Vol. 67 Edition 2

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The American River

GOS”:

FORMER ARC FASHION PROFESSOR GERRY OTIS SIMPSON REINVIGORATES DEL PASO WITH POP ART PAGE 7 Vol. 67, Ed. 2

SAC CITY SHOOTING

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Fatal shooting at Sacramento City College on Sept. 3 leaves Los Rios District shaken, looking for answers

GUNMAN AT LARGE

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Killer of Sacramento City College student Roman P. Gonzalez has not yet been apprehended by police

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ALTERCATION

Fight between four men preceded fatal shooting, according to SCC public information officer

CAMPUS PULSE:

ARC STUDENTS REACT TO THE FATAL SHOOTING AT FELLOW LOS RIOS SCHOOL SAC CITY COLLEGE PAGE 10 September 16, 2015

Bus pass subject to vote FEES WILL INCREASE IF PASSES ARE KEPT

By John Ferrannini jferr1995@gmail.com

Above photo by Ashlynn Johnson / Below photo by Barbara Harvey

OUR ‘WORST NIGHTMARE’

Above, Davida Trejo, mother of shooting victim Roman Gonzalez, mourns her son’s death on Sept. 3. Below, a memorial for the victim grows at SCC.

FIRST-EVER SHOOTING AT A LOS RIOS COLLEGE LEAVES DISTRICT RATTLED ALERT: Students voice concern over time taken for ALERT message to be sent

MOURNING: Sacramento City College grieves and reflects after fatal shooting

By Kameron Schmid and John Ferrannini

By Barbara Harvey and John Ferrannini

kameronschmid@gmail.com jferr1995@gmail.com

barbaraapharvey@gmail.com jferr1995@gmail.com

When Sacramento City College student Darling Perry left her biology class at 3:50 p.m. on Sept. 3, she decided to ride her bike to the grocery store before going home.

As she neared Freeport Boulevard, she saw police cars racing toward the school with their lights on.

As it turned out, the route she normally would have taken home was the scene of a fatal shooting just minutes after she left campus.

“Usually I bike right through where it happened in the parking lot,” said Perry. “Normally, I’m

As students, faculty and staff at Sacramento City College came together to mourn, new information has come to light about the victim of the fatal shooting on campus Sept. 3.

Roman P. Gonzalez, 25, was a first-year SCC student, but had previous run-ins with the law, according to the Sacramento Bee. According to the Bee, Gonzalez pleaded no contest to a charge of assault with a deadly weapon in 2006 and served six months of a two-year sentence. He was taken into police custody twice after his release on parole.

ALERT | PAGE 3

ON THE WEB For complete coverage of the fatal shooting at Sacramento City College and the response from the Los Rios District, go to ARCurrent.com

MOURNING | PAGE 3

Like many other students, Romy Ewing regularly catches the bus and light rail to travel between Los Rios campuses to get to her classes. That may change, however, if students reject a measure up for a vote on eServices on Sept. 22 and 23 that would renew the universal transit pass until 2021.

The universal transit pass (UTP) currently allows Los Rios students to travel on all Sacramento Regional Transit (RT) light rail and buses for a fee ranging from $5.54 to $16.62 per semester paid by all students as part of their registration fees.

The contract between Los Rios and Regional Transit ends in November 2016, after which there will be no UTP unless students approve Measure A. “(UTP) is so great because so many people have no other way of getting to school,” said Ewing. “It’d be a shame if someone couldn’t get to school because of something like that.”

Measure A would increase the fee students pay for the UTP to $2.10 per unit, capped at 15 units.

A student taking 15 or more units would pay $31.50 per semester, compared to $16.62 now.

The fees would no longer be covered by the Board of Governors (BOG) fee waiver, according to Juan Miguel Blanco, adviser for the Associated Student Body student government.

“That’s going to cause some difficulties for some students,” said Blanco. “That’s the honest truth.

“It is an ultimatum. Either students agree with the proposed agreement or students lose the bus pass.”

RT aims to increase the average fare for Los Rios students from 15 cents to 57 cents a trip.

If the cost falls below 50 cents per trip then, according to the draft terms for negotiation approved by the RT Board of Directors, RT can decide to terminate the agreement with a notice of one year.

Another change from the current agreement is that students taking three or less units would no longer be eligible for the UTP. “Many disabled students take between two and three units,” said Laurie Jones, an American River College student who serves as treasurer for Region 2 of the Student Senate for California

RT | PAGE 2

Page 2

September 16, 2015

News

ARC awarded federal grants

By Jordan Schauberger jschauberger94@gmail.com American River College was awarded three $1.1 million grants which will be used to benefit the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), Journey and Veterans Project programs on campus.

The money was awarded to the campus in July by the U.S. Department of Education through the Federal TRIO program. The TRIO program is designed to reach out to underprivileged students.

ARC is the only school in the Los Rios district to receive a TRIO grant.

ARC President Thomas Greene outlined how the money from the grants will be spent.

“It goes towards workshops, tutoring and counseling, field trips to four-year colleges and pays for the administrators of the program,” said Greene. “The students really receive a wrap-

around service.”

The Journey program, which was established in 2010 following another federal grant, provides services and support for low income first-generation students who are seeking a degree or looking to transfer.

Betty Low, project director for the Journey program, described the work Journey does as a way for students to utilize the resources on campus so that they can be successful.

“We’ve spent the last five years identifying students, working with them one-on-one and pairing them with peer tutors,” said Low. “We really focus on incoming freshman students so we can prepare them for what college culture is like, what classes are like and what professors expect.”

Jon Jordan, a student who went through the program and has now returned as a math tutor, compared Journey to the AVID program found at most high

schools.

“Journey is my AVID,” said Jordan. “Without (Journey) I wouldn’t have knowledge about transferring or information about four-year colleges like UC Davis and Sac State. Now, as a tutor, I’d be lost in the dark trying to help new students if it wasn’t for the program.”

Low is eager to put the money to good use and explore more options for the students in the program.

“The big push now that we’ve got the new grant and we’re good for the next five years is to ramp up and start doing new things,” said Low. “We get the opportunity to open the box and be like ‘look at this stuff’ and explore what it all means and what is actually an option for them.”

“It’s pretty cool,” Low added.

“We get to be like a cheerleader on the sideline for these students as we watch them succeed.”

In the fall of 2014, ARC was in

the process of reapplying for the the Journey program and, due to the success that Journey has experienced over the past five years, the Department of Education decided to write grants for the STEM and the Veterans Project programs as well.

Both programs will use the awards to support low-income and first-generation students.

However, the STEM programs focus more on students who show an interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

“It provides a resource for the other colleges in the district,” said Greene about the grants and what it means for the other community colleges in the district. “It strengthens our ability to collaborate and that goes both ways.”

ARC is in the process of planning a proposal for three new grants in the education talent search branch of the TRIO program for early next year.

RT: Measure would renew pass until 2021 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Community Colleges.

RT said it is working now to address these concerns.

“The concern relative to disabled students enrolled in three units or less has recently come to our attention,” said Rosemary Covington, the assistant general manager of planning and transit system development for RT, in an email. “We are working with Los Rios staff to address the issue.”

ARC student Bruce Rand said that allowing only students with more than three units at the school to have a UTP may encourage students to take more units at ARC. “This seems quite important,” said Rand. “It gives encouragement for students to bump up their units a little bit.”

Students taking three units or less, however, would be eligible for a discounted monthly RT pass, which is currently priced at $100 but would be $50 with a discount.

Students taking three or less units have also been deemed ineligible to vote in the election.

“The reason why that’s happening is according to the education

John Ferrannini / jferr1995@gmail.com

American River College students hurry to board the No. 1 bus near the corner of College Oak Drive and Orange Grove Avenue on Aug. 31.

code, if you’re not impacted by this measure, (the Los Rios district is) allowed to say you don’t get to vote,” said Garrett Kegel, the student senate president.

Jones critiqued the decision to limit the election to students who are taking more than three units. “(The district is) saying they won’t be impacted but they will

ASBNOTEBOOK

By Jordan Schauberger jschauberger94@gmail.com The Associated Student Body has appointed members to both the Clubs and Events Board and Student Senate as they continue to find their footing to start the year.

CAEB swore in Mary Stedman as vice president, which brings the total leadership board to three students.

