Issue 2 Spring 2018

C onnection THE

Campus art gallery exhibits ‘Inspirational Ecounters’ See Page 6

Alicia Ilaga||The TheConnection Connection Kainoa Nunez

School Walkout

Student activists prep for the march on the Capitol News, Page 4 Issue 2 Spring 2018 Student voice of CRC since 1970

Gospel Choir

Recital Hall hosted concert ‘Great Day!’ Features, Page 7

FACEBOOK /crcconnection

Parkland Aftermath

Survivors are urging others to support their stance Opinion, Page 9

TWITTER @crcconnection

Academics and Sports

The importance of academics to student-athletes Sports, Page 10

INSTAGRAM @crcconnection

March 8, 2018

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>>News

Zero Energy home set to be built on campus

By Victoria Blanco vblanco.connect@gmail.com Architecture, architectural design technology and construction students have initiated plans for a net zero energy house on the northeast side of campus.

A zero energy home combines advanced design and building systems with energy efficiency and onsite solar panels that makes the home sustainable, affordable and carbon-free, according to the Zero Energy Project.

“It’s an interdisciplinary project,” Dean of Careers and Technology Kim Harrell said. “We got $100,000 for constructing the home and then we also received another $100,000 grant from Prop 39 for new computers and architectural design technology program and software so that those students will then be able to generate the plans based on what the architecture student’s designs look like.”

The project was introduced to students during the beginning of the semester as Proposition 39, The California Clean Energy Jobs Act, offered a grant of $100,000 to fund the project.

Proposition 39 was passed by voters in 2012, which provides funding to California’s K-12 schools and community colleges for the installation of clean energy projects, according to California Energy Commission’s online database.

“Our construction faculty members’ vision is to have students see that you can actually build something that is net zero energy that has multiple bedrooms and basically looks like a regular house,”

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Harrell said.

Buildings alone take part of 40 percent from the total energy used in the United States, according to Zero Energy Project website.

“Zero net energy doesn’t necessarily even mean that the house is super well built,” Construction Professor Ryan Connally said. “It means you can make enough energy onsite, to offset what you use.”

“We’ve got energy codes that make the builders build better but we’re still pretty far away from being as good as we’ll soon be required,” Connally said.

“What we’re trying to do is show strategies that can be used on more market rate or even lower income housing to meet some of the same goals of the 2030 Challenge or net zero projects,” Architecture Professor Jason Ellis said.

The 2030 Challenge is an initiative that asks the architecture and construction community to implement sustainable design strategies and generate on-site renewable energy.

Ellis also shared how the process takes much more time than designing an average house.

“Any building that students are going to go in has to be built to a much higher standard than your average house,” Ellis said.

Architecture, architectural design technology and construction students are set to work collaboratively through the design process this semester.

Roger Andrade, a 20-yearold architecture major, is one of several students involved in designing and analyzing the site.

“We’re analyzing the site and the advantages and disadvantages of them,” Andrade said. “We’re looking at how we’re going to orient the building and what are the surrounding factors that we have to keep in mind.”

Students will be presenting their schematic designs to faculty involved in the project as well as architectural firms around Sacramento.

One of the large concepts from this project is to mirror Farm-to-Fork efforts in Sacramento, Ellis said.

Farm-to-Fork is an initiative that brings awareness to the Sacramento region about its local food production, consumption and sustainability, according to the Farm to Fork website.

Horticulture, the practice of garden cultivation and management, will be heavily involved in this project as there are plans to have an outdoor

Guest speaker to discuss representation in film

OneBook author will speak on Women’s History Month film Women’s History Month ReadMarch 14 viewing on March 20 ing: In Her Own Words

Join entrpreneur and activist Mariah Lichtenstern as she shares her passion for empowering underrepresented groups in the film industry at the Recital Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. on March 13.

Kainoa Nunez | The Connection

A net zero energy house demonstration will be built in the northeast part of campus.

Cynthia Bond will read her New York Times bestselling book “Ruby,”which offers an unflinching portrait of man’s dark acts and the promise of the redemptive power of love.

Join Bond at the Recital Hall from 10:30 a.m. to11:45 a.m. on March 14.

cooking area that will demonstrate ways to cultivate and cook healthier foods.

Connally said that construction students think it’s great to have a net zero energy demonstration on campus as it highlights their program and what they do.

Kristin Lorentzen, a 21-year-old architect major, shared a positive outlook on the project.

“It’s really cool because it is definitely a step in the right direction as far as housing goes now,” Lorentzen said. “Everything is sort of really bad for the environment so we’re moving in the direction where we’re going to produce houses that are actually good for the environment and produce electricity and produce their own water.”

Marishia Lopez, a 20-yearold architect major, said she is excited about getting a glimpse of a career in life.

Come to the viewing of “Nevertheless, She Persisted,” biographical film clips and discussion of women who presisted in advocating their causes alongside Professors Lauren Wagner and Diana Reed in the Recital Hall from 2:30 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. on March 20.

“I like that we’re getting real life experience on campus in class,” said Lopez. “We work in groups just like we would in real life.”

Andrade shared one outcome he’d like students to take from this project.

“People are going to be able to come into the house, experience it and we’re going to be able to tell them hey, we as students were able to accomplish the net zero goal, here’s how you can do it as well,” Andrade said.

The proposed zero energy house is planned to be built on the northeast part of campus near the light rail station.

Construction of the building is planned to start as early as next spring.

“It’s a great recruitment tool to bring high school students on campus and see what we are trying to be sustainable and responsible citizens in our environment,” Harrell said.

Join Professors Alex Peshkoff and Diana Reed for a reading of famous speeches by influential women throughout history.

The reading will take place at the Recital Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. on March 21.

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Panel discusses minority women’s current issues

By Summer Lomendehe slomendehe.connect@gmail.com The Women’s History Month Committee held a panel about current women’s issues in the Recital Hall on Thursday.

Panelists spoke to approximately 70 people about the visibility of black women in politics, the exploitation of South Korean women in the entertainment industry, immigrant women and the state of women from a global and anthropological perspective.

“The oppression of women does not define who we are,” said Priscilla LoForte, the assistant anthropology professor at Cosumnes River College.

Humanities and Social Science Dean LaTonya Williams defined identity and representation in politics during her lecture and described what those meant for black women.

Williams said that black women are often excluded from social-related conversations.

“As a national dialogue, identity as a black woman is clipped,” Williams said.

