Fall 2016 Issue 6

RAMPAGE

Student-run newspaper of Fresno City College

www.therampageonline.com

District Enacts College Promise to Incoming Students

November 9, 2016 Fall 2016, Issue 6

Goldsmith Seeks Funds, Services for Dream Center

BY EDWARD SMITH

Opinion Editor esmith@therampageonline.com

Carole Goldsmith, president of Fresno City College asked the State Center Community College board of trustees for increased funding and better facilities for the DREAM Center during the board’s Nov. 1 meeting at SCCCD.

1,400

Estimated number of undocumented FCC students eligible for aid

The Development, Relief, Education Act for Minors (DREAM) which became law in 2011, sought, amongst other goals, to provide government aid and financing to students who qualify for deferred action and AB 540, an exemption from paying out-of-state tuition.

The bill grants students access to the same benefits and programs as U.S. citizens.

According to a recent study conducted on the FCC campus, at least 1,400 students, exempt under AB 540, qualify for the DREAM Act. The present DREAM Center has only been able to help about 200 of those students since its inception in 2015.

High school students from across Fresno County are greeted on Nov. 2 at the Save Mart Center by Fresno City College Managing/News Editor staff, students and faculty during the apanoo@therampageonline.com kickoff of the Central Valley Promise, which will give hard-working students he chancellor of the State a free semester of community college.

Center Community College (Left) FCC President Carole Goldsmith District promised hundreds speaks at the Save Mart Center on Nov. of high school students 2, 2016. Photo/Larry Valenzuela from around the Central Valley a simpler path to a college education during the kickoff of the Central Valley Promise event at the Save Mart Center on Nov. 2.

BY ASHLEIGH PANOO

T

SEE FUNDING, PAGE 5

Veterans’ Memorial Honors Wounded Warriors

You don’t have a choice, you are going to college.

- Paul Parnell State Center Community College District Chancellor

A special Central Valley Promise app was also introduced to the students. The app will award points and badges to students who attend events or complete items related to their education. While the app is not yet fully functional, Goldsmith said it will roll out soon and offer prizes when enough badges or

SEE PROMISE, PAGE 3 The Rampage

BY PAYTON HARTUNG

Reporter phartung@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College honored the service of veterans at the Veterans’ Peace Memorial on Nov. 4.

The ceremony started with a moment of silence and an address from FCC president Carole Goldsmith.

“It is an incredible honor to be able to welcome you to our college.

I welcome you from the bottom of my heart,” Goldsmith said. “I thank you for your service and I thank you for being here today.”

The memorial service honored veterans, mourned fallen soldiers and remembered the sacrifices of service members. The event emphasized the importance of the Wounded Warrior Project.

“In this great nation, it is because of our military men and women that protect institutions like

SEE VETERANS, PAGE 4 FCCRampage

RampageNews

Korean War veteran Henry Lemay sings “God Bless America” after receiving the 2016 Citizen Soldier Award at the Veteran’s Peace Memorial on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. Photo/Ram Reyes

INDEX: NEWS 2

A&E 6

OPINION 8

SPORTS 10

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11.9.2016

NEWS

Fresno protesters reject Dakota Access Pipeline

BY ASHLEIGH PANOO

Managing/News Editor apanoo@therampageonline.com

Dakota Access Pipeline protesters stand in front of Fresno City Hall on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016 to show their rejection of the pipeline. Protesters of the pipeline say the path of the oil transport would endanger water supply along the Mississippi River. Photos/Ashleigh Panoo

Members of the community gathered at Fresno City Hall on Nov. 4 in a peaceful protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline, which is projected to run across the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in North Dakota.

The 1,172-mile, 30-inch diameter pipeline would run from North Dakota to Illinois, carrying up to 570,000 barrels of oil a day.

Those against the pipeline say it would endanger the water supply in the Mississippi River and harm sacred Sioux land.

U.S. President Barack Obama has expressed interest in sending the pipeline through another route.

Leading candidates for president have not commented on the issue.

ONLINE Get details about tickets for the Fight for Water 6 with Jose Ramirez.

Log onto BroadGreenScreenings.com and use code: BS2Rampage for a chance to win screening passes to Bad Santa 2.

Rick Morales of the Pasqua Yaqui Tribe from Arizona protests in front of Fresno City Hall on Nov. 4 against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Photos/Ashleigh Panoo

RAMPAGE Staff Editorial Board Editor in Chief Cresencio Rodriguez Delgado Managing/News Editor Ashleigh Panoo Entertainment Editor Jasmine Yoro Bowles Sports Editor Michael Ford Copy/Opinion Editor Edward Smith Photo Editor Ram Reyes Broadcast Editor Larry Valenzuela Layout Editor Lukas Newcomb

Rampage Adviser/Instructor Dympna Ugwu-Oju dympna.ugwu-oju@fresnocitycollege.edu

Reporters Jorge Alamo Sage Arthur-Flores Payton Hartung Thomas Hawkins Aly Honore Cedric Hood Destinee Lopez Frank Lopez Savanna Manzo Michael Mendez Jose Orozco Eric Zamora

2016 ‘Muro de Honor’ Inductees Arturo Amaro

Three inductees into the 2016 Wall of Honor will be celebrated on Nov. 16.

The State Center Community College Amaro is a Fresno City College District will honor the district inductees emeritus faculty member and author. during a reception at Arte Americas Casa de la Cultura from 5 to 7 p.m.

Established in 2011, the Wall of Honor Genera is a history instructor at is sponsored by the district and honors Reedley College. outstanding Latinos within the college community.

