Vol. 64, Edition 2

THEATER PREVIEW

current

ARC THEATRE DEPARTMENT’S ADAPTATION OF ‘SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET’ SEEKS TO HIGHLIGHT THE DARK HUMOR OF STEPHEN SONDHEIM’S MUSICAL

ARCurrent.com @ARCurrent Facebook.com/ARCurrentcom Vol. 64, Ed. 2 • Oct. 10, 2012

SPORTS

Football’s winning streak ends amid tragedy

By Alisha Kirby

N

By Trevor Horn horntc@imail.losrios.edu

I

“

Rozale is a real leader on this team emotionally.

JERRYHAFLICH

A LOOK INSIDE

4

DEBIT FEE

an orchestra in the American River Theater. “This is going to be very different from [the Tim Burton directed] version because it’s styled after the Broadway show,” says Jonathan Blum, who’s playing Sweeney Todd in this humorous adaptation.

“It’s just a damn good show. It’s one of my favorites of Sondheim’s,” explains Brianne Hidden-Wise, who will play Mrs. Lovett. “It’s very witty, it’s dark, so it appeals to a lot of people.”

Both Blum and Hidden-Wise are veterans of the college’s theatre department.

Blum has been a part of the program for 11 years and performed in more than 30 plays, while Hidden-Wise has been in almost 20 plays during her 10 years in the theatre department.

“The reason I keep doing stuff here is because the production value is really high,” Hidden-Wise says, “and so this is going to be a show to watch. The fact

SEE TODD, PAGE 10

SCENE

ARC rocks the bells

AFTER A 2-YEAR SIILENCE, BOETTCHER LIBRARY BELLS IN MEMORY OF BOB ALLEGRE GIVE STUDENTS A WELCOMING FEELING ON CAMPUS Daniel Romandia / romandd@imail.losrios.edu

SEE LOSSES, PAGE 7

kirbyam@imail.losrios.edu

ineteenth century London: Millions of the city’s poor populate the overcrowded slums in back alleys while the privileged and wealthy sleep sound in their homes. Enter the barber Sweeney Todd, arriving home 15 years after being imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit by the crooked Judge Turpin, who coveted the barber’s wife.

Upon learning of how the judge forced himself upon the barber’s wife and adopted his daughter, Todd goes mad and teams up with Mrs. Lovett, a pie-maker who cooks the barber’s victims into her meat pies. His killing spree leads to dozens of victims whose throats are slit, bodies ground up and are served to Mrs. Lovett’s customers.

Just in time for Halloween, the American River College Theatre will be performing Stephen Sondheim’s musical Oct. 12-28 with the accompaniment of

A SHOOTING AT STUDENT ATHLETE’S BIRTHDAY PARTY COMES DAYS BEFORE CRITICAL GAME t was a distressing week for American River College football coach Jerry Haflich and his team. The football teams loss to City College of San Francisco ended their 22-game win streak, but defensive back Rozale Byrd, a key contributor as a freshman this season, lost two people in a shooting.

After experiencing triumph on the field with a late game interception on his 19th birthday against Santa Rosa Junior College on Sept. 22, Byrd celebrated with a party at his parent’s home in south Sacramento. As the party was winding down---tragedy hit.

Byrd’s close friend, Dijon A. Smith, 19, and his uncle, Oscar Harris, 39, were both shot and killed on the sidewalk across the street from the Byrd residence. Smith died on scene and Harris died Sept. 28, according to Sacramento County Coroner’s reports.

No arrests have been made, according to Sacramento Sheriff’s spokesman Jason Ramos.

Ramos also stated the shooting occurred across the street from Byrd’s home. Smith’s body was found around 200 feet away from the house, near the 7600 block of Countryfield Drive.

Several people were outside tending to the victims when the authorities arrived, and dozens of partygoers were detained and questioned, according to a press release from the sheriff’s department, which also stated that no motive has been determined and no suspect(s) have been identified.

But the loss and grieving for one of his young players did hit close to home for the Beavers the

Daniel Romandia / romandd@imail.losrios.edu

american river

BLOODY GOOD MUSICAL

Students in front of the American River College library on Oct. 5, where the bells sound off every hour.

Students with a HigherOne debit card might have to look out for fees.

8

DESCENDENTS

The Current talks with Descendents’s lead singer in this exclusive interview.

By Korbl Klimecki klimecb@imail.losrios.edu

A

strange sound was heard ringing out over campus on Sept. 21. For the first time in two years, the library bells chimed, confusing many.

The bells were then silent for another week and most students probably forgot all about them. The last time the bells rang on campus was in 2010, just before the library remodel.

“The chimes are part of a carillons system, which at that time were housed in the library,” said Administrative Services Director Laduan Smedley. The bells were moved for the remodel and have not rang since.

Bob Allegre was, up until his untimely death in late 2010, the Vice President for Administrative Services and the man who essentially managed the campus’s money. It was Allegre who oversaw every construction on campus in the 20 years prior to his

SEE BELLS, PAGE 13

14

CONSOLE WAR

Two staffers find out which system is the best; is it PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360?

Page 2

News

Oct. 10, 2012

HigherOne bank’s hidden fees Bank that disburses financial aid at ARC provides fee schedule similar to larger banks without the awareness of students gonzalj68@imail.losrios.edu There are many things on the minds of American River College students. Common to all is money. Whether worried about books or class fees, many students are aware of every dollar. With all the concern about student loans and financial aid, it’s important that students are aware of how that money gets to them; if they don’t read the fine print, that money can dwindle very quickly.

In the world outside of the college campus, there are many options to fill every possible banking need. From national banks like Wells Fargo and Bank of America to credit unions and online banks, the choices can seem overwhelming. ARC, however, like many other colleges, uses a specific bank to handle the financial aid awards that need to be delivered. That bank is HigherOne. There is three options that HigherOne offers to students receiving financial aid: a mailed check, direct deposit into an account and money deposited onto a debit card. “We want to make student life easier,” said HigherOne Communication Director Shoba Lemoine.

Many colleges have begun using similar services, raising concerns with agencies such as the U.S Public Interest Research Group.

“Currently, 12.5 percent of all federal aid recipients nationally disburse their aid money into a HigherOne OneAccount,” said Rich Williams, Higher Education

Advocate for USPIRG. “(There are) over 9,000,000 students at risk for increased educational debt, due to bank-affiliated campus debit cards.”

The risks from debit cards are similar to risks with many checking accounts.

Fees that people may not be aware of.

The HigherOne Debit Card has fees related to the type of checking account selected. The “OneAccount” has a fee for using a PIN number instead of selecting credit; using a non-HigherOne ATM causes another fee. Being aware of the fees on an account is the best way to know how to avoid such fees.

This is standard with any account.

Banks provide a fee schedule at the time of account opening or online. By reading all the fine print, a consumer can be aware of costs that can add up quickly.

Concerns that groups such as the U.S. Public Research Interest Group have about student cards are the same concerns that many people have about banks in general.

Some students don’t realize that they have the option to still receive checks or direct deposits.

“I thought we had to get the card,” said Osari Hammons, a nursing major at ARC. “I don’t like the fees.”

Like a lot of people, Hammons stated he did not read through the fee schedule at the time he opened up the account.

The advice that both Williams and Lemoine have for students is the same.

Make sure students are aware of what they are signing up for.

Daniel Romandia / romandd@imail.losrios.edu

By Jeff Gonzales

Editor-in-Chief Josh Baumbach

Managing Editor Steven Paxiao

News Editor Sergio Portela

Arts & Culture Editor Cintia Lopez

Sports Editor Jessica Maynard

Scene Editor Mayra Sanchez

Opinions Editor Jaime Carrillo

Photo Editor

Daniel Romandia

Web Editor

Carlos Guerrero

Assistant Web Editor Korbl Klimecki

Media Editor

Lance Gawthrop

Social Media Director Shelby Young

Copy Chief

Cody Alexander

Design Editor Megan Houchin

Feature Design Editor Steven Condemarin

Designer

Sarah Scott

ASBNOTEBOOK

By Jeff Gonzales gonzalj68@imail.losrios.edu The game of politics has been called a full-contact sport. It seems to be no different in student government at American River College.

For the past few weeks, observers have witnessed a certain level of discord between the Associated Student Body and Campus Life, an organization staffed by college employees who help to facilitate student government meetings.

According to ASB officials, the issue focuses

Tensions grow between ASB and Campus Life; ASB discusses possible return of Bucky the Beaver

on how information is introduced, communicated and distributed among voting members.

While ASB president Quierra Robey took to Facebook to vent some of her frustrations, Campus Life officials declined to speak publically about any perceived conflicts.

“It would be inappropriate for me to make any comments on this matter at this time,” Campus Life Senate Advisor Tanika Byrd said.

“This is simply a personality problem

between executives in ASB and Campus Life,” Robey explained during an interview with The Current.

Tension was certainly on display at the weekly ASB meeting on Sept. 27. With Robey absent due to a meeting with California Gov. Jerry Brown, ASB Vice President Omba Kipuke led the student senate meeting. The group took nearly an hour to approve an agenda and the meeting minutes from the previous week.

However, the ASB meeting on Oct. 4 moved swiftly and efficiently, a stark contrast to the previous week. This change allowed for a number of resolutions to be voted on.

A resolution to seek a state legislator to sponsor an amendment to the California Education Code was passed; this amendment would allow for community colleges across California to charge a sustainability fee to be used for green initiatives on campuses.

Showing signs of the impact made by the lack of BOG Waiver student representation fees, the student senate approved spending $5,000 to send four ARC representatives to this year’s General Assembly, significantly less than the 25 students it sent the previous year.

