Issue 4 Fall 2020 Sonoma State STAR

IN THIS ISSUE

Authors at SSU New poetry books released by Sonoma State’s talented faculty.

PAGE 6.

Ruben Salazar

Local first-responder

Remembering the civil rights activist on the 50th anniversary of his death.

PAGE 8.

SSU athlete uses her skills to save the community from wildfires.

PAGE 10.

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 85 // ISSUE 4 SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 - SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

@SONOMASTATESTAR

STAR // Jacob Loher Sonoma State Dancers twirl ribbons during “Forgive Me” dance on Fri. Nov. 8, 2019

SSU programs are in danger of losing IRA funds

TAYLOR CLARK

STAFF WRITER

COURTESY // Flickr.com The wildfires on the West coast have caused bad air quality and otherworldy red skies.

Bad air quality reaches record highs SAMUEL SAYER STAFF WRITER

A

midst spikes in temperatures and high winds, the fires across California continue to burn and, as reported by the Press Democrat, have produced enough smoke to cause record-breaking bad air quality across the Bay Area. While the SCU and LNU lightning complex fires are close to being completely contained, the heat and wind have led to difficulties in controlling other fires in California, including the North Complex fire, the Creek fire, and a handful of other fires. While this alone would cause a spike in harmful air pollutants, California is also receiving the drifting smoke from Oregon and Washington, as both are currently grappling with massive wildfires of their own. This has most notably resulted in an increased AQI score, as well as otherworldly red skies that block the sun’s light.

Even in areas that are untouched by the fires themselves, the rippling effects of these fires can and have been felt far and wide. California’s wildfire season has caused increased pollutants that raise the Air Quality Index in past years, such as the Kincaide fire of 2019, which caused AQI levels of 150 or more.

However, the combination of fires this year, both in state and out of state, have sparked unprecedented highs.

Many areas are averaging an AQI of 200, and several areas, such as Sacramento, are reaching numbers of 400 or higher. According to Airnow, a government partner of the EPA dedicated to monitoring Air Quality, 200+ AQI is classified as “Very Unhealthy” and they warn that the chance for adverse health effects from exposure is higher for everyone. Areas that have reached the level of 300+ AQI are labelled as dangerous health conditions, which have far more pronounced effects on the health of all people in that area.

Aside from the AQI score, the smoke has been affecting how the sky looks as well. According to NASA, the smoke particles drifting through the air have grown condensed enough to block certain colors of light from shining through. This has resulted in the orange-red skies seen above large portions of California. see BAD AIR QUALITY on pg. 4

COURTESY // Flickr.com There are over 500 confirmed COVID-19 cases at San Diego State, and students are forced to quarantine in dorm rooms.

San Diego State COVID-19 case

EMILY CRIPE

numbers continue to rise

STAFF WRITER

O

n September 2, San Diego State University announced that they would halt all in-person instruction for the foreseeable future due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases on their campus. Their first recorded positive case was reported on August 21, just two days after move-in day at the dorms. Despite the fact that classes are no longer in person, students remain in the dorms, where the majority of the infected individuals currently reside. Students who test positive for COVID are moved to isolation dorms, rather than being sent home or relocated off campus. see SAN DIEGO on pg. 4

W

ith the onset of COVID-19 and the already apparent dropping enrollment at Sonoma State University, proper funding of valuable programs is a top priority for current and prospective students. Programs at SSU, otherwise known as Instructionally Related Activities, are in danger of receiving massive cuts.

IRAs make up a vast majority of a student’s time and experience at Sonoma State University. IRAs are described on the SSU website as “activities and laboratory experiences that are partially sponsored by an academic discipline or department and which are, in the judgment of the President, integrally related to the function of instructional offerings.” IRAs are the programs that students look forward to participating in, because they offer hands-on experience for students. IRA funds go towards programs like the STAR, KSUN, athletics, music, dance, and drama recitals.

The IRA budget is overseen by the Student Fee Advisory Committee (SFAC), which is composed of both students and faculty. Senior Director for University Budget and Planning, Laura Lupei, stated, “The SFAC recommended IRA allocations to the President for approval for 2020-2021.

The President has approved the SFAC recommendations, but allocations were reduced to 50% of the requests.” She continued to explain that this 50% reduction was based on the President’s review due to restrictions from the pandemic on the Fall 2020 semester. Lupei stated that “SFAC will review the recommendations and determine additional allocations above the 50% allocated as appropriate.”

To put this into perspective, the STAR is still publishing hard copy editions of the newspaper every week for those on campus to pick up-granted, at a much lower rate--but it still requires funds that the IRA provides.

Cutting funds by 50% makes an impact on production levels, and the kind of technology that will be available for purchase, such as new computers and cameras.. see SSU PROGRAMS LOSING FUNDS on pg. 4

STAR // Lily Frazier The SSU campus is almost completely empty due to online instruction.

Online instruction to continue through spring

KYLIE LAWRENCE NEWS EDITOR

O

n September 10, 2020, all faculty, staff, and students of the California State University system received an unexpected email from the Office of the Chancellor. According to the email, all CSU schools will continue with primarily virtual instruction through the January 2021 academic term.

Additionally, only reduced populations will be able to live in campus housing.

The decision-making process and announcement may seem a bit early or proactive to some, but The Office of the Chancellor assures students, faculty, and staff that making this decision early allows faculty and staff more time to prepare for the virtual learning environment, and will allow students and their families to plan for the future more appropriately.

Although the fall term has just begun on most CSU campuses, academic plans for the January 2021 term must soon be finalized. In a few weeks, campuses publish course offerings for the next term, so that students can make their course selections and campuses can appropriately adjust their course inventories. see ONLINE INSTRUCTION CONTINUES on pg. 4

2 Editorial THE STAR

SEPT. 15 - SEPT. 21, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

Studying abroad: pandemic style

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:

“Salazar Hall much more than a building.”

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.

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.

I

magine this: you set off to a foreign country to study abroad, leaving your friends and family behind to see what this world has to offer. Months before you plan to return, a global pandemic sweeps the world by storm and infects almost every part of the world, including where you are. It sounds like Orson Welles is at it again, but as one might guess, this dismal nightmare became a reality for many international students this past semester.

Every year, universities across the globe send students overseas to pursue their education internationally. According to Sonoma State’s Center for International Education webpage, California State University International Programs (CSU IP) is the system-wide study abroad program for California State University students. Operating from within the CSU Chancellor’s Office and serving the 23 CSU campuses, CSU IP offers a wide variety of yearlong study abroad programs for undergraduate and graduate students.

Some of which were enrolled in the Fall 2020 semester that came to a screeching halt.

As COVID-19 became more prevalent in the United States and as cases began to rise in other countries, CSU IP started to evacuate students from their host countries and required them to return to the U.S. or their home country shortly after the program suspension. This process began on Feb. 5, starting with the students studying abroad in China and ending their last evacuations as late as March 16 with students located in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Israel, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, and Taiwan.

According to the CSU IP’s current ‘Health and Safety Resources’ webpage, it is suggested to the students that they “Follow current events in your destination country and in the countries you plan to visit during your time abroad. By informing yourself and acting responsibly, you can help make your stay abroad healthy and safe.”

Aside from encouraging students to stay informed about world news before taking off to a foreign country, there is little mention of emergency preparedness plans. With that being said,

STAR // Kevin Flores

staff and students alike were not prepared to face what seemed unimaginable and the consequences of the virus’s unraveling impacts.

Sonoma State student Julie Vargas, a current senior, spent the most recent school year (2019-2020) in Ghana (one of the last groups of students sent back to the U.S.). She explains that when trying to get answers from her superiors/coordinators, she was under the impression that she would remain in the country.

Unfortunately, with how quickly the virus spread within five days, she was informed that she had to pack her bags and prepare to leave.

Vargas describes her last moments before flying home, “I thought I was safe in Ghana because at the time the travel advisory was at a level two, risk being moderate for travel conditions while all international travel was at a level three or four, meaning travel was highly not recommended. Because of this, I was very hesitant about the idea of leaving West Africa.” Vargas and many other students had no other choice but to listen to their coordinators and pack up their suitcases to head to an airport.

Keep in mind that these students probably did not think a face mask covering would be a part of their “essentials” packing list.

Another SSU student, Jennifer Oliveros, who spent her time in Spain last school year, was also struck by the heartbreaking news as chaos broke out in Europe. “It was insane.

Students were running down the halls in panic; people were out in the streets. It was pure chaos.

All I could think about was how I was going to survive my plane flight to America as cases were rapidly increasing in Europe, and as thousands of people were trying to leave the country.”

When speaking to SSU’s International and Exchange program advisor, Hope Ortiz, she mentioned that this was not the first time the study abroad program has been faced with emergency situations. She even shared her own experience as a student.

She spoke about when her study abroad experience was also disrupted while she was in Mexico, the epicenter for the H1N1 swine flu epidemic. She recognizes that

her experience is somewhat different from COVID-19, as it is a global pandemic. Still, she can empathize with students on the level of panic that is felt in these situations.

