Issue 9 Sonoma State STAR Fall 2020

IN THIS ISSUE

Documentary

Get Creative

‘The Social Dilemma’ raises questions about social media usage.

PAGE 6.

Explore art and activism with Tatyana Fazlalizadeh.

PAGE 9.

Student Spotlight Casey Hoops and the lacrosse team are anxious to play.

PAGE 10.

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 85 // ISSUE 9 OCTOBER 20, 2020 - OCTOBER 26, 2020

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

@SONOMASTATESTAR

STAR // Isabelle Barkey Kristine Sullivan, a local homeless woman, shares her struggles with the STAR as she stands outside her makeshift home in Santa Rosa on October 17, 2020.

Sonoma County residents face homelessness due to wildfires

SEAN KENNEALLY STAFF WRITER

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or the past few years, Northern California has been put ablaze by wildfires, especially within Sonoma County. In the recent Glass Fire, according to CAL FIRE, about 2,000 structures were either destroyed or damaged by fire or debris. However, statistics do not depict how traumatic losing a family home may be.

“I’ve been trying to get my kid back and then the fires took everything. We really need help,” says Kristine Sullivan, a homeless woman in Santa Rosa, who lost her home in the fires. Sullivan is one of the many who need wildfire relief, yet thought she would not receive any from the recent polarizing decisions by the Trump Administration.

In the past week, President Donald Trump reversed a decision to approve wildfire relief funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, for six incidents across the state. FEMA declared that the fires “...were not of such severity and magnitude to exceed the combined capabilities of the state, affected local governments, voluntary agencies and other responding federal agencies.”

According to Capital Public Radio, “Since the start of the year, 8,600 wildfires have burned well over 4.1 million acres in California. The total number of fatalities statewide is 31, and more than 9,200 structures have been destroyed.” In Sonoma County alone, the Glass Fire burned over 67,484 acres, and it is yet to be fully contained. The fire is 97% contained as of Oct. 18, according to CAL FIRE.

Many are raising eyebrows at the reversed decision to approve wildfire relief by the Trump administration. Trump repeatedly criticized California’s “poor forest management” as the cause of the fires, and he has continually rejected the science of climate change. “Maybe we’re just going to have to make [California] pay for it because [California doesn’t] listen to us,” declared Trump, in August, at a rally in Pennsylvania when discussing the wildfires in California.

However, a looming question for California residents still remains: “What will be the cost?” With climate change not showing any signs of slowing down, drastic fires will continue to burn in California. According to CALFIRE, the seven of the ten largest fires in California history have occurred in the past five years. Scientists say it will only get worse. In an KPIX article, Kim Cobb, climate scientist at Georgia Tech, stated, “It’s going to get A LOT worse. I say that with emphasis because it does challenge the imagination. And that’s the scary thing to know as a climate scientist in 2020.”

In a recent survey, Sonoma County residents declared that, in 2018, 34% of residents were affected by fires in some way, while in 2019, only 19% were affected. Within those who responded, 4% said they were homeless because of the fire. After the fires, 68% of residents were unable to find housing because of unaffordable rent conditions.

see SONOMA COUNTY RESIDENTS FACE HOMELESSNESS on pg. 4

STAR // Natella Guy Ben Ford, Caroline Banuelos, and Malinalli Lopez are three of the five SSU employees running for local office.

SSU employees take helm in local politics

SEAN KENNEALLY

STAR // Isabelle Barkey The official ballot box on campus located in the main entrance roundabout.

California Republican Party placed misleading ballot boxes around state

STAFF WRITER

KRISTINA SCHMUHL

n the midst of a radical year, five Sonoma State faculty members decided to promote equality and change in their local communities. From school boards to city councils, the Sonoma State staff aim to create a greater impact on and off campus.

“I hope to create a sense of community where parents, students, and faculty feel welcomed, listened to, and appreciated,” says Malinalli Lopez, an American multicultural studies department lecturer, who will start her position at the City of Windsor School Board in December. Lopez never had any prior experience in local politics, yet she said she decided to run for the position for herself and her daughter.

Lopez was raised in the local Windsor area, and she is the first in her family to receive a college degree. “I was discouraged from attending a 4-year college and encouraged to go to a community college,” states Lopez. Her goal is “...for low-income, first-generation college students to feel supported and know they can accomplish all their dreams.”

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see SSU EMPLOYEES TAKE HELM on pg. 4

STAFF WRITER

he California Republican Party admitted to putting up approximately 50 deceptively labeled “Official” ballot drop boxes in multiple Southern California counties last week, boxes that they say they will not be removing despite contention over their legality.

The boxes were reported to be spotted in various areas of Orange, Ventura, Fresno and Los Angeles counties.

Hector Barajas, a spokesperson for the California Republican Party, acknowledged the parties actions saying, “According to the California law as it relates to ballot harvesting--we haven’t broken any laws.

It allows for any individual organization or group to collect ballots on behalf of voters.... [This is a] safe option for casting a ballot.” see MISLEADING BALLOT BOXES on pg. 4

2 Editorial

OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

Rohnert Park parties a thing of the past

THE STAR 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 Isabelle Barkey, Distribution Manager Corinne Asturias, Faculty Adviser Staff Writers Taylor Clark, Emily Cripe, Sieanna Narine, Samuel Sayer, Jayline Alvarado, Sarah Ramos, 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, Sarah Gallagher Photographers Isabelle Barkey, Natella Guy, Samantha Billingsly

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:

“Sonoma County residents face homelessness...”

Read the article on page 1.

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.

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any Sonoma State University students let out a collective groan of frustration and disappointment on Sept. 8 when Rohnert Park city council adopted Ordinance No. 951, which repealed Chapter 9.48 “Alcohol Offense/Loud Parties”. This new ordinance comes with a couple of major changes to what constitutes a “party” and the consequences one can face if they are reported for a loud and unruly gathering.

Originally, for something to be deemed a party, it had to consist of 10 or more individuals, however, this has changed to a mere two people. With this more lax interpretation of a party, officers have more freedom to dish out warnings and fines. Being held responsible for throwing an illegal party has also become more harsh.

Before the new ordinance was adopted, first time offenders would receive a “120”. Essentially, a “120” is a warning.

No fines come attached with a 120, however, a notice had to be visibly posted on the house or apartment, letting onlookers know that a gathering took place and intervention from the city was required as a result of a public nuisance. This notice had to remain visible on the residence for 120 days. Any additional “loud and unruly gatherings” that are reported after 120 days resulted in a fine that had to be paid by the responsible party. However, under the new ordinance “120s” have become “365s”, meaning that the 120 day “parole” period has switched to a year-long threat of fines.

This spells trouble for many college students. It’s no secret that party culture is an important part of the college experience to many, and more often than not it was college students

STAR // Kevin Flores

who had to deal with the dreaded 120s. With frat boys living next to families, party houses in quiet suburbs, and no Greek Row to help compartmentalize some of the noise, it is looking like off-campus partying has become far more difficult.

Some may believe this is an attack on students, and under normal circumstances, it would be easy to argue that it is. Rohnert Park isn’t known as the “college friendly” city, and Seawolves can feel that, but perhaps stricter restrictions on partying is actually beneficial, not just to students but to the community as a whole.

With COVID-19 still rampaging in the country and a “Shelter in Place” order across the state, maybe it actually makes sense to crack down on parties in an attempt to stop the spread of this deadly virus. In theory, parties should be a thing of the past anyway. We aren’t supposed to be congregating in large groups, especially for something as frivolous as a party. According to healthline.com, college students have become COVID-19 “superspreaders,” partly due to all of the partying.

In fact, a study by khn.org reported that college reopenings have added an average of 3,000 COVID cases per day to the nation’s total between mid-July and mid-September. So, perhaps if students shake off their initial petty disappointment in that “their partying lives are being totally ruined,” they may begin to see the potential health benefits for the community in stricter partying guidelines.

With less people meeting up, there is less chance for the disease to spread.

Everyone should want a safer and healthier city, so under the extraordinary circum-

stances of COVID-19, these restrictions aren’t unreasonable.

The only foreseeable problem is if the city decides to maintain these stricter new rules after the COVID-19 pandemic. While for some, this reality seems way off into the future, it is important to think about it.

The change in what determines a “party” seems problematic in a non-COVID society.

It’s a stretch to say that two people constitute a party. A social gathering of two people sounds more like a movie night… or a date. On top of that, the “two person party system” gives officers far too much freedom to give out punishment. One noise complaint to a house with three people can bring about a mess of trouble for a homeowner or renter that frankly is unjust.

