Volume 79 // Issue 13

Final issue of the fall Issue 1 will be on stands Jan. 13

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 79 // ISSUE 13 DECEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2017

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

@SONOMASTATESTAR

Campus leaders question new tuition increase PAIGE HUNTER STAFF WRITER

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California State University proposal to increase tuition in 2018-19 is raising concerns among Sonoma State University students who are questioning what the increase is for and how it benefits them..

The CSU Board of Trustees is looking to pass a proposal on March 21, which includes a $228 increase in tuition for the 2018-19 academic year.

The proposal comes after a $270 increase took effect for the 2017-18 school year.

It was clear to CSU students that this year’s increase was needed to fund the system’s graduation initiative, which seeks to double the four-year graduation rate from 19 percent to 40 percent and achieve a 70 percent sixyear graduation rate by 2025.

But the reasons for next year’s increase was lost on many students interviewed by the STAR. Associated Students President Wilson Hall said he thinks consecutive tuition increases is an unwarranted burden to students.

“A possible tuition increase two years in a row is a serious issue for students,” Hall said. “While each employee is crucial to student success, at a public university, the responsibility for mandatory costs like salary increases, benefits and other operating expenses should always be the responsibility of the state, not the students.”

According to the California Faculty Association, California spends

41 percent less on a CSU students today than 30 years ago. For the 2018-19 academic year, Gov. Jerry Brown has indicated he will only grant the CSU system $102 million in new funding, an amount the Cal State Student Association says leaves a $50 million deficit just for mandatory costs. According to the California State Student Association, the chancellor’s office chose the amount based on the tuition needed to cover mandatory costs the state will not cover in its budget.

Elaine Newman, president of the CFA for Sonoma State, said she believes they need to find new ways to fund college institutions.

“Ultimately we have to come up with different funding streams, different resource streams, not on the back of students but different ways to pay for the quality education [students] are getting,” Newman said.

The CSSA and Hall say they hope to meet with Chancellor Timothy White in January at the next California State Student Association meeting.

This meeting comes after the CCSA met with the Chancellor’s Office on Dec. 1 seeking answers to the proposal as well.

“The Associated Students will continue to voice opposition to the tuition increase,” said Hall, “We will encourage our student Trustees who sit and vote on the Board of Trustees to express the impact that an additional tuition increase would have on our students.”

According to Emily Hinton, Sonoma State senior and California

Sonoma State STAR Associated Students President Wilson Hall answering questions by students at the Pizza With the President event on Nov. 30th.

State University student trustee, the Board of Trustees has not taken an official position yet, “nor have we had much discussion regarding it yet.”

Newman said SSU administration needs to take responsibility for where school funds go, and that it should ultimately go back into the classroom.

“Administration has to commit to spending their money a different way,” Newman said. ”Rather than hiring administrators and giving administrator raises, they could be focusing

on spending money actually on what’s happening in the classroom.”

Both Hall and Newman encourage students to be active in giving testimony to not only administrators but legislators and the Chancellor’s Office as well.

“Your voices matter; if you go out and get rowdy and protest, the media is going to be there, administrators are going to take note, legislators are going to take note,” said Newman.

SSU awarded for employee wellness program ALICE TENNIGKEIT STAFF WRITER

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STAR // Mikki Taylor Jessica Mitz, No. 22, goes up for a jump shot against the defender.

Women’s basketball

team gets first win of the 2017-18 season

See the story on the Seawolves most recent performances on pg. 10

ith its diverse landscapes, climate, agriculture and environment, Sonoma County is well known for the healthy lifestyle it boasts. Likewise, Sonoma State University is now also recognized for its remarkable health. The North Bay Business Journal has named Sonoma State University one of the healthiest companies in the North Bay. According to Renée Senander, manager of worker’s compensation, ADA and leave administration in the Human Resources Department and chair of the SSU employee wellness program, the recognition for SSU was “based off our program's effort to provide opportunities that promote a campus culture of wellness.”

Not only does Sonoma State University encourage every-day healthy practices and lifestyle changes, she said, the campus is dedicated to providing ample opportunities for faculty and staff to get active, eat well, sleep well, manage stress and track their overall health. “We believe wellness is multitiered, and it is important for our employees to be supported and cared for at every stage of their wellness journey,” Senander said. She believes Sonoma State University campus offers a breadth of services for its students to promote a healthy lifestyle.

“Sonoma State University employees spend a third of their time at work, so offering a workplace employee wellness program is essential to supporting personal health goals and in establishing a work/life balance,” Senander said.

Two years ago, the employee wellness program started by offering yoga classes during lunchtime hours and circuit training and cycling classes for Sonoma State University staff. he program now provides a place to work out between noon and 2 p.m., workout classes at noon, yearly flu shot clinic, health promotion classes in partnership with Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health and the American Heart Association and even annual biometric screenings.

By partnering with companies like the American Heart Association, Sonoma State University also provides staff with the ability to better maintain and manage their long-

term health conditions and goals.

The Employee Wellness Program focuses on whole body wellness and has even offered financial wellness/budget classes by Redwood Credit Union and Sleep/ Stress Management Classes. According to Senander, Sonoma State University staff benefit from partnerships with large companies to maintain long-term health and a range of stress, exercise, and cooking classes to encourage day-to-day health practices.

“Our staff appreciates and enjoys the community spirit and sense of teamwork that has developed by participating with others in our wellness program,” Senander said.

The North Bay Business Journal holds a nomination process yearly for companies to apply for the recognition. Because the Employee Wellness Program has made such tremendous efforts to improve employee quality of life over the last two years, Senander believed it was a great opportunity to nominate SSU. Once they considered the school, the NBBJ followed up by sending Sonoma State an application to apply for the award. Once Sonoma State University completed and submitted the application, it took another two to three weeks until Senander found out that the NBBJ was recognizing the school. While Sonoma State will not receive a physical or monetary award, Senander said the school is greatly proud to accept the award as one of the healthiest companies in the North Bay. According to Senander, Sonoma State University has gladly accepted the award and will use this public recognition as incentive to continue creating progressive health opportunities for its employees to make strides in their health and well being.

The North Bay Business Journal recognizes Sonoma County and now Sonoma State University for their healthy environments and the health momentum they establish. According to Senander, Sonoma State University hopes, “to continue to expand upon the wellness program,” by utilizing the “resources available amongst our colleagues, health care/insurance providers and local community support.” If any students have thoughts on how to improve or support the school’s wellness efforts — such as implementing fitness certifications — please contact employeewellness@sonoma.edu.

2 Editorial THE STAR Editorial Board Shannon Brown, Editor-in-Chief Ethan Helms, Executive Editor Nate Galvan, News Editor Olivia Hunt, Opinion Editor Brigitte Maina, Ar ts & Enter tainment Editor Tyler Heberle, Student Life Editor Bianca Sanborn, Spor ts Editor Alyssa Archerda, Photo Editor Alex Randolph, Copy Editor Alexis Austin, Copy Editor Kitana Gachero, Copy Editor Alex Daniels, Adver tising Manager Lauren Sniffin, Social Media Manager Paul Gullixson, Faculty Adviser Staff Writers Kevin Brill, Nolan Brough, Anna Burke, Kayla Buie, Braden Car twright, Madison Caballero, Francisco Carbajal, Nick Coats, Jana Duncan, Lauren Eipp, Ryan Estes, Becca Garner, Kaitlyn Haas, Kaitlyn Haga, Paige Hunter, Kayla Kring, Andrea Mendoza, Kailey O’Hehir, Suzette Plumley, Roland Schmidt, Emily Shaheen, Chad Shaver, Sierra Sorrentino, Alice Tennigkeit, Suleika Usher, Amber Weinstock

Photographers Mikki Taylor, Lauren Taylor, Luis Mejia

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: “Seawolf Speak! How are you preparing for finals?”

