The Runner 2-13-23

Photo by Jocelynn Landon / The Runner Karla Young, public affairs/communications specialist for the school of Business and Public Administration, at the Black History Month Kickoff on Feb. 1.

University Police arrest man for attempted theft

By Haydee Barahona Co Editor-in-Chief

A man suspected of attempted theft was arrested at California State University, Bakersfield on Jan. 31.

Rory McCay, 30, was found near the Romberg Nursing Center at CSUB. McCay was transported to the Kern County Jail and booked on a felony and several misdemeanor charges, according to an information bulletin from the University Police Department.

UPD responded to a report of a theft from Facilities that morning.

Officers were seen driving onto the

Red Brick Road of the CSUB campus with emergency lights and sirens to allow for safe passage in order to assist the officer.

Melanie Madrigal, a sophomore Business major who witnessed the incident, said that she was sitting near the Science I and Science III buildings around 11 a.m. when she noticed a man in a red shirt walking around with a shirt in his hand.

According to Madrigal, an officer was trying to get the man’s attention when he started screaming.

“There were two officers. They had gotten him down and kept trying to put his arms into the cuffs because he kept on full-on turning his body to try to

The Runner Staff

break away,” said Madrigal. Madrigal also shared that the suspect proceeded to argue with the officer to let go.

According to an email response from CSUB Police Chief Marty Williamson, the suspect attempted to steal clothing from a building in Facilities and had also stolen items from the Rite Aid on Ming Avenue.

“Once we got the call we were on scene. It started at Facilities, but then, within about a minute or two, we were trying to find a suspect on campus. That took probably another couple of minutes for the officer to locate him because he was moving,” said Williamson on a phone call with The Runner.

Within a minute or so, McCay was detained, said Williamson.

“Initially, the suspect failed to follow the commands of the officer and the officer did a foot sweep to take the suspect to the ground. Officers then used their hands to gain control and handcuff the suspect,” wrote Williamson in the email response.

Madrigal said that the incident lasted about five to ten minutes. According to Williamson, McCay had no affiliation with the campus.

FACULTY ADVISOR

Jennifer Burger jburger1@csub.edu

CO-EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

Haydee Barahona hbarahona@csub.edu

Ernesto Leon eleon19@csub.edu

SECTION EDITORS

Teresa Balmori, Brianna Fay, Jocelynn Landon, Autumn Layton, Kristen McGuire, Julisa Muñoz, Jennifer Serrano, Isiah Santana

COPY CHIEF

Frankie Nadal

REPORTERS/WRITERS

Susana Alfaro, Joshua Alvarado, Christopher Gomez, Dina Olvera, Jacob Torres, Kaley Brown Soren, Zachariah R.L. Rush, Jacob Torres, Averi Yanney, Aria Zahler

SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM

Yarely Coronado, Mayra Gomez, Yesica Valenzuela

MULTIMEDIA TEAM

Nicholas Castillo, Jocelyne Ordonez

ARTISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS

Anaiah Alfred, Gillian Galicia, Ray Alarcon Marquez, Philisa Moore, Ranara Lim, Alexis Robinson

MARKETING TEAM

Clarissa Alarcon

Kiara Zabala

THE RUNNER California State University, Bakersfield 9001 Stockdale Highway Bakersfield, CA 93311-1099

ABOUT US

The Runner is a laboratory newspaper published daily online with a monthly printed edition and PDF e-edition, in conjunction with the Department of Communications at CSU Bakersfield.

CONTACT US

Send corrections requests, letters to the editor, op-ed submissions and press releases to runner@csub.edu. Send advertising inquiries to jburger1@csub.edu.

DISCLAIMERS

Views and opinions expressed in The Runner are not necessarily those of the editors, staff or the Department of Communications. The staff of The Runner reserve the right to refuse or omit any advertising or material which advocates illegal activity, or which may be considered libelous, irresponsible or tasteless.

COPYRIGHT

Copyright belongs to the Department of Communications at CSU Bakersfield.

Contact Haydee Barahona at hbarahona@csub.edu

Photo by Haydee Barahona / The Runner

University Police vehicle parked between Romberg Nursing Center and Science I on Jan. 31, 2023.

