IN THIS ISSUE
Volleyball champions
Cross country walker
Gender bender
Read about the women’s volleyball team’s second consecutive title on PAGE 10.
Read the story of Bradford Haith on PAGE 4.
Read about the annual event celebrating acceptance and inclusion on PAGE 8.
SINCE 1979
VOLUME 82 // ISSUE 13 APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2019
THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER
@SONOMASTATESTAR
From negative to positive: Graton’s changed perception While initial pushback from the community was strong, the narrative has changed
ASHLEY GIESEKE STAFF WRITER
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raton Resort and Casino in Rohnert Park has been a main attraction in the area since its opening almost six years ago. The $825 million dollar, 320,000 square foot building opened back in November 2013 and has greatly benefitted both the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and the community. Sonoma State senior Christie Hamilton, like many students, has enjoyed the casino more and more since becoming of legal age to gamble in California. “Graton is always a fun place to go no matter what day of the week it is,” she said. “They have great food and it’s a place to go with friends to de-stress and just have a good time.” It has brought in great revenue and given many people something fun to do with friends or family when they are feeling extra lucky. However, this was not always the response. With Rohnert Park being mostly families and students, the community did have an initial negative perception. Most of the input that was given before it was built pertained to taking the project down. After the announcement of the casino, a coalition was created that was called “Stop the Casino 101.” This was created to invalidate the Tribe who sought to build the casino but was eventually dismissed by the California Court of Appeal. Since the opening, there have not been any new concerns about the actual casino itself besides those initially brought to light. “Our residents are concerned about traffic, and visitors to the casino certainly contribute toward traffic congestion, especially around Golf Course Drive,” said Rohnert Park City Manager Darren Jenkins. He said the city will be using casino mitigation funds in the coming years to make new improvements after they get approval from Caltrans. If the approval is received, they will be adding a second left turn lane to Golf Course Drive at Redwood Drive, along with connecting the traffic signals. “We are also working on giving our fire engines emergency priority where they will receive a green light when responding to high priority calls,” said Jenkins.
License plate
theft becoming more common
HOLLY CHANDLER STAFF WRITER
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n the past year, it appears that citizens of Rohnert Park have been experiencing an increased number of stolen license plates from vehicles and trailers. The Department of Public Safety helps to inform our community in a productive and efficient manner while prioritizing the safety and protection of all Rohnert Park citizens and visitors. The Department of Public Safety provides both 24-hour police and fire services to the community. “At this time, it does not appear to be a group,” said Crime Analyst Jill Kempf, who works for the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety. “The challenge is late reporting as people sometimes do not notice the plate is missing or know exactly where the theft happened.” There are many reasons why people might steal license plates. These reasons include vehicles not being insured or not having current registration, camouflaging stolen vehicles, avoiding parking tickets, etc. Law enforcement is also noticing an uprise in temporary license plates being stolen. Temporary license plates were created to be placed on new vehicles before being driven off the dealership lot and to assist law enforcement and toll agencies to help identify vehicles. A major target for stolen license plates is work vehicles, because they are often parked in lots over the weekend. These vehicles, theresee PLATES on pg. 4
STAR // Kayla Allen The Graton Resort and Casino, initially viewed by many locals as more of a burden than a benefit, has become a strong fixture in Sonoma County, boosting local economy and tourism. While acknowledging the initial fears, Jenkins said that although this was the most significant issue in the community at one time, the perception has changed. In more recent years, the casino has gained more support, and in February 2019, it was not even in the top 20 most important issues in the community. The Tribe that made the casino possible to the community has always made sure to keep up with commitments that they made with the city. They have made sure to do a lot to mitigate potential environmental concerns that the casino could have brought. According to Jenkins, the Tribe honors their approximately $11.5 million per year investment in the community. Along with this contribution, the Tribe provides $1.1 million to projects and programs and another $1.1 mil-
lion per year to local organizations and non-profits. “The city uses these monies to fund public safety officers, public works maintenance workers, a crime analyst, code compliance staff, and others who provide services to our community and offset the impacts to the casino,” said Jenkins. “We also use the funds to improve our parks, streets, sidewalks, and other amenities in our neighborhoods.” Along with these commitments, the casino in general has brought economic growth and job opportunities to many. A good portion of the net sum of the casino is even seen to be coming from outside of the county, which means those who visit the area tend to be checking it out and enjoying the city itself, simultaneously boosting the local economy and increasing tourism.
Construction on Sunrise Park hits ground running
WILL HAHN
STAFF WRITER
A
regional economy,” said Rohnert Park Developmental Services Director Mary Grace Pawson. Despite these challenges and several extensions on the project, development of the field is going smoothly and is well ahead of schedule. According to Belforte, the new field will have brand new lights along with a scoreboard and bleacher seating. The community parks are places of beauty in the city, so Belforte wants to make sure that she and the rest of the city can keep them in great shape. After the developers construct the all-weather field, the city will come in and make accessibility improvements to the parking lot as well in order to be compliant with the most current Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
new all-weather, multi-use sports field is being constructed in Rohnert Park, replacing the Sunrise Park field on the corner of Rohnert Park Expressway and Snyder Lane. Construction of the new field officially began in September 2018 with the design being planned out for nine months beforehand. The field has an official deadline of December 2019, but the city council expects the field be done by this June. Rohnert Park Mayor Gina Belforte is ecstatic about the project and cannot wait for the commusee PARK on pg. 5 nity to take advantage of it, especially with the field supporting various sports such as soccer, rugby, lacrosse and football when there are hardly any other turf fields that the community and school teams can play on. “My son played lacrosse and they were getting kicked off of fields left and right. The school district wouldn’t let them play on their turf field because they thought the head of the lacrosse sticks were going to tear up their turf field,” Belforte said. Costing $2.5 million, the field is being funded by Sonoma Mountain Village (SOMO), a $1 billion, 200-acre, adaptive-use redevelopment, and is being worked on in collaboration with the city and contractor O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc. Construction of the all-weather field was supposed to be built a decade ago at SOMO, but the economic recession caused delays in construction projects. There was also a population of tiger salamanders identified in SOMO, so the cost to mitigate the project to protect the salamanders would have been too difficult. “There were some challenges getting started, STAR // Kaylie Boettner mostly related to the recession. The developer just wasn’t moving on the same schedule that he was Sunrise Park, located on the corner of Snyder Lane and anticipating because of the downturn in the whole Rohnert Park Expressway, may be finished as early as June.
2 Editorial
APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2019 sonomastatestar.com
THE STAR Editorial Board Braden Car twright, Editor-in-Chief Kasey Williams, News Editor Gillian Chaffer, Opinion Editor Alison Snider, Ar ts & Enter tainment Editor Haley Kara, Student Life Editor Brennan Craig, Spor ts Editor Natalie Dolan, Photo Editor Mandela Linder, Adver tising Manager Samantha Billingsly, Distribution Manager Corinne Asturias, Faculty Adviser Staff Writers
Kayla Allen, Samantha Billingsly, Kaylie Boettner, Kelly Britton, Holly Chandler, Giulia Chlarson, Clark Fahrenthold, Julianna Ferrara, Alexander Funchess, Ashley Gieseke, Teresa Gulli, Will Hahn, Garrett Kitchen, Emily Kowalski, Katherine Kur tt, Madison Lam, Cole McKeith, Jack Messier, Gabriella Novello, Thomas Peterschmidt, Joseph Piombo, Devon Pique, Sunday Simon, Brandon Sparks, Jonah Trosky, Marissa Ugar te, Jackson Waldron, Aaron Waskowiak, Mattie Williams Photographers
Christine Von Raesfeld, Jessica Rivera, Kaitlyn Bradley, Jacob Loher, Ethan Prins
Nichols Hall 323, 1801 East Cotati Ave Rohnert Park, CA 94928 Telephone: 707-664-2776 Business & General Inquiries: sonomastatestar@gmail.com Corrections and News Tips: star@sonoma.edu
Editor’s Pick This week’s can’t miss article: “Cross country walker settles in Rohnert Park” Staff writer Mandela Linder captures the essence of Bradford Haith, whose life has been anything but boring.
Read the story on page 4.
Corrections/Clarifications The Star editorial on April 23 titled “New sexual assault hearing policy protects the accused” included an incorrect statement about the use of video conference technology during sexual misconduct hearings. Title IX Services will be conducting all sexual misconduct hearings in two separate rooms, linked by video conferencing technology. It will be the standard practice that opposing parties will not be in the same room with one another. Parties will not need to request a separate room.
