Issue 5 Fall 2019

THE RAMPAGE The Student-Run Newspaper of Fresno City College

Fall 2019 | ISSUE 5 | October 23, 2019

Chemical Spill Shuts Down MSE Building, 4 Hospitalized

A base chemical spilled on the second floor.

It splashed onto four students. The emergency shower flooded. The water seeped through the floor and into the classroom below.

Page 2 When a chemistry apparatus shattered, four students were exposed to sodium hydroxide, a corrosive base chemical. One student's hand was exposed, and her skin began to burn. The other three were struck in the face. The emergency shower was employed but quickly overflowed, and the water leaked into the science classroom below. Illustration/Moises Buitrago

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2 NEWS 10.23.19

THE RAMPAGE

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Alfredo Rodriguez Christian Zarcone Jeffery Gilkison Leilani Bustos Luis Barreto Mark Ross Moises Buitrago Natalie Gallegos Patrick Henslee Symmone Woods Toni Woodruff

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Questions Persist about the Chemical Spill a spilled chemical sent four Students to the hospital. following the incident, victims faced ridicule and misinformation.

Kris Hall | Online Editor

Derek Bullis | Opinion Editor

A previously archived version of this story used a template that included an inappropriate and insulting word. The word been removed and the template has been revised.

Hawkins Dowis was administering a quiz between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10 when the ceiling of his biology classroom, S-120 of the Math, Science and Engineering building began to leak.

“I had the students move and placed a couple trash cans underneath the leak to catch the water,” Dowis said.

Then he alerted technicians who alerted maintenance.

“The maintenance guy showed up soon after and was pretty startled,” Dowis said.

Maintenance left.

A campus police officer arrived.

And then the entire MSE building was evacuated and classes were canceled for the rest of the day.

Before the leak, in the floor above Dowis’ biology classroom, the students in Karin Gruet’s chemistry class were taking their midterm exam when a student accidentally spilled a chemical that they were working with.

The chemical contents, not known by the students at the time, was a diluted form of NaOH, or sodium hydroxide.

The goal of the midterm was to identify the unknown chemical.

Early on in the exercise a student dropped the beaker with the chemical which then shattered on the lab table.

On the day of the incident, it was initially reported as an acid spill, but it was not an acid spill at all. “It was a weak base,” said Shirley McManus, dean of instruction of Math, Science and Engineering.

Gruet, who was the only person in the lab who knew the contents of the chemicals that the students were working with, was assisting students on the other side of the classroom when the spill occurred.

She was unable to determine which of the four chemicals had splashed on the students.

McManus said the students were all part of a chemical identification lab where, of the seven chemicals present in the lab, students were working with four of them.

“Of the students in the room, none of the victims were at all responsible for what happened,” McManus said.

At first, there seemed to be only three students Eunice Odozie, Cassandra Rangel and one other victim who does not wish to be identified, to have the chemical

on them.

As is proper procedure with a chemical spill of any kind, they were all ushered to the safety shower immediately to rinse off.

“I don’t have a full grasp of what happened. I know there was a splash,” said Odozie after having her face exposed to the chemical.

Missing from the shower was victim Elinore Alms. Her exposure to the chemical was localized only to her hand, so she left her hand under the sink while the other three victims went under the shower.

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The Chemical Spill “It started pretty normal [the midterm],” Alms said. “It was a pretty mundane day.”

But then, the accident occured.

Alms said that the girl who spilled the chemical was from a different lab and was only trying to finish her midterm.

Early on in the exam, one of

“

As soon as we started doing our lab one of the pipettes broke. And then a few minutes later another one broke.”

-ELINORE ALMS FCC Student

the pipettes—a glass rod used in chemistry to administer small droplets of liquid—broke. “And then a few minutes later, another one broke,” she said.

According to Alms, Gruet told the class, “‘Alright guys let’s calm down. We don’t have enough equipment, so please don’t break any more.’”

The next thing to break was the beaker full of sodium hydroxide.

Students at the scene described the instance as a pop, but Alms clarified, “the sound was the glass breaking.”

“My first thought was something came and hit my finger,” Alms said. “This being the third piece of glass that broke that day, I thought it was glass.”

“There was a news company who talked to me that day who said in their report that I

The emergency shower was employed to decontaminate the four victims. It releases 30 gallons per minute, and quickly overflowed during the required five minute rinse. Photo from Monday, Oct. 21,2019. Photo/Mark Ross

screamed because it burned,” she joked. “I didn't even think it was a burn at first. I thought it was glass.”

But when she looked down at her hand, instead of seeing blood, she saw something that worried her more. NaOH, like many chemicals, appears clear like water. That was what Alms saw on her hand — a substance that looked like water, but burned.

McManus explained that everything from the moment of the spill happened very quickly.

The beaker was dropped onto the lab table, about waist level to the students.

The student who dropped the beaker was unavailable for a comment. All that can be confirmed is that the student left the area almost immediately, and did not appear to be hurt by broken glass or exposure to the spilled chemical.

Alms said she was initially in recovery mode and her first mission was to get herself clean.

She used a sink in the lab to wash her hand, one of the best things to do in the event of an unknown chemical spill, according to Alms.

She noticed that three girls were huddled around another sink across the room.

“The other girls, they got it on their faces,” Alms said.

No one had called the attention of the teacher. Alms called out to Gruet who immediately directed the three women sharing the sink to the safety shower.

After situating the victims under the shower, Gruet alerted Brittany Lusk, the chemistry technician. Lusk then informed the authorities while Gruet tended to her students.

