chair of the President’s Budget Advisory Committee, Karen Moranski and Joyce Lopes, said that of the $4.5 million not used for financial aid grants, 64.8% of those funds were used solely on housing refunds.

The University of California system was also sued by students. Nonetheless, they remained firm that they would not refund any fees whatsoever.

Because the results of this lawsuit are still pending, it remains unclear how this lawsuit will impact the CSU system and students in the future.

Mase explains, “Some of those infected in the community live, work, and commute together, resulting in outbreaks that overlap households and worksites.”

With these ramping rates taking over the Latino and Hispanic communities, Mase suggested implementing “Necessary pullbacks on specific businesses, commercial sectors, geographical areas or public activity where transmission seems to be occurring, rather than taking a “blanket” approach.” This type of pullback affects the livelihood of so many individuals in the community, specifically the Latino and Hispanic communities.

The Undocufund for Disaster Relief in Sonoma County was founded in October 2017, in acknowledgment to the Tubbs wildfire. It was launched by a group of immigrant service providers and supporters to assist undocumented victims of the Northern California fires. It ceased operation on December 31, 2018, and was reopened on October 26, 2019, because of the Kincade Fire. The fund was once again reactivated in March of 2020 to support undocumented families and individuals in Sonoma County affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

They provide donated money and resources to Sonoma County’s Latino and Hispanic communities; as well as resources for DACA and undocumented immigrants to find housing, healthcare, domestic workers’ rights, and legal support in English and Spanish. “During the last 2.8 years, individuals have contributed over $10 million and aided over 6,000 families to help with fire and COVID-19 related losses,” according to the Undocufund website. A woman named Ingrid heard about Undocufund on Facebook and attended the free clinic that Santa Rosa Junior College provided for undocumented immigrants to receive donated food and clothing. At the clinic, Ingrid was able to learn more about the resources that Undocufund provided and was able to find relief.

“My husband and my father both lost work in the weeks immediately following the fires and I’m worried about making rent and paying the bills. I am hopeful that Undocufund will provide a little relief.”

Sonoma County’s Undocufund committee is working tirelessly, bringing needed relief financially and emotionally to the Hispanic and Latino community. They are putting in effort to make sure that undocumented individuals know their community cares and supports them. The Latino and Hispanic community should know that Sonoma County would not be the place it is without them and their dedicated work.

Dr. Mase and other health officials for the county are working towards containing the spread of COVID-19 within the Latino and Hispanic community, and Undocufund provides a safe-haven for undocumented immigrants to recieve risk-free assistance.

COURTESY // Flickr.com Farm workers in Sonoma County are faced with fire-related issues and the COVID-19 pandemic.

News 5

SEPT. 8 - SEPT. 14, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

COURTESY // Sonoma.edu Last week, SSU administration sent out an email to faculty and students informing them that a student on campus may have been infected by Coronavirus.

Possibility of first positive COVID-19 case at Sonoma State TAYLOR CLARK

STAFF WRITER

S

onoma State students and faculty were alerted by email late afternoon Sept. 3 that there was a possibility of a positive COVID-19 case on campus. The email emphasized that “This person is not confirmed to have COVID-19 at this time.”

According to Robert Eyler, dean of international and extended education, “The person has yet received a positive result, however, due to the circumstances and the nature of their illness, the University took proactive steps with the assumption of a COVID infection.”

“The University is treating this suspected case using the same protocols that are prescribed for a confirmed positive case due to the totality of the circumstances in this instance. Notifications have been made to people who we have been able to identify as having close contact with this person,” said Eyler. According to the email sent out to students and faculty, “In compliance with HIPAA privacy rules,” SSU will not be releasing any identifying information about said person.

Salazar Hall was closed for the remainder of the week “To perform rigorous sanitation and cleaning protocols.” Eyler also stated that the person “Did not have any contacts on campus that impacted any classes.” A few classes normally held in Salazar on Friday Sept. 4 were held remotely because of the building’s closure.

In the future, if there are more positive cases on campus, “Any buildings that the person was in within the week leading up to their illness or positive test result will be closed for sanitation” stated Eyler.

Sonoma State University concluded their email with promises to stay in contact

with the affected individual to make sure they receive the care they need. SSU will continue to “remain consistent with the local public health department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocols . . . anyone identified as having had close contact with this individual will be notified if they need to quarantine or selfisolate.”

Sonoma State senior and English major Natalie Gutierrez offered her opinion of SSU’s actions and response to COVID-19. “I don’t feel like the recent Covid case was shared enough,” she stated. “All I got was an email and I know that if I were at the dorms on campus I might’ve gone out and not checked my email. I feel like students on campus shouldn’t have to check their email to see if it’s safe to go outside.” She explains that there were no text messages or announcements posted elsewhere. She even went on to say that she was talking to some of her classmates the day after the email was sent out and they still had no idea what had happened.

In the past, SSU has had no problem bombarding student emails with notifications of an out-of-order elevator in Stevenson Hall, but neglects to inform its students in the same persistent manner when it comes to COVID-19. In 2017, Ethan Helms, an executive editor and staff writer for the Star, wrote an article headlined “Stevenson elevator causes frustration after numerous email alerts.” There is even a Twitter account made in 2012 called “SSU Stevenson Elevator” where students make fun of the consistent emails.

CDC’s revised health guidelines continued from pg. 1

“We feel comfortable in opening up this sector of our economy as the data shows we’ve had only a handful of cases from indoor salons,” says Mase in a press release on August 30th.

