Volume 77 // Issue 12

Special Election Edition Opinion: Edward Snowden may be pardoned for his crimes. Pg. 3

News: Students protest over election results.

Pg. 1

A&E: A Tribe Called Quest released last and final album in honor of late band member.

Pg. 6 Sports: Men’s and women’s soccer teams defeated in NCAA tournament.

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 77 // ISSUE 12

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

NOVEMBER 15 - NOVEMBER 21, 2016

Stunned SSU students speak out, march in protest of Trump election Protests ensue over election results

STAR // Bryce Dowd & Megan Corcoran Above, students gathered together Wednesday night to hold a peaceful protest in response to the election results. Students marched throughout residential halls and all over campus. Right, students wrote messages on the ground outside of the Student Center.

Analy Bravo & Francisco Carbajal Staff Writers

T

he tension and disappointment spread all across the state as Californians filled the streets with signs and banners, including Sonoma State University’s campus. The protest started Wednesday at the Seawolf Plaza at 8 p.m., and continued as students, faculty and parents walked around Sonoma State’s campus with chants of “not my president”, “pu**y grabs back” and “people united will never be divided.”

“It is all about coming together as a people,” said Monica Amaral, a junior communications major at Sonoma State.

“Support the cause. This all

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wouldn’t happen if something wasn’t wrong with America.

This is all very important for us to come out here as a group, as a Noma Nation and support the cause because if I wasn’t out here, I would feel like I would be doing something wrong.”

More than 300 protesters marched through all the dorm villages and main quads, picking up onlookers from all dorms. Students would cheer or jeer with their windows open, and cars that passed the sea of protesters honked with encouragement.

The event was titled “Not My America” and was posted on Facebook by a Sonoma State student.

“Donald Trump has been elected president,” the Facebook notice read. “He threatens us

@sonomastatestar

with a racist, sexist, homophobic rhetoric, but we will not be silenced. Come together tonight in solidarity against Trump. We will not allow our community to succumb to hate. We will speak out against discrimination. We will be strong together,” said the event details.

The Facebook event invited over 1,000 people, interested 450 of them and 317 accepted the invitation and numerous people joined in as the march flooded the campus. Protesters from both sides of the dispute showed up, but those who were against Trump outnumbered those for him.

“Gathering like that showed me that protesting does not necessarily have to be to change the outcome of an event,” said Karlie Eacock, a psychology

@sonomastatestar

and women and gender studies double major at Sonoma State.

“Gathering can be for the sake of creating unity and a safe place for people to experience intense emotion. People should know that those feelings are valid and that there are people who support those feelings.”

The Facebook post suggested that those who joined the march were agreeing as a community to not succumb to hate.

The protest was meant to speak out against discrimination and create a stronger community and that was exactly how many

/sonomastatestar

people felt.

“In the moment, I felt the polarity of being empowered, but also humbled, fearful but also hopeful . . . and those dualities were brilliant to experience” said Eacock.

Cayla Klein, a fifth year environmental studies and psychology minor was one to join the protest.

“I want everyone to stay united and I want to make sure our rights and our liberties are heard and continued.

See PROTEST on Pg. 5

Visit: sonomastatestar.com

Page 2

Editorial

Nov. 15 - Nov. 21, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

THE STAR Editorial Board Shannon Brown, Editor-in-Chief Ashley Mar tin, Executive Editor Kim Baptista, Managing Editor Joseph Encinas, News Editor Jenna Fischer, Opinion Editor Emma Devitt, Ar ts & Enter tainment Editor Ethan Helms, Student Life Editor Bianca Sanborn, Spor ts Editor Thomas Call III, Spor ts Editor Sara Wildman, Photo Editor Rene De Amaral, Copy Editor Rachael Newman, Copy Editor Hailee Zastrow, Adver tising Director Brennan Chin, Distribution Director Julia Albo, Editorial Car toonist Paul Gullixson, Faculty Adviser

Staff Writers Trevor Abrams, Travis Adams, Perla Alvarez, Alexis Austin, Phil Baculik, Taylor Berghoff, Analy Bravo, Karlee Budge, Amanda Buth, Ronald Campos, Francisco Carbajal, Braden Car twright, Sara Citti, Sean Curzon, Amira Dabbas, Gerard Desrosiers, John Dolan, Sam Evans, Noe Felix, Annie Finck, Kitana Gachero, Nate Galvan, Charlotte Grayson, Kendall Grove, Kaitlyn Haga, Tyler Heberle, Naaman Hightower, Lucy Lopez, Jahred Nunes, Samantha Olyer, Alex T. Randolph, Marcella Richmond, Christopher Schwarz, Tatiana Serrano, Andrea Sims, Sierra Straub, Noah Treanor, Lindsey Huffman

Photographers Megan Corcoran, Bryce Dowd, Reagan Dowd, Jeno Veltri, Jenna Qualls, Madison Muro, Sara Citti, Nickey Homen

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:

“New ways to help hungry and homeless” Students find new opportunities to volunteer with “Hunger and Homlessness Week” at Sonoma State last week.

Read the story on page 4

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

Keep calm and move on

I

n the days following the election, social media was filled with posts fueled by the fear of the presidential election result.

People expressed their disbelief and disagreement with the outcome, in some places even taking to the streets in protest.

But, undeniably among the fear and emotional shock, was an extreme disconnect between the people of the United States.

A country once propelled by the nationalism and pride of its people seemed to be in a tailspin.

Although many were protesting, others felt nothing but validation after seeing their candidate elected.

These groups, who were once united by the ‘land of the free,’ now have a wedge driven between them. To many it seems as though there’s no room for compromise, but that’s exactly what is needed or we will continue in this nation’s downward spiral.

Left in the wake of the 2016 election is nothing but anxiety, frustration and confusion. After a week, it’s obvious the American people aren’t waving a white f lag.

However, these emotions won’t lead to a prosperous nation or a united front. Instead they will lead to the discrimination and segregation of different groups.

The election result doesn’t

call for panic or fear, or worse to do nothing at all. It calls for organization and action.

Our system of government hasn’t changed, only the figurehead has. A majority of the public is still concerned with global warming. A majority is still pro-choice, and most people aren’t satisfied with current gun-control laws.

Our nation is still a democracy, and it’s up to us to keep it that way. Protesting can be effective, but we are strongest together as one united voice.

Those who fear that our president-elect will have total power must remember our system of checks and balances.

Trump will be able to issue executive orders, but for major issues or changes he will have to work with Congress, which can be a very slow process to get things done.

He will be forced to face his complicated relationship with Congress, especially if he wants to implement change.

The same hoops that lay before Trump were in front of Obama, Clinton, Bush and Reagan.

Part of what makes the United States of America unique is the power that each citizen has to create change.

The more people in support of an issue, the more likely that change is to occur.

Now is the time for the people of the United States to

reach across the aisle to get things done and hold the president-elect accountable to a few of the campaign promises made such as creating jobs and lowering taxes, while maintaining the progress this country has made.

With this in mind, we need to keep our government officials honest by paying attention to their actions throughout the entire term.

Any government kept under a microscope will act in the public’s best interest, but a government unsupervised can overstep its boundaries.

What’s in store for the next four years in unknown, except for the fact that Donald Trump will be manning the ship.

While it remains possible that when electoral college votes on Dec. 19, it could come out in favor of Clinton, the chances of this are slim to none.

Clinton supporters may be holding out for this scenario, but they will be forced to face the reality of having Trump in the Oval Office.

It’s essential that people realize how important it is to come together as a nation, for the best interest of our country and future generations.

Trump may be in the White House, but we still have a government by the people, for the people; and that isn’t going to

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.

Letter to the Editor

Students turned away on election day

E

ditor: Last Tuesday, there were Sonoma State students who lost the opportunity to vote because they didn’t understand some simple rules about voting. Like, you have got to be registered before you can vote. And you can only vote where you said you live when you registered.

I served as a volunteer polling official last Tuesday at the Monte Vista School precinct in the M Section not far from campus. We had to turn many students away because they were registered to vote at their family home in some other county.

They could have voted by mail in that county but only by requesting a mail-in ballot before the deadline. Students can vote where they are going to school, but only if they register there.

Another problem. A vote-by-mail ballot must be turned in to the county that issues it. A Sonoma County mail-in ballot could be turned in at any precinct in Sonoma County.

However, many students brought us mailin ballots from other counties and wanted to put them in our ballot box. Such ballots wouldn’t count.

Under new rules, a ballot counts if it is postmarked on or before Election Day (whereas previously it had to be received by 8 p.m.

on Election Day). Fortunately, the Cotati Post Office remained open Tuesday night until midnight as a service to procrastinators.

Some of the confusion about these voting procedures arises because people are thinking only of the presidential election. But there was much else to vote on in this past election, including issues and contests that apply only to certain local jurisdictions.

The ballot a voter gets is specifically tailored to where the voter lives. Thus if, for example, a voter who lives in Guerneville tries to vote in Rohnert Park, the Rohnert Park ballot will include candidates for a local school board and a local bond measure, whereas the Guerneville ballot included a vote for 5th District supervisor seat and a measure that applied only to unincorporated areas of the county.

It is regrettable and, certainly for the students, a major disappointment when for technical reasons a student is disenfranchised.

But these rules have valid rationales, and I certainly hope those students who didn’t get to vote this year will have learned the rules and be able to vote next time.

— Rick Luttmann Professor Emeritus of Mathematics

Opinion

Nov. 15 - Nov. 21, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

Page 3

One close election may foresake our protection

I

Noe Felix Staff Writer

t’s funny the things we take for granted, like what used to be a simple walk down the street, has turned into a terrifying experience for me.

Growing up, I knew I was different from others. My parents always told me, “Son, life’s always going to be hard for you, there will always be struggles for people like us.” Yet, for the majority of my life, I

lived just as any natural born American citizen. I had the freedom to go to school, to be able to go out into the world and to enjoy life without fear of being taken from my home.

In 2012, life started looking better thanks to President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action plan for undocumented immigrants. I was finally able to step out of the shadows, to be exempt from deportation, to finally have the ability to apply for a legitimate job. But on Tuesday, my whole world, along with the world of many other undocumented immigrants, came crumbling down.

What I feel isn’t anger or hate, but rather pain, heartache and sadness. The people elected a man with a plan to uproot and destroy the lives of millions of undocumented immigrants living in this country. They elected a man that has my people worried to death about the ramifications of his actions.

The “Washington Post” reported Donald Trump’s proposed immigration policy would target 6.5 million undocumented immigrants from swift removal. Throughout

A traitor or a patriot?

Jahred Nunes Staff Writer

I

n 1949, George Orwell’s instant classic “1984” changed literature, opening a new era of dystopian fascination. He forever changed the lives of avid readers and conspiracy theorists alike when he introduced the idea of Big Brother, the illusive figurehead of a totalitarian regime that persecutes individuality. One of Orwell’s most famous lines from the novel, “Big Brother is Watching You” challenged readers to question the status of their place in their government.

