Cheaters never prosper? More than 90 cases of cheating were reported last year at CRC. English professor David Weinshilboum calls the academic dishonesty a “real tragedy.” >> Page 2
Volume 61, Issue 2
www.theCRCconnection.com
February 28, 2013
CLASS SPOTLIGHT
CAMPUS PULSE
Transfer degrees gain momentum Martial arts By Elizabeth Witt ewitt.connect@gmail Each semester, students from Cosumnes River College and other lower division institutions transfer to four-year universities to complete their bachelor’s degree after fulfilling lower-division requirements established by the schools they are hoping to attend. It’s a long process, however some students are choosing a different path by completing one of several offered Associate Degrees for Transfer, recognized in a media briefing by California Community Colleges Deputy Chancellor Erik Skinner on Feb. 20, as an “important development in public
California higher education, [and] a great partnership between the California Community Colleges and the California State Universities.” “It’s a clarified pathway so students, when they are working on their lower division work, know exactly what they need to do to prepare for transfer in a given discipline to any one of the CSUs,” Skinner said. The Associate Degrees for Transfer, products of Senate Bill 1440 passed in September of 2010, are fairly new degrees offered in seven majors that CRC students can work towards in order to meet transfer requirements for the CSU system, an option also known as the 1440 pathway. The seven transfer degrees currently
being offered at CRC are sociology, math, psychology, communication studies and physics, with the new additions business administration and theatre arts, according to the CRC 2012-2013 college catalog. Though there are a limited number of degrees being offered for transfer at CRC in the 2012-2013 school year, Fowler said there are a number of them being reviewed and the Curriculum Committee is hoping to have many more degrees by the fall 2014 semester. “These degrees are basically minimal preparation to transfer to a CSU,” said Lynn Fowler, the articulation director at CRC. The difference between an associate
>>Transfer | Page 3
ATHLETICS FOCUS Sophomore first baseman Allison Barsetti warms up with the infielders before their game against Fresno City College on Feb. 23. Barsetti is a team captain on the softball team and said she hopes to lead by example. Stephan Starnes | The Connection
What makes an effective leader in sports?
Coaches and players weigh in on the qualities they want in a leader on and off the field By Stephan Starnes sstarnes.connect@gmail In the first game of Cosumnes River College’s softball three-way contest with San Mateo College and Fresno City College on Feb. 23, there was already a damper on the day for the home team. In the fifth inning of CRC’s first game, with the Hawks still up to play Fresno later in the day, San Mateo scored five runs. It’s easy for a team to lose its spirit in such a situation, and doing so would darken their mood going into their second game a few hours later. However, the women kept up their
energy and their game chants were loud as ever. A big part of the team’s spirit is invested in the team captain. Allison Barsetti, sophomore pitcher and a team captain for the Hawks, does her best to keep her team’s spirits high in situations like this. “I always try to keep cheering our cheers,” Barsetti said. “I try to pick up people individually by saying ‘oh man, you did this great,’ ‘you looked good out there,’ ‘man you made a good play,’ stuff like that.” Being a part of a sports team means that you’re a part of a larger entity, and that you’re not just in it for yourself. However, each team does need to have players that separate themselves from the pack. Cosumnes River College’s softball head coach Kristy Schroeder said that picking the right leaders is “extremely important” for the team. “You have to have some sort of captain everyone feels comfortable with,” Schroeder said. “The coach and players both pick.” Schroeder made sure to emphasize the importance of players agreeing with their captains, but that the coach needs to guide
the leaders. “If you want the culture of the team to be positive and sound, you need the traits of carrying on what coaches want,” Schroeder said. Schroeder said that a team leader is someone who “inspires, holds people and themselves accountable, plays with passion and heart and has good communication.” Barsetti said that the qualities that make her stand out as a leader is her determination to do better. She followed by saying that she is one of the team’s main pitchers and someone that the team looks to. “I always give my all every single game,” Barsetti said. “And I’m always striving for more.” Cesar Plasencia, head coach of the women’s soccer team, agreed that a leader must hold themselves accountable, even before their teammates. Plasencia also said that leaders have to be an example outside of athletics. He believes that a leader must be an example “academically, as well as athletically.” Baseball head coach Tony Bloomfield
>>Leadership | Page 4
philosophy teaches brain over brawn By Scott Redmond sredmond.connect@gmail
Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee and Jet Li are just a few names that probably come to mind when the words martial arts are mentioned in casual conversation, along with a visual of people punching and kicking their way through any problems that come their way. Martial arts is about fighting and defeating other people after all, right? Professor Rick Schubert and his Honors 364 students might beg to differ. That’s because they are part of a class only offered once every two years called philosophy of the martial arts. “[It] allows me to pursue the two central interests of my life simultaneously: martial arts and philosophy,” Schubert said. “I started training martial arts when I was 6 years old and when I was a teenager I became interested in the intellectual foundations of traditional martial arts practice.” Unlike traditional lecture classes “the students are as responsible as the instructor for the presentation of “When I was the course material,” Schubert a teenager I said. became With it beinterested in ing an honors students the intellectual class, that are enrolled foundations within the class must also be of traditional part of the Honmartial arts ors Program to stay enrolled in practice.” the class. The Honors Program is “specifi—Rick Schubert Professor cally designed for academically a c c omp l i s h e d students and for those students with the potential for high achievement,” according to the Honors Program website. “The course is an honors seminar, and honors seminars at CRC are designed to provide students with a freshman seminar experience,” Schubert said. “Ultimately we want to train students so they can engage in the scholarly process and in the seminar, the freshman seminar, we give students a peek ahead at what it will be like to be graduate students.” The course syllabus describes the class as providing “both the opportunity to appreciate the eastern philosophical underpinnings of an activity that has become part of mainstream American Culture and the opportunity to experience the rigorous application of contemporary analytic academic philosophical methodology.” While the use of martial arts in the title might bring some different images to the mind of many, those that have enrolled within the class were not of that mindset. “I think actually I’m going to learn >>Philosophy | Page 7
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NEWS
FEBRUARY 28, 2013
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Campus committee takes on cheating
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...