But it was not all tough decisions. Other discussion included the ASB Club and Event Board holding a Beaver Rally to recognize ARC athletes. There was also talk about a pleasant surprise that might be seen around campus.

The ASB Blue and Red Committee is discussing bringing the school mascot -- Bucky the Beaver -- back for the first time in 32 years.

Staff Writers

Jeff Gonzales Trevor Horn Alisha Kirby Kenneth Loafea Carla Manes Michael Pacheco Alex Panasenko Garitt Rocha Sharon Styles Olesya Sytnyk Dakota Williams

Staff Photographers Bryce Fraser Ashley King Stephanie Lee

Adviser

Tim Swanson

Photo Adviser Jill Wagner

PROUD MEMBERS OF THE CNPA & JACC

POLICY

The Current is produced by the students of Newspaper Production, J402. All opinions are signed and not necessarily endorsed by the Current staff. All letters and articles appearing in the Editorial, Opinion or Forum sections are not necessarily representative of the Current staff or American River College policy.

All articles are the property of the Current. Please go online at arcurrent. com to see the full text of criteria and guidelines for submissions. Letters must be typed and can be submitted by mail, e-mail or in person at the following addresses: The American River Current 4700 College Oak Drive Liberal Arts, Room 120 Sacramento, CA 95841 Phone: 916-484-8304 Fax: 916-484-8668 E-mail: Current@arc.losrios.edu www.ARCurrent.com

News

Page 3

Oct. 10, 2012

Changes in campus crimes from 2011 - 2012

vehicle theft decreased 38.5%

n ARC RANKS FIRST IN ACCOUNTING

American River College has ranked first in terms of passing rates for the Certified Public Accountant exam, according to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy.

alcohol violations decreased 55.5%

ARC ranked above last year’s first place University of California Berkley as well as other prestigious universities such as University of California Los Angeles, Stanford, and the University of Southern California.

Congratulations to our students and our teachers who taught related material: Rob Diamond, Joel Halle, Dieter Kiefer, Meg Pollard, Robin Reilly, Mark Steinwert and Lingling Zhang.

n BILLS SB 1052 AND 1053 SIGNED

Governor Jerry Brown signed into law SB 1052 and 1053 on Sept.

27 in front of a group of college students. The two bills, sponsored

by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, will create a website on which popular textbooks can be downloaded for free. SB 1052 legislates creation of a group of educators that will determine lowerdivision classes for which digital textbooks are to be developed.

Books will be accessible free or for a small fee. SB 1053 legislates creation of a library to host these textbooks, which will be the nation’s first.

n SAGES: STUDENT JOBS The Student Center is hiring positions for Student Development SAGES 2012-2013. The positions include functioning as guides and information facilitators between students, staff and administration within the Student Center.

For those interested, attendance of all paid training meetings is required. If you cannot make it to one or more of these meetings, note your concerns with your availability after applying.

Oct. 19 (9 a.m. – 11 a.m.)

Oct. 26 (9 a.m – 11 a.m.)

Nov. 2 (9 a.m. – 11 a.m.)

Nov. 9 (9 a.m. – 11 a.m.)

Nov. 16 (9 a.m. – 11 a.m.)

Nov. 30 (9 a.m. – 11 a.m.)

Dec. 7 (8 a.m. – noon) For more information, see the SAGES section of American River College website or contact Student Development at (916) 484-8924.

n ARC JAZZ CLINIC The ARC Music Department will be hosting a jazz clinic, featuring vibraphonist Tyler Blanton, on Oct. 18, 2012 at 3 p.m. at the Fine & Applied Arts building, room 547.

For more information, contact ARC Music Department or Dr. Dyne Eifertsen at (916) 484-8676.

n BLOOD DRIVE ARC will be hosting a blood drive Oct. 16-17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. by the campus police station.

Remember to eat before donating and bring a photo ID. Everyone who donates receives a free T-shirt.

For more information, contact the Health Center at (916) 484-8383.

burglary increased 500%

drug violations decreased 55%

Daniel Romandia / romadd@imail.losrios.edu / Sarah Scott / scottse@imail.losrios.edu

INBRIEF

Campus sees overall crime decrease ARC’s annual Clery report shows mostly good news for the safety of students and staff, but offers some warnings as well

By Lance Gawthrop gawthrl@imail.losrios.edu Sex offenses are on the rise. Statutory rape, incest and forcible sex offenses grew two hundred percent last year at American River College. Burglary inflated to 500 percent with zero judicial referrals, while aggravated assault is up two hundred percent, and robbery increased 50 percent all which have zero judicial referrals.

Fortunately arson depleted to zero transgressions, and vehicle theft is down thirty nine

percent. Also, no one got busted using their AK’s, so those were good days in 2011with zero arrests with illegal weapons. Drug law violations dropped 55 percent; however, seven out of the nine drug violations were referred to the judicial dean.

“Though petty theft is up, there is relatively a small amount of crime considering that there are about 32,000 people circulating through campus each day,” said Captain Chris Day of Los Rios Police Department. “Also, there is a brochure of safety tips found in our lobby, or tips can be found on our website.”

Theft is common on any campus and theft can be prevented. To prevent theft, never leave property unattended in any campus building or in your car, and take all valuables with you.

Also, keep your head up and don’t be afraid to make eye contact with people.

The Clery report is named after Jeanne Ann Clery, who was sexually assaulted and mur-

ELECTION 2012

dered in her dorm room in 1986, at Lehigh University Bethlehem, Pa. After the incident, Clery’s parents, Connie and Howard, discovered that over a three-year period there were 38 violent crimes that had been reported prior to Clery’s death.

As the Clerys mourned the death of their daughter they collated with Congress to enact the “Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990,” later renamed the “Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act Report,” and later summed up to what we know now as the “Clery Report.”

The law mandates that all colleges and universities must reveal public warning into the communities associated with college campuses regarding public safety.

Editor’s Note: In the spirit of fairness, all information used to inform this article has been taken directly from the candidates’ websites and/or speeches.

KNOW YOUR VOTE

WOMEN’S HEALTH

P

OBAMA

resident Barack Obama believes that women’s health care choices are personal decisions to be made by a woman and her doctor. In 2010, Obama passed the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, which states that women will not be denied coverage based on health conditions or be charged higher rates because of gender. Under Obamacare, many insurance providers are required to fully cover birth control with no co-pays or deductibles. Obama believes in a woman’s right to choose what happens to her own body. He is fighting Republican actions to remove federal funding for Planned Parenthood, one of the largest women’s health service providers. While Obama fights for women’s health rights, he continues to protect religious freedom by making religious employers, churches and houses of worship exempt from laws requiring contraception to be included in insurance plans. Obama’s plan is to make women’s health services available and affordable to women who need them.

R

ROMNEY

epublican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s view is that life begins at conception. If elected, Romney will push the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, which makes abortion during early months of pregnancy legal in the United States. This would allow states to determine their own abortion laws. In states that do vote to ban abortion, Romney plans to allow exceptions for victims of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is at risk. Romney’s running mate, Paul Ryan, does not stand behind these exceptions. Romney supports the Hyde Amendment as well, which limits the amount of federal funding that can be used to pay for abortions. He would eventually like to ban all federal funding for organizations, like Planned Parenthood, that provide women’s health services for free or at lowcost. Romney also plans to allow bosses to make the decision of whether or not to cover birth control and other health services in employees’ insurance plans. Romney’s plan centers on cutting federal funding for contraception and abortions.

By Sarah Scott scottse@imail.losrios.edu

Page 4

Oct. 10, 2012

News

Why a YouTube video sparked riots

By Jaime Carrillo carrilj8@imail.losrios.edu

“

There are those who will do anything to make us hate and fear, Thanks be to God for those Christians, Muslims, and Jews – people of every faith and people of no faith – who have the courage and wisdom to do neither.

WHITNEYBODMAN

I

t’s a question that’s been on many people’s minds.

On the eleventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens was killed along with three colleagues by a grenade launched by militants at the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi.

Why did a gang of militants strike on the U.S. embassy? One read: Anger from a YouTube trailer for a film called “Innocence of Muslims.”

The 14-minute clip features bad acting, cheaply made costumes and the Prophet Mohammad being portrayed as an oaf at best and a monster at worst.

The film’s producer is 55-year-old EgyptianAmerican Coptic Christian Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, a man who was recently convicted of financial crimes in June 2010.

Some wonder how a poorly made YouTube movie could culminate in murder.

“Historically, Muslims honor the Prophet as a model of perfect Muslim behavior,” says ARC Islamic Studies professor Keith Atwater. “They typically convey any insult to him as an insult to Islam and God himself.”

This isn’t the first time Islam being portrayed in a poor light has angered masses.

Novelist Salman Rushdie’s 1988 novel “The Satanic Verses” sparked outrage in the Arab Spring for presenting blasphemous ideas concerning Islam. The Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the spiritual leader of Iran, issued a fatwa (a judicial ruling concerning Islamic law) calling for Rushdie’s life. Rushdie was forced to live in hiding, with protection of the British government until September 1998.

In September 2005, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published 11 images depicting Islam and the Prophet Mohammad in a poor light; one such cartoon portrayed the prophet with a bomb in his turban. This sparked international conflict, with countries such as

www.youtube.com

‘Innocence of Muslims’ inspires outrage in many Muslims. But why the violent reaction?

A screen shot of the highly controversial YouTube video trailer for the movie “Innocence of Muslims” portrays the image of the Prophet Mohammad in a negative light.

Libya, Saudi Arabia and Syria withdrawing their ambassadors from Denmark. Protests occurred in just about every country and the cartoonists responsible went into hiding because of death threats.