The city should also consider that many college students, who make up a solid bulk of the people receiving these noise complaints, don’t live here full-time. This means that a student might receive a “365” in Feb. but by May they’ve moved out and into a new house, leaving the landlord stuck with a notice on their house or apartment.

Yep that’s correct, the 365 stays on the residence, not with the people living in them. So, not only does the punishment not really even affect the student, it hurts the actual owner of the property.

So, for now this new ordinance makes sense. We are living in a time like no other, so it is important that Rohnert Park takes steps to ensure the health and safety of its citizens, but when we get to a time where COVID-19 is a thing of the past, it will be important to reexamine how strict the city should be when it comes to parties.

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.

Letters to the Editor

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

The STAR reserves the right to refuse publication.

Courtesy // Stepheng3

SSU students can rightfully argue that Rohnert Park is not so friendly to those that enjoy a party.

3 Opinion Questionable motive behind G.O.P. ballot boxes Celebrating

OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

MAX ROBINSON

STAFF WRITER

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he California Republican Party has set up unauthorized ballot boxes in multiple counties around California. The unauthorized ballot boxes are nearly indistinguishable from official ones and were installed in Los Angeles, Fresno and Orange County.

On Monday, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, working with the state justice department, issued a ceaseand-desist order to the California Grand Old Party. Padilla said they would have until Thursday to comply with the orders and remove all the fake ballot drop boxes. “If they refuse to comply, then of course we will entertain all of our legal options,” Padilla said alongside State Attorney General Xavier Becerra during a virtual press conference.

In response to the cease-and-desist order, California GOP spokesman Hector Barajas said the California Republi-

ican Party would remove the word “official”, but the boxes themselves would not be removed. He said they might even add more boxes around the state.

Tom Hiltachk, the California GOP general counsel, responded to the Secretary of State’s cease-and-desist order and blamed “perhaps an overzealous volunteer” who accidentally mislabeled the voting boxes as “official.” One photograph of an unofficial ballot box appeared in front of a church in Castaic, Calif., which was a major concern for Democratic California officials who feared the location of the voting box would not ensure the integrity of the votes at that particular location. Hiltachk responded that this particular box was taken inside the church after somebody photographed it and that the box was in a safe location.

The installment of these ballot boxes has even attracted the attention of former California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who called the actions by the California GOP “off the rails.”

The California GOP says their ballot boxes are perfectly legal because their actions constitute nothing more than ballot harvesting. This practice allows a designated person to deliver a voter’s mail-in ballot for them. Padilla says that the problem with the installed ballot boxes is that they are labeled “official”, even though county officials did not in-

stall them. Padilla also says the unofficial boxes are problematic because “voters are led to believe they are turning in their ballots to elections officials.” According to Brook Staggs at the OC Register, California GOP spokesman Hector Barajas agreed that the term “official” was “a poor choice of wording.”

State law defines vote by mail ballot drop boxes as a “secure receptacle established by a county or city and county elections official.” County elections officials are tasked with choosing the amount and location of official ballotcollection boxes, to ensure the boxes can not be tampered with and that ballots are traceable.

According to Jessica Levinson, an election law professor at Loyola Law School, the votes in the unofficial ballot boxes are still valid, but that does not mean the California GOP could not be held accountable for their actions.

Although the California GOP’s actions are not necessarily illegal, the installment of improperly-labeled unofficial ballot boxes that as such can cause one to worry about the integrity of the party within the state of California. They seem to be toeing the line between vote manipulation and vote-streamlining.

During a time of unprecedented uncertainty due to the coronavirus, more confusion is not what any voter needs.

Prop 22 will determine fate of contract laborers

JAYLINE ALVARADO

STAFF WRITER

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s the election draws closer, one proposition that’s been getting a lot of attention is Proposition 22. If approved, this proposition would consider appbased drivers like Uber and DoorDash to be independent contractors rather than employees.

These companies have invested $30 million in order to get this on the ballot and on marketing it as a beneficial thing for their employees. Suppose drivers are considered to be independent contractors for companies like Uber and Doordash get their way; in that case, SF Weekly’s Veronica Irwin reports that those companies would not have to pay into worker’s compensation or unemployment benefits. As a result, this would trickle down into other job sectors and create gig jobs for cheaper labor and not pay into employee benefits like vacation or sick leave.

In that same SF Weekly article, Anand Singh, president of Unite Here Local 2, an international

labor union, states, “It speeds up this race to the bottom — that you can eliminate rights for working people, you don’t have to pay for healthcare, you don’t have to pay for retirement, or pension, or vacation, or unemployment insurance, or any of the other fringe benefits, if we pay through an app a flat rate.”

The New York Times Op-Ed Board stated “Gig workers would be eligible for hourly pay 20 percent higher than local minimum wage, plus 30 cents per mile — but only during engaged times, meaning after they have accepted a fare and before they’ve dropped off a passenger,” and that “By some estimates, drivers spend more than one-third of their shift awaiting a fare, time the companies wouldn’t have to pay for.”

If drivers were able to get these benefits, they “Would be accessible only to workers driving 25 hours per week of engaged time, suggesting they’d need to log nearly 40 hours on the app to be eligible.”

Ballotpedia explains that “Proposition 22 would define a driver’s engaged time as the time between accepting a service request and completing the request.”

In other words, a driver would not be compensated for the time they are waiting for a request to come in or sanitizing their car between riders.

SF Weekly said it best, “It would not require them to pay

these employees for the time in between trips, while drivers refresh their apps, sanitize their car, or stop for gas — despite many of these tasks being necessary to do the job. Uber, for example, began encouraging drivers to take up extra routine car cleanings as a coronavirus safety measure this year.”

US Representative Barbara Lee states, “I truly believe that the Prop 22 campaign will go down in history, not just for the audacious amount of money these companies are spending in their attempt to buy their own law — that’s $185 million and counting — but also because these app companies have now joined the ranks of Big Tobacco and Big Polluters, who present one image, and that’s writing their checks — these feel-good checks — and placing ads featuring people of color, even as their actions show another. They’re pursuing policies that do their worst damage in our communities, communities of color, that are struggling the most.”

Proposition 22 would be doing more harm than good to the employees that companies claim would benefit from this. I will be voting no on Proposition 22 in this upcoming election. It’s not right that app-based drivers would not be recompensed for gas when it’s a necessity for the job. People’s rights to sick leave and workers compensation is also at risk just so companies can profit off of cheaper labor through app-based gigs.

Indigenous People’s Day

MYLES GRABAU STAFF WRITER

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wo years ago, California proclaimed Oct. 12 as “Indigenous People’s Day,” dedicating one day of the year to the indigenous peoples that call California home to this day. Over the past few hundred years, many indigenous peoples have faced unimaginable challenges, and it is important to celebrate the many who have lost their lives due to colonization. In addition to those who died, it is also equally important to celebrate and recognize those of indigenous origin who have survived and thrived in the past, present, and the future.

California is home to one of the largest and most diverse populations of Indigenous peoples in the United States. While many Indigenous peoples have lived in California for thousands of years, others worked very hard to settle here, crossing borders and other landmasses. Some have even made their home in California as a result of federal policies that forced mass relocation of Indigenous peoples.

However, during the recent rapid development of the COVID-19 pandemic, many populations of Indigenous peoples have been put at a severe disadvantage due to their living conditions, among other factors. In Brazil, COVID-19-related deaths reported in its indigenous population are double that of the general population. In the United States, the Navajo Nation has actually surpassed New York in COVID-19 cases per capita. Factors such as small dwellings, multigenerational living, and lack of access to clean water, soaps and disinfectants are prevalent in reservations and rural areas that house Indigenous peoples in America.

Our government should be anticipating the needs of these Indigenous populations instead of putting them at more of a disadvantage by denying them the first wave of relief. The American public must recognize that historically government-led solutions in Indigenous communities have not been adequate and have further disadvantaged these communities rather than help them thrive. An example of a measure that could help them stop the spread of the coronavirus would be limiting travel in and out of their lands, as deemed necessary by the communities themselves.

COVID-19 is an increasing burden, mostly among our elders and those with preexisting conditions and deaths of Indigenous elders would result in an immense cultural loss. These elders represent years of cultural knowledge, language, and history. Scholar Annie Belcourt had described Indigenous populations in the United States of living lives that are “challenging and short.” Investing in these Indigenous populations’ health would be an investment for our futures, as these communities still have so much to offer and teach about how to live sustainably and communally. Indigenous communities value the community and family around them, which is increasingly important in a time in our society where individual gain is being put above all else.

