‘Interstellar’ disappoints audience
P. 7
Volleyball continues winning streak
P. 11
Poker and prizes at Casino Night
P. 8
Sonoma State Star SINCE 1979
VOLUME 73 // ISSUE 12
SONOMASTATESTAR.COM
NOVEMBER 11 - NOVEMBER 17, 2014
Career planning course offered in spring Brittany Finley Staff Writer
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STAR // Gustavo Vasquez Hutchins School of Liberal Arts hosted an art show last Wednesday and Thursday, featuring art pieces from many Sonoma State University students.
Hutchins Community Art Show See the full story on page 6.
Campus welcomes German foreign exchange students J on Cappetta Staff Writer
S
onoma State University welcomed eight German foreign exchange students this fall, and since becoming active German Club members, done their part to share their culture around the campus community. These German students are either working as a Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant, Peer Language facilitator or tutor. German Club president, Vici Steiner sees having German Exchange students as a great opportunity for students to experience cross-culture and gain insight on German lifestyle. “Connecting with people around the world expands one’s insights about other countries and also their own country; when you hang out with the international community, you can hear about how they experience your country. I am happy to have students here from around the world, I find it so cool,” said Steiner. Sonoma State University is the only one in California to have a German Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant program. One of the teaching assistants for the German Club is a foreign exchange student named Johannes Weber. Weber is one of the 14 German teaching assistant members in the United States. The program is competitive,
choosing not only the most motivated, but also the most qualified students who are willing to increase their personal education and serve as educators for universities. Similar to Sonoma County, Weber is from a region in Germany notorious for producing wine. Pfalz is located in Southern Germany, found very close to the French-German border. For schooling, Weber later worked his way east to Mainz, Germany. In Mainz, Weber learned English and better familiarized himself with sports, all in hopes of becoming a teacher. Now with his bachelor’s in sports and English, Weber has decided to spread his knowledge and become a German teaching assistant at Sonoma State. Weber sees the significance in students ref lecting upon their own culture and critiquing students’ own way of living. “You start to question the way you have handled things so far and might consider transferring some parts of the other culture you like better into your own personal life, which eventually will make you a better and happier person,” said Weber. Isabell Schuler is another German foreign exchange student who has been involved in the club. Schuler is a peer language facilitator who offers once-aweek German tutoring to students. She attends facilitator group meet-
ings, and does her part to spread the word of the German Club and the events offered. She enjoys attending German movie night every other Monday and discussing her culture in the sessions. “I’ve really [enjoyed] my stay at SSU. It is an amazing campus and I met a lot of new people,” said Schuler. “Teaching German made my experience even more exciting as I keep comparing my life here to my life in Germany.” Since his arrival, Weber has been doing his part of the Fulbright program title. Weber teaches language labs and serves as a teacher’s assistant in the German courses. He has been involved in setting up and hosting German club events on campus. The goal is to bring the German culture to Sonoma State campus. Weber will be hosting events on campus such as German movie night, where club members and those interested come together and watch famous German movies. Being the sports fan he is, Weber plans on hosting German sports week, where Sonoma State students can not only learn but also play the popular sports of Germany. “The experience I get over here studying abroad and immersing myself into a completely different culture is invaluable,” said Weber. “You get to know many See GERMANY on Pg. 4
icking a major can be hard for many Sonoma State University stu-
dents. It often affects the classes’ students take, as well as future careers. One-third of Sonoma State students are undeclared, according to Sonoma State’s Academic Advising Office. The university offers 46 majors to choose from and picking one can be a daunting task for many, especially one in terms of a career or the steps students need to take to achieve their goals. “The problem is choosing a major is not a simple thing, you can’t just look at it and pick it,” said John Kornfeld, director of undergraduate studies. “Students have to understand what the major is, start to think about what your interests are, spend time thinking about what your aptitudes are and what careers potentially connect to those. University 237 does all of that.” University 237, a course titled Career Life Planning, is a one-unit class that offers students a chance to clarify their interests, values, skills and lifestyle preferences. Picking a major is a not always an easy task as each major has requirements one must meet. University 237 walks students through these steps so they know exactly what they need to do to choose an effective major. The tools learned in the course will enable students to select the major that suits them best. “This course looks at the big picture,” said Kornfeld, “Where do you want to go, what do you want to do with your college education? If these are your career goals, now it’s time to figure out what you need to do at SSU to get there.” College is considered a time to evolve and learn about oneself for many. Every student is on their own path when it comes to their education. Being undeclared or unsure of potential career goals it not a bad thing. Some students know right away what they want to do and enter college with a declared
sonoma.edu Professor John Kornfield sees the University 237 course as a resource for students to declare a major and plan career goals. major, while others often need the time to really assess and evaluate what they want to do and how to get the most from their education. University 237 will be offered in the spring semester and four sections of the course will be available to students. The different sections will be ran differently in terms of class structure and methods of teaching depending on the instructor. Each course section will have the same objectives in providing students with the knowledge needed in order to declare a major. Ann Mansfield, a career adviser and instructor of the course, sees the course as beneficial to undeclared students because of the resources it provides. Those resources work in facilitating career exploration to students and helping them navigate the decision-making process involved in choosing a major. “[The course] connects students who are all undeclared to listen and learn from each other and gain support for where they are in relationship to choosing a college major,” said Mansfield. Students who take this course can expect to be fully informed about the many unique majors at Sonoma State. They can expect to have a better knowledge of their interest and how those can be applied to a major and a career. The goal of the course is that by the end of the semester, students will be fully prepared to confidently declare a major that is right for them and enter the professional world.
Comedy Night at Sally Tomatoes
Improvaholics midnight show
How to live in the moment
Read more on Pg. 9
See the full story on Pg. 6
See the column on Pg. 3
Page 2
Editorial THE STAR Fall 2014 Editorial Board
Dylan Sirdofsky, Editor-in-Chief Kayla E. Galloway, News Editor Aryssa Carvalho, Asst. News Editor Rachel Keigley, Opinion Editor Brandon Stachnik, A&E Editor Alexis Mills, Features Editor Kayla Webster, Sports Editor Connor Gibson, Photo Editor Gustavo Vasquez, Asst. Photo Editor Megan Kleszcz, Copy Editor Peter Njoroge, Copy Editor Brennan Chin, Online Editor & Distribution Manager Amanda Saiki, Advertising Manager Anika Jess, Marketing Coordinator Eddie Blake, Editorial Cartoonist Paul Gullixson, Faculty Adviser
Star Production Lab Sonoma State University Salazar Hall 1053 1801 East Cotati Ave Rohnert Park, CA 94928 (707) 664-2776 Advertising: sonomastatestar@gmail.com, attn: Amanda Saiki
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Nov. 11 - Nov. 17, 2014
sonomastatestar.com
Driving above the influence
I
t’s no secret drinking is a major part of the college experience. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates about four out of five college students consume alcohol, and of those that do, at least half binge drink. So while college is considered by many as the time to “go crazy” and have fun, it’s also one of the most dangerous periods of life, especially when one gets behind the wheel of a car intoxicated. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 28 people in the United States die every day as a result of drunk driving. These deaths are preventable if those involved were to choose an alternative mode of transportation. When planning to go out and drink, it’s important to have a designated driver so everyone gets home safely. However, being the “DD” entails abstaining from alcohol for the entirety of the evening— and not everyone is willing to do that. Some people think as long as they stay below the legal limit—blood alcohol content .08—everything will be fine.
However, the National Highway Traffic Safety studies show even a single drink can affect motor skills and brain function. Furthermore, California driving under the influence laws stipulates even drivers with a blood alcohol content lower than the legal limit can still be issued a DUI. The number appearing on the Breathalyzer isn’t the only thing that matters—it’s how the person in question responds to mental and motor skills tests administered by the police. Another common misconception is after drinking one can “sober up” by eating, drinking coffee or taking a cold shower. None of these “remedies” work. The University of Wisconsin-Stout Counseling Center reports eating after consuming alcohol won’t induce sobriety because food can’t stop alcohol from entering the bloodstream; and eating a large meal before drinking will only delay the effects for a short time. Caffeine and cold showers are just as useless because the liver metabolizes alcohol at its own pace, regardless of actions taken to prevent it. The only thing that can make one sober
is time. However, if nobody in one’s party wants to commit to being the sober chauffeur for a night, there are other safe alternatives to driving under the influence. How about cars with pink moustaches? Lyft is a new taxilike system where people can sign up as “on-call” drivers and pick others up who request rides on the app. All drivers are subject to background checks, and riders can rate their experience with them. The app requires users to enter credit card information so drivers receive automatic payment upon reaching the final destination. There are also traditional taxis, but some students are hesitant to use them because they can get a bit pricey. Sam’s Taxi charges approximately $3 a mile, traveling from M Section to the Cotati Crawl would cost about $10 each way, and even more if the point of pickup is in a neighborhood farther away from the bars. Students can always opt to split the fare when travelling in groups, but if the rates are still too steep, they can purchase “Save a Seawolf” vouchers at
the University Box Office in the Student Center. Each voucher costs $5 and covers $15 worth of taxi fare for a one-way trip in the Rohnert Park/Cotati area. With the number of options available for students to choose from, there’s really no excuse for driving under the influence. Drinking is a common part of college culture, but irresponsible drinking doesn’t have to be. It’s everyone’s responsibility to plan ahead and make sure they have a safe ride home. Actions have consequences, and Seawolves owe it to themselves to make sure they graduate from Sonoma State University in one piece. If one is suffering from alcohol abuse, there are campus resources available. Counseling and Psychological Services offer sessions and wellness workshops for those suffering from substance abuse, and they can refer students to appropriate local resources such as the Sonoma County Department of Health Services in Santa Rosa and Alcoholics Anonymous. Students living on campus are also encouraged to talk to their Residential Life staff regarding these issues.
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star@sonoma.edu Editor’s Pick This week’s can’t miss article:
“Improv at twilight” To tell a good joke, or something that simply comes off relatively funny, it’s all in the talent one has within to make the most out of a situation on the fly. Staff Writer Jenna Fischer highlights the Sonoma State University Improvaholics, and why they are addicted to this particular comedic art.
Turn to page 6 for the full story Letters to the Editor
A letter to the editor forum will be open to the expression of fact or opinion that will be of interest or importance to readers of the STAR. Letters which fit within the scope of First Amendment protection, and that meet other stipulations spelled out in this document, will be published on a space available basis as explained below. Each edition of the paper will include a letters column if letters are available. Letter writers may expect prompt publication of their letters in the paper’s opinion section, as space is available. Letters of up to 500 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 editor is also responsible for making decisions as to the pertinence of the letter to the SSU community. The STAR reserves the right to refuse publication to any letter and to edit for length. To send a letter to the editor email star@sonoma.edu.
