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September 30, 2015
Trustee ‘skeptical’ about Holocaust By Barbara Harvey and John Ferrannini barbaraapharvey@gmail.com jferr1995@gmail.com After embattled Los Rios Student Trustee Cameron Weaver came under fire for casting doubt on the historical accounts of the Holocaust and the Sept. 11 attacks, the Associated Student Body Student Senate began to discuss
the possibility of recalling him. “There are a few senators who really want to remove him (Weaver) from office,” said ASB Student Senate President Garrett Kegel. “As a veteran, when someone tries to say that 9/11 didn’t happen, I can’t respect that. As a trustee, that doesn’t represent the students.” During a 55-minute sit-down interview with the Current, Weaver said that he doesn’t know if the Holocaust happened.
“I’m definitely not going to go out and venture and say anything like ‘Oh, Holocaust didn’t happen.’ There are tons of people that make that argument,” said Weaver. “From a really unbiased perspective, I completely disagree, but I also completely agree. What I mean when I say both is that I don’t know the answer.” Weaver compared knowing the facts of the
WEAVER | PAGE 2
File Photo
Los Rios Student Trustee Cameron Weaver is under fire for casting doubt on the Holocaust.
ARC Wi-Fi gets big upgrade
OLYMPIAN COMES TO ARC
overhaul will be starting in davies By John Ferrannini jferr1995@gmail.com
VOLLEYBALL STRIKES GOLD olympic gold medalist gabe gardner takes on new role as head coach of arc volleyball By Jordan Schauberger jschauberger94@gmail.com
F
or Olympic gold medalist Gabe Gardner, American River College’s new women’s volleyball coach, pressure isn’t a new thing. Gardner won a gold medal the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing as part of the U.S. men’s volleyball team. He also competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. Gardner said the biggest thing he remembered from his two Olympic Games was the overall excitement and “media frenzy.” “It’s nice to represent your country, which is bigger than any of us (and) more important than any school or university that I’ve played for,” said Gardner. “It’s my country. It’s where all my family and friends are from so that part was fun. Other than that it was just a lot of volleyball.” GARDNER | PAGE 5
Gabe Gardner speaks to the huddle during one of ARC volleyball’s early season games. Gardner, who recently came to ARC to replace former coach Ashley Hain, won an Olympic gold medal in volleyball during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.
The American River College Wi-Fi network is undergoing a major overhaul this year. The project to increase the capacity of the school’s wireless connectivity will begin in Davies Hall and is expected to be completed by the end of the Spring 2016 semester. Faculty wanted to include more technological interaction in classroom lessons than would be possible under the current Wi-Fi network. “When our faculty has a high level of confidence in robust technology, they can have lesson plans that reflect that,” said ARC President Thomas Greene. “If you create an environment, you can walk in and students would be able to integrate their smartphone into that.” ARC’s technology committee made a recommendation to the Los Rios Community College District that the system be either added to or completely updated. The rise of smartphones and other wireless devices put a strain on the current Wi-Fi system, according to Adam Karp, the dean of planning, research and technology.
WI-FI | PAGE 3
Photo by Kameron Schmid / kameronschmid@gmail.com Medal and Olympic rings courtesy of International Olympic Committee (IOC)
Kaneko Gallery holds a sculpture contest inspired by Kings arena controversy
FEATURE | PAGE 6
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September 30, 2015
News
Weaver: Views on Holocaust ‘abhorrent’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Holocaust to sports fans discussing a football game. “It’s unfair of me to sit there and say ‘Oh, well because I was told something my whole life, I know this to be the truth and you are incorrect.’ People do that everyday about everything,” said Weaver. “We don’t even have to use Jewish people as an example. Even the smallest detail: ‘Hey, 49ers sucked this game, I watched it, it’s a fact.’ Other person’s like, ‘Nah dude, they rocked, they did great.’ Neither side is right or wrong because neither side can really make that connotation.” Weaver specifically cast doubt on the figure that 6 million Jews died during the Holocaust, saying that newspapers had been reporting on genocides against the Jews since 1915. “I don’t have the physical copies of those newspapers. Is it possible that there were some changes to those newspapers? It’s possible,” said Weaver. “But in these newspapers, there was a very conflicting thing I noticed: there was continual reporting that 6 million Jewish people were facing a lot of — they were facing starvation, being evicted from their homes, over in Russia, and then three years later it changed to Ukrainia (sic). “There are people that are unfortunately being pillaged and being killed and it’s terrible, but where’s the updated statistic?” Aaron Breitbart, a senior re-
searcher with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organization in Los Angeles, said that the Holocaust is “the most documented crime in history.” “The people on trial at Nuremberg answered that they were just following orders. They never said it never happened because it obviously did,” said Breitbart. “It’s not scholarship, it’s really pseudo scholarship. Essentially, what they’re saying is that Jews and their supporters are liars.” After Weaver’s comments were published on the Current’s website, Board of Trustees President Dustin Johnson sent an email to the Current disavowing Weaver’s remarks, calling them “abhorrent.” “Mr. Weaver’s statements are troubling, misguided and abhorrent to the views and values of the 7 publicly elected members of the Board of Trustees,” said Johnson in the email. Bruce Pomer of the Jewish Community Relations Council, a former Los Rios trustee, said he was planning to meet with Chancellor Brian King on the subject. “We’ll see...whether (Weaver) takes this opportunity to educate himself,” said Pomer. “We’re very concerned, but let’s see what happens next … whether we take further steps from there will depend upon his actions.” King said that he too is waiting for Weaver’s next move. “If he shows a willingness to learn and grow, that’s what we’re about,” said King.
Weaver, who was the Associated Student Body Student Senate director of public relations last year and was also a member of the Current for two semesters, including one as opinion editor, styled himself “very skeptical.” “I wear it on my sleeve,” he said. Weaver won the position of Los Rios Student Trustee in April’s election on eServices. The Los Rios Student Trustee is elected by the students of the district and serves a term of one year. Weaver sits on the Los Rios Board of Trustees but does not
cast a binding vote. The Student Trustee is paid 75 percent of the elected Board of Trustees compensation, according to the 2015-2016 Student Trustee Handbook. According to state records, Weaver’s predecessor Omba Kipuke received $4,907 in regular pay for the first five months of his year-long service during the 2014-2015 academic year. Kipuke also received $7,481 in benefits for those five months, including health, medical and dental insurance from the district.
November 2016. The vote was 96 percent in favor of Measure A, with 3,611 students voting for the measure and 136 voting against. Under Measure A, the universal transit pass fee will be $2.10 per unit, capped at 15 units. Students taking 15 or more units will have to pay $31.50 per semester compared with $16.62 now. Students taking three units or less at a particular Los Rios college will have the opportunity to buy a monthly bus pass from RT at a 50 percent discount. The discounted pass will be priced at $50. Students expressed positive reactions toward the approval of
Measure A. “If I wasn’t able to take the bus for free, I’d never get here and I’d never get a better life,” said ARC student Jessica Williams, who uses public transit. Members of student government also expressed approval, but Garrett Kegel, the Associated Student Body Student Senate president, said it violated the rights of students that the unit floor was based on the units at a particular school instead of within the district as a whole. “This is a victory and I’m glad we’ll be able to continue to offer students bus passes at reasonable pricing,” said Kegel. “Students with three units or
less were not allowed to vote due to being labeled as ‘not impacted.’ Apparently, our district (education) code allows for elections that selectively exclude groups of students.” Sen. Tamara Dunning said that when she was acting as ASB Student Senate president last year, she worked with the other student government leaders in asking Regional Transit to make an exemption for disabled students from the unit floor. “It’s a great measure for the overall students,” said Dunning. “I hope that the district continues to look at the issues with disabled students and look for a better solution.”
american river
current Editor-in-Chief John Ferrannini Managing Editors Cheyenne Drur y Matthew Peirson News Editor Lena DoBynes Sports Editors Nicholas Corey Kevin Sheridan File photo
Then-ASB Director of Public Relations Cameron Weaver, center, at a forum last April during his successful campaign for Los Rios Student Trustee.
