Volume 79 // Issue 6

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 79 // ISSUE 6 OCTOBER 3 - OCTOBER 9, 2017

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

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University ordered to pay $2.9 million in asbestos case • 232 teachers, who worked in Stevenson Hall between 2013 and 2015, to be paid a portion of the $2.9 million sum. The university plans to appeal the decision, placing a hold on the collection of any funds.

• SSU says it is ‘regularly conducting air monitoring tests in Stevenson and other buildings.’

RYAN ESTES

STAFF WRITER

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onoma State University must pay faculty and staff who worked in Stevenson Hall and other buildings a total of $2.9 million in damages for violations of occupational health and safety laws concerning the improper handling of asbestos, a Sonoma County judge has decided.

The judgment, awarded in September by judge Nancy Case Shaffer, is part of a whistleblower lawsuit filed by Thomas Sargent, a university employee who claimed SSU forced him to resign after raising alarms about how the school was handling asbestos at Stevenson Hall and other locations.

“We are happy about the ruling,” said Gina Voight, chapter president of the CSU employees union at Sonoma State and administrative coordinator of the department of kinesiology. “We hope this will open the door for all 23 campuses to address asbestos problems as well as challenge Cal-OSHA’s outdated standards of what acceptable levels of asbestos are.”

SSU President Judy K. Sakaki has said the university will appeal the decision.

The award is in addition to $387,000 that a jury awarded to Sargent in March after finding both the Cali-

fornia State University Board of Trustees and Sargent’s direct supervisor, Craig Dawson, liable. The court awarded Sargent the money for lost income, mental suffering and emotional distress as a result of being forced to leave.

“We hope that the results of this case will prompt the university to change its behavior,” said Dustin Collier, primary lawyer for Sargent. “Mr. Sargent and his attorneys are committed to protecting all of its workers’ with a safe place of employment.”

Under Shaffer’s order, the school will distribute a quarter of the $2.9 million to 232 teachers, administrative assistants and other university employees who worked in Stevenson Hall between May 1, 2013 and March 6, 2015. The amount is about $3,100 each. The remaining three-quarters of the penalties will go to the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration .

An appeal will place a hold on the collection and distribution of any penalty awards until after the appeals court resolves it.

The university spent approximately $3.5 million in legal fees to fight the case and take it to trial.

STAR // Megan Corcoran Thomas Sargent (left) and his lawyer Dustin Collier (right) discuss the asbestos lawsuit on campus in April 2016.

See Asbestos on pg. 5

SSU student injured in Las Vegas rampage ETHAN HELMS

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

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unshots and cries for help echoed throughout the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas Sunday night as a result of a mass shooting that left at least 58 people dead and more than 500 injured, before coming to an end with the death of the shooter on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.

One of those injured was SSU student Paige Gasper, according to a Facebook post from Gasper’s mother. Jenna Gasper said on Monday that her daughter was “safe and stable in a hospital.” Gasper, a Folsom resident, is a senior in psychology.

According to KPIX San Francisco, Gasper is recovering from a liver laceration and fractured ribs caused by a bullet wound. Her mother told KPIX that she was shot on the right side of her body while country singer Jason Aldean was still performing. She was with six of her friends at the time.

Monique Menard, another SSU student and a friend of Gasper’s who attended the concert with her, was uninjured.

A 27-year-old Rohnert Park woman was shot in the ankle and was being treated for her wounds, according to The Press Democrat.

Videos taken by concert attendees show Aldean’s performance interrupted by what appears to be automatic gunfire and the panic that ensued. The initial 10-second continuous burst of gunfire sent concertgoers ducking for safety, followed by more shots. The gunman, identified as 64-yearold Stephen Paddock, reportedly committed suicide before police found him inside his Mandalay Bay hotel room around midnight.

In a press conference Monday, President Donald Trump called the event “an act of pure evil.” According to Trump the Department of Homeland Security and the F.B.I. are working closely to investigate the shooting, but motives behind the gunman’s actions are still unclear.

As local authorities and SWAT members searched the hotel, families and friends scrambled to connect with their loved ones, according to Sonoma State students who were there..

“Our friend was [staying] at Mandalay Bay, and at that concert, but he left before so he was already in his hotel room,” said fourth-year Sonoma State student Corey Handa. “It was sheer panic throughout the entire hotel.”

Handa, a wine business major and sec-

retary of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, was in Las Vegas with friends attending a Saturday concert at Caesar’s Palace.

The university didn’t release the name of the injured student in a press release sent to all faculty and staff on Monday afternoon.

“One SSU student was injured, but thankfully she is recovering and in stable condition,” Sonoma State President Judy K. Sakaki said. “Our hearts go out to her, as well as her family and friends.”

Both Sakaki and Associated Students President Wilson Hall released statements regarding the tragedy.

“I know I can count on all Seawolves to be supportive and caring of everyone impacted by this horrific act,” Hall said, “and to be as compassionate as possible to our fellow Seawolves who were present or injured.”

“Tragedies like these are so unsettling and difficult to comprehend,” Sakaki said.

“They hit us all emotionally and can undermine everyone’s sense of safety and wellbeing.”

She encouraged students and faculty to “make sure we are there for each other in a spirit of empathy and understanding.” She also encouraged anyone who feels they may be in need of additional support to contact the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office, located in Stevenson 1088.

The office can be reached at 707-664-2153.

STAR // Lauren Eipp (Left to right) President Judy K. Sakaki, Geena Davis and Shiva Shahid answering questions at the “Women in Conversation” event Thursday.

‘Women in Conversation’ aims to uplift women

ANNA BURKE STAFF WRITER

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hree professional women with diverse backgrounds and careers spoke to a predominantly female audience at the Sonoma County Women in Conversation event on Wednesday, all three receiving standing ovations.

Although different in their journeys and careers, their stories merged with the central message of lifting oth-

STAFF WRITER

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SSU student Paige Gasper, a senior psychology major, is ‘safe and stable’ in the hospital after being shot in Las Vegas Sunday.

See Conversation on pg. 4

Experiment highlights brain’s function in decision making PAIGE HUNTER

Courtesy // Facebook.com

er women up.

The event was held in Weill Hall at the Green Music Center and featured Sonoma State University President Judy K. Sakaki, Shiza Shahid and Academy Award winning actress Geena Davis as the speakers.

According to Sakaki, her life shifted drastically when her first husband left her and she found herself raising two sons alone.

s one of mankind’s biggest mysteries, the human brain poses questions that scientists still struggle to answer. The basis of these mysteries boil down to one basic question: “Are we in control of the brain, or is the brain in control of us?” said Jesse Bengson, psychology professor at Sonoma State University.

In Bengson’s lab at Sonoma State, Bengson and his students challenged the belief that humans are in complete control of their decisions. Using visual cues and random computer images, his team performed an experiment to determine the inf luence these visual cues have on human decision-making.

Responsible for carrying mes-

sages to and from the brain, the nervous system plays a key role in everyday human actions. Researching cognitive psychology, Bengson described the human brain as an electrical organ that produces specific patterns of electrical activity when engaging in mental actions or behavior. By studying this electrical activity and its effect on the body, also known as electrophysiology, Bengson considers how to determine the outcome of human decisions. “To what degree do our intentions determine the physical behavior of the brain,” Bengson said, “and to what degree is our seemingly willful intentions determined by the electrophysiology?”

See Experiment on pg. 4

2 Editorial

OCT. 3 - OCT. 9, 2017

sonomastatestar.com

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, Luis Mejia, Andrea Mendoza, Kailey O’Hehir, Roland Schmidt, Emily Shaheen, Chad Shaver, Sierra Sorrentino, Alice Tennigkeit, Amber Weinstock

Photographers Mikki Taylor, Suleika Usher, Lauren Taylor, Suzette Plumley

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Editor’s Pick This week’s can’t miss article:

“Stand, sit or kneel - they deserve our support ” Sports writer Roland Schmidt gives his take on the recent NFL protests. Schmidt talks First Amendment and method to which the players have been protesting.

Read the story on Page 11

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Importance of activism forgotten amid “Take a Knee” controversy

n August 2016, Kolin Kaepernick, the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, stirred controversy for refusing to stand during the national anthem. Since then, hundreds of NFL players have continued this act of silent resistance. Kaepernick’s purpose - and that of the many who have duplicated his protest - was to bring awareness to police brutality and other forms of oppression against black people in America.

But many continue to see this movement as disrespectful to the country and to those who fought for our freedoms.

One of the “Take a Knee” movement’s loudest detractors has been the president himself, Donald Trump. While addressing a crowd of his supporters in Alabama, Trump accused the movement’s participants of disrespecting the American flag, even encouraging NFL owners to “Get that son of a b**** off the field” if they see a protesting player.

“You know what’s hurting the game?” Trump said. “When people like yourselves turn on television and you see those people taking the knee when they’re playing our great national anthem.”

Trump is wrong in crudely putting down these socially conscious players, and his condescending comments undermine players’ right to protest under the First Amendment. This freedom to protest has even been publicly supported by former military personnel such as John Middlemas, a 97-year-old World

War II veteran who gained viral attention when a photo of him kneeling in solidarity with Kaepernick was shared last week.

