Rampage Fall 2013 Issue 6

AMPAGE Volume CXXV Issue 6

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November 13, 2013

The Student-Run Newspaper of Fresno City College

Recycling proceeds benefit students

BY KEAUNDREY CLARK

Reporter kclark@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College is making a push to increase recycling around campus, and both teachers and students are getting involved.

Dorothy “Dot” Sedley has led the way in FCC’s pledge to recycle on campus.

Thanks to Sedley’s efforts, blue recycling containers have become quite visible throughout campus and in many classrooms. She has championed this cause since retiring from teaching.

Since then, Sedley’s efforts have turned into a way to help students, different divisions and programs on campus and the athletic department.

She said she is committed to giving back to the college and improving FCC. Since 2010, Sedley has given FCC a total of $65,000, all going to various divisions on campus.

“After 2010, I felt comfortable enough to partner with the local conservation corp,” said Sedley. “With the help of the student organization called Sustainable Action, we were able to get the blue recycling bins on campus for free.”

The blue bins are located next to each trash - can on campus, so when getting ready to throw away trash or a plastic bottle, make sure you throw it in the correct one.

“When the chamber choir from FCC were doing fundraising to take a trip to Carnegie Hall at the end of the Spring 2013 semester, I helped with that,” said Sedley.

Sedley has also given $10,000 to Math, Science,and Arts Division, which is currently deciding how it will spend the money.

With Sedley’s help, the local conservation corp. collects recyclables on campus and send the money to her and she decides who gets the splits the money. The group also does garden work in the community and are dedicated to making this community more friendly.

Fresno Local Conservation Corp has been helping create youth success in Fresno for two decades; it’s a project by the Fresno County Opportunity Commission that gives young adults ages 18-25 a chance to work in environmental jobs.

Ellis Parlly, an FCC student works for the local conservation corp.

“Recycling on campus has helped me a lot, and cleaning around the community, we help keep the campus clean. You’ll see us recycling at the [FCC] football games, at Fresno l SEE STORY ON PAGE 4

Members of the Fresno City College ROTC fly the colors of California and the United States at the Veterans Memorial during the Veterans Day Celebration on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013. Photo/David Bennett

VETERANS FIGHT WAR WITHOUT END

BY PABEL LOPEZ

News Editor plopez@therampageonline.com

The stereotype of the returning war veteran sporting long hair, a scraggly beard and tattered denim clothes -- perpetuated by films such as: “Born on the Fourth of July” and “Forest Gump” is long gone. Today’s returning soldiers vary in age, race, disposition and even the manner of dress. Some veterans wear their military gear after their time is up while others decide to go through life without mentioning their time in the service.

No matter how veterans decide to conduct their lives after service, they still live with many traits that only they know well. They are mem-

bers of an exclusive fraternity that many civilians will never understand.

While Membership to this fraternity may be useful during deployment, it can create conflicts upon return and assimilation into civilian life for these men and women.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs information, California is home to 1,844,803 veterans who served in various combats, from World War II to the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Consequently, the state’s institutions of higher learning have a high number of veterans enrolled.

These men and women are using their G.I. Bill to obtain college degrees at California State Universities and community colleges throughout the state.

The Veterans Center certifies an average of 480 veterans students per semester. Mary Alfieris, a veterans certifying official at FCC says that the office processes many more students that don’t meet requirements from the Veterans Affair office in Muskogee Ok. TRANSITION TO “NORMAL” LIFE According to the Veteran Affairs website 31.3 percent of male veterans between the ages of 17 to 24 are enrolled in college while 38.1 percent of female veterans between ages of 17 to 24 are enrolled in college.

The Iraq War ended in 2011 after nine years of fighting and the Afghanil SEE VETERANS ON PAGE 5

Farmworkers feed nation while hungry First of a two-part series

BY AIDYL MOLINA

Reporter amolina@therampageonline.com

Juan Soto, 43, is living every farm worker’s story. He wakes at 4 a.m. and works up to 10 hours every day, picking grapes, oranges, garlic, tomatoes, throughout the year, whatever crops need harvesting, in scorching stretches of the summer months and frigid temperatures of California’s Central Valley.

His housing costs $30 a week, but it entails sharing a room with 12 people

in a trailer home that has 30 residents.

The nights are long and the air stale; every space is crammed with sweaty bodies of other men and women who share his plight. There’s not much else in Soto’s daily life aside from work and lying in his confined space.

It is a journey, a quest, sort of, for Soto who is undocumented. He wants to earn some living in hopes of a better future for himself and his family -- his wife and 5-year-old daughter, who are still in Abasolo, Guanajuato, Mexico.

He must sacrifice more than half of his income in order to keep them alive. At the end of each week, he is left with

only $100 for his food, transportation and housing and everything else.

For the last 13 years, Francisco Ramirez, 37, has roved from farm to farm in Fresno county picking a variety of oranges and grapes at different seasons.

In the unpredictable seasonal worker existence, Ramirez’s daily schedule is pretty fixed. His days start early -- depending on the location of harvest -- he must be ready to board the farm van at 3 a.m.

He races against time; his pay is tied to how much crops he gathers. l SEE FARM ON PAGE 3

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Rampage Staff Editor-in-Chief Troy Pope Managing Editor Kevynn Gomez Production Managers Troy Pope Victor Aparicio News Editor Pabel Lopez Interim Opinion Editor Victor Aparicio

Arts & Entertainment Editor Patrick Forrest Sports Editor Jere Kirkland Photo Editor Michael Monroy Art Director Lauren Baker Copy Chief Jordan Russell Social Media Director Colby Tibbet Reporters Keaundrey Clark Loren Daniels Yolanda Garzon Brandalyn Hastings Daisy Martinez Aidyl Molina August Promnitz Brian Robinson Sidney Thompson Photojournalists David Bennett Abel Cortez Thalia Gonzales Ramiro Gudino Ricky Sall Darlene Wendels Business Manager Kevynn Gomez Faculty Adviser Dr. Dympna Ugwu-Oju 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

11.13.2013 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM

VETERANS MEMORIAL REACHES MILESTONE

BY PABEL LOPEZ

News Editor plopez@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College wrapped up veterans week with a ceremony honoring veterans and commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the veterans peace memorial in the Free speech area.

Students and faculty gathered in the free speech area for the event which featured several prominent speakers from the Central Valley, a 21 gun salute, a recognition of veterans and food.

Dr. Lee Farley, head of the EOPS department at FCC who is also an Air Force veteran, served as the master of ceremonies.

Jannett Jackson, Chancellor of the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District, who is also a veteran, was the keynote speaker.

Jackson spoke about her time in the military and of citizens returning home which was the major theme of the event.

“This monument is not only recognition of those citizen soldiers,” Jackson said. “It is also a monument and a testament to those of us who have worn the uniform.”

Jackson served on the original committee that made the monument possible 20 years ago.

Several other members of the committee were also present at the event including former faculty and veterans.

Another member of the committee present at the event was Bill Seaberg who served as the Vice chair of the committee.

