Sonoma State welcomes new VP
OLIVIA KEELER STAFF WRITER
Sonoma State University President, Mike Lee announced on Monday, April 24 that he has appointed Dr. Edward Mills as the new Vice President of Strategic Enrollment for a three-year term. The position is currently held by Dr. Elias Lopez who will retire in June. Lee states that Lopez has been given a, “Universal thanks of the whole campus for building a strong team and a bold and visionary Strategic Enrollment Management Plan.”
Lee also states that, “Dr. Mills will build on the great work done by our current Strategic Enrollment team, led by Dr. Elias Lopez. Dr. Mills has a proven track record with advancing enrollment in his previous roles so we are excited to have him lead our efforts here.”
Mills arrives at SSU with more than 30 years of experience in enrollment management, student affairs, and software development. At Sacramento State, he served as Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Support for the last 16 years as well as Vice President for Student Affairs for the last 9 years. Lee states, “He led Sac State’s efforts to achieve federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving and see STRATEGIC ENROLLMENT on pg. 4
Abortion pill access protected in recent vote
On Friday, April 21 the Supreme Court voted to protect access to a widely used abortion drug by freezing lower-court rulings that placed restrictions on its usage.
Prior to the vote, in a statement released on the official California.gov website Governor Gavin Newsom said, “In response to this extremist ban on a medication abortion drug, our state has secured a stockpile of an alternative medication abortion drug to ensure that Californians continue to have access to safe reproductive health treatments. We will not cave to extremists who are trying to outlaw these critical abortion services. Medication abortion remains legal in California.”
Prior to the ruling, Governor Newsom announced that California had secured an emergency stockpile of up to 2 million pills of Misoprostol in case the drug was effectively banned.
Washington state, Massachusetts, and New York are the only other states to have stockpiled emergency pills as well.
Medication abortion is entirely legal in 21 states, including the entire West coast. In 14 states such as Arizona, Nevada, and Florida, the pill must be prescribed by a doctor.
Other 14 states such as Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Idaho, and Tennessee have restricted and banned the pill in its entirety.
The abortion pill, also known as a medical abortion or medication abortion, is a way to end a pregnancy through the use of medication rather than surgery. It in
May becomes AANHPI heritage month
SACHA WEDNER STAFF WRITER
On April 25, the City Council of Rohnert Park officially proclaimed May as Asian America, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) heritage month, in celebration and in honor of the contributions brought about by members of the AANHPI community to American and Rohnert Park society, history, and culture.
“Whereas since our city’s founding, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have been instrumental in writing Rohnert Park’s history and building our city as we know it today…,” says Rohnert Park’s mayor Samantha Rodriguez.
“And whereas, we are proud of the immeasurable contributions that generations of AA and NHPIs of various backgrounds have made as educators, sersee AANHPI on pg. 4
Achoo! allergies seem to be stronger this spring season
With spring season in full effect, finals week and allergies are the top two picks for student phobias right now. Taking an exam is stressful enough without a runny nose or a side-eye-catching cough. Pollen allergies this season are more severe and widespread across the country, and climate change may be to blame.
According to nonprofit news organization Climate Central, pollen concentrations in North America have increased by 21% between 1990 and 2018. In addition to greater severity, pollen seasons have also gotten longer by approximately 20 days on average.
Climate Central assessed temperature data in the U.S. since 1970 to see how freeze-free seasons, when plants can flower, have changed. 85% of the
@SONOMASTATESTAR THE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER IN THIS ISSUE The casting for new show ‘Queen Cleopatra’ leads to mixed feelings. PAGE 3 Seawolves get together and enjoy one another’s company. PAGE 6 Three SSU Seawolves from the men’s golf team win big. PAGE 7 SINCE 1979 Netflix Controversy Picnic on Person Lawn CCAA Awards VOLUME 90 // ISSUE 12 MAY 2, 2023 - MAY 8, 2023 COURTESY// csus.edu
RENE CASSANO STAFF WRITER
STAR// Dennae Taylor
Trees blooming with flowers outside of Ives Hall on Sonoma State campus.
ALLY VALIENTE STAFF WRITER
see ALLERGIES on pg. 4 see ABORTION PILL on pg. 4
COURTESY// canva.com
Mifepristone, also called Mifeprex is one of the two medical abortion pills the Supreme Court voted to protect access to.
THE STAR
Editorial Board
Rosalee Padilla, Editor-in-Chief
Nicholas Roth, Copy Editor
Ana Fingerson, News Editor
Mikayla Fritzemeier, Opinion Editor
Adriana Gonzalez, Arts & Entertainment Editor
Cec Fernandez, Photo Editor
Zachary Gonzales, Student Life Editor
Javier Hernandez,
Sports & Vibes Editor
Corinne Asturias, Faculty Adviser
Staff Writers
Célia Aline Amaral, Rene Cassano, Mariah
Forster, Tito Fuentes, Mia Garcia, Elias Kaplan, Olivia Keeler, Kathleen Mootz, Alec Padilla, Cooper Perry, Kylie Perry, Bernardo Ramos, Jake Renteria, Justin Simpson, Ally Valiente, Sacha Wedner
Photographers
Dennae Taylor and Malia Teran
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Opinions expressed in the STAR are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the STAR or SSU. The editorial reflects the views of the STAR Editorial Board on issues it considers to be of particular relevance to the campus community.