Much of the conversation around the “Take a Knee” movement surrounds the act of protesting itself, rather than the reasons behind the protest. Kneeling during the national anthem is becoming a much more widespread action, with nine Seattle Seahawks players sitting down during the ceremony this past Sunday.

When an act of silent protest is reduced to nothing more than an attack of patriotism, it’s hard to have the conversations Kaepernick aimed to start. There are enough alarming statistics surrounding police brutality that any one of them could be the basis of a separate discussion.

According to Mapping Police Violence, which acquires its data from the U.S. Police Shootings Database and two other sources, police killed at least 309 black people last year and have killed 207 so far this year.

In 2015, 30 percent of black people killed by police were unarmed, and 99 percent of police brutality cases resulted in no criminal charges against any officers. All in all, black people are three times more likely than white people to be killed by police.

Regardless of one’s thoughts, can anyone question why he would want to bring awareness to issues like these?

Those who are uncomfortable seeing players kneel before a

football game would be remiss not to research and address concerns of police brutality and other racially motivated issues in America, since these are the very reason the “Take a Knee” movement began.

There may not be an immediately visible solution to these issues, but they’re a far greater stain on America than a person staying seated during the national anthem.

By insulting hundreds of citizens who are brave enough to engage in activism, Trump has made the horribly misguided decision to ignore the need for social justice in America.

This is not about disrespecting the flag or the national anthem. It’s also not about disrespecting the military. The anthem protest only serves as a gateway to send a message to a wider audience, a message that needs to be discussed in America now more than ever.

To those who refuse to watch a football game again or who burn their season tickets and favorite sports team memorabilia in protest, we ask them to take a step back and realize the freedom of speech they are granted by the First Amendment in order to do so. This right is the reason why service men and women fight for this country.

So why can’t football players, regardless of their income, skin color or high-profile career, not protest peacfully as well?

We respect their freedoms, we respect their protest and we respect their message.

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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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.

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Opinion 3

OCT. 3 - OCT. 9, 2017

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Allowing Saudia Arabian women to drive may be inauthentic

KATIE HAGA

STAFF WRITER

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any believe that the black veil that covers the face of a Saudi woman defines oppression. After all, the niqab, according to their faith, is worn in public and in front of men who are not related to them, so the women don’t show off their beauty. Compared to other nations, women’s rights in Saudi Arabia are extremely limited.

In fact, the World Economic Forum classified Saudi Arabia as one of the lowest ranking countries in its 2015 Global Gender Gap

Index, falling at 134 out of 145 countries.

The patriarchy has repressed Saudi Arabian women for some time by having a “male guardian” control all they do. This “guardian” is usually their brother, father or husband and has a strong legal power over them.

The control held over women includes asking for permission to do everyday tasks such as work, travel, going to school or even getting medical treatment. A woman is dependent on their guardian for everything such as housing, money and even driving.

However, that guardianship will be soon be altered because of the latest policy to arise in the country granting women the right to drive, which the government will enact in June 2018, according to The New York Times.

The policy lifting the ban on women driving is a huge step for the women in that country, but they are still far from equal. It has taken some time for the country to resolve issues on women’s rights considering that Saudi Arabian women didn’t obtain the right to vote until 2015. This event seems a step in the right direction for gender equality.

The new order that King Salman decid-

Tiny homes affordable for millenials and homeless

ed on Sept. 26 has gotten positive reactions from many people, but it seems as if some have mixed feelings about the whole thing.

A Saudi scholar based at Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute, Hala Al-Dosari, thinks the decree is a “good step” but has reservations about it and is skeptical about the real meaning behind the latest decision for Saudi women.

When asked in an interview about what she thinks the ban was really about, Al-Dosari said, “I believe it’s very much a political ban…this is the problem with women’s rights in Saudi Arabia – it’s always used by the political system as a negotiation card, more so than being about empowerment,” according to The Atlantic.

In the same interview with The Atlantic, Al-Dosari express her reservations about the decree and strongly believes that it’s not truly about granting women freedom, but about strengthening political power. Instead of this being inspired by women, it’s inspired by the patriarchy and the hunger for more money and a growing economy. Allowing women to drive will apparently boost industries from car insurance to car sales and will reassure investors that Saudi Arabia is capable of di-

North Korea war on the horizon

KAYLA KRING STAFF WRITER

ALICE TENNIGKEIT

STAFF WIRTER

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iving in a tiny home doesn’t mean you have to make huge sacrifices. The tiny home trend continues to grow in urban areas such as Seattle, Portland and our not so distant neighboring city, San Francisco. One of the biggest factors behind the tiny home transformation is a very basic motivator: cost.

According to online database, The Tiny Life, most Americans spend one-third to one-half of their income to keep an unnecessarily large roof over their heads.

For the average working person, this is equivalent to 15 years of work to pay for a home that he or she may never pay off. Due to the high costs of traditional homes, and the growing concept that bigger is better, 76 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Although the idea of low-cost, environmentally friendly housing is appealing, it leaves many wondering: who actually lives in tiny homes, and how do they go about making the switch?

While tiny homes have become a trendy norm on the West Coast, the movement is slowly gaining popularity in other states around the country. Some tiny homes are actually bigger than some urban apartments.

The Tiny Life says most tiny homes range from 100 to 400 square feet. The square footage really isn’t that small, considering two people can live comfortably in a tiny home under 200 square feet and still have a kitchen, living room, full size bed and even a bathroom.

This summer, Meg McConahey from The Press Democrat featured a local story of a happy couple living in a tiny home in Santa Rosa. Because of where they live, these millennials have been able to save up for their dream wedding and honeymoon. McConahey writes they’ve been able to save because the cost of their home, $21,000, is less than the cost of many cars.

Between the two, paying off a tiny home and owning it free and clear seemed much easier and smarter than forking out monthly rent.

Not only are tiny homes great for individuals, couples and even families who want to simplify, downsize and save, but in some cities they also serve as temporary housing for the homeless. Many homeless struggle to find employment because they lack a home address and phone number; it’s a bitter cycle that too many homeless face all too often.

News reporter Sarah Golabek-Goldman from the Los Angeles Times pulled data from a 2014 study done

by The National Coalition for the Homeless and reported 70.4 percent of the homeless community surveyed believed they had lost job opportunities and felt discriminated by private businesses due to their housing status.

This is where tiny homes can make an enormous difference in the lives of so many homeless battling this cycle. Business Insider shares, along with the LowIncome Housing Institute: Seattle, Portland, Austin, and other cities are helping to break this harsh cycle by providing tiny homes for the homeless. They have insulated these tiny homes, provided heat, air vents and wired them with electricity.

While some tiny home communities for the homeless share communal bathrooms, depending on the available funding, some even have private bathrooms.

With a monthly rent totalling $90, this program is sure to help lower the homeless unemployment rate. With half a million Americans living without a house, tiny home programs like this are likely to make a massive difference.

versifying its economy as well as potentially saving families billions of dollars, according to Haaretz, an Israeli News outlet. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aimed to increase women’s participation in the workforce last year. Because it will increase productivity in the workforce, the lift on the driving ban should encourage more women to get jobs, or at least that’s what the government is hoping.

In America, we see this as a victory for Saudi women because feminists in the U.S. are also fighting the patriarchy and any step taken in the right direction away from oppression is always positive. It’s not a surprise that those who are leading the country are men who are doing this for their own selfish reasons.

It’s almost false hope to grant women the right to drive because this wasn’t for the women of Saudi Arabia, it was for the men who run the country. Who knows just how long it will take for women to be given the rights they truly deserve, if that day ever does come for Saudi women. Hopefully one day we can live in a world where we have separated religion from politics.

“S

ince the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make counter-measures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country,” said North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho, according to BBC News on Sept. 25.

The last time our country faced such a diplomatic issue was in 1961 with the Cuban Missile Crisis, so why is it that the world’s countries cannot come to a diplomatic agreement on how to deter such an unnecessary conflict?

When Kennedy was president and Russia had placed missiles in Cuba in a repercussion to the United States placing missiles in Italy and Turkey, the

only solution was a public announcement of removal from both sides.

What have we done in the past several months to de-escalate any form of our present situation? Barely anything.

Instead of doing their best to meet with the United Nations and calmly discuss reasonable outcomes, North Korea accuses the U.S. of starting a war based on President Donald Trump’s tweets.

According to CNN News, the tweet stated, “Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won’t be around much longer!” On the other hand, Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders may have been the only person to try any missile deterrence by stating, “We have not declared war on North Korea and, frankly, the suggestion of that is absurd,” according to Politico.

I must agree with Sanders on the idea of absurdity. In fact, the entire crisis is absurd. The president is simply tweeting out the thoughts that pop into his head as though there are no consequences to anything he says or does.

For instance, the man has dropped so low as to become a small child that points his finger and calls someone a “Rocket Man.” Ever heard the phrase “don’t poke the bear while he’s sleeping?” Because I’m pretty sure Trump does not understand what the phrase references. On

Oct. 1, President Trump stated on Twitter, “I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man. Save your energy Rex, we’ll do what has to be done!” This, Trump, is not helping the situation at all.

