Issue 6

www.thecrcconnection.com

Career fair hopes to provide job opportunities for all

See Page 3 Eb Arreola| The Connection

Campus Gets Grant CRC receives funds to improve student success News, Page 4

ISSUE 6 Spring 2016 Student voice of CRC since 1970

Summer on a Budget Frugal summer in the outdoors Features, Page 7

FACEBOOK /crcconnection

Beat the Stigma

Openness about mental health could save lives Opinion, Page 8

TWITTER @crcconnection

Summer Camps

CRC helps everyone stay busy this summer Sports, Page 12

INSTAGRAM @thecrcconnection

PAGE 2

MAY 5, 2016

>>News

Students perform in model U.N. conference

By Kayleen Carter kcarter.connect@gmail.com Delegates of the Cosumnes River College Model United Nations club attended the 66th annual Model United Nations of the Far West Conference April 15-18 in San Francisco, representing the People’s Republic of China.

Model United Nations is a simulation program open to college students where they participate in sessions that model the United Nations and develop a deeper understanding of relations between nations, policies of different nations and how they work in United Nations.

The Model United Nations club at Cosumnes River College was implemented into the Political Science program in 2013, and has since attracted an array of intelligent and independent individuals who have a passion for debate and learning about other countries. “[Model UN] shows you that we’re really not that different,” said Adalynn Makihele, a 24-year-old

international relations major.

“The things that we do, tackle situations. As countries we are really not that different. It also shows that there isn’t just one way that works.”

Students who participate in the club have taken either an international relations course or political science course to aid in understanding the background of politics, social democracy and international issues, helping students become more confident in representing their assigned countries.

Every year, each team is assigned to represent a different country, and can represent two if they wish.

The CRC Model UN team, advised by Political Science Department Chair Martin Morales, has previously participated in two separate conferences.

This year, the thirteen delegates had the opportunity to represent China and was given a warm welcome in a meeting with Chinese representatives on March 25.

“We were invited into a

Are you connected?

Receive updates of our online coverage to your e-mail inbox by subscribing at thecrcconnection.com or follow us on Twitter @crcconnection

“In my committee, personally I think we did the best in the entire thing, we were the only committee in the entire conference who passed four resolutions for the three topics. ”

-- Nephtali Robles

international relations major hall, and we were received in a receiving line,” Morales said.

“We were shown an amazing video on the natural beauty of China.”

Morales also said that the Deputy Consul also gave the delegates a presentation of Chinese policy on the regional and national level.

Along with a new country, a new theme is chosen each year for the annual Conference. This year, the topic for the conference was Implementing sustainable development goals.

The three-day conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel located near the San Francisco Airport in Burlingame and was the lodging area for all participating schools as well.

There were different

committees at the conference which addressed subcategories of the overall issue or theme.

Each participating school had a delegate as a representative of that particular committee’s issue.

“In my committee, personally I think we did the best in the entire thing,” said Nephtali Robles, a 25-year-old international relations major.

“We were the only committee in the entire conference who passed four resolutions for the three topics.”

There was a mix of four-year universities and community colleges that were present at the conference, and the CRC delegates became acquainted with their fellow allies as the conference unfolded. At times, the discussion would heat up

and essentially come to an impasse.

“We had a lot of heated topics,” said 21-year-old nursing major Brittany Cox. “We had women’s rights and equality and empowerment of women as one and religion as another one, and sustainable goals as a third but we didn’t get to that third one because, our first and second resolutions were taking a very long time, because people were attacking each other.”

But although there were moments of nervous hesitation, the delegates felt they performed to the best of their ability.

“We know we did the best that we could with it,” said 24-year-old Olivia Askins, international relations major and president of Model UN. The delegates returned home, somewhat exhausted and disoriented but overall grateful for the experience that the event had brought them.

Morales said that he was extremely proud of his team of delegates and that this was “the best team I could ask for.”

News Brief A former photography student posted idle threats to Facebook which threatened photography professors Jim West, Kathryn Mayo, and Patty Felkner and students on April 29.

Students and faculty involved with the photo 260 class, had to return back to campus just as the class arrived in Yosemite after a former student was posting to Facebook with ill content about the class, said Jim West, one of the professors in the class.

The Eastern Sierra landscape Yosemite Valley class is two units and is a total of 18 hours, and is a class where students spend a weekend in the Yosemite area photographing the landscape.

“We had a student

four years ago that was creating pornographic photos in the photography department, she we would take the photos off campus and then bring them in to develop them,” West said.

West said that the student was reprimanded and eventually dropped from the class.

The student eventually returned to the campus this year and attended one of the meetings for the class on April 8, West said.

The student was asked to leave after becoming very angry and hostile.

West said he called campus police to remove her from the building.

After that incident the student took to Facebook and said that she was still going to go on the Yosem-

ite trip no matter what, West said. The student then posted a photo of her at a gun range with the tagline that said she was reducing stress.

West said that he and fellow photo professor Kathryn Mayo requested restraining orders against the student.

The server wasn’t able to give the order to the student before the class left or the trip, West said.

President Edward Bush then made the decision to call the class back to campus after only being at the campsite for less than an hour, West said.

Later that day the student posted a video to facebook of herself at the campsite where the class was supposed to stay.

thecrcconnection.com

Page 3

Biggest career fair in campus history

By Erica Trujillo etrujillo.connect@gmail.com The campus partook in its largest career fair this past week. The event was from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the quad on April 27.

Work in the radio industry, join PepsiCo, be a personal trainer, or work on the register at Chick- Fil- A. These were some of the jobs presented in April’s career fair on campus.

There was an even greater amount of companies offering jobs than previous years due to the efforts of Career Specialist Courtnee Mack of the career center who just started working at CRC in November of last year.

Her main goal was to get as many companies as she could to talk to students as well as various companies that cater to a great deal of majors on campus.

“It’s different opportunities.You get to see what’s available in the local area and abroad,” said 28-year-old electrical engineering major Tyler Perez.

Mack said she invited as many employers as she could by going as far as meeting the Human Resource managers of the potential career fair affiliates.

“I found a list of employers that they invited in 2014, so we invited them and I told my student workers, “hey, anybody that you think would

be appropriate to be here and that would offer jobs to our students, go ahead and find out who their Human Resource manager is cuz I want to talk to them”,” said Mack.

A lot of students were excited to see careers that pertained to their major and happy that there was a wide range of employer booths to pick from.

“It opens doors for all the students, gives them options of what careers to take and what’s available,” said 25-year-old nursing major Nina Pulanco. “I think it’s great that they showcase all these different careers, it’s awesome.”