Ortiz emphasizes that, “We are never going to send a student somewhere if it is not safe and if it ever becomes unsafe, we are going to do everything we can to make sure they are taken care of and that they get back safely.

And I think this experience was a demonstration of that.” She continues, “of course things are going to happen that are out of our control, but the safety of the students is our number one priority. I think we definitely did the best we could, and now if something else happens in the future, we will be even better prepared for that because of what we learned from this experience.”

Thankfully the students mentioned above, along with other SSU students, were able to return to the states safely and are adjusting to being back. Although this process looks much different from it would have been, many are relieved to be back in a place with familiarity.

Ortiz additionally mentioned that the students she has spoken to about their travels, “... all still really appreciated the experience they got to have.

Although they have mentioned they wish they could have completed their experience, they did appreciate the time they had there, learning about the local country and culture. It is relieving to know that some students still have all of what they experienced before all of this.”

This does pose several questions for those who were planning to study abroad. Are the potential health risks worth the investment? Will the unpredictability of COVID-19 interrupt the months of planning that takes place as early as a year prior to take off? Regardless of what has taken place in these last couple of months, the CSU IP is still marketing for and accepting students’ applications to study abroad for Fall 2021-2022. Those set on making international study a part of their college experience despite everything can still give the program a chance.

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.

COURTESY // Sonoma.edu

Opinion 3

SEPT. 15 - SEPT. 21, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

Salazar Hall much more than a building Weather modification

NANCY INSUA

STAFF WRITER

A

lthough we are not on campus this semester, students are familiar with the building near the campus center as Salazar Hall.

Salazar Hall gets its name after Ruben Salazar, an influential man that fewer students know about. Salazar was a talented and experienced reporter; born in 1928, he spent his professional life working in journalism across California and Mexico.

Salazar even worked for Sonoma County’s local paper: the Press Democrat. In 1968, the Los Angeles Times requested Salazar to return to Los Angeles to be a reporter for their publication, and he did.

Salazar was the first Latino journalist to work for a major U.S. paper.

His cultural background allowed him to have a unique perspective from other journalists and cover various stories. According to the USC digital library, “back in Los Angeles, Salazar explored injustices experienced by the Mexican American community and issues raised by

Chicano activists. These issues still resonate today --discrimination, race-relations, freedom of the press, state surveillance, inferior schools, lack of political representation, and police abuse. His writings brought him local and national attention.”

Salazar’s voice was hugely influential and needed in the 1970s and is still frankly needed today.

SSU’s new renovation plan for Salazar Hall has come with discussions regarding a name change for the building. Confirmation on what the new name would be is not available, but it does pose an interesting question on why Sonoma would even consider a change like this. Salazar’s contribution to not only the field of journalism but the nation as a whole is immense. He was a revolutionary reporter who told stories and gave a desperately needed perspective in the United States. Though we have progressed since the 1970s, not enough progress has happened to reverse the racial injustices Salazar spent his career covering.

Tragically, Salazar’s death is a reminder of how important it is to examine the way our country treats immigrants, individuals with new perspectives and a willingness to expose injustice. According to the Press Democrat, “On August 29, 1970 while covering a clash between police and anti-war demonstrators, Salazar was struck in the head and killed by a tear-gas canister fired through a window by a Los Angeles

County sheriff’s deputy.” They continue to state that some suspected Salazar, who died while taking a break inside a bar with another reporter, was targeted. They support this claim, stating, “The suspicions were fueled by the eventual release of FBI and Los Angeles Police Department records showing that Salazar’s activities were monitored, both while he was a foreign correspondent and during his final days reporting on civic unrest and alleged police brutality in Southern California.”

Ruben Salazar has a vital legacy with a story that Sonoma’s students need to hear. Taking away a building named after such an influential man would be another act in the erasure of the tragic way he lost his life and discount the critical work he did during his time on Earth. There is also a “Salazar Hall” located on the Cal State LA campus that serves various classes and departments, similar to Salazar Hall at SSU. In 2014 ,they hosted a multimedia exhibition honoring his life’s accomplishments, entitled “Legacy of Rubén Salazar: A Man of His Words, a Man of His Time.” Actions like this are the kinds that Sonoma State should be taking to expose our students to Salazar’s story, not renaming the building.

Amongst our country’s current state, we should be looking to figures like Salazar for inspiration, guidance, and courage and spread his story more, not remove his name from our campus.

Blurring the lines of debt or safety

KATELYN DODGE

STAFF WRITER

A

s COVID-19 began in March, schools across the world pushed for online education; at the same time, parents transitioned to working from home if they were able to. Six months later, a discussion about adequately educating children became the main focus. Should the class be online, or do they move to in-person learning?

Without adults in the home, schools acted as a daycare for many young children, children too young to take care of themselves. Due to the move to online education to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks, many parents face the problem of figuring out who will watch their children when they are attending online school?

Since March, many businesses have resumed operating at usual working standards with safety changes to prevent the virus’ spread, with many removing the option to work from home. Parents have had to return to the office but

without the supervision of educators in classrooms available. In an interview conducted by TIME magazine with Jenna Antico, written by Abby Vesoulis, Antico explained her day care facility’s pain as it is most likely never reopening due to the pandemic. She explains that this leads to other problems, “Mass closures will also have a ripple effect on communities and parents, who depend on daycare centers to go to work and support their families.

Without access to affordable and convenient childcare, many parents—mostly mothers—will find it increasingly untenable, financially and logistically, to work outside the home.”

Without a place to send the youth to get educated or to have somewhere to stay during the day, it will most likely cause a parent to either work at home, adjust their hours, or in severe cases - quit their jobs entirely. This is not an option for many low-income families, but in-person learning has been proven too dangerous, with a reported 1081 schools having COVID-19 outbreaks within the short month they have been open.

Some schools are attempting a ‘switching system’ in which the student population is split into two shifts; each day, half the students attend online learning while the other half attend in-person learning.

This system still is not adequate as parents would still have nowhere to turn if they need to return to work.

It simply is not safe for students, daycare workers, or teachers alike.

The San Francisco Chronicle gathered research for many local cases in our region due to the quick spreading illness. An article written by Anna Kramer stated that “More than 320 coronavirus cases associated with daycare facilities have been confirmed in the Bay Area, according to a Sept.

3 data from the California Department of Social Services. More than 6,000 daycare providers are open in the region, meaning that on average, there have been about five cases reported for every 100 facilities.” The spread is slow in existing facilities, but the risk is still out there and still relatively high of becoming aff licted with COVID-19.

The question remains for many parents: what to do now, the risk is far too high for some, and for others, there is no choice.

Not every family has the luxury to work from home or even the ability to take time off to be with their children. With unemployment rates on the rise, most workers are forced to return to their jobs without considering their family’s needs. The choice appears to be theirs, but the options were stripped from the working-class families. Schools want to work online, which is the safest route for all attendees, but it is not the safest option for most essential workers.

for military gain

ISABELLA SIMONI STAFF WRITER

A

ccording to U.S. Air Force document A.F. 2025, “Weather modification will become a part of domestic and international security and could be done unilaterally.. It could have offensive and defensive applications and even be used for deterrence purposes.” The ability to control and monopolize the weather? Sounds taboo, right? However, the U.S. military has a track record for wanting to achieve battlespace dominance.

One can find direct quotes from the publicly available 1996 U.S. Air Force document on the use of environmental modification techniques.

Though, the proposed use of weather warfare by the U.S. military against “enemies” constitutes not only a crime against humanity but also a threat to planet earth.

The United States’ need to control aspects of the world that do not need tampering- specifically for military purposes- is not commonly known.

In the midst of all of the more well-known topics of debate and discussion (i.e., gun control, police defunding/reform, the right to do what you will with your body, ect.), the military’s attempts to control the weather patterns in order to put themselves ahead, or to derail the “enemy,” is hardly addressed.

Not only is this whole ordeal completely unethical, but the ramifications it can have on the well being of the Earth could be potentially disastrous and irreversible. In an article for Global Research (2020), Professor Michel Chossudovsky stated that the United States violated a treaty in which “military or other hostile use of environmental modification techniques having widespread, long-lasting or severe effects” was banned.

Nevertheless, there have been numerous occasions where America has decided to ignore the very treaty they signed.

One of which being operation HAARP (HighFrequency Active Auroral Research), which was “a weapon of mass destruction, operating from the outer atmosphere and capable of destabilising agricultural and ecological systems around the world.”

What right does any military, in any country around the world, have to possess or have possessed the kind of knowledge gained throughout HAARP’s research? The answer is none; there is no right. The weather is not a weapon of mass destruction that the military can monopolize and manipulate for selfish use in the name of “defense.”

The idea that the weather is some kind of tangible object that the United States can control, such as “Precipitation Denial” to induce droughts in countries and deny people fresh water in times of war, is without a doubt inhumane, regardless of its intended use. As if the United States does not already use taxpayer money to play with militarygrade toys in other countries daily, they have to militarize the weather too?

Not to mention what these processes could have on the climate. No one needs to be an expert to know that noone should mess with the way Earth operates. The climate is already in such a fragile state as it is, with the rising heat and constant disarray of weather patterns. Even more, tampering with the climate to gain a leg up on an opponent is the most nonsensical idea to date.

