Volume 77 // Issue 3

In this issue:

Student Life: Local hip-hop artist visits SSU. Pg. 9.

Opinion: Death penalty an ethical decision for voters this year. Pg. 3 Sports: Men’s soccer has yet to clinch a win. Pg. 11 A&E: “Sully” flies into theaters and wows audiences. Pg. 7 SINCE 1979

VOLUME 77 // ISSUE 3

SEPTEMBER 13 - SEPTEMBER 19, 2016

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

Sonoma State University ranks high in annual Princeton Review

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Nate Galvan Staff Writer

or the second consecutive year, the Princeton Review has selected Sonoma State University as not only one of the best colleges in the Western United States, but one of the best colleges in the entire nation.

By surveying 143,000 students across the United States, the Princeton Review selected the top 381 colleges in the country, including 126 schools in the 14 states listed in the Western Region.

“Any type of accolade or visual form of publication is great,” said Director of Enrollment Management at Sonoma State Gustavo Flores. “With this type of accolade there will be a number of students interested in Sonoma State that will see this accomplishment and want to read more into what our university is about.”

The Princeton Review’s best colleges list does not rank schools from 1-381. Instead, it uses 62 different categorical lists, such as “Best Classroom Experience,” “Best College Library,” and “Best Campus Food,” to rank schools from 1-to-20 based on the responses given by the surveyed students.

The survey contains questions based on a school’s academics and administration, a student’s life at their respective college, their fellow students and the students themselves. In the 2015-16 school year, Sonoma State was ranked in the “Best College Dorms” list at number 12 while this year the university is not ranked in the top 20 in any of the 62 categories.

Some students are aware of the recognition Sonoma

COURTESY // Brennan Chin Sonoma State landed in the top 20 best dormitories for the 2015-16 school year. The university is listed among the top 381 universities in the nation.

State has received over the past few years, but there are a few students who feel the university can do even better.

“One of the reasons I came to Sonoma State was because of the dorms,” said Erin Lynch, a fourth year math major, “I know that complaints about the quality of housing in Verdot have been around for a few years now and that could be why we are not ranked in the top 20 this year.”

Other California State Universities’ that were select-

ed as the top colleges for the 2016-17 school year were East Bay, Long Beach, San Bernardino and Stanislaus.

CSU Long Beach was featured on the “Colleges That Pay You Back” list, meaning the school offers many benefits to its students post graduation, while CSU Stanislaus was ranked in the top 20 for having the least happiest students.

See PRINCETON on Pg. 5

Students warned about phishing Sierra Straub Staff Writer

S

STAR // Megan Corcoran Construction on the ampitheater has begun but has been delayed due to new administration.

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Construction stalled at Green Music Center

he proposed MasterCard Outdoor Pavilion, with the planned location east of the Green Music Center, is being put on pause for the time being by new administrative leadership.

“Soft opening construction has started and is underway on the project, but the MasterCard Outdoor Pavilion will be paused until the new leadership has an understanding as a whole of the project as its planned currently,” said Christopher Dinno, associate vice president for Administration and Finance, Facilities Operations and Planning.

The proposed MasterCard Pavilion is supposed to be a state-of-the-art pavilion made to compliment the Green Music Center by being the center for more contemporary artists with rock, pop and hip-hop being the focus. The pavilion would have fixed seating and an additional lawn. Comparisons of the project are being made to The Greek Theater at University of California, Berkeley and the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View.

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The original proposed price for the project was $15 million. The pavilion project has evolved over the years since then and is looking at a new price point of $8.6 million - $10.6 million dollars, as the pavilion has been scaled down. This new price point would all depend if the project finds funding to have the proposed 1000 fixed seats and cross aisle along with miscellaneous items like agency approvals and architectural fees.

The construction portion itself would be approximately $ 6.5 million. The proposed lawn would be able to fit 8700-8800 occupants with a total of around 10,000 occupants all together. The pavilion project would also include ADA compliant tables and chairs. The project would save money by being able to re-use the LED screen from the Green Music Center south lawn as it can be broken down into two pieces.

See GREEN MUSIC CENTER on Pg. 4

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@sonomastatestar

onoma State University students received an email warning on Sept. 1 about the dangers of scams designed as emails seeking personal information, more commonly referred to as phishing scams.

Phishing, as defined by the Federal Trade Commission, is “when internet fraudsters impersonate a business to trick you into giving personal information.”

A typical phishing scam consists of cyber criminals sending a phony link asking recipients to provide personal information, such as social security numbers or bank account information. Unaware that it is a scam, recipients oblige, providing the sender with sensitive personal information.

Andru Luvisi, the information and security officer for police and safety services at Sonoma State, sent an email warning the campus community about the dangers of phishing.

“There’s always some phishing going on, but when we see heightened activity, we like to send out a reminder,” said Luvisi.

Some Sonoma State students found the email to be very well timed.

“The email was helpful because now we all know what phishing is and to look out for it,” said junior communications major Alice Tennigkeit.

Luvisi said phishing scams have been around for many years, and emails can come from a number of different sources.

“I’ve seen phishing emails claiming to come from a huge number of sources, including auction sites, online bookstores, internet service providers, email services, banks and the Sonoma State IT Help Desk,” Luvisi said.

A Better Business Bureau study found that the younger, more educated demographic is often targeted.

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The study collected data from more than 30,000 individuals and found that 34 percent of 18 to 24 year olds lose money in online scams.

A North Carolina State University study found that out of a group of 53 undergraduate students, only 7.5 percent were able to identify all of the scam emails. Emails are created to look realistic and believable, making it harder to identify them as a phishing scam.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, emails will often request account information to be updated due to suspicious activity, request information verification by clicking a link, or warn that accounts may be suspended or even closed if information is not provided.

There are a number of different ways to identify phishing scams, as well as tips to help prevent yourself from becoming a victim.

In his email, Luvisi advised students to never respond to any spam or phishing emails, and to never click suspicious links or attachments. He also advised students to never provide account information through email, and reminded students that Sonoma State’s IT department will never ask for a username and password in an email.

Luvisi recommends Sonoma State students change their passwords immediately if they become a victim of phishing.

“Phishing doesn’t just affect your individual security. It also affects campus security because if your account is compromised, the attackers are able to use Sonoma State’s system for illegal purposes, such as sending out additional spam and phishing emails to others,” said Luvisi.

If you receive a suspicious email, report it to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@ antiphishing.org.

Sonoma State students who receive a suspicious email can contact the IT Help Desk at 707-664-HELP or IT.Helpdesk@sonoma.edu.

Visit: sonomastatestar.com

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Editorial

Sept. 13 - Sept. 19, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

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

Staff Writers Trevor Abrams, Travis Adams, Alexis Austin, Phil Baculik, Taylor Berghoff, Analy Bravo, Karlee Budge, Amanda Buth, Ronald Campos, Francisco Carbajal, Braden 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: “When heads collide” South Carolina Panthers Quarterback, Cam Newton found himself on the sidelines last week against the Denver Broncos when he sufffered a head injury. This raised questions to the NFL’s policies on penalities and head injuries.

Read the story on page 11

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

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

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

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

STAR // Julia Albo

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Safe spaces open to public, with conditions

wo weeks ago, the president of University of Chicago, John Ellison, sparked controversy when he sent out a letter to incoming freshmen stating the university doesn’t “support socalled ‘trigger warnings’ ... and we do not condone the creation of intellectual ‘safe spaces’ where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own.”

The message this sends to students? Toughen up, college is supposed to push you to and past your limits.

Not only do incoming students already feel anxious about starting a new chapter of their lives, but now they might feel like they don’t have safe spaces to turn to. This also means that ‘trigger warnings’ by professors that alert students to potentially sensitive material may no longer be provided.

While Ellison was responding to the overstepping of safe spaces and trigger warnings, he didn’t address it correctly.

On one end, safe spaces can expand too far, shutting out any

opposition and impeding on freedom of speech. On the other side, many students, especially minorities and those with mental illness, may need a space where they can take a break from harsh realities and recuperate.

Where do we draw the line?

Should the university decide what safe spaces students have, or whether or not professors should use trigger warnings?

The discussion is complex, and there isn’t a clear-cut answer.

We shouldn’t shut out visitors who have opposing views just because the content might be offensive, but we also should not force students to be put in situations where they feel persecuted.

Safe spaces like CAPS, the Hub and the DREAM Center should be protected by the university. These spaces help students decompress from the stresses of life and seek help from peers in similar situations.

Other safe spaces should be ran by students, and the university should allow space on campus for these groups to meet. Speakers of all kinds should still be allowed

on campus, but students should be able to choose whether they would like to attend these events.

As far as trigger warnings, individual professors should be allowed to choose whether or not to use them.

Some graphic content, such as abuse, violence or gore, could cause students extreme discomfort or anxiety. A heads-up for this kind of content is warranted.

Universities give opportunities to discover new things, new cultures and new interests to become a more informed and wellrounded individual.

There will be times when personal views are opposed and there is a time and place for heated discourse. This is healthy and hiding from all “offensive” discourse closes off individuals from reality.

However, no one should get to decide when to force someone into extremely uncomfortable situations.

Universities should be a place to promote discussion and present opposing viewpoints, while respecting all individuals and all viewpoints.

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

Letter from the University of Chicago about trigger warnings

EDITOR’S NOTE: What follows is the contents of a letter the president of the University of Chicago sent in August to all incoming freshmen. It has sparked a nationwide controversy about the role of “trigger warnings” on college campuses. For more on this, see the editorial above.

Dear Class of 2020 Student:

Welcome and congratulations on your acceptance to the College of Chicago. Earning a place in our community of scholars is no small achievement and we are delighted that you selected Chicago to continue your intellectual journey.

