Issue 8

IN THIS ISSUE

Play Pool at the Rec

Queer History Month

The Recreation Center hosted a pool tournament last week.

PAGE 9.

Celebrate Queer History month with QFaSA. PAGE 6.

Paint and Sip ASP hosts “Paint and Sip” night for students to get creative.

PAGE 7.

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 87 // ISSUE 8 OCTOBER 19, 2021 - OCTOBER 25, 2021

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

@SONOMASTATESTAR

STAR // Isabelle Barkey Art professor Clea Felien hopes to create an outdoor classroom space, similar to the patio space she created with the help of students a few years ago (pictured above).

New outdoor art studio offers fresh way for students to create in the COVID-19 era

MARY HELEN ROWELL STAFF WRITER

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cross the nation, schools at every education level are struggling to return to some level of normalcy after the COVID-19 pandemic forced most schools to close down and adopt virtual methods of learning for well over a year.

Universities, in particular, have had to get creative in finding ways to meet the needs of students while adhering to COVID-19 restrictions.

At Sonoma State University, Assistant Professor of Painting for the Department of Art and Art History, Clea Felien, is in the process of creating an outdoor studio workspace for students. Located within the University’s Art Building, the

outdoor studio will serve as a welcoming space for any and all students looking for a place to create and share their work.

“Now, it seems to me like this would be the smartest thing we could do… to have an outdoor space to work. Under COVID-19, this seems essential to me,” said Felien.

Felien began the process of creating this project in 2019, receiving approval from the Art Department, an $800 grant, and tables donated for the space. However, once the pandemic hit, everything got put on hold.

see OUTDOOR STUDIO on pg. 4

Rohnert Park Police Department receives $64,000 grant for community safety JHERY MAE MONTEZA STAFF WRITER

I COURTESY // @paigegreenphoto on Instagram Last June, Petaluma Blacks for Community Development encouraged citizens to get involved in the education of children and demanded that school districts hire people of color.

New youth program strives to encourage future Black leaders in Sonoma County

ISABEL EPSTEIN STAFF WRITER

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ccording to the Sonoma County Department of Health Services, the estimated total number of people residing in Sonoma County is 487,011. However, only 1.7 percent of these residents are Black. Young people of color often struggle with finding representation and this becomes more difficult when they have a limited amount of people within their community to look up to.

Petaluma Blacks for Community Development (PBCD) established themselves in 1978 see GRAPEVINE YOUTH on pg. 4

mpairment, speeding, and other dangerous driving behaviors threaten the safety of other people on the road, but with the right tools, officials can decrease the amount of serious injury and deaths on the road. With this in mind, the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety and the Petaluma and Santa Rosa Police departments up to $414,000.

The purpose of this award was to organize police traffic service programs to prevent dangerous and illegal behaviors that increase the risk of crashes in the community. Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety was given $64,000, Santa Rosa Police Department $300,000, and Petaluma Police Department $50,000.

According to an interview with Patch.com, Tim Mattos, the police chief of Rohnert Park, disclosed, “I am thankful the Department of Public Safety has been able to partner with the Office of Traffic Safety in keeping our community safe. We have been able to allocate many hours of focused enforcement due to our continued relationship.”

The grant program will last until September 2022.

The funding will go to reinforcing the laws that they have already put in place, which include suspected distracted drivers in violation of California’s hands-free see CALIFORNIA on pg. 4

2 Editorial

OCT. 19 - OCT. 25, 2021

sonomastatestar.com

THE STAR Editorial Board

Kylie Rose Lawrence, Editor-in-Chief Callie Adams, News Editor Moragh Graf, Opinion Editor Cheyenne Carroll, Arts & Entertainment Editor Myles Grabau, Student Life Editor Emily Cripe, Sports & Health Editor Isabelle Barkey, Photo Editor Corinne Asturias, Faculty Adviser Staff Writers Jayline Alvarado, Alexis Gonzalez, Jhery Mae Monteza, Adrienne Moon, Pedro Ortega Perez, Mary Helen Rowell, Dana Scacco, Joshua Silva, Addison Smith, Jessica Sternfeld, Clea Upcher, Daniel Dinerman, Isabel Epstein, Diana Ortiz, Payton Mullaney Photographers Nicholas Roth, Jake Morrissey, Ileana Aleman

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:

“Female students question safety in campus gyms” Read the article on page 3.

STAR // Kylie Rose Lawrence

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.

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

Opinion 3

OCT. 19 - OCT. 25, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Female students question safety in campus gyms

DIANA ORTIZ

STAFF WRITER

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eing a female college student is a challenging experience in itself.

Many of the female students at Sonoma State University have shared experiences of discomfort or uneasiness, specifically when visiting one of the most popular buildings on campus — the rec center.

The campus Recreation Center, or simply “rec center,’’ as referred to by the students, offers an abundance of activities for Seawolves to partake in, ranging from rock climbing and indoor sports, to running on the track and using the weight room. However, it

is the latter activity that has been stirring up uncomfortable emotions for many of the female students.

When asked about her experiences visiting the rec center and using the gym equipment, Maddie Green, a senior at SSU, expressed that although she typically enjoys visiting the rec center and using the available equipment, there have been moments where she and multiple of her friends have discussed having unsettling feelings or experiences when visiting the campus gym. Green expressed that she and her friends have all felt, “a little uncomfortable or on-edge sometimes.” Green has been at SSU since she was a freshman, and since then, these feelings of discomfort have remained the same. This suggests that this has been a popular concern among the female population at SSU. Sonoma State University is known to have a population that is largely dominated by

women. According to US News & World Reports, SSU has a gender distribution of 37% male students and 63% female students. Being that the school’s student body is primarily female, the university should ensure that female students feel safe and comfortable on campus at all times.

Green suggests introducing an all-female gym class taught on campus, where girls are encouraged to join and can learn how to perform proper exercise techniques and are able to “feel more confident.”

Many of these uneasy feelings are rooted in the fact that harassment tends to be a common issue in most gyms.

According to Run Repeat, “56.37% of female gym members have experienced harassment at the gym.”

This statistic suggests that all gyms bring up some level of anxiety or uneasiness to women everywhere, not just to female students at SSU, and not just at the rec center. In

fact, a feature in The Guardian suggests, “Being leered at, harassed or solicited in a gym isn’t just a nuisance. It is damaging, insidious behaviour that denies women the chance to exist in public spaces.”