Arnold Fernandes | The Connection

Anthropology Professor Anastasia Panagakos, far right, introduces the panelists at Recital Hall on March 1.

To promote the visibility of black women, Williams said that students should be “attentive” to women who are underrepresented and support organizations led by women of color.

Maria Roman, an international relations major, gave a brief history of the Korean Wave before her lecture, describing it as a movement from South Korea that has “benefited from globalization by taking in American culture.”

Roman proceeded to explain how the entertainment industry exploits Korean

women, stating how entertainment companies employ Korean girls who are underage.

Brenna Murray, an English and sociology major, described her experience with being harassed during her lecture to introduce the #MeToo movement.

Murray said women are four times more likely to be raped in college than any time in her life.

She later said that healthcare for students will increase by 16 percent after college if they’re raped, and further explained that this is because

rape is considered a “pre-existing medical condition.”

“Rape is the most expensive crime,” Murray said.

Humanities Professor Kate McEachen briefly talked about women immigrants during her lecture.

“Women immigrants are less likely to have health and medical insurance and careers that align with their interests,” McEachen said.

McEachen said that these barriers result in the failure to recognize immigrants, and later said that recognizing everyone as Americans is “the

first step to removing systematic barriers” for women immigrants.

LoForte talked about the state of women from a global and anthropological perspective during her lecture.

“We see that the oppression of women is inevitable,” LoForte said.

Williams said that events like this offer students the opportunity to have a campus-wide discussion that they don’t get to have in the academic year.

Students said that the panel was “empowering.”

“I found myself crying at some point,” said Melissa Rice, a 46-year-old human services major.

Jennifer Berg, a 25-yearold photography major, said the event was informative.

“I was able to learn about things I normally don’t know,” Berg said.

Kazoua Lor, a 21-year-old nursing major, said that women should not judge people based on their gender or race.

“Women need to be recognized for being brave,” Lor said.

Student challenges perceptions through his attire

By Dario Lizarraga dlizarraga.connect@gmail.com Students noticed a man in a black hooded sweatshirt walking around campus on Feb. 26, wearing a sign with a simple phrase: “I’m Not a Criminal.”

Anthony Lollis, a 24-yearold communications major, was the individual behind this statement.

Lollis is a student ambassador of cultural engagement for the Student Life & Leadership Center and he gave many reasons as to why he wanted to do this campaign.

“What inspired me was the fact that just because you have a hoodie on, certain people will look at you different,” Lollis said. “You’ll be followed in a store and it’s because the color of your skin and you become a target.”

It was no coincidence that one of the days Lollis chose to wear his sign was on Feb. 26, the six-year anniversary of the

shooting of Trayvon Martin.

But Lollis was sure to mention that this campaign isn’t only about minorities.

“Black History Month is a major reason, but it’s also to show support for Trayvon Martin,” Lollis said. “And it’s even about John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln, the ones who made a way for us.”

Lollis planned to wear his sign for the whole day, but started receiving feedback and attention after a short time.

“A lot of people would stop me and look or read it while I’m walking away with wild facial expressions on their face,” he said.

Lollis said that the main goal of the campaign is to start a conversation about these sensitive topics, no matter if you agree with his opinions or not.

“Slavery is always such a touchy subject but let’s talk about it,” Lollis said. “And the things that are very touchy,

let’s go ahead and open it up.”

Freddy Mande, a 26-yearold computer science major and fellow student ambassador, commended Lollis for his efforts while recalling his own experience of being judged.

“While I was walking home one night, I pulled on my hood because I wanted to stay warm and these two girls who were walking toward me moved across the street like they were scared of me,” Mande said. “The thing is, I was just someone who was cold, you know?”

Mande is an international student who is originally from the Congo in Central Africa.

He went on to mention how new this was to experience.

“I never had to deal with racism ever,” Mande said.

“I came to the US about four years ago and that’s where I had to deal with racism and that’s something new to me.”

History Professor Alexan-

Crick Fulenchek | The Connection

Anthony Lollis said he hopes his campaign provokes conversations around racism and dsicrimination.

der Peshkoff recognized the importance of students vocalizing their views and examining their own beliefs.

“Anthony tries to provoke conversations and questioning,” Peshkoff said. “The sign, especially in a time of racial hatred and bigotry, is a way of provoking dialogue about harmful stereotyping.”

Peshkoff said he loved the action taken by Lollis.

“It is only through speaking with one another that one begins to question; questioning leads to profound examination of one’s own convictions,” Peshkoff said.

“Personal growth is the end result.”

Lollis said he has no plans to continue the campaign until next February, but would reconsider if another racialshooting were to occur.

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March 8, 2018

Students learn to be activists but may not protest

By Max Connor mconnor.connect@gmail.com A national school walkout has been championed by the Women’s March organization on March 14.

The walkout, which encourages students to walk out of class for 17 minutes at 10 a.m, is meant to show support and honor the 17 people killed in the Parkland shooting and to bring attention to the cause of stricter gun regulations.

More than 16 high schools in the Sacramento area have been identified as schools which will participate in the walkout, according to a list compiled by The Sacramento Bee. Cosumnes River College students and administration, however, do not seem to be gearing up for the walk out.

“We are aware of it, but to be honest I have not heard any discussion about it,” said Public Relations Officer for Cosumnes River College Kristie West, referring to the administration’s views about a potential walk out.

In addition to the walk out, a rally will be held at the State Capitol at 10 a.m. on March 14, according to the Women’s March website.

In interviews with a dozen students, including some members of the Student Senate, there was very little interest or knowledge of the walkout movement and no one planned to walk out of class on March 14.

The California Community College Chancellor Eloy Oakley signaled that students are welcome to participate however they see fit.

“The California Community Colleges support freedom of expression, plain and simple,” he said in a statement to the Sacramento Bee addressing the walk out.

He added that student’s admission to the community college system would not be affected by their decision to demonstrate, according to The Sacramento Bee. While students at CRC do not seemed poised to participate in large scale walkouts, there are many ways in which students can become involved in championing causes they care about.

A workshop was held at CRC titled “The Activist Toolkit,” and was led by Sacramento City Councilman Eric Guerra’s Chief of Staff, Erin Teague, on March 1. More than 40 students attended the event.

What: Enough! National School Walkout & Rally Where: State Capitol

555 Capitol Mall When: March 14 at 10 a.m.

Info: womensmarchsac. com/events

Courtesy Photo

According to event organizers the Women’s March on Jan. 19 drew an estimated crowd of 36,000. The same organization is coordinating a rally on March 14 at 10 a.m. at the Capitol to call for stronger gun regulations.