Staff Writer Suzette Plumley talks with students around campus to see how they are preparing for finals this week and their methods of studying.

DEC. 12 - DEC. 18, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

Freedom of the internet in jeopardy

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n Thursday the Federal Communication Commission, or five commissioners known as the FCC, will decide on the fate of the guiding, internet principle of net neutrality.

As of 2014, the net neutrality principle has prohibited internet service providers from individually presenting data to their audiences.

This forces companies, such as Comcast, Verizon and AT&T, to charge the same for each user, barring discrimination regarding content, platforms, applications and channels of communication.

While net neutrality isn’t a law, it is a principle that has been regulated by the government requiring all broadband providers to treat internet traffic equally.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, appointed by President Donald Trump, proposed as early as April to begin rolling back freedoms protected by what some communities have coined as the internet’s First Amendment.

Stricter regulations were enforced after an amendment to Title II in 2015, reclassifying broadband as a common carrier rather than an information provider.

Pai, with the support of the Trump Administration, aims to diminish this open road men-

tality and allow providers to be selective in pricing and internet performance.

Unfortunately this is where consumers and the public would begin to suffer.

By eliminating the net neutrality principle, internet providers would no longer be required to charge customers a flat fee.

Instead they would have more control over what content their customers can access and how much it will cost them to do so.

Having this amount of control would allow companies like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T to exclude access to certain websites or content.

Programs and applications such as Snapchat or Netflix, that are high-traffic programs, may be forced to pay providers more to support their large data use.

The increase to the company could bring higher subscription costs and may not be accessible at all with certain providers.

Students who use social media sites like Facebook or Snapchat, or video-streaming sites such as Netflix, HBO or Amazon Prime could see a drastic change in their choices.

The removal of net neutrality would make it possible to keep certain websites off the internet altogether. Allowing companies to dictate what their customers

have access to will ultimately leave the public less informed.

Eliminating the principle may also punish smaller websites by providing them slower connection speeds and limiting their audience.

The net neutrality principle has played an important role in keeping internet providers on an even playing field.

If the FCC gets rid of it, the public may begin paying higher prices for access to less content and may be required to pay more for access to specific websites.

Recently, public outcry has had enough power to motivate real change on higher, inaccessible grounds.

If we learned anything from 2016, it’s that our voice isn’t something to take for granted, which is why students can’t wait any longer to speak out against the removal of net neutrality.

We believe that these actions are a step toward allowing censorship in our society and will let wealthy companies control what information reaches the public.

We strongly encourage students, faculty and staff at Sonoma State to get involved and voice their disapproval of the removal of net neutrality.

To get involved and let your voice be heard visit www.battleforthenet.com

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.

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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.

WE DON'T EITHER Speak out to keep net neutrality.

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

Opinions

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

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

Interested in placing an ad in the STAR? Contact our advertising manager at: sonomastatestar@gmail.com

Opinion 3

DEC. 12 - DEC. 18, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

Future of internet at risk without net neutrality

BRADEN CARTWRIGHT STAFF WRITER

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n Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission will vote on whether to repeal net neutrality or not.

Net neutrality is the principle that internet service providers should treat all websites fairly, not slowing speeds or charging more depending on the website.

The FCC plans to cancel regulations that have been in place since 2015 to stop internet service providers, like Comcast and Verizon, from favoring certain websites, such as their own. The FCC will vote to roll back these rules in the name of less regulation, which could hurt anyone who uses the internet.

The idea of repealing net neutrality laws is very unpopular with both Republicans and Democrats. A poll of 1,000 Americans conducted by Mozilla and Ipsos showed that 76

percent of Americans, 81 percent of Democrats and 73 percent of Republicans, support the current net neutrality rules.

Repealing net neutrality would end the best thing about the internet – it’s free. Right now, people pay one flat rate and they get access to almost every website, excluding ones that have a paywall. Imagine if the internet was divided into tiers, and you had to subscribe to go on your favorite websites. Popular websites like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube could cost more.

This would hurt small websites, making it harder for them to grow.

Internet service providers could slow down websites’ speeds unless they pay a fee. So, while companies such as Netflix and Facebook might be willing and able to pay a fee to keep their speeds fast, your Netflix subscription price might go up, hurting the consumer.

Many of our favorite websites started out as small, poor websites that could exist because of net neutrality. Making it harder for small websites to grow will limit the innovation and creativity that makes the internet great.

The internet is a special resource that has allowed more people than

ever to be informed and in touch. Net neutrality protects helpless people from the greed of corporations. Since it’s free, anybody can go to their public library and hop on the internet for whatever reason. To apply for a job, to sign up for assistance, or to an email a relative – the uses of the internet are infinite.

Not only are the people united against repealing net neutrality, so are most websites. They see the power this gives huge corporations over the flow of information. Unfortunately, internet service providers seem to have a lot of influence within the FCC. That’s the only way to explain why five chairmen on the FCC will vote the opposite of the will of the people.

When big businesses, small businesses, Republicans, and Democrats are all against your plan, it might be a bad idea. That’s the most frustrating part of this whole thing. The people voting on this issue don’t care about who it will affect. They’re just doing what they want to do, regardless of who it hurts.

No matter how much people yell, write, call and fight, they won’t get the outcome they want. It’s an example of government failing the people, by pursuing an agenda they have enthusiastically opposed.

Loyalties lie with robots rather than people

KATIE HAGA

STAFF WRITER

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or decades, it has been assumed that by this time period we would have robots as functioning members of our society.

Whether it be in books, television shows or films from the past, the 21st century has been designated as the time of technology.

We have been living in a culture based on innovation during this decade with ever-changing technologies and for the time being, have been reluctant to experiment with artificial intelligence. Until recently.

The world was introduced to Sophia, the humanoid via video which immediately went viral after its release.

After the first video was released of Sophia being interviewed by a member from Business Insider UK, other videos were uploaded to social media platforms which provoked many different responses. On Twitter, several people made memes

out of the situation and its entirety, whereas some people saw the Sophia-bot as a potential threat to humankind and are lowkey terrified of the capabilities she may have. But the Sophia-bot is no joke, as of Oct. 25 Sophia became a full citizen in Saudi Arabia, “the first robot in the world to achieve such status,” according to Forbes.

Announcing her new status during the Future Investment Initiative Conference in Saudi Arabia, the world discovered that she can express emotions, she has a sense of humor and also wants to protect humanity.

But how is it that we now have a robot that has status as a citizen and yet we are still treating actual humans like they are not citizens at all?

It’s actually kind of ironic that in the midst of Sophia’s new status as a citizen going viral, the Trump administration has been granted permission by the Supreme Court to allow the travel ban to take effect. Humanity is so screwed up that we now acknowledge citizenship of a thing made out of metal and not the rights of actual human beings.

The ban passed on Dec. 4 by the Supreme Court. The latest version gives the administration the power to completely enforce its new restrictions on individuals from eight nations who emigrate or travel to the United States, according to the New York Times.

The eight nations where individuals will be barred from the United States include: Iran, Libya, Syria, Chad, North Korea, Somalia, Yemen and some groups of people from Venezuela.

The restrictions of the ban vary,

but in a majority of the cases, citizens from these select countries will not be able to emigrate to the United States indefinitely and many will be barred from studying, vacationing or working here.