Alternatives and improvisation for dating during COVID

NATELLA GUY

STAFF WRITER

T

he modern dating world has maybe changed forever with the impacts of COVID-19, but some experts say for the better. Dr. Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist and the chief science advisor at Match.com, who has studied relationships for 40 years says, “This pandemic has led to more conversations, on all of the dating sites actually, more meaningful conversations, more self-disclosure, more intimacy (and) less anxiety about sex and money.”

Since many bars and clubs are closed, people like Daniel Ahmadizadeh are getting creative. Ahmadizadeh’s new texting app, called Quarantine Together,

is where “Users receive a text message at 6 p.m. each evening asking if they’ve washed their hands; if they reply “yes” they are matched with another user for a 30-minute private conversation.”

On Sunday, Michelle Obama tweeted, “you can’t Tinder your way into a long-term relationship” under a picture of her and President Barack Obama for their 28 year anniversary. The responses begged to differ, and many people posted pictures of their spouses they met off of Tinder.

Popular dating apps such as Tinder and Bumble have hit a milestone already during Covid-19. For example, Tinder recorded its highest single day of swiping along with Bumble acquiring 100 million users.

Manny Fidel told the Business Insider, “Since the Coronavirus was deemed a pandemic, online dating has taken off. Messaging on Hinge increased 30%, and Tinder saw its biggest day ever on March 29, with over 3 billion swipes.”

Some new modifications include Tinder and Hinge now having a “date from home” feature, allowing two-way video chat when both parties have agreed. In March, users of Tinder received a popup message about safety precautions during the pandemic. The dating app, League, now has something called “League Live,” a live video speed dating platform.

With lockdown being the new norm, many people turn to online dating apps to find a romantic relationship. Having a relationship start from online dat-

ing can be healthy because it eliminates the fear of hookups or insecurities of physical appearances and focuses on common interests. Some downsides could be poor communication skills via the phone or possibly losing interest in one another.

Though, it may be a perfect time to join a dating app as these unprecedented times can help build strong relationships. As we live during such a disruptive and frightening time, it is a perfect way to share vulnerability, fears, be transparent, and share real feelings.

Now the question is, “How do we date during Covid-19?” The Washington Post has some advice for us as to date in new ways during Covid-19. They suggest that users be patient, make virtual dates unique, and have deep and direct conversations. By the sounds of it, dating during Covid-19 is more like courting and leaves out the pressure of sexual intimacy. If one has health risks, social distancing dates are always a possibility. CNBC spoke on how online dating reduces the logistics of going on dates. There is no pressure to figure out a location, dinner, or drinks, who’s going to split the bill, or what will happen after the date.

The circumstances of the virus have forever changed the dating world, and while some may think for the worse, others think it changed for the better.

Evidence shows that users are getting deeper and most satisfying talk rather than shallow conversations during this time of fear.

4 News

SEPT. 15 - SEPT. 21, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

continued from pg. 1

STAR // Sam Billingsly Ambar Gutierrez sits in front of her home on Sept. 11, working on classes in the cool morning air while wildlife bustles around her.

Virtual classes faced with rolling blackouts

SIEANNA NARINE STAFF WRITER

V

irtual classes are the new reality for most students right now, due to the Coronavirus pandemic. California residents were also hit with unhealthy air quality and intense heat waves. It seemed like nothing could get worse, but then the power outages began.

Power outages are the unforgiving enemy of online learning and they have caused a lot of difficulty for both students and professors already, in only the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year. Sonoma State University is almost completely virtual for the fall semester, keeping students and faculty tied to their computers, but also anxious about whether or not they will have power to attend the classes they are instructing or paying for.

Not being able to access canvas or zoom prevents students from staying updated on assignments and lectures. Likewise, professors may have to change their curriculum nights before class or quickly update their students that they won’t be able to attend class.

The blackouts are due to PG&E’s decision to shut off equipment, in an effort to minimize fire risk. They shut off power for about 17,000 customers and more than 40,000 people in Sonoma County, as well as shutting off power in thousands of other counties across the North Bay and the Sierra Nevada foothills.

Sonoma State student, Caitlin Aaron-Vadnais, lives on the top of Mount Veeder, where the 2017 Napa Fires took a heavy toll on the area and residents. “I’ve had my power shut off multiple times, and now our Wi-Fi connection cuts almost every week we’ve been in school. This makes online school extremely difficult.

Luckily my teachers have been super cooperative and flexible throughout this whole process.” Without stable Wi-Fi connection, it is impossible to stay connected on zoom and to receive the education that is expected by students.

Communications professor at Sonoma State, Ethan DeSeife, has had to learn

Bad air quality reaches record highs

how to develop his in-person curriculum into a synchronous virtual classroom that is engaging and educational for his students. Living in Sonoma County, he was affected by the PG&E power outage. He had to send out a memo late-notice last Tuesday, informing his students that he would not be able to attend class because he would be without power.

Whenever a student emails me about a difficulty they are encountering, the only thing I can be is understanding. We are living in such a bizarro world that it’s ethically important for all us to be understanding,” DeSeife said. While the cooperation of professors at SSU is crucial during this hectic and frightening time, it still doesn’t make up for the lack of education that students are receiving. Students are paying for classes that they may not be able to attend due to wildfire evacuations and power outages.

Chicano and Latin Studies professor at SSU, Malinalli Lopez, was not affected by the PG&E power shutoff, but notes that they have affected some of her students. “That is why I created alternate assignments that can be completed without a lot of technology. For example, I may have them rent a DVD of a movie if they cannot stream it or pick an alternate movie to respond to that they do have access to.

Challenges can be resolved generally by spending more time talking with students about what they are going through and helping them to design an individual plan for them that makes sense within the goals of the class.”

According to PG&E, on September 12, 2020, 99% of affected Sonoma County customers had their power back.

Internet access is essential to the success of students during the virtual 20202021 school year. Lack of access to an academic setting is already a struggle for many students, and if rolling blackouts continue throughout the state of California, students will face a huge disadvantage in their virtual learning environment.

San Diego State COVID-19 case numbers continue to rise

continued from pg. 1

continued from pg. 1

COURTESY // Flickr.com Smoke from wildfires is affecting the health of West coast residents.

According to Sonoma State student Lyle Brown, who’s been exposed to much of the wildfires’ effects while virtually learning in Davis, the experience has been unique even compared to the fires of previous years. Since the smoke has reached this severity, for several days now ash has been falling from the sky, leaving a thin, snow-like coat on any visible outdoor surfaces including cars, decks, and the ground itself. Brown notes that the lack of ability to safely open windows, especially during the heat waves that roll through the area during the fires, has proven to be a challenge, as well as any outdoor related work happening prior to the air quality shift.

As long as these fires continue, residents can expect to continue seeing both the strange skies and to feel the effects of polluted, unhealthy air. Airnow encourages citizens to be cautious when going outside, to try and limit outdoor activities as much as possible, and to wear an N95 mask if going outside is unavoidable.

Students on social media are speaking out against the university, and are mainly concerned with the lack of precision in isolating students with positive COVID test results. In a viral twitter thread, @sharky_marky17 explains that students who test positive must pack their things and move themselves into a residence hall that has been designated for isolation. The plans and procedures for isolating these students are allegedly failing, and students both in and out of isolation are feeling unsafe. An anonymous student currently in isolation explains, ”I’ve been in isolation and they haven’t given me soap, hand sanitizer, sheets, a pillow, or any bathroom commodities.” Another anonymous student explained that she only had 10 minutes to pack her things and get ready to be moved to isolation. More and more students are coming forward with their stories, due to the popularity of this thread.

Since the beginning of the new semester, SDSU recorded upwards of 500 confirmed COVID cases across their campus, with most cases coming from the dorms. Students were allowed to move in two weeks ago and were told there would be extensive procedures in place to ensure their safety while staying in the dorms. The blanket term given to the school’s new protocols and policies for COVID protection is SDSU Flex.

This program was implemented with the intention of protecting students and faculty, but according to the outcry from SDSU students on social media, their Flex model isn’t working the way it was meant to. In a tweet from his viral thread, @sharky_marky17 explains that he is a student RA who is not being properly protected from infected residents, and that he has witnessed all sorts of careless protocol violations go unnoticed. One tweet from the thread explains, “I expect cases to get a whole lot worse, and there is very little support to those of us working in the residence halls… SDSU made a mistake implementing Flex.”

In response to concerns from students, faculty and parents, the university’s student-run newspaper, The Daily Aztec, put out a statement three days ago saying, “Despite the increasing number of confirmed cases, the university is confident that SDSU will remain open.”

According to CBS8 News, the university also extended the stay-at-home order for students on campus to September 14, amidst over 500 health violations issued in the area since the beginning of the semester.

CBS8 also reports that the current number of confirmed cases at SDSU as of September 10 is 513, with one infected student in the hospital for COVID-related complications.

At Sonoma State, there are currently zero reported COVID cases, and the university is working with local health officials and studying health guidelines closely in order to maintain a safe, clean environment. For updates on COVID at SSU, please visit www.covid19.sonoma.edu.

