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Women’s soccer gears up for conference play
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New Professors
Meet three of the 12 new professors at CRC News, Page 4 ISSUE 1 Fall 2016 Student voice of CRC since 1970
Food Pantry
Safe Spaces
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September 15, 2016
>>News
New program takes fear out of first year By Alejandra Morales amorales.connect@gmail.com For a freshman student at Cosumnes River College, starting out can be intimidating and hard. The “First-Year Experience” makes it so that freshmen may have an easier time assimilating to college life. The FYE is a program designed to keep students on track with their academic career. The requirements to enter the program are enrolling in 12 units your first semester and taking at least one math and one English class at the college level. “Studies have shown, and the research that we have done has shown, that when students have a really good solid first year and they make sure they maintain solid grades from the beginning, they are more likely to transfer and are highly fashionable to be successful,” said Student Success and Support Program Specialist Khalid Kiburi. Students must also enroll in a three-week long summer experience and the students who finish the experience receive all of the FYE benefits. The benefits include free textbooks for the fall and spring semesters, help in registering for classes and other course materials like flash drives and notebooks. The three-week summer experience gives students a chance to familiarize themselves with the campus before classes actually start so they’ll be able to identify locations on campus that can assist them if they need help transferring or picking classes, said Associate Dean of Equity and Student Success Tadael Emiru. Shannon Mills, the program’s developer and an anthropology professor, said the program provides a clear pathway from high school to college. The program also includes assistance in applying for financial aid, assessments and guidance for students’ educational futures. “I honestly did not know
what to expect for college, I just thought it was school, just a little bit tougher,” said 18-year-old Lesley Rodriguez, a liberal arts major. “I did not know what was going to be needed and how things were going to work with time management and everything.” Students not only receive assistance, but they also get moral support from FYE faculty. Throughout the school year the students and the faculty of FYE attend periodic meetings to make sure everything is fine and they also receive progress reports to make sure they are taking the right classes. “I learned a lot of different tips that I can use, like my studying habits and study group and if I ever need help with books or anything else I know where to go for resources,” Rodriguez said. While there were 300 students who benefited from FYE at the beginning of the summer, 192 students finished the three-week long summer experience. Emiru said that FYE is more of an experience that helps students be more prepared for school.
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“We wanted to make sure that we create an experience for students that’s more hands on,” Emiru said. “That would allow students to register or apply to CRC and go through the orientation process and counseling, in terms of sitting down with a counselor and identifying the classes that they are registering for, in a much more effective way.”
Student Life and Leadership Center moves to new location
Stan Smith | The Connection
The Student Life and Leadership
By Alejandra Morales amorales.connect@gmail.com The Student Life and Leadership Center has moved from the library to the Technology Center in room 108. Their new space, behind the Winn Center and next to the Operations and Public Safety Center, offers more room for SLLC activities than their previous office in the library building. The SLLC needed the extra space for more projects and because they currently have 15 ambassadors, whereas the previous office could only fit four, said Student Personnel Assistant Yesenia Castellon. Castellon, who has worked at the center for a year, said she has seen students benefit from getting involved because “we put students in the forefront and they get peers and peer relationships.” The center offers students opportunities to better the community of Cosumnes River College and make students feel they can do much more than just enroll in classes. SLLC offers a variety of events including cultural festivities, gets the word out about clubs and helps clubs organize their meetings. Students have a say about events that can be offered on
“I can truly say it is my second home. I spend most of my time here.”
— Alejandro Anguiano Student Ambassador
campus and get involved to improve their overall well-being. Evan Nguyen, commissioner of clubs and events, said he views the leadership center as an important opportunity for community college students. “We need to be able to offer them opportunities when students at community colleges are either working two jobs or have families,” Nguyen said. “And then they go to school at the same time, so it’s really hard.” The center provides a close community of individuals that help each other in creating ideas and managing their time between classes. Some of the ambassadors of the center said they feel that when they enter the workforce they will have better knowledge of what to expect when working with others. Students can also take what they have already learned from previous leadership experiences and apply it to SLLC activities. There are upcoming events
that the SLLC hopes to get the word out. These events are to the benefit of students who are from low-income households and students who take night classes. “We are working on having more events for the evening students because we always have events during the day, but the evening students get left out because after 4:30 the office is closed,” said Student Ambassador Asia Jeiks. “So we are trying to come up with a few more events like the talent show we had last summer.” The center is not only a place to help students explore leadership positions and hone their teamwork skills. To some who work there it is like a home, a place to spend time with peers and be more involved in the school. “I can truly say it is my second home. I spend most of my time here,” said Alejandro Anguiano, a student ambassador. “This is my safe space, this is the place where I can do my homework. I have built bonds with these individuals.”
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Mental health: still an issue for college students By Courtney Fong cofong.connect@gmail.com Professor David Weinshilboum walked into his English classroom at Cosumnes River College, holding the door open for students and setting down his papers like he did before every class. But that day he faced the students, shocked and terrified at the announcement he would be delivering instead of a grammar lesson. “She’s not here anymore,” Weinshilboum told his class. One of the students in the class committed suicide. She had left behind a two-year-old daughter. This was not an isolated case. Three years later Weinshilboum had to tell his class a similar message. One of the English students who Weinshilboum said “was so enthusiastic, he loved being in class,” was shot and killed by his father, who suffered from mental illness. This student took with him an enthusiasm for being in class and his absence was felt the rest of the semester. The students’ empty desks are reminders of the severity of mental health issues.
