THE PIONEER Covering the East Bay community since 1961
California State University, East Bay
News, Art, & Culture for the East Bay
THURSDAY DECEMBER 10, 2015
www.thepioneeronline.com
Fall 2015 Issue 11
SEE NEWS PAGE 2
NEW HOMELESS LAWS IN BERKELEY
SEE OPINION PAGE 4
RUBIO, THE RIGHT FIT FOR PRESIDENCY
SEE SPORTS PAGE 12
WOMEN HOOPS CLAW WILDCATS
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Hayward wants to see what you see By Kris Stewart
MANAGING EDITOR
The city of Hayward is putting all eyes on you — well, on your house and your business — with your permission of course. The program is called E.Y.E.S which stands for Empowering Your Electronic Security. Residents and business owners can register their privately owned surveillance cameras with the Hayward Police Department. When a crime is committed, officers will be allowed to collect surveillance from those cameras to assist in criminal investigations and prosecution of suspects. This initiative has been embraced by several cities in the United States and HPD feels the program can assist their efforts to fight crime within the community. When you register your camera, the police department may contact you to collect footage within the area that your camera shoots in order to assist them in their investigations.
SEE NEWS PAGE 3
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY TAM DUONG JR./THE PIONEER
That’s it, I’m getting a gun: Violence in America By Brian White CONTRIBUTOR
Last week an office holiday party was interrupted by gunfire and death in San Bernardino, Calif., at the Inland Regional Center which provides services to people with developmental disabilities. Fourteen people died and 23 were injured. This festive gathering that should have given workers the chance to unwind and relax, sadly became another mass shooting. Shortly after the police pursuit, the suspect were killed. While searching the suspect’s car, the police found 1,400 rifle rounds. At their home, the authorities found 2,500 rounds of rifle ammunition along with 2,000 handgun bullets according to multiple news sources. California has the toughest gun laws in the country, the state limited access to high-powered military rifles in 1989. In 2000, the state banned certain types of AK-47’s and AR-15 rifles. Along with certain guns being banned, magazines holding more than ten rounds are banned. There have been 20 mass shooting in the state of California according to The Stanford Mass Shootings of America whose data goes back to 1966. Mass shootings have become a part of America’s culture ever since the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado that killed 12 students and one teacher in 1999. Since then I have shed tears over 26 victims at Sandy Hook, CT, the nine victims at a Black church in Charleston, SC, and 12 victims during an attack at a Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs, CO. Sadly this list goes on. The culture of fear and violence I am now living in as a young adult has taken me to the point that I feel I may need a weapon to protect myself in everyday life. In this era of mass shootings,
ILLUSTRATION BY BRITTANY ENGLAND/THE PIONEER
maybe the good citizens should be armed at all times I am not a gun nut or NRA supporter, but they may be onto something. What if we stopped treating guns like taboo weapons that only cause harm, and start treating them like self defense tools. Just
like Drivers Education, you would have to take a written and hands-on test to show you are capable of handling your defensive weapon. I have shot different type guns multiple times at a range with proper instruction. At first it is fighting to hold something in your hand that kill some-
one, but once you treat it like a tool you begin to appreciate the weapon. Everyone should be introduced and trained on to load, aim, and fire a gun at the same time you get
SEE NEWS PAGE 3
2 NEWS
THURSDAY DECEMBER 10, 2015
THE PIONEER
Berkeley homeless affected by new laws
EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Shannon Stroud shannon.stroud@csueastbay.edu
MANAGING EDITOR
Kris Stewart
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Louis LaVenture
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ILLUSTRATOR
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FACULTY ADVISOR
GRAPHIC BY TAM DUONG JR. AND LOUIS LAVENTURE/THE PIONEER
Gary Moskowitz By Louis LaVenture NEWS AND SPORTS EDITOR Despite protests and a heavy backlash, the Berkeley City Council approved a new set of laws that will impact the homeless. On Dec. 1, the city council voted 6-3 in favor of new laws that ban people from sleeping in planter beds, leaving belongings in trees and taking up more than two square feet of space on sidewalks. The new laws put stricter enforcement and punishments on public urination and defecation. It also includes a law that will not allow individuals to park a shopping cart during the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on sidewalks or streets. An activist group called the Freedom Sleepers — who aim to end criminalization of the homeless — teamed up with other protesters and homeless people to set up camp at the old city hall to protest the new laws originally proposed by Councilwoman Linda Maio. Maio said that the laws are being put in place to, “discourage obnoxious behavior… not penalize people with nowhere to go.” Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates supports
the new laws proposed by Maio and said he is in favor of helping, not hurting the homeless. Part of the new ordinance includes providing up to 100 storage bins for homeless people to store their goods without punishment. “Look, this city has always been compassionate toward the homeless,” Bates said. “Providing things like showers, storage bins and other services is a step in the right direction for the city.” The storage bins will be given out on a first come first serve basis to those in need, but with over 800 homeless people in Berkeley, critics say it is just a public relations move by the city. “What about the hundreds of people who don’t get a bin?” Freedom Sleeper protester Joshua Gaines commented. “What do they do with their stuff? They are trying to dehumanize these people and make them fit their entire life into a bin? Being homeless should not be a punishable offense, but that’s what they are trying to make it.” Berkeley Councilman Jesse Arreguin voted against the new ordinances and said that the city should be focusing on increasing services for the homeless instead of citing them for having “too
