Issue 1 Spring 2018

C onnection THE

Record flu season hits campus See Page 2 Alicia Ilaga||The TheConnection Connection Kainoa Nunez

Black History Month

Keynote speaker opens event with tribal prayers News, Page 4 Issue 1 Spring 2018 Student voice of CRC since 1970

Orwell’s ‘1984’

Theatre department takes on literary classic Features, Page 6

FACEBOOK /crcconnection

NFL misconception How one NFL fan feels betrayed by scandals Opinion, Page 8

TWITTER @crcconnection

Hot start for Hawks

Baseball team makes strong showing in conference game Sports, Page 12

INSTAGRAM @crcconnection

February 15, 2018

Page 2

>>News

Severe flu season affects students’ productivity in class

By Elizabeth Rodriguez erodriguez.connect@gmail.com

Students are battling the flu season with masks and teas in hand as they face what is to be considered an ‘epidemic’ that’s sweeping 42 states, according to CBS News.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a total of 53 child fatalities have been reported for the 20172018 Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report.

College Nurse Michelle Barkley has been with Cosumnes River College for 15 years and said that this is the worst flu season she’s seen in her 20 years of nursing.

Barkley sent a campuswide email with tips on how to care for yourself when the flu hits. The tips included things ranging from home remedies to what kind of medicines to take when you’re sick.

“Stay home if you are sick. The world isn’t going to end if you don’t show up to class. Get in touch with your instructor and work out a way to make up the work,” said Barkley.

Students, such as 19-year-old art major Lilianna Ramos, shared a common concern: missing so much class that one must play catch-up to in order to maintain their grades.

“I hate being sick.

The worst thing I can do to myself is get sick and I always feel bad because I don’t like missing class,” Ramos said.

But because the flu season is a time of usual absenteeism some professors, such as Ellen Arden-Ogle of communication studies, knows that missing class is sometimes unavoidable.

Kainoa Nunez / The Connection

Students can pick up masks in the Health Services Office located in OPS-126.

If a student cannot attend class as originally planned, Arden-Ogle offers alternatives.

“Some good tips are to make contacts with other students in your classes, keep up on Canvas and the reading assignments, and for heaven’s sake, let your professors know what’s happening with you,” Arden-Ogle said.

Another option to alleviate flu symptoms is to take the flu shot. On Barkley’s Flu Public Service Announcement attachment, she said, “you can get the flu even if you received the flu vaccine... however if you received the vaccine, your illness may be less severe.”

Antonio Flores, a 24-year-old undeclared major, said that he hates getting the flu shot.

“I know it’s supposed to prevent your sickness from getting worse, but I still

hate how I feel afterwards,” Flores said. “It especially sucks when you have younger siblings. I’ve heard that the flu has been so bad this year, it’s been killing kids.”

The children and elderly are known to be the primary victims of getting sick more easily, as seen on CDC’s FluView pie chart studies.

According to a Sacramento Bee article, St. Mary School in East Sacramento was shut down on Tuesday due to the attendance rate being so low.

With 40 children and 11 of the faculty members absent, the school was not being able to find enough substitutes, causing the school to close down til Thursday morning.

“I know life doesn’t stop when someone gets sick, but if it’s so bad that kids are dying, people need to stay home,” Flores said.

Barkley said that one of the most common mistakes students make is going out in public when they should actually be home.

“Coughing not only compromises one’s own immune system/healing, [but] it also spreads communicable diseases to others,” said Barkley.

Because of how easily the flu can be spread, there are some simple preventative practices that can be done in order to prevent attracting it: washing your hands with soap, staying hydrated, and coughing away from your hands and into your fabric like sleeves, which halts the bacteria from spreading in the air, according to Barkley’s Flu Public Service Announcement.

For further questions in regards to influenza care, the Health Services Office is located in OPS-126 and can be reached at (916) 691-7584.

If you think you have the flu: Do not go out in public, an older person or someone in poor health or with respiratory disease can die from the flu.

Do not attend class or send a child with a fever to school.

Contact your instructor or child’s instructor to notify them.

You can get the flu even if you have recieved the flu vaccine..

However if you have recieved the vaccine, the illness may be less severe.

Drink several fluids and use home remedies such as vapor humidifers and lemon/honey warm drink.

Remember to wash your hands with soap and water.

Source: Campus Nurse Michelle Barkley

Page 3

thecrcconnection.com

Students react to Apple slowing down phones

By Summer Lomendehe slomendehe.connect@gmail.com Apple Inc. announced on Jan. 24 that a later version of the iOS 11.3 update will allow users to turn off the feature that slows down phone performance.

Apple admitted to slowing down the performance of their phones to preserve the life of its batteries in a statement made to several news publications on Dec. 20.

“Our goal has always been to create products that our customers love, and making iPhones last as long as possible is an important part of that,” according to the Dec. 28 statement.

The company said that customers began to notice changes in their iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S devices during the fall after the iOS 10.2.1 and 11.2.0 updates took place, according to a statement released on their website on Dec. 28.

They also said that customers were experiencing “slower performance in certain situations” and con-

cluded that was the result of chemical aging batteries.

There were a few students who weren’t happy about the sudden changes in their iPhones.

“I went and got my phone diagnosed,” said Sarah Cundiff, a 23-year-old TV production major. “They said the battery got diminished.”

She further pointed out that she had her iPhone 6S for a year and found out that her battery diminished by 18 percent.

Students like 32-year-old health and sports science major Nicole Billmeyer said that she thought this controversy was “garbage.”

“It upsets me because I have to charge my phone more now,” Billmeyer said.

Other students, however, weren’t surprised.

“Companies do what benefits them,” said Zumera Khan, a 19-year-old health sciences major.

Khan further said that the company did this in an attempt to get customers to buy their latest iPhone models.

“They want people to buy their newest phones,” Khan

Kainoa Nunez | The Connection

Apple admits to slowing down phone’s performance.

said.

However, students like 19-year-old Cyrus Ellersik, a student with an undeclared major, said that customers should have seen this coming.

“They would know batteries deteriorate over time,” Ellersik said.

Apple Inc. dropped the price of replacement batteries from $79 to $29, according to their website.

“They should have made

the replacements free,” Cundiff said.

The company revealed on Jan. 24 that a later version of the iOS 11.3 update will allow users to turn off the feature that slows down the phone.

Despite the backlash from customers, there are still people like Billmeyer who will continue to buy Apple products even after this controversy.