Retractions
Four stories published in editions 5-8 of the STAR (“A ‘Super Smash’ hit”; “A gaming collaboration for the ages”; “Demonic doll’s disturbing prequel”; “Dracula’s tale, revisited”) were found to have sources taken from other articles and weren’t properly cited. The articles in question have been removed online.
Corrections
In last week’s article, “Sex knowledge all around,” Kate McCombs is no longer a writer for mysexprofessor. com. She now writes for her own website, katemccombs. com.
Publication
The STAR is published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters. Printing is done by Healdsburg Printing. 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.
STAR // Eddie Blake
Editorial Policy: The commentary expressed in the unsigned editorial represents a majority opinion of the STAR Editorial Board on a topic facing the campus community in keeping with journalistic precedents of other major newspapers, and may not be shared by all staff writers. The board encourages readers to write letters to the editor about all topics, including the editorial.
Letters to the Editor
Making room for spiritual expression
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ear Editor, I attended a play on the Baha’i faith in college. My friend in a creative writing class was in the Baha’i club on campus. I wanted to be a good friend and learn about what she believed. After the play, we stood talking on opposites sides of a chair. I remember feeling that the chair was a barrier in our friendship. The California State University system recently began creating its own barriers on campus. Through Executive Order 1068, campus clubs that discriminate at membership and leadership levels would be derecognized. What is basically a good idea—oppose unjust discrimination—has been taken to an unjust extreme in the case of the organization I work for, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Sonoma State University has used the policy to derecognize the two Christian clubs on campus – InterVarsity and Athletes in Action (see “InterVarsity working toward representation” from Oct. 21, STAR). Across the state, InterVarsity has been derecognized from 19 California State University campuses. What was written to protect freedom of religion is now being used to harm religious expression on campus. The voice and value of religion in the exploration of ideas has been barred from campus life. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is
a national organization and network of Christian clubs on 600 campuses. InterVarsity at Sonoma State University began in 1962, the year Sonoma State became a university. With a rich history of over 50 years at Sonoma State, InterVarsity has helped students explore faith, serve their campus and become global leaders. Megan Wong was one of those students. She learned about God’s concern for justice in InterVarsity bible studies, leadership conferences and an overseas mission’s trip. Upon graduation, Wong chose to teach in a school that is 75 percent Hispanic with many students from low-income families. InterVarsity agrees with the university system that membership should be open to all, but disagrees with its policy that religion can’t be used as a standard for leadership in a religious club. If the leaders don’t uphold the core beliefs of the faith, the club ceases to be what it was founded to be. Christian faith is essential for a Christian club, so InterVarsity has required all student leaders to agree with the doctrinal basis since it was founded in the 1940s. Campus groups should have the freedom to maintain and cultivate their distinctiveness. This doesn’t mean discriminating, but taking into account the characteristics that define their historical community when determining the
group’s vision and direction. Students come to the university to explore ideas as they determine their worldview. They expect diversity to aid their exploration. Many universities, like Sonoma State, utilize the wellness wheel as an approach to supporting the development of the whole student (physical, emotional, intellectual, social, occupational, environmental and spiritual). UC Berkeley notes that “the wellness wheel demonstrates how the dimensions of life work together to support and foster wellness in each of us.” It’s unfortunate, then, that part of the university welcomes the value of spirituality in personal development and another removes those resources from the campus. Sonoma State now has half the amount of religious clubs that it did last year. Diversity has decreased. One aspect of the wellness wheel is vastly under resourced, which will hinder the development of students, who are our society’s future leaders. After the Baha’i play, I wrote a poem about that chair for my creative writing class. I imagined that there could be a comfy chair big enough for my friend and me to sit in together as we learned about each other and our different faiths. Where’s the chair big enough for all students on campus to explore their spirituality? - Jenny Klouse, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship member
Opinion
Nov. 11 - Nov. 17, 2014
sonomastatestar.com
I STAR // Marybeth Mondok
Let’s live in the moment, shall we?
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t seems as soon as the clock strikes midnight on Oct. 31, citizens all over America retire their cat ears and vampire fangs for the year and immediately start hanging Christmas lights and decking their halls with boughs of holly. Fa-la-la-what? Now I’m no Grinch; if the world wants to go from murderous monsters to Santa Claus overnight, then so be it. If Target and Walmart insist on throwing stockings and artificial, pre-lit trees my way then hey, there could be worse things. It is possible, however, that this raises a broader and arguably more important matter – are we as a society too accustomed to looking toward the future? Are we guilty of not living in the moment? We as college students are trained to think ahead and keep the future in mind. We’ve grown up in a world that
properly functions in a chronological order. Get good Scholastic Aptitude Test scores to go to a good college. Get good grades in college to graduate. Graduate with the hopes of getting a good job. Get a good job to make a living. These are all things that have been sitting in the back of our minds while missing out on living in the moment. And those are just the big ones. Tis’ the season for registration, and Sonoma State University students will be thinking ahead and strategically mapping out their schedule for next semester. With that in mind, you can’t really blame us for not being able to fully embrace each moment as it comes, because it has been so deeply engraved in our brains that the decisions we make now pave the path for the rest of our life. There is no denying our education and career choices now will be major players in the upcoming years of our lives. That’s not to say, however, we can’t enjoy the moment we are in. Recently at a concert, there was the dilemma of wanting to take infinite pictures and videos to look back on, and wanting to just turn the camera off, toss it back in my bag and enjoy the show. I’ve been the girl at a concert who spent the whole time with a camera in front of my face before. Sure, by the end there were plenty of videos to “relive” the experience, but it wasn’t so much as
reliving the good time because I felt it hadn’t been experienced right the first time. So when the next concert rolled around, I took only a few rushed pictures and just kept my phone in my pocket. I decided to let the rest of the world do the recording. The result was a few shaky pictures living in my phone, and one of the most enjoyable, memorable nights of my life. Looking back, the concert was too enjoyable to even think about documenting it. There’s a popular theory that everyone should consider living by, and it’s that a good 95 percent of your life should be spent in the exact moment you stand. Small decisions and problems will work themselves out, but the bigger choices, those 5 percent, deserve all of your heart, soul and sweat no matter how long it takes. So in short, don’t choose your major or the person you’re going to marry overnight, but next time you walk to class, notice your surroundings and commit yourself to fully being there. We’re young, and these moments no matter how small, are ones that count regardless. Don’t waste them by constantly leaving your mind 20 years in the future or 10 years in the past. While it’s okay to be excited for Christmas, let’s not forget to appreciate Thanksgiving too.
The naked truth: ‘Sexting’
Taylor Graham Staff Writer
“S
end nudes” is a text message many girls have received at least once. In this generation, “sexting,” which is the sending of sexually explicit material through mobile phones, is considered just another way of flirting with someone. Especially in the college atmosphere, where binge drinking and casual sex are prominent, “sexting” is about as common as seeing a white girl with a Starbucks cup. College-age students who are participating in “sexting” is not so shocking, but the real concern is when underage teens are involved in the sending or receiving of sexually explicit messages. According to chicksincrisis.org, about a quarter of all high school-age students participate in the sending or receiving of nude photos. Even more alarming, about 30 per-
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The ‘F’ word Jonathan Angulo Staff Writer
Kirsten Reeves Staff Writer
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cent of the pictures sent are to someone they only know through the Internet. There is no denying the positive effects technology plays in people’s lives. However, the question at hand is when is too much, “too” much? Walking through a middle school, or even an elementary school, one would see a cell phone in the hand of almost every kid. These days, almost every single phone is equipped with a camera, texting and Internet access. This easy access allows children to view whatever they would like, whenever they would like. When social media first gained major popularity, there was widespread concern for teens and preteens sharing too much on their pages. “Too much” back when I was in middle school, and MySpace was the social media of choice, included sharing an address, a phone number or even a last name on a public website. It seems with Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, these concerns quickly went away. Another concern that came with the use of social media, and stays relevant today, is the fantasy world that is created
via the Internet. Social media gives people the opportunity to create their ideal perceived self. This sounds great, right? It is, until taken too far. In search of “likes,” which are commonly misconstrued with acceptance and popularity, people, and especially teens, become something or someone they are not. Girls will show cleavage or wear shorter skirts in their pictures because they know it will get more “likes” than if they were wearing sweats and a T-shirt. They will do things just to receive praise and attention. People’s lives online have become a fantasy, which is completely disconnected from reality. This same idea can be applied to interpersonal interactions via text message or social media. In order to present their ideal perceived self, teenagers will say things or send things they would be uncomfortable saying in a face-to-face conversation. Snapchat, one of the most popular social media applications, allows users to take pictures of themselves, to send to whoever they select and the image will only be viewable for one to 10 seconds. This ap-
plication is known for its role in “sexting.” With the time limit, people feel more comfortable showing more skin or getting more sexual because they believe the image will just disappear. When the people involved are separated physically, it gives the illusion of sexual contact with no risk. It would, except Snapchat gives the viewer the option to screenshot, or take a picture, of the image on the screen. Then, the person on the receiving end has possession of the picture and can do whatever they please with it. It can do us good to recognize the flirtatious aspect of “sexting,” but it is naive to assume no bad will come out of the exchanging of sexually- explicit material, especially when it comes to underage participants. There is a direct connection between the ease of “sexting” and the act of having sex. When sex can be talked about in such a casual manner and nude pictures can be sent in a matter of seconds, we are losing the emotional connection to others. The reality is, we live in a time period where virtual connection is taking over.
have an apology to make. About a month ago, a woman was practicing yoga upstairs in the Recreation Center of Sonoma State University. As I was leaving the building, a couple of guys walked by the room and one of them stopped. He was looking through the glass walls and was ogling her. He grabbed his friend by the arm and forced him to stop and stare too. They talked about her body, her attractiveness, etc. To that lady, I am sorry. I should have said something articulate like, “hey guys, that’s not cool. She is more than her body and you two have no business objectifying her. Get out of here.” Or less articulate, “seriously? she’s trying to work out.” I’m sure she would have said it herself, but she was too busy to deal with the stares of a couple of “mooks.” Men, to our slight defense, this type of objective behavior is being taught to us by our society. The term, “sex sells,” is proof of that. However, that excuse is not good enough anymore. The world we live in doesn’t allow the luxury of ignorance. Society teaches men and women to have very different roles in life, but change begins with this generation. On Sept. 20 Emma Watson spoke to the United Nation about gender inequality. She recognized the feminist movement has become synonymous with “man-hating,” and how that behavior must stop. Both women and men must work together to achieve gender equality. By definition feminism is, “the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of
political, social, and economic equality to men.” We have not achieved this yet. There is an unbalance when it comes to social roles and gender stereotypes. Men, this might be hard for us to grasp, but it’s the truth. Men don’t truly understand what it means to be hit on by some sleazy person so much so that they are required to leave. Men don’t understand how it feels to be catcalled. Nor do men understand the fear of walking alone at night and being assaulted or raped. Worse yet, to be date raped by someone they thought they trusted. Furthermore, due to social norms, men aren’t supposed to show their sensitive or emotional side. We fear the criticism of our peers. “Man up, grow a pair, don’t be such “enter multitudes of derogatory remarks.” Why is emotion a sign for weakness in men? Men and women are people. People have feelings and emotions that need to be expressed. It is as simple as that. It’s time to put the gender roles aside and see people for who they are; humans with unlimited potential. Women account for half the population in the United States. This being the case we would expect that, politically, those same numbers would correlate with power in government. However, females hold only 20 percent of the seats in the U.S. Senate, and only 18 percent in the House of Representatives. Women have made great progress politically but they should also have more representation in their country. Economically, it’s the same sad story. Women get paid less for the same job and same work as men. According to whitehouse.gov, women on average make 77 cents for every dollar a man earns. So if a man is paid $50,000 a year, a woman who is working that same job will only make $38,760 for the exact same work. This generation must close the gap. I have signed the online petition for the “He for She” campaign and vow to view women as my equal politically, socially, and economically. Our society can only benefit from achieving this goal.