Seeing our governor recognize the Indigenous lives lost due to colonization and mass genocide and dedicating a day to remember them in our history speaks volumes, however, it does not erase the gruesome damage that has already destroyed these communities as a whole. Instead of following America’s xenophobic background with roots still embedded in our society today, Gavin Newsom encourages Californians to celebrate Indigenous peoples and how they have shaped California for the better.

Facebook uses censorship to combat Holocaust deniers

SARAH RAMOS

STAFF WRITER

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n Oct. 12, Facebook released a statement to the public which announced that it is permanently banning all Holocaust denial content from its site.

Monika Bickert, the vice president of content policy for Facebook, called attention to the increasing amount of anti-Semitism and overall ignorance many adults have about the Holocaust. Bickert highlighted a particularly troubling aspect of this in the company’s

statement: “According to a recent survey of adults in the US aged 18-39, almost a quarter said they believed the Holocaust was a myth, that it had been exaggerated or they weren’t sure.”

For years the American public school system has made it common practice to teach students about the Holocaust and the horrific loss of life that resulted from it. Teachers instruct students to read history books on the subject, watch documentaries, and read testimonies from real people who survived the genocide. The fact that the Holocaust was an actual event, one that will forever be a part of the world’s history, is undeniable. However, it is evident that there are still a significant number of people in America who would openly deny its existence.

Mark Zuckerberg also posted a statement on his personal Facebook account in addition to the broader one released by his company. He shared his reasoning on why Facebook decided to change their policies now: “I’ve struggled with the tension between standing

for free expression and the harm caused by minimizing or denying the horror of the Holocaust. My own thinking has evolved. . .” Zuckerberg ended his post with this final thought: “Drawing the right lines between what is and isn’t acceptable speech isn’t straightforward, but with the current state of the world, I believe this is the right balance.”

Facebook’s decision to ban Holocaust denial content is a victory, to be sure, but it is a belated one at that. In the time that Zuckerberg was struggling with the “balance” between free speech and the harm of denying a massive historical event, other people were free to continue writing posts which denied the Holocaust’s existence and share them with whomever they liked—virtually unchecked. It is the responsibility of social media developers, like Zuckerberg, to draw the lines for “what is and isn’t acceptable speech.” Facebook cannot wait for other people to hold it accountable. It must begin taking further action on its own to address such harmful content.

Fortunately, Facebook has already begun taking steps in the right direction. According to Bickert, “We have banned more than 250 white supremacist organizations and updated our policies to address militia groups and QAnon.” She also added that “Beginning later this year, we will direct anyone to credible information off Facebook if they search for terms associated with the Holocaust or its denial on our platform.”

Facebook is an innovative tool. It is especially powerful due to its ability to shape public opinion through the posts that it allows on its site. Not only will this new ban help to prevent the spread of false information and discrimination, but it will also encourage open and informed discussion to take their place—making it highly useful to users. Facebook took an important step in banning Holocaust denial content from its site, and it is essential that the social media company continues to evaluate the damaging content users can share.

4 News

OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

STAR // Isabelle Barkey Current resident of Villa RV Park in Santa Rosa, Kenny G., stands outside his mobile home on October 17, 2020.

NANCY INSUA

Shortened 2020 Census count will harm communities

STAFF WRITER

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n Thursday, Oct. 15, the U.S. Census Bureau closed counting for the rest of 2020.

This comes two weeks before the previously determined deadline, due to a Supreme Court order moved by the Trump administration. The decision made by the Supreme Court will go into effect regardless of the result of the upcoming presidential election.

The Census Bureau’s reporting was delayed multiple times this year because of the Coronavirus pandemic, and these delays greatly affected the data Census workers were able to record. Funding varies from community to community, and the Census Bureau is responsible for how this funding is allocated. A lack of accurate reporting will have large effects on funding and resources available in Sonoma County.

When the Census Bureau was forced to abruptly stop counting, they were in the midst of recording people who live in transitory locations. The work that was scheduled to occur within the next 2 weeks would largely consist of counting and recording people living in R.V. parks, on boats, in hotels and motels, or who are currently homeless. Essentially, in this 2 week period that will no longer occur, the Census Bureau was going to count those who are harder to reach, such as people working multiple jobs, those who have no internet access, immigrants, minority communities, and lowincome people.

Neglecting to record the information of remaining individuals from these communities means they will not be receiving any extra aid and resources that will greatly benefit them. Robert Santos, who serves as the president-elect of the American Statis-

tical Association, said, “I do not believe that a fair and accurate Census can occur...I expect it to be one of the most flawed Censuses in history.”

The decision to end the Census early follows countless other hurdles the Census has faced during 2020, including Trump’s refusal to add a citizenship question.

His proposal was to use administrative data that excludes undocumented immigrants, meaning that they will not be counted and less funding will be available for these people and their communities.

The Trump Administration also picked new appointees for the Census Bureau, who are well-known for gerrymandering. This has led to worries of political influence from inside the Census Bureau.

In Sonoma County, as well as other counties across the nation, there is a lack of reporting of people living in transitory locations, and Sonoma County will undoubtedly see the effects of this within our federal funding for the next 10 years. “Population counts are used as the basis for the next 10 years of population projections, and those projections are used for really important studies and to issue federal funding to the tune of $1.5 trillion per year,” explained Santos.

Such inaccurate reporting could greatly alter how families recover from these difficult times. As we approach the next presidential election, the data the Census Bureau provides is essential in ensuring our country can recover from such a tumultuous year.

The potential for political screw inside the Census Bureau prevents even a new administration from being able to provide the resources needed for communities to recover

Amy Coney Barrett Supreme Court nomination hearing updates NANCY INSUA

STAFF WRITER

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midst everything that is currently unfolding in the United States, American’s have also been keeping a close eye on the confirmation hearing for President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett.

Many have critiqued Barrett’s answers during the hearing, on account of her unwillingness to discuss many of the points of conversation brought up by senators. Some of the most notable dodged topics were her stance on climate change, as well as her position on the family separations being conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the borders.

Barrett also refused to make any conclusive statements on the speculation that she would ultimately try to overturn Roe v. Wade, should her nomination lead to a seat on the Supreme Court.

In addition to the overall hearing, tension between the Democratic Senators and the Republican Senators was palpable. With the Republican majority disregarding the committee rules, calling for at least two of the minority--in this case the Democratic Senators--to be present, in order to continue conducting business.

In an article for the New York Times, Democratic Senator of Vermont Patrick J. Leahy said, “The fact that we had a nominee before Justice Ginsburg was even buried in order to jam this nomination through before the election...That is a mark on the United States Senate, it will be a mark on a process of callous political power grab.”

Republicans maintained their position, and cited their majority to be enough to move the nomination forward.

Senators at the hearing speculated that the reason behind such a fast paced nomination is so that the Supreme Court can be tipped in President Trump’s favor, should the outcome of the election be taken to court.

When asked by Senator Cory Booker if presidents should commit to a peaceful transition of power, Barrett replied, “As a judge, I wanna stay out of it, and I don’t wanna express a view.”

Barrett also declined to state a position on whether or not Trump had it within his power to pardon himself. Only asserting, “This would be a constitutional question,” and that she will stick with her “...obligation not to give previews or forecasts on how I would resolve the case.”

While the Democratic party has continuously voiced concerns against Barrett’s nomination, the Republican party has spoken nothing but uplifting words and praise for Barrett’s potential ability on the Supreme Court.

Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham said of the nominee, “This is the first time in American history that we’ve nominated a woman who is unashamedly pro-life and embraces her faith without apology; and she is going to the court. A seat at the table is waiting on [her].”

Despite heavy opposition from the Democratic party, voting on Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination will begin Oct. 22.

continued from pg. 1

Sonoma County residents face homelessness due to wildfires

STAR // Isabelle Barkey A homeless tent community in Santa Rosa on October 17, 2020.

Chris Grabill, director of housing and shelter services for the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Sonoma County, is one of the many individuals assisting those who are affected, especially the homeless during the fire season. In an interview with KQED, Gabrill stated, “I will fight like hell for these people to be able to stay here as long as they need to after what they’ve been through. I hope we have the resources to follow through with that promise.”

