Volume 76 // Issue 10

In this issue:

Student Life: Dogs provide comfort at Stress Less Event.

Pg. 9

Opinion: The risks of opting out of vacinations. Pg. 3 A&E: ‘CineNoma’ to highlight student film-making talents. Pg. 6

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 76 // ISSUE 10

Sports: Softball team sweeps in San Francisco.

Pg. 10 APRIL 19 - APRIL 25, 2016

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

Campus raises

unit cap to 18 for

open registration Sarah Fishback Staff Writer

R STAR // Shane Bickford Sonoma State University’s Stevenson Hall has been a point of controversy because of a potential asbestos threat. Last week, Vice President of Administration and Finance Larry Furukawa-Schlereth announced a possible plan to renovate Stevenson Hall.

University plans renovation of Stevenson Hall amid asbestos controversy Edgar Sanchez Staff Writer

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he commotion caused by the potential hazard presented by asbestos in Stevenson Hall may come to a conclusion sooner than expected.

Vice President of Administration and Finance Laurence Furukawa-Schlereth announced on Thursday, during an Academic Senate meeting, the administration is planning a potential renovation of Stevenson Hall.

However, according to Furukawa-Schlereth, the renovation is not directly related to asbestos.

“The building is nearly 60 years old,” said FurukawaSchlereth. “All the basic systems that run the building are coming to the end of their useful life.”

The renovation of Stevenson Hall would begin with a feasibility study next fall. During this study, the university would collaborate with an outside consultant to define what exactly would be renovated and how much it would cost. The feasibility study would then be presented to the CSU to compete for funds against other capital projects at other CSU campuses.

Furukawa-Schlereth said he wants to ensure students are involved in the renovation project and plans to do so by having a representative from Associated Students sit on the feasibility study committee. He said he would also encourage town hall meetings and informational sessions to keep the Sonoma State community informed.

“The building is nearly 60 years old,” said Furukawa-Schlereth.

“All the basic systems that run the building are coming to the end of their useful life.”

Furukawa-Schlereth said he doesn’t want to narrow the renovation of Stevenson just to asbestos, as he claims there were many other factors driving the administration to make this decision.

“Essentially what we would get is a brand new building,” said Schlereth. “Notably we would have the asbestos issues

removed, but also appropriate heating and ventilation, good electrical systems and effective classrooms.”

Although the potential plans to renovate Stevenson provide a sense of relief for some faculty, both the Academic Senate and the California Faculty Association plan to continue investigating the conf licting results from tests conducted by the university and tests conducted by a private firm in connection with ae lawsuit filed by Thomas Sargent, a former employee who alleges the university has mishandled this toxic substance for years.

Chair of the Academic Senate Richard Senghas, said he would continue efforts to hire an independent firm to conduct asbestos testing in Stevenson Hall.

Senghas also explained that, due to the nature of the situation, it is critical to be cautious and selective when choosing the firm that would clarify this situation.

This is because In order for the independent testing to be legitimate, both the administration and the plaintiff’s party must believe the firm conducting it pos See RENOVATION on Pg. X

egistration is quickly approaching, and something new is being introduced to the registration process thanks to the recommendations of the Graduation Initiative Group at Sonoma State University. Beginning in July during open registration, all students will be able to register for up to 18 units, compared to the 16unit cap students are currently limited by.

The Graduation Initiative Group is a group on campus that includes professors, Associated Students representatives, administrators and the president of the university.

One of the members of this group is Richard Whitkus, co-chair of group, discussed the reasons behind this decision.

“During our discussion, we examined the unit loads taken by students in the fall 2015 and spring 2016 semesters,” said Whitkus. “The data revealed that around 250 additional students took either 17 or 18 units in each semester, with a significant drop off above 18 units.”

Whitkus then explained the importance of this sudden 18 unit cap raise.

“Given the workload associated with petitioning additional units, [our group] felt it would make sense to simply raise the cap to 18 units,” said Whitkus.

This year, Tim White, chancellor of the CSU system, revisited the importance of the four-year graduation rates California State University.

The current four-year graduation rate at Sonoma State is 28 percent, one of the highest in the CSU. Whitkus discussed what the group found at its last meet-

ing about Sonoma State’s own graduation rates and what those rates say about the students on campus.

“Upon further discussion, the 16-unit cap that has been in place for the past several years is a good mechanism to even out available seats in courses across the different populations of students,” said Whitkus.

According to Whitkus, Sonoma State President Ruben Armiñana favorably received the information about increased unit cap.

“We hope this may actually increase, a bit, the number of students taking one extra class since the barrier of needing to petition the units will be removed,” said Whitkus.

In order to get this unit cap change into the system, Lisa Noto, the university registrar, has to manually change the unit cap herself before open registration begins in July.

“My role is to literally change the unit cap in the system from 16 to 18,” said Noto.

Knowing this might calm a lot of students in regard to their choices for choosing classes for this upcoming semester. Now students can keep in mind that they do not have to worry about petitioning for more units anymore.

“I hope this move demonstrates how data driven decisions can be used to help our students make progress through their degrees,” said Whitkus.

Registration for fall 2016 begins on Friday and ends on April 27. The first day of registration is for graduate students, credential students, athletes, priority registered and presidential honor scholars.

Open registration begins in July and students can add more classes than to fulfill the 18 unit cap.

Student election draws highest voter turnout in six years Nate Galvan Staff Writer

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wenty-three percent. That’s the amount of students that voted in this year’s Associated Students election, resulting in Sonoma State University Sophomore Emily Hinton becoming the new President of Associated Students for the upcoming school year. With the voter turnout being the highest the university has seen in six years, what was different about this year’s election than years past?

Current Associated Students

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officers were told prior to the election season to recruit at least two students they believed would be superior representatives for the student body.

Reaching out to clubs and organizations on campus, the current student government staff attended meetings in attempt to increase student interest in running for positions in Associated Students.

Current President of Associated Students Brandon Mercer puts a lot of admiration on the shoulders of this year’s candidates for informing students about voting.

“The greatest effort was on

@sonomastatestar

behalf of our amazing candidates this year,” said Mercer. “With so many contested elections and our candidates really getting out there to talk to students, we were able to reach so many more students than in years past.”

With a meet and greet and a debate being the only Associated Students scheduled events for candidates to reach out to students, nominees could connect with students individually and get their ideas out to a bigger audience.

“My opponent is president of her organization and sorority and that gives her a lot of friends and

@sonomastatestar

votes,” said Hinton when asked about her campaign efforts. “All the votes I got were from students who genuinely believed I would be a good president.”

Looking toward subsequent elections, Associated Students intends to incorporate modern ways of pursuing students to vote for their student government.

“In the future we are primarily looking to social media options,” said Mercer. “As we exhaust low cost, high visibility options, we will pursue more elaborate initiatives that are trending across the nation in student government elec-

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tions.”

There was only one Associated Students position not filled, the senator for the school of education, which is one of the smallest schools at the university.

In the 2010-11 school year, students voted on the student fee referendum for the construction of the Student Center on campus.

That election resulted in the highest voter turnout, a percentage not surpassed until this year.

Associated Students hopes students will continue to vote, ultimately increasing the voting percentage more in years to come.

Visit: sonomastatestar.com

Page 2

Editorial

April 19 - April 25, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

THE STAR Editorial Board

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

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

Photographers Megan Corcoran, Sara Wildman, Shane Bickford, Kaila Sanders

Nichols Hall 323, 1801 East Cotati Ave Rohnert Park, CA 94928 Telephone: 707-664-2776 Business & General Inquiries: sonomastatestar@gmail.com Corrections and News Tips: star@sonoma.edu

Editor’ s Pick This week’s can’t miss article:

“Alpha Delta Pi hosts campus-wide speaker”

Alpha Delta Pi hosted a night dedicated to alcohol awareness despite a last-minute speaker substitution. Staff Writer Nikki Bridges writes an account of the night and informs the reader about the dangers of binge drinking.

Read the story on page 9 Corrections/Clarifications The STAR values accuracy and works diligently to check facts before publication. However, if inaccuracies occur, we want to know. Please report errors to the editor at star@sonoma.edu.

Publication The STAR is published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters. Printing is done by Sonoma Media Group. The weekly publication of the STAR is made possible by Instructionally Related Activities Funding.

Opinions

Opinions expressed in the STAR are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the STAR or SSU. The editorial reflects the views of the STAR Editorial Board on issues it considers to be of particular relevance to the campus community.

Letters to the Editor Letter writers may expect prompt publication in the newspaper’s op-ed section, as space is available. Letters of up to 400 words will be allowed and must be submitted no later than the Friday before the publication date. Published letters must be free of libel, since the publication is held legally accountable for all content. Although personal controversy will be tolerated, it is the responsibility of the editor to check statements purporting the facts. The STAR reserves the right to refuse publication to any letter and to edit for length. Letters must sign all contributions and the editor must verify the signer and the writer are one in the same through personal conference. To send a letter to the editor, email star@sonoma.edu.

STAR // Julia Albo

Think twice about avoiding the polls W

ith national presidential election antics in full swing, each candidate is surely asking themselves, “what can I do to get the vote?”

We’ve seen Senator Bernie Sanders advocate for free college tuition. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has expressed plans to eliminate tuition loan debt after graduation. The strong push of these ideas is the result of of one thing: Winning the millennial vote.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, millennials now outnumber the baby-boomer generation, making the millennial vote the one to pursue. But there’s one more hurdle - millennials actually need to take the initiative to vote.

