Oak Leaf Spring 2017 Issue 2

The Santa Rosa Junior College Newspaper

www.theoakleafnews.com

February 27, 2017

Volume CXXXVII, Issue II

Uncertain times for undocumented students

Simon Isaksson and James Wyatt Co-News Editor and Co-Editor-in-Chief

•

New immigration orders from President Trump prompt fear and apprehension for undocumented students

•

11 million immigrants now at risk of being deported—anxiety among students and teachers

• In response to federal policies, SRJC

becomes a Safe Haven—President

Chong does not rule out civil disobedience

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Enrollment in California Dreamers Act sees significant drop since Trump took office

P

resident Donald Trump has stepped up efforts to deport undocumented immigrants and toughen up U.S. immigration laws, heightening anxieties at Santa Rosa Junior College.

The president has long expressed a desire to stop illegal immigration into the United States. His administration’s plan, released Feb. 21, is to hire thousands of new immigration enforcement and border patrol agents, expand the number of undocumented immigrants who can be deported, and speed up the deportation process itself.

Currently, 11 million undocumented immigrants live and work in the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security. In 2013, around 38,500 lived in Sonoma County, according to the Press Democrat.

To prepare for the immigration law changes,

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the SRJC Board of Trustees unanimously voted Feb. 14 to make SRJC a Safe Haven school for undocumented students and other marginalized populations. SRJC President Dr. Frank Chong said it was the most important resolution to come before the Board of Trustees in his fiveyear tenure.

Specifically, the resolution states that SRJC will not release any personally identifiable student information, including any data related to immigration status, except if required by law, nor will the school cooperate with any state or federal effort to create a registry of individuals based on any protected characteristic such as national origin, religion, race or sexual orientation. The resolution will also not allow SRJC District Police to make an arrest solely on immigration status.

“I want to reassure worried students and teachers that this resolution is very clear in that we support everybody’s ability to come here; they are welcomed here and we embrace diversity,” Chong said. “Trump’s rhetoric is much more sweeping, much more aggressive than before [under President Barack Obama].

We, as a community college, are an open-access institution. The only people we do not really welcome are people who are of danger to our college, but as long as you want to come here and get an education, you can do that.”

One group of SRJC students intended to be protected by the college’s new resolution are the Dreamers, those who came to the United States as children and were given a Social Security Number despite their undocumented status, in accordance with Obama’s 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) executive order.

Around 480 Dreamers are currently enrolled

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at SRJC. While Trump has said he currently has no plans to repeal DACA, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer stated, “everyone who is here illegally is subject to removal at any time.”

Under current Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) guidelines, agents are told to stay away from college campuses. Chong hopes those guidelines will be maintained, but if they are not, he said that ICE agents will not be welcomed if they show up on campus.

“I don’t know if we can make sure students feel safe here on campus under Trump. There is an issue of trust,” Chong said. “If push comes to shove, the Board of Trustees and I would have a conversation about whether we are going to uphold the so-called ‘law’ even if we believe it is wrong, or whether we are going to exercise civil disobedience instead.”

Chong has discussed the possibility of ICE agents on campus with District College’s Police officials.

“I have talked to our police chief and his staff and they don’t really want to do that,” he said.

“The question then is, when you are a sworn officer and you are told to uphold the law, this becomes then an ethical and moral issue that is going to confront every American here.”

One of the undocumented students at SRJC is Enrique Yarce Martinez, a political activist critic of Trump’s administration. He said undocumented immigrants, both on campus and in the community, experience significantly higher levels of stress since Trump’s election.

“I’ve seen a lot more fear and paranoia from my community. Rightfully so, because we’re very noticeable right now. We all just want to be left alone and go to school and work, but the stress from all this immigration stuff is very real,” Martinez said.

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February 27, 2017

News

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SRJC reaffirms rights for transgender students Simon Isaksson

Editors-in-Chief

Albert Gregory and James Wyatt Section Editors A&E Editor | Rachel Genthe Features Editor | Tom Rivas Co-News Editor | Chris Ludlow Co-News Editor | Simon Isaksson Opinion Editor | Grant Wetmore Social Media Editor | Beatriz Verneaux Sports Editor | Albert Gregory Staff Writers Ali Benzerara, Amoura Deering, Arthur Gonzales-Martin, Beatriz Verneaux, Corbin Genthe, Luke Straub, Olivia Wray, Ruby Zheng, Travis LaBrucherie, and Will Mathis.

Photographers Arthur Gonzalez-Martin and Corbin Genthe Distribution Manager Travis LaBrucherie Layout Team Devin Schwarz, section editors and editors-in-chief LETTERS TO THE EDITOR We appreciate your feedback. Send letters to oakleafonline@gmail.com or to the Oak Leaf office. Letters should include 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.

Contact Newsroom: 707-527-4401 Ads Office: 707-527-4254 Advisor: Abigail Peterson: 707-5274867 apeterson@santarosa.edu Peer Assisted Learning Specialist Devin Schwarz EMAIL oakleafstaff@gmail.com

Co-News Editor The overhaul of U.S. immigration policy was not the only thing on President Donald Trump’s to-do list last week. On Feb. 22, Trump revoked federal guidelines protecting the rights of transgender students to use bathrooms corresponding to their chosen gender identity.

The rolled-back guidelines were put in place under President Barack Obama and instructed school districts and colleges receiving federal funding to include transgender students in Title IX, a federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education.

Instead, Trump shifts the burden of the law’s interpretation to states and districts.

After the decision, protests sparked all across the country, as it opened up the possibility that states or individual school districts can enact discriminatory policies against transgender students.

Sarah Whylly, who teaches philosophy, humanities and religion at Santa Rosa Junior College, sent an e-mail to all SRJC staff Feb. 22 asking the community to reassure students that Trump’s new guidelines will not affect the SRJC campus.

“Our transgender students are likely to have a great deal of

increase the number of any-gender bathrooms as new buildings will be built on campus or existing facilities get renovated.

“I continue to take pride in the culture of inclusion and respect we embrace at SRJC,” Chong said.

In response to Trump’s decision, local activists and community members will march outside Santa Rosa City Hall March 18 in support of transgender students and youth. Everyone is welcome, said organizer and transgender activist Shelby Munsch, who prefers to go by a first name.

“The LGBT++ struggle has always done better with sheer numbers. It’s part of the reason for putting sexual identity with

gender identity,” Shelby said.

“If we can have five times the numbers because we’re not working in groups, we’re that much stronger and capable of creating change.”

Shelby, a former SRJC student, is deeply concerned that the new policy leaves transgender students around the country even more vulnerable.

Transgender and other nongender conforming people in the United States attempt suicide at nearly ten times the rate of the overall population, according to a 2014 survey by the Williams Institute at UCLA. “This policy will literally be the death of some people,” Shelby said.

including the installation of devices on all campuses that measure the amount of energy, water and natural gas being used in each building.

Liebman says students and faculty would then be able to access the measurements on a cloud server once the installation was complete.

One project has already been implemented into the Bertolini Student Center on the Santa Rosa campus. The building is heated by a ground source heat pump, a sustainable temperature regulating system that uses the constant temperature of the Earth to heat and cool a building.

Liebman explained that if the building is too hot, the energy can be pushed back into the ground and extracted later when needed.

Because the ground source heat pump does not require natural gas, it has less impact on the environment. Liebman said that these pumps last a long time and require less maintenance. The ground source heat pump will also be installed in Pioneer, Burbank, Garcia, Forsyth and Analy halls on the Santa Rosa campus.

Replacing an outdated energy plant is another project on Leibman’s list. This natural gas

plant is located near Maggini and Tauzer Hall on the Santa Rosa campus, and its waste energy was used to heat the pool. Liebman said that there were challenges surrounding this generator and that a study is being done to determine the best option for replacing the energy plant and using fewer fossil fuels.

In addition, the school’s lights will be replaced with energy efficient LEDs. The LED lights have occupancy sensors and a dimmers, and classroom lights in front and behind projectors may get separate dimmers, allowing for an upgraded teaching environment. The lights in the childcare center have already been fully replaced.

Also the Santa Rosa campus garage is equipped with LED lights that turn on when there is movement in the building which not only increases energy efficiency, but also safety at night.

“We’re moving pretty quickly on these projects,” Liebman said. “The solar project has been moving forward pretty aggressively.”

Liebman expects to replace the generation plant in the next two to three years. The LED project should be done in the next two years for all SRJC

campuses. The parking garage on the Santa Rosa campus is now lit with LED lights that turn on when there is movement in the building which not only increases energy efficiency, but also safety at night.

Liebman also works on student transportation issues.

He hopes to find a way to help students get to school and decrease the school’s carbon footprint. He wants the school to find ways to encourage students to take public transportation that would cost less.

In order to make students and faculty more aware of the progress on sustainability issues, Liebman said he would like to publish a report that “will show the data on where the college stands.”

Students are also welcome to present project proposals to the IEPC if they have any ideas for ways to increase the college’s energy efficiency.

“The more students the merrier,” Liebman said.

For more information on SRJC’s future sustainability plans, students are encouraged to visit the SRJC Sustainability Summit on March 10 in the Pepperwood Preserve.

Sustainability in focus as campus gets upgraded Rachel Roll Contributing Writer

Under a backdrop of shifting presidential priorities with regard to climate change, Advertising Manager Santa Rosa Junior College Keshia Knight continues efforts to reduce its oakleaf-ads@santarosa.edu environmental impact.

