C onnec tion THE
Hawks’ tennis teams feel confident about this season See Page 10
Lilianna Alicia Ordaz|The Ilaga | The Connection Connection
Pronouns
Professors adapt the use of preferred pronouns News, Page 2 Issue 1 Spring 2019 Student voice of CRC since 1970
A2MEND
Club provides guidance for African American men Features, Page 5
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RAVE Alerts
Students should be alerted about past crimes Opinion, Page 8
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Hawks Win
Baseball team starts season undefeated Sports, Page 12
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February 14, 2019
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>>News
Campus library provides new services this semester By Alexandra Trigg atrigg.connect@gmail.com This spring semester, the library has implemented a new loan program that allows students to check out textbooks and other technological devices for up to an entire semester. Students can check out textbooks as well as borrow laptops and charging cables for a semester at a time. “Things like laptops and textbooks can be very expensive which make it harder for some students to attend community college,” said Librarian Ben Wingard. “If we can help lower the costs of community college and increase success for our students, we will.”
Wingard said that students can search the online catalog to see which books are made available to rent for the entire semester. “If the textbooks are marked as CRC-Extended Textbook Loan Program – 1 Semester, just pick up the copy off the shelf and bring your student identification card to check it out,” Wingard said. Channing Corbin, a 24-year-old art history major, said these services are important for students who don’t have the expenses to buy textbooks and laptops. At the moment, Wingard said students who are in programs like Extended Opportunity Program & Services, Puente Project, Veterans or who were referred by a counselor can check out a laptop.
Students need to bring their student identification cards and sign a student laptop agreement form to check out any devices. Even though this service is available to all current students, people like 18-yearold business major Raymond Phung don’t seem to know this new program exists. “I really don’t know anything about it,” Phung said. In addition to the loan program, Wingard said there is a student tech desk where students can go to and ask for assistance regarding their personal devices. The library is open on Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
HOW DO I KNOW IF IT‘S AN EXTENDED TEXTBOOK? GO TO LIBRARY‘S WEBPAGE
Type the following link: https://www.crc. losrios.edu/services/library.
COURSE TEXTBOOK SEARCH
Search for “Course Textbook Search.” Select your class and type in your class number and your professor‘s last name.
IDENTIFY IF BOOK IS PART OF EXTENDED LOAN PROGRAM.
If it’s labeled “CRC-Extended Program Loan Program - 1 Semester,” you can borrow it for the entire semester.
CHECK OUT.
The extended textbooks are located near the library’s DVD collection. Pick up the book from the shelf and check out.
Faculty begin to use students’ preferred pronouns By Summer Lomendehe slomendehe.connect@gmail.com With the semester underway, a few professors have started to implement the classroom use of personally-favored names and pronouns. Communications Professor Daniel DuBray said he passed out a personal information sheet to his students on the first day of class where they could indicate their preferred names and pronouns. On the sheet, he said he included a question about preferences to pronouns such as he, she, they and ze, also including “other” as an option because he said there are several different versions of gender-neutral pronouns. “Some professors are making that switch to asking for personal pronouns and asking what students prefer,” said Ben Wingard, a campus librarian and a tri-chair of the Cultural Competence and Equity Committee. “In general, that is a good way for professors to signal that it’s an issue they care about.” Like DuBray, Sociology Professor Donnisha Lugo said she tries to be aware of her students’ pronoun preferences.
“I try to be just conscious and aware of it,” Lugo said. “I’ve had students in the past who were in the middle of transitioning so we went ahead and they let me know their situation and what they prefer to be called and I went along with it and I could tell as well the students kind of followed my lead.” Wingard said using students’ preferred names and pronouns is a “sign of respect.” “It’s a sign that you respect their decisions and you respect them as people,” Wingard said. Trystan Simpson, an 18-year-old animation major, said it would be easier for them if professors would ask
“They let me know their situation and what they prefer to be called and I went along with it and I could tell as well the students kind of followed my lead.” —Donnisha Lugo Sociology Professor
students about their preferred pronouns. They said it could be scary talking to professors about issues like this. “It’s like coming out to a professor,” Simpson said. Simpson said they don’t feel validated in classroom settings, saying that a few of the professors they’ve talked to about their preferred pronouns haven’t really used them or have “forgotten” to use them. “A lot of the students have been really nice about it,” Simpson said. Simpson said that faculty can be more educated on the use of pronouns and on transgender issues in general. “We could always do more to support students in general and trans students in particular and I think that’s what we’re always striving to do,” Wingard said. “We’re always striving to improve our services and improve our student outcomes, improve equity for all student groups.” Wingard said that while he thinks the use of preferred names and pronouns should be institutionalized, there could be complications with the way it would be implemented. “Some of these come
“We could always do more to support students in general and trans students in particular and I think that’s what we’re always striving to do.”
—Ben Wingard
Cultural Competence and Equity Committee tri-chair down to details about how you implement it in the classroom,” Wingard said. DuBray said he likes using personal information sheets because it avoids the situation of students directly or openly saying what kind of pronouns they prefer. “It leaves some type of confidentiality,” DuBray said. Ultimately, Lugo said using students’ preferred names and pronouns should be a goal professors should strive for. “It only helps to make all students feel more included,” Lugo said. DuBray, however, said the decision is a matter of “academic freedom.”
“Some professors, for whatever reasons, may not feel that it’s something that they need to concern themselves with in the classroom,” DuBray said. “If that’s the viewpoint they want to take, then I would certainly be supportive of their academic freedom.” Wingard said he encouraged transgender and non-binary students to come to a CCE meeting and talk to them about things they could do better. “They are welcome here,” Wingard said. “We are a place that supports them. Our campus is one that supports them and that we want them to feel welcomed here.”
