Spring 2017 Issue 7

Page 1

3

2017

RAMPAGE

New plans for an old campus

ISSUE

Spring 2017

May

07

Will Half a Billion in funds bring about long-awaited change? BY EDWARD SMITH

News/Copy Editor esmith@therampageonline.com

With more than $500 million in their pocket to spend, the State Center Community College District is exploring ways to proceed with proposed construction projects. To address concerns and conflicting visions for future projects across town, the district held dual events on April 24 and 25. Trustees Eric Payne, Miguel Arias, Fresno City College President Carole Goldsmith and Fresno City Council Vice President Esmeralda Soria walked door to door to invite members of the community to voice their opinions and suggestions on upcoming projects. Faculty from across the district were invited

to attend the forum on April 25 to get specific details on their departments. Money from Measure C -- totalling $485 million, plus approximately $30 million remaining from Measure E, are enabling the board of trustees to begin making plans for new construction, including the West Fresno campus, a new math and science building, an expanded Career and Technology Center as well as the much awaited parking structure. “We have to find space, whether it is down the way, across the street or up,” Carole Goldsmith, president of Fresno City College, said. Including the CTC, more than 33,000 students were enrolled at FCC during the 2016 school year; many of those students are taking classes in buildings made in the 1970s.

“Being the first community college in California, [designers] never anticipated having that many students or offering that many degrees,” Miguel Arias, member of the board of trustees, said. “FCC is on 49 acres and it served 33,000 students last semester. Fresno State is on 400 acres, and it served fewer students than we did.” Being an urban college, one of the biggest limitations to growth is being surrounded by neighborhoods on all sides and the problems that arise. “Sometimes my husband has to park across the street,” Chantal Jescien, who lives on College Street, just south of the campus, said. “[Sometimes, we have to park] around the corner or sometimes

SEE CONSTRUCTION, PAGE 4 Illustration/Ram Reyes

A&E

Sports Rams Win Season Finale

Should California Be a Sanctuary State?

Day long event closes out AsianAmerican Month.

Baseball team defeats Porterville in the finale at home.

Rampage reporters weigh in on the pros and cons of the issue.

Page 8

Page 11

Asian Fest Returns

OPINION

Page 15


2

RAMPAGE 5.3.2017

ASG Elects New Leader Amid Call for More Student Participation BY FRANK LOPEZ

Opinion Editor flopez@therampageonline.com

Brandon McLaughlin has been elected ASG president and Mark Betterson, the legislative vice president in the recent Associated Student Government elections, held online from April 25-April 27, according to a May 1 announcement. McLaughlin said he was glad to win the seat but was disappointed that no one ran against him. He said he hopes more people would get involved. He also wants ASG to work more closely with FCC’s administration to get things done. “We usually don’t work with the administration for projects here on campus, McLaughlin said. “We need to work more with the administration because they can get things done. If we can get things done with them the students benefit more overall.” Students voted through their college email. Before the election, the ASG created opportunities to get more students involved. On April 18, they held a candidates’ forum which included questions from students who attended the event. Students running for the first time as well as current ASG members explained why they should be elected to their desired offices. Candidates also talked about the changes they would like to see on campus and answered questions from moderator Deron Walker, a student aide with the Student Activities office.

Walker said he was surprised to see so many students who stayed engaged and participated at the forum. “Everybody actually stuck around, and we even got people to participate by asking questions,” Walker said. “We have really wonderful candidates here; they should be capable of fulfilling their positions.” Among some of the major concerns for candidates were ASG’s lack of visibility on campus, safety and more assistance for deaf students. ASG’s current vice president, Brandon McLaughlin, ran unopposed for president; Mando Manfredonia and Mark Betterson ran for legislative vice president and Kaura Lopez ran unopposed for president pro tempore. Five other students ran for a senator position. Manfredonia said that he wants to get more students’ involved with the ASG so that students can be better able to voice their concerns. “There are those students who seek out this and do it with a will to be out there with the students,” Manfredonia said. “My thing is to say ‘what are we doing to make the organization more known?’” McLaughlin echoed Manfredonia’s thoughts on making ASG more visible to students. “We need to look at our own process and criticize how we do it,” McLaughlin said. “We also need to see other systems in other schools and how they do it. What’s working and what isn’t, and we need to improve upon those.”

Corrections? Email media@therampageonline.com Any correction needed for an article should be brought to the attention of the staff of The Rampage. The Rampage is committed to accuracy and should be made aware of any mistake in an article that appears in this paper. Views expressed in the opinion pages are those of the individual writer and not of the newspaper. The Rampage is produced by students of the Journalism 11 A, B, C, D class.

RAMPAGE Staff Editorial Board Reporters Editor-in-Chief

Ashleigh Panoo News/Copy Editor Edward Smith Sports Editor Michael Mendez Opinion Editor Frank Lopez Photo/Asst. Layout Editor Ram Reyes Arts & Entertainment Editor Samantha Domingo Broadcast Editor Larry Valenzuela

Elias Cardenas Armando Carreno Christopher Del Castillo Corina Duran Julease Graham Javier Hernandez Eric Jaramishian Adrianna Johnson Makinna Malady Ethan McNeely Melody Olivas Terada Phengphong Jorge Rodriguez Marco Rosas Desire Stevenson Cheyenne Tex Lindsey Thornton Noah Villaverde

Layout Editor

dympna.ugwu-oju@fresnocitycollege.edu

BY SAMANTHA DOMINGO

Entertainment Editor sdomingo@therampageonline.com

As the end of the year approaches, Fresno City College offers over 20 graduation events in addition to its traditional commencement ceremony. Approximately 1,500 students graduate from FCC in the spring each year, according to Kathleen Bonilla, public information officer. However, it is estimated that only 500 of these students participate in the commencement ceremony which takes place on May 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Selland Arena. The Selland Arena event offers graduating students the traditional cap and gown experience and features distinguished alumna Maxie Parks as the commencement speaker. “The ceremony itself is very traditional,” Bonilla said. “We take a lot of care to make it a dignified ceremony.” Shelbi Sorondo, an art history major at FCC, plans to walk in the traditional cap and gown commencement ceremony. “I thought it was important to share my accomplishment with friends and family that helped and encouraged me to graduate,” Sorondo said. “It took me about four years to graduate. It took time to think about what I really wanted to do.” Sorondo said she was coming to FCC to pursue a career in art. “I practiced art more as a hobby,” said Sorondo. “I found myself thriving in my art classes at FCC; it was then that I knew I wanted to be around this artistic culture forever.” While the commencement cere-

mony is the major event regarding graduations, many programs within the college also have their own graduation events. This includes the Certificate Ceremony for students who have earned a certificate in lieu of a degree, the Honors Ceremony for students who are graduating with honors and the Dean’s Medallion Ceremony in which the dean of each division presents a medallion to a chosen student. Ethnic groups at FCC also have their own graduation ceremonies throughout May, such as the Asian Pacific Islander Celebration of Success on May 5, Latino Graduation Celebration on May 6, African American Graduation Celebration on May 13 and the American Indian Collaborative Graduation Ceremony on May 27. Michael Guadiana said he also plans to participate in the commencement ceremony. “It’s a huge accomplishment for me,” Guadiana said. He said he plans to transfer to Fresno State University in the fall with a business administration transfer degree. “It’s a rarity for people finish at a city college within two years, so it’s an accomplishment to be able to walk so soon.” According to Bonilla, it takes anywhere from three to five years for students to graduate with their associates degree at FCC. “A lot of graduating students have taken a long time to get there, they’ve worked hard to get their associate’s degree,” Bonilla said. “I encourage students to celebrate every milestone, every accomplishment they have, and our commencement ceremony does that.”

DO YOU WANT TO WRITE FOR THE MOVIES? The Fresno State Dept. of Media, Communications and Journalism offers you that chance! MCJ 177T Film Writing, 76576 Tu/TH 8:00-9:15 AM MCJ 177T Film Writing, 76728 Tu/TH 5:00-6:15 PM This class will be taught by Professional Screenwriter Dr. Ed EmanuEl. We will hold seats open for Fresno City College

Lukas Newcomb

Rampage Adviser/Instructor Dympna Ugwu-Oju

Graduation ceremonies set for may

NEWS

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

students who wish to enroll in this class. 3 units. Contact edwarde@csufresno.edu for details


NEWS

RAMPAGE 5.3.2017

New Placement Formula Lowers Need for Remediation, Speeds up Graduation Editor-in-Chief apanoo@therampageonline.com

A big change has come to the way students in the State Center Community College District colleges are placed into math and English classes. With the hopes of improving success rates and speeding up graduation, a major change occurred this semester. High school GPA is now being used as an indicator of placement, said Julie Preston-Smith, student success and support program coordinator. While assessment tests which students are used to can still be taken, more students will be exempt under the new guidelines. Preston-Smith said the new program, known as the Multiple Measures Assessment Project, will keep the college from under-placing students who could do well in a college-level course with only a little extra help. Under the old placement guidelines, about 27 percent of incoming students were placed into a transfer-level math course, while just under 37 percent were placed into English 1A, according to models from Cal-PASS Plus. Projected models show that when multiple measures are introduced, the number of students placed into college-level math jumps to 34 percent. English 1A placement will see a large boost to about 51 percent, according to the models. Carole Goldsmith, president of Fresno City College, said the pilot program has been implemented with a lot of research to back it up. “There’s been a number of meetings...a lot of faculty, counselors and deans are involved,” she said. “We’ve had conferences; we’ve sent people to research symposiums; there are a lot of people working on this.”