How is it that we have become so consumed with enhancing the latest technology and creating something so advanced to be the best, that we forget that there are other problems in the world that have to do with the human race?

With all of the latest news on the Sophia-bot and how she has impressed many different nations, she has recently called for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, according to CNBC. But how is it that we now have a robot that has status as a citizen and yet we are still treating actual humans like they are not citizens at all?

As if the fight for women’s rights in Saudi Arabia hasn’t gone on for decades, people seem to think that a robot can fix all of that, even though women were just recently granted the access to drive in the nation in September. In the Islamic kingdom, Sophia has been granted more rights than a woman.

Citizenship isn’t necessarily an easy thing to gain for many people and yet a robot was effortlessly handed citizenship on a silver platter.

It has now gotten to the point where the rights of a machine are deemed to be more important than actual human beings, and that’s terrifying.

Euthanasia: ethical or not?

KAYLA KRING STAFF WRITER

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hen our pets grow old we begin to see them suffer with everyday activities that once were so easy. Running down the stairs to greet you as you enter the door from a long day at work made you fall to your knees in happiness to receive kisses galore.

Now you wait with a small, meak smile telling your precious baby to take it slow, so they don’t hurt themselves. Yet, when the time comes you tell them how wonderful they are, give them one last kiss as the veterinarian euthanizes them. This is humane. This is the right thing to do. With a human life it is seen as either a form of murder or a helping hand.

Then again, could this controversial topic be deemed unreasonable if within a healthy state of mind, the individual in question steps into a machine and euthanizes themselves? If all necessary precautions were taken, just as though they were signing a do not resuscitate form, would their be any controversy?

According to Mirror News, 70-year-old Dr. Philip Nitschke has developed “Sacro with engineer Alexander Bannick in the Netherlands.” Sacro is a machine that you step into and enclose behind you. The machine fills with nitrogen, the levels will continue to increase, with the oxygen level simultaneously decreasing until the individual peacefully loses consciousness.

Dr. Nitschke told Daily Mail that “anyone who can pass the entry test, can enter the machine and legally end their life.” Therefore, the individual cannot even begin this process without going through extensive testing, making it less of an ‘on-the-whim decision’ and more of a well-thought-out process.

Does this same euthanization process fall under the cruelty of assisted suicide or simply just suicide?

Can it legally be considered suicide in general if it falls under the same circumstances of a DNR form?

If an individual’s heart stops from complications, there is nothing a doctor can do but stand there and wait for all signs of life to dissipate. If the same individual no longer wants to live with their condition and has made a sound decision to enter the Sacro to euthanize themselves, is it not a personal choice?

It’s their right to do with their life as they wish. As controversial as it is, whether it’s deemed reasonable, there should be guidelines. If the individual in question is not of sound mind then it should not be deemed fitting for them to choose such a drastic measure.

If a young 10-year-old is dying of a painful disease, should they be capable of making such a decision for themselves? Under United States law, a minor does not have the mental capacity to understand their legal rights, so what would make them sound of mind to end their own life?

If young people want to commit suicide then they legally have an option to do such a thing. Therefore, it was later added by Dr. Nitschke that “we have added the condition of a reasonable amount of life experience and the quite random age limit of 50.”

Whether you believe in assisted suicide or not, what Dr. Nitschke and Mr. Bannick have created is a medical and scientific discovery of our time. Those who are sick and in pain, no longer have to deal with a medical overdose to end their lives.

They can simply lull themselves to sleep until they are gone. They can say their good-byes, say I love you and look back on the fond memories their life has given them — all on their own terms.

TIME Person of the Year signals change

KAITLYN HAAS STAFF WRITER

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ear has finally turned into fury, and that fury is leading to social change.

This year, Time Magazine declared the Silence Breakers as Person of the Year 2017. The Silence Breakers are a brave group of women who no longer stand for remaining silent over their sexual harassment. They created the “#metoo” viral campaign that encourages women to come forward and address the men that violated them.

Time’s Person of the Year award is given to the person or group who had the greatest influence on society, whether that influence is for better or for worse. The Silence Breakers were chosen over people such as Colin Kaepernick, the face of the Black Lives Matter kneeling protest, the Dreamers, the undocumented students who lost their privileges this year, Robert Mueller, the special counsel who is investigating Russia’s potential involvement in the Trump campaign and of course Donald Trump himself, last year’s winner, according to Time.

The movement was pioneered by activist Tarana Burke. Burke is the program director for Brooklyn-based Girls for Gender Equity, and the idea of the campaign came to her when a young girl asked to speak to Burke privately. The young girl began to speak about the horrible things her stepdad was doing to her and Burke, a victim herself, couldn’t handle it. She sent her away but as she left, Burke found herself whispering, “me too,” Burke told CNN. Many years later, as sexual assault becomes more and more common to both

everyday people and celebrities, the whispered “me too” is a international movement. On Oct. 15, an actress and friend of Burke posted on her Twitter, “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet,” according to the Huffington Post.

In less than 24 hours, 12 million Facebook posts included the hashtag and nearly one million were posted on Twitter in 48 hours, according to CBS News. The hashtag was posted in many different languages as well such as, #BalanceTonPorc, #YoTambien and #Ana_kaman, to name a few.

Having such a progressive group be Person of the Year is a big message for society and hopefully will continue to be a revolutionary message. The world is finally listening to women about what we struggle with and have been forced to sweep under the rug for years.

The piece on Time’s website about the 2017 Person of the Year not only acknowledges the big name stars whose name is attached to the movement, such as pop singer Taylor Swift, but political representatives

like State Senator Sara Gelser and common people like strawberry picker Isabel Pascual. The article tells the gruesome stories of many women who have been silenced for years.

Compared to last year’s winner, Donald Trump, this is a step in the right direction. Although Time chooses the influential person whether it was a good or bad influence, it’s nice to see the good influence win over the bad influence.

These women have a message that needs to be spread to all genders, races, and ages. This movement is not just a safe place for women who have fallen victim but a message of true power and passion for all to hear and react to.

Our society’s unjust instinct to blame and question the victim may be on its way out. More and more women, celebrities and the average citizen, are reporting their unwanted sexual encounters. Change is finally coming for us and in a big way. Speaking out against sexual harassers, including our very own national leader, Donald Trump, is a step in the right direction. It’s time to push away the fear and follow the movement.

4 News

DEC. 12 - DEC. 18, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

Courtesy // sonoma.edu NomaGives, a division of NomaCares, raised more than $90,000 in donations to the Noma Gives Fire Recovery Fund from more than 400 donors.

Courtesy // cluture.com The Counting Crows performed in a partnership with BottleRock Presents and the Family Coppola on Nov. 18 in Napa.

Concerts raise $31,000 for SSU wildfire victims FRANCISCO CARBAJAL STAFF WRITER

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he two Green Music Center benefit concerts for the North Bay wildfires raised $350,000 for a relief fund. The 2000’s popular pop band Counting Crows brought in $238,500, while the Santa Rosa Symphony concert brought in $112,000.

The amount of money raised will allow 10 percent of it to go to the Noma Gives initiative, with the rest going to the North Bay Fire Relief Fund, spearheaded by Redwood Credit Union.

Jacob Yarrow, executive director of the Green Music Center, said he couldn’t be more happy with the results. “We were thrilled to provide a place for people to gather as a community and experience the joy of music together while contributing funds to fire relief,” Yarrow said. “With the additional money donated to NomaGives from these concerts, the university was able to issue funding to all those who applied to receive assistance. We are very grateful to our partners with the Santa Rosa Symphony, The Family Coppola and BottleRock Presents.”