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The commentary expressed in the unsigned editorial represents a majority opinion of the STAR Editorial Board on a topic facing the campus community in keeping with journalistic precedents of other major newspapers, and may not be shared by all staff writers.
Drink smarter, not harder; a reminder to party responsibly
Withwarmer weather and the end of the semester approaching, more Sonoma State students are heading to the bars. With finals creeping up around the corner, a night out is a good way to destress and have fun with friends, but it is important to remember going out has its risks.
It is inevitable that college students are going to go out and drink, especially in towns like Cotati and Petaluma, where there are multiple bars just down the street from one another. Though these bars are frequented by students, bars are open to the public and anyone over 21 can enter.
In September the STAR published an article detailing four separate instances of possible druggings happening at bars in and around Sonoma County. Three of the four victims started feeling unwell after their first drink, and all claim the drink was untouched by anyone besides the bartender and themselves.
This string of druggings in the area left many concerned for their safety when going out.
Staying safe should be everybody’s priority, but the more you drink, the lower your inhibitions are, and safety can often take a back seat. News of these potential spikings worried some but students will continue to go out to area bars on a regular basis.
Drugs used to spike drinks are typically odorless, colorless and tasteless. Rohypnol (aka roofie) and Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) are the most commonly known ‘date-rape’ drugs. Symptoms of these include lowered inhibitions, loss of balance, feeling sleepy, visual impairment, confusion, nausea, vomiting, and unconsciousness, according to Drinkaware.
If you or a friend ever feel more drunk then you should be, or show any of the symptoms above, find someone you can trust and get help right away. In a previous STAR article, Sonoma State’s Chief of Police Nader Oweis advised that, “students should place a lid on their drinks (if they can), never leave any drinks unattended, don’t accept drinks from strangers, and make sure students go out with a group of people they trust. Most importantly, be aware of your surroundings.”
Last April, the Healdsburg Police Department was investigating multiple instances of drinks allegedly being spiked at Duke’s Spirited Cocktails, a local bar. Duke’s took these allegations very serious-
ly and immediately upgraded their security system and hired more security guards for weekends. They also had all staff complete training with the SAFE Bar Network.
According to their website, “The SAFE Bar Network is a nonprofit focused on partnering with bars and other alcohol-serving venues to create a workplace culture focused on increasing safety and giving everyone a safe night out.”
This nonprofit organization strives to create safe environments and believes that changing the culture at bars is necessary to create these spaces. The SAFE Bar Network has 86 member bars/venues across the United States.
More of our local bars need to take the initiative to keep customers safe. Duke’s response to the allegations last year is a step in the right direction, but it’s only one bar, and students frequent many bars in the area. Spiked drinks aren’t even the only thing to be worried about when having a night out. Whether at a house party or a bar, drugs like xanax, cocaine and percocets may be present. Though the STAR does not encourage students to partake in the use of drugs, we recognize that drug use will happen, and educating and providing accurate information is an important step to keep students safe.
These drugs can easily be laced with Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that can be 50 to 100 times more potent than other drugs like heroin and morphine, according to the CDC. Fentanyl is usually added to powdered substances like cocaine, capsules or pressed pills.
In mid-April, the Petaluma Argus Courier reported that five Sonoma County residents, aged 19-23, were arrested for the suspicion of trafficking fentanyl. It is in our community and we are not immune to it. Being aware of your surroundings and what you consume is crucial.
Narcan, used to treat narcotic overdoses in an emergency, is available for free in the Student Health Center, with only a brief training needed before it’s given out.
A night out on the town is supposed to be fun and exciting, but the risk of getting your drink spiked or drugs tampered with is unfortunately ever-present in our community.
Keep yourself and each other safe. Look out for your friends and even strangers. If you see something, say something.
Letters to the Editor:
Letters to the Editor are encouraged and will be considered for publication based on relevance, accuracy and timeliness . Submit letters of up to 300 words no later than the Friday before the publication date. Send letters to star@sonoma.edu, include your full name, year in school and city of residence.
Editorial MAY 2 - MAY 8, 2023 sono MA stAtestA r co M 2
Netflix accused of rewriting history by casting biracial actress
we are missing pieces of her ancestry and therefore, no one knows exactly her skin tone or hair texture, leading to the creation of different theories about her identity.
Ashton stated “If the maternal side of her family were indigenous women, they were African; and this should be reflected in any contemporary representations of Cleopatra.”.