However, many feel that the outrage has little to do with blasphemy. Rushdie himself spoke out on the events saying that the anger in the Arab Spring is nothing but “cynical manipulation.” Whitney Bodman, chair of the Texas Conference of Churches Muslim-Christian forum agrees.

“There are those who will do anything to make us hate and fear,” he stated. “Thanks be to God for those Christians, Muslims, and

California community colleges to adopt new enrollment priorities Students with good academic standing near top of priority, as voted by Board of Governors

By Sergio Portela portels@imail.losrios.edu California community college students who sustain good academic standards now have priority over students who are at or exceed 100 units. This comes after a unanimous vote by the California Community College Board of Governors to reward students who make progress towards their educational goals.

If students have intentions on graduating with an Associate’s Degree or transferring to a four-year University, it puts them near the top of priority behind Disabled Students Programs and Services, active military and veterans, former foster youths and athletes.

The regulations were voted on at San Diego Community College and will start in the spring of 2014. The colleges will inform their students in the fall of 2013, according to a press release from the California Community Colleges.

The purpose of the new regulations is to ease students out of community colleges to reach their goals. New students have been held on waitlists due to them being new and fresh out of high school.

It will now be set up so that if a new

student passes his or her assessment test and continues to maintain good grades during their tenure in community college, the student will receive help to get to his or her goals as soon as possible. Doing so would push the students still in school with 100 or more units to lower priority and on waitlists.

The 72 California Community College districts can adopt policies that would exempt students who have 100 units, like those in high-unit major and programs.

They will also adopt an appeals policy for those students affected by losing priority, which goes beyond their control.

“In the past, community colleges have been able to serve everyone, and students could accrue a large number of units or do poorly in all of their courses and still receive priority registration” said Chancellor Jack Scott from a press release. “Now that colleges have had to cut back on the courses they can offer, those students were taking up seats in classrooms and crowding out newer students focused on job training, degree attainment or transfer.

Our Student Success Task Force identified this as a major barrier and recommended these changes.”

Jews – people of every faith and people of no faith – who have the courage and wisdom to do neither.”

Bodman is correct in his statement that not all Muslims are up in arms. Pro-America protests have sprung up in Afghanistan, Syria and especially Libya, where 30,000 protestors poured into the streets to denounce the murder of Ambassador Chris Stevens and his colleagues killed in Benghazi. Protestors even stormed the headquarters of radical militia group Ansar alSharia and turned members of the group over to the Libyan government.

Sports

Oct. 10, 2012

Page 5

Volleyball duo cause spike in team’s success Photo by Stephanie Lee / lees87@imail.losrios.edu

FRESHMEN KATIE CHRISTNER AND NICOLE HARELAND ARE THE STRENGTH BEHIND THE FIFTH RANKED TEAM IN CALIFORNIA

By Jessica Maynard maynarj@imail.losrios.edu “They’re too young” or “they’re too inexperienced” are statements often associated with teams that have a lack of veteran leadership. Being young is seen as a weakness in the sports world, but for the American River College volleyball team, it may be their strength.

Behind the play of freshmen outside hitter Katie Christner, also known as “Kateraid” and middle blocker Nicole Hareland, the lady Beavers are off to a 15-3 start and are ranked No. 5 in California as of Oct. 9.

“Our goal is always to win a conference championship and to win a state championship. And I think this year, more than ever, that’s realistic and within our reach,” Head Coach Ashlie Hain said.

Born in Pittsburgh, Penn., Christner fell in love with volleyball at an early age thanks to her dad who had played growing up.

“When I was in fourth grade, he made me try out for one of those rec teams and I loved it. I’ve been playing ever since,” Christner said.

UC Davis offered Christner a full ride scholarship, but because of issues at the admissions office she was unable to accept the offer. She decided to come to ARC based on a recommendation from a former high school teammate.

Christner currently leads the team in numerous stats. She has converted on 117 of her 241 kill shots, scored 136 points and is second on the team in digs with 69.

“She’s the player other teams have to key in on. She’s really fun to watch, talented and she’s our go-to outside hitter,” Hain said.

Freshmen Katie Christner (left) and Nicole Hareland lead the team in several categories helping propel the Beavers to fifth in the state.

Christner is modest when it comes to discussing her talents, but her teammates have no problem reminding her how talented she really is.

“She’s a bad-ass,” libero Hillary Horton said. “She’s modest when it comes to her skills.”

Freshman Nicole Hareland is another reason why the team is currently ranked second in the Big 8 division. Hareland describes herself as an outgoing person who isn’t afraid to speak her mind.

“She catches other teams because she’s so fast,” Hain said. “She’s actually pretty small too. She’s only 5’9” but she jumps out of the gym so high.”

Hareland didn’t start playing volleyball until she was a freshman in high school.

Until that time, she was a competitive cheerleader but claims it doesn’t come close to comparing to volleyball.

“I had cheered for six years and it wasn’t my thing anymore,” Hareland said. “I heard about volleyball at El Camino. I talked to the coach, and he told me to come and try out, so I did and I ended up really liking it.”

Hareland may be small, but that doesn’t stop her from being tied for the lead in blocks with 16. She also has 66 kills on 138 attempts and is currently second on the team in scoring behind Christner with 86 points for the season.

Hareland admits that she gets more pumped when she has a huge block in a game rather than hitting a kill shot.

“When I get a block, it’s like a miracle,”

Hareland said.

In order for the team to accomplish their goals, they will need to play up to their maximum potential throughout the season.

This may be a difficult task because of the new faces on the team, but the girls seem prepared for the challenge physically and mentally.

“I want to go to state (championships),” said Christner.

The team is buying into the possibility of going to the state championships with hard work and dedication.

“I think we have enough talent and as long as we continue to work hard, I think winning conference and state is a realistic goal,” said Hain.

Page 6

Oct. 10, 2012

Luis Luna breaks from the pack Photo by Bryce Fraser / fraserb@imail.losrios.edu

Freshman runner for ARC cross-country team talks to The Current about his past experiences and hopes of continuing his successful run

By Kenneth Loafea loafeak@imail.losrios.edu The 2011-2012 American River College Men’s Cross-Country team was successful in every way last season winning the Big 8, Northern California and California State Championships. With all the experience returning to the cross-country team this season, it may have been a little surprising to see that the lead runner for the team would be a freshman.

The Current sat down with freshman Luis Luna to discuss his past, future and get to know this star runner a little bit more.

The Current: Where are you from?

Luis Luna: Santa Rosa, Calif.

How long have you been running?

I have been running since middle school, seventh grade to be exact.

What high school did you attend, and how was your career in high school running?

I was pretty successful. I attended Piner High School in Santa Rosa and had a pretty good career. By the summer of 2011, I was

American River College’s cross-country runner Luis Luna.

number two in the nation.

Did you have any offers after high school?

After high school, I did have a full ride to the University of Portland, but grades my freshman year in high school led me here to American River College.

Have you changed your training now that you are in college?

Oh yeah! During summer, I put in a lot more miles than I ever did in high school.

How did it feel to lead ARC in your first two races?

I had high expectations for myself coming out of high school so it felt pretty good.

How did it feel to take a wrong turn in your third race and end up in 15th place?

It’s always disappointing, but things happen, you know.

You’re only a freshman but have already made a huge impact on the team.

How does it feel?

It feels nice, but we actually don’t look at each other as freshman or sophomores. We just look at each other as a team.

How does it feel to run for head coach Rick Anderson?

I love it! He takes it serious, knows what he’s doing and fits in with everyone. He’s like the rest of the team.

What are your predictions for this season?

Hopefully, a state title for the team, and a state title for myself would be great.

What are your plans after ARC? I’d like to continue running while attending the University of Portland, like I planned.

The men’s cross-country team’s next meet is Saturday, Oct. 13 at the University of Santa Clara for the Bronco Invitational in Santa Clara, Calif.

SPORTSUPDATES MEN’S SOCCER

The team is ranked No. 1 in the state for the third week in a row. Sophomore Matt Airola’s 20.75 4-mile time leads the team. The team’s next event is the Bronco Invitational Saturday, Oct. 13 at Santa Clara University at 10:30 and 11:15 a.m.

Found a balanced offense with freshmen Matt Iwasa and Daniel Lomeli leading the way with 9 goals each. The team debuted at No. 9 in Northern California. Their next home game is Friday, Oct. 19 versus Fresno City College at 4 p.m.

FOOTBALL

WATER POLO

Their 22-game win streak came to an end against City College of San Francisco after losing 56-33. The team is currently ranked No.5 in Northern California. The team is looking to beat division rival San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton Oct. 13 at 1 p.m.

Freshmen Pedro Moraes and Brandt Takahashi have led the team’s scoring drive. The men’s water polo team is 2-1 in the Big Eight Division. Their next home game is a double-header Wednesday, Oct. 24 versus rival Santa Rosa Junior College at 5 p.m.

Daniel Romandia / romandd@imail.losrios.edu

CROSS-COUNTRY

Stephen Imbach, a sophomore attacker for the American River College water polo team, catches a pass on Friday, Sept. 21.

WOMEN’S CROSS-COUNTRY

Led by freshmen Alexa Lua and Kayla Rossie, the team is currently ranked No. 3 in Northern California after placing third in the Crystal Springs NorCal Preview Sept.

28. The team’s next event is the Mt. SAC Invitational in Walnut Creek, California Oct. 12.

Daniel Romandia / romandd@imail.losrios.edu

Freshman forward Ceci Velazquez up against a defender from Modesto Junior College.

GOLF

VOLLEYBALL

The women are currently ranked No. 7 in the Big Eight Division. They’re 60 points behind first place Sacramento City College.

The team looks to improve their standings Thursday Oct. 11 in the Shuttertown Classic at Bing Maloney Golf Course at 12 p.m.