Both fire relief events were fully volunteered, according to Yarrow. “For the

Santa Rosa Symphony concert, everyone volunteered their efforts including production staff, ushers, and others. We are grateful for the generosity of so many people,” he said.

The Counting Crows, like other bands that audiences have seen in other benefit events like Train and Metallica, are from the Bay Area as well as being from Berkeley. The production company BottleRock Presents brought the band to Sonoma State. The company is in charge of the largest three-day festival in the Bay Area, bringing big headliners to Napa like Maroon 5, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Robert Plant over the years.

Yarrow said he believes there is a chance to continue the fire relief efforts through music in the future. “We are considering possibilities for future benefit concerts and other ways that we can support our community during the lengthy recovery process,” he said.

Senior marketing major Dylan Kobrin said he believes this is a great way for SSU to contribute to recovery efforts. “The Green Music Center should keep doing these concerts and maybe bring in someone that the local student body including the JC would enjoy to see,” he said. “If Waka Flocka can come to Petaluma for a benefit concert, I don’t see why others can’t.”

Additional donations and assistance for fire victims can be made to a special fund via the CSU at https://www2.calstate.edu/sonoma-fires/.

California

Deadly wildfires have continued to spread throughout the past week, forcing mass evacuations in Santa Barbara County. The fires are eerily similar to the North Bay fires, with strong winds, multiple fires at the same time and it all happening at the dead of night.

The six major fires have burned more than 230,000 acres, destroyed over 500 structures, and have forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate, according to CBS news. The fires are still spreading, threatening parts of Los Angeles and San Diego.

The Santa Ana winds, which are strong, hot winds that come through Southern California each year, are the reason these fires are spreading so quickly, according to officials. Gusts of winds reached 60 mph this past weekend, increasing the difficulty to contain these fires.

President Donald Trump has declared the fires a state of emergency, opening up the ways for federal aid to step in. Governor Jerry Brown traveled to Ventura on Saturday where he noted how climate change may be worsening the weather conditions that caused the wildfires to spread.

“This is the new normal, and this could be something that happens every year or every few years,” Brown said at a press conference at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. “We’re about to have a fire-fighting Christmas.”

Sonoma County

According to the Press Democrat, Monday was the last day that fire victims of the North Bay fire could register to seek financial assistance from the federal government. Assistance could include loans to help rebuild homes and possibly up to $30,000 in grants. The deadline is critical because there is no information about an extension, according to Brandi Richard, a public affairs officer.

Officials are encouraging all those affected to register for federal assistance, even if they have insurance or do not think they will be helped.

So far, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved nearly $8.2 million in aid to help Sonoma County fire victims, according to Richard.

Although the deadline for registering for financial assistance is set, Richard said that the two disaster recovery centers in the area: one in downtown Santa Rosa at The Press Democrat building and the other in the Sonoma Valley at the Hanna Boys Center, do not have an official date set to when either will be closed permanently.

Washington, D.C.

President Donald Trump signed a two week spending bill in order to avoid a government shutdown, therefore keeping the government running to at least Dec. 22.

This bill will give Democrats and Republicans another two weeks to negotiate many key issues that will affect millions of Americans. These issues include the budget, how much money should be dedicated to military funding, health insurance and disagreements involving immigration policies.

Trump in September ended the program, and declared it was up to Congress to pass a law if it wanted DREAMers to have protection. Defered Action of Childhood Arrivals is the program that protects undocumented immigrants that came to the United States as children from being deported, and is one of many issues that politicians are seeking to resolve. Democrats seek to pass permanent protections for people that were once protected under DACA.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said that she does not want a government shutdown, but that Democrats will not leave the negotiating table without a fix to save the DACA program from ending.

News 5

DEC. 12 - DEC. 18, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

Wine Business Institute gets closer to opening

STAR // Lauren Eipp Sonoma State’s Wine Spectator Learning Center is scheduled to be fully operating by fall 2018, with a formal opening in May. According to William Silver, dean of the School of Business and Economics, the university will be moving in furniture and people, installing the technology and testing the system and operations, over the next few months.

CAMPUS CRIME Date

Crime

Location

STATUS

Dec. 3

Drunk in Public

Sauvignon V.

Arrest

Dec. 4

Vehicle Tampering

Parking Lot F

Unfounded

Dec. 5

Marijuana Possession

Beaujoloais V.

Closed

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6 Arts

DEC. 12 - DEC. 18, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

Dance department gets intimate with ‘Shared Spaces’

KAYLA BUIE

STAFF WRITER

W

hen thinking of a dance show, it’s hard to imagine it taking place anywhere other than on a stage. However, Sonoma State University’s dance department challenged this perspective with their annual Fall Dance show, “Shared Spaces.” The student choreographed project played from Thursday to Sunday in Person Theater and sitespecific spaces throughout campus. The abnormal settings challenged the audience to think outside the box to enjoy an unconventional show. “[Shared Spaces] was about connecting to community and being adaptable,” Christine Cali, the show’s director, said. “The process has been deconstructing traditional, normative theater to allow creativity and authenticity. We wanted to share spaces on campus that aren’t normally used for creating movement.”

After the first indoor performance in Person

Theater, performers asked audience members on stage after the first dance to “share the space” with them. The altered perspective provided a new viewpoint intended by choreographers.

Choreographers and dancers found inspiration by their site locations and events that happened in this last semester. “I was inspired to choreograph by the space I chose - the Stevenson Staircase. It was about escaping, whether physically or emotionally,” said Katy Waechter, a senior majoring in dance and assistant director.

The props, costuming, and lighting were often minimalistic to focus on the dancers and the stories and ideas they were trying to portray. A majority of the props consisted of boxes and platforms, while the lights were often only one hue or a single spotlight.

The dance “Living Again,” choreographed by Sonia Mata, also featured golden ribbons to portray sun-

beams mentioned in the music.

To break the normative theater notion, “Shared Spaces” also brought some more unique and non traditional theater aspects than just the location and seating arrangements: two emcees. Seniors Waechter and Jennifer Novero provided comedic relief between dances, and time between quick changes of costumes.

The duo provided an interactive dance during intermission that they encouraged the audience to be a part of, along with the stage hands and technical staff.

“Shared Spaces” provided distinctive, memorable and lasting impressions on both the audience and performers. It challenged viewers to see a show from a untypical viewpoint and opened minds to new interpretations of the common thought for the word “show.” “I worked so hard and finally got to show a piece I’m super proud of,” freshman Lizethe Rodriguez said.

‘Disaster Artist’ retells infamous Wiseau story Review JANA DUNCAN STAFF WRITER

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imdb.com Shown in over 840 theatres across the country, “The Disaster Artist” has earned more than $8 million since its release on Dec. 1.

Winter break binges

NOLAN BROUGH STAFF WRITER

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nspired by one of the most notoriously bad movies in movie history, “The Disaster Artist” takes one man’s twisted vision and turns it into a deeper understanding of the man himself. With a sense of respect as well as humor, this film pays homage to a cult classic; emphasizing the ideas of friendship and pursuing your dreams.

“The Room,” which this movie tells the making of, is widely panned as a downright rotten film. However, because of its steady stream of negative attributes, to many this film has become what they think of as “so bad, it’s good.” Written, directed, produced, and starring the infamous man of mystery, Tommy Wiseau, there is really nothing positive a movie critic could note in this passion project. From the writing, to direction, to production and acting, audiences will sooner cry from laughter than from any other emotion the film attempts to evoke.