Although relief was eventually granted, the need to fight for a reversal highlights the polarization in this country, specifically concerning climate change, as well as numerous other issues. Only time will tell how long Sonoma County, and the rest of California, can combat climate change and fires. With an election coming up, the physical and mental state of the nation is in peril, and what will be the cost?

OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

NEWS IN BRIEF

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Tuesday 10/13

Wednesday 10/14

Over 30 people have been killed by wildfires in California. There are hundreds of people missing and a total of 190,000 acres have burned.

Trump halts CSR payments to health insurers, calling them unlawful.

CSR payments are worth billions and they reimburse insurance companies for giving low-income customers legally mandated health costs. Chuck Schumer calls it a spiteful act and vast sabotage.

Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett held up a blank notepad when Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) asked her to show the public the notes she’s been using to answer questions during day two of the confirmation hearings. This led to praise from Conservatives, claiming that it was “impressive” that she didn’t need notes. Democrats criticized her for avoiding answering many questions on important issues.

The California Republican Party has admitted responsibility for placing more than 50 deceptively labeled “official” drop boxes for mail-in ballots in Los Angeles, Fresno and Orange Counties--an action that state officials said was illegal and could lead to election fraud. The Republican party says it will continue the practice.

The Supreme Court allows the Trump administration to halt the 2020 Census count ahead of schedule.

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Trump holds a packed rally in Des Moines, Iowa. 10,000 people attended. Biden leads nation-wide and in most swing states.

More than 38 million people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 around the world, and more than 1,086,000 have died. A Dutch woman died after catching the Coronavirus for a second time, and she is the first reported reinfection death in the world.

Mexico has identified two women who may have been subjected to nonconsensual surgeries while in ICE detention. The findings are part of a larger Mexican investigation into allegations of improper medical care at a privately run ICE facility in Georgia.

37 states are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases. Melania Trump reveals that Trump’s son, Barron, tested positive for Coronavirus.

A record-breaking 15 million early votes have already been cast for president.

A study released by the University of Minnesota noted that the death rate of COVID-19 in the United States stood at .06%, as of September.

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Thursday 10/15 •

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News 5

Friday 10/16

On the night of what was intended to be the second presidential debate, there were instead dueling town hall debates between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Trump refused to participate in a virtual debate, so instead, the debates were held concurrently on different networks, with Biden in Philadelphia being moderated by ABC’s George Stephanopolis, and Trump in Miami moderated by NBC’s Savannah Guthrie.

The U.S. sees highest infection rate in months and hospitalizations hit a new record in the midwest. 60,000 positive cases were reported in a single day.

A new study shows that 8 million Americans are now in poverty amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

Biden & Harris both test negative for COVID-19, despite being exposed to infected persons.

• • • • •

63,000 new Coronavirus cases were recorded. In Wisconsin, a quarter of the tests taken came back positive.

A terrorist attack occured in France and a history teacher was decapitated.

Trump claimed that the U.S. is rounding the edge of the virus, but data does not support this.

Biden is leading with 18 days to go. 22 million early votes have been cast. Trump trails behind Biden in almost every swing state.

Emails reportedly recovered from Hunter Biden’s laptop indicate that the former Vice President is embroiled in what appears to be payment for policy corruption. The campaign is carefully wording statements to refute the claims while leaving room for interpretation as more facts are uncovered.

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SSU employees take helm in local politics

California Republican Party placed misleading ballot boxes around state

STAR // Natella Guy Malinalli Lopez, a SSU employee, hopes to inspire women to run for leadership positions.

Lopez’s daughter will be an incoming freshman at Windsor High School, starting next year.

Lopez “...[wants] to inspire [her daughter] to value the power of female leadership at a time when our political climate has shifted so dramatically.” In addition, Lopez looks to inspire women and her community as a whole, as she hopes to see more women of color in leadership positions.

Lopez is not the only one starting a school board position soon. Professor in Mathematics and Statistics at Sonoma State, Martha Byrne, will participate in the Bennett Valley Union School District School Board in December, as well. In an article with Sonoma State, Byrne stated “I think it says a lot about our communities and the positive role SSU plays in them.” Like Lopez, Byrne hopes to bring social equity to their communities.

At the next level of education, Caroline Bañuelos and Kerry Rego look to create an influence on the Santa Rosa Junior College Board of Trustees. Bañuelos, a community partnerships coordinator in the Center for Community Engagement at SSU, and Rego, instructor in the Professional Social Media Certificate Program for SSU, aim in bringing attention to equality in the junior college system.

“This race is important because of the tens of thousands of people it impacts, the businesses, the families, and the economy,” notes Rego, from a Sonoma.edu article. She emphasizes the importance of the SRJC community as half of local high school students go to SRJC and stay local to the community. Bañuelos hopes to “...maintain [SRJC’s] existing programs and complete all the facility projects that are still to be completed with Measure H funds.” In addition, Bañuelos wants to incorporate more housing projects for students, as affordable housing has become a major issue for not only college students, but all of Sonoma County.

The final SSU employee running for political office is a professor of Mathematics and Statistics, Ben Ford. Ford is running for Cotati City Council, after the George Floyd murder and reactions inspired him to advocate and fight for change. Being a native of Minnesota, Ford was “pushed off the sidelines” after witnessing what happened. Ford already participated for the City of Cotati in multiple roles. He served on the Planning Commission, Design Review Committee, and on the Sonoma County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Ford’s main issue is police reform, as he hopes to establish specific systems for proper incidents, instead of solely utilizing the police force. “Cotati can lead with a positive response to national cries for racial justice,” says Ford.

Bañuelos mentions racing in local politics is more difficult during a presidential election year.

Outside such a polarizing presidential election, Bañuelos notes the difficulty in “..competing for visibility with federal and state wide propositions.”

However, despite the challenges, Ford counters that local government promotes action and participation among the community. “Local politics is a perfect opportunity for actual participation and for those who show up to make the call. [Citizens] can see the direct effect of [their] involvement and action, in [their] community,” said Ford in the Sonoma.edu article.

Local government officials will know on Nov. 3, like the presidential candidates, if they have won the race or not and who will lead our community. If they receive candidacy, SSU faculty members hope to make an immediate impact in their community.

“The whole ballot harvesting law is purposely designed very loosely so the Democrats can cheat, which they are doing in large numbers.

They can do ballot harvesting, but we can’t. That’s what they’re saying. So they’re hypocritical.”

According to state officials though, they have broken California laws. Cease-and-desist orders were sent last Monday by California’s secretary of state, Alex Padilla, and Attorney General Xavier Becerra, ordering the removal of the boxes by Oct. 14.

Padilla said these unauthorized boxes were intended to “...mislead voters and erode the public trust.” He also reminded officials in a memo that the creation of illegal polling sites was a felony punishable by up to four years in prison.

“Tampering with the vote is illegal, and anyone who knowingly engages in tampering or misuse of the vote is subject to prosecution,” Becerra said, reiterating Padilla.

The official vote-by-mail ballot drop boxes have extensive requirements regarding design, use, and security. Some of those include: required construction from durable material meant to mitigate vandalism, tampering or inclement weather, and a unique identifying number that is readily visible.

The California Republican Party asserted it will not be reversing its actions. GOP spokesperson Barajas said that having their own ballot boxes is a safer alternative than having “...a complete stranger go[ing] into [your house].” The unofficial boxes were placed at churches, gun shops and other businesses. The Orange County Register reported that in Fresno county, the boxes could be found outside of the Republican Party’s own offices.

Other states have also been facing controversies over absentee voting via drop boxes. A federal panel of judges upheld an order from Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott to limit official drop boxes to one box per county. The Gov. cited “uniformity” and “security” as concerns leading to his gubernatorial order.

“They have no confidence in their ability to win without cheating,” said Lillie Schechter, chairwoman of the Democratic Party in Harris County, which contains the city of Houston. “The whole game at this point is voter suppression and sowing confusion.”

Texas is the second most populous state in the nation, home to 29 million people. Harris County, with a population of 4.7 million and Dallas County with 2.6 million, will only receive one drop box each to accept votes for the entire county. Harris county had already set up 12 ballot drop box sites and was forced to reduce their locations to just one.

Ohio’s Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose claimed he wanted to install more than one dropbox per county, but state law prohibited him from doing so.

Brad Raffensperger, Georgia secretary of state, did install an additional 144 ballot boxes in his state after concerns that there would not be enough poll workers to staff the election because of COVID-19.

