Current Vol 64 Ed 11 by ARCurrent

BASEBALL STAR COPES WITH INJURY, LOSS AND HEARTACHE ON THE FIELD Photo Illustation by Jenn Schopfer

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ARCurrent.com @ARCurrent Facebook.com/ARCurrentcom Vol. 64, Ed. 11 • April 24, 2013

American River College students protest ASB candidates MEMBERS OF FIERCE AND INDIVIDUALS IN ASB VOICE OPPOSITION TO STANCE By Jeff Gonzales jeff.a.gonzales@gmail.com The recent American River College Associated Student Body elections came with their fair share of controversy. Students from Fierce, the campus’ LGBTQA club, along with a few members of ASB chose to take a vocal stance against two candidates running for office. The protests included individuals walking around campus with signs that read, “Vote no,” on the controversial candidates. Los Rios District Student Trustee candidate Luke Otterstad and the newly elected ASB Director of Finance Jorge Riley came under fire during campaigning for a controversial stance they endorsed as part of the ASB in 2008. “I didn’t want my constituents to be manipulated,” ASB Student Senate President Quierra Robey said for her reasons to protest the candidates. “We are supposed to be leaders. We are supposed to inform them.” The 2008 ASB Student Senate made national news by endorsing the now infamous Proposition 8, banning same sex marriage in the state of California. As the only Student Senate to endorse Proposition 8, ARC was the subject of much public scrutiny. Riley does not believe that his support of Proposition 8 should have been used against him during his campaign. “They say stop the hate, but that is what they are doing,” Riley said to The Current. The controversy prompted one ASB Senator to resign on April 18. Former Senator Paul Coram notified the board via an email that stated, “I regrettably believe that American River College Student Senate has taken to altercations of ‘free-speech’ and, in turn, began to fail to be the representation of ‘all’ students of American River College. These altercations have caused division and have misconstrued the allocations of equality amongst our constituents.”

A LOOK INSIDE

By Jessica Maynard jessica.r.maynard87@gmail.com

With bases loaded and two outs, the opposing team’s cleanup hitter steps up to the plate. He stands on the mound with a distinct tattoo, peeking out from under the left sleeve of his jersey, lips pursed as he shakes off a signal from his catcher; he negates a few more before he and the catcher finally agree upon a pitch. He throws a fastball that skates

across the edge of the strike zone; the batter connects on the pitch, hitting a pop fly caught by an outfielder ending the top of the inning. For American River College baseball pitcher and utility player Jason Fletcher, a sophomore, this scene has occurred many times. Fletcher, a first team all-conference player from the 2012 season, has only been able to pitch in five games this season due to a nerve injury in his throwing

arm. “It started last year. My last three starts, my elbow was giving me some problems and I thought that it would get better over summer and it hasn’t,” Fletcher said. “It’s just getting to the point where I can start pitching again.” Overcoming adversity can be a tough feat for most people, but Fletcher isn’t your average person. He has overcome the loss of his father, the financial

struggles h i s m o t h er went through, and giving up his option to play Division 1 baseball to keep playing at ARC. “Mentally he doesn’t get flustered. He’s steady,” baseball head coach Doug Jumelet said. “He’s been through a lot in his life that other people haven’t had to deal with. Things that have made him

SEE BASEBALL, PAGE 7 Editor’s Note: This is the second part in a two-part series showcasing the conspiracy theories surrounding the death of former ARC student Eric Webb’s father, reporter Gary Webb, in 2004.

part 2

ERIC WEBB HOPES TO BRING AWARENESS TO HIS FATHER’S STRUGGLE TO PRESERVE JOURNALISTIC ETHICS IN HIGH-POWERED MEDIA AND SHED LIGHT ON THE DEPRESSION THAT LEAD TO HIS 2004 SUICIDE By Jeff Gonzales jeff.a.gonzales@gmail.com U.S. government-sponsored foreign rebels, asylum-seeking immigrants, and crack cocaine deals performed with CIA knowledge—Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Gary Webb reported on subjects that would change people’s lives. Hollywood films can both

Diversity of ARC Athletes Athletes bring culture to campus

glorify and fog reality. The story of former American River College student Eric Webb’s father is taught in history classes and, as The Current reported, is now being made into a Hollywood movie. The years during Gary Webb’s investigative reporting and after his suicide were filled with triumphs, tragedy and confusion. Unanswered questions

“The Three Musketeers”

Chelsea Ciechanowski speaks to The Current about her upcoming role in the theatre production

led to numerous theories over what happened to Gary Webb. To his family, the reasons are unfortunate but clear.

The Reporting

“For most of a decade, a San Francisco Bay Area drug ring sold tons of cocaine to the Crips and Bloods street gangs of Los Angeles and funneled millions in drug profits to a

Latin American guerrilla army run by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, a Mercury News investigation has found,” began the story that started Gary Webb’s problems and changed the lives of those closest to him. Following the trail from a large-scale crack cocaine dealer

SEE WEBB, PAGE 7

MLS in Sacramento

Staff writer Jorden Hales makes his case for downtown soccer stadium

Page 2

News

April 24, 2013 Emily K. Rabasto / emilyksmith6@gmail.com

Editor-in-Chief Josh Baumbach

Managing Editor Sergio Portela

News Editor Jeff Gonzales

Sports Editor Jessica Maynard

Arts & Culture Editor

Kinesiology major Spencer Thomas, 23, votes for ARC’s General Election using the Student Center’s computer lab on Tuesday, April 16.

Alisha Kirby

ARC students vote in Associated Student Body elections By Mark Ahling markahling@gmail.com The 2013 ASB elections could have repeated the same course as last year, which had lowest voter turnout in the history of the school. From a population of students roughly the size of Fair Oaks, only 296 voted. It was a very small percentage of voter turn out, and most people polled agree that students still don’t even know we have a student-run board that requires votes, but that changed with over 950 students voting this year. ASB has been worked hard to get the word out to students to vote at various locations on campus. A $3,500 bill was passed for funds available for the purpose of trying to get more students to the polls. A drawing for prizes was considered by the board but was turned down by the student advisor because it was against the rules. Some flyers posted still represented the thousands in giveaways; however student advisor Byrd made it clear in her message to the board that it would not be permitted. It was finalized with a free lunch for those who voted

ASBNOTEBOOK By Mark Ahling markahling@gmail.com The American River College Associate Student Body weekly Thursday meeting was brought to order on time and with the bang of a brand new gavel. The symbolic new wood mallet would be just the shot to start the clock for these 14 hardworking students. Student by-laws, which had been on the agenda since last term, were sent back to the student governance committee. Volunteers for this committee were lined up by Vice President Omba Kipuke and were tasked to report back to the ASB by May 2. Upheld in a vote with the meeting time expiring, a $3,500 bill for elections was approved. The Board members cheered and congratulated each other before adjourning. The Director of Legislative Affairs and new

Carlos Guerrero

Scene Editor Cintia Lopez

Opinions Editor Mayra Sanchez

Emily K. Rabasto / emilyksmith6@gmail.com

VOTER TURNOUT INCREASED DUE TO FREE FOOD OFFER

and new flyers were posted to reflect the change. During informal poling by The Current, many students voted because of the free food offer. At the polls, positions were posted as being unopposed, such as Director of Finance and CAEB President. ASB spent some of the funds approved to decorate the campus with balloon columns designed to gather attention of students in the student center. Video signage boards displayed voting dates and times, and colorful flyers were posted on message boards around the campus. But the lunch lines seemed to draw the most attention from students. Social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, provided information about candidates and bios for some of the higher profile positions. According to the unofficial polls posted by Campus Life, Tyrone Robinson beat out current student Senator Kenneth Hinton for ASB President. Jorge Riley was the winner for Director of Finance and Jeremy Diefenbacher was the shoe-in for ASB CAEB President. Both positions were unopposed on the ballot. Student Senators elected were Joel Dacarro, Sam Elliott, Laurie Jones, and Timothy Cody Lipuma. The biggest win of the election goes to Los Rios Community College District Student Trustee: Ricardo Lemus. Congratulations to all the candidates and thank you for voting.