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Food insecurity is a problem for students By Mason White mawhite.connect@gmail.com
Lilianna Ordaz | The Connection
The Sexual Reproductive Health Clinic provides treatment for sexual transmitted infections as well as prescriptions for birth control. The clinic is open on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in OPS 126.
Clinic offers services to students for reproductive health By Lilianna Ordaz lordaz.connect@gmail.com The Sexual Reproductive Health Clinic began offering its services this semester. The campus Health Services office now offers a number of services to students at no-charge. “It is free, confidential and convenient,” said Michelle Barkley, the campus nurse. The Sexual Reproductive Health Clinic is a clinic that is available to students through the Health Service office. “Not a lot of students have insurance or access to health services,” said 38-year-old human services major Purlang Mysaysana. “It’s a good idea to have it on campus.” The Sexual Reproductive Health Clinic offers: testing for pregnancy, Rapid HIV, Hepatitis C, and syphilis, as well as screenings for chlamydia and gonorrhea, according to their website. “I think this is a good service to have, especially on campus,” Not a lot of students have said 19-year-old photography mainsurance or access to health jor Jake Edwards. Barkley said that in the past, services.” the Health Services office has offered reproductive health services —Michelle Barkley but because of funding, the serCampus Nurse vices were discontinued. Because of this, students were charged a $20 health service fee when registering for classes this semester. While STI/HIV testing is a service funded by the health fee, all other Sexual Reproductive Health Clinic services are being funded through a Sacramento County grant, said Barkley. However, Barkley said the health service fee may help the Sexual Reproductive Health Clinic “augment and expand even more” in the future. “I’m not bothered by it,” said Edwards. “If they have to use the fee for that, I’m fine with it.” The Sexual Reproductive Health Clinic is open on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in OPS 126. Students just need to bring their student identification cards to the health office to access these and other services. For any other questions regarding the services or the student health fee, visit https://www.crc.losrios.edu/services/health/reproductive-health.
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Many college students struggle to afford good food that is enough to keep up nutritional levels, according to a Jan. 9 U.S. Government Accountability Office report. According to the report, the leading cause of students who are food insecure is due to low income. Among those in that category a majority have at least one additional factor contributing to their risk of food insecurity. “Students are struggling to afford food for a variety of possible reasons, such as the cost of education, their family background, a lack of support that other students may have,” said Personnel Assistant Jordan Cervantes. Cosumnes River College is one of California’s colleges that has a food pantry, and students are using it. “As of right now, a little over 400 students are utilizing the food pantry every month,” Cervantes said. He added that CRC has room for more stu- “Students are struggling to afdents to utilize the food pan- ford food for a variety of possible try. The report, which col- reasons, such as the cost of edulected data from 2016, said cation, their family background, that the Food and Nutrition Service could make improve- a lack of support that other stuments aimed at making stu- dents may have.” dents better aware of the program. —Jordan Cervantes “Food feeds the body, Personnel Assistant the brain, everything,” said Fresh Success Program Specialist Magalean Martin. “It would just be very difficult to be able to concentrate and do well in your studies if you are hungry or worried about where your next meal is going to come from.” Mackenzie Ross, a 20-year-old television production major, said that the program gives students the opportunity to “focus on school.” “It gives people a resource that allows students to focus on school and not money,” Ross said. Cervantes said the government shutdown has affectIt would just be very difficult ed food security with regard to be able to concentrate and to college students. “Students were given do well in your studies if you their food stamps early in are hungry or worried about January in hopes that the adwhere your next meal is going vance would carry them over through February because to come from.” they were not going to get any stamps for February so we did —Magalean Martin get an increase in students Fresh Success Program Specialist who needed to use the food pantry during that period of time,” Cervantes said. Cervantes also said they are looking to increase the size of the food pantry in the future and are hoping to do a farmer’s market to increase accessibility to students. “It could be good for local farm-to-fork too,” said Aubrey Ade, a 24-year-old environmental studies major. Ricardo E Ramirez, a 20-year-old radio, television, and film major said that a farmer’s market would be good. Hawk Spot is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 12 to 2 p.m. and Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To apply, you must show your student ID, fill out an intake form and then pick up a bag of food.
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February 14, 2019
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Los Rios Police Department emphasizes public safety on campus using alerts system a significant emergency,” said Los Rios Police Chief Larry Savidge. “We have the ability Since the test of the Los to send out that alert through Rios Emergency Notification different means.” system on Jan. 24, students Savidge said these alerts have received several real are sent through voicemail, emergency notifications this text and email as well as semester. through posts on social media. Los Rios Alerts, which Bobbie Bray, a 25-year-old may also appear as notifica- business major said she thinks tions from RAVE Alerts, is a about whether a situation form of direct communication mentioned in an alert is really between the Los Rios Police an “emergency.” Department and the students “I do wonder how much and faculty on campus. of an emergency it really is,” “The emergency alert sys- Bray said. tem is a system designed to Savidge said the alerts are send out immediate alerts to primarily sent out by the pothe community in case there’s lice department. Depending on the emer“I do wonder how much gency, he said they “weigh the situation to determine of an emergency it really out” whether they want to alert the is.” campus. “The severity of the emer—Bobbie Bray gency drives if the messages Business major, 25 By Summer Lomendehe slomendehe.connect@gmail.com
“The severity of the emergency drives if the messages gets sent out.”