In Sonoma County, there have been no reported cases of unauthorized drop boxes. County Clerk-Recorder-Assessor Deva Marie Proto said, “We have not seen any ballot drop boxes in Sonoma County that are not authorized by our office. And despite social media posts, the staffed ballot drop box next to our [office] front door is perfectly legitimate, and is there to try and limit the number of people in our office.”

Sonoma State University has one ballot drop box located on campus by the flagpole near the East Cotati Avenue entrance. According to an email sent out updating students and faculty on Oct. 12, from now through Election Day, anyone can drop off any California ballot in this box, not just Sonoma County ballots. You do not need a parking pass to use the ballot dropbox on campus.

6 Arts

OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

Protecting the public, ‘The Social Dilemma’

KATELYN DODGE STAFF WRITER

T

he Netflix film,‘The Social Dilemma’ is a documentary featuring the fears of many technology users in the year 2020. Exploring the routes that technology has taken, specifically social media, and how manipulative it has become. This hour and 32-minute film unravels the effects of the additivity apps have over the human mind. A featured speaker of this documentary is Tristan Harris, a Santa Rosa local with a lot of industry secrets, divulged it for all to hear.

Harris is billed as having worked for Google as their former design ethicist and is now the co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology. He is a key figure and a prime source of so many underhanded tactics used by social media apps to trick the consumers. Harris describes features used against users by saying, “Persuasive technology is just sort of design intentionally applied to the extreme, where we really want to modify someone’s behavior. We want them to take this action. We want them to keep doing this with their finger [swipe up].”

This film is both informative and a drama, waggling its finger in the faces of all those who view it, for we all have fallen prey to social media. The algorithms manipulate users, the advancements made every year are never for the good of consumers. The questions raised during The Social Dilemma rotate around that.

Who is the true consumer, why are applications made to be enjoyed only there to hurt us? Harris answers using the classic saying, “If you’re not paying for the product, you are the product.” That is the point of this documentary, a wake-up call for all users, that this is not for fun, this is for profit. Simple ideas such as the infinite scrolling that can be enjoyed on applications such as Facebook or Twit-

ter, it is meant to keep your eyes on the screen, the screen is on, which means money is being made somewhere.

Radicalization, racism, violence, these topics trend and are monetized, as shown in the hyperbolic but believable drama sketch through The Social Dilemma. Suicide rates among young women have dramatically increased due to social media. Jonathan Haidt explains that since social media rose to power, around 2011, suicide rates soared. “[Suicide Rates among] the older teen girls 15 to 19 years old, they’re up 70% compared to the first decade of this century. The pre-teen girls, who have very low rates to begin with, they are up 151%, and that pattern points to social media.” It’s all by design, as anonymity behind the screen has created a toxic environment. The Social Dilemma pulls no punches as to how quickly the features in everyday apps are used to buzz us, remind us of the inadequacies so we keep coming back. It is a treacherous cycle The film was meant to premiere before the pandemic started, but once the theaters shut down, only then did Netflix look for more opportunities to glue eyes to their screens. The Social Dilemma was a lucky feature, growing larger than life as a film for the entire family, warning those new to the tech age what the future may hold. As Harris said in an interview after the fact with Andrew Yang, “Time is the finite resource that we all share and it’s the ultimate neutral, you know, the flat leveling playing field that we all have to operate on if you have a company competing for that you’re going to end up with these problems.” The film notes how important it is to sit down for a moment and understand what is truly going on behind the ones and zeros, understand how you can fix your own dilemma.

Courtesy // Netflix “The Social Dilemma” is now steaming on Netflix.

Courtesy / Flickr “The Social Dilemma’” deals with the dangers of social media.

Events adapt to COVID-19, host drive-in concert series SAMUEL SAYER

A

STAFF WRITER

s COVID-19 continues to linger across the country, companies are continuing to seek out new ways to reach their customers, as many industries have been forced to adapt. The music industry is one such group. While there have been some bands that have unsuccessfully attempted to hold a safe concert amidst the pandemic, the close-quarters nature of concerts and raves have led to a general absence of live music this year. California based record companies Insomniac Records and Vital Events are taking a different approach, however, with a series of what they’re calling “PARK ‘N RAVE” concerts, which allow for socially distanced raves.

Rather than following the traditional one ticket per person structure of most concerts, Park ‘n Rave will be following a “car pass” concept, where they will be admitting groups of up to 5 per vehicle for prices of 200-400 dollars.

Rather than one centralized area for the audience to gather, each car pass comes with a socially distant “rave space”.

This space is tied to a parking spot and separate dance floor for each group. Attendees are encouraged to decorate their spaces and make full use of the space for dancing. The first show of the series took place on Oct. 9, featuring a variety of EDM artists, hosted by the Factory

93 club. For a more local experience, Vital Events is hosting their next event, “Boombox Cartel” at the Alameda Fairgrounds on Oct. 24.

The concert itself uses a system of both stage audio and an accessible FM signal as a way to create the concert sound but projected over the much larger area. To compensate for the more restricted areas of the rave spaces, the venues are offering an online order food system that they promise to deliver directly to each individual rave space or supply through a food truck, as well as encouraging attendees to bring their own food and drink. The venues are also increasing the number of restrooms and sanitization stations to help keep the event as safe and clean as possible.

This first concert marks the first of a weekly series of concerts held at various venues from Vital Events. Future events include “Boombox Cartel” and “Adventure Club”, held at the Alameda Fairgrounds on Oct. 24 and Nov. 7. All events in the Insomniac concert series are enforcing an 18+ rule for all attendees, while Vital is an all-ages event, with both maintaining a strict set of rules for health and social distancing.

On top of the standard rules for concert attendance, all concert goers are required to have a mask on for the entirety of their time outside their vehicle,

even in their space bubble. This comes along with a rule that if you have tested positive or been potentially exposed to COVID-19, they strongly request they stay home instead of attending, as well as an encouragement to restrict parties to their own quarantine community, so as to reduce the risk of spreading the vi-

rus at the event.

While the future dates for venues are still being announced, Insomniac Records and Vital Events are both excited to provide a way for fans to participate in the concert/rave setting as best they can while still staying safe with the virus.

Courtesy // Instagram Drive-in concerts have become a way for events to stay alive during COVID-19.

Entertainment 7

OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2020

sonomastatestar.com

Influencers gain popularity during the pandemic

Courtesy / BRANDON CHASE Ondreaz Lopez has recently released his music video for “No Baila” on YouTube.

TAYLOR CLARK

STAFF WRITER

S

ocial media influencers have not been deterred

what is being filmed, the atmosphere is usually filled

ing to Netflix this fall. “I like the idea that I’m inspir-

from spewing out content during the pandem-

with people yelling and hyping one another up. Chase

ing the next generation to make fun of our president,”

ic. Many are becoming even more famous on

stated, “Normally the crew is kind of huddled around

says Cooper according to GQ.

platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

. . . but because of COVID-19 everyone had to spread

While many are stuck at home mindlessly scrolling

out six feet apart.”

Claudia Conway is a different kind of influencer and is only 16 years old while being the daughter of

through social media, these influencers are benefiting

When Chase initially sent Lopez his pitch for the

Kellyanne Conway, counselor to President Donald

and give ‘working from home’ a whole new meaning.

music video, Lopez returned it with no edits or correc-

Trump. Claudia Conway has made a name for herself

Ondreaz Lopez has gathered 20 million followers

tions which was a first for Chase. “He lets the people

by posting on TikTok and Twitter making her disap-

on TikTok, with his first post on TikTok being in

he puts in creative positions actually be creative,” says

proval of her parents’ political views and her mother’s

March of 2019. While the pandemic has altered ev-

Chase.

involvement with Trump abundantly clear. She even

eryone’s day-to-day lives, the entertainment industry

Other influencers have become more popular dur-

announced that her mother had COVID-19 on her Tik-

has been strained with back and forth restrictions on

ing the pandemic as well including Sarah Cooper.

Tok. Shortly after it went viral, Kellyanne Conway

when it was safe to begin filming again. Lopez recent-

Cooper has gained popularity through TikTok by

tweeted a statement confirming her positive result.

ly released a new music video called “No Baila,” and

making fun of the president by using his own exact

She has grown to nearly two million followers be-

within one week that music video has garnered over

words. She has grown to almost three million follow-

tween Twitter and TikTok.