Took first place in the Big Eight Division after beating division rival Sierra College Oct. 5 in three straight sets. As of Sept. 24 the team is ranked No. 8 in the state. The team’s next home match is Friday, Oct. 12 versus Diablo Valley College at 6:30 p.m.

SOCCER

WATER POLO

Alexis Wallace leads the team in goals (7) and assists (3). The ladies are currently ranked No. 7 in Northern California and No. 3 in the Big Eight Division. The team’s next home game is Friday, Oct. 19 versus Diablo College at 3:30 p.m.

The women’s water polo team is currently 4-0 in the Big Eight Division. Freshmen Mackenzie Kaplan currently leads the team in steals (19) and assists (4). The ladies next home game is a double header versus Diablo Valley College at 3:30 p.m.

Sports

Out of Bounds Replacement referee controversy may not define rest of 2012 season

By Steven Paxiao paxiaos@imail.losrios.edu It seems like an eternity since we all had to watch a bunch of low-level college referees check off another box on their bucket list.

But after just two weeks, fans are certainly happy to be back to the normal.

This may come as a shocker to some, but there is no redoing of the first few weeks of the season. Just ask the Green Bay Packers. Even though it was only three weeks of circus calls by the replacement officials, the entire 2012 season will be remembered as the year of the ref.

What is the NFL going to think if at the end of the season the Packers end up one game out of the playoffs, or if Arizona beats out San Francisco by a game for the NFC West title? What will fans think about the integrity of this season?

Will it even matter who wins or loses from here out?

Some fans may say that it doesn’t, but I think that a 16 game season means a lot more than a few blown calls over the course of the beginning of the season. Don’t take this out of context, because I certainly feel that what happened during the replacement ref era will somehow play a part in the outcome of this season, but I also think that what happens during the rest of the season will undoubtedly overtake most of what happened.

The Packers may bring the week three Monday Night controversy back to the table if they don’t make the playoffs, but if they put themselves in that situation it’s not going to be because of that one play.

It’s going to be because they let the Seahawks sack Aaron Rodgers eight times in the first half of that game, or simply because they have a new offensive coordinator that can’t figure out how to run that high power offense.

Regardless if whether or not fans are frenzied, the season will play on. Looking back on the first few weeks of the season I’m positive some may not care about the rest, but a true football fan will look beyond the few uncontrollable aspects and enjoy cheering on their favorite teams.

Everyone must remember what happened this season and never take referees for granted. They may look like a bunch of Foot Locker employees running around out there, but after witnessing what it was like for the first three weeks, players will think twice before trying to dispute a pass interference call now.

Sports

Oct. 10, 2012

Page 7

Bryce Fraser / fraserb@imail.losrios.edu

Losses: Team’s 2-year winning streak ends CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

before the biggest regular season game in school history.

“It’s right in our own backyard,” Haflich said. “I told the rest of the guys, ‘it could have been any one of you guys.’”

Haflich remains adamant the shooting was not a distraction for his team in preparation against No. 1 state ranked City College of San Francisco Sept.

29—just six days after the shooting occurred.

“None of that event really spilled over into our world of practice and game preparation, I didn’t feel like it was a distraction,” Haflich said.

Byrd, in a collective decision, according to Haflich, suited up and played.

He recorded five tackles and forced and recovered a fumble in the loss.

“It’s always good to have him around,” Haflich said.

“It was great for him to play and great for the team to have him play. Rozale is a real leader on this team emotionally.

He’s not a super outspoken guy, but a great leader. It’s great for him to have that outlet.”

The Loss Haflich sat on the sideline after the game when his daughter Whitney came over sat next to him and gave her dad a hug.

As the head coach for the last six seasons, the imposing leader of the Beavers doesn’t deal with losses very often.

And nearly two calendar years since the last one against Sierra College on Oct. 2, 2010, a hug from a daughter can put it all into perspective.

The loss, 52-33, to the defending state and national champs ended a nationbest 22-game win streak for ARC. The longest streak in major college football was 47 games by Oklahoma in the 1950s and the University of Mount Union Ohio had a 55-game win streak in the early 2000s. Sierra College won 37 consecutive games from 2002-05.

Since Haflich took over, the Beavers are 40-16, including a 24-2 record since

“Our team goal is still the same,” Haflich said. ”We would love to win the Valley Conference. It’s a tough test versus five very good programs. We have to play well and limit mistakes. We won’t win a game with five turnovers.”

Players, on the other hand, were not as politically correct about the want at a second shot at the Rams, after CCSF players refused to come to midfield after the game and shake hands with ARC players, which is the norm in college football.

“We just need to win our games,” sophomore safety Scott Patalano said.

“And most likely they will win all of theirs and we will see them in the championship and get our revenge on them.”

The Beavers travel to Stockton to play San Joaquin Delta College (X-1) on Oct. 13 in the first Valley Conference game for ARC after moving up from the Mid-Empire after last season.

Above: Jerry Haflich expresses his grievances to a referee at American River College during the losing game to San Francisco City College on Sept. 29. Below: A map of where the fatal shooting took place; the Byrd residence in south Sacramento. www.maps.google.com

2010.

Before the game, Haflich said the game was the biggest in program history saying it was a “pecking order game for us” and “it will tell us where we are at.”

Other than the ending of the streak, the Beavers are virtually where they were before the game started.

The loss was a non-conference game to the top team in the nation. In JCFootball.com’s national rankings, the Beavers dropped one spot to No. 13 in the loss.

On Rivals.com top-30 rankings, CCSF moved up three spots to No. 3 with the win over the Beavers.

ARC still has a shot at a postseason berth. The most important thing to Haflich and the Beavers is to win the conference and get a shot at the state title.

If the Beavers claim the Valley Conference title and San Francisco wins the NorCal title, the two teams would meet in a rematch in the state title game in December.

Women’s cross-country shapes up

By Dakota Williams willidc@imail.losrios.edu The American River College women’s cross-country team took sole possession of the No. 3 ranking in the state, which they had previously shared with Modesto Junior College, after taking third at the NorCal Preview at Crystal Springs on Sept. 28.

“We’re ranked third in NorCal now after that meet, we’re right behind Hartnell (College),” Head Coach Jeanette Allred-Powless said.

The team consists of 10 freshmen and two sophomores. The college level experience on the team may be low, but their running makes up for it. Alexa Lua and Kayla Rossi led the team with fourth and 10th place finishes at Crystal Springs.

Although Rossi was a bit under the weather during the Crystal Springs meet, she still managed to stay in the

top ten which is a huge testament to her willpower as a runner. “I had a cold, I was having trouble breathing,” Rossi said.

Lua led the team with a six-minute, 24-second average mile time. When asked about how she did at the meet, she said, “I placed fourth.” The previous meet, the Lou Vasquez Invitational she placed fourth as well. High place finishes like that will keep ARC near the top of the NorCal standings.

In addition to Lua and Rossi, the rest of the team placed all across the board. From Zoe Worobel at 18th, Natalie Berania at 25th and finishes near the back of the pack. The way teams are scored, however, it’s based off the first five finishes.

“We’re still out of shape and have a lot of room to improve,” AllredPowless said.

The next match is the Mt. Sac Invitational on Oct. 12 in Walnut, Calif.

placerrunning.wordpress.com

Photo courtesy of Jeanette Allred-Powless

Sophomore Monica Madavi running at the last Big Eight Conference Championship.

Alexa Lua leads Beavers to third place in recent tournament, bosting team’s determination

Alexa Lua (left) of the ARC cross-country team in a meet during her high school years.

Page 8

Feature

Oct. 10, 2012

DESCENDENTS

Lead singer Milo Aukerman fills The Current in on what the band has been up to

By Alisha Kirby

kirbyam@imail.losrios.edu

T

he Descendents helped shape the west coast punk scene in the 1980s. They’re hailed as pioneers in molding what is now considered pop-punk, skate punk and melodic hardcore by critics including Steven Blush, author of “American Hardcore: A Tribal History” and AllMusic’s Ned Raggett, who described the band’s music as “punk rock that wears both its adolescence and brains on its sleeve.”

Their legacy has surpassed simply helping to put Southern California’s punk scene on the map. The band’s blistering quick, melodic guitar work and straightforward, in-your-face lyricism continues to act as a blueprint for artists like NOFX and Green Day. In an interview with Spin, Tom DeLonge of Blink-182 said the Descendents had the biggest influence on his songwriting.

The Current got ahold of vocalist Milo Aukerman for an email interview during the band’s stint on this year’s Riot Fest after hearing that the band was writing their first album in eight years.

The Current: It’s been eight years since your last release. What made you guys decide to start writing again?

Photo courtesy of Chapman Baehler

the happy event together by playing some shows.

put together the finished songs, trading files back and forth.

Secondly, our kids are now of the age that they became curious about the band, asking “When can we see you play, Daddy?” I can say for me, that request had a lot of impact. Playing with the band is so fun, and having my kids see that means the world to me. So yes, we will be recording at some point.

Do you have any plans to tour California soon?

Is there an approximate release date you’re shooting for?

We don’t have a timetable for recording. It’ll get done maybe over the next year or two. We all have other jobs so we’re trying to fit in the recording during our spare time. It may take a while, but the idea is to slowly

We’re looking into coming out there next spring; stay tuned.

Have you noticed any changes in your demographic over the years?

We’ve always had a lot of younger kids at our shows, but the cool thing now is to also see the older folks there. Sometimes they’re the parents of the kids, so we get the whole generational thing, which is extra cool!

