Volume 76 // Issue 2

In this issue:

A&E: ‘Into the Woods’: A magical performance.

Pg. 6

Opinion: Republican Party distancing itself from supporters. Pg. 3 Student Life: Students ‘spring’ into the club fair. Pg. 9

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 76 // ISSUE 2

Sports: Men’s basketball team drops two at home.

Pg. 11 FEBRUARY 9 - FEBRUARY 15, 2016

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

Sexual assault training deadline approaching S hane Welch Staff Writer

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STAR // Sara Wildman Actor Creed Bratton entertained a crowd of Sonoma State University students at Friday’s “Hanging With Creed” show in the Student Center Ballroom.

‘Hanging With Creed’

brings night of laughter See full story on page 8

he replacement of Sonoma State University’s mandatory online sexual assault training program was postponed for a week in order to work out final issues with the system. As of Feb. 5, the program was made available to students and will have a new deadline of Feb. 28.

In an email sent to students on Jan. 29, the Title IX team wrote, “Some updates to the program were needed in order to effectively and efficiently launch the program the way it is intended and desired are taking longer than originally expected.”

The email also stated the original completion deadline for the training of Feb. 14 was put on hiatus in order for the necessary corrections to be made.

In the most recent notice, sent out Friday, the Title IX team wrote that students can disregard all previous emails including deadlines and are now held to the Feb. 28 deadline.

Title IX is the designation given to a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded educational programs.

The Chancellor’s Office of the California State University system expanded on the designation of this law with a version of Executive Order 1095 for 2015 which includes measures in the CSU system for affirmative action such as sexual assault awareness training on college campuses.

Versions of Executive Order 1095 have been implemented since June 3, 2014.

The online sexual assault training program the Title IX team set up replaces a previous program called Agents of Change, a program administered by the company

We End Violence, which had a large security breach last semester. According to a report from the San Bernardino Sun, the Agents of Change website exposed the information of over 79,000 students on several college campuses including Sonoma State.

The report stated that although this security breach had a big impact, officials took immediate action and information such as Social Security numbers and credit card data were not exposed.

According to Jesse Andrews, an investigation and training specialist with the Title IX team, the new program uses software from the same company that Sonoma State uses to train employees online. He said that it’s a completely different program from the Agents of Change program used last semester.

They also elaborated on the nature of the program being postponed and stated when the program was expected to be made available to students.

“The postponement was simply due to an error that prevented the program from assigning the specific courses to students.

We are doing final testing of that now and it should actually be launched by the end of this week with a new deadline of Feb. 28,” said Andrews.

As of Feb. 5, the Title IX office communicated to students the necessary corrections have been made and that students can log in to complete the training.

“The updates have been made and the program is ready for you to complete. This program is one element of our ongoing education around sexual misconduct and affirmative consent. All students are See TRAINING on Pg. 4

Associated Students calling for additional mental health services Nate Galvan Staff Writer

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ore than 40 percent of students who have gone to Counseling and Psychological Services have reported thoughts of suicide two weeks prior to their appointment with a counselor, according to CAPS. Due to the increase in demand for CAPS, the Associated Students of Sonoma State University has called for additional support for mental health services on campus.

Counseling and psychological services offers confidential counseling to students who are experiencing personal difficulties interfering with their academics or overall well being.

The resolution was adopted by the Associated Students on Dec. 11 as CAPS saw a 22 percent increase in the amount of students

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that needed their services.

“I contacted Dr. Williams of CAPS for some statistics on their workload and the severity of the problems they were seeing on a daily basis,” said Russell De Jong, senator for the school of social sciences and primary author of the resolution. “That’s when I really knew I needed to do something.”

The resolution created by the Associated Students notes numerous statistics involving the counseling center on campus. During the fall semester, 15 students were sent to the hospital by the center compared to the five that were sent throughout the 2014-15 academic year.

While CAPS has said that all students who need their services will be seen, some students who needed services in the fall semester were not

scheduled to meet with a counselor until the spring.

“The CAPS staff has been working diligently to adapt to the increased distress students are coming in with and to the overall growing demand for services,” said Laura Williams, clinical director and crisis advocate for CAPS on campus.

According to the International Association of Counselling Services, a staff to student ratio of 1:1000 to 1:9000 is recommended. The current ratio at Sonoma State University is 1:1900.

“To effectively deal with the situation, we would need to hire more counselors,” said Williams, “Given that we are a 100 percent student fee funded program, we are unable to hire any additional counselors without an increase See MENTAL HEALTH on Pg. 4

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STAR // Brandon Stachnik LoboVision, a 300-square-foot digital screen on the east side of the Recreation Center, aims to increase awareness about campus events.

LoboVision shines a light on campus life Nikki Bridges Staff Writer

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onoma State University students now have a new way to learn about campus events and watch sporting events and movies with the creation of LoboVision. LoboVision, a nearly 300-square-foot digital screen in the university’s Seawolf Plaza, has attracted a lot of mixed feedback from the Sonoma State community.

Associated Students, in collaboration with the Student Center Board of Administration, have worked to make LoboVision a reality since 2014, something intended to bring a better sense of awareness of events to Sonoma State students.

“I enjoy LoboVision,” said President of Associated Students Brandon Mercer. “I think it

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will get the word out to students about events and other campus advertisements quicker and in a more efficient way.”

LoboVision was created because of the recurring complaint by students to the university that they feel they are not informed about events, according to university officials. Associated Students has made it its biggest priority to communicate with students through social media and flyers but felt those two advertising strategies weren’t doing the trick.

LoboVision displays flashy advertisements to Sonoma State students in the busiest area of campus. Associated Students is trying to contact outside advertisers See LOBOVISION on Pg. 5

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Editorial

Feb. 9 - Feb. 15, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

THE STAR Editorial Board Brandon Stachnik, Editor-in-Chief Peter Njoroge, Executive Editor Kayla E. Galloway, News Editor Joseph Encinas, Asst. News Editor Jenna Fischer, Opinion Editor Ashley Mar tin, Ar ts & Enter tainment Editor Shannon Brown, Student Life Editor Thomas Call III, Spor ts Editor Brennan Chin, Photo Editor Kaila Sanders, Asst. Photo Editor Kimberley Baptista, Copy Editor Kyler Khan, Copy Editor Cassandra Owens, Adver tising Director Connor Gibson, Distribution Director Paul Gullixson, Faculty Adviser

Staff Writers Audrey Altman, Diana Arroyo, Shane Bickford Nikki Bridges, Josephine Clements, Sean Curzon Rene De Amaral, Nicole Detmers, Emilie Devitt Christine Edwards, Noe Felix, Sarah Fishback Nathanael Galvan, Nicholas Gray, Florencia Hasson Ethan Helms, Michele Herber t, Naaman Hightower Olivia Hunt, Allison Kelley, Vasilios Loufas Rachel McCloskey, Katelyn Quinn, Kathryn Reidy Blake Robinson, Carly Saber, Bianca Sanborn Edgar Sanchez, Andrea Serles, Nathan Shapiro Jessica Shipma, Kristen Spear Shane Welch Hailee Zastrow

Photographers Megan Corcoran, Sara Wildman

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:

“Republican party alienating supporters”

With primary presidential debates in full swing, a lot of buzz has been created on campus regarding both the democratic and republican parties. Staff Writer Misha Herbert explains why the antics of the GOP have estranged its followers.

Read the story on page 3 Note to Readers Due to a technological failure, the printing of this issue of the STAR was delayed. We apologize for the inconvenience.

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 to any letter and to edit for length. Letters must sign all contributions and the editor must verify the signer and the writer are one in the same through personal conference. To send a letter to the editor, email star@sonoma.edu.

COURTESY // Gustavo Vasquez

LoboVision exemplifies lack of vision

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onoma State University’s Seawolf Plaza has been illuminated by the bright light of the newly-installed LoboVision, intended to make students more aware of events on campus. Installed only two weeks ago, LoboVision has already become a topic of controversy among students — and for good reason.

Many agree Sonoma State students have a certain level of disinterest or unawareness when it comes to campus events and involvement — but can that lack of awareness truly be fixed by a nearly 300-squarefoot television screen broadcasting advertisements every waking moment?

In a matter of days after LoboVision came to life, students took to social media to express their frustrations with the giant television screen.

They questioned how the university has enough money to pay for a giant TV screen but can’t afford to provide enough classes for students to graduate in four years.

The Campus Rec Center made clear on its website the money “cannot be used for classes, faculty salary or other purposes not related to capital improvements.” However, this isn’t the only issue.

In a world where young people are surrounded by digital screens at every moment of the day, whether a cell phone, computer, iPad or television, the last thing Sonoma State students need is another screen - especially one this size.

The idea of LoboVision — the inspiration behind it — makes sense. Students don’t know what’s going on and don’t get involved — and the bulletin boards around campus just aren’t cutting it when it comes to making students more aware.

What is hard to understand is the rationale behind LoboVision itself. Who came up with this idea and why did someone believe students would actually be happy about a giant screen that costs more than 62 times of one student’s tuition fees at Sonoma State?

According to university officials, the cost of LoboVision was $340,000 and was funded through a capital improvement fund only for repairs, improvements or renovations at the Student Center or Recreation Center. Putting the cost of LoboVision into perspective, with $340,000, a student could buy approximately 10 cars, nearly 18 years worth of rent in an average-priced

apartment in Sonoma County or travel around the world extensively.

Instead of cars, an apartment and a long, lavish vacation, students are getting a giant TV screen that is nearly the size of a small studio apartment at 300-square-feet.