“They were there for about five minutes under the shower. I was at the sink for about 10 minutes

since I had started before them and kept going after,” Alms, who never used the shower, said.

She said the three victims huddled under the safety shower looked like emperor penguins.

Apart from one instance when one of the victims broke away from the huddle. “They stayed there the whole time. It was really brave and strong of them honestly,” Alms said.

The rest of the students in the lab were herded out of the classroom and into the hallway.

Water overflowed from the shower into the classroom. “It was pooling up where there were dips in the floors, like over by the desks,” said Alms.

“S-120 is now closed because when the water came out of the safety shower, it comes out at 30 gallons a minute,” McManus said, adding that the floor drains for the showers are not large enough to handle that volume of water which managed to find a way to leak through the floor into S-120 below. Since speaking to McManus, the room has been opened and deemed safe for school use.

President Carole Goldsmith said in a mass email to students that, “The emergency showers are a recent addition to this old building and do not have adequate drainage for the amount of water flow that is required for safety.”

The water posed a danger to the students because once it runs off of the victims who had the hazardous base on their faces and clothes, the base runs off with the water. Though heavily diluted, the runoff that was pooling on the floor was still a hazard to the other students present since there were still traces of sodium Continued on Page 4, SPILL

10.23.19 NEWS 3

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All Gender Restrooms, Shower Curtains in High Demand, Says Allied Staff President Natalie Gallagos | Reporter ngallagos@therampageonline.com

The president of the new Allied Staff and Faculty Association called for more allgender bathrooms and shower curtains on the Fresno City College campus during a presentation on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019.

Arien Reed said there are only six allgender bathrooms accessible to students on campus and that the district does not do all that it could to accommodate its transgender and non-binary population.

“One significant reason [for class drops] identified by our LGBTQ students and alumni has been a lack of safe and genderinclusive restrooms on our campus and experiences of harassment in the binary-gendered restrooms, and the general hostility on our campus towards transgender and non-binary students,” Reed said.

He has first hand experience. Reed is a gay, transgender staff member, and has had to leave meetings or events for long periods of time, in order to find an unlocked allgender restroom on campus.

“The current and unfortunate reality

is transgender and non-binary staff and faculty do not feel safe, accepted, or welcome on the FCC campus,” he said.

Reed said that when he raised these issues with the district, they found no reason for concern and instead explained there were plenty of gender neutral restrooms around campus.

More than a year ago, Shannon Robertson, the director of construction services for the district, promised to bring more gender neutral restrooms to campus.

Reed said that there is no progress and he has had to raise his concerns with Robertson over and over.

Reed was told that there were 37 gender neutral bathrooms on campus and that no action had to be taken.

Upon doing his own investigation, Reed

discovered that 18 out of 37 identified all gender restrooms did not exist. Twenty three single-use all gender restrooms did in fact exist, but only six of them are available to students; the rest were locked.

According to the National Center for Transgender Equality, 12% of transgender people were verbally harrased in a public restroom, 1% physically attacked, 1% sexually assulted, and 9% were denied the use of a public restroom.

Reed also took notice of the lack of privacy in the changing rooms and showers in the gym after another staff member came forward, asking if there was a gender neutral changing room for students.

Reed said he questioned Pamm ZierfussHubbard, director of athletics, and was reassured that if any student ever felt uncomfortable or threatened at any

moment while utilizing the gym locker room, they could let staff know and have proper adjustments made for them.

After a tour of the gym changing room, however, Reed immediately took notice of the wide open space.

“The showers lack any kind of privacy, even curtains,” Reed said. “Everyone changing or accessing their lockers is in full view of anyone who is showering, and vice versa.”

According to Reed, this causes discomfort in LGBTQ and disabled Individuals who might feel “unsafe, unwelcome, and must confront erasure on a daily basis.”

He insists that installing curtains in the showering areas and creating bigger changing spaces will create a more comfortable environment for all students.

“It is crucial that all of our students not only feel safe and welcome participating in physical education classes and events,” Reed said, “but that they may utilize our gym in any capacity.”

Indigenous People’s Day Celebration Spreads Awareness of Crisis in Native American Communities Leilani Bustos | Reporter lbustos@therampageonline.com

Red handprints across mouths, drums in hand.

People of all ages rallied for missing and murdered Native American women during the celebration of Indigenous People’s Day on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, marching across the Fresno City College campus.

Organizers of the event said they hope to spread awareness about issues such as the kidnapping and murder of indigenous women. Mostly, the goal is to enlighten students who are unfamiliar with the native cultures throughout North and South America.

“The National Crime Information Center reports that, in 2016, there were 5,712 reports of missing American Indian and

Alaska Native women and girls, throughout the US Department of Justice’s federal missing persons database,” according to Urban Indian Health Institute.

A participant of the rally explained that the red handprint plastered against the lips and faces of the men and women is an acknowledgement of the missing or murdered indigenous women; indicating that the community will no longer be silent and will be heard.

Among featured speakers were Carlene Oppenheimer, former FCC student and Bernard Navarro, instructor of sociology and cultural studies.

Indigenous People’s Day has been celebrated annually across the country and on the FCC campus for over 15 years, with the help of Bernard Navarro, who is also

Female holds up an "Invisible No More" sign at FCC's Indigenous People's Day Rally on Monday Oct. 14, 2019 to protest against discrimination of indigenous people and the murders of their women.

Photo/Leilani Bustos

professor of Native American Studies.

