thE oak leaf • november 19, 2012
In Memoriam Joe Clopton
TABLE of CONTENTs
Sports
Bear Cub Big 8 Champs
news SRJC adopts state sustainability template PAGE 5
Sports Volleyball team prepares for playoffs PAGE 10
Center Spread
Photo Courtesy of the Clopton Family
On Friday, Nov. 30 the life sciences department will host a memorial gathering for Joe Clopton, a biology instructor who taught at SRJC for more two decades and who died unexpectedly in September. The gathering will take place at 2 p.m. in room 1840 in Baker Hall, where attendees will share a few brief readings and remembrances. Immediately following the inside gathering, a small garden with a memorial plaque will be dedicated in an outdoor area near room 1840.
Community gardens for sustainability PAGE 8 Dimitri Nazarian / Oak Leaf
The SRJC women’s soccer team ends its season with a record of 14 - 2 - 3 and takes the title of Big 8 Conference champion for the sixth year in a row. The team won its first round of playoffs, 1-0.
Dimitri Nazarian
Arts & Entertainment
at winning state,” said head coach Tracy Hamm. “ Just based on our results against some of the top opponenets and really looking at the strength of the(team from the) south.” The team has won the Big 8 Conference six years in a row and looks to continue its dominating performance on the way to the state championship. Continued on PAGE 11
Staff Writer The SRJC women’s soccer team are the 2012 Big 8 champions and advance to the second round of NorCal playoffs with 1-0 win over No. 14 seeded Taft College last Saturday at SRJC. “I think we have a really good shot
Repeatability changes
Robert Chavez exhibit takes over SRJC art gallery PAGE 7
opinion Legalized recreational marijuana: could California be next? PAGE 12
classes in visual, performing arts and kinesiology will restructure next fall Nadav Soroker Layout Manager The state chancellor’s office proposed changes to the California Code of Regulations that will affect how students can repeat courses in the visual and performing arts and physical education departments. Under the changes, classes will be grouped into “families” which are defined as, “those courses with similar primary educational activities in which skill levels or variations are separated into distinct courses with different student learning outcomes for each variation.” For example, painting could be grouped by difficulty (beginning, intermediate, advanced) or by focused variations such as oil, acrylic and
pay the full cost of a course and their tuition is sent to the state. The colleges then deliver a census of Full Time Equivalent Students (FTES) to the state, which pays the enrollment for each student. Because the state pays the college several weeks into the semester, it still pays for students who drop or fail classes. This problem is more serious in departments with “Active Participatory Courses,” where skills and proficiencies are learned and improved through practice and activity. These courses have been repeatable a number of times to let students get experience. At some colleges these courses have mushroomed out with students dropping toward the end of the semester to get the experience and only take it for a
watercolor. The changes will also limit the number of enrollments a student can have in a family to four times in any combination, including drops with a “W” or fails with a “D,” “F” or “NP.” These changes will be retroactive so students with four or more enrollments in a family can’t continue in that group. Thus if a painting family had three experience levels and a theory course a student who drops or fails a class would not have a chance to take all four courses. The changes are in response to state budget problems and will affect courses that cost the state most. “Repeatability has been a problem for a while, but it is just now coming to a head,” said art department Chair Alison Hinnenberg. In community colleges, students don’t
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Continued on PAGE 15 Editors-in-Chief: Isabel Baskerville Houston Smothermon Managing Editor: Keshia Knight Section Editors: A&E Editor: Cassidy Mila Copy Editor: Isabel Baskerville Features Editor: Andrew McQuiddy News Editor: Drew Sheets Opinion Editor: Peter Njoroge Photo Editor: Erik Ramirez Sports Editor: Thomas De Alba Staff: Brooks Blair, Jenna Burkman, Domanique Crawford, Brandon De Alba, John Fox, Jose “Luis” Gutierrez, Spencer Harris,
Jimmy Merrill, Dimitri Nazarian, Nathan Quast, William Rohrs and Deborah San Angelo
Advertising: Manager: Nicole Hoey Assistant: Alex Campbell Office: 707-527-4254
Art Direction:
Contact
Newsroom: 707-527-4401 Anne Belden, Adviser: 707-527-4867 abelden@santarosa.edu EMAIL: oakleaf-ads@santarosa.edu oakleafstaff@gmail.com oakleafpr@gmail.com
Brand Management: Keshia Knight, Courtesy of SavageMediaCA
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send letters to oakleaf-editor@santarosa.edu or to the Oak Leaf office. They should include your first and last name and be limited to 300 words. Letter may be edited for style, length, clarity and taste. Libelous or obscene letters will not be printed.
Staff: Circulation Manager: Danielle Foged
Editorial do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the students, staff, faculty or administration.
Daniel Barba Almeida, Courtesy of DBDesign Staff: Layout Manager: Nadav Soroker
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thE oak leaf • november 19, 2012
news
accident fatal for JC student
Local workers speak at SRJC
forum advises steps to success Domanique Crawford Staff Writer SRJC hosted “Following Your Passion to Success,” a public forum were local employees came together to share their individual steps to success and advise students on how to do the same. The friendly atmosphere encouraged students to participate without feeling self-conscious. Representatives from Trader Joe’s, Social Advocates for Youth and Traditional Medicinal participated in the forum, answering questions and volunteering universal advice for future employees. Each member on the panel came from a situation that any SRJC student can relate to. The advice they shared with the audience was to have passion for the job, research the job before you apply and make sure your cover letter and resume are well edited. Scott Kennedy, Trader Joe’s employee said, “We want somebody who is going to have the passion to talk about any of the products in the store. The panel agreed that a person who is enthusiastic and passionate about the job will get the customers passionate as well.
Spencer Harris
Another employee from Trader Joe’s, Scott Hopkins, said, “Do some homework on the company your trying to apply for, make sure you have passion for it. If it is not something that feeds you then you need to choose a new profession. Hopkins explained that employers like to know that you are interested in the job for the values the company holds, not that you want the job because it is the only one available at the time. The panel concurred that ensuring both your cover letter and resume are edited appropriately is the far most important part of the employment process. “Focus on your cover letter and your resume. It is your first contact with the company. Tell why you are going to be good at this position, your skills, ” said Judith Yera, Human Resource Manager at Traditional Medicinal. The panel members could not have been clearer when expressing that you should take the time to make sure both the cover letter and resume are error free. Be sure that the cover letter highlights your skills and that the cover letter is specifically tailored to the job you are applying for First impressions are everything.