Mack said she is very excited to hear about how having the career fair on campus makes an impact on students.

Some students have come up to her expressing their need of a job and how because of the employers coming out, they now have interviews set up.

Some employers were not only handing out fliers but handing out coupons as well for their businesses.

An employee of the Communication, Visual and Performing Arts Department, CVPA, even commented on the good of the career fair for the students.

Clerk Tiara Smith said, “It gives students an opportunity to explore their career goals.

A lot of students, when they’re coming to college, they kinda

Eb Arreola| The Connection

Plenty of vendors were out in full force on April 27 near the quad offering coupons and career opitions.

don’t know what they want to get into, so this gives them the opportunity to gain the information.”

The event was so big that Mack said the school had to borrow five tables from Sacramento City College who were kind enough to lend them for the day. She said she didn’t want to turn down any last minute employers.

She also said that a lot of the employers complimented our campus for its beauty and

commented how this is the best career fair they’ve ever been to.

To attract attention Mack set up a raffle with items from CRC and items the employers donated to raffle off. By the end of the day, the jar was filled.

A South Sacramento resident and his wife came out for the career fair.

“You save time and you get more information at one place, so this is really good,”

said 35-year-old Emtoj Bajwa.

Mack said that her career center student workers made this event happen and one of the biggest events CRC has seen yet.

“A lot of students tend to drop out of school because they have to work, so this is a great opportunity for them to find student friendly employers that know that the students are students and are willing to work around their schedule,” said Mack.

Students’ artowork will be on display in Elk Grove

By Kayleen Carter kcarter.connect@gmail.com Students with a passion for the arts have an opportunity to showcase their artwork at the Elk Grove Fine Arts Center.

A select few of students from Cosumnes River College will be invited to showcase art pieces of their own producing and present them in a gallery show.

Jeffrey Kimbler, a professor of digital media at CRC, and co-coordinator of the art gallery showcase last semester, expressed that this was a good opportunity for students.

“Most of it’s not beginners work,” Kimbler said. “This is work coming from students who have been here.”

Most of the work that is going to be showcased will be an ode to the techniques and skills that the students have honed and learned, in the form of artwork.

Kimbler said that there wasn’t any specific theme of the art show, but that the three big genres: creative figure artwork, still life and landscaping would be frequent in the show.

“It’s more showcasing student art, studio, still life drawings from the studio.”

Kimbler said.

Along with the artwork, students will prepare an artist’s statement, which usually consists of the artist’s background information, how long they’ve been sculpting, drawing or painting.

Studio art major, Jess Per-

ry, 20, who submitted a digital piece for the show, said she was happy to have her work showcased. “[I was] pretty honored,” said Perry. “I think it’s a good thing that the students art can be showcased.”

Perry said her habit for artistry began at a young age in middle school and soon perfected her craft as she continued to draw.

“People will contact me and say “Jess, draw for me’ and throw cash at me, “ Perry said.

Perry also said that the arts are not often emphasized enough and that the event will have an impact on art students on campus.

“If more arts were shown and encouraged, then maybe they [students] will try and get

“Most of it’s not

beginners work, this is work coming from students who have been here.”

-- Jeffery Kimbler

digital media professor degrees here.”

Donte Cuellar, a 26-yearold Geology major and avid potter, explained his invitation came when he was in ceramics class and a woman came into the classroom asking for his artwork.

“I saw this lady talking to my teacher Yoshio and she came around, looked at me, and was like ‘I need pictures of your artwork,” said Cuellar.

Cuellar also said that pic-

tures of his artwork were displayed on the flyers for the art show, but that he didn’t realize his artwork would actually be in the show itself.

“It wasn’t like a big surprise, I should have connected two and two and been like ‘somebody asked for my artwork, they work at the Elk Grove Arts Center, they probably want to display it.” Cuellar said.

Kimbler said that this event would present a good opportunity for students to experience a student show in a real setting, which will hopefully aid in future, prospective student art shows at the CRC art galleria.

The opening reception for the student art show at the Elk Grove Fine Arts Center will be on May 7.

PAGE 4

MAY 5, 2016

California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office awards CRC grant implementing the same strategies in their own departments.

For example, Professor Erica Reeves of the English Department sees all the benefits of the grant as an amazing opportunity for students to get ahead.

“We already have some classes that use student assistance and now we’re able to add more of that support in our classes, so that’s also one of the great changes, said Professor Reeves.

“We are also adding in what’s known as embedded support and so in addition to having student assistance in the classroom, we’ll be able to have counselors more readily available to our students, time in our reading and writing center, time with the librarians, so really making all of the student support services that are available on campus more of an embedded part of the course than something that’s separate that the student would have

department Professor Erika Reeves said that instead of a student taking English reading and then English writing, they would be combined into A grant was awarded to CRC by one course so students can start getting the California Community Colleges to where they need to be and not be so Chancellor’s Office in April. Several far behind. professors and personnel in charge With the money, faculty can show of the basic skills departments at the the students that yes they can graduate college attended a meeting by the sooner than they thought and to Chancellor’s Office in Oakland to continue on with their education. discuss how they can help and support A professor in the ESL the students in the best way possible. department,James Wilson, mentioned The school applied for a statewide that he has seen a steady increase in grant opportunity offered to help students who take more classes than these departments and were chosen to just the ESL classes alone. receive it out of the many schools that Since the numbers have already applied. been increasing, having classes that The grant CRC received was the would make it easier for students to Basic Skills and Student Outcomes pass onto the next level would mean Transformation Grant. The school an even rapid growth. qualified because it received a Basic “Given a choice rather than take Skills Initiative allocation according to classes separately over a longer period the Chancellor’s Office website . of time if we can maybe decrease the According to the California amount of time they spend Community Colleges in the program and at the Chancellor’s Office website, We’re defi nitely trying to do what we can to same time keep the academic “The purpose of these grants rigor,hoping that they is to enable colleges receiving be sure that anybody coming to college relatransfer to CTE programs an award to implement or tively unprepared we can get them as quickly or academic programs, that expand innovations and would be a good goal for us,” redesign in the areas of prepared and sent off as much as possible. ” said Professor Wilson. assessment, student services, -- Pedro Rubaclava The money will be and instruction.” released in intervals and one instuctional assistant The amount of department at a time will money allotted for all the receive portions of the money. There schools altogether was $60 million to go seek out.”