Navarro said that the rally is not a protest against Columbus Day, but rather a celebration of the culture and to honor their native ancestors.

“We stand in solidarity with all of our brothers and sisters across the country,” Navarro, who identifies as Native American, said. He said he shows his commitment to his culture by helping bring together other indigenous people from all over the valley.

Navarro said that acknowledging the Mono and Yokut tribes that reside here in California is important as are the other indigenous people involved in the celebration.

“This is their land,” Navarro said, “so, it’s important to pay tribute to them.”

Navarro said his philosophy as a professor is to educate his students on the sociological aspects of Native American lives. He wants others to feel proud of where they came from and despite the traumas they may have faced.

He and Oppenheimer say they agree that the past of Native American discrimination is repeating itself.\ “Girls are being kidnapped at a higher rate than the rest of the population,” Navarro said, adding that the dehumanization of indigenous people in both the past and present have caused long lasting trauma for natives across the country.

“They still tell us to get over it,” Oppenheimer said. “Get over what? It hasn’t even stopped.”

FCC student Robert Davis of the Cherokee tribe shows his support with face paint at the Indigenous People's Day rally on Oct. 14, 2019 symbolizing the awareness of missing and murdered indigenous women. Photo/Leilani Bustos

4 NEWS 10.23.19

“

Spill, FROM PAGE 2

The Fire Department had the building evacuated in 10 minutes. I was impressed with how smoothly everything was handled. I commend them for the job they did because in hindsight, we didn’t know what the chemical was.”

-Shirley McManus Dean of math, science and engineering hydroxide in the water.

Then maintenance personnel arrived downstairs, water pouring into the trash cans Hawkins Dowis placed.

“In between the floor of chemistry and biology is a space. It contains the duct work for the AC and the floor’s plumbing.

It also contains the wires that hold up the ceiling,” McManus said.

Because of the spill and leak, the ceiling tiles will need to be replaced, according to McManus.

No word from faculty has indicated that there will be any alterations to the shower, room, or drains to prevent the flood from happening again.

The Evacuation “Every single thing we did,” Alms said, “we did it right.”

therampageonline.com “I was glad they were OK,” McManus said. “I think they were a little shaken up, but I reassured them that they did what they were supposed to do.”

As soon as the water started to pool in the classroom, students left, and when the police arrived and ordered an evacuation, “everyone evacuated calmly,” according to McManus and Dowis.

“The Fire Department had the building evacuated in 10 minutes,” McManus said.

“I was impressed with how smoothly everything was handled. I commend them for the job they did because in hindsight, we didn’t know what the chemical was.”

According to Odozie, the hospital visit wasn’t a pleasant experience, “The water was cold at school and cold at the hospital,” she said.

She said she is happy that the college paid the medical expenses for all the victims because she doesn’t have health insurance for herself.

McManus said she decided to cancel classes that day because she felt that was the safest option, given all the uncertainty.

Bullying Alms said since the incident, she and the other victims have been facing scrutiny from their classmates.

She added that some of the other students taking Chem 1B that day say they are frustrated that their midterm was pushed back because of the incident and started taking out their frustration on the victims in the form of verbal harassment inside and outside of the classroom.

“One of the other [victims] didn’t come to class the first day after it happened, and I’m glad she didn’t because people were talking crap about us,” Alms said. “That was really disheartening. We all spent the weekend at home sad.”

The recovery from this incident has been difficult. Physically, the wounds

Officers survey the scene following a sudden evacuation of the MSE building on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019.

Classes in the building were canceled for the day after four students were exposed to sodium hydroxide.

Photo/Mark Ross

are healing. Emotionally, the victims are still hurting. “Every time I looked at my homework, I cried,” Alms said.

Alms said McManus was appalled when she found out that students were being harassed and came to reprimand the class on Oct. 15. While she did not single out the students harassing the victims, she warned the entire class of consequences if harassment of the victims continued.

McManus characterized the harassment as childish, middle school behavior on a college campus.

Alms added, “I’m just hoping that people will be nice to us from here on out.”

Healing On the day of the incident, police had escorted everyone out of the building.

The last to leave, were the victims. They were led outside separate from the other students to ensure that they could receive proper treatment.

Besides the harassment from her classmates, and the chemical burns on her

hand, Alms said she became anxious about her finances once she caught sight of the ambulances ready to take victims to the hospital.

Goldsmith herself assured all the victims that the school will cover all medical fees.

Alms said she spoke to the culprit after the evacuation to clarify what had happened but that the student responsible was too shaken up to provide any accurate information.

“We knew who did it, but she wasn’t coming clean about it,” Alms said. “She’s saying she didn’t drop it.”

Alms says that this incident has brought the four victims together. They had barely seen each other outside of class before the incident but are now leaning on each other for support. Whether physically or emotionally, she says they are healing together.

“We have some comradery here,” she said. “We’re doing alright now. We’re still getting over this emotionally, but we’re going to end this year strong.”

New VP Works to Propel ASG Forward Leilani Bustos | Reporter lbustos@therampageonline.com

The recently appointed Associated Student Government Vice President proved he was taking his position seriously in the organization’s weekly meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019.

“My role is to do any work ASG Vice President Armando Garcia, right, points to clarify to President DeRon delegated to me by the president Walker at their weekly meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2019 in the FCC Senate — train the senators, I am Chambers. Photo/Hannah Lanier the disciplinary of the office,” Armando Garcia said, although he has taken on more than just his own responsibilities.

