Volume 79 // Issue 9 by Sonoma State STAR

IN THIS ISSUE

STRANGER THINGS 2.0

HOUSING OPTIONS AFTER FIRE

NFL PROTESTS

After a successful first season, does the new episodes live up to the hype? Pg. 6.

The housing market to be dramatically affected after the recent fires in the Northern California. Pg. 8

Athletes react to offensive comments made by NFL owner Bob McNair. Pg. 11

SINCE 1979

VOLUME 79 // ISSUE 9 OCTOBER 31 - NOVEMBER 6, 2017

THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER

Sonoma State student and firefighter relives first days of the fire Ryan Estes, a 17- year veteran firefighter and communications student at SSU, describes terrifying first moments of battling North Bay fires.

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SSU to receive $2.75 million to train Hispanic teachers ANNA BURKE STAFF WRITER

Kent Porter / The Press Democrat Rincon Valley firefighters rescue a dog from a burning housing complex off Mark West Road in Larkfield, Oct. 9. EDITOR’S NOTE: Ryan Estes is a captain for the Rincon Valley Fire District and a 17-year veteran firefighter. He also is a staff writer for the Sonoma State STAR. The following is his story of what transpired on Oct. 8-9 and the days that followed in battling the North Bay fires. RYAN ESTES

STAFF WRITER

ire.

The word alone can get attention, but after Oct. 8, fire is no longer just a word in Sonoma and Napa counties; it is an emotion. For those of us in the Rincon Valley Fire District, it all began late that Sunday evening when phone calls and text messages started flying in from coworkers about a fire in Calistoga that was progressing toward Sonoma County. This was followed by phone calls and texts for everyone to report back to their

stations and who was going where to get what fire engine. I got out of bed, left my wife and two kids at home, and drove from Petaluma to the Larkfield fire station on Lark Center Drive off Old Redwood Highway in northern Santa Rosa. I was listening to the emergency traffic on a scanner, trying to wrap my head around what was happening. Authorities had shut down the freeway, and I had to exit at Old Redwood Highway and Mendocino Avenue. A Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office deputy had shut down the northbound direction of Old Redwood Highway, and I ran out of my truck and asked if I could pass. Having known each other, he told me his official stance was no, but he wouldn’t stop me if I drove around him. I hopped back in my truck and headed into a thick wall of smoke, seeing only about five feet in front of me, embers hitting the truck and flames bending across

the roadway. A thought came in my head that I hadn’t made the best decision, but I knew I needed to forge on, and so I drove cautiously to ensure I did not run into fleeing people. “Of course I am not happy you drove into smoke and fire like that, but I have come to expect it from you and your public safety family,” Cherie Estes, my wife, said. “The hardest part was not being able to hear from you and only watching the news.” The smoke and fire cleared, and I could see a portion of Cardinal Newman High School on fire. Fire was also approaching the surrounding neighborhoods. Cars were speeding down from Mark West Springs Road. I heard on the scanner that my Fire Chief, Jack Piccinini, and others were moving the command post to the parking lot of Kmart. See FIRE on Pg. 5

English professor adjusts to new life after Coffey Park fire SUZETTE PLUMLEY STAFF WRITER

STAR // Erika Peterson Assistant Professor Stefan Kiesbye at a poetry reading in the GMC in March 2017.

fter the devastation of the North Bay fires, some within the Sonoma County community may be asking, “Now what?” This question has no simple answer. However, many who have lost homes in Sonoma County, including students and faculty at Sonoma State University, are managing to process loss and piece solutions together slowly. This hopeful percentage includes Stefan Kiesbye, assistant professor of English creative writing and graduate coordinator for an MA in English. Kiesbye, and his wife, Sanaz, used to live in Coffey Park, a neighborhood in Santa Rosa that lost about 1,500 homes to the fires. The couple and their two dogs currently reside in a small apartment elsewhere in the city. “Too much has to be done quickly, from insurance claims to site visits to setting up new services, and I think that I have hardly begun to digest what happened,” Kiesbye said. See PROFESSOR on Pg. 4

or the first time since becoming a federally recognized Hispanic Serving Institution in February, Sonoma State University will be receiving a grant in connection to the designation, one that’s designed to help recruit more educators. SSU will be receiving $2.75 million in funds to help educate more Hispanic teachers by creating a new program called Preparing Under-Represented Educators to Realize their Teaching Ambitions. The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Education, and is part of $8.1 million in federal funds that has been awarded to CSU campuses such as Sonoma, Sacramento and Long Beach in hopes of minimizing the shortage of teachers in underserved communities. “PUERTA is opening the door to our local Latino community in a way we haven’t been able to do before,” said Kelly Estrada, the leader of the PUERTA project for SSU faculty. The school initiated the PUERTA Project on Oct. 1, and it will run for five years until spring 2022. According to Estrada, Hispanic and Latino students during the academic year, and over the summer at Summer Bridge, will be provided academic support and professional development for all five years of the project. Estrada says the grant has three specific goals. “The first to increase student academic success as measured by persistence and graduation rates. Secondly, to increase the number of Hispanic and Latino students earning a teaching credential. Lastly, to increase the number of students who transfer from a two-year (Hispanic-serving institution) to SSU,” she said. The school designed PUERTA to help those who feel blocked from achieving their goal of becoming an educator and aims to remove barriers that prevent students from pursuing or earning a teaching credential, Estrada said. “It is by conscious design that we developed the PUERTA acronym, as it means ‘door’ in Spanish and serves as a great metaphor for what we are attempting to do with these funds,” Estrada said. “PUERTA funds will be used to provide academic support and professional development in the form of mentorship to Hispanic and Latino students who are considering or aspiring to become future educators.” According to Estrada, only around 10 percent of students that SSU prepares to be teachers are Hispanic. “PUERTA hopes to increase Hispanic and Latino representation in the teacher population,” she said. See PUERTA on Pg. 4

Accreditation visit shows praise and flaws KAITLYN HASS STAFF WRITER

onoma State University was under the microscope last week. And, no it had nothing to do about media attention and the recent North Bay fires. From Tuesday through Thursday, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges was on campus, meeting with students, faculty and staff in order to reaccredit Sonoma State as a university. The group scheduled five meetings throughout the three-day visit with different groups of people across the university. WASC held the first few general meetings on Tuesday; one with undergraduate students, one with faculty and one with graduate students. The last general meeting was on Wednesday with the staff. The final meeting was held on Thursday, which was open to the campus, and was about the team’s findings and recommendations. “The meetings were really well attended,” Accreditation Liaison Officer Karen Moranski said. “We were able to communicate really effectively despite the fires. Even though it was a process where we were behind on, a lot of people showed up, which shows that our community is very supportive of the institution and has a positive outlook on the future. It really impressed the committee and they mentioned it in the final meeting.” WASC shared some of its findings in the last meeting, which included both praise and places to improve. The positive commendations praised Sonoma State’s freshman and sophomore learning communities, the sense of community on campus, the student-centered environment and the integration of the Green Music Center and academic life. Their recommendations address the need for programs that assess student learning, diversity issues, the IT system and use of technology on campus. See ACCREDITATION on Pg. 4

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, 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

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

OCT. 31 - NOV. 6, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

Gun reform is not a lost cause

t was the deadliest mass shooting the United States has ever seen. In the last 10 years alone, the public has seen that statement made four different times — at Virginia Tech, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and now in Las Vegas. It’s an epidemic, one that very few in Congress have really attempted to remedy. As a society, it seems that when this kind of news strikes us, we are shocked together, we mourn together and we move on together. Never during that time do people deem it appropriate to have the conversation. “Let them grieve,” some say, “Don’t bring politics into this now.” But when is the right time? How many times will the “deadliest” shooting occur before our political leaders are willing to get serious about stopping this kind of gun violence? The truth is, there is never a wrong time to discuss gun control, but there’s never a more right time than after a gunman opens fire from a vantage point and takes 58 innocent lives with weapons he obtained and modified legally. No matter who you are or what beliefs you hold about the subject, the issue of gun control hits close to home. In Sonoma County, Sonny Melton, a 29-year-old Sebastopol native, was carrying his wife to safety when he was shot in the back.

