Rampage Fall 2012 - Issue 6

AMPAGE Volume CXXIII Issue 6

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November 14, 2012

The Student-Run Newspaper of Fresno City College

ASG appoints Monique Reyna President

HONORING VETERANS

BY TROY POPE

tpope@therampageonline.com

Monique Reyna was appointed president of the Associated Student Government of Fresno City College during the organization’s meeting yesterday.

Reyna was a senator as well as ASG’s secretary. In addition, she was the organization’s official representative to the media.

The appointment was greeted with a standing ovation from both the senate and the members of the audience.

“I had other people talk to me, even [people] outside of the senate, and just to have that many people believe in me is just amazing,” Reyna said.

Reyna will replace Nathan Alonzo who resigned last week in connection with accusations of misconduct at the recent CCCSAA conference.

Reyna’s mid-year ascension to the ASG presidency comes after the mass resignation of the organization’s executive board in the last two weeks.

Nathan Alonzo, president; Rachel McKinley, legislative vice president; Caitlin Mack, executive vice president; Rene Villa, president pro-tempore; and Senators Hugo Garcia and Desteni Battle resigned their positions due to their conduct at the conference.

Several of the ASG members that resigned are alleged to have used alcohol and/or drugs at the student-paid conference, CCCSAA, which took place from Oct. 19 to 21.

While some members maintain their innocence and have claimed “personal reasons” as the cause of their resignation, others say their departure is motivated by a desire to see ASG get back to its mission of student advocacy. l SEE ASG ON PAGE 2

Photo by Paul Schlesinger. William Dietzel, an Air Force veteran, salutes during the veterans’ memorial ceremony inside the Old Administration Building auditorium at Fresno City College on Nov. 9.

BY JERE KIRKLAND

jkirkland@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College honored veterans in a ceremony on Friday in the auditorium of the Old Administration Building.

Originally scheduled in the Veterans Peace Memorial at noon, the event was moved to the OAB due to rainy weather.

The change of venue, however, did not dampen the enthusiasm of participants at the ceremony. The event was attended by four generations of Purple Heart recipients, from Korean War to Iraq veterans.

In a moving gesture, Iraq War veterans supported Vietnam veterans as they walked down the aisle.

Bill Dietzel, grand marshal of the Fresno Veterans Day parade, said, “I’m a very proud person this weekend.”

The 2012 at FCC focused on men and women who earned Purple Hearts for their heroism on the battlefield. The Purple Heart is the “nation’s oldest” award, given to members of the U.S. armed forces who were wounded or killed by instruments of warfare in the hands of the enemy.

During the ceremony, each branch of the U.S. military and a group of the Lao military were acknowledged for their sacrifices.

Gil De la Peña, finance officer of Chapter 106 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, was the keynote speaker.

He is originally from Fresno and graduated from Edison High School in 1950. He joined the Marine Corps and fought in the Korean War. After being wounded in battle, he was released from active duty in 1952. In

1955, he attended FCC and earned an associate degree in science.

This year’s Citizen Soldier Award recipient is James W. Anderson, a Native American who fought in the Vietnam war and earned his AA with honors from FCC in 1963. This individual award is given by the college to a veteran who graduated from FCC. Anderson was drafted to the U.S. Army in 1966. While in the Army, he built roads alongside the Filipino military. After Vietnam, he became a professional golfer.

Robert Fox, retired dean of students, who was the recipient of the Citizen Soldier Award in 2010, said, “It’s recognition.

It was an opportunity for me to say thank you and that there are other people that should be recognized.” l TWITTER.COM/JEREKIRKLAND

Prop 30 passes: Where does the college go from here?

BY KAITLIN REGAN

kregan@therampageonline.com

The educational system scored a victory on Nov. 6 as Proposition 30 passed with 54 percent of the votes cast. What does this mean for the educational system and particularly, what does this mean for California community colleges?

This initiative, according to California Community Colleges Chancellor Brice Harris, will bring in $210 million in addi-

tional funding for the community college system. That money will go toward deferrals and creating more access to education.

“That money will be used to make good on some of the commitments of funding that the state has deferred over the past several years, but it also will add a modest amount of dollars to open up access for about another 20,000 students statewide,” said Harris.

Harris also said that this

proposition will put an end to students being turned away and help to promote education restoration.

“Over the last four years, we have seen nearly a half million students turned away from this system and the success of Proposition 30 will put an end to that and begin to help us restore that,” said Harris.

This victory though can be attributed to voters whose support Harris said pulled Proposition 30 through.

“We are pleased that the voters of California have been very supportive of their community colleges and of education in general, and we’re looking forward to adding back classes and serving our students,” Harris said.

Harris however said that even though this proposition passed, the budget will not be returned its pre-recession state.

It will only stabilize the current situation.

“This success will stabi-

lize the funding for California’s community colleges in the next couple of years. It certainly will not bring the system back to prerecession levels but it does get the state’s commitment to higher education and specifically to community colleges headed in the right direction,” said Harris.

During his campaign for Proposition 30, Gov. Jerry Brown said that it was for the future of l SEE PROP ON PAGE 2

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NEWS

Rampage Staff Editor-in-Chief Jesse Franz News Editor Kaitlin Regan Opinion Editor Troy Pope

Arts & Entertainment Editor Matthew Elliott Sports Editor Tomas Kassahun Production Managers Troy Pope Ramiro Gudino Print Photo Editor Abel Cortez Online Photo Editor Paul Schlesinger Graphics Editor Jesse Franz Online Editors Troy Pope Jesse Franz Social Media Director Olga Verkhotina Illustrator Dale Holcomb Copy Chief Tomas Kassahun Copy Editors Sasha Bell Pabel Lopez David Thammavongsa Olga Verkhotina Business Manager Sydney Excinia Reporters Chad Armbruster Melissa Dyer Patrick Forrest Jere Kirkland Mai Lee Frank Lopez Daisy Martinez Cox Odia Montana Paxton August Promnitz Akeem Spearman Carl Turpin Kayla Valenzuela Faculty Adviser Dr. Dympna Ugwu-Oju dympna.ugwu-oju@fresnocitycollege.edu

Tip Line: 559.442.8262 Fax: 559.265.5783 Twitter.com/FCCRampage Facebook.com/FCCRampage YouTube.com/rampagenews 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

11.14.2012 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM

l CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “I saw the kind of attention we were getting after this instance at the conference. It was negative and I felt that a lot of it, and so many people were alleged to have been implicated in it, it just really cast the organization in a negative light,” said former ASG President Alonzo.

Following the publication of the allegations in the Nov. 1 issue of the Rampage, the accused students received certified mail from the office of Chris Villa, the vice president of Student Services, summoning them to a meeting. Since it is a disciplinary issue, no information has been released regarding the outcomes of their meetings with Villa.