According to Complete College tests under place students and hin“If more students are placed into America, a nonprofit that works to der graduation rates, Goldsmith said. higher level coursework,” Goldsmith increase the number of Americans The district hopes to do prelim- said, “we’re going to see an influx of with college degrees, only 9.5 per- inary research in the fall to see people needing more college-level cent of students who begin their col- if multiple measures works or if classes. That is a good problem to lege careers in a remediation course it needs modifications. “It’s a big have.” graduate within three years. Com- change,” Preston-Smith said. “I Another change that is expected plete College America has found that think we’re moving in the right di- to be implemented in the fall is the students can do higher level course- rection.” common assessment, which will rework if they are given enough supDespite all the research and as- place the current assessment tests. port in the class. surance, both Preston-Smith and Instead of having a separate math Preston-Smith said when stu- Goldsmith acknowledge there is and English test, they will be comdents enter college and find out nervousness among faculty mem- bined into one, and it will be taken they still have two or three levels bers. on a computer. of math and writing to pass be“I think they’re worried about Goldsmith said the common asfore they are at college-level, their whether they’re going to have the sessment can be used for returning pathway to graduating is greatly same job and whether the courses students who have been out of high hindered. are going to change,” Preston-Smith school for a while. “There’s a whole theory that says said. “It’s a big change.” Preston-Smith said she would like they don’t even want to start,” PresMore English 1A classes have been to see the criteria simplified in a way ton-Smith said. “There’s already added for summer and fall, she said, that would be easier to understand this assumption that we lose this and they have filled up faster than for students. “The data sets that group of students because they get usual. Preston-Smith said there will came from [the state] had all these discouraged.” be no layoffs or hirings, but rather formulas and predictabilities,” she California Community College a reorganization within the depart- said. ‘We’re trying to make it more chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley said in ments. obvious.” a letter dated April 27 that despite $1.5 bilFRESNO CITY lion in initiatives since English placement 2012, success rates 60 have not improved. 51.6% 51.6% Oakley said that in 51.6% 51.6% 51.6% 2010, statewide com51.6% 42.8% 42.8% pletion rates topped 42.8% 42.8% 42.8% out at 48.8 percent. In 40 42.8% 2014, the rate dipped 32.0 32.0 % 32.0 % 32.0% % 32.0 % slightly to 47.3 percent, 28.1% 28.1% 28.1% 28.1% 28.1% and the current rate is 32.0 % at 48 percent. Oakley 20 20 .7% 28.1% 20 .7% 20 20.7% .7% .7% said multiple measures 20 13.8% 13.8% 13.8% 20 .7% 13.8% 13.8% placement will hope8.3% 8.3% fully get colleges in the 8.3% 8.3% 8.3% 13.8% state on the right track. 2.7% 2.7% 2.7% 2.7% 2.7% 8.3% Preston-Smith said 0 FCC is part of a pilot 2.7% Transfer 1 Level Below 2 Levels Below 3 Levels Below 4 Levels Below program to see if mulPlacement Level tiple measures will better place students. MMAP Test There has been copious amounts of research done, conclud- Changes from the adaption of the Multiple Measures Assessment Project will place more students at college-level courses. Chart/ ing that assessment Cal-PassPLUS Percent

BY ASHLEIGH PANOO

3

‘15 to Finish’ adds 3 units to full-time BY JORGE RODRIGUEZ

Reporter jrodgriguez@therampageonline.com

A nationwide initiative to have students at colleges and universities take 15 units per semester in order for them to transfer or graduate within two or four years has arrived at Fresno City College. Started by the Hawaiian universities and community colleges, “15 to Finish” is meant to advise students that by taking 15 units instead of 12 to qualify as a fulltime student, they will spend less time in college and will graduate or transfer on time. At a two year institution only about 29 percent of students take more than 15 units a semester and in a four year institution about 50 percent take the necessary 15 units or more, according to completecollege.org. Most students want to leave com-

munity college within four semesters. However, by taking only the necessary 12 units to be a full-time student they are unable to complete the required units for transfer to a four-year college or university. “As an advocate for student success, we have to do better by our students and this is one way to start,” said Jaime Duran, a counselor at FCC. “This initiative is not about dictating students take any amount of units, it’s about encouraging students to challenge themselves to reach their academic goal.” This initiative also has it’s critics, who believe that by taking 15 units per semester it would be more difficult for the student who will have to add another class to their schedule, putting a heavier workload each semester. The initiative is part of the Complete College America organization who has partnered with the Central Valley Higher Education Consortium

to spread the word about the “15 to Finish.” Data provided by Complete College America shows that there is a significant growth in course com-

This effort really needs to be a college wide effort as students’ success is the responsibility of all college faculty and staff.” -Jaime Duran FCC Counselor

pletion, GPA’s and program completion by students who take 15 units per semester compared to those who only take 12 units. The “15 to Finish” effort has also been adopted in the valley by Modesto Junior College, Merced College and Clovis Community among others. At FCC the counseling department and college relations have been working hard to spread the word on the initiative and to get the information out to the incoming students. “This effort really needs to be a college wide effort as students success is the responsibility of all college faculty and staff,” said Duran. “It’s important for students to take courses with the assistance of a counselor so that it coincides with their academic major.”


4

RAMPAGE

5.3.2017

NEWS

Pregnancy and Education at FCC BY MAKINNA MALADY

Reporter mmalady@therampageonline.com

Trying to earn your degree while pregnant can be extremely challenging. Luckily, the Fresno City College Health Services offer many resources for expectant students, according to Lisa Chaney, coordinator of the center. The Pregnancy Care Center is a mobile service which provides pregnancy tests, prenatal education, limited obstetric ultrasounds, community resources and referrals as well pregnancy options counseling. PCC provides services in the FCC bookstore every fourth Tuesday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Health Services are supported by the $19 health fee which every student pays. Listed services are only available to Fresno City College students who are currently registered, matriculating, or have been accepted into a college program. “Having the Pregnancy Care Center come out is very helpful to students,” Chaney said. “They can do an official pregnancy diagnosis while we can only do pregnancy tests.” The mobile clinic at FCC is run by a nurse, meaning that it cannot provide official care for pregnant women. If a pregnant woman needs her blood pressure checked, the nurses can provide that service. However, if a woman has a medical problem and is in pain, she has to be referred to doctors outside the FCC Health Services system. Health Services mainly provides supportive care to the students. If pregnant students come in with headaches, Chaney said she likes to work with alternative stuff such as

lavender to help soothe the pain. She is concerned about the mother ingesting a substance that will hurt the baby. “When a student has her baby, we have a room that they can go in and pump,” Chaney said. “We have a medela pump which is a phenomenal pump. We also have other supplies, so that they can use to pump here in this room and then go to class.” As for official and unofficial school policies regarding pregnant students’ ability to continue their education, Chaney said, “they are allowed to come to school and get their education for as long as they can.” And while there are no laws that mandate a teacher has to allow them extra time, “most of the time, teachers will work with the pregnant students if needed,” Chaney said. She also explained that enabling and helping pregnant students stay in college and giving them parenting skills go a long way. “Most of these girls are young adults that do not have a lot of support, and that is what we provide here for them,” Chaney said. Students living in poverty, or have children early in life and have little or no support are more likely to have their children who live in poverty, have more chronic diseases and a shorter life span. “These young women are in school to try to earn an education to better the life of their children,” Chaney said. “Enabling them and supporting them while in college can make a world of difference.”

McKinley Avenue to Close for Construction BY ASHLEIGH PANOO

Editor-in-Chief apanoo@therampageonline.com

Water pipeline installations that began May 1 are expected to close roads around Fresno City College throughout the summer, diverting traffic around the college, according to the Fresno Department of Public Utilities. On May 1, McKinley Avenue between Effie Street and Blackstone Avenue was closed and westbound traffic will be detoured to Clinton Avenue for the next eight weeks. Eastbound traffic will not be affected, said the department. McKinley Avenue will close on May 29 to westbound traffic between Blackstone and Van Ness avenues and to all traffic

between Van Ness and Palm avenues for eight weeks. Traffic will be diverted to Clinton Avenue and Blackstone will not be affected. A large-diameter water pipeline will be installed under the intersections as part of city project which aims to improve water system facilities. In August, the contractor will return to install pipeline along McKinley Avenue from Fresno Street to Blackstone Avenue, said the department. Businesses will remain open during all roadwork and flaggers will detour traffic.

