Volume 78 // Issue 9

In this issue: Student Life: Phi Sigma Sigma puts on philanthropy dodgeball tournament. Pg. 9

Opinion: Pepsi misses the mark on recent Kendall Jenner advertisement. Pg. 3 A&E: Big brands successfully pull April Fools’ pranks.

Pg. 7

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 78 // ISSUE 9

Sports: Women’s golf takes first place at Spring Invitational.

Pg. 10 APRIL 11 - APRIL 17, 2017

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

Wilson Hall elected Associated Students president by large margin Braden Cartwright Staff Writer

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ilson Hall will be the new president of Associated Students after a landslide victory over incumbent Emily Hinton last week. Hall campaigned effectively, getting 1,536 votes compared to Hinton’s 669.

“It’s nice to see that the hard work of campaigning has paid off,” Hall said. “I’m happy that the student body believes in me and what I can achieve as president, especially winning by such a large margin, 70 percent. It really shows the students are confident in me advocating for them.”

So, who is the man who will be the new face of Associated Students? If you haven’t met him already, he wants you to know he will be fighting for you.

“I am coming in committed, ready to put in all the time and work that it takes,” Hall said. “Students believe in me, and I believe in myself. I want to show I’m not just a popular guy on campus, but I’m actually committed to enriching students’ lives.”

During the campaign, Hall spoke to at least three classes, clubs or teams every day.

“I can’t wait to really impact Sonoma State. I’m ready to work.

It’s not going to be easy and I’m not expecting it to be.”

“It was very time-consuming, but I was happy. I love being able put my face out there and reaching out to students,” Hall said. “That’s something I’m going to continue to do as president.”

During the campaign process, there was some controversy about the tactics being taken by some of the candidates.

Hinton accused Hall of turning a professional campaign into a popularity contest.

“I dont think students understand Associated Students role at the university, they don’t take these elections seriously

and instead they vote for their friends,” said Hinton, “However, if the roles were reveresed, and I had the knowledge I have now of AS, and Wilson was the current president, I would have wanted him to win.”

Hall believes the students made their choice not becuase of his popularity but because of his ability to connect with students.

“Regardless of who you know, as a student you’re going to vote for the candidate you believe can help everyone the best,” Hall said. “The student body has had the chance to see what Emily has done and they’ve chosen to go a different route. I think it’s not because I’m a popular guy, but because they feel I’m attainable and reachable, and also can get things done.”

In high school, Hall played the saxophone, participated in choir and played football, soccer and track. This high level of involvement translated immediately to Sonoma State when he became an orientation leader. From there, he was appointed by the academic senate as an Associated Students representative, where he mulled a run for an executive position.

Hall, who is entering his third year, plans on running again next year. For inspiration, Hall looks to his mother.

“Coming from single-parent, low-income family, she sacrificed so much for me to get where I am today,” Hall said.

“She’s a teacher, so she was really strong on academics. This has made me go even harder to make sure I reciprocate the work she puts in.”

Hall was raised in Oakland, but his mom wanted him to go to Alcalanes High School in Lafayette. Graduating from a high school in an affluent suburb and being raised in innercity Oakland gives Hall a unique background.

“I feel like I’m bilingual in a sense, because I can relate to students from various backgrounds,” Hall said.

Hall said his agenda will mostly be set by feeling the pulse of the student body; he wants to respond to student needs rather than solely coming up with his own ideas.

“We’re going to roll with the punches, and assess things accordingly,” he said. “With the relationships I’ve built with different students and departments, I’m like a hub that can positively influence Sonoma State and its students.”

STAR // Jeno Veltri Sophomore Wilson Hall recieved 1,536 votes to Emily Hinton’s 669 to make him the AS President for the 2017-2018 school year.

According to Hall, there are already some areas he knows he wants to improve, such as increasing academic support. During his campaign, Hall spoke of making advising mandatory. He also wants to make the academic senate more visible to students.

Hall wants to improve athletic fields so teams don’t have to leave campus to play. He would love to see more dining options on campus. Hall believes it would be great if there was a space for underrepresented students.

“I can’t wait to really impact Sonoma State. I’m ready to work. It’s not going to be easy, and I’m not expecting it to be. I think we’re going to have some great things coming to campus within the next year.”

The newly-elected Academic Senate has high hopes for the next academic school year, but Hinton has some fears for the future.

“Our newly elected team are all brand new to the senate, and we have no returning members for the first time in years,” she said. “Which frankly, is a very scary thing for the coorporation, the organization, the students and the university.”

Sonoma State’s parking policy gets revamped Sam Evans Staff Writer

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resident Judy K. Sakaki has approved several changes to Sonoma State University’s parking policy in response to popular complaints among students.

On Thursday, the university sent an email update to all students and staff which outlined the details of the policy changes. However, the revision officially went into effect on March 1.

The revision changed the university’s parking policy in several different ways. Those with general or housing parking permits are now allowed to park in reserved parking lots between the hours of 5 p.m. and 6 a.m..

Those with general parking permits are now allowed to park in housing parking lots between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Concern regarding the availability of parking on campus has been an increasingly hot topic among students.

“When I first started at Sonoma State parking wasn’t an issue,” said senior environmental studies and planning major Tomas Zavala. “But, now more than ever there’s so many people trying to get on campus. I think it has to do with the amount of students that the school is admitting.”

According to Cody Smith, interim parking manager for Police and Safety Services, the policy changes were based on recommendations that were brought forward by Associated Students. “We are happy to meet the needs of Sonoma State University students, employees and visitors by adapting our policies based on the continuing changes to our campus,” said Smith.

See PARKING on Pg. 5

Courtesy /// The FADER Released April 7, Joey Bada$$’s second album is currently No. 3 on the apple music chart.

Joey Bada$$’s sophomore album All Amerikkkan Badass hits the stands! Check out Arts & Entertainment for the album review on Pg. 6.

Taxes increase in Sonoma County Alex Daniels Staff Writer

S STAR // Brennan Chin On Thursday, the campus community recieved an email notifying them about changes to the university’s parking policy. The changes have been effective since March 1.

Follow The STAR:

@sonomastatestar

@sonomastatestar

onoma County residents are seeing their taxes increase to support everything from library services to regulation of the local marijuana industry.

A few of the tax increases took effect on April 1.

To start, a voter-approved library tax has gone into effect, adding an additional eighth of one cent to the tax on purchases made in Sonoma County.

/sonomastatestar

This tax will provide eward Sonoma County libraries $10 million a year in additional revenue, adding to its annual budget of $17 million.

Library Director Brett Lear said the greatest benefit from the newly added tax will be reopening of certain library branches on certain days such as Sundays and extending library hours, starting in May.

See TAXES on Pg. 4

Visit: sonomastatestar.com

Page 2

Editorial

APRIL 11 - APRIL 17, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

THE STAR Editorial Board Shannon Brown, Editor-in-Chief Thomas Call lll, Executive Editor Kim Baptista, Managing Editor Joseph Encinas, News Editor Nate Galvan, Asst. News Editor Jenna Fischer, Opinion Editor Emma Devitt, Ar ts & Enter tainment Editor Ethan Helms, Student Life Editor Bianca Sanborn, Spor ts Editor Sara Wildman, Photo Editor Rene De Amaral, Copy Editor Alex T. Randolph, Copy Editor Ashley Mar tin, Adver tising Manager Brennan Chin, Distribution Director Paul Gullixson, Faculty Adviser

Staff Writers Alyssa Archerda, Alexis Austin, Kevin Brill, Nolan Brough, Emma Capper, Braden Car twright, Simon Cherin-Gordon, Sean Curzon, Alexandra Daniels, Amira Dabbas, Sam Evans, Cailan Ferrel, Annie Finck, Kitana Gachero, Peter Gatembu, Kendall Grove, Tyler Heberle, Naaman Hightower, Lindsey Huffman, Olivia Hunt, Jacqueline Huynh, Nathan Jew, Matthew Koch, Brigitte Maina, Joseph Magill, Amber Rodar te, Edgar Sanchez, Konrad Schoffer, Chad Shaver, Lauren Sniffin, Jacob Tucker, Antonia VanWinkle, Michelle Violetti, Bailey Young

Photographers Megan Corcoran, Jade Eriksson, Erika Peterson, Konrad Schoffer, 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: “Athleticism and Activism”

Staff writer Simon Cherin-Gordon tells the story of Tommie Smith, who at the 1968 Olympics, imfamously raised his fist at the medal ceremony.

Smith will be visiting Sonoma State tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.

Read the story on page 11

STAR // Kevin Flores

New faculty office hours aid student success

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hen students get their syllabus, the office hours listed under the professor’s name is usually glanced over. However, you may find yourself having a few questions before a big exam or needing advice on your major requirements.

Either way, office hours gives accessibility to professors which they may not have in a class setting. Although they can seem unimportant at first, it may ultimately determine a student’s success in a class.

In a new policy passed by the Academic Senate, Sonoma State University faculty will be required to have consistent office hours for students.

The policy states that any faculty instructing during a particular semester will have to have three office hours per week or at least 15 minutes for every teaching unit they offer.

Is this a little harsh? Well in fact most CSU campuses require three to five office hours per week from all faculty. Fresno State’s policy splits the deal with only 60 percent of the required office hours be face-to-face.

This is a solid step for Sonoma State, especially in their graduation initiative. More office hours means more time for advising. More advising leads to students making more effective decisions on what classes they take.