MARIAH FORSTER STAFF WRITER
Netflix released a trailer for its new series “Queen Cleopatra,” and let’s just say, people are not happy with director Tina Gharavil’s choice to cast a mixed-race Black woman, Adele James to portray Egypt’s last pharaoh who was allegedly of Macedonian Greek ancestry.
According to Bazaar, Egyptian Lawyer Mahmoud al-Semary is pushing to block Netflix from streaming in the country. Al-Semary states that Netflix is “promoting Afrocentric thinking…which includes slogans and writings aimed at distorting and erasing the Egyptian Identity”.
It is important to note that part of Cleopatra’s ancestry is unknown on her maternal side. We know from historians that Cleopatra was Greek, but
Egyptian art and archaeology professor Alexander Badway writes to Newsweek, “The mother of Cleopatra has been suggested to have been from the family of the priests of Memphis. If this were the case, then Cleopatra could have been at least 50% Egyptian in origin,” in addition to her Macedonian roots. With this in mind, the chances of Cleopatra passing for white in our modern eyes are slim.
Olivia Blades, fourth year psychology major, thinks it’s refreshing to see a person of color playing Cleopatra. “In Hollywood, we always see historical characters being portrayed as white… but not everyone looks white…I think it’s awesome they have someone of color playing Cleopatra.”
Nyree Johnson, fourth year sociology major also does not view the casting of Cleopatra as problematic. She states that the series is not trying to showcase Egyptian History, rather it’s telling a story.
In defense of Gharavil’s casting choice, Egyptologist Dr. Sally-Ann
Gharavil writes in Variety that she has been accused of blackwashing-opposite of whitewashing history. She defends her casting decision by reiterating the fact that Cleopatra’s heritage is still not entirely known. It is very possible that Cleopatra was not just Greek.
“What the historians can confirm is that it is more likely that Cleopatra looked like Adele [James] than Elizabeth Taylor ever did.” said Gharavil.
Dajia Temple, fourth year theater arts major said, “because there is a possibility that she could have been half African and Greek, it would make sense for someone who is half Black and white if the facts were leaning in that direction.”
Temple continues to suggest that casting an actress who was specifically half Greek and half African or Arab would have been more accurate.
Gharavil wrote in Variety, “Why shouldn’t Cleopatra be a melanated sister? And why do some people need Cleopatra to be white? Her proximity to whiteness seems to give her value, and
for some Egyptians it seems to really matter.”
Temple agrees that colorism may be behind the outcry over the casting of Adele James as Cleopatra. She states, “We see it happening with ‘The Little Mermaid’ right now.”
Blades also compared what’s happening with Cleopatra to the controversy with Disney’s live action ‘The Little Mermaid.’ Public outcry followed Disney’s casting of a Black actress to play Ariel.
“In a way, it’s kind of anti-blackness,” says Blades. “If the actresses playing Cleopatra were Black but with lighter skin, I don’t think there would be an issue.”
Johnson feels differently stating that the controversy around the casting of Cleopatra points to the protection of white supremacy rather than anti-blackness. She uses the example of historical textbooks in K-12. “There is such an erasure of people of color throughout them.”
Despite the different justification and opposition for the casting of Cleopatra, the issue is much deeper than the Netflix series itself. Rather, it suggests an internalized colorism that has affected the world since colonization.
Metal detectors will not keep students safe from gun violence
best practice that allows school management to be confident that it has done all it can to discharge its duty. Installing metal detectors gives students and staff a measure of psychological assurance that the school is safe because every person has to be cleared through the entrance.”
they think the idea is costly and only a temporary solution. With that being said, there have been mentions that the use of them could be an invasion of privacy.
STAFF WRITER KATHLEEN MOOTZ
Should metal detectors be placed in schools for safety? There has been an ongoing conversation to include metal detectors in schools and universities, the idea is to prevent people with knives and guns from entering campuses. Using metal detectors at the main entrances of schools generally serves to reduce the risk of students, staff or any other visitor entering the premises with a gun, knife, bomb or dangerous metal object.
According to Hanover Research, “installing metal detectors is a form of
They are a good asset to have when ensuring peoples security a detector is an important piece of equipment to have in protecting people, it helps prevent theft, threats and attacks. There are a certain number of schools that have metal detectors in place already.
When asked her thoughts on if metal detectors would make students feel safe, Alyssa Ernst a second year early childhood studies major said, “I understand it and making students feel safe, I know without it students do not feel safe” Ernest continued “ But if they are walking into school everyday with a metal detector would that actually make them feel anymore safer?”
There are people who are opposed to having metal detectors in schools, as
Others are calling for a ban on automatic weapons, because why go through the trouble of making schools safer when you can ban the weapons doing the harm? On top of that it is believed that putting metal detectors in schools would make it seem more like a prison rather than a place for education. In addition, there has been insufficient evidence that metal detectors actually prevent violence in schools.