Leading the way at SSU
Emily Hill Staff Writer
Q
uit your job at Swirl Time, Taco Bell and Extreme Pizza. Stop aimlessly staring off into space as you wait for closing time. Stop answering the phone with the same monotone speech you could recite in your sleep. Money may be great, but it is not worth the agony of working somewhere that bores you to death. The question then stands, where should I work if these places aren’t worth it? The answer lies right where you picked up this newspaper-Sonoma State University. The array of on-campus jobs available at Sonoma State is overwhelming at times. However, let me strategically advise you, there are certain on-campus jobs that one should strive for. On-campus leadership positions are selfrewarding, help people learn about themselves and are a fabulous resume builder. Although it may seem cheesy, my leadership position completely changed my life. If you’re not convinced to apply yet, let me further explain myself.
First of all, an oncampus leadership position includes everything from a summer orientation leader to a peer mentor. These positions include responsibilities like advising, mentoring and listening to a group of students whom you are assigned. Most often, you are working with underclassmen that need the guidance and assistance to begin their college journey on the right foot. With these responsibilities, comes an incredible amount of leadership experience in learning how to effectively communicate with others. Although the process may be daunting (an essay, recommendation letters, official transcript, etc.), scoring one of these positions has incredible benefits. Besides being conveniently located on campus, these positions can be molded into whatever you feel is needed for your students. Alongside your faculty member, you have the ability to change the lives of your students by being the helping hand they need in their first few years of college. In addition, the pay for most of these positions is equal, if not more than the pay across the street at Taco Bell. In addition, incredible friendships are formed with other on-campus leaders that will last throughout a college career and beyond. Personally, after having one of these positions for two years
now, I have realized it’s much more rewarding than the pay. I don’t even think about what I am making hourly anymore, and instead about how I can help my students achieve their goals on any given week. Their successes become my own. The possibility of having a positive impact on a student’s life keeps me going even when my own life is stressful. You soon realize you are a powerful inf luence in their life at Sonoma State, even when you never thought you had the power to do so. Any student leader reading this will know exactly what I am talking about when I mention these non-monetary benefits. Ask anyone on campus about their leadership position and how it has affected their life, and you will quickly discover how meaningful these positions are. Let me warn you, expect happy tears. Convinced yet? If not, attend an information session to learn more about peer mentor and summer orientation positions on either Nov. 12 or Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Student Center. For Residential Life positions such as CSA and co-op positions, attend a session on either Nov. 13 or Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. in the Student Center. After attending one of these sessions, be sure to turn in your application online by Jan. 30 at 4:30 p.m. Apply for a leadership position, you won’t regret it.
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News
News Around the World Oregon legalizes medical marijuana Oregon legalized marijuana use for adults and is now the third official state to have approved of the measure. According to PBS, the state wants the measure in effect by July 1. The sheriffs in Oregon opposed the measure stating it would cause problems with children and people driving under the influence.
University’s attempted robbery According to an email released on Saturday to all Seawolves, an attempted robbery took place around Copeland Creek on Friday at 11:45 p.m. A man was confronted by a suspect and asked for his wallet. According to the report, a knife was presented by the suspect and there was evidence of a struggle. The victim also may have injured the suspect as well. The suspect, who was described as a white male, left the scene and was not caught.
Ukraine crisis Separatist reinforcements in eastern Ukraine have the United State’s and European Union worried according to reports from BBC. Fighting increased during the election in “rebel” areas and unmarked tankers and military vans were seen on roads east of the industrial city of Makiivka. No casualties were reported.
Handheld Diagnostic Marvel According to WIRED, Dr. Eugene Chan and his coworkers at the DNA Medical Institute are working on a handheld medical device that will diagnose illnesses with a blood sample. The concept is to possibly have patients test themselves for diseases with the same accuracy as a medical laboratory. The device is called “rHEALTH” and was first developed by NASA. rHEALTH is more sophisticated than common wearable technologies due to its use of lasers and spiral micro-mixers. The device is still in progress and isn’t available in the market.
Twenty-fifth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall Germany and nations across the globe are recognizing the 25th anniversary of the fall of Berlin Wall that was created amidst the Cold War in 1961 to prevent people from fleeing to the communist East Germany. Nearly 8,000 helium balloons were released in to the air in Berlin, Germany, the nation’s capitol, in celebration of the fall of the wall. The fall of the Berlin Wall marks for many, the idea that anything is possible and citizens have the power to shape their nation’s destiny, according to Chancellor Angelo Merkel.
Eureka man robs gas station, then returns money A Eureka man robbed a gas station last month, only to return the money a few hours later out of remorse. Cyle Warren Abbott Jr. was reportedly looking for fresh start and needed the cash to leave town. Warren Abbott Jr. later realized his mistake and returned the stolen money and apologized.
Nov. 11 - Nov. 17, 2014
sonomastatestar.com
Registration spikes stress among students
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Marisa Oliveira Staff Writer
egistration can be a frustrating time for some and an exciting time for others, but either way students are expected to somehow get through this stressful period every semester. “Searching for classes using the search engine is inefficient and difficult,” said Sophomore Alessio Guerra. Many students feel the pressure to get the classes they need to graduate and now the time has come for students to register for the spring 2015 semester beginning on Monday for seniors and continuing until Nov. 21 for underclassmen. Appointments for registration became available through MySSU accounts on Friday. Some tips for registering for classes from the advising center include: Don’t wait until the last minute to get help regarding classes, outline prospective backup classes and a desired schedule in mind. Some may not understand the general education pattern as much as they think and it’s good to play it safe and get a head-start by seeking help from an adviser. Sophomore Johnny Mummert said, “It’s hectic and unorganized getting the classes I want.” Students seeking help with registration can attend registration workshops organized by the
Admissions and Records department on, Nov. 21 from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There are also Registration Refreshers at the Advising and Career Services Center on Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m., Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. and Monday from noon. to 1 p.m. “A common registration mistake is having your heart set on just one schedule. You may or may not get all those classes,” said Jaquay Butle, a peer adviser. Students can seek peer advising for general education requirements and major declaration in Salazar 1070. “ Don’t put all your classes in the basket at one time, it can, and will overload the system and you could be kicked out,” said Butler. The California State University fund budget received an increase of $142.2 million for the 2014-15 year. More classes and professors should be added slowly and students can expect improvements in class availability in the coming years. Peer advising can be a valuable resource for undeclared students as well as all Sonoma State students. Peer advisers can help students find out their interests and recommend introductory courses to test out a particular major or not. Those needing a refresher or insight on registration are encouraged to visit sonoma.edu/ registration/addclasses.html.
Career Services hosting internship expo
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Amy Lee Staff Writer
urrently, the unemployment rate for recent graduates in the United States is 8.5 percent. Career Services is making it one of their primary goals to help Sonoma State University students beat that unemployment statistic. Sonoma State Career Services will be hosting an Internship Exploration Workshop on Nov. 19 as a resource for students entering the career world. The event will take place in the Career Services Center, Salazar 1070, from 1-2 p.m. The main goal of the event is to help students beat the odds against unemployment and learn tips and tricks to make themselves desirable to employers once they graduate. Career advisers will be available to answer questions students may have focusing on internships as well as how they can begin to search for a job following graduation. There are some majors on campus that require students to complete a certain number of hours of an internship before graduation. However, even students with those specific majors that don’t require it, should take the time to look into completing an internship. Having an internship gives students a better perspective, which often sets students apart from others when they send in an application. Ann Mansfield, a Career Services adviser, hopes this event will become an annual event on campus. Students can sign up for it at the Career Services Center leading up to the day before the event. “It’s free, but signing up is recommended because space is limited,” said Mansfield. Along with the Career Services department, Enterprise Rent-A-Car will be in attendance to answer questions students may have. They will discuss what they want in future employees as
well as what internships can provide for students. Junior Nikki Lougee is looking forward to this event. “I’m trying to get a communications internship for next semester, so I’m really hoping to learn more information on how to get one at this event,” said Lougee. Career Services does their part to make themselves an active resource on campus for students to utilize and to get the information they need regarding their future employment. They are the bridge that connects Sonoma State students to the outside world when it comes time to finding a job post-graduation. They provide services to students to help them find future employment, give them guidance on graduate school and simply attain their life or career goals. At the Career Services Center, students can find peer advisers who are able to help as well. There are numerous peer advisers whose job is specifically to be there for Sonoma State students and help them in finding a career path that best suits them. Career Service’s website, sonoma.edu/career, provides students with many resourceful links that they can use to help them. These range from how to write a successful résumé and cover letter, to strategic tips for finding a job. The website also provides students with further information on their major, what career paths are possible with that major and what type of an employer a student could expect with having that major. It gives a wide variety of answers and information that students may find helpful when it comes to researching their further careers. Students who are interested in attending the Career and Internship Fair should mark their calendars for Nov. 19 and sign up at the Career Services Center.
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sonoma.edu Sonoma State University’s German Club has hosted many events throughout the semester including movie nights as well as “How Germany has Gone Green” as part of last month’s Sustainability Day.
GERMANY: Engaging students in cross-culture Continued from Pg. 1
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things about the foreign culture you are suddenly a part of. Such as saying ‘how are you doing’ when greeting someone, or figuring out how to use the American keyboard in my office and searching for letters all the time in the first few weeks.” Weber has also hosted a workshop called “How Germany Has Gone Green,” focusing on Germany’s green energy use. The event involved around 100 members and was associated with Sonoma State’s Sustainability Day events last month.
