ON THE WEB n Dr. Bill F. Stewart named SCCCD deputy chancellor
AMPAGE Volume CXXVI Issue 4
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March 19, 2014
The Student-Run Newspaper of Fresno City College
Parking structure BY KAITLIN REGAN
Managing Editor kregan@therampageonline.com
Carpool program BY RAZI SYED
Reporter rsyed@therampageonline.com
Parking at Fresno City College has never been an easy endeavor. More than 22,000 students along with faculty and staff jockey to obtain one of the 2,739 campus parking spaces. To address this issue, the State Center Community College District’s 2012-2025 Master Plan proposes a parking structure and renovations to current parking lots. Each center of SCCCD presented a list of proposed projects for this Master Plan. Before the items were presented for FCC, open forums were held to get the public opinion of the projects and what needed to be done. “Parking Improvements” is prioritized as number one on FCC’s list of propositions. “We added a couple more forums to make sure that indi-
In an effort to alleviate the parking problem the exists for Fresno City College students, the Associated Student Government has begun the process of exploring various options of setting up a carpool service. ASG senator and Transportation Committee Chair Matt Shubin says that the parking issue was the main motivation for the initiative and also the main focus of the Transportation Committee. Shubin says he was given the idea for the issue when he saw a flyer for Valley Rides. Valley Rides, a service set up from the proceeds of Measure C, is a webpage that matches people with others from similar areas who have similar work and school schedules so that they may carpool together. “There was this
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Rampage Staff Editor-in-Chief Jordan Russell Managing Editor Kaitlin Regan Production Manager Victor Aparicio News Editor Patrick Forrest Opinion Editor Kevynn Gomez
Arts & Entertainment Editor Lauren Baker Sports Editor Keaundrey Clark Photo Editor Darlene Wendels Art Director Lauren Baker Copy Chief Jordan Russell Multimedia Editor Michael Monroy Reporters James Clark Yolanda Garzon Daisy Martinez Razi Syed Photojournalists Abel Cortez Akinye Chatmon Alexis Chavez Maria Vargas Multimedia Journalists Desiree Aranjo Rebekah Madison Jarrett Ramones Cresencio Rodriguez David Thammavongsa Business Manager Sydney Excinia Faculty Adviser Lynn Badertscher Journalism Instructor Jefferson Beavers Tip Line: 559.442.8262 Twitter.com/FCCRampage Facebook.com/FCCRampage Instagram.com/FCCRampage YouTube.com/RampageNewsroom Send Questions or Letters to the Editor to: editorial@therampageonline.com Fresno City College C/O The Rampage 1101 E. University Ave Fresno, CA 93741
Journalism Association of Community Colleges
Fresno City College
03.19.2014 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM
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viduals had the opportunity to participate so the result of that priority was a result of those forums,” said FCC President Tony Cantu. According to Cantu, the specific area of the parking structure is not set in stone yet. Discussions are taking place regarding where the structure could be placed and what might need to happen first. One of the possibilities is the parking lot E behind Carl’s Jr., west of McKinley. To make any renovation project possible, parking or otherwise, a bond measure is needed. That bond measure details the project and allows residents to vote on whether or not that bond measure should be implemented. “Generally speaking, if passed by the voters, it implements an increase in property taxes to pay for specific upgrades and improvements,” SCCCD Student Trustee Andersen said. The entirety of these projects, though, is only possible if the city votes it through. Cantu said that it is unknown whether or not the community “would want to support something like that.” As it stands now, the first step is to provide the SCCCD Board of Trustees a list of the college priorities and potentially recommend the priorities to the board after they have been seen. “Then, when the board has its retreat at the end of the month, they make take that up and reprioritize that,” Cantu said. With these projects in mind, the issue of cost also needs to be taken into account. Brian Speece, SCCCD associ-
NEW LOT
ate vice chancellor for business and operations, says that working with ground space is 10 times cheaper than building a parking structure. “[Parking structures are] very expensive,” Speece said. “They can cost up to $25,000 per stall.” According to the master plan, “multiple levels could be constructed and it is estimated that approximately 700 cars could be added per level” of the parking structure. Assuming that the parking structure will have only two levels, the cost just appropriated by stall would amount to $35 million. Three levels would amount to $52.5 million. Speece said that the first phase of the master plan calls for on-ground parking as well. On-ground parking, though, relies on having the land to do so. “The problem is that we don’t have a lot of land around us,” Speece said. Even with the land issue, $2,500 per stall is less expensive than building a structure. Taking the same number of spaces (leaving land out of it) and multiplying them by $2,500 results in 1,400 spaces costing $3.5 million and 2,100 spaces costing $5.25 million. Currently, this master plan is still in the planning phase. According to Speece, the plan is more of “a hope and a dream for future expansion.” There is still no estimate on how much money will even be asked for through the bond measure as full estimates have not been done. Those won’t be completed until votes come in and the potential bond has clear
support from the community since the money would come from raising property taxes. “How much do we think we can raise people’s taxes and get them to still support the bond?” Speece asked. With the potential costs taken into account and necessary steps to produce the potential bond measure, have other solutions been thought of? Would rearranging the course schedule as a whole be effective in reducing the number of people on campus at certain times? “We’ve looked at that and I think that’s why sometimes when we do early afternoon classes, they work,” Cantu said. There are other issues to be taken into account if the schedule change is even an option. Student schedules are also factors. For instance, some students may only be able to come in the mornings. “We have students that only come two days a week and that’s all they can do because they’re working and we have students that only come two days a week because of the distance that they have to drive,” Cantu said. The change would be difficult, according to Cantu, due to the potential exclusion of groups of students by time changes. If the schedule changes to afternoon courses, the students that can only come in the morning are left out and vice versa. “It’s a difficult issue,” said Cantu, “and in trying to mitigate one, you create another problem.” l TWITTER.COM/K_C_REGAN