“I don’t like change,” Bill-

meyer said.

Cundiff said that she still sees herself buying another Apple phone, as well.

However, Elizabeth Shafer, a 25-year-old animal biology major, said that she dislikes the company even more after this incident.

There are no known dates as to when the update that would allow users to turn off the feature that slows down the phone will be available.

Forum on integrity brings students together

By Arnold Fernandes afernandes.connect@gmail.com

The Student Life and Leadership Center hosted their first ever Student Community Forum: Perspectives on Integrity in L-150 of the Winn building on Wednesday night.

Panelists Dr. Richard Schubert, Dr. Elizabeth Huffman and Dr. James Frazee spoke to students about the varying forms of integrity. The purpose of this event was to bring unity through campus conversations.

“I think it will be a great way to inform students about integrity,” said Katie Edralin, a 21-year-old environmental science major and student ambassador.

“I also think it’s a great way for students to connect with other students and faculty.”

Schubert spoke about academic integrity. He said that the students of Cosumnes River College

must follow the CRC Honor Code: Honesty, Fairness, Respect and Responsibility.

“It’s really easy to talk about the absence of integrity in politics,” said Huffman.

She spoke about how it is important for public officials to put the needs of the people they represent first, even though some officials are selfish and put their needs above everyone else.

Students sat and listened to the panelists speak about their perspectives on integrity.

Frazee spoke about self-integrity and how important it is for people to be true to themselves. “You can’t possess integrity, only strive for it,” said Frazee.

After the first hour of the forum, students were asked to participate in the conversation. They were asked to define what their own version of integrity was and to speak to one another.

Students were also given the opportunity to ask the panelists questions they had about the presentation.

“I want students to form a connection between what they are learning in the classroom and to be able to apply it in real-world context.”

— Dr. Colette Harris-Mathews Dean of Communication Visual and Performing Arts

However, not everybody got the chance to ask the panelists the questions they were waiting to ask.

Maheen Khan, a 24-year-old anthropology major, had a positive experience, but she said there was not enough time for everyone to voice their own perspective on integrity.

“I would’ve liked to have heard more from the panelists,” said Khan.

As the event came to a close, students left thinking about what integrity meant to them.

Students were asked to fill out a survey on what they thought what was good about the event and what they thought could be fixed.

Moderator Dr. Colette Harris-Mathews also spoke to the students with great charisma.

“I want students to form a connection between what they are learning in the classroom and to be able to apply it in real-world context.

Page 4

Students react to net neutrality repeal

By Summer Lomendehe slomendehe.connect@gmail.com Burger King released an advertisement on Jan. 24 explaining net neutrality.

The ad broke down net neutrality through a “social experiment” where customers had to pay extra to get a Whopper burger without delay. A ‘slow MBPS burger’ cost $4.99, while a ‘hyperfast MBPS burger’ cost a whopping $25.99.

“It’s a great way to explain to people who aren’t in the tech world,” said Miriam Ellis, a 29-year-old faculty member for Cosumnes River College’s diversity internship program.

“It’s funny and sad at the same time.”

Brianna Solano, a 21-yearold student with an undeclared major, said that it was accurate, as well.

The Federal Communications Commission voted on Dec.14 to repeal net neutrality.

This would mean that Internet service providers could block websites and apps, slow down a user’s access to data depending on the type of content, and create “lanes” that give users faster access to Internet depending on how much they pay.

“It’s really going to make it harder for people who don’t

already have access to the Internet,” Ellis said.

Thien-Huong Ninh, a sociology professor at CRC, said that unequal access to information online could become an issue.

“The digital divide about equitable access to knowledge that the Internet provides could be a problem,” Ninh said.

A lot of students rely on the Internet both on and off-campus for educational reasons.

“If I’m doing research for my studies, I shouldn’t be paying more,” said 42-year-old English major Margo Riggs.

The college campus has a responsibility to “provide and maximize accessibility,” said CIS web programming professor Wendell Fishman.

While students have the option to come on campus for Internet if necessary, he said that it somewhat defeats its purpose of convenience if they have to travel to use it.

However, distance education coordinator Gregory Beyrer said that we shouldn’t be concerned about net neutrality affecting the campus.

“There’s no reason for service providers to target educational material,” Beyrer said.

Verizon Communications Inc. announced on Nov. 29 in

February 15, 2018

Courtesy Photo

a news release that Sacramento would be the first city in the country to receive commercial 5G high-speed wireless service.

“I think it’s great that Sacramento is being the catalyst for that,” Riggs said.

Verizon recently received a lot of backlash after there were reports that said they were removing content related to net neutrality on Tumblr, the microblogging networking site they acquired from Yahoo Inc. The issue with Internet

providers ‘picking and choosing’ content to show their users has been a major concern following the repeal.

“We could see more censorship,” said Fishman. “Internet providers could potentially pick and choose what information to make available.”

Solano also said this concern illustrated how influential corporations could be.

“This is a reminder of how much power corporations can have,” Solano said.

“Will there be an inherent

bias of marginalized groups?”

Ninh asked.

Ultimately, Beyer said that everyone has a responsibility to seek out information from different angles.

“Our duty is to be aware of which interests are being served by the media,” Beyer said. -“Our country is best served when its citizens are able to access perspectives from all sides.”

While net neutrality has been repealed, there is no known date as to when it will officially end yet.

Students attend ceremony for Black History Month

By Crick Fulenchek cfulenchek.connect@gmail.com Roughly 100 students gathered for the Black History Month Opening Ceremony on Tues. 6, which featured students and faculty in fellowship honoring Black History Month and African-Americans who have died in the service of our country.

The stage was filled with flags of varying nations and neatly decorated with an African flag draped podium flanked on either side with a poster tributed of the great African American leaders: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou, Thurgood Marshall and Mae Jemison.

Counselor Denise Marshall-Mills, welcomed the crowd and invited them to stand for a sing-along rendition of the Negro National An-

them, “Lift Every Voice.”

“You have been injected with African-American pride,” said Mills.

Mills honored African-Americans that have served in the military with a roll call and a “pouring of libations,” which is a ceremonial pouring of a liquid in memory of those who have lost their lives.

She encouraged the crowd to reply with “Ase,” a Nigerian word of affirmation, after the reading of each name.

This was followed by a brief history of Black History

Month and why it is celebrated.