This doesn’t necessarily mean everytime women go to the gym they will be harassed, but it does describe an ongoing issue in which women have to choose whether going to the gym is worth the possibility of being harassed. For many women at SSU, this means choosing not to work out, or exercising at home. For others, this means going to the gym with an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach, similar to the feelings Green described.

Female students being uncomfortable working out at the university gym is understandable yet unacceptable. The issue provides an opportunity to open up a broader conversation about a larger issue that unfortunately affects a great number of women everywhere.

Second Halloween during pandemic allows for larger gatherings

ALEX GONZALEZ

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STAFF WRITER

nother year brings another Halloween, one of the most popular holidays among people of all ages. As COVID-19 is still present in day-to-day life, taking precautions to keep everyone safe is of utmost importance this Halloween season.

Of course, as this is the second consecutive Halloween being celebrated during a pandemic, there are new things to consider when planning a COVID-safe party. The wide availability of the COVID-19 vaccine has allowed for gatherings to be safely held for the

first time since the beginning of 2020.

Many students, such as Aurian Nuchor, a business major at Sonoma State, didn’t end up celebrating Halloween last year due to the pandemic.

With no available vaccine for the virus at the time, many felt nervous to attend any party or gathering.

Nuchor stated that students should be more cautious during this years’ celebrations.

“Students can be reckless or sometimes forget to be cautious when meeting with people, but I hope we are mature enough to be cautious this coming Halloween.”

Aside from the health risks, last year’s celebrations were lackluster as trick-or-treaters weren’t as present, as well as a majority of events like parties, corn mazes, and haunted houses were either canceled or switched to a virtual setting.

Sean Lopez, a student at

SSU, attests to the events lacking, explaining that most people kept their celebrations for the holiday to themselves.

Lopez is ecstatic for this year’s celebration, as he will be, “Around at least a handful more people than last year since I’m fully vaccinated and feel much safer about it.”

Lopez shares this sentiment with many others this Halloween, as most are not only fully vaccinated, but individuals also feel more safe about celebrating holidays and going to events in crowded places.

Furthermore, it looks like activities such as haunted houses, Halloween-themed amusement parks, and parties are to be coming back with the promise of individuals making up for missing out on last year’s celebrations.

Bela Poljanec, a student from Napa Valley Junior College looking to transfer to

Sonoma State this upcoming Spring semester, gives her thoughts about what’s to come with this year’s celebration compared to last year, as she thinks, “Students celebrating Halloween may be less cautious this year about COVID-19 because many restrictions have been lifted.”

Poljanec adds, “I think more students will be having bigger parties and we could possibly see a spike of cases in students…”

It is understandable to assume that a spike of COVID-19 cases would arise if students celebrate this Halloween in a crowded place. While the pandemic feels never ending and people are anxious to get back to “normal” life, it is important to remember to stay safe. Students can celebrate the holiday more freely this year, but for the safety of oneself and others, it is wise to be cautious.

4 News

OCT. 19 - OCT. 25, 2021

sonomastatestar.com

COURTESY // City of Petaluma A Black Lives Matter mural was created last June in Petaluma, and it became famous on social media shortly after.

Grapevine Youth Leadership Program teaches Black youth leadership skills continued from pg. 1

as an organization that works towards dispersing Black history, culture and pride throughout Sonoma County. PBCD launched a youth program in Jan. 2021 called the Grapevine Youth Leadership Program. This program was created as a way for Black youth to develop and refine leadership skills, as a way for them to have a comfortable space to discuss societal challenges they face as people of color and as a way for them to work closely with local Black role models.

Co-coordinator of Grapevine Leadership Program, Kristy Bobbitt, said, “My daughter inspired me to create this program. She wanted a space to connect with other black youth and to do projects in the community.”

After a successful launch of the pilot program in January that consisted of 12 pre-teens ages 10 to 13, the program coordinators decided to set in motion a second phase of the program which began in September and consists of 14 participants ages 11 to 15. The program takes place over the course of three months with a minimum of six group sessions.

Each session consists of a combination of guest speakers, discussions, and hands-on activities designed to explore life skills that will help them grow into well rounded-adults. Eligible participants for the program are Black youth from the ages of 10 to 18.

So far, the program has included discussions around confidence, college, careers in technology, entrepreneurship and identities. These group sessions take place over zoom; however, there are opportunities for the members to meet in person for a chance at group bonding. The group members from the pilot program completed a project for the PBCD Black History Program where they wrote poetry and made a slideshow around the theme of family. With the lift on COVID-19 restrictions, the group hopes to expand their work to include community service projects.

Jaylena Lomenech is the other co-coordinator for the program. According to an article written for The Press Democrat, Lomench said, “I think that there’s a real opportunity in not only helping these students develop as leaders, but develop that self-awareness and strengthening their own confidence.”

Representatives from Sonoma State’s Black Student Union (BSU) were in attendance for the first meeting of PBCD, known back then as Black Caucus, in November of 1977. Bobbit said that she would love to collaborate with the BSU again as they have many programs that the teens in the program would enjoy being a part of.

BSU President, Camryn Downey shared his thoughts about the new program: “The positive mentorship and experiences I have gained from being in BSU has enhanced my college experience with networking, leadership skills and much more. Knowing that the youth in our community are experiencing something similar to our organization is pretty cool.”

Although it is too late to submit an application to participate in the second cohort, those that are interested or know someone that might be interested can head to https://pbcd4us.com/youth-leadership/ to stay updated on upcoming programs and opportunities.

California Office of Traffic Safety awards grants to Rohnert Park, Petaluma, and Santa Rosa continued from pg. 1

cell phone law, bicycle and pedestrian safety targeting drivers who possess behaviors that put others at risk, and DUI patrols and checkpoints aimed at impaired drivers. They want to focus on top violations that result in crashes: failure to yield, improper turning or lane changes, running a red or stop light, and speeding. These focus more on educating the community about keeping yourself and the community safe. They want to hold community education presentations focusing on traffic safety issues which pertain to distracted driving, bicycle and pedestrian safety, speeding, and DUI. There will be office training and recertification for Drug Recognition Expert, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement, and Standard Field Sobriety Test. Police departments want to collaborate more with their neighboring agencies to keep people safe.