CSUB Police Chief addresses rumor of armed suspect

By Brianna Fay News Editor

Chief of Police Marty Williamson held a town hall in the Student Union to address rumors of an armed subject on campus.

On Jan. 23, Williamson sent out an email inviting campus faculty and staff to a Townhall Debrief.

Williamson aimed to inform the CSUB staff and faculty of the events of the prior Thursday.

On Jan. 19, at 5:05 p.m., the first CSUB Alert was sent out to the entire campus.

The alert, sent out in three different forms—text, email, and phone call— read “UPS [UPD] is aware of rumors of an armed subject on campus. We are unable to validate any immediate threat to the campus. Officers are in the area.”

The University Police Department, UPD, sent out a total of three CSUB Alerts, with the final one reading “UPD continues to patrol the campus no threat has been identified.”

During the Town Hall, Williamson said that what started the events on Jan. 19 was the call from whom he described as a “campus person” to UPD.

Williamson said that they were stopped in the parking lot by another person in a truck claiming that there was a man on campus with a gun.

According to Williamson, the UPD’s next step was, “Working on trying to figure out if we need to lockdown campus,” stating that UPD starts high.

Williamson had a PowerPoint on the screen, explaining the levels of steps that UPD should take in these kinds of situations: “Lockdown, shelter in place, evacuate buildings, evacuate campus, and clear to occupy buildings.”

The campus cannot be locked down unless UPD has “good, validated information,” said Williamson.

Therefore, the UPD Dispatch contacted Mercy Southwest Hospital, which is near CSUB off Old River Road, and the Bakersfield Police Department. BPD confirmed that they had not received any calls, and Mercy Southwest confirmed that while there had been a small altercation between two individuals, that there was no one confirmed with a gun.

UPD continued to patrol but, as Wil-

liamson explained, “nobody has seen a gun,” and that there was no individual spotted with the “rough description” of “camouflage clothes.”

UPD could not verify the rumor and called the officers off patrol after hours of searching.

While there was no validated threat that Williamson and the rest of UPD could confirm, some members of the campus were still left shaken, especially with the recent news of shootings across the country, notably in Half Moon Bay and Monterey Park.

Junior Psychology major Eren Salyer said that he was concerned when he got the first CSUB Alert.

“I was away from campus when I got the alert and was caught off guard by the message. There had been recent shootings in other parts of the country, and I was fearful that CSUB would have been the next major news story. I didn’t want Bakersfield to become synonymous to shooting in the way that Parkland, Uvalde, and Orlando have. Because of the message, I altered my plans for the day

until I felt things had calmed down,” Salyer said.

For students or staff that might be experiencing any stress or triggers from this event, there are resources that are available on campus for those individuals.

Violence at schools can cause trauma in individuals, but the CSUB populous is not alone.

On the CSUB Counseling Center’s website, there are resources linked on the home page, such as the one titled “Common Responses to Traumatic Stress,” or “Managing Distress Related to Mass Shootings.”

Therefore, the Counseling Center lists ways to cope with this trauma and stress, such as “talk about the experience with your friends,” and “ask for help if you are particularly bothered by your reactions to the event.”

Furthermore, in person or online appointments with counselors can be made at the Counseling Center.

Additionally, Williamson elaborated on more ways to stay prepared in events,

citing the strategy “Run-Hide-Fight.”

Williamson said, “What I [UPD] did was give you the best information that I knew… It’s like everything else—people are going to have to make decisions on their own.”

So that the CSUB populous can take what Chief Williamson referred to as “self-responsibility” to be prepared, on the UPD website, there are two training videos, “CSU Active Shooter Safety Training – Bakersfield” and “Emergency Readiness,” so that students and faculty alike can prepare themselves for any kind of emergency.

Salyer said, “The CSUB police handled the situation with tact. They were aware of the situation and responded accordingly… I feel safe at CSUB because I have not had the reason to feel otherwise. That combined with a streamlined messaging relay, vigilant community, along with an informed police department, I will continue to feel that way.”

Photo by Jocelynn Landon / The Runner Chief Marty Williamson debriefs faculty and staff about the incident regarding the report of an armed individual on campus.