It’s no secret our generation has had trouble getting to the polls. According to a study by The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, only 19.9 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds voted in the midterm elections of 2014. This was the lowest millennial turnout ever recorded.

There are several theories as to why this is. Some millennials may assume their vote doesn’t count in the long run. Others say there aren’t any candidates worth voting for. We’ve all heard the claim the younger generation is just too self-involved or uninterested in politics to vote.

While any of these theories may be true to some extent, the numbers don’t lie. With more of a potential to swing the vote than the baby-boomers, it’s time we start using this advantage to shape government.

Millennials as a whole tend to think differently than their parents. While previous generations valued the process of attaining “the American Dream,” (getting a well-paying job, getting married, buying a house, having babies and so on) Millennials value happiness in a less traditional sense. We are more concerned about social justices and peace than we are with traditional values and the growth of the economy.

This sets us apart from our baby-boomer counterparts. It’s not that we are uninterested in politics. We just aren’t as interested in what the current political system values.Regardless, the cheesy line “we can make a difference” still applies. We’ve got the numbers.

We’ve got different ideas. We just need the motivation.

Sure, it’s possible that a candidate who shares our same values hasn’t emerged yet, but our silence at the polls could result in the wrong presidential candidate being elected. Afterall, shouldn’t the inheritants of this nation make sure we have a say in who represents us in the White House for four or more years? Letting our indifference trump reason is some-

thing we as millennials need to change. Even electing the lesser of two evils is far better than sitting back and letting the wrong person come into office.

But there are promising signs of change here at Sonoma State.

In the recent Associated Students election for Sonoma State University, 23 percent of students voted, which is considerably higher than Spring 2015’s AS election that only saw 16.4 percent of students vote.

In addition to signaling a potential increasing interest by students in elections, the result showed the power of a single vote.

AS President Elect Emily Hinton won with 51.2 percent of the vote.

This is roughly a 50-vote difference between her and her opponent, current AS Vice President Kate Chavez. A small number of people could have completely changed the election outcome, proving that an individual vote really can add up and make a difference.

If we as a group applied this growing motivation and faith in our vote to the presidential election in November, the millennials could easily decide the vote. That is, if we decided to.

The last day to register to vote in the June 7 primary in California is May 23. For more information, go to sos.ca.gov/elections/ voter-registration. Make your vote count.

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

Opinion

A pril 19- A pril 25, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

Page 3

‘Chariot for Women’ provides a safe space

Olivia Hunt Staff Writer

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rivatized ride-sharing companies have drastically increased in recent years due to the high demand for convenient transportation.

Services like Uber and Lyft are among the most popular, catering toward any need, whether it be young teenagers trying to get around with their friends or adults who just need a ride to work that day. Although these companies are extremely successful at the moment, one factor most users notice is a majority of the drivers are male. On the

rare occasion one does get a female driver, it’s almost guaranteed it’s during the day.

The concept of inviting strangers into your own personal vehicle is frightening to say the least. From the perspective of a woman, taking this risk is an even bigger danger to our safety. Just last weekend, a man in Los Angeles posing as an Uber driver was arrested for kidnapping and raping a woman, choking her unconscious in the backseat of his SUV. Additionally, a few months ago, an Uber driver went on a shooting spree in Kalamazoo, Michigan leaving six dead. No one likes to imagine these tragedies happen often, but sadly they do. Uber has drawn criticism for its handling of sexual assault and rape cases as well as its loose criteria for background checks.

Women cautiously step into an Uber every day and face the fear that something of this caliber could happen to them. Speaking from personal experience, I have encountered solo Uber rides that have left me clutching my phone and sending my location to my friends just in case. Circumstances like these tend to frustrate me because I

An outsider’s perspective on Greek life

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begin. If the driver doesn’t have the same safe word, the passenger then knows immediately not to get into that car, and will then look for the correct vehicle.

The passenger will also see a picture of their driver, car make and license plate number every time they are picked up by a Chariot for Women driver.

Another positive component of Chariot For Women is 2 percent of daily proceeds will be donated to a women based charity.

Every month, there will be a list of 10 local and national charities, chosen by customers through the app.

While the passenger is in the car, a popup will appear with these 10 charities and they can immediately choose where their 2 percent goes. As soon as they hit the button, the charity will immediately get the money deposited in their bank accounts.

This means more money will go to foundations trying to cure diseases, stop violence and abuse, help empower women and more.

This type of innovative thinking in the interest of women’s safety is a small but paramount advancement towards protecting the interest of females everywhere.

It’s time to talk about sexual assault

Naaman Hightower Staff Writer y first thoughts on Greek life consisted of “So basically, I’m paying to have friends?” The thought of huge groups of people wearing the same clothes with weird lettering on them? No thank you.

My perception of fraternities and sororities upon first glance was very negative. One of my first encounters with Greek life was during Rush Week. This is when both fraternities and sororities recruit for their particular Greek chapter.

From what I gathered, the Chairs (i.e leaders) of the group would treat a recruit like its most prized possession during rush week. Parties, alcohol and fun were expected during the seven day adventure. Once you’re accepted, however, it’s a different story. The stories I’ve heard about initiation or hazing new members was unbelievable.

Why would someone want to make themselves look like less of a person just to join a group? The idea almost sounded cult-like, not to mention how fatal some occurrences end up.

How could we forget Tucker Hipps, who was found dead in a lake after going on fraternity jog with his so-called brothers? I’m sure I wouldn’t end up in a lake if I was around people who had my best interest at heart.

Then comes the issue of sexual assault. In group settings, people are more likely to do things they normally would never chance. In 2014, three sexual assaults occurred at one Texas fraternity in just one month.

Greek life is not all bad, though.

One of the most obvious reasons for joining a Greek organization is the friendship. A college campus can be an imposing environment to students who come from small towns and cities. Intimidated college freshmen who are just edging away from home for the first time beg companionship. Not only do they get assigned a big, they join a family for life who faithfully looks out for them. After all, four years of college can’t become very lonely if one has a few friends.

Greek life has always been positively praised for their community philanthropy. Events such as a city-wide clean up, mentoring at Boys & Girls Clubs, and raising money for children with special needs is always something we need more of. Just last week, several Greek organizations teamed up in Relay For Life, a 12-hour event that raised money to combat cancer. Bonding with fellow sorority sisters and brothers while doing something positive for the world is a huge positive to Greek life.

Last is accountability. Most, if not all, sororities or fraternities have strict guidelines governing their rules of entry. At the very least, a 2.0 grade point average is mandated to even be considered for most organizations. This gives the lost student who is at the end of the rope in his or her academics a reason to keep going. Of course, they should strive for high marks anyway, but who can be mad at an organization that helps keep academic the standard high?

My first reaction to Greek life? Never in a million years. Yet, after learning, witnessing and researching, maybe one day.

don’t enjoy feeling unsafe in the presence of a male stranger, but unfortunately as a woman in the society that we have created, it’s seen as careless if you aren’t cautious when alone with a male.

Michael Pelletz—a former Uber driver in the Boston area—recognized the safety of women, both the driver and passenger alike, was in jeopardy and took advantage of the gap in the market. Today, his new ridesharing company, “Chariot For Women,” will launch in all 50 states.

Pelletz claims over 9,000 potential drivers have already signed up for the service.

After having a sketchy experience one night driving Uber, paired with his wife’s concerns about being an Uber driver after dark, Pelletz created an all-women driving agency that only allows female passengers and children under the age of 13.

The app is built for safety. Every time the driver starts her day, she has to answer a random security question which changes daily to ensure her identity. When the passenger requests a ride, a safe word pops up on the driver and passenger’s phone. If the driver says the correct word, the ride may

Rene De Amaral Staff Writer

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pril is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and talking about sexual assault brings up these questions: How often does sexual assault occur? How many women and men are victims of sexual assault? How should I go about helping someone who was sexually assaulted? And what can I do to help spread awareness?

One in 5 women and 1 in 71 men will be sexually assaulted at during their lives in the United States. Sexual assault is very common on college campuses, as 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men are sexually assaulted while attending college, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

While that may not sound like a big number to some, it’s still too many, as the number should be zero. In addition, over 90 percent of sexual assault victims don’t report the assault. In many cases, victims choose not to re-

port what has happened to them in the fear they will experience retaliation or no one will believe them.

In addition, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, over 80 percent of college student sexual assault and rape victims reported they knew their attacker, as most were either friends or acquaintances. It’s sad that during one of the best times of our lives, we have to live with the idea that we may not know our friends and their true intentions.

Recently, all Sonoma State students had to participate in sexual assault awareness training. While the program obviously had some thought put into it, its impact was not large enough to make a huge difference, and I felt I was being preached at, rather than being educated and informed.

With the threat of a registration hold put on our MySSU accounts, students most likely rushed through its videos and articles out of necessity to complete, rather than genuinely taking time to sit down and learn.

If you know someone who becomes a victim of sexual assault, help them the best you can. Understand what they’re going through is something that can’t be solved with a simple hug and reassurances that things will get better.

While they may need to hear that, and some victims will appreciate it, it won’t help everyone. The best thing you can do is be there for them, and listen to what they have to say.

If you see someone who may look as though they’re being taken advan-

tage of, step in. Don’t be a bystander, even if the potential victim or potential perpetrator may give you trouble.

For those who have been victims of sexual assault or those who know someone who has been a victim of sexual assault, always remember that what happened to you (or your friend/ relative/acquaintance) is not your fault.

Many people will claim you may have been “asking for it” because you were flirting, or wearing “provocative clothing.” If you were under the influence, you were taken advantage of in your intoxicated state. The only person who knew what you were thinking was you.

