THE
RAMPAGE Student-Run Newspaper of Fresno City College
Spring 2018 Issue 3 Feb. 21, 2018
Student Dies in Wave of Fresno Shootings Larry Valenzuela | News Editor lvalenzuela@therampageonline.com
A Fresno City College student died Feb. 18 after he was shot at a church in southwest Fresno days earlier, following a wave of gun violence in southwest Fresno. Zurich Chatman, 20, was on life support after the shooting on Feb. 10. He was in critical condition until he died on Feb. 18, according to Community Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Mary Lisa Russell. In a Facebook video released on Feb. 17 by Tamara LaShawn Gallaway Brown, who identified herself as Chatman’s mother, she said Chatman suffered major brain trauma and was brain dead. Brown expressed the sorrow that she had in making the decision to remove her son from life support. “I did what I could for my child,” she said in the video. “I loved him enough and raised
him in the church. He knew the Lord, and the Lord knew him.” FCC president Carole Goldsmith said that as a mother and grandmother, Chatman’s death is heartbreaking for her. She said Chatman began attending FCC in the fall of 2016 as an African-American studies major and had wanted to be a teacher or a coach. He played basketball and football for Sunnyside High School. “While I did not know him personally,” Goldsmith said, “it was reported to me that he was a humanitarian, loving son, good friend for many of our young students, and big brother to his 10 year old brother, whom he often talked about.” Goldsmith said she learned that Chatman had already overcome odds in his short
New FCC Website Still Experiencing Growing Pains
life to pursue an education, including having surgery when he was a child so a pacemaker could be inserted to mend a hole in his heart, and his parents divorcing when he was young. “He was just coming into being his own man,” Goldsmith said. “We won’t know what he could have been, how many people he could have helped. What was to be his legacy? All of that was stolen from us. This story is repeating itself all too often in our society and we all should be outraged.” The Fresno Bee reported that around 10:16 a.m on Feb. Zurich Chatman. Photo courtesy of Facebook 10., Fresno police received multiple calls and a shotspotter alert in the 2200 block of Lee Avenue, after eight shots were heard in the area. Officers arrived to find Chatman lying next to his van with a
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What was to be his legacy? All of that was stolen.” -President Carole Goldsmith
Continued on Page 3, CHATMAN
District Gifted Land for West Fresno Campus
Anjanae Freitas | Reporter afreitas@therampageonline.com
Have you experienced trouble navigating the new Fresno City College website? If so, you’re not alone. Some students and staff have expressed their frustrations at the new website that launched last year. “Overall, I like the new design and what is to come for the website,” Stacy Bracamontes, dispatcher at the SCCCD Police Department, said. “Being an employee here on campus, I often use the search bar on the FCC website to help direct me to any information I need from different departments.” However, Bracamontes added, “Not having the staff directory online yet can make it hard to do my job.” Debbie Nichols, FCC webmaster, explained that building “a website can take up to a couple years.” Among the many steps that go into creating a website, Nichols said, include making sure the needs of all departments are met, meeting with design companies and coming up with
The 13.51 acres of land on Walnut and Church avenues is where the State Center Community College Distrct plans to build the West Fresno campus. Photo/Larry Valenzuela Gabbi Micheli | Reporter
jmicheli@therampageonline.com
The West Fresno campus is one step closer to reality, after the State Center Community College District was partly gifted 13.51 acres of land on Walnut and Church avenues, according to a press release. In a unanimous vote by the board of trustees on Feb. 6, the district agreed to accept half of the land from
Continued on Page 2, WEBSITE
TFS Investments and spent $675,500 to purchase the other half. TFS Investments LLC is a 14 yearold company, run by CEO Terrance Frazier. The company’s vision is to enliven the inner city while also engaging large investment groups to supply residential projects, according to its website. SCCCD Board President Bobby Kahn expressed the board’s gratitude to Frazier in the press release
announcing the gift. “The gift from TFS Investments LLC, along with the purchase of additional property, puts S tate Center Community College District one step closer to making the vision of a West Fresno campus a reality,” Kahn said. In June 2016, the district passed Measure C, a bond of $485 million dollars in the hopes of improving facilities and creating new ones. The future West Fresno Campus is one of Continued on Page 4, WEST FRESNO
Opinion| Page 6
What dating as a queer woman taught me
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Entertainment | Page 8
Sports| Page 12
How Wakanda changed the predictable Marvel formula
Lorenzo Neal to hold football camp at FCC
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The student-run newspaper of Fresno City College
new look, along with a formal bidding process and collections of data. “When the semester first started, I was trying to search Canvas or Webadvisor on Google, and I kept getting linked to an error page,” said Samantha Hernandez, said. “It made it hard for me to do simple things like accessing my homework or looking up my class schedule.” Nichols said that creating a new website is a work in progress, and people forget it is more than a one-person job; yet, only one person is tackling this huge task at FCC. Additionally, the webmaster must ensure that the website meets the section 508 of Electronic and Information technology (EIT) accessibility requirements set by federal and state governments.This code makes sure that those who are disabled can still access the
EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Ashleigh Panoo News/Multimedia Editor Larry Valenzuela Art Director Ramuel Reyes Sports Editor Anthony De Leon Enterainment Editor Noah Villaverde Social Media Editor Omari Bell Opinion Editor Frank Lopez REPORTERS Claudia Chavez Anjanae Freitas Andrew R. Leal Loren Marcotte Jamila McCarty Gabbi Micheli Paulina Rodriguez-Ruiz Sasha Saunders Jose Serrano Tamara Torres-Leguizamon Tommy Tribble Tasha Turner Stefanie Verdugo-Tholen Business Manager Maria Aguilar Adviser/Instructor Dympna Ugwu-Oju
website. “This can take up to 8 months,” Nichols said. “We finally fixed the calendar online last week,” Nichols said. “We have not started on the staff directory because we are in the process of data clean up, and the student portal is an ongoing process of testing that we are working on.” “The search bar on the FCC website is now fully functional and has no errors,” says Nichols. Nichols said she welcomes feedback regarding changes in the website from students and faculty. Forms to provide feedback can be found at http:// www.fresnocitycollege.edu/ about/accessibility/index.html “Our goal is to accommodate the students as best as we can,” Nichols said. “We are always looking for someday and future changes that come from our feedback page.”
ASG to Give Students Free Flash Drives Tasha Turner | Reporter tturner@therampageonline.com
The Associated Student Government voted during the Feb. 20 meeting in the Senate Chambers to give 500 free flash drives to students. Flavio Arechiga, ASG’s trustee, said he came up with the proposal as a way to give back to the students. “I really want to give the students flash drives to show them that the student government is doing something for them,” Arechiga said. You must have an ASG card to get the flash drive, which you can purchase from the business office or from the student lounge.
It is first come first serve and only one per person. If that flash drive is lost, they cannot gain another one, according to Arechiga. “The flash drives will contain a word document with links to useful study guides and scholarship opportunities,” said Arechiga. “It will also have information on ASG.” The flash drives will be given out in the ASG office located above the bookstore in room SC-205. They do not have a date set yet, but are planning to start giving them out by the end of March.