—Larry Savidge
LRPD Police Chief
gets sent out,” Savidge said. Jay Lampano, the interim police captain on campus, said they are very careful about the words they use in alerts, avoiding “fluffy words” that might make students feel good or scared. “If we send an alert, it’s accurate information that we’re sending you,” Lampano said. Aerrick Hunter, a 20-yearold anthropology major said it could be a faster process, however. “The alerts come delayed,” said 19-year-old fine arts major Geselle City. Lampano said they don’t
want to “jump the gun” when it comes to sending out alerts. “We want to provide you accurate information and, at times, there will be a time delay in putting those things out,” Lampano said. Lampano said they need to know whether a crime that took place is violent or involves weapons or sexual crimes before they put it into the alert system. Bray said it would be a problem if they didn’t fol-
“We want to provide you accurate information and, at times, there will be a time delay in putting those things out.” —Jay Lampano
Interim Police Captain
low-up with several other notifications. City, however, doesn’t like the follow-up notifications. “I kind of don’t like that I’m bombarded with alerts by text, email and voicemail,” City said. Esmeralda Guzman, a 20-year-old business major, said the constant stream of notifications is a good thing even if some may find it “annoying.” Lampano said he emphasizes the idea of “saying something” if a person sees something they think is worth investigating. “Report it immediately, even if it doesn’t mean anything,” Lampano said. “Give us the opportunity to check and verify so that we can provide more accurate information to our students and staff that are on campus.”
THECRCCONNECTION.COM Page 5
>>Features
Screenwriter brings experience to classroom By Kellie Bevins kbevins.connect@gmail.com As a writer and director, Film Professor Mark Steensland disagrees with the quote “He who can, does. He who cannot, teaches.” He said he believes those who can teach, should. This semester, Steensland’s personal screenwriting experience will help provide students with the skill set to create “in this very unique form of writing,” he said. Native to California, Steensland earned a Masters in Fine Arts in screenwriting from Chapman University in Orange, Calif., and while this is his first semester teaching the class at Cosumnes River College, he taught it at Penn State University
“We learn the most important things about the subject.” —Brandon Valenciano Film studies major, 19
in Pennsylvania and Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, Calif. “If you’re serious about pursuing this as a business, you really need to have the criteria to back it up,” Steensland said. “Art is very subjective, and you come to understand many things when you work in the field.” Steensland has directed many of his own short films and documentaries, most of which he also wrote the screenplays for. The lecture approach for his Tuesday night class is clear and detailed while fast-paced. He is interactive with his students, engaging them in stimulating conversation. “Steensland explains everything really well,” said 19-yearold film studies major Brandon Valenciano. “The only downside is there is a lot of work, but we learn the most important things about the subject.” After having him for three semesters now, Benjamin Felix, a 20-year-old cinema major, said Steensland’s first-hand experience is a real benefit compared to
“You become what you’re dedicated to, whether that’s good or bad.” —Mark Steensland Film Professor
learning out of a textbook. “I never paid attention to how things were done before, but I can appreciate the people who work behind the scenes a lot more,” Felix said. In October, Steensland said he and co-author James Newman released “The Special,” a harrowing novella about the repercussions of addiction, and how the main character reaps those consequences to the detriment of everything else. “The most rewarding thing that has happened with the book is the people that have come forward telling us that we nailed it,” Steensland said. “You become what you’re dedicated to, whether that’s good or bad.” At first glance, Newman said “The Special” seems to be a “gross-as-hell erotic story.”
Kellie Bevins | The Connection
Film Professor Mark Steensland prepares for his screenwriting class on Feb. 5 in L-111. Steensland’s novella “The Special,” originally a screenplay, is being adapted into a film.
Not all horror, however, is about “zombies munching on brains,” Newman said. “The best horror is about real-world problems, the kind we see everyday...now add a dash of monsters and mayhem to make things fun,” Newman said. A movie for the novella, which was originally written as a screenplay, started shooting in mid-January with Harrison Smith (“Death House”) as
director. When not teaching, Steensland is writing. A collection of stories called “Autumn Prose, Winter Verse” will be released later in month, and another novel titled “Jimmy the Freak” will be released in March, Steensland said. “He’s the most welcoming and caring professor I’ve had on campus,” said Valenciano. “Steensland is my favorite so far.”
Club offers support for African American men By Tairiq Marshall tmarshall.connect@gmail.com Starting as a professional development conference amongst junior college board members and administrators, the African-American Male Educational Development club developed a brotherhood and has become a sanctuary for African American males. A2MEND was co-founded by College President Ed Bush and other junior college officers from different campuses. “Currently, the club is active at nine community colleges in California with plans to eventually become nationwide,” said Club President Damonik Millan. Their vision was to assist young African American males both on and off campus, ultimately helping the men make connections for their future, said Club Faculty Advisor Michael J. Carney. “The best part of being an officer in the club is that I have the platform to be a positive influence on
so many young men,” said Millan. Carney said he’s never advised a club that was so “dynamic.” “The comradery of these young men extends well beyond the club meetings during the week,” Carney said. Most of the men on the club board were members or mentors in the program at some point, all of which are African American males. “I think it’s important for club members that our Board of Directors have that sense of relatability,” said co-advisor Khalid Kiburi. In addition to celebrating academic prosperity, the club discussed current events outside of school, adversity that club members have faced during the
“I guess the biggest thing that sets us apart is the club’s acceptance.” —Michael J. Carney Club Faculty Advisor
semester and even the latest sports scores from the previous night, said Carney. “I guess the biggest thing that sets us apart is the club’s acceptance,” said Carney. “Students feel like they belong here when they walk into the room.” Members of A2MEND have attended the African American Male Summit and plan to attend this year’s 12th annual conference on Mar 6. Last year’s summit had an estimated 1,000 attendees, said Carney. In the summit, career and college fairs are held for students as well as the Women Leader Institute. All of the A2MEND clubs from different schools competed in a knowledge bowl, where members are quizzed in a jeopardy-like game about African American history. Club meetings are held on campus every other Wednesday at 3 p.m. in LRC 125. “I love it,” said Millan, “I am very proud to be a member for A2MEND.”