Members of the Clovis, Calif., post of the American Legion salute the flag after a 21-gun salute during the Veterans Day celebration Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, at Fresno City College. Photo/ David Bennett Seaberg spoke of the history of the monument, including the work of Adrian Acosta who worked as a counselor at FCC and was instrumental in the building the monument.

“He visualized and presented the idea of this memorial which would represent and commemorate the citizen soldier,” Seaberg said of Acosta’s contribution.

The FCC concert band joined Dennis Adkins during a recognition of the various branches of the armed forces.

Rep. Jim Costa presented the college with a flag which had flown over

the Capitol to fly over the memorial.

The congressman also spoke of his ties to the military including service by many members of his family.

Fresno City College student Carlos Corona was awarded the Citizen Soldier Award by Vice President of Student Services.

Corona displayed pictures of women veterans and The Tuskegee Airmen.

He said, “I would like to share the spotlight with those men and women who served in the past and were never really welcomed home.” l TWITTER.COM/BYPABELLOPEZ

Club food drive to benefit Fresno Rescue Mission

BY PATRICK FORREST

Arts & Entertainment Editor pforrest@therampageonline.com

The Fresno City College Electrical Systems Technology Club is holding a canned food drive until Nov. 20 to benefit the Fresno Rescue Mission.

“We come from all different walks of life so this really gives us all an opportunity to be able to give back to our community and really do something.” said Lindsey.

They will only be collecting canned and dry goods on Wednesday in T-303H classroom in the Technology department of FCC between the hours of 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. during their club meetings.

“We are just taking in dry foods and cans. Since we don’t have freezer space we aren’t taking turkeys or anything like that,” said food drive coordinator Patrick Smith.

Once the food is given to Fresno Rescue Mission on Nov. 22, the club knows that it will be entirely out of their hands on exactly what happens with the cans.

“When we first started, we didn’t know of everything we had to choose from, but as we have learned the Fresno Rescue Mission will distribute food to multiple facilities or organizations so that is why we choose to give everything to them,” said EST club president David Lindsey.

The Fresno Rescue Mission is a non-profit group, founded in 1949

whose main goal is to both evangelize as well as meet the physical needs of the underprivileged in the local community.

“My family, we have had hard times, we have had to rely on other people for help before and that helped us greatly especially around the holidays,” said Smith.

EST club has set a goal that is more generous than what the club has set for themselves in the past.

“Right now we have a goal of 600 cans, but last year we had a goal of 300 and we knocked that out of the park with around 1,550 so we really want to knock this goal out of the park the same way,” said Lindsey.

And they do believe that they can get to that goal, with the enthusiasm that has been shown from their club members.

“We want to start a lifestyle that is all about giving back to our community by doing whatever it takes,” said Lindsey “when we want 10 we get

about 20 that want to show so it’s not something that we do because we have to, we truly do want and enjoy doing this kind of thing.”

EST club extend put their community service spirit on display with different events throughout the year.

Including working with Habitat for Humanity and this food drive are their ways of giving back to the community.

“Our club is just really into community service so this is something that we really can all get behind,” said Smith The group’s eagerness to help those that are struggling has roots in their respective backgrounds.

“When I was younger I was the recipient of canned food drives and there are others in the club who have had the same things,” said Lindsey “so we just look at this as an opportunity to do something special.” l TWITTER.COM/FORRESTP8

UNICEF is appealing for $34 million to aid the four million children of the Philippines affected

by Typhoon Haiyan when it ripped through the archipelago on Nov. 8.

1.800.367.5437

THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM 11.13.2013

Farm l CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Ramirez’s daily pay is tied to how many of the 50-pound bin of oranges he fills; he sprints to fill as many bins as possible, trying to beat his personal best of one bin per hour. Then he piles onto the van with other harvesters for a ride home.

Home is a rented room in a crowded home with six others for which he pays $200 monthly. He must try to get enough rest in the rowdy residence. Tomorrow is another day as a seasonal farm worker.

It means an early day and a back-breaking pace of work and not much else.

Soto and Ramirez are some of nearly 150,000 farm workers in seasonal positions on farms spanning from Merced to Fresno to Tulare counties. These farmworkers travel throughout the U.S. serving as the backbone for a multi-billion dollar agricultural industry, their labor helping to feed a nation of more than 300 million people.

Despite higher wages, improved workers’ rights and labor policies and community outreach efforts, a majority of migrant workers live marginalized existence.

They reside in uninhabitable squalor, in impoverished chaos. Because of their unauthorized status, they live in terror of being discovered and repercussions.

It is an existence of torment day after day and dread that their livelihood will be taken away at any time. Ineligible for legal support and governmental aid, undocumented farm workers are arguably the most vulnerable group in today’s America.

BACKGROUND According to data published in Sept. 2012 by the National Center for Farmworker Health, Inc. More than 3,000,000 migrant and seasonal farmworkers live in the United States.

Forty two percent have been identified as migrating -- roving from farm to farm, while 58 percent are seasonal agricultural workers.

California, the largest producer of agriculture, has more than 730,000 seasonal and migrant farmworkers and 570,000 non-farm workers, according to the latest Migrant and Seasonal Enumeration Profiles Study of California.

Approximately 15 percent of the migrant farmworkers population live in

Fresno county.

That translates to about 113,000 farm workers; at 90,000, seasonal farm workers outnumber migrant farm workers by 7 percent. Not included in these numbers are workers in poultry, livestock and fisheries.

According to information from the 2007-2009 National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS), the majority of all farmworkers were foreign born with 68 percent emigrating from Mexico. Seventy eight percent of crop workers were male and 22 percent were female.

Migrant workers vary in age; the average farm worker is aged 36 years old. Three quarters of all migrant workers are older than 25 years old, but 24 percent are 21 years old and younger.

FARMWORKER CLASSIFICATION Farmworkers are classified according to agricultural tasks.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) states that “Agriculture” is comprised of farming duties that include cultivating and tilling soil, harvesting commodities, raising livestock, “lumbering operations” and “farming operations” such as preparatory and delivery work.

T wo subcategories emerge from the harvesting of crops: seasonal and migrant. According to U.S. Code, Public Health Services Act, “Migrant Health,” a seasonal farmworker is “an individual whose principal employment (51 percent of time) is in agriculture on a seasonal basis,” and has been employed for two consecutive years.

Migrant farmworkers are distinguished by the mobile nature of both employment and housing.

The National Agricultural Workers Survey classifies “migrants” as people who travel 75 miles within a year for employment.

For example, workers who pick apples in Washington State in the fall and then travel to Fresno to pick pomegranates in the winter are migrant farm workers.

A SENSE OF DESPERATION Why do farm workers continue to live the grueling existence that most Americans cannot imagine? Why do they work the long hours for paltry pay and little job security?

The answer is simple if you ask any one of the hundreds that make their living this way. It is about survival, a way out for themselves and their families.

“I would do anything to support my family,” Soto said, including risking his life.