Any business that does not observe these regulations will be subject to steep penalties issued by the county. Due to an ordinance passed by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, any businesses found to be in violation of these requirements face fines anywhere between $1,000 to $10,000, depending on the severity and frequency of the violation.

While restrictions are being lifted on these businesses, residents are cautioned not to get swept up in the idea that the county is out of the woods yet. Sonoma County remains in the “widespread” category, and therefore still has a great deal of restrictions on businesses. Dr. Sundari reminds the community, “We still have a ways to go before we will be able to move to the next tier and allow more activities to reopen under the state’s blueprint.”

Until the county manages to pull itself out of the widespread tier, residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and keep themselves safe to eventually reduce the risk for everyone.

News in Brief San Diego

Willits

El Dorado

San Diego State is facing a COVID-19 outbreak, as 286 have recently tested positive.

All students are ordered to stay quarantined in dorm rooms.

A fast moving fire in Northern California forced the closure of Highway 101 in both directions and propted evacuations on Monday, Sept. 8.

A pyrotechnic device used to produce smoke at a gender reveal party caused a wildfire in California that has spread to more than 7,000 acres.

New York

Alaska

California

Commercial real estate sales in the most expensive state in the nation have plummeted 54% since the pandemic began.

State budgets across the nation are facing massive deficits, and Alaska is struggling with the collapse of oil markets.

Climate change has led to yet another scorching heat event, with Los Angeles and San Francisco breaking records.

6 Arts

SEPT. 8 - SEPT. 14, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

STAR // Sarah Gallagher

STAR // Sarah Gallagher The world famous sign that invites wine lovers all over the world to come and see what it is all about.

St. Francis Winery and Vineyards in Sonoma have their grapes growing strong in the midst of all the fires and smoke.

Black Tie Transportation offers safe wine tour services during pandemic

MAX ROBINSON STAFF WRITER

B

lack Tie Transportation Worldwide is a luxury transportation and event company that provides high-end services to their clients. They have been around for more than 30 years, and they specialize in delivering tours and transportation to a variety of clientele.

The president and CEO of Black Tie Transportation is Bill Wheeler, founder and owner of the company. Wheeler makes an effort to give back to the community by visiting the El Oasis Orphanage in Mexico to provide toys, clothing, food, and amenities to orphaned children. According to Jeannette Hull, enterprise sales manager at Black Tie Transportation, the company works with the Pleasanton Partners in Education, the REACH foundation, and the Wheelchair Foundation to help those that they can via donations through their partnerships.

Recently, the business has been utilized as a means for people in the Sonoma area to get a breath of fresh air during the coronavirus stay-at-home restrictions. Tour packages have recently become much more popular: Excursions to Carmel Beach, picnic trips, golf excursions, and winery tours are now the

most common packages purchased, as clients aim to stay safe.

Further due to the coronavirus pandemic, companies have had to impose strict health regulations in order to keep their clients and their staff safe.

Black Tie Transportation Worldwide is no exception, ensuring that staff and guests are safe at all times.

Chauffeurs are now required to wear a mask and gloves during the entirety of the service, and their temperatures are checked each day before they go out to pick up clients. They are also required to pass a coronavirus screening before they start their work-day. The company requires that each vehicle be sanitized and steamed before and after each client.

Overall, safety is a primary concern for the company at this time.

As more people accept the stay-at-home restrictions imposed by the coronavirus, business is slowly starting to change again. According to Hull, many services offered by the company have been diminished due to safety concerns of clients and staff. However, the situation is normalizing as leisure tours, wine tours, and small weddings are starting to

become more common with clients. Airport transfers are also diminished as people are choosing to avoid air travel or are unable to travel safely.

The services provided by Black Tie Transportation are valuable because the company is locally-run and operated. By choosing local businesses, one is able to ensure their dollar goes to their immediate area, an important aspect during a time of economic instability.

The services offered by the company could be of great use to anyone stuck at home hoping for an outing, even if just for the day. The services offered

by Black Tie Transportation could also be of value to the many fraternities and sororities at Sonoma State University, perhaps after the coronavirus pandemic is more controlled.

Staying safe during these unprecedented times is the top priority, but at the same time, people need to make sure that they are getting enough variety in their day to stay mentally healthy. Going out on safe outings can be a great way to get out of the house, while also supporting local businesses.

Remembering Chadwick Boseman; a hero on and off the big screen MYLES GRABAU STAFF WRITER

W

hile Marvel’s “Black Panther” was purely fiction, star Chadwick Boseman shared many heroic qualities with his counterpart, King T’Challa, offscreen.

“To be young, gifted and black… We know what it’s like to be told that there’s not a screen for you to be featured on.” This is a quote from the 2019 SAG Awards, and Boseman, an extraordinary actor, producer, and director, knew how to use his platform correctly during an acceptance speech.

Many awards that he accepted were followed by speeches about racial injustices, among other social issues, and he refused to keep his opinions silenced.

Chadwick Aaron Boseman, born in 1976 in Anderson, South Carolina, was raised by his mother and father. His mother was a nurse, while his father worked at a textile factory and had also managed an upholstery business. In his junior year of high school, he wrote his first play, after one of his friends was shot and killed. After this, he went on to attend Howard University in Washington, D.C., and graduated with his Bachelor of Fine Arts in directing. Ultimately, his goal was to write and direct, and he initially started studying acting in an effort to relate to other actors.