All CCCSAA conference delegates are required to sign a code of conduct form, pledging to behave a certain way. One of the main purposes of the pledge is to ensure that attendees represent their colleges with professionalism.

CCCSAA is a conference designed for student leaders to develop as leaders. Expenses for FCC delegates totaled $10,118 and were charged to the student representation fee, a fee supposed to go for student advocacy although it can also be utilized for student leaders to develop themselves in that role.

“I had other people talk to me, even outside of the senate, and just to have that many people believe in me is just amazing.”

-ASG President Monique Reyna Rumors of misconduct surfaced soon after the conference; several sources, including both ASG members and staff members in the Student Activities office, came forward, pointing fingers at specific members of the delegation and accusing them of drinking and using drugs during the trip.

David Thammavongsa, a Rampage reporter, attended the conference as a member Inter-Club Council on behalf of his club, Sustainable Action. He claimed

l CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

California.

“It’s not about me. It’s not about the legislature. It’s about the kids, students and the future of our state,” Brown said.

Fresno City College President Tony Cantu explained that the proposition’s passage means the college will continue in its mission of preparing students for transfer or the workplace.

“If we are going to continue to have an impact on the economy and the region, we need to continue to offer students those options that they so desperately need, not only to prepare themselves to transfer but also to prepare themselves for the workforce,” said Cantu.

The passage of Proposition 30 ensures that this will be possible. The generation of funds will stop the cuts,

ASG’s new president

Photo by Paul Schlesinger. Associated Student Government senate members congratulate newly-appointed President Reyna with a standing ovation yesterday at their meeting inside the Senate Chambers. he drank alcohol with members of the ASG. Thammavongsa has resigned from his position in ICC. “I’ve realized the best thing to do is to take responsibility for one’s actions,” Thammavongsa said. “I hope the college and my colleagues will forgive me.”

ASG now has the difficult task of rebuilding with very little precedence to guide it. This is the first time that ASG’s executive board members have resigned en masse.

Reyna now has the responsibility of appointing new executive board members, as well as guiding the organization to a successful student advocacy mission.

Reyna will present a new executive board to the senate on Nov. 20. The senate can approve or oppose their appointment with a two-thirds majority vote. If Reyna’s selections are denied by the senate, she will have to find a new selection of people to fill the board, and take it before the senate again.

Another issue discussed in the meeting yesterday was whether or not to begin the removal process against the members alleged to have acted improperly at CCCSAA, but have not resigned.

Despite Adviser Sean Henderson’s plea that ASG decide whether or not they’d attempt to remove the members, many members wouldn’t specifically give a yes or no answer, and spoke only about their feelings on the situation.

Sen. Sarah Hayes stood up and said she would seek the removal of any person involved in the CCCSAA misconduct who had not resigned. Trustee Mike Wilson quickly seconded her statement, stating that it was the right thing to do.

“If I do not see a letter of resignation from them, I personally will be going for a removal process for them,” said Sen. Hayes.

Meanwhile, former ASG Sen. James Demaree, who was removed from his position in September for “conduct unbecoming of an elected student official”, is awaiting the verdict of ASG’s official appeals committee on whether he can return to the ASG or not.

The committee met on Friday, and Jan Bensen, who sits on the committee, says that they will announce their decision “before Thanksgiving.” l TWITTER.COM/DARKTROY

Prop 30 passes balance the budget and make sure that students have access to the education that they need for a successful future.

Cantu also says that the impact of this proposition lies in the offering of classes, “the addition of classes to the spring semester and an increased number of classes in the summer.”

Echoing Cantu’s sentiment is Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor, Daniel LaVista.

“In this economy, our citizens look to their local community colleges for a way to a better life, a life of learning and a greater chance at success,” LaVista said. “We can now serve more people who want to realize their educational goals and achieve more.

We have a little more room and will have more resources now to help those who start on an educational journey, or want to re-

train for the jobs of tomorrow.”

Contra Costa Community Colleges District Chancellor Helen Benjamin said that the funding for California’s community colleges will ensure that vital services such as training of the firefighters, police, emergency medical technicians and nurses will not be impacted in the future. She added that community colleges are the avenues toward jobs and a more stable economy.

“Our state’s businesses are constantly looking for well-trained employees to hire, and the community colleges provide them,” Benjamin said. “Those businesses will be able to find the employees they need, and that only helps our economy.” l TWITTER.COM/K_C_REGAN

NEWS

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BOB KIZZIAR: A WELL SCULPTURED LIFE took two tours of duty in Vietnam. While serving, he was faced with his own personal conflict on the matter: Kizziar was morally opposed to the war, but he continued in his duties nonetheless, performing missions over enemy airspace in the aircrew.

Still, despite opposition, Kizziar knew well to discern peace from hatred in the heat of the moment. With admiration,

BY COX ODIA

codia@therampageonline.com

BY DAISY MARTINEZ

dmarinez@therampageonline.

After a 31-0 victory against College of the Sequoias, FCC is set to take on Butte College in the State Center Bowl on Nov. 17.

Photo by Abel Cortez

Know what to expect as a shopper on Black Friday, the nation’s craziest non-holiday.

Photo by Ildar Sagdejev

Photo by Paul Schlesinger

With the regular season in the rear view, the Fresno City College cross country team is feeling confident heading into the championships.

of his life began- his discovery of pottery.

“In 1967 in Okinawa, Japan, this guy talked me into walking five miles to get a heavy bag of clay, and bring back to the hobby shop to try and throw a pot,” he said. “It was pretty unsuccessful, but that was my first attempt.”

Despite his initial failures, Kizziar returned to pottery when

the last years of the Cold War. In 1979, he and his wife opened a pottery together and ran it until 1994. Kizziar’s skills in the art, meanwhile, only grew over time, leading him to think back on one particular moment of well-deserved satisfaction with his work: “We made the pots and the minute they came out of the kiln, we’d ship them out to galleries on the East Coast or Europe,

teaches art, but has a profound influence on the paths of his students.

Gently but firmly, the Kizziar laughs as he talks hands shape the moist and formof his students. “Every once in less clay as it spins on the wheel. a while, I run into a student that Finally, a pot is formed, the hands says, ‘Mr. Kizziar, you changed of the sculptor covered in the my life’,” he said. “And it totally residue of reddish clay. The pot freaks me out, because I hope it‘s will bake in the kiln, hardening not for the worse. Their dad sent to its form. And at long last, the them here to get an MBA and I sculptor’s piece is finished, rising turned them into an art major.” from a lifeless lump of But with water and earth into a time comes weafine piece of art. riness. All good Bob Kizziar, 66, things come to an is well aware of this end and so will artistic process. He Bob Kizziar’s started teaching art at time as an inFresno City College structor at FCC. in 1981, but after 31 Though at times years on campus, he is he may glance ready to retire. In his briefly back to office, cluttered with his rich past, Kizpots made by him, his ziar is looking wife, friends and stuforward to fosterdents, Kizziar watches ing his passions over young artists with for art and life a satisfied smile behind with his loved his frosty, white beard. ones – these are A Bob Dylan what he most anposter hangs off his ticipates. wall, along with an His secret iconic “War is not to life is simple. healthy for children Kizziar says, and other living things” “Choose joy. Fun sign taped to the winis something you dow, subtle connections do. You ride a to fondly remembered roller coaster for times gone by. fun, but happiKizziar began ness and joy -his artistic path in life that’s something in high school, but you choose.” ironically, it wasn’t his Kizziar choice at first; it was a has chosen joy. punishment.