Lenora Collins, a 24-yearold sociology major, read a poem entitled “Memory of History,” which reminded students of tragic history and urging peace and unity.

Professor Nymbeku George did an interpretive dance to a hip-hop laced track with empowering lyrics and a hook of “Glory.”

Anthony Collins gave a spoken word performance that was well received.

Vice President of Enrollment Management & Student

“This helps those who aren’t African American understand what African Americans are going through.”

– Erin Campbell Sociology major

Services Dr. Kimberly McDaniel, welcomed students and shared how she is inspired by Thurgood Marshall.

McDaniel honored her grandfather, Edward White Jr., and dedicated the speech to him as well as invited others to honor their family members of all races who have passed away and offered “Ase.” McDaniel said that “anti-blackness” is a global problem, and urged students to fight against the “Master Narrative,” which is the idea that America was built primarily by and for white males.

She encouraged discussion from the crowd concerning the one drop rule of the Early Americas in the late 1900s, as well as the role of the 1790 Naturalization Act and its lasting effect on minorities.

She said that the term ‘minority’ refers to African-Amer-

icans specifically.

She also spoke of scuedo-science such as craniometry used to perpetuate racism and of its debunking.

Finally, she gave credit to African-American crusaders who have led the way and encouraged the crowd to engage in activism as art.

McDaniel also warns that the problem of racism is current and ongoing.

Jimmi Gomez, a 21-yearold student with an undeclared major, said,“this was an eye opener.”

Students gained a positive experience from this event.

Erin Campbell, a 28-yearold sociology major, said she viewed the discussion as a success saying,“This helps those who aren’t African-American understand what African Americans are going through.”

thecrcconnection.com

Page 5

>>Features

Student will graduate with five associate degrees

By Dario Lizarraga dlizarraga.connect@gmail.com Most students enroll in college with the intention of focusing on one area of study.

But at 19 years old, liberal arts major Jared Lee had completed over a dozen classes by the time many teenagers have commonly just started.

Lee has spent almost four years at Cosumnes River College and will be graduating with five associate degrees in Social Science, Film & Media Studies, Arts & Humanities, Communication & Writing and Social & Behavioral Sciences.

Lee wasn’t aiming to get degrees in so many areas, originally intending for one or two at most, he said But the benefits of homeschooling and extra work allowed Lee to begin college at the age of 15, giving him the opportunity to experience a variety of classes.

“I’ve spent longer [at CRC] than I did at high school,” Lee said.

Lee also said he owed a lot to homeschooling, which gave him the chance to work ahead and to work harder. “[Homeschooling] requires a lot more time, a lot more effort, but I’d say it was worth it,” Lee said.

Despite not being a journalism major, his performance in the Mass Media and Society class made his professor take notice and convince him to work on the school newspaper for three semesters.

He started out as a sports writer before working his way up to the editor-in-chief position.

“When you’re part of the paper, especially being editor-in-chief, you learn a lot of things about what goes on on campus: who people are, who you need to watch out for… you find out all kinds of stuff that you never would’ve seen before,” said Lee. Jannah Khalil, who worked with Lee for two semesters on The Connection,

said, “He makes sure you are welcomed, like not just as a [colleague], but as a friend.”

Lee’s persona also stood out to professors as well, such as English professor Heather Hutcheson.

“He’s a model of where out-of-class activities compliment in class activities,” Hutcheson said.

Lee displayed his creative side in his Beginning Single Camera Production class, where his idea for a music video about a daydreaming hamburger became a class favorite.

“There were all these shots that would be typical in a ‘buddy’ film or romantic comedy - like laying on a blanket or looking at the clouds,” said Lauren Wagner, a professor for the Radio, Television and Film Production department. “He made the burger a character in the video and it was really funny to watch.”

As for what lies in Lee’s future, he was recently accepted to William Jessup

Kainoa Nunez | The Connection

Jared Lee’s performance in school not only gains the attention of his professors, but peers alike.

University, located in Rocklin, and he plans to go there in the fall to study theology.

“I’ve done journalism, I’ve done film, I’ve done English, I’ve done all kinds of stuff… but theology was really the thing that stood out

to me,” Lee said. Lee offered other students some advice.

“Use your head,” he said.

“Emotion is good: it’s good for being human, but it’s not a good way for thinking about your future. Use your head.”

Anthropology student wins national award

By Summer Lomendehe slomendehe.connect@gmail.com A 19-year-old anthropology major received the Student Award for Leadership, Creativity, and Community Service from the Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges, according to a newsletter shared by the

public information office.

Nikki Karapanos was just thanking Professor Panagakos for nominating her for an award when she learned that she was going to receive that award, as well.

Although Karapanos is a student with a 3.9 GPA and mentors nine students for the

Courtesy photo

Achievement in the anthrolopogy department appreciates her dedication and hard work.

school’s First Year Experience project, she was surprised to learn about her nomination.

“She told me and I was really excited,” Karapanos said.

“I wasn’t even expecting it because I didn’t even know they nominated me for an award.”

Anastasia Panagakos, an anthropology professor at Cosumnes River College, said that the anthropology department is very proud of her.

Karapanos credited Panagakos for her interest in anthropology.

“After two weeks into taking a globalization class with Dr. Panagakos, I knew that this is what I’m going to study,” Karapanos said.

To a lot of people, Karapanos was known for her hardworking spirit. Even in high school, Karapanos said that she would go “a bit over and beyond.”

“She’s a really hardworking student,” Panagakos said.

Oscar Mendoza Plascencia, a student success and support program specialist who

also oversees the peer mentoring project for FYE, said that she never did the least of what was expected of her.

“She’s never a ‘bare minimum’ type of person, even if it required more time,” Plascencia said.

Martin Morales, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science & Global Studies, said that Karapanos “added dimension” to conversations in class and that she “shone like a bright star.”

“The future is limitless for her,” Morales said.

Panagakos said she is very thoughtful and listens to what other people say.

“She never makes people feel less,” Plascencia said.

A “self-starter” is what Panagakos said describes Karapanos.

“She asks questions to improve herself and her performance,” Panagakos said. “She’s able to do things without being told to, which was key to her success.”

Plascencia said

she fits the image of a well-balanced student.

“Meeting Nikki made me realize all the preconceived ideas I had of community college were wrong,” Mendoza said.

The award includes a $250 prize and free registration to SACC’s regional or national meetings, according to the newsletter.

Karapanos said that being active on campus and participating in different activities would help her as she transfers to a four-year university, as well as grad school.