Boseman made a name for himself on television, before the big screen, with guest roles on crime drama shows such as Third Watch and CSI: NY. In 2008, he landed a recurring role as Nathaniel Ray on Lincoln Heights, which jump started his acting career and paved the way for more roles to come his way. Guest roles are often where actors start out, in an effort to ‘test the waters’ and see if acting is truly for them. When asked about his early work and why he chose acting, Boseman states that, “I started out as a writer and director.

I started acting because I wanted to know how to relate to the actors.”

Boseman was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and up until his death, he had continued to work and completed production for various films. His death came as a shock to many fans worldwide, a majority of which didn’t know anything about the battle that he had been fac-

COURTESY// Gettyimages Award winning actor Chadwick Boseman passed away on August 28, 2020 due to a battle with colon cancer. ing for four years. Boseman was also known for being a versatile actor, starring in films of different genres. He played Thurgood Marshall in “Marshall”, “Stormin’ Norm” Holloway in “Da 5 Bloods” and Jackie Robinson in “42”. In many of the films that he appeared in, he was also listed as an executive or co-producer.

Boseman also received many awards for his work, most of which being for his performances. He received a Best Actor award at the BET Awards, two different awards for Best Hero and Best Performance at the MTV Awards, as well as Outstanding Actor at the NAACP Image Awards, among an array of various awards. Boseman was an impressive actor who knew how to connect with

the people around him, it was no surprise at the awards that he had received throughout his career.

Many actors and friends of Boseman had reached out via social media to express their love and adoration for the late actor.

“What a man, and what an immense talent,” says Mark Ruffalo, who also starred in Avengers: Infinity War, as well as Avengers: Endgame.

“This is a crushing blow,” gravely stated by actor/director Jordan Peele earlier this week.

Chadwick Boseman was widely loved and appreciated for his work, and his “Wakanda Forever” salute continues to echo around the world for years after the “Black Panther” release.

Entertainment 7

SEPT. 8 - SEPT. 14, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

MTV hosts first virtual Music Video Awards show

EDGAR ZAVALA

M

STAFF WRITER

TV hosted the 2020 Video Music Awards

New York City when they really were not. Fashion was still

joy the moment, so I’m just going to say justice for Jacob

on Sunday, Aug.30 as the first award shows

flaunted on the pre-recorded red carpet. Lady Gaga had

Blake and justice for Breonna Taylor,” said The Weeknd.

held during the COVID-19 pandemic in

several appearances along with a stunning performance

the U.S. The event was hosted by Keke Palmer and had

with Ariana Grande on top of the Empire State building.

Nevertheless, MTV made history and was able to creatively pull off an award show during a pandemic. Perfor-

“live” performances by artists including The Weeknd,

Gaga was sporting snazzy outfits and face masks urg-

mances were stellar and creative as The Weeknd opened

Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande and many more. However,

ing viewers and fans to do their part to help slow the spread

up the show by performing his hit song, “Blinding Lights”

the iconic award show had to make various adjustments

of the virus,

on top of a Manhattan building.

in order to fit with CDC guidelines to make the event as

“Stay safe, speak your minds, and I might

Latin superstar Maluma performed in front of fan-

safe as possible for the musicians and the crew. For ex-

sound like a broken record, but wear a mask,” said

filled cars in a drive-in venue. MTV really did their part

ample, the event was moved from the Barclays center in

Gaga.

in order to carry out the much-anticipated award show in

Brooklyn, NY to various artists filming at various parts of New York City.

Furthermore, there were no actual live performances or red-carpet walks. Both were aired as pre-recorded foot-

Many celebrities used their platform to speak on vari-

a safe and creative way to celebrate the biggest names in

ous issues facing the nation. One including Keke Palmer,

music entertainment. Everyone from backup dancers to

who stated that the show was in honor of late actor Chad-

production staff had to wear masks and do their best to

wick Boseman.

remain socially distant.

age shot weeks prior to the event. Artists had to complete

“It’s our time to be the change we want to see.

The Weeknd took home the coveted, “Video of the

coronavirus screening tests before going to the venue and

We n e e d t o c o m e t o g e t h e r, a n d m u -

Year” award for his song “Blinding Lights.” Ariana

right before they were set to perform as well as being

sic has that power.

With the Black Lives Mat-

Grande and Lady Gaga also won the award for Song of

forced to stay in quarantine four days prior to arriving.

t e r m o v e m e n t , w e ’v e s e e n o u r g e n e r a t i o n

the Year for their song, “Rain on Me.” The VMAs also in-

Artists that did not want to go to New York, due to fear of

step up, take to the streets and make sure our voic-

cluded a few awards based on the 2020 pandemic like best

COVID-19 or unwillingness to quarantine, had to perform

es will be heard. Enough is enough,” said Palmer.

video at home and best quarantine performance in which

at their own convenience.

The Weeknd also used his acceptance speech to state

Palmer delivered her opening monologue and appearances with a green screen that seemed like they were in

and touch upon serious matter going on in our world.

Ariana Grande also won along with Justin Bieber. The show was not perfect but this may have helped Americans

“It’s really hard for me to celebrate right now and en-

forget about the world for a couple of hours.

COURTESY// Wikimedia Commons The MTV Music Video Awards hosted their 2020 show on Aug., 30 2020

COURTESY// Gettyimages Keke Palmer hosted the first virtual VMA Music Awards show.