much stuff.” Maio said that the new laws will not go into effect until at least 50 of the 100 storage bins are available for use people to use. In 2013, the city council voted unanimously in favor of building an emergency shelter for the homeless, but there is still no plan for construction of the facility over two years later. The protesters who camped out at the old city hall nicknamed the encampment “Liberty City” and made their presence and disdain known for the new laws. On Friday, the city cleared out the encampment and arrested three people who refused to leave. According to the protest organizer Mike Zint, the camp drew some negative attention despite his efforts to implement a mandatory quiet hour, as well as a ban on alcohol and drugs. Berkeley city spokesman Matthai Chakko said that when officials arrived to clean up the camp they found drug paraphernalia and feces. Chester Nash has been homeless since 2011. An East Bay native, originally from Oakland, his journey on the streets came after his mother passed and her house was sold. “I used to live in Oakland, but it
got way too dangerous,” Nash said. “Berkeley has a lot of homeless people in one area. I came to Berkeley in 2014 because it’s more of a community here. We look out for each other. I would hate to have to go back to Oakland. It got too dangerous, I almost died.” Nash was stabbed in 2014 in Oakland by a man who was trying to steal his recyclables, which sparked his move to Berkeley. “I was sleeping and he tried to take my cans,” Nash said. “I tried to fight him off but I couldn’t. Knives hurt.” Nash had been living at the old city hall until Friday when it was cleared out by the city. He said he plans on trying to get a bin and living in People’s Park where he has been for nearly a year. Nash also said that being ticketed was not an issue for him because if they turn into warrants, he could be arrested, however will get shelter and free meals, something he purposely tries to do in the winter. “I try to get locked up in the winter,” Nash said. “These new rules make it easier. In jail I get a warm place to sleep and free food. It’s like vacation.”
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NEWS 3
THURSDAY DECEMBER 10, 2015
THE PIONEER
The aftermath of Berkeley’s soda Tax Will Hayward follow suit? By Alvin Luna and Terry Xiao CONTRIBUTORS It’s been one year since Berkeley became the first city in the nation to pass a tax on soda and other sweetened beverages. This law which took effect in March, is known as Measure D and imposes a penny-per-ounce tax on soda, presweetened teas and energy drinks. For instance, a distributor will pay a 20 cent tax for a 20 ounce bottle of Sprite. According to a Berkeley City Council meeting report, the soda tax has brought in $116,000 in its first month. Berkeley City Councilmember Linda Maio estimated that the soda tax would bring in at least $1.2 million to the city within its first year. In May, the Berkeley City Council approved advance funding of $500,000, with half going towards community-based family health programs. Berkeley City Councilmember Laura Capitelli said that the city will use funding to build programs focused on reducing diabetes and obesity amongst children. According to CDC.gov, the percentage of children in the United States who were obese at ages 6 to 11 in 1980 was seven percent. A more recent look at that same age range shows that the percentage went up to 18 percent in 2012. In an interview earlier this year, Kelly Brownell, a public health expert at Duke University who studies obesity noted that Berkeley’s 20 percent sales
tax is an “ideal tax” which will cause a larger decline in the purchase of these beverages and hopefully assist in the decrease of obesity and other health issues. In a study done by health economists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Mexico’s National Institute of Public Health, soda sales have decreased by six percent during the first year of Mexico’s one-peso-per-liter soda tax initiated 2013. UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health conducted a study and determined that store owners implemented a 69 percent of the tax on sodas and 47 percent for all sugar sweetened beverages since the tax had been passed in March of this year. “It seems promising that the prices have already started to increase so soon after the tax has come into effect,” said UC Berkeley researcher Jennifer Falbe. The Cornell-University of Iowa performed an analysis on the aftermath of the soda industry due to Berkeley’s soda tax, which showed similar results. The study determined that only 22 percent of the tax was passed onto consumers for Coke and Pepsi. Distributors would then see a 20 cent increase per 20-ounce bottle of Coke while consumers have not been faced with higher prices. According to Falbe, some retailers were still in the process of implementing the tax. “Some store owners have had trouble determining exactly how much the price increase should be for all of their beverages,” she commented. UC Berkeley student Michael Mendieta participated in a grassroots campaign that supported the implementa-
PHOTO COURTESY OF STÉPHANE POMPOUGNAC/FLICKR
tion of the soda tax. “While I do not drink soda, I do feel that we should be shaping public policies that are addressing national concerns with obesity and high diabetes rate,” stated Mendieta. The benefits resulting from Berkeley’s soda tax offer an impressive
template for surrounding cities like Hayward to follow suit with healthbased initiatives. The city of Berkeley is smaller than Hayward, which allows for many initiatives to pass with only a majority vote. Although the city of Hayward has not yet passed a soda tax, soda is only
Watch From Page 1 “Registration does not provide the department direct access to the privately owned surveillance camera system,” said Sergeant Ryan Cantrell, Homicide and Major Assaults Unit Supervisor for the Hayward Police Department. “A partici-
one contributor to diabetes and obesity and Hayward has made its own small steps towards improving the health of its residents with its school district’s healthy lunch program. Health is a concern for many cities, however only a few take initiative to do something about it.
pant may withdraw from the program at any time.” Cantrell explained that participant’s personal information will remain confidential unless they fall subject to disclosure by law or court order. “The Department will only contact the participant if there is a criminal incident in the vicinity of the registered surveillance camera,” said Cantrell.