North Korea, however, takes everything at face value. If someone said the world was flat, they may take it to heart and do everything in their power to prove you wrong. Let me ruin our relationship or whatever little we have to prove to you I have what it takes to prove you wrong. It is all a match to see who can outsmart and impress the other.

Yet, this process and these words are only worrisome for the surrounding areas of the world, such as China, Russia, Japan and the United Kingdom.

According to BBC News, China’s Ambassador, Liu Jieyi, stated at the United Nations, “We want things to calm down. It’s getting too dangerous and it’s in nobody’s best interest.” He even went as far as stating, “Fiery talk can lead to fatal misunderstandings.”

Fatality is all that will become of this indeed. We are on the brink of starting a third world war simply because of the harm of words.

Whoever believes that words cannot be deadly, they very well just may prove the deadliest weapon of all.

Unprovoked acid attacks plague Europe

JANA DUNCAN STAFF WRITER

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etropolitan Police based in London reported 455 incidents in 2016 where attackers used corrosive substances as a weapon, according to The New York Times,. With acid attacks becoming an increasing problem in Europe, the question of terrorism comes to mind. With guns used in many of the tragedies heard in the news and the controversy over gun rights in America raging on, how are we to protect ourselves from common household items?

A reporter for the National Public Radio interviewed one victim of an acid attack named Samir Hussain from London., “When it touches your face, your face feels like it’s going flat because it’s actually sort of disintegrating. And I could just feel my skin just ripping away,” said Hussain, who was ambushed outside of a movie theater with sulfuric acid. In this incident, Hussain said he didn’t know his

attacker and did not provoke the incident.

The idea that anyone should have to live with the effects of such a heinous act for no reason is bone chilling. To think that such an action could be used as a terrorist weapon is paralyzing.

In the interview, NPR stated that gangs are just one faction to abuse this epidemic of acid attacks.

According to USA Today, there is a reason for gangs to choose such a unique weapon. By using acid as a weapon, it is more likely that one will earn more minor charges and will be harder to convict because the DNA is harder to trace.

Gun control in America is highly debated and the law places several restrictions on gun owners.

With the disagreement over how to legislate a more obviously deadly weapon, how would the government handle the control of a typical cleaning supply?

Some are demanding British Parliament put tighter restrictions on the purchase of “strong acid products,” said USA Today, and The New York Times adds that officials want tougher sentences for the criminals. But again, while this is important and the government needs to handle it, what will it do and how long will that take?

While this may seem distant to those in the States, the problem is reaching closer to home than one might think.

Violence of this nature has happened in the United States, according to USA Today. They cite

two incidents occurring in Arizona and Washington. In addition to this chaos on American soil, recently four American students who were visiting France were maliciously targeted in an acid throwing attack.

The attacker assaulted the four girls, juniors from Boston College, at a train station earlier this month.

According to The New York Times, the suspect is a 41-yearold woman who has a “psychiatric history” and is not linked as a terrorist. Thankfully, reports say the four girls are fine after receiving care for their wounds at Boston College.

An important part of my high school experience was being able to travel abroad. From my experiences, I was able to immerse myself in different cultures to enrich my studies in Spanish, as well as broaden my view of the world beyond my backyard. I think it is important that a student be able to study abroad if one so chooses and learn from more than what a classroom could teach.

I think that students and their parents should consider these options without the fear that they could be permanently scarred from someone who possess corrosive substances. Whatever the law does, I hope it is settled sooner rather than later so this does not grow into a global pandemic.

For Samir Hussain, his assailant was given eight years in prison but Hussain said, “I got a life sentence… So should he.”

4 News

OCT. 3 - OCT. 9, 2017

sonomastatestar.com

STAR // Lauren Eipp Actor Geena Davis (right), known for movies such as “A Leauge of Their Own” and “Thelma and Louise,” talks to a sold out Green Music Center crowd about how women being depicted in entertainment in a stereotyped or hypersexualized way limits their ability to be role models.

CONVERSATION: Geena Davis discusses empowering women in entertainment Continued from Pg.1

Sakaki was afraid that her children would lack stability and knew of the poverty that many single mothers faced.

“The terror that I felt at that time remains difficult to describe even decades later,” she said. “After I would tuck them into bed I would cry and cry and cry.”

However, Sakaki said she became a single mother right when the number of single moms was starting to climb.

“According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the second most common family arrangement is children living with a single mother at 23 percent,” Sakaki said. “That means right at this moment single moms are raising more than 17 million of our nation’s kids.”

As a university president and a mother, Sakaki said she values the words of Mary Church Terrell to “lift as you climb.”

Because of this, Sakaki said she works hard in her leadership role in higher education to promote a workplace where single mothers can thrive and create equal access to opportunity to all members of the community.

Sakaki’s journey in higher education and finally reaching her “dream job” as president of Sonoma State cannot be told without telling her journey as a single mother, she said. At the end of her speech she listed all the important roles she identifies as.

“I am Judy Sakaki, university president. I am a leader in higher education. I am a mentor, an advocate, a friend. I am now a grandmother. I am now a wife. I am a single mother,” she said.

Shahid, an entrepreneur, co-founder of the Malala Fund and women’s rights activist, said her passion is educating and lifting others up, especially women. Perhaps the most important girl Shahid ever mentored, she said, was female education activist Malala Yousafzai.

Yousafzai grew up in Pakistan, and as a young girl advocated that all women should receive an education. As an activist, Yousafzai received threats from the Taliban, who shot her in the head in 2012. She survived and went on to win the Nobel Prize in 2014.

“What I could never have imagined was that a little girl who I had begun mentoring would go on six years later to become the youngest ever Nobel Peace prize winner,” Shahid said. “In many ways the impact that we have is catalytic; when we lift up one person we don’t know how many others they enable and power.”

Davis, known for such movies as “A League of Their Own” and “Thelma and Louise,” also spoke about the importance of lifting up others and empowering women. She

focused specifically on how to achieve this within the entertainment world.

According to Davis, with most images of women depicted in the media being either stereotyped or hypersexualized, girls have a limited amount of strong and diverse women role models.

“The message is sinking in; the more hours of TV a girl watches the fewer options she thinks she has in life,” Davis said.

According to Davis, her dream is to help create a world where girls can have women role models to look up to on the big screen. In this dream she emphasizes the motto, “If they see it, they can be it.”

She gave concrete examples of this in the film and television industry. She showed how the spike of girls’ participation in archery can be connected with the release of movies such as “The Hunger Games” and “Brave,” whose main female protagonists were archers.

“Media images are extremely powerful, and their impact can be immediate and profound,” Davis said.

After each woman spoke to the audience, all three went back on stage to participate in a conversation and answer questions on topics relevant to all women. A panel of female SSU students asked the questions.

The discussion covered topics such as unspoken rules for women in the workplace, how they overcame obstacles and dealing with insecurity as a woman when challenging social norms.

Sakaki spoke of the obstacle of implicit bias in the professional world. She emphasized the importance of supporting other women, especially in the workplace.

Davis revealed how important growing self-esteem was in her journey to success.

“It’s growing self-esteem and the ability to feel and say what you think. It has been an extraordinary journey, and it’s amazing how long it takes,” Davis said while laughing.

Shahid spoke about her “naturally rebellious” nature she has when challenging norms not only as a women but within her culture.

“As a spoken or unspoken rule that I try to break, is to show up and demand to be included,” Shahid said.

The last question asked at the event was, “Do you see yourself as successful?”

“Yes, I see myself as successful,” Sakaki said. “But I also see with that a lot of responsibility to continue to lift as I climb and to reach together to create a circle to support all the students here.”

STAR // Suzette Plumley

bengsonlab.com A participant of Bengson’s experiment, wearing an EEG cap that measures brain function, observes visual cues related to abstract emotion, such as happiness or sadness.

Professor Bengson holds an EEG cap with Research assistant, Alexandra Theodorou.

EXPERIMENT: Professor to share results with larger audience Continued from Pg.1

To help answer these questions, psychology graduate Olivia Kreiger and psychology senior Alexandra Theodorough have assisted Bengson with his ongoing experiment by collecting measurements of participants’ brain activity.

Over two-hour sessions, each participant completes various tests on a computer, while wearing a white headpiece equipped with 32 strategically placed electrodes. Bengson uses these electrodes to monitor and measure brain function throughout the experiment.

When taking the tests, the scientists tell participants that an image will appear at random by the computer. In relation to abstract emotions, such as happiness or sadness, they ask participants to indicate what they believe the image will be, while simultaneously seeing a visual cue.

To record the brain activity during this process, Bengson uses the Electroencephalogram, to display a voltage map on the computer screen.

“The idea was to try and use the EEG to predict individuals decisions, even before they knew what decision they were going to make,” Bengson said, “This

would suggest that, although our decisions seem willful, the brain begins making a decision before we are aware of it.”