2

CONSTRUCTION FROM PAGE 1

down at my son’s house because there’s no place to park.” Parking has been an issue since the 1970s, when the campus built parking lots B, C and D, using eminent domain - a way through which a government or its agent can acquire private property for public use, with payment of compensation. Eminent domain is costly as it requires paying the displaced a fair market value for their properties as well as relocation fees for every resident that has to move. However, some board members say they are considering the positive impacts eminent domain may bring to underserved areas of town. One of the areas the district is considering to acquire through eminent domain is the area immediately north of the Health Science Building. Of the 170 properties between East Cambridge and Clinton Avenue, only seven of them are owner occupied, according to Arias. “If we coordinate our plans with the community stakeholders and invest in a way that propels the public and private investment near us,”

Arias said, “we can change the trajectory of that neighborhood for the decades to come.” Expansion was also a hot topic back in 2002, when Measure E was passed and the city was pushing the campus to move to the southeast. The district used funds from the bond to purchase land which it still holds. Christine Miktarian, assistant vice chancellor for Business and Operations, said one of the reasons the project never moved forward is because the district had planned to use both local and state bonds to build. Applications for partial state funding for the Southeast Campus were submitted and approved, but California never passed another statewide facilities bond. “One of the things we wanted to do with Measure C was to make sure we funded that project in full without having to wait on state funding,” Miktarian said. While the district knows where the money needs to go, the question still remains as to where and how the FCC will expand its footprint.

If we coordinate our plans with the community stakeholders and invest in a way that propels the public and private investment near us we can change the trajectory of that neighborhood for the decades to come.” -Miguel Arias Area 5 Trustee


NEWS

5

RAMPAGE 5.3.2017

Some on the board fear what waiting around for state funds can do to the timeline of a project. According to Arias, the board hoped that Measure C would be enough that they would not have to rely on state funds for building. Others, however, feel that keeping those state funds would be beneficial to the program and to the district. “There are potentially other resources to leverage the resources we have. There is no direction set by the state in terms of how we do that,” Trustee Eric Payne said. “I don’t want to risk losing center status and the state funding that comes with it.” Moving CTC might mean other advantages to construction projects. Some of the proposals introduced in the faculty forum suggested moving CTC to the new West Fresno campus. “You know you’re going to start out with a certain amount of students who are going to attend,” said Miktarian. “Doing a completely new campus, you have to make sure you have the right programs. You can’t just open it and people will show up, you have to have programs people will show up to.”

1

OFF-CAMPUS

WEST FRESNO A 2015 map of Fresno City College campus shown during a presentation before faculty by PMSM Architects in the staff cafeteria on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Photo/Google Maps

1 PARKING

Parking represents the most universal prerequisite for any effective expansion on the FCC campus. According to Alan Kroeker, principal agent for PMSM Architects, the firm handling the planning stage of construction, 95 percent of parking in Lots B, C and D is utilized throughout the day. Being landlocked, FCC’s options are limited. The district has allocated $50 million for parking around campus, but there is no consensus on the best way to bring in new parking. One line of thinking is to put a parking structure near Ratcliffe Stadium. “You could see a parking structure of 1,500 spots done like most modern parking structures,” said Arias. “The first floor is office spaces where we could relocate students services, financial aid and the bookstore. It would directly serve Ratcliffe Stadium.” However, cost is a major factor. According to Miktarian, a parking structure costs up to 20 times more than ground level parking. The advantage of a multi-level parking structure is that the district does not need to expand its footprint as much. Another consideration is how technology will affect parking in the coming decades. During the public forum, members of the community brought up a concern that a parking structure may be obsolete in the coming years. “If your car drops you off and finds parking in the lesser used parking lots, then the need is met,” Kroeker said.

2 SOLAR

While not funded by Measure C, the solar project which was approved in the March meeting of the board of trustees will be the first of the upcoming construction projects over the next few years and will bear drastic effects for students in the upcoming years. Out of a concern of rising energy costs and its environmental impact, the district purchased a lease through Forefront Power LLC, with an option to buy the panels at a later time. In the first year, the district is expected to save $120,000, and in 20 years, projected savings for the campus would be $6 million. The proposed solar panels will be placed in parking lots B, C and D once PG&E accepts the application made by the college. Being built in the south parking lots will impact parking. “Best case is we start construction mid-to-late July, but it is probably going to be the later part of August,” Maktirian said. “We’ll probably finish construction by the end of the year.” The construction will be done piecemeal so as to not eliminate the most heavily used lots on campus. Builders will have to do one portion at a time, limiting efficiency and affecting the timeline. Once constructed, however, the panels will offset the college’s energy costs by 32 percent, according to a presentation by Miktarian, Kevin Flanagan of the School Program for Utility Rate Reduction and Brian Taylor of Forefront. Compared to the other colleges in the district, FCC’s energy output is

limited by the space surrounding the campus. The average energy offset rate for Clovis, Madera, Reedley and Herndon exceeds 80 percent for each campus. The plan will also include four charging stations for electric vehicles.

OFF-CAMPUS Careers and TEchnology Center

The other part of Measure E would go to funding an expanded CTC, but like FCC, the campus is landlocked. Surrounded by a recycling center, a steel manufacturing plant and an empty lot recently purchased, opportunities for growth are very limited. Enrollment at the center for spring 2016 stands at 4,100 students, and the college worries about how the center can keep up with developing technologies and growing enlistment, according to PMSM Associate Principal Monisha Adnani. Part of the problem of expanding the CTC would be the money the district gets for the campus’ center-status. “We’re only allowed so much square footage per student in order to retain state funding for centerhood,” according to Miktarian. She hopes that growing the center, however, would eventually attract the numbers needed to regain the money from the state that the center is currently qualified to get.

The idea of a West Fresno Campus came from a need to address concentrated levels of poverty in that area, and community members there worked to get a West Fresno Campus going, according to Payne. The area of West Fresno is usually defined as the area south of the 180 Freeway and West of the 99, according to a presentation from Adnani. “A lot of people think West Fresno is limited to the African-American community,” Goldsmith said. “But it also includes Hmong populations, monolingual Hispanic populations and older white generations.” A lot of these considerations go into determining what kind of programs the district will offer at the proposed campus. “In the past what we’ve done is the district has offered credit/ non-credit programs and certificates like security guard certificates, office assistant certificates and solar installer certificates,” Payne said. “All of these things have a high success rate.” In addition to discussing what the West Fresno campus would offer, was where they would put it. According to Arias, surveying for the site begins next month. One limitation is Chandler Airport, as state law prevents putting schools and colleges near airports. When talking about what factors would make a good site, faculty members brought up ideas like transportation accessibility, infrastructure, freeway access and proximity to feeders. One site would place the campus between Gaston Middle School and Edison High School.


6

RAMPAGE

5.3.2017

NEWS

A tardigrade as seen through an electron microscope. Photo via Willow Gabriel, Goldstein Labs

instructor magnifies little-known organism BY TERADA PHENGPHONG

Reporter tphengphong@therampageonline.com

Carl Johansson, biology instructor at Fresno City College is studying the toughest living species on Earth. It isn’t the largest or even the strongest in muscle mass; in fact it’s so small, you need a microscope to see it. Tardigrades, also known as “water bears” for their bodily motions, are arguably more durable than the infamous cockroach and are the first animals to survive in space with no protection. The “American Scientist,” a magazine published by the Scientific Research Honor Society, reports that surviving such extreme environments suggest that tardigrades have a very healthy DNA repair system. The microscopic animals also have the potential to live for hundreds of years and can quite literally come back from the dead. Yet, little is known about these tiny super soldiers. Since its discovery by German zoologist Johann August Ephraim Goeze in 1777, there have only been a few thousand scientific journals published about these creatures. Fresno City College students, thanks to Johansson, are getting opportunities to join in the research of this tough species. Johansson is incorporating FCC students into his research team. He does not discriminate when it comes to choosing which students

join the trek of discovering the potential scientific benefits of tardigrades. In the past, he had chosen students majoring in nursing, fashion and film. “I want people who are inquisitive and excited,” Johansson said. He chooses them based on their genuine interest, merit and drive. He says students who are committed to more than just writing off this experience as another bullet point on their resumes are whom he wants to invest in. Some FCC students currently working with him are Aleena Habib, Rick Holmes and William Osle. There is a lot of potentials in finding out more about these “water bears” for not only science but for people. Tardigrades are able to live for hundreds of years because they dry themselves out into a husk and come “alive” again after being rehydrated. This period without water suspends their life, has no effect on its actual lifespan and stops all bodily functions, making them technically dead. This state, anhydrobiosis, is common for tardigrades to enter several times a year, according to the “Amer-

ican Scientist.” According to Johansson, tardigrades can take in and digest harmful crop killing organisms and remain unaffected. After being digested by tardigrades, these pathogens will have remained unchanged as well. The potential danger of this is that these micro animals have been found all over the world. Without more knowledge on tardigrades, we may be vulnerable to their effects on our food source worldwide. Professor Johansson says he aspires to be the catalyst in his students’ lives -- that will engage their interest and passion in science as his predecessor, the late Robert Winter who was a professor at Fresno City College, was for him. “Science is magic to me,” Johansson said. “I don’t see why anybody -Carl Johansson reads or watchBiology professor es science fiction when the real thing that actually happens is far more spectacular and interesting.” Tardigrades and their abilities are a prime example of real life science being better than fiction, Johansson said. He wants students to not only be

I don’t see why anybody reads or watches science fiction when the real thing that actually happens is far more spectacular and interesting.”

more free in pursuing science, but to not be afraid to know more about it. Johansson said that with science comes a knowledge that would aid students discover whether, “people are trying to steal your money or they’re actually interested in improving your life.” “I owe Fresno City College this huge debt of gratitude,” Johansson expressed. “The only thing I can do is try to pay that back by providing opportunities and demonstrating that to our current students.” And so far, Johansson is fulfilling his debt. “He talked about everything with such enthusiasm [in Biology 3],” said student-researcher Aleena Habib about her mentor. “My passion for school and science came back and he saw that.” When Johansson lectured on tardigrades during one of Habib’s classes, she became enthralled with the “water bears.” “I started looking up information about them, collecting moss samples from random places, and spending hours during my weekends trying to find them under the scope,” Habib said. “And I wasn’t even hired yet.” So when he offered Habib the job, she jumped on the chance and became one of the few people in the world researching tardigrades. “The opportunity that Professor Johansson has given me, and the other employees at the lab is huge and amazing,” she said. “I’m really proud to be a part of this.”