OPINION Culture From Page 1 your driver’s license. If the public is walking around with guns on their hips they are no longer just a target. The gun would be more of a tool in case of emergency and discretion of the user just like pepper spray. I don’t see people being blinded in the streets by crazed individuals, yet we do hear how pepper spray saved someone from a bad situation. “Most firearm homicides, about 11,000 a year, are interpersonal. They are frequently committed “by individuals who are angry, violently impulsive, and often fueled by alcohol or drugs, but are not committed by individuals with mental illness,” said author Dr.
Liza H Gold, who wrote “Gun Violence and Mental Illness”. If we have to live in fear, unarmed, or walk around carefree with a gun, safely, I choose the latter. According to the Pew Research Center there are 270-310 millions guns in the United States of America. That is enough guns to arm any man, woman, and child. Some people are bullies and those bullies often happen to own guns. As a culture we are told to stand up to bullies because nothing will change or the situation will only get worse. If these people want to try and hurt innocent people, give the masses the opportunity to protect themselves and the ones they love. We can’t walk the streets and be targets any longer. With the millions of guns to choose from, the perfect defensive tool is waiting for you.
4 NEWS
THURSDAY DECEMBER 10, 2015
THE PIONEER
Marco Rubio: The best fit for President By Fernando J. Ramírez CONTRIBUTOR
The GOP Race is heating up and the number of candidates have started to narrow, with the fifth debate just around the corner. The top spot in the race switches between Donald Trump and Ben Carson, however there is one candidate that continues to win each debate: Marco Rubio. Hopefully this trend will continue, because Rubio — a Senator from Florida with fresh and innovative ideas — is best equipped to take on Democratic Party frontrunner Hillary Clinton in the general election. I feel a connection to Rubio; his humble background and upbringing in America. My parents came to America from Peru and Puerto Rico. Rubio’s mother and father migrated from Cuba to seek a better life at the end of the 1950’s, following the fall of Fulgencio Batista when he was overthrown during Fidel Castro’s revolution. His mother and father, Oriales and Mario, held blue-collar jobs, working as a housekeeper and bartender, respectively. His uncle read newspaper articles aloud to him when he was
growing up. He became interested in current events at a young age and saw how much more opportunity he had in America as opposed to Cuba. Rubio’s political career began shortly after he got a law degree in 1996. Rubio won four consecutive elections to the Florida House of Representatives and served for almost 10 years, from 1999 to 2009. He has served in the United States Senate since 2010. While some may question whether Senator Rubio has the experience, look at our current president: Barack Obama. He served as an Illinois state senator for six years and then a United States Senator for two years before he en-
tered the presidential race. While it could be argued that President Obama’s strength is domestic policy, it’s important to remember that the next president must be strong on foreign policy. This is an area where Rubio excels as his knowledge of foreign affairs is extensive. He already has a foreign policy plan in place, and he has predicted many of the problems and conflicts currently underway in the Middle East. Like some other candidates, Rubio wants to make better use of social media and propaganda to take on ISIS and undermine the extremist ideology. Specifically, Rubio wants to start showing videos of captured ISIS fighters and their supporters sobbing and breaking down when they are detained.
The idea here is to not only show the enemy’s weakness, but to deter others from idolizing and feeling compelled to join them. Additionally, he is well-versed on all the complexities of Iran, Russia, China and other hotspots around the world. In all of the presidential debates, he has shown a strong foreign policy plan that utilizes more military action. On the economic side of the debate, Rubio wants to cut taxes for businesses and individuals to try and get the economy to grow more than three percent a year. While some candidates want to drastically alter the way taxes are calculated, Rubio’s plans are more conventional: lower the existing rates. He also wants to help lower-income families through the use of additional credits. We need someone that can clearly articulate what America needs in regards to immigration, foreign policy and other pressing issues. Rubio can do this. Rubio can convince others why his decisions are the correct ones and not just ignore the outcomes and voices of those that disagree. Of all the candidates that stand on the Republican stage, Rubio is one that seems more capable than the rest. I believe that he is the only one who can accomplish this.