“If the laws were put in place to protect students we wouldn’t need metal detectors,” said Paloma Felix a third year theater technology major. Felix also mentioned how she thought putting metal detectors in school should be a last resort option. “It is a little ridiculous to have metal detectors in schools, when there should be laws against automatic weapons,” said Felix.
Dr. Amy Klinger, director of pro -
grams for the Educators School Safety Network, a non profit organization that helps schools with safety issues found metal detectors may hurt students idea of safety, “The issue is really when you try to come up with a quick- one size fits all solution for a really complex, multifaceted problem it just does not work.”
Linnea Strathdee, a second year psychology major said, “Metal detectors would make schools a little bit safer because you would have to put in effort to bypass them.” Strathdee continued, “At the same time I feel like people could find ways to get around that, so it would kind of help but it would only be a temporary solution.”
Having metal detectors at every school is not a practical solution. Most schools have more than one entry way and will be unable to check every student or staff member on school grounds. These preventative measures are just a bandaid slapped on a gunshot wound. More is needed to keep students at all schools safe.
Students feel althetics should have more priority at SSU
JAKE RENTERIA STAFF WRITER
Sonoma State has put less and less priority towards athletics in the recent decade. Helping boost sports programs would help the overall school spirit. The removal of three sports on campus back in 2020 as a money saving move is a prime example of showing where the budget lands.
In April of 2020, the school announced they would be shutting down three of their sports programs, women’s water polo as well as men’s and women’s tennis. Eliminating these three teams saved the school $800,000. They
announced that the money would go to investing back into the existing sports programs. “This was a difficult decision driven in no small part by the new financial realities facing our state, the CSU system and our university… as disappointing as this decision is, this leaves us in a better position going forward to support our existing athletic teams” said ex-President Judy Sakaki. They did not specify exactly who, what or where the money went to.
A point that is usually brought up when talking about athletics at SSU is the lack of a football team. Of course, that would boost school spirit as football games become tradition for students to attend.
Unfortunately for such a small school like SSU, having a football team is just not feasible. Football needs the largest budget of any sport to maintain, which is why few California State Universities have them. With SSU already cutting smaller programs, a football
budget is out of the question. That’s not to mention the other obvious problem, there is no field for them to play on. Adding stands to the already outdated track and field that is present now would just be putting lipstick on a pig.
The sports that we do have, had success in the past or are experiencing that success right now. Despite that, students just don’t seem to rally around any one sport or event. Softball, baseball, basketball and soccer, the main draws on campus, just don’t seem to be enough to boost the school spirit. Being a small school definitely dampens the ability to support big time sports. SSU seems to put academics and arts over athletics, which is completely fine, but doesn’t contribute as much to school spirit.
When asked if he thought of Sonoma as a sports school, Junior Logan Petrusha said “It’s not, although it should be… the athletics scene is not very published and doesn’t have much hype.”
The Green Music Center, which was
supposed to be entirely privately funded, ended up costing around 120 million dollars to build. According to an article from The Press Democrat in 2020, this drew criticism from some people within the faculty saying that the school was too focused on arts. Also mentioning that the building of this huge project took focus from developing other aspects. That whole deal can point to a lack of focus on athletics. We have a beautiful state of the art music center and a baseball field with rotting seats.
Track and field is stuck with a completely outdated track that isn’t even fit to host events. Games get rained out for sports, as SSU doesn’t seem to want to budget for any turf fields or install lights for night games. Many of these examples can leave an underwhelming feel to some sports events at SSU.
With all the renovations to classrooms in the recent years, the athletics community at SSU should benefit from the same level of focus and budgeting.
Opinion 3 MAY 2 - MAY 8, 2023 sono MA stAtestA r . co M
Two step medical abortion looks to be effective
continued from pg. 1
volves taking two different medications: mifepristone and misoprostol.
First year student Eleanor Shebline said she was shocked that abortion was still a topic of debate.
“Up until last weekend I didn’t know there were two pills you had to take. It’s kinda scary to be honest.”
The first type of pill, Mifepristone, works by blocking the hormone called progesterone, which causes the lining of the uterus to thin and prevents the embryo from growing.
The second pill, Misoprostol, is taken a day or two after the first pill and causes the uterus to contract, getting rid of the pregnancy.
First year student Fernanda Melandaz said that she did not realize that the abortion pill had been up for debate. “I try not to pay attention to the news these days. I’m happy the vote went the way it should’ve, but it’s also the bare minimum at the same time.”
According to Planned Parenthood, for women who have been pregnant for 8 weeks or less, the pill is effective about 98 out of 100 times. From 8-9 weeks pregnant, it works about 96 out of 100 times. From 9-10 weeks, it works 93 out of 100 times.