Golden Empire transit offers free bus rides for CSUB students

By Teresa Balmori Perez Assistant News Editor

Golden Empire Transit is providing free bus passes for K-12, college, and vocational schools for the remainder of the 2023 Spring semester from January up until May.

Golden Empire Transit received a grant that helped pay for not just CSUB and Bakersfield College students, but K-12 students as well, according to Ilaria Pesco, the executive director of Associated Students Inc.

The free bus passes will be valid up until the end of the semester.

ASI helped by providing a location for students to pick up their bus passes.

“Unlike other campuses, there’s not a one stop shop for students to be able to

go to a place like an office or something like that. So, ASI stepped up and offered our office to be the place for students to be able to come pick up the parking pass,” Pesco said.

Pesco went on to explain that many CSUB students struggle with trying to find some type of transportation and, oftentimes, they will pay a lot of money just on transportation alone.

With the free bus passes, not only will they find a way to make transportation easier, but they will also be saving up money.

This means students can spend money on other important essentials such as textbooks, school materials, and food.

Carson Vollmer, the President of ASI, explained that it can also be beneficial for students who do have a car but wish to save money on gas and parking permits by taking the bus instead.

‘‘It just really gives them that opportunity to, you know, take the bus where they need for free and so I think it’s such a beneficial incentive that students are now receiving,” Vollmer said.

According to Karen Navarro, a Psychology major at CSUB and a member of the Sustainability and Energy Management club, the bus pass is not just for commuting to school, but people can also use it to run errands or get around town.

“You can also bring three children with you for free but they have to be up to the age of five, anything older than that, they can get a free bus pass from the school’s site,” Navarro said.

Zoey Lejia, a Psychology major at CSUB and a member of the Sustainability and Energy Management club, said that students must show their bus passes and student ID each time they use the

bus.

Navarro also explained that the pass is only available to CSUB students. If a staff or faculty member would like to receive one, they would have to purchase one at the cashier’s office for 50% off.

Pesco mentioned that it’s not just valid for students who live in Bakersfield but for anyone outside of town such as McFarlane, Taft, Arvin, and Landcaster.

If students wish to receive a free bus pass, they can pick one up at the ASI office located in the Student Union building.

They will be giving them out every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, if students are not able to make it during those times, they will still be handing them out even past 6 p.m.

Photo by Gillian Galicia / The Runner

Arlene Salvador a junior pre-nursing major, signs up for the free bus pass. “You never know when you might need the bus,” says the student.

Contact Teresa Balmori Perez at tbalmori-perez@csub.edu

CSUB celebrates unity with Black History Month Kickoff

By Christopher Gomez Features Writer

The weather was bright and sunny to start the kickoff event celebration for Black History Month.

Many gathered around to hear the various events that California State University, Bakersfield will hold for Black History Month.

The event was held in front of the Student Union Patio.

The event organizer for the Black History kickoff celebration is Dwayne Cantrell. Cantrell is the Associate Vice President for the Enrollment Management Division Office and is a part of the Black Faculty & Staff Association.

Cantrell, addressing the community in front of a podium stated, “There’s been a lot we’ve seen from social media. It’s exhausting. Many times I had to fight emotionally.”

Cantrell then asked the community a rhetorical question stating, “Are you living for someone other than you... how do you sing when things aren’t going well... It is faith that got me through... finish the race.”

Another speaker that addressed the community was Uchechi Okey-Dike. Okey-Dike is an executive student assistant at CSUB.

Okey-Dike stated, “Beautiful to see our community brought together to celebrate unity and each other... thank you for showing up.”

After the addressment, the show was kicked off, with speakers blasting different songs, such as Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel.”

The Bakersfield radio station, Forge 103.9, had their own table at the event. They raffled off various items like t-shirts and free tickets to “OURstory: The Black History Musical Experience”

at Fox Theater on Feb. 6th.

One lucky winner at The Black History Kickoff won these free tickets.

While the raffle was happening, delicious food awaited everyone.

There was deep-fried catfish, frenchfries and tartar sauce.

Refreshments were served as well, like ice-cold water and soda, to quench one’s thirst.