Teague encouraged students to not view activism merely as public demonstrations and rallies, but instead focused on how being an activist starts with becoming an informed voter.

Teague, who spent many years as an activist and campaign worker at the state and federal level, explained to students how they can have their voice heard by writing to their elected officials and following up with phone calls.

“Research which committees deal with the issue you are focusing on, find the members of those committees and contact their office,” Teague

said. “As an activist there was nothing better than finding a person to use as a real life example to point to as a reason for why something needs to change.”

The Florida State Senate passed a bill on Monday which would create new restrictions on rifle sales, according to an article by the Associated Press.

This is particularly important because Florida has long been a catalyst for pro gun reform and the home base for one of the NRA’s most powerful lobbyists, Marion Hammer, according to an article in the March 2018 issue of the New Yorker.

It is yet to be seen if students at CRC will participate in walking out of class next Wednesday, but Teague said that if students are passionate about an issue it important for them to get involved however they see fit.

“I think it’s really important to go,” she said when talking about students standing up for a cause they believe in.

She added that large demonstrations can show lawmakers that an issue like gun control in the wake of the Parkland shooting is important to people all over the country.

Grant to fund computers for new net zero energy lab

By Blynn Beltran bbeltran.connect@gmail.com The Architectural Design Technology lab will receive new computers to help the Net Zero lab project on the Cosumnes River College campus.

The grant was allocated from the California Clean Energy Jobs Act, which seeks to fund energy projects to schools and county offices.

Dean of Careers and Technology Kimberley Harrell said that the grant will be utilized to update the computers used to design the projects.

“We applied to get a $100,000 for computer replacements so that we could run the software to develop the architectural designs for the construction project that will go on campus,” Harrell said.

Harrell said that the students are the main focus of the whole project. The project will not only benefit architectural students, but construction students as well.

“Based on the students’ actual design, we will have other students input the designs on the computer software and then the construction students

under the supervision of our professor will build it,” Harrell said.

Harrell said that the technologies featured in the building will constantly be updated.

“What’s nice about the lab is that the vision is to replace technologies as they get old and to input new ones so future students to get practice through our building and constructing program,” Harrell said.

Harrell said that the project is still in its starting phases since the grant was only awarded last January.

Harrell also said that there could be a possibility of the architectural students presenting their plans and designs for the Zero Energy lab to the CRC community.

“The presentation is part of the architectural class,” Harrell said. “I can ask them when we get to a firmer decision so that people can see what we are doing with it.”

Some CRC students outside of architectural and construction weighed in on what they think of the grant and the project.

“I feel like in most of the

time we do in school is theoretical work and you don’t know how it applies physically,” 20-year-old chemistry major Lajoyce Mboning said. “It is nice to have these programs where you can go in there and make something.”

A 20-year-old public health major by the name of Tanner Keinath said this project will give architectural students experience.

“I think this is a good way of practicing their studies and actually getting results,” Keinath said. “I think it’s really positive.”

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>>Features African American students honored during awards night

By Arnold Fernandes afernandes.connect@gmail.com The Cosumnes River College Recital Hall held the Scholars in the Making event on Feb. 29 to commemorate the academic proficiency of African American students.

African American students were celebrated for their academic proficiency at Student personnel assistant for Extended Opportunity Programs and Services Aujonique Dismukes moderated the 19 Annual Honors & Awards night ceremony honoring Black History Month.

The event started with music professor Omari Tau leading the audience in singing the Black National Anthem, “Lift Ev’ry Voice And Sing.” The hall was filled with the voices of many singing in unison.

Lenora Collins, a film and theater arts major, performed an original spoken word poem.

Calvin Monroe, a former CRC student and keynote speaker for the night, said that people should be proud of themselves for their daily achievements and not wait to celebrate once every year.

“The energy you put out

is the energy you receive,” Monroe said.

He spoke about the differences between a student and a scholar, that a student simply just absorbs, stores and regurgitates information. He also mentioned that a scholar will do all these things, create their own opinion and explain why they think that way.

“Do not deny yourself when studying,” Monroe said, as he gave out study tips.

He showed the audience some inspiring Instagram accounts that he follows and encouraged students to make music playlists made specifically for them to use while studying.

As his presentation came to an end, the students who completed six or more units with a cumulative 3.0 or higher grade-point average in fall 2017 were brought on stage to receive a certificate by EOPS counselor Denise Marshall Mills.

“The guy that came up and did the presentation, he was inspiring and motivational,” said Malisha Blakes, a 45-year-old sociology major and one of the honorees. “I’m glad they even had this ceremony.”

A’leah Jones, a 21-year-old

Courtesy Photo

Faculty and administrators gathered Feb. 28 in the Recital Hall to honor African-American students. Keynote speaker, and a former CRC student, Calvin Monroe, far right, encouraged students celebrate daily victories.

photography and ethnic studies major, attended the ceremony and reception with her family.

“I thought it was great,” said Jones. “It’s very motivating that CRC is such a diverse place. Maybe we could go a little smoother next year, but this was fantastic.”

Semira Deneke, a 36-yearold human services and drug and alcohol counseling major, was another honoree who was being celebrated that night.

“I love it,” Deneke said.

“I don’t even know I had a 3.0. It feels good. I’m not done yet, but I feel accomplished. I wish they have more photographers at next year’s event.”

“I think this event is great because it celebrates black excellence,” said Marybeth Carranza, a 24-year-old communications major. “It also proves that beyond the race issues, that there are academic scholars everywhere.”

The event’s main purpose

was to recognize and honor the students who’ve earned their achievements and to spread the positive message about Black History Month.

“I loved the event because it gave me a big sense of community,” said Jalen Campbell, an 18-year-old biology major and honoree. “It’s great to have that feeling that there are other people on campus like you. I really liked the speakers and the fact that they came from CRC.”

New ‘student centered’ dean is excited to join faculty

By Lisa Wilson lwilson.connect@gmail.com

The new dean of business and family sciences is ready to draw upon a wealth of teaching experience, and a love of the local community in his work with students, faculty and staff at Cosumnes River College.

As the dean of business and family sciences, Joel Powell oversees many departments including business, accounting, computer and information sciences, real estate, early childhood education and more.

He has been given the responsibility of helping faculty in the business and family sciences division. He will be

Courtesy Photo

Joel Powell, dean of business and family science

working on development and execution of curriculum, helping enrollment growth for the campus while being an advocate of student success.