ICC Holds Fresno City College’s First Chili Cook-Off Sasha Saunders | Reporter ssaunders@therampageonline.com
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A new event is cooking up at Fresno City College. The Inter-Club Council club is holding the campus’ first ever chili cook-off on Feb 23. The cook-off will be held in free speech area near the cafeteria. The idea of the cook-off started at an ICC meeting held by chair Kaura Lopez. In one of the weekly meetings where all of the clubs on campus get together to discuss ideas and brainstorm on events, M.E.Ch.A’s representative mentioned the chili cook-off. The clubs agreed to the idea and have been planning ever since. Lopez says this is the first year in a few years where the clubs decided to participate in events with each other. “One of my main goals as ICC chair was to get them more active
and do more events as a whole with more club involvement,” says Lopez. Because the cook-off is an ICC event, only clubs can participate, Lopez said. The chili won’t be fore sale, because the event is just supposed to be for fun, she said. Clubs participating are the Veterans Club, LGBTQ+ Spectrum Club, Teachers of Tomorrow, Early Childhood Education and Educators, Asian American Club, M.E.Ch.A, and the Pan Afrikan Student Union. Clubs are allowed to start prepping as early as 8 a.m. and no later than 10 a.m. Due to the basic school guidelines in terms of cooking, all products must be cooked the day of the competition and must be cooked while on campus. Judging for the cook-off takes place at noon. At this time, Sean
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Henderson, Dean of Student Services, Jonathan Davey from FCC’s culinary department and Chef Rudy from Taher will be given score sheets, where they will determine which club receives the first place prize of a paid pizza
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One of my main goals was to get them more active.”
-Kaura Lopez
Inter-Club Council Chair
social. The ICC association will then reward the winning club and its members with a day of pizza and drinks. “I thought that was also a great opportunity for more members of the association to get to know the clubs,” Lopez said. There is a total of four different awards the clubs could receive. Along with the first prize of a pizza social, judges will award the second and third place winners with the titles of most creative and most spicy. The last prize is determined by students, faculty and staff. Each club will have a number that represents them and clubs will have samples out on the tables for everyone to try. Whichever club has the highest rating will be receive a people’s choice award.
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Workshop Discusses Relationship Issues Claudia Chavez | Reporter cchavez@therampageonline.com
A workshop discussing relationship topics like abuse, sexual harassment, coercion and neglect was held at Fresno City College on on Feb. 13. The workshop had a majority of women attendees, but men also joined to get informed. FCC instructor Loretta Ramos assisted MPWR with the workshop. Ramos has been with the district for 25 years and teaches a variety of communication courses at FCC. MPWR Fresno is “local students, parents, and community members who work relentlessly in Fresno’s neighborhoods to build relationships and promote change. ” Ramos said she opens every communication class with an important statement: “All behavior
CHATMAN, FROM PAGE 1
gunshot wound. After an investigation, officers determined the shooting erupted when Chatman, accompanied by his girlfriend and her brother, were preparing to go out of town. As they were getting ready, Chatman was struck in the head by a shot fired from a passing car, according to The Fresno Bee. Fresno police Chief Jerry Dyer said in an interview with The
is goal directed.” Ramos pointed out ways that one can notice signs of a physically or verbally abusive relationship. “When you know what you want in a relationship, your expectations are the only thing you can alter,” she said. “Your expectations can be altered when you know how someone’s actions are affecting the relationship.” Questions that were answered included: What do you want to socially construct? How do you begin a healthy relationship? How do you know when you’re in an abusive relationship? And how do you prevent yourself from entering an abusive relationship? Rape Counseling Services of Fresno also attended the workshop to give information that focused more specifically in victimization. The mission of RCS Fresno is to “end rape and sexual violence and empower survivors
while supporting safe, consensual relationships.” Maribel Aispuro and her husband DayV’aughn Montgomery said they came to the event just to get informed about relationships. Montgomery said, “We’re finally taking a bigger step in our relationship. We got our first house together and we came just to get informed on relationships and how we can better ours. We’re the couple everyone in our family usually comes to for advice, so it’s good to know about all of this.” Alex Ramos- O’Casey from MPWR Fresno said, “ I just want to provide information that a lot of students aren’t aware of.” Ramos- O’Casey says there will be a future workshop later next month, which will be posted on their Instagram and Facebook page.
Fresno Bee that the shooting was more than likely connected to a recent string of gang violence and an escalating gang war in Fresno. That gang war and violence has since died down, Dyer told The Fresno Bee. Chatman was part of the IDILE and SYMBAA programs, according to Rodney Murphy, a counselor for the programs at FCC. “He was dynamic student with a great attitude,” Murphy said
about Chatman. “He was very vocal about how people should stick together and how we should love each other. He was family-oriented, charismatic and just wellliked.” Murphy said he does not believe Chatman was involved in a gang and that the shooting was most likely a case of mistaken identity. “He was nowhere near being a gang member.”
Puente Builds Bridges to a Better Future Paulina Rodriguez | Reporter pruiz@therampageonline.com
he Puente Program at Fresno City College offers mentorship, and guidance to students transferring to four-year universities. ”We want to help Latinos and Chicanos transfer to a four-year university and have them give back to our communities the best way that they can,” Steven Bojorque, Puente member, said. Placing an emphasis on counseling, mentoring, and writing, Puente is a statewide program and has been a part of FCC since 1987. The Puente program was established in 1981 by Felix Galaviz and Patricia McGrath at Chabot College to address low academic success rates among Mexican-American and Latino students in college. The Puente program provides mentors for the students. According to the Puente brochure,”Puente students are matched with academically and professionally successful mentors from the community.” Kenneth Chacon, Puente instructor says,” the idea behind the mentoring component is to give students a connection with someone who has been where they are
now and has proven successful.” “I’ve met so many people that have helped me out,” Bojorque said. “My teacher Erendida Romero helped me out with problems that I had as I was growing up -- problems that I had with my friend passing away.” Puente counselor Lucia Ramirez Munoz says the Puente program takes in about 25-30 students each semester. Enrollment is based on a first-come, first
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They give you information on things that nobody would really tell you about.
-Shane Laura
Puente student serve basis. There is no minimum GPA requirement. According to the FCC website, the Puente program also offers transfer preparation, tutoring, financial aid assistance, and field
trips (college campus tours). Shane Lara, Puente member said, “They really let you know what goes on; they tell you about scholarships; they give you information on things that nobody would really tell you about.” Puente is open to all students, not just those of Mexican-American/Latino descent. In order to qualify, students must be eligible to take English 125 and 126, and express a desire to transfer to a four year university. Students enrolled in the program take English 125 and 126, Counseling 48, and Chicano Latino Studies 11 as a cohort their first semester. This creates a peer support system. “Honestly, we have all helped each other in one way or another; it’s either with schoolwork or personal matters,” Yerania Madrigal, Puente member says. “If it’s not personal matters, you’re just there to help and they know you’re supporting them no matter what you’re doing.” Madrigal said, “We’re pretty much here to support each other and to be there for one another when you need help.