Los Rios students vote for bus pass
By John Ferrannini jferr1995@gmail.com The measure extending the universal transit pass (UTP) agreement between Sacramento Regional Transit and the Los Rios district passed after last week’s vote on eServices. All Los Rios students taking more than three units at a particular college were eligible to vote on Measure A, which extends the UTP agreement until 2021, albeit with increased fees. Students taking less than three units at a particular college will no longer be eligible for the universal transit pass beginning in
ASBNOTEBOOK
By Jordan Schauberger jschauberger94@gmail.com Both Associated Student Body (ASB) boards spent the last two weeks discussing student safety on campus. The Student Senate discussed a resolution to respond to the 138 reported crimes on campus between January and March 2015. The resolution calls for education on crime and sexual assault prevention, the implementation of more technology and increased collaboration between ASB and the administration. “This is the first step to take
student boards discuss safety
to improving safety on campus,” said ASB Student Senate President Garrett Kegel. “We need more cameras on campus and to implement an improved safety plan.” Sergeant Mike Olson of the Los Rios Police Department attended both the Senate and Clubs and Events Board meetings during the past two weeks to discuss concerns students have over safety on campus. “We’ve received a lot of concern about safety following the Sac City shooting,” said Olson. “We’re available to talk at all times. Whether you need to schedule a time to talk to us or you want us to talk during a meeting like this one, we’re here.”
Director of Finance David Hylton has come under criticism for his word choice while questioning funding for a proposed equality center. Laurie Jones, the Senate director of legislative affairs, said that Hylton used the terms “homosexuals” and “blacks.” President Kegel made remarks at the Sept. 22 meeting of the Senate that Hylton said were directed at him, although Kegel did not mention Hylton by name. “I find it offensive that I’m being reprimanded for using that word in the proper usage,” said Hylton. Kegel and Hylton declined to comment on what exact word it was that Hylton was referring to.
Kegel did say that he was “not directing my comments directly at David (Hylton), but at the board as a whole.” Tamara Dunning, who acted as ASB Student Senate president last year, returned to the board as a senator. She said that Kegel asked her to come back. CAEB appointed three new board members during its Sept. 15 meeting. Student senators Laurie Jones and James Cortwight were appointed to CAEB as whip and commissioner of finance, respectively. Anthropology club representative Bruce Rand was appointed as commissioner of communications.
Arts and Culture Editor Joseph Daniels Scene Editors Ashley Nanfria Emily Thompson Opinion Editors Ashlynn Johnson Mychael Jones Multimedia Editor Kameron Schmid Copy Editor Jordan Schauberger Web Editor Barbara Har vey Staff Noor Abasi Jose Garcia Johnnie Heard Matthew Nober t Michael Pacheco Joe Padilla Iris Page Karen Reay Matthew Wilke Paul Xayphone Adviser Walter Hammer wold Photo Adviser Jill Wagner
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POLICY The Current is produced by the students of College Media Production, J410-413. All opinions are signed and not necessarily endorsed by the Current staff. All letters and articles appearing in the Opinion section are not necessarily representative of the Current staff or American River College policy. All articles are the property of the Current. Letters must be typed and can be submitted by mail, email 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
September 30, 2015
News
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Login trouble delayed ALERT LOS RIOS RESPONDS TO SCC SHOOTING AS NEW INFO COMES TO LIGHT ON TEXT DELAY By John Ferrannini jferr1995@gmail.com The Sacramento City College public information officer’s inability to log in to the system that sends the Los Rios ALERT text message was responsible for a delay in sending out the message regarding the shooting on campus that left one dead and two injured on Sept. 3. Students, faculty and staff at SCC expressed frustration and concern that the ALERT text message came about 45 minutes after the shooting. Rick Brewer, the public information officer for SCC, was tasked with telling W.A.R.N. Command, a Tennessee based company, to send out the alert once the Los Rios chief of police and the vice president of administrative services decided to lockdown the campus. “There were some issues in accessing the W.A.R.N. system as far as logging on,” said Brewer. “After five minutes of me trying to log on to the computer, I called. There’s an 800 number, actually there are two, and I called them and ended up dictating the message. “I was having trouble accessing the system and I don’t know why.” In an interview with KOVR-TV the day after the shooting, SCC president Kathryn Jeffery said that the message was sent out at 4:17 p.m. Students disagreed, showing a time stamp of 4:41 p.m. on the message as evidence. After initially only saying that
the message was delayed because “we waited until we had a specific fact to send out,” Los Rios Chief of Police Cheryl Sears said that “glitches” were responsible for the delay, the Sacramento Bee reported Sept. 10. Sears said she didn’t know why some people got the message at different times. “Some people got the email first, some others got the text first. And people got the alerts at various times,” said Sears. “When you’re relying on technology, it’s hard.” The ALERT text message system is designed to alert students, faculty and staff quickly of an emergency situation, according to American River College public information officer Scott Crow. Students can sign up to receive ALERT messages on their phones on eServices. In the wake of the shooting, Los Rios chancellor Brian King announced on Sept. 9 that J.P. Sherry, the general counsel for the district, is tasked “to coordinate an external review of the timeline of events (on Sept. 3) and propose recommendations to strengthen preparation for possible future incidents.” In a follow-up email to Los Rios faculty and administration on Sept. 23, King announced that Sherry’s draft report will be presented to a closed session of the Board of Trustees on Oct. 21. “The Board will provide further direction on any future actions,” said King. The district’s Preparedness
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Barbara Harvey / barbaraapharvey@gmail.com
Sacramento City College student worker John Cornejo raises his fist in solidarity as he posts a sign promoting campus safety on Sept. 4.
Assessment Team has scheduled a meeting for Nov. 4 to discuss shooting related concerns. There was an active shooter training put on by the Los Rios Police Department in the community rooms on Sept. 29. Crow said that the school is “appreciative for the opportunity.” ARC administration, faculty and staff were invited to two “listening sessions” on Sept. 23 and Sept. 24 to bring up concerns regarding the shooting. Sergeant Michael Olson of the Los Rios Police Department said that the number one tip if someone finds themselves in an active
shooter situation is to stay away from the area. “Students should move away as soon as possible,” said Olson. “The next thing to do is to make a determination if you are safe where you are. You are better off behind the door of a classroom than in a quad.” Olson also said that people should pay attention to their phones and other electronic devices for news and updates. The third man injured during the altercation connected with the Sept. 3 shooting has been identified by police as Charlie Hola, 19.