Staff Writer Many students try to support their families while working from a young age, living on their own and attending college. Alejandro Mendoza Torres was accomplishing all those things until his life was cut short. On the night of Oct. 20, Torres was visiting close friend and fellow SRJC student David Farias in the Mission Boulevard area. After leaving Farias’s home, Torres was struck by a car traveling northwest on Randall Lane while in the crosswalk. The vehicle was driving the speed limit. He was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with severe head injuries and died the next morning at Photo Courtesy of the Press Democrat 3:18 a.m. SRJC student Alejandro Torres was well-liked Torres, 24, was born in Michoacán, by peers and co-workers before his Oct. 20 Mexico. After graduating high school death. he moved to the Central Valley to live with one of his sisters. Torres moved to had four sisters and two brothers. His father died seven months ago. Santa Rosa in 2006. Torres is survived by his mother Torres, who was well-liked by peers and four siblings in Mexico and a and co-workers, worked as a parts sister in Modesto. He will be buried in operator for a medical parts company Mexico. called SMC Ltd. and regularly sent money home to help his family. He
We go sonoma Drew Sheets News Editor If you’re interested in saving money, earning rewards, decongesting rush hour traffic on our freeways, freeing up our clogged campus parking lots, reducing your carbon footprint and meeting new people, the new ridesharing program might be a perfect fit. SRJC has partnered with the Climate Protection Campaign, a Santa Rosa based non-profit organization, to provide leadership in aligning and mobilizing students who do care about these issues. Amy McCrary and Lyndsay Tamm, project coordinators for CPC, visited the Bertolini Student Center Nov. 6-7, disseminating pamphlets and other information detailing the functions and evolution of the program. We Go Sonoma is a ride-sharing program, launched in Sonoma County last spring, that links the transit needs of individuals with the commuting or travel schedules of other people driving personal vehicles in the same general direction. The program uses smartphones and other mobile device technology to secure personal profiles, protecting individuals from predators who may use the internet to commit crimes. Its goal is to provide an enjoyable experience whether you are heading to catch SRJC’s “Beauty and the Beast” at the Burbank Auditorium or if you simply want to save some money on getting a lift to class. To participate, the user must first
new ride sharing app to facilitate carpooling for sonoma county residents, santa rosa junior college students
create a profile at Avego’s website at avegortr.com for Android and iPhones and at b.avego.com for any other phone or device with a mobile browser. As soon as this is complete, you see who is available in your area. You have immediate access to that person’s profile. Individual profiles show the vehicle and the driver with other users’ ratings and pictures of the individual and the vehicle. Prior users will rate the driver on their safety, music and overall experience. The drivers will, in return, be allowed to rate the riders’ overall experience. The payment set-up is simple ; you start out with $20 on your account. This is to allow people time to familiarize themselves with the program and “to play around with the software.” Every time you get into someone’s Drew Sheets / Oak Leaf vehicle, you owe the driver a dollar. After that, the cost is 20 cents a mile A student talks with We Go’s Amy McCrary in SRJC’s Bertolini Student Center about ride sharfor 15 miles and 15 cents for any ing through We Go Sonoma. additional mile. McCrary said, “It’s not a profit award point which accrues to later be thing.” She explained that the exchanged for items ranging from a payment was more to incentivize 10-point cup of coffee to higher point drivers to participate by offsetting items such as iPads. Twelve students ran a pilot program their operational costs. Combine the amount of miles drivers can log in a from Sept. 24 to Oct. 19. The designers week with the number of seats filled improved the latest software from and it can feasibly off-set all of their this feedback, facilitating rapid costs if not make a slight profit, and for improvement of the program. This is still a pilot program, but every person she pick up, she builds the more frequently the user can credit towards a reward. The rewards program is like a thank incorporate this into their lives, the you for participating in the program. quicker the user can realize all of its Every time you use the service, riding benefits. “You’re meeting new people; it’s or driving, your profile earns an
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kind of a new mindset. People wanting to be in vehicles alone and driving on their own taking up an entire car on any road is costly. When you have one person in a car with four or five empty seat, it creates congestion. It’s a waste. You could fill those seats with people who need rides or can’t afford a car or just want to leave their car at home for day because… why not?” McCrary said. When you have agreed to a meeting place, always a public place like a bus stop or a parking lot (no one will ever see where you live or vice versa,) you both will receive the same code. The driver or rider shows up and both parties confirm pictures of the vehicle and each individual, and you’re on your way. When you’re on course, the app has mapped a route for you. Should you veer off course the program will notify you by calling your phone and checking on you to make sure you are OK. Not everybody wants to meet new people. That’s fine. You can start by sharing rides with people you know or new friends that you meet in classes and never expand your circle. If you happen to be co-kickin’ it with serial killers, this program may be a problem for you. For the rest of society, this program is as safe as riding in a private cab. Again, the program is free to start. Start participating in sustainable transit at avegortr.com or b.avego.com. Or stop by the Bear’s Den in the Bertolini Student Center any Tuesday or Wednesday and chat with one of the We Go reps from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
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thE oak leaf • november 19, 2012
news
Crime Logs
speaker brings history of california’s native americans to light
Danielle Foged William Rohrs
Circulation Manager
Staff Writer
bike theft spree on campus
To raise awareness of California’s past abuse to Native American people, Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria chairman Greg Sarris came to SRJC Nov. 7 to explain what the federal government did to legally enslave and confine Native Americans in California to provide free labor for Mexican landowners. “It’s very important for us to have lectures and to continue our multicultural events at Santa Rosa Junior College,” said Associated Student Body president Jessica Jones in the introduction prior to a reenactment from Sarris’ recent book “Watermelon Nights” performed by Patrick St. John and Laura DowningLee. Sarris said that prior to Spanish, Mexican and American influence, California’s Native Americans lived harmoniously with their surroundings. The introduction of foreign plant species changed the landscape permanently. “The California that we know is not the California from before,” Sarris said. “The landscape for us was like a Bible, a sacred text. Each rock, each hillside, each place held a story. Something that we talked about, the way we knew ourselves. When the landscape was destroyed, the trees chopped down, the animals were killed and so forth, it was very similar as if you burned the Bible.”
Sporadic petty theft sprees are rattling SRJC campuses these past few weeks. About eight bikes, valued up to $1500, were stolen in the past three weeks. Campus police Sgt. Steven Potter believes it’s because students are not using secure bike locks. Most students are using a regular cord lock, which thieves can easily cut with a pair of bolt cutters. Sgt. Potter urges students to use a U-Bolt bike lock, which will discourage potential thieves. Students are asked to be cautious about where and what time they lock their bikes around campus to prevent campus bike theft.
Photo Courtvip webpage
Greg Sarris discusses with an SRJC audience Nov. 7 how the federal government promised to protect Native American rights but actually robbed them of their environment and ancestral homes.
Before the United States annexed California from Mexico, the Mexicans used Native Americans as slave labor. In 1850, California passed the Act for the Government Protection of Indians. While this act sounded like a government promise to protect Native American rights, the act dictated that Native Americans became the property of the land they lived on, giving ownership of their lives to the Mexican or American landowners, robbing Native Americans of their ancestral home. According to Sarris, it wasn’t until 1868, three years after the Civil War,
that the federal government repealed this law.The California Indian Rancheria Act was designed to round up the now “homeless” Indians. “Graton Rancheria put aside 16.5 acres around Graton, and the law said that’s for all of the homeless Indians in Tamales Bay, Bodega Bay, Sebastopol, Santa Rosa and the vicinities thereof, de facto creating tribes,” Sarris said. Sarris said it is the blatant disregard of Native American culture and rights that created a schism between settlers from the East Coast and Native Americans.
By changing the environment around them, the settlers destroyed ancestral land that belonged to its first inhabitants, additionally creating an unsustainable land where its people could not survive on what is grown there alone. Sarris compared the invasion of settlers to the West like the Israelites demanding a holy land from God. “There is a very toxic notion, that you’re special and are ‘owed’ something, in a place that may not be yours,” Sarris said. He warns these notions create an “us-them dichotomy,” which is a hazardous situation, as all decisions viewed as “us or them.” The decisions of one group will negatively impact the other.
sustainability template to guide srjc’s future Brooks Blair Staff Writer Santa Rosa Junior College is furthering its environmental commitment through the implementation of the California Community College Chancellor’s sustainability template. The template, a resource for all community colleges to help with sustainability planning, arrived at SRJC in July after a year of waiting. It defines sustainability as, “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” “It shows you: how sustainability connects to your mission statement; here’s why it’s important to do this now due to recent legislation; here’s how you guys can save money; here’s where you can purchase green products,” said associated students president Jessica Jones. “It’s this really nice handbook and guide for every community college in the state of California to personalize and make their own.” The chancellor’s sustainability template is yet another push towards a more environmentally friendly SRJC. On Earth Day
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2011, the college signed the Talloires Declaration: a 10-point action plan for incorporating sustainability and environmental literacy in operations at the school. Initiatives such as these offer the college the framework to expand upon its efforts towards a more ecologically conscious institution. Currently, the sustainability effort at SRJC is made up of various groups, including two committees: the Integrated Environmental Planning Committee (IEPC), consisting of students, faculty, and administration who work on policy change and resource allocation within the district; and the Institute for Environmental Education (IEE), made up of natural science faculty members. There is also the Sustainability Task Force on the Petaluma campus, as well as the Students for Sustainable Communities, a club that promotes green practices across campus. “We have all these parts. We have a college initiative, a declaration, we have two committees, and now we have a sustainability template. What we need now is someone to interlink between all those,” Jones said.
thE oak leaf • november 19, 2012
art & Entertainment
In the know Nov. 22 Vegan Thanksgiving Celebration Monroe Hall, CA 3 p.m.