1.3 million views. The director and editor of the music

ers between Twitter and TikTok and is blocked by the

Creativity is not being stifled by the pandemic,

video, Brandon Chase, had a few words to share on

president on Twitter. TikTok’s audience is normally

and everyday people such as Lopez, Cooper, and Con-

what it was like to film during a pandemic and with

targeted at a younger audience, but Cooper has be-

way are having their voices amplified through social

Lopez.

come popular with both younger and older age groups.

media. We are seeing new content from fresh voices

Chase emphasized that everyone was required to

She has even inspired older generations to download

during a time when we need either a laugh or a hint

fill out a questionnaire, and the main talent was re-

TikTok primarily to watch her videos. The comedian

of normalcy. While the pandemic has placed many re-

quired to take COVID-19 tests since they were not go-

has gone on to host an episode of “The Tonight Show

strictions on businesses, it is safe to say that creativ-

ing to be wearing masks. Chase continued to say that

Starring Jimmy Fallon,” and she has her own comedy

ity has not been restricted and these influencers are

usually everyone is watching a monitor and reacts to

show called “Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine” com-

evidence of that.

Magic being made on Zoom through box office tickets

RACHEL GONZALEZ

D

STAFF WRITER

ue to the pandemic, most social places, such as movie and drama theaters, have been closed for the majority of the year, but the Geffen Playhouse is an exception to the rule. On May 7, the Geffen Playhouse hosted an online magic show through Zoom where anyone from anywhere could access it.

The magic show, called the “The Present,” was hosted by magician Helder Guimarães and was arranged by the Geffen Playhouse along with the help of the new telecommuting tool, Zoom.

“The Present” had three performances, from May 7- 9, all of which were successful in ticket sales and attendance.

According to staff writer, Jessica Gelt for the Los Angeles Times “...more than 70 shows have been buyouts, meaning a single group or entity bought all 25 Zoom slots for specific performance.”

Executive Director of Geffen, Gil Cates Jr., reported to Gelt that the Guimaraes performance “...will have grosses [of] more than $700,000.”

By the last performance, on May 9, the grand finale had 6,000 households signed up which equaled out to $150,000. Tickets that day were $25 with an optional $15 add on which allowed the viewers to receive an interactive package called a mystery envelope, a package that has interactive props for the audience members to follow along with Guimarães.

Gelt reported that audiences from 30 countries were part of the audience, “...including Denmark, Poland, Singapore, and Ukraine.”

Charles Mcnulty, a Times theater critic, com-

mented on the interactive magic show experience and shared with the Los Angeles Times that the performance was “...the closest approximation I’ve had to being in a theater since the pandemic closed the venues.”

“It’s also key that at a time of such turmoil, the show is pure escapism. It’s fun. If Zoom screen smiles are any indication, the audience logs out happy,” wrote Gelt.

Staff Writer for the Press Democrat Kevin Fixler recently published an article on Sept. 4, reporting on the Raven Film Center located in Healdsburg shutting down permanently as a result of the pandemic.

“The operators of Healdsburg’s Raven Film Center, the city’s only movie theater, have opted to permanently close six months into a pandemic shutdown that has devastated local businesses, including California cinema shutters since March.” wrote Fixler.

The pandemic has forced businesses to be on pause and has even caused financial concerns for local businesses like the Raven Film Center.

“The pandemic and related recession is forcing many small business owners into wrenching decisions, particularly as emergency federal aid and loans dry up.” wrote Fixler.

It appears that the only hope for some small businesses, such as the Raven Film Center, is audience investment.

Geffen Playhouse could potentially provide a trend for future theaters to follow and allow more theaters to feel hopeful for their business future. Utilizing Zoom appears to be becoming more beneficial for a

wider range of users and is not a tool strictly to be used for academic or business purposes. “‘The Present’...somehow manages to erase the social distance that has defined many people’s experience of the world during the pandemic,” reported Gelt.

Perhaps “The Present” can also manage to erase the overwhelming worries of keeping local businesses afloat and inspire others to create and pursue ideas that allow them to continue to fight through such unprecedented times.

Courtesy // Needpix Virtual box office tickets are now becoming a way for theaters to keep their business open.

w

8 Student Life

OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

Alumni take over the Career Center AMANDA KOBA STAFF WRITER

W

hat happens after graduation? What are Sonoma State students supposed to do? Where do Seawolves go? For those curious about what life is like after graduation, Sonoma State University alumni returned via social media to discuss their experiences.

On Oct. 15, the Career Center and Entrepreneurial Activities Marketing launched a new event called Alumni Takeovers. Marketing and Communication Specialist Aubrielle Russo, who is managing the campaign, said she, “...wished she had something like this to learn from when she was a student,” when asked about how this event was created.

The takeovers are a part of a series where SSU alumni will be using the Career Center’s Instagram account to show Seawolves what a day in their life looks like after leaving SSU. The series will have a total of four takeover for the fall semester.

When asked about the goal of this series, Career Advisor Kelsey Bensky said, “We want our students to get an ‘insider view’ on a day in the professional life of our alumni. It’s a great way for students to learn about different career paths from afar, and in a really accessible and virtual format!”

Russo added, “Our EA Marketing student assistants were very passionate about having this resource for themselves and the students to come...”

The kickoff to the series was started by Sean Tadlock, the production office coordinator at Sony Pictures Animation and a 2016 graduate. Alumni were encouraged to talk about their past SSU experiences, life after college, and their current careers and what led them to that.

During Tadlock’s takeover, he highly suggested students do internships.

Tadlock said, “Internships were single-handedly the best thing that helped me my senior year...it is super important to try to do as many as you can.”

While sharing about his career and postgraduate, Tadlock mentioned that his major didn’t necessarily help him get his current position but the experience he had did.

He said, “It took a full year after grad until I got an interview at Sony! During that, I took any production assistant job I could find and that paid off because they loved all my experience!”

Bensky said, “We also want our students to become more comfortable reaching out to alumni (through Handshake or LinkedIn) to have career conversations and learn about their career paths. This is part of what we often refer to as ‘networking’ and is an important part of career exploration and the job search process.

We hope the alumni takeovers will demystify that process a little bit, while also providing ideas of specific alumni to contact!”

The takeover didn’t solely focus on careers or SSU experience. Tadlock included a variety of videos as well to show other aspects of his life. He included how he is handling working from home, a boomerang of his dog and how he is able to take naps during the day.

STAR// Jacob Loher Normally the Career Center is able to host in-person events, however, they have gotten creative with an Instagram alumni takeover.

With the goal of trying to connect alumni and current students, the series will continue throughout the fall and spring semesters. The Career Center Staff & the Marketing team have contacted graduates through LinkedIn as well as had Director of Campus Life Programming Mo Phillips reach out to SSU alumni.

Graduates who are interested in participating can go to the Career Center page on SSU’s website and apply by submitting a takeover form.

Seawolves interested in watching the takeovers can visit the Career Center’s Instagram page @ssucareercenter.

STUDENT LIFE CALENDAR 25% Off All Fleece, Cold Weather, Outwear and Blankets Tues.-Fri., OCT. 19-23 12:00 A.M.

National Student Exchange Fair

Buti Yoga Session

Fidget To Focus: ADHD and Learning SKills Group

Tues.-Fri., OCT. 19-23

Tuesday, OCT. 20

Tuesday, OCT. 20

Various times throughout the week

12 A.M.

11:00 A.M. Zoom

University Store Website

Zoom

Campus Recreation Youtube channel

Winter Intersession Registration

Local Trail Highlight Featuring: Taylor Mountain

Student Involvement Virtual Drop In Hours

ASP Presents: Open Mic Night

OCT. 14- JAN. 3

Tuesday, OCT. 20

Wednesday, OCT. 21

Wednesday, OCT. 21

Any time

12:00 P.M.

3:00 P.M.

7:00 P.M.

MYSSU

Campus Rec Instagram

Zoom

Zoom

CalFresh Outreach Day

ASP Presents: Presidential Sonoma Film Institute Presents: A White, White Day Debate Bingo

Lobo’s Trivia Night ft: New Girl

Thursday, OCT. 22

Thursday, OCT. 22

Fri.-Sun., OCT. 23-25

Friday, OCT. 23

12:00 P.M.

11:00 P.M.

8:00 P.M.

Zoom

Associate Students Instagram

12:00 A.M . https://sfi.sonoma.edu

Zoom

Student Life 9

OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

Gender, race, art, and social justice: a conversation with Tatyana Fazlalizadeh

EMILY CRIPE

STAFF WRITER

O

n Oct. 19 and 20, students can join artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh on Zoom for a series of conversations and workshops about social justice, race, gender, and the art she creates that revolves around said topics.