4-year graduation unlikely
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raduation can be daunting, but it’s something all students strive for. However, college students already have a lot on their minds. Anywhere from jobs, internships and housing, they must also worry about graduating on time and student loan debt. In California alone, students collectively owe roughly $111.7 billion in student loan debt, according to Forbes magazine. This debt can be made even worse if a student doesn’t graduate on time. According to data from Temple University in Philadelphia and from the University of Texas, Austin, two extra years on campus increases debt by nearly 70 percent. Students are increasingly having to stay more than the typical four years to earn their degrees. According to a report from Complete College America, at most public universities, only 19 percent of full-time students earn a bachelor’s degree in four years. And, according to Mercury News, less than 20 percent of CSU students graduate in the expected four years. A six year college career has become so common, most colleges measure their graduation rates in six years rather than four. To remedy this, Sonoma State University, and all other CSUs, have taken part in the Graduation Initiative, which hopes to boost graduation rates across the system. The system hopes that by 2025, to have freshman four-year students to have a graduation rate of 40 percent, freshmen six-year students to have a graduation rate of 70 percent, transfer two-year students to have a graduation rate of 45 percent and transfer four-year students to have a graduation rate of 77 percent, according to the CSU’s Graduation Initiative factsheet. Sonoma has been showing improvement, beating predicted goals for 2018 in all areas except it’s freshmen six-year graduation rate, according to the October progress report. The reasons why students at Sonoma are succeeding is
by increased efforts by the school to assist students, but many struggle to still make it. One of the largest reasons students don’t graduate on time is that they aren’t made fully aware of all the requirements they must take and how to take them in a timely manner. Many students in the CSU system, according to Mercury News, take classes in their first two years in college that don’t apply to their major, don’t transfer over or simply aren’t taking enough. In a bill passed in the California State Senate named “California Promise”, it is suggested students should take five courses a semester, or 15 units, in order to graduate on time. For some students, the classes they need might not even cover the Written English Proficiency Test (WEPT) requirement, which is Sonoma State University’s test that is designed to “fulfill the California State University Graduate Written Assessment Requirement (GWAR).” according to Sonoma State University. This test can be either taken in one sitting or a class can cover the requirement if it is writing intensive. Taking a writing intensive course is easier when it overlaps with major requirements. Becoming a graduate in four years was once a norm, but now is becoming not only more complicated, but more expensive. Maintaining the required 15 units to graduate on time while also having a job, an internship, a position on a sports team or a position in Greek life is a daunting task. Sonoma State is proving itself to be dedicated to getting graduation rates up, but is not doing enough to accommodate its students. Students can’t just take 15 units a semester and graduate. Students must be aware of when and how to make the smart choices. Telling students they must take 15 units and providing them with more classes isn’t enough. Students must have better resources and clearer advice for how to plan their academic career, so they can begin their life long career as soon as possible.
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. Advertisement
Publication The STAR is published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters. Printing is done by Sonoma Media Group. The weekly publication of the STAR is made possible by Instructionally Related Activities Funding.
Opinions
Opinions expressed in the STAR are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the STAR or SSU. The editorial reflects the views of the STAR Editorial Board on issues it considers to be of particular relevance to the campus community.
Letter writers may expect prompt publication in the newspaper’s op-ed section, as space is available. Letters of up to 400 words will be allowed and must be submitted no later than the Friday before the publication date. Published letters must be free of libel, since the publication is held legally accountable for all content. Although personal controversy will be tolerated, it is the responsibility of the editor to check statements purporting the facts. The STAR reserves the right to refuse publication to any letter and to edit for length. Letters must sign all contributions and the editor must verify the signer and the writer are one in the same through personal conference. To send a letter to the editor, email star@sonoma.edu.
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Letters to the Editor
Opinion 3
APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2019
sonomastatestar.com
Children pierced with guns instead of needles at high risk of infection
CHRISTINE VON RAESFELD
STAFF WRITER
S
o it’s your daughter’s 13th birthday and all she’s been asking for is to get her ears pierced. As a parent, you knew this day was coming and now you’re faced with a decision. Parents might find it easier to take their children to Claire’s where their child can hold a teddy bear during the piercing instead of going to a tattoo parlor. While a gun may look a lot less scary to a 13-year-old, the needle will save you from many chances of infection and is actually a lot less painful. Understandably, the atmosphere of Claire’s makes the ear piercing experience more adequate and is a bit more age
appropriate, but the use of piercing guns a lot less safe than many people may think. In a blog post from the Almost Famous Body Piercing shop, they claim that many people have had piercings done with a gun instead of a needle and encountered no serious health issues. Yet when the two methods are compared, needles are far safer and less painful for piercings. Going to a tattoo and piercing shop can be a bit overwhelming for a young teen, and due to societal norms, it’s less likely for a parent to take their kid to get a piercing in that environment. However, in terms of how their child is getting pierced, the pros definitely outweigh the cons when it comes to getting pierced with needles. When using a needle, the piercing process is much safer and less painful than having a blunt stud forced through your skin using a gun, according to an article from liveabout.com. It additionally states that the jewelry used in professional piercing shops is also much better for you. Many shops will clean their guns or use disposable ones, but since they are plastic and can’t be cleaned using heat, there’s no way to fully disinfect them.
Another issue is the blunt force trauma that the gun can cause on the ear. Claire’s only offers ear piercings, as they only use piercing guns and you cannot use a gun to pierce any other part of the body. However, this can be problematic the further up the ear you want to pierce. In a post from autor Margaret Harvey, she states that according to the Association of Professional Piercers, a piercing gun can crack or shatter the cartilage in the ear completely. Although the damaged cartilage can be pierced again, it will take much longer to heal, be more painful, and there is a risk your body will the reject the piercing. With that being said, there are people who get piercings at Claire’s that do not experience any issues. The piercers do a great job at making sure customers know how to clean their piercings thoroughly so no serious infections occur, but for some people, there’s no way to stop it. It’s important to normalize the idea of going to a tattoo and piercing parlor in order to get pierced with a needle, instead of taking a trip to Claire’s because it is seen as the easy option. Piercers at piercing shops are trained, and will use a needle which will be less painful and will not cause infection.
Mental health struggles of the rich and famous
KATHERINE KURTT
STAFF WRITER
W
ith a simple Google search of “Britney’s breakdown,” around 65,000 videos and articles come up all about Britney Spears’ ups and downs in life. Spears has been through it all from the birth of her two sons to her two divorces, in addition to her popularity ever since she was a child to her superstar status she remains to have today. To any normal person, one divorce would be very difficult to deal with, but with her fame, the show must go on. With Spears’ recent mental rehab stay, it doesn’t come as a shock to some people. We have seen time and time again what fame can do to a celebrity’s personal health as well as the impact it can have on their family. No matter if the celebrity is young or old in age, there is an enormous amount of pressure to perform at a certain caliber. We have all seen and heard of celebrities going from child star to hitting rock bottom, but nothing ever seems to change in the entertainment
industry. Whether it’s in the music industry or film industry, there doesn’t seem to be a form of required mental health care available for the entertainment profession or protocol if the star is ill and needing help from professionals in order to step back from the limelight and truly get better. Some may know Britney Spears’ father, Jamie Spears, and his past role as not only a father to Ms. Spears, but as the man who calls the shots after her breakdown in 2007. In an NBC interview with her just prior to her 2007 breakdown, Matt Lauer asked Spears if she thinks the paparazzi will ever leave her alone and she said “I don’t know” and began to cry. There is no doubt that with Spears’ child fame in combination with the overbearing paparazzi, her status has done a great deal in her 2007 breakdown. Spears’ father then stepped in to her life as her conservator because she couldn’t take care of herself. According to Britney Spears superfan YouTuber Adam Mcintryre, he states that in January 2009 her manager spoke out and said that during her tour that she was “being pushed back into a money machine.” Her father and team allegedly ran her life due to her father being her conservator. From 2007 to 2018, there have been many articles written about Britney’s comeback and how her father seems to be helping her, when in reality her father is controlling every aspect of her life as her conservator and it seems to have brought her down even more. Many people can say they trust their families with everything they have, but the real question is if fame
and wealth come in the picture, how can we judge who is making the right choice. Spears has had her fair share of ups and downs but when it comes to wealth and her own human rights, those should be kept to herself. When we take this all into account, a few possible solutions come to mind in regard to maintaining health mental health and human rights in general. Starting with maintaining a good balance of mental health, there should be a part of being in the entertainment industry where entertainers should talk to a therapist or mental health specialist before furthering their career in order to prevent any sort of breakdown. Secondly, when it comes to a very successful brand and business like Spears has developed, it shouldn’t be as simple as a few court visits. With that much fame and power passed down in a blink of an eye comes responsibility, and as a father, Jamie Spears should have stopped all of Britney’s projects and focused on her health until she could fully take care of herself so she can take care of her own business. At the end of the day, we can all pick apart her life and try to understand what truly happened but we really don’t know what exactly has been going through her mind, and social media and vague interviews can only tell fans and the public so much. So the next time you see a celebrity, stick to the golden rule and remember to treat others the way you want to be treated. These people are regular individuals just like the rest of us, who suffer from time to time with mental health, and these issues should not ignored.
Pros and cons of social media
GARETT KITCHEN STAFF WRITER
S
ocial media consists of different websites and applications that can be used to interact and share information with other users. Despite the fact that it has widely progressed over the years, some may say that these apps create and spread negativity to those in society. Cyberbullying, body shaming, and unrealistic standards have become an issue for teens and adults. 43% of kids have admitted to being cyberbullied, with 1 in 4 students stating that it has happened more than once, according to the website Do Something. With more than 50% of teens using social media today, statistics have shown that almost 1 in 10 students will not share this information with anyone else. Although many celebrities such as Katy Perry and Celine Dion have joined the Stomp Out Bullying campaign, it is difficult to stop online bullying in a short amount of time. Most of these celebrities have a large follower count, so it is useful in spreading the word about a cause or issue that they care about. Body shaming has also increased over the years. The website Health Line discusses body shaming, along with a quote from Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer regarding this topic. “It mocks and stigmatizes its victims, tearing down self-respect and perpetuating the harmful idea that our unique physical appearances should be compared to air-brushed notions of ‘perfect.’” Influencers such as Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez could be examples of having the “perfect” body, yet this creates an image that teens may be attempting to reach in an unhealthy way. In today’s society, the focus is geared more towards what is negative on social media, yet there is still positivity and gratitude present. Social media has the power to raise money for those who are in need, advertise about a small business, or promote an event that is looking for sponsors. Different websites such as GoFundMe have become more popular over the years through the sharing of posts and photos to spread awareness. This website helps to raise money for those who are in need, and through social media, it is more likely for others to donate. Teens in marginalized groups can also use social media to connect with others. Aaron Fobian, a clinical psychologist and professor, stated that social media could possibly be linked to mental health issues, yet teens may be using these apps to find a support system. “For example, teens could have depressive or anxious symptoms and therefore spend more time on social media outlets to look for a way to connect.” Social media also gives us the opportunity to connect with those we love from around the world. It gives us the chance to stay updated on what other family members or celebrities are doing. Although it does have negative aspects, the general use of social media is helpful when staying in contact with people in your life. Although it is difficult to eliminate cyberbullying, social media has many positive advantages. The future of social media is in the hands of the people. Amy Jo Martin, an American author, stated, “Social media is the ultimate equalizer. It gives a voice and platform to anyone willing to engage.”