Soto is not alone. Ac-

cording to a report issued by the National Foundation for American Policy, more than 5,500 immigrants have died crossing the Southern border to enter America in the last 15 years.

In 2012, 477 immigrants died, a 27 percent rise representing the second highest recorded total since 1998. The highest number of deaths -492 -- was in 2005.

The 2012 numbers are troubling because it is generally agreed that illegal immigration numbers are down overall. This means that immigrants are dying at a higher rate than normal. A Pew Research Hispanic Center study finds that only 286,000 crossed the borders illegally in 2011.

Despite the deaths, Soto sees no other way.

Out of desperation to see his loved ones, every four years he treks through the Arizona desert, a 150-mile long “deadly crossing” to Mexico, a journey that takes approximately six days to complete.

Soaring temperatures exceeding 110 degrees and wondering coyotes pose a real threat to survive.

Soto’s most recent attempt to cross the border was last year. He and his group barely survived.

Their sustenance was restricted to one meal each day with a very limited water supply. They almost died of hunger and thirst and had to finish the walk without nourishment on their last day.

WAGES & COMPENSATION The population of migrant and seasonal farmworkers is probably one of the most economically disadvantaged group in the U.S. with about one-fourth earning incomes below poverty level, according to the NAWS survey conducted from 2007 to 2009.

The National Center for Farmworker Health, Inc. estimates that more than 80 percent of farm workers said they were paid by the hour; others were paid by the piece, a common payment system that employers prefer especially during harvesting.

The hourly wage of farm workers is estimated at $7.25 by the U.S. Department of Labor.

At an average of working 42 hours per week, this hourly wage, however, varies and can drop as low as $6 depending on the duration of time with a specific employer; stats on farm workers that work on harvesting crops having the lowest income and the most demanding physical labor out of all.

Jose Rojas, 21, whose family brought him to California at 2 yrs. old, recalls a day when he used to help his dad pick fruits in the field.

Although he worked

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Jose Rojas, 21, at his home on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013. Rojas is a part-time field worker that picks oranges while he builds his own landscaping business. Photo/Abel Cortez

alongside his father throughout the day, they were only compensated for the labor of one.

“Sometimes the employer will turn the other way and only pay one person ... but that work is done by two people and the check is only going to reflect one,” said Ephraim Camacho, a community worker at California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA).

Soto said he earns $10 an hour. Although it is higher than minimum wage, the salary that he receives bi-monthly is still low due to the nature of crop harvesting.

“There’s no stable job,” he said. Averaging to about $900 a month, Soto can barely

sustain the squalor he calls home and the basic needs of his family.

Immigrants like Soto, Ramirez and Rojas are determined to push their lives forward amidst barriers, miniscule income, scant resources and relentless fear.

They draw their strengths from maintaining the family unit alive and thriving for improvement.

Rojas said “I know we came here for one reason and that was to do better for ourselves. It’s not pressure.

I’m doing this not only for me but for [my family].”

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11.13.2013 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM

Recycling

Competition showcases debate & public speaking

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State football games, at the local high schools.”

Faculty members are also helping by bringing bottles and plastic from home and giving them to Sedley, “Sedley is so unassumingly amazing,” said Cris Bremer, director of marketing and communication at FCC. “She has helped so many students with recycling on campus.”

“If FCC students knew how much recycling was affecting them in the classroom, every student would be helping,” said Sedley.

Sedley also started the “Go Green Scholarship,” a $1,000 scholarship awarded to an FCC student who demonstrates financial need and is active in conservation, environmental, recycling on campus or the community. The scholarship has been involved in with recycling on campus since 1998 “The scholarship started as just a way to give money to the fundraiser for the OAB building,” Seedley said. “One thing led to another and I

BY KEVYNN GOMEZ

Managing Editor kgomez@therampageonline.com

FCC student Jessica Adams dispenses a cup in a recycle bin on the FCC campus Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013. Photo/Thalia Gonzales raised $10,000 for the endowment for the scholarship.”

Sedley said that it’s up to the students on campus to take advantage of it, and

the many rewards will be seen throughout the different programs and divisions on campus. l TWITTER.COM/SLOCUM13

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Students seeking an opportunity to hone their public speaking skills or learn about the art of speech and debate will find just what they are looking for at the annual Intramural Speech Competition held today at Fresno City College. The event, which takes place in the Music and Speech Building, is organized by the Communication Arts department.

The competition has three rounds and awards trophies and cash scholarships to all winners. It is organized specifically for students with no or very little competitive speaking experience as a way to create a fair and balanced environment, event coordinator and department co-chair, Dan Scott said.

Two categories, persuasive and informative, constitute the speech topics, and are chosen by students themselves. “When all the topics are different I think it keeps the students engaged,” Scott said.

Co-chair of Communication Arts and participating advisor Cyndie Luna agrees.

“I think the diversity in topics makes my job a lot more fun,” she said.

Several of Luna’s students plan to participate in the competition. They are all enrolled in her public speaking class and had been informed of the event by Luna beforehand.

“It’s kind of fun to speak on something that I researched in class and then see if other people react the same way that we got in class ... it’s fun to inform,” Christopher Meisner, one of Luna’s students said. Meisner will give an informative speech on why cats purr at the Speech Intramural, a topic originally used for a class assignment.

The competing students will be judged by more experienced Forensic Club students, an on-campus club ran by Scott and communication arts instructor Eric Fletcher. Dr. Claudia Habib, Interim Dean of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts, will act as a guest judge in the final round of the speech competition.

Scott who became employed full-time at FCC in 2005 said he and other communications teachers such as Cyndie Luna have organized the event each year.

“I just thought we needed some kind of competition for all students [where] they could have the same kind of opportunity our traveling students get,” Scott said.

For Scott, whose classes specialize in public speaking, the competition has proven to be a powerful and positive tool, both for himself and the students.

“I was in the intramural and I took second place.

And for me, it was one of my greatest accomplishments ever because I was scared to death of public speaking,” he said. “That was probably the day that I decided to become a communications teacher.”

Communication Arts Department-sponsored speech competitions are held three times each year: once in the fall, one in early spring and a final competition in May between finalists of both semester competitions. While finalists in the fall and spring can win a $150 scholarship at the initial level, they can also win an additional $75 during the May competition.

Luna holds a similar view as Scott about the merit of intramural competitions.

“A lot of the students that end up in finals are the ones that got that really positive feedback in class, [with] all of their classmates saying ‘oh that was awesome’.”

According to Scott, many of the students who participate in the Intramural Speech Competiton go on to join the Forensics team at FCC. The club, ran by Scott and Communication Arts instructor Eric Fletcher, travels throughout California to compete in competitions including persuasive and informative speeches as well as other forensics mainstays such as prose and Lincoln-Douglas debates.

The team recently competed at University of the Pacific and attended state championships last year.

The event, which begins at noon, starts with students being separated into different rooms in the Music and Speech building for their first competition. After lunch the judges decide who will move on to the second round and compete in the finals.

J.P. Caprioglio, a business administration major in Luna’s class plans to compete.