Theatre department mourns loss of ‘Tartuffe’ performance

ISABELLE BARKEY STAFF WRITER

A

ll of Sonoma State has been severely

par t ment before COVID-19, there was a lot of

it happens and it’s a lesson of- I’m not sure what

impacted by the coronavir us. From

in-house f ighting to t r y and keep the program

the lesson was but it was a lesson lear ned.”

st udents having to move home, to

alive. With the dean making cuts to classes and

The theat re depar t ment does have plans for

teachers suddenly needing to lear n how to move

shows, professors being kept out of impor tant de-

the f ut ure, and have been continued to work vir-

into the digital classroom, ever y depar t ment has

cisions, we were all af raid of what was going to

t ually.

had st r uggles of their own. The Theat re A r ts de-

happen, now with COVID-19 we’re still in the

“Cur rently, we’re all t r ying to vir t ually per-

par t ment had been working on Tar t uffe, a French

dark but with added st ress. We’re t r ying to make

for m and create ar t any way we can. I’m cur-

comedy f rom the 1600s by Moliere, that was can-

the best of this sit uation but the realit y is, we

rently working on Con nection Collection, which

celed due to the vir us.

don’t k now, and that is scar y, not just for me, but

will all be done online and f rom our own homes.

“Well, we had a ten-week rehearsal process. I

for the f ut ure st udents. We seem to be pushing

Rehearsals have been interesting, we all sit in

thin k we were f ive weeks into it. You k now, the

th rough with COVID-19 but it was ver y clear we

one zoom call and we’ll rehearse. It’s much like

whole play was staged. We had worked on chore-

have ver y little say what can happen,” Man ny De

a live perfor mance and live meetings but now we

ography for some dance sequences. Most of the

León, an actor in Tar t uffe, com mented as well on

have to juggle the complications of tech nology.

cast was prett y much off book and we were in

his wor ries for the Theat re Depar t ment.

It’s def initely going to be an educational experi-

the second round of rehearsing scenes and getting ready. We had already r un act one once and

But as all members of the theat re com munit y k now, the show must go on.

ence,” De León later states.

The Con nection Collection will be a collec-

we were about to r un act t wo at the end of that

“Now, several of the st udents who were in the

tion of scenes f ilmed and directed f rom home by

week,” Paul Draper, the Director of Tar t uffe,

show are graduating and going on to do other

st udents. Each scene is unique and has its own

said when asked how far along their rehearsal

things, so t r ying to pull that cord back together

characters and stories but by the end they are all

process was when it was canceled by the school.

would be ver y diff icult,” Draper later stated, re-

tied together in one big stor y about human con-

“By the time we stopped, ever ybody had put

vealing the ugly t r uth that we are losing a perfor-

nection and how to con nect in the world we are

mance we can now never see.

living in today.

in well over 90 hours… and we still had 5 weeks to go,” Draper continued, “They put in their f ull

“It’s one of the great sadnesses for me. You

Ever y one of us is going th rough a time of

semester unit’s time but they didn’t get the re-

k now, sometimes I do a not so good show and it’s

uncer taint y here at Sonoma State. The best thing

ward. You k now they got to have, um, asparag us

like you k now if only this show could be can-

we can do is look at it as an oppor t unit y to lear n

but they didn’t get to have any ice cream.”

celed. But the show was going really well and for

things we may never have without COVID-19 and

that reason it was even harder to give it up but

to teach others new ideas.

“To be honest I was wor ried about the de-

8 Student Life

SEPT. 8 - SEPT. 14, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

The Student Health Center tackles the ‘twindemic’

KRISTINA SCHMUHL STAFF WRITER

T

he Sonoma State University Student Health Center (SHC) is providing free vaccinations for the seasonal flu this fall. While most on campus University student resources are closed, the SHC remains open for students from not only Sonoma State but all California State University campuses. In an effort to include students from all over the state, even those living farther away due to the impacts of COVID-19 or those that have moved back home, students attending any CSU campus can be seen at the SSU health center.

It is unclear if students from other CSU campuses will also receive free flu shots because it is not seen as a “basic service.” As of now, students would have to physically return to the Rohnert Park campus to receive their free vaccination. For all other basic services, the SHC has always been qualified to see students from other campuses, through CSU executive order 943, but the pandemic has formalized the referral process.

The center is operating primarily through telemedicine means and in-person appointments when deemed necessary by a healthcare professional. Starting in mid to late September, the SHC will be opening a flu shot clinic. Appointments will be available online starting Oct.1.

SSU’s Interim SHC Director and Family Nurse Practitioner, Tracy Eaton, urged that the most important thing students and staff could do for themselves is get vaccinated with the flu shot when it comes out.

The flu shot will be free of charge to all Sonoma State students when it becomes available on campus.

“You need to get your flu shot. The biggest reason is health care resources are strained. This will minimize how many people need care this winter,” said Eaton.

Health care experts worry about an impending “twindemic” of both seasonal influenza and COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone get the flu shot in September or October, before the start of the flu season.

According to an article by the New York Times, “Can You Get a Flu Shot Now? Yes, and Doctors Say You Should,” Dr. Uchenna Ikediobi, an assistant professor of general internal medicine and infectious diseases at Yale University said, “Everyone above the age of 6 months should be getting the flu vaccine.”

The SHC is also doing limited testing for patients with COVID-19 symptoms. They are currently only using their resources to test symptomatic persons. They are classifying “symptomatic” to be two or more “unexplained” indications that someone may have contracted COVID-19. These include cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, sore throat and underlying health conditions. Eaton did say that every referral for a test is done on an individual basis after talking with the patient.

Eaton added, “There are many overlapping symptoms. [Getting your flu shot] can minimize confusion.” Overlapping symptoms include fever, headache, cough, sore throat, muscle aches and fatigue. Being exposed to an influenza virus can also weaken the immune system, leaving individuals vulnerable if exposed to COVID-19.