Some faculty that oppose this new policy feel as though it’s too restrictive. Elaine Newman, president of Sonoma State’s chapter of the California Faculty Association, said the debate from the instructors comes from the restrictive struc-

ture and not the necessity of office hours in general.

A policy like Fresno State’s may give faculty a little more leeway, but ultimately office hours need to be structured. This new policy isn’t forcing faculty into particular hours, but rather just a minimum hour requirement.

Most professors already hold office hours, but those who only teach once a week can now be held responsible for meeting with their students.

In the end, this won’t affect as many faculty as one might think. Most full-time professors already have office hours in place, and those who have ‘by appointment only’ will just need to set aside three hours a week to meet with students.

It’s a simple change that aligns with the precedent the rest of the CSU campuses have already set. As the population of students grows on this campus, so does the need for more faculty advising.

It’s becoming vital for students to get time with their professors. In order to get a policy in which all faculty and students can agree on would take ages. This is based on how both students and faculty availability during a given school week varies drastically.

This policy is a step in the right direction when it comes to faculty and the Sonoma State administration providing students with tools to be more successful.

We don’t want to see the faculty strained by any new policies, but it’s necessary to start implementing mandatory instructional practices like having clear, regular office hours.

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.

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.

HAVE AN OPINION? WE'D LIKE TO READ IT. THE STAR WELCOMES AND ENCOURAGES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND GUEST SUBMISSIONS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, READ THE LEFT SIDEBAR FOR OUR POLICIES ON EDITORIALS AND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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.

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Opinion

APRIL 11 - APRIL 17, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

Page 3

Trump’s deadily mistake in Syria

Edgar Sanchez Staff Writer

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t has been over six years since the Syrian civil war erupted. More than six years of observing a daily carnage of men, women and children.

By early 2016, the death toll had reached over 470,000 civilians. In this complex conf lict, we have unquestionably seen it all; to the point where many have shamefully become desensitized to the suffering of the Syrian people.

The world has once again turned its back on the most vulnerable.

On Tuesday morning, we were again reminded of the atrocities Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, is willing to inf lict on his own people.

A video circulating social media showed dozens of civilians including children and babies, suffocating and foaming to what appear to be a hurtful and slow death.

Their own president used sarin, a brutal nerve toxin, killing at least 83 civilians, 23 of whom were children.

I couldn’t watch for more than a few seconds. Like in previous occasions, I felt powerless, ashamed, and desperate to act.

Many have shamefully become desensitized to the suffering of the Syrian people. The world has once again turned its back on the most vulnerable.

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one.

Secretary of State Rex Tyllerson called the attack a serious matter that “requires a serious response.”

President Trump said the attack “crossed many many lines” and that seeing the images of the children made him want to act.

On late Thursday evening, Trump fired 59 missiles to an area occupied by Syrian military equipment.

D

oes anyone else find it a little creepy how items from your online shopping carts somehow manage to find a way to advertise on Facebook?

How about when you’re scrolling through Instagram and the “suggested post” is related to something you were googling the other day?

A big development has been the rise of “programmatic buying” or also called “real-time bidding” which is basically a way for advertisers to buy our attention from platforms who are collecting our information.

Ads are placed according to algorithms that tell the advertisers how relevant the ad is to consumer, hence that pair of shoes you were looking at a few days ago that keeps popping up on the side of your Facebook.

“The convergence of social and mobile has given an addressable audience online that’s 100 times bigger than ever before,” says Jonah Peretti, the founder of BuzzFeed.

Advertisers no longer have to rely on the media to reach their target audience, they can reach the individuals on a personal level.

They can now electronically bid for digital ads and target them to specific consumers.

Our attention has now become an inanimate object up for grabs.

Programmatic ads are advertising to people who are defined as the most likely to be interested in what they are selling. While traditional ad selling focused on the ad placement, programmatic ads are focusing on the viewers.

Characteristics of that person, behaviors and demographics are all taken into consideration. However it’s not just that, it goes way deeper. Data such as cookies or your login ID’s are used to track consumer behavior.

Key words searched, videos watched are all looked at by social networks and publishers in order to know exactly how to market to you. It’s like being under a microscope, and that microscope is also trying sell you things.

The scary fact is that the advertising industry has access to consumer information that is easily collected from us over the internet and we don’t even think twice about what is going on, or who what is being done with all of this data.

According to eMarketer, Americans spend over 12 hours a day consuming media and digital media accounts for around half of that total.

Considering that social media users are more than willing to share personal information about themselves, social networks hold a goldmine of data about them.

Facebook and Twitter are literally selling the attention of their users to advertisers. They are able to see other sites users visit, which assists in the selling of information.

Conversant, a digital-marketing firm, uses an algorithm to send out over 800,000 variations of an ad to prospective customers. This ensures it becomes as attractive to the consumer as possible.

Kraft, a food company we all know and trusted has an office which specifically monitors online opinions of its brands. As if that wasn’t creepy enough the company went ahead and named the office “The Looking Glass.”

Good one, Kraft.

It seems as though consumers may not mind this loss of privacy.

It’s as if everyone knows that somehow this is wrong but for some reason would rather have everything handed to us through an invasion of privacy than fight to keep it.

Advertising is now being tailored to our specific needs however at what cost are we willing to have everything at our fingertips.

tions involved in the Syrian civil war, this theory proves true.

But we have seen the consequences of inaction in the past. The holocaust may be one of the most prevalent examples with over 10 million people massacred before the eyes of the world.

If in fact Trump wants to help Syrian civilians, he must come up with a cohesive plan of collaboration with other powerful nations to bring peace to the region. If his administration only plans to react when chemical weapons are used, then last Thursday was a sad day for humanity.

Albert Einstein once said, “the world won’t be destroyed by those who do evil, but rather by those who watch them without doing nothing.”

Photo // cnn.com

Pepsi misses the mark on activism

Personal information sold to advertisers

Amira Dabbas Staff Writer

Trump has linked his decision to attack the Syrian regime to the suffering of those who died on the hands of the deadly chemical, but I don’t believe him. And you shouldn’t either.

If Trump and his administration cared about Syrian civilians they would not be attempting to ban them from coming to the U.S. for the last 11 weeks.

If Trump cared about Syrian children he wouldn’t have included defunding foreign aid as part of his budget.

Finally, if Trump cared about Syrians he, like many other world leaders who have condemned the chemical weapons attack, should have done something sooner.

Why do we wait until things like this happen to take action? What if Assad had not used chemical weapons, and bomb the village instead? Would we had reacted the same way? Absolutely not, because he has been doing that for the last six years and we have done nothing.

In the study of psychology there is a theory called the bystander effect, it refers to instances in which individuals do not offer help to those in need when others are around.

With over a dozen groups and na-

Olivia Hunt Staff Writer

I

n a cringe-worthy attempt to appeal to consumer culture, Pepsi’s new advertisement shamelessly commercializes protests and appropriates social justice movements.

The highly controversial ad was pulled within just 24 hours of its release after the popular beverage company was bombarded with criticism for monopolizing on the social struggles that align with protests.

At almost three minutes in length, the ad contains multifaceted layers that the viewer can’t help but analyze. The tonedeaf video features Kendall Jenner who is shown in the middle of a photo shoot and so happens to spontaneously join a nearby protest after an attractive Asian man f lashes her a “come hither” look.

Jenner immediately loses interest in her shoot and throws her bleach blonde wig at her African American hair stylist, who ironically falls under the category of oppressed people that the protest she is about to join is probably focused on.

The camera cuts to a young female photographer wearing a hijab who serves as the token minority in the ad along with the non-white man playing a cello on a helipad in the first scene. The camera pans to the crowd of protesters who look like they just walked out of a K-Mart commercial and had a competition on who could make the most basic protest sign.

To make matters any worse, the background music sounds as if the singer of Mumford and Sons and Calvin Harris made a collaboration album. The pseudo hipster millennials appear stoked that the naive Jenner has joined their important movement, or what appears to be their Mecca to Coachella.

The protesters fade to the background and the camera focuses on two women having brunch and drinking Pepsi. Back at the protest, the sun is ref lecting off of a boho chic’s brand new Urban Outfitters aviator sunglasses as well as her newly Crest white stripped teeth.

A Pepsi magically appears in Jenner’s hand as she celebrates and parties along with the protestors. The protest is slowing due to a barricade of white police officers who are not wearing shields or any type of typical protection worn by actual police officers shutting down a protest.

Jenner, the white feminist savior, approaches the officers, hands them a Pepsi and single handedly solves racism. Everyone can go home now. Once again, capitalism and whiteness prevail.

Not everything in the ad is misguided if you consider the company’s efforts to show diversity by including an Asian man, a woman in a hijab and a black woman performing non-stereotypical tasks, but that is the extent of positive and authentic images of protests.

The image of Jenner handing a Pepsi to the officers shows the paradox between the iconic image of Iesha Evans who stood her ground in the face of riot police last year.

The commercial was mocked by Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., who posted a photo of her father being pushed away by riot police with the caption, “If only Daddy would have known about the power of #Pepsi.”

King is just one of many critics of Pepsi’s erasure of the Black Lives Matter Movement’s efforts.

In a statement regarding the controversy Pepsi tried to level with skeptics, “This is a global ad that ref lects people from different walks of life coming together in a spirit of harmony.”