“He cares about his students,” said Rischa Slade, student affairs specialist and former coworker of Powell at

Solano Community College.

Powell began working at CRC after spending over a decade teaching political science and law at SCC. Prior to teaching college, Powell worked as a substitute teacher at multiple high school campuses in Vallejo, Calif.

After many years of serving students through teaching, he is ready to use his range of experience to help guide the efforts of the business and family sciences department.

“I love Sacramento, and I believe wholeheartedly in the students in this area,” Powell said.

Powell is widely missed by former students and staff at SCC. He is described as a “thoughtful instructor with engaging ideas and interesting

classes,” said Slade.

“I think he has impeccable character. He is incredibly ethical, thoughtful and I know that students adored him,” said Celia Esposito-Noy, superintendent president at SCC in Fairfield, Calif.

Powell regards himself as “student-centered.”

“The goal is always to ask, ‘how does this help students’,” Powell said as he discussed his philosophies as an educator.

Focused on helping students achieve their academic goals, Powell helps those on the road to receiving their degree, whether they are ready to transfer or simply completing a single college course. He said believes there’s so much more to being great.

“If you want to be great,

it takes doing more than the minimum,” Powell said. “Being great requires doing what most are afraid to attempt or don’t want to do.”

When it comes to student success, Powell believes in collaboration on all fronts.

“When everyone is working together and on the same page, we can achieve so much,” Powell said.

He encourages students to continue to work hard even when the path to getting a degree seems tedious and lengthy.

“Never make a permanent decision based on a temporary situation,” Powell said.

He said he believes the rewards gained from an education and earning a degree are worth the time invested.

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March 8, 2018

‘Rest In Power’ recognizes life of Trayvon Martin

By Summer Lomendehe slomendehe.connect@gmail.com “Rest In Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin” follows the journey of his parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, honoring their son’s life by demanding justice for his death.

Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African American high school student, was fatally shot by George Zimmerman on Feb. 26, 2012. The controversy of a neighborhood watch volunteer being armed and eventually shooting an unarmed teenager led to outrage across the nation, igniting conversations about racial inequality and gun violence in the country.

Published in 2017 by Spiegel & Grau, an imprint of Penguin Random House, the book carries the pain, confusion, and anger of Fulton and Martin throughout each chapter.

They remember Trayvon Martin as a kind, compassionate child, both heavily emphasizing how young he was when he died.

“I heard Trayvon’s last,

long, agonizing cries, loud and raspy, the voice of a teenage boy in despair,” Fulton wrote in one chapter. “… We heard the gunshot. A single, loud, echoing ‘pop’ from the neighborhood watch volunteer’s pistol that went through my baby’s hoodie, his chest, and his heart.”

Seeing Trayvon Martin through the eyes of his parents made his death feel more personal than it would have felt through the eyes of news anchors or political commentators.

Fulton and Martin gave their son more dimension and character than any news outlet would have been able to give him.

From written snapshots of media appearances, meetings with civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump and nationwide protests that all lead up to the trial of Zimmerman, Fulton and Martin recall every little detail they had about their son’s death, as well as the aftermath that followed afterward.

Their determination to bring attention to and demand justice for Trayvon

Courtesy Photo

Martin illustrated how much love a parent has for their child. “Rest In Power” centers around this determination, and reading through the trials and errors that came with that sometimes felt like being caught in a whirlwind in slow motion.

Trayvon Martin was often referred to by people mentioned in the book as the “boy with the bag of Skittles and a can of iced tea.” The image of Trayvon Martin in his hoodie, however, was the one that eventually became the symbol

of protests.

Zimmerman was found not guilty of the death of Trayvon Martin on July 13, 2013.

The Department of Justice later announced on Feb. 24, 2015 that there was not enough evidence to prosecute him for a federal crime.

Ultimately, “Rest In Power” tells the story of two parents who lost their son. The death of Trayvon Martin made an impact so great that it fueled the fight for racial inequality and created the Justice For Trayvon Movement,

furthering the Black Lives Matter Movement, as well.

To many, losing Trayvon Martin was a call for action.

To Fulton and Martin, losing Trayvon Martin meant losing their 17-year-old son to a bullet that went straight through his heart.

“Rest In Power” offers a heartbreaking, soul-shattering narrative about a boy who became a symbol of power and hope in the wake of his death, and how his parents continued the fight for him long after, as well.

New exhibit on campus showcases local artists

By Max Connor mconnor.connect@gmail.com The new art exhibit on campus titled ‘Inspirational Encounters’ which featured more than 25 paintings from northern California artists Joe Rice, LeeAnn Brook, and Margarita Chaplinska.

The show, curated by Cosumnes River College art professor Yoshio Taylor, primarily brings together large canvases by all three artists with very different styles and subjects that all work together wonderfully to create a cohesive and powerful experience.

“I have three (painters) and they all approach in a different way and different style” Taylor said. “Now my challenge was to blend all three together to set the show up as one single complete show with a flow throughout.”

Taylor said that Chaplinska and Brook were very

pleased and impressed with how the show was laid out and tied together. Brook and Chaplinska are both local artists and have very long successful careers in fine art and design, according to the literature provided by the CRC gallery.

“I was impressed with the diversity as well as the similarity in the pieces,” said Laura Hansen, a 60-year-old fine arts and art history major who was volunteering at the gallery.

Rice, who passed away in 2011, never showed his art publicly when he was alive, according to his biography printed in the gallery. Rice was a dedicated art teacher in the Bay Area and this exhibit is an opportunity for anyone on campus to get a first look at some of his work, Taylor said.

Chaplinska’s work features several bright and whimsical portraits on canvas as well as two large layered paintings with figures painted

on vinyl sheeting. These two pieces are ten feet tall and four feet wide and one features three paintings of a young girl on the vinyl sheeting almost floating up towards the ceiling.

That vinyl painting is hung in front of another painting containing abstract images and lines the give the work a unique depth and dreamlike quality.

“The vinyl pieces caught me right away, particularly the one of her daughter,” Hansen said when referring to Chaplinska’s work. She said it was fantastic to see something by a current painter that was completely new and like nothing she had seen before.

Brook’s work features large canvases of mixed media images dealing with nature, focusing on landscapes and trees. When her work is looked at from a distance, they looked like skilled paintings with depth and movement.

Max Connor | The Connection

Margarita Chaplinska’s painting ‘Floaters’ hangs alongside the rest of the paintings in the exhibit at the Visual & Performing Arts Center.