He has been to “I’m not the stuplaces many dent any teacher wanted Photo by Abel Cortez. Bob Kizziar, 66, seen here in front of a kiln, retires after 31 years of teaching ceramics at have only seen in their class ever. I got Fresno City College. in travel books. kicked out of study hall He saw Robfor talking too much, and the only he stated his respect for one par- studying at Fresno City Col- and not get to see them,” he said. ert Kennedy speak in 1968 and place worse to send you was art,” ticularly brave group that he wit- lege, where sculpting became “One day, I was walking through watched his children grow. He Kizziar recalls. “And I met that nessed. his niche. Most importantly, it the Fresno Art Museum and hap- has grown old with the woman he “The last demonstration was here in 1971 that he met his pened to notice some pots that loves more than life itself. art teacher, and he was a good guy. He lived on Newport Beach that I was in any way a part of wife. Together they would raise were really gorgeous. I turned He has taught, molded, and I’d go surfing with him after was at Stanford. And the ‘peace’ two children and become grand- around to get a closer look and drawn and loved his way through people were throwing rocks at parents. Traveling with her and realized that they were my wife’s a fascinating life that many can school.”

His friendship with this art twhe cops. A group of people had sharing his passion for the arts, and mine. ‘Whoa!’ I said ‘I must only imagine behind their desks. teacher peaked his interest in the stepped out of the movement and Kizziar said she has been more be improving!’”

And while he will be missed at Since he got his job teach- Fresno City College by students subject, one that has lasted to this stepped out in front of the cops. than a spouse, she is his partner ing at Fresno City College, Kiz- and faculty alike, those that Bob day and helped in sculpting his ca- And they were shielding the po- and best friend. reer. But in 1965, duty called him lice from the rocks with their own With his wife, Kizziar be- ziar has only continued to grow in Kizziar has inspired will continue as it did so many others. Want- bodies. That was a peace protest,” gan sculpting regularly, even to his passion and joy for life. He is to craft and know exactly who to ing a gateway into college, Kiz- Kizziar said. the point that he took a lectur- loved by his students, who have thank.

But it was while serving in ing tour in Ireland and spent time enjoyed his kind smile and warm ziar enlisted into the U.S. Navy for a four-year stint in which he the Navy that an important part teaching in West Germany during sense of humor. He not only l TWITTER.COM/FCCRAMPAGE

BY AUGUST PROMNITZ

dpromnitz@therampageonline.com

BY PABEL LOPEZ

plopez@therampageonline.com

BEYOND THE PRINT THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM

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NEWS

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FCC HELPS STUDENTS BATTLE HOMELESSNESS

BY TOMAS KASSAHUN

tkassahun@therampageonline.com

For the average college student, the challenges of everyday life may include juggling school, work and social life -- experiencing growing pains of transitioning into adulthood.

For some students, however, normal life is riddled with a few more hurdles. For these students, their greatest challenge is basic survival is the name of the game. Before they can start their homework at the end of a school day, they must first find a shelter to lay their heads and a plate of food meal to fill their stomachs.

Many groups at Fresno City College are working to help homeless students achieve success in both their academic goals personal lives. Unfortunately, many on the FCC campus, including those who could benefit, are unaware of these resources.

The Social Work Student Association (SWSA) club is one of the organizations at FCC striving to provide resources for homeless students.

“I keep my line open. If homeless students want to get a hold of me, they can,” says Margret Klassen, president of SWSA. “If students come to me, I can tell them where to go and how to fill out applications. There is a great need right now for students to know what they can do.”

But students have not been reaching out to Klassen. She says it may be because the students who need the resources are ashamed.

“People think that people who are on food stamps don’t do anything all day. But that is not true. It’s not necessarily the best reputation, but if you need it, you need it.

The system is made to help people,” said Klassen.

Applications for food stamps are also now available online, a fact many people are not aware of, Klassen said.

“They can actually do applications online now. I’m sure not a lot of people know about that. It’s supposed to make it easier but at the same time, it’s hard if you don’t know your resources,” said Klassen.

“A lot of people who qualify think they don’t. I think it’s 25 percent of people who qualify that don’t apply.”

As the days get shorter and temperatures lower, the SWSA club is hoping to receive more donations as well as more requests for shelter and warm clothes.

“If people have things they want to donate, I don’t have a problem storing that at my house,” said Klassen.

In the near future, SWSA plans to have workshops where they can assist those seeking assistance for social services such as food stamps and medical coverage.

“I’m pretty knowledgeable on these things. I have access to the information. If

students need it, I can provide them with information. I can see what my organization can do,” said Klassen.

Natalie Chavez, Director of Foster Kinship and Education at FCC, is also striving to provide students with the basic needs so they can have a successful academic career. According to Chavez, there are 500 foster youth at FCC and many of them are “couch surfing” or in emergency shelters.

“They don’t have anybody to support them. They can’t find a job and they don’t have a stable life. They have a hard time being successful in school,” said Chavez.

At the beginning of the fall semester, Chavez was able to get a grant funding for meal cards. Full time students received $100 meal cards while part time students received $50 meal cards.

Like Klassen, Chavez is faced with the challenge of helping students become aware of the resources that exist.

“They are victims of abuse and neglect. They don’t want anybody to know.

They have failed to have a caregiver that provides them with stability and knowledge to take care of themselves,” Chavez said. “They are reluctant to ask for help because they don’t want people to know their past history.”

Chavez says she is not interested in knowing their personal history. Her goal is to know what obstacles the students

are facing in school and what she can do to help them get to their educational and career goals.

Adding to the challenge is the fact that many of the foster youth are older students who are trying to transition back into school.

“Coming out of high school, they were not ready. They were wild and they did what they wanted to do. Many of the students are between 20 and 24,” said Chavez.

Currently Chavez is working on a project called FCC Renaissance. The goal of the program is to make a foster culture on campus where foster youth can support each other. There will also be a fan page and emails about information for resources.

This year, Chavez has nominated a few students for the Hope for the Holidays program at FCC, which provides gift cards for students in need. Although she doesn’t have much else planned for the students this holiday season, Chavez hopes to provide students with much more next year. She would especially like to provide information to faculty so they can adopt students for the holidays.