“I know I’m setting myself for a lot more opportunities in the future,” Karapanos further added.

Karapanos said that it felt nice for her professors to acknowledge her achievements.

“I was very appreciative that I was being recognized by my professors in the anthropology department,” Karapanos said.

February 15, 2018

Page 6

Theatre department adapts political fiction classic

By Nekita Smith esmith.connect@ gmail.com “1984” by George Orwell, a novel written 40 years before its time, will be depicted in a play with the collaboration efforts of the Theater Arts and Radio, Television and Film departments.

Orwell wrote this novel in 1949 with the intention of what he thought the year 1984 would look like. The production is sure to be “a controversial piece with a lot of depth to it” said student Assistant Director Michael Lee. “1984” tackles the way the government and other people have the capacity to control what we think, something many will agree is “sadly relevant today” which is why the department decided to do this play, said Technical Director and Set Designer Martin Flynn, also a theater arts professor.

Individuality is banned. Its

ideas have become our ideas, and Orwell’s fiction is often said to be our reality. The definitive book of the 20th century is reexamined in a radical new adaptation exploring why Orwell’s vision of the future is as relevant as ever.

The audience can expect to “go through the entire emotional loop throughout the play, you’re going to feel happiness, sadness, you’re going to feel it all throughout the play,” Lee said.

“Our hope is that everything you feel resonates” and has a lasting effect on people, he added This production is different than other plays produced at Cosumnes River College.

“A lot of the plays we do are cheery,” said Lee. “Our goal is to bring people in and send them out with a smile.”

Lee isn’t sure this particular play will have the same effect on the audience. This play will certainly leave them awak-

ened and more aware of today’s political operations, evoke some not so cheerful emotions, get people thinking and hopefully spark engaging and intellectual conversations about the future, Lee said.

The production is led

by Director and Department Chair of the Theater Arts department, Cheri Fortin. This is a different experience for the students, but will capture the range and talent of the cast involved.

Opening Night: The play opens at the Black Box Theater on March 2 at 7:30 p.m. and will run until March 17.

Courtesy Photo

#StreamingNow Post-Valentine’s Edition Compiled by Summer Lomendehe.

All photos are courtesy photos.

Romance can be selfless and life-changing. Check out these movies that remind us of how kind and genuine romance can be.

“The Vow”

“Saving Face”

A man vows to save his marriage with a woman after she suffers severe memory loss following a car accident that led her into a coma. Amazon.

A Chinese-American surgeon falls in love with a dancer and realizes that life has more faces than she thinks.

Amazon.

“Beyond the Lights” A popular singer finds love beyond the high-profile life she lives. Amazon.

“The Way He Looks” This Brazilian film revolves around a blind teenager who starts to see life– and love–differently after he meets a new classmate. Netflix. Amazon.

February 15, 2018

Page 7

‘50 Shades Freed’ of interest

By John Cabales jcabales.connect@gmail.com “Fifty Shades Freed,” the third installment to the “Fifty Shades” installment, wasn’t terrible but it definitely wasn’t a movie you should be dying to see either.

It’s better than the first one, but that’s not really saying much since the first one wasn’t very good at all.

Anastasia Steele played

by Dakota Johnson and Christian Grey played by Jamie Dornan are married now and their relationship is a lot more normal than it was in the previous two movies.

Christian is no longer trying to make Ana into another one of his submissives and he isn’t detached from his emotion anymore.

Ana is no longer afraid of Christian and the sexual things he might make her do.

She is no longer a submissive who is bound to a contract but a wife who is loved by her husband.

They both have grown since the first movie and seemed to have learned from each other. Ana has definitely adapted to being rich and all the things that come with being married to Mr. Grey.

Ana has gained the confidence that she was missing in the first two movies, she stands her ground against Christian when she needs to throughout the movie. She lets him know he can’t do what he wants and he needs to act like a husband or they will no longer be together.

Christian is no longer in the confused state he was in before. Stuck in between being a dominant and all about sex and someone that is in love and trying to get rid of his old habits.

Christian is still obsessed with Ana but he’s more human than he has ever been. He actually shows emotion and seems happy.

At times they seem like a normal married couple that have a sex room and billions of dollars.

The story is no longer about a rich man chasing after a middle-class normal lady but one thing hasn’t changed; they are both still as horny as ever and have sex all the time in random places.

There was a lot of stuff going on in the movie but there wasn’t much of a plot .It seems like a bunch of stuff got thrown together.

Some stuff we knew would happen based off the last movie, but there were a few surprises in the movie as well.

The movie definitely could have been better. It actually could of been a good movie, but it just seemed rushed and needed to be thought out more.

For the most part the movie is just about a rich couple that love to have sex and have rich people problems.

The movie was interesting to watch but just not worth going to the movies to see. So if I was you, I would just wait for it to come out on Redbox and rent it.

Courtesy Photo

Score out of 5 stars

Campus film professor makes Oscar predictions Compiled by Genesis Pecoraro-Frayre All photos are courtesy photos.

Lauren Wagner, a professor in the Radio, Television and Film Department, offered her predictions in who she suspects will be considered an Oscar.

FiveThirtyEight is a website that centers around polling that’s most reputable for their accuracy.

Wagner’s Predictions: Best Picture:

Best Actress:

Best Actor:

Best Director:

“I think the Academy may lean towards something historic, but uplifting at the end like ‘Darkest Hour.’”

FiveThirtyEight Predictions:

“Baring a late surge at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts or the DGAs from ‘Lady Bird’ or ‘Dunkirk,’ we’re pretty much down to a two-picture race for best picture.”

“This is a tough category. Frances McDormand won the Gold- “This year the front-runner is easy to spot: with a major en Globe, so that makes her a strong contender. Meryl Streep win at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and more cuis a living acting legend, so you can never count her out.” mulative points than six of the previous 10 winners (at this point in the Oscars race), 1997 best actress winner McDormand is a clear favorite.”

“I think this category is wide open. I’ve only seen 2 of the “This category is a snoozefest. Gary Oldman (‘The performances, so I can’t say who acted the best. Bio-pics tend Darkest Hour’) is far and away the leading contender. to do well, so that would be good for Gary Oldman.

With 220 points, Oldman is right on track with what the previous winners have had at this point.”