Suicide was the third leading cause of death for ages 15 to 24 in 2011 and more than 90 percent of those who died by suicide had one or more mental disorders, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. By 2014 suicide had risen to become the age group’s second leading cause of death, according to a study by CDC branch National Center for Health Statistics. A new bill that was presented to Governor Jerry Brown on Sept. 7 might help address the issue of mental health on college campuses, according to documents from the California Legislature. The bill would create a grant program for increased access to mental health resources at California community colleges, state colleges and universities. CRC campus nurse Michelle Barkley said she has seen an increase in the number of college students seeking counseling services since she started working at CRC. Barkley used to see a handful of students with mental health-related issues per semester; now she sees a handful a week. Stress and poor mental
health often manifest into the physical symptoms that students visit her for, Barkley said. She sees a strong correlation between mental, physical, spiritual and emotional aspects of health. “Mental health has to do with our behaviors and how our mind works, how we respond to things,” said Barkley. “That upset stomach isn’t just because they haven’t been eating right, it’s because they’re stressed out, they just took a midterm.” Jelina Cortero, a 22-yearold journalism and business communications major, said one summer she was having the time of her life before feeling increasingly distanced and disconnected, which she would later recognize as symptoms of clinical depression. “I didn’t know what was
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happening to me,” Cortero said. “I started feeling lost, I started feeling confused. I didn’t know who to trust, even though they were right in front of me, my friends and my family.” “All you want to do is shut down and be numb,” Cortero said. Cortero talked about her experience with depression to professors she trusted, who
she said were “more sensitive” to the issue and gave her the support she needed. But not all students recognize or take advantage of the resources around them. Twothirds of students who are struggling do not seek treatment, according to the American College Health Association Spring 2015 assessment. “Every year that we don’t fix our mental health care on college campuses, we continue to have high suicide rates and high dropout rates that are not necessary,” said Adjunct Psychology Professor Veronica Dobson. “It’s a matter of life and death. And even when it’s not a matter of life and death, it’s a matter of joy versus pain. And nobody deserves to live a life of pain,” Dobson said. Weinshilboum said he remains optimistic. “I am hopeful that at one point we will say ‘enough, just enough. It’s not worth the death. It’s not worth all the loss and the pain.’” “Those two deaths are two too many,” Weinshilboum said. Visit the Health Services office on campus or their website for more resources regarding mental health.
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SEPTEMBER 15, 2016
SAVE THE Twelve new professors join campus By Kayleen Carter kcarter.connect@gmail.com
DATE WOMEN’S CONFERENCE
“First Me, Then You: Relationship Building” will have activities such as a fashion show, all-male panel, keynote speaker, raffle and workshops on topics like leadership, forgiveness, etiquette and self. Lunch will be provided for attendees. The conference is on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall. A current student ID is required to sign up in the EOPS Office L-106.
TRANSFER DAY
Transfer Day provides an opportunity to meet with representatives from CSUs, UCs and other four-year colleges and universities, including some institutions located out of state. The event will be in the quad from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
STUDENT ART EXHIBITION
A new art exhibit featuring Cosumnes River College students’ work comes to the CRC Art Gallery on Thursday. An opening reception will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with refreshments. The exhibit will be at CRC from Thursday to October 6. Art Gallery hours Monday Thursday 11 a.m. - 5p.m.
DSPS OPEN HOUSE
The Disability Support Programs and Services open house gives students an opportuniy to meet DSPS counselors, learn the requirements to use the program’s services and find out what resources the program offers. The open house will be on Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m in DSPS’s new office, BS104.
By Julie Wallinger jwallinger.connect@gmail.com Fall semester is a time of new beginnings for more than just the students at Cosumnes River College. Twelve new professors have joined the campus, and they are excited to get to work. The professors have already settled easily into their roles as community leaders, and they credit their students as making the transition easy for them. “I’ve learned that [CRC has] very hard-working students. They don’t want to disappoint, they can be funny, they can be determined,” said English Professor Trang Abeid. As a San Joaquin Delta College student who graduated from University of the Pacific and Sacramento State, Abeid wants students to know that she empathizes with the heavy workload of a community college student, but still expects the best. This high standard is especially important to her, as she sees a firm understanding of English and reading skills as the cornerstone of all disciplines and valuable skills in the workforce. “A lot of students will tell me that oh, they’re gonna major in math, so they don’t need to write essays,” Abeid said. “But then they struggle with understanding the passage they’re reading, they don’t
understand how to put a sentence together, and that’s really important.” Abeid said that her favorite thing about CRC is the tireless work ethic and positive energy of the college. “Every day I’m always thinking about, ‘Okay, that didn’t work, how can I make it better,’ and I think most of the instructors here, that’s what they do,” said Abeid. “That’s what draws me to the campus and the faculty, is that they work just as hard towards students success as I do.” That same tenacious devotion to students’ success can be seen in Early Childhood Education Professor Iris Dimond. A graduate of Sacramento City College and California State University, Sacramento, Dimond has 13 years of teaching experience and teaches several classes in the child development discipline. Dimond stressed the importance of listening to her students, as well as communicating effectively, so that she can share information in ways that resonate with everyone. Part of how she achieves this is through an effort to keep her classes up-to-date by incorporating current research and resources into her material. “A lot of our students are being prepared to go out and work as teachers at preschools and early elementaries, and they need to know what’s industry standard and, you
Professors
Subject
Trang Abeid Paige Buck-Moyer Patrick Butler Iris Dimond Jonathan James
Christina Washington Omari Williams Ivan Zaigralin Jason Ellis
English - Reading Mathematics Business - Real Estate Early Childhood Education Kinesiology, Physical Education Chemistry Sociology Kinesiology, Physical Education English Music - Vocal Mathematics Architecture
know, what’s research based, so they can do their best job,” Dimond said. Real-world application is a common focus for CRC professors, including Adjunct Music Professor Omari Williams. A graduate of Michigan State and Moores School of Music, he teaches a span of vocal classes ranging from private applied voice to gospel to chamber music. Williams is constantly reminded by his students that even though not everyone may want to pursue a career in the performing arts field, music is valuable to everyone. He said he sees community college classes as a space for all students to explore their place in the arts, regardless of skill or
talent level. What Williams wants to give students the most is guidance, so that they can achieve goals they never thought possible. “I live for the ‘a ha!’ moment,” he said. “I love it when they make a realization that I’ve forgotten was a realization to begin with. That it was some kind of special moment to really find out.” Williams said he sees it as his job to provide each student with opportunities that give them a chance to make their own meaningful choices. “Given the opportunity, given access, given a chance, and when heard, students can achieve most anything,” Williams said.