This grant will help the students will be one class re’lease per time. in proposition 98 funds. CRC will Students at CRC want to get in receive $1.5 million to use towards who are not college level ready and need more assistance outside of class as and get out when it comes to classes to helping students in the Basic Skills Departments such as English, math well. The grant would allot more time get on with their jobs or further their for teachers to stay helping students education and by shortening their time and ESL. The money would go towards that need the tutoring, having more here with combined classes, it makes it programs that help lower level college counselors on campus, combining easier for them to do so.

Some students may not want to students to help succeed in their classes classes to help students get out faster continue with their education after to speed up the process of getting a and more.

Instructional assistant to the math learning they are so far behind but degree to be at an equal level as other center, Pedro Rubalcava sees the grant with the help of the new opportunities students.

According to the Dean of as a way to provide the assistance to arising from the grant, the students can go through the “remedial pathway” as Humanities and Social Science, students who need it and are behind.

“We’re trying to make sure that for Wilson calls it, faster than normal.

Alexander Casareno who is a lead “The basic skills initiative and the writer on the grant report and assisting the people that fall into the category of in the implementation of it, the money what we consider basic skills, in other grants related to that is an attempt to will be distributed over a three year words, they were not quite prepared bridge that gap to shorten the time and for college, that we want to make sure to make those pre-collegiate students time span.

Members of the Foundations for to give them individual attention so more prepared for the rigors of college Academic Success Committee are in that they can be more acclimated to work,” said Professor Wilson.“Time charge of writing the proposal for the what they’re being asked for at the and financial resources might help college level,” said Rubalcava. bridge the gap.” grant.

With this grant there would be The college and many of the “We are certain we will see success because we are implementing proven more opportunities for students to professors have said that they want evidence based strategies to get us succeed when on the topics of tutoring, to see these students to achieve their where we want to go,” said Casareno, “ counseling as well as getting ahead in goals and this grant is the best way to do so.

We are looking to make sure that these school.

For students below the college “We’re definitely trying to do what changes have been institutionalized.”

He mentioned that five years from level, courses would be combined so we can to be sure that anybody coming now the school will have gone through students can take a four-unit course to college relatively unprepared we a great change in the Math, English or two separate courses adding more can get them as quickly prepared and time. sent off as much as possible,” said and ESL departments.

For example, in the English Rubalcava.

There’s a long list of people also

By Erica Trujillo etrujillo.connect@gmail.com

“

SAVE THE

DATE CHORAL CELEBRATION

At 7 p.m. on May 10 there will be a choral celebration of chamber singers and the college chorus in the Recital Hall.

On May 17 they will perform as well at the same time but instead of the college chorus, there will be a gospel choir.

SAC GARDEN TOUR HISTORY

There will be an East Sacramento Garden Tour May 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Seven gardens are featured on the tour. There will also be food trucks.

You can buy tickets at David Luben Elementary for $20 before May 6 and $25 after. Children who are 12 and under are free. The event will

ARMS AND THE MAN

There will be a free showing of the performance Arms and The Man by the Theatre Department on May 6 and 7 there will be performances at 7:30 p.m. in the black box theatre.

May 11 at 12 p.m. will be their last performance.

SEE YOU NEXT FALL

Final exams begin May 12 and the end of the Spring semester is May 18.

SUMMER CLASSES

Summer 2016 classes will begin on June 6 and the second term will begin in June 20. Classes for the fall semester will begin on August 20.

For more start dates visit www.losrios.edu.

Page 5

thecrcconnection.com

>>Features

Nutrition and horticulture team up for new program

By Courtney Fong cofong.connect@gmail.com Cosumnes River College students will get the chance to do hands-on work in a live lab when a new nutrition certification program opens in fall 2017.

Plant-based Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture is a rare certification program because of how broad it is.

Students will grow and prepare their own crops for consumption while learning the science behind food and how it affects their bodies.

“We see this as a full-circle,” said Nutrition and Foods, Allied Health Professor and program coordinator Dana Wassmer. “How we grow plants, how to prepare plants, and how to eat plants, that’s what we’re really after, to help teach students not only about health, but also about where their food comes from.”

The program consists of

three classes: a plant-based nutrition course, a food preparation of plant-based foods course and a sustainable agriculture course.

“We’re hoping to show people what they can do in their own yards and also open up some career opportunities for new students who decide that they want to try that small urban production,” said Horticulture Professor Dave Andrews, who will teach the sustainable agriculture class.

“It’s been quite lucrative as a business and career opportunity for students to do urban agriculture.”

Wassmer and Andrews said the driving force for establishing the program was high interest from the community, the drought and the farm-to-fork movement in Sacramento.

“It could be really beneficial for students. Especially in this day and age where people don’t really seem to

eat healthy like that,” said 27-year-old sociology major Colette Goodenough. “I think it’s really nutritionally beneficial, but I think it goes beyond that. I think that when you

and have less of an impact on the environment.

Students will help develop the half to three-quarter acre garden without the use of fertilizer. The goal is to make

“We’re hoping to show people what they can do in their own yards and also open up some career opportunities for new students who decide that they want to try that small urban production.”

-- Dave Andrews Horticulture Professor

learn how to actually grow something you can kinda take that with you, and if you have kids you can teach them that.”

Andrews said it’s very difficult to produce good quality organic food on a large scale.

He wants students to learn that small, local and organic farms can yield better results

the garden organic, a process that takes three years.

“There’s a lot of success with some of these people who have done just that,” Wassmer said. “So now we want to be able to formalize it and provide some real education behind it. I think that’s what’s missing in so many people’s

educational process. It’s like, they theorize it, but then they don’t get to actually see it and do it. We’re trying to capture that.”

Once the certification program is established, Wassmer and Andrews plan on expanding multiple aspects of nutrition and sustainable agriculture with an outdoor demonstration kitchen, retail nursery space and large-scale composting.

“It’s going to be more like backyard orchard culture and backyard gardening, organically,” Andrews said. “So students can realistically harvest the food, walk a hundred feet over, wash it, prepare it and cook it right there.”

The plant-based nutrition certification program is on CRC’s 2016-2017 course catalog.

Though the program officially opens fall 2017, Wassmer hopes to have a soft opening in spring 2017.

“Arms and the Man” plays with ideas of love and war

By Kayleen Carter kcarter.connect@gmail.com Funny, touching and comedic, the theatre department of Cosumnes River College has done a splendid job of performing their latest play “Arms and the Man.” Although the title could mislead one to believe that the play would literally center around a man and his appendages, in reality the plot was in stark contrast.

The time-frame of the play was set during 1885, during the aftermath of the Serbo-Bulgarian war, in a small village located in Bulgaria.