Assistant Arts & Culture Editor

Photo Editor

Daniel Romandia

Assistant Photo Editor Emily K. Rabasto

Web Editor

Korbl Klimecki

Assistant Web Editor Jonathan H. Ellyson

Copy Chief

Robert Aguilar-Rudametkin

Design Editors

Steven Condemarin Sarah Scott

Distribution Manager Carlos Guerrero

Staff Writers

Mark Ahling Ed Gebing Jorden Hales Natasha Honeywood Tracy Johnson Novak Alex Panasenko Cesar Alexander Olesya Sytnyk Sam Urrea

Staff Photographers Mark Ahling Stephanie Lee Michael Pacheco Alex Panasenko Jenn Schopfer

Professor of Psychology Peg Scott attaches an “I Voted” sticker onto the jacket of ARC student Josh O’Brien after voting in the Student Center for the ARC General Elections. All voters also received a free lunch voucher after casting their vote.

Jaime Carrillo

Adviser

Kel Munger

Photo Adviser

ASB APPROVES EXPENDITURES AND CHANGES AGE REQUIREMENT FOR ARC

ASB President Tyrone Robinson, the bills author, shook hands with everyone. Former Director of Finance Kindra Pring had earlier cautioned the board that approving these funds could cause problems later. On April 12, Pring sent an email updating the financial condition of the ASB in which she commented, “According to my recalculations…we have more money than previously thought!” Newly appointed Senator Debbie Dixon was tasked to investigate The Currents article on Sexual Harassment and will announce her findings to the ASB at a later date. A time-sensitive matter on agenda was funding for the White Privilege Conference. This was a bill sponsored by Senate Whip Brett Spencer and provided funds for students to attend the WPC in Seattle, Washington. According to its website, the “WPC is a

Contributing Editor

conference that examines the challenging problems of privilege and oppression and offers solutions and team building strategies to work toward a more equitable world.” On its third reading and under pressure of loss, the board approved it. Some members were skeptical about the accountability of the more than $3,000 that was approved, and asked for more oversight. This bill met the qualifications to fulfill some of the funds approved last year for the Wisdom Grant, which had neared its deadline. The Tanishq Abraham bill was passed by unanimous vote. This bill would allow students of any age, based on academics, to attend ARC. Abraham, age 9, was the youngest student to apply and receive approval to attend ARC. A standing ovation by the board and public was given several weeks back when he was allowed to speak on behalf of himself.

Jill Wagner

PROUD MEMBERS OF THE CNPA & JACC

POLICY The Current is produced by the students of Newspaper Production, J402. All opinions are signed and not necessarily endorsed by the Current staff. All letters and articles appearing in the Editorial, Opinion or Forum sections are not necessarily representative of the Current staff or American River College policy. All articles are the property of the Current. Please go online at arcurrent. com to see the full text of criteria and guidelines for submissions. Letters must be typed and can be submitted by mail, e-mail or in person at the following addresses: The American River Current 4700 College Oak Drive Liberal Arts, Room 120 Sacramento, CA 95841 Phone: 916-484-8304 Fax: 916-484-8668 E-mail: Current@arc.losrios.edu www.ARCurrent.com

News

INBRIEF On April 25, more than 45 employers will be on campus. Students will have the opportunity to network with representatives from business, government, and non-profit sectors. The Career Fair will take place in the Community Rooms inside the Student Center. For more information, call the Career Center at 916-484-8492.

n APPLIED MUSIC STUDENT

RECITAL On April 26, The ARC Music Department is proud to present their Applied Music Students in recital, beginning at 12:30 p.m. in room 547 of the music department. Admission is free to this event. For more information, contact Dr. Dyne Eifertsen at 916-484-8676.

n SOCIAL MEDIA HOW-TO On April 26, join American River College’s social network evangelist Don Reid, as he shows you how to market your business/club/hobby with social networking. He’ll share his successes and strategies to engage your user base while having them do much of the work. Feel free to bring a thumb drive (or create a Dropbox account) to use, as this will be a hands-on workshop in a stateof-the-art Mac-based computer lab. The American River Current’s Journalism Association of Community College State Conference Awards of 2013: The American River Current staff - General Excellence

Editor-in-Chief Josh Baumbach1st place in on-the-spot Critical Review Photo Editor Daniel Romandia2nd place mail-in Illustration Assistant Photo Editor Emily Rabasto- 3rd place on-the-spot Feature Photo Design Editor Sarah Scott- 3rd on-the-spot Tabloid Design News Editor Jeff GonzalesElected JACC NorCal Student President

CORRECTIONS In Volume 64, Edition 10 of The Current, the following corrections are listed: On page three “Veterans’ resources short handed due to budget cuts” Social Media Director Jared Thornburg’s email is incorrect it should read jared. thornburg83@gmail.com. On page five “California community college coaches face disadvantages,” Rick Anderson’s quote is incorrect, it should state he spent $31,000 to save $4,000. On page eight “Musketeers: the story explained” Chelsea Ciechanowski, who portrays the Villainess in “The Three Musketeers,” is spelled incorrectly. On page nine “Campus Pulse” Business Management/Marketing major Nathan Eurie-Turner II is spelled incorrectly. On page 10 “Now hiring at American River College” Opportunities is spelled incorrectly in the deck.

WEBB: Conspiracy theories persist CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

to an army in Nicaragua, Webb worked many hours in several countries getting information for the story, revealing the connection between the explosion of crack cocaine usage in African American communities and the CIA-backed Nicaraguan Contras. The San Jose Mercury News printed a three-part story by Webb in 1996 called “Dark Alliance.” As the stories were published, Gary Webb found himself under incredible scrutiny. When major news publications and government agencies claimed that Gary Webb wrote inaccurate information, the editors at the SJMN did not defend their reporter. With all this scrutiny and lack of support, Gary Webb published “Dark Alliance” in a book on his own. “When the book came out, there were a few people backing him up, like Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Senator John Kerry,” Eric Webb said. “But the problem is that people were still associating all of these conspiracy theories with my Dad. That he was saying things that he wasn’t.”

“

I will always treasure that night... because it helped bring closure. ERIC WEBB

Emily K. Rabasto / emilyksmith6@gmail.com

n CAREER FAIR

Page 3

April 24, 2013

Repercussions

The Mercury News pulled Gary Webb from the stories he was working on, then transferred him to remote cities and assigned him dull stories. Refusing to publicly apologize for anything he wrote in “Dark Alliance,” Gary Webb resigned and moved to the Sacramento area. The Pulitzer Prize-winner found himself unemployed and blacklisted in the mainstream media. Unable to find work with a large daily, he found a home at the Sacramento News and Review. “I think some of his best work happened there,” Eric Webb said of his fathers time at the local alternative weekly publication. However, Gary Webb’s depression worsened as his marriage fell apart and his bills started piling up. By 2004, his family and friends could see the effects wearing on him. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how he felt,” said Tom Dresslar, a friend and former colleague of Gary Webb’s, in an article published about Gary Webb’s saga. “For him to get chewed up by the powers that be in American Journalism, to get shuffled out, exiled and made to eventually quit: you know how that guy feels.” According to Eric Webb, his father was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and severe depression about a year before his suicide. He also took each of his children out for a “special goodbye” night before his death. “My father and I ended (our) night playing “Call of Duty 2” online on his PC in his office, as we often did when I visited, switching off in between ‘deaths,’” Eric wrote in an email to The Cur-

Eric Webb, 25, holds the suicide note written by his father, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Webb, on Thursday, April 18, 2013.

rent. “I will always treasure that night...because it helped bring closure.”

Conspiracy

With the CIA a central player in “Dark Alliance,” conspiracy theories ran rampant after Gary Webb died. The coroner reported the cause of death as suicide. The fact that two shots were fired added fuel to theories of CIA involvement in his death. A simple Google search reveals numerous articles with just as many theories. These theories trouble Gary Webb’s family, who watched his depression spiral. There is no doubt in their minds that it was suicide. “He gave us individually-typed letters to each of his children and my mom,” said Eric Webb. “People say, ‘It was typed. It could have been anyone.’ But he

was an author. You can tell his voice. The notes mentioned specific events that no one would have really known. I felt like he was speaking to me personally.” In the letter Gary Webb wrote to his ex-wife, Susan Stokes, as reported in the American Journalism Review, he wrote, “All I want to do is write, and if I can’t do what I love, then what’s the sense of going on? Tell them I never regretted anything I wrote.” The story that Gary Webb reported in “Dark Alliance” is one of many investigative pieces that he wrote. His work and courage will be remembered by many people. Gary Webb concluded his final note to Eric Webb by writing, “Think of me now and then, and I will hear you.”