Residents can access abortion pills online through a mail-order pharmacy or a qualified corner store such as CVS or Walgreens. The average pill online costs around $289, including a $20 consultation fee as well as a shipping fee.
SSU second year kinesiology student Alan Herbert said that he felt ‘grateful’ to live in California because of how relaxed and lenient the rules are compared to conservative states.
“Even though it doesn’t necessarily affect me, it really affects the women in my life like my mom, girlfriend, and sister,” said Herbert.
According to the New York Times, more than 100 scientific studies were conducted, not only spanning through different continents but decades as well. The study examined the effectiveness and safety of mifepristone and misoprostol. All the results concluded that the pills are a safe method for patients who want to end a pregnancy in the first trimester.
RP city council acknowledges AANHPI
continued from pg. 1
vice men and women, entrepreneurs, athletes, community builders and activists, and in positions of leadership at all levels,” Rodriguez further states in the proclamation.
“You know, everytime I talk about representation and different cultures, it is so empowering to see the diversity that we have and how much we can celebrate as a community, so I am so happy to celebrate you, we see you, and I am proud to be a part of this community along with you,” said Councilmember Jackie Elward during the meeting.
“Honestly if it wasn’t for Asian Americans there probably wouldn’t be much of a Rohnert Park,” acknowledged Councilmember Gerald Giudice, “When the Rohnert Park Seed Farm was founded it was really built on the backs of Asian labor, in particular Filipino-Americans at that time.” Giudice further said that Rohnert Park is appreciative of all the meaningful contributions and efforts of its AANHPI community, as well as recognizing the disproportionate violence against people of AANHPI descent within recent years.
The proclamation was received by fourth-year biology major and president of the Filipino American Association at Sonoma State University (FAASSU), Leah Vallespin, from Rodriguez.
“I think it was great for the city council to acknowledge the achievements of AANHPI in the county,” says Vallespin. “I think it’s important to highlight the voices of our community as we may often be overlooked especially in areas that are predominately white.”
Vallespin brings up the importance of acknowledging the different and diverse cultures within the AANHPI community, and how mixed the community is in and of itself, as it’s important to recognize the contributions of East, Southeast, and South Asians, and especially Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
As for why May was chosen to commemorate the AANHPI community, SSU’s Director of Equity & Access Programs, Khou Yang-Vigil, explains that “the month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869,” in last year’s opening remarks for AANHPI heritage month. It is important to note that the majority of the workforce behind the transcontinental railroad were more than 20,000 Chinese immigrants, who endured hours of back-breaking labor in extreme conditions, and hundreds would succumb to natural disasters, accidents, and disease during the construction process. With that in mind, the month of May is also seen as a time for the AANHPI community to honor and thank their ancestors.
Earlier last Thursday and Friday, ten representatives from Sonoma State University along with SSU President Mike Lee, were in attendance at the 2023 Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE). APAHE is an annual conference centered on enhancing the educational experiences of AANHPI students, supporting AAPI staff, faculty, and administrators, and creating a better understanding of issues affecting the AANHPI community in higher education, with this year’s theme focused on Amplifying our Voices through Unity and Action.
If you want to stay connected with FAASSU, you can reach out via their Instagram page at @FAASSU and their email @faassu@gmail.com, as well as the Asian Pacific Islander American Faculty and Staff Association (APIAFSA), via their instagram @ssuapiafsa.
The agenda and video of Rohnert Park’s City Council meeting on April 25, can be accessed and viewed on the City Council website at rpcity.org.
SSU will also be hosting numerous events on campus in observation of AAPI month. The first is Asian American Herbalism - Folk Traditions in Modern Day Practice, which will be in the HUB Cultural Center on May 3, and Rhythms of the Pacific and Pacific Cultural Night, which will be both be performed and organized by FAASSU, and will be on May 9 from noon-1 p.m. at Seawolf Plaza and May 13 starting 3 p.m. at Person Theater respectively.
Why am I sneezing?
continued from pg. 1
203 cities studied developed longer freeze-free seasons and the longest extension of the season occurred here in the West, approximately 27 days.
On whether his own allergies have been worse this year, SSU Senior Andrew Olson said “They definitely have been, I’ve been taking allergy pills every day now.” Junior Chris Strouse relayed a similar experience of dealing with a more severe runny nose than usual.
Alongside droughts, rising sea levels, and the zombie-like infection from The Last of Us, exacerbated pollen allergies can also be attributed to climate change. Speaking to Boston 25 News, Kari Nadeau, MD, PhD, Chair of the Department of Environmental Health at Harvard School of Public Health explained that due to global warming, plants are now releasing pollen earlier out of confusion and colder climates are becoming more habitable to pollen-producing plants. Higher emissions of CO2 also help pollen-producing plants grow.
In addition to the possibility of infections in serious cases, allergies can welcome viruses in a terrifying way, according to Nadeau. “Mucus is basically sugar water. Bacteria love sugar and because you’re so exhausted fighting these allergies, people can get viruses, as well.”