Once here you will discover that one of the University of Chicago’s defining characteristics is our commitment to freedom of inquiry and expression. This is captured in the University’s faculty report on freedom of expression. Members of our community are encouraged to speak, write, listen, challenge and learn, without fear of censorship. Civility and mutual respect are vital to all of us, and freedom of expression does not mean the freedom to harass or threaten others. You will find that we expect members of our community to be engaged in vigorous debate, discussion, and even disagreement. At times this may challenge you and even cause discomfort.

Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called “trigger warnings,” we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual “safe spaces” where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own.

Fostering the free exchange of ideas reinforces a related University priority- building a campus that welcomes people of all backgrounds. Diversity of opinion and background is a fundamental strength of our community. The members of our community must have the freedom to espouse and explore a wide range of ideas.

I am enclosing a short monograph by Dean John W. Boyer, the Martin A. Ryerson Distinguished Service Professor in HIstory and Dean of the College, which provides a helpful primer. This monograph, entitled Academic Freedom and the Modern University: The Experience of the University of Chicago, recounts the history of debate, and even scandal, resulting from our commitment to academic freedom.

If you are interested in some of the source material mentioned in Dean Boyer’s book, you can find links to the important reports (ed.g.the Kalven report, the Stone report,ect.), at the website maintained by our University Provost at http://freeexpression.uchicago.edu/.

Again, welcome to the University of Chicago. See you in September!

Sincerely, Jay John (Jay) Ellison, PhD Dean of Students in The College

Opinion

Sept. 13 - Sept. 19, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

Yes, your vote does matter

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Legalize recreational weed? Might as well.

Kaite Haga Staff Writer

Jahred Nunes Staff Writer

ccording to records at University of California Santa Barbara, the 2008 United States elections held the largest voter turnout since 1968, yet nearly two thirds of the American voting population didn’t even cast a ballot.

How can this be? America, the oldest continuous democracy, isn’t voting?

Believe it. The Pew Research Center in Washington, D.C. estimated the United States had the ninth-lowest voting rate in 2008 out of 35 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Could this be the American laziness stereotype coming to fruition? Or perhaps a tragic disconnect from an American privilege?

Millennial voters have the opportunity to add diversity to the voting results and therefore create a more accurate and realistic idea of who and what America wants.

Critics are divided. Either way, one thing is certain; citizens who do not utilize their right to vote won’t have their voice heard in elections.

It’s important to note today’s young voters between the ages of 18 and 29 hold a very unique spot in the voting population.

As of 2015, the US Census Bureau estimated the millennial generation (18-34 in 2015) has surpassed the baby boomers (51-69 in 2015) as America’s largest generation. Millennials have the numbers.

According to the United States Election Project in 2012, however, voters ages 45-60+ amassed a turnout rate of nearly 70 percent, while voters ages 18-29 straggled in with barely 40 percent.

The fact of the matter is millennial voters have the opportunity to add diversity to the voting results and therefore create a more accurate and realistic idea of who and what America wants for the future.

Admittedly, voting can be intimidating and can often seem one-sided. It’s not uncommon nor is it far-fetched to believe voting doesn’t really matter because the chance one vote will make difference is next to zero.

Ironically, this concept is based on the flawed assumption that there is no reason to vote if that vote won’t decide the election.

The National Bureau of Economic Research estimated a single voter has a one in 60 million chance to be the decisive vote in a presidential election.

Voting in a democracy is about the people, not the individual. Period.

Though it’s near impossible for a single voter to decide a large-scale election, if everyone casted a ballot it could happen.

Let’s not forget that voting isn’t all about the president. It isn’t just their name on the ballot.

Simply put, a president is only as good as their House of Representatives or Senate, two entities that essentially make or break anything the next president plans to do.

If nothing else, voting is a way to systematically and justifiably complain, not only about elected officials, but legislation.

This year’s election is a chance to hold elected officials accountable for the things they promise, but the voice of the people is needed to make that happen.

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M

arijuana has made its way back onto the ballot in hopes of being legal-

ized.

Although California was the first state in the nation to legalize medical marijuana usage, it has yet to be legalized for recreational usage.

This isn’t the first time Californians have seen this type of proposition on our state ballot.

Proposition 19, also known as the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act, was proposed in 2010 but was defeated.

If it had been approved, Proposition 19 would have legalized various marijuana-related activities in California, allowing local governments to regulate these activities.

Proposition 64 is fairly similar to the Proposition 19 however, this year’s marijuana proposition is designated to legalize recreational marijuana and hemp under state law.

This proposition calls for the recreational use of marijuana by adults 21 or older and prohibits marketing and advertising of pot directly to minors.

Unlike other drugs, such as alcohol and tobacco, who seem to target minors.

Compared to those two drugs, weed is less harmful.

In comparison to tobacco, marijuana is shown to be better for your health.

To start, tobacco and cigarettes have nicotine in them and marijuana doesn’t.

Instead, pot contains THC, which is well known for treating nausea and vomiting caused by cancer medications as well as increasing the appetite of people with AIDS. Not to mention, marijuana makes it easier for you to relax, which isn’t only good for your health but also for your well-being.

Proposition 64 also aims to reduce criminal justice costs by authorizing re-sentencing and destruction of records for prior marijuana convictions.

This will make room in prisons for those who truly deserve to serve time in prison for more serious crimes such as murder and rape, not for possession of a harmless drug.

Although there are several fair counter arguments, it seems as if there is more support for the legalization of marijuana than there is opposition.

A survey done by the Center for Public Affairs Research found

that 61 percent of Americans, say they support marijuana legalization.

Using data from the same survey, the Washington Post reported 70 percent of Democrats, 65 percent of Independents and 47 percent of Republicans support legalization.

As of Sept. 1, the support campaign has raised over $11 million, more than 61 times the amount of funds the opposition campaign had raised.

There are four states in the nation that have legalized marijuana (Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington) and they seem to be doing fairly well.

In 2014, around $700 million worth of both medical and recreational marijuana was sold in Colorado.

In 2015, stores f lew past that mark with two months to spare, this being the first time recreational sales outpaced medical sales, according to The Denver Post.

The statewide revenue from dedicated marijuana taxes easily topped the money from alcohol taxes.

It has only been two years since pot became legal in Colorado and it is a thriving business.

The legalization of marijuana would do more good than harm.

It’s a process that needs to be eased into and have each counter argument considered so that the negative effects can be handled and regulated.

Gender wage gap still affecting women taken place which proves this might not be the case.

A recent study by the Cass Business School, the University of Warwick in the U.K. and the University of Wisconsin, found that men are 25 percent more likely to receive a raise when asking for one.

Amira Dabbas Staff Writer

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ccording to National Women’s Law Center, American women who work full-time earn 79 cents for every dollar a man earns.

This means women have to work almost three months more in order to match what a man in the same position makes in one year.

I’ve always been under the impression that the reason women weren’t receiving equal pay was because they were just not asking for raises, too afraid to look assertive or not wanting to create tension.

I thought women work lower paying jobs, or worked more parttime positions. This was the sad conclusion I had come to, accepting this depressing truth.

However, a recent study has

Women have to work almost three months more in order to match what a man in the same postion made in one year.

One of the study’s authors, Andrew Oswald, a professor of economics at the University of Warwick, stated, “having seen these findings, [I] think we have to accept that there is some element of pure discrimination against women.”

The researchers conducted their study in Australia, since it’s the only country that collects data about workers asking for raises.

According to Oswald, Australia was highly likely to be a representative of behavior in other major economies.

The good news is this research shows my assumptions were wrong, and there is an underlying factor that is contributing to the problem that

isn’t just women being “too scared.”

The bad news is this validates our worst fears, women are still being discriminated against in the workplace.

According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, if women started receiving equal pay immediately, it would result in an annual $447.6 billion gain nationally for women and their families.

As hard as this is to believe, it seems as though this is still the uncomfortable reality we live in.

It may not be something college students think about right now, but this gap affects women’s retirement in social security and pensions.

This is our future we are gambling with, and we need to set ourselves up for success.

I’m planning to graduate from college in the next two years, and when I begin my career I expect to receive the same pay as any man with my same degree and qualifications.

We’re making some progress, the gender wage gap is the narrowest we have ever seen, but there is still so much more we can do.

Let’s get the conversation started, both women and men.

Let our generation be the ones to come up with a way to bridge this gap and move forward.

Voters to make ethical call on death penalty

Naaman Hightower Staff Writer

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or a minority of inmates in California prisons, Nov. 8 will be their own judgment day.

Voters will decide the fate of those on the notorious death row. The decision of whether to live or die, placed in human hands.

California Proposition 62 could spare the lives of murderers, rapists,

molesters and others who are viewed as unfit to live among humanity for the rest of their days.

If passed, Propisition 62 replaces the death penalty with life without the possibility of parole.

I vote yes.

Coming from a spiritual place, who are we to say who lives, and who dies? Only one person is allowed to do that.

Does this mean that the scum of the earth listed above can simply do their vile deeds without having to pay the ultimate price?

Well let’s take a look at the socalled “ultimate price.”

According to Amnesty International, in California the current prison system costs $137 million dollars per year. A system without the death penalty would cost $11.5 million dollars per year, according to a recent study by the group.

Imagine what our valued tax dol-

lars could be put toward.

In the same vein, what lesson does it teach the offender? A quick painless death for a heinous crime that affects families and friends for the rest of their lives.

On top of that, many studies show the death penalty has many f laws.

One study in particular, conducted by the New York Times, shows the race bias in the death penalty.

Since 1977, the majority of death row defendants, almost 77 percent, have been executed for killing white victims, even though African-Americans make up about half of all homicide victims.

Why would someone vote no on Propostion 62?

Many conservatives from the southern United States believe in “an eye for an eye,” which means the punishment should fit the crime exactly. A murderer should be murdered through our government, essentially.

Also, California Proposition 66 is also a big topic during this election time.

This proposition keeps the death penalty in place, while speeding up the appeals process, and establishing a time frame for death penalty review, thus saving our valuable tax money.