For helpful tips for other student competitors, Caprioglio keeps it simple. “Be confident and know what you’re talking about,” he said.

Meisner, similarly, thinks students should “take some deep breaths and hope for the best.”

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Veterans

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stan War is being wrapped up in 2014.

More veterans are going to be returning to their homesteads and enlisting in college and training facilities which makes the issue of returning soldiers a bigger concern for all.

Soldiers return to many benefits from the Government such as the G.I. Bill which pays for schooling for veterans and priority registration at colleges, but these veterans also face many difficulties on their return, hardships which many of them may not be prepared to endure.

While the idea of soldiers returning to school is beneficial for many, bigger issues arise when soldiers come back and have a hard time transitioning back to civilian and student life from their military experiences.

“It took me like a month to talk without swearing every word but I got used to it,” said Ron Anderson, a 26-year-old Fresno City College student who served in the Army for six years as Military Police in Iraq.

“The way you interact with others [during deployment] is very different as well.

You pretty much swear every other word.”

Anderson said it is difficult to adjust from the military life he had become accustomed to to some aspects of life in the “normal world.”

“It’s kind of weird, the whole mentality of the military is very different,” Anderson said.

O t h e r s ex p e r i e n c e heavier problems upon returning to civilian life. Erich Simrock, is a marketing major at FCC and a 20- year-Air Force veteran. Simrock is back at school, thanks to a program offered by the Veterans Affairs office.

Simrock says he never thought he would be back at school after his service in the military.

Even though things are looking good for Simrock as he pursues his degree at FCC, he remembers the depression he suffered after his time in the military and the four long years it took him to overcome it.

“You think you can just roll right in back into it,” Simrock said. “But it’s a whole different world.”

He said, “The civilian world is like a whole different game; [In the military] you do things a certain way; there’s only one way to do it, and civilians don’t work that way.”

Simrock advises returning soldiers to take ad-

vantage of any programs that the military offers, including programs preparing people to the transition between the two very different worlds.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder -- A Huge Hurdle A phenomenon known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a mental disorder which many returning soldiers deal with and may need to seek help to overcome, is another issue that contributes to the difficulty in the transition between military and civilian worlds.

According to the Veterans Affairs website, “PTSD is a psychological condition that affects those who have experienced a traumatizing or life-threatening event such as combat, natural disasters, serious accidents, or violent personal assaults.”

Despite the term being around since the 1970s, it recently became a larger part of the discourse about how best to help returning veterans reenter civilian life.

The symptoms of PTSD vary but most often include anger, irritability, rage, anxiety. Sufferers have difficulty trusting and experience problems with authority.

Chris Selby is a navy veteran who served for four years; he attended FCC after his service and now works as a re-adjustment counselor with the Veterans Administration.

Selby works on helping veterans cope with the debilitating effects of their time in the service.

Selby has seen the damage that PTSD can cause to returning soldiers and the effect it has on family and friends of soldiers. Selby is also aware of the way that the illness is seen by many veterans.

“In the past, there was a stigma within the military; there was a reluctance to seek treatment,” Selby said, adding that the stigma is related to “military bravado” and a misconception that it is “a weakness to ask for help.”

A recent survey of 600 veterans by Veteransandptsd. com shows that “14 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.”

The study also adds that many of the soldiers never seek treatment for the ailment.

Selby said that in addition to PTSD, many veterans have difficulty adjusting to life outside of the military.

“They are looking at the person next to them and

thinking, ‘how are you going on about this in philosophy class and you live with mom and dad’; there’s that type of anger or resentment,” Selby said.

“I don’t really like to talk about it,[war experiences]” Josh Bailey, a student at FCC, said. Bailey devoted four years in the Navy working as a helicopter pilot; he knows firsthand how veterans can be severely impacted by their time in combat.

“When I was in, I saw too much bloodshed,” Bailey said “A lot of people have had PTSD, fortunately I’ve kept a positive mental attitude throughout my career.”

Bailey said, “I saw some guys come right off the helicopter and within 10 seconds get shot.”

Bailey also sees a difficulty with many people who have trouble transitioning from military to civilian life.

“It’s hard for some to make the transition because they don’t know how to do anything else because the military didn’t teach them how to do anything useful,” Bailey said, “Consequently, they end up homeless or living with mom and dad for the rest of their lives.”

Veterans face other problems, including higher incidence of alcohol and drug abuse as well as self medication which go hand in hand with the feelings of depression. This may lead to issues

such as unemployment and homelessness.

A Huffington Post story on Monday, Nov. 11, reported that one in seven homeless people previously served in the military.

Tens of thousands of former service members are already living without shelter and that more than one million veterans are at risk of becoming homeless.

Additionally, according to information on the Coalition for Homeless Veterans website, approximately 62,619 veterans are homeless on any given night, and over the course of a year, about twice that number become homeless at some point.Also, almost 13 percent of the nation’s nearly 1,750,000 of the homeless adult population are veterans.

Approximately 33 percent of homeless males in the U.S. are veterans, and veterans are twice as likely as other Americans to become chronically homeless.

Veterans’ Resources With all of these dangers looming for soldiers returning from service, there are several programs and organizations available to help soldiers cope with whatever they may need both in and outside of school.

“Be prepared, take everything they give you cause there are a lot of programs out there that pretty much take

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care of everything” Simrock said of the preparation programs available.

Local veterans are encouraged to use the veterans services at FCC. Mario Reposo, a long time counselor at FCC, is a veteran who knows what many of the students he deals with are going through. Reposo deals exclusively with veterans and helps them get what they need to succeed in college.

Reposo said that after his service, he also went through depression, insomnia and short-term memory loss Like many other veterans.

“You lose your sense of purpose,” Reposo said. “When you come here, it’s a very alienating environment.”

He said he helps students by trying to help them find “another focus.” This is something that many of the veteran programs focus on assisting students with.

Selby said he tells veterans how important it is to ask for help when life in the civilian world gets too difficult.

“For you to be successful,” Selby said,”you have to have your head be on straight and for you to be able to focus on school and you can’t do that if you’ve ‘come home’ but truly haven’t ‘come home.’”

August Promnitz contributed to the reporting of this story.

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11.13.2013

Greathouse brings new meaning to ‘custodial arts’

BY AUGUST PROMNITZ

Reporter dpromnitz@therampageonline.com

What started as scribbles on a piece of paper has become the highest source of passion for one employee at Fresno City College.

Alvin Greathouse is a man with two distinctive sides; an easy-going custodian by night and a mad-genius painter by day.

His creative process, he says, involves playing jazz or rock music and matching color schemes to the notes in the music.

The result of his paintings is an abstract piece, one that leaves the viewer to judge with their own eyes what they may see in it.

“People see different things in them,” Greathouse said of his work, pointing out the various shapes that find their way into his art.

Greathouse holds his work to strict standards, and takes great pride in each painting.

“I never show my work if I’m not satisfied with it,” he said.

Greathouse started his artistic endeavors at age 5, having been inspired by the art of his ncle Vernon.