What makes this so interesting is the idea that such a man, whose background remains one big question mark, could make such a movie. And on top of that, have the support of someone such as his acting partner Greg Sestero. What must the crew have thought, and what was Wiseau really like?

That is what “The Disaster Artist” ultimately dares to expose.

Based on the novel with the same title, “The Disaster Artist” tells the story of Wiseau and Greg Sestero as they make the failed movie known as “The Room.” Though the plot encompasses the making of “The

Room,” there is much more to it. Focusing on characters Wiseau and Sestero, this film digs deeper to humanize otherwise one-note actors, highlighting their loyalty to each other and their dreams. Though audiences may never truly know the enigma that is Tommy Wiseau, they will know the honesty of his vision and the obstacles he faced in pursuing it.

While giving Wiseau and Sestero their due respect for fighting for what they believed in, the film does not ignore the innate comedy that will always underlie the source material, making it a good balance of the creators’ vision with the reality and poor quality that audiences have come to know and love.

The stars of this film, who knew just how to portray this mix of sentiment and absurdity between friends, are none other than the Franco brothers. James and Dave Franco, who played Wiseau and Sestero respectively, appeared on-screen together for the first time, and to the audience’s advantage. The chemistry between the two were electric and both flawlessly captured their characters’ identities.

James Franco especially executed Wiseau’s persona with precision. For those who have seen “The Room” Wiseau is unmistakable and unforgettable. To see someone equally as recognizable in full wig, prosthetics, and accent was off-putting at first. But after the movie progressed, the illusion was in full affect and the talented actor became transformed.

Made mainly for those who have seen and appreciated the train wreck that is “The Room,” this movie gives viewers a whole new point of view that adds to the experience of watching the original. James Franco brings his art form to the next level, leaving a sense of fitting irony as he replicates one of the weakest examples of filmmaking with one of his strongest.

he semester is quickly drawing to a close, and students across the country are about to experience magnitudes of free time they haven’t known for an entire semester. And when cold weather and free time band together, there’s only one remedy to stave off boredom: Netf lix. It’s here to save the day with a plethora of binge-worthy shows to satiate any show-seeker. To get you started, here’s a list of some of our favorites.

THE MIST

BETTER CALL SAUL

BOJACK HORSEMAN

LOVE

“The Mist,” which originally aired on Spike, is an adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name. The 10-episode series follows a family who must survive a mysterious force that befalls the town which wreaks havoc on the populace. Anyone going outside must do so with extreme caution, because when they do, death awaits them at the hand of an all engrossing mist that kills it's victims in different ways each time. The family, split up when the mist first appeared, must brave the townspeople as well as this mysterious plague on the town as they make their way back to one another.

Cheesey and at times laughable, this show starts off a little slow until the last few episodes where the characters we’ve begun to know and love change for the worse and begin to turn against one another.

Spend a couple days on this one and you won’t be sorry. (3.5 / 5)

See how television’s favorite scummy lawyer got his start in Vince Gilligan’s spin-off prequel of “Breaking Bad." Bob Odenkirk delivers the performance of a lifetime along his co-stars as we see just what makes Saul Goodman tick. Venturing off from Breaking Bad’s high adrenaline, high stakes format of storytelling, “Better Call Saul” is an intertwining of stories and events that make it hard to take a break. With two whole seasons of the show on Netflix, this one could keep you busy for awhile, and Gilligan’s vision is carried out so well it may want to make you leave Netflix to go find the third season elsewhere! (5/5)

An animated show that breaks all kinds of rules, Bojack Horseman follows the escapades of Bojack and his few friends as he copes with being a washed up has-been horse among the hollywood elites. Dark and retrospective, “Bojack Horseman” explores themes of depression, drug abuse, and superstardom behind the satirical guise of a fantastical world populated by anthropomorphic humans. And normal humans, too.

Bojack’s adventures span four seasons and feature a myriad of talented actors voicing the characters, including Will Arnett, Aaron Paul and Alison Brie. (4/5) Follow the unlikely romance of Gus, a nerdy guy who teaches child stars in Hollywood, and Mickey, an addict who struggles with love and substance abuse who works at a radio station.

Judd Apatow’s look into modern relationships will have you rooting for one or the other as their rocky relationship progresses. As the pair experience ups and downs, you might just see something in their partnership that you’ve experienced yourself. Enjoy two seasons of tears, from crying and laughing, as you watch the satirical relationship unfold. (4/5)

Entertainment 7

DEC. 12- DEC. 18, 2017

sonomastatestar.com

refinery29.com After co-directing “Nights and Weekends” in 2008, “Ladybird” marks Gerwig’s directional debut.

Grewig pays homage to state capital in ‘Lady Bird’ Review

MADI CABALLERO STAFF WRITER

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aking place in her hometown of Sacramento, director Greta Gerwig’s “Lady Bird,” released on Nov. 3, paints Sacramento beautifully by telling a comingof-age story that tugs at your heartstrings as you watch Lady Bird struggle with finding her identity. “Lady Bird” is Gerwig’s first feature-length film that she directed solo. The film, loosely based on Gerwig’s life, follows Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, and features aspects of Gerwig’s life of growing up in Sacramento, attending Catholic high school, and moving to New York City for college.

Set between the fall of 2002 and fall of 2003, Lady Bird, portrayed by Saoirse Ronan, and her mother, Marion McPherson, portrayed by Laurie Metcalf, drive home from visiting colleges in the area. As they are driving down backroads of Sacramento County while finishing up an audiobook, the two get into an argument about Lady Bird wanting to get out of Sacramento and go to college in New York City “where there is culture.” After Marion continuously dismisses Lady Bird’s dreams of going to the east coast, Lady Bird opens the car door and throws herself out of the moving vehicle. This dramatic opener assures you that you’re watching a film about life and not a classic teenage movie where she gets everything she wants – including the guy.

From this point on it is clear to see that these two do not have a strong motherdaughter relationship. Besides jumping out of a moving vehicle, another giveaway that

their relationship is an everyday battle is Christine wanting to be called by her “given name” Lady Bird because she “gave it to herself.” Throughout the entire movie they are at each other’s throats, whether it be about Lady Bird’s attitude, her choice in colleges, or her embarrassment over the family’s financial situation. With her mother working double shifts as a psychiatric nurse and her father, portrayed by Tracy Letts, recently out of work, Lady Bird will do anything she can to make her peers think she lives in Sacramento’s “Fab 40s.”

Lady Bird is a dynamic character whose youth and unrealistic expectations of life plagues her. She is full of emotion and expresses her opinions loudly without regret.

Throughout the film she seems to become more and more angry with what her life is versus what she so desperately wants it to be. She faces situations that any viewer who has endured high school’s torments can relate to.

Wanting to fit in with the popular crowd to get closer to mysterious rocker Kyle, portrayed by Timothée Chalamet, Lady Bird risks losing her kind-hearted childhood best friend Julia, portrayed by Beanie Feldstein, by befriending the rich it-girl, Jenna, portrayed by Odeya Rush.

Perhaps the most compelling scene in the movie is the closing of the film, which shows Lady Bird and her mother separately driving throughout Sacramento. Although it is simple, for anyone who is from Sacramento this scene is emotional because the shots of the town’s historic landmarks show its true beauty. Throughout the film we follow Lady Bird as she longs for something great in life and with this ending we see that where they’re from dictates the foundation of who someone really is. If you’re a Sacramento native, go and see Gerwig’s beautiful tribute to a city she clearly loves so much.