Milo Goes to College I Don’t Want to Grow Up

kirbyam@imail.losrios.edu

By Alisha Kirby

BEST OF THE BEST

Milo Aukerman: It was a combination of factors. One, Bill (Stevenson, drummer) had just recovered from having a brain tumor the size of a grapefruit removed. He had almost died, but more importantly felt like a million bucks after the surgery, and everybody was feeling a sense of euphoria over that. Our thought process was, let’s keep celebrating

Left to right: Milo Aukerman, Stephen Egerton, Bill Stevenson and Karl Alvarez posing shortly after their first studio album “Milo Goes to College” in 1982.

You hold a doctorate in biochemistry, so you’ve obviously been through your fair share of schooling. What advice would you give college students that you wish someone gave you?

Your degree does not guarantee you anything; at best it gives you license to further prove yourself through hard work. I got a Ph.D, but it took an additional eight years doing postdoctoral research before I landed a permanent position. It was a long road, but I’m glad I stuck it out. Students have to be willing to sacrifice to get where they want; nobody’s going to just hand you a job because of a piece of paper. That’s just reality.

To read more of the exculsive interview with lead Milo Aukerman visit ARCurrent.com

ALL

Everything Sucks Released 1996 Epitaph Records

Released 1982 New Alliance Records

Released 1985 New Alliance Records

Released 1987 SST Records

The band’s debut album introduced their own brand of aggressive, hardcore melodic punk with Milo Aukerman on lead vocals. The caricature on the cover, illustrated

by Jeff Atkinson, depicts Milo as the class nerd. It was accepted well by critics, making Spin’s “50 Most Essential Punk Records” list. Shortly after the album was released, Milo did in fact head off to college.

Their sophomore album marked the end of a brief hiatus when Milo came back from college and drummer Bill Stevenson returned from his time touring with Black Flag, another Southern California punk band. The album had more of a pop feel to it and more melodic than their debut, but the band’s heavy elements are still very present.

“All” was a concept conjured up

by Stevenson and his friend Pat McCuistion seven years prior to the album’s release. The idea was that you shouldn’t “settle for some, [but] to always go for All,” Stevenson said. It was “never being satisfied and just wallowing in your own sameness.” This was the band’s most lyrically mature album to date.

The Descendents went on hiatus after the release of “All” so that Milo could pursue his career in biochemistry and the band could tour under the band name All. However, the band couldn’t quite shake the feeling of wanting to record again, and what they created was their first album to hit the Billboard 200 charts.

Top Three Songs:

Top Three Songs:

Top Three Songs:

Top Three Songs:

“Catalina” “Hope” “Bikeage”

“GCF” “Silly Girl” “Good Good Things”

“Coolidge” “Pep Talk” “Clean Sheets”

“I’m the One” “Rotting Out” “Thank You”

the

Arts & Culture

Oct. 10, 2012

Page 9 Stephanie Lee / lees87@imail.losrios.edu

Photo by Stephanie Lee / lees87@imail.losrios.edu

Stephanie Lee / lees87@imail.losrios.edu

Above: DJ’s Grill & Deli’s Monterey Burger was well worth the price. Top Right: The Chicken Cesar Salad leaves you satisfied. Bottom Right: The interior of DJ’s Grill & Deli.

DJ’s Grill and Deli satisfies Spice of life key in restaurant featuring burgers, sandwiches and smoothies; whatever you may be looking for

By Carla Manes reisec@imail.losrios.edu You and your friends are trying to agree on where to go out to eat, but some of you want burgers, others a deli sandwich and the rest insist on salad. At the new DJ’s Grill and Deli, there’s something to satisfy everybody’s cravings with more than 30 choices.

DJ’s features signature burgers, sandwiches, salads, melts and hot dogs, as well as fries that come with bacon-cheddar, garlicparmesan or chili-cheese. These are just a few of their many menu items.

On a recent visit, this reporter ordered the Monterey Burger combo meal and a chicken Caesar salad. Broiled chicken breast can be added to any salad for a $2 charge.

The salad was crispy and fresh. The

“

If variety is what you’re looking for, DJ’s Grill and Deli is worth your time. chicken is grilled to order on request. The Monterey Burger was excellent, charbroiled and smothered with marinated mushrooms, topped with melted Monterey cheese, sliced tomato, red onion and lettuce on a toasted bun.

If you’re not into meat, you should try DJ’s Californian deli sandwich with avo-

cado, mushrooms, Monterey and cheddar cheeses, mayonnaise, sprouts and tomatoes on whole wheat bread. Or try the Garden Burger – they say it’s one of their more popular items.

The décor is clean and simple. The windows are immaculate and give the dinning area a spacious feel. There are three televisions, strategically mounted, so that customers may view different events at the same time. DJ’s also offers free Wi-Fi at their restaurant.

If you’re into smoothies, DJ’s features a variety of flavors. They have Smoothie Happy Hour Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for $2.99. Ice cream, frozen yogurt and iced mochas are also on

the menu.

If variety is what you’re looking for, DJ’s Grill and Deli is worth your time.

DJ’S GRILL & DELI 4313 MARCONI AVE SACRAMENTO, CALIF. MEAL FOR 1: $$$

«««««

Page 10

Arts & Culture

Oct. 10, 2012

Bryce Fraser / fraserb@imail.losrios.edu

Que ´ Carlos?

?

Don’t call me Hispanic, amigo

By Carlos Guerrero guerrecg@imail.losrios.edu

The cast of “Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street” practicing a violent scene at a rehearsal on Sept. 21.

Todd: Less gore, more comedy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

that we have an orchestra is a big deal. A lot of places you go, you don’t get the orchestra.”

Andrew Leggett, who plays Judge Turpin’s right-hand Beadle Bamford, described the play as a collaborative production among all of the fine arts departments.

“There’s a high level of musicianship on campus and in the orchestra,” he says, “there are flats and sharps all over the place, time signatures change every measure and all kinds of weird stuff.”

It’s that level of complexity that contributed to “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” winning both the Tony

Award for Best Musical (1979) and Olivier Award for Best New Musical (1980), as well as 16 more awards including costume design and individual performances in 1979 alone.

Revenge, love and obsession have always been the play’s central themes, and while that hasn’t changed, all opinions can’t be based on the 2007 film adaptation. “Tim Burton took all the humor out of it,” Hidden-Wise says. “It’s actually pretty funny.

It’s dark humor. It’s not like ‘comedy,’ but it’s meant to be uneasy in that you find parts of it funny.

It’s more morbid than it is gory.”

While the performance will be short on fake cornstarch blood,

it’s shaping up to be an impressive sight. “A lot of [the set] is being built from scratch by AR students and members of the community,” says Barnie Warrick, who will play Pirelli, a rival barber.

The majority of the set is one 10x10 foot four-sided unit, not including the attached staircase that rotates to show four different scenes. An additional scene was built on top as the barbershop where Todd will commit the murders, and from which bodies will slide down and into a separate scene on the ground layer of the set.

“It’s amazing, all the technical aspects to this show, and how much effort and man hours and

testing - they’re building the [barber’s] chair from scratch,” Warrick says. The barber chair where the murders take place will spring back and shoot the victims down into the main house unit.

Now the stage is littered with confetti colored tape that signals all of the positions the main centerpiece will be placed during the show, while handheld drills and Queen’s “We Will Rock You” fills the air. On opening night, however, the lights will dim and this same stage will become 19th century London. “It’s a great show, a lot of work is being put into it, and it’s one of the biggest shows ARC has put together,” HiddenWise says, “It’ll be wonderful.”

LRCCD professor selected as Sacramento’s poet laureate Sac City College’s Jeff Knorr seeks to bring beauty of poetry to schools

By Malissa Rogers rogersmn@imail.losrios.edu The first time it happened, he was only five-years-old. He noticed a duck as it flew in the distance and watched its wings cup the air beneath them. Time slowed down and he became inspired by the elegance of nature as the duck landed in the lake. His first lyrical moment had happened, something he wouldn’t realize until years later.

“The lyrical moment is the trigger for a poem. It’s real life that happens and you have this lift,” Jeff Knorr, an English literature professor at Sacramento City College said.

“Poetry is capturing reality in mystery; the lyrical moment is poetry in real life.”

The Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission has selected Knorr as Sacramento’s new poet laureate, a position he will hold for the next two years. He is the second poet laureate from the Los Rios Community College District; Bob Stanley, an English and creative writing professor at SCC, was selected in 2010. As poet laureate, Knorr is responsible for enriching the community and becoming an advocate for the literary arts through public

events and outreach.

However, Knorr did not always want to be a poet. After his advisor suggested he take a break from his rigorous biology classes, Knorr decided to study abroad in London, England. He has attributed his love for poetry to a Renaissance poetry class he took there while studying in London and the book “This Branch Will Not Break” by James Wright.

“When I read that book, it was over. I wanted to do what he did. I wanted to write like that,” Knorr said. “It clicked… Reading the poetry got me pretty interested.”

Knorr graduated with his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from California State University, Chico. He also taught at Butte Community College after graduating. It was after teaching an English class that he decided to pursue a career in teaching.

“My dad asked me, ‘Can you just be a writer and support yourself?’ I looked into it and realized I couldn’t. I needed a career,” Knorr said. “Teaching wasn’t far off radar, my mother was a teacher, so it made sense to me.”

Knorr’s future goals as poet laureate include reaching out to elementary schools and bringing writers into fourth through sixth grade classes to teach them about the importance of poetry. Unfortunately, according to Knorr, many teachers are unable to focus on poetry due to budget cuts, so he has pledged to help bring poetry to life in school classrooms.

Knorr is the author of three collections of

Photo courtesy of Jeff Knorr

What do César Chavez, John Leguizamo and Bumblebee Man from The Simpsons have in common? You guessed it: they are all Latino, Hispanic or… one of those.