It is important to keep in mind that although there haven’t been any confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the Sonoma State campus, the County of Sonoma emergency webpage reported that the total number of active cases in our county was 2,211 on September 12. This infection rate is still dangerously high, but is a large improvement from the August 14 report of 12,614 cases. For updates on COVID-19 news in Sonoma County, please visit www.socoemergency.org.

News 5

SEPT. 15 - SEPT. 21, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

COURTESY // Flickr.com Wildfire season in California started earlier than usual, leaving a huge impact on the tourism and wine industry.

The tourism industry grapples with COVID-19 and wildfires

JAYLINE ALVARADO

STAFF WRITER

S

onoma County has been heavily impacted by both the Coronavirus and ongoing wildfires. Even though the state of California dissuades people from traveling right now, tourist destinations have reopened with implemented restrictions, such as wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, and a variety of other restrictions that vary from county to county. The California state government discourages people from nonessential travel, but they do not completely restrict it.

The Sonoma County Tourism website announced on August 31 that indoor locations like museums, theaters, and family entertainment centers would remain closed, lodgings for leisure travel will continue to be permitted, and all events are cancelled for the summer and fall 2020 season.

Even after Sonoma County closed it’s beaches in March, the Press Democrat reported that the Sonoma County Director of Emergency Management disregarded this restriction when he recently took his family to a closed beach. He even shared it on social media, which caused outrage from many Sonoma County residents.

Although social distancing is supposedly required at these tourist destinations, a San Rafael family looking to escape the heat told the Press Democrat, “All of the beaches were too crowded.” Contact tracing revealed spikes of Coronavirus cases after the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

According to a San Francisco Chronicle article, Lake Tahoe locals are displeased with recent incoming tourists looking to beat the heat, because visitors have not only left trash and caused traffic congestion, but can potentially spread Coronavirus to locals.

The Regional Director of Sales for Evolution Hospitality, Amanda Frank, claims that she expects tourism in Sonoma County to pick back up in the fall, “Even if visitors decide to wait a bit longer to make sure the fires are under control.” If her prediction is correct, Sonoma County will likely face a new wave of Coronavirus infections during that time.

The Los Angeles Times reported, “Los Angeles County will draw about 29 million tourists this year,” but will “lose more than $13 billion in tourist spending because of the Coronavirus outbreak.”

An article from The Press Democrat explains that wineries can no longer offer indoor tasting due to COVID-19 restrictions. They also cannot provide outdoor tasting due to the poor air quality from the recent wildfires, forcing some wineries to close their doors. Wildfires in Sonoma County began just as the harvest season started, causing a largely negative impact on the wine industry here. This year is unlike previous years, when the wildfires began as harvest season was ending and the grapes had already been picked. Because the grapes have not yet been harvested this season, the wineries damaged by the fires will face a drastic financial loss.

Although restrictions are in place to keep Sonoma County residents safe, it is clear that they are not all being followed or enforced. Sonoma County locals are at risk of contracting COVID-19 from tourists, but tourism is also a central aspect of the local economy. Although reopening is likely going to help local businesses and the economy stay afloat, Sonoma County residents are due to face a new wave of COVID-19.

SSU programs are in danger of losing funds

Online instruction continues

continued from pg. 1 continued from pg. 1

STAR // Brandon Sparks Gio Mendez played the saxophone at the Jazz Orchestra and Latin Band Concert.

Every program dependent on IRA funding is in this same predicament, but the final allocations delivered will vary for each program. Robert Eyler, SSU spokesman, stated that the IRA and SFAC committees will meet throughout the fall semester to review current funding allocations and decide if and when “additional funding can be distributed to the programs.” Final allocations will officially be determined after they meet as a group and review the guidelines related to COVID-19.

Katryna Johnson, student and member of the SFAC, said that they have not yet had a meeting this year regarding funding. She expects existing programs that are asking for additional funding will not receive it. However, she hopes that existing programs will continue to receive the same amount of funding as the year before. “It’s unlikely for any new programs to receive funds. We made these decisions last year before COVID-19 was of any concern, as a reaction to SSU’s downward enrollment trend.” She concluded that in general, the overall focus they had last year was to avoid approving any additional funding when it came to new or existing programs.

Programs like the STAR would not receive any more additional funding then they were already receiving, but if a new program is created, it would not receive any funding to begin with.

The fundamental educational opportunities these IRA programs provide are a huge factor for prospective students when deciding what school they wish to attend. With these valuable programs currently standing on shaky ground, a bleak picture is painted for the future of SSU. SSU has already seen a steady decline in enrollment for several years, well before the pandemic.

Stifling new and existing programs by not allocating necessary funds may add to the snowball effect of declining enrollment.

One of the main reasons for the continuation is the wave of COVID-19 cases projected to hit California in March 2021. “The virus continues to spread. There is no vaccine and there likely will not be one widely available any time soon,” the official email stated.

“The summer increase in infections that was forecast in the spring happened as predicted, and it was larger than expected. While cases and hospitalizations are starting to stabilize in most of California’s counties, it is plateauing at a number that is approximately 40 percent higher than what we experienced in the spring. A larger wave continues to be forecast for the period between October and December.”

Seasonal factors also threaten to accelerate the disease’s progression, rather than slow it. Currently, the state of California is facing one of the most disastrous fire seasons we have seen thus far. Evacuations will likely force people into congregate temporary housing--the perfect recipe for an upcoming spike in COVID-19 cases.

Residents of California are exhausted from the fires and everlasting pandemic, so their willingness to continue with physical distancing, hand washing, and face coverings may dwindle.

“The combination of these compelling administrative factors – the need to publicize course offerings and enroll students now, and the required authorization process with our accrediting body – together with the state of COVID-19 prevalence, the absence of a vaccine, and an insufficient testing and contact-tracing infrastructure, lead us to the regrettable but necessary decision that the academic term that begins in January 2021 will be primarily virtual, similar to that of fall 2020,” the official email explained.

Depending on the unique circumstances of each CSU campus, some campuses may be able to slightly increase the amount of in-person instruction available. This idea can also be applied reversely to the opposite situation. If campuses are still struggling to provide a safe environment for in-person education, due to Coronavirus, some campuses may have to limit in-person opportunities.

Campus presidents have been allocated the responsibility of informing students, faculty, and administration how much in-person instruction will be available on their specific campus, but all plans must comply with state, federal, and local public health directives.

As of right now, less than seven percent of CSU course offerings are being delivered in person this fall. According to the email, most CSU campuses should expect to receive relatively the same amount of in-person opportunities in the spring 2021 semester.

Although this is an unfavorable situation for almost everyone within the CSU community, the Office of the Chancellor claims that they are courageously choosing safety and doing the “right thing” over the public’s desire to return to inperson instruction.

6 Arts SSU spawns poetic authors

SEPT. 15 - SEPT. 21, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

MAX ROBINSON STAFF WRITER

COURTESY // Sonoma.edu Professor Gillian Conoley, an award-winning poet.

D

uring this period of coronavirus, we all are searching for new outlets of enjoyment and entertainment. The days seem to blend together as we all try to stay motivated enough to do our work, spend time with our thoughts, and trudge through each day wishing for normalcy to return.

While there are certainly many drawbacks to this pandemic, we all at least have more time. More time to learn, more time to stay inside, maybe even more time to explore a new medium rather than watch the same show, listen to the same music, or read the same book. Since many of us feel trapped at home, we can at least choose what we do to make ourselves happy.

One outlet that has become increasingly more popular during the pandemic is poetry. A Los Angeles Times article published in May was titled, “Reading poetry under lockdown is easier than baking sourdough. And it’s healthier”. So, while we may feel trapped inside, poetry can provide a great escape for us. Dean Hollis Robbins and professors Gillian Conoley and Kathleen Winter are all Sonoma State faculty, who have recently published poetry collections of their own.

Gillian Conoley, an English professor at Sonoma State University, has released several poetry books

COURTESY // Sonoma.edu Dean Hollis Robbins, who recently published a poetry book.

COURTESY // Sonoma.edu Professor Kathleen Winter has published many collections of poetry.

throughout her writing career. Conoley’s most recent book, “A Little More Red Sun on the Human”, is comprised of her own poetry works, from 1984 to present day.

According to Conoley, during an interview with Nate Galvan, Sonoma State’s communications specialist, the selected poems in the collection “engage with several themes… the dream and failure of American democracy, issues of race and gender, the relations between matter and spirit, and consciousness and perception.” Said Conoley.

Conoley’s work has pushed her through as a finalist for the 89th year of the California Book Awards.

Conoley is not the only Sonoma State professor who has recently published a collection of poems.

Kathleen Winter, professor of creative writing at Sonoma State, published “Transformer” in June 2020.

Reviewer Dean Rader says that the poems “are concerned with memory and trauma, violence and vulnerability, the domestic and the wild.” Rader adds that the poems are crackling with “electricity and change”.

Winter has released several other works before writing “Transformer”, including “I will not Kick my Friends”, winner of the 17th Annual Elixir Press Po-

etry Awards and “Nostalgia for the Criminal Past”, a narrative of loss, grief and survival which won Winter the Antivenom Poetry Prize. Winter’s poems have also been published by The New Republic, Cincinnati Review and Poetry London.