The company has since apologized and admits to “missing the mark” in addition to placing the oblivious Jenner in this position.

Pepsi exploited the aesthetics of sociopolitical crisis in order to appeal to millennials and pull rank within the soda industry.

The fact that no one involved in the making of this ad questioned how placing a privileged white model in this scenario could be problematic is an indicator that advertising will genuinely play any card in the deck to make profit.

Pepsi

Page 4

News

APRIL 11 - APRIL 17, 2017

TAXES: Increase aims to decrease tobacco use Continued from Pg. 1

With the additional revenue, the libraries also plan to significantly expand on programs that are offered, such as educational workshops, beginning soon. They also plan to hire more employees, having more than 45 positions they hope to fill.

While many citizens of Sonoma County will benefit from the library tax, the biggest tax raise won’t be pleasing to those who smoke. The current tax on a pack of 20 cigarettes is 87 cents and on April 1, it increased to $2.87 per pack of 20.

This jump in the tax rate is a result of the passage Proposition 56, which California voters approved on Nov.8 with nearly 65 percent of the vote. Formally known as the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016, backers like the American Heart Association have tried to pass a tax increase on cigarettes since March 2004.

Under Proposition 56, $48 mil-

lion of the funds raised by the tax increase will go toward enforcing tobacco laws while $40 million will go toward helping boost the number of primary care and emergency physicians in the state.

Another $30 million will go toward preventing and treating dental diseases.Also on April 1, devices containing nicotine, such as electronic cigarettes, were subject to a 27.3 percent tax rate as well.

In Sonoma County, there are almost 570 deaths related to smoking every year.

The county’s health officer, Karen Milman, said she believes the jump in tax rate on tobacco products will hopefully lead to a decrease in tobacco use, which will ultimately push us towards being a healthier county.

Figuring out how to pay for marijuana’s regulation in the state has been difficult. After popular vote legalized it in California, the state needed to regulate this crop. Last month, Sonoma County voters also approved a local tax on marijuana sales.e. On March 7, Sonoma County voters approve Measure A, which places a tax of up to 10 percent on revenue from commercial growers and dispensaries in the unincorporated areas of the county.

The tax passed by a more than 2-to-1 margin and is expected to generate $6.3 million to $15.3 million a year, money that will help the county regulate the cannabis industry.

This tax is in addition to the 15 percent tax on marijuana purchases that statewide voters approved with the passage of Proposition 64 on Nov. 8. The proposition legalized the use of recreational marijuana by those over 21 in California.

sonomastatestar.com

NEWS IN BRIEF

San Bernardino On Monday, two adults and an 8 year-old boy were killed in a shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino, in what police believe to be a murder-suicide. San Bernardino police say a female teacher was killed and a 9 year-old student was also listed in critical condition at area hospitals.

According to police, the suspect had gone to the classroom to visit the woman who was his wife. According to the San Bernardino City Unified School District, students were evacuated to a nearby Cajon High School.

Syria The U.S. fired 59 cruise missiles at Syria’s Shayrat air base Thursday, following a suspected Syrian chemical attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun, leaving 89 people dead. According to Defense Secretary James Mattis, the U.S. attack resulted in the damage of 20 percent of Syria’s operational aircraft.

However, the Russian Defense Ministry has said that only 23 of the 59 American missiles had landed on the airbase and the rest had missed their target.

According to the Pentagon, each missile has an estimated cost of over $1.8 million.

Denver, Colo.

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook clinched his 42 triple-double in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Denver Nuggets. With his most recent performance, Westbrook broke the record for triple-doubles a season previously set by Oscar Robertson 56 years ago.

Sonoma State University will now require its faculty to hold specific office hours Tyler Heberle

U

Staff Writer

nder a newly passed policy, Sonoma State University will require its faculty to have consistent office hours available for students in need.

Sonoma State’s Academic Senate recently recommended a policy regarding “Instructional Faculty Office Hours and Availability,” according to a document summarizing talking points from a previous Senate meeting. The policy describes two forms of office hours, one of which faculty would be required to provide for their students.

Rachel McCloskey, executive vice president of associated students, said the Senate passed the new policy March 23.

Faculty instructing any class during a given semester will either have to provide three office hours per week or at least 15 minutes for every teaching unit they offer, depending which is less time.

The proper department chair can approve the provision of alternate office hours if needed, according to the document.

Elaine Newman — math and statistics professor, and Sonoma State chapter president of the California Faculty Association—said the new minimum requirements won’t affect faculty members who are already available for their students.

“I will be interested to see if there will be an actual change in effect overall that students will see,” Newman said.

Newman is a nonvoting member of the Faculty Standards and Affairs Committee, a standing committee of the Academic Senate. She said there is no debate among faculty on the necessity of office hours, but differences in opinion exist over “the manner in which office hours are delivered.”

“There was a group of faculty that opposed this particular policy because they feel it’s too restrictive…

I think the ultimate policy that was written does provide flexibility, and I’m sure I’ll hear from faculty if it does not,” Newman said.

There was “very vigorous debate” about how to approach office hours over roughly a year and a half leading up to the new policy, according to Academic Senate Lecturer Representative Sakina Bryant. She said she felt a previous incarnation of Sonoma State’s office hours policy was not fair to lecturers “in terms of wage and equity.”

“I just was concerned about lecturer faculty,” Bryant said. “And I was also concerned about departments that had different types of systems that had been working for them.”

Bryant said Interim Provost Jeri Echeverria proposed the three-hour cap, and that the Faculty Standards and Affairs Committee added an amendment that provided more flexibility for each department.

Newman said the policy’s original wording did not require a set number of hours or require professors to show up at a physical office, but merely reinforced the importance of faculty being available for students in some capacity.

“It encouraged departments to set their own specific policy,” Newman said. “So it essentially… left it up to the individual departments to come up with what made sense.”

Some Sonoma State students have expressed frustration with a previous lack of consistency in their professors’ office hours. Jessica Swenson, an environmental studies major and senior at Sonoma State, said she has missed her professors’ office hours given some of their unexpected absences.

“A lot of them have been on sabbatical… if you’re an advisor, you should have longer hours,” Swenson said.

Jessi Laughlin, another senior and environmental studies major, said she doesn’t usually “tend to like to just drop by” her professors’ offices without setting up an appointment, but has often found that professors are more willing to talk if students just approach them after class.

“I think that kind of dashed my desires of office hours,” Laughlin said.

Robert Eyler, dean at the School of Extended and International Education, said he has always tried to stay true to a consistent office hours schedule.

“I have always [tried] to be there on a regular schedule and also [provide] more time during exams and finals,” Eyler said. “[I] have also done special time during finals as needed, as many faculty do.”

Under the new office hours policy, the additional requirements may make it easier to discuss academic concerns with busy professors, Laughlin said.

“If it was this more mandated thing, professors would be willing to stick to it… it sounds like it would be beneficial,” she said.

Keith Gouveia, a political science lecturer at Sonoma State, said the new policy does not affect his office hours schedule, but he worries that the new time requirements may eliminate time allotted for studentfaculty meetings made by appointment.

“With office hours being a structured, specified time, sometimes that conflicts with student schedules,” Gouveia said. “By appointment would allow the accommodation for some students that can work in office hours without having to skip class or something like that.”

Gouveia said he appreciates having an assigned office space to meet with students at Sonoma States, a luxury he isn’t provided when he teaches at Las Positas College in Livermore.

“This seems like a great situation compared to my experience with the community college,” Gouveia said.

Eyler said that “office hours are an integral part of the faculty job,” and that he would prefer to stick with the three hours per week if given a choice under the new policy.

“Every faculty person handles office hours differently, but my practice was three hours a week,” Eyler said.

McCloskey said the new policy “was definitely the best choice for the students.”

“This policy will hold faculty accountable, and requires faculty to make themselves available for students,” McCloskey said.

For more information, contact Faculty Affairs at (707) 664-3236.

News

APRIL 11 - APRIL 17, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

Page 5

Panel discussion focuses on U.S. foreign relations with President Trump at the helm Nathan Jew Staff Writer

T

Paul Wandling, an English professor, concluded the forum with a talk in Darwin Hall about the relationship between imagination and nationalism. “Trump’s campaign centered around building a wall to keep people out,” Wandling said. “Why not tear it down and let people in?”

“So much of a political campaign is centered around which party can deal with the ‘issue’ of immigration best,” Wandling said, “but I’m ready to move past it entirely.”

“There’s an attitude of ‘we have to protect our stuff,’ when in actuality I think we just need to learn to share it better.” Wandling quoted and agreed with an observation made by Pakistani author Mohsin Hamid. “People are going to move, things are going to change, and yet many of our leaders are telling us to go back to a time when it was good,” Hamid said. “In Britain it’s go back to before the European Union, in America it’s ‘Make America Great Again.’”

“The question for you and your generation is,” Wandling said, “How are we going to organize and build upon the idea of a better world.”

he primary concern was alienation on Thursday night, as four Sonoma State University faculty members met to discuss U.S. foreign relations now that Trump is president.

Anastasia Tosouni, a criminology and criminal justice professor, began the talk with examples of Trump’s administration alienating women.

“A crackdown on illegal immigration seems good in theory,” Tosouni said, “but the reality is it is oppressive and will have many unintended consequences on women.”