Ken Savano, police chief of Petaluma police department reported to Patch, “When it comes to public safety, traffic crashes kill and injure more community members than all crimes combined. This grant funding will help our department improve public safety throughout the community. We are grateful to be awarded these traffic safety grant funds and for the continued support from Director Rooney and her staff at the Office of Traffic Safety.”

There have been many accidents on the road ranging from speeding to hit and run collisions. It is great to see that they are doing something about this recurring problem. In Santa Rosa Police Annual Report, as of 2020 there were 1,455 traffic collision reports processed.

An anonymous local from Rohnert Park stated, “I would say I’m a pretty safe driver. I don’t text & drive, indicate when I need to change lanes and I’m always watching my speed! Sometimes I do tend to speed on the freeway but I will slow down when I notice I’m going too fast. I think for the most part people in Rohnert Park are safe drivers, but there’s been a few times when I’ve had people cut me off or tailgate me.”

To be eligible for funding public entities, applications should include a priority program from their choices alcohol and drug impaired driving, emergency medical services, occupant protection, police traffic services etc. In addition, the application should be supported by local crash data that reveals a need for funding.

Back in August, city council unanimously approved several measures related to law enforcement accountability and community relations with the Department of Public Safety.

Rohnert Park will have a police auditor to review public safety investigations into civilian complaints. The measures being adopted included imposing a response model to increase crisis intervention, expanding training regarding explicit and implicit bias, and de-escalation, creating a community roundtable with a diverse group representing underrepresented minority groups, Furthermore, the Department of Public Safety is constantly making changes to keep Rohnert Park a safe community.

Students at Sonoma State can look forward to living in a community that is actively receiving support to become safer for themselves and others.

COURTESY // Rohnert Park Traffic Safety Unit Rohnert Park police have been granted $64,000 to protect the community.

SSU art professor looks to create a new outdoor studio for Seawolves to create art continued from pg. 1

COURTESY // The Los Angeles Review of Books Art Professor Clea Felien aspires to develop an outdoor studio workspace that will inspre Seawolves to create in new ways.

Now that students are returning back to campus, Felien is determined to bring a previously underutilized space to life, turning an old, covered alcove in the Art Building into a communal studio space.

A document, written by Felien to the School of Arts and Humanities, highlighted the goals and importance of this project, stating that adjustments to this neglected space “will create an open-air courtyard that students can work in at any point throughout the day. Students will also have access to show more artwork in the space once occupied by lockers.

This area provides a perfect critique space, designed to improve the teaching, critiquing, and showing experience for students and faculty. This open area has a lot more to offer the campus than its current use. Your support will help us transform a few walls and lockers into an open-air Art Courtyard providing needed work and collaboration space to improve the student’s art experience.”

The project is set to be part of ARTS-395, a community involvement class, taught and created by Felien. The one-unit course teaches students about artists who have taken abandoned spaces and turned them into functional shared spaces. The course focuses on sustainability and the reusing of materials

to re-imagine misspent spaces around campus.

In 2019, this class successfully revitalized an old courtyard, tucked away by the Art Building, turning it into a common area for students.

A document written in 2018, the early stages of this courtyard project, reads, “The Art Department is a great distance from the student center and student lounge areas. Due to health and safety regulations, students are not allowed to eat or socialize in empty classrooms and studios…Our students need a welcoming area to relax, eat and hang out so they can talk about art, look at art, and make art.”

By the end of the 2019 Spring semester, a group of around 15 students had completely transformed the area, creating furniture and murals from recycled or donated materials, and installing raised planting beds where students could grow their own foods.

“It’s my proud moment,” said Felien in response to all the time and hard work these students put into repurposing the space. Students can be seen enjoying the patio space daily.

Felien is hopeful that she will be able to begin this new outdoor studio project no later than Fall 2022, as there has never been a higher demand from students for a new outdoor workspace.

OCT. 19 - OCT. 25, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Arts & Entertainment 5

Jazz singers Madeleine Peyroux and Paula Cole perform at the Green Music Center

JEFFREY AVIÑA

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STAFF WRITER

adeleine Peyroux and Paula Cole performed on tour together last Thursday at the Green Music Center. Peyroux performed her hit album, “Careless Love,” and Cole performed from her record album, “This Fire.”

Performing first was Peyroux, with Andy Ezren on piano, Paul Lewinski on the upright bass, and Graham Hawthorne on the drums. Peyroux’s set included “Careless Love” and her rendition of “Dance Me to the End of Love.”

Madeleine Peyroux was born in Athens, Georgia, and moved around her childhood from New York to California before moving to Paris at the age of 15. Peyroux began singing with street performers in the Latin Quarter of Paris. The many universities and institutions for higher learning located there create a lively atmosphere and increased options for student life in the area, making street performances a common occurrence. She then joined “the lost wandering and blues and jazz band” and toured across Europe with them.

Cole’s 1996 album, “This Fire” is having its 25th anniversary this year and was a part of the setlist for her performance. For this album performance, Cole was on stage with Ross Gallagher on the upright bass, Chris Bruce on the Guitar, and Jay Bellarose on the drums. Bellarose has been playing with Cole since they were 19.

“It means so much to me that you all are cool and compliant so we can be out here!” said Cole on the mask mandates for visitors of the Green Music Center. Other venues around the county and state have employed similar guidelines to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Paula Cole was raised in Rockport, Massachusetts by her parents Stephanie and Jim Cole where she fell in love with musical theatre. Cole then attended the Berklee College of Music where she studied jazz. After graduating, Cole wrote her triple Grammy-nominated song, “Where Have all the Cowboys Gone?” Her song, “I Don’t Want to Wait,” was used as the theme song for the American teen drama show, “Dawson’s Creek.” Cole has also been a part of the voice faculty at Berklee College of Music.

“I don’t listen to jazz a lot but I appreciate it when I can.” says thirdyear transfer student, Chad Henry. Like many SSU students, Henry went to the performance to write a review for it for class. “I’ve definitely heard some of those songs before and it was really nice to be able to come and see this.”

Peyroux has been described by the New York times as having a vocal style similar to that of Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Edith Piaf.

Her aforementioned album was also re-released as a deluxe version with live versions of the songs recorded at the Festival de Jazz de VitoriaGasteiz in Spain from 2005.

The two singers have been touring the United States but ended their tour last week in Los Angeles. Peyroux will be starting her “Careless Love Forever” world tour on Oct. 28 in Prague, Czech Republic. Cole just released her new album “American Quilt” which is available on streaming platforms.