Surviving finals:

Five apps to ease stress and the mind KAILEY O’HEHIR STAFF WRITER

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s deadlines of numerous final essays and exams creep up on us, it becomes difficult to stay sane. Stress floods our minds and we need fast relief. Yet when we grab our phone in the midst of our anxieties, scrolling through our social media feeds sometimes isn’t enough to put us at ease. Fortunately, there is a seemingly endless amount of choices of anti-stress apps to choose from on our mobile devices. From offering guided meditations to relaxing breathing exercises, anti-stress apps can help us focus, get better sleep, and be our best selves. The only issue is figuring out which ones to choose. This week we weeded through the app store and found five free apps to relieve stress during finals week.

The “Calm” app offers a beautiful user interface filled with images of nature, along with various relaxing tracks to choose from. Depending on what the user needs, “Calm” provides guided meditations for sleeping, stress, focus, and more. Even better, they always release bedtime stories to help users get to sleep.

The only downside is the app locks many of the tracks unless the user pays a monthly subscription fee. Regardless, there is still much to choose from.

Many studies, including one by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, have proven meditation is beneficial for the brain.

“Stop, Breathe, & Think” helps beginners by not only giving simple lessons on meditation, but also by helping track their progress. In addition, users can log their emotions that assist in self-reflection and finding the correct guide to listen to. Overall, the app has a very interactive and personable user interface that will be sure to help during the whirlwind of finals.

Who would have thought coloring books could be so relaxing all these years later? In fact, they are scientifically proven to help stress. In the article “Adult coloring books promise stress relief,” USA Today reported on a study conducted with 84 college students who colored in mandalas after a stressful experience. Those who colored in patterns versus blank pages were found to have reduced anxiety. “Color Me” is a digital coloring book that can help do just that. Without the hassle of paper and pens, users can choose to color in mandalas, animals, flowers, and more. Be sure to keep an eye on the clock, however, as coloring can become so mesmerizing that you lose track of time.

“Infinity Loop” works to improve users’ focus with a simple yet stress-relieving puzzle game. The goal is to create rounded shapes by rotating the provided lines. While it is a very simple concept, the game is incredibly satisfying, especially when your mind needs a break. “The goal is to clear your mind,” said the developers, “remove the stress from your daily life without any pressure or tension to solve the levels.” The app does just that; in fact, playing it long enough can cause you to forget your troubles, or even where you are.

Movies

Combining stretching and meditation, yoga can be incredibly beneficial for stress. The good news for students that are drowning in papers at home is that “Daily Yoga” provides yoga instruction so that you don’t have to haul your gym bag down to a yoga class.

Whether you’re a beginner or advanced yogi, the app offers videos of guided sessions that can target specific areas of the body or aid in meditation.

Songs

8 Student Life

DEC. 12 - DEC. 18, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

SSU ranks fifth in U.S. for study abroad program SULEIKA PEREZ-USHER STAFF WRITER

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ustralia. Spain. The United Kingdom. These are only a few destinations that Sonoma State University’s study abroad program offers its participants.

Studying abroad as a college student is a once-in-alifetime, life-changing opportunity—one Sonoma State has recently gained acclaim for providing.

The Institute of International Education, a leading nonprofit educational and cultural exchange group, has ranked Sonoma State as one of the nation’s top five universities for studying abroad, giving it the number five spot among colleges that provide master’s degrees.

The number of Sonoma State students studying abroad each year keeps rising, with 89 students studying around the world for a full academic year.

This is an increase from the 2015 – 2016 school year, when 63 students studied abroad for the full academic year, according to Sonoma State’s website.

Since the 2013 - 2014 school year, 101 Sonoma State students have taken part in the National Student Exchange to study in the United States and its territories, according to the website.

A major driving force behind Sonoma State’s study abroad program is International and Exchange Programs Advisor Hope Ortiz. She is proud of the university’s high ranking, and said the CSU International Programs’ year-long ar-

rangements are beneficial and affordable for multiple college campuses.

“You’ll notice that many of the other [nationally] ranked campuses are CSU campuses, and I think that is because we all use the CSU International [Programs],” Ortiz said. “The majority of SSU students studying abroad participate in CSU IP, and [the] chancellor’s office has made it a real priority of the program to only be a year long because of the developmental and experiential benefits of staying for a full academic year.”

Ortiz said students who study abroad through this program can take advantage of financial aid. She emphasized faculty advising on appropriate courses to take that will benefit a student’s degree while studying abroad.

“I think the reason we have a strong year-long study abroad program is in part thanks to the support of faculty and academic departments,” Ortiz said.

“For students to study abroad for a full year, we need to make sure the classes are all going to be beneficial to their degree, so it’s critical for the departments to accept these courses and advise students on appropriate courses. The time faculty take for this advising process is immensely important.”

While Ortiz was an undergraduate at Sonoma State, she studied abroad for a year in Mexico. She said this experience helped her to grow as a person, make new friends, and speak fluent Spanish after “struggling to learn the lan-

STAR // Luis Mejia Hope Ortiz, international and exchange programs advisor, said she is proud of the Institute of International Education’s recognition of Sonoma State. guage for five years.”

“Oftentimes students are afraid to study abroad for the year,” Ortiz said, “thinking they won’t feel comfortable or

that they will miss out on stuff back here at home, but what you get out of the experience is more impactful than anything I experienced at SSU or through-

out my life so far.”

For more information on SSU’s Study Abroad Program visit web.sonoma.edu/cie/.

Strategic Planning Kickoff celebrates past, present and future of Sonoma State

STAR // Lauren Eipp On Wednsday, Sonoma State University’s faculty, staff and students brainstormed ideas to improve the university while enjoying coffee and donuts in the Student Center.

Student Life 9

DEC. 12 - DEC. 18, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

Seawolves SPEAK! How are you preparing for finals?

SUZETTE PLUMLEY STAFF WRITER

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tudents at community colleges associate finals week with long hours of studying at the library, running on little to no sleep, excessive consumption of caffeine, and most of all, stress. With the semester coming to a close, students are striving to put in their best efforts for final projects, essays, and exams. We asked our Seawolves how they have prepared for finals. They shared what strategies they use to remain confident toward the end of the semester.

“In order to prepare for finals, I make sure my mind is working effectively and that I’m thinking clearly. To do this, I get daily exercise, go to bed early, and keep my room clean.”

-Antonio Thomas, third year music major

“I am preparing for finals by first going to office hours and of course reviewing my notes. Also, study groups are amazing. Putting in 21-hour days with only 3 hours of sleep... I am making sure I take care of myself as I am studying for finals. I am feeling great about finals and I keep reminding myself that I need to study hard so I can go home after all these sleepless nights to eat tamales and tacos.”

-Monica Morales, fourth year biology major

“I am preparing for finals by going through all of my notes and retyping the things that I may have forgotten. I am also preparing by finding time... for self-care and relaxation before finals week begins. I feel slightly nervous about finals this semester, but I have worked hard so I know I will be fine.”

-Symphoni Barbee, second year political science major

“I’m preparing for finals by getting ahead on my assignments and going to the gym to relieve stress. For once, I’m feeling pretty confident about my finals and think I’m going to finish this semester strong.”

-Samantha Perez, third year nursing major

“I’ve been stocking up on Yerba Mate to fuel all-nighters to get my painting finished.

I’m scared for finals, but not as scared as I probably should be.”

-Emma Wason, third year studio art major

“I am utilizing the library and taking advantage of [its] extended hours. I am looking back over my notes, rewriting them and studying with other classmates. Finals definitely add stress, but that stress motivates me to put in the work needed to feel satisfied with finishing up the semester strong.”

