The Connection - Spring 2019

Gender-neutral bathrooms are inaccessible

By Alexandra Trigg

atrigg.connect@gmail.com

Most of the gender-neutral bathrooms that are located on campus can only be accessed by staff and faculty.

Alexandra Trigg | The Connection

Since the implementation of the California’s Equal Restroom Access Act in 2017, many places of business, government agencies and public areas are required to switch their single-user restrooms signages to gender-neutral.

Anthropology Professor Anastasia Panagakos, who has been teaching at Cosumnes River College since 2007, said the campus needs to be more conscious of it’s transgender and LGBTQ population in terms of accessible restroom facilities.

“The campus has 22 single-user restrooms,” said Panagakos. “Five of them are in the Southeast Office Complex but two are for faculty members, so that leaves three which are accessible to students.”

The student friendly all-gender restrooms are in the Veterinary Technology building, the Learning Resource Center and the Southeast Office Complex, according to the campus map on CRC’s webpage.

Alejandro Anguiano, a

sociology major and Student Ambassador for the Student Life and Leadership Center, said the student-accessible unisex bathrooms are difficult to reach because they are spaced out on campus.

“How many students know where the faculty building is located?” asked Anguiano. “They are always locked I have to run around campus to find one that’s open for me to use.”

Additionally, Architecture Professor Jason Ellis said all the new construction on

campus must have at least one single-user gender-neutral bathroom in the building, as most new California community colleges are required to do.

Amber Arnold, a 30-yearold management major, said there’s no need for unisex bathrooms because multi-purpose restrooms exist.

Unisex restrooms are made to be used as family bathrooms and they solve many problems that are being faced today, according to an

article by CNN. Mack Hickman, a 25-year-old political science major, said he believes it’s a person’s right to adopt to whichever bathroom that suits them, especially if it helps them to feel comfortable concerning their gender and self.

A 2017 study published by The National Center for Biotechnology Information stated that transgender, cisgender and non-gender conforming students experience distress when going into

gender-assigned restrooms because of unwarranted judgement and harassment. Trystan Simpson, an 18-year-old animation major, said they have experienced being policed by women for using the ladies restroom because of their identity.

“I wish I could explain that I am non-binary to the people that are quick to judge me,” said Simpson.

Rejecting transgender people from using public restrooms does not ensure anyone privacy, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality.

Cayla Lagousis, a 25-year-old biology major, said the restroom accessibility problem coincides with society’s misunderstanding of diversity in people’s identities.

“I would like a better environment for the next batch of students who are like me and don’t feel comfortable or safe with the way they are treated,” said Lagousis. “As a student who uses the gender-neutral bathrooms regularly, I would appreciate more in number and in frequency on campus.”

Med-tech students take on 7.5 unit class

By Alexandra Trigg

atrigg.connect@gmail.com

The Emergency Medical Technology program at Cosumnes River College provides students with the skills and expertise to practice for certification as an Emergency Medical Technician in California.

As a pre-employment requirement, students must complete over 200 hours of state minimum lecture, lab, and clinical work in order to become a certified EMT.

Emergency Medical Services Professor Matthew McHugh said that because the class is structured at 7.5 units, he recommends students not to take other classes because of the extensive training that is required in class.

Students in the EMT program learn an airway skill called cricoid pressure, which helps with endotracheal intubation to try and minimize the chances of regurgitation.

Alexandra Trigg|The Connection

“There are six shifts on an ambulance and in an emergency room which totals 60 hours on top of classwork,” said McHugh.

Manuel Alvarez, a 24-year-old fire technology major, said the class has provided the basic fundamentals needed in building a foundation for him to carry on to further programs.

Twenty-two-year-old biology major Moriah Guidry, who plans on continuing her education in the medical field as a physician, said the instructors integrate their experiences into the program which gives students a real world approach to their studies.

“I’m planning on going into medical school after I graduate and I need thousands of healthcare hours before I apply,” said Guidry.

“I was expecting the class to be hard but it has helped me to become a critical thinker to any emergency situation that will need my attention.”

McHugh said once the students have completed all program requirements, they’ll be able to apply for available positions at various healthcare facilities and fire departments.

“When the students finish the course and pass national testing they become certified and can enter the workforce in less than two months,” said McHugh. “By the end of the course, students will have the opportunity and access to hundreds of available jobs.” Twenty-one-year-old

A student checks for pulse to assess for proper care when giving oxygen for respiratory distress.

Alexandra Trigg |The Connection

EMT student Lydia Estrada said she appreciates McHugh for the time and energy that he dedicates to his students by making sure they understand everything so they are confident when they are actively demonstrating the skills they’ve learned.

Students who have a passion for emergency medicine are encouraged by McHugh to start enrolling by end of May because they do not offer classes during the summer.

McHugh said that the EMT course starts the third week of August and is on Tuesday and Thursday from noon until 4:35 p.m. or at night from 5 p.m. until 9:35 p.m. There are also Wednesday classes in the term.

MLB can do more to produce African-American players

By Tairiq Marshall

tmarshall.connect@gmail.com

Courtesy Photo

Major league baseball is one of the most renowned professional sports in America and is an integral part of modern U.S. history.

The sport has been given the nickname “America’s Pastime” due to the prominence that it possesses.