Nov. 22 The Schwag Uptown Theatre, Napa, CA 8 p.m.
Nov. 23 Solar Observing Event Robert Ferguson Observatory, Kenwood, CA 11 a.m.
Nov. 24 Art of Peanuts Animation: Production Cels from the Meuseum’s Collection Charles M. Shultz, Santa Rosa, CA 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Nov. 24 Tainted Love + DJ Matt McKillop Last Day Saloon, Santa Rosa, CA 9 p.m.
Nov. 24 Art Exhibit: Did It AnyWay! The Gallery of Sea and Heaven, Santa Rosa, CA Noon-5 p.m.
Nov. 24 Circus Acts: A Play by Merlyn Q. Sell Glaser Center, Santa Rosa, CA 8 p.m.
Nov. 24 Elvin Bishop in Concert Raven Performing Arts, Healdsburg, CA 8 p.m.
delightful musical expected to enchant audiences young and old
srjc theater arts takes on disney classic Domanique Crawford
and vocal direction by Jody Benecke. Starring Zachary Hasbany as the Beast, Brittany Law as Belle and Nathaniel Mack as Gaston. “It’s been a delightful project to work on. Big complicated, but I think every one is having a blast. It has been such a pleasure to work with this group,” Downing– Lee said. Featuring 13 more songs than the movie, Beauty and the Beast is a full length, two- act performance recommended for ages 7 and above. The Beauty and the Beast will be showing Nov. 23, 24, 29, Dec 1, 6, 6, 8 at 7:30 pm. Nov 24, 25, Dec. 1, 2, 8 at 1:30 pm. ASL translated productions of Beauty and the Beast are at 7:30 pm Nov. 30 and 1:30 pm. Nov. 23, 24, 29 and Dec. 2.
Staff Writer SRJC takes on Disney’s classic tale of Beauty and the Beast, directed by Laura Downing- Lee. An enchanting musical about a selfless girl named Belle who gives up her freedom to rescue her father from the Beast, a lonely prince cursed by a witch and challenged with finding true love or living life as the Beast forever. SRJC theatre arts department invites the whole family to share Belle’s journey with an unlikely cast of characters. “We have characters in really nontraditional costumes, we have talking clocks, dancing fruit bowls, and things of that nature,” Downing- Lee said. With choreography by Lara Branen, music direction by Richard Riccardi
chicano artist
Photo Courtesy of the Theatre Arts Department
Brittany Law and Zachary Hasbany star in “The Beauty and the Beast” at SRJC starting Nov. 23.
roberto chavez brings east la style to srjc’s robert f. agrella art gallery
Cassidy Mila and Luis Guttierez A&E Editor and Staff Writer The SRJC Robert F. Agrella Art Gallery is lucky enough to feature a collection by one of the great artists of this century. Roberto Chavez began painting in 1948 at the age of 14, and by the 1970s was a renowned painter, teaching at the East Los Angeles City College where his works inspired countless others. The gallery consists of 60 works in multiple mediums including pencil drawings, etchings and both oil and watercolor paintings. The exhibit opened with a lecture by Roberto Chavez on Nov. 14. Chavez came into his own during a time of protest throughout the United States and Latin America. The feeling of life on the edge of a polarizing insecurity comes out in most of his pieces. “A lot of people probably expect a painting to be pretty and reassuring, but I paint things that are sad and happy; life is like that,” Chavez said. Chavez never shies away from making a statement, either through politically and socially charged subject
Photo Courtesy of Dana Hunt
The Roberto Chavez collection features 60 pieces from the Chicano artist. The Robert F. Agrella art gallery will exhibit Chavez’s collection until Dec. 13.
matter, bright vivid colors depicting a melancholy scene or showing women in a position of power. But he also doesn’t want to leave you with all the answers. Marina Chavez, one of Roberto Chavez’s four daughters, was with him at the gallery’s opening. She described her father’s works as heavily influenced by the baroque painting style. “Baroque artists choose the most dramatic point, the moment when the action is occurring, u n l i k e Baroque’s p r e d e c e ss o r t h e Renaissance, which usually showed the Photo Courtesy of Dana Hunt moment right Roberto Chavez’s piece“John Bannanas” is on display in the gallery.
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before the event took place,” she said. His murals throughout East Los Angeles have become famous in their own right, depicting issues of the time, scaled up to a point that no one could ignore; spreading light on issues that were not always publicly accepted and influencing other visionaries to spread their messages across the walls of their cities. “Where I fit in the Chicano Art Movement of the 1970s is up to the historians,” Chavez said. His modesty can try and deflect the admiration he deserves, but the fact remains that the murals of the Chicano Art Movement have become as famous as any other artistic period in the history of the United States, and Roberto Chavez has as much to do with that as anyone. The exhibit will run until Dec. 13. The Agrella Gallery’s hours are 10-4 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturdays 12-4 p.m.
thE oak leaf • november 19, 2012
art & Entertainment
lucas cashes in Star wars
Hey, Mr. DJ Artist: Lana Del Rey Album: Born to Die Released: January 2012 Genre: American pop/Alternative Similar Artists: Nancy Sinatra, Ellie Goulding and Fiona Apple Recommended by: Danielle Foged Circulation Manager
Lana Del Rey topped the charts with her debut album “Born to Die.” Released in January, the album has been successful for actor/artist Elizabeth Grant, aka Lana Del Rey. The tone of “Born to Die” is melodramatic but addicting. Following her life, going from New York, Los Angeles and run-down truck stops throughout the Midwest, Del Rey takes listeners through her “Flat Broke Down Life,” from, “Off to the Races,” composing almost a movie soundtrack for her life. The mysterious sound of Del Rey resembles Nancy Sinatra, creating a mesmerizing experience. “Born to Die” isn’t like other pop albums. Her unique demeanor is what sets her apart from other pop stars. Del Rey’s appearance is inspired from vintage clothing, circa 1950, and although her personality seems composed and professional, she shows her true emotions through her music. Her best tracks include: “Blue Jeans,”
“Dark Paradise,” “Radio” and “Summertime Sadness,” which all reach different frequencies within the song. While Del Rey lowers her tone in “Dark Paradise,” she absolutely nails it in “Million Dollar Man.” Del Rey produced a version of “Born to Die: Paradise Edition,” but calling the edition ”paradise” is an overstatement. The album features nine new tracks, half of them sub-par. On one track in particular, “Cola,” Del Rey sings about her private parts tasting like cola. On the other hand, “Ride,” her new single has been used in a short film on YouTube starring Del Rey. The video takes you through her life, seeing why she created the lyrics to her song. Del Rey’s overnight popularity is unbelievable. Her ability to stun the world practically overnight was a gift from the music gods. If you’re not a ‘Lanatic’ now, just wait, after listening to this album, you will be.
Daniel Barba / Oak Leaf
Disney bought Lucas Films for $4.1 billion and plans to add to the Star Wars Saga.
nervous fans wonder if han solo will sport mouse ears or get the marvel treatment Cassidy Mila A&E Editor When the news broke that Disney bought out Lucas Films for a resounding $4.1 billion to be paid in full to George Lucas, there was no doubt what Disney had its eye on: the Star Wars Empire. The news has come with mixed emotions. Will the mouse keep the Star Wars franchise the hard sci-fi Lucas created or will the new ownership bring a kiddie friendly motif? The jury is still out, but there’s no doubt, the franchise is moving forward. Star Wars episode VII is already in early stages of production, with or without Lucas, the saga continues. While many worry over what sort of spin Disney may make of the beloved franchise, others find optimism in the new ownership. Face it, while the last trilogy was visually stunning, the story did not live up to the expectations created by the originals. With Lucas as the soul creator, there would be little reason to expect the next trilogy to be any better. With millions of die-hard Star Wars fans around the world, there is a good chance one
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hopeful writer will be able to take Lucas’ world and create a fantasy to rival the original trilogy. If a silver lining exists, taking the copyright stranglehold Lucas has had on Star Wars for the last 30 years and filling it with new life through young writers would be it There has been a great deal of speculation over whether or not Disney will try to make Star Wars more kidfriendly. Disney CEO Robert Iger said that television was a medium they were seriously considering and their station Disney XD would be a good home for a Star Wars show. In response to what would have come of Lucas films satellite companies: Industrial Light and Magic, Skywalker Sound and LucasArts Games. Lucas Film spokeswoman Lynne Hale said Disney’s intent was for everyone to stay where they are. This might be true, but of the three LucasArts sits in the most precarious position. After a long history of hit games in the ‘80s and ‘90s the company has made almost exclusively Star Warsthemed games, many of which have been complete failures. All hope for the company hinges on a new game intended for mature gamers, titled Star Wars 2013 that is currently in production. Disney has already stated that it sees the future of Star Wars gaming in social and mobile mediums rather than on a console, so if LucasArts’ Star Wars 1313 is a bust, it could mean the end of LucasArts.