News
Nov. 11 - Nov. 17, 2014
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Senate calls for fee, success program
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Nicole Detmers Staff Writer
epresenting students at Sonoma State University in the form of a governance body stands the Associated Students who meet Fridays at 1 p.m. in the Student Center. The process of creating, writing, editing and approving resolutions by the Associated Students is one that goes about to ensure that the student voice at Sonoma State is not only heard but also understood. During the meeting on Friday, the second resolution involved the California State Student Association more commonly referred to as CSSA. The organization is planning to implement a Student Involvement and Representation Fee or SIRF. The intention exists that the fee will be consistent through all of the California State University campuses costing students a total of $4 per academic year. The funding model was presented to the CSU Board of Trustees and hasn’t been approved yet. Students will have the option to pay or decline to pay the fee every semester; however, the fee is in place to enable increased student involvement. This cost is not the same thing as a success fee and students have the opportunity to “opt out.” “It takes a certain amount of patience and finesse to ensure the proper meaning is understood,” said Associated Student President Anthony Gallino, guiding senators through revisions of the resolution in question, “tone makes all of the difference.” The California State Student Association is recognized by the university system as an advocate for quality and affordable education for all students. The non-profit organization was founded by students and is currently financially supported by the CSU; however, with the addition of the new fee, the association will be considered more independent. “Writing resolutions is almost similar to writing an essay and voting on each change to the process,” said Annie Green, arts and humanities senator of Associated Students in explaining the process of passing these documents. The resolution by Associated Students requested a more detailed expenditure list from the association further inclining for a more transparent budget, as the allocation of money was unsure. Representative with CSSA, Bernadette Butkiwicz assured senate members that more information would be presented at the next meeting. After a period of “wordsmithing” and contemplation of the requests, the resolution was passed
unanimously. The meeting began with a resolution to thank the Student Athlete Advisory Council and the program “Ticket to Success.” The program is completely run by student-athletes and is centered around spending a day out of the year with local school children, completing activities and taking a tour of the campus. “This program creates connections between SSU Students and Sonoma County and I think that is very important,” said Gallino during the meeting. Established in February 2013, the program allows more than 250 athletes to work with hundreds of children. Each day ends with children standing on the commencement lawn making a promise to graduate from college. The meeting concluded with reports from senators as well as a budget update and a review of election bylaws.
STAR // Maud Busson Associated Students President Anthony Gallino discusses the process in passing resolutions the senate. The senators also discussed the Ticket to Success program to encourage volunteer among students athletes.
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Death with Dignity gains national recognition
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Jalissa Tello Staff Writer
wo weeks ago on Nov. 1, Brittany Maynard, a San Francisco resident and UC Berkeley graduate, ended her life. Maynard was diagnosed with a rare form of terminal brain cancer in January of this year after a New Year’s celebration with her husband and friends. At first, doctors told Maynard she had potentially ten years to live. But that all changed after a second MRI discovered a tremendous grade change in her cancer. It went from grade 1, to 4, which is considered the worst grade of cancer. She didn’t want to undergo the treatments due to her fear and dread of the pain she was told the treatment would bring. Maynard explored other options and moved to Oregon where Death with Dignity is allowed by law. Once settled in Oregon, Maynard reached out to Compassion & Choices, which is the nation’s leading end-of-life choice advocacy organization about bringing attention to the importance of dying with dignity. “I can’t even tell you the amount of relief it provides me to know that I don’t have to die the way that has been described to me that my brain cancer will take me”, said Maynard during an interview with CNN on Oct. 7. Maynard’s story has gained tremendous recognition around the world with responses in support as well as from skeptics. “When people criticize me for not waiting longer, it hurts because I risk it everyday that I wake up. It doesn’t seem like the right time right now but it will come because I feel myself getting sicker every week”, said Maynard during a second interview with Compassion & Choices in response to her critics. Death with Dignity is a right that only a handful of states in the country have granted their terminally ill residents. The medication is prescribed by the patient’s doctor and can be taken at any point when the patient feels that the fight against their suffering is no longer bearable. Death with Dignity has gained significant news coverage with Maynard’s case and another case that surfaced just last week when an Alameda resident, Jerry Canfield, shot his
wife and killed her. “I shot her to end her suffering,” Canfield told police after he had went into the Alameda Police Department to confess to the killing. He informed police he and his wife, Joann Canfield had agreed if she were to become extremely ill, he would end her life. This story has sparked controversy among the nation as well. Many people have expressed their sorrow for Canfield. Some like his neighbor, Bridget Milet, believe that this case is a case of mercy and that Canfield is innocent. “Whenever I’d see them, it restored my faith in married people,” said Milet during an interview with KTVU Channel 2 News. “They just loved each other. If there were a such thing as a mercy killing, this would be it.” Both stories involve someone who is terminally ill and chooses to take their life. However, one death is legal, while the other is a crime. “These two stories make me sad. I had a relative pass away from cancer in a horrific way and I wish that Death with Dignity was an option for him, but we didn’t know about that option”, said Kaliah Kern, a junior. “We don’t really know how Canfield felt watching the woman he loved deteriorate, and not knowing what to do about it can be horrifying. I don’t believe he should be charged with murder. Maybe this may bring upon a new law?”
wikipedia.org Former San Francisco resident, Brittany Maynard chose to utilize Oregon’s Death with Dignity law after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
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Arts
Nov. 11 - Nov. 17, 2014
sonomastatestar.com
Liberal studies does art Sara Molenda Staff Writer
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harcoal, oil paint and galkyd, fiber paper, bronze and steel, bamboo, cloth and hemp. These and more are examples the diversity of tools used in the Hutchins Community Art Show on campus Wednesday and Thursday can only speak wonders to the diversity of the exhibits themselves. The event, which was organized by students enrolled in a special one-unit course at Sonoma State University, Liberal Studies 342, included various art pieces submitted by students from all over campus. While the overall theme of the show, “A Day in the Life,” seems a bit ambiguous at first sight, with a vague title allowed students to expand on a vast number of subjects and scenery. Among a number of hand-made art pieces, one entry by Mariam Rahmaoui, a junior at Sonoma State in the psychology department, stood out as a
flash of culture. Rahmaoui decorated a table with numerous colorful examples of hand-made Moroccan traditions. Long dresses in beautiful shades of purple, yellow and pink with embellished matching belts were accompanied by candlestick holders and jewelry boxes with gold accents. “I wanted to bring the Moroccan world to campus,” said Rahmaoui. “I love the traditional look of the Moroccan culture and thought it would bring a different art form to the show.” Another hand-made art piece included the finished product of two long bows by Shawn Kelley, the president of the archery club at Sonoma State. Kelley’s bows, measuring at least 4 feet in length, were constructed using a combination of white and dark oak, bamboo and hemp cord. No two submissions were similar in this show. One exhibit titled “Bog of Memories” with no artist name listed, portrayed the brain similar to a topographical map suggesting that the viewer navigated
each nook and cranny, each valley and river, of the piece. Another artist, senior Rachel Jackson, showed her skills with wood cut prints featuring contrasting color opposites, green and pink. Using wood cut prints also allowed Jackson to alter the images, giving them a three dimensional effect. Themes in the show took a comical turn with the submission of “Hold on, let me put on my duck lips” by Jessica Levey, which featured the demanding and delicate task of making three bronze castings of human mouths in the shape of duck lips. Many entries existed as a series of black and white photographs printed on fiber paper. Emily Hutchins, a senior in the Hutchins program, used a naked female model staged in different poses in a shower to further embrace the power of shadows in a photo. “These photos were originally just a lighting project but it’s hard to ignore the mystery behind each shot,” said Hutchins.
With the shots each focusing on a different part of the human body, the untitled entry left the viewers with an appreciation for the intriguing light and dark silhouettes created. Another photography entry named “SF Area Photos,” featured the photo skills of Gloria Maldonado, who also utilized the effects of black and white only instead using stone as the subject. Maldonado was also heavily involved in the setup of the event as the director and project manager of the art show. Students in the LIBS 342 course worked together to facilitate the show. Donors helped bring dessert and coffee for the event as well as musical entertainment, which is a first for this art show. Once viewers made it around the room through all of the art exhibits, they were met with dessert and coffee as the sounds of the sea began to fill the room. Faith Ako and her two guitar accompanists filled Ballroom B on the third floor of the Student Center with traditional Hawaiian folk songs.
STAR // Gustavo Vasquez The Hutchins Community Art Show in the Student Center on Tuesday that featured works from students Mariam Rahmaaui and Jessica Levey, among others.
Classic film, comedic Shakespeare Nataly Estupiñan Staff Writer STAR // Jenna Fischer Friday’s midnight Improvaholics show featured Jake Burke, Ian Webb, Haziel Perez, Shelby Hotz and Jason Vitkovich.
Improv at twilight Jenna Fischer Staff Writer
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ith shouted suggestions from the audience varying from rubber duckies to jail cells, the Sonoma State University Improvaholics made the Friday night crowd burst with laughter by turning the suggestions into imaginary scenes and witty puns. At first glance, the club seems to be just a normal group of college students, but once the games begun on stage, the true brilliance of each performer shone through. After introductions of the five performers of the night, the games immediately began. The audience wasted no time throwing out ridiculous suggestions for the performers to work off of. One of the first games they played was called “Chain murder” in which only four of the performers participate in. The objective of the game is while three of the participants wait outside the room, the audience gives suggestions to the first performer on a location, occupation, and weapon in which he has to communicate to the next participant using only gibberish and body gestures and the next person passes it on to the next in line and so forth. The group has four minutes to relay the information from the first to last person. In this particular case, the location was Mexico, the occupation was jockey, and the weapon was a rubber duck. As the first person waiting outside came in, the antics and laughter simultaneously began. Mexico was depicted as the motion of shooting guns into the sky as well as the attempted hand gesture of a sombrero; Jockey was the foot stomping depiction of a horse race; and the rubber duck was the performer humming and scrubbing himself as if he was in a bath, along with a couple quacks. By the end of the telephone-like game, the last participant could only guess the weapon at first, and the audience was enlisted to give hints to help the rest of the participants guess the location and occupation. By the end of the game, the laughter
from audience and the performers alike was echoing in the room. Another game the performers played was called “Object.” This gamed called for the once performer who wasn’t participating brought out various objects that each member had to improvise quick, witty puns or scenes with off the top of their heads. One object that was brought out was a traffic cone; this traffic cone became a giant ice cream cone and the world’s smallest tent. Another object, a soccer ball, was depicted as Wilson from “Cast Away” and shoved under a shirt to show a halfway done breast-implant job. Through all of the games, there was interaction with the audience and a general sense of humor shared through an open atmosphere. After the show, the STAR spoke with Jake Burke, the Improvaholics club president, and Jason Vitkovich, the club treasurer. “I started improv my freshman year of high school, and just continued on with it through college,” said Vitkovich. “Even though I’m a business major, it’s a fun hobby for me.” Burke and Vitkovich both shared that they had loved improv through high school, and because Improvaholics is an open club on campus, they were welcomed into the scene immediately. Now that both members are seniors, they hope they passed on the welcoming to current and incoming members. “This club creates an awesome community,” said Burke. “I’ve found all of my best friends and roommates through this club, and now I actually teach the student-run improv class in the theater department. There are instant connections made through this club; I’ve met past club presidents who I had never spoken to before and we immediately connected just through talking about our experiences in Improvaholics.” The club itself has been around for 12 years, and is open to any student, with any level of experience, at any time. The open practices are in Ives 76 or 78 on Wednesdays 7-9 p.m. and Fridays 5-7 p.m. and the free improv shows are in Ives 76 at midnight every other Friday.
