Fall 2015 Issue 9

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press GOLDEN GATE

october 21, 2015 ISSUE 09 VOLUME CI GOLDENGATEXPRESS.ORG

Students protest future Pouring Rights agreement read more on page 2

Serving the San Francisco State community since 1927

Allegations tie Berkeley sexual assault scandal to SF State ALLISON MICHIE

RENEE ABU-ZAGHIBRA

amichie@mail.sfsu.edu

EDMUND LEE / GOLDEN GATOR, 1995

TERMINATED: Geoffrey Marcy, former SF State adjunct professor from 1999 to 2015, had his status terminated due to a sexual harassment scandal at UC Berkeley. Marcy was part of a team that discovered a brown dwarf star near Pleides Cluster during the summer of 1995.

Two former SF State astronomy students recently accused a worldrenowned astronomy professor of sexual harassment during his time at the University from 1984 to 1999. Geoffrey Marcy – who has been in the spotlight this month for

rabuzagh@mail.sfsu.edu

a sexual harassment scandal at the University of California, Berkeley – taught at SF State in the physics and astronomy department. Marcy was an adjunct professor from 1999 until Oct. 14, when his status was terminated by the department, according to University

scandal Continued ON PAGE 2

Industry insiders expose flaws in porn consumption BRIAN CHURCHWELL / XPRESS

CAMERA ROLLING:

Director Shine Louise Houston (right) and second camera AJApornfilms, film co-stars Jiz Lee (front) and Nikki Darling in “Training Day,” a special episode for “The Crash Pad Series” at Pink & White Productions in San Francisco, Saturday, Oct. 10.

I

CODY WRIGHT

crw@mail.sfsu.edu

n a studio furnished with beds, cabinets of sex toys and movable set walls, adult performer Nikki Darling stood in front of a camera clad in a blue sports bra and black spandex shorts, playing out the script that involved masturbation training. “If there’s anyone who can masturbate for 48 hours it’s you,” Darling purred. For Darling and fellow performer Jiz Lee, the shoot was just another day at the office at the Pink and White Productions studio in Potrero Hill. The porn industry has changed since the days of nudie magazines stashed under beds and stealthily acquired VHS

tapes. With the help of the Internet, porn is now largely free and more accessible than ever. Pink and White Productions, which was started by Shine Louise Houston in 2005, focuses on queer and blurredgender-lines pornography in its San Francisco studio. Houston said they have worked to create a higher standard in adult cinema, yet the company is feeling the squeeze from the abundant supply of free porn online. “The prevailing attitude is that everything on the Internet should be free,” Houston said. The mission of the company is to create quality content with the consent and enjoyment of their workers, all while paying

spokesperson Adrianne Bee. Preet Dalziel, who received her bachelor’s degree in physics and astronomy from SF State in 1991, said Marcy exhibited inappropriate sexual behavior toward her, and she was discouraged from filing a formal complaint.

a good wage, Houston said. Yet conference on the bootlegging Houston said that competing of porn held at SF State in with free content online is September. Piracy has cost making it harder for Houston the adult industry millions of and others to make a good dollars in revenue annually, living. according to an FastNBC article growing “tubefrom earlier aggregator” this year. sites like Amid PornHub the and debate YouPorn about have pirated triggered work, an the avalanche company of free Mindgeek -Shine louise houston adult content has online, according monopolized to Houston and the the industry, staff at Pink and White according to Houston. Productions. Mindgeek, the company that Much of the content on operates big name tube sites these sites is pirated and free, like PornHub and YouPorn, has leaving the performers without accelerated the disturbance felt financial compensation for by the porn industry. their work, Houston said at a

CFA event initiates strike vote MOBY HOWEIDY

mhoweidy@mail.sfsu.edu

The California Faculty Association kicked off the first day of their strike vote Wednesday as part of their Fight for Five campaign to secure a 5 percent raise. Any California State University faculty that are members of CFA will vote to approve job actions or a full strike, said SF State’s CFA Chapter President Sheila Tully. “We are willing to fight,” Tully said. “We don’t want to strike, we really think that our proposal is reasonable, (but) we really think the (CSU) chancellor needs to reorder his priorities.” The vote, which will span 10 days and was announced last month, will determine whether or not CSU faculty use job actions like labor slowdowns or a full labor strike to apply pressure to CSU administrators, Tully said.

The prevailing attitude is that everything on the Internet should be free “

porn Continued ON PAGE 6

ALEX KOFMAN / XPRESS

STRIKE VOTE: Biology

professor Eric Routman drops his vote into the ballot box during a voting kickoff event held by the California Faculty Association on Holloway and 19th avenues Monday, Oct. 19. CFA is demanding a 5 percent general salary increase for all faculty.