State Senator proposes new accredited online class system MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO TAKE CLASSES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE CLOSED By Sergio Portela and Mayra Sanchez sportela.sp@gmail.com

mayrasanchez5114@gmail.com

SB 520 is a measure presented by Senator President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento. The bill will set up the first of its kind statewide network of faculty approved online courses for credit. This bill is to be paired with two other bills that were passed in 2012, SB 1052 and SB 1053, which will create an online library where the 50 most popular lower level college textbooks can be downloaded for free, or $20 for hard copies, for California State Universities, Universities of California, and community colleges. The classes will only be available to those students who are unable to get into the classes they need to earn a degree or if the school does not offer the class. ARC student David Stewart, like many others, has had issues trying to get into certain classes. ”There’s been a of couple times that I’ve wanted to take a class, and every time I try, its full or it just doesn’t work for my sched-

ule. If there was an online version of it, I would have already of taken it,” said Stewart. Last fall, according to Legalinfo.com, 80 percent of the state’s 112 community college campuses reported waitlists for classes. On average, that equals to about 7,000 enrolled students forced onto a waitlist at each campus. This bill will be able to take those students on waitlists for their needed classes and allow them to earn their credit online so they can transfer to a fouryear university. Joshua Kuykendall, an accounting major at ARC, is a supporter of the bill. “I’m for it. Its perfect for those people who are more on the fast track, they can get it done faster,” said Kuykendall. Senator President pro Tem Steinberg believes that this bill will help struggling students be able to move forward with their education. “The California Master Plan for Higher Education promised open access to all, yet thousands of students are struggling to complete their degrees and going deeper in college debt because there simply aren’t enough classroom seats available in the

courses they need,” said Steinberg in a press release. “We need to tear down these barriers. We want to lead the nation in melding technology with our great institutions of higher learning.

No college student in California should be denied the right to move through their education because they couldn’t get a seat for the course they needed. “

Page 4

Sports

April 24, 2013 Daniel Romandia / Daniel.Romandia@gmail.com

Making a splash at state championships

ARC DIVERS JAMES KENT AND ZACH YOKOYAMA HOPE TO LEAVE THEIR MARK ON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS By Jorden Hales halespersonal@gmail.com

Zack Yokoyama, a freshman diver for ARC, performing a dive at the AR Sprintathalon on March 29 at American River College. Daniel Romandia / Daniel.Romandia@gmail.com

Performing a dive at the AR Sprintathalon on March 29 at American River College, freshman James Kent is expected to go to the state championships.

Competing for a championship is an improbable task for most athletes. Discipline and repetition are not agents of control, but tools to mitigate the unpredictable. However, for the American River College diving team, elite performance is not something that’s hoped for, it’s something that’s counted upon. “It’s definitely a weight on my shoulders. People expect me to go to state,” said James Kent, a member of the men’s diving team. “ I think I will, but it’s just that added pressure when I go to NorCal’s and [while] I’m competing against other people, I have it in the back of my mind that I have to get to state.” The elevated expectations are not exclusive to competition. Although the divers perform individually, there is a strong chemistry among the team that requires its top performers to assume leadership mentoring roles. These roles have kept both Kent and his teammate Zach Yokoyama accountable to their results. “I’m kind of nervous because everyone’s expecting me to make states,” Yokoyama said. “I just don’t want to let them down.” Kent feels a similar dynamic with his teammates and is very conscious of how it affects his kinship with the other divers. “We don’t have captains in diving, but we’re definitely two of the bigger presences,” Kent said. Though the added pressure may

seem like a burden, Kent and Yokoyama have used it as a muse. “It makes me work as hard as I can to improve and show [that the expectations are reasonable] in state,” Yokoyama said. Yokoyama has proven himself among the elite for several years now. During his high school career, he was selected by ARC head diving coach Dede Crayne to compete on a Junior Olympic team. The two have developed a rapport to which Yokoyama attributes much of his success. “I’ve been with Dede since my freshman year in high school,” Yokoyama said. “I started off as a beginner, and I’ve gotten better increasingly working with her. Her coaching is tremendous.” Crayne has seen a lot of effort from Yokoyama and is impressed by his steady improvement. “Zach has really stuck with it over the years,” Crayne said. “In diving, you’re going to plateau and then have seasons of improvement. He’s maintaining that improvement and I’ll expect some more upswing as he keeps sticking with it.” State competition is scheduled to begin on Thursday, April 25, at East LA College. Crayne is not surprised by her diver’s strong chances of being there. “They’re pretty much just doing what I expected,” Crayne said. “I was thinking [before the season] that Zach could be a state champion.”

Lodi golfer brings new meaning to the term ‘one long drive’ FOR ONE AMERICAN RIVER COLLEGE STUDENT, THE DRIVE TO SUCCEED MEANS MORE THAN JUST DOING WELL IN CLASSES edgebingjr@gmail.com Imagine yourself having to get up early in the morning, before most peoples’ coffee has even started brewing. After eating breakfast, you make a stop at the gas station to fill up your tank before you hit the road. American River College freshman Colton Passey starts his day off at 5:40 a.m., before most students even think about hitting the snooze button. He leaves his house and is on his way to school by 6 a.m., where he commutes 45 miles before his first class at 7:30 a.m. Passey started out playing golf during eighth grade. “One of my best friends played golf all of his life. I did basically every sport there was and couldn’t stay healthy, so he suggested I try out golf,” Passey said. “He ended up paying for all my lessons and I just got super into it.” Passey played golf at Jim Elliot Christian High School until his junior year before deciding to concentrate on basketball for his senior season. Passey was drawn to ARC, where he was hoping to play for the basketball team. “I got a call from [head coach Mark] Giorgi and he said to tryout for point guard, so I went there and played,” Passey said. “I couldn’t stay healthy and they got a couple of good recruits, so I just kind of got lower on the depth chart, then Giorgi called up the golf coach, Mike Thomas, and I was

like ‘Ah, I’ll pick up the clubs again.’” Golf coach Mike Thomas touts Passey as a hard worker who uses his brain to help improve his level of play. “Colton’s greatest attribute is his knowledge of the golf swing,” Thomas said. “Even though he is young at it, he has the ability to make a swing that he wants to try to do. His golf IQ is high.” Passey’s teammates really enjoy their time with him and appreciate his talent on the course. “He’s a rad dude. He’s fun to play with,” Kelly Schnase said. “A lot of fun to watch especially when he’s on. He’s a really good golfer.” After finishing his classes at 1:30 p.m., Passey heads to Stockton to practice golf at The Reserve at Spanos Park, which is closer to his home. He usually practices until 7 p.m., before heading home for dinner and studying. Currently, Passey is working toward his degree in business finance. He has aspirations of someday playing on the PGA Tour, with Augusta National, which hosts The Masters, being his dream course to play. If that doesn’t work out, he would love to work as a golf course manager or do something with sales. The advice Passey would give to anyone trying to improve their golf game is advice that should not be limited to the sport. “Put in a lot of work, don’t be stubborn and think that you know it all, because no one knows it all, and just stay positive.”

Jenn Schopfer / jenn.schopfer@gmail.com

By Ed Gebing

Freshman golfer Colton Passey commutes 45 minutes every day to play for American River.