Garcia’s commitment to ASG shows in his actions during each meeting.

ASG President DeRon Walker is in charge, but Garcia is by his side always, helping and taking on more responsibility.

Garcia frequently makes many Camilia Rivera provides reason as to why she wants to be a senator, "Young people should get involved," said Rivera in an ASG meeting on Tuesday, Oct. clarifications to keep members 22, 2019 in Senate Chambers. Photo/Hannah Lanier on topic as well as to remind them of rules that are sometimes forgotten.

While all members are active in their roles, Garcia will take on the roles of others when needed.

This includes covering for communications officer Ruby Kaur, who was absent for Tuesday’s meeting. Garcia had to keep careful track of the minutes between each agenda item.

Andrew Derfelt passionately explains his purpose for joining ASG as a senator “I want a future for my kids, my at their Tuesday meeting in the Senate Chambers on Oct. 22, 2019.

Photo/Hannah Lanier

peers and their kids,” Garcia said.

“I want to freely help them.” His passion for ASG includes helping others to gain that passion as well.

Despite his limited experience as a member of the ASG, his knowledge of the student government allows him to train new senators while going through

“

I Think it's important when you're young to take a stand”-Camila Rivera ASG Senator

training himself. “It’s continuous, it’s never ending,” he says.

Since the fall semester of 2019 started, eight new members have joined the ASG, Including Senators Noemi Nava, Elizabeth Harris, Itzel Reyes, Andrew Derfelt, Camila Rivera, Carrie Garcia, Pahal and Comm Officer

Ruby Kaur who all will be trained

by Vice President Garcia.

Before being sworn in during the Oct. 22 meeting, Rivera lauded the leadership skills she has gained from being president of the Democrats club as well as her contribution with the United States Against Sweatshops Coalition.

“I think it’s important for young people to take a stand,” Rivera said during her presentation on why she should be appointed.

Derfelt said he was previously in the Navy where he learned teamwork and communicating with others which would qualify him as a reliable member of ASG. The number of ASG members has grown to a full table within the two and a half months of the semester, allowing for more office hours.

The new senators are also offering to fill committee chairs that have been vacant and will volunteer for the ASG-run events around campus.

With Vice President Garcia taking the new members under his wing, the senators will be taught how to further advance ASG and the campus with policies, their constitution, the Brown Act and how to write bills.

10.23.19 OPINION 5

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CAMPUS Let's Talk about Gun Violence Restraining Orders VOICES Derek Bullis | Opinion Editor dbullis@therampageonline.com

What is the worst "treat" you have recieved while Trick or Treating?

Alfredo Rodriguez | Reporter arodriguez@therampageonline.com

Sally Saiz

English Professor "Homemade caramel popcorn was the worst."

We can’t predict the future.

But on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed hundreds of new bills into effect. Among them was AB-61.

It criminalizes individuals based on the assumption that they will pose a threat in the future.

AB-61 expands on an already existing Gun Violence Restraining Order law that will be updated to allow employers, co-workers and college faculty the ability to petition to have an individual's Second Amendment right temporary taken away without due process or the completion of a crime.

The current GVRO law that started in 2016 allows only direct family members, and neighbors the ability to petition for a GVRO against an individual that they suspect has a substantial likelihood in the near future of being a harm to self or danger to others.

Once the restraining order is in place law enforcement officers can then come into

the home and confiscate any legally possessed firearms, and ammunition that an individual might have.

That individual then has to plead for their innocence of any violent intent in court to have their possessions and amendment rights returned to

them.

This is the equivalent to the DMV taking your driver's license away because someone reports that you will be a bad driver.

AB-61 reminds me of Minority Report, one of my favorite sci-fi films.

The film is set in 2054 and revolves around Chief John

Anderton, an investigator with the cities new and experimental Pre-Crime Unit.

At Pre-Crime Anderton’s job as an investigator is to hunt down and arrest violent criminals before they can commit their crimes.

Sounds all too familiar.

I would be jailed a 100,000 times over for the number of times I thought about running a red light or thought about jaywalking but didn’t act on it.

The reason all of this sounds ridiculous because it is ridiculous.

We do this for no other crimes but it’s something that is allowed and tolerated when dealing in the realm of preventing gun violence and mass casualty shootings.

This is the moral dilemma that we are asked to face; is the safety and security of the majority less important than

maintaining and upholding an individual's human and constitutional rights?

These are not rational laws, they are emotional laws.

It starts with thinking that we want to help create more security and end gun violence, so we allow ourselves the ability to convict suspects without just cause and due process.

So much for innocent until proven guilty.

Red Flag laws allow a disgruntled neighbor or co-worker to put a 21 day restriction and confiscation of firearms that were legally acquired.

We can’t predict the future so the presumption of innocence is absolutely critical and needs to be maintained in order to continue to have law and order.

Our future as a nation hangs on maintaining those basic principles.

Bryan Cano Law Enforcement "Jelly Beans. I don't like the taste of them."

Romain Park is one of many local parks with potential to flourish, yet it suffers from an unsafe neighborhood on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. Photo/Patrick Henslee

Parks Are a Safe Place, or at Least They Should Be Patrick Henslee | Reporter phenslee@therampageonline.com

Charity Maikhil Biology Major

"Candy Corn and Pretzel."

Edgar Martinez

Business Administration "Licorice, because it doesn't taste good. It taste like candle wax."

I get antsy if I’m stuck inside my own home for too long, and I start to feel the itch.