“While I’d love to see Greta Gerwig or Jordan Peele win, I “The winner of the [Directors Guild of America Awards] think it’ll go to Guillermo del Toro or Christopher Nolan.” award went on to win best director in the 21 of the 25 years, making the DGAs a ridiculously strong indicator.

For now, Guillermo del Toro has the inside track.”

February 15, 2018

PAGE 8

>>Opinion

Scandals are too much Racial tensions provide chance to for NFL fans to stomach EDITORIAL

learn tolerance

Racial tension at local schools has been in the headlines lately, and reflects the broader tensions throughout the country.

Recently, a McClatchy High School student submitted a project that stated that African Americans, as well as South-Eastern Asians and Hispanics, were not intellectually capable of handling the rigorous coursework in their program, according to an article in The Sacramento Bee. The project, which sought to link race and IQ, sparked complaints from parents and students.

Last month, a meeting was held at Sheldon High School to discuss the racial incident that a Pleasant Grove High School senior, Rachael Francois, experienced at her school.

Although she met with campus faculty about how she’s had white students yelling the n-word at her from driving cars and other grievances, the school did not exercise disciplinary action.

In response, 500 people ranging from teachers, students, parents and speakers met to discuss solutions to preserve the safety of African American students on campus, promising Francois, along with every other victim of racial harassment that things will improve.

In a study conducted by the Uniform Crime Reporting Hate Crime Statistics Program 2016 Report, about 57 percent of hate crimes happen based on race and ethnicity.

We hear about these incidents so often on social media, that seems like a common occurrence.

At the University of South Carolina, students found flyers posted on the African American Studies department, which made derogatory comments about African Americans being the reason for President Donald Trump being elected, according to Newsweek magazine. Students from campus were outraged, and the university went under investigation in order to identify the person who posted them.

But even before the existence of social media, racism had always been something that loomed over people’s lives, especially during childhood, according to a study by Harvard researcher and psychologist Mahzarin Banaji.

Interestingly, he said that children are able to pick up and imitate racist behavior, so he tested this hypothesis by having children from ages three to 14 look at pictures of faces that had light and dark skin tones. Among 263 children that performed in the study, they unanimously agreed that black and Asian faces seemed more “angry,” in comparison to “white” faces, which seemed more happy. But even with these results, he concluded that racism can be unlearned by exposing children to more positive views on diversity.

With February being Black History Month, we not only honor the journey of struggle that African Americans have experienced, but also continue to learn new solutions to aid others in the struggles that still occur today, especially in schools.

Despite everything that’s been going on, students should feel safe and secure on campus, and shouldn’t have to worry about being verbally assaulted or harassed through petty flyers. Eliminating racism is an unrealistic goal, but taking time to learn from each other’s experiences is not only the easiest thing to do, but also the most humane thing one should do.

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

By Max Connor

mconnor.connect@gmail.com

As a die-hard San Francisco 49er fan, I grew up watching the dynasty built by Bill Walsh, Joe Montana, Steve Young and Jerry Rice.

In 2012, I sat on my childhood best friend’s couch and watched as Kyle Williams fumbled on a punt return in overtime, leading to a winning field goal by the New York Giants and a trip to the Super Bowl.

That year, I was too devastated by the loss to watch the Super Bowl and yet, seven years later, I again find myself disinterested in the Super Bowl and the NFL in general but for very different reasons.

The scandals that have plagued the NFL over the last decade, the overt greed, the hypocrisy and insincerity have worn me down from a die-hard fan, to a casual fan, to an occasional viewer and, finally, to someone with ambivalence and often disgust for the league I used to adore.

It started with the number of commercials during a game. It’s no coincidence that my fandom started to wane when I no longer had cable with a built-in DVR and I had to watch games broadcast live.

I quickly found the pace of the game on live TV very difficult to watch due to the number of commercials and stoppages.

Over the last 10 years, the NFL has increased their TV commercial time by 8 percent. There are commercials after each scoring play, after any kick-off, anytime there is a time out, at the two-minute warning. It feels relentless.

Then there are the pathetic and awkward responses to social issues such as DUIs or domestic violence.

In 2014, running back Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens was suspended two games for assaulting his then girlfriend.

When video of the inci-

Courtesy Photo

dent was later released and public outrage swelled, Rice was instead suspended indefinitely, had his contract terminated and has not played since.

That very same year a judge convicted defensive lineman Greg Hardy of the Carolina Panthers of assaulting his girlfriend.

He threw his girlfriend against a bathroom wall, tossed her on a futon with four loaded guns on it and choked her with both hands, while threatening to kill her, according to court documents released on Deadspin. Yet, a year later he was playing for the Dallas Cowboys.

The reason for the difference of how these two were treated is simple: in the NFL, running backs are a dime a dozen, but guys who can rush the quarterback are very hard to find.

While I find that these issues bother me, my biggest concern is the older I get, the more objectionable the violence of football begins to feel. I find myself cringing as I watch men lay on the field motionless after a vicious tackle or grab their ruptured knee or suffer a broken leg.

While trainers tend to the player, the network shows the gruesome injury over and over again in slow motion and I can’t help but feel like we aren’t that far removed from watching men fight to the death in the Roman Coliseum more than 2000 years ago.

I wonder about what the

lives of these men may look like after their short playing careers and how they will cope with the long-term physical and emotional complications they may suffer as a result of playing the game.

I have begun to feel complicit in their potential misery when I watch them writhe on the field in pain.

Then came the concussion scandal. The book “League of Denial” by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru documented how the NFL held back critical information about the effect of playing on the brain and tried to discredit independent researchers who warned against the link between football and brain damage.

“As far back as 1999, the NFL’s retirement board paid more than $2 million in disability payments to former players after concluding football gave them brain damage.

But it would be nearly a decade before league executives would publicly acknowledge a link,” wrote Fainaru.

Many fans were shocked and horrified at how the NFL could be so corrupt and callous. While I was horrified, I certainly was not shocked.

And yet, it’s not as though I never watch the game anymore or that I am calling for others to stop watching.

But I would submit that people consider tough questions about the consequences of all of us blindly supporting a game that has so many moral, cultural and societal flaws.

THECRCCONNECTION.COM

PAGE 9

Asian-American community grapples with hatred

By Summer Lomendehe mlomendehe.connect@gmail.com The death of 28-year-old Akai Gurley sparked a heated debate in 2014 about anti-blackness in the Asian community. Gurley was killed by Peter Liang, a Chinese American police officer at the New York Police Department, who was later sentenced to five years of probation in 2015.