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Fresno City College student Ruby Ruiz signs a carpool petition for ASG Senator Mathew Shubin in the ASG Office, Thursday, March 13, 2014. Photo/Evona Clay
carpool service that’s been around but nobody knows about it. [ASG] want to make students aware of it,” Shubin said. Measure C, according to the Fresno Council of Governments, was originally passed in 1986 and implements a half-cent sales tax “aimed at improving the overall quality of Fresno County’s transportation system.” In the beginning of February, Shubin began to contact Fresno Council of Governments Administrative Outreach Assistant Donna Blocker. He also proposed the idea to the rest of ASG and received approval. From Feb. 24-28, ASG set up a booth in front of the main fountain area to inform students of the initiative and to collect surveys regarding the transportation habits of students. According to Shubin, ASG wanted to learn what kinds of projects students would be interested in participating in. Shubin es-
timates that ASG collected roughly 60 surveys regarding the carpool initiative. The FCC Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning office will be be evaluating the surveys. One of the possible options being explored is to partner with Valley Rides, according to Shubin. When Valley Rides has partnered with an institution, the process of matching commuters to those institutions up is streamlined, according to Brenda Veenendaal, senior regional planner at Fresno Council of Governments. When the final project is finished, students would be able to log on to the Valley Rides webpage where they enter some personal information - like class schedule and the cross streets of where they live - and select that they will be going to FCC. Valley Rides would then match students up where there is an opportunity for those students to carpool,
Veenendaal said. Another option is for students to find their own carpool partners, independent of Valley Rides and then register as carpoolers with FCC, according to Director of Student Activities Sean Henderson. Henderson said a ridematching service would expose FCC to a liability. “That’s not a liability we’d take,” Henderson said. “ASG wants to promote the opportunities for students to get around the parking issue,” said Shubin. “Being a student representative, we need some way to help students and their needs and we need something to help this parking issue.” Third-year FCC English major Ozzy Valladolid agrees that the parking issue is a huge problem and should be addressed. However, he has misgivings about how popular the service will ultimately be. “I’d be willing to participate,” Val-
ladolid said, “but I think people might feel awkward about carpooling with people they’ve never met.” In order to incentivize students to participate in the program, Shubin said, ASG plans to offer some sort of privileges to participating students. “We want a way to reward people who will participate in [the carpool service],” Shubin said. According to Shubin those privileges may include parking permits at a reduced cost. They also may include access to a parking spots that are reserved only for those who are carpooling. It’s uncertain how much the carpool service will alleviate the parking problem, Shubin said, “but it’s something that’s necessary. It doesn’t make sense not to do it.”
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From left to right Patrick Patterson, SCCCD Board of Trustees president; John Leal SCCCD Board member; Eric Payne, SCCCD Board member; Dorothy Smith, SCCCD Board me
BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
The ind the Stat
WHO’S WHO ON THE BOARD
DOROTHY SMITH ISABEL BARRERAS RICHARD CAGLIA RONALD H. NISHINAKA ERIC PAYNE JOHN LEAL PATRICK PATTERSON
n1981 elected to Board of Trustees to represent trustee area 5 nGraduated from Fresno State nEducational Administrator for Fresno Unified School District nServed on Board of directors for the California Community Colleges and for California Community College league nMember of the SCCC Foundation Board
nRepresents area 21-A of the SCCCD nReceived Master’s in public administration from National University in San Diego nWas vice president of the Madera Hispanic Chamber of Comerce nPresident of Association of Latino Community College Trustees and CEOs nMarried with two children nTrustee area 7 nFresno City College alumnus nGraduated from San Joaquin College of Law nWorks with family at Fresno-based Business nBelieves students should have access to loans for education nTrustee area 4 nRetired faculty from Reedley College nProjects director with Tree Fresno nMaster’s from University of San Francisco in landscape horticulture nVocational teaching credential from University of California at Berkeley nGraduate of city of fresno mayor’s citizens academy/ city of fresno general plan update citizens committee nB.S. in Biology and chemistry, pre-med major nBusiness administration minor from Alabma A&M University nMaster’s of Science degree in microbiology with a concentration in mycology from Alabama A&M university nAttended Rossevelt High school and Fresno City College nBachelor’s in Spanish nGraduated from Fresno State nBoy’s varsity soccer coach for Clovis West High School nThree licences as soccer referee instructor nWife and four children
nTrustee area 6 nRetired police captain from the City of Clovis nGraduated from Cal Poly Pomona with B.S. in social science nMaster’s in Public Administration from University of Southern California nElected to board in 1983 nMember of SCCC Foundation Board nDirector of the Valley Insurance Program
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ember; Ronald Nishinaka, SCCCD Board vice-president; Richard Caglia, SCCCD Board member; Isabel Berreras, SCCCD Board member. Courtesy/www.SCCCD.edu
dividual stories of those that make up te Center Community College District PATRICK PATTERSON BY PATRICK FORREST
News Editor pforrest@therampageonline.com
State Center Community College District Board of Trustees President has been putting together policy ideas for a while. The retired police Captain has been not only the leader for the district board, but also spokesperson for the district on many issues including the hiring and retiring of Chancellor Deborah Blue. Patterson was first elected to the Board of Trustees in 1983, after graduating from the University of Southern California with a MPA in Public Administration in 1974. Patrick Patterson was elected to the Board of Trustees in November of 1983, and represents Area 6. His current term of office is until 2012. President Patterson is a retired Police Captain of the City of Clovis, California. He also graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a BS in Social Science and Economics in 1972, and earned his Liberal Arts AA in 1970 from Citrus Junior College. President Patterson is a member of the SCCC Foundation Board and serves as a Director of the Valley Insurance Program JPA.