However, when it’s looked at close up, the viewer can see they are made up of collages with all sorts of images and text underneath.

Brook owns a gallery in Nevada City that features her work as well as the work of other artists. Chaplinska owns a studio in Roseville where she teaches privately and works on her own pieces.

Hansen encourages students to come by for a visit.

The art exhibit is open from Feb. 23 to March 23 in the Visual & Performing Arts Center.

“You are going to see some quality work. It might give you motivation for your own work or offer you a chance to appreciate someone else’s work,” Hansen said.

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The ‘Black Panther’ pounces on screen

By Arnold Fernandes afernandes.connect@gmail.com “Black Panther” was a wild movie to watch from start to finish. It is an action-packed superhero movie about the king of Wakanda defending his homeland from the forces of evil.

The superhero’s first appearance was in comic book issue #52 of Fantastic Four back in 1966. The Civil Rights and Black Power Movements that were going on during the 1960’s and 1970’s were heavy influences on this particular Marvel Comics Avenger.

Centuries ago, a meteorite containing a powerful undiscovered element called vibranium landed somewhere deep in Africa. A warrior ingested a “heart-shaped herb” that grew from where the meteorite landed and gained powerful abilities such as superhuman speed and strength. This warrior became known as the first Black Panther.

The kingdom of Wakanda is very futuristic and sophisticated with technology that the rest of the world has never

seen, thanks to the power of vibranium.. This kingdom is hidden inside of Africa, disguised as a developing nation, so very few outsiders know of this kingdom’s existence.

Chadwick Boseman plays T’Challa, the present king of Wakanda. His father was the previous king, but he gets murdered and T’Challa becomes the next Black Panther.

Something that stood out about the movie was the amount of ethnic diversity.

Every citizen of Wakanda was of African descent, so most of the actors are black people.

Compared to other superhero movies, it was refreshing to see representation of other people that didn’t just include white males.

Also, the female characters in this film are very empowering. There is no typical “damsel-in-distress” cliche in this film. When their country was being threatened, every man and woman fought honorably to protect their homeland.

Three of my favorite characters in the film are Nakia, Okoye and Shuri. Nakia,

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played by Lupita Nyong’o, is an undercover spy and T’Challa’s ex-girlfriend.

Okoye, played by Danai Gurira, is the head of an all-female special forces unit who serve as T’Challa bodyguards. Shuri, played by Letitia Wright, is the princess of Wakanda and T’Challa’s younger sister. She designed the Black Panther suit and other technology that

the country uses.

The music of the film involved hip-hop songs that fit very well., especially the song “Opps” that had me dancing in my seat.

But, I found myself confused with some parts. Certain scenes jumped around and some character motivation made little sense to me.

But the action in this movie

makes up for all of that. They were so action-packed that the viewers in the theater were yelling at the screen! It was so wild.

I was unfamiliar with the comics and I usually don’t like watching superhero movies due to how lengthy they are, but “Black Panther” gets it right. It is definitely an exciting film to watch in theaters.

Concert celebrates the message of Black History Month

By Victoria Blanco vblanco.connect@gmail.com The Contemporary Gospel Choir performed a concert titled “Great Day!” in commemoration of Black History Month on Thursday night at the Recital Hall.

The joyful gospel concert began with an opening statement by the choir’s director, Omari Tau, and was followed by the singing of “Great Day.” “What we hope to do is to continue to build the Black History Month program so that we do a wider range of stuff,” Tau said. “We had a good time accomplishing all of this music in such a short period of time.”

A spoken-word artist was scheduled to speak during the concert, but due to illness, they cancelled.

Instead, members of the choir read statements by influ-

Arnoldo Fernandes | The Connection

Gospel choir begins their concert by singing “Oh Happy Day” alongside soloists Felicia Bissent and Tin Bui.

ential figures such as Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman and Alice Walker after each song.

The choir asked the audience to sing along to a compilation of freedom songs which included “This Little Light of Mine” and “We Shall Over-

come.” Before singing the last song, vocalist Corinthia Duke, read “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou.

The last song, “Oh Happy Day,” was sung by vocalists Felicia Bissent and Tin Bui. Duke said it was a won-

derful idea to celebrate African American culture through music.

“It’s important that we acknowledge people who made contributions to the nation,” Duke said.

Destiny Whalen, a

20-year-old psychology major, said she enjoyed the concert.

“It was great, I wanted to cry sometimes,” said Whalen.

“If music can’t bring people together, then what will?”

Anaiah Morris, a 19-yearold music major, said she thought it was great to celebrate Black History Month with music.

“I wish there was more people of course, to get the word out because like, imagine the whole house full and everybody singing,” Morris said.

Tau said that this year they expanded their annual Black History Month program by adding dancing and spoken word.

“We had a lot of fun, that’s for sure, and even though we didn’t have our spoken word artist, I thought that it was great to still be able to pull together some statements and to get a little flavor,” Tau said.

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>> Opinion EDITORIAL

Parkland survivors revive civics education The Marjory Stoneman Douglas students-turned-activists rapidly took to social media and TV to discuss gun reform after the deadly shooting in Parkland, Fla. three weeks ago.

comes a law instead of balancing civic knowledge through attitudes and practices.

The Parkland student activism offers a perspective for change in education. Civic educators should add or already have class discussions on current events which requires flexibility around planned lessons when events like the Parkland shooting take place.

In the week following the attack, the school’s survivors spurred a large number of nationwide school walkouts, CNN town hall discussions, Capitol Hill sit-ins and even a “listening session” with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.

Major companies, such as Walmart and Dick’s, have even decided to withdraw their partnership with the National Rifle Association as these articulate and well-informed teens continue to change the conversation around guns in America, according to an article from the New York Times.

Many might be left wondering how these students are able to speak out so eloquently. Several speculate that student activists are crisis actors.

From almost every angle involving the Parkland tragedy, the after effects point to civic education.

As legislative action on gun control remains vague, the conversation around education in schools has intensified.

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Compiled by Crick Fulenchek & Kainoa Nunez

A vast majority of states require high school students to take a civics course before graduation. Seventeen states require students to pass a citizenship test and in three states, the citizenship test is the only requirement for graduation, according to a report by the Center for American Progress.

On average, students are able to “identify a type of government by its characteristics” while struggling with much more complex areas of civics such as the role of checks and balances

Courtesy Photo

Parkland’s civic implications may present a challenge to low-income and students of color, as the front faces of Parkland’s tragedy involve a wealthy community and predominately white faces.