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Review
magine being transported back in time, the year is 1939 and Nazi Germany has invaded Poland. With such panic going about the town, no one would consider this to be a laughing matter, but director Ernest Lubitsch has made it so. In his hit 1942 film, “To Be or Not to Be,” Lubitsch helps actors Carole Lombard and Jack Benny create the humor that helps their characters, Maria and Josef Tura dupe the occupying Nazi troops with the help of their theater group. On Friday, the Sonoma Film Institute featured the film at 7 p.m. Despite the low student turnout, many Rohnert Park citizens and professors still seemed to enjoy the film as the room would fill with laughter on occasion. The film is from 1942 and consequently produced in black and white. The film starts of in the Polish town of Warsaw, where a troupe of actors are getting ready for their new play based on Hitler and the Nazis. The cast is then plagued by the fact they cannot perform on opening night because they do not feel it would be appropriate, so instead they perform Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” It is during Benny’s character’s performance that one begins to realize why the play is titled “To Be or Not to Be,” as he begins his speech portraying “Hamlet.” In the beginning of the film, it is hard to pay attention and follow along due to the fact that one is trying to piece the characters’ name to the actors’ faces.
The film also starts off dull and lacks the comedic touch that makes the film a true comedy. It starts off with the dilemma between characters Maria and Josef, a couple who belong to the theatre group. Their fame tends to get in the way of the relationship, seeing as Josef is very into himself and constantly refers to himself as a great actor. Due to the rip in the relationship, Maria becomes intrigued by an attractive young pilot, Lt. Stanislav Sobinski. She advises him to come to the theatre and leave whenever her husband Josef starts the famous speech in Hamlet, “To be or not to be.” It is only in the scenes in which Sobinski walks out of Josef’s speech that makes the first half of the movie funny, due to Josef’s appalled reaction. When the Nazis actually invade Poland, including Warsaw, where the movie takes place, the movie turns to a more serious note, there is not much comedy happening as they are being invaded and begin plotting how to dupe the troops and escape elsewhere. Once the characters begin to trick the Nazi troops and disguise themselves, the movie becomes funny again as their plans bounce back-and-forth between failure and success. Lubitsch was much ahead of his time in directing a comedic movie about serious events that had happened three years prior, since WWII was in 1939. Despite how serious the subject is, Lubitsch does a good job of beginning and ending the film on a lighthearted note. Other than the few funny moments, the movie can be a little dry, seeing as comedic films have taken somewhat of a new direction since 1942, but it can still be worth watching, especially if one is a fan of classic films.
commons.wikimedia.org The Sonoma Film Institute screened Ernest Lubitsch’s “To Be or Not to Be,” starring Carole Lombard and Jack Benny on Friday in Ives 101.
Entertainment
Nov. 11 - Nov. 17, 2014
sonomastatestar.com
Page 7
‘Interstellar’: Less than satisfying Alyssa James Staff Writer
facebook.com Disney’s “Big Hero 6,” featuring voice actors Ryan Potter and Scott Adsit released in theaters Friday.
Disney’s unlikely superhero Danielle Hansen Staff Writer
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Review
new Disney superhero has hit the big screen. “Big Hero 6” is a lighthearted animated film featuring a young inventor and his robot. The audience finds themselves in the future, city of San Fransokyo, a twist of San Francisco and Tokyo. The introduction shows an underground robot fight featuring main character Hiro Hamada (Ryan Potter), a 14-year-old boy-genius. Hiro is participating in petty criminal acts of robot fighting, while hustling with his microbot robot. He gets caught hustling and just in the nick of time his big brother Tadashi Hamada (Daniel Henney), fellow science genius, saves him in a failed attempt at a rescue that lands them both in jail. Tadashi, concerned with his younger brothers choices since graduating high school a year ago, decides to show Hiro new opportunities.
The lovable Baymax, a robot designed to assist people with their healthcare, is introduced as Tadashi’s current experiment. Baymax (Scott Adsit) resides in a small, red suitcase and is activated when it hears the word “ow,” inflating into a 6-foot white, vinyl balloon man with black eyes and a pudgy shape. After meeting all of Tadashi’s best friends and fellow students, Hiro finally sees the opportunity at the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology, with determination to get admitted. Hiro decides to use the same microbot technology from his fighting robot to create a lifechanging invention composed of millions of tiny microbots. He is then admitted into the institute. In a mysterious fire at the institute, Tadashi’s mentor is caught inside. Tadashi rushes into the building in hopes to find his mentor, only to be caught in the explosion. Hiro is sent into a severe state of depression until he finds a Kabuki-masked villain has turned his life-saving bots—
supposedly destroyed in the explosion—into a lethal weapon. The mystery fire that caused Hiro’s brother’s death seems less like an accident. Hiro teams with Tadashi’s best friends from school: bubbly Honey Lemon (Genesis Rodriguez), precise Wasabi (Damon Wayans Jr.), cool GoGo (Jamie Chung), skater-dude Fred (T.J. Miller) and the unlikely resourceful Baymax, to form the Big Hero 6 team. They transform themselves into superheroes using their knowledge and skills of science. Thus equipping themselves with complex science-based weapons to track down and capture the masked villain. With the recent instantlyloveable classics Disney has produced, including “Tangled” and “Frozen,” this one doesn’t quite measure up. “Big Hero 6” is feel-good, diverse movie great for the whole family, or the older crowd looking for something wholesome. The main character is caught in a tough spot while trying to make sense of a world he was only just finding his purpose in.
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nterstellar wasn’t as stellar as it has been hyped up to be. The sci-fi movie, written and directed by Christopher Nolan, had aspects that made it interesting and intriguing, but many parts were confusing and the movie seemed to drag on. Nolan, who has directed numerous box office hits such as “Batman Begins,” “The Dark Night” and “Inception,” did not quite live up to his previous films. Overall, “Interstellar” had a fascinating storyline, but its portrayal wasn’t executed as well as it could have been. The movie stars Matthew McConaughey as Cooper, an adventure-seeking former NASA test pilot and engineer-turned farmer ,who is trying to save the world from rapid extinction. Earth is no longer able to sustain humanity because all crops have become destroyed by blight and continuous dust storms. He reconnected with NASA and agreed to team up with them in their search for a way to continue the human race for generations to come, even though it means leaving his daughter Murphy – known as “Murph” (Mackenzie Foy), son Tom (Timothée Chalamet) and father-in-law Donald (John Lithgow) behind for an unforeseeable amount of time. Murph has an especially hard time with this because she and her father are very close. Nevertheless, Cooper still decided to leave abruptly without really sitting his children down and explaining the serious implications that come with him leaving, such as the possibility of not being able to see them again for decades. The head astronauts and scientists at NASA inform Cooper there is a wormhole that has been discovered and the only chance humanity has for survival is by travelling in a spaceship through the wormhole to inhabit a new planet and leave Earth behind forever. They believe there are beings somewhere in the galaxy that have been commu-
nicating with them to help the humans find a place to colonize. Cooper agreed to pilot a spacecraft called “Endurance,” which will follow the previously conducted Lazarus mission. The mission called for a number of smaller oneman ships to be sent to various new planets through the wormhole in order to determine which is most suitable for humans to live on. After the ship takes off, Cooper has numerous life-threatening experiences with his NASA crew members, which consist of some big-name actors such as Anne Hathaway and Matt Damon. Nolan captured the scenes of the movie with excellent film work, sound work, graphics and effects, since the entire film was shot with IMAX. The parts of the movie set in outer space were especially noteworthy to watch and made one feel as though they were actually in the movie experiencing everything with the characters. Although “Interstellar” was full of incredible and imaginative sci-fi scenes that captivated the audience, there were many confusing inconsistencies with the plotline and characters. Earth is facing a food shortage dilemma, yet there is enough money to fund space trips to other galaxies with the hopes of moving every person on the planet out there. All that money could instead be used to help solve the food crisis, which would be a much simpler solution. Certain events occurred in the movie that were unexplained, which made it difficult to follow at times. Many pointless and dragged-out scenes inside the spaceship could have been cut down so there would be less unexciting parts and the film wouldn’t be so long. There were also scenes that were greatly built-up to be enormously dramatic and emotional, but the characters almost acted the opposite way, which was disappointing. “Interstellar” is a thrilling, challenging and cerebral film, but tends to leave the viewer a bit dismayed.