For more information, contact Executive Director of Public and Legislative Launer is president of the Reedley Relations Lucy Ruiz at 55-244-6137.

College Foundation and an educator.

Mark Genera

Linda Launer

Corrections? Email media@therampageonline.com

Contact Us: Tip Line: 559.442.8262 Letters to the Editor to: editorial@therampageonline.com

Any correction needed for an article should be brought to the attention of the staff of The Rampage. The Rampage is committed to accuracy and should be made aware of any mistake in an article that appears in this paper.

Views expressed in the opinion pages are those of the individiual writer and not of the newspaper. The Rampage is produced by students of the Journalism 11 A, B, C, D class.

RAMPAGE

NEWS

PROMISE FROM PAGE 1

points are earned.

Firebaugh High School student Kaylee Fink, 14, thought the rally was inspiring.

“It really helped to bring our hopes up that we can do it,” she said.

Ultimately, the educational leaders hope attendance at a community college will lead more students to

Fresno State.

Joseph I. Castro, president of California St Fresno State University pledged to the students that although getting into college is something students need to work hard on, they will all have access to a college education, regardless of their ability to pay. “[There’s] no loopholes, no tricks, none of those things,” he said. “If you pledge to do what you need to do, college will be here for you.”

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11.9.2016

(Top) Students from several Fresno County high schools stand during a rally in the Save Mart Center on Nov. 2. (Left) State Center Community College District Chancellor Paul Parnell speaks about the Central Valley Promise, which will give hardworking students a free semester of community college. Photo/Larry Valenzuela

See video of the event on our website: www. therampageonline.com

Board Approves Contract with Fresno PD

BY EDWARD SMITH AND ASHLEIGH PANOO apanoo@therampageonline.com

The State Center Community College District Board of Trustees voted to extend the contract between district and City of Fresno police.

The contract which was proposed

by Dale parnell, the chancellor of SCCCD, would increase patrol throughout Fresno City College, the district as well as Clovis Community College.

The contract between to patrol the two campuses and the district costs $54,000 per month and run throughout the month of November.

It will provide two officers and two vehicles to “perform high visibility patrol” on the FCC campus, according to the contract that trustees unanimously approved.

The contract also includes one officer and one vehicle to patrol the Clovis Community College campus.

The contract is a stop-gap until the SCCCD police department is fully staffed. The details of what a fully staffed department means has not yet been determined. “[A full police staff] will be something we will be evaluating with our new chief of police, which we are in the midst of selecting,” FCC President Carole Goldsmith stated in

an email interview.

The terms of the contract as well as agreement with police union guidelines was discussed in a closed session.

FCC student Courtney Domingo said she wants to see more night patrols done for students who have evening classes.

“With the nights getting darker earlier, I definitely think there needs to be more patrol cars,” she said.

“That way it’ll keep crime to a minimum and reassure student safety.”

Having been escorted to her car several times, student Mary Pol is satisfied with the quick police response.

“They never take more than 10 minutes,” Pol said, though she added that at times, “I have been a bit worried for my safety.”

$54,000

Estimated cost per month for the district to provide additional police officers.

Fresno City College Campus Rocks the Vote Trustee Miguel Arias and Fresno City College President Carole Goldsmith at the #559 Rock the Vote Taco Tour during its stop at Fresno City College on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016. The purpose of the #559 Rock the Vote Taco Tour was to enourage voter turnout regardless of their party affiliation.

Photo/Ram Reyes

Kimberly Villalobos and Brandon Deluca enjoy their free tacos from the #559 Rock the Vote Taco Tour during its stop at Fresno City College on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016.

Photo/Ram Reyes

Instructors from Humanities; Fine, Performing and Communication Arts; Social Sciences and Library divisions mark Election Day 2016 with President Carole Goldsmith in OAB West Courtyard on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016. Photo/Jerry Thurston

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11.9.2016

NEWS

Jeremiah Pauley receives a Certificate of Special Congression Recognition for his work in the Wounded Warrior Project from Congressman Jim Costa at Fresno City College on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. Photo/Ram Reyes

VETERANS FROM PAGE 1

honor to be able to welcome you to our college. I welcome you from the bottom of my heart. I thank you for your service and I thank you for being here today.”

After recognizing all individual branches of the U.S. military, the keynote speaker took the stage. Jeremiah Pauley, a combat-wounded veteran of the Iraq war, gave his personal story.

On April 8, 2006, Jeramiah Pauly was severely wounded by a roadside bomb in Talifar, Iraq. Though Pauly was severely injured, his compassion and focus was towards his comrade, Jody W. Missildine, who died from that explosion.

“He was 19 years old and he was one of my soldiers. He was one of the men that I promised I would help protect. For so long I thought his death was all my fault,” explained Pauly. “Every day I wear this bracelet. It bears his name and I never take it off.

I do it to honor his memory, for his family, and to serve as a constant reminder to me to

always live.”

Pauly explained how he became one of the estimated 400,000 U.S. veterans to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He discussed overcoming PTSD, divorce and suicide contemplation. He revealed that the Wounded Warrior Project helped him defeat his challenges by reaching out to him.

“The logo of Wounded Warrior Project depicts one warrior carrying another warrior and moving forward. I was physically carried off the battlefield years ago in Iraq, but the Wounded Warrior Project brought me home emotionally,” said Pauly. “I was the warrior on top of our logo. Now I have the incredible opportunity to be the warrior on the bottom of our logo; to reach out and help bring my fellow brothers and sisters home.”