It digs into my shoulders and I have to shake it out. It settles in my lower back, and I have to twist my torso or adjust my posture. It creeps down and wriggles into my calves, and my leg starts bouncing like I’m drumming to “Fell In Love With A Girl” by the White Stripes.

I have to get out.

A year ago when I lived in Selma, I’d just text a couple friends and see who wants to meet at the high school baseball field to play catch or the basketball courts at Shafer Park for a pickup game.

But I’m in Fresno now, so I’m stuck throwing a stress ball at the wall until it goes away.

That’s not to say that I don’t have friends in Fresno. I just wouldn’t go to any of

the parks near my house in downtown Fresno past sundown.

Romain Park is closest.

It has a baseball field, a skatepark and open fields commonly used for youth soccer practice.

I’ve gone there by myself to play basketball with other scrubs, but I find myself leaving before everybody else does or when the crowd gets too big. I don’t want to be there when the wrong person shows up to the park at night.

It was just in January 2019 when an arsonist set fire to the park’s recreational center, damaging new renovations and the safety of nearby residents. In 2015, the park’s playground was set ablaze too.

So next closest is Dickey Playground. They’ve got a cute little playground and splash park, which is a terrific option for families trying to beat the awful Central Valley heat in the

summertime. Closer to my interests, their basketball courts were clean and looked nice.

But in March 2019, Fresno police arrested an armed gang member for selling narcotics after he was found at Dickey Playground with methamphetamines and marijuana packaged to sell.

I now understand why my summer baseball coach was so hesitant to have us practice there before a tournament when I was 12.

Next up is Fink White Park, a bit longer of a drive but the courts are worth it.

They’re the nicest I’ve played on, and the playground is modernized with a big rocket ship structure for kids to play in. I see it and wish I had something like that at the parks I went to as a kid.

But across from the drained pool and locked bathrooms are the soccer fields with torn, hanging goals and dried grass.

They fuse right into the baseball fields with a sandbox for an infield and rusty benches in the dugouts.

The wooden bleachers are miraculously still standing, begging for the renovation the other side was granted.

The fence around them doesn’t stop a woman from sitting down to read in the sun.

“I think getting the family time is pretty valuable [when going to parks],” said Marlina Gastulem, a mother of four who takes her kids to the park every Saturday.

“It’s better to let them run around and be kids than have them at home on tablets and phones,” she said.

My search was just to find a basketball hoop and get the itch out.

A mother’s search was to find a safe place for her and her children to spend family time together.

We’re both still looking.

6 ENTERTAINMENT 10.23.19 Concert Band Brings Bavarian Taste to the Valley in Oktoberfest Performance Jeffrey Gilkison | Reporter jgilkison@therampageonline.com

The Fresno Community Concert Band kicked off its 2019-20 season on Sunday, Oct. 20 with two performances at the Fresno City College Theatre.

The 3 p.m. matinee sold out, and there was substantial turnout at the 7 p.m. show. The Oktoberfest theme of the performance was reflected in musical presentations leaving an unmistakable ambience of Bavarian autumn in the evening air.

In its 27th year of existence, the all-volunteer band continues to make good on its mission to “provide a musical, educational and recreational advantage to the Central Valley by sustaining the American tradition of concert band,” according to the band’s Facebook page.

Whatever one’s musical taste, there is a certain call to attention inherent in the dissociate cacophony of an orchestra warming up. At once urbane and ancient, numberless trills and phrases bring long-forgotten songs of childhood to the very edge of recognition, only to fade again into

the background’s anonymous hum.

After a while, the band gathered together around a single sustained major chord and the audience was brought to its feet spontaneously by the first familiar notes of the National Anthem.

The tone of the event was set by the exhilarating flourish of Shostakovich’s “Festive Overture.”

In keeping with the spirit of Oktoberfest, the next three offerings were polkas, replete with a delightful tutorial by conductor Bruce Weinberger on the several conditions that must be met by a musical piece to qualify it as a true polka. Every piece must have a 2/4 time signature, three distinct musical themes which must include a frilly, flourishing segment as well as a section containing the familiar ‘oom-pa’ feel.

Weinberger demonstrated this before each piece by prompting the band to play short passages containing those specific elements in each of the respective songs.

The two high points of the presentation were Eric Whitacre’s whirling comedic “Godzilla Eats Las

Vegas, Part Two,” with various vocal exclamations by the band and an appearance by Godzilla itself, and the eternal jazz standard “Autumn Leaves.”

After almost three decades of delighting local audiences, the band’s fortunes are only looking brighter says band manager Michael Bonner.

“Last year our first show here at City College sold out also,” he said, “and about 90 people attended the second show. This year it looks as though upwards of 300 people will be attending tonight’s second show.”

Bonner said that’s a significant increase and that people have grown more interested in just a year.

The Fresno Community Concert Band was founded in October 1993 after a yearlong planning process by its organizers. Conceived as an organization that would provide an outlet for the many amateur and retired professional musicians in that area, the band now boasts 80 players representing a wide range of ages and occupations. All members are former high school or college band participants.

Monday Mixers At Strummers: 'The Place you need to be for upcoming artists' Toni Woodruff | Reporter twoodruff@therampageonline.com

Strummers celebrated their 101 Monday Mixer on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019. The weekly event is free for all ages event and its sole purpose is to unite and connect artists.

“Every Monday we’re always bringing new artsists and bands that vary from hip-hop to pop to even hardcore bands and new wave bands,” said resident DJ Nate Ruiz.