Other options include Latino American, Mexican-American or the less popular and kind of offensive “brown people.” All the names are about as interchangeable as different taco meats. Essentially they all serve their initial purpose, but people have religious fervor when it comes to what they like.

So what do you call us?

Originally, Hispanic was a term used to describe people of countries under the Old Spanish Empire and according to the U.S. census it first appeared on there in 1980.

Latino arrived on the scene in 1997 when it was adopted by the government (and a burgeoning stand-up by the name of George Lopez), then added to the 2000 census. The term specifically refers to people living here in the U.S. but of Latin American nationality.

The two terms are pretty much the same; you just have to read the fine print to notice a difference. It doesn’t matter if you’re Venezuela, El Salvadorian or Springfieldian, the government can’t wait to put us all in the same category – the same government that probably would have arrested you in the 70s for having too ethnic of a mustache.

While they are both generally acceptable, some Mexican-Americans tend to gravitate towards one or the other. While I am not the biggest fan of how the government defines people, I also favor one.

Latino just seems like a term that came from the community as opposed to Hispanic, a term endorsed by the government.

At Casa de Carlos, everyone right on down to the non-English speaking grandma likes the term Latino. We like the sound of the word and everything that comes with it. There is possibly a bias with the word Hispanic because it’s so close to the Spaniards, our close rivals; the taller, whiter, lispyer Latino people.

When I hear Latino, I see salsa, loud relatives and the movies of Edward James Olmos. When I hear Hispanic, I see Archie Bunker portraying an old white government official. The choice is clear to me.

Sacramento City College’s Jeff Knorr, Sacramento’s new poet laureate.

poetry: “The Third Body,” “Standing Up to the Day” and “Keeper.” He was also the 2008 recipient of the Ray Bradbury Award in Poetry and finished third in the James Hurst Prize from the North American Review.

“Poets are the people that confront moral, political and ethical moments of our time,” Knorr said. “And I plan to help curate the legacy of poetry that’s already present and keep poetry alive in our city.”

Arts & Culture

Oct. 10, 2012

INOURHEADS The Current’s Jaime Carrillo shares the wide variety of what is in his head carrilj8@imail.losrios.edu

BOOK

Page 11

‘Resident Evil 6’ disappoints players Latest entry in survival-horror game leaves gamers unsatisfied like a zombie with no brains

“That is All” by John Hodgman – Daily Show resident expert wrote his third satirical almanac to coincide with the “apocalypse” on Dec. 21, 2012. Very rarely does a book ever make me blurt out laughing. I’ve blurted out a few times waiting for class and garnered some stares. Thanks for nothing, Hodgman.

By Garitt Rocha rochag@imail.losrios.edu

quality. While this may be one of the longest titles in the series, partaking in 40 hours of mind-numbing redundancy does not make a good game.

The only nightmare RE6 provides is the one created by the knowledge that this is a main-entry title. The only thing to fear in RE6 is RE6 itself.

Photo byXXXX/ The Current

“New Super Mario Bros. 2” – It’s the same old precocious plumber you love, only the focal point of this game is grabbing as much gold coins as you can. Sign of the times?

I wouldn’t read into it. I just hope the downloadable content Nintendo releases soon allows me to play as Wario, the man who should star in a game that focuses on greed.

MOVIE “Jim Gaffigan: Mr. Universe”

– The man that tore Hot Pockets a new one is back, followed in the steps of Louis C.K. and released an hour standup special online for the bargain of five dollars on his website (or stream free on Netflix). His sperm whale chunk may be a new classic.

MUSIC Phil Collins: “No Jacket Required” – If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What’s the opposite of hardcore?” ponder no more. The songs on Phil Collins’s 1986 hit album make Barry Manilow sound like the Dead Kennedys, but I defy you not to fall in love with at least half the songs offered. “Don’t Lose My Number” is an excellent song to do cardio to, if you do that sort of thing.

««««« RATED: MATURE BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, NUDITY, STRONG LANGUAGE AND SUGGESTIVE THEMES

Photo courtesy of Game Informer

“30 Rock” – Hands down the funniest sitcom on TV right now.

If you don’t show up for the constant self-abasing satire aimed at the sinking ship that is NBC, show up later this season for Bryan Cranston playing the role of “Ron,” the often-mentioned lover of Kenneth the Page’s mother.

Surely, it will be more explosive than the summer finale of “Breaking Bad”.

GAME

Photo courtesy of Capcom

TELEVISION

“Resident Evil 6” has arrived to a crowd of hungry gamers after promising to be a banquet of action and horror, but this game will leave those who play unsatisfied shortly after starting and have them feeling zombified.

“Resident Evil 6” takes place four years after the last “Resident Evil,” with a brand new enemy known as Neo-Umbrella attempting to wage war against the world with zombies and mutants in memory of the Umbrella Corp. from past RE games.

If that sounds convoluted to anyone, it is. The story is a melodramatic, ridiculous cliché-fest that will leave most groaning as it is delivered from poor-to-mediocre voice acting.

But the story isn’t the reason most will play RE6; it’s the gameplay. Unfortunately, it is almost as disjointed and poorly delivered as the story. The controls are unruly and most of the game’s life-saving mechanics are never spelled out to players, leaving them to die often for unpredictable and profoundly frustrating reasons. RE6 is also poorly paced, frequently jumping from action to mind-numbing tedium and back again. Furthermore, the game is incredibly linear, often leaving next to no direction to go besides straight ahead.

RE6 is not all pain and misery. Pockets of fun can be found in between the frustrating, unbalanced combat sequences, but those moments only serve to punctuate the bulk of the game. Co-op also makes the game a little more bearable, but in the end it is just a matter of “misery loves company.”

One of the very few positive things about this game is that the graphics look great.

The set pieces are large and interesting and most of the characters are worthy of being in highdefinition. That being said, the rest of the environments are bland and feel completely lacking in personality.

All in all, nothing is particularly broken about RE6, but almost nothing about it is of

Page 12

Top five fast snacks Photo by Stephanie Lee / lees87@imail.losrios.edu

ARC nutrition professor shares what she considers the best options in the oncampus vending machines

By Michael Pacheco pachecmf@imail.losrios.edu With many students coming to school early in the morning and late at night, many of our campus’s food options aren’t available. The main alternative food source are the vending machines that dot the campus, but some of the choices are not really the best ones to available.

Still, there are always healthier options available, even when it comes to packaged snack foods. With valuable insight from American River College nutrition professor Irene Roltsch, here are the top five food choices you can make from a vending machine.

Pretzels, although made with refined grain and salt, are a good source of carbohydrates, which provide more lasting energy over sugars.

Granola bars are made of whole grain oats, and nuts, which is a good source of carbohydrates and fiber, with only a slight amount of added sugar.

Trail mixes have some form of nuts and usually raisins, which amounts to a happy mix of fats, carbohydrates and fiber, at the expense of some added sugar often in some form of chocolate.

Beef jerky may be packed with salt, but also contains more protein per serving than any other snack option, that is, until

CAMPUS

PULSE

What television show are you looking forward to watching the most?

“‘Sons of Anarchy’ because it teaches a lot more about politics and about surviving in the life and what everybody goes through.”

-Devon Duncan

Business

“‘Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta’. I like to see that rich people have problems too.”

-Charlesetta Hughes Students who are taking night classes have vending machines like these machines by Davies Hall to fill their empty stomachs after all the cafés have closed for the night.

the vending machines start dispensing raw spinach.

Raisins are made of real fruit, meaning that the sugars present in them are natural.

Less processed foods are always a better choice over ones that are more processed.

“They are not all perfect,” says Roltsch, “though compared to the other choices,

those are my top five.”

The goal is to consume foods that give more lasting energy, and are the least processed with added salts and sugar. This generally means foods that contain more whole grains and complex carbohydrates.

Hopefully you will make the right choice next time you’re pressed for time and cash.

Ready for the Zombie Apocalypse?

“Probably ‘American Idol’.

I really like the concept of it. It’s some small-town people becoming huge celebrities.”

General Education

“‘Breaking Bad’.

Mostly because everyone in my house watches it, so it’s like a family thing.”

-Marlana Glassna

Certificate

By Mayra Sanchez

“‘Grey’s Anatomy’ because it is a wonderful medical drama.”

sanchem25@imail.losrios.edu we raise will help LLS and help many people locally. That’s important to us.”

Everyone is invited to participate. “This event is for all types of people – from the elite runner who just wants to have fun to the guy who’s been on the couch and wants to try a 5k but doesn’t want to put too much pressure on himself,” said Pine. “But it’s also for the non-runner who just really likes zombies and loves to dress up!

Who doesn’t like to dress up at Halloween?”

If you dare to be a zombie, there will be makeup artists on site to help you play if you can’t seem to match your lipstick with the blood dripping down

Early Childhood Education

-Julia Norman

Sacramento Zombie Run creates a dawn of the dead to test runners’ survival skills and benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society You might think you’d know what to do if a mob of flesh eating zombies were attacking your town, but how can you really be sure? It’s finally time to test your survival skills. Sign up for the Sacramento Zombie 5k Run today and play the part of either a civilian or a mindless zombie.

Not only will you be saving your brain from being someone’s dinner, but you will also be benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. “With the Leukemia & Lymphoma (Society) as the beneficiary, we are giving back to the local community and raising funds for blood cancer research,” Amy Pine, spokesperson for the Zombie Run, said via email. “The money

Scene

Oct. 10, 2012

your neck.

Runners will start off with 3 flags as “lives,” and the goal is to make it to the safety zone with at least one of your flags still intact. Sound easy enough?

We shall see – if all three of your flags are pulled, then you too become a zombie and the vicious cycle continues.