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Alumna becomes first-year program director By Lucy Vang lvang.connect@gmail.com A former student was recently hired as the new director of the First Year Experience program. Hong Pham was a former Cosumnes River College student before transferring to San Diego State University and then Sacramento State University to pursue her master’s degree in higher education leadership and policy studies. “I’m so incredibly thrilled to be back at CRC,” Pham said. “To be able to give back to my community and become a part of student’s journeys are all very exciting to me.” FYE is a program created to provide first year college students with planning, guidance, and support while completing courses. It also gives students the opportunities to take general required education courses early in their college education. “We are excited to have
Pham,” Student Success and Program Specialist Oscar Mendoza Plascencia said. “She brings a lot of energy and she’s very positive.” Mendoza said Pham’s positive outlook makes everyone hopeful to continue these type of projects for students. Before becoming FYE Director, Pham worked at the UC Davis Early Academic Outreach Program for over nine years and at San Joaquin Delta College for three years. “My focus really is to serve our students and strengthen our communication and relationship in the Elk Grove Unified District,” Pham said. “Everything here is already in place and is excellent so I’m just eager to be able to be a part of it and enhance where I can.”
“We want everyone to have the opportunity to go to college and pursue higher education.” — Hong Pham,
First Year Experience Director
While building connections with EGUSD, Pham said she also focused on helping students who have trouble speaking English or struggle to get into college. She said that it came from thinking about her own journey and brought an incredible sense of responsibility. Pham was a first-generation college graduate in her family and said she understood the struggle of transitioning between high school and college. “We want everyone to have the opportunity to go to college and pursue higher education,” Pham said. Though Pham has only been on staff for about two weeks, students are eager to meet her. Ariel Hernandez, an 18-year-old undecided major said, “I didn’t even know there was a FYE program but I’m really considering joining it now.” Kelly Dalaya, a 19-yearold biology major said she think Pham is a great role model for coming back to
support her own community. “CRC has the most supportive and active teams and staff so I truly believe Pham will be a great addition to our staff,” Dalaya said. Pham said students can expect to make meaningful
connections with other students and staff while being in FYE. “I really believe a strong welcoming start for students is what’ll make a difference in their academic journey,” Pham said.
#StreamingNow Anti-Valentine’s Edition Compiled by Kellie Bevins. All photos are courtesy photos. Valentine’s Day? Who’s she? Check out these songs if you’re not a fan of the holiday.
“Pray You Catch Me”
“Happier”
“Almost (Sweet Music)”
“Don’t Think About It”
Beyoncé convinces you that you’ve actually caught your long-term partner cheating on you in “Pray You Catch Me,” a track from her criticially-acclaimed album “Lemonade.”
Marshmello and Bastille come together with this heart-wrenching single reminding you that sometimes in order to be happier, you need to go.
Anticipating the release of his second album, “Wasteland Baby!” in March, Hozier’s new single is about how music affects our memories, even the most bittersweet ones.
Justine Skye knows exactly what she wants. Forget about relationships, this song is about embracing your realism and having fun while doing it.
“Te Bote” Casper El Magico, Darell, and Nio Garcia remind you that once you leave our lives, you’re gone for good.
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thecrcconnection.com
Former professor delivers Black History keynote By Michaela Graves mgraves.connect@gmail.com
Courtesy Photo
‘You’ offers thrilling portrayal of stalking By Kellie Bevins kbevins.connect@gmail.com Netflix’s release of “You” has created a tidal wave of new fans, but they may be unaware that the show was adapted from a novel of the same title by Caroline Kepnes and developed originally as a Lifetime series by Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble. The psychological thrillers large appeal is partly due to the new perspective it offers. The point of view has shifted from its usual perspective, and rather than focusing on the victim, the story is told from that of her determined stalker. Everything unfolds when Joe Goldberg (“Gossip Girl” actor Penn Badgley), an intelligent bookstore owner, happens across a beautiful young writer, Guinevere Beck (“Dead of Summer” actress Elizabeth Lail.) His immediate fixation on Beck is a little far-fetched in the beginning, but as his past unfolds, the audience soon comes to better understand the drive of his obsession. There is a constant voice-over of Joe’s thoughts and feelings throughout the show, and while viewers might grasp the full
“It is difficult to care about a character who is routinely sabotaging her own life. Therefore, it is much easier to support Joe in his attempt to save her from herself, even if the way he goes about it is frightening. “
range of his psychopathic tendencies, the cavalier fashion in which he presents his demented thinking is so relaxed you almost draw the conclusion that his behavior is justifiable. Between his good looks and charming personality, it’s difficult to define Joe as an average stalker. The extent to which Joe is able to explain his wicked actions – such as sending a little boy to acquire a variety of items used for transporting and burning a dead body – is somewhat unrealistic. The personality of Joe’s love interest, Beck, puts the audience in the predicament of rooting for her stalker. It is difficult to care about a character who is routinely sabotaging her own life; therefore, it is much easier to support Joe in his attempt to save her from herself, even if the way he goes about it is frightening. Beck is blind to the obviously planned interactions that Joe plays off as simply coincidental, and rather than catching him early in his act, she writes off all her suspicions in place of her feelings for him. The factor that stands out the most as a viewer is how easy it was for Joe to access Beck and all of her information. Once he finds her online, ever possible door opens for him to create contact with her, including finding where she lives. It brings into question our own use of social media and how far we should go to protect our identities. While “You” is entertaining and binge-worthy, it is slightly overrated. Despite being enticing, the plot had issues as well as improbable situations. Netflix’s accessibility makes it easier for audiences to join the bandwagon of hype.