Over 50 years later, Orwell’s words began to ring true. In 2013, former CIA Computer Specialist Edward Snowden copied and leaked classified information from the National Security Agency that shocked the masses.

Snowden’s leak contained thousands of NSA documents that revealed numerous global surveillance programs run by the NSA and Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance with the cooperation of telecommunication properties and European governments. Text messages, email threads, and phone records of common Americans were being collected, analyzed, and shared. All surveillance was done without a warrant.

It’s inarguable that Snowden’s leak helped to protect the common American’s right to privacy and improve government transparency, it’s just a matter of how he did it.

In July 2014, The Washington Post reported on a cache previously provided by Snowden from domestic NSA operations. This consisted of roughly 160,000 intercepted e-mail and instant-message conversations and 7,900 documents taken from more than 11,000 online accounts.

When the Australian Financial Review asked retired NSA Director Keith Alexander in a May 2014 interview to quantify the number of documents Snowden stole, Alexander answered, “I don’t think anybody really knows what he actually took with him...What we do have is an accurate way of counting what he touched, what he may have downloaded, and that was more than a million documents.”

Since June 2013, Snowden has been on the run. He has been confirmed to be living in an undisclosed location in Russia. There, he is preparing a case asking that President Obama pardon him and allow him to return to the United States. The question remains, does he deserve it?

As one of the most controversial figures of our time, Snowden has been commonly referred to as a hero,

a whistleblower, a dissident, a patriot and a traitor. His findings have sparked debates across the country over mass surveillance and information privacy, forcing the NSA to find more transparent ways of collecting information.

In September, The American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch started a petition in support of a Snowden pardon. The petition gained traction by championing Snowden for exposing the NSA in an effort to protect the right to privacy. However, the list of justifications provided by these groups and their supporters failed to acknowledge the thousands of classified documents that didn’t involve domestic email and privacy.

Furthermore, White House Spokesman Josh Earnest stated in a press conference on September 14, “Edward Snowden is not a whistleblower. There actually is a specific process that is well-established and well-protected that allows whistleblowers to raise concerns that they have... to do so in a way that protects the national security secrets of the United States. That is not what Mr. Snowden did. And his conduct put American lives at risk.”

That same month, Snowden spoke in an interview with The Guardian journalist Ewen MacAskill that seemed to be timed to coincide with the release of Oliver Stone’s biopic “Snowden.”

“Yes, there are laws on the books that say one thing,” Snowden told MacAskill, “but perhaps this is why the pardon power exists -- for the exceptions, for the things that may seem unlawful in letters on a page but when we look at them morally, when we look at them ethically... it seems obvious that these were necessary things.”

A walking paradox in criminal history, Snowden invaded American privacy while simultaneously protecting it. Perhaps Snowden is right. Perhaps America, though it may be hard to regain trust in the system, is better off knowing the severity of an invasion of privacy in the age of technology. However, the issue is far deeper than simply a guy with a conscience who made a mistake.

If releasing classified information about the government invading private communications was his only crime, the likelihood of his pardon would be far greater. But the fact of the matter is he leaked much more than that, creating one of the biggest threats to national security of our time.

Though his crimes are severe, Snowden does not deserve to die as many politicians and even Presidentelect Donald Trump have theorized to be his sentencing in the past few months. It’s inarguable that Snowden’s leak helped to protect the common American’s right to privacy and improve government transparency, it’s just a matter of how he did it.

Snowden would have put far fewer lives at risk if he followed the processes set up for “whistleblowers” in the government. Many news outlets have reported that it is unlikely President Obama will change his position on pardoning him due to the threat to American security. Now, with only two months left of his presidency and a new president-elect saying Snowden should be executed for his crimes, only time will tell.

his campaign trail, Trump has promised to begin removing undocumented immigrants as early as “day one, as soon as I take office.”

The amount of pain this is sure to cause is unfathomable. What hurts me the most is thinking about other undocumented immigrants in the same boat as me. They were brought here when they were very young, and because of that, recognize America as their home, regardless of legal status. Furthermore, many undocumented immigrants are pursuing higher education with the hopes of being able to graduate from universities and have careers of their own.

According to the New York Times, Trump plans on quickly canceling Obama’s Deferred Action, which would result in stripping away protection from deportation and work permits from 800,000 people who came to the U.S. as children. This would eradicate the dreams of hundreds of thousands of undocumented students who want nothing more than a better life.

In addition, we would lose jobs and scholarships that many of us have obtained.

The New York Times also reported, in terms of immigration, Trump could accomplish a lot of the goals he has despite resistance from congress or the courts because of his executive power.

If you are someone that has established a life here illegally, that alone should strike fear to your core. On a whim, he could potentially do whatever he wants, no matter how much his decisions may be based on racist and misguided ideology.

I have friends scared to death of what the next four years have to offer us. Having a man who lacks human empathy and decency for others is a cause for concern. They have every right to feel disenfranchised and unrepresented. Nov. 8 is a day that will always stick with me. Never have I felt more hopeless and more vulnerable. I’ll never forget my mom calling me in the morning, hearing the sound of her voice and found myself breaking into tears.

Obesity won’t just fizzle out

Kendall Grove Staff Writer

I

n 2015, the University of California at San Francisco removed all sugarsweetened beverages from their campus. The university used this opportunity to research the effects of lowering the sugar intake in 214 of their employees. The university has been taking blood samples from those participating and researchers are looking for links to metabolic changes. UCSF has not released the study findings yet.

Laura Schmidt, the UCSF professor who jumpstarted the beverage ban, told New York Times, “We’re a public health institution, and there’s something not right about us making money off of products that we know are making people sick.”

If we want to help curb obesity in the United States, we should look more towards education than expulsion of unhealthy items.

Although soda is typi-

cally associated with obesity, it cannot be blamed alone.

According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute the number one cause of obesity is a lack of energy balance.

If you are consuming energy through calories and not creating any energy output, it will lead to obesity.

Beverages may be included, but this does not mean we should assume that switching to sugar free beverages will cause less obesity or health problems. The lack of sugary drinks must encourage those who can no longer purchase a soda on campus to switch to the next best thing. Many different sodas come in diet or calorie free options.

The alternative to sugary drinks is artificial sweeteners. Even though they contain less sugar, artificial sweeteners that are found in diet sodas have been linked to cancer according to the Mayo Clinic. It seems the better option for UCSF would have been to also ban artificial sweeteners as well as added sugar.

Could this sugary drink ban be something that is adopted nationwide? The World Health Organization issued a news release in October that urges global action to help curb sugary drink intake. They suggest imposing an extra tax on all sugary

beverages.

If the government puts an extra tax on sugary drinks, it does not seem too far of a stretch to say they could also impose that tax on other foods filled with sugar.

There are six cities across the country with a tax on sugary drinks, four of them in California. Berkeley was the first city to pass a tax in 2014, with San Francisco, Albany and Oakland all passing ballot measures this pass week to place a one cent-per-ounce tax on soda and other sweetened beverages. The U.S government may try to tax sugary drinks in order to decrease obesity, but they should not be able to make them unavailable.

Drinks such as Gatorade are used by athletes to help replace electrolytes, sodium and potassium that can be lost through exercise.

Drinks, even sugary, that provide purpose to athletes should not be banned.

As adults, people should know how to limit their added sugar intake on their own without the need of work place or government intervention.

Deciding how much added sugar adults need is over reaching on UCSF’s part. They may be hoping to create positive outcomes, but it overstepping their boundaries on workplace and lifestyle control.

Solar panels could benefit everyone under the sun

Braden Cartwright Staff Writer

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very morning, the sun rises up and beams immense amounts of energy down onto Earth. It heats our planet and gives life to every being. There’s no question as to whether it will rise in the morning, and it will produce plenty of energy for millions of years.

Instead of using renewable solar energy, we drill into our planet to extract energy in the form of fossil fuels that damage the environment. Yet, according to the Energy Information Administration, just 0.6 percent of United States’ energy is solar, while 80 percent comes from fossil fuels.

There are two big problems with burning materials for energy: it’s not renewable, and when you burn it, it

has disastrous effects.

Climate is greatly influenced by the amount of fossil fuels we burn. Scientists predict our global temperature can rise up two degrees without experiencing devastating, irreversible effects, according to climate change activist, Bill McKibben. Already the devastating effects are happening. Natural disasters, island-nations being submerged and the extinction of many species affect everyone. This year will be the hottest in recorded history, and not many seem to care. There are activists fighting the good fight, but the vast majority of people are doing absolutely nothing.

You can use a sustainable energy source over and over again without harming the planet. We cannot release carbon and methane into our atmosphere forever.

The United States has a tremendous opportunity to be a world leader in the solar energy industry. There are obstacles in the way of this of course, one of being cost. There cannot be a mass movement to solar energy unless the cost of switch-

ing goes down. The United States government needs to subsidize solar companies so they can grow and eventually prosper. They should tax fossil fuels so the demand will go down, and more people will consider switching.

In poorer villages, solar power could be used instead of electricity.

It’s cheaper to install solar panels and a battery than a power plant and power lines. They would immediately begin with sustainable energy which would bode well for their future.

Solar power is the future of energy, and hopefully the change happens sooner rather than later. After all, the future of our planet is at stake. This is a real, tangible solution to climate change; it won’t come about easily though.

A fight on many fronts is required to make solar power competitive and popular.

If we figure it out now, we will have created a solution for many future generations, allowing them to flourish. Let’s make the future a sustainable one.

Page 4

News

Nov. 15 - Nov. 21, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

California State University adopts travel restrictions Francisco Carbajal Staff Writer

I Redwood Empire Food Bank There are a variety of ways for the local community to help the less fortunate this coming holiday season, which has been promoted by the Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week hosted by JUMP at Sonoma State.

Students have new ways to help the hungry and homeless Tyler Heberle Staff Writer

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omelessness is a legitimate issue throughout California, and Sonoma County is no exception. The 2011 Sonoma County Homeless Count Survey found 4,539 homeless people in the county’s population that year, according to the Sonoma County Community Development Commission.

However, many residents still seek a roof over their heads or a hot meal for the night, Sonoma State University students have new opportunities to help them starting this month.

Sonoma State hosted Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week from Nov. 7 – 9.

This annual celebration is one of JUMP’s many programs aiming to inform students about “populations that are at risk or marginalized” in Sonoma County, according to Casey Elbert, JUMP’s director of human services.

“Last year it was a full week, so this year I shortened it to three days, hoping that if you shorten it, the turnout would be better for those three days,” Elbert said.