The Connection Editor in Chief Zach Hannigan News Editor Josh Slowiczek
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Features Editor Britni Alford Sports Editor Cody Durham Opinion Editor Brittany Patrick Online Editor Scott Redmond Photo Editor Britni Alford Multimedia Editor Mary Garcia Copy Editor Kevin Frodahl Stephan Starnes Faculty Adviser Rubina Gulati Editorial Assitants Ben Brown Emily Collins Rachel Norris Sean Thomas Elizabeth Witt Mozes Zarate
Staff Katana Brown Latisha Gibson Oswaldo Guzman Justin Lane Victor Macias Courtney Rich Jonathan Rich Nick Valenzuela
Jonathan Rich | The Connection
Nyenbeku George, progessor of sociology, gave a lecture to students and staff regarding “The power of ideology and race” in the CRC Recital Hall on Feb. 13.
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The Academic Integrity Committee is a group of faculty and administrators at Cosumnes River College committed to improving the quality of education for students by addressing issues within the educational process. During the course of the 2011-2012 school year the AIC handled 34 reports of cheating and 57 reports of plagiarism at CRC, according to the student discipline referral report. “If we are going to take an honest look at ourselves and become the college we can be, which is a better college than what we are, we’ve got to be honest and accurate,” said ethics professor Rick Schubert. Schubert was the founding chair of the AIC and served as chair for five years. He said that there are people who believe that academic integrity applies only to the students at CRC but it is equally applicable to the faculty and administrators. “I think it’s really easy for folks on my side of the desk to think academic integrity is about what the students need to do or not do,” Schubert said. “The way I see it, whether Cosumnes River College is an institution that has integrity or not depends as much or more on what I as a member of the faculty do.” Most students know how academic integrity applies to them
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and agree that it is equally important for faculty. “It kind of sets an example for students as well,” said Kyle Richards, 20, a philosophy and religious studies major. “It’s not just the students that have to be held to some kind of standard.” The committee meets approximately three times per semester to discuss ways to improve academic integrity, said David Weinshilboum, an English professor and the current chairperson. “Academic integrity is the way we expect students to carry themselves in academia while here at CRC as students, we hold them to a higher standard,” Weinshilboum said. “Everybody here, from faculty and administrators, should hold ourselves to that standard.” Many students agree with Weinshilboum and believe it is a standard that everyone on campus should be held to. “I like it because it holds everybody accountable not just the students,” said Gospel Cruz, a 21-year-old general business major. Plagiarism and cheating are issues that are addressed with students each year. “Cheating is very, very serious,” Weinshilboum said. “Too often students are not made aware of how significant that is.” Others are unaware of what academic integrity means. While avoiding plagiarism is often discussed in class some students don’t know that it is one piece of academic integrity. “They just tell us not to plagiarize,” said Juana Suarez, a 20-year-old undeclared major. “They don’t use the [term] academic integrity.” When a student is found by their professor to have cheated or plagiarized their work there is a protocol, Weinshilboum said. There is a student conduct violation form that is filled out and sent to administrators. Each individual case is unique and therefore there is no one answer as to what happens to students who are found to have cheated or plagiarized. If a student is found in violation of school policy or academic integrity and receives some sort of disciplinary action, they have the ability to appeal the decision. The appeals board, which is a subcommittee of the academic integrity committee, meets on an asneeded basis to review each case. “Our approach is very much an attempt to educate as much as it is to punish,” Weinshilboum said. Not only is cheating and committing plagiarism a breach of academic integrity, it’s something that students shouldn’t want to do, Weinshilboum said. “You have something important to say, your ideas, your experiences, are relevant and important,” Weinshilboum said. “If you, for some reason, decide to take some somebody else’s ideas and opinions and pretend that they are yours, you’re negating your own ideas. You are allowing someone else to speak for you and to me that’s the real tragedy.”