To learn more about upcoming GMC events visit the GMC website.

COURTESY // @greenmusiccenter Instagram page Jazz singers Madeleine Peyroux and Paula Cole performed their hit albums “Careless Love” and “This Fire” at the Green Music Center last Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

STAR // Nicholas Roth The bass player for Madeleine Peyroux jams out during a solo. The Green Music Center hosted the Jazz singers on Thursday Oct. 14, where they entertained students and Jazz enthusiasts alike.

Singing majors perform “happy songs” for midterms ADRIENNE MOON

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STAFF WRITER

he Sonoma State University Vocal Repertory Recital was the midterm recital for SSU’s vocal performance major students. It began at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at Schroeder Hall at Green Music Center. The overall theme of the recital was “happy songs,” in both the tone, and how the students delivered each song.

Dr. Justin Montigne, a vocal performance professor, told the audience that “during such a chaotic time, everyone needed a happy song,” so that was the main philosophy of the theme. The professor wanted the students to learn how to explore and understand how to make a song happy.

In regards to the midterm process, Montigne also stated that “the students had journal entries about their process, and students also helped each other out, and gave each other guidance on how to approach certain stages during this midterm process.”

In the wake COVID-19, getting back to in-person performing is a big shift, but Brendan Corr, a senior in the Music Department stated that “I

COURTESY // @sonomastatemusic Instagram page The Sonoma State University Vocal Repertory Recital was held on Wednesday, Oct.13, as the midterm assignment for students in the Music Department.

was really excited for this performance. Whenever I perform, I always feel at least a little nervous, but overall I was mostly excited to sing.”

He continued, “A lot of my excitement was due to this being my first solo performance in person in almost a year and a half. It felt amazing being able to go up there and sing in front of people without being constricted by zoom or a mask.”

The overall setlist was split up by six categories: “Carefree Youth”, “Everyday Joys”, “A Brighter Future”, “Doing Their Best”, “Make Someone Happy”, and “The Great Outdoors”. The setlist was a mixture of music ranging from classical opera songs to musical theater tunes, and students decided which song they wanted to perform.

Senior Michael Murdock performed the song “Sunset Boulevard” from the play of the same name, which was more somber in tone and lyrical context, but explained why he felt it fit in the theme of “Happy Songs.”

“I don’t really like happy songs...so I was trying to see what works… my voice type tends to be more like anti-hero kind stuff. So I was like ‘What works?’ The thing about the song is that it’s happy but in a dark way… and I really like, generally speaking, when people say ‘Find a happy song,’ I would find a happy song that is also super dark at the same time. Just because that is who I am as a person and what I like to do, I like to twist expectations.”

Since Murdock performed a musical theater song about a certain character, he stressed the importance of understanding the context of the song. “One of the things that people work on a lot… is that the notes are right, the rhythms right, your vocal technique is flawless… now tell me the story. In the end, the song is good but what is the story? Because that matters and it informs your performance.”

Other songs were more comedic in first approach, such as “I Bought Me a Cat”, which was performed by sophomore Brayden SimmonsAyala.

“I picked this song because I had to choose a German, Italian, or an English song. But in the end, I would say that I am fairly a comedical person; I like more clever or witty humor. But the song got a good laugh out of all the sound effects for the animals,” he explained.

For more information on Music Department events such as this one, visit the Music Department website.

6 Student Life

OCT. 19 - OCT. 25, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Music, Theatre, and Dance Departments host Scholarship Showcase

PEDRO ORTEGA-PEREZ STAFF WRITER

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his past Fri., Oct. 15, the Dance, Music, Theater and Arts department held a free recital in honor of their supporters and donors. The event showcased the different pitches that these Seawolves could reach, as well as the gracefulness of their dancing, the realism in their acting, and the great musical talents of all of the participants. Dance department chair and Co-Director of the Dance Program Christine Cali was ecstatic to mention that this performance was the first live one at SSU since the pandemic started.

Andy Collinsworth, the chair of the music department, gave special recognition to former professor and donor, Jeff Langley. “I just wanted to make a special acknowledgment to one of our donors and one of our former colleagues here in the music department. Jeff Langley, who we recently discovered entered hospice recently for cancer,” expressed Collinsworth. Jeff Langley is recognized as someone whose efforts helped make the Green Music Center become what it is today, as well as holding the chair of music, theater, and arts.

“Jeff was a driving force for the Green Music Center, especially in the early days.

Shepherding donors, shepherding all of the leadership that it takes to make this facility reality. Without Jeff’s passion and leadership, this space would not be here today,” stated Collinsworth.

The program started with two solos, with Emma Hofhenke on the clarinet, and Marilyn Thompson on the piano. Together they played a piece from Five Bagatelles for clarinet. It was then followed with an oboe solo, from Elias Ramos, and Marilyn Thompson on the Piano, in which they played Sonate pour Hautbois in D major.

The event was then continued with a dance performance, with choreography by Christine Cali, Kristen Daley, and performers. The choreography was performed by Abigail Eissmann, Alessandra Jennings, Zara Labbe, and Jeniffer Martuscelli. In an upbeat and energetic fashion, they danced to “A Million Tiny Beautiful Things,’’ to “To Mask To Reveal” (excerpt) by Matt Langlois.

Maya Pratt-Bauman performed a drama piece, as she so swiftly executed a piece from SONNET 28 by William Shakespeare.The drama performance was followed

by Abbi Samuels and Brian Carillo with vocal solos, with Yvonne Wormer on the Piano. Abbi sang Bess of Bedlam (1683) in a Soprano and Brian sang Make Someone Happy from “Do Re Mi” in a Tenor.

John Ruzicka gave a presentation on Theatre Studies and gave some backstory as to how “ask her out” came to be. Elise Clark presented on technical theatre and expressed the hardships she faced whilst doing it all through zoom. Both presenters shed light on how the process of online learning looked like for them. From having to get creative with break-out rooms, and giving their full effort even when they were alone behind the screen, these are the types of hurdles that remote learning can create.

A jazz combo followed right after, with a smooth melody of Jonathan Decicio’s saxophone. Alongside Decicio was Doug Leibinger with the deep plucks of the bass, and Eli Streich kept the rhythm with the drums, as well as elegantly played the piano.

The recital finished with the awarding of the scholarships to the students in the various arts. The scholarships consisted of: music private lesson scholarships, VADASZ family foundation endowed music fund, music scholarships, and Theatre Arts and Dance department scholarships.