While conducting this experiment, Bengson and his lab found that participants presented the detectable response, or stimulus, differently over and over, resulting from the randomness found within the nervous system, also known as “neural noise.” According to Bengson, “We found that this element of neural noise in the visual cortex can predict people’s decisions on a moment-by-moment basis.” This further shows how the visual cortex can make an arbitrary decision before the individual is even aware they are making the decision, he said.

“The big finding is that the way the visual cortex happens to see a stimulus can determine your decisional outcomes, even for abstract categories such as emotion.” Bengson said.

“Initially, we were interested in investigating heart generated electrical activity in relation to decision making,” Theodorough said while reflecting on her first research study. “Therefore, results involving differences in activation of the visual cortex were unexpected and beyond exciting.”

“Our findings of indicative activity in the visual cortex came as a surprise and quickly elevated to the new focus of our study going forward,” Kreiger said while continuing her research full-time in Bengson’s lab.

As for their next steps in this field, Bengson believes the most important part of science is to share these unexpected yet exciting results with a larger audience.

This past April, Kreiger and Theodorough presented their findings at the Social Science Student Symposium in Fresno and the Spartan Psychological Association Research Conference in San Jose. They also have three upcoming presentations at Optical Society of America at American University, Washington DC, Object perception, Attention and Memory at University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, and Southern California conference for undergraduate research at Cal Poly Pomona.

“I am incredibly excited and honored to be presenting such amazing results and ideas at so many significant conferences,” Kreiger said. “It is our intention to also apply to many conferences for spring 2018, one of which is in Marburg, Germany.”

News 5

OCT. 3 - OCT. 9, 2017

sonomastatestar.com

ASBESTOS: Additional lawsuit still pending Continued from Pg.1

Sargent, an environmental health and safety specialist at Sonoma State, said he noticed unsafe practices starting in 2012, with the treatment of asbestos materials in Stevenson Hall and other buildings, and voiced his concerns to Dawson, his immediate superior.

According to the lawsuit, Sargent, a 24-year employee of SSU, contends faculty retaliated against him and forced him to resign for reporting the unsafe conditions.

“When the trial concluded earlier this year, the jury made factual findings about the number and type of OSHA violations committed by the Sonoma State campus,” said Collier. “However, the jury does not have the power to determine the amount of penalties that are owed. Only a judge can.”

Shaffer awarded Sargent his job back on Sept. 21 ruling. His reinstatement is on hold during the appeal process.

Meanwhile, the Sonoma Chapter of the California Faculty Association had filed a grievance over the asbestos with the university, hired a consultant and worked with OSHA for independent testing.

“We are advocating for the health and safety for faculty, staff and students,” said Elaine Newman, chapter president of CFA at Sonoma State and professor in the mathematics and statistics department.

The test results from OSHA’s independent study said the air in any building did not exceed the legal threshold for asbestos fibers.

In a written statement to its members, the CFA decided late last month to withdraw its grievance because they “don’t believe they can convince an arbitrator that the campus has violated our contract when the test results are in the legal range.”

The statement also cautioned members, saying

though the results were within legal range, it does not mean air quality is necessarily safe; only that there haven’t been any findings that the campus had too much asbestos as established by government code.

Sakaki said in a campus-wide email Friday that Stevenson Hall did not pose a safety risk. “It is important for everyone to know that the jury in the case found that Stevenson Hall is a safe and healthful environment,” she said.

According to Sakaki, Sonoma State has been “regularly conducting air monitoring tests in Stevenson and other older buildings,” and have tested more than 100 samples over the past year. All but two showed no detectable asbestos fibers, she said. Of the two samples that did prove positive for fibers, both “were barely over the detection threshold and well within the range that Cal/OSHA considers acceptable,” she said.

“Nothing is more important than the safety of our employees and students,” she said. “If conditions should ever warrant it, the university would take all appropriate steps to abate the hazards and protect the well-being of our students, faculty and staff.”

OSHA’s website says there is a permissible asbestos exposure limit of 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter for work in all industries. However, that asbestos PEL is a target guideline for regulatory purposes only and does not establish any level of “safe” asbestos exposure.

“The Sonoma State community should be aware that there is a separate lawsuit pending right now,” Collier said. “In that case, we are seeking penalties for the same OSHA violations to the extent they occurred after March 6, 2015 as well as alleging additional OSHA violations that were not known during the Sargent case.”

Collier alleges they have tests that prove the same violations still exist at Sonoma State to this day and that the university continues to allow its faculty and staff to work in unsafe environments, not just at Stevenson Hall

STAR // Nickey Homen The CFA’s tests on Stevenson Hall showed asbestos did not exceed the legal limit. but other buildings as well. Some new OSHA violations surround the campus’ electrical grid and electrician training/certification protocols.

Details about how often the university will be testing for asbestos and what maintenance will be done to control the problem were not available.

For questions about specifics, the STAR was directed to Craig Dawson, director of environmental health and safety on campus, who was out of the office last week. Dawson administers the asbestos management plan on campus.

Academic Senate unanimously passes resolution against CSU executive order KAITLYN HAAS STAFF WRITER

T

he Sonoma State University Academic Senate has approved a resolution in a response to a California State University executive order, which caps general education credits available for students at 48 units and mandates that certain GE areas be no more than three units.

CSU authorities sent out the executive order to all CSU campuses on Aug. 23, which, according to the CSU, intends to improve the GE pattern. The CSU claims the main focuses of the policy are to clarify GE requirements, ensure equitable opportunity for student success, and streamline graduation.

However, the Sonoma State Academic Senate met on Sept. 28 to discuss and revise the resolution, in response to Executive Order 1100, to reflect its concerns. “The real outrage was coming around these main factors: that there was a ridiculous timeline and we were not getting consulted,” said Vice Chair of Academic Senate Laura Watt. “And so in the interest of not privileging one particular impact on campus over another, because there are multitudes of really quite distressing impacts to programs and work load, we kept it as streamline as possible.” The resolution also calls for the CSU to rescind the order until appropriate consultation has occurred.

The new GE policy changes the 50-unit requirement to a 39 lower division unit and nine upper division unit requirement. CSU students will now be required to com-

plete nine lower division units in area A and nine lower division units, as well as three upper division units in only areas B, C and D, and three lower division units in area E. CSU campuses are not to allow students to exceed these unit counts. A C- or higher in each course, a laboratory class and a passing grade of the WEPT are still necessary for graduation. This policy will go into effect fall 2018 for most CSU campuses, but Sonoma State requested, and the CSU granted, a year extension.

Many Sonoma State academic senators are upset and do not believe it will help the students but actually make it more difficult, especially in terms of speedy graduation.

“I have a concern that the EO 1100 might be contradictory to its purpose, which is speedy graduation,” said Senator Carlos Torres. “I’m wondering if the objectives might be contradictory to its implementation, being that we have so many programs that are autonomous here at Sonoma State that are about streamlining graduation already, and that there might be an interruption in the way those are processed due to the rearrangement.”

If the order is not rescinded, lecturers will need to revise and reinvent curriculum, which will create an increased workload for faculty. Also, multi-cultural classes such as American multicultural studies, Chicano studies, Native American studies, sociology, theater, philosophy, English, and German courses will be significantly affected and many will be lost as the executive order shapes a more standardized curriculum. Programs like Freshman Year Experience and Liberal Studies Portfolio Program will

also be affected, faculty members say.

After adding a few minor amendments to the pre-existing resolved clauses, Senator Catherine Nelson proposed a new clause. The proposed clause touches on the impact the executive order will have on Sonoma State’s multicultural classes and is as follows: “The SSU Academic Senate affirm its commitment to diversity as embodied in SSU’s mission statement and express concern that the implications of executive order 1100 threaten that commitment.”

This clause had many responses both in support and opposed. Senator Sakina Bryant, a supporter of the proposed clause said, “I can’t think of a more central mission or objection that we could have to this particular order or what it could do the fabric or actual multicultural and diversity at the university.”

After much discussion, the proposed clause was up for vote. Former Chair Ben Ford abstained, which resulted in a 12-12 tie; this left the decision to the chairwoman, Carmen Works, who chose to include the clause in the resolution.

The resolution as a whole passed unanimously and the Senate will send it to the Board of Trustees, Chancellor Timothy White, Executive Vice Chancellor Loren Blanchard, the Academic Senate CSU and campus senate chairs.

The SSU Academic Senate is hopeful that they will have Executive Order 1100 rescinded until appropriate consultation and deliberation has occurred, but in the meantime is preparing to adjust to the demands of the executive order.

Police services launches bike patrol team

S

onoma State University Police has recently implemented a bicycle patrol team to enable some officers to patrol campus on two wheels instead of four. University Police has provided the STAR with FAQs pertaining to the use of bicycles to patrol campus.

Q. Why patrol campus on bicycles?

A. Patrolling a university campus on a bicycle has many positive benefits. It allows community members enhanced access to our police officers while they ride among our students, faculty and staff. Bicycle patrol officers are able to access many areas on campus that are not accessible by police vehicles. Plus, the department also saves money on vehicle fuel and maintenance costs as bicycles are propelled by an officer’s physical effort. Bicycle patrol also helps support sustainability initiatives.