Twenty-year-old Paige Gasper, a senior at Sonoma State University, suffered a liver laceration and fractured ribs after being shot in the massacre. More local survivors from Sonoma County remembered crawling over dead bodies and watching people drop everywhere they looked. According to the Gun Violence Archive, 11,893 deaths have occurred from gun violence in 2017 alone with 277 incidents matching the definition of a mass shooting. Some still argue that gun laws would change nothing, “It’s people who kill people,” some say. Imagine, however, the number of lives that would be spared if killers weren’t given the ability to eradicate a mass number of human lives in a matter of seconds. Yes, people kill people, but guns can make it effortless. Still, many point out it’s their constitutional right to bear arms. Maybe that’s why the normality of mass shootings is only rampant in the United States. According to CNN, while America holds about 5 percent of the population, it has 31 percent of the world’s mass public shootings. While there are some people and politicians who have devoted their entire lives careers to end gun violence, they shouldn’t have to meet with so much opposition. Elizabeth May, a twitter user who captured a grieving world with her all-too-real senti-

ment, said this: “Too many people have accepted the normality of mass slaughter as a necessary sacrifice to an amendment written when guns held one bullet.” Let’s stop hiding behind the Constitution and talk about gun control. The Second Amendment doesn’t need to be repealed in order for there to be a difference in gun violence. Stephen Paddock was able to convert 12 of his semi-automatic rifles into automatic rifles by using a modifier called a bump stock. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California has proposed that bump stocks be banned. Many Republicans in Congress have indicated their support for the ban, but now, a month after the shooting, the proposal has been bogged down in a Congress that seems to hope the issue will just go away. A right that was granted in the Constitution in 1791. In 1791, guns didn’t hold the possibility of injuring 500 people in 10 minutes. Guns didn’t have silencers, and automatic weapons were nonexistent. So why is the Second Amendment being used to hush gun control policy makers? We are in a new time in human civilization. It’s a time when even after the largest mass shooting in U.S. history, there were still close to 1,400 separate occasions of gun violence the following week. Banning guns completely is a lost cause, but regulation is not. We need to fix this problem before it gets worse. And it will.

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.

This week’s can’t miss article: “Sonoma State student and firefighter relives first days of the fire” Staff writer and firefighter for the Rincon Valley Fire District Ryan Estes recounts his experience in the first hours of the recent Northern California wildfire.

Read on page 1

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Opinions

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

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Opinion 3

OCT. 31 - NOV. 6, 2017

sonomastatestar.com

Trump Administration grits teeth as federal judge rules in favor of undocumented teen abortion

KAYLA KRING STAFF WRITER

eing young is already hard enough as it is. There is so much to learn and so many obstacles that one must go through in order to grow into the person they wish to be. One fight in life that no one should have to go through is the fight to make the personal choice of aborting an unwanted pregnancy. In the state of Texas, an undocumented teenage girl is being put through hell in order to maintain her safety. Jane Doe, as the world now knows

her, is just a 17-year-old girl who entered the state illegally and soon found out she was pregnant. She wanted a better future for herself, but instead wound up getting detained for being illegal. No family, no friends- nobody. Jane Doe is completely alone in this world, and at such a tender age. Being detained is the least of her problems. In the state of Texas, after 20 weeks, you cannot abort an unwanted pregnancy, and she must now go through the legal system to obtain her right to an abortion as an undocumented child. “This is my life, my decision. I want a better future. I want justice,” she said according to Vox. Yet justice is not what she is receiving. Instead, she is being held accountable for her actions and being placed in front of court after court to simply obtain a procedure that is her choice and hers alone. Which begs the question; had she been an upstanding citizen, who is legal in the state of Texas, would this even be an issue? Probably not. She could have had her abortion later that day if she wanted to, but Jane Doe is not a perfect model youth. Instead, she is reality. She

is brave. She is Jane Doe. According to the Washington Post, “The court’s 2-1 decision allows the Trump administration to maintain its policy of not facilitating abortions for the undocumented minors in its custody.”

One fight in life that no one should have to go through is the fight to make the personal choice of aborting an unwanted pregnancy. In the state of Texas, an undocumented teenage girl is being put through hell in order to maintain her safety. In plainer terms, the court stated that Jane Doe will remain under the custody of the state and will not be receiving an abortion for being undocumented. Yet, there is a slight problem with being undocumented and held by the state. That small loophole is what gave Jane Doe her freedom to choose. To have a better future and to obtain justice. This loophole is that Jane Doe need-

ed a sponsor and since she had nobody with her when she came into the states, there was no time for her to obtain one. On Tuesday, according to the New York Times, “a federal appeals court in Washington sided with the girl, sending the case back to a lower court, which immediately ordered the Trump administration to allow the girl to obtain an abortion ‘promptly and without delay.’” While everyone rejoiced in the matter that Jane Doe had won the case against the Trump Administration, it was not forgotten. Jane Doe still remains in custody and will be given her right to choose to have an abortion, but this case has now set up a new parameter for the world. Just like Jane Roe had done in Roe v. Wade with discussing the matters of abortion. Jane Doe has discussed the matters of being an illegal immigrant and abortion. So whether you are undocumented, or raised in the smallest of towns; whether you are young or old; whether you are the fairest of them all or radiating with gorgeous pigmentation, you are Jane Doe. We are Jane Doe. I am Jane Doe.

Birth control under attack by president

KATIE HAGA

STAFF WRITER

“N

o uterus, no opinion,” said a frustrated Rachel Green in an episode of “Friends” as she expressed her annoyance toward Ross about his opinion on Braxton Hicks contractions. The 90s sitcom is becoming more and more popular among millennials, I myself having watched the whole series about five times. Obviously being one of my favorite shows for many reasons; the relatable characters, the comical banter but this quote is more relatable to today’s society than anybody realizes. Think about it, who shares their unwanted opinion on women’s bodies that truly has no right to? The Trump Administration. We’ve known, since the day he took office, Trump cares very little - if any - for women’s rights. From degrading women with his infamous statement, “grab her by the p****,” to discussing overturning Roe V. Wade and now this: talks of denying birth control to hundreds of women. What next? Revoking the 19th Amendment? It appears as if the reasoning behind this outrageous choice is that men seem to think that women have too much recreational sex, leading them to believe birth control should no longer be offered under health insurance. As crazy as it sounds, birth control isn’t used just for sex. There is a plethora of reasons that women get birth control. In fact, 31 percent of women use birth control to ease menstrual pain, 28 percent use

it to regulate the flow of their periods and 14 percent use the pill to control chronic acne, according to Guttmacher Institute. Studies conducted by Juan Madera of the University of Houston, show that women with acne have a much higher chance of not getting a job because of it. So in reality, birth control actually helps some women to land a job. Other health issues that birth control helps to manage are endometriosis, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and can even lower risks to some cancers. According to gynecologic cancer surgeon, Ginger Gardner, “Women that have taken the pill for five years or longer have a 50 percent reduction in the risk of developing ovarian cancer.” Ovarian cancer is a serious risk among women, according to the American Cancer Society. Ovarian cancer accounts for more deaths than any other cancer in the female’s reproductive system. Who wouldn’t want to prevent ovarian cancer? Apparently our elected officials. Our elected officials are the ones in charge of deciding the fate of women’s birth control and ironically 71 percent of them are male. But I guess it makes sense now as to why Viagra, a pill made for men - specifically for sex, is still being covered by insurance. The elected officials argue that the alternative to the pill is to just stop having sex, and yet they never tell men that. With Viagra commercials, they are practically encouraging it. As for the other percentage of women using the pill, yes, it is for having sex. However, these women should be applauded for being cautious and practicing safe sex. Especially because contraceptive action has been proven to reduce abortion rates. After all, the pill was made for preventing unwanted pregnancy, it’s right there in the name. It just so happens to come with several other perks that helps benefit women. So, Mr. Trump, with all of the angry and hateful words I wish I could share with you, I’m just going to leave you with this - no uterus, no opinion.

flickr.com The Women’s March on Jan. 21, in opposition to the Trump Administation.

patch.com Arby’s on Hopper Ave. in Santa Rosa .

How will the economy be affected by the fires?

ALICE TENNIGKEIT STAFF WRITER

ire on the mountain, fire in the town, fire on the economy. For two weeks, northern California rained ash on local land, homes and businesses forcing locals to wear respiratory masks. There’s no doubt the North Bay fires will have a lasting effect on Sonoma County, but just how much change can we expect to see in the upcoming months and even the next few years? These fires have caused 42 deaths and chaos within the entire community. Among the thousands of burned structures, countless homeowners and businesses have suffered. While it may be too soon to know the exact effects on the local community and its economy, drastic changes are to be expected. Evacuated with little to no time to pack, around 5,500 homeowners and their families have lost their homes; lifetimes of sentimental items and years of memories reduced to smoldering embers and ashes in a matter of hours. Three weeks after the fires began, some evacuated areas are still closed while others slowly reopen. Homeowners sift through the charred remnants of what used to be their homes and their lives. According to reporters J.D Morris and Kevin McCallum of the Press Democrat, the local government is prepared to arrange for new policies focused on helping the thousands of displaced fire victims once again find homes. Sonoma County and Santa Rosa City officials are working on the state governed emer-

gency laws to prevent landlords from unreasonably raising rent costs due to the emergency the community faces. According to Morris and McCallum, the county’s goal is to require landlords to, “provide supporting data to justify any increase over the unit’s average rental price from before the disaster,” while the city also plans to ban, “landlords from increasing rents more than 10 percent above the rent charged immediately before the fire.” Furthermore, while the community recovers, local government is discussing a new set of laws to temporarily allow affected fire victims to live in RVs, guest homes, and the like. Due to the severity of the situation, Gov. Jerry Brown has announced these emergency laws will be in effect through April 18, 2018, despite the normal 30 day application. The community’s problems extend far beyond a housing crisis. Between Sonoma, Napa, and Solano counties, not only were thousands of homes incinerated and 160,000 acres scorched, nearly 3,000 businesses were consumed by flames leaving thousands of employees out of work. According to Robert Digitale and Bill Swindell of the Press Democrat, as a community we should expect to see huge changes as this is the most dramatic economic blast we have seen in generations. Analysts compare the losses from the fires to the historic 1906 earthquake. For example, one of the nearly 3,000 businesses that suffered enormously is the Fountaingrove Inn. Owner Angelo Farro estimates $25 million of damage, but not only has he lost his Inn and his dreams for it, 90 of the Inn’s employees have lost their jobs. With both the county and the city working with the state to restore local life, the Sonoma County community is stronger than ever. During this difficult time, the main message the city of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County officials want to reiterate is, “...what we’re trying to do is show the community that we are willing to look outside the box for creative solutions that allow people to stay here through the rebuilding process,” said Santa Rosa Councilman Chris Rogers.