At the end of the race, there will be a big party filled with food trucks and vendors, so it’s advised to bring cash preferably not covered in blood.

“We can’t believe how many people want to be a part of this event and join in on the fun and mayhem. It’s truly going to be a zombie apocalypse!” said Pine.

If blood and brains don’t scare you, then mark your calendars for Oct. 27 at Miller Park for 8 a.m. sharp. There is an entry fee, ranging from $5 as a spectator to $40 as a runner, which includes a beer, a t-shirt, a medal and access to the after party. Be warned this is no regular race; participants will be going all out.

ZOMBIE RUN Oct. 27, 8 a.m.

Miller Park $5 spectator fee; $40 runner fee www.sacramentozombierun.com

-Ashley Lokke

Music

“Probably the ‘CSI’ series. Typically it has some problem solving in it, but my wife likes ‘Hawaii 5-0’ because it is a remake of an old show.”

-David Redfield

Associated Vice President of construction and learning resources

Scene

Page 13

Oct. 10, 2012 Bryce Fraser / fraserb@imail.lsorios.edu

Photo courtesy of Josh Clemens

On the XO How girly is too girly?

Above: Bob Allegre, the late Vice President for Administrative Services of ARC. Right: The bell system, which is in the Boettcher library, is a memorial for the passing of Bob Allegre.

By Mayra Sanchez sanchezm25@imail.losrios.edu

One of many speakers that sits atop of the roof of the library that projects the hourly bell chimes.

BELLS: sounds give ARC an ‘inviting feel’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 his death such as the Instructional Technology Center, the Learning Resource Center and, perhaps most notably, the library and the theatre. He is remembered for his love of frogs and for being a watchful guardian of the college’s

pocketbook.

A plaza is currently being constructed outside the theatre as a memorial to Allegre. On Oct. 12, the bells will begin to ring again at 4 p.m.

“Now, the carillons have been reinstalled and as a result, they

will be activated Oct. 12 at 4 o’clock to coincide with the Bob Allegre Memorial Project,” said Smedley, citing Allegre’s instrumentality in getting the carillons system and chimes. “So that’s in remembrance of him.”

The single sounding on Sept.

21 was a test of the system, ensuring that they still functioned for the memorial. Smedley hopes that the regular soundings of the bells will “(give) the college a much more open and inviting feel.”

TAKETHISCLASS PLANTIDENTIFICATION Bryce Fraser / fraserb@imail.losrios.edu

By Olesya Sytnyk sytnyko@imail.losrios.edu HORT 305 helps students become familiar with the oftenstrange science in the botanical world. The students of this class learn about growth habits, culturally sustainable methods and uses of ornamental woody and herbaceous plants in the California landscape. The class covers plants that are in season for the semester in which the class occurs, mostly those that grow in the landscapes and gardens across the Sacramento region.

Students learn how to recognize plants, their individual characteristics and the diseases they can be exposed to. Students work in nurseries to plant and examine different plants, creating landscaping designs and study how plants react to their environments.

There are often trips to different areas of Sacramento such as Carmichael Park, Sacramento Suburban Water District and even cemeteries, where the students can look at plants, collect their own samples to study them and make their own reference collections known as herbariums.

Deborah Flower, the instructor for Horticulture 305, teaches students about the differences in the foundations of trees in Carmichael Park.

“I learned a lot that didn’t know before.

For example, now I know all the plants in my grandma’s backyard and know she has a garlic plant back there that’s edible.”

JOSHUATHOMAS student

“It’s a lot of work. It’s a lot of time at home, but I think it’s super important even for just home owners because if they don’t know their plants, they don’t know what they are dealing with.”

DEBORAHFLOWER professor

Hello, my name is Mayra, and I am not a “girl’s girl.”

It’s a decision I made long ago when I was repeatedly denied access to any of my brother’s hangouts. I spent most of my formative years trying to compete with the boys. From playing soccer to selling candy, I was constantly trying to prove myself.

Eventually, after the wounds healed, I realized I didn’t need the approval of my brothers. For one, I was a way better soccer player, but there were also bigger issues at hand and that my struggle for female independence would not end on the playground but carry on well into my adulthood.

My parents played a big role in the gender separation. My brothers were patted on the back for being rough and tough. I, however, was held to a much higher standard. We are taught at an early age that young girls are meant to be pretty and polished but I’ve always felt strongly that boys and girls should occupy a happy medium, getting rid of any stereotype.

Yes, I know that in the real world this may be far from reality, but I like to believe that I too am breaking away from this stereotype. I have no desire to be a modern housewife and have sanitized floors but rather a successful career with a corner office removing myself from any situations where I would need a man to take care of me. Just like Chaka Kahn once crooned, “I’m every woman, it’s all in me.”

Women are acting more like men and doing it with a smile and heels on. Many may see it as unconventional, but women have been fighting to break away from any gender stereotypes since the ‘20s and, therefore, I feel now more than ever that women should reject any idea of what a girl should be and occupy a happy gender medium. But more importantly, do what you want, even if it deviates from society’s standard for what a girl should be.

I feel proud of my decision I made long ago and am hopeful that there will come a time that being a woman will no longer seen as a possible set back but as a badge of honor.

Page 14

Opinion

Oct. 10, 2012

Photo by Bryce Fraser / fraserb@imail.losrios.edu

HEADTOHEAD WHICH GAMING CONSOLE IS BETTER?

PLAYSTATION 3

XBOX 360

By Josh Baumbach baumbaj@imail.losrios.edu

W

hen the Sony PlayStation 3 was released in November 2006, there was much skepticism surrounding it. Following a horrendous E3 presentation in which they announced an outrageous price ($499 for the smallest hard drive model) and then told the consumer that this was a reason to get a second job, the PS3 wasn’t exactly gaining positive press at the time of release. A subpar launch lineup (Ridge Racer anyone?), shaky PlayStation Network and a controller missing the rumble feature essentially told PlayStation fans to go buy the cheaper, online-focused Xbox 360.

However, while the 360 might have launched as the better console, the PS3 is miles ahead of it today.

In September 2009, Sony redesigned the PS3 into a “slim” model, lowered the price to $299 and went on a fierce marketing campaign. This was the time I bought my PS3. I was holding out for Sony to lower the price, and I was glad I waited (curiously enough, I got a 360 a year later from a friend for $50). Aside from it being the more powerful system, I was glad to find out that I could just plug in and play. The online service was free, the wireless adapter was built-in and it also included one of the best Blu-ray players on the market. All of these features are still included today, but it was only two years ago that Xbox included the free Wi-Fi adapter. The 360 picked the wrong horse in the HD race, so it’s stuck with an HD-DVD drive; and its online service costs $60 a year, whereas the PSN is the same quality, but free.

Some Xbox gamers will argue how Xbox Live is better because they think it’s more secure. The only way the PSN hack affected anyone was that it was down for a month.

No one had his or her identity stolen. I didn’t mind, because I got two free games for my trouble.

With all that said, the main reason I wanted a PS3 in the first place was for the exclusive games. Sony owns more developers than 360 and their first-party releases are top-shelf quality, known for the best stories and high production values. Uncharted plays like an action movie, God of War is a violent mythology-laced slasher, LittleBigPlanet is a unique platformer in which you can create your own levels and there are many other innovative exclusive titles.

Xbox has few exclusive games and even fewer are worth playing. In fact, the only series worth having a 360 for is Gears of War, because Halo is an overrated piece of monotony.

It is necessary for there to be competition to spur innovation, but the clear choice for the true gamer is the PS3.

And in 10 years, as the last Xbox 360’s are getting their red rings of death, my happy butt will still be playing my perfectly working PS3.

WHO WON?

By Dakota Williams willidc@imail.losrios.edu

A

s a proud owner of both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, I’ve seen them go through a lot over the years. They’ve angered me beyond belief, and at the same time made me extremely happy to have made the purchase. Like any parent of multiple children, like it or not, you have a favorite. You have the perfect child that gets good grades and stays out of trouble, and the kid with some potential that didn’t quite make it.

The PS3’s controller, the DualShock 3, has several things that just rub me the wrong way when I’m trying to play my games. My hands aren’t that big, but they still are way too big for the PS3’s small design. Obviously, the majority of people playing games are males who have hands around my size, so this is probably a problem for most gamers. On the other hand, the Xbox 360 learned from their mistakes with the original giant controller on the first Xbox. They reduced its size but only by a little, making for a very comfortable controller. The DualShock’s R2 and L2 triggers are poorly placed allowing them to be triggered anytime you place the controller down. The Xbox 360 triggers are not like that and feel more like actual triggers, making shooting a games a bit more enjoyable.

Xbox Live is a paid service required to play games online and purchase online content.

It’s $60 a year, which seems like a lot of money compared to the free PlayStation Network the PS3 uses, but you are getting what you paid for.

Xbox Live was designed to keep you in contact with your friends; it has voice chat while playing the same game or different games using a party system. The PSN only allows communication with each other while in the same game which can become annoying. The content on both are relatively the same, differing mainly in console-exclusive titles. But the reliability of Xbox live is far greater than that of the PSN. The most important thing when it comes to consoles is the games we play on them.

The Halo series alone is enough to make me snap my PS3 in half in a blind rage just for not having any game up to its standards of greatness. There aren’t enough things I can say about Halo – it’s the perfect game. Metal Gear Solid is, in my opinion, the best PlayStation series, with a very compelling story. But it has one problem: there is no online interaction, which makes it unable to compete with Halo.

The bottom line is that video games are about having fun with friends. The PS3 is not user-friendly when it comes to playing with friends, so it is a lesser console.

VOTE ONLINE ARCURRENT.COM

Opinion

CURRENTEDITORIAL

current@arc.losrios.edu If community college students ever wanted to find a reason to vote, then Proposition 30 would be a good one, because the proposition’s success or failure affects them directly.