Former Heald students come to ARC after sudden close of college, undergrads continue educational careerS By Lena DoBynes lena.dobynes@gmail.com No student ever thinks that after dedicating countless hours to studying and homework and after spending large amounts of money toward books and school supplies, they would receive news of their school closing, but in late April 2015 students across California attending the campuses of Heald College faced this harsh reality. Heald College, a private, forprofit school, closed its doors last spring after its parent company Corinthian Colleges allegedly supplied the public with misrepresenting statistics about the job placement of students after graduation and used deceptive recruitment techniques to increase enrollment. The school’s closing left approximately 16,000 students wondering about their next move. Former Heald student Syuzi Whitman, who was one month away from graduating with her associate degree in medical administration, received news of the college closing during a Sunday family dinner. “I got a text from my friend asking me if I had heard about the closing and to check my email,” said Whitman. “The email said that unfortunately the students wouldn’t be able to continue
their education at the college because they were shutting down.” According to Whitman, the email went on to say that Heald would hold a meeting the following week so that students could pick up their transcripts and see what options would be available to them. “It took two days before the news finally sank in,” said Whitman. “At first I thought there was some kind of hope – possible help from the government – but as the days passed I knew it was done and I cried.” Tamara Kaser, a former Heald student who hoped to obtain an associate degree in business, found out about the school’s closing through a letter sent out by Heald. “I was shocked,” said Kaser about her reaction to the news of Heald’s closing. “I kept asking if everything was okay but I never received an answer ... and then I got a letter.” Heald students were given three options after the college closed: start all over, apply for a closed school loan discharge, which would free them from repaying the debt, or transfer credits to another school to continue their educations in a similar program. However, if students chose the third option, they were obligated to pay back the entirety of the loan.
Wi-Fi: Project to take until spring
“
It took two days before the news finally sank in ... At first I thought there was some kind of hope ... but as the days passed I knew it was done and I cried.
SYUZIWHITMAN The Heald campuses in the Sacramento area reached out to local colleges to help their former students see the various options that were available to them if they chose to transfer their credits or start fresh. According to Scott Crow, American River College’s public information officer, ARC representatives went out to the campuses’ events to offer students a new home. Whitman and Kaser both chose to apply to ARC to continue their education. Whitman’s original program of study, however, is not offered at ARC, so she had to change her major to business adminstration. “I couldn’t sit around and try to
place the blame on someone … I had to move on,” said Whitman about why she chose to restart her college career. “I told myself that I needed to get an education because that’s what sticks with you, that’s what motivates you to get up and start all over.” Kaser said the transition has been a difficult one. “Because I’m still waiting on my financial aid I’m two weeks behind in my classes,” said Kaser. “I feel like I’m being set up for failure.” Kaser is working closely with a counselor to get on the right track but according to her, keeping on top of her school work isn’t easy. “I’m working closely with my teachers and powering through… staying up long hours of the night just trying to maintain,” said Kaser. Although both Kaser and Whitman admit that Heald’s sudden closure radically altered their plans their advice to students going through the same situation as them is to stay strong and positive. “Try to keep smiling,” said Kaser. “There will be bumps in the road but you’ll get through it … just have a goal.” Added Whitman: “Just do it … you have to be the one to motivate yourself to keep going and make your dreams come true .... you have to be strong.”
“The goal is to — for lack of a better term — overbuild so that it will be able to accommodate students having a laptop, a phone, connected to the wireless network,” said Karp. “The goal is that in any classroom the instructor can say ‘Hey students, everyone can go on the wireless network now’ and the classroom will be able to support it.” Karp said that the project will involve the installation of 375 internet access points around the campus. The equipment is scheduled to arrive next month and will be installed in November. President Greene said that the project is beginning in Davies Hall because the need there is the greatest. Karp said that the project is not expected to interfere with classes. After the installation of the access points, they will be connected to the network switches. Karp said that this is “the most complex component” of the project. A network switch would allow the access points to communicate effectively. In addition to the network switches, Power over Ethernet (POE) systems will allow the new Wi-Fi systems to be more versatile in several ways. “One of the things the new network will involve is power over ethernet, or POE,” said Karp. “That will allow for monitoring of the network in the sense of making sure if anything goes down or if there’s any outages, that kind of technology will be included in the new network.” Eliminating the need for separate cabling, POE systems will allow the access points to be moved around more freely and for power and network connections to be delivered over one cord. Karp added that with an updated Wi-Fi system, the college is planning to have laptop labs. “So we take an existing classroom that doesn’t have any computers in it and we’ve got laptops — I believe one area is using Surface Pros — and they’re in a cart,” said Karp. “They just take the cart out and take the laptops out, pass them out to the students, and have a mobile lab.” Dyne Eifertsen, the head of the technology committee, said that his board will be updated on the progress of the Wi-Fi overhaul throughout the year. “We monitor the process through the monthly IT Supervisor updates at our meetings,” said Eifertsen. “We are very supportive and excited to see this upgrade.” Greene said that the school wants to move towards a BYOD —“bring your own device” — model of interactive instruction. Christian Casteneda, a mechanical engineering major, approved of that idea. “We can do days on a laptop, an iPad, a phone,” said Casteneda. “We don’t need to go to the library or any of that.”
September 30, 2015
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Sports
Ball in the family Baiz, d-coordinator, comes from a family of football coaches By Joe Padilla jppadilla@gmail.com
Barbara Harvey / barbaraapharvey@gmail.com
American River College wide receivers Jonathan Lopez (12) and Leonard Nelson (6) celebrate after Nelson intercepted a pass from CCSF quarterback Anthony Gordon. Nelson also had eight tackles and broke up two passes and Lopez caught six passes for 143 yards, and is the team’s leading receiver in yards.
Last-second revenge
ARC narrowly defeats CCSF 20-17 in mirror-image of last year’s norcal final By Matthew Peirson matthewpeirson@gmail.com Only two words crossed the mind of kicker Sam Keil as he prepared to kick the eventual game-winning field goal in American River College’s 20-17 win at City College of San Francisco on Saturday. “Don’t miss,” Keil said. Keil drilled the 25-yard attempt through the uprights as time expired, ending the game in an eerily similar fashion to last November’s NorCal Championship game, played between the same two teams in the same location. In that game, CCSF kicked the go-ahead field goal to take a 1714 lead and left only six seconds on the clock en route to the win. For Keil, and those who were a part of the team in 2014, revenge was sweet. “Winning on a field goal on their field, it just feels good to get redemption like that,” he said. “My legs were shivering a little bit, but as soon as I kicked that ball, all that went away.” For ARC, it was the team’s first close finish this season, with head coach Jon Osterhout crediting the team’s crispness for the win. “We didn’t play a complete game week one, we didn’t play a complete game week two or three,” he said. “We did today.” CCSF tied the game at 17-17 with 3:25 left to play on a 15yard touchdown pass from quarterback Anthony Gordon to wide receiver Easop Winston, giving ARC the ball back with time to get the final score. Wide receiver Marc Ellis totaled 63 yards on six catches, but no play was bigger than his 8-yard run off a reverse play that resulted in a third down conversion during ARC’s final drive.
