Volume 77 // Issue 2

In this issue:

A&E: “Star Trek” celebrates 50 years. Pg. 7

Opinion: Pope Francis insults Transgender community.

Pg. 3 Sports: Kapernick has the right to pass on national anthem.

Pg.11

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 77 // ISSUE 2

Student Life: Spanish professor travels the world but made Sonoma State home. Pg. 9 AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 5, 2016

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

COURTESY // Shane Bickford Stevenson Hall has been the center of controversy in the midst of a trial. The trial has been postponed from its original July date to late October.

Credibility of asbestos testing questioned Sam Evans Staff Writer

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tevenson Hall has been under investigation since May 2014, when former Sonoma State University employee Thomas Sargent filed a lawsuit against the school. Sargent, who worked for the Sonoma State University Environmental Health and Safety program, allegedly detected unsafe levels of asbestos dust in Stevenson Hall’s air ventilation system.

The trial was originally scheduled to take place on July 29, but it has been postponed until late October.

During an evidentiary hearing preceding the trial on Sept. 2, Prosecuting Attorney Dustin Collier made further accusations against the university, claiming the defendants intentionally interfered with the asbestos testing process.

On Jan. 19, asbestos testing took place on campus by a firm called RHP Risk Management. In order to assure the testing would be representative of normal conditions, the court ordered a mandatory preservation period before the testing,

from Dec. 12, 2015 to Jan. 19.

During the preservation period, any interference with the sites scheduled for testing was strictly prohibited. This included any cleaning or maintenance.

According to a statement released by the university discussing testing results from Jan. 19, there was some detected settled asbestos dust. However, the Environmental Protection Agency air sampling data demonstrates that any detectable surface asbestos dust levels found in the building have not contributed to elevated levels of airborne asbestos.

These test results were initially relieving news for the defendants. Collier has made new accusations suggesting the university intentionally manipulated the air ventilation system, called the HVAC, during the preservation period, so as to prevent the flow of contaminated air to the testing sites.

The HVAC is a computerized system, which controls the heating, air conditioning and general air ventilation of Stevenson Hall on automatic self-regulated settings.

During the evidentiary hearing on Sept. 2, Collier presented 15 registered

instances where the HVAC system’s automatic presets were manually overridden during the preservation period without any given explanation.

The defendants responded to these accusations by explaining that 14 of the 15 system-overrides were merely preventative actions, taken in order to cancel previously scheduled maintenance.

They continued by saying one of the registered instances happened due to a misunderstanding among the custodians for the building, but it was purely accidental.

On top of the alleged HVAC manipulation, Collier brought up what he believed to be a suspiciously timed campus-wide electrical shutdown that happened on December 30, 2015.

Although electrical shutdowns are routine procedures at Sonoma State, Collier pointed out that this particular shutdown was unusual due to the fact the entire campus was closed off for it.

“I don’t know if this issue would actually be brought up during the main trial.

It’s possible,” said member of the General Counsel’s office William Hsu,.” Something

the judge wants to hear about and decide if it affects the trial.”

Susan Moulton, a professor at Sonoma State, gave a witness account of the shutdown where she claimed to see trucks equipped with large vacuums and people wearing HAZMAT suits surrounding Stevenson Hall. Collier theorized someone had used the electrical shutdown to orchestrate a secret cleaning of Stevenson Hall during the preservation period.

In response to these claims, the defendants countered by pointing out the electrical shutdown had been scheduled far before any plans for asbestos testing had been made.

In addition to this, they said the closing off of campus for electrical shutdowns happens fairly regularly. Finally, they questioned the credibility of Moulton’s witness account due to the fact she was observing everything from “over a football field away”.

The closing arguments of the hearing were made on September 2, and Nancy C. Schaffer, the judge presiding over the hearing, has yet to make a decision either way on the case.

Bill seeks to improve graduation rates Samantha Oyler Staff Writer

J COURTESY // Eric Swalwell Congressmen Mike Thompson and Eric Swalwell engage in a discussion with Sonoma State’s campus community in an effort to better serve the needs of the people.

Future Forum gives millennials a voice

Braden Cartwright Staff Writer

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epresentative Mike Thompson and Eric Swalwell, a Congressman from the East Bay, visited Sonoma State Thursday to engage in a conversation about the issues facing young Americans.

The town hall style meeting was part of a listening tour called the Future Forum, which

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is a group of democratic members of Congress committed to listening to and standing up for the next generation of Americans, according to the Future Forum webpage. Eric Swalwell, the Future Forum chair, is the representative for California’s 15th district located in the East Bay. Mike Thompson’s congressional fifth district stretches across the North Bay and in-

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cludes Sonoma State University.

Students at this university are his constituents.

Many of the audience members came to listen to two government officials speak, but the U.S. congressman were more interested in hearing what the audience was concerned about.

See FORUM on Pg. 4

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ust percent of California State University students graduate within four years. Senate Bill 412, the “California Promise” bill, is said to provide students with the tools they need to get through all their requirements in four years.

Students placed in this program would receive special benefits catered to their requirements for graduation. The benefits include extra help from advisors and priority registration, all while fulfilling individual requirements provided by each campus and carrying a minimum of 30 units in an academic year.

This bill was designed to change the statistic and decrease the achievement gap. In a unanimous effort to change the graduation rates, the state Assembly voted 39-0 in favor of the California Promise bill.

First-generation students, low-income and community college graduates would be given priority to be in the program.

“Many of our campuses continue to make big strides

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in closing the achievement gap,” said California State University Public Affairs Director Toni Molle. “There is more work to be done to meet the CSU’s Graduation Initiative 2025 goals, but we must ensure that campuses are able to direct resources to the programs that are most effective for their students.”

With this bill, the Cal State system’s goal is to help students focus on their studies and less on the stress of not graduating.

Although this bill seems to benefit students, some are still not satisfied with the way the California State University system is handing their graduation needs and requirements.

“I personally don’t think that academic advisors and priority registration is the root cause of why people stay longer [in school],” said Jacqueline Brezinski, senior at Sonoma State University.

“I think that it’s more of the fact that there are more students than classes offered or not enough classes to begin

See GRADUATION on Pg. 4

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Page 2

Editorial

Aug. 30 - Sept. 5, 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 Aramal, Copy Editor Rachael Newman, Copy Editor Hailee Zastrow, Adver tising Director Sarah Fishback, Distribution Director Julia Albo, Editorial Car toonist Paul Gullixson, Faculty Adviser

Staff Writers Trevor Abrams, Travis Adams, Alexis Austin, Phil Baculik, Taylor Berghoff, Analy Bravo, Karlee Budge, Amanda Buth, Ronald Campos, Francisco Carbajal, Brandon Car twright, Sarah 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, Nickey Homen, Lucy Lopez, Madison Muro, Jared Nunes, Samantha Olyer, Alex Randolph, Marcella Richmond, Christopher Schwarz, Tatiana Serrano, Andrea Sims, Sierra Straub, Noah Treanor, Jenna Qualls

Photographers Perla Alvarez, Megan Corcoran, Bryce Dowd, Reagan Dowd, Lindsey Huffman, Jeno Veltri

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: “Credibility of asbestos testing questioned” Last semester, an asbestos concern in Stevenson Hall was brought to the attention of students and faculty. Today, a lawsuit is claiming the orginal asbestos testing is not credible.

Read the story on page 1

STAR // Julia Albo

The California empty promise bill

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tudents who attend California State universities dish out around $26,000 for tuition, books and living expenses, according to Campaign for College Opportunity. With the thousands of dollars being paid to educational institutions, students still find themselves knee-deep in a battle for open classes.

The struggle for students is enrolling in classes that prove beneficial for getting a degree in the fastest possible time.

Up until recently, this has been four years. Four years to graduate from a university and enter the world prepared to tackle the job market. According to 2011 statistics from the Cal State system, only 19 percent of California State University students graduate from college in four years, contrary to the national average of 34 percent.

The national graduation rate almost doubles the largest system of higher education that is Cal State institutions. The question becomes, how can the California State University system get back on track with the rest of the nation?

Wheels are already in mo-

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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.

one group of students who can’t get into classes for another group.

Thus, the problem persists.

If the bill wants to make a difference, there needs to be language dedicated to opening up more class sections. By opening up classes in impacted majors, students would no longer have to stress over getting into a needed course, and can meet their graduation date on time.

The “California Promise” bill limits the availability into the program by placing low-income, minority and first generation as priority for the program. There are thousands of other students who do not fall into these categories but share the same troubles when it comes to getting the proper classes. Why limit who can excel and graduate in four years?

The path to increasing four year graduation rates is unfolding, and a couple Cal State campuses have implemented programs that work.

Cal State San Bernardino and Cal State Fullerton have increased their rates by using their own programs. Perhaps we should follow their lead.

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

Letters to the Editor

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.

tion on correcting the path as a bill was presented to the office of Gov. Jerry Brown. The bill is headed by state Sen. Steve Glazer, democratic representative of the seventh district, and is promised to make four year graduations commonplace once again.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Senate bill 412 looks to create California Promise programs across all 23 Cal State campuses.

Students who are in the program, primarily low income and first generation college students, will receive benefits such as extra support from academic advisors, priority registration and a freeze on their tuition. The bill has two basic criteria that must be met.

The participating student must carry 30 units in an academic year and maintain individual campus requirements.

Is this plan something feasible for Sonoma State University to put into place? As it is, Sonoma State students find it troublesome to gain access to classes they need due to impacted majors or few class sections available. This program is a smoke screen, simply switching

E

Alleged olympic sexism

ditor: On Aug. 23 of this year, The Sonoma State Star posted a column titled “Olympic sized inequality,” detailing the alleged sexism of sports commentators during the 2016 Rio games. My issue with the article lies within the nature of its accusation. It is a notion passed with minimal thought, based on the immediate misinterpretation of wellminded, completely harmless, narration on the games and its participants.

In every accusation of alleged sexism towards women athletes, none propose a woman is any lesser than her male counterpart. Rather, basic remarks of celebration, one would come to expect from such triumph at the world stage, are construed to fit a narrative in which sexism and inequality still dictate our every thought.

Take, for instance, the commentary surrounding Hungarian swimmer Katinka Hosszú. After winning the Olympic gold and setting a remarkable world record in the 400-meter individual medley, NBC commentators had the audacity to mention the contribution of her coach and husband.

As anyone who follows any form of sports knows this is fairly typical when an athlete achieves great success. In this instance, however, the celebration between husband and wife, coach and athlete, is framed as an instance of belittling her accomplishment. This, of course, because actual meaning means nothing compared to one’s misinterpretation.