thE oak leaf • november 19, 2012
Local community garden offers family activities Andrew McQuiddy Features Editor
If you love to plant your own fruits and vegetables but have no space at home, Santa Rosa offers many community gardening opportunities. More than 500 gardens are registered at the searchable databasehttp://www. iGrowSonoma.org for a total of 25.3 acres in this county alone. A few blocks south of SRJC at the corner of Benton Street is the Mendocino Avenue Community Garden. “The vision started in June, 2011,” said Mark Jenkins, who spearheads the project. “I’d heard neighborhood people tal-king about this, but there were only two lots where you could do it and the other was owned by a developer who’d put down a hard, clay-type material. Our lot is owned by Flo and Darryl Ellingson and they were all for it – there were problems with weeds growing high.” The weeds were not only an eye sore, but possibly a dangerous one. “One of the main reasons I really just did it was because a kid had died trying to cross that crosswalk on his skateboard,” Jenkins said. A car struck and killed Joe Hyland on March 25, 2011. “I remember how tall the grass was, and trying to turn onto Mendocino, I couldn’t see cars coming until I got all the way up to the stop sign. So I knew something had to be done with this lot – what better than a community garden? We don’t have a park in this neighborhood and we don’t have what I call a ‘bumping place’ – where people in the neighborhood can just bump into each other.” Jenkins wife, Christine, designed the garden. “She’s a landscape designer, and with the help of four or five neighbors we started digging up the ground.” Bruce Wishard is one of those neighbors involved from the beginning. “We got it for free,” he
said. The Ellingsons donated the Lowe joined the garden in the summer land and the St. Joseph of 2012. Memorial Hospice next “Having the shared garden door provides free is really nice,” Lowe said, water. “because I just have “So my wife Christine “There are my little plot with a designed it. She’s a landscape two types of few different things designer, and with the help plots, single and – broccoli, cabbage, of four or five neighbors community plots, cauliflower, tatsoi, we started digging up the Wishard said. Near beets and red bell the middle of the peppers – but then I ground.” Jenkins said. area is a children’s get some of the other garden, planted by the stuff in all the shared students from St. Luke’s areas.” Lutheran school. Individuals contract a 5-foot by 10-foot space at $40 for six months and $25 for a 5-foot by 5-foot plot. Jenkins ploughs the income back into the garden, funding seeds and other needs for the shared plots, with plans to create a living fence of blueberry or raspberry vines around the garden’s p e r i m e t e r. Last year’s success allowed the project to donate $100 to the Hospice as a thank you for providing water for the garden. Wishard currently grows salad greens: red lettuce, ridashio, kale and arugula. “For winter. It’s great,” he said, “I’ve harvested so much just these last two months that we don’t have to buy any lettuce.” Wishard’s d a u g h t e r, 10, wanted carrots, so he planted a whole patch. Melanie Lowe’s four-year-old loves to garden, too. “She’s really into coming over and helping,” she said. “We don’t have a yard,” she said, “we have concrete, concrete and rocks. I like growing my own food
Photos/ Eri Photo Illustratio
and I heard about the community garden from the neigh-borhood newsletter.”
Some patches of land are maintained by groups of people and others by individuals at the community garden near SRJC. Walking through, all of the specimens are labeled and organized. Pictured above is a small plot where peppers of different varieties are reaching their peak ripeness.
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thE oak leaf • november 19, 2012
Home gardens Cassidy Mila
plenty of fresh greens and fruits all year. If you choose quickly maturing species that can have several harvests in a single season or plants that can be slowly harvested throughout the entire season you can get a lot out of limited space. If space is a serious issue, than planting in rows is A different selection of plants and vegetibles are grown year around. Commup r o b a b l y nity members visit daily to water and keep the garden healthy and vibrant. not the best option, instead, plant in blocks. Just be picked sparingly, needing small use the plant spacing directions and amounts to flavor whole dishes. As plant as many as possible within the such, only a plant or two of each block allotted to type of herb can be enough for an avid chef. that crop. Some ornaments around the Many of the crops garden are beneficial and some are are grown and foolish to be without. The Echinacea harvested before fl ower is not only an herbal remedy reaching maturity and but also attracts pollinators like rotated out for new bees and butterfl ies, essential for plants quickly. Baby a small garden with limited plants, greens of lettuce, kale which leads to fewer chances for and even foliage from germination. If they will grow in the turnips and carrots can area Marigolds are the best be eaten before for detering unwanted the taproot ever begins to insect pests. A few form. Leaf lettuces can scattered throughout have leaves picked the garden or used A four by ten off continuously as a border for your plot could throughout the beds, the Marigold season and can also supply a family will bring bees and be a better option with plenty of butterflies coming than the head fresh greens and around and fleas, lettuces that can fruits all year. slugs and moths take a long time to running away. mature. There are always It’s often tricks to be found that over-looked can help maximize the that flower pots yield from the garden, and can be used for more than even more mistakes to be made. just ornaments. A few pots All the books in the library won’t spaced throughout the supplement the knowledge one garden filled with a Swiss gets from simple trial and error. Chard plant, or a romaine People have been working the earth pot is a nice patch of shade. for thousands of years and new Pots filled with herbs serve a techniques are constantly being purpose both in and outside of discovered. If there was only one the garden. While in the ground way to do things, it would be too most herbs help repel pests, easy. Don’t be afraid to think outside as well as serve as companion the box and above all else, don’t get plants that add to the vigor of the discouraged. plants around them. Many herbs can
A&E Editor
rik Ramirez on / Daniel Barba
Making a sustainable homestead is an easy renovation. If the back wall in your yard faces south, your whole yard is likely a great place to grow fruits and vegetables, and your fence can quickly be converted to a trellis for climbing plants. For those who are worried about making serious changes to their home, growing in raised beds is probably the best option. Four sides of redwood and a few retaining posts make a perfect bed that won’t require any digging into the ground. A 4 foot by 10 foot plot could supply a family with
Crop
Weather
Space between Plants
Space between Rows
Days to Maturity
Beets Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Corn Lettuce Melons Onions Peas Peppers Radishes Zucchini Tomatoes Watermelons
Cool Cool Cool Cool Summer - Cold Summer Cool Summer Cool Cool Summer Cool Summer Summer Summer
18 Inches 18 Inches 3 Inches 18 Inches 18 Inches 5 -10 Inches 8 Inches 18 Inches 4 Inches 2 Inches 18 Inches 1 Inches 24 Inches 24 Inches 24 Inches
12 Inches 24 Inches 24 Inches 12 Inches 24 Inches 30 Inches 12 Inches 48 Inches 12 Inches 24 Inches 24 Inches 12 Inches 28 Inches 36 Inches 48 Inches
50 - 70 50 - 80 50 - 100 60 - 90 60 - 80 60 - 100 40 - 50 50 - 70 75 - 150 50 - 80 60 - 100 25 - 35 50 - 70 50 - 90 75 - 100
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thE oak leaf • november 19, 2012
sports
Bear Cub Football season comes to an end
head coach simons hopes for better season, team leadership next year Jenna Burkman Staff Writer