Around 75 students attended the first day of this year’s Awareness Week, which focused on a Hunger Banquet where students could experience eating conditions for third world countries, Elbert said. On Nov. 8, students got to package food at the Redwood Empire Food Bank. During the final night, students could stop by Ballroom B of the Student Center to help make tie blankets to donate to shelters in Sonoma County.

Elbert said she has learned a lot about less privileged people through her work with JUMP and Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week.

“It’s definitely eye-opening, because in this college atmosphere you don’t really see a lot of the community,” Elbert said.

Throughout the week, students could drop off socks, combs, canned food and other items at donation bins in the Student Center, according to a JUMP flier. But these are not the only donation bins present at Sonoma State--orange containers from Redwood Empire Food Bank are available on-campus for canned food donations during the bank’s annual Food & Funds Drive.

These bins are also located in nearby grocery stores like Safeway and Oliver’s Market, as reported by The Community Voice. One is right inside the 7-Eleven on East Cotati Avenue, across from Sonoma State campus.

Satnam Dugh, the store’s manager, said that he encourages customers to buy canned

food from the store to donate to Redwood Empire Food Bank.

“Whatever people will give, we’ll call [Redwood Empire],” Dugh said.

Allison Goodwin, director of programs at Redwood Empire, said that students can also support the cause by volunteering for Safeway Day, a Nov. 19 event where helpers will promote the Food and Funds Drive.

“Students can also host a virtual food drive on our website, as well as bring canned goods to their local grocery store to drop in our orange barrels,” Goodwin said.

Sonoma State students have helped out at the Rohnert Park Safeway location in the past, but none have signed up for this year’s Safeway Day, according to Goodwin.

“Safeway Day is definitely the priority and the REFB always loves more helping hands to fight hunger,” Goodwin said.

Students looking to help homeless children in the area also have an outlet in the form of Love in a Shoebox, which operates out of Expressway Self Storage. The yearly gift drive prepares specialized packages containing toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, washcloths, school supplies and entertainment items for donation to people aged 18 and younger, according to Expressway Self Storage assistant manager Traci Sell.

“We mostly work with groups that work with homeless and foster children,” Sell said.

The boxes can be provided year-round for special occasions, but many are packed during the months of October, November and December to be handed out at Christmas parties held by churches such as the Redwood Gospel Mission, Sell said.

“I’ve been there, where I couldn’t afford to buy my kids a Christmas present… it’s the most horrible feeling any parent could ever have,” Sell said. “So just knowing that I’m helping that mom or that dad not feel bad makes me feel good.”

Sell said anyone can sign up to donate items or pack boxes for Love in a Shoebox “It’s not about us, it’s about these little kids,” Sell said. “That one box that kid got for Christmas might be the first Christmas present he’s ever had, and it might change his life.”

For more information on service opportunities available through JUMP, contact Casey Elbert at jump.humanservices@ sonoma.edu.

To sign up for Safeway Day or to learn more about Redwood Empire Food Bank’s services, contact Helen Myers at hmeyers@ refb.org To sign up as a volunteer for Love in a Shoebox, call (707) 588-8878.

WE NEED CARTOONISTS! email star@sonoma.edu

n September, Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation prohibiting government employees from traveling to states that allow discrimination on gender identity or sexual orientation.

The California State University Chancellor’s office officially adopted the law on Oct. 18 and has set new travel restrictions to start in January 2017 for the system’s employees.

The law, AB 1887, prohibits any state-funded or CSU funded travel to states such as North Carolina, which has stripped gays and lesbians from workplace discrimination laws and does not allow transgender citizens to the restroom of the gender they identify with.

The new Cal State travel restrictions will prohibit any employee to travel to North Carolina or any other states that might have discriminatory laws in the future using CSU funds or state funds.

This new restriction may also lead into restrictions on travel from Cal State sports teams to North Carolina. The NCAA has already canceled multiple tournaments in North Carolina for the same reason, including some NCAA Basketball games.

So far, nothing in the California State University system has been canceled.

“We put the notice of the restriction out early in an attempt to keep campuses from making commitments for travel, conferences, or other events that would happen post-Jan.1,” said Assistant Vice Chancellor of the California State University system Mark Ek. “It’s the same

restriction for sporting events, but if there are team commitments that were entered into prior to Jan. 1, then they would fall under the list of exceptions,” he added.

There are exceptions to these new travel restrictions such as enforcement of California law, including auditing and revenue collection, litigation, to meet contractual obligations incurred before Jan. 1, 2017, to comply with requests by the federal government to appear before committees, to participate in meetings or training required by a grant or required to maintain grant funding, to complete jobrequired training necessary to maintain licensure or similar standards required for holding a position, in the event that comparable training cannot be obtained in California or a different state not affected or for the protection of public health, welfare, or safety, as determined by the CSU or other state agencies.

Artists from all genres have canceled shows or appearances including Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr and Brandi Carlile.

In some cases, companies like Pepsi, Hewlett Packard and General Electric have also followed suit in boycotting the state. PayPal has gone as far as canceling a plan for a new facility in the state.

“I’m happy that this is a law in the state and glad that the CSU and UC systems have to follow it. California has to make a stand and if it means that one of our basketball or soccer teams can’t play in North Carolina, then so be it,” said sophomore Raniel Palomar. “It provides a great example to other states in the country and hey just like they say ‘Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle.”

Associated Students pushing for Dream Center

A

Ronald Campos Staff Writer

s Sonoma State University students finish their fall semester, many undocumented students continue to struggle with receiving the proper resources needed to successfully navigate through college. As a solution, the Dream Center was proposed to administration in February 2016 in an effort to aid undocumented students in their college careers. Currently, the administration has not officially designated a space for the Dream Center, however, the office space in the HUB is a possible site. The Academic Senate established a goal for opening the Dream Center by fall 2016. As the end of the semester nears, and the Dream Center is still not a reality, it has become crucial for undocumented students to have access to resources needed to succeed academically as soon as possible.

“Funding the Dream Center has become a concern for students, especially the members of the Dreamers Club, since the proposed funding plan will increase student fees $30 a semester,” said Ricardo Ibarra, editor for La Prensa Sonoma, Sonoma county’s new Spanish-language newspaper. However, the decision is up to the Associated Students to decide whether to increase student fees. In response, the Dreamers Club stated that it did not wish to increase student fees, especially since this student fee will not be covered by financial aid. As of today there is no solution on how to fund the Dream Center and many undocumented students struggle to feel accepted in the college campus community. Despite having scholarships like Equal Opportunity Program for undocumented students to live on campus, they still lack proper guidance.

“Being an undocumented student at Sonoma State makes me feel invisible and I feel like most students like myself have a hard time fitting in in terms of finding their home away from home,” said Jessica Flores, a senior at Sonoma State. “Many times I feel as if we don’t have a specific place on campus where we can feel like someone is there to listen to our struggles.”

As of right now, many undocumented students rely on EOP as a resource for providing networks around the community. For example, EOP introduces undocumented recipients to Deferred Action for Childhood Arriv-

als workshops where they learn how to apply for a work permit and receive an exemption from deportation.

For many other undocumented students interested in pursuing graduate school, it can be extremely difficult without the proper resources or guidance. If Sonoma State were to open up the Dream Center soon, undocumented students like Flores believes she would gain guidance through workshops for applying to graduate school.

“It’s devastating to me that I have to go out of my way to find the help I need when I should be able to find support just like anyone else here at Sonoma State,” added Flores.

According to Chicano and Latino studies professor Mariana Martinez, 67 percent of the money spent on tuition goes to athletic programs on campus. However, there are only 300 students enrolled in athletic programs which is only 2 percent of the total students here at Sonoma State. These investments include travel expenses, competition and equipment costs.

Although there has not been any recent announcements from Student Government or the Academic Senate with an update on the Dream Center’s status, Vice President of Student Affairs Matthew Lopez- Phillips said he is working on getting funding and locating the Dream Center in the Student Center.

Right now, President of Sonoma State University Dr. Judy K. Sakaki and President of Associated Students Emily Hinton are also working on ways to get the Dream Center up and running.

“This is something I have been trying to figure out since I have been in office,” said Associated President Emily Hinton. “With all the changes and new administration it seems as if the Dream Center has got lost in the mix of things and doesn’t seem to have any sort of real plan for moving forward with it right now. With that being said, I want all students to know this is a huge priority to me and the AS Senate. I have been meeting with Dr. Sakaki and her goal is to get it up and running in The HUB by spring but she is trying to find the right funds for it.”

Despite this delay, undocumented students still have a chance in obtaining better resources to succeed academically however, it will most likely happen in the spring semester.

News

Nov. 15 - Nov. 21, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

Page 5

PROTEST: Students share emotions, create safe space Continued from Pg. 1

I want us to stay non-violent, I think that’s the biggest first step and to stay united, not to hate people because they have different views. I want everyone to support the love of our SSU community and to stay together,” said Klein.

Several dozen Pro-Trump protestors from the other side followed the Anti-Trump protesters.

“It was something the community needed after a surprising election,” said Minwha Lee, junior business major at Sonoma State. “I realize that Hillary supporters are mad at the results, but I hope they come to terms with the result of Donald Trump as the president-elect. He has not even

been in the office for a day and people are starting to protest and riot with violence across the United States, give him a chance to prove you otherwise.”

Students from all different backgrounds came out in some shape or form.

“I came to the United States for a better life, for a better future, for a better hope and here I am thinking if I really made the right choice,” said a student studying at Sonoma State under a student visa who wished to remain anonymous. ‘It’s messed up it has come to this.”

Around 10 p.m., during the last few minutes of the event, protesters gathered in front of the Green Music Center for a few minutes of silence. Sonoma State’s student president, Emily Hinton and other protest leaders shared

the spotlight in leading the crowd to chants about freedom, equality and to assure that Sonoma State University will be a safe campus for students to listen to one another and feel protected.

“I attended the protest to show that I care about what is happening to our country and I want to be apart of the millions of people who are making a difference,” said Amaral.

“We were showing that we are passionate about these rights and won’t back down until we are heard and respected.”

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) says it welcomes all students to make an initial appointment to meet with counselors to discuss concerns. If you would like to talk with someone or make an appointment, please call (707) 664-2153 between 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.

STAR // Bryce Dowd & Megan Corcoran The Sonoma State community gathered to hold a peaceful protest Wednesday evening after Donald Trump was elected as the 45th president of the United States last Tuesday. Over 300 students gathered with signs, flags and chants to voice their distain with the election results. Students also chalked motivational messages in the quad between the Student Center and the Recreation Center as a way to voice their opinion.

PoliticalCenter.org On the left, is a map of how the Electoral College is expected to cast their vote on Dec. 10, effectively electing Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States. On the right, is a map of the popular vote, in favor of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Election results stun pollsters and popoulation

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Charlotte Grayson Staff Writer

ell over 300 Sonoma State students marched in protest Wednesday, joining thousands of Americans throughout the United States who are angry and disappointed at the election of Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of the United States.