Sports

Page 5

April 24, 2013

Baseball: Fletcher uses his tattoos to express memories of loved ones grow up and handle the curveballs life throws at you. This is fun for him, it’s the easy part.” Baseball is Fletcher’s escape. When he was 16, turmoil arose. His father died. He has three tattoos showcasing the heartache he has overcome. The first one is a bird landing onto two roses on his left arm that you see every time he puts on his jersey. “My dad actually died when I was in high school,” Fletcher said. “He had two kids with my mom, me and my sister, and this signifies me and my sister and that’s him. It represents us.” A portrait of his grandmother is tattooed on his calf. “She was the sweetest lady in the world and she took care of me, my sister, and my mom when we had down times. Just a beautiful woman inside and out,” Fletcher said. The words “Carpe Diem,” [seize the day] are tattooed on the inside of both forearms. “To me it means don’t dwell on all of the negatives that happen and take each minute

Jenn Schopfer / jenn.schopfer@gmail.com

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

as a positive experience,” Fletcher said. His biggest fan is his mother, even though she may not get to attend all of his games because of a hectic schedule; Fletcher knows she’s rooting for him. “She’s in here in spirit,” Fletcher said as he points to his heart. “I can feel her love when I’m on the field. I definitely do all of this stuff for her.” Fletcher’s will to succeed on the field is inspired by his family. He currently leads the team in batting average, hitting .369 for a team that has played the toughest schedule in Calif. He has pitched five games this season, with an ERA of 4.76. “It’s been great knowing there is a guy on the team who can get a hit or a double at just about any at bat,” Jumelet said. “It would be nice if he could have pitched for us all season long. Last year, it was nice when he pitched, we knew we had a chance to be in every game.” He is the kind of guy who doesn’t need to speak in order to set the tone for his teammates. He holds himself accountable for his actions, he leads by example and his team-

The rules are changing Sophomore Jason Fletcher in the pin throwing some pitches at practice on April 10 at ARC’s baseball field.

SPORTSUPDATES

mates and coaches respect him for that. “When I’m out here, I feel like everything that’s going on off the field goes away,” Fletcher said. “I just focus on things out here, not anything else.”

Emily K. Rabasto / emilyksmith6@gmail.com

BASEBALL With two games left in the regular season, the men look to shake up the NorCal championship bracket. The men play at Cosumnes River College on April 25 at 2:30 p.m. and finish the regular season at home versus Diablo Valley College on April 26 at 2:30 p.m.

SOFTBALL ARC sophomore pitcher Karolanne Tipton throws a fastball in a game against Diablo Valley College on Tuesday, April 9.

WOMEN’S SWIM&DIVE

MEN’S TRACK&FIELD The team is currently the No. 1 ranked team in Northern California and is favored to win the Big 8 conference title again. Luis Luna is the favorite to win the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The team hosts the NorCal Championships on May 4 and May 11 at 12 p.m.

Luis Luna running in the steeplechase race at American River College on April 6. He is ranked third in the state in this event. Emily K. Rabasto / emilyksmith6@gmail.com

The team will have 12 eligible swimmers to compete in the freestyle event at the competition. Nicole Grottkau and Meghan Neep are strong contenders in the sprint event as well. The women will travel to Los Angeles to compete in the State Swim and Dive Championships on April 25 through the 27 at East LA College.

MEN’S GOLF The men’s last match before the NorCal Championships is the Big 8 #12 Conference match on Tuesday, April 30, at the Chardonnay Golf Course in Napa, Calif., at 12 p.m. The NorCal Championships will be held on May 6 at the Diablo Grande Golf and Country Club in Patterson, Calif., at 7:30 a.m.

MEN’S SWIM&DIVE

Daniel Romandia / Daniel.Romandia@gmail.com

After starting the season off 14-3, the women have sputtered during divisional play going 10-10 for an overall record of 24-13. The team is gearing up for playoffs, led by sophomore pitcher Karolanne Tipton who leads the Big 8 conference with a .206 ERA and is No. 15 in the state.

Unnecessary Roughness

ARC’s Tennis player Kevin Valentine in a match during the Big 8 North Conference Tournament hosted at ARC on April 5 and 6.

Freshmen divers James Kent and Zack Yokoyama look to claim state titles for the team at the State Swim and Dive Championships on April 25 through the 27, hosted by East LA College. The men will also have a shot at claiming a title in the freestyle event, having 14 guys eligible to compete in the event.

MEN’S TENNIS After the teams 22 game win streak was ended in a 5-0 loss to No. 1 ranked Fresno City College during the NorCal championship match, the No. 3 ranked men are gearing up for the singles and doubles state championship in Ojai, Calif., on April 24 through the 28.

WOMEN’S TRACK&FIELD The women are entering the Northern California championships with an 11-point lead after sophomore Hannah Hardy won the NorCal Heptathlon with 4,146 points on April 17 at the College of San Mateo. The women will host the NorCal Championships on May 4 and May 11 at 12 p.m.

By Sergio Portela sportela.sp@gmail.com Football is a violent game that children, as young as five years old, are playing. Safety is crucial when such young kids participate in football. I don’t think safety regulations should start with the NFL players. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has made some rule changes since becoming the commissioner in 2006. He has been successful in taking out the big hits on offensive players, especially wide receivers, not allowing defensive players to lead with the crown of their helmet. This makes the game friendlier for the offense because there is no fear of getting hit when going over the middle. Another rule which protects the quarterback does not allow the defensive player to touch the quarterback’s helmet when they go in for a tackle. Even if it’s just a tap, it can be called for a personal foul resulting in a 15-yard penalty. A new rule recently implemented by the NFL penalizes the offense when a runner lowers his head and makes contact with the defender. The penalty moves the offense 15-yards back, which slows down the game, having to stop for something that, for a player, is an instinct to protect oneself against a hit. I am not against rules implemented to keep football safe. Some of these rules are a good start in the right direction, especially with a high rate of concussions in football. I don’t believe that we should start applying these rules to the NFL first. High School and youth football should be where these rules are implemented, then it should lead into college, and later transition into the NFL. It’s best to introduce these rules when the player is new to the game rather than trying to teach an old dog new tricks. The league and Roger Goodell are changing the game I love, and they do so without even bothering to include NFL players in their decision. If they do, it must not be running backs, because they don’t seem to agree with them. Players like Matt Forte of the Chicago Bears, NFL Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk, and Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson have all expressed dislike for the rule. Richardson also believes that he may be the reason for the rule. How far will Roger Goodell go until there is no more tackling and we are watching glorified flag football. The NFL knows what it’s doing. It can change the game as much as they want and not face a decline in viewership from the fans and that’s unnecessary roughness.

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April 24, 2013

the

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from around

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FOREIGN ATHLETES FIND THEIR HOME AT ARC By Sam Urrea samurrea93@gmail.com

rowing up in a foreign country helps individuals develop certain values, morals and beliefs. Moving to the United States can be a culture shock for many. American River College athletes Luis Luna, Goretti DeAnda, Santiago Rodriguez, and Onome Pela have all experienced the shock of moving to America. Cross country and track & field head coach Rick Anderson knows the impact a foreign-athlete can make on a team. He recalls recruiting Nelson Mwangi, a former athlete of his. Mwangi was born in Kenya and later became the track & field assistant coach. “It is kind of nice to have them talk [to the team],” Anderson said. “I let him [Nelson] talk to all the guys about how he grew up. His mom would take a rake across the dirt floor inside their concrete house, we would vacuum the carpet or mop the floors and she dragged a rake across to make nice straight lines on it.” Anderson now has four players on his team that were born in different countries, including Luis Luna and Epi Nunez. He believes diversity doesn’t just include being born in a foreign country. “A track team is as diverse as any team on campus,” Anderson said. “We’ve got guys from other countries: we have Hispanic, black, white, and everything in between.” Cross-country and track & field runner Luis Luna grew up playing soccer in Mexico but made the transition to running track when he was in middle school. After posting a fast time in the mile, the school’s track coach convinced him to start running. Despite moving to California when he was 12, Luna has not lost his roots; he still attends church every Sunday and acknowledges some of the variances between the two countries. “The way people act,” Luna said. “In Mexico we’re a lot simpler, we appre-

ciate what we have. I think that’s the biggest difference.” There are currently seven student athletes who attend ARC on a studentathlete visa, as well as numerous athletes, like Luna, who were born in foreign countries. Despite the changes of residence that these foreign-born athletes have endured, the sports they participate in help them to keep a part of where they came from at all times. Much like Luna, Goretti DeAnda grew up in Mexico playing soccer with her entire family. She came to the United States when she was five years old and her passion for soccer didn’t change. She currently plays on ARC’s soccer team. “My dad and brothers all played it,” DeAnda said. “In fact, my dad still does, and he’s 62!” Another South American student, Santiago Rodriguez, found his passion in the pool; he currently competes on the water polo and swim and dive team. Rodriguez came to the United States strictly to play water polo and compete on the swim and dive team at ARC. Like the other athletes mentioned, Rodriguez grew up playing soccer. “I love soccer and so does all of Colombia,” Rodriguez said. “But in Envigado, we swim and play water polo.” In Delta City, Nigeria, Onome Pela grew up playing soccer. He has been living in California for nine years after moving here at the age of 12, but still finds himself facing the shock of American culture when it comes to food and school. “In high school here, we have different classes. You go from class to class,” Pela said. “There, we’re just in one class and one teacher teaches you English and math. Here, it’s really diverse. There are different kinds of people from different cultures.” These particular athletes are not just expressing their skills and style in the way they play. They are managing to keep a part of their culture with them no matter how far away from their home they may be. Additional reporting by: Jessica Maynard

Photo Illustrations by Daniel Romandia

Arts&Culture

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April 24, 2013 Photos by: Robert Aguilar / roberto.andrei.AR@gmail.com

FRESH MEXICAN FOOD JUST STEPS AWAY FROM ARC

XOCHIMILCO OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE TO FOOD CHOICES ON CAMPUS By Ed Gebing edgebingjr@gmail.com

(Top) A pork tamale swimming in red sauce served with refried beans, Spanish rice, and a carne asada taco at Xochimilco on April 4. (Middle) Xochimilco’s chile verde pork burrito completed with fresh flour tortillas, Spanish rice, refried beans, and a lettuce and tomato salad on April 4. (Bottom) Xochimilco on College Oak Dr. serves inexpensive authentic Mexican food near the ARC campus.