To Ruiz, the diversity of music and people are what make mixers so special. The event allows creatives to network and it’s a great starting destination.

“I would say this is the place you need to be for upcoming artists because the whole purpose of this is to help artists become discovered,” said Ruiz.

Jada Sylvest is a frequent vendor at Strummers Monday Mixers, selling their handdrawn art on everything to stickers, buttons, T-shirts and canvas paintings. They say that the experience has helped them expand their business while also opening up other opportunities for them Sylvest said that Monday Mixers are a hidden gem in Fresno.

“I’ve made so many connections at Monday mixers,” Sylvest said. “I even got the chance to work with other organizations like the Fresno Black Girl Magic Project just from being here.”

For artist Isabella Zarate, it's the chill and inviting vibe at Strummers that intrigued her to attend Monday Mixers and what got her comfortable enough to become a vendor.

Selling pieces of her drawings and paintings, Zarate says Monday Mixers are the place to be for networking and

Performer Maximus Mendoza and DJ Nate Ruiz flow together at Strummers' Monday Mixer on Oct. 14, 2019. Photo/Toni Woodruff

meeting new people.

“There’s so many good connections through Monday mixers that it’s perfect for new artists because you never know who could walk through those doors,” she said.

Singer and songwriter Maximus Mendoza used the platform for his first live performance after being sought out by the event coordinator. He has attended before, and said he enjoys the authenticity of the event.

“The mixers are cool, it’s a good place for people wanting to showcase their artwork because there a lot of people who come in that are actually interested,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza’s work is socially conscious. He dedicated one of his songs to survivors of

abusive relationships, like himself. Mendoza says that his music has become an outlet for him.

“My first three songs I’ll be performing came from me writing about going through something pretty rough and it touches on mental health,” he said.

The event wasn’t just a good time for those participating but first-timers Keondre Thomas and Mikalah Jones say they will definitely be back.

The duo complimented Strummers on its “edgy cool vibe” and enjoyed the variety of music.

“This is my first Monday mixer and I love the vibe of the venue,” Jones said. “I wasn't sure what to expect, but I’m totally surprised."

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Indigoat headliner Chris Brown performed at the Save Mart Center alongside tour mates Joyner Lucas, Ty Dolla $ign, and Tory Lanez on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019.

Photo/Wikimedia Commons

The Wind Has Stopped Blowing for Chris Breezy: A Review John Bruce | Entertainment Editor jbruce@therampageonline.com

Chris Brown seems like a shell of his former self.

After a tepid performance at the Save Mart Center on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, that much has become clear.

The show began at an early 6:30 p.m. with relatively new Yella Beezy opening for the main acts. Fresno was one stop on the Indigoat tour, celebrating the new release of Chris Brown’s 2019 album “Indigo” and the upcoming albums of tour mates Ty Dolla $ign, Joyner Lucas and Tory Lanez.

Indigoat headliner Chris Brown was banal. His music is stale, he relies on bigger names and better musicians to give him ethos and he is a product of a different time. It would be like a grunge band still trying to sell out arenas.

But while Brown is no Pearl Jam, there was not an empty seat in the house on Thursday.

People still love his music.

While ushers tried to keep attendees from getting onto the lower level, the floor flooded with patrons dancing, drinking and shouting song lyrics. Something about Brown’s overplayed commercial radio sound made these people go nuts.

Several times, Brown mentioned how he loves Fresno. It seemed like, instead of appreciating the culture and the people of Fresno he was just thankful he didn't have to play a listless audience.

“When people ask what cities I like going to, I bring up Fresno,” he told the crowd. “Every time we go to Fresno it’s lit in here.”

From a look at Brown’s Spotify the night of the concert, all five songs featured at the top of his profile are collaborations with other artists or they are songs

where he is featured. The “Run It” artist has fallen very far from 2005.

Yet, it was a packed house.

It was an older crowd, so Brown definitely has fans, they’re just in a different demographic. Maybe there’s not a nostalgia for last decade’s rhythm and beat among younger people. It could be that attending youth went to see the modern artists as opposed to an outdated pop rap artist from 15 years ago. Perhaps those in later generations have less of a tolerance for convicted domestic abusers.

It’s not even that R&B has gone out of style. Childish Gambino’s December 2016 record “Awaken, My Love!” was a shift away from the hip-hop artist’s roots and toward a neosoul rhythmic ‘70s Motown inspired sound. Its lead single “Redbone” was nominated for the Grammy for the Best R&B Song and the Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance.

It’s now certified platinum.

So, obviously it’s not the genre’s fault. It hasn’t gone out of style, but the reason Brown isn’t a superstar anymore is because his music went the way of the crunk.

Lil’ Jon still draws crowds and gets millions of streams on Spotify and Apple Music, but he’s been reduced to yelling “yeah!” on some second rate turn-up record of the summer just like Brown has been reduced to the dulcet tones of a chorus in some rap song no one will remember in six months.

Regardless, Fresno showed up for the concert and the middle-aged white guy wearing a large gold chain and holding a footlong glass full of beer in the next seat over was vibing all night.

10.23.19 SPORTS 7

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Rams Edge Past Modesto for Seventh Straight Win Patrick Henslee | Reporter phenslee@therampageonline.com

Sophomore forward Michael Vega works his way around a Modesto defender during the Rams' 3-2 win over the Pirates on Oct. 15, 2019. Photo/Patrick Henslee

The Fresno City College men’s soccer team narrowly beat Modesto Junior College Pirates 3-2 on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019.