White people should respect the black culture, not replace it
SUNDAY SIMON STAFF WRITER
C
ulture is defined by the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular group. This country is built (amongst other things that are atrocious) on culture. Each culture brings something new to the table whether it be food, clothing, music, poetry, and even education and medicine. With different cultures surrounding us every day, it’s perfectly okay every once in a while to stop and embrace the communities that thrive in their culture, but embracing can turn into appropriation.
Fulani braids became Bo Derek Braids. Cornrows turned into boxer braids. Bantu knots are now called mini buns. Many celebrities with no connection to African ancestry in the recent years have taken ancient hairstyles known to the black community as second nature and turned them into a trend for the week, easily being able to enjoy the access to black culture. Meanwhile, many black women and men, girl and boys. have to deal with the discrimination fo their hair in schools and workplaces. So much so that the city of New York had to pass a bill ending the discrimination of hair in the workplace. That means for the past decade, black people have been turned away and fired for their natural hairstyles. Chairwoman of the New York City Commission on Human Rights, Carmelyn P. Malalis, told the New York Times “There’s nothing keeping us from calling out these policies prohibiting natural hair or hairstyles most closely associated with black people. They are based on racist standards of appearance.” Housing in urban areas now belongs to rich tech workers looking to redesign the area, erasing the culture and history of
the hood. The toll that gentrification takes on its black citizens is heavy, as black families have to uproot themselves from their community and culture and move to the outer cities of the region. “What people don’t understand is this “hood” culture is something that some people have to live by in order to live, you know?” says Ralph Redus, a third-year computer science major at Sonoma State. Ralph speaks of experience from living in a now gentrified West Oakland, where even some of the community murals have been changed to the newcomer’s discretion. “So when you see people just doing it because of it “trendy” or the wave, it’s disrespectful because people actually feed their children off doing what people in the hood do. It’s just kind of offensive and it makes it look like everybody can do it when everybody is not built for it,” says Redus. Hip-Hop has been declared the most listened to genre since 2014, but the fanbases of the community-based genre are shifting as the hip-hop culture is being shared. Many hip-hop artists have multiple songs about their hardships living in the hood dealing with gangs, poverty, and
the struggles of being hustlers. The issue is not that non-black people enjoy hiphop, but that non-black person that listens to hip-hop embodies the genre at surface value, not really understanding its deeprooted origins in the black community, as if hip-hop itself is a fashion trend. Even the debate of black artists saying the n-word in their songs, but not allowing their white audience to say the word is wrapped in the erasure of black culture. Deriving from the hard -er version given in the times of slavery, it is a term of endearment for the black community; a word that has been in the community for decades. Non-black people have become defensive when artists tell them they can’t say the n-word. It’s hard to be black in America with the systems of power unfairly ruling black people out and racism being ever prevelant. To have black culture stolen puts another layer on the already rising frustration black people have in America. Black culture is the beating drum and the heartbeat of the black community, and it is high time white people and non-black people of color start respecting the culture, while it’s still here anyway.
4 News
APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2019 sonomastatestar.com
A cross country walker settles in Rohnert Park
MANDELA LINDER
on foot. He said that one of the biggest lessons he learned was that peohen Bradford Haith Jr. started ple really do not need much. “A lot walking, he did not have a desof things that people believe that we tination in mind. He just knew need, we can live without,” he said. that he did not want to go back to prison. Paula Haith, Bradford’s mothHaith, now a 46-year-old Rohnert er, said that she saw his minimalist Park resident, said he knew he needed to lifestyle when he came to stay with go somewhere. “I opened the map, I shut her and his sister, Sonya Black. “We my eyes, and I pointed,” he said. “Miami, made the room up and we made the Florida was the first place. How am I gonbed and everything, but he slept on na get there was the question.” He decided the floor,” Paula Haith said. to walk. During that same visit, Paula After 10 years in a maximum security Haith said there was another incident prison in Massachusetts, the first two for in which she witnessed a change in selling drugs and the final eight for assault him. “One time he was in the garbage while he was there, Haith was released after dinner and I wanted to know with a check for $60 and a booking photo why,” she said. “He said ‘Mom, you so he could cash it. He knew he could eican’t throw this away. People are ther intentionally do something to go back starving out there.’” to prison, his home for the last decade, or Although Haith’s journey was, he could change his life. He chose the lataccording to him, about finding faith ter. “Forget prison, forget jail,” Haith said. and helping others, he still struggled “I want to help people stay positive.” with addiction, according to his mothOver the course of the next 13 years er and sister. In 2015, he was arrested Haith, who said he suffers from bipolar for assault with a deadly weapon in disorder, schizophrenia, and addiction Fort Bragg, California, according to issues, walked from the east coast to the police records. west coast, taking the longer route through Haith said that one of the specific the southern states. According to Haith, challenges that he faced was racism. he did the journey twice during that time, “I’ve learned that racism, discriminacarrying up to 170 pounds in his backpack STAR // Mandela Linder tion and prejudice don’t necessarily and walking up to 58 miles a day. have to be against someone,” he said. Haith slept outside of churches, by Bradford Haith Jr., seen above, appreciates the warmth of the sun, “They can be against something.” railroad tracks, under bridges and any- particularly after experiencing extreme weather in colder climates as he He is currently living in a sober where that would keep him out of sight and traveled across the country. living environment in Rohnert Park away from the wind. He built structures with six months clean. “It’s a new bewith tarp and had a small portable warmer to keep cruise ship. ginning,” he said. “I thank all those that I come into “I remember waking up to a big loud horn, it contact with. I’d like to write a book, give back to the from freezing in cold climates. “When I get warm I appreciate it a lot more,” he said. “The sun gives us a echoed on the ocean,” he said. “Everything was pitch community. I want to help people.” warm hug. I always looked forward to that warm hug, black, we were so far out there it looked like you could Paula Haith, who worried about him for years, is reach up and grab the stars. The moon looked like it grateful for her son’s recovery. “I can’t tell you how I still do.” Haith said he worked along the way, acquiring was shining on just you, like you could reach up and proud of him I am right now,” she said. “I know he was skills from many types of jobs. He learned masonry, grab it. I got up and went on deck. The first thing I saw hurt and broken but god is doing a wonderful thing for carpentry and electrical work. He worked on a boat, from side to side was this huge cruise ship, nothing but him right now.” fishing for swordfish, bluefin and yellowfin tuna. “This windows lit up. Nothing but noise just echoing. I imHaith’s sister, Sonya Black, wants people to know is the trade, the barter,” he said. “What I didn’t make mediately thought, ‘This is what’s going to happen.’” that he is not just a “strange person” walking around monetarily I gained in experience... So even if they The crew was able to avoid a collision, but Haith said for no reason. “My brother is one of the smartest peoit was a close call. couldn’t pay me, I learned the trade.” ple I know, he’ll give you the shirt off his back,” she As he traveled across the country, Haith said he said. “My brother loves god. He’s not doing this beDuring one of his experiences working on a fishing boat, Haith said that he almost died (along with the only accepted rides when he had stopped in an area. cause he has to, I guarantee you he doesn’t have to... rest of the crew) when the boat nearly crashed into a The trek itself was done, according to Haith, solely He’s doing this because it’s something he believes in.” STAFF WRITER
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PLATES: Thefts affect city, not campus continued from pg. 1
fore, are often left unsupervised over the course of a couple of days. “We are encouraging the community to take some simple preventative measures,” said Kempf. “There are products available to help deter theft. In the Nixle, we also provide the vehicle code section we ask people to follow.” According to the Nixle report, a few preventatives include specialized plate frames and security screws for the license plates that are available on the commercial market. Purchasing these items is an easy way to avoid future expenses such as replacement of tags, plates, and tickets. Although license plate theft is becoming increasingly more common within Rohnert Park city limits, it does not appear to be affecting Sonoma State. “I have not heard of or received any reports of license plates being stolen on campus,” said Sargent Nunes of the Sonoma State Campus Police. Sonoma State University parking service monitors have not received or caught any license plates being stolen on campus either.
This is definitely a relief for many Sonoma State students and faculty. Sonoma State’s campus parking lots are patrolled daily by campus police and parking, therefore deterring crimes such as license plate theft. It is still recommended to all Rohnert Park citizens, including Sonoma State students, to take the extra security measures in order avoid and prevent license plate thefts. Although there are no reports of license plate theft on the Sonoma State University campus, there have been frequent reports of crimes, such as petty theft, in the parking lots. The most recent occurrence took place on March 29 in Parking Lot R3. Often times, this occurs when students leave their doors unlocked, windows down, and leave valuable items uncovered on their seats and in plain sight. Items that are frequently stolen in the parking lots are electronics and parking passes. Therefore, petty theft can be easily avoided when students and visitors are more conscious of their belongings and take the time to double check that their vehicles are locked and fully sealed.
NEWS IN BRIEF Poway
On Saturday morning, a 19-year-old college student burst in a synagogue in the Southern California city of Poway and began shooting the occupants with an assault rifle. Ultimately, one woman was killed and three others were injured.