Maya Pratt-Bauman, a third-year Theater Arts and Dance major, was the student speaker for the event. She was also a scholarship recipient for the Theatre Arts and Dance Scholarship. She spoke about how special this scholarship will be for her future, stating that “money for my tuition, it is so helpful. In order for me to be here and successfully go through the courses and complete my major, without as much concern on the financial and focus more on the work I am doing.”

Passionate about acting, Pratt-Bauman is now allowed to spend more time perfecting her craft, as she is able to apply all of her efforts to it. “What is so great about this program is that I was able to take some dancing classes, while still focussing on my acting. Every part of the department is so welcoming and there is so much con-

STAR // Ileana Aleman Scholarship recipient’s names were announced and students walked on stage to receive their award.

nection between concentration, that I felt that I can learn about them but still concentrate on my roots” Maya is going to play in three different zoom plays, as well as one in November, titled “365 Days”. She is also awaiting the “Super Mega Molten Hot Lava New Play Festival,” which is an upcoming Theatre and Dance event taking place via Zoom on Nov. 12 - 14.

Overall, the performances wowed the supporters and those in the audience. The music department was glad to be hosting a powerful event in-person again, and was grateful that it was able to be run so smoothly. During the performances, all students involved expressed their gratitude for their respective departments, and for all that they do, and all they provide.

QFaSA hosts Zoom forums throughout Queer History Month PAYTON MULLANEY STAFF WRITER

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INSTAGRAM // @docsawyerssu Sonoma State’s Queer Faculty and Student Association (QFaSA) aims to provide a safe and welcoming space for all queer students on campus.

COURTESY // diversity.sonoma.edu Each Friday throughout Queer history month, QFaSA will be hosting virtual forums.

oming out is a sensitive topic for many people, and it takes a lot of courage to be honest with yourself and love who you are. SSU offers a safe place each week for queer students to talk about what is going on in their life, get advice, or just listen to peers who are going through similar things. Events like this one build a great sense of community and support for students, which is something that might not always be within reach for everyone. Every Fri. at 1 p.m., Laurel Holmstrom-Keyes will be hosting the Queer Faculty and Students Association (QFaSA) Zoom forum.

The topic of choice for this week’s forum was coming out, which is naturally tough to deal with as a queer person. Each forum will tackle sensitive topics and engage students in important discussions that allow them to feel heard.

At the beginning of the forum, Holmstrom-Keyes played a video to set the tone for the forum’s topics. This video was light-hearted and humorous, mainly talking about about being gay in a different time in history, and how people overcame challenges. This humorous video let viewers know that this topic doesn’t always have to be heavy, and students were able to learn terms that are popular in the LGBTQIA+ community. This video highlighted the welcoming and lightheartedness of the LGBTQIA+ community, and how important it is to embrace every person for who they are.

The stories that presenters shared about their coming out stories were eye-opening, especially with how they came out in a time that was much different than now.

The hardships people had to go through as a queer person throughout history were heartbreaking. The forum paved the way for important conversations to happen, which is exactly Holstrom-Keyes’ goal. It is important to honor all students for who they are, and all students in need of a safe space through SSU are encouraged to check out the QFaSA forums.

Commenting on coming out, speakers at the forum stated that, “you have to come out to each person you meet, you decide who you choose to come out to.” With this being such a jarring fact, it shows how important it is for students to have a safe place to hear other people’s experiences and share their own. Coming out is such a special experience for every queer person, and everyone deserves to have a space to look for community or advice to make the process even easier.

With a lack of judgment throughout the forum, students were able to comfortably share their stories. Along with this, faculty members shared their own experiences, which allowed the forum to immediately take on the role of a relaxed, welcoming community space for all.

A professor at the forum stated that, “you keep coming out in each stage of your life,” so hearing their stories about being out at a different time and what that looks like, is sometimes what students need.

By having these conversations, along with providing a forum to engage students in these meaningful topics, this paves the way for students to have a safe, queer space where everyone feels comfortable. It is always normal to love who you want to, and creating an environment where students feel loved and accepted is the exact environment that Sonoma State is trying to create with events like these. By spending time at these forums, students are able to witness a community being made.

Taking part in community events like this one is the first step toward finding a community that accepts you for you. Events like the QFaSA forum are going to take place at SSU throughout Queer History Month, specially curated to welcome all students. Make sure to check out Seawolf Living for all the different types of events that aim to celebrate our queer heroes during the month.

OCT. 19 - OCT. 25, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Student Life 7

Student Involvement hosts virtual event celebrating Sonoma County’s queer history CLÉA UPCHER

STAFF WRITER

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n Thursday, Oct. 16, Student Involvement hosted a virtual presentation and Q&A session with two connected community members, Tina Dungan, and Shad Reinstein. The presentation focused on the rich and often unexplored history of the LGBTQI community at SSU, and in Sonoma County at large.

Tina Dungan graduated from Sonoma State University in 1974 and was a part of the first woman studies group when the program started. She has played a role in the Lesbian Archives of Sonoma County for the last 13 years and said that this is where her interest in history sprouted from. Shad Reinstein is a retired teacher, from Seattle, Washington, who moved to Sebastapool to retire in 2010, and eventually had a part in starting the wine country’s LGBTQI Film Festival. The pair have spent the past four years compiling all the history they can possibly find regarding the early days of the LGBTQI community in Sonoma County.

Like the history of many other oppressed groups in the United States, the LGBTQI community faced tremendous challenges and instances of great oppression.

They did not back down in the face of adversity and instead rose above the hate they received.

“In the 1970’s we started to reclaim words that had been used against us. Words like “dyke” “butch” and “fairy”. We learned to use them in positive ways. But the word “queer” was not used as a positive identity until it came to the Millenials and Generation Z’s,” said Reinstein.

The history of the LGBTQI community in Sonoma County stretched beyond the time of Stonewall in 1969, dating back to 1947.“Gay bars, once the only place we were allowed to gather, became organizing centers after Stonewall. We began to create our own social structure…” said Dungan.

“The earliest LGBT activity in Sonoma County that we could find is the Vieux Carre bar outside the town of Guerneville… This legendary roadhouse and dance bar was opened and run by two women, who according to at least one person, were lesbians in the mid-1950s… They could find others like themselves and create a selfidentity,” continued Dungan.