“I would love to see faculty adopt young people,” said Chavez. “We get to go home for the holidays, but they don’t have anywhere to go. They don’t have gifts or family.” l TWITTER.COM/THERAMPAGEGUY

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Kuppajoe is no average nightclub

BY KAYLA VALENZUELA

kvalenzuela@therampageonline.com

Photo by Kayla Valenzuela. Director Jesse Kennedy discusses his role at Kuppajoe Nighclub. Kuppajoe provides a safe and positive environment for bands to perform.

In 1997, Kuppajoe started as a Christian coffee shop.

Today Kuppajoe is an all ages nightclub that features local and some national bands.

“Kuppajoe is the longest running all ages night club in the valley,” said Jesse Kennedy, director and general manager of Kuppajoe.

The venue brings a positive message and vibe to the community and local music scene.

Before each show, Kuppajoe reads through every band’s lyrics and assures that there is no immature content, language, or any lyrics about drugs or alcohol.

“Kuppajoe is a safe place for music lovers to enjoy music and come together as a community,” said Kennedy.

This venue is very welcoming and invites everyone to

its shows, events, and even bible studies. Bible studies are held in the venue as well.

According to Kennedy, Kuppajoe wants to make sure that kids feel comfortable in whatever they may be attending there.

Many different types of bands have performed at the club from pop to hardcore, to indie rock and much more.

There are concerts that Kuppajoe holds almost every Friday and sometimes on weekends too.

Each band is paid and fed for their performance. Cover charges range from $5 to $12 depending on how popular the band is. Beverages are sold between $1 and $2.

People interested in a group discount, can contact the venue. If needed, bands are able to shower and use laundry facilities.

Both local and out of town bands are treated to great hospi-

tality by the venue and staff.

As I Lay Dying, Confide, Becoming the Archetype, He Is We, and A Current Affair are a few of the bands that have perfomed at Kuppajoe.

Partners of Kuppajoe include Miears Music Management, Goorabian Family Life Center, Ticket Fly, and Jordan Pulmano Media.

Some shows that are coming up are: I, The Deceiver on Nov. 16, and the Dependence EP release show on Nov. 17.

Located on 3673 N. First St. in Fresno, Kuppajoe is open on Mondays 6:30 p.m.-10 p.m. and Fridays 7 p.m.-11 p.m.

For more information about the venue, go to Kuppajoe.com.

For information about booking, visit the website and click on the contact link or call 559-229-3320. l TWITTER.COM/KORRUPTEDKITTY

Bond lives up to the hype

BY TROY POPE

tpope@therampageonline.com

“Skyfall” stands out as a unique James Bond film, and is one of the best out of the 23 that have come out since 1962.

Bond films are famous for their opening sequences that are meant to start the movie in fifth gear, and hook the viewer into the film.

“Skyfall” doesn’t disappoint, and has a chase sequence to rival any previous Bond film.

“Skyfall” departs from the series’ usual non-stop action sequences, and actually, for the first time, takes a stab at “Home Alone” gauntlet-style booby traps.

The departure is a new direction for Bond in this defensive-style film, instead constantly being on the offense.

Up until 2006’s “Casino Royale”, Bond enjoyed a continuous timeline, unbroken since the series’ inception.

The series took a new direction with an edgier, less-goofy product that was commonplace in Bond cinema.

Although this is no longer the same James Bond as seen from “Dr. No” (1962)

through “Die Another Day” (2002), it is the first time anyone openly commented on his age.

“It’s a young man’s game now,” Gareth Mallory played by Ralph Fiennes, says to Bond.

In this film, Bond deals with alcohol problems and is physically aching from body trauma; he is seen as an older man looking in from the outside as a new generation is passing him by.

The story revolves around a villain having a vendetta for Bond’s boss, a woman called “M” played by Dame Judi Dench.

Throughout the film, the longrunning adversarial relationship between Bond and M, that has been in place since Dench’s first appearance in Goldeneye (1995), becomes more of a mother/son relationship where M stands up for Bond in his weakened state, and Bond defends M from a murderous unknown assassin out to get her.

Silva, Bond’s adversary played by Javier Bardem is well written and fantastically performed.

The byplay between the two is clev-

Bond (Daniel Craig) is confronted by Silva (Javier Bardem), his adversary.

Photo by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer & Columbia Pictures. er, and well constructed in a way that leads fittingly to the film’s climax.

The only negative in the film is the villain doesn’t seem evil enough. His vengeance seems to fall under only that, vengeance.

There are few innocents killed in the film. Not that senseless murder is a plus in

any film, simply that restricting his targets to that of people almost directly involved, makes him seem like less of a villain, and more of a conquering underdog with a plan.

Other than that, “Skyfall” is masterful.

Grade: Al TWITTER.COM/DARKTROY

Local group Sea of Sound releases first EP ‘Criavia’

BY MATTHEW ELLIOTT

melliott@therampageonline.com

(From left) Warren Whitehurst, Sach Schuh and Seth Jordan.

Photo by Andy Lei, special to the Rampage from Sea of Sound.

Sea of Sound is new to Fresno’s music scene, but they have already received considerable recognition and esteem. They were recently selected by the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino as one of the top three bands in the Central Valley.

Their first EP release, “Criavia” is certain to take the local music scene by storm. The energetic and upbeat album is reminiscent of bands including Coldplay and Fresno favorite, Fierce Creatures.

Still, after listening to this album several times, it is clear that while there are comparisons to be made, their sound is entirely unique.

The guitar riffs sound professional and transitions are incredibly smooth. Listening to the album with a blank slate, listeners would be hard pressed to presume that Sea of Sound was anything less than a national band, let alone one that is rooted in Fresno.

The three member band consists of a drummer, guitarist and vocalist. Several songs also incorporate keyboards and bass.

The band produces a professional and clean sound that is indicative of years of experience.

Their crisp and spirited compositions make for easily listening and warrant repeated play.

Their gifted vocalist, Zach Schuh passionately pours out lofty melodies that are comparable to those of Coldplay or Silverchair.

Rhythm guitarist, Warren Whitehurst prefers to use a crisp and clear sound for his instrument, free of distortion. During his periodical solos throughout the album, it appears as though he has experience with jazz. This helps to define the quality of their sound.

Their drummer, Seth Jordan seals the deal by continuously modifying his beat to produce a constant flow.

It seems implausible that this could be their first album. The EP’s soul is indicative of a band that has loved, lost and lived again. Any praise that Sea of Sound is certain to receive is entirely justified.

Grade: A l TWITTER.COM/PATH_OF_LOTUS

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Fall Finally Finds Fresno

BY PAUL SCHLESINGER

pschlesinger@therampageonline.com

The autumn season has arrived with fall foliage across the valley and the recent opening of the skating rink at downtown Fresno’s Fulton Mall.