Many people in the Asian American community were furious at the sentencing, saying that they felt like it was a response to the criticisms aimed against prosecutors for not charging the officers who killed Eric Garner and Michael Brown, two African American men who died from police use of force.

Black men are almost three times as likely to die from police use of force, according to a 2017 study conducted by the American Journal of Public Health.

The same study states that Asian men are least likely to die from police use of force.

While Asians and Asian Americans aren’t as likely to be killed by a police officer, that doesn’t mean they don’t experience discrimination. An example of this occurred during the infamous case of Dr. David Dao being

physically removed from his seat on a United Airlines flight, which received a lot of backlash in 2017.

However, refusing to acknowledge that these issues aren’t exactly on the same caliber is a major problem.

This is a large contributing factor to the perpetuation of anti-blackness, especially in Asian and Asian American communities.

As an Asian-American, addressing anti-blackness in our communities is often met with uneasiness and discomfort. It forces us to frame how we really view racism and what we do to deal with it.

Do Asians and Asian-Americans have an advantage that black people don’t? Why aren’t we just as likely to experience the things they do? Will we any time soon?

As a minority group, a lot of us had to assimilate into American culture to fit in. But assimilating into mainstream culture also meant learning and internalizing anti-blackness.

As Asians and Asian-Americans, however, we’re placed in this funny position where we’re still grouped into one, monolithic group that includes other people who are minorities. Being placed in that position makes us feel

HAWK

TALK

Compiled by Dario Lizarraga & Blynn Beltran

entitled to other cultures.

Being under that very vague category normalized the appropriation of black culture and ultimately defined how nonchalant anti-blackness can

Sixty-eight percent of Asians said that the country needs to continue making changes to give black people equal rights, according to a 2017 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center. be in our communities. The N-word is casually bounced back and forth by people during a conversation that may center around the need to have an opinion about issues in the black community that will never really affect them the way it affects black people.

Recognizing and addressing racism targeted at people in Asian and Asian-American communities shouldn’t devalue the issues that the black community continuously face.

These issues can co-exist without making it seem like one is less important than the other.

Black lives matter, but that doesn’t mean that the lives of other people don’t. We see that statement and the resilience of the black community as a threat to our own identities, which is so intertwined with anti-blackness that we fear we’ll end up in their shoes one day.

Sixty-eight percent of Asians said that the country needs to continue making changes to give black people equal rights, according to a 2017 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center.

Despite the numbers, many people in the black community feel like solidarity between people of color is far from being able to move the social movement a step forward.

How do we as college students move that movement onto a better path?

While it doesn’t seem virtually possible to destroy hundreds of years of internalized anti-blackness within a snap, recognizing that it exists in our communities and being able to coexist with many other social problems is an important first step in doing so.

Doritos recently said they are considering making a chip for women. How do you feel about the "lady Doritos" trend?

Jasper Bener 18, psychology

Chantrea Riccobene 37, nursing

“It’s stupid, so stupid! Like, why another reason people have to gender things when things don’t need to be?”

“Of course I would like something that’s less messy and crunchy and to have good taste.”

Iyayi Onaghinor 21, architecture

“I think it’s just a marketing strategy. In terms of people getting offended, I mean I’m a dude so I’m not offended but maybe if I was a woman, I would be.”

Rebecca Johnson 18, psychology

“Nobody asked for that. Nobody has a problem with chips being noisy or messy because that’s just chips!”

Page 10

February 15, 2018

>>Sports

Hawks are unable to get the win on sophomore night

By Kainoa Nunez knunez.connect@gmail.com The men’s basketball team ended their last home game of the season on Feb. 9 with a tough loss against Santa Rosa Junior College with a final score 74-67.

It was sophomore night for the team, and four of their players guards: Jordan Roberson, De’ Rajaee Austin, Gor Mikayelyan and forward Everton Maxwell were recognized.

“Santa Rosa is a good team; they’re number third ranked in the league, so my guys played them tough,” head coach Jonathan James said.

In this Big 8 division rival the Bear Cubs of Santa Rosa are ranked third.Their star player guard Skylar Chavez scored 29 points against the Hawks.

Roberson said that Chavez was a “hell of a player.”

“I tip my hat off to him tonight,” Roberson said. “He came up big for them, and I know he is gonna be a great asset going off.”

In the beginning of the first half, the Cubs took a 2010 lead in the first five min-

utes. James had to take three timeouts to fix the mistakes of turning over the ball and not executing strong.

After that, the Hawks played aggressively against the Cubs by scoring 10 unanswered points to tie the game in four minutes.

The Hawks built their momentum.With the return of forward Paul Ohiri, another big player, his renewed vigor performance helped the team to rebound and defend well.

“He helped us out tremendously with rebounding,” James said. “But just because he’s back you can’t rely solely on him.”

With two minutes left in the first half, the score was 2829.The Hawks inbounded the ball and gave it to Ohiri.

He drove down half-court to attack the paint to get the foul and go to the freethrow line to shoot two shots.

The Hawks took the lead 30-29, but the Cubs got their last points of the first half by making a layup, taking the lead again 31-30.

“Stopping 33 was kind of hard for us,” Mikayelyan said.

“Every time he had the ball they isolated, and nobody else

really seemed to be a factor.”

The Hawks tried to keep their momentum up going into the second half. It was a struggle in the past few games, but that did not mean they were going to allow anyone to run them over on home court.

As the game went on, the Hawks were missing their shots and not attacking the perimeter. That allowed the Cubs to score and take the lead 67-58.

There was three minutes left on the clock, but that was enough for the Hawks to make a comeback.

The Cubs prevented that from happening, however, extending their lead and making the score 71-65.

Chavez had to be double teamed, but that didn’t distract or mess up the game plan for the Hawks to come back in this game.

With one minute left, the Hawks stole an inbound pass to Chavez to get the layup, but that was their last points to score, making the final 74-67.

“This is Big 8,” James said.

“And as any night as you can see any team can lose and win, when it gets to conference play you got to be ready.”

Kainoa Nunez | The Connection

CRC Sophmore guard Jordan Roberson passes through freshman Malcom Jenkins to attack the rim and score in the Big 8 matchup on Feb.9

Team names former player to assistant coach

By Elizabeth Rodriguez erodriguez.connect@gmail.com

Former basketball guard Jasmine Chapman has gained a position as an assistant coach for the Cosumnes River Hawks women’s basketball team.