XOCHIMILCO 4904 AUBURN BLVD, SACRAMENTO, CA 95841

PRICE RANGE: $

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Daniel Romandia/daniel.romandia@gmail.com

Record Store Day brings about vinyl boom

How many people have parked their cars at the 99 Cents Only Store to walk to class simply to avoid the parking situation? Or how many students have passed by the intersection of Auburn Boulevard and College Oak Drive? If you have, then you most certainly have passed the corner restaurant that offers several authentic Mexican dishes within steps of our campus. Xochimilco, or as the menu says, “So-chee-mill-co,” has been family owned since 1964. All of the food that is made in this restaurant is made fresh daily and the quality of the food speaks for itself. After eating enough Chipotle, Subway, Jack in the Box, and cafeteria food, I thought this would be a place worth trying on a lunch break. When I first walked in, I noticed the Dos Equis “Most Interesting Man in the World” cardboard cutout standing in the background. When you go in, you can choose between a table near one of the two televisions, a booth, or, if the weather is nice, you can sit out on the patio. There were menus and place settings already on the tables. Once I chose my spot, I

was greeted by the server who already had a glass of water, a basket of chips, and some fresh salsa. I decided on the lunch portion of the chile verde burrito, which was served with rice, beans and cheese, and lettuce with some diced tomatoes. The burrito was a good size and the pork was very flavorful, like it had been marinating for a while. The beans were tasty, but the rice was a bit bland. Overall, the meal was good and tasted very authentic. I also made sure to get some of the fresh homemade tortillas they have, which I would recommend to anyone. They don’t have a happy hour, but they do offer lunch and dinner portion sizes. The prices range from $8.95 for a taco salad, $10.95 for a combination plate, all the way to $13.75 for shrimp fajitas with guacamole that also comes with sides of Spanish rice and refried beans with melted cheese on top. Xochimilco is located at 4904 Auburn Blvd. They are open Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. They have enough room for parties or large groups. I would highly recommend stopping by for lunch or dinner sometime.

RECORDS FLY OFF THE SHELVES ON THIS MUSIC ENTHUSIAST’S HOLIDAY By Alisha Kirby alishakirby1@gmail.com There’s something exhilarating about sifting through bins of records, seeing the artwork, and being able to hold something in your hands. There’s an excitement one experiences when they find the exact album that they were looking for, a feeling that’s absent when downloading music online. Record Store Day looks to help music consumers recapture that feeling. What started as a concept in 2007 by Chris Brown, an employee at an independent record store, has become an annual celebration of music. Independent record stores across the world participate by releasing special

issued vinyl and CDs, hosting meet and greets with bands and their fans, and sponsoring live performances on the third Saturday of every April. “It’s about coming together, and getting people back into record stores to buy albums,” says ARC Commercial Music major Kasey Crooks, who’s been collecting records for about three years. “I think that people lose track of the social medium of going into a record store and enjoying and talking to people. It’s just a fun experience to [go and] exchange music knowledge.” Judging by the increase in vinyl sales since 2007, it appears Record Store Day has been successful in getting people out from behind their keyboard and

Record Store Day patrons looking through bins to find limited vinyl that was released for the “holiday” at the Sunrise Dimple Records location in Sacramento, Calif., on April 20.

into stores. According to Nielsen Soundscan, 4.6 million vinyl LPs were sold in 2012. That’s an increase from the 3.9 million sold in 2011, and the 2.8 million sold in 2010. Since 2008, the year Record Store Day was officially launched, vinyl record sales have increased more than 58 percent. People who buy records can range from the occasional browser to the hardcore collector. “When you start thinking

about all of the things people collect, stamps, baseball cards, you know?” poses ARC History professor Bill Wrightson, whose personal collection holds well over 3,000 records. “What’s better that records?” “Vinyl is part of recapturing my youth,” says Wrightson. “And there’s memories that come with holding a record when you’re playing it for the first time.” Now there’s a new generation

discovering this same feeling. “You have to listen to every song, and I like that. You get more of an appreciation for the album as a whole instead of one or two tracks,” says Crooks, who grew up in an age of CDs and MP3 players. “You get into that constant clicking motion and you start not liking any music. We’re so busy with the world around us that we don’t just stop and listen to the music.”

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April 24, 2013

ARC performer finds her place onstage

Arts&Culture

CHELSEA CIECHANOWSKI RETURNS TO THE THEATER IN “THE THREE MUSKETEERS”

Theatre major Chelsea Ciechanowski on April 5, 2013. She is attending her third semester at American River College, though this is her first role in a college stage production.

Lake College, studying medicine for two and a half years. “While I was passionate about theater, it is far from a lucrative pursuit, and neurosurgery was my second interest,” she said. While still doing pre-med, she only auditioned for one show at FLC but didn’t get a part. “I came to the conclusion that [studying medicine] definitely wasn’t for me. I couldn’t spend the rest of my life giving good people bad news,”

commented Ciechanowski. She switched her major to theater. Just over a year ago, after finishing all of the acting classes at FLC, she switched colleges and began attending ARC as a theater major. “The Three Musketeers” is the first time she is back on stage since high school. Like most artistic people, she is most critical of herself and her abilities. The cast happens to disagree; Julian Strode, who plays

Campus magazine offers some of students’ best efforts AMERICAN RIVER REVIEW IS A VISUAL AND LITERARY DELIGHT

By Steven Condemarin & Alisha Kirby Steven.Condemarin@gmail.com alishakirby1@gmail.com

The American River Review is a publication that begins and ends with the students. Our peers bring all of the literature, photography, art, design and layout to life. Even though works are categorized into sections, including fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and gallery, the pieces that fall under these labels are scattered throughout the book. Although the white matte color compliments the art on the front and back of this

INOURHEADS

TELEVISION

well-bound book, very few of the stories the next will deem a work of genius. Author come with original black and white draw- Shawn Lynch uses abstract imagery to touch ings. The rest of the art is neatly organized in on concepts, including love and its impermathe middle of the book on glossy white pages nence, and witnessing a hero’s mortality. It and in color. asks the question that, if we weren’t human, The two sections that stand out the most would we be conscious of sentiments like are the fashion section with the title, “Night love, the fear of death, or the fragility of our In The Pool Room,” and the food photography hero’s? It’s a poem that you’ll get more out of section that is titled, “A Day At Oak Cafe.” Un- with each read. fortunately, the fashion section lacks a little Our peers produced every word, and photo, in variety and it seems like it was torn out of and every piece of art. These creative works a hipster’s coffee table book. combined can leave you feeling like there’s a For literature, two pieces were picked at brick in your chest, as each one brings up a random for review. The first, “Paintings in different emotion. It’s not a book you’ll flip the Rafters” is a work of creative non-fiction through haphazardly, rather, it’s a collection by Dorothy Rice. It’s an intimate look at the of small details you’ll catch with each read. inner workings of a family; the labels parents give their children, and how siblings stick to- Read the whole story at ARCurrent.com. gether during the process of watching their parents age, including when it comes time to sort through their personal items. “Counting Coins in a Jar,” is one of those poems one person will consider gibberish and

The Current’s Carlos Guererro shares the wide variety of what is in his head carlosguerrero1114@gmail.com

Community – This is such an exaggerated and fun look into the community college world. If you haven’t seen it, the show has a packed, all-star cast including stars like Joel McHale, Chevy Chase, and Ken Jeong, but it’s Donald Glover and Danny Pudi’s chemistry as Troy and Abed that allows them to steal scenes and carry episodes.