Students Believe They Should Help Keep Bathrooms Clean Tasha Turner | Reporter tturner@therampageonline.com
It isn’t just the custodian’s job to keep the bathrooms at Fresno City College clean, according to several students. “I don’t think the bathrooms are respected enough by students, said Alondra Gallegos, a psychology major in her second year. “[The bathrooms are] not incredibly dirty, but they are fairly dirty. I think the students should help keep them clean.” Tammy Morris, a social worker major, said, “The bathrooms [at FCC] are filthy. I find catheters in the stalls all the time.” She suggested that the custodians should clean the bathrooms at least two times a day. Morris also said students
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should be made with the custodians also. “[Custodians] should be cleaning out the trash cans regularly.” She said that when she uses the bathrooms, the trash cans are overflowing with trash. John Luna, a custodian for 13 years, said the bathrooms are cleaned four times a day, twice during the day and twice at night. “In kindergarten we are taught to pick up after ourselves, so picking up after yourself in college shouldn’t be a problem,” Luna said. “Make sure that the toilet is fully flushed and properly dispose of all trash.” As for custodians, they should be careful on how they ask for students help, according to Luna.
I find catheters in the stalls all the time.”
should help by cleaning up after themselves and added that the college authorities should see if any students want to volunteer to help clean the bathrooms. “One thing that I do is push down the paper towels when I see the trash can is overflowing,” Gallegos said. “It’s not too hard to do. I lay new paper towels on top so that I don’t touch the trash inside when I push down. Students can also make sure any trash makes it into the toilet or a trash can.” Patrick Antunez, a communications/journalism major since 2016, said, “[Students should] make sure [their] waste is fully flushed and pick up any stuff that didn’t make it in the trash.” Gallegos said improvements
-Tammy Morris Student
Asking nicely for them to pick up their mess will have a better response than yelling at them he said. “We are not asking the students to do our job for us,” Luna said. “All we ask is that they pick up after themselves and help take care of our campus.” Antunez said, “It takes a collective effort of cleaning up after oneself to keep our bathrooms clean and more comfortable.” Students are encouraged to report dirty bathrooms by calling 442-8200 ext. 8746; the number is located inside every bathroom. “Although the bathrooms are not the best,” Gallegos said, “they are not so bad that no one wants to use them.”
Trash litters the floor inside the middle stall of the women’s restroom by the cafeteria/student lounge on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018. Photo/Tasha Turner
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‘Excellence Is in Our DNA’ Provides Empowering Message during black history month
FCC SYMBAA and IDILE Counselor Cedric Pulliam inspires young black men in a presentation given about “Failing Forward,” at the 11th annual African American Leadership Conference at the Fresno Convention Center on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018. Photo/Jamila McCarty Jamila McCarty | Reporter jmccarty@therampageonline.com
For the 11th year, African-American students from around the Central Valley gathered at the Convention Center in Fresno for the African-American Student Leadership Conference. In honor of Black History Month, Fresno, Clovis, Central, Sanger, Washington and Madera Unified school districts participated in the conference with the theme: “Excellence is in Our DNA,” alongside Fresno City College, agencies and academies on Feb. 8 Like in previous years, the event focused on the concepts of communication, respect, responsibility, ethics, leadership and comportment. The general session featured a singing of “Lift Every Voice and
Sing“ -- a song about freedom after which keynote speaker, Ramsey Jay, Jr. delivered an empowering speech, directed at every young and seasoned person in the room. Following the keynote speech, participants participated in three breakout sessions that included honoring of ancestral obligations, a college and career fair, and one for young Kings and Queens called Destiny. In each, individuals were encouraged to love themselves and not give up on their dreams when tough times come. Each breakout session focused on breaking self-deprecating behaviors and replacing them with healthy attitudinal shifts. Cedric Pulliam, head counselor for the SYMBAA (Strengthening Young Black Men By Academic Achievement) and the IDILE program -- named after an African
term -- “the root of the family,” was a keynote speaker in the session for young kings. Alongside Pulliam were many of his Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brothers, who came to make an impact. “Our goal is to get students to understand what failure is and that it does not mean the end,” Pulliam said. “It’s a learning experience that is going to help them succeed.” In their presentation, Pulliam and his fraternity brothers discussed the contributions of failure with a room full of young men. They highlighted graduation rates for males, nationally, by state and by ethnicity. Graphs of statistics were shown, focusing on the percentage of graduation rates of young black women and men compared to other groups. According to the U.S. Department of Education, only 33.1
percent of African-American men and 44.8 percent of African-American American women graduate from high school, compared to 57.3 percent of other students. “If you’re not willing to make a change, you’re not ready to succeed,” Pulliam said.
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If you’re not willing to make a change, you’re not ready to succeed.” -Cedric Pulliam
Head SYMBAA Counselor The speaker used the great bas-
ketball player, Michael Jordan, as an example of intrinsic motivation and failing forward, explaining that if one doesn’t allow failure to become a habit and refuses use it as an excuse, the impossible is possible. FCC representatives passed out fliers from their booth where students signed up to receive information about the majors FCC offered. Students could speak to a counselor about the SYMBAA and IDILE programs and FCCs learning environment as a whole. “We are here to provide students with the opportunity to further their education,” FCC counselor, Angie Keys, said. “We want to make sure we are improving the outcome for Fresno City College, and getting the word out about what Fresno City has to offer for our students.”
WEST FRESNO, FROM PAGE 1
those projects. Architectural firm SIM-PBK, located in north Fresno, will work with FCC President Carole Goldsmith and a committee of faculty, staff, administration and community members in the design process of the new campus. The center is expected to offer courses in basic skills, general education, and career and technology programs. Paul Parnell, chancellor of SCCCD, said the donation would have a huge impact on Fresno as a whole. “The money saved from this huge donation made by Terrance Frazier and TFS Investments LLC will go towards enhancing the programs and services for
SCCCD students,” Parnell said. “This is an amazing beginning to an absolutely great project for West Fresno, the city of Fresno, and the entire district.” The State Center Community College District serves more than 50,000 students. With a coverage of 5,500 square miles, the district equals the size of the state of Connecticut. Frazier said he had a personal interest in the West Fresno project. “As an entrepreneur and developer, I have always had a heart for West Fresno,” he said. “My family’s nearly $1 million gift will ensure a college campus is no longer just a dream, but rather, it gives our kids and families the future they deserve.”
The 13.51 acres of land on Walnut and Church avenues is where the State Center Community College Distrct plans to build the West Fresno campus. Photo/Larry Valenzuela
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Why It’s OK to Outgrow Your Friends Anjanae Freitas | Reporter afreitas@therampageonline.com
As we get older, we start to lack the ability to maintain strong communication because of time management, which makes it hard to keep up with friends. I especially know many experience this when we attend college or work, simply continuing on with our busy lives. When do we reach the point when we know we no longer belong somewhere or want to be in someone’s energy? From my experience, if you feel like your friends energy is stunting your growth, it is OK to understand that we simply outgrow our friends. Now, the hardest part of a friendship heartbreak is acceptance. Living in a constant state of denial that you are the one to blame for a broken friendship is
just an excuse to hold you back from flourishing. Friendships can be just as toxic as romantic relationships, which leaves most of us thinking we have to stick around because we are comfortable. For example, sometimes we outgrow our jobs and we get scared to move forward because we are used to our daily routines. Most of us stay because we know we have mastered the skills to be successful.The same concept applies to friendships. We know what the plan is, so even if we do not agree or feel comfortable with it, we put ourselves in situations that make us not feel lonely; yet we still somehow feel alone. If you’ve ever experienced an identity crisis of not knowing who you are without your old friends, it’s completely normal. Letting go of friends can be mis-
leading because you have never really known who you were without them. You will come to realize you never really had much in common with them, but sadly, you simply do not even know what it is you enjoy about yourself without them. Take the time to figure out what you enjoy. Enjoy the space to spend time with yourself, but most of all, get to know who you are. What are you hobbies? Are you comfortable seeing a movie alone? Figure out what you enjoy and find people around you who enjoy the same. I used to thinking that going out every weekend and putting myself in party environments or situations that made me uncomfortable was me stepping out of my comfort zone. That’s until I realized I was not
stepping out of my comfort zone, I was just uncomfortable. I had to step back and ask myself, why am I here if I do not want to be? Why is that every time I leave an event with these people, I feel terrible about myself instead of fulfilled? I did not know that dropping my toxic friends would allow me to be figure out who I was without them. Once I started to surround myself with company I wanted to be around and go to places I genuinely wanted to be in, I felt an instant weight lifted off my shoulders. The memories you hold with these friends are not erased. Embrace them as a part of your life that has made you who you are. Accept that people change, people grow, and honestly, people simply move on.
