AMPAGE Volume CXXV Issue 7
FREE
R
November 27, 2013
The Student-Run Newspaper of Fresno City College
Calhoun INVISIBLE AND VOICELESS, SEASONAL FARM sentenced WORKERS ENDURE INCONCEIVABLE HARDSHIP BY PABEL LOPEZ
News Editor plopez@therampageonline.com
Former Fresno City College instructor Brian Calhoun told the Rampage in a phone interview that he believes the way the judge in his trial handled his sentencing was “unfair” and “highly unusual.” Calhoun was sentenced to three years probation, 90 days in the adult offender work program, ordered to pay a $240 fine and ordered to stay away from all State Center Community College District campuses effective on Friday, Nov. 22. Nearly a month earlier on Oct. 18, Calhoun was found guilty of battery for attacking a student. The incident leading to the trial happened on March, 22 after the female student, Kevynn Gomez, cursed at him while leaving a classroom in the Old Administration Building at FCC. In his interview with The Rampage, Calhoun reiterated that he “loves [FCC]” and “is really sad not to work there anymore.” Even though the court mandates that Calhoun stay away from all SCCCD educational facilities, Calhoun said that he loves celebrating events like Martin Luther King Jr. festivities, and other big events on campus. Calhoun stated plainly that “I will be on campus to be at one of those events. They can arrest me if they want; they can stone me.” The sentencing on Nov. 22 included statements from Prosecutor Michael Brummell, Judge Denise Whitehead, Calhoun’s attorney Roger Nuttall, Calhoun himself, and his wife Elaine Calhoun. Nuttall gave a quick statement in which he referred to his client as “a good man” and said that Calhoun had lived an “exemplary life.” Elaine, Calhoun’s wife, also gave a tearful plea for leniency to the judge in which she told the judge that when she “sentences Brian she was l SEE CALHOUN ON PAGE 6
(Clockwise from top) Rafael Herrera works 18 miles east of Fresno on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013. Herrera and several other indigenous workers harvest fruit to support their families; the workers use 16-foot ladders to pick the fruit. 500,000 Mexican migrant workers immigrate to the U.S. every year. Photo/Abel Cortez
Second of a two-part series BY AIDYL MOLINA
Reporter amolina@therampageonline.com
Fernando Garcia, 42, like 3,000,000 migrant and seasonal farm workers in the U.S., lives an impoverished existence. He and his wife Celia Cruz toil for every dollar they earn; they scrimp, skipping meals and other necessities regularly, year after year, yet saving nothing and owning only the clothes on their backs. Every month, their earning barely pays their bills -- the bare necessities -- food and running water. Their only son, Jair Cruz, recently turned 18 years old,
works in the fields alongside them. Jair wants to increase the total family income, but each week is a struggle to make ends meet. Jair, a senior at Washington Union High School, gave up regular school and is doing independent studies in order to make himself available to work 24 hours, seven days a week, with his parents. It is a sacrifice for Jair, who yearns for the sort of things his peers enjoy -- a cell phone, an occasional ‘eat out’ with his friends. Now, he is intently focused on being able to contribute to his family’s budget and keeping homelessness at bay, for the time being. The Garcia family relies on an income that fluctuates
week by week, especially at non-harvest times. The first week of November yielded a combined 60 hours of work compared to seven hours the following week. Day by day, they will try to pick any crops left during the winter, even if when it takes three hours to travel to a work site that has only an hour of work. It’s about earning an income, no matter where, when or how. Garcia and his family currently receive a piece-rate income of $16.50 per bin of oranges. The bin is a size of a large Jacuzzi pool that can take up to an hour or more to fill depending on strength and speed of work. On average, they wear a sack that can support 90
pounds of weight hanging from the right shoulder for as much as eight hours each day. Harvesting with a sack that is constantly being loaded is very straining on the body; some field workers walk lopsided, carrying sacks half of their size. These workers suffer continuous back-pain and their gait is severely compromised, even after the weight is off at the end of the day. In addition to the sack, each harvester also carries a 16-foot ladder from tree to tree. They are required to pick every fruit on the tree from top to bottom and rely on a ladder which they rest on tree branches to support their weight as well as the sack’s. l SEE FARMS ON PAGE 4
THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM
2
NEWS
Rampage Staff Editor-in-Chief Troy Pope Managing Editor Kevynn Gomez Production Manager Victor Aparicio News Editor Pabel Lopez Opinion Editor Victor Aparicio
Arts & Entertainment Editor Patrick Forrest Sports Editor Jere Kirkland Photo Editor Michael Monroy Art Director Lauren Baker Copy Chief Jordan Russell Social Media Director Colby Tibbet Reporters Keaundrey Clark Loren Daniels Yolanda Garzon Brandalyn Hastings Daisy Martinez Aidyl Molina August Promnitz Brian Robinson Photojournalists David Bennett Abel Cortez Thalia Gonzales Ricky Sall Darlene Wendels Business Manager Ramiro Gudino Faculty Adviser Dr. Dympna Ugwu-Oju Tip Line: 559.442.8262
Twitter.com/FCCRampage Facebook.com/FCCRampage Instagram.com/FCCRampage YouTube.com/RampageNewsroom
Send Questions or Letters to the Editor to:
editorial@therampageonline.com
Fresno City College C/O The Rampage 1101 E. University Ave Fresno, CA 93741
11.27.2013 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM
FCC community donates to alleviate typhoon-ravaged Philippines BY LOREN DANIELS
Reporter ldaniels@therampageonline.com
Fresno City College staff members, student volunteers and local supporters assisted in mobilizing efforts on campus to aid in the relief of victims affected by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Two weeks ago the typhoon slammed into the central Philippines island of Cebu, resulting in the tragic loss of over 5,000 lives and damages leaving more than one million families displaced in its wake. Fresno City College cafeteria manager Anita Handy is from the Philippines and helped organize special luncheon on campus with food service company Taher, Inc. to provide relief to the victims of the typhoon. Plates of food were sold at the luncheon for $7 on campus and proceeds went to benefit the Southeast Asian country. “I came from the Philippines... it’s how much we can put together. They don’t need the money right now, there’s nowhere to spend the money right now - everything is destroyed,” Handy added, “so what they need is clothes and canned goods.” Handy and her staff accepted canned food and clothing donations in the cafeteria to be shipped inter-
nationally to the disaster-torn region on Monday. As restoration efforts continue to be underway in the Philippines, specific regions like Manila and other cities greatly affected by flooding and debris are still expected to experience routine power outages. In some places, water sources are extremely scarce and sometimes non-existent. Fresno-based international shipping company LBC Express joined FCC’s fundraising relief efforts on campus and exported all donated items to affected areas in the Philippines at no cost to the school. Handy and company also helped organize a raffle and silent auction on campus last Friday, combining it with the staff Thanksgiving luncheon held annually at FCC. A total of 140 raffle tickets were sold at $9 per ticket, selling out tickets on the day of the event. Student volunteers from the Fresno County Office of Education’s Adult Transition program helped put the event together on the FCC campus and got to be in attendance for the luncheon. “Given the opportunity to be here on campus and for our students to be able to react with college students gives them that hint to be independent. Anita lets us come in and help her decorate the tables, set out every-
Fresno City College
l TWITTER.COM/LORENBOBOREN
Holiday hope continues with students’ help BY BRANDALYN HASTINGS
Reporter bhastings@therampageonline.com
Fresno City College has a rich tradition of helping to make Christmas memorable for its students by conducting Hope for the Holidays, a program that focuses on supporting FCC students who are in need during the holiday season. For the past 20 years, FCC faculty and staff have elected students who are in need during the holiday season. The students must be enrolled in at least two classes to qualify for the program, and for students like Stacy Bracamontes, FCC’s generosity has been a huge help. “It’s generous, I mean not every college does this ... and it’s like the teacher, or staff, whoever nominates you... they want to help you, that’s the whole point of it,” Bracamontes said. Last year, Bracamontes was one of the 191 students who received a $50 gift card from FCC, a card which she says “helped a lot.” Bracamontes carries 12 to 15 units each semester as a criminology
Corrections:
major and she also works part time. As a mother of two, she said the gifts from FCC allowed her and her kids to be a family for Christmas, and not have to rely on her relatives for Christmas dinner. “You always want your kids to have a better life than you did. That’s why I’m trying to juggle school, [and] work ... it’s kind [of] hard. You wanna just show them that you’re there for them [and] you can support them,” she said. “I had my first son when I was really, really young ... I’m proud that I’m actually in college, not many teen moms are like that ... the $50 helped tremendously.” In past years, Hope for the Holidays provided students with a meal in a basket or bag, along with a toy for the students who have children. This year however, the Hope for the Holidays committee has focused on raising funds on and off campus to provide 200 students with a Save Mart Gift card, and those who have children with children’s books. FCC’s goal is to raise $10,000 and they are very close
to meeting it. Students have contributed about $800 alone by donating $1 in the Bookstore. Now the Bookstore wall is filled with forms carrying the names of those who have contributed. Also, the Associated Student Government voted to donate $1,000 to the fund to help fellow students. Gifts for these students can be picked up on Dec. 5 and 6 in the Student Activities Lounge, but people can continue to make donations towards the program through Dec. 4 in the business office. Those who make donations will be recognized by having their names on the gift tags attached to the presents that these students will receive. In addition, there is an opportunity to donate new or gently-used books for children ages 0-12 and people can do that by dropping the books off at the FCC Library. For students like Bracamontes, the Save Mart gift card and the books for her children will be “very beneficial” this year. l TWITTER.COM/BRANDALYNJANAE
The Rampage would like to make the following corrections to stories that ran in the Nov. 13, 2013 issue.
Page 1, “Recycling proceeds benefit students”
Journalism Association of Community Colleges
thing so that our staff here at Fresno City can enjoy it,” said representative of the adult transition program, Trina Rodriguez. Student Services on campus also got involved with the fundraising event. “[Anita] did a fundraiser last Friday and raised $700 dollars that she’s going to be buying canned food with... So I said to her, ‘why don’t we just put on the auction during the Thanksgiving auction?’” said Maile Martin in Student Activities. “Hopefully, if everybody just bids on the first item, the lowest bid, she’ll make about $400 dollars.” A lot of support came from staff in the form of donating items to be bid on at the silent auction. FCC librarian Lynne Kemmer donated pieces of art, movie baskets were donated by the Financial Aid office and the Veteran’s Association donated coffee mugs to be raffled off. Martin said “She’s going to take the funds she raises from this to purchase canned food items to send to the Philippines, and she’s doing a clothing drive as well; they’ll be sending canned food and clothing to the Philippines very soon.”