It never was, nor will it ever be, your fault.

There are many resources available to learn more about sexual assault.

One being the previously mentioned NSVRC, as their campaign is to prevent sexual violence. Planned Parenthood is always a good resource as their website offers information on what to do if someone has been a victim of sexual assault or rape.

In addition, Sonoma State offers many sexual assault awareness events on campus, with four left for the rest of the month, as Sonoma State is apart of Vice-President Joe Biden’s “It’s On Us” campaign to end sexual assault.

I’m always filled with dread whenever I see an email in my inbox with a red exclamation point next to it. I fear that it’ll be another sexual assault which took place on campus. We all need to do our part to prevent sexual assault.

Putting your whole community at risk

Christine Edwards Staff Writer

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iseases are making a shocking comeback due to parent’s refusal of vaccinations.

School is supposed to be a safe, healthy environment for children to learn and thrive, and many educational institutions do all they can to protect students from harm.

This is the principle reason children are required to be vaccinated before entering public and even private schools, as well as day care. Not only are these institutions protecting the individual children receiving the vaccinations, but the entire community is being safeguarded from the spread of these preventable diseases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and local vaccination requirements for day care and schools are the foremost tool for limiting the spread of preventable

diseases. However, all states allow medical exemptions. This is entirely understandable, although this is very uncommon, occurring in about 1 percent of individuals. What’s more, 48 states allow religious exemptions and 19 allow philosophical exemptions.

Currently, California is one of the states allowing for both religious and philosophical exemptions. However, that will change on July 1 of this year with the signing of State Bill 277 by Gov. Jerry Brown, which eliminates the philosophical exemption from California’s school vaccination requirements.

This issue is controversial because dormant diseases are making a comeback recently due to parent’s refusal of vaccinations for their children. The belief that vaccines are linked with autism is the largest driving force behind it. Maybe some parents see no point in protecting against diseases they have never encountered themselves. In fact, four diseases thought to be long gone are making a scary comeback across the country.

In 2000, a panel of experts from the CDC proclaimed the transmission of measles was eradicated from this country. A recent outbreak of measles in New York City caused 19 confirmed cases, and about 60 cases of this preventable disease are reported each year in the U.S. When non-vaccinated children or adults travel overseas to

other countries where measles is still a common illness, they become infected and bring these diseases back to the U.S., contaminating others. The same situation applies to mumps, whooping cough and polio, all making appearances on school campuses nationwide, some even as close to home as the East Bay, where a recent outbreak of whooping cough took place and 16 students were infected.

The only way to stop these completely unnecessary outbreaks of diseases which should have been wiped out long ago is to change legislation on a state level, requiring all schools to vaccinate children and not allowing exemptions for religious or personal beliefs.

This is the health of other parents’ children and the entire surrounding communities that are at risk due to the reckless behavior of a small group of new-age and radical parents. In the majority of these cases, these parents are not physicians and should not have the authority to make decisions of this caliber when it concerns other’s children.

Current legislation will follow the direction of Gov. Brown, no longer allowing parents the privilege of choosing whether or not to vaccinate. As more cases of these outbreaks emerge, public officials will hopefully have no choice but to implement vaccinations for all children, with the exception of allergies.

Page 4

News

April 19 - April 25, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

Interview with Sonoma State faculty association President Elaine Newman

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Misha Herbert Staff Writer

onoma State University students can all breathe with a sigh of relief.

Although a tentative contract agreement is still awaiting final approval from the California Faculty Association and the CSU Board of Trustees, the threat of a statewide strike by CSU faculty has passed for now. Strengthened by unity and public support, the CFA effectively bargained for a 10.8 percent salary increase over a three-year contract. They originally had asked for a 5 percent increase for this year.

Elaine Newman, Sonoma State CFA chapter president, stopped by the STAR on April 12 to discussd the tentative agreement with the CSU, the debate about asbestos at Stevenson Hall and other issues.

Newman has been a math and statistics professor at Sonoma State University for 18 years. She joined the union in her early days of educating and continued through the years with varying degrees of responsibilities.

Two-and-a-half years ago, she was elected president of the chapter. When asked to describe her experience being chapter president, she said, “It’s been a very good experience for me. I cannot say it’s been fun, but it has been interesting.”

STAR: What do you think needs to happen next, now that an agreement was reached between the CSU and CFA and the strike was called off?

Newman: I’m going to say that everything that we’ve won recently, like this tentative agreement that called off the strike, is a start to fixing our salary issues. We are very pleased with this tentative agreement, but we feel that it’s just a start to fixing the sins of the last 10 or 15 years.

In a perfect world, we’ll do what the factfinder recommended. The CSU administra-

tion and CSU faculty will work together to advocate for more funding for the CSU from the state legislature. And if that happens, then that needs to translate into all kinds of improvements in the quality of the educational experience you receive. That means bringing salaries into parody, keeping workloads from getting worse and providing more sections and advising for students.

STAR: Ruben Armiñana has gotten a raise every year over the last 9 years totaling $33,000. Within the union, is there any discussion about that salary gap between administrators and faculty members?

Newan: Yes, that was part of the fairness side of this raise that we were asking for.

When we chose to become faculty, we didn’t think we were going to be rich, but we didn’t think we were taking a vow of poverty either.

So when we are asking for a raise, we were asking for something that was reasonable and fair. I don’t begrudge the president’s raises over the last few years, but we all should have been getting those raises. I think a mark of true leadership would be for him to have said, “If my faculty isn’t getting a raise, then I’m not going to take a raise either.” Again, I don’t mind if people are making more money, as long as we all are brought up to a certain level of fairness and we’re all receiving a living wage and we’re all receiving respect and dignity for the work that we do.

STAR: So two weeks ago, the CSU was offering a 2 percent raise. The CFA wanted 5 percent . You ended up with 10 percent. How did you do that?

Newman: Well, it’s actually 10.8 percent, with compounding. I think at the beginning of the negotiations, the chancellor and the [CSU] Board of Trustees did not believe that faculty could generate the power to do something like effectively threaten a strike.

Up until when that neutral, third-party fact-

finder’s report was released, I think they really thought that we couldn’t do it.

They thought that we would just take the 2 percent and like it. I think they were surprised the Legislature in Sacramento supported us. They claimed they didn’t have the money to afford our raises, but they hadn’t gone to the Legislature and asked for it either. Then faculty had gone and effectively argued for more funding for the CSU, and we received it. The funding for the CSU was augmented by almost 10 percent in the last year, and they still claimed they didn’t have the money.

I think they were also surprised that students supported us. They were really trying to divide us by saying that your student fees were tied to our salaries. And then we debunked the notion that your student fees were tied to our salary raises in any way. So I think they were surprised by what we could do. And we won this because there was near unanimity among the faculty for the strike.

And students, you all were super effective in supporting us, too. I think we have great teachers here, and if they’re treated right, then we can deliver that great education that we all want to deliver.

STAR: How do you expect relations to change between faculty and administration in the fall with the new president?

Newman: I’m very hopeful. I’ve had nothing but positive experiences with this new president. She’s made some serious attempts to reach out to faculty on the academic senate to figure out what our concerns are.

I’m hopeful that she’ll bring a renewed sense of commitment to our academic mission here at Sonoma State.

STAR: What is the union’s opinion on the allegations of asbestos in Stevenson?

Newman: We have filed a grievance on behalf of all faculty that have to work in Stevenson. We have asked faculty to request a

Faculty association discusses next steps following salary agreement Katelyn Quinn Staff Writer

F

or the last few months the California Faculty Association has pushed for better salaries.

The union also is supporting a proposal to make the tax increases approved by voters in Proposition 30 permanent.

The tax on the state’s wealthiest residents provides an estimated $10 billion in revenue, most of which is dedicated to education. The proposal to renew the tax could go to California voters this fall.

Originally there was a plan for a strike in April, but the plan was ended after an agreement was made.

Over the next three years, there will be a 10.8 percent raise in salaries. It will be divided bit by bit over the years. Originally, the offer by CSU was a 2 percent raise every July. However, the tentative agreement provides a much different schedule of cumulative increases.

On June 30, salaries will increase by 5 percent, which was the CFA’s original wish for change.

The association’s fight for a salary increase began as early as 2014, where the CSU board settled the contract with the original 2 percent plan, as well as a 3 percent compensation for 2014-2015.

However, the CFA rejected the original offer, as it wouldn’t be enough for both the salaries and the programs — the original offer would only bring about 68 million dollars, whereas the tentative agreement adds up to 207 million.

This eventually led to the fall campaign, otherwise known as the Fight For Five.

This consisted of a vote being placed for a strike to take place eventually, as well as gathering various activists, faculty, students, community members and political figures.

On Nov. 17, the Board of Trustees took action and spoke out about the campaign.

The campaign continued into winter and spring of 2014-2015 through a variety of events. This included the fact-finding process, which provided information to the chancellor on why a raise for salary wasn’t just a want, but a necessity for education as whole.

The strike dates being planned out along with decisions on how it will take place, various conferences such as the Equity Conference and Lobby Day in order to explain more of what would be necessary to push for this change, and the chancellor never having a chance to be away from the people pushing the CSU. California Faculty Association President Jennifer Eagan spoke about strike on Wednesday.

“He was constantly finding members all around,” said Eagan. “Even on his grounds, they’d be there to protest.”

After a fact-finding report was released, and a long series of agreements were made, the strike was for naught, as the decision for the 10.8 percent raise was made.

This isn’t the end of the CFA’s plans, of course.