4 News

OCT. 31 - NOV. 6, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

Count of students, faculty who lost homes reaches 78 MADI CABALLERO STAFF WRITER

onoma State University Provost Lisa Vollendorf opened the Academic Senate meeting Thursday giving her thanks and gratitude to all those who helped keep the campus and community safe during the fires. “I have never been more proud to come from this community,” she said. Vollendorf also provided some up-to-date statistics about the fires. In the university community, 43 students and 25 faculty and staff members lost their homes, she said Vollendorf said that Students Affairs, Joyce Lopes and herself have reached out to everyone affected in the Seawolf community and offered help to them. Student Affairs will continue to reach out to the people affected by the fires. With the Noma Cares center in Schulz 3001 closed on Friday, Vollendorf said, “our empathy needs to continue extend to all” and encouraged the Senate to “emphasize hope and health.” Although the Noma Cares physical site has closed, it will remain fully functional via the internet and telephone. Vollendorf assured that Noma Cares will remain in service for as long as the campus community needs it. The Senate then addressed the issue of what needed to be done long term for students who have been impacted by the fires. Some members suggested the creation of student-led support groups through possible outlets like AS and CAPS. Ultimately, Vollendorf said the recovery process will take time, and more outlets for those affected are still to come. “We will be in recovery mode for a very long time,” Vollendorf said. “We are looking into putting more information in the faculty center to help students with their questions, and we think that having workshops for faculty will be helpful.” Senator Michelle Jolley shared her report in regards to students academically impacted by the fires. “Several temporary modifications to procedures for withdrawing

from classes have been made for Fall 2017,” Jolley said. All of this information will be available on the NomaCares FAQ website for students, faculty and advisors to view. Jolley provided some highlights of the temporary changes. Students will be able to petition to change the grade mode of a class from letter grade to credit/no credit; however, this only applies to classes that are already coded to have this option. Students may petition to withdraw from one or more classes and the school will waive the usual $20 per class fee for withdrawing. All of the temporary changes listed on the FAQ page will only be considered for “serious and compelling” reasons. The definition of “serious and compelling” is found in the university policy for Withdrawal from Courses, section B. According to Jolley, the University Standards Committee will also be considering additional “serious and compelling” reasons that are in relation to the fires. When asked how these changes will help students who the fires have impacted, Jolley said the university’s goal is ultimately keeping those affected enrolled. “The fires have significantly affected SSU students in a variety of ways, some of which are only just beginning to surface, and these temporary changes are one of many ways that the university is working to support students,” Jolley said. “We know some students may choose to completely withdraw from the semester, but we hope these changes will enable others to finish and succeed in their academic work despite the impact of evacuations, losses, and the stress of coping with the fires.” Associated Students representative Christina Gamboa reported that AS is working on figuring out how to assist students who may be experiencing homelessness due to the fires. Gamboa also reported that the on-campus organization, Join Us Making Progress, is holding a school supply drive. The organization is also looking into how they can train Sonoma State students in cleaning up the devastation brought on by the fires. Gamboa said that there will be more information coming out about these volunteer opportunities in the weeks to follow.

PUERTA: Service will begin spring 2018 Continued from Pg.1

According to Estrada, they will be initially working with Santa Rosa Junior College to identify Hispanic and Latino students who are both considering becoming teachers and planning on transferring to SSU to connect them with the PUERTA project. Dean of the School of Education Dr. Carlos Ayala also emphasized how PUERTA is an important resource that will combat the teacher shortage in California, especially in underserved communities. “We need to increase the number of teachers we prepare because of the teacher shortage,” Ayala said. “We are working towards preparing more teachers who look like the students they will serve.” SSU will also establish the PUERTA Centro for Diversity in Teaching on campus, which will supply Hispanic and Latino students pursuing a teaching profession with advice, counseling and career services, and academic as-

sistance. The PUERTA program is serving no SSU students as of now; however, it will provide services starting Spring 2018. Estrada explained what SSU students who will eventually participate in the PUERTA program should expect. “SSU students will serve as peer tutors, Supplemental Instruction providers and teaching ambassador professional mentors. Those students who are hired to work in these positions will receive training through the Student Affairs division for providing this support,” Estrada said. According to Ayala, this grant exists to provide students with resources to achieve success. “All students need this type of support,” Ayala said. “This grant provides students who are of higher need with the resources to help them be successful. We need to increase all the pipelines to teaching. This grant is one piece of that recruitment plan.”

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Courtesy // Department of Education The results of a National Center for Education Statistics school and staffing questinare showing California as one of the largest Hispanic Student-Teacher gaps for public education in the U.S.

CAMPUS CRIME Crime: Burglary When: Oct. 28, at approximately 11 a.m. Where: Basement of Darwin Hall

Description: Sonoma State University

Police received a report of a burglary that occurred in the basement of Darwin Hall. Several computers were taken. A door was found propped open.

Status:

An investigation is in progress. A possible person of interest: White male adult, approximately 20 years of age, 5 feet 9 inches tall, very thin build, with “pointy” facial features.

Anyone with information that might assist with the investigation is urged to call Sonoma State University Police at (707) 664-4444.

News 5

OCT. 31 - NOV. 6, 2017

sonomastatestar.com

Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat California firefighters Lisa Harris, left, and Nelson Alvarado assess damage to a home at 1000 Wikiup Drive in Larkfield, Oct. 15.

Kent Porter / The Press Democrat Ryan Krietner of the Evra Valley Fire department, outside of Tucson Arizona, puts out a hot spot in Larkfield, Oct. 2014.

FIRE: ‘This feels like a war zone’ Continued from Pg.1

When I made it to the Rincon Valley Fire Station 2 on Lark Center Drive, just one person was there; Ryan Anderson, a 23-year-old volunteer firefighter with six months of experience. I told him to grab his gear, “We’re heading out.” As we loaded up, another volunteer firefighter, 12-year member Chanton Em, arrived and started grabbing his gear. “Have you been to a fire yet?” I asked Anderson as we are pulled out of the station toward Mark West Springs Road. “This is my first one,” Anderson said. “This is terrifying, how will we stop this?” “We can’t,” I tell both him and Em. “We need to focus on evacuations.” I, too, was nervous, but I couldn’t show it to them. They were counting on me. After all, I am a captain with 17 years in the fire service and was involved in Middletown and Hidden Valley when the Valley Fire happened two years ago. I was also in Lower Lake when the Clayton Fire burned through, but none of them compared to this. With embers the size of golf balls beating down on us like hail from hell, with thick, choking smoke and high heat, we drove into the Mark West Estates subdivision which would later be completely destroyed, yelling for people to evacuate on the loudspeaker and pounding on doors. Multiple homes were on fire and we pulled people off roofs, urging them to move faster, that they don’t have time to pack. In what seemed instantaneous, full neighborhoods and streets were on fire. My cell phone rang, and I saw it was one of my shift partners, Engineer Eliseo Gonzalez, a 12-year veteran. I answered, and he said he got his family out safe, of a

neighborhood that borders the Coffey Park neighborhood. He said he had fought his way back to the station, but there was no equipment. I told him to run out to Old Redwood Highway,and we would pick him up. The process of evacuations repeated itself in different areas and apartment complexes, with other fire engines leapfrogging each other. Anderson and Em put out fires that were impeding people from leaving. Gonzalez and I searched all the homes or apartments that we could while power poles were falling and propane tanks were exploding. “This feels like a war zone,” Em said. Once the streets cleared out of cars and people, three other engines plus mine met up and formulated a plan. We knew we could not jump in front and stop it, so we decided to just try to surround and contain it, without the help of water from nearby hydrants, which had poor water pressure. Captain Rob Bisordi, a 25-year member of the department, pulled out his iPhone and all the engine officers gave him information on what was burning and where. Suddenly a call went out for help in Coffey Park and at a mobile home park on Mendocino Avenue near Fountaingrove Parkway. Homes were on fire. We sacrificed two engines to go help because of evacuation needs. The third engine peeled off to help with the Sutter Hospital evacuation, and at a fire at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. Within two minutes, we came up with a plan before we lost more of the Larkfield area. We knew we didn’t have the resources we needed, but at that point, no one did. More important, this fire had become personal. This was our home, and we were trying to draw a line. My engine stopped at a condominium complex. We placed a hose line in the 6-foot wide gap between two

