www.thecrcconnection.com
Volume 58, Issue 1
September 15, 2011
Gone, but never forgotten
Mike Hendrickson | The Connection
Pharmacy major Steve Sipe, 45, sits in remembrance in front of the 2,977 flags representing the people killed in the 9/11 attacks, on Sept. 12 in the quad at Cosumnes River College. “I can’t get the pictures out of my mind, of the smoke and falling buildings,” Sipe said. The memorial was put on by the Student Development Office.
Smoking policy changes divides campus Melanie Tran mtran.connect@gmail In response to complaints about smokers and secondhand smoke on Cosumnes River College campus, a new smoking policy was invoked in April 2011. The CRC ordinance has voted that students and faculty will now be required to smoke in designated areas on campus that are 30 feet from a building. Students that do not abide by the ordinance could be cited for misdemeanor trespassing, said
Elk Grove Police Chief Robert Lehner. Surprisingly, not many students know that the smoking policy has been in effect, said 23-year-old Mathew Sewell, a health science major. “I don’t think the policy is really necessary,” he said. “No one actually goes up to someone and blows smoke directly into someone’s face. That’s just ridiculous.” While many are indifferent, some students don’t fully agree with the change.
“I guess it makes sense in a way, but I think they’re taking it too far,” said Garren Halsey, 20-year-old English major, about the ordinance violation consequences. “Smoking a cigarette shouldn’t get you into that much trouble.” Eighteen-year-old Jasmina Singleton, a nursing major, agrees with the smoking policy change. “It’s good to smoke away from schools because there are other people like me that don’t smoke and they don’t like to be
around it,” Singleton said. “Some people get headaches from the smell of smoke.” Twenty nine-year-old Nathan Woods, a health science major, said smoking should not be blown out of proportion. “I know many people don’t appreciate second-hand smoke, but it’s not like I do it on purpose,” Woods said. “Some days, I just need to smoke a cigarette, without having to travel far and being late to my class.” A 28-year-old human See SMOKING, Page 8
Students speak up about tuition increases Johny Garcia jgarcia.connect@gmail Community colleges were forced to raise tuition from spring to fall semester because of California’s current economic situation. Students at Cosumnes River College said the increase from $26 to $36 per unit has affected them. “I have so many friends they’re already out of college, and they just work already,” said Anh Thu, a 24-year-old pharmacy major. “I ask them why don’t they go back to college, because education you know is very important. And they say, ‘Oh, I need to work. I need to think about finance. I can’t do both.’” In addition to the increased tuition, community colleges in California were forced to cut classes, making enrollment difficult. This fall semester, California community
colleges enrolled 400,000 fewer students than before, according to the Los Angeles Times. “I was not able to get into all of the classes that I was trying to get into,” said Sharon Thor, an 18-year-old occupational therapy major. “They were closed. I couldn’t get on waiting lists. It was hard. I even had to look for classes at Sac City and ARC (American River College). “It was difficult for me. I had a frustrating time.” With talks of another tuition increase, Thor said it might become even tougher for students to pay for their classes and books. “Buying books and stuff for classes, it’s already difficult,” Thor said. “Now if you do work you’re going to have to work even harder for your money just so you can buy books and stuff out of your own pocket.” See TUITION, Page 8
Scan this QR code with your smart phone to listen to students speak about how they have been affected by recent tuition increases.
New Winn Center set to be green model
Holly Sanderson hsanderson.connect@gmail
Anticipation grew among faculty as the construction of the Winn Center, Cosumnes River College’s new, energy-efficient addition to the campus, is possibly set to break ground in November, Public Information Officer Kristie West said. Completion of the center is expected by mid-2013, but dates have been subject to change based on challenges the winter weather might bring, said West . First in the district to have been awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum status, an internationally recognized certification for green building, the Winn Center was designed specifically to conserve energy and the environment, Vice President of Administrative and Student Support Don Wallace said. “This building will be an outstanding representation of what the Los Rios Community College District has worked hard to be for years, that is, a leader in educational excellence and environmental sustainability,” Wallace said. “Students will be well served See WINN, Page 8
Opinion
2
September 15, 2011
EDITORIAL
External factors not considered with cuts to California colleges For the past few years, money has been a primary topic of discussion for educational institutions. This is no surprise, seeing as California is currently in a $375 billion deficit, according to usdebtclock.org. Every sector of the state’s economy has been forced to look over its financial records and determine how and where money can be saved. Educational systems have been doing the same as other systems: looking at ways to save money. Now, legislators have forced community colleges to make numerous changes this semester in hopes of meeting this goal. Tuition was raised $10 per unit, stricter policies have been enforced on students and fewer classes are being offered. Now, students can only take a class three times before they are turned away and pushed out of a district. And the bill is retrocactive, meaning that any past failures or dropped classes are already taken into consideration towards the limit. Although these changes have been defended as a way to save the state money, there are externalities that are being unaccounted for. An externality is an economic effect that results from an economic choice but is not reflected in market prices, according to the Free Online Dictionary. To go further, this means that there are effects that fail to show up in bank statements. Although a company may be paying only $1,000 each month to run a store, there could be extra costs or benefits that go unaccounted for. These could be smoke that neighbors have to breathe in or noise from traffic that wakes people up. When changes are made at colleges in order to save money, there is harm being done to society that is being ignored. There are externalities not being considered. Because of the higher class prices, some students will be forced to drop out. Because of the limit on how many times a student can take a class, some students will not be able to attain their degree. And because of fewer classes for students to take, there are fewer people receiving a higher education. When politicians make multiple cuts to the educational system, they are simultaneously making cuts to our future. The goal, to spend money more wisely than previous generations, is an honorable goal and should not be abandoned. But what needs to be abandoned is the tunnel-visioned way of viewing the changes that are put into effect. The amount of money the state has to spend on goods and services is important. But to act as if the state’s budget is the only thing that has changed recently would be ignorant of all of us. Cuts are inevitably going to continue to be made, but when these cuts are made we shouldn’t forget a basic principle that an economics class teaches us – the money trail doesn’t capture everything.