Leaves at Woodward Park in northeast Fresno have turned hues ranging from deep reds to yellows.

The skating rink at the Fulton Mall in downtown Fresno opened on Monday and will stay open until Jan. 23, 2013. The rink is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m to 8 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m to 10 p.m. General admission is $10 and children 12 and under, cost is $8. Admission includes skate rental. l TWITTER.COM/PAULSCH_PHOTOG

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CIRQUE DU SOLEIL MYSTIFIES

Photos by Paul Shlesinger. Cirque du Soleil’s “Dralion” soared into Fresno’s Save Mart Center on Nov. 7 with colorful costumes such as: Gaya’s (above), performers soaring over Yao’s waving flag (bottom left), and the antics of Cirque’s clowns (bottom right).

BY KAITLIN REGAN

kregan@therampageonline.com

Cirque du Soleil’s Dralion premiered in Fresno on Nov. 7 with a dazzling performance that fused brilliant artistry and creative genius. The blend of ancient Chinese philosophy and modern technology left the audience stunned in reverence.

The atmosphere of the event was palpable. Fresnans of all ages flocked to the Save Mart Center to experience the performance of a lifetime.

Beginning with a clown act of Italian origins, the performance was hilarious.

The language barrier did not make a differ-

ence to the audience. Actions and sounds were greeted with laughs as the clowns warmed up the audience.

A smooth flowing set change aided in a seamless transition from comedy to the artistry at hand. The lighting and set coloring easily shifted the moods of the performance from light and airy to thundering and fiery illustrating the portrayals of the elements in the performance.

The storyline of this performance clearly demonstrated a desired harmony between humans and nature. It was in the personification of the elements. Each of us has the chance to experience simple happi-

ness by being harmony with nature.

Artistry and feats of strength combined for stellar aerial and acrobatic displays. In particular, the aerial pas de deux.

A couple danced in the air supporting each other and individually using only two hanging strips of blue cloth. That kind of ability can only come from hours of training and work each day.

The aerial hoop was a gorgeous fusion of speed and poise as the artist spun in a graceful routine over the floor of the Save Mart Center.

The harmony between the artists made the show even better. It was clear that

the connections of the artists extended beyond their performances with high levels of trust. Their connections made the performance genuine and believable.

Cultural influences collide from all over Asia to bring diversity not only to the performance but to Fresno as well. The night was more than magical, more than colorful and more than stunning.

This is an experience of a lifetime that no one should miss. Dralion’s fusion of philosophy and reality becomes the example of true harmony. l TWITTER.COM/K_C_REGAN

Woodwind Choir to perform Winter Ensemble on Friday

BY MATTHEW ELLIOTT

melliott@therampageonline.com

The Fresno City College Woodwind Choir is set to perform the annual Winter Concert this Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the OAB auditorium. Admission to this college tradition is free of charge.

The ensemble consists of doublereed instruments, clarinets, and flutes. In addition to the ensemble itself, student soloists will showcase their talents.

Friday evening’s program is set to feature classical masterpieces from composers such as Bach, Mozart, Debussy and Bartok.

Tasked with bringing these works to life is the concert’s director, music department chairman and woodwind instructor, Larry Honda.

Honda, a Fresno State music

graduate, has traveled to various parts of the globe to study and expand upon his musical prowess. He later received a masters degree in music in clarinet performance from University of Southern California.

This is a particularly honorable distinction. Masters degrees in music are tremendously difficult to receive unless diligent graduates develop a professional-level of performance quality.

During his time in Southern California, Honda had the honor and distinction of performing with orchestras including the New York City Ballet Orchestra, the Ventura Symphony, the Santa Barbara Symphony and various other groups.

Presently, Honda performs with the Fresno Philharmonic, Orpheus and

the Jazz Composers Orchestra.

Extending beyond his extensive classical experience, Honda teaches and performs jazz music.

As a saxophonist, flutist and clarinetist, he has had the privilege of leading big bands and other jazz groups in both Los Angeles and Fresno.

As an educator, Honda has taught music in Los Angeles, Clovis Unified schools, Fresno State and Fresno City College.

He has received multiple awards recognizing his excellence.

Students and faculty are strongly encouraged to witness the unique sounds produced by our college woodwind choir under Honda’s esteemed direction. l TWITTER.COM/PATH_OF_LOTUS

Photo by Abel Cortez. Larry Honda leads FCC Woodwind Choir in rehearsal.

8

OPINION

11.14.2012 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM

SHOULD WE CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NATIVE AMERICANS? PRO

BY PATRICK FORREST

pforrest@therampageonline.com

T

urkey dinners, cranberries, candied yams, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and family gatherings— these are all commonly associated with most Americans’ yearly celebration of giving thanks—Thanksgiving Day. According to History.com, in 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies.

Originally Thanksgiving was a holiday set apart to acknowledge and give thanks for the blessings that God has bestowed upon the nation of America. Many of the presidents have included this sentiment in their speeches and asked people to remember the blessings that God had given through the year.

Today many people still celebrate this meaning of the occasion, but for the most part, Thanksgiving celebrations tend to have a greater focus on spending time with family or people that are important to you.

That focus is the most important piece of the holiday.

While in agreement that the treatment of the Native Americans was despicable, it is not the reason why thanksgiving is celebrated. Thanksgiving is really just a day to remember all of things that we have and is just another opportunity to help out those who may be less fortunate.

There is still a major problem with the holiday that needs to be brought up.

Schools still teach children that Thanksgiving marks the day that Pilgrims met helpful Indians who gave them food, farming techniques and other strategies to overcome the bitter New England cold.

It is now clear that is not what happened.

The children color cutouts of happy Pilgrims and happy Indians that ignore the reality that contact between the two marked the beginning of the decimation of millions of Native peoples.

This is a systemic problem that will not be solved if it is continued to be covered up, and it must be corrected.

One suggestion comes from an or-

ganization called Understanding Prejudice which recommends that schools send letters home to parents addressing efforts to teach children about Thanksgiving in either a manner that neither demeans or stereotypes Native Americans.

Such lessons will include discussions about why not all families celebrate Thanksgiving and why the representation of Native Americans on Thanksgiving cards and decorations has hurt indigenous peoples.

Understanding Prejudice also advises parents to deconstruct stereotypes their children have about Native Americans by gauging what they already know about indigenous peoples. Simple questions such as, “What do you know about Native Americans?” and “Where do Native Americans live today?” can reveal a lot.

In 1999 Jacqueline Keeler, member of the Dineh Nation and the Yankton Dakota Sioux finds occasion for hope.

“If we can survive, with our ability to share and to give intact, then the evil and the good will that met that Thanksgiving Day in the land of the Wampanoag will have come full circle.”