The 2016 Citizen Soldier Award was presented to Henry Lemay who served the United States in the Korean war. Lemay accepted the award and sang “God Bless America.”

FCC faculty and trustees presented pins to all of the Veterans who were present. The event ended with the presentation of decorated wreaths and a three-volley rifle salute.

Glitches in Emergency Phone Technology Being Fixed

BY FRANK LOPEZ

Reporter flopez@therampageonline.com

The SCCCD District Police Department held a district-wide test of the emergency notification system on Nov. 4 at 3 p.m.

On Nov. 2, the district police sent out an email to Fresno City College students, notifying them of the tests.

Campus safety has been a pressing issue the last few semesters, and the test comes on the heels of a recent incident in which FCC math instructor Ray Stanton had an altercation with a student.

Through email correspondence with the Rampage, FCC’s Interim Director of Technology Harry Zahlis said that the tests were not related to the Stanton incident.

“These tests are normal. We do them once a month or so,” Zahlis said. “This test was scheduled before the incident occurred.”

On Oct. 10, Stanton had to physically refrain a student from entering his classroom. Stanton had tried calling SCCCD police through the emergency phone in the classroom, but it was not working.

Stanton also tried to use the panic button in the classroom but found it was non operational. Eventually, Stanton reached the

The college underwent an emergency phone testing on Nov. 4. The testing followed an incident on campus where an emergency phone did not work properly. Photo/Ram Reyes Fresno Police Department on his personal phone, and officers arrived shortly after.

Zahlis explained that the technological problems were caused by issues with an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) in the Old Administration Building. Core switches were plugged into UPS that failed and continued to work sporadically.

“FCC tends to have power issues, spikes and whatnot,” Zahlis said. “Typically the UPS protects the switches from these incidents, but this UPS was old and could not protect the equipment from rebooting.”

Zahlis said that replacement UPSs have been ordered and installation should be completed by Veteran’s Day.

RAMPAGE

NEWS

11.9.2016

Career & Employment Center Helps with Resumes, Mock Interviews, Career Planning

BY JOSE OROZCO

Reporter jorozco@therampageonline.com

Are you looking for a job but don’t know where to start?

Are you having problems putting together a resume because you have no work experience?

Are you unsure of what to major in?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, chances are you haven’t heard of the Fresno City College Career and Employment center, also known as the CEC. The CEC “helps students select a major, identify a career path and find a job,” Cindy Dunn, the coordinator for the CEC, said.

Located in Room LI-147, the CEC is a great resource for all current students and graduates who need career guidance. Alumni have lifetime privilege and access to the CEC. The CEC offers career assessments which give students an advantage when choosing career paths and a related college major.

“We take the time to talk to people and pull that information out,” Dunn said about CEC staff’s proactive approach in assessing students.

“It takes that personal interaction to get people to open up to you.”

Many of the students who come into the CEC are unsure of the major they want to pursue and oftentimes

have trouble typing a formal resume or filling out a job application, Dunn said. “Students can come in and we will help them work on their resumes.”

Dunn or one of the many staff and faculty members at CEC assists with everything from career counseling, guidance with education planning, assessments for college major selection, job search, typing, printing and faxing resumes and job related documents, mock interviews and on some occasions even go as far as providing proper attire for job

interviews.

“We have donated professional attire for students who needed interview clothing,” said Dunn.

Students who want to research and gather information on employers can do so at CEC as well.

CEC counselors provide students with on and off-campus job leads and provide recruiting events such as job fairs and career expos on campus as a way to help students connect with employers.

The next job fair is scheduled for March 8, 2017.

Rachel Loya, FCC student, shares her personal story experience with domestic violence at the Free Speech Area at Fresno City College on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2016.

Photo courtesy/Samantha Vang

Students Mark Domestic Violence Awareness

BY LARRY VALENZUELA

Broadcast Editor lvalenzuela@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College students gathered in the free speech area on Oct. 27 to bring awareness to domestic violence.

October was Domestic Violence awareness month, and was created to give support to victims. Active Minds put together an event to help those in need.

A number of booths provided information and services that can

be used in the event of domestic violence.

Speakers also gave personal accounts of their experiences dealing with domestic violence to help and understanding to those in need.

Elizabeth Pichardo, a member of Active Minds, says the event was organized not only to bring awareness to domestic violence, but also to show all the resources available, as well as to open a safe discussion.

Pichardo says she also wants to bring a new perspective to domestic

violence.

“Most people tend to think of the female victim, not realizing that there are many victims to domestic violence like the children, males or the transgender culture as well,” she said. “They go through a lot of domestic violence people many not be fully aware of.”

See video of the event on our website: www. therampageonline.com

FUNDING

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FROM PAGE 1

“Our house is on fire for our DREAMers,” Trustee Eric Payne said at the board meeting.

Goldsmith said one of the main problems the center faces is its location. The report study had described the center as being place-bound and limited in terms of its scope and methods.

“I haven’t seen them doing much of anything,” Angel Sanchez, a graphic design major and former president of the Students Without Borders club, said. “Unless you are connected to them, you don’t know about them. They’re in the shadows pretty much.”

Sanchez also said he expected the program to be more proactive in terms of seeking students who qualify for the DREAM program.

“They have the information on which students are on AB 540,” Sanchez said. “[They could] email them and suggest to them what resources to look up and what they’ll need.”

Financial aid is one such resource and is the biggest advantage of being accepted under the DREAM act.

“Once they get their deferred action, they are able to apply for the BOG waiver so they can get help to pay for their classes,” Sanchez said.