With five positions still vacant, CAEB President Justin Nicholson mentioned that he has received several packets and hopes to be filling out the board’s “skeleton crew” soon.

Student Senate has had more luck filling out their board and has

appointed four new Senators.

Kevin Phan and James Cortwight were appointed during Thursday’s meeting and David Hylton and Laurie Jones were appointed during the previous week’s meeting.

ASB has, as a whole, unanimously endorsed the universal transit pass Measure A. The measure will increase the fee students pay for UTP to $2.10 per unit, capping at 15 units.

The board approved to allocate $300 to print business cards for the Senate members.

“Business cards are the best form of advocacy that we can have,” said Tamara Dunning, who acted as ASB student senate president last year.

be because they don’t get a bus pass,” said Jones. “That’s a bit interesting.”

Included in the agreement is a flat $10 fee that any student during the summer session can pay for a UTP lasting from their first to last day of classes. There is currently no UTP during the summer months.

Cameron Weaver, the Los Rios student trustee, expressed his frustration with Measure A. “We’re kind of in a situation where we don’t have a choice,” said Weaver.

Jones agrees with Weaver’s sentiment.

“They’re playing hardball. It’s take it or leave it,” Jones said. “If we don’t pass it, there will be no student passes at all. It feels a little odd.”

According to RT, Los Rios students accounted for 4.4 million rides on buses and light rail in the 2014 fiscal year. RT claims that if approved, the new agreement could increase their revenue by $1.4 million in the first year.

RT said the move to limit the UTP to students taking more than three units is an effort to cut down on fraud.

“Limiting pass sales to students enrolled in more than three units is designed to remove what has become an incentive for individuals who enroll in classes for the sole purpose of obtaining a lower fare on RT,” said Covington. “No RT passenger pays the full cost of a transit trip and any form of fare abuse helps reduce the percentage of the cost of a trip paid by our riders.”

STUDENT GOVERNMENT APPOINTS MEMBERS TO MOSTLY EMPTY BOARDS

The board also allocated $300 a piece to fund the printing of bike locker forms and advertising for the Measure A vote on the universal transit pass to encourage students to vote yes. Both bills passed by a vote of 4-1.

“I think that things are being done out of order,” said Sen. Jones, who voted against both bills.

“I’m not against what the bills are doing, but we need to find out how the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) is going to divide funds between Student Senate and CAEB before we approve to fund these bills,” she said.

The board approved a resolution in response to 138 reported crimes on campus between January and March 2015.

ON THE WEB For weekly coverage of the Student Senate and Clubs and Events Board meetings, go to ARCurrent.com

The resolution calls for education on crime and sexual assault prevention, implication of more technology, allocation of resources and collaboration between the ASB and administration.

CAEB is planning a Club Day for September 24 that will have a “Let the Games Begin” theme.

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current Editor-in-Chief John Ferrannini Managing Editors Cheyenne Drur y Matthew Peirson News Editor Lena DoBynes Sports Editors Nicholas Corey Kevin Sheridan Arts and Culture Editor Joseph Daniels Scene Editors Emily Thompson Ashley Nanfria Opinion Editors Ashlynn Johnson Mychael Jones Multimedia Editor Kameron Schmid Web Editor Barbara Har vey Staff Noor Abasi Jose Garcia Johnnie Heard Matthew Nober t Michael Pacheco Joe Padilla Iris Page Karen Reay Jordan Schauberger 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 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. 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

September 16, 2015

News

Page 3

Alert: District to review policies

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

right there at that time.”

The shooting, which Los Rios Chief of Police Cheryl Sears said began at 3:56 p.m., sent the campus into a lockdown, but most staff and faculty at SCC had to figure that out for themselves, rather than receiving an alert from the school.

“We didn’t know what was going on,” said Barbara Izzo, an employee at the library. “We had no communication. All I heard was ‘Oh, there’s a lockdown,’ and I had 400 students on the second and third floor.”

In most cases, students and faculty agree that the email and text alerts about the lockdown came around 4:40 p.m., roughly 45 minutes after the shooting. Those on campus were unaware of the nature of the shooting, if the shooter was on the loose and what they were supposed to do.

Biology professor Virginia Meyer said on Friday that she and a fellow professor had to call the police themselves and tell them what they knew, at which point they were told to get all the students inside their building and lock the doors.

The only problem with that was the main entrance to Lillard Hall is set in an open position in the morning, and can only be closed and locked with both an allen wrench and the key. Meyer said the moments where they struggled to close the door were frightening.

“It took us a while to figure out,” she said. “It was scary because we were trying to get students in and get them behind locked doors and safe.”

Meyer’s husband, Robert Meyer, was working in Shingle Springs when he was called by his wife and told that there was an active shooter on campus. When he learned of some of the problems the school had during the lockdown, he became angry.

“If it had been someone coming on campus to do real harm, instead of probably a gang thing, that could have been a disaster. And not having a tool to lock the door?

Ditto. It’s ridiculous,” he said.

All told, many on campus on Sept. 4 expressed frustration at the delay between the shooting and the alert being sent out.

“I was really mad,” said Izzo. “My son called me at 4:04 p.m., and I didn’t get a notification from the school until 4:40.

“I think that they weren’t prepared. You have to contact 24,000 students.”

According to Scott Crow, American River College’s public information officer, the ALERT text message system used at Los Rios colleges started “at least four to five years” ago.

Barbara Harvey / barbaraapharvey@gmail.com

Robert Meyer, the husband of Sacramento City College biology professor Virginia Meyer, and Mary Robinson, an employee at the college’s library, hug at the “love-in” held at the Quad at SCC on Sept. 4, 2015, the day after a fatal shooting occurred on campus.

The ALERT system is designed to inform students, faculty and staff about emergencies on campus. It is run through W.A.R.N. Command, a Tennessee-based company that runs emergency alert systems.

According to Rick Brewer, SCC’s public information officer, the response took 45 minutes to ensure accurate information and to follow district protocol.

“We were waiting for the exact, right information,” said Brewer. “We were not about to put our erroneous information just to be wrong.”

Brewer said that once the credibility of the shooting was established, Los Rios Chief of Police Cheryl Sears was informed and she decided with Laduan Smedley, the vice president of administrative services, to put the school on lockdown and told him to send out the alert.

“It takes a few minutes. This is not something that takes seconds,” said Brewer. “I called the company that does the alerts and dictated the message and they sent it out at the earliest available time.”

Crow said that students can sign up for the ALERT system when they apply to a Los Rios college, when they fill out their

supplementary enrollment form before each semester or at any time through their eServices accounts.

Messages can be tailored to particular campuses or even groups of people on campus. Even students who do not sign up to receive text messages receive similar alerts on their Los Rios Gmail accounts.

“It really depends on the situation,” said Crow. “There are different lists (for) day students, night students (and) different places.”

According to data kept by the district, the system was used for “serious” messages four times between April 2014 and Thursday’s shooting.

Only one of these was for American River College, when in January, students, faculty and staff at the Natomas Center were informed about an individual with a weapon in the area.

Chief Sears agreed with Brewer’s assessment of why it took 45 minutes to send the text message alert.

“We waited until we had a specific fact to send out,” she said.

Not everybody got the alert at the same time, according to Sears.

“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.”

Barry Kalar, an administration of justice professor at SCC, agreed that relying on technology brings its own challenges. He said he was informed of the shooting at about 4:40 p.m.

“The problem is that when I’m teaching, I’m not looking at my phone,” said Kalar.

“One of my students got it on her phone and said ‘Oh my God, we’re in lockdown.’”

Los Rios Chancellor Brian King said that the speed of the ALERT system was something he intends to look at.

“It’s never quick enough,” said King.

“The need to get the response out quickly is there, so that’s one of the things that we’ll examine. What can we do to speed that process?”

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 as we move forward together.”

Mourning: ‘You don’t expect that to happen here’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The Sacramento Police Department is investigating whether the shooting was connected with gang activity.

Police arrested SCC student Rico Ridgeway, 24, early Sept. 4 for his role in the altercation that led to the shooting. Ridgeway was transported to the hospital after the shooting with minor injuries which did not require treatment.

Ridgeway, who was held on a parole violation, was seen in a video of the incident trying to give CPR to Gonzalez as he lay on the ground moments after the shooting.

The suspected shooter, described by police as a male, wearing a white shirt and cargo shorts and Tongan has not been apprehended by police as of press time.