Jennifer Jacobs, one of the other assistant coaches for the team, said how she noticed Chapman’s potential just last year.

“She just has this passion for the game that a lot of people don’t have,”Jacobs said.

Chapman had been playing basketball for 15 years, and being promoted to an assistant coach position was something she didn’t expect so soon, she said.

Along with gaining her coach’s attention, her former teammates have also seen her potential first-hand, such as sophomore shooting guard Trina Shaner.

“She is very serious in what she does, so if something looks off or look like it’s going right, she wants it fixed right away. She’s actually a really good leader, and she’ll help you,” said Shaner.

Chapman also played other sports, such as track, for four years. But since starting basketball when she was 8, Chapman had locked her focus onto it to the point that she wants her future aspiration to continue to involve the sport.

“I think I always want to stay around basketball. Doing what is going to fluctuate maybe, I don’t think I really mind how it fluctuates, but I do think I want to stay around the sport,” Chapman said.

Jacobs sees qualities in Chapman that makes her fit for the job, and that alone has helped Jacobs in directing the team.

“She works super hard, she knows a lot about basketball, which is great and she’s

a good people person. She just has this presence about her that is really helpful to me and also to the girls,” Jacobs said.

Shaner knows the experience all too well, saying that although it’s “kind of a tough experience,” there’s fun in it.

“She just wants things done like you’re supposed to do, and she just wants you to go hard and play your hardest every game,” said Shaner.

Jacobs said that finding Chapman and another assistant by the name of Taneisha Dyer was easy.

“They played for me last year, so they came to me and wanted to help out and they know a lot about [basketball].

They’re great girls, so that was a super easy decision for me,” said Jacobs.

Although Jacobs is acting as interim head coach, Chapman’s candidacy to be an assistant coach was a shoe-in.

Despite the team’s latest matches against their oppo-

Kainoa Nunez | The Connection

Coach Jasmine Chapman, right, looks on as the Hawks play aginst Sierra College on Jan.16. In a 86-54 conference loss.

nents, the expectations that Chapman has for the team and herself acts as energy that drives her to continue.

Transitioning from being a player to an assistant coach, Chapman said noticed the differences between the two, and described what it’s like.

“It’s kind of trying to figure out how to get your players to do things that you

would do, so you switch from how you would do things to how you can inspire others to do things,” Chapman said.

Chapman said that part of her responsibility is to put the team in a position to be successful, and for them, it’s making sure that they’re doing everything in their power to be successful.

Page 11

thecrcconnection.com

Sports editor and writer give thoughts on current sports issues Blynn Beltran | The Connection

Sophomore guard Trina Shaner at the free throw line in a loss against Santa Rosa Junior College Feb. 9

Injuries prevent women’s basketball team from winning

By Blynn Beltran bbeltran.connect@gmail.com

The women’s basketball team fell against Santa Rosa Junior College last Friday during their last home game of the season.

In the first quarter of this Big 8 division match up, the Hawks were not able to find the bottom of the basket. They were taking contested shots, resulting in empty possessions.

They also struggled to get defensive stops and allowed the Bear Cubs to go on a 12-0 run in the first five minutes of the period.

Despite the offensive dry spell, the Hawks were pounding the paint despite the Bear Cubs’ strong defensive presence.

“I thought we got on the foul line a lot more this game, so the aggressiveness was there,” Hawk’s assistant coach Jasmine Chapman said.

After attacking the paint for several possessions, Hawks’ guard Erica Oswald ended the Bear Cubs’ run with a much needed jump shot.

The Hawks were able to get a few more baskets by getting to the foul line but not enough to put them over.

The main focal point of Hawks game was their defense during the majority of the game.

The Bear Cubs did not shoot a lot of three-point shots so the bulk of their points came from the paint.

The Hawks were able to respond by swarming the paint. Every time the Bear Cubs would make a pass inside, the Hawks were there to intercept the passing lanes. These mistakes by the

Editor in Chief: Elizabeth Rodriguez News Editor: Victoria Blanco Features Editor: Elizabeth Rodriguez Sports Editor: John Cabales Faculty Adviser: Rubina Gulati Staff: Summer Lomendehe, Crick Fulenchek, Blynn Beltran, Kainoa Nunez, Lisa Wilson, Shannon Rusche, Arnold Fernandes, Max Connor, Dario Lizarraga, Kaylin Flatland, Nekita smith, Genesis Pecoraro-Frayre

Bear Cubs resulted in many transition points for the Hawks.

“A lot of the times they allowed us to get fast break points,” Chapman said. “The team was just too tired to capitalize on a lot of their mistakes.”

The Hawks were also playing with only five players active, causing their starters to play the whole length of the game. Hawks players were able to avoid fouls while playing tremendous defense.

“I thought we played really well. We had a lot of unity. We played hard,” Hawks head coach Coral Sage said. “Even though we lost on the scoreboard, I don’t feel the loss as much as the other games.”

This was the last time the Hawk’s sophomores will be playing for their home crowd.

Hawks guard Trina Shaner and forward Quoquese Jackson were given a proper send off for their last home game. Shaner and Jackson were able to say a few words after the game.

“I love my teammates, and they helped me with so much more than basketball,” Jackson said. “This season was tough but we fought through it as a team and it has been great.”

Jackson said she will spend her free time resting, looking into new hobbies and working more.

“I’m going to miss [basketball] and my teammates a lot,” Shaner said. “We all held together so well from what we have been through this season.”

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By John Cabales and Max Connor jcabales.connect@gmail.com

How do you feel about players being expected to show loyalty to their teams but owners haven’t been showing loyalty to players?

Max: In the NFL, in particular, I have always found this notion to be absurd.

There are no guaranteed contracts so as soon as a player is less productive or a better player comes along he is cut and loses the money he was promised or he is asked to restructure his contract. Yet, if a player feels he is outperforming his contract and wants to renegotiate for more money, fans and owners yell and scream “He signed the contract! He should honor it!” It’s a complete double standard.

John: I think it’s ridiculous that owners and fans make players out to be these villians if they leave a team but owners will trade them away with no hesitation. Isaiah Thomas was traded away even though he played injured for the Celtics and a few days after his sister passed away. Blake Griffin was told he would be a Clipper for life and would have his jersey retired but was traded away a few weeks later. If players are supposed to look at it as just business than so should owners.

Should fighters be allowed to smoke marijuana?