A fomer professor shared her family history and immigration story on Feb. 6 in the Recital Hall in honor of Black History Month. Dr. Melvina Frances Jones, who previously taught at Cosumnes River College, was the first of many speakers who spoke during the opening ceremony. The theme for this year's Black History Month is “Black Migration.” Many students and faculty gathered to listen about Jones’s family history of immigration from North Carolina. “Migration is timeliness and it’s universal, it is not a black thing,” said Jones. “Unless you are 100 percent Native American, your kind came from somewhere. We are a nation of immigrants.” The ceremony started off with opening remarks from Counselor Dr. Teresa W. Aldredge and College President Edward Bush. Lenora Callins, an Umoja Diop student, read her poem “This is The Great migration” to the audience. Jones introduced History Professor Alexander Peshkoff. Peshkoff was a former student of Jones’s and introduced the the topic of “The Great Narrative of History.” Peshkoff’s history class was in the audience listening to Jones’s speech. “What resonated with me was her going into depth about migration,” said E’Mani Cromety, a 19-year-old communications major. “We all know that black people were kidnapped and taken and migrated to different parts of the country, but her going into depth about it and talking about it even tying in her own family history really resonated with me.” Jones came to CRC in 1989 as the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences. After three years, she decided to re-
Photo by Mason White | The Connection
Dr. Melvina Jones presents her family’s story of migration during a Black History Month opening speech Feb. 6 in the Recital Hall.
“Unless you are 100 percent Native American, your kind came from somewhere. We are a nation of immigrants.” — Dr. Melvina Jones Former CRC History Professor turn to her passion of helping educate students by finishing her career in the classroom. During her speech, Jones promoted and gave the audience a brief background of her family history that is written in her new book. The book is related to this year's theme of “Black Migrations.” “My dad was nothing short than amazing,” Jones said. Jones goes into more detail about her father’s migration story. She explains the terrible conditions of his migration and how hard mentally and physically it was to complete the migration. Jones will publish her book about the historical contributions of her dad’s family, titled “Roxboro Roots: North Carolina Families Leave Their Imprints on America's Story.” The book will be published by Waldorf Publishing and is scheduled to be released in July.
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February 14, 2019
>>Opinion EDITORIAL
Newsroom weighs in on the safety of students on campus During the first three weeks of the semester there have been two serious crimes reported on campus. What is troubling, beyond the crimes themselves, is the passive manner in which students are informed of these crimes. On Jan. 27, at approximately 7 p.m., a victim was approached at in parking lot F near the CRC light rail station by a man who asked to borrow his phone, according to a crime bulletin sent by the Los Rios Police Department. The suspect then struck the victim in the face, grabbed their phone, threatened that they had a weapon and ran away southbound down Bruceville Road, according to the bulletin. Two days later, on Jan. 29, approximately five young men were reported to be riding their BMX bikes across campus and coming up behind women and slapping them on the buttocks, according to a crime bulletin sent out by the Los Rios Police Department. The Los Rios school district has the RAVE instant alert system, which informs students via text messages, phone calls and emails when there is a dangerous crime or incident occurring on campus in real time. However, for crimes that are reported after the fact, students are only informed with an email sent to their Los Rios email account, an account that few students use. Both of the above crimes were reported to students with emails to their Los Rios gmail accounts and not through the emergency alert system. Los Rios Police Chief Larry Savidge said that they are following the requirements set by the Cleary Act, which requires them to report crimes committed on campus to the student body. He said that they don’t use the alert system for these crimes because there is a delay in the information and they do not want to alarm or confuse students. While the police department is following protocol, it feels as though it is the bare minimum, especially when both of these cases directly relate to public safety. Even more frustrating is that it would be easy to ensure that most students are informed of these crimes by either using the alert system or even suggesting that professors take a moment at the beginning of class to alert students to crime bulletins. The student body being in the dark about crimes not only affects their safety but prevents students from participating in community policing. Students can’t call the police department with pertinent information related to a crime if they don’t even know a crime took place. Students may have seen a man, matching the description of the assault suspect, running away from the light rail station but if they didn’t know a crime had happened, they would never report it. All students should be encouraged to make sure that they link their school email to an email that they are likely to check and the police and school administration should also be encouraged to find more comprehensive ways to alert students when more serious crimes are committed. It would be good for students, good for police and could be vital for public safety. Agree? Disagree? Let us know at Twitter @CRCconnectin or thecrcconnection.com.
HAWK
TALK
What do you think of California Gov. Gavin Newson’s proposed free community college and universal single-payer healthcare? Compiled by Michaela Graves and Blynn Beltran
Ashley Monterrey Business administration, 18
“Free community college-- that sounds good but it is also costly. I don’t know free things don’t go hand in hand with taxes because taxes go way up in the end.”
Zoey LeVoene Theater, 19
Denis Gastinell Film production, 20
Keona Tanon Nursing, 23
“I think that sounds good. I think people deserve to get free education, and if healthcare is more accessible then everyone deserves to have affordable health care.”
“Those actually sound really good. Free college sounds good in theory but I just wonder if we will be able to support that because that means it would have to come out of tax dollars.”
“I think the main problem we have really is that no one goes to college because they can’t afford it. So even though it means we have to pay more taxes yeah it sounds nice for just everyone.”
“I think that’s good and it would help out a lot of families and people to come to college who avoid coming because of the cost.” Khudija Khan Phycology, 19
Edward Chung Computer Science, 18
“I do believe it would be a good idea but I would be worried about how the taxes would increase on the richer part of the community versus the poorer part of the community.”