“A lot of students who aren’t signed up are paying for classes out of their own pockets.”

Goldsmith told the board that in addition to limited exposure, the center is not able to execute some of its programs, leading to logistical changes. The program was originally designed to service students on a walk-in basis, but those involved with the program felt that was grossly inadequate. The report noted that “research has shown that follow-up services are needed for sustainable success.”

SCCCD Trustee Miguel Arias said, “It’s hard to see a return on investment when we look at programs with a small amount of students.”

Counselors have now implemented a follow-up service to ensure that students are getting the most from school. This involves actively seeking out students and being “more intrusive,” according to Goldsmith.

The center has had its successes, however. The report notes that the grade point average for students who regularly attend the DREAM center are as much as a tenth of a point higher, on average, than other AB 540 students.

Goldsmith told the board of the college’s vision to expand these successes to more students through broader strategies. The report describes a plan to “recruit undocumented students to serve as mentors.”

This strategy is not a new one.

Before shutting down due to lack of membership, the Students Without Borders club was active in helping students get registered.

“After I heard they [the DREAM center] were there, I thought it would be a good idea for us to work together,” Sanchez said. “We invited them last spring to a few meetings, and they went to a few meetings but they stopped going.”

The DREAM Center is currently limited to two part-time counselors and one full-time counselor who works to recruit at the high schools.

No one at the DREAM center was available to comment for this story.

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11.9.2016

ENTERTAINMENT

‘Farragut North’ Gives Lighter Tone to Politics

BY ERIC ZAMORA

Reporter ezamora@therampageonline.com

T

he Fresno City College theatre department will premiere its second show of the semester, “Farragut North,” on Nov. 11.

The play was written by Beau Willimon, the creator of the Netflix series “House of Cards,” while he was a student at Juilliard. He was involved in former Gov. Howard Dean’s 2004 Democratic primary election campaign, which became his inspiration for the story.

The play portrays an alternate viewpoint of a political campaign, choosing to focus on a few individual members of the candidate’s campaign staff. It centers on Stephan Bellamy, a cocky, young press secretary for a presidential candidate and the issues that arise Fresno City College actors James Schott, Aaron Schoonover and Dylan Hardcastle rehearse for the upcoming production of “Farragut North” on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. between him and the other characPhoto/Eric Zamora ters. trays the lives of people in politics. the extensive research into politics Binion-Luttrell, a theatre major and “If you’re tired of politics, [the As a result, it accompanies the that I ended up doing,” said Dylan assistant stage manager for “Farraplay] is ultimately not about that,” current presidential election season.

Hardcastle, a theatre major and gut North.” said Chuck Erven, director of the “[The production] became a actor in the play. He portrays This production of “Farragut production. “It is about this human perfect, unintended kind of comBenjamin, a young assistant to the North” is possible through the hard sort of fall from grace; a young guy mentary on what’s going on right secretary Stephen. work of the cast and crew members who makes a mistake and has to pay now in politics,” Erven said.

Rehearsals also involve the help in the FCC theatre department. for it.”

Auditions for the play began in of stage managers and others who “I’m super pleased with everyone Like the prior FCC theatre delate August, with rehearsals beginoversee the visual aspects of the and the commitment they have,” partment production “Waiting for ning at the end of September. There play such as the set and costumes. said Erven.

Lefty,” “Farragut North” deals with a are six weeks of rehearsals, with “My favorite thing about working “Farragut North” opens on Nov. political theme in its storyline. Both students practicing three hours a on this play [is] being able to be 11 at 7:30 p.m. The following dates shows were chosen a year beforenight, five nights a week. on script, helping out actors know of the play are Nov. 12, 17, 18, 19 hand due to their political nature.

“I think the hardest part of pretheir lines and preparing actors with at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 13, 18, 19 at “Farragut North” was chosen due paring for [this play] was definitely certain props they need,” said Alyssa 2 p.m. to how the story realistically por-

ENTERTAINMENT

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Cirque du Soleil

BY JASMINE YORO BOWLES

Reporter jyorobowles@therampageonline.com

C

irque du Soleil brings James Cameron’s “Avatar” to life with their inspired tour of “Toruk: The First Flight,” but follows closely to its predecessor as visually stunning but a forgettable story.

“Toruk: The First Flight” opened in Fresno at the Save Mart Center on Oct. 27 and ran until Oct. 30.

The show consisted of aerial artists, acrobats, fire dancers, puppeteers, a narrator, singer, and musician.

The production acts as an original prequel by Cirque du Soleil; however, “Toruk” seems to be what “Avatar” really should have been-- a solid visual experience without as much story. Heavy visual effects are really what made the performance an exciting experience.

Each tribe had intricate costumes designed particularly for each tribe.

The puppeteers wore the traditional black outfits, but wore black Na’vi

costumes to coincide with the production. An original animal, animated through the puppeteers, similar to that of an ostrich, was created for “Toruk.” Cameron liked it so much, he intends to include it into a future “Avatar” film.

One thing that really draws you into the performance is the music, the shaman was also “Toruk”’s singer, who was almost haunting against the intense tribal drumming.

“Toruk” follows closely the same effect as the storyline of its inspiration; hard to follow and not the most commendable part of the experience. The pinnacle of Cirque du Soleil’s story is a much different take than “Avatar”, of several of the Na’vi (blue, arguably cat-like creatures) tribes who reside in Pandora. One of the tribe’s shamans sees a vision of their sacred Tree of Souls being destroyed. To save the tree that keeps the Na’vi connected to their god, Eywa, they must collect talismans from different tribes, and venture to ride a giant bird.