The tentative agreement still needs work to continue to

improve funding for education.

They also need to vote to get Prop 30 passed, as this would not only keep the new schedule for cumulative increase in place, but will pay for incoming faculty and other members involved in CSU. Professor and CFA bargaining team chair Andy Merrifield spoke on the faculty’s gain from the agreement.

“It does benefit us indirectly,” said Merrifield. “If it doesn’t pass, we’re gonna fight for it. Proposition 30 is the reason the CFA is supportive of the agreement.

This is highly beneficial to us; even though we’re not included in the language, which we should be, this does go in for those in education around us.”

They are working on encouraging fellow members, as well as students and other people in the community around them, to help ratify the vote.

“Voting is a right of membership, and nearly everyone is impacted by the education’s salaries in one way or another,” said Eagan.

Faculty will be able to vote on Friday at 6 a.m. through email. The polls will remain open until April 29 at noon.

Upcoming plans of the CFA include building power by recruiting new members and finding new ways to connect with current ones, working with students and figuring out their needs, pushing the CFA’s current activism into more complex economic issues and economic justice campaigns and advocating for other campuses with needs for salary equality.

transfer out of Stevenson, and to sign on to our class grievance. We have also asked faculty to contact CAL OSHA with their specific concerns about working in Stevenson.

The university has produced a report that says everything’s okay. But there is a separate lawsuit, which has nothing to do with CFA, and the plaintiff’s attorney’s have had independent testing done and the results are alarming. We are not experts with asbestos, and we are not qualified to determine what’s going on in Stevenson. So we’ve hired an outside consultant who is a retired CAL OSHA worker that is going to advise us on what these reports mean and what we should be asking for. I believe what we will be asking for as remediation to remove the grievance is better abatement methods.

Every old building has asbestos in it, but in terms of cleaning, sealing floors, painting, and replacing ceiling tiles, we need to find the best practices to protect the students and teachers in those buildings.

sonoma.edu President of Sonoma State University’s chapter of the California Faculty Association visited the STAR last Tuesday.

NEWS

IN BRIEF

Davis The University of California Student Association, which represents more than 200,000 students in the UC system, is calling for the resignation of UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi.

This call for resignation coincides with the recent allegation that the university’s public affairs office spent nearly $200,000 to repair the university’s public image by erasing online evidence of a pepper spray incident that occured on the campus in 2011.

The incident, which involved campus police pepper spraying Occupy UC Davis protesters, was caught on camera and gained national attention at the time. According to FOX News, seven state lawmakers are in support of students and urge the chancellor to resign.

Berkeley A UC Berkeley student was removed from a Southwest Airline flight earlier this month, for speaking Arabic on the plane, the student says. The student, who came to the U.S. from Iraq as a refugee, allegedly spoke Arabic over the phone to his uncle, which caused alarm for a fellow passanger on the flight. The 26-year-old senior called his uncle to express his excitement in Arabic regarding a speech he attended by United Nations Secratary General Ban Ki-moon.

The airline escorted him off the plane after a fellow passanger was alarmed. The student cites his removal as an example of Islamophobia. Southwest Airlines said in response to the incident, that they don’t tolerate discrimination of any kind.

News

April 19 - April 25, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

Page 5

STAR // Connor Gibson The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit announced a possible schedule for railway service when the train begins service at the end of this year. The railway will run from the Sonoma County Airport to San Rafael, with stops in Cotati and Rohnert Park. The schedule was emailed to students’ last week.

Sonoma railway to begin operation at the end of the year, boarding schedule released Shane Welch Staff Writer

S

tudents will have an extra way to get around when the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) begins operation at the end of 2016. As of April 2016, proposed boarding times and station schedules were released.

In an email sent out to students last week, the Sonoma State Chief of Police Nathan Johnson attached a memo from SMART’s board of directors released April 6, detailing the proposed schedule.

The tentative schedule calls for northbound trains to stop in Rohnert Park at 17 minutes and 47 minutes during most hours of the day from 7:17 a.m. to 8:17 p.m. Southbound trains will stop at 8 minutes and 38 minutes after the hour from 5:08 a.m. to 6:08 p.m. Fewer stops will occur in the middle of the day.

The trip from Rohnert Park to San Ra-

fael will take 48 minutes while the trip to the Sonoma County Airport will take 19 minutes.The proposed schedule also includes times for weekend and holiday service.

SMART is preparing to launch its passenger service by the end of the year according to SMART spokeswoman Jeanne Mariani-Belding. “Our initial 43-mile operating segment will run from northern Santa Rosa, near the Sonoma County Airport, to downtown San Rafael.”

The railway’s lines, which will run through major cities in both Sonoma and Marin counties are also set to expand in phase two of the project. Once phase two of SMART is complete, the rail will go from Cloverdale in Sonoma County to Larkspur Ferry in Marin County.

“Plans are to begin construction on the Larkspur connection next year,” said Belding. “We are also planning to con-

nect to Larkspur so that people can link up with the ferry to San Francisco. And we also have plans to expand further north to Windsor and Cloverdale.”

Alongside SMART, bus lines will be integrated with the rail line. In Rohnert Park, the rail line will be roughly 3.5 miles from campus and integrated with the current Roberts Lake Park and Ride lot.

The lot, which is located East of Highway 101, is a bus transit hub with parking spaces for 180 cars.

“With regards to the university [Sonoma State], the closest location is in Rohnert Park off of Golf Course Drive and Roberts Lake Road,” said Bryan Albee, the transit systems manager for the Sonoma County Transit Authority. “The Park and Ride is both a bus and SMART station.”

In order to introduce residents to the new rail line and maintain safety, vari-

ous measures are being taken before the system is open to the public.

“Safety is a top priority for us, so we have been working hard to let the public know that we are currently running trains, testing our crossing gates and testing our train control and communication systems,” said Belding. “Drivers should be alert at all crossing gates, whether or not they see a train – we are testing our crossing gates both with and without trains.”

Although SMART works with agencies such as the Sonoma County Transit Authority, much of the main safety measures are being overseen and tested by the rail service.

More than 80 percent of all North Bay commercial, residential and educational facilities are located along the SMART corridor.

More information about the rail line can be found at sonomamarintrain.org.

RENOVATION: Proposal to be given to CSU in fall Continued from Pg. 1

- sess no special interests or bias.

“People must feel like whatever organization is invited to do the testing is disinterested enough,” said Senghas. “And not speaking for one side nor the other.”

Elaine Newman, president of the California Faculty Association at Sonoma State, told the STAR the faculty has hired an independent consultant who is a retired employee from the California Occupational Safety and Health Department, the government agency in charge of enforcing asbestos regulations.

According to Newman, the expert will scrutinize both testing reports and advise the association based on its findings. The CFA has already taken action by filing a grievance over the current asbestos

uncertainty in Stevenson Hall.

Senghas believes the Academic Senate cannot validate the results found by the independent consultant hired by the CFA because they must first be approved by the administration and the plaintiff.

Senghas also mentioned he would like to see the renovation of Stevenson happen sooner than later, as he believes it would be a “resolution” to the asbestos controversy.

Meanwhile Thomas Sargent, the ex-employee currently suing the school over the asbestos in Stevenson, is also preparing to go to court. The trial is scheduled for July 29 at Sonoma County Superior Court. He and his lawyers are planning to hold a press conference at the Mario Savio Speaker Corner, here at Sonoma State on April 28 at 1 p.m. The Sonoma State STAR will continue to inform students, faculty and staff as this story develops.

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STAR // Shane Bickford Stevenson Hall at Sonoma State University may undergo a renovation.

Page 6

Arts

April 19 - April 25, 2016 sonomastatestar . com

Ready, set, action: CineNoma returns Emma Devitt Staff Writer

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ineNoma is back and better than ever. The film festival will be taking place on Thursday April 21 at 7 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom D. This is the fifth film festival Sonoma State University TV has hosted on campus, and this year could present the most talent yet.

Sonoma State students Anna Luna, Sean Tadlock, Kayley Kemp and Jason Weiss will be attending the Cannes International Film Festival in France this year to present their films, which will also be shown at CineNoma.

In the past two years, Sonoma State has had eight students selected to participate in the Cannes International Film Festival.

“It’s exciting for that to happen once, but two years in a row is really neat,” said Ed Beebout, faculty advisor for SSUTV. “Because of our SSU-TV students getting their films nationally recognized and getting to go to international festivals, it helps the reputation they are building as young filmmakers. I think that means more of an expectation of quality films for those that choose to attend CineNoma.”

This year, SSUTV has decided to open festival entries to Sonoma county. A few students from Santa Rosa Junior College are submitting films as well.

“As a spectator, this event is an awesome way to show support for the small but growing filmmaking community and to just have fun,” said Luna. “A night of taking fancy pictures, watching movies and eating popcorn. What can get better than that?”

Attendees of this free formal event can expect a red carpet entrance, photographers, refreshments, a raffle with prizes and an award ceremony for the films.

Filmmaker and Sonoma State student Joshua Hernandez appreciates events like CineNoma where he can showcase his ideas and hard work.

“Filmmaking is something I love doing and whenever I get a chance to make a film, I take advantage of the opportunity,” said Hernandez. “CineNoma makes it easy and risk-free to get out there and share my stories.”

CineNoma has become an incredible opportunity for student filmmakers of any major to come together and support each other.

“Events like CineNoma allow students to get exposure to different things without much risk or commitment. This exposure is what makes students well-rounded individuals,” said Hernandez. “I suggest that students take advantage of CineNoma. It’s a nice way to make new friends, have new experiences and maybe find a new hobby or career path.”