San Francisco
California officials on Thursday approved a $373 million rate hike for PG&E to pay costs related to natural disasters. The average bill will now be approximately $3.50 more per month per household. The energy company will now seek a $22 per month increase.
Oakland
The Golden State Warriors continued their 2019 playoff run with a home win over the fourth-seeded Houston Rockets on Sunday, 104-100. Golden State guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson played through minor ankle sprains despite initially being listed as questionable. Game 2 is at home on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
CAMPUS CRIME Crime
Date
Location
Status
Sexual Assault
April 5
Residential Community
Open
Sexual Assault
April 7
Residential Community
Open
Fraud
April 16
Chardonnay Dorms
Referred
Vehicle Tampering
April 16-17
Parking Lot R5
Suspended
Grand Theft
April 17
Stevenson Hall
Suspended
Burglary
April 22
Gammay Dorms
Open
News 5
APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2019
sonomastatestar.com
New cameras used to monitor county fires
AARON WASKOWIAK STAFF WRITER
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ollowing the disastrous results of the recent Tubbs Fire that tore through Napa and Sonoma counties, the Sonoma Water Agency, alongside universities such as Sonoma State, is addressing the increasing fire danger head-on with new technology. With a $475,000 plan approved by county supervisors last year, cameras have begun installation throughout the Bay Area in key fire watch spots. Most recently, there was an installment of a system on Sonoma Mountain, which offers massive, sprawling views out towards Point Reyes as well as the Santa Rosa plains. The $2,600 camera, mounted upon 17 feet of aluminum tower, has the capacity to view clearly 5,000 miles of landscape during the day and much greater range of up to 20,000 miles after sunset with its near-infrared technology. In an effort to combat growing concerns regarding California’s devastating increase in fires, these camera systems provide a welcomed reassurance to the residents of its counties. No longer will Cal Fire need to dispatch personnel on the ground to track down the origin of smoke reports, instead it will be able to reference a real-time display and coordinate a location remotely saving valuable first responder time. Sonoma State’s own Dr. Claudia Luke, the director of the Center for Environmental Inquiry, is heavily involved with the project. “People are usually the first ones to detect fires,” she said. “They call in observations on plumes of smoke, but they usually do not know the location or size of the fire. The cameras can then be used to estimate fire size and behavior. This is especially important when multiple fires are burning so that emergency response can allocate resources appropriately and bet firefighters to the right location.” “Dr. Graham Kent (at UNR), who has been deploying these systems elsewhere, contacted Dr. Luke, who saw the value of a system that would benefit the community and the students at SSU,” said Dr. Christopher Halle, the Nature!Tech program leader with the Center for Environmental Inquiry. “She has been instrumental in shepherding the system through the SSU administrative requirements.” Dr. Halle was brought onboard to help connect the current Fairfield Osborn Preserve sensors to the tower, to enable real-
time streaming in a student-driven project. Via the network “CENIC,” a nonprofit corporation, Sonoma State will relay the feedback to the University of Nevada Reno’s seismology department, which is heading up the operation. With other education institutions, such as UC San Diego, involved and also contributing to this network via their own cameras, there will be a wealth of educational material available that was previously not possible to access beyond on-foot expeditions to these lookout points. “Osborn sensors include weather stations, cameras, soil sensors, water sensors,” said Dr. Luke. “Tying into the Alert North Bay network, means that real-time images and data can be streamed into classrooms at SSU. We will be able to have guest lecturers at the preserve lecturing to students in the classroom while teaching them about on-going research.” The current goal is to arrange for 17 of these camera sites to be placed across eight ridges throughout the northern bay area. Alongside the Sonoma Water Agency is PG&E, who has agreed to contributions of $700,000 that will help fund an additional nine cameras in the area, and hopeful officials would like to see the total number increase to 28 cameras keeping an ever watchful eye on the hillsides of many counties throughout the state. With Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement last month of a state of emergency due to 2018’s fire damages, these cameras cannot come soon enough. Both Dr. Halle and Luke expressed their concerns for the current state of climate change awareness, with Dr. Halle saying that, along with insurance policy changes and public administration acknowledgment of the issue, he is concerned about “local governments not simply charging ahead and authorizing more development along in fire corridors… because there is such a disconnect between what we know about fire and what can happen in governmental meetings.” Plans to allocate funding to educate communities on fire hazards, as well as hire an additional 131 firefighters and 13 engines, will go a long way when paired with the potential that the CENIC network offers. For Sonoma State to be involved at such an intimate level with these prevention measures, it will certainly be meaningful to the many students and residents of Sonoma County that were so impacted by the recent infernos.
STAR // Kayla Allen The Fairfield Osborn Preserve, located in Penngrove, is the site of a new 17-camera, high-tech fire watch system.
STAR // Kayla Allen The park is a 450-acre nature preserve on Sonoma Mountain that contains advantageous, high-visibility hillsides and easy-access roads.
PARK: City open to school club usage continued from pg. 1
“I know the city is really looking forward to having this asset available for the community. It’s important for soccer leagues and lacrosse leagues,” said Pawson. “We are not able to accommodate as much play time as our various leagues would like because we don’t have an allweather field.” The field will only require maintenance about two to three times a year for the infill material since it already has a fairly sophisticated sub-terrain systems that allows water to move off of the field quickly. Regardless of the weather conditions, sports teams will have the opportunity to play on safer and cleaner ground. The field will hopefully draw a lot of attention from
the community and there will be criteria for setting up time frames and dates to use the field for practices and games, according to Belforte. However, even though local club and school teams will be allowed to use the field, there has been no official agreement with Sonoma State University athletics being able to use it. “I think this is more designed for the public, but I’m sure if Sonoma State wanted to have a conversation and see if it is something that they could utilize, then they would kind of have to fall into that criteria of use, when they would be using it and when it would be available,” said Belforte. Regardless, Beforte says that this is a huge step in the right direction for the community and for many to realize the joy that the city’s parks can bring. She hopes
that in the future more parks for various ages can be constructed with a “wow” factor to them. Whether it is boulders with stairs and climbing structures or putting in bocce ball courts in areas with more land, the possibilities continue to grow. Since the city will also be getting $400,000 every year over the next decade for their park budget, this will hopefully help them reach their goal into giving back to the community. Belforte says that she and the rest of the city could be really looking at the rest of their parks and come up with ideas to make something spectacular. The new field is just the start of it. “This is the community’s tax dollars, so we would like to do something really special that the community could all use,” said Belforte. “So that’s kind of what we are looking at. Stay tuned.”
Solo accident destroys SMART tower
GABRIELLA NOVELLO STAFF WRITER
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n April 23 at around 3 p.m., Rohnert Park resident Damien Pheng was rushed to the hospital after crashing into a railroad crossing tower while driving east on Rohnert Park Expressway. According to officials, Pheng’s SUV began drifting to the right and struck the railroad apparatus without braking. “Witnesses stated the vehicle appeared to be traveling at a ‘higher than average’ speed prior to leaving the roadway,” said Rohnert Park Police Chief Tim Mattos. People on the scene said that they did not see any brake lights go off before the crash occurred. No other people were in the car or were injured in the crash. Pheng was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital where he is still recovering. “Initial information from the driver indicates that he fell asleep at the wheel causing him to veer off the roadway,” said Mattos. The intersection the crash occurred at was closed for two hours, heavily impacting afterwork traffic in the oft-commuted residential community. This was due to the driver knocking down the tower, the crossing arm, and the flashing lights that notify drivers at intersections.
At this point, officials are unsure whether may have had headphones in, affecting his hearing at the scene. SMART, although unfinished, is currently in its second year of operathis crash occurred from drugs or alcohol. “We do know that many of the collisions tion, having been opened to the public in August of 2017. Several accidents occurring in the city result from distracted involving the rail, with a current total of three fatal accidents -- all of them driving,” said Mattos. “We will continue to dig individual -- have occurred. for the cause of this collision, and encourage drivers to stay off their phones and avoid distractions when driving.” There are many different dangerous crashes which have occurred on Rohnert Park Expressway over the years, including one fatal crash involving a Sonoma State student that occurred in October 2018. Mo’Tasem Haddad, 24, was traveling east on the expressway when his car was split in half after running a red light and crashing into a light pole at the intersection of Country Club Drive during early morning hours. Witnesses said he swerved to avoid another car. In addition to this, since the build of the new SMART rail, there have been multiple accidents which have occurred. In June of 2018, a man barreled though crossing arms into the path of an approaching SMART train. None in the crash were killed, but the driver was injured and the passengers were greatly stunned. In November of 2018, a man walking was killed by a southbound train during early mornCOURTESY // Press Democrat ing hours because he failed to hear the engiThe single-car accident demolished road infrastructure. neer’s emergency horn. It is suspected that he
6 Arts
APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2019 sonomastatestar.com
Student Spotlight of the Week: JULIANNA FERRARA
Deja Whitney
STAFF WRITER
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or those who haven’t spent much time around the art building, it’s certainly well deserving of an afternoon spent studying for finals on the benches near the small lake. It’s also where you’ll find Deja Whitney, Sonoma State University Art student double majoring in Communications with an emphasis in Video Production and Art Studio Photography with a minor in Art History. Not only is this her second year featured in the Student Art Exhibition at the University gallery, Whitney has also just been accepted in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program on campus which provide classes that help students get into grad school. “My work is called ‘Robert Butler,’” said Whitney as she spoke of her art pieces featured this year in the student juried exhibition. “It’s a portrait of a guy that lives in my neighborhood which is part of a larger series that I did called ‘Garage’ where I went around and asked people in my neighborhood what was in their garages.” Whitney asked each participant to take pictures of their garages, each with a unique story behind them that was used as an avenue for the creative photography and art work behind this year’s project. While currently enrolled in 20 units, she still finds time to participate in Sonoma State club memberships. Whitney is both a part of the Women of Color Collective and the Queer Student Alliance (QSA) here on campus. “Women of color helped me know how to navigate being a woman of color as well as identify as one and what that means to me,” said Whitney. “I was raised in a super white area where my ethnic identity was erased, there was no representation at all, not even in my family.” Part of the college experience is feeling a sense of belonging, finding ourselves and developing a stronger sense of self identity. “Queer Student Alliance has helped me feel more comfortable,” said Whitney, who as a bisexual person has found much support among fellow QSA members
STAR // Emily Kowalski Junior Art and Communications double major superstar Deja Whitney strikes a pose in front of the Art Building. who are the same age and whom she can relate to. Growing up in Laguna Beach, California, Whitney’s grandmother was a little on the stricter side, so not only has greener scenery in Northern California been a nice change of pace, she much enjoys her new found freedom in Sonoma County. “The only thing I miss in Southern California are the beaches.” Her time spent up North has not only offered more freedom but has also been an avenue of growth and exploration in her art endeavors. For each year’s student exhibition, the Art Department invites curators from museums such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and other distinguished galleries to determine what goes into that year’s art show. “What I did was I went to the Sonoma State garden and used a laser pointer to outline the plants
while a used a long exposure to capture the light trail,” said Whitney. “I think people are usually surprised about how I’m not on 24/7, like I’m not ridiculously energetic all of the time,” said Whitney. Though she used to be quite active in the Catholic Church back in her hometown, she no longer identifies with the religion and has new perspective on life and living. Vegetarian and adventurous, Whitney loves to spend her spare time learning new art skills and meeting new people “Deja is such a bright and creative spirit,” said Sarah Ramos, close friend and Art and Communications major. “She’s got the biggest heart I know, and it really shows in the art that she makes. Her photographs breathe compassion and understanding.”