BOOK Zombie Spaceship Wasteland – On top of being a really funny comedian and appearing on TV and in movies, Patton Oswalt shows us his writing talent. His onstage success translates well into print with this hilariously descriptive book of essays and stories. It’s better if you picture his voice reading this to you.

GAME The Simpsons: Tapped Out – “Tapped Out“ is free in the App store and available for any smart phone. “The Sims” like game will keep you busy while listening to character dialogue, as well as building some of your favorite Simpsons landmarks form the show.

MUSIC

A$AP Rocky – “Long Live A$AP” – A clear flow, some savvy beats, and striking lyrics has kept this album bumping on my iPod since its release. On top of all that, A$AP Rocky probably has one of the best and most manageable problems to have. “Hot Rod” – If you’re looking for a movie with no underlying messages at the end of it, “Hot Rod” is the flick for you. This movie gets its charm and cult like following with its impossibly silly antics and a story completely lacking in plausibility.

MOVIE

jonathanellyson@gmail.com Chelsea Ciechanowski may not be the biggest name in the American River College Theater, but if you ask any of her peers in the theater department, you may start to wonder why. Ciechanowski plays Milady deWinter, the lead female role in ARCs “The Three Musketeers.” While this is Ciechanowski’s first time auditioning on this campus, she is no stranger to the performing arts. “I’ve always been a performer, always danced or sang something. Ever since I was little, my mom would have me in dance class, or a gymnastics class,” Ciechanoski explains. “Any time we’d have guests over, I’d be showing them some new dance I learned or some new song I could sing.” At Oak Ridge High School, she had roles in several shows, including “The Odd Couple” and “Dracula,” directed by her high school drama instructor, John Healy. “He was an amazing man. He worked on Broadway for years. He was an outstanding human being, he really inspired me to get into theater,” said Ciechanowski. She first attended Folsom

a musketeer and didn’t know Ciechanowski before the production, said, “She is perfect for the part. When I was looking at auditions, without a question in my mind I knew she was going to get it, I couldn’t think of anyone else in that role.” “She’s very professional, she’s easy to direct, and she has a good work ethic,” says director Pam Downs. “I think that the audience will be very pleased with her performance in this play.” “The Three Musketeers” has very few female roles, according to cast member Peter Messick. Almost every actress auditioned for the part of Milady deWinter. “Some [actresses] came in with a preconceived idea of how the character would be, and that didn’t work out,” explained Messick. “During [Chelsea’s] audition, she brought a natural aspect, something others couldn’t. She was just there to audition. She didn’t care what part she got, she really wanted to be part of the theater.” “Since being in this production I’ve felt better,” Ciechanowski said. “I’m happy where I am, other people think I should be where I am, and I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be.”

Stephanie Lee / lee.steph.photo@gmail.com

By Jonathan H. Ellyson

Que Carlos?

So close to Hollywood, yet so far away By Carlos Guerrero

carlosguerrero1114@gmail.com

Quick, think of a prominent Mexican actor or star. When George Lopez, who barely counts, comes to mind first, there is an issue. There have been few portrayals of Mexicans in any American pictures and television shows that aren’t blindingly obvious to stereotypes. It’s gone on for years and the underrepresentation is a little odd when compared to the population of Mexicans and Latinos represented in the United States. But the same old roles are, and will always be there. Need a gangster guy? Mexican actor. Need a drug lord? Mexican actor. A hot pool guy? Mexican actor. That last one isn’t so bad, but when you need a neutral leading role, Ryan Gosling or another good looking white actor will get it. The cupboard isn’t completely empty of famous leading actors. The most authentic one that comes to mind is Edward James Olmos, whose roles include “Selena’s Dad” and his Oscar nominated role as a teacher in “Stand And Deliver.” But after Olmos, there’s a huge drop off in talent, available roles, or how Mexican you really are. Next on that list would probably be actor Michael Pena, who had his breakthrough role in the 2004 Academy Award winning film “Crash.” But after a great racially charged performance, he’s been in a slew of riveting roles, such as an elevator operator in “Tower Heist,” drug dealer and thug in “30 Minuets or Less,” or the supporting actor to Jake Gyllenhaal’s leading role in “End of Watch.” On top of a short supply of actors, there is also a short supply of Mexican inspired movies. “42,” a biopic on the life of Jackie Robinson, which opened on April 12, tells the story of the racial struggle Robinson went through. “Malcolm X,” another big time movie, also profiled a famous African American. When there seems to be a chance at one, Hollywood will just have a white actor play the leading role. Seriously, how are you going to title a movie “The Mexican” and have it star Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts? That would be like Tom Hanks being the star of “Blood In Blood Out.” Sure, there was HBO’s “Walkout,” starring Pena, which detailed the 1968 student walkouts in East Los Angeles, but that wasn’t made by Hollywood. I haven’t seen a movie about Mexican struggle that hasn’t gone straight to video or been a made for TV movie. I want production value.

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April 24, 2013

Barista serves up coffee and compliments Alex Panasenko / aypanasenko@gmail.com

A STAND OUT AT STARBUCKS, A UKRAINIAN BARISTA IS A SIGHT TO SEE By Tracy Johnson Novak tracy.johnsonnovak@gmail.com With all the faces on campus it’s always difficult to find someone that stands out. Most of us go through the day without so much as a second glance at any of the other people here except for a campus Starbucks employee. Alla Kozlova quickly became one of American River Colleges most popular figures at Starbucks. Every Monday through Friday morning, you can find her complimenting her customers, and making sure everyone leaves with a smile on their face with their favorite coffee in hand. “I love to make people happy and send them off in a good way,” Koslova says. Although Starbucks is new on campus, Kozlova is not. She has worked at ARC for eight years, mostly in the cafeteria and formerly at Java City. Starbucks quickly became her favorite place to work, as she enjoys the higher volume of customers and the fact that students ask for many different drinks in different ways. But her drink of choice is a standard fa-

Alla Kozlova on April 15, handing a drink to a customer.

vorite. “Caramel Macchiatto” she says, as it rolls off her tongue with an accent thick and sweet as breve foam, and her rosy cheeks bloom with glee. Koslava has her beloved drink every morning. “Unless it’s busy, then I have it after work,” she said. “[Koslova] is very genuine,” said Courtney Klousner, Koslova’s supervisor at Starbucks and a psychology-philosophy double major. “When she talks to customers, she

always compliments their name. I’ve heard her say that to customers with a typical name. It’s just the cutest thing ever. And she means it every time she says it.” Salvador “Sal” Leon, a psychology major who also loves caramel macchiatos, said it was “awesome” to have Koslova compliment his name. “It definitely lightens my day.” Although Koslova spends most of her time working on campus, she was once a student at ARC as well. She studied ESL for a few semesters, but found that there wasn’t enough time to be a student and take care of her family. She does hope to one day get her degree and become a registered nurse, a job she had for 14 years back in her native country of Ukraine, before coming to Sacramento 10 years ago. Outside of Starbucks, she loves to spend her time in her yard, tending to her flower and vegetable gardens, as well as camping with her family. For more peaceful moments, she loves a good book. Currently, she is reading “Gone With the Wind.” “I like the history in the book,” Kozlova said. Koslova is “the oldest, wisest of us all. She takes care of us, but we all take care of each other,” Klousner said. For many, a little dose of Koslovas TLC, along with their cup of joe, is the perfect nurturing addition to their day.

CAMPUS

PULSE

“What is your message in a bottle?”

“Help, I’m trapped in a bottle!”

ZACHARYNAJJAR Computer Science

“You shouldn’t throw trash in the ocean!”