The Board of Trustees recently granted $32 million, with help from Measure H funding, to be Check out our website: used toward sustainability projects www.theoakleafnews.com on SRJC’s various campuses.

David Liebman, an Exclusive, online-only content administrator in sustainable can be found daily at www. facilities operations, described theoakleafnews.com five main projects the college hopes to complete within the next few years, as well as some long term projects.

Liebman hopes to install solar panels in the parking areas for the Petaluma and Santa Rosa campuses to help power the schools. While the Petaluma Spring break is just around the corner campus uses the least power, it and the SRJC community is already has the most space for panels. making plans for the time off. PlanSpace issues at the Santa Rosa ning on heading out of town? Staycampus will present challenges ing home to save money? You are not for installation. alone. Read Amoura Deering’s article In December 2016, the about how SRJC students can make Integrated Environmental the most of the Spring break this year.

Planning Committee (IEPC) discussed some of the projects,

Online Exclusives

anxiety over this and we should act to reassure them as best we can,” Whylly said in her e-mail.

“SRJC can and should commit as a body to protecting those rights in an uninterrupted fashion and assure our transgender students that nothing on our campus will change for them.”

SRJC president Dr. Frank Chong reaffirmed that SRJC will continue to maintain genderneutral bathrooms in an interview with the Oak Leaf Feb. 23.

“Our local response is that we are going to support our transgender community,” he said.

Chong also e-mailed a statement to the entire college community reasserting his commitment to

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Safe Haven

News

February 27, 2017

3

Fears remain despite trustees’ unanimous resolution

Left: Oak Leaf stock photo; Above: Albert Gregory/ Oak Leaf

Left: Enrique Yarce Martinez, an undocumented student at Santa Rosa Junior College, now worries about the consequences from President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Martinez states he is an American whether Trump likes it or not, but feels uncertain about whether or not he will get to stay in the United States Right: Santa Rosa Junior College President Dr. Frank Chong and Board of Trustees member Mariana Martinez discuss the importance of protecting undocumented immigrants and other marginalized populations during the Feb. 14 Board of Trustees meeting. The Safe Haven resolution was passed unanimously by the board.

am a human being. My parents brought me here out of love and Despite the fact that Martinez desperation. I deserve respect. is a DACA student, he is worried I’m on this planet to help people.” about being deported in the future.

This is Martinez’s last semester “I’ve been feeling very at SRJC. He wants to continue his depressed lately about my future studies at UC Berkeley but said it in this country. Will all my work is difficult to work and study now be thrown away? I’ve lived here because of the uncertainty he is for 19 years; I’m an American feeling about his future. whether they like it or not,” “It has been difficult to believe Martinez said. “Anything seems that I can do it when so much is possible at this stacked against point, and me. But what I’ve despite the nice decided is that it’s feelings I have pointless to live “I don’t know if that things might a half-life hiding we can make sure work out, I have in the shadows. no idea what Instead, I will students feel safe will happen. be brown here on campus The future and proud, is extremely undocumented under Trump.” uncertain, and I and unafraid,” am scared.”

Martinez said.

- Dr. Frank Chong, Martinez “I’m gonna has noticed fight for myself Santa Rosa Junior increased fear and my people College President in the local because [that’s community. what] we all “Folks will need in order not want to to improve our go to work or go out in case of society. I will get my degrees and deportation. It causes so much I will never stop resisting.” stress in our communities.

Erik Bruce, SRJC history Depression goes up and suicides instructor and a criminal defense will come. My community lawyer who has worked with is scared to death,” he said. undocumented immigrants, “Families are being torn apart said Trump’s policies are with absolutely no thought to the clearly intended to deport large damage.” numbers of people. He said According to Martinez, it immigration officials will no is important for other SRJC longer differentiate between students and staff to understand undocumented people who the situation the undocumented commit violent crimes and those students are in. who commit nonviolent crimes.

“I think the dialogue on these “There is no distinction who immigration issues needs to these people are, whether they are continue. Some students at the a good person or a bad person, JC need to know more about someone who made a mistake, what it is to be an immigrant so so it’s a blanket attempt to get rid they don’t fall for the fear and of a lot of people. To me that’s hatred that’s being promoted nonsensical,” Bruce said. by the right,” Martinez said. “I In one of Bruce’s cases, a client Continued from cover. . .

without documents was charged with who are undocumented, and a vandalism, a crime Bruce worries gigantic threat to everybody, to the could now lead to deportation. country and the college,” he said.

“He [the client] told me that if he Fear of deportation from goes back to Sinaloa, Mexico, where Trump’s policies are now he has never been nor does he speak affecting enrollment at SRJC. Spanish, the only thing he guesses At the Feb 14. Board of Trustees he can do then is to fall into crime,” meeting, Collegiate Senate Bruce said.

President Kathleen Matthies Bruce also explained how local reported the number of students authorities could thwart federal applying for protection under enforcement efforts. the California Dream Act “There’s no compulsion under dropped by 64 percent for the the law that the local jurisdiction 2017-18 school year, according has to produce and transport to to College Greenlight. immigration authorities and custody Matthies stated that concerns someone they discovered not to be about immigration reform and an American citizen,” he said. the new Trump administration Many SRJC instructors and could be partially to blame staff are confused and anxious in for the sudden and significant response to Trump’s deportation decrease. 34,141 students applied policies.

Terry for California Mulcaire, an Dream Act in English instructor 2016-17; so far, “I will be brown at SRJC and a for the 2017representative of 18 school year, and proud, the All Faculty only 13,000 have undocumented Association, applied. wants faculty Pedro Avila, and unafraid.” to get together vice president and have further of student - Enrique Yarce conversations services, said Martinez, SRJC about how Trump’s he understands programs will affect s t u d e n t s ’ student/activist teachers on campus. anxiety.

“I’d like to “The fear is see the teachers real. Put yourself talk amongst in their shoes. themselves first and then talk to They feel like a target right now, the [SRJC] administration about the media is talking about it, what they think is the right thing the president is making them to do,” Mulcaire said. “I can only a target so it has to be pretty speak for myself, but the stress for fearful for them to step out of me as a teacher is mostly about my their homes every single day… students, who might be seized and I’m sure everyday when they taken out of my class.” step out [for class] it’s on their Mulcaire believes that Trump’s mind, ‘what if there is a raid?’” immigration policies terrify Avila said. undocumented students on As vice president of student campus and members of the services, Avila wants students to Hispanic community. know that SRJC supports all students.

“We all need to realize that this “The college is a safe campus is an acute threat to students here and we are all here committed

to protect [undocumented students] and support them…

Just reach out. We are here to support them and hear them out [about] anything, anything that might be fearful for them,” Avila said. He continued, “what the board did, that’s a statement, that’s a commitment.

Unanimously they approved the resolution and that shows a ton of support from our board and also sends a message to administration, employees and staff that’s the direction that we are taking as a district.”

Decreasing enrollment due to concerns over immigration is a red flag for Avila. He said all colleges, including SRJC, place a high priority on maintaining enrollment numbers.

“Enrollment translates to funding, so if you are not keeping an eye on your enrollment, your enrollment drops, your funding declines which then prevents us to do the things that we need to do for students. The less money we have for services it makes it more challenging for us to do what we do,” Avila said.

The SRJC Safe Haven resolution confirms that the safe spaces on campus will have appropriate funding in order to guarantee enough resources and support for those students who need it.

“We are trying to ascertain that,” Chong said. “Dreamers students said they needed a better space for their Dream Center, so we are looking at appropriate resources to try to find them a more appropriate space. I don’t think that much funds will be required.”

The entire Safe Haven resolution can be found on SRJC Board of Trustees’ website.

A Spanish version will be published soon.

Features Protect your online activity or you could be a victim Watch your back or else: of cyber crime, identity theft and phishing scams

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www.theoakleafnews.com

February 27, 2017

Tom Rivas

Features Editor These days, almost everybody owns a device capable of accessing the internet. People are constantly interacting with one another, sharing sensitive information 24/7. Many users download apps and simply trust that the software is safe and secure.

With so much of our personal information out there in cyberspace, can we protect ourselves from cyber crime?

Michael McKeever is a computer & information science instructor at SRJC who teaches classes on computer networking, operating systems and how to secure them.

“The most common way an electronic device can be compromised is by connecting to a free public Wi-Fi network and doing transactions that include confidential information,” McKeever said. “You should never do any banking or credit card purchasing while on a public WiFi network unless you use a VPN.” A Virtual Private Network (VPN) enables users to securely access a private network and share data remotely through public networks. It secures your computer’s internet connection, making sure that the data you’re receiving and sending is

encrypted and secure from cyber criminals.

“The biggest problem with a public Wi-Fi network is all this information is in the air and somebody can capture it.

Anybody with a wireless antenna and a wireless card can pick up the data in the air and given enough time can crack it if it’s encrypted,” McKeever said.

McKeever says not to be overly paranoid but to be aware of protecting your online activity.

There are plenty of tools that hackers have access to, so knowing what they are could save you from being a victim.

Some online scammers like to use a tactic called phishing which someone impersonates a business to trick you into giving them your personal information. Phishing scams are often sent through emails, text or pop-up messages.

They ask you to update personal information, such as a password, social security, credit card or bank account numbers.