Accreditation: Visit comes after months of preparation Continued from Pg.1

“The visit went really smoothly. We had enormous participation by students and faculty and staff…We have no indication that it went badly,” Moranski said. The final report from WASC will not be released for several weeks. Since 1969, Sonoma State has gone through the accreditation process every few years, the last being in 2010. The WASC does this process, which is one of the seven regional accrediting bodies in the United States, and its job is to ensure that every university in the seven most Western states are up to the standards of higher education. “Going through this process and receiving accreditation from WASC ensures that quality and rigor are present in the education programs of our university,” Moranski said. “The main benefit is we engage in a process of self-ref lection on our quality and rigor.” The lengthy four-step process started back in February. The first step is to produce an institutional report, in which the university writes to the standards that WASC has for higher education. The report consists of nine components, which demonstrate how the campus meets the WSCUC Standards. “Dozens of people were involved in the writing of the report, and hundreds of people were involved in the visit and the sessions. It’s a very collaborative

process,” Moranski said. The second step is to meet with a team of peer evaluators, who are faulty and administers that have read the report. this meeting occurred on May 2,. According to Moranski, this group comes up with questions, based on the report, that are called lines of inquiry. “From this meeting we got five lines of inquiry, these tell us areas where there is work to be done, where we face challenges or new opportunities,” Moranski said. The five lines of inquiry for this reaccreditation process are: institutional identity and distinctiveness, program review and assessment, budget process, strategic planning and diversity. Throughout the spring and the summer seasons, WASC asks for documents and reports that will help them understand those areas from the lines of inquiry for their visit. Finally, they schedule a onsite visit and evaluate the university. Once the visit concludes, WASC writes a report for the university that states if the university has been reaccredited and when WASC is going to return for the next reaccreditation process, which is anywhere amoung five and ten years. The date of return is based off of how concerned WASC is about the university meeting their standards of higher education. The previous reaccreditation process for Sonoma State was in 2010. At this point, it is unclear when WASC will be back.

buildings; one on fire, the other not. We stretched a second line into the backyard and cut down a fence to the surrounding neighbors in case of “spotting,” which are embers causing a spot fire away from the main fire. Captain Bisordi’s engine stopped on a court and extended 900 feet of hose between buildings on fire and not on fire, finally reaching us. The plan worked. We successfully stopped a small piece of the southwest side of the fire flank. If it had failed, we would have lost the rest of the condominium complex, more apartments, more homes and our fire station, all a block away. As the sun started to rise, we were on the move to find more of the fire’s edge. As we drove through the destruction, everyone was silent, in disbelief of what we were seeing and hearing about what was lost during the firefight. “This was the scariest thing I have ever been through,” Anderson said. “Not sure about this career if that is how fires are.” “This is hopefully the worst fire you will ever see,” I said. “You were solid and did great work for the community; welcome to the fire service.” The entire next day and subsequent 12 days after, the fire department assigned me to a fire engine and I worked the fires. When I was finally off and went home, my kids seemed to have gotten older. My 2-month-old son smiled at me for the first time, and my 3-year-old son seemed to have a larger vocabulary and placed BandAids on my burns and cuts. Everyone in Sonoma County has a story to tell. They will remember that night, where they were and what they were doing when the most destructive fire in California history to this point happened. This was my story.

PROFESSOR: ‘People are going out of their way to help us’ Continued from Pg.1

After evacuating his home in Santa Rosa, Kiesbye found his office at Sonoma State giving him “a tiny sense of normalcy.” “It’s the only place that remembers me,” Kiesybe said. Photos, drawings, books and keepsakes from travels and other homes are some of Kiesbye’s belongings that “survived the fire,” he said. Though he and his wife have moved several times, they always kept “irreplaceable” items, such as wedding photos and birth certificates. Kiesbye said he was relatively new to the area when the fires happened, since he moved to Coffey Park with his wife last year. To Kiesbye, Sonoma County is “lovely” and “SSU is a great fit.” Despite losing his home, Kiesbye has received an outpouring of support from colleagues, students, friends and even complete strangers. “That is really the positive side of this experience: people going out of their way to help us,” Kiesybe said. Kiesbye was one of 25 members of the Sonoma State faculty and staff who lost homes in the fire. According to Provost Lisa Vollendorf, 43 students also lost homes. For students who have lost homes, it can be difficult to balance school with uncontrollable personal issues, according to Kiesbye. “A disaster like this can have the power to delay or derail some dreams and ambitions,” Kiesbye said. “But I hope that SSU and the county will find ways to accommodate students in need and allow them to continue their studies.”

6 Arts

OCT. 31- NOV. 6 2017

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vox.com The first season of “Stranger Things” had 8.2 million views within the first 16 days of release, according to Forbes.

“Stranger Things” returns with great anticipation Review

FRANCISCO CARBAJAL STAFF WRITER

his year has been keeping us on edge, between the uncertainty of a full on nuclear war and the infamous big earthquake that could run up California. But that the new season of Stranger Things might suck has been the sharpest. Thankfully, there is no sophomore slump in this fun exciting Netflix Original Series created by The Duffer Brothers. A sleeper hit of the summer last year, Stranger Things has become a gradual classic with its cult following raving about the 80s themed mystery horror show. Inserting itself deep into pop culture, by all it’s hype and thanks to all of the loveable kid actors deliver more than enough to justify the hype. The season picks up a year later after it left off. Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) is still missing after killing the Demogorgon and disappearing along with it. Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas (Ca-

leb McLaughlin), and Will (Noah Schnapp) are still best friends hanging out dressing up like Ghostbusters and setting high scores in the arcade. Joyce (Winona Ryder) gets a new boyfriend in the form of dorky Radioshack employee Bob Newby (Sean Austin) and the kids make a new friend with the new kid from California, Max (Sadie Sink). Her older brother Billy (Dacre Montgomery) also joins the abundance of characters challenging Steve (Joe Keery) to be the top dog at the school. All the characters are more or less living life as normal as much as they can after the events of last season. The first two episodes don’t waste any time showing you what your favorite characters are up to and feeling the consequences of Will’s “death” from last season. But then it’s just a slow burn to episode six where things pick up and the cliffhangers are so dramatic you can’t help but binge it. There are numerous references to last season that never feel like they’re forced, or a carbon copy of last season. Fans are rewarded by keeping their eyes on the screen to see all their favorite props show up and are even given a fanservice plot point from the first season in the form of Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton).

The Duffer Brothers received a lot of criticism for the amount of 80s movies and references and cliches. While they might try to brush off this criticism, The Duffer’s try at one point to expand the story a little too much, resulting in an episode that feels part of another show. Not that the episode is bad, but the expanding of the story comes across as forced foreshadowing and faults the pacing of the near perfect show. Collectively, though, the references and cliches seem a little more of an homage than some sort of plagiarism. They feel fresh, exciting; and while you might be able to guess what happens here and there, it’s really a non factor when it’s characters and the actors portraying them are as talented as they are. Noah Schnapp, who portrays Will, felt like a non factor last season; and it seems like it was his personal mission to show the world what he is really capable of. An emmy nomination within the year wouldn’t be surprising for this season’s performance. This show is just as incredible as viewers left it. Make sure to string your Christmas lights and toast some Eggos for the viewing, as you are not going to want to stop watching as soon as you play that first episode of season.

Kelly Clarckson fights to emerge from pop shadows Review SIERRA SORRENTINO STAFF WRITER

f you’re searching for the “Meaning of Life” lend an ear to Kelly Clarkson. Unleashing her soulful spirit in her eighth studio album, her first since her split with RCA Records, Clarkson’s newfound freedom at Atlantic Records has revealed a slight style shift from cookie-cutter pop to the realms of R&B’s past, the type of music she has mentioned always wanting to produce. “Whole Lotta Woman” is a bonafide rendition of her 2003 hit single “Miss Independent,” inspired by the high-energy personality and vocals of Tina Turner. Clarkson’s larger than life, Texas-style attitude is proudly plastered all over this track; making it is nearly impossible not to dance around a room with a hairbrush microphone in hand as this confidence booster plays. Even though Clarkson’s selfproclaimed new persona is a soul

woman, the songs on “Meaning of Life,” are still heavy on the pop inf luence. Her single “Love So Soft,” which served as a teaser prior to the album’s full release, has a familiar pop groove with mere undertones of soul; credited to an appearance by Earth, Wind, & Fire. Despite her previous problem at RCA Records and the genre they pressed towards, other tracks including “Heat” and “Didn’t I” contain both isolated and great emphasis of horns heard in soul music. But going the extra mile to achieve that powerful soul-woman vibe Clarkson is confident she produced did not translate. Quite possibly, Clarkson and her producing team tried too hard to sound R&B that it backfired and turned the some of the songs more pop. However, a track that does not highlight the Texas attitude, ignores the confines of pop, and gives subtle hints of the golden ages of R&B is “Cruel.” This song is simple, elegant, and does not hide Clarkson’s natural talent underneath brassy, loud tones, but enhances it through a soft melody and her ability to add on soulful runs. Even with a name as household

as Kelly Clarkson, that does not aid her in album sales as much as one might believe. In fact, they have decreased significantly since her 2011 album “Stronger,” which sold 1.1 million, to her 2015 album “Piece by Piece,” only selling 300,000, according to Billboard. Clarkson has never been about “selling out” to increase her popularity or sales, but it does not help that the booming, retro inf luenced sound she focused on in “Meaning of Life” is not chart topping material when compared with the modern, radio compatible hit pop songs of today. Despite these challenges and not yet having a huge hit off of her new album, Clarkson still has some promise with her romantic track, “Move You,” and sensual track, “Slow Dance,” that can compete with the wedding aficionado, Ed Sheeran. Even if the soulful dial was not turned up as much as expected, listeners and fans who have followed her throughout her 15 year career breatheheavy.com will find “Meaning of Life” enjoyClarkson’s 14-track project was released able but, more importantly, feel how on Oct. 27 and becomes the eighth projmore passionate Clarkson is in herect in her discogrpahy. self and her improved sound.