The Connection Editor-in-Chief News Editor Opinion Editor Features Editor Photo Editor Online Editor Webmaster Social Media Editor Production Manager Faculty Adviser Ashley Boucher Angel Byrd Maggie Cabrey Takara Campbell Tiffany DeLeon Mioshie Gaffney Jon Gallenstein
Stephan Starnes Johny Garcia Stephan Starnes Varsha Narayan Mike Hendrickson Cory Fong Carlo Dela Cruz Holly Sanderson Dorian Love Rubina Gulati
Tracy Gilkerson Zachary Hannigan Tammi Kolesinski Jessica Leary Imran Majid Matt McWilliams
Staff
Alayna Mirjanovic Alex Mosqueda Ivette Naranjo Julian Ramos Christina Salomon Melanie Tran Sharon Woods-Taylor
The Connection is an award-winning newspaper published bi-weekly by the Journalism 400 newspaper production class. Editorials and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the students, staff or faculty of CRC or the Los Rios Community College District. The Connection is a member of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges (JACC). Letters to the Editor must be typed, signed and include first and last name and a phone number. They must be 200 words or less and may be edited for length, clarity or taste. Telephone Fax Website E-mail Address
Or drop by
916.691.7471 916.691.7181 www.crcconnection.com connect@crc.losrios.edu The Connection Cosumnes River College 8401 Center Parkway Sacramento, CA 95823 LRC 109 on the first floor of the Learning Resource Center
Carlo Dela Cruz | The Connection
The renovated cafeteria at Cosumnes River College features the returning Grill Works menu that offers different meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Cafeteria pizza deals: not worth it Carlo Dela Cruz cdcruz.connect@gmail Cafeteria food prices at Cosumnes River College can be questionable. Overall, the cost of meals are reasonable for the hungry student. The original cafeteria in the College Center building returned after multiple semesters of reconstruction. The renovated area features a menu of food and drinks similar to its previous incarnation, including breakfast eggs, pizza and coffee. Prices of the meals also bear some resemblance to when they were previously available. An aspect to consider when buying cafeteria food is what is available in a meal relative to its price. Fortunately, most of what’s provided is affordable and can energize and fill a person up before their next class. The breakfast menu is limited, but has meals priced under $5. If you are creative on what you are getting, just buying a selection of the side orders has enough bang for the buck. Most of the lunch menu is also reasonably priced in comparison to what you might get at a nearby fast food restaurant. The additional offer of a drink and fries at a lower price with one of the many burgers provided is not a bad deal.
The cafeteria also includes a renovated Java City where people can buy coffee or other special beverages. Most of the drinks provide different sizes at affordable prices. While the menu in general is priced decently, there are some choices that have absurd costs, such as the pizza selection. While a normal slice of pizza costs less than $3 by itself, an inclusion of salad and a fountain drink cup more than doubles the cost. Money can be saved with relatively affordable soda in vendors across the campus or buying two regular slices and a drink. Another preposterous offer is the hot dogs at lunch time. While they might be very tasty, their average size doesn’t justify the $3.49 price alone. Buying something from the deli sandwich section is a bit of a mixed bag. While there are many options in creating your own sandwich for $5, the price of additional toppings is unusual in comparison to buying a sandwich with chips or a salad with a fountain drink. If there was room for improvement, a slight price reduction in some of the overpriced meals by itself would help and have more people coming in consistently. Nevertheless, there are good deals to to be found in the cafeteria.
Polygamy meets the TLC network Tracy Gilkerson tgilkerson.connect@gmail Among the variety of reality shows hitting the airwaves, Sisters Wives on TLC brings a new twist to marriage. The cast consists of Kody Brown, his four wives and their 16 children participating in an unscripted show making people aware of polygamist families combating prejudices. He is legally married to one person and the others are termed by them as spiritual unions. They are now being investigated for their unique family. Being married to one person is enough. It is impossible remembering an anniversary or birthday for just one person, let alone, the idea of pleasing him or her. It is impossible trying to please multiple people. Forget about pleasing all of them at the same time. It won’t happen. Polygamy works like this: one man will marry one woman and after a period of time, they will discuss the possibility of him getting married again. There are a few things that could be a plus for the first wife. An advantage when it came to babysitting and quiet time and she has a full time nanny, maid or whatever she desires without actually paying them. I can also see this situation as a battleground. Imagine the children saying, “I don’t have to listen to you. You’re not my mother.”
This show questions many high courts worldwide concerning marriage and constitutions’ guarantee of freedom of religion. British Columbia Chief Justice, Robert Bauman is to re-evaluate the 1892 Mormon Law as early as this summer, according to voanews.com. What if it was a woman who desired more than one husband? It would be scandalous. There was a movie from 1960s that actually had this type of situation in the story. Society has other names for the woman, and the word lady or wife was not among any of those names. An interesting introduction, “I am Kody, this is my better half, this is my wife, my significant other and here is my spouse.” This is not half, but 25 percent. This show and its antics scream ridicule. They want to educate people about polygamist families and stop prejudices. It is about people, their morals and society. People should be more focused on paying their taxes on discovering a solution about countries’ debt crises, feeding the hungry and finding solutions that really matter. If my life is so mundane and boring I would try to find something better to do than watch this. It is difficult enough to discover enough about one person in the courtship, marriage and learn about them in your lifetime. Stick with what you know.