Putting the cost aside, students have to believe LoboVision was created with good intentions — at least one can hope. Was LoboVision created with students’ interests in mind or was it simply another attempt to make Sonoma State look like the flashiest, most luxurious university on the block?

In terms of luxury, Sonoma State is by no means stingy. In this millennium alone, Sonoma State has transformed into a nearly unrecognizable campus.

LoboVision is up and running and is most likely here to stay, whether students like it or not.

But we wonder whether LoboVision is another example of the university providing something students asked for or giving something that administrators felt the university needed — something one can only hope will change with the new university president in the fall.

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.

H AVE A N OP INIO N?

WE' D LIKE T O READ I T.

STAR@SONOMA.EDU

Opinion

F eb . 9 - F eb . 15, 2016

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Page 3

Revision to SAT unnecessary

Rene De Amaral Staff Writer

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here are about three things I remember about high school; finals, applying for college and taking the SAT. The SAT was this scary entity for a lot of students, including myself. Like your grades, it was a deciding factor on how eligible you were for certain colleges. It was difficult in its own right: It would take hours upon hours to study for, and there was always the possibility you still wouldn’t get the score you had hoped for. Then you would have to take it again to improve.

But that will change in coming months.

College Board has created a new SAT test. It has eliminated the guessing penalty, made the essay optional and revamped the tests scoring system. In-

stead of the math, English and writing sections being worth 800 points each, students will receive a score of 4001600 for math and a combined English and writing section.

The English and writing section will also include information from other subjects, such as history and science.

If the essay is taken, it will be graded on three different categories with a score of 2 to 8 given in each individual category.

Typically, college isn’t easy and it’s not supposed to be. College is supposed to prepare you to work in your desired field once you graduate. That means you need to know how to think and write critically. With this new version of the SAT, College Board is doing future college students a major disservice.

The newest version is supposed to have eliminated the unusual language used and focus on what students should know to be ready for college.

College Board President David Coleman announced the changes in 2014 and stated the SAT and the ACT have “become disconnected from the work of our high schools” and he hopes it will “level the playing field” for students.

A nice sentiment, but will it actually be beneficial to students?

The newest version of the SAT first test will be taken on March 5.

Normally, students receive their scores in about three weeks after their test date, but now they won’t receive them until mid-May. For juniors who have yet to apply for college yet, they have to wait. However, it won’t affect them right away as they still have time to retake it. But for seniors, the last possible time they can take the SAT is in March because most colleges need final transcripts and SAT scores by June 1.

Students are already under a lot pressure with finals and AP tests, and releasing scores so late will only add to their stress levels. The test dates after March 5 will have a shortened time in between the test date, but it doesn’t seem worth it to risk it, and it’s more effective to buckle down and take the ACT. According to the National Center for Education Statistic, the average national SAT score is 1498 since 1986.

There will be no indicators as to whether the new SAT is more effective than the old version until multiple test results are released, meaning students will have to muddle through this new version if it turns out to be ineffective.

It seems as if College Board’s goal is to make their tests easier, as it’s hard to imagine that the ACT won’t change in the next few years. Why would making a test easier make students ready for college?

Republican party alienating supporters

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Misha Herbert Staff Writer

political shift is occurring in America, and it’s at the expense of the Grand Old Party.

However, the Republican party isn’t doing much to prevent this from happening. In fact, recent events have shown that by catering to extremist conservative values, Republican nominee frontrunners Ted Cruz and Donald Trump have alienated the party from the majority of Americans.

It’s undeniable the drastic views being spewed from the mouths of these potential presidents aren’t catching on with the majority of Republicans. This could have led to the dramatically high 42 percent of Americans currently identifying as independent voters, as shown in recent Gallup polls.

While Ted Cruz’s blatant rejection of scientific and statistical evidence may keep him in good graces with his campaign donors and the religious right, he

certainly isn’t winning over the general public. Specifically, we’re talking about his refusal to accept that climate change is a legitimate phenomenon. By denying the evidence provided by NASA, among other credible sources, Cruz is placing a divide between himself and the record-high 70 percent of Americans— and majority of Republicans— who accept the validity of global warming, as reported in a national survey on energy and the environment by University of Michigan.

Furthermore, the self-proclaimed “Christian first, American second” has allowed his religious beliefs to create a divide between himself and the public.

By fixating on the defunding of Planned Parenthood, Cruz is alienating himself from the 98 percent of American females—including Catholics—who have used birth control in their lifetime, according to Johns Hopkins Manual of and Gynecology and Obstetrics.

While he may not condone abortions, which make up a whopping 3 percent of Planned Parenthood’s services, Cruz is doing himself and the rest of his party a disservice by singling out a company deemed so necessary by the public.

If there’s one person that takes political extremism to, well, an extreme, it’s Donald Trump. It’s truly astounding that it’s 2016 and we have a political frontrunner with such asinine and out-of-touch beliefs and declarations.

Personally, I’m not convinced that it’s

worth going into his specific viewpoints; the media has already done an exceptional job at replaying every eccentric statement of his. What’s more frightening than these absurd comments, though, is how carelessly they can get thrown around.

In one interview with The New York Times, Trump addressed his style of public speaking, “If it gets a little boring, if I see people starting to sort of, maybe thinking about leaving, I just say, ‘We’ll build the wall!’ and they go nuts.”

Are these thoughtless exclamations shocking? Sure. Will he get news coverage for every outlandish statement like this?

Sadly, yes. But are these extreme statements truly representative of the opinions of majority America? Not even close. Trump has built his campaign on more shock-and-awe tactics than actual political reasoning, and the Republican reputation is suffering because of it.

Data from the Pew Research Center reports only 23 percent of Americans identify as Republican, the lowest amount since Richard Nixon was in office. It certainly appears that the current trend of political peacocking and catering to marginal interests has left a bad taste in the mouths of would-be Republicans. With the New Hampshire Primaries quickly approaching, the fate of the conservative GOP may be shifting for the worse.

Wikipedia.com

Trump defacing himself

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Naaman Hightower Staff Writer

y opinion of somebody weighs on what they do, but also on what they say. People in positions of power have to know their words travel.

Being careful with words and being credible is always something I look at in a presidential candidate way before I look at their social or political ideologies.

Donald Trump is known as a very successful American businessman. His wealth, having placed him on the Forbes List four consecutive years in a row, has often summed up his personality: Powerful. Hosting a reality show where he fires contestants who don’t seem to measure up to his liking, he is well known for voicing his opinion with no regard for others feelings and emotions.

In a world where citizens are afraid to speak up for themselves, sometimes Trump shines by doing what he does. However, does this give him license to say anything.

“I could shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose any voters,” Trump said during a pep rally in Iowa. A candidate for the President of the United States of America said those words. This is not simply an angry audience member speaking out at a political rally. Donald Trump said these words with no reprimand or regard. Now, I’m not even a very politically involved person myself, but this was too big to ignore. There is such a thing as political correctness in this country, and Trump should be reminded of it.

There are many reasons why there are just some things that a person shouldn’t say when they’re running to be the most powerful man or woman in the nation. For one, the questions that a statement like that raises. What if it’s true? What if Trump really could shoot somebody and not lose any votes? What if he could get away with it?

In the past three to four years, we have had a problem with corruption in law enforcement, so people already don’t trust the government or high-ranking political officials. With a statement like Trump’s, it only gives reinforcement to an already existing train of thought.

Does he truly want citizens not trusting the people in charge of running this country? The distrust in our government, the closer we get to lashing out, which ends up equaling lost lives.

Saying that he could shoot somebody and not lose any votes made headlines across the world because it’s something people believe isn’t too far from the cold truth.

It revealed his true character in that moment, and words can never be taken back. He tarnished his image for any reasonable person. You just don’t say that, Mr. Trump.

Societal expectations blowing masculinity out of proportion

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Olivia Hunt Staff Writer

ealistically, men will never understand the struggles that women must endure throughout their

lives.

The year is 2016 and men still feel the need to work the phrase “no homo” into their daily vocabulary. This example, among countless others, exhibits the illusion that men must maintain their masculine exterior in order to be accepted by mainstream society.

In the past decade, humanity has progressed to be more liberal in terms of the LGBTQ community, as well as many other social constructs that were stigmatized

in the past. Yet, men live in such fear of being portrayed as feminine that they go to ridiculous lengths to seem masculine.

Some attempts are subtle, others are not.

Recently, scrolling through someone’s Facebook page, I stumbled upon a picture of a silhouette of a couple kissing with a sunset as the backdrop. My eyes wandered to the one comment that read, “As gay as this sounds, I’ll never forget that sunset.” I giggled and immediately screenshotted it for proof. What men don’t realize is that by trying to come off as “normal” they are actually just making themselves look stupid and uncultured.

It’s ironic women are labeled as the sensitive ones by society’s standards, yet men’s masculinity is so fragile that companies have actually started to profit from it. Gendered products are absurd but they are money makers. The fact that men would rather buy products that are marketed specifically towards them verges on a new level of sensitivity.

Last year, pictures of a male-targeted version of Q-tips went viral, displaying the only difference being a metallic background and the words “Men’s Ultimate Multi-Tool”.

Other gendered products have arisen such as soap, sunscreen, chapstick, tea and candles.

If a man wants to sit in a lavender-scented bubble bath with some flower scented can-

dles surrounding him, who’s to judge?

Even social media is buzzing about the issue, a popular hashtag #MasculinitySoFragile went viral after being created

by Anthony Williams, a sociology major at University of California, Berkeley. Williams finds the topic to be hilarious and sad, considering the comparison of this topic being between men’s ego’s being hurt and women’s safety. The issue becomes more than just a joke when women who say “no” to a man on a date are in danger of being a victim of violence.