Keeler says. “And the healing can begin.”

That is the attitude that Thanksgiving can bring, even in the toughest of circumstances a day of thanks can allow us to settle in and truly find the silver lining in the situations that we have in our day to day lives.

Many things have happened in the back story of many different holidays, and just because there are negative moments in that story we can never give up on the true reason of celebration.

Now if there is anyone out there that will openly have a feast to celebrate the killing of hundreds of people, then they should possibly take a look into stopping that celebration. But for many of us Thanksgiving isn’t about how many Native Americans were killed.

It is about taking some time to surround ourselves with family and food.

And for some of us the day off and some football games don’t really hurt either.

So as Thanksgiving approaches just remember that, yes, there have been terrible occurrences that have happened before this date. But give thanks that you were not a part of them and try to think of those who have and see if there is any thing that you can do to help them.

That is the true reason for celebrating Thanksgiving. l TWITTER.COM/FORRESTP8

CON

BY KAITLIN REGAN

kregan@therampageonline.com

D

enial surrounds the history of what we call Thanksgiving.

Many people in today’s world embrace the idea of peaceful immigrants looking to work with the indigenous populations of their New World. This mythology ignores the barbaric genocide and exploitation of the indigenous people and instead embraces a systemic denial akin to that of the Holocaust. That’s right.

The day in which we gather with our family members to feast is a day that we ignore what happened. There should be no thanks given for what was done to the Native Americans. This transition to the New World was about conquest and the selfish tendencies of man rather than a true idea of peace.

What was originally told as a tale of camaraderie and growth is truly one of war and devastation. Their land was stolen, their family members killed and the way of the colonists imposed upon them.

Robert Jensen, author of “No Thanks to Thanksgiving”, states in his essay that Thanksgiving was not a celebration of peace and cooperation but rather a celebration of a massacre. “…it’s also true that by 1637 Massachusetts Gov. John Winthrop was proclaiming a thanksgiving for the successful massacre of hundreds of Pequot Indian men, women and children, part of the long and bloody process of opening up additional land to the English invaders,” said Jensen.

Our culture celebrates a day in which our colonial ancestors celebrated genocide. This is an occasion of white

supremacy that devalues human life of any kind due to convenience and hunger for conquest. It is, as always, about being superior when that is far from true.

A sickening thought continues in the contemplation of Thomas Jefferson’s thoughts on the Native Americans. He describes them as “merciless Indian savages” and continues on to say “We shall destroy all of them.”

What is worse is that the ideals do not change in our society. Theodore Roosevelt, a 20th century president, advocates for this travelling genocide by indicating that the colonists were following instinct. “…due solely to the power of the mighty civilized races which have not lost the fighting instinct, and which by their expansion are gradually bringing peace into the red wastes where the barbarian peoples of the world hold sway,” said Roosevelt.

Roosevelt was also quoted later saying that he would not “go so far as to think that the only good Indians are dead Indians, but I believe nine out of ten are, and I shouldn’t like to inquire too closely into the case of the tenth.”

If our nation’s leaders have thought like this, what is to stop our culture from perpetuating these ideals? We look to our leaders for examples but the example that they have set is not enough to set our characters by.

This history is ignored when it comes to celebrating this “holiday.” People insist that those contemplating the plight of the Native Americans are merely living in the past instead of embracing the present.

If the present ignores the past, the past will rise again to rear its unpleasant head. It will force those that have conveniently forgotten about the suffering of the Native Americans to remember.

Our history is history for a reason.

This is not a time to celebrate.

It is a time to mourn the loss of life, to look back on the barbaric conquest of our world and understand that we were wrong.

It is also time for the history books to get the story right. There was no three day thanksgiving feast.

There were no celebrations of two peoples coming together to celebrate the harvest. It is all a convenient tale to tell children in school so that they do not know the truth.

The lies have become a blanket, a vehicle for selective amnesia so that we feel no guilt in what we have done.

The myth that is Thanksgiving has been busted for many years now. It is just up to us to remember why and to correct for the future.

We must correct the teachings of “Thanksgiving” for our children if we have any hope of change. We cannot teach future generations that it is ok to engage in genocide. There will never be a good enough reason to treat fellow humans as the Native Americans were treated.

We are all human. We all have value.

So this year, instead of re-telling the falsity that is the pilgrim story, reflect on what you have in front of you and remember the price at which it came. l TWITTER.COM/K_C_REGAN

OPINION

THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM 11.14.2012

9

Former President George W. Bush (Left), Laura Bush (Middle), Karl Rove (Right). White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

Toasting Karl Rove’s Failures

The grand political experiment of exploiting Americans in an effort to reshape the natural course of human events has failed.

Billionaire donors are furious with the dismal outcome of the election. Operatives weaved a false tapestry of historical precedent to persuade GOP contributors.

Karl Rove spent decades serving the Republican Party. After emerging on the national stage during the 1970’s as a charismatic national committee chairman for college republicans, Rove weaseled his way into the highest echelons of political power.

During his re-election speech, George W. Bush thanked, “the architect, Karl Rove,” his strategist and chief-of-staff, for having facilitated the president’s second term by exploiting the fear and hatefulness of insecure Americans through wedge issues including national security and gay rights.

guistic “incantations” corrupt the biased masses for personal and political purposes.

The poison of subscribing to a narrative of spite and contempt continues to course through the veins of tens of millions of willingly ignorant and submissive Americans.

The tragedy affects many of our friends and family. As victims of Rove and his affiliates’ social engineering project, we should look upon our loved ones with pity.

That being said, Karl Rove and his cronies are essentially finished. Circumstances show that the 2012 presidential election

was a turning point for American progress.

The GOP’s over-esteem of Rove, paired with their certainty in winning the election ensures their collective downfall and ushers in an age of democratic prosperity.

What Rove and fellow republican puppet masters fail to comprehend is the true nature of present day America and the empathetic evolution of our culture.

Their wholly inaccurate perspectives are a snapshot of a diminishing history rooted in bigotry and selfishness.

Smarter men than he saw this coming years in advance.

In his grand wisdom, President Barack Obama famously stated in 2008, “You’re on the wrong side of history.”

The narrowness of archaic republicans secured democratic sweeps in both the 2008 and 2012 elections. We grow stronger as one nation through Rove’s abysmal judgment of the nature of mankind.

We, the blossoming citizenry of the United States, raise our overflowing glasses in appreciation of his wicked deeds. We couldn’t have done this without him. l TWITTER.COM/PATH_OF_LOTUS

NATIoNAl UNIVersIT y®

Transferring? finish school Your WaY!

© 2012 National University 10591

BY MATTHEW ELLIOTT

melliott@therampageonline.com

Recognizing Rove’s political foresight and his understanding of social prejudices, Bush coined several other nicknames including “Evil Rasputin”, for Rove’s ability to interpret the reactionary behavior of naive Christians and rural Americans, and “Turd Blossom”, which describes his ability to produce positive outcomes from his dirty tactics.