Millennials Aren’t Killing Businesses, They’re Discovering the New America Gabbi Micheli | Reporter jmicheli@therampageonline.com
Truthfully, my generation tends to be shed in a negative light. To older folks, we are entitled, lazy, and killing businesses such as real estate, jewelers, and fast-food chains. We are self-absorbed and have no knowledge on how to become responsible adults, let alone drive a stick shift or do our own taxes. What irks me the most about what older generations write in regards to millennials is the entitlement. If you see a millennial portrayed in the media, chances are they have a phone in their hands and eyes glued to the screen. It makes sense that older generations might flinch at this, since they had to deal with human to human contact 24/7. In actuality, millennials have to adjust to what they were taught and what the reality of their life is. The American dream isn’t the same as it was in the 1950s. People used to equate success with homeownership, marriage and children. This white picket fence, Don Draper lifestyle isn’t what millennials have in mind. Today, the American dream is the ability to live debt-free, with a stable income and be able to save up for retirement. Jia Tolentino brought out in the
Dec. 4 issue of last years The New Yorker that “Millennials are the first generation to have just a fifty-fifty chance of being financially better off than their parents.” The truth is, millennials aren’t buying homes due to the surging student debt. The jewelry business is descending because the idea of marriage isn’t a priority anymore. Women and men are both finding happiness in their independence. Another reason is that most millennials don’t feel financially stable
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Millenials are unafraid of the disadvatages that come their way.”
to jump into such a decision. The truth is change. It seems that every generation has been rebellious in some form or the other. In the 60s, the youth rallied for civil rights and today, movements such as Occupy Wall Street and most recently, the #MeToo Movement, have clearly expressed a change in culture, with a majority of the drive being the youth.
What older generations seem to be most worried about is change. And it’s been that way in the past and will continue to be a fundamental part of life. However, millennials aren’t completely isolated from past generations. Nostalgia has played a crucial role in shaping this generation. Most get their fashion, music, art and entertainment inspiration from 1950s to 1990s style and culture. It’s a way of paying homage and respect to previous generations and admiration for the cultures at the time, before internet and social media expansion. For millenials to be entitled requires that we want something that we believe is ours. But what are the things we want? An education, stability, health care, and comfortable living. Isn’t that what everyone feels entitled to? Some millennials growing up did not have access to a good public education or a stable family life. I’m not saying things in life should come free, but at the rate prices for such necessities are increasing, at least let us catch up. Despite the uncertainty surrounding millennials’ futures, there are amazing advances that have helped them and the world around them. Technology has allowed for more jobs, knowledge, and platforms for average Americans to share their opinions. It has helped reach large audiences and start movements. Millenials are in fact driven, aware, independent, opinionative, creative, open-minded, and unafraid of the disadvantages that come their way. Millennials are the future of America. Get prepared for a wild ride.
OPINION 5
Campus Voices Why is it important to celebrate Black History Month? Paulina Rodriguez | Reporter pruiz@therampageonline.com
James Nutt Business
“Because you can learn a lot more about our AfricanAmerican history, and then also learn that we all have some type of African-American blood in us.”
Destinee Rodriguez
American-Indian Studies
“To show cultural awareness, and to spread culture around the campus, and to make people less ignorant about the culture, too.”
Alexandria Benn
African-American Studies
“Not only to celebrate our history, but to find out where our future is going. If anything, we have to celebrate our accomplishments, but also we have to celebrate our struggles, our failures, and look to the future and see where we’re going.”
Justine Lubbers Liberal Arts
“Because not many people are aware of the history that each nationality has.”
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Four Dating Struggles I Discovered as a Queer Woman Paulina Rodriguez | Reporter prodriguez@therampageonline.com
“I’m here and I’m queer.” That was my rallying cry last July when I finally came out to my finally and friends. Pop culture led me to believe I would immediately feel liberated and find the love of my life moments after. I blame Glee. Hollywood created this unreal expectation in my mind in which finding love is as easy as coming out. The truth is far from that reality. After having an existential crisis, I did what any recently out 21-year-old queer woman would do. I downloaded Tinder and I joined my local LGBTQ club. Here are the four struggles I found regarding dating as a queer woman: 1)Nobody Ever Makes the First Move Maybe it’s a byproduct of
a heteronormative society where men always make the first move, but I have found that hardly anyone ever makes the first move. Out of all my swiping on Tinder I have had about 10 conversations with women on the app. HER, an app catered to queer women, sends questions to jumpstart the conversation. 2)Determining Who is Gay is a Puzzle I’ve jump started my investigative journalism career through the process of deciphering who is queer. Social cues such as mentions of Hayley Kiyoko or Halsey are red flags, but besides that, it’s all just a guessing game. You’re stuck in a perpetual state of ambiguity because the feminist in you knows you shouldn’t stereotype based on music taste, hairstyle, or per-
sonal interests. 3)Dating Apps are a Breeding Ground for Threesome Offers Out of the 30 people you might swipe through on Tinder, the majority are women looking for friendship, and another large part are couples looking for a third. Just, no. 4)Acceptance Coming out really is the first step in a long road of love and acceptance. The biggest obstacles I have found in dating have been my own insecurities. A lot of times we can get exactly what we want, but if we’re not ready, we will push it away. Ultimately, I’ve learned to be patient. Love works in the same manner for those who are straight or LGBTQ. It will come knocking when we least expect it. Illustration/Tasha Turner
Trump Takes Credit for Obama’s Economy, Even as it Crumbles Tommy Tribble | Reporter ttribble@therampageonline.com
Donald Trump’s tenure as president of the United States has so far been marred by near-constant scandal, low approval ratings, high profile policy failures, and an administration awash in chaos. But in a first year defined by failure, he had one thing going for him: Obama’s economy. He took time during the State of the Union to remind us about it. “Since the election, we have created 2.4 million new jobs, including 200,000 new jobs in manufacturing alone. After years of wage stagnation, we are finally seeing rising wages,” he said. The things he said were true, but not accurate. While the economy has added 2.4 million new jobs since November 2016, a decent chunk of them were added while Obama was still president, and the job growth during 2017 was actually the slowest in seven years, according to the Washington Post’s fact checkers. Moreover, wages have been rising steadily since the Obama years, and 2017 is another data point on an already established axis of trends. His party will argue that their tax bill, which permanently and majorly benefits the wealth class while minorly and temporarily helping the working class, is the reason the economy grows. They will say this even as their wildly unpopular legislation runs up a serious deficit. Trump will argue that his concerted
effort to dismantle the Obama legacy, deregulate business, and cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires is the reason the stock market is soaring and the unemployment numbers are diving. Small business leaders all over the nation feel optimistic that new regulations aren’t coming, even if persistent deregulation hasn’t saved them money. These feelings of optimism are inspired by the Trump White House’s disregard
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when a president takes credit for growth, he has to accept blame for loss.”