Opinion
September 15, 2011
3
USPS on brink of extinction Remedial classes need to go Imran Majid imajid.connect@gmail.com The second largest employer in the U.S. is facing a default on their $9.2 billion deficit and the possible shutdown will leave 560,000 workers unemployed. The only way for the system to survive would be to transition into a five day delivery system, shut down thousands of postal offices and lay off 120,000 workers, said current Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. People are sending 22 percent fewer pieces of mail than they did four years ago due to “e-diversion, ad spend shift and the economic recession,” resulting in $16 billion less revenue, according to a 2010 USPS report. With the availability of convenient and faster forms of communication, the postal service is becoming obsolete and is no longer the standard for sending messages. Yet according to a 2010 Gallop poll, 68 percent of Americans favor that the USPS move into a five day delivery system and avoid the alternatives—government funding, higher stamp prices or shutting down the system altogether. Moreover, three in four Americans say that it is “very important” that the postal service remain in business, according to the same poll.
Every form of communication has a process. For mail delivery, the message— while not received as immediately as in other forms—can be personal and heartwarming if received from a loved one. Instead of looking to standardize communication, we should be looking to diversify it so that every form has an intended audience and a specific purpose. Newspapers and magazines depend on mail delivery for their subscriptions. While some people view and pay bills online, many people still conduct payments through mail. Seventy-six percent of American adults own a computer and only 61 percent do any banking online, according to a 2011 survey by the Pew Research Center. Finally, every job lost due to the shutdown of the USPS represents another individual that will struggle for survival in this dreadful, jobstricken market. Americans are not ready for fully digitized mail. Mail delivery is a legitimate form of communication that millions of Americans depend on every day—for jobs, messages and information. The only way to save the system would be for it to directly receive taxpayer dollars—something that has not happened since 1982. Other ideas, such as campaigns to encourage Americans to write more mail and cutting worker benefits, will also
Facebook opens communication Jon Gallenstein jgallenstein.connect@gmail It is very apparent that social networking has become deeply entrenched in our everyday lives. Facebook has over 750 million active users across the world and people spend over 700 billion minutes per month on the site, according to Facebook. com. Eighty percent of companies use social networking sites for recruitment, according to socialnomics.net. Even Stanford University offers a Virtual Communities and Social Media class, according to the university’s website. Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter become an addictive, time consuming habit that commands daily life. The reasons abound as to why: it is easy to contact people online, easy to see what they’re up to and easy to express your personal opinions. For these people, the use of social networking sites can become detrimental. However, for those who use it to enhance the effectiveness of communication, it can be a powerful tool that helps the user stay connected and speed up the travel of important information. The ease of spreading information is the reason that social networking isn’t taking anything away from concrete human interaction, but is merely an aid
HAWK TALK
to make communication easier and more efficient when direct interaction is not an option. Most do not have the time to meet personally with everyone they know in a day, but the existence of social networks makes it possible to remain in contact with the important people and things in their lives, while being able to perform the duties they must be in person for. Social networking also enables the user to stay up to date on current news and information. Most news organizations and companies have their own social networking pages where you are able to instantly receive the most current information available. It is true that much of what is found online can be useless tripe, but if you can sift through the nonsense you may find valuable and engaging information and then be able to share it, through the various sites, with those who can also make use of it. The 1800s brought the inventions of the the telegraph and the telephone to speed communication. Social networking is just the next evolution in an ever advancing field of technology and, when used correctly, can be a gateway to incredibly useful information. At the least, it can make it easier for you to find out where your friend’s next party will be.
Tammi Kolesinski tkolesinski.connect@gmail Remedial classes at community colleges are under scrutiny. Our campus is especially concerned about the cuts in any classes or programs. In community colleges, 42 percent of freshman enroll in at least one remedial course, according to the National Center for Education Statistics 2004 report. The definition of “remedial” is intended as a remedy. “Intended as a remedy” implies that something is wrong or broken thus in need of a fix. That is accurate in this case, though I don’t know if the classes themselves are what need fixing. “Teaching basic skills in math and English is a key mission of the California Community Colleges,” said California Community College Chancellor Jack Scott in his cover letter for the Basic Skills Accountability Supplement to the Accountability Reporting for the Community Colleges report in March 2011. More attention should be given to the high schools most students are coming from. If they prepared students for college, we wouldn’t have to offer so many remedial classes. Nearly a quarter of Cosumnes River
College’s students are not primarily English speakers and participate in the English as a Second Language remedial classes. Obviously our community needs these programs, but not here. There should be private or online classes not subsidized by tax payers’ dollars. Money is what it really comes down to. It’s hard to believe the government can afford to keep the lights turned on, let alone finance education If they can’t afford to fund remedial or basic skills classes, they won’t be spending any money fixing the high schools. The general population of U.S. citizens don’t have private money to pay for ESL classes. There could be a solution to everyone’s issues which includes eliminating most remedial classes as they now exist but doesn’t penalize those in need of remedial instruction. Better assessments to determine what exactly the students need, and developing a short, manageable learning or tutoring program that is faster than taking remedial semester long classes. The goal is to get students “up to par” on a faster time line. Students would be at the community college for a shorter period of time, attaining their degrees at the community college, then transferring to a university. We need to strengthen knowledge and help them realize their potential.
iPads and tablets to replace PCs Omair Majid Guest Writer The tablet PC hasn’t been around as long as people think. Apple was the first to release a modern tablet PC to the public with the iPad. Before, tablet PCs usually required styluses and were extensions of laptops. The iPad proved the modern tablet is not an extension of the PC, but a computer on its own. Taking the words out of Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ mouth, a tablet PC is a device that is more sophisticated than a smartphone and does certain tasks better than a computer. Viewing photos and videos, browsing the web and reading books are much better on a tablet. The hardware is handheld, allowing you to hold your internet browser up to your face as you would when reading a book. A 10 inch screen is the perfect size to differentiate itself from a smartphone and allows for interfaces developers only dreamed of. As soon as competitors saw the iPad, they quickly rushed to create their own tablets. Most of them have at least 10inch screens and are working to compete against the iPad for a piece of the market. HP also saw an opportunity and in
just months created the HP TouchPad. It would be the first tablet to run WebOS, one of HP’s greatest assets which they got when acquiring Palm last year. While the many Android Honeycomb tablets to have launched this year remain on shelves, HP discontinued the TouchPad after extremely poor sales. The state of the tablet market is incredibly sad. We are looking at chances of a monopoly. Only competitors were upset with the iPod dominating its market, simply because it truly was the superior product. The design, the interface and iTunes made it impossible to beat. The iPod was designed to do one task, allow you to listen to your music. The iPad and other tablets are designed to do multiple tasks. Android and WebOS do things a little differently than iOS, the iPad’s operating system. The modern tablet has only been around for a little more than two years and sales of them are proving that they could one day replace the PC. Tablets are changing the way we learn, the way we work, and the way we play. It seems as though getting a piece of market share will be tough but hopefully cheaper, full featured tablets will arrive and hopefully Honeycomb tablets and WebOS tablets stay alive for years to come.