Acrobats and singers perform in the Cirque Dub Soleil, at The Save Mart Center on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016.

Photo/Larry Valenzuela

Area High School Choirs Perform in Fall Festival

BY ALYSSA HONORE

Reporter ahonore@therampageonline.com

High schoolers perform during the 2016 Fall Festival in the Old Administration Building on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2016.

Photo/Alyssa Honore

Fresno City College hosted the 2016 Fall Festival, a choir event involving high schools in the Fresno area, showcased musical talents in the Old Administration building on Nov. 2 and 3.

Lasting from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m each day, the festival featured a number of vocal exercises and songs performed by choirs within and around the Fresno Unified School District. Each school had one to two choirs and performed three or four songs.

A pianist and conductor accompanied each performance as other participants watched. Admission to the event was free for all high schools students as well as FCC students.

After the performances, each choir was critiqued and advised by a clinician. The event provided opportunity for students involved in choir to further develop their performance skills.

Brittany White, a student aide for the event, said it was a very positive learning experience for students.

“They get to share the music that they’ve been practicing for a few months,” White said. “It’s great for them to get some feedback from professionals and their peers.”

The Fall Festival is an annual opportunity for high school ensembles to showcase their talents. For more information pertaining to future choir events affiliated with Fresno City, contact Julie Dana, choral instructor in the music department.

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OPINION

Turkey or Ham; The Battle of the Thanksgiving Feast Campus Voices: Turkey Vs Ham; How Do You Feel?

BY SAVANNA MANZO

Reporter smanzo@therampageonline.com

BY MICHAEL FORD

Sports Editor mford@therampageonline.com

TURKEY

Dashavanni Allen 1st year, Pre-Med

Is this even a real question? Turkey is miles ahead of ham as the best choice for meat to serve at any holiday gathering and especially on

“Ham. Turkey is dry and I don’t like turkey.”

the best holiday —Thanksgiving.

The most common complaint that people make about turkey on Thanksgiving is that it is too dry.

To that, I ask, have you tried the dark meat?’ You know what most of their responses usually are? You could probably guess that it is “no.”

I get it, sometimes turkey can be dry, but that is what the dark meat is there for. It is the ying to the light meat’s yang. They counterbalance each other.

Once you bite into the dark meat for the first time, it is like your eyes have opened, and you become a new person. There are all sorts of possibilities now that you have expanded your horizons.

Ham is not equipped to be as versatile and therefore should not be your choice or anyone’s choice for a main meat dish on this most festive of holidays.

If you get a slab of ham and you

don’t like it, there is not another part of the ham that you can go to to save your pallet from the harsh treatment you subjected it to by putting that pork in your face.

If that is not enough to convince you, consider this: Turkeys are held in such high esteem that it is a presidential tradition to pardon turkeys from the slaughterhouses on Thanksgiving, signifying its importance to the American people and their culture.

When was the last time that you heard of the president pardoning some pigs from the slaughterhouse on any holiday whatsoever? Never, that is when.

This coming holiday season, make sure that you keep with tradition and excellence and go with turkey for your Thanksgiving feasts, because this time, fowl play is encouraged.

Tony Cruz

1st year, Computer Science “Turkey is the only thing I’ve ever had during Thanksgiving.

I’ve never tried ham.”

Willie Deloney

Illustration/Frank Lopez

1st year, Liberal-Arts “Ham. Turkey tastes good at the first bite, but when you keep chewing, it gets dry as hell.”

BY RAM REYES

Luis Ayala

Anthropology “I just love ham, to be honest. I love to combine it with pumpkin pie.”

Photo Editor rreyes@therampageonline.com

HAM

The thought of picking ham over turkey for Thanksgiving sounds like a most un-American act. Turkey has long since been the iconic centerpiece meal for America’s second

favorite holiday.

Despite turkey’s long traditional standing as the food to get for Thanksgiving, ham edges out better on taste and ease of cooking.

Once Thanksgiving dinner rolls around, the turkey seems so appetizing and everyone cannot wait to sink their teeth into it.

But that excitement turns into disappointment once you taste that dry turkey in your mouth and proceed to question why everyone is excited about the turkey.

Ham, however, does not have this problem. No matter how bad it is, the meat is always juicy. The honey glaze always tastes so much better than its dry counterpart.

Turkey on Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t even taste that good and leftover turkey fares no better. Ham, however, retains its flavor a couple of weeks after Thanksgiving dinner.

The problem usually stems from the cooking of the turkey, and it

is very difficult to get it right. For even the best cooks, turkey always tends to have some dry spots and is an inescapable fate of the Thanksgiving turkey.

Additionally, cooking ham is easier and way less complicated than cooking turkey. Merely cut a swiss pattern, put it in the oven and slather the honey glaze on top.

Continue baking.

The cooking time for ham is far less than turkey and it is much easier to have it as a last minute Thanksgiving dinner.

It’s time to leave the turkey behind. Thanksgiving deserves a better meat to serve our friends and family.

Rather than have a dry, underwhelming turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, go with ham; the meat that would make Thanksgiving dinner great again.

OPINION

Don’t give up just yet

BY JORGE ALAMO

Reporter jalamo@therampageonline.com

Fall semester is without a doubt the worst semester to go to school.

You have to get used to your summer going away and getting back into the swing of things and finally reaching the halfway mark full of confidence.

Until you realize — winter is coming and that means nothing but months of amazing holidays that bring the family together and consist of nothing but parties.