“One of the first Sonoma County LGBTQI people we found in our research was David Warren in 1947. He was born in 1921 and wanted to be a boy since he was 5 years old... In the Spring of 1947, David Warren and Thelma Walter were legally married… they were active in the city of Sonoma as a married couple. On Thanksgiving Day in 1947, the FBI arrested [Warren] for not registering for the WWII draft. Then they discovered that David was born as a woman… [The couple] was charged with ‘perjury on a marriage license and ‘the outrage of public indecency’,” said Reinstein.

The Russian River and the areas surrounding it became somewhat of an LGBTmecca for many years, starting in the late 1940s. “… The Russian River attracted San Francisco Bay Area LGBT people seeking freedom from the confines of city living and homophobic attitudes,” said Dungan. “In other cities, lesbians and gay men did not work together… they hardly even talked to each other… until the lesbians started taking care of the gay men who were dying of aids in the 1980s. In Sonoma County, however, there have always been gay men and lesbians who work together.”

Sonoma State University was an institution that helped to pioneer many of the progressive courses students count on today, like Women and Gender Studies. “In 1971 at SSU, JJ Wilson and other women students and professors… began teaching women’s classes, including Women in History, Women in Literature, and more. Wilson succeeded in getting a Women’s Writers class accepted for the GE requirement which meant that many more students would be exposed to women writers and their new ideas,” said Dungan.

Media played a large part in the dissemination of these ideas into the broader community, whether it was through radio or print. “Newspapers were essential for organizing and networking in the Lesbian community … ‘Women’s Voices’ was one of the longest-running women’s newspapers in the country. Women throughout Sonoma

COURTESY // @ann_with_linda on Instagram Sonoma County has a rich and often underappreciated history of LGBTQI+ pride, which the “Sonoma County: From LG to LGBTQI” event aimed to highlight.

County could count on its rich coverage of political and social issues, poetry and creative writing, a calendar of events, and ads for women’s businesses,” explained Dungan. “‘Drummer Magazine’, produced in Sebastopol, was read by literally millions of gay men and lesbians. Because Drummer frequently used Russian River men as models, it ended up publicizing the Russian River worldwide as a gay man’s destination … As gay men discovered Guerneville, other gay and lesbian businesses sprung up all along the Russian River, all opening in the late 70s and early 80s,” continued Reinstein.

It took a considerable amount of time for the rest of the county to accept the flourishing LGBTQI community that was blossoming for decades in Sonoma County, and a great deal of pushing for what the community believed in, and standing by for them to see their goals achieved.

Check out Seawolf Living’s “Events” tab to learn more about the variety of upcoming experiences hosted for Queer History Month, which continues throughout the month of October. The ‘Sonoma County: From LG to LGBTQI’ event is the first of many to follow throughout the month, in an effort to engage LGBTQIA students and allies within our community.

Associated Students host “Paint and Sip” event for students to embrace creativity DANA SCACCO STAFF WRITER

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s part of Associated Student Productions’ October events, ASP hosted a free “Paint & Sip” night at Sonoma State’s Weyden & Brewsters on Oct. 14. Students were given art materials, free drinks, and snacks as they followed a fall themed art demo presented by SSU’s art department.

The in-person event was reserved for students and divided into two one-hour sessions. The first session started at 6 p.m. and the second started at 8 p.m., with one-hour prep times in between each. Students had to fill out an attendance form prior to the event and provide a green clearance check for COVID-19 safety upon entry.

SSU Art Studio lecturer, Jenny Braun, partnered with ASP and demonstrated a pumpkin painting lesson for students that attended. Students received individual art canvases with easels and an array of paints, as well as mini demo pictures of the fall portrait for further assistance.

As students painted throughout the night, they were able to choose from an assortment of drinks and desserts including brownies, cookies, lemonade and sparkling water. All the painting seats were taken at both sessions and the event seemed very popular amongst students.

Maia Madrigal, a third-year Biology major and ASP director, spoke on the success of “Paint & Sip,” stating that “both of our sessions were full and we even had to turn some students away because we didn’t have room for them. We put on these events for the students so it’s always nice to see our max attendance reached.”

Madrigal elaborated on why the event was significant for SSU students and ASP, going on to say that “the best part was seeing students making new friends and connections on campus. Part of ASP’s mission is to have students feel at home while creating a close knit community on campus. Seeing students reach out to new people makes me feel like I’m doing my job as an employee of ASP.” Luis Ferreyra, a fourth-year Sociology major, attended the first session and shared their experience with the event. “I attended so I could hangout with some friends and have an art project piece to take home. I really enjoyed the walk-through of the painting by the art teacher and I was able to meet new people which was really memorable.

I enjoyed the experience and I would do it again.”

Ferreyra spoke further on why student involvement on campus is important, saying that “I definitely think students should be involved in campus events, it’s free entertainment and close to home. When I participate in campus events it makes me feel like a regular college student, especially in these unusual times.”

Amanda Avelino, a fourth year biology major, went to the painting session with Ferreyra and gave her perspective. “The event was very relaxing, especially with midterms happening. I feel that it was a good way to let out some stress. The atmosphere was also very calming with everyone just focusing on their paintings and chatting with friends. I thought the event was going to be focused on free style painting, however, it was fun to see everyone express themselves by painting in their own styles.”

Avelino continued on, stating what was most memorable to her, “It was nice to get to paint with friends and to just enjoy the company. Since I don’t go out much due to Covid, it was refreshing to be out of my room and experience different college events.”

Monica Carnes, a third-year Communications and Media Studies major, went to

STAR // Ileana Aleman Students concentrate on getting their painting techniques down at the “Paint and Sip” event at Weyden & Brewster’s, while also having fun and enjoying the process.

the second session of the event and commented on how it was organized. “Everything started on time and I feel like everyone had enough time to finish their paintings. The instructor was easy to follow along and we were always able to ask questions or get more paints if we needed.”

When asked why she attended the event, Carnes said, “I came to this event because I’ve been trying to come to more on-campus events and make the most of the time and resources we have on our campus. I really enjoyed the night and I was able to bond with friends and do something creative, fun, and free.”

Students can work with ASP and help plan on-campus events through the ASP PALS program. To join or to get more information, email aspevent6@sonoma.edu.

For more information on ASP’s featured on campus October events, go to www. as.sonoma.edu.