What do you remember the most about 9/11? Compiled by Imran Majid. Photos by Carlo Dela Cruz.
“I remember being scared and my mom picking me up and not knowing what was going on. I was really unsure of things because everyone was freaking out and I didn’t really know what to do.”
“Shock. The general shock of Americans. Something blowing up-something on the mainland. It was like shock. No one believed it. It was unbelievable.”
“I was watching TV and it was like: ‘Was it a plane? Was it this? What was it?’ Then when the other plane came in and hit the building, there was no more questions about what it was.”
Jennifer Knestrick, 19 Nursing
Troy Davis, 41 General Education
Brian Price, 49 Business
“I remember our parents were scared. At my school, we weren’t allowed to watch what was going on, but my teacher had us watch and explained it to us. It helped us understand it more.” Shelby Young, 19 Photography
Sports
4
September 15, 2011
Women’s soccer overcomes teammate’s injury Mike Hendrickson mhendrickson.connect@gmail The Cosumnes River College women’s soccer team kicked off its season with a 2-0 win at home against Butte College on Aug. 30. The game started off on a bad note, with an injury to returning sophomore forward Dani Arellano only three minutes into the game. Arellano was an AllAmerican selection in 2009 when she scored a state leading 31 goals and helped the team make it to the final game in the playoffs. “If we lost her for the season it’s a terrible blow for us”, said head coach Cesar Plasencia. “I’m heartbroken if she’s gone for the season. I’m hoping it’s just a sprain and she’ll be back in a few weeks.” In the first half, the Hawks did not start the game with the same level of intensity their opponent brought. They seemed to be stuck in their own half of the field but they managed to keep the ball out of their net with solid play from the defense and freshman goalkeeper Claudia Lara. “I just stayed nervous throughout the whole game,” Lara said after starting her first game at the college level. “Until now, now
I can relax.” As the first half progressed, the Hawks began to get more and more chances on net, such as a penalty kick that went wide with 13 minutes and 50 seconds left. It wasn’t until the clock was down to one minute, 15 seconds left in the first half when the Hawks struck. Sophomore forward Kristen Mickey’s sliding kick to the right side of the net sneaked past the diving Butte College goaltender Connie Rivera, to put the home team on the scoreboard. Then they took over the game in the second half with a much more consistent level of offensive pressure. With 10 minutes left in the game, freshman midfielder Jordan Moore, who was filling in at forward after Arellano’s injury, jumped and headed the ball into the net off of a corner kick to make the score 2-0. With time ticking down, Butte college made a final push, but couldn’t finish any of their chances. “We found a way to get the W,” Plasencia said. “That’s all we’re kind of looking for in the first game.” The Hawks will return home Sept. 16 to face Los Medanos College.
Mike Hendrickson | The Connection
Forward Kristen Mickey slides as she sneaks the ball past Butte College goalkeeper Connie Rivera to put the Hawks on the scoreboard on Aug. 30.
Women’s Soccer Schedule Friday
Sept. 16
Los Medanos College
@ CRC
3:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Sept. 20
Solano College
@ CRC
3:30 p.m.
Friday
Sept. 23
Sacramento City College
@ CRC
3:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Sept. 27
Diablo College
@ CRC
3:30 p.m.
Men’s soccer team gains first win of the season Imran Majid imajid.connect@gmail
Matt McWilliams | The Connection
Forward John McNerney competes for ball position against two Yuba defenders in the second half of the game on Sept. 2 at Cosumnes River College.
Men’s Soccer Schedule Friday
Sept. 16
Hartnell
@ Salinas
4 p.m.
Tuesday
Sept. 20
Conta Costa
@ CRC
4 p.m.
Tuesday
Sept. 27
Santa Rosa
@ Santa Rosa
4 p.m.
Friday
Sept. 30
American River
@ American River
4 p.m.
Sophomore forward Aaron McCollum led the Cosumnes River College Hawks to their first victory on Sept. 2, scoring two goals against the defending Bay Valley Conference champions Yuba City 49ers. The Hawks, who won the game 5-2, demonstrated their explosive offensive power as well as the ability to control the ball. “We added a few twists to our formations that suits these guys because they are more possessionoriented,” head coach Ron Preble said before the game. “We can be a little more aggressive going forward and have a little bit of more of an attacking personality.” The Hawks demonstrated those skills early on, moving the ball across the field and attempting a relentless set of shots against the 49ers that would eventually lead to a goal by freshman forward Marek Albert. McCollum added his first goal of the game later on in the half, as the Hawks continued to pressure Yuba’s defense. “The ball was bouncing around on top of the box. My teammate got it and I dropped off on a good angle for him to play me the ball and I slid it in the bottom corner,” McCollum said. Many of the shots Yuba attempted in the first half either sailed over the net or were out of bounds. The Hawks quickly moved the ball to the other side of the field every time the 49ers were close to scoring. “We weren’t pressuring. We weren’t passing right. We weren’t shooting. No communication,” 49ers midfielder sophomore Alex
Butterfield said. The second half began much of the same way, with McCollum adding his second goal and freshman defender Cesar Sosa kicking in his first score of the season. However, the Hawks’ defense would falter and freshman Isaac Mora would score Yuba’s first goal of the game. A few minutes later, the Hawks threatened to score again. Freshman midfielder Eliezer Ramos attempted a shot but the ball bounced off freshman 49ers defender Felipe Rodriguez. Rodriguez went down in pain, clutching his shin and was tended to by the team doctor and head coach Imed Dossy. Rodriguez would eventually walk off the field under his own power but with a limp. Later on in the half, McCollum received a yellow card for not following directions and behaving unsportsmanlike. Preble immediately removed him from the game. Yuba City would eventually tack on an additional goal but the deficit proved to be far too large. “We got to work harder and get our guys in shape. They broke down after 10 minutes of the game and they just didn’t keep running,” Butterfield said. For the Hawks, they earned their first win of the season and demonstrated that their controlling offense is a potential threat to the rest of the conference. “From our standpoint it shows we have a team that can score goals,” Preble said. “We have also given away goals. So I don’t think we are putting in the fear in anyone’s heart yet but we are gaining confidence and that is important for us.”