-Alex Sahim, third year business major

Spring into the new semester

SSU students prepare to shift gears for spring 2018 for the upcoming semester.

College teaches several lessons throughout one’s academic journey, including the importance of being prepared. The first two years at college may be a learning curve for some, but as time progresses so does one’s wisdom about how to conquer their academic career.

Commentary SIERRA SORRENTINO STAFF WRITER

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s one semester ends, the last thing college students want to think about is the beginning of the next.

During “dead week,” more commonly known as the week before finals, many Sonoma State University students focus on how they can finish the semester strong and soon won’t have to worry about impending tests, essays or research projects.

Winter break is long-awaited and greatly appreciated, but for some this month-long vacation puts them in a rut

When was the last time most students organized their laptops? To avoid storage issues or a potential computer crash next finals season, they may want to try sorting through files to see which are truly beneficial to keep around.

“So I can improve myself for the upcoming semester, over break I think about what studying methods did and did not work,” Hayley Kinion, junior and psychology major, said.

A method that works for one class won’t always work for another. Therefore, it’s a good idea to try various ways to understand and retain the class objec-

tives. Everyone learns differently, so it’s important to not get discouraged and find what method best fits a given situation.

Organization is also key to attaining a clear mind and a clean desk. Sorting through old assignments and essays is a simple, easy action that aids in preventing clutter. Having multiple unnecessary documents shoved into different crevasses of a drawer, backpack or folder is unlikely to help anyone.

Some goals Brooklynn Miller, junior and communications major, has for the new semester are “to mark off everything on my to-do list, buy a new laptop, and then figure how to transfer all my important files over.”

When was the last time most students organized their laptops?

To avoid storage issues or a potential computer crash next finals season, they may want to try sorting through files to see which are truly beneficial to keep around.

Planners are also a great organizational tool and can function as a second mind, reminding students of future assignments and tests.

For those whose New Year’s resolution might be developing better organizational skills, planners are also beneficial for that since they reinforce thinking about upcoming important events.

“To get ready for the new semester, I write everything down in my planner so I do not forget what needs to get done during and after break,” Erin Furnary, senior and Hutchins major, said.

Beyond physical planners, there are other options such as downloading an app. These apps are practically the digital version of a planner, but there is a much slimmer chance they’ll be left at home.

However, do not get too caught up with plans and forget to grant yourself some well-deserved relaxation. Once winter break is over and students return to campus, there will still be on-campus resources to help everyone get back on track.

“SSU has so much to offer its students, [so] take the chance and go to events that you normally wouldn’t,” Furnary said. “College is all about trying new things and with each new thing, you, as a person, grow a little more.”

10 Sports

DEC. 12 - DEC. 18, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

Ugochi Anudokem leads Seawolves to first conference victory of the season CHAD SHAVER STAFF WRITER

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oming off a close loss in their last game against Cal State Dominguez Hills, 61-60, the Sonoma State University women’s basketball team was determined to come out of this weekend with a victory.

The Seawolves took on San Francisco State in another nail-biter of a game on Thursday, with both sides nearly equally matched.

With San Francisco State’s record at 0-3 in CCAA play, the Seawolves were only 0-2, so they knew this game was one they could take to improve their league record.

With points back-and-forth the whole game, there was no significant domination. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter, when San Francisco State had a 19-point lead, the Seawolves knew they had to regroup and get points on the board or they would be out of the game. The Seawolves then went on a 15-point run.

Scoring left and right and getting rebounds when they needed it most, they were back in the game. With only 1:50 left to play in the fourth, the Seawolves tried to pull forward and take Gators. Unable to get the points needed, the Seawolves fell to the Gators in a very close game, 69-62.

Despite the close loss, Sonoma State’s Ugochi Anudokem scored her second double-double of the early season with a team-high 20 points and 10 rebounds in just 29 minutes of play.

The Seawolves also had help from Jessica Mitz and Madison Burroughs, who each had 10 points on the day. Sonoma State totaled 44 team rebounds as opposed to the Gators’ 29. With this loss the Seawolves now move to 0-3 in CCAA play and 2-4 overall.

On Saturday, the Seawolves took on Stanislaus State at the Wolves’ Den at 5:30 p.m., determined to collect a win to finish out the weekend. Stanislaus State coming into the game was 1-4 in CCAA play and 4-5 overall.

In the first quarter the Seawolves came out hot, outscoring Stanislaus State 14-10. In the second and third quarter they kept the ball rolling, outscoring Stanislaus State again, 17-12 in the second, and 15-12

STAR // Mikki Taylor No. 42 sophomore forward Ugochi Anudokem steps past her defender to sink a layup. Anudokem scored her third double-double of the season with 23 points and 14 rebounds. in the third.

Coming into the fourth quarter the score was 4634, the Seawolves having the lead. With Stanislaus State trying to gain the lead, it was able to match the Seawolves in points, 23-23 in the fourth quarter.

Although Stanislaus State showed some light towards the end, it just was not enough to defeat the Seawolves, who were able to pull off their first CCCA victory, 69-57.

“I think we finally got our defense to become more consistent, which was huge for us, as well as making a more conscious effort to be on the same page with our teammates, which let us make smarter and swifter plays on offense,” Burroughs said.

Anudokem put up big numbers for the Seawolves, with her third double-double of the season and a career high of 23 points and a big 14 rebounds in the game.

Carly Gill and Sam Erisman also got into the mix with double-digit points. Gill had 12 points on the day and Erisman had 11 points.

With this win Sonoma State was finally able to break its three-game losing steak, and moved to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in CCAA play.

“We are proud with the way we played and handled Stanislaus State’s press and traps. We were excited to get the win,” Burrough said.

The Seawolves next travel to Arcata to take on the Humboldt State Jacks at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Meet Interim Director of Athletics Shannon Percell ROLAND SCHMIDT STAFF WRITER

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lthough brief, Shannon Percell’s experience as interim director of athletics at Sonoma State University has been nothing shy of an adventure – one punctuated by dramatic post-season runs from multiple sports teams, and two unthinkable tragedies that struck all too close to home.

For Percell, it’s all been part of the job.

“It’s been a busy fall.” she said. “On one side, we had a couple of our athletics teams make exciting playoff runs, but on the other, we had the horrible Vegas shootings that affected a number of our students. Then, we had the fires that spread all across Sonoma County––something that affected all of us in different ways. So, with those added unpredictable elements becoming part of the job, we had to be prepared for anything.”

While disaster management – including wildfire control – isn’t quite in her job description, Percell dealt with hardship admirably, keeping the ship afloat as other schools in the California Collegiate Athletic Association continued to play games during Sonoma State’s absence.

But in the face of adversity, Percell found solace by leaning on colleagues to help her navigate the torrent waters generated by both events, something many students and staff became familiar with over the course of the semester.

“Through everything, there’s been such great support from administrators, staff, coaches, managers––everyone stepped up and continues to step up,” Percell said. “They’ve all been amazing, and my life is much easier because of them.”

In regards to how she became the short-term option for the role, her reasoning is simple: changes are tough, so let’s not make another one too drastically.

“I got brought on to become the Interim Athletic Director because it’s easier to choose someone from in-house when there’s a shake-up happening,” Percell said. “At the time, we began going through some personnel changes, so it just made sense to have this next change be one less thing we needed to adjust to.”

Aside from embracing and adapting to the temporary role left vacant by the recently retired Bill Fusco, Percell also resumed her usual position as associate director of athletics – delicately balancing both positions along with a home life as a wife and mother of three children.

“Working in multiple positions, you have to prioritize,” Percell said. “I’m a mother of three boys, but I haven’t had as much time with the family as I usually do, but I think that’ll change once we find our new Athletic Director.”