The Doobie Brothers head ‘Southbound’ Ashley Ronsse Staff Writer
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Review
isten to the Music.” This is just one of the songs on the new record “Southbound” by The Doobie Brothers. The Doobie Brothers’ 14th album, released on Nov. 4, featured the band’s greatest hits from their fivedecade long career as a California pop rock band with a new country twist. The album features lead and back-up vocals from a variety of country stars including Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Toby Keith, Sara Evans, the Zac Brown Band, Chris Young, Hunter Hayes, Love and Theft, Casey James, Tyler Farr and Charlie Worsham. The Doobie Brothers was one of the most popular pop-rock bands of the 1970s and evolved from hippie boogie to soulful pop. The Doobie Brothers became extremely successful, producing a handful of gold and platinum records and a number of radio hits, which included “Listen to the Music,” “Black Water,” “What a Fool Believes,” “China Grove,” and “Long Train Runnin’.” The band’s first self-titled album was released in 1971, which featured acoustic guitars and threepart harmonies, which reflected country influences of the time. While the record was not very popular and didn’t make it to the charts, The Doobie Brothers became widely popular when they performed at many local venues in San Jose and Santa Cruz. In 1971 the band recorded songs for their second album, “Toulouse Street.” Their second album featured several songs with Dave Shogren on bass, guitar and vocals, but due to disagreements between the band management and Shogren, the songs were not released. Shogren was replaced by two new band members, including Tiran Porter, singer, songwriter and bass guitarist, and drummer Michael Hossack. Porter gave the band a funky bass style and rough baritone voice, which when paired with Johnston and Simmons, gave a rich three-part harmonic vocal mix. “The Captain and Me,” the 1973 album, released hit songs which included Johnston’s “Long Train Runnin’” and “China Grove”. In 1974, Steely Dan co-lead guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter became The Doobie Brothers’
third lead guitarist and joined them on their current tour. Baxter joined the band in the studio and as a “special guest” on previous tours but he became an official member of the band that year. The 1974’s album “What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits” featured Baxter on the pedal steel guitar in “Black Water.” Simmons’ “Black Water” was the band’s first No. 1 single, which included the notable verse: “I’d like to hear some funky Dixieland, pretty mama come and take me by the hand.” “Black Water” climbed to the top of the charts and pushed the album to multi-platinum status. The Doobie Brothers continued to be successful with the release of three gold albums, two more platinum ones and one last multi-platinum release. The band’s newest studio album “Southbound” included their chart toppers “Black Water,” with featured vocals by the Zac Brown Band, “Listen to the Music,” with featured vocals by Shelton and Hayes, “What a Fool Believes,” with featured vocals by Sara Evans, “Long Train Runnin,’” with featured vocals by Toby Keith and Huey Lewis, and “China Grove,” with featured vocals by Chris Young. “Southbound” is an exciting, upbeat record with fan-favorites of The Doobie Brothers. It also includes remarkable collaborations with famous country stars.
facebook.com The Doobie Brothers released “Southbound” on Tuesday.
facebook.com Matthew McConaughey stars in Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar,” released Friday.
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Features
Nov. 11 - Nov. 17, 2014
sonomastatestar.com
Gift inspiration for holiday season Natalie Bergman Staff Writer
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ifts, food, entertainment and Santa. Just in time for the holidays, the Petaluma Holiday Craft Fair took place Saturday and Sunday. This annual artisan event is held every year at the Petaluma Community Center and presented by Petaluma Parks and Recreation. It allowed local venders to present their homemade gifts for the public to purchase and admire. This year celebrated their 26th year as part of the community. Admission was free for all who wanted to join in on the fun. The Petaluma Holiday Craft Fair had much to offer including over 40 booths of one-of-a-kind items, a raffle with prizes where all proceeds went toward their youth scholarship fund, food by Red Rose Catering and Got Balls Meatball Factory and holidaythemed photos with Santa. There was even entertainment provided on stage by the Petaluma Children’s Chorus, Studio C Dance Academy and the Petaluma Panthers Cheerleaders. All ages gathered together to view the alluring crafts displayed at each booth within the three
rooms designated for the fair in the Petaluma Community Center. Crafts and gifts for sale ranged from natural skin-care products, birdhouses, olive oils, teas, wildflower seed balls, photos, beads, spices, candles, knit goods, toys, ornaments and countless different kinds of handmade jewelry. Nicole Hewitt, the maker of Mamma Bear Skin Care, sold oodles of creations such as body butters, baby mists, face masks, salt scrubs, lip balms and hand sanitizers, all made from 100 percent organic natural ingredients. “I love it here at the Petaluma Holiday Craft Fair,” said Hewitt. “The people who organize this event are exceptionally nice and the other venders treat one another as their own family and friends.” This year was Hewitt’s third year as a vendor for the Petaluma Holiday Craft Fair but she sells to 5 different stores also, and has her own online website where she sells her homemade products. Birdhouse maker Mary Laures has an intricate hobby and affection for crafting. “This is my first year at the Petaluma Holiday Craft Fair, however, I’ve been selling my birdhouses for over 12 years,” said Laures. “It all began when a
friend of mine and I were browsing antique stores and saw beautiful birdhouses. My friend said, ‘You could make those,’ and one day I decided to. When she saw what I had created, she bought it from me to show her support and I have been making birdhouses ever since.” Each vendor had their own personal story as to how they emerged into the artisan world and got involved with local markets and fairs to promote their passion. Next stop was photos with Santa, presented by Lynnette Joy Photography, who has been doing the Santa photography for the Petaluma Holiday Craft Fair for over 10 years. “I’m very glad to be back, as I took a couple years off when the Petaluma Holiday Craft Fair was briefly run by a private company that wanted to over charge me,” said Joy. “I came back once the fair was run by the City Parks and Recreational department and it’s wonderful to know just how much people have missed the Santa photos that I provide them.” There was also entertainment provided on a large wooden stage where several groups performed for all the visitors. On Saturday, the Petaluma
Children’s Chorus sang carols in Santa hats as proud friends and family members continuously smiled and cheered for their young ones. Studio C Dance Academy also performed on Saturday with a series of back-toback dance numbers that ranged from hip-hop, jazz, ballet and more, all choreographed to popular hits and classic holiday songs such as “All I Want for Christmas is You.” The dance styles and costumes varied for each dance number related to different songs. The performers for Studio C Dance Academy were of all ages, ranging from children to teenagers and young adults. Sunday’s entertainment was solely provided by the Petaluma Panthers Cheerleaders. The Petaluma Holiday Craft Fair was a weekend full of oneof-a-kind gifts for everyone to enjoy, and playful performances that brought family, friends and former strangers together. It felt like a community of locals that embraced one another for their similarities and differences. The Petaluma Holiday Craft Fair is held every year nearing the holidays, and gives rising artists the chance to show their talent for the public to appreciate and adore.
STAR // Edward Goquingco The annual Petaluma Holiday Craft Fair has a variety of local vendors offering unique gifts for the holiday season.
Experience, enrich, emerge into ME SPA Megan Minturn Staff Writer
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facebook.com The entrance to the brand-new ME SPA offers a serene, relaxing environment.
ew guests walked into a relaxing room, where they were handed a cup of hot mint tea, sat in a chair with a warm wrap around the neck and prepared for either a manicure and pedicure, or a facial and massage. This was just the beginning of what is offered at ME SPA in Santa Rosa. At the official grand opening of ME SPA on Wednesday, people were able to tour the spa, meet the staff and be there for their official ribbon-cutting ceremony while small horderves were served. “This spa has so many different qualities that make it relaxing for guests,” said the esthetic educator Jamie Berry. “The tour itself is relaxing, let alone receiving one of our great services.” Guests who attended the grand opening received a gift certificate for 25 percent off their first
service, a gift bag containing an Advanced Body Care bath soak and were able to enter a drawing to win a $240 spa package. “I don’t even feel like I am in Santa Rosa anymore,” said junior, Isabella Bandiera DeMello. “This spa is so nice, I am definitely going to take advantage of the 25 percent off certificate and get a pedicure.” The spa itself is large and has the capacity to do multiple services at one time. There is even a locker room where guests can change into robes and keep their belongings safe. There are four massage rooms, including one for couples. There are ones for facials and separate rooms for manicures and pedicures. The pedicure room has chairs that recline with curtains separating each pedicure chair allowing more room for privacy and relaxation. Other services include basic and advanced peels, waxing and body treatments.
“I have been in this business for 14 years now and I have never worked at a spa like this,” said Berry. “Everyone here is so passionate about what they do here and I can’t wait for the community to experience it.” The front desk area of the spa included products such as nail polish, face and body products and some clothing. The store plans to have monthly deals. One deal they have going on right now is if two friends go together each friend will receive 25 percent off any 50 or 80-minute service. Another great deal for college students is when booking a manicure or pedicure, customers can take a bottle of the brand, wHet nail lacquer, for free, which is a $15 value. They also have discounts for getting multiple services done. If a customer books three 30-minute services they get $30 off the services and receive and free gift with the purchase. The gift is a lo-
tion, scrub or cream from one of the main products they use. Readers who bring in this article have the opportunity to receive 20 percent off any service in the month of November. The spa provides group package deals for celebrations for an afternoon of pampering with a group of friends. “All of us at ME SPA are so grateful to continue the legacy of offering a true spa experience in a beautiful setting to our guests,” said Spa Director, Heather Walters. “Taking time for ourselves is not always top priority, but it should be. We invite everyone to make their ‘ME time’ a world class experience at ME SPA.” Check out ME SPA’s Facebook page for new deals each month or look at their website for more information on their services and how to book an appointment. Their address is 728 Farmers Ln in Santa Rosa.
Las Vegas style comes to campus Lauren O’Malley Staff Writer
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hat happens in Vegas stays in Vegas-unless one is a student at Sonoma State University. On Saturday, Residential Student Affairs (RSA) and Associated Student Productions (ASP) paired together to make a night of fun-filled games, food and raffle prizes. Each student on campus was invited to play Vegas-style games at the Student Center in the Grand Ballroom at 8:30 p.m. Saturday night. “This is a completely free event for the residential community, we’re pairing with ASP this time, so actually any student can come,” said RSA Treasurer Rachael Begoun. “They don’t have to pay for anything, it’s just an alternative for going out on the weekend and getting drunk.” Casino Night was full of laughter and surprises as students participated in karaoke, black jack, spoons and photo-shoots with a black and white photo center, along with a wedding chapel photoshoot. “A lot of people complain at Sonoma State like ‘Oh there’s nothing to do on campus’, and that’s what we’re here for to plan events for residents living on campus,” said President of RSA Aliza Eoson. Each student who presented a student I.D. card was given five chips to begin playing the tables. Each table had opportunities for students to win or lose chips. “I’m really happy that Sonoma State puts on events such as Casino Night for the student body, because it allows us to mingle amongst other students in a safe environment,” said junior history major Courtney Fil.
For every five chips students could turn them in for one raffle ticket. With 40 different raffle prizes offered at Casino Night, the prizes ranged from large and expensive like a Keurig, 24” TV, Beats Solo HD, two Giants World Series shirts, a 49ers sweatshirt, a set of four “Transformers” mugs and a set of four “Star Wars” mugs. There were also smaller prizes like gift cards. “This is a wonderful and harmonious event that hooks in the student body to unite and play a bunch of awesome games,” said junior Madison Baldo. With the variety of student’s ages at the event, it gave them a chance to meet others who not have been paired with before. The theme to the night was ‘dress to impress’ so the ladies wore dresses and heels and the men wore collared shirts, ties and slacks. The photo shoot areas were filled with people most of the night because most students were ready to impress a crowd. Battle of the sexes was a popular game choice while black jack and Texas holdem’ were being over-taken with people wanting to win more chips. Casino night had brought back the classic games spoons and Uno to keep students entertained who were waiting for karaoke. “Casino night is a tradition here. I’m enjoying every second,” said psychology major Bree Burris, “The talent is great and it seems like everyone is doing a great job. I hope this event continues to be a tradition in the future years to come.” Many students enjoyed going to Casino night because it allowed them to dress up and enjoy games usually allowed to people of the age 21 and up. The winners of the raffles were announced at midnight.