Martin Bolz, a freshman student living in the Rohnert Park area, said they would be nervous to come to campus to get a flu shot or a COVID test. While they believe that the school would follow safety requirements, they don’t feel as confident about the actions of other people coming to campus. Bolz said, “If you look all over, there are acts of civil disobedience where people are not wearing their masks properly, so I would assume that there would always be a degree of contamination.”

Matteo Schmidt, a senior communications major, weighed in on the possibility of getting a flu shot on campus and said, ”I honestly don’t believe this school is competent enough to do something like that.”

Elise Terry, a senior Technical Theater major, disagrees and feels

The Health Center encourages students to get their flu shot.

STAR //Sarah Ramos

STAR //Sarah Ramos The Student Health Center, unlike most buildings on campus, remained open for students to utilize if needed. that the health center would be a safe place to get a flu shot or a COVID-19 test. “I’m not much of a flu shot or COVID test aficionado, but as far as safety of places to go for those things, I think the student health center would be totally fine.

I’ve gone to the student health center a couple of times and it’s always been super clean and nice,” she said.

While students have differing viewpoints about getting a flu shot specifically at the SHC, Eaton still encourages everyone to get a flu shot

as soon as possible wherever individuals feel comfortable, saying, “Getting the flu shot does not give you the flu and you will have a much more mild flu if you do end up still getting it”.

The CDC is coordinating a publicity campaign from now until Oct. 31 through social media, billboards, television and radio urging people to get their flu shot as soon as possible since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu.

The seventh annual Womxn of Color Collective comes to Sonoma State RACHEL GONZALEZ

STAFF WRITER

O

n Sept. 9, Sonoma State University’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and the Integral Center for Diversity, Vitality, and Creativity ( the HUB) are hosting their annual Womxn of Color Collective for the seventh year in a row. The collective will happen every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m and will be accessible through Zoom.

The Womxn of Color Collective is an opportunity for students, who also identify themselves as a woman of color, to listen and converse with staff and students about their experiences of being a woman of color (WOC).

The STAR reached out to both Shelly Gomez and Isabel Avila Saiter, who are the driving forces behind this event, to give more information about this collective.

“We all come into this space with authenticity and the desire to honor ourselves and each other,” said Race and Ethnicity Program Coordinator, Shelly Gomez.

The Woman of Color Collective plan on providing a space of support.

“Participants will be checking in and sharing with the group any challenges they have been experiencing that they need additional support for,” said Gomez.

“These meetings offer an informal, but a meaningful dialogue between students and WOC staff/faculty on campus with the hope of students being inspired by the representation exemplified and encouraged to seek out mentorship and advocacy around campus,” said Staff Psychologist and Training Coordinator, Isabel Avila Saiter.

Though students will be offered a space to discuss their experiences, occasionally they will have a more

structured dynamic that involves “self - care exercise, discussion about resources on campus, or focus on a particular topic of interest.”said Avila.

While wanting to empower students who identify as a WOC, the event wants to focus primarily on the sense of community.

Gomez said, “Many students are far from home and maybe away from their communities that share the same identities, especially in a predominantly white institution (PWI). WOC has truly become a space that is sacred and special to me personally as a student, professional staff, mother, and WOC”.

This event brings a strong sense of community to WOC and would provide a safe place for those who feel the urge to share or those who would love to listen to other experiences.

According to the facts page on the Sonoma State University website, the races and ethnicities that are recorded for enrolled students at Sonoma State University in the Fall of 2019 are White (43.8%), Hispanic/Latino (36.8%), and Hispanic (27.6%), Asian (5.2%), African American/Black (2.2%), Unknown (4.9%), American Indian/Alaskan Native (0.3%), or Two or More Ethnicities (.062%). With such a predominantly white university, it’s important that women of color have a safe space to share their experiences.

Avila shares that when she “was an undergraduate, I did not have an affirmative and validating space to discuss and explore my experiences and the ways in which I navigated my intersecting identities” and she is aware of the factors such as “racism, discrimination, oppression, and microaggressions impact the health of WOC.” With that being said, Avila wants to

The WOCC aims to provide a safe space for women of color. create a space that can provide inspiration, courage, and promise to those who join the collective.

Though joining a group for the first time can be difficult for some, especially those who are just beginning their first year of college, Gomez assures that full participation is not expected among the participants.

“We understand that it takes time to feel comfortable sharing personal

COURTESY // johnhain

feelings with others. You can join in, say hi, and just share space with us until the time feels right for you to share.”

Finding a community where individuals can support, heal, and laugh with one another is an experience one doesn’t want to miss out on. To experience the Womxn of Color Collective contact Shelly Gomez or Isabel Avila for a Zoom link; gomezs@sonoma.edu or avilai@sonoma.edu.

Student Life 9

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sonomastatestar.com

STAR //Sam Billingsly

CAPS will be open to students virtually this semester to avoid in-person sessions.

Counseling and Psychological Services remains open MORAGH GRAF STAFF WRITER

O

ne of Sonoma State University’s many services, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is changing due to COVID-19, but is still available to students.

Through telehealth, CAPS will be providing students with the same accessibility while retaining social distancing protocols.

The CAPS office was previously located in Stevenson Hall on the Sonoma State campus and has been a very useful resource to some students over the years. When faculty turned to virtual learning, however, the option to attend sessions in-office became unsafe.