It follows the story of Swiss soldier Captain Bluntschli, played by Alexander Lucas, who is in the Serbian army and by chance, finds himself in the company of wealthy, young Bulgarian Raina Petkoff, who is played

by Carmel Suchard, all while evading Russian forces.

The events all begin when Bluntschli ascends the terrace of Raina’s balcony and begs her to hide him from the pursuing Russian forces. At some

point the tired and bloody Swiss soldier, after two agonizing days of no sleep or food, fondly reiterates a time in which he ate nothing but chocolate on the battlefield.

Raina, as a gesture of goodwill towards her detainee, offers him cream chocolates that are located under a large portrait of her betrothed, Major Sergius Saranoff, played by Francisco Luna. Who has quite an outstanding mustache.

Though slow at first, with the characters speaking in a confusing old English dialect that had to be continuously decoded, from that point on the love story unfolded as war was over, and relationships were broken.

Raina’s dear soon-to-be husband, sly and outrageous as he was, pursued Raina’s serving maid Louka played

by Maggie Perez, behind her back and she herself starting to delve into the unknown territory of attraction for her chocolate cream soldier, as she had named him.

Amidst the secrets and deceit, there was always an underlying tone of satirical

Courtney Fong | The Connection

Student actor Alexander Lucas delivers his lines as character Captain Bluntschli in the theatre department’s adaptation of “Arms and the Man.” The satirical play gives a different perspective in times of war.

humor surrounding the idea of war and love. The soldiers in both Bluntschli and Major Paul Petkoff’s-who was Raina’s father and played by Dustin White- armies apparently fled the battle scene like the brave, and valiant soldiers they were. While the two main couples of the play all had different ideas of what love was.

Whether sincere, passionate, unfaithful or playful, all had a funny way of showing it.

The acting of the male lead and the main male characters

were quite strong throughout the play, as a whole. The female characters were also just as good, however the female main lead either overplayed her character or her character was just down-right silly and over dramatic. Which is a good thing, but quite cliche.

The way the characters interacted with each other was beyond hilarious. Every line was delivered with a heavy amount of sarcasm and satire, and was received by bellows of laughter from the audience.

In general, the sheer amount of humor and heartfelt acting filled with passionate performances, is what made this play worth seeing, and I would recommend that students go and see the play some time or catch another one next fall.

Score out of five stars

PAGE 6

MAY 5, 2016

Beyoncé empowers fans with new visual album

By Oksana Barrios obarrios.connect@gmail.com From political issues to personal life matters, Beyonce’s new album hit titled “Lemonade” incorporates a visual aspect that provides insight into real world issues and allows viewers into the journey of her private life.

Beyonce’s sixth studio album was released on April 23 and came in at number one on the Billboard 200, providing the superstar with her sixth chart topper.

The visual album reveals an unguarded part of Beyonce’s life as it centers around infidelity and the aftershock emotions that follow.

From betrayal to forgiveness, from sadness to revival, the new visual album is layered with every emotion possible and brings the mega superstar into a relatable light.

The visual album displays Queen B drowning in her tears, smashing everything around her with a baseball bat, throwing her ring at the camera and her driving in a monster truck over cars. Her painfully obvious anger only becomes more clear with lyrics such as “big homie better grow up” and “middle fingers up, put them hands high, wave it in his face, tell him, boy, bye.”

The album does take a turn in attitude. What’s life without trials - or, as Beyonce

Concerts In the Park

Sacramento will be starting up an annual friday evening event filled will national and local music and drinks from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. starting May 6 until July 29.

Admission is free Location: Cesar Chavez Plaza, 910 I Street, Sacramento

Cactus and Succulent Show

Courtesy Photo

calls them, lemons?

It is not until the second half of the album that the viewer can begin to see a happy ending. With songs titled “Forward,” “Freedom” and “Formation” and lyrics such as “nothing real can be threatened,” the mood begins to lighten.

The main focus of the album seems to be infidelity but Beyonce does not forget to powerfully enforce the idea that ‘Black lives matter’ into her album.

As Beyonce’s album gets more personal it also gets

more political. Malcolm X is quoted early in the film with “the most disrespected person in America is the black woman.”

Scenes of African American women gathered in circles are repeatedly shown through the album, along with images of Trayvon Martin and his mother.

In home-video footage of Hattie’s, Jay-Z’s grandmother’s, 90th birthday, “we see her say she took lemons and made lemonade, as all black women who want to work, survive and also thrive

must do,” said Miriam Bale on Billboard.

Beyonce does it again with this hit album that even though we see her at her most vulnerable, viewers still describe the album as “defiant,” “brave” and “powerful” in addition to feeling that the visual album was one of her strongest to date, according to Stephanie Smith-Strickland on Highsnobiety.

Score out of five stars

Sacramento Cactus and Succulent Society will be hosting their annual event showcasing members most prized and impressive plants and will have a wide selection for sale on May 7 and 8. The event will be from 9 a.m.to 5 p.m. on both days for free.

Location: McKinley Park, Sacramento

Underground Sacramento Tour

The Sacramento History Museum is having underground after-hours tours, showing the cities past for those 21 and older on Thursday through Saturday from May 5 to mid October.

Admission: $20

#TrendingNow Musician Sir Paul McCartney was announced to be the first artist to perform at Sacramento’s new Golden 1 stadium.

“I think it’s awesome that Paul McCartney is opening up. I’ve always liked The Beatles and he’s a great musician so I think he’s a great pick for being the first to perform at the new arena,” said 20-year-old early childhood development major Athena Dopp.

h Ice

Too Muc

Paul Mc

Cartney

An Illinois woman is suing Starbucks for putting too much ice into cold drinks. The lawsuit claims that drinks are to contain a certain amount of liquid while customers getting a fraction.

“Starbucks is already expensive so you might as well get the maximum amount of drink. Besides drinks don’t need that much ice, it just waters down the drink,” said 21-year-old early childhood education major Tabitha Matthies.

Ted Cruz

Compiled by Oksana Barrios All photos are courtesy photos

Drops

Senator Ted Cruz announced his decision to drop out of the republican presidential race followed by the same announcment

by Govenor John Kasich.

“I know that Ted Cruz didn’t have a good chance against Donald Trump because his numbers are so big but I don’t understand why that was, so i’m more irritated at America,” said 18-year-old organizational communications major Lauren Quidgeon.

THECRCCONNECTION.COM

PAGE 7

HIKING RIVER ACCESS Discovery park

Black hole of calcutta falls

1000 Garden Hwy, Sacramento, CA

CA-193, Auburn, CA 95603 This trail leads to a waterfall that flows all year long.

The trail is roughly 2 miles long and only takes about an hour or two to complete.