GRAPHIC BY BRITTANY ENGLAND/THE PIONEER
California State University, East Bay may look different soon. According to the Vice President of University Advancement Tanya Hauck the school will undergo a review of the university’s reputation which includes, “a thorough review of the university’s reputation and image with all of our stakeholders: students, parents, faculty, staff, as well as business and community leaders.” Hauck also said that CSUEB’s ultimate goal is to make sure that the school’s brand and reputation,
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Waiting for "the drop": My first rave experience By Ynez Adsuara CONTRIBUTOR
A long line wrapped around the venue, I was sure it would take another hour to actually enter. Screams of excitement could be heard from the front to the very end of the line. A scan, pat down and identification check later, I was in. Through the wooden doors was an entirely new scene, one I had never bothered to discover until this very night: I was walking into my first rave. Almost immediately I was greeted by new faces and warm expressions. Curious to see if this vibe would last throughout the night, I continued my way inside Give Thanks, a rave in celebration of Thanksgiving. Rave culture has been around for more than two decades. Before it became mainstream, news of any upcoming raves were most likely spread by word-of-mouth. Locations were usually kept a secret and those who organized them were anonymous. Now you purchase tickets for about $50 to $60 plus, like any normal concert. Venues range from popular centers to small theatres all over the Bay Area. Some, but not all of rave culture thrives off of four ideas: Peace, Love, Unity and Respect; also known as PLUR. Each word has their own respective definition, but they still come together to form one mantra. “Generation R” or “Generation Rave” is the new generation of young people who come together to cultivate the rave culture. Festivals, light shows, PLUR and extravagant costumes have come to be known as the constantly evolving rave culture. The development of this culture is attached to the newer style of electronic dance music or techno. This generation has helped it grow through the means of larger mainstream events like the Electronic Daisy Carnival, widely known as EDC, or Beyond Wonderland. “Generation R” has given this culture a meaning greater than what it was back in the 80s and 90s. Rather than solely
GRAPHIC BY BRITTANY ENGLAND/THE PIONEER
being for socializing, ravers have created their own community with the way they dress, speak and celebrate. On my way to the event, a friend of mine was explaining what PLUR meant to him. More than a literal definition,
PLUR was something personal for him — having mental, emotional and physical peace; loving everything he does and every decision he makes; feeling like everything in his life is whole and united; having ultimate respect for
himself and those around him. Along with PLUR, comes the exchange of kandi. Kandi are bracelets made of different types of beads, personalized with any color or phrases you want. Some people only have a few go-
ing up their arm and others with complex designs, going all the way to their shoulders. A stranger came up to me that night and I received my first kandi. We connected our peace signs together first, then moved on to love, creating a heart with our hands; followed by love was unity, locking hands — that’s when the exchange happens. Last was respect, followed by a hug. I finally had my first kandi but as I glanced down at it, I noticed something strange. The colorful bracelet had “DURGS” beaded across it, meant to say “DRUGS.” The people I was with in the beginning, I no longer saw throughout the rest of the night — warm expressions remained with every new person I met. It was easy to lose people, but I didn’t really care. No matter where you end up, people make sure you are doing okay and that your night continues on a smooth path. At nightclubs, losing the people you’re with can become a hassle. Clubs have this atmosphere that’s very unwelcoming. Each time I attended a club event, I felt as if everyone was there for themselves. Whereas at the rave, I found myself wanting to make sure I met everyone in the room because the friendliness rubs off on you. For some, electronic dance music is all they listen to while others have never heard of it. I was never into EDM myself. Normally people would associate EDM with raves, which is the reason why I also strayed away from raves in the first place. Not enjoying EDM made me believe I would not like raves at all. But as soon as I stepped foot into the venue, I felt the bass go straight through my chest. It can make you nauseated. Every song throughout the night was different; some original tracks and some remixes to popular songs like “Hello” by Adele. The event featured DJ’s like Borgeous, 3LAU, DYRO, ALEXX ADAM and a few others I wasn’t familiar with. I let my fears and uninterest disappear as the night went on with the music.
Pioneer Staff Bulletin Board The Pioneer staff is always looking for the best news to bring the campus and neighboring community. Here are a few stories that we will be working on during the break. Have inside information? Know of a good story? Tweet your thoughts or story ideas to @newspioneer or get our attention by using our hashtag #NewsPioneer.