for what business does, the freedom to run wild that he offers. Because of this, it’s hard to believe the business community when it chalks the economy up to deregulation. The conflict of interest is obvious. They have so much to gain from deregulation and so little to lose. The reality is that unemployment is low, wages are rising, and the economy is growing because of the Obama Administration’s slow but ultimate-
ly successful economic recovery. The Obama White House and the EPA were regulatory, they believed that business couldn’t be trusted to look out for workers or the environment independently, so they set their watch dogs in place to safeguard the people and the planet. Despite this, business began to boom, unemployment began to shrink, and millions gained health care. Trump does everything he can to erase that legacy while claiming credit for its results. That’s why it was so funny when Trump gave a speech in Ohio bragging about the economy even as the DOW dropped thousands of points. It was the kind of drop they called historic, the kind of drop that caused even Fox News to cut away and cover it. A week before, Trump had taken credit for the stock market at the State of the Union, too, saying it “smashed one record after another, gaining $8 trillion in value.” But when a president takes credit for growth, he has to accept blame for loss. Yes, Trump’s fear is palpable. The economy is his one win. Without the promise of economic gain, it will be harder for his party to justify his presence and the chaos, and racism it brings. Without the hope of a good economy, it will be harder for the people to put up with the anxiety that comes with living in Trump’s America.
Photo/Larry Valenzuela
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OPINION 7
Gun Control Seems So Close, Yet So Far Away
Andrew R. Leal Reporter
alealr@therampageonline.com
Feb. 14, 2018 was supposed to be a day for love. What transpired instead on that day at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, is now part of the top 10 deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history, according to CNN. A total of 17 adults and children were tragically taken at the hands of a former student who attended the Florida high school, police said. The shooting happened in Florida’s safest city, according to the National Council for Home Safety and Security, which gave its assessment from FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics last year. It boggles the mind that not even a city that is deemed the safest in Florida can be untouched by a school shooting. It’s been long-believed that the can should no longer be kicked down the road and Congress needs to limit the access assaultstyle rifles, including other weapons which are manipulated to cause great harm. However, there will be members of Congress that will stand in the way of that kind of
legislation as they have in the past. Sen. Dianne Feinstein wrote the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in which 20 children were killed along with six staff members. Interestingly, the bill was shut down with the help of 15 democrat senators. A vote of 40 - 60 was held on April 17, 2013. John Tures, a political science professor at LaGrange College in Georgia, was reported by ABC News as saying the pushback from some democrats was due to the slim blue majority and those senators came from historically red states. “The individual members were worried about losing their seat,” Tures said. Feinstein also authored the Automatic Gunfire Prevention Act after the Las Vegas mass shooting in Oct. 2017 that killed 58 people and injured over 500 others. Such a bill was aimed at banning bump-stock or other equipment which is used to increase the rate of fire in a gun. “I think it’s premature to be discussing
legislative solutions, if there are any,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a Fox News article at the time. Of course, no further movement in the Senate happened with Feinstein’s bill. A Pew Research poll conducted in June 2017, before the Las Vegas shooting, had shown that 77 percent of non-gun owners and 48 percent were in favor of a ban on assault-style weapons. Ultimately, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting will follow this predictable timeline. Legislation will be introduced by well-intentioned members of Congress, and there will be a pushback to block it.
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the shooting happened in Florida’s Safest city.”
Illustration/Frank Lopez
8 ENTERTAINMENT
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Wakanda Forever: Black Panther Serves Something New Tommy Tribble | Reporter ttribble@therampageonline.com
“Just because something works doesn’t mean it can’t be improved,” Shuri (Letitia Wright) tells her brother T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), in the new “Black Panther” movie, released Feb. 16. Shuri is talking about EMP grenades, but the line extends farther -- alluding to the greater context of the film without, and foreshadowing the devastating nature of the themes within. Directed by Ryan Coogler (Creed, Fruitvale Station), “Black Panther” is the latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film earned $242 million its first four days, the most of any film in North America in that time, surpassing “Jurassic World” and “The Last Jedi”’s opening box office numbers. It’s one piece of the greater formula that’s made the Disney corporation billions of dollars. It’s a formula because it works. It’s worked from “Iron Man” all the way to “Thor: Ragnarok.” But any oft-used pattern begins to sport holes. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has begun to leave viewers with a taste of drab concrete: reliable in its tastelessness and never groundbreaking “Black Panther” breaks and remixes the formula. Coogler takes everything we love about Marvel movies and blows them out of the water, then offers fresh takes and new perspectives for good measure. The opening shots are a spectacle of artistry. The history of Wakanda, the fictional country the main character is sovereign
to, is presented through the prism of beautiful colors and dynamic, stylish art. This first impression of grand artfulness stays with the audience through various locations and incredible dream sequences. The action too is stunning. Watching Okoye (Danai Gurira) leap from the second floor to the first with a vibranium spear in one hand and a scarlet dress flowing around her like flaming wings is almost worth the price of admission. The film boasts all the trappings: spectacular duels, gun fights, car chases and larger than life superheroes, but rendered in aesthetics that are wholly separate from the mainstream Marvel cinematic universe. The African touchstones of the costumes, the weapons, and the architecture as well as the diversity of the cast lends the film a quality totally unique, befitting the isolated super-advanced world of Wakanda. But Wakanda is only as interesting as the people in it. Boseman plays T’Challa as the new monarch that he is: wise beyond his years, ignorant of the hard truths of leadership, and capable of change. He plays a cool a contrast to the myriad and colorful cast of characters that surround him; whether it’s stoic Okoye, the leader of his personal guard; Ramonda (Angela Basett), the regal and dignified queen mother; Shuri, his aforementioned precocious sister; or most importantly Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), who plays the primary antagonist. The great failing of so many
Marvel films is the villain, an always forgettable every-evil that leaves not even the faintest fingerprint on the world of the film. But Jordan plays the radical, militant Killmonger with the vulnerability that his circumstance deserves. His motivations are shocking in their clarity and sympathy. He kills for the same reason that he challenges T’challa for his throne: to fight injustice and right what once went wrong. In so many films he might instead be the hero, were it not for the scope of his violence and the limits (and excesses) of his vision. In lesser hands he would be a hyper-masculine revenge fantasy, but Jordan breathes life into the character in an unexpected and godsent way. The genius of “Black Panther” is that it can serve audiences the breathtaking spectacle and killer aesthetics they crave while speaking truth to heavy themes at the same time. Watching the battles between T’Challa and Killmonger forces the audience to ask tough questions about racial injustice and oppression. Their war is emblematic of the conflicting discourse between so many activists across so many eras: what can be done in the face of centuries of injustice? What approach is the right one? A movie can never properly answer these questions, but it can raise them. And “Black Panther” does, again, effortlessly. Still, the film has a guiding principle in all things that audiences will walk away with.