“Jigsaw” continues pieceing storyline together Review NICK COATS

STAFF WRITER

“J

igsaw” has revealed itself as is the latests bad attempt to revive one of the best horror franchises that marked a generation. Certainly not the worst horror movie you’ll ever watch, if your film interests include grisly murder machines and absurd story lines. But if you’re a fan of the original franchise, disappointment may be waiting for you. John Kramer, the notorious Jigsaw killer played by Tobin Bell, was first introduced back in 2004 with the original, “Saw.” Kramer is dying from a frontal lobe tumor in the series, and a failed suicide attempt results in a new appreciation for life. His attempts to recreate this epiphany for others by creating different tests for people. These tests include a series of death traps where Jigsaw doesn’t intend to kill his victims, but to see if they have the will to do what is necessary to survive. Jigsaw meets his unfortunate end in “Saw III,” cancer, but continues his maniacal games audio tapes and acolytes, spread out across a total of seven films. Now 10 years after Kramer’s death, the murders have started all bloodydisgusting.com over again through a copycat killer, or so it seems. Directed by the Spierig brothers Peter and Michael, One of many different “disciples” theatrithis edition picks back up the franchise seven years afcal posters for “Jigsaw” keep the mystery ter the “Final Chapter,” and has all of the elements of alive.

the original film with little to no shock value. As if the directors regurgitated leftover pieces of the original films, this addition poorly executed original characteristics, leaving viewers disinterested in any of the characters lives, and even the killer’s motive. Thankfully, there are still two storylines that intertwine, one being the murders taking place inside Jigsaw’s death trapped barn, and the other is the detective case trying to find and put an end to the killer. The detectives in the new film spend a lot of time trying to figure out who the killer is, since Kramer has been dead for 10 years, and their scope is very limited to the characters we see in the film, no new outside element. The detectives even go so far as to suspect themselves of fowl play. Inside the death trapped barn, the film fails to put viewers inside the shoes and minds of the victims. The acting in the film doesn’t help this either, with the characters coming off really cheesy almost as if they are reading the lines for the first time. You end up just staring at these characters, interested but unattached because the directors did nothing to add any new horror elements with a sense of bizarre and immediate danger. There is only one new death trap that is legitimately terrifying, but overall the film is a lot cleaner and much less focused on the pain and suffering the original films were able to capture. In all “Jigsaw” misses capturing anything that made the original films great, and sadly, doesn’t feel much like part of the franchise. The film feels very rushed and the death traps are presented with little to no terror or glorification of the original franchise. The story line doesn’t fit very well with the original film, and kind of feels a lot like a spin off.

Entertainment 7

OCT. 31 - NOV. 6, 2017

sonomastatestar.com

“Big Mouth” takes obscenity to new level Review KAILEY O’HEHIR STAFF WRITER

e have all been in a situation where we are with a group of people and there’s one person who takes their raunchy humor too far. Everyone becomes uncomfortable, of course, and wants to leave. This situation rings true to the new animated series “Big Mouth” on Netflix. Featuring voice acting by comedians John Mulaney and Nick Kroll, the show follows two middle school boys navigating through the struggles of middle school and puberty. Released on Sept. 29, the new cartoon brings you back to the awkward times of transitioning into a teenager. The writers certainly remind you that puberty can be disgusting. And “Big Mouth” certainly puts an emphasis on disgusting; perhaps too much. The caricature-like animation style feels uneasy, where characters have giant lips, scraggly hairs, and bulging eyeballs. The more you look at them and the disproportion, the more discomfort you will feel; and not in a good way. Seldom minutes into the show, there’s been enough poorly-timed jokes about genitals to make you want to switch back to binging Stranger Things, or perhaps just close your laptop. An awkward “hormone monster,” voiced by Nick Kroll, proves to be a main feature in John Mulaney’s character Andrew’s life. Every time the hormone monster enters the scene, it’s guaranteed that there will be a gross joke about male genitalia. The show’s revolting peak, an episode titled “Pillow Talk,” follows the romantic relationship between Jason Mantzoukas’ character Jay and his pillow. To put it simply: preg-

nancy and Amy’s organic lentil soup is involved. In all fairness, there are laughable moments in the show. As we’ve all experienced the awkwardness of puberty, you’re bound to relate to a fair amount of the commentary “Big Mouth” puts out. If you were an awkward kid yourself in middle school, you’ll enjoy how the show comments on how tough it is to fit in with your peers. Relationships, dark thoughts, and an overall mockery of reality shine through the mess of foulness in each episode. Amongst the dozens of dramatic and emotional shows we engorge ourselves in, sometimes it’s nice to switch over to a light-hearted comedy. Though comedy can be very subjective, it can be universally agreed upon that a show should put a smile on our face, consistently, and have us laughing and looking forward to more. Other cartoons such as “Family Guy,” “South Park,” and “Rick and Morty” have proven that obscenities in shows can do well, and leave their audience wanting more. Unfortunately, “Big Mouth” does not achieve the same effect in comparison due to the constant discomfort it throws your way. Obscenities entered the comedy scene dating back to Richard Prior in the 1970’s. They became successful as audiences felt like they could fully relate to what was being said, and things that had always been in their minds were finally being brought into reality. Things took off, and eventually we got shows such as “The Simpsons” on cable. Yet it is not difficult to completely butcher an attempt at a reality-commentary cartoon, and that is what we face in “Big Mouth.” This leads us to question how far these types of shows should take obscenities before it becomes too much. When does bad taste overtake comedy? For now, we know that too many “EW’s” and “UGH’s” can lead us to safely say no to the infamous Netf lix question, “Are you still watching?”

imdb.com Above: Nick and Andrew do their best to ignore the Hormone Monster. Below: (from left to right): Missy (Jenny Slate), Andrew (John Mulaney), Nick (Nick Kroll), Jessi (Jessi Glaser), and Jay (Jason Mantzoukas) face middle school horrors together.

Celebrities merge into political lane Commentary LUIS MEJIA

STAFF WRITER

n such turbulent times of political unrest, not everyone may seem inclined to use their opinions wisely, but the right to use them at all remains crucial to our democracy. Americans in particular however, should welcome the addition of new voices, because as it stands now, American politics has a problem: not enough people speak up. This was the case with the 2016 presidential election in which CNN Politics Video Producer, Gregory Wallace reported about the lowest voting turnout in two decades; where approximately 18.7 million votes would have been needed to match the 2008 turnout at 64 percent. With that amount of mass political input on a declining trend, experts have begun to question whether the future of the country even matters to people anymore. So who can fix this? Almost a year has passed since the election and artists, including Katy Perry, have made no mystery of their views concerning the state of the nation or of the world, by incorporating them into their work. Her newest album, “Witness,” which she promised would be very political, houses the track “Chained to the Rhythm,” featuring Skip Marley. The lyrics openly discuss her opinions on the invisible chains shackled to all, and the video uses the a hamster on a wheel as a metaphor for modern society. Although not everyone takes her serious-

ly, she has also appeared on several talk shows explaining her positions along with her efforts to spark change for the better. In May, former Navy Seal, Carl Higbie, publicly told Perry to visit a hot, controversial destination on Fox News after her Manchester bombing comments calling for no borders. Accusing her of not respecting the country or what it stands for, Higbie criticized the ignorance of her ideas of love and tolerance. Others such as Mark Wahlberg, a celebrity himself, have gone as far as to claim that celebrities should stay out of politics altogether and stay in their own lane. Celebrities have as much of a right to engage in political discourse as anyone else. Expecting others to be experts on familiar topics to you, and shaming them, shrinks the want to expand one’s knowledge. To educate a mass starts with one, and the time should be taken. Prohibiting people to speak on matters based on what they do for a living is extremely limiting and exactly the type of mentality that will continue to drive people away from the polls. Celebrities, even if not the most informed, are people too; people with voices. If anything, this country should encourage celebrities to talk more about politics. Celebrities have their ability to use their large platforms and reach a range of ages, which are more likely not to vote due to apathetic reasons says Robert Montenegro of Big Think. With the platform and influence they have, the power is in their hands to reach millions of people, sparking the change Perry has spoken of.