8 FEATURES
THURSDAY DECEMBER 10, 2015
THE PIONEER
Up, up, and away: Drone sales on the rise
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY TAM DUONG JR./THE PIONEER
Flyers a hot commodity this holiday season By Kevin Vera CONTRIBUTOR
Hundreds of hobbyists and spectators gathered a few weeks ago at Sunnyvale’s Baylands Park to witness what is quickly becoming an aerial trend among civilians: drones. Pilots of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) — drones — wore custom-built virtual reality headsets that looked like goggles which allowed them to get a first-person view from the drone’s perspective. Pilots performed freestyle tricks, raced through an obstacle course and battled other drones in mid-air. Hosted by the Aerial Sports League (ASL), the South Bay Classic is just one of many local competitive drone events
— typically sponsored by software companies — that attract hobbyists and aim to help raise awareness that safe, organized drone activities and events happen on a regular basis. “I’ve been flying [drones] for nine years, since my teenage days and what once started as an unknown hobby has picked up major heat in the last few years,” local hobbyist Randy Bernal said. “It’s kind of like EDM and raves with kids. Electronic music has been around for decades but when you begin trending and marketing the product correctly you get an explosion of interest and that’s where drones are headed. Up.” Stores like Best Buy, Target and hobby shops sell commercial drones, toy drones and mini-drones. Manufacturers have made life simple for novice pilots: most UAVs are ready to fly right out of the box with minimal assembly required. Commercial drones allow pilots to capture images and recordings otherwise not feasible unless you had a
helicopter. Not only are consumers using them as aerial cameras but they are also used for freestyle competitions, drone battles and racing. Drones were once regarded as Obama’s way of spying on sovereign countries or silent aerial weaponry, but they are swiftly evolving into much more. Drones now specialize across multiple industries, such as military, agriculture and real estate. They are even responsible for aerial shots featured in Blockbuster movies such as The Wolf of Wall Street and Skyfall. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) predicts that as many as one million drones will be sold this Christmas, according to IBTimes. This Black Friday, two popular drone models — DJI’s Phantom II and Parrot Bebop — went on sale for roughly $300 cheaper than normal. The Phantom II normally sells for about $1,000 and Parrot Bebop sells for approximately $600. “We saw the first wave of shoppers
bum-rush the drones and we had to regulate that section heavily so as to avoid confrontation,” said Edwin Cabrera, a Target executive team leader in San Jose. “Let’s just say the drones flew off the shelves in a matter of hours on Thanksgiving weekend.” The influx of drones in everyday life has not come without incidents worldwide. From peeping toms using drones to spy on their neighbors to crash landings at the White House, UAVs are becoming a growing presence in everyday life. As a result, the FAA released a detailed report just last month on drone regulations for both commercial and recreational users and are now working towards requiring all drone pilots to register their drones with the FAA. The FAA enforces strict regulations to prevent drones from flying within restricted airspace, such as airports, in order to avoid radio interference. “You have people use drones for recreation and entertainment and you have people using it for business pur-
poses too, so there’s multiple applications for UAVs and more to come,” said Shawn Barrera, a manager at Drones Plus, a hobby shop in Santa Clara. “Some drones you don’t even have to fly, Lily Robotics made a drone you throw up in the air and it follows you around.” Technological advancements are rapid in the drone industry. Every year drones can fly for longer, become more stable and fly themselves. Amazon and Google are both in the process of developing drones that will deliver goods to people’s homes just like a UPS driver would. “Familiarity with the basics is key, [that] is what I tell new pilots before they purchase a drone,” said Barrera, veteran drone pilot with over 20 years in the industry. “We’ve had multiple burglaries and thousands of dollars worth of merchandise stolen, why? Because literally everyone wants drones and because people know it’s the next big thing.”
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THE PIONEER
The Blackout:
Students voice concerns about the lack of diversity and support on campus By DaRyn Merriwether CONTRIBUTOR A new student collective has formed on Cal State East Bay’s campus — East Bay Blackout. Although it’s not yet recognized as a club and it’s too early in the developmental stages to be considered a movement, all of the students are acquainted through other African American clubs and organizations concerned with the quality of support and educational development for Black students. Last month, members had been circulating the words “East Bay Blackout” with a silhouette of a fist and the hashtag #BlackAtTheBay on Instagram and Facebook, then formed a GroupMe chat named BlackOut. Members then decided to wear all black and gather on campus on Dec. 2 with an aim to, “take a stand against all of the current injustices happening to Black people and students nationwide.” On the day of the BlackOut, John Legend’s voice rang out over the University Union Plaza from a lone boombox: “One day, when the glory comes it’ll be ours, it’ll be ours.” The chilling chorus from the Academy Award winning song “Glory”, written in commemoration of the Civil Rights Montgomery marches in Selma, was being used to set the tone for the event. Dozens of East Bay Blackout group members, all dressed in black, set up a table in the union plaza to talk to the campus about issues they feel concern Black students. Student volunteers at the table included leadership from the Black Student Union, Naturally Me a newly established club focused on black art, health, and historically Black Greek Letter Organizations — all of which are clubs and organizations active and recognized by the university. Members of the collective working at the table also shared a list of 10 demands for the University titled #BlackAtTheBay. The demands listed a need for greater resources, services and academic support for Black students and student organizations on East Bay’s campus that serve the black community. More than 100 people signed a petition in support of the group’s demands, counted BlackOut member Alyssa Steverson. Michelle Fletcher, a member of Naturally Me, helped come up with the list of demands and mentioned an ongoing fundraiser. She said that they were able to raise $400 in their first day. The money will be used for future BlackOut events and seed money to establish a Black Student Government they would like to see on campus as a part of their demands. From noon to 4 p.m., members of the collective sold Krispy Kreme donuts, and asked people to fill in the blanks of a cue card that stated what kinds of injustices they were tired of seeing or being victim to. Those not wearing black could receive a black ribbon to show solidarity with the group’s efforts. Breana Brownfield from the Naturally Me club, said that BlackOut began forming after noticing that in order to host events in housing or get funding from Associated Students Inc. they had to change the words in their descriptions from Black to cultural for the sake of being inclusive. According to a blog post written by Selina Smith, an initiator of the BlackOut collective, The Naturally Me group originally wanted to be called Unapologetically Black but they were, “highly encouraged by faculty to