In terms of what allergens are primarily to blame, grass and trees work differently from one another. Species of grass have a wider effect because they cross-react. “You can be allergic to oak but not to sycamore. But our grasses, called northern grasses, have a common allergen.” that is how Santa Rosa allergist Michael Martin explained it for The Press Democrat.
Recent rains have shielded the North Bay from the onslaught of allergy season but with now dry soil and clear skies, the stage is set for pollen to reach its full effect. The seasonal time for grass pollen in particular is only just beginning.
Grass can be prevented from creating pollen by mowing, but trees are more difficult to curb. , and according to Pollen Library, significantly severe tree allergens in Springtime Sonoma County are species of oak, willow, ash, and walnut.
In the same article as Dr. Martin, Santa Rosa family practice physician Michael Carlston says if somebody finds their allergies are acting up, the first thing to do is remove themself from the allergen. Go somewhere with air conditioning and close the doors and windows. Weather conditions like high winds and temperatures facilitate the spread and acceleration of pollen production, so be conscious of those.
For smaller preventative steps, Dr. Carlston recommends: “Wear a mask when gardening. Wash your hair at night to get rid of pollens that hang onto gel and mousse.” He recommended Omega-3 oils for inflammation, and for natural treatments he named nettle, butterbur, and bioflavonoid quercetin.
Students can find prescription and non-prescription medicine at the Student Health Center in the pharmacy. Only prescriptions made by SHC medical providers can be refilled. For more information, students can call the SHC at (707)-6642921.
continued from pg. 1
API-Serving Institution.”
Promoting diversity on campus is something that Olivia Blades, a fourth-year psychology major, hopes to see, “I think as a person of color, actually bringing in diversity is so important because it’s so emphasized here. There should be more of a black presence at this school. If diversity in enrollment increases, a lot of students would feel more comfortable.”
While it will take some time to see if diversity at SSU increases, enrollment in general is important to many college campuses currently. The May 2023 graduating class is nearly 37% of the total student body. Lee states that it is something worth celebrating, but that enrollment will likely be lower next year and won’t see increases until 2024-25. This is not a problem unique to SSU as the CSU system has seen enrollment decreases as a whole due to the pandemic and other factors.
With the current enrollment goal of 7,810 students by 2026-2027, Lee has decided to elevate the Vice Presidential position in Strategic Enrollment to a cabinet-level position. He states, “The position will report directly to me to emphasize the importance of enrollment management to the future success of the campus and to ensure that the campus leadership team works interdivisionally to support recruitment and retention.”
There has been a lot of discussion about enrollment around campus among students and faculty, but Marisol Berta, a second-year psychology major, seems confident in this new shift in leadership, saying, “It seems like Dr. Mills has a lot of experience, so I feel comfortable putting some trust there. I would like to see more students here so that tuition and fees won’t increase.”
Mills will be supervising Outreach and Recruitment, Office of Records and Registration, and Admissions, as well as work closely with Strategic Communications, the Advising Center, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Advancement and others to maximize enrollment efforts.
Until his first day on August 20, Provost Karen Moranski will be supervising the units in Strategic Enrollment.
Lee states, “We look forward to welcoming Dr. Mills to our campus and leadership team in the fall. We are making progress on enrollment, and I appreciate the efforts that faculty, staff, students, and administrators have made to increase our student population.”
4 News MAY 2 - MAY 8, 2023 sono MA stAtestA r co M Goodbye Sac State, hello SSU
Arts & Entertainment 5
Annual Spring Dance Faculty and Guest Artist Concert
ed students of the theater arts and dance department who performed for a crowd of around 40 at Person Theater. A little more than half of the seats were taken but there were still enough to accommodate anyone running late. Those who attended were able to purchase tickets online and also at the ticket window near the theater entrance. SSU students were able to get free tickets while regular tickets cost 12 dollars. Throughout the entire show there was applause and cheering from the crowd not only was the weather warm but so was the atmosphere.
major, told the Star,” My friend has been working hard all semester for this show. I’m so glad that I was able to come out and show my support for her.” A performance that stood out was the poem called “Perfect”. This poem looked at perfectionism and the trouble it may cause someone mentally, physically, and spiritually. First-year communications major Jared Huff said,” One of my favorite parts of the show was the poem because of how well it was delivered. I could feel that they really cared about what they were talking about.”
On Thursday, April 27 the Theater Arts and Dance department put on the Spring Dance Faculty and Guest Artist Concert. The concert showcased the talent-
Two student dancers introduced the show at the beginning by discussing the dances and how excited they were to perform for an audience.Every dance that was showcased had unique choreography as well as its own wardrobe. Between each dance, the dancers would switch their wardrobe which gave some time for anyone that might need to step out for a bathroom break to do so. It was easy to tell that a significant amount of family and friends of the dancers were in the crowd because of all the cheering and names being called out.