In El Paso, Texas, U.S. Immigrations and Customs used a survivor of domestic violence as an opportunity to arrest the victim because she was an undocumented immigrant. “She had gone to court to file a restraining order against her partner,” Tosouni said, “and ICE was waiting for her and arrested her outside the courthouse.”

Tosouni says many women are not reporting violent crimes for fear of deportation. “Not only women who are not here legally, but also women who are from Mexico and here legally,” Tosouni said. “The whole immigrant community lives in perpetual fear of being harassed by ICE.” Changling Wo, a Sonoma State English professor, reframed the alienation to the relationship the US has with China. “Trump’s administration has created a ‘dialect of hostility’ with China,” Wo said, “and much of the country has adopted it.”

Wo emphasized that many of the good things China is doing to improve social justice and reduce poverty are being overlooked because communism is so prevalent there. “Don’t fear China, don’t jump to conclusions about its central government,” Wo said. “Our efforts should be focused on engaging each other and making the world we want together in the process.”

Assistant Professor of Criminology & Criminal Justice Studies Napoleon Reyes spoke about a shift in the language of politicians. “When it comes to domestic issues, social welfare rights, civil rights,” Reyes said, “there has been a declining focus of presidential rhetoric when it comes to those rights.

“Presidents are becoming less and less vocal about human rights commitments,” he said. “In fact, they refuse to refer to those issues as human rights.

Courtesy /// Politico They still profess commitment to them, but they refuse to address them as such.

“Speaker Paul Ryan was asked if there was such a thing as a human right On Thursday, four Sonoma State University faculty members disto health care,” Reyes said. “He sidestepped the question, refusing to address cussed U.S. foreign relations with Trump as president. This last week it.” Reyes explained this behavior is not unique to any one politician or party the U.S. fired 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase, the first major atbut is a pattern that emerged after the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt and tack committed during Trump’s presidency. has steadily gotten worse.

PARKING: Updated policy addresses plug-in vehicles Continued from Pg. 1

Under the new policy, those with reserved parking permits can now park in housing parking lots 24/7.

Smith said the amendment that allows those with general or housing permits to park in reserved lots after 5 p.m. aims to accommodate students with evening classes. This way they don’t have to walk too far from their car at night.

Olivia Marshall, a third-year mathematics major, is one of the many students who will benefit from this change in policy.

“Most of the time I just have to go to the Green Music Center because there’s always parking there,” said Marshall.

“But, I usually have class on the other side of campus. If it’s at night, it sucks to have to walk in the cold and dark. It’s scary.”

Although the opening of the reserved lots in the evening will make it easier for students to get from their car

to their later classes, Acting Chief of Police David Dougherty said that Police Services will continue to provide an escort service for anyone who feels uncomfortable travelling alone.

“I think the new policy will definitely make things better,” said Zavala.

“Before this, it felt like reserved parking wasn’t even for students, but for people who were coming on campus for events.

This seems like a step in the right direction.”

In addition to the previously mentioned changes, the updated parking policy also clarifies rules surrounding the new Plug-In Vehicle charging stations, which can be found in parking lots L and D. The policy states that any Plug-In Vehicle is permitted to use the charging stations as long as it has any valid Sonoma State or California State University parking permit, and it is actively charging for the whole time that it is parked there.

Courtesy /// MLive.com The new parking policy allows those with general or housing permits to park in reservd lots after 5 p.m. There has also been changes made to clarify rules concerning the new Plug-In Vehicle charging stations found in parking lots L and D.

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Arts

APRIL 11 - APRIL 17, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

“Lovely Little Lonely” leaves The Maine fans unimpressed Kendall Grove Staff Writer

Review facebook.com Shailene Woodley, Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman star as tired mothers in the hit show, “Big Little Lies.”

“Big Little Lies” a huge hit Emma Capper Staff Writer

Review

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could start this review by calling out the predominantly white cast of “Big Little Lies,” or producer David E. Kelley’s weakness for catfights, but I won’t. Despite its deceptively cheesy title, “Big Little Lies” tells an important story of victimization to empowerment.

It’s a unifying tale whose gender-specific horrors are not exclusive to a particular community.

“Big Little Lies” feels so complete that a second season could only disappoint. It’s not everyday that a murderending is overshadowed by its backstory.

When you begin “Big Little Lies,” an assumption is made. This show is about murder. Not even close.

While the murder acts as a source of suspense, it’s merely an accessory to the real aspects of the show. The editing, sound and absurdity of the characters collectively deliver a unique form of drama and storytelling that other murdermysteries fail to attain.

“Big Little Lies” follows an all-star cast of mothers, raising first graders in Monterey. Nicole Kidman is Celeste, a beautiful yet battered wife. Reese Witherspoon is Madeline, a fearless socialite.

And Shailene Woodley is Jane, a poor, single mom trying to escape her past.

Drop-off at Otter Bay Elementary is a battleground for the upper middle class mothers whose characters often reflect the proximity of Silicon Valley. However, the cattiness of the women reveals itself to be superficial as one by one, they stand up for each other as mothers, wives and human beings. The pending murder becomes more of a structural teaser while the plot focuses on the women and their hardships.

Kelley based the HBO limited series off a novel of the same name by Liane Moriarty. Kidman has said the book had a very Australian tone to it, but Kelley

was able to Americanize the plot enough to stay true to the novel while altering the tone to be relevant to his audience. Kelley’s script transfers perfectly to the small screen with the help of Oscar-worthy acting, lavish settings and jaw-dropping cinematography. However, the beautiful set contrasts menacingly with the trauma and violence regular to the show.

As a buffer, director Jean Marc-Vallée uses an editorial style that keeps the show emotionally balanced and involved.

We learn about the women’s lives in increments through strategic flashbacks that merge with the present. Routine cuts to gossipy monologues keep the episodes satirically light-hearted without interfering with their seriousness.

Sound plays a huge role in setting the tone. Vallée, who directed Witherspoon in “Wild” is known for assigning musical themes to each character and creating his own soundtrack. For example, he pairs Neil Young with Alexander Skarsgård’s character Perry, Celeste’s abusive husband. Initially, Perry plays “Harvest Moon” for Celeste after a fight, saying to her “The most beautiful song for the most beautiful woman.”

Later on, we see Perry horrifically beating Celeste as he plays Neil Young’s “Helpless.” The diegetic sound is used as a tool to clue the audience in on when a scene is part of the past and leaves a lot of the story in an eerie silence. When Celeste is reflecting on Perry’s attack, we don’t hear “Helpless” anymore. We hear the sound of the ocean as she unpacks her new apartment. Although Celeste is alone in her apartment, it’s hard not to think that Perry is going appear out of nowhere. The silence gives the show a sense of unease in the right moments and assigns perspective to the scenes. You’ll notice that the recurring click of a lighter is the theme of the suspicious female detective.

Our perception of a series can change when we acknowledge such subtleties. It’s truly exciting when a director takes the time to add in these hidden distinctions. “Big Little Lies” is cinematically impressive as it balances harsh events with a powerful message.

“T

he new record is the most important record that we’ve made,” is what a band called The Maine told PopSugar about their seventh studio album,“Lovely Little Lonely”, that was released on April 7. The Maine, having recently celebrated their 10 year anniversary, formed in 2007 in Arizona and have continued to release feel good, soul warming music.

“Bad Behavior” was released as the first single off of “Lovely Little Lonely” and is one of the few tracks on the album that holds true to what listeners would expect from The Maine. Besides the familiar feel, this track lacks any sense of diversity and is only kept afloat from the lyrical intrigue.

The second single from “Lovely Little Lonely” is track four, “Black Butterflies and Deja Vu” which is catchy and entertaining. Speed plays a huge part on this track and is what keeps the listener involved.

“Little,” “Lonely” and “Lovely” are all songs on the album as well as being the title. Although preludes and interludes have been an interesting venture on albums for years and still remain that way, The Maine really missed the mark with these three songs.

“Lovely” appears as the third track on the album and can be explained as exaggerated elevator music for all 34 seconds of the song. The album would still portray the same meaning and context without this song which renders the track useless.

The Maine told PopSugar, “all of the songs kind of go into the next one. It’s meant to be listened to in full, which is

the first time we’ve ever made a record like that.”

Both “Little” and “Lonely” have some purpose on this album, but they still seem too full of electronic and vocal manipulation to ever be a core part of The Maine’s live performances.

Surprisingly, The Maine told PopSugar, “the record was pretty challenging to make because the expectation that we put on ourselves....We didn’t let any songs pass through unless we felt it was exactly perfect.”

“Lovely Little Lonely” is a personal album, but it feels generic. Easy relatability might sell music, but it doesn’t provide anything in terms of artistic technique and influence.

The Maine’s last album, “American Candy,” seemed to grasp the concept of relatability better but also understood that people need imagery to fully connect to an album.

Nostalgia is something The Maine has mastered and it’s a major part of “Lovely Little Lonely.”

“Lost in Nostalgia” is a unique dance tune that compliments lead singer John O’Callaghan’s voice beautifly. The synth used on this track is different from the others and blends better with The Maine’s style.

Another track filled with the golden bliss of nostalgia is “Do You Remember?” in which O’Callaghan sings, “Do you remember the other half of twenty three? All lit up together full of guts and dopamine.”

“I Only Wanna Talk to You” begins with a country derived intro, but continues to be a gentle ballad. Along with the upbeat bop “How Do You Feel?,” the second half of “Lovely Little Lonely” proves to be the glue that holds album together.