Police said that Gonzalez and Ridgeway were involved in an altercation with two other men in a faculty parking lot. Ridgeway

allegedly stabbed an SCC student, who was taken to the hospital but is expected to survive.

Then a fourth man shot Gonzalez and Ridgeway, killing Gonzalez and wounding Ridgeway.

Ryan Walker, an employee at the nearby KFC, was walking on campus with his girlfriend, an SCC student, when he heard gunshots.

“I heard six to seven gunshots and (my girlfriend) asked ‘What’s that?’ I said ‘gunshots’ and she didn’t believe me. That’s when across the street we saw a bunch of people standing around. There was a heavyset white fellow lying down and they were trying to resuscitate him ... We saw another skinny fellow walking around panicking. I think that was (the victim’s) friend.”

Vienna Montague, news editor of the Sac City Express, was in disbelief as news of the shooting spread.

“We kind of all thought it might

be a hoax at first because it’s impossible to imagine that there’s been a shooting on your campus.”

SCC student Tyler Cole was in the library when he learned of the shooting.

“I got a text from my mom asking me if I was OK … I was sitting in the library checking the internet, and very soon there was a post from KCRA saying three people got shot. Quickly after, one was reported dead.”

Cole remained in the library during the lockdown.

“We were on lockdown for about an hour and twenty minutes, and then the cops came in and cleared it, building-to-building, and eventually let us out,” said Cole after being evacuated.

A memorial was erected at the spot in the staff and faculty parking lot where Gonzalez was shot.

“RIP Flaks,” was spelled out in tea candles and surrounded by flowers, balloons and empty bottles of Hennessy. “Flaks” was

Gonzalez’s nickname. Family and friends were gathered around the memorial, but declined to comment.

Students were invited to an open counseling session with Los Rios counselors and police chaplains on Sept. 4 from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Others attended a “love in” at the nearby quad—an event organized by Supervisor of Admissions and Records Kim Goff as a way for the Sacramento City College community to come together and process their emotions.

“It was a traumatic event and we have a history of coming together after something happens that is either really good or really bad,” Goff said. “So, it just seemed like the right thing to do.”

Goff noted that the community was still very much in mourning the day after the shooting.

“People are sad. People are really sad. You know, someone lost his life. These things, it’s one of those things where, ‘Oh, it always

happens somewhere else.’ Now it’s happened here.”

Student services employee John Cornejo taped posters around campus with encouraging messages like “Times like this bring us together” and “Panther family.” Cornejo said that the mood on campus was “somber.”

“A lot of students aren’t showing up because what happened,” said Cornejo. “You don’t expect that to happen here.”

Los Rios Chancellor Brian King described the shooting as a “nightmare.”

“It’s your worst nightmare to find out that something has happened to one of our students on one of our campuses,” said King.

King reiterated, however, that he is proud of how the SCC dealt with the shooting.

“Many people here who didn’t know how great their risk was put themselves in harm’s way to help students and others get to the right place,” said King.

September 16, 2015

Page 4

Sports

O-line features ‘players’ coach’ CRABTREE WANTS ‘PHYSICAL IDENTITY’

By Johnnie Heard johnnieheardiii@gmail.com

Barbara Harvey / barbaraapharvey@gmail.com

Clockwise from left, cross-country runners Stephen Gibson, Anthony Sanchez, Leo Ochoa and cross-country coach Rick Anderson visit the giveaway table at the reopening of the Dusty Baker Center on Sept. 1. The center helps student athletes manage issues including eligibility and financial aid.

Athletic center reopens

By Matthew Nobert matthewnobert95@gmail.com Student athletes once again have a place to call their own with the reopening of the Dusty Baker Center, which closed its doors almost three years ago.

During its closure, athletes had to go to general counselors.

The center was originally closed in part because it was too small.

Now that the center has returned, there are full-time and part-time athletic counselors to help students achieve their academic and athletic goals.

The center also wants to help

clear up any confusion as far as eligibility and financial aid are concerned.

The overall goal of the center is to “help with the academic side of the student athlete,” said Olga Prizhbilov, a student personal assistant at the center.

The center also hosts workshops for eligibility, time management, study skills and “de-stressing.”

The center has held 16 workshops over the summer during the evenings to work with the athletes busy schedules.

The workshops were hosted for the football team to help

them with time management and study skills.

“It helps when counselors know about your academic and athletic goals,” said cross-country runner Anthony Sanchez.

The center will also be offering incentives to individual athletes and teams that obtain a certain GPA throughout the year.

In addition, the California Community College Athletic Association Scholar Award will be given to any athletes that fulfill the requirements for the award, which require that athletes maintain a GPA of 3.2, play at least two semesters and are recommended by the faculty representative.

On top of helping with academic concerns, athletic counselor Diana Allie said the center also “advocates for mainstreaming athletes.”

Mainstreaming helps athletes get out of the comfort zone of only being in contact with fellow athletes and helps them become apart of the ARC community as a whole.

Allie said that the center understands that the “life of student athletes is a sense of urgency.”

Already multiple coaches have signed up their teams for workshops and the staff is hoping to see many more join.

Former athletic dean returns INTERIM DIRECTOR ‘SO ENTHUSIASTIC IT’S CONTAGIOUS,’ SAYS WOMEN’S GOLF COACH

By Kevin Sheridan kevinsheridan56@gmail.com Even though he had been away from American River College for years, Bruce Werner made sure he checked the box scores for every sport.

Werner, who was ARC’s dean of athletics from 1979 to 2001, has returned as the school’s interim athletic director until Nov. 1 in place of Greg Warzecka, who retired last month.

Having spent 22 years at ARC, Werner said he became connected to it.

“It was great. I love this place,” said Werner. “Good people, good students.”

Prior to coming to ARC, Werner was a football and tennis coach for Chabot College for 13 years, and won an award for coaching and administration.

Werner said he enjoys working with students as a mentor, teacher and as a “sounding board for people with problems,” even having a reunion in June for his 1966-1967 men’s tennis team. “(Those were the) best years of my

career. You’re working with students everyday,” said Werner. “Coaches have a special relationship with students. You develop some bonds with people that last for years and years.

What happens to a team is really meaningful and it stays with them for a long time.”

While at Chabot, Werner and nine other faculty members founded an education center that eventually became Las Positas College, according to the California Community College Athletic Association.

Werner said the job he has allows him to become invested in the program as a whole.

“When you have a job like mine, you become invested in (ARC’s) program and its people,” said Werner. “I got a lot of good friends of mine here and I’m still interested in how they’re doing.”

Adaptive PE instructor and current women’s golf head coach Raye Maero, who was hired by a committee that included Werner, described him as being a “good guy.”

“It was my first community college job, so he was instrumental in help-

ing me become a good professor. (He was) very clear in what he expected of people and he gave us good info on how to improve,” said Maero, adding that he often encouraged his staff to be on committees and to go to conferences.

Maero also described Werner as being a very enthusiastic person who people want to work hard for. “(He’s) so enthusiastic it’s contagious,” said Maero. “The staff is happy he’s our interim right now.”

Werner was part of a successful attempt to block the defunding of community college PE classes in the early 1980s and was named the Physical Education Administrator of the year.

According to assistant athletic director and men’s track and field head coach Rick Anderson, Werner was always involved in various fundraisers around ARC. This included being a part of the “hoop it up” fundraiser, which came to ARC in May 2000. “(He’s) different than anyone we’ve had,” said Anderson. “He’s the kind of dean that believes he should be part of everything.”

Bruce Werner, who was the dean of athletics from 1979 to 2001, has returned as an interim until Nov. 1 following the retirement of Greg Warzecka.

American River College offensive line coach Josh Crabtree is used to being versatile.

Hired in 2013, Crabtree was a two-sport athlete in high school, starring in both football and baseball.

Afterward, Crabtree played both sports at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.

“It was the kind of school where if we didn’t beat you on the field we knew we would beat you in the classroom,” said Crabtree.

By age 23, Crabtree started teaching at his alma mater, Bear Creek High School in Stockton, before moving to Sacramento where he coached baseball and football at Sheldon High School in Elk Grove for 11 years.

Crabtree reconnected with ARC’s football head coach Jon Osterhout. They originally met in coaching classes together.

“Things kind of fell into place personally,” said Crabtree.