“I was really inspired by what he could achieve,” Greathouse said, “with just a pencil and a piece of paper.”

Greathouse grew up in the 1960s, in one of America’s most definitive and turbulent decades.

It was here that he latched onto one facet of the era for his theme of choice.

“I’m a child of the ’60s when the space program was relevant, so I started drawing spaceships, rockets and stuff,” Greathouse said.

His mother introduced him to “Star Trek” and “Star Wars,” further cementing his interest in space.

Greathouse started working at FCC in 2002 as a kitchen manager.

He was laid off, however, but returned to the FCC payroll

soon after as a custodian.

He works the night shift, and while he would rather be painting, he enjoys the work.

“I get to meet a lot of nice people,” Greathouse said, “and I get to keep the place clean for them.”

His work was on display at City Hall in September, and was shown downtown at the K-Jewel Art Gallery in October.

He will also be putting his work on display at Studio 74 in January.

In the meantime, Greathouse has been hard at work on “Star Drive,” a graphic novel he started 30 years ago.

In it, Greathouse uses art to examine humanity and life through extraterrestrial beings.

“I wanted my pictures to be about alien races with very human emotions,” he said.

Though it’s been in the works since 1983, Greathouse hopes to release his work soon.

He is now putting in the finishing touches to the

Artist Alvin Greathouse on Tuesday, Oct. 22 in front of his artwork at the K-Jewel Art Gallery. Greathouse works as a full-time janitor at Fresno City College. Photo/Abel Cortez characters and plot of the story.

“Hopefully, it won’t be another 30 years before I release it,” Greathouse said.

“It‘ll be out pretty soon.”

He does, however, have his regrets.

“I wish I would’ve started this journey earlier,” Greathouse said, ref lecting on the time it took to begin his project and step out as an artist. “I always felt like I could achieve it. I just didn’t know

where to start.”

That, though, is about to change. He has been working on a website for his art and his paintings are being shown more and more frequently through galleries and art shows.

Now, Greathouse says he is raring to step onto the world stage.

“It’s time for me to show the world who Alvin Greathouse is.” l TWITTER.COM/FCCRAMPAGE

THERAMPAGE

&E

11.13.2013

7

Arte Americas brings Dia de los Muertos to life

Fresno Art Partnership Gallery displayed artwork by Rojas Guadalupe Posada, such as the political cartoon, left, printed in the “La Avispa” newspaper, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013 at Arte Americas. Photo/Michael Monroy

BY KEVYNN GOMEZ

Managing Editor kgomez@therampageonline.com

Warm candlelight, festive colors, marigold f lowers and grinning skulls were but a few traditional motifs present at Arte Americas’ Dia De Los Muertos celebration on Nov. 2.

The museum installation, titled “Posada 100” after the Mexican illustrator whose art is a cornerstone of the modern practice, honored the distinctly Mexican tradition.

The art exhibits began Oct. 1 and ended Nov. 10 and displayed both local and national art in a variety of forms, ranging from mixed media to acrylic paint and digital photography, to name a few.

Altars with personal offerings to the dead (ofrendas) were also created, and a colorful wall mural portraying the tragic 1948 airplane crash in Los Gatos Canyon was displayed and included a 3-D miniature sculpture of the tragedy.

Talented artists from Fresno and other Central Valley towns like Madera and Fowler were displayed shoulderto-shoulder with artists from Mexico City, Oaxaca, Houston, Chicago and Iowa, among many more.

The exhibit encompassed all forms of art created to honor deceased local public figures, family members and trail-blazing Mexican figures such as architect Pedro Ramirez Vasquez and United Farm Workers organizer Jessie de la Cruz.

Andrea Cervantes, a visitor to the gallery, was pleased to spend the day enjoying the gallery with her family.

“It’s really nice to see my culture being recognized,” she said. “I like the art and the way of remembering the dead.”

The installation was accompanied by a separate exhibit in the Fresno Art Museum Partnership Gallery for famous Mexican satirical artist Rojas

Guadalupe Posada, a nineteenth century newspaper illustrator whose “La Catrina” image has become a defining figure for the November celebration of dead loved ones and of the grandiose beauty of the Mexican celebration.

“It’s all sort of one cohesive exhibit in that Posada created artwork that is now being used for Dia de Los Muertos,” said Frank Delgado, interim executive director at Arte Americas.

A third exhibit in Arte Americas displayed paintings created by 32 artists from the Instituto Grafico de Chicago, an independent organization of printmakers representing Latino art.

Their “Posada Presente” collection recreates the signature style of Posada, asking the question “What would Posada print today?” as a foundation for the theme.

One of the many altars presented at Arte Americas by Fresno muralist Abigail Janzen, in dedication to her grandmother for the “Dia de los Muertos” event, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. Photo/Michael Monroy Each artist used basic colors such as black and red, imperfect lines, a bold sociopolitical message and sarcastic humor to answer the question through their own unique perspective.

The Posada exhibit commemorates the 100th anniversary of the artist’s death in 1913, and is meant to coincide with the autumn celebration he has so greatly influenced.

“He’s kind of like the grandfather,” Arte Americas volunteer Monica Blancarte said of Posada’s role in the Dia de los Muertos celebration.

All of the Posada illustrations, drawn in his signature newspaper style, are originals loaned to Arte Americas by Jim Nikas, a San Ramirez art collector, for the two-month fall installation.

Nikas acquired the illustrations from a family member of the newspa-

per owner Posada worked with, and also owns the lithographic plates from which copies can be made.

The Posada drawings are “essentially priceless,” according to Delgado.

Posada’s iconic imagery has greatly influenced Dia de Los Muertos and crafted its modern image, although the practice dates back hundreds of years in Mexico when the Mexica and other indigenous tribes honored their dead.

The art exhibits were also accompanied by a Fulton Mall event, the 26th Annual CalaGala Dia de los Muertos Celebration that began with food, drink and entertainment on the Fulton Mall main street before transitioning into a candlelight procession returning to Arte Americas. l TWITTER.COM/THEONLYKEVYNN

FRESNO CITY COLLEGE THEATRE AND DANCE DEPARTMENT

City Dance FALL WORKSHOP 2013 Artistic Director: Jimmy Hao

November 22, 23 7:30PM November 24 2:00PM Theatre

Tickets: $14 General, $12 Students, $8 Group Rate FCC Theatre Box Office: (559) 442-8221 www.fresnocitycollege.edu/boxofficetickets Hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00AM–3:00PM and one hour before each performance

If you need an accommodation per the Americans with Disabilities Act please contact the FCC Box Office two weeks before the event.

State Center Community College District

EONLINE.COM

8

OPINION

11.13.2013 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM

Campus Bullying victims deserve a voice Voices

BY RAMPAGE EDITORIAL BOARD editorial@therampageonline.com

“How should we deal with the issue of bullying?”

Manuel Rios Crimonology “Confront it head on or try to get some help from near by.”