‘PersonA’: When image overshadows the music Nico Gray Staff Writer

Album Review

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he latest album by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes proved to be nothing but a zero. The 10-piece indie, folk-rock group followed up their 2013 release “Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes” with their fourth studio album, “PersonA.” The psychedelic, sitting around the campfire feel creates the intentionally branded tones that hipsters love and music fans loathe. No matter the genre, all artists form their own brand. A lot of the time it’s the particular image, the story that sells the artist’s vision just as much as the actual music. That’s where the beauty is born, when a connection is made through the music and the inspiration. The problem with a lot of current artists is the fact that their image becomes the main event. The alter ego known as Edward Sharpe taking over as a focal point of the group makes for a very empty brand of artistry.

I will admit, some of their previous hits are tolerable and quite catchy. I’ve found myself accidently whistling to the tune of “Home,” or humming along to “40 Day Dream.” However, as a true fan of classic and hard rock, this album lacks a level of raw, energetic sounds that make music real and distinctive. The many different genres of rock are all defined by rhythm. A good song is formed through the structure of the piece, along with the placement of harmonies and rhythm progressions. Every song should sound different and have emotion within the lyrics and music. There needs to be some sort of power and grit to music making and that’s something to appreciate in rock music.

I listened to this record from a perspective that was unlike my personal tastes.

I tried to imagine that I slept in my van, hung out in the woods and haven’t shaved my beard in 13 months, but relating to the image didn’t help with the sound. It was clear that “PersonA” was another attempt by lead singer Alex Ebert to reinvent his sound and gain acceptance across multiple genres of music. The idea of a new musical narrative did not speak volumes. Songs such as “Uncomfortable” were overly repetitive and lacked a real level of depth. It was a four minute long ramble that actually made me quite uncomfortable.

This was the first album since the departure of co-singer Jade Castrinos in 2014, and it became obvious “PersonA” was an attempt to show fans that the group can

still put out music and incorporate different sounds. The song “Perfect Time” takes a direct shot at the inevitable issue. Its vivid imagery does conduct a strain in the band mate’s previous relationship. Lyrics like “Whatever colors you wear / Oh, they gonna bleed someday,” show the complexity of Castrinos’ departure.

The album highlight “Hot Coals” has a change of pace that keeps listener’s attention. The jazz influence and use of piano is one aspect that captivates listeners and sets a tone of high quality music making rather than overly preachy lyrics. “Lullabye” is a song about Ebert’s daughter, it introduces a real somber tone rather than the typical upbeat or relaxing style. The song expresses Ebert’s concerns with his previous lifestyle and how that might affect his daughter as she grows up. “If only I could protect you from me/ If only, but I fear it will be my fault/ If ever my dear you act adult.” Lyrics like this show just how difficult it is not only to be a father, but to be there to raise your kids properly.

Admittedly, the album possesses more flaws than anything. As “Hot Coals” incorporated more of a darker sound, songs like “Somewhere” and “No Love Like Yours” were far too shimmery and didn’t match the tone or feel of the rest of the album.

“PersonA” showed a lot of the band’s vulnerabilities in exploring areas of sound that were previously uncharted. The album doesn’t take listeners far enough and there is an apparent strain on Ebert’s direction and the actual makeup of the songs. It all comes full circle with a lack of depth and inability the mesmerize listeners with a feeling and reaction that come solely from the music.

SSUTV is working on building this filmmaking community even further. By opening up submissions to Sonoma county as well as partnering with other communication program outlets, they hope to grow and bring more interest to the talent at Sonoma State.

“I only hope to see more students get involved with this community and bring further success with film to Sonoma State,” said Luna.

“The point of the festival is to help build relationships and connections between people who are interested in film and video production,” said Beebout. “Whether they are one major or another, we are trying to bond them through this common interest of filmmaking.”

STAR // Gustavo Vasquez Award recipients at CineNoma 2015 pose for a photo on the red carpet.

“The Huntsman: Winter’s War” - Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain.

“Elvis & Nixon” - Kevin Spacey, Michael Shannon, Alex Pettyfer.

“A Hologram for the King” - Tom Hanks, Ben Whishaw, Tom Skerritt.

A$AP Ferg - “Always Strive and Prosper”

Andy Stott - “Too Many Voices” Greys - “Outer Heaven” We Are Scientists - “Helter Seltzer”

facebook.com/TheMagneticZeros Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros play at Coachella in 2015.

Wire - “Nocturnal Koreans”

Entertainment

April 19 - April 25, 2016 sonomastatestar . com

Page 7

‘Rogue One’ needs to step

out of the trilogies’ shadow Noe Felix Staff Writer

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facebook.com/DisneyJungleBook “The Jungle Book” live-action film earned an impressive $103.6 million in the box office during its opening weekend.

‘The Jungle Book’ swings into top spot at the box office Sean Curzon Staff Writer

Movie Review

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isney and Jon Favreau managed to surpass the bare necessities and made a great movie. The liveaction movie is based on the Disney animated musical released in 1967 that was based on the novel by Rudyard Kipling.

It follows a child abandoned and raised in the jungle, but finds himself hunted by a tiger and must flee back to the main village. The animated film was the last movie Walt Disney worked on before he passed away. This film follows the same basic structure of the Disney musical, but on a more epic scale. Director Favreau (“Elf” and “Iron Man”) manages to pulls this off nicely and makes it works.

This is a live-action adaptation, and by live-action I mean one real person standing in a completely CGI (computer generated image) set talking to completely CGI characters. That being said, the CGI is amazing. The film takes realistic animal design and movement makes them talk. This could’ve easily gone horribly wrong, but the animators pull it off. The audience believes that yes, these animals are talking. The faces even convey emotion without looking creepy.

The only exceptions are Kaa and King Louie, but they are meant to be creepy villains that make the audience uncomfortable, so it’s probably intentional. The backgrounds are gorgeous. It does feel like Mowgli is walking is this huge, old jungle.

The actors fit in their roles like tailor-made suits. Ben Kingsley captures

the no nonsense authority of Bagheera.

Bill Murray is a perfect Baloo, who not only captures the laid back charm, but sucessfully adds a bit of a con man vibe to him. In an expanded role from the animated film, Lupita Nyong’o plays Mowgli’s adoptive mother Raksha. Nyong’o manages to convey a strong bond with Mowgli. Scarlett Johansson and Christopher Walken make great Kaa and King Louie respectively. Shere Khan, played

by Idris Elba, steals the show. He creates a powerful and threatening presence that creates a memorable villain.

Mowgli (Neel Sethi) makes for an interesting main character. This Mowgli is much more active than his animated counterpart. He’s allowed thinking and creating tools to solve his problems.

Sethi’s acting is fine for the most part, especially since he is acting in front of a green screen against nothing. It does get iffy in the more intense scenes.

The film contains many nods to the original musical in the score. Despite it not being a musical, it does fit in a few songs. “The Bare Necessities” plays during a bonding montage between Baloo and Mowgli. It’s sweet and it works in context. Which, unfortunately, can’t be said of “I Wan’na Be Like You.” It comes in during Louie’s introduction, which is dark, both emotionally and literally.

Louie is intimidating Mowgli when this jazzy music starts to play. The giant ape starts to sing in Christopher Walken’s voice. The mood whiplash is so bad, it could snap necks. The movie also updates Kaa’s song “Trust in Me” with Scarlett Johanssen’s sultry voice, during Mowgli’s encounter with the python.

The film is not without flaw, but trust in me, it’s an enjoyable film.

Commentary

ot so long ago, in a movie theater near you, the unthinkable happened. After years of disappointment and heartaches, we finally got a great Star Wars movie. Episode VII was a return to form for Star Wars. It brought back the awe and wonder of what the original trilogy had as well as offering viewers a glimpse into a new universe, one freed from George Lucas’s grasp.

When Disney first purchased Lucasfilm back in October 2012, they announced that not only would it be delivering a new trilogy to fans, but also making self-contained stories within the entire Star Wars lore. These one-shot movies would be released every other year and fans will get to experience this for the first time later this year.

“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” appears to be a departure from anything fans have seen from a Star Wars movie. The teaser trailer surfaced earlier last week, and with it was a change of tone that fans aren’t used to in a Star Wars film. “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” hints to be a grittier and darker story, focusing much more on the ground-war/espionage aspect of the universe.

The movie takes place between episode III and IV and revolves around a team of Rebels that are tasked with stealing the plans to the Death Star. Little else is known about the movie other than Jyn Erso, played by Felicity Jones, is the main character.

As a die hard fan of Star Wars, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is proving that a Star Wars film doesn’t need to have Jedi in order to be entertaining and thrilling. The Star Wars universe involves more people than just the Jedi and the Sith. What’s really interesting is that since the movie takes place in between III and IV, the Jedi aren’t really known, they’re just a myth. It would be a first for the series to make a movie that doesn’t reference those elements.

The film seems to be introducing things that fans have never thought of. Everyone is used to the Rebel Alliance being an organization bent on freeing the galaxy from the Empire. However, fans have never heard, nor seen, a story in where a fellow rebel rises up against their own. From what little the teaser showed, Jyn Erso seems to despise the Rebel Alliance and has grudges against them. She’s described as reckless, aggressive and undisciplined. What’s mind blowing is that in the final shot of the teaser, she’s seen wearing black imperial armor. Is she a traitor? Or is she just infiltrating the Death Star? These are questions everyone is dying to know.

Since this is a stand-alone story, there shouldn’t be any shoehorned in references to the new trilogy. Jyn Erso doesn’t need to be Rey’s (the lead in VII) mom or relative.