NEWS
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FEBRUARY 28, 2013
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Transfer: Guaranteed with newly offered academic pathways Continued from page 1
degree and the Associate Degree for Transfer is that students are essentially guaranteed admission to a CSU campus in a similar major that they applied for, Fowler said. Currently there are 22 transfer degrees being accepted by CSUs and the results can be seen in campus admissions. “Last fall was the first time we welcomed any students,” said Ephraim Smith, the executive vice chancellor of the CSU system in his joint media conference with Skinner. “We welcomed 120 students [statewide] who entered the 1440 pathway.” While the number of offered Associate Degrees for Transfer are limited for the current semester, statewide goals are broad and hopes are high. “Currently there are 557 degrees that have been approved in 112 California Community Colleges,” Skinner said. “Our board of governors has established a goal of having 80 percent of all majors covered by the Associate Degrees for Transfer by the fall of 2013, and 100 percent of these transfer pathways covered by fall of 2014.” For some students, the career path offers them the opportunity to consolidate the typical timeline to acquire both an associate and bachelor’s degree. “It’s nice because I want to get a bachelors,” said Vanessa Hollingshead, a 20-yearold veterinary technology major. “I don’t want to spend two or three years to get an associate and then four more to get a bachelors.” There is a catch in the program which both state and campus administrators are quick point out, however.. “One misunderstanding people have about this degree is that it guarantees admission to the CSU of your choice or the major of your choice,” Fowler said. What the transfer degree does guarantee, is that students who complete it will be accepted by the CSU system and into a similar major offered, according to the website A Degree With A Guarantee. While a student with an Associate Degree for Transfer may not receive their first pick in the CSU system, the financial and educational benefits, both statewide and on the district level, are significant. “The reform is going to accomplish and achieve access of roughly 40,000 seats for California Community College students, and 14,000 at the CSU level,” Skinner said. In the fall 2012 semester, those stu-
dents who attempted to transfer to a CSU for spring of 2013 were made aware of another benefit of the transfer degree. “Because of the budget cuts this past spring,” Smith said. “We decided at the CSU not to open for transfer admissions except for 1440 students, so this gave a boost to the program too.” When asked by The Connection if students could expect a repeat of the regulation for the spring of 2014, Smith addressed the notion. “With improvement to the state budget, we would hope that we’d be open for regular admissions,” Smith said. “We would make the decision around June or July, but at this time there is no reason to believe we would not be open for regular admission.” All campuses in the CSU system currently accept at least one transfer degree offered by the California Community College system. CRC does not yet offer all of the degrees that are accepted.
“Our board of governors has established a goal of having 80 percent of all majors covered by the Associate Degrees for Transfer by the fall of 2013, and 100 percent of these transfer pathways covered by fall of 2014.” — Erik Skinner California Community Colleges deputy chancellor
Along with being guaranteed admission, students who have completed an Associate Degree for Transfer enter the CSU system with junior standing and will only need 60 more semester units to earn a bachelor’s degree, according to A Degree
With A Guarantee. “If I can earn an AA or AS and save two years, it changes a lot,” said Hollingshead. “I’m not sure if my major qualifies, but it would help.” Fowler recommends that students complete all general education courses, even if they are working towards one of the Associate Degrees for Transfer, since students may still be required to complete lower-division coursework in order to complete the bachelor’s degree. “It is a path, but not the only path,” Fowler said. “For some it will be a better path – for those who know they want to go to a CSU. The most important thing students can do is come and talk to a counselor so we can provide you with full information.” However, those students who are not considering entering the CSU system, but have their sights set on a private institution, should be glad to hear that the 1440 pathway is rapidly gaining attention. When asked about this possible pathway by The Connection, Skinner was quick to respond. “University of California representatives have been engaged in monitoring the progress with our work with the CSUs around SB 1440. We think there is a high potential for this to build up as a connection,” Skinner said. “Likewise, [other] private institutions have approached us … and expressed their interest in honoring the degrees as well.” In a time of statewide financial struggle and a fluctuating educational budget, streamlining the transfer process out of the 112 California community colleges seems to be one of the many needed solutions. “What we’re moving towards is a more robust set of common understandings as to what the lower division preparation needs to look like,” Skinner said. “I think we’re going to see that honored in more and more venues.”