come up with a different name, a more inclusive name. They ended up going with Naturally Me, but feel as though the name does not fully reflect the club’s purpose.” The list of demands initially grew from a desire to have a designated room for events meant to create a safe and supportive space. “We want an Afro Room where it’s our space and we can feel comfortable.” said Brownfield. The collective also demands CSUEB to increase the population of Black faculty, Black counselors in Academic Advising and Career Education and Black administrators in the Student Health and Counseling Center. The group also expressed a need for a Black Student Government where students can influence decisions regarding cultural awareness and sensitivity training for faculty and staff and added that they want CSUEB to hire more than one African American to serve on President Morishita’s Administrative team. Visitors were also invited to attend a meeting that night for an open discussion. The discussion was led by Alyssa Steverson, President of Naturally Me and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Although the invitation was extended as informational to everyone, most of the attendees consisted of other Black student leaders who already had varying degrees of involvement with the BlackOut through the GroupMe chat. Everyone trudged into El Dorado Hall in small groups. Posted on the wall, upon entry, were student written comments from earlier in the day — “I’m tired of being harassed and dehumanized by law enforcement”, “I’m tired of being an object of entertainment”, “I am tired of my culture being misappropriated.” Row upon row of comments were taped on the wall and people stared un-movingly at the feelings of dejection from their peers while letting the words of “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar wash over the room: “My knees gettin’ weak and my gun might blow but we gone be alright.” Energy and momentum of the meeting picked up as the the topics turned from what it means to be Black at East Bay to ways of implementing positive change for Black students and the BlackOut effort going forward. At the end of the meeting everyone pushed the tables together to share a meal. It was after 11 p.m. and despite the heaviness of the topics discussed, no one was in a rush to leave the space. Fletcher, also speaks to her experience of not seeing Blacks represented within the faculty despite a diverse student body. “I’ve had my first Black professor this year and I’m graduating in the Spring and I’ve been here for four years. That within itself says a lot.” Other students interviewed at the meeting commented on being the only Black students in their classes and not ever seeing a Black professor, especially those majoring in Business and Science. Most of the students who participated in the BlackOut are familiar with experiences of isolation and know one another through the few on campus clubs that seek to support foster an academically enriching atmosphere for the Black community. Similar “blackouts”, as a form of protest, have been organized by students at Dartmouth, NYU and Brown University in solidarity with a student’s hunger strike and protests at the University of Missouri whose president resigned after turning a blind eye to a history of racial
Students participating in the East Bay Blackout event voice their feelings out posters Dec. 2 at El Dorado Hall. .
PHOTOS BY TAM DUONG JR./ THE PIONEER
Members of Naturally Me discuss various issues during East Bay Blackout, a student organized event Dec. 2 at CSUEB. incidents at the university. In addition students demanded an increase in Black faculty from three percent to 10 percent in the coming years. Locally, Black student government leaders at UC Berkeley hosted a rally on Dec. 4, to discuss environmental racist harm caused by the university. They have also been using the hashtag #BlackAtCal to celebrate the accomplishments of black students and disseminate important information that affects the Black student body. The retention rate for Black students at East Bay is 27 percent, second only to Native Hawaiian students who make up one percent of student body, according to the National Center of Education Statistics. A 2013 data report found that students who identify as Black or African American make up 11 percent of East Bay’s student body population. East Bay has received national recog-
nition for their commitment to produce diverse graduates within the STEM field. In a June press release the magazine “Diverse: Issues in Higher Education” said CSUEB’s student body is the most diverse in the state and the fifth most diverse in the nation. However, faculty diversity does not reflect the student body at the school. A center for educational statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) revealed 21 of 809 faculty members identified as Black/African American at CSUEB in 2014. “How can you talk about diversity and how can we talk about how diverse we are and what a shining example we are when you take a look at our faculty? ” said Dr. Terry West, in an interview with University of Southern California Social Welfare Archives organization. “It’s a disgrace.” Black students involved at CSUEB are using the BlackOut activities to respond to underrepresentation in faculty and
feeling unsupported in programming endeavors that cater to the Black community. Some Black students have expressed concerns over transparency and how quickly the event took place. “I feel like it was just a rushed event. I would rather it take longer [to plan] so that more people are invested in it” says student Kelsea Hawthorne. In the meeting it was made clear that this was not a one time event. “As a collective we intend to meet with administrators in the coming week regarding our demands,” said Selina Smith. “Personally I’d like to get some staff insight on the issues because right now we have a lot of student input.” According to Black Student Union advisor Marc Strong, the BlackOut on Wednesday got the attention of some faculty and staff that are interested in lending their support to help turn their demands into a reality for students.