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Don’t call yourself a feminist if you are not inclusive By Lilianna Ordaz lordaz.connect@gmail.com I was excited to attend the 2019 Women’s March in January. It was my first time attending the event and I was excited to see other people who believed what I believed. I was excited until I got there. Walking up to Southside Park in Sacramento, I could feel the excitement running through my body but the closer I got to the other side of the park, that feeling went away. Every way I turned, all I could see
“Walking up to Southside Park in Sacramento, I could feel the excitement running through my body but the closer I got to the other side of the park, that feeling went away. ”
Lilianna Ordaz | The Connection
was white women and some men. While I was glad to see crowds of people there to support women, I couldn’t help but wonder if these people truly felt the way I did. Where were all the people of color? On a Saturday morning, they were probably all at work. Because in the midst of a govern-
Can California really act to save lives? By Summer Lomendehe slomendehe.connect@gmail.com Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner and Michael Brown: These were three of the many other names that were mentioned when Assembly Bill 392 was reintroduced by California Democratic assembly members Shirley Weber and Kevin McCarty on Feb. 6. AB 392, also known as the “California Act to Save Lives,” would set parameters around police officers’ use of deadly force, according to an article published by The Sacramento Bee. The article also said the bill would easily allow people to “file criminal charges against officers who use deadly force not deemed necessary.” In 2017, 172 people were shot and killed by police in California, according to the state Department of Justice stated in the article. Holding police officers accountable for the excessively violent ways they handle situations is important and even more important for that accountability to shape into some sort of law or standard in policy regarding police brutality. The Sacramento Police Depart-
ment, in particular, began looking into their foot-and-chase policy following the death of Stephon Clark, an unarmed black man who was shot and killed by police officers back in March. If there’s anything that could change the status quo, it’s legislation. No matter how much protest there is on the streets, no amount of social movement can better shake up police brutality than a legal action of accountability. However, police unions and police departments opposed Weber’s bill last year, arguing it would have threatened officers’ lives, according to The Sacramento Bee. Black people have the highest risk of getting injured during a confrontation with California law enforcement, according to a 2018 study published in Journal of the American Medical Association. Racial profiling and automatically seeing black people as criminals is a problem that needs to be acknowledged and addressed by every person working in law enforcement. Until there are policies that are enforced even down to the local levels, California will never truly be able to save lives.
ment shutdown, every paycheck matters. When people are struggling to feed their families and pay rent, you aren’t particularly focused on attending a march where your needs aren’t highlighted. So that brings to questions, how can you call yourself a feminist when
your feminism only supports straight, white women? Feminists are supposed to be inclusive and fight for social, political and economic equality for all sexes. So when you claim to be a feminist but then forget the needs of people of color or forget there are more than two gender identifications, your feminism is not inclusive and you are not a true feminist. And seeing waves of white women pass me by at the Women’s March, it made me wonder if I belonged there. It made me feel belittled and inferior being surrounded by people who didn’t have much in common with me. So next time you hear someone say there is no need for inclusivity in feminism: Remember that for every dollar a man makes a woman makes 77 cents or less; try to think of a woman who doesn’t have her own #MeToo story and that there are stricter regulations on a woman’s body than on gun laws in this country. So yes, there is a need for all inclusive feminism.
Genetic testing companies need to uphold their consumer privacy standards By Lilianna Ordaz lordaz.connect@gmail.com Knowing who you are is something many people yearn to find out. Discovering who your family is, where they come from, and what they meant to the world has created a booming market for at-home genetic testing companies. With technological advancements, you can now find all the information about your ancestry for only $59.99, according to FamilyTreeDNA. Recently, the company has made headlines for a 2018 agreement with the FBI. The agreement allows the company to open its database to the FBI in order for special agents to identify victims and suspects of unsolved murder and rape cases. While marketing their company as leaders of consumer privacy, customers are distraught over the unethical breach of their genetic testing results. FamilyTreeDNA President Bennett Greenspan sent an email to customers apologizing for the manner
in which they found out about the arrangement with the FBI. But he defended the agreement and has not mentioned any plans to sever/end the agreement with the FBI. Truly, I think the company needs to end their compliance with the FBI, no matter their reasoning behind it. Their customers used their services not knowing that their information would be shared with the FBI, and the company failed to convey that information in a timely manner. With such technological advancements, companies should be expected to uphold their consumer privacy standards because they have the means and capabilities to. Customers trust these genetic testing companies to provide them only with the information they are paying for. They are bombarded with unethical precedence in return, which only benefits the companies. There should be a general understanding between companies and consumers that information provided for a service, should only be used for those specific services. Companies need to do better.
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February 14, 2019
>>Sports
Hawks get vital win against last place Modesto By Jayson Price jprice.connect@gmail.com The men’s basketball team bounced back with a win against Modesto Junior College on Tuesday. The Hawks jumped out to a lead early with the help of strong defense and dominating scoring around the basket. Freshman guard Marcus Robinson set the tone defensively with three steals and 16 points, most coming by running the floor after forcing turnovers. “If my teammates pass me the ball, I’m running every time,” said Robinson. Midway through the first half, Modesto began to get settled and made a run, but a strong performance off the bench from freshman forward Christian Fong pushed the lead to 15. In nine minutes, Fong went 3 of 4 for eight points and made his first three shots. “I was feeling it right off the bench,” said Fong. “I felt I needed to step up and I was glad I was able to.”