It’s been a rough year for the SRJC football program. After a 1-4 record in conference and a 3-7 record overall, it is safe to say the Bear Cubs’ season has not gone as expected. After the team’s loss to City College of San Francisco, the Bear Cubs faced the hard truth that they would not make it to a bowl game this year. Despite a losing season, a handful of the Bear Cub sophomores will move on to the next level. Cornerback Randy Harvey, who’s transferring to another college to play football next year, acknowledges his three years spent at SRJC have helped him achieve his goal to move on to a four-year school. “The coaches here at the JC have taught me to have effort, not worry about any other person’s job on the field besides my own and to work together as a team,” Harvey said. When asked what his favorite memory was this season, Harvey said, “Bonding with the team and becoming a family.” One positive aspect about this season is that SRJC produced three allThomas De Alba / Oak Leaf conference players (Garrett Guanella, The SRJC offense lines up against San Mateo College for the final home game of the season. The team finished 3-7 and looks to improve next year. Jordan Bergstrom and Dante Cattaneo) and five all-conference honorable improve in the off-season. According said. players in Sonoma County, and that mentions (Chris Smith, Mike Tuaua, The Bear Cubs will also look to was another thing that hurt us this to head coach Keith Simons, a major Terrance Drew, David Sowards and change that needs to happen next year strengthen the team next year by year,” Simons said. Spencer Morrow). Out of these eight is developing a core group of leaders recruiting. However, in recent years, To have a successful season next players, five are likely to return next on the team, something that has been many of the top high school football year, Coach Simons wants player to year. absent for four straight years. “We have players did not play football at all after remember to handle adversity and play With many returning players, the to have leadership in the locker room, they graduated. like they practiced all week. SRJC football program will look to “There’s a lot of good football on campus and on the field,” Simons
Injuries freeze Polar Bears in weekend Showcase at Snoopy’s Keshia Knight Managing Editor
SRJC Hockey team loaded with injuries, playoff hopes in jeopardy
With players going down with injuries left and right, it’s no wonder the SRJC Polar Bears hockey team is in the midst of a losing streak. The Polar Bears opened November by hosting the second annual Wine Country Collegiate Classic Nov. 8-10 at Snoopy’s Home Ice. Despite high hopes for the weekend, the Polar Bears went winless in the showcase and added three more to the team’s growing list of injured players. SRJC opened the weekend against the Metropolitan State University Roadrunners Nov. 8. Impressive goaltending kept both teams off the board for 11 minutes before Metro State scored two off goalie Jacob Pavsek in the first period. The Polar Bears came back and kept the match close until Metro State scored three in the third period to take the lead. With 16 seconds left in the game defenseman Alex De Vaughn put the Polar Bears within one and Alexi Kulikouskiy barreled in a shot with 2.1 seconds on the clock to send it to overtime. The game was still tied at 7 after a fourminute overtime, prompting a shootout. In the end it was Metro State on top, 8-7 (SO 2-1), and two SRJC players, David Horton and Josiah Nikkel, were injured and did not play the next day. The next day SRJC took on the Bay Area Sharks. In this exhibition game
against the Junior team, three players, defenseman Andreas Rahm, Nikkel and forward David Horton sat out the game due to injuries, along with defenseman Sam Davis who received a three-game suspension following an ejection against Metro State. Without these key players, the Polar Bears could not defeat the Sharks. SRJC lost the game 10-3. Hoping to salvage at least one game in the showcase, the Polar Bears took on the Northern Arizona University Ice Jacks Nov. 10. The team started out strong with a goal by freshman forward Spencer Wright, but the Ice Jacks took a 2-1 lead after scoring off Pavsek. As NAU continued to add on in the second period, De Vaughn took a stick to the neck and was forced to leave the ice. Forward Jackson Joyce would also leave the game with an injury. At the sound of the final buzzer it was NAU 8, SRJC 4. After this recent homestand, SRJC is currently 5-6-1 in American Collegiate Hockey Association games and ranked 13th in its division. The Polar Bears started out the season strong but has since had to deal with nagging injuries, fatigue and a scramble to fill injured spots. “When your top players are the ones who get hurt, your team takes notice to their absence and morale can slump. We’ve got enough top players that lead
10
us, so the morale doesn’t take too much of a hit,” said coach Tom Billeter. “However, when we have eight-plus guys playing hurt or not in the lineup, line pairings change, systems change and special teams changes. When drastic changes like this occur your team can easily be affected both mentally and performance wise.” As the team’s dynamic changes, players know what has to be done for the team to get back to the level of competition the club has established since returning from hiatus in 2009. Many agree that better off-ice conditioning, as well as practicing lines, could help the team. Billeter said that once more players are healthy the team can establish more individual roles for players and implement aggressive attack zone systems. SRJC hopes to end its losing streak as it looks to finish out the first half of the season on the road with games against Stanford University, UC Berkeley, UC Davis and Sacramento State University. “The team has been staying strong and we have kept our heads up,” Horton said. “Losing is part of every game. We know what we have to do and that losing this many games is not good for the outcome of our season.”
thE oak leaf • november 19, 2012
sports
Bear Cubs wrestling ends regular season
team looks to perform well at Coast Conference Tournament toward the postseason after losing the final meet against defending state champion Fresno by a score of 46-6. Sports Editor Head coach Jake Fitzpatrick turned The stands full, the coach’s voices it up a notch in practice to prepare the lost, the last home wrestling match of the wrestlers for the Coast Conference season in Tauzer Gym and the Bear Cubs Tournament. victorious. “We looked crisp in practice today, The SRJC wrestling team looked sharp and we’re looking to have a crisp practice in its Nov. 7 match against Chabot College. tomorrow.” Fitzpatrick said, “We finished It was something sophomore wrestlers 10-3. After a long season like that, the were excited for, as it was their last home players begin to get tired. So we’re match as Bear Cubs. After a hard fought starting to pick it up again and get ready battle, they pulled out a close 27-18 win. for the upcoming tournament.” “We were pumped up for the match,” Bud Guinn, Greg Robinson and Andres said second year wrestler Andrew Torres are a few of the many bright spots Wolocatuik. “I think the guys were for the team heading into the post season. feeding off the energy from the crowd. It Torres will be wrestling in the Thomas De Alba/ Oak Leaf was our last home game of the season, so Andrew Wolocatiuk takes his opponent from Chabbot Community College down to the mat. 133-pound weight class. Despite being we wanted to make it count.” The victory against Chabot was big for unranked, Torres managed to defeat the the team, but all the focus is now directed number three ranked wrestler in the state. Torres wrestles comfortably in this weight good team,” Fitzpatrick said. “If the team class and coach Fitzpatrick is expecting a goes out and performs their best, they good performance. will finish first or second.” In the 174-pound weight class, is Robinson. Robinson’s 16 pins are by far the most on the team. He is approaching Wrestling Lineup the school record of 20 pins and look to break it this postseason. It will be difficult, as Robinson has 125 lbs- Andres Torres to fight through an ankle injury, but it’s 133 lbs- Andrew Wolocatiuk possible and well within his grasp. 149 lbs- Blake Borges Guinn is the heavyweight on the team, 157- Erik Figueroa wrestling at the 285-pound weight class. 165- Vaugn Borges Guinn has been on a tear this season and is favored to win state. 174- Greg Robinson With the line up fully established and 184- Ashton Morales in top shape, coach Fitzpatrick is confident 197- Otilio Carrillo Thomas De Alba/ Oak Leaf with the team going forward. 285- Bud Guinn Andres Torres locks up with his Chabot College opponent Nov. 7. SRJCwon the match in a close “I told the team at the beginning of Thomas De Alba
27-18 win in Tauzer Gym.
the year that we have the makings of a
Bear Cub Volleyball dominates regular season, looks to do the same in playoffs
Soccer Champions Continued from page 2 going forward,” Rodriguez said. She injured her clavicle after a hard foul from a Taft player and fell on her left shoulder. She hopes to play but will get X-rays and be looked at by a doctor before she can be cleared to participate in games or practice. If Rodriguez can’t play, the Bear Cubs will be without their second leading scorer (9 goals). Hamm believes in her squad and their ability to adjust and adapt to injures. “Thirteen different players have scored. It is usually really only three or four players scoring the majority of the goals, so everyone is contributing,” Hamm said. The second round of the NorCal playoffs is against ARC at 2 p.m. Nov 20 at SRJC.