For example, the culprit sends you an email from what looks to be a legitimate business, most often a financial institution. The email contains a link to a fake website which replicates the real one. Delete email immediately.

Legitimate businesses never ask you to send personal information through emails or pop-ups.

Also be cautious when

Tom Rivas / Oak Leaf

Students may feel safe using campus computers but public Wi-Fi is unsecure. Take steps to always protect your online activity.

deciding to open an attachment or downloading files from emails, even if you know the person. The files could contain viruses or malware that can weaken your computer’s security. Once these are opened your computer is finished.

Having a strong password is very important. It’s easy to be lazy and use the same one for every account, but this is a bad idea. This gives cyber criminals a better chance to access all your accounts. A strong password should have at least 12 characters including numbers, symbols, capital letters and lowercase letters. Make sure you keep your passwords hidden at all times, and don’t keep them in places where others may have access.

McKeever says students and other members of the

Stand tall

college community should take precaution when using public computers. Even though the network claims to be secure you don’t know for sure who has access to the content that gets posted through that network. When working on public computers treat the environment like someone is watching everything you do.

SRJC student Rodrigo Alarcon uses campus computers to do his homework. He feels that using any public computer to access personal information is a bad idea.

“I’m kind of paranoid about cyber security because what I’ve read about security breaches,” Alacon said . “I only use my personal devices to check personal information when I’m online.”

When sending sensitive information over the internet,

students should make sure to use HTTPS in the URL. HTTPS stands for Hyper Text Protocol Secure and is the secure version of HTTP. This means that all of the information being sent between your browser and the website is encrypted.

Browsers like Firefox, Internet Explorer and Chrome will show a padlock icon in the address bar to show that HTTPS connection has been applied. If the address bar is missing the padlock or HTTPS, don’t send personal information or you will risk identify theft.

Keeping your personal information secure is easy and a good habit to get into. Spending extra time learning what cyber thieves are capable of doing can help you to avoid any problems down the road.

Hard work brings pleasant surprise Ali Benzerara Staff Writer He’s a first-year student athlete who holds down the paint for Santa Rosa Junior College. Erik Poulsen has a love for basketball and a razor-sharp focus for the game.

Poulsen, 20, found his focus in spring 2016 when he decided to get serious about basketball. His goal is playing at a Division I school and continuing to play professionally overseas.

Although originally from Santa Rosa, Poulsen started his high school career at Analy High School in Sebastopol, where he played JV basketball as a freshman and varsity as a sophomore. At the end of his sophomore year, Poulsen decided to change schools.

“It wasn’t the right culture of school for me. I felt like I didn’t fit in very well there. It was a tough decision but was a good one for my social development,” Poulsen said .

Poulsen transferred to Montgomery High School—closer to home in Santa Rosa—but was forced to sit out his junior year from varsity competition due to regulations. That didn’t stop Poulsen from working on his game.

“It was pretty tough because I would go to practice and then come game day I would just be on the bench and cheer my guys on,” Poulsen said. “I kind of wish I had a chance to play on that

team. It was good for me to be a part of that group and make friends with those guys, and be a part of that team.”

After graduating high school in 2015, Poulsen found himself at SRJC with aspiration to play ball, but after trying out, making the team and then quitting, Poulsen wasn’t sure what his next move was.

After trying out for SRJC in Fall 2016 and choosing not to continue, Poulsen had decide whether he wanted to continue his basketball career. Spring 2016 was an important time in Poulsen’s life, as he dug deep within himself to focus on what matters.

“I didn’t think it would be good for my development, so I stopped playing, took some time off and tried to decide if playing basketball was something I was going to want to do for my whole college career—about two or three months after that, I decided that basketball was going to be a big part of my life,” Poulsen said.

Once Poulsen fully committed to the game, life began to change. He focused on getting stronger, putting on weight, and building a stronger foundation.

Poulsen got in the habit of going to the gym six to seven days a week to become a tougher inside player.

“It was kind of a big problem for me my first year, getting positioned down low and the whole physical aspect of the game was a challenge for me,” Poulsen said. “Part of it is

having a good mindset about it and being tough. You’re gonna get hit and pushed around, but that’s just part of the game… you have to bring a certain level of toughness down low and that’s something I’ve felt like I worked hard on, and its showing in the stats.”

Poulsen leads the state in defensive rebounds and finished the season top five in the Big 8 Conference in points per game, rebounds per game, free throw percentage, 3-point percentage and field goal percentage.

Being a student-athlete is tough. On top of all the pressure that comes with school, athletes need to stay focused and perform when game time comes.

For Poulsen, who takes 15 units of general studies, finding a routine helps keep him on track and in focus.

“I try to take off Saturdays. Just take a day to take care of some errands and take some time to watch some college basketball and just chill,” Poulsen said.

“The thing that is so key is seeing the things in your future and keep that in mind and just seeing the great opportunity for success.”

Seems like his routine is working just fine. As the regular season finishes and playoffs begin, Poulsen has about 10 schools scouting him, including University of San Francisco, University of Nevada, Reno, University of Hawaii and UC Santa Barbara.

With opportunities knocking, Poulsen faces a big decision about

Ali Benzerara / Oak Leaf

Top: Erik Poulsen looks for an open teamate in SRJC’s game against Sacramento City. Bottom: The stretch five attempts a poster later in the eventual overtime win.

the best move for him and his development as a player. If the offer is right, Poulsen feels it would be unwise to not take the opportunity and play three years of DI basketball.

“We are just focused on the season right now. As soon as our season’s done, we’re going to sit down and talk and we’ll see what he wants to do. I’ll give him my advice in any way I can and make sure he’s making a good decision for him,” said SRJC head coach Craig McMillan.

During practice Poulsen continues to

work on playing aggressive, becoming more consistent with his jump shot, post moves and his ball handling.

McMillan comments that Poulsen, although not very vocal, is a respected team leader through his work ethic.

“I didn’t know what to expect winning this year, and its kind of been a pleasant surprise,” Poulsen said.

After coming off a loss in the playoffs against Oholone College, Poulsen’s season has ended and he will soon decide to either take off to a Division I school or play one more year at SRJC.

A&E

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February 27, 2017

5

American vs. Korean fashion Ruby Zhang Staff Writer

Albert Gregory/ Oak Leaf

American fashion takes on an active, yet trendy style these days, with comfort taking priority over being runway ready.

For many people, different clothing styles can be used to express who we are as an individual; our personality and character. And there’s a difference between having nice clothes and having style—take the difference between Korean and American fashions, for example.

“I follow Korean fashion and I think Korean fashion is girlish and formal,” said Shannon Choi, a Santa Rosa Junior College student from Seoul, South Korea. “For me, the color of American fashion is limited and the style is focused on comfort,” Choi said. “Americans seem to focus more on the sporty style. At the same time, the outlook is very simple and uniform.”

Choi says more elaborate, costume styles are cutting edge in Korea at the moment, including velvet textures and vintage finds. In general, Koreans dress up more for typical day-to-day wear than Americans do. “The pants are getting wider and wider in order to chase back to the 80s style,” she explains. Young women in Korea also follow trends in fashion and makeup online more than Americans do, says Choi.

Korean fashion icons include K-Pop stars like G-Dragon and T.O.P from the group “Big Bang,” though Choi prefers the style of the American model, Kendall Jenner.

SRJC student Kasey Metzler, who grew up in Windsor, CA, also likes vintage styles from the 40s and 50s. Her fashion icon is model and singer Lana Del Rey. “I don’t really follow both American and Korean fashion nor do I really pay attention to the differences between both of them. But sometimes I look at Korean websites or models on Facebook and Instagram,” Metzler says.

She thinks Korean fashion is more complicated and more focused on cute, girlie styles. “It seems that American fashion is popular with more of a hipster style,” Metzler says.

Both women look to the media for fashion inspiration.

Choi loves following celebrity fashion in NYLON magazine. The magazine helps her figure out what she should be wearing for the day. Metzler likes to visit the website Pinterest for style inspiration.

Both American and Korean fashions are always changing, but they never seem to be exactly the same.

Wine Not?

Albert Gregory / Oak Leaf

Browsing through online shops and style blogs are a good resource for fashionistas to get ideas about korean clothing trends.

SRJC Wine Classic great success for college and community Ali Benzerara Staff Writer Santa Rosa Junior College raised close to $100,000 for student programs and scholarships on Feb. 12 by wining and dining. Guests enjoyed wine from 30 local wineries and tasted culinary treats from students and alumni at the third SRJC Wine Classic.

As a part of the WINE 131 class, students used this event to familiarize themselves with the process of putting on a wine-tasting event.

“Yesterday we moved tables, buckets, pitchers and got everything in place. It took us a few hours,” said WINE 131 student Robin Spriggs.

“After the event we will clean up and break down everything so it’s ready for class tomorrow.”

The Wine Classic gives the community an extravagant opportunity to see SRJC in a wine-industry light,

connecting the college and community while giving back to it as well.

“It’s events like this where we build our community and our base as a college, and really show how deeply we are rooted in this community,” said SRJC President Dr. Frank Chong. “It’s very uplifting to see people come out and support our college.”

The annual SRJC Wine Classic is a student-run event spearheaded

by St. Francis Winery President and Chief Executive Officer Christopher Silva and SRJC instructor Audrey Le Baudour. The event is put on with the help of 40 SRJC students and alumni from the culinary arts department, wine studies program and international students program.