The win was not without adversity as the Pirates came out in the second half and cut the lead to six. Hawks Head coach Jonathan James had seen enough and called a timeout to refocus his team. “A lot of expletives there” said James about what went on in the timeout. “Guys got a little complacent.” The Hawks, although never trailing the entire game, never quite got comfortable as the Pirates connected on 50 percent of 3-pointers and outscored the Hawks in the second half 45-40. Sophomore guard Khari Hutt willed the Hawks to victory on the back of a 8 of 11 for 18-point second half performance. The Hawks finished the game with a 82-74 victory, but coach James was unhappy with his team’s effort. “I’m not pleased with the mental effort and focus. Not pleased,” coach James said. Coach James’ words leftan impression as players echoed their coaches displeasure. “I felt (the game) was
Blynn Beltran | The Connection
Sophomore forward Drew Buggs goes for a turnaround hook shoot after a pump fake on Tuesday against Modesto. Buggs’s 17 points helped the Hawks get a much needed win as they fight for a playoff spot.
good, we just needed to box out more and play defense” said Robinson. Rebounding was clearly a post game topic after Fong doubled down on their rebounding effort.
“I think we did well defensively, but we gave up 17 rebounds,” Fong said. “To win next couple games we need to clean that up.” The next two games are important for the Hawks who
are 9-5 in conference and are currently a half game behind second place Santa Rosa junior college. The Hawks will head to fourth place Sierra college Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Tennis teams set expectations high heading into new season By Lilianna Ordaz lordaz.connect@gmail.com The women’s and men’s tennis teams are looking forward to a new season, with prospects of going to the state championship. With both teams playing their first conference matches on Tuesday, coaches and players alike are hopeful they are headed for a winning season. “Our teams have plenty of experienced and strong players this season,” said Head Coach Eva de Mars. The women’s and men’s teams practice together, however matches are seperate. “We play one through six
singles on both sides and double teams, with a total of nine matches,” said de Mars. Angela Hurtado, 20, is returning for her second year with the Hawks and has a positive outlook for the up and coming season. “It’s so far so good,” said Hurtado, who won her singles match against Santa Rosa on Feb. 5. In pre-season, the women’s team has and 1-1 record, with a 5-4 win at Santa Rosa. “I think we have a pretty good chance this season,” continued Hurtado. For the 2018 season, the women’s team suffered a 0-7 conference record and were
0-10 overall. The men’s team ended the 2018 conference season 0-4 and 1-5 overall. “I’m excited for the season, and everything that’s going to come,” said 19-year-old Kyle Lopez. Lopez won his single match against Shasta College during the season opener on Jan. 29. Overall, both teams are composed of equally talented players, said de Mars. However, one player to keep an eye on this season is Kien Dang. “He’s definitely a higher level and very competitive,” said de Mars. Prior to playing for the Hawks, Dang lived in Viet-
Lilianna Ordaz | The Connection
Both the tennis team practice hard together on Monday afternoon. The teams said conditioning would be a key factor to a successful season.
nam but came to the states where he is also pursuing a nursing degree, de Mars said. The teams said they have high hopes of making it to state this season and have been focusing on mental and physical ways to make sure
they get there. Along with with exercising and conditioning, Hurtado said the teams focus on the idea that “tennis is mental.”. “In order to win, you need to have a good mentality to win,” Hurtado said.
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The Cheap $eats Huge MLB offseason season proves to be a huge dud
Blynn Beltran | The Connection
Freshman gaurd Arionna Butts fights for points in the paint during a 80-57 loss to the Panthers on Feb. 5.
Women’s basketball falls to Sac City on a barrage of 3-pointers By Blynn Beltran bbeltran.connect@gmail.com The women’s basketball team was unable to fend-off the Sacramento City College Panthers during the Coaches vs. Cancer event on Tuesday. During this matchup, the Hawks were also hosting the Coaches vs. Cancer event to raise funds for former CRC Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach Charles “C-dub” Wilder who died of cancer earlier this year. The event was also aimed at raising money to fight cancer for the local community. Sacramento City College is a division rival and a win would’ve been a statement against the third best team of the Big Eight Conference. In the first half, the Panthers were able to pull ahead with a 13-point lead against the Hawks. Injuries played a big part of the Hawks’ loss. Freshman Forward Arianna Santos had to be walked off the court after re-injuring her ankle during the start of the third quarter. “The biggest thing that we can’t do anything about right now is personnel,” said Head Coach Coral Sage. “We don’t really have any post players. It’s hard to play with five or six guards.” The Panthers’ lead was due to their three-point shooting early on and a scoring
drought from the Hawks. The Panthers moved the ball around and were able to knock-down over 50 percent of their shots from the three-point line. The players said their main problem was on the defensive end. “As a team, I think we lacked defensive intensity,” said Freshman Guard Arionna Butts. The Hawks operated mainly in the paint, grabbing offensive rebounds and drawing fouls. Despite converting free-throws and second-chance points, they struggled with their shooting throughout the first two quarters. The second half wasn’t any better for the Hawks. As their scoring drought continued, the Panthers were able to keep adding to their lead. “It would’ve probably helped if we scored more,” said sophomore guard Brookelyn Larkin. “Overall, we need to learn to come out more and not wait to the end. Even though the Hawks were able to keep the visitors away from the three-pointers in the second half, there were far too many empty possessions to climb back into the game. “I’m proud of the girls, they played hard,” Sage said. “We don’t always make our shots or hit the right queues on defense, but you never question their heart.”