Features
September 15, 2011
5
Tablet features fail to entice students Ashley Boucher aboucher.connect@gmail It’s the start of the college year and many students have purchased or decided whether a laptop or a tablet will accompany them throughout the semester. Laptops are full powered computers that are portable, have full screens and keyboards. They hold a larger amount of storage and memory space, but this can cause a shorter battery life. Since Apple released the iPad in 2010, tablets have become a new option for students aside from the traditional laptop. All at the touch of your fingers, the tablet can offer another adaptable way to surf the internet, read books, play games, use apps and consume media. Computer information science
Professor Geissler said, “About 85 percent of my students have laptops.” Students have taken the opportunity to use the advantages of today’s growing technologies, such as Windows software provided for laptops and the many education based apps provided for tablets. Portability, cost and ease of use were the few features 18-year-old Naomi Simms, animal science major, considered when shopping for the right computer. “I preferred the keyboard and bigger screen,” Simms said about her new laptop, “bigger screen means bigger text for me to see.” “Laptops don’t have a touch screen at this point, though we may start seeing that,” said Geissler. “Other than that, frankly there are not many differences.” The most advanced feature the tablet provides compared to the laptop is its ultra-light weight portability, an important factor for students who don’t like lugging a heavy backpack around.
Tablets provide similar characteristics as laptops, though this electronic is compact in size, touchscreen and has an improved battery life due to its smaller storage and memory space availability. Despite the tablet buzz 19-yearold Lamin Wilson purchased himself a laptop. “I could see using the tablet for books, but getting a laptop for school is more
VS.
resourceful,” Wilson said. Both, laptops and tablets, are ideal for web surfing and media use. “It seems that everyone is using the tablet,” said Geissler, “but no one is typing on it.” Student work related uses such as word processing, documents and emailing gives the laptop an upper hand because of the speed and quality at which its keyboard allows you to type. The tablet’s keyboard is virtual, as on touch phones, it limits screen viewing space and it’s easy to make mistakes.
Hip Hop kings return to the ‘throne’ Julian Ramos jramos.connect@gmail If you reserved your excitement to avoid disappointment for the highly anticipated Jay Z and Kanye West “Watch The Throne”, release date Aug. 8 , its fine to forgive yourself. It is indeed as special as it sounds. Both emcee’s drew the model for rap artist of the 2000s, with two releases each (“College Dropout”, “Graduation”, “Blueprint, and “The Black album”), so it’s quite fitting that they collaborate for a statement of mastery a decade later. The album’s title is not just an arrogant jab at competitors, but rather a challenge to peers, to not only create hip-hop with artistic integrity and commercial sensibilities but to do so out of responsibility to preserve the culture. Think coliseum-rap; the majority of the production pulls from lush layers of multiple genres (rock, dub step, soul ) along with ever changing song structures. West mixes these styles with taste and accessibility in mind, so the listener does not suffocate underneath the sound. Lyrically, both artists sound out right fearsome allowing their technical abilities to match their Olympic personas. Yet, what truly makes the album interesting is how many times these men expand their subject matter beyond their wealth. As Swizz Beatz and S1’s (of “Power” fame) haunting drum focused production on “Welcome to the Jungle” sets the atmosphere, it simultaneously drives the lyrics by attacking the speaker. Jay , who perfected aloof bravado in rap, shouts rare vulnerability “Where the fuck is the press? Where the fuck is the Pres? Either they know or don’t care, I’m fucking depressed”. Make no mistake, the album is very listenable. In no place on the album is this more evident than the provocative and unfairly infectious song “That’s My Bitch”. West’s brash yet sensual lyricism fits perfectly over the hazy flip of the classic “Apache” break beat.
However, tablets do have accessories such as the attachable keyboard, which can allow the portability feature to still be an advance quality. Laptops are promoted for people with desires of viewing a bigger screen and a desire for better memory storage, but while also having the option to take them place to place. Or in this case from class to class. Tablets are recommended for those who prefer better battery life, touch screen, creative applications and lighter weight to transport. In the end “students should get what they feel is suitable for them,” Simms said.
LOCAL EVENTS Ron White Sacramento Community Center Theatre Sep 16 @ 7: 30 p.m.
California Brewers Festival Discovery Park Sep 17 @ 12:30 p.m.
Blink 182 concert Sleep Train Amphitheatre Oct 2 @ 7 p.m.
DJ Tiesto UC Davis Pavilion 10/4 @ 6 p.m.
California Brewers Festival Discovery Park Sep 17 @ 12:30 pm
Rockstar Energy Drink UPROAR Festival Sleep Train Amphitheatre 10/13 @ 2 p.m.
Dj Nocturnal Sep 18 @ 9 p.m. Blue Lamp
Journey with Foreigner and Night Ranger Sleep Train Amphitheatre 10/14 @ 7 p.m.