“I know a lot of people who were worried that they wouldn’t be able to use CAPS as a resource anymore,” said third year student, Jenna Zager. “I’ve used CAPS in the past, so I know how important it is when you don’t have a lot of other options.”

So, the faculty at CAPS made the switch to telehealth, which provides virtual counseling via Zoom or phone call.

“The transition to providing services remotely was done quickly and relatively smoothly,” said CAPS Director, Laura Williams. “We are up and running and fully functional.”

CAPS appointments are available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Students are able to make an appointment between the hours of 9 a.m. to noon and again from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., as well as have a same-day appointment in critical, urgent cases.

“Students can also call CAPS anytime 24/7 and, if it is outside our phone hours, they will be connected to our on-call counseling service. There is always someone here to help,” said Williams.

One of the most notable features of CAPS is their short-term approach therapy style.

However, as of now there is no limit on how many sessions a student can have with a

CAPS psychologist, and students will not have to be put on a waitlist for services. All sessions with CAPS are free of charge, as tuition already covers any psychological services the student may use.

“We have provided flexible sessions for a few years now that take into account the resources that a student is able to access as well as CAPS’ available resources,” said Williams. “If student demand for services exceeds our clinical capacity, sessions will be limited or offered less frequently.”

CAPS offers a number of groups and workshops which have unlimited availability to students. The three groups currently available to students during fall of 2020 are a processing group, a drop-in group which allows participants to come and go as fits their schedule, and a limited-series workshop in which participants rotate through topics of interest to them. But these are not the only groups being offered this semester.

According to the most recent CAPS Newsletter, “Women of Color Collective (WOCC) will start the first week of the semester. All other Drop-In groups will start the second week of the semester.”

The groups meet weekly and have a wide variety of topics offered, including grief and loss support, LGBTQ+ support, self-compassion, and more. The CAPS Newsletter displayed compassion for students starting a semester of online-learning, a confusing and stressful time for everyone.

“Being self-compassionate does not equate with weakness or laziness. Rather, selfcompassion frees up the mental energy that you may have used to criticize yourself and directs that energy to more productive activities,” stated the CAPS Team.

To keep track of upcoming support groups/workshops, learn more about CAPS services and resources, or to make an appointment with a psychologist, visit www.caps. sonoma.edu.

ASP gaming tournament postponed

AMANDA KOBA

S

STAFF WRITER

tudents were preparing to attack, dodge, and dash in an attempt to be crowned winner at the virtual gaming tournament; however, Seawolves were disappointed to find out the event had been canceled.

The event scheduled was a part of the virtual events Associated Student Productions (ASP) has been hosting this semester. ASP Event Director, Tim Wilbur, chose this event due to its popularity on campus.

Wilbur said, “This event is a virtual video game tournament with Super Smash Bros Ultimate being the game! The tournament is organized through Discord and streamed live on Twitch with a commentator.”

The popular gaming event normally is held with ecstatic students patiently waiting to see who’d take the glory in Ballroom D at the Student Center; however, this semester ASP attempted to make the transition to the online platform Twitch. Seawolves were encouraged to play in the tournament or simply spectate on a streaming device. The tournament was supposed to be held Sept. 4 but has been postponed without a set date. Wilbur wanted to give all students a chance to participate in this event, but because of wifi issues at Sonoma State, students who lived on campus weren’t able to access the stream, forcing the event to be put on pause.

Wilbur said there were, “...issues with wifi on campus and we want all students able to play so we have decided to postpone the tournament for now.”

With no information of when internet issues would be resolved, a rescheduled date has not been set. ASP was using this event to start a series of video game tournaments that would be held the first Friday of every month for the remainder of the fall semester.

When asked about his hopes for these events, Wilbur said, “My hopes for this event is to give SSU students a break from classes and have some fun! My other hope is to connect students and create a community

COURTESY // commons.wikimedia.com Students were expecting a Super Smash Bros tournament, but the event was cancelled due to wifi issues. for any of the video game enthusiasts on campus.”

Seawolves were anticipating the event because of the fun, spirited competition and familiarity it brought. The postponement of the event definitely impacted some Seawolves. Nicole Taketa, a junior at SSU said she, “...always enjoyed video games like Smash so I was excited to see that ASP was putting on this event!” and “was really looking forward to the event because I think it’s another good way to bring students together and share common interests.”

Ricardo Sevilla, a student who planned to play in the event, expressed his disappointment when interviewed by saying he “...wanted to participate in the event because I wanted to interact with other people within the Super Smash Bros. community.”

and show off his Super Smash Bros. skills through the competitive nature of the game.

Even though the tournament’s postponement has no set date, Tim Wilbur still plans to have this event for students at SSU so they can connect, compete, and take a break from school work. Updates for these events can be found on Seawolf Living under virtual events and through ASP’s instagram @ssu_as.

Some events that Seawolves can look forward to include “Spillin’ the Tea with Sakaki” on Sept. 9 where Sonoma State’s President, Judy Sakaki will be answering student’s questions and having conversations. SSU’s Movies on the Green have also moved online and students are invited to watch Netflix movies and connect with other movie buffs.

10 Sports Student spotlight: Tito Fuentes

SEPT. 8 - SEP. 14, 2020

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VINCENT SPENCE STAFF WRITER

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s a third-year communications undergraduate, Tito Fuentes looks to create his own path on the baseball field this upcoming season.

Fuentes is an incoming infield transfer who looks to make a large difference to this year’s squad.

Fuentes came to Sonoma State as a wide-eyed freshman with aspirations of playing, but with playing time being scarce, he decided to make the difficult decision of transferring.