Q. Do police officers receive any special training to serve as bicycle officers?

A. Yes. Bicycle officers attend a rigorous 40 hour training course consisting of various topics such as law, bicycle principles and skills, riding in traffic, emergency handling abilities, hazard evasion, night riding, and patrol tactics.

Q. Are the bicycles equipped with any special equipment?

A. Yes. SSU Police bicycles are equipped with functioning emergency lights and sirens to not only alert people of the officer’s presence but to also help guide emergency responders (Fire

Department and Ambulances) to campus locations.

Q. Is this the first time University Police has deployed a bicycle patrol team?

A. No. University Police has deployed a bicycle patrol team at various times throughout the years.

Q. What are some of the responsibilities of the bicycle patrol officers?

A. Regular patrol duties plus pedestrian and bicycle safety education, community outreach, crime prevention, large event crowd coordination and support.

Q. Who should community members contact within University Police if they would like a bicycle patrol officer to perform a bicycle safety or other related presentation?

A. University Police outreach coordinator is Corporal Peters, who may be reached via phone at 707-664-4444 or email: adam.peters@ sonoma.edu Additionally, community members are encouraged to engage the bicycle officers in conversation as they pedal through campus and to avail themselves of the opportunity to learn more about bicycle patrol and law enforcement in general from these highly motivated police professionals.

Editor’s note: All questions and answers were submitted to The STAR from University Police.

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6 Arts

OCT. 3 - OCT. 9, 2017

sonomastatestar.com

STAR// Mikki Taylor (Left): Crew of Sam Houser of Samhouser films poses for a picture after winning the Campus Movie Fest best director and silver tripod awards (Right): ASP Event Director Sammi Glatt (Middle) poses with Campus Movie Fest program directors Raghav (right) and Hayley (left) on the red carpet before the show starts.

Students compete at Campus Movie Fest

FRANCISCO CARBAJAL STAFF WRITER

T

he crowd at the Campus Movie Fest premiere was restless on Thursday. Student filmmakers, cast, crew and students who came to support their peers filled Ballroom A of the Student Center. Out of 213 student participants that helped make a movie in a week for the student film contest, 16 eager, unknown finalists’ films would be shown in the award premiere. Out of those 16 films, four student films would be chosen to win a screening at Terminus, a conference and festival in Atlanta, Georgia for emerging filmmakers and game developers. Once at that point of the journey, the SSU students that made it would be able to apply for the chance to submit their films for the Cannes Film Festival in France to show them in May. The stakes were real and the crowd knew it.

“The one week turn around to make a film is a challenge but it’s easy when Campus Movie Fest gives you all the equipment. It’s all part of the fun,” said senior psychology major Rachel Miles, who had one entry. “It’s a really fun event to participate in.”

The Premiere started off with an audience raffle whose prizes included a Polaroid camera, a GoPro and multiple gift cards to restaurants like Chipotle and Star-

bucks. The festival included categorical awards including for “Best Dressed,” with the winner winning a “Gorilla Onesie.”

At the end of the night the Silver Tripod Awards went to Samuel Houser for Best Director and Bria Gabor for Best Actor in the film “Still Around.” The final jury awards were given to four different movies that would ultimately would go to Terminus. The honor went to “Fist Full of Cache,” “The Undocumentary,” “Still Around” and “It All Ends: A Spoken Word About a Hoax.”

While current students have to be part of the film crew, the campus competition allows you to bring outsiders to help only by acting in them. “I’ve always wanted be part of the event when I was going to Sonoma...,”said Peter Lee, a recent nursing graduate. “...so when I got the chance to at least act in one of the finalists this year I was more than happy to help. It was a wish come true and frankly a Hail Mary to cross off in my bucket list.”

While Campus Movie Fest might be over, SSU students are able to submit other short films to the Alexander Film Festival and other small film festivals. On campus, Studio Blue, the Communication Department’s video studio class, holds their annual fest each spring. Students are invited to make a short film to enter in any genre and win in-house prizes.

AMC theatres dive into virtual reality NICK COATS

STAFF WRITER

destructoid.com “American Made” clocks in as Cruise’s 60th film.

“American Made” sticks to the status quo Review

LUIS MEJIA

STAFF WRITER

T

he last time director Doug Liman and Tom Cruise teamed up, the surprisingly well-received science-fiction flick “Edge of Tomorrow” came to be; featuring guns, explosions, and lots of running. This time around, the duo’s intention does not seem too different, excluding the futuristic war zone and reincarnation element, of course.

Cruise’s latest cinematic endeavor, “American Made,” displays a unique biopic examining the true story of one man’s involvement in the most notorious drug empire ever comprised. Cruise plays Barry Seal, a 1980s pilot recruited to take pictures for the CIA before becoming a drug-runner for the legendary “drug lord,” Pablo Escobar.

This film shines in two categories: the cinematog-

raphy, and making sure the actions of the characters do not supercede what the characters represent themselves.

Dutch angle shots establishing scenery, like the camera panning over the sea at a tilt to present the vastness of the ocean, complimented the use of shaky cam techniques to depict certain scenes. The film presents an over-theshoulder shot of Cruise inside a plane looking at the ocean as the frame jitters up and down, exactly like it would if a person actually tried to record on a moving plane being chased.

Cruise truly sells himself in this film, delivering one of his most exhilarating performances in years. His commitment to Seal’s character lends itself to a disturbed conscience fused with a laidback thrill-seeker who just can’t seem to walk away from temptation. This is what makes the character difficult to root for or against. It’s an

ethical game of tug-of-war masked by fast motions and witty humor.

Supporting actors such as Domhnall Gleeson, Jesse Plemons, and Alejandro Edda all carry their weight. But without Sarah Wright and her portrayal of Lucy Seal, this film would fall close to entirely on Cruise’s shoulders.

Not that Cruise is unable, but as the main protagonist’s only voice of reason besides his own, the turmoil explored between them does well to humanize the film between the chaos that ensues.

Besides some speedy pacing and a fairly average music score, the film falls into a category Cruise lovers would expect. Giving them just what they paid for—guns, explosions, and lots of running—and then some. “American Made” is one of the better additions to Cruise’s resume and a parting gift for the summer films of 2017.

T

he future of virtual reality is here and it’s ready to change the world. VR is a beautiful deception that brings to life storytelling’s essence while simultaneously blurring reality with imagination. Meant as a fully immersive experience with objects you can feel and manipulate within a digital environment, AMC Entertainment looks to bring its experience to select AMC theatres across the nation in 2018.

The origins of VR date back to the 1950s and 1960s. Unfortunately a time when technology wasn’t developed enough to support the concept. Inventors in the time period worked into the early 90s trying to create a truly immersive digital landscape, but the gap between the digital experience and the real world was too great. In the middle of the 90s, the VR industry threw in the towel, and it wasn’t until 2014, when Facebook bought Oculus Rift from creator Palmer, that it came back. Fast forward to 2017 and VR technology has evolved into successfully depicting fully immersive environments with a pair of goggles; an object that physically takes you nowhere, yet transports you anywhere.

Dreamscape Immersive, a Los Angeles-based startup with backing from Hollywood names like filmmaker Steven Spielberg, recently secured a $20 million investment from AMC; half of which will be going toward content creation within the project.

Dreamscape’s VR centers will use motion-tracking technology complete with a head-mount display, gloves with small sensors for hands and feet, and a computer

carried as a backpack along with a number of motion-tracking cameras. This allows for a full-bodied digital avatar that other players can see and interact with. Yes, other players; the system is suitable for multiplayer, and can accommodate two to six people. This will make for some truly fun times as players can physically interact with friends, and see the avatars physically react to actions taken.

The latency of the technology is so low, players will be able to actually toss objects to one another through virtual reality, and have no problem catching the object.

AMC will repurpose some existing theaters for the VR centers, while others will be standalone installments. Dreamscape does not just want to create experiences that play into upcoming films; their goal is to create experiences that explore immersive environments, rather than recreate fan favorites.

There have been no official announcements made regarding expected age limit or safety restrictions once this technology hits AMC theaters, but the experience seems suitable for ages five and above. There also has been no word on an official price to enjoy the experience, but the creators are aware VR technology is expensive, and hope to keep the cost less than $20. What will truly make Dreamscape a success is the different types of multi-person experiences it will have to offer, and with the investors the company already has secured, there is a lot to look forward to. Planning to open their flagship center at the Westfield Century Mall in LA early 2018, Dreamscape Immersive hopes to set the standard for VR for many years to come.

Entertainment 7

OCT. 3- OCT. 9, 2017

sonomastatestar.com

Familiar Miley emerges in “Younger Now” Review

KAILEY O’HEHIR STAFF WRITER

F

rom swinging naked on a wrecking ball to modestly frolicking in grassy fields, Miley Cyrus has officially pulled back from her risqué persona and delved into a much calmer, mature country aesthetic in her new album “Younger Now,” released on Friday.

This cleaner, inoffensive project marks Cyrus’ return home to her Nashville roots. Those who have enjoyed dancing to her upbeat, often provocative music may find it a bit too sleepy.