Leslie Alvarado was one such person who had a friend performing. Alvardo, who is a third-year nursing
It was easy to see just how passionate the students were about their routines. Third-year biology major Alex Elias mentioned how physically difficult it must have been to perform each routine, especially the ones where there was a lot of running and choreography. Elias said,”It looks like it could have been a workout. I noticed some of them were out of breath by the end of the performance. After the final section of the night was done all the participants gathered on stage for a bow. Attendees were also asked to stick around at the end for a Q and A session with the dancers and choreographers.
SF Opera’s tuba player joins the SSU Instrumental Repertory class
KYLIE PERRY STAFF WRITER
OnWednesday April 26th San Francisco Opera’s tuba player Zachariah Spellman joined Sonoma States weekly Instrumental Repertory class. The class was held in Weill Hall and went from 1-2:30 p.m. Spellman introduced himself to the class confidently while wearing a shirt covered in tubas.There were about 20-30 students at this event. Spellman began with the song “If I Fell In Love With You” by the Beatles. He then played a song with a little backstory. “Effie Falls In Love” , he explained, is a song about an elephant that is chasing after a monkey because Monkey has a pheromone that has made the elephant fall in love with him. The song is a representation of Effie’s feelings for Monkey. Marilyin Thompson, professor of the class, played on piano while Spellman played the tuba.
Leif Dering, a transfer student in his first semester and majoring in classical double-bass performance, knew of Spellman vaguely before he came to perform with them. “I see the Opera regularly when they’re in season,” said Dering. Others did not know who Spellman was. Katie Mason, a Junior at SSU with a Music Education major, did not know him prior.“People were excited that someone important was coming.”
When Spellman finished playing for the class there were a few acts backstage that were ready to play for him and showcase their talents. Spellman wanted each musician to tell “their story” after each performance.
“It’s up to the player to tell the story,” said Spellman. Spellman proceeded to ask all players to come to the front of the stage. He explained to the audience members that he had six pencils, one for each player to draw from. The pencils were all different lengths and the person who picked the shortest pencil would go first, and so on.
Ryan Ristine pulled the shortest pencil. Ristine played the French Horn with Thompson on piano. Spellman said he did a lovely job. Ristine’s story on the piece was that he started working on it halfway through the semester. The first movement was supposed to sound like a pleading and the second movement was supposed to be more soothing like a “warm blanket,” Ristine said. Spellman’s suggestions were for Ristine to go faster and start to lose control, to be more convincing in the second movement.
Brian Poole played the trumpet. When finished Spellman asked, “What are the sensations in your face right now?” “Burns a little bit,” said Brian. When talking about his piece Poole said “I’m putting myself into this, this is me.” Spellman’s notes were to stop thinking and just listen. He talked about how when playing musicians can tend to let their mind wander, make lists up in their heads, that you just have to listen to what you are playing just as an audience member would.
Between players Spellman yelled “Next Victim!” followed by a laugh. The audience found this statement very funny. Johann Clapstein, a music education major and transfer student came out playing on the tuba. Clapstein gave a rendition of Blackbird, a piece you can find Spellman playing online. “There will be some audience participation in the middle, I’m so sorry,” said Clapstein jokingly. During the piece, everyone clapped and got into it, bobbing their heads to the beat. At the end of the song, Spellman said, “I’m mystified by your use of technology.” His notes were to really lock in those harmonics.
Students had very good experiences with Spellman’s visit. “He was not only entertaining but also inspiring and gave us a new perspective for our playing. Repertory class usually has the same boring yet informative vibe, but Spellman brought a new life into the class and invigorated us as players,” said Mason, “I love how he brought everyone back to the stage after their performances and asked them their story. His words were powerful and I can imagine he communicates musically at an incredibly high level,” said Dering.
Dering’s concluding points were, “Perfection is so near impossible to achieve that it’s pointless. Occasional mistakes are natural- strive to be excellent, not perfect.”
Schroeder Hall hosts Chamber Music Showcase
has been playing violin for 12 years now and it showed in her ensemble’s performance. They played the string quartet in minor op13 by the late Felix Mendelssohn which was suggested by ensemble member Zander Voge when brainstorming what they should perform. The piece was said to be Mendelssohn’s first truly mature piece that the ensemble thought would be a great challenge. Ronan explained, “It was just a fun challenge not just in learning the notes, but the different themes and characters we had to articulate.”
When talking with the STAR, Ronan was asked about how she felt her ensemble performed. In great constructive form, Ronan talked about how they had a few very minor timing issues and could have delivered phrasing in a more expressive way although this was the group’s first time performing outside of recitals.
left to perform which was more important so she got right back on track and focused on continuing her and her ensemble’s impressive performance.
