IN THIS ISSUE
Got vocals?
Dorm life returns
Students perform at a virtual Voice Recital Variety Show. PAGE 7.
SSU is now accepting applications to live on campus next semester. PAGE 9.
Pandemic-style fun SSU students share how to have fun, despite the pandemic. PAGE 5.
SINCE 1979
VOLUME 87 // ISSUE 8 MARCH 16, 2021 - APRIL 5, 2021
THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER
@SONOMASTATESTAR
Stimulus checks arrive; students are included
QUINN MCKIBBIN STAFF WRITER
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STAR // Zena Bounsall Construction slowly continues on Stevenson Hall. All that is left of the building now is the concrete foundation.
Stevenson Hall renovations delayed until Spring 2023
WILLY LEPORI
STAFF WRITER
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ead of planning for Sonoma State, Christopher Dino, has informed the University population that complications in scheduling led to the delay for renovating Stevenson Hall, which was expected to be done by fall 2022. Stevenson Hall is a three-story 140,000 square building that houses the offices for the Business, Economics, Education, select Extended & International offices, and Social science departments.The original renovation plans were slated for completion by Fall of 2022. Stevenson Hall has been a landmark for SSU since the start of the University in the 1960’s, it was built in 1967 and still stands today in the year 2021. The new due date for the completion of the renovations is now set for spring 2023. Officials now claim that they will be able to welcome back staff and students to the building at the start of that semester. This fact raised the question for some: Why is the project being delayed despite the campus being empty since March? “You would think they have a good head start on the project during this time.” Anthony Felicano, a Sonoma State alumnus said when asked about the renovations projects. Recent wildfires and the pandemic in Sonoma County these past years are also to blame for the delay, and the overall complexity in the plans which was underestimated also contributed to the delay of the renovations. “We will continue to work closely with all the associated agencies to respond to any plan check review comments, to move the project forward as quickly as possible,” said Dino when asked about the delay in the project. Katelyn Dodge, in an article written for the STAR about the first phase of Stevenson renovations, said the goal of this project is to offer students and staff
merican’s making under $120,000 per year have begun receiving their third rounds of stimulus checks or are slated to receive them shortly after months of onerous deliberations from Congress. While the stimulus checks came much later than some Americans hoped for, students in particular were thankful for this round of checks after many of them being excluded from the first two rounds of checks. John Sutherland, SSU student who received his check said, “while it’s better late than never, I’m just happy to receive the check.” He went on to say he’ll be “putting most of the check into savings.” Many more SSU students who haven’t been eligible for the first two rounds of the stimulus, are happy to be receiving it this time around. As the third round of stimulus checks is being spread throughout the country, many people including the homeless were left wondering how exactly they’ll receive their highly anticipated check. While Americans have to take no additional steps in order to receive their checks, homeless people without a physical address or a bank account will have to go through a different process to receive their stimulus checks. If an individual is homeless, they’ll have to go to a tax return office where they will file an Economic Impact Payment return for you. Afterwards the stimulus check will be loaded onto a debit card. If one is homeless and uses this process to receive your previous stimulus checks, according to MarketWatch they “should have automatically received their second $600 stimulus check and will receive their third in the same manner.” Rob Eyler, economist and interim initial public offering at Sonoma State, said “As an economist, I think the checks are good if they help bridge lower-income households to broader economic recovery and reduce the “K-Shaped” recovery that has emerged in terms of lower-income households being more negatively affected by job loss and income loss as a result of the current recession. We will see see STIMULUS CHECKS on pg. 4
see CONSTRUCTION DELAY on pg. 4
COURTESY // Instagram Jackie Elward, vice-mayor of Rohnert Park, in front of ‘The Friendly City” sign. She recieved an anonymous racist call over her stance on a recent fireworks ban.
Fireworks ban sparks a racist attack against Rohnert Park Vice Mayor BRYCE GALLAGHER STAFF WRITER
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STAR // Sondra Ottenstein The Rohnert Park City Council met in March to disscuss new climate ordinances and the general climate plan through 2030.
Rohnert Park city council passes new resolution to combat climate change
SAMANTHA PEZZOLA STAFF WRITER
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n response to concerns about climate change, specifically wildfire season in the Sonoma County area, the Rohnert Park City Council passed a resolution to combat catastrophe in an effort that runs parallel to California’s initiative to become more environmentally conscious. With wildfires regularly ravaging areas of Sonoma County for the last few years between the months of September and November, the city has taken precautions seriously and has adhered to not allowing fireworks within the vicinity of the Rohnert Park area, in a bill passed on March 9. “We are not ignoring the climate crisis and we are taking action against local see CLIMATE CHANGE on pg. 4
ith documented racial tension on the rise across America in the last few years, it was seemingly only a matter of time before Sonoma County was in the spotlight for acts of discrimination On March 16, Vice Mayor of Rohnert Park, Jackie Elward, was the victim of a racist verbal attack over the phone from a community member opposing Elward’s stance on banning firework sales in the city. Rohnert Park is one of two cities in Sonoma County that still allows the sale and use of fireworks, but concerns of public safety has prompted some city council members, Elward included, to call for the ban. Elward, who became the first black woman elected to the city council last November, likes to make herself as accessible as possible for members of the community to voice their opinions. “I understand that in my role as a Council Member there will be times that I make decisions that some people in our community will disagree with. It comes with the job,” Elward stated in a Facebook post on March 16. She said, “As such, I will always do my best to be accessible to everyone via email or phone regardless of our differences.” Sadly, this left the door open for an anonymous caller to berate Elward with racial slurs and other derogatory statements. “You are free to call me and be angry with me. I have thick skin and can take it,” Elward said in a Press Democrat article, “However, as happened earlier today, I will not tolerate being told to go back to Africa along with being called the N word. This is totally unacceptable.” While she held her composure during the incident, there’s no doubt that this attack will stick with Elward for the rest of her life. “Why do people feel the need to go the extra mile to hurt like that?” Elwards said in an interview with The Press Democrat, “Do you really have to bring racial slurs to make yourself feel better?” Elward’s supporters quickly rallied behind her and showed their support for both her and other facing discrimination in the area. “It is 100% crucial that the people who commit these hate acts are revealed to the public. This person, whomever they are, is completely comfortable doing this and we cannot enable their behavior,” stated Sonoma County resident Jana Blunt in a comment under Elward’s Facebook post, see WOMEN IN POLITICS on pg. 4