SANTA ROSA JUNIOR COLLEGE
ICE HOCKEY 2012-2013 Home Schedule Sept. 14 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Oct. 13 Oct. 20 Nov. 2 Nov. 3 Nov. 8 Nov. 9 Nov. 10 Dec. 14 Jan. 11 Jan. 18 Jan. 19 Jan. 26
UC Berkeley San Jose State Sacramento State UC Davis Santa Clara U. Fresno State Fresno State Metro State Denver Sacramento State Northern Arizona U. San Jose State UC Santa Barbara UC San Diego Santa Clara U. Stanford
8:30pm 8:30pm 8:30pm 8:30pm 8:30pm 8:30pm 8:30pm 6:30pm 5:30pm 5:30pm 8:30pm 8:30pm 8:30pm 8:30pm 8:30pm
staying present, staying in the moment and not getting ahead of ourselves,” Wood said. “We want to go into playoffs strong; we don’t want to lose a match we shouldn’t because we are thinking ahead.” Luckily for Wood, she does not have a hard time keeping her players present and focused in each game. “These girls are really competitive and really into it. We have good leadership and good sophomore captains. They work really hard all the time,” Wood said. Sophomore defense specialist Briana Adviento had a similar outlook on the upcoming playoffs. “Ever since the beginning of the season we kind of talked about how our goal is to win state. If that’s our goal, we need to take it one game at a time and focus on each day at practice,” Adviento said. The Bear Cubs first playoff game is at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 in Haehl Pavilion, against a opponent to be announced.
Jimmy Merrill Staff Writer
Alexi Kulikouskiy
“I definitely think we are right where we need to be, and we are going to go very far this season,” said mid-fielder Holle Depina. The Bear Cubs ended the regular season with a record of 14-2-3, which ranks them third in Northern California. With the win over Taft, the team looks forward to its Nov 20 match versus American River College. “We came out and played hard,” Depina said. “We tried to finish all our shots, but they just didn’t go in, but they will later on.” Karli Rodriguez, a dominant mid-fielder for the Bear Cubs, was injured in the win over Taft, but she believes the team can carry on with or without her. “I think we have been working good together, and that definitely helps us out
The SRJC volleyball team’s regular season has come to an end, but the Bear Cubs look to keep momentum heading into the first round of playoffs. The Bear Cubs dominated the regular season. They have not suffered a loss since Sept. 19, when they were defeated in a close match with Feather River College. Since, the Bear Cubs have been on a roll, winning their last 15 matches, 14 against conference opponents. The squad captured the Big 8 Conference volleyball championship with a win over American River College last week in Sacramento and finished the regular season with a record of 14-0 in conference games and 23-2 overall. Returning to the playoffs this year seemed like a forgone conclusion for the Bear Cubs, but head coach Kelly Wood would not let her players think that way. “We talk about it a little bit, but we also emphasize the importance of
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thE oak leaf • november 19, 2012
OPINION
Hemp An option with untapped potential Peter Njoroge Opinion Editor
Cannabis hemp, a close cousin of marijuana, is a cash crop that has been underrated in our synthesize-duplicateand-sell society. If brought up in a casual conversation, the usual pattern of dialogue consists of throwing it aboard the bus filled with tree-hugger, hippy and stoner paradigms. Hemp has the potential to be a fuel, food and fiber, a reasonable alternative for our current unsustainable ways of living. Hemp seed is second to soybeans in protein content, is a source of good dietary fiber and has more fatty acids, which we need, than any other food. The plant is not a psychoactive; you cannot take it as a drug. The U.S. is the only industrialized country that hasn’t included hemp in its political and industrial policies. Producing it on a mass scale would benefit our society and the planet. The plant can be grown without pesticides or herbicides because it’s a natural weed suppressor, which means less toxic chemicals to go around. With all of these positive aspects of hemp, farmers in the U.S. still can’t grow it on a scale large enough to make any economic impact. Farmers need a DEA permit to obtain viable hemp seeds thus making it illogical for them to grow hemp on a scale that is both profitable and a commodity for the market. Hemp seed oil is a great alternative for body care products such as lotions, lip-balms, conditioners and shampoos. Furthermore, with all of these great options, industrializing hemp is a great opportunity for the U.S. and we’re missing an opportunity to help our economy and environment. In context, the economy is currently unstable and politicians will have to reconsider the argument of hemp aside from marijuana. Technology is also inevitably becoming part of our solution and it’s possible to merge our technological advances with nature if enough attention is given to each from perspectives that aren’t based on profit. For example, it’s possible to build a house out of hemp-lime, which significantly reduces carbon dioxide output than its counterpart cement. We have violently and shamefully devastated our own home with toxic chemicals and unsustainable ways of living. It is time to look at hemp and other nature-based solutions, or what’s left of them, as a possible way to heal our ecosystem. This can only happen if a serious shift in paradigm begins and we start changing direction as soon as possible. We need to grow up as a country and realize that there are other options out there that might sustain us.
Take a cue from srjc: be sustainable There are so many social, economic and moral injustices in the world. As journalists, it’s hard not to spend the majority of our time bringing attention to them, petitioning our readers to focus on what needs to change rather than what’s working. We humans have an insatiable appetite for resources and a bad habit of taking more from our environment than we can replace. It’s no surprise that, with a world population of nearly 7 billion, scientists are wondering: how long can this last? And with so many distractions in our lives, it’s hard to focus on feeling
personally responsible for a problem that would take an immense collective effort to solve. But the fact remains— we cannot withdraw resources from the environment like it’s a credit card forever. This has been an integral part of our thinking in this area for many years. SRJC uses environmentally friendly and sustainable architectural and construction practices in all our new builadings, including Thermal Energy Storage and Under Floor Air Distribution cooling systems. Our campus features recycling centers, power conserving light systems, water
conserving irrigation systems, and over 500 kilowatts of solar power. To find out more about SRJC’s sustainability program, visit www.santarosa.edu/ sustainability. We are moving steadily in the right direction, but there is always more we can do. Probably the most effective way for students to make a change in the world outside of SRJC is to carry this culture wherever you go. Be a champion for the environment. Encourage the communities you join to employ the fixtures we have here at SRJC.
Young voters continue to empower themselves but more action and passion are needed for real change really screwed the pooch. Some people protest that they are “non-political,” but this is misguided. We are all political, because policy dictates our lives. Unfortunately, since politics in the U.S. have become a racket for wealthy lobbies and campaign contributors on the make, money dictates policy. That is exactly why eligible voters need to become involved and not only go to the polls, but do their homework. The stakes are especially high for young adults. When we were children, education was cheaper and jobs were plentiful. But now, a bachelor’s degree is increasingly the minimum requirement for an entry-level position, while tuition costs rise higher every year. A study by the Institute for College Access & Success reported that 51 percent of college graduates in California are in debt, owing an average of $18,900. These indentured servants, or “graduates,” aren’t guaranteed an immediate return on the investment either.Thirty-two percent of the population under 30 years old was underemployed in April of this year, according to a Gallup poll. As an underemployed person myself, I can tell you this situation is not from lack of trying. For me, five months of ceaseless job hunting has yielded little interest from employers who have their pick of increasingly
Bertrand Johnson Contributing Writer
Congratulations, everyone. The election is over, the results are in and as we clear the battlefield of the smoldering husks of campaigns, Super PACs and relentless advertising, it is obvious that we the people have made some important gains. Proposition 30 passed, dodging a savage groin-kick to educational funding. We also reelected President Barack Obama and denied the reign of a vampiric plutocrat who made millions by dismantling businesses at a handy profit, cutting jobs and outsourcing labor across the country. It is a dark omen that the Republican party has become so comfortable with its connection to corporate interests that it tried to put one of them in the Oval Office. In addition to these successes, some of the biggest winners were voters between the ages of 18 and 29. We made up 19 percent of the electorate, up from 18 percent in 2008 and 17 percent in 2004. With our steadily growing influence, young voters are becoming a force to be reckoned with in national politics. To all of you who voted: well done! I’m proud. Regardless of whether or not you agree with my beliefs, you recognized the importance of participating in government. But those of you who did not vote
desperate applicants, many of whom already have experience in their field or graduate degrees. My problem is not with the expectation that young people should continue their studies past high school, the problem here is the cost. We in the United States like to believe that our lifestyle is the envy of the rest of the world. But other industrialized nations, even those in financial crisis like Spain, subsidize higher education because they believe that it is an investment in the health of their societies. The U.S. falls short of other industrialized countries by failing to provide affordable, high quality university education for its young people. We need to remove the disaster capitalists from our education system to make college degrees and certificate programs accessible for students. The government needs to invest heavily in schools at all levels to restore the health of our nation. It is not the private sector that will solve this problem, contrary to the Romney-Ryan mantra. If commercial interests are allowed to charge students whatever they want, tuition will only continue to rise . Fortunately, young voters played a big role in thwarting the attempts of the business class to strengthen its grip around the throat of national politics this month. Let’s keep it up.