Rachelle Martinez Nursing “You just have to step up to the plate and defend that other person because you would want them to do that for you.”

Kylie Apodaca Art “Have more people watching for it and give people the courage to talk about what’s going on.”

Nakoda Goodwin Theatre “Being true to yourself, being who you are and ignoring all the crap that people are trying to throw at you.”

WRITTEN BY: PATRICK FORREST PHOTOGRAPHED BY: KEVYNN GOMEZ

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 7,000,000 students between the ages of 12 and 18 are bullied every year.

Thanks to recent revelations about the locker room saga involving Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito of the Miami Dolphins, many are now realizing that bullying does not stop with high school graduation. Bullying is a life-long phenomenon and can happen among any age, professional or socioeconomic group.

Richie Incognito has been suspended indefinitely from the team for allegedly harassing his teammate, Jonathan Martin. Multiple text messages and voicemails which have been made public by the Martin camp include threats of violence, vulgar and racial slurs as well as statements of sexual aggression towards Martin’s sister. Reactions from Dolphins teammates and the rest of the NFL and all across the country have been swift and rampant.

True to form, the responses to this situation are typical and leave a disturbing taste in the mouths of many. What this incident shows once again is our tendency to blame the victim -- exactly why many children who are bullied every year remain silent. They fear being ridiculed.

The Martin-Incognito story has been picked up by many different national news networks including CNN, CBS, USA Today and the LA Times. Millions of children, many of whom may be struggling with their own bullies or how to tell someone about them, have seen not only the story, but the public’s responses to the story.

This gives us all a great opportunity to take a stand and show support for those who are victimized and encourage them to tell their stories to someone they trust. But we are missing the point. Instead of standing with the victim, we are ridiculing a man who showed courage and brought his story to the nation’s attention in order to stop the abuse that had been occur-

ring. When Martin took a stand, it was for much more than himself. It was a stand for the 7,000,000 children who are bullied.

Ever since this story broke, a wave of people have tried to explain away Incognito’s actions, claiming that the accused was “just trying to toughen him [Martin] up” or was “trying to make a man out of him.”

This is not the way that members of a civil society behave or the logic they use.

What this situation should actually show us is that anyone can become

a victim; there is no age or size limit.

According to Stopbullying.gov a person cannot outgrow the problems that can be brought on by bullies. These problems include depression and anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy.

Whether you call it bullying or hazing, bullying is not just an issue involving children in primary schools to deal with. It is all our problems, whether it be the classroom or the workplace. We must collectively figure out how to treat each other with decency.

We have been desensitized to other people’s feelings; we lack empathy. We must learn how to put yourself in the shoes of those who are being bullied. whether they are a 6-foot5-inch, 320-pound NFL player, or a 5-foot-3-inch, 130 pound high school freshman. Bullying is Bullying.

Too many of these situations

go unreported and slip through the cracks. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 64 percent of students who are victims of bullying do not report it. Martin should be celebrated and held up as an example of exactly what victims should do if they feel harassed. We may all agree that bullying is bad, but if we stand by and do nothing as it happens or, worse yet, ridicule those who do come forward with information, then we are hypocrites.

On the Fresno City College campus, we should have the resources so that no one would have to feel isolated, alone, harassed or abused. The FCC administrators have, in their own policy, taken a stance against bullying and bullying-like actions. The FCC ethics statement says, “We ensure an honest and supportive climate which serves the interests of the institution and protects the well-being of all individuals.”

This should be the goal of every institution on the planet and no individual should ever have to feel the isolation or torment that comes with being bullied for any stretch of time.

Studies by Stopbullying.gov show that many kids don’t tell about their struggles with a bully because they may not want adults to know what is being said about them, whether true or false. They may also fear that adults will judge them or punish them for being weak.

And who can possibly blame them? If they can see a big NFL player being called a “wuss” when he speaks out against his tormentor, why should they believe the response will be any different for them?

Children have impressionable minds. They pick up on things that are going on around them and those things do have an effect. And if the effect from the nation’s response to Jonathan Martin is that even one tortured kid has to look up and feel that no one is on their side, or that they will be ridiculed for speaking out against their tormentor, then we all should be ashamed, because that means that we have all failed them. l TWITTER.COM/FCCRAMPAGE

THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM 11.13.2013

OPINION

9

HAS ‘CHRISTMAS IN OCTOBER’ TAKEN HOLIDAY CONSUMERISM TOO FAR?

PRO

BY BRANDALYN HASTINGS

Reporter bhastings@therampageonline.com

On Halloween, stores all over the Valley were clearing off their shelves to replace their merchandise with Christmas decorations. The colors changed from yellow and orange to red and green before even half the dry leaves could fall off the trees around us.

The holiday season came upon us quickly this year, and with the holiday cups in our favorite coffee shops, and decorations all over the stores, it seems Christmas has already overtaken us all.

So is Christmas in October too early? The answer is yes, because it’s not Christmas we’re celebrating, but our American tradition of buying things we don’t need.

No other three months in the year have more celebrated holidays than October, November and December.

The normal progression of the holiday box of American tradition is to celebrate fall with Halloween, celebrate the people and things we already have with Thanksgiving, give and receive things we often don’t need with Christmas, then kiss goodbye the holidays season with a midnight party for New Year’s.

But if you were to look at the corporate world, the only holidays you would think exist are Halloween and Christmas because pumpkin merchandise hit the shelves as early as late August, and Christmas supplies, as early as late September.

Part of the reason we don’t see many Thanksgiving or New Year’s supplies released so early into stores is because these holidays are not very marketable.

For Thanksgiving, people buy serveware and food. For New Year’s, people buy streamers and food. There’s no need to market, these things sell themselves But for Christmas, and even Halloween, there is a myriad of different things that companies would like to sell you, things that they want to get in front of your eyes as soon as they can.

Part of what makes Christmas so special however, is that it only comes once a year, and part of what makes its flavors and sounds so sweet is that they’re only available at that time.

Companies all over America

want to capitalize on the sweet sights of Christmas, but the problem with this early marketing is we’ll be sick of the wreaths in the mall and the holiday f lavors before December can even darken our doorstep.

In addition, with all the focus on Christmas, and the way it looks this year, we tend to overlook Thanksgiving. We start to engage in Christmas shopping at the beginning of November as we enjoy our favorite winter lattes in redesigned red or blue cups.

But with all this attention on a holiday that is more than a month away, making dinner and being thankful for the people and things we already have almost feels like an afterthought.

Isn’t it ironic that the holiday that we focus on the least is the one that promotes being thankful for everything you already have?

It’s not just ironic, it’s quite intentional. Companies can’t sell you things you don’t need when you’re happy with what you have. So advertisements, stores, and coffee shops are going to get you looking farther ahead than is necessary, but you can’t fully enjoy life when you are looking too far ahead.

Being bombarded by Christmasthemed items all over the corporate world has served as a reminder that Christmas really is right around the corner.

More t h a n we need a reminder that it is about that time of year that we exchange gifts with our loved ones, we need a reminder that we love and enjoy them solely because of who they are, not because of what they give or receive.