It was a tale of two games for the Rams, with both solid and sloppy performances.

The Rams entered the match riding a six game winning streak in which they outscored their opponents 17-0, with two 5-0 wins. The Rams hoped to repeat their success against the successful Pirates (7-4-1).

At 18:00, freshman midfielder Melvin Benitez assisted sophomore forward Mason Gonzalez for the first goal of the match, putting FCC up 1-0. The Rams had gained an early high ground and started playing with quiet poise compared to the vocal Modesto squad.

FCC started to pull away from the opposition when freshman midfielder Josh Zambrano started setting up his teammates at the end of the first half.

At 42:00, Zambrano assisted freshman midfielder Sebastian Caballero for the Rams’ second goal. Just two minutes later, he connected with freshman

midfielder Gerardo Mora, who took advantage of a recovering defense and scored the third goal of the game.

“As much as the first half was played to 3-0, it was really the last five minutes there when the game got away from them,” said head coach Eric Solberg.

Heading into the second half, the Rams made the mistake of getting comfortable with their lead, something Solberg had tried to prevent by substituting players.

“When you’re up 3-0 at the half, you try to tell your guys the game’s not over,” said Solberg. “Maybe I changed some guys out too early and lost our rhythm a little bit. I think we just lost our flow with some of the substitutions.”

Modesto took advantage and struck back with a goal of their own at 64:00. The Pirates’ offense orchestrated their first goal of the game by playing the ball in the back of the box, drawing the Rams’ defense in and allowing for an easy finish from behind. The goal was just the second FCC allowed this season, and it wouldn’t be the last.

At 83:00, the Pirates continued their climb back into the game with another goal, this time scored

by freshman forward Bryan Millan.

“The second goal was bad because we were fully aware of [Millan] and what he could do,” said Solberg.

“He just split our center backs and simply put the ball over the top, which you just can’t let happen at that point of the game,” he said.

The Rams were just able to pull away with the win and add to their streak. However, Solberg says the team’s run of success isn’t the focus from one day to the next.

“I just worry about keeping that one column with the zero in it.

You just want to keep yourself out of the loss column,” said Solberg.

A tightened defense will be in focus for FCC before they take on San Joaquin Delta College on Friday, Oct. 18.

Viewers can expect to see more playing time for team captain Eduardo Segura, who’s been working back from an irritated tendon in his dominant foot.

Segura’s progression will be key to the Rams’ performance when they return home on Friday, Oct. 25 to take on Folsom Lake College (8-1-5).

Cheerleading is a sport, losers Hannah Lanier | News Editor hlanier@therampageonline.com

Maybe it’s because I spent eight years of my adolescence being a cheerleader.

Maybe it’s because I know the long hours of training and conditioning it takes.

Maybe it’s the cheers and chants drilled into my head.

The one thing I know is cheerleading is without a doubt a sport.

I’ve had several conversations turned arguments over this controversial topic, and each time I have taken it personally.

I understand the opposition to my admittedly strong viewpoint, but clapping on the sidelines of football games is not the cheer I know. It is so much more than that.

The sport I spent a majority of my adolescence perfecting is made up of tumbling, stunting and dancing.

From the young age of 7, I was training to make the roster for my school spirit team concluding with my high school’s varsity cheer team.

Throughout my years of cheerleading, I woke up before the sun to train alongside the football team. I lifted weights, I ran the track—everything required in the recipe to make a sport.

I cannot wrap my highpony wearing head around the opposition when I have lifted people more than half my own weight over my head from the age of 7.

I cannot regain the muscles I lost in my knee that were torn as a result of the sport.

Track is a sport because they run, jump, and throw.

Softball is a sport because they run, throw, and catch.

Football is a sport because they run, throw, catch and hit other people.

Each of these sports have never been questioned and the main argument for their case is that they each have competitors and opponents.

So does cheerleading.

There are national and worldwide competitions where cheerleading teams from all over come to ultimately “win.”

Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) televises The Cheerleading Worlds hosted by the United States All Star Federation (USASF) at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida each year dating back to 2004.

Teams ranging from Germany to Australia attend the event specified for division 5 teams or higher.

I don’t think the question pertains to the capability of these athletes to be considered a sport, rather the inability for viewers to move further than clapping on the side of a football game; ignoring the difficult halftime routines, sideline stunts and active participation incompetions.

Along with competitions, universities and colleges accommodate cheerleaders with athletic scholarships just like any other sport.

The University of Hawaii offers nearly a dozen full-ride scholarships each year, according to their website. While universities like The University of Kentucky and Louisiana State University offers over $2,000 in scholarships.

There will always be nay-sayers.

Maybe it’s because they don’t recognize the effort that is equal, and sometimes greater, to other sports.

Maybe it’s because some athletes feel intimidated by that fact that cheerleaders can lift human beings over their head, while sporting a smile on their face.

It’s okay, I get it.

Cheerleading is hard, it requires determination, sportsmanship and supreme athleticism.

Even the National Collegiate Athletic Association categorizes stunt and tumbling as a sport.

Oh, by the way. Both are parts of the much larger sport that is cheerleading.

8 SPORTS 10.23.19

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Rams' Offense Back on Track Following Bye Week Ben Hensley | Sports Editor bhensley@therampageonline.com

Rams’ football had dropped two consecutive games heading into their bye week.

Offensively, the team had failed to score more than three points in either of their past two games, first against the San Mateo Bulldogs (6-0), then against the American River Beavers (4-2).