The marquee outside Edwards Stadium 22 in Fresno displays “Black Panther” in IMAX. Photo courtesy of Drew Prettyman
FCC DANCE ALUMNI TO PERFORM AT ROGUE FESTIVAL Sasha Saunders | Reporter ssaunders@therampageonline.com
Fresno Dance Collective will be premiering “Nothing is Beautiful; Everything is fine,” an hour-long performance at the 2018 Rogue Festival from March 2 through the March 4 at Dianna’s Studio of Dance. Four of the seven dancers are alumni of the Fresno City College dance department. The show is created and choreographed by FCC alumni Alexandra Tiscareno. She and former student Aubrey Ludlow, and current students Shelby Plaughter and Jessie Santos, along with three other performers, will be dancing in the three day evening event. The show is about the idea that “women perceive life and are perceived throughout life, through a variety of different lenses,” according to a press release. It’s an emotional performance that addresses three themes; human connection, conformity, and vulnerability. “The show is very emotionally heavy,” said Tiscareno, who said
she created the dance in response to her own emotions. “So I would say, come in with an open mind because a lot of serious topics are going to be covered.” “The dance started off as a way for me to tell a story about experiences I had been through in my life. The original show dealt a lot with going through that emotion of losing people and life changes,” said Tiscareno. “I took it to another level where it’s not only an experience that I felt, I knew other people felt it.” The stories presented in ‘’Nothing is Beautiful; Everything is Fine’’ come directly from the performers themselves, according to the press release. The idea of the show came after one of Tiscareno’s dancers came to her to express her insecurities regarding her return to dancing. She then opened the floor to all of her dancers to see if they felt the same type of emotions and if they would be open to share them. The choreographer then began every rehearsal with prompts like, “If today was your last day
on Earth, what would your story to the audience be?” Tiscareno said that instead of telling just her own story, more of the girls tell their story and their life experiences, “So, the focus shifted from me to what they feel like they want to say.” Dancer and alumni Shelby Plaughter explained how dancing at Fresno City College introduced her To Tiscareno. They bonded over a piece Tiscareno choreographed that took them to the American College Dance Festival. Plaughter says the type of movement Tiscareno introduced to her to is one she hasn’t experienced before. “I was hungry for it,” -Alexandra Tiscareno Plaughter said. Since the beginning of choreographer January, Tiscareno and the dancers have spent four for the show wasn’t like most hours every Sunday rehearsing productions where physical for the upcoming show, according understanding is of the most to the press release. Preparing importance.
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The dance started off as a way for me to tell a story about experiences i had been through in my life.”
“Preparation for this show consists mostly of psychological release,” said Plaughter. “For me, and a few others, it’s remembering difficult things; it’s remembering the things about life that bother us most, and funneling them into the movement with enormous amounts of intention.” Plaughter calls it a “mental game.” She explains how the use of spoken word and the absence of stereotypes is what makes the performance “a therapy” for her. “It’s an ever-changing, intimate, volatile exchange, and I don’t think you typically see that ever in the dance world, let alone the Fresno dance community,” Plaughter said. “It’s truly special.” Tickets for “Nothing is Beautiful; Everything is Fine” can be purchased online or at the door. Tickets cost $12, and you must buy a $3 wristband for the Rogue Festival itself. More information on the show can be found at nocodance.org and tickets can be ordered online at fresnoroguefestival.com.
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Students Excited about Extension of Grizzly Fest Gabbi Micheli | Reporter jmicheli@therampageonline.com
In a 5-2 vote, the Fresno City Council decided on Feb. 9 to approve the extension of Grizzly Fest, Fresno’s annual music festival that hits in the springtime. Headliners include well-known artists such as Snoop Dogg, Jhene Aiko, Foster the People, and Nas. Other bands well-known in the Fresno art and music scene include Chicano Batman, Cults, and Washed Out. Artists that are Fresno natives as well such as Fashawn, Strange Vine, and Boom Boom Brady are said to make an appearance. And that’s barely scratching the surface. The festival, hosted by I.A.N Productions, will take place at Woodward Park on May 18 and 19 starting at 2:30 p.m. Unlike last year’s Grizzly Fest, the festival will last two days instead of one. According to their website, early bird tickets have already sold out, leading the two-day general admission ticket to be priced at $130, and the two-day VIP ticket being $225. “Not every music festival price is going to be cheap,” Eliza Martinez, Fresno City College student and an avid concert-goer, said. “But I wouldn’t pay over $100 for this festival.” The website also explained general rules for when the festival occurs. Wristbands will be sent out in spring of this year, re-entry to the venue will not be allowed, and it the show will go on, no matter the weather. “There are some gangs in Fresno, and a lot of gang members listen to Snoop Dogg,” FCC student
Mary Metrinikoff said. “With its location at Woodward park during the nighttime, it seems a bit sketchy.” Concerns arose when dealing with how late the festival was going to last, and rules were laid out regarding the hours the venue was allowed to host the event. According to ABC 30 in a story reported on Feb. 8, it was concluded that the music for the festival must end promptly at 11:30 p.m, or the hosts will be met with a fine of $1,000 per minute. If it lasts until midnight, the rate will be a fine of $100,000 per minute. Some Fresnans took to Twitter to show audience’s concerns at the Fresno City Council meeting. One man decided to rap Snoop Dogg’s lyrics to explain his opinion on how the lyrics were vulgar and aren’t appropriate for a Fresno event. Instead of typically being in downtown Fresno, the venue has moved this year to Woodward park. Downtown Fresno is known for being the hub of young, creative, and local artists, so the change of location may be a possible effect. The website urged attendees that if there are any questions regarding ticketing to call Festival Ticketing Customer Support at 855-725-1826. Martinez said she believes the music festival would contribute to the Fresno. “I think it’s good for Fresno to be hosting this,” she said. “It’s something to do, and that’s what we need in Fresno.”
fresnobee.com
A crowd sits on the grass at Grizzly Fest 2017, Saturday night, April 29, 2017. Photo courtesy of Khone Saysamongdy for The Fresno State Collegian
10 SPORTS 2.21.18
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Soccer Players and Coaches Bag National Awards Andrew Leal | Reporter aleal@therampageonline.com
Deserving of a Second Chance: The XFL Anthony De Leon | Sports Editor adeleon@therampageonline.com
Nearly 18 years ago, an upstart football league was birthed in Stamford, Connecticut from the mind of certified madman Vince McMahon. Known for making professional wrestling a nationwide attraction, McMahon conceived the idea of the XFL with the goal of giving the general public football as he deemed fit. This meant hard-hitting action, sexually enticing situations and big budgeted football. The outcome was McMahon turning into this millennium’s P.T. Barnum, running a circus of unsafe and underdeveloped football, a misogynistic representation of women and an overly theatrical
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rising from the ashes like the forgotten and often mocked phoenix is the XFL.”
product that had no place in the sports world. So it was no surprise that the league was only able to sustain for one season, even after grandiose anticipation. Although you can rack up the XFL’s tenure as a failure, it gained enough positive reviews and with hindsight always being 20/20, they did enough to warrant a second chance. With the NFL in its current state of backlash and downward trend in ratings, this seems to be the most poignant time for an alternative league. Now rising from the ashes like the forgotten and often mocked phoenix, the XFL is ready for a rebirth that may be a success if they make the necessary changes with the experience of failure to guide them. If they want this time to be a success, here’s what they are going to have to bring to the table: A serious product: The next
go around for the XFL needs to be one with less theatrics and more sports. With football being America’s number one sport, the hunger for football will be there and with the XFL season in the springtime, a more sport-centric product will work.