The money raised from the event goes towards scholarships and programs for culinary arts, hospitality and viticulture students. In addition to funding scholarships, students working the event can network with local

Ali Benzerara/ Oak Leaf

A local winemaker pours a sampling of a Sonoma-Cutrer red wine for one of the many guests in attendance at Santa Rosa Junior College’s third annual Wine Classic. The sold-out event raised almost $100,000 for student programs and scholarships.

winery owners for future employment opportunities—making the event extremely beneficial to students.

Chong and Silva greeted guests upon arrival and handed them an etched SRJC agriculture crystal Riedal wine glass, included with the $75 ticket price.

The cafeteria was given an upscale look, and provided comfort for guests as they tasted wine poured by local owners and winemakers.

There were 82 local wines poured, some cultured from vines as old as 130 years, such as the Kunde Family Winery’s 2014 Reserve Century Vines Zinfandel.

The culinary arts department created a food-lovers island in the middle of the cafeteria, filling it with gourmet

appetizers prepared by SRJC culinary arts students and alumni.

Current culinary students opened fresh oysters provided by Bodega Oyster Company. Herbed goat cheese and caper tapenade crostini’s, spicy shrimp salad shooters and ahi tuna tartare cups were served by SRJC alum Andrew Jetson, 26, owner of Croques and Toques food truck.

Brunch Anytime, started by alumna Lisa Cameron, created a colorful Cajun jambalaya, chicken Bourguignon over polenta and posole rojo appetizers.

Along with the appetizers supplied

by SRJC Culinary Arts and its alumni, cheese boards were donated by Oliver’s Market and Jackson Family Winery provided gourmet tapas. Crispy pork

belly with mango daikon salad, carrot ginger soup and pickled beet salad with Delice de la Vallee cheese appetizers were on the menu.

Guests indulged in wine as owners and winemakers shared a wealth of knowledge about the wine and where it came from, creating a unique and special context to the wine and the event.

Halfway through the evening, Silva and Chong introduced and honored Art Ibleto, “The Pasta King,” and Evelynn Cheatham, founder of Worth Our Weight, for their selfless contributions to the community and to SRJC. The Wine Classic shows off SRJC’s wide range of programs associated with the wine and hospitality industry.

Celebrating diversity Black History Month events at SRJC

Catherine Ramirez/ Oak Leaf

Deogratias Niyizonkiza visited the college Feb. 13 and spoke to students about his struggle to survive genocide in Burundi in 1994. He spends his life spreading his message and running his foundation Village Health Works.

Albert Gregory Co-Editor-in-Chief

“Are we safer when we bury our heads in the sand when the world is burning?”

Humanitarian and genocide survivor Deogratias “Deo” Niyizonkiza travels all over the world speaking to students and spreading a message of peace and compassion.

Deo’s life story was detailed in a New York Times bestselling book, “Strength in What Remains” by Pulitzer Prize winning author Tracy Kidder. Santa Rosa Junior College was fortunate enough to hear Niyizonkiza

speak Feb. 13 in Newman Auditorium followed by an open reception in Bertollini Hall where students were able to engage with him and have books signed.

“It was really moving,” said SRJC student Estefany Fernandez, 20, who heard Niyizonkiza speak and attended the reception after. “It’s crazy to see how much people can go through.

How much struggle they face and then overcome it and become something bigger than themselves to help people through those same struggles. It’s really beautiful when people try to flip others’ life around. It gives you a lot of hope.”

Niyizonkiza’s life experiences

provide him with a key voice to spread his message. He grew up in Burundi and was a medical student in 1994 when he escaped the genocide that killed an estimated 800,000 in Rwanda and Burundi. He fled to New York where he was homeless for a time but eventually earned a degree at Columbia University before returning to Burundi to start Village Health Works foundation. He worked for Partners in Health an international medical nonprofit.

“Burundi never left my mind,” Niyizonkiza said. “The horror never left my mind.”

The foundation uses community engagement to treat illnesses with

primary health care services. With state of the art facilities built mostly by Burundians with little to no funding, this organization shows the grassroots power of community.

At SRJC, Niyizonkiza spoke of the many times he wanted to give up and of the many people who helped him achieve his dream of attending medical school. He emphasized his passion for education and called for everyone to join his fight for peace.

“Right here, in this college where you are, you are almost in heaven,” Niyizonkiza said. He believes the most important thing is to go to school and learn, and in doing so you will become a person who promotes peace.

culture, background or skin color.

BSU currently has only a few members, including international students from France, Africa, the Bahamas, Eritrea, Pakistan and a small island near Madagascar. “Between us we speak seven different languages and have accounts of the black experience from all over the world,” Silimon said.

She stresses black people should feel comfortable in their own skin. “[People] put themselves down so much,” she said.

Students shouldn’t have to conform to a certain ideal or feel like they are less than others—especially on campus.

“I want them to all be able to listen to their own types of music anywhere,” Silimon said.

In the BSU, Silimon and the other active members want black students to come together and feel comfortable. She wants more black students to feel excited about

joining the BSU. Silimon believes many leave their studies at SRJC because there aren’t enough African Americans attending the school.

According to the Community College League of California, 4.4 percent of California Community College students identified as African American. Another 3.5 percent identified as multi-ethnic. The numbers are even lower at SRJC, where AfricanAmericans are just 2.3 percent of the student body.

It is hard to reach out to this population and not only because of the small numbers.

“Unfortunately, we tend to carry discomfort and try our best to forget we are black and blend into Santa Rosa. Apathy—it’s the reason the BSU lacks momentum as a union now,” Silimon said.

At the BSU, students engage in

conversation about ways to reach out to the community, although it is difficult to connect with the entire campus.

Times are changing quickly under the new president and it is so important now for everyone to come together.

“Under the new leadership and with the members in the club, there are so many opportunities, things we can do for the community, and there is just so much potential,” Silimon said.

The BSU hopes to gather more members, as it has many exciting event ideas and discussions planned, such as a possible performance by black muslim rapper Alia Sharrief. Silimon met with Sharrief after her performance at a 50th Black Panther Anniversary and hopes Sharrief can make it to the school.

The origins of SRJC’s BSU Olivia Wray Staff Writer

Black Student Union president Bat-el Silimon, an 18-year-old first-year student, is ready to meet people who share the same goal: to strive for a better society, starting with black students on the campus of Santa Rosa Junior College campus.

The BSU was founded by former SRJC student Damion Square, who was determined to start the club because of a lack of black culture and awareness at SRJC. Now Silimon is dedicated to coordinating events for SRJC and organizing meetings, all while studying for a philosophy major. Her goal in the program is to encourage African Americans not to feel ashamed of their

Continues online at Oakleafnews.com...

One love diversity festival Beatriz Verneaux Co-A&E Editor

In times of hardship, festivities that celebrate diversity become more important. One Love, held in the main quad Feb. 15, aimed to celebrate our diverse communities at Santa Rosa Junior College.

Alexia Carrillo, director of clubs on SRJC’s Petaluma campus and a member of Student Equity, got the idea from previous events held at the college.

“I was in a learning community, and I wanted to give back,” Carrillo said.

“We got all the learning communities, all the clubs here on campus that were able to table, which is amazing.”

According to Carrillo, the wide range of clubs at the festival made it clear how diverse SRJC can be, and provided students with the opportunity to get to know resources they didn’t previously.

“After elections, people

were scared and upset. This Music and performance is to show that there’s [a art was abundent. With diverse] environment for local rappers, soul and jazz people,” Carrillo said. bands, and a theatrical The festivities lasted three performance that relayed hours, and nearly every an honest take on the SRJC club was on hand with history of slavery in information, games and America by CEO of Legacy activities.

The Showcas es human resources Jacqueline “Slaves had to be department L a w r e n c e celebrated the such resilient, strong branded the festival by playing people to undergo all event with an the game “Are honest take they went through.” you smarter on the history than HR?” The - Jacqueline Lawrence, of slavery in Student Health America.

“It’s CEO of legacy Center gave away where I found condoms and my roots in showcases discussed sex performing health.

Black History While sipping events.

Slaves d e l i c i o u s , had to be such freshly prepared resilient, strong Eritrean coffee, students people to undergo all they met members of the Asian went through. I went to a Pacific Student Success and plantation and I sat alone made paper roses, and heard in the slaves’ quarters. My from the Feminist United spirit mashed with the Club on gender equality. spirits of the slaves and I Planned Parenthood and the told them I would not let UMOJA community, which the legacy die.” empowers African American Lawrence believes many students through college, people want to sweep were also present. certain things about black

history under the rug, “I think the slaves made many contributions, and it’s a rich part of our history…Black and white people need to go back to plantation time and talk about what freedom looks like.”

Abril Barbosa, the executive student government assembly president for Petaluma Campus believes more should happen within the community.

“Welcome back week is coming up, which is for students to release all the stress and get involved.

We believe that clubs lead to student success,” Barbosa said.

The events are held Feb. 27, 28 and March 1. On Monday there will be early morning breakfast for students with early morning classes, Taco Tuesday and games to create community, and on Wednesday a club rush day as well as free food and a barber available for anyone of any gender.

Corbin Genthe/ Oak Leaf

Members from different Santa Rosa Junior College groups attended the One Love Festival to celebrate diversity on Feb 15.

This was the flagship event during Santa Rosaa Junior College’s Black History onth celebration. The event hosted a number of cultural exhibitions intended to celebrate and to educate the public about the diversity on SRJC campus.

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February 27, 2017

On Cue Calendar of Events

NEEMO 21 Mission Overview with Dr. Dawn Kernagis- From noon- 1 p.m. on March 6 at Newman Auditorium. Research Scientist Dr. Dawn Kernagis joined NEEMO 21 over the last summer with crew members living at the world’s only underwater research station, the Aquarius habitat. For eight days Kernagis participated in over a dozen mission objectives including telemedicine, robotics and workload assessment.

They Call Me Q- 5 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. on March 7 in Carole L. Ellis Auditorium. Actress Qurrat Ann Kadwani puts on a onewoman live performance This show is about a girl originally from Bombay who is looking to find harmony between cultural traditions and acceptance in American society.

Islamophobia: Islam in the American Imagination- Hosted by the sociology circle at 4:40 p.m. on March 8 in Newman Auditorium. Islamic studies scholar May Kosba from the Graduate Theological Union speaks about Islamophobia and the lesser known religion of Islam.

CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap (Film Screening/ Panel)- Showing 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. on March 9 at Bertolini Student Center in Room 4731.

Facilitated by Darci Rosales, manager of MESA and cosponsored by Women’s Global Leadership Initiative (WGLI) this documentary follows gender gaps in the computer science/ software engineering field. A panel of female educators and professionals in this career will follow after the film.

Carlos Goldoni’s “The Servant of Two Masters”- Running with matinee and evening showings from March 10-19 at Burbank Auditorium. The play is based off the translation and adaptation of Jeffrey Hatcher and Paolo Emilio Landi, SRJC Theatre Art Department Chair Artistic Director Leslie McCauley says this performance combines Woody Allen’s wit and Monty Python’s absurdity to bring a comedy worth seeing. This is recommended for ages 12 and above.

Music and Writing for Social Change- Discussion from Noon1 p.m. on March 13 at Newman Auditorium.

Singer and songwriter Taina Asili inspires listeners with lyrics about uniting communities, breaking barriers and empowerment.

Her music is apart of the fight for social change in the U.S. and around the world. She shares her experiences in activism and environmental justice.

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Hip-hop culture Then and now Ali Benzerara Staff Writer It’s a culture. It’s a revolution. It’s a lifestyle birthed from political, economic and social oppression.

It’s hip-hop.

For nearly five decades hip-hop and rap culture have been major influences on pop-culture in America. From the birth of hip-hop with Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five as well as Afrika Bambaataa and the rest of Zulu Nation, hip-hop culture transcended into a glamorous renegade form of expression with no limits.

The emergence of gangsta rap in the mid to late 1980s gave hip-hop a unique voice as artists began telling their stories of daily hardships in the inner cities.

With the help of groups like N.W.A. and artists like Ice-T, gangsta rap was established as a dominant form of musical expression in pop-culture.

As this hip-hop subgenre took over the culture in the 80s and 90s, the music industry created a stereotype of

thuggish masculinity, selling an image of “gangsta mentality” to promote hip-hop in the mainstream media, explaining why the 90s were filled with baggy jeans, tall-tees and bandanas “You wouldn’t normally think that would make it in the mainstream but it started making money. At some point around the time gangsta rap emerged and started making a lot of money the industry embraced a formula and stereotype for rappers that should be kind of thuggish and very hyper-masculine,” says Dr. Amanda Morrison, coordinator of the intercultural center at Santa Rosa Junior College’s Petaluma campus.

In the early 2000s rap and hip-hop shifted towards a more rhythmic and stylish sound. Groups such as Outkast, Destiny’s Child and Atmosphere, and artists like Nelly, Andre 3000 and Kanye West began expolring new realms of rap and hip-hop.

Although hip-hop and rap began to change towards more of a mainstream sound, the roots of hip-hop culture roots never left the music. Fashion,

beats, dance, lyrics and art have always been a part of the culture, no matter what sub-genre of hip-hop or rap one talks about. Artists such as 50 Cent, T.I., Nas and Eminem reinvented the culture and sound of gangsta rap by conveying lyrical messages about social and political injustice.

Since the mid 2000s, rap has again gone through dramatic changes.

Popular rap went from Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and Lil Wayne to Lil Yachty, Lil Uzi Vert and 21 Savage in about five to seven years. Emerging from this shift in hip-hop and rap music was the sub-genre “Trap Rap.” One major artist to start today’s trap sound is Future, who released Pluto in 2012, which featured a new autotuned style of rap with explicit lyrics semi-difficult to understand. With the release of his 2014 album Honest, Future skyrocketed into the rap limelight, bringing trap music with him and allowing many new young artists to follow.

“Future created his own sounds and so many people have bit off that

and when they bite off him they usually sound better,” said Paige Raymond, former SRJC student and local hip-hop/rap artist who has worked with artist such as Too Short and Coolio-da-undadogg.

With the trap music scene taking over, the home of hip-hop and rap culture shifted to Atlanta. New artists and producers are emerging every day and catching popularity quickly as rap culture and its music changes.

Raymond hopes to make a big name for herself by establishing her own sound and image as a white female rapper, resisting rap and hip-hop culture stereotypes.

“As a woman in general, doesn’t matter the race, they test you more,” she said, “It might be I have all the talent in the world, but I’m not going to make it because they’re just not ready.”

Now the question is: What will hiphop and rap have in store for us next?

New albums check out: HNDRXX

by Future, Boss Up by Iamsu!, S.T.S.A. 2

by Clyde Carson, Culture by Migos and I decided by Big Sean.

Not your average Oscar winner Grant Wetmore Opinion Editor

In the aftermath its big win at the Oscars, “Moonlight” is a sleeper hit.

Once an unknown film showing in a few select theaters, “Moonlight” went into wider release after it won Best Picture at the Golden Globes. With its bold storytelling and cinematography, the victory was well-deserved.

If you ask someone what “Moonlight” is about, they might say it’s about a gay black boy or a couple.

Well, it’s a little more than that. It chronicles the life of a young boy named Chiron (Alex Hibbert) from childhood to adulthood in a rough neighborhood of Miami. Imagine “Boyhood,” but with an all-African American cast.

The film starts with a group of schoolchildren chasing Chiron (a.k.a.

Little). He manages to evade them by holding up in an abandoned motel (read: dope house). After a while, a drug dealer named Juan (Mahershala Ali) finds him.

When you hear drug-dealer, you’re probably thinking about a career criminal who is the absolute worst of human society. That is not Juan. He takes Chiron into his own home while trying to get him to reveal where he lives and who his parents are. After spending the night with Juan and his girlfriend, Chiron finally tells them where he lives. However, their relationship does not end there. Chiron

continues to visit Juan and he becomes the father figure Chiron never had.

Then there is Chiron’s mother, Paula (Naomie Harris). At first, she is shown to be a rather decent mother, yet a little defensive of her parenting techniques.

Soon, though, she is shown seeing a shady man and appliances start disappearing. If you haven’t guessed it by now, Paula is a drug addict. This leads to heated tension between her and Juan, not to mention a rather unstable situation at home for Chiron.

The film itself rates an A-. It is an independent film through and through. The story is subtle, yet packs a hefty punch. Many details of the plot are implied rather than implicitly stated. For example, it is never mentioned in the film that the story takes place in Miami. In fact, one might assume everything takes place in Los Angeles. It is only in the later half of the film it is revealed through dialogue that they are actually on the opposite coast.

The best aspect of the film is its cinematography, which speaks volumes. From the very first shots, we are introduced to the expressive camerawork prevalent among independent films. In the first scene, we see the camera circle around Juan as he speaks with one of his associates.

In that same scene, we also see the camera shake violently as it follows Chiron running. There was one scene where Chiron engages in a playful wrestling match with Kevin (Jaden Piner), his only friend. It’s okay if you

Courtesy of Remezcla.com

“Moonlight,” the coming-of-age odyssey directed by Barry Jenkins, swept the Oscars with adapted screenplay, supporting actor and best picture wins.

feel uncomfortable watching these two boys roll around, as what the camera chooses to show and linger on gives off suggestive undertones. An average movie uses a camera to capture the story. A great film uses the camera to tell the story.

If there is any flaw to this film, it would be that the atmosphere sometimes slows to a snail’s pace.

This is intentional and largely caused

by Chiron’s character. Chiron, for the most part, is a quiet character. When we meet him first, he does not speak for a good ten minutes or so. He is not very expressive either. Most of the time, he has an emotionally dead look on his face as he drifts through his dayto-day activities.

It’s as if his body is on autopilot while his mind constantly contemplates what his life is coming to. There are

times when this emotionless stupor brilliantly shows how Chiron deals with his immense inner turmoil. There are also times where Chiron’s aloofness gets downright frustrating to the point where you want to scream “Come on, Little! You’re going to let them call you that?! Do something!”

In the end, Chiron seems distant, not only from the characters in the film, but to the audience as well.

Now let’s get down to what everyone is talking about. Part, if not most, of “Moonlight” popularity is because it is about a homosexual AfricanAmerican man. That is only a small portion of what makes this film good.

Impactful storytelling and strong camerawork make a phenomonal film no matter what.

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February 27, 2017

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“Moonlight”

Continued from page 8. . .

Nothing short of amazing Arthur Gonzalez-Martin Photographer It’s that time of year again: Oscars season, where the film industries come together to pick out the best films.

From more well known studios to the independents, everyone has a chance to shine; some more than others.

The animated shorts field is more open than most categories, as you tend to get more less known or start-up animators. “Piper” won Best Animated short at the 89th Academy Awards Feb. 26. Here are my picks of the best out of the five finalists.

5. “Blind Vaysha” As one of the two nominated 2-D animated shorts this year, “Blind Vaysha,” by Theodore Ushev, is about a girl with one eye stuck in the past and the other stuck in the future.

Unable to see in the present, Vaysha

goes through life as best as she can or until something comes and breaks her curse. The animation is an African style, broad brush strokes of black on dark color backgrounds with an uncanny motion that make it seem almost like stock motion. Most of the film is split in half on the screen. It must have been an interesting challenge, but the story fell a bit flat and I was hoping for a less preachy ending.

4. “Piper” Pixar, or Disney Pixar, is a wonderful 3-D animation studios known for being a guaranteed hit maker, with films such as “Toy Story,” “Monsters Ink” and “Zootopia.” Since 2002, Pixar has not won a single short film award and I can see why. “Piper” is about a young sandpiper learning to feed herself on oysters that hide when the tide is low.

But that is it for the plot. It is very well animated with very expressive faces for semi-realist animals.

Creating Peace: Sydney Norris Contributing Writer Ta-Nehisi Coates is an American journalist and educator writing about race and politics. In response to Coates’ 2016 National Book Award winner “Between the World and Me,” more than 60 Santa Rosa Junior College students from college skills and English 100 classes produced their own letters to future generations. The work of these student authors were collected in the recently published book, “Creating Peace.”

Students and university officials gathered at Copperfield’s Books in Santa Rosa Feb. 23 for a reading of selections from “Creating Peace.” It was a poignant night as the student authors expressed emotion and honesty in their personal narratives.

College skills instructor Leslie Mancillas, who spearheaded the project, helped her students’ voices be heard through their letters.

Mancillas encouraged students to write from the heart and share their personal experiences and ideas for how to end racism, prejudice and discrimination.

SRJC student Maria Luna shared a profound personal story. “I was one of those people who wouldn’t talk until I met a teacher,” she said.

“I told her how I felt. She told me, ‘you gotta speak up,’ and I started speaking up. I feel like a lot of people and students, everybody, start to feel like nobody’s gonna care.”

Even though Luna experienced discrimination in the past,

3. “Borrowed Time” Made by Pixar employees Lou Hamou-Lhadj and Andrew Coats, “Borrowed Time” is about an old man returning to the scene of his most traumatic moment and making the choice to carry on or fall into despair.

This is what I want to see out of Pixar: dark subject matter delievered in a mature way that a kid can still understand, if not learn from. The color palette switches as it jumps from past to present; the past is bright and hopeful as the present is bleak and uncertain. The characters are cartoony, but still convey the gravity of what’s happening. If you ever wonder what Pixar blood would look like, then this short won’t disappoint.

2. Pearl This short was the most touching so far. It had an older style of animation.

“Pearl” is about a father and his daughter living out of an old car traveling across

SRJC students write letters to future generations in new book

she works to move forward by treating everyone with respect and remaining positive.

Mancillas’ concept allows students to connect to literary work, of art in a different way, and celebrate their knowledge and opinions. The student authors stripped down to a realistic and raw form of writing other students can relate to. It also brings very important subjects to the surface to remind readers they are not alone.

“The book is very powerful. If you haven’t read it, you need to,” said Wanda Burzycki, chair of the college skills department, in a congratulatory speech at the event.

“That probably applies to 99 percent of the United States. This is your step into that world; so instead of ‘Between the World and Me,’ I see the book as a way of connecting me and you with the world so change can happen.”

Robert Holcomb, dean of language arts and academic foundations, thinks discrimination and prejudice need to be discussed.

“Progress isn’t linear; you take a few steps forward, sometimes a few steps back,” Holcomb said. “But we have to continue to engage and have to continue to stand up for what is right. I’m very proud of what we are doing. We’re doing the right thing.”

Santa Rosa Vice Mayor Jack Tibbetts attended the event and said the letters carried a valuable message. He connected with one letter in particular. “I’m going to leave here tonight trying to make this my motivating force, the paragraph that guides me over the

the country trying to survive. As years go by, they settle down but fight with each other as the girl grows up to be rebellious. Ultimately, she matures and goes on her own journey with the car.

Even with its low resolution, it’s very expressive. Everything is bright and colorful making the most of its simple backgrounds.

1.“Pear Cider and Cigarettes” A good mix of light and dark themes, “Pear Cider and Cigarettes” is the longest of the shorts at 30 minutes. It is about the life and death of Robert Valley and his friend Techno. A young and reckless man who comes into money from winning a few lawsuits before diving headlong into a bottle and never recovering. The 2-D style embodies noir because how sad the narrator feels about his friend then any real mystery, deep colored outlines on top of self shading gives everything a comic book feel.

The intersection between sexuality and race does set “Moonlight” apart from other films of similar caliber. It makes you sympathize with Chiron and his situation even if you aren’t gay or black.

But don’t expect to leave the theater with tearstains or a smile. Sadness and joy aren’t the emotions this film aims for. Instead, you’ll feel what Chiron is (probably) feeling: admiration and respect for Juan, resentment for Paula, alienation from his peers, and uncertainty of what’s around the corner.

What “Moonlight” really deserves recognition for is how it breaks the mold. Nearly everything about it, from dialogue to character, plot to cinematography, pushes the envelope of filmmaking. It takes risks that, while not playing out exactly how the audience, might expect them to, it still deserves applause.

Unfortunately, while “Moonlight” will likely be a big hit for the next month or so, it will fade away like so many other best picture winners and nominees. Don’t believe it? When’s the last time you saw or even heard about “The Artist”?

On March 1, “Moonlight” will be shown at the Petaluma campus as part of the Cinema Series. Anyone who is interested in seeing this phenomenal film for themselves are more than welcome to come.

Is Hollywood racist?

Travis LaBrucherie

Distribution Manager

Courtesy of SRJC Insider

Students give personal insight on their thoughts of “Between the world and me.”

course of the next four years on city council, because I think it’s beautiful,” Tibbetts said. “I think it’s something we should all strive for as a community and as a group of people in this world.”

Tibbetts expressed his hope that people can overcome their fears.

He brought the night’s events to an end by empowering the audience to channel the power and strength they have inside themselves and rise above the challenges that stand in their way.

Chris Rock called them “The White People’s Choice Awards” last year. They’re the most prestigious Hollywood award, but are the Academy Awards also unfair?

Over the last two years all nominees for the acting categories were white.

That’s 40 nominations going to white actors. But there were some great performances by non-white actors that got snubbed. Think Michael B. Jordan in “Creed” or Idris Elba in “Beasts of No Nation.” “Straight Outta Compton” was also snubbed from Best Picture.

To bring this lack of equality further into the light, #oscarssowhite was trending all over social media for the 2016 Oscars.

Actress Jada Pinkett Smith called for a boycott on the 2016 Oscars from all black actors due to the absence of nonwhite nominations. Pinkett Smith, Will Smith, and Spike Lee were some of the big names who did not attend in 2016.

Eleven of the last 14 Oscars were held in February which is Black History Month. It is strange that during this month the Oscars had only three total nominations represent black people in 2015 and 2016. “Selma” had two nominations in 2015: Best Picture and Best Music, Original Song for “Glory”

by Common and John Legend. The only 2016 nomination was for Best Music, Original Song for “Earned It” by Daheala, and the Weeknd from “Fifty Shades of Grey.” That is three out of 243 total nominations.

The 89th Academy Awards happened on Sunday Feb. 26, 2017 during a time when race is at the forefront of the culture— especially during Donald

Trump’s first month as President.

The Academy Awards were very different compared to the last two years.

Seven out of 20 nominees in acting categories were non-white and four of the nine Best Picture nominees starred non-white actors.

Here are the total nominations that those four movies received: “Hidden Figures” with six, “Fences” with four, “Lion” with six and “Moonlight” with eight. The Best Documentary Feature category has four of five nominations directed by non-white directors.

Some may grumble that non-white nominees this year are just there to make Hollywood not look racist, and that some don’t actually deserve the nominations. That just isn’t true. Every single one of these nominations are absolutely well-deserved.

The discrimination within Hollywood doesn’t begin with the Academy and the nominations. It goes back to before the films were made. The hiring process is the root of inequality.

The problem is the industries don’t hire enough non-white actors and filmmakers. Blacks, Asians, Latinos, Indians and Native Americans need more representation in Hollywood.

Having said that, Mahershala Ali and Viola Davis took home Oscars for their supporting roles and Best Documentary went to “O.J.: Made in America”. “Moonlight” recieved Best Adapted Screenplay and also nabbed Best Picture after a tremendous mistake that annouced “La La Land” at first.

In 2017, the Academy has taken a step in the right direction for equality but there is still a way to go.

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February 27, 2017

Behind the wheel

Working for Uber and Lyft Arthur Gonzalez-Martin Staff Photographer A few semesters ago, I saw a booth on campus offering free cell phone chargers and wristbands in exchange for learning about a new ride-sharing app. The presenters were also trying to get students to sign up to be Uber drivers, talking about the advantages of being your own boss and earning your own wages. This was my introduction to the on-demand, freelance micro-economy.