Fans know this is a connected universe but the producers don’t have to take it to the extreme. Furthermore, it’s not necessary to mention the Force or the Jedi. This film is about a ragtag team of Rebel experts, let’s keep it that way. There’s no need for someone from the team to either have a lightsaber or be able to use the Force.

What this teaser showed was that the film actually feels like the original movies.

It uses the old imagery that fans connect with and refocuses them in new ways. Much like Episode VII, this seems like a breathe of fresh air.

facebook.com/StarWarsMovies The newest addition to the Star Wars franchise, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” releases Dec. 16.

Two old favorites try to recreate television magic, but fall short Diana Arroyo Staff Writer

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First Impression

or those who were fans of the old comedy sitcom “That 70’s Show,” Netf lix has brought back two of its most memorable actors. Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson star in “The Ranch,” which premiered on Netf lix April 1. Although it is comparable to the f lashback favorite, it doesn’t quite reach that level.

Colt Bennett (Kutcher) is a football player who returns to his home in Garrison, Colorado and decides to help out his father and older brother Jameson (Masteron) on the family ranch.

Both Kutcher and Masterson’s characters resemble a bit of their past characters, both sarcastic and always dissing each other with crude jokes.

Their father, Beau Bennett (Sam Elliot) is one of those typical harsh, stubborn and old-fashioned ranchers. Beau especially has it out for Colt, who, as mentioned in the show, is just a stubborn as his father which makes their relationship a rocky one.

The relationships between each of the characters can clearly be seen within the very first episode, and it seems very natural and real.

The audience is able to get a good feel for their personalities within the first ten minutes. There are plenty of jokes and remarks spread throughout each episode, keeping the viewer entertained.

“The Ranch” does a good job in establishing the plot as well as emphasizing the relationship between Colt and his father. In the very first episode, Colt and his father argue as to why Colt is wearing UGG boots, showing issues within their relationship right off the bat.

The show is riddled with humourous scenes, such

as when Colt has to deliver a baby calf and is shown sticking his hand up ‘you know where.’ There’s also a scene between Beau and Jameson in which Netf lix itself is mentioned, poking fun at the show’s producing company.

One of the things that makes this show a little odd is the intro, which includes the country song “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.” It’s a catchy song, but doesn’t really fit the comedy aspect of the show.

The characters themselves are what make the show bearable and laughable. The plot develops rather slowly, as there isn’t really much to anticipate or shocking in the show. In other words, one could guess where the show will end up. “The Ranch” doesn’t compare to the creative and witty humor that “That 70’s Show” had. It’s still a worthy-to-watch show.

The audience won’t be impatient for the next few episodes to be released, but it is something to aimlessly watch when you finish “That 70s Show” on Netf lix.

facebook.com/TheRanchNetflix Netflix released the first ten episodes of the new series “The Ranch” on April 1, which stars “That 70s Show” alumn Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson.

Page 8

Student Life

April 19 - April 25, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

Furry friends extend a paw to stressed out students Rachel McCloskey Staff Writer

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ho doesn’t love dogs? Even better, who doesn’t love puppies? The answer, no one. Anytime there is a dog on Sonoma State University’s campus it’s almost guaranteed there will be students surrounding it. Whether it’s a dog hidden in someone’s dorm before the CSA’s find out, or one of the random Rohnert Park locals walking their dogs through campus, Sonoma State students seem love them all.

Last Thursday the Student Health and Activities Council (SHAC) held their annual Stress Less Event at the Darwin Quad. SHAC’s goal for the event was to help students de-stress while midterms are in full swing and the eminent graduation date approaches.

SHAC had multiple activities available for students to participate in while at the event.

The most popular of all the events SHAC had to offer were the puppies. Therapy

dogs are widely used across the country to help stressed out college students find relaxation in their hectic everyday lives.

Junior Katelyn Foley was one of the many students to enjoy the benefits of the therapy puppies.

“I felt full of happiness, and it definitely took my mind off of a lot of things going on,” said Foley.

There were about 15 dogs at the event, enough for the roughly 40 students that attended the event. If students wanted to take a break from all the fur, there were a few more activities SHAC provided one of which included bubbles.

Students at the event were able to build one of the most common forms of stress relief, a stress ball. These stress balls come in handy at any point throughout the day, and are another great tool to relieve stress. The other activity provided was giant board games.

STAR // Megan Corcoran Fifteen dogs were brought to Darwin Quad last Thursday as part of the Student Health and Activities Council’s Stress Less Event.

Jennifer Newsom to discuss women in media Carly Saber Staff Writer

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Earth week to emphasize service and donation Jessica Shipma Staff Writer

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ne in 50 adults traded in their vehicle for a more fuel-efficient hybrid, electric or alternative fuel vehicle in the past six months according to Reader’s Digest.

With Earth Week beginning this week, it’s important for Sonoma State University students to learn about the different ways to better treat the Earth. This week there will be plenty of opportunities for students to get involved and learn how adopt more envrionemntally friendly practices in their daily life.

To kick off the week, Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax” will be playing on the LoboVision screen on Wednesay at 7:30 p.m. The Lorax is a cartoon film, originally created in 1972 and remade in 2012, about a young boy who learns from the Lorax how to take care of the Earth.

The Earth Day Fair will take place Thursday on Person Lawn at 8 a.m. Students who choose to take an alternative form of transportation to school will be rewarded with free tea, coffee, Yerba Mate and snacks.

Students will have the chance to visit the different booths participating in the fair and can learn about plant-based diets, composting and how to make “do it yourself” household products.

Following the fair, there will be live music and free yoga available in the Seawolf Plaza. An e-waste and clothing drive will also be available for students to donate their unused goods which will be held outside of the Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center.

Students can donate both clothing and shoes to Restyle Market. All donations will be sold at their thrift shop and proceeds will be used to fund different programs they put on.

Students are encouraged to visit OrgSync to learn more information about Thursday’s festivities.

Friday is the last day for students to participate in Earth Week. Friday’s activities will revolve around volunteer work in the community. Students can volunteer at the Butterfly Garden Restoration, the Steel Creek Clean Up and Bayer Farm. Visit seawolfliving.com to sign up for the different volunteer opportunities.

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday students will be able to learn more about the Earth and the positives and negatives that it is currently facing. Students who are interested can also volunteer their time in order to make a difference. Every good cause starts with awareness and Earth Week is bringing that awareness to Sonoma State.

ell-known activist Marian Wright Edelman once said, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” The media has long been shaping society by showing people how they should be, feel and act.

Through commercials, television, movies, the news and music videos, gender stereotypes have been perpetuated and ingrained into the minds of Americans.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom is an advocate and documentary filmmaker who serves as the president and founder of the non-profit organization, The Representation Project.

Their mission, according to their website, is to “Inspire individuals and communities to challenge and overcome limiting stereotypes so that everyone, regardless of gender, race, class, age, sexual orientation, or circumstance, can fulfill their human potential.”

Sonoma State University will be hosting Newsom at the Weill Hall on April 25 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are free for students and can be found online, at the box office, or in the student center.

One of the first projects Newsom was involved in was the making the documentary “Miss Representation.” This film reveals how the mainstream media contributes to the under-representation of women in positions of power. It also dives into the way media sexualizes women and girls which leads to a society believing that a woman’s value comes from her bodies and not her mind.

In an interview for “Perspectives,” when asked what she hoped people would get out of watching the documentary Newsom said, “I wanted people to realize and recognize their power as consumers, employees, and citizens. There is power with the purse. I wanted women and men in business to recognize that the culture needs to change.”

More recently, Newsom has started working on another documentary called The Mask You Live In. This film takes a look at masculine identity and asks the question, “Is society failing our boys?”

The production team tackles how society and the media have created this ideal masculinity that results in boys feeling as though they cannot feel safe being their true selves because they have to fit the masculine persona.

Newsom will be coming as a part of the university’s ‘Women in Leadership’ series. Her talk is called “Redefining Leadership” and she will be giving insight into her organization and the problems of society that she is passionate about.

“I hope that [students] go with an open mind and go with the perspective that media and the use of images has a very strong impact on today’s culture,” said Methods of Media Criticism professor, Nathan Murray.

Murray is offering extra credit to his students who attend the lecture due to its relevance to his course and the importance of the lessons Newsom will be providing.

“I am mainly aware of her projects through her website and I feel her organization is informative and refreshing with a more critical way to look at media,” Murray said.

Students can take action and join the movement through a variety of ways.

On their website there is an option to donate money that will go towards the organization and their ability to spread more awareness and fight the social injustice.

There are also four social media campaigns where people can use #MediaWeLikeIt or #NotBuyingIt to celebrate the brands with a good message or to call out the bad. They can also use the hastag #BuildingConfidence which is a campaign for empowering parents, mentors and caregivers to be positive role models. The #AskHerMore campaign is to point out how sexist reporters need to focus more on asking about women’s achievements.

The final campaign Newsom is running is #Unmasked to bring awareness to what it means to be a man by showing examples of healthy masculinity.

Students can take the pledge to join the fight on their website at therepresentationproject.org.

Student Life

April 19 - April 25, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

Page 9

STAR // Megan Corcoran Alpha Delta Pi, with the support from Associated Students, hosted speaker Ross Szabo last Sunday in the Student Center Ballroom. Szabo came to discuss his experience with mental health and alcohol abuse.

Alpha Delta Pi hosts campus-wide speaker Nikki Bridges Staff Writer

L

ast Sunday, members of Alpha Delta Pi, as well as other students at Sonoma State University signed the oath to be ‘better than the binge.’