Junior communications major Jenna Valle-Riestra attended the protest with friends and fellow student leaders.

“It enabled a platform for people to feel heard, united, and supported, in an environment that was peaceful and safe,” said Valle-Riestra. “I went because sitting in my room I felt helpless and scared and alone, but being a part of it I felt empowered and supported. I think it was especially important for those demographics that our president-elect has openly degraded and oppressed, because it showed us that we have allies.”

According to the votes tabulated by the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters, only 22 percent of voters in Sonoma County voted for Donald Trump. About seven out of every 10 voters in the county cast their ballots for Hillary Clinton.

However, as the election results were tallied, the electoral map turned increasingly red. Trump won swing states Florida and Ohio as well as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which Clinton was expected to win along with Michigan, which is still too close to call, but Trump has the lead in the current elec-

toral vote count. As of press time, Michigan and New Hampshire are too close to call. Trump won at least 290 electoral votes, which is 20 more electoral votes than necessary to win the presidency.

The Associated Press reports that Hillary Clinton is leading in the national popular vote by more than 600,000 votes. But hundreds of thousands of votes, including some 58,000 in Sonoma County, still are left to be tallied.

Among Sonoma State students who completed a survey in the days leading up to the election, three-quarters of them reported that they had a very unfavorable view of Trump. Of the nearly 300 respondents, the percentage of students who have a favorable view of Hillary Clinton was almost equal to the number of students who have an unfavorable view of her.

This survey and national polls predicted a very different result to this election.

Political science professor and professional pollster Richard Hertz offered his expertise as to how the polls were so off.

“I think this was a surprise only in that the long shot scenario where Trump won narrow, but key victories in important states, even as he will likely lose the popular vote actually occurred. The poll results were mixed. The national polls showing Clinton with a small lead in the popular vote were pretty accurate,” Hertz said. “Maybe more of the ‘surprise’ came from how the polls were interpreted by analysts during the election season and the high degree of certainty that many forecasters gave Clinton for winning the election, sometimes

up to 99 percent. Nothing is that certain in American Politics.”

At the election night viewing party hosted by Professor Hertz’s POLS 199 class and the Sonoma State Star, students of all political ideologies gathered to watch the election results. Cheers of equal volume rang out each time CNN called a state for either of the candidates. Both Clinton supporters and Trump supporters felt comfortable enough to voice their support for their candidate.

Within 24 hours of Trump being declared the winner of the presidential election, Sonoma State students organized a protest to speak out against the rhetoric of Trump’s campaign.

The protest was shared with students through a Facebook event page. More than 400 students indicated their interest in the event, and over 300 attended. The protest took place on Wednesday evening. Participants met at the Student Center and then marched around campus together. Protesters carried signs and posters and shouted their feelings about the 45th president of the United States.

On Wednesday night, Sonoma State students were joined by residents of Rohnert Park and others in a peaceful protest that involved walking around campus for two hours chanting.

“I am so proud of Sonoma State for coming together and raising our voice in a manner that was peaceful, positive, and created a culture of inclusivity,” said Valle-Riestra. “The protest was huge. I could never see the front or back of the march because it just kept going.”

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Arts

Mass Effect enters Andromeda Rene De Amaral Copy Editor

Commentary

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or many “Mass Effect” fans, Nov. 7 or N7 day is a day of celebration for one of the most iconic video game series released in the last 10 years.

“Mass Effect 3” was released in 2012, and since then there has been talk of a new game. In past years, the “Mass Effect” series developer Bioware has used N7 day to reward fans with concept art or possible hints for the new game. In 2015, Bioware released a teaser trailer for their new game “Mass Effect: Andromeda.” Another trailer was released at this year’s E3 convention, showcasing more of the game and its development. But those trailers were nothing compared to the new cinematic trailer released on this year’s N7 day.

The original “Mass Effect” series is set in the futuristic 2180s in the Milky Way Galaxy. In this future, humanity has become very technologically advanced, which allows humans to travel throughout the Milky Way Galaxy via Mass Relays (hence “Mass Effect).

Over time, humanity has built relationships with other species found and established colonies throughout the galaxy. The main character is Commander Shepard, a decorated soldier in Earth’s System Alliance N7 program. The Earth’s System Alliance is charged with protecting Earth and each of its respective colonies. Commander Shepard becomes the first human Spectre, an elite group of agents who serve the Citadel Council, the governing force in the Milky Way Galaxy.

The galaxy is threatened when mysterious robotic enemies called the Geth attack the human colony Eden Prime. Commander Shepard is tasked with protecting the colony and driving back the Geth forces. But in the process of liberating Eden Prime, Shepard comes into contact with an artifact from the ancient Prothean Empire. The Protheans were an advanced alien race who left behind many artifacts, including the Mass Relays.

This artifact shows the Prothean Empire’s demise at the hand of the all-powerful robotic alien race known as the Reapers. Shepard and their team come to the conclusion that unless they stop the Reapers, the entire galaxy will be destroyed. Throughout the series, Shepard recruits allies from many different races such as the Krogan, Turian, Asari, Quarian and many more. Each ally has different abilities that helps Shepard throughout their struggle against the Reapers.

If you have never experienced “Mass Effect” before and own an Xbox One, or if you have but want to play the games on your newer console, Bioware has made the entire “Mass Effect” series backwards compatible as a part of N7 day.

While the original “Mass Effect” games were about saving the Milky Way Galaxy, “Mass Effect: Andromeda” will take place in the Andromeda Galaxy. Instead of being Commander Shepard, you will now be the “Pathfinder,” named Ryder. The female and male Ryder characters are actually twins, and are voiced by Fryda Wolff (Sarah Ryder) and Tom Taylorson (Scott Ryder).

According to the various trailers shown so far, the Alliance has decided to send various ships with different races to the Andromeda Galaxy.

The exact timeline has not been given, so whether or not “Mass Effect: Andromeda” takes place before or after the original “Mass Effect” games is unclear. In one of the trailers, Alec Ryder (the twin’s father) and Andromeda Initiative founder Jien Garson are standing on the Moon and tell the audience “It is time for us to prepare for a future beyond the Milky Way, the future begins 600 years from where we stand, in a time and place among unknown stars and unseen dangers.”

Let’s break that down. “Six hundred years from where we stand” probably means that humanity has finally gained the ability to travel millions of light years.

Also the newest trailer said that the people traveling in the ships will be put into cryostasis on the ship Ark Hyperion, and will wake up upon arrival.

The names of the human and Asari squad mates shown in past trailers and concept art have been revealed, and are known as Liam and PeeBee, respectively. In addition, there is also appears to be one villain, rather than an army (like the Reapers). Like past games, players will be able to romance various characters found throughout the game, or befriend them and earn their trust via loyalty missions.

In addition, the mission known as the Andromeda Initiative is said to be a “one-way trip” meaning that we will most likely not run into any characters from the past series, or find out what happened to Commander Shepard after the Reaper battle on Earth. In addition, a companion trailer was released announcing a website to learn more about Andromeda Initiative. On the site, one can learn about the mission, watch mission briefing videos and complete training to receive an exclusive special edition Pathfinder helmet which may be for Xbox Live Avatars.

This N7 day was one of the most exciting yet as it revealed the answers to many questions fans have had since E3. “Mass Effect: Andromeda” is surely to be quite the adventure, as it will be a whole new story in a completely different galaxy. Its March 21 release date next year seems like 600 years itself. Until then, many will be asking, “What adventures await me in the Andromeda Galaxy?”

Nov. 15 - Nov. 21, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

A Tribe Called Quest releases final album memorializing Phife Dawg Alexis Austin Staff Writer

Review

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ast year on Nov. 13, A Tribe Called Quest members Q-Tip, Jarobi, Ali and Phife performed on the Tonight Show together. It was their first TV performance in 18 years. This performance sparked what Q-Tip called “an energy that we hadn’t experienced on stage together in some time” and a mutual desire to “get back to the studio and start that cookup!” This year on Nov. 11, the group released their new and final album titled “We Got It From Here… Thank you 4 Your Service” through Epic Records.

In a letter to fans via Instagram, regarding the release of the album in the midst of the passing of tribe-member Phife Dawg aka Malik Taylor, Q-Tip informed, “It was coming together nicely and as you may know we lost our BROTHER may GOD REST HIS SOUL on March 22. But he left us with the BluePrint of what we had to do. So we collected ourselves and along tribesmen, BUSTA and CONS… we completed what will be, obviously the final A Tribe Called Quest album.”

The album is a beautiful composite work featuring every sound Tribe fans want to hear. The 90s head-bobbing groove hits the listener just as it did when the group broke out those lackadaisical yet sharp dance moves in the “Can I Kick it” video.

Jazzy and unexpected samples come through as well as social and political statements that have kept up with the times.

The song “We the People” happened to apply to “[the] current political climate” the group revealed to Vanity Fair Magazine. Speaking through quick, passionate bars about an America that might not represent minorities and women.

“Yo, funny thing is, we wrote a lot about Trump, about what’s going on, kind of foretelling this shit.

Especially Phife . . . he had a crystal ball or some shit,” Jarobi told Vanity Fair Magazine.

“The fog and the smog of news media that logs / False narratives of Gods that came up against the odds /We’re not just nigga rappers with the bars /It’s kismet and we’re cosmic with the stars,” the bridge

by Phife and Q-Tip states.

Tribe proves to be an extremely talented group in their f lawless ability to bring different forms of music together harmoniously. The song “Solid Wall

of Sound” is the perfect example of this. Including samples from Elton John’s, “Benny and the Jets.”

The entirety of the song grooves along to that slow Elton beat.

Throughout the album, the group bridges the gap between different musical genres and exemplifies the very original, classic Tribe Called Quest sound that is unique yet unified. With two parts, eight songs on each, different styles of music are explored. The group attributes inspiration from very different atmospheres, from Queen to Kendrick Lamar.

Lamar is featured on the song “Conrad Tokyo,” a song that once more touches on current politics and expresses Phife’s views.

“Trump and SNL hilarity /Troublesome times kid, no times for comedy,” raps Phife before Kendrick’s feature.

“Fumigate our economy, ‘illuminate broken dreams / And manifest all insanity, look around / Sayonara tomorrow, it’s just blood on the ground” Lamar raps.

For anyone that hoped for a song on this album to be entirely dedicated to Phife Dawg, the song “The Donald” is just this.

“Phife Dawg, you spit wicked every verse,” raps Busta Rhymes.

This album will remain a legacy in the world of music and hip-hop, with verses and musical contribution from André 3000, Kendrick Lamar, Jack White, Elton John, Anderson Paak, Talib Kweli from Black Star, Consequence, Busta Rhymes, and unexpectedly, Kanye West.