“(Offensive coordinator Doug Grush) asked me prior to the series, ‘What do you think of the reverse?’,” said Osterhout on the play call. “We saw (CCSF) playing a lot of man coverage. It was just a matter of calling it at the right time.” Ellis said the play came down to execution and getting the fresh set of downs. “We called the play and I saw that there was no one on that side, so I took it. I had to get the first down and I did,” he said. Following a 4-yard pass and pass interference call against CCSF, ARC ended up at the one yard line with less than a minute left after running a jive-and-go pass play that left wide receiver Will McClure wide open before being stopped, his only catch of the game. CCSF hurt itself several times with penalties, amassing 14 that cost 165 yards. ARC was called for 12, costing them 129 yards. Some ARC players thought CCSF distracted themselves with taking cheap shots instead of just playing, especially late in the game. “(It went on) the whole game. Mainly them trying to get us out of our game,” ARC quarterback Jihad Vercher said. After rushing for no gain at the 1-yard line, Vercher fumbled the ball on second down and just barely recovered the ball to keep possession, after which ARC kneed the ball and called its final timeout, leaving just enough time for the field goal. “We got to hold onto the football,” Vercher said. “We put it on the turf three times today, all we had to do was come through and hold onto it and just get the job done, finish the game.” Vercher fumbled twice during the game and lost one. Both of Vercher’s fumbles came inside CCSF’s 5 yard line. Running back
Barbara Harvey / barbaraapharvey@gmail.com
Quarterback Jihad Vercher runs downfield during Saturday’s win at City College of San Francisco. Vercher threw for 280 yards and a touchdown.
Armand Shyne also had a fumble earlier in the game that was recovered by CCSF. “I was a little too excited on the play. I was thinking touchdown before getting the ball and that’s on me,” said Vercher. “I got to do better at that.” Vercher finished the game 22 for 35 for 280 yards, with his lone touchdown pass coming late in the first quarter on a 31yard reception by Ellis. Gordon completed 25 of 41 passes during the game for CCSF, for 307 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Neither team established an effective running game, with the lone big run of the day being a 63-yard touchdown by Shyne early in the fourth quarter to give ARC a 17-10 lead. Shyne finished the game with 72 yards rushing on 13 attempts. For ARC, its first close game of the season came against arguably its biggest rival and boosted the team’s confidence overall given the result. “(It showed that) when the chips are down and it’s a close game, we can stick together,” said
Vercher. It’s going to help us the rest of the season.” His teammates agreed. “It’s just a great confidence booster,” said linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk, who had 9 tackles in the game. Osterhout said a win like this is “absolutely” inspiring to a team and helps it bond as it goes through the trudges of a season. “That’s the pregame speech I gave. Playing with confidence,” he said. Next week ARC goes back down to the Bay Area to play at College of San Mateo before a bye week on Oct. 10. “We will celebrate for the next 24 hours and it’s on to San Mateo, they’re a great opponent, so we got to be able to continue to build and get better everyday,” Kunaszyk said. San Mateo (3-1) was undefeated and ranked second in the state prior to Saturday’s game, one spot behind first place CCSF. San Mateo lost 43-30 to San Joaquin Delta College, a team ARC faced in week three of the season and beat 44-24.
American River College’s defensive coordinator Lou Baiz is used to being around coaches. His father was a head coach in Southern California for 35 years and of his brothers, one is currently a head coach in Rancho Cucamonga, California and another is an offensive coordinator at the community college level. ARC football head coach Jon Osterhout hired Baiz prior to the 2014 season after he spent four seasons as the defensive coordinator for Sacramento State University. Baiz comes from a coaching family and is well versed in his profession, something Osterhout sees as big advantage for his players. Baiz and Osterhout are not newly acquainted, having met 16 years ago in a coaching class. Osterhout described Baiz as a “very good friend of his.” “Lou is a phenomenal football coach and has a tremendous scheme that his players have bought into,” said Osterhout. Their relationship spans 16 years, going back to coaching together for nine years at Sac State, where he was the team’s linebacker and defensive coordinator. In his four years at Sac State, 32 of his players on defense finished with Big Sky Conference honors, eight of whom were selected in his first season. These players included linebacker Cyrus Mulitalo, who finished the 2006 season with 120 tackles and safety Brent Webber, who finished with six interceptions and third team All-American honors. Baiz coaches from the press box, where he can see the other team’s offensive schemes and then call the defensive play down to his assistant coach. Defensive lineman Sean Amos, a freshman who is redshirting, described Baiz as very passionate on the field. Baiz said he is excited to be working with the new players from a season ago, 10 in total. “I am very happy with this year’s team, even though at this level there is a lot of transition,” said Baiz.
ON THE WEB For weekly game coverage, advances, profiles of coaches and players and galleries of photos from ARC football’s games this season, go to ARCurrent.com For live tweeting of games, follow @ARCSports on Twitter.
Sports
September 30, 2015
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Gardner: Coach practices with team CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Competing in nine other major international competitions, Gardner faces a whole new challenge as he takes over for Ashlie Hain, who is now the head coach at University of California at Irvine. He has become a part of a program that has experienced sizable success in the past. ARC has made it to the regional semi-finals in three of the last five years and the state quarter-finals in 2013. “It’s a feather in our cap to have somebody that has a really really great reputation in the volleyball world. It certainly can’t hurt,” said Bruce Werner, the interim athletic director. Gardner said he understands the expectations year-to-year are high, but knows that the adjustment for everyone will be part of the learning process. “(I’m) not (going) to shake the boat too much but keep the expectations high for the college and the girls because they’re all expecting to do well,” said Gardner. “I want to hold the expectation high for us while still being realistic that we’re going to be doing a lot more work that’s new to them because I run a different system then perhaps their last
coach did so there’s a learning curve involved.” Gardner noted the difference between being a player and a coach, but said he is happy to be coaching. “It’s easy as a player to really feel all the emotion and drama of the match and to be overly emotional or over invested in one play or one set,” said Gardner. “I really enjoy teaching (and) being around by girls that want to work hard and get better and I’m convinced that we’ve got that on this team.” Right of the bat, the difference between Gardner and Hain has been noticeable to some of his colleagues. “They have different personality types entirely,” said Werner. “Gabe is very quiet, he has a very easy manner about him, he’s the kind of guy that when he speaks you listen. Ashlie was much more of a fiery type of personality.” Kathy Sullivan-Torrez, a physical education professor and ARC’s volleyball coach from 1992-2005, said that the school is very excited to have Gardner on board. “It’s exciting for our department and our players and he brings a wealth of experience at many different levels,” said Sullivan-Torrez.
Gardner stepped into the role in late July and only had a week before start of the preseason. Even after two months, the team is still transitioning into the new system. “Speaking with the girls, they’re looking forward to going to practice,” said Sullivan-Torrez. “(Gardner) gets in there and plays with them sometimes and I think that they like that.” Freshman middle blocker Erin Fogarty recounted past practices where Gardner had got on the court and played with the team. “He plays with us a lot and hits at us a lot harder than I think other teams would,” said Fogarty. “He’s hardcore is a good way to put it ... He’s very knowledgeable skills wise and knows how to work against other teams.” Freshman outside hitter Candice Reynoso said the team has really come together under Gardner. “The team feels very homey, we’ve all bonded quickly,” said Reynoso. As for why Gardner came to ARC, Gardner said that familiarity and competitiveness played a big role in his decision. “I coached with Ashlie Hain before. We coached a club team together so I’ve been exposed
Nicholas Corey / nicholas.c.losrios@gmail.com
Gabe Gardner coaches at an early season volleyball game. Gardner earned a gold medal in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.
to the campus,” said Gardner. “The proximity (played a part), it’s close to my house so I’ve had some family that’ve been to school here. I think it’s a
SPORTSUPDATES
competitive team so I wanted to be here. “No coach has to coach,” said Gardner. “But you want to enjoy it when you do.”
VOLLEYBALL
WOMEN’S SOCCER
ARC’s volleyball team moved to 10-4 on the season Saturday with a 3-0 win over Butte College, led by sophomore middle blocker Erianna Williams who finished the game with 10.5 points, the most on her team. It won all three games by a score of 27-25, 25-20, and 25-15.