The article then continues by dividing the U.S. Olympic team in accordance to their

gender stating, “If the United States were divided into two countries, men one country and women the other, those 27 gold medals would tie them with Britain for most of any country.”

Subsequently, in a marvelous case of irony, the article rests its argument stating, “Everyone must be recognized by their skill set. Not by their gender, what they are wearing or their status.”

Of course, only after dividing a single nation’s accomplishments solely based on gender alone; because, after all, we are not all Americans, we are women and men who happen to share similar flags.

The harm in these suggestions, I hope, is apparent. Our nation has come so far in fighting for equality that we have become incapable of identifying actual inequality, resulting in an inability to recognize the amazing state our nation currently holds. In an unfortunate case of irony, our pursuit for a more equal world has left us more divided as a nation. In fact, our swiftness to accuse any and all controversial and/or misinterpreted statements as sexist only draws attention to a non-existent barrier between men and women. This is especially harmful when actually sexist individuals still remain.

No one is denying that sexism exists. No one is saying to ignore it either, but if we truly want a more equal world we must become better at identifying the actual problem.

- Alexander Khoury Sonoma State University student

Opinion

Aug. 30 - Sept. 5, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

It’s abuse, no matter the sender

Naaman Hightower Staff Writer

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ccording to a survey conducted by Knowledge Networks, 43 percent of college women report experiencing violent and abusive dating behaviors. The word “abuse” can sometimes get lost in translation.

A common assumption is abuse is mainly physical, and verbal and emotional abuse is not a real thing.

The trending Twitter hashtag #ButHeDidn’tHitMe says otherwise, when hundreds of young women recounted verbal and emotional abuse, despite not having any physical scars.

My mom would always say life and death are in the power of the tongue. This means that though physical abuse is a real and terri-

fying ordeal, we often never forget the impact hurtful words someone has said to us in the past.

When dealing with relationships, these words are amplified because of the power of the sender.

When someone you have opened up to and has seen you at your most vulnerable, hurts you with their words, it stings that much more.

What can you do to help prevent relationship abuse? I always told myself that if I ever saw physical or verbal abuse, it was none of my business. Who am I to step into someone else’s relationship when I have no context of what’s going on?

However, when it comes to emotional abuse, the best thing you can do is be there for that person.

Sometimes people just need someone who will listen to them and be supportive.

A way to vent frustration is often the medicine people need in order to see they deserve to be treated better. So why do these things happen with two people who care about each other?

Peer pressure is definitely a contributing factor. As males, sometimes we have a tendency to act differently towards our significant others when “the boys” are around.

Feelings of having to show our significant other who’s boss or who’s in control are prevalent.

This often can be seen through aggression or snarky comments we normally wouldn’t do or say otherwise.

Though media and society loves to paint the picture that men are the only donors of abuse, this is not the case.

There is a huge elephant in the room when it comes to the double standard of abuse in relationships.

Women can also target men with physical and verbal abuse, often times playing on their gender role in society.

It’s well known that men are not supposed to hit women, but it’s not quite the same the other way around.

Women can and do play on this known fact and often push the limits of what they say or do, knowing a man will be condemned forever if he responds back irrationally.

Phrases such as “She’s a female” suggest that women are allowed to do whatever they please, yet still don’t deserve a physical reaction.

Abuse is abuse, no matter who the sender is. When you say you love someone, you don’t treat them in a disrespectful way.

Tips no longer accepted

Amanda Buth Staff Writer

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ustomers no longer need to stress. The struggle of calculating numbers after a food coma-worthy meal is no longer required at some restaurants.

In Portland, one restaurant in particular has eliminated tipping due to significant changes in the restaurant industry.

La Pigeon is one of many restaurants in Oregon that has continued with this experiment.

No longer accepting tips is a significant change for restaurants, however, it’s beneficial for both customers and workers.

Customers will have less to worry about while eating. They will no longer feel pressured about their generous or not so generous tip for their waiter’s service. One can enjoy their time at the restaurant rather than stressing ahead of time about future math calculations.

Finally, customers will never

leave the restaurant with a guilty conscious.

It’s necessary for workers at restaurants to be compensated for their hard work.

Sometimes customers will leave a restaurant without any tip for the server, no matter the quality of service.

With eliminating the option for unequal contributions towards workers minimum wage payments, all staff members will be paid equally.

Some restaurants will include a percentage of the nights food and drink sales to their staff member’s base pay.

“The staff in our restaurants are well-trained, intelligent individuals and they are passionate,” Andy Fortang of Le Pigeon said in an interview with the Press Democrat. “It seems fair they be paid an award for that, instead of just leaving that to someone who may or may not leave a tip.”

Have you ever felt as a customer you were interviewing your server, analyzing their every move?

With tipping off the table, there is no longer an award relationship between the customer and server.

Everything’s laid out on the table from the very beginning.

As a staff member at a restaurant, there’s comfort in knowing how much you will earn after a long hard week.

With a dispersed pay for restaurant workers, everyone is gain-

ing at the end of their shifts.

Servers and other employees have a life outside the restaurant business and what matters most for them is to be able to support their families.

Other restaurants are aware of this change and instead choose to compete rather than conform.

Unfortunately, servers see tipping as a reward for their excellent service and without this reward there is little reason for extra effort. Undoubtedly leading to lack of motivation from workers.

Positive feedback from guests have encouraged other restaurants from Brooklyn and Los Angeles to adopt this trend in order to improve their business.

“Everyone is looking at this because there are external issues that are pushing restaurants to look at their bottom line,” Scott Dolich of Park Kitchen said in an interview with the Press Democrat.

Whether you are looking for a serving job or a place to grab a bite, the no-tipping experiment will ultimately benefit your paycheck.

However, turning a page on what has been so called the ‘norm’ for American restaurants won’t be accepted easily.

In order for a restaurant to succeed without tips for its workers there needs to be additional benefits for employees.

Rewards could be based upon alcohol sales or most postive feedback recieved from customers.

Page 3

Rapists will be rapists

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Katie Haga Staff Writer

he old saying “boys will be boys,” once used as a harmless phrase, has now turned into a “get out of jail free” card. Literally.

Brock Turner is the most well-known example of this, as his case has sparked an outrage across the nation. Twenty-Two-year-old Turner was charged with three counts of sexual assault and was sentenced to six months in jail. After only three months, Turner was released from jail Friday for “good behavior,” according to the Los Angeles Times. At his sentencing, the ex-Stanford swimmer faced up to 14 years in prison.

Prosecutors sought six years in prison.

However, Judge Aaron Persky chose a much lighter prison term as well as three years of probation. His reasoning for this slap on the wrist punishment is that a longer sentence would have “severe impact” on Turner.

But what about the severe impact it has on the victim?

Or does it just not matter? As long as the former star swimmer doesn’t ruin his reputation, right?

A man sexually assaults an unconscious woman behind a dumpster and walks away with three months in jail and three years of probation, and yet the victim has to walk around with the trauma for the rest of her life. At Turner’s sentencing, the victim addressed her statement directly to the defendant, her first words being, “You don’t know me, but you’ve been inside me.”

That statement left my heart broken and my stomach in knots. How is it that our justice system cares more about protecting a rapist than the victim who had her dignity stripped from her?

Recently, another case similar to Turner’s has been brought to the public’s attention. The case involves 18-year-old David Becker who is accused of two counts of rape, but won’t be charged immediately. His punishment? Two years of probation. He was granted permission to serve his probation in both his hometown in Massachusetts as well as Ohio, where he plans to attend college. If Becker does not violate his probation, the case will not appear on his criminal record nor will he be registered as a sex offender.

It’s sad to think that this is a normal thing for our justice system. Another criminal is going unpunished for his crimes.

Hopefully a new California bill will start some much needed change. Assembly Bill 2888 seeks to close a loophole by requiring mandatory prison time for all sexual assault sentences, regardless of the victim’s mental state. The bill passed unanimously on Aug. 29 in the Assembly, and passed in the state Senate as well.

The bill now heads to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk to be signed.

According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women are sexually assaulted in college, and more than 90 percent of sexual assault victims don’t report the assault. Hopefully, if Brown signs off on the bill, these statistics will go down.

Knowing that these rapists will no longer just get a slap on the wrist as their punishment could potentially encourage victims to report their assaults.

After Becker was assigned his punishment, Massachusetts Governor’s Councilor, Michael Albano told CNN, “Murder is life imprisonment, rape is life imprisonment.” Victims often feel imprisoned and consumed with the constant reminder that they are a victim of rape. Survivors of rape may never recover, but changing the justice system is a start to helping victims recover.

“Cool Pope” insults transgender community

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Amira Dabbas Staff Writer

ope Francis has always had a relatively progressive opinion on LGBT issues, however his most recent statements regarding transgender people are somewhat questionable.

The Vatican released a transcript in early August from a closed-door meeting Pope Francis had with a group of Polish bishops. Segments from these transcripts included Francis calling transgender people an “annihilation of man as image of

God.” He also stated his dissatisfaction with children being taught about transgender identity.

Confusing, right? Considering our apparent “Cool Pope” has been the most LGBT friendly Bishop of Rome we’ve seen. Especially after his “Who am I to Judge” quote regarding gay priests.

Many rights groups have not taken well to these statements. Director Marianne Duddy-Burke of DignityUSA, a leading organization of LGBT Catholics, said these comments represent a “dangerous ignorance.”

“It’s very troubling that the Pope would say this,” said Duddy-Burke. “It also shows that the Pope doesn’t understand the danger that his words can mean for gender-nonconforming people, particularly those who live in countries with laws or cultural pressures that put these people at risk for violence.”

This isn’t the first time Francis, has made remarks regarding the transgender community. Earlier this year, the pope, was published comparing transgender

rights to nuclear weapons.

“Let’s think of the nuclear arms, of the possibility to annihilate in a few instants a very high number of human beings,” stated Pope Francis. “The true custody of creation does not have anything to do with the ideologies that consider man like an accident, like a problem to eliminate.”

The question we should all ask ourselves, is this a big deal? Should we just look the other way? Religious or not, what does it mean to have a person cast into a light of progressiveness turn around and make such conservative statements?

I caught myself trying to give Francis, a free pass. He’s a modern pope, so we should give him a break, I thought. But where is the line drawn? It shouldn’t be ok to shame the acceptance of transgender individuals.

These are people in our community and we can’t give this one a free pass. Not this time.

Statements casting negative light on the transgender community not only ne-

gates the statements previously made suggesting reconciliation between the LGBT community and the Catholic church, but these mixed messages are causing much uncertainty.

Author of The “Great Reformer,” Austen Ivereigh, said that the statements made by Francis, the pope, regarding transgender individuals were not representing prejudice, but a “dismissal of the so-called gender identity.” However when the word “annihilation” is used, what other choice is there than to associate all of it with prejudice?

Having a progressive leader as head of the Roman Catholic church was considered by many a godsend, no pun intended.

In my opinion, the fact that there is recognition of the LGBT community in the Catholic church, and the rhetoric surrounding it has the slightest positivity is a step forward.

However, when a single section of that community becomes singled out in a negative way, I can’t help but feel disappointed, as if we’re starting all over again.

Page 4

News

Aug. 30 - Sept. 5, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

Grant supports latino mental health A

Nate Galvan Staff Writer

1.18 million dollar grant has been given to the Latino Service Providers (LSP), in collaboration with Sonoma State University, to help with Latino mental and behavioral health.

Francisco Vazquez, a Hutchins Professor and the director of the Hutchins Institute for Public Policy, is heading the Testimonios program and will use Latino cultural practices as a form of mental health treatment.

The California Reducing Disparities Project Grant, funded by the California Department of Health, has allocated LSP, a nonprofit organization, a six year grant that will train 16-20 high school students, who are participating in the community health work program at Santa Rosa Junior College, to become mental health advocates.

“There is a severe lack of bilingual-bicultural mental health workers,” said Vazquez, “And there are many resources that go unclaimed because many Latinos don’t know these resources exist.”

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, from 2008-2012 only 7.3 percent of Hispanics received health services compared to 16.6 percent of white adults.

Vazquez lists Latino based practices such as forms of music, dance and theater, as ways of mental health treatment for Latinos in Sonoma County.

Students who are selected to be in the program will have to go through a 10 month training process; at its conclusion, will allow the students to interact with state and LSP evaluators to communicate with cultural practitioners such as artists, Aztec dancers, musicians and poets to collect data from their own communities.

“It is well known that cultural practices are the lifeblood of any community in the world,” said Vazquez.

“Each cultural group derives meaning, energy, incentive and motivation from activities that have endured for centuries.”

Wanda Tapia,executive director of LSP, a nonprofit organization located in Sonoma County, has been serving the Latino community for 27 years and currently has over 1,300 active members.

“We connect, advocate, educate and inform our members regarding issues relevant to the Latino community,” said Tapia. “We provide ‘real time’ information on mental health services, healthcare, low cost dental services, publish jobs for the bilingual workforce, distribute educational information on literacy, family, children, teen and young adults.”

Tapia also referred to the common idea that there is not enough bilingual mental health providers offering services. However, she also notes that Latinos do not seek these services enough.

“A 2001 Surgeon General’s report found that only 20 percent of Latinos with symptoms of a psychological disorder talk to a doctor about their concerns,” said Tapia.

“The positive news is there is a solution as I believe our project will expose more of our community to solutions to overcome the barriers which may limit access to these services.”

Vazquez and LSP hope to have students enrolled in the Testimonios program by late 2017.

Art exhibit showcases life in internment camps Kitana Gachero Staff Writer

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new art exhibit called “Creativity Unconfined: Life in a WWII Japanese American Internment Camp,” is on display on the second floor of the library on campus. This exhibit showcases the life of Japanese people living in the Amache internment camp in southeast Colorado. The gallery presents artifacts and digitized art reflecting the lives of Japanese people during this time.

The National Endowment for the Humanities grant was awarded to the Anthropological Studies Center, which is the reason this project is on display. It displays the positive and negative aspects of life for Japanese people during this time and even resonates with local leaders on campus.

The curator of the exhibit, Dana Shew, is an archaeologist and oral historian for the Anthropology Studies Center at Sonoma State University.

“The project’s aim is to preserve and share the story of internment and specifically Amache by digitizing objects and items from that camp,” said Shew.

Some of the more notable artifacts were the pictures of the Amache Silk Screen Shop, where Japanese people created posters for the U.S Navy. This was a significant installation because it displayed one of the camp’s internee run enterprises and an artistic outlet in the camp.

“Sometimes the beauty lies more within the creativ-

ity and ingenuity needed to create a piece rather than the piece itself,” said Shew.

She explains how the Japanese used their creativity with screen printing and creating carvings out of fruit crates.

The art show draws a parallel to president Judy K. Sakaki’s background as a Japanese-American woman who had family members in internment camps. In 2009, Sakaki was on a board of officials that granted seven hundred honorary degrees to Japanese-Americans who were students prevented from obtaining degrees due to internment. Sakaki welcomed them back into the University of California system and they participated in a commencement ceremony, which they previously did not have access to.

Additionally, Sakaki mentioned in her keynote speech in the commencement at the University of California, Riverside in 2010, her experience being a child of Japanese immigrants. She highlights how her grandparents immigrated to the United States and were later placed in internment camps during WWII. Shew even had her own personal connection to the exhibit. Shew had been working with the women from the Amache Internment Camp since 2007, when she was completing her master’s thesis. Shew’s grandmother and her family were incarcerated at the internment camp called Topaz in Utah.

The exhibit demonstrates the struggles and accomplishments of the Japanese in internment camps. More importantly, this exhibit serves to educate people in our

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FORUM: Students face growing debts “[The forum is] an attempt to bridge gaps so Congress can know what millennials are thinking about.” said Thompson.

The wide-ranging discussion began with a question about mental health. The question asked what Congress was doing to help mental health on college campuses, an issue pertinent to many at Sonoma State.

Swalwell asked the audience to raise their hands if they knew somebody who needed mental health help, but had not received it. About half of the crowd raised their hands.

An audience member claimed Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) needs more resources, citing there is a waitlist to get an appointment in CAPS. Thompson responded by saying the California State University system needs more mental health resources.

During the town hall meeting, audience members were asked to text in their biggest concerns. These concerns were compiled into a word bubble displayed next to the stage. In the middle of the word bubble, the larg-

The Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center presents a gallery covering internment camps during WWII.

Continued from Pg. 1

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Continued from Pg. 1

STAR // Kitana Gachero

GRADUATION: Students question legislation

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campus community about the history of a particular group of people and their triumph.

The exhibit runs until Sept. 23.

with, which makes certain classes only offered during certain semesters. The bill tries to help, but I don’t think it hits the exact what needs to be done because there are so many different factors that play into why people aren’t graduating on time.”

While many students find this bill will not provide them any assistance in graduating on time, some students feel otherwise.

“I like the idea, especially since I have intentions of going on to grad school, so this will help me save a lot of money since I basically pay everything just on loans “ said

est word stood out: debt. Student debt took center stage in the discussion.

Swalwell, someone with his own personal student debt, voiced his concern over the issue and offered a few reforms that could happen. Swalwell listed the drawbacks of too much student debt, linking it to home ownership. He believes since there is so much student debt, the economy is being held back.

Swalwell asked the crowd to raise their hands if they expected to have greater than $10,000 in debt.

Well over half of the crowd raised their hand. When he raised the number to $25,000, many hands were still raised. This unofficial survey yielded alarming results, showing why this issue mattered.

Members of the audience took turns sharing their stories of student debt holding them back from higher education.

To fix this problem, Swalwell said we should have much lower interest rates on these loans. He proposed cutting the rates in half.

“You should be able to discharge your student loan if you fall into hard times and bankruptcy,” said Swalwell.

You can currently do this with all other loans, but

Joshua Alegria, a sophomore biology major at Sonoma State.

One of the biggest problems most college students face is finance. According to USA Today, students who graduate on time spend 40% less than those who don’t.

In addition, according to CBS news, the top two reasons college students don’t graduate on time is they take unnecessary courses due to inadequate advising and they do not have enough courses available to complete their requirements.

The CSU system aims to improve these statistics by providing students with advising and priority registration with this bill. The bill is awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature.

it is not an option for student loans. Swalwell said he thinks it’s realistic for college to be debt-free, because it was not too long ago.

Both congressmen agreed that funding for Pell Grants should be expanded, echoing the sentiments of the crowd.

For over an hour and a half, the two congressman covered a wide range of topics. Police brutality, troops in Afghanistan, the SMART train, along with voter turnout were all discussed.

The forum provided all with an opportunity to address the congressman about any issue. Student Aracely Ramos was wary of the event. She believes politics is all talk and no action.

“They said the basics, and [student debt] obviously needs to be lowered,” she said, but was skeptical of any change actually happening.

Future Forum was an effective discussion of the issues facing young Americans.

“Our purpose was not to preach to you, just to hear about the issues,” said Thompson.

They ended the forum with a call to vote, with Swalwell saying, ‘If you don’t want student debt, you should probably vote.”

News

Aug. 30 - Sept. 5, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

Page 5

Homeless population receives help from grant Sierra Straub Staff Writer

SONOMA COUNTY Two inmates escaped police custody in the last week. On Thursday, Sept. 1 Enrique Faurrieta escaped from North County Detention Facility. The second inmate, Sergio Molina, 31, escaped Friday, Sept. 2 from a working crew, according to the Sheriff’s office. Molina was caught the same day, but Faurrieta is still at large. Contact the Sheriff’s dispatch with any information at (707) 565-2121.

ROHNERT PARK Early Thursday morning, two students from Lawrence E. Jones middle school, ages 12 and 13, were hit by a car. According to Don Schwartz, assistant city manager of Rohnert Park, the car was traveling at a low speed down Snyder Lane. One child went to school after the accident and later went home, while the other went directly to the hospital. Both escaped with little to no injuries. Schwartz announced that a crosswalk equipped with blinking lights will be put into place beginning on Sept. 12.

BURBANK Warner Brothers film studio has asked Google to remove its website from search results due to violating copyright laws. The request was submitted by Vobile, a large company that does reporting for film studios regarding copyright law. There has been no official statement released by Warner Brothers.

ACAPULCO, GUERRERO On Monday, Sept. 5, a large storm off the Pacific Coast of Mexico was upgraded to hurricane status hours before it is expected to hit land. Hurricane Newton has already left a scar on the land, as 30 mudslides have occured due to the torrential rain.

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA Saturday, Sept. 3, a man was arrested at a Publix grocery store after allegedly yelling at employees because he missed his ride.

When police arrived, the man refused to give his name and was arrested for resisting and obstructing an officer without violence. The man’s name was later found out to be Vladimir Putin.

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he Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has approved a grant allocating $630,000 to three different non-profits to help with the homeless situation.

Supervisors signed off on the grant Tuesday, also continuing the safe parking program, which designated sites around Santa Rosa for people to sleep in their cars overnight.

According to a 2015 report conducted by Applied Survey Research, Sonoma County has a homeless population over 3,000, with 67 percent living unsheltered. Unsheltered is classified as living on the street, in abandoned buildings or encampment areas and in vehicles. Of the 33 percent living in shelters, 20 percent were in emergency shelters and 13 percent in transitional housing.

Despite a decreasing number of homeless over the years, the homeless population across Sonoma County has become more noticeable as of late.

Many are forced out of large encampments and into more visible areas across the county.

The grant funds will be allocated to three nonprofits aiming to help the homeless - Catholic Charities, Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) and county initiative to cooridinate homeless services.

Catholic Charities, an organization offering many different services, has a variety of resources to aid the homeless. The Family Support Center, located in downtown Santa Rosa, is a 138 bed facility aimed at helping homeless families, especially children. The center’s Coach2Career Lab offers assistance to those in need of employment.

The center also features an after-school program for children living at the center.

Other housing options in Santa Rosa include Samuel L. Jones Hall for single adults and couples without children. In addition, there is also Nightingale in Santa Rosa, which helps homeless adults discharged from the hospital in need of extra recovery time. The Rainbow House located in Napa, helps single young mothers.

Transitional and permanent housing solutions

are also provided for those to who qualify. Catholic Charities also offers counseling services, assistance with employment and shelter during inclement weather.

Founded in 1971, Social Advocates for Youth , helps the 18-24 year old homeless demographic. In the 2015 Applied Survey Research report, 18-24 year olds made up 21 percent of Sonoma County’s homeless population in 2015.

According to the SAY website, this demographic of homeless grew 450 percent between 2009 and 2013, to the highest per capita rate in the nation.

In March 2014, plans were unanimously approved by the Santa Rosa City Council for SAY’s Dream Center, on Dec. 28, 2015 the center opened.

The Dream Center features 63 housing units, counseling and job training, along with seeing The Applied Survey Research also reported 67 percent of the homeless population cited not being able to afford rent as an obstacle to obtaining permanent housing; with23 percent cited a lack of housing availability.

A June 2016 RealtyTrac report listed Sonoma County as number 10 on a list of the Top Ten Least Affordable Places in the United States. Zillow cites the median housing price for Sonoma County is approximately $600,000, almost an eight percent increase from the previous year.

There are other programs and resources available for homeless across Sonoma County, such as the Redwood Empire Food Bank, which provides healthy food to those in need of assistance. Soup Kitchens and food pantries across the county also provide meals to those in need.

Programs are available for youth and teens as well, such as the Coffee House Teen Center, which is part of the Social Advocates for Youth organization. Open 24 hours a day, 364 days a year, the downtown Santa Rosa facility is a safe space for runaway teens and homeless youth in need of short-term shelter, as well as food and counseling options. SAY also offers transitional housing for youth, as well as a variety of college and career readiness programs.

Weill Hall announces fifth season lineup Charlotte Grayson Staff Writer

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he Green Music Center has announced Weill Hall’s fifth season. The schedule for the entire season is now available on the Green Music Center’s website. Weill Hall’s 2016-2017 season is scheduled to run from Oct. 1 to May 5, and includes 31 different performers.

Tickets are on sale now for all of the events. Ticket prices vary for each event, with seats for opening night starting at $50 per person.

The performance scheduled for opening night is the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. The event description on the Green Music Center’s website calls the performers “15 of the world’s finest jazz musicians and the greatest trumpet player alive today.”

According to Broadway World, the Green Music Center will turn opening night into an event that celebrates the upcoming season in its entirety.

Before that night’s concert, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis will perform at a matinee event specifically designed to introduce students of all ages to jazz music.

After the concert, there will be a catered Gala

Dinner at Prelude restaurant for donors to the Green Music Center.

This Broadway World article was reposted on the Green Music Center’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. On Twitter, the Green Music Center has tweeted a link that will redirect people to its website to purchase tickets for all of the concerts this upcoming season.

The Green Music Center’s Facebook page has links to more information about performers divided by type of music. The page also shared a short video listing the scheduled performers for the upcoming season.

The Green Music Center’s fifth season features a wide range of performers that represent several different genres of music and music from all over the world. These performers include orchestras, jazz musicians, classical musicians and musicians from Russia, India, Austria, Hawaii, Ireland and Argentina.

Since the Green Music Center’s grand opening in 2012, they have hosted world-renowned musicians, including world-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The New York Times wrote an article about the first concert held in Weill Hall, a performance by pianist Lang Lang.

2016

Offense Date Location

Offense Date Location

Vehicle Theft

8/26/2016

North Bike Path

Public Intoxication

8/30/2016

Lobos / Student Center

Grand Theft

8/26/2016

Schulz Information Center

Petty Theft

8/30/2016

Parking Lot H

Battery

8/28/2016

Ives Hall

Petty Theft 8/31/2016 Grenache Residence Hall

Page 6

Arts

Aug. 30 - Sept. 5, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

“Nuka-World” the ultimate post-apocalyptic experience Ronald Campos Staff Writer

Review

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allout 4’s ‘Nuka-World’ Downloadable Content is a roller coaster full of surprises. This DLC throws the player into an abandoned amusement park, filled with danger and beautiful spectacles. It’s atmosphere, music and gameplay provides the player with endless hours of enjoyment and nostalgia. Loyal fans of the series can agree that Fallout 4’s ‘Nuka-World’ finishes the DLC installments strong.

Upon reaching level 30, a new challenge unfolds for the player. Out of nowhere, mysterious broadcast advertisements by the Nuka-World amusement park are picked up in the Commonwealth. As the Sole Survivor, the player is the only one who is brave enough to board the Nuka-World transit center and reach the park. However, trouble unfurls as a Raider by the name of “Porter Gage” warns the new guest that Nuka World is actually a death trap.

As a result, the Sole Survivor is forced into the “Gauntlet.” The Gauntlet is a sadistic show put on for the entertainment of an unknown audience. Along the way, there are death traps everywhere to weaken the player before reaching the end. The player must play this questline smart and think before making a move. The game does an amazing job at misleading the player into doing things they would not expect.

A few points in the quest that look similar to scenes from a “Saw” movie.

However, one disappointing factor of the quest is the fi-

nal boss. “Overboss Colter” is the head honcho of the raiders.

One would expect this battle to be difficult, but it turned out to be easy. Sadly, trying to survive the death traps lying around every corner was more challenging than this boss battle. Although the player gets an upper hand through dialogue options that open up a secret weapon to defeat Overboss Colter, the battle ends too quickly.

On the bright side, once the player defeats the final boss they are granted the role of overboss and they must travel through each of the five sections to either establish order or annex territory. In addition, each section has it’s own unique enemy. For example, Raiders are only located in NukaWorld’s Main-Street USA, the Galactic Zone only has robots, the Bottling Plant is filled with Nukalurks and the Kiddie Kingdom is all Feral Ghouls. Along with the introduction of new weapons, perks and territory, Nuka World rewards players for being adventurous throughout this world.

Bethesda really nailed it’s job in providing players with an adventurous world filled with new assets, including the additional quest lines in each area where the player gains the opportunity to control new territory. In Nuka-World, the Raider population is segregated into three populations; the Disciples, the Pack and the Operators. As one of the options, the player can assign each faction their own territory. However, the only area where the player can build in Nuka-World is a red rocket.

Other than that, the player can only assign raiders to areas conquered.

In comparison, the Disciples are the most sadistic gang who are obsessed with torturing their victims and often times wear decor to represent a native tribe. The Pack wear fully clothed armor and will often times use animals to attack their enemies. Finally, the Operators are notorious for robbing people and wear Saks Fifth Avenue Raider armor.

Along the way, players will obtain an exclusive disciple blade, acid gun, a modifiable AK-type weapon, X-01 Quan-

tum power armor, T-51 Nuka-Cola power armor, Overboss power armor, Raider power armor and decor for customizing settlements. Obtaining this DLC for the sole purpose of exploring a new world is not worth the $20. It would be smart to get a season pass because for $50 more the player can get five more DLC’s. Nuka-World not only provides more than 20 hours of exploration, it also finishes the Fallout DLC installment strong by adding variety to the game.

facebook.com “Nuka-World” was released Aug. 30, taking players through a dystopian amusement park.

Hip hop gets back to its roots Noe Felix Staff Writer

Commentary

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s sweat drips from his forehead, he slowly raises his hands in the air. His heart feels like it’s about to explode. Tears emerge as he begins to wonder whether or not he’ll live to see tomorrow.

“Please, I’m not poison. I’m not poison, I’m just a boy from the hood that wants to do good,” he tells the police officer. He’s scared for his life, but then again, what young African- American wouldn’t be if a police officer pulled out his weapon. This is the image that Jay-Z paints on his song, “Spiritual.”

Over the past few years, cases of police brutality have greatly scarred and impacted the African-American community. It’s through these tragedies the hip-hop community began going back to its roots and started taking on social and political stances.

When hip hop was in its prime in the late 80s and early 90s, it was used as a vessel to spread the realities and struggles others faced. Artists like Killer Mike, Wu Tang Clan, The Fugees and Nas used their platforms and artistry to spread awareness of the inequality that plagued not only African-American communities, but all communities as well.

As time went on, hip hop started being attached to drug and gangsta culture.

Then, throughout the 2000s, mainstream hip-hop was all about partying. It seems that it had forgotten where it had come from.

The Fetty Wap’s and Rae Sremmurd’s started becoming staples of the rap game, until more and more tragedies started striking the African-American communities.

These events gave rise, and brought awareness to new and old hip-hop artists

alike. Some artists began to use their platform to push awareness of the Black experience. Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole are leaders in social justice rap, both making music revolving around the inequalities in America.

Some hip-hop artists have had such great influence that it gives them access to the highest echelon of justice reform.

According to Time magazine, artists such as Chance The Rapper, Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole sat down with President Obama and top advisers, to discuss criminal justice reform.

In addition, they discussed ways to improve and spread awareness of the “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative.

Meetings such as these show the knowledge and influence hip-hop artists have. While white America might frown upon the hip hop genre because of some of its questionable content, it can’t deny its power to reach young teens and adults alike.

After the tragic shooting and killing of five Dallas police officers and the Alton Sterling killing, rappers The Game and Snoop Dogg gathered and led a peace rally in Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Times, both rappers led a march of men of color through Los Angeles to LAPD headquarters.

Their mission was to reintroduce the LAPD to the community it serves, hoping to make a connection in order to avoid more loss of life. Their movement allowed them to meet with Chief Charlie Beck and discuss ways to better improve police and community relations.

While hip hop isn’t perfect, it allows some individuals to spread their positive ideologies.

Becoming aware is the first step towards making change. We are in a crucial time of social change and need to recognize the trials and tribulations that others face. In the words of Chance the Rapper, “We tired of picking different sides/ I got your jersey, just a different size.”

facebook.com Kendrick Lamar is one of the leaders in social justice rap.

COURTESY // Summer Dillon Freshman Summer Dillon has one published novel, “Las Posadas,” set in Graveyard Knoll, the forrest where she attended summer camp.

Student Spotlight: Summer Dillon Karlee Budge Staff Writer

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onoma State University is flourishing with creative students who are passionate about writing, but not all of them have their own published novel.

This is where student Summer Dillion sets herself apart from the rest of the crowd.

Dillon is a freshman currently majoring in English. Home is not too far away for Dillon as she is a Petaluma native.

Dillon began writing in sixth grade and her talent for writing was recognized by her teacher. Her passion for writing skyrocketed during her sophomore year of high school when she was placed in an advanced English course. During this time Dillon began creative writing and challenged herself by taking on more rigorous assignments such as short stories and essays.

Self-publishing your own novel at such a young age is no small task and that is something that Dillon recognizes. The name of her novel is “Las Posadas,” published in May 2016.

The idea for Dillon’s novel sprouted from her senior project in high school. She volunteered at a summer camp and the forest where the camp was held had a long line of history behind it. A family colonized this forest for the purpose of nature education and over time legends formed of their ghosts remaining.

“I wrote down all of these legends and the history and from that I made a fictional story about four teenagers who encounter all the legends and historical figures,” said Dillon.

A second book is in progress, but still in the early stages of a rough draft. Dillon made it clear this novel is not a sequel, but

an entirely different story.

Dillon’s passion for writing is easily recognized by her friends and family through her description of her love and dedication for writing.

“Summer’s determination and versatility in her writing is going to take her far in the field and will take her to places she never thought possible,” said Samuel Gardella, Dillon’s boyfriend.

Ten years from now, Dillon sees herself graduated with a teacher’s credential. However, her dream is to become a writer and publish as many book as she can.

Just like any writer, Dillon looks up to writers for inspiration, such as Alice Sebold and J.K. Rowling. Her biggest inspiration is her mom, Crissi Langwell, who also happens to be a writer and has published five books.

“Summer has a natural ability with writing. It might be because she has been an avid reader since she first learned how to read,” said Langwell. “Or it might be because she came from a line of writers. But I’ve always loved reading Summer’s writing and I admire her way with words.”

Writing plays a significant role in Dillon’s life and naturally like every student or writer, writer’s block often gets in the way of completing a task.

“I’ve noticed whenever I get really frustrated with my school work or have a hard time writing a paper, even if it is an objective paper, I find that writing a poem or short story really helps me think better, it clears my head so I can go back to my actual school work with a clear mind,” said Dillon.

As of now, Dillon is planning to continue working on her second novel as well as writing creative pieces in her free time, which is what she enjoys most.

Entertainment

Aug. 30 - Sept. 5, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

Page 7

‘Narcos’ season two blows audience away Gerard Desrosiers Staff Writer

Commentary facebook.com Gene Wilder, 83, passed away on Aug. 28 due to complications with Alzheimers Disease.

Gene Wilder gets golden ticket to heaven Madison Muro Staff Writer

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any recognize Gene Wilder from his character Willy Wonka in the childhood-favorite film, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”

For many of us, it was difficult to comprehend the idea of losing the man who will forever hold a place in our childhood memories.

At 83, Wilder passed away peacefully from complications of Alzheimer’s disease on Aug. 28 in Stamford, CT. In 1999, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy for treatment.

Within the next year, he was cancerfree and continued acting in short films and movies.

According to People Magazine, he kept his sickness secret from the public for three years in hopes that his fans would remember his high spirit, energy and the ability to make others smile.

“He was an artist and he always knew how to perform and make people feel inspired and comfortable,” his nephew Jordan Walker-Perlman told People Magazine.

Wilder had an uncanny ability to reach people in a deep and positive way.

He made a mark on comedic films and will always be remembered as a man capable of taking on any role and making his fans enjoy every part of his performances.

Jerome Silberman, known professionally as Gene Wilder, was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 11, 1933. At a young age, his mother suffered from rheumatic heart disease, and he would want to make her smile through the pain. This is what influenced him to start acting in comedies.

“He simply couldn’t bear the idea of one less smile in the world,” said WalkerPerlman. Unfortunately, Wilder’s most successful moments in acting didn’t last long before he retired, but he had left us with classics that will never be forgotten.

Although Wilder was well known for his role in “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” he also took on big roles in “Blazing Saddles” and “Young Frankenstein” which were both successful films that have become cult classics.

According to the New York Times, before reaching Hollywood, Wilder took part in some off-Broadway productions.

Through connections, he was able to land his first movie debut in “Bonnie and Clyde” in 1967 which kicked off his collaboration with Mel Brooks. Brooks directed many films, including “Blazing Saddles” and “Young Frankenstein.”

With all of his films being from different genres, we are shown how versatile he was and how well he mastered each role given to him.

Wilder shined most in his role as Willy Wonka in a movie, which continues to entertain and influence audiences of all ages.

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nce upon a time there was a wolf, and he was hungry. But this hunger wasn’t like any old hunger — oh no. Unlike most appetites, this one only grew the more it was fed. It was a craving, you see. An addiction. And by the time the wolf found what delicacy surrounded him, he took to gluttony and consumed it all. Gobbled it up just like that. All gone.

Once upon a time there was a wolf, and he had his own Netflix show. His name was Pablo Escobar, the show is called “Narcos” and recently aired its second season. It’s about cocaine. A lot of it.

For what it’s worth, no, the show isn’t entirely about cocaine, but it’s the main ingredient. Followed by two-parts cash, onepart death and just a dash of Colombian corruption. It’s a recipe so good, you want to put your finger in the batter. But don’t, because you’ll be addicted. Trust me on this one.

Starting almost immediately where the first one left off, the second season of “Narcos” hits the ground running. Whereas the first season took its time establishing the characters and setting of the show—getting those ingredients together—the second season has had full reign to take advantage of the pacing the first batch of episodes pre-

heated before its Sept. 2 premiere. And boy, does it. At least, for the first two episodes.

Returning viewers will be relieved to see all their beloved characters back in action within the first few minutes. As always, Wagner Moura steals the show with his portrayal of the unexpectedly grounded drug warlord — the wolf — Pablo Escobar. The first season, and this is weird to say, got us comfortable with the guy. The show did a magnificent job humanizing this cocaine peddling, Spanish speaking murderer and at moments the viewer could even find themselves feeling bad for him. Sympathizing with the Wolf.

But now there’s no holding back. Like the climax of the last season , this season doesn’t restrain the broken warlord. But most dangerously of all, keeps Escobar’s character intact enough to where he may violently pursue his goal to control Columbia with an iron fist and a clever head. And that’s what “Narcos” does best. The show doesn’t sell its characters short, or at any point make their performances less palpable for the sake of the plot.

In addition, this is one of the rare shows where everybody already knows the ending.

The show follows history, and at times that’s the most unsettling part. But that doesn’t spoil the experience. Knowing the demise of the main character doesn’t take away from the tangibility and weight the decisions and outcomes the characters deal with—that the viewers deal with. Even though they know what the ending is, there is enough mystery and well thought out implementation that the ride to the end is worth it.

facebook.com Season two of “Narcos” premiered Sept. 2 on Netflix.

‘Star Trek’ celebrates 50 years Top 5 “Star Trek” episodes

Sean Curzon Staff Writer

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pace. The final frontier. For 50 years, Captain James T. Kirk and others have gone boldly where no one has gone before. “Star Trek: The Original Series” first aired Sept. 8, 1966. Created by Gene Roddenberry, it

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followed the crew of the Starship Enterprise, part of the Starfleet of the United Federation of Planets, on a peaceful scientific exploration to discover new life.

Since airing, “Star Trek” has spawned six different series with a seventh planned, 13 feature films and countless comics and novels. Created during the Cold War, “Star Trek” was meant to show the world a time when the human race has moved past war, racism and

sexism. “Star Trek” was known for its multicultural cast which, at the time, wasn’t common. Heck, it’s still not common.

With any long running franchise, there were some bad episodes; even some bad series. But “Star Trek” is some of the best science fiction out there today.

Here are five of the best episodes in “Star Trek” history.

Mirror, Mirror (Star Trek: The Original Series: 2x04) A transporter accident sends Kirk, Uhura, McCoy and Scotty into a mirror universe where they are members of a brutal empire where one is promoted by killing their superior officers. Spock has a goatee of all things. The original series had many moments that became part of pop culture history and this was one of them. This episode is so iconic that having a goatee has become synonymous with evil doubles.

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Q Who (Star Trek: The Next Generation: 2x16) “The Next Generation” was a big gamble. It was the first Star Trek show to remove focus from Captain Kirk. Set 70 years after the original series, it centers around a new Enterprise and a new crew as they explore the galaxy. There was a big chance that fans wouldn’t buy into this new series. “The Next Generation” set itself apart by creating characters that where thematic opposites of the original crew. The first two seasons were rather rough to be honest. The show had difficulty finding a balance between that “Trek” feel and having its own voice, but there were some good episodes. “Q Who” was one of them. A reality warping being called Q sends the Enterprise into unknown space where the crew come face-to-face with the Borg. The Borg was “The Next Generation’s” biggest contribution to Star Trek’s canon.

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Waltz (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: 6x11) “Deep Space Nine” was an odd one. The third series of the franchise, instead of following a starship, followed a space station orbiting Bajor, a newly freed planet from the Cardassians, an interplanetary empire. The show was notable for portraying the Starfleet and the Federation much more morally vague or grey than the typical Trek show. “Deep Space Nine” never got the mainstream attention “The Original Series” or “The Next Generation” received but is still popular with fans for its serialized storytelling and dark themes. Captain Sisko, who is in charge of the DS9 station, finds himself trapped on a planet with Gul Dukat who was in charge of Bajor, back when it was controlled by the Cardassians. It’s a rather small story, but has powerful theme. It takes you into the mind of the villain and shows even in a world of grey, evil can exist.

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The City On the Edge of Forever (Star Trek: 1x28) Kirk and his crew finds a portal through time. McCoy falls through and finds himself in 1930s New York. Kirk and Spock realize that McCoy changed history so Nazi Germany wins World War II. Kirk and Spock go back in time to find their friend and find out what he did. This is one of the most tragic episodes of the series with Kirk’s final lines cutting like a knife.

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The Inner Light (Star Trek: The Next Generation: 5x25) Captain Picard finds himself on an alien planet, where the native species haven’t discovered space travel. In addition, everyone knows him and claims he’s lived there all his life and his life aboard the Enterprise was just a dream. Picard must figure out how he got there and how to go home while dealing with his new life. A very low-key episode but beautifully written. It’s a great look at Picard and really touches on what Star Trek is really about: a show where people can come together and the need to discover what’s out there. “The Inner Light” ends on a perfect bittersweet note.

Page 8

Student Life

Aug. 30 - Sept. 5, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

STAR //Sara Wildman The Fairfield Osborn Preserve has supplied educational opportunities for many different majors including a chance for geography majors to map the region, and art majors to create sculptures of the area. The preserve also provides student internships and guided preserve tours.

Sonoma Preserves, a hidden gem Tyler Heberle Staff Writer

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here is a prominent patch of greenery in the golden-brown hills east of Sonoma State University.

As Lichau Road winds side-to-side through vineyards and slowly crawls uphill, trees gradually start to provide shade and cool color from above. At the end of this natural tunnel, there lies a lodge building alongside solar panels and a short wooden bridge.

This marks the entry point to Fairfield Osborn Preserve, a 450-acre area often visited by Sonoma State students and faculty. Its land occupies the duckweedand fern-covered “Turtle Pond,” short stone fences that once signaled property divides, and part of the Copeland Creek Watershed. The reserve is one of three used by the Center for Environmental Inquiry (CEI) to promote interactive and environmentally aware learning for a variety of majors.

CEI Director Claudia Luke said she aims to get all sorts of students involved at their preserve locations as part of the Environmentally Ready Generation initiative.

“Everybody should understand that whatever their interest area, they need to participate in this societal challenge in the next couple decades,” Luke said.

Students and faculty from courses as diverse as political science, geography, criminal justice and art have visited the CEI preserves as part of their curriculum,

according to Luke. The resources at Fairfield Osborn Preserve have provided study and project opportunities for the various majors in the past. Among these past opportunities were spots for a sculpture class to place figurines, and topographical maps of the land for geography majors.

“We can help create an experience that fits within the time they have in their curriculum,” Luke said.

Lab methods in physical geography (GEOG 317) was one class that had the opportunity to visit Fairfield Osborn Preserve for an assignment in fall 2012. Michelle Goman, the course’s professor, said her students explored a marsh at the preserve to examine its sediments for their size and fineness. This allowed them to figure out how the marsh’s deposits changed over the years.

“Employees like students to have diverse experience, and being outside of the classroom and working with the real world is often very different from what you get in a textbook,” Goman said.

Sonoma State students can add diversity to their work experience by participating in projects on the CEI reserves for internship units, according to Luke. Land management and water research are two available fields, but a third focuses on leadership skills: the Naturalist Training Program. Students who engage in these training sessions learn to give tours of the land to local third through fifth graders.

Suzanne DeCoursey, program lead at the Nature Ed Collaborative, oversees Naturalist Training. She said some of her fondest memories at Sonoma State’s preserves were inspired by the Naturalists’ tours, including thank-you letters and pictures sent by the elementary school students.

DeCoursey said a few of the former Naturalists she’s worked with have gone on to find jobs at places like the Petrified Forest and Muir Woods. Some have also told her about the personal benefits they took from their service at the preserves.

“I hear some students say they found a community… they didn’t feel like they really belonged anywhere at SSU, and when they went through the program they found people who they could really interact with, and they developed these deep friendships,” DeCoursey said.

Sonoma State students and faculty are not the only people allowed at Fairfield Osborn Preserve; according to Luke, the CEI’s land is open to reservations for other research projects. DeCoursey said she recommends taking a public tour. The tours begin Saturdays at 10 a.m. from Oct. 15 – Dec. 3 this semester.

Goman said she would encourage anyone to “take a hike” on Fairfield Osborn Preserve’s premises.

“You go up there and you realize you’re so close to campus, but you feel so far away from campus, because you really are in a… close but remote environment,” Goman said. “It’s just so beautiful.”

Cuisine choices after midnight: Ronnie’s Deli

L

Taylor Berghoff Staff Writer

ate night food options for Sonoma State University students are often hard to come by. But luckily, there are more options than it might seem.

Students who are tired of McDonalds and Taco Bell can check out Ronnie’s, a gourmet deli in Rohnert Park that has late operating hours.

Ronnie’s is open until 2 a.m. Monday through Sunday selling an array of sandwiches with fun names like ‘The Godfather’ and the ‘Royale with Cheese.’

Sandwiches are sold for less than $8 while other items are available for less than $5, making it affordable to college students on a budget.

Ronnie’s also offers chili cheese fries, onion rings, wings and 12 different beers on tap.

Customers can enjoy these items inside at the dining area or out on Ronnie’s patio. The deli always televises popular sports games on its flat screen TV, allowing customers to never miss out on their favorite teams. For those who don’t have the time to sit down and enjoy a meal, Ronnie’s offers take-out and delivery op-

tions as well.

Located at 1460 E. Cotati Ave. this deli and taproom is a convenient option for students living on the Sonoma State campus.

But even with its close proximity to campus, many students are unaware of what Ronnie’s has to offer.

“I’ve lived here for two years now and I don’t really know of many places to eat after a night out,” senior Nicole Milioto said.

Owner Ronnie Rao caters to Sonoma State students by offering 25 percent off to students who are first time customers. On top of the discount, Ronnie’s has countless offers that are both unique and interactive.

Pokemon Go fans can visit Ronnie’s on Mondays between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to receive $2 off burgers or beer. For the over 21 crowd or sport’s fans, the ‘Home Run Deal’ allows $1 pours of selected beers whenever the Giants or A’s hit a homerun.

In addition, happy hour prices are offered anytime a customer’s favorite Bay Area team is on TV. After speaking with some regulars, it seems the Godfather sandwich is a hit

yelp.com Ronnie’s Deli, located on E Cotati Avenue, is open until 2 a.m. Monday through Sunday in order to tackle college student’s late-night cravings. with new customers.

Rao wants everyone to be able to enjoy Ronnie’s and treats each person as a valued individual.

Customers are known on a first name basis which makes the restaurant a comfortable and inviting place to enjoy a late night meal. Rao takes pride in the nature of this family-owned business.

“When people walk through our door they are not customers, they are family and friends,” Rao said.

Rao welcomes Sonoma State students with open arms and wishes to see more

students walk through the door in the future, so they too can become apart of the Ronnie’s family.

Whether it’s a weekend drink on the patio, some juicy sliders at the bar or just a quick sandwich at the deli, Ronnie’s has something for everyone.

At Ronnie’s students can indulge in unique, affordable and local foods without taking a second look at the clock.

Ronnie’s successfully caters to the college lifestyle and gives students the option of eating during hours that best suit their needs.

Student Life

Aug. 30 - Sept. 5, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

Page 9

Maneuvering campus proves difficult for disabled Jahred Nunes Staff Writer

S

onoma State University’s most recent recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award, Lauren Morimoto, has had severe structural problems with her knees, drastically affecting her mobility from a young age.

As she’s gotten older, her knee issues have worsened often leaving her unable to walk without the assistance of two canes,she said.

Every day, the kinesiology professor experiences extreme pain in every step, making stairs and long walks nearly impossible - yet these are the obstacles she has had to adapt to everyday, just to do her job at Sonoma State.

“Basically, the campus is a sticky mess,” said Morimoto. “I’m always terrified I’m going to eat it. It happened just last week.”

Morimoto mentioned the uneven pavement outside of Salazar Hall as an example of a place she fears walking on campus.

However, Morimoto’s story is just one of the hundreds to be heard here on campus and throughout the nation.

According to Disability Service for Students, as of 2016, nearly 700 students (7.5 percent) of Sonoma State’s 9,300 have identified themselves as a student with a disability.

In 2013, the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Statistics and Demographics at the University of New Hampshire estimated that of the 6,429,431 students ages 3-21 who received special education services in the fall of 2012, more than 300,000 of whom were college age.

It’s important to note that mobility related issues only account for 0.7 percent of the DSS population.

Much of the DSS population re-

quires disability services for learning or audio-visual disabilities, which is not regularly provided on campus.

“I keep hearing things about how Sonoma State might not be [disability friendly], and honestly, I can see how that might be true,” sociology major and DSS volunteer Janice An said.

An noted that Sonoma State should make more of an effort in student events to provide for students with hearing disabilities.

DSS Director Brent Boyer gave some insight on the duties of DSS and what they do to help their students.

“Even though we would like to see an environment that is accessible to everyone, there will be times when accommodations are going to be necessary,” Boyer said. “So the university has designated DSS as the office responsible for receiving, reviewing, authorizing and providing specialized support services, and assisting faculty, staff and manag-

ers in providing equal access with reasonable and appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities.”

For Morimoto, her disability can even affect her schedule.

“When other people see a broken elevator as an inconvenience, I see it as whether or not I’m able to go to this meeting,” said Morimoto.

She made it clear she wanted to take this opportunity to bring awareness to a topic she feels is often sidelined.

Morimoto said she understands that Sonoma State has met a lot of the requirements for disabled accommodations, she just thinks there should be mor proactivity beyond the bare minimum.

“Every time I struggle to get into Salazar or the Student Store, it’s just a reminder that ‘Oh we didn’t build this for you’,” Morimoto said. “I want to start a broader conversation about disability.”

One man, four languages and seven countries Alex Randolph Staff Writer

W

hen Jeffrey Reeder first came to Sonoma State University in 1998, it was just a place where he hoped to find a job. Almost two decades later, there’s no place he’d rather be.

Reeder teaches Spanish to Sonoma State students.

He also coordinates the Spanish program, is a graduate advisor for the Spanish Master’s Program, a member of the academic senate and works as both coach and advisor to Sonoma State’s archery club. He also advises students for the study abroad program. He says he loves the university’s friendly atmosphere, and encourages his students to travel and experience new things, as he did in his younger days.

Born in Japan, Reeder spent his formative years moving at various points to seven different countries across four separate continents due to his father’s job in the military, and later across seven different states when his father became a gymnastics coach.

“I remember when I was a child, people would ask me, ‘So what’s it like to change schools all the time?’”

Reeder said. “And my question to them was usually, ‘What’s it like to stay at the same school all the time?’”

Reeder’s adolescent dream had been to be a Navy pilot, but a year at the US Naval Academy at Minneapolis showed him it wasn’t for him. His backup attempts included briefly studying geology at a different college.

After also briefly studying international business at University of Texas, Reeder decided on a Spanish major due simply to the fact that he was taking a Spanish course at the time and really liked it.

Growing up abroad gave Reeder a desire to wander. In high school he volunteered to be an exchange student in Brazil and when he was 23, he took a break from graduate school at Texas to teach at a girls’ school in the small town of Saga, Japan.

Reeder is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese. He is also semi-fluent in Japanese, can understand Mandarin, and knows a little French. Most languages come fast and easy to him, the only exception being Japanese, a language infamous for being difficult to learn due to its complex layers of speech and vast differences to Latin-based languages like English.

When Reeder first came to the campus for a job, he was impressed with the welcoming and friendly students and teachers, and the beauty of the campus itself.

“The interview was in spring, and so the moun-

tains were so beautiful and green, and the flowers everywhere — I just fell in love with Sonoma County,” Reeder said.

When he went to work in August everything had become brown, which was disappointing for a while.

“I got used to the differences in California,” he said.

While the scenery helped convince Reeder to teach at Sonoma State, what has kept him here all these years is the one constant at the campus — the friendly, accepting culture.

When he briefly taught at University of Texas, he would often get pointed out and mocked for biking to work.

“They thought it was strange, or odd, or different or just not right somehow,” Reeder said.

But although he’s been at Sonoma State for much longer, nobody has made a deal about his biking from Santa Rosa, and some students even ask if they can do it too.

“If you say something that’s new or different or unusual, people [here] don’t think it’s wrong because they don’t do it,” Reeder said. “They think ‘oh, I’d like to try that,’ or ‘oh, that’s neat.’ I think there’s a good, positive attitude toward trying new things.”

Reeder has advised around 200 students to study abroad in his role as advisor for the program, and every time they come back, he always asks them about their experiences — what they learned, and how it changed them. Every single person, almost without fail, has said they were glad they had participated.

“They always tell me, ‘You gotta tell students [to]

nati to make sure exams are fair and correct across the board, as well as helping to determine the questions and design of the exam.

His interests include motorcycles and olympic level shooting. He enjoys the focus and calm required for olympic shooting, comparing it to yoga, which he also does.

He shares both passions with his son, Andrew, who made State Champion and few times and went to to Junior Olympics when he was younger.

Besides travel, Reeder encourages students to learn other languages, not just to talk to different people, but also because the process itself can be an illuminating experience.

“What’s interesting is that different languages can sometimes put you in a different frame of mind,” Reeder said. “When you do speak a different language it kinda changes how you look at the world.”

“If you say something that’s new or different or unusual, people [here] don’t think it’s wrong because they don’t do it.” go study abroad,’” He said. “‘Don’t make excuses, don’t say I can’t because I have work... There are always ways around it, and it’s a life-changing experience, and it’s so positive.’”

Outside of Sonoma State, he has worked for the Advanced Placement Spanish program for over 20 years. His current position is chief reader for the AP Spanish Language Exam, which involves leading thousands of Spanish teachers every summer in Cincin-

sonoma.edu Sonoma State University Spanish professor Jeffrey Reeder has lived in various countries, spanning from Japan to Spain, but has found a home at Sonoma State.

Intramural basketball league still on hold Jenna Qualls Staff Writer

L

ess than a year ago the Sonoma State University’s Recreation Center had a problem that caused the basketball court to flood.

Since then, it hasn’t been fixed and many Sonoma State students are not pleased about it.

For years Sonoma State has offered a variety of activities including intramural sports.

Volleyball, indoor soccer, flag football and kickball are some of the sports available to play each semester.

Basketball is also an option, however, at the moment, all the players are in a stand-still due to the construction on the court.

“People are wondering when the court will be done, hopefully by the end of this semester. The construction conflicts with intramurals, but the smaller gym is open for students to play there,” said senior Eddie Espejo, a student worker at the Rec Center.

The intramural leagues are popular because they allow players to compete

at a less competitive level. Last semester it seemed the floor was getting fixed, but when students arrived to campus in the fall the basketball court was still closed.

“I know things happen but it’s the school’s role to do something about it.

The faster they do something to fix the court, the happier students will become,” said sophomore Parker Dantzman, a frequent intramural player.

Although the smaller gym which holds the indoor soccer court is open, many of the basketball players say it’s not fair to have to share soccer and volleyball games when they have a huge court waiting to be fixed.

“I have heard many stories of when it is supposed to re-open but the dates keep getting worse and worse. I heard October and then I heard December. I am not upset because maintenance has to happen, but nothing is being done right now,” said Dantzman.

Many of the basketball players were ready to come back from summer, and start off the new school year by playing on the newly fixed court.

“The situation of the basketball court being closed for this long is really

unfortunate. I was really looking forward to playing with my friends again, but when I came back from summer it was still not fixed,” said intramural player Jesse Ellner.

The Rec Center has projected to have the basketball court done by the end of the fall semester.

Since it’s replacing the entire court, it’s costing more than they had anticipated.

When students arrive back to Sonoma State from winter break, they will finally see a brand new court with construction anticipated to be completed.

STAR // Sara Wildman Students hoping to play intramural basketball at the Rec Center will be forced to wait until the renovation of the main court is complete next spring.

Page 10

Sports

Aug. 30 - Sept. 5, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

Women’s Volleyball team begins title defense

Sonoma State’s Women’s Volleyball team starts 2016 season with hopes of a 3 peat Tatiana Serrano Staff Writer

A

fter back to back CCAA Conference championships for the Sonoma State University Women’s volleyball team is entering the 2016 season with a tough schedule but, high expectations.

The team played three teams during the Cal State San Marcos Cougar Invitational last Friday and Saturday; Westmont, Fort Lewis, and Johnson & Wales.

The Seawolves dropped its opener against Westmont on Friday, but then gained its first two wins against Fort Lewis and Johnson & Wales on Saturday.

Bouncing back with two victories after a surprising loss in game one Coach Bear Grassl is happy how his team performed on the court. ”I’m very excited about how hard we competed this weekend”. Grassl and many other Sonoma fans are excited to see what the back to back CCAA title holders can bring in the future.

Coach Grassl is returning as Women’s Volleyball Head Coach for his 15th season at Sonoma State.

He has also won the CCAA award for coach of the year four times in a row.

The team is in great hands to be lead to a potential third CCAA title.

Throughout the tournament, two players that stood out were junior Kelsey

Game 3: 9/03/16

SETS:

Sonoma State (2-1): Fort Lewis (1-2):

McIntire and senior Rachel Andrews.

McIntire brought a total of 37.5 points throughout the three games as a middle blocker.

“McIntire is becoming a larger part of the offense”, said Coach Grassl.

Andrews, a senior who also plays middle blocker, provided 48 points throughout the three games. Andrews with more experience in the game is able to analyze where to place certain hits and where to attack.

Grassl has noticed an upcoming of a strong leader as he said, “[She] has really expanded her role this year and is leading our team”.

Even though the team was able to bring home two wins on the last day of the tournament, there is still some room for improvement.

In the first match against Westmont, the team showed some weakness in their initial attacks, as well as vulnerability in their serve reception throughout the games. WIth improvements on the frontcourt their defense can only get stronger.

A team packed full of defending champions and new talent, chemistry will play a major factor in this team success over the remainder of the season.

Coach Grassl is confident the team can make improvements that will lead to an extended playoff run.

The Seawolves are scheduled to play their first home game at the Wolve’s Den on Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m. against Cal Baptist.

1 2 3 4 25 19 25 25 21 25 21 13

MATCH

3 1

KILLS :Tate Bastini (15) Rachel Andrews (12) Kelsey McIntire (9) DIGS: Ally Dell’Amico (17) Matisse Monty (10) Gabriella Hickman (10) Assists: Courtney Seda (24) Calan Seitz (23) Rachel Andrews (4)

Seawolves draw against No. 3 team in D-II Travis Adams Staff Writer

T

wo teams hailing from the state of Washington traveled to Sonoma State to face off against the Women’s soccer team over the past weekend. Sonoma State squared off against the third ranked Western Washington Vikings, and mustered up a 0­-0 draw. Saturday, the Wolves played host to the Central Washington Wildcats.

That contest ended in a rather stunning 1-­0 victory for the Wildcats. The Wolves came nose to nose with one of the nation’s top teams thursday night; not a bad way to kick­off the 2016 regular season. In the early going, both teams tested the other’s offensive and defensive tactics, not really equating to many scoring chances, that was until the 36th minute, when a blistering shot from Viking midfielder Jordyn Bartelson called on sophomore goalkeeper Kristen Spear to make a vital diving save to her left. Spear tallied up three more saves on the evening to end with four saves on the night, racking up her first clean sheet of the 2016 campaign.

The game consisted of near glimpses of opportunities, but both units proved to have stellar defensive prowess. Sophomore central defender Dayna Dolcini served as the catalyst to the defensive effort, snuffing out key Viking scoring opportunities that found their way into Sonoma’s defensive half. “ We have been working on our defensive effort as a team,” said sophomore midfielder Miriam Bloom. “I thought we really executed what we had been working on.” she added.The contest managed to eclipse both halves, as well as two overtime periods without a game clinching goal. The Vikings manifested 15 shots to the Seawolves 10. In spite of this, Bloom said, “ Even though they

were ranked number 3, I felt we had most of the possession. We controlled the pace of the game, for the majority of the game.” Bloom goes on to add that,“The goals were there for the taking, It was disappointing that we just were not sharp at some points in the game.”

In theory, saturday’s contest against Central Washington University served to be a platform for the Wolves to lunge into the victory column for the first time this regular season with a victory over Central Washington. If you had read Saturday’s stat sheet, that is most likely the conclusion you would have came to , however the Wildcats snatched a victory on the road from the Seawolves, 1­-0.