It was a great addition to the event; many groups gathered to eat and communicate with each other.

Among the community were many

students that were interested in the event. Karen Navarro, a junior majoring in Psychology, said “The event was well planned and inspiring... it showed why Black History Month is so important.”

First established by Carter G. Woodson, an African American historian, the celebration of Black History Month was only a week-long event.

February was selected by Woodson as the month of celebration because Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays are during that month.

Woodson’s original association name was called The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.

In 1976, Woodson’s association changed their name to The Association for the Study of African American Life and History, they shifted the celebration from a week into a month. Woodson created the celebration to allow African American achievements to be recognized.

Over time, Woodson’s celebration expanded to African American heritage and allowed for reflections of sacrifices and contributions made by generations of African Americans.

Vist the CSUB 2023 Black History Month page for more information.

Photo by Jocelynn Landon / The Runner Jovon Dangerfield, media personality from 109.3, left, greets his friend Leon Denweed, the owner of Nov’s Soul Spot, right.

Photo by Jocelynn Landon / The Runner Students make bead jewelery at the Black History Month Kickoff.

Contact Christopher Gomez at cgomez51@csub.edu

Two Songs, Two Heartbreaks

By Teresa Balmori Perez Assistant News Editor

Shakira and Miley Cyrus have both released new break-up songs in recent weeks.

Both have received positive reviews from their fans.

Many fans praised them for their encouraging message of self-love and independence. Both songs are very similar as they both share themes of women empowerment.

Shakira collaborated with DJ and music producer Bizarrap on the new track “Shakira: BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53.”

The new song has an upbeat tone to it with some Latin-pop and reggaeton influences.

The song is reportedly a response to her ex-boyfriend, Gerard Pique, who allegedly cheated on her.

According to an article published by Clutch Points titled, “How Shakira allegedly found out Gerard Pique cheated on her” by Angelo Guinhawa, Shakira began to question her husband when she found a half-eaten strawberry jam in her fridge.

This seemed strange for her since no one in her family likes jam besides her.

In her song, “Shakira: BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” she addresses her husband’s infidelity and reveals more about the situation.

In addition to that she references her own song, “She Wolf,” by singing “Una loba como yo no está pa’ tipos como tú / A ti te quedé grande y por eso estás con una igualita que tú.” (A she wolf like me is not for guys like you / I was out of your league that’s why you’re with someone just like you.)

She also sings about how women should not be crying/obsessing over break-ups but instead should be focused on achieving financial success.

The song is a very motivational song, especially for people who have been in similar situations like Shakira.

Similar to Shakira’s new song, Cyrus also released a break up song titled, “Flowers.”

Just like Shakira, the song is allegedly

Cyrus’s song is also an upbeat pop song.

In the song, she sings “I can buy myself flowers / Write my name in the sand / Talk to myself for hours / … / I can take myself dancing / And I can hold my own hand / Yeah, I can love me better than you can.”

Some people noticed that the song is a reference to Bruno Mars’ song “When I Was Your Man,” which is a song that Hemsworth dedicated to her while they were together.

“This song is dedicated to my fans and steadfast self-love I wish for each of you,” Cyrus wrote on a Twitter post. Both songs are very empowering and give a positive message of self-love and self-worth, especially to people out there who may have experienced this or are going through a similar situation.

Shakira and Cyrus might have just released hit songs just in time for Valentine’s Day.

about her ex-husband Liam Hemsworth.

Screenshot from YouTube of Bizarrap official music video with Shakira of BZRP music sessions #53.

Screenshot of Miley Cyrus new album cover Endless Summer Vacation from Miley Cyrus’s official Instagram

Contact Teresa Balmori Perez at tbalmori-perez@csub.edu

TikTok trends toward inclusivity

By Aria Zahler Staff Writer

My name is Aria Zahler. I am a 26-year-old transgender woman and I use she/her pronouns.

For anyone who does not know what this means, it means that I was biologically born as a male, who later transitioned to a woman.

I have been on hormones at the time of writing this for about 2.5 years but wish I had started sooner.

The longer I waited for the moment to start my transition, the worse my mental health grew throughout my early life.

To best describe gender dysphoria, it’s something that eats away at you.