Stephen McDowell Thien-Huong Ninh Kari Post
Campus plans first women’s conference By Lola Chase lchase.connect@gmail.com A promising opportunity for women is available on Saturday at Cosumnes River College. “First Me: Then You” is a women’s conference with the purpose of training for relationship building, self-love and confidence. This event will be the first women’s conference of the Los Rios Community College District. The idea of a women’s conference originated from CRC counselors, who hoped to find better programs for women’s self development. “I’ve been an academic counselor for more than 20 years, and as a counselor, I work with a lot of women who are involved in domestic violence situations, or suffer from homelessness, low self
esteem, poor attitudes, illiteracy, or who’ve come through the foster care system,” said Jaqueline Mathis, the primary coordinator of the event. “All of these circumstances prove to be obstacles that are detrimental to student suc-
“Historically, part of the socialization of girls and women is to be in the service of others and often times we forget about ourself and our own self care, so that’s why the focus is on women” said Shannon Dickson, dean of counsel-
“Historically, part of the socialization of girls and women is to be in the service of others.”
— Shannon Dickson
Dean of Counseling, event coordinator cess,” Mathis said. The event will include workshops such as ‘Getting to know yourself,’ etiquette, leadership and forgiveness. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are included. There will also be activities including an all-male panel, a fashion show and keynote speaker psychotherapist Dr. Satsuki Ina.
ing and co-coordinator of the event. The all-male panel came as an original concept for a broader perspective, to keep the conference two-sided. “We get really confusing messages as women on how to interact with men, so we’re having male panelists to provide an understanding of
their perspective of their relationships with women and their relationships in general,” Dickson said. The fashion show will demonstrate how to dress for certain occasions, whether it is for school, an interview or a social event. It’s also an opportunity to get female students and staff involved as models of diversity to go up and show their self-confidence on stage. “The ultimate goal is teaching that it is okay to put yourself first and to love yourself first and then it can branch out into your relationships,” said Hoyt Fong, a counselor who is also helping coordinate the event. “It’s cliche, but to really do it, you may have to break culture, challenge religion, change how you were raised to shift in the right direction,”
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>>Features
Food pantry provides students with food security By Jared Lee jalee.connect@gmail.com “The Hawk Spot” food pantry officially opened to the Cosumnes River College community on Aug. 22 for the first time. The pantry provides not only food but also hygiene products, along with male and female-specific items. Located in room T-111 on the CRC campus, the pantry is open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 2 to 4 p.m. “The Hawk Spot” exists to help students in meeting their basic needs. Student Ambassador Kelly Melanson said statistics that she found showed that some students must decide between paying for school or food. “People shouldn’t have to decide between education or food,” said Melanson. According to a 2016 study by Sara Goldrick-Rab from the University of Wisconsin, more than 50 percent of college students struggle with food insecurity, with some having to choose between paying for school or paying for food. The food pantry is operated by students and is modeled after the food pantry established at Sacramento State. They utilize intake forms
and loyalty cards that help to keep the identities of students anonymous. At “The Hawk Spot,” students are given a simple registration form. Once a student fills it out, they receive a loyalty card. The student then can show the card at the food pantry and can take whatever items they need. “From an academic standpoint, persons who are wrestling with food insecurity issues have a highly difficult time focusing on studies,” said Chad Funk, dean of student services and enrollment management. “‘Am I going to eat tonight? Are my kids eating tonight?’ It’s hard to put up with your history test.” The main purpose of the pantry is to give students access to basic needs, allowing them to focus on their schooling, without worry over not getting enough to eat. “We know that by having this resource here, it’s supporting their academic efforts as well as their personal goals,” said Funk. The student ambassadors who run the pantry have looked at ways to improve the food pantry in the future, such as, increasing the amount of time for the pantry to be open. They hope to eventually be
LeShea Munoz | The Connection
Cosumnes River College’s food pantry is open to students on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 2 to 4 p.m.
able to offer fresh produce and child-specific hygiene products for students with children. They are also working on adding a clothing closet and a community resource binder for people who need additional assistance. “We’re college students. We know the struggle of not having enough money, not having enough food at home,” said Student Ambassador Kayla-Narie Zawadi. “Some
people have it worse than others, so this would be a good opportunity for people.” On the first day that the pantry opened, up to 30 people were served. In the first three weeks of operation, the food pantry serviced more than 60 people. “This is an awesome opportunity they’ve taken, and it’s only going to grow for the students and for the school,” said Ken Franklin, operations
manager at the Elk Grove Food Bank. The Elk Grove Food Bank aids “The Hawk Spot” by providing both food and hygiene products. It uses detailed lists received from the student ambassadors, the EGFB works with CRC to improve “The Hawk Spot” and help it grow. “As long as none of these students go hungry, that’s our goal,” said Franklin.