Their orginal speaker, Jake Byczkowski, was in a minor car accident on his way to the airport just 13 hours before the event. Byczkowski, with a minor concussion and stiches, was unable to come so Ross Szabo stepped in.

Szabo spoke about his personal story and how he struggled with mental health throughout his life.

“After being contacted on short notice after the other speaker couldn’t make it, [Szabo] did an amazing presentation,” said Alpha Delta Pi President Kelly Sullenberger. “He touched on a lot of things that I believe were great points that the other speaker wasn’t planning on talking about, so I’m glad he was able to come to our event.”

Szabo grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania where he was a star athlete and a member of many clubs and organizations while maintaining a 3.8 GPA. On the outside he looked like your all-amer-

Tuesday, April 18 When You Feel Like a Lemon Among Oranges: Transforming Difference 4 p.m.

Salazar Hall 1040 Club Charting 4 p.m.

Erin Fisher Room Wednesday, April 19 Chips, Dip, Whips, and Chains 1 p.m.

The HUB Live at Lobos Open Mic Night 8 p.m.

Lobo’s

ican kid, but on the inside was another story. The majority of his talk consisted of the things that happen inside of one’s head. At the age of 13, Szabo began to drink and by the age of 16 he was binge drinking every night to the point of passing out. After consistant ups and downs, Szabo was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 16.

During his senior year of high school, he told the audience that he had constant thoughts of suicide until he finally attempted it one night after dinner with his basketball teammates.

After the attempt failed, he was in and out of hospitalization for the beginning years of his college career. It wasn’t until Szabo was 22 that he finally accepted that he had a problem.

Szabo talked about his struggle with substance abuse along with bipolar disorder growing up. He would drink 13 shots or more before even going out to a party and be so intoxicated when he got home that he would sleep for 22 hours at a time.

After Szabo opened the question to the audience about why people drink, it was came to the consensus it was because of nervousness. Social encounters, tests, relationships, future, lack of sleep

Women of Color Collective 12 p.m.

The HUB Thursday, April 20 Earth Day Fair 8 a.m.

Person Lawn Welcome to Inclusivity 101 2 p.m.

Salazar Hall 1051 Sexual Assault Awareness Month Panel 5 p.m.

Sonoma Valley Room

and depression are all leading causes to binge drinking Szabo said. During his talk, Szabo explained how students might not realize the damages they are doing to their bodies.

He explained how people in interrogations are best broken down if they are only allowed to sleep three to five hours a night after which they start to become dellusional.

After Szabo asked how much sleep the audience got per night, the answer was about the same as the interrogation method he had just explained.

Szabo said lack of sleep leads to anxiety which could then lead to binge drinking. It becomes a problem once drinking steers away from fun to out of control he said.

Szabo said people think that once they get a diagnoses that all their problems go away, but they’re mistaken. Coping mechanisms are the building blocks to positive mental health and the core of Szabo’s presentation.

He explained that he would get four hours of sleep a night, become violent, have suicidal thoughts, binge drink and then pass out. It wasn’t until Szabo found positive coping mechanisms that he felt

like his disorder was under control.

“I have spoken to millions of people about substance abuse but if there’s one thing I really want people to understand is that mental health is just as important as physical health,” said Szabo. “Creating positive coping mechanisms that you can practice and make a routine is the way I believe people can help themselves.”

To do that, Szabo said, people need to realize the reason why they abuse substances in order to help them change. Suicide is the second leading cause of death on college campuses yet only 66 percent of those students don’t seek help.

Continuing with his interactive speaking style, Szabo asked why that statistic is so high. Answers included students don’t seek help because they don’t want to feel humiliated or accept they have a problem.

Then it’s up to the individual to choose coping mechanisms that work best for them until they become automatic when traumatic events occur.

Playing an instrument, exercising, reading or listening to music are different mechanisms to choose, especially for college students, that could dealing with stress or a mental health issue a lot easier.

Page 10

Sports

April 19 - April 25, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

Shluker chips Seawolves into second place finish at invite Blake Robinson Staff Writer

T

he ball is rolling for Sonoma State University’s men’s golf going into the CCAA men’s golf championship tournament. The golf team finished under par at the 43rd Annual Hanny Stanilaus Invitational, Winning individual battles, but not quite the war as the Seawolves took second place out of 16 teams in the tournament. With this second place performance the Seawolves slide to No. 24 in the national polls.

Hosted by Stanislaus State, the Seawolves held their own at the Turlock Golf and Country Club. One of the oldest country clubs in the Central California Valley. The Hanny Invitational was the first tournament that the Seawolves have finished under par since the CCAA championship in 2013. Finishing seven under par at 857, the Seawolves fall just seven strokes short to the top-ranked Chico State.

An impressive showing from junior Justin Shluker, penciling in a career best of 65 in the first round, Shluker came in at first for the tournament by three strokes.

“The past tournament was great for Justin. I’m glad to see him succeed and take home his first individual title,” said freshman Spencer Clapp.

Shluker’s first round of 65 ties for the fourth lowest round in Sonoma State men’s golf history.

“This is great fuel for our team heading Regionals and also great confidence for our team heading into the fall season,” said Clapp.

Shluker ended the day with a 207 (-9) to get his first collegiate tournament title. But that’s not all, with 16 birdies, Shluker ties for the most tournament birdies with Dominican University’s Jake Quast.

Shluker placed number one out of 88 players. Scoring rounds of 65 (-7),

71 (-1), and 71 (-1). Shluker beat both runner up contestants Alister Docher and Le Gearhart by three strokes which left them with 210 (-6). Both of these runner-ups play for tournament champion Chico State.

Not far behind, senior Brandon Lee took the fourth place position.

With a five under par at 211, Lee matches a career best in a 54 hole tournament. Scoring rounds of 70 (-2), 72, and 69 (-3), Lee scored second lowest for the Seawolves.With rounds of 71 (-1), 77 (+4), 74 (-2) senior Nicholas Daniels totaled 222 (+6) to tie for the 38th place in the tournament.

The men of Sonoma State held strong, finishing four shots ahead of trailing third place Stanislaus State with final scores of 867 (-3). Followed by Cal State Monterey for fourth place, claiming scores of 867 (+3). Taking the last top five position, Dominican rounded 868 (+4) in the 16 team tournament.

“I’m very excited to be playing in conference. I feel like our team has a great chance at making it to Match play,” said Clapp.

Sonoma State now focuses on the CCAA men’s golf championship.

The tournament will take place Monday through Wednesday in Napa at the Silverado Resort and Spa. The tournament will begin with two 18 hole rounds on Monday, followed by the semifinal medal-match on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Women’s tennis places third in PacWest, highest finish since 1996 Allison Kelley Staff Writer

S

STAR // Megan Corcoran Sonoma State’s women’s tennis team placed third in PacWest playoff run.

onoma State’s nationally ranked women’s tennis team served up aces this season, closing their historic stretch by placing third in the Pacific West Conference Championships for the first time in Seawolf history.

After beating Cal State L.A. on Saturday, the ladies locked in third place in the 2016 PacWest Women’s Tennis Championships in Surprise, Az. The women finished off the season with a 17-7 record, the third-most wins in the history of the program.

The quarterfinal competition began Thursday in the scorching Arizona heat against the No. 14 ranked Azusa Pacific. The Seawolves started off the game with a 9-7 victory in doubles play thanks to partners Amanda Zuidema and Hillary Fazekas.

Jordyn Kearney defeated her opponent 6-2, 7-5 to tie up the match at 3-3 and Zuidema rallied to get 6-3 and 6-2 wins, which tied it at 4-4.

After several hours of a tiring, back-and-forth battle in the rising temperatures, the Seawolves came out on top with a 5-4 victory against the Cougars. After falling behind by a set, freshman Jensyn Warren took the next two from her 18-ranked opponent, sealing the quarterfinal victory.

“Words can’t describe how amazing it was to beat Azusa for the first time,” said Warren. “They are an amazing team and Sonoma State made history by beating them.”

After losing 5-0 to No. 9 Hawaii Pacific the following day in the PacWest semifinals, the Seawolves continued on to play Saturday’s third place match against Cal State L.A. After taking a 2-1 lead in the doubles matches, the Seawolves closed out the PacWest Championships with a 5-2 victory over the Golden Eagles. Warren, Kearney and Zuidema all contributed straight set wins to help with the defeat.

“Each match we aim to play with everything we have in our own game styles,” said Kearney.

“We always fight to the end and have faith that things will go our way.”

The day began with an 8-3 loss in doubles for Zuidema and Hillary Fazekas. However, Long and Kaitlyn Haithcock turned it around by beating their opponents 8-4. Warren and Kearney took part in a battle for the win in their doubles match and came out on top 9-8.

Continuing the success for the ladies team in singles, Zuidema and Kearney both walked away with wins, setting the score at 4-1. Warren then secured the Seawolves’ third-place title by defeating her 37-ranked opponent in two sets 6-4, 6-4.

“All of us wanted to end season on a great note, and we definitely made it happen,” said Kearney. “I feel just so excited and happy how we ended, and blessed to call this my team. We manage to have so much fun with every possible moment together.”

The women entered the week at the No. 6 seed and ranked 24 in the nation and ended with the highest finish in the tournament since joining PacWest three years ago.

Gallery: Lacrosse team vs. Stanford Cardinal

STAR // Connor Gibson The Stanford Cardinal lacrosse team defeated Sonoma State 14-7.