STAR FAVORITES HALLOWEEN EDITION

shannon: Twitches Nate: Halloween Olivia: Hocus Pocus BRIGITTE: The Nightmare Before Christmas TYLER: Alien BIANCA: Monsters Inc. ALYSSA: Halloweentown Series ETHAN: The Fog

disneyland.disney.go.com A carved Mickey Mouse welcomes fall visitors on Main Street during the Main Street Pumpkin Festival.

Disneyland traveling options increase with time Commentary

NOLAN BROUGH STAFF WRITER

isneyland has claimed the title of the happiest place on earth since it’s debut in 1955. For decades, children and adults alike have flocked to the expansive park to experience a truly one-of-a-kind amusement park to escape the monotony of everyday life. Throughout the years, Disney has seen renovations and technical updates to bring the park into the modern times. As the park grows and continues to innovate, Disney fans also evolve the way they enjoy the timeless amusement park. A trip to Disneyland has always proven to be an expensive outing. Between travel costs, tickets, food, lodging and parking fees, costs creep up into the thousands quicker than Disney movies break box office records. Park-goers, especially millennials, are always looking for a way to save buck so they can buy a few more turkey legs in Frontierland during their time at the world renowned resort. With a little extra planning, vacationers can save a hefty sum by utilizing modern apps and websites to relieve their wallets of some of the more premium expenses offered by Disneyland. Lodging at Disneyland, while a luxurious option, sits a little bit out of many people’s reach with their cheapest room ringing in at $360 per night according to Disneyland’s website. Nicer rooms holding more guests become even more expensive quickly. To stave off some of these expensive costs, savvy disney fans can turn to Airbnb to find affordable lodging close to the park. “For $30 per person per night, we were able to stay in someone’s granny unit a few blocks away,” said Kelsea Johnson, a 21-year-old actress from Bakersfield, CA. “We don’t have a kitchen and we can hear the family

through a shared wall, but it’s cozy and cheap!” With multiple houses and apartments up on Airbnb that can be rented for less than the cost of a hotel room, staying at Disney for a couple days could be cheaper than you think. Of course, when you stay a few blocks away, you still have to get to the resort somehow. Real penny pinchers might consider walking rather than fork over the $20 parking fee, but a ride to Disneyland via Uber or Lyft costs a fraction of the price of parking. “Not only did we get dropped off right by the front gates, but it also cost just over $5 each way,” said Austin Sedenko, a 21-year-old-barista from Lake Tahoe, CA. These new ride sharing apps offer ease for travelers; something park goers on a budget could always use. Even getting into the park is a very expensive ordeal. The cheapest day pass will run you $97 for a single day. The passes get to be a better value the more days you go, but many people want to explore the happiest place on earth on a budget. Some park goers take to Craigslist to buy tickets from families who can’t make it to the park anymore or need to make rent money. “My sister buys tickets off craigslist every time she goes,” said Aimee Bell, a senior accounting major at SSU. “I tried it once though and my ticket didn’t work; I had to call my parents so they could help me out!.” A risk some might not want to take, a cheaper ticket can be found on yard sale sites like Facebook or Letgo. Just be extra careful! Disneyland is a whole other experience when you ditch the parents and take the reigns your own. When you’re a little older, you can afford to save some money by ditching the more luxurious options of on-site lodging, park dining, and other more convenient costs. If you want to go to Disney on a college budget, pack a lunch, hop in an Uber, and rent out some guys house a few blocks away. It might not be perfectly Disney, but it could be a whole adventure of it’s own.

8 Student Life

OCT. 31 - NOV. 6, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

Students express concern over housing options after fires

ANDREA MENDOZA STAFF WRITER

ue to the recent fires, several Sonoma State University students living both on and off campus face uncertainty regarding housing opportunities. The wildfires from two weeks ago burned more than 110,000 acres across Sonoma County. According to CalFire, the raging f lames destroyed nearly 6,800 structures, most of which were homes. Since many people are now homeless, Sonoma County can expect to have an increase in demand for homes and rentals, making it difficult for Sonoma State students to find affordable places to live. “The housing market will inevitably be affected with increased demand and less units available,” Nicole Hendry, Sonoma State’s director of housing, said. “The Student Affairs division will be working on short-term and long-term impacts of housing over the next few months.” Sonoma State housing is already highly in demand for both new and current students, but finding off-campus properties may not be much easier. Sandeep Shahi, a junior kinesiology major, is living off campus this year, which she said is cheaper than when she lived on campus last year. “I think it might be harder for students to find housing because so many people have lost their homes and they’re trying to get rentals right now,” Shahi said. “It took my roommates and [me] about three months to officially find a place and be happy with it, with a good pricing.” Shahi said many people she knows who are struggling to find homes have relied on staying with family and friends. “They’re going to stay with their friends and family until they are able to get

STAR // Bryce Dowd According to SSU Housing Director Nicole Hendry the housing market will inevitably be affected with increased demand after recent fires. back onto their feet and get a home of their own.” Shahi said. “I found it difficult to find housing to begin with, so now with the fires it might be more difficult.” Suzie Robles, a senior Spanish major, is a southern California native and has been living off campus since her freshman year after her housing application got denied. “I missed out of the living on campus experience,” Robles said. “I tried to apply but the school told me there were no more spaces open, that they were full.” Robles said finding an affordable place to live off-campus was difficult, especially in Rohnert Park. She has relied on roommates to share the costs of living near campus. “I think we can definitely expect a lot of people looking for places to live because of how many people have lost their homes in the fires,” Robles said. “It will be a competition.” For more information, contact Housing Services at (707) 664-2541.

Campus life advisor shares sexual violence statistics EMILY SHAHEEN STAFF WRITER

oth physical and sexual violence are global problems that affect more than one-third of all women. When Rob Smith, campus life advisor at Sonoma State University, shared this statistic with a room full of students on Oct. 26, they were shocked. “Women’s violence is a men’s issue and I wholeheartedly believe that,” Smith said.

Smith’s statistics were part of a lecture titled, “Violence Against Women is a Men’s Issue,” held in Stevenson 1002. During this lecture, Smith said that his mother helped shape his perception of masculinity. “Masculinity is one thing,” Smith said. “[But] there is not one way to describe it.” Throughout his speech, Smith shared a recurring statistic with the audience. Smith said that “35 percent of women worldwide have ex-

perienced physical [or] sexual violence,” which is almost half of the female population across the globe. Soon after, Smith showed a TED Talk featuring Jackson Katz, an educator who created the Mentors in Violence Prevention program. According to Katz, men tend to tune out “women’s issues” when they’re brought up. Katz said that too many people only refer to “sexual orientation” when talking about gay or lesbian people,

“gender” in reference females, and “race” when mentioning African-Americans, Asians or Middle Easterners. “I thought the speech was very interesting, especially how Rob turned the tables on society’s normal way of thinking. Instead of putting the focus on women regarding sexual violence, he concentrated on men,” Alexa Mulne, a Sonoma State student, said. “It is true that it is a women’s issue. But it is important for people to know that it is absolutely a man’s is-

sue too.” Alyssa Archerda, a communications major and photo editor at the Sonoma State STAR, said she liked how Smith “addressed ways to constructively deal with” society’s trend of violence against women. “I really liked how he also acknowledged the women in the room and the fact that their thoughts were just as important to get out, even if they didn’t completely agree with him,” Archerda said.

STAR // Mikki Taylor Children and parents from the Rohnert Park community came in costumes to Sunday’s Safe Trick or Treat event at Sauvignon Village.

Safe Trick or Treat brings families to SSU BRADEN CARTWRIGHT STAFF WRITER

alloween spirit was out in full force on Sunday as children and their parents visited Sauvignon Village to collect candy during Sonoma State University’s annual Safe Trick or Treat event. Superheroes, vampires and princesses paraded around the freshman dorms, and about 45 dorms signed up to pass out candy. While the kids mostly focused on the candy, there were plenty of other attractions to be enjoyed. Two bounce houses, several games, and a maze were all free for kids ranging from 3 to 10 years old. The event was originally scheduled for the previous weekend, but was pushed back because of the fires in Sonoma County. Mariah Rivera, who organized the event with the Residential Student Association and the different village councils, said this year was special because some of the people there were affected by the fires.