7

RAMPAGE 5.3.2017

NEWS

An instructor explains to the Fresno City College Fire Academy students what they need to do to salvage a simulated second story apartment at the Clovis Fire Training Center on Saturday, April 29, 2017. Photo/Cheyenne Tex

fire scholarship money means more access to Education BY CHEYENNE TEX

Reporter ctex@therampageonline.com

For the first time, the Fire Academy at Fresno City College will provide their cadets with an opportunity to receive a scholarship. Soccoro Gonzalez-Deaver, founder of the scholarship program, said he recently made progress in finding funds to help students. In a fundraising event for the Jim Deaver Fire Academy scholarship at the Kings River Winery in Sanger on March 26, about $21,000 was raised from an auction, ticket sales, drinks and T-shirt sales. In addition, community members have donated around $3,000. Other donations have not yet been calculated. More than 350 people attended. The scholarship, which was ap-

proved in December 2016 and named after retired captain Jim Deaver, will help towards tuition and other expenses for the 33week course of the fire academy which costs approximately $3,000. “It’s awesome,” said Tanner Munro, a fire academy student, “that we can potentially get some money to pay for tuition and other expenses.” “It’s exciting to see people recognize us and respect the work being done,” instructor Oney Durney said. Organizers of the scholarship have not determined the amount of money students will receive, the number of students who will receive the scholarship, the dates students can apply for the scholarship or when students will receive the scholarship money as of yet. Gonzalez-Deaver said that stu-

dents will need to write a 500 word essay and have at least a 3.0 GPA to qualify for the application. Students who volunteered and helped at the fundraiser event were not notified until afterward that the money raised was for the scholarship fund. “We actually found out as a class,” Rick Hancock, a fire academy student, said. “It was a really shocking experience.” Deaver, who the scholarship was named after, is recovering from anoxic brain damage after he had a heart attack in late 2015. Along with more than 30 years of service as a firefighter, Deaver was and still is a well-known member of the community. Gonzalez-Deaver, his wife, said she wanted to continue the work he started as a ROP Fire Technology teacher at Sanger High School.

The academy intends to prepare students for their work in the field of fire technology. In addition to the 804 hours of instruction, students must complete a number of volunteer hours. “There’s a lot of work and hours in the academy,” Durney said. “The academy is difficult scholastically and physically.” Students have also worked to raise money to send kids to the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation Champ Camp, a camp for burn survivors to have fun, make friends and to boost their self-esteem. The founder of the scholarship is motivated to help students. “For a lot of students, money is a deal breaker for college,” Gonzalez-Deaver said. “If we can help the students reach their dreams through this scholarship, Jim would love it.”

(LEFT) Charles Sells descends the ladder after salvaging items in the simulated second story apartment. (RIGHT) Fresno City College Fire Academy students discuss who will be the first to climb down from the second story apartment, after salvaging the materials at the Clovis Fire Training Center on Saturday, April 29, 2017. Photo/Cheyenne Tex


8

RAMPAGE 5.3.2017

ENTERTAINMENT

Asian Heritage Month closes with festival

Students from the Red Dragon Dojo demonstrate their moves at Asian Fest on April 29, 2017. Photo/Marco Rosas

BY MARCO ROSAS

Reporter mrosas@therampageonline.com

Asian Fest is the largest cultural event that can be found at Fresno City College. It is a celebration of various Asian cultures and has been at FCC for nearly 19 years. Asian Fest incorporates a wide variety of Asian performances, food and booths that attendees can enjoy. This year’s Asian Fest took place April 29. This year, Asian Fest celebrated the Year of the Rooster by bringing FCC student and non-student performers and vendors together for a day of cultural appreciation. The day began with a martial arts demonstration by several martial arts dojos, each showing off their martial arts prowess. A kata, or practice movements, demonstration in FCC’s gymnasium was originally scheduled to preface the martial arts performance but it was cancelled due to the gym being used by a class at the time.

John Cho’s Kung Fu School was the first to perform. Cho is a professor of Asian-American Studies at FCC and one of the main coordinators of Asian Fest. Cho’s Kung Fu performers varied from children displaying basic kata to men waving razor sharp blades around in the air. The martial arts demonstration also featured students from the Red Dragon dojo in Fresno’s Tower District. After the martial arts performances on the main stage, a cultural fashion show was held at the fountain stage. Ladies in traditional clothing from their respective Asian countries including Vietnam, The Philippines, India, China and Japan walked in front of a large crowd on fountain stage. The main show, which took place in the free speech area from noon to 2 p.m., displayed the widest variety of performances. From young male Indian dancers to Polynesian dancers of all ages, the audience enjoyed diverse performances on the stage while surrounded by diverse culinary options. The booths near the stage in the

free speech area offered a selection of Asian foods to try ranging from Panda Express to Indian Market and New China Cafe. After the main show, the fountain stage hosted a few youth performances, including a Cambodian dance group and child Hula group. The fountain stage was also where the dragon dancers presented an interpretive dance. The performers, who made up the body of the dragon, portrayed a dragon playing with a toy ball and interacted with children and ran through the campus. The final performances were held in the free speech area and consisted of choreographed dances to popular anime music during a segment known as Anime Hour. The scheduled performances offered a variety of cultural experiences for audiences to watch and appreciate but audiences were free to interact with the booths at Asian Fest all day. The kids activities area near the main stage offered face painting, origami and paper lantern making lessons, among other things. Booths scattered throughout the

campus offered education on individual Asian cultures by members of the community. The Hmong Student Association participated in Asian Fest for the first time this year. “Everyone can stop by and learn about our culture,” said Vietnamese booth representative Mary Ann Lee. The university mall also had booths people could visit to purchase original art, quirky gifts, and Anime memorabilia. A car show was also in the university mall. Cars were adorned with superhero art and colors. The cafeteria was filled with anime booths and cosplayers interacting with one another. The cosplayers competed in a friendly competition for best cosplay on the main stage during anime hour. The final attraction offered by Asian Fest was a recycled fashion exhibit in the library. The clothing in the exhibit was meant to simulate traditional Asian clothing but was made of completely recycled material.

Students Showcase Fashion with a Conscience BY ADRIANNA JOHNSON

Reporter ajohnson@therampageonline.com

Fashion merchandising students showed off their final projects in a recycled fashion show in the library on April 28. The event, featuring designs in Asian styles, opened the Asian Fest celebrations. The fashion show, in its second year, featured 10 garments designed by students and alumni of FCC with

the library staff and fashion merchandising faculty assisting the production. The event’s sponsors included the River Park Shopping Center, Vac & Sew, Paul Mitchell-The School, Karkazian Jewelers, Premiere Talent and the Culinary Arts program at FCC. “I am amazed at this library; it is beautiful and fits the vibe of the show and Asian Fest so well,” Tamara Karson, an audience member and friend of Talene Karkazian, the visual director of the fashion show as well as a

A sign welcomes people to the Recycled Fashion Show at the FCC Library on April 28, 2017. Photo/Marco Rosas

sponsor. The students’ designs were made entirely out of recycled materials from bottle caps, newspaper, cardboard, duct tape, and even burlap bags. At the beginning of the show, organizers stated that the purpose of having recycled garments is to raise awareness of ethical fashion, from the issue of clothing being produced in sweatshops to the fact that 70 pounds of textile waste per person per year ends up in a landfill. Alejandra Alcaraz, a fashion merchandising student, made her designs from construction paper, cardboard, bottle caps, table cloths, and trash bags. “I was very happy to see my garment out there, especially after all the hard work and my fingers raw from working with those bottle caps,” Alcaraz said. “Im looking into a masters program in Hong Kong, so I am learning Chinese right now,” Yazmine Enriquez, an alumni designer, said she is graduating in May and hopes to further her fashion merchandising degree in China. Enriquez’s design was made out of orange fruit bags and newspaper. “I am really into the mesh trend right now, so the closest recyclable material was the oranges bags,” she said. En-

riquez garment was the latest fashion trend for 2017 and was inspired by traditional kimono garments. Gustavo Diaz, a current student graduating next year, said he will get an AS degree and then pursue his own clothing line which is already in the works through his website thedeathofmeco.com. “It’s called ‘The Death of Me’ because I had a second chance, and I am not taking it for granted,” Diaz said. “I want to support people who are struggling with life issues while also providing unique personalized clothing.” Diaz’s website features a contact link for support as well as purchasing clothing, and his design was made of cardboard, computer parts, spray paint and duct tape. He said his inspiration was the detailed armor of Samurai. Linda Kobashigawa, an FCC Librarian, explained how the event turned out a lot bigger with 50 to 100 more people, thanks the tie in with Asian Fest. “They helped promotion wise by putting our event on their flyers.” Kobashigawa said that this final project for the fashion students is very beneficial to them and provides a type of portfolio to aid their application to fashion schools. Each design from the fashion show will be on display in the library until May 10.