1. The State Center Community College District Foundation receives all proceeds from the recycling program, not Dorothy “Dot” Sedley. 2. The FCC orchestra went to Carnegie Hall last spring; the choral group is planning to go to Spain next spring.
Page 11, “Volleyball leads the CVC” 1. The volleyball team is not undefeated. 2. The team was ranked No. 5 in the state, not No. 3.
NEWS
THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM 11.27.2013
3
DESIGN SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL OFFERS STUDENTS EARLY EXPOSURE TO COLLEGE BY PABEL LOPEZ
News Editor plopez@therampageonline.com
The history building at Design Science High School in Fresno, Calif. on Monday, Nov. 25, 2013. Photo/David Bennett expect from college classes and how they can maximize success through the program. As the students spend more time in the program, they’re able to take more classes on the FCC campus in their sophomore, junior and senior years. Exum said he believes the program benefits students immensely. “These kids come into an environment where it’s rigorous, it’s college focused and they’re supported all though the program,” he said. Additionally, “through the State Center Community College District board’s guidance, they [students] have waived fees for high school enrichment,” Exum said. Fresno Unified pays for the books and all fees associated with college classes. Deborah Henell has worked as a counselor in the program for four years and knows the struggles students can go through while prepping for the transition from high school to college. Henell said most Design Science High School students are the first in their families to attend college. “The idea of going to college was not something they thought was a possibility,” Henell said. “The program allows them to see
Gov. Jerry Brown visited Fresno City College to sign AB60 into law.
Attempted assault
As of Nov. 26, 2013 police have made no arrests in connection to the attempted sexual assault that took place on the evening of Nov. 13 DANIELS 2013BYinLOREN Parking Lot S. & PATRICK FORREST One of the two suspects had a tattoo of a bird or feathers on his left wrist. Two males who intervened on behalf of the victim still have not come forward to talk to the police about the incident.
that it is doable, that there are support systems out there to help and assist to help them continue their education.” Many of the students come in with a variety of maturity levels as high school students usually do. “We’re very selective with the courses we recommend for students,” said Hennell. “We talk about what it takes to be successful in a college class, how do you behave, how you talk to an instructor because those are critical pieces of being successful in a class.” Design Science’s unusual method of schooling works for most students, but not all. Students leave usually during freshman year and at the beginning of sophomore year, but not necessarily for academic problems. “Since we are a small program, we don’t have athletic teams; we don’t have choir; we don’t have band,” Hennell said. “If they want to do that, some of them decide it is an important part of what they want to do; they go back to their home schools.” Exum prefers not to use the term dropout because many of the students go back to other high schools after they leave the program. “We look at it this way, whatever we’ve done to help them learn a little bit more about college will pay off in
POLICE BLOTTER
The Big Fresno Fair is over; check out what you may have missed out on this year.
Shooting
The two individuals suspected of the shooting at Fresno City College are scheduled for their status hearings on Nov. 26. Lawrence Edward Darrough, 18, and Darnell Thomas, 19 were arrested in Oct. 2013 are suspected of the shooting at FCC and of a robbery near Central High School.
Photo/Michael Monroy
Photo/Darlene Wendels
Tucked away behind Ratcliffe Stadium and across the street from Fresno City College is Design Science High School. Six plain, beige trailers house the classrooms where freshmen, sophomores and juniors gather in groups, do their homework, listen to lectures and socialize with their fellow students just like in any other high school. Unlike other high schools, though, these students also attend many of their classes alongside real college students. The program is designed to provide a higher education experience to Central Valley high school students by putting them in college classes where they sit in lecture halls alongside regular college students. To try to make the experience as real as possible for the high schoolers, not even college instructors know who the high school students are. “We want the students to have as much of a true college experience as possible,” said Roy Exum, principal of the Design Science High School. “If we go out and identify them, there might be some bias.” The program, one of the only college preparation programs in Central California, started nine years ago with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and with help from FCC administrators. Exum has been the principal of the program for those nine years and has been a part of the success of the program. Exum says the goal of the program is to “give them [students] a taste of what a true on-the-college-campus class is going to feel like.” The program consists of 250 Fresno Unified School District students who are randomly picked, lottery fashion. The Freshman start at the Design Science campus taking classes from core high school curriculum, similar to what other high schools offer. Design Science students also take classes designed to prepare students for what they will encounter when they start taking college classes at FCC. The instructors of the classes at Design Science let them know what to
the long run,” he said. Even though they may seem young, some of the students from Design High are involved in student government at FCC. One such student is Associated Student Government Communication Officer, Francisco Gomez. Even though Gomez is only 17 years old, he has decided to become involved in the student body because he sees FCC as his school. “I think of it as my way of participating in my school. I think of Fresno City College as my school,” said Gomez I’ve been here for my whole high school career, it’s part of the environment, you can say, I grew up in. It’s a place I want to change, it’s a place I want to be involved in.” The program is still going strong and continues to churn out students to colleges all across California, such as CSU Fresno, California State University Channel Islands and many others. Looking toward the future, Exum said he would be interested in expanding the program but knows that these choices aren’t his only. If I could open it up, I’d open it up. I’d get a thousand kids in here and make sure they all had this opportunity.” l TWITTER.COM/BYPABELLOPEZ
The student lounge was remodeled over the summer and it just had its grand reopening.
Alleged sexual assault
Police debunked a rumor of an alleged sexual assault case on Tuesday. The alleged assault is said to have happened BY LAUREN BAKER onkgomez@therampageonline.com campus but police are saying reports indicate it didn’t happen at all.
BEYOND THE PRINT THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM
4
NEWS
FARMS l CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 It takes approximately 20 90-pound sacks of oranges to fill one bin. This is the labor that Garcia and his wife have sustained for the last 15 years. But even with their son’s recent financial help, Cruz said that she is “not happy” because they still “live in shortage of money” to pay for food and rent. They must also pay the pricey fees to stay in the U.S. legally. Every year since 1999, they have individually applied for the H-2A visa -- $2,000 per person -- $6,000 for the three of them -- for a right to re-enter the country for temporary agricultural work. This is a yearly expense the family can barely afford. According to the latest Migrant and Seasonal Enumeration Profiles
11.27.2013 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM
Study of California. California alone is home to 730,000 of the 3,000,000 seasonal and migrant farm workers in the U.S. One hundred thirteen thousand of the seasonal and migrant farm workers reside in Fresno County. These workers travel distances from Merced to Fresno to Tulare and Kern counties, and sometimes beyond the state, throughout the U.S. These workers serve as the backbone for an agricultural industry that feeds all of America and a sizeable portion of the world. While advocates acknowledge some improvement in work conditions -- wages, workers’ rights, labor policies and community outreach efforts, most migrant workers live on the periphery of society. They often do not speak English, live in homes that most cannot imagine and in impoverished chaos. Most do not have necessary documentation and live in terror of being reported, deported and unimaginable horror of being forced back to a life they fled. Their invisibil-
Contracted farm laborers harvest fruit 18 miles east of Fresno on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013. Photo/Abel Cortez ity and silence leave them desperate and vulnerable to abuse. THE AMERICAN DREAM
Eduardo Torres, 27, picks oranges on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013. Torres has been a migrant worker for three years. Photo/Abel Cortez
Before their odyssey in California agriculture, Latino immigrants like Francisco Ramirez, 37, worked in industrial factories in Mexico. Back home, he earned only a fraction of his current wage while working under much harsher conditions. He had no choice. His income helped support his parents. The base wage in manufacturing jobs in Mexico is $1.20 an hour, according to a July 2005 report by the Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights Organization. The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre confirmed in Aug 2006 that workplace hazards include irreversible harm such as “scars from operations on repetitive strain injuries” that leave workers incapable of working for the rest of their lives. Employers offered no retirement benefits or sick days or holidays. Instead, they preyed on their workers’ vulnerability, forcing “injured employees to sign voluntary resignation notices to save or termination payments,” the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre reported. As afraid as he was to change his life for miniscule increase in income, Ramirez knew that his job in Mexico offered no future. No matter how hard he worked, his income could never keep up with his basic needs-- let alone his family’s. Reason overcame fear and a few years ago, he decided to join his brother in the U.S. with the hope of a better life. Juan Soto, 43, gives the same reason for pursuing a job in California agriculture. His wife and 4-year-old daughter needed support, and his income wasn’t enough to secure their needs. Since 2001, he has roved from farm to farm in Fresno county picking a variety of oranges and grapes at different seasons. “I’ll do whatever it takes to support my family,” he said, including risking his life to cross the Arizona desert every four years in order to see them. The North American Congress on Latin America reports that every year, 500,000 Mexicans migrate to the U.S. without proper documentation, a rate that has doubled prior to 1994. Thinking of America as “the land of opportunity,” many immigrants