Seawolves will be able to hear Fazlalizadeh talk about her debut book, “Stop Telling Women to Smile”, her visual art, and issues involving street harassment. There will also be opportunities to converse with Fazlalizadeh in a group setting, create some art together with household items, and possibly win a signed copy of her book. There are limited spots available for the workshop event on Oct. 20, so make sure to sign up at ssuassociatedstudents.carrd.co.

According to her introduction, posted by the Associated Students Instagram page, Fazlalizadeh is a Brooklyn-based, Black/Iranian visual artist who is featured as both an artist and art consultant in Spike Lee’s Netflix series, “She’s Gotta Have It,”, on the walls of buildings all across the globe, and was profiled by various accredited newspapers. Her work focuses on amplifying the voices of marginalized communities and speaking out against both gender and racial oppression through the sharing of experiences.

Her debut book, “Stop Telling Women to Smile,” focuses on sexual harassment in public places and empowering women to reclaim freedoms taken from them by the patriarchy. She

notes that the community engagement aspect is a huge part of her work and it helps create meaning behind her various creations.

Jocelynne Leon, the member of Associated Students in charge of this event, said, “Attending the event will expand students’ knowledge on these issues and inspire them to take back the power they’ve been stripped of,...[and] serve as a support to students who have been harassed by letting them know they aren’t alone.”

She also explains that she chose Fazlalizadeh specifically because her work focuses on very relevant topics for college students, and she brings a unique perspective to the table due to her travels and experiences in all different industries.

When asked what about this event is most exciting to her, Leon said, “Tatyana will speak on her experiences, book and art series where she uses visual art to highlight the daily oppressive experiences of marginalized people. I have admired her art series for years and it has inspired me to stay strong and not let men take power from me.”

“To have Tatyana join SSU students on a Zoom call to discuss this topic and empower students to express themselves through art, utilizing the materials that they have at home, is amazing,” said ASP Advisor Mariah Atkins.

Atkins and Leon both expressed

COURTESY // Instagram Tatyana Fazlalizadeh is an American artist, activist, and freelance illustrator. immense excitement about the event due to its potential to shine light upon common experiences of college students, such as street harassment and sexism. Atkins said, “I do feel that though these topics may be difficult to talk about, that they are important, interesting, and relevant...Tatyana’s activism has created momentum in talking about the reality of harassment and sex-

ism -- topics that affect all of us.”

When asked why Tatyana was the choice for an event like this, Atkins said that, with everything going on in the world, Tatyana may be able to help people gain a deeper understanding of why their voice is important.

For more information about this event and available accommodations, contact aspevent2@sonoma.edu.

Virtual events have a lower turnout rate SARAH GALLAGHER

S

STAFF WRITER

onoma State Seawolves left the virtual NBA 2k20 courts empty this week when Associated Students (AS) tried to put on an event for students to partici-

pate in an online basketball game. Only one student signed up, so the event was cancelled.

The event was held on Wed., Oct. 14th from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. on Twitch. Students had the chance to sign up an hour before the game started. There was a surprise that it was cancelled right as it was supposed to start, but since there was only one participant the virtual bleachers were empty.

When it comes to the online events at Sonoma State, participation and attendance has gone down significantly due to classes and extracurricular activities moving to a socially distanced online forum. When asked why he thought the virtual attendance is down, Timothy Willbur, the Associated Student Productions (ASP) Director, said, “I think virtual attendance has gone down because there is a lack of interest in the events that we are putting on as ASP. It’s difficult to find events that students are interested in when we are in a virtual format. It’s not like we can do Big Nite over Zoom”.

With everything being online, students are finding it hard after a long day of Zoom classes, homework, projects, break out rooms to then go back on and log on again. Seawolves are constantly connected and don’t seem to want to go back on after the day is finished.

Willbur also said, “I also do agree that yes, students do not want to attend a fun Zoom activity when all of their classes have been on Zoom. I understand that there is a negative association with Zoom and not wanting to be on another one in your free time.” ASP is already planning events for next semester and using online attendance of this semester’s events

COURTESY // BenjaminThompson Online events have had a smaller turnout than the usual in-person events.

to make it better in 2021. Also seeing what types of events more students would go to and which ones are doing better

ment are examples on how hard the online world can be with hybrid classes. As a senior it seems even

than others.

harder to want to attend because it is their last year of college and it is online. When asked about her

When asked about her thoughts, Drew McQuaid, a junior,

thoughts, Harlee Sullivan, a senior, said, “The campus is doing a great job with putting on virtual

said, “I think other students find it hard to participate online

events for students to attend. People are just so exhausted from doing more and more on their devices.

because it’s awkward. And typically it’s just one student fully

It’s disappointing as a senior knowing that I won’t get to go back on campus again”.

participating which can feel uncomfortable if you’re that one

Sullivan also said “Sonoma State has given me so many great memories and I wish I could make

student”. McQuaid also said, “I wouldn’t go to certain events

more especially within my senior year, but the safety precautions being taken are needed and under-

because if there’s not a lot of people going to the events it’s

standable.”

harder to get into. But events I would go to would be yoga or dance classes or maybe painting”.

With all this feedback events like the NBA 2k20 tourna-

ASP and Sonoma State are coming up with events soon that hopefully more students participate in so they can continue the Seawolf bond even online. The next two NBA 2k20 Tournament online are Nov. 6 and Dec. Follow ASP and Seawolf Living for even more events this semester.

10 Sports

OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

Courtesy // mcla.us Junior midfielder Casey Hoops seeks to make a red hot impact as soon as their season is declared to be in session.

Student Spotlight: Casey Hoops

VINCENT SPENCE STAFF WRITER

C

asey Hoops, a junior midfielder from Oak Park, California has been an outstanding contributor for the Sonoma State lacrosse team the last two years.

His third year on the team is up in the air because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Hoops and the rest of his teammates are making the most out of their situation.

Casey talked about the team’s early struggles last year before COVID-19 ended the season when he said, “Last season started off a little bit rough with a large loss to Santa Clara. We then proceeded to lose in overtime to UCSB and our rival SDSU. With a couple of tough losses under our belt we started to really take practice more seriously in order to turn our season around. We then proceeded to win the next couple of games to Stanford and Boise State.”

The team ended up going 3-5 before the season ended. Casey ended up playing in all eight games and succeeded in scoring in one game.

With no end in sight, the lacrosse team has been doing a great job of working around the corona virus guidelines. The defensive coordinator/ strength and conditioning coach, Kyle Smith has been working close with the team on building their offseason goals and workout schedule.

Hoops described the workouts consisting of body weight workouts, foot speed training, and conditioning, all covid safe of course. The team has monthly zoom meetings where they go over what the news is on the league’s plans with COVID-19. The last meeting the team had, they were informed that the spring 2021 season will not be in session.

With this heartbreaking news, Hoops said he is disappointed about

not playing this next season, but is staying positive about playing in the near future.

Hoops detailed his routine to stay in lacrosse shape during the COVID-19 break by saying, “I try to do something that will improve my lacrosse skills everyday. Whether that be going on a couple mile run, going to sunrise park and shooting, or just going out with my roommates and playing catch.”

The lacrosse team will bring back many of its players for the next season and are motivated to have a hot start whenever the next season comes around.

Sophomore midfielder Branden Slate said he is looking forward to getting back out on the field with his teammates and described his fellow midfielder as, “the most natural and happy lacrosse player I have ever been around. He always plays with a smile and emotion with superior stick skills on the field.”

As a freshman, Casey appeared in every game and was a key part to the 2019 team playing the midfield position.

His teammate Jared Bear, a senior defender for the team described Casey as, “a hard worker and Hoops always emphasizes our ‘blue collar’ culture that SSU is built on. Casey constantly brings the energy to the field that always makes me excited to play alongside him and work hard for the team.”

Hoops and the entire lacrosse team are making the most of the situation and preparing for a run at the championship whenever the sport is able to open back up.

The Los Angeles Lakers win the 2020 NBA Finals RYAN WEINER

STAFF WRITER

T

he Los Angeles Lakers became the 2020 National Basketball Association league champions on Sunday night, beating the Miami Heat 106-93 in game six of the NBA finals. They won the best-of-seven series, four games to two.