Crabtree said he feels optimistic about this year’s offensive line, even saying that this offensive line could be better than last year’s.

Led by the returning starting tackles Max Harrison and Rafael Aguilar, the offensive line will utilize a zone blocking scheme to open up holes for its running game.

It is a physical identity that Crabtree said will help wear a team down.

“Physical run blocking is what every coach wants: to control the clock and grind a team down,” said Crabtree. “We run a spread offense, so when four wide receivers trot onto the field people assume we are a finesse team.

“But we try to maintain a physical identity.”

Harrison credits Crabtree for making him a better all around player.

“Coach Crabtree is an excellent coach,” said Harrison. “He changed my mindset about football.”

Harrison said he believes in coach Crabtree’s approach to the game.

“I bought into his system and believe in everything he stands for, which is hard work and execution,” said Harrison.

Crabtree’s players not only believe in his system but they believe in him as a motivator and as someone who gets the best out of his players.

“He is a players’ coach, but ultimately he is not here to be my best friend,” said Aguilar. “He’s here to push me day in and day out for me to be the best version of myself.”

Crabtree plans to put the offensive line’s skills on display Saturday, as ARC hosts San Joaquin Delta College (1-1) at 6 p.m.

Sports

September 16, 2015

Page 5

Women’s soccer makes a splash ARC SHUTS OUT THIRD STRAIGHT TEAM DURING MATCH ON WATER-LOGGED PITCH

By Johnnie Heard johnnieheardiii@gmail.com

Matthew Wilke / mattwilke675@gmail.com

Yuba City College’s Stephanie Menqula makes a splash after falling on the water-logged soccer pitch during ARC’s 2-0 win on Friday. Theresa Cooper, 14, had one of ARC’s two goals in the game, helping ARC advance to a 3-1 start.

Poor field conditions didn’t deter American River College’s women’s soccer team in its 2-0 win against Yuba College, resulting in the team’s second consecutive shut out Friday.

Several pockets of water were spread out throughout the field, making for a slippery play surface.

The condition of the field was due to a “required testing for the new (water) well,” according to Scott Crow, ARC’s public information officer.

“The conditions were kind of rough today, our passes weren’t able to finish because the puddles would stop them, so that was pretty difficult,” said sophomore goalie Stephanie Doss.

ARC started slow in the first half as Yuba got three early shots on goal, all of which were deflected by Doss.

“The first half we played like we had already won the game,” said ARC head coach Paul Arellanes.

“The second half we played with a little more urgency. A little

SPORTSUPDATES

more desire,” Arellanes said.

ARC picked up its pace as the match continued, with the team’s exchanging shots on goal throughout the latter part of the first half.

Yuba was aggressive in the offensive zone but was unable to score despite four shots on goal.

“We played a pretty good game, we’re starting to come together as a team,” said Doss, who finished the match with two saves.

ARC forward Amanda Holtzen scored the game’s first goal in the first half “I think we played pretty well as a team, now we’re ready for Fresno,” said Holtzen.

ARC forward Theresa Cooper scored the game’s only other goal in the second half on an assist from defensive player Whitney Pickard.

Arellanes said he is optimistic and looking towards the team’s next game at Fresno City College.

“It’s been a good week,” said Arellanes. “We’ve got two shutouts, one at West Valley 1-0 and now one here 2-0, and now we’re getting ourselves ready for Fresno next Friday and league (tournament) after that.”

MEN’S CROSS-COUNTRY ARC ranks third in the state and defeated first ranked Mt. San Antonio College by 20 points to win the Fresno Invitational. ARC placed five runners in the top 11, including sophomore Abdul Hamid, who ranked third with a time of 20 minutes and 57 seconds.

WOMEN’S CROSS-COUNTRY Sophomore team captain Jenica Dodge won the overall 5K title in the Fresno Invitational with a time difference of thirty seconds between her and the second place finisher.

ARC placed seventh overall among competitors, with a total score of 222.

Joe Padilla / jppadilla@gmail.com

Golden West College attacker Nicole Van Leeuwen blocks American River College utility player Rya Minow during the water polo match on Friday.

VOLLEYBALL

WOMEN’S WATER POLO

The team has started its season 5-3 with a win at San Joaquin Delta College on Sept. 12 during the Delta Classic Tournament. It defeated Delta in three games in the match by scores of 25-19, 25-19 and 15-9.

It’s next home match will be Friday against Porterville College.

The team has started its season 1-31 after an 8-7 loss against Mt. San Antonio College in the River Rage Tournament on Saturday. Only in its win against Cerritos College did it score double digit-points in a game this season, with 10.

MEN’S SOCCER

MEN’S WATER POLO

The team has started its season 0-41, tying Cerritos 1-1 on Sept. 6. In its most recent match, the team lost to City College of San Francisco 2-1 on Saturday. ARC next faces a road match versus 4-1 De Anza, , who is coming off a 3-1 win over Mt. San Antonio College.

The team has started its season 0-2 after a tournament at Merced College. Its next game in tournament will be on tomorrow in San Luis Obispo. It will begin regular season action Sept. 23 at Diablo Valley College, and open at home in October.

UPCOMING HOME GAMES 09/16 Men’s Soccer vs. Napa 4:30 p.m.

09/18 Volleyball vs. Cabrillo 5 p.m.

09/18 Women’s Soccer vs. Fresno 5 p.m.

09/19 Football vs. San Joaquin Delta 6 p.m.

09/26 Volleyball vs. Butte Noon 09/29 Men’s Soccer vs. Santa Rosa 4 p.m.

09/30 Volleyball vs. Santa Rosa 6:30 p.m.

10/02 Women’s Soccer vs. Modesto 4 p.m.

September 16, 2015

Page 6

Sports

Offense critical in 38-2 win FIVE TDS LEADS TEAM TO VICTORY

By John Ferrannini jferr1995@gmail.com

Barbara Harvey / barbaraapharvey@gmail.com

ARC defensive lineman Anthony Luke brings down De Anza College running back Trevon Harris during ARC’s 38-2 win against De Anza on Sept. 12.

ARC rebounds from loss PLAYERS ANSWER 41-10 DEFEAT AT MODESTO WITH 38-2 ROUT OF DE ANZA COLLEGE

By Kevin Sheridan kevinsheridan56@ gmail.com After losing its opener at Modesto Junior College by 31 points, American River College’s football team stands at 1-1 after defeating De Anza College 38-2.

It will try to move above .500 Saturday at home as it plays San Joaquin Delta College (1-1).

Day and night difference

After getting blown out by MJC in the road opener, ARC was able to balance itself with a 38-2 win over De Anza College.

ARC failed to move the ball on offense in the first half against MJC, but scored three touchdowns in the first half against De Anza.

After rushing for just 26 yards on 30 carries against MJC, ARC ran for 189 yards on 39 carries against De Anza, 131 of which came from running back Armand Shyne.

“The O-line played exceptional in regards to opening holes for De Anza,” said ARC football head coach Jon Osterhout. “We put a lot on our O-line to carry our football program.”

After the Sept. 5 loss, both ARC coaches and players blamed a poor week of practice for its performance, and both noted a better week of practice as a determining factor in the win.

“It was one of those things where we had a good week of practice … these kids didn’t think they could practice at the level we are now,” said ARC offensive line coach Josh Crabtree.

Osterhout said the team will get ready to face SJDC. “Good win. We’re going to enjoy it tonight and get ready for (SJDC),” said Osterhout. “Win-

“

Winning is the greatest deodorant.

JONOSTERHOUT ning is the greatest deodorant.”

QB recovers after poor start

ARC starting quarterback Jihad Vercher rebounded from a poor start against MJC where he threw one interception and one lost fumble by throwing for three touchdowns against De Anza College.

Vercher, a sophomore transfer from Sacramento State, has a 60 percent completion rate for the season and 460 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.

According to Vercher, the Sept.

5 loss against MJC helped to focus the team.

“It turned the switch on,” Vercher said. “It made us realize you’re not guaranteed anything.

You got to earn everything.”

Fresh faces on defense

ARC lost many of its defensive stalwarts from a season ago, most notably defensive tackle Jordan Carrell, who transferred to the University of Colorado, and linebacker Austin Paulhus, who transferred to the University of Nevada.