Both propositions would require prisoners on death row to work while in prison and pay restitution to victims’ families, which is a plus for both sides.

This proposition is so controversial because we must consider the victim’s family.

What do they want to see happen to the person who committed the crime on their loved one?

Forgiveness is often a coping tool for some, while revenge coats the hearts of many who feel as if they have been violated.

Whichever way you choose to vote this election year, know that your vote will change someone’s life forever.

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News

Sept. 13 - Sept. 19, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

University library to celebrate diversity Charlotte Grayson Staff Writer

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his semester, Sonoma State University has introduced an initiative to emphasize and acknowledge the importance of diversity among students, faculty and staff. As part of that effort, the Sonoma State library is honoring Hispanic/Latino heritage month with a display recognizing Hispanic and Latino faculty, students and staff.

The display is located on the second floor of the library and will be on public viewing for the duration of Hispanic/Latino heritage month, which is observed from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 every year.

The display showcases books by Latino or Hispanic authors, Hispanic or Latino characters or individuals and includes written testimonials from students and faculty who shared stories of their heritage and experiences.

“The University Library has begun a special focus this semester, funded in the form of a Schulz fellowship, on creating a more inclusive space that reflects the diversity of our campus,” said Schulz Diversity Fellow and Librarian Marjorie Lear, who was responsible for the creation of the display.

The university’s effort seeks to recognize and highlight the diverse faculty and student body at Sonoma State. Information from the Office of Academic Affairs, compiled by Dr. Elisa Velasquez-Andrade, current chair and professor of the department of psychology, shows that of the over 500 members of Sonoma State’s faculty, more than 400 of them are Caucasian, with less than 100 faculty members of all racial or ethnic minorities combined.

“With a new president and administration, Sonoma State can take advantage of a meaningful institutional change. We need to align priorities to fully achieve our Sonoma State mission and diversity vision to educate our students to succeed in a global and diverse society,” said Velasquez-Andrade.

The new display in the library for Hispanic/Latino heritage month, posted on Sept. 6, is the first example of the effort that was implemented this semester to showcase Sonoma State’s diverse faculty, staff and student body.

“We were delighted to learn that Alianza for Equity had formed recently to invite Sonoma State staff, faculty and students to come together and address issues of equity and diversity on campus,” said Lear.

Alianza for Equity is a group of Sonoma State faculty, staff and students who address concerns related to racial and ethnic inequality and diversity affecting Sonoma State’s campus and the community as a whole.

Lear asked members of the group to share their stories in order to include them in the display.

Lear also had help with making the display from Velasquez-Andrade’s multicultural psychology students. The students reviewed all of the stories that Lear gathered and found the common themes among the stories. Then they sought relevant texts from the library, including “Bless Me Ultima”, a commonly assigned book for high school students, and a biography of the first Latina Supreme Court

STAR // Charlotte Grayson Hispanic/Latino heritage month will be observed in the Sonoma State library from Sept. 15 - Oct. 15. The Jean and Charles Schulz Information Center will host Pan y Cafe events which will be held in Schulz 2019 on Sept. 28 and Oct. 26.

Justice, Sonia Sotomayor and included them in the display.

Velasquez-Andrade described the display as a collaboration between the group Alianza for Equality and students in her mulitcultural psychology class as part of the required service-learning component of the class.

The display also features an invitation to two Pan y Café events will be held in the library during Hispanic/Latino heritage month.

The two events, which promise discussion and food, are set to take place in Schulz 2019 on Sept. 28 and Oct. 26 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Those involved with the display and the university’s effort to showcase, along with honoring diversity among students, faculty and staff shared their happiness with the display and their optimism for how diversity will be celebrated on campus this semester.

“Our Sonoma State Library diversity initiative is an excellent model to start honoring racial, ethnic and cultural diverse populations on campus,” said Velasquez-Andrade. “Visitors have the opportunity to enhance their awareness and knowledge about Latinos on campus and the diversity within this group.”

STAR // Megan Corcoran Construction on the The MasterCard Pavillion, an outdoor ampitheatre located east of the Green Music Center, has been put on hold until the new administration can decide to move forward. If rennovations were to continue, it’s estimated to be completed by March of next year.

GREEN MUSIC CENTER: Administration puts no rush on MasterCard Pavillion Continued from Pg. 1

The MasterCard Pavillion would also create more student jobs.

“We heavily rely on the student group and are very grateful for the student help,” said Dinno.

Some students are excited about the possibility of the project.

“I really do hope that the new administration lets this project go through. I’d love to see some of my favorite bands and artists really close to campus and I wouldn’t have to commute to the city to go get my fix,” said Joi Fisher, a junior at Sonoma State.

Stan Nosek, the new interim vice president for administration and finance is part of the new administration leadership that is overlooking the project.

“As a new person coming in on all the projects that we are working on, I want to stop and say ‘how is this funded?’ ‘What’s the purpose?’ ‘How are we marketing?’

How does it impact all the other things that are going on on-campus? Those of us that are new are saying, ‘Let’s just take a step back and look at everything and make sure it makes sense as much as it did when it was originally planned. That’s the process we’re in now,” said Nosek.

Other projects that are being developed with more rush are the renovation to Stevenson Hall and critical infrastructural needs for the campus.

If the MasterCard Pavilion Project were to move forward, it would be completed in early March. Summer programing would begin in summer 2017. There is no set date for completion.

“If the project were not to go forward I don’t think it would be an issue since we can still bring a temporary stage and do all the proposed activities. We are currently doing all those shows mostly on the south lawn. We just need to step back and take a look at it very closely,” said Dinno.

News

Sept. 13 - Sept. 19, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

Campus community receives national attention Kitana Gachero Staff Writer

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alifornia State University- Los Angeles has sparked some controversy with its announcement that it is creating a new housing complex catered for AfricanAmerican students on campus.

The complex, Halisi Scholars Black Living-Learning Community, officially opened for fall 2016 and has 24 students living in the dorms. Since spring of 2016, the Black Scholars United club on CSULA’s campus have been pushing for housing catered to AfricanAmerican students on campus.

“The learning communities’ purpose is to enhance residential living experience and promote academic excellence relevant to everyone,” said Robert Lopez, executive director for communications and public affairs at Cal State University, Los Angeles.

The decision has generated a certain amount of debate. Since being opened, certain publications have described the new housing complex as “segregated housing for black students.” Lopez disputed that claim, saying that the housing complex would be open to everyone.

“We don’t segregate,” said Lopez, “Housing is open for everyone and the Halisi housing is one of our four themed living communities”.

According to africanblackcoalition.org, the Black Student Union, wrote a detailed letter to the administrators of the university demanding a set of policies that would support the black student population on campus.

One of the demands argued for was housing delegated for black students that would provide a more affordable housing solution.

Many of the demands cater to the financial and academic success of black students on campus.

“This housing, similar to ones on many

other campuses, provides a place for black students to cohabitate with others who are of similar backgrounds and experiences,” said Nia Johnson, Cal State Los Angeles student and member of the Black Student Union, “The Halisi apartments are an undoubtedly welcoming environment for black students and overall it motivates black students to go to college.”

Sonoma State student Marisol Magana lived in a themed living community her freshman year and has positive feedback on the experience.

“I’m more comfortable living in a dorm with people similar to my background, however it’s important to branch out and mingle with other people,” said Magana, “After living with all Latinas freshman year, then living with a more diverse group of girls the next year, it gave me a perspective on why it is important to have themed living communities.”

Various university campuses across the nation offer African-American themed housing, which include University of California, Berkeley, Stanford and University of California, Los Angeles.

Sonoma State also has themed on-campus living, such as, gender-inclusive, first generation and sustainable living.

“This is a progressive decision made by CSULA that promotes positive culture on campus, however, the topic can be misconstrued if not communicated properly,” said Residential Life Coordinator Tramaine Austin-Dillion.

Austin-Dillion is the coordinator for one of Sonoma State’s themed living communities called U-Engage.

“These villages mainly offer housing to sophomore, junior, transfer, gender-inclusive and international housing,” said Austin-Dillion, “I’m curious to know how the curriculum created by the Residential Life department at CSULA will cater to the AfricanAmerican themed living community.”

PRINCETON: Sonoma State rates low for professor accessibility Continued from Pg. 1

According to the Princeton Review website, Sonoma State’s quality of life rating, based on a 60-99 scale, was given an overall score of 84.

This grade is weighted on students’ overall assessments on different aspects of campus life such as overall happiness, the safety of campus, the comfort of the dorms and the overall appearance of the school itself.

“The Student Center, as well as the Green Music Center, are all aspects of campus that make the school stand out,” said Dylan Krings, a fourth-year psychology major. “Those buildings, along with our dorms, really do make this school more prestigious.”

Other than the quality of life, Sonoma

State’s highest rankings, all scored based on student responses to select survey questions, were in fire safety and financial aid with scores of 85 and 82 respectively.

The university’s lowest ranking is in professor accessibility with an overall score of 72.

“I haven’t encountered too many problems with reaching my teachers during my time here,” said Stephen Johnson, a third-year history major. “The classes are getting bigger, with the amount of students coming in, but I think classroom size is still not that big compared to other colleges.”

All of the information regarding Sonoma State’s rankings and scores can be found on the Princeton Review website, princetonreview.com, or by purchasing the 880-page book called “The Best 381 Colleges, 2017 Edition”, which includes a more in-depth catalog of rankings and scores from each college.

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Page 5

NEWS IN BRIEF

SACRAMENTO The California Conservation Corps reopened a camp to train three crews of young civilians to fight fires alongside firefighters and inmates. Corps Director Bruce Saito expects at least four more fire crews, each with 15 members, ready and operational by next summer. The dependence of volunteer fighters continues to rise as the drought continues in California.

LOS ANGELES Around 1 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11, vandals destroyed a 9/11 memorial on the Occidental College campus. American flags were crushed, snapped and discarded in the trashcan. A total of 2,997 flags were ripped out of the ground, one for each victim of 9/11. According to Occidental College Republican Club, not one flag was left in the ground and vandals put posters and fliers up shaming 9/11 victims.