Although Phife Dawg passed away just a few months before the release, he will live on in the Tribe Called Quest’s music for generations to come, including this closing album that he himself titled.

facebook.com A Tribe Called Quest released their final album on Nov. 11.

facebook.com “Arrival” hit theaters on Nov. 11. Its opening weekend brought in $24 million.

“Arrival” portrays disconnect on extraterrestrial level Sean Curzon Staff Writer

Review

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he idea of first contact with life from the stars has always lit up the human imagination. How would we react when we finally discover that we are not the only life? “Arrival” is one of the best takes on this since the original “The Day the Earth Stood Still.”

Directed by Denis Villeneuve, “Arrival” is about the world reacting to 12 different alien ships landing at different points on Earth, forcing the international community to work together in a way they haven’t before.

“Arrival” stars Amy Adams as Louise Banks, a linguistics expert who is called upon to help translate the alien language. She is joined by mathematician Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) and United States Army Colonel Weber (Forest Whitaker). The film follows Banks and her team as they try to communicate with the aliens. With no psychic powers, universal translators or learning English off the internet, the entire movie is about figuring out how to talk to something so alien. This isn’t a typical Hollywood blockbuster.

Instead of the usual large scale action, this is a serious look at mankind dealing with the existence of extraterrestrial life. It’s a bold move that pays off.

The designs are fantastic. The film does a great job making everything alien seem so strange. We get very

little clues on the creature’s biology or how their technology works. Everything inside the ship seems so vast and imposing which not only adds to the aliens strangeness, but also makes the hero’s goal that much harder to reach. The aliens shield themselves behind a glass wall, and are obscured by an odd fog. It adds to the aliens mystique and makes the situation seem even more ominous. The score is appropriately creepy and strange to match the seemingly huge rooms in the space ships.

The acting is incredible. Adams gives a powerful performance. She conveys the shock, awe, terror and hope someone in that position would have. It’s one of the best of the year and it would be a crime if she wasn’t nominated for something. The other actors are no slouches either. Everyone across the board does a great job, and Renner is great as the smart guy.

Villeneuve does a great job of capturing the emotion that the characters feel. The entire film breathes atmosphere and makes you feel the gravity of the events.

The tension builds as the characters struggle to figure out why the aliens have come. Since the aliens are scattered throughout the world, the team has to work with several other countries, each with their own ideas and goals. The film perfectly captures the difficult mess that talking to other people can entail. The main theme of “Arrival” is the difficulty in trying to understand others.

At it’s core this film is about the joy and difficulties of life. Learning how to communicate with others and dealing the lows of life along with the highs. “Arrival” is a powerful and well made film with an important story to tell.

Nov. 15 - Nov. 21, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

Entertainment

Page 7

“Shut In” disappoints horror fans Perla Alvarez Staff Writer

COURTESY // Melanie Hernandez Melanie Hernandez is a senior art major whose main focuses include painting and printmaking. Most of her work focuses on architecture as shown in “Thrift Shop Piece” (right).

Student finds passion in paint Marcella Richmond Staff Writer

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elanie Hernandez, a senior at Sonoma State University, is a painter who discovered her artistic talents at a young age.

“I have always loved art and been intrigued by every part of it,” said Hernandez.

Ever since she was a little girl, she was constantly dabbling in the arts. Whether it was crayons, paint or even nail polish, Hernandez could not stop her imagination. She recalls a time where she used nail polish in a coloring book, which did not please her parents.

Growing up, she was always asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, and naturally her response was an artist. During her senior year of high school, Hernandez took a painting class with some friends. Her friends admired her work and acknowledged her obvious talent. She did not think much of it besides that it was a fun hobby, not a lifelong occupation.

When Hernandez entered Sonoma State, she was a communications major. A friend suggested that she minor in art to see what she thought. Her friend explained there is always an option to drop the minor if you truly did not enjoy it. The opposite happened, Hernandez fell in love with the minor and switched her major to art after two semesters of painting and also changed her minor to arts management.

“It is something I have been in love with ever since,” said Hernandez.

Hernandez values the idea that any piece will be admired no matter what. She knows that someone went out and made that themselves and that is what makes it art.

“Art is something so diverse, in its content and

the artists that make it. No matter what it is, someone is going to like it,” said Hernandez.

Hernandez has her own personal favorites when it comes to all of the different mediums of art. Her favorites include painting but she also enjoys printmaking. She finds with each medium, she can incorporate techniques from each one.

“With printmaking especially lithography, it is essentially drawing, that is the main focus but the process of printing is really what draws me in,” said Hernandez.

Art takes time, patience and support. Hernandez explains that without her parents support she would not be able to find success. Her favorite part of finishing a piece is when she can send it to her parents and see they posted it on Facebook for all of their friends to see. Not only do her parents support her and notice how talented she is, but fellow classmates do as well.

“I really enjoy her work. She is a great painter,” said fellow classmate Yolanda Gillotte, a junior at Sonoma State.

Hernandez loves art but is not afraid to recognize the challenges that come along with it. She usually faces difficulties when it comes to content. Her work is mostly architectural, so she aims to connect the viewer to the work rather than them stare a painting of a building. She is continuously working on improving the struggles she faces with the content of the work.

Hernandez has many artists that inspire her to do her best work everyday. She owes her love of her art to a film her teacher played in high school called “The Radiant Child” about Jean Michel Basquiat. Whenever she is asked what artists inspire her, she has a hard time choosing but thinks back to this movie and remembers where she found her love of art.

Common inspires to embrace culture Noe Felix Staff Writer

Review

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n a time where racism and sexism have taken ahold of America, hip-hop steps in to offer strength. Hiphop has always been a window into the lives of those less fortunate, of the disenfranchised and of those in need. As of late, hip-hop has been a driving force in promoting social equality in America. It’s been molded into a medium that wants to offer hope to people of color and women, letting them know that their voices should and will be heard. With dark times approaching, Common’s “Black America Again” aims to offer faith and hope in a moment where everything seems lost.

“Black America Again” is an album centered around social change, a project that offers insight to the black experience and an empowering view on women.

With the injustices and racial disparities both people of color and women have faced these past years, Common paints vivid images on subjects ranging from racism to mass incarceration to police brutality. “Black America Again” isn’t a project to make people of color feel inferior, on the contrary, it’s about embracing one’s race and culture in order to tap into their privilege they have and using it to succeed. It’s an album embodied by religion, equality and soul.

What makes this album memorable is Common’s flow.

As cliché or cheesy it is to say, it’s inspiring. Common raps in a poetic tone, making each time he steps up to the mic feel as if he’s doing spoken word. It’s a flow a majority of rappers

can’t pull off, but he does so with ease.

It’s Common’s wordplay, combined with his flows, that make the tracks impactful. On top of that, it’s the content within tracks that are heavy, yet inspiring.

“Southern leaves, southern trees we hung from/ Barren souls, heroic songs unsung/ Forgive them father they not this knot is undone,” he raps.

It’s bars like that that will invoke emotions in listeners.

All the content on “Black America Again” is intended to let black expression shine through the face of adversity.

The sound of “Black America Again” is infused with blues, gospel soul, jazz and hip-hop. It’s a combination that makes each track feel unique.

“Letter To The Free” stands as one of the highlights of the album. Offering somber piano keys and a choir, Common raps, “For now we know the new Jim Crow/ They stop, search and arrest our souls/ Police and policies patrol philosophies of control.”

It’s a song that finds Common discussing the Thirteenth Amendment and the realities of the prison industrial complex. The title track, “Black America Again,” is also a standout. The song finds Common addressing the problems facing the community and the disenfranchisement that has plagued African Americans on this energized track.

“Who stole the soul from the black folk?/ Same man that stole the land from Chief Black Smoke/ And made the whip crackle on our back slow/ And made us go through the back door,” he raps.

Despite all the praise however, the album is missing something. It’s hard to explain, but it’s missing a certain magic that projects like Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp A Butterfly” and Chance the Rapper’s “Coloring Book” had. It’s worth a listen for sure but it isn’t a masterpiece or anything close to it. It’s an album for the times, a body of work that offers courage and optimism in the days to come.

facebook.com Common released “Black America Again” on Nov. 3. The emotionally charged album centers on social change.

Review

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his past Friday, “Shut In,” a bland thriller, premiered to give its audience a couple of spooks that borrowed from other classic films, but left viewers wondering why they didn’t stay home and watch some reruns on Bravo instead.

Psychologist Mary Portman (Naomi Watts) is left distraught as she has to deal with the aftermath of a fatal car accident that left her a widow and with a paralyzed step-son to take care of. The beginning plotline consists of her bathing and taking care of her son, Steven, played by Charlie Heaton, also known as the aspiring photographer Jonathon Byers from Netflix’s popular “Stranger Things.”

Alone in a New England frosty setting, the cinematography is brightly done which detracts from the all impending doom that is following Portman. She begins hallucinating sounds that go bump in the night, but also begins to formulate visuals of a young foster child, Tom, a previous patient of Portman’s, that has unexpectedly shown up at her secluded house in the woods one night, but goes missing in a heartbeat.

With the stress of making the decision to cease her guardianship duties and the pending fact of not knowing what happened to Tom, Portman starts having continuous nightmares about figures during the night, and she begins to believe paranormal activities are occurring in her household.

Her shrink, Dr. Wilson (Oliver Pratt), Skypes with her to assure her that what she is beginning to think is reality is in fact “parasomnia,” a sleep disorder that involves abnormal movements, behaviors, dreams, and perceptions. The twist that entails does leave one stunned, but soon that shock factor fades away.

Full of short thrills, the hour and a half movie doesn’t provide enough substance or even background information for why things are occurring the way they are. Steven is abruptly pushed on us as the crazed, obsessive archetype, but we aren’t sure why he is.

How did he all of a sudden become mobile? How did Tom not succumb to hypothermia in the cold of Maine during winter?

So many questions…so little answered.

The almost incestuous fascination he has with his stepmom is the creepiest part about the entire ordeal, but there needed to be more elements to this “thriller.”

Starring in other suspenseful movies such as “The Ring” and “Mulholland Drive,” Watts definitely knew how to play the part of the distressed character and gave this movie the extra oomph it needed.

It’s quite a surprise this Academy Award nominated actress would sign on to do a movie so mild.

The other characters such as Dr. Wilson, who is shown conversing with Portland half the movie, demonstrates believable distress that got you swerving around your seat a little.

The attempt to provoke wonder and fear for the audience member watching this film did work initially.

Perhaps the first half hour as curiosity swept in. The problem is that the curiosity ends, as there isn’t too much going on in the film. At least nothing you haven’t seen yet in the thriller genre.

This cabin fever/psychoneurosis film doesn’t do anyone justice. Perhaps you could stay home, make yourself a cup of hot chocolate and watch some Bhorror films on Netflix instead if you dare think about purchasing a ticket to this failure.

facebook.com “Shut In” had a disappointing opening weekend bringing in only $3 million.