depart their native land to alleviate themselves from poverty. But in such cases, life in the U.S. is “not necessarily better, just a different reality,” Ramirez said. ALIENATION COMPOUNDED BY LANGUAGE BARRIER Poverty among farm workers is compounded by language barrier, misinformation and lack of available services and resources in the community. A National Agricultural Workers Survey showed that as much as 35 percent of seasonal and migrant workers said they could not speak English “at all”; 27 percent said they could speak English “a little” and 8 percent said they could speak English “somewhat”. The workers showed only an average educational attainment of the eighth grade; 40 percent had completed only first through sixth. Additionally, a fact that is unknown is that farm workers who are part of the indigenous group in Mexico do not speak or understand Spanish, nor do they share cultural commonalities as the majority of Latino immigrants. They are discriminated against based on physical appearance typically short stature and dark complexion, distinct cultural beliefs and inability to speak either English or Spanish. Rafael Herrera, 35, is an indigenous worker from Oaxaca, Mexico. Because he works in farms where a majority are either from Oaxaca or Mixteco, he said that racism doesn’t occur. However, fields with a stronger ethnic diversity are likely to be a different work environment for indigenous workers. “They are treated differently,” Ramirez said. “They get made fun of because they’re short-- about five feet tall-- and very dark.” Indigenous workers are estimated by the Farmworker Justice organization to be 22 percent of farm workers in California, approximately 165,000 people. Moreover, “their housing tends to be more overcrowded and their wages tend to be lower and working conditions more dangerous than their non-indigenous Mexican counterparts.” Agencies in Fresno such as California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, Deferred Action Help Center, Fresno Immigrant Youth in Action and Centro Binational para el Desar-
THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM 11.27.2013
Rafael Herrera, 35, picks oranges on Nov. 16, 2013. Herrera’s native language is Oaxacan and had to learn Spanish when he immigrated to the U.S. Photo/Abel Cortez rollo Indigena Oaxaqueno are implementing projects on worker’s rights, training professional interpreters and facilitating access to health and social services. These agencies said that it’s all about community education right now. They have yet to see a comprehensive immigration reform that would change a dysfunctional system and establish grounds for people who deserve to be here. “We really try to just have individuals know and become empowered by knowing they have [...] legal rights,” Amparo Cid said, Program Director at California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation. “As immigration reform talks are happening, we can try to find pathways for specific individuals versus having to undergo a complicated system right now for a lot of people.” IMMIGRATION ISSUES National Agricultural Worker Survey data from 2007-2009 shows about half of the farm workers in the United States are unauthorized. This translates to approximately 1.5 million of the nation’s 3 million farm workers. Oswaldo Valencia, a farm labor contractor of Prime Harvesting Contracting in Fresno, shares his insight as to why guest-workers remain in the U.S. beyond the time granted by their temporary visa. He said, “they’ve invested everything and they have nothing to go back to, that or pride-those who don’t want to go back empty-handed.” In order not to live marginally, however, “applying for permanent residency is the only way to become legalized,” said Rosemary Moreno of the Immigration Assistance Service Center, Inc. in Fresno. She said that this process, however, requires an immediate family member
who is a U.S. citizen to petition such as a mother, father, spouse and children and can take over 10 years depending on the country of origin and family-based preference according to the Visa bulletin of the U.S. Department of State. Unauthorized seasonal and migrant farm workers who cannot be petitioned otherwise live surreptitious from government oversight and rely on income that fluctuates by the season. Before attaining his Social Security Card through the Dream Act, Jose Rojas, 21, used to worry about getting pulled over by a traffic officer. “I was very careful to not go through the busy streets and go through the little streets”, Rojas said. “I always had that fear of losing my truck or my gear.” Living in fear around the clock has negatively impacted the way Rojas and his family live their lives. This means being restricted to the confined space of their home and keeping a “low profile” at any other place. The problem is that they perform such an essential job “that nobody else wants to do and yet they live in destitution,” Valencia said. GENDER ISSUES “There’s a big gender gap in the field,” said attorney Felicia Espinosa, assistant director for California Rural Legal Assistance. “For the most part, it’s the men who have the power in the fields.” Farm workers in crop harvesting are predominantly male. According to the 20072009 National Agricultural Workers Survey 78 percent of farm workers are male and 22 percent are female. Celia Cruz, 44 usually earns 40 percent less than her husband on the same amount of hours in the field. Incapable of carrying the weight of a full
sack (90 pounds), it takes her over 30 trips to unload oranges into a bin, nearly twice as much as the speed of an adult male. The only way she compensates for the numerous trips is to work faster around the clock. Other issues that women currently face in agricultural work are gender discrimination, sexual harassment and violence. Valencia said, “Some growers don’t hire female farm laborers because they believe the job cannot be done by women.” In cases of sexual harassment and violence, accounts rarely make it to court hearings because “a lot of the sexual harassment cases settle for confidential amounts,” said Espinosa. This prevents punishable crimes to be visible to the public eye because they are hidden behind these “negotiations.” Espinosa said, “There’s that fear that the family is going to blame them, the culture is going to blame them.” Ephraim Camacho, a community worker at CRLA emphasized another risk of seeking justice. “Women will not complain because they’re trying to feed their family; it’s an economic issue. If they say something, the day haulers are not going to pick them up anymore.” VERBAL ABUSE, UNFAIR TREATMENT Unauthorized workers are especially vulnerable living under circumstances that bind them to silence. They’re not only subject to wages below state law’s, but are generally afflicted by a precarious livelihood, employers’ threats of on-the-spot removal and the risk of deportation. Action to assert even inalienable rights is impeded upon on account of fears that have been cultivated on the
NEWS grounds of living undocumented in the U.S. Francisco Ramirez described a day when the owner of the farm visited the field. The owner demanded everyone to work past their usual hours. With no overtime pay and being physically exhausted, Ramirez said, “[the work] just wasn’t worth it,” so he refused. Ramirez said that his boss scolded at him and demanded “not to come back the next day”. Unauthorized workers are often fearful of submitting complaints or approaching legal assistance offices in order to report worker’s rights violations in fear that it might jeopardize everything they’ve established. But despite recent law prohibiting employer retaliation, unauthorized workers choose to overlook malpractices based on persisting fear and the repercussion of making their voices heard. “The biggest hurdle is overcoming that fear,” Amparo Cid said, a program director at California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation. LACK OF LEGAL SUPPORT When it comes to legal support many agencies in Fresno believe that the need “outrageously”” outweighs the resources. “There are simply not enough community based organizations taking on this tremendous challenge,” wrote Raul Z. Moreno, the President of Education and Leadership Foundation, in a Deferred Action Help Center report on April 2013. DAHC is the only agency in Fresno that offers legal service without cost in processing applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals . Qualified applicants of DACA receive a Social Security
5
number and a driver’s license. It is estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau and American Community Survey that there are 125,000 eligible youths nationwide. Since June 2012, DAHC in Fresno has helped over 1,000 clients with 50 percent of applications approved. Maricela Cobarruvias, DAHC coordinator, said, “It’s not a pathway to citizenship, but it makes a big difference.” Cobarruvias, however, expressed concern with the lack of media outlets to spread awareness of DACA and an ethical conflict with the private sector of legal assistance . “[The farm workers] have no access to media. And when the word does come around, they are mostly misinformed,” she said. The comprehensive immigration reform bill of 2013, S. 744, overhauled at the front door of the House of Representatives, is being offered by private legal service providers, according to Cobarruvias. She said “they are already offering services to that process which is not even approved yet. It is really scary.” CRLAF takes a strong stance to bring social justice and better living conditions to farm workers at a time when the responsibility is undertaken by a few. “We still see these historic inequities, injustices, and what we try to do is have that transformation to turn the invisible to visible,” said Cid. She also underscored the values of humanity and equality: “Because not only do these workers exist, not only do these families exist, they’re human beings, we just want to give them that fair shot so that they and their kids can also have access to all of those basics that all of us just take for granted.” l TWITTER.COM/FCCRAMPAGE
Fresno
Textbooks Buy & Sell
New & Used
EVERYDAY
1590 N. Van Ness Ave Fresno, CA 93728 ph 559-237-8400
6
NEWS
11.27.2013 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM
SPEAKERS, DANCERS AND TEACHERS HELP CELEBRATE NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES BY KEVYNN GOMEZ
Managing Editor kgomez@therampageonline.com
Native American youth and their families celebrated Native American heritage in the Free Speech Area of Fresno City College on Nov. 21, 2013. The event, “Embracing Our Culture Through Education,” started at 8:30 a.m. with breakfast and lasted until 2:00 p.m. Grade school-aged students were required to register, but it was open to the public and was visited by many FCC students. Families from throughout the Central Valley came to FCC to participate. Speakers such as keynote speaker Sage Romero spoke to the audience and primary school children were given tours of the FCC campus.
Native American dancers performed traditional dances and vendors sold Indian tacos as well as jewelry and other traditional Native wares. The event was co-sponsored by organizations such as Native American Inter-Tribal Students Association, FCC American Indian Studies department and faculty members, Student Activities and California State University Fresno. The Casillas family of the Mono tribe traveled from the Table Mountain Rancheria reservation in Madera Ranchos with two of their children dancing at the event. Shania Casillas, a student at Ranchos Middle School, performed the jingle dress dance, which gets its name from the use of tobacco tins rolled into cylinders and attached to the bottom of the dress, making a melodic jingling noise when in movement.