It wasn’t difficult to get started. Uber has its own inspection stations—the closest in Sebastopol. I needed to get my car registered to make sure it’s safe enough to drive. I needed copies of my driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance to give to the inspector and wait for the mechanic to inspect the car. That was all I needed to receive my Uber window stickers and start chauffeuring people.

I quickly found out that driving for Uber is a lot like working retail: you have to be good at dealing with the public. You’re trying to pick up people who can be vague on directions, which is more likely if they’re intoxicated.

They also think you know where you’re taking them beforehand. It can be a pain if you’re picking up rides from a large building with multiple entrances and have to guess. People can get impatient if you’re there, but not in sight. Yes, they can track you through the app but they assume you see what they see.

Unpredictability can be a problem.

You don’t know where your pickup wants to go, so you have to set aside a good chunk of time. Two of my longest trips so far have been a pair of New Yorkers going for “bubblies” in Napa before a wedding and a very grumpy film tech and his wife traveling from Windsor to San Francisco International Airport.

Good money, but I could have done it without the fighting.

Uber has some things to make life easier: a gas credit card, free holiday and lunches for Uber delivery that doesn’t run in the area yet. And instant payments after you’re made more than 25 trips.

Is this job sustainable? For me, not really. I never was one to work on commission, and I seem to get a lot of slow days. I also tend to be more productive after 10 p.m. as people start heading home from a hard night of drinking and partying. Don’t expect much in tips—or at least in cash—as the highest tip I’ve gotten was $10 in Taco Bell.

I just signed up for Lyft as well. As you’re just a freelancer: there’s nothing stopping you from driving for both at the sametime. Lyft is possibly a better service around here, it’s at least a lot more popular, and easier for Lyft riders to tip you (the app has a digital tip jar and changes the rider if they take too long to start the trip).

If you too, would like to make made some quick bucks outside your normal job or still are, try driving for Lyft, Uber, or even both. Just know that it probably won’t replace your day job.

Opinion

www.theoakleafnews.com

EDITORIAL

Quit your day job I

t doesn’t matter if you have never cared about politics in the past. It does not matter if this your first time voting. It doesn’t matter if you are a professional athlete, an Uber driver or work at McDonalds. If you have something to say about politics, we want to hear it.

The only good thing to come out of Donald Trump’s presidency is the amount of political activism he’s incited throughout the country. Whether it’s San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich, actress Meryl Streep or a stranger on Facebook, everyone wants their voice heard. This activism stretches across class, race, religion, ethnicity, age and vocation. The best part is that it gives a voice to those who might not have otherwise gotten involved.

After the election, Santa Rosa Junior College students came out in droves to oppose Trump. Students organized protests down Mendocino Avenue and participated in the Women’s March.

Faculty and students organized a town hall Feb. 13 called Solidarity with Our Communities: A Call to Action. Undocumented, Muslim and other students seized the opportunity to speak their minds and ask SRJC’s administration and faculty what’s being done to protect their rights.

Nationally, we are seeing renewed political engagement on a similarly large scale.

Take ESPN Senior Writer Zach Lowe, who has written about sports— primarily basketball—for more than 10 years. He has rarely, if ever, been political in his writing. But now, he and many others are stepping out of their comfort zones to voice their opinions of Trump and his administration on

a regular basis. Many citizens support journalists like Lowe, but others say he should stick to what he knows best.

The sentiment “stick to your day job” is not just an insult directed at journalists. Now even professional athletes hear the same thing. But many athletes are doing the right thing and standing up for what they believe.

Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry is just one of many putting his money where his mouth is.

Curry has a wholesome, somewhat bland image. But even he spoke out recently against the CEO of Under Armour, who called Trump a “great asset.” Curry, who has an endorsement deal with Under Armour through 2024, said, “There is no amount of money, there is no platform I wouldn’t jump off, if it wasn’t in line with who I am.”

It’s important for athletes to speak out in times like this. We need to hear from those who aren’t part of the political world. Getting the perspective of someone who isn’t dug in deep in the political world can be helpful.

Popovich is known as a quiet basketball genius, but he’s been outspoken and critical of Trump. The day after the inauguration, Popovich said, “It’s hard to be respectful of someone when we all have kids, and we’re watching him be misogynistic, and xenophobic and racist, and make fun of handicapped people.”

Whether you like the increased activism or not, one thing is for sure: media coverage is changing. This is the climate we live in now. It feels like the only break we got from politics this year was the five hours during the Super

Bowl. But even then, we couldn’t fully escape because right as the game ended, “Falcons won the popular vote” tweets flooded the Internet.

At the Oak Leaf we struggle with what is most important to write about.

If we have a sports writer who wants to speak out against Trump, do we encourage that? What if it takes away from their sports coverage? Is basketball or baseball that important right now?

It doesn’t matter if you normally don’t write or talk about politics, or consider yourself political. If you have something to say, use whatever platform you have. Many say this is just a present-day problem—that in 10 years it might not even matter that Trump was president—only time will tell. But don’t be the one who bit their tongue when it really mattered.

Boogie down to Bourbon Street ‘Fire and Ice’ best front court duo since Duncan and Robinson Frank Sumerall Staff Writer

With the NBA AllStar break done and the playoff push in full swing, Demarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis look to dominate Bourbon Street.

After the Sacramento Kings drafted Cousins fifth overall in 2010, General Manager Vlade Divac finally pulled the trigger and sent the big man east to the New Orleans Pelicans. The complicated and sometimes petty relationship between Kings management and their star player finally hit a boiling point where the it could no longer continue.

Six-and-a-half years with Cousins roaming the paint led to zero playoff appearances and just one 30-plus win

season. Cryptic tweets, poor drafting choices and six head coaches in seven years perfectly summarize the turmoil in Sac-town.

The departure from Cousins was expected as he and the Kings mixed as well as oil and water. But what the Kings received in return for Cousins’ services is distressing. Former Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans, bench player Langston Galloway, rookie Buddy Hield, and a first and second round draft pick were exchanged for the best center in the NBA. Sports outlets ridiculed the poorly-run Kings for the hasty move, but Cousins has his problems. He is one of the league’s best players, but his temper and poor attitude stifled interest from other clubs. He leads the league with

17 technical fouls and has disrupted locker rooms with poor teammate chemistry throughout his young career.

The Kings end up with sophomore Willie CauleyStein and Hield to lead the way. With two first round picks and a deep draft this June, Sacramento hopes this rebuild proves more fruitful.

The Pelicans on the other hand got a major upgrade and can seize the final playoff spot with 24 games to go. Currently three games out of postseason contention, the frontcourt duo of the best big men in basketball is terrifying the Western Conference.

Despite being synonymous with the title of best power forward, Davis guided the Pelicans to only one postseason; a brief yet competitive sweep by the Golden State Warriors.

With two amazing Kentucky University talents and zero playoff success between them, the dynamic duo makes an intriguing style of play in the modern NBA. Similar to the grit and grind style of the Memphis Grizzlies, the Pelicans look to counter the high flying finesse teams of Golden State, Houston and Cleveland. If you cannot outshoot them from deep, counter them with strong defense and interior scoring.

The new brand Pelicans only have three games together in the books: all losses. But if they can find unity, this team will be tough come playoff time.

The Big Three of Jrue Holiday, Davis and Cousins is not enough to be a serious contender this year, but it is a move in the right direction. It’s up to Boogie and the Brow to bring New Orleans back into the spotlight.

www.theoakleafnews.com

Sports

11

February 27, 2017

Courtesy of Celine Sargis

Dive Right In: Luke Straub Staff Writer R.J. Williams whistled loudly, and with purpose. Everyone on the deck, and even the swimmers in the pool, could hear him. His team listened.

“Go go go!” Williams yelled during a race as he leaned closer to the water.

In a busy, raucous venue, Williams, a sophomore sprinter on the Santa Rosa Junior College Swim team, was impossible to ignore.

“What I was most excited about is there was a good vibe, and [the team] was behind the lanes cheering,” said head coach Jill McCormick.

But there were results, too.

The SRJC Men’s and Women’s swim teams traveled to Sacramento City College Feb. 24 for the Los Rios Invitational and kept their early season momentum. It was their first shot this season at individual races and they

captured 10 first-place finishes, six for the women and four for the men. The women also won two relays and both teams enjoyed moments of domination.

In the first race of the day, the women’s 200 medley, Hailey Vance swam the backstroke, Lucia Mora the breaststroke, Jasmine Alger handled the butterfly and Taylor Sargis swam freestyle to finish the relay out.

Each went on to win individual races.

“It really helped pump everyone up,” Alger said. “Winning our first event got the adrenaline going.”

The men’s 200 medley team followed with a third-place finish, and set the table for its own success.

Drew Sipple earned the first individual win of the day for the Bear Cubs, besting the competition in the the 500 freestyle by a whopping 15 seconds.

“Drew was one of the top swimmers in the state last year, and he did a

Left: A Santa Rosa Junior College swimmer butterflies through the competition early in the swim meet at Sacramento City College. Right: A Bear Cub's swimmer comes up for air mid-stroke in route to finish during the Los Rios Invitational in what was a overwhelming succes for the entire swim team. Their next meet is March 3.