STAR // Maud Busson Casino Night brought games and prizes for an immersion into Las Vegas.
Features
Nov. 11 - Nov. 17, 2014
sonomastatestar.com
A visit to Hole in the Head Alexandra Rentoria Staff Writer
A COURTESY // Casey Williams On Tuesday Victor Pacheco, pictured above, and other comedians performed at Sally Tomatoes for their every other Tuesday Comedy Night.
Sally’s going up on a Tuesday Kimberly Paasche Staff Writer
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ith only three and a half weeks until finals, midterms and the holidays coming up, life can seem pretty stressful. A good old laugh may just be the cure. Stress relief and laughter may be found in tomatoes, or, more specifically, the Sally Tomatoes Comedy Showcase in Rohnert Park. “I’m actually kinda nervous tonight, this is the most white people I’ve been in front of since I went to court recently,” said Victor Pacheco. On Tuesday, Sally Tomatoes had a group of comedians come to the Rohnert Park restaurant to perform their best material. The comics had lots of jokes, and pin pointed some of them on the audience. It was enough to make a first date couple blush, but it kept the audience on their toes. “Are you courageous enough to hop on board the Hispanic Titanic?” said Pacheco, asking a woman who was on a first date. The Laughing Tomatoes Comedy Showcase is a reoccurring event that happens every first and third Tuesday of each month. “While in [San Francisco] there was a bus with huge letters, S.F. giants, three rings five years, reminds me of my aunt’s life,” said Juan Carlos. The comedy shows are held in an event room in Sally Tomatoes. Each room has many tables and chairs and the lighting created a professional comedy atmosphere. The shows goes from 8-10 p.m., are always free and all ages
are welcome. Sally Tomatoes has waiters and waitresses circling the room available to take orders at all times. Sally Tomatoes has beer and wine, as well as, a fullystocked bar. The restaurant also has a variety of lunch and dinner options. For those not interested in the shows, a pool table and a few dart boards are also available. “The cool thing is you could ride your bike or walk from SSU,” said Casey Williams, the restaurant’s director of celebration. “We have food and a full bar. It’s something to get you off campus, and if you’re old enough you can get a drink. If not you can get food.” Williams was at the event to welcome guests, and introduce the host of the evening Tony Sparks. Sparks started off with jokes directed at audience members. He pinpointed a family in the front row, joking that by the end of the show their teenage son would need therapy. “It’s free, wonderful [and] cheap entertainment and you get to see people on the rise [to fame.] The women I am bringing in two weeks are on the verge of being very successful and [on Television] having specials,” said Sparks. Sparks also hosts a comedy show in San Francisco on Thursday nights called Brain Wash. The comedy show is live and is located in a cafe and laundry matte in San Francisco. “I really enjoyed the second performer, and the host. Almost wish the host had his own segment,” said audience member Stephanie Lynn O’Dell, a 23 year old Sonoma County resident. Chey Bell, the only female
comedian, rocked the room with laughter as she joked about being homeless in Los Angeles. Her particular description of being homeless was sleeping on friend’s couches and floors. She explained the worst part of the situation was the debate on which one of her friends had a more comfortable fluffy carpet. Bell stayed late for questions and comments, and made it clear that no matter where someone is from, performers can relate to the audience, and the audience can receive the jokes coming from any background. “It’s important for people to come see comedy and are open to diversity. I am the only African American comic and they were dialed in and got it,” said Bell. The last and final comedian, Carlos, a Sonoma County resident, was wearing a Sonoma State University T-shirt, something he received for preforming a fundraiser for the women’s softball team. “There’s not a lot… to do, and [going out to Sally Tomatoes] is a cool thing to do. It’s free, they have a full bar and you’re always going to see good comics. They bring a diverse set of comics, from all over,” said comic KC Chandara. To find out more information on the events Sally Tomatoes has, go to their website sallytomatoes. com. “I’m just trying to make people have a fun time no matter where I am,” said Pacheco, comic from Oakland. “The white people here in Rohnert Park are a class act who make me feel like I belong.”
Fitness for free Veronica Benevenuto Staff Writer
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t’s not the average kind of “happy hour” that one may be thinking. Instead, the Recreation inMotion program has featured a variety of free classes at noon on Friday. Happy Hour is a free inMotion class every Friday but the classes change every week. People can get a chance to see what all the different classes have to offer. “The Happy Hour inMotion is a great idea because it allows participants to try out classes throughout the semester for free which has been proven successful for many of our instructors [and] is why we have kept it for so long,” said inMotion Coordinator Meeka Burks. For instance, on Friday was an indoor cycling class where students could embrace their inner Lance Armstrong, while getting pumped up with motivating, exciting music. The class accepts all skill levels, where people don’t need to feel intimidated. The indoor cycling class is a high-energy workout on a stationary bike, set to music and sometimes combined with strength training, yoga or pilates. Working out isn’t all about the pain. People can achieve a runner’s high, it gives people a rush of endorphins after a workout. The instructor Laura Lupei started going to inMotion classes at the Recreation Center while she was in graduate school, she found it to be a great 45-minute workout to get her cardio in. “I love the energy that comes along with this exercise so I figured I get more involved and be an instructor so I can share the high intensity of fun cardio,” said Lupei. One of the major advantages of indoor cy-
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cling is each participant can control their level of intensity or fitness level, but still remain a group. Participants can control there levels so everybody in the class does not have to be on the same at the same pace, which gives an opportunity to people who are new to be less grueling. “Laura, the instructor, really engaged with people of the class in all levels. I’m glad I got a chance to experience this because I would love to do it again,” said senior Hillary Hill. “It was a great class because it pushed me, but wasn’t too strenuous to the point where I felt like giving up. It was the perfect consistency where I felt like I got a great workout while having fun,” said senior Melissa Jenkins. The class consisted of many different intervals of sprinting, squatting, standing and a cool down. The energy was exemplified through the instructor as well as the music. “I also loved how Laura incorporated each song with the workout especially when we were doing high-intensity intervals the music would get faster which motivated me to keep going,” said Jenkins. The whole point of Happy Hour is to give students a chance to explore what inMotion classes have to offer, so they can find the workout that fits for them. There is a variety of classes inMotion has to offer from pilates, yoga, zumba, self defense, insanity or indoor cycling. They can explore the many different fitness options they might enjoy in a class setting. If interested in the class, check out the Indoor Cycling schedule posted in the Recreation Center or drop into one of the free Happy Hour classes. There will be one more Happy Hour class and it’s Insanity on Friday at noon.
Hole in the Head is not quite what most people would think; it is actually an exhibit that has a unique insight into the battle of stopping a nuclear reactor being built on Bodega Head. The Hole in the Head exhibit is now on display at the Sonoma County Museum in Santa Rosa. The exhibit portrays the story of how the Pacific Gas and Electric Company tried to build a nuclear power plant in Sonoma County at Bodega Head, a small headland near Bodega Bay, beginning in 1958. But the utility had to cancel construction after local environmentalists protested its construction and the dangers the nuclear power plant could bring. If the nuclear power plant was built, it could possibly have had to endure strong earthquakes due it being located near the San Andres fault zone. Another safety issue would be radiation contaminating grass, which could affect the dairy cows in the area and could contaminate the milk. The exhibit contains many photos of significant figures that were either opposed to the nuclear power plan or for it. Each photo has some background information of the individual in the image and there is also a seismograph on display. The exhibit takes visitors through the history of when the nuclear power plant was proposed until when the project was cancelled. It even shows some of the sea life still in Bodega’s environment, such as different types of birds and crabs. The exhibit displays old records musicians produced to further the opposition of the nuclear power plant. The exhibit recognized the heroes that stopped the nuclear plant being built, like Bill Kortum and Pierre Saint Amand. Saint Amand was a geologist who made more citizens oppose the nuclear power plant because he went to the site and came up with a shocking analysis. Saint Amand told the public “a worse foundation would be difficult to envision.” Kortum was the researcher who discovered grass contamination could not only be a safety hazard for the cows, but also could harm the people who drank their milk and the farmers who owned these cows. The farmers were so grateful, they contributed to the organization that led the opposition, the Association to Preserve Bodega Head and Harbor. The Asso-
ciation to Preserve Bodega Head and Harbor was one of the first well-organized groups that informed people of the possible nuclear power plant. The organizations not only told the public about how the planet could greatly affect people’s safety, but also handed out leaflets and went door to door. This group looked at how this nuclear power plant could affect society as a whole, not just Bodega Head. “It was the beginning of the environmentalist movement” said Cheryl Engle, an employee of the museum. The exhibit takes individuals on a journey of the protesters who fought to keep Bodega Head and people all over the area safe. While several tactics were undergone to establish the opposition of the nuclear power plant, one of the most reliable, resourceful tactics was the launch of 1,500 helium balloons that spread to all over California, such as the East Bay and other locations. The whole idea behind this tactic was to let people know how easy radiation can spread. Connected to the balloons were tags explaining to people that the balloon could represent a harmful molecule, such as, strontium 90 or Iodine 131. The balloon tag informed the individual who found the balloon that Pacific Gas and Electric Company had planned on not only building a nuclear power plant on Bodega Head, but it would be near a very dangerous and active earthquake fault. Another statement on the tag was to tell local newspapers where one found this balloon. The whole concept of the balloon is being a representation credited to Pat Watters and his wife Lu Watters. The way this site received its nickname “Hole in the Head” was because of the enormous hole that was dug during site preparation by PG&E. The hole was 100 feet deep and 140 feet in width. There was roughly 600,000 cubic yards of dirt that was taken out of the ground but the dirt was not wasted due to it being used for construction for a road to the work site. The museum is filled with information about how the nuclear power plant planned for Bodega Head was defeated. The exhibit also offers a sculpture garden, upstairs gallery and gift shop. Many more exhibits will come and go in the museum, but the Hole in the Head, which will be on display until Feb. 9, offers a snapshot of Sonoma County’s transition from only looking at just Bodega Head for it beauty, to caring about people and the creatures that inhabit Bodega Bay safety.
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Sports
Nov. 11 - Nov. 17, 2014
sonomastatestar.com
Seawolf Sports Nov. 11 Women’s Volleyball at San Francisco State 7 p.m.
COURTESY // SSU Athletics Hannah Sourek scored 15 points in Friday’s loss against the UC Davis Aggies.