cfa Continued ON PAGE 3


2 NEWS

Wednesday, October 21, 2015 goldengatexpress.org

Protests prompt future pouring rights meetings

A

LINDA KARLSSON

lkarlsso@mail.sfsu.edu

ssociated Students, and the campus community Inc. will host a regarding a possible pouring town hall meeting rights contract with SF State. Wednesday, Oct. 21 Xpress reported last week from noon to 2 p.m. at Malcolm that a protest erupted among X Plaza to discuss a potential students and faculty during pouring rights agreement Coca Cola’s presentation Oct. at SF State, according to 14. Jonathan Morales, a member “The University needs to of the Pouring Rights Review cease and desist disrupting Committee. shared governance on campus,” This meeting comes after said Celia LoBuono Gonzalez, a student protest in J. Paul a member of the Real Food Leonard Library last week, Challenge at SF State. “(ASI) where more than 30 students must participate in these marched against the pouring policies before they go through. rights agreement and demanded The (request for proposals) a meeting with President Leslie was sent out before anyone on E. Wong. campus was aware.” Wong will not be attending The protesters wore duct the ASI meeting on Wednesday, tape with “silenced” written but according to Mary Ann on it across their mouths and Begley, the dean of students, held hand-made signs reading Wong has agreed to meet “student power” high with ASI. above their heads. “As An Bui, president promised, I of the Real did forward Food your group’s Challenge, request said they onto the have president written an asking for official an open resolution forum (or) to end the town hall to pouring discuss the rights -Celia LoBuono Gonzales concerns over agreement. pouring rights,” “Basically, Begley said what the in an email to the Real Food resolution will say is one, Challenge Wednesday. “My stop all negotiations with the understanding is that (ASI) will pouring rights contract, and be working quickly to get the two, have a town hall meeting meeting arranged.” with the president who is the Coca Cola Co. and PepsiCo one behind this contract,” Bui Inc. were invited to campus said. “Three, start the creation Oct. 14 and 15 to answer of a process where students questions from the Pouring and faculty are going to have Rights Review Committee an institutionalized process for

The University needs to cease and desist disrupting shared governance on campus.

JOEL ANGEL JUÁREZ / XPRESS

CALL TO ACTION: SF State Real Food Challenge member Celia LoBuono Gonzalez, a third year communications

and geography major, speaks about pouring rights during the “Speak Out” rally in Malcolm X Plaza Tuesday, Oct. 20.

these kind of decisions.” According to the request for proposals, which was sent out to beverage companies in March, the selected partner will represent 100 percent of all fountain-dispensed beverage sales on campus and 80 percent of campus-wide retail shelf space. University Corporation Executive Director Jason Porth said he attempted to keep the meeting with Coca Cola on track by asking students to save their comments for the end. “I want to assure everyone that there will be an opportunity through a public process for people to

engage in a discussion with the campus community to share their concerns and their perspectives,” Porth said. “We certainly welcome that.” Phil Klasky, a lecturer in the department of ethnic studies, participated in the protest and said he disapproves of both Coca Cola and Pepsi on campus. “I was searching for a word to describe the proposal to make a deal with Coke and Pepsi, and what I came upon was ‘perverse,’“ Klasky said. “These companies prey upon low-income (communities) and communities of color and native peoples, contributing to

an epidemic of diabetes, obesity and other dietaryrelated diseases.” According to Klasky, University officials should take into consideration what is best for the campus by listening to students and conducting background research on the major soda companies. “What price is the University prepared to place on the respect, integrity and reputation of our institution?” Klasky said. “And are you prepared to listen to the students? This is their University, and they don’t want this blood money.”

exoplanets. “I have an enormous sense of loss in that I have lost a colleague who was a leader in this field and someone whom I respected a great deal,” Kane said in an email. Kane said he aims to ensure that steps are taken to ensure student safety. “Our students, to whom we have the privilege of sharing our knowledge, place a great deal of trust in us as mentors and it is a terrible thing to break that trust,” Kane said. “We have also used this as an opportunity to remind our students that we strive to make SFSU a safe educational environment for them, stressing that students should feel free to approach faculty if an incident occurs and informing them of their Title IX rights.” Title IX is a government ordinance that mandates public universities prohibit sexual misconduct on campus. Susan Lea, who taught graduate astrophysics in 1999, while Marcy was still teaching at SF State, said she didn’t

suspect anything of the sort from what she knew of Marcy. She said she was sad to hear the accusations against Marcy and hopes to create a safer environment for women in the field. “We try to make women comfortable and encourage women to be a part of the sciences,” Lea said. “I know that this area is lacking in women, and so we try to make it more welcoming to them.” The sexual harassment scandal comes in light of recent updates to Title IX legislation. The changes to California State University Title XI policies include the prohibition of romantic relationships between students and faculty, as recently reported by Xpress. In a letter on his website, Marcy said he took responsibility for his actions at UC Berkeley despite not agreeing with every complaint. “I take full responsibility and hold myself completely accountable for my actions and the impact they had,” Marcy said. “For that and to the women affected, I sincerely apologize.”