Courtesy Photo
Where most rapper’s sexual imagery are more video vixens in bikinis, West’s artistry likens more to a risque, Louis Vuitton photo shoot. “Twisted love story, True Romance, Mary Magdalene from a pole dance. I’m a freak, huh, rock star life. The second girl with us, that’s our wife.” Even in the more shallow moments i.e. “Niggas in Paris” Jay and West’s money talk is undeniably more entertaining and admirable than bonus announcements from Banks. What may be disappointing about the union is that both titans are forced to minimize their titan-like characteristics to accommodate the other (sorry Ye). None the less, the final product is unmistakably distinct from any of its contemporaries-whether or not you watch the throne closely.
Author’s Score
-Author’s score is out of 5 stars.
UPCOMING MOVIES The Lion King 3D 9/16 Rowan Atkinson, Matthew Broderick, Niketa Calame
Dolphin Tale 9/23 Harry Connick Jr., Ashley Judd, Nathan Gamble
Killer Elite 9/23 Jason Statham, Clive Owen, Robert De Niro
Moneyball 9/23 Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Abduction 9/23 Taylor Lautner, Alfred Molina, Maria Bello
50/50 9/30 Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogan, Anna Kendrick
6
Features
September 15, 2011
Students say Hungry Hawk provides quick alternative Maggie Cabrey mcabrey.connect@gmail With many Cosumnes River College students having busy schedules, it can be useful for them to be aware of the on-campus options to quench their thirst and feed their hunger. One of those options is The Hungry Hawk. The Hungry Hawk is the CRC food truck that’s located between the campus police building and gymnasium. If you would like to stop by The Hungry Hawk, it is open Monday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Many students said that one of the main reasons they visit The Hungry Hawk is because its location made it convenient for them. “I never go the cafeteria,” said Nataliya Polichshuk, a 36-year-old math major. “This (Hungry Hawk) is closer to all my classes.” However, other students buy food from the Hungry Hawk for different reasons. “I wasn’t really impressed by the cafeteria,” said Dan Phan, a 24-year-old sonography major. After eating his chicken sandwich, Phan said “it was really good, but a little oily, but it was also probably really good because it was oily.” While there are many items to choose from on the menu, employee Bao Nguyen, 65, said there were a few bestselling items. “Definitely the hamburgers and the cheeseburgers,” said Nguyen. Nguyen has been a CRC cafeteria employee for the past 13 years, working at The Hungry Hawk for almost two. “I don’t know why, but Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. is always the busiest here,” said Nguyen. Before the recent reopening of the CRC cafeteria, Nguyen said The Hungry Hawk was very busy. “I thought they were getting rid of it (Hungry Hawk) after the cafeteria was done being built,” said Nguyen. “I guess they’re keeping it now.” Many Hungry Hawk customers said they wished there were more shaded areas and some students have even cho-
Carlo Dela Cruz | The Connection
The Hungry Hawk, located behind the Learning Resource Center, offers students a shorter, lunch-only menu of burgers, grilled sandwiches, chips and soft drinks to grab in between classes from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. sen the cafeteria over The Hungry Hawk because of this. “There are places inside here (the cafeteria) to sit,” said Darrin Roenfanz, a 29-year-old architecture major. “There’s like four tables there (Hungry Hawk) with no umbrellas.” However, there are more issues than just the shade that are keeping students from buying from The Hungry Hawk. Roenfanz said that the food seemed fresher in the cafeteria and had better hours. Others commented on the prices.
Composer’s Collective inspires future composers Tammi Kolesinski tkolesinski.connect@gmail Students met for a musical presentation and orientation for the Composer’s Collective, a meeting of the minds for composers and vocalists put on by the Cosumnes River College Composition Club, at CRC on Aug. 31 introducing Ann Moss. Faculty advisor, Kurt Erickson, and Ann Moss, soprano and guest Artist in Residence from Aug. 31 through Oct. 17, modeled the Composer’s Collective after a twoweek workshop both Erickson and Moss presented this summer at California State University Sacramento called Summer Arts Composer/Performer Collaboration Workshop. “The students who are interested in participating will compose pieces for me, most likely in the Art Song genre, and Mr. Erickson will help them through the composition process,” said Moss. Art Song is the joining of words and music with a prearranged musical accompaniment. Moss spoke of using a small amount of text when writing Art Song, which consists of eight lines or so, and the importance of having your text inspire your composition. “The students and I will have a chance to check in mid-way through their writing process, to problem solve any issues they might be having with setting the text, notating the vocal line, etc.,” said Moss.
The meetings will probably happen via Skype or Google video chat. In mid-October they will have a workshop, a recording session or a public performance of the pieces the students wrote, both Moss and Erickson said. Erickson played accompaniment on the piano while Moss sang several short pieces, one written by a CSUS student, Christian Guebert, at their summer program. “Christian’s piece shows a nice mix of technical ability and narrative clarity,” said Moss. “He had taken a course in Art Song composition, so he had a little more experience than some of the other students. But what really blew me away was how quickly he found his text and composed the song. Literally in just a few days!” Kevin Brisco, 19, a music major and composition club member, said he was excited to work with interesting people, to have a vocalist guest here and learn to write for voice as an instrument. “Usually you write and you’re all by yourself,” said Brisco. “To actually write and get feedback will be good.” Moss addressed the underlying aim of bringing composers and performers together. “If a composer has a question about how an instrument works, or what something they are writing will sound like, the best thing they can do is go to somebody who plays that instrument and ask them,” said Moss. “I felt that, if composers and singers interacted a little more, got to know more about each other’s process, it might help bridge that gap over time.”
“It’s kind of expensive for me now,” said Leah Evans, a 22-year-old counseling major, who instead chooses to bring food from home. The employees also had some problems behind the counter at The Hungry Hawk. “Some students walk up and take food that they didn’t order,” said Nguyen. However, she said there are very few students that do this and at the end of the day she loves interacting with the all the students. “It’s fun here!”