ENTERTAINMENT

RAMPAGE 5.3.2017

9

A LOCAL HEALTHCARE PLAN

that won’t disrupt yours.

#YOLO

With a local healthcare plan at no cost to you, you can keep planning. No deducible. No copay. And nothing holding you back.

See if You Qualify for No Cost Coverage

C A LV I V A H E A LT H . O R G

SUMMER AT CITY

Don’t Delay, Enroll Today Four sessions available beginning in May & June Check out our online classes Fall semester begins in August (559) 442-8225 www.fresnocitycollege.edu/summer State Center Community College District


10

RAMPAGE 5.3.2017

ENTERTAINMENT

DAMN. is HUMBLE. BY JULEASE GRAHAM

Repoter jgraham@therampageonline.com

Kendrick Lamar’s fourth studio album remained true to his artistry and mindset. By not sacrificing his raw intensity in a world of popular culture and meaningless noise, Lamar landed all 14 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 list. “DAMN.” acts as a window into Lamar’s past and present experiences. It is a look inside his his life challenges growing up, and his internal struggles with power and fame. Its relatability makes it an album for his fans. His powerful interpretations of loyalty, love, faith, revenge, and Trump are a collection of revelations about the black community and today’s society. Lamar ties together vast conflicts with a track list unique in style, rhyming, and speed. The album flows harmoniously through each song. It features collaborations from a range of artists like Rihanna, U2, and the Thundercat. “DAMN.” pulls from its surrounding, sampling everything from Rick James to movies like Rush Hour 2. Lamar uses a poetic spoken word, “BLOOD.,” as the intro to his album. It speaks about an elderly blind woman,

and ends with a political reference sampling a Fox news broadcast that foreshadows the impact of the rest of the album. The lyrical flow and trap style beat in “DNA.” and “HUMBLE.” bring the intensity Lamar is known and loved for. Both tracks lay out the theme throughout the album. His mix of instrumentals and lyrics play pushed these two tracks to the top of the charts, making them the most popular. The unique vibes of “LOYALTY.,” “LUST.,” and “LOVE.” bring a matchless alternative flow. Using metaphors and storytelling to ask the deeper questions about topics corresponding with the track titles. “FEEL.,” “FEAR.,” and “GOD.” are the tracks of consciousness. Lamar remains relatable while unpacking his feelings and frustrations of his surrounds, the root of fear and his personal fears, and his place in the world. “DAMN.” is a personal album, yet it remains large in its range. Lamar effortlessly uses his strength in storytelling to verbally work through personal battles. It gives listeners his perspective, as he makes sense of change affecting his reality. It is clear Lamar is not the same artist that had his fans chanting “We gon’ be alright” two years ago. “DAMN.” carried a new message, reacting to society through one man’s perspective.

Kendrick Lamar performing “HUMBLE.” Photo courtesy of TDE Films / FREENJOY INC.

Students Express Themselves in Intramural Speeches BY ERIC JARAMISHIAN

Repoter ejaramishian@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College students competed in an intramural speech competition April 19. Students of all majors were welcome to present different types of speeches that included topics of their choosing. Dozens of students giving the speeches had the option to give a persuasive speech or an informative speech. Persuasive and informative speeches were divided into separate rooms for competition purposes. Persuasive speech topics ranged from the importance of sports, smil-

ing, and art, while informative speech topics ranged from Malcolm X, Global Warming, and Picasso. Stephanie Saveda, 19-year-old Biology major, gave a persuasive speech on her experiences with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and gave a lesson that people should not judge people by what they cannot see. “The adrenaline of being able to perform on an academic level is enjoyable,” said Saveda. “To me, it is more enjoyable than the physical competition of playing a sport.” Zachariah Rodrigues did a persuasive speech on the perception of art. “I have been a musician for almost my whole life,” said Rodrigues, “and

I wanted to let everyone else know how art can change your perception on life.” Three rounds of speeches were held, with lunch provided to all participants in between the competition. The first two rounds had all speakers present their speech once per round, followed by a final round that decided the placement for the speakers. Those who got into the final round of competition got the chance to win small scholarship prizes and plaques donated by faculty at FCC. The winners won $75 and were awarded plaques, while runner-ups won $50. The final winners for the persuasive speeches were Saveda, Rodrigues

and Dalton Serviner. Winners from the informative speeches were Troy Bennett, David Garrett, and Lynn Harrod. “What is most rewarding for me is seeing the excitement from the students in giving a speech,” said Dan Scott, communications instructor. “The intramural speeches give them a platform to express themselves, and with the overwhelming support we’ve had this year, it has been a fantastic event.” Dan Scott is the founder of these competitions and has been running these competitions for 12 years.

Stephanie Saveda (left) speaks about her fight with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at the music/speech building on April 19, 2017. Zachariah Rodrigues (right) gives a speech on the perception of art at the music/speech building on April 19 2017. Both took part and won a cash prize in the intramural speech contest at Fresno City College. Photo/Armando Carreno


SPORTS

11

RAMPAGE 5.3.2017

Rams Close Home Finale Over Porterville

Eddie Pena scores the go-ahead run against Porterville on Wednesday, April 26, 2017. Photo/Larry Valenzuela

BY MICHAEL MENDEZ

Sports Editor mmendez@therampageonline.com

The Fresno City College baseball team is determined to build momentum as it approaches the postseason. The team continued its two game winning streak in a 6-1 win over Porterville College in a home game finale on April 27. This game was important to the Rams who sit in third place in the Central Valley Conference with a 25-

14 record, on the heels of of Merced and College of the Sequoias who are ahead of the Rams by a single game lead. Although the Rams were playing last place Porterville, the team was in no position to take the game lightly. The game featured the pitching duel between Rams Left hander Zac Whittaker who pitched for his sixth win of the season for 6-2 against Porterville’s right hander Art Joven who fell to 1-8. The game got off to a quick start for the Rams who made short work

of Porterville batters, by retiring three of the first four batters in the opening inning. In the bottom of the first, the Rams started off with a base hit single by Michael Beltran. That hit would be followed up by a RBI triple by outfielder Nick Sheehan to give the Rams the go ahead lead. Despite the Rams one run lead, the Rams’ pitcher Whittaker got himself in a tough position in the third. Whittaker opened the inning with a strikeout but found himself with bases loaded after a hit batter and two straight singles. In a tough spot, the Rams defense dug themselves out of the hole with ground ruled double play to keep their one run lead intact. Rams starting pitcher Zac Whittaker pitched seven inning for six strikeouts without allowing a scored run. Whittaker attributed his rough start in the third inning to not finding his stride on the mount. “I went into that inning not throwing my best pitches, putting myself in a hard spot,” Whittaker said. “After that inning, the game allowed me to focus on my mechanics and delivery, and from that point on, I was finally able to a throw solid game in the later innings.” The Rams were determined to

stretch out their lead. In the fourth, they continued the success at bat by scoring two runs as a result of a double RBI single from Rams first baseman Noah Padilla, extending their lead to 3-0. More of the Rams offensive success would continue over to the fifth and eighth innings. The Rams scored two runs in the fifth and one in the eighth to extend their lead to 6-0. Rams outfielder Nick Sheehan got on base three out of four at bats. He said the team’s success is because of getting batters on base early and being able to bring runners home. “Everything worked for us offensively,” Sheehan said. “Getting batters on base and hits with runners in scoring position give us the best chance to score, and we did a lot of that today.” Porterville tried to come back at the top of the ninth by scoring their first and only run in the game, but it was too little, too late as two quick groundouts ended the their run for a Rams victory. Rams head coach Ron Scott said he was pleased by his team’s performance in a game that they knew they had to win to stay alive in the CVC. This win was something for the team to build on heading into the final games of the regular season as well at postseason. “This was a must win game for us to finish strong in conference,” Scott said. “We are doing very well. I have no doubt that we will do very well in the playoffs.”