I think the best thing about the progression of our holiday season is that we are thankful before we are giving.

So before we get caught in the hustle and bustle of buying things we don’t need, let’s enjoy the season that we’re in to its fullest. What does November offer that December does not?

We must relish the moment that we’re in, enjoying it to the fullest.

Twenty-five days of our culture’s extravagant Christmas is plenty of time to reach our Christmas quota for the whole year. Maybe we need more than one day however, to focus on being thankful. l TWITTER.COM/BRANDALYNJANAE

CON

BY LAUREN BAKER

Art Director lbaker@therampageonline.com

It seems that with the progression of each holiday comes the immediate upselling of the next big commercial event.

We’ve all seen Christmas decor in October, valentines in January, even fireworks for the Fourth of July in April. But honestly, wouldn’t that make life a little more convenient?

While many people would arg ue that starting Christmas sales in October and even making Black Friday the same day as Thanksgiving before people can recover from turkey-comas is far too much pressure for the average shopper.

I would say this is very helpful.

Take Christmas and money for instance; even if you spent a hefty amount on Halloween, seeing what’s in store both literally and figuratively for Christmas can help you plan your budget accordingly ahead of time.

Certainly, it can be a lot to take in between throwing out pumpkins and being bombarded with Santas at Macys.

But take advantage of the savings being presented to you. Most people are too consumed with the holiday at hand, and understandably so, to pay attention to the next best thing.

But in comparison to Thanksgiving, Christmas definitely weighs heavier on the wallet. A Thanksgiving expense list doesn’t extend beyond a fuller grocery basket and maybe getting a copy of “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.”

Christmas however, is full of ex-

pense and expectations, depending on how devoted you are to the holiday.

With Christmas, there are a number holiday options.

There’s Christmas Tree Lane, Christmas cards, gifts to buy or even make, food for dinners or office potlucks, and so on. And of course, one can’t forget about the tree and all the decorations and trimmings.

With all of this to prepare for, wouldn’t it be in one’s interest to stock up early?

Most retail establishments will begin marketing for Christmas around mid-October, early November at the very latest. The first sales are usually for trees or house-hold decorations, and it’s best to look into those sales when they begin as opposed to waiting until Black Friday, when promotional sales increase and the items you originally wanted are now gone.

If you can manage to start saving as early as March or May for the holiday seasons, the expense cluster won’t seem as overwhelming when it hits, which is a typical complaint I’ve heard amongst various consumers.

That being said, taking expense out of the equation, what about simply savoring the flavor of the moment?

I say, the whole holiday season is moment to be savored, you know its coming, so why complain?

Even though Halloween is my favorite holiday, I love Christmas just as much so I can’t wait for it to get here.

Thanksgiving passes by so quickly that it almost goes unnoticed, except for the food-baby you develop as evidence of overindulgence.

Halloween is almost a self-serving celebration whereas Christmas is about being with the people you care about and showing how you care.

I personally get really excited seeing obnoxious, plastic trees at the malls and decorations everywhere before Halloween even ends because it gives me something to look forward to.

After months of planning a costume and executing it, early Christmas sales motivates me to start planning things I want to do, presents I want to buy, and to start saving for the inevitable expense.

Sometimes, there is nothing wrong with having “too much of a good thing.”

As college students, we spend most of the year being responsible and dedicating ourselves to the books.

But during the Autumn season the time of year when we get to bring jackets out of the closet, comfort food becomes the kitchen table norm, and we all get a little bit more time to be with family and friends - we can enjoy one holiday while anticipating another.

Instead of complaining about having too much all at once, why not enjoy it because it’s here?

Perhaps we should take a lesson from Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” and learn that Halloween and Christmas can coexist and be co-awesome.

l TWITTER.COM/ELBTHEHERO

10

OPINION

11.13.2013 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM

Gamer’s Chair: cheap but fun games Muslim women need opportunities

BY VICTOR APARICIO

Production Manager vaparicio@therampageonline.com

Gaming is an expensive hobby.

Among all the classes, books and rent that need to paid for, you’re still scrounging around cash to buy some games to relax to.

As exciting as the next generation game consoles are, it just means that older games are getting cheaper.

The best part about games is that older games do not equal bad games.

Take the “Mass Effect” series from Bioware which won so many awards like “Best story,” “Best RPG,” and “Game of the Year” from multiple sites and outlets including the Spike TV’s Video Game Awards.

Now you can find the “Mass Effect” titles used at a GameStop for under $20, especially “Mass Effect 2” for a measly $8 for both PS3 and Xbox 360.

And if you want to go all out, look for the “Mass Effect Trilogy” which includes the three main titles and all the downloadable content for around $40.

There are many entries to the “Call of Duty” series, but “Black Ops” from Treyarch Studios is easily the

most refreshing title from the bunch and should still have a healthy online community. The price varies but you can find it for as low as $10 at GameStop.

Also for $10 is “Red Dead Redemption” from Rockstar Games, the studio best known for the recent “Grand Theft Auto 5” videogame.

And while you’re at it, look for Max Payne 3 for $15. Both games feature a great story, well-voiced characters and Rockstar’s famous third-person action gameplay.

“Elders Scrolls: Oblivion” and “Fallout 3” are games praised for open world freedom that you can really get lost in and that get total play time that is over a hundred hours. For $10 and $5, respectively, that kind of value is a steal.

And again, if you have the extra cash, spring for the “Game of the Year” editions. The add-on story packs will give you even more hours of gameplay for around $20.

If you’re into independent games, look through PlayStation Store, Xbox Live, Steam or your favorite online store. Indie games usually come in at about $15 dollars and with a bit of research you can find a gem. I recommend “Limbo,” “Hotline Miami,” “Journey,” “Telltale’s The Walking Dead” and “Castle Crasher.”

There are many outlets to finding the best prices for games. Amazon has an email newsletter, Twitter account and a Facebook fan page specifically for games. You can also look at ign.com/deals, hit gaming and sign up to get emails alerts. Reddit.com/r/ gamedeals is also a great place, with forum threads full of people trying to save as much as you are.

BY LOREN DANIELS

Reporter ldaniels@therampageonline.com

Hasn’t Islam kept their women in the dark for a few thousand years too many?

I mean that literally as well as figuratively, devaluing the roles of women through both political and religious influences dates as far back as the Dark Ages and the inception of the Muslim religion.

Discussing the issue of women in Islam, however, is a topic that has grown in distortion over the centuries and is constantly under negative criticism because of the roles that it has subjugated Muslim women to throughout its religious history.

Having the opportunity to exist equally in terms of social, political and even economic status is the utmost, universal human right. To be born into and

live in a society that suppresses the advancement of your ideas because you were born female is to be forced to essentially live under oppression.

To have any idea for a career in politics nullified at an early age because you must only assume roles in society that disallow you from achieving a certain amount of authority over your male counterpart is devaluing as an equal member of society.