scandal Continued from the front

Sexual assault controversy spurs collegiate dialogue “Geoff was my thesis adviser,” Dalziel said in an email. “I witnessed him giving back rubs to other students and to me. He also touched my breast.” Dalziel said she reported the incident in the 1990s during her time at SF State and was told three other women had reported Marcy that week. Her classmate Lynda Williams also said in a Contra Costa Times article that she experienced similar inappropriate sexual behavior from Marcy and was also discouraged from filing a report. “That is the real story here. Not just Marcy,” Williams said in the article. “The whole system of complaint and grievance in academia is corrupt, because women have to go to administrators whose job it is to make it go away.” Students who took Marcy’s

classes at UC Berkeley made anonymous comments on Rate My Professor about his teaching, describing Marcy as a charismatic and enthusiastic lecturer. “He’s good. The one thing that kinda got me was his cockiness,” one of the comments from 2013 said. “I guess he’s a big deal in astro though. There was a group of girls in the front row that swooned over him. Weird. But I guess confidence and knowledge will do that.” SF State’s department of physics and astronomy condemned Marcy’s actions in a statement released Oct. 14 after UC Berkeley’s findings were made public. “We call on all members of the scientific community and the institutions in which we work to make a renewed, public, serious and enforceable

commitment to preventing sexual harassment and all forms of discrimination in our profession and in our institutions,” the letter said.

(Students) place a great deal of trust in us as mentors and it is a terrible thing to break that trust.

-Stephen kane

Stephen Kane, an assistant professor in SF State’s physics and astronomy department and Marcy’s former colleague, said Marcy was an inspiration to him for his research in


NEWS 3

Wednesday, October 21, 2015 goldengatexpress.org

ALEX KOFMAN / XPRESS

STUDENT SUPPORT: Students Beth Huang (left)

and Christian Arriola (middle) and SF State women and gender studies graduate Devin Lee (right) hold up their signs during a voting kickoff event held by the California Faculty Association at Holloway and 19th avenues Monday, Oct. 19.

CSU reaffirms committment to bargaining process cfa Continued from the front According to the CFA website, faculty will have the chance to vote online and in person. “We have had positive response from faculty,” Tully said. “If it follows past strike votes, I think it will be a lot of online voting and some in-person voting.” A successful strike vote would be the first step in giving faculty fairer working conditions and a more comfortable salary, said political science lecturer David Lee. “I think students want that because you get a better environment for learning,” Lee said. “I think if we get a modest increase in salary and benefits, it’ll create a more conducive learning environment for everybody.” Even with the looming possibility of a strike and other job actions, CSU administration remain fixed on their offer of a 2 percent general salary increase for all CSU faculty, while balancing their other goals for the CSU system, according

to CSU Director of Public Affairs Toni Molle. “The University has a responsibility to address all mission central priorities that support student success,” Molle said. “The CSU is committed to the collective bargaining process and to reaching a negotiated settlement with the California Faculty Association.” Though not ideal, CSU administration understands that strike authorization is a common factor in the bargaining process, but it’s something they would like to avoid, Molle said. “A strike is not in the best interest of the students,” Molle said. “The CSU continues to value and invest in faculty and all of our employees while maintaining a balanced approach to compensation.” Though this is an issue that only faculty will vote on, student support and

solidarity is a key factor in CFA’s Fight for Five to succeed, Lee said. “I think it’s important that the faculty aren’t alone in this fight because the faculty working conditions are inherently tied with our learning conditions,” said CSU Students for Quality Education organizer Shannon Jose. “It’s tied to the fact that we need to come together as a community, an SF State community.” If a strike is approved, Tully said faculty could plan a series of rolling oneday strikes across the 23 CSU campuses, which would maximize their power while minimizing the number of days students would miss class. “Speaking for myself and many faculty I’ve spoken to, in an ideal world we’d like the chancellor to realize faculty, staff and students are the heart and soul of the University,” Tully said.

ALEX KOFMAN / XPRESS

RALLY: SF State students and

faculty hold up signs during the voting kickoff event for Fight for Five at Holloway and 19th avenues Monday, Oct. 19.


4 Lifestyle & culture Freshman artist illustrates social inequality ASHLEY BOWEN

O

anbowen@mail.sfsu.edu

dessa Blackmore, an 18-year-old freshman at SF State, said she was walking down Lakeshore Avenue in Oakland early one summer morning when she heard that a black man had been shot by police. According to neighbors near the scene, the man had passed out in his car with a handgun and refused to get out when the officers woke him. She said she waited for an official report to clarify whether the man had actually attacked the officers, but no such information was produced. “It’s almost like people didn’t care, and I stood outside the yellow tape for a few hours and people were all talking about what had happened, and some people were saying terrible things like ‘Oh, how am I going to get to the farmer’s market now? I have to go all the way around the block,’” Blackmore said. “It was just so crazy that people have been so desensitized – like, a person was killed that morning, and they’re purely thinking about, ‘How am I going to get to my yoga class?’” Blackmore, an art major, said she draws inspiration for her artwork from current social justice issues, such as the police shooting she witnessed in her neighborhood. She recently had three paintings on display in the Associated Students, Inc.’s monthly artist feature in the Cesar Chavez Student Center from Oct. 1 to Oct. 14. Blackmore said the portraits illustrate the way