The Lakers captured their seventeenth NBA championship, their twelfth in Los Angeles, as star player Lebron James fulfilled the promise he made two seasons ago which was to bring a title back to the purple and gold. Los Angeles now joins the Boston Celtics for the most all-time championship titles in NBA history, and this title may be the most meaningful the franchise has fought for as they had to overcome several obstacles along the way.

On January 26, three months into the season, devastating news filled the Lakers organization and the rest of the world with sadness and despair. Lakers legend, Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, perished in a helicopter crash located in Calabasas, California. Since then, the organization had just one mission, to honor Bryant by winning a title. “Ever since the tragedy, all we wanted to do was do it for him, and we did not let him down,” said Lakers Star Anthony Davis.

The 2019-2020 NBA season was the longest season on the calendar that the league has had in their 74 years of existence. This was due in part to COVID-19 causing the league to suspend the season on March 11. The NBA raced to find a solution while players and coaches worked on their game remotely, not knowing when they will be on the court again or if the season will even continue. Nearly four and half months later, on July 30, the Lakers were finally able to return to the court and resume their Championship run, which they dedicated to Kobe and Gianna. “I promise

Courtesy // Jerry Perezchica The Los Angeles Lakers win their seventeenth championship (tied for most) for Kobe Bryant and Lebron keeps his legacy alive.

you I will continue your legacy man! You mean so much to #LakerNation and it is my responsibility to put this on my back and keep it going, #WinItForKobe,” Lebron James stated on Twitter.

Although the Lakers had to live and play in the “bubble”, where they could not have any family or friends present, Head Coach Frank Vogel made it known that the team was able to stay strong. “We have got a great spirit in this group, we had to buy into being a team first team and we showed that. I am really proud of this group of guys for getting the job done.”

The Lakers nearly rebuilt and revamped their entire roster for the 2020

season as they attempted to end their five year playoff and ten year championship drought. The purple and gold not only signed championship-caliber players like Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard, but the Lakers conducted a blockbuster trade which included the addition of the NBA’s top talent, Anthony Davis. These moves came in the offseason after the Lakers finished with a 37-45 record in which Lebron James dealt with a groin injury that kept him out for a big chunk of the season.

Now, the Lakers are the top team in the NBA and look forward to defending their title in March, as Commissioner Adam Silver has implied that is when the 202021 NBA season will start.

OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

Sports 11

Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Morgan dies

ELISEO FRAGOSO

O

STAFF WRITER

ne of the greatest second baseman in Major League Baseball history, Joe Morgan, passed away at the age of 77 at his home in Danville, California. The Hall of Famer was first diagnosed in 2015 with myelodysplastic syndrome which eventually developed to Leukemia. He also suffered from other health issues over the last several years including a nerve condition, which is a form of polyneuropathy.

During his career, Morgan was a 10-time all-star, five-time gold glove award winner, and became the first second baseman to win the National League MVP back to back years.

The commissioner of the MLB Rob Manfred, released a statement saying, “Major League Baseball is deeply saddened by the death of Joe Morgan, one of the best five-tool players our game has ever known and a symbol of all-around excellence. Joe often reminded baseball fans that the player smallest in stature on the field could be most impactful.”

Morgan was born in Texas, but his family moved to Oakland, California when he was five. Despite being one of the best players on his team at Castlemont High School, he did not receive any MLB offers because of his size. That didn’t stop the 5-foot-7-inch ballplayer from continuing to play at Oakland City College Afterwards, Morgan was signed by the Houston Colt .45s in 1962.

The infielder was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 1971, joining a “Big Red Machine” that already had catcher Johnny Bench, right fielder Ken Griffey Sr, first baseman Tony Perez, and left fielder George Foster. A team that won back to back World Series Championship in 1975 and 1976. In the eight seasons with the Reds, Morgan had a batting average of .288, 152 home runs, and 612 runs batted in.

Courtesy // jacksonvilleprogress.com Johnny Bench spoke to ‘USA TODAY Sports’ about the Joe Morgan passes away due to non-specified polyneuropathy. passing of his good friend Joe Morgan saying, “To have a real friendship, and love for each other, to talk to Joe about everything in life, it’s so tough to see him gone. I think about what a buddy of mine told me. You lose family, but you gain family along the way. I’ve lost so many wonderful friends, but you, sit back and realize how lucky I am to have that person in my life.”

After his tenure with the Reds, Morgan would go on to play for Houston again, but this time as the Astros. It would only be for one season, then for the next two seasons he was in San Francisco playing for the Giants. In the final year of his career, he signed a deal with his native team, the Oakland Athletics.

Following his playing career, the former Red started his broadcasting career in 1985 for Cincinnati. Morgan would go on to work for ABC Sports, NBC Sports, and ESPN. In 2010, it was announced Joe was not going to appear on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball for the following season after he decided to take on a position in the Reds organization as special adviser to baseball operations.

Chris Berman, an ESPN commentator, worked with Morgan in the past said, “I am truly saddened to learn that we’ve lost Joe. I was fortunate enough to share the booth with him for many home run derbies and regular-season broadcasts, and I enjoyed every minute of them. As for his Hall of Fame career, if there was a better second baseman, I never saw him in my lifetime.”

San Francisco wins the 2020 esports OWL championship EDGAR ZAVALA

STAFF WRITER

I

n a time where everything went virtual, we have seen some unprecedented changes. Classes went online, work went online, and even sports are virtually online. However, some sports have always been online. esports are becoming more popular every year, and now since everyone is at home playing video games, it has become more popular to watch other people play video games, professionally.

Starting in 2018, the OverWatchLeague or OWL, is a professional league of esports for the video game Overwatch. Which is a very popular video game among young and old users. Overwatch is a six versus six shooter game.

The league is held in the format of most sports leagues as they have city based teams that play in a regular season and then have to qualify for the playoffs in order to win a championship in the finals. Cities from all over the globe have teams in this league including San Francisco and Seoul, South Korea. These two cities went head to head in this year’s finals.

The San Francisco Shock played the Seoul Dynasty in a six game series in which the Bay Area team came out on top four games to two. This marks the second consecutive trophy for the Shock. San Francisco is following the footsteps of other great Bay Area native sports teams such as the Golden State Warriors in creating a dynasty of their own.“I knew this [championship] would make us the best Overwatch team of all time, but I also think it goes beyond Overwatch,” said esports gamer, “Super”. “You can talk about us as one of the best esports teams of all time—not just Overwatch, but if you branch across every esport that’s ever existed, I feel like you can put us in that conversation with those teams who are dominant and have been a dynasty in the past.”

Since 2019, the San Francisco Shock have won a total of five titles, including two Overwatch League championships, and made all but one stage or tournament final for two consecutive seasons. The competitors on this team are deemed some of the best Overwatch players in the world, but moreover, they are praised for their unselfishness and team ability as a way to win championships. Very similar to the Golden State Warriors.

League experts and the fans voted Nam-Ju “Striker” won the 2020 T Mobile Grand Finals MVP. “Getting this Grand Finals MVP does have a lot of special meaning to me,” Striker said when asked about his honor. “I honestly thought Ans, Viol2t, Super, or any of my other teammates who played in the match would have gotten it, but I’m super grateful and very thankful to be the one chosen.”

Even though this year consisted of no fans, confetti, or group excitement, fans can all agree that they are witnessing something amazing. Congratulations to the San Francisco Shock on their 2020 OWL Championship.

Courtesy // theverge.com

San Francisco wins the 2020 esports OWL championship in fashion against teams from all over the globe.

Courtesy // dotesports.com

Courtesy // freepik.com

12 Photo

OCT. 20 - OCT. 26, 2020 sonomastatestar.com

Sonoma County looks to the future after pandemic and fires

STAR // Isabelle Barkey Kristine Sullivan, a homeless woman in Santa Rosa, needs help after the fires took everything.

STAR // Isabelle Barkey A car in Santa Rosa whose resident was likely left uncounted by the census.

STAR // Natella Guy Malinalli Lopez is excited to provide more mentorship opportunities when students come back to campus.

STAR // Natella Guy SSU Mathematics Professor Martha Byrne will join the board of the Bennett Valley Union School District.

STAR // Isabelle Barkey Trailer parks in Santa Rosa house wildfire victims all over the county.

STAR // Natella Guy Caroline Banuelos, a professor at SSU since 2018, is running for Santa Rosa Junior College board of trustees.

STAR // Natella Guy Ben Ford, a teacher at Sonoma State since 1998, is looking forward to being able to see his students in person when they come back on campus again.