The Checklist Ready... See a counselor and develop an education plan Identify a major Attend a transfer workshop Visit the transfer center
Set... Apply to CSUs Check email and student portals frequently Petition/apply for AA-T / AS-T degree Meet the CSU deadlines for AA-T / AS-T Complete the FAFSA fafsa.ed.gov
Go... Submit intent to enroll Request final transcripts to be sent to your CSU
Information compiled from: ADegreeWithAGuarantee.com
Black history through ‘Poetic Voices’ By Elizabeth Witt ewitt.connect@gmail Students and staff trickled into the Recital Hall at Cosumnes River College to observe Black History Month through Poetic Voices, a poetry reading event held on Feb. 13 featuring three prominent and published writers whose roots are right here in Sacramento. Emmanuel Sigauke, an English professor at CRC, organized the event for students, faculty and community members as an opportunity to celebrate AfricanAmerican culture in a creative and expressive way. “This is an honor for our Black History Month,” Sigauke said as he introduced Laura Cook, Anna Marie Sprowl and Sean King as the guest artists at this event. “Bringing them to CRC is a dream come true.” In Sacramento, poetry events are held almost every night of
the week and Sigauke wanted “to bring interesting, poetic voices to campus.” As a preface to the guest speakers, Sigauke invited audience members to come up and share some of their own poetic work in a “mini-open mic” setting. “I always want to involve the CRC students,” Sigauke said as he spoke to the crowd of more than 40 students and staff members, including CRC President Deborah Travis. Alexander Stallings, a 19-year-old theater and radio broadcast major, was one of the students who shared his work at the beginning of the event. “It gives more of an understanding of how important this is in African-American culture,” Stallings said. “It gives me inspiration.” After students read their poetry, each guest spent about 15 minutes sharing their own work
with the audience and left many members wanting more but still feeling inspired. Each poet spoke of individual emotions, feelings and experiences. King’s ending line in his poem about Martin Luther King Jr. was that “you cannot assassinate a spirit, you can only kill a man.” Cook advised to not “wander too long in other people’s darkness.” Along with the historical and cultural insights, Poetic Voices also embodied emotional elements. “Poetry is a passion,” said Alexis Senegal, a 26-year-old psychology major. “It has the ability to reach and connect and get attention, and that’s incredible.” Visit our website at: www.thecrcconnection.com/news to view more photos from the Poetic Voices OneBook Event
Stephan Starnes | The Connection
Anna Marie Sprowl delivering one of her many poems to CRC students and staff at the Poetic Voices event on Feb. 13.
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The Cheap $eats Olympic wrestling dropped by IOC By Sean Thomas sthomas.connect@gmail The International Olympic Committee made the decision to remove wrestling from the list of 25 core events scheduled for the 2020 Olympics on Feb. 5, sparking outrage and confusion from the athletic community. The IOC dropped wrestling in favor of keeping the modern pentathlon, taekwondo and field hockey, and will be adding golf and rugby events for the 2020 Games. The decision was defended by IOC spokesman Mark Adams as a “renewing process”, adding that it wasn’t about what was wrong with wrestling, but what was right about the 25 other sports that were allowed to stay in Olympic competition. The question shouldn’t be what was right about the other sports, but if it was right to get rid of wrestling in the first place? With all due respect to the all-powerful IOC, that answer is a resounding no. Excluding wrestling from the Olympics would be like taking away track and field, boxing, or even the pentathlon. All of these events are rooted in the history of the Olympics and should be revered as such. When the games were still being played for the appeasement of Zeus and Apollo, men competed in wrestling. Even the modern pentathlon, which was kept in favor of wrestling, has some connection to the ancient games. Instead they choose to make their decision based on a list of 39 criteria, ranging from television ratings to antidoping policy. If the result of that evaluation had wrestling as the odd man out, then something is wrong with those 39 criteria. Wrestling may not be the world’s most popular sport, but when wrestling is dropped, and badminton isn’t even considered for elimination, than the IOC has failed us. I wonder if the IOC looked at the 2012 London games, where 26 countries participated in pentathlon events. While 26 countries sounds like a strong showing, 29 countries medaled in wrestling events. That means that there were more countries that won wrestling medals than pentathlon teams that even competed in the olympics. Yet wrestling is the one to go. The International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles has until May to build a case as to why wrestling should remain an Olympic sport. I hope the IOC realizes that wrestling is the only sport bidding for Olympic status that can boast the historical importance and the world wide appeal worthy of their games. Only time will tell whether FILA’s attempts to get wresting back into the 2020 Olympics will prove successful. As fans, we trust the IOC to justly regulate the Olympics, to do what’s best for millions of athletes who dream of one day earning Olympic gold. It may be the IOC’s court, and I’m just playing on it, but if this is the court they’re forging, then I’m taking my ball and going home.
SPORTS
Hawks sweep series against Cougars By Cody Durham cdurham.connect@gmail The Cosumnes River College baseball team swept the weekend series against the Lassen College Cougars with a victory at home on Feb. 23. The Hawks rode the arm of freshman pitcher Kyle Von Ruden who allowed only one run in six innings in the 5-3 win. “Kyle Von Ruden pitched really well,” said Hawks’ head coach Tony Bloomfield. “He struggled early but got his command back.” Ruden found himself in a bit of trouble in the first inning after he allowed two runners to get on base with only one out. However, he got out of the inning when Lassen sophomore infielder Fabian Reza lined to Hawks’ sophomore infielder Luke McDonald who turned the double play.