“Lovely Little Lonely” is a conclusive album that flows together well, but it lacks a certain excitement that is associated with The Maine. It’s the kind of album that will grow on you overtime, but at first listen isn’t anything special.

facebook.com The Maine released “Lovely Little Lonely” on April 7.

“All Amerikkkan Bada$$” highlights institutional injustice Alexis Austin Staff Writer

Review

W

hile Hip-hop has evolved since the days of Biggie, Tupac and Nas, at least one artist remains true to these roots and he is only 22-years-old. Jo-Vaughn Scott, a Brooklyn raised rapper known as Joey Bada$$, persists to set himself and his music apart from others in his genre and generation. His latest album “All Amerikkkan Bada$$” was released last Friday as a testament to this notion as well as a social and political commentary that is more than relevant.

Two songs off the album were released earlier this year, “Devastated” and “Land of the Free.” While each of these has gained considerable popularity and recognition, they represent a more simplified flow apart from the rest.

“Land of the Free” was a bit of an introduction to the artist and gave light to the album to come as he performed it recently on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. It’s a memorable song with a beat similar to Grandmaster Flash’s “The Message,” yet the lyrics are striking. Joey visits a broad array of social issues pertinent to race in America with moving regard for history as well as hope for the future.

“They disorganized my people, made us all loners / still got the last names of our slave owners,” he raps in each chorus.

Towards the end of his final verse he pleads “I’m reaching out to my children, just hoping that they will listen / Start a new coalition against corrupt politicians.”

Although every song is unique, politics and institutional racism remain an overarching theme. It is very distinctive, a complete album dedicated to this sphere of thoughtfulness.

“Temptation” has the best groove and spirals into notes of gospel, while “Rockabye Baby” reaches into a heavy hitting darker shade of rap. In this track Bada$$ teams up with ScHoolboy Q and expresses relentless and rebellious views to a “JoHn Muir” (ScHoolboy) flow.

“If you ‘bout this revolution, please stand up / And if you got the guts, scream,

facebook.com Joey Bada$$ released “All Amerikkkan Bada$$” on April 7.

‘F**k Donald Trump.’”

“Ring the Alarm” is a bit remnant of Immortal Technique. The tone is eerie and demands concentration and regard for the present abstract lyrics. Kirk Knight, Nyck Caution and Meechy Darko are all featured making for an intense collaboration that never loses energy. J. Cole is featured on the track “Legendary,” which samples jazz and has a very unique underlying Latin rhythm.

The final song on this very concise 12-track album, “Amerikkkan Idol,” truly says the most. One of the most perplexing things about Joey Bada$$ is his ability to condense information. He somehow manages to fit worlds of little discussed knowledge into a four to six minute song, and this is best exemplified in this final piece. In case it’s not apparent enough, he spells America with three Ks to express the under representation and institutional injustice Black people face in America, a place still to this day home to those who share ideologies with the Klan.

“Alton Sterlings are happenin’ every day in this country and around the world / The scary part is most of these stories don’t make it to the news and reach mass consciousness,” Bada$$ raps.

To step outside of today’s popular rap format to convey messages he deems significant says something about this rappers passion for consciousness. He utilizes the vintage style of hip-hop while bringing things up to speed with present culture and modern flair. Any hip-hop enthusiast, young or experienced will be able to appreciate this modern-classic album.

Entertainment

APRIL 11- APRIL 17, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

Page 7

Big brands take on April Fools Day Nolan Brough Staff Writer

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very year, one day lives in infamy as a universal time to pull pranks and trick your friends. Back in the day, pranks would be had by all as lighthearted jokes, but in more recent years April Fool’s Day has been kicked up a notch. With the rise of social media, the holiday has taken on a new purpose, and everyone can join in on the fun. From corporate giants like Taco Bell and Google, it seems like everyone can’t wait to make fools out of you.

This year, corporate giants took to Twitter to deal out 2017’s dose of jokes. Google unveiled their newest device, Google Gnome, with a youtube video. The incredible device allows you to control every aspect of your backyard. It can turn on your hose, tell you which way the wind is blowing and so much more. Don’t ask it to do anything for inside the house, though. That’s Google Home’s job.

Netflix also unveiled something on April 1: “Netflix Live.” “Netflix Live” is a show where Will Arnett narrates everyday tasks for the viewers in real time. Some of these scenarios include heating a burrito in the microwave, watching a thumb war and an empty room with a copy machine in it. Fans of the show will be disappointed to hear that the show was only on Netflix for one day.

Zappos’ shocked the nation when they unveiled their patented new packaging for their shoes. Now buyers won’t have to worry about their shoes

getting stolen off their porch thanks to Zappo’s latest innovation, invisible boxes. No longer will you have to spend your day worrying about the safety of your new shoes. The deliveryman might have a hard time picking your box out of the truck, though.

Fast food restaurants also have quite the knack for pulling pranks as well. Seamless, a site that allows you to order food online, released a preview of their new delivery system: Delivery X. Using this service, your food will be delivered to you by a free running parkour specialist. The video they posted has delivery men running around and jumping with insulated food bags, clearly ruining anything that those bags were holding, but at least it looks cool.

KFC shocked the world with their new product, an ambiguously high tech chicken bucket entitled: The Bucket. Truly riveting.

Buffalo Wild Wings also released a commercial for a mock product, Rally Beard Sauce. Mimicking the infamous cinematography that is ever present in Apple promo videos, the “sauceologist” describes a sauce that can actually grow you a beard, an absolute must for any serious sports fan.

April Fools Day is a great way for corporate America to take themselves a little less seriously and connect with their customers. It’s nice to see companies take it down a notch and release some funny content. Too bad April Fool’s Day only comes once a year.

movies “Archer” takes on a new twist for season eight Sean Curzon Staff Writer

Review

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albums

rcher” returns on a new channel with a new premise. The eighth season moved from FX to its sister channel FXX. Dubbed “Dreamland,” this season finds former super spy Sterling Archer dreaming himself as a detective in 1947 while in a coma. The shows trademark wit is in full display.

The new season also brings a new premise for the show. This isn’t the first time “Archer” has changed its form, the spy comedy has dabbled placing the cast as drug dealers and PI’s in Hollywood, but this might be the most ambitious one yet. Instead of merely switching jobs, the entire premise has been changed. Minor spoilers for the end of season seven beyond.

After being shot in the seventh season finale, Archer finds himself in a coma. In Archer’s dream, he’s a WWII vet living in a 1947 city working as a detective. He finds himself entangled in a brewing mob war while trying to solve the murder of his partner. It’s a fun play of old noir detective stories.

The acting is superb. There’s a scene

early in the episode where Archer’s mother and Lana have a conversation about Archer’s condition. Jessica Walter delivers a great subdued performance as her character deals with what had happened to her son. The other actors are still great in their roles, even in a new world.

It’s interesting to see the Archer cast completely recast as new characters. They all have the same personalities as they did in the real world of “Archer,” but in new roles. Archer’s mother is now a mob boss while his on-and-off again girlfriend Lana Kane is now a lounge singer. Archer’s coworkers are now police detectives. It’s fun to see the show play with traditional 40s mystery tropes. The mix up with the status quo is well handled. It’s refreshing to see these characters have new dynamics with each other after seven seasons.

Even in Archer’s mind, the show is still as clever as ever, with its trademark humor on full display. Archer’s as snarky as ever, even trapped in his own dreams. While past seasons were never afraid of drama, this season seemed to have more heart than “Archer” episodes normally have. From the quiet opening, to Archer wanting to solve his partner’s murder, the show seems to have the character’s care more in this episode than they normally do.

This first episode seeds plenty of plot points to bloom throughout the season. It will be interesting to see where the show take this strange premise.

facebook.com “Archer” season eight preiered on FXX on April 5.

Student Life

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APRIL 11 - APRIL 17, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

Art’s Place gives patrons a slice of Italy Brigitte Maina Staff Writer

Review

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hen the craving for homemade gnocchi creeps, it pounces. For the fortunate who live near Redwood Drive, a plate of it isn’t far away. For the rest of us, a hop over the 101 overpass, through a few traffic lights and around Reading Cinemas leads to Art’s Place, a slice of Italy right in our backyard.

Just like mom used to make, Art’s Place has all your favorite noodles.

Choices range from linguine, angel hair and fettuccine, to their more popular spaghetti and penne; and a gluten free penne option. Choosing a pairing sauce can be overwhelming enough to shift entrees, especially when deciding between pesto, marinara, alfredo, creamy chipotle sauce or butter with garlic and parmesan.

If you’re sticking through, the serving size will satisfy you and your wallet, for a meal or even two. If you choose to tap out after seeing the pasta options, shifting left of the menu lands you on sandwich and panini choices.

Everybody knows the B.L.T.; It’s as classic as celebrating your birthday with a cake. Stray from the norm and try an Italian sausage on sourdough with mozzarella and grilled onions, or a heaping meatball marinara. I personally recommend my first Art’s entree, the turkey pesto panini paired with truff le fries.

“Penne with grilled chicken is my favorite, or the chicken parmesean,” said Manager Javier Ruiz.

Holding down the fort for just under four years, Ruiz explained proudly the admiration he has for the well-oiled

STAR // Brigitte Maina Art’s Place provides Rohnert Park with a traditional Italian option, including pastas, pizzas, paninis and more. machine that is the Art’s crew. Ruiz made it known that the traditional diner Art’s Place in North Carolina, has no correlation to this pasta king.