she views police officers – showcasing how she sees them as committing murders and claiming their actions as selfdefense. “It’s the most hypocritical thing, to be the person who is charging people of these crimes, but then to be hiding from your own,” Blackmore said. “In each one of (the paintings), I tried to portray emotion in their eyes, and by giving them emotion in their face, I wanted the viewer IMANI MILLER / XPRESS to think maybe not all police are ART ACTIVIST: Odessa Blackmore, freshman art major at SF State, paints in her dorm room in Mary Ward Hall Sunday, necessarily just, and how we Oct. 18. Blackmore said she tries to bring awareness to the Black Lives Matter movement through her art. need to think about the checks and balances that need to occur what to think.” preciousness to the subject matter Blackmore said her next in order to fix the system as it is.” Born and raised in Oakland, or moment.” project is photographing people Blackmore said that police Although she’s a declared who have personally experienced brutality has always been art major, Blackmore said she is police brutality and are open to Artwork can always be prevalent in her community. She thinking of switching to a social sharing their stories. She said making something pretty or said before she created the pieces justice-related major. She said she hopes her photo series will in August, she would regularly see she still wants to keep art in the demonstrate how prevalent racial with good technique, but I headlines announcing that police scheme of things and wants to profiling is. think, at the end of the day, had shot yet another unarmed continue making pieces influenced “I definitely want to make my what can also be important young person of color. by these issues. art more relevant, in the sense of is making something that is Gillian Bailey, Blackmore’s “Odessa is one of the most continuing to use news media and meaningful.“ former art teacher, said Blackmore unique spirits I have ever met,” social justice issues and things that has a strong artistic voice and has said Lilith King-Smithson, a friend I’m passionate about,” Blackmore always been expressive with her of Blackmore and a freshman said. “Artwork can always be -odessa Blackmore work. at SF State. “Taking direct making something pretty or with “She is prolific and a great inspiration from instances such good technique, but I think, at the Lisa Solomon, an art observer of the world around as the ones she does is important end of the day, what can also be department lecturer who teaches her,” Bailey said. “I have always because those are the realest important is making something Blackmore’s Drawing I class, enjoyed her ability to depict emotions – it’s raw material. I that is meaningful.” said she appreciates Blackmore’s seemingly banal or ‘unimportant’ admire her work because it’s not approach to tackling a relevant and imagery in a way that elevates sugar-coated or modified to fit an controversial issue. (its) importance and creates a acceptable or popular criteria.” “Portraying people and events in a way that makes the audience think about important political issues takes courage,” Solomon said. “Artwork often gives a viewer the space to come to their own conclusions instead of someone didactically telling them

IMANI MILLER / XPRESS

DOODLES:

Odessa Blackmore’s illustrations of police are drawn on a paper cup in her dorm room in Mary Ward Hall at SF State Sunday, Oct. 18.

IMANI MILLER / XPRESS

BRUSHSTROKES: Blackmore paints a policeman in her dorm room Sunday, Oct. 18.

Wednesday, october 21, 2015 goldengatexpress.org


LIFESTYLE & CULTURE 5

Wednesday, october 21, 2015 goldengatexpress.org

Students navigate climate of gym harassment SAMANTHA LUSIGNAN

S

mall beads of sweat gather on the forehead of sophomore Uwaila Aigbovo as she works on her weighted squats. Even though she is uncomfortables, Aigbovo said she would rather bear the heat of restricting attire than the uncomfortable male gaze while working out at the gym. “I don’t wear shorts at the gym,” Aigbovo said. “I wear capris because I don’t want people staring at my butt. I always feel like eyes are on me.” Many SF State students who frequent the gym said they need to carefully plan their exercise attire and modify their workouts to avoid unwanted attention. Sophomore Cecelia Hetnick, 19, said she was working out in her hometown gym in Fremont when she experienced harassment that changed her forever. “I was at my gym asking a trainer to help me with my back squats, because the barbell always hurts my shoulders,” Hetnick said. “The whole time he was helping, he was being super touchy and was staring at me

slusigna@mail.sfsu.edu

during my whole workout. Later, he asked me for my number.” Hetnick said she changed her workout attire to include longer pants and modest shirts to avoid receiving unwanted attention. She would never feel comfortable wearing shorts and a sports bra alone, unless it was for an allwomen’s gym, she said. The Village Fitness Center at SF State has drafted ways to keep students secure from harassment into its contract. Their policy states that members who exhibit harassment to other students lose their membership privileges. “We have a zero tolerance policy to sexual harassment at the Village Fitness Center,” said Village Fitness Center assistant manager Mark Peñacerrada. “We place a lot of emphasis that the behavior is not accepted, and we try to establish a safe environment for our members and staff.” According to Peñacerrada, the fitness center has remained incident-free the last three years due to the strict policy and the younger demographic of clients, who he said tend to keep to

themselves while working out. SF State alumni Jeremy Dutra, 23, studied criminal justice and now is a personal trainer at the VFC. Last month Dutra took second place at the Paradise Cup in Hawaii. He said he deals with unwanted attention as a professional body builder. “When I practice my posing for shows, a lot of guys at my gym in Fremont will stare,” Dutra said. “I am happy to explain anything as long as people ask, but there’s always that older guy that stares and doesn’t care that you see him.” SF State student Carla Cobb, 20, is studying nursing and said she frequents the Village Fitness Center four times a week. As an avid weight lifter, Cobb said she is more comfortable working out at the Village Fitness Center because she is familiar with the staff. “I feel like the employees definitely have my back,” Cobb said. “Since I am a regular there, they honestly make the gym feel like it’s my second home.”