#TrendingNow Apple removed the headphone jack in the iPhone 7. The company says that they are reinventing themselves and are acting courageous to try this. “ I think this was a step back, they like to try new things but this is an error because most people rely on headphone jacks since it is our main form of listening to media,” said 28- year-old library assistant John Horton.
y Release
Turner’s Earl
Hit the R
oad Jack
Ex-Stanford university swimmer Brock Turner spent six months in jail and was released on Sept. 2. He was released three months early from his sentence after being charged with sexual assault. “I think he should have been punished more severely, hearing that his sentence was reduced and he was released and not very punished was very offensive,” said 19-year-old biology major Angelin Young.
Clinton’s
Compiled by Alejandra Morales All photos are courtesy photos
Health
Hillary Clinton stumbled during the 9/11 commemoration, which caused some to question her health. Her physician, said that Clinton was diagnosed with pneumonia two days before. “It opens up people’s eyes to question should they really pick this person and what can be done for [them], or ok.” said 20-yearold television production major Guillermo Villalpente.
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SEPTEMBER 15, 2016
Drug wars explode in ‘Narcos’ return By Matt Johnson mjohnson.connect@gmail.com In the return of the Netflix series “Narcos”, the bloodshed and chaos are at an all-time high. With Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar on the run, the second season is more exhilarating than last season. In the first season of “Narcos”, we saw Escobar, played by Wagner Moura, rise in the ranks from small-time marijuana dealer to a billionaire drug kingpin. Even in the prison, which Escobar designed himself, he was at the height of his power while the United States Drug Enforcement Agency and Colombian government tried to bring him down. Now in season two, the pressure to capture Escobar after his escape from prison leads to an all out war between the medellin cartel and the DEA. But even when he is on the run, Escobar is more ruthless than ever. DEA agent Steve Murphy, played by Boyd Holbrook, said it best. “Pablo is never more dangerous than when you think you have him.” Brazilian director Josè Padilha delivered once again with another exceptional season that offered even more turmoil and action than the previous season, in addition to great use of the characters to develop the story. What makes “Narcos” so
Farm-to-Fork Festival Check out local selections of farm-to-fork food, wine and beer from the region with live music, cooking demonstrations and more. When: Sept. 24 Where: Capitol Mall Greens Time: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission: Free
Farmer’s Market
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compelling in addition to the action of the drug war, is the different perspectives we see, especially during the second season. While we are used to seeing the DEA’s perspective in its hunt for Escobar, featured prominently thanks to omniscient narration by Murphy, Padilha gave the audience more this season. We see Murphy and fellow DEA agent Javier Peña go in different directions on multiple occasions, including witnessing every step of Peña’s brash alliance. But what drives the story
is Escobar. Even on the run, his attempts to juggle being a caring father and a ruthless narco terrorist that was willing to have anyone killed, even innocent children, to remain in control. Padilha’s true bow that makes the series stand out is the realism that is involved, even beyond the story being based on true events. The bilingualism of the show, with Spanish dialogue between many characters, gives it authenticity. Combined with the aerial shots of neighborhoods in Colombia, where the show is filmed, they
bring even more of a naturalness to the story. With the success of the show, Padilha could have dragged out Escobar’s death into a potential third season, but he stayed true to the timeline. “Narcos” surpassed the hype from the first season and delivered in an even greater way this time around.
Score out of five stars
Buy local, fresh goods from nearby farmers at the Gateway Shopping Center. It runs every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. A second farmer’s market is held every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Old Town Plaza
Movie Premieres Sept. 16: “Blair Witch” “Snowden” Sept. 23: “The Magnificent Seven” “Storks”
‘Wild World’ starts strong, then falls short By Stan Smith ssmith.connect@gmail.com After they burst onto the music scene with their double-platinum selling debut album “Bad Blood,” British indie-pop group Bastille released their follow-up album “Wild World” on Sept. 9 to much excitement and anticipation from fans. “Wild World” is an energetic album, that bombards the listener with fast-paced, high-energy songs for the first half of the record. Bastille’s sophomore effort includes a number of concert-friendly tracks, but some fail to distinguish themselves from the rest. The album is also quite lengthy at over an hour long,
which could hurt replay value for those not immediately impressed upon the first listen.
Smith and bandmate Will Farquarson. The lack of distracting layers of instruments and
the studio would separate the British group from the mainstream sound, which would
Many tracks feel overproduced, with an unnecessary amount of layering and synthesizer effects added on top of each other. However, the group finds their footing with a strong track in “Two Evils,” a powerful ballad that features vocals from frontman Dan
synthesizers proves how effective the group can be when at their strongest. While the album may not be perfect, it does secure Bastille, primarily lead singer Dan Smith, as a competent songwriter and excellent vocalist. A more minimalist style in
favor the vocal strengths of Smith and the talented musicianship of his bandmates. Second albums often experience similar shortcomings, since songwriters spend their entire lives writing their first album, only to be forced to pump out more material
in just a couple short years to avoid falling into obscurity. Bastille shows promise with “Wild World,” but they aren’t quite at their musical peak just yet. Dan Smith and his bandmates show enormous potential with their first two albums, but for now they are relegated to their current standing as a decent band amongst a scene crowded with similar music. I give “Wild World” three and a half stars out of five.