RONALD H. NISHINAKA BY PATRICK FORREST
News Editor pforrest@therampageonline.com
Ronald H. Nishinaka was elected to the Board of Trustees in November 2010, and represents Area 4. His current term of office is until 2014. Vice President Nishinaka is a retired faculty member from Reedley College where he taught horticulture for 37½ years. Vice President Nishinaka served the Reedley community as Mayor Pro
Tem and City Council Member for two terms, and chairman of the Fresno County Southeast Regional Solid Waste Commission which included Fowler, Kingsburg, Orange Cove, Parlier, Reedley, Sanger, Selma, and two county supervisorial districts. Currently, he serves as projects director with Tree Fresno. Vice President Nishinaka graduated from Reedley College with an Associate Degree in Landscape Horticulture. He went on and earned a Bachelor’s Degree from CSU Fresno and Master’s Degree from the University of San Francisco. He obtained his Vocational Teaching Credential through Special Studies, University of California at Berkeley.
ERIC PAYNE BY CRESENCIO RODRIGUEZ
Reporter crodriguez@therampageonline.com
Eric Payne attended Alabama A&M University where he graduated as a Biology, Chemistry and Pre-Med major along with a minor in Business Administration. Having earned his bachelor’s, Payne also attained a Master of Science degree in Microbiology with a concentration in Mycology from Alabama A&M University. Payne has been with the State Center Community College District board since 2012. He graduated from Washington Union High School in Fresno. Despite his achievements, Payne has had some trouble with the law. In a 2013 police report by a State Center officer, Payne was recommended for a citation on a misdemeanor charge of unlawful use of a handicap placard. The State Center officer claimed that he saw a vehicle “cornering aggressively as it took the turn at a high rate of speed.”
The report, which was obtained by the Fresno Bee, says Payne exited the vehicle and jogged past the officer and made his way into the District Office building. Payne, 29 at the time, was not handicapped and claimed the placard, which was expired, was his cousin’s and used it when he took her out to run errands. After the board meeting, Payne was contacted by SCCCD Police Chief, Bruce Hartman and Payne was taken to the SCCCD police office where he had his photo and fingerprints taken.
graduated with a bachelor’s in liberal studies. Berreras then attended National University in San Diego where she earned a master’s in public administration. Berreras was the vice president of the Madera Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and now serves as the president of the California Latino Association of Community College Trustees. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the California Community College Trustees.
DOROTHY SMITH RICHARD CAGLIA BY PATRICK FORREST
News Editor pforrest@therampageonline.com
Richard Caglia was elected to the Board of Trustees in November 2008 and represents Area 7. His term of office is until 2012. Mr. Caglia is a graduate of San Joaquin Memorial High School, Fresno City College, California State University, Fresno, and the San Joaquin College of Law. He works with his family in their Fresnobased businesses.
ISABEL BARRERAS BY JARRETT RAMONES
Reporter jramones@therampageonline.com
In November of 2002 Isabel Berreras was elected to the Board of Trustees to represent area 1 of the State Center Community College District, Madera County. Berreras went to Madera Community College Center before transferring to Fresno State and
BY JARRETT RAMONES
Reporter jramones@therampageonline.com
In November of 1981 Dorothy “Dotty” Smith was elected to the Board of Trustees to represent Area 5 of the State Center Community College District. Smith graduated from Fresno State and is now an Educational Administrator for Fresno Unified School District. Secretary Smith once served on the Board of Directors for the California Community Colleges and for the California Community College League. Smith now Serves as the Director-At-Large for the Board of Directors of the Association of Community College Trustees and is a member of the SCCC Foundation Board.
JOHN LEAL BY CRESENCIO RODRIGUEZ
Reporter crodriguez@therampageonline.com
Fresno City College alumnus, and State Center Community College District board member, John Leal is a family man whose main interest very well may be education. During his 2012 race to the Area 3 seat of the SCCCD, Leal expressed his devotion to education by letting people know his heart was still into it despite being retired for two years. “My heart is still into it. I’m young enough and energetic enough,” Leal said, according to a 2012 story by Tomas Kassahun, a former sports editor for the Rampage. Leal began his career as an SCCCD board member in November 2012. His tenure will keep him in his position until the year 2016. Having attended Roosevelt High School and Fresno City College, Leal graduated from California State University, Fresno with a bachelor’s in Spanish. With much knowledge in the field of education, Leal has held several K-12 administrative positions. He served as the Assistant Principal at his alma mater, Roosevelt High School and at Caruthers High School.
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03.19.2014
FCC ‘CHANGE THE WORLD’ CONCERT BRINGS CULTURE AND AWARENESS
Guest artist, Ruoxue “Lexi” Jia of Fresno State plays the ehru, a traditional Chinese instrument, for the FCC “Change the World Concert” held in the OAB Auditorium, Friday, March 7, 2014./Alexis Chavez BY YOLANDA GARZON
Reporter ygarzon@therampageonline.com
Flags from various countries from around the world adorned the auditorium in the Old Administration Building for the “Change the World” choral concert on March 7, 2014. These flags represented the variety of cultures of Fresno City College students.