EMMA CHIANG / XPRESS

ENDURANCE: Carla Cobb, family studies major, and Uwaila Aigbovo, dietetics major, lift free weights for a portrait at the Village Fitness Center at SF State Thursday, Oct. 8.


6 spotlight

Wednesday, october 21, 2015 goldengatexpress.org

ON SET: Co-stars Jiz Lee (left)

and Nikki Darling (right) film a scene of “Training Day,” a special episode for “The Crash Pad Series” at Pink and White Productions in San Francisco Saturday, Oct. 10. BRIAN CHURCHWELL / XPRESS

Queer porn studio advocates for performer rights porn Continued from the front “When you have a product that is already devalued, and you’re coming into a market place where everything is free, it’s hard to turn a profit off any production,” Houston said. PornHub had 18.35 billion visits and 78.9 billion video views in 2014, with the U.S. sitting at number one in viewership according to their 2014 reports. In response, Fight The New Drug, an anti-porn group, has erected billboards that read “Porn Kills Love, Fight For Love” around the Bay Area, according to their website. FTND said it is worried that the availability and pervasiveness of wellendowed men who objectify women skews reality for young consumers.

Co-founder of FTND Ryan Werner said the organization classifies the damage porn does in three ways: the brain, the heart and the world. Werner said there is no healthy way to consume porn. “I would say there is a better way to consume porn, but it’s still going to have harmful effects on the user,” Werner said. Lee said it’s shame, not porn, killing love. “It frightens me to see such aggressive targeting towards censorship of sexuality,” Lee said. Ivy Chen, an SF State professor who has taught in the sexuality studies department for the last 13 years, said she isn’t as worried about the content

as much as creating social pariahs out of porn consumers. She said she thinks that porn is creating closet masturbators, not sexual deviants. “I think that might be the more harmful effect of watching porn, not necessarily consuming it, but it starts to take over their life and they can’t tell anyone about it,” Chen said. The those who make porn and those who would like to see the end of the adult industry agree on one thing: the need for more education. “We really have to do a paradigm shift on how Americans see sexuality in general, so in fact we can fit this into our lives in a way that promotes relationships, pleasure and love,” Chen said.

BRIAN CHURCHWELL / XPRESS

PREPARATION: Cast

and crew review the script before filming “Training Day,” a special episode for “The Crash Pad Series” at Pink and White Productions in San Francisco Saturday, Oct. 10.

BRIAN CHURCHWELL / XPRESS

CUDDLE: Jiz Lee (left) and Nikki Darling (right) pose for still photographer

T.C. White before filming “Training Day,” a special episode for “The Crash Pad Series” at Pink and White Productions in San Francisco Saturday, Oct. 10.

I would say there is a better way to consume porn, but it’s still going to have harmful effects on the user -jiz lee


8 Sports

Wednesday, october 21, 2015 goldengatexpress.org

ALEX KOFMAN / XPRESS

BALAN CE: Andrei Torres, vice president of the capoeira club, demonstrates his technique Friday, Oct. 9 in the gym at SF State.

Capoeira club embodies the ‘art’ in martial arts

C

JESSE SAETEURN essej@mail.sfsu.edu

ries of “bananeira,” embedded into capoeira are what set it “amazonas” and other apart from other martial arts. Portuguese terms Club member Jonathan Martin, who coalesced with traditional started training in capoeira more than Brazilian instrumentals five years ago, said it puts the art in as members of SF State’s martial arts. capoeira club flipped and kicked across “Capoeira is a music art; it’s a the gymnasium floor during their Friday cultural art — it’s almost like any other afternoon practice. art that seeks to express its culture with Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial the body,” Martin said. art that incorporates the combined Martin said capoeira has influenced elements of dance, acrobatics and music. him in a positive way. Its distance from mainstream martial arts “It impacted my sense of awareness is what makes it unique, according to and culture,” Martin said. club treasurer Keith Suguitan. In addition to the physical benefits of “Capoeira mixes live music and the art, capoeira has enabled members of dance with traditional martial arts the club to establish friendships with one movements,” Suguitan another and meet new people, according said. “It started to club safety officer Monica Chee. close to the “A positive impact capoeira 1800s and has had in my life, beside has since getting me in better shape, been one is expanding my circles of of the most friends,” Chee said. unique and The movements can beautiful be taught individually, martial arts but are not technically around the capoeira unless they involve world.” coordination with a partner, The club has according to Chee. -Jonathan Martin been active for five “You have to have a flow and years, according to rhythm with your partner — it’s like Suguitan. having a conversation with each other,” Club vice president Andrei Torres Chee said. “He or she is your partner said he encourages SF State students whom you are kicking and dodging away to join because it will improve them from and constantly working around physically. each other within a limited space.” “It’s really good for your health. Chee said she believes more students You’ll feel your body change — your would join capoeira if they see it in body will become more flexible and person. stronger,” Torres said. “Before capoeira, “It’s different from anything you I wasn’t able to do a handstand, and now probably ever seen, so it’s hard to I’m doing it super easily.” explain; it’s better to show you,” Chee Torres added that the music, said. teamwork and Brazilian culture

ALEX KOFMAN / XPRESS

SWEEP: SF State student and member of the capoeira club Sean Smith practices his technique during practice in the gym Friday, Oct. 9.