Preparations for the 2019-20 theatre season begin DEVON PIQUE STAFF WRITER
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s the school year draws closer to an end, Seawolves begin to plan for what they want to do next semester. For students looking to meet new people and express themselves artistically, auditions for Sonoma State University’s theatre productions that will be taking place within the first two weeks of next semester for “Candide,” a Leonard Bernstein musical, and for “All’s Well That Ends Well,” a Shakespearean comedy. The audition process takes place in two main stages with the first being the general auditions that are open to everyone and the second being closed callbacks. “Multiple directors will be there,” explained Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts and Dance Alexis Macnab. “We have the first round of general auditions all together. It happens in Person Theater and you’ll get an email sent out about it in the beginning of the semester.” To audition, fill out an audition form, choose a time slot and come prepared with two monologues and a song in order to be considered for the play, two songs and a monologue to be considered for the musical, or two songs and two monologues to be considered for both. As intimidating as this may sound, it
isn’t as much memorization as one might think. Both the songs and the monologues are kept short. “With that said, they should not be very long. Each monologue should be about a minute and the information about music will be on the website but it’s usually only around eight to ten bars,” said Macnab. If singing is a strong suit and there’s fear about the monologue or vice versa, don’t fret. These are just for the directors to gage certain skill levels. “I encourage people to show up with courage, even if you feel like you aren’t a singer it’s fine,” said Macnab. “You can sing “Happy Birthday” or the “ABC’s”. Really we just want to hear what your voice sounds like in a singing space. If you are a singer and worried about acting just write a letter or find a speech from a movie you love. It doesn’t have to be anything in particular.” The next phase of the auditions are the callbacks for the individual shows, where selected students will audition again with the directors of their show. Each director handles their callbacks differently so callbacks for “All’s Well That Ends Well” may look different than the callbacks for “Candide.” General auditions are open to all Sonoma State students, regardless of whether they are theatre ma-
jors or not, as well as members of the community. For those who are new to Sonoma State’s theatre productions, last year there was an “audition info hour,” where students could meet with the directors and walk through the audition process which will hopefully be brought back next semester. This can help give those who haven’t done theatre at Sonoma State a chance to understand the process better and not go into their auditions totally blind. As nerve wracking as auditions may be, Theatre majors advise that you go in with a cool head, and just do your best. “I think the best thing you can do is just try and relax,” said Theatre major Avery Wilson. “Just do your best and have fun. Nobody is there to tear you down.” “Enjoy yourself and know that we are really excited to see everybody,” said Macnab. “We’re so excited just to get to know who’s here and who’s interested in plays. It’s fun for us to see all the people who come in and audition. You should feel free to have fun.” More information about these shows will be posted later in the summer on Sonoma State’s Theatre Arts and Dance webpage.
COURTESY // James Wirth Cast members [left to right] Hailey Patrick, Anna Leach, Noah Evans, Brandon Matel, Matthew Adiao and Emily Rice sing their hearts out in 2018’s production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”
Entertainment 7
APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2019
sonomastatestar.com
Wind Ensemble and Concert Band sign off for the season
KAITLYN BRADLEY
STAFF WRITER
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ith their last performance quickly approaching, Sonoma State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Concert Band are closing out their season in Weill Hall on May 10. The Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Concert Band join forces to create a beautiful show, showcasing music for the instruments percussion, brass and woodwinds. Sonoma State junior Cameron Shellnut is a Music Education major and plays the tuba in the Wind Ensemble. He has been performing for 11 years, and will be gracing the stage for this exciting concert. “I am most excited to play the song ‘Paris Sketches’ by Martin Ellerby because I get to perform a tricky mute technique with my colleague Jacob Rosales,” said Shellnut. “I think people should come see this show because it feels nice to have an audience. To have that audience-performer relationship during a performance is really spiritual and it’s something I don’t think a lot of people experience enough.” The Symphonic Wind Ensemble is one of the several performing groups that you can join at Sonoma State. To join though you have to go through an audition process at the beginning of the semester and be picked. This ensemble is filled with many talented brass, wind and percussion majors but you can be any major to audition. The group performs all over California and showcases their love of music The Concert Band is another performance group at Sonoma State. With no audition needed, the Concert Band provides music lovers with any level of ability to grow their passion even further. They usu-
ally perform one to two shows throughout the semester in Weill Hall. Both of these music groups are directed by Dr. Andy Collinsworth, who has been a professor at Sonoma State since 2008. One of his biggest draws for coming to Sonoma State was the beautiful Green Music Center being built and to continue the growth of the band program that his colleague Dr. Brian Wilson started in 2000. “We are so very fortunate to have world class facilities like Weill and Schroeder Halls, and they have been an integral part of our university Music department,” said Collinsworth. “Because of the Green Music Center, we’ve been able to attract world class artists as well as host a number of large school music festivals, both of which are important to our recruiting efforts.” With directing both bands and preparing a show with 90-100 student performers, Collinsworth finds that praciting plays an integral part in the success of the show. “Our concert performance is essentially an extension of what we do in our Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Concert Band classes on a regular basis. Students study, practice and rehearse the repertoire we perform, and the performance is basically a public demonstration of our collective efforts,” said Collinsworth. The Concert Band will be showcasing the work of two senior Music Education majors. Ryan Perry will conduct Eric Whitacre’s gorgeous ballad “The Seal Lullaby”, and a Mark Lortz upbeat Latin piece “Fuego Español” will be conducted by Jacob Rosales.
A spoiler free review of ‘Avenger’s: Endgame’ Review
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he Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been a decade in the making starting in 2008 with “Iron Man” and now has led up to their latest film, “Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame.” The anticipation of the fans has them eager to experience where the last film was left off. Many of the beloved Avengers characters wiare featured in this film, including the newly introduced hero, Captain Marvel. For “Endgame,” the MCU has built a strong foundation of storylines that all intertwine, that has now lead to this end. “‘Endgame’ was never designed to stand on its own as a single well-crafted movie, and it was never designed to follow the MCU formula. It was designed to cap a decade of buildup around a single gigantic story,” according to The Verge. “In that sense, it’s certainly a triumph: it’s ambitious, towering and above all, daring in its difference.” An end of an era is time with all the MCU to come together in one film. To reflect of the past decade of films, the CGI graphics have improved immensely, storylines have deepened and characters have developed. Endgame is not a film to watch as your first Marvel film, since knowing some back story is important. Watching the first “Avengers :Captain America’s: Civil War” and “Avengers: Infinity War” will provide a significant background of storylines, conflicts and friendships, so be prepared for a Marvel marathon before watching this film as a first timer. This film makes for a worthy date night, get together with friends or family time with its action packed and humorous filled. “Endgame” does not follow the traditional hero’s journey, as there are numerous heroes that each have their own path. According to British GQ, “without giving much away, ‘Endgame’ becomes a celebration of previous Marvel films, a Marvel theme park ride of sorts. The result? Thrilling, for sure, with end-
Pacific Cultural Night showcases Filipino and Polynesian dances THOMAS PETERSCHMIDT
TERESA GULLI STAFF WRITER
A few other songs featured in the show have very powerful messages being portrayed through the music. “The Concert Band set also includes a performance of “An American Elegy”, a deeply moving work composed by USC professor Frank Ticheli as a tribute to the Columbine High School community following the horrific school shooting that occurred 20 years ago,” said Collinsworth. Another aspect of the show is a performance by the Wind Ensemble where they perform a Boysen composition “Song for My Children” in a style taken from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, a professional ensemble from New York that performs with no conductor. Collinsworth pitched the idea to a small group of his students and they ran with it, taking it into their own hands. They came up with their own rehearsal ground rules, such as anyone in the band can stop the rehearsal midstream by standing up, and everyone is empowered to make suggestions. “Everyone in the band has a full score to the piece which they use as a reference when making suggestions and decisions” said Collinsworth. “While much of this is communicated verbally in between, they have learned how to communicate these aspects nonverbally through gesture and eye contact with one another.” The performance begins on Friday, May 10 in Weill Hall at 7:30 p.m., expecting to end around 9:30 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase at tickets.sonoma.edu. Admission for students is free and $8 for the general public.