Bear Cubs men’s and women’s swim teams place across the board in recent Sacramento City College meet

tremendous amount of work in the offseason,” McCormick said. “I think it’s starting to pay off.”

Sipple also won the 200 freestyle.

“I’m just feeling good and having fun,” Sipple said.

Williams took home first-place finishes in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly. His win in the butterfly was by just 0.12 seconds.

“R.J.’s a true sprinter; he’s a racehorse,” McCormick said. “He was figuring out a way to get his hand on the wall first, which is what a sprinter has got to figure out. The margin of error between first and fourth, or even first and eighth is less than a second.”

Sargis finished second in the women’s 50 freestyle, with just 0.47 seconds separating first through third place.

Her 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke wins were comfortable, however: She beat the competition by more than six seconds.

Mora won the 200 breaststroke,

Alger the 200 butterfly and Vance took home victories in the 100 and 200 backstroke. All of their times were lightly contested.

“I think the team’s in a good place,” Vance said. “We all seem pretty pumped up right now.”

In tighter races, Bradley-John Erickson missed first in the 200 breaststroke by just 0.08 seconds, and Alger almost secured another butterfly win, but lost by a hand length.

The invitational finished with the 400 freestyle relay and the team of Sargis, Mora, Mary Lane and Vance won the women’s race easily. The men’s team of Williams, Erickson, Nate Parker and Sipple earned second place.

Both the swimmers and McCormick are ready for the next big meet, the Cuesta Invitational on March 10 at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo.

“We have an alumni meet next week [March 3], but then we have our big midseason meet that we’re going to rest

for, put on the [competitive swim] suits and everything,” McCormick said.

Williams is focused on qualifying for the state meet and is pointing directly at the Cuesta Invitational.

“Hopefully at that meet, we’ll have people qualifying for state,” Williams said. “I know we will. I know a good portion of the team is going to hit their goals and surpass them if anything.”

Even with early success, McCormick isn’t worried about keeping her team level-headed.

“I think [practice] gets easier now that we’re competing, because you have real results that you can’t talk your way in or out of,” McCormick said after the meet. “The clock doesn’t lie.”

Mora, as she boarded the team bus back to Santa Rosa, reflected on the invitational and looked to the challenges ahead.

“It’s only our first official real meet,” she said. “So I think we can only get better.”

Ali Benzerara/ Oak Leaf

Santa Rosa Junior College sophomore forward Melyra Nicolis (#40) hesitates to go for the layup under a tight Sacramento City college defense.

Will Mathis/ Oak Leaf

Left: Southpaw pitcher Justin Bruihl throws a high fastball against a Cañada College batter. Right: A Santa Rosa Junior College player attempts to hold his swing against a tough Cañada College pitcher. SRJC won the game 11-3.

SRJC baseball swings into Big 8 season with 10-2 record Will Mathis Staff Writer As conference play is set to begin for the Santa Rosa Juniro College baseball team, here are a few facts to get you caught up in time: • Coming off of last year’s state championship, the team has won eight of its last nine • It's offense is powered by returning first baseman Ryder Kuhns who’s hitting .400 and leads the state with seven home runs. His 22 RBIs are one shy of the state leader.

• The Bear Cubs have four batters hitting over .300. Outfielder Daniel Teasley-.457, Kuhns- .400, outfielder Jeff Bart- .349 and has 12 stolen bases and catcher Trevor Mallett-.333.

• Pitcher Justin Bruihl is carrying SRJC’s starting rotation. In five games started he has a 3-0 record with a 2.13 ERA and averages 11 strikeouts per nine innings.

• Evan Hill is emerging with a 0.82 ERA in 11 innings.

• Relief pitcher Jared Noonan has allowed one run in 22.2 innings. He is tied for second in the state with four wins.

Campbell’s Bear Cubs finish dismal season Frank Sumrall Staff Writer The women’s basketball team went out with a whimper instead of a bang Feb. 16 in a disappointing 85-48 loss to No. 1 seed Sierra College (25-3, 12-2).

Santa Rosa Junior College’s 37-point loss was its worst performance in an already tough season. Head coach Lacey Campbell’s squad totaled just 13 points off the bench in 87 combined minutes, giving the exhausted starters little support.

SRJC finished with 26 turnovers, a trend that has undone the Bear Cubs (9-19, 4-10) all season long.

This was a rebuilding year for the Bear Cubs after last season’s brief playoff run. The Big 8 Conference provided stiff competition with no

easy wins, resulting in five losses of over 20 points for the Bear Cubs.

Losing the last three games of the season dampened players' moral but the year did not go without its encouraging signs. Santa Rosa ranked No. 16 out of 90 CCCAA teams in terms of rebounding, thanks to the terrific play of firstyear forward Tiffany Salinas who devoured 8.3 boards a night. Salinas finished her campaign fourth in the Big 8 Conference.

The Bear Cubs’ struggles this season often came on the offensive side of the hardwood. They ranked No. 54 in scoring for the California Community College Atheltic Association with 58.9 points a game.

The team shot for 34.2 percent from the floor, falling into the bottom third in the league. Only first-year point

guard Sadie Irvine averaged double digits points for the offense at 12.8.

The team’s assist-to-turnover ratio prevented the offense from gaining any momentum, as evidenced in the season finale. Santa Rosa finished with a measly 11.5 assists per game compared to 21.5 turnovers a game.

Point guard Sadie Irvine led the Big 8 Conference in turnovers, finishing No. 11 in the league with 5.2 a game.

Next year, Campbell’s lineup faces another overhaul, with five second-year athletes moving on.

Despite having six first-year athletes rostered, only two of them started over 10 games.

A strong recruiting class and a great offseason for the returning women’s players can bring this team out of its rut and back to being the competitive club it was last year.

Party

Back

You asked, We answered my Awards

Across

By Travis LaBrucherie

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1 Driver in “The Force Awakens” 5 Greek letter 11 2002 Jet Li film 12 Famous inventor 13 Director of “13th” 15 TurboTax option 16 Something often remembered?

19 Former Montreal club 23 _Wayne 24 Aladdin’s bud 25 Composer Rudolf 28 “Super Smash Bros. _” 30 Dutch unit of measurement 32 Editor of ”Moonlight” 38 Under _ 39 Simplicity 40 Megadeth finally won one this year 41 Gosling of “La La Land”

Down

1 “Take On Me” band 2 Patel of ”Lion” 3 Constellation also known as “The Altar” 4 Computer part 5 _ Stadium, where the 49ers plays 6 “Hello” singer

7 Banned insecticide 8 You could get one from UCSF 9 1988 thriller starring Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan 10 “_ Given Sunday” 14 What F.B.I. Agent Fox Mulder might look for 16 TV extraterrestrial 17 Sea god of Irish mythology 18 Mahershala of “Moonlight” 20 Friend 21 Town in Herat Province, Afghanistan 22 The largest Tyrannosaurus Rex specimen ever found, nicknamed after the paleontologist who discovered it 26 1983MichaelKeaton film 27 British substitute 28 1,501 in Roman numerals 29 Morayhunter 31 American old-time musician Arthur 32 Seriescreatedby Donald P. Bellisario that ran for ten seasons 33 BostonBruins legendary defenseman 34 Aqua lyric,”_Barbie girl, in the Barbie world” 35 Putdown 36 VillageinMazandaran Province, Iran 37 Former Giants’ closer Robb

For the week of Feb. 27

By Travis LaBrucherie Aquarius: Jan.20-Feb. 18 This week is like the game show “Deal or No Deal.” As long as you’re not greedy and stupid like most of the contestants, you should come out on the up-and-up.

Gemini: May 21-June 20 Monday ain’t your day. But on the bright side, Monday only happens once a week.

Go have some fun. All work and no play make Gemini a dull sign.

Libra: Sep. 23-Oct. 22 You start the week off like the Tasmanian Devil. Eat a Snickers.

Pisces: Feb. 19-Mar. 20 To quote Rihanna, “Bitch better have my money!

Pay me what you owe me.”

If somebody owes you something, you better go get it or you might never get it back.

Cancer: June 21-July 22 You might hate your job, but suck it up because you need to pay your bills. It’s only a job, not your career. If it is your career, you can change careers. That’s a thing people do.

Scorpio: Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Let’s just say this week Serena Williams is your spirit animal. Go channel her.

Leo: July 23-Aug. 22 Do you want to know a secret? Someone might have one for you. Secrets are no fun if you don’t have anyone to share them with.

Come tell me so I can write a gossip column.

Sagittarius: Nov. 22-Dec. 21 You’re not on the same page as everyone else, maybe not even the same chapter or book. But at least you know how to read. Gold star for you.

Aries: Mar. 21-Apr. 19 There are plenty of fish in the sea. But remember, fishing is a waiting game.

So don’t get down if at first you don’t get any bites. Patience is a virtue.

Taurus: Apr. 20-May 20 You might try to start a Fight Club this week. “The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: you DO NOT talk about Fight Club!” So keep it to yourself and get some rest.

Virgo: Aug. 23-Sep. 22 It’s a good week to Netflix and chill. But once the weekend hits, stop streaming and go outside. Unless you go into an actual stream, like one made of water—then that’s fine.

Capricorn: Dec. 22-Jan. 19 If you have a test coming up, then you should probably study. Unless it’s multiple choice, you can just guess on those and maybe the stars will align and you’ll choose all the right answers.

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