As an antagonist to human civility, Rove was ironically and appropriately born on December 25, 1950.

For a time, Rove’s historical understanding of American prejudices was masterfully applied to Republican causes in order to achieve the inner circle’s directives. For this reason, he remains as one of the party’s key political strategists.

As a master of modern propaganda, Rove is one of the founders of the “talking point”.

Each morning during the faux Bush presidency, White House staff members routinely emailed talking points to cable news producers, newspapers and even clergymen in an effort to corrupt the social narrative.

Another tool used against the populus is the linguist. GOPtrained linguists insert subtle language into the American consciousness to frame an idea in such a way that reason and logical continuity are inconsequential. A term like “job creator” is now falsely equated to company chairmen and small businessmen as opposed to the actual job creators, American consumers. Lin-

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10

OPINION

Campus Voices “Who was your candidate for president?”

11.14.2012 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM

IT’S OUR REVOLUTION:

WHERE WILL YOU STAND?

BY RAMPAGE EDITORIAL BOARD editorial@therampageonline.com

James Carter Acting “Obama because I’m a democrat.”

Vince Gutierrez Psychology “Ron Paul. Mainly because the ideas he is implementing are like those of the Old Peoples’ party group. Even though he is libertarian, I think it’s a least a change in the right.”

Kendrick Smith Kinesiology “Obama. Simply because when you look at the difference in their ideologies, my status, I’m lower middle class, Obamas plans fits where I stand more than Mitt Romney’s does.”

We tend to look at social change in long.

Intolerance is not a partisan trait or a historical context, as something of the As young as most of us are, no one a family value, just as equal rights is not past that lies nostalgic in the fading foot- could have imagined the events transpir- a gay issue; it is a plea to rectify the very prints of our predecessors who marched on ing today when we were kids. Same-sex fabric of our society and hold true to the Washington, Montgomery and against the marriage was a radical ideal, even for so- undeniable, unalienable and incontestable mountains of injustice that lay before them. cial liberals. Today, the case for equality is self-evidence of the words, “all men are And as Million Man marches gave slowly becoming the voice of the majority. created equal.” To disenfranchise one is way to apathy, and civil rights and social This is not the time to look back; it to imprison the whole in self-perpetuating justice became relegated more to drum cir- is the time to look forward at the work we hypocrisy. cles than than the steps of the Lincoln Me- have yet to do.

The decision is ours now. The world morial, the question became: how long can Eighty percent of states still do not of our parents is becoming history, and we we ignore the American promise will soon step forward to take of true equality? their places. But one thing is On Nov. 6, 2012, we certain -- change is inevitable. may have very well gotten our There is no going back now. answer. In a rare moment of Each and every one of us has American history, the rights of a choice to make: are we gothe minority were defended at ing to take responsibility for the ballot box, instead of in front our democracy and be on the of the Supreme Court Nine. side of change, equality, and Washington, Maryland and logic, or are we going to step Maine became the first states back and watch the revolution to legalize same-sex marriage from the sidelines? through popular vote.

Many things may have Make no mistake about stayed the same that Tuesday it, this was a revolution. It may night. We still have the same have been quiet, and its victories president, the senate is still may have only been relegated to controlled by the Democrats, a 30 second spot on the 24 hour and the house is still connews shows on election night, trolled by the Republicans. but in one of the rarest of moBut make no mistake about it, ments in American history, the our world changed that night. majority constituted change inThe cause for equality which stead of it being enforced upon was once relegated only to them. endless litigation, now has This simple fact may be taken its first steps into true swept under the rug in the grand democratic acceptance. scheme of history. After all, History has shown that same-sex marriage is already leonce the stream of progress gal in a number of states, and the breaks free, the dam of inmargin of victory for the ballot Aaron T. Harvey of defendequalitynow.com justice will break too. Just as measures was small. But, it is these very recognize equality in marriage, and even there was no going back for the civil rights victories that lead to an America of equal- our home state California remains dead- movement as soon as Rosa Parks refused ity; an America where the children of the locked in perpetual uncertainty regarding to give up her seat, there is no going back next generation will look back to ours and the legality of same-sex couples’ ability to inequality after millions of people took a wonder in bewilderment -- why such a ba- to marry. Much like the rights of African- stand for equality for gay Americans. The sic human right was violated for so long in Americans in the 1960s and 1970s, this time for social change is not a chapter in a society that touted itself to be so great, in will be a slow and hard-fought battle, but the history books; it is now, and it is our the same way that we now look back to just we change the world around us, state by time to fight for it.

40 years ago and wonder how our parents’ state. society could have been so wrong for so This is our revolution! l TWITTER.COM/FCCRAMPAGE

Angel Grove Rejects Hey Billy, someone told me that Prop 30 passed. Does that mean there will be more classes available?

Caitlin Walzem Music & Psychology “Obama. He has done a lot to help our country, a lot of people say that he hasn’t, a lot of the policies that he has tried to put forward are being voted against by people who are not benefitting from them.”

WRITTEN BY FRANK LOPEZ PHOTOS BY ABEL CORTEZ

.

Yes it does, Zack.

Good job getting out there to vote.

.

By: Troy Pope

Oh. Yeah, actually I was catching up on Gossip Girl on Netflix that day.

So, I forgot to go...

P .....

THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM 11.14.2012

SPORTS

11

Rams Clinch Sixth Straight CVC Title

BY PABEL LOPEZ

plopez@therampageonline.com

Photo by Abel Cortez. Valarie Gobby scores the last point of the game against Reedley on Nov. 7.

The No. 2 ranked Fresno City College Women’s volleyball team defeated the Reedley Tigers at the FCC gym in a Central Valley conference match and remained undefeated in conference play.

The Rams swept the Tigers with scores of 25-23, 25-6 and 25-22.

The Rams started the first set quickly but the Tigers refused to go quietly.

Reedley was able to begin a comeback in the first set that ultimately fell short.

After the first set though the game was all about the Rams.

McKenzie Buchanan led the team with a strong defensive performance through all three games.

The match began with a small ceremony for sophomore players Courtney Thacker, Kaitlyn Henderson, Toni Murphy, McKenzie Buchanan and Jodie Reitz.

The coaching staff handed out bouquets of flowers to the players, while their parents were invited to join them on the court.

The players’ volleyball accomplishments and short statements written by the players were also announced over the PA system during the ceremony.

“I think everybody played tonight, we were solid all three games,” said head coach Ainger-

Women’s Soccer Team Set For Playoff Run

The Fresno City College women’s soccer team head into this year’s state playoffs on the back of an impressive eight game winning streak.

The Rams have racked up 32 goals in those eight games and conceded just four. At the beginning of the season, head coach Oliver Germond had uncertainty about replacing last season’s forwards.