School of Arts and Humanities Dean Hollis Robbins took a different angle on a poetry book, writing “Forms of Contention: Inf luence and the African American Sonnet Tradition”.

The book tells the story of African American sonnet inf luence, detailing the authors of such sonnets, their works, as well as criticism and analysis of historically important poems by African American poets during the civil rights movement.

Robbins participated in the Close Talking poetry podcast last month in which she spoke about her book, and felt inspired to write it when she found that “there was very little written about the African American sonnet tradition.”, Robbins’ book was released in July of this year.

The authors continue SSU’s tradition of producing creative works that enlightnen the community.

So, although we may be stuck inside, we at least have the works of talented poets and writers, who give us pieces to pass the time.

iHeartRadio’s 10th anniversary virtual mega-concert

MYLES GRABAU STAFF WRITER

W

hile concerts are currently a no-go, pro-

demic has affected their life, career, and families.

duction companies are struggling to

Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, the virtual concert will

find ways to garner support for popular

take place on Sep. 18 and 19, and will feature perfor-

musicians. Every September, iHeartRadio has a yearly

mances from popular artists such as BTS, Coldplay and

festival that they host, and it often features a variety of

Kane Brown. Other artists will be appearing as special

different artists with music from every genre. This year,

guests, like Migos, Khalid, Miley Cyrus, Usher and

however, it has become more and more difficult to host a

quite a few more.

large festival due to COVID-19.

Also included in this one-of-a-kind experience is the

However, iHeartRadio has found a great way to

opportunity for fans to enjoy virtual meet and greets

bring music fans and artists together once again during

with their favorite artists, in an effort to emphasize the

this time for this weekend’s upcoming festival.

connection between fans and their favorite artists. This

“It’s hard to believe that this September will be the

is a great idea for a VIP experience, because it makes

10th iHeartRadio Music Festival,” said iHeartMedia

fans feel special while they are able to enjoy the music

chief programming officer Tom Poleman.

that they love.

“More than 200 superstar artists have made our

Performances that will be broadcast are filmed in

iHeartRadio Music Festival the biggest in the world, and

Los Angeles and Nashville, live on stage, and the per-

this year’s lineup, even amidst a global pandemic, will be

formers will be in front of a virtual “fan wall” of na-

one for the history books,” Poleman continued.

tionwide listeners. This is very similar to how football

With the 10th anniversary of iHeartRadio’s Music

stadiums have been filled recently, with “VIP” fans be-

Festival coming up, they insisted on making changes to

ing able to have their faces broadcast via Zoom while the

the event in order to make sure that the show would still

games take place.

go on.

This trend seems to be the new normal with big

COURTESY // Wikimedia Commons The recent iHeartRadio Music Awards is now preparing for their mega concert.

COURTESY // Gettyimages iHeartRadio will be hosting their virtual concert on Sep. 18 and 19.

iHeartRadio has found the perfect loophole to give

events like concerts and sports games, and it makes one

If you missed it this weekend, then you are welcome

artists the recognition that they deserve during this time,

wonder if this will last forever. Will Coachella and other

to tune in to a two-night “Festival Highlights” special on

all the while keeping attendees safe from contracting any

big music festivals be virtual from here on out, or is this

Sept. 27 and 28 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. PST. This festival

harmful diseases. Dubbed a “virtual mega-concert”, the

only a temporary speed bump in the world of entertain-

will also be broadcast nationwide on iHeartMedia radio

2020 iHeartRadio Music Festival will be a two-day event

ment? Fans can watch the festival live on The CW App,

stations, alongside the iHeartRadio app to make it easily

held remotely, complete with full performances and inti-

as well as CWTV.com on Sept. 18 and 19 starting at 6

accessible for those to engage and listen while staying at

mate backstage interviews with artists on how the pan-

p.m. PST and enjoy what this concert has to offer.

home and practicing social distance.

Entertainment 7

SEPT. 15 - SEPT. 21, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

The Green Music Center presents The Green Room

EDGAR ZAVALA STAFF WRITER

STAR // Sarah Ramos The Green Music Center is now closed for the fall season and will be online.

T

he Green Music Center is one of the most spectacular landmarks that Sonoma State University has to offer.

How can one forget the countless marvelous live musical performances that the Green Music Center offered to the local community?

Unfortunately, those beautiful lights that illuminate the incredible venue will not be shining this fall. With the COVID-19 outbreak, this venue will obviously not host any live performances for students and family to enjoy.

However, as with many things this year, we have lear ned to adapt to what 2020 has brought in terms of using technology as the new form of socialization.

The Green Music Center presents the brand new, “Green Room”, the new form of presenting some of the most diverse and talented musical performers in the world to the SSU community.

Music fans can tune into one of these live sessions online with their families for the low price of $10, Sonoma State students still can access the sessions for free.

How does the program work? Similar to the name Green Music Center, The Green Room is

STAR // Sarah Ramos The box office has now closed due to the impact of COVID-19.

a new online venue that could really benef it the community and others outside the community because it’s online. This program gives a look into the backstage lounge, where performers sit back and relax before their big show.

The GMC will offer in-depth conversations with artists of many cultural backgrounds all f ilmed for the viewer’s entertainment and lear ning. Here, audiences can lear n about personal stories and connections that the artists have to share. This Fall, students can grab their family and friends, f ind a comfortable seat and tune into 9 shows this season.

The Sonoma State University community can continue to be inspired and connected while experiencing shows from some of the most fascinating musicians of our time, all while lear ning new perceptions on the global threats we face today.

Unless you are a student, each live show costs $10. The entire series, consisting of 9 shows, costs $80. Once purchased, the customer will receive an email two days before the presentation consisting of a link and a description on how to join the live stream of the event.

The event is available to view on any inter net

streaming platform however, The GMC recommends using a large TV and speakers for the ultimate viewing experience.

Performances this season include: Las Cafeteras, Invoke, Liz Lerman, Juilliard String Quartet, DDAT and many more of the most inf luential and compelling artists of our generation.

Because of all the trials and tribulations that the Sonoma County community has faced the GMC said it will be offering free tickets to f irst responders, as a thank you for saving our community from all that 2020 has brought. If you need help accessing a ticket you can email greenmusiccenter@sonoma.edu for more information. In the words of the organizers of the Green Room and the Green Music Center, “No one will be tur ned down”.

The Green Room will have their f irst event on Saturday, September 26, 6 p.m. named the “Party for the Green,” a virtual cocktail party where The Green Music Center partners with local food companies. All proceeds will go directly to Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center and Sonoma Family Meal in support of the community.

Burning Man becomes a virtual “multi-verse” ISABELLE BARKEY

STAFF WRITER

E

very year, the Burning Man Music Festival has been a tourist spot for thousands of people. “Burning Man is not a festival. Burning Man is a community.

A temporary city. A global cultural movement based on 10 practical principles.” the Burning Man Project states on their website.

Burning Man’s website clearly lays out their mission for all to read, “Burning Man Project’s mission is to produce the annual event known as Burning Man and to guide, nurture and protect the more permanent community created by its culture. Our intention is to generate society that connects each individual to his or her creative powers, to participation in community, to the larger realm of civic life, and to the even greater world of nature that exists beyond society.”

All those who attend Burning Man can agree, it is a community and a culture, not your average Music Festival.

This year, with the pandemic on the rise, many thought this would be the first time since 1986 that no one would be able to return to Black Rock City, the traditional host of the festival every year. With the help of modern technology and a team of dedicated “Universe Creators”, Burning Man was brought to life via virtual reality. This year’s theme was “Mul-

tiverse” and featured an online, everexpanding world made up of a virtual temple along with eight universes and a globally distributed Man Burn via live streams. The Universe Creators programmed a version of Black Rock City for fans to visit through their computer screens from the safety of their homes. The Burning Man Project makes it clear on their website that there are a million ways to participate including creating your own art/performance or camp for others to explore with their avatars.

The Project also mentions being dedicated to refunding any of those who need money back from purchasing their tickets before Covid-19 began, but those who didn’t were able to access the Virtual Burning Man Festival through their screens. Fans were able to create their own avatars, explore the virtual Black Rock City, and listen to their favorite artists that were live streaming throughout the event.

People around the world also hosted their own burns and live streamed them to the multiverse where everyone could watch each other’s live streams.

The creators added what they called the “Infinite Playa” page which could be used to find all kinds of art and interactive experiences in one place that was easily accessible to users to experience and enjoy.

Black Rock City fills with attendees every year.

While the event seemed like it was going to be incredibly different as it had been every other year, there were many traditions that stayed in place this year despite being online virtual reality. “One thing stayed the same. As she has done for years, our beloved Cultural Founder started the fire ritual on Monday, with the first flame being lit from the light of the sun, this year from the center of a large labyrinth.