Five things you didn’t know about the ARC library

ALLISONJOHANSEN Music

SERVICES OFTEN OVERLOOKED BY STUDENTS ARE AVAILABLE YEAR-ROUND

nhoneywood71@gmail.com

TAKETHISCLASS

By Cintia Lopez clopez2392@gmail.com Stars, black holes, anti-matter, mutual annihilation, and scientific speculation. Those are only a few of the topics that are covered in Astronomy 320 with Professor Paulo Afonso. Walking into the room, you feel yourself back in your old science class from high school. With long tables that seat four people, and various cupboards around the room with science-related items inside, you immediately know that you are in a science class. Although very few students are enrolled in the class, Afonso leads a very enthusiastic lecture. From telling jokes to pausing for questions, the class doesn’t have a quiet moment. The class starts with a 10 minute review of the key points talked about in the previous class. Afonso then starts on the new topic. With the lectures revolving around the textbook, it would be a good idea to

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to have a librarian’s undivided attention for 25 minutes. During this time, you get help with things like MLA and APA citation styles, and navigate around the Library Catalog and Research Databases. Databases: If you need more accurate sources than just Google searches, then the ARC databases might just save your grade. Through the database, you can locate magazine, newspaper, and journal articles that give you exact citations. You can find sections such as general, arts, basic skills, ebooks, etc. Remember that there are always more things to a library than meets the eye. Library hours are Monday-Thursday from 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday from 7:30 a.m.5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

skim through the text before class to be able to understand the lecture. Astronomy 320 is filled with many interesting topics. At one point in the class, Afonso brought the topic of anti-matter up, saying that the universe is very asymmetric, but there is still a possibility of anti-matter existing. When Afonso showed a video in the class, he joked about there being no popcorn. Although the class is challenging, there are many different topics discussed that can catch your attention. At one point, Afonso said that the course is a beginning course, but beginning advanced. The course description says: “This course explores the nature and evolution of stars, galaxies, and the universe. Emphasis is placed on how astronomers gain and refine their knowledge of the universe and interpret the latest results of space exploration.” Afonso stresses to his students that it is a good idea to read the book and meet with fellow classmates if they need extra help.

ASTRONOMY320

TABITHAFUGETT

INTERIOR DESIGN

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He also lets the students know that he is always available during office hours and warns students of times when he won’t be available. The course will be tough at times, but like in any class, you have to put in the hard work for a good grade.

Scale is the most important thing you can learn in this class. If you are lost in this huge space between the very large and the very small, you are lost in the course. How big the solar system is, the galaxy, how big the observable universe is. Emily K. Rabasto / emilyksmith6@gmail.com

Emily K. Rabasto / emilyksmith6@gmail.com

The teacher really explains it and there are no stupid questions. We go into detail about everything, which is hard, but I like a challenge.

Professor Paulo Afonso, originally from Portugal, discussing the Higgs Boson during his lecture.

PAULOAFONSO

PROFESSOR

“I’d probably do something to creep people out, I’d write something to make people think it’s more than it is; like, ‘the body is behind the alley,’ or, ‘the treasure is behind the cove.’”

ALEXTORRES Commercial Music

“Live life, tomorrow’s never promised. [Take] every chance that you have to make an impact on yourself or other people.” Bryce Fraser / fraserb@imail.losrios.edu

The library has more to offer students than just a quiet place. Their services are constantly being updated and are offered to help students reach their full potential. Here are five things that you may not have known about the library that you may want to take full advantage of. Laptops: Need a computer as soon as possible? Instead of walking around the computer area like a zombie for 30 minutes, you can checkout a laptop. All you need is your student ID card. If a laptop is in stock, you can check it out for two hours. This is great for students who don’t need a printer.

Books On Reserve: At the circulation desk, there are textbooks that you can checkout for two hours. To check out a textbook overnight, you need to do so two hours before the library closes. The books are then due back the next day at 8:00 a.m. If you check out a textbook on Saturday, it is due back Monday at 8:00 a.m., because the library is closed on Sundays. Request a Book: Need a book but it’s not on campus? You can go to the ARC website, click on “About the library,” scroll down to “request,” and follow the directions. You can order a book from the local colleges or from anywhere in the United Sates. Research Appointments: Need help finding new sources and don’t know where to start? You can make an appointment

Emily K. Rabasto / emilyksmith6@gmail.com

By Natasha Honeywood

DRAKETOFI Kinesiology

“My message is: ‘Don’t take anything for granted, be grateful, thankful, and love your parents.’”

TANALAGA’AIA Sociology

“If you’re going on a cross-Atlantic voyage, don’t forget to bring lemons.”

ASHLEYDENT Biology

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Stephanie Lee / lee.steph.photo@gmail.com

Practicing in the ARC welding and technologies lab, Jennifer Sallade’s welding rod emits a shower of sparks and smoke while honing her techniques on April 4, 2013.

Fusing the gender gap at American River College FEMALE WELDERS TAKE ON THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS IN CLASS By Stephanie Lee lee.steph.photo@gmail.com In any job field that is typically male dominated, women have to constantly strive to prove themselves. Welding is no different. According to the Tulsa Welding School in Tulsa, Okla., less than six percent of the workforce is female. The male-to-female ratio of welders at American River College is pretty low. “We have approximately ten percent females in our classes,” said Welding Advisor Mark Reese, who teaches two classes in the welding department at ARC. The saying “Anything you can do, I can do better” isn’t one that applies to the women of ARC’s welding department. And it certainly doesn’t apply to two of the welding majors currently enrolled this semester, Melissa Scheetz and Sarah Spitzer. Males are known to be hard on their female counter-

(From left to right) Katherine Collingwood, Sarah Spitzer, Christinialynne Bonilla and Melissa Scheetz outside of the ARC welding lab on April 9, 2013.

parts, but if you ask anyone of their classmates or teachers, they will all say the same thing: the guys accept them for what they can do, not based on their gender. “Female welders often have more patience and attention to detail than many of the male students,” said Reese. Jimmy Mackri, who is enrolled in Reese’s WELD 321 class, says, “I believe [women] were the backbone of our industry, but we lost it. I would like to see more women in this industry.” What makes them stand out amongst the roughly eight women currently enrolled in one of ARC’s welding classes? What about the appeal of wearing a hood, leather gloves, and staring into fluorescent lights attracts these ladies into this line of work? Scheetz, who’s grandparents, and now parents, own and operate Scheetz Welding Services, Inc. in Folsom, Calif. hasn’t known anything else. “I have been around welding and fabrication my whole life. Literally, my playpen was in the office,” said Scheetz. For Spitzer, the road to welding came via a different route. “I started welding in fall of 2011. I was an art student who wanted to work more in metal. At some point I real-

ized that I liked welding more than art,” said Spitzer. And welding isn’t just fusing two pieces of metal together; rather, there are Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG), Shield Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Flux Core (FCAW), Metal Inert Gas (MIG), and many other welding styles. If you took a look around the back of the lab on campus, you would find tables, chairs, and spare metal amongst the other objects that can be used to practice on technique. From April 4-7, Scheetz, Spitzer and fellow female welder Katherine Collingwood all competed at the SkillsUSA California 46th Annual State Leadership Conference in San Diego, Calif. SkillsUSA California is a welding conference that, according to their website, “provides leadership training to students and instructors in the career and technical education sectors.” “We work great as a team. Katherine is a really good TIG welder, while Sarah is a good stick welder,” said Mackri. Scheetz’s fabrication team came in second, while Spitzer and Collingwood placed third. It doesn’t matter how these ladies came into welding, what matters is how they do their job.

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Opinion

CURRENTEDITORIAL current@arc.losrios.edu American River College has a history with Proposition 8. That history includes everything from vocal protests in (Rose Marks Pavilion) during a moment of silence, to the Associated Student Body at the Supreme Court. Yes, even we at The Current got swept up in the controversy. Well, a couple of those former ASB folks jumped into the ARC political fray at the last election. The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about Prop. 8 and the Defense Of Marriage Act in March. We feel it’s time for us to enter the fray as well. The students of ARC have tremendous impact on the Sacramen-

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April 24, 2013

ARC SHOULD LEARN FROM ITS PROP 8 MISTAKES

to community. Alumni work in the region to help the local economy. Professors work in businesses throughout the city. Some students live their entire lives within the city limits. All these things influence our local communities as well as the local economy. So when ARC students take a controversial stand on a hot button political issue, people listen. The ASB is the voice of the students. They are our clubs and our representatives. When the ASB took a stance in 2008 on the issue of Prop. 8, they crossed over the line. They represent all of the students and the needs of the school. They should not have taken a stance supporting Prop. 8. They

should not have alienated students and faculty. They should not have been pushing the religious beliefs of a few people. That same reasoning applies to our state and federal governments. With multiple recent poles showing that American opinion has, to use Obama’s term, “evolved” on the issue, shouldn’t our representatives stop pushing ideological issues and side with treating everyone equally? The arguments against gay marriage are many, but most of them seem to have a fundamental flaw. They say that marriage should only be between “a man and a woman.” The reasoning for this is usually backed up by biblical ref-

erences. The problem here is not with an individuals right to believe that, it is with forcing any belief on other people. Marriage, as recognized by the government, is not religious. The argument that marriage should be defined by religious values misses the fact that married people receive different federal and state benefits. That argument also fails to recognize that nonreligious heterosexual couples get married everyday. We at The Current are as diverse as our campus. We are gay and we are straight. We are single and we are married. We are politically right and left. We are students. Treat us as equals.