The infielder described his COURTESY // Casey Edmunds time by saying, “Leaving was bitJunior infielder Tito Fuentes returns to Sonoma State with hopes to lead the team to a title. tersweet. I know I had to leave to get better in order to come back third base. The Seawolves look to bring back all three of ball ready at all times. Keeping my body and mind in and play. But leaving a solid pro- their top hitters from last season. Infielders like Will Lan- a healthy state,as will the team. Right now the fields gram like Sonoma State was hard gan, Joshua Medina and Jake Hernandez form the core of are closed for team practices but my main focus is but it was all for baseball. I de- the batting order. working with a few of my teammates on the stuff we cided to go to Laney College, and Right-handed pitcher Ben Haslam described how ex- can do, like hitting and playing catch...while being my experiences there were great. cited he was to get his teammate back, “I am thrilled that distant and taking precautionary measures.”

I met great people and was able Tito is coming back to Sonoma. I have known Tito since Fuentes has a long line of baseball history in his to develop my skills further than freshman year and he’s an outstanding ball player. I can’t family. His grandfather, Rigoberto “Tito” Fuentes, even expected. From all that I wait to see what’s in store for him in the future here at played 13 seasons in the major leagues. He spent have endured over these past few Sonoma State.” nine seasons with the San Francisco Giants before years, I learned that life is a pure As COVID-19 wreaks havoc on all fall sports, there is being traded to the San Diego Padres. Fuentes set the grind and to get where you want still hope for the spring semester. This time, baseball is all-time single season record in 1973 for fielding perto go you have to truly believe in preparing for their fall ball games and practices. But of centage as a second baseman with a .993. Fuentes’s yourself.” course, this year is different. Players and coaches are ad- grandfather retired in the 1978 season to then work Sonoma State had a rocky justing to a new reality by distancing themselves, wearing as a spanish broadcaster for the Giants. He is curstart last year with the team going masks and basically not being able to have practice. Play- rently an analyst with the team and was inducted into 7-14 before the season was caught ers like Fuentes have been working out on the side at parks, the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of fame. short due to COVID-19. With playing catch and being socially distant from one another.

The junior infielder described his excitement in Fuentes’ new found skills, he is Fuentes described the differences in preparing for the this year’s team and season. Fuentes is looking to looking to find time at second or uncertainty of this season: “This year is going to be tough make an immediate impact on and off the field. because of the pandemic, but I expect myself to stay base-

High school sports in limbo, too

SEAN KENNEALLY STAFF WRITER

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ancho Cotati High School, and the rest of California high schools, wait on the edge of their seats to see how athletics will pan out this season. “All I want to do is give kids something positive and some normalcy to feel good about themselves,” says Rancho Cotati track coach John Anderson.

The California Interscholastic Federation, CIF, announced on Jul. 20, “...that education-based athletics for the 2020-2021 school year will begin with a modified season of sport schedule” in accordance with COVID-19 protocols. As a result, high school sports have slowed down immensely, most notably with football starting in 2021. Overall, instead of the traditional three season system, CIF will implement two, winter and spring.

With the two season system, multiple challenges will occur for coaches and players alike. The most pertinent discussion Anderson states is on multi-athletes: What sports will they play? With only two seasons, in a condensed time, there will be an overlap of seasons, which will result in time conflicts for student-athletes.

In addition, field conflicts and scheduling will arise as well. Head football coach, Gehrig Hotaling, notes that it does not help either that the Rancho Cotate fields and stadiums are being renovated, so “...when we get the opportunity to practice, it’s at the middle school.”

Like Sonoma State, Rancho coaches have been implementing Zoom calls and small workout groups to connect with their athletes. “...We are trying not to ‘burn them out’ before the season even begins in December,“ comments Harding.

However, unlike SSU, Rancho coaches are seeing other states open competition for their high schools. Anderson, a teacher at Rancho Cotati states that “[He is] uncomfortable watching all these schools open up and placing kids in weight rooms and classrooms.” Harding has been on an emotional rollercoaster the past few weeks watching other states play. “Personally, my grieving didn’t fully begin until last week when we were supposed to play our first game- so I’m neck deep in the process trying to get to acceptance,” stated Harding.

Coaches stated their jealousy and suspicions for these other states opening up.

Harding elaborates “[He would] be lying if I said I wasn’t jealous, or question the ‘fairness’” of the other states versus California. Both Anderson and Harding are hoping they can have at least some form of a season, even if it means only league competition.

Above all, like SSU, the coaches want to see their athletes play the games they love. In addition, Rancho coaches want to see their seniors have the traditional senior year, with Homecoming, Prom, Senior Night, and a graduation. Anderson explains that “If we have other than a drive-thru grad, I will be ecstatic. I don’t want my kids to go out like that.” Both coaches have yet to hear anything from CIF. Practices start on Dec. 14, 2020, for both Rancho track and football. Rancho Cotati football is supposed to kick off on Jan. 1, 2021 at Los Lomas High School, and Rancho Cotati track and field is still to be determined.

STAR // Samantha Billingsly The Cougars’ field sits empty as the pandemic leaves athletes wondering what will come next.

SEPT. 8 - SEPT. 14, 2020

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Sports 11

COURTESY // Creative Commons Amy Gutierrez giving her piece on the San Francisco Giants before game day.

Pro sportscaster and SSU professor ELISEO FRAGOSO STAFF WRITER

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OVID-19 has not only affected the season of athletes, but also of the reporters and journalists like Amy Gutierrez. Gutierrez is a sideline reporter for NBC Sports Bay Area as well as the sports broadcasting professor here at Sonoma State.