Final Score

6-1

The Price of a Kneel BY ARMANDO CARRENO

Reporter acarreno@therampageonline.com

On August 28, 2016, quarterback Colin Kaepernick made a decision that would divide the country. He took a seat during the national anthem in a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. After becoming a free agent, Kaepernick would soon discover the repercussions of his decision to not stand eight months ago. Kaepernick had explained his motivations in an interview with NFL Network reporter, Steve Wyche. “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick had said. “To me, this is bigger than football, and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.” Kaepernick’s stand caused a divide in the country and with front offices around the league. Several NFL executives reacted harshly toward Kaepernick. One called him a traitor, and another had reportedly said, “I don’t want him anywhere near my team.” One front office person went as far as saying, “f--K that guy.” Kaepernick started the 2016 season as the 49ers’ backup quarterback. By the sixth week, he would gain the starting role but not before the team and Kaepernick came to an agreement to restructure his contract which erased the final four years of his contract, replacing it with a two-

year deal with a player option for the second year. Kaepernick declined the option for 2017 in March. At the start of 2017 free agency period, quarterback after quarterback began to get signed while Kaepernick received zero interest. Talent wise and even accomplishment wise, the quarterbacks who were signed have not done a single thing in comparison to Kaepernick’s achievements. It is absurd that Kaepernick, who was in six playoff games with a record of 4-2, two NFC championship games, and five yards away from a Super Bowl win, is still available. He has achieved more than any of the free agent quarterbacks who were or are on the market. Fifteen free agent quarterbacks, including guys like Mike Glennon who had only 18 career starts in the NFL and Matt Barkley who started six games last year and threw 14 interceptions, have been signed ahead of Kaepernick. Kaepernick is a great quarterback, or even a franchise quarterback. He’s a quality starter with experience in big game situations and the ability to make explosive plays with his feet and arm. He would be an asset to any team. No teams have reached out to Kaepernick. Most criticisms against him have not been about being inconsistent and not being able to play in the NFL but about his new vegan diet and how that will hurt his playing weight. Kaepernick has already returned to his normal playing weight and showed throughout the entire 2016 that he can stay healthy. All of these problems were there

last year when plenty of teams were interested in him including Denver Broncos who were coming off a Super Bowl victory. Even after coming off his worst statistical year of his career in 2015 where he only played 9 games and threw six touchdowns and five interceptions, teams were still interested. One can’t help but wonder why no one wants a quarterback coming out of a pretty good year with 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions, especially when he achieved all that with an offense that was lacking in talent. It begs the question -- what has changed since last year that will deter teams that had pursued him last year when he had a bad year? Kaepernick used his platform to protest injustice of police brutality. That is the only logical reason why a quarterback who can help a team win is being blackballed. The teams do not like what he did. A message is being sent here folks -- a message from the owners of the teams in the NFL. The majority of NFL team owners are known to be conservative. You can get in trouble with drugs, but as long as you can still play, we’ll give you a chance. You can go to prison and still get a chance, but you excercise your first amendment right to stand up for what you believe in, and we don’t like it, then we’ll make an example out of you. That’s exactly what is happening here. Kaepernick is being made an example of to put fear in the hearts of players in the league. Photo courtesy of SFGate


12

RAMPAGE 5.3.2017

Alvarez, Chavez fight for The Pride Of Mexico BY MARCO ROSAS

Reporter mrosas@therampageonline.com

On Cinco De Mayo weekend, two Mexican boxers will face off to find out who is the new face of Mexican boxing. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will face off against former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr May 6 in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Chavez will try to live up to his father’s iconic legacy and dethrone the current face of Mexican boxing while Canelo will try to silence critics who say he has cherry-picked smaller opponents. Both fighters are taking serious risks in this match-up. Chavez is coming back from a long layoff to face a strong, fast and young Canelo who has all the momentum behind him. Chavez, who is big for the middleweight division, will also be dropping down in weight significantly draining himself to make the agreed upon weight for this fight, 164 pounds. Canelo will also have significant obstacles to overcome that cannot be ignored when breaking down this fight. Canelo will be moving up in weight to fight a much larger and dangerous power puncher in Chavez. What this match, and almost all boxing matches, comes down to is styles and the implementing of those styles. Chavez’ fighting style is much like his father’s; he comes forward and throws two bombs at his opponents in the shape of fists. Chavez’ lead left hook and overhand right are devastating blows and only represent a fraction of the weapons at his disposal. Chavez is also accurate and powerful and has been training at altitude in Mexico City. This means Chavez’ could potentially come into this fight with the conditioning to fight 12 hard rounds, pressing forward and throwing hard punches the entire time. But how much of Chavez’ conditioning and strength, if any, will be di-

minished by his weight cut? If Chavez ends up in deep waters with Canelo, who at this point will be 10 pounds heavier, Chavez may find himself on the receiving end of a forward pressing Mexican power puncher. Chavez’ key to victory is to press the fight to Canelo early, not allow Canelo to get a feel for Chavez’ rhythm and force Canelo into a exchange of bombs. Canelo has shown devastating power in his punches leading up to this fight, previously knocking out boxers such as Liam Smith and Amir Khan. Canelo is also visibly faster in his fight against Miguel Cotto than Chavez has even looked. Canelo is also the more active fighter; Chavez is coming from a long layoff that may come with some ring rust. Fighters have to get used to fighting in front of thousands of people who are cheering and booing and disrupting concentration. Canelo is much more accustomed to this, at least recently, than Chavez. However, this is no easy fight for Canelo. Canelo’s power is not guaranteed to have the same effect on Chavez as it did on Khan, especially because Chavez has always shown a great chin. Canelo’s chin has also never been tested against a big middleweight like Chavez, who may have even more power coming down in weight. Canelo’s key to victory is to not engage Chavez in the only fight he can win, a slugfest. Canelo is a sharp counter puncher who can win this fight if he wears Chavez down from the outside and avoids violent exchanges early on. In the sport of boxing anything can happen, but Canelo is the clear favorite in this fight given that he has more tools at his disposal in the ring. However, Chavez has a very important set of tools: they’re attached to his wrists and can end the fight in an instant.

SPORTS

Road to the NBA FInals BY JULEASE GRAHAM

Reporter jgraham@therampageonline.com

against them this year. The Raptors also struggled to handle the Milwaukee Bucks, so this chances of them coming out on top are not very likely. If they couldn’t stop Giannis Antetokounmpo they won’t stop LeBron James. The team beat the odds by making a comeback from a 3-1 loss against the Golden state Warriors. With team chemistry at an all-time high, both the teams and fans are hungry for another ring, but it won’t be easy with matchups against strong teams such as the Celtics and Raptors. The Celtics and Wizards are evenly matched, but Isaiah Thomas pushed the Celtics out on top in Sunday night’s game. Thomas scored 33 points, and Al Harford came close to a triple- double. Wizards were led by Bradley Beal with 27 points, but that was not enough to keep them ahead. Fan favorite, The Golden State Warriors matchup against Utah Jazz tonight at 7:30. Even after having a worse record, the Warriors are predicted to take it all in the Western Conference. The competition is lacking after Kevin Durant’s big move. Golden State possesses to much talent to not take the Western conference again. The warriors struggle to find chemistry may be the very thing that keeps them from revenge against the Cavaliers. Although a Warriors and Cavaliers final matchup is much anticipated, both teams have a long road ahead. Both teams have more than enough to win, but can they keep it together long enough to get to the finals.

The second round of the NBA finals kicked off Sunday night. Three teams have already claimed game one victories. The Houston Rockets being one of those teams, took a victory over the San Antonio Spurs. The James Haden vs Kawhi Leonard match-up may be just as intense as the Harden-Westbrook showdown fans witnessed in the first round. Harden was key to the Rockets’ advance in game five. With the support of his team, he dropped more than 34 points in 4 games against their first round opponents Oklahoma City Thunder. The Spurs have a similar story. Leonard dropped 43 points in game 4, but wouldn’t have been able have such a game without his offense. The Spurs seem to know how to slow Harden down, bringing Houston’s average from 112.8 to 98.1 points per game. If San Antonio can gain control of the pace, they have a chance of coming out on top. In the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers also took home a second-round game 1 win against the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors struggled to handle the Cavaliers last year, and lost three games Photo courtesy of The Cannon

Women's Badminton Readies for State Championship BY JORGE RODRIGUEZ

Reporter jrodriguez@therampageonline.com

The Fresno City College women’s badminton team faced Skyline College on April 25, winning the bout 20-1 in the last match of conference play before the conference finals on May 5 and 6. The Rams are looking for a repeat of last year’s state championship, but in order to do that, they needed to get past Skyline, their conference rivals who came into the game with a 3-4 record. FCC started the single matches with Panhia Vang, defeating Justine Polang in one set 21-3. On the second match, FCC’s Linda Vue defeated Lana Soe 21-7 in the first set, and 21-11 in the second set. In the third match, FCC’s Bao Vang beat Skyline College Denise Trinh in two sets 21-3, and 21-7, and in match four, FCC’s Amy Vang defeated Skyline College Diep La 21-10 in the first set and then 21-7 in the second set. “I think we are pretty good; we just need more practice and we should be ready for the conference final,” said Bao Vang about the team’s performance in the matches and chances in the upcoming state championship . “We have a chance; it maybe be challenging, but I think we have a chance to repeat.” After the Rams swept Skyline Col-

lege in the first four matches, it was the time for doubles to be played. Panhia Vang and Amy Vang teamed up to take on La and Polang from Skyline College in a match that ended in a two set victory for the Rams, with identical scores of 21-11. In the other doubles match, FCC’s Bao Vang and Linda Vue defeated Trinh and Soe in two sets of 21-13 and 21-7. After the doubles matches, the single matches continued with Erin Vang of FCC losing to Soe in a two set match 13-21 , which was the only win Skyline College had in all the matches. In another match, Arrika Levario defeated Polang in a match that lasted 3 sets, going 21-17, 17-21 and 21-7; Vao Vang also beat La in two sets of 21-11 and 21-7. The Rams’ Amy Vang beat Trihn 21-7 in the first set and 21-15 in a tough fought second set. With the win, FCC now takes first place on conference play with an overall record of 7-1, and an undefeated away record and only one home loss. “The team played pretty well as expected, and I’m pleased with the results.” said coach Carol Kadingo on how the team performed against Skyline College. “My number one and number two players are the same as last year,” Kadingo said in comparison to last year’s team. “But the rest of the team are freshman and have less experience than last year.”