Losing your focus day by day will make you debate whether to study for an upcoming exam and finals or just lay in bed with hot cocoa and hallmark movies.

A few ways to help you stay focused on the path that you’re on without losing the motivation are to simply minimize yourself from social media and sometimes family.

Social media is a huge distraction especially when all you are looking at is friends having fun preparing for the holidays or out at parties.

As for families, during the holidays they will be all over you with overwhelming questions about your life. Nobody ever said how much time you have to spend with your family and they cannot hate on you for leaving early to study.

Reevaluate your goals by making a checklist of everything left in the semester, including your exams and projects, and go over your syllabus and schedule once a day. Make time to prepare for what comes up.

Do not be afraid to partner up with a fellow classmate, since most likely they are feeling the same amount of stress as you. Maybe that person will be able to teach you a thing or two about the class material which would come in handy for an exam. If you are too nervous to go up to a classmate there are always study halls, and making a new study buddy never hurts.

Most importantly and probably the most difficult thing to do this time of year is to get as much sleep as possible. Try falling asleep earlier and set your alarm earlier that way you can have your morning set with finishing whatever you have to do.

Plus, you will probably perform better since you are waking up instead of fighting to keep your eyes open.

For most people all of these things can be a hassle and most would rather just go with the flow, but to encourage you to stay on track of your classes and assignments, do not be afraid to reward yourself at the end of the semester — it is the holiday season.

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Lack of Transparency Obscures Fact-Finding

BY RAMPAGE EDITORIAL BOARD

editorial@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College has come into a new culture of silence. It seems that especially this semester, the media badge that reporters wear has become a mark akin to the untouchable caste -- people to be avoided and ignored at all costs.

Without a doubt, decisions made by many departments directly affect students, but those in positions of authority believe they can act with impunity and not be held accountable. So they decline interviews, provide as little information as possible and practice the classic trick of shifting questions to others.

While some faculty have been more than accommodating to reporters and are more than happy to provide answers and information, many in the administration play a shell game of who gets to answer questions about programs and deals.

Writing stories designed to explain details for students from a student perspective has become a veritable Whack-a-Mole, where directors and heads pop up and disappear, only leading one to another director or head who is just as silent about specifics.

The buck is continually passed and often never ends anywhere but with unanswered questions.

A major problem is that most of the college’s top positions are held on interim basis. At least eight of the highest positions on campus are interim. While there are inevitable difficulties in the hiring process,

including finding capable and qualified candidates, these interim positions make finding answers to questions a nearly unsolvable mystery.

The interims are not always able to answer questions about protocol, procedure and efficacy due to a short tenure which makes progress difficult to attain.”

Interim staff have to do the best they can, but are limited in terms of their power and full understanding of the college and matters important to student well-being. The interims are not always able to answer questions about protocol, procedure and efficacy due to a short tenure which makes progress difficult to attain.

Additionally, interim staff have to worry about their future more than permanent hires. Often, people with information become afraid of what that information could do.

Interviews that reveal more than they would like to let out can leave one feeling vulnerable, and people feel afraid of what that could mean about future prospects here on campus and in other places.

These kinds of facts and details are oftentimes extremely pertinent to student safety and well-being, and students feel they have a right to know what it is kept hidden from them.

Replacing interim with permanent positions is a great place start in getting information out to students who need it. Encouraging an atmosphere of openness and transparency would lead to greater trust and understanding.

Information has become a capital to be traded and hoarded on this campus. Many of those in positions of authority are far too hesitant to trust students out of a fear we are unable to make rational decisions.

But, one may submit that irrationality is not unique to students, and trusting that students know what is in their own interest is true wisdom.

A Free College Education for All 40 million Americans owe $1.2 trillion in student loan debt.”

BY JOSE OROZCO

Reporter jorozco@therampageonline.com

Many students will graduate after the 2017 spring semester, but more than half of them will have one thing in common—debt.

According to The Institute for College Access and Success, 55 percent of students in California will graduate with an average debt of over $21,000 in student loans.

This puts more than half of college graduates in California at a disadvantage as soon as they graduate. If college was free, students would be able to use that money for a down payment on a house or for an investment in a business.

Instead, students are forced to pay back student loans and live a lower quality of life.

College should be free for every student because no one should have

to owe $21,000 before they even find a job in the field they earned a college degree for.

Instead of using that $20,000 for a down payment on a first home, students often have to resort to renting an apartment instead. As opposed to to buying a new car with that $20,000, students with debt might resort to public transportation or purchase a not-so-nice and not-so-new car.

Not only does charging thousands of dollars for college affect the students who have to pay the loans back, it’s also a burden on our already fragile economy.

According to marketwatch.com, a whopping 40 million Americans owe $1.2 trillion in student loan debt. If school was free for students, they would have extra money to spend and help local economies as well. Imagine the type of boost our economy would see if those 40 million Americans spent that money on the housing market or the car industry.

Restaurants would have many new patrons and local business could

have 40 million new customers. The benefits to our local and national economy are endless.

“We have gained an increasing understanding that how we finance post-secondary education has significant effects on a variety of critical economic outcomes, including economic growth and inequality,” William C. Dudley, the president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said at a student loan data conference earlier this year, according to newyorkfed.org If college were free for all students, it would increase the number of graduates because higher education would become more available to disadvantaged students and students affected by poverty. Giving students who normally wouldn’t be able to afford college an opportunity to attend college free of cost should not only be our responsibility as Americans but it should be our top priority.

According to the Institute for College Access and Success, 78 percent of college students who attend Fresno State University graduate with an average debt of $12,000.