To reject the idea that education should be recognized equally in the classroom, and to have the very foundation of a diversified economy be funded upon the separation of women and men despite profession is to condone the authoritative force of civil obedience through fear of those in power.

It is imperative that Islam embrace the educational and social advancement of Islamic women. Through voting with equal civil responsibilities and opportunities for civil service, and through encouraging their women to achieve higher education, the Arab world could stand to benefit economically, thus quickening its progression.

When standards of inhumanity are imposed heavily by religious influence, and then inflicted upon citizens who then cope and only consider this way of living - this is when the progression of society comes to a stop.

See the rest of this story online. l TWITTER.COM/LORENBOBOREN

Are we safe at school?

l TWITTER.COM/VICTORKID

BY DAISY MARTINEZ

Reporter dmartinez@therampageonline.com

Many might be wondering if the school they attend is safe enough for them. Others may worry more about the school their child or younger siblings attend.

Are schools even safe? There is really no way of saying if a school is safe enough. There are certain procedures schools take when the safety of a student is in danger.

Lockdown is one of the most common methods used by schools to protect students and staff from harm.

If any person steps onto the school grounds with intentions to hurt the students, or even if any danger is near a school, the school will go into a lockdown and students will duck under the desk, the lights will be turned off and the doors will be locked.

During a lockdown, the teachers aren’t to open the door to anyone.

While lockdowns can help to keep students from danger, do they really make schools safer?

Training the staff and performing drills just in case of an emergency can make a difference if emergencies were

to happen.

Training the parents with these drills can also be a helpful way to increase school safety. Many parents volunteer at schools and they need to know what to do in cases like these.

The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting is still in many of our minds. On Dec. 14, 2012, 20 children’s and six adults’ lives were taken in a place were we would think it is safe.

But if staff and faculty were not trained on emergency procedures, maybe more deaths could have occured.

Not only do schools get trained on lockdowns, but they also get trained on fire drills.

If any fire were to occur students are to exit as far off from campus buildings.

The question many may continue to ask is, should we feel safe when going to school?

School should be a place where students can feel safe, but unfortunately, tragedies can happen and we need to be prepared.

The only way to do so is through training and schools taking caution with outsiders.

One way schools can make it safer for the students is to have gates around the school which remain closed when school is in session.

With this system, anyone stepping into campuses school get an office pass.

No one can guarantee that a school is safe enough.

We just have to trust the system that is intended to keep danger from our loved ones and hope students will always feel safe. l TWITTER.COM/FLOWERDAZY

THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM 11.13.2013

SPORTS

11

RAMS OVERCOME LOSS, WIN BACK-TO-BACK GAMES

Fresno City College football player Alek Mechikoff (22) scores a touchdown against San Joaquin Delta College, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013 at Ratcliffe Stadium. Photo/Michael Monroy

BY KEAUNDREY CLARK

Reporter kclark@therampageonline.com

The No.6 Ranked team in NorCal, Fresno City College Rams football team has had their struggles this season, but they have straightened things out in their final two home games of the season.

“We felt good coming into the game, we came off a tough loss, we’re really looking to rebound against San Joaquin Delta,” said Head Coach Tony Caviglia.

FCC Improved to 5-3, 2-1 in the Central Valley Conference with a 4428 win over San Joaquin Delta. They started the day with a Quentin Bres-

hears field goal, After a SJD touchdown, freshman running back Micah Ledezma scored on a 6 yard touchdown, which opened up the scoring for FCC. “I felt we were confident at each phase as a team, offense,defense,special teams and it pretty much showed on the field today,” said Micah Ledezma.

Ledezma finished with 109-yards on 10 carries and 2 touchdowns.

FCC’s offense came alive scoring 3 straight touchdowns, a 6-yard run from sophomore running back Alek Mechikoff and two touchdown passes from sophomore quarterback Marcus Montero to receivers Shakiem Barbel and Kevin Beckwith. Montero finished

Volleyball leads the CVC

Undefeated volleyball team ranked No. 5 in state

Valarie Gobby (3) goes for a spike during the game against Reedley College at the Fresno City College Gymnasium on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013. Photo/David Bennett.

BY LOREN DANIELS

Reporter ldaniels@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College women’s volleyball team is on their way to finishing the regular season as undefeated Central Valley Conference champions.

The No. 3 state-ranked FCC Rams have two games left against unranked West Hills Coalinga College Eagles and Taft College Cougars. The Eagles currently hold the record of 0-17 while the Cougars’ is 15-7.

The team is on a 11-game winning streak. Their last two matches ended 3-0 over the Reedley College Tigers and the Merced College Blue Devils.

The Rams hosted their last confer-

ence game of the season against the Reedley Tigers.

“Not to be confused with cockiness, but definitely confidence,” said sophomore outside hitter Caitlin Marinos.

“The women’s volleyball team has won every game played both away and at home since their 3-2 loss to the currently ranked No. 2 Cabrillo College Seahawks.”

“Volleyball is more like a mental game than anything,” said Marinos. l TWITTER.COM/LORENBOBOREN

Fresno City College football player Brayden Sanchez (5) scores a touchdown against Modesto Junior College, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, at Ratcliffe Stadium.

Photo/Michael Monroy. the game 14-22 with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. The rams finished with 489 total yards.

“We come out and we were able to do whatever we want offensively,” said Alek Mechikoff The following week, FCC finished off their homestand with a 44-23 win over Modesto College. Modesto opened up with a 13-0 score after an 81-yard run my Teejay Gordon and and Errian Winfield fumble that was recovered and ran back for a touchdown by Modesto’s D.C Gardeley.

“We needed to regroup in the first half, we had to get comfortable with what they were doing, and their tempo and once we settled in a little

bit. We got things like, missed assignments and turnovers corrected,“ said Caviglia.

FCC finally got on the board with a 54-yard “bomb” from Montero to freshman wide receiver Brayden Sanchez.

After two long FCC drives with 10 plays totalling 90-yards and 10 more plays for 81-yards, both ending with Montero 1-yard pushes for touchdowns. Montero finished the game with touchdowns.

FCC opened the second half with 3 more touchdowns.

l TWITTER.COM/SLOCUM13

12

NEWS

Rampage Staff Editor-in-Chief Troy Pope Managing Editor Kevynn Gomez Production Managers Troy Pope Victor Aparicio News Editor Pabel Lopez Interim Opinion Editor Victor Aparicio

Arts & Entertainment Editor Patrick Forrest Sports Editor Jere Kirkland Photo Editor Michael Monroy Art Director Lauren Baker Copy Chief Jordan Russell Social Media Director Colby Tibbet Reporters Keaundrey Clark Loren Daniels Yolanda Garzon Brandalyn Hastings Daisy Martinez Aidyl Molina August Promnitz Brian Robinson Sidney Thompson Photojournalists David Bennett Abel Cortez Thalia Gonzales Ramiro Gudino Ricky Sall Darlene Wendels Business Manager Kevynn Gomez Faculty Adviser Dr. Dympna Ugwu-Oju 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

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Fresno City College

11.13.2013 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM