Issue 1 Fall 2018

THE RAMPAGE The Student-Run Newspaper of Fresno City College

Fall 2018 | Issue 1 | AUG 29, 2018

Let’s be honest. College is a mess ...and only those with the right tools survive.

Your mental health is trash.

You’re hungry; you’re broke.

You don’t know how to transfer, and you can’t find parking.

We know. We’ve all been there.

Do you want to know where to find the best food trucks or maybe you’re just trying to get that transfer application in under the wire?

You’re in luck, because for this first issue of the fall semester, the Rampage team has prepared a guide to survival at Fresno City College.

06

Entertainment Greek Fest got us shouting “OPA!”

Did you know that the health fee entitles you to free psychological services, including therapy? Do you qualify for the Disabled Students Program and Services? Find out what students are saying about the parking situation and the upcoming smoking policy. Plus, President Carole Goldsmith has advice for first time students.

The Rampage is by students and for the Fresno City College community. We hope this guide helps you find your way on this long, arduous academic journey.

12 Sports

09 Opinion Find out why therapy isn’t working for you.

Rams Have High Hopes for the 2018 season

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2 NEWS 8.29.18

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THE RAMPAGE Fresno City Colleges Hosts First Open House The student-run newspaper of Fresno City College

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Tommy Tribble

News Editor Paulina Rodriguez Ruiz Art Director Ramuel Reyes Sports Editor Anthony De Leon Entertainment Editor Anjanae Freitas Reporters Ben Rodriguez Betty Pauley Blake Evans Christian Hurtado Conner Stevens Eric Benjamin Ham Gage Carmichael Joanna Murrieta Joseph Deal Karl Cooke Kellie Clark Kendall Woods Mara Thornton Margarita Albarran Peter Lopez Sara Humphrey Sarah Chavez Stephanie Ocampo Tamika Rey Toni Woodruff Tory Garcia Tyrus Ramos Business Manager Ashleigh Panoo Adviser/Instructor Dympna Ugwu-Oju

Contact Us Tip Line 559-422-8262 Letters to the Editor editorial@therampageonline.com Corrections media@therampageonline.com Any correction needed for an article should be brought to the attention of the staff of The Rampage. The Rampage is committed to accuracy and should be made aware of any mistake in an article that appears in this paper.

Views expressed in the opinion pages are those of the individual writer and not of the newspaper.

The Rampage is produced by students of the Journalism 11 A, B, C, D class.

Geologic Science instructor Alexandra Priewish shows a student some information about joining the Geaolgy Club at Student Activities very first Open House event in the student lounge on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018.

Photo/Larry Valenzuela

Bryan Beltran | Reporter bbeltran@therampageonline.com

“Don’t be shy; come say hi,” Maile Martin, a Fresno City College student activities center assistant, said at the first open house on Aug. 22, 2018.

Martin said the goal of the event was to bring students in, make them feel appreciated and allow them to engage on academic and social levels.

“It makes me feel like the school cares about me personally,” said Reina Duarte, FCC student. Another student, Afro Byrd, said the goal was accomplished.

Duarte said he also enjoyed the variety of clubs that were recruiting at the open house and that she signed up for the Bonzai Club because of her deep fascination with Bonzai trees.

Lack of Accommodation for Deaf Students, Faculty Takes Center Stage at Presidential Forum

But Bonzai Club wasn’t the only group out at the Open House. Several clubs and FCC departments had booths, such as History Club, Disabled Students Program and Services, engineering, and geology.

The geology booth was being ran by FCC instructor of geological sciences Alexandra Priewish.

Priewish stated that she’s looking to recreate the Geology Club on

Tommy Tribble | Editor-in-Chief ttribble@therampageonline.com

The president of Fresno City College stood before an audience of mostly faculty, flanked by a pair of electronic tablets -- a “technological solution” to the the scarcity of sign language interpreters on campus -- neither tablet worked.

The tablets were meant to live stream a sign language interpreter, who would translate Carole Goldsmith’s words in real time, for the benefit of a deaf audience member. While a faint echo of Goldsmith’s words could be heard from the tablets, no visuals were displayed. “[The interpreter] didn’t see a deaf person in the front row watching them, they thought their services were no longer needed and signed off,” Goldsmith said.

She wasn’t aware of the interpreter’s absence until Nancy, a deaf staff member, entered the forum.

It was more than 40 minutes into the forum, just as Goldsmith was discussing “Fresno’s Mason-Dixon Line,” an article published in the Atlantic about how the history of segregated communities and red lining still impacts marginalized communities in the city today.

“We play an important part in fixing things,” Goldsmith said, and then paused.

“Nancy?”

campus and ignite the interest in geological and earth studies so students can better understand the environment, the earth they live on, and the world around them.

College Center Assistant Maile Martin said that the team at the activities center is hoping, if the students want, to have FCC’s second open house next semester.

Nancy gestured helplessly. She appeared not to understand Goldsmith. “I notice it’s not working,” Goldsmith said. “Where’s my person who can help with technology?

Can you get them back on the line?”

“OK. We’re going to take a pause. So we can get you ASL. Hold on.”

A shortage of sign language interpreters is a common occurrence on campus.

“We didn’t have enough internal ASL interpreters to be here physically,” Goldsmith said. Even reaching out to sister institutions proved unsuccessful.

The tablets were meant to correct for that local scarcity by connecting with a network of interpreters all over the U.S. “What just happened happens often in our classrooms,” Goldsmith said, when the forum resumed.

Goldsmith was joined by a counselor acting as a sign language interpreter. “It’s not an easy fix, for lots of reasons,” she said. “But I know Nancy and I are going to work together, along with some other folks to try to be able to fix this, because this is not OK.” Goldsmith thanked the counselorturned-ASL interpreter, and the room filled with applause.

“It’s not her day job, but she’s up here,” the president said. “So that’s what collaboration is.”

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An Evening with Carole Goldsmith — Fresno City College President Paulina Rodriguez Ruiz | News Editor pruiz@therampageonline.com

T

is a way to offer the community educational services while the construction of the West Fresno Campus and South East campus is underway.

“It is to start sowing seeds of hope in the anticipation that we will be building in southwest and

at FCC are -- The Q, the Bolt to College initiative, and the free bus fare partnership with the Associated Student Government.

Goldsmith says these initiatives are a way of reducing the city’s carbon footprint. She says to start thinking of Fresno as a large

Goals for the Future

wo years into her Goldsmith says her top presidency, Carole priorities are growth, leadership, Goldsmith works tirelessly and success for the institution. to lead Fresno City College into The college serves more the future through innovative than 36,000 students, with programs an estimated such as Bolt to 18,000 full College and FCC time equivalent Everywhere, students. while overseeing Goldsmith wants several Measure C to increase projects. that number to Goldsmith 20,000 FTES in says running the order to receive largest institution an additional in the Valley isn’t a $700,000 in state responsibility she funding. takes lightly.

She also wants “Knowing that to increase the over 36,0000 number of guided students come pathway programs here for some and access to FCC, hope that their as well as build life will be partnerships with better -- that’s Central Unified a tremendous School District responsibility,” she and Kerman. said.

“A lot of our Goldsmith says students are from her job is one Fresno City College President Carole Goldsmith talks about her plans for the college on Aug. 28, 2018. Photo/Ram Reyes Central,” she said. of balance. Key to her success “So we want to make sure we -- meditation, praying, clean have clear bridges from Central eating, and not taking herself too Unified to Fresno City College.” seriously.

Goldsmith is also working “I have the best job in on raising the next generation California,” Goldsmith said. “I of leaders. She has taken on two get to influence the direction of mentees and is working with a lot of people’s lives, and it’s a FUSD to take a few high school beautiful thing.” students under her wing.

She also addressed the issues -Carole Goldsmith President of Fresno City College concerning not having enough American Sign Language interpreters on campus. southeast,” she said, adding that metropolitan city.

Goldsmith said her inability to She says FCC is redefining the her administration has taken Before moving forward on find an interpreter during her face of education in the Central the lead in ensuring students building more parking spots, open forum on Aug. 22, plus the Valley. graduate in a timely manner.

Goldsmith says they are assessing ensuing technical difficulties, The Measure C funded The College’s 15 to Finish the efficiency of all the programs were shocking. construction of the West Fresno initiative, the Finish Faster in order to determine the actual “It was a great learning campus, the Math, Science, and partnership with the CSU system, need for students. moment for me because it Engineering building, the Child and the dual enrollment program The college is conducting a allowed me the opportunity Care Center, and the Police with Design Science High School study on the parking situation to experience the frustration and Fire Center in southeast are efforts to get students through to obtain recent data on the that my deaf students must Fresno are critical in not only the college more quickly. congestion. The most recent is feel, ” Goldsmith said.

“That’s expansion of FCC, but investing Goldsmith says she’s been eight years old. something that is also going to in historically underprivileged working with faculty and The Bolt to College ridesharing be on my list about how do we neighborhoods, Goldsmith said. instructional deans to facilitate program will also be taken into have better services for our deaf Goldsmith says the article the dissemination of information account. Goldsmith says the students and deaf faculty.”

“Fresno’s Mason-Dixie Line,” regarding the timely graduation college will look at the data in published in the Atlantic, has and transfer for students. about a year to determine the opened a great dialogue about “Being able to provide that efficiency of the program, and see Fresno’s history in creating the information in a clear and if it is worth replicating. poverty divide. The success of concise manner to our students Goldsmith’s administration the West Fresno and south east is really important,” Goldsmith is also in the planning stages Fresno campuses are critical in said. “I hope that one of the with the city of Fresno, transit Goldsmith's advice for first ensuring higher education is things I’ll be remembered for providers, and Christine time students is to be present. accessible for all residents. is not only as a community Mikatarian, SCCCD’s vice “This is your once in a lifetime “FCC has an opportunity to advocate -- who helps the chancellor of operations systems, shot of really making something once again play a pivotal part in community through our in determining how to issue amazing out of your life,” she history by doing what is ethically educational goals -- but also as permits and offer transportation says. and morally right,” Goldsmith one who helps eliminate silos and from the newly acquired She says it’s easy to hit the said. increase transparency.” downtown parking structure in snooze on life, and just coast, but Goldsmith’s administration SCCCD’s new office. that the biggest gift you can give recently launched FCC “I hope to have something yourself is to be fully present.

Everywhere, a partnership with announced for that for the spring “You can’t change the past all Fresno Unified School District semester,” Goldsmith said. “We’ll you can take care of is right here that offers evening college classes do a pilot test on that.”

“Ask anybody, it’s parking, ” right now” Goldsmith said. “So at Sunnyside and Edison High, as Goldsmith said. just show up, do your best, and well as Fresno Pacific University.

Among the initiatives to the rest will follow. ” Goldsmith says the program alleviate the parking congestion

“

This is your once in a lifetime shot of really making something amazing out of your life”

Leading FCC into the Future

Advice for first time students

Biggest Issues facing Fresno City

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Highlighting the People of our Community

SPOTLIGHT SERIES

Fresno City College student Alex Gonzalez performs at the Monday night mixer at Strummers on July 17, 2018. Photo/Paulina Rodriguez Ruiz

Unsung Hero Alex Gonzalez Works Tirelessly to Change Lives Blake Evans | Reporter bevans@therampageonline.com

Each semester, tens of thousands of students flood the Fresno City College campus, seeking to begin the first chapter of the rest of their lives.

Yet in this deluge, many agents of change get overlooked. These unsung heroes work tirelessly to make both our campus and our city a better place for all.

One of these heroes is Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan co-chair and community organizer, Alex Gonzalez.

A child of a broken home, Gonzalez faced many hardships such as gang activities, poverty and anxiety while growing up in Kerman. But even in the face of these struggles, Gonzalez was able to find solace in music and activism.

“I see music and activism as an outlet for people to express themselves,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez credits his grandparents with laying the foundation for his passion for community improvement. From his young age, they encouraged him to be actively involved in youth programs in the church.

They also fostered a passion for music.

After two false starts in 2004 and 2008, Gonzalez began his journey to higher education at FCC in 2015. He said attending FCC allowed him to explore himself through

interacting with well rounded people from all walks of life.

“Even though there’s so much struggle in daily life, finding something to be passionate about is something you can find at FCC,” Gonzalez said.

His self-realization led him to M.E.Ch.A, a club dedicated to promoting MexicanAmerican culture. Through the club, his community organizing career blossomed.

During Gonzalez’ time in M.E.Ch.A, a representative from the volunteering organization, Mas People Working Relentlessly invited him to join their group.

From MPWR, he was introduced to the Education and Life Foundation, and from there, he was introduced to Valley Forward, a program for students who want to be engaged in their communities by teaching people their rights as citizens.

Today, Gonzalez continues to work towards his social work degree. He’s the co-chair of M.E.Ch.A, a member of Valley Forward, and is working to help struggling students in the same position he was years ago.

This semester he’s working towards raising money to get his scholarship which he calls, “Be Yourself; Do It Well” -- off the ground.

Despite his already full plate, Gonzalez’s ambition shows no bounds. In the future,

Gonzalez hopes to open his own youth organization.

“I want to open up a youth organization, a place where kids can learn, explore themselves and be creative,” Gonzalez said.

“A place for kids to express themselves and open up about their problems.”

Gonzalez said he hopes the organization can be an outlet for youth to have an emotional release. “We don’t talk about our feelings as young men [especially of color],” he said.

Gonzalez’s future plans includes the education of parents.

“A lot of children are parents, so we need to teach young parents how to build strong relationships,” he said. “The first five years are the most important in a kid’s development and a lot of young parents come from broken homes and don’t know how to act.”

On a smaller scale, Gonzalez also plans to create a cultural diversity club, which would allow different cultures to interact and converse. “The club would show how diverse we are here at FCC,” he said. “We are really colorful, and it would be beneficial for every culture on campus if we promoted that.”

Gonzalez says, “Be yourself, do it well. I live by that.”

“I want to open up a youth organization, a place

where kids can learn, explore themselves and be creative, a place for kids to express themselves and open up about their problems.”

-Alex Gonzales

8.29.18 NEWS 5

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THE RAMPAGE SURVIVAL GUIDE

Food Trucks Roll more Flavor into FCC Karl Cooke | Reporter kcooke@therampageonline.com

La Jacka Mobile Taco Truck serves students at the small fountain near the library on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. Photo/Karl Cooke

Health and Psych Services Free on Campus Conner Stevens | Reporter cstevens@therampageonline.com

If you need health or psychological services on campus, don’t despair. Help is nearby.

Students enrolled in Fresno City College are eligible for free medical care and psychological counseling on campus.

Located in the first floor of the Student Services building, on the Southwest end of the FCC campus, the Health Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday to Thursday and 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Friday.

“We do a lot of helping students find resources that they need for different problems that they are having,” said Lisa Chaney, coordinator of the health services department. “It can be medical, referring them to psych services, or some of the other programs that are on campus.”

Chaney said that the Health Center is a great option for students to turn to when they are

not feeling well.

Along with first aid and health promotion, students can consult psych interns -- a new service which is available this semester.

“It’s easy for a student to come in and book an appointment with an intern, or set one up ahead of time,” Chaney said.

The interns are available three hours a day, four days a week.

Chaney said that students with questions who are unable to make it into the health center can visit their website.

Chaney said the health center and psych services can benefit students by assuring them they are not alone in their 17-week journey to complete the work and be successful.

Students seeking information can go to the FCC website.

The best part, Chaney said, is that the college provides these services free of charge because they are covered by the student health fee.

Fresno City College students don’t have to settle for cafeteria food or off-campus restaurants and risk losing their parking spots.

From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m on Monday to Thursday, food trucks will be located in two different areas on campus. You can spot the trucks either at the small fountain near the library, by the Health Sciences Building, or by the student bookstore.

These trucks will be on campus throughout the fall and spring

kclark@therampageonline.com

During the first month of the semester Fresno City College offers free shuttle bus rides to students allowing them to park further away from campus, and reducing the risk of being late to class.

The shuttle buses began Aug. 13 and are carried on until Sept.

7. They run from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Monday through

Thursdays, and from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm on Fridays.

The stops can be found in parking lot X, near the Health Science Building, near the bookstore, on the south side of the Math Science and Engineering building, on the west end of University Mall, and on the sidewalk near parking lot K. One student, Jose Gonzalez,

students want to purchase. The average price of these trucks range between $3 to $13, depending on the food truck that is there that specific day.

Students can expect not to see the same truck everyday as FCC and the food trucks have set up a schedule on when these mobile food stands can come to the campus.

If FCC students want to learn more about where and when these different food trucks will be on the campus, they can go to the FCC website to learn more.

DSPS Works to Increase Student Interaction with Staff, Counselors Gage Carmichael | Reporter gcarmichael@therampageonline.com

The Disabled Students Program and Services has begun to pair students with counselors who specialize in their field of study.

Stephanie Crosby, director of the program, said this change will help students plan their academic careers more effectively because the counselors understand what they need to succeed in their chosen fields.

This also gives students more one-on-one time with the counselor, creating a more established relationship and guaranteeing more success because of the counselor’s involvement, Crosby said.

“This is a campus-wide plan to help streamline counseling services for ease-of-access for our students ” Crosby said.

Other improvements coming to DSPS this fall include a closer interaction between students receiving services and the staff who attend to them.

Crosby said her team is

Shuttling in A New Semester Kellie Clark | Reporter

semesters.

These meals-on-wheels give FCC more of a variety of choices than just the cafeteria and allows students to get restaurant type food without having to leave the campus.

From Mexican food choices like Tacos Jaliscience and Casa de Tamales, to lighter food choices like Raw Fresno, the food trucks will appeal to all different food cravings. They might even satisfy the sweet tooth of some students with options like Rubia’s Churros Parties and Bravo Bites.

The price of these food trucks varies and depends on the meal

who was waiting for the shuttle, said the buses were convenient but he wished that the times were closer. Jose said that the buses came every 15 minutes and only had enough room for a few students and those that can’t fit usually have to wait for the next one or walk to their destination.

Schedules can be found at each shuttle bus stop and in the Student Services building.

currently working on how to improve employee interactions with students through weekly meetings and review of customer service and students’ satisfaction.

DSPS staff will receive training in customer service and as well as ongoing feedback on how to improve interaction with their students.

“We have bi-weekly meetings to discuss how more effectively we can assist our students,” said Crosby.

Crosby said that students who are uncomfortable with the closer working relationship could opt out and work with their previous counselors.

DSPS, a designated department at Fresno City College, provides assistance to students with disabilities.

They are primarily responsible for determining what kind of academic adjustments and changes are necessary to help improve the success rate of the students they serve.

Crosby said these adjustments may include providing volunteer note takers for the students to

allow them to gain the most from their courses; audiobooks for students who prefer audio-based learning; in-class interpreters for the Deaf community as well as designated rooms for test taking.

The DSPS office is also directly involved with the planning of better accessibility for students with physical disabilities. Crosby said DSPS has found greater success in their students when these additional services are provided.

Crosby said that in addition to providing access and improved academic experience for their students, DSPS works to eliminate the stigma that is often associated with receiving help. She said she is committed to creating an equitable environment so the college provides all students a safe and welcoming space.

“We appreciate any form of feedback students provide us,” Crosby said. DSPS will take that feedback into consideration.

“We are here for you,” Crosby said.

FCC to BE SMOKE FREE Toni Woodruff | Reporter twoodruff@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College students are speaking out about their school becoming a smoke free campus.

“Everyone’s different, let them have their vices,” said brothers, Derek and Scott Bullis who frequently use the smoking areas to “relieve stress.”

In January of 2015 FCC desig-

nated eight areas around the campus for smoking, the main and largest smoking area located in the middle of the campus is home to many FCC smokers.

FCC will become a smoke free campus in compliance with the Board of Governors ruling from May, 2018. The new policy will take effect in the next 90 days according to FCC president Carol Goldsmith.

6 ENTERTAINMENT

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Opa! Greek Fest Returns Kellie Clark | Reporter kclark@therampageonline.com

The Greek culture is one of beauty, art, and great food, and the Greek Festival at the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Fresno never fails to capture its essence.

This year is the 58th Anniversary of the festival in this venue, and it drew a variety of crowds excited to try the baklava or the lamb, or even to just listen to the music of the band The Olympians.

"This church was built in 1955," said Kopi Sotiropulos, news reporter of KMPH and annual attendee of the Greek Festival. "They started in 1958 doing luncheons after church for the members to get more money to add on with the Sunday School building, the Hall and everything."

Today, the St. George Greek Orthodox church stands tall. "And then it grew little by little, and now here we are 58 years later, we have probably one of the main cultural events in the valley."

According to Sotiropulos, more than 20,000 people have attended the festival and enjoyed the meals and about 111 trays of just the pastries alone.

Saint George Greek Orthodox Church hosts the 58th annual Greek Fest to celebrate the greek culutre by introducing guest to dance, music, art and food. Cooking demostrations, dance perfromances, food and tours of the church drew thousands of attendees to the three day celebration from Aug. 24th to the 26th . Photos/Larry Valenzuela

FCC’s Marching Musicians Can find a home at Fresno State Ben Hensley | Reporter bhensley@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College has a history of offering quality music classes for its students. One class, however, is absent from this list.

That class is marching band.

Many music students at FCC may not be aware that all students are welcome and invited to march in the Bulldog Marching Band at Fresno State.

Steve McKeithen, associate director of bands at Fresno State, is at the helm for his fifth year and the program continues to look up. At over 200 strong, the band has been hard at work during their band camp and rehearsals, preparing music, field

drills, and overall enthusiasm for the 2018 season.

“There is always room for new members,” McKeithen tells FCC students.

For FCC students who have the desire and drive to march, the band is not restricted to only music majors. All majors are welcome to enroll and enjoy a semester of football, bonding, and of course, music.

Theory Elisha Wilson, director of bands and music at FCC, said the lack of a marching band is related to budgetary issues - and understandably so. According to Wilson, the funding for instruments alone could be close to $100,000.

“If we were to receive significant financial and administrative support in addition to adding more teaching personnel, it’s possible that we can start a marching band here at FCC,” Wilson said.

“At the moment, our current instrumental budget is a tiny speck of what we would need to get a marching band started.”

Wilson said that her first priority is FCC students. “We have a vibrant music program,” she said, referring to events like the Veterans Day concert scheduled for Nov. 2.

“My goal personally is to make our presence known,” Wilson said, with the caveat that

students completing their FCC responsibilities comes first.

Current Bulldog Marching Band council president Logan O’Brien initially started his band career as a transfer student from FCC. “I didn’t join until 2015 because I didn’t know I could join,” says O’Brien, who is beginning his fourth and final season marching in the band.

“It’s looking spectacular. The players here take my breath away,” O’Brien said.

Wilson is supportive of the program at Fresno State, but visions of musical excellence at FCC are definitely on her mind.

“I’m hopeful that our music department, as a whole, can

grow in all capacities in order to showcase the world-class music education happening right here in the heart of Fresno,” Wilson said.

For more information on how to join the Bulldog Marching Band, contact the band office at (559) 278-5086, or email director Steve McKeithen at smckeithen@ csufresno.edu. More information about joining can be found at www.fresnostatebands.com, or through the extended education office at Fresno State inside the Kremen building.

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Baggage Check

8.29.18 ENTERTAINMENT 7

Danielle Cash (left) and James Knudsen (right) rehearse their performance for “Baggage Check,” a two-person, orginal play written by Fresno City College’s theater professor Charles Erven. Baggage Check is a character driven drama about a divorced couple, Dot (Danielle Cash) and Gordy (James Knedsen) who find their way back to each other after Dot experiences financial trouble, but Gordy has troubles of his own. Dot discovers the best way to fix her situation is to help her ex-husband through his first.

Photos by Larry Valenzuela

DIVISION OF FINE, PERFORMING AND COMMUNICATION ARTS

Bending Towards the Light of the Sun

AUGUST 21 – OCTOBER 11, 2018 Reception: September 6 • 5:00–8:00pm (ArtHop) Artists: Maia Ballis Caleb Duarte Carissa Garcia Laguna Collective R.L. Muas Sylvia Savala Christian Vargas Nancy Youdelman With National Land for People and WILPF Film Screenings: El Valley Centro - Tuesday, September 25, 1:00pm Los - Wednesday, September 26, 1.30pm Sogobi - Thursday, September 27, 1:00pm Full listing of participants and event schedule at www.fresnocitycollege.edu/art-space-gallery Mon/ Tues: 10:00am – 4:00pm | Wed/ Thurs: 10:00am – 7:00pm George Ballis, Sun Sage, 1984, Color photograph, Copyright George Ballis

State Center Community College District

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John McCain, and the Failures of the Death Discourse Online Tommy Tribble | Editor-in-Chief ttribble@therampageonline.com

John McCain passed away in his home from complications of brain cancer, the New York Times reported on Thursday, Aug. 24.

He was 81.

That McCain was a POW, a war hero, and a politician with a reputation for integrity and nonpartisanship doesn’t really need to be said. That this reputation was largely inflated by his penchant for the dramatics does, maybe.

There was something cinematic about his infamous “thumbsdown” no-vote on the “skinny repeal” of the Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare. There he stood, a Republican in the Trump

era, one of the Obama administration’s fiercest critics, suffering even then from a malignant brain tumor called a glioblastoma.

Thanks to the Republican’s razor-thin majority in the Senate, McCain would be the arbiter of the Republican effort to repeal the ACA. He would be the deciding vote.

He put his thumb down, and derailed one of Trump’s most promised and specific policy agendas forever.

Still, that repeal effort could never have gotten as far as it did without his help. He also voted to undo the ACA’s mandate, the enforcement mechanism that keeps the law from unraveling at the seams. To say nothing of the fact that he voted alongside Trump 83 percent of the time.

He was a complicated person. Or rather, a conservative that some praise as a hero, and others disparage as a warmonger.

That was only one

of dozens of tweets I saw. My headline was infested with McCain hot takes, most of them negative.

One of McCain’s most famous moments featured prominently.

It was back during the 2008 presidential campaign at a town hall.

“I can’t trust Obama. I have read about him,” a woman said, “and he’s not, um, he’s an Arab.”

“No, ma’am,” McCain said, “he’s a decent family man.”

Arab Americans then and now widely criticized the comment as racist. The statement on its face creates a dichotomy between a bad thing (an Arab) and a good thing (a decent family man).

False dichotomies like this which frame one racial or ethnic group as lesser or criminal compared to some other ideal are nothing new. There’s nothing radical or post-politics about using disingenuous framing like that.

But charitably, we can assume that McCain’s intentions were good, that in the heat of the moment there was ill-considered rhetoric, that rejecting the woman’s statement was a good moment for politics. It is easy to imagine Trump leaning into that moment. “We don’t know what he is,” he might have said. “We just don’t know.”

Still, that doesn’t invalidate the feelings of the communities most

impacted by that well-intentioned but ultimately irresponsible rhetoric.

The heart of this issue is not that it’s impolite to criticize the

saved the ACA, after endangering it. The truth is that he was a sane, moderate voice in politics. The truth is that compared to Trump, anyone looks sane and moderate.

dead, or wrong to condemn a war hero and POW for his advocacy of an aggressive and ultimately harmful foreign policy--the heart of it is that our unending need to shape people into heroes or villains, into a dichotomy, is the great weakness of our discourse surrounding the dead.

We don’t mourn. We gesture.

The truth is that McCain was a drama king. The truth was that McCain underwent torture and pain that would break any normal man. The truth is that McCain

McCain was a human being.

It’s impossible not to feel disgust seeing the vitriol and the jokes on twitter. It’s impossible not to think of his family reading these things.

And it’s impossible to ignore that his legacy wasn’t pure, that it hurt people. For every life saved by the ACA there are so many lost to the wars he voted for. This is an inescapable truth.

We mourn people not as they are, but what we understand them to be. All we have to go on is our impressions of their words and deeds. And certain deeds we downplay, while others we embrace.

It wasn’t a good look for the Left when everyone dragged Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez--the upstart progressive that unseated an establishment Democratic candidate in a New York primary--for suggesting that McCain was a human with good qualities.

There’s value to appraising McCain as he was, as a complicated man with flaws, whom a lot of people respected and loved, who is now dead at the hands of a horrible disease.

"I do not cry for a perfect man," Lindsay Graham said, on the floor of the Senate. "I cry for a man who had honor and always was willing to admit to his imperfection."

8.29.18

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Why Therapy Won’t Work If You’re Not Ready Anjanae Freitas | Enterainment Editor afreitas@therampageonline.com

When I decided to treat therapy as my recovery rather than my chore, I realized I wasted my teenage years being a misery factory. Soon enough, therapy became my new safe place.

At 15 years old, I saw a therapist for the first time. I had no desire to understand why I was clinically depressed and anxious, but therapy felt like the right place to start.

I remember my therapist asked the typical questions. “What brings you here?” I sat in silence thinking, “Well if I knew, why would I be here?” I was angry, I had no desire to be a teenager in therapy.

I wanted to be normal and do “normal” things like my friends. I didn’t want to worry about what my emotions meant.

After my first few sessions, I

was convinced that my first therapist was definitely my last.

I felt that therapy served no purpose to my growth, but in reality I was not ready for help.

When I thought I was fine, I was struggling internally. Asking for help did not make me weak, it showed my strength to better myself. But for some reason, my brain wouldn’t allow me to think otherwise.

When I was 19, I realized that part of being an adult was going to involve working on my personal and professional communication within all my relationships. I had childhood

traumas to expose myself to and I had unhealthy coping mechanisms to let go of.

Therefore, I gave therapy one more try. As I sat across from my second therapist, I felt as if she was reading out of a self-help book she read. I didn’t believe anything out of her mouth.

What made her qualified enough to change my life? Her Ph.D? Nothing seemed beneficial enough for me to find healing. I felt completely lost.

When I was 20, I decided that within a year I had grown. I realized that it wasn’t that therapy didn’t work for me, I was too pessimistic to work hard enough for therapy.

Finally after going into my third therapist, the light switch that had been broken was finally turned back on.

There was two major reasons for my new optimism: Firstly, my therapist was a perfect match for me, her approach and treatment plan to push me forward was clear enough to motivate me. It was not even a matter of will this work. It was the first time my therapist had instilled in me that growth meant two way communication. It was time for me to grow up.

Secondly, but most importantly, I learned that a therapist cannot do their job effectively if the person seeking help isn’t actually ready to surrender.

When I opened my mind up to the idea of being mindful, I was able to be more present. Being present allowed me to process my healing. Through my healing, I found the bravery in being soft.

Now as a 21-year-old, I have not mastered the skills to life.

However, I have found tools in therapy that allow me to grow, to heal, and to communicate effectively in all my relationships.

There is no timestamp to seeking help. When you know, you’ll know.

OPINION 9

CAMPUS VOICES

What are fun things to do in between classes?

By Betty Pauley Photos by Anjanae Freitas

Andrea Prudhume Art Major

“Before, I used to pass by the Art Space Gallery all the time and never really go in, but when I did I really enjoyed viewing all the different pieces of art that different students created. It was inspiring to see, so I come by there more often now.”

Destinee Rivera Biology Major

“I like to walk to the tower district because it’s very close in walking distance and it has Starbucks, which is a favorite of mine to just relax and hang out.”

Photo Courtesy of Pixabay

Jesus Torres Undecided

“I chill, watch videos and play games. I would proably go to Wendy’s because I like the 4 for 4.”

Andres Torres

Electrical Engineering

“Most of the time I go play pool in the game room, if not I study in the OAB on one of the benches.”

Arianna Arias Biology Major

“One thing I like to do before class is visit the libary, it’s a peaceful place to concertate and relax. The energy on campus is diverse and friendly it’s quite easy to build new forms of friendships.”

10 SPORTS 8.29.18

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Rampage File Photo

Fresno City College Wrestling Goes for a Three-Peat Karl Cooke | Reporter kcooke@therampageonline.com

Being heralded as No. 1 in the state always has a good ring to it. The Fresno City College wrestling team is looking to preserve that title come this 2018 season.

At the helm once again is 2017 Coach of the Year Paul Keysaw, he is accompanied by Assistant Coach of the Year George Moreno. This year’s team is set to embark on a quest to earn a three-peat as state wrestling champions. Although the expectations are high and they are the team to beat, Keysaw sees it as

motivation to push his athletes to greater heights.

“We know that there’s a lot of teams out there who do not want us to win and so we are used to that and we revel in that, we like that,” Keysaw said. Keysaw also looks to grow as a coach after 12 years on the job at FCC. “Part of my job is to get better and challenge myself to get outside of the box and bring new ideas,” Keysaw said.

2017 was a perfect season as the team went 11-0 in the regular season and clinched the California Community College state

championship in quick fashion by scoring 184 points in the individual rounds before the final team rounds even began.

The FCC wrestling team faced Cerritos college, the No. 2 team in the state in the CCCAA Team Dual State Championship. The tournament went back and forth in points before FCC eventually came out on top by a final score of 28-11.

Winning the state title was not the only thing achieved by the wrestling team in 2017. Other accolades include eight players finishing with 2017 All-American honors, winning the team Dual State Championship,

Rams Volleyball Has State Championship In Mind Ben Rodriguez | Reporter brodriguez@therampageonline.com

The Fresno City College volleyball team will be on the defensive once again as they look to defend their Central Valley Conference crown in the upcoming 2018 season. The Rams will be on the hunt for their second state championship in three years.

Although they weren’t able to capture back-to-back state titles, last year was far from a bust as the Rams captured their 11th consecutive conference championship.They went 16-0 in their conference last season, and are looking to capitalize on that success this season.

Last year they were led

by All-American Makayla Cervantes who had a very strong sophomore season. This year’s team will be full of new talent

and new opportunities to make a run at the state championship in November. Their season was cut short last year after losing a tough matchup against the highly touted San Joaquin Delta College, a team who they had had no problem beating earlier in the season.

The Rams will be looking towards their returning players ,expectations are high for the new faces. With their freshman players stepping up, and sophomores leading the charge, Roblee has high hopes for the season and the playoffs.

“There is an exciting new dynamic, new talent and new faces on this team,” said Roblee.

The Rams will be looking for sophomore Keri Leake to have a big season, as well as Katie Emmerling, Abbey Briggs, Mia Corippo, and Jenna Guinn.

Marina Gonzales, a freshman, is

very excited to be apart of this team. She says she is excited for the upcoming season because of how well the team is meshing together and feels that the goal of the season is nothing short of a state championship.

But for now, the goal for this team is taking it one game at a time in order to capture another CVC championship and ultimately that elusive state championship that fell through their fingers last season.

The Rams will face many challenges on their way to the championship.Thier conference rivals, College of the Sequoias and Taft College both gave the Rams their toughest tests last season. Both teams went 11-5 in conference play last season while the Rams went undefeated.

The Rams open up their season on Aug. 31 against West Valley.

being honored with a proclamation by the City of Fresno, and seeing two wrestlers sign to four-year universities.

Dylan Martinez, a two-time state champion, signed with the University of Minnesota and Brandon Bettancourt signed with St. Cloud University. Each university ranks in the top 10 in wrestling in each of their divisions.

The FCC wrestling team will host their fifth annual FCC Wrestling Hall of Fame Casino Night on Oct. 27 in the Old Administration Building courtyard. For more information contact the FCC Athletic Department.

8.29.18 SPORTS 11

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Erika Calderon (left) and Justyne Sanchez (right) battle for the ball at practice for the Fresno College Ram’s at Ratcliffe Stadium soccer field on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018.

Photo/Larry Valenzuela

Women’s Soccer Hopes to Continue Winning Streak Ben Hensley | Reporter bhensley@therampageonline.com

Looking to build off a year which culminated in a 25-0-2 season and a state championship with a 2-1 victory over Santa Barbara Community College, the Fresno City College Women’s Soccer teams is hard at work preparing for the undoubtedly difficult season ahead.

On Aug. 28, Fresno City College women’s soccer will

travel to Sacramento to take on the Feather River Golden Eagles in their season opener.

Head Coach Oliver Germond assures FCC students that the soccer team, while defensively young, is eager and ready to defend their title. “Our goal every year is to win the conference and to get to the final four,” Germond said.

“When we get to the final four, the opportunities for our players to get recruited to the next level

goes up,” Germond said. “Last year we had 12 scholarships, but all of our players had the opportunity to move on to the next level,” he said.

With the departure of 201618 goalkeeper Rina Castaneda, Germond and his staff will have the task of replacing Castaneda with Ruby Campa (SO) or Callie Thiesen (FR) for the upcoming season. Along with replacing Castaneda – who allowed only six goals all of last season – the

defense will see major changes this year, with five out of the seven defenders being incoming freshmen.

On the other side of the ball, FCC students will see several familiar faces. “We have two of our leading goal scorers coming back,” Germond said. “Reyna [Wristen] and Taylor [Alkire] were two of our three leading goal scorers last year.” With these two offensive forces, the Rams look to be off to a great start in

the 2018-19 season.

“Come support our games!

It’s a great way to start having more of a relationship with your school as a student; support your athletic program,” Germond said.

The Rams have 10 home games this year, starting on Sept.

4 at 4 p.m. when they take on American River College at the soccer facility next to Ratcliffe Stadium.

Men’s Soccer Preview: What to Know About the Rams in 2018 Omari Bell | Reporter obell@therampageonline.com

Last season, the Fresno City College men’s soccer team managed to pull away with their first California Community College Athletic Association state championship with a 2-0 victory over Taft College, bringing home a piece of FCC history. The Rams ended the season with a record of 18-1-6, with two out of the six games against Taft College.

With a very memorable season behind them, head coach Eric Solberg, entering his 20th year with the program, hit the recruiting trail hard after losing some of his key players.

“We have a lot of new faces, but even though we have some core sophomores returning we will be missing some of that experience we’ve had off the past couple of years,” Solberg said.

In the 2017-18 campaign, the FCC men’s team revolved

around five key sophomores: Andres Castrajon (Goalkeeper), Alfredo Lopez (Defender/ National Coaches Player of the Year), Juan Alvarez (Defensive Midfielder), Jose Aguilera (Center Midfielder), and by Johnny Rodriguez (National Player of the Year).

Even with the loss of some extremely good players the Rams have enough great talent on their roster that they can just plug and play in the areas of need, which is the case with championship teams. Coach Solberg was able to reload a championship roster in order to repeat that success by pulling in over seven incoming freshman and three Brazilian players, bringing his roster to nearly 30 players vying for another state championship.

“Someone asked if we were looking to repeat, but the south has won 16 out of the last 19 state championships, so I’m not going into the season thinking that we

Defender Bryce Faber keeps the ball in bounds during practice for the Fresno College Ram’s at Ratcliffe Stadium soccer field on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018. Photo/Larry Valenzuela

are going to repeat”, Solberg said.

“The first 5-6 games we will play ‘Who’s who in California’, so we will get tested early.”

2018 Schedule Preview The Rams will be competing against familiar competition going into the 2018 campaign.

The Rams have a CCCAA schedule that includes an 18 game slate which sees each team in each conference plays the

other four teams twice with 10 crossover games. The Rams will be competing in the Central Valley division, which pits them up against opponents like Clovis Community (Sep. 25), West Hills Lemoore (Sep. 28), Taft College (Oct. 5), College of the Sequoias (Oct. 23), Clovis Community (Oct. 26), West Hills Lemoore (Oct. 30), Taft College (Nov. 6), and College of the Sequoias in the finale of conference play (Nov. 9).

For the crossover games, the

Rams will play Las Positas (Sep. 7), Canada (Sep. 13), West Valley (Sep. 15), College of the Canyons (Sep. 18), Bakersfield (Sep. 21), LA Mission (Oct. 2), Modesto (Oct. 9), San Joaquin Delta (Oct. 12), and Consumnes River (Oct. 16).

A tough matchup for this year’s team looks to be Taft College who managed to keep the Rams at a clean sheet during their conference meeting last season.

12 SPORTS 8.29.18

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Defensive line runs drills during practice at Ratcliffe Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018. Photo/Larry Valenzuela

Rams Football Has High Hopes for 2018 Anthony Deleon | Sports Editor adeleon@therampageonline.com

The 2017 Fresno City College football season did not finish the way the Rams would have liked, missing the state playoffs with a record of 8-3, but they did manage to cap off the season with a victory over Butte College in the State Center Bowl.

Now in 2018 expectations for the upcoming season are high.

Many pundits have the Rams ranked in preseason polls at 23rd in the Nation and 13th in California in both the College Football America Juco Preseason top 30 and JC Athletic Bureau Football Poll, respectively.

But this season looks to be an uphill climb with turnover in many positions. There are key changes to their offense, such as quarterback Trey McJunkin who transferred to Western Illinois University, as well as running back Khai Williams and lineman Nick Abbs who will both be playing for Fresno State this upcoming season.

Entering his 18th season as FCC head coach Tony Caviglia has 18 returning sophomores at his disposal, including two standout wide receivers in both Anthony Stewart and Malik White who showed glimpses of potential last season and look to build on that this season.

“Both of them have had a great camp and we expect big things from them this year,”

said Caviglia. “We got a really good returning class, I think we got great leadership from our sophomores, they’re good football players and good people.”

The Rams are also coming into this season with nearly 50 incoming freshman on their roster, but that inexperience will not play a factor in decision making as many positions are still up for grabs going into the season opener against Santa Rosa.

“We’re going to play a lot of players early in the season and we have a lot of good players with a lot of depth,” said Caviglia.

“And try to see how each player progresses.”

But Caviglia knows that the transition for the freshman coming from the high school level will be a tough one, but feels confident that they are capable of handling it.

“It is a tough transition,” said Caviglia. “There are a lot of things that they have to do as freshman and there are some changes they have to do both on the football and academic side.”

Last season the Rams defense finished the season allowing 21.5 points per game and allowing 315 yards per game, good enough to rank them in the top 20 of those categories. This season coach Caviglia hopes that his defense will exceed last year’s marks.

“I feel really good about how are defense is playing they are big and fast, with the knowledge of

Wesley Graves rushes past the defensive line during a hand off drill during practice at Ratcliffe Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018. Photo/Larry Valenzuela

our defensive principles,” explained Caviglia.

On the offensive side of the ball this past offseason saw the promotion of Mark Hetherington to offensive coordinator for his third season at FCC. Hetherington is a former FCC quarterback, offensive player of the year and All American who coach Caviglia had nothing but the utmost respect for.

“He is a natural fit, his rapport with the players is at a high level and he is going to get the most out of our offense.”

On August 18 the Rams held their red and white scrimmage and the results of that film has coach Caviglia feeling confident that this team is ready to compete this season.

“I thought the guys competed and after Chabot,” said Caviglia.

“I think we are ready to start playing games.”

The focus of their final

scrimmage on August 23 against Chabot before the season opener was finally getting a chance to play someone else other than themselves while testing their systems to see what works and what needs to be fixed.

“We’ve been practicing for a long time against each other and it is good to test our systems against another opponent,” said Caviglia.

The area of concern for the Rams as of right is the kicking game which coach Caviglia is hoping to get in rhythm before Sep. 1.

“Our kicking game is something we are going to spend a lot of time on,” said Caviglia.

“We are getting closer, but we are not there yet.”

Now that fall camp has ended with the last fall scrimmage the preparation for Santa Rosa has begun for their Sep. 1 matchup.

At this point Caviglia feels that all

the rankings and expectations are good for people to talk about, but says the polls his team is most worry about come out at the end of the season.

“In our program we don’t really look at polls until the end of the year that is the most important poll,” explained Caviglia. “We like to be in a position where we have had a great year and get recognized for it.”

Above all coach Caviglia has set four team goals for this season which entails his team to have class, students to have enough units to transfer, win the Central Valley Conference title and ultimately state champions.

“Our first two goals have nothing to do with winning, but how we are going to operate as student athletes,” said Caviglia.

“We also want to win our Valley Conference and state championships.”