“I love everything about working at Art’s. The crew is amazing, the chefs are incredible and the food is delicious,” said junior Kaleigh Lacouture. Working at Art’s for five months, Lacouture prefers the pesto gnocchi over all. “I love how involved Art is in his restaurant and I couldn’t be happier to be apart of it.”

For allergen-cautious customers, customizing entrees is simple upon request. None of the entrees, minus the salads, use nuts. Pastas directly don’t have eggs, although certain sauces and salad dressings do, as on each menu.

Student Life Calendar Tuesday, April 11 Sport and Social Justice Lecture 7:30 p.m.

Ballroom A Wednesday, April 12

Spinning with Seawolves 10 p.m.

Ballrooms

Scholarships Workshop 3 p.m.

Salazar 1040

Monday, April 17

Earth Day Fair Queering Title 11 a.m.

IX Darwin Quad 4 p.m.

Knights Valley CSLIS Awards Room 7:30 p.m.

Ballroom A Neon Skate Night 8 p.m.

Cal Skate

the county,one of the most beautiful places on earth. Immigrating from Sesta Godano, Italy, the rumored birthplace of pesto, Ibleto blessed this inland Northern California city with his passion for food and wine. His award winning Pinot has prompted the expansion of Bella Sonoma Winery to include Shiraz, Merlot, and Chardonnay.

Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m., it’s difficult to create an excuse not to go. Customers can even grab a glass of wine or a cocktail from the bar to accompany their meal. You might see Art sitting at the bar, and you can let him know if his philosophy of making food delicious and well-priced fit the bill.

Technology, a classroom tool Peter Gatembu Staff Writer

Commentary

I Friday, April 14

“Since Kaleigh is a vegetarian, she used to come in as a customer [and] get the veggie panini and now that she works here, we gave her other options.

Building your own pizza, substituting for things, taking things out…[these are] available for all customers [they] just have to ask. There are things we are able to do, and things we aren’t able to do,” Ruiz said.

In addition to the 563 Rohnert Park Expy location, 90-year-old owner Arturu Ibleto’s signature lasagnas and homemade sauces can be purchased from his additional business location off of Stoney Point Road at 1492 Lowell Ave. The Pasta King, Ibleto’s catering company, has served Sonoma County for over 30 years. Ibleto’s website calls

t goes without question that cellphone popularity has increased over the years and so has their functionality. According to a Pew Research study, more than 90 percent of college students have cell phones. A similar study by the University of New Hampshire showed that college students check their phones between one and five times during class.

On the first day of my communications 240 class, our professor made it clear to all students that she will not tolerate any use of cellphones or laptops. Yesterday in my communications 275 class, our professor allowed us to use our cell phones and laptops to research and find answers to topics that we were discussing. I enjoy both my classes however, the contrast between both my professors and the stance they take on the use of cell phones while in class is quite puzzling.

“Cell phones are tools and it really depends how one uses it. It could be used as a very constructive tool academically, or it could be a very powerful distractive tool,” said Professor of psychology Elisa Velasquez.

“In my seminar classes where face to face interaction is most important, using a cell phone would be destructive. However in some of my classes, my students use cell phones to share constructive information between themselves,” said Professor of Psychology Glenn Brassington.

Many colleges and learning institutions have policies restricting the use of cellphones in class. A recent article from The Atlantic reported that cellphones are taking a toll on students’ cognitive thinking abilities.

Attention spans have shortened dramatically and many college students are struggling to read anything longer than a social network posting. The same report indicated that the dependence on cellphones keeps students from developing the ability to think on their own. Other complaints against cellphones include the fact that students can easily cheat on exams.

Over my years as a student, many professors have had strict policies on the use of cellphones while in class. Perhaps these profes-

sors want all the focus to be on the board, which is understandable. However when a student like myself who regularly uses a cellphone for research and to type as well as turn in assignments is denied space to use my cellphones in class, I feel misunderstood. Last weekend for instance, I was able to turn in one of my assignments while in Tahoe.

I constantly use software programs like Google Docs and Yahoo when not at home, and can use my cellphone to research questions related to my assignments wherever I could be.

Unlike in the old days, most of our assignments are turned in online and the grades are also posted online. With the improved features of technology, professors should take a softer stance to students who want to use their cellphones for constructive, educational goals. “You carry around in your hands the world’s environment in that; with a cellphone, one can listen to music, get news or obtain any information they are looking for in an instant.” Brassington stated.

If cellphones were to be banned from classrooms, yes it may eliminate some distractions, but it will also leave many students disconnected from the realities of technology and the world. It’s not just students who can benefit from cellphone use, professors can too. It could be a faster method to communicate between professors and students.

Homework alerts and project directions can be sent via text message and students can keep themselves organized by taking advantage of calendars and organizer applications on their cell phone. While cellphones are d e s t r u c t ive to some students, they are also very constr uctive to many other students.

Student Life

APRIL 11 - APRIL 17, 2017

sonomastatestar.com

Page 9

STAR // Megan Corcoran After raising over $1000 for chairty last year, Phi Sigma Sigma hosted their 7th annual dodgeball tournament on Sunday in the Rec Center.

Greek life donates with dodgeball tournament Antonia Van Winkle Staff Writer

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ver the weekend Sonoma State University students, staff and Rohnert Park locals channeled their inner child while giving back to the less fortunate at the annual Phi Sigma Sigma Dodgeball Tournament.

The event is put on during the spring semester, and this year marks the 7th annual tournament planned by the ladies of Phi Sigma Sigma.

“Our philanthropy is the Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation which is an ‘umbrella’ organization which supports nonprofit organizations who focus on school and college readiness,” said Jessica Aguilar, a junior and member of Phi Sigma Sigma.

This year members are trying to raise over $2,000 which will be donated to the Kids In Need Foundation.

School supplies, also collected at the tournament, will be distributed across the United States to children in grades K-12 who are most in need.

Many of the kids directly helped by these donations are members of low income families, who cannot afford the necessary supplies to help their child or children be

successful in the classroom. Last year Phi Sigma Sigma was able to raise about $1,200.

Many think that the event is closed-off only to only Greek organizations or clubs, but Phi Sigma Sigma wants people to know that that’s not the case. Low participation rate outside of clubs and organizations is generally what is expected, but Phi Sigma Sigma welcomes all. Students at Sonoma State receiving a higher education are often presented with the chance to better themselves. This event provides another way to get involved and help those who don’t receive the same opportunities.

Although the event doesn’t usually change from yearto-year, Phi Sigma Sigma decided to shake things up a bit.

The 10 teams who signed up also had to select a 1990s or 2000s children’s television show, to have as their theme. “I was looking forward to the different teams dressing up,” stated Katie Crippen, a senior and co-philanthropy chair.

Each participant came dressed-up based on their theme in the hopes of winning the overall best team, and a cash prize. Money was awarded toward other Greek organization’s philanthropies throughout the event, which filled the campus Rec Center with cheers, a sense of community and overall positivity.

The tournament is one of Phi Sigma Sigma’s opportu-

nities to give back. Therefore, a lot of time and energy goes into planning the tournament. Finding a location, signing up teams, putting together silent auction baskets and generating donations were all heavy focuses when planning the event, which takes plenty of time and energy. In addition each year the ladies of Phi Sigma Sigma also donate $40 to the charity, Kids In Need.

“The last time you may have played dodgeball was most likely back in grade school. We want to create that same playground fun in our philanthropy event,” said Aguilar. This is just another was Phi Sigma Sigma sets themselves apart from the others. People love to have competition, but being able to give back at the same time makes it a good excuse to participate.

This event isn’t the only way that the members of Phi Sigma Sigma give back. Alongside this event they also partner up with local businesses like Swirl Time, Panda Express or Chipotle and the proceeds directly help children in need. Phi Sigma Sigma also tables multiple times a semester where students can either donate spare change or a school supply of some sort. Those that missed the dodgeball event can take advantage of future opportunities put on by the ladies of Phi Sigma Sigma by looking for flyers and signs, or by stopping during tabling to find out more.

Social Justice lecture focuses on Israeli conflict Michelle Violetti Staff Writer

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olitical revolutionists, civil rights advocates and environmental awareness movements all sing the same tune for social justice.

“Systemic transformational change has always been initially advocated by third parties,” said David Cobb, a Green Party member who spoke on ‘How to Engage Electoral Politics in an Age of emerging Fascism’ at Sonoma State University’s Social Justice week. The week long focus on social justice, included workshops and lectures that took place Monday through Friday.

Sonoma State’s Social Justice and Activism Club helped organize the events which focused on issues affecting city locals and also expanded out to global injustices.

The third annual presentation of the program was produced by students who helped choose every scheduled event. With four keynote speakers and over 28 lectures the five day event was also co-sponsored by the Sociology department.

The North Coast Coalition for Palestine gave an informative talk about the current issues between Israel and Palestine including common myths on the issues, documented photos as witness to the problem and the history of the land.

Israel is a newly formed country that was created in 1948 by the United Nations. It was implemented by Zionists who strongly believe that in written biblical scripture the land is meant for Jews and given by God. Therese Mughannam, a speaker at the event, is a native Palestinian woman whose family fled the country when she was a child, and she now brings awareness to the issue. Four years ago she went to visit Israel and Palestine in order to document, and see for herself, the truth of the situation.

