Issue 3 Fall 2019 by The Rampage at Fresno City College

THE RAMPAGE The Student-Run Newspaper of Fresno City College

Fall 2019 | ISSUE 3 | September 25, 2019

'I Am Done.' Bookstore Privatization Outrages Campus Community

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The Board of Trustees voted to privatize the student bookstore in July. The transition was a messy one. Empty shelves and incorrect, nonrefundable codes plague students well into week six of an 18 week semester. Illustration/Kevin Rodriguez

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The editorial board weighs in on the bookstore's new Management.

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THE RAMPAGE

The student-run newspaper of Fresno City College

STAFF Editor-in-Chief Tommy Tribble

News Editor

Hannah Lanier

Entertainment Editor John Bruce

Opinion Editor Derek Bullis

Sports Editor Ben Hensley

Multimedia Editor Leticia Leal

Reporters

Adrian Marin Alfredo Rodriguez Autumn Chatlovsky Christian Zarcone Derek Bullis Galvan Jaylene Jeffery Gilkison Julia Espinoza Kenna Woods Kris Hall Leilani Bustos Logan Woods Luis Barreto Mark Ross Moises Buitrago Natalie Gallegos Patrick Henslee Ruby Roque Symmone Woods

Business Manager Avery Johnston

Advisers/Instructors Dympna Ugwu-Oju Kathleen Schock

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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.

SCCCD District Chancellor Paul Parnell and Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration Cheryl Sullivan sit down with Rampage reporters to discuss the status of the Fresno City College community after the privitization of the bookstore on Sept. 20, 2019. Photo/Ben Hensley

‘I Am Done,’ Bookstore Privatization Outrages Campus Community Hannah Lanier | News Editor hlanier@therampageonline.com

“The bookstore failed the students.” “I am overall VERY displeased with the delays in obtaining books this fall.” “I am struggling in more than one class because of a lack of textbook/scantron.” These statements, drawn from anonymous students’ responses to the Fresno City College bookstore survey conducted on Sept. 5, reflect the students’ angst over the recent privatization of the college bookstore. Instructors had to adapt syllabuses. Students struggled, making do with no textbooks or access codes to ebooks. No scantrons meant regularly assigned quizzes were cancelled or postponed.

“

It was a mistake.”

-DeRon Walker ASG President

“It was a mistake,” DeRon Walker, president of the Associated Student Government, said about the decision to privatize. All State Center Community College District bookstores— including FCC—were privatized in July 2019 after a 5-2 vote by the Board of Trustees in the June 4 meeting. This transition from selfoperation to privatization handed the stewardship of the bookstore to Follett Higher Education, Inc. which has negatively impacted a number of students, according to the results of a survey conducted by Institutional Research office at

Patrick Henslee | Reporter phenslee@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College. According to the survey results, 60% of the respondents stated they did not have a problem with the bookstore. However, in subsequent comments, the same respondents acknowledged that they faced challenges. “I waited two weeks for a damn book,” one anonymous student commented. “Scantrons are pieces of paper that shouldn’t be costing students almost $3 to purchase,” another responder stated, adding that students struggle every year, often grappling with high prices, in order to purchase materials from the bookstore. Forty percent of respondents marked that they had an issue with the bookstore and of those students, 70% said their textbook was out of stock. The survey received a high response rate of 1,412 students within the first 24 hours, and 2,592 responses in total. Lola Gayles was an A and B student at FCC before the 2019 summer semester. She didn’t receive her textbooks until after the end of the summer classes she took. Gayles did poorly in both courses. Empty Shelves From 2015 to 2016, $42 million in financial aid and scholarships were awarded to FCC students, according to the Admissions and Aid page on the FCC website. For FCC students, each semester is either paid out of pocket or expected to be completed in the designated time allowed by financial aid. Financial aid is affected by a student’s success in the classroom—success that requires classroom materials. They have no room for error. The Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) and CalWORKs vouchers can only be redeemed at the college

Avery Johnston | Reporter ajohnston@therampageonline.com

bookstore, and the assistance is time-sensitive. EOPS provides funding for students who are either first generation college students, English language learners, disadvantaged foster youth, or those who are facing other present educational challenges. During the bookstore transition period, a malfunction meant that the bookstore couldn’t process EOPS and CalWORKs vouchers. “I am surprised because this was a company that works with other institutions and large institutions, and yet for some reason, it appears they don’t know how to work with an educational institution,” said Thom Gaxiola-Rowles, director of EOPS. Often, the books just weren’t there. The bookstore’s empty shelves were a problem for students like Jayleen Gonzales, a radiology major who couldn’t get any of her required materials. “I was getting my money from EOPS, so I had a limited amount of time to get my books,” she said. Gonzales said the bookstore will not have her textbook until the end of the semester, far beyond the EOPS deadline. Gonzales scrambled for the money to turn to Amazon for her books. “Personally, it affected me in a really bad way,” Venesha Davis, a student, said. She couldn’t get any of her books with her CalWORKs voucher. CalWORKs provides educational funding and cash assistance to families, often single parents, who have children in the home. “It kind of makes me feel like I’m separated from everyone else in the school,” Davis said. “I feel like when people are in those extra programs, they don’t have any supplies for us. We all go to the same school, why can’t we have the same supplies as

everybody else?” “That was a real issue for our students because they should not be treated differently than any other student just because they have a voucher,” said GaxiolaRowles. Shannon Simpson wasn’t able to get his geography textbooks from the bookstore. He went online instead. “If I hadn’t gotten the book online, it probably would’ve affected my grades,” he said. “I wouldn’t have been able to read from anything.” Student Adriana Saiz said she liked getting her books from the on-campus bookstore until recently. “I just walked into the bookstore, and it was like chaos. I feel like no one really knows what’s going on,” she said. Without the materials she needs to succeed, Saiz relies on collaborating with other classmates to stay on track with the class. She’s become annoyed with having to depend on classmates to bring her copies of papers or send her photos of the assigned reading. “I have to rely on the person I sit next to and sometimes they’re not there. I have to go out of my way to hunt down pages for my homework,” she said. Gonzales and Saiz are fortunate to have cooperative teachers who do whatever they can to help their students succeed. Gonzales said more than one instructor has gone out of their way to find downloadable PDFs of the course material and share it with their students. Her other professors have even shared pictures of textbooks purchased by the more fortunate students. “I don’t think it’s just students. I think it’s affecting teachers as well. It’s harder for the class to continue to flow because half of the students are behind,” Saiz said. “Teachers want students to have their books. That’s what they want more than anything.”