“We are just trying to win one pitch at a time. We don’t worry about the record” — Tony Bloomfield
Baseball head coach
Ruden would settle down and go on to retire the next 11 Cougars’ batters. He would give up a run on a couple hits in the top of the fifth, but the Hawks immediately answered back in the bottom of the inning. After two quick outs following freshman outfielder Josh Cosio’s leadoff single, freshman utility Joshua Pigg drew a walk. McDonald stepped to the plate and hit a single that tied up the game. After Lassen walked the bases loaded, Hawks’ sophomore catcher Bryan Case ripped a double down the line which brought in two, giving the Hawks a 3-1 lead. Ruden would shut down the side in the top of the sixth with two strikeouts. This capped a nice game for the freshman pitcher. “It was tough in the beginning with the wind,” Ruden said. “The pitches were moving more than I’m used to. I was able to settle in and keep them off balance. I was hitting all my spots.”
Stephan Starnes | The Connection
Hawks’ freshman pitcher Kyle Von Ruden pitched for six innings and had three strikeouts in the game against Lassen College on Feb. 23. The Hawks won 5-3. After they added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth, the Hawks found themselves in trouble in the top of the seventh. Trailing 4-1, Lassen scored two runs and managed to load the bases with no outs. Lassen sophomore outfielder Bruce Butler attempted a squeeze bunt to bring in a run but Case and freshman pitcher Zach Stilwill made a nice play to get the force out at home. Stilwill then got out of the jam by striking out the next two batters on only eight pitches, keeping the Hawks’ lead at 4-3. “Those guys played us well all weekend,” Bloomfield said. “We just made all the
plays on defense.” The Hawks would add an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh when sophomore outfielder Colby Wilmer hit an RBI single up the middle. After a leadoff single by Lassen in the top of the ninth, Stilwill closed out the game by striking out the side. This marked the third straight win for the defending state champions but that means little to Bloomfield. “We are just trying to win one pitch at a time,” Bloomfield said. “We don’t worry about the record.”
Women’s basketball Leadership: There’s no ‘I’ makes playoffs as 18 seed in team for Hawks, but there’s always a leader Continued from page 1
Mary Garcia | The Connection
Hawks’ sophomore guard Brooke Fletcher scans the court to make a pass. CRC beat Sac City 71-33 on Feb. 19.
also believes that leaders are needed for more than just athletics. Bloomfield, who coached the team to a State Championship in May, said that he looks not to make professional players, but “good people, husbands and fathers and good students.” However, Bloomfield isn’t as confident in finding leaders in community college. “I’m not sure there’s many leaders developed at an early age,” Bloomfield said. Bloomfield went on to say there is too much “micromanaging” from coaches and parents to let players develop as leaders, and that there are not enough “kids out on the playground.” Schroeder also said that there aren’t enough kids “out on the playground” anymore, which hinders leadership in young players, but she still said
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that her team had a few types of leaders. Despite this view, Bloomfield said that he does view all of his returning players as leaders. Bloomfield said that he does view all of his returning players as leaders. At the end of the day, Barsetti keeps the team’s spirits high and leads the softball team by example. “Mainly I just keep pitching myself and put on a good show for everyone,” she said.
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SPORTS
5 Hawks struggle in three-team tournament
FEBRUARY 28, 2013 www.thecrcconnection.com
Stephan Starnes | The Connection
CRC’s sophomore utility player Gabrielle Magana was tagged out sliding home in the Hawks’ first game against San Mateo College on Feb. 23.
A Fresno City College player at bat in their game vs. Cosumnes River College on Feb. 23. San Mateo went on to win the game 10-4.
Stephan Starnes | The Connection Stephan Starnes | The Connection
Fresno City College sophomore pitcher Grace Combs pitched six innings in their game against San Mateo College. Combs allowed 10 hits and five runs. Cosumnes River College hosted The College of San Mateo and Fresno City College for a softball three-way contest on Feb. 23. The first game was between CRC and The San Mateo Bulldogs. The Hawks lost 5-1, with all five of San Mateo’s runs coming in the fifth inning. “The score doesn’t indicate how well I thought we played,” said Hawks’ head coach Kristy Schroeder. Game two, between San Mateo and Fresno City, also went the Bulldogs way. “This is the three-way we always play,” said San Mateo’s head coach Nicole Borg. “CRC and Fresno City are always two good teams, so it’s big to come here and win two games.” The Hawks played Fresno City in the third game and lost 10-4. Fresno City scored three runs in the first inning and four more in the second when freshman infielder Kyla Cisernos hit a grand slam. “It meant a lot to come back from a loss against San Mateo and come back and score seven runs in the first two innings,” said Fresno City head coach Rhonda Williams.
Stephan Starnes | The Connection
Hawks’ sophomore outfielder Janelle Moran-Rowen hits a pitch to the outfield against Fresno City College on Feb. 23.
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— Stephan Starnes
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Hawk Talk “What policy would you propose to help curb gun violence?” “I would introduce a new policy that would be like a driver’s training for guns. Basically anyone who would want to own a gun would have to go through that training instead of going through paperwork.”