These transfers have meant that many new starters have had to quickly settle into roles in ARC’s defense, which ranked 6th in the state last season, giving up 19 points and 264 yards per game.

In last week’s win over De Anza, freshman defensive line-

Barbara Harvey / barbaraapharvey@gmail.com

American River College wide receiver Khalil Hudson celebrates in the endzone after catching a touchdown pass from quarterback Jihad Vercher during ARC’s 38-2 victory over De Anza College on Sept. 12.

man Anthony Luke had a sack, an interception and five total tackles.

Freshman linebacker and captain Jordan Kunaszyk, who was a medical redshirt last season, has 23 tackles through the first two weeks, which ranks third in the state, and a sack.

“We lost a lot of sophomores.

We lost a few defensive starters due to academics, and one injury.

It’s a new team,” said Kunaszyk after ARC’s 41-10 loss at MJC. After two weeks, ARC’s defense is ranked in the middle of the pack at 28th in the state out of 69 teams, giving opponents averages of 306 yards and 21.5 points per game.

American River College’s offense found the end zone five times in its 38-2 victory over De Anza College in its home opener.

The offense also racked up 390 total yards, 189 of which came on the ground.

Quarterback Jihad Vercher credited Saturday’s win to the offensive line.

“Shout out to the O-line. It starts with those guys,” said Vercher.

“The reason we had all those big passes is because they were blocking their a**** off.”

Less than three minutes into the game, Vercher hit wide receiver Jonathan Lopez for a 26yard touchdown to give ARC a 7-0 lead.

Vercher added that the mindset changed after last week’s loss at Modesto Junior College.

“Nothing changed as far as practice wise, we just had a different mindset,” said Vercher.

Osterhout said that the team sticks to its process.

“There’s a standard with how we play, how we practice, how we train in the weight room. We just screwed things down tighter and it showed on the scoreboard,” he said.

Doug Grush, the team’s offensive coordinator, agreed with that assessment.

“Guys were teed off about losing last week and we had a good week of practice,” said Grush. “De Anza put more pressure than people expected, but our guys didn’t flinch.”

Late in the first quarter, Vercher threw a shovel pass to running back Armand Shyne for a 43-yard touchdown.

The second quarter saw Vercher throw for a 13-yard touchdown run in by wide receiver Khalil Hudson.

Shyne rushed for an 11-yard touchdown near the end of the first half, which gave ARC a 31-0 lead going into the half.

The final touchdown of the night was also scored by Shyne, who ran it in from 55 yards out with 6:08 left in the third quarter.

Shyne also credited the offensive line for giving him the opportunity to score. “(The line) opened it, I read it,” said Shyne.

“I just want to thank my linemen. That’s all really.”

Offensive line coach Josh Crabtree said that the players are getting better with timing and practice, but warned against becoming too confident.

“They’re learning that what was good enough in 12th grade isn’t good enough on the junior college level,” said Crabtree.

Crabtree also warned against the challenges ahead.

“What we do now, in week two, doesn’t have anything to do with week eleven,” he said.

Feature

September 16, 2015

Page 7

Barbara Harvey / barbaraapharvey@gmail.com

GOS” stands before his piece “Pop Culture Icon Float Like A Butterfly,” a portrait of Muhammad Ali that recently came back from display at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

PAINT THE TOWN

GOS” FORMER ARC PROFESSOR BRINGS LIGHT TO DEL PASO ART COMMUNITY WITH COLORFUL POP ART PAINTINGS

By Emily Thompson emilyt296@gmail.com Despite his recent success, painter Gerry Otis Simpson, better known by his artworld moniker GOS”, only ever picked up a paintbrush for the first time as a way to decorate his walls cheaply.

“I just have fun,” Simpson said. “I started painting because I couldn’t afford to buy art that I really like, so how do I cover my walls? With art I create myself.”

But what began as the result of thrift has evolved into a blossoming career. The former American River College visual merchandising professor opened his own art gallery this summer on Del Paso Boulevard to a crowd of over 300, and has made waves in the art world with his colorful, pop art depictions of African-American life.

Simpson gets his ideas for his paintings from his everyday life. He first started with kids (based on his own), which are still a focus of his art, as evidenced by his “Let The Children Play” series, a collection of paintings depicting children in urban environments at play.

Years after picking up his first paint brush, his works have been featured on TV shows like “90210” and on permanent display in various locations including the UC Davis Medical Center. One of his personal favorite paintings, “Pop Icon Float Like A

Butterfly,” just came back from being on display at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Originally from New Jersey, Simpson has been involved in creative ventures since he was a child, including music, modeling, photography, and notably fashion merchandising—the reason he came to California in the first place.

After winning a trip to California through a fashion contest, Simpson began working in San Jose as a stylist for Nordstrom.

Simpson moved to Sacramento to work as a merchandising manager when Nordstrom opened at Arden Fair Mall, and it was there that he met ARC interior planning and design professor Marie Cooley.

“I met Gerry and was blown away by his knowledge and personality: I knew he would make a great teacher,” said Cooley.

Cooley hired Simpson as a professor of visual merchandising and fashion promotion for ARC’s fashion department. He held the job for 10 years before leaving to pursue other interests, but was transformative to the program during his time there. “(Simpson) taught our VM class for many years and brought it to a wonderful, para-professional level … People who were regulars at the Oak Cafe would arrive early just to look at the window displays from Gerry’s classes,” Cooley said.

Eva Meisner-Bell, a student personnel assistant in the Career Center and former colleague of Simpson’s, says she found

Barbara Harvey / barbaraapharvey@gmail.com

Simpson’s “Untitled,” an acrylic work featuring his signature circles, hangs in his “galletique.”

“something that was very touching about his art,” and appreciates the “cultural nuances that he makes it a point to add to his art.”

Simpson remembers his time at ARC fondly. He said that teaching at ARC will always be one of the things he is most proud of—and fashion is still a large part of his life, as is apparent when browsing his gallery.

The sharply-dressed Simpson has filled his space with brightly colored paintings, mannequins, and figures. The walls of the Del Paso “galletique”—a portmanteau of “gallery” and “boutique” he uses to describe his space—are lined with shelves meticulously decorated with trinkets in a way only a merchandiser could.

For now, Simpson’s main goal is to bring more artists into his space to showcase local up-and-coming artists and reinvigorate the Del Paso artist community.

The community of artists in Del Paso Heights was once bustling, but after the murder of a gallery owner in the late ’90s and the development of artist housing in midtown, the scene mostly moved downtown.

Like his many personal reinventions, Simpson now hopes to help reinvent the Barbara Harvey / barbaraapharvey@gmail.com community, and wants his “galletique” to Simpson’s “Up, Up and Away,” an acrylic on be a catalyst for resurrecting the cultural canvas painting from his “Let The Children spirit of Del Paso.

Play” series, shows GOS”’s signature style.

“I want to be what makes Del Paso come back alive,” Simpson said.

Page 8

Arts&Culture

September 16, 2015

Vocal jazz

group to recruit students

ENSEMBLE TRAINS FOR NOV. 4 CONCERT

By Jose Garcia and Paul Xayphone jig.garcia1995@gmail.com, paulxayphone.arc@gmail. com

Karen Reay / karenraychel@gmail.com

“The Music Man” cast members rehearse choreography for the upcoming show. The show is directed by ARC professor Sam Williams and opens Oct. 9.

A con man comes to ARC ‘THE MUSIC MAN,’ A TONY-AWARD WINNER, IS SET TO OPEN ON CAMPUS THIS OCTOBER

By Iris Page iris.page@gmail.com The American River College theater department is currently rehearsing for an upcoming musical, “The Music Man,” that features a con man who attempts to trick a small town into thinking he’s a band organizer.

The musical won five Tony Awards when it made its run on Broadway.

“It’s family entertainment,”

said ARC professor Sam Williams, who is the director of the production.

Williams chose “The Music Man” for having a large lineup of characters. This allowed him to cast more students for roles.

“It’s going have a whole lot of beautiful scenery,” said Williams.

“A whole lot of humorous acting, a whole lot of dazzling dancing.

It’s going to be grand.”

Student actors said they are enthusiastic about this year’s

play.

“When you see the barbershop quartet, you’re going to fall apart,” said Zackary Tucker, who has been selected to play the mayor of the city. It will be his first play at ARC. “We put a lot of work and time into the show,” said student actor Deon Taylor. “It’s going to be awesome because there’s a lot of talent in the show.”

The play is written by Meredith Willson. He also is known for

writing the musicals “The Unsinkable Molly Brown”, “Miracle on 34th Street” and “1491.”

Taylor, who has been in previous ARC plays, said that he likes that Williams is allowing the actors to develop their characters themselves.

“He leaves it up to us and respects our craft as well as we respect that he can tell us what we’re missing,” said Taylor.

“The Music Man” will make its debut on Oct. 9.

School honors late professor KANEKO GALLERY DEDICATES ART SHOWCASE TO THE MEMORY OF ARTIST ALBERTSON

By Joseph Daniels joseph64daniels@gmail.com When he first discovered late American River College professor Jim Albertson’s paintings, art professor Mick Sheldon said that his initial reaction was that he hated them. However, he said he grew to love them after they stuck in his mind for years.

Albertson died from natural causes in July. He had lived in Sacramento since 1989 after living in Oakland.

ARC’s James Kaneko Gallery, curated by Sheldon, is hosting an art show dedicated to Albertson through tomorrow.

“He was the smartest man that I know,” Sheldon said. “Jim Albertson knew everything about art.”

Albertson’s work was described by several faculty members as having roots in realism, but often his work would appear dreamlike, and even possess nightmarish qualities.

Kewpie dolls and African art could also be seen playing frequent roles in Albertson’s work as well.

“He would be the guy who would drag in a box filled kewpie dolls, because he would collect kewpie dolls from the state fairs and carnivals, and he would col-

Noor Abasi / abasinoor916@gmail.com

“Table Land/On the Edge” by the late ARC art professor James Albertson is featured at the James Kaneko Gallery until tomorrow. The first Kaneko show of the school year was dedicated to Albertson’s work.

lect African art,” Sheldon said.

Art professor Jodi Hooker agreed with Sheldon’s high assessment of Albertson.

“If I was out on second Saturday, and I would see him and his wife at a gallery, hearing his comments about the work, and the questions that he asked and the thoughts he had about the work of any artist

out there were just super spot on, and intriguing and very bright,” Hooker said.

Some of the art professors said that Albertson was the type of professor who did not just teach new concepts to students, but to professors as well.

Because of that quality, Sheldon said that he believed Albertson

should have been teaching at a university.

“He would give you two cents about movement that was happening, or maybe about a work that everyone was looking at,” said Mattson. “I always felt he was always going to be a wealth of information, and a wealth of knowledge.”

Arthur Lapierre, the vocal jazz ensemble director, held auditions for American River College’s advanced vocal jazz ensemble to seek students with an enthusiastic sound for their upcoming performances.

Auditions for the advanced jazz ensemble were held Aug. 25 in the music department for a concert that will open on Nov. 4.

“You have to work hard to be on the jazz ensemble, that’s the negative,” said Lapierre.

“The positive is that you will have the skills to hang at a big school.”

Students were given a week to prepare for the audition.

Everyone auditioning had to sing in four-part harmony to a song titled “There Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens.”

Students who are selected are expected to make a two semester commitment.

Colin Ingraham auditioned for the part of tenor in the ensemble.

“I’m immersed in music this semester because it’s my passion and I’m pursuing it now,” said Ingraham.

The audition not only drew the attention of students with a passion for singing, but also attracted a professional singer.

Beth Duncan is a professional singer from Sacramento who has been a recording artist for over 30 years and has been focusing on jazz exclusively for 15 years.

“I was nervous while auditioning. You’d be a fool not to be in a competitive situation like that,” said Duncan.

Julia Merris-Miche, a student who sang on the beginning jazz ensemble for a year and a half, said she auditioned so she could show the progress she’s made over the last year.

“I was nervous going into it but I had the upperhand, because I knew what the audition piece was going to be, and I spent two weeks before school started getting familiar with the piece,” said Miche.

Auditions are usually held in the fall semester for an entire year, but students who want to join the jazz ensemble are welcome to talk to Lapierre about joining.

“I would like to work with any student at ARC who loves to sing. Come on by and sing in our award winning ensemble,” said Lapierre.

The Nov. 4 concert, the 8th Annual Jazz Solo Vocal Series Concert, will begin at 8 p.m. in the ARC Theatre. Admission is $10.

September 16, 2015

Scene

TAKETHISCLASS

By Michael Pachecho mfpach@gmail.com Student musicians interested in both honing their craft and learning a unique style of music have a great opportunity in the two unit MUP 323: Latin Jazz Ensemble course taught by Dyne Eifertsen.

“Latin Jazz is unlike any other course that is offered here at ARC,” said Ian Ellis, who plays trombone for the ensemble. “It’s more about feeling and soul than it is about technical playing, but at the same time you have to be able to play at a high technical level.”

Influenced by the Latin jazz ensemble that was offered at Sacramento State University, American River College music department head Dyne Eifertsen started the group in 2007.

“As I heard the Latin jazz ensemble, then directed by Steve Roche, we shared some music and started the Latin jazz group here,” said Eifertsen.

The main intention of the course is to serve as an entry point for students to start

Page 9

MUP 323: Latin Jazz Ensemble

getting used to Latin jazz so they can gain the skills needed to play in ensembles at a university.

“Oftentimes I will pick tunes that are not basic, but easier, so that jazz musicians that maybe are not used to Latin music can at least understand the format of the charts,” said Eifertsen.

The skill levels between the students in the class vary, which leads to its unique learning environment.

Commercial music major Nick Stinson enjoys playing with the skilled musicians that the class attracts.

“There are a lot of trained people already in the class, so it’s a very different vibe when compared to high school,” Stinson said. “They do not have to be glued to (reading) their music.

They are able to create their own unique sound and paint a picture with the music.”

Enrollment has been has been relatively high since the course was first offered.

Although having previous experience on an instrument is highly encouraged, it is not a requirement, and anyone with

Matthew Wilke / mattwilke675@gmail.com

Harold Louie Goodenough, right, practices on his saxophone during professor Dyne Eifertsen’s Latin Jazz Ensemble class. The class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:25 p.m. to 1:15 p.m., including lecture and lab.

a willingness to learn will be taught an instrument.

The course serves as an alternative to more traditional

music styles, such as symphonic band or studio jazz, and fulfills both elective requirements.

The ensemble performs sev-

eral concerts as well as some outside gigs throughout the semester, often performing in tandem with the studio jazz ensemble.

Coffee war brews at ARC ESTABLISHED STUDENT CENTER STARBUCKS FACES A BATTLE WITH BRAND NEW PEET’S COFFEE & TEA IN THE PORTABLE VILLAGE

By Ashley Nanfria and John Ferrannini ashleynanfria@gmail.com jferr1995@gmail.com

Kameron Schmid / kameronschmid@gmail.com

A student orders and waits for coffee at the new Peet’s Coffee & Tea. Lines are often shorter at Peet’s than at the Student Center Starbucks.

As caffeine-loving students may have noticed, there is a coffee war brewing at American River College.

Peet’s Coffee & Tea opened a new location in ARC’s portable village on Aug. 24 and hosted a taste test on Sept. 2 to promote their brand and encourage students to ditch the lines at the long-established Starbucks in the Student Center.

Singh said that she has to make sure advertisements for the Peet’s will not be too close to the Starbucks.

“I can’t have posters too close to the Starbucks, because they’re rivals, but they will be in the food court,” she said.

During the first week of school, Starbucks remained the coffee shop of choice for most

students on campus, with the lines particularly busy in-between classes.

“Starbucks is so convenient because I study here,” said Nicole Skrinnik, an accounting major. “I know that Starbucks gives a 50 cent refill for iced coffee.

“I usually prefer Peet’s, to be honest.”

Convenience was diminished by long lines, however.

“Usually the Starbucks line is busy and takes a really long time,” said Shohreh Ebrahimian, an economics major, who was buying Peet’s. “They raised the prices in the Starbucks. There’s less of a line here.”

Singh said that the Peet’s was opened on campus to provide access to coffee and food for people far from the Student Center.

“In the (southeast) corner (of the campus) they needed something,” said Singh. “It’s far away from the student center and they needed food service. Peet’s serves coffee, so they would be

ON THE WEB Which do you prefer, Peet’s or Starbucks? Take our online poll on the front page of our website, ARCurrent.com best there.”

Both the employees who work at the Peet’s and Starbucks shops on campus are employed by Aramark, the food service provider for the campus.

Another place to buy coffee on campus opens today. The Oak Cafe, a student-run restaurant on the northwest corner of campus, serves brews from the Portlandbased Boyd Coffee Company.

Still, in the Student Center, business major Ana Azad remains brand loyal.

“I come here because it’s Starbucks,” Azad said.

New ARC faculty members unite, form ‘wolf pack’

By Ashley Nanfria ashleynanfria@gmail.com American River College has welcomed 29 new faculty members this academic year, the largest amount in years. The New Faculty Academy (NFA) program plans to meet every Friday morning to provide faculty with relevant and meaningful group activities to prepare members for the years ahead.

This year-long program incorporates teaching strategies and offers support designed to enhance student learning and to facilitate the transition of faculty members into their new roles.

The meetings started as a way to help the new faculty interact with different

departments on campus by using team building exercises and introducing the resources ARC has to offer.

The group believes being able to build healthy relationships across disciplines is key to overall collaboration and will lead to student success.

The NFA program has been around for a couple of years, but has gained more traction this year with the enthusiasm of a new coordinator, business technology professor Heidi Fuller.

Fuller is very enthusiastic about the year ahead and the new group’s energy.

“I am proud to be a part of an institution that is willing to invest in professional development for meaningful and long-term institutional impact,” said Fuller.

“As an educator with 28 years of teaching experience, I take great pleasure in the collaborative process where I am able to incorporate my extensive background and innovative spirit to merge understanding.”

The first meeting of the group was on Aug. 28. There was a great turnout of faculty, counselors, librarians and teachers.

They discussed what their goals are and what led them here to ARC. Necole McRae, a student speaker at the meeting, used communication skills to break timid teachers out of their shell.

“They are very nervous, just like students on the first day of school,” said McRae. “I used communication and conversation pieces in which only some of the teachers could talk and the others had to

listen, then later switch off.

“At first the teachers seemed nervous, but once they got a conversation flowing between them that’s when I started to see a change. They started to realize how their experiences matched up with those of others.”

Open group discussions and activities are what the program hopes to bring the faculty closer as a unit, who they are and what they value are important concepts that power the minds of these new members.

“Meeting the new faculty was fun. They are a very optimistic wolf pack,” said Bill Lester, a new Humanities professor. “Before I was a lone wolf but now I am part of something, a wolf pack.”

September 16, 2015

Page 10

Scene

Weatherman turns professor EARTH SCIENCE DEPARTMENT SAYS TV METEOROLOGIST IS A ‘HIGHLY DESIRABLE ADDITION’ TO THE CAMPUS

By John Ferrannini jferr1995@gmail.com Between mornings forecasting the weather on KCRA-TV news and afternoons teaching a weather and climate course at American River College, meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn plans to have busy Mondays and Wednesdays.

“I was interested in teaching.

I’ve been interested for a long time,” said Verdoorn. “I was invited to ARC to give a presentation once and while I was here I expressed an interest in teaching a course.”

Verdoorn is teaching Geography 306, a course that covers weather and climate. He said it connects well with his on-air personality.

“This is what I do,” said Verdoorn. “I love that part of my job, going on TV and talking about what these things mean.”

He said he is making flyers to publicize the class.

Verdoorn has been a meteorologist with KCRA-TV news since 1998.

KCRA Chief Meteorologist Mark Finan said he enjoys working with Verdoorn.

“Dirk is great to work with. He is very dedicated to the science of meteorology and to getting things right,” said Finan. “He does any shift we ask him to and he never complains about anything.

He enjoys his job, his profession.”

Verdoorn was born in Stockton and attended community college there.

“

Dirk is great to work with. He is very dedicated to the science of meteorology and getting things right.

He does any shift we ask him to and he never complains.

MARKFINAN Verdoorn later went to the University of Utah and was set on either going to graduate school or working for the National Weather Service until budget cuts made him reconsider.

“I thought ‘is there anything else I can do with my degree?’ I had a course where I met a local TV meteorologist,” said Verdoorn.

“Me and a friend went there, got a feel for it, and I ended up going a few times a week and helping out.”

Covering the weather for the morning news, Verdoorn said he wakes up at 2:30 a.m. for the 4:30 a.m. broadcast. He said that teaching an afternoon course fits into his schedule.

“I’ll be able to go to ARC, teach from 1:30 p.m. to 2:50 p.m., go home and see my kids when they

Dirk Verdoorn, who has been a meteorologist for KCRA-TV since 1998, is teaching Geography 306 at American River College this semester. The course covers weather and climate science.

get home from school,” he said.

ARC professor Hugh Howard, the chairperson of the Earth Science department, said that he is looking forward to working with Verdoorn.

“The atmosphere is an incredibly complex earth system, and we are pleased to have Dirk

Verdoorn take the helm of our Weather and Climate course,” said Howard. “His nearly two decades of service as KCRA-TV’s meteorologist, together with his outstanding service to the community, make him a highly desirable addition to ARC’s Earth Science Department.”

registered nurse who works in the Health Center, elaborated on the staff and their availability to students.

“I really want students to know that there is a Health Center on the ARC campus with two full time RNs here to help them and I encourage students to stop in, say hi to us and check out what services we offer,” said Arnott.

“If there is a service that a student needs that we can’t provide here, we will do our best to refer them and point the student in the right direction.”

Arnott elaborated on the importance of students taking advantage of these services.

“According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in 20142015 the flu vaccine prevented an estimated 7.2 million flu-associated illnesses,” said Arnott.

“That same year, the flu vaccine prevented an estimated 3.1 million flu-associated doctor visits.”

Getting a flu shot translates to students missing less days of instruction and not spending extra money or time on visits to the doctors.

WHS decided to become involved with ARC after its predecessor Planned Parenthood withdrew their services.

According to Arnott, there was a high demand for sexual health and reproductive services after Planned Parenthood left.

The director of ARC’s EMT program Dr. Grant Godd encourages the support for sexual health services.

“Some of the services might be sensitive to some people. The reality is we have students that

have no healthcare,” said Godd.

Students like Emma Petrova were unaware that the campus offered such services.

“I didn’t know about them,” said Petrova.

As for other upcoming health announcements, the Sutter Visiting Nurse Association will be giving flu shots at the Student Center in community room on Monday from 10 a.m. 1 p.m. with a $25 fee, payable by cash or check.

Also, students can help themselves and others by donating at the blood drive on Sept. 29 and 30 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the staff parking lot nearest to the parking structure.

“We very much support any student and faculty who can participate in the blood drive,” said Godd.

Courtesy of Dirk Verdoorn

ON THE WEB For more profiles on the professors of American River College, go to the scene section ARCurrent.com

Sexual health services offered on campus

By Cheyenne Drury and Ashlynn Johnson cheyennemdrury@gmail.com, ashlynn.johnson1295@ gmail.com The Health Center started to offer sexual health and reproductive services on Sept. 1.

These services will be offered from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Services such as STD testing for men and women, pregnancy testing, birth control and emergency contraception will be provided

by Women’s Health Specialists (WHS), an organization that offers women-run health care and provides information.

Students are asked to schedule an appointment for these services.

Michelle Arnott, a full time

L

CAMPUS PU SE

IS ARC PREPARED FOR A SCHOOL SHOOTING?

By the numbers: 10-3

Times that the Health Center is availble for STD testing on Tuesdays.

7.2

Number in millions of flu related illnesses prevented by the shot between 2014-15.

25

Cost in dollars for a flu shot in the Student Center.

“I think they are prepared, but there are so many factors to put in, like what if the shooters are wearing masks or they have snipers?

You can’t prepare for everything.”

“I feel fine coming to ARC. I used to go to Sac City ...

I think if it were to happen here the cops will be prepared but it is generally a nicer area here anyway.”

“I don’t think that the staff and police are prepared here because it is hard to prepare for a sudden crazy person.”

“I feel like you can’t necessarily be prepared unless you go through the situation and have experience with that.”

-RHYSWACHTLER Welding

-RICHARDMENDOZA Kinesiology

-RONNIEDENA Chemistry

-TRESHONWOODS Biology

September 16, 2015

Opinion

Students: vote for bus passes

By John Ferrannini and Ashlynn Johnson jferr1995@gmail.com ashlynn.johnson1295 @gmail.com Voting to renew the universal transit pass (UTP) agreement between the Los Rios district and Sacramento Regional Transit (RT) on eServices on Sept. 22 and 23 would benefit all students, whether they take the bus or drive.

Measure A, which is up for a vote by students on eServices next Tuesday and Wednesday, would renew the contract until 2021.

The controversy comes from how this measure is different from the current agreement.

For example, if Measure A passes, students taking less than three units will not be eligible for a UTP during the fall and spring semesters.

Perhaps the most impactful change is that the fees for the UTP, which every student pays at registration, would double for some students.

Currently, students pay between $5.54 and $16.62 a semester, or between $2.77 and $8.31 if they use the Board of Governors (BOG) fee waiver.

With the passing of this measure the price would be increased to between $8.40 and $31.50 for students taking 15 units or more, no longer covered by BOG. It would be better for students if the fees weren’t increased.

Nevertheless, this is the choice we face: either increased fees or students have to pay the full price of a bus or light rail ride: $2.50.

Even for the students who drive this measure is beneficial because it would bring money to the college for support programs and services.

The college’s funding is based on enrollment. The school is given money by the state up until a certain level is reached.

If the school has two consecutive years where enrollment is below the cap, the cap is moved down to reflect that.

American River College enrollment is down this semester.

Considering that Los Rios students accounted for 4.4 million RT boardings in the 2014 fiscal year, it is reasonable to say that RT is a major part in helping many students get to and from school.

Without this essential lifeline, the amount of students enrolled would drop and affect the entirety of the school’s programs.

As much as Measure A doesn’t fulfill everyone’s wish list, it is the best choice for us as a student body to make.

Letters to the editor Letters must be typed. Mail or deliver letters to 4700 College Oak Dr., Liberal Arts Room 120, Sacramento, California 95841 or email to current@arc.losrios.edu

CURRENTEDITORIAL

Page 11

ALERT TOOK TOO LONG

IN LIGHT OF SAC CITY SHOOTING, DISTRICT NEEDS TO CHANGE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES Current@arc.losrios.edu When an emergency alert system takes 45 minutes to alert you of an emergency, there is no point in having one.

The Los Rios ALERT text message system did not send out an alert until about 45 minutes after a shooting on Sept. 3 that left one dead and two injured in one of the campus parking lots.

Many of the students, staff and faculty on campus were completely unaware a shooting had occurred at all, let alone that a campus-wide lockdown should have been taking place.

At the time, it wasn’t clear to everyone that the shooting was probably an isolated incident, not a rampage shooting.

Panicked word spread on campus, with many students first hearing of the altercation through outside sources such as friends and parents.

The district promotes the ALERT system as a way for students to be quickly notified of ongoing emergencies. Students can sign up on eServices.

The number of steps that policy dictates take place before a text message can be sent, however, makes quick notification impossible.

After the chief of the Los Rios police is notified, they speak with the vice president of administrative services for the campus.

If those two decide to send out an emergency message, the school’s public information officer dictates the message to W.A.R.N. Command, a Tennessee company.

This number of steps is so cumbersome in an emergency situation that those who were

Barbara Harvey / barbaraapharvey@gmail.com

A Sacramento City College student’s phone shows a time-stamped message from the Los Rios district’s emergency message system coming about 45 minutes after the fatal shooting that occurred on campus on Sept. 3.

part of that process are not those who bear responsibility. Rather, it is the poorly conceived policy for all Los Rios schools, including American River College, that is at fault and has to change.

Now that a Los Rios college has, for the first time in the district’s history, seen a shooting on campus, new options for emergency communication need to be explored.

Los Rios Chancellor Brian King has instructed the district’s lawyer, J.P. Sherry, to propose recommendations for the future.

It is up to us as students - and as voters - to make sure that the Los Rios Board of Trustees and

King follow up on recommendations and turn them into concrete action.

There are many options, not all of which involve newer technology. Each of these has its own cost. High school and elementary school classrooms have public announcement systems for campus wide announcements. At ARC, this would provide a quick way to alert students, faculty and staff of an emergency.

There is no lockdown drill on the ARC campus. Every year, several colleges and other organizations participate in the Great California ShakeOut, a statewide earthquake drill.

Going through the motions of locking down the campus would bring any issues and problems to light so that things can run more smoothly during an actual lockdown. Video tutorials through the ARC website could help people who can’t be present for a campus drill.

With the number of people being killed on college campuses each year steadily rising according to U.S. Department of Education statistics, from 15 in 2008 to 23 in 2013, the need for a sensible system to alert students and faculty of emergencies is needed now more than ever.

Speak up or your grade will suffer PARTICIPATION IN CLASSES SHOULD BE REQUESTED, BUT NOT MANDATED FOR CREDIT

By Cheyenne Drury cheyennemdrury@ gmail.com The long awkward silence after a teacher asks for student volunteers is an all too familiar experience for many college students, and while getting people actively involved can be productive, it is often forced and anxiety-driven.

Mandatory class participation should be a part of K-12 course curriculum, but once the individual starts paying for their education it should no longer be a requirement and furthermore it should not count toward a percentage of the college students’ grade.

Professors should make it an expectation that their students add to class discussions, but not through an involuntary action.

It is not new information that this generation’s social skills are changing due to the increased use of social media and technological devices.

According to a controlled experiment carried out by a team of UCLA scientists, sixth grade students who went five

“

It is highly subjective to count participation as a percentage toward a final grade.

days without any means of using social media or technological devices did exponentially better at reading human emotions than a group of sixthgraders from the same school who did not go without such.

It is then fair to say that for the healthy development of children with regard to social skills, class participation and more exposure to social situations are reasonable requirements for their educational journeys.

On the other hand, once an individual reaches the college level, they will have had over a decade of enforced class participation and will have been exposed to countless hours and situations in which they had to think on the spot and use their best judgement when answering questions.

Any education after high school is voluntary and generally speaking students are paying out of pocket to further their education.

American River College students pay $46 per unit and to be considered full time a student must be enrolled in 12 units.

As a full timer that amounts to $552 per semester, not including other fees and payments.

It is highly subjective to count participation as a percentage toward a final grade, especially since there are so many ways to participate in a class beyond vocalizing an opinion.

Students can be actively engaged in a discussion through note taking, reading along with the material, listening to their professor or other students speak and by simply paying attention and processing the information.

There is also the issue of causing more tension and discomfort for students who are naturally more introverted and while speaking aloud is essential for building social skills, it does give an advantage to those students who are more inclined

to vocalize their thoughts in a classroom setting.

In a recent study on core curriculum syllabi at Seattle University it was found that over 93 percent of their courses required class participation.

The study revealed that professors generally do not provide instruction on how to improve participation, the interpretation of student behavior is often times subjective and difficult to assess and it is hard to justify participation scores.

There were some suggestions for professors on how to create more friendly and comfortable environments for students to speak, including having them speak on homework from the previous night, which would allow them to have thoughts already prepared and even increasing the ‘wait time’ between the time of the question and the time of the response.

Regardless of these helpful approaches it still remains problematic to make participation an area that is critiqued and counted toward a final grade.

FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM CHALK IT UP, GO TO THE ARTS AND CULTURE SECTION OF ARCURRENT.COM

CHALK

Folsom Lake College student Julia Flippo works on her hyper-realistic close-up chalk drawing of a young girl at Chalk It Up’s 25th annual art festival Labor Day weekend in Fremont Park.

IT UP! Photos by Cheyenne Drury and Kameron Schmid

Chalk It Up, a non-profit organization that focuses on art education for children, held its 25th annual art festival in downtown Sacramento on Labor Day weekend.

Artists who made their mark on the surrounding sidewalks of Fremont Park paid in advance for their drawing spaces—a square of sidewalk could be purchased for $150, but more ambitious artists purchased two or more for their murals.

A drawing of a dog coming out of a pool stands out at Chalk It Up. There were instructions in front of the artwork that explained where to stand to view the image in 3D.

A realistic depiction of a heart with wings tagged with “Billings Art” is displayed at Chalk It Up from Sept. 5–7. Drawings completely covered the sidewalk encompassing Fremont Park.

John Steensland, a former American River College student, adds finishing touches to his chalk drawing for Chalk It Up. He said he liked the way the texture of his art looked on the pavement.