Page 8

Student Life

Nov. 15 - Nov. 21, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

Professor aims to bring fencing to the spotlight Alex T. Randolph Staff Writer

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im Liebich was 25 and in his last year at Sonoma State University when his youngest brother Bill invited him to a fencing class. Thinking it might be fun, Liebich decided to try it out. Twenty years later, he’s the biggest proponent of fencing in the Bay Area.

A fencing instructor since 2001, Liebich started his own fencing club in Santa Rosa in 2008 called En Garde Fencing, after the club he used to teach at closed down.

Many of his students and hired instructors are also from Sonoma State, such as John Sullins, fencing coach and professor of philosophy. Liebich also teaches beginner’s fencing at Sonoma State, and teaches numerous after-school and community classes around the Bay Area.

Liebich specializes in Olympic style fencing, which has a greater focus on scoring points. In his class Liebich familiarizes his students with all three weapons used in Olympic fencing – the foil, epee and saber – to make sure they have a well-rounded understanding of the sport.

Other coaches at En Garde teach other forms of fencing, such as historical fencing which is more akin to a martial art.

Liebich is a firm believer that sports and physical activities are good for children to learn and develop – which is a bit ironic since he had no interest in competitive sports as a child.

“I wasn’t really a very active person most of my life,” he said. He was, however, very much into swords and epic fantasy – he plays Dungeons and Dragons to this day – and learning how to wield a real sword had an obvious appeal for him.

He didn’t take to fencing right away, it took a few extra classes and practice for him to really start enjoying it – but he started to appreciate the mix of physical exertion and strategy that comes with fencing dueling against another person.

“Going to a gym to me is really boring and repetitive, but fencing is very engaging,” Liebich said. “It’s a strategy

game, and that’s something that really appealed to me.”

Many of his students have similar stories.

“I’ve always loved swords, and films and all that, so my mom introduced me to modern fencing when I was in seventh or eighth grade,” said Kai Eva, a high school student who has been learning under Liebich for at least four years.

Kids who have little interest in football or organized sports tend to take to fencing as an alternative. Liebich says he is constantly approached by parents who are appreciative of their children finally finding a physical activity they really enjoy.

What Liebich would like to do more then anything is to make fencing as ubiquitous in Santa Rosa as baseball or football – a fun activity anyone can do.

“Fencing tends to have this aura of snobbiness,” Liebich said. “It’s perceived as this elite, expensive sport, and I don’t think it has to be.”

To that end, he has opened the doors to his school to anyone and everyone who wants to pick up a foil or eepe.

According to Liebich, he teaches classes for 5-year-olds and 80-year-olds. Even those who are handicapped are more then welcome to attend a class or two.

“It doesn’t matter who you are,” Leibich said, “or what’s going on with your body; you can fence.”

Joey Bellamy is a fellow instructor at En Garde, and wrote some of the training programs. He considers the school to be one of the best he’s ever been at, especially for children.

“I think his teaching method with the kids is really worth paying for and extremely beneficial. And he’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever met, as well,” Bellamy said.

“He’s the only guy that provides equipment for the club members to use, and no one thought that would work, and he has made it work,” said David Charles, a fencing coach with over twenty years of experience.

Liebich would like Sonoma State students to know that anyone taking beginning fencing can come and fence for free at En Garde for the whole semester.

“We love doing what we’re doing,” Liebich said, “and we’d like to share that.”

STAR // Alex T. Randolph Sonoma State University Professor Jim Liebich, enjoys teaching and particing fencing. His passion even led him to open his own fencing studio in Santa Rosa.

Seawolf Commitment motto encourages student unity Sierra Straub Staff Writer

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s a Seawolf I will commit myself to the highest ethical standards. I will conduct myself with integrity in my dealings with students, staff and faculty. I will strive for excellence in my academic work and relationships. I will respect the rights and dignity of others. I will accept the responsibility to conduct myself as an ethical member of my community.”

These words represent the Seawolf Commitment, a motto which promotes safety and unity as well as excellence and responsibility on Sonoma State’s campus, not just amongst students but faculty and staff as well.

Seawolf Commitment was started in 2014 by a group of student leaders and campus life staff in response to an unidentified person writing hateful words on a student’s whiteboard in the residential community.

“This biased incident ignited a campus community discussion where the Sonoma State student body voiced their concerns about the negative experiences our students of color and other marginalized groups on campus face every day,” said Tramaine AustinDillon, area coordinator of Sauvignon East & Beau-

jolais Village West.

Austin-Dillon, as well as other staff members and eight students, met over the course of four months to discuss the concerns underrepresented students face.

“We brainstormed the best way to address our conclusions and landed on incorporating the values of integrity, respect, excellence and responsibility into all aspects of Sonoma State. In addition, we came up with four goals,” Austin-Dillon said.

Those four goals were as follows: educate the student body on the values of the commitment and have students define the words for themselves, work with academic departments and various student services to create/sustain momentum to achieve funding and university support, incorporate the Seawolf Commitment into the first year and transfer student orientation program, and provide information to students about the current SSU reporting channels should they or someone they know experience a bias incident The motto is taught to incoming freshmen during orientation. Kaili Moser, a freshman studying prebusiness, says the motto gives her a sense of unity.

“It’s nice to know that all student on campus are trying to commit themselves to the standards set by the Seawolf Commitment and that we are all there for one another,” Moser said.

Austin-Dillon would like to see the Seawolf Commitment embraced as the official Sonoma State code of conduct.

“All students should feel welcome on this campus, and my hope is that the values remind students that you need to take responsibility for what you say and how you treat people,” Austin-Dillon said.

For Moser it is a reminder to try and better herself everyday.

“To me it means that each and every day I need to try my best, to be the best student and person that I can be. It’s something that I work on everyday just like many of the people around me,” said Moser.

Austin-Dillon, who gets his inspiration from the students, wants the Seawolf Community to know that students have the ability to inf luence and change campus culture.

“The Seawolf Commitment is a testament to [changing culture]. Get woke. Also, the commitment applies to all aspects of being a seawolf, which includes being a student and a positive community member,” said Austin-Dillon.

“Because I know that we are all there together it does make me feel more welcome and safer on campus.” Moser said.

To learn more about Seawolf Commitment or to report a bias incident, visit sonoma.edu/biasresponse.

Poetry workshop encourages student expression Kitana Gachero Staff Writer

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oetry is characterized as a creative, rhythmical and imaginative way to express certain thoughts, ideas or feelings. It’s a compelling display of emotion that evokes a certain amount of empathy from an audience. Poetry is a form of creative writ-

ing that allows people to express their ideas in a thought provoking way that may draw on positive, negative, angry or happy emotions.

The HUB, an integral center for diversity and and creativity located in Sonoma State University’s student center, hosted a poetry workshop last Wednesday, led by successful poet and hip-hop artist Dahlak Brathwaite.

Brathwaite is from Sacramento, CA and graduated from the University of California

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at Davis with a degree in English and Dramatic Studies. Well known for his talent with spoken word poetry, Brathwaite appeared on multiple seasons of Russell Simmon’s Def Poetry Jam on HBO, as well as winning the Brave New Voice Poetry Slam. More recently he has been known for his musical projects “Dual Consciousness” and “Spiritrials”.

Considering the prevalence of American politics right now, the exercises throughout the the workshop reflected that theme.

Brathwaite began the night by having an open dialogue with the crowd about their thoughts on the current election.

“What are some American Values?,” said Dahlak.

The first exercise of the workshop was to brainstorm a list of values that represented America, then a list that represented presidential candidate Donald Trump, then one that represented yourself.

Brathwaite highlighted how the purpose of the exercise was to analyze what it meant to be American.

The second exercise taught the crowd how he embodies or imitates different people or characters by mimicking their rhythmic speech, movements, and voice.

“Trump is a character I’m looking to adapt,” Brathwaite said. “If you could switch perspectives with Trump and apologize, what would you say?”

Essentially he asked the audience to embody the character of Donald Trump and write an apology letter to the nation from his perspective. The audience quickly began diligently writing the letters on their notepads.

“It’s healing to write in his voice,” Brath-

waite said.

He stressed the importance of why it’s healing to creatively express your ideas especially during a time of hardship.

“Art in general helps people cope with tough situations. Sometimes art serves as a two-sided coin where you can flip tragedy or pain into something beautiful. Poetry makes that pain transformative,” Brathwaite said.

After the exercises, a poetry slam took place where participants were invited to share their poetry. Kaysen Pyle, a freshman, performed an impassioned poem which discussed what it felt like to have a disability.

“I [performed] my poem because of the election and what’s happening right now. I wanted to express the things about people that should be brought to light, rather than stay hidden,” Pyle said.

The HUB is known for hosting events catered to cultivating an environment of diversity, creativity, and inclusivity for students.

“It’s valuable for students, especially those who identify as people of color, queer, or LGBTQ; poetry workshops like these allow people that embody the minority perspective to publish their ideas in a safe space,” Student Assistant and Spoke Co-Host Nanette Reyes said.

Brathwaite frequently tours various college campuses hosting poetry workshops for students and performing spoken word pieces.

“College is a fertile ground for resistance and movement. Connecting with students is like watering a blossoming flower and contributing to their active search of understanding themselves,” Brathwaite said.

Student Life

Nov. 15 - Nov. 21, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

Page 9

Seawolves SPEAK! Students react to the results of the 2016 election

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Lindsey Huffman Staff Writer his year’s election has been filled with tears of anger, fear and even joy. With elections officially over and Donald Trump being the chosen president-elect, the STAR caught up with students to hear their thoughts on the results. Students that we spoke to were asked: What are your thoughts on, or reaction to, the results of this election?

“Being from LA I believe it was an eye opener and made me feel like I live in a bubble, due to the fact most of the state was red, and to see how people are taking it is quite alarming. I think either [Trump] tries to put Hillary in prison and tries to deport people, or he realizes if he tries to carry out those notions he maight be impeached.”

-Jeremy Kichaven, third year

“I am not a very opinionated person and I have sort of accepted the fact that he is our new President. I think social media has made the election a lot worse.

Individuals are voicing their opinions but are saying it in a very harsh way. I think people need to be more open minded about him being President.”

-Shelby Olivas, third year

“I am completely shocked about the results of the election. I began to think the rest of the world was caught in Trump’s bubble. But then I became aware that I am in Bay Area’s bubble of love, acceptance and tolerance.”

-Ciara Donlon, third year

“It doesn’t feel quite real yet and feels more like an insult.

Being Latino this affects myself, my family and a whole nation, because of his views of Latinos... I don’t think Clinton would have been a better candidate either, and that is why I did not vote.”