8 Health

OCT. 19 - OCT. 25, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Sonoma County releases requirements for future unmasking protocols

STAR // Nicholas Roth Yoni Bracha and Jared Esparza practice social distancing outside the cafeteria.

STAR // Nicholas Roth Obed Rodas enjoys the Campus Recreation Center while masked up.

ADDISON SMITH

STAFF WRITER

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ver the course of the last week, Sonoma and its neighboring counties agreed upon criteria for the residents of each county to unmask indoors. All this came about due to lower COVID-19 case rates and was agreed upon by the nine counties. While some residents are wary of unmasking, the criteria is very simple: Lower COVID-19 cases by lowering the positive transmission rate of the virus. The main consensus is that each business will be able to impose their own restrictions and could still require masks indoors as they see fit.

In order to put forth any unmasking protocols, each county must reach the moderate or yellow tier which is defined by four or less new cases per 100,000, and stay at said tier for three weeks, according to the CDC and their guidelines. Sonoma county is currently in the orange tier, one above the yellow tier, and cases are shrinking daily. In the past seven days, Sonoma county has been on a downward trend of less than 4.08% positive test rate which is down from the week prior.

As COVID-19 cases dwindle, some Sonoma County residents expressed concern about unmasking indoors and what that could mean for the county. Ian Mifsud, a Sonoma County resident, said, “I think, when it is required to show proof of vaccination to enter an establishment, this is a way to push people to get vaccinated, as the criteria shows: The closer we get to ‘herd immunity’ the closer we’ll be to ‘normal’”.

A junior at Sonoma State, Kallista Grainger, said, “If we unmask, I personally will still be wearing a mask. We have already seen that after the first large height of COVID-19, other counties got rid of the mask mandate and cases skyrocketed…this won’t help push people to get the vaccine…I will continue to wear my mask until cases reach zero.”

CDC guidelines and numbers in Sonoma County show that cases are slowly on the decline. The county had a low of 2.03% positive cases and a vaccination percentage of

77.1% which, in terms of the unmasking criteria, is very positive.

The county’s unmasking criteria also includes an 80% vaccination rate of all residents in the county, which seems to be tracking positively throughout Sonoma County.

As cases go down and vaccination rates go up, Sonoma County is that much closer to unmasking indoors.

The final requirement for the county to begin unmasking is low and stable hospitalization, which Sonoma County is also doing very well. According to the CDC: In the past seven days, hospitals in Sonoma County have let in 19 new COVID-19 patients out of 353 cases, a significant decline of 3.38%.

Communications Specialist for the Sonoma County Administrator’s Office Matt Brown said, “All three pieces of criteria are equally important, and taken together mean that conditions are improving. Having a low case rate as defined by the CDC will show that local transmission of the virus is declining. Having a low hospitalization rate will mean that our healthcare partners are not overwhelmed and could handle a potential surge. And having a high vaccination rate means that most of the county will be protected from the worst outcomes.”

The criteria laid out by the county and the CDC isn’t an impossible goal, Sonoma County is close to reaching that goal and many will be unmasking once the mandate lifts.

The area is 2.9% away from being in the 80% and hospitalization rates are lower then they have been.

Overall, while some residents will continue to mask, others will be unmasking and looking forward to rejoining the ‘normal’ world again. The pandemic won’t end soon, but with the help of the CDC and an unofficial coalition of Bay Area and neighboring counties, California will be one step closer to once again leading the United States in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fires in Sonoma County and surrounding areas continue to threaten residents’ homes and health each year.

STAR // Sarah Gallagher

Fire season affects physical and mental health

JAYLINE ALVARADO STAFF WRITER

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alifornia’s infamous fire season arrived this August, tearing through the state’s farmland and bringing a slough of health concerns along with it. These health concerns among residents, especially those in Sonoma County, revolve around physical risks due to air quality and mental trauma from past fire seasons.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there are 10 active wildfires in California, the largest being the Dixie wildfire that is now 94% contained. Plagued by fires year after year, residents continue to struggle with the physical and mental toll these constant disasters dish out.

Fourth year student Tegan Dalle Nogare said, “Fire season has been a very stressful experience for me every year that I’ve been at Sonoma State, honestly. The moving back and forth...the fear. Recently, I had to host my family when they were impacted by the Caldor Fire and had to evacuate South Lake Tahoe.”

It is a well known fact that wildfires leave physical burn scars along the paths they scorch, but what people tend to forget is that wildfires leave scars on the hearts and minds of survivors that cut just as deep. Having to pack a go-bag, create an escape route, and account for everyone in a given household comes all too easily to past victims of wildfire disasters, and having to sit and wait for an evacuation order every October can weigh heavy on the mind.

A University of California, Los Angeles report found that, “After a wildfire, residents who return home to a devastated landscape, in addition to the financial, health and social stresses of rebuilding homes and communities, face an ever-present reminder through sight of their trauma.”

However, the impact wildfires have on mental health still hasn’t been studied at large until recently. It seems like fire season will be an annual occurrence for good, and it is yet to be seen how this will affect people’s health long term.

In an article for The Atlantic, Jessica Lytle said, “When a whole neighborhood or town feels these effects at the same time, the result is what one psychologist and fire survivor calls ‘community-wide trauma.’”

Similarly, the physical effects of fire season are running rampant amongst survivors, and many are concerned about the long term consequences could be if they were to stay in areas where fires are a frequent occurrence.

One of the most common physical concerns that comes with fire season is smoke inhalation. With fires sometimes completely surrounding towns, residents have to go about their days while breathing in all sorts of harmful particles and toxins from the smoke.

Smoke inhalation can cause a whole slough of ailments, the most common being lung irritation, chest pains and asthma attacks. It can also worsen existing medical conditions such as heart problems and lung disease, according to the California Air Resource Board.

Residents can protect themselves from smoke inhalation by staying inside with all the doors and windows sealed shut as long as they possibly can. If going outside in unsafe air quality conditions cannot be avoided, wearing an N95 face mask is recommended to help filter particles out of the air.

One other health concern that rarely makes the news is that of reservoir contamination via toxic chemicals in the smoke from these wildfires. After the Camp Fire in 2019, the Paradise Irrigation District found that their drinking water was contaminated with benzene, which could cause anemia, immune system issues, and leukemia.

Overall, fire season is no joke in California, and it’s important to recognize that peoples’ mental and physical health can suffer immensely over time. If you or someone you know is experiencing health concerns as fire season rages on, the Student Health Center and Counseling and Psychological Services are always available to students, both in person and online.