Women’s basketball drops exhibition game to Davis Aggies T
Ancia Purdy Staff Writer
hough the Sonoma State University women’s basketball team ended the first half just four points behind UC Davis, the Seawolves dropped the exhibition game 57-85. In the first 20 minutes of the game, the Seawolves held their own, leading during more than half of the period. The Aggies got on top first with a pair of free throws less than 20 seconds into the game. But in the first few minutes the Seawolves went on a 9-1 run, taking an early lead at 9-3. “Our motivation comes from each other,” said freshman Molly Donovan. “When we are loud on the court and bench, our energy level rises and we work harder for the person next to us.” The two teams battled back and forth, changing leads nine separate times until the last three and a half minutes of the first half. The Seawolves then went down on a 12-3 run by Davis, including three made free throws by Davis with the clock at 0:00 to end the first half. “A positive part of the game was the amount of energy we had in the first half,” said junior Tanner Adams. “We were only down by a few points going into the second half and the energy sustained through most of the game.” The Seawolves were the first to put up numbers in the second half with a layup by junior Hannah Sourek, coming two points behind the Aggies. That would be the closest the Seawolves would get to their opponent as Davis began to add on to their lead. With just under six minutes left, the Seawolves were down 22 points at 48-70. SSU was able to chip away for a few minutes to get within 17 points of the Aggies, but to no prevail. The Aggies got the last 11 points of the contest on six Sonoma
State turnovers. “This game showed us how much little things really do matter,” said Donovan. “Like communicating match ups and thinking about what’s next.”
“I think the most positive part of the game was the fact that we opened our season with such a competitive opponent in a difficult environment to play,” said Taylor Acosta. “All the opponents in our league are going to be tough and so are their home gyms.” The Seawolves scored on 38.1 percent of their shots in addition to making 21 of 27 free throws at 77.8 percent. Sourek led with 15 points as junior guard Taylor Acosta had nine points. Donovan added eight points while Leeana Bade and Adams ended the night with six a piece. “I think the most positive part of the game was the fact that we opened our season with such a competitive opponent in a difficult environment to play,” said Acosta. “All the opponents in our league are going to be tough and so are their home gyms.” Sonoma State is scheduled to start their season on Saturday against Menlo in the Wolves’ Den at 3 p.m. The Seawolves then have one more exhibition game before playing Holy Names and Dominican, which will bring them right to conference play.
Nov. 15 Women’s Basketball vs. Menlo 3 p.m.
Men’s Basketball Nov. 14 vs. Chico vs. Men’s Pacific Union vs. Alaska Basketball Anchorage vs. Chico vs. 3 p.m. Pacific Union 7:30 p.m. vs. Alaska Anchorage Women’s 3 p.m. Volleyball 7:30 p.m. at. Cal State Stanislaus Women’s 7 p.m. Volleyball at. Chico Nov. 16 State Women’s 7 p.m. Basketball at. San Francisco (Exhibition) 2 p.m. Courtesy of sonomaseawolves. com
Noma baseball club gets ready for second season J onas B rock Staff Writer
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nly midway through November and Sonoma State University men’s club baseball team is already gearing up for their upcoming season. There are high hopes for this team coming into the new year after they finished one game out of first place last season. Not too shabby for a team playing in its first ever competitive season. The “Noma Baseball Club” currently participates in the National Club Baseball Association (NCBA) and has garnered a high amount of interest since its establishment back in 2012. When speaking to Brad Mulvihill, who was one of the founders of the club, he explained that growing and expanding the club really took care of itself and that it has considerably grown over the last year. He explained that back in 2012 the club didn’t even have enough people to field a team. This past year has been a drastically different story though, as the number of players has almost doubled in size. “We have made a ton of progress over the last year,” said Mulvihill. “We can’t wait to get out onto the field and build on what we did last season.”
The expedited growth of the club is a true testament to the love of baseball that many students at SSU have. The club team gives students a chance to passionately play the game without having to commit an overarching amount of time that playing a collegiate sport may require. The team is completely student run, from the players to the coaches, to the fundraising; everything is run by Sonoma State students. According to Mulvihill, playing for this club one gets the chance to play in a relaxed setting, while also having the chance to competitively compete against other schools on a regular basis. A club like this really gives students who played in high school or on travel teams, the chance to relive their baseball careers. The team most recently split a two-game series against Sacramento State over the past weekend and will have some more preseason games running throughout the fall semester. If interested in seeing some baseball on any given weekend from February through May, walk on over to Rancho Cotati high school and cheer on fellow Sonoma State colleagues. Their next pre-season game is next weekend as they get set to take on the club team from the University of Reno.
Sports
Nov. 11 - Nov. 17, 2014
sonomastatestar.com
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Seawolves honor seniors, come out on top in conference play
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Adam Roth Staff Writer
he women’s volleyball team swept Cal State East Bay and Cal State Monterey Bay this weekend in their final home games of the season and extended their win streak to four games. Senior players Kelsey Hull, Regan Richert and Ashley Robinson were honored in a pregame ceremony Saturday night, celebrating their final game to be played at The Wolves’ Den. The team’s record increased to 18-5 overall and 16-3 in conference standing with three games remaining in the regular season. The team beat each of their opponents in three straight sets, averaging over 40 kills per game, 40 assists and a hitting percentage of over .300. “I thought the game went very well,” said junior Madelyn Densberger. “It was senior night and there was a lot of excitement. We came out really strong in the first game but got a little complacent towards the end, but we fought back and got the win.”
The biggest thing for us in these next few games is going to be staying calm and confident,” said Madelyn Densberger. “There is so much on the line, we have never been in this position before.” “It was an important win and I am glad we got it,” said Bear Grassl, head coach for the past 13 years. “We are in a position to win the conference for the first time ever in the CCAA, and that’s a major achievement.” Grassl led the Seawolves to their best season in its history last year, breaking the single-season record for most wins in a season
COURTESY // SSU Athletics Junior Kaitlyn Connolly scored a team high of 11 kills during Friday’s match against East Bay. with a 26-6 record, including an 18-4 record in conference matches. “We are having an excellent season,” Grassl said. “It is another excellent season on the back of what was arguably the best season in the history of the program.” Sonoma State University is currently in first place in kills per set, assists per set, service aces per set and points per set. They also boast a win percentage of .842 in conference and .783 overall. The Wolves’ Den was packed with cheering fans and family, erupting with applause each time the Seawolves scored. “It was a great game,” said junior Steven Harrelson. “They played very well and it was a lot of fun to watch. I know they are going to do great in their final games of the season.”
The team begins a three-game road trip Tuesday against San Francisco State (109 conference) at 7 p.m. that includes Chico State (10-10 conference) on Friday and finish the season off with Cal State Stanislaus (2-18 conference) on Saturday. “The biggest thing for us in these next few games is going to be staying calm and confident,” added Densberger. “There is so much on the line, we have never been in this position before.” The team is currently up one-and-a-half games over rival Cal State San Bernardino and are looking to keep it that way. “We have to prepare for our opponents, stay focused, and stick with the game plan,” said Grassl. Densberger added, “Ever since Sonoma
State has been in the CCAA, we have never beat San Bernardino until last year, so it’s always exciting trying to beat them again.” “Volleyball focuses a lot on balancing and teamwork,” said Densberger. “Everyone has a very important roll, if our passer doesn’t pass it well, our setter cannot set it well, and in turn our hitter cannot hit it well.” “We’ve been working hard all year to make sure we don’t make mini vacations out there, and I think that’s what has made us so successful this year,” said Grassl. Densberger said,“When the whole team gets pumped up, it changes the game completely.” For more information about the Sonoma State women’s volleyball team visit sonomaseawolves.com.
Follow us on Twitter: @sonomastatestar Men’s basketball falls to Pacific Tigers
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Jake Tucker Staff Writer
he Sonoma State University men’s basketball team faced a challenge Saturday night as they took on the NCAA Division I Pacific Tigers at the Alex G. Spanos Center in Stockton in an exhibition game. Though they put up a strong fight, and lead by six points in the second half, but the Seawolves would ultimately end up falling to the Tigers 83-62. Sonoma State was lead by junior guard James Davis, who contributed 13 points, including a memorable three pointer with six minutes left in the game. Davis was three for five in his three-point attempts. Sonoma State was also lead by J.J. Mina, a senior transfer student who provided 10 points, five rebounds, and made a nice three-pointer with only eight seconds left in the game. The Tigers were lead by guard T.J. Wallace who gave a very strong performance, collecting 23 points (16 in the second half), 14 rebounds (four offensive and 10 defensive), and two assists, while going 12 for 16 at the free throw line (10 for 12 in the second half). Dulani Robinson also had a great game for Pacific, as he put forth 17 points of his own, going six for eight in his shot attempts, and going three for four from beyond the arc. He also had two rebounds and two assists. Eric Thompson was equally impressive as he contributed 14 points and eight rebounds. Rebounds were the killer for the Tigers, as they were able to out-board the Seawolves 4526. Wallace lead the Tigers with 14, Thompson had eight, Sami Eleraky had four, Gabriel Aguirre and David Taylor each had three, and Thomas Peters, D.J. Ursery, Dulani Robinson,
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star@sonoma.edu COURTESY // SSU Athletics James Davis scored 13 points within 17 minutes of play. and Ray Bowles all provided two rebounds. James Slade led SSU in rebounds with six, J.J. Mina had five and Jabri Jenkins had four. The Seawolves will open the 2014-2015 regular season this Friday night in the Wolves’ Den when they will face-off against the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves at 7:30 p.m. as a part of the Ron Logsdon Basketball Classic. They hope to turn around the overall momentum of the team, as they only have one winning season since the 2006-2007 season, and finished last season 7-19 (their worst record since their 1993-1994 season), and finished in ninth place in the conference standings.
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Photo
Nov. 11 - Nov. 17, 2014
sonomastatestar.com
This week in photos... For more, visit our galleries at SonomaStateStar.com
STAR // Sara Wildman
STAR // Maud Busson
STAR // Edward Goquingco
S O N O M A
S T A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
November 20-23, 2014 Evert B. Person Theatre
T I C K E T S w w w. s o n o m a . e d u / t i x STAR // Maud Busson Top: Participants in the Carousel Fund sat out on the Stevenson quad as people who donated were allowed to throw whipped-cream pies at their faces. All funds raised go to the carousel fund to help families with children who suffer from life-threatening illnesses. Middle: With Veteran’s Day upon us the Veteran’s Memorial Grove is a beautiful place to take a minute and remember those who have given the most for the country. Bottom: Casino Night, held in Student Center, brought the Vegas feel to Sonoma State University with poker, black jack, and roulette. Real money wasn’t up for grabs, but prizes were available for a lucky few. Right: Sauvapalooza showcased numerous student artists who sang and entertained to a quad filled with students and guests.
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