Casillas said she loves dancing, especially fancy shawl, another distinctive traditional dance style performed with elaborately-decorated regalia including a f lowing shawl draped over the shoulders. “It makes me feel different from everybody else so I don’t blend in,” Casillas said “When I’m in fancy [regalia] I feel free.” For Delaine Bill, a drumming instructor from the Big Sandy Rancheria reservation in Auberry, being part of such ceremonies brings him happiness when he connects with his spiritual beliefs as well as with family and friends. “It’s an expression of emotions that we have inside,” he said about the experience of drumming for ceremonies. “We have to be as one in our voice and we try to be as one in our
sticks as we drum... unity is a real big part of it.” Bill also crafted by hand the drum he uses out of cedar and deerskin. Students from Fresno State’s First Nations club also attended as an opportunity to support the Native community as well as recruit students transferring to CSUF eventually. Natori Hatfield and Andres Fierro, both Native American studies minors, represented CSUF’s First Nations club and hoped to communicate that “education can revolve around their culture.” Hatfield, who also practices jingle, fancy shawl and hoop dancing, urges Native students at both FCC and CSUF to “keep heritage and culture close to [them].” l TWITTER.COM/THEONLYKEVYNN
Proposal could increase number of deaf interpreters BY COLBY TIBBET
Opinion Editor ctibbet@therampageonline.com
A recent proposal could bring more assistance and aid to the deaf and partially deaf students at Fresno City College. Christine Gough, FCC’s Sign Language interpreter coordinator, recently submitted an action plan proposal to increase the hours for current interpreters and create new full-time positions for qualified deaf interpreters, to help the large number of deaf students on campus. The action plan proposes two full-time positions as well as four parttime positions for deaf students. The part-time interpreters will work for 36 weeks at 19 hours per week. Last semester, there was only one full time interpreter, and 18 part-time positions, for a total of 325 hours per week between all positions. Although both aspects of the proposal were approved by the Program
Review committee, Gough stresses this just one step in the process. “We still have work to do to refine this,” Gough said. “I’m confident that working with students, interpreters, and administration and the district will continue to be positive.” This proposal is intended to help circumvent the lack of interpreters available for the deaf and partially deaf students on campus. Without enough hours with interpreters, deaf students struggle with keeping up with the curriculum in a given class; misread what the teacher is lecturing, and ultimately experience difficulty advancing their educational goals. “Currently, we are able to staff about 300 hours per week,” Gough said, “but we still have unmet interpreting needs.” Dr. Janice Emerzian, the District Director of the Disabled Students Programs & Services, says she and the deaf counselor on campus Ryan Blodgett
have supported the proposal, “I am optimistic that the campus will also rank this high on the human resources committee’s list,” she said. “And look forward to campus funded support of the plan as in our other plan for a counselor for students who are deaf and other severe disabilities,” Emerzian added. Mercedeez Sharp, 22, a photography major in her first semester at FCC, says she wishes to graduate in the next two years. She understands that interpreters are critical in that process. Sharp said the new proposal to include more positions will not only help with her classes but all deaf students. “It [the proposal] will give me a chance to graduate faster and pass my classes. It will be hard without the interpreters,” Sharp said. “It makes it overwhelming and confusing and it takes me longer to understand and make things clear.” Many deaf students agree that
Calhoun
Brian Calhoun watches as his wife, Elaine Calhoun, speaks to the judge at his sentencing for battery on Nov. 22, 2013. Photo/Abel Cortez
sentencing them both.” Following her statement, Brian Calhoun approached a podium in the middle of the courtroom and gave a list of the hardships he had endured since the beginning of his trial. This included being terminated from his teaching job, losing his pension, having his unemployment claim denied by the SCCCD, being “publicly humiliated by the media” and reading off a list of his legal fees totaling $53,000. Brummell followed up Calhoun’s statement by describing Calhoun as a man who “has shown no remorse” towards the victim and also mentioned that Calhoun “refuses to take blame” for his actions. “He’s a man, who still hasn’t tak-
the interpreter program is doing the best that they can, given the recent budget cuts, and that the Disabled Student Programs & Services department is very accommodating. The interpreters in the program are well-qualified. “This is where we are now, and it is a good step; however, there aren’t any guarantees on the outcomes,” Gough said. “I’m very pleased with this great step in the right direction.” “The deaf student body attending SCCCD are highly motivated, articulate, intelligent and inspirational people who work very hard to overcome the daily challenges they face so that they may continue to access their education while also representing their identities, and I’m very proud of them,” Gough said. “Our interpreters are an outstanding team and I couldn’t do this work without their amazing support and dedication.” l TWITTER.COM/ROBOTMILK
l CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
en responsibility for his actions” said Brummell about Calhoun “The battery he says is still Kevynn Gomez’ fault.” Whitehead sentenced Calhoun and reiterated Brummell’s statements about a man who showed no remorse following the incident. “Mr. Calhoun has shown no remorse for his conduct and continues to refuse to take responsibility for his behavior,” said Whitehead “he continues to blame the victim and through counsel attempted to vilify her referring to her as a thug.” Whitehead took the prosecution’s suggestion for 160 days of imprisonment but stated that Calhoun would be released and assigned Calhoun to the 90 days in the AOWP. l TWITTER.COM/BYPABELLOPEZ
THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM 11.27.2013
NEWS
7
Students take on ‘Keller v. EA’ in mock trial BY PATRICK FORREST
Arts & Entertainment Editor pforrest@therampageonline.com
The time has come once again for Nancy Holland’s business law class to put on their annual mock trial. On Dec. 4 the entire class will come together in OAB 251 to argue the “Keller v. EA” case. Objecting to the use of his likeness in a college football video game, Samuel Keller, who was the starting quarterback for Arizona State University in 2005, filed a putative class-action complaint asserting, as relevant on appeal, that Electronic Arts violated his right of publicity under California Civil Code 3344 and California common law. The case was eventually settled out of court but the terms of the settlement between the athletes and EA were not disclosed in a federal court filing in Oakland, Calif. “The thing of it is, is that NCAA has been supplying EA since 1989 with everything,” said Holland “so they have been in bed with each other for a long time.” Electronic Arts, Inc. is the producer of the NCAA Football series of video games, which allow users to control avatars representing college football players as those avatars participate in simulated games. “There is plenty of meat here for both sides,” said Holland. “This should be a really fun case.” The class has explored the intricacies of this case and have debated the issues that they have found. Students were also able to visit the California Supreme Court to view first-hand how oral argument is conducted and see interaction between the attorneys and the justices. “We got to see a really good attorney and a public defender,” said David Akoidu “And it taught us a lot about how hard these things can be when you’re not fully focused on it.” As part of the learning experience, students from the business law and legal environment class conduct a semester-long project in the form of a mock trial. What you will see is a culmination of research and process done completely by the students in BA 18. Performing a mock trial teaches students more about the law than what can be taught in the
Larry Marquez, a business major, practices a speech in OAB 251 for the “Keller v. EA” mock trial he will participate in for his business administration class in the Old Administration Building, Monday, Nov. 25, 2013. Photo/Kevynn Gomez classroom because it’s hands-on and not scripted. Every student in the class has a role to play in the trial. Frida Cardoza, Manuel Frias, Julieta Gonzalez, Sou Lee, Kyla Lennex and Leonardo Medina are associate justices with John Olson being the chief justice. The Electronic Arts side of the case will be presented by Kimberly Gaytan with assistance from Nicol Carlos, Marc Forte, Victoria Garza, Matthew Giraldes, Larry Marquez, Nathan Perez and Jazzma Perry. “As far as the case is concerned we are the underdogs,” said Perez. The side of Samuel Keller will be represented
by Emily Mesel with assistance from David Akoidu, Alana Best, Cristian Diaz, Michael McFarland, Janie Orozco and Zakry Taylor. “We are hoping for a lot of people,” said Akoidu. “We feel like we are going to cream them and we would love to make that into a public spectacle.” The trial is an open community event that members will be able to attend for free. “The bigger the turnout the better the students do,” said Holland “They feel like they are being supported by the community and their peers and that peer pressure can be a great influence.” l TWITTER.COM/FORRESTP8
Study tips to help you ace your finals BY KEAUNDREY CLARK
Reporter kclark@therampageonline.com
It’s getting close to the end of the semester at Fresno City College and that means finals week is just around the corner. That means late nights and a lot of studying. Students often stress during this time of the year, trying hard to get the best grade possible. Students must realize that there is always help on campus when they’re struggling with a subject. FCC students seeking help should always look towards the Tutorial Center, with tutors offering help in writing, math, chemistry, biology and much more. Join study groups with students from your class, its always a good idea to partner-up and share notes. Always go to your instructor and ask additional questions you might have before the exam, your instructors are there to help. “When preparing for a final in my class, students go to the Tutorial Center, get help from a tutor, review their notes, for study groups with classmates and visit me during my office hours for help” said English instructor Gennean Bolen. The Associated Student Government of FCC will be having a RAMslam night on Dec. 3 and 4 from 6:30- 10:30 p.m., Late-night tutoring will be available and this will be another chance to get a little more extra studying in before you have to take your finals.
“RAMslam is student driven, with the help of ASG and several years ago they met with library faculty and staff, a way to stay open late, service additional students during finals.” At RAMslam you will be able to get help from tutors in the areas you’re struggling in the most, have papers for your English class looked at and edited, as these tutors will be on hand to help make sure your finals week of the semester is a success. “The ASG Committee does a survey every year to see what classes are most difficult for students, this helps us gauge what students need most help with around this time of the year,” said ASG Senator Kyle Borzoni. They will also be giving away free lunches, Scantrons, blue books, pens and pencils for students who have a student ID. Tutors are there designated to help you, and FCC students should take advantage of the extra assistance. Time-management is key in college, with classes, work and other responsibilities it’s completely understandable why a student would be overwhelmed. If you take time out of each day and maximize the time you have for studying you chances of passing your final will increase. Most students struggle with time-management, having multiple classes means hours of studying, budgeting enough time in the days before your finals, scheduling time to study in correlation to
how difficult the class is. Classes you know you’re having trouble in should be a main focus. FCC students are feeling the pressure of upcoming finals, overloading on coffee and sugar to fit in a couple of extra hours of studying. “I go over my notes, make f lashcards, take practice tests, schedule enough time to study for each class I am taking,” said Jennifer Serratos, a first year student at FCC. With all the studying students will be doing in the finals weeks of school, remember to get a good amount of sleep, its important to let your body rest. 6 TIPS ON HOW TO ACE YOUR FINALS 1) Form a study group, its always best to partner-up with a fellow classmate and share notes and ideas. 2) Budget enough time before your finals to study and allow your brain to comprehend the amount of information its taking in. 3) Talk to your teacher and ask questions. They maybe able to answers questions you need the most help with. 4) Always be prepared, From notes, paper and a laptop to study guides and snacks, always be ready 5) Review your notes one last time 6) Get a good night’s rest before the test. l TWITTER.COM/SLOCUM13
8
&E
11.27.2013
TWO-MAN BAND MAKES STOP AT STRUMMERS
ing vocals. The pair mingled and socialized with the crowd before their performance in the small Tower District venue for the event that lasted from 8 p.m. to around midnight. The short tour began Nov. 7 in Las Vegas and ended Nov. 22, closing with a show in their h o m e to w n o f Tucson. Cities Andrew Jackson Jihad performed Sean Bonnette lead singer and guitarist of Andrew Jackson in after visiting Jihad excites fans at Strummers, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013 Fresno include in Fresno, Calif. Photo/Michael Monroy Pomona, San Luis Obispo, Ventura and Yuma. BY KEVYNN GOMEZ The songs for the show was Managing Editor kgomez@therampageonline.com uniquely chosen by a request list found at their vendor table that alThe self-described folk punk lowed guests in attendance to suggest band Andrew Jackson Jihad per- songs they wanted to hear. formed at Strummer’s in Fresno on According to Gallaty, Andrew Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013 as part of their Jackson Jihad is a band with a “punk short Southwest tour that covered cit- ethos, [but] acoustic.” They also preies in Nevada, Arizona and California. fer to be classified as “experimental The two-man band from Tuc- American music.” Bonnette was also son, Ariz. headlined in a show with the surprisingly influenced by rap and hipGunshy, a solo and acoustic endeavor hop, as well as David Bowie, something by Matt Arbogast. their fast-paced, upbeat style belies. Sean Bonnette is the lead singer “We’re individuals and our own and guitarist and Ben Gallaty plays music tastes have not become a colthe upright bass and performs back- lective music taste,” Bonnette said.