The hashtag came about after the original #NotAllMen campaign surfaced, which represented that not all men are rapists, murderers and general scum. In response to this, women responded with #YesAllWomen to share awareness of the violence that women experience every day including sexism, misogyny, rape and murder. In general, if society would stop putting so much emphasis on what is considered “normal” there would be less pressure to fulfill these unnecessary expectations.

In 2014, a massacre that left many dead and injured in Isla Vista was the result of revenge against a woman who had sexually rejected the killer. These types of situations are constantly occurring and are putting women

at high risk for being subject to violence.

Men will go as far as degrading women with their friends in order to feel more masculine. Even a popular and respected artist such as Dr. Dre has lyrics like “b*tches aint sh*t but hoes and tricks.”

Oftentimes, we look past these things as a society and constitute them as jokes, but there is a bigger issue here. Women are maliciously brutalized every day because men feel entitled to owning women and treating us as disposable.

A despicable group of human beings have coined the term “meninism” paralleling the term feminism. Horrifyingly, this group has gained many followers who are under the warped impression that they’re in need of advocacy for the supposed unfair treatment of men by society.

Feminism is about protecting women, not spitting on men. At the end of the day, men and women alike need to treat each other with respect and most importantly, as equals.

If we work to dissolve the unrealistic expectations that we place upon both genders, people will feel more comfortable to live their lives without the fear of being judged.

To contradict “The Cure”, boys do cry, and that’s okay.

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News

Feb. 9 - Feb. 15, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

Seawolves SPEAK!

University system emphasizes

What do students hope to see in the new university president?

O

O

Edgar Sanchez Staff Writer

n July 1, Dr. Judy K. Sakaki will relinquish her position as vice president of student affairs at the University of California, Office of the President, and, for the first time, walk the campus of Sonoma State University as the official new President of University Affairs. Sakaki will be welcomed by the many who believe her experience will bring meaningful changes to this university. However, political science major, Erick Nunez-Aguilar believes, “she will also be received with the current antitrust sentiment present at Sonoma State.”

Sakaki will be the successor of current and longest serving president at Sonoma State, Ruben Armiñana, whose levels of popularity are low with students, faculty and staff and who even received a vote noconfidence from 73.4 percent of faculty in 2007. Armiñana has been heavily criticized for allegedly underfunding academic programs and overfunding the construction of buildings such as the Green Music Center. “Without a doubt Dr. Sakaki will have to work diligently to gain the trust of the Sonoma State community,” said Nunez-Aguilar.

Although there will be an open forum on Feb. 12 in the Student Center Ballroom for the Sonoma State campus to formally meet Dr. Sakaki, the Sonoma State STAR could not wait and decided to ask students for their opinions. What do you hope Dr. Judy K. Sakaki will bring to this university?

“I hope that with her experience at bigger schools, [Judy Sakaki] will be able to bring diversity and different ideas to our campus.”

- Stephanie Ramirez, Political science major Sophomore

“I hope [Sakaki] will fight to open up more classes, especially for impacted majors like biochemistry.”

strong future for CSU Sarah Fishback Staff Writer

fficials in the California State University confirmed in a live webcast on Friday that students in the CSU won’t face tuition increases in the future, something many students may agree is a good thing in the world of California higher education.

The webcast offered insight into the future of the CSUs, allowing listeners to learn about the university system’s budget, labor relations and academics.

Hosted by the CSU Office of the Chancellor, the call featured input from Assistant Vice Chancellor for Budget Ryan Storm, Public Affairs Director Toni Molle and Chief of Staff for Academic and Student Affairs Nathan Evans, all of whom emphasized a strong future for the CSU. Each of the three speakers had their own sections where they talked about for a couple of minutes with accompanying powerpoint slides. Storm discussed the

CSU Task Force, which is the sustainable financial model for the California State Universities. Molle talked about the current situation involving the California Faculty Association strike and Evans then went on to talk about academic and student affairs.

Storm emphasized the Task Force Sustainable Financial model handles the costs that go into maintaining the finances of all of the California State University campuses.

The model looks over four areas, according to Storm, including administrative effectiveness, resource allocation, managing costs and revenue.

This model also has key recommendations and those are to review structure and cost of health benefit and pension programs to ensure long-term viability, revise discretionary parameters for the State University Grant tuition discount program, and lastly, to pursue funding to replace tuition discounts with direct grants to students.

The California State University has proposed a 2 per-

cent salary increase while the California Faculty Association has asked for a 5 percent increase, something to which Molle said neither parties have reached an agreement and both sides remain “indiscernible.”

Later in the webcast, Evans went on to discuss the Chancellor’s Office goals for the CSU they want to accomplish by 2025.

According to Evans, those goals are to improve four year graduation rates for first-time, full-time freshmen, graduation rates for transfer students, and to close achievement gaps.

The Chancellor’s Office said they will be more aggressive in the targets but also work very closely with CSU campuses to talk about the strategy they will undertake to address these targets as we move forward, said Evans.

The Chancellor’s Office says it wants to create positive change for the California State University, though it might take a while and a lot of frustration from both students and teachers.

TRAINING: Students at risk for hold on registration if not completed Continued from Pg. 1

required to complete annual refresher trainings around the topics of sexual misconduct, Title IX, and affirmative consent,” the email offered.

The email also communicated that the program titled THINK ABOUT IT takes around 60 minutes to complete and it “will empower you to make well-informed decisions and give you tools and education on relation-

ships, sex, and consent.”

Students are expected to complete the program by Feb. 28. or risk a hold being placed on their fall 2016 registration. To access the online training, check your Sononoma State email account.

-Adrian Alvarado, biochemistry major, Junior

“I hope [Sakaki] will be considerate of our faculty and their needs. Being a professor is not easy task and they deserve a lot more.”

- Audrey Hamblin, Hutchins major, Junior

STAR // Brandon Stachnik

“I hope [Sakaki] will listen more to the students, and bring things students would like to see.”

- Bijan Shamai, marketing major, Senior

Last semester, Sonoma State University honored mental health awareness week by hanging hearts in the Salazar Quad with facts relating to mental health. This semester, Associated Students is advocating for increased funding for the Counseling and Psychological Services to meet the needs of students.

MENTAL HEALTH: Counseling center fully funded by student fees Continued from Pg. 1

“I hope the new president can take our needs into consideration such as advocating for a parking structure as well as more classes. With the current student population growth these demands will continue to be a recurring issue.”

- Lisa El Sao, criminal justice major, Senior

- in the current fee.”

A fee of 54 dollars per semester is paid by students which supports CAPS and this covers ten meetings for that semester. ”As for the action that can be taken to resolve the issue,” said De Jong, “Reallocating university money to CAPS to hire another full time counselor would be a great start.”

De Jong accounts his relationship to someone who

has had problems with mental illness as to what made him become aware of the effects of mental illness, as well pursuing a major in psychology.

A compromise is necessary on the issue, as about 60 percent of students with mental illness end up dropping out of school because of their illness. However students are encouraged to practice self-care.

“Self-care is too often lost in today’s ‘perform or die’ type atmosphere,” said

De Jong, “and I personally believe that is one of the main contributors to our campus’s and our country’s rash of mental illness.”

Whether it’s through added funds to CAPS or additional support towards self-care, the university and its students can be sure that the Associated Students and CAPS say they will work closely together to try to solve the issue. CAPS can be contacted by calling 707 664-2153 between 8 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

News

Feb. 9 - Feb. 15, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

Page 5

UNITED STATES The Wall Street Journal reported the Dow Jones fell by 2 percent and adversely affected the stock market and specifically, bank shares in the U.S. and Europe respectively. This increased the price of gold by 3 percent and also negatively affected prominent shares belonging to investment firms such as Goldman Sachs, which saw a 5.7 percent decline in share prices. In the wider scope, the Wall Street Journal said, since the U.S. dollar is connected to many assets and markets globally, the economic downturns may not only hurt the U.S. economy but those of other countries as well.

TAIWAN Tainan, a city of 1.9 million people in Taiwan, had a 6.4 magnitude earthquake the morning of Saturday, Feb. 6. The New York Times reported 130 people missing and 463 injured.

Most of the missing people were university students and in terms of damage, the city wasn’t extremely affected by the earthquake. The earthquake was also considered “shallow,” meaning that more damage was expected at the surface level. In addition, a 17 story building collapsed, which housed the students who are still missing.

SYRIA According to the BBC, Syrian President Bashar-al-Assad’s party was accused of propagating the death and torture of prisoners. The United Nations Human Rights Investigators reported to the BBC that prisoners were beaten to death, tortured and had a lack of food and proper medical attention.

Meanwhile, there’s an ongoing civil war in Syria and 250,000 people have died thus far and 4.6 million have fled as well as 13.5 million who still need humanitarian help inside the country. In terms of the prisoners killed, officers helped move their bodies to military hospitals and then buried them in mass graves.

AUSTRALIA An endangered radiated tortoise was stolen, sold on the black market and later returned by the buyer to a zoo in Australia. According to the BBC, the buyer of the tortoise returned it after realizing it was “rare.” Radiated tortoises are native to Madagascar and are considered the most beautiful tortoises according to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park Conservation Biology Institute.

February 2016 Offense Date Location Petty Theft

01/31/16

Sirah

Residence Hall

Trespassing/ 01/31/16 Madeira Vandalism Residence Hall Traffic Accident 02/01/16 Parking Minor Injury Lot J Get Credit Using Other’s ID

04/01/15 (Reported 02/02/16)

Campus

Petty Theft 01/26/16 Student Center

instagram.com Sonoma State University students took to social media to express their frustrations with LoboVision, the new addition to the campus Recreation Center. Despite some negative feedback regarding LoboVision, university officials hope the screen will spread awareness about campus events and get more students involved.