ARC’s women’s soccer team defeated Sacramento City College 5-0 on Sept. 24. The win moves ARC’s overall record to 4-2 on the season and it played San Joaquin Delta College on Sept 29. The results of that game were not available as of press time.
MEN’S WATER POLO
WOMEN’S WATER POLO
ARC’s men’s water polo lost its most recent match against Diablo Valley College 19-2 on Sept. 23. The loss will drop ARC’s overall record to 0-8 on the season, and it will try for its first win of the season today at Santa Rosa Junior College at 3:30 p.m.
ARC’s women’s water polo team went 2-2 in the Mt. SAC Invitational, winning against Rio Hondo College and Santa Barbara City College, but losing to Long Beach City College and Orange Coast College. The games will not count against ARC’s overall record.
MEN’S CROSS-COUNTRY
MEN’S SOCCER
ARC’s men’s cross-country team finished first in the four mile run during the SoCal Preview Meet Titles. Anthony Sanchez, Galen Fritz, Gonzalo Lomeli-Morales, Dejon Joseph, Alex Garcia and Brad Needles all finished in the top 20 during the event.
ARC’s men’s soccer team lost its Sept. 23 game at Cosumnes River College 1-0. The loss drops ARC’s overall record to 0-7-2, and it tried for its first win of the season against Santa Rosa Junior College yesterday. The results of that game were not available as of press time.
UPCOMING HOME GAMES
Nicholas Corey / nicholas.c.losrios@gmail.com
Kaitlin Meyer, an outside hitter on the American River College women’s volleyball team, lines up a serve during the Sept. 18 bout against Cabrillo College. Cabrillo won the match 3-2, but ARC is now 10-4 on the season.
Oct. 2 Men’s soccer vs. San Joaquin Delta College 2 p.m. Oct. 2 Volleyball vs. Sacramento City College 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17 Football vs. College of the Siskiyous 6 p.m. Oct. 21 Women’s water polo vs. Sierra College 5 p.m.
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September 30, 2015
Feature
STATE OF THE ART
KANEKO GALLERY HOLDS regional contest for new campus sculpture By Joseph Daniels joseph64daniels@gmail.com
The James Kaneko Gallery is currently hosting a regional art competition between Sacramento sculptors to decide who will build a sculpture to be placed in front of the Student Services building on the American River College campus. Fifteen sculptures are part of the competition and a panel will decide the top three sculptors of the gallery show. The top three sculptors are to make proposals for the Student Services sculpture. ARC President Thomas Greene is to make the final decision regarding which sculpture proposal will be used. Mick Sheldon, an ARC art professor, said a former student was initially going to design the statue in front of ARC’s Student Services building, but the Fine Arts Committee organized a meeting which eventually decided to host a regional contest instead. Sheldon said the contest was inspired by the debate over the the Jeff Koons sculpture of Piglet from “Winnie the Pooh” that was chosen to be placed outside of the new Golden 1 Center downtown. He said he did not like that the arena statue was not by an artist from the Sacramento area. “One of my colleagues said there is nobody in Sacramento that could do an 18-foot tall sculpture, and I went, ‘bull----,’” Sheldon said, arguing against the decision about the Koons’ statue. Hood said the sculptures range in price between $1,200 to $10,000. Kalina Hunt, a student who was attending the event, said that one of the exhibits she particularly liked the pieced titled “Eye on the Prize.” “I loved the way he rusted the gas tank,” Hunt said. “It reminds me of fall, and leaves.” The gallery will remain open until Oct. 15.
Photos by Karen Reay / karenraychel@gmail.com
Clockwise from top left, “SiDARTHa” by Ianna Frisby, “Tomb of the unkown solider” by Ron Peetz, “Conundrum” by Linda Gelfman, “Self Relfection” by Donna Billick and “Transcend” by Yoshio Taylor all sit on display at the Kaneko Gallery on Sept. 21. ARC President Thomas Greene will chose the winner, whose propsed sculpture will then be featured outside the Student Services building.
September 30, 2015
Arts&Culture
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Sacramento band tells its story By Cheyenne Drury cheyennemdrury@gmail.com A recently formed local band, The Off Years, is a three-piece band from Sacramento that gets its name from the time period when the group was not together. Despite having known each other for over a decade, the band members have only been playing together for three months, and already have venues booked. The group recently performed at Chalk It Up, an annual art festival that took place on Labor Day weekend in Fremont Park. Band members Emma Simpson and Orey Severet elaborated on the origin of the bands name. “Just that we were apart and now are together,” said Simpson. Lead singer and bassist Simpson went to high school with guitarist, her now current boyfriend, Brodie Mills, a former American River College student. The drummer, Severet, met Simpson at Stairway to Stardom, an eight-week summer music program for young, non-professional musicians. All of the members confirmed that they felt their music had strong ties with jazz music. “I like the improvisational aspect of the way we play,” said Mills. “We never play the same song the same way… and I like seeing the people watching us smile, I’ll find the person who is not fully into it, and I’ll Cheyenne Drury / cheyennemdrury@gmail.com play for them.” Emma Simpson, a lead singer and bassist with The Off Years, sings at Chalk It Up’s 25th annual art festiThe Off Years were described during val on Sept. 6 in downtown Sacramento.
Next performance The Off Years will be having their next show on Sat., Nov. 14 at Shine Coffee & Tea downtown on E and 14th streets starting at 8 p.m. their introduction at Chalk It Up as being similar to the Talking Heads. Simpson recounted the time she spoke to Tina Weymouth, a founding member of the Talking Heads, on the phone. “I asked her, ‘How do you ignore the sexism that is in the music industry?’ and she told me to just stay away from the people who are a part of it,” said Simpson. Among some of their favorite artists and bands include Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Kills, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Talking Heads and most specifically the former drummer Joe Morello from the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Severet said that music brings people together from many different cultures. “My favorite thing about music is… I like that you can connect with everybody,” said Severet. “I don’t speak Spanish, but someone who does could totally understand through the expression of it,” said Severet.
Camp seeks to empower women THE GIRLS ROCK CAMP FOR FEMALE MUSICIANS IS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR 2016 SACTO OPENING By Cheyenne Drury cheyennemdrury@gmail. com The co-founders of Girls Rock Sacramento (GRSC) Anna Simpson, Emma Simpson and Larisa Bryski share two more things in common: they all want to deconstruct gender roles and they all want American River College students to volunteer as mentors for the GRSC camp in June 2016. GRSC is a non-profit organization whose objective is to empower young girls through music and create an environment that encourages mutual support among women. This year marks the first that Girls Rock will hold events in Sacramento. The platform and initial idea evolved from the Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp for Girls in Portland, Oregon. Emma Simpson attended the camp in Portland when she was eight years old. It was there that she received her first formal guitar and vocal lessons. Emma’s mom, Anna Simpson, encouraged her to go back each year to be a mentor, but every year there have been difficulties in finding the time and means to return. “I told her she had to go back to be a mentor, but every year a major thing was happening,” said Anna Simpson. “Then I thought too bad there isn’t one here in Sacramento.”
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I wish for a day when an organization like this doesn’t have to exist. That’s my dream for females in the music world.