Cyrus started her career in 2006 as a Disney Channel starlet on the hit show “Hannah Montana,” and has gone through a vast amount of transitions throughout the past decade. She took off with hits such as “Nobody’s Perfect,” where she started her era as one of the pinnacles of the pop genre. This continued into her adulthood, through songs such as “Can’t Be Tamed,” where Cyrus shed her childish label and proved to the world she had grown up. But she did not hold on to the pop genre for long. The album starts off on a slower note with its two, previously released parent singles. The love song

“Malibu,” in which Cyrus seems to refer to her relationship with fiancé Liam Hemsworth, pokes at the fact that she lost out on a normal childhood. Though the lyrics aren’t particularly chilling, those who have followed Cyrus’ personal life may pay tribute.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m drowning and you’re there to save me,” she sings, “and I wanna thank you with all my heart.

It’s a brand new start.”

Having Dolly Parton as a godmother seems quite a perk for Cyrus as the two collaborated once more on the third track “Rainbowland.” The single snags listeners’ attention by kicking off with a recording of a voicemail from Parton, but quickly turns into a classic Parton tune. Regardless, it’s a stunning change for Cyrus.

Carrying on her newfound pop-country genre, she fills the rest of the album with simplistic, sometimes sappy, foot-tapping lyrics at best. The track “Thinkin” kicks repetition into high gear.

“I’ve been thinkin’ way too much, much, much, much,” she sings.

Though Cyrus’ singing seems moderately enhanced in each track, her famous, or sometimes infamous, coarse voice shines through. The album mirrors Cyrus’ wild to mild transition by ending the album on a slower note - very slow.

justjared.com “Younger Now,” released on Sept. 30, enters as Miley’s sixth studio album, following her 2015 project, “Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz.

“Inspired,” arguably the most beautiful and unstrained track of the album, was originally written in support of Hillary Clinton a week before Cyrus began to campaign for her.

“You’re the handle on the door that opens up the change,” she sings. “I know that sounds so strange, because you always felt so small, but know you aren’t at all.”

It’s been five years since the release of Cyrus’ last album, “Bangerz,” which debuted fan-favorite songs “Wrecking Ball” and “We Can’t Stop” and carried a hip-hop vibe throughout each track.

Cyrus shocked the world with her twerking and racy attire on and off stage, or rather lack thereof. Proceeding this came the experimental, psychedelic album “Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz,” in which the RIAA marked over half of the songs as explicit and included titles such as “I’m So Drunk” and “F****ing F***ed Up.” We must consider that Cyrus has gone through as many transitions in the past decade as some artists have in a lifetime. This leaves us to question; where she will go from here? Is this milder Miley officially the real her, or will a new Miley emerge in just a short while?

Females redefine modern hip-hop Commentary

SIERRA SORRENTINO STAFF WRITER

T

instrumentalfx.uk Belcalis Almanzar’s, professionally known as Cardi B, chart topper “Bodak Yelllow” has racked up 47.9 million U.S. streams since its release.

True Crime: The next American TV craze

NOLAN BROUGH STAFF WRITER

W

hether it’s the early days of soap operas, the sitcom wave of the 90s or the reality TV trend of the 2000s, each decade brings the next television craze to sweep the nation. Netflix, a time-consuming guilty pleasure, has been a hub for a specific subgenre of documentary that is gripping the nation; true crime.

True crime within Netflix ranges from cases about murders to disappearances, and more. Each show handles its narrative differently, but follow plotlines that can feature recreations of events, long one-on-one interviews, and even rotoscope animation to chronicle the events.

Whatever you’re looking for, Netflix can provide it. Here’s some of the best true crime documentaries you can stream now.

he hip-hop industry is known for pitting top female artists against one another, which leads to irrelevant arguments, rivalries and an overall negative environment. It fosters the idea that only one female rapper can reign supreme, while on the other side, there are several successful male rappers that thrive.

Artists like Cardi B are slowly but surely turning around that stereotype, one record-breaking single at a time.

Recently, Cardi B topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart with her fierce, unfiltered single “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves),” making her the first female rapper in almost two decades to do so. The first was Lauryn Hill in 1998 with her debut solo single “Doo Wop (That Thing);” her first single separate from her former band the “Fugees,” which was a male dominant group.

Besides Lauryn Hill, there have been three other female rappers to have earned that coveted number one spot; however, they had help from or assisted other artists. These women include Lil’ Kim in 2001 for “Lady Marmalade” featuring Christina Aguilera, Mya, and P!nk, Shawnna in 2003 being featured on Ludacris’s “Stand Up,”

and Iggy Azalea in 2014 for “Fancy,” featuring Charli XCX. However a recurring question is; why has it been so long since another woman has taken the coveted number one spot? To put it bluntly, women in the hip-hop industry have a history of overcoming countless roadblocks to get the same exposure and success as their male counterparts. In some cases to overcome these obstacles, women had to settle for being considered as secondary artists when compared to men; hence why some male artists feature them on hot tracks before they star in their own.

Even though it may seem as if the gender demographics of mainstream hip hop are still skewed towards male artists, there is no drought of female rappers, DJ’s and emcees. The booming popularity of Cardi B aids in giving more attention to the rise of new artists such as Noname and Kodie Shane. Other female music veterans also understand the importance of supporting fresh up-and-coming artists.

The challenge these new artists face is turning themselves into a common, household name. This is difficult because, typically, female artists have to spend more time proving themselves as potential successful rappers. Also, they are not taken as seriously in the industry and often have to fall to producing gimmicks to get where

and what they want.

While dealing with those obstacles, female artists also have to face that, as a gender, they are blatantly written about in a derogatory and disrespectful manner by their fellow male artists. Hip-hop culture is, by far, not the only subset of the music industry that mistreats women, but the objectification and discrimination of women has been a recurring topic in the genre and still is prevalent today, Rick Ross’ verse in Rocko’s “U.O.E.N.O” being a prime example.

It is also important to note that not all male artists in the hip-hop industry have the same unapologetic sexist attitude. Especially as time goes on, the industry is starting to see rappers like Kendrick Lamar emerge. He embodies the elements of hip-hop culture, but also delivers pressing political and societal messages instead of portraying the typical boss man who is rolling in money and half-naked women.

2017 seems the year where the music industry as a whole begins to finally give female rappers the recognition they have always deserved. The hip-hop genre specifically needs to shed its institutionalized sexism and build towards developing a support system among male and female rappers alike. If artists like Cardi B continue to rise, the future of the genre is not only fierce, but also female.

8 Student Life

OCT. 3 - OCT. 9, 2017

sonomastatestar.com

COURTESY // Melissa Vargas Students attended the Sept. 26 commemoration ceremony in solidarity with the 43 students who went missing in Guerrero, Mexico.

MALCS remembers missing students in Mexico

KAYLA BUIE

STAFF WRITER

T

hree years ago, 43 student teachers were mysteriously abducted in Guerrero, Mexico. To this day, their families have not received closure.

Since none of these students have been found alive or dead, this is an ongoing case. Active organizations are still searching for the missing students, keeping their voices heard in support of the students’ family members.

On Sept. 26, 2017, the three-year anniversary of the students’ disappearance, the Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social chapter at Sonoma State University held a commemoration ceremony in Seawolf Plaza for for the missing students. This organization aims to empower and provide space for women of color

at Sonoma State.

At the ceremony, the group printed out portraits of the missing 43 students and explained the story of their abduction to students passing by. Their intentions were to educate and inform others, according to Melissa Vargas, a fifth-year student and president of the group.

“Our purpose was to stand in solidarity with [the missing students] fight for justice,” Vargas said. According to Vargas, there is suspicion that the Mexican government contributed to the students’ disappearance, causing major distrust between the country’s government and its citizens.

“The violence and corruption is not new,” Vargas said. “It’s not just a Latinx issue; police brutality is something we see here in the U.S. too.”

Vargas explained the relevance of police brutality in modern America, pointing out its harmful effects

STUDENT LIFE CALENDAR Tuesday,

Thursday,

Oct. 3

Oct. 5

Africana Lecture Series

“Why a Major in Social

ft. Raquell Holmes

Sciences?” Mixer

12:05 p.m.

Noon

Darwin Hall 102

Redwood Lounge

“The Earth is Saying

ASP Free Bowling:

Something, Are We

Twinning

Listening?”

10 p.m.

6 p.m.

Double Decker Lanes

against the African-American community in particular.

“It’s important to acknowledge what happened because we need to hold government officials accountable for their corruption and we need transparency for the public,” Vargas said.

Mexico has been struggling to overcome corruption in the government and police force for years, according to Vargas. She said it also affects U.S. citizens that have family members in Mexico or just know about the tragedies that the public is experiencing in some places there.

Diana Bautista, a sophomore majoring in Chicano and Latino studies, also attended the commemoration.

“So many factors influence everything that happened,” Bautista said. “Mexico should acknowledge what is happening.”

BE A STAR 1

2

Gain photography experience shooting events and people all over campus

Shooting for a publication provides as an excellent résumé builder

The HUB Friday, Wednesday,

Oct. 6

Oct. 4

Scene It Big Screen

Go Global! Study &

Movie Night:

Work Abroad Fair

Despicable Me 3

10 a.m.

7 p.m.

Salazar Quad

Lobovision

3 Email star@sonoma.edu with a preview of your work to join the team!

Courtesy of: seawolfliving.com

Student Life 9

OCT. 3 - OCT. 9, 2017

sonomastatestar.com

Women of Color Collective provides community and safe space for discussion ANDREA MENDOZA STAFF WRITER

T

he Women of Color Collective is a unique outlet for female students of color at Sonoma State University.

Every week, its members come together to discuss current issues that concern them and to share personal struggles with peers from similar backgrounds.

Carina Buzo, HUB program coordinator and former Sonoma State student, organizes the weekly collective meetings alongside Isabel Avila Saiter, staff psychologist at Counseling and Psychological Services. Meetings are held every Wednesday at noon in the HUB. “I think a lot of the women who come don’t have other spaces where their feelings are validated,” Buzo said. “The Women of Color Collective says you’re not the only one and your womanhood, femininity or connection to this space is valid here.”

Buzo describes the collective as not only a space that validates member experiences, but also as a place of learning.

“What it has done for me is affirm my understanding of teaching,” Buzo said. “That education and teaching can happen sitting in a circle over snacks, sharing things, crying, and that can be teaching and learning too.”

There is no planning when it comes to the weekly meet-

ings, according to Buzo.

Each collective meeting starts off by allowing each member to introduce themselves and to share their thoughts or feelings. The rest of the meeting focuses on newly developed topics, usually ones without previous planning.

Buzo said she and Avila are always keeping a list of women of color staff and faculty on campus.

The two coordinators reach out to everyone on this list at the beginning of each semester, inviting them all to a collective meeting to share their experience with the group.

This process only occurs three times per semester to ensure the integrity of the group and to make sure that the students have a safe and comfortable space to share.

Shatearra “Cookie” Garrett, the Beaujolais Village area coordinator, also serves as a mentor for the collective.

“The reality is that people of these intersectional identities need a place to connect with other people that can identify with their struggles and where they can be encouraged and supported,” Garrett said. “There is also a need from those of us that have been oppressed and suppressed in different ways in our society, historically, to have an avenue of empowerment, which is what the WOCC [offers] for many of the participants.”

STAR // Suleika Perez The Women of Color Collective meets every Wednesday to give its members a safe space for discussion about issues that concern them.

Andrea Hernandez, a senior geography major and student programer for the HUB, said this is the first semester that she has attended the collective, as well as her first semester working for the HUB. “It really is a place of welcoming,” Hernandez said.

“All your identities will be acknowledged as well as anything that you are feeling.”

Hernandez said one of the best parts about being part of the collective is the ability to identify with other women who are often experiencing similar struggles.

“I’ve always found solidarity in coming here just because all of your experiences are acknowledged, and you understand you’re not alone,” Hernandez said. “There is

definitely, I believe, power in identity and similar identities when you’re all in one place.”

“Despite all that we face, women of color continue to not only survive but grow and thrive in an environment where we aren’t always respected,” Garrett said. “Having that much [resilience] and courage in one room is truly powerful.”

Round table encourages clubs to work together BRADEN CARTWRIGHT STAFF WRITER

W

ith over 160 clubs at Sonoma State University, each one is bound to offer something different to students.

Academic clubs, sports clubs, fraternities and sororities and other niche organizations all have their own ways of conducting themselves.

All these clubs were accounted for on Sept. 27, when the Student Involvement office held a round table event to hear the clubs’ needs so they could determine how to best serve them.

“We’re here to listen to any concerns, and any changes or improvements we can make to help them,” Analesia Campos, a student assistant for the Student Involvement office,

said. “Each club is different so there’s no general goal.”

A central topic at the round table was money – how clubs should get it and use it.

Sonoma State doesn’t currently provide funds for its clubs, so they must rely on fundraising and membership dues.

“We do a lot of fundraising in both snow and bio clubs,” Keenann Raleigh, a fourth-year biology major, said. “For bio club, we sell succulents in recycled cans and those are a big hit.”

Another way clubs can get funds is by applying for grants.

Officers of the Brazilian JiuJitsu club expressed frustration at the grant process because it requires clubs to know how much money they are going to need beforehand.

Campos said that the Stu-

dent Involvement office is thinking of setting up an emergency fund for when clubs run out of money.

For $65 per semester, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club exposes students to the sport without requiring them to pay for a gym membership.

At meetings held three times per week, the club promotes self-defense and teaches people how to prevent sexual assault.

The club’s members plan on going to San Francisco to compete in an upcoming national tournament.

Emily Sussman, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club treasurer, said the organization has been a hit on campus and currently has around 50 members.

“We just want to get our feet wet and get our members competing,” Sussman said.

STAR // Suleika Perez Club Officer Round table representatives exchanged feedback and ideas on how to better serve each other in the Student Involvement Office.

Keenan Raleigh, who serves as both the vice president of the Biology Club and the safety officer of the Snow Club, provided a dual perspective at the round table.

Raleigh said the Biology Club is one of many academic clubs on campus where the goal is for members to learn and succeed in their classes. “[Biology] and Snow Club are two very different clubs,” Raleigh said. “Snow Club functions much more smoothly than [Biology] Club, which is something I wouldn’t have expected,” he said.

Another topic discussed at the round table was how all the clubs can help each other.

Raleigh expressed a desire for more mixers like Greek Life has but said he wasn’t sure how to set them up.

“It’s really hard to plan

mixers,” Campos said. “It might seem like Greek Life does more, but it’s still hard.”

There are already instances of clubs fundraising together and working side by side.

For Sexual Assault Awareness month in April, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club partners with the cast and crew of “The Vagina Monologues” to teach self-defense.

The Student Involvement office is also going to do something this month called “Orgtober,” where all clubs come together to participate in competitive events, with the chance to win cash prizes.

“It gives recognition to all of the amazing things our clubs do,” Campos said.

For more information, contact Student Involvement at (707) 664-4323.

10 Sports

OCT. 3 - OCT. 9, 2017

sonomastatestar.com

STAR // Lauren Eipp No. 2 Kelsey McIntire hangs in the air attempting to block Stanislaus State’s middle blocker Morgan Miller, on the Seawolves way to a 3-0 victory.

Undefeated Seawolves hold No. 1 spot in CCAA Standings

CHAD SHAVER STAFF WRITER

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he win streak continues for the Sonoma State University women’s volleyball team, as it defeated rival Chico State and Stanislaus State over the weekend at home. In the first game of the weekend on Friday, the Seawolves had a slow start against Chico State. In the premiere set, the Seawolves battled hard to keep the score close and untimely won the set 26-24.

Chico came out strong and determined to win the set. Even though the Seawolves had solid play in set two, it just wasn’t enough to defeat Chico and the Seawolves collected their first and only loss of the match, 26-24. Losing this set must have triggered something for the Seawolves, because they were fired up in the next set.

The Seawolves were laser focused and only committed three errors as opposed to the eight and nine errors in prior sets. With this immense focus, the Seawolves were able to pull off another set victory, 25-21. Now with the momentum finally in the Seawolves’ hands, they knew they must capitalize on it.

They did just that, with a total of 13 kills on the

set and again with only three errors, winning the set 25-19. With this victory the Seawolves defeated Chico State 3-1 and moved to 5-0 in conference play. On the offensive side in game one for the Seawolves, it was Caiti Wiesner who led the team in kills with a total of 16 on the day. Calan Seitz was a close second with a total of 14 kills.

When it came to setting up their teammates for scoring plays, Courtney Seda, the Seawolves’ setter, had that locked down with a total of 42 assists on the day. As for the defensive side of game one for the Seawolves, Kelsey McIntire led the team in blocks with a total of six and Morgan Annala was a close second with a total of five blocks on the day. As for digs for the Seawolves in game one, like last week, it was Megan Bohorquez who led the team with a total of 23.

As for game two on Saturday against Stanislaus State, the Seawolves wasted no time. From the first set on, the Seawolves came out to play. In set one, the Seawolves had a total of 12 kills and only three errors as opposed to Stanislaus’ eight kills and eight errors and won the set over Stanislaus, 25-13. In set two, Stanislaus State showed more promise with a total of

12 kills and seven errors, but it wasn’t enough when matched up to the Seawolves’ 15 kills and eight errors in set two and the Seawolves won again, 25-23.

In the third and final set of the game, the Seawolves had the momentum and they knew they were not going to let this game go to a fourth set. The Seawolves had a total of 18 kills and only five errors in the final set that gave them the victory, 25-20. With this final set victory the Seawolves defeated Stanislaus State, 3-0. As for the offensive leaders for SSU in game two it was Seitz with 13 kills and Tate Battistini with a total of 10 kills. Seda again shared the love with a total of 34 assists in game two. As for defense, Annala and Amy Trephan led the team in blocks with two each.