The final set of the night came with the saxophone quartet. They played a four-piece Quartet for Saxophones. This group included Cooper Ysais, Sergio Aranda-Garcia, Nathan Silva, and third-year music education major Owen Short. The STAR was able to talk with Short about the performance. He thinks the performance went great and said that his fellow musicians felt they did very well with their pieces. Short was also asked about his feelings about performing and he emphasized how much he loves it as well as how he is always eager to showcase what he loves.
This past Wednesday, the music department hosted its annual Chamber Music Showcase in Schroeder Hall. This hour-long session was made up of four different performances which consisted of the Clarinet Choir as well as String, Woodwind, and Saxophone Quartets. The entire performance seemed to be flawless and it highlighted the talents of each musician.
One of the string players playing the violin was second-year music major, Miranda Ronan. Ronan
After reaching the end of her page of music and flipping it, it flipped back due to the way the original copies are in book form. She didn’t panic in any way and fixed the issue so seamlessly that it was hardly noticeable. Ronan said it was simply something musicians are used to. She said, “When it comes to performances you’re trained to just keep moving on, kind of try to always stay thinking a few notes or measures ahead of where you are.”
Ronan knew she still had a page and a half of music
Throughout the ensemble’s performance, the ensemble seemed to be in perfect rhythm both musically and physically, as they moved bobbing and nodding perfectly as if they were all jamming with the same vibes. Short explained how they talked about it in rehearsal for synchronized spots in their piece but how it also comes down to natural feelings in the moment for them. He noted that movement can make the difference between a group that plays well together and one that doesn’t. Short loves this and the many other aspects of performances and he said, “I’m a very proud musician, and being able to share that with others means the world to me.”
ALEC PADILLA STAFF WRITER
BERNARDO RAMOS STAFF WRITER
sono MA stAtestA r co M MAY 2 - MAY 8, 2023
STAR // Dennae Taylor Spring Dance performers on Thursday.
STAR // Dennae Taylor Students performing at the Chamber Music Showcase.
Banda La Congora takes the stage at “Noche de Baile”
erated by a group of musicians that range from gloomy and sad to festive and upbeat. 200 Seawolves were in attendance and took part in the LatinX celebration. The Baile was somewhere for LatinX students to come and feel in touch with their cultural identity at SSU. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The organization has not hosted Noche De Baile since 2018. While hosting this event they made Sonoma State History as the first organization to bring Banda to SSU ever.The event was a huge success, not only had the LatinX community come out, but several other students wanted to be a part of the festivities. .
student said, “This is what students want on campus, we want some representation and we want to have a fun time while dancing… I think that says a lot.” The Baile was a great event to go to and maybe even a start for other organizations to host events like this to build a stronger student community throughout SSU.
MIA GARCIA STAFF WRITER
M.E.Ch.A (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán) hosted “Noche De Baile (Night of Dancing)” at the Student Center where they had live performances from DJ C-Los and Banda La Congora. What is Banda? Banda is a type of Regional Mexican music that is gen-
JUSTIN SIMPSON STAFF WRITER
Blanca Ruiz, president of M.E.Ch.A , said, “I was really surprised to see all the different people that came out tonight, not just LatinX people… Students came out to support the LatinX community… All the support warms my heart.” With the influx of attendees, Ruiz believes that M.E.Ch.A will host another event next spring. Ruiz emphasized how, “[M.E.Ch.A] really wanted to make something that welcomes the LatinX community because we are a hispanic serving institution.” SSU is one of the 21 Hispanic Serving Institutions within the California State University system. M.E.Ch.A is a nationwide organization that promotes higher education, culture, and history. Some of the clubs main purposes at SSU is to help people learn and connect withone’s Chicanx identity.
The organization had a successful turnout with Seawolves dancing the night away in Ballroom A of the Student Center. Sometimes, It is no secret that it’s hard to get students to come to events. M.E.Ch.A, however, had no problem rallying students for “Noche De Baile.”
Jessica Valdez, a fourth year Chicano Latino Studies
Many students got to dance, listen to live music, and experience the LatinX community. Robbie Eliseo Campos, the SSU student who put on “Noche de Baile” said, “We make stuff happen.” This semester Campos has played a pivotal role in the growth of M.E.Ch.A on campus and is excited to see the club continue to grow. Last semester, there were about five to seven active members and now they have over 50. “As the organizer of the event, my experience at Noche de Baile was surreal…we had a lot of the multicultural sororities and Fraternities there, Other multicultural clubs attended as well… [Noche de Baile] seemed so lively.” The LatinX community continues to remain strong. Many other clubs and organizations remain to support one another, making sure that students feel supported and knowing that they are not alone.
M.E.CH.A is doing a wonderful job having an active voice on Campus for Latino students. Valdez said, “We are planning events and continue to plan events to make sure Latino students have an active presence on campus.” The Latin X community continues to grow and is supported by SSU students. If you have ever wanted to