Record amount of students enter textbook scholarship drawing Johny Garcia jgarcia.connect@gmail Many students endured the sun during the Textbook Scholarship Drawing, waiting and hoping to be one of the 23 winning names called on Sept. 7. Winners received $250 gift cards to the campus bookstore, the Hawks Nest. To qualify for the drawing, students just had to have been enrolled in at least nine units and be present. The drawing began at 12:30 p.m., but every shaded table, bench and grassy area was occupied by 11 a.m. By 11:30 a.m., the line for free hot dogs and sodas stretched from the fountain area to the stairs near the BS building. And, as always, 24-year-old theater arts major Maurice Cooper was out on the steps bringing laughs to everyone by acting as if his name were about to be called as faculty members drew names from the box. Cooper has entered the drawing nearly 10 times but never won. “Most students recognize me,” Cooper said. “Next semester will be my last semester here. Hopefully I win.” Most winners carefully made their way to the podium when their name was called. But when 19-year-old art major Kashia Mouya’s heard her name called, she sprinted on stage. “We were waiting in the shade over there
and I was just so stoked that they actually picked my name. I was so ready to just go home,” Mouya said. “This is very convenient for me, especially since I’m an art student. Supplies are really important for us, so this stuff really helps.” One winner was already on her way out when she heard her name called. “I was on my way to class when they called my name so I turned around and came back,” said Stephanie Goins, a 51-year-old early childhood development major. “Hopefully it continues to help us out because a lot of us students can’t afford to pay for the books.” Kenneth G. Cooper, the director of college advancement, said the money for the event comes from the annual fund. “If you give to the annual fund that’s what’s called an unrestricted account, and its the account that we use to pay for the most critical needs of the college,” Cooper said. “We combine all of that giving and we’re able to do things like this.” Cooper said that just as the amount of donations has increased over the years, so has the amount of students who show up for the drawing. “Unfortunately, we don’t get a chance to count the number of students around here but we do get to count the number of slips of papers that we get in that box’s entries and we’re over 1,100 now,” Cooper said. “It really is kind of an indication of how much support students need out here.”
CAMPUS EVENTS President’s Ice-Cream Social 9/15 11 a.m.-1 p.m Main Quad
SIFE Fundraiser 9/15 3 p.m.-10 p.m. Chili’s, 7410 Laguna Blvd.
Observance of Constitution Day 9/16 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Main Quad
6th Annual CRC Fall Ethics Symposium 9/20 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sacramento State University
News
September 15, 2011
7
Third most expensive State wins state weighs down grant to help ease tranfers students Imran Majid imajid.connect@gmail
Johny Garcia | The Connection
Varsha Narayan vnarayan.connect@gmail Many things are taken into consideration when you’re looking at the cost of living. Rent, food, gas, etc. With the United States on the verge of another recession, the cost of living in the United States is at an all time high. The country as a whole has seen the price of everything from gasoline to food sky rocket over the past year, but some states have it worse than others. California was ranked the third most expensive state to live in according to a study conducted by CNBC. California’s economic slump has led to sky high unemployment rates and has driven up the cost of living. With gas prices averaging at $3.12 a gallon and doctor visits for the uninsured hitting the $120 mark, according to the study, making ends meet is becoming more and more difficult. “It’s stressful especially on a college student because I have to find the money to pay for rent, gas, tuition, books and other necessities. It’s definitely not easy,” said 22-year-old business major Erica Leiman. Some students have had to make drastic changes just to keep their heads above water. “I had to sell my car and get a cheaper cell phone just so I could make keep my house,” said Chris Rayla, a 26-year-old math major. “It hasn’t been easy but I have to finish school and that was my only option.” While the study focuses on the living costs in California, it doesn’t include the unemployment rate . With less jobs and prices going up, many are left wondering whether living in
California is worth the hassle or not. “I’ve moved here from Oregon five years ago and I really like it but I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to afford living here,” said Larry Nguyen, a 32-year-old psychology major. “After paying the bills I don’t have money left to do anything else and finding another job isn’t easy.” While the study compared the prices of houses, gas and movie tickets, it failed to calculate the rising cost of food. With the sales tax varying in every state, the price of food and clothes differ. But, students are also taking food and clothes into consideration when deciding whether California is the state for them or not. “I don’t want to work all day, come to school all night and not be able to spend any of my money. It all goes to paying for school and paying for rent and I don’t like that,” said 27-year-old child development m a j o r R h on d a Burke.
Other states in the top 10 include Maryland, Alaska New York and Hawaii, which ranked number one.
Despite an increase in unit fees, the removal of hundreds of courses and other budget cuts, California’s higher education still ranks among the highest in the nation, according to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. And in late July, they received some good news in the form of a grant. Thousands of community college students will be impacted by the National Complete College America Innovation Challenge grant, which was jointly rewarded to California Community Colleges and California State Universities, according to a press release on the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office website. The $1 million will assist thousands of California’s community college students in reaching their transfer and career goals by rewarding them with an associate degree in high-volume majors while also raising awareness to both students and parents about the transfer process. Complete College America, a national non-profit program focused on raising college completion rates, determined that California held a promising strategy in getting students through college. “California’s innovative course and degree transfer plan promises to significantly boost college completion, saving students precious time and money and giving taxpayers more of what they expect from their hard-earned investments: college graduates,” said Complete College America President Stan Jones in a press release. Jones invited all 50 governors to submit a written proposal for their plan to increase college graduation rates. Thirty three states entered the contest and California was one of 10 states to win a $1 million grant, which was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “Gov. Jerry Brown should be congratulated for his efforts to secure this private funding,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott. “The grant award shows that California’s higher education systems continue to be innovative and lead the nation. With this award, our transfer degree program has received national recognition which validates that we are on the right path and confirms our model should be emulated by other states wanting to improve their graduation rates.” Once students receive an associate degree, they will be given priority enrollment to a number of CSU’s that offer similar programs and will have to complete an additional 60 units to earn their bachelor’s degree. Miriam Beloglovsky, professor of early care and education at Cosumnes River College, applauded the grant. “I think it’s positive. Anything that can help propel students [into universities] will be beneficial to them,” Beloglovsky said. “But they also need a support system, in the form of tutoring and extra support, in order to deal with today’s life challenges.”