"How can you talk about diversity and how can we talk about how diverse we are and what a shining example we are when you take a look at our faculty?" —Dr. Terry West, Communication Professor
NEWS 11
THURSDAY DECEMBER 10, 2015
THE PIONEER
Debate is back at Cal State East Bay By Paz Sandoval STAFF WRITER The debate team finally returned to CSUEB in fall, after nine years without the program. While the club has not attended an official tournament since being established, they plan to compete very soon. The debate program at CSUEB was cut back in the 2006 academic school year due to the cost of running the program. “Debate teams cost a lot of money to run,� Dr. Terry West, former coach of the team said. He describes the most costly parts of the program as being travel and the fees to enter the tournaments. Ryan Wallace, a current graduate student and CSUEB debate coach, stated the formation of this team was due to, “absence of debate at this campus� to form an outlet for students to channel their energy into something constructive. CSUEB has had a history of an on again off again relationship with debate. “Not only did this school have a debate program, it had an excellent debate program to the point where they were
able to host their own tournaments,� Wallace explained. When debate was still a program ran by the school instead of a club like it is now, it was completely funded by CSUEB in a similar way sports are funded now. In the prime of the program it had an annual tournament where they hosted schools like UC Berkeley and San Francisco State. West explained that the most interesting concept of debate is the fact no matter what your personal or political beliefs are you never know what side of the topic you will be assigned. Which sometimes forces people to argue for a side they don’t necessarily agree with making students, “look at things critically from lots of points of view.� Parliamentary debate is the type the CSUEB team focuses on, it consists of two member teams where one side plays the role of the government arguing for change on a topic while the opposition resists said change and supports the status quo. After all the speeches are completed judges that are composed of coaches from teams not currently competing fill out their score cards and reveal the winning team. “A debate team is a group of people that are organized around a love of
argument‌ the ultimate goal is intercollegiate forensics which is debate between universities,� said Wallace. Wallace explained that a debate team is important because of how America is divided in politics, he said that debate is an important skill American’s should have and it should be offered for students to learn. While the debate club is finally in motion, Wallace stated that the most complicated thing about running this club is trying to budget everything. Although the debate club has yet to officially compete, it has not stopped them from attending practices like the one they attended at Santa Clara University. Normally these events can be costly especially due to the limited ASI funding they received. SCU waived all charges for the club to attend and participate. Next quarter our debate club hopes to host not only SCU but other local colleges like Chabot during its practices in hope of growing their program. The club is set to informally participate in Santa Clara University’s next tournament in mid-January and they also hope to compete in the Chabot and Northridge tournaments following their debut at SCU.
Niners pull plug on Kap
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PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE MORBECK
San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick.
By Louis LaVenture NEWS AND SPORTS EDITOR Last month the San Francisco 49ers did the unthinkable — they benched their star quarterback. The fifth-year pro Colin Kaepernick was sent to the sidelines by the team in favor of former first-round bust Blaine Gabbert. Rumors started to swirl about the quarterback position after the team got off to a 2-6 start that included two NFC
West division losses in a row to the Seattle Seahawks and the St. Louis Rams. Gabbert has been decent in relief of Kaepernick. The team is 2-2 with the new guy at the helm and they are fresh off of an exciting last second road win against the Chicago Bears. However, it wasn’t just bad decision making that led to Kaepernick being benched, it turns out he was hurt. On Nov. 21 the team placed him on the injured reserve list, which means he can’t play for the rest of the season. Kaepernick then underwent surgery on Nov. 24 for a torn labrum in his left (nonthrowing) shoulder and it is expected to take four to six months to heal, according to team officials. Last year Kaepernick signed a six-year contract extension worth $114 million that included a $12.3 million signing bonus. The contract was extremely incentive laden and San Francisco could get out of it if they release him before the April 1 deadline. Kaepernick is due a guaranteed $11.9 million if he is still on the roster after April 1. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Kaepernick met with team officials last week and they told him that they would be open to bringing him back next season. However, the team and Kaepernick have not commented on the situation. Before his injury, the 28-year-old completed 59 percent of his passes this season for 1,615 yards, 6 touchdowns and 5 interceptions; his 78.5 passer rating was the fifth-lowest in the league among all quarterbacks.