LOBOVISION: University still working out the kinks Continued from Pg. 1

to earn some financial benefits, however their priority is advertising our campus first.

“Not only can LoboVision advertise events on campus but we are also looking to stream sporting games, performances at Weill Hall and Associated Students debates,” said Director of Sales and Marketing Ryan Ernst.

“Along with that, LoboVision has speakers so we are hoping to start movie nights in the quad for students.”

A recurring theme as to why students are upset about the creation of LoboVision is that the money could have been put towards hiring more professors, especially with the potential of a strike this semester. The univer-

sity doesn’t have one budget used for the entire school, but instead a bunch of smaller budgets for specific departments. The budget for LoboVision supports campus construction and renovations, not faculty or salary of professors.

LoboVision was created by capital improvement funds to improve the Student Center, Recreation Center and campus life purposes only. Faculty and course budget is in a different department of money which also can only be used for those purposes.

In simple terms, Sonoma State is evenly dividing their budget to improve the lives of students and communication to them.

“One thing I was wondering is why is it so big and so bright.

When I was walking through the

quad at night it was so blinding that I felt like I couldn’t even read the advertisements” said sophomore Undeclared major Katrina Torgersen. “However if it played music and videos that would be pretty cool.”

Since LoboVision has only been up and running for about two weeks, university maintenance is still working with the brightness and the fine tuning will not be complete until mid February.

They are also looking into not running the screen after a certain time of night to help conserve energy, however it is powered by LED lights which are much better for the environment and more efficient. LoboVision’s estimated cost was $340,000 according to Ernst.

Page 6

Arts

Feb. 9 - Feb. 15, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

‘Into the Woods’ brings magic to the stage Emma Devitt Staff Writer

Review

T

he Sonoma State University Department of Theatre Arts and Dance conjured up some magic with their incredible performance of “Into the Woods” on Thursday night. Music Director Lynne Morrow and Stage Director Marty Pistone came together as the perfect team to put on this challenging show.

Imagine all of the fairy tale characters from childhood stories; Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, Prince Charming, Jack and the Giants- stick all of those characters in the same magical land, add a curse and you have “Into The Woods.” The story centers around the Baker (Brett Mollard) and his wife (Natasha Potts), childless and wishing for a child.

The Witch (Allie Evans), who lives in the cottage next door, reveals that she had put a curse on the Baker’s father years ago that would make his family barren.

The Witch says she will reverse the curse if they find the items needed to make her young again. The Baker and his wife venture into the forest to find the items, and make some unlikely friends along the way.

To say this cast is talented is an understatement. Even the smallest parts were played perfectly. The Narrator (Matthew Adiao), did a fantastic job of not taking attention from the scene, simply being a voice. Adiao also played the Mysterious Man and was the perfect balance of cryptic, creepy and later, loveable. Cinderella (Emily Thomason) was a very real, and

relatable character. Thomason has an incredible voice that blew the audience away. Jack (Lawrence Ricardo) and Jack’s mother (Elizabeth L. Robertson) played off of each other very well; Ricardo pulling off the innocence and naivety of a child perfectly. Milky White (Hannah Hobbs), Jacks pet cow, added an extra layer of comedy with her animated movements and timing. Hobbs handled the cow suit like a professional, giving Milky White life and personality.

The Baker and his wife were flawless. There was an incredible amount of chemistry between Mollard and Potts, both of them with strong, clean vocals and fluid choreography that felt natural for them.

Emily Rice played Little Red Riding Hood, a fierce and sassy girl taking sweets to her granny in the woods. Rice kept audiences entertained and laughing, while also wowing with her incredible voice.

The talented Ted Smith played both the Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince, showing fantastic diversity in his acting skills. Smith was joined by Malik-Charles Wade as Rapunzel’s Prince and Smith’s brother. The audience roared with laughter during “Agony”, in which the brothers lament over their lost princesses.

But perhaps the most impressive performance was Evans as The Witch. This role is one of the most challenging in all aspects and Evans nailed it.

Her on stage costume change was flawless. Going from an old, haggard woman to a young, gorgeous lady was quick and barely noticeable. Her sass and wit kept audiences laughing, but the heart of a mother came through beautifully. The power and strength of Evans’ voice leaves one speechless.

The set was fun and whimsical, really bringing the audience into the magical forest. It almost had a Tim Burton feel to it, with bright colors and creepy trees. Most of the costumes were crafted with the same idea in mind, especially in Act II. The 13 piece orchestra accompanying the cast is an extremely talented group of musicians. Their timing was impeccable,

helping to bring the story to life by adding suspense or bringing relief.

The performance as a whole was everything “Into The Woods” should be, and more. It was dark, witty, comedic and passionate. The finale filled the room with emotion and caused goose bumps on every arm; leaving the audience wanting more.

Courtesy // David Papas “Into the Woods”, a story based on an assortment of fairy tales, premiered in Person Theatre on Feb. 4.

“Art from the Heart” exhibit celebrates 32 years K atelyn Q uinn Staff Writer

Commentary

S

onoma State University students, alumni, artists and other guests alike gathered in the Sonoma State Art Gallery on Saturday night to celebrate the 32nd annual “Art from the Heart” exhibit.

The event displayed a variety of astonishing art pieces donated by students and other artists, and in addition provided an auction, music and refreshments.

The gallery expanded through a couple of rooms in the University Art Gallery. Along the walls and on the stands in the middle of the room there were dozens of types of artwork.

Paintings, sculptures, prints and other kinds of art captured the attention of many attendees.

As people gathered around the works, it was easy to overhear discussion of their thoughts on each one, especially with the artists themselves.

“I want to be able to support my son,” said event goer Louise Bostrom, mother of Eric Thomas Bostrom, who created the piece “Daesh Attack” which contains an obscure picture of a face that was made using a ballpoint pen and spray paint.

She says she has witnessed how hard he’s worked over the years and how far he’s come with his art.

“I’ve been there from when he was simply scribbling on paper, to when he earned his degree in art,” she added.

It was touching to witness the support family and friends showed.

It was especially enjoyable to get to chat with the artists themselves when approaching the pieces.

For instance, a rather popular piece was “Everik Masquerade 37”, a beautiful marionette puppet that represented a figure in a black and gold masquerade gown.

The artist, Mary Naler, carried the puppet around to display it to many groups of people as well as mingle with them.

“Only the head’s made out of wood,” she replied when asked about how it was made, “Everything else on it was made with plastic, plush, wood and canvas. I wanted to give it a different feeling.”

Lists would also be placed next to the artwork for event-goers to place bids on the pieces.

People were given a chance to

look at the value and minimum value of any artwork they desired and to place their price for buying it out.

By the end of the night, many works were sold and lucky attendees walked out with a new piece of art.

The exhibit gave attendees the chance to explore the diversity of the submissions, and brought awareness to the art gallery.

The artwork wasn’t the only thing in the building with color. Upbeat jazz music was played in the background and a variety of snacks and drinks were provided for anyone who needed to take a break.

Gallery Director and Professor of Art History Michael Schwager was also present.

“This exhibit is my 25th year attending in a row,” he said.

He mingled with the attendees and artists and said he was pleased to see how it all turned out.

“I’d like to thank all of our volunteers this year,” Schwager said, “It’s important that we really bring awareness of the different kinds of art we represent in the gallery, especially the art from Seawolves. The awareness really helps keep the gallery going and assist the event in bringing in more people every year.”

When asked about the theme of the event, Schwager said, “There’s never really a direct theme to ‘Art from the Heart’ as a whole. Rather, it’s a large span of themes that all connect to each other.”

This was important to mention, given that when other people gathered around the works, there was a great amount of discussion about the themes of each piece, in both their subject and how they’re made.

The important aspect to recognize about each piece, however, is how the diversity of the works in the gallery highlight the heart each creator placed into their art.

Every piece told a story, not just in the subjects of each piece, but how they were made.

For instance, a piece called “Memorias” by Johnny Kanwan, which represents a sugar skull, was discussed quite a bit.

“It was exciting to see artwork of Latin culture, since I’ve grown up in Latin America and the representation is very important,” stated attendee and Hutchins professor Roberta KraljRogers.

“Art from the Heart” had a major turnout with many different people, artists and non-artists alike. It brought many together to share their mutual passion for art, and fund raised consciousness in a diverse, heartfelt manner in a college setting.

STAR // Brennan Chin Student filmmakers Max Heller and Alessio Guerra have been invited to Cannes International Film Festival.

Q&A with Max Heller and Alessio Guerra Christine Edwards Staff Writer

S

onoma State University student filmmakers Max Heller and Alessio Guerra have recently been invited to the Cannes International Film Festival to have their Campus Movie Fest Jury Award winning short film “The Vision” screened before some of the industry’s most elite professionals. The STAR sat down with these up and coming filmmakers to discuss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

STAR: Can you tell me how you came up with this idea? What was the inspiration behind this film?

Heller: SSU-TV gave us an announcement about Campus Movie Fest coming to Sonoma State and the opportunity that might lead to going to Cannes. We also felt that we could get a requirement fulfilled within that class producing an independent film.

STAR: Why do you think your film stood out among the other submissions to Campus Movie Fest?

Guerra: I think ours stood out because it’s hard to pull off comedy; and because it is a comedy parody about making a film, everyone could sort of relate and it struck a chord with the audience.

STAR: How did you get started making films?

Heller: As a communication major I wanted to explore all sorts of studies- radio, PR, the STAR, but taking SSU-TV last semester allowed me to find a niche and I fell in love with it. After the success of this film we produced, I’m really content right now and we’ll see where it takes me.