Capoeira is a music art; it’s a cultural art — it’s almost like any other art that seeks to express its culture with the body

ALEX KOFMAN / XPRESS

DODGE: Monica Chee, safety officer of the capoeria club at SF State practices her moves during practice in the gym Friday, Oct. 9.


SPORTS 9

Wednesday, october 21, 2015 goldengatexpress.org

JAMES CHAN / XPRESS

ELEVATE: (TOP TO

BOTTOM) Carmac Pujals, a member of the rock climbing club at SF State, climbs Beaver Street Wall in San Francisco Wednesday, Oct. 7. Sam Crossley, left, and Florian Zeissig, right, prepare to climb Beaver Street Wall. Sam Crossley, founder of the rock climbing club at SF State, climbs Beaver Street Wall in Corona Heights Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Climbing club reaches for recognition VINCE FAUSONE

CHRIS CONTRERAS

vfausone@mail.sfsu.edu

While scaling neonstudded climbing walls might not compare to the crags and clefts of the Yosemite Valley, it’s an experience that Samuel Crossley and Jacob Fuller, the co-founders of SF State’s rock climbing club, said they felt that other students should have the opportunity to embrace. “Sam and I had been climbing together for a few years, and we had the idea for the club about a year and a half ago,” Fuller said. “I’m hoping to talk to my old boss at Planet Granite in the Presidio and work out some kind of discount for members over there.” Access to a climbing gym would allow members to hone their bouldering skills before striking out onto nature’s unforgiving precipices, according to Fuller. “Climbing in the gym is like practice for any other

chrisdc@mail.sfsu.edu

extreme sport,” Fuller said. “When you’re 200 feet above the tree line after the struggle to get up there, that’s what’s really exhilarating.” Although Crossley and Fuller conceived the prospect of a climbing club and created a Facebook group in the summer of 2013, the two began the arduous process of becoming recognized by the University in September. “If we get recognized, we will get a lot of exposure and some money from the school,” Fuller said. “We’ve been proceeding as if we were already an official club, so we’re waiting to hear back pretty soon.” Rock climbing and judo will be SF State’s most recent additions to the list of 12 already instated club sports, which include rugby, men’s and women’s volleyball and ultimate frisbee, according to Assistant Director of Campus

Recreation Ryan Fetzer. Fetzer said that no other new clubs applied this semester. “Once both departments review and confirm that all information and documents submitted for approval are accurate, then they will become officially recognized student organizations on campus,” Fetzer said. Every year, sports clubs must renew their registrations before the deadline at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters, Fetzer said. This also gives new clubs a chance to register and become recognized as official clubs, according to Fetzer. “We essentially handhold them mentally through the process and give them a chance to ask any random questions that come up,” said student services professional Lawrence Birello. “We want to make sure any new student organizations that get established can take

advantage of what any old organizations have already done.” Potential new clubs must set up their own bylaws and are required to send at least one of their members to a leadership symposium, according to Fetzer. The president and treasurer must also attend a student leader orientation at least once during their time at SF State. Club sports are organized and run by the students, so having financial and leadership skills are a necessity, he said. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY DAVID CURL


10 opinion

Wednesday, october 21, 2015 goldengatexpress.org

press G GOLDEN GATE

STAFF EDITORIAL

Sex ed must be more inclusive

NASHELLY CHAVEZ

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF nashelly@mail.sfsu.edu

DARCY FRACOLLI

MANAGING EDITOR dfracoll@mail.sfsu.edu

RISTI TEWOLDE

ONLINE SUPERVISING EDITOR tewolde@mail.sfsu.edu

EVA RODRIGUEZ

ART DIRECTOR erodrig2@mail.sfsu.edu

HARLAN FROST

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR hfrost@mail.sfsu.edu

EMMA CHIANG

PHOTO EDITOR echiang@mail.sfsu.edu

AVERY PETERSON

NEWS EDITOR averylp@mail.sfsu.edu

CREO NOVENO

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR cnoveno@mail.sfsu.edu

KALANI RUIDAS

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE EDITOR kruidas@mail.sfsu.edu

REID CAMMACK

OPINION EDITOR reidcamm@mail.sfsu.edu

VINCENT FAUSONE IV

SPORTS EDITOR vfausone@mail.sfsu.edu

GENESIS CHAVEZ-CARO COPY EDITOR gchavezc@mail.sfsu.edu

LULU OROZCO

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR ohlulu@mail.sfsu.edu

JOCELYN CARRANZA

ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR jcarranz@mail.sfsu.edu

JESSICA NEMIRE

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ov. Jerry Brown signed a bill earlier this month mandating sexual health education for all students in public schools from seventh to 12th grade as of Jan. 1, 2016. Prior to this, state law merely sanctioned schools to teach “age-appropriate” reproductive health education and only mandated that they educate students about HIV/ AIDS. Though Brown’s law is a start to securing comprehensive sex education, schools must take a broader approach and widen their spectrum of topic to incorporate queer and consent issues. In a 2013 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey of high school students in the U.S., nearly 41 percent did not use a condom the

California's new sex education laws move the state forward, but don't do enough to tackle LGbt issues and consent

last time they had sexual intercourse, and 87 percent had never been tested for HIV. The new bill requires that schools “affirmatively recognize that people have different sexual orientations,” but teaching students that same-sex relationships exist is not the same as providing comprehensive sexual education to queer students. These students deserve to learn the logistics of sex in order to better protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections and diseases. Brown also signed Senate Bill 695 earlier this month,

which requires schools to teach students about sexual harassment and violence, including the concept of affirmative consent, in districts where a health class is mandatory for graduation. As wonderful as it is that affirmative consent education is now mandatory for a handful of teenagers, students should be taught about consent throughout their educational career. Building a foundation of affirmative consent is key to changing the culture of victim blaming that surrounds sexual assault, California State Senate Speaker Pro Tempore Kevin de

León said in an interview with the New York Times. “Sexual violence has always thrived in the gray areas of the law,” de León said. “What we want to create is a standard of behavior, a paradigm shift as much as a legal shift. We’re no longer talking about the old paradigm of the victim being blamed for their own behavior.” In order to achieve such a shift, consent should be taught hand in hand with sexual education, no matter the grade level. Unlike math, science or English, sex health education impacts the most intimate facets of our lives. By equipping students with the right tools to navigate the complicated sexual landscape at an early age, we can destigmatize and demystify sex, helping keep them and their partners healthy.

Social media users need to realize racism is not a punchline CHANTEL CARNES ccarnes@mail.sfsu.edu

criticized for making racist comments try to justify it by calling it a joke. They claim that because they have black friends and went to see "Straight Outta Compton" they couldn’t possibly be racist. Somehow, people think being a

Let’s take a moment to applaud those who are still living proof of the phrase "ignorance is bliss" in the year 2015. Social media exploded after a Facebook user posted a photo of himself with his co-worker's African American son. The man, Gerod Roth, posed for a selfie with the child, and the comments his friends left on the photo went viral. Their comments, “I didn’t know you were a slave master” and “But Massuh, I dindu nuffin” were somehow considered amusing to not only his friends, but also some people on social media. People genuinely thought making a mockery of the physical and mental torture that slaves endured at the hands of white supremacists was funny. Roth's friends called it “hilarious,” but here’s the kicker: When the backlash went viral, the response from each person was, “I’m not a racist – it was just a joke.” "I don't know why everyone is freaking out ILLUSTRATION BY EVA RODRIGUEZ over the comments, we aren't racist and neither is Gerod, just joking here," one of the users supporter of black culture gives them the right to make a mockwrote on Facebook. ery of its people. The phrase “I’m not a racist, In order for those comments it was just a joke” is an oxymoon the Gerod Roth photo to be ron. Those comments are direct a joke, they would have to be racism and they are offensive to humorous. How is a group of African Americans. The color of people plundered from their the boy's skin was the basis of homes and families and forced those "jokes." People who are

into slavery funny? I’m curious to know which part of slavery was the funny part. If you make racist comments, justify racist comments and laugh at racist comments, you are essentially a racist. You know what they say,

if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then what is it? A racist duck. I took it upon myself to post the Gerod Roth photo on three SF State Facebook pages and my own personal Facebook, just looking for feedback. While everyone agreed that the comments

were racist, there was one Facebook user who claimed that what he found just as offensive as the comments was the backlash over the comments. He told me that “people need to have a stronger backbone.” I think I felt every bone in my body cringe after seeing that comment. He was essentially telling me that black people should just have a thicker skin when it comes to these “jokes,” because they are only “jokes.” I do not need to acquire a better “backbone” to accommodate those who feel it is necessary to make these kinds of comments. This is not the first racial outburst that has taken over my news feed. In March, a video surfaced on the Internet, showing a group of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity members from University of Oklahoma chanting a song full of racial slurs against African Americans. The video showed the members laughing and chanting, "There will never be a n*** in SAE, you can hang him from a tree, but he can never sign with me, there will never be n*** in SAE." I was shocked to see how many people found the video "funny." In the end, I was pleased to see the university shut down the chapter. It showed there is zero tolerance for racism. People Magazine reported that Gerod Roth and his friends were fired from their jobs, and it serves them right. Joking about this horrific time in history does not make you a comic – it makes you racist.


opinion 11

Wednesday, october 21, 2015 goldengatexpress.org

Reality shows lack luster of former glory

Reid It and Weep is a weekly column highlighting the frequent disappointments in contemporary pop culture.