Erin Vang hustles to keep birdie in play against Skyline College on April 26, 2017. Photo/ Ram Reyes.


13

RAMPAGE 5.3.2017

SPORTS

nfl Draft:

The First Round

Illustration/Lukas Newcomb

BY ARMANDO CARRENO

Reporter acarreno@therampageonline.com

On April 27, the NFL held its annual draft -- its biggest event of the offseason -- in Philadelphia. After two months of mock drafts and speculation of where the top college players in the country would end up, the wait was over. Draft night is always entertaining, especially in the first round as many teams tend to trade up and trade down to get the player they want or collect picks for future drafts. There are always surprises or shockers, and sometimes one pick can change the direction of the entire draft. This year’s draft was loaded with defensive talent, headlined by Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett. Many draft and scout experts believed Garrett was the consensus number one pick. The 2017 class lacked a star quarterback that usually headlines every class. This year was no different as the number one pick belonged to the Cleveland Browns. As it got closer to

the draft, rumors were going around by the media that the Browns were contemplating selecting a quarterback with first pick instead of Garrett. The night started off with a ruckus crowd in Philadelphia that had a gameday atmosphere, not surprisingly booing like crazy when commissioner Roger Goodell kicked off the night. Cleveland was on the clock and with a report coming out a couple of hours before the draft the Cleveland had settled on selecting Garrett. There was no surprise when the Browns selected Myles Garrett with the first pick. After the first pick was over, things got interesting as the San Francisco 49ers were on the clock. The 49ers managed to pull off one of the steals in the draft as they traded their second pick to the Chicago Bears who owned the spot behind them in return they received third overall pick, third round pick, and fourth round pick and 2018 third pick. The Bears traded up to select the first QB in the draft Mitchell Trubisky and the 49ers still got Solomon Thomas from Stanford University. Selections 4-9 came with not many surprises until the Buffalo Bills were on the clock with pick number 10 and traded their pick

to Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs traded up 17 spots to come up to number 10 and you only do that for a QB. That’s exactly what they did as they drafted QB Patrick Mahomes from Texas Tech. Once Trubisky and Mahomes were off the board the Houston Texans felt they needed to trade up the first round to get their guy before he was gone. Houston traded up from pick 25 to number 12 with the Cleveland Browns to select Deshaun Watson QB from Clemson. It wouldn’t be a draft without a top prospect tumbling down the first round and without a team making a questionable decision. This year head scratching decision belonged to the Oakland Raiders with the number 24 pick in the first round drafted cornerback Gareon Conley from Ohio State. The reason this is a head scratcher pick is because Conley is currently under allegations of sexual assault. Linebacker Ruben Foster from Alabama is the player that fell far beyond many expected. Many thought Foster would be a top 5 pick this year, shoulder injuries and a diluted drug test was the cause of Foster’s fall all the way to the end of the first round. San Francis-

co 49ers who had extra ammunition from their trade from the Bears and traded back into the first round with the Seahawks to select Foster. Other notable selections included Stanford stand out Christian McCaffery to Carolina Panthers, and the Los Angeles Chargers drafting Mike Williams from Clemson with the seventh pick giving Phillip Rivers another weapon. The Browns got their quarterback DeShone Kizer in the Second round. Bengals known for taking chances with troubled players it’s no surprise when they drafted running back Joe Mixon. JJ Watts’ younger brother TJ Watt was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers at number 30 overall. With the draft now over, we’ll just have to eagerly await the start of the 2017 season to see what these prospects actually bring to their teams. We’re left to wonder if we’ll have another Dak Prescott this season. Can McCaffery or Leonard Fournette do anything close to what Ezekiel Elliott did as a rookie last year? One thing is for sure: we wont have to hear about another mock draft till next February.

SPRING SPORTS Roundup BY MICHAEL MENDEZ

Sports Editor mmendez@therampageonline.com

It has been an ambitious semester for the Fresno City College athletic program this semester with each team trying to repeat the success that they achieved last year.

Men’s Basketball

The men’s basketball team went into the 2017 season with high expectations as they were one game shy of playing in the state championship in 2016. The Rams ended the 2017 regular season with a 23-6 record, claiming the Central Valley Conference title, but in a surprising upset loss to American River, failed to get out of the first round

in the North California Regionals.

Women’s Basketball

Just like the men, the women’s team had high expectations for the 2017 season, having finished the 2016 state championship in the semi-finals. The Rams finished the regular season with a 23-8 record but failed to capture a conference title. Similar to men’s team, the women fell to American River in the first round and made an early exit in the NorCal regionals.

Men’s Golf

The men’s golf team surprised the FCC athletic program by finishing the year in second place in the CVC, only falling short to Reedley College in the conference tournament by just 10 strokes. This season was an

improvement from 2016 and 2015 when the team finished third and fourth respectively.

Men’s/ Women’s Tennis

This season was a rough year for Fresno City College tennis as both teams struggled to repeat the success they achieved in seasons past. Men’s tennis finished in third place in the Big Eight South division with a 1-10 record. The women’s team finished at 7-6, but failed to win a conference title.

Badminton

With the season still underway, the badminton team is on its way to repeat its state championship success of the last season. The Rams sit atop of the Coast Conference at 7-1 heading to the conference finals scheduled at FCC on

May 5-6, the Rams opponents has not yet been named .

Softball

The softball team fell short of its goals of winning the conference and state title and instead finished the year in fourth place in the CVC at 22-18. The team was not able to clinch a playoff spot in the NorCal regionals on May 6-16.

Baseball

The baseball team is moving toward the postseason, with a 26-14 record and in the third place in the CVC. The team is hoping to be the tenth seed in the NorCal regionals where they will face College of Martin in best of three series on May 5-6.


14

RAMPAGE 5.3.2017

Campus Voices WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR SUMMER? BY MARCO ROSAS PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER DEL CASTILLO

Diane Ramirez Biology Major

“[I’ll be] taking a short break from classes. I had a trip planned to visit some friends in New Jersey.”

Victoria Servin Photography Major

“Work and sleep in as much as possible.”

Hollywood and the Native Warrior — an Evolving Story of Stereotypes BY CHRISTOPHER DEL CASTILLO

Reporter cdelcastillo@therampageonline.com

The symbol of the American Indian has long been popular in Hollywood films and television. From the savage warriors to the modern hippie Indian of the 1960s and 1970s, American Indians have been a big staple of Hollywood films. For years, however, Hollywood had not allowed American Indian actors to represent themselves in any meaningful way. Hollywood films have always misrepresented the image of the American Indian, and this has been a serious issue for American writers since the rise of popular 19th Century Western frontier literature. The depictions include the bloodthirsty warrior, beautiful maidens, all depicted in the wild and on the Indian reservations. The American Indians depicted in film and television are usually the Plains people of the Sioux. Throughout the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s, the image of the American Indian turned into a romanticized warrior and wild savage on the war path killing without mercy. Western films like “The Battle of Apache Pass” (1952) and “Comanche” (1956) are examples of the many films depicting American Indians in a negative matter. From the silent era to modern day films and television, American Indians have been the topic of legends in Hollywood. They were shown to be living in the past, in teepees and

BY FRANK LOPEZ

Opinion Editor flopez@therampageonline.com

QUOTATION:The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority;

Auto Technology Major

“Travel around the United States. [The] first place I’ll probably go is Chicago.”

they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties

Jerry Garcia

Communications/ Performing Arts Major

“I’m going to be here taking summer school classes.”

warriors on the warpath. The people of the Plains have always fascinated the world with their culture. The Lakota way of life is deeply rooted in the way Americans think of Indian people. “Representations of Native Americans in popular film are as inter-

Hollywood films have always misrepresented the image of the American Indian... The depictions include the bloodthirsty warrior and beautiful maidens, all depicted in the wild and on Indian reservations.”

esting as they are problematic: the subject remains somewhat static as the other, while the position of the producer of such texts—mainly the Euro-American majority—has undergone a drastic shift in the last

five decades,” according to “Native American Identity in Popular Film, 1950-Present.” When actor and director Kevin Costner’s Western film epic “Dances with Wolves” came to the big screen in 1990, it began a new era for American Indians and film. The story is of a Civil War soldier who develops a friendship with a band of Lakotas and becomes part of the tribe, and chooses to leave his former life to be come one of them. With the success of “Dances with Wolves” the 1990s saw more and more demand of American Indians to be on the big screen. With the age of political correctness, American Indians were seen in a more positive manner. According to Beverly R. Singer’s “Wiping the Warpaint Off the Lens,” “The earliest stereotypes associating American Indians with being savage, naked, and heathen were established with the foundation of America and determined by two factors: religious intolerance for cultural and spiritual differences leading to the destruction of Native culture.” Since then, there has been more demand of authentic diverse stories of American Indian stories. Oral traditional stories have a strong connection to the past and it is a vital role in Native American culture. For thousands of years American Indians saw oral traditional stories as part of their beginnings, a form of how they saw themselves in the world and a form of entertainment.

Minding the Generational Gap Socrates (469–399 B.C.)

Nestor Ayala

OPINION

(delicacies) at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.