Mughannam shared pictures of her experience in her presentation and explained that she is an advocate for both Israelis and Palestinians. She doesn’t want any harm to come to the Jewish settlers, but shows the unfairness that the Palestinians are enduring.

“As a Palestinian I am not against the state of Israel, nor am I against Israelis being

there. But I’m against taking people’s land and taking over what belongs to other people,” Mughannam said.

North Coast Coalition for Palestine speaker Lois Pearlman is a Jewish woman herself and clarified many details in her talk.Pearlman explained Judaism as a religion and zionism to be what created Israel.

Pearlman has been to Israel and Palestine to see for herself the situation and says that she indeed felt connected to the land when visiting historic cemeteries and other landmarks but still says that God didn’t give Israel to Jews.

“I even think that people who have moved there recently shouldn’t be pushed out.

I’m not sure how to get here but I believe the only solution I see is for there to be a country where everyone has equal rights,” said Pearlman.

Third Party advocate Cobb explained that the formula for systemic change consists of a social movement and secondly, an electoral arm at the ballot box. Currently third parties have no strength at the ballot box but Cob is optimistic about the green party.

The Green Party receives zero corporate money and it stands for proportional representation Cobb said. The lack of funds is one of the differences between the Green Party and its larger competing parties. Corporate funding to a political party creates an influential problem that both the Republican and Democratic party are involved in Cobb explained further.

Cobb’s opinion is that if any conducive or effective change is to take place about significant matters, like black lives matter, guaranteed living wage and environmental consciousness, then one must be courageous and get involved in alternative political parties “I’m a Green Party member not out of idealism, but out of calculated strategy,” Cobb said.

Sexual assault workshops promote student awareness Alyssa Archerda Staff Writer

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ccording to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men will be sexually assaulted while in college. More than 90 percent of sexual assault victims on college campuses don’t report the assault and 8 out of 10 times, the victim knew the person who sexually assaulted him or her.

This is why during the month of April, Sonoma State University will be having many events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Events include the Clothesline Project, a self-defense class, Denim Day and Take Back the Night.

It all began in 1978 in San Francisco and New York City.

The two locations were the first cities in the United States to hold protests fighting the violence and sexual assault against women. These protests were called Take Back the Night marches. The purpose of these protests were to demand that at night the streets should be safe enough for women to walk through without any fear of being sexually assaulted or encountering any violence.

The Clothesline Project, displayed in front of Salazar on Tuesday and Wednesday, helped to bring awareness to the issue of violence against women. The event featured t-shirts honoring and supporting victims of sexual violence. Shirts and supplies were provided for students to decorate and then

hung up on a clothesline display to educate, support and raise awareness for sexual assault.

Other events are also planned for the month to help elevate student awareness. On April 12 from noon to 3 p.m., a self-defense class titled Moving from Fear to Empowerment will be held in the Rec Center. Participants will learn how to assess potentially unsafe situations, recognize the signs of escalation and get to practice self-defense techniques. The defense lessons are geared to put an end to harassment, intimidation and violence through verbal, physical and emotional strategies and techniques. These include boundary setting scenarios, conflict resolution exercises, role-play scenarios and physical techniques.

Sonoma State will be holding its own Take Back the Night on April 26 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Student Center. The event will break the silence around sexual assault, domestic violence and rape culture through storytelling, support and empowerment.

April 26 is also Denim Day, where jeans symbolize protest against the negative and destructive attitudes surrounding sexual assault. Those participating can stop by Seawolf Plaza and receive a Denim Day sticker as well as resources for more information and support.

Other events include the One Love Relationship Violence Escalation workshop on April 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Helping Survivors Thrive after Sexual Violation workshop

on April 18 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Sexual Violation and the Hero’s Journey talk also on April 18 from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Those events will be held in the Student Center ballrooms, but students can find more information during tabling in Seawolf Plaza.

Anyone interestested in helping in the fight against sexual assault can join Alpha Delta Pi at their event on Sunday, April 23 from 11 a.m. to noon. They are hoping to partner with students to start a conversation and devise a solution to end sexual assault.

For a complete list of events, times and location visit http://www.sonoma.edu/newscenter/2017/03/sexual-assaultawareness-month. For more information on the self-defense class go to http://handtohandkajukenbo.com/.

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Sports

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Softball team split weekend series against Gators Chad Shaver Staff Writer

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oming off a strong road tournament, the Sonoma State University softball team struggled against San Francisco State in a fourgame series on Saturday and Sunday at the Seawolf Softball Field.

In game one on Saturday the Seawolves had a slow start. In the first inning, the Gators came out hot, scoring a run off an error and setting the momentum of the game early on.

Errors seemed to keep the Seawolves down in game one, but in the bottom of the second it was their turn to answer back.

Freshman outfielder Alyssa Cuffia started the Seawolves off with a single and a sacrifice bunt by Lindsey Calcany Blair moved Cuffia over to second base. With Cuffia now in scoring position, the Seawolves knew they must capitalize.

Catcher Sarah Langley ripped a triple past the center fielder, scoring Cuffia from second and putting herself in scoring position on third base.

With a sac f ly with one out, the Seawolves were able to score another run, making the score 2-1 in favor of Sonoma State.

With the momentum of the game now in the team’s hands, it was determined to get this victory.

The game went scoreless for three more innings until the top of the 5th when the Gators answered back.

By putting the ball in play, the Gators were able to capitalize on the Seawolves’ errors and picked up three more unearned runs, making the score 4-2, Gators leading.

Gaining the momentum back, the Gators were able to hold their lead, defeating the Seawolves 4-2 in game one of the double-header and four game series.

In game two on Saturday, it was the Seawolves’ turn to come out hot in the first inning. With Karly Macadangdang on second base, Jenny Callazo came up to the plate and blasted a homer to left field.

The score now 2-0, Sonoma State leading, the game was in its hands. The Seawolves capitalized one more time in the inning with a single down the left field line, scoring Langley.

Unfortunately, in the fourth inning the Gators’ bats ignited and they were able to scrape together a run, making the score 3-1, still in favor of the Seawolves.

With lockdown pitching by Brigid Ruiz, the Seawolves held the Gators from scoring any more runs, and in the fifth inning Sonoma State answered back big.

After grinding on defense, Ruiz came up big in offense with a two-run homerun, scoring Langley.

Wit h the lead steadily increasing to 6-1, Ruiz locked the rest of the game down and the Seawolves t o o k the win.

A fter the Seawolves’ victory, the Gators came out to play in game two. The first inning they were on the board, 1-0. With this lead the Gators took the game one inning at a time and scored again in the second inning.

Run by run, the lead began to increase, 2-0 in the top of the second. Unable to produce any offense, the Seawolves struggled and in the seventh inning the Gators packed on the lead with one more run, making the score 3-0.

In the bottom of the seventh ,the Seawolves showed some light with a single down the line by Amaral, scoring Alex Flores to make the score 3-1.

Unable to produce any

more runs, the Seawolves fell short and lost 3-1 in game one on Sunday. Fired up and ready to play in Sunday’s second game, the Seawolves hit the field with Teresa Dannenberg starting in the pitching circle.

The Gators again came out hot early, scoring two runs in the first inning. In the bottom of the second the Seawolves answered back, tying the game up 2-2.

With the Seawolves’ bats now hot, they began to get into their groove and in the bottom of the third, they broke the tie when Cuffia and Flores scored on errors by the Gators, making the score 4-2, Sonoma State leading.

In the top of the fourth the Gators were able to capitalize on the Seawolves’ errors and pull in two more runs, making the score now 4-4. With the game going back and forth, it was the Gators who broke the next tie in the top of the fifth, pulling in two more runs to put them in the lead, 6-4.

The Seawolves answered back in the bottom of the fifth, scoring 6 runs on hits by Ruiz, Collazo Georges and Amral, putting the score at 10-6.

This one big inning for the Seawolves was enough and they closed out the four game series with a victory.

With this win, the Seawolves split the series 2-2 and look ahead to Cal State East Bay for another four-game series on Friday STAR // Konrad Schoffer and Saturday.

Sports Schedule Monday April 10

Thursday April 13

Men’s Golf Hanny Stanislaus Invitational

Baseball vs Cal State East Bay 2 p.m.

Tuesday April 11 Friday April 14 Men’s Golf Hanny Stanislaus Invitational Baseball vs Holy Names 2 p.m.

Women’s Track @ East Bay Invitational @ Beach Invitational Baseball vs Cal State East Bay 12 p.m. & 3 p.m.

Women’s Tennis vs Dominican Republic 1 p.m.

Baseball vs Cal State East Bay 12 p.m.

Softball @ Cal State East Bay 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.

Men’s Tennis vs UC Santa Cruz 12 p.m.

Saturday April 15

Softball @ Cal State East Bay 12 p.m. & 2 p.m.

Women’s Track @ East Bay Invitational @ Beach Invitational

Women’s Water Polo vs Cal State East Bay 1 p.m.

Women’s golf team takes first place at Spring Invitational Kevin Brill Staff Writer

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COURTESY // sonomaseawolves.com Senior Haley Whitbeck fired seven-over-par in her final regular season tournament, while Sabrina Virtusio took fifth place on Tuesday, scoring 72-83=155 (+11).

he Sonoma State University women’s golf team was victorious in its final regular season tournament as it won its third-ever Sonoma State Spring Invitational title, which took place on Monday and Tuesday at Foxtail Golf Club in Rohnert Park.