Curtis Gsell, 21 Digital Media
“You have to have a license to have a gun and no guns in public areas. They’re only supposed to be allowed at home for protection.” Sabrina Rey, 19 Music
“It should be something that would deter people away from gun violence to better protect students and other citizens of the community.” Chris Jones, 21
Business & Kinesiology
“I think there are some things a lot of people agree on no matter where you stand on the issue. Background checks increased, more thorough background checks and probably some mental health background checks as well would certainly go a long way.”
Georgia Castro, 19 Liberal Studies
Kenneth Cooper
Director of College Advancement
“I know there is one law where if you are over 18 your parents can buy you a gun and give it to you regardless of the 18-year-old’s qualifications for holding a gun. So, I would say stricter rules when it comes to stuff like that, the little loop holes, get rid of those.”
Check out the full video and other Hawk Talk content on our website. Compiled by Kevin Frodahl and Oswaldo Guzman Photos by Mary Garcia
OPINION
EDITORIAL
Brown’s budget proposal won’t work for community colleges In his 2013-14 budget, Gov. Jerry Brown proposed the idea to fund community colleges based on the amount of students that complete their courses. As it stands, 90 percent of state funding for community colleges comes from how many students are enrolled in a course about a month into the semester. Brown’s plan would change all of that, redirecting the money that was lost in attendance towards tutoring, counseling and other college services in a plan that would be phased in over five years. While the proposal seems great on paper, this plan targets the wrong demographic. If the idea is to increase efficiency in higher education and outcomebased incentives, then the state should not punish a school for things they have no control over. It is great that the state wants to promote accountability, but community college students often drop courses for reasons other than how they are performing. Community colleges have always been a place that students can go if they don’t quite fit the mold of university-bound peers. As the state’s own Student Success Task Force said in one of their reports, “community colleges provide instruc-
tion each year to over 2.6 million students who make up the most diverse student population in the nation.” So why punish institutions that AT A GLANCE The Issue: Gov. Brown’s proposal to fund community colleges solely by students who complete courses presents problems for colleges, students and faculty. Our Stance: This proposal is unrealistic, will hurt everyone on campus and could challenge academic intergrity among faculty. Agree? Disagree? send us your thoughts at connection.crc@gmail.com provide a place for that diverse crowd to grow and spread their wings? Community colleges are home to students with children, full-time jobs and other circumstances that are out of the control of professors and college administrations. The same rules that are applied to California state colleges and Universi-
ties of California simply do not work when it comes to community colleges. In an analysis of the proposal, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s office wrote that the “governor’s census-data proposal could create potential unintended consequences in the classroom, such as grade inflation or reductions in course rigor.” In other words, Brown’s proposal puts unintended pressure on the professors to keep students in their class by giving them better grades and making the course easier. Teachers should not have to worry about losing money on their paycheck over circumstances they cannot control. The proposal also looks at community college from an ivory tower. It does not take into consideration the real-world challenges that are faced at community colleges. Community colleges are just different from its counterparts in the CSU and UC systems. Its role has always been seen as a universal pathway to higher education for nontraditional students. The proposal is way out of place and takes a spectator’s view of community colleges. The legislature needs to do the right thing and keep this proposal from hurting the 2.6 million students that depend on those colleges being there.
Act hurts Americans’ health insurance Nicholas Valenzuela nvalenzuela.connect@gmail
The Obama administration’s Affordable Care Act may end up hurting a portion of those it was intended to help. As the ACA takes effect, geography will play a much larger role in the rates Americans, especially Californians, pay for health insurance. Under the ACA, insurance agencies cannot factor gender or a patient’s pre-existing conditions to set premiums, and the use of age as a means to set premiums will be restricted. At first glance, this may sound great and fair but its consequences are not. These restrictions leave geography as one of the only factors insurers can use to set premiums, which means you could end up paying more than others simply because of where you live. Insurers will be able to raise rates in areas solely because they are deemed less healthy or more dangerous. This may include but will not be limited to cities with high crime rates, dangerous terrain and low income areas.
Wait a minute, wasn’t the ACA supposed to help people with low income? Currently, the federal government warns that states should not have more than seven designated geographic regions to prevent insurers from charging unfair rates. However, there is no law against designating more than seven regions. To accommodate California’s diversity and the changes in premium designation, the state plans to designate 19 geographic regions. That’s 12 regions more than suggested, making it abhorrently easy for insurers to charge drastically different rates in areas very close to each other. One health plan even “rated the difference between east and west Los Angeles County by a factor of 50 percent,” according to Chron.com. This means one side of the county would be much cheaper to obtain insurance than the other. To use geography to determine
how expensive a family’s health care will be is completely unfair. It isn’t a secret that lower income areas often have higher crime rates. Making it so easy for insurers to capitalize on those areas could mean many low income families remain without health insurance. Proponents of the plan deny any such possibility of higher insurance for higher crime rates, ignoring the fact that auto insurance rates are also often higher in high-risk areas. With auto insurance being the only relatable example, it’s easy to see why many are afraid that the area they live could be designated as one of the more expensive areas to insure. Keep in mind, however, that most low income families don’t have much choice as to where they live. This means that insurance prices may still favor higher income families. Somewhere, a middle ground needs to be found. Geography should not play the largest role in determining a family’s insurance premiums. If it does, insurers will have to give areas deemed high-risk some slack to prove that health insurance will not end up like auto insurance.