It’s hard to imagine why Socrates was so bothered by young people crossing their legs or eating fancy food, but like many insults hurled at a certain age group, they are usually unfair and harsh. It seems like this back and forth spat between older and younger generations has been going on for all of human history, and it shows no signs of stopping. There is never a lack of older people telling younger people that their ways of life are wrong as much as there are always kids ready to snap back. A video of a rant by Simon Sinek, an author and “leadership consultant,” went viral after Baby Boomers and Gen-X’ers shared it all over social media. Sinek describes millennials as “entitled, narcissistic, self-interested, unfocused, and lazy” but he tries to soften the blow by saying it’s not their fault. Thanks, middle-aged random dude who cites no sources in his smug assessment of millennials. Millennial’s are quick to counter such criticisms with articles that give them ammo for their jabs at baby boomers and Gen-X’ers. “Baby Boomers are the Worst Generation” from Esquire and “Baby boomers have been a disaster for America, and Trump is their biggest mistake yet” from The Washington Post can serve as sourced evidence of how bad older people are. Get with it, old people! However, with all this blame and criticism flung across the age groups

and generations, it will be a lot harder for people to, at a time when we need it perhaps more than ever, to come together. We can call out Baby Boomers for destroying the housing market and being able to buy a home with a 40 hour work week job and expecting millennials to do the same. Sure, Baby Boomers can call us out on putting too much importance to our social media lives, just as well as we can call out Gen-X’ers for being cynical and lulled out on pharmaceutical pills during a period with no major war, low crime-rates and economic expansion. Millennials can get called out for spending too much time on social media and being overly nostalgic for their childhoods and perhaps being more emotionally stunted than their parents. What will all this blaming do for us? In this time of shifts in power, racial and social strife, systematic violence, and gross injustice, finding ways to divide people should not be the focus. It is perhaps more important for older generations to focus on the strengths of newer generations and lead them with the wisdom that they have learned so that the children can be leaders of a brighter future. While we can always find something to pick on young people, it is more important that we have faith in the young.


OPINION

15

RAMPAGE 5.3.2017

Should California Declare Itself A Sanctuary State?

Con BY MARCO ROSAS

Reporter mrosas@therampageonline.com

C

alifornia legislators are currently debating whether California should become a sanctuary state and not assist federal officials in deporting undocumented immigrants. Many California college campuses such as UC Irvine and UC Berkeley have proposed adopting similar policies and declaring themselves sanctuary campuses. Both of these initiatives bode nothing but trouble for all Californians and could make them targets for federal officials. The idea of announcing that one is a sanctuary campus is nothing more than a statement, a statement that could result in more negative and unwarranted repercussions than positively intended outcomes for Fresno City College. Given the nature of President Trump’s blatant opposition to undocumented immigrants, FCC could find itself losing federal funds as well as being cracked down on by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. Perhaps some students would be fine if Trump were to cut off their federal aid, but what about students whose entire academic careers are dependent on federal aids like the Pell Grant. Many of the undocumented students FCC would be hoping to provide sanctuary for could find themselves without the means to even go to school anymore. ICE officials might even take exception to the sanctuary title and begin targeting students off campus like in the the case of Romulo Avelica-Gon-

zalez, who was arrested by ICE after dropping off his 12-yearold daughter at

school. Sanctuary laws may also be at risk of being exploited by less than reputable individuals seeking to evade justice. Among the undocumented population of people in the US, there are after all some criminals whose crimes include racketeering, human or drug trafficking and murder. While the criminal population may only be a small fraction of said population, this population has the potential to grow in sanctuary areas if they believe they have some form of protection against law enforcement officials like ICE. It can also possibly be enough for people already jaded by the stigma of undocumented people to create hysteria and trigger a worse backlash against undocumented people as a whole. It’s already been seen through President Trump’s campaign that prejudice can influence people to believe the falsehood that the majority of undocumented immigrants are criminals. If criminals are allowed to take advantage of sanctuary laws it is possible that people can begin to wonder if helping undocumented people is even beneficial to society. Immigrants bring with them work ethics second to none and the drive to contribute to a society that they believe can help them escape the rough conditions they left. However, it would be very easy to lose track of all the good immigrants bring if people get caught up in trying to make social statements that have more potential for to do harm than good.

Why Kanye Isn’t Great Anymore

T

BY JORGE RODRIGUEZ

decade, but in recent years has been criticized because his music is no longer what it once was. The first three of West’s albums had lyrics that had an edge to them, most of them being controversial in one way or another, making his albums a must-buy and always being praised by critics. In recent years that has changed. West’s latest album, “Life of Pablo” wasn’t as critically-acclaimed as many thought it would be, so this brought up the question: has the fame and being a reality star made Kanye’s music suffer? I say yes. Don’t get me wrong, he’s always been an egocentric person and he’s never shied away from the starlight, but in recent years this has caused his music to suffer. Kanye’s last great album was his 2007 hit “Graduation.” but that doesn’t mean that his other albums weren’t good. It just means that in my opinion, “Graduation” was more of complete all-around hit that didn’t leave you wanting more from an artist that you know can deliver great music. While in recent years, only the album “My Dark Beautiful Twist-

Reporter jrodriguez@therampageonline.com

Kanye West is universally recognized as one of the best rappers in the world. He’s helped to write, produce and has collaborated on some of the biggest hits in the past

Photo courtesy of The Independent

Pro

he California senate has recently passed a bill called the “California Values Act,” which is intended to keep local and state law enforcement agencies from enforcing immigration laws or deporting undocumented immigrants. In other words, California could become what they are calling a “Sanctuary state.” Much controversy surrounds the term “sanctuary” these days. However, this is not stopping local cities and schools from looking into becoming safe havens for undocumented immigrants, including Fresno City College. Despite the controversy surrounding this topic, California has had some of the most active sanctuary cities, and should continue to hold its relationship of trust to its own immigration community. The bill passed claims that almost one-third of Californians are foreign born and half the children in California have at least one immigrant parent. That would be one huge hassle to try and find all of the undocumented immigrants and deport them. The fact remains that immigrants should be given the opportunity to come to the U.S. at least to obtain citizenship, and for those already here to be able to continue to live peacefully as long as they abide by the laws of our country. There are approximately 3 million undocumented immigrants in California, according to the Migration Policy Institute, and they are more likely not rapists and murderers, like President Trump claims them to be than anyone else. These accusations seem petty, because crime is going to happen anyway, regardless of whether the criminal is undocumented or not. More likely, these undocumented people have families who are just trying to live well in America, and it is inhumane to tear families apart just because of undocumented immigration. Making California into a sanctuary state would help solve this problem. The New York Times reported in an April article by Jennifer Medina that in Mendota, a 42-year-old immigrant was on her way to church where she was stopped by cops because her

BY ERIC JARAMISHIAN

Reporter ejaramishian@therampageonline.com

windows were too tinted. Half an hour later, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were knocking at her door. She feared deportation, so she did not return home. A lot of immigrants come to America to live better lives, either to escape war or other harsh living conditions. To be deported back to where they came from because of petty things like tinted windows is extremely unfair. California has a duty to protect its citizens, regardless of their citizenship status. If the woman from Mendota was a student at FCC and this had happened, she would most likely not come to school out of fear that someone would turn her in. She would be living in fear that the government is coming after her, and this problem would be affecting her right to an education. Neither scenario should be acceptable. One of the biggest issues about this is President Trumps threats to defund anything that identifies as “sanctuary.” If California does become a sanctuary state, and FCC does start accepting students who are undocumented immigrants, President Trump would have a difficult time cutting federal aid to us. Congress has the ultimate power over federal spending, so the matter is not in his hands, and it seems highly unlikely that congress is going to cut federal aid to an entire state, let alone one of the most renowned community colleges in the nation. Our right to declare ourselves a sanctuary state is protected by the tenth amendment, which clearly states that any power not delegated to the federal government becomes the state’s responsibility. We can only hope that California, and public school like FCC can continue to try and support our citizens, and not try to get them out of the country, when they have a right to live here in the first place.

ed Fantasy” that also came with a feature movie, could be consider to be vintage Kanye West music. All other albums after “Graduation” have fallen short of what was expected from the self-proclaimed greatest rapper of all time. It’s not that his music hasn’t been good, it’s that he set the bar so high that when something that sounds like a robot voice like in his 2008 album “808’s and Heartbreaks” comes out, it becomes a disappointment to some of his fans. Now granted, there are fans that will always be there buying his music, or whatever else he want to sell them, and they will always love his music no matter what he does or doesn’t do. There is no denying that West is still a great rapper, but maybe his recent relationship with Kim Kardashian or his never ending feud with the media has him putting less effort in his music and more effort on his image. Whether it’s the fame, or West losing touch with what made him great, I hope it ends soon, because it would be great for fans like myself to hear some new music that resembles some of his greatest hits like “Flashing Lights,” “Gold Digger” or “Jesus Walks.”


SPECIAL

RAMPAGE 5.3.2017

CAN YOU SPOT:

Bill Cosby, Donald Trump, Kendall Jenner, Jeff Sessions, Sean Spicer, Kim Jong-un, Milo Yiannopoulos, Steven Bannon, Kellyanne Conway, Vladimir Putin, Bill O’ Reilly, Bashar al-Assad, Jeff Sessions, Bernie Sanders, Steve Mnuchin, Anne Coulter, The Handmaid, Ivanka Trump, Hillary Clinton, Melania Trump, Paul Ryan?

Illustration by Frank Lopez


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.