We should encourage our representatives and lawmakers on the local, state and federal level to pass laws which would forgive and wipe out student loan debt. In addition, we should ask our lawmakers to pass legislation which reduces the cost of higher education for the benefit of our economy and a more educated society.

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RAMPAGE

11.9.2016

Rams Win in Shootout on Military Appreciation Day

Nate Jones scoring a touchdown against San Joaquin Delta at Ratcliffe Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. The Rams won 45-43. Photo/Ram Reyes

BY MICHAEL FORD

Sports Editor mford@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College Rams football earned themselves a hard-fought 4543 victory on military appreciation day over San Joaquin Delta College at Ratcliffe stadium on Nov. 5.

The victory was a much needed one as it came on the heels of a tough loss the previous week against Laney College, and it keeps the Rams alive for a possible postseason bowl berth.

Both teams had great perfor-

mances from key members of their offenses which allowed each team to put up points and yards in droves.

That was a stark contrast to the way the offense performed against Laney, as the Rams were only able to muster a meager 12 points.

Head coach Tony Caviglia said he was very happy with the way that his offense moved the ball, and was particularly happy with his freshman quarterback Andrew Zimmerman, who went 20-33 for 244 yards, with a whopping five touchdown passes.

“I thought [Zimmerman] played a tremendous game. He was putting the ball in the right spot the entire

Patriots, Raiders, Seahawks and Falcons Rise to the Top of the NFL

BY MICHAEL FORD

Sports Editor mford@therampageonline.com

Now that the NFL is officially past the halfway point of the season, the better teams have started to separate themselves from the rest of the herd.

First off, in the AFC, the New England Patriots are still the team to beat as long as Tom Brady is taking snaps from behind center.

After a 3-1 start to the season without Brady, who was suspended, the Patriots did not skip a beat.

Brady has been other-worldly in the four games he has played, leading the league in passer rating at just shade under 144 and has 12 touchdowns and zero interceptions, according to NFL official statistics.

Defense is what could hold them back from reaching the Super Bowl.

The team is ranked thirteenth in the NFL and is surrendering 16.5 points per game, which is not terrible, but not great either.

After New England, the AFC is wide open. The team that has the best chance to challenge the Patriots is the Oakland Raiders.

This season, the Raiders have really shown that they have something great going on right now.

The team is 7-2 after nine games, the best start to a season for Oakland since 2002 when the team made it all the way to the Super Bowl before losing to Tampa Bay in a blowout.

Oakland relies on an offense that is highly explosive and capable of putting huge numbers on the board. The team is second in the NFL in total offense and is scoring a healthy 27.2 points per contest, good enough for fifth in the league.

Like the Patriots, the defense is what has people doubting how far the Raiders can go in the postseason, but the offense might just be good enough to keep the defense off the field by winning the time of possession battle.

Look for those two teams to meet

game and we were able to get some good play out of our passing game,” Caviglia said. “We were struggling with kicking and we knew we had to score touchdowns.”

Freshman wide receiver Marcus Rose was the beneficiary of one of Zimmerman’s touchdown tosses as he got into the endzone on a 30 yard strike in the second quarter that gave his team a 18-13 lead.

Rose wasn’t finished scoring as he had a crucial punt return for 72 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter that made it possible for Fresno to win the game with a huge momentum shift. in the AFC championship game in January.

The NFC side of the picture is a mess, to put it lightly.

The Seattle Seahawks, one of the perennial powerhouses of the conference, does not appear to be quite the same caliber of team that made it to two consecutive Super Bowls.

The defense looks like the dominant unit that they have been over the years.

The

SPORTS Rose talked about what he saw on the play.

“Coach had me scoot up a little bit because the punter wasn’t kicking that well but he ended up kicking a pretty good kick, so I had to run back and honestly didn’t know what to do,” Rose said.

“It ended up bouncing and coming into my hands, and when I started taking off I had great blocking,” he said. “Everyone was blocking and doing their job. Without them I wouldn’t have been able to score.”

He finished the game with 132 all purpose yards and two touchdowns that served as an integral part of the Rams’ attack.

Rams’ receiver Dwine Walls also had a fantastic game with two receiving touchdowns on six catches for 62 yards.

The Rams offense couldn’t do it alone though, and despite giving up 43 points, it was the defense that was able to make the crucial stops to keep Delta from putting the ball in the endzone.

The defense forced a turnover on downs by SJD on the final drive of the game to seal the win in the Rams’ final home game of the season.

Rams’ sophomore linebacker Chandler Cocklin was proud of the way his defense was able to rise to the occasion at the most important moment of the game, despite how many points they allowed. He said it all comes down to the way his team prepared.

“We started off slow. We had a lot of good film and our defense is really good,” Cocklin said.

“Everybody tries something different with us, so we had to adjust. Once we adjusted, we got going with it.”

At 4-5, the Rams now sit in the final spot for a bowl berth, but they must win in their season finale against College of the Sequoias on Nov. 12 to secure it. problem has been the offense.

They rank 23 in total offense and are scoring just over 20 points per game.

With a great defense, you do not need to score a ton of points though and that is the reason why Seattle is still the team to beat in the NFC. The team that has the best chance of knocking off the Seahawks is the Atlanta Falcons.

The team’s quarterback Matt Ryan is having the best start in his already impressive career, and his team is reaping the benefits with a 6-3 record.

The offense is ranked first in the NFL, scoring a whopping 34 points per game. With stud receiver Julio Jones also having his best season so far, they appear to be unstoppable on that side of the ball.