The MLB has gained popularity not only throughout the U.S. but globally as well, since there are many players from different countries playing for professional ball clubs today.

Whether someone is watching the sport for the very first time, a huge fan of their respective hometown team or a young aspiring big leaguer, there is nothing like watching the ball get driven into the upper deck seats or hearing the crowd’s reaction to a shortstop’s jump throw across the diamond.

All of these reasons are exactly why it is so disheartening to say that the game of baseball does, in fact, have imperfections.

The MLB has been fortunate enough to produce a number of talented players from countries outside of the U.S. However, the number of African Americans in the sport has continued to plummet.

The percentage of African Americans in pro baseball was at an all time low of 7.1 percent at the start of the 2017 season, according to USA Today’s study.

The annual study shows that although the numbers have increased from the 7.1 percent to 7.8 percent at the start of the 2018 season, the percentage of African Americans in the game is still substantially lower from what it used to be.

Starting with Jackie Robinson, who integrated professional baseball in 1947 and paved the way for many African Americans to play the sport, there have been several ball players who have been foundational pieces in the league such as Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr. and Tony Gwynn to name a few.

Mookie Betts, the three-time Gold Glove award winning right fielder for the Boston Red Sox, is a reason why it is imperative that the MLB continues to make a strong push towards increasing these numbers.

Betts, who is one of the select few of African Americans on the Red Sox 25-man roster, just recently won the American League’s Most Valuable Player award for his exceptional 2018 season.

Programs operated by the MLB such as Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities show that the league is proactively looking to increase the percentage of African Americans in the sport as its purpose is to ultimately encourage participation.

But the instruction isn’t always there and more of the focus is put on academic achievement as student athletes and learning the value of teamwork.

While all of that is great for African American boys and girls growing up in inner cities, travel baseball has become the only arena to receive proper instruction, and many families

struggle to afford that teaching for their aspiring ball players.

As a result, the young men pick up footballs and basketballs rather than gloves and bats.

Youth athletes don’t see many ball players in the MLB who are African American like them, the same way they do in football or basketball but it is undeniable that the talent will always be there.

The league has already lost Kyler Murray and Patrick Mahomes to football, just imagine if some of these prodigy athletes stayed the course.

All 30 teams in the league have founded academies with new training facilities, weight rooms, playing fields and clubhouses for ballplayers in countries like the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

That would make sense given that

the game is dominated by perennial all stars from the caribbean.

In addition to the million dollar academies that the league invests into caribbean countries, the instruction that the players receive in the academies is practically MLB caliber.

If the MLB invested in similar academies with the same teaching in inner cities, there would be more Mookie Betts, Marcus Stroman, Aaron Judges and Tim Andersons.

If the proper instruction that is provided for travel ball teams was accessible and not a financial burden for inner city families, the numbers would improve without question and the game would be much more exciting in the future.

MLB owes it to the fans so let guys like Mookie Betts and Aaron Judge be the example.

Hawks outfielder gaining interest from Division I scouts

Sophomore right fielder Burle Dixon leads the Hawks in most major offensive categories and is helping to keep them afloat in the highly competitive Big 8 Conference at 8-7. Dixon possesses a unique blend of speed and power and is posting an OPS of 1.034. His best attribute however, may be how good a teammate he is, said his Head Coach Don Mico.

Courtesy Photo

By Tairiq Marshall tmarshall.connect@gmail.com

All season long, the Hawks’ leadoff hitter has been a catalyst at the top of the lineup for his team with excellent power at the plate, speed on the basepaths and pure athleticism in the outfield.

The five-tool right fielder, Burle Dixon, has caught the attention of several Division I scouts in his sophomore season while hitting .340 with 13 extra base hits, 28 RBI’s, 19 stolen bases and 18 walks in 28 games.

“At the plate, I just try to swing at pitches that I can drive into the gaps,” Dixon said. “I usually hunt the fastball and try to put a good swing on it.”

Along with his early dominance at the plate, Dixon has given other teams trouble with his ability to produce runs while on base.

With 19 stolen bases and 31 runs scored, Dixon’s success can be attributed to his aggressiveness on the basepaths.

“Whenever I get on base, I try to run early and often,” Dixon said. “I know I can run so when I take off, I like my chances of being safe.”

Although he has been a standout offensively

for the Hawks, Dixon said he takes pride in being a multifaceted player.

“I don’t want to be a guy who is known for just hitting,” Dixon said. “I think it’s important that I am being great on offense, defense and as a teammate.”

Dixon’s play on the field is undeniable, but Head Coach Don Mico said what sets him apart this year is how great of a teammate he has been.

“Everyone here has to be a good teammate,” said Mico. “Burle has been that and I hope he has the opportunity to play at the next level.”

Mico said he ensures his players are being the best teammates that they can be and he’s proud of Dixon for being that example.

Dixon has continued to show the same type of play in college that he showed at Sheldon High School, where he led the Delta League in hits and stolen bases during his senior year.

Courtesy Photo

Mico and several teammates said they consider Dixon a great leader for the team both on and off the field.

“Burle leads by example whether that’s in the classroom or in the batting cages,”

said freshman infielder Essex Brown. “He’s always working.”

Dixon said he credits his success on the field to his parents, who introduced him to the sport when he was four years old.

“My parents have had the biggest influence on me,” Dixon said. “They always made sure I was working hard so I give them all the credit.”