It’s feeling like you are constantly fighting and struggling to stay above water, but never being able to raise your head above it long enough to breathe. It’s living every second with distress, but never being able to ask others for help due to the fear of being hated and feared.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, “82% of transgender individuals have considered killing themselves and 40% have attempted suicide.”

It is a constant battle, a constant struggle even for those who have been transitioning their whole lives.

Part of the reason the suicide rate is so high among trans people is due to the lack of education and resources that are provided.

Issues regarding identity, even sexual orientation, are seen as taboo in our society. Because we are not often seen

in the public sphere, ignorance about our existence looms.

Politicians in control of our lives share this same ignorance and instead of being willing to learn and understand, some choose to try and erase our existence — especially in our current political climate.

I had been affected by this ignorance too. Had I known what the word transgender meant, had I known someone who is trans when I was younger, that might have helped me at an earlier age discover my true authentic self. But this was not the case.

I progressed through my childhood and even parts of my young adulthood, living as a male.

It was torture living life like that, not understanding why my life felt so wrong; it just did.

Most people don’t feel that every action, every word, or every movement they make somehow feels off. Or waking up out of bed in the morning after having a bad dream, only to look in a mirror and realize you never really woke up.

But it did for me. And for so long, I had no idea what was wrong.

It grows until you finally begin to understand that what you’ve been experiencing is gender dysphoria.

TikTok became more widespread around the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.

At the time, it was the new way for anyone to post short, mostly raw, unedited videos for the world to see and interact with. But TikTok had something unique and powerful.

It uses an algorithm to show you content based on your interests and likes. It is through this platform that I was able to meet many other people who experienced the same things I have in life, people who have lived through the same nightmares.

As I kept scrolling through the endless feed of content, I discovered that I kept seeing more content about finding your identity and feeling dysphoria. I had seen more content from people who shared similar battles as I had. It became a safe place for me to explore.

It is through this platform that I learned about the symptoms of gender dysphoria and began to understand myself. It was through baby steps that I began my social transition.

This means that I came out to my friends, my family and to my workplace.

I changed my name, changed the way I did my hair, wore women’s clothing daily, even started vocal training. I don’t believe I would have known how to start without the exposure I had through TikTok.

The social constrictions that had clouded over me and limited me were quickly dissolving away.

I believe without TikTok and its incredible algorithm, I would not be where I am today. TikTok has helped me every single day throughout my early transition.

But it should not be up to a social media platform to help discover myself.

We need to encourage transgender health studies. We need

would not be where I am

to be seen, heard, listened to, and understood. It should not be in the hands of an algorithm for us to understand ourselves.

We are not a taboo, never to be discussed. We exist.

Photo provided by Aria Zahler “I

today. TikTok has helped me every single day throughout my early transition.,” said Aria Zahler, 26. Contact Aria Zahler at azahler@csub.edu

A horrific start to the new year in California

By Kristen McGuire Opinions Editor

The new year has brought an enormous amount of grief and hopelessness to all of us who live in California.

Following are the deadliest of the six mass shootings that California has seen so far in 2023.

Two extremely horrific shootings happened in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay.

The mass shooting in Monterey Park occurred on Jan. 21 and resulted in the tragic deaths of 11 individuals.

According to Associated Press, this tragedy is “the worst mass shooting in Los Angeles County history.”

The victims were celebrating the Lunar New Year at Star Ballroom Dance Studio, until their lives were suddenly taken away.

The gunman, named Huu Can Tran, 72, fired shots into the studio using his semi-automatic weapon.

After murdering 11 people, Tran entered another dance studio.

The Los Angeles Times reported the following day that officials stated, “two community members disarmed him, took possession of his weapon, and the suspect ran away.”

Tran was found dead after taking his own life.

The tragedy in Half Moon Bay occurred only two days after the mass shooting in Monterey Park. On Jan. 23, 7 people were murdered at their place of work by Chunli Zhao, 66.

Zhao targeted two different mushroom farms with a semi-automatic weapon. CNN reported on Jan. 25, in an article that Zhao legally owned this weapon. He was arrested and taken into custody.