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It kind of makes me feel like I’m separated from everyone else in the school.” -Venesha Davis FCC Student

English professor Lee Herrick has tried to be mindful of students’ unique situations and make adjustments. “It’s not good for anybody involved,” he said. “I think it’s terrible on many different levels,” said Academic Senate Member and FCC philosophy professor Max Parish. “For one, it’s bad enough if you can’t get the supplies that you need to take a class you paid for,” he said. “Doubling that, if you have already paid for supplies that you’re not getting or aren’t getting refunded, I think it’s terrible.” How We Got Here The FCC bookstore has been a selfoperated successful resource for its students since it opened in 1940, according to the Office of Public Information at FCC. The road to privatization was contentious but only became public during the May 7 Board of Trustees meeting at the Oakhurst Community College Center. A discussion of the privatization of the bookstore was Item 10.03 on the agenda. During the public comments, Christopher Cupp, a former bookstore sales associate, and Carmen Alessandro, California School Employees Association (CSEA) officer, argued against privatization, citing the bookstore’s solvency, and the 13 employees that would lose their jobs. The board postponed the privatization decision until its negotiation with the CSEA union was completed. According to the Board of Trustee meeting minutes on June 4, many concerned individuals, including Cupp; Suzie Chambers, a CSEA labor relations representative; Barbara Mendoza, a textbook purchasing specialist; Jewell Riversmith, first vice president of CSEA chapter 379; and Kathleen Swan, a bookstore sales associate, said the district was “being blindly led down the path of outsourcing,” and implored the board

to reject the proposal to privatize the bookstore. They cited concerns about employees losing their livelihoods, the quality of the bookstore employees’ service to the district as well as the potential loss of the bookstores’ funding of co-curricular activities. Additionally, those opposing the potential privatization presented a research they had conducted showing that if the district must privatize, it should go with Barnes & Noble rather than Follett. They expressed other concerns about SCCCD’s process in pursuing the privatization—the lack of transparency with the CSEA organization, making unilateral decisions, and the perceived lack of concern for the employee. Shane Dishman, vice president of CSEA for the state of California, said privatizing the bookstore undermines the mission and vision of the college district. He warned that a yes vote by the board would galvanize opponents into political action and lead to defeat in future elections. Speaking in support of privatization, Tom Byrne of Campus Bookstore Consulting urged the board to follow the national trend of privatizing college bookstores. He cited competition from Amazon as well as the challenges of maintaining a positive profit margin. Byrne, who was not affiliated with Follett, added that only through privatization that the district meet the requirements of its Request for Proposal—improved affordability for students; cutting-edge retail innovation and improved customer satisfaction; increased market share; stateof-the-art destination/retail facilities, and increased financial contributions to the district. The Deal The Board of Trustees voted 5-2 to authorize the chancellor or vice chancellor of finance and administration to enter into an agreement with Follett Higher Education Group, Inc. on behalf of the district for a six-year period. The group would operate retail bookstores and online bookstores across all district locations. Trustees Magdalena Gomez and Annalisa Perea voted against the contract. According to the terms of the deal, Follett would guarantee a payment of $900,000 to the district in the first year of the contract, as well as ongoing payments in the following years. Follett will invest $470,000 in facility and technology and contribute $100,000 annually to student success scholarships.

Students dealt with empty shelves well into the semester, Sept. 24, 2019. Photo/Kris Hall

Follett will “price match any brick and mortar stores” and implement online ordering, and they will be able to interface with the current Canvas software. The trustees remain divided on the decision. “We’re committed as a district to do right by the students and the faculty,” said Deborah Ikeda, president of the Board of Trustees. “I wasn’t convinced that this was the best path forward for our students and faculty,” Trustee Annalissa Perea said. “This issue has been a direct threat to the success of our students and the ability of our faculty to teach accurately.” Trustee Eric Payne defended his vote for the contract, saying, “We were placed with some really tough decisions as it relates to, ‘Do we take from students success programs? Do we cut faculty? Where do we identify cutbacks?’” “Our greatest investment is in our students,” he said. SCCCD Chancellor Paul Parnell initially made excuses for the rush to privatize and the speedy transition. “Our goal is to serve our students,” he said. “The credibility of that statement is questionable,” Sean Henderson, dean of students, said.\ Parnell explained that the consideration for privatization of the district’s bookstores has been in the works for 20 or 30 years. “I’ve seen a deposition to buy a stapler take longer,” Henderson said. No Fixes The array of problems present during the transition has raised questions about the credibility of Follett Higher Education, Inc., the textbook distribution company.

In 2017, EdSurge news published an article discussing a lawsuit filed by three major publication companies against Follett. “As part of the agreement to adopt the principals, the publishers dismissed their case against Follett, which claimed the company was purchasing illegal copies of textbooks and selling them at its college stores and through other distribution channels,” read the article.

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I wasn’t convinced that this was the best path forward for our students and faculty.” -Annalissa Perea Trustee

“Sometimes in 1,200 stores, there will be specific instances where something happens,” Sarah Foisy, Follet District Manager, said in response to a question about Follett’s reputation. “So the one thing we try to do is that when a challenge comes up, we want to make sure that we are addressing those challenges and preventing that from happening again.” SCCCD Chancellor Paul Parnell was discouraged by the transition to privatization. “There were significant negative things Continued on Page 4, Bookstore Privatization

Of the 40% that had an issue with the bookstore, 70% said it was because their book was out of stock. Illustration/Moises Buitrago

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Bookstore Privatization Outrages Student Body, FROM PAGE 3

that happened in the transition period,” he admitted. Chancellor Parnell and Vice Chancellor Cheryl Sullivan insist they stand behind their choice to privatize the bookstore and the contract with Follett Higher Education, Inc.

“

We took their advice. It did not go as well as anticipated.”

-Cheryl sullivan

Vice Chancellor of fiance and administration Sullivan said that she consulted with Follett about time management and the transition, given the brief window of time between the award of the contract and the beginning of the semester. “They [Follett] felt that this has been done many times before,” Sullivan said. “We took their advice. It did not go as well as anticipated.” She said technological issues plagued the transition as well. Sarah Foisy, Central California regional manager for Follett, blamed “the short runway,” for the problems with the transition which disillusioned hundreds of students, per the survey. “We [Follett] came in one month before classes started,” she said. Foisy said that Follett Higher Education

primarily goes through AT&T for its technological services, and that AT&T works at its own pace and that has become something they expect when setting up at a new campus. Parnell said that AT&T has done more than provide Follett with technological services. They went a step further and granted SCCCD with $40,000 “that will all go to students in the district for their books.” A major complaint against Follett management is their inability to process vouchers or work with EOPS and CalWORKs students. “We do honor EOPS and CalWORKs,” FCC bookstore manager Paul Klays said. “It was a matter of us being unable to accept them [vouchers] at that particular time.” Seven weeks into the semester, books are still missing from the shelves. “At this point, they [Follet] haven’t proven themselves to be reliable,“ said Thom Gaxiola-Rowles. However, Sullivan said the problems will be resolved and that books will be stocked to 120%. “That's their normal—actually stocking to a higher degree.” Disregarding these first few weeks due to the rough transition, Sullivan said, “We are trying to focus really strongly on the second nine weeks.” The district wants the bookstore to compete favorably with mega online retailers such as Amazon so to get the district bookstores to a competitive standard, privatization seemed like the clear pathway. The pathway, however, has shown to be a long and tiring journey. Promises of price matching at student

leisure is one of the glimpses of hope. General education required course textbooks such as Geology 1 are listed as a connect access code and paperback new for $101.50 and paperback used as $76.25.\ If said promises are kept, this Geology 1 textbook will be expected to be price matched at a lower rate from either “a) a brick and mortar bookstore within fifteen (15) miles of any of the DISTRICT's campuses, or (b) an online retailer, with the exception of online marketplaces including ‘other sellers’ on Amazon and peer-to-peer markets,” according to “Exhibit C: Course Materials Requirement” of the contract. Additionally, CSEA operatives opposed privatization in part because of potential layoffs. “We had 13 full time staff that we had to negotiate with,” Parnell said. “Our commitment was to find all of those previously working in the bookstore positions in the district.” There were no layoffs. Previous district bookstore employees were provided the opportunity to either reapply for their positions in the bookstore or transition into district positions, with a guaranteed six month transition. When the previous bookstore employees transitioned out, Follett employees replaced them. Paul Klays, the new FCC bookstore manager, is one of several district bookstore managers. The district went from having one bookstore manager, Miles Abrahamson—who supervised all district bookstores—to having one manager at every campus. Abrahamson, one of the bookstore employees to stay with Follett, declined

to comment on the privatization of the bookstore and the impact that it has had on students and faculty. Follett has promoted him to a new role. The Future of the Bookstore The privatization of the district bookstores happened at every SCCCD campus, but FCC seemed to take the hardest hit. “Our programs for CalWORKs and EOPS, all those impoverished students programs are much more, in greater numbers,” Walker said, “And they’re the ones being impacted.” Everyone is impacted, but students who are recipients of some government funded programs suffered most because they were denied supplies they needed for their classes. Technology failed, and everything that could go wrong did. Is Follett the district’s Trojan horse? Regardless, this process has left a sour taste in the mouth of the campus community. “Their [students] frustration, we are the ones hearing that,” said Academic Senate President, Karla Kirk in a Sept. 12 interview with ABC30. “We are getting the stories, their tears, their anxiety and their fear that they’re going to fail this semester of college.” Are future FCC students doomed to the same reality? “The results will speak for themselves,” said bookstore manager Klays. Jayleen Gonzales said, “I’m not going to buy from there again.”

SCCCD and FCC Officials Weigh In the privatization of the student bookstore divides officials

"The students that have been the most affected are the ones that have been thrown away. We're a college. You should have books. It's that simple," Sean Henderson, dean of students, said. Photo/Courtesy of the Office of Public Information

"Going out of the bookstore business and privatizing this service, so I had a lot of questions and I wasn't convinced this was the right thing to do. And the way it's unfolded, from what I've been hearing and seeing this issue has been a direct threat to the success of our students and the ability of our faculty to teach effectively. [...] These seem like basic things for Follett to get right and they didn't." Annalisa Perea, Board of Trustees members said.

Photo/Courtesy of Annalisa Perea

"Our program for CalWORKs and EOPS, all those impoverished student programs are much more, in greater numbers I should say. And they're the ones being impacted. I'm trying to find out what was going wrong with the bookstore before, and the only thing I've heard is that they just weren't making enough money for the college. That's the only downfall. The reason why they made this move was not because it was affecting the students negatively. It's because it wasn't making enough profit," DeRon Walker, ASG president said. Photo/Hannah Lanier

"We were experiencing a number of issues with the bookstore specifically relating to financial sustainability. There were a couple of fiscal years where the bookstore was running into the ridge. We had to make some really tough decisions . We were placed with some really tough decisisons as it relatesd to: Do we take from student success programs? Do we cut faculty? Where do we identify cutbacks?" Eric Payne, Board of Trustees member said. Photo/Courtesy of The Fresno Bee

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Lola Gayles is Ready to Knock it Out of the Park, 'But I Don't Have a Bat' On Her Way to a Degree, Gayles Couldn't Get Necessary Materials for Her Classes from the Bookstore Kris Hall| Reporter

khall@therampageonline.com

Until the summer of 2019, Lola Gayles was marching steadily to achieve her goals at Fresno City College. With a double major in drug and alcohol abuse counseling and social work, she was taking all the right classes. Her tentative graduation date was Aug. 14, 2020. That was before the bookstore privatized . “I’ve come to the conclusion that the bookstore don’t have no empathy at all,” she said. “For them to blatantly look me in my face while I’m standing there crying and rub my back, and then tell me they don’t remember me? They don’t care.” Because of the bookstore’s failure to provide the tools required for her classes, her graduation date is now uncertain and in jeopardy of being pushed back even further. Despite doing everything she can to right the wrongs done to her, she has received no reparations from anyone. The FCC bookstore was officially privatized in July, after the board of trustees voted 5-2 to give the responsibility of managing and maintaining the bookstore to Follett Higher Education, Inc. Gayles said the bookstore was closed for a week. On the day the bookstore was supposed to reopen, Gayles said, “It was like that commercial for Mervyns. I was waiting like ‘Open! Open! Open!’” She couldn’t get her supplies elsewhere because she is an EOPS student, and her materials are purchased with vouchers, which can only be used at the college bookstore. She was at the mercy of Follett. “It was bad enough that this happened,” said Gayles, “but now what do I do? I still have invalid book codes, and I still have an

F that I shouldn’t have.” Gayles’ books for her summer classes were not available until September, and as a result, she failed her class. She said the district did not take into consideration the harm that new management at the bookstore could have on students. Originally a 3.0 GPA student, Gayles is sitting with an F on her transcripts. She hopes faculty can change her F to an incomplete and allow her to make up the work. Brian Baker, the teacher for the online computer technology summer class, kept the grade from being finalized as long as he could to allow her to make up the work. But the “MyITLab” she needed wasn’t available until September, and grades had to be turned in. “I don’t know what I’m going to do now,” she said. “I had to drop my geography class on the very last day this semester because I didn't have the book for that class either.” On top of that, her Communications 2 class’ access code for the textbook was the wrong code, and is nonrefundable. Gayles was born, raised and works in Stockton, California. She is constantly traveling between school in Fresno and work in Stockton, but because of her finances, traveling is going to get tricky. She resorted to pulling money she had set aside for her car registration and using it to pay for her other summer class materials. \ “It snowballed for me with having to dip into my car registrations,” she said. She says she is now worried about losing financial aid because of the drop in her grade point average, as well as her personal financial debt to the bookstore. “Now I’m not driving my car because

I don’t have my tags, nor do I have my books,” she said. She works at Circle C Ranch Group Homes, and before she came to FCC, she began to worry about the boys that were aging out of the group homes. “The kids turning 18 have nowhere else to go,” she said. “One day, I happened to be there when one of the boys got dropped off at a shelter, and it bothered me. Doesn’t that put them more at risk?” Her work is launching a transitional housing program for aged out young adults, ages 18-21. Gayles saw an opportunity, but in order to qualify, she needs a degree specializing in drug and alcohol abuse to help the kids in the program. “Either their parents were on something or the boys themselves were having trouble,” she said. “This would be the opportunity of a lifetime for me, but now I’m off track completely.” Gayles took a stand and gave a moving speech before the Board of Trustees at their Sept. 3 meeting about the struggles she was facing because of the bookstore debacle and because of Follett. Gayles said she has received no redress from the district, much less anything from the bookstore. If she is forced to retake the class to replace the F on her transcript, her graduation date will be pushed back as well. Despite her dire situation, Gayles knows that she is not alone. Other students are in the same situation. “Keep saying something. You can’t silently sit in the corner and say, ‘Aww man, my books,’” she said. “If it would have been a hundred other students with me, it would have made a difference.” She waited for the bookstore to receive

Making a Difference One Volunteer at a Time Leilani Bustos| Reporter lbustos@therampageonline.com

There are a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for Fresno City College students. One of which include Care Fresno. “You have a heart to give wherever you go,” says Care Fresno director Randy Mewhirter. Volunteers for this organization havew the opportunity to help children and families in high needs communities and establishing relationships with them. Many of their volunteers include FCC students as well as students at Fresno State. There are volunteer fairs that take place once every semester to give students a chance to make a positive impact on the community. “You get out of life what you give many times,” says FCC Program Specialist Maile Martin, “being kind of pushed to do [volunteer work] is good because we’re always in our comfort zone.” Volunteer opportunities and internships are beneficial for people to find out what interests. Here are some of the few that Fresno City promotes: • Saint Agnes Hospice takes in

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volunteers that are willing to be of assistance to caregivers, relieving them from the stress of their jobs as well as proving the love and care that patients and their families need. Poverello House is a shelter for the homeless that offers a wide variety of volunteer work such as serving all day meals to the homeless, food preparation, cleaning the kitchen and arranging special events and projects. Valley Animal Center includes volunteering to care for dogs and cats, helping to clean up after them, assisting dog trainers, assisting with large groups of students for camp or tours along with other opportunities. The animal center offers five different committees for people who would like to get more involved. Tree Fresno has a mission to continue to grow and eventually transform the San Joaquin Valley with new trees and new landscapes. They have four different sources of volunteering which include greenway care, tree planting,

community engagement events and become a member of the tree team. • Boys & Girls Club of Fresno County’s goal is to enable the highneeds youth to have full potential as caring and responsible citizens. Volunteers may usually help out with club areas such as tutoring, sports clinics, game room activities in groups, serving daily meals and many others. • CARE Fresno, mentioned above, is available to anyone in the community with a clean background. Opportunities include picking up or making food for children, tutoring, run special events and more. There are five separate locations around Fresno in the high need areas so it’s easily accessible for those families. It’s never too late to become a volunteer for any organization. It’s a very convenient way of making a difference in your own community and may help each person grow as a person. Charles Dickens said, “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”

Lola Gayes had a 3.0 before Follett Higher Education acquired the student bookstore. A faulty code and a missing textbook later, she found herself unable to pass her summer classes, putting her dream of taking over a transition house into jeapordy, Sept. 23, 2019. Photo/Hannah Lanier

her required books, until the last day to drop classes, but again Follett was incapable of supplying her the required materials. Gayles says she is ready to do the work but the work is just outside of her reach. She is a dedicated student, knows the ins and outs of each of her four classes—every assignment and their scored weight based on the syllabuses. She knows exactly what it will take to pass every class required of her and she has the energy to pull it off. Now her academic career and home life is hinged on a debt to the bookstore of just $17.

Repeat sex offender arrested near fresno state John Bruce | Entertainment Editor jbruce@therampageonline.com

Police arrested a Fresno area man for breaking and entering the apartment of a woman living near Fresno State. Police are also investigating the allegation against the man for groping the woman while he was in her apartment in the early hours of the morning, Monday, Sept. 23, 2019. Fidel Tafoya has a history of sex crimes, being arrested more than 10 times and having more than 12 convictions. Most of his convictions surround the assault or harassment of young women in college. According to ABC 30, Tafoya is awaiting trial for first-degree burglary and sexual battery which they report could take place within the week. Any tips or suspicions can be reported to SCCCD Police at 559-224-5911 or to Valley Crime Stoppers at 559-498-STOP. Photo/ Courtesy of ABC30

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David Locher, Angel Ornelas and Burke Lizama perform in front of a rocking audience at the City Fest fundraiser on Sept. 20, 2019. Photo/Ben Hensley

City Fest Meets Fundraising Goal Symmone Woods | Reporter

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Fresno City College held their fifth annual CityFest on Sept. 20, 2019 to raise money for the Dean’s Medallion, a scholarship that will be awarded to a student who shines above the rest. The scholarship will be awarded to an outstanding student in the college’s Applied Technology Division. “The event is where faculty and community come to celebrate,” said FCC President Carole Goldsmith. The college aimed to raise $5,000 which will be matched by the State Center Community College District. FCC is still totalling the amount raised, according to Executive Assistant to Administrative Services Melissa Llanes who added, “I can say with confidence that we met our goal and will be able to fund the endowment.” “We are thrilled that the event was such a success,” said Dean of Applied Technology Becky Barabe.

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Angel Ornelas, Burke Lizama and Jason Adcock of Max Headroom rocks the house during the City Fest fundraising event on Sept. 20, 2019. Photo/Ben Hensley

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Dead Film Society very much alive Patrick Henslee | Reporter phenslee@therampageonline.com

The Dead Film Society is back for its second semester at Fresno City College and hopes to follow up last semester by inspiring more students to dive into the viewing and creation of film. The Dead Film Society is not your typical college film club that watches “Pulp Fiction” every week, but a group of students with a passion for working together to analyze and help create films. FCC's website describes the club’s objective as trying to get a group of students passionate about the art of cinema. Club President Mark Ross says the club does more than just get passionate about cinema, they produce it too. “There are filmmakers in the club, so we often look at things from the perspective of a filmmaker and take notes,” he said. Seven FCC students, including four Dead Film Society members, contributed to a short film titled “Reformation” that’s been selected for screening by the Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival and the International Short Film Festival in Australia. “Reformation” was screened at the

Kapow Intergalactic Film Festival on Sept. 13 in North Hollywood. The short film will also be screened at the Boston Screaming Ostrich Film Festival on Oct. 18. Dead Film Society members have contributed to another short film titled “Give Me A Hand”, which has also been selected for screening by the International Short Film Festival in Australia and won the Asians in the City Film Festival at FCC. Ross was the Dead Film Society’s vice president in its first semester and took on the presidency to help manage the club’s activities and promote its objective in each of its meetings. “We actively watch movies. You can come and just watch movies and appreciate them, but what we try to do is actively watch the films,” said Ross. “We’re looking at the staging, the lighting, the performance, and how the director may have directed it. All the different aspects of what goes into making a movie as opposed to simply watching the content,” Ross said. Ross says “Reformation” and “Give Me a Hand” wouldn’t have been possible without the club’s solidarity. “In a way, we’re connected through

Fernando Galarza, left and Mark Ross, right, set up a shot. Photo/Courtesy of the Dead Film Society

actively watching movies and our appreciation of film, but we’re also connected with the film department through our advisor Dr. Moses,” he said. Ross credits Dr. John Moses for being the bridge that connects passionate film lovers with students discovering their interest in cinema. “He’s very knowledgeable about film and teaches film courses here. Hopefully, people who aren’t as into cinema as other members can learn some things about it and get inspired to take a course with him or his colleagues,” Ross said. Ross emphasizes the club’s mission to incite discussion and film analysis with their returning members, spark an interest in cinema in new

members and take on new projects through their consolidation. “We aspire to become better filmmakers, learning from each other and learning together,” Ross said. “The description found online is pretty simple, but we try to do more complex things when we’re together.” The Dead Film Society meets on the first and last Friday of every month at 2 p.m. in MS-104, and encourages anyone interested in film to stop by and get inspired. Dead Film Society club President Mark Ross, who is quoted in this article, is also a Rampage reporter. He did not contribute to the writing of this article or have any editorial oversight.

Piano Accompanist Aarne Kela plays a piece at the FCC Music Faculty Concert on Saturday, Sept. 21. Photo/Christian Zarcone

Faculty Fundraises for Music Scholarships Christian Zarcone | Reporter czarcone@therampageonline.com

Faculty got to show students their talents this last weekend in the Old Administration Building on September 21, 2019. The concert was meant to not only to give students a taste of what they could learn, but also to help raise money for Fresno City College music scholarships. “It is a great opportunity for people to see the incredible talent that the music faculty have at Fresno City College,” said Neil Vanderpool, Dean of the Fine, Performing and Communication Arts Division at FCC. A wide range of instruments were showcased from guitars to pianos and some instruments students haven’t even heard. Some teachers performed duets and one of them would

play the piano while the other played a violin. In other cases, one would play the guitar and the other would sing. Faculty would walk onstage with a beaming smile that never left their face and they seemed excited to share their passion with not just students, but with their peers too. “If I am a student and I am taking piano and I get to hear my professor play this incredible piece of music,” said Vanderpool. “[I know] I am going to learn from the best and that's what we have. We have the best here at Fresno City College.” Before they would perform, the faculty would share a quote or a story relating to what they were going to do. Sometimes they performed a piece because they were inspired by the musi-

cian or they were describing the origins of that instrument or song to help give the audience a better perspective on it. “They are educating and they teach and they create opportunities for our students. That’s across the board whether that is an instrument that is played or an instrument that is performed like singing,” said Vanderpool. Pieces performed by instructors were provided in the programs along with what instruments the music was played on and the lyrics, if any. In the end, they played a music score piece from Walt Disney's “Pirates of the Carribean.” This piece of work was originally created by Hans Zimmer, a musical composer in Hollywood.

The Big Fresno Fair returns Oct. 2 and will go on until Monday, Oct. 14, 2019. Photo/Larry Valenzuela

Big Times Are Back at the Big Fresno Fair John Bruce | Entertainment Editor jbruce@therampageonline.com

The Big Fresno Fair will return to the Fresno Fairgrounds this fall to celebrate its 136th year complete with live entertainment, a carnival and vendor booths from around the Central Valley. Table Mountain Casino paired with fair organizers to present a concert series during each day of operation in conjunction with Coors Light and Toyota. Featured performers include hip hop veteran Ice Cube, Christian rock pioneers Newsboys and country music legend Willie Nelson.

Rides and local booths will be featured alongside horse races and exhibits. Museums and competitions will also be available to attendees. Members of the public can attend during the fair’s 13 day run of Oct. 2 to 14. The gates are open between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight on Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday. Read more on their website at www.fresnofair.com.

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CAMPUS VOICES

The Tea

What are some self care tips you have for other students?

Editing

"In an era of clickbait and fake news accusations, it's imperative to understand the how's and why's of journalism. In this weekly column Tommy Tribble, editor-in-chief of the Rampage, hopes to clear up the misconceptions about journalism, and shed some light on the process."

The role editors play

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

The privatization of the student bookstore resulted in a rocky transition. Some students still don't have their books, Monday, Sept. 23, 2019. Photo Illustration/Tommy Tribble

Kobi Phimmachack Mathematics

"I try to make plans with my friends because hanging out helps my mental health a lot."

Editorial Hasty Bookstore Transition Illadvised and Irresponsible Editorial Board

editors@therampageonline.com

Laura Clark CalWORKs Counselor "Some of the things I do is prayer, meditation, reading and I try to exercise even if it’s just a walk with friends."

Monique Reyna CalWORKs Senior Program Specialist "It’s always important to talk to somebody. A couple of smiling faces and some ice cream really does the trick."

Slytrey Williams

Undecided "I watch anime, I read manga and lectures. I just do what I like for my mental health."

Our big story this issue is about the bookstore-specifically its privatization, which took place in July when the State Center Community College District sold the store to Follett. Follett took over managing, staffing, everything. We can argue about the merits of privatization, about capitalism and driving a profit, and about wasteful spending and government bureaucracy. We could run pro-cons or ask the campus if they’re divided on the issue. We could certainly argue. But isn’t it enough that the shelves are empty? Isn’t it enough that students can’t get their materials? In our efforts to report the feature, we interviewed a number of administrators, faculty, and students across this campus. Many weren’t willing to speak with us on the record because doing so would make the district look bad. But the truth is that the district already looks bad. The district looks underprepared for the ramifications of a decision that they made, on a timetable that they approved. We wish more administrators felt they could stand by their quotes, but we are grateful for the information they provided.

But the information was often contradictory. We heard that the prior bookstore was both profitable and a waste, that this privatization was in talks for years and also that it was rushed through. We expect this transition will smooth over with time. Follett will undoubtedly get better at selling books on our campus. Teachers will actually get the textbooks they ordered, and students will be able to buy them. Those books will still be wildly overpriced, but per the Follett contract, students are projected to save money over time. But fall 2019 cannot be undone. Students have suffered and they have seen their grades drop. And worse, it’s the most vulnerable students who have no choice but to shop at the bookstore. EOPs and CalWorks waivers are only usable at the student bookstore. A single wasted semester has an incalculable effect on any number of students. It is impossible to quantify and impossible to know how impactful Follett’s hasty, blundering transition has been on this campus. We hope the remaining six years of this contract are easier. We hope that in the years to come, the bookstore becomes a place where students can buy books. Again.

So the New York Times ran an excerpt of “The Education of Brett Kavanaugh,” a nonfiction book about the supreme court justice’s school life and possible history of sexual assault, in their opinion section on Saturday, Sept. 14. The excerpt was reworked into an essay called “Brett Kavanaugh Fit In With the Privileged Kids. She Did Not.” The essay concerns Deborah Ramirez, a Yale student and one of Kavanaugh’s classmates. The essay made news when it revealed that not only had Kavanaugh exposed himself to Ramirez, an eyewitness said that he saw Kavanaugh at a dorm party put his penis into the hand of another, second female student. This would make Stier the third person to accuse Kavanaugh of sexual assault. This incident was previously unreported. But the authors of the book quickly came under fire when it was revealed that crucial pieces of information had been left out of the essay--mainly that the unnamed woman had told numerous friends that she didn’t remember the incident occurring. In an interview with the View, author and Times reporter Kate Kelly said that the excerpt was edited for length and clarity. “This key detail, about the fact that the woman herself has told friends she doesn’t remember it and has not wanted to talk about it got cut. And it was an oversight.” Robin Pogrebin, the second author, described the editing process as iterative, with numerous drafts. She said it occurred because the sentence that described her inability to recall the incident also included her name. The New York Times has a tradition of not naming victims of sexual assault, and the opinion editorial board decided to omit the entire sentence, losing a great deal of crucial information. These are the choices the girls make in the newsroom of the Times, the Bee, and even the Rampage. An editor’s job is not to hit the pavement, get interviews and synthesize information--although at the Rampage we often do--it’s to refine and restructure the work

of our reporters. Ideally, we work to make pieces better. But here’s the tea-we often weren’t there for the interview, and we don’t have the complete and total grasp of the subject matter that the assigned writer does. Nobody knows the characters and concepts of a story better than the writer. When they’re set onto a beat they spend hours building a relationship with sources. They get to know them on a level that editors can’t, to say nothing of the time spent pouring over documents and research. Still, we editors have to make judgement calls about articles. We’re working off of what’s on the page, not the years of context and research that the writer read, heard and used. It’s actually a lot of responsibility. One wrong move and suddenly we’ve misreported the news, we’ve misrepresented our sources or we’ve removed a crucial piece of information. Editors are just people, and the history of our world is people making mistakes, forever. Still, editors are essential, not just because we catch little grammar mistakes and missing periods, but because we’re a second set of eyes. We try to catch every implication and correct every part of the record before our first readers even set eyes on the article. But more than that, we guide. For all the care that a writer has with her story, she can sometimes fall too deeply into it. She can get lost. The characters begin to outnumber her, the statistics close in on her like walls, and the pressure of writing--to make the perfect piece, to represent the truth-can swallow her like a vast darkness. So, editors. We pump the breaks. We fact check. We smooth it out. We ask the questions. Why include that paragraph? Why use that word instead of this? Why not move this section up and that section down? This framing device is cool, but is it necessary? We take a monumental task and we break it into manageable pieces. That is our work. The reporters who literally wrote the book on Kavanaugh didn’t have malicious intent when they removed that piece of information--they just had an editorial board that wasn’t reading closely enough.

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9.25.19 OPINION 9

10 SPORTS 9.25.19

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Champions of the October push An MLB Postseason Preview

NLCS: Los Angeles Dodgers over St. Louis Cardinals ALCS: Houston Astros over Oakland Athletics World Series: Houston Astros Over Los Angeles Dodgers Patrick Henslee | Reporter phenslee@therampageonline.com

Houston Astros All season long, Houston has pummeled teams with a historically productive lineup and an intimidating pitching staff enhanced with analytics. The Astros offense finished with a .276 AVG. (first), .851 OPS (first) and 277 homeruns (third). AL MVP candidate Alex Bregman hit .276/.420/.583, starring in a lineup that featured six players with an OPS over .900. Their top three starters of Cy Young contenders Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke have opposing batters walking back to the dugout before they ever get in the batter’s box. That trio has a combined 2.87 ERA, 3.19 FIP and 32.7 K%. Losing several bullpen arms to injuries in early September does sting a bit, but not enough to put them far below the Dodgers or Yankees. I’m certainly looking forward to the possibility of more Zack Greinke home runs at Chavez Ravine. Los Angeles Dodgers Do I hear a third World Series appearance in three years? The name of the game in LA is positional depth and flexibility, the combination of which allows the Dodgers to plug in any player in any position at any time necessary. They have NL MVP candidate

Cody Bellinger, who can mash .302/.404/.628 while playing all three outfield spots and first base with terrific defense. He’s a part of a Los Angeles lineup that includes Justin Turner, Corey Seager and pretty much any other young stud you can think of. Even with Hyun-jin Ryu’s regression, their top three starters of Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw and Ryu posted a 2.93 ERA, 3.39 FIP and 26 K% this year. Performance like that is more than enough to push them through a playoff series against a top rotation like the Washington Nationals. Their plethora of leftover starters can convert to swingmen and fill in the gaps in the relief corp. Either way, please give us a Russell Martin relief appearance in the playoffs. Oakland Athletics The A’s have good reason to be ranked this high up. They always pick up speed as the season continues, but Oakland looks even more imposing with additions to the roster in September. Marcus Semien is having a career year (.285 AVG, 32 HR, .894 OPS), and Matt Chapman, Matt Olson and Ramón Laureano all play Gold Glove defense. Prospects Jesus Luzardo and A.J. Puk have joined the pitching staff,

while catcher Sean Murphy and outfielder Seth Brown have made excellent impressions in the majors. The starting pitching has been a somewhat successful rotating door for much of the season, but staff ace Sean Manaea has returned from shoulder surgery and looks to pair well with Mike Fiers. The Rays have a 5-12 record against the Yankees in 2019, so I’m hoping Oakland can stay hot and face off against the Evil Empire, who have had roster problems the entire year. St. Louis Cardinals The Cardinals looked tremendous in the second half, with turnarounds from the pitching staff, timely hitting and elite defense and baserunning. They’re my pick for Unsuspecting Team That Can Possibly Ruin Someone’s Championship Hopes. Jack Flaherty has emerged as the next Cardinals’ ace, touting a 2.96 ERA, 3.63 FIP and 29.5 K%. Carlos Martinez has found success in the bullpen and Giovanny Gallegos is an outstanding reliever you’ve never heard of. Kolten Wong and Harrison Bader create a laser show on defense, while Paul DeJong has broken out in a lineup including stars Paul Goldschmidt and Marcell Ozuna. It’d also be interesting to see if star

Cardinals Andrew Miller and Matt Carpenter can turnaround their substandard seasons and return to the playoff heroes they’re remembered as. The Redbirds’ playoff magic doesn’t rule them out against a young Braves team with a suspect bullpen. There’s no sleeping in St. Louis. I don’t expect any common fan to watch all 162 games their favorite team plays over 6 months. The stakes aren’t nearly as high as they are when a team’s future is dependent on their success in one month, and they had to do well in the first 6 months to get there. Baseball’s slow pace causes many viewers and fans to turn away from the game. But those that stick around to watch a playoff game or 20 in October do it for the moments. The ones that make you stand up with your mouth agape and hands above your head... until you realize you’re the only one in the living room. After diving into MLB fandom and watching the insanely exciting 2017 World Series, Shea Serrano of The Ringer noted that “Baseball is only the most boring thing of all time, or the most stressful thing of all time. Those are the only two temperatures it seems to have.”

Rams' Volleyball Dominant in Home Opener Adrian Marin | Reporter amarin@therampageonline.com

The Fresno City College volleyball team opened up home play in a clean 3-0 sweep dominating the Merced College Blue Devils on Friday Sept. 20. The Rams continued their strong run, coming out of the gate with lots of effort and lots of energy. The Rams were almost perfect, applying pressure on both offense and defense, something that Merced had no answer for. “I think we came out really strong. We all gelled together and everything was super in system and that’s great to have so early in the season,” said sophomore pin hitter Marina Gonzalez. Head coach Kieran Roblee says the team came in composed and focused which was the edge that set up the victory. “Couldn’t have asked for a better start,” said Roblee. “We reached the goals we set for the match and stayed on course.” The Rams put their depth on display, tiring out Merced after the

first ten minutes of the match. It would be that way all match with FCC numbers just being too much to handle. “We are really fortunate to have a very deep and skilled team. It pays off when it needs to. It’s a rarity to be able to say that,” said Roblee. “We have the numbers to put players in different places or give players some different looks.” The Rams dominated the match, winning all three sets by more than 15 points. The Rams were led by the pin hitter trio of sophomores Kimiah Johnson, Gonzalez, and freshman Taylor Dilley, with eight, seven and six kills respectively. The three lead the way in every attacking statistic. On the attacking game, the Rams hit their peak in the second set with 23 total attacks along with 15 kills against the Blue Devils. The defensive strategy went just as smoothly. The Rams would go on to completely shut down the Blue Devils holding them to under 10

points in every set. The Rams would also accumulate 39 digs, led by freshman defensive specialist Ali Santoyo, who led the game in digs with 16. The attacking game wasn’t the only thing turning heads. With 36 total serves, the serving game was exquisite. Leading the team in serves was star freshman Julia Pagani. Pagani would finish the game with 21 serves, compiling three aces. With another win under the Rams’ belt Roblee says that things are just getting started for the team. “If we can play the ball up and stay in our system good things will happen for us,” she said. The Rams went 1-1 in a crossover match on Sept. 21, defeating San Joaquin Delta and narrowly losing to Feather River in 5 sets. The Rams return back home to take on Reedley College on Rams' freshman pin setter Taylor Dilley serves during the Rams' 3-0 set shutout against the Merced College Blue Devils on Sept. 20, 2019. Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 6 p.m. Photo/Ben Hensley

9.25.19 SPORTS 11

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Rams and Coyotes Battle to a Tie in a Top-Two Matchup Derek Bullis | Opinion Editor dbullis@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College managed to hold on to the number one ranking after a 1-1 tie against the Lake Tahoe Community College Coyotes on Friday, Sept. 20. “We are honored to be ranked however it’s just a ranking. We need to keep improving so we can be ranked #1 at the end of the season,” said head coach Oliver Germond. The Rams knew going into Friday’s matchup that it wasn’t going to be easy with Lake Tahoe currently holding onto the number two ranking in the CCCSIA. “I thought it was good to be tested against such a high level team,” Germond said. Both teams were challenging the others offensive and defensive strategies throughout the entire match, working the ball in all areas of the pitch throughout. “I thought Tahoe defended us well and challenged our defense at times. We needed a game at that level so we can learn more about our team,” Germond said. Early in the first half, Coyotes’ forward Alexandra Trinidad managed to break past the Rams’ defense

earning a goal. In the 35th minute of the match Rams’ Midfielder Sierra Alvarez broke past the Coyotes’ goalie tying up the match. The goal was the second of

“

I thought it was good to be tested against such a high level team." -Oliver Germond Rams' Women's Soccer Head Coach

Alvarez’s season. “We learn a lot more about our needs when we play high level competitions. We still need to improve around the goal. I felt we created enough chances to win but didn’t get a second goal,” Germond said. The Rams’ offense challenged the Coyotes goalies, getting off six shots on goal, forcing five saves by freshman

Rams freshman forward Megan Galvan slips past midfielder Melanie Ara in a 1-1 tie against Lake Tahoe on Sept. 20, 2019. Photo/Derek Bullis

Coyote goalkeeper Madeline Smith. The Rams defensively held strong, allowing only three shots on goal, with the lone Coyote goal being allowed by freshman goalkeeper Callie Thiesen in the 14th minute of the first half. “I thought we fought hard as a team

and proud of our progress but hope we don’t settle and keep improving,” Germond said. The Rams return home to face the West Valley Vikings on Sept. 27 at 4 p.m. at the FCC soccer field.

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Rams' sophomore quarterback Jonah Johnson fires a pass downfield during the Rams' matchup against the Butte College Roadrunners on Sept. 21. Photo/Ben Hensley

Rams Outlast Roadrunners in Thrilling Win

Rams defensive back Chad Brown goes up for an interception during the Rams' matchup against the Butte College Roadrunners on Sept. 21. Photo/Ben Hensley

Ben Hensley | Sports Editor bhensley@therampageonline.com

“It’s tough to come up here and play.” Those were the words of Rams’ football head coach Tony Caviglia after a thrilling 13-10 win over Butte College on Saturday, Sept. 21. Just over a year ago, the Rams ended the season of the Butte College Roadrunners in a thrilling 29-26 quarterfinal defeat in Redding, knocking them out of the CCCAA playoffs, and paving the way for the Rams to make a push in the semifinals against Laney College. This year’s regular season contest with the Roadrunners may well have ended even more exciting than their postseason matchup. The Rams defeated Butte college 13-10 on Saturday, Sept. 21 in a low scoring game which saw momentum swings, confused fans and adversity on both sidelines. “To be able to come out with a win against that team and playing like we played, it just speaks volumes about this team’s ability to fight through adversity,” Caviglia said. “We’ve got a lot of grit and we don’t quit.” Both teams fought hard defensive battles early with back-to-back punts on each team’s opening possessions. But the Rams were the first to make a big statement late in the first quarter, forcing a turnover on downs as the Roadrunners went for it on fourth and six from well within field goal range - a decision that may well have changed the course of the

game just two hours later. In one of the only drives for either team that seemed to go off without a hitch, the Rams came out and marched down the field on six plays, encompassing 71 yards and finishing with a 13-yard rush from freshman running back Marcus Washington. It marked Washington’s second touchdown on the season. The extra point attempt by freshman kicker Jack Cooper however did not go through, leaving the score at 6-0 Rams. Defense reared its head again on the very next drive as Roadrunners freshman backup quarterback Brian Harper was intercepted by freshman defensive back Chad Brown on his only pass attempt of the day. Brown leads the Rams defensively with three interceptions on the season. The Roadrunners however claimed the second score of the game - a field goal with time expiring in the first half, making the score 6-3 in favor of the Rams. The Rams came out of halftime with a bang, as Johnson scored on a 10-yard scramble which was set up by a 62-yard completion to freshman wide receiver JJ Espinoza. The pass was the longest completion of the season so far for the Rams. The score would remain 13-3 in favor of the Rams for the entire third quarter, as both teams battled in a back and forth defensive struggle. The Rams were on the march down the field at the end of the third and entering

the fourth when Johnson’s pass was intercepted deep in Roadrunner territory. After a delay of game penalty pushed them back to their own 15-yard line, the Roadrunners marched down the field in hurry-up fashion, and were able to break into the endzone for the first time on a 7-yard run by sophomore Avery McCuaig, bringing the score to 13-10. The next drive saw the Rams moving the ball effectively until Johnson’s second interception fell into the hands of Butte sophomore Cliff Jackson. Ever the competitor however, Johnson chased Jackson all the way to the Rams’ 29 yard line and made the tackle himself. Nonetheless, the Roadrunners possessed the ball, and the momentum. With excellent field position, the Rams’ defense held, forcing a field goal attempt. The field goal was blocked on a spectacular play by Rams’ sophomore D-lineman Jay Kavika, holding the score at 13-10. “We practice our kicking game every day,” Caviglia said following the game. “We had to make a play in that situation and we did that.” Following a Rams’ turnover on downs in Butte territory, the Roadrunners got into their two-minute offense, marching the ball down the field to the 1-yard line. As Butte fans watched the time tick down to two seconds, they looked to the scoreboard and expected their Roadrunners to use their third and final timeout.

Little did they know, the third timeout had already been called, as the Roadrunners were forced to use a timeout late in the third quarter. The scoreboard operator credited the timeout to the Rams, who still possessed all three. Butte was out of time and out of yards, just one yard shy of paydirt, leaving fans confused, Rams’ players ecstatic, and coaches with a full list of things to improve on in practice. “It was a good win. We all grinded it out,” sophomore running back Obrien Selby said following the game. “We knew we’d face some adversity coming up here.” Selby finished the game with 34 yards on the ground, trailing only Johnson who had 41. Now 3-0 on the young season, the Rams will look to get some retribution against San Mateo who they fell to last season 31-3. “They’re good. They’re another big, physical team,” Caviglia said following the game. “Got them at home [this season] and we just have to take care of ourselves, take care of business and get ready to strap it up again.” The Rams next home game will be this Saturday against the San Mateo Bulldogs. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. at Ratcliffe Stadium.

Rams' sophomore quarterback Jonah Johnson hands the ball off to freshman running back Tre Maxwell III during the Rams' thrilling 13-10 win over the Butte College Roadrunners on Saturday, Sept 21. Photo/Ben Hensley