STAR: Can you tell me what this opportunity to travel to Cannes means to you. What was your reaction to hearing this news?

Heller: We were shocked and felt really lucky. There were over 1000 films submitted.

Guerra: Close to 90 universities (participated), and out of all of those campuses only 45 people from the top schools get to go. We are extremely fortunate and blessed.

The STAR: This huge opportunity

could really help elevate your careers, is this something you see yourselves pursuing post-graduation?

Guerra: I’ve always aspired to be a filmmaker and this is a dream come true for me. I really hope this moment going to Cannes will be a landmark in our careers. I hope that we get to go there and experience the filmmaking industry and also make connections for future possibilities. I don’t want our success to end here.

Heller: We will have an opportunity to meet a bunch of the industry’s professionals and filmmakers from all over the globe; there’s just going to be so much for us to absorb and network and that is invaluable.

The STAR: Did you ever imagine your film would make it this far?

Guerra: I think that was the dream, it sounded far-fetched, but we believed in it enough that we were confident we could make it this far.

STAR: Do you guys have plans to collaborate again in the future?

Guerra: We are already making plans right now for our next video for CineNoma, the film festival that SSU-TV puts on.

We’ve already started brainstorming ideas and reaching out to our crew that we did “The Vision” with.

STAR: Anything else you would like to add?

Heller: We’ve started a GoFundMe campaign and are looking for donations to cover travel expenses.

Guerra: Unfortunately, the program isn’t free, although we’ve been accepted and we’re truly blessed, we can’t do it by ourselves. We started this page in the hopes that friends family, and maybe others that have seen the film and would like to help us out; we would be more than gracious for any contribution. The page is called Max and Alessio’s trip to Cannes.

Heller: Right now we are looking for sponsorships as well; any local businesses that might be willing to host a fundraising event at their facility. We are aspiring filmmakers that have a vision and we want to make sure that we see that (vision) out. It would be a great opportunity for us to acquire enough funds to make the most out of this trip.

Feb. 9 - Feb. 15, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

Entertainment

Page 7

The bands that fall through the cracks Nico Gray Staff Writer

Commentary facebook.com The Coen brothers’ latest film, ‘Hail, Ceasar!’ released in theaters on Feb. 5.

‘Hail, Caesar!’ provides irrelevant fun Sean Curzon Staff Writer

Review

“H

ail, Caesar!” is a giant love letter to golden era Hollywood, even though it might not have been all that golden.

Directed and written by Joel and Ethan Coen, “Hail, Caesar!” is the return of the Coen’s trademark dry humor in the tradition of “The Big Lebowski” and “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”.

The film is about studio executive Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) who acts as a fixer, someone who deals with the personal lives of actors and tries to prevent scandals from becoming public. Capital Pictures, the studio Mannix works for, is producing “Hail, Caesar!” which is the story of the crucifixion from the point of view of a roman general played by world famous actor Baird Whitlock (George Clooney).

Things go awry when Whitlock is abducted by a group calling themselves The Future and demand $100,000 for his return. Mannix also has to deal with director Laurence Lorenz (Ralph

Fiennes) and his unhappiness at the cowboy actor, Hobie Doyle (Alden Ehrenreich), being cast as the lead in Lorenz’s film, and actress DeeAnna Moran (Scarlett Johansson) becoming pregnant while filming her new movie, while twin reporters Thora and Thessaly Thacker (Tilda Swinton), try to get their own scoop on the studio.

The cast also includes Frances McDormand as the studio’s film editor C.C. Calhoun, Channing Tatum as the tap dancing Burt Gurney and Jonah Hill plays a notary.

The movie plays like a series of interlocking sketches more than a straight up story. Each scene has its own setup and punch line. It helps create this “day in the life” vibe they have going on for Mannix.

On the flip side, this makes the movie filled with superfluous scenes that don’t really have anything to do with the kidnapping plot.

Many scenes could be cut and the plot wouldn’t be effected in any meaningful way. In fact, Johanssons’ characters’ story could be completely removed from the film.

This movie lampoons many film genres, from historical epics to cowboy westerns to Gene

Kelly dance musicals.

The movie pays homage to the genres, including a five-minute dance scene with Channing Tatum as a sailorand it is glorious. It also plays with behind the scene drama with overbearing directors and clueless actors. Fans of golden age Hollywood films will get a kick out of the references.

The actors are great, especially since many of them are not only playing their characters, but also playing the characters that their characters are playing. There is great contrast between the actors and the characters they’re playing in the movies. Clooney’s womanizing, drinking Whitlock becomes a grand Roman general delivering beautiful monologues.

The acting captures both the cheesy over-thetop old school acting and a more realistic take on how people talked. It’s neat how the film captures the duality of the characters. The sets for the movie really look like the movies they’re lampooning. It really helps develop the fantasy world.

Fans of absurdest comedies, the film work of Joel and Ethan Coen and old films will get a kick out of “Hail Caesar!”.

I

t’s easy to fall through the cracks when a large part of the music industry conforms strictly to public demand in order to reap the financial benefits. However, the only thing more dry and exhausted than mainstream rock is talking about its decline. Most labels sell the idea that rock is dying in order to keep us waiting for a resurrection.

When one looks at music festivals packed with fans, one can still see the desire for screeching guitars and powerful drum fills. Rock is no longer at the heart of popular demand, but there will always be room for it. Real fans know the sound hasn’t died, but there are only so many bands we can still believe in.

Royal Blood is an up-and-coming band that will soon reach super stardom as they continue to revitalize the hard rock sound. Formed in West Sussex, UK, they have caught the attention of true rock fans with their unnaturally catchy melodies with an ominous and visceral sound. Their debut album, “Royal Blood” was released in late 2014.

Their most impressive aspect is their raw, powerful sound that comes from only a two-piece band. They possess the energy and style that rock has been missing. Bands that receive the most air time such as Mumford & Sons, Kings of Leon, and fellow two piece band, The Black Keys, all possess very similar sounds and styles.

It’s easy to compare them to other bands with two members, but Royal Blood doesn’t have to sugar coat their lyrics or style. Lead singer/guitarist, Mike Kerr’s lyricism takes you back with a captivating, post-grunge attitude.

Along with drummer, Ben Thatcher, their intensity comes from striking hooks and melodies with a stage presence and musical wisdom that breaks through any opposing sounds.

The singles off their first album include “Out of the Black,” “Little Monster,”

“Come On Over,” and “Figure It Out.” The unique, garage-rock style has been noticed by other bands as they were asked to perform with Arctic Monkeys and opened for the Foo Fighters on their latest U.K.,U.S. and Canada tours. Their debut album was confirmed by the Official Charts Company as the fastest selling British rock debut album in three years.

The next group is almost hard to call a band as lead singer Jordan Cook performs most of the time as a one man band.

Whether a band or a solo act, Reignwolf is becoming one of rock’s most entertaining acts. Originally from Canada, but performing out of Seattle, Cook is quickly being compared to Jack White of the The White Stripes.

As a Blues-Rock musician, he incorporates an older style, but his guitar riffs, with raw and tormenting vocals are a new touch on a classic style. From his long, greasy hair and mutton chops, to the vigorous style he plays guitar, Cook is definitely a throwback rocker, appearing like he could have fronted Blue Oyster Cult in the 70s.

With so many similar sounds, Reignwolf isn’t trying to appeal to all audiences, he is simply making music. His songs, “Electric Love,” “In The Dark,” “The Chain,” and “Are You Satisfied?” incorporate his fast paced riffs and edgy solos.

As a one man band, Cook has no problem singing and playing while keeping rhythm, as one foot plays along a single kick drum. He possesses a thrashing on stage performance; frequently ripping solos atop of nearly overblown amps and rolling around on the stage.

This fierce demeanor evokes the classic rocker persona. This style has not gone completely unnoticed as he was previously an opening act for Black Sabbath. Cook has described his one man band style “as raw and bare-bones as you can get,” and you certainly cannot deny his prowess.

As these young bands are still defining their own sounds, their musical expectations can only evolve. They are not the first of their kind, but they are the next in line.

As both groups are currently taking time off, it will be interesting to see what sound they come back with and if they can truly bring rock back from “Out of the Black.”

facebook.com British band, Royal Blood performed at “Rock in Rio” in 2015.

Student success story: Katelyn Medlin

K

Jessica Shipma Staff Writer

atelyn Medlin, a sophomore at Sonoma State University, turned tragedy into triumph this year with the release of her book “Rusty to the Rescue.”

“Rusty to the Rescue” is a children’s book about a girl in the hospital named Susie, who is visited by Rusty, a therapy dog who helps her heal. The book is based on Medlin and a seven year old Dachshund who currently travels to care homes and hospitals.

During Medlin’s first semester at Sonoma State, she found herself in the hospital with doctors having a tough time diagnosing her. Rusty and his owner, Terry Brown, began visiting Katelyn in the hospital.

“I started crying. I was so happy to have a little bundle of joy visit because hospitals can be so negative,” said Medlin,“I just want to inspire people the way Rusty inspired me.”

Despite being in her second year of college and being preoccupied with a double major in biology and business, as well as being active in her sorority Alpha Gamma Delta, Medlin finds time for book signings in her home town of Yuba City.

Medlin has also been in touch with The Good Dog Foundation in New York, whose mission is “to ease human suffering and promote recovery from trauma and stress using animal-assisted therapy.”

Medlin didn’t always plan to become an author.

“I never had any intentions to become an author, my mom suggested the idea,” said Medlin.

She went with the idea and started writing one week after getting out of hospital.