Nonetheless, students should tackle the challenge and learn how to successfully speak out loud no matter the circumstance.

The issue is that there isn’t a decline in civic classes, but a decline on the effectiveness of civic classes.

Perhaps instead of investing money into arming teachers with guns, we should think of putting money into programs that engage students to participate in their own governance.

in the U.S, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

And the problem isn’t just the amount of civics that students receive, it is the written material they’re provided with as well.

Schools have focused more on book learning such as how a bill be-

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas students are models of what quality education offers, and if the current spotlight on them helps improve school’s curriculum all around the country, then perhaps we’re a step closer to preventing tragedies.

In honor of Women's History Month, who's an inspirational woman in your life and why?

Rebecca Johnson 18, psychology

Colton Maravelias 21, business

Curtis Ward 24, English

“I look up to women music figures like Beyoncé. I really value artistic expression and seeing women like Beyoncé inspires me.”

“I would have to say Cyndey Klorer, the librarian at my old high school. She's helpful with the kids.”

“I would say my adopted mother, because of the sacrifices she has made. Plus she always watches out for me.”

Jordan Sachs 19, undecided

“My mom, because she's really loving and caring of people despite how they treat her.”

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Survivors of Parkland say 'enough is enough'

By Kainoa Nunez knunez.connect@gmail.com The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla. happened on Feb. 14. It was another tragic murder scene just 136 days after the Las Vegas incident.

Along with the 17 innocent students and faculty that were killed, 14 students were severely injured by 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz with a Colt AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.

Cruz has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder.

Another mass shooting that involves students is horrifying, and to see that another teenager who would take the lives of others away is just plain evil and psychotic.

The survivors from the incident did not go into silence and move on.

They did the opposite, which involved creating their own voice to take action in favor for gun control.

Students should never have to fear about going to school, which is why there is so much demand for lawmakers to take control so that something like this wouldn’t happen again.

On Feb. 20, students in Washington D.C. marched to the White House, and performed a ‘lie-in’ in front of the house to pressure the lawmakers to pass tougher gun laws.

Seventeen demonstrators chose to lie down for three minutes which demonstrated how long it took for Cruz to gun down the students and faculty.

The next day, students from Maine to Arizona and many other

Courtesy Photo

states walked out of class to protest gun violence and to honor the victims, including the thousands of students in Florida to protest for gun control.

Their movement is called the “March For Our Lives,” that will take place on March 24 in Washington D.C. and it will be spread throughout the United States to encourage other students to join in the protest and letting their voices be heard to the government.

“We are prepared to call BS [on] politicians who sit in their guilted house and Senate seats funded by the NRA, and telling us nothing could’ve ever been done to prevent this,” said Emma Gonzalez, a victim from Stoneman Douglas High School incident and activist at a rally on Feb. 17 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Both Gonzalez and David Hogg are survivors and activists who are demanding change, but how long will it

take for the government, the National Rifle Association or Trump to take action?

“My prayers and condolences to the families of the victims of the terrible Florida shooting. No child, teacher or anyone else should ever feel unsafe in an American school,” President Trump said via Twitter, just a few hours after Cruz was arrested.

The students, teachers and families didn’t want his prayers or condolences, for the people wanted immediate action, and his statement alone wasn’t enough.

As there are more news stories developing about this event, people online are claiming that Hogg is an actor portraying a survivor, which is sad to believe. Hogg’s father works for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but people think that it’s all made up for show, and of course, for the ratings.

On Feb. 21 at a CNN town hall,

Gonzalez pressed NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch about the NRA stances on banning the purchase of any semi-automatic and fully automatic weapons permanently.

That led to nothing but a backand-forth argument, but Loesch held her line.

She kept mentioning the second amendment of our constitution and reminded the crowd why we have it, which states, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

But, it gets better when Loesch held a press conference the day after the heated debate with the families and students at the CNN town hall.

“Many in legacy media love mass shootings. You guys love it. Now I'm not saying that you love the tragedy, but I am saying that you love the ratings. Crying white mothers are ratings gold to you and many in the legacy media in the back (of the room),” Loesch said at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

That is depressing to hear from someone that is pro-gun in America.

“Normally, 10 days after a mass shooting in America, the national news media moves on to the next story, but clearly this is still a big story,” said Brian Stelter, the senior media correspondent for CNN, on Feb. 25 via YouTube.

Students, especially those at Parkland, are becoming activists themselves and are taking advantage of the attention that they've been given to urge others to backup their stance in supporting gun control.

Coachella plagued by high costs and controversy

By Arnold Fernandes afernandes.connect@gmail.com The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is one of the most wellknown festivals in the United States.

Last year, 99,000 people attended Coachella per day, according to an article from The Los Angeles Times.

Citizens from all over the country squander their money for a weekend with their favorite artists. In recent years, Coachella has attracted the masses with big-name artists such as Drake, Outkast, Red Hot Chili Peppers and even a hologram of Tupac.

Originally, when this music festival first began back in 1999, ticket prices were as cheap as $50. Today, those

prices have skyrocketed to over $500, according to an article by Forbes magazine.

The question is, why do people continue to purchase Coachella tickets?

I’ve never been to Coachella, but I have been to several other music festivals. Being surrounded by strangers who have the same musical taste as you can be cathartic. I have seen a few of my favorite artists live, so I can honestly say that I will die a happy man.

However, Coachella is one of the most expensive music festivals on the West Coast. It’s crazy how that does not seem to stop people from attending the massive weekend-long festival.

Since it is so close to Los Angeles,

Coachella has been something of a cultural force. Rich kids and celebrities are seen in outfits that border on appropriation.

Bindis, war paint, feathered headpieces are some of the items that are seen at the festival. Bindis are a cultural symbol that represents wisdom and spiritual development to South Asian women. For some Coachella attendees, a bindi is just another forehead accessory.

Also, some of the money from ticket sales are rumored to fund anti-LGBTQ organizations and climate change denial groups, according to an article on the Pitchfork online music magazine.

Philip Anschutz, a co-owner of the

Coachella music festival, said in the interview with Pitchfork that they will not donate to those organizations anymore. But how could he be so careless to donate to such hateful groups in the first place?

I will not be attending Coachella this year, mainly because I am a broke college student.

Even if I had the money to pay for these tickets, I would not buy them because if I did, my money could be used to fund horrible organizations that hate people for being themselves.

To those people who are going, I am sure they will have a great time.