less call-backs and the occasional unlikely matchup.” Stan Lee, the creator of Marvel Comics, is a highlight to the MCU with his highly-anticipated cameos which has come to an end due to his recent death. The director has said that “Endgame” will be his last featured cameo in the MCU. The cameos have been important to the Marvel fans because it acknowledges his involvement in the films. His humorous acts and catch phrases will be missed dearly in the future of MCU. This is the first time in the MCU that a film has reached over two and a half hour films. “Endgame” is three hours long, so make sure your legs and back are prepared for sitting for that amount of time. Although it is a three hour film, it goes by quickly and the length is necessary to tell the whole story effectively and efficiently. Since it is a lengthy movie, make sure to use the restroom right away. You will not want to miss a second of this film. A die hard Marvel fan Roberto Mendez said, “‘Endgame’ is by far the best film that I have seen up to date that can seemingly tie in multiple storylines together. It was refreshing to see multiple scenes with action and humor. I have been a fan for a long time and feel that ‘Endgame’ was wrapped up nicely.” Since this is the end for now, it is safe to leave after the credits as there was no post credit scene. As the anticipation has been increasing since the end of the “Avengers: Infinity War,” fans on social media and bystander are hyping it up and getting excited. Marvel’s marketing team have been adamant on not spoiling the movie for other people. They have promoted using the hashtag, #nospoilers, to avoid the unselfish fans from sharing certain scenes. Since not everyone follows these rules, it is best to watch this film soon to avoid anyone from spoiling it. Staying away from social media is also a great idea.
COURTESY // Movienewz The cast of “Avengers: Endgame” chanels heroism and ferocity in the poster.
STAFF WRITER
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etting to experience the world in a lifetime can be difficult to accomplish, but being able to have a global experience come to you allows for an opportunity unlike no other. The Pacific Celebration Night (PCN) is a performance put on by the Filipino American Association of Sonoma State University (FAASSU). They will be hosting a large number of cultural dances representing the Filipino and Polynesian cultures. This club is run by students from diverse backgrounds. The performance starts on May 4 at 7:30 p.m in Person Theater. this year they will be celebrating its 10 year anniversary. With a large and vibrant culture, the Pacific Cultural Club (PCC) has to be accurate in their traditional recreations of dancing style and costume design. “It takes a lot of practice and, sometimes, research for the dances because they are cultural dances. This is my first year choreographing a dance,” Dedmon said. “I had to do a lot of research to prepare.” With all the work and dedication to the PCC, freshman Joshua Francisco has to set up a normal routine to balance his busy life. “Physically, since I am in seven dances I need good endurance. You need to contribute all your energy into it to make each dance the best one.” Francisco continues. With the physical challenge being the most obvious, being apart of the PCC can make your life very complex and stress-inducing as a student. “Mentally, balancing the activities of the club with my school work can be hard sometimes, but it’s definitely worth it,” Francisco said. With many different cultures represented in FAASSU, many members get to bond over the dances as they prepare for the celebration. With a strong sense of community in FAASSU, the members feel proud of making it all the way as a group. “Dancing with partners, you become really close friends with them and we’ll be there for each other like family,” Francisco said. As the club makes their final preparations for the celebration night they need those strong bonds with each member of the club. “With a strong sense of family, the club has created, the members care for each other deeply. I’m Japanese, but they make it feel like a home away from home,” Dedmon said. The FAASSU club is the largest cultural group at Sonoma State. They represent the Filipino and Polynesian communities while accepting all. Anybody can join, and with a lot of hard work and commitment, the club will showcase a week-long cultural celebration of traditional dances for the Sonoma State community. “I’m proud that I’m still able to learn about my culture, despite being a non-native born Filipino. I was raised in a predominantly Caucasian background so to be able to learn about my home culture is an honor I get to have,” Zapanta said. Clubs like the PCC have a great opportunity to make many students that are not Caucasian find a community at Sonoma State. Showing the strength of other cultures its an opportunity for a student to learn about another culture they might know much about. With an emphasis on making this event open and available to all the PCC shows their commitment to Sonoma State is unwavering. “This event isn’t necessarily meant to differentiate us, but simply to educated the student population at Sonoma State,” Zapanta said. With an event that has taken months to prepare and offers great insight into a diverse community on campus tickets will be sold a week before May 4. Admission for students is $5 and $10 for the community.
8 Student Life
APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2019
sonomastatestar.com
Gender Bender and Rainbow Prom brings safe and colorful fun
ETHAN PRINS
STAFF WRITER
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onoma State University’s Queer Student Alliance (QSA) hosted their 15th annual Gender Bender and Rainbow Prom on Saturday, April 27, in the Student Center Ballrooms. The night was packed with groovy ensembles, voguish attire, grins from ear to ear, and a famous host from the world of drag. Event usher, Madison Hughes, expressed her excitement that night when glorifying host, Landa Lakes. “We are pretty lucky to score such a genuine person and great MC.” said Hughes. Landa Lakes, also known as Miko Thomas, is a Native American man who embraces and practices drag cross-dressing tradition. Live call-in program public radio station, Native American Calling, featured Lakes in an edition on drag culture in Native America. “The gender-bending art form has less of a direct correlation to traditional Native culture, but there are some parallels. We talk to drag queens about their form of expression and the support—or lack of support—in their communities,” stated Native American Calling. Lakes proved to be an exceptional host because of her cultured approach; it is beneficial in uplifting acceptance in self love and community building. Gender Bender is a vibrant and dynamic drag show—it is comprised of dressing up, dancing, music, and merriment. The QSA offers a comforting environment for students to celebrate their gender. The Rainbow Prom followed the Gender Bender and gave students the motive to champion gender nonconformity through any form of expression. The night was fabulous and well executed; it offered a myriad of contests, prizes, and free snacks. Prior to the drag show transition, the QSA hosted a multi cultural club-intersectional lip sync battle—the winner was awarded based on applause. A runway show then followed, and the members were judged by amounts of clapping; the final decision for the winners were announced and confirmed by Landa Lakes. After that portion of the night concluded, members of the event proceeded to the Rainbow Prom where they danced under the disco. Emerson Robles-Tuttle is the man who put it all together. “Emerson is the person in the red velvet jacket. He is the person who manages to pull this off.” said Director of Student Involvement Mo Phillips. “He is the person who cares and strives to put this traditional series of events together.” Emerson Robles-Tuttle is the president of The QSA. According to Robles-Tuttle, the overall club mission is to create a safe spectrum for LGBT folk. “We serve as political activists for queer rights; if there is any form of discrimination on campus than we are the first to hear and we are the first to act.” Emerson exemplified that drag is a truly historical art form. Certain members of communities, from birth, dress in drag as a means of coping with gender dysphoria—the psychological feeling that you are not in the body that you were meant to be born in.
STAR // Brandon Sparks Grey Todd plays bass for the iconic song “Under Pressure” at the Gender Bender Prom Night on April 27.
STAR// Brandon Sparks Special guest Landa Lakes hosted the Gender Bender and Rainbow Prom on Saturday, April 27.
STAR// Brandon Sparks Kassandra Morales (left) and Mia Lopez (right) read out their poems on their coming out at the Gender Bender show.
Faculty Spotlight: Police Chief David Dougherty SAMANTHA BILLINGSLY STAFF WRITER
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lthough the past few years for Sonoma State University hasn’t been the easiest for faculty or students, the University Police Department is still determined to be a beacon of hope for the campus. David Dougherty, the current chief of the University Police Department (UPD), helps create a welcoming and professional environment between the students of Sonoma State and the UPD. Leroy Swicegood, a lieutenant with the department, said “Chief Dougherty provides a good example for his Police Department. He is a tremendously hard worker, has a high moral character, and aspires to provide the safest environment he can to the community he serves”. Dougherty has served Sonoma State since 2005, and has risen through the ranks of the university police department as an officer, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and now chief. He’s well equipped to lead his team, and has been trained in a range of areas such as staff development, media relations, and budget coordination. However, experience isn’t the only reason Dougherty stands apart from the crowd. “Chief Dougherty is a decision maker, however, he is open minded to others ideas, and open to change. He often asks others their opinions because he likes to see other points of view” said Swicegood. Despite how busy police work becomes, Dougherty does his best to foster positive relationships with the students of Sonoma State. “I implemented a twitter page, @SonomaS-
tatePD. I host coffee with the chief and cops events. United States. Don’t be afraid to greet the UPD ofI encourage and support my team’s desire to be acficers, or even hold a conversation with them when cessible and involved with the community,” said they’re not busy. Dougherty. A good way for students to become more active One of the ways he creates a deeper connection with law enforcement is through an internship. with the community is by hosting an event called Dougherty explained that the UPD currently has a “coffee with the chief ”, where the students can have student internship program, and those interested in a friendly conversation with him over coffee or tea. criminal justice should contact Officer Howard on the The goal of the event is to build community relaUPD’s 24 hour non-emergency phone at (707)-664tions in a relaxing environment. Another thing he 4444. The UPD also has a web page online that holds does is to make himself more accessible to the comgeneral information about the department, and also munity he answers his own desk phone. Dougherty has links for sexual assault victims, and more. also provides resources for his team, like bicycles and eventually an electric motorcycle, to help allow his team to patrol campus in order to be more accessible to the community. “I get out from behind my desk to walk campus, and talk to people. So many good things can come from a simple conversation,” said Dougherty. Dougherty tries to be approachable to the community, and confided that a fun fact about him is he’s visited 26 STAR// Analy Bravo of the 30 major league University Chief of Police smiles at his desk last semester. baseball stadiums in the
Student Life 9
APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2019
sonomastatestar.com
Seawolves SPEAK! “What is your favorite memory of Sonoma State University?”