The concert was directed by FCC music instructor Julie Dana and included the City Singers, symphonic choir, jazz singers and guests. The event consisted of 19 songs, with guest performances by Ruoxue "Lexi" Jia and FCC music instructors Mike Dana, Larry Honda and Dale Engstrom. Two dance performances by students in Dana's class were also in-
cluded in the program. For 10 years Dana has been putting on this concert because she says that when she looks at her students, she sees how they come from different cultural backgrounds. "I look at my students, they represent the world." Dana said. After six weeks of preparations, the different choral groups were ready
to sing in different languages such as Spanish, Portuguese and German. Dana believes that more students should be aware of the different cultures that are represented across campus. “Change the World” is an opportunity for students to gain exposure to other cultures. Fresno State student Ruoxue "Lexi" Jia was a guest artist from China who played a song on the “erhu,” a chinese violin that has two strings. Jia says she has been playing the erhu for 15 years since she began playing at age four, when normally this instrument is taught to children at eight years old. Dana met Jia while attending a concert where she was performing. Afterwards, Dana asked her to be a part of the choral concert. "It's a great concert," Jia said about “Change the World.” The choral concert also included an “Otea”, a Tahitian drum dance, performed by FCC student Kolei Kuma, who is also part of the symphonic choir. “He’s so shy in class,” says Dana about Kuma. She added that she was proud of his performance in front of a large group of people. The final song of the night was Eric Clapton's "Change the World" with the entire group of singers with solos by Hallie Williams and Joseph Salanitro of City Singers. The concert came to a close with a question posed to the audience: "Why not make tonight the beginning of the change in the world?" Overall, the concert raised cultural awareness in the audience and proved that change comes from inside. l TWITTER.COM/X_WHATSERNAME_X
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03.19.2014
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The Tower Theatre’s signature marquee advertises “The Invisible Woman,” a biopic on Charles Dickens, that was screened by Fresno Filmworks, Friday, March 14, 2014. Photo/Kevynn Gomez BY KEVYNN GOMEZ
Opinion Editor kgomez@therampageonline.com
Fresno’s local film scene was treated to another cinematic treat provided by Fresno Filmworks on March 14 at the Tower Theatre. The small but growing independent organization, which typically hosts film screenings every second Friday of the month, spotlighted the unique qualities of British film with “The Invisible Woman,” a 19th century period piece about world-famous literary figure Charles Dickens. The event drew a small crowd of Filmworks’ dedicated community. Such distinctive films draw fans from far and wide who display the array of diversity found in Fresno and the Tower District. From student interns helping to
build the outreach of Fresno Filmworks to passionate out-of-town community members, the weekly screenings provide a casual opportunity for individuals to explore a variety of movie genres. Olivia Leoni, a Visalia resident, drove in to Fresno specifically for the March 14 screening, where she planned to meet friends for the biopic on one of classical literature’s most significant thinkers. “There is, I think, a need, and there is a population out there that enjoys it,” Leoni stated about the unique films presented by Fresno Filmworks. Many of the films shown at the monthly events are “richer in content” and “different,” she said. “The Invisible Woman” in particular, directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes as Charles Dickens, is a 2013 film set and filmed in England. The
film follows Dickens’ initial meeting of a much younger woman, Nelly Ternan, and their eventual romantic relationship which led to his separation from his wife- a controversial decision in Victorian England at the time. The film is also based on a novel of the same name by English writer Claire Tomalin. Analise Villalobos, a Fresno State student who previously attended Fresno City College, worked as a student intern during the screening. She believes the job requirements she must meet, such as speaking with film goers, writing blog posts and promoting events to groups of people, have helped her social skills. “It’s been nothing but beneficial for me,” she said about her Filmworks experiences. Britt Foster, a volunteer board member for Filmworks also enjoys in-
teracting with the devoted community and screening distinctive films not shown elsewhere in Fresno. “[We] try to do things that are only screened here,” she said. Foster also enjoys films with “a touch of whimsy” and “beautiful cinematography.” Fresno Filmworks also presents the Fresno Film Festival, a popular annual event that lasts from April 25- 27. International, critically-acclaimed and obscure films are presented along with director’s shorts during the short festival, yet large crowds usually flock to the Tower Theatre specifically for the opportunity to view films seldom offered in mainstream theaters. For more information on upcoming events or to buy tickets, visit the Fresno Filmworks website.
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OPINION
Campus Voices
“Who is one woman you’d like to honor for International Women’s Month and why?”
Paola Guerrero Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counseling “Gloria Anzaldua. Many times I’ve found it very difficult to connect to literature... once I was exposed to her... I felt a connection.”
Miles Tuffs Business Management “Rosa Parks. She’s really important to [the] civil rights movement, I think it takes a lot of courage to do what she did.”
Lindsee Chang Sociology “My mom. She’s so strong in who she is and she’s raised me to be who I am today.”
Joel Mejia Computer Science “My mother. Coming straight from Mexico, as a first-generation immigrant, she pretty much made a good foundation for me.” WRITTEN BY: KEVYNN GOMEZ PHOTOGRAPHED BY: KEVYNN GOMEZ
03.19.2014
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LET’S ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF EQUALITY BY RAMPAGE EDITORIAL BOARD editorial@therampageonline.com
As we prepare to end International Women’s Month, it is appropriate that we both celebrate the progress that has been made in the struggle for gender equality and realize that a long struggle still lies ahead. On March 15, Olympic hockey player Shannon Szabados became the first woman in history to play on a professional men’s team. The day before, traditionally ostracized widows in India took a stand for their autonomy by celebrating the Holi festival for the first time despite being historically excluded from such festivities. These milestones are but small examples of the kind of change that strong, dedicated women can bring to their societies. There is no doubt that women in America have made great strides in gaining equality since the days when Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton fought for women’s suffrage. Women are no longer confined to domestic roles; the U.S. Department of Labor reported that women made up 47 percent of the American workforce in 2010, and projected that women will account for 51 percent of workers by 2018. The Obama administration is even recognizing the need for gender equality in traditionally maledominated fields such as science, technology, engineering and math. An official White House release in June 2013 announced that “President Obama understands that increasing the number of women in science, technology, engineering and math fields is critical to our Nation’s ability to out-build, out-educate, and out-innovate future competitors.” Considering the places women have historically held in American society, this progress should be both applauded and used as inspiration for future generations. However, women must not become complacent; true gender equality is far from a reality. Just this month, the Senate blocked a bill that would help to end sexual assault in the military. The Military Justice Improvement Act, proposed by New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, would move authority for prosecuting military sexual assault cases from military chain of command to “independent, trained, professional military prosecutors” in order to increase the chances that the estimated 25 percent of female personnel who are victims of sexual as-
sault receive justice. The bill also aims to empower the estimated 50 percent of victims that the bill claims “did not report the crime because they believed that nothing would be done with their report.” With roughly 26,000 reported cases of sexual assault in 2012, it seems that a Senate truly concerned for the welfare of women would have readily passed any legislation which sought to end the needless suffering that sexual assault victims endure. The issue of military sexual assault is but one of many that continue to plague the lives of women in the U.S. What must not be forgotten, though, is that American women are not the only ones who suffer from injustice.