They will be able to escape from the real world, but will they be able to escape from their own guilt?

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March 8, 2018

>> Sports

Athletes have to study more than their playbook

By Kainoa Nunez knunez.connect@gmail.com There are some senior students in high school that play sports and don’t receive scholarships, which jeopardizes their chances on continuing to play at a university. This is what leads them to a community college.

They’re on a deadline the minute they commit to play for a college, which means to transfer out in two years exactly.

“All student athletes have to take 12 units or more in order to be eligible to play on their team, and that’s the bare minimum,” Athletic Director Collin Pregliasco said. “In order to get out in two years is bare minimum of taking 15 units per semester.”

Athletes know that they’re on the clock to be in and out once they complete all their academic requirements in order to transfer, and continuing to play their sport at a University.

General college students have resources and assistance to help them succeed but not like athletes do. Athletes have their own counselor, director and coaches that focus on getting them to the next level.

“My responsibility is to make sure that athletes have to meet their requirements in order to compete,” Academic Counselor Ann Welty said. “There’s a

lot of checks and balances.”

There is a total of 150 athletes here at Cosumnes River, and the primary focus is academics, so how can they get from point A to point B? The transfer rate of community college students to a four-year is 24 percent and out of those students only 17 of them were athletes according to Cal-PASS Plus.

“School comes first,” Head Baseball Coach Don Mico said. “If they’re not good in the classroom they’re not able to play.”

The Hawks Study Center, located in CAC 104, serves as the study hall for student-athletes throughout the semester. It hosts a variety of amenities such as tutoring to assist the athletes to be successful in the classroom. “ On our volleyball team we actually have them do six hours of study hall on top of going to practice and going to class,” Head Volleyball Coach Kari Post said.

The Study Center is provided with supervision to ensure a work area productive to learning, with tutors from different departments.

“Really it’s the wanting desire to transfer to play at the four-year, so typically anything under a 2.8 you’re not going to transfer,” Pregliasco said.

“Nobody is going to recruit you with that GPA, so they need to make sure

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Kainoa Nunez | The Connection Members of the men's basketball team putting in time in the study hall in CAC 104 to keep their grades up so they can stay on the court.

that their grades are up.”

Student-athletes are no different than general students, for every student has a plan for themselves and their situation does not involve others in some cases. And, meeting the deadlines for transferring in two years is a lot of classes to complete.

That’s why athletes are persistent on their daily schedules per week, and some work part and full-time jobs.

“Coach keeps on top of things, and you don’t wanna take a break and not do your homework which that will cost you to play,” Infielder Clay Daval

of the men’s baseball team said.

Student-athletes must be self-motivated and very aware of the best course of actions, and that’s having to rely on coaches and recruiters to basically get them into the best situation as possible. They want to transfer and play at a university that is the goal.

“Time management is the most important thing,” Pregliasco said. “A lot of people don’t understand taking 18 units sounds great on paper, but then realize that’s a lot and some can make it happen.”

Should the NCAA change their rules and pay college athletes?

Compiled by Crick Fulenchek & Kainoa Nunez

Drew Buggs 19, kinesiology

Devante Jones 18, sociology

"If you're putting them on TV or you're actively recruited it just like the NBA. It should be lower but they still should get paid."

"There's pros and cons to it, but If they are paying them out of high school what's the point of getting an education."

Brianna Zamora-Morgan 20, undeclared

" We are rewarding students that do very little.

We are not a competitor so it should not be a focus."

Aquillas Taylor 19, graphic design

“Yes, they be ballin their hearts out. even on the bench you work hard enough to make the team.

If you work hard enough you should get paid. If you score points you should get paid."

Page 11

thecrcconnection.com

College athletes are given enough already

By Max Connor mconnor.connect@gmail.com

Blynn Beltran| The Connection

Coach Coral Sage, second from left, and Assistant Coach Jennifer Jacobs, center, discuss strategy during a timeout in a game against Santa Rosa College on Feb.9

Women’s head basketball coach returns from leave

By Dario Lizarraga dlizarraga.connect@gmail.com

When Coach Coral Sage had a baby last June, she decided to take the following semester off to spend some time with her infant son.

But now, Sage has returned and has hit the ground running for her players and students.

“Besides being off with my son, having the chance to step back and think about how to move forward in the next phase of my career was really nice,” Sage said. “I think I needed that time to take a breather and rejuvenate a little bit.”

Sage has been at Cosumnes River College for 14 years and along with being a head coach for over a decade, she also teaches kinesiology, fitness and health classes.

Having spent a lot of time at CRC, she said that she missed

Editor in Chief/Features Editor: Elizabeth Rodriguez News/Opinion Editor: Victoria Blanco Sports Editor: John Cabales Photo Editor: Kainoa Nunez 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

her colleagues and the atmosphere of the campus.

“Obviously, I’ve built some friendships and some bonds up over the last 14 years so me not seeing them everyday was a little bit strange,” Sage said. “Just being back in the space with them and my students has been great.”

During Sage’s absence, Assistant Coach Jennifer Jacobs stepped up to lead the Lady Hawks for the first half of the women’s basketball season.

“It was definitely a learning experience. I learned a lot about myself as a coach and learned a lot about the administrative side and what you’re supposed to do,” Jacobs said.

The missed presence of Sage was felt on the court by the players as well.

“It was hard trying to fill in what [Sage] was used to, like her standards,” Hawks Point Guard Lexi Liddell said.

“Just trying to remember what she wants so that way when she comes back, it would be an easy transition.”

Now that Sage is back in charge, she is ready to pick things up and push forward harder than before.

“I run this thing that I started a few years ago called ‘Hawk Academy’, which gives us a chance to come in the classroom and just talk about goal setting, standards and those kind of things so we’re gonna reinstitute that this spring and hopefully get things back on track,” said Sage.

Jacobs is also fully committed to the team and working with Sage to get the job done.

“I love coaching with Coral; we have a great chemistry on the court,” Jacobs said.

“I would rather coach alongside her though, than be in her spot.”

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Yahoo Sports first reported On Feb 21., that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had been investigating corruption within some of the countries biggest college basketball programs, who allegedly allowed agents to compensate players while in college.

The report has reignited a popular debate among collegiate fans, analysts and The NCAA about whether college athletes should be paid.

Many fans and pundits feel that a system in which schools make enormous sums of money on the backs of “free labor” provided by college players is unfair and immoral. Additionally, many feel the system is broken and obviously no one is following the rules anyway, so a way to fix corruption is to compensate the players.