Fall semester brings fewer students, shorter lines Dorian Love dlove.connect@gmail From parking permits to financial aid, the first week of school often comes with the price of standing in timeconsuming lines. For most students, taking care of enrollment fees and financial aid begins the first few weeks of school, but noticeable changes have been made to help students avoid the daunting tasks of waiting in long lines. Peggy Ursin, a student affairs specialist, said the campus has implemented new ways in reaching students. “Online notifications were sent to students during early summer,” Ursin said. “We sent out over 2,000 messages to financial aid students and students needing to buy parking permits and bus passes.” Because technology is essential to students, many agree it has been crucial in helping students with their
payments. “Students are more tech savvy,” said Outreach Specialist Tiffany Clark, who credited the online notifications in helping students pay for their fees in advance. In comparison to last year, many students agreed the lengths of the lines have gotten smaller. “They’re a lot smoother this semester,” said Noemi Martinez, 19, a nursing major, who started college last spring. Student helpers also took time to help regulate lines by assisting students with questions. “Now that we have more people to help, things are a lot simpler,” Martinez said. Karen Woods, 36, a human services major, said the lines have been manageable. “It hasn’t been too bad,” Wood’s said. “The lines are dealable for the most part.” Many new students were shocked when they arrived
on campus for the first time, expecting longer lines. “From what I’ve heard, student’s have had to wait in long lines, but it hasn’t been that way for me,” said Erika Opeza, an 18-year-old undecided major. Budget cuts, decreased class sections and smaller waitlist have also contributed to shorter lines this semester. “Lines have been markedly shorter,” Ursin said. “Last semester we were around 16,000 and now we are closer to 15,000.” Kiosk stations were set-up, last semester in hopes of decreasing the number of students waiting in line. “They are used to telling people when to check their progress based on their number,” said Ursin. Once students sign in, a number is assigned for the student to return within a designated time. “We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback,” Clark said. “Students really appreciate it because they can stop by as early as 8 a.m.”
News
8
September 15, 2011
Winn: Staff excited about energy-efficient building
Courtesy Photo
Los Rios’ first energy-efficient building, modeled above, is planned to be built at Cosumnes River College in 2013, said CRC’s Public Information Officer Kristie West. Continued from page 1
by these new facilities and, I hope, will be proud to be a part of the excellent programs housed within this building.” This addition to campus will house programs and classes for the departments of Photography, Architecture, and Pharmacy Technology, including “specific lab spaces” for them, said Wallace. Unique, energy-efficient structures within its design such as “chilled beams, an energy-recovery system, solar panels, energy-efficient windows and glazing, maxi-
mum use of natural-day lighting by using skylights and lighting controls, renewable materials, recycled materials, bio-swale landscape (an advanced structural alternative to stormwater drain systems), passive heating and cooling,” work toward creating a more environmentally aware and respectful mindset on campus, said John Ellis, an architecture professor. “It will be an educational model for environmental design professions and it will inspire our students now and into the
future,” Ellis said. Funding for the construction was approved by voters from the Los Rios District, which will be served by a local construction bond, said Wallace. “It is, in a sense, extra money that the voters have given the district for the very sole purpose of construction and upkeep of the facilities,” Wallace said. “Therefore, the use of those funds to build the Winn Center will have no direct impact on the expenses of the campus.”
Hoping to break ground in November, faculty said they were excited for the new addition to campus. “I am so proud of what our district, our students and all of the industry professionals have done in making this iconic building happen,” Ellis said. “Regional contractors, architects, developers and professional organizations have given all of their time and financial support to bring this dream to fruition.”
Smoking: Students can be fined for disobeying new smoking policy Continued from page 1
services major Yaritza Abston said she prefers smoking to be banned completely from school campuses. “Tobacco may be legal, but not everyone should have to be exposed to it,” Abston said. “If it’s serious enough for you to get a misdemeanor for it, then it should just be banned completely because I know a lot of people won’t care for the new changes.” Many students have admitted to being oblivious to the new policy. “The smoking policy may be in effect, but it will take a while for students to catch wind of it,” said Dominic Bland, a 19-year-
old political science major. However, this policy has not only affected CRC’s campus. The Elk Grove City Council voted 4-1 to prohibit smoking by people within 300 feet of “schools, day care centers, playgrounds, parks, amusement centers, or youth sports facilities,” according to the ordinance. Although, the Elk Grove City Council has approved an exception to allow for a designated area at Elk Grove National Park for special events including the annual Veterans Day parade and the Elk Grove Western Festival, said Gold.
Tuition: students feel impact of unit prices Continued from page 1
But some CRC students said money isn’t the most important factor when it comes to pursuing higher education. “It’s all about the company you keep,” said Tremayne Gardner, a 31-year-old sociology major. “If I’m hanging out with
nine sniveling little guys who are worried about their tuition, then I’m going to be number ten, you know? But if I’m hanging out with people who are just saying dust it off, work harder, be a man, do what you got to do, then you know I’m going to be that guy.”
PAY OFF
YOUR EDUCATION Tuition costs shouldn’t stop you from reaching your goals in life. By joining the Army National Guard, you’ll receive the money you need to help pay for college as well as the skills and training you need to get the career you want. If you’re looking to get through college, with the Army National Guard, you can!
Sergeant First Class Javier Machado 916-320-8459 NATIONALGUARD.com • 1-800-GO-GUARD AMS-02_5.88x7_Machado.indd 1
8/31/11 2:08 PM