change in this nation and the world. Realize that you have the potential for greatness and utilize it. Ours can be the generation that closes the wage gap, ensures justice for victims of sexual assault and empowers girls to be independent, free-thinking individuals. Don’t leave it up to others to make these changes. Even if you do not wish to enter a career in law or politics, you can make an impact on those around you. Remember the women in your life that have inspired you. Remember the family member, coach or counselor that motivated you to be your best, and be that person for a girl or woman in your life. Even if you have never had a female role model, you must strive to provide others with the kind of positive influence that you never had. Men: Contrary to what you may believe, gender inequality is your problem too. Just because you had the good fortune of being born with a Y chromosome does not mean that you shouldn’t participate in the struggle for women’s rights. You surely have women in your life that you care about. Do you want to see them discriminated against? Do you want them to be denied fair pay when they have worked hard to achieve the job of their dreams? Do you want them to think that their worth lies solely in their face or body shape? Of course you don’t. So what can you do about it? First, do not assume that because you support gender equality you are somehow less of a man. Supporting women’s rights doesn’t make you unmasculine; it makes you a person that is aware of injustice and compassionate enough to do something about it. Second, be mindful that you are not perpetuating harmful stereotypes of women. They are not inherently bad at math, they are not overly-emotional and they are not weak, physically or mentally. These over-generalizations only serve to hinder the progress in gender equality that has been made, as well as to stop women from reaching their potential. We, the men and women bettering ourselves through education, are the ones responsible for shaping the equal society that we all deserve. We owe it to the women who have suffered injustice, and we owe it to ourselves.
“Women: You have a brain. Use it! Do not let men, the media or politicians tell you that because of your gender, you are unfit to lead and enact change.” For instance, a Human Rights Watch Report published on March 7 reveals that in Somalia, women live in constant fear of rape, which is considered “normal” in that society. The report stated that “armed assailants, including members of state security forces, operate with impunity as they sexually assault, rape, shoot and stab women.” Given these horrific findings, many may feel overwhelmed when considering how to address gender equality on both a national and global scale. While there is never an easy answer to the question of how to ensure equality, simply standing on the sidelines while others fight to improve conditions for women is inexcusable. Women: You have a brain. Use it! Do not let men, the media or politicians tell you that because of your gender, you are unfit to lead and enact
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OPINION
THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM 03.19.2014
Museveni’s anti-gay message is cruel and illogical
BY JAMES CLARK
Reporter jclark@therampageonline.com
Every step forward in the march of hate gives credence to the steps that follow. Giving into public opinion and his own homophobic perspective, rather than standing up for human dignity, on Feb. 24 Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed a law that inflicts harsh penalties on homosexual relations including life imprisonment. His tri-fold reasons for signing such a bill being, “those who were promoting homosexuality and recruiting normal people into it,” “many of those recruited were doing so for mercenary reasons ... in effect homosexual prostitutes,” and lastly “Homosexuals exhibiting themselves in public ... Are we interested in seeing your sexual acts -- we the public?” His last major argument for sentencing someone to life in prison was the childlike complaint “Ewww! I don’t want to see that.” It resembles the thoughtless condemnation used by the Westboro Baptist Church, ‘It’s gross. It’s unnatural. I don’t understand it. Burn in hell.’ And we can all trust in the Westboro Baptist’s reasoning. He finishes by speaking against the western persecution of this bill. In an acrobatic feat of cognitive dissonance President Museveni said, “we Africans always keep our opinions to ourselves and never seek to impose our point of view on others. If only they would let us alone.” To inflict one’s own opinion on another group is a heinous and selfish act, yet this is precisely what Museveni is
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From parent to student: 3 tips to find your balance
BY DAISY MARTINEZ
Reporter dmartinez@therampageonline.com
Being a student parent has its difficult moments. It is always a challenge to balance both. I went to school when my son was 6 months old. I didn’t want to give up school, although I stressed a lot trying to be a dedicated mom while studying for my courses. My first semester as a student parent was the worst semester for me. I failed half of my courses because I had no time to study for exams. As a student, you are required to do homework, study for tests, attend class, and sometimes do work outside of class hours to get a passing grade. Those that are student parents have double the work to become successful. Being a parent requires more than being a student. As a student, you make it through finals and then get a break doing through this legislation. While he seeks to portray Uganda as a victim of Western intervention, he fails to see that he is inflicting the same victimization on homosexuals. For a brief, unintended moment, you can see the cross that homosexuals constantly wear on President Museveni’s shoulders. Given that the majority of the Ugandan public wants harsher penalties for homosexuals, the president is acting as the arbiter of majority will. This, however, is the same argument that’s always been used to suppress the basic human rights of a minority. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a news conference on Feb. 18, “You could change the focus of this legislation to black or Jewish and you could be in 1930s Germany or you could be in 1950s1960s apartheid South Africa.” Slavery in 18th century America would be a good addition to this list. If there are basic human rights, then they are not subject to interpretation. The will to love is one of the most basic instincts, before thought, before sight, before sound. To cut off one’s interpretation of love is not only impossible, but cruel. President Museveni has done exactly this. By expounding this hate in public legislation he’s given precedence to the countries that will follow, an anchor to base exclusion. One can only hope that the sanctions placed on Uganda by western countries, and what outcry will come from the public and human rights activists around the world, will be enough to turn President Museveni’s head. l TWITTER.COM/FCCRAMPAGE
from school before the next semester kicks in. However, parenting is a 24/7 job. Here are three tips that can help you be successful. Tip one: Make sure you have a childcare provider you can really count on to avoid stress. Childcare is one of the reasons students miss class a lot. Paying a child center is extremely costly and something students cannot afford. In-home day cares are less expensive than well known corporations like Kindercare. The rate for a newborn fulltime five times per week is anywhere between $200-250 a week at Kindercare. As children get older, the prices lower. On average you would spend $500-600 a month for preschoolers. You can always seek day care assistance. Fresno Unified has a child development program. Children must be at least 2 years old and potty-trained. Depending on your income, you can either have no fees or $100-120 fees per month. You can also call Supportive Ser-