The Connection Cosumnes River College 8401 Center Parkway Sacramento, CA 95823 Editor in Chief: Summer Lomendehe News Editor: Summer Lomendehe Features Editor: Kellie Bevins Sports Editor: Max Connor Opinion Editor: Lilianna Ordaz Faculty Adviser: Rubina Gulati
Staff: Blynn Beltran, Halimeh Edais, Michaela Graves,Tairiq Marshall, Roger Mitchell, Jaymes Naval, Jayson Price, Alexandra Trigg, Lucy Vang, Mason White
Baseball is getting wrong, shifts, pitching changes and roagain. tating lineups, and off the field During an offseason that by trying to get the most bang was potentially full of excite- for their buck on the players ment and intrigue, where two who are signed. of the games 10 best players There is a growing trend (Bryce Harper and Manny in which these newer general Machado) became free agents managers would rather have at an uncommonly young age, two players, who are cheaper, baseball has managed to fulfill do the job that one super-star its own worst stereotype of beplayer could do. While ing boring. And I’m not even this strategy makes fiscal referring to the game itself. sense in a vacuum, it fails As soon as the NFL seato see the big picture. son ended, draft experts The big picture is that started popping up all baseball is starving Max Connor over radio and telefor kids to vision to get people mconnor.connect@gmail.com fall in love hyped up for the NFL draft with the sport and for kids to which is two months away. fall in love with the sport they The NBA has managed to must first fall in love with the drum up intrigue and contro- players. versy during the middle of their No 10-year-old kid wants long and dull regular season a poster of Joe Schmo and John by talking about the massively Doe on their wall instead of talented free agent class coming Bryce Harper or Manny Machout this summer. This will un- ado. doubtedly become an entertainNo 10-year-old kid wants a ing frenzy of rumors and then poster on their wall of a teams quickly, signings of free agents. general manager with a pencil Yet baseball is managing behind his ear, pouring over to ruin a golden opportunity statistics. to create buzz and excitement And no 10-year-old kid is during this offseason where telling their friends how brilthey have the two youngest and liant their teams’ front office is most talented players to hit free because they didn’t waste monagency in almost 20 years. ey on a huge contract to a star Part of the problem is own- and instead signed three guys ers are actively trying to reverse who could “eat up innings” and a trend of signing players to have “great value”. Sports editor give the fan view of eight or 10 year contracts which As a result of baseball’s artopics rarely pan out in thecurrent long run.sports rogance regarding the imporIt’s an understandable market tance of the fans connection to correction after 15 years of bad the players, hardly any 10-yearcontracts stifling teams’ abili- old kids are even watching ties to get better and sign other baseball anymore, and those players. who were interested in where Most of this however, is Bryce Harper and Manny the fault of the ever growing Machado may go three months analytics army, which is so sin- ago, no longer care. gularly focused on creating efI know I don’t. ficiency both on the field with
The Connection is an award-winning newspaper published 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
The Cheap $eats
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February 14, 2019
Roger Mitchell | The Connection
Sophomore catcher Jeremy Kolb crosses home plate on a double by freshman right fielder Jorge Montoya during their 5-0 win on Tuesday against the Chabot College Gladiators. The Hawks have started out the season hot oing 6-0 with the pitching staff leading the way by holding their opponents to a .201 batting average and compiling a staff E.R.A. of 1.51.
Hawks limit Chabot to 4 hits; remain undefeated By Roger Mitchell rmitchell.connect@gmail.com The Hawks baseball team played at home against Chabot College Gladiators on Tuesday, getting a 5-0 win to push their record to 6-0 to start the season. Sophomore Josh Caldwell pitched the first four innings, giving up only one hit and striking out six. Caldwell was helped by early run support from sophomore center fielder Burle Dixon, who after being hit by a pitch to lead off the game, stole second and third base and was driven in on a groundout by sophomore infielder J.D. Mico on the next at-bat to make the score 1-0. “I plan on having the most steals,” Dixon said. “I try to get on and get into scoring position. I try to steal second and third to get into scoring position for the guys behind me.” Sophomore Joey Pankratz pitched in relief, taking over for Caldwell at the start of the fifth inning. Pankratz pitched three innings, giving up three hits and
striking out two. The score remained 1-0 until the seventh inning, when sophomore left fielder Clay DuVal, who walked on the at-bat before, was driven in by sophomore catcher Jeremy Kolb when he hit a single and advanced to second on an infield error. Kolb was then driven in when freshman right fielder Jorge Montoya hit a double to the outfield. “Each at-bat I was trying to work on something different,” Montoya said. “The first at-bat [Chabot’s pitcher] got me inside. My next couple at-bats i was looking outside, which he did, so i took it the other way. That’s when I got that double.” Dixon would then hit the second double of the inning to drive Montoya in, bringing the score to 4-0. “With guys in scoring position, you try to get those guys in and help run the score up to help our team win,” Dixon said. Dixon then stole third, his third steal of the day, and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of
J.D. Mico to bring the score to 5-0. “When you have a big lead on a team, it definitely relaxes everyone and gets everyone playing a lot more loose and just having fun,” said Kolb. Freshman pitcher Brian Freitas closed out the game, giving up only one hit over two innings pitched, striking out one. The Hawks are playing well and remain undefeated in the early season. “I’m happy for our guys, but we’re still not playing our best baseball yet, we’re still trying to put together some good baseball,” said Head Coach Don Mico. “We pitched very well today, we got the timely hits. We got a couple errors late in the game, there’s stuff we gotta clean up as we get better.” Next the Hawks have a three game series scheduled against College of the Sequoias on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. As of Wednesday the games on Thursday and Friday have been postponed. “They’re definitely a good
team, and definitely a good test going into league coming up,” Kolb said. “Last year we went 1-2 against them down at their place,
and so we’re definitely gonna want some revenge getting back at them, and hopefully we have a good weekend.”
Roger Mitchell | The Connection
Sophomore pitcher Joey Pankratz tossed three scoreless innings, striking out two during a 5-0 win against Chabot College on Tuesday.