Max: Absolutely. Not only does marijuana have some medical benefits, particularly as it relates to anxiety and pain relief, it does not affect a player’s performance in the ring in any unfair way.

As long as they are in a state where it is legal medically or recreationally and they are not breaking the law, who cares. That said, I think they have to be careful about publicizing their usage of marijuana. Like it or not, athletes are role models and should always keep in mind the effect they have on kids and

those who look up to them.

John: I think that they should be allowed to use marijuana for medical benefits. I understand why you wouldn’t want them to smoke before competition because they could put themselves in harms way. In a sport like boxing and MMA you want the fighters to be as aware as possible. The fact that fighters get banned for years for smoking is ridiculous. There have been instances where fighter have use steroids and been banned for less time.

How do you feel about parents taking their kids out of school in order to train them for pro sports?

Max: I am personally a big believer in education, so I find the notion that a kid needs to be taken out of school to pursue a career in sports absurd, short sided and despicable. There is nothing wrong with a parent going to any lengths to support their child’s dream, but first, they should make sure it is actually their child’s dream and not their own.

Second, they shouldn’t sacrifice their child’s education for a shot at the short term gain of professional athletics.

I’m not saying that a child has to stay in traditional high school, there are plenty of tennis and gymnastics academies where prodigies train and are schooled at the same time but pulling a kid out of school all together is reprehensible.

John: I think that as a child, you should go to school and learn. Not only do you gain knowledge but you gain experience. We’ve seen instances where children have spent all their free time practicing and training but didn’t make it into the pros. I don’t think that isolating a child from their friends.

Not allowing them to have experiences and go through being a child or a teenager is not the answer. I think parents should help guide their children but they should let them live their lives also.

Page 12

February 15, 2018

Hawks defeat Cougars in conference game

By Kainoa Nunez knunez.connect@gmail.com The men’s baseball team hosted a three game series against Lassen Community College on Feb. 9. They crushed the Cougars in a 14-4 win in this conference matchup.

This is game one of the series and on Saturday the Hawks will finish the series with a double header.

The Hawks are having a hot start this season with Don Mico as the new head coach, and with new and young players. Their goal is to make the playoffs and continue to stand strong.

“Our whole game plan for the whole season this year is basically our pitching comes first, our defense is second, then our offense has to execute,” Head Coach Don Mico said.

On a warm afternoon with a large crowd full of fans, family and students, their presence couldn’t been better with their loud cheers and support, so it felt good for the Hawks to be at home.

Hawks starting pitcher Josh Congress continues to show off his strength and talent as he starts off the first inning by making it a scoreless inning, and progressing to manage on getting three total strikeouts of the game.

“We want to make sure

that we use him in the right amount and get him ready for the next game,” Mico said.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Hawks scored four runs and the pitcher for the Cougars Coldin Shopp couldn’t stop the Hawks from stealing bases and hitting singles and doubles.

Congress continued to lead the Hawks through the third inning, but the Cougars hit a triple to score their first point making the score 6-1.

With strong progress for Congress his availability was limited and he was replaced with pitcher Daniel Vitoria to start the fourth inning.

“Congress, he’s our number one guy and we don’t want to overuse him,” Mico said.

As the dominance of the Hawks continued, their performance was very accurate and their defense was preventing the Cougars from scoring any more points.

The Cougars had no answer to stop the Hawks, so for the next four innings the Hawks scored at least one run to keep extending their lead.

At the top of the eighth inning, the Cougars start off by hitting a triple to allow two players to score and making it 8-3.

Hawks infielder Alex Crouch hits a double in right field, and Cougars caught the ball but that allowed two of the Hawks to score making it

Kainoa Nunez | The Connection

Sophmore outfielder Jared Alameida at bat against Lassen Community College on Feb 9.

10-3.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Hawks replaced Vitoria with Timmy Tarrant, and his accuracy to make it a scoreless inning helped the Hawks to keep their lead up.

“We want to score as much as possible, and want to

bury them early,” outfielder Burle Dixon said.

The Hawks were continuing to score more runs, and by the end of the eighth it was game over because they wouldn’t need to be at bat again in the ninth inning.

So, to close the inning

for the Hawks closer pitcher Kyle Galart pitched a fly ball and caught it to end the game, making the final score 14-4.

“I try to improve from my mistakes, and that helps me keep focused to learn more as a freshman,” Galart said.

New coach to lead the team this spring

By Crick Fulenchek cfulenchek.connect@gmail.com

Don Mico returned as head coach with high hopes for his team this season.

The returning coach is enthusiastic to lead his baseball team to its first state championship since his previous tenure in 2012 and he has a plan.

“We need to pitch, we need to play defensively, we need to execute. If we do these things we should be in every game we play this season,” Coach Mico said.

The coach is treating the team as an extension of his own family and sharing their successes as his own.

“I originally came [to CRC] in the fall of 2011, and in the spring of 2012, we won the championship,” Mico said.

Mico credits the departing Bloomfield as highly influential in the way the team trains, and also said that from the system Bloomfield built, Mico only steers the ship.

“I’ve been blessed by [coach] Bloomfield. He has taught me to be a better coach and a better father,” Mico said.

Mico’s Assistant coach, Ray Hernandez, who has been the assistant coach for the past 3 years, is optimistic about the possibilities a new head coach offers.

“The previous coach leaves a big shadow, [Mico] is handling it well.

He's not trying to be him, but where they are the same is caring,” Hernandez said.

As a Sacramento native, Mico has a vested interest in the success of this team.

“I was born in Sac. I’m from South Sac. If you are from this area you know how far I've come.”

And he is ready to forge his young players into genuine athletes.

“We are really young, we have guys coming straight out of high school at 18,” Mico said. ”These guys go right

into the fire and need to compete.”

Hernandez agreed, saying, “They have a lot to learn.”

One of his players happens to be his son, second baseman JD Mico.

“I think it’s great that he can share his baseball knowledge with me out here, because he’s just helping me so much to become a better player and a better person,” JD Mico said.

On and off the field Mico shows his dedication and care for people.

“I love it,” said Hernandez. “He's definitely hard working and he cares about the kids and he cares about the program.”

Mico has an upbeat outlook toward the season for his team of young players, When asked about his plans for the team this season.

“Compete with the big 8, which is the strongest teams in the north” and ”Win a state championship,” Mico said.

Kainoa Nunez | The Connection

Don Mico looks on as Hawks play Lassen Community College on Feb. 9.