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Vol. 65, Ed. 1 • September 18, 2013 Tammy Linn, 36, is now enrolled in honors courses at American River College after learning to read only ten years ago.
‘PAY AS YOU EARN’ AIMS TO EASE LOAN PRESSURE By Antionette Gayfield agayfield7@gmail.com
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SEE LOANS, PAGE 3
A LOOK INSIDE
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By Brooke Purves brookempurves@gmail.com
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f you looked up the word tenacity in the dictionary, you just might find a picture of a petite 36-year-old blonde named Tammy Linn. Despite insurmountable obstacles, Linn progressed from an emergent literate to an honors student with the help of the student support services available in the Learning Resource Center, only to find her educational goals in jeopardy due to credit limits on financial aid. Linn will tell you she comes from a “rough, rough childhood, ” but that hasn’t stopped her in the quest for an education. Raised by a widowed teen mother incapable of providing support, she lacked a good educational foundation and dropped out of school midway through the seventh grade. “I never set foot in a high school,” Linn said. At 26, Linn was a struggling mother of three children and unable to keep her life on track. But hitting bottom led her on a path that would take her to the top. “I got [a] bible and I just started reading it,” she said. “I didn’t understand what I was reading whatsoever. I could pronounce the words, but I couldn’t comprehend them. I just went over and over it.”
SEE PERSEVERANCE, PAGE 9
Linn takes notes during her eight-unit Statway class on Monday, Sept 16. Statway is a year-long math course that combines algebra and statistics.
Interim presidents seek to unite faculty By Jeff Gonzales & Zach Tierney jeff.a.gonzales@gmail.com ztierney.zt@gmail.com
A
merican River College has two new presidents this semester. Marie Smith will fill the position as interim president for the first half of the semester, followed by Bill Karns who will start on Sept. 30. Students and faculty may remember Smith from the nearly ten years she served the school as president from 1995 through 2004. Karns also has a long history with the Los Rios District. “[I am] deeply, deeply honored [to be at ARC],” Karns wrote in an email to The Current. “I started working in this District in 1975 as an English adjunct pro-
Animosity in ASB
Fall semester starts amidst confusion
6
fessor at CRC and retired as the district Vice Chancellor of Education and Technology in 2011, and it is the capstone of my career to serve here now.” Both interim presidents are retired from the Los Rios Community College District and are under certain employment regulations. The time they are allowed to work for the school system is limited due to the California State Teacher’s Retirement System cap on the amount that can be earned by a retiree in a year. To bypass this problem they were both hired for only half of the fall semester. “I’m hoping [the transition to Karns] will be seamless for students,” Smith said. “We are in weekly contact and I’m sending him copies of everything I’m
SEE AGENDA, PAGE 2
Third time’s the charm ARC men’s cross-country team strives for third championship in a row
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Emily K. Rabasto / rabastoe@gmail.com
resident Barack Obama proposed a new plan that he hopes will lower the amount of federal student loan debt. Obama spoke to a crowd of hundreds at Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pennsylvania on August 23. “Higher education is not a luxury; it’s an economic necessity,” Obama said to an exuberant audience in the college’s gymnasium. “Getting a higher education is one of the best things you can do for yourself, and for your country.” While the average cost of college tuition at a four-year university has risen by more than 250 percent in the past three decades, the essential family income has only risen by 16 percent. Though states have been moderately effective in regards to cutting back on their higher education budgets, President Obama stressed that such efforts are not enough. “The data is clear,” Obama said. “If you get some kind of higher education, whether it’s a two-year degree, a four-year degree, a technical college, you’re more likely to have a job. You’re more likely to see your income going up more than ever before. Some form of higher education is the surest path in the middle class.” In an attempt to put a cap on loan repayments, in mid-December of 2011 the Obama Administration launched the ‘Pay As You Earn’ plan, a student loan repayment plan that enables students to pay off their federal student loans as they earn income. However, not many students are eligible for the program and many are unaware that the program even exists. “I’ve never heard of it,” said ARC geography major Imani Davis. “I’m happy that I can say there’s one thing I can support him on. It’s a good thing that he’s looking out for students; I’m definitely glad to hear it.” As President Obama went into further detail about new strategies that he plans to put into action, he let the crowd in on a few re-
Steadfast student stays the course Emily K. Rabasto / rabastoe@gmail.com
President Obama announces debt reduction plan
American River College interim president Marie Smith poses next to her previous portrait, taken in 1995, when she first took the position of president almost 18 years ago.
Deep-fried dreams The Current’s Zach Tierney explains the pitfalls of working in fast food
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News
September 18, 2013 Emily K. Rabasto / rabastoe@gmail.com
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Antionette Gayfield Acting ASB president Jorge Riley (left) conducts the public opinion portion of the ASB meeting focusing on existing bylaws held on Thursday, Sept 12.
Semester begins with discord in ASB ASB SEEKS LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO VACANCY PROBLEM FOLLOWING RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT By Melissa Hurtado hurtadom73@gmail.com The American River College Associated Student Body has had an eventful start to the fall semester, and the Thursday morning senate meeting was no exception. Disagreement and confusion among members of the board and students brought the meeting to an early close. Some of the ASB’s most prominent issues thus far include the resignation of elected president Tyrone Robinson and the drop in its annual budget. In this meeting, the standout concern was the process in which to fill the
vacant seat, as some students disapprove of acting president Jorge Riley. Emotions ran high during the public comment portion of the meeting. The 15 minutes allotted proved insufficient as many were present to voice their concerns. Students commented on their concerns that acting ASB president Riley would be appointed the seat of presidency without any official and publicized special election. Last year’s ASB senate president Quierra Robey spoke during the time designated for public comments and encouraged this board to have a special election
as soon as possible. “Your students deserve a student senate president, not an acting president,” Robey said. In order to fill the vacancy for president the first things the board must do is finish and approve the bylaws. That will determine whether or not they will hold a special election or just an appointment by succession. As Tanika Byrd, the student life supervisor said, “Senate does not have bylaws at the moment and that governs how to go about electing the new president.” Tami Dunning, a legal assistant major who was part of today’s audience, expressed her interest
in running against Riley for ASB senate president in the case of a special election. “I’m all for a special election,” Riley said to Dunning. It seems acting president Riley’s stance has changed recently. In a meeting with The Current earlier in the week he spoke in favor of forgoing the special election. “I hope they don’t try to have a special election and just let me deal with this problem, because we don’t really even have the budget,” he said. “Not that I don’t think I would win, but I think it would be a real waste of money.”
Agenda: Interim Presidents mid-semester transition CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
doing.” Smith also keeps Karns up to date on all of her meetings and any changes, as well as any events that will occur before Karns takes over the presidency. Both interim presidents intend to move forward with the student success plans that former president Dr. David Viar put in place. “I don’t have an agenda,” Smith said. “My agenda is [to continue] AR’s agenda.”
She has placed an emphasis on helping students utilize the many resources available at ARC. “We need to marshal all the forces to help you complete your goals,” she said. Smith’s plans for her time here also involve preparing the school for the arrival of a new president in the spring. She believes that the school needs a good, effective leader who will be dedicated to the success of the students and the school in the long-term. She
ASBNOTEBOOK
By Melissa Hurtado hurtadom73@gmail.com The resignation of the Associated Student Body Student Senate elected President Tyrone Robinson has the ASB at a gridlock as there is no clear course of action in the American River College constitution to fill the vacant position of president. Jorge Riley — ASB’s elected Director of Finance and acting President — believes that ASB needs to address this legislative shortcoming. “[We need to] efficiently resolve the short and long term problems of the bylaws, of the constitution, our financial grief, and still be able to provide for the student needs.” Riley said.
Vacancies
is also helping to prepare the school for its upcoming accreditation evaluation in the fall of 2015. Both presidents have a history with the district and are dedicated to the success of both the school and it’s students. “This is an excellent college you can and should be fiercely proud to attend, and you will leave it well prepared for success in transfer or the workplace,” said Karns.
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ASB BYLAW TROUBLES CREATE CONFUSION
During the first three weeks of the semester ASB has held numerous meetings encouraging student involvement in order to come up with a solution for the bylaws and the vacancy of the presidency, so the ASB can move on to other business. The problem this resignation has brought upon ASB is that the student body senate constitution does not clearly give a solution for how to fill the position of presidency, whether it is special election or succession. The students at the meeting have asked ASB to hold a special election, but in order to do an amendment to the constitution it will require 10% of the student body’s approval. The associate student body as a whole is scarce in members; the whole board consists of four students. In the Clubs and Events Board there is only one member, the President Jeremy Diefenbacher.
Finance
This year ASB has a budget of $19,500 from which CAEB will receive $10,000 — leaving student senate $9,500. As the Director of Finance, Jorge Riley says ASB is in horrible shape financially. Last year’s ASB has also left an unpaid bill from last year’s election voting system, Votenet. “Votenet is a program where you can go online and cast your votes,” Riley said. If the special election does happen, ASB will be covering the expenses for three elections – an outstanding bill from the previous election, the special election and one to take place in the upcoming spring semester. ASB meetings take place in the Student Center every Thursday from 10:30 to noon.
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POLICY The Current is produced by the students of Newspaper Production, J402. All opinions are signed and not necessarily endorsed by the Current staff. All letters and articles appearing in the Editorial, Opinion or Forum sections are not necessarily representative of the Current staff or American River College policy. All articles are the property of the Current. Please go online at arcurrent. com to see the full text of criteria and guidelines for submissions. Letters must be typed and can be submitted by mail, e-mail or in person at the following addresses: The American River Current 4700 College Oak Drive Liberal Arts, Room 120 Sacramento, CA 95841 Phone: 916-484-8304 Fax: 916-484-8668 E-mail: Current@arc.losrios.edu www.ARCurrent.com
News
Congress and allies pressure Bashar Assad to hand over chemical weapons By Jorden Hales halespersonal@gmail.com
samurrea93@gmail.com With the number of classes being reduced due to California’s budget cuts, many ARC students are forced to commute to sister campuses to complete a full schedule, incurring time conflict and costly expenses. According to PPIC (Public Policy Institute of California), recent evidence suggests that not only are community colleges serving fewer students, but also providing fewer services to students who are already enrolled. Finding classes at community colleges has proven difficult for those who register late and ARC is no exception. Many students who register early encounter similar issues and are forced to commute to other Los Rios campuses. This has created time conflicts and tedious routines for some. Mason Pigman, a student at both Sierra College and ARC, registered early for his classes at Sierra before the start of summer only to discover he had failed to attain a full schedule at the beginning of the semester as some of his classes had become unavailable. Acting quickly, he registered at ARC and was able to enroll in the remaining classes he needed. This, however, is something he regrets. “I would much rather go to one campus than have to go different places every day,” said Pigman. “But I want to be able to transfer
Traffic backs up at the intersection of Greenback Lane and Auburn Boulevard in the early weeks of every semester. Students who commute may face many challenges getting to campus.
as quickly as possible which is why I made the sacrifice to take classes wherever I could.” As highlighted by the article in the LA Times, “A Dash for Classes,” over two decades, the percentage of commuting students has more than doubled from about 2.2 percent in 1992 to about 5.2 percent in 2011. In 2012, about 69,665 students attended two schools. Nearly 5,000 of them went to three schools and about 400 to
$26,600
National average student loan debt
Infographic by Sarah Scott
President Barack Obama addressed the nation on Sept. 10 with a speech encouraging both liberals and conservatives to back U.S. military intervention in Syria, demonstrating a notolerance approach to the use of chemical weapons in the nation’s on-going civil war. Obama has consistently advocated a military strike in Syria since August 21, when a group of Syrian specialists fired rockets containing a deadly gas into six densely populated neighborhoods. According to reports, over 1,000 Syrians - including many civilians - were killed by these chemical attacks. Obama is seeking approval from Congress before authorizing an attack, but has strongly voiced his disposition and cited humanitarian efforts and the importance of a strong U.S. military. “On that terrible night, the world saw in gruesome detail the terrible nature of chemical weapons, and why the overwhelming majority of humanity has declared them off-limits -- a crime against humanity, and a violation of the laws of war,” he said during the address. Russia and other U.S. officials have advocated a more peaceful approach, pressuring Syrian president Bashar Assad to give up his chemical weapons. Both former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and current Secretary of State John Kerry have spoken in support of this approach, Kerry doing so in a more aggressive manner, giving Assad one week to comply with this request to avoid military attacks. Obama has spoken in favor of this resolution, but still believes military intervention is necessary. “Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security, are at stake in Syria,” he said “Along with our leadership of a world where we seek to ensure that the worst weapons will never be used.”
By Sam Urrea
$18,879
250%
the world
Campus commute, a costly routine Jessica Maynard / jessica.r.maynard87@gmail.com
ARound
16% increase of ave. college tuition
California average student loan debt
increase of ave. family income
38.8
million
people with student loans
Loans: new path for student debt reform CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
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September 18, 2013
forms that he is currently in the process of executing, with his three principal goals being to increase value, encourage innovation and help students manage debt after graduation. Another element of his plan is to direct his administration to develop a more useful rating system for colleges. “Education is something that will pay off in time, but it’s gotta be managed,” he declared, looking out into the audience. “I don’t want debt to keep you from getting the job you want or getting married, or buying your first home.”
four or five schools, according to data from the California Community Colleges chancellor’s office. Shannell Tanjutco, a third semester student at ARC, admitted that driving to different campuses can be tough, even this early in the semester. “I would rather take fewer classes and go to just one campus,” Tanjutco said. “I do not like dealing with traffic. It is already taking time away from my studying and other things.”
One student who was lucky enough to attend only one location this semester is ARC freshman Steven Tavenner. He took a year off school but did not find it hard to register for the classes he wanted at the main campus this semester. “I ride my long board to school, go to all my classes and just ride back home,” said Tavenner. “I am not spending any gas and I am able to stay in one location every single day. It’s great.”
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September 18, 2013
Sports
By Ed Gebing edgebingjr@gmail.com Their first year playing in the Valley Conference, American River College won the division title, but ended their season against City College of San Francisco in the Northern California Community College Championship game with a 41-36 loss. CCSF went on to play for the California Community College State Championship. American River saw several players from last year’s team advance to new homes. There were 10 offensive players who transferred to four-year universities, led by center Nicholas Kelly, who went to Arizona State University. The Beavers also lost All-American running back Devontae Booker. Linebacker Samson Faifili, University of Kansas, would leave along with eight other defensive players. “Of the 80-plus guys on the team roster, probably 60 of them are new to the program, so it’s a lot of new faces,” head coach Jerry Haflich said. The Beavers are only returning two defensive starters, Ewing
Simmons and Trevor Jones. Even with the influx of new players, coach Haflich is upbeat about the defense. ARC has high hopes for the season and all eyes are on a championship. “To go 12-0, with a state title,” Jones said. “We want to be the first ARC team to not only go undefeated, but to go to Nor-Cal and unlike last year go to state and win state.” The defense will be key to the Beavers making it deep in the playoffs. “That group [defense] will define themselves,” Haflich said. “As we begin to play, they will develop their own identity.” One of the players, Sione Umufuke, actually played for American River several years ago before taking time off from playing, but now he is back. “I think we’re going to be one of the best defenses that have been here in a long time,” Haflich said. Not only did the team add so many new players to the program, they also added six new coaches to the nine coach staff as
well. The Beavers also promoted a new offensive coordinator, Jon Osterhout, who had previously coached the offensive line at ARC. Offensively the Beavers are returning quarterbacks “Magic” Mike Hicks and Jonathan Kodama. Slot receiver Tyler Trosin - who lead the team last season with six receiving touchdowns wide receiver Dan Thomas and wide receiver Ferrance Lang who is currently battling an injury, among others. “I think they are very explosive, as was last year’s team,” Haflich said. ARC started the season on the road versus Monterey Peninsula College, before playing back-toback home games against Sacramento City College and Chabot College. The Beavers will get a chance to avenge last season’s playoff loss to City College of San Francisco when they travel there Saturday, October 5. The Beavers are looking to go to the State Championship for only the second time in school history. “We’re trying to win State this year,” Trosin said.
Emily K. Rabasto / rabastoe@gmail.com
ARC pursues championship their second year in Valley Conference
Sophomore wide receiver Tyler Trosin makes an impressive catch in the end zone against Sac City College on Saturday, Sept 14. Trosin scored three touchdowns for ARC during the game. ARC won 34-7. Emily K. Rabasto / rabastoe@gmail.com
Emily K. Rabasto / rabastoe@gmail.com
ARC Men’s Soccer player Ryan Campbell, maintains control of the ball in a game against Feather River College on Tuesday, Sept 10.
Makayla Ruvalcaba carries the ball down the field in a game against Feather River College on Tuesday, Sept 10.
Men’s soccer kicks off with second place tournament finish
Women’s soccer team re-building for success
By Shedric Allen
By Walter Jones
shedric25@gmail.com As the men’s soccer team of American River College prepares for its 2013 season they look to rebuild. The Beavers posted a 8-10-3 overall record in 2012 and finished third in the Big 8 Conference. They hope to turn the tables this year. The Beavers have already played five games this season and are off to a 3-1-1 start. They defeated the No. 1 ranked team in the Hartnell Tournament, City College of San Francisco and made it to the finals in the tournament only to lose in penalty kicks to Hartnell College. Sophomore forward Luis Arce and freshman midfielder Lucas Travis have been the scoring leaders with four goals combined in just four games. Sophomore forward, Matt Iwasa has also added another goal to the mix. Sophomore goalie, Joe Rivera has allowed just one goal in four games. With the freshmen coming into a team that was fairly young last year, head coach Paul Hansen has to be pleased with how well the newcomers and returning players
have been able to mesh so quickly, especially with his style of coaching in which he demands a lot from his players. “I’m thrilled with what the returners are bringing back to the table and it’s going to be a good mix with the talented group of newcomers,” sophomore defender Jordan Moreno said. “During off season we have blended really well and we are really excited for the combination of experience and leadership helping the new players adjust to their roles within the team.” Look out for ARC when they begin conference play because they are looking forward to the match up against their crosstown rivals, Cosumnes River College. “We are ready to compete against the top teams,” sophomore goalie Andrew Garcia said. “The games against CRC are always very exciting with a lot of passion from both teams.” The Beavers are ready to show up and make a statement on who’s the best in Sacramento and again seem ready and primed to make a push at a Big 8 Conference title. After finishing third last year they will push to earn a berth in the state tournament.
waltorlando@gmail.com The 2013 season is underway and the American River College women’s soccer team is looking to build off last years successful season. They finished with a 13-6-4 record last season making them the No. 3 ranked team in the Big 8 Conference. After losing their two leading scorers from last season, Ceci Velazquez and Alexis Wallace, there is a void that the team needs to fill. This year’s roster has 13 freshmen on it, so the team chemistry will be something they will have to get down early with games coming up against teams who are ranked higher in the state poll from the California Community College Athletic Association. “I think the chemistry is coming along, its just trying to get everyone on the same page right now,” said head coach Arellanes. There will be home games against highpowered teams such as No. 4 Fresno City College on September 20 and No. 5 Santa Rosa College on October 8 and they will meet in Santa Rosa again November 5.
Santa Rosa College isn’t the only team from the Big 8 Conference that could be a challenge for the Beavers. Sierra College, ranked No. 7 in the state, will come to American River October 4 and the Beavers will travel to Sierra October 29. ARC will face off against No. 12 Cosumnes River College at home October 15 and at Cosumnes November 13. “I try to put together a challenging schedule. We have 19 official games we can play in and 16 of those 19 games are against teams who made the playoffs last year,” said Arellanes. This season will not be easy for the Beavers as they seem to be going through a rebuilding process. They will have many challenges to face, but it’s how they handle it together that will determine how they finish the season.
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Sports
September 18, 2013
SPORTSUPDATES Emily K. Rabasto / rabastoe@gmail.com
Goalie Avery Dotterer blocks a shot in a water polo match against Golden West College on Thursday, Sept 12.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Led by returning sophomores Will Reyes, Luis Luna and Jacob Huston the team hopes to three-peat. The men have continued their dominance taking the overall team’s first place in the first two races. Reyes won both. Their next race is Sept. 19 at the Lou Vasquez Invitational in San Francisco at 3:30 p.m.
The women won the Nor Cal title at the Fresno Invitational Sept. 7. At the Modesto Invitational Sept. 13 the women finished in second place behind San Joaquin Delta, led by Alexa Lua who finished No. 10. The women’s next match is Sept. 19 at the Lou Vasquez Invitational in San Francisco at 4:30 p.m.
FOOTBALL
WOMEN’S GOLF
The team has started 2-0 this season after beating rival Sacramento City College 34-7 Sept. 14. Sophomore wide receiver Tyler Trosin has six touchdowns in two games this season, which leads the state of California for non-quarterbacks. Their next game is at home versus Chabot College at 1 p.m.
Returning golfer Megan Santo Domingo is back to lead the women again this season. On a team filled with five freshmen Domingo and Shelly Lutche look to provide veteran leadership for the women. The women’s next match is the Big 8 Conference No. 5 at Ancil Hoffman Golf Course at 12 p.m.
MEN’S SOCCER
WOMEN’S SOCCER
The men have gotten off to a hot start with a record of 3-1-2 after finishing the 2012 season with a disappointing record of 8-10-3. Sophomore forward Luis Arce and freshman midfielder Lucas Travis lead the team with two goals each. ARC will play their next game at De Anza on Sept. 20.
After being one of the final four teams at the state championships the women’s team has started off to a shaky start with a 1-1-1 record. The team lost their leading scorers from last season but have 10 sophomores on the team. Their next home game is Sept. 24 versus San Joaquin Delta College.
VOLLEYBALL
MEN’S WATER POLO
After finishing the 2012 season with a 24-6 record, the volleyball team has started the season ranked No. 13 in the state. The team has started off 6-2 led by sophomore Nicole Hareland. The women’s next match is Sept. 21 at the Porterville Classic in Porterville.
They opened their season with a 14-8 loss at home versus Orange Coast College. They will head down to San Luis Obispo to take part in the Cuesta Tournament Sept. 20 and 21. Their first home meet is Oct. 9 versus Sierra College at 3:30 p.m.
WOMEN’S WATER POLO Returning captain Mackenzie Kaplan is currently injured with a broken finger. The first major tournament of the year was the “River Rage Tournament” featuring schools from Northern and Southern California. The women went 2-2 at the tournament. Their next home meet is Oct. 2 at Sacramento City College.
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@arcsports
Page 5
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September 18, 2013
Photos courtesy of Rick Anderson
Photo courtesy of Rick Anderson
Quest for three
Feature
Twins run in sync The American River College men’s cross-country team was in rebuild mode after winning the 2012 California Community College Cross-Country Championships. The team lost key members, among them the individual state winner Matt Airola, Derek Woodard and Will Melton. Head coach Rick Anderson recruited many new runners including twin brothers Sean (above left) and Patrick Jagerson (above right) from Del Campo High School. Neither had plans to continue their running careers after high school, but after Anderson contacted them, they decided against joining the Air Force and came to ARC for crosscountry and track and field.
At left: The 2012 cross-country team celebrating their second state championship in a row on Nov. 17, 2012.
By Jessica Maynard jessica.r.maynard87@gmail.com
The team holding their first place placard after winning the 2013 Fresno Invitational Sept. 7. Sophomore Will Reyes placed first in the race.
guys to come and run at ARC. By the time they decided they wouldn’t be leaving for the Air Force, the two had passed the deadline to respond to many of the universities that had shown interest in them. They heard about ARC’s successful crosscountry, and track and field programs, and decided to continue their running careers under Anderson. “I thought I was going to go into the Air Force, but I didn’t, so I wanted to continue my running career,” Patrick said. “I didn’t reply to any of my four-year college letters so I decided to come here because they have a really good running program. I want to make top 7. I didn’t think I would make top 7 my first year and I hope to get top 20 in state.” Despite losing sophomores Airola and Will Melton after last season’s championship, the team has added three standout runners to an already solid lineup featuring Reyes, Luna and Huston. “I had one of the guys come up to me and say ‘you know what word I love coach? Three-peat.’” Anderson said.
From left to right: Sophomores Luis Luna, Will Reyes, head coach Rick Anderson and sophomore Jacob Huston holding the three state championships (2005, 2011, 2012) the team has won.
Emily K. Rabasto / rabastoe@gmail.com
continuing his training with the team he will get back into stride with his former times, gain endurance and compete for the top spots without losing momentum. Whether they are training for a meet, jogging on a running path or achieving their Eagle Scout badges with their triplet brother Kenny, Patrick and Sean Jagerson never cut corners. Patrick, Sean and Kenny ran at Del Campo High School together before Kenny realized that he enjoyed water polo more than running. Patrick and Sean kept their passion for running and ended their high school cross-country running careers by being named to the boy’s all-league crosscountry team in the Capital Valley Conference. “Coach Anderson called me and persuaded me to come here,” Sean said. “He told me he needed my talent on his team and he got me to come to ARC and run on the cross-country team.” Patrick and Sean had originally planned to enlist in the Air Force out of high school but like most things in life, their plans changed when Anderson pursued the Photo courtesy of Rick Anderson
Some sports teams never make it to a championship, much less win it. For the American River College men’s cross-country team, winning the big races has come naturally to them. In a sport that has been heavily dominated by teams from Southern California, ARC looks to continue the shifting of the power to the North. The South has won 57 of the 62 state championships and has produced 52 individual race winners since 1964. Since 2005 the ARC men’s cross-country team has won three state championships and produced two individual state champions: Garrett Seawell in 2011 and Matt Airola in 2012. ARC is on its way to becoming the first Northern California school to three-peat in state championship history. “Depth. We have quality up front again. Between any number, four or six guys on the team could place well,” head coach Rick Anderson said. “The Las Positas
coach came up to me at the Fresno Invitational and asked me, ‘can I borrow a fifth man?’” Returning sophomores Will Reyes, Luis Luna and Jacob Huston look to continue where the team left off last season. With the key additions of sophomore Christopher Kigar who transferred from the University of California Berkeley this past season and the addition of freshman brothers Patrick and Sean Jagerson who graduated from Del Campo High School, Anderson believes that this cross-country team is stronger than last season’s. Before heading to Berkeley, Kigar participated in cross-country at El Camino Fundamental High School where he was a three-time MVP for the team. In 2010, Kigar’s junior year, he finished No. 5 at the state championships. “I was running with a different program but that program wasn’t the right one for me,” Kigar said. “We have a lot of guys on the team who have been successful in the past with a good coach.” Although Kigar’s times haven’t been as strong as they once were he hopes that by
Arts&Culture
September 18, 2013
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Do, or doissant, that is the question
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PRICE RANGE: $$
Emily K. Rabasto / rabastoe@gmail.com
There are doughnut shops that only specialize in making doughnuts. The walls are plain, the menus are dull, and the customer service is average. It is all about presentation and if the package isn’t perceived properly some people may not want to receive it. The Sweet Dozen is a Bakery on Madison Avenue that will leave you speechless, mainly because your mouth will be filled delicious treats. Inside the bakery the walls are a bright yellow, in the left hand corner a flat screen TV sits high and the tables are ready for customers to come sit and enjoy all the sweets they can eat. If you haven’t heard of the doughnut marrying the croissant, I don’t know where you have been. Dominique Ansel’s SoHo Bakery The cinnamon-sugar doissant from Sweet Dozen Bakery is a fried croissant/doughnut hybrid. A doissant can be peeled apart layer by flaky layer. in New York City coined the Cronut, while The Sweet Dozen put their own twist it calling this delicious treat a doissant. The pastry got plenty of recognition from the Sacramento Bee and Good Day Sacramento along with various radio stations for their version of the doughnut and croissant combination better known as the doissant. The doissant is appealing with the shape of a regular doughnut and the layers of a croissant. I ordered mine glazed with no filling. Taking the first bite I could instantly taste the sweetness of the doughnut, but the layers of the fluffy croissant were present when I bit down. The glaze trickled down new things sooner than I think. and melted in my mouth. Overall the ambience of the bakery and Taking another bite the doissant tasted the friendly family that owns it is an added even better than the first. I can feel the bonus to the delectable doissant. Hours of crunchiness; my favorite part of a croissant. operation are Monday-Friday 5a.m.-3p.m. This made my mouth water from the begin- and Saturday-Sunday 5a.m.-1p.m. ning to the very end. At three dollars a doissant I recommend I only eat glazed doughnuts, but I’m sure if to anyone to step out of their box and try the raspberry or strawberry filled doissants this tasty new treat. Don’t be the last of your taste anything like the glazed, I will be trying friends to try the latest pastry craze. The outside of Sweet Dozen Bakery located on Madison Avenue. Photo courtesy of FilmDistrict
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‘Insidious: Chapter 2’ hits all the right points By Jonathan H. Ellyson jonathanellyson@gmail.com
Always check for who is in the audience of a horror movie. A really gory slasher film is for a certain group of people, and a psychological thriller is for a radically different group. “Insidious: Chapter 2” is the latter. Just in the theater I was in, I saw approximately two types of audience members: the groups of friends who go to joke around at a thriller and the people who are just trying to figure out how scary it really is. Portions of this film pander to the first group, the title card is the words “INSIDIOUS” in flashing red letters with harsh organ music in the background. The film really hits all of the right horror movie tropes and if you enjoy laughing at the lack of seriousness you’ll enjoy that aspect of the film. Sound is very important in a thriller, specifically the absence of sound. Lots of scenes build suspense by cutting the music, pulling the camera back, and watching a character slowly make their way into what you expect to be a gruesome situation. The lighting was also excellent with lots of shadow. There was also plenty of red glow from the conveniently placed red stained glass windows the house had. Visually the film was very suspenseful, and had you looking for the tiny details like a rocking horse or a ticking metronome.
What is most impressive about the film, which I expected to be a cookie cutter horror flick, was the story. Whoever wrote the mechanics of the afterlife world known as “the further” and astral projection knew their basic concepts. What you see as the audience in “the further” are corporeal beings who are no longer alive, but are made up of some material capable of opening doors, moving curtains and throwing coffee tables. Characters who visit only see a tangible memory like the inside of houses, everything in between is void. The intention of the first film seemed mostly to create suspense; the apparitions made objects float around and scared a family with a boy in a coma. The second film shows concepts of astral projections that you would expect in a science fiction film, including time travel and attunement. The way the film portrays possession burnout is theoretically accurate. When the bad spirit possesses a comatose body it starts to decompose at the normal rate of a corpse, for example teeth falling out and hair loss. Overall, “Insidious: Chapter 2” is a more complex film than it appears. It’s definitely a good psychological thriller. Gather some friends and check it out. Some theaters are actually playing “Insidious” and “Insidious: Chapter 2” as a double feature, though if you go for that you may consider sleeping with the light on.
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Arts&Culture
September 18, 2013
Brandon Nelson / brandon.nelson916@gmail.com
Rumpling the covers By Alisha Kirby alishakirby1@gmail.com
Sam Williams, the Director of the upcoming school play “Hairspray” goes over lines with his actors during rehearsal on Friday Sept 6, 2013. “Hairspray” is set to open on October 11, 2013.
Good morning American River “HAIRSPRAY” DIRECTOR DISCUSSES UPCOMING PERFORMANCE kameronschmid@gmail.com
Sam Williams, the director of ARC’s upcoming fall musical, “Hairspray,” has been teaching at ARC for 15 years and has directed other musicals: “Fiddler On The Roof,” “Godspell,” and “Footloose.” The play opens on Oct. 11. What led into your decision to pick this musical? “I like the music, the storyline is great, and I like things that have history as well. History has got good music, music that’s changing. It’s got things about integration, so it’s got controversial stuff in there as well. And it’s also loaded with great characters. I was looking for a chance to give our students opportunities. This play has 45 people in it.” How do you personally feel about the cultural commentary in the musical’s storyline? “John Waters, [the playwright] has so many different aspects of that in here. Yes he does have it for white and black, he does have it for heavyset people and skinny people. But
INOURHEADS
TELEVISION
he also has a section in here about special education. He really gets a lot of stuff in here and makes you ask a lot of questions.” How well do you feel the subject matter transSam Williams lates to today, considering the setting is early 1960s? “I think there’s a song that’s in the film that sums it up well, I wish it was in the play. It’s called ‘We’ve Come So Far, We’ve Got So Far To Go.’ You can say that about so many aspects of our lives. How we treat people who are in wheelchairs...you can say that about equality in a lot of different ways. And the great things is that we’re in a country where we have the opportunity to voice that. And there’s so many wonderful artists who voice it in such away that we can kind of echo it.” Brandon Nelson / brandon.nelson916@gmail.com
By Kameron Schmid
Which cast members can we expect to stand out? “It’s very much an ensemble piece. And we have so many big, beautiful characters in this, that they’re all gonna shine, and I don’t see one outshining another. Tracy (played by Anna Russell) is in more scenes, so she has to carry a lot of responsibility, but I think everybody’s shining like crazy.” How do you feel about your cast coming into the final weeks of rehearsal? “I’m very very confident. We started rehearsing a long time ago, in July for three weeks, and then again two weeks before school started. There are so many things to overcome, you have to overcome health problems, injury, people’s schedules. Even though we’re dealing with all those things, this cast is working their buns off. I don’t know if I’ve been around a more hard-working cast, especially one this large. Because of their hard work, and the incredible support that I really have. The designers are amazing, my daughter is helping me choreograph, Tracy is doing a great job on the voices. ”
The Current’s Jonathan H. Ellyson shares the wide variety of what is in his head jonathanellyson@gmail.com
Attack on Titan: This is easily the most popular anime in Japan and America right now. The story is incredibly tragic, showing an apocalyptic world where humans are forced to live behind 50-meter walls to protect themselves from giants. Humans fight the giants using gaspowered grappling hooks and twin swords.
Ender’s Game: My favorite book as a kid tells the story of Andrew Wiggin during his time in Battle School. Military programs start training ultra-young candidates after two alien attacks on humanity.
GAME
MUSIC
Volbeat: It’s hard to describe Volbeat. Their music is like rock ‘n’ roll fused with country western. Volbeat’s sound is a unique combination and I absolutely love it. I definitely recommend checking them out.
BOOK
MOVIE
Minecraft: The game is survival. You are dropped into a world where you are the only person around, and the building blocks of this world are all you can use to survive. You’ll need to punch down some trees to make wooden tools, and then you can start mining. This game is one part exploration, one part survival, and one part creation.
The Prestige: This is definitely my favorite movie of all time; the tension between Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale as rival magicians is fantastic. Its plot is full of secrets and betrayal, adding to the mystique of stage magic, and makes it a near perfect film.
Fall brings many changes to campus: an influx of young faces come fresh from high school and struggle to enroll in classes, the leaves change color, and a dozen guys bring their acoustic guitars and kill time by playing cover songs. That last bit about covering songs, that’s what I’m going to focus on. Because more often than not, the sound of someone covering an overplayed radio hit is equally as terrible as realizing too late that you wonʼt ever need to read that $120 looseleaf textbook you were required to buy. Even songs you truly enjoy can run their course and be thrown into the “I never want to hear this song again” pile within just a few weeks. So then when is it socially acceptable to cover a song? When it’s a year old? If it’s an early 2000s jam? I can never hear amateurs play Death Cab For Cutieʼs “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” enough times. What about the day a song is released? I swear if I see one more link on Facebook or Twitter from a band or some random kid to their cover of Lady Gaga’s “Applause,” I’m going to run to the woods in Washington where there’s no Internet connection or Wi-Fi. At least there Iʼll be able to truly avoid any and all exposure to the virus that is Top 40 radio. We’re already bombarded by the original version either on the radio, or in half of the commercials on television, and I’m sure it’s being rehearsed on Glee right now. I just want to be able to walk down the hall without hearing a pitchy rendition of a song that was never meant to be stripped down to a single guitar. There needs to be layers upon layers of sound to cover up the fact that youʼre listening to someone sing the word “applause” about 36 times in three and a half minutes - and yes, I did take the time to listen and count myself. Itʼs called research, kids. “I like to play songs people do know and enjoy,” says Morgan Medrano, an ARC student often found playing his guitar near the Rose Marks Pavilion. “Something goofy and upbeat...like Tenacious D or Bloodhound Gang.” There isnʼt a timeline when it comes to covers, but I do have one rule: Play what you like, but put your own spin on it. Donʼt be that guy that plays “Wonderwall” the same way every 20 minutes.
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September 18, 2013
Emily K. Rabasto / rabastoe@gmail.com
Alex Panasenko
Tammy Linn poses with her three children and her two grandchildren. (From left to right) Damon Linn, 14, Ricki Alexander, 19 holding Jordan Cruz, 6 months, Tammy Linn, 36, and Justice Alexander, 19, holding Emily Holcomb-Alexander, 9 months.
Perseverance: Grade ‘A’ mom struggles with unit caps and financial aid
A motorcycle parked between cars on August 29, 2013. According to Los Rios Police Department policy, “Motorcycles may not park in regular vehicle spaces.” ARC has motorcycle parking in lots A, C and G.
A spot of their own
By Ed Gebing & Jessica Maynard edgebingjr@gmail.com jessica.r.maynard87@gmail.com You’re running late for your 9 a.m. class when you find what you believe to be an empty parking spot. When you go to turn in you slam on your brakes quickly only to find a motorcycle parked in the space. Searching for a parking spot can be a tedious task the first few weeks of school and let’s face it, the parking structure isn’t very inviting when the majority of students drive like they’re on the last lap of the Daytona 500. The false hope given to a student who is running late for class when they find a motorcycle in a car parking spot is equivalent to the day you found out Santa Clause wasn’t real. American River College student Ana Franco has encountered this issue before. “It bothers me because when you’re trying to look for a parking spot and they’re taken [by a motorcycle] and then you’re late for class,” Franco said. “It’s frustrating.” The areas designated for motorcyclists to park their bikes are not heavily publicized throughout the campus, ARC motorcyclist Shane McGuire only found out about the parking spots through a friend. “The only reason why I know they [the spots] were there is because I found them out through my friend who was parking in the chemistry area,” McGuire
L
said. “The designated areas are good, sometimes you wish they were a bit more logically placed.” Riders, designated motorcycle parking areas on campus are your friends. Every parking lot on campus has areas set up for you to park your bike; and the positive side of parking in these areas are that the majority of these spaces are closer to your classes than the actual spots you’re taking up. Campus police have also noticed these incidents occurring across the campus. “We can write a citation for parking out of a designated area, that is a $33 fine, it’s generally a warning [the first time] but it depends on the officer’s discretion,” ARC campus police officer Chris Brown said. “At the beginning of the school year we see this quite a few times but after the first few weeks they [motorcycles] generally end up where they are supposed to go.” Some students feel stronger than others when it comes to their parking spaces being taken by bikes. “Either tow it [the bike] or hit it, they’ll [motorcyclists will] learn that way,” ARC student Eugene Litovchenko said. Motorcyclists, just remember next time you try and take a parking spot that you have designated areas around campus to park your motorcycles and always remain courteous to your fellow student drivers by parking in these allotted spaces or you will be subject to a fine.
CAMPUS PU SE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 This was the first time Linn had truly tried to read anything in years and that spark lit a fire that could not be extinguished. A year after picking up that bible, she decided to go back to school. She enrolled in a high school program at an independent study public charter school, which supplied her with her first computer and a teacher who visited every few weeks to check on her academic progress. Linn was finally receiving the academic support she had craved all along. Soon after she enrolled, state budget cuts made it necessary for such schools to release all of their adult students. This was a heavy blow for Linn, but she didn’t relent. Instead, she enrolled at ARC - beginning with Math 25. “I had to learn how to add and subtract and just write a basic sentence. I started at the very beginning,” she said. “I got an A in that first math class.” Linn quickly hit another bump in the road when she discovered she needed a GED to qualify for financial aid. “I couldn’t afford to keep going,” she said. ”I couldn’t afford the gas and the books. Once again, I took a blow to my education.” While on a hiatus from school in 2005 Linn had open heart surgery to correct a congenital heart defect. Undeterred and unfettered to her disability, Linn signed up for GED readiness classes while still recovering from surgery. Although she struggled through the practice tests, she passed the GED examination by the “skin of her teeth.” Linn wanted to continue her education, and in May 2008 she came back to ARC and has been working toward a degree ever since. Unfortunately she is now having trouble paying for the remainder of her education,
and no longer has access to the resources that helped her to this point. Because Linn’s skills were so rudimentary she took several introductory classes and took full advantage of Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC), Reading Across the Disciplines (RAD), and Beacon Tutoring. Until this semester a student could theoretically take WAC, a 0.5 credit class designed to assist students with academic writing, every semester. RAD, another 0.5 credit class designed to be taken in conjunction with a specific class a student needs help with, was also a repeatable class. Linn will not have the unlimited access to those valuable resources that she once had. “I needed that help to get me through,” Linn said. “Without that, I couldn’t have made it through some of those classes.” Linn is not giving up. At 36, she is now a member of Phi Theta Kappa - ARC’s Honors Program - and is very close to graduating. “I was (so) embarrassed that I was such a struggling student that I kept it to myself. I got F’s, even all through elementary school. I never got through anything. I just never had any kind of educational support ever,” Linn said. “Now, to be (a member of) PTK honors society...it’s amazing!” Because all of the WAC, RAD, and remedial math and English classes she needed to get started on her degree required credits that chipped away at the maximum amount allowed for financial aid, Linn is now making significant sacrifices - selling prized family heirlooms - to pay for the remaining 24 credits she needs to transfer to the Social Work program at Sacramento State. “I want to be a social worker,” she said. “I still remember my social worker. She cared, you know? Maybe I can make a difference.”
What was your very first day at ARC like?
“I remember coming out of high school and just being overwhelmed with the prospect I was in college… It’s opened a lot of opportunities for me.”
“It was kind of exciting to be out of high school finally. Some people say it’s so scary because of it being college, but it was fine.”
-JENTINJOE Anthropology
-OLIVIAWARNOCK Criminal Justice
“It wasn’t what I expected… the parking wasn’t crowded, not a lot of crazy people. Not the college feel. It was empty and dull.”
-BRYCESALASKY Kinesiology
“I was nervous, because I didn’t know what I was facing, and I was trying to get these classes together… I was a little on edge, and had too many coffees that day.”
-STEVENTHOMPSON Orchestral Music
Page 10
Scene
September 18, 2013
By Brittini Burns
brittini45@gmail.com An auditorium full of students interested in learning more about their personal health were present as Anthony Giusti, Professor of Nutrition at American River College, delivered a lecture on the dangers of Sugar, Fat, and Salt in our diets on Thursday, Sept. 6. “He shed light on rumors people have that sugar is bad, salt is bad, and he kind of simplified it to say your main concern is calories,” said Joel Soule, a 24 year old government major. Giusti stressed the importance of moderation when it comes to consuming foods that are high in sugar, fat, and salt content. These foods are considered palatable because we enjoy them, which triggers reward sensors in our brain that cause us to eat more. Although there are many diets on the market that severely restrict calories, it’s not about how many calories we consume, but rather calories in vs. calories out; how many calories we take in compared to how many calories we burn. To burn calories he recommends eating less and moving more. Sodium may contribute to high blood pressure, depending on the amount. Sodium comes mostly from processed foods such as fast food, TV-dinners, boxed foods, noodles and lunch meat.
Ways to reduce the risk are to eat less processed foods and added salts. “The most important thing is to try to eat more whole foods and less processed,” said Giusti. “Definitely eat more fruits and vegetables and whole grains.” While sugar may lead to Type 2 diabetes, it is not a factor for Type 1 diabetes. Those who are most at risk are overweight, have a family history of diabetes, and are physically inactive. Although there isn’t a significant difference between natural and processed foods, high fructose corn syrup may cause weight gain, but only in large amounts. Giusti advises us to use less added sugar and eat foods lower in overall sugar content. Saturated fats are considered less healthy, therefore a better alternative would be unsaturated fats. Trans fats - which are used in processed oils - should be avoided altogether. While sugar, fat, and salt do have a purpose in our overall diets, they can be highly dangerous for those who binge eat. What is the key to a healthy diet? Eating less salty foods and avoiding foods that are high in sugar and fat content. As for Soule, he plans to be more conscious of the foods he eats. “I will definitely start checking the back of my bread, and pay more attention to labels.”
Jonathan H. Ellyson / jonathanellyson@gmail.com
ARC students take interest in nutrition
The Java City snack bar display, which was relocated to the front entrance of the gym.
Short lines at the hidden java joint By Jonathan H. Ellyson jonathanellyson@gmail.com Starbucks lines have been long during the semester, especially during peak hours. Not only is the wait time in line rather long, but the time it takes to receive your drink only adds to the wait. Many students have forgotten that there is an alternative to the long waits at Starbucks: Java City. Last semester the Java City had been moved to the food trailer outside Davies Hall, The American River Stop. This semester the food trailer is no longer in use. Posted on the outside is a sign saying that Java
TAKETHISCLASS Theatre Arts 320
By Kameron Schmid kameronschmid@gmail.com
Emily K. Rabasto / rabastoe@gmail.com
Screams can be heard in Raef Hall on Tuesdays. Arm rests are clenched, toes are curled, and most importantly, notes are taken. This is Film Genres: Horror & Thriller, perhaps the most popular film class on campus. Pamela Downs, Professor of this class for “ten or eleven years,” delights in watching and discussing classic horror films such as “The Exorcism,” and so do the sixty-five students enrolled. Bring your snacks (make sure to clean up your mess) and sit down for the scariest, most gruesome three hours on campus. The range of films is extensive, from the classic “Nosferatu” to the more modern “Shaun of the Dead.” But beyond being scared, what is there to learn from a class such as this? “We can extrapolate the other genres of film from studying this one...We look at the primitive stages of drama, and then the classic stage, and then when it becomes re-
“
visionist, and then when it becomes parodied. By examining horror movies in this way, we can figure out how the Western genre came about and has changed, or Film Noir, or whatever genre we may want to look at,” said Downs. “I also think the horror genre, because it has maintained its’ popularity from silent movies on to today, I think it’s a form that has resonance with human beings. It forms a release for our fears of what goes bump in the night. And in some ways you come out of this class perhaps less afraid of some of the cultural bugaboos.” Ms. Downs’ classes have become a favorite of student John Myers, a Theater major. “This is my fourth class taught by her. She’s a great teacher and so far it’s the best class I have,” he said, soon after finishing the movie of the day, “Rosemary’s Baby.” For the final assignment, you can choose between writing a paper, or making a fiveminute horror film of your own, which will be premiered on the last day of class. If you’re looking for a fright, this is the class for you.
She’s a great teacher and so far it’s the best class I have.
JOHNMEYERS THEATER
Emily K. Rabasto / rabastoe@gmail.com
“
By examining horror movies...we can figure out how the Western genre PAMELADOWNS came about. PROFESSOR
City has been relocated to the front entrance of the Kinesiology building. The number of customers they have been receiving is surprisingly low. According to Kimberly Marshall - a Java City employee - the move was ordered due to maintenance on the American River Stop trailer and she doesn’t know if they will be back at that location anytime soon. Marshall said, “It’s been really slow because no one knows we’ve been relocated over here.” As of right now in addition to the flavored coffee and the blended beverages you know and love, the Java City serves breakfast burritos and dough-
nuts in the morning. The American River Stop used to also serve cheeseburgers and sandwiches for lunch, but no longer does. Marshall said the reasoning behind removing lunch was the completion of the cafeteria student center. Aramark is the vendor who provides all our campuses food, and it appears it’s phasing out Java City from our campus. The main differences between Java City and Starbucks are the shorter lines, the faster service time, and the punch card. If you park in the new parking structure or in the stadium parking lot, and need a caffeine fix before you start your day, try the Java City.
Opinion
September 18, 2013
CURRENT EDITORIAL
Page 11
CAN THE ASB AND ITS ACTING PRESIDENT GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER?
current@arc.losrios.edu In politics, rookies get eaten alive. It doesn’t help when the tumultuous waters in which the Associated Student Body Student Senate swim are full of obstacles that lie just below the surface. The fact that elected president Tyrone Robinson jumped ship at the beginning of the semester didn’t help with the start of things. Add to that a lack of official bylaws and an order of succession that puts the director of finance in charge, and one starts to see what could be the ASB equivalent of a maelstrom brewing. For those of you wondering, all this makes Jorge Riley acting president, and quite a few people have been outspoken about their displeasure with that appointment during public comment at the ASB senate meetings.
Students and faculty may remember the protests around campus last spring surrounding the ASB elections, some of which focused on Riley. With Riley now at the helm of the Student Senate, members of fierce, the campus LGBT Club, as well as former Senate president Quierra Roby and other students, have concerns that Riley will not represent the will of ARC students. The solution they propose is a special election, and Riley agrees. But as with anything in politics it isn’t as simple as that. Remember those bylaws that were never passed? Well, they are the only thing that would allow for a special election. The California Education Code requires students at community colleges to have a voice. The Current provides one of those voices, but the ASB provides the voice and
representation. On a campus of over 30,000 students (with a voter turn out at the last election of only 950) the job of the ASB is often overlooked, but they make decisions that can impact everything from campus culture to extra costs or savings for students. Without proper representation, that student voice will be sadly lacking. If the ASB cannot get on course and figure out a solution, the students of ARC will be the ones affected. The bickering and complaints about Jorge Riley are only making the process of figuring out the next step that much slower. It’s time for the ASB Student Senate to buckle down, pay off their debts, clean house and get to the business of representing students. It’s time to figure out a way to get the special elections underway so they can move on to the work they were voted in to do.
For here or to go?
By Zach Tierney
ztierney.zt@gmail.com
Illust ratio nb yK or b lK
When I was first introduced to the world of fast food I was a naïve high school graduate. My world was simple: good and bad, right and wrong, black and white. Then a certain redhaired mistress introduced me to the gray in the world. i There were people that specifically oreck lim dered some complex creation in the hopes that I would mess up – the people that wanted something to go wrong – just so they could complain. I met these people and truly believed that they were evil, soulless demons with every intention of ruining my day every time I forced myself to go back to work. Those that have worked in fast food know that it begins to seep into every aspect of your life like a social cancer. It took up all of my time. The few days that I had off I met people who would ask, “Where do you work?” or “What do you do?” and upon hearing my answer, look down on me with utter disdain. My car, my home, and my body all began to smell like fryer oil and old meat. I would dream of taking orders on the drive-thru and hear the phantom sounds of a cash register as I went about my day. Working there made my life a waking nightmare.
Not all of the ill effects of my own personal hell were psychological. As the time I spent working at Wendy’s progressed, it began to take a physical toll. Working for more than eight hours surrounded by greasy, salty bites of seemingly unnatural foods didn’t leave many options for healthy eating. With the ever-changing schedule, I frequently worked various hours. Too often I would work until two in the morning, only to clock back in seven hours later. However, it wasn’t all long hours and hellish customers. There were rays of hope that lifted my spirits each day. I had regular customers that would ask me about my life and legitimately cared, such as an elderly woman that visited our restaurant around midnight every day and insisted on leaving a tip. Or the kind man that knew every employee by name and asked about each of us. Despite the very few things that aren’t horrible about food service, I still hated it. I hated serving ungrateful people and I hated cleaning up after them and their children.
It’s unfair for taxpayers to finance elective surgeries for criminals Photo illustration by Steven Condemarin
By Nikita McGee-Davis
mcgeedavis90@gmail.com Chelsea Elizabeth Manning is a former U.S. soldier who was convicted in July 2013 of violating the Espionage Act; Manning also happens to be transgendered. Manning, formerly taking the first name Bradley, identifies as a woman, though born with male sex organs. Now that she is in prison, officials are refusing to provide her with hormone therapy or sex-reassignment surgery to treat her gender dysphoria, or gender identity disorder. She had been seeing a gender counselor since before her conviction. Apparently Manning has been conflicted about her gender identity for some time. While still enlisted in the military, Manning stated in an email to her supervisor, “This is my problem. I’ve had signs of it for a very long time. I thought a career in the military would get rid of it. I’ve been trying very, very hard to get rid of it by placing myself in situations where it would be impossible. But it’s
Chelsea Manning in military uniform at left, and dressed as a woman on the right.
not going away; it’s haunting me more and more as I get older.” Though it’s apparent that Manning suffers from her gender identity issues, and that she may want to live the rest of her life as a woman, I believe that prison is a place for punishment, not treatment. As Manning noted, this situation is her problem. She should solve it on her own after she has served her prison term.
This is not a civil rights issue. Manning is not being punished for who she is; she is being punished for the crime she committed. The LGBT community is gaining prominence in the U.S., and people who identify as transgendered are beginning to publicly discuss their concerns; many feel as though their civil rights are being violated. The struggle for social acceptance of members of the LGBT community is being compared to previous social movements, such as those for women’s rights in the ‘20s and civil rights for black Americans in the ‘60s. Same-sex couples all over America are contending for the right to marry, and parents are lobbying for new laws to protect their LGBT children, such as legislation requiring transgender bathroom options in public schools. The attitude toward people who identify as LGBT is changing and new laws may protect their inalienable human rights, but I do not think it is fair for hardworking American taxpayers to finance the elective surgeries of criminals.
Ge tGo n z o
Line of sand in the eyes
By Jeff Gonzales jeff.a.gonzales@gmail.com Humanity has hefted the weight of war for as long as we have existed. Fighting over the “line in the sand” of the moment with impacts that have far reaching affects. So, when looking to tackle a column that looks at national news to break it down to a level that matters to the every day student, Syria seemed the way to go. As I poured through the vast array of information online and in print about the possibility of an upcoming war, I could easily see how this matters to students at American River College. Talking to the vet on a grassy knoll next to Rose Marks Pavilion about his experience firing at enemy combatants, I felt the limitation to my print space like a noose choking the life out of an amazing story. As I listened to the speeches made by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry, the reasons for action seemed clear. Yet the more I pursued the impact that students know war has, I began to realize that people already know the implications. What service would I be doing by repeating the information that abounds in the media? Scouring the Internet, I looked for something that may have slipped by the headline story of the moment. That was when something odd hit me. Among the gripes about Obama seeking congressional approval for action in Syria, an update on the leaks that Edward Snowden had let loose on the world appeared. That made me think; the media’s pouncing upon the story of war, as amazingly huge as it is, conveniently helped push down the fact the U.S. has been keeping tabs on just about everything. Though war is something the media should be talking about, we also need to know when our government crosses the Orwellian threshold at home. Sure, most of the information the National Security Administration is capturing is metadata. Yes, it is designed to make us safer. But the implications this has for the future are tremendous. With the possibility of war on the horizon, it’s good to remember what we are fighting for. If we claim to have the right to tell a country what weapons they can use, let’s remember why we feel that way. When we send our troops out to stand behind our ideals, let’s remember the reason why we became independent. Let’s remember why this should matter to us.
Run to Remember Photos by Emily K. Rabasto In Sacramento’s third annual 9/11 Run to Remember more than 1,200 athletes trekked either a 5K or 10K run in tribute to the families, friends, firemen and other victims of the tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001. Every runner and member of the Sacramento community had the opportunity to place an American flag in a memorial near the capitol representing one of the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives on 9/11. Sacramentans continue to prove that they will never forget.
The color guard organizes to escort the first runners to cross the finish line. Those who finished first placed the first flags in the memorial in front of the capitol.
At exactly 9:11 a.m. after the national anthem and a moment of silence, 1,200 runners began the race on Sunday, Sept. 8.
Two-year-old Spencer Oakes and his mother Brenna Graham, an ARC nursing student, pay tribute to the victims of 9/11 as they place their own flags next to the names of two firemen.
Exactly 2,977 flags were placed next to the names of the victims of 9/11. Every person who positioned a flag had the opportunity to write down the name of the person the flag represented and find a short biography about him or her online.
A group of cadets from the Sierra College Fire Academy use fire trucks to help raise one of the 15-by-35 foot flags in preparation for the run.