Body art does not determine a person’s character Katana Brown kbrown.connect@gmail It’s truly sad that many businesses won’t hire a person due to visible tattoos as if a person who has tattoos defaces the company’s value. Those with tattoos are often intelligent and genuinely good people who just use bolder statements to express themselves creatively. Tattoos can tell stories and create vivid images of
what a person has gone through. They can even provide a better idea of a person’s character than simply conversing with them might. Tattoos are a form of art and many fail to realize that. Body art might not be everybody’s cup of tea but who is to say what type of art is to be appreciated
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and shouldn’t be of value? Not everybody in the world has an appreciation for paintings and murals, yet nobody says that if you use them at your place of business it will scare off your customers. Meanwhile, many employers continue to discriminate against those with visible body art. Continue reading at thecrcconnection.com
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Newest ‘Die Hard’ does not live up to the hype Philosophy: students take deeper look at martial arts By Cody Durham cdurham.connect@gmail
Much like Bruce Willis’ acting career, the “Die Hard” movie series just keeps coming back. “A Good Day to Die Hard” is the fifth installment of a series that began in 1988 and is directed by John Moore who is most known for the 2001 film “Behind Enemy Lines.” I’ve never seen any of the “Die Hard” movies and after watching this one, I’m glad I haven’t. Willis stars as John McClane, a cop with a rugged edge that’s not afraid to do some dirty work. In an attempt to find his son Jack, played by Jai Courtney, John ventures into Moscow, Russia. When John runs into his son, he soon realizes that Jack is a spy for the CIA and is on a covert mission. Much like any father, John attempts to help his son and the action begins. Unlike most action/adventure movies, this is where the movie takes a turn for the worst. Every single action scene is filmed with that shaky camera junk, the one that’s supposed to make you feel like you’re in the action but ends up leaving you with a headache. Much like any other cheesy action movie, all the bad guys are surprisingly terrible shots and the good guys seamlessly outrun the bullets fired by the biggest of guns. The majority of Willis’ dialogue throughout the film consists of lame one-liners that only
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Bruce Willis starred as John McClane in “A Good Day to Die Hard,” the fifth installment in the “Die Hard” series. The movie premiered on Feb. 14 and earned close to $25 million opening weekend. the most “diehard” fans would laugh at. During almost every gunfight in the movie Willis yells out, “Hey, I’m on vacation!” To make matters worse, Moore tries to play up this father-son bonding throughout the movie, but by the time the credits roll, you have no feelings towards either character and are left slightly nauseous. However, Moore does provide viewers with a twist that many won’t see coming which does liven the film up a bit.
The only problem is that Moore follows this twist up with a climax that is incredibly hard to believe. I didn’t know if I was watching Bruce Willis or Iron Man. Despite the completely inept plot line, “A Good Day to Die Hard” does provide some pretty cool special effects and sounds for the viewers. While those are sure to please kids and adults alike, this film is rated R and is filled with foul language and graphic violence. So
if you have a love affair with Mr. Willis, make sure to leave your kids at home. Unless you are a longtime fan of the series or the ageless wonder that is Bruce Willis, this film is not worth the $10.50 you’ll pay at the door. Take my advice: wait for it to show up on your Netflix queue. Author’s score out of five stars:
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a lot about doing the equivalent of research,” said 19-year-old equine science major Sarah Hutter. “So writing papers in philosophy and how that process works and what to expect to do when writing a philosophy paper and how they are presented in an academic atmosphere.” Learning actual martial arts might not have been what drew any students to the class, but a wellknown martial artist was part of one student’s choice of taking the course. “I actually came here with an open mind, I always admired Bruce Lee so it inspired me to take the class,” said Nse Akang, a 50-year-old sociology major. “But having been here the last few weeks I would say that it’s a good way to be introduced to eastern philosophy.” Gaining a peek at and experiencing a graduate level seminar was the bigger picture for the class, but Schubert hoped that students took something much more from the class. “I want students to leave recognizing that some of our everyday ordinary activities, even what for most people are recreational activities, raise questions of serious philosophical interest and are worth serious philosophical pursuit,” Schubert said.