2

This park is full of public facilities as well as many entrances to the Sacramento River. The river also gives access to boating, kayaking, and swimming with many spots to picnic and barbeque.

Auburn Confluence trail

Sand Cove Beach

Confluence Trail, CA 95614

This trail has an alternating path of smooth and rocky terrain that follows a 4 mile loop along the American River.

Some parts of the trail does get steep so it is not for those with a fear of heights.

American river bike trail Jedediah Smith Trail

The trail is a paved trail that runs between the confluence of the Sacramento River with the American River just north of downtown Sacramento and goes up to northern Folsom. There are many entrances to the trail.

Humbug willow creek trail Folsom, CA 95630

The trail is a paved trail that runs between the confluence of the Sacramento River with the American River just north of downtown Sacramento and goes up to northern Folsom. There are many entrances to the trail.

Garden Hwy, Sacramento, CA This spacious sandy beach is along the American River and allows swimming and fishing along the banks.

Hidden falls

Mears Pl, Auburn, CA 95603

This has a bit of a hiking trail but is well known for it’s scenic waterfall that allows access for those who would like to step in and cool down.

Marshall discovery park

310 Back St, Coloma, CA 95613

This park is right along the American River and has many entrances to the river as well as picnic areas. The spot is great for those who would like to learn about California’s gold history and relax by the river.

10

Paradise Beach

Things to do

5211 Carlson Dr, Sacramento, CA 95819

This beach is known for being crowded since it is close to California Quarry trail State University, Sacramento.

150 CA-193, Auburn, CA 95603 Nevertheless the area is nice spot for families to relax and play.

Picnic in the park 1 Movie Matinee 2

This trail is a back trail that features a waterfall is an all around easy hike.

The trail also leads to sites of otters and caves.

Visit a Museum* 3 Explore your area 4 *Keep an eye out for free admission days

Top 5 cheap travel tips 1

Plan in advance

2

Pack your own food

3

Utilize Airbnb

4

Talk to the locals

5

Search groupon

Compiled by: Ashley Navarro and Nicole Goodie * Don’t forget your sunscreen and bug spray.

Layout by: Eb Arreola

PAGE 8

MAY 5, 2016

>>Opinion EDITORIAL

Students need to talk about mental health For college students, stresses come easy because good grades don’t always. An inability to sort through these stressful feelings can manifest into symptoms of depression, or worse.

Even something as simple as venting to a friend can go a long way in relieving tension.

But as with fight club, the first rule of mental health is: you don’t talk about mental health. It can be a very touchy subject, one that carries a negative connotation as much as it is misunderstood. And when thinking about how mental health ties in with suicide there’s a taboo that lies amongst all of the catastrophe.

U.S. suicide rates are now in the area of catastrophic, and suicide rates amongst college students are a pressing issue.

Nationally, suicide rates are currently at a 30-year high, sharply increasing by 24 percent from 1999 to 2014, according to a recent study by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among college students with over 1,100 lives lost every year nationally, according to a recent study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, nearly one in 10 college students has considered suicide.

More students shouldn’t have to die to spark greater change, and staying silent should no longer be something we tolerate.

The growing crisis is also a local struggle impacting the Los Rios Community College District. In February, American River College student Hector Zavala killed himself, according an article by the American River Current. Zavala was a gifted athlete and friend to many who enjoyed his “happy-go-lucky” personality, according to the ARC. There are suggested ways to handle situations like this, such as 24-hour suicide crisis lines provided by the LRCCD. However, more steps are needed.

Because many of us aren’t accustomed to opening up about our sadness, having suicidal thoughts is often difficult to open up about, and those suffering from it are forced to keep their thoughts internal rather than getting help.

But as of now there hasn’t been many resources available for students troubled with thoughts of suicide, at least those that can intervene and prevent suicide attempts in a way that would be more personal.

The College Mental Health Services Program was introduced in Assembly Bill 2017 as a hopeful solution in reducing suicides specifically amongst college students. Recently signed into law, this program is a step in the right direction. First and foremost, it provides a way for students to access mental health services as they need to on campuses.

The program treats mental health as a complex issue. It aims to prevent or identify and treat those struggling with mental health issues on campuses, and it also trains students on how to detect and intervene in at-risk behaviors of their peers, according to legislation.

The program focuses on showing the need for college students to open up about their experiences with mental health issues, and to seek solidarity in those who want to help as well as those who need the help, reminding students that they’re not alone in how they feel.

Many may argue that all student suicides cannot be prevented, but the program will help bring more awareness to the issue, which is alone a progressive step.

For students of Los Rios colleges and others, additional support could mean the difference between life and death.

College counselors are notorious for not giving students enough guidance, and hopefully this program will set a necessary precedent to take mental health more seriously.

Students need to come forward with issues affecting their mental health, if not for themselves than for others also struggling with the same afflictions.

Agree? Disagree? Let us know at connection.crc@gmail.com or

HAWK TALK How can students make the most out of summer vacation?

Compiled by EJ Aguayo, Erica Trujillo & Brennan Smith

Nina Pulanco 25, nursing

“Relax, have fun, work out, read, stay hydrated, swim, go to the beach, spend time with family, have fun and be peaceful. I’m gonna enjoy nature and go hiking.”

Rosalia Adams 19, biology

“If you’re not going to school, get out of Sacramento; do things on weekends. I’m getting an apartment, so I’ll be busy with that and a job.”

Naomi Iese 19, political science

“Aside from working, just have as much fun as possible. Use it as a way to kind of recharge yourself for next semester.”

Mason Tremaine 21, psychology

“The best way I would recommend is to probably get a lot of sleep, travel and just take advantage of free time. Students should also find a job and stack up their money.”

thecrcconnection.com

Page 9

Prince’s death reveals frailty in our mourning

By EJ Aguayo eaguayo.connect@gmail.com

Post Malone explained it best: “You gon’ love me when I’m gone.”

On the morning of April 21, the world lost an iconic artist. Singer Prince was found dead in his Minneapolis home due to unknown causes, according to CNN. We saw Prince as a musical innovator, a no-holds-barred trendsetter and visionary.

Also, his music sold quite well.

According to Billboard, Prince had sold over 100 million albums worldwide throughout his career.

However, Prince’s album sales unusually soared just after breaking news of his death. By as early as 2:30 p.m. in the afternoon after he passed, The Very Best of Prince, 2001, jumped to the top Itunes best-seller list, according to TIME magazine.

This spike in sudden interest continues, emblematic of a deeper issue.

Why do we appreciate music artists more after they’ve passed?