Letter to the Editor The new PEERS Coalition is off the ground and running at SRJC! We are excited by the momentum and enthusiasm with which the PEERS (People Empowering Each other to Realize Success) Coalition has been received. That said, I would like to take an opportunity to clear up a few misleading details that appeared in an article in the October issue of the Oak Leaf. As the author stated, the PEERS Coalition is an umbrella entity that provides support and training to the SRJC community with the goal of enhancing the conversation around mental wellness. We are working to raise awareness and reduce stigma associated with the spectrum of
mental wellness. We offer paid student internship opportunities, events for the public, and the launch of an SRJC Active Minds club (www.activeminds. org). Though we are rooted in the Student Health Services department and work in tandem, our funding comes from a source other than the student health fee, an important detail that appeared inaccurately in the previously mentioned article. The PEERS Coalition is made possible by the by the voterapproved Mental Health Services Act (Prop. 63). It is one of several Prevention and Early Intervention Initiatives implemented by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA), an organization of California counties
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working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families and communities. (For more information, visit www.calmhsa.org.) Accuracy in reporting with regard to these logistics is of critical importance, as misrepresentation may indeed compromise our funding. For more information about the PEERS Coalition, the internship opportunities, the Active Minds club, or how to stay informed in general, feel free to reach out. Students interested can email me at rfein@santarosa.edu or call 707-524-1536. Thank you, Becky Fein, MPH PEERS Coalition Coordinator Student Health Services
thE oak leaf • november 19, 2012
features OPINION
states legalize marijuana; will Colorado and Washington Two federal government intervene?
economy and environment can work together Deborah San Angelo Staff Writer
Daniel Barba / Oak Leaf
Houston Smothermon Co-Editor-in-Chief On Nov. 6, Washington and Colorado became the first two states to pass legislation that allows recreational use of marijuana for adults over the age of 21. Both states are taxing sales heavily. Colorado will use potential revenue for school construction while Washington will use the tax money to fund an array of health services. Experts predict Washington’s marijuana industry will produce $2 billion in tax revenue over the next five years. There is one small catch: the federal government still doesn’t recognize any of these state laws and can still enforce federal prohibition laws in states that allow the drug for medical or recreational use. Californians passed the landmark Proposition 215 in 1996, leading the country in legalizing marijuana for patients whose doctors recommend its use for medical purposes. Since then, 17 states and the District of Columbia have followed suit. The medical marijuana industry in California now produces
more than $100 million in tax revenue. After 16 years, one would think that the federal and state governments would have come to an agreement about how to enforce marijuana laws in California. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Often, local law enforcement agencies use the federal ban as an excuse to exploit the medical marijuana industry. For example, the Sonoma County Sheriffs have a narcotics task force that is made up of local and federal agents. The task force spends most of its time and resources raiding marijuana grow operations. The vast majority of these operations are legal under state law, and charges are rarely filed and even less often pursued to a conviction. Large amounts of cash are often confiscated from growers and, what makes it into the evidence room is split between the state and the agency. This is how task forces fund themselves. We’ve all heard the arguments for ending drug prohibition in high school class presentations and reports. The war on drugs is a racist endeavor that gives law enforcement yet another opportunity to single out people of color. It costs tax payers around $40 billion a year—money we can’t exactly
afford. If legalized and regulated, drugs would generate tax revenue, criminal enterprises would be crippled, and regulated manufacturing would make drugs safer. A portion of the revenue could be used to treat addiction, fund research and address drug related social problems. But some say legalization of all drugs is going too far. Marijuana is the least dangerous of all illegal drugs. Thousands of doctors agree that it has medicinal value. Also, it makes some people happy, and it doesn’t seem to be any more dangerous than alcohol. Do we really want to go around putting people in prison and destroying their lives over this? No, obviously not. Prohibition of marijuana is absurd and archaic. Unfortunately, while laws like Prop 215 and SB420 which are designed to allow medical marijuana use in California often protect users, they leave growers and sellers vulnerable. I applaud voters in Washington and Colorado for passing laws intended to end prohibition in those states, however I’m afraid that until the federal government catches up, marijuana providers in those states will be left in a similar situation.
Student on the Street
What can Santa Rosa Junior College do to be more sustainable?
Lovepreet Gill
Kathleen Lehre
Paige Abreams
Nadia Sandoval
“I think we over use our lighting systems and should utilize our many windows.”
“Compost bins would be great to have around campus.”
“Solar Panels would be great for our big campus and help us save on energy costs.”
“Recycling and composting across the campus would really help.”
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The world’s population is estimated to reach nine billion people by 2050. There are pressing social and environmental issues that need to be dealt with. At a global scale, scientific data now shows that humans are living beyond the carrying capacity of the planet. But our social units don’t operate well under pressure, especially when it comes to addressing real problems. Problems like our collective ability to survive. We’d rather engage in unresolvable moral arguments about abortion and gay marriage. It seems like we’re forced to stay focused on certain ideas and not others. In 37 years, will there be nine billion of us still ignoring the real problems? While we may talk about quality of existence, we treat it as if it has less importance than the mad scramble for money. We’re forced to do so because we can’t ignore money. But we can and do ignore the disastrous effects and consequences of our actions. We can ignore the fact that we’re failing to take care of people, animals, plants and the planet at large. The kind of social and agricultural practices we’ve been using are compromising our ability to survive. We’ve known it for a long time yet we haven’t changed or modified our unsustainable practices. Our system of economics depends on it. This is a system that still works on an assumption that the environment will provide infinite resources to draw on and a bottomless hole to throw the waste in. We are global citizens and need to get a grip on global systems. They’re basic mechanical systems, really. All the working parts need to function properly. Our communities are fragmented and so is our world. A healthy, functional world is an extended community. A sustainable community is one that is self-sufficient. It operates on diverse processes of exchange and sharing, uncomplicated enough for the average person to understand. It nourishes its members with food that it grows and raises, which also reduces the ecological footprint of food transportation. It educates and mentors its young with those who have more life experiences, which creates accountability. It makes the best use of its resources because it knows it’s in its own best interest to do so. It’s possible for the economy to connect with the environment in a mutually beneficial relationship. It would be a healthy, sustainable relationship where economics was tied to clean energy systems and sound agricultural production. We know that’s where the jobs are. Yet we are not transitioning. We ignore physical reality when we continue to look for more places to drill for oil. Will a shareholders’ vision of profit continue to take hold of an entire planet? Are more poisoned soils and waterways in store for us in the future? The powers that be, can only be challenged by well organized people around the world who have an investment in their local communities and the wellness of their ecosystems. To flourish and sustain our existence, we must find our place within the whole.