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Local critic highlights the personal side of writing By Scott Redmond sredmond.connect@gmail
The quiet atmosphere of the bookstore was broken with the low hum of the refrigeration units and the occasional cash register transaction as a group of 20 individuals gathered for the latest reading in the campus literary series. Cold metal folding chairs filled the center of the store as English professor Heather Hutcheson stood before the crowd of 20 to introduce the day’s speaker: Marcus Crowder of The Sacramento Bee. Serving as the theater critic for the Sac Bee was just one of the career highlights mentioned during the introduction before the man, dressed casually in black pants and a button up shirt, took to the podium and began to speak. “People ask me how you become a writer,” Crowder said to the small crowd. “It’s simple and hard. [The] simple and obvious one is you start writing.” Crowder mentioned one of his former editors giving him words of advice that spoke to what was hard about becoming a writer. “Writing is the hardest work that doesn’t involve heavy lift-
ing,” Crowder said as he related the editor’s words. “There’s no such thing as writer’s block. I have to write. People are waiting for me to write. I can’t say I’m not feeling it. I have to feel it.” Cosumnes River College’s Literary Series is a program held jointly by the Hawks Nest Bookstore and the English department and is supported by Poets & Writers, Inc. through a grant from the James Irvine Foundation. “We find people whose work we think students would love and whose work we’ve admired over the years and who we wouldn’t have access to on a regular basis in our classrooms,” Hutcheson said. “These are people where additional funding makes a big difference in getting them here.” Crowder was the third featured event in the Literary Series for the 2012-2013 school year. Pulling from his body of work, Crowder read a piece that he wrote for the Sacramento News & Review in the early 1990s that came at the time when the San Francisco Giants were moving to a new stadium. Standing behind the podium with a microphone in hand, Crowder wiped at his brow as his booming voice resonated
through the room, painting a picture of his youth. He spoke of his relationship with his father and the love of baseball they shared. Previously Crowder read from a story that focused on jazz and another that focused on Bruce Springsteen. While all three were different they shared one thing in common: they were all stories that were personal to the writer and were infused with his own experiences and feelings. “You can’t write about everything,” Crowder said. “Write what is important to you.” With the readings finished, the presentation began to wind down as the floor was opened to questions. One of the last things imparted by the writer was his view on approaching writing. “You have to like the process of writing,” Crowder said. “You do have to like it. The writing will go out in the world and you’ll hopefully get a response, but you’ll spend more time writing than anything else. Embrace the process.” Applause greeted the speaker’s final words as the steady hum of the refrigeration units slowly started to fill the room again as the crowd began to file out.
Scott Redmond | The Connection
Sacramento Bee theater critic Marcus Crowder shares a story about Bruce Springsteen during a reading at the campus literary series in the Hawks Nest bookstore on Feb. 21.
Opera singer’s career helps to inspire CRC students In 2007, Moss was struck with Bell’s Palsy, a facial disorder which disables the seventh cranial nerve, paralyzing the right side of her face. The disease affects one in 4,000 Americans, said Moss, and 15 percent of those affected may never recover. “I had my neurologists saying would never sing again and my directors saying I would never
By Mozes Zarate mzarate.connect@gmail
With nuanced pitch and a sensational vibrato, Bay Area opera singer Heidi Moss captivated the crowd of students, composers and music-lovers with “Die Nactht,” a piece about love as light extinguishing itself in nightfall. The song was part of a talk that Moss gave to students at Cosumnes River College on Feb. 11. Music, science and life were key themes in the singer’s speech. “I want them to think of the voice as a more complex instrument in terms of the text and the sound,” Moss said, still jittering yet ecstatic following her performance. Kurt Erickson, a music professor at CRC, said the presentation was intended for everyone, but its focus was on inspiring vocalists and members of the Composer’s Ensemble. The ensemble allows musicians to “create new and original works” and perform them at the end of each semester, Erickson said. This spring, Moss will be acting as both an advisor to the composers and vocal accompaniment for their works. “How often do you get to work with a professional singer?” Erickson asked as he stressed the valuable experience in working with a professional musician, learning their lifestyles and background. Reflecting on her own experi-
“With music, you need a technical foundation. You need your chops, and what gets you to the next level is creativity and artistry. ”
—Heidi Moss opera singer
Victor Macias | The Connection
Music professor Kurt Erickson joins visiting opera singer Heidi Moss on the piano as they perform “Song of the Night” in music room 200 on Feb. 11. ence as a music student, Moss informed the audience that she had no recipe for success. “If there is any one thing I want to tell to all of you, is that there’s no formula to following your bliss,” she said. “I’ve had people who talked to me, who are famous in science, who say they joined the circus when they were seventeen.” Before filling opera houses
across the country with that bliss, Moss said she started her adult life as a researcher, attending various institutes including Rockefeller University. She enjoyed some prestige when her breakthrough on DNA telomeres was published in Cell magazine and reprinted in The New York Times. “My science career was a way of funding my music habit,” Moss
said. In her journey, Moss found that her scientific pursuits were synonymous with her music life. “To me, they are really the exact same thing,” she said. “With music, you need a technical foundation. You need your chops, and what gets you to the next level is creativity and artistry. The same is with science.”
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work again,” she told the audience. Moss said that despite the discouraging reality of those words, she pressed on, and has since overcome her disability. “It’s a Disney don’t-give-up story, but it’s true and I’m very lucky.” The showcase concluded with a live performance, Erickson helming the grand piano and Moss supplying her voice, two virtuoso musicians wooing the audience with tonal harmony. CRC students can look forward to hearing Moss and the Composer’s Ensemble on April
29 in the Recital Hall.