Prince isn’t the only one. Michael Jackson’s career was in decline at the time of his death in 2009. Jackson’s last album release while alive, 2001’s Invincible, was considered a commercial failure, according to a CNBC article. Within just a week after Jackson’s memorial service, sales of his catalog of solo albums spiked

37 percent from the previous week, from 800,000 to 1.1 million, according to Billboard. Similarly, Elvis and Whitney Houston remain top-selling artists years after their deaths.

We hear of a dead artist and we respond with awakened interests, which begs the question, does this way of thinking also apply to those closest to us: family, friends, lovers, even acquaintances?

The loss of loved ones and unfulfilled relationships was the most common regret among respondents to a telephone survey by the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

As Anne Frank wrote in her diary, dead people receive more flowers than the living ones because regret is stronger than gratitude.

Regret is not only stronger than gratitude; it’s easier to remember to practice. The most basic things we should appreciate are generally the hardest to remember to be grateful for.

When people die, we feel guilty for not appreciating them enough while they were alive. Death is a magnifying glass that draws attention to the detail in life, to appreciate the beauty of the present.

And yet no matter how close or often death strikes to our hearts, that focused gratitude blurs in the dizzying rush of everyday choices.

Exercising gratitude blocks negative emotions like those of regret.

“It makes us appreciate the value of something, and when we appreciate the value of something, we extract more benefits from it; we’re less likely to take it for granted,” according to an article by Dr. Robert A. Emmons, professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis.

Without taking time to really look at what we have, it’s easy to assume it will always be here. We often believe giving thanks can wait.

Though he received more recent appreciation after death than in some years prior, Prince still left a

Courtesy Photo

legacy worth noting.

His artistic genius was made apparent as he mastered any instrument he thought necessary to perfect his craft. What we were given was original, high quality, feel-good music.

To stay relevant for nearly four decades would be tough for most artists to do, but Prince did it with finesse. And yet, many people have waited until his death to make a connection to the work he left behind.

Time is only wasted if it’s not well spent. Before his death, the world had 57 years to appreciate Prince.

Love people, not their tombstones.

Doctors are the safest providers of birth control

By Oksana Barrios obarrios.connect@gmail.com Access to birth control may now be as easy as taking a trip to the pharmacy, skipping a doctor altogether. But obvious benefits are outweighing the unclear costs.

California State legislature originally passed the Senate Bill 491 in 2013, which allows females of all ages to pick up hormonal contraceptives from local pharmacies without having to first see a doctor. However, it’s been held up in regulatory discussions until recently, according to the Los Angeles Times.

This revision to the process of acquiring contraceptives has a popular, obvious benefit. Because the new law is probable to lead to fewer unwanted pregnancies the consequences are being irresponsibly overlooked.

But the the use of birth control comes with some downsides that should be considered after consulting a doctor first. Hormonal contraceptives, which include the pill, patch and vaginal ring, contain man-made estrogen and progestin hormones. These hormones tamper with the body’s natural hormones which can ultimately

lead the experience of side effects.

Common side effects for birth control include nausea, headaches and migraines, mood changes and missed periods, according to Medical News Today in an article by Lori Smith, an accomplished freelance health and wellness writer and co-writer, and Dr. Helen Webberley.

If a side effect occurs, a doctor visit is recommended in order to find the birth control that fits best without causing side effects. In a typical hospital setting, a doctor diagnoses the side effects and provides a new contraceptive to try.

In a pharmacy, without a doctor, the process of finding birth control that works best for each individual female will not be possible.

A patient’s medical risks are most accurately known by their doctor.

Some people do not have a health care provider and are therefore unaware of their own health risks.

High blood pressure mixed with hormonal contraceptives will increase the risk of blood clots and strokes. Before providing the hormones pharmacists are required to administer a questionnaire, according to the Los Angeles Times. A questionnaire at a pharmacy

will not be aware if the teen girl or woman obtaining the birth control is at risk.

“In a pharmacy, without a doctor, the process of finding birth control that works best for each individual female will not be possible.”

California is now the third state to allow pharmacies to provide birth control, behind Washington and Oregon.

Over 100 million women worldwide have used hormonal contraceptives, according to a study by Guttmacher institute.

It is a common misconception that while on hormonal contraceptives that no other type of protection is required because the biggest fear for many, pregnancy, is unlikely. This is mostly false.

Hormonal contraceptives such as the pill, shot and vaginal ring do not protect against transmitted diseases, according to HIV Insight, a project of the University of California, San Francisco. This is an especially difficult concept for many college students to

grasp, misguided and all.

Among those most affected with STD rates are college-aged adults. In fact, “young people ages 15 to 24 represent 25 percent of the sexually experienced population and account for nearly 50 percent of all new STDs,” according to a study on sexual health by New York University.

Getting back to a fear of pregnancy, even the most effective contraceptives can’t prevent stupidity.

It is true that hormonal contraceptives have a rate of .1 percent of an unintended pregnancy, but what happens if a pill is accidentally missed, even just once?

If a woman misses a pill or, in some cases, does not take the pill at a frequent time she is 30 to 80 times more likely to have an unwanted pregnancy, according to Medical News Today in an article by Smith and Dr. Webberley.

As of April, pharmacies all over California can legally provide ‘over the counter’ birth control but are not required by law to participate, according to Jessica Firger on Newsweek.

Women should exercise caution and consider a doctor’s advice even if it’s not required, because our bodies are too important to treat so carelessly.

PAGE 10

MAY 5, 2016

>>Sports Cosumnes River College Softball Season Wrap Up COLLEGE OF #1 36-3

SAN MATEO COLLEGE

#16 18-19

COLLEGE

#8 25-15

COLLEGE

#9 27-12

COLLEGE

#4 30-10

COLLEGE

#13 21-13

COLLEGE

#5 30-10

COLLEGE

#12 31-9

NAPA VALLEY

1st ROUND Advance of Super Regional 1st ROUND

SAN JOAQUIN DELTA CABRILLO

FEATHER RIVER

COLLEGE

#3 29-8-1

COLLEGE

Advance of Super Regional 1st ROUND

#14 19-17

COLLEGE

#6 27-11

SAN JOSE CITY COLLEGE #11 24-16 AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE

#7 26-13-1

#2 35-4

COLLEGE

#8 25-15

COLLEGE

#9 27-12

COLLEGE

#4 30-10

COLLEGE

#13 21-13

COLLEGE

#5 30-10

COLLEGE

#12 31-9

COLLEGE

#14 19-17

Advance of Super Regional

Batting Average:1st ROUND

Advance of Super Regional 1st ROUND

.493 - Amber Wright FEATHER RIVER

SHASTA

Home Runs: 1st ROUND SAN JOSE CITY Hooper 5 - Raechel COLLEGE #11 24-16 #6 27-11

AMERICAN RIVER

1st ROUND

COLLEGE

Advance of Super Regional 1st ROUND

FRESNO CITY COLLEGE #15 19-16-1 OHLONE

Cosumnes River College will play Feather River College in a three-game series on May 7 and 8. The Hawks hold the fourth seed in the Northern California Regional Playoffs.