LarisaBryski ON THE WEB For more Arts and Culture content including coverage on the upcoming play ‘The Music Man,’ go to ARCurrent.com
Bryski and Anna Simpson put their heads together and decided the best next option would be to start a similar local camp. Bryski was the director of the Stairway to Stardom music program for ten years and a vocal coach at Skip’s Music for sixteen years. During that time she was Emma Simpson’s vocal coach. “When it came time I was ready and I’m a female musician,” said Bryski. “I’m out here in the scene so this seemed like the
Cheyenne Drury / cheyennemdrury@gmail.com
From left to right, Larisa Bryski, Jojo Mimmick, Emma Simpson and underneath the table Laney Seltzer work the table recruiting for the Girls Rock Sacramento 2016 camp at Chalk It Up’s 25th annual art festival on Sept. 6.
perfect opportunity.” The camp involves lessons for any rock band instrument, music workshops, band practices and a performance that will be held at a local venue at the end of the week. The camp accepts any girls between the ages of 8 and 17. Girls do not need to worry about their musical skills
because no experience is required and any music genre can be explored. There is more to this camp than just taking music lessons There are also workshops on self-defense and positive selfimage. “I wish for a day when an organization like this doesn’t have to exist,” said Bryski.
“That’s my dream for females in the music world.” Jojo Mimmick, 13, attended the camp in Portland last year. Her mother Rachel Minnick volunteers and will be helping out this summer. “It was awesome… crazy to be around everyone the same age,” said Jojo.
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September 30, 2015
Arts&Culture
Student teaches dance overseas BERNEIS LEONARD VOLUNTEERED WITH CHILDREN IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC OVER THE SUMMER By Ashlynn Johnson ashlynn.johnson1295@gmail.com For the majority of students, summer vacation is spent working, taking classes or having fun with friends or family, but for American River College student Berenis Leonard, summer was spent teaching dance, music and English in the Dominican Republic. Berenis Leonard volunteered with a program called Outreach360 that started as an orphanage in 1994 and later became a program that teaches children how to speak, read and write in English. This was the first year that dance, music, arts and drama programs were offered. Berenis spent the entire duration of her stay in the Dominican Republic developing the dance and music portions of the program. “It’s so progressive and always evolving and adapting. It’s still in its developing stages but I have seen the results of the program and I must say it’s inspiring,” Leonard said. She taught the children different dance genres and combinations and also played a part in creating English lesson plans for the people who were only volunteering for a week. Leonard had to fundraise in order to make her trip possible. “The fact that so many people believed in me and helped me get here just makes me realize how much love and support I have around me in fulfilling anything I put my mind to,” Leonard said. Leonard first learned about Outreach360 through an email her ARC Spanish professor Ines Garcia sent to the class. She was the only student who took the opportunity.
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It’s so progressive and always evolving and adapting.
BERENISLEONARD Garcia taught Leonard in two different classes and said she always seemed interested in learning about other cultures. “She was a great student, very positive, worked very well with others, very proactive, very interested in the culture, (she) always wanted to learn more,” said Garcia. Leonards’ mother Olga Leonard said that she has noticed changes in her daughter since her return from the Dominican Republic. “She’s more focused on herself now and her goals with music and dance,” said Olga. Leonard said that she feels honored by being a part of the Outreach360 program. “Seeing kids from this rural community who don’t have access to constant running water or electricity, being exposed to English is simply changing their lives and giving them an opportunity to live a life of choice rather than being limited to their environment,” said Leonard. “It’s a beautiful impact to witnesses and I feel so honored to be part of the program.” The number one thing that Leonard said she learned while staying in the Dominican Republic was to “live in the moment.” “It’s different from the U.S. and it’s teaching me a lot about taking each day for what it is and not planning every step of my life out, because when you do that too much you miss out on the simple and beautiful things about life,” said Leonard.
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Poet Sandra Garcia Rivera recites her writing during a college hour at American River College on Sept. 22. Garcia talked about how her life decisions have influenced her work.
Life inspires poet By Joseph Daniels joseph64daniels@gmail.com A poet visited the American River College campus Tuesday to discuss her life story and how her cultural background and her abortions have had a huge impact on her work. Sandra Garcia Rivera recited a poem that discussed that she had three abortions and how later in life she began to regret the decision, but ended the poem by saying that women should live their life on their own terms. “I’m working on a manuscript now, and the heart of it is about my decisions and how it is I don’t have children right now, and how super fly I am, but it is a process of healing, we are super fly because we have to love ourselves in the process,” said Rivera. While Rivera said that current events are not the driving factor for her writing, she did acknowledge that how the news media have been covering Planned Parenthood has inspired her to write new poems. Rivera said that her identity as a Puerto Rican who lived in New York, or a Nuyorican, has had a major impact on her writing.
“Nuyorican is an identity like Chicano that describes a kind of an ordered relationship in existence in worlds where we are both of and not of, and finding our own grounding and empowerment as we are,” said Rivera. Rivera was originally going to be speaking at the event with Lorna Dee Cervantes, but had to pull out of the event for an undisclosed reason. Rivera said that one of her greater muses is music and that growing up in a hip-hop culture influenced how she delivered her poetry. Some of the attendees said during the question and answer portion of the event that they would be interested in reading a book published by Rivera. “Because I was a writer, she really did inspire me to want to write again,” said attendee Yesenia Hernandez. She said that her writing was influenced by her identity as a Latina. Laura Llano attended the event and said that she had previously seen Rivera perform. “She said, ‘I understand now from my age, I can forgive that 19-year old, I can forgive that because she has been carrying that guilt,’” Llano said. “At some point you have to forgive yourself, and say ‘hey, I have grown,’” Llano said.
Lena DoBynes / lena.dobynes@gmail.com
Sandra Garcia Rivera receives a hug by an ARC student after the college hour on Sept. 22.
September 30, 2015
Scene
Page 9
Photo courtesy of Sacramento State Athletics
Carlos Francies, a deputy with the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, drowned in Lake Tahoe Aug. 13 while attempting to save a friend. Francies played football for American River College.
Alum drowns trying to save friend FORMER AMERICAN RIVER FOOTBALL PLAYER AND CONTRA COSTA DEPUTY REMEMBERED FONDLY BY COACHES By Lena DoBynes lena.dobynes@gmail.com A Contra Costa deputy and former American River College student athlete drowned on Aug. 13 in Lake Tahoe while attempting to rescue his friend who he thought was drowning. Carlos Francies, 30, was enjoying a day off from his job at the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, where he worked as a deputy. Francies, his girlfriend, sister Kayla Richardson, and male friend rented paddleboards and kayaks to have a day out on the lake. Due to the high winds and choppy water, Richardson fell into the lake while standing on her kayak and the male friend jumped in after her and got her back into her kayak. According to the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, Francies, who was further away from the two, thought that the
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It makes you feel good when students go on to make a significant impact in the community. It breaks your heart when you lose them. DONDILLON
male friend was in distress because he was struggling to reach his kayak while holding a paddle. Francies jumped into the water, without a life vest, after his friend, but began to struggle. Francies was rescued by his girlfriend, a registered nurse, who performed CPR until first responders arrived. He was taken to Barton Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Contra Costa deputy began his college career at ARC in 2002 where he played football and participated in the 400-meter
dash in track and field. When Track and Field coach Rick Anderson heard the news about Francies, whom he had coached in 2004, he was devastated. “He was a super nice kid who gave 100 percent in track,” said Anderson. “He wasn’t the most talented but he tried his hardest.” Anderson remembers Francies as being quiet but well-spoken and liked among his peers. “It was a surprise to hear he went on to become a sheriff’s deputy, seeing as he
was so quiet,” said Anderson. However, professor and former head football coach Don Dillon said the news of Francies joining the police force wasn’t the least bit surprising to him. “He was a wonderful young man,” said Dillon, who coached Francies during his time on the field as a part of the secondary defense. Dillon remembered Francies as an engaged and caring student. “He always put the team first, never himself,” said Dillon. Due to Francies caring nature, Dillon said he was not surprised to hear that the deputy went to the aid of another person even if it put his life in danger. “It makes you feel good when students go on to make a significant impact in the community,” said Dillon. “It breaks your heart when you lose them.” Funeral services for Francies were held Aug. 30 in Sacramento.