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thE oak leaf • november 19, 2012
features
Green living for a better life
it’s easier than you think to go green and save money along with the planet
Peter Njoroge Opinion Editor
Running water while you brush your teeth, leaving the room light on, waiting on your coffee machine to automatically start brewing and grabbing a plastic water bottle on your way to school are things most students presumably do each morning before tackling the day. Though this seems normal, it’s environmentally irresponsible and damages the already bruised ecosystem. Currently, the environment is in a decline due to population growth and depletion of natural resources. “Over the past century, human activities have released large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The majority of greenhouse gases come from burning fossil fuels to produce energy, although deforestation, industrial processes and some agricultural practices also emit gases into the atmosphere,” said the U.S. EPA website. According to the EPA, being environmentally responsible or sustainable means maintaining a harmonious and productive relationship with nature, and doing so for future generations. In other words, the symbiotic relationship between nature and humans is dependent on people realizing that
Repeatability grade when they need it to move on. Music department Chair Mark Anderman acknowledged the problem but said the changes are, “a classic example of overreacting to a problem.” Laura Downing-Lee, theater arts department Chair, has been following the changes and working both in her department and with others so everyone is prepared when it’s time to submit their families to the Cluster Technical Review (CTR) for approval. She is prioritizing students and making sure everyone gets the education they need. Downing-Lee is worried it may cause theater students problems because they rely heavily on repetition and practical experience working on plays each semester. Many of the classes have co-requisites to work on at least one production as a crew member. Students also act in multiple productions to get experience and improve resumes. Downing-Lee is planning meetings to educate theatre students on the changes in the department structure later this semester when she has time. Despite the heavy workload for faculty and the difficulty it may cause students, Downing-Lee is glad it will teach students “W’s are not to be messed with.” The theater department is making extensive changes, including rewriting, writing and changing courses. This can be 10-12 hours of work per course, and the theater department alone could be looking at changing 30-40 courses by April next year. Other departments don’t face quite the difficulty. The music department is already organized into groupings similar to families so there won’t be much change. Anderman is still worried however, “You can’t just learn piano in one semester, you can’t just learn to sing in one semester and you can’t learn to perform in an orchestra in one semester.” UC’s and CSU’s also require music transfers to be in a performance ensemble
steps to becoming more eco-conscious include: § Turn off lights that aren’t in use and replace five of the most used lights with Energy Star certified light bulbs, which last at least 10 times longer. According to the EPA, this will save you an estimated $70 a year on energy bills while contributing to a sustainable and efficient environment. § Reduce water usage, which in-turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions due to the energy used to pump and treat water. This means shorter showers, turning off running water and buying a reusable water bottle. § Ditch your car and walk, bike or carpool to school to cut down your carbon footprint and reduce the country’s dependence on oil. If you have to drive, drive smart. § Unplug your chargers, reuse what you can and cook all the food in your refrigirator to save excess waste from going to landfills.
their day-to-day lives directly affect that relationship. “People need to understand the extreme impact of the seemingly benign aspects of daily life. We know cars put poison into the air but what about your
XBox?” said SRJC student Eli Macias. A normal and environmentally negligent morning-day-and-night routine is easy to change with enough willpower to make adjustments. Some significant changes to an
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every semester regardless of how long it takes to transfer. This can create serious problems if no exemptions are made. The art department doesn’t see the changes as a problem because, like the music department, their classes are set up in relatively defined groups. Hinnenberg said they have prepared by stacking their courses with multiple subsections. Leonard Wagner, department chair of kinesiology, athletics and dance, is preparing his department for when official wording is released. He said the priority is to “create as many opportunities as we can for students to exercise while they are here.” He did make a distinction that athletics teams are exempt from the change. The exemption covers competitive groups through the school like the forensics team and the American College Theater Festival. All the departments have their work cut out for them because there is a complex process to get their families approved. After they work in their department to organize their classes and create the families, they will go to the CTR for approval and suggestions. After that it goes to the curriculum committee for approval then to the State Chancellors Office. This all needs to be completed by April 2013. Once the families have been organized and everything is official, students should check the school website for information. Counselors will also be working with the departments once families are decided and students will be able to talk to them to figure out how to get all their classes. For students who need but cannot take a course in a family, Anderman recommends making a clear petition to Admissions and Records. Freyja Pereira, director at Admissions and Records, said that if students are in the middle of a program and they need a class to complete their certificate, degree or transfer, the petition will probably be granted.
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otherwise typical day can contribute to the preservation of natural resources, better health and wellness, less pollution and waste, less energy use and more money in your pocket. If a substantial number of people practice a sustainable lifestyle, positive change might replace the otherwise severe consequences that await us in the near future. Along with implementing new sustainable habits, you can also improve your quality of life because of the amount of knowledge that will flourish from seeking better ways of interacting and building a harmonious relationship with nature. Nature’s complex and somewhat mysterious systems of providing life for every entity on the planet have everything people need to live healthy and comfortable lives. Making an effort to change daily habits doesn’t necessarily require substantial modifications. Researching information from websites such as EPA.gov and implementing a good amount of the ideas at home, school and every thing in-between is all it might take for any student, and layperson alike, to detract the damage done to the currently fragile ecosystem.
thE oak leaf • november 19, 2012
Profiles
SRJC Handyman creates intricate metal sculptures
Metal mccallum wonders Story by Features Editor Andrew McQuiddy Photography by Layout Manager Nadav Soroker
When he’s shaping or forming something, it’s about how it feels, said John McCallum. His sculptures are recycled from scrap metal and machine parts. “I’m trying to make something new no one else has seen, a new idea. ” McCallum’s fresh approach is plain for all to see at his home on the corner of Carr Avenue and Humbolt Street, two blocks from the SRJC campus. McCallum pursued a welding technology certificate under Ben Whitaker, a long-time family friend. He then landed a job with the athletics department, where his father Ron worked for 30 years starting in 1967. “We fit all the athletes for new uniforms, do all the laundry, set everything up before practice and games,” McCallum said. “Then, when everyone else’s gone home, we stay and tear everything down. I sew, I repair.” Repair work naturally includes welding and mechanics. “I’m a fix-it guy, that’s what I do. It’s a big job,” McCallum said. With his current title of Equipment Technician II, McCallum passes his father’s career mark in the department, adding on a decade as helper to John’s
21 years there. “My dad raced motorcycles when I was a kid,” McCallum recalled. “So he was always fixing something, doing something mechanical. Then Ben Whittaker was around and I watched him build the most beautiful stuff in the world – his motorcycles were just pieces of art. Even though they went fast and had a purpose, to me they were art.”
John McCallum loves to show people his art work, and is always happy to talk about what he has created. The pieces in his front yard near SRJC are only a few of his many custom works he has crafted.
McCallum first picked up the welder’s torch around age 12 and got serious about “building things” with it by junior high. “It’s something that I just always liked to do. I’ve still got a couple pieces in my garage,” McCallum said. “I have a dragster that I brazed together – my version of a dragster, but not actually a dragster. I have my versions of things, but you can call things anything you want.” Some of his fans have dubbed the latest, central piece amid his yard art “the Tinman.” McCallum takes a different tack. “I don’t like to name them,” he said. The Tinman sculpture began life as a weightlifter, but in the process it morphed and morphed again. “When I’m building a piece, I bet I change my mind a thousand times,” he said. “As I’m cutting something, I’m starting to shape it this way, then I want to change that to another way.” Such changes sometimes lead to personal growth. “At the same time I’m creating, I’m learning about myself, what kind of ideas I have. Where can I be different from somebody else? Because I want to be my own person.” McCallum said. “I don’t want to be compared to some guy in Sebastopol. I’m always trying to improve. I’m always trying to get better. I compete on my own terms, against myself.” McCallum hesitates to define what he does. “I still don’t think of myself as an artist,” he said. “Maybe a welder or a creator…I don’t like to pin myself down.” When satisfied it’s finished, however, he is willing to showcase his latest efforts on the corner of the front lawn. “I use this as practice welding,” McCallum said of his yard art. “This is just practice for something greater.” The twinkle in his eyes betray the
McCallum welds small awards that the department gives to athletes as jokes, like the Tony Taper award (Above) to the athlete who used the most tape during the season.
“The Tinman” is one of the pieces on display at the corner of Carr and Humbolt for anyone to see.
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only hint of what mammoth project he has in mind. “Some artists doodle,” he said with a smile, “I do this.”
McCallum has been welding small pieces since he was young. The smaller pieces including a small man (above) and a small dragster (below) now hang in his garage along with numerous other things, that may become part of future sculptures.