“I was in the hospital for two weeks and home recovering, writing down everything I remembered. I came up with a really rad manuscript and hired an editor and we worked together on that.”

The entire process including editing and illustrating took about a year to complete, considering that Medlin was still going to school and “wanted to make sure I was working with all of the right people.”

Danielle Boccio, a sophomore pre-business major, knows Medlin through their sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta.

“It’s inspiring that someone so young can complete this task and it’s extremely heartwarming at the same time,” said Boccio, “She took this shocking experience and turned it around to inspire other people and because she aimed it to little kids it shows the kind of person she is and how much she cares for other people.”

Medlin’s success isn’t just local, as people have been reaching out to her from all over the United States.

“Hearing the feedback, how much people love it and all of the support is extremely wonderful and helped me get better,” said Medlin.

Medlin’s illustrator, however, was not local to the United States. After contacting her editor in New York, he provided her with a list of illustrators and suggested she reach out and see if any reached back out to her. Medlin contacted the first person on the list, Richard Gomer Vivas, who is located in the Philippines.

“He did an amazing job, but the time difference was difficult,” she said.

Another sorority sister of Medlin’s, Brittney Karanopoulos, who is a pre-nursing major had plenty to say about Medlin.

“As a person Katie has to be one of the strongest people I know. It’s amazing how she turned her not so great experience into something she is now able to share with kids and families everywhere,” said Karanopoulos, “Her book is so adorable and I think it’s incredible how she takes on school, sorority life, family life and still has time to write a book. She is such an inspiring woman and I aspire to be like her in so many ways.”

Medlin’s success comes as a surprise to her.

“I didn’t expect it to shoot off. I did it for myself, but it has definitely turned into something extremely wonderful.

And it’s definitely helped my health improve too,” Medlin said.

“Rusty to the Rescue” is currently available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million and Powell’s Books. Medlin has already started the second book in the Rusty series, but says “I’m taking it slow. I have to account for my schedule and keep my grades up. I want to keep writing and get it all out there. I think it’s really fun.”​

facebook.com Sophomore Katelyn Medlin’s book, “Rusty to the Rescue”, is available on Amazon now.

Page 8

Student Life

Feb. 9 - Feb. 15, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

Gallery: Pack the Den ignites Seawolf spirit

STAR // Connor Gibson Above: The Sonoma Sate Sapphires perform a remix of Missy Elliot hits during half-time. Bottom left: junior Ronnie Harris attempts to shoot a free throw against Humboldt State University last Saturday. Bottom right: senior Andy Mitchell charges toward a Humboldt player during “Pack the Den”.

Dahlak defines the power of testimony Rachel McCloskey Staff Writer

A

s students began to line up in the hallway along the third floor entrance to the ballroom, it was obvious not many knew what they were in for.

With a title like “Spiritrials, One Person Performance by Dahlak”, what was anyone supposed to expect? Everyone could hear the pounding sound of the bass against the walls as the sound tests came to a close.

When entering the dimly lit ballroom and seeing the word “spiritrials” across the screens onstage, many were still unsure what the show was about.

There were two gentlemen on stage, one at a DJ station controlling the music and the other playing the keyboard who most perceived to be Dahlak.

As students finished entering the ballroom, a little over half the seats were full and the music continued.

The set-up was simple. There were two ladders on stage, a few chairs, tables with a keyboard and a DJ station. It left a lot of room for imagination for students to anticipate what was to come.

The HUB, Campus life and the Department of Theater Arts and Dance worked together to put on the event.

“Dahlak’s ‘Spiritrials’ was a powerful and timely performance that looks into the intersection of race, gender, spirituality and the criminal justice system,” Mark Fabionar, director of the Multicultural center, said. “Last year he performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing

Arts, so I feel we were fortunate to have him perform at Sonoma State.”

Dahlak was here for a total of three days and did a series of different workshops with the Theater Arts and Dance department.

“He led a workshop on storytelling and hip-hop performance with upper-division dance, tech and acting majors,” Scott Horstein, a professor from the Theater Arts and Dance department, said. “Dahlak’s work with the students focused on the power of testimony; how hip-hop seamlessly blends acting and music; and the need to define your own rituals lest they be defined for you.”

His show last Tuesday focused on his experience in a forced drug rehabilitation center, even though he was considered a “non-addict.”

Throughout the performance he portrayed five different characters with names such as ‘Pastor’, ‘Sample’, and ‘Mary.’

The characters covered topics on the criminal justice system, religion, sexuality and drug and addiction and how the institutional system is affecting these topics.

“I’ve known Dahlak for over a decade. I’ve seen how inspiring his performances are to so many people. I wanted students to meet and learn from an artist-activist who embodies his path in such a beautiful way,” Fabionar said.

“We’re hoping that the students will leave these experiences feeling more empowered to create their own solo performances and have a greater sense of engagement with issues of culture and identity,” said Hornstein.

Student Life

Feb. 9 - Feb. 15, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

Page 9

Creed: From Scranton to Rohnert Park

STAR // Sara Wildman Creed Bratton, known for his character ‘Creed’ on the hit NBC show “The Office” came to Sonoma State University last Wednesday to share his experiences on the show as well as a few original songs.

Diana Arroyo Staff Writer

A

long line of eager students filed up the stairs of the Student Center last Wednesday, rushing to see the special guest they had once seen on their television screen. Creed Bratton, known for playing ‘Creed’ on the hit show “The Office”, came to Sonoma State University and put on a comedic, musical mash-up for students.

That crowd quickly filled up the Student Center Ballroom just before the event was scheduled to begin. Talk about Bratton and the show could be heard throughout the

rows of anxious and electrified students.

“Excited is an understatement,” freshman Brandon Jolly said, who is a big fan of The Office and Creed himself.

A few moments after being announced to come on stage, a man in a blue shirt holding a guitar walked through the side doors of the ballroom as students began clapping and cheering his name. sBratton walked up to the stage as the crowd started to slowly quiet down and began gently strumming his guitar only to interrupt himself and begin to explain the song he was about to play. The song, oddly enough, was actually a shopping list he heard from his travels in Europe and continued to play it as students giggled.

He began his talk with mentions of him getting here on his scooter which brought laughs from the audience. He then asked the audience for participation as he portrayed his character from “The Office”. Soon after he began talking about himself and being adopted by asian parents. “[They] made pretty good chow mein. I wanted chop suey but they said ‘that is too complicated. Chow mein good’.”’

He then played and sang another song called “Secret Agent Man” by P.F. Sloan and after played his own original song titled “Down the way of Rome”, where he mentioned that it was the second audience he’s played it to.

After two songs, Creed began talking about how he was soon going on a European tour. As the audience awed in excitement, they were soon played for fools as he leaned to his side and spoke to his manager through an earpiece and confessed that he is actually going to Chico.

“That part caught me off guard and had me dying because I actually believed him,” junior Zuleyma Fernandez said.

Following the joke, he played “Where were you when I needed you” and “Live for today” by Grass Roots.

As the show went on, Bratton talked about his lifestyle and how he tries to keep busy since “The Office”. He mentions to the audience about how he works out, does yoga and eats well as part of attempting to inspire students to be healthy. He also mentioned that the water he drinks is of the purest form. “[It’s] from the Arctic Circle and filtered through Johnny Depp’s hair,” Bratton said.

He then talked about a few characters from “The Office” and followed by a song with the lyrics “Hey mose, get out of the way”. As the audience began to sing along, he then stopped halfway to talk to his manager again. Towards the end of his performance, he sang a song that was featured in the finale of “The Office” called “All the faces”.

This received a standing ovation and soon after Bratton quickly ran off the stage and out the ballroom.

However, not 30 seconds later he returned for an encore. He then plays a funky song called, “The rubber tree dance” from season 2 of “The Office” which gets the audience pumped up and singing along one last time.

After his humorous and musical performance, Creed has a quick Q&A with the audience where he was asked a variety of questions ranging from what his favorite improv was on “The Office” to who he thought was going to win the SuperBowl this year, to which he replied “That’s football?”

STAR // Megan Corcoran Last week, the Spring Club Fair gathered Sonoma State’s clubs into one place. The Seawolf Plaza was busy with the constant flow of students waiting to sign-up for a club.

Spring Club Fair gets students involved

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Audrey Altman Staff Writer

lyers were out, tables were set up and students were lining up as over 55 clubs and organizations set up tables to recruit some new members at the Spring Club Fair.

Hundreds of students signed up to find people with similar interests as them, and see what organizations Sonoma State University has to offer.

There are so many options of clubs to join on campus, and there seems to be something for everyone. Starting with fraternities and sororities, there are major-specific clubs, singing and dancing clubs, student government and religious clubs.

“It’s a great opportunity to get involved on campus” senior Macenzie Campolito said.

Joining clubs on campus gives students an opportunity to meet people they might have not before, and find other people with similar interests as them.

Getting involved on campus can seem scary and intimidating, but can also be one of the most rewarding things a student can do. This gives students an opportunity to connect with people who love the same things

they love, or do the same things they do. Naturally, it gives a student the ability to connect with other students they may have not met otherwise. As well as that, it gives a student something awesome and unique to put on their resume.

For students interested in the law, or ever becoming a lawyer or attorney, there is pre-law society. “Prelaw society is for students interested in law and want to go to law school,” fifth year Juliana Morcate said. “We have LSAT study sessions, have law school admissions reps come talk to us, we visit schools and go to law fairs. Our meeting are every other Tuesday from noon. to 1 p.m. in Alexander Valley in the Student Center.”

Along with law and major specific clubs, there is also Associated Students Productions, which helps plan events for students.