This exceptional performance gave the Seawolves their first title since 2011.

As a team, Sonoma State scored 616 (+40) which pushed it past Monterey Bay, who finished in second place at 633 (+57). Holy Names placed in third at 636 (+60), followed by Chico State and Academy of Art who tied for fourth place at 641 (+65).

After getting off to a rough start shooting an 86 on Monday’s opening round, senior Erin Martens was determined to improve her gameplay in her last regular season tournament. Martens jumped the standings by 35 spots during the second round, shooting three strokes less than all other competitors in the tournament on Tuesday. She was relentless and proved her ability to come back ready to play, finishing with an outstanding score of 73.

“I went into that round wanting to definitely improve from my rough round on Monday, and really help my team,” Martens said. “I was really relaxed which helped, and my putting was re-

ally solid for the most part. I was actually minus two through the first nine holes and struggled a little bit on the back to end up shooting 73. Definitely could have been lower, but with the tough course set up, I was happy.”

After Sonoma State’s phenomenal performance on Monday and Tuesday, the team kept the momentum going as it played Dominican University on Saturday. The Seawolves finished first, scoring 292, followed by Dominican who shot 327 as a team.

Sophomore Sabrina Virtusio shot an impressive 68 on Saturday, which was not only a career low, but also tied the women’s golf program record for the lowest round. Virtusio has been on fire recently, as she has finished being Sonoma’s top golfer for the second time out of the past three events.

Dominican’s junior, Christabelle Kim, had the spotlight all on her when she sunk an unexpected 110 yard hole-in-one on the sixth hole.

The left-handed Kim finished with the team’s best score of 80. Freshman Madison Beckett followed closely as she finished one stroke behind Kim at 81.

With a national ranking of No.15 in the nation, the Seawolves will anxiously wait until they find what is in store for them in the NCAA postseason. This will be Sonoma State’s third straight appearance at the NCAA West Regionals, which will take place on May 8-10 at Wichita Falls Country Club in Texas.

Sports

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Page 11

Athleticism and Activism Simon Cherin-Gordon Staff Writer

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COURTESY // CNN.com and thesource.com Tommie Smith raises a fist after winning the 200 meter gold metal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

fter running into the end zone in a game against the Arizona Cardinals last fall, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw up a fist.

The act was an extension of his season-long kneeling protest during the national anthem, as well as an act of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. But it was also an ode to Tommie Smith, who held his black-gloved fist high as they awarded him the 200 meter gold medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

Fellow American sprinter John Carlos, who won bronze, did the same.

Smith will speaking at Sonoma State at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Ballroom A of the Student Center. Smith will talk for an hour about his famous protest, his life as an athlete activist and the importance of speaking out.

The need for activism has not diminished since the 1960s, but activism has all the same. After their Olympic stand, Smith and Carlos faced violently racist backlash upon returning to the United States.

There were death threats. People attacked their homes. Sportscaster Brent Musberger called them “blackskinned stormtroopers.”

It’s now 2017. Martin Luther King, Jr. has been dead for 49 years, and Malcolm X for 52. Musberger, amazingly, became one of the most decorated sportscasters in the world until his retirement earlier this year.

The silencing of activism is relentless, and it is hard for activism itself to keep up the energy needed merely to

match. However, for the first time since the 1960s, that fighting spirit is gaining strength.

Social change does not start with public figures, but they can bring important issues to a wider audience. The civil rights and anti-war movements of the 1960s gained steam due to grassroots movements such as bus boycotts, sit-ins and anti-war demonstrations on college campuses, as well as increased access to information.

Those factors were both the fuel and the fire for Muhammad Ali’s refusal to fight in Vietnam in 1967, and for Smith and Carlos’ raised fists in 1968.

Today, more access to information has rekindled the desire for urgent change. As iPhone videos of police shootings lead to organizations such as Black Lives Matter forming and gaining traction, athletes are again emboldened to become athlete activists.

If anyone questions the notion that “the need for activism has not diminished since the 1960s,” they need look no further than the reaction to Kaepernick’s protests.

The death threats, the racist remarks, the notion that he has no right to make a statement: clearly, the climate has not changed much.

Nonetheless, Kaepernick’s bravery—along with that of the other NFL players who joined in, and that of the thousands of activists who have created a climate in which these athletes feel empowered—has given Smith’s 1968 protest has a newfound relevance.

It never lost its importance, but it did temporarily lose its audience. That audience is returning, and Smith, like Kaepernick, is sensing the moment.

Young talent dominates the NBA draft Naaman Hightower Staff Writer

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n every situation, there is a risk and a reward.

This saying never applied more than the NBA Draft, where 60 college hopefuls will find their dreams come true—but for the other 200 applicants, it’s back to the drawing board.

When making a decision that’s going to affect the rest of your life, one has to consider several things. Hype and potential are two of the most important factors when it comes to getting drafted.

Physically, a player’s athleticism and body will fill out around age 23.

And what age is a college senior roughly? See where I’m going?

The days of a gifted player waiting four years to give the NBA a try is long gone. This day and age, it’s all about finding the next best thing and fast. In this era of the one-and-done college freshmen and old legends such as Kobe, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce retiring, the league is looking for new blood to showcase.

This idea sounds great to everyone under 21. In this past year, 25 of the first 30 first-round picks went to players who were 21-years-old or younger.

What does this say about to those who are over the legal age? They better be good or else they are playing with fire.

A second round pick in the NBA Draft is almost as good as a wolf ticket because teams can offer non-guaranteed contracts for when your performance doesn’t match what management wants. And what happens when you don’t measure up?

Meet Brandon Dawson.

The L.A. Clippers drafted the 23-year-old senior out of Michigan State was in the late second round of the 2015 draft. After great performances in the summer, Dawson was lucky enough to sign a two-year contract.

Yet two years later, he is gone. Actually, he is nearly 7,000 miles away in Israel, playing professionally, far from his family and friends. This occurred for a number of reasons, mainly those of non-production.

The NBA is a cutthroat league of nearly 450 of the best players in the world. If you are not one of the top-tier players such as Paul George, Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and others, then your better be absolutely great at one or two facets of the game.

Take Cleveland Cavaliers Tristan Thompson. Thompson doesn’t get the status of greats such as James and Westbrook, yet he quietly demanded a 5-year, $82 million contract after the 2016 season.

Why haven’t you heard of him? All Thompson does is the “garbage work.” He rebounds extremely well and hustles around the court like a madman. He understands his positions. Knowing a player’s role is a big key to not getting waived from a team.

You may have noticed a team like the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have multiple superstars who can score extremely well.

This makes it harder for a late pick to play with them, knowing that scoring the basketball isn’t a problem for that specific team. So a player has to show production in other ways.

If you aren’t a potential lottery pick, you have to know that at the end of the day, the NBA is a business. It won’t guarantee anything to you.

COURTESY // sonomaseawolves.com The water polo team defeated the Division I Santa Clara Broncos for the second straight time this season.

Women’s water polo team defeat NCAA Division I Santa Clara Broncos Annie Finck Staff Writer

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he pool was full of fire this Saturday as Sonoma State University women’s water polo team fought its way to victory against the Santa Clara Broncos.

This was their second consecutive win against the NCAA Division I Broncos with a score of 8-5.

The Seawolves ignited in the last 11 minutes, scoring three goals and leaving the Broncos with no chance of redemption.

This game improved Sonoma State’s record to 8-17 and dropped Santa Clara to 6-17 for the season.

“We play Santa Clara often. While it always feels good to beat a division one school, the conference games are what really matter,” junior driver Lily Carlon said. “We can not let anything about other teams rankings or status get to our heads; we need to stay focused on improving as a squad.”

The game started with the Seawolves coming in hot by scoring the first goal of the game and ending the first half ahead, 4-2.

When the women came back after the half, the closest they let Santa Clara come to their lead was 5-4, but the Seawolves prevailed and maintained their lead over their competitors. Nicole Groat

scored the first goal, who then led the team with three goals.

Not only did the Seawolves’ offensive game help lead them to victory, their stellar defense was equally important and allowed them to move forward and keep the Broncos from scoring any more goals.

Taylor Plorin, who plays goalie for the Seawolves, had nine saves and four steals.

“We went into the game really united and wanting to have a win. Our coach told us we only had four more wins and we will have a school record, so I think that really motivated us to get a win,” Lyndsie Williams said.

“I know the team is really excited for our upcoming conference and championship games,” Cassidy Mundt said.

“We are also working hard toward making school history and with the way we played on Saturday, I know there is no doubt about it.”

After a powerful win against Santa Clara, the Sonoma State women’s water polo team is preparing for its matchup against its rival Cal State East Bay, at 1:00 p.m. this Saturday in Rohnert Park.

“It got me really excited to play in these upcoming games and I think the team as a whole is now more ready than ever to push through tough games and get ready for the Western Water Polo Association,” Williams said.

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Photo

APRIL 11 - APRIL 17, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

STAR // Megan Corcoran Alpha Omicron Pi celebrates, top left, Emmett Smay looks to throw the ball, top right, and the Alpha Psi team is ready to take on their opponent, bottom.

STAR // Konrad Schoffer Alex Flores No. 5 sends one off against San Francisco State.

School of

Extended and International Education

STAR // Konrad Schoffer Lindsey Calcany Blair No. 20 bunts the ball.

#schoolsIN

SUMMER SESSION

2017

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