For more reviews, visit thecrcconnection.com or follow the Connection on Twitter @CRCconnection
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PAGE 7
s ’ o s o D D o T o T r e r t e t s s e e m e S s w w NNee Academic Get your textbooks Many professors order a copy of their required textbooks to check out from the Library. Students can use the book in the library for two hours at a time. Online - pdfs, ebooks or kindle versions. Buy used or rent from reputable second-hand vendors such as Chegg or online search tools like mysecondcollege.com to find the cheapest price of various vendors. Develop good study habits The tutoring center provides tutoring for courses in a variety of subjects with the emphasis on helping students develop effective study strategies. It is located in 216. The Math Center provides math tutoring, videos and computers with specialized components and programs. It is located in LRC 205. The Reading and Writing Center (RWC) provides guidance for reading and writing assignments for any class. The Center is in LRC 203. Make an Student Education Plan (SEP) with a counselor Counselors can help develop an academic plan to achieve your goal, whether it’s transferring to a four-year university, obtaining a degree or fulfilling GE and graduation requirements.
Campus
Social
Locate campus checkpoints The Health Services/Nurse’s Office provides health screenings, health education, a lactation area for breastfeeding and baby changing area, first aid, smoking cessation quit kits, stress reduction/conflict resolution, contraceptives, feminine napkins and women’s health specialists. The office is in OPS-126. The College Center houses the President’s Office, the Admissions Office, Business Services/Cashier Office, the Veterans Resource Center, the cafeteria and the bookstore. Make sure you have a student access card The student access card functions as an official college photo ID card, Regional Transit Pass Card(free rides on the lightrail!), college library card, GoPrint Card and discount card at participating stores. Know your campus resources Disability Support Programs and Services offers accommodations such as alternate media, testing accommodations, support personnel like note takers and readers for students with physical, psychological and learning disabilities. Their office is located at BS-104. Veterans Services designates separate Admissions and Records services, as well as a Veterans Resource Center and Veterans Counselors. They are located in the College Center and the Counseling Department.
Find your niche on campus Whether it’s RTVF, ASCRC or one of the many cultural clubs at CRC, joining a community can really enrich your college experience. Clubs and student groups also allow students to explore their interests and impact their campus. The Student Life and Leadership Center is the campus hub for student leadership groups, student life services, campus activities and community service. The Center is located in T-108. Get Guidance for your career path The Work Experience and Internships Office guides students through the process of finding an internship and helps students ensure their experience aligns with their career goals. It is located in BS-106. The Career Center offers career planning, career/self exploration assessments, job search and job search preparation services. It also hosts workshops and events as well as a Career Fair. The Career Center is located in L-217.
Layout and Reporting By Courtney Fong and Ashley Navarro
Compiled by: Courtney Fong
PAGE 8
SEPTEMBER 15, 2016
>>Opinion EDITORIAL
We must excercise vote to make change The 2016 presidential election has left many voters discouraged by the two primary candidates for president. With so much negative attention on the election, voters aren’t happy with the situation. Not only are voters not satisfied with the candidates they have to choose from, but many feel the wrong policies are on the forefront. Amongst registered voters polled, only 27 percent said the campaign is focused on the right policy issues, according to Pew Research Center. Even if voters don’t like the Republican and Democratic nominees for president, there are other options out there. Independent nominee Gary Johnson and Green party nominee Jill Stein provide the alternate voice that presidential elections desperately need. Voters are dissatisfied with the direction the country is going, as 63.4 percent said the country was going in the wrong direction, according to RealClearPolitics, a Chicago-based political news and polling data aggregator. A message can be sent to the Republican and Democratic parties by increased support towards third parties. Voters can let the powers that be know that change needs to come or the two-party system will lose more of its stronghold. Young voters make up the smallest voting percentage by age range. Voters between the age of 18-29 are the only age group that has less than 50 percent of its population actually vote in the election, according to United States Election Project, a site that tracks voter turnout data. It’s not that young voters aren’t interested in the process. We’ve seen them proudly support candidates like Ron Paul and Bernie Sanders. But once the majority candidates win the primaries, young voters passion wavers off. But they can still be part of the message to fight against the powers the be, harness their anger over what happened with Sanders and use it to drive their passion to vote on key issues and make their voices heard. Voters must be active in all political issues. While the election, especially this year’s, is drawing a majority of the attention, there are local and state issues that can impact voters even more. The issues that voters feel most passionately about often impact them and their neighbors the most, which is why local elections are so important. Local government is there to serve us, but we are not taking advantage of it. Focus should be turned by voters from the presidential election to state propositions, like Proposition 64, which would legalize marijuana, and Proposition 54, which would prohibit legislatures from passing any bill that hasn’t been published in print and on the internet for at least 72 hours before the vote. Other key measures on the ballot this November include Proposition 51, which would authorize $9 in obligated bonds to general funds, according to a press release from Secretary of State Alex Padilla. Two billion of that would go to community colleges and $3 billion towards K-12 public school facilities. These are just three of 17 measures on the California ballot this November, the most since the 2000 election, according to The Los Angeles Times. These are measures that actually impact you, that would impact your friends and family. You don’t have to just choose between two candidates you like or dislike. Bills that impact your community are up for votes and will be decided by local voters. The ability to vote and have a say in the political cycle is one of the greatest rights Americans hold today, something that men and women have sacrificed their lives to protect for decades. Sitting out of an entire election because someone doesn’t like a few of the candidates does not fix any of the issues in this country. It just makes the issues worse. Agree? Disagree? Let us know at connection.crc@gmail.com or thecrcconnection.com
HAWK TALK What would you do if you were Brock Turner’s parents? Compiled by Lola Chase and Joe Padilla
Mechella Parker 17, business
“I would have a really hard time forgiving him, rape is rape you can not justify it.”