vices agency for day care assistance. Once you have a day care provider, don’t just plan childcare for the hours you are at school. Add an hour or two per day to do some studying at school. Remember that to be successful you must study two hours per day for each class. Tip two: Studying at school works better than at home. You can easily get distracted at home and end up cramming, or just not studying at all. If you do choose to study at home, make a plan. Lock yourself in a room or go outside as the other parent, or someone can help you care for your child. I had the privilege to count on my mom to care for my son Jared. He was in excellent hands, but I would rush home as soon as my classes were over. I planned on doing my studying once he was in bed. I never studied, though, because I was ready to go to bed too. I didn’t succeed that semester. I was taking 12 units, worked 19 hours, and had a
6-month-old baby at home. Now that Jared is kindergarten I use that time to go to school and study. Tip three: It’s important to know how much you can handle. Yes, counselors do advise taking 12 units if you work less than 20 hours per week. But that may not work for many. If you do plan on taking 12 units, plus work full-time, or part-time, I would advise to take two easy classes with two challenging ones. Many students make the mistake of trying to finish school fast and take courses that require lots of studying. If they fail, sometimes they give up and stop attending college, or they live a stressful, miserable life to stick with school. It’s extremely important not to stress as a student. The last thing you want is to neglect your child because you are too busy with school. Using these three tips can help you be successful in both areas. l TWITTER.COM/FLOWERDAZY
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10
OPINION
03.19.2014
THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM
Should unhealthful food be banned in public schools? PRO
BY CRESENCIO RODRIGUEZ
Reporter crodriguez@therampageonline.com
Sodas and other unhealthy foods should be completely banned from schools and students should not be exposed to them nor tempted to buy them. If schools cannot provide a healthy meal for students then they should not allow companies that sell sodas, chips and other unhealthy snacks to have their presence on any campus. When students are exposed to vending machines that sell those unhealthy snacks then they are tempted to buy them. It is junk food, not real food either way. Students should be encouraged to eat foods that are prepared naturally and foods that will give them the strength and nutrients they need in order to focus in class. According to the Women’s and Children’s Health Network, diet has a significant effect on children’s study habits. The report shows us that junk food and foods high in sugar limit the ability to concentrate for long periods of time. It should make sense to everybody that energy and focus are crucial for school-age children and people all around. An article from Al Jazeera America found that the Department of Food and Agriculture has set fat, calorie, sugar and sodium limits on almost all foods sold in schools. That was a great move by the department. They also moved to take foods like fatty chips, snack cakes, nachos and mozzarella sticks out of lunch lines and vending machines. That is why recently we have seen an increase in baked chips, trail mix and lower-calorie sports drinks. In correlation with first lady Michelle Obama’s effort to limit junk food in schools, the department has given her and everybody something that will benefit our children. Obama also set out to encourage young students and children to get out and exercise daily along with eating healthfully. Behavior plays a huge factor in what people consume daily. Ease of
Graphic/Lauren Baker access plays a major role in what a student decides to eat. Vending machines are convenient and cheap so students are likely to choose that over anything. If prices are too high for a balanced meal at school but the vending machine offers chips and a soda for under $3, then guess what that person is going to eat? School campuses should encourage a healthier lifestyle and hand out nutritious meals to students so they are exposed to good food and not any of that junk food they might otherwise eat. According to the Center for Disease Control, six out of 10 adults drink at least one sugary drink per day. If adults can not be models and show kids what foods are good to eat and what foods benefit them, then kids are more likely to eat unhealthy junk food as well. The fact that foods that are high in sugar, fat and salt are highly advertised and marketed is why so many people are experiencing obesity. Some people have less access to stores and markets that provide healthy, affordable food such as fruits and vegetables. Poverty among students and their families also plays a role in the choice of foods that they consume. Schools should be aware that some families have a hard time putting healthy meals on the table for their children and should take more precaution. Parents often rely on their children’s schools in order to ensure that kids get proper, balanced meals. Obesity among school-age children is a result of hunger and lack of accessibility to healthy foods according to a report from KQED, a public media outlet based in San Francisco. That is why schools should take the lead in providing healthier meals to students and encourage the daily consumption of fruits and vegetables. In the San Joaquin Valley, where much of the world’s food is grown, many families struggle to put fresh, healthy food on the table for their kids. School lunches serve as the primary source of nutrition for children at times. In the elementary school where I tutor, students are now getting a whole meal after school and they could not be happier. They are given a sandwich with ham, lettuce, pickles and cheese. With it comes their milk, broccoli, banana and orange. I see the smile on their faces when they receive their lunch, and it seems as if they just won the biggest prize. Junk food is nowhere near their mind I assume while they enjoy their nutritious meal. We need to see more schools taking the initiative to end childhood hunger and not only that but ensure that students are receiving proper meals at least once a day. l TWITTER.COM/CRES_GUEZ
CON
BY RAZI SYED
Reporter rsyed@therampageonline.com
Under new federal regulations announced 2013 and earlier this year, public schools will have to start to phase out student access to junk food and sugary drinks. While well-intentioned, these regulations will only serve to make junk food more attractive to children. Beginning in February of last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced, for the first time, broad standards that are intended to replace all unhealthy food served in U.S. public schools with healthier alternatives, according to a Feb. 25, 2014 Associated Press report. The report explain that, “foods like fatty chips, snack cakes, nachos and mozzarella sticks would be taken out of lunch lines and vending machines. In their place would be foods like baked chips, trail mix, diet sodas, lower-calorie sports drinks and lowfat hamburgers.” In addition to the USDA rules limiting the calories of food served in public schools, on Feb. 25, 2014 the Obama administration announced new restrictions that call on public schools to limit advertisements for junk food in schools, according to an AP report. Under the new regulations, for example, an advertisement for Coca-Cola could not appear on the football scoreboard or on other parts of campus. However, “it could advertise Diet Coke or Dasani water, also owned by CocaCola Co,” said an AP report. What these regulations fail to take into account is the phenomenon of psychological reactance. Psychological reactance, according to an article in the Journal of Consumer Research, says that when a person feels that their freedom to make a decision is limited, they respond by adopting even more zealousness in the opposite decision. It also makes them more resistant to persuasion. It is a similar concept to what is known in popular culture as the “forbidden fruit effect”: prohibiting an action, instead of successfully restricting unwanted behavior, actually ends up increasing it.