Big name players:
If the XFL as a league deserved a second chance in this world, why not former NFL superstars? Imagine a league where there’s a possibility of having teams lead by Tim Tebow and Johnny Manziel facing each other in a primetime clash. Why not give players like Colin Kaepernick, Robert Griffin III and aging NFL stars like Adrian Peterson and Michael Vick opportunities at greatness once more?
No fast food football:
With the season set to start in 2020, there is more than enough time to have teams ready to give the audience a product they can enjoy and appreciate. The flaw with the first season of the XFL was teams were not at the level of preparation needed for primetime network television.
Take players’ health serious:
Concussion protocol in the NFL has become a joke and it does not help that the NFL is still not willing to accept studies that show there is a link between CTE and the game of football. The XFL must take CTE-concussion safety seriously and incorporate concussion preventative equipment that the NFL is not requiring their players to wear.
Fresno City College men’s and women’s soccer players and the coaching staff for the women’s team were recognized with awards at the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia last Jan. 2018. Oliver Germond, head women’s soccer coach, and Christina Monreal, assistant coach, represented the coaching staff at the convention to accept the 2017 Junior College Women’s Division III National Staff of the Year award. “It is a great honor to have that award,” Germond said. Germond had won the same award in 2014 but the organization giving the award was known then as the National Soccer Association. “I don’t take it personal that it is my award; it is the team award,” Germond said. “We did it as a coaching staff, and we did it because of the commitment from our players as well.” The coaching staff received the 2017 Women’s California Region Staff of the Year for Division III Institutions. Three players on the FCC women’s soccer team received awards. Goalkeeper, Riana Castaneda, won first team All-American. “It felt pretty good because I’ve been working so hard to get All-American,” said Castaneda, who could not attend the awards because of the cost and her school and work schedules. “What makes an All-American [award] is the hard work that they
put in day in and day out at practice,” Castaneda said, “how they perform during games, how they do in the classroom, how their teammates see them and how they show themselves to their teammates, to the other teams.” Jasmine Garibay, who plays center and is team captain, received All-American as well. “This was honestly a shocker,” Garibay said. “I would not have expected this award.” She said her family was excited about her winning the award as well as the opportunity to travel to Philadelphia. Because her trip was not sponsored by the United Soccer Coaches Association, Garibay had to raise funds to attend the event Garibay is majoring in early childhood development and hopes to have a positive impact on children’s’ lives. She said she is motivated to accomplish her goal and does not find it difficult to combine being a student with being an athlete. “Having that huge support system was just amazing and that helped me through these two years,” Garibay said. “I’m not sure if I’ll ever meet a team like this one.” Another player, Danielle Pacheco, who is a defender and team captain, was named National Player of the Year, and her trip was covered by the association. Along with players on the women’s team, two FCC men’s soccer players received awards. Jonathan Rodriguez, a kinesiology major who plays forward, was named National Player of the Year
Fresno City College Baseball and Sacramento City play Intense Back-to-Back Game
Locate in cities NFL has abandoned:
In recent years, the NFL has taken franchises from St. Louis and San Diego in order to have teams in the Los Angeles market. And with the Raiders leaving Oakland soon, the opportunity to give those cities orphaned by the NFL something to cheer for. They need to locate in cities the NFL is not willing to also including Orlando and San Antonio instead of competing for cities with NFL franchises. Given the current state of the NFL, McMahon and the XFL do not need to compete directly with the football monopoly that is the NFL. He just needs them to take notice. Rams pitcher, Noah Parsons, throws a fast ball down the middle against a player from Sacramento City College on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. Photo/Larry Valenzuela
along with Pacheco. Like Pacheco, his trip was paid for by the United Soccer Coaches Association. Rodriguez was at his cousin’s house when his coach, Eric Solberg, called to say he won the award. He remembers that while on the phone, both he and his coach were very emotional during the conversation. “Since a young boy I have been training like really hard at soccer,” Rodriguez said. “To finally be nationally recognized is a huge accomplishment for me.” He was also named All-American at Los Angeles during his freshman year in 2016. His teammate, Alfredo Lopez who is a center back and kinesiology major, was given the All-American award. “It was humbling for me,” Lopez said. “It was a humbling experience.” Like Garibay, he had to raise money to attend the convention. He said people were supportive when he told them he was getting the All-American award. Lopez said his family did not understand how big the award was, and he even had to explain it to his mom. It was only until people were offering congratulations about her son that she knew what the award meant. “I could see that they were proud of me,” said Lopez. He hopes to coach physical education for a junior college and regularly talks to his coach about the job. Lopez said, “I would like to be in his shoes one day.”
Claudia Chavez | Reporter cchavez@therampageonline.com
Fresno City College baseball was defeated against Sacramento City College on Feb. 16 day one of day two during the back-to-back game day. One-hundred and five attendees gathered to watch the intense game Friday night and after three innings had gone by, Ian Ross made his first home run during the last moments of the bottom of the fourth inning with a score of 0-1. At the top of the fifth inning for Sacramento City, opponent Jared Woods, Kevin Saenz and Colby Harrison scored 3-1. The top of the sixth inning rolled by as the game continued and opponent Nic Hadd scored on a passed ball with a final score of 4-1. As the anticipation grew during the bottom of the sixth inning, Ian Ross doubled and Nick Sheehan scored 4-2 leaving the game as is with no more scores from either teams for the remaining innings. Head Coach Ron Scott said, “We played really well. Two really good teams and I think overall everyone did well.” Scott also stated for the next game lined up against Sacramento City, the team was going to be playing with the same intensity adding, “It’s going to be great.”
2.21.18 SPORTS 11
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stholen@therampageonline.com
R
aise your hand if you know who “Big Country” is. Big Country, also known as, Bryant Reeves, was a professional basketball player who played for the Vancouver Grizzlies from 1995 until 2001. He got his nickname, “Big Country,” when he played college ball for Oklahoma State from 1991 until 1995. Not many people know who he is. I do, because I am a huge college basketball fan, but what may surprise you, is -- I am a woman. Big Country was one of my favorite college basketball players in the 90s. I have always been interested in sports. Although I was considered “one of the guys,” growing up, it wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be. I grew up the youngest girl in my family, with my mom and dad, two older brothers and a male cousin. Our house was the neighborhood hangout for every teenage boy in a five mile radius. I guess that is where my love of sports originated. Football, baseball and golf were the main sports that engulfed our home, but in high school, I started following college basketball. For some reason, basketball became my favorite sport to watch. Maybe it’s because I am 4’11 and truly admired how some of those guys look like they are actually flying. The fact that I could have a conversation about UCLA’s shooting guard, Toby Bailey, or the O’Bannon brothers, made me little miss popularity amongst my high school peers, especially the male ones. Even though the boys welcomed me into their little world, they still considered me a girl and laughed at me when I would dish out the stats of a game. I even corrected them about
s s i s e F n o d r a W M om h c r e a
,n
O TO
Stefanie Verdugo-Tholen | Reporter
how many turnovers there actually were or who was the top pick for a March Madness bracket. The older I got, the better my knowledge got, and sometimes that did not sit well with my friends. Even my female friends made fun of me. They thought I was just pretending to be interested in sports so the boys would like me. I never claimed to know everything about basketball. For me, it’s about the thrill of it all. I was never athletic growing up and never found my niche in high school with regards to sports, even though I was a huge fan of most sports. I like to cheer on my favorite
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Growing up as “one of the guys” isn’t all its cracked up to be.”
teams and my favorite players. I like bantering with fellow sports fanatics over a rivalry. It makes you feel like part of the team. I enjoy March Madness much more as an adult now. I have been blessed to have a group of mature, confident women who also enjoy sports and do not care what people think. Every year we get together in Las Vegas to celebrate March Madness. It doesn’t matter to me anymore if people think I am pretending to like sports. I am too old to play games.