ARC’s first humanities and philosophy club to meet By Emily Thompson emilyt296@gmail.com Meta C.A.R.P.L., which stands for culture, art, religion, philosophy and literature is a new humanities and philosophy club that will start Friday at 1:30 p.m. at American River College, with the location to be determined. Humanities professor Bill Zangeneh-Lester and adjunct philosophy professor Edward Haven are the advisers of the club. “We want to get students to tell us what they want to do,” said Ha-
ven. “It is going to be your club.” Zangeneh-Lester and Haven started this club with the goal of bringing people from different cultures, backgrounds, majors and groups together to explore the best parts of humanities and philosophy. “A lot of time people stay in their own groups,” said Zangeneh-Lester. “The idea is to get the groups to hang out with each other.” They are planning to have a guest lecture series and watch “Adventure Time” to analyze it for relevant social themes.
“Hilariously , it is a really deep show, it has a lot to do with philosophy,” Zangeneh-Lester said. The club also plans to go on several field trips. Lester and Haven are already planning on going to San Francisco to the Nourse theater for a cultural studies lecture series. They are encouraging everyone to join. “Students should join if they are interested in the human condition in all its limits and boundlessness, if they are interested to learn about themselves and others and if they are interested in defining or finding a new sense of
community and culture,” Haven said. “We want to hear different voices in the community, and hear what people are doing and what are they creating,” said Zangeneh-Lester. “This is why the club is different.” Zangeneh-Lester was inspired to start this club by his doctorate program at the Graduate Theological Union. This program was all about having different religious institutions in one organization. It is about community based on hearing about “the other.”
“I hope the students will gain a new perspective and learn to appreciate other perspectives for the wisdom they carry,” said Haven. “From this I hope a sense of adventure and exploration of the unknown can grow and inspire students to take on what seem like the insurmountable challenges of life.” ARC student Diego Navaro said he is excited about the new club to “get more into depth with Humanities.”
September 30, 2015
Page 10
Scene
Horticulture blooms at ARC flowers and other plants are sold every thursday morning in the student center By Paul Xayphone paulxayphone.arc@gmail American River College horticulture students held a floral sale in the Student Center to help support the horticulture program with plants on sale that consisted of snapdragons, sunflowers, lemon leaves, air plants, carnations and baby’s breath. Many of the arrangements were made by the students within the program. Jamie Decoudreaux, who is not an ARC student, volunteered with the event. “The students have the option to buy their own arrangements and whatever isn’t bought goes up for sale at a fraction of the price you would get them for at a normal retail store,” said Decoudreaux. For every 10 dollar purchase, students had the option of also acquiring a free corsage.
ARC students Alfred Kiarie and Timothy Njoroge, both past customers and brothers, returned to buy an arrangement for their mother. “I love my mother so much, I wanted to buy some flowers for her,” said Kiarie. “I wanted to get the good stuff, but the best ones were already taken.” If students don’t like what they see one week, they should come back the next. “The variety of plants on sale as well as those selling them will change each week,” said Decoudreaux. The horticulture department will hold floral sales in the Student Center every Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ARC student Vira Zavolokina had never participated in a floral sale event before, but wants to be in many more after this one. “I like it,” she said. “Today was my first time, but I want to help again. It’s fun.”
Jose Garcia / jig.garcia1995@gmail.com
Ryan Nix, a health services assistant, purchases flowers at the horticulture department’s floral sale in the Student Center on Sept. 17 as Jamie Decoudreaux and Dira Zavolokina explain how to take care of the blooms.
College hour explains the Constitution poli sci professors break down the highest laws of the land at college hour By Ashley Nanfria ashleynanfria@gmail.com American River College political science professors Tressa Tabares and Cynthia Unmack hosted a college hour Thursday in Raef Hall to teach students about the differences and similarities between the U.S. and California Constitutions as well as about constitutions around the world. The college hour was part of ARC’s Constitution Day events. Constitution Day is observed Sept. 17 of each year to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. “I think it will be interesting to see where constitutions are the same and different,” said ARC student Agnessa Kryukoa said prior to the event. Including the national Constitution, the U.S. has 51 constitutions in total, each representing each state in our union. “Many people know about our nation’s main Constitution, but not many know about the other constitutions in our nation and around the world,” said Tabares. State constitutions provide the overall framework for protecting citizen’s rights and placing limits on the government, but are
tailored specifically for each state. Each state has its own rules for term limits, full or part time legislatures, elected judges and direct democracy. In comparing California’s Constitution to the U.S. Constitution, California’s Constitution includes very detailed policies that reflect the opinions of Californians. Voters in California can directly amend the state’s constitution through the initiative process. Tabares said that when making a constitution, questions of where the society comes from and where it would like to go feature prominently. “Constitution building is more of an enterprise today than it was back in 1787,” said Unmack. “Back then, it was more like an experiment.” In 1787, the Framers kept the Constitutional Convention’s deliberations secret. Meeting throughout the summer of 1787, the Framers had to come to compromises that led to things such as the two houses of Congress and the 1808 ban on the slave trade. The group consisted of only “wealthy, white men” approved by the 12 states who sent
CAMPUS PULSE “Honestly right now I’m not for anyone yet ... I’m just watching right now and so far they’ve all said some stupid stuff.”
-CALEBgoodenough Paramedics
Emily Thompson / emilyt296@gmail.com
Political Science professor Cynthia Unmack speaks at a college hour on Sept. 17. Unmack lectured students on the differences and similarities between the U.S. Constitution and the California Constitution.
delegates. Today a body that would make a constituion is an organized group that votes on any amendments citizens would like to make on any constitution before it gets voted on to be adopted. There are also differences and
similarities between the U.S. Constitution and constitutions in other countries. Americans and citizens of other countries have very different everyday lives, but still address similar issues. The U.S. Constitution was ratified by states within our nation. Amendments have
to be ratified by threequarters of the states. Other countries without the same voting rights as the U.S. have specific groups who make laws. “It’s important for everyone to know about the Constitution to some extent,” said ARC student Vlad Avdeyuk.
Who would you vote for in the presidential election?
“Not sure and not following. I care, but I haven’t been following.”
-AMYPATELL Nursing
“I don’t get into politics ... It doesn’t interest me at all. I don’t care because they don’t care about us.”
“I would vote for Hillary Clinton. I would vote for her because she is a wonderful woman who cares a lot about women’s rights and child care. Gives women more possibilities.”