“This event brings together the community in Rohnert Park and the school. It gives people a chance to come to us here at Sonoma State,” Rivera said. The event was staffed by roughly 50 students who are part of the village councils on campus. Shane Gunari is the president of the hillside village council, which consists of the Tuscany and Beaujolais dorms. Each village council was responsible for coming up with its own game to play, and he chose cornhole. “This is my first time working an event at Sonoma State, because I just transferred this year,” Gunari said. “But I think it’s a great way to get involved, and I’ve done stuff like this with Boy Scouts before.” Megan Bowman, a freshman living in Sauvignon, took turns handing out candy with her roommates on the front steps of her dorm. “It provides a safe space for kids to come and get candy, and gives a chance for students to interact with the community,” Bowman said. Many of the kids present went all out with their costumes, sporting masks, capes, and badges. Eightyear-old Raymond Ameriz was there for the second

time, this time as a vampire sporting a noise-making prize he won playing cornhole. This was Rohnert Park resident Keith Crandall’s first time bringing his son to this event, which he heard about from a neighbor. “It’s all really nice. It’s great that they’re doing this,” Crandall said. He also appreciated the safety of the event, since it was held in the middle of the day with no cars around. The maze was originally going to be a haunted house, but wasn’t considered scary enough for some kids. Since the event was recommended for kids under 10, the maze was designed to have nothing pop out at the visitors. Morgan Sterni, a student working at the maze for her third year, said, “some kids, when they go alone, get scared because it’s dark. When they go in as groups they usually just have fun by chasing each other around.” Tanner Wisocki was another student working at the event, photographing the day. “This helps kids get involved in college life. They

Student Life 9

OCT. 31 - NOV. 6, 2017

sonomastatestar.com

Seawolves SPEAK!

Students reveal what possessions they would take in case of a fire KAYLA BUIE

STAFF WRITER

y now, most have learned about the fires that recently torched Sonoma County and neighboring areas. It affected thousands of people, with many losing their jobs, homes, and businesses. During that time, many Sonoma State University students were forced to evacuate and faced the harsh reality of a vital question: “What would you take with you if you had a minute to evacuate your home during a fire?”

“If I was in my dorm, I’d grab my laptop. If I was home I’d grab my dog first, of course!”

“I would grab pictures or my laptop!” -Sydnie Barboza, junior and kinesiology major

-Leah Davis, sophomore and kinesiology major

“First, I’d bring my camera.”

“I’d take my boy Iggy. The thing is, he’s a stuffed iguana. I’ve had him since I was 5 or 6 [years old]... he’s been my ride or die.”

-Michaella Peake, junior and communications major

-Alexander Moore, senior and biology major

“I did take all my suits when I was evacuated from H section [of Rohnert Park], because I love my suits!” -Wilson Hall, junior and Associated Students President

Inquire to have your artwork published in the STAR

star@sonoma.edu

STUDENT LIFE CALENDAR Tuesday,

Thursday,

Oct. 31

Nov. 2

Halloween Special

Master’s or PhD:

Dinner

Is Grad School

5 p.m.

Right for You?

The Kitchens

Noon Schulz 1121

Wednesday, Nov. 1

ASP Free Bowling:

Mathematical

90s Theme

Relationships in

10 p.m.

Chemistry

Double Decker Lanes

4 p.m. Darwin 103

Saturday, Nov. 4

It’s a Guy Thing ft.

Getaway Trip:

Byron Hurt

Alcatraz Tour

6:30 p.m.

10 a.m.

The HUB

Police Services

Courtesy of: seawolfliving.com

10 Sports

OCT. 31 - NOV. 6, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

sonomaseawolves.com Seniors TJ Perez, Andrew Ogilvy, Mitch North, Eric Alvarado, Marcus Salvador, and Josh Sanchez with head coach Marcus Ziemer.

Gators snap Seawolves’ postseason KEVIN BRILL

STAFF WRITER

he fate of the Sonoma State University men’s soccer team came down to a single match played on Saturday against San Francisco State. Unfortunately for the Seawolves, they fell short in an intense match that left them scoreless against the San Francisco State Gators (1-0). This loss means the Seawolves will not advance to the first round of the CCAA playoffs. However, the Seawolves put up a fight, going back and forth with the Gators. Both teams had the same number of shots on goal, but Sonoma State was unable to capitalize, which cost them the win. As Sonoma State traveled to San Francisco to play their final away match of the season, it was inevitable the tension would be at an all-time high. This game was the ticket to playing in the CCAA playoffs and the Seawolves wanted to finish out the season out strong. The match came down to one deciding factor — who wanted it more? Each team had the talent to come away from the match with a win; however, only one team would leave with a shot at a playoff run. The match had as much pressure as a postseason match would, as a large crowd came out to watch as both teams battled in this all-or-nothing match before heading to the CCAA Championships. For San Fransisco State’s Senior Day, the Gators honored seniors Andy Altamirano, KJ Ahlo, Sam Gebremiche, Nigus Solomon, Ranier Plantinos, Jesse Rodriguez, and Jonny Villeda. Each team had three shots on goal in the first half and were unsuccessful.

Sports Schedule Tuesday, Oct. 31 Women’s Golf CSUSM Fall Classic Women’s Soccer vs Cal Poly Pomona 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1 Women’s Volleyball @ Stanislaus State 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 Women’s Soccer @ CCAA Semifinal Women’s Volleyball vs Cal State Monterey Bay 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 Women’s Cross Country NCAA West Regional 10 a.m.

After a scoreless half, it was only a matter of time before one team knocked one into the net. In the 47th minute of the match, Aydan Bowers, the Gators’ junior midfielder/defender, gave SF State the lead. The goal came after a free kick from the left side entered the front of the goal box, where Bowers snuck past the defense to knock it home. Seawolves’ senior Eric Alvarado stepped up to the box to block what would’ve been the Gators’ second goal as he turned his back and took one for the team. Unfortunately for the Seawolves, they were unable to answer with a goal of their own, which left the Gators victorious. This left Sonoma State with the record of 7-7-2 overall and 4-5-1 CCAA to end the season. For the first time since 1978, the San Fransisco Gators will enter the postseason and play in the first round of the CCAA playoffs. It was an extremely emotional game for both the Seawolves and their fans, especially the seniors, because a loss meant it would be the last time they would step on the field in their college careers. “I’ve been feeling a lot of emotions since the game on Saturday, but to sum them up, I feel heartbroken,” Josh Sanchez said. “Just like that it was over. I still feel like it was yesterday I tossed on the Sonoma Jersey for the first time.” Alvarado, Mitch North, Andrew Ogilvy, TJ Perez, Marcus Salvador, and Sanchez were the seniors who left everything they had on the field against San Fransisco State. With many of the players planning to return next season, the Seawolves look forward to a great offseason and a promising future.

Seawolves fall to Gators in final seconds of regulation BIANCA SANBORN SPORTS EDITOR

t only took three seconds to determine the fate of the game. A goal courtesy of San Francisco State’s Laura Shea left the Seawolves scoreless with another loss in the books to end the regular season. Earning 12-3-1 overall and 6-3-1 in conference play, the Sonoma State University’s women’s soccer team now hold the No. 3 spot in CCAA standings behind Cal State LA and UC San Diego. Offensive efforts on both teams remained stagnant for 89 minutes and 57 seconds, until San Francisco State’s Bianca Lowe rocketed a cross to Shea at the near post, who headed in the victory point with no time for a rebuttle. “I was devastated; nobody wants to lose, especially in the last minute,” said junior goalkeeper Kristen Spear. “The spirit was there, the energy was there, and tactically we were there.” Even though they weren’t able to wrangle the Gators in their final match of the season, the Seawolves made significant offensive plays, totaling 15 shots on goal to SFSU’s nine. “The loss hurt, but I wasn’t disappointed in our team because we dominated the entire game, had 15 shots on goal, and just couldn’t put one away,” said senior midfielder Kristal Luna. “The better team lost that day, and unfortunately that’s how the game of soccer goes.” Cecilia Sifuentes had four shots on goal, Sara Van Wagoner had two and Riley West had three. Spear racked up eight saves, but unfortunately San Francisco State’s strategic play in the last three seconds of regulation snuck past the skilled netkeeper. After their last regular-season game, seniors Spear, Van Wagoner, Sifuentes, Luna, Holle Depina, Katie Mohr, and Courtney Shoda were honored for their contributions to Sonoma State’s soccer program. Despite the loss, the team will participate in the CCAA Championship Tournament, hosting Cal Poly Pomona in round one on Tuesday. Seedings and further playoff matchups will be determined later on Saturday night. “One of our season goals was to get into the post-season and here we are,” Spear said. “We are ready and we understand what we need to do to keep moving forward.”

Women’s Volleyball vs Cal State East Bay 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5 Women’s Soccer @ CCAA Final Monday, Nov. 6 Women’s Volleyball vs Humboldt State 2 p.m.

sonomaseawolves.com Cecilia Sifuentes, Courtney Shoda, Katie Mohr, Kristen Spear (junior), Kristal Luna, Holle Depina, and Sara Van Wagoner with their families after the senior ceremony for the women’s soccer team.