When I was 12 years old, I wanted a paintball gun. My mother, unfortunately, believed that a paintball gun was too dangerous for a sixth-grader and I was told I couldn’t have one. So I accepted the judgement of my mother and forgot all about my previous desire ... kidding, of course. My mother prohibiting me from owning a paintball gun only made me want it even more and so I saved up my allowance and had a friend, whose mother was more lenient on this issue, buy it for me. Now, it’s entirely possible that I was just a horrible child, but in the particular instance, at least, my behavior could easily have been predicted by those whose job it is to study human behavior. In a 1999 study titled “Restricting access to palatable foods affects children’s behavioral response, food selection, and intake,” published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers took group of children and placed two different kinds of candy on a table. The children were told to eat as many of the first type of candy as they wanted. They were also told that they were not allowed to have the second type of candy. Later on in the study, they were given free access to both kinds of candy, and it was clear the the children preferred the one that was previously forbidden to them. While this was just a short-term study, according to a Psychology Today article, other longer-term studies have also confirmed the findings. It is absolutely true that children need some guidance and education to grow up and make healthy choices, but setting rigid limits like those that have been proposed will only serve to heighten children’s interest in junk food. John Hopkins researcher Susan Carnell, Ph.D, writes in Psychology Today that “‘covert’ control strategies” - like taking your kids to restaurants with healthy choices, or avoiding keeping junk in the house - were linked with less intake of unhealthy snacks in kids. Carnell also stated that “kids with parents who adopt a strict policy of restricting junk eat more of it when confronted with unlimited piles and given permission to cram in as much as they’d like.” Given this fact, what do we expect children to do once they are out of school and at home? By implementing measures that limit the ability of children to make their own decisions, we are doing our children a disservice. If we, as a society, want to create lasting healthy habits in children, we should use subtler measures so they may make those decisions on their own rather than adults making those decisions for them.
l TWITTER.COM/RAZISYED
THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM 03.19.2014
SPORTS
11
FCC basketball playoff hopes dashed Rich Tesmer of Fresno City College sits on the sidelines after being subbed out minutes before the end of the final round of the Northern California Regional Playoffs against Santa Rosa Junior College, Saturday, March 8, 2014. Photo/Darlene Wendels
BY KEAUNDREY CLARK
Sports Editor kclark@therampageonline.com
Although the Fresno City College men’s basketball team defeated Santa Rosa College in the second game of the season, winning 70 - 57, the rematch to go to the Final Four was a different story. Santa Rosa used their length to defeat the Rams 83 72. Santa Rosa shot 42 percent from three. They shot 80 percent from the free throw line attempting 41 attempts and converting 33 of them. In the second half the Rams made a run, getting within 5 points, 48 - 53, with about 7 minutes to go. Santa Rosa ended the run with threes by Alec Kobre and Matthew Hayes that put the game back up to double digits. Santa Rosa closed the game out at the free throw line and won 83 - 72. It wasn’t close through-
out the first half, Santa Rosa jumped out to a 20-1 lead on the No. 2 seeded Rams. The Rams got their first field goal of the game at 12:12. “They hit their shots and we couldn’t capitalize when we had the chance,” said Madec Head Coach Ed Madec couldn’t find the words to explain how important the sophomores have been for FCC. For Colton Hafey, Rich Tesmer, and Chris Ashanti this was their final game in a Rams jersey. The emotion was evident as they were subbed out in the final minutes, tears coming from their eyes. “FCC has been really a second chance for me, tearing my ACL out of high school and coach Madec still wanted me to come play for him,” said Tesmer Assistant Coach Thomas Ammon was one of Madec’s former players when the Rams
won their state title in 2007. His team was knocked out of the playoffs his sophomore year. “Fresno City College’s tradition relies on its sophomores to be leaders, and teach our freshman how to be Rams, on and off the court. That’s what this group has done for us,” said Ammon FCC finished the season 30 - 3, winning their 12th straight CVC title. They will lose three sophomores of this year’s squad, and will bring back 11 players from this year’s team. “We’re going to use this as motivation to get better everyday. We’re just going to learn from this and make sure we work that much harder. Nothing less than a state championship,” said freshman Brian Chambers. l TWITTER.COM/SLOCUM13