“One of the concerns at the beginning of the season was who was going to be our forwards,” he said. “We’ve figured that out with Stephanie (Agavo), Jenna (Thomason) and Alicia (Kolter).” Between the three of them they have amassed 33 goals this season.

Although Agavo and Thomason lead the goal tally, Germond praises Kolter’s work ethic, “She makes a big difference,” he said.

Kolter, who has scored five goals

and made seven assists, has worked up a good understanding with both Agavo and Thomason. “I think we are doing amazing together, we vibe really well,” she said.

“We can read what each other are doing.

I know where they are going to be ahead of time.”

Rams’ goalkeeper, Jasmine Cordova, is impressed with the forward players this season.

“I’ve got to give them credit, they are doing a lot of hard work and they are putting the balls in the back of the net, that’s exactly what we need,” she said.

Cordova has conceded just one goal in the last eight games.

“It can’t just be me or the defense, it takes the midfielders and the forwards, it’s a whole team thing,” she said.

Cordova recognizes the hard work forwards put in both offensively and de-

Schulte.

“It’s a sign of how deep we are and how talented we are from person one through 13. It’s a great team.”

The Rams secured their sixth straight CVC title two days later when they defeated Porterville College with a score of 25-22, 25-16, 25-19.

Toni Murphy had 15 kills in that game while Courtney Thacker contributed with 41 assists.

Thacker is second in the state with an average of 11.31 assists per game while Murphy has 175 kills on the season.

With the win, the Rams continued a sixgame winning streak. Their last loss was against Sierra on Sept. 14.

“I’m not as concerned about the winning streak as I am how we are performing right now.

We are playing at a pretty high level right now at the end of the year when we need to be playing at our best. I think we are doing that consistently,” said Ainger-Schulte.

This is Ainger-Schulte’s sixth season as head coach of the Rams and with this years dominating run she has also coached her sixth winning season.

She now has an overall record of 135-27 at FCC and a record of 82-2 in conference games.

The Rams will find out their first playoff opponent on Nov.18. The playoffs begin on Nov. 20.

fensively. “They work extremely hard in a game. They are running constantly for 90 minutes… I couldn’t imagine doing that much work,” she said.

With the play offs around the corner and a 5-0 victory against the College of Sequoias on Nov. 6, Germond gave his team their first day off since pre season began.

“We seemed a little burned out. I think part of that is because we are just ready to get into play offs,” he said. “We took the girls to Skywalk Trampoline Arena and then to dinner. I think they appreciated it and I think they needed it.”

Kolter enjoyed the outing. She has a “blast” spending time with her teammates and feels they have a real bond. “It’s like a sisterhood,” she said. “We have each other’s back on and off the field.”

Kolter is in a confident mood ahead of the first playoff game on Nov 17. “I

l TWITTER.COM/PABELLOPEZ

BY CARL TURPIN

cturpin@therampageonline.com

think we can take the state championship, we have a really good team,” she said. “We are working well as a unit. It (the team’s form) is coming at the right time, close to play offs.”

Cordova agrees. She believes that winning the state championship is achievable. “If we play with the mentality that we are going to win this game and not let anybody stand in our way, I think we can easily win state,” she said.

Germond believes the team is in good form, but realizes the team still faces a challenge.

“Playoffs are a whole different world,” he said. “In those games you have just got to be at your best on that day. Any team can beat anyone on a given day.”

l TWITTER.COM/UKCARL54

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12

SPORTS

11.14.2012 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM

The Unstoppable Force of Spencer Hill

BY AKEEM SPEARMAN

aspearman@therampageonline.com

Hailing from Clovis’ Buchanan High School, sophomore wrestler Spencer Hill has accomplished much in his two years at Fresno City College.

At 20, Hill is already on a meteoric rise to the top.

Much like professional athletes, Hill has dedicated his time to wresting in a way that it has become intertwined with his daily lifestyle.

He started wrestling in elementary school when he went to a camp in fourth grade and continued participating in wresting until his graduation.

The sophomore found his way into FCC after he heard how great the wrestling program was at the school.

Hill attributes a major part of the team’s success to the leadership of the Rams’ coach, Paul Keysaw.

“He is very passionate about the sport and his passion is contagious to us. We all love coach and feed off his energy,” said Hill. “He isn’t strict, but he expects us to work hard.”

Keysaw prepares the wrestlers to be the best conditioned team in the state and it shows when they compete.

“We have talented wrestlers on the team with technique. With those two factors, it’s hard to beat us,” said Hill.

“For the three seasons I have wrestled here, my relationship with my teammates has been good. I don’t do much outside of school and wrestling during season so when I am here I hang out with them.”

A stern diet and rigorous physical training has also been the key to Hill’s success. He usually eats chicken with the necessary five fruits a day and at least two cans of vegetables, but he occasionally goes on carb overload diets to bulk.

“I do everything I can to maintain my shape through my diet and weight-lifting. During the off-season, Keysaw will open the room and we’ll wrestle,” said Hill.

To help his grades, Hill is part of the college’s Zone program which is academic-based and meant to ensure that the ath- Photo by Abel Cortez. Wrestler Spencer Hill, captain of the team, is ranked No. 1 at 149 lbs. letes keep up their work. They are required to put in three hours a that it’s best to focus on your own here and I only have 30 days left. in the same way that wrestling week. game plan and get them out of After that there is no going back; impacted his own. He isn’t yet Instead of partaking in theirs. Once they’re tired, you just there is no do-over so I have to do sure of where he wants to transfer to, but he sees endless possibiliactivities that could lead to dis- start attacking them,” said Hill. everything that I can.” tractions, Hill focuses all of his Even as the No. 1 ranked That mentality is how Hill ties.

“In five years I could posenergy into school and wrestling. wrestler in the state, Hill’s perse- keeps everything in perspective sibly still be wrestling. I’ll see “The season is four months verance and ambition has contin- to maintain a much needed focus. where I am after college and make so I have eight other months to do ued to grow.

He stays motivated both the decision then, but I want to what I want. I don’t want to leave “So far, I haven’t accom- on and off the mat so that he can get into teaching and coaching as with any regrets,” he said. plished what I want. I want to be transfer next semester. soon as possible,” said Hill.

Though wrestling seems to an individual state champion and Hill desires to attain a de“For now, I know that once be completely physical, the men- help our team win a third state gree in liberal arts so he can be I transfer I will be competing for a tal aspect is just as important. championship in a row which a high school math teacher and national title wherever I end up.”

“I just wrestle my match, hasn’t been done since the 70s,” coach wrestling also. impose my will on them and I said Hill.

He seeks to impact the T:10” don’t let them control me. I find “This is my last season minds of the younger generation lTWITTER.COM/ABREWERSPEARMAN

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