Sports 11

OCT. 31 - NOV. 6, 2017

sonomastatestar.com

Volleyball team drops two straight in shocking five-set matchups

ROLAND SCHMIDT STAFF WRITER

ver the course of a lengthy season teams can find the mountainous peaks of victory euphoric, but also find the the sunken valleys of defeat disappointing for even the strongest – Sonoma State University women’s volleyball team is no exception. Friday’s five-set road loss at the clutches of Cal State Dominguez Hills drags Sonoma State into a bit of unfamiliar territory, marking the first time this season that the Seawolves have lost in consecutive matches. In five sets, the final scores were 25-23, 15-25, 15-25, 25-20, and 15-13 in favor of the Toros. The defeat drops the Seawolves to 15-6 overall and 9-3 in CCAA play. With the win, CSU Dominguez Hills improves to 11-10 overall and 7-5 in conference matches. While the loss may have stung, for senior assist guru Courtney Seda, her performance will be one to remember, as her game-high 57 assists launched her over the 3,000 assist plateau for her career. Now, with 3,024 career assists to her name, Seda joins former Seawolf standouts Lindsay Brown (200609) and Hayley Ross (2010-13) as the only Sonoma State volleyball players to record 3,000 assists or more. Seda now sits 109 assists shy of Ross (3,133) for second and 595 away from Brown (3,619) to reach the top spot. “This has been such a fun season,” Seda said. “My favorite part has been all the memories I’ve made with my team and I’m so lucky to be apart of a team that meshes so well.” On the evening, four players, sophomore outside hitter Caiti Wiesner, Morgan Annala, senior setter Calan Seitz and Kelsey McIntire reached double-digit kills, with Wiesner leading the way with 21. In the dig category, Megan Bohorquez once again showed her unique ability to corral tough shots, accruing 31 digs on the night. In the first set, spearheaded by Wiesner, Sonoma State blitzed the Toros – jumping out to a quick 7-2 lead.

For the set, the Seawolves compiled a .349 hitting percentage, while holding Dominguez Hills to a low .237 mark. Although the Seawolves had a better hitting percentage and made two fewer errors (three) than the Toros (five), it wouldn’t be enough, as Dominguez Hills capitalized on a couple of blocking errors – taking the first frame 25-23. After the tough opening set defeat, the Seawolves found a way to bounce back, accumulating a robust .419 hitting percentage while adding 15 kills and limiting the Toros to a .143 hitting mark. Annala led the brigade on offense, thrashing six kills en route to a 25-15 set victory. Out of the break, Sonoma State took the hardwood with urgency – playing with similar pace to that of the prior set. To follow their successful second game, the Seawolves found themselves notched in an 8-8 tie before erupting with a 17-7 outburst to finish the set in style. Their .444 hitting percentage is one of the highest of the season, while their defense limited Dominguez Hills to a near season-low -.083 percentage. Most of the time, momentum is your best friend, but sometimes, it acts as your worst enemy. This became the case for Sonoma State in the fourth set. A paltry hitting percentage (.094), combined with a game-high eight errors and a bit of tough luck proved to be the difference in the Toro’s 25-20 set victory. During the set, Dominguez Hills’ outside hitter Tati Yandall led the offensive charge, swatting six kills to keep Sonoma State’s defense guessing. Hitting errors are killer, and this was no different from the fourth set to the decisive fifth and final frame. Down 9-5 early, both teams found themselves locked in a heated battle. The intensity then ramped up, with Sonoma State clawing back and narrowing the deficit to a single point, bringing the score to 13-12. The Seawolves fought hard, but ultimately succumbed to a pair of attack errors and one last dagger by senior outside hitter Claire Autry – providing the Toros with a 15-13 set and

3-2 match victory. “Tough games like this are pivotal to our overall success as a team,” Seda said. “It gives us the opportunity to improve our mental game, as well as identify certain aspects in our game that we need to improve upon.” Following the tough loss at the Torodome, Sonoma State continued their road trip in an evening matchup with cross-division foe Cal State Los Angeles – again falling in another five-set heartbreaker. The scores were 21-25, 25-23, 25-21, 18-25, and 1511, with the Golden Eagles snatching a clutch 3-2 victory. The loss drops the Seawolves to 1-5 in matches that go five sets, while also handing them their third consecutive loss and fourth in the last six games. Although another difficult defeat ensued, Seda followed up her milestone game with another electric performance. The senior had a near triple-double, accumulating 39 assists, 13 digs, and nine kills on the evening. On a night that lacked an offensive spark, freshman outside hitter Amy Trephan and Seitz led the way, each tallying 11 kills and together combining for five blocks. As a whole, the team statistics properly tell the story for why this game went the way it did. With 25 total errors—something the team has struggled with as of late— winning can be tough to do. Also, an inefficient .208 hitting percentage contributed to the defeat as well. In order to get back to their winning ways, the Seawolves will need to play a cleaner game and minimize the amount of errors they make, both on the physical and mental sides of the game. Focus will be key. “Heading into these next couple games, we have a lot of drive and fight in us,” Seda said. “We are confident in one another that we will stay strong mentally and keep team morale up during every point, especially during difficult times like these.” The 15-7 Seawolves will continue their current road trip down in Turlock, where they’ll face 2-20 Stanislaus State at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday on their home court, Fitzpatrick Arena.

Sonomaseawolves.com No. 6 senior setter Courtney Seda looks at the camera as the ball flies over the net past a Cal State L.A. player’s block attempt.

Owner’s comments spark controversy over NFL protests ETHAN HELMS

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Commentary

ccording to an article published by ESPN on Friday, meetings between NFL executives, owners and player representatives were going well. The two-day meetings which began on Oct. 17 aimed to find a solution to issues surrounding national anthem protests. However, things took a sharp turn for the worse when Houston Texans’ owner Bob McNair used a racially insensitive analogy. “We can’t have the inmate running the prison,” McNair said. Although McNair issued a public apology, and extended personal apologies to NFL Player Representatives that attended the meeting, his actions shine a light on a larger issue; an issue surrounding personal rights and the freedom of expression. It also shows spectators that the disconnect between players and executives could be larger than imagined. Making racially insensitive comments at meetings surrounding social equality shows that McNair doesn’t understand the gravity of the issue, and he isn’t alone in that category. Many fans feel players need to be standing for the two-minute song, but I doubt they understand the importance of this issue either. For some the issues of racial inequality and police brutality hit extremely close to home. Anquan Boldin, a retired 14-season NFL wide receiver and Superbowl champion, was one those present at the recent meetings. Boldin has been one of the most outspoken players regarding police brutality and social justice. Only two weeks after signing a contract with the Buffalo Bills this season, he announced his plans to retire and focus on social justice reform.

In the NFL meetings Boldin explained his experience with social injustice. His cousin, Corey Jones, was shot and killed by a Florida police officer in October 2015. Over two years later, the officer has yet to go to trial. Boldin recently wrote an article for TIME outlining his choice to pursue social justice and activism instead of football. He explained that the anthem protests ref lect “player frustration with legislative inaction.” For Boldin the choice to kneel is personal and, without a doubt, warranted. According to the ESPN article, defensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Gerald McCoy stressed the importance of respecting constitutional freedoms. “I think it’s gonna be an uproar if that is to happen, because you’re basically taking away a constitutional right to freedom of speech,” McCoy said. In 1969 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that nondisruptive, passive, symbolic speech is protected by the First Amendment and can’t be censored simply because it makes other people uncomfortable. By limiting player’s expression and their symbolic speech the NFL would be infringing on their constitutional rights. As a direct result of McNair’s comments, over 30 players on his own team kneeled during the anthem on Sunday. And if fans of the NFL didn’t have reason enough to protest their Sunday tradition before, they sure do now. The comments made by McNair prompted some fans to avoid watching any Sunday games. For NFL players this isn’t a protest of the national anthem, but of racial inequality in America. A fact that was made clear by players who were present in the meetings. If NFL owners want to deny the existence of inequality in American society, they can guarantee less viewers next Sunday too.

ATHLETES REACT TO BOB MCNAIR'S COMMENTS

@CECILSHORTSIII

@RSHERMAN_25

Cecil Shorts III: "Inmates, slaves and products. That’s all we are to the owners and others. Not grown men with families, kids, wives, values, and morals." Richard Sherman: "I can appreciate ppl being candid. Don’t apologize! You meant what you said. Showing true colors allows ppl to see you for who you are." Shannon Sharpe: "Mr. McNair, I'm going to be very respectful of you… but I was deeply offended."

@SHANNONSHARPE

@MONEY23GREEN

Draymond Green: "This sure does sound very Donald Sterling-esque... For starters, let's stop using the word owner and maybe use the word Chairman. To be owned by someone just sets a bad precedent to start. It sets the wrong tone. It gives one the wrong mindset."

12 Photo Seawolves take center stage

OCT. 31 - NOV. 6, 2017 sonomastatestar.com

STAR // Alyssa Archerda Jasmin Lewis (left), Joseph Grant (center) and Pierce Woodward (right) perform for their final dress rehersal on Tuesday night.

STAR // Lauren Eipp Régine Danaé (right) and Quintin Curtice (left) perform at their final dress rehersal on Tuesday night.

STAR // Alyssa Archerda Régine Danaé (left) and Quintin Curtice (right) perform a scene during the show’s dress rehersal on Tuesday night.

STAR // Lauren Eipp Joseph Grant (left) and Pierce Woodward (right) do their final run through during dress rehersal on Tuesday night.

Bye-bye Wait list.

STAR // Mikki Taylor Lobo takes pictures with children at Safe Trick or Treat on Sunday.

Hello Grad list. WINTER INTER SESSION

2018

Stop graduwaiting. Classes run January 3 - 17 Registration open now. STAR // Mikki Taylor CSA Sarah Kaden paints a butterfly on a childs face at Safe Trick or Treat on Sunday.