Volume 76 // Issue 13

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B E S T O F 20 16 In this issue: Student Life: Summer in Sonoma County. Pg. 8

Opinion: Local rent control doing more harm than good. Pg. 3 A&E: Student takes her talent to Hollywood. Pg. 6

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 76 // ISSUE 13

Sports: Brandon Lee advances to golf nationals. Pg. 10

MAY 10 - MAY 16, 2016

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

Housing down payment causes financial hardship for students Edgar Sanchez Staff Writer

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STAR // Connor Gibson California State University Chancellor Timothy P. White visited Sonoma State University last Thursday to discuss a wide range of issues concerning students and the future of the CSU.

Chancellor visits campus, discusses shortage of graduates Shane Welch Staff Writer

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alifornia State University Chancellor Timothy P. White hosted an event last Thursday at Sonoma State University addressing the university system’s vision, as well as responding to questions from students, staff and faculty. Among topics covered during the speech, White spoke about a California drought in education — an anticipated shortage of roughly one million bachelor degree earners in

the state by 2030. “As you look at California’s future, there is a significant drought that is starting to emerge with the number of students who have a bachelor’s degree from colleges and universities,” said White. “By 2030, at the current rate at which bachelor’s degrees are earned by students in California, we are going to be over a million degrees short of what is going to be necessary to sustain the economy.” During the question and answer segment of the event, several members of the audience comprised of

students, staff and faculty asked White to address several topics. “At the moment, there are faculty on this campus and other CSUs that have graduated with bachelors, masters and even doctorate degrees that are currently making salaries below the poverty line,” said senior Gabe Duran. “Have you ever considered cutting administrator salaries, presidential salaries and maybe the needs at the top to sequester sacrifices needed See CHANCELLOR on Pg. 4

Campus community gathers in celebration of Armiñana’s retirement Nate G alvan Staff Writer

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s the sound of jazz music illuminated the ballroom of the Student Center last Friday, students and members of the campus community celebrated the 24-year legacy of Sonoma State University President Ruben Armiñana. Most of the attention throughout the event was on Armiñana as close friends praised the president, who has seen more than 20,000 applicants apply to the university in the past year. “A lot of you have known Ruben and Marne [Armiñana’s wife] for

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some, if not most, of the last 24 years,” said University Provost Andrew Rogerson. “From the beginning, they have worked diligently to transform this university into what it is today; a vibrant, residential campus filled with great students committed faculty and a warm and nurturing staff.” Rogerson cites Armiñana as a man who defies stereotypes. “Who could imagine a Cuban who is both allergic to coffee and bananas [running the university]?” After Rogerson addressed the crowd, a slideshow of photos of Armiñana and the marks he’s left on

the university were shown. Alongside the smiling pictures of Armiñana with students and faculty the presentation included shots of buildings he developed including the Green Music Center, Student and

Recreation Centers, residential housing and more. Armiñana took to the stage at the conclusion of the event’s speeches to address the crowd about his feelings of moving on from his longest standing

profession. “On behalf of Marne and I, I want to say thank you for allowing me the opportunity to have served you,” said Armiñana. “It has been interesting See ARMIÑANA on Pg. 4

STAR // Sara Wildman The Sonoma State University community gathered on Friday to honor the 24-year career of President Ruben Armiñana.

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iving on campus can provide a plethora of opportunities for both first-time freshmen and upperclassmen alike. Social development, health and wellness and convenience are only a few of the benefits. However, for students at Sonoma State University, securing a spot to live on campus can sometimes be a nightmare due to the $400 down payment required by Housing Services prior the start of the academic year, when financial aid hasn’t been disbursed. “Four-hundred dollars can be somebody’s entire paycheck for the month,” said Rosemarie Keene, a junior transfer student who, with her friend, Briana Taggart has created an Associated Students resolution to address the difficulties many students endure when making the down payment without financial aid. The resolution calls for a $200 reduction to the original $400 down payment. The remaining $200 would be deferred until the fall semester when financial aid is disbursed. Keene, a member of the Education Opportunity Program, says her experience paying the $400 is what motivated her to write the resolution. “Figuring out how I was going to pay the down-payment and [buy] food for the month caused me a lot of stress and anxiety,” said Keene. “I don’t think our students need to feel like that.” According to the resolution, there are currently 3,555 Sonoma State students who have a yearly estimated family contribution ranging from $0 to $5,198, which qualifies them as financially disadvantaged. Although the resolution originally called for a $200 reduction only for students who are financially disadvantaged, it has been revised to include all students, regardless of financial conditions. The resolution states the housing down payment was implemented in 2008 with the purpose of ensuring students would have a higher commitment towards the housing space they applied for. The Housing Services website explains by

making the $400 down payment, students are making themselves eligible for a housing offer. The website also states that every student, regardless of financial situation, must pay the $400. Although there is a payment plan available for students who do not possess the means to pay the $400, according to the resolution, only nine students have taken advantage of this resource this academic year. This, according to Keene, is mainly due to poor advertising techniques by housing services. Davin Polchow, freshman and an EOP student, said he decided to become involved with the resolution because he didn’t agree with the reasoning behind the down payment requirement. “There are so many students waiting for oncampus housing that if a student leaves it would not make a difference,” said Polchow. “It would just make a space for the next person on the waiting list.” Nicole Hendry, director of housing services, declined to comment on this matter. In the resolution, it’s acknowledged that socioeconomic status is often associated with race and/ or ethnicity, meaning that requiring disadvantage students to pay such a high housing down payment can be counterintuitive to Sonoma State’s mission. Polchow, who made the housing down-payment for the 2016/17 school year, has decided to decline his on-campus housing offer because he found cheaper options off campus. He received a 50 percent refund. “They bring us in as EOP students saying [the university] is all about community,” said Polchow. “But at the end of the day, I feel it is more about the money than helping students succeed.” On April 29, the Associated Students Senate postponed hearings for the resolution until the fall semester. Although the fall semester will bring a new Associated Students Senate, there are at least two senators who will serve a second, consecutive term. If the senate decides to approve the resolution, it will be moved to the hands of new president, Judy K. Sakaki for her review.

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