#7 26-13-1

1st ROUND

RBIs: DIABLO VALLEY COLLEGE #10 26-11 44 Raechel Hooper MERCED COLLEGE

#2 35-4

Wins: 18 - Aimee Hutchinson

Advance of Super Regional

1st ROUND

Stolen Bases: 1st ROUND 11 - Kaitlin Pires & Amber COLLEGE #3 29-8-1 Wright SACRAMENTO CITY COLLEGE

Fielding Percentage: .994 - Kaitlin Pires

1st ROUND

COSUMNES RIVER On-Base Percentage:

SOLANO

1st ROUND

DIABLO VALLEY COLLEGE #10 26-11 MERCED COLLEGE

#16 18-19

NAPA VALLEY

SIERRA

SACRAMENTO CITY SHASTA

COLLEGE

CABRILLO

SIERRA

SOLANO

SAN MATEO

SAN JOAQUIN DELTA .460 - Amber Wright

1st ROUND

COSUMNES RIVER

1st ROUND 2016 Cosumnes River College Softball - Stats Leaders

COLLEGE OF #1 36-3

Innings Pitched: 154 - Aimee Hutchinson Advance of Super Regional

Strikeouts: 110 - Aimee Hutchinson Earned Run Average:

Advance Super Regional 1.68 -of Aimee Hutchinson

1st ROUND

FRESNO CITYRuns: COLLEGE #15 19-16-1 OHLONE44 - Amber Wright

Complete Games: 8 - Angelica Dark

THECRCCONNECTION.COM

PAGE 11

Baseball overcomes obstacles to win series over Santa Rosa

By EJ Aguayo eaguayo.connect@gmail.com The Hawks baseball team finished the regular season taking two of three games in a heated series against first-place Santa Rosa College, closing out a 7-4 victory on Thursday.

While the Hawks got the series win, it didn’t come without a battle.

“It was a nail-biter,” said Hawks outfielder Jordan Yu. The Hawks fell behind early, allowing a run in each of the first three innings as Santa Rosa got out to an early 3-0 lead.

Catcher Nicco Toni came through with a leadoff single in the bottom of the third, then advanced to second after second baseman Devin Pettengill was hit by a pitch. First baseman Brooks Day then drew a walk and Toni came around to score when Santa Rosa’s catcher made an errant throw past third base.

Before the inning was over, the Hawks had eight players go to the plate and a changeup in pitchers, but still managed to maintain focus scoring another run to make the score 3-2.

“We try to keep everyone light spirited and come together as a team,” Yu said.

Shortstop Brett Bloomfield had a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fifth, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Morley reached first on a hit by pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs. Morley and Bloomfield advanced a base after a groundout by outfielder Robert Daugherty.

The Hawks caught a break as Bloomfield came in to score on a wild pitch and tied the game at 3-3.

Despite some hustle plays, the Hawks struggled with mistakes early in the sixth inning and by then the team used three different pitchers. Coach Bloomfield said he’d been harsh but aimed to keep the team on their toes knowing they could thrive under tough circumstances.

“We have some resilient guys, they don’t get down when I bark at them.” Bloomfield said. “They think they’re good and at this level that’s half the battle.”

After allowing Santa Rosa to make it 4-3 in the top of the sixth, the Hawks bats responded as Morley drove in Toni to tie it up again.

The Hawks’ bats broke through in the bot-

Editor in Chief: Tyler Santana News Editor: Tyler Santana Features Editor: Nicole Goodie Opinion Editor: EJ Aguayo Sports Editor: Matt Johnson Faculty Adviser: Rubina Gulati

Staff: Ashley Navarro, Brennan Smith, Courtney Fong, Eb Arreola, Erica Trujillo, Evan Pacheco, Kayleen Carter, LeShea Munoz, Oksana Barrios, Quincie Pruitt

Pro athletes are silenced by stigmas on mental health

By Matt Johnson mjohnson.connect@gmail.com

LeShea Munoz | The Connection

Sophomore pitcher Jeremy Caldwell in the wind up against Santa Rosa College on April 28.

tom of the eighth for three runs. After back-toback singles by Toni and Pettengill, Day broke the 4-4 tie with a sacrifice fly to drive in Toni.

After Bloomfield drew a one-out walk, Morley hit a two-run double to score Pettengill and Bloomfield. Morley’s big hit would seal the win as the Hawks closed out the ninth and won 7-4.

“We were just going out there trying to put up that zero and get that win,” Yu said.

The Hawks finished the regular season with a 28-8 record and now look forward to the playoffs. While the Hawks will be without a few key players, they’re still ready and determined for success.

“We pitch well, we play good defense; on the negative side we didn’t have two or three of our best players,” Bloomfield said. “But, it all came together.”

The Connection is an award-winning newspaper published bi-weekly by the Journalism 410 & 411 media production class. Editorials and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the students, staff or faculty of CRC or Los Rios Community College District.

The Connection is a member of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges and California Newspaper Publisher’s Association.

Letters to the Editor must be typed, signed and include the first and last name of the author and a phone number. They must be 200 words or less and may be edited for length, clarity or taste.

The Connection Cosumnes River College 8401 Center Parkway Sacramento, CA 95823 Telephone: (916) 691-7471 Fax: (916) 691-7181 www.thecrcconnection.com connection.crc@gmail.com

Facebook.com/crcconnection Twitter: @CRCconnection Instagram: @CRCconnection Storify.com/TheConnection #CRCcampus

When people are asked to define a professional athlete, some of the first words that come to mind are large, muscular, masculine and tough. Especially for elite athletes, who are sometimes described as not being human.

It is meant in a positive light, saying the athlete does things that few humans can do. But sports fans often forget these athletes are human beings who make mistakes and experience their own struggles.

Talking about their struggles with mental-health issues can be extraordinarily difficult for anyone. The stigmas attached to mental health issues and how it can change how people perceive you are tremendous obstacles to opening up about it.

It can be even more difficult for professional athletes, seen by the general public as masculine figures who are paid millions of dollars to play a game.

When the athlete makes a mistake, whether it’s making a costly error that loses the game or failing a drug test, fans and the media hound him or her for messing up and not being perfect.

The understanding that athletes are humans who go through struggles, both physically, emotionally and mentally, is often lost.

A great example might be New York Jets’ wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who dealt with a tainted past, which included domestic abuse and driving under the influence.

After years of judgment from the public, Marshall revealed that shortly after his arrest for domestic violence, he sought help and was diagnosed and treated for bipolar disorder, according to USA Today.

It was at this point that Marshall went beyond being a football player. He became an advocate for mental-health awareness. He

added a powerful voice to the matter as a player who was at the top of his game in one of the most masculine, physical sports.

In a sport in which athletes dealing with fractured bones and severe sprains are given bags of prescription pain killers so they can remain on the field, the idea of athletes opening themselves up publicly and revealing their emotional pain seems far away.

But Marshall is taking the first big step in bringing more awareness to the mental-health issues athletes go through.

There have been some signs of progress, such as when Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant was given a year-long suspension after failing his fourth drug test in his career, testing positive for marijuana. Bryant received strong support on social media when he revealed he was dealing with depression.

But there are still many who, after they see athletes admitting to having a mental illness, question their masculinity and toughness for not being able to put up with things.

It takes a tremendous amount of strength to be open to talking about one’s experience with mental-health issues and being able to see past the initial fear of how people will perceive you and treat you.

We must recognize professional athletes as people who go through different emotions and struggles under the pressure of a national spotlight and recognize there are many of them who are likely struggling with mental-health issues, but can’t speak out because it could impact their careers or perception.

The stigmatization around mental health needs to be removed.

Struggling with mental health issues doesn’t make a professional athlete less masculine, and it doesn’t make anyone less of a person.

PAGE 12

MAY 5, 2016

Summer camp offers activities for everyone

By Matt Johnson & LeShea Munoz mjohnson.connect@gmail.com lmunoz.connect@gmail.com Cosumnes River College will host multiple sports camps throughout the summer from June 6 through July 29. The summer sports camps will feature basketball, swimming, volleyball and tennis for a variety of ages.

There will be four swimming sessions open to all ages throughout the summer. The first swim session will take place from June 6-17, the second session from June 20-July 1, the third session from July 5 to 15 and the fourth from July 18-29.

“Yes, we are open to all children in the area. We welcome all ages, abilities and levels,” said CRC Summer Swim Director and CRC women’s swim head coach Liz Abrams.

“We even offer beginning adult classes too.”

The swim camp offers children an opportunity to get in the pool and not only improve as swimmers, but foster relationships with their instructors while also learning about water safety.

“We offer an opportunity for children to learn water-safety skills, we improve their swimming abilities and develop wonderful relationships with the camp instructors and staff,” Abrams said.

“We even offer water sports classes which introduces kids to the game of water polo.”

Abrams said the progam has been successful because she sees many young swimmers come back, which allows the staff a chance to get to know families and see kids they are teaching grow.

“I’ve seen many kids grow up through this program, and their siblings as well,” Abrams said. “We get to know the parents and families throughout the whole summer and it’s a great reward to see them grow each session.”

Swimming sessions will run Monday through Friday with 30-minute private and group lessons. A two-week group session will cost $67 per swimmer, while a two-week private lesson costs $120 per swimmer.

CRC will also host a basketball camp from July 4-8 for boys and girls from ages 7 to 16.

The camp, which will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., gives kids the opportunity to have fun and learn from current

LeShea Munoz | The Connection

and former players who will help them throughout the camp.

The five-day camp costs $110 per player, but any additional siblings that attend cost $55.

“We have our current and former players coach the children so they have a mentor they can look up to,” said CRC women’s basketball coach Coral Sage. “The ‘coaches’ also do camp chats and get a chance to talk to the kids about what it’s like to play college ball. The kids seem to love that part just as much.”

Sage ran the camp last year and said there was a lot of positive responses. Many who participated last year are excited for this year’s basketball camp.

“We got wonderful feedback last year after the camp was over,” Sage said. “I was even getting emails in March asking about when camp sign ups were because the kids wanted to come back.”

While it provides a great experience and learning opportunity for everyone involved, Sage said it has also helped her grow as a coach and made her enjoy the game more.

“It helps me to remember why I started playing and even coaching basketball,” Sage said. “[It] gets back to the love of the game and the innocence of it. It even helps me be more patient when coaching my college team.”

The volleyball team will run its camp from July 11-15 with two different sessions running Monday through Friday in the Community and Athletic Center 100 gymnasium.

The first session is offered for beginners and will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by the second session, for intermediate to advanced participants, which will go from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Women’s volleyball coach Cassie Baxter, who is running CRC’s volleyball camp for the third summer, is excited about the different learning aspects and opportunities the camp will provide for both inexperienced and experienced players.

“The positive aspects are working in small group settings with current CRC volleyball student-athletes and nonstop physical activity,” said Baxter. “At the end of every day, there is an opportunity to

be nominated for the best hustle and best attitude award of the day per small group.“ Baxter has 20 years of volleyball experience on her resume and she uses it to put young campers in the best position to succeed, no matter how old they are or their level of experience.

“I feel as though my experience allows me to relate to all levels of volleyball athletes,” Baxter said. “I love inspiring the beginner level volleyball athletes to continue to pursue the sport as well as encourage current players to enhance their skills and improve their overall level of play.”

Like the basketball camp, it will cost $110 per camper and $55 for additional siblings who want to participate. The co-ed camp is open to anyone between the ages of 9-18.

Men’s and women’s tennis coach Brandon Ellis will be hosting his first tennis camp at CRC after finishing his first season as the head coach.

The camp will run from July 11-15 and is open to boys and girls 4-17 years old.

Ellis said he looks forward to working with the kids and helping instill the same passion he has for the game while

helping them learn tennis skills on their way to becoming better players.

“My best quality as an instructor is my own enthusiasm for tennis. I want to instill in our younger generation a love for the game, that is what propels people to achieve,” Ellis said. “Learning how much fun it can be to play tennis is the first step in becoming a good player.”

There are many benefits for participants, but instructors also learn a lot from the experience of working with young campers.

“Teaching kids tennis is great for instructors because we get the opportunity to help young people develop skills that can help them for a lifetime,” Ellis said.

The camp will take place at CRC’s tennis courts from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. each day. For an individual player, it will cost $110 and $55 for each additional sibling after them.

Overall, CRC’s summer sports camps will provide great opportunities for a variety of participants who will get the chance to have new experience, improve their own abilities, learn new things and have fun all at the same time.