Proposition 30, the “Schools and Local Public Safety Protection Act of 2012” would temporarily raise sales tax to 7.5 percent from what was 7.25 percent. It would also temporarily create four high-income tax brackets for taxpayers with taxable incomes exceeding $250,000, $300,000, $500,000 and $1,000,000. The tax increases would be deposited into the “Education Act Account” with 89 percent of the funding going to K-12 schools and 11 percent

Page 15

Oct. 10, 2012

going to benefit community colleges. Proposition 30 is Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax plan and could define his career as California’s governor.

Passing Proposition 30 will affect community colleges for the better bringing in approximately $210 million in benefits and would bring $2,000,000 in growth and restoration for the Los Rios District. It will also allow Los Rios to service around 10,000 new students.

If the proposition does not pass it will have a significant negative impact on community colleges across California, with approximately $338.6 million in budget cuts including the $210 million we would have received from the proposition

PROPOSITION 30: Why it will help community colleges across California passing. The Los Rios District itself losing $16 million due to cuts, and California community colleges would have to turn away 180,000 students. Community colleges can’t face this kind of problem.

With all of these budget cuts in recent years due to California budget constraints, community college students need to take the best opportunity they can get to benefit themselves.

If not passed, it will also result in courses required for associates degrees and transfers to four-year universities being cut. Teachers will be laid off, and there will be drastic cuts in part-time staff, which affects students out of the classroom. Services like Disabled Student Programs and Services,

financial aid and childcare will also see drastic cuts.

“You get classroom sizes increasing to compensate the budget cuts,” said Rich Copenhagen, President of the Student Center of Californian Community Colleges. “Which incoherently lowers the quality of your classes because case studies show the fewer students in a class the more time you get to engage them.”

Loaded classrooms are the last thing students who are trying to transfer need, especially with the highest graduating classes in California, laid-off workers coming to better their knowledge and veterans returning home from war. This is why you should vote yes on Proposition 30 in November.

Student describes life with her father, who is diagnosed with the disease

By Stephanie Lee lees87@imail.losrios.edu

There is nothing special about my father.

However, he is a very special person to me and is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, which is the sixth most leading cause of death in the United States according to the Center for Disease Control.

Early in January 2011 my family and I got the diagnosis we had been waiting for the past three years. It’s something that I had heard about, but didn’t really know what it was exactly. Simply put, Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease that affects thoughts, memories and language.

In 2012 alone, 5.4 million Americans will have suffered from Alzheimer’s, 5.2 million of those being 65 years of age or older.

Photo courtesy of Stephanie Lee

Living with Alzheimer’s

My father is only 52-years-old.

Growing up I was always a daddy’s girl, doing all the boyish things with him like playing sports.

He was my football Stephanie Lee and her father Greg Lee on the monorail at the California coach, my basketball State Fair in July 2012. coach, taught me how with him. There are times where I will do my to fish and even drive.

He is a focal point of my strongest and fond- best to get out of a situation or space he is in because I can feel my irritability peeking. est memories.

It’s not all his memory loss that keeps me When we got the diagnosis, I shut myself off from the very same person I had grown so from doing more things with my dad. Knowing that he is one day going to forget about close to as a child. It’s not that I didn’t love me, and that he won’t be there to walk me him anymore, because I do. It was just hard down the aisle when I get married, or get to to communicate. know the kids that I will have is what hurts I have a very short temper. And with my father, even knowing that he won’t remember more then anything else. I cry myself to sleep how to do something, I find myself getting so some nights just thinking that I’ll be sitting in class one day and get the phone call that frustrated with his inability to do something he’s gone. Each day provides a little hope right. I can’t help it and neither can he. I feel when he remembers a small memory. like there’s something wrong with me that I can’t find the balance to just let things go

The importance of opinion

By Sharon Styles

styless@imail.losrios.edu What’s your opinion? That question usually ends with an inquiry of your thoughts on a particular subject. Your answer says a lot about who you are and how you think. Blank stares and hair twisting followed by mumbling “I don’t know” are never good. In my opinion, everyone should have an opinion.

When I was a young girl out in public with my dad, he would become visibly upset if I did not answer questions properly. He would look at me and say, “Open your mouth and speak up. Say something.”

My father was self employed and operated a cleaning service.

On the first of each month, he would drive around our small California town to drop off the bill and pick up payments. His clients included doctors, dentists,

WHY EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE EDUCATED AND TAKE A STANCE beauty shops, finance companies and the local newspaper.

Sometimes I went with him to collect payments. My dad always took me to places I did not want to go and made me speak to people I did not want to speak to. He felt I needed to know how to “make conversation” with total strangers. He said it would help me later in life. He was right.

In some of my classes I find myself surrounded by people who never have an opinion on anything. I realize it is not possible to be completely informed on everything, but to never express an opinion on anything defies logic. How can that be?

School is the safest place to offer an opinion and not worry about how it may affect your employment. If you are in a class where the instructor asks for your

opinion, say something.

If you are in favor of same sex marriage because you feel it is a civil right or if you are against it for religious reasons, say something.

If you feel abortion is murder or if you think a woman should keep her right to choose, say something.

If you don’t like Romney or Obama, say something.

In 2008, Henry Milner at the University of Montreal in Canada found 56 percent of youth in America did not know you must be a citizen in order to vote and 60 percent had no idea whether Democrats or Republicans are more conservative. The answer is Republicans.

Now, if you do not have an opinion, allow me to help you get one; set aside 10 minutes

each day to follow the news.

Read this newspaper cover to cover, check the news online, watch the news on television or listen on the radio. Talk to friends or family and use their opinions until you get your own.

“I’m sorry, I read something about this, but I can not recall the details.” Try using this phrase next time you are asked for your opinion and you have no clue.

This implies you do in fact read, but your memory is failing at the moment.

Once you develop your own opinions, keep in mind other people may not agree with you.

That is fine. Learn to respect everyone’s right to his or her opinion.

The next time someone asks your opinion, open your mouth and speak up. Say something.

I Oughta

Know

By Jaime Carrillo

carrilj8@imail.losrios.edu Did you watch the first presidential debate? I’m not going to judge you if you didn’t. If it weren’t for the miracle of social media, togetherness and Patton Oswalt’s twitter feed, I’d probably not watch it either. I did tune in though and caught the biggest plot twist since “Soylent green is people:” Obama lost.

No, seriously. Obama lost. One of the most eloquent public speakers of our time lost to the guy who looks (and sounds) like the villain from every ‘80s movie. And let’s not get cute.

Gov. Romney is a villain. Much like with Senator John McCain in 2008, the general election has turned an otherwise pragmatist statesman into a sycophant; kowtowing to troglodytes who want to re-define rape and think food is an “entitlement.”

But Romney still won, decisively so, but his hands are dirty, dirty with lies.

Somehow, right before the debate started, Romney changed his trickledown happy tax plan. Except that he didn’t. Under his plan, he wouldn’t let the Bush tax-cuts for the wealthy expire. He would also repeal the alternative minimum tax and the estate tax permanently, costing $4.8 trillion over the next 10 years, according to a report by the non-partisan Tax Policy Center. He also plans on closing loopholes, though he simply can’t say which ones because, well, who knows why. Probably the same reason Goldfinger didn’t tell James Bond his plan until he had the guy strapped to that weird laser-crotch contraption.

Pundits and pollsters have joked that Obama should just sit back and let Romney dig his own grave.

The man is a gaffe machine. If he’s not writing off half the country, he’s reminiscing about firing people or desperately trying to pretend he was once poor. But after the first debate, Obama can’t afford to phone it in.

There’s a reason they call it political theatre. Most people know whom they’re going to vote for already, and there’s little that can happen in the coming weeks to change that. But because of the outdated Electoral College and a corporate media who wants to have this fight to come down to the wire like it was the Super Bowl. Voters in the “middle” who are frightened by statistics and allergic to reason decide the winners in elections. They want something folksy, they want a nice fat piece of meat they can chew, and most of all they want a guy who fights back. Obama, your next debate is on Oct. 16, so you’ll have more than enough time to prepare a battle plan. I’m not saying stoop to Gov. Romney’s level and lie.

The facts are on your side, but please, learn to convey them; your political future and Big Bird’s fragile existence depends on it, and I Oughta Know.

Bush, from left to right: lead guitarist Chris Traynor, drummer Robin Goodridge and lead singer Gavin Rossdale. Bush was one of many big names at this year’s Aftershock Festival at Discovery Park.

Aftershock 2012 PARTING SHOTS Parting Shots is a photo essay highlighting the visuals in and around Sacramento, captured by the photographers of the Current.

A crowd in front of the main stage showing enthusiasm for the band Bush playing at the Monster Energy Aftershock Fesival.

This year’s first annual Monster Energy Aftershock Festival took place at Discovery Park in Sacramento, Calif. on Sept. 23, 2012. The festival included two stages and a variety of performers. The line-up of bands consisted of big names such as Stone Temple Pilots, Bush, Deftones, Theory of a Dead Man, Chevelle, Hollywood Undead, Oleander and Fallrise. The festival, sponsored by Monster Energy, included an area where people could get free energy drinks. Food and merchandise were plentiful, with vendors sprinkled throughout the event. Some fans were able to get autographs and meet some of their favorite bands throughout the day.

Photos by Bryce Fraser

Left: Sacramento band Oleander’s lead singer Thomas Flowers performing at the festival. Above: Chino Moreno Lead singer of Deftones projecting all his energy in singing on the main stage before the new album release on August 30. Below: Theory of a Dead Man’s drumset with Monster Energy drinks.