BEIRUT, LEBANON Late Friday the United States and Russia negotiated a tentative cease-fire for Syria. This cease-fire was reached to ensure that food and medicine can reach civilians. This peaceful time took effect Monday and within the first hour, violations were reported. Text messages reported government helicopters dropped explosives on a rebel-held district, while a rebel faction claimed to have killed four government workers.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte called for the United States to withdraw any and all remaining military advisers on Monday. President Duterte warned U.S. presence in a southern island makes them a valuable target from one particular extremist military group called Abu Sayyaf. This group is know for kidnapping and beheading Westerners.

Troops have been stationed in the Southern Philippines since 2002.

PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA Torrential floods hit North Korea last month, leading to more than 100,000 people homeless, according to aid workers. The country is now seeking help from the international community, after the government announced 133 people dead and 395 people missing.

Page 6

Arts

Sept. 13 - Sept. 19, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

Student Spotlight: Paul MacKinnon Ronald Campos Staff Writer

H

ere at Sonoma State University, the Green Music Center not only serves as a concert hall with multiple venues, but it also provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate their acting skills in theatre. One student who shines is Paul MacKinnon.

MacKinnon is a senior currently majoring in English and minoring in theatre.

Growing up in Daly City, MacKinnon eventually moved to San Francisco to attend San Francisco State University, where he focused on becoming an engineer.

After enduring several challenges with the computer engineering program at San Francisco State, MacKinnon decided to pursue humanities at Sonoma State.

The main reason why he chose to attend Sonoma State, was to get away from the city and the environment.

Sonoma State made him feel like he had a fresh start to begin a new career.

Here he developed a passion for acting and was able to inspire others through his self-expression in theatre.

One person who influenced him to pursue theatre growing up was the protagonist “Dr. Simon Locke” from the television drama show, “Police Surgeon.”

In this television show, Dr. Locke plays the role of a police officer who is also a physician. Throughout this television series, Dr. Locke’s character grew on MacKinnon which inspired him to express himself more through theatre.

During high school he got involved in acting and got his first performance in Romeo and Juliet. Over time, MacKinnon began to love theatre, but he believed pursuing computer engineering should be his priority.

However due to several life challenges, MacKinnon chose to go with

theatre in the end because it was a way for him to cope with his problems by expressing his emotions on stage.

This October, MacKinnon will be performing at the GMC for an opera event called “The Magic of the Flute.”

MacKinnon will be playing the role of Monostatos.

Monostatos is an anomaly with a strange personality and throughout the play he is misunderstood by the other characters.

He is portrayed as a mean and greedy servant of Sarastro, the high priest of the Sun. As an actor, MacKinnon challenges people to think from the heart and not from the brain.

Upon graduating next semester, MacKinnon plans on traveling to New York City where he will search for opportunities in theatre.

MacKinnon’s dream is to make it to broadway and voice out his opinion on social issues such as racial discrimination, gender crimes and hate crimes.

“Theatre should be used to solve the social issues our society is facing today. The race, hate and gender crimes. Every creature on the planet is not born equal,” said MacKinnon.

“However, human beings are the only creatures with the unique capacity to not only treat each other as equals, but also give others an equal chance. As a society it is our responsibility to make use of those rare talents.”

For MacKinnon, his journey doesn’t end after graduating. Afterwards MacKinnon aspires to achieve a master’s degree in fine arts.

With it, MacKinnon plans on making theatre more available for those less fortunate and inspire newcomers by becoming a director.

In hopes of spreading equality and change, MacKinnon plans on coordinating plays where social issues are addressed and solved.

MacKinnon dreams of making change through theatre by whatever means necessary.

COURTESY // Paul MacKinnon MacKinnon as Harold Dobbs in “Proof” at Sonoma Arts Live.

COURTESY // Gerard Desrosiers “Wood, Paper, Ink: Contemporary Woodcuts” is open until Oct. 16.

University Art Gallery branches out with woodcuts Gerard Desrosiers Staff Writer

A

ttendees of the “Wood, Paper, Ink: Contemporary Woodcuts” gallery entered into the museum to witness a modern take on a centuries old artistry practice. The gallery is currently hosted in the Sonoma State University Art Gallery and will be there until Oct. 16.

There is no cost for admission and the experience is well worth the average under-an-hour tour time it takes to pleasantly delve into each hand-crafted piece presented wall-to-wall.

All organization and planning brought by the Gallery Director Michael Schwager and his friend and colleague, Kurt Kemp.

Many artists have their own take on the age-old medium. From large murals that occupy great spans of wall, to stop motion animation consisting entirely from woodcut material, each piece is different from the last in terms of meaning and influence, but all share one similar theme: wood.

Such as the gallery’s first piece, “Generation Panel #3,” made by creator Donna Westerman in 2014 and courtesy of Kala Art Institute in Berkeley, it sets up the juxtaposition of a paper-based print of a design beside the same design inversely engraved into a woodcut square. Both beautiful in their own right, but interesting in the way each was formed.

Past that, one could see two large Mylarstretched pieces cut into wood frames that take up a majority of space on the left side wall of the room.

A 2016 untitled creation from and contributed by Nicola Lopez stood out among others. The mix of grayscale colors and slick lines emphasize the modern look many of the

gallery contributors seemed to have strived for.

One student, Caroline Griffin, commented, “It looks like it’s two separate sides of a skyscraper--maybe two different buildings, altogether. Like the lines shoot up vertical, so I can’t shake a feeling of tallness. It could be the side of a ship, even. I don’t know, maybe a spacecraft too.”

It’s an interesting school of thought, that art can portray something beyond the capabilities of what it’s built from. It’s not often one sees a spacecraft made from wood. Next would be “The Transformation of Brandy Baghead” from Tom Huck. A 3-panel woodcut made in 2009, this display draws attention with its color-less clash of surreal exaggeration and stylistic detail, an obvious opinion piece that boasts enormity with the meticulous craft of using every inch of panel.

There isn’t an empty space on the three boards and it goes to show the love and effort these artists have come to call their standard, never taking a grain of wood for granted.

One of the final works during the tour is John Buck’s “Tattoo,” a three color woodcut, two color lithograph combination made in 1992, pops from the wall with its swirls of color generating the image of a burning man.

It’s intimidating imagery by description, but in-person it’s nothing short of a spectacle— observing an amalgam of color, craft and profound thought it’s for sure one of the most intriguing pieces to be seen at this gallery.

Other contributing artists include Sandow Birk, Roger Herman, Anish Kapoor, Jennifer Nuss, Judy Pfaff, David Salle, Dana Schutz, Kiki Smith and Tomas Vu: all of whom utilize the medium of wood, paper and ink to the fullest their capacities and then some. Anyone can spare the time to take a trip to the gallery, and it would be a shame to see this exhibit go unnoticed.

‘The Get Down’ boogies into viewers hearts Noe Felix Staff Writer

Commentary

“T

he Get Down” is unlike anything people might be expecting. It’s a fairytale through and through, and has enough charm and soul to make the wait for part two unbearable.

If you haven’t heard about Netflix’s new show, it’s about a group of teenagers living in the Bronx in the late 70s. The show is centered around the rise of hip-hop and its influence on dance, art, culture along with music and its effects on the main characters. While its first episode goes on a little too long, the strong performances and aesthetics draw the viewers in.

The show follows Ezekiel “Zeke” Figuero (Justice Smith) and Mylene Cruz (Herzien Guardiola) through their harsh upbringings in the Bronx. Zeke and Mylene are sort of like Romeo and Juliet.

Both want to be together, but can’t due to their different goals. Mylene wants to be the next disco superstar and Zeke wants to be the biggest MC out of the Bronx.

Zeke one day bumps into a legendary graffiti artist by the name of Shaolin Fantastic (Shameik Moore). The two become inseparable and proceed to work together to make hip-hop global.

The heart and soul of the show lies with the powerful performances by the cast. Smith is a star in the making, delivering the most heartfelt scenes in the show. Smith’s character intertwines with all the characters, giving them motivation for all of their actions.

In addition, his ability to rap in a spoken word tone makes him a force to be reckoned with. Hearing him spit bars really brings a smile to one’s face.

Moore, who has already been critically praised by his mesmerizing performance in “Dope,” is nothing short of spectacular. Cruz brings a lot of sass and warmth to the show, moreover, her huge voice will leave viewers in awe.

The whole look and feel to the show truly makes it a unique experience. The clothing looks straight out of a disco fever dream, with bright colors and textures dominating most of the attire. It’s almost as if someone is watching an episode of “Soul Train.”

Music plays a huge part in “The Get Down,” and it’s no surprise that it’s truly top notch. Disco fills the air with its upbeat rhythm and huge vocals.

As the show progresses in the first few episodes, old school hip-hop begins to take form. Drums and turntables become more prominent and allowed space for people to rap over.

No show is perfect and “The Get Down” suffers some flaws. Pacing is one of the biggest problems in the show so far. It takes a few episodes to pull the viewer in.

Too much time is spent on the backstory of the Bronx or

introducing a multitude of characters, it forgets that the viewer is even there.

Speaking of characters, there are too many. It takes a while to figure out the name of everyone who matters.

Multiple storylines are introduced at once, making it feel clustered and unfocused at times.

Furthermore, the show uses old footage of the Bronx from the 70s as its transitions between scenes, causing it to look grainy and cheesy.

If people are willing to endure the first few episodes, they’ll find a show that explores the emergence of hiphop and a story with heart.

facebook.com “The Get Down” premiered on Netflix August 12, earning a four and a half star rating.

Entertainment

Sept. 13 - Sept. 19, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

Page 7

Gavin DeGraw doesn’t want to be anywhere but the GMC Lucy Lopez Staff Writer

A

merican musician and singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw gave an outstanding performance on Sunday at Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center. Degraw opened the show by singing one of his top hits “Chariot.” One could feel DeGraw’s enthusiastic energy as he sang.

Degraw serenaded one of the audience members right off the bat and set the vibe for the rest of the night.

The room was filled with positive energy.

“Hearing his music puts me in such a good mood but hearing him live, wow,” said Jessica Mayer, a senior at Sonoma State University.

At the beginning of the night there was a small group of people dancing in the lawn area, but as the night progressed, the group grew bigger and bigger. At one point almost half of the people on the lawn were standing.

DeGraw even went on to sing some songs from his new album that included his new single “She Sets The City on Fire.” The crowd seemed to enjoy his new music, but they went wild when he started covering some songs from other artists, such as “Let it go” by James Bay and “Ride” by Twenty One Pilots.

At one point, DeGraw got off-stage and walked all the way back to the lawn area to sing to the people who had been dancing, and stayed there for a while as he continued to sing his song.

“He was so into his music, it just shows what an amazing artist he is,” said Kristina Medina, a junior at Sonoma State. “I’m so glad I was able to see him perform live.”

To make the crowd feel more included, or as DeGraw

COURTESY // Brennan Spark Gavin DeGraw kept audiences entertained at the GMC last Sunday by performing some of his greatest hits like “Chariot” and “I Don’t Want to Be.” put it “feel more campfirey,” he did a couple acoustic versions of his songs.

In-between songs he would share some commentary about his experiences touring in different countries and give background about his songs. One was able to see his personality by the way he performed.

“The fact that he was so engaging with the audience made it very memorable and I really liked that, because not many artists can do that,” said senior Julianna Ponce.

Towards the end of the show, DeGraw paid tribute to all soldiers in the crowd by singing one of his well-known songs “Solider.”

He mentioned he wanted to write a song that por-

trayed appreciation for all the sacrifices soldiers make, but the song wouldn’t do their service any justice.

Before he played the song, DeGraw clarified what he meant by his use of the word “soldier.” He stated that everyone in the crowd was a soldier because we’ve all made sacrifices and have gone above and beyond to help out a certain person, and that’s what he considers a solider to be.

DeGraw shared with the audience after playing his last song how much it meant to be here on the 15 year anniversary of 9/11. He was in New York when the planes crashed into the Twin Towers, and being here performing was very therapeutic for him.

Grouplove sweeps the competition with ‘Big Mess’ K endall G rove Staff Writer

Review

facebook.com “Sully” earned a whopping $35.5 million on its opening weekend.

‘Sully’ soars through its opening weekend Marcella Richmond Staff Writer

Review

C

hesley Sullenberger, a man otherwise known as Captain Sully, landed a plane on the Hudson River with the assistance of his co-pilot Jeff Skiles on January 15, 2009.

Not only did these two men land the plane flawlessly, but they saved 155 lives as well.

Tom Hanks took on the role of Sully and nailed the part, one can only admire the grace and poise he brought to the screen.

His co-pilot, played by Aaron Eckhart, was spot on and brought many laughs to the theater.

US Airways Flight 1549 was struck by a flock of geese shortly after take off.

Neither of the pilots had experienced both engines failing at 2800 ft.

With quick thinking and 42 years of flying under his belt, Sully did the seemingly impossible and landed the plane on the Hudson River.

The duration of film shows Sully’s daily struggle with being away from his family and dealing with an investigation.

The investigation led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), went immediately underway, attempting to prove that Sully could have made it back to the airport, rather than landing in the Hudson. Even though he saved every passenger’s life, it didn’t seem to matter.

Director Clint Eastwood, brought this true story to life in the most beautiful way. Eastwood makes the audience

engulf themselves in the story and feel Sully’s emotions.

The film begins immediately with Sully waking up from a nightmare he had about the crash.

The reenactment of the crash doesn’t come right away.

Eastwood built up the suspense, so by the time the audience saw it, they were on the edge of their seats.

Rotten Tomatoes gave the film with an 84 percent rating.

Rotten Tomatoes judges movies relatively harsh, so this rating says something special about this film.

Though the film is based on Captain Sully’s true story, the investigators are not happy with their portrayal in the film, according to Daily Mail.

The investigators appear to be evil and somewhat heartless until the end of the film. They seemed as though they would go to the ends of the earth to prove Sully should not have landed the plane in the Hudson River.

In an interview with Bloomberg News, Robert Benson, a retired NTSB employee stated, “I think we’re getting the dirty end of the stick here.”

The board of the NTSB released a statement saying, “The NTSB was not asked to contribute to or participate in the production of ‘Sully’ and as such we were not afforded an opportunity to ensure our actions and words were portrayed with accurate context or reflected our perspective.”

If the NTSB is telling the truth by saying they were inaccurately portrayed, than they have a right to be upset.

Most of the world, after seeing this movie, will view the NTSB as bad people who did their absolute best to twist Sully’s actions and words.

Overall, “Sully” was a fantastic film that gives the audience hope that miracles exist.

I

n 2011, the Los Angeles-based band Grouplove introduced the world to their hit single, “Tongue Tied,” and 1 million purchases later, it went Platinum in the United States. On their next album, Grouplove came out with “Ways To Go” which is a high-energy synth track that earned radio play.

Grouplove has been making an impact in the indie rock scene for a few years now, so it’s no surprise that their third studio album has quite a few hard hitters on it.

The band is made up of Christian Zucconi, Hannah Hooper, Andrew Wessen, Ryan Rabin and Daniel Gleason.

Multiple members work on vocals, but Zucconi and Hooper are mostly heard in their songs.

Grouplove released their 11-track studio album “Big Mess” on Sept. 9. The album can be purchased on iTunes or streamed from Spotify or YouTube.

The first track off “Big Mess” is called “Welcome To Your Life” which sounds like the romantic, feel-good anthem you have found yourself wishing for. Grouplove’s unique use of synth gives the song a pop element that makes it easy to listen to. “Welcome To Your Life” was their first single off of “Big Mess.”

By Grouplove’s third song, things start to slow down. “Standing in The Sun” starts as a mellow acoustic phrase that picks up at the chorus. The lyrics themselves carry a depressing tone, but the song sounds uplifting.

Grouplove found a way to balance their previous mix of pop and indie with a new wave of mellowed out tracks with a meaning.

“A long time to feel young/ short time to get old,” sings Christian Zucconi, Grouplove vocalist.

“Enlighten Me” is a heavy synth pop

track that touches on the internal struggle of aging and disassociation.

The fifth track is called “Good Morning” and features an intense electric beat and Hooper’s voice more specifically than the rest of the album.

A track that stands out is “Traumatized.” This song immediately adopts more of a surf-punk vibe, especially with the few lines of screaming Zucconi does.

Although this song does not blend in with the rest of the record, it’s refreshing to hear Grouplove bring in a different, heavier sound.

Another song that stands out is “Cannonball.” This song is very high energy with a faster tempo and heavier instruments; something unlike what has been heard from Grouplove before.

The album closes with “Hollywood,” which calls out the Los Angeles attitude towards creating art. “Hollywood just talks the talk, making movies round the clock,” sings Zucconi.

“Big Mess” is an album for any season. It consistently provides an easy tune with deeper meaning if you listen close enough. Grouplove has had their fair share of tours; they have opened for Florence + The Machine, The Joy Formidable, Young The Giant and co-headlined a tour with Foster The People.

In 2011, Grouplove played the SouthBy-Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas and had filmmaker and director of three of their music videos, Jordan Bahat, document their time there. The documentary is called “Bloom” and can be found online on Bahat’s website.

Since they started as a band in 2009, Grouplove has undergone many changes.

Over the course of three studio albums, change in sound is expected. “Big Mess” may not be exactly what traditional Grouplove fans were hoping to hear, but the album delivers something new and progressive.

Grouplove will be touring September through January to support their new album, “Big Mess.”

The tour will take them all over the U.S. and a few places in Europe. The band will play at the Fox Theatre in Oakland on Oct. 6.

facebook.com Grouplove, an alternantive band, will be touring beginning September.

Page 8

Student Life

Sept. 13 - Sept. 19, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

Segregated housing, a scary solution Analy Bravo Staff Writer

S

Commentary

egregated housing arrangements are now available for California State University Los Angeles, (CSLA) black students.

It is considered “a safe space for black CSLA students.” The College Fix, states that the university’s Black Student Union responded to the recurring “racist attacks” and “racially insensitive remarks” by professors and students with a set of demands that lead to this “new cheaper alternative housing solution for black students.”

Cal State LA isn’t the first to offer its students segregated housing dedicated to black students.

University of Connecticut, University of California at Davis, and the University of California at Berkeley are also offering this new option.

The new black living-learning community’s purpose is to connect faculty and students through engaging programs that are meant to lead to academic success, cultural awareness and civic engagement.

After all the racial attacks and situations the Black Student Union’s members have noticed and fought against, this segregated living community option is a huge achievement as they called it a “long overdue, but well deserved achievement.”

The black students at CSU Los Angeles are “consistently made the targets of racist attacks by fellow students, faculty, and administration,” as stated on their Student Union page online.

They listened, learned and continue to follow in the steps of UC Santa Barbara and UC Berkeley.

CSU Los Angeles has beein working to help support the black student community at their campus just like Santa Barbara and Berkeley have been doing during this critical time in our history.

The Black Student Union at CSU Los Angeles have listed fourteen “demands” that their members agree are critical to black students and their union’s members.

If Sonoma State University were to give students the same living community option, it would allow our students to feel better about college’s

culture shock that is usually felt after leaving a more diverse high school.

“Is that not backtracking?” junior Alyssa Wright said. “Before, we were trying to get everyone to live together, all races, and now they are choosing to live separated? I’m just really confused,” Wright said.

For years many groups fought against race’s being separated from one another, but now a CSU is allowing groups to separate themselves from each other.

“I think that in no way it would hurt [students]. It is not meant to be offensive; it is meant more to give options to those that do not feel comfortable with all the racial topics that are currently happening,” sophomore Justin Costable said.

Other students, see how beneficial the new housing arrangements can be to new college students.

“It’s not an issue, it’s actually a nice option to have for people who would feel more comfortable living with people that want to have the same cultural experience as them,” freshman Carlos Alcala said.

“I think students should be be allowed to have this option, they have every right to live with certain people if it makes them feel comfortable,” junior Clyde Meza said. “Yeah it might cause some social problems, but in such a sensitive time period that we are living in, it would be better to let the Black Student Union of CSLA celebrate what they accomplished until it proves to show negative affects to their campus.”

Sonoma State should consider this option, to attract a more diverse student body.

If students were given the choice to live in a segregated learning community on campus, it could benefit students socially and academically.

Students could learn and live around other students with similar culture and background, allowing students to not feel outcasted and find a group of friends to help each other succeed.

College is a stressful time and making students more comfortable can take some of the pressure away from their everyday lives.

The new learning community would also attract new students to the campus with the promise of a social community they can relate to, bringing in more students for everyone to interact with.

STAR // Bryce Dowd Junior Joely Zurker showcased some of her own original songs, last Thursday during Open Mic Night at Lobo’s.

Open mic night sparks censorship

O

Nickey Homen Staff Writer

pen Mic Night, presented by Associated Student Productions, (ASP) took place last Wednesday night, but was it really open?

“ASP hopes to create a community [to] showcase all talents and to support fellow seawolves. We are looking forward to seeing all the hidden talents that the students have,” Emily Meyer, a junior and director for the Live @ SSU committee, said before the event took place.

The stage was set, line-up ready to go, and students filled Lobos ready to listen, but the event didn’t go according to plan.

Twenty minutes after the start time, the sound system was finally fixed and Meyer introduced the first act.

The night was underway and everything seemed to be running smoothly when Andrew Nazavian, a fifth year student at Sonoma State University, took the stage with his first stand up routine.

“I wanted to tell these stories that my friends had heard a thousand times,” Nazavian said. But as he started a new joke in his act about prostitution in Thailand, Nazavian was interrupted by Meyer and was not allowed to finish his act.

“At Open Mic we welcome and encourage all students to display their talents in a safe and inclusive manner,” Meyer said. “Given that there were some topics during Andrew’s set that broached the topics of offensive racial stereotypes, we felt that we needed to intervene to continue the safe and inclusive space we advertise Open Mic to be.”

This does prompt the participants to wonder what may be allowed at the

event, and what material they may have to toss out.

“No one should be able to interrupt someone while they’re in the middle of their act. We have the freedom to speak whatever we feel and it was so rude,” Nazavian said after his performance.

The incident didn’t go unnoticed, but the night continued forward with more performances.

However, the rest of Nazavian’s act was never heard.

Another performer who took the stage, Collin Chinn, is not new to performing at Open Mic Night and sang three songs on last Wednesday.

Chinn is a third year at Sonoma State and is majoring in music.

“Music has always been something I have appreciated. I’ve been playing the guitar since I was 10. Now I’m majoring in music and I am around people who really respect it,” Chinn said.

Chinn works for ASP which is a large reason as to why he attends Open Mic Night on a regular basis.

“It is a consistent system which I like. People come, sign up and play. The only thing that would make Open Mic Night better would be the noise level, but that’s something that can’t exactly be controlled,” Chinn said.

New to Sonoma State and Open Mic Night, Yajaira Frausto also performed.

She is a freshman and chose to showcase a poem she wrote.

“I like to write poetry and it is important to me to be involved in school and this is a good way to get known,” Frausto stated.

A variety of talents were at Open Mic Night last Wednesday. Everyone had the opportunity to perform but not all of the performers had the opportunity to finish.

Freshman Year Experience: Strengthening student-faculty bonds

T

Tyler Heberle Staff Writer

he start of freshman year marks a game-changing time for any college student.

After four years of high school’s close-tohome familiarity, it can be very intimidating to form new friendships and pursue professional ambitions—all while adjusting to life away from home.

The freshmen learning communities offered at Sonoma State University may bring a distinct new sense of home to first-year students.

Some of the communities available include Academic and Career Exploration, or ACE,—which arranges housing in the Zinfandel region based on the residents’ majors.

First-Gen, another Sonoma State community, brings together students who are the first in their families to attend college, according to Residential Life Director Cyndie Morozumi.

One learning community stands out as a year-long academic experience that teaches students about identity and global issues both on and off-campus. It’s called Freshman Year Experience, or FYE, and it brings students and their instructors together in a smaller environment than the average lecture hall.

“We created FYE from the get-go as heavily integrated between academic affairs and residential life,” Morozumi said. “You bring faculty into teaching freshmen, they have major ‘a-ha’ moments about what an 18-year-old is like and what they need in order to thrive in college.”

The concept for FYE was planned in the early 2000s, according to FYE coordinator, Scott Miller, who was on the Academic Senate between 2004 and 2006 when the learning community was approved.

When he began teaching in the program in 2010, Miller said he worked with eight other faculty members

to design a syllabus for the program.

“The coolest thing about FYE is the collaboration with the faculty,” Miller said. “There’s nothing else quite like FYE on this campus, where a group of faculty work very hard together to craft a common curriculum and … learn as they go with other teachers how to do this curriculum and to bring their own strengths into the mix.”

All FYE students must enroll in UNIV 150, a fiveunit class that takes an academic year to complete.

Each week the class consists of two seminars and one lecture from a faculty or guest speaker.

The FYE faculty members meet over summer to decide how the lectures will fit into two thematic halves, according to former FYE professor Emiliano Ayala.

Ayala, an educational leadership and special education professor who taught in FYE during the 2014 – 2015 school year, said that the first semester deals with critical thinking on an individual level, while the second extends it to a global perspective.

“We then started to build in…the readings that we wanted to make sure that were standard across the different sections, and then people could add additional readings if they felt it was important and warranted,” Ayala said.

The UNIV 150 curriculum is a joint effort between professors from different departments, who are also expected to plan and participate in co-curricular field trips with the students, according to Ayala.

He said events his students and colleagues attended, such as an Oakland play about the Black Panthers, were chosen to give the students a wider cultural awareness.

Morozumi said the FYE also took a trip to Angel Island one year to learn about historic immigration in the area.

“All of a sudden you’ve got social activities and fun activities where it continues the conversation,” Moro-

zumi said. “That’s the whole point of living in learning programs.”

In addition to attending and learning from field trips with their instructors, FYE students may bring up more personal concerns to advisers in their age range.

Peer mentors, students who are screened for approval learning community program coordinators and often formerly studied in FYE themselves, will advise younger students.

They will offer guidance on anything from navigating classes to serious issues like drugs and sexual assault, according to Ayala.

FYE also allows students to become closer to their peers and professors than they would in other settings, Ayala said.

“The depth of relationships, the strength of the relationships between myself and them, between them and their peer mentor…those connections were 100 percent established in FYE,” Ayala said.

Brandee Perez, now a third-year Sonoma State student, was part of FYE under Ayala’s leadership. She said the program was beneficial to both students and teachers.

“Emiliano was a great professor that showed us that not only are we learning from him, he is also learning from us, which as students is very comforting to hear,” Perez said.

Miller recommends incoming freshmen get involved with a learning community like FYE, so they can recognize a personal connection with their college.

“We try to introduce students… to a sense that the whole university, the whole academy is deeply devoted to questions that matter to them ... on a very personal level,” Miller said.

Perez said her involvement with FYE was very helpful for her development as a college student.

“Without FYE I probably would still be trying to figure out college,” Perez said.

Student Life

Sept. 13 - Sept. 19, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

Page 9

Local icon breaks hip-hop stereotype A manda B uth Staff Writer

K

ahfre Jay’s lecture began with the student’s closing their eyes to envision a hip-hop artist of today.

When asked who they pictured looked like a women, or white male, no students raised their hands.

Jay then asked if anyone pictured a brown male with gold chains and baggy clothing. Surprisingly the majority of the audience raised their hand.

Students are being taught that hiphop is more than random rhymes and enjoyed beats, it’s a foundation for the stereotyped culture.

Last Thursday in Stevenson Hall, Jay, a local hip-hop artist, spoke before a large audience about his organization, Hip-Hop For Change.

Jay struggled growing up in San Francisco, not too far from Sonoma State University. Throughout his childhood, racial stereotypes followed him -- changing the way he viewed himself and the world around him. Jay recalled a time in his life “as very dangerous saying that children with nothing to do leads to criminal activity.”

Saving him from going down an irreversible path was the creativity of hiphop. Forming a beat with a couple of household items on the street and adding lyrics that poured from deep within, is what captured Jay’s heart.

“Hip-hop is a culture, not glamour.

It’s the way I talk. The way we speak. Its inseparable for us as a community,” Jay said.

Jay remembers the first time hearing DJ Kool Herc, who he calls the godfather of hip-hop. He recalls Herc’s invention of

the extended break, saying the real sound of hip-hop was created then.

As the director of Hip-Hop For Change, Jay, more than anyone, understands the hardships children face when dealing with racial stereotypes.

Jay not only volunteers to speak at college universities, but also teaches four, hour-long hip-hop classes to kindergarten children.

Their activities include creating their own hip-hop sound, along with break down dance sessions in between.

Jay gives these children a platform for expression and passion. He says his goal is to have children begin to love themselves through these classes.

A terrifying experience during Jay’s childhood has left lasting effects.

At about the age of 14 Jay and his friend received their first paycheck from their new job.

Walking out of the bank with excitement, Jay looked confused when he saw two cop cars pull up in front of the teenagers.

Panic set in for Jay when he saw the officer immediately draw his weapon.

After being pushed and straddled to the ground, Jay later found out that the whole situation was a misunderstanding.

The police were responding to a bank robbery call close to that location. Jay now has a different view of cops.

“It’s discrimination. I suffer from PTSD. My heart skips a beat when I see a cop. My hands get sweaty,” Jay said.

Listening to the racial issues Jay faced throughout his whole life, students around the room began to connect to his story. There were several hands raised when Jay asked if anyone grew up in ‘the hood’. It was hard to miss the expressions

STAR // Reagan Dowd Kahfre Jay, a Bay Area hip-hop icon, helped students break the racial and sexual stereotypes we hold regarding hip-hop music and musicians. of those students faces when Jay spoke of his experience with PTSD. “Hearing Jay speak of his experience with the cops was a point of view I had never heard before. I hadn’t really thought about hip-hop artists going through that much trouble,” said sophomore Brinkley Temple.

Jay acknowledged other hip-hop artists such as Lil Wayne and Justin Timberlake as prime examples of what is destroying hip-hop artists reputations.

Many of Jay’s companions who are also apart of the organization Hip-Hop For Change, believe Justin Timberlake shouldn’t be a hip-hop artist because he is white.

Jay’s friends are aware of the histori-

cal changes in the music industry. There has been a pattern showing white artists stealing African-American artist thunder when starting a new genre, such as disco.

According to Jay, his friends and many others want hip-hop to be solely theirs.

“This lecture was very empowering for black people. Understanding how women are stereotyped being called certain names in hip-hop songs,” freshman Symphoni Barbee said.

“Just learning how hip-hop has more to it than just music there is also police brutality and money involved with it.”

Students ‘go greek’ at Alpha Psi Toga

STAR // Perla Alvarez Alpha Psi, Sonoma State’s local fraternity, held their annual fall dance last Thursday at Cal Skate in Rohnert Park. The toga event sold 600 tickets and welcomed all Sonoma State students to a night full of fun. A change in music since last year brought new life to the event, prompting students to dance, with DJ Etone on the turn-tables from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m.

Page 10

Sports

Sept. 13 - Sept. 19, 2016

sonomastatestar.com

Seawolves fall four times in volleyball showcase Andrea S ims Staff Writer

A

s music rumbled and the crowd’s cheers echoed throughout the Wolves Den, the Sonoma State University women’s volleyball team embarked on a weekend-long tournament against multiple challengers.

Thursday evening, the Seawolves faced off California Baptist Lancers. With California Baptist challenging Sonoma State’s defense, Lauren Hackett delivered vigorous offense for the Lancers by showing off her deadly spikes and kills. Fortunately, Sonoma State fought back against the heated plays.

Two players in particular, Kelsey McIntire and Rachel Andrews worked as powerful blockades against the Lancers, blocking off some potential kills.

“They had some amazing front row players, so getting blocks on them felt especially good,” said McIntire.

“Blocking also helps take pressure off our back row players.”

Top hitters for the Seawolves at Thursday night’s game were players Morgan Annala, Kelsey McIntire and Rachel Andrews, challenging the Lancers with a combined total of 26 kills. The Seawolves strategized against the Lancers to gain back points through tipping the ball into the Lancers open holes.

“Cal Baptist has a big strong block and they were

digging or blocking a lot of my hard hits. I decided to change things up a started tipping,” said McIntire. “It was good practice for me, I had to figure out new ways of scoring.”

The Seawolves struggled to compete with the Lancers, but were eventually defeated. Sonoma State took set one, 25-23, while the Lancers took the last three sets, scoring, 17-25, 19-25, and 15-25.

Despite a discouraging loss against California Baptist, the Seawolves continued to fight throughout the weekend, squaring off against the Western Washington Vikings on Friday. The first set was a back and forth rally, with both teams coming back to tie it up 11 times.

After a fierce battle, the Vikings took the first set 25-19.

The Seawolves handed Washington their second taste of victory in the following set, losing 25-18.

Coming into the third round slightly apprehensive, the Seawolves gave it their all to tie up the game seven times. Unfortunately, the Vikings were able to take the overall lead by finishing the set 25-19.

Saturday played out much like the Seawolves’ previous games, wrapping up their four-game losing streak against Dixie State and University Alaska Anchorage.

Sonoma State’s final two competitors of the weekend handed the women back-to-back sweeps. Even though the volleyball team was unable to leave the showcase with a win under their belt, the players still managed to keep perspective.

Game 4: 9/10/16

SETS: Sonoma State (2-5): Alaska Anchorage (10-1):

1 21 25

STAR// Megan Corcoran Rachel Andrews tips the ball over the net.

“This tournament was a great indicator of where we stand as a team right now. I think we fought hard in all of the matches we played over the weekend and our effort was great, but there are more technical skills that we need to perfect during practice to make it come together going forward into conference,” said Calan Seitz, who totaled 23 kills in the four games.

The Seawolves look to snap their streak against the San Francisco State Gators on Sept. 17 at 7 p.m.

2 3 13 17 25 25

MATCH

3 0

KILLS :Caiti Wiesner (9) Emily Papale (8) Rachel Andrews (6) DIGS: Megan Bohorquez (18) Courtney Seda (10) Calan Seitz (9) ASSISTS: Courtney Seda (26) Calan Seitz (3) BLOCKS: Emily Papale (3) Rachel Andrews (3)

No hope for Solo Stillwater, Oklahoma:

Central Michigan stunned the college football world upsetting No. 22 Oklahoma State 30-27 on a last second hail mary to Jesse Kroll, Kroll then lateraled back to trailing Corey Willis who sprinted to the endzone as time expired. Prior to the touchdown a controversial penalty was called that extended the game, opening the door for the Chippewas final game winning play.

Christopher Schwarz Staff Writer

Syracuse, New York

Louisville’s Lamar Jackson has record breaking night against Syracuse.

Jackson threw for 411 yards passing and one touchdown along with 199 yards rushing and four touchdowns, shattering many offensive records for the ACC and University of Louisville.

Queens, New York

The New York Mets signed former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow to a minor league contract after attending his MLB showcase last week. Tebow will now be assigned to the fall instructional league.

Pennant Chases

With 3 weeks left in the MLB season, there are many teams battling for playoff postions. Four teams in the AL East are within four games of each other, with t­ he top spot in the division currently being held by the Boston Red Sox, while the Giants close the gap to the Dodgers to just three full games in the NL West. The Giants are currently holding the top spot of the NL wildcard despote having the worst record in The MLB since the All-Star break.

Seattle, Washington

As the National Anthem blared through the speakers at Century Link Stadium, the entire Seattle Seahawks team aligned with locked arms in an attempt to show unity in wake of the recent protest against the anthem. Just 52 yards across from them, four Miami Dolphins players opted to take a knee during the anthem.

New York City, New York

Serena Williams lost Thursday night in the semi­finals of the Women’s U.S. Open. Serena has failed to win four of the last five majors, and she is no longer number one in nearly three and half years. Stan Wawrinka won for the Men and Angelique Kerber won the women’s championship.

Cleveland, Ohio

Former WWE star CM Punk stepped into the UFC octagon for the first time in UFC 203 against Mickey Gall. Gall dismanteled CM Punk finishing him with a rear naked choke just 2:45 into the first round. In the main event Stipe Mirotic TKO’ed Alistair Overeem to retain his heavyweight title.

U

Commentary

nited States Women’s National soccer team goalkeeper, Hope Solo, was suspended six months for a postgame interview gone wrong.

Following an earlier than expected exit from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Solo verbally attacked the Swedish team by referring to them as “a bunch of cowards.” This suspension comes with disappointment from both sides of Solo’s fandom. Her fans view the punishment as excessive, while the opposing side sees it as a slap on the wrist.

During her suspension, Solo will be receiving more than enough money.

She will be collecting three months of severance from her U.S. Women’s National Team contract, which was recently terminated, along with her Seattle Reign FC contract with whom she will still be allowed to play for.

It’s obvious that some don’t consider Solo’s suspension as a true penalty for her actions. Julie Foudy, a former member of the women’s national soccer team from 1987-2004, tweeted, “Solo essentially missing nothing w #USWNT & allowed to play w @SeattleReignFC, which US Soccer pays for, more symbolic than substantive.”

Solo has had her fair share of incidents off the pitch, including multiple heated post-match interviews and tweets, an incident involving her husband who was driving the two of them under the influence months before the 2015 World Cup, and a pending domestic violence case against the soccer star involving her sister and underage nephew, which no one seems to be talking about.

According to Kirkland, WA Officer Voss, “[Solo’s nephew], had redness around his nose and left jawbone and a bleeding cut on the bottom of his left ear, just above the earlobe. His T-shirt was ripped and his arms were bright red and had scratch marks.” However, even with pending domestic violence charges, Hope Solo was allowed to participate in team activities fully, and play in the 2015 World Cup and then the Olympics the following year.

With similar and sometimes lesser charges quickly removing male athletes from their respected sports, the question is raised as to why no one is talking about Solos off-the-field incidents.

Solo has been a great performer for the U.S. Women’s National Team, becoming an icon for aspiring soccer stars not only in the U.S., but around the world. Solo has taken up the fight for equal working conditions for the women of soccer.

Facilitating the conversation of equal pay for both the mens and womens national team, along with safe playing conditions for female players, among other issues.

Solo’s actions off the field have left a dark smear on the legacy of her remarkable career. Only time will tell if these actions will be able too much to allow her to have a lasting impact in the sport she devoted her life to.

Sports

Sept. 13- Sept. 19, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

Page 11

When heads collide

John Dolan Staff Writer

F

or generations, the game of football has been adored and celebrated across the country. Sundays have become unofficial holidays, and millions around the world tune in to watch every year. Despite the game’s rich history, a dark cloud has been floating above the National Football League. That dark cloud is the league’s handling of the treatment and management of concussions.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was the victim of multiple helmetto-helmet blows during the Panthers’ season opener against the Denver Broncos.