Sports

April 19- April 25, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

STAR // Connor Gibson

Track team sprints away in the East Bay Andrea Serles Staff Writer

Sonoma State’s softball team takes three of four from Stanislaus State

Softball team back on track Hailee Zastrow Staff Writer

T

he Seawolves are back.

After losing four games straight against Humboldt State early in the week, they showed up this weekend winning three huge games against the Stanislaus State Warriors in a back-to-back doubleheader in Turlock, California.

Despite losing their last game against the Warriors 1-0, the Seawolves looked strong all weekend with a 9-3 victory in game one, a 10-0 victory in game two, and another 9-3 finish giving them the overall win in the series.

Game one set the tone for the weekend, when the Seawolves started a hitting frenzy, taking a 5-2 lead in the third inning off of five hits, with four of them being doubles. It didn’t stop there and the Seawolves’ offense continued to dominate all the way to a 9-3 win.

In game two of Friday, Brielle Vidmar got the opportunity to contribute to her team, which was acknowledged by her teammates.

“The best part of the weekend was when Brielle, our freshman pitcher, came out in game two and held them down to a no hitter until the seventh inning. It was probably one of her best out-

ings,” said Sarah Langley.

Vidmar wasn’t the only noteworthy performer. Carlie Daniel also popped two doubles and added six RBI while scoring three runs on her own. making her 6 for 8 in Friday’s doubleheader.

A long day Friday didn’t kill the Seawolves’ energy Saturday.

In game one of Saturday’s doubleheader their offense continued to dominate. Daniel started things off in the third inning, scoring Alison Strycula off an RBI single to centerfield.

In the fifth inning, the Seawolves offensive power took off once again. Jordann White homered for two runs, giving the Seawolves a 5-0 lead and then Mayleen Mazon also hit a homerun, adding three more runs giving them the 8-0 lead.

“Our biggest strength was our offense. We put up double digit hits in most of the games which was awesome and took some of the pressure off our pitchers and defense,” Langley said.

The Warriors scored three runs to extend the game, before Langley put them away with an RBI double giving them the final score 9-3.

The last game of the weekend gave the Seawolves the opportunity to sweep the Warriors, which the team didn’t take lightly.

Tuesday 4/19

Saturday 4/23

Men’s Golf CCAA Tournament Napa

Softball Vs CSU Dominguez Hills (DH) 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.

Seawolf Diamond

Friday 4/22 Women’s Golf Battle of the Bay Tournament Pacific Grove

Men’s Lacrosse @ Notre Dame de Namur 1 p.m.

Softball Vs CSU Dominguez Hills (DH) 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.

Seawolf Diamond

Baseball Vs Chico State (DH) 11 a.m. & 2 p.m.

Baseball @ Chico State 6 p.m.

Baseball Vs Chico State Noon

Sunday 4/24

“Of course we were all excited about this because this team has not given up four games to another team for about four years,” Jordann White said.

Unlike the other high scoring games, the Seawolves didn’t score a single run on Saturday’s final game. Stanislaus’ Karina Callazo and Brielle Vidmar battled on the mound preventing any scoring.

“We played our hardest but our offense did not perform like we did in the games before. If we had hit like we did in the previous games there would have been no stopping us,” said White.

The bottom of the eighth, the Warriors ended the scoring drought and snagged the victory, 1-0. Regardless of the final loss, the Seawolves are feeling positive heading forward.

“Our team is feeling strong about the season and all we want to do is finish strong because it is all about the post season,” Langley said.

The team is preparing for the conference championships in two weeks and are currently in fourth place in the CCAA standings.

This weekend the Seawolves return home to play their final four regular season games against Cal State Dominguez Hills. Play will kick off Friday at 1 p.m. at Seawolf Softball Field.

Page 11

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he Sonoma State track team crossed the finish line with ferocity this weekend after competing at the Cal State East Bay Legacy Invitational in Hayward on Saturday.

Sophomore Angelique Lopez stole the show this weekend for the Seawolves, bringing home an impressive victory with her win in the 200 meter dash, and placing second in the 100 meter. After a competitive meet for Lopez, her time of 25.72 in the 200 meter became a season best, along with her new time of 12.54 in the preliminaries.

Although Lopez was a tough act to follow, many of these women saw success this past weekend during the 800 meters. Not only did freshman Analicia Garcia finish with a new personal record of 2:26:30, she also led the Seawolves with a seventh place finish.

“After running three events that day, I definitely felt exhausted but not defeated. Next will be conference for Angelique, Maria, Jasmine and I. I am excited and ready for it,” said Garcia.

Seawolf competitors Kelsey Lopez, Mikayla Mesker, and Sierra Downum each conquered their own personal records, with times of 2:36:48 (Lopez), 2:34:63 (Mesker), and 2:32:39 (Downum).

Lopez and Downum returned to compete in the 1500 meters.

“Going into this weekend the team and I just went into the race with a mindset that it was our last race of the season and we had to leave it all out on the track, and we all did,” said Downum.

Both women exhibited solid performances during this event.

Lopez finished in 5:17:62 and Downum with a time of 5:09:87, falling just beneath the 5:10 mark.

In other events on Saturday many Seawolf competitors excelled. Sophomore Chauntel Sapp made her mark in the shot put with 9.87. Freshman Kathryn Rodd achieved 60.85 in the 400.

Team members Kelsey Lucas, Angelique Lopez, Kathryn Rodd and Jasmine Rivera took on the 4x400 team relay with a time of 4:08:99, concluding the event as gold medal winners.

With this meet being some of the women’s last, the members are nothing but proud of their team’s achievements.

“I felt pretty happy that at my last track meet my teammates and I did really well. Our times reflected the hard work we had been putting in all season,” said Lopez.

The Seawolves will compete in the Warrior Invitational next week in Turlock, the last competition before taking on the CCAA Championships in May.

STAR // Meagan Corcoran Sonoma State’s baseball team dropped 6 of 7 over the week.

Baseball team’s slide continues Bianca Sanborn Staff Writer

D

espite a quick slip into first place, the Sonoma State baseball team drops back to fourth in the CCAA division standings after losing six of seven in this week’s conference matchups.

Under last Monday morning’s overcast skies, The Otters kicked off the first game with a single in the top of the first, a lead that was quickly tied in the bottom of the second when Adam Manzer touched home on a wild pitch.

The remaining six innings left the score untouched until Monterey Bay took advantage in the eighth with another single. Unfortunately, the Seawolves couldn’t ignite their offense, and Monterey took the first victory of the day, 2-1.

In his longest outing of the season, Junior pitcher Matt Hammonds (2-1) held the Otter’s offense steady for seven innings, striking out his season high seven, and only allowing four hits and one walk.

“I felt really comfortable on the mound, a feeling that I have been looking forward to for a while,” said Hammond. “Neve was putting down the fingers and the defense was playing great behind me.

It was a confidence booster going forward.”

After a scoreless first inning in game two, the Otters swam onto the scoreboard with a double to right field. The Seawolves responded, scoring Cody Morris early in the bottom of the second. Sonoma State would remain stagnant on offense in the remaining seven innings, while Monterey Bay tacked on runs in the third and seventh. Unfortunately, the Otters came to play with an intensity that was unmatched by Sonoma State, taking the 3-1 victory to sweep the doubleheader.

The Seawolves’ woes continued at Cal State San Marcos on Saturday, despite gaining the early

4-0 lead in the first matchup after keeping Cal State inactive on offense. The Cougars pounced in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs off of a single.

The attack continued when San Marcos homered to deep center to take the 5-4 advantage.

Luckily, the Cougars slipped defensively in the top of the sixth, walking Manzer to score Spencer Neve, tying the game. Grant St. Martin hit a homerun to add to the lead in the seventh, before Manzer tacked the final Seawolf run with a homer of his own to right center, giving Sonoma State a promising 2-run lead lead.

The bottom of the eighth proved devastating for Sonoma State, when the feisty Cougars ambushed the Seawolves, scoring four felines with back-to-back home runs. Sonoma State couldn’t answer in the last inning, handing the Seawolves an unsettling 9-7 loss.

“We were expecting to hold the lead through the ninth inning but they waited for good pitches and capitalized on our mistakes,” said Manzer.

Saturday’s second game proved similar to the first, with the Seawolves losing their lead late. A 5-4 advantage became a 3-run deficit in the blink of an eye, when the Cougars snatched three runs in the seventh inning for another late-inning victory.

In the Seawolves’ final game against Cal State on Sunday, an early 1-1 tie was shattered in the third inning, when the Cougars scored four times against Matt Hammonds to complete the sweep, 5-1. This week’s losses put the Seawolves at a 13-21 overall record, dipping them to one game under .500 in the CCAA with a 11-12 record.

“Our team is in a little bit of a hole right now,” said Hammonds, “but I’m confident that we have the talent and leadership to push through this skid and get back to playing our game.”

The boys will be back on the Seawolf Diamond this week, with a chance to redeem themselves against Monterey Bay and challenge Chico State for the first time this season.

Page 12

Photo

April 19 - April 25, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

STAR // Shane Bickford A sunset falls over the Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center last Wednesday.

Better than the Binge

Stress Less Event

STAR // Megan Corcoran Students got a chance to take a break from their classes and decompress at the Stress Less Event hosted by SHAC in the Darwin Quad on Thursday. Therapy dogs, games and CPR training were available to students. See the story on page 9.

STAR // Megan Corcoran Alpha Delta Pi and Associated Students hosted speaker Ross Szabo at the Student Center Ballroom on Sunday. Szabo discussed the risks of alcohol in college.