-Francisco Lopez, third year

Undocumented student accomplishes the unexpected Amanda Buth Staff Writer

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hroughout her life Analilia Gonzaga pursued her passions and accomplished her dreams; little did her friends and the rest the world know, that she was keeping a secret.

As an undocumented hispanic woman from Cholula Puebla, Mexico, Gonzaga shared with the students at Sonoma State University her and her family’s sacrifices, and the struggles she has overcome in becoming the leader and mentor she is today.

“Analilia spoke in one of my community college classes and I will never forget how inspirational she was and how her experience has encouraged me in my life. I wanted her to touch some of the undocumented and other students as well here at Sonoma State the way she had touched mine,” said Treasurer of the Undocumented Club Evelin Sustaita.

In our country, freedom and opportunity are available to all citizens of the United States, Gonzaga and many others that are undocumented understand first hand, that the road to obtaining these rights are not given but are paved with hardships.

With the results from this year’s election, Gonzaga and many others are fearful for their future.

“With these elections I’m not sure whats going to happen. We just need to keep strong and educate ourselves.

Educate our friends and family in order to make better and wise decisions,” said Gonzaga.

While living an undocumented life, Gonzaga dreamed of having an education of her own. Understanding her likelihood of going to college was slim to none didn’t stop her from taking the chance. Having been the second oldest to her four brothers and three sisters, Gonzaga’s family struggled for opportunity in Mexico.

While her mother was the first to leave Mexico in 1990, the struggle of traveling back and forth to provide for her family was too hard to carry on. It wasn’t until 1994 with only a backpack as luggage did Gonzaga and her family immigrate to the U.S. Gonzaga grew up in Healdsburg,

California and attended Healdsburg High School. Gonzaga excelled as one of the fastest runners on the cross country team and graduated at the top of her class at the age of 17.

Believing she had no future for any further education, Gonzaga had no plan to go to college. After multiple failed attempts she finally was accepted at the Santa Rosa Junior College, becoming the first in her family to pursue a higher education.

While there wasn’t any available resources, scholarships or information for undocumented students, Gonzaga used what little resources as she had in order to continue her education in college.

She ended up meeting with a counselor who kept her secret as an undocumented student and was encouraged to apply for the Doyle Scholarship which was open to Sonoma County Residents.

While learning english as her second language in college, she also became the first in her family to become a Puentista when joining the Puente Program.

Graduating from Santa Rosa Junior College with a sociology major, Gonzaga was satisfied with what she accomplished.

Gonzaga’s Puente counselor saw her potential and encouraged her to pursue a bachelors degree. With hesitation, Gonzaga applied to Sacramento State University and was accepted. It was her first time living away from home.

Her mother and oldest sister worked very hard to help her with her first years tuition. Gonzaga said her dream wouldn’t have been possible without them. Her struggles weren’t obvious as she joined sorority Sigma Omega Nu, along with another club that was focused on promoting hispanic rights.

All of her accomplishments led her to graduating in fall 2003.

What seemed impossible to most, Gonzaga overcame, especially when her next step became achieving her masters degree. With great determination through many challenges, it took her three years to complete her thesis.

Gonzaga graduated from the masters program while still being an undocumented student.

“Graduating with a masters degree

STAR // Nickey Homen Graduate of Santa Rosa Junior College Analilia Gonzaga, spoke to students about the importance of a system of support for undocumented students hoping to earn an education. was not an option. It was something I had to do. It has been hard and frustrating to see other classmates with their masters working in the fields that they love and receiving good money, that I cannot have because of my status,” Gonzaga said.

Even though Gonzaga has accomplished her goals and fought to make her dreams come true she is not done.

Currently she has gone back to school at the Santa Rosa Junior College so she can work as an independent contractor certified in the state of California, according to the newly developed SV 1159. While also wanting a counseling degree specifically in drug and alcohol.

“It wasn’t until I was stuck in the parking lot on campus looking for a parking spot, that I realized how im-

portant it was to have your masters degree,” Gonzaga said.

Despite her success with her education thus far, Gonzaga isn’t finished.

“I didn’t appreciate it because my mind was focused on the inability to develope my degree the way I wanted too. I am going back to college and am thankful because this is something extra I am choosing to do,” she said.

Her time spent at several colleges has shown her how important it is to have a support system for undocumented students.

“I was surprised to see the Dream Center at Sonoma State because when I was going to college I didn’t have the support system that I needed to feel comfortable and confident. I think have that for undocumented students is a great asset,” Gonzaga said.

Page 10

Sports

Nov. 15 - Nov. 21, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

Volleyball team’s win streak ends at eight CCAA playofffs await for the Seawolves

Andrea Sims Staff Writer

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After eight consecutive wins for the Sonoma Seawolves, last Friday, the Seawolves took a devastating lost against the San Bernardino Coyotes.

The Coyotes entered the game against the Seawolves with a regular season record of 19-4, where the Seawolves entered the Coyotes territory with a 14-4 regular season record.

Despite the heartbreaking ending, the Seawolves continued to show off their offensive and defensive skills on the court. Freshman outside hitter, Caiti Wiesner had quite the remarkable offensive game with a total of thirteen kills against the Coyotes.

“Against San Bernardino I knew I had to come out strong because they were a team we had a chance at beating. When I’m on the court I try to be as relaxed as possible and do my job as best as I can,” said Wiesner.

While Wiesner was unstoppable with her back swinging kills, the Seawolves assisted with their defense. Freshman defensive specialist Ashleigh Phelps took over the court against the Coyotes to have a total of 20 digs, stopping any possible points for the Coyotes.

The first set was shaky for the Seawolves as the Coyotes took the lead in the beginning. It wasn’t until Emily Papale came in for the harsh attack and rumbled the court to tie the set at 12 to gain the Seawolf spirit back.

While the Coyotes were eager to take the first set, the Seawolves continued to fight off any potential kills with blocks from Kelsey McIntire, Rachel Andrews and Calan Seitz. After tying the set at 17, and again at 20, the Seawolves took a timeout with the score 20-22 to shake the nerves and get their head in the game. However, after the timeout, the Coyotes had three kills that led to the Coyotes taking the first set 20-25.

Entering the second set discouraged, the Seawolves knew they had to work extra hard to come together as a team and put up a fight. They were not backing down and held multiple tied scores. Andrews and Wiesner continued the shake the court with heated kills. It wasn’t until the score tied at 23 that San Bernardino took a timeout, returned to the game, and was able to take the lead and the entire set, defeating the Seawolves 23-25.

While the Seawolves entered the third set and continued to tie the set as much as possible, it was at point 14 that the Coyotes took a turn. The Coyotes were able to hold the lead and defeat the Seawolves 19-25 to take the entire match.

“At the start of the match I felt really confident and ready to play, but it was easy to see fairly early that we just

weren’t ourselves that match,” said Andrews. “Overall, I felt disappointed that we didn’t play our best, but at the same time every team has their off games. I think we all need to let it go and move on.”

Traveling over to Cal Poly Pomona, the Seawolves were ready for their match against the Broncos. After their tough loss against San Bernardino, the Seawolves knew they had to focus on fundamentals against the Broncos.

“After the loss against San Bernardino I realized that I needed to make more of the attempts I had and swing hard and everything I got. Going into the game against Pomona I did my best to swing hard at every ball,” said Seitz. Seitz lead the Seawolves in points with sixteen kills and two aces.

The Seawolves were battling the Broncos consistently throughout the first set with back and forth tied scores. The Seawolves were strong with Seitz making multiple kills to take the first set 29-27. The second set was still as intense, but with errors from Cal Poly the Seawolves were able to jump on the momentum and take the set 25-17. Entering the third set, the Seawolves couldn’t seem to find their rhythm and Cal Poly took advantage right away.

After errors from the Seawolves and strong offense from the Broncos, the Broncos fought back and took the third set 15-25. Seemingly out of nowhere, the Broncos brought out there A game, and finished the last two sets 18-25 and 12-15.

Regardless of their tough losses this past weekend, the Seawolves are more motivated and excited to enter the CCAA playoffs.

“At this point those two matches are pretty irrelevant to this weekend’s matches, so trying to emphasize that we have a fresh chance this weekend to do really things is important,” said team captain Andrews. The Seawolves will be back in San Bernardino on Nov. 17 to begin the CCAA quarterfinals at 5 p.m.

The sports world reacts to the 2016 election “It’s tough when you want there to be some respect and dignity and there hasn’t been any. And then you walk into a room with your daughter and your wife, who’ve basically been insulted by his comments, and they’re distraught.

Now all of a sudden, you’re faced with the reality that the man who is going to lead you has routinely used racist, misogynist, insulting words. That’s a tough one.”

-Steve Kerr, head coach, Golden State Warriors

“Tonight’s result affects me none because I’m rich, white and male. Yet, it’ll be a long time until I’m able to sleep peacefully.”

-Brandon McCarthy, Pitcher, LA Dodgers

“Time for Hollywood to pony up and head for the border #illhelpyoupack #beatit“ -Jake Arreita, Pitcher, Chicago Cubs

“Our choices weren’t ideal choices, I think the path that we were going on wasn’t the right path so why not take a chance and make a switch.”

-Derek Wolfe, Defensive End, Denver Broncos “To be honest with you, I didn’t even know yesterday was Election Day. It was so important to me that I didn’t even know it was happening. We’re focused on other things here.”

Nick Saban, Head Football Coach, Alabama Football “I just want to thank all the voters out there who did vote for me. I know for some people it was between me and Harambe. I think I finished second in that vote.”

-Aaron Rodgers, Quaterback, Green Bay Packers “I didnt really pay much attention. For me, it’s another face that’s going to be the face of that system of oppression. To me, it didn’t really matter who went in there.

The system still remains intact that oppresses people of color.”

-Colin Kaepernick, Quarterback, SF 49ers, after not voting

STAR// Megan Corcoran The baseball team prepares for the upcoming season with “fall ball.”

Baseball team face eachother in ‘Fall Ball World Series’ Trevor Abrams Staff Writer

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he Major League season may be long gone, and we are still months away from the collegiate regular season, but you can still catch the Sonoma State baseball team on Seawolf diamond preparing, working hard and competing for the upcoming season.

This part of the year is called “fall ball” for college baseball teams, where they practice but do not compete in an actual season. To wrap up their fall ball season, the Seawolves took part in their annual Fall World Series which took place over two weeks, where they split the team into two squads and play a best of 7 series.

“It’s a really good opportunity to get out and compete, to kind of simulate the kind of atmosphere we can expect during the regular season,” said junior shortstop Rayson Romero. The two teams would be called the Seawolves and the Cossacks The Cossacks jumped ahead with a game-one victory despite not having senior outfielder Daniel Caresio because of the f lu. The next two games would go to the Seawolves, thanks to strong starting pitcher Matt Hammonds.