There are two problems with this fallacious reasoning to pay players.

First, to adjust rules to match an organization’s corrupt behavior is a pretty sad excuse for change. That’s like saying, “power plants are going to dump toxic waste anyway, so let’s just let them do it.”

Second, it is simply not true that universities are making huge sums of money off of their college programs.

In 2012, only 23 of 228 division I schools made a profit with their athletic department, according to a report

by USA Today in conjunction with Indiana University’s Sports Journalism Center.

Scholarship athletes have access to health care, training, tutoring, nutrition advice, tuition, room and board, all for free.

Additionally in 2015 the NCAA change their rules

to allow student athletes to receive stipends of a few thousand dollars per year, according to a report from CNN.com.

According to an article on Forbes.com from 2013, total cost of benefits to scholarship athletes ranged from $50,000 to $125,000 depending on the cost of tuition and boarding. To say that student athletes are exploited, ignores the fact that they are given a tremendous and valuable opportunity to either train for professional sports or have their mind and career path opened through a free college experience.

College students have always been poor and lived off ramen noodles. The difference for average students is they have to actually pay to be poor and leave school with tremendous financial debt or they work full time to help pay for school. Student athletes get “paid” more than enough for what they contribute and to say they should also get salaries is insulting to the average college student and cheapens the value of a free higher education.

The simplest and fairest solution seems to be for the NCAA to adopt the Olympic Model. That would mean allowing students to use their fame to make money and receive benefits.

If the local owner of a diner wants to give players free meals because they love the team, so be it. If a student has enough fame to sign and sell autographs then they should be able to do it.

There are many ways to allow students to receive additional compensation based on their status as popular athletes, without just making popular college sports professional leagues and completely throwing out the amature system.

Page 12

March 8, 2018

Hawks lose another one to Beavers

By Kainoa Nunez knunez.connect@gmail.com In a race to reach the playoffs, the Hawks baseball team battled the Beavers of American River College, which was their third matchup in the past six days. They lost 5-2 in a heartbreaking conference matchup on March 4.

This was their last meeting for this season, and the Hawks had home field advantage.

“We’re comfortable [playing] at home, we don’t really get off the bus playing too well, so it’s good,” outfielder Burle Dixon said.

Hawks pitcher/utility John Treat gave up four runs and a homerun from outfielder Justin Bejarano at the top of the second inning. That would allow the Beavers take a 4-0 lead.

The Hawks answered back by utility Damien Chavez hitting a single in midfield, and advancing to third base from another single by outfielder Jared Alameida. Infielder Alex Crouch flied out to centerfield which sacrificed an out to let Chavez score.

Alameida stole for second, then ran for homebase to make the score 4-2.

The Hawks had the momentum, and Treat was not dwelling on any previous mis-

take after that inning.

“It’s all about pitching, playing defense and executing,” Head Coach Don Mico said. “We didn’t do that this series, but we have to move forward.”

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Hawks had Dixon and Lucas on base with two outs, and first baseman/left hand pitcher Joey Pankratz had the spotlight to make a big play.

But Beavers pitcher Freddy May struck Pankratz out.

At the top of the sixth inning outfielder/first baseman Logan Hall hit a single, advanced to second on a balk play, then third baseman/split squad Will Floyd hit a single in midfield to let Hall extend the score 5-2.

“They hit the ball [well], and you can’t get mentally beat and we’re all young on this team, so it’s a challenge to work with,” pitcher AJ Wood said.

There were missed opportunities that would’ve prevented the Beavers from extending the score, but the Hawks were still trailing by three runs.

Going into the seventh inning, Hawks changed pitchers to put in Daniel Vitoria to finish the game.

Vitoria started off strong

Kainoa Nunez | The Connection

Hawks closing pitcher Daniel Vitoria on the mound against American River College. The team lost in a conference game 5-2 on March 4. at home.

by allowing zero runs and shutting down the Beavers in a solid three and out inning.

“We just got to [keep] grinding, that’s all that is,” Vitoria said.

But that wasn’t enough from Vitoria’s performance because the defense of the Beavers were shutting down the Hawks on offense and

pitching.

More missed opportunities and a lack of timely hitting was a theme for the Hawks as they allowed eight runners on base in the game. They had their last opportunity in the bottom of the ninth inning as Lucas grounded into double play to get outfielder Brett Gieseke to run to second.

Dixon had to hit either a double or possibly triple to get both Hawks home, but Dixon struck out. That made the final score 5-2.

Mico noted the difficulties in the aftermath that the team wasn’t able to overcome, and they have practice tomorrow before their next game on Tuesday.

Despite early struggles team stays optimistic

By Kainoa Nunez knunez.connect@gmail.com The women’s tennis team spent a warm spring afternoon battling it out at home against College of the Sequoias on March 6.

The Hawks and Giants put up competitive matches for each meet, but after two and half hours the Giants won 8-1.

“We just play every game at our best, every game you get close to winning and every loss is closer to a victory,” freshman player Salma Prasad said. “Every game is a learning experience, that’s why we’re out here.”

The team of six freshman Hawks took on the Giants, who are ranked fifth in the Big 8 conference, and with much to learn they still fought back.

“They actually played very well, I didn’t expect them to be like the ranking they were, so I was a bit of shock,

Kainoa Nunez | The Connection

Angela Hartado, left, and Salma Prasad in a match versus College of the Sequoias on March 6. The young freshman team lost 8-1.

and it kind of threw me off,” freshman player Angela Hartado said.

Head Coach Eva De Mars has high hopes for this young team. One of her main concerns was losing focus, not executing and not being able to to battle back.

Double matches are tough, but sin-

gle matches are more competitive than facing two at a time, and it’s a different strategy to play.

“We go by every loss is one step closer to victory, and every match is closer on an individual scores, so we’re improving every match,” De Mars said.

Prasad thought the Giants were a

fair match for them.

“They played really well, and they were number one on playing singles, but they played better when we went double matchups with them,” Prasad said.

This game marks their seventh loss of the season, and without any sophomores or veteran players to learn from, it becomes a challenge.

De Mars said she believes the players will continue to improve as the season goes on.

“The experience in matches is what we need, and that’s what we’re getting everytime we compete.”

Last spring, the Hawks had only four official players, which included four sophomores and one freshman.

This year it’s all freshman with six official players.

“We’re a team, but it’s an individual sport, so I mean as long everybody feels comfortable we’re supportive for each other no matter if we win or lose,” Prasad said.