I don’t know if we will ever truly understand why individuals like these two men would do something like this, but that doesn’t mean we should forget it happened.

People lost their lives because these individuals were able to possess semi-automatic weapons.

We, as a society have become desensitized to the horrific tragedies that continue to plague not only our state, but our country.

It is impossible to truly feel safe going anywhere.

We are forced to constantly have our guard up at all times.

We are forced to accept the reality that gun violence is not going to go away.

California has 107 gun laws, which is the most out of any state in the country.

Gavin Newsom attended a press con-

ference following the Half Moon Bay mass shooting.

Newsom stated, “We’ve seen a 55% reduction in gun deaths when we initiated those progressive reforms from 1993 to 2017 and you look at our gun death rate, it’s 37 % below the national average. Gun safety works.”

Newsom expressed in the press conference that he feels as though California is the only state putting laws in place to combat gun violence.

“One state can’t do it alone,” Newsom voiced.

Most states do not have anywhere near the amount of gun safety laws that California has.

Newsom expressed his frustration

with Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who has not said anything about the tragedies that occurred in his home state.

It is concerning that he did not even express any condolences to the families of the victims.

Newsom stated that Republicans have blocked gun safety reform “every step of the way.”

We, as a country, cannot keep enduring this kind of trauma and act like it’s normal.

Both parties must come together to ensure that the proper laws are in place to stop gun violence.

Graphic by Ray Alarcon Marquez /The Runner

Student Loan Forgiveness: What Runners need to know

By Clarissa Alarcon Marketing Manager

Since 2020 college enrollment rates have decreased significantly, and this will undoubtedly affect our country’s future in the long run.

The pandemic has caused an overall decline in young adults pursuing higher education.

Forbes magazine has reported that since 2021, college enrollment rates have declined by 7.4%.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has induced unexpected financial struggles in people worldwide.

As businesses and institutions were shut down, many individuals were left unemployed.

As a result of the pandemic, our nation is now facing an economic crisis.

These consequences have fallen heavily on college students who have felt the impact of an unstable economy and a rise in inflation.

Jason Lane, the Dean at the University of Miami, disclosed to the Herching Report that he believes this decline will make our society “less healthy” and make our economy “less successful” as well.

To help encourage attending college, on Aug. 24, 2022, President Joe Biden announced that his administration would initiate a loan forgiveness plan for college students.

This plan would cancel up to $20,000 of student loans for individuals who received Pell Grants.

Additionally, this plan would cancel up to $10,000 worth of loans from students who didn’t attend school on a Pell Grant.

In a debriefing put out by the White House, it stated that President Biden feels education should be a “ticket” to the middle class.

However, due to ever-increasing costs, many individuals now see college as more of a financial burden than an opportunity.

The White House’s statement acknowledges that the accumulation of

debt among the public will affect our society’s ability to grow and prosper. As a result of an abundance of student loan debt, individuals are struggling to buy property and save for the future.

Despite the disadvantages of low education levels, many people still find the topic to be controversial.

Many argued that they had to pay their loans, so it is only fair that current borrowers also have to pay in full.

Since the announcement, President Biden has been sued multiple times by states and individuals who disagree with the progression of this initiative, resulting in the program being blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Forbes reported on Jan. 25 that the Supreme Court continues to dismiss most lawsuits that challenge the

initiative; however, despite the previous dismissals, the Supreme Court is set to hear two more arguments against the forgiveness plan on Feb. 28.

Even though the Biden-Harris administration is facing a lot of backlash for this plan, they continue to rally behind it by emphasizing their confidence in the program.

On Jan. 28, the White House released a statement pertaining to the forgiveness plan that read, “These borrowers could be benefitting from the Administration’s program right now were it not for lawsuits brought by elected officials and special interests.”

This illustrates how elected officials have been persistently obstructing this initiative.

Republican Senator Pat Toomey

referred to this plan as a “scheme.” He believes this plan will increase the cost of education, instead of lowering it.

This sentiment is shared by other politicians, such as Senator Mitch McConnell, who stated that this plan was a “slap to the face” for Americans who have already repaid their debt.

People against the loan forgiveness plan also seem to focus on the idea that because they had to pay their loans, so should new borrowers.