Daniel Terdiman wrote about his experience at this year’s Black Rock City: “BRCvr’s main entry point is a spot out in the open, just a few dozen

COURTESY // Ducan Rawlinson

virtual meters away from what any Burning Man veteran instantly recognizes as the Center Camp Café, the beatingheart hub of Black Rock City. A good start, Things looked right. They sounded right, too. I heard the sound of a blast from a fire cannon. I heard laughter. And I heard people nearby having random conversations.” said Terdiman.

Once again, COVID-19 tried to take something from us that we were able to salvage. A virtual Burning Man is proof that with creative solutions we will be able to survive this global pandemic, as well as enjoy our entertainment safely.

8 Student Life

SEPT. 15 - SEPT. 21, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

Remembering the 50th anniversary of Ruben Salazar’s death

KRISTINA SCHMUHL

STAFF WRITER

R

uban Salazar, the namesake of Sonoma State University’s Salazar Hall, could have been 92 years old if he was alive today.

50 years ago, on Aug. 29, Salazar was killed when struck by a tear-gas projectile fired by a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy during an East Los Angeles civil rights disturbance. He was a journalist covering the “National Chicano Moratorium March” for the Los Angeles Times and an L.A. based Spanish-language news station, KMEX. During his career, Salazar worked at newspapers, including the El Paso Herald-Post, L.A. Times, and The Press Democrat and was often the only Latino reporter wherever he worked and reported.

In 1979, SSU named its library in honor of Salazar. When the library moved to the Shultz Information center in Aug. 2000, the former Salazar Library was renamed Salazar Hall and became a host to many student educational and administrative services, including: Financial Aid, Seawolf Services, student classrooms and the Journalism Laboratory.

Dr. Rick Luttman, professor emeritus and former Chair of the Academic Senate, can remember why Salazar was chosen to be the library’s namesake. He said, “He was a martyr for the cause, the cause being the free flow of information. It was appropriate that the library be named where we stored our information.”

Luttmann remembered controversy occurring on campus over the demotion of the “Salazar Library” into “Salazar Hall” and that some Chicano activists would have preferred the legacy of Salazar stay attached to the library. He said the sentiment from some was, “Why name the library for his contributions then just leave it to be the name of a building?...the intention was to be the Ruben Salazar Library.”

Schulz Information Center, a $43.8 million undertaking, received a $5 million donation from Jean and Charles Schulz. It is named after the famous cartoonist and his wife, a former SSU alumna.

According to the calstate.edu website in a section called “California State University Policy And Procedure On Naming California State University Facilities And Properties,” a building can be named after a donor when a gift is involved or “in a rare instance, when no donor gift is involved.” When no donor gift is involved, the name of a building is intended to “honor a person who has achieved unique distinction in higher education and other significant areas of public service.”

Many students have never heard of Salazar’s legacy. Kyle Jordan, a senior transfer student at SSU, wasn’t aware of precisely what building Salazar Hall was and had “never heard of him or his story before.”

SSU alumni Matt Puppo said, “I believe Sonoma State has not done its due diligence in educating their students of buildings’ name sakes. Now would be as good of time as any for a possible monument explaining the name of the building and the story of the journalist who gave the building its name.”

Prospective student Lyndsey Burcina, a Sonoma County resident, said, “As someone who works heavily in police oversight and addressing racial justice disparities in Sonoma County, I would be extremely disappointed if SSU ever renamed the hall. It was honoring someone who continued to be a voice for equity and died at the hands of those who... let their power get to their heads.”

Many news sources point out the similarities between the Black Lives Matter protests and the Chicano protests Salazar covered.

The Salazar Hall sign had an orange tint due to the recent fires.

In an article from the L.A. Times titled, “Police violence against journalists recalls slaying of Ruben Salazar,” journalist Daniel Hernandez writes, “No journalists have been killed so far in the Black Lives Matter protests this year, but several have suffered serious injuries. And for many in Southern California, analogous elements between 1970 and 2020 are hard to ignore.”

Hernandez also wrote, “According to watchdog groups, the hundreds of attacks against journalists documented on U.S. soil this spring amount to the most serious threat to 1st Amendment protections in recent history.”

Salazar himself often wrote about police brutality and mistreatment of Chicanos in America. In a L.A. Times column called, “Why Does Standard Jul. 4 Oratory Bug Most Chicanos?,” Salazar wrote, “For too long the American Flag, the Chicanos

STAR //Sam Billingsly

agreed, has been the symbol of those who insist that property rights are more important than human rights.”

Luttmann, who taught on campus when Salazar was killed and when the library was named after him, believes that what happened to Salazar 50 years ago feels too familiar. He said, “It’s almost as if we are still living in the same era 50 years later with out of control police departments.”

Despite current political unrest mirroring Salazar’s era, nothing has been formally planned on any SSU website to honor the 50 year anniversary of Salazar’s death. The SSU library does have a “Ruben Salazar Collection” that includes clippings of newspaper articles Salazar wrote, photographs dedicated by his wife Sally, articles about his life and documentaries about his death. The collection is available to view by appointment during non-COVID times.

Sonoma State alumni help prepare students for the future with the ‘Leadership in Crisis’ group MORAGH GRAF

STAFF WRITER

T

his semester, Sonoma State University has been hosting their usual groups and workshops online, on top of some that are brand new to students, such as the Leadership In Crisis group. In this group, Sonoma State provides panels of SSU alumni to share their leadership experiences and discuss the roles of a student leader in a time of crisis.

The Leadership In Crisis group is held on Zoom biweekly on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The panels are designed to help students learn how to make the transition from on-campus leadership to taking on a leadership role in any aspect of life after college. Each panel is facilitated by a different alum.

Katie Andersen, an SSU alum from the class of 2001 who participated in the most recent leadership panel, said, “On the alumni panels, we are asked to share with current students to share our personal experiences with leadership opportunities at SSU. Because each of us have had different opportunities, each alum has a unique perspective so those popping in to learn will be able to connect our leadership experiences to their own, as well as learn about opportunities they may not have been aware of.”

The panels were created in order to give Seawolves a wide range of experiences to learn from. Students will be taught how skills can be obtained from a variety of on-campus leadership positions, and how those skills can be applied to a career. A different alum presents in each panel, discussing their previous role on campus and what they learned from

it.

“The idea is that the alumni, who were student leaders on campus here at SSU at some point, would share their experiences, knowledge and skills learned, and how they have used those transferable skills in their jobs and roles since leaving here. The experiences and roles they were in at SSU varied from RA, to TAs in classes, Summer O Leaders, Rec Center, EOP Leaders, Tour Guides, Club and Organization Leadership, AS etc.,” said Director of Student Involvement, Mo Phillips.

SSU has quite a lot of opportunities for students to become involved on campus and to assume leadership positions.

Andersen was able to be involved in many different areas on campus, seeing student involvement at its full potential.

“For four years, I worked with student leaders of clubs, organizations and sororities and fraternities, coordinated club fairs and planned student leadership retreats. I also became involved in student government, and was on the board of directors of the Sonoma Student Union Corporation for two years, serving one year as board chair,” said Andersen. She was also involved in student government, became the Student Assistant of Clubs, and with the Student Union Board, was able to help pass the referendum to build the Recreation Center on campus.

The Leadership group hopes to help students grow not only their character, but their knowledge and abilities through encouraging involvement in organizations and clubs.

“College is a time to hone your skills,

COURTESY // orang ramai Alumni speak about how their leadership on campus translated to their career. to learn and to grow. Noone wants to be the same exact person on Commencement that they were when they arrived four years earlier,” said Phillips.

During a pandemic in which everything is confusing and stressful for everyone, leadership is valued among students. Building a community within student life can help support those who feel lost and like they have no one to turn to.

“I feel that this moment in time needs to cultivate leaders who can connect to their communities with those outside their circles more than ever,” said Andersen.

“We need leaders who truly care about the people they are leading- as well as the ideas and projects they are tasked to lead.”

To learn more about leadership on campus and attend a drop-in group, visit seawolfliving.com/virtual-events.

SEPT. 15 - SEPT. 21, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

Student Life 9

President Judy Sakaki cracked a joke with Mac Patefield, the host of Spillin’ The Tea with Sakaki.

STAR // Sarah Ramos

‘Spilling the Tea with Sakaki’ allows students to speak with Sonoma State’s president AMANDA KOBA

STAFF WRITER

S

tudents logged onto their computers Thursday morning with either a cup of tea or coffee in hopes of getting answers to the questions they had sent in through an event form. Associated Student Productions (ASP) held a Zoom call that invited Seawolves to join them in an event called “Spillin’ the Tea with Sakaki” where students were encouraged to ask Sonoma State University’s President, Judy Sakaki questions about herself and the university. This event was held on Sept. 10 on Zoom from 11 a.m to noon.

The university’s president was eager to participate, saying “I miss my ‘Walk n’ Talks,’ miss seeing students rushing from class to class, miss my casual chats with students as I walk across campus.”

The hour-long event began with instruction and clarification on how the event was going to work and how President Sakaki would be answering questions. Students were asked to send their questions to Mac Patefield, the event host, in a private chat. The question that kicked off the event was by Emily Hicks, a member of ASP. She asked, “What is your favorite TV show?”