With a 2-1 series in favor of the Seawolves, a very unlikely outcome happened for game 4, a tie. The Seawolves carried their momentum from the previous two victories into game 4 to take a early 4-1 lead, but that lead was erased in the top of the ninth by a booming Cossacks offense. The Seawolves would not answer in the bottom of the ninth and due to a time limit the game, finished in a tie, making the series 2-1-1.

The rest of the series was all Cossacks as they would win three straight to clinch a series victory. A strong bullpen and timely offense played key roles in the Cossacks wins.

“You know it’s never fun to lose but it’s always fun to go out there and compete,” said redshirt sophomore Grant St. Martin. “At the end of the day, we’re both part of the same team and it’s about getting ready to be our best come spring.”

With the series ending, the fall ball season comes to an end for the Seawolves. They will have the month of December off to recover before coming back out in January to start preparing for the spring. The season and home opener will take place on Feb. 3, when the Seawolves take on San Francisco State.

“How can we hope that this man understands or cares about us?

Especially now that white America has rewarded his outrageous racism, misogyny, xenophobia and religious intolerance with a mandate to put those beliefs into policy.”

-Kareem Abdul-Jabar, NBA Hall of Famer

“We need to give President-Elect Trump a chance. Support the good.

Lobby against what we disagree on.

No one is bigger than us.”

-Mark Cuban, Owner, Dallas Mavs

SPORTS SCHEDULE Thursday Nov. 17 Women’s Volleyball vs Cal State L.A. in San Bernardino, CA 5 p.m.

Saturday Nov. 19 Women’s Basketball vs Western Oregon in Chico, CA 5:30 p.m.

Friday Nov. 18 Women’s Basketball vs Dixie State in Chico, CA 5:30 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball @ CCAA Championship 7 p.m.

Men’s Basketball vs Saint Martin’s 7:30 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball @ CCAA Championship 7:30 p.m.

Men’s Basketball vs Academy of Art 7:30 p.m.

Sports

Nov. 15 - Nov. 21, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

Page 11

Seawolf soccer playoffs come to an end Men’s Soccer team lose in first round of NCAA DII tournament

Annie Finck Staff Writer

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devastating loss washed over the men’s soccer team Thursday as they played the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos in Seattle. After the team placed fourth in the division, the championship was just not in their cards. This was the first time in six years that the team has gone to the NCAA Division II Champion-

ship Tournament.

“I feel that the outcome was unlucky because I thought we played well and controlled most of the possession. We played our hearts out until the very end and it was one of those games where we couldn’t quite find the back of the net,” said senior Dane Shaffer.

“I’m very proud of the guys and the effort they put

forth. Everyone played as hard as they could and never gave up and I think that is a testament to our season.”

Even with an unlucky end to their game the team still presented themselves as tough competitors. Committing twice as many fouls as their opponents, the team played with aggression and heart.

This became apparent just after 15 minutes into the game when Luis Najera, a player for the Broncos and Sonoma State goalkeeper Mitch North faced off in the box. After North took down Najera, the Broncos were granted a penalty kick which they were able to score off of.

“It was unfortunate that we gave up the early penalty kick because we had to chase the game,” Head Coach Marcus Ziemer told Sonoma State University Athletics.

Now with a score of 1-0 the Seawolves started a relentless battle to take back the game.

“I think our team actually picked it up and played better [after the penalty kick.] I think the goal woke us up a little bit and we created many chances to score after the penalty kick,” said Shaffer.

Despite the Seawolves efforts, the Broncos defense proved to be strong, and with only 15 minutes left on the clock, the Broncos made another goal bringing the score to 2-0 in their favor. This not only solidified their win in the game, but also ensured the end of Sonoma State’s season.

“Everyone was all in this year and sacrificed for the betterment of the team. It was a fantastic group of guys who completely came together. The team chemistry was off the charts and we are a family from all of the players to the coaching staff,” Shaffer said.

“Even though we didn’t win I was happy with how we played and we never quit,” Zeimer told the Sonoma State Athletics.

“I was worried about the game because Pomona is very good and they haven’t played for a week and a half and we were banged up from the semi’s and final’s of the conference tournament, but we were sharp. I have to give credit to Pomona. They are well coached and a very good team.”

The progress the team has made over this season left an impact on the players who participated, and will prove to be a milestone along with a goal for next year’s team to strive for.

Azusa Pacific eliminates women’s soccer team in NCAA DII tournament for second Travis Adams Staff Witer The Cougars, a familiar foe, sent the Seawolf soccer team packing for the second year in a row.

The first round of The NCAA Division ll Western Regional tournament between the No. 3 seed Sonoma State Seawolves (12-3-3), matched up against the No. 6 seed Azusa Cougars (12-34) on Thursday evening in La Jolla.

Allison Hadidian would get the start in net.

In the early stages of the contest, both teams were able to mount four shots on goal. In minute 36, Hadidian attempted to clear a rogue pass just out front of the box, when the ball deflected off the back of Azusa’s forward Stephanie Lossaua.

What appeared to be a routine clearance turned into a catastrophe in the Seawolves’ defense.

The Cougars took the lead and would not surrender it for the remainder of the game.

Sophomore goalkeeper Kristen Spear relieved

Hadidian for the remainder of the first half.

Minutes later, Cougar Kellie Yoshihara let a shot rip from 25 yards out into the bottom left corner, and into the back of the net.

For the first time this season, the Seawolves

“We had our chances, but we didn’t finish when we should have” said Sam Layman would enter the half trailing 2-0.

“At halftime, we all knew we were controlling the game, and we just needed one goal to spark our energy, and another would follow,” said freshman forward Sam Layman. “We all tried to stay positive and to work together going into the second half giving it all we had.”

Within seconds of the second half commencing, The Seawolves found themselves in the offensive third of the field. In minute 49, Cecilia Sifuentes was able to drive wide down the left side, and play a ball into Sam Layman who found the back of the net for the third time this

year.

The cougars scrambled to keep fresh legs on the field to match up against the speed and the elusiveness of the Seawolf attack. Just two minutes into the final ten minutes of play, Azusa forward Kennedy Christie took a cross in from the right side, and ripped it far post and into the back of the net. It was her fourth goal on the year, and it would prove to be the telling blow in what would put an end to another strong year for the women’s soccer team.

“We had our chances, but we didn’t finish when we should have,” said the lone goal-scorer of the day Layman.

For the second straight year in the CCAA regional tournament, Azusa knocks off the Seawolves, and will advance to play the No. 2

Weekly basketball wrap

Men’s Basketball John Dolan Staff Writer

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t the Pioneer Challenge hosted by Cal State East Bay in Hayward, the Sonoma State men’s basketball team dominated both ends of the floor, defeating Notre Dame de Namur 64-42.

With 15 seconds left in the first half, Sonoma State’s lead was cut to one point at 20-19 after a three-pointer by Notre Dame de Namur. Luke Cochran was able to score on a lay up, draw the foul and convert the and-one opportunity to push the Seawolves back ahead to four points heading into the half.

During the second half, the Seawolves were able to start with a 9-0 run thanks to three pointers by Mason Phillips and Armani Nicolis. This lead to a 29-19 lead with 16:41 left in the half. Both teams would go back and forth until Sonoma State would start another 9-0 run that left the Seawolves in a dominant position with a 62-36 lead. This 26 point margin would be too much for Notre Dame de Namur to overcome, with a final score of 64-42.

“We were hungry for a win,” said Ronnie Harris. “We are definitely going to come out and defend our territory.”

Jimmy Golden led all players with 11 points and added 4 rebounds. Luke Cochran led the team in rebounds with six and added 10 points. Sonoma State was able to connect on 22 of 51 shots, 43.1 percent. The Seawolves proved to be on mark from three-point range, shooting 9 of 16 or 58.3 percent. On defense, Sonoma State was able to hold Notre Dame de Namur to 34 percent (17-50) from the floor and 25 percent (4-20) from the three-point line.

“Our effort on defense definitely gave us the edge,” said Naaman Hightower. “We didn’t allow them back in the game and it was a big win because it was the first of our season.”

“We’re going to use this win and build on it throughout this week and in practice. Coming off a loss to a good team, we were hungry for a win,” said Ronnie Harris. “We are definitely going to come out and defend our territory.”

Next weekend, Sonoma State will return home to host the annual Ron Logsdon Basketball Classic on Friday and Saturday at The Wolves’ Den. At 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Cal State San Bernardino will take on Academy of Art to open up before Sonoma State takes on Saint Martin’s at 7:30 p.m.

STAR// Connor Gibson Sonoma State defeated Notre Dame De Namur 64-42 this week.

Women’s Basketball Tatiana Serrano Staff Writer

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he women’s Basketball team began their 2016-2017 season with two backto-back wins. The team put on a strong fight against Notre Dame de Namur and Dominican.

The team was able to pull away from their exhibition losses and left their weekend games with two victories. Even though the team will be traveling their entire season because of the reconstruction of the gym, they still have the motivation to receive as many wins as possible. The team has improved throughout their off season as a unit.

“Our team chemistry is totally different this year,” said Carly Gill.

The Seawolves defeated Notre Dame de Namur, 88-67. This made the team’s first official win of the season. The total of 88 points was the most points against Division II team since 2006-07 when Sonoma played against Stanislaus State.

Sonoma’s success came from outscoring Notre Dame.

“We’ve improved from practicing well together and making the game a team effort,” said Madison Burroughs.

From this game Kyle Keich, sophomore guard, had a high score of 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. Madison Burroughs had four steals.

Seawolves rallies with the Dominican Penguins and finished with the win 87-84. Originally, the team was trailing 12 points at halftime, but was able to rise up 54 points throughout all of the second half. Five players scored in double figures which led to the Seawolves’ win.

“The young players have developed and become key elements to our team,” said Gill.

The first half of the game Sonoma State only had 33 points. 13 of the points were from free throws. By the end of the first half both of the teams had 14 fouls, and there was a constant battle between both teams with multiple free throw attempts.

Taylor Todd began the rise when she was fouled on a jumper and received an extra shot.

Sonoma State outscored the Penguins 30-17.

With 6:30 left, they made a 21-10 run. With 42 seconds left, Gill made a 3-pointer and the score was 60-61.

At the fourth quarter there was a 8-point lead until 1:22, when the Penguins scored a three-pointer, a layup, and a free throw. Seawolves were down by two with less than a minute left, but were able to recover and take the win, 87-84.

Despite their impressive individual skills, the team chemistry is the fundamental strength of the Seawolves this season.

“It’s rare to get a team that genuinely loves each other and enjoys spending time together,” said Kim Savio.

After a successful weekend, the Seawolves are only expected to improve their game as the season continues. The next game will be against Dixie State on Nov. 18 at Chico State.

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Photo

Nov. 15, 2016 - Nov. 21, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

STAR // Brennan Chin Sonoma State students marched in the Veterans Day Parade on Friday in Peteluma, CA.

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