That changed on Saturday, Oct. 19 when the Rams opened conference play in Stockton against the San Joaquin Delta Mustangs, where the Rams beat the Mustangs thoroughly with a balanced offensive attack in a 33-20 win.

“To come off a bye week, especially after a tough loss to American River, it took us a while to get our bearings a little bit but I’m really proud of how these kids competed,” head coach Tony Caviglia said following the win.

The win improved the Rams’ season record to 4-2, and started them off on the right foot at 1-0 in conference play.

Offensively the Rams had their biggest outing of the year from sophomore running back Rico Rosario who found the end zone for the first time this season.

Rosario amassed 163 yards on the day, capped by a 63 yard run midway through the third quarter, setting up a score that would eventually put the Rams up 20-7.

“Offensively we were able to run the ball this game,” Caviglia said.

The Rams, who pride themselves on their ability to run a balanced offense were only able to pick up 99 rushing yards against San Mateo and 123 yards against American River.

This game broke that streak of sub-par performances on the ground, with the Rams picking up 249 yards on the ground, paired with four rushing touchdowns - two from

“

I'm really proud of how these kids competed."

-Tony Caviglia

Rams' Football Head Coach sophomore quarterback Jonah Johnson, and one each from Rosario and Obrien Selby.

“When we do that [run the ball] it opens up a lot of other things,” Caviglia expanded while commenting on the rushing effort of the team.

Johnson completed 13 of 18 passes for 235 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for two scores on the day.

“Jonah was able to connect on some key passes there,” Caviglia said. “He’s a dynamite player, he just needs to get his moxy back and I think this game did that.”

Defensively, the Rams once again owned the field, this time holding the Mustangs to 20 points, the third lowest point total for Delta on the season.

“I think we’re playing good defense,” Caviglia said.

The loss marked the second consecutive loss for the Mustangs and drops them to 0-1 in conference play along with College of the Sequoias (3-3 overall) and winless West Hills Coalinga.

The Rams will head home for week eight to face the Sacramento City College Panthers (2-4) who opened up conference play with a win of their own, defeating the West Hills Coalinga Falcons 27-3 on Saturday, Oct. 19.

“It’s gonna be another war,” Caviglia said in anticipation of the Rams’ matchup against the Panthers. “Every game in conference is a dogfight; every team is good. There’s a lot of parody and we’re just happy to be 1-0 [in conference] right now.”

Kickoff for the Rams’ homecoming game this Saturday will be at 1 p.m. at Ratcliffe Marcus Washington, Rico Rosario and Reyson Ching celebrate following a Rams' touchdown Stadium. in the third quarter of their game against the San Joaquin Delta College Mustangs on Oct. 19, 2019. The Rams improved to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in conference. Photo/Ben Hensley

Rams Sweep Taft College to Remain Undefeated in Conference Play Ben Hensley | Sports Editor bhensley@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College volleyball swept their way past Taft College on Friday, Oct. 18, improving to 21-2 overall, and remaining undefeated in conference at 9-0.

The win saw the Rams’ consecutive conference win streak surge to an incredible 121 straight conference matches.

“I keep track more of our losses than the wins to be honest,” head coach Kieran Roblee said following the victory. “It’s representative of a tradition that started long before I got here.”

The Rams came out strong, taking the first set 25-12. Sophomore pin hitter Marina Gonzalez led the team with 13 kills in a match that saw its fair share of long volleys between the two squads, with FCC digging deep both defensively and offensively to maintain their margin.

“What you’ll notice about us which has been pretty traditional of our program as opposed to some other teams is we are very balanced,” Roblee said. “So, you’re not gonna say ‘watch out for so-and-so.’ You’re gonna say, ‘watch out for her, her, her, her and her.”

Sophomore pin hitter Julie Castleman goes up for the kill during the Rams' 3-0 That balanced attack is what set sweep over the Taft College Cougars on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. The win marked the 121st consecutive conference victory for the Rams. Photo/Ben Hensley

makes the Rams such a dangerous team not only in conference play but in vying for a return to the state finals where their season ended last semester as runner-up to eventual state champs American River College.

“If we’re coming at all different angles with our attack then there’s a lot of good finishes that are gonna happen for us,” said Roblee.

In what ended up being a very balanced match in its entirety, Freshman defensive specialist Ali Santoyo led the team with 21 digs, while freshman pin setter Julia Pagani led the team in serve attempts with 26.

“We had a really strong recruiting class,” Roblee said of her freshman contributors. “It was a very skilled group in the valley coming in. [I’m] very excited about them, they’re contributing tremendously.”

Ten of the active 17 players on the Rams’ roster are freshmen, with nine of the ten players seeing action on the floor at some point during the match.

Rams’ fans held their breath early in the contest however, when freshman mid-blocker Chloe Duke went down in the first set with back spasms. She would not return, but did remain on the bench following a

visit to the trainer’s table.

The Rams continue conference play on Wednesday Oct. 23 in Merced against the Pirates.

“We’re on the road to Merced,” Roblee said. “They’re always very well coached and they’re scrappy, and they’re gonna want to defend

“

Watch out for her, her, her, her and her.”

-Kieran Roblee Rams' Volleyball Head Coach

their court.”

Roblee and the Rams will put their undefeated conference mark on the line against a Pirates team that is 9-4 (6-3 conf.) and currently rides a three match winning streak.

FCC’s next home match is on Friday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. against West Hills Lemoore.