Sakaki responded with a list of shows on Netflix that included “Unorthodox”, “Tiger King”, and “Love is Blind”. While waiting to get answers to their burning questions that they sent in, attendees were called on by President Sakaki to share their favorite things to watch.

Throughout the event the question topics ranged from lighthearted show suggestions to serious future plans for the university. Emily Cripe, a writer for the STAR asked about President Sakaki’s leadership takeover of the HUB and CCE. In her response Sakaki brought up current social movements that have had an impact on students and faculty and said, “...it was a different kind of collaborating so it would still be accessible to students.”

Students brought their concern about tuition and when an announcement would be made if classes would continue to meet virtually in the spring semester. Sakaki said, “...

right now it’s not looking like we could all come back in person,” The statement gave hint to the announcement of Chancellor Timothy White later that night, saying the CSU system will remain online for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. The Chancellor’s email said “A subsequent wave of COVID-19 cases in or about March 2021 is also still projected,” as a reason for remaining virtual. Because of the climate of COVID-19, Sakaki had touched on other CSU cases and confirmed a case at Sonoma State.

Jocelyn Leon, a SSU student asked “Can you explain how tuition works and how did the university decide on sticking with the same price for tuition this year?”

When asked about tuition, Sakaki explained the breakdown of tuition and why students are paying full tuition. Certain fees are a part of the CSU system as a whole so they apply to all 23 campuses rather than solely Sonoma State. For other parts of tuition, certain fees are only Sonoma State’s campus fees. When asked if tuition would be lowered, she said, “...unfortunately there are still ongoing costs that the university has to cover,” such as facilities. Residence halls, faculty and students services such as Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).

The last part of the event was about mental health and mindfulness. President Sakaki talked about how she’s staying resilient during these times and finding her center. She took part of this event to check in with Seawolves and asked them what they have been doing. Various students responded with yoga, baking, exercising and reading. Towards the end of the event Sakaki emphasized that CAPS services were still available to students and even left her email so students could ask questions in the future.

The event didn’t have an extremely large turnout but students that attended received answers to the questions they had for President Sakaki. News about tuition, COVID-19 and whether classes will remain online in the future were released. ASP events such as this one can be found on their instagram @ssu_as.

Learn how to handle money with the ‘Noma Nation Money Matters Financial Health Series’

RACHEL GONZALEZ

STAFF WRITER

A

s young adults, money management becomes more relevant in the lives of part-time employees, investors, savers, and even college students. Yet, with busy schedules and what not, these individuals often find themselves not being able to attend seminars or one on one conversations on how to pursue better financial health.

Luckily, for those who attend Sonoma State University, the opportunity is one zoom link away.

Every Wednesday night of Sept., Sonoma State University and Wells Fargo will be hosting their “Noma Nation Money Matters Financial Health Series,” which can be accessed through their Zoom link on their digital f lyer.

This series will provide three more workshops for those who are interested in receiving advice and better awareness of handling money.

Mo Phillips, the director of Student Involvement, considers this event to be essential for college students and hopes it will provide great guidance when it comes to managing their money.

“We make a lot of mistakes when we are young, regarding budgeting getting credit and abusing it...this is an opportunity to learn about these things now,” said Ms. Phillips Phillips explains that she too has made financial mistakes in college and uses that experience as motivation for this event.

“I am hopeful that this series will help students learn things now that will help them to have a more stable financial future,” said Phillips.

Previous workshops consisted of financial health and budgeting and saving. The remaining Wednesday night workshops consist of credit management, protection from identity theft, and responsibilities of student loan repayment. These workshops begin at either 5 p.m or 6.pm and will be recorded for those who can’t attend.

“The credit talk is next week and that is a key one for students to learn more about before they start to get credit cards. Building credit is important but there are ways to do it without falling into debt and not being able to easily get out of it,” said Phillips.

The STAR reached out to Wells Fargo for a comment about the series but was unable to get a statement at this time.

According to a survey conducted by The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administration (NAS-

STAR // Sarah Ramos Jerrick Macadangdang advised students to check their budgets monthly at the Noma Nation Money Matters Financial Health Workshop on Wednesday.

FAA), incoming college students are not as knowledgeable, or aware, of financial health than one would think.

“The survey found that most respondents struggled to answer basic financial literacy questions, and on average only answered two of six questions correctly,” said NASFFA Senior Reporter, Allie Bidwell.

“While nearly all respondents (90 percent) said they had experience with a checking account, just 60 percent were personal accounts, while the rest were joint or custodial accounts.

Still, just 59 percent said they had checked their balances in the past year. Fewer students also reported creating (40 percent) or using (43 percent) a budget,” wrote Bidwell.

Although the Money Matters workshops can benefit students, there are other resources available for those who can’t attend the series.

Annuity.org, a free website that provides monetary advice, financial literacy is defined asnot letting money dictate one’s life, either

positively or negatively.

“To be financially literate means having the ability to not let money – or the lack of it – get in the way of your happiness as you work hard and build an American dream complete with a long and fulfilling retirement.”

Not only does Annuity.org provide advice on money managment, but it can also speak to those who see themselves starting businesses, looking into real estate, or in hopes of starting to plan out their retirement.

Prioritizing money can be difficult, especially for college students who are trying to manage their funds the best they can. Resources such as the Money Matters series, or Annuity. org, can be taken to one’s advantage and benefit those in the long term.

So, whether you are a student who wants to gain more knowledge on money management or it is your first time being introduced to financial health, the Noma Nation Money Matters Series is for you.

10 Sports

SEPT.15 - SEPT. 21, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

Warriors open up facilities for places to vote

COURTESY // Creative Commons The Golden State Warriors open their Oakland facility as well as their arena in Santa Cruz to the public for upcoming presidential election on Nov. 3.

RYAN WEINER

STAFF WRITER

A

s election season is approaching around the corner, the Golden State Warriors announced the opening of different Bay Area locations for the 2020 general election.

The organization announced that they will be opening the Oakland facility on Broadway and the Santa Cruz Warriors’ arena as a polling site and ballot drop off location on Nov. 3. In addition, “Thrive City,” which is the outdoor location for the brand new Chase Center in San Francisco, will be accepting drop-off ballots from Oct. 31 through Nov. 3. Warriors President Rick Welts believes the utilization of the three facilities being used to support the 2020 election process will rank as the most critical three-pointer of the year, “For our democracy to work, we all need to exceeded our right to vote, and activating all three of these locations will help expand that opportunity for many Bay Area residents.”

The Warriors organization opened their facilities for voting in response to the National Basketball Players Association demands. During a brief strike in the Orlando playoff bubble, players met and decided that they wanted to have NBA owners convert facilities into polling sites.

This is only one of the several social justice initiatives that the NBA and NBPA agreed on. Commissioner Adam Silver and players’ union executive director Michele Roberts, announced that the league will also work with players and broadcast partners to “create and include advertising spots in each NBA playoff game dedicated to promoting greater civic engagement in national and local elections and raising awareness around voter access and opportunity.”

If it is not possible for team owners to set up voting locations, they would try to use the arenas for other purposes to support voters, like as a voter registration or ballot collection site. Most teams have already an-

nounced that they will be making their facilities available for in-person voting on Election Day, including the Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers.

Sonoma State students are happy to see the hometown Warriors opening up their doors for voters, “This will allow people to get excited about voting because anyone who likes the Warriors will hear about this and be incentivized to get out and cast their vote for a chance to go to one of their facilities,” said SSU student and Warrior fan Devone Yopp.

Members of the Golden State Warriors, such as Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, have been active in efforts leading up to the Fall election. In a virtual message, Steph and his wife Ayesha endorsed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention. Draymond Green has joined the LeBron James led “More than a Vote” initiative that aims at eliminating black voter suppression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These are not the only things the warriors are doing to support America’s voters. Although the Warriors season ended early due to the COVID-19, they still want all the competition they can get. The Dubs have partnered with the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers to launch ‘Voters Win’, a voter engagement contest leading up to the Nov. election.

These three franchises will compete to see who can collect the most pledges from fans saying they will vote on election day. The winning team of this fan driven contest will receive the John Lewis: Good Trouble Trophy in honor of the civil rights icon. Fans interested in participating in the competition can text ‘WARRIORS’ to 26797 for information on how to vote.

Hall of Fame MLB pitcher Tom Seaver passes away

COURTESY // abcnews.go.com Tom Seaver only two outs from perfection in his “imperfect game.”

ELISEO FRAGOSO STAFF WRITER

T

om Seaver, one of the greatest pitchers of all time, passed away last week at his home in Calistoga at the age of 75.

Seaver died due to complications of COVID-19 and Lewy Body Dementia, which he was diagnosed with back in March 2019.

Fred and Jeff Wilpon, of the Mets organization, released a statement on Twitter saying, “ We are devastated to learn of the passing of Mets legend and baseball Hall of Famer Tom Seaver. He was simply the greatest Mets player of all time, and among the best to ever play the game, which culminated with his near unanimous induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Nancy, daughters Sarah and Anne, and four grandsons, Thomas, William, Henry and Tobin.”

Tom pitched in 20 Major League seasons, from 1967 to 1987, for four different teams, but made a name for himself while playing for the New York Mets.