“We put on events that are student run, they are for students by students” sophomore and ASP member Sarah Hinchman said. “Students can join committees and help think of ideas and events for the future.”

Joining ASP is an opportunity for people who love to plan events and want to have say in campus dances, speakers, and more.

There are also religious clubs for people who want

to find others with similar faiths as theres, or if they are interested in learning about a religion they may not know much about.

“Intervarsity Christian Fellowship is a community that wants to bring people of faith together,” Kenny Campbell, an Intervarsity staff member, said. “We provide fellowship and a deeper relationship for those who come to our club. We have meetings every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Cooperage” As well as joining a club to make friends and find people with similar interests, joining a club can also change a student’s life. Students can find their homes away from home among these clubs and organizations, and they are welcoming to all students who feel they have a connection with what their club has or does.

The Spring Club Fair brought students together to find where they belong.

Whether that will be helping the community out through JUMP, gaining new brothers and sisters through greek life or unleashing one’s dancing or singing skills through B Natural or the Blue Barons, there is a place for everyone.

To find out more information on what clubs are offered, visit sonoma.edu/campuslife/clubs.

Page 10

Sports

Feb. 9 - Feb. 15, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

Gallery: Baseball team sweeps two game set

Sonoma State baseball’s offense dominates Mexico’s CETYS Universidad with victories of 10-5 and 11-6

STAR // Megan Corcoran Left: Tyler Glenn leaves the mound with a lead against CETYS Universidad visiting from Mexico.

Right: Rayson Romero adds to the Seawolves’ lead.

Men’s tennis squad still looking for first win Nathan Shapiro Staff Writer

T

he ball did not bounce in favor of Sonoma State University men’s tennis on a busy weekend, dropping three games against Holy Names University (L 0-9), George Fox University (L 4-5), and UC Davis (L 0-7). The Seawolves now hold a record of 0-4 this season.

Friday’s home debut against Holy Names consisted of sweeps in both singles and doubles competitions. HNU has a national ranking of 33, and a regional ranking of 6; Sonoma State is regionally ranked No. 8.

Despite the numerical outcome, the bout had its fair share of excitement. On Court 2, sophomore Sullivan Roche and freshman Christian Francisco battled but were ultimately defeated by the Hawks 8-3.Senior Daniel Holz’s respectful performance against regionally-ranked opponent Hugo Calpart lasted 3.5 hours and resulted in a first set triumph of 6-2, then a 7-6 fall in his second.

The third set tiebreaker did not take place, however, as a leg cramp left Holz hobbling through the final second set point and having to throw in the towel. Holz believes that defeat was a result of “one of the challenges of being a student

athlete.”

“I went straight from class directly to the match and hadn’t eaten since breakfast at 8 a.m., and my match ended at 4:30 p.m.,” Holz said. “The match was very long, roughly 3.5 hours, so my leg ended up seizing up on me as I lunged for the ball.”

Aside from the cramp, Holz took accountability for his moments of inconsistency, suggesting, “it came down to which player was more consistent, and this could be said about any game.”

Holz proceeded to note that his short-term focus on his game would be to continue to push the net and keep pressure on every point; up till now, this has given him good results.

Day two of the busy weekend matched the Seawolves up against George Fox University Bruins, a Division 3 school out of Newberg, Ore. The Seawolves were successful in winning the No. 2, 3, and 4 spots in singles with the success of Blaine Menger (No. 2), Logan Lidell (No. 3), and Sullivan Roche (No. 4). Unfortunately, the Bruins clipped two of three in doubles against the Seawolves, clinching the win on the day, 5-4.

The 0-7 loss Sunday afternoon at UC Davis ended the weekend, leaving the Seawolves with a current record of 0-4.

Senior Logan Lidell spoke by and large about the weekend’s performances and the current state of the team. “I think I have played pretty well, really trying to compete every point that I play and its been good to see the improvement after every match,” Lidell said. “We have had a tough couple matches so far playing some top level D1 teams, and I think our team has done very well at keeping a high energy level and intensity.”

In regards to the team’s future, Lidell remarked, “we have a very young roster and many of them are experiencing college tennis for the very first time. Some of our true freshman are having an opportunity to make a big impact on our team and hopefully as the season goes on they will continue to do so.”

Lidell has played on the men’s tennis team for the past 3 years, and now at the start of his senior season, memories are starting to come back to him.

“I’ve been reflecting before my matches and remembering all the great times I’ve had with the coaches, my teammates, the faculty, and all the fans that come out to support us,” said Lidell. “Sonoma has been a great home for me as an athlete and as a student and I will always be a Seawolf because of it.”

Men’s basketball team drops two at home Bianca Sanborn Staff Writer

T

STAR // Connor Gibson Above: Khalid Johnson drives the lane.

Below: Senior James Slade lays up a sky hook.

he Sonoma State University men’s basketball team suffered two losses this weekend in the Wolves’ Den. Cal Poly Pomona held off the Seawolves 68-62, then Humboldt State went on to defeat Sonoma State 67-51.

In the first of the weekend matchups, the Seawolves came out strong against Pomona, with a 7-0 lead to begin the game.

An effective zone defense executed early in the first half, along with key offensive plays by the starting five, kept the match close in the first 20 minutes of play.

Down by one (25-24) in the second half, senior James Davis erupted with seven 3-point shots, the first four nearly back-to-back.

“It’s nice to make a lot of threes because I love shooting them, but when we lose I can care less about how many threes I made or how many points I scored. It wasn’t enough to win the game,” said Davis, the 6-foot guard from San Lorenzo, CA. Davis shot 50 percent from the f loor, leading the team with 25 points. David Ahern trailed closely, earning 17 points in 29 minutes of play. Unfortunately, Pomona entered the second half of the game with an offensive intensity that Sonoma State couldn’t quite hinder. After 10 unanswered Cal Poly points in the remaining 12 minutes, the Seawolves were unable to recover, and Pomona secured the sixpoint victory.

“We made a few mistakes defensively down the stretch and they made us pay for it,” said Davis after the home court loss on Friday.

Similar defensive errors overshadowed the team in its final matchup against Humboldt State in the 2015-16 season.

Sonoma State students packed the Wolves’ Den on Saturday night to witness a fierce battle against the HSU Lumberjacks.

Ronnie Harris and David Ahern got the ball rolling with two early 3-pointers, giving the Seawolves a 6-0 advantage to start the game. Humboldt’s multiple failed attempts behind the 3-point line helped keep Sonoma in command until the Lumberjacks tied them at the half, 26-26.

The remainder of the competition looked like a much different game when the Lumberjacks took control midway through the second half, scoring 17 unanswered points.

“It was a combination of us remaining stagnant

on offense and giving Humboldt too many open shots on defense,” said David Ahern, who scored 9 points against the Lumberjacks.

Down 18 points with less than 5 minutes remaining in the game, Sonoma had to settle for the loss, putting its current overall record at 12-9 (7-8 CCAA).

Juniors Ronnie Harris, Luke Cochran, and Nathan Molony-Benjamin were among the team’s top scorers. Harris led the Seawolves with 14 points in just 21 minutes, including multiple impressive 3-point plays, while Molony-Benjamin energized the crowd with numerous blocks and a perfect alleyoop off of the inbound.

Despite two tough losses this weekend, the players are keeping focus, determined to break their 3-game losing streak.

“In order to win the next game we need to get in sync offensively and make better decisions with the ball,” Ahern acknowledges.

“We need to get a better f low offensively,” said Davis, agreeing with Ahern, “our defense has been carrying us all year. If we don’t figure things out on the offensive end of the f loor it will be tough to continue winning games.”

With only five games left in the season, the Sonoma State University men’s basketball team is ranked 7th in conference standings (7-8), close behind Cal State Monterey Bay (8-7).

The team is scheduled to play its last two home games this week on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. against San Francisco State, and at 4 p.m. on Saturday against Cal State San Marcos.

STAR // Connor Gibson Two Humboldt State defenders box out a Sonoma State player.

Sports

Feb. 9 - Feb. 15, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

SEAWOLF SPORTS Tuesday Feb. 9

Saturday Feb. 13

Women’s Golf Super San Diego championship All Day

Women’s Water Polo Triton Invitational La Jolla

Baseball VS Menlo College 2 p.m.

Seawolf Diamond

Softball VS Chico State (DH) Noon, 2 p.m.

Seawolf Diamond

Women’s Basketball VS SF State 5:30 p.m.

Wolves Den

Women’s Basketball VS CSU San Marcos 5:30 p.m.

Senior Night Wolves’ Den

Men’s Basketball VS SF State 7:30 p.m.

Wolves’ Den

Men’s Tennis VS Hawaii-Hilo Laie, HI 3 p.m.

Thursday Feb. 11

Men’s Basketball VS CSU San Marcos 4 p.m.

Wolves Den

Men’s Tennis VS Hawaii-Hilo 3 p.m.

Waipahu, HI Friday Feb. 12 Softball VS Chico State (DH) Noon & 2 p.m.

Seawolf Diamond Men’s Tennis VS Hawaii-Pacific 1 p.m.

Honulolo, HI Women’s Tennis VS Mills College 2 p.m.

SSU Tennis Court

Sunday Feb. 14 Women’s Water Polo Triton Invitational La Jolla Monday Feb. 15 Men’s Golf East-West Invitational Livermore All Day Women’s Tennis VS Dixie State 10 a.m.

SSU Tennis Courts

Courtesy of sonomaseawolves.com

Page 11

Softball team leaves the desert with 2-3 record hailee zastrow

Staff Writer

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he Sonoma State University softball team headed to Sin City this past weekend for the annual MSUB Desert Stinger to open their season. The No. 19 Seawolves left the desert of Las Vegas with a disappointing 2-3 record to start their season after being voted conference preseason number one and earning a national ranking.