The defense is what will likely hold this team back from ultimately taking out Seattle. The team is ranked 29 out of 32 in total yards allowed and is allowing teams to score nearly 29 points a game against them.

Of course, since we have a whole half of a season left to play, these things can change.

Expect these teams to be in contention for the Lombardi trophy at the end of the year.

SPORTS

RAMPAGE

11.9.2016

11

Rams Dominate in 10-0 Win Over COS

BY MICHAEL MENDEZ

Reporter mmendez@therampageonline.com

Jasmine Garibay attempts to score a goal against San Joaquin College on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. Photo/Ram Reyes

Rams Poised for Championship Season

BY MICHAEL MENDEZ

to know each other’s responsibilities and execute it flawlessly also helps.

Sophomore Forward Julia LoCasBeing so close to winning a state tro is sure that the preparation for championship a season before gives the season has helped the newer a team motivation heading into the and older players come together to next season. For the Fresno City build that bond and trust she feels College women’s basketball team, is needed to do well this season. they hope to do just that—repeat “We have meshed together well, their success while winning a working hard on our drills, making championship in the process. sure that we all know the offensive The 2016 campaign kicks off on system that way we can all be on Nov. 10 against Merced College. the same page,” LoCastro said.

The women’s basketball team The Rams will enter the season finished the 2015-2016 season with with a motion-style offense, calling a 29-3 record, reaching the final designed plays that allow the ball four in the state championships to move on the opposite side of the before falling to Mount San Antonio court while opening up holes on College in the semifinals. the opponent’s defense, resulting in Leading the charge for the Rams quick scores. is head coach Brian Tessler, who Sophomore guard Heaven Holmes has been the Rams’ head coach for is confident that they have a great five years. His philosophy is that system in place that will allow them fundamentals are the key to any to perform well on the scoreboard team’s success. He said that keeping while keeping the opponent’s to their system of play has brought defense on their toes. them success in the past and in “I think we have a good system the “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” in place to help us win games and mentality. get to where we want to be. We just need to sharpen edges a bit to limit our mistakes, allowing us to play at the top of our potential,” said Holmes.

Everything that the Rams have done during the course of the offseason is to get them to where - Heaven Holmes they want to be—in the state finals Guard at the end of the season. The Rams are hoping that they can have the “You never really know what the same success as they did last season season ahead of you is going to be while building upon it to reach the like,” Tessler said. “We just play California state finals. Sophomore our game the way we have before, guard Julia Cuellar feels that they sticking to the same system that have a great roster to get them back we have and hope that it produces to the state championships and win similar results.” it.

Team chemistry is what drives “We have a great team, and a team to perform throughout a knowing what kind of team we have, season. Knowing how to run their I expect us to get back to the state playbook, while trusting each other championships and win it.”

Reporter mmendez@therampageonline.com

The Fresno City College women’s soccer team dominated every aspect of the game in its 10-0 shutout victory of College of the Sequoias.

This win improves the Rams record to 15-3-2, while the College of the Sequoias fall to 3-7 on Nov. 4 in Fresno.

The Rams started the first half on fire by controlling the time of possession and keeping the ball on College of the Sequoia’s side of the field. Their offense resulted in one goal by Rosalina Platas and two by Jasmine Garibay in the first five minutes of game time, giving the Rams a 3-0 lead.

The Rams would continue to control the game by advancing the ball for more strikes at goal, and by limiting COS any breathing room to try to get themselves back into the game. The team kept COS to only having three strikes at the FCC side of the net.

The Rams would continue their success, scoring three more -- two

by Platas capping off her three goals of the game, and one by freshman forward Juliet Trembley to end the half with a 6-0 lead.

Rams’ freshman forward, Rosalina Platas, said she was thrilled about how she and her team played and the way that gave her the opportunity for a three-goal hat trick in the first half.

“We executed fast and whenever we are able to do that; we normally have a great game,” Platas said.

“Scoring those three goals was overwhelming. The first goal I made was my first of the season and my teammates gave me the opportunity to score two more so it

was a great day for me.”

The second half lead to the Rams having a sluggish start. Players were late on passes, and missed wide open shots at goal, letting COS get the ball on their side of the field.

Despite this, the Rams maintained their lead with a solid defensive front and did not give COS a chance to put a dent in their lead.

Rams’ head coach, Oliver Germond, said he was pleased by how the team performed during the first half, but was not happy with how the second half started for them.

Germond said it is a learning curve for things they need to fix as the playoffs are right around the corner.

“I like how we came out strong, as it is something that we have been lacking these past few games, so it was good to see that,” said Germond. “Our second half was a little sluggish to start, but I liked how we maintained control in not giving the other team a chance to come back, and that is what we have to do heading into the postseason.”

The defensive pressure would take its toll on COS with the Rams coming back from their early second half slump by scoring four more goals. Two came from Anissa Wilson and one goal each from Jasmine Garibay and Cassandra Sandoval, making a 10-0 lead to close out the game for the Rams.

Heading into the postseason, freshman midfielder Juliet Trembley wants her team to be as sharp as they can be knowing that they will face tougher opponents ahead.

“We just have to have more opportunities to finish balls into the net, giving us greater control going into each game,” Trembley said. “With each new game that gets tougher, we need to be able to do that.”

“I think we have a good system in place to help us win games and get to where we want to be.

Brian Tessler coaches his team during practice to prepare for the coming basketball season on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016. Photo/Ram Reyes

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RAMPAGE

11.9.2016

SPORTS