If you were watching the second half, you would have seen the reigning MVP looking dazed and confused while his backup quarterback warming up, leading viewers wondering about the severity of the blows that Newton received. During that game, the rules were not properly followed.

During the third quarter, Broncos linebacker, Brandon Marshall’s hit on Newton should have been a 15 yard penalty. According to Rule 12, Section 2, Article 6(i) of the NFL rulebook, there is a strict rule prohibiting a defender from using his helmet to ram an opponent violently or unnecessarily. The rules also state that a quarterback in the pocket is considered a defenseless position. The Broncos got away with a penalty. Only one flag was thrown when Broncos safety Darian Steward hit Newton helmet-to-helmet. It is wrong that despite all the hits Newton received, he wasn’t put through a rigorous concussion protocol.

“During stoppage in play while onfield officials were in the process of administrating penalties, the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant and team physician requested video from the spotters and reviewed the play,” NFL spokesperson Brian McCarty said in a statement. “They concluded there were no indications of a concussion that would require further evaluation and the removal of the player from the game. The NFL should be given some credit for improvements towards concussion management, such as more neurotrauma specialists on the sideline to determine if a player should be taken out of the game

or not. Although it is a good start, the NFL has not done enough to protect its players from the effects of head trauma.

Lee Igel, an associate in the medical ethics division at NYU Langone Medical Center told the New York Times, “In a way, the Cam Newton situation is the latest example to personify how tough it is for the NFL to figure this out going forward,” said Igel. “It’s medical interests versus business interests. Because there are enough different factors weighing in, it looks unsolvable.”

The well-being of a fellow individual with a family should triumph over any other interests. A link between repeated head injuries and a condition called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) exists.

Researchers with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Boston University claimed that 96 percent of deceased NFL players that were examined had signs of CTE. What was even more disturbing is the fact it took until March for the NFL to acknowledge the link between CTE and repeated head injuries.

It is hard to believe the league would not have endorsed this link if it was not for the overwhelming scientific research and the threat of lawsuits.

One can argue Newton’s size could have been a factor on why the NFL refused to pull him from the game. Panthers’ Head Coach, Ron Rivera said, “I can appreciate his situation. He’s a little different. He’s an imposing figure, and sometimes those big hits don’t look as bad on a big guy.’’

If it had been a less mobile, smaller quarterback like Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, more flags would most likely been thrown.

The well-being of players should be more prioritized in the NFL. These players are the attraction that allows the NFL to be the billion dollar industry it is today. The NFL has already received a lot of negative attention, from players charged with domestic violence, to the unchecked authority of the commissioner Roger Goodell.

More flags and more fines may be a solution to the growing concussion epidemic in the NFL. It may be an unpopular opinion for fans of the violent and fast paced game, but it could help extend the lives of the leagues most popular player.

This incident involving Cam Newton does not give the league a good image and continues to highlight an important issue confronting the future of football.

With head injuries such as concussions rising by 31.6 percent during the 2015 season, the league will face a steep challenge in trying to make the violent game of football a little more safe.

COURTESY // sonomaseawolves.com Sonoma State men’s soccer team is looking for its first win of the 2016 season.

Men’s soccer still seeking first victory Trevor Abrams Staff Writer

T

he Sonoma State University Men’s soccer team returned to action this week in Southern California for a two game road trip.

Still seeking their first victory of 2016, the Seawolves took on the Lancers of California Baptist University.

“Cal Baptist is a very good team and they jumped on us right off the first whistle,” said head coach Marcus Ziemer.

The Lancers’ aggressive play payed off in the fourteenth minute of the game, when Luca Tschaidse scored on a penalty kick.

The defense held steady for both teams as the score remained 1-0 until the 78 minute of the game, when Lancer Aidan Apodaca found the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season.

With the score 2-0 in favor of the Lancers, Sonoma State continued to fight.

“Even after that we kept our heads up and battled and got a goal at the end of the game,” said Head Coach Marcus Ziemer.

The Seawolves’ lone goal came off a header from Ryan Rohane with five seconds left in the game, but it was too little, too late as the score still remained in favor of Cal Baptist as regulation ended.

The Seawolves remained in Southern California, taking on Azusa Pacific University last Saturday. Seeking that elusive first victory, the Seawolves had to settle for their third tie of the preseason. In the first half of regulation,

Garcia breaks program record in 6k

Seawolves blaze the trail for another successful season

Phil Baculik Staff Writer

T

he women’s cross country team ventured to the wilderness this weekend, participating in the Humbolt State Invitational 6K event. The race was held at Patrick’s Point State Park where 10 teams from around the West Coast were invited to compete.

With this being just the fifth year the Sonoma State Seawolves have had a cross country team, the overall spirit and moral is very high. Cross country tests the endurance of those who are willing to break the barrier and push their own limits.

The Patrick’s Point State Park provided a cool and foggy atmosphere, which, according to Camille Schutze was “perfect” for a race. Schutze also mentioned there were several other obstacles included in the race that normally are not set in a cross country race setting. The main hindrance used to be a 10-foot wall the racers had to overcome, but over time there was too much weathering on the trail that it had to be removed.

This kind of terrain made the race even more interesting and alluring to the rac ers. The course had a mix of tra

ditional trails, as well as many dissimilar ones, keeping the runners on their toes.

One competitor had no issues conquering the terrain.

Sophomore Analicia Garcia easily mastered the course, finishing in just 21:11.46, a powerful display of athleticism.

Garcia left Patrick’s Point State Park having broken the program’s individual 6K-meter record by an impressive 30 seconds.

Sonoma State finished sixth of ten competing teams at the Humboldt State Invitational. The Seawolves

are competing again Sept. 19 at the

Cal State Monterey Invitational

in Seaside, California.

both teams seemed evenly matched, with four shots each without finding the back of the net.

Defense seemed to be the name of the game as the scoreless first half translated into the second half. In the 65 minute of the game, Andrew Ogilvy received his second yellow card of the match, and after the Seawolves were outshot 10-3 by Azusa Pacific, but once again the Sonoma State defense stepped up. Mitch North stopped nine goals in this contest, a season high for the goalkeeper, while Armando Colonel led the offense with three total shots, two on goal. Still without their first win, the Seawolves retain a positive outlook.

“First of all I’m very proud of the freshmen who stepped up this weekend and performed the way they did,” said midfielder Sandro Schoenhoefer. “I think this weekend taught us the hard lesson that finishing our chances early is crucial. Aside from that, we dominated both games but couldn’t find a way to get a goal, whether it was hitting the post, offside goals or referee interference we just couldn’t find the back of the net.”

The team now knows what they have to do to be ready for their conference opener this upcoming week.

“We are a very young ambitious team with a slight chip on our shoulders going into our opener this upcoming Friday against Pomona,” said Schoenhoefer.

The Sonoma State men’s soccer team looks to start conference play strong as they return home to take on the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos Friday at 3 p.m.

Tuesday 9/13

Sunday 9/18

Women’s Golf Art of Golf Classic

Women’s Soccer vs CSU San Bernardino 11:30 a.m.

Friday 9/16 Women’s Soccer vs Cal Poly Pomona 12:30 p.m.

Men’s Soccer vs Cal Poly Pomona 3:00 p.m.

Saturday 9/17 Women’s Volleyball at San Francisco State 7:00 p.m.

Men’s Soccer vs CSUSan Bernardino 2:00 p.m.

Monday 9/19 Men’s Golf CSUDH Toro Invitational

S

Tatiana Serrano Staff Writer

onoma State University’s women’s soccer team ended their pre-season with two wins, one tie, and one loss.

In preparation to take another CCAA title, the Seawolves entered this weekend ready to attack and triumph during their tournament in St. George, Utah. The team won both games Thursday and Saturday against Colorado Mesa and Dixie State.

The girls were in full focus as they played against Colorado Mesa on Thursday. They were determined to receive their first win of the season, squeezing out a 1-0 victory during the second half of the game.

Sophomore Miriam Bloom scored the game winner and her first career goal all in one match. Kristen Spear also contributed with three saves throughout the game.

“Our defensive shape [is] staying compact and cohesive,” said Spear. “This is a key factor to maintain throughout the season so their offensive and defensive strength can help lead to more victories.”

The Seawolves played their second and last game of the weekend against the Dixie State Trailblazers.

Feeding off the victory against Colorado, the team’s champion mentality is exactly what brought them their second victory, defeating Dixie State 3-1. Taylor Enzler and Cecilia Sifuentes went to work immediately, scoring two back-to-back goals in the first half of the game.

There was no mercy for Dixie State as Enzler fired another goal into the back of the net, sealing the fate of the game in favor of the Seawolves.

The Trailblazers were left trailing behind the Seawolves, successfully launching one last attempt to get on the board in the fifty-sixth minute of the game.

After two well earned victories, it’s time for the team to ice their muscles and prepare for their upcoming regular sea

son. The team will play Cal Poly

Pomona this Friday at home to

kick off the season.

Page 12

Photo

Sept. 13, 2016 - Sept. 19, 2016 sonomastatestar.com

Gavin DeGraw performs at the Green Music Center

COURTESY // Brennan Chin Gavin DeGraw performs “Best I Ever Had” at the Green Music Center on Sunday.

COURTESY // Brennan Chin Gavin DeGraw performs some of his most popular songs for students and community members.

COURTESY // Brennan Chin Gavin DeGraw performs “Chariot.”

COURTESY // Brennan Chin Fans sing along to the music as Gavin DeGraw performs.

STAR // Bryce Dowd Colin Chinn, left, and Avery Okamura, right, serenade the crowd.

STAR // Bryce Dowd Junior Yajaira Frausto recites an original poem to the students gathered in Lobos at Open Mic Night last Wednesday.

STAR // Megan Corcoran Rachel Andrews, No. 18, spikes the ball over the net at their home match against the Dixie State Trail Blazers Saturday afternoon.

STAR // Megan Corcoran Courtney Seda, No. 6, sets the ball at the Seawolves home game.