Bohorquez also had a great game on defense with 18 digs. With this win, the Sonoma State women’s volleyball team is now 6-0 in CCAA play and 12-3 overall. Hopefully the Seawolves can keep the win streak going, because they have a tough road week ahead of them; all conference games, all away.

Sonoma State takes on Chico State on Tuesday, Cal State East Bay on Friday and ends their weekend road trip with Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday.

Women’s soccer team extends win streak to five KEVIN BRILL

STAFF WRITER

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STAR // Mikki Taylor No. 9 Cecilia Sifuentes, No. 15 Sam Layman and No. 2 Sara Van Wagoner battle Chico State Wildcats for the ball.

he nationally ranked No.17 Sonoma State University women’s soccer team has once again extended its win streak by adding another two games to its 10-1 record. Sonoma has been unstoppable at home, winning all six of its games and shutting out all but two of its opponents. Over the weekend, the Seawolves faced both Stanislaus State and Chico State at home and sent both teams packing with a tough loss on their schedule midway through the season.

The Sonoma State Seawolves went up against the Stanislaus State Warriors on Friday and expected nothing less than a difficult match. Thirty-eight minutes into the match, the Seawolves’ freshman midfielder, Madison Watts, drilled a ball from the open field into the Warriors’ net and put up the first point for the Seawolves.

Sonoma State dominated the first half as it led the game 1-0 at halftime and had 18 shots on goal, but the Warriors were not ready to go home. Just after the half, Sonoma State’s freshman forward, Alexis Espitia, dribbled down the field and scored another goal for the Seawolves. Shortly after, the Seawolves gained another goal, making the score 3-0.

Both teams played tough defense and kept the intensity high. Stanislaus made an impressive comeback as Gabriela Vargas scored on a give-and-go from 15 yards, which Selia Torres of the Warriors followed with a goal. Although Stanislaus put up two consecutive goals on the scoreboard, it wasn’t enough to force the game into overtime, which sent the Warriors home with a loss (3-2).

“I feel like setting team goals has really been inf luential to our success,” senior forward Katie Mohr said. “We al-

ways have something to refer back to and that makes us more unified as a team.

The team chemistry keeps improving every game because we’re learning how each player works and where they can benefit on the field. It doesn’t hurt that we’re all best friends either.”.

With their ninth win under their belt, the Seawolves had another home game on the horizon as they faced the Chico State Wildcats on Sunday afternoon. Just after the 24th minute of the match, Sonoma State’s senior defender, Cecilia Sifuentes, headed in a corner kick for the first goal of the game.

Sarah Lindborg, the Seawolves’ sophomore midfielder, was able to score a second Seawolves goal by a header, giving them the 2-0 lead going into the second half. Sonoma State solidified the victory as Bella Amyx, junior midfielder, connected on her third goal of the season in the 60th minute of the match. The Seawolves finished the game 3-0 and had an astounding 20 shots on goal. Both teams fought hard, but the Seawolves were able to come out on top.

“We take it one game at a time and one practice at a time. Practices this week will consist on improving certain moments of our game, while also continuing to excel on our strengths,” junior goalie Kristen Spear said.

The Seawolves have played their last three games at home and now look to play two away games before they play back on their own turf. Sonoma State will face Cal State San Bernardino on Friday, and Cal Poly Pomona on Sunday.

Although both games will be away, there is no doubt that the Seawolves plan to bring home two more victories and will play with the same intensity they have been.

Sports 11

OCT. 3 - OCT. 9, 2017

sonomastatestar.com

Stand, sit or kneel— they deserve our support ROLAND SCHMIDT STAFF WRITER

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Commentary

he national anthem has not always been a source of dissension between athletes, fans and United States citizens alike. But now, nearly two years after Colin Kaepernick decided to jump-start a conversation regarding police brutality against racial minorities, his simple, yet risky knee-to-turf tactic has set ablaze a controversy unlike any other.

COURTESY // Star Tribune San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid and quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneel during the national anthem.

From all directions, coverage of this polarizing topic has become practically unavoidable as protests during the national anthem have continued to dominate both the local and national news sectors, along with radio coverage, the internet and social media. Everywhere you look, averting your eyes from the topic is nearly impossible.

This topic especially is difficult to avoid when divider-in-chief Donald Trump just had to offer his two cents regarding the issue, albeit unintelligently, stating he believed anyone who knelt during the anthem is disrespecting the United States f lag and should be “fired.” His unnecessary comments were disrespectful to the athletes and only added kerosene to the blaze. With his words, he continues to be a contributor to the problem and not a solution, further dividing the country and the players working to make it better.

As one of the most talked about subjects in America at the moment, a majority of Americans have an opinion as to whether it is acceptable for athletes in the NFL – or any other sport – to sit, kneel, stand, or crowd in the tunnel during the moment they play the song. But no matter your position on the issue, one thing is certain: Athletes too have the right to their freedom of speech.

While the method may be polarizing, they aren’t kneeling and using their platform as a display of disrespect for the country or veterans who have died for it. Rather, they are simply doing it to shed light on injustices that have otherwise been swept under the rug. There is nothing wrong with sitting or kneeling, as they are providing a voice to the voiceless. While kneeling is prominent, it’s not the only method of protest in use, as many NFL teams have decided to embrace one another by linking arms in solidarity before or during the anthem. This is also an effective method of protest, as it shows that peace and unity is stronger than racism and hate.

With all being considered, players who sit or kneel are undeserving of the disgusting treatment they receive for fighting for causes they believe to be just — especially those of social injustice. If anything, taking a knee for their beliefs is about as patriotic a thing as they could do.

So, we as citizens must support them in their cause and give them a reason to be proud of the country they live in. We must listen and keep an open mind to what they have to say about what they see as problems within the country. Some things are greater than football, and this is one of them. It’s time to change and make this effort, not argue and stay divided. Now, more than ever, we need to embrace one another with love and respect – as love is and always will be, the answer to driving out hate and evil.

Sports Schedule Women’s Soccer (4-1-0 CCAA) vs Stanislaus State (3-2 Win) vs Chico State (3-0 Win)

Men’s Soccer (2-2-1 CCAA) vs Stanislaus State (2-1 Loss) vs Chico State (0-0 Tie)

Women’s Volleyball (6-0 CCAA) vs Chico State (3-1 Win) vs Stanislaus State (3-0 Win)

Women’s Cross Country Sonoma State Invitational (1st place of 3 teams)

Women’s Golf

Tuesday, Oct. 3

Saturday, Oct. 7

Women’s Golf Dixie State Fall Invitational

Women’s Cross Country Triton Classic 8 a.m.

Women’s Volleyball @ Chico State 7 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball @ Cal State Monterey Bay 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 6 Sunday, Oct. 8 Men’s Soccer @ Cal State San Bernardino 12:30 p.m.

Women’s Soccer @ Cal State San Bernardino 3 p.m.

Women’s Soccer @ Cal Poly Pomona 11:30 a.m.

Men’s Soccer @ Cal Poly Pomona 2 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball @ Cal State East Bay 7 p.m.

California Bays Tournament (3rd place of 9 teams)

Seawolves of the Week Kelsey McIntire

Class: Senior Position: Middle Blocker Hometown: Manhattan Beach, CA Senior middle blocker Kelsey McIntire made her appearance with Sonoma State after redshirting in 2013. Her sophomore year, she was fourth in the CCAA in hitting percentage with .348, and started every match of the 2015 season. In 2016, she was second on the team with 43 blocks and tied a team high of 101 sets played.

This season, McIntire has averaged 1.7 blocks, eight kills, 1.3 aces, and 1.5 assists in the team’s six conference matchups, ultimately helping the team to its 6-0 start.

Cecilia Sifuentes

Class: Senior Position: Defender Hometown: Alameda, CA Senior defender Cecilia Sifuentes has played for SSU since her freshman year, when she started in all 20 games and received an All-CCAA Honorable Mention. As a sophomore, she was Second Team All-CCAA, and played more than 90 minutes in 12 games.

This season, Sifuentes has been instrumental in Sonoma State’s successful 4-1-0 conference run, with four goals since the conference matchups started, two of which were against UC Santa Cruz (non-conference game) on her 22nd birthday.

12 Photo Seawolves take centerstage at Campus Movie Fest

OCT. 3 - OCT. 9, 2017

sonomastatestar.com

STAR // Mikki Taylor Members from the audience were brought up to stage for a best dressed competition hosted by ASP Event Director Sammi Glatt.

STAR // Mikki Taylor ASP Event Director Sammi Glatt, middle, with CMF Program Directors Raghav Ravichandran, right, and Hailey Abernathy, left, on the red carpet before the show starts.

STAR // Mikki Taylor Ruben Martinez, left, and his friends wait patiently to see Martinez’s film “Never Alone” while enjoying the entertainment from the hosts at the CMF.

STAR // Alice Tennigkeit

STAR // Suleika Usher Marco Barragan, No.10, sprints to beat the opposing player to the ball.

Marco Barragan, No.10, fights to steal the ball from the opposing team.

STAR // Mikki Taylor The team celebrates a goal from Sam Layman, No.15.

STAR // Suleika Usher Josh Sanchez, No.8, sprints past the opposing player.