-DANIELRICE English
-LISSETTEpoe Fashion
September 30, 2015
Opinion
the leaders we deserve
CURRENTEDITORIAL
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Page 11
COMMENTS TRIVIALIZING THE DEATHS OF MINORITY GROUPS ARE NOT NEW TO ARC’S STUDENT GOVERNMENT Current@arc.losrios.edu How many derogatory things must our student government representatives say before we can say that they’re part of a hate group? In light of Los Rios Student Trustee Cameron Weaver’s comments speculating on whether the Holocaust actually took place, that’s a pretty good question to ask. The Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights organization, defines a hate group as one which has “beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people.” It would be one thing if Weaver’s comparison of debating whether the Holocaust took place to fans discussing a 49ers game was an isolated incident, but we’ve had two Associated Student Body presidents in two years make comments about LGBT individuals that are equally cringe-worthy. Last year, former ASB Clubs and Events Board President Jeremy Diefenbacher exclaimed “shoot our trannies” when a member of the public wanted the board to commemorate and remember transgender individuals who’ve been murdered. Diefenbacher went on to say his outburst was a joke. There has been no similar ac-
Student government at work
“Shoot our trannies”
—Jeremy Diefenbacher, former ASB CAEB president, during a board meeting while discussing the Transgender Day of Remembrance. (2014)
“(The National Day of Silence is a) propaganda and intimidation tactic... to suppress dissent, as as happened in fascist regimes and in the former Soviet Union.” —George (Yuriy) Popko, former student government representitive, on the National Day of Silence for harassed LGBT students. (2009)
knowledgement from former acting ASB Student Senate President Jorge Riley, however, who wrote on his website that “When Queers get AIDS and die that is Nature/ God’s way of fixing a problem. If it were Natural, two Queers having sex would produce off-spring, instead they produce HIV.” Riley’s bizarre comments didn’t end there. “A teacher tells little Jonnie its ok for men to put their penis’s in his butt, little Jonnie looks up and says ‘would the Power Rangers really do that to me?’” Riley said.
“It’s unfair of me to sit there and say ‘Oh, well because I was told something my whole life, I know this to be the truth and you are incorrect.’” —Los Rios Student Trustee Cameron Weaver on the Holocaust. (2015)
“When Queers get AIDS and die that is Nature/God’s way of fixing a problem.”
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—Jorge Riley, former ASB Senate president, on his website. (Active as recently as 2014)
As American River College students, we need to recognize that dealing with this problem of our elected leaders behaving this way is ours as a student body to deal with. The image our so-called “student leaders” are presenting is one that goes beyond a healthy skepticism of society. In saying he is unsure that the Holocaust happened, Weaver denies not only the pain and suffering of millions of murdered Jews and their families but also the persecution of Christian, dis-
abled, black and LGBT people in the Third Reich. How can this man represent us as students if he fails to understand that people weren’t part of a “conspiracy” when they say that they liberated, or were victims of, gas chambers and crematoriums. Diefenbacher made a joke out of the murder of people because of their gender identity and Riley said that AIDS is God’s way of eliminating gays. Ultimately, however, these are the representatives we deserve because in a school of almost
30,000 students, only 621 students voted in April’s election. That is slightly over 2 percent, and that was the best election turnout at ARC in many years. This is the voice of our college that is being presented to the world, an image already mocked on The Daily Show and reported on in the national press after the intense conflicts over gay marriage in 2008. When students and faculty attempted to hold eight minutes of silence to commemorate harassed LGBT individuals, protesters associated with student government interrupted with eight minutes of bullhorns. The trivialization of the horrific deaths of minority groups isn’t who we are. If we want our communities and world to see that, we have to take action. We have to take elections seriously and vote in them. We have to have students who take up the call of leadership with an eye toward representing all our students with the dignity they deserve. In the meantime, we don’t know if there’s something in student government that attracts these kinds of people. But what we do know is that if ASB’s leaders say things similar to what a hate group’s leaders would say, something is wrong.
Options available after financial aid runs out By Ashlynn Johnson ashlynn.johnson1295@gmail. com
Photo illustration by Barbara Harvey / barbaraapharvey@gmail.com
Community college students do not always know what options they have to pay for school and living expenses when financial aid runs out.
For students on the American River College campus, financial aid is a lifeline used not only to cover the cost of textbooks and other class supplies but also to cover transportation and living expenses while attending the college. Regardless of this, there are limits to how much financial aid can be received while attending the school. For ARC, the current cap is based on the degree that a student is working on. Students working on a certificate degree that requires 50 units, the cap is set at 72 units. For those who are working on completing their associate degrees, 72 units are required but the cap is set at 90 units. Anyone with 150 units or more are no longer eligible. These set caps provide serious problems for students who have majors that require them to take a heavy load of classes, including prerequisites, to get their degree or to
transfer leaving students unable to receive financial aid help early in their time at ARC. Despite the detriment that these limits cause, the caps are put into place based upon the federal budget and legislative determination and cannot be changed based on student needs, however there are other options students have. For example, if a student has completed the amount of units that falls under their unit limit and they still have a large amount of classes to finish for their degree, they can start an appeal process. When dismissed from aid, students receive a letter that gives instructions on how to appeal the decision. The first step is to complete a workshop on D2L and then print out the appeal form. The student will receive documents and a written statement to show that they have a documented and solid plan. The appeal then gets sent to be processed and if accepted the student will be able to receive aid again for a limited time.
LETTERTOTHEEDITOR Praise from the ASB president Dear Editor, I’d like to once again thank the ARCurrent for bringing exciting, informative journalism to the students here at American River College. You’re champions with ink! I love reading the things that you all write and I encourage you to keep up all the good work! I saw John and Walter outside today covering the Medieval Battle Club, taking pictures and ask-
ing questions. That’s good journalism if you ask me. Taking interest in what the students are doing is what promotes students to keep doing positive activities. We need this and once again, I must commend the ARCurrent for empowering students and informing them that there are these positive, extracurricular activities that they could participate in. I don’t have the exact statistic, but I’m sure in a book somewhere, it’s written that extracurricular activities increase overall GPA. So it follows,
from this logic, that the ARCurrent is increasing student GPA by promoting extracurricular activities. Keep up the good work! Please let me know if there is anything I can help the ARCurrent with. And also, Jordan is doing a great job so far covering the Associated Student Body Student Senate meetings. Sincerely, Garrett Kegel Student Senate President
Other ways that students can receive financial assistance is by using resources like the Board of Governors (BOG) Fee Waiver, scholarships and grants that the school offers. The BOG fee waiver covers most of the cost of tuition for students leaving them with less to pay per unit. To apply for the different grants that ARC offers, students can find all of the information on the college’s financial aid website. Scholarships can also be found under support services section on the main ARC website. ARC also offers a free financial literacy program on the financial aid website called “Cash Course” that assists students by giving them options of how to maximize aid eligibility, reduce debt, and how to properly plan educational costs. Financial aid isn’t unlimited, but there are resources to continue to help students that need to be used so that we have less students that are suffering from debt due to lack of funding for their education.
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Marcus Birdman, left, a post-grad student and member of the Medieval Fighting Club, spars with Alex Bowie, also a member, during Club Day Thursday.
FUN AND
GAMES Photo essay by Kameron Schmid American River College held Welcome Day on Thursday, which included Club Day and Transfer Day, in hopes of getting students more involved in the school and informed about transferring. “Let the games begin” was the theme for this year’s club day. Each club had a booth set up with information and a game that went with their club. Students had a chance to participate in a scavenger hunt that sent them around to 15 vendors to get a sticker after completing their game. The event was organized by the Associated Student Body Clubs and Events Board on campus.
A dress made out of playing cards by two Fashion Club members stands next to the club’s booth at ARC’s first club day of the semester Thursday.
Catapults made of plastic spoons, popsicle sticks and rubber bands are aimed at a cardboard castle at the Medieval Fight Club’s booth. The booth was also collecting funds for charity.
Marcus Birdman, a post-grad student and member of the Medieval Fighting Club, competes in a puzzle-building game during the “Let the games begin” Club Day Thursday.