For a while, Major League Baseball did not know if the season was going to be played due to the restrictions the government had implemented early on in 2020. As safety measures were put in place and some businesses were allowed to open, the MLB and its players union began conversations regarding when to start.

Gutierrez, who solely focuses on reporting for the San Francisco Giants, said, “I think when baseball was shut down everyone collectively felt that it was the right decision to make at the time and the aftermath will be figured out later.”

Journalists around the league all knew the season was going to be postponed for a couple months, but had to figure out something to do since there weren’t any sports going on, which meant no games to follow up on. It is troubling because it leaves them questioning what will happen next. They are used to being face-to-face to be able to do in-game reports and interviews with the players on the field.

“Once I realized I have to adjust, I began my Wine Wednesday Show on Instagram so that I can figure out how I can have a relationship with people

over video. I’ll be honest I didn’t think baseball was gonna return.” Gutierrez felt that the only other thing she can do is use her influencing skills as another way to do her job prior to having the baseball season start back up.

It took until June 23, when both sides were able to hurdle over the last part of the deal. It meant the players were able to report to their training camps with a start date of July 23 for the season. Allowing people to get back to the field opened the door for reporters to go back to their jobs, but now with a face mask and other safety regulations. There were many new regulations that were put out by the league that employees and players had to follow in order to prevent any spreading of COVID-19. Due to the limited number of staff and players in the dugout, not all people are allowed to travel with the team unless they are needed. So, reporters generally are working home games, but some do travel with the team if necessary.

The MLB season was reduced to just 60 games and for the first time in MLB history there is a universal designated hitter rule in place. Now that the season is halfway through, the use of the DH in the National League has shown to be useful for NL teams. It also gives more playing time to the power hitter. Throughout this season, there have only been four COVID-19 outbreaks and each team has done a great job of containing it so that other teams don’t get infected.

MLB pandemic playoff bubble

RYAN WEINER

STAFF WRITER

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ajor League Baseball is expecting to implement a ‘playoff bubble’ in Texas and California for the 2020 playoffs, which will add changes to an already tweaked playoff format. This news was made public Aug. 28, after Major League Baseball sent the proposal to the MLB Players Association a week prior. The league and union met several times to come up with a way to manage and conduct games in order to limit city-to-city travel and thus limit the chances of a COVID-19 outbreak in Oct., which would delay the entire postseason.

Jeff Passan, a columnist for ESPN, appeared on the Pat McAfee Show and explained the 2020 MLB bubble will be located in San Diego and Los Angeles for the American League games along with Arlington and Houston hosting the National League games.

He also mentioned that the World Series will be held in Arlington, Texas, which will feature a new stadium that was completed for the Rangers in July of 2020. Passan also noted that the locations for the bubble are still being conversed, and nothing is set in stone just yet.

Throughout the shortened MLB season, positive tests have caused multiple games to be canceled, with some teams having several players test positive at once. The bubble will model what the NBA and NHL have been doing in order to keep COVID-19 out of their businesses. Both leagues have shown success in their strategy of excluding themselves from the public, so now Major League Baseball is opting to do the same.

The new format for the 2020 playoffs will include 16 teams in the playoff pool, instead of 10, in order to help add broadcast revenue for the league’s loss in ticket sales. According to multiple reports, the top three seeds in each league will be deemed “division winners” and will get to pick who they want to compete against among a list of five other teams. The five extra teams from each league will include the second place team from each division and the two remaining spots going to the teams with the next best records.

Commissioner Rob Manfred is excited for the expansion, explaining, “We look forward to a memorable postseason concluding a year like no other, this new format will allow more fans to experience playoff baseball.”

The deal for the expansion came during the negotiations of the late July 23 start date to the shortened season. With that being said, a larger issue with sending 16 teams to four cities will increase the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak among the players. Four teams will be sharing one stadium, and as data has shown, the virus tends to move quickly throughout clubhouses. Teams could even be at higher risk if a player or staff member tested positive while in the playoff bubble, as several teams share the same facilities.

Teams that are not having the best year may find themselves lucky, as it is likely teams can reach the postseason with a losing record, which has only happened once in 1981 when the Royals secured a playoff spot due to a mid-season strike that wiped out a third of the season. As the campaign progresses everyday, it appears that Major League Baseball is optimistic it will crown a champion in the 2020 season.

COURTESY // Creative Commons Mike Trout hits his 300th career homerun and leads the franchise while attempting to carry the Angels to the playoffs.

12 Photo

SEPT. 8 - SEPT. 14, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

Hard at work despite harsh conditions

STAR // Sarah Ramos Karla, an employee at Luduka’s Cafe, prepares an order for a customer on Sunday afternoon. The cafe has reopened using COVID-19 safety guidelines.

STAR // Sarah Ramos STAR // Sarah Ramos Dulce concentrated ringing up a customer’s order while working at Luduka’s Cafe.

(Top) Karla returned with dirty dishes during a busy shift at Luduka’s Cafe on Sunday.

(Bottom) Airin (left) and Soledad (right) worked to clear tables quickly while working at Luduka’s Cafe.

STAR // Sarah Gallagher Wildwood Vineyards in Kenwood has kept their vineyards looking perfect in the midst of the heat wave.

STAR // Sarah Gallagher Small and big retail businesses alike face an uncertain future after months of closures.

STAR // Sarah Gallagher St. Francis Winery in Sonoma had their grapes growing strong despite the fire.