Tom “Terrific” played a huge role that changed the Mets from a “loveable loser” to the “Miracle Mets” during their amazing 1969 season. Which the team went on to beat the Baltimore Orioles to win their first championship in franchise history.

The right hander won the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1967 and won three Cy Young Awards. Seaver is a 12 time all-star and is the Mets all-time wins leader.

Throughout his career, the right hander racked up 311 wins, 3,640 Strikeouts, 61

Shutouts, and a 2.86 earned run average or ERA. In 1978, Seaver threw his first nohitter against the St. Louis Cardinals. “The Franchise” was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992 by the highest percentage of votes ever recorded during that time.

After his athletic career, Seaver began his retirement in the broadcasting booth.

He was working for the New York Yankees from 1989 to 1993. Later, he then switched to the Mets from the years 1999 to 2005. President of YES Network John Filippeli told the New York Daily News that “Tom applied the same dedication he had for baseball to broadcasting. He had a desire to learn and that served him well. He didn’t want to be second best at anything and grew exponentially over time into a very good broadcaster.”

The longtime pitcher also had a passion for fine wine. According to Wine Spectator’s at an annual dinner for Hall of Fame members, Tom said “Sitting at my table one year were Bob Gibson, Don Sutton, Sandy Koufax, Steve Carlton and Rollie Fingers.

Everybody enjoyed wine, so I said, ‘OK, boys, let’s start having great wines at this dinner. Next year, bring a good bottle.”

In 2002, Seaver started his own three and a half acre vineyard called Seaver Family Vineyards, which was planted with cabernet vines that are on his 116 acre property located in Calistoga. Tom was able to produce his first vintage named GTS which is short for George Thomas Seaver. George Thomas is also the wine maker who Seaver hired.

Sports 11

SEPT. 15 - SEPT. 21, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

Hometown Hero: Caylie Seitz

VINCENT SPENCE STAFF WRITER

W

hen Sonoma State students walk the stage at graduation, everyone has aspirations of succeeding and doing great things in life.

Caylie Seitz is Sonoma State’s local hero on and off the volleyball court. She graduated in 2015 as one of the most decorated athletes in Sonoma’s history. Along with being a star for the volleyball team Caylie currently works for CAL FIRE and is working on helping keep California safe from the devastating fires that have spread throughout the state.

Seitz described her journey from the volleyball court to the firehouse as talking to a mutual friend and having interest in the profession.

She said, “I became close with a couple people at a crossfit gym I worked at and this certain gentlemen who I connected with always wanted the best for me in all aspects of life. He knew I was not sure what I wanted to do for my career and with him being a newly retired Santa Rosa firefighter, he mentioned to me, why not the fire service?” Seitz described, “I never told him that I was scared of fire, but here I am today facing my biggest fear and loving every minute of it. I am extremely grateful for him and my experience.”

Seitz was a 5’11 outside hitter from Maria Carrillo High School right up the road from SSU in Santa Rosa. While at Sonoma State, Caylie was awarded to the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) first team three times in 2013, 2014, and 2015. She currently holds five records in Sonoma State’s Women’s Volleyball record books. Seitz is the all time leader in kills with 1,685, kills per set with 3.86 with a total of 437 sets, attack attempts 3,973, points with 1,784, and finally tied for matches played with teammate Madelyn Densberger with 123.

While Caylie was a Seawolf, she led her team to a staggering record of 97-26 and a conference record of 71-15 in four years. The team was outstanding making it to the NCAA tournament every year. The volleyball team won the CCAA (California Collegiate Athletic Association) championship in 2014.

Caylie described her time at Sonoma as some of her best memories. She thanked coach Bear for giving her the opportunity to play at Sonoma State. She also reminisced on the times she spent

COURTESY // Instagram Hometown hero and SSU volleyball alumni Caylie Seitz risking her life for Sonoma County.

building her friendships with her teammates and winning the CCAA championship.

Seitz said, “Throughout my career at SSU there were many ups and downs, but I wouldn’t change any of my experiences during those four years.”

Volleyball was something that Caylie was always good at, but it did not come without a tremendous amount of hard work. She expressed herself as the type of player who was constantly at war with herself during games, being hard on herself for simple mistakes. The best advice she learned was that she can’t change the outcome of something so learn from it

and get ready for the next play.

Following up on advice Seitz has learned throughout her career and life, she said, “To enjoy your time as an athlete and have fun, I know the way things are currently it makes being positive harder than ever, but as a team you will get through this and it will make you stronger in the long run. Take care of each other, trust the process, everything will work itself out.

Teamwork makes the dream work… Wolfpack for life!”

Caylie Seitz is a perfect example of a star athlete working hard for something she cares about and putting herself before others.

Coaching spotlight: Emiria Salzmann SEAN KENNEALLY STAFF WRITER

E

xcellence, according to Merriam-Webster, is “the quality of being eminently good.” Under the definition of “excellence,” there is a picture of head women’s soccer coach, Emiria Salzmann.

Coming into her tenth season, Salzmann and her squad are looking to defend their California Collegiate Athletic Association, CCAA, title, with hopes of a modified season during the COVID-19 era. Without the ability to conduct an organized practice, Salzmann, like many coaches across America, learned to adapt and thrive during these circumstances. “I am really proud of how my team has responded… they are superstars,” commented Salzmann.

From top to bottom of every class, Salzmann notes the dedication and leadership each of her players attributed to the success of the team.

The team’s goal this offseason is ensuring and progressing the program’s culture through “unity” and “harmony.” Salzmann emphasizes the mental toughness of her squad. In their team manual, Salzmann notes a “Three Step Approach for Mental Strength,” and the first step is accountability.

“The players have taken their own initiative [toward the process],” notes Salzmann, as her and the staff have tried their best to keep everything as normal as possible. One of these initiatives the players implemented are peer evaluations, mainly in the Zoom meetings for attendance and focus. In addition to the peer evaluation, Salzmann requires her players to have the team’s definition of “excellence” memorized for every meeting, in case of ‘random’ tests, to ensure accountability.

Salzmann “just wants to put that little bit of tension” to motivate her athletes, since there is no on-field competition. Once they get the chance to play again, “We do not want to make any excuses” for their defense of the CCAA title.

Off the pitch, Salzmann continues to demonstrate her excellence with her grit. With the pressures of coaching a title-contending squad, one would think life is already difficult enough for Salzmann. Then, all of sudden, her life changed dramatically on Oct. 18, 2019: She was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer.

“I dropped to my knees [when I got that call],” answered Salzmann. The call came 30 minutes before a training session; luckily, Salzmann’s assistant coaches were there to pick her up and supervise the session. Salzmann, with sunglasses on her eyes to shield her emotions, processed the recent news, and she waited until the next week to deliver the news to her squad.

“Don’t treat me differently” explained Salzmann to her players.

Despite the personal challenge ahead of herself, Salzmann remained focused on the task at hand for her players. The same week she delivered the news to her players, the Seawolves upset the second nationally-ranked UCSD Tritons on Oct. 25, 2019, 1-0.

The rest of the season, Salzmann would go through MRIs, bone scans, CT scans, and preparation surgery, which made her lose time from her girls. She did not want to hide the situation from her players,

COURTESY // sonoma.edu Head women’s soccer coach Emiria Salzmann entering her tenth year coaching here at SSU. nor have her emotions be badgered on her athletes.

“I used the team as a great distraction… my joy is in coaching and watching [the players] be beautiful athletes,” remarked Salzmann joyfully. The Seawolves eventually went undefeated and won the CCAA title, which Salzmann notes the team and feature as remarkable.

After the season, Salzmann went straight to surgery, and then, she started her rounds of chemotherapy. With the support of her family, staff, athletic administration, and players, Salzmann has been making remarkable progress. Salzmann praises her staff

for all their efforts “...carrying the team, myself… they were integral. I will forever be in debt to [them].” Two of Salzmann’s sisters supported her during her chemotherapy sessions, physically and emotionally.

Throughout the experience, Salzmann comments on the humility of it all. She stated that she is “...used to being the one in charge of being the rally person,” and now that others were helping her, she notes it was a “gratifying experience.” In addition, Salzmann announced she grew as an individual, after she learned how to accept help, and she is “grateful for all the beautiful things that have come out of this situation.”

12 Photo

SEPT. 15 - SEPT. 21, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

Bay Area covered by smoke and shades of orange

STAR // Sarah Ramos Neighborhoods in Rohnert Park were greeted with a wave of smoke and an orange tint in the air on Thursday.

STAR // Sarah Ramos Smoke hung heavy over A Section in Rohnert Park on Thursday.

STAR // Sarah Ramos Smoke from the many fires coveres John Reed Elementary School in Rohnert Park.

STAR // Sam Billingsly As of Sept. 11, Sonoma County has over 6,000 cases of coronavirus, which is roughly 1.3% of the population according to the SoCo emergency website.

STAR //Sarah Ramos In-person ticket sales halted this season at the Green Music Center.

STAR // Sarah Ramos Smoke from Bay Area fires blanketed the sky.

STAR //Sarah Ramos The Green Music Center courtyard lay dormant with the recent cancellation of events.