ALEX FUNCHESS
STAFF WRITER
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ith the spring semester coming to a close, many Sonoma State Univeristy students are preparing for their future as college graduates. With just three weeks left until graduation weekend, students look forward to their commencement, and many reflect upon their journey at Sonoma State. Regardless of their plans for after college, graduation weekend is a milestone for all students. Sonoma State graduates have left an impact on campus and will leave several memories on campus. Many future graduates hold fond and warm memories of their time at Sonoma State University. Some will remember the friends they’ve made, for
others it’s the clubs they’ve joined or the life changing classes they’ve taken. On Saturday, May 18, ceremonies begin at 9 a.m. First will be held for the School of Business and Economics, then the School of Science and Technology at 1 p.m., and finally the School of Arts and Humanities at 5 p.m. Ceremonies continue Sunday, May 19 as students from the School of Social Sciences and Education will cross the stage at the Green Music Center. Tickets have been distributed to graduates, however, attendees can find lots of outdoor seating on the Weill Hall lawn.
“My favorite memory overall has been with all of the friends and all of the fun times we had together.”
“I would say my favorite memory is being in Hawaii as a part of the men’s Tennis team.” -Noah Rosenthal, Psychology major
-Emily Juarez, Communications major
“Some of my favorite memories have been those living on campus and getting involved within the Greek life community while also being able to explore the wondrous world of the wine industry.”
“My favorite memories would be practices with the water polo club, labs in the kinesiology department, and adventures with my roomates who I’ve lived with since freshman year.”
-Cameron Levin, Sociology major
-Emily Beireis, Kinesiology major
“I guess my favorite memories at Sonoma would be learning so many interesting things in my psychology courses and being a student ambassador for the international office.”
“I can’t say I have a favorite memory of Sonoma State but I will remember it well and with warmth. Day by day, it’s where I’ve been able to re-invent myself and develop into a better-educated person.”
-Dani Sandland, Psychology and Spanish double major
STUDENT LIFE CALENDAR Thursday, May 2 ASP Free Bowling Night 10 p.m. Double Decker Lanes
Friday, May 3 Safe Zone Level 1 12 p.m. Russian River Valley Room
Pacific Cultural Night 7:30 p.m. Person Theater
Monday, May 6 Spring Club Chartering/ Rechartering 4:30 p.m. Erin Fisher Room
Friday’s @ Lobo’s Karaoke 8:30 p.m. Lobo’s
From Russia With Love 7:30 p.m. Weill Hall
Saturday, May 4
Tuesday, May 7
Fairfield Osborn Naturalist Tours 10 a.m. Fairfield Osbron Preserve
Crusing Into Finals Special Dinner 5 p.m. Student Center Ballroom
DIY Saturday 4 p.m. The Vineyard
Night Under the Stars 7 p.m. Prelude Patio, Green Music Center
-Corey Jones, Psychology and Economics double major
Can’t miss DIY Saturdays JACK MESSIER STAFF WRITER
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o it yourself projects, often dubbed DIY, are just as opportune as they are ridiculously fun and engaging. There are a wide range of possible DIY projects out there and their potential is only amplified by time spent with others participating in the same. DIY projects are the perfect way to sharpen the brain with creative experimentation and conversation. For those intrigued by DIY projects, Seawolf Living has you covered, providing the creative spark at Sonoma State University’s “DIY Saturdays”, happening Saturday, May 4, from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. at the Vineyard. “Get out of the dorm and let your creativity run wild, from making your own slime, Playdoh, magnets, and so much more to hanging with your fellow Seawolves, ” states Seawolf Living. Small patches of creative fulfillment in our lives, even in the simplest instances of DIY fun, actually instill us with an uplifted mood and more energy. Of course, like many other activities, engaging in these moments with people—let alone fellow impassioned students— stimulates a creative focus that produces growing results, too. According to the mental health service Resources To Recover, the benefits from arts and crafts, such as those provided during DIY Saturdays, include stress reduction and relaxation. “Fighting anxiety, depression or emotional trauma can be very stressful for you both mentally and physically. Creating art can be used to relieve stress and relax your mind and body.” stated Resources to Recover. Calming activities and stress relief are always beneficial to college students.
Dylanger Rucker, a third-year Political Science major and Residential Advisor for Beaujolais village, is among an assemblage of students who’ve appreciated the dynamics of the event in the past. “Yeah, it was a great experience to be able to learn how to make your own arts and crafts among other things we got to do. I was super excited that this event was held because learning how to work through different tasks, too, with the little materials college students are offered was rewarding,” Rucker said. “Having that chance was just an amazing overall experience both for us RAs and the students that have come out to the event before.” With student attendees appreciating the enduring element of satisfaction and contentment brought about by completing the various DIY activities at hand, it does seem to feel like less of a task for students who have, indeed, discovered the not-so-hard to find enjoyment that pervades an environment of shared creative expressionism with electric potential. Jaret Fiffick, a third-year Business major and “DIY Saturday” attendee, thinks that, like Rucker’s overall impression, the event allowed him to see a “showcase of differences in creative expression and the personalized, different approaches of ingenuity between each of the students who attended and brought their own twist to the activities; that was fulfilling in itself.” With an admission fee costing nothing more than a short walk to the Vineyard, and creative opportunities, like Lava Lamp making, stretching well beyond otherwise mundane tasks like making putty, DIY Saturdays is definitely an on-campus event make sure not to miss.
10 Sports
APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2019 sonomastatestar.com
Women’s volleyball back-toback National Champions JOEY PIOMBO STAFF WRITER
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he Seawolves made history this season earning back-to-back national championships. They had an outstanding season this year with a 12-3 regular season record, earning them a chance at the national tournament. The team traveled to Denver, Colorado to compete against some of the top teams in the country. The Seawolves were competing from April 18 to April 20 in the NCVF Volleyball Championships. Just a year ago the team competed and won the national title in 2018. A year later, and the team was crowned national champions once again. The Seawolves compete against some top-notch schools in their regular season campaign. They played teams such as Santa Clara University, University of California, Berkeley, University of San Francisco, University of California, Davis, and University of California, Los Angeles.. When talking to club member, Rachel Hadley, it was no surprise that the club has a championship work ethic. “I think what sets our team apart and why we’ve now won Nationals back to back is that we’re all willing to put in that extra work and genuinely enjoy it because we get to do what we love with the people we love.” The team works very hard each week in order to develop chemistry. They have two set practices throughout the week but often times schedule more time to perfect their craft. The family atmosphere that the team has gained has lead the club down a path of success and victories.
When talking to Club President Molly Armstrong about the rules of the game she described them saying, “The games in the tournament were the best of meaning that you play two games to twenty-five points and if each team wins one of those then there’s a third game to fifteen to determine the winner.” The journey through the National tournament was anything but easy. Within the span of three days the team played a total of nine games. When talking to Hadley about the atmosphere of the tournament, she described it saying, “The energy is electric...you’re walking into a giant convention center filled with thousands of people who you share a common passion with.” Their championship game against University of Wisconsin Eau Claire had its ups and downs. The Seawolves lost the first game but managed to come back and win the second. The third and final tie-breaker was very intense. The club was down 13-11 but managed to inch back and win the National Title. When talking about goals for the program in years to come Armstrong described her hopes when saying, “We are always looking for ways to spread the word about club volleyball on campus.” The teams winning mentality and back to back National titles is sure to draw some attention to new-coming players. With such a historic two seasons the team is hoping to have another outstanding year as they start their journey next semester.
COURTESY // Women’s volleyball club The team proudly lifts their second national tournament trophy and shows their gold medals for the second consecutive year.
Men’s volleyball Men’s lacrosse finishes in 5th comes up short
CLARK FAHRENTHOLD STAFF WRITER
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onoma State men's volleyball team wrapped up their season this past weekend in Denver Colorado at the Division two National Championship Tournament. The Seawolves season was one that was marked by its ups and downs but overall was yet another strong season. In 2019, the team finished tied for third with a record of 10-8 in the Northern California Collegiate Volleyball League placing just behind UC Davis (12-5) and UC Berkeley (17-2). The men's team had a strong push at the end of the regular season with wins against both UC Santa Cruz and Santa Clara University which helped sparked the teams strong run in both their league and National Tournament. The Seawolves were placed in Pool D of the Division two Championship bracket, which included the likes of Longwood University, Michigan Tech University, and Bryant University. Sonoma State would come out of the gate like a bottle rocket, as they would pick up three day-one victories and complete a clean sweep of their respective pool on their first day of play. Winning each match in with relative ease as only one of their matches needed to go to a third set. The team would keep things rolling with their first match the next day as they would complete a thrilling comeback against the Seagulls of Salisbury University as after dropping the first set 20-25, the Seawolves would storm back capturing the next two sets 25-21 and 15-12. However, the perfect run would, unfortunately, come to a halt as Sonoma State would drop its next match in 3 sets against Calvin University. “I think the only thing we could have done better in the tournament and really for the season overall is just be more consistent so we can avoid or limit the number of bad days we have,” said junior Andrew Abraham The team would, however, rebound to push their tournament record to 5-1, but its championship aspirations would ultimately be ended after falling to the Army Black Knights in an exciting 3 set match, that saw the two teams split the first two sets, Seawolves winning the first 26-24. But the Knights fought back and grabbed the final 2 sets 25-20 and 15-9. The Seawolves would end up finishing 5-2 on the tournament as well as capturing 12 total sets wins and holding their opponents to only 7 sets wins. The Seawolves finished with a 5th place 2019 NCVF Volleyball Championship. Sonoma States 5th place finish would mark the teams 3rd top 10 finish in nationals in the last 5 years. “I think you can for sure see this is a program that has gotten used to and really expects to win” said Jacob Gedryn. It's clear that the team and the program are on the rise and with a strong returning core expectation are even higher for the years to come. With another trip to the National Championship under their belt, the future could not be brighter for the Seawolves. As Abraham said, “Were a team that works hard and works extremely well together and I really believe that we are well on our way to capturing the national championship. It's just a matter of time.” For you or anyone that you know, that is interested in trying out for the men's volleyball team next year/semester visit the team page on facebook or you can contact the team's president, Max king via email kingm@sonoma.edu for more information on next years tryouts as well as other information.