In their season opener against California Baptist, the Seawolves fell 13-2. Emma Ryan and Leanna Georges were the only Seawolves to cross the plate in the blowout loss.

In the second game of day one, the Seawolves faced Montana State Billings but couldn’t come back from the Yellow Jacket’s four-run first inning and five runs in the second, putting them up 9-1.

The Seawolves rallied late with an eight run comeback, but it was not enough as the Seawolves fell short in a 9-8 loss, dropping their record to 0-2 to start the season.

The Seawolves had an opportunity to turn their early season struggles around in day two of the tournament when they faced off against No. 20 Augustana University and Western Washington. The first game of the day against Augustana was a battle. In the top of the third inning, Augustana got the first lead of the game, making it 1-0.

After that, both pitchers took over on the mound and there was no scoring until Sonoma State was able to finally get their offense going when Alex Flores started the bottom of the sixth off with a double. Aubrie Tolliver’s base knock was able to send Flores home and just like that the game was tied.

The game was still notted 1-1 going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Leanna Georges stepped to the plate with one out and a runner on second and was able to put the team on her back and drive in the game winning run to give the Seawolves their first win of 2016.

George’s ninth inning heroics was the highlight of the trip to Las Vegas for catcher Aubrie Tolliver.

“My favorite moment of the weekend would have to be our extra inning win. Leanna really came in clutch to give us our first win of

the season,” said Tolliver.

However, the success for the Seawolves didn’t stop there. The momentum from their first win helped them beat Western Washington 3-1 in their second game of the day.

Again, the opposing team took the lead first, putting the team down 1-0 but they fought back and tied the game in the fifth inning when Lindsay Calcany Blair hit a solo shot over the outfield wall to make the score 1-1.

From there, the Seawolves scored a pair of runs in the sixth, putting them up 3-1 and giving them their second win of the season.

On the final day of the MSUB Desert Stinger, the Seawolves played their last game of the tournament against Colorado Mesa. Jena Kaser led Sonoma State to a massive 7-0 lead in the first two innings after she went 4 for 4 with a home run and five RBI’s, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Seawolves on top. Colorado Mesa had a furious offensive showcase of their own when they scored thirteen runs in the next three innings.

The Seawolves weren’t able to get their offense back into groove, making a comeback improbable. Colorado Mesa handed the Seawolves their third loss of the early season, 137, dropping the Seawolves to a sub .500 record at 2-3.

Even though the weekend didn’t go completely as planned the Seawolves are not losing their confidence. Instead, they are focusing on improving the things that went wrong.

“There were many things that went right this weekend and many that we can definitely improve on. Leaving Vegas we are eager to get back to the practice field and focus on those things,” said Tolliver. “We are going to work on strengthening our defense.”

The Seawolves’ next opportunity for victory comes on Feb. 12 at home against Chico State at noon.

“We are excited just to get a game in at home and it’s a bonus that is gets to be against Chico. They’re going to be a tough competitor but I know we will come out strong,” said Tolliver.

The start of CCAA play will bring on a familiar foe in the Chico State Wildcats but the Seawolves are excited to be back on the Sonoma State dirt.

1-run losses plague Seawolves in seaside

T STAR // Connor Gibson The women’s basketball team lost to Humboldt State Friday.

Women’s basketball team Falls to last place Kristen Spear Staff Writer

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he Sonoma State University women’s hoopers are making it well known they will not go down without a fight. Each game in the Seawolves homestand started off with promise when the women jumped out to an early lead, but, unfortunately, they could not close out the victories, suffering two losses at home against conference foes Cal Poly Pomona and Humboldt State.

In Friday night’s two-point loss (5048) to Cal Poly Pomona, the Seawolves dominated the first half jumping out to an 18-point lead. Things started to fall for Cal Poly Pomona in the third quarter. Sonoma State fought hard to keep its 11-point lead in the second half. The Seawolves could only muster a dismal 14 points in the half, shooting only 14 percent from the field on 4-26 shooting, while the Mustangs shot 40 percent in their second half comeback.

Cal Poly Pomona pushed the Seawolves to the wire, but they could not hold on, ending the game with a 2-point victory in favor of the Mustangs.

Saturday night the Seawolves looked to bounce back in front of a rowdy Seawolves student section during the annual “Pack the Den” event against conference foe, Humboldt State.

The Seawolves’ fan base was in for a drama-filled treat. The game went down

all the way to the last seconds of double overtime. The Sonoma State ladies left their heart out on the court in a tough loss.

The Seawolves limited the Lumberjacks chances defensively while capitalizing on their opportunities with 53 rebounds. The game was a mirror image of Friday night’s loss when the Seawolves led again at the half by 16 points. The Seawolves clinched to a 47-31 lead entering the fourth quarter, but yet again the loss of momentum deteriorated their chance to finish out their win.

Senior leader, Hannah Sourek, was a key component to Sonoma State’s performance. She recorded 15 points with two three-pointers to get her team a quick, strong lead. Sourek also added a game high of 12 rebounds to cap off her doubledouble performance.

“I am very proud of the way our team played and fought. Regardless of us giving up our lead, we played well and battled as hard as we could,” said Sourek.

Sonoma now drops to last place in the CCAA conference with a record of three wins and 12 losses.

“We have been an underdog for so long and now we are finally earning the respect in the conference. We just need to believe in ourselves and each other that we are a good team and we can win,” said Sourek.

Sonoma State will continue their homestand with a game tonight at the Wolves’ Den at 5:30 p.m. against San Francisco State.

Allison Kelley Staff Writer

he stakes were high for the Sonoma State University baseball team over the weekend.

The Seawolves faced a tough loss against Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday. CSU Monterey Bay shocked the Seawolves with a pair of walk-off wins, which both ended in 7-6 scores at Seaside.

After two tough losses, Sonoma State’s record sunk to 1-4 on the season, while its CCAA rival, Monterey Bay, remains undefeated at 5-0 for the start of 2016.

Before dropping a pair of games to CSU Monterey Bay, Ryan O’Malley, was named CCAA baseball player of the week. O’Malley, a transfer senior from San Jose, had an incredible performance on the diamond during the Seawolves’ game against Cal State San Bernardino last weekend. “It was a great feeling after having to sit out for a whole year last year and it felt even better to start my career as a Seawolf with a great weekend” Said O’Malley.

Ryan finished the weekend strong, going 7 for 12 with three doubles, three home runs and six RBIs. “He was great and definitely helped us to win our game against San Bernardino,” said teammate Adam Manzer, “His plays were something special that you don’t see every week, so I’m glad he received the award.” ​In game one against CSU Monterey Bay, the Seawolves cruised by early on, with the help of Ryan Luna, who pitched three shutout innings. Sadly, in the fourth inning, the Otters rallied with seven hits and plated five runs in that frame.

Looking for a comeback in the seventh inning, the Seawolves drove in four runs from Grant St. Martin and Ryan O’Malley. The Seawolves tied the game in the eighth inning when former Sonoma State pitcher Stevan Zaharias surrendered a balk and Spencer Neave was able to score.

By the tenth inning, it looked as though the Seawolves would take home

the victory after another run was scored

by Philip Ramos. Instead, CSUMB countered with a two-run single by Chris Blanton, which ended The Seawolves hope for victory in the bottom of the tenth.

Pitcher, Matt Hammonds, commented on what the team did well during the first game against the Otters.

“For the most part, I thought we hit the ball pretty well. Our hitters were getting into the groove and when our lineup starts firing on all cylinders, we are very good,” said Hammonds.

The Seawolves were off to a strong start entering game two against CSU Monterey Bay. Adam Manzer scored a run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly, then Ryan O’Malley added a run to the scoreboard when he scurried to home plate on a wild pitch.

Despite giving up two runs, Monterey then quickly took back the advantage when they scored three runs in the first and three runs in the third, taking a 6-2 lead against the Seawolves.

Sonoma added some runs of their own to tie up the game in the fifth and sixth inning, but were sadly defeated when the Otters scored a run in the bottom of the sixth, resulting in a 7-6 win.

The game had to be called due to darkness.

The Seawolves will look to get back on the winning track when they are scheduled two games at home this week.

The first is on today against Menlo College at 2 p.m.

The second game is set for Feb. 16 against Academy of Art University also starting at 2 p.m. Adam Manzer describes what the team needs to improve on in order to succeed in these upcoming games.

“We need to be better on defense, which will help our pitchers out. Walks in those late innings hurt us bad.”

Regardless of the teams, or their record of 1-4 in the standings, the men are eager to see what their season has in store.

“I’m looking forward to playing with a great group of guys and competing for a conference championship,” said O’Malley.

Page 12

Photo

Feb. 9 - Feb. 15, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

STAR // Megan Corcoran The Sonoma State Sapphires performed at the Pack the Den pep rally Saturday night.

STAR // Connor Gibson Andy Mitchell, #2, drove around the Humboldt State defender towards the basket.

STAR // Connor Gibson James Davis, #42, took a jump shot against Humboldt State.

STAR // Connor Gibson Taylor Acosta, #21 split two Humboldt State defenders.

STAR // Sara Wildman STAR // Sara Wildman Actor Creed Bratton addressed the Sonoma State Seawolves in a packed Student Center Ballroom on Wednesday night at his “Hanging with Creed” show.

STAR // Megan Corcoran Brian Bynum, #39, awaited the next pitch from CETYS Universidad’s pitcher on Wednesday.

Creed Bratton sang songs from his grassroots days during “Hanging with Creed”.