Sacramento should remember its past as it plans for the future

LOCAL SOCCER FANS SHOULD PRESSURE CITY OFFICIALS TO BUILD NEW STADIUM DOWNTOWN RATHER THAN ELK GROVE TO AVOID LOSING OUT ONCE AGAIN Photo courtesy of Sac Bee

By Jorden Hales

halespersonal@gmail.com Last month, it was reported that the city of Elk Grove is working toward financing to build a stadium to accommodate 15,000-18,000 people for a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise. Sacramento-area investors have been in constant contact with the MLS about the prospect of buying a team, and the league has a strong interest in the market as well. While locals should be excited about the prospect of another professional sports franchise making its way to California’s capitol, they should do so without ignoring the valuable lessons of the not-so-distant past. When the Sacramento Kings arrived in the mid-’80s, basketball was in a very similar predicament to that of soccer today. The NBA was quickly gaining popularity, first-class venues were being built to create new revenue streams, and investors were anticipating unprecedented growth both fiscally and culturally. Three decades later, Sacramento’s antiquated facility still sits in an isolated, suburban pocket of the city with its lone tenant on the verge of relocation for the third time in as many years. According to a 2011 report from the City of Sacramento, the facility cannot be renovated because its current location would not produce a timely return on the investment. Though far more developed than the desolate field it once was, Natomas is still a poor location for a major sports venue and a scape-

There are several potential sites for Sacramento’s proposed Major League Soccer Stadium in Elk Grove.

goat for ownership looking to abandon the city. City officials lacked the foresight to grant Kings’ then-owner Gregg Lukenbill the proper zoning to build the facility downtown, and it has cost us dearly. According to a study conducted by the city in 2011, 75 percent of Sleep Train Arena’s patrons come from outside Sacramento. Rather than feeding downtown meters, walking past numerous bars and restaurants, and spending an extra buck or two before and after events, patrons are confined to a concrete grid where they are forced to pay premium prices for sta-

dium food. In addition to less-than-optimal consumer experiences, such an infrastructure creates a situation in which almost all parking and concession revenues go directly into team owner’s pockets. Professional soccer in Sacramento would be a beautiful thing. Watching locals grow increasingly fond of their civic asset without benefiting from its full economic potential, then seeing its owners pursue greener pastures after its value sky-rockets would be anything but. It is painful to deal with the fallout of such mistakes now; doing so again would be grossly reprehensible.

Crashing waves on a cerebral theory THE TSUNAMI KNOWN AS SOCIAL MEDIA IS CHANGING THE WAY WE PROCESS RELATIONSHIPS By Cesar Alexander CesarAlexander.ca@gmail.com The strangest part about the Internet is the fact that it never runs out of room for us to surf. We are surrounded by the overabundant waves. Some of us are drowning, while some of us are becoming professional surfers. Friends are

getting left behind without notice as we try to catch the next wave. In 1993, British anthropologist Robin Dunbar proposed his theory based on the size of the brain’s neocortex, which is the largest part of the cerebral cortex to evolve in the human brain and is correlated to several factors of human social interaction. According to Dunbar, we have a cognitive limit that only allows for us to maintain an approximation of 150 stable social relationships. Some of us are able to sustain up to 230, while some may only deal with 100. As the Internet has evolved at a frightening pace in the past two decades, news, opinion, and images have been able to be shared in an instant, which exudes a craving for more attention, causing us to get lost in a web full of search bars

and preferences. We prefer certain friendships, whether online or in person, without actually interacting with them, until a year goes by and you run into a friend you used to spend consecutive weekends with. Cell phones have made it easier to ignore the world in front of us for whatever world we choose to be a part of. Some of us are lost in a world of cat videos, while some of us are living high profile lives vicariously through celebrity accounts. Have you ever caught yourself recalling a memory of something that you actually just saw on the Internet? Society has essentially evolved into a social experiment where subjects are led to believe that their online friendships genuinely have the same affects as their

relationships in real life. I don’t deny the glory in finding others across the country and, in some cases, even in foreign lands that share our interests, but I do believe we need to step out of our comfort zones, if only for a few hours during the day, to make some real life memories with the suggested cognitive limit we have been given. Whether it was something positive, negative or even meaningless, we connect incidents with individuals into a level of importance for what they have done for us. The great part of human social interaction is that we are all very different and we must learn to embrace that, learn to build upon our differences, and not divide ourselves even more through the use of cyberspace.

On the

XO Being in a love triangle is overrated By Mayra Sanchez sanchezmayra5114@gmail.com

As if my life isn’t already complicated enough, I have somehow found myself in the middle of a love triangle. After dating a guy for a couple of months, and seriously considering settling down, my ex (as if he has some sort of “Mayra’s happy, let’s go mess it up” radar) contacted me wanting to catch up. I should’ve just ignored his whole existence, but part of me thought, “Hey what’s the harm?” It’s better than an awkward, “Oh, hey how you doing,” at the grocery store; and with my luck, that would be bound to happen on a bad hair day. At least now I could plan my outfit. I had no idea, however, that this “catch up” would consist of him confessing how much he still cared for me and wanted me back. This was coming from the same guy who never held my hand in public. I should have got up, thrown my half-full glass of strawberry lemonade in his face, and left, just like I had repeatedly practiced in my head. But no, instead I sat there and listened to every bittersweet word as if the past two months with my new guy had meant nothing and you could almost hear the maudlin violins playing. After our little talk, I shamelessly began seeing both my ex and my new guy. I know, I’m terrible and I felt horrible. My life had somehow become an episode of “The Bachelorette.” Being the object of two men isn’t as glamorous as it looks, like in the movies. One day I’d be with my ex doing things we used to do (like watching “Game of Thrones” until we fall asleep), and the next day I would be having storebought sushi with my new guy’s family and doing all of that post-couple stuff. I had convinced myself that what I was doing was fine since I wasn’t officially committed to either guy. But I knew what I was doing was selfish and it had to stop. I was ruining a possible future with a great guy for someone who already had his chance. I eventually broke things off with my ex and got serious with my new guy, because, just like the movies, being in a love triangle is not the sort of thing that ends well and it is best left avoided.

the

MOUSTACHE & BEARD Social Club

By: Daniel Romandia

Facial hair. It is becoming more acceptable and popular in our society, so much so that an entire culture is burgeoning just under the surface of the mainstream, even to the point where there are beard-growing teams that compete internationally. On April 6, 2013, at the Powerhouse Pub in Folsom, Beard Team USA hosted the Northern California Beard and Moustache competition. Competitors from all over the state came to show off their whiskers and have a good time. As those with the beards would say, “Let it grow.”

1. Isiah Webb, also known as Incredibeard, holding his trophy for winning the all-around title. He also won first place in the freestyle beard category. 2. A close-up of a Beard Team USA pin, worn by a competitor. Beard Team USA is the organization that represents the United States at international beard and moustache competitions. 3. Simply known as Zeus, this competitor poses for the judges during the freestyle category of the competition. He won second place. 4. Aarne Bielefeldt, one of the world’s most famous beard-growers, and one of the stars of IFC’s “Whisker Wars,” holding his first place award for natural beard over one foot long. 5. Part of the judging is for the judges to feel the competitors’ beards and to critique the texture of the facial hair. 6. A close-up of the trophies given to the competitors who placed in their respective categories. 7. “Dodgeball Sean” competing in the natural beard-styled moustache category of the competition. The more elaborate and styled facial hair could take hours of preparation and could use a lot of hair product.