Women’s basketball points and 16 rebounds. Sopho more point guard Dominique Pilkinton scored 13 points Wharry is an FCC career Fresno City College wanted to win California Community leader in scoring at 1,189 caCollege Athletic Association reer points “Wharry can be a domi(CCCAA) Women’s Basketball Championships for Head Coach nat player on the next level. Brian Tessler. He’s been there someone who can average 10 3 straight years and came back points and eight rebounds a game on a really good team,” empty-handed. On March 14, FCC went up said Tessler Ventura was lead by SoCal against a strong Ventura team at Cerritos College for a chance MVP Lisa Marie Sanchez, a to play for the CCCAA title. But it sophomore guard who is from the Valley. wasn’t their night. Coming from After playing a Centennial close game in the “This group’s ability to High in Bafirst half, FCC kersf ield, took a five point respond to adversity is she almost lead in the second what I’ll remeber from played at half and Ventura this group of girls” FCC. went on a 23-11 “ S h e run that was fulooked into eled by Ventura’s - Head Coach Brian FCC but felt 11-14 from the 3 Tessler Ventura was point line. a great fit “We went up for her and it 5 to start the second half, then things fell apart,” worked out well for her,” said Tessler said Tessler Sanchez finished the game “Nina Gregory and Ali Orlich played huge roles for us getting with 26 points, five rebounds to the Final Four, showing that and eight assists. Ventura’s we’re not just a one-girl team,” entire starting 5 scored in double figures with two playsaid Tessler Despite shooting lights out ers recording double-digit rethroughout the playoffs, Grego- bounds also. FCC finished the season ry and Orlich went a combined 30 - 4, 11-1 in the Central Val3 - 12 from 3. FCC as a whole went 4 - 20 ley Conference. They won the CVC title for the 7th straight from behind the arc. They were also outerbounded season. They finished ranked No. 4 in the state and No. 2 54 to 38. NorCal Player of the Year in NorCal. It’s the 7th straight Keyora Wharry (24.1 points per year they’ve finished top 10 in game, 13.2 rebounds) helped lead the state and top five in Northe Rams’ return to the state Cal. tournament with 25 double-doubles. She ended the game with 32 l TWITTER.COM/SLOCUM13 BY KEAUNDREY CLARK
Sports Editor kclark@therampageonline.com
Dominic Topoozian: “Home Grown Talent” BY DESIREE ARANJO
Reporter daranjo@therampageonline.com
Q. A.
How long have you played baseball?
“I have played since I was 7, I got started because of my neighbor, John Rodriguez who was the coach for the BHS Babe Ruth Team. I didn’t wan to play, I actually cried about playing.”
Q. A.
What was high school ball like for you?
“I went to Buchanan High School. My junior year (2011), I went 11-0 that year. We actually were State Champions, National Champions, and Valley [Champions] all in one year. My ERA was at 1.02.”
Q. A.
Who is your idol?
“My dad. He’s the man. He kept me out of trouble, always tells me to just stay focused on school and baseball.”
Q.
school?
What plans
were after
your high
A.
“I always loved the hometown feel, I always wanted to stay local. Fresno State talked me out of high school, but I felt like Fresno City would be a better option because you can leave after 2 years versus staying 4 years at a D1 school.”
Q. A.
What are the plans for the season?
‘Well, we only have 5 balls on the wall and I want a 6th one. My personal goal is the same, I want that 6th ball and have a lower ERA.”
Q.
ball?
What are your best memories for college
A.
“Last year we were two games away from final four, coming back home and playing for the championship game. But I mean, last year was a strong, great group of guys. But my number one memory was the 14 strikeout
game against Taft. Also my complete game that we won against Riverside, that was my first college game.”
Q. A.
What are the plans for after college?
“I’ve got a scholarship to Long Beach State, but I have always wanted to be a [Fresno State] Bulldog, so we will have to see. I want to go to the majors, whatever it takes to get to the highest. level of ball. But without baseball I would like to maybe own a business one day.” Dominic Topoozian, pitcher of the Fresno City College men’s baseball team, warms his arm as he prepares for Porterville College, Wednesday, March 12, 2014. FCC defeated Porterville 6-2. Photo/ Desiree Aranjo
l TWITTER.COM/ DJCOURTSIDE
12
PORTS
New faces, new hope
03.19.2014 FCC tennis reinvigorated by freshmen players FCC tennis player Maya Mammetgulyyeva awaits opposing serve against Sacramento City College, Friday, March 14, 2014 at the Fresno City College Tennis Courts. Photo/Michael Monroy
BY KEAUNDREY CLARK
Sports Editor kclark@therampageonline.com
The Fresno City College women’s tennis team is on the verge of history with a 12 - 0, 6 - 0 Big 8 Conference, they could finish the season unde-
feated and have a chance to win the Big 8 title outright. They still face a tough, undefeated Sierra team on March 22. They have matches against Cerritos and Reedley College on March 21 and March 28 respectively, who are 9-3 and 7-5 on the season. “We should win NorCal,
the challenge is to keep perfecting our game. Teams we will face down the stretch will be tougher so have keep playing at a high level,” said Head Coach Ronnie Monreal. FCC’s last conference title came in 2012 when they were co-champs with Reedley College.
Freshman Maya Mammetgulyyeva has came all the way from Turkmenistan to play for FCC. “Coming to the U.S. has been interesting, different. I’ve learned a lot since I came in August,” said Mammetgulyyeva Mammetgulyyeva and
freshman Briawna Brown have led FCC to an undefeated record. They also represented FCC in the fall, playing at a national tournament against elite tennis players from around the country, finishing 6th. “We’re strong as a team, we are physically, mentally strong. We have a great team this year,” said Brown With Mammetgulyyeva, Brown and 2012 Big 8 MVP Candace Egan, FCC’s chances of winning a Big 8 title and going far in NorCal look bright. “There is no team standing in our way of a conference title,” said Mammetgulyyeva.
l TWITTER.COM/SLOCUM13