Sonoma’s attack racked up a staggering 16 shots throughout the contest, making Central Washington Goalkeeper Emily Hart act as the Wildcats secretary of defense and stop 9 Seawolves’ shots from finding the back of the net. When asked why the game turned out the way it did, goalkeeper Kristen Spear explained, “We couldn’t connect, or link our play, either we couldn’t capitalize, or we were not smart on or off the ball with our plays.” Bloom iterated more of what Spear had to say when she said that the team, “Had very few good pockets of good possession, [the possession] was not as good as we had wanted it to be.”

Without question, Saturday’s game ended in a result that does not sit well with the team gunning for back to back CCAA championships, however the ladies manifested 26 total shots between the two games combined, 13 of which found their way on goal. Alongside that bright beacon of hope, the Seawolves are making their way to Utah to play two teams; neither of whom have won a game thus far this season. Sonoma State will play Colorado Mesa on thursday, and Dixie State on Saturday.

STAR// Megan Corcoran Sonoma States Riley West sprints up the sidelines.

STAR// Jeno Veltri Sonoma State Men’s soccer team’s first game ends in a tie.

Men’s soccer open season with two ties Trevor Abrams Staff Writer

T

he Sonoma State University Men’s soccer team kicked off the regular season this week on Thursday against the nationally ranked Seattle Pacific University Falcons.

The Seawolves drew first blood when Armando Coronel scored the first goal of the season off a corner kick in the 30th minute, giving Sonoma State the early advantage.

At halftime the score remained 1-0, but the Seawolves thought they could have done more.

“We controlled most of the first half. We had a few chances we didn’t put away,” said junior midfielder Josh Sanchez “At halftime they were lucky it was only 1-0.” Despite only a one goal lead, Sonoma clearly controlled the first half. With an onslaught of shot sent at Falcon goalkeeper Cody Lang, The Seawolves were able to double Seattle Pacific’s shots 7-3.

Jose Avalos and Luis Mendoza both had shots on goal that nearly found the back of the net before Coronel sent the lone goal of the first half in.

The Second half was a different story.

“We started well, but I thought we lost ourselves a bit in the second half,” said head coach Marcus Ziemer.

Seattle Pacific came out hot in the second half, creating an 11-4 shot advantage over the Seawolves after halftime. The game tying shot came off the foot of Seattle Pacific’s Carlos Franco when he intercepted a back pass and made a shot from 16 yards out.

After the equalizer goal the pressure was on Sonoma State to take back the lead. “After we came out to the second half they pressured us and got into our heads by holding us off the ball,” said Sanchez. “We lost our composure after we gave up a soft goal with a poor back pass that was intercepted and tucked into the bottom corner.”

The Seawolves’ Luke Lavanway was flagged for his second yellow and ejected from the game leaving Sonoma State down one man. Despite Lavanway’s absence the Seawolves were able to keep the game tied and send it into overtime but, even after two periods of overtime the end of the match resulted in a tie.

“It felt like a loss because we had more opportunities than they did. But at the end of the day it’s not a bad result considering they are nationally ranked.” said Sanchez.

The Seawolves saw a similar result on Saturday as they welcomed another Pacific Northwest team to its home field. Western Washington played Sonoma to their second consecutive draw, this time 0-0. Sonoma State’s defense proved again to be dominant as they shut out Western Washington but, the offense couldn’t get anything going on their end. Sonoma State goalkeeper Mitch North made three saves with the biggest coming in second overtime.

Sonoma State heads south next week to take on California Baptist on Thursday and then Azusa Pacific on Saturday before returning back home to open up CCAA play against the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos.

Sports

Aug. 30 - Sept. 5, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

Page 11

Leave Kap alone

John Dolan Staff Writer

Commentary

W

hile “The Star Spangled Banner” echoed throughout Levi’s Stadium, 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick was shown sitting down while his fellow teammates and coaches remained standing. The aftermath of his actions has drawn mixed reactions of support and criticism.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick said. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

We, as citizens of the United States have a lot to be grateful for. One of those reasons is the right to speak out against police brutality, protected forms of free speech, along with the right to sit or stand during our national anthem. One can argue his motivation was for publicity. Another can argue he was motivated by seeing too many African-American men gunned down and wanted a change. The issue at hand is not the motivation; it’s the message.

The symbol of our rights doesn’t make us great. It’s our rights as Americans that make us great. The flag is a symbol of our rights. Our brave men and women who serve this country are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our country. They serve and put their lives on the line for our rights, including free speech,

guaranteed in the first amendment of our Constitution.

“What should horrify Americans is not Kaepernick’s choice to remain seated during the national anthem, but that nearly 50 years after Muhammad Ali was banned from boxing for his stance and Tommie Smith and John Carlos’s raised fists caused public ostracization and numerous death threats, we still need to call attention to the same racial inequities,” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wrote in a Washington Post column. “Failure to fix this problem is what’s really un-American here.”

Across America, the African-American community has the right to be angry over their son’s, friends and fathers living in fear of their own lives. Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Michael Brown and Tamir Rice are few of the many names have been victims of fatal brutality.

The United States takes pride in being the land of second chances. Colin Kaepernick is employed by the NFL, which has given second chances to players who have been prosecuted for serious charges, like domestic violence and child abuse, to name a few. Yet, there is legitimate moral outrage over Kaepernick, who has done nothing illegal nor harmed another life.

Despite the criticism he has faced, Kaepernick has gained support from many. 49ers safety, Eric Reid and Seahawks cornerback, Jeremy Lane have refused to stand during the anthem as well. Fans have also stepped up in Kaepernick’s cause by making his No. 7 jersey one of the most purchased jersey’s in the league since he sat during the anthem.

“I believe in what he’s doing. I believe that there are issues in this country,” Reid said. “I just wanted to show him I support him. I know there are other people in this country that feel the same way.”

Kaepernick has already pledged to donate $1 million dollars to community organizations affected by police brutality and racial inequality.

He is speaking out against an issue deeply concerning to him. The fact that an athlete with money and fame has potentially jeopardized his career to act on a serious issue should have real value.

Whether you are a fan of Kaepernick or not, his actions demonstrate what makes this country great.

Saturday Sept. 10

Men’s Soccer

Women’s Cross Coun-

@ California Baptist

try

4:30 p.m.

Humboldt State Invite 10 a.m.

Women’s Soccer vs Colorado Mesa

Women’s Soccer

St George, Utah

@ Dixie State

5 p.m.

12:30 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball

Women’s Volleyball

vs California Baptist

vs Dixie State

5:30 p.m.

12:30 p.m.

Wolves Den

vs Alaska Anchorage 7:30 p.m.

NFL Opening Kickoff

Wolves Den

The Womens soccer club poses after a victory.

Friendship and fùtbol Andrea Sims Staff Writer

A

s Sonoma State University students know, the first few weeks of the semester can be overwhelming, especially trying to find clubs and organizations that suit particular interests and schedules. With all the options on campus, the women’s club soccer team might be the perfect choice.

The club soccer team is a great way to stay competitive if you have experience playing soccer and, are looking for a way to build friendships, and want to have the opportunity to travel for competitions. The club players have traveled to places like Chico, San Diego, and Oregon.

Club member Alexandria Johnson, a senior at Sonoma State said, “Girls should definitely join the club soccer team as a great way to keep in shape, but more importantly, the friendships you gain through bonding as a team both on and off the field.”

Senior Scarlett Garcia, president of the club soccer team, has been on the club team since her freshman year.

“I’ve played soccer my whole life and after high school I was burnt

out and didn’t think I would ever set foot on a soccer field again. However, once I started to hear about club soccer and that they offered tryouts, I decided to give it a chance,” she said. “Trying out for the club soccer team has probably been one of my best decisions I’ve made for my college experience. Not only has the club team allowed me to rekindle my love for the game, but also helped me find some of my closest friends here at Sonoma.”

The Sonoma State Women’s soccer club Vice President Samantha Arreola explains why she chose to play club soccer for three years, “I wanted to continue to play competitive soccer, but with the ability to balance school and a social life”.

To join the women’s soccer club, members must have above a 2.0 grade point average, experience playing soccer, and a positive attitude.

The Woman’s club soccer team will be having open training in early September. Home games are played on the Beaujoulis Field or in Petaluma at the Petaluma Community Sports Field.

If students are interested in joining the women’s club soccer team, they can email Scarlett Garcia garciasc@sonoma.edu.

Football spirit

SPORTS SCHEDULE Thursday Sept. 8

COURTESY // Scarlett Garcia

Christopher S chwarz Staff Writer

W

ith fall semester starting at universities nationwide, eager freshman f lock to schools with the visions of having new life experiences, making new friends, and for the lucky ones-going to their school’s football games on Saturday nights.

For college freshman, Saturday night football games are one of the few things familiar to the life they left behind in high school.

College football is not only a friendly reminder to students of the life they left to start a new but can also provide universities with financial benefits as well.

According to the

NCAA, Division II schools with football programs generated a median revenue of $5.3 million in 2012 as opposed to the $3.97 million schools without football programs generated. These financial profits can allow for an increase in both a school’s athletic and general scholarship funds allowing for more opportunities for future students to thrive and succeed at the given university.

College football can bring certain intangible that bring together the student body, alumni and community as a whole.

It is clear that Sonoma State University lacks major school spirit by those in attendance at the sporting events. When you attend sports events the majority of the crowd are friends and family of the players. Even compared to smaller universities that have football teams the crowds simply don’t match up.

Take Linfield University, a small Division 3 school in Oregon with around 2500 students who boasts sixty consecutive winning seasons in a row.

“The whole town basically shuts down when we have home games” said senior running back Sutter Choisser. “We have a lot alumni who were apart of the streak come to game which is always a cool thing to see”. As for the student attendance Choisser said “The student section gets pretty wild. Especia lly in big games they really do help bring an edge to us”. When asked about the mood of the university Choisser said that “On campus during the fall everyone is excited because every year [the team] plays for a championship.”

Now with such a successful team it is easy to say that the winning is the only reason the team gets support from the student, alumni, and community, however, “The spirit from the football season carries over into other sports in the fall as well as the general happiness around campus” said Choisser.

College football is about so much more then the sport itself. It’s about giving the school an identity, a purpose, a heart beat.

Panthers @ Broncos 5:30 p.m.

Men’s Soccer

Friday Sept. 9

@ Azusa Pacific

Women’s Volleyball

7:30 p.m.

vs Western Washing-

Sunday Sept. 11

ton

NFL Week One

10 a.m.

Wolves Den

COURTESY // The Linfield Review Oregon’s divisoin III Linfield University student body goes crazy for their team

Page 12

Photo

Aug. 30 - Sept. 5, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

A Smart Approach to HOME

THREE

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