Sports 9

OCT. 19 - OCT. 25, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

Seawolves were focused during the games, as they aimed to win the Rec Centers billiards tournament.

STAR // Nicholas Roth

Intramural sports continue at the Recreation Center DANIEL DINERMAN STAFF WRITER

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n an effort to bring a sense of normalcy and community back to campus while also keeping staff and students safe, the Sonoma State Recreation Center is scheduled to hold three tournaments in conjunction to intramural sports this semester, one of which, solo table tennis, has already passed. This leaves the billiards tournament, which is an individual competition, and the team volleyball tournament. These are the last two organized competition events that will be held in the Recreation Center this semester.

The objective of all intramurals is to ensure a safe space where students can have fun and are given a chance to meet new people all while engaging in physical activity and interacting with friends on campus. Usually, two leagues of competition are presented to those interested, one for the “pros” and for the “joes” of the sport, both bringing in some serious excitement. Under the current circumstances for this semester, only one league will be offered for students at all skill levels of the sport.

The Billiards tournament began on Oct. 10 and concludes on the 28 with a final round on Oct. 29 between 3 and 5 p.m. to declare a winner.

As for the volleyball tournament, the Recreation Center will hire referees and officiates for the games and students will have the chance to join or recruit their own teams.

When it comes to organized team sports, volleyball will be the only intramural in a team sport offered by the school this semester. Each team will be required to have a “team

captain” to take care of logistical work like scheduling games, keeping in contact with the hosts of the tournament, and making sure their team is on top of all rules and regulations for the game. The team captain is also responsible for registering their team and being sure that all attendants are able to make it to the games.

Any staff, faculty, student or registered alumni of SSU is able to participate in these tournaments, however there are restrictions for members of club and official sports teams and rules in place to ensure that all things are fair. For example, if somebody on the school volleyball team wanted to participate in the volleyball tournament, they would be unable to because they are active members of a team on campus. While there are no official ping pong or pool leagues on campus, the two singles tournaments have been open to anybody who wants to play.

Sports are a great way to stay active and socialize with peers, and intramural tournaments provide a stress-free environment where students are still able to compete and have fun. While the tournaments are meant to be all for fun, the winner of each typically brings home a trophy and bragging rights that travel throughout the campus environment.

For more information about rules and how to sign up, go to the Recreation Center on campus, or visit their website at www.campusrec.sonoma.edu/programs/intramurals.

Athlete Spotlight of the Week: ISAAC LOPEZ

STAFF WRITER

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Molly Murphy

n 2019, the Sonoma State women’s soccer team had an extraordinary season, as they went undefeated in their conference. While there are many soccer players that deserve credit for the team’s recent success, no other player seems to be getting more attention at the moment than Molly Murphy. Murphy, who has been with the women’s soccer team since 2018, has secured her place in Seawolf history by making big time plays and giving every game 100 percent since she was a freshman.

With the 2020 season being canceled due to COVID-19, Murphy is back on the field and ready to make some more history.

Originally from Pleasonton, Murphy contributed much of her efforts while playing as one of the team’s midfielders. In her first year playing in a Seawolves jersey, Murphy quickly grabbed the attention of many by accumulating four goals, one assist, and nine points, including two game winning goals against Cal Poly Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino. As a sophomore, she snatched a game winning goal against San Francisco State and ended the season with three assists and five points.

“My most memorable moment so far would have to be my freshman year playing here at SSU,” said Murphy. “I ended up being the team’s leading goal scorer for Sonoma and I got honorable mention for our league, CCAA, because of that. So I thought it was really cool to be able to do that as a freshman.”

While Murphy’s hard work and dedication toward soccer played a big part in her achieving these goals at a collegiate level, she admits that she couldn’t have made it this far by herself. Her support system is the reason she has grown to be the player she is today, as is for most of the world’s great athletes.

“My dad really helped me a lot just because he played soccer too at his college over at USF when he was younger,” Murphy explained. “Also my club coaches have helped a lot who have always been pushing for us to travel. That was a big game changer for me. Also probably my head coach for soccer. He helped get me into the Olympic Player Development Team back in high school for Northern California.

Taking a year off in 2020 seems like it would throw just about any team off their game for the comeback season, but that just isn’t the case with the women’s soccer team. Sitting with an overall record of 10-2-0, the Seawolves are hoping to continue their domination in the NCAA Division II. With tougher opponents, such as Humboldt State and Chico State, coming up real soon, the lady Seawolves are hoping to rack up more points for the season while keeping their team goals in mind.

“Our team goals for this year, including my goals, would be to win our league

this year,” said Murphy. “We also want to be able to compete in the NCAA Tournament. So we are setting our goals high this year.”

To stay up to date with stats and view the athletics calendar, head to the SSU Athletics website.

COURTESY // SSU Athletics Murphy and her team plan to dominate this season and hope to achieve their goal of winning the Division II league.

10 Photo “Paint & Sip” is a hit with Seawolves

OCT. 19 - OCT. 25, 2021 sonomastatestar.com

STAR // Ileana Aleman Angelina Ortiz (left), Jessica Hsia (middle), and Aliza Belardo (right) went to “Paint and Sip” night for a fun evening of painting with friends.

STAR // Ileana Aleman Kaitlyn Harold (left) and Tenaya Pauly (right) were excited with the outcome of their new fall paintings after attending ASP’s “Paint and Sip” event at W&B.

STAR // Ileana Aleman Jenny Braun, a Sonoma State art professor, guided students on what steps to take in order to paint pumpkins, vases, and shadows.

STAR // Ileana Aleman Dakota Watton (left) and Elle Knorzer (right) enjoyed relaxing music, painting, and wine at the event.

Performing Arts Scholarship Showcase performers

STAR // Ileana Aleman Abbi Samuels (soprano) performed a piece composed by Henry Purcell alongside Yvonne Wormer (piano).

STAR // Ileana Aleman Abbi Samuels (soprano) performed a piece composed by Henry Purcell alongside Yvonne Wormer (piano).

Madeleine Peyroux and Paula Cole impress GMC crowd

STAR // Nicholas Roth The drummer for Madeleine Peyroux and Paula Cole plays away at the GMC to an excited audience of Seawolves.

STAR // Nicholas Roth The pianist for Madeleine Peyroux and Paula Cole moves his fingers quickly up and down the keyboard to keep in beat.