Gabriel Horan 18, computer science
“Every time you look at him it’s going to be a second thought. I would be speechless but be there to help him. I would continue to support him and defend him but keep away from the press as much as I can. For the most part, I would just want to forgive and forget.”
Esperanza Hernandez 19, early childhood education
“If my child raped someone and was caught I would want them to serve their full sentence in the hopes that they can learn from their mistake.”
Rosevelt Barow 18, business
“I’d be disappointed. That’s still my son, so I can’t turn a cold shoulder to him, but it’s hard. I have to support him as a parent, but he would have to get his own place and job and deal with that on his own. I wouldn’t have any sympathy for him and I wouldn’t talk to the press about it.”
THECRCCONNECTION.COM
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‘Trigger warnings’ serve no purpose on any college campus By Andrew Maestas amaestas.connect@gmail.com When anyone walks onto a college campus, it should imply a safe space. A safe space is a place to grow academically as adults and to be productive and contributing members of society. College is a place to learn in an environment free from censorship. As students, we all deserve the ability to decide for ourselves about what we believe and be free from watered down information and censorship that may rob us from knowledge. The objective for any student is to learn and earn a well-rounded education, but, in doing so, we are met by differences of opinion. In life there are obstacles that we are prepared for and not, but as students we learn, grow and become evermore resilient. The University of Chicago’s recent letter that was sent to the class of 2020 stated the college would not support labeling course content with “trigger warnings” or the creation of “intellectual safe spaces,” and has caused controversy. The university’s position doesn’t prevent professors from informing their classes about the material or act as a safe haven from perceived threats or hostility. The university’s objective is to promote the freedom to exchange ideas on a wide spectrum and not limit or prohibit that ability. However, this begs the question, what purpose does a warning serve on a course at a liberal college or any college for that matter? As a student, I believe that we should challenge our beliefs by questioning them, reexamining what we are taught in the classroom and becoming effective critical thinkers. I expect to be confronted by lectures, lessons, and material with which I may not agree. I expect that my classmates may or may not agree with me, and that is no reason for me to retreat from opposing ideas. In a letter written on April 22, 1800, from Thomas Jefferson to William Hamilton, Jefferson wrote,“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” I have had plenty of discussions with friends about controversial topics and we didn’t always see eye to eye, but we listened to each other. The process was fun, but if the discussion grew too intense then we would take a break and come back to it later. So how true and relevant it is to have
discussions about topics in a classroom with classmates, guest speakers and faculty? College is not meant to persuade or satisfy someone’s beliefs, but to inform and allow the student to decide what he or she believes as they move on in the next stage of their life. College is that place in our lives where we are exposed to controversial material and people who have different beliefs, values and life experiences. We should thoroughly hear out each other. We don’t have to look farther than the news headlines to read stories about college student debt and homelessness on the rise, a shrinking middle-class and a criminal justice system that isn’t working justly for everyone. We should acknowledge different perspectives and understand that it doesn’t mean someone’s beliefs have to be right or wrong. Nor does this mean we should change what we believe unless we decide to do so. In a world with people who believe in things that we don’t is perfectly fine. I will respect a person who thinks differently on a matter even if I don’t think much of it. That is a part of life. In my Intro to the Bible course, the professor informed the class that we would read the Bible and use critical and analytical skills. The class learned about the development of monotheism, traditions of the prophets, Hebrew scripture, the “Jesus problem” and examined the development of the early Christian church. We were discussing the Book of Jeremiah, and verse 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” I remember the professor asking the class what they thought it meant. A student said, this is saying that God already knew you before you were starting off as a human in the womb. The professor without missing a beat asked why isn’t this an argument for reincarnation? The student at first was appalled. After hearing the professor out even I asked why couldn’t this be an argument for reincarnation. The professor wasn’t trying to convert or change beliefs, but to make students examine what they were reading from a different perspective. We all should be encouraged to discuss issues in any disciplines on campus. Retreating should not be the first option when faced with someone with an opposing viewpoint, but if someone feels that they must, then do so. But find the courage to hear people out in a world full of diverse opinions.
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SEPTEMBER 15. 2016
>>Sports
Post brings fresh positivity as volleyball head coach By Kaelyn Blizzard & Matt Johnson kblizzard.connect@gmail.com mjohnson.connect@gmail.com As the season began for the Cosumnes River College women’s volleyball team, they welcomed new head coach Kari Post onto their court. Post grew up around the game. She was raised in a family of coaches and was also a local star volleyball player at Sutter Union High School. There she helped her school win four consecutive league titles and three section championships. She received several full-ride volleyball scholarship offers to a variety of schools, but ultimately chose West Virginia University, the school she said “was the best fit” for her. Post’s love for and history with volleyball can be traced back to her family, as a child. “When I was 2 years old,” Post said, “there’s a picture of me with my mom’s volleyball team, playing with them, and I’m holding the ball.” After she graduated and played several years professionally, Post spent four years as a men’s and women’s volleyball coach at Pasadena Community College. Post worked her way up the ranks until she became the head coach last season. She has now returned to the area for a job that brings her closer to her family, while making her part of a new family. While she is just a few months into her new position, Post said already feels welcomed by the CRC community and fellow coaches. “As soon as I came here, I knew that there was a family atmosphere that I loved,” Post said. “I loved coming to work already, and I love the people that I work with because we all do act like a family.” “I don’t feel like a newcomer here; I feel like everyone is here to help you whether you’ve been here the longest or you’re the newest,” she said. Post’s close work with the team has shown early success. Erica Valencia, a freshman defensive specialist, said she feels good about the future of the team.