I

REID CAMMACK

reidcamm@mail.sfsu.edu

’ve never been a particularly avid watcher of “America’s Next Top Model,” but when I’m home all day and there’s an “ANTM” marathon running, you bet your ass I’m watching it. I’m watching the first makeovers, the go-sees, the terrible Covergirl commercials, and I’m definitely watching when Tyra announces which random fashion “capitol” of the world they’re traveling to. When it was announced that “ANTM” was canceled, I wasn’t really mad that the show was over; I was mad that classic reality television was over. For years, I thrived off of shows like “ANTM,” “The Hills,” “Jersey Shore” and “I Love New York.” “ANTM” was the last survivor, and now, all hope is gone. We’re in a new, golden age of scripted television. And while I love “Empire,” and I regularly have to hide the erection that I get from all the drama on “How to Get Away with Murder,” I miss the age of reality domination. Reality television is a lost art form that needs to be resurrected. Gone are the days of dating shows where rock stars, rappers and MySpace celebrities found love in mansions and on buses. “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” are all America has left. Those endless streams of humping white people will never reach the excitement of the humping diversity of ”Flavor of Love” or “Rock of Love.” I want genre shake-up. I want another multi-ethnic, bisexual cast like there was on “A Shot

at Love with Tila Tequila.” Unfortunately, reality queens like Tequila don’t show up too often. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit rarely

ILLU

These true reality gods will go to outrageous extremes when fighting, getting plastic surgery and having emotional breakdowns. Kim

STR

ATIO

N BY bless REID CAM MAC us with K stars like Kardashian Tequila, Heidi and a couple Real Montag, Nicole “Snooki” Housewives are the excuses Polizzi and Tiffany “New York” Pollard. we have for reality stars now. Kim is

great, but she isn’t the trash I’ve come to expect from television. She’s flying in private jets to Armenia, not urinating behind the bars in clubs like queen Snooki. The drag queen contouring Kim does to her face will never match the 10 iconic plastic surgery procedures Montag had done in a single day. If America is out of trashy characters, a spicy host would at least suffice. There’s bound to be a new Tyra Banks or a Gordon Ramsay hiding somewhere. I want someone to shriek about scallops being under cooked or how we were all rooting for Tiffany. America needs a new obsession. Some of the best reality television came about when networks found a working idea and ran with it. Audiences ate up celebrity-based dating shows, and New Jersey was the place to be towards the end of the last decade. Shows like “Cake Boss,” “Real Housewives of New Jersey,” “Jersey Shore” and “Jerseylicious” were all iconic on their own. They had big hair and even bigger personalities. American television networks need to find another trashy goldmine. There’s bound to be one person, one place or one group of people ready to be filmed and captivate American audiences. Scripted television is great, but it will never match the elated feeling of watching a drunk Snooki being arrested on a beach.

Oakland citizens feel sting of betrayal in Warriors’ move to San Francisco TYLER PRIMAS

tprimas@mail.sfsu.edu

The roaring fans shouting “MVP!” and “Let’s go Warriors!” is what gave the “Roaracle” its name. Ever since I can remember, I’ve cheered on the Golden State Warriors from section 108 at the Oracle Arena, but that’s about to change. After calling Oakland their home for 43 years, the team announced Oct. 12 that they purchased a 12-acre parcel of land in San Francisco’s Mission Bay. They plan to open a new arena there at the beginning of the 2018-2019 season, according to Forbes. After years of initially promising yet ultimately disappointing seasons, the Warriors picked up their momentum this year and transformed into a golden team. The Splash Brothers, Klay

Thompson and Stephen Curry, dominated the court and brought so much energy to the Oracle that the arena exploded with blue and yellow. The city of Oakland has been at the heart of that success. My closet is full of Warriors jerseys: Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, Monta Ellis and more. When my dad comes home with Warrior tickets, I get so excited to see them play in my hometown. Walking in the south entrance of the arena to get to our seats is so surreal to me. That arena holds years of my family’s memories, from watching the Warriors play to seeing my favorite artists, like Beyoncé, perform there. The Oracle Arena holds a special place in my heart. Though the Golden State Warriors were the San Francisco Warriors until 1971, San Francisco was not always their official home court. They bounced around, from the Cow

Palace to arenas in Oakland and San Jose, and even played home games in San Diego. Once they permanently moved to the Oakland Coliseum in 1972, they became the Golden State Warriors, claiming Oakland as their home court. Oakland has been their home for more than 40 years, and that shouldn’t change just because they want a new arena. The new arena doesn’t have to be built in San Francisco. They can build a new arena in Jack London Square in Oakland or expand the Oracle Arena. Oakland citizens deserve something for supporting the

team through the rough years. We deserve a new arena or an expansion of the existing arena in Oakland; the city in which we, as Warrior fans, have thrived alongside the team.

It feels like the team is abandoning the loyal fans who have supported them through rough seasons

Furthermore, in the months when basketball season and baseball season overlap, the San Francisco Giants and the Golden State Warriors will most likely have games on the same day, which will increase traffic coming across the Bay Bridge and on BART. Around the world, Oakland is seen as a dangerous, crime-

ridden city, and people don’t see its beauty. The Warriors’ championship finally started to paint Oakland in a good light. Oakland residents finally have something to be proud of, and they’re taking it away from us. It feels like the team is abandoning the loyal fans who have supported them through rough seasons, like myself, to move on to a bigger and better arena since they’re champions now. The Warriors owe it to the loyal fans to stay in Oakland and let us enjoy living in a championship city. San Francisco is already known for being the home of the 2012 and 2014 World Series Champions, the San Francisco Giants. We should let Oakland have the thrill of being the home of the 2015 NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors. Let the Oracle continue to roar.


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