Although she loves her family dearly, student-athletes also play a major role in her life, after all, she herself used to be one at the University of Montana where she excelled as a soccer player for four years from 1996-2000.

“An aspect that I’ve missed over the last few months has been my usual interaction with student-athletes,” Percell said.

“I love talking with them to see how they’re doing. My passion is students and is the reason I love coming to work everyday.”

In terms of her current job, she wears a few different hats since the department is currently short-staffed, meaning each day is different depending on the needs of the unit. Some days she’ll attend meetings with coaches, and then zip across campus for a staff meeting. In the same day, she might need to support the athletes and coaches by watching one of their events. Then, at other times, answering emails might be one of the few tasks on her plate. Every day is different, but that’s why she loves working in athletics.

As a key contributor behind the scenes, a fair number of non student-athletes likely have minimal knowledge of who she is and what she does. Her professional title is interim athletic director, but at heart she’s still a player and a coach. In reality, she’s much more than any of those labels; she’s a mentor to athletes, a great listener to anyone willing to chat, an ambassador for students, a crazy sports fan, and most of all, a caring individual.

She has a bright personality and a soft temperament, a perfect combination for dealing with any type of student.

She’s also an avid sports fan, as one might expect. She enjoys to watch a variety of sports, but none more than football. To the dismay of her husband, a San Francisco 49’ers

fan – and a few other co-workers – her devotion to the Seattle Seahawks and Russell Wilson borders insanity.

“Sometimes I wear my Seahawks gear to campus, usually on Fridays, but everyone hates it except for Tyler Lobe.

So, I don’t really do it too often,” Percell said, with a laugh and a smile on her face.

But when all’s said and done, even though she’s enjoyed it, she won’t miss the athletic director position, as she is content with relinquishing it to the next person who a small committee will chose between January and February of 2018.

“In the end, I won’t miss this position once we have somebody new to do it,” Percell said. “I’ll have more time to do what I love, which is helping students and watching them thrive in whatever they do. After all, students are the reason I love to come to work everyday.”

sonomaseawolves.com Interim Director of Athletics Shannon Percell.

Sports 11

DEC. 12 - DEC. 18, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

Seawolves of the Week

Ugochi Anudokem

Class: Sophomore Position: Forward Hometown: San Jose

Armani Nicolis

Class: Junior Position: Guard Hometown: Los Angeles

For the second week in a row, the STAR names sophomore Ugochi Anudokem Sally Tomatoes’ Seawolf of the Week. The transfer student’s offensive intensity lead Sonoma State to their first CCAA victory of the season against Stanislaus State on Saturday.

Along with 14 rebounds, Anudokem scored 23 of the Seawolves’ 69 points, a new career high for the young forward, and her third double-double of the season. Two days earlier, Anudokem tallied her second double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead a near-comeback against San Francisco State University.

Los Angeles native Armani Nicolis has been an asset to the Seawolves this season, averaging 12.8 points and 2.4 assists per game so far in conference play.

His sophomore year, the 6’5” guard started in all 29 games and averaged 7.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, along with 5 blocks and 15 steals to add to his impressive resume.

In the Seawolves’ first matchup against Stanislaus State, Nicolis shot an impressive 75 percent, sinking 19 points in his 32 minutes of play. Despite the team’s early-season slump, Nicolis has been thriving on the court.

Men’s basketball team swept at home KEVIN BRILL

STAFF WRITER

T

he Wolves’ Den hosted two exciting games as the Sonoma State University men’s basketball faced the San Francisco State Gators and the Stanislaus State Warriors this past week. The Seawolves knew they had a tough matchup on Thursday against a strong defensive team who was 5-2 and had every intention of beating the Seawolves after losing to Cal State Dominguez Hills in double overtime. On Saturday, Sonoma State knew it had more trouble coming for it as Stanislaus has proven itself a top team after its outstanding 7-2 start to the season.

The stakes were high for both teams on Thursday as fans filtered into the seats into the Seawolves’ territory, and each team wanted to come out with a win. SF State got off to a 7-0 start and dominated throughout the first half. Just before halftime, Sonoma State was able to make a strong run, which kept them in the game and in hopes of turning things around in the second half. Although the Seawolves were unable to gain the lead, they only trailed by five points (30-25) at halftime.

“San Francisco State is notorious for their zone defense. Their guards have very quick hands and their wings are very athletic,” senior center Naaman Hightower said.

Sonoma State’s senior forward, Jordan Fleck, provided excellent offensive production in the second half, scoring 12 points, which kept Sonoma State in the game. Hightower had three explosive dunks and added stellar defense, which got the crowd involved and the Seawolves’ bench energized. Unfortunately for Sonoma State, it failed to take the lead throughout the entire contest, mainly because of the 20 turnovers it made over the course of the game. SF State was able to make it to the free throw line 19 times, opposed to SSU’s seven. The final score of the match was 64-55, favoring the Gators.

“Our turnovers took us out of the game and we need to be committed to value each possession,” Hightower said.

After the tough loss against San Francisco State, the Seawolves sought out revenge against the Stanislaus State Warriors, a team they had lost to 75-67 on a road game earlier in the season. On Saturday, the Warriors set foot in the Wolves’ Den this time around, with both teams knowing what they were going up against.

The game was neck-and-neck throughout the first half, as Sonoma State held the lead 34-30 going into halftime.

Stanislaus State came out strong and controlled the second half. The Seawolves were left in a large deficit after letting the Warriors go on a 10-straight scoring run. The Warriors dominated the key as they outscored the Seawolves 30-16 in the paint. Senior center Kyle Gouveia led Stanislaus State, scoring a team-high 20 points for the Warriors. Stanislaus outshot Sonoma State from the field 47.6 percent to the Seawolves’ low 32.7 percent. Jackson Gion and Armani Nicolis led the Seawolves in scoring, as they both posted double figures. After being outscored 37-23 in the second half, Sonoma State took its sixth loss of the season 67-57.

“We plan prepare the same physically, but make adjustments mentally. We are in each and every game but never finish the games in crunch time and I believe that it is all mental,” Nicolis said.

These two losses put the Seawolves record at 3-6 overall on the season. Four of Sonoma State’s losses have been at the Wolves’ Den. Although the Seawolves have started off the season a bit shaky, they hope to turn things around and get a win over the Humboldt State Lumberjacks at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday in Arcata.

STAR // Mikki Taylor The Sonoma State men’s basketball team holds a 3-6 seasonal record.

Sports Schedule Saturday, Dec. 16 Women’s Basketball @ Humboldt State 5:30 p.m.

Men’s Basketball @ Humboldt State 7:30 p.m.

12 Photo Seawolves face off against SF State

DEC. 12 - DEC. 18, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

STAR // Mikki Taylor Jordan Hickman, No. 3, puts up defense against the opposing team.

STAR // Mikki Taylor Jessica Mitz, No. 22, attempts to block the opposing team.

STAR // Mikki Taylor Sam Erisman, No. 10, attempts to score three points.

STAR // Mikki Taylor Carly Gill, No. 13 calls a play and looks for the pass.

Strategic planning kickoff

Final days to register.

STAR // Lauren Eipp Faculty, staff and students brainstorm and enjoy coffee and donuts in the Student Center.

WINTER INTER SESSION

2018

Register online by January 1, 2018. www.4seie.info/Winter2018 Classes run January 3 - 17

STAR // Lauren Eipp SSU Provost Lisa Vollendorf engages with staff to hear their suggestions on improvements for the university.