M Rams battle for Victory in Season Finale Anthony De Leon | Sports Editor aleal@therampageonline.com
Fresno City College women’s basketball finished the season with a hard fought 71-60 victory in their season finale against Merced College. After Merced taking two of the last three meetings, a hard fought victory a win felt good for the Rams, including guard Julia Cuellar who finished with 10 points, but her greatest contribution came on defense and in the clutch late minutes. “It felt really nice to be able to come back and fight through adversity, and shows we have some spunk and the ability to go where we want to get to,” said Cuellar Both teams wasted no time out of the gate playing at an extremely fast pace. In the first quarter both teams were scoring at a neck wrenching speed matching each other blow for blow. Neither team wanted to let the other gain the
upper hand which led to the quarter ending Merced having a slight lead of 23-20. The second quarter was more of the same when it came to the pace of the game. Although both teams saw a dip in scoring outputs they were still able to match shot for shot and in a game where both teams were waiting for the other to make the first mistake Merced went into half with a slight three point led. The Rams’ offense was spearheaded in the second half by guard Bria Fernandes who finished the game as the leading scorer with 19 points, four of which came from behind the arc and Jasmine Phoolka who also scored in double digits finishing with 16 points. Coming out of the half the game was neck and neck until around the 3:05 mark of the 3rd quarter where FCC scored eight consecutive points. The run started with a 3-pointer and lay-up
after taking advantage of sloppy inbounding from Merced. And finally another three that seemed to take the confidence right out of Merced and momentum started to shift. With the crowd growing increasingly louder the Rams took a double digit lead into the half with the score being 62-51, but most importantly they had the momentum behind them and there was no turning back. Merced had no answer for FCC in the fourth the game was well in hand despite a late run by Merced to close out the game. The Rams played the last 10 minutes with a confidence level that will surely help them succeed in postseason play. “Confidence is really high and we have the pieces that we need to be successful,” stated Cuellar. “So if we keep working our hardest and do what coach tells us we’ll be fine.”
Sophmore Julia Cuellar for the Rams drivies to the basket against Merced College at Fresno City College Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. Photo/Larry Valenzuela
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Rams Beat Merced, Vault into Playoffs Jamila McCarty | Reporter jmccarty@therampageonline.com
Sophmore guard Tyus Millhollin for the Rams jumps for a layup against Merced College at Fresno City College Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. Photo/Larry Valenzuela
The Rams dominated Merced College 119-86 on Feb.18, defeating them for the second time this season and soared into the No. 2 position in the Central Valley Conference. Great teamwork and effort was displayed on the court in the first half of the game by guards Jess Spivey and Jared Small in the second half. The game started with a quick layup within the first 3 seconds. Merced’s offense struggled with passing and shooting in the first half. Sophomore Guard Jess Spivey, who scored 21-points, managed to shoot the ball well beyond the arc several times in the first half and sent the Rams into halftime with a 20-point lead. “We wanted to come out and really put on a show for the last game of the season,” Spivey said. After the break, FCC racked 57 more points with the help of
Freshman Guard Jared Small who scored 18-points in the second half. Merced only managed to put up 44 points total in the second half. The Rams put a large amount of points on the board, with their field goal percentage was 53.9 and 38.9 percent beyond the three-point line. Merced struggled with coming out on top this season and now has a 2-12 record. “A tougher opponent would have given us more of a challenge,” Small said. “But it’s alright; we’ll take the win.” The Rams will be facing their first playoff game at 7 p.m. on Feb. 24 at their home gym. “It’s either win or go home at this point,” Spivey said. The team honored the sophomore players -- Jess Spivey, Tommy Nuno, Fred Lavender, Eric Pierce, Isaiah Flynn, Tyus Millhollin, and Zach Savage.
Lorenzo Neal to Hold Youth Camp at FCC Anthony De Leon | Reporter adeleon@therampageonline.com
Former NFL All-Pro Lorenzo Neal will be holding a youth football camp held at Fresno City College for youth 7 to 14 years old. The former Fresno State running back and San Diego Chargers fullback is holding the camp with the goal of building up the youth in the valley through hard work and support. Neal wants those who will be attending the camp to get into the mindset that hard work pays off. “The will to win is nothing without the will to prepare,” said Neal. The idea of putting together this youth camp was sparked by Neal analyzing the surrounding nature of what has been going on in the world and in the U.S, and how it is becoming increasingly difficult for youth to grow up in the current state of our communities, he said. “I see what is going on in the world and I don’t have blinders on,” Neal said. “I can no longer sit idly by without doing anything.” Neal has started this movement with a five step mantra that he wants to resonate with the youth, which starts with building trust, character, and credibility by
breaking down walls and building the person back up. Those involved in helping Neal bridge the relationship between the youth and the community includes participants from Fresno City College athletics, the Fresno Police Department and the backing of the NFL Players Association. There will also be numerous current and ex-NFL players taking part, such as Buffalo Bills Pro Bowler Lorenzo Alexander, Chargers great Ladainian Tomlinson and Charlie Jones. “It is imperative that theses coaches push, they break down and they build,” stated Neal. “If I can get your mind, I can get your heart and I can get your soul.” Neal would also like to get volunteers who do not have a connection with football, but can help the youth, such as pastors and psychologists. Another focus for bridging the gap between the youth and the community is having numerous law enforcement volunteers for the event, especially after dealing with the current turmoil and disconnect between law enforcement and communities throughout the country, Neil said. “Yes there are some rogue cops
and some rogue people,” Neal said, “but I believe [they] aren’t bad, people are just people who make bad choices.” Neal said his focus is trying to change the preconceived notion that “if one, then all” when it comes to topics of race and injustice. He feels that is not the case and it is so far from the truth and that is where he would like to bridge that for the youth. Lorenzo Neal Photo courtesy of The Orange County Register “Whatever race it may be, there is a lot moral fabric of our country,” Neal So far the camp has over 200 of good and there is a lot of bad,” said. kids signed up with a little less said Neal. “As a society we want The vision for the future is that than three weeks until the event to point the finger and say they’re this will be the first of many camps takes place. Those interested all bad, but that’s not the case we sponsored through Neal and the in registering a child register have to teach tolerance.” NFLPA according to Neal. The through Neal’s official website, loNeal feels that this generation’s goal is to in the near future have renzoneal.com. youth is becoming desensitized camps duplicated in Oakland, San “I want to stop this vicious cyand have lost sight of what mor- Diego and Los Angeles for those cle and my biggest mission is not als and values should be instilled communities where Neal feel to entitle people, but to empower them in order for them to grow. need help. our youth,” said Neal. “There is a “We’re losing some of our “We are hurting, I believe difference between entitlement youth and our identity, and all the events like this are needed and and empowerment and we as a things surrounding our youth is without a vision we will all per- whole must start empowering.” desensitizing who we are and the ish.”