12 SPORTS
THURSDAY DECEMBER 10, 2015
THE PIONEER
Men’s hoops lose at buzzer to Chico By Louis LaVenture NEWS AND SPORTS EDITOR It must have felt like a movie for the men’s basketball team Saturday night. With just nine seconds left in the game, Cal State East Bay found themselves down by three points to the visiting Chico State Wildcats. CSUEB senior guard Alex Carmon had the ball near half court with a few seconds left on the clock and pulled up for the tie, but it didn’t go in. “Alex made a great cut to an open area caught the ball with forward momentum and had a solid look from half court,” CSUEB Head Coach Gus Argenal said. “I thought it was going in.” The Wildcats squeaked out a win 5754 at Pioneer Gymnasium and the 23rd ranked team in the country improved to 7-1 overall and a perfect 2-0 in California Collegiate Athletic Conference play while the Pioneers fell to 3-4 overall and 1-1 in conference games. Things started out strong for East Bay and following a three-pointer from senior guard Tre Mauldin, the Pioneers found themselves up 23-21 at halftime. Mauldin finished the contest with 9 points after he took just 5 shots and he also connected on all four of his free throw attempts. “Close games are going to happen in conference,” junior guard Robert Duncan said. “These kind of games make you stronger at the end of the year.” The Wildcats made just about half of
their shots in the second half and that helped them take a five-point advantage in the half and the victory. Sophomore guard Corey Silverstrom led the way for Chico State as he tallied a team-high 16 points and 6 rebounds in 28 minutes of playing time. CSUEB guard Jalen Richard was impressive in the loss. The junior totaled a game-high 17 points and connected on three of his four three-point shots. Richard also nabbed 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals for the Pioneers. Despite missing the game-tying shot attempt, Carmon was also solid for East Bay. The senior had 12 points and 3 steals in the losing effort for the Pioneers. “Jalen is emerging as a very consistent player for us and he is a big time competitor,” Argenal said. “He works on his game more than any player I have ever coached and it shows
in his productivity and confidence. The best part about him is that he is open to coaching and sees that there is a lot of room still for improvement.” Chico State has become a dominant team in the CCAA conference and has played in four consecutive CCAA conference tournament championship games. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they have lost all four of those games including last year to tournaments champions Cal State Stanislaus 82-70. Chico State will be back at home on Saturday when they welcome Cal State San Marcos at 7:30 p.m. The Pioneers will also have another home game at 5 p.m. when they host the Simpson University Red Hawks on Saturday at Pioneer Gymnasium. The Red Hawks are just 1-12 this season while CSU San Marcos is 4-3 overall and 2-0 in CCAA competition.
“[Jalen] works on his game more than any player I have ever coached and it shows in his productivity and confidence.” —CSUEB Head Coach Gus Argenal
PHOTO BY MELODY PLATT/THE PIONEER
CSUEB junior guard Jalen Richard looks for an open teammate during a home loss to Chico State at Pioneer Gymnasium on the Hayward campus.
Pioneers trounce Wildcats in home win By Louis LaVenture NEWS AND SPORTS EDITOR The Wildcats were no match for the Pioneers on Saturday. Despite a slow start, the Cal State East Bay women’s basketball team bounced back in the final three quarters and blew out visiting Chico State, 69-45. The Pioneers are now 6-2 overall and 2-0 in California Collegiate Athletic Conference play, that includes a perfect 2-0 record at Pioneer Gymnasium. The Wildcats (4-2 overall, 0-2 conference) came out on fire, led by Hayward native Michelle Townsend. The Mt. Eden High School graduate and Chabot College transfer nailed two three-pointers in the first quarter to help her team take a 5-point advantage into the second quarter of the contest. However, CSUEB came back strong and outscored Chico State 23-9 in the second quarter, which helped them take a 35-26 lead into halftime. “They did a good job of running their plays and scoring,” CSUEB senior Shannon Bland said. “However we then buckled down and played defense how we can. Sometimes slow starts happen, it’s all about adjustments and we just had to adjust to how they were scoring.” It was a trio of seniors that led the way for the Pioneers. Tori Breshers, Madison Craig and Bland combined to score 44 of
the team’s 69 points and grab 17 of the team’s 38 rebounds. Breshers’ impressive senior season campaign continued as she tallied a game-high 17 points and 8 rebounds. Breshers has racked up 1,045 points in her career, which puts her at third on the school’s all-time scoring list, just 165 points behind CSUEB’s all-time leader Antoinette Goode. Bland, Craig and Breshers rank second through fourth in minutes played this season logging 260, 248 and 236, respectively. Fellow senior Laci Effenberger leads CSUEB in minutes played with 273 this season. “I think I got some really easy and open looks to get to the rim because I have such good shooters that teams are so worried about them it can leave me open on some easy shots,” Bland said. The route continued in the second half where the Pioneers dominated and outscored Chico State 34-19, including a fourth quarter where they only allowed 7 points. Effenberger had 9 points and 2 steals, while senior Ashleigh Anderson had 8 points, 2 assists and a steal in the winning effort. “They have a lot of scorers,” Wildcats senior guard Brooke Bowen said. “It’s tough when they get it going.” The Pioneers will travel to Atherton on Saturday to take on Menlo College at 5:30 p.m. The Wildcats will host CSU San Marcos (2-3, 1-2) in Chico at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Season Statistics • Senior Tori Breshers became the third all-time leading scorer in CSUEB history with 1,045 points. • Senior Laci Effenberger leads the team in minutes played with 273 this season. • Senior Ashleigh Anderson leads the CCAA in 3-point shooting at 57 percent.
PHOTO BY MELODY PLATT/THE PIONEER
Pioneers junior forward Shonte Trudeau goes up for a lay in over Wildcats sophomore forward Kayla Taylor during a 6945 home victory over Chico State on Saturday at Pioneer Gymnasium on the Hayward campus.