MARISSA UGARTE STAFF WRITER
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he Sonoma State men’s lacrosse team finished up their season last weekend after a tough game against the University of California, Berkeley in the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League tournament. The game took place at Rancho Cotate High School in Rohnert Park. “The season coming to an end is somewhat bitter-sweet, sure it would have been nice to continue on and get a shot at making the National Tournament, but now we as a team have free time to start preparing for next season,” said defenseman, Ryan Hampton. Luckily for the Seawolves, they did not have to travel far. Other teams competing in the tournament included: Stanford University, University of Nevada, Reno, Santa Clara University, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, University of California, Berkeley, and Sonoma State University. The winner of the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League tournament will earn an automatic qualifying spot in the 2019 Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association National Championships sponsored by Under Armour. Sonoma State came off of a huge win against Stanford University on April 20 in the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League quarterfinals. It was an overtime upset that led the team to play California, Berkeley in the semi-finals. Joey Piombo tied the game in the last six seconds of the game leading the team to play in overtime. Senior Brent Tovrea scored the game-winning goal and the final score landed at 15-14. “I think we started developing our own style on both sides of the field. The different new players that came in changed the way we operated during games and we adapted to that new style throughout the year,” said Tovrea, “I think we built great chemistry and learned to play together as the year went on and that led us to play our best games later in the year.” Sonoma States’ win against Stanford University in the quarterfinals was huge for the team considering Sonoma State lost to Stanford University 7-4 earlier in the season. Their quarterfinals success proved the team has grown and developed throughout the season, setting them up for success for the start of next season. Unfortunately, Sonoma State lost to California, Berkeley with the score of 19-10 last weekend in the semi-finals. Although it was a tough loss, goals were scored by Piombo, Tovrea, Hayden Dall, and Angelo Lagomarsino. The loss concluded Sonoma States 2019 season and they finished out their season with a record of 7-9. The first goal of the game was scored by Piombo which was followed up by a big run by California, Berkeley. Sonoma retaliated by inching their defense back but that did not keep California, Berkeley from scoring numerous goals. California, Berkeley moved on to play Santa Clara in the finals and claimed the winner of the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League tournament. “We as a team grew to understand how each of us play on an individual level which in return helps us f low together as a team”, said Hampton, “our younger guys including freshman and sophomores gained the experience they needed to make a bigger impact in the coming years. We are young, but we’ve proven that we are hungry and not going anywhere anytime soon.”
Sports 11
APRIL 30 - MAY 6, 2019
sonomastatestar.com
STAR // Kaitlyn Bradley
Water polo drops three games in WWPA playoffs
A Sonoma State women’s water polo player passes the ball to her teammates in a February game against Santa Clara University.
JACKSON WALDRON STAFF WRITER
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he women’s water polo team headed to Geneva, Ohio for the Western Water Polo Association championship tournament that began on April 26. Sonoma State came in ranked fifth out of nine teams. Their opening game was played against the fourth seed, Gannon University. Jojo Williams and Taylor Brooks both found the back of the net to give the Seawolves a 2-1 lead as the first quarter closed. Sonoma State was then held scoreless in the second. Gannon was now ahead 3-2 at the end of the half. Gannon continued their strong offensive efforts and pulled ahead, going up 7-4 as the third quarter concluded. The Seawolves would open the scoring in the fourth quarter but after one last surge from Gannon, the final score of the game was 9-5. “It was a rough weekend, we were down our leading scorer and one of our other key players so we had a lot to make up for,” said Brooks. “With that being said, we had a lot of people stepping up.” The team had to prepare for the eighth seeded,
Monterey Bay. The game was highlighted by numerous comeback efforts from the Seawolves. Down 6-3 in the second quarter, Williams would score back to back goals to bring the team within reach. Additional goals from Williams and Brooks would bring the score to 10-7 as the third quarter ended. The team erupted for three straight goals in the fourth to keep the game close. After a goal from Monterey Bay, Williams scored again to keep the game within a goal, score 13-12. The next two minutes of play would finish scoreless as the Seawolves desperately tried to find the equalizing goal. The game would finish in a loss for the Seawolves, final score 13-12. Williams would finish the day with five goals and Kelly Failner had five assists. “The game was tough. We all worked so well together though and I’m proud of our performance and battle back in the fourth quarter,” said Williams. “I wanted to perform well and my teammate Kelly Failner looked at me and said go off and it just resonated with me and I felt a burst of energy.”
The Seawolves were now set to face the bottom ranked Mercyhurst the next morning. The game did not start as Sonoma State would have hoped and they headed into the fourth quarter down 7-3. The Seawolves would then erupt for three goals, capped by a nice finish from Hailey Gellert to bring the team within a goal with 58 seconds remaining. The Seawolf comeback would once again fall short as the game finished with Mercyhurst on top, 7-6. Gellert led the way for Sonoma State with four goals in the game. The Seawolves finished the season with a record of 7-17. With the season now coming to a close, the team seems set for a strong 2020 season. There were many young players with the team and they hope to take this season and build upon it for the years to come. “The team has learned so much this year and I’m so proud of every single one of my teammates for everything we have accomplished,” said senior Taylor Brooks. “Team chemistry wise, this is the best team I have ever been a part of and I’m most thankful to end my senior year with this group of girls.”
Baseball loses walk-off heartbreaker to rival Chico
COURTESY // sonomaseawolves.com Senior catcher Patrick Tolbert gets a hit against rival Chico State on Saturday, April 27th. JONAH TROSKY STAFF WRITER
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onoma State University baseball got swept by rival Chico State University in walk-off fashion 7-6. The Chico State Wildcats came out fast scoring two runs in the first, putting lots of pressure on Sonoma State. The Seawolves had lost the first three games of the series, and with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread they looked to salvage the final game of the series. “Chico’s offense was timely and they did a really good job this weekend,” first baseman and senior Kory Brown said. The Seawolves lost some heartbreakers over the weekend, losing all four games by a combined eight runs. A couple plays changed the outcome of the game and the Seawolves look to improve on those, “Every time we made a mistake, Chico made us pay,” Brown said. Mistakes often come back to haunt you in baseball and today was no different. “The biggest improvement we can make for the next series is to play better defense for our pitchers,” Brown said. Chico State’s left fielder Cody Wissler seemed to capitalize
on all of Sonoma’s mistake recording five hits, driving in a run, and scoring twice. Even after losing seven straight the Seawolves feel they can flip the switch and get back to their winning ways. “Our team has been so resilient all year long,” Brown said. This game was a microcosm of the whole season as the Seawolves fought back multiple times, but fell a little short. They were down three in the sixth and tied it there and were down two in the ninth and tied then, too. “When we got two in the ninth it was a testament to the resilient team we have,” Brown said. If the season ended today the Seawolves would not be in the playoffs, but there are still a few regular season games left to do some damage. Either way, this can be a stepping stone to success in future years. “The cards didn’t go our way, but I am proud of every one of our guys,” Brown said. Improving on the little aspects of the game could propel the Seawolves into some more wins. Chico State capitalized on errors made by the Seawolves, but the Seawolves did not. In the first inning, the second
batter of the game reached on an error. The Seawolves could not capitalize as the next two hitters struck out. Sonoma State also stranded 10 men on base, which is not terrible for a nine-inning game but is something they can improve on. “We set ourselves up well, but we just could not execute as much as we wanted to today,” James Harwell said. With stranding 10 men on base the Seawolves still scored six runs. The Sonoma State players simply feel they deserved to win the series. “Chico wasn’t a better team but they outplayed us this weekend,” Harwell said. That is a bold statement, but the Seawolves truly believe it. The toughest part now for the Seawolf players is their fate is not up to them. They have to hope for other teams to lose along with them winning out. “Now we just have to hope things work out where other teams lose and we can slide into the playoffs,” Harwell said. By the end of next week, Sonoma State will know their fate. “For next series we can just not get comfortable with any lead because the game can change at any moment,” Zac Gaurdino said.
12 Photo
APRIL 30- MAY 6, 2019
sonomastatestar.com
Jeans For Justice informs of campus assault
STAR // Emily Kowalski Jeans For Justice holds an event in the Seawolf Plaza to raise awareness of sexual assault and harrassment on college campuses.
STAR // Emily Kowalski Students and staff pose for a picture in front of a Jeans For Justice sign, advocating for education about consent.
STAR // Kayla Allen Graton Resort and Casino is full of light on a busy night of gambling and fun.
STAR // Brandon Sparks Sierra Harned plays a fast paced game of air hockey at the 90s Throwback Spring Fest.
STAR // Kaylie Boettner Julie Peterson (left) and Jazmin Reano (right) have fun making their snow cones at Day in the Sun on Saturday.