Devin Peralta of the band Cobra along. The set began with “Survival,” Skulls also played solo on acoustic gui- a crowd-pleaser the audience easily tar as a last-minute guest and opened sang along and clapped to. Other songs the night to a good review by the au- performed were “You Don’t Deserve dience. An acquaintance of Gallaty Yourself,” “Brave As a Noun,” “Sense, and Bonnette who lives in California, Sensibility” and “Rejoice.” Peralta performed songs such as “The The self-introspective lyrics and Streets of Cairo” and “Soulastalgia” light-hearted cynicism of their songs from the Cobra Skulls discography. combined with Bonnette’s peppy voThe Gunshy performed next with cals make Andrew Jackson Jihad a fun a rollicking, lively acoustic set of nos- show to watch and more than likely talgic songs tinged with bittersweet a constant source of enjoyment for and personal memories. Arbogast their dedicated fans. dedicated songs both to his dog and the adventures they had together and l TWITTER.COM/THEONLYKEVYNN to his wife back home in Chicago. With hoarse and passionate vocals, Arbogast conjures up images of a young Tom Waits angrily sharing his troubled thoughts and personal imaginings with the world-a topic Arbogast humorously mentions as lyrics in one of his songs. The last show of the night, Andrew Jackson Jihad was clearly the audience favorite, with guests packing the small f loor space up Ben Gallaty bassist of Andrew Jackson Jihad thrills the to the stage and crowd of Strummers, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013 in Fresno, cheering the band Calif. Photo/Michael Monroy
Welcome the holiday spirit with local events BY BRANDALYN HASTINGS
Reporter bhastings@therampageonline.com
If you’re looking for holiday fun, you don’t have to look very far. Fresno City College, the Tower District and Downtown Fresno have events planned that will help you enjoy the very best that this season has to offer. The FCC music department presents us with “Singing in the Season,” where our very own Symphonic Choir and City Singers will perform Daniel Pinkham’s “Christmas Cantata.” This event will be Dec. 6, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. in the Old Administration Building Auditorium. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for seniors and students. During the first three weekends of December, the Tower District is also us some holiday cheer. Sunnyside High School and Roosevelt School of the Arts will be singing in the seasons at Tower restaurants on both Friday and Saturday nights, Dec. 6 through the 21. Also, Saturday, Dec. 7, 14 and 21, Santa Claus is coming to Tower. He will be outside of the Tower Theatre greeting anyone who wishes to see him. But
if you’re unfamiliar with Tower, make Story Book Christmas.” The parade ice rink that is ready for skating now sure to take advantage of free tours will begin at the Fulton Mall at 11 a.m. through Jan. 20. The rink is open daily given by Pedicab Jeff from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 7. at 11 a.m. and is located at the Fulton on those Saturday evenings. Lastly, Downtown Fresno is grac- Mall. There will be events going on at If you’re wishing to experience ing us with some classic holiday cheer the rink throughout the holiday season some of the finest art that Christmas that our hot Fresno weather has often and all the information you need is on has to offer, make sure to get your denied us. Downtown Fresno’s website. tickets to “The Nutcracker,” presented Downtown Fresno has opened an l TWITTER.COM/BRANDALYNJANAE to us by Fresno Ballet Theatre. There are two dates that you can catch this classic ballet: Saturday, Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 1 at 1 p.m. To experience a portion of the classic Christmas books you loved as a child, you can go check out 84th Annual Downtown Fresno’s Christmas Parade. The theme People get into the holiday spirit by attending the Downtown Fresno Ice Rink. Saturday, Nov. 16, this year is “A 2013 in Fresno, Calif. Photo/Abel Cortez
THERAMPAGE
&E
11.27.2013
9
FCC students unaware of literary museum
BY LAUREN BAKER
Art Director lbaker@therampageonline.com
Fresno City College is no stranger to recognizing the achievements of both its current students and alumni who go forth into the world and make something of themselves. A great example of this is former FCC student and critically-acclaimed author of Chicano and children’s literature, Gary Soto, for whom a literary museum resides in the Old Administration Building. The museum exists as an homage to Soto’s extended career and life, to which he hosts tours twice a semester for interested students and members of the community alike. The only problem at hand is that the majority of students on campus are unaware that the museum even exists. Of a variety of FCC stu-
dents that were asked about the museum, the majority of them knew who Gary Soto is, but did not know that a museum for him existed or that it could be found on campus. While many did know about the museum, the majority agreed that the concept of a literary museum could be useful in “creating awareness” and an “appreciation of literature.” One student polled said “I have never been there before, but it would be interesting and I’d want to go to it.” The museum itself is located in OAB 139, adjacent to one of its two courtyards. It’s a one-room collection of memorabilia from Soto’s career and life, which includes a glass shelf stocked with his written works and examples of some of his award-winning poetry on the walls. Soto himself leads the interactive tours twice a semester with students and talks about his
Author Gary Soto in “The Gary Soto Literary Museum” displaying his work Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2013 in the Old Administration Building. Photo/Abel Cortez journey as a writer. “My f irst published poem was actually in the Rampage in 1973,” said Soto. “Had it not been for that time, I don’t know that I would have ever
pursued writing.” Soto started out as a janitor on FCC’s campus and has become a nationally recognized author for Chicano children’s literature classics
such as “Too Many Tamales” and “Chato’s Kitchen.” The FCC Centennial book features a forward from him as well. l TWITTER.COM/ELBTHEHERO
EONLINE.COM
10
A&E
11.27.2013 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM
Gamer’s Chair: Playstation 4 review
BY VICTOR APARICIO
Production Manager vaparicio@therampageonline.com
Sony Computer Entertainment has finally released its fourth home gaming console in North America on Nov. 15, the PlayStation 4. With a continued emphasis on new technology, a ubiquitous network and better gaming, Sony wants the PS4 to replicate its dominate playing experience like the PlayStation One and PlayStation 2 eras before it. At first glance, it’s obvious that the PS4’s design pays homage to the PlayStation 2’s latest slim model with its two differently textured tones and sharp edges. What you get from that, along with the unique elongated diamond shape and the color-changing, pulsing LED along the top, is a console with a fun, premium look that says, “It’s time to play.” While there are slight issues with the design, like the “wobble” when the closest left corner is pushed down, one problem that could actually affect your life is the ports on the back of the system. Because of the shape of the console itself, it’s hard to actually see where your power and HDMI cords plug into, even when looking from above. So here’s hoping you’re not stuffing your PS4 into a tough-toreach space before setting it up. Along with a new console comes a new controller, the Dualshock 4. Sony’s controller layout has become a part of what the PlayStation brand is. Looking at the Dualshock tells a drastic change in form factor, but grabbing the controller instantly translates into familiarity. The only thing I had to adjust to were the welcome changes, like the wider, textured palm grip and angular triggers that make the controller better for shooting games and overall comfort, though I can see a mixed re-
action with the rimmed analog sticks. New additions like the Share and Options buttons, the touchpad and the LED lightbar were bothersome but they will neither become unobtrusive or your new favorite thing. The touchpad was something I personally couldn’t test as much as I wanted to. “Killzone: Shadow Fall” used the touch-sensitive input as a second D-pad, swiping in four directions to select commands for your OWL companion. In “Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag,” I only got to use the touchpad for the map when clicked in. As far as I can tell, the touchpad is responsive when I needed to change my OWL to guard me during the frantic gunfights. As for the Share and Options buttons, the replacement for the Select and Start buttons, they’re flush with the body of the controller, even its shape. Because of that and the harder pressure needed to push them, the buttons are awkward and hard to tell whether you need to push them inward or straight down, causing you to either not get a response or accidentally press it twice. The colorful Light Bar is an odd one. With most of its potential relying on the PlayStation Camera that is not bundled with the PlayStation 4, it’s mostly used to identify players with different colors and for indicating ingame information like low health or reflecting surrounding environments, which is a cool novelty that will add to the games that use it properly. Buying the camera will allow compatible games to sense depth and your controller’s position to the screen. On the software side, Sony developed the new home screen, Dynamic Menu. Divided into two sections for applications and the connected options. For the apps, you have pages that expand when you press down, opening
more options like new add-on content, friend’s activity within the application and related items. Pressing up anywhere in the menu will bring you PlayStation Network options: friends, messages, chat, profile, notifications, etc. Navigation between apps and the menu is seamless. Going from game to the PlayStation Store to check for addon content and back to the game takes seconds and pauses the game exactly as it was without messing up what you were doing. And for apps that require a little more dedicated memory, your game will be suspended, but it’s just the same as a saved state and only loads for a few seconds instead of instantly. It’s quick enough to never be a bother. But as of right now, opening the Dynamic Menu lags a few times when running a graphic-heavy game while racing through menu items. As for the menu items themselves, some may be hard to find if you don’t know what you’re looking for. After hitting the share button to save a gameplay clip to the hard drive, it took a while to realize my captures where under my profile instead of some video app. Games developed natively on the PS4 are crisp and are able to push more characters on-screen, have more formed textures, realistic physics, a lot more particle effects and highly-detailed character models. The best way to describe the improvements to the games is “details.” In-game environments are more
City Dance moves the crowd BY BRIAN ROBINSON
Reporter brobinson@therampageonline.com
Fresno City College’s dance department has had many events this semester, but one of their most special events is the City Dance Fall Workshop, which was held just this past weekend . City Dance not only gives those in the dance department a chance to perform their love and craft on stage, but also invites non-department members to take part. Whether someone wants to dance on stage, learn how to dance, or wants to overcome stage fright, City Dance is a great way to achieve any of those feats. However, this event is more about the art of performing than the art of dancing. “It’s an opportunity for students in the dance department and others to ... learn how to perform,” says Candace Young, Fresno City College dance department student “and every semester, they put on a concert where these students, after learning the fundamentals of performing, and ... how to perform in front of a crowd. The event itself is not restricted to just one dance style, however. While
it includes what most would expect from this event, which is ballet, it also includes styles such as modern, postmodern & jazz. Jimmy Hao, dance instructor at Fresno City College and artistic director of the event, wanted to make sure that the vibe of City Dance was as diverse as it could possibly be. “We don’t want to restrict the event to one style, at all,” says Hao. “The more diverse the style of dance, the more comfortable our newcomers will feel.” Hao also stated, “The dance department itself has made wonderful process both in this semester and with this event. I expect it to be a festive one.” A festive event it was. Not only did each performer do a solid job on stage, each performer looked to be joyful in what they were taking part in. This is not the first City Dance held on campus. As stated earlier, this is a biannual event that has been a campus tradition for years, even inviting staff members from local dance academies and clubs, such as the Fresno Dance Collective and California Arts Academy Severance, to aid the performers and, on occasion, perform
themselves. This surely won’t be the last City Dance that we see on campus. The event is not only a great way of teaching people an art form while helping others perfect it, but these types of events also build discipline
realized through steps in the sand, shifts in the shadows from multiple light sources, rain soaking into cement and cloth or the slightest facial movements when a character talks to you face-to-face. The PlayStation 4 is an amazing step up from the previous generation but I feel it is not yet the true definition of what “next generation” is. The Dynamic Menu is simplified into as few sections as possible but still isn’t the easiest and could be more fullyfeatured. Luckily in the world of software updates, Sony plans to improve stability and expand compatibility like streaming previous-gen games and instantly playable demos of upcoming games.
Grade: A -
l TWITTER.COM/VICTORKID
and teamwork among everyone taking part. This is definitely one of the more special events of Fresno City College theater arts, and we should expect to see more of it in the future. l TWITTER.COM/ROBINSONSMILEY
Fresno City College dancer Zachary V. Garcia (middle) stirs the audience at the FCC City Dance Fall Workshop, Friday, Nov. 22, 2013 in the FCC Main Stage Theatre. Photo/Michael Monroy
OPINION
THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM 11.27.2013
PRO
BY KEVYNN GOMEZ
Managing Editor kgomez@therampageonline.com
A O
r e m o d e r n - d ay students politically active enough? Despite constant cynical rants against the Y generation, the answer is yes. Students are very aware of the most significant issues affecting us and know when the time comes to use our voices for good or cause a shift in cultural expectations. A great deal of change in the status quo have been catalyzed by evolving opinions of the teens and young adults of the nation, such as large issues like gay marriage, anti-war sentiment, women’s rights and political distrust. Young people, especially college students, have always been at the frontline of change, pushing new and bold ideas forward that others in more stable, safe positions in society may be too afraid to advocate for. The forms of activism in 2013 have changed from your parents or grandparents ideals decades long past. Are we so quick to forget the crucial role college students played in changing the American perspective on war (especially the Vietnam War) in the past century? Student riots, political protests, peaceful sit-ins, picket signs -- these are all ways of becoming politicallyactive, and are just alive today as they were in the ’60s and ’70s. But America at large takes a strange pleasure in picking on the Y generation, even though we are not so different than past generations; we simply have better technology. One of the first flaws in this argument lies in the old-fashioned and slightly naïve belief that traditional political activism is the most effective and powerful way of effecting change. In a brave new world of political corruption, scandal and economic scares, the plan to write to your representatives, attend their local events, trust their every word and show this trust at every single election has become outdated. When politicians do outlandish things like get paid for shutting down the government, try to enforce their personal beliefs through legislation such as Mitt Romney’s 2012 platform did, or ignore desperate pleas from their constituents like in Chicago’s
ARE STUDENTS POLITICALLY ACTIVE ENOUGH?
gang-riddled streets, it erodes the once-strong relationship between these politicians and their constituents. Americans become disillusioned, bitter and powerless; feelings that exacerbate political distrust and hatred. So what has been the solution for millions of young people over the course of the past years? To get their message out in more direct and effective ways. Crassly communicating emotions through street graffiti, emotionally-charged protests and pop culture mockery of traditional values are but a few ways students find to traverse a new society very different from 1950s-era political ideals. In October of 2013, students at the City College of New York protested outside the North Academic Center when the building, originally used as a meeting space for student community activists, was slated to become a career center office. The fact that students are not passively accepting such changes but are making their opinions and interests known is a sign that political activism is not dead in the Y generation. The 2008 presidential race between Barack Obama and John McCain is a prime example of the power of college-age individuals to create change in their society. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the 18-to-24year-old age group was the the demographic that increased the most significantly, at 49 percent in 2008. If anything has been learned in the past decades, it is that this perspective is far from perfect and only encompasses a utopian political arena. For the longstanding structure of representative government-and-constituent interaction to remain effective, politicians will have to win back our trust. Yet political activism in 2013 is not the same as it was in your parent’s youth. We live in a new world with new rules. A new political system is needed to reshape the way Americans interact with the government and with politicians. Students have always found creative ways to voice their opinions in unorthodox ways and make do with what society has passed on to them, favorable or not. If anything, protests, boycotts and the like should always be considered a healthy part of political activism. If that’s the case, we’re not behind at all. So stay angry, and let the world hear what you’ve got to say—you’re doing it right. l TWITTER.COM/THEONLYKEVYNN
CON
BY COLBY TIBBET
Opinion Editor ctibbet@therampageonline.com
C
ollege students historically have been more inclined to protest, dissent, and act as most vocal group among all Americans. People often point to the golden age of protest among youth, the 1960s. With the Civil Rights Movement and anti-Vietnam protests at college campuses around the country, that period in American history has become a beacon of what the youth are capable of when it comes to political activism. Currently, students are not as politically active as we have seen prev i o u s l y, and with m o r e t o o l s available than previous generations, it’s hard to not be dismissive when it comes to college students’ roles in political activism. The majority of American college students hold the most powerful weapon of activism in their hands, something we all use everyday: our smartphones. We’ve seen the far-reaching implications of the power of mobile Internet with student protesting, such as the Tahrir Square protests in Egypt, or the ongoing economic protests in Greece. The ability to communicate and mobilize and receive unfiltered information at any moment is a great asset in time of protest, and things like Twitter and YouTube only enhance it. Hunger strikes, walk-outs, and sit-ins are some of the exercises that come to mind when we view student protests, but currently all we see are hashtags on social media such as “#EndTheFed” or “#BlameObama” which is our generation’s version of a picket-line protest. It’s very safe to
11
post a political rant due to no consequences. This was prevalent during the 2012 election, with political rants (from your distant, funny memes about Obama or “Binders full of Women”) our generation took the election as a platform for jokes and cynicism, rather than discourse and activism. There was a moment two years ago when it felt as if college students and the youth were on a path to a more pertinent form of activism with the tools the internet provides. SOPA, or the Stop Online Piracy Act was a bill introduced to help prevent piracy and copyright infringement. There was a uniform outcry from youth (and tech companies) that this bill was a draconian attempt by government officials to have a firmer grip on the Internet. They used contemporary activist tools, like Twitter and Tumblr, to protest this bill. SOPA did pass because of this online protest and dissent. However,you have to wonder if the youth knew exactly why this bill was dangerous, and not just because it would be harder to download music illegally or the new season of Game of Thrones. It was because college students and youth truly understood what rights were at stake with SOPA. Why was there not an influx of protest or activism from this generation after the revelations Edward Snowden discovered about the NSA, where our online and offline lives are monitored, stored, and compiled for the government’s and corporations’ own use? This is the prime example that displays this generation’s apathy for anything that is not within their own personal microcosm. How would the students of the 1960s view this atrocity? As many progressives did, I had high hopes for The Occupy Wall Street Movement in 2011. It was a momentous event to see students organize and display dissatisfaction with the current political and economical climate. No matter if you view it as a failure or not, I saw it as a practice run at what strength youth and students truly have when they collaborate and mobilize for a cause, regardless of direction. The biggest criticism the Occupy Movement received was its lack of clarity on its message and intent, which disenfranchised many people. Although there are many students on campus with ideas of dissent with a critical outlook on their community and government, there are very few channels for students to express that. With things like “Free Speech Areas,” which are designated spots on campus (where potentially there might be not as much foot traffic) it really undermines the whole point of student protest or activism on college campuses. This traditional form of protest is viewed as ineffective, and so our generation has new technological tools at its disposal. Unfortunately, we use it to look at funny cat photos and take pictures of our food. l TWITTER.COM/ROBOTMILK
12
OPINION
Campus Voices
“What are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving?”
Megan Peralta Sociology “Getting two jobs and helping out my family.”
Chris Darling Criminology “Being in a band with my friends.”
Yezmene Fullilove English/Photography “Having the opportunity to live a very decent life and do what I want to do.”
Madison Jones Photography “I’m thankful for a family that loves me unconditionally.” WRITTEN BY: VICTOR APARICIO PHOTOGRAPHED BY: MICHAEL MONROY
11.27.2013 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM
HELP AMERICA’S NEEDIEST THIS HOLIDAY SEASON BY RAMPAGE EDITORIAL BOARD editorial@therampageonline.com
American households who receive aid from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as food stamps, saw a huge cut in their benefits on Nov. 1, 2013. What this means is that many families with young children are having to do without adequate food and sustenance especially during this holiday season. According to an article in “USATODAY,” as many as 47 million Americans are affected by the November cuts, and 2.3 million children in California would be severely impacted. In 2009, the SNAP program was infused with additional funding as part of the Economic Recovery Act and out of concern that the economic slowdown left many people without a reliable source of income and food. Despite numerous efforts to keep the funding at the same or reasonable level, the funding has been cut severely. The reduction comes to about 5.5 percent of the benefit, and the amount of the decrease depends on the size of the household. For example, for a family of one, the cut is $11 monthly. For a family of two, the cut is $20 each month. For families of three, the cut will be $29 a month or $319 for the remaining months of fiscal year 2014, from November 2013 through September 2014. For a family with four individuals, the reduction amount is $36. This may seem like an insignificant amount to a good number of Americans, but to families that depend on these resources, it is a difference between life and death. It is immoral that we are balancing the budget on the backs of vulnerable children and that we are forcing our children to do without basic food and necessities. We must all act to urge Congress to restore this funding -- for all our children and the future of our nation. We must also reach deep into our own
reserves to give to those in need and help struggling families have decent holiday celebrations. Hard to believe, but the average SNAP benefit, unless something is done to restore the Recovery Act’s boost, will average less than $1.40 per person per meal. Nation wide, the reduction is projected to save $5 billion in fiscal year 2014. Meanwhile, the number of American children living below the poverty line has been on the rise, with 16.4 million or nearly 22.6 percent of all
of our children falling into that category, according to information on the National Center for Children in Poverty website. Additionally, the percentage of poor children has increased 4.5 percent since the Great Recession began in 2007. According to a report released by the Food Research and Action Center in September, Fresno is the fifth hungriest city in the nation. This means that the cuts will affect Fresno residents much harder now that the need is so much bigger than other California cities. Yes, economic reports show an
improvement in the economy, but many families are still in desperate need of the assistance that SNAP provides. In its absence or diminished form, children from needy families are put in jeopardy of malnutrition among other problems. As the holiday season approaches, we must all rethink our priorities as they apply to other people. The holidays are sacred -- a time for families to come together and share love and common bonds. We have always associated holidays with abundant foods. This year in particular, we must stand firm with those who will have to do with less -- whether it is about not having enough to eat, or needing warm clothes for the bad weather or people unemployed or underemployed. It is important to help the many organizations in the area who are collecting food and other supplies as the weather begins to get rough. These may include food banks, churches and even private businesses all around Fresno. While the issue of food scarcity is one that is always mentioned during the holidays, the cuts to the government program are exacerbating the issue even further this winter. These government cuts will place a bigger strain on food banks and other charity organizations which may be already stretched too thin. This year more than ever, it is imperative to donate food, clothes and even money to these organizations. It’s all in our hands whether our fellow Fresnans enjoy the traditions that we’ve long associated with the holiday season in America. It’s unlikely Congress can do anything that would make a difference this year, but we can, through our donations to several organizations, help those who need help the most. Let’s spread the holiday spirit to those who are truly in need. l TWITTER.COM/FCCRAMPAGE
THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM 11.27.2013
Gift-giving on a college budget Christmas is only a few weeks away and if you aren’t sure of what gifts to put together, here are some ideas that won’t empty wallet. The first thing to note: whom you are shopping for and what might they like is important. Once you find out enough information about the person’s interest, you start to plan gifts. All the stores have gifts at low prices, from bath soaps to candy bars and home goods. You might want to consider pre-made gifts if you want to make things simple. Children always have a favorite character or something they collect. You can find character gifts like a toothbrush set, body lotions, puzzles, toys and even clothing with character prints on it. There are also many gift options if you’re buying for women. A lot of women like to carry lo-
tion, hand sanitizers and lipstick or lip gloss in their purses or backpacks. Others might want to have a reusable water bottle, or a coffee mug so that they can take their favorite drinks with them when they’re on-the-go. Also, women like jewelry and that’s one of the top-rated gifts you find everywhere. You can find these gifts in nice fancy boxes and all you will have to do is add a final touch by adding a card. For men, scarves are popular and can make a nice gift that is also practical for these chilly winter months. You can also give coffee mugs if the man you’re buying for likes coffee. Another great gift for men is simply anything they like to eat. If they love candy, buy them a set of their favorite candies. Many people prefer to give out gift cards, that way the person can
OPINION
buy whatever they want. But taking the time to choose a personalized gift can really make a person happy. Depending on how much you want to spend, you can create your own gift with as many items as you want. Gifts that will be kept for a lifetime are pictures. If you have nice family picture and you want to give that as a gift, make sure it’s in a nice picture frame and you give a card with it. When giving out clothing, make sure you know what size the person you’re buying for is. The kind of clothing that is most likely to get used is a set of pajamas. It’s best to avoid buying other types of clothing unless you really know the person’s style and you are sure they will like what you get them. Get creative with your gift if you
13
BY DAISY MARTINEZ
Reporter dmartinez@therampageonline.com
don’t mind spending too much. Buy nice wrapping paper or a bag and always add a card with your gift and add your reasons why you selected that gift. For example, a nice message would be, “I got you a coffee mug because I know how much you love coffee,” and that can complete your great holiday gift. l TWITTER.COM/FLOWERDAZY
Lessons from George Bailey
BY AUGUST PROMNITZ
Reporter dpromnitz@therampageonline.com
The Christmas season is fast approaching and with that time comes the holiday specials on TV. Ever since I was a young boy, some of my nicest memories of winter
have consisted of my family together on the couch, watching Rudolph, Frosty and Charlie Brown as they explored the meaning of the season and figured out their place in the world. My personal favorite, however, features no stop-motion characters, but the message continues to resonate in my day-to-day life. The film in question is Frank Capra’s 1946 magnum opus, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” starring James Stewart as George Bailey. In the movie, we see the struggles of Bailey’s life when he sacrifices his health, opportunities and youth to help his brother and everyone else in the small town of Bedford Falls. In fact, he gives up opportunities for his own happiness again and again with deliberation for the good of his community.
BOOKSTORE
Textbook Rental Returns
December 9-13
Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. return at the patio behind the bookstore
Years pass by and George BaiHearing of his legal and financial ley is rewarded with his marriage to troubles, the grateful people of their Mary Hatch, the love of his life, along town, as well as his brother, provide with four children. He lives, however, George Bailey with the money needed a mediocre existence from an out- to save him from prison. They thank side glance. We see a man with all the George and praise him, calling him the potential in the world settle for the “richest man in Bedford Falls.” mundane as his brother goes to colIn that line is the lesson of the lege in his place and even becomes a film. George Bailey, not Potter, is the war hero. richest man in town. The riches he has To make matters worse, Bailey come not from the financial success finds himself in trouble when the money his bank was holding goes missing and he finds himself at the hands of Mr. Henry Potter, a hear tless loan shark whom Bailey has saved Bedford Falls repeatedly from. When Potter threatens to turn Bailey into the police, he prepares to throw himself off a bridge when the angel, Clarence, arrives. Bailey is shown by Clarence what Bedford Falls would look like had he never been born. His brother, the great man who seemingly robbed Bailey of his po- Photo Illustration/Victor Aparicio and Michael Monroy tential, would have died as a small he has found in life, but the success he boy after falling through the ice in a gave up for the town and his family. frozen pond. It was George who had His wealth comes from his saved his life, sacrificing his hearing friends mother, his brother, his unto do so. And as for Bedford Falls, the cle and especially, from his wife and town became Pottersville, a den of sin, children. poverty and crime. Likewise, in this season of selfThose lives that he’d made so ful- ref lection, we should ask ourselves filling and joyful were miserable and how we fit into our own community. untrusting. Without Bailey around, no How do we contribute and help our one had the courage or the integrity neighbors? What sacrifices do we to stand up to Henry Potter. make? How do we make the world Horrified at the world he was better? And when these questions arise witnessing, Bailey repents his anger and we look for an example, we need at life and joyfully returns to the way look no further than George Bailey. things should be; he returns to BedMerry Christmas. l TWITTER.COM/FCCRAMPAGE ford Falls.
14
SPORTS
11.27.2013 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM
War Angels: leave the halos at home
The captains of the Fresno War Angels (from left to right), Aspen Marshall (50), LaStar Brown (15), Lisa Castodio (25), Kelly Loftis (51), Destanie Yarbrough (26), and Chantel Wiggins (8), prepare for the game against the San Diego Surge for the National Quarter Finals win at Central High School, Saturday, July 13, 2013 in Fresno, Calif. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Carey-Navarrete) BY LOREN DANIELS
Reporter ldaniels@therampageonline.com
Do you think you have what it takes to make it as a female on a semipro football team? Probably not, if you can’t run a mile in under seven minutes or lift around 200 pounds, at least. More than 20 women gathered at Melody Park last month, geared in cleats with water bottles in hand to prove they were tough enough for the team. To be exact, “tough enough to be an angel,” as the banner reads across the page of the Central Cal War Angels women’s football team’s website. The War Angels held their final tryouts, mixing rookies interested in joining the team and with the return of most of last season’s players. The players spoke and laughed, sharing a sense of camaraderie between one another as they eagerly awaited the arrival of head coach Jeff King and the rest of the coaching staff. Undefeated division champions
Chantel Wiggins (8) of the Fresno War Angels directs her receiver for a pass against the San Diego Surge for the National Quarter Finals win at Central High School, Saturday, July 13, 2013 in Fresno, Calif. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Carey-Navarrete)
of the 2013 season, the semi-professional War Angels led an impressive 11-1 season, with their only defeat being a loss in the American Conference Championship game to the Dallas Diamonds. “We’re probably the third best team in the league, but we need more specialties,” said Coach King. Destanie Yarbrough, team member and running back of three years, comments on the positive attitudes of last year’s rookies returning as veteran team members this season. “They’re proud of themselves and they’re proud to be War Angels,” adds Yarbrough, “It’s being part of a women’s organization, I think... just being a part of a team.” The Central California War Angels are the only all-female contact football team in the Central Valley. The team is just one of the many other 11-on-11 player teams represented under the Women’s Football Alliance (WFA), a league consisting of female football players across the U.S. Men V. Women’s football: There really is no comparison What’s the real difference between professional men’s football and semi-pro women’s football? There hardly is one, aside from the fact that women play with a smaller football. That’s it. So why should the potential of women’s sports reaching the level of professionalism and exposure as males in football continue to garner ambiguous and sexists views towards women in pro sports? Being the only full-contact women’s football team in the Central Valley, the War Angels are literally in a league of their own. It’s difficult to imagine why sponsors wouldn’t be throwing offers towards the way of the team, its being the largest of three leagues in Women’s American Football (along with the Women’s Spring Football League and the Independent Women’s Football League). California State University, Fresno student Ashley Thiner, who plays strong safety for the War Angels, believes that the degree of quality sponsorship plays a significant role
in garnering the support necessary to establish widespread popularity of the women’s sport. A personal fan of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, Thiner recognizes that gaining grounds towards marking a professional future for women’s football
sport like football. FCC student Athena McCowan plays offense for the team and has been a member for five years. McCowan has been a passionate football player since playing Pop Warner in high school and sees no difference in
Kenna Hartman (29) tackles a San Diego Surge football player in the National Quarter Finals win at Central High School, Saturday, July 13, 2013 in Fresno, Calif. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Carey-Navarrete) should revolve crucially around incentive. “We are going to progressively attain more sponsors and eventually get small bonuses for doing well,” said Thiner. Unfortunately, challenges existing from former years don’t exactly allow for a season full of fun and games for the team; many of the girls attend Fresno State and some players commute from the Bay Area to make it to practice. Often times, the ladies are required to travel to Visalia for practice, creating inconveniences and difficulty with practice scheduling for the team. “We go from practicing here, to practicing in Visalia. We kind of do it on a rotation because we have girls in both places,” said Coach King in regards to the particularly straining scheduling inconvenience. Players are community college, university students, police officers and social workers, and each member must prove to have the discipline it takes being dedicated to an aggressive
the professionalism women display playing football than men footballers do in the NFL. “There is nothing about this game that isn’t professional, as far as working hard and dedication and just what you do out on the field; we’re no different than the guys,” McCowan continues. “It’s fair to say that even the WNBA doesn’t receive as much recognition [as it should]. That doesn’t mean it makes it any less professional.” The team members all agree: it is no question that equal recognition of women in professional football should be an obvious next step towards marking a successful future for women in professional sports. “It’s going to kind of be like the WNBA, we won’t ever be as big as the NFL but eventually we’ll make a big enough splash to catch the attention of American football lovers,” concluded Thiner. l TWITTER.COM/LORENBOBOREN
SPORTS
THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM 11.27.2013
15
FCC ATHLETES RISE TO THE TOP BY BRIAN ROBINSON
Reporter brobinson@therampageonline.com
Fresno City College Men’s running back Alek Mechikoff (22) evades Modesto Junior College’s football team players, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013 at Ratcliffe Stadium. Photo/Michael Monroy
Fresno City College Women’s forward Jenna Thomason (16) attempts to score a goal against Evergreen Valley’s soccer team, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013. Photo/Michael Monroy
As the 2013 fall semester comes to a close, so does this semester’s athletic seasons. Here are just some of our campus sports stars that have stood out this semester.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
FOOTBALL
The Fresno City College Rams football team is having a successful season both in the air and n the ground. I n t h e a i r, s o p h o m o r e quarterback Marcus Montero, who has played 10 games this season, has added 14 touchdowns to his record while also averaging 154.9 yards a game. Some of those touchdowns can be attributed in part to freshman running back Micah Ledezma and sophomore running back Alek Mechikoff. Running back Ledezma has gone on to score six touchdowns while gaining an average of 51.8 yards a game, while running back Mechikoff has scored eight touchdowns with an average of 46.8 yards a game. On the defensive side of things,
sophomore defensive lineman Thomas Coronado has made large strides this season with 46 tackles, nine sacks and a fumble recovery. Alongside Coronado is linebacker Tyler Bates, who has recorded 63 tackles and two sacks this season.
MEN’S SOCCER
Sophomore forward Josh Alvarez and sophomore midfielder/ forward Duce Bell to be on top of the scoreboard by the end of the year. Alvarez, who has played in 22 games this season, has recorded seven goals and four assists this season, adding 18 scored points to his record. Bell is not far behind. Also playing 22 games so far into the season, Bell has garnered five goals and two assists, scoring 12 points for the team. Freshman defender Christian Chaney can also be expected to earn recognition, as he has gained 11 points in the season with five goals and one assist.
The FCC women’s soccer team has done well thanks, in part, to sophomore forward Jenna Thomason and freshman midfielder Maricruz Chapa. Thomason has made a name for herself this year, scoring a whopping 22 goals, the second most goals scored in the division, with five assists and seven game-winning goals. Alongside Thomason, Chapa has made a name of her own as well. Chapa gained nine goals and five assists in the season, with three of those goals being game-winners.
VOLLEYBALL
The team has made an impression in the collegiate sports world this season, and sophomore outside hitter Valarie Gobby and sophomore middle blocker Morgan Dose have played a big part in making that a reality. Gobby, hitting 75 sets this season, has picked up 85 errors and 199 kills through 516 attacks. Dose, as a freshman was the only FCC volleyball player that was named to the 2012 State Championship AllTournament team. In her sophomore year, Dose has had 367 attacks this season, while adding 192 kills and 57 errors to her record.
BOOKSTORE
l TWITTER.COM/ROBINSONSMILEY
Textbook Buyback December 9-13
Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Fresno City College Men’s soccer player Josh Alvarez (8) attempts to score against San Francisco City College’s soccer team, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013. Photo/Michael Monroy
at the patio behind the bookstore
16
SPORTS
11.27.2013 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM
FCC TEAMS PULL TOGETHER DURING THE FALL BY KEAUNDREY CLARK
Reporter kclark@therampageonline.com
FRESNO CITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL The Fresno City College Rams football team captured another Central Valley Conference title this season with a record of 7-3 . They went 4-1 in the CVC and will be playing in the Gridiron Classic Bowl, the NorCal Championship game against NorCal No.1-ranked team, the Butte Roadrunners for a chance at the state championship game. FCC finished its last three conference games with a winning streak averag ing 55.3 points per game, with a season high 78 points against the College of the Sequoias. FCC was lead by sophomore quarterback Marcus Montero who ended the season with 1,579 yards and 14 touchdowns. They had a stable of running backs in sophomore Alek Mechikoff, freshman Micah Ledezma and freshman Errian Wingfield, who combined for a total of 1,299 yards and 20 touchdowns. Sophomore Brayden Sanchez led all wide receiver with 39 receptions for 729 yards and eight touchdowns. Shakiem Barbel and Kevin Beckwith combined 31 receptions for 540 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, FCC showed their ability to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks all season totaling 37 sacks, nine from sophomore Thomas Coronada and five from sophomore Josh Gibbs. Linebackers sophomore Tyler Bates and sophomore Nate Palomino lead the team in tackles with 64 and 54, respectively. Sophomore safety Gerald Nutt leads the state in interceptions with seven. FCC will look to take the NorCal crown and bring the California Community College Athletic Association Football State Championship to Fresno on Dec. 14, 2013. POSTSEASON AWARDS: Coach of the Year: Tony Caviglia. A l l Conference Offense: fullback D a kota Gordon, wide receiver Brayden Sanchez and Kevin Beckwith along with offensive linemen Wylie Brand and Connor Shannon. All-Conference Defense: defensive back Gerald Nutt, linebacker Tyler Bates, linebacker Nate Palomino and defensive lineman Thomas Coronado. FRESNO CITY COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER The Fresno City College Rams men’s soccer team capped off a great season with a 1-0
win over West Hills College. FCC finished ranked No. 8 in the NorCal final rankings. They faced City College of San Francisco in the first round of the 2013 CCCAA Men’s Soccer NorCal Regionals. The Rams lost to CCSF 2-0. The men’s team delivered a balanced attack with sophomore Josh Alvarez leading the team with 19 points, seven goals and five assists.
Sophomore Duce Bell (pictured bottom left) was second on the team with 12 points, five goals and two assists. Freshman Christian Chaney was third on the team will 11 points with five goals and one assist. Freshman Efrain Perez, sophomore Lucas Silva, and sophomore Raymundo Aguilera finished the regular season with 10 points. sophomore Matias Fernandez lead the team with 81 saves. FRESNO CIT Y COLLEGE WOMEN’S SOCCER The Fresno City College women’s soccer team had a great season, and finished ranked No. 2 in the state 17-1-3. They went undefeated in con-
Sophomore Laura McIntosh , Defender of the Year: sophomore Moriah Rodriguez , Goalkeeper of the Year: sophomore Tara Togami , Freshman of the Year: Maricruz Chapa. Chapa was second on the team with nine goals.
Gigi Hilton tied for second on the team also with nine goals. Tara Togami had 13 shutouts in the season. FCC started its playoff run
ference play with a 5-01 record and won their sixth straight Central Valley Conference titles. “Winning the conference six years in a row hasn’t been easy but I’m so thankful at what we have accomplished,” said head coach Oliver Germond. They earned the No. 1 seed in the 2013 CCCAA Women’s NorCal regionals. FCC finished the season with a 16-game winning streak, averaging almost five goals per game. CVC league MVP sophomore forward Jenna Thomason led FCC with 21 goals. “Jenna is amazing. She is a goalscorer and also very unselfish in many ways to help her teammates,” said Germond. FCC players who received league awards are: M i d f i e l d e r o f t h e Ye a r :
against Evergreen Valley College on Nov. 23, winning 4-0. FRESNO CITY COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL The Fresno City volleyball team finished the season strong, ranked No. 3 in NorCal, and No. 6 in the state.They won their seventh consecutive Central Valley Conference title. They finished the season with a 21-4 record, going undefeated in league play. They were strong against the top teams in the state, going 7-4 against teams ranked in the top 25. “We lost to some goods teams at the beginning of the season, it helped us prepare for conference and we were able to take care of things, which was to win CVC,” said head coach Tracy Ainger-Schulte. FCC dominated its opponents, with a 13-match winning streak to end the season, giving up just three sets. “I feel really good with our last four or five matches, it puts us into good position for a nice playoff run,” said Ainger-Schulte. FCC was lead by sophomore outside hitter Valarie Gobby (pictured top right)with 199 kills. She was also second in the CVC in digs with 295. Morgan Dose, an 2012 All-State tournament member was second with 192 kills. Caitlin Marinos and Katie Lowe finished with 135 and 130 kills respectively, giving FCC four of the top 20
offensive threats in the conference. FRESNO CITY COLLEGE WRESTLING The team continued another season of dominance, aiming for a fourth consecutive state title. FCC went 10-1 in the regular season, losing to Sacramento City College by one point. “We have to compete if we want to win a state championship, and we need all of wrestlers to compete at their best level. If we can do that we have a great shot at winning another state title,” said head coach Paul Keysaw. FCC Top wrestlers and their state rankings : Weight Classes 125: No. 2 Arnulfo Olea, No. 7 Seth Hood 133: No. 5 Vicente Hernandez 141: No. 1 Ali Naser, No. 5 Adrian Gomez, No. 7 Alexander Fraser 149: No. 1 Martine Sandoval, No. 7 Joseph Ontiveros 157: No. 4 Sebastian Suikowsky, No. 8 Austin Braddock 165: No. 1 Matt Hickman 174: No. 4 Kevin Corbett
184: No. 8 Preston Hill 285: No. 6 Narcisco Juarez, No. 8. Andrew Singer “We’ve progressed well, I’m happy with the team we have now, we’re competing at a high level now, “ said Keysaw. FRESNO CITY COLLEGE WATER POLO Second-year coach Gianna Rossi has made progress in her short time at FCC, after going 4-19 overall and 1-6 in the conference last fall. She continues to make improvements to the 10 year-old program. The team won six more games than last season, making their record 10-13 overall and 3-4 in conference. The team placed third in the conference, its highest ranking since 2006. They made it to the first round of the 2013 CCCAA women’s water polo NorCal Regionals as No. 5 seed but were defeated by No. 4 Santa Rosa College 6-2. With only three sophomores, the team was very young. Munoz-Vasquez, a freshman transfer from UC San Diego, led FCC with 43 goals and added 13 steals. Sophomore attacker Sarah Gardner was second on the team with 34 goals, and third on the team with 18 steals. Freshman Sydney Luna scored 25 goals and lead the team in steals with 23. Freshman Emily Hinson was fourth this year with 27 goals. Freshman Goalkeeper Kaylin Drum anchored the team’s defense with 162 saves. “As the season progressed I think all of us came together as a team and were able to trust each other more because we learned how we all played together,” said freshman Zenia MunozVasquez. “I think this playoff experience will help future teams, strive and accomplish more and go further than we did.” l TWITTER.COM/SLOCUM13
Photos/David Bennett (top) and Michael Monroy (left)