Tyler Santana | The Connection
New volleyball coach Kari Post demonstrates digging for the volleyball at practice. Post is excited to return home to Northern California after she spent the past four years at Pasadena Community College. While she’s just a few months in, Post said she feels part of the family.
“I feel like I’ve already made a lot of progress since we’ve first started because of her,” Valencia said.
the new volleyball coach. “The dynamic of our team has gotten a lot more positive,” Smith said.
“As soon as I came here, I knew that there was a family atmosphere that I loved. I loved coming to work already, and I love the people that I work with because we all do act like a family.” — Kari Post Women’s Volleyball Coach Players have appreciated Post’s coaching style and her experience as a player. “She’ll tell us to do something, and when we do it, it just works,” Valencia said. Lauren Smith, a sophomore setter for the Hawks, was previously coached by Cassie Baxter, last season’s coach. Smith provided some insight into how things changed when Post became
“Her coaching style is very in your face, but she keeps it upbeat.” “She knows how to explain things a lot of different ways so that everyone can understand it.” Smith’s comments echo Post’s philosophy of using a transparent, trusting approach. “I like being able to be very transparent with my athletes,” Post said. “I tell them what’s happening and
why it’s happening,” she said. “I don’t keep anything from them and I think that’s very important because it builds trust,” she said. Post has incorporated a variety of new exercises and workouts. “She has these particular workouts that really benefit us,” said sophomore setter Leilani Lovan. The team has showed a lot of support for each other and are dedicated to making themselves and their teammates better. “The girls here are definitely 100 percent for each other,” Post said. “They want to make each other better instead of just making themselves better. It’s a family team,” she said. The team has completed eight games this season with a 4-4 record and they are excited for the rest of the season. Their next game is on Sept. 21 against Diablo Valley College at 6:30 p.m. It is the Hawks first conference game of the season.
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THECRCCONNECTION.COM
Hawks surpass last season’s win total after win over Monterey By Alejandra Morales amorales.connect@gmail.com The men’s soccer team defeated Monterey College 4-1 on Saturday and surpassed last season’s win total in the process. The game was close on the scoreboard early on, until sophomore forward Jesus Cota’s goal gave the Hawks an early 1-0 lead. The Hawks’ lead only lasted for a few minutes before freshman midfielder Eric Sanchez tied the game up. But with just a few minutes left before halftime, sophomore midfielder Thomas Nolan scored the go-ahead goal to give CRC a 2-1 lead at the half. “Before half you always get that extra motivation, it’s like extra energy that gets you fired up,” Nolan said. “It was nice to get that goal.” While the Hawks were happy to take the lead into halftime, they also knew they needed to stay focused and not let the lead slip away, like they did in the season-opening loss to Evergreen Valley College. “Leads are funny because they can backfire on you and your team and the team can actually respond and put the game away,” said head coach Ron Preble. “Today we put it away, but the other day we were 2-1 and almost gave the game back to the other team.” The Hawks kept up the intensity in the second half and continued to put pressure on Monterey. “Every day you come out and learn some lessons from the week before or the match before, we spend our first time in training addressing those issues,” Preble said. After a few missed shots, sophomore forward Preston Magonigal found the net midway through the second half to give the Hawks a 3-1 lead. CRC sealed the game when freshman forward Vladimir Jovanovic powered it in and gave the Hawks a 4-1 lead. It was Jovanovic’s second goal of the season Not only has the team surpassed its win total from last season, but they have also scored goals at a much higher rate.
Editor in Chief: Matt Johnson News Editor: Courtney Fong Features Editor: Ashley Navarro Opinion Editor: Tyler Santana Sports Editor: Matt Johnson Faculty Adviser: Rubina Gulati
Staff : Abigail Babineau, Alejandra Morales, Andrew Maestas, Jared Lee, Joe Padilla, Julie Wallinger, Kaelyn Blizzard, Lola Chase, Stan Smith, Steven Bryla, Andrew Flores
Proposed law could cripple the backbone of minor-league baseball By Matt Johnson mjohnson.connect@gmail.com
LeShea Munoz | The Connection
Hawks’ midfielder Thomas Nolan competes for the ball with Monterey College forward (left) on Sept. 9
In just four games this season, the Hawks have scored 12 goals. It’s a significant improvement from last season when they scored 18 goals in 20 games. Preble said he is proud of the team’s scoring on Saturday but he doesn’t think the team is finished practicing for the next match. The Hawks’ next game is on the road Saturday against Antelope Valley College at 1 p.m. Their next home game is on Sept. 23 against American River College, and it’s also their first conference game of the season.