They fail to realize that in a recent report by the College Board, it was revealed that the cost of attending college has nearly tripled since the ‘80s.

These arguments are absurd when considering that it is a politician’s job to stand for the public’s best interest.

These politicians claim to stand for the working class, yet they continually widen the gap between classes.

Additionally, it is hypocritical for Republicans to stand against loan forgiveness when many Republican members, such as House Representative Vern Buchanan, received over $2 million dollars in loan forgiveness.

For now, president Biden has temporarily extended student loan payments.

This will offer current and past students some financial leeway. I believe that the U.S. Supreme Court should lift the blook on the student loan forgiveness plan.

As our society evolves, we must evolve with it. We must be innovative in dealing with these unforeseen circumstances.

The student loan forgiveness plan is not something we have done before; however, that does not mean it can’t be done.

We cannot ensure the stability of our country if our government continues to be divided on subjects such as this.

Graphic by Jocelynn Landon / The Runner

Contact Clarissa Alarcon at calarcon2@csub.edu

Injuries plague Roadrunners in loss to Aggies

By Isiah Santana Sports Editor

The tension was high for California State University, Bakersfield’s and University of California, Davis’s game as Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Rod Barnes, searched for his first win against UC Davis as a Roadrunner.

The Roadrunners came out of the gates playing great defense as they grabbed a 7-2 lead to begin the game. However, that would not remain the case as the Aggies fought hard to take the lead.

The Aggies were red hot in the first half, shooting 54.5% (6-11) from three and putting on an 18-4 run in a 6-minute span, led by Aggies Junior Guard Elijah Pepper, who had 14 points and five rebounds.

Pepper also tied a season high in threes (4) during the half.

The Roadrunners tried their hardest to mount a comeback, bringing a 27-point lead down to 13 in the second half before losing the game 79-58.

The Roadrunners, however, were plagued with injuries as they were without top scorer and assist man Kaleb Higgins (Guard).

Higgins is out for the season with a torn meniscus that he suffered facing Cal Poly (Jan. 5).

The Roadrunners were also missing leading rebounder and shot blocker Modestas Kancleris (Forward), along with Ugnius Jarusevicius (Forward), and Naseem Gaskin (Guard) all due to injuries or illnesses.

When asked about how big a detriment the injuries have been to the Roadrunners, Barnes stated “...you’re changing the game plan every week or so, and that’s been difficult, you know, for us whenever we get where we got a good flow or we got good chemistry, you know, something happens. Someone gets hurt.”

It wasn’t all bad news for the Roadrunners as their bench outscored the Aggies 20-16, led by Freshman Guard Kaseem Watson, who had a career high 14 points Thursday night.

When asked what was working for him, Watson stated, “I think highly of myself on the offensive end, I just think like, I just believe nobody could guard me and just and then if coach gimme the ball he call my number I gotta answer the bell…”

Another bright spot in the Roadrunners game Thursday night was the big performance from Antavion “Dude” Collum, who tied a career high 20 points despite the loss.

When asked about how he can take Thursday night’s loss to learn from for future games, Junior Guard/Forward Antavion “Dude” Collum stated, “I’d say just take what they give me, notice the weaknesses of the other team, and be effective.”

Although the Roadrunners took the loss on Thursday night, they showed Head Coach Rod Barnes that they were not going to stop playing until that last buzzer sounded as they took the Aggies lead down from 27 to 13 at one point in the second half.

When asked about what he liked during the attempt to comeback, Barnes stated, “I thought in that point I thought our kids showed some fight, thought they showed some resilience to come back…”

The Roadrunners next contest at home is Wednesday, Feb. 15, when they take on the Mustangs of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Photo by Ranara Lim / The Runner Forward guard Antavion Collum scoring a slam dunk after rebounding the ball from UC Davis.

Contact Isiah Santana at isantana@csub.edu

Valentine\'s Day Word Search

Happy Valentine’s Day

Words can be found in any direction (including diagonals) and can overlap each other. Use the word bank below.

*Submit completed word search to Classroom Building 106 by Feb. 16 for a chance to win a gift basket.

Word Bank

Word Search by Frankie Nadal / The Runner