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
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
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When fans think of professional athletes, they often group professionals together as highly-paid people who play a game for a living. On June 24, U.S. Representatives Brett Guthrie (RKY) and Cheri Bustos (D-IL) proposed the “Save America’s Pastime Act,” which would prevent minor-league baseball players from being eligible for minimum wage and overtime requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act. While there are some minor-league players that have made more than $1 million in a career, a majority struggle to get by. Baseball players in Low-A ball, one of the lowest levels in the minors, make $1,300 per month and that goes up $50 for every year they remain in Low-A, according to SportsLawBlogger, which is run by sports law attorney Jeff Blank. As a player moves up the levels, monthly pay rises to $1,500 a month in High-A, $1,700 in Double-A and $2,150 in Triple-A, according to SportsLawBlogger. While baseball season for fans typically lasts five to six months, it’s a much longer season for baseball players. Training starts months before the season, which makes baseball almost a year-round sport for players. After months of putting in 50-plus hours a week between practices and games, players receive around $8,000-$14,000 per season, but that’s before their agent and taxes take a cut. Most players spend years in the minor leagues, until their job is taken by a younger player, who will fill in the same role. This happens every year, when MLB’s 40-round draft ends and a flood of new players enter minor-league systems. While many of these players don’t reach the major
leagues, they provide valuable depth for teams and additional competition for young, developing players. With the time these men commit to baseball, it is highly difficult for them to improve themselves via a college degree or improving their job skills in the workforce, because they are limited to working around their baseball career. Major League Baseball sponsored the “Save America’s Pastime Act” and in a statement said that “being a minor league baseball player is not a career, but a shortterm seasonal apprenticeship.” MLB’s use of the term, keeps its employees separated from the Fair Labor Standards Act, so they control the athlete’s compensation. As long as MLB classifies minor leaguers as apprentices, owners can pay them less. Last season, MLB earned $9.5 billion in revenue, according to Forbes. That mark was the highest income they’ve ever had. They also received $3.5 billion from Disney for video services, less than a week after they issued their support for the bill, so the money exists to pay minor leaguers more. MLB said that minor-league players being labeled employees and eligible for the Fair Labor Standards Act, “costs to support local teams would likely increase dramatically and usher in significant cuts across the league, threatening the primary pathway to the Majors and putting teams at risk.” But a majority of minor-league players are paid by MLB owners, not by the minor league teams. Threats by owners that higher salaries would put the game at risk is simply a lie, demonstrated by the revenue owners have received lately. If there’s any risk to baseball, it’s from owners who put their own pockets over the financial security of their athletes.
PAGE 12
SEPTEMBER 15, 2016
New faces bring lots of experience for soccer team By Tyler Santana tsantana.connect@gmail.com The women’s soccer team is ready to compete for another playoff run this season, this time with a lot of new faces. The team features a 22-player roster and 15 of those players are freshmen. With a preseason record of two wins, two losses and two ties, head coach Cesar Plasencia said that he is very optimistic about this coming season. “We have a chance to come together and have an overachieving type of season,” Plasencia said. Plasencia chalks all of that optimism up to the new group of players playing for the team. Plasencia also said that despite there being more freshman players than returning, the team is well-experienced. He is not the only one expressing optimism for this season. Anna Ottley, a captain on the team, said that this group has a lot of positivity. “This season there are a lot of positive vibes coming from all the players,” Ottley said. “There’s less of an attitude than what we had last season and I feel we are much more of a team.” With the new season comes a new opportunity for players to improve individually as well, which is what co-captain Andrea Story wants to accomplish. “I’m trying to improve from last season by having my voice heard on the team and to share more of my opinions,” Story said. “Last season I was a follower, but this season I’m a leader.” Last season, the team finished with a record of 4-8-2 in conference and went to the playoffs. Some of the returning players said they hoped to improve that record and win a playoff game. Plasencia said that the team is ready for their conference matchups and that he is excited for the challenge of the upcoming games.
LeShea Munoz | The Connection
Hawks’ sophomore forward Ariel Klink heads toward the net as a San Francisco College defender (left) directs her teammates on Sept. 2
“Our conference matches are always pretty tough, which includes the power-house team Santa Rosa,” Plasencia said. Last season, the team was winless against Santa Rosa Junior College, which some of the players said they hope to change this season. Some of the other key games in this coming season are against American River College, Cosumnes River College’s rival, and Folsom Lake College, another competitive rival in the
Women’s Soccer
[Big 8] league, said Ottley. From a freshman’s perspective, Averen Calvin said that the team has a lot more intensity and competitiveness than previous teams she had played for in high school and club soccer. “In high school it was a lot more for fun and here at this level it’s a lot more serious,” Calvin said. Plasencia said that Calvin is a player to watch out for, along with Story and Lauren Azevedo, a freshman defender.
Women’s Volleyball
Although the team hasn’t had the results that he wanted in the preseason, Plasencia said the team has played pretty well and is confident going into conference games. Ottley said the team shares a common goal and that’s what makes them tough competition for the conference. “We’re here to win games and go to the playoffs,” Ottley said. CRC’s next game is on Sept. 16 versus Antelope Valley College at 3:30 p.m.
Men’s Soccer
Sept. 20
Santa Rosa
3:30 p.m.
Sept. 21
Diablo Valley
6:30 p.m.
Sept. 18
@ Canyons
3 p.m.
Sept. 23
@ Sierra
4:30 p.m.
Sept. 23
@ Sierra
6:30 p.m.
Sept. 23
American River
4 p.m.
Sept. 27
American River
7 p.m.
Sept. 28
@ Sac City
6:30 p.m.
Sept. 27
@ Modesto
4 p.m.
Sept. 30
Sac City
3:30 p.m.
Sept. 30
San Joaquin
6:30 p.m.
Sept. 30
@ Santa Rosa
4 p.m.
Oct. 7
@ Modesto
3:30 p.m.
Oct. 5
Santa Rosa
6:30 p.m.
Oct. 4
@ Folsom Lake
6 p.m.
Oct. 11
@ San Joaquin
2 p.m.
Oct. 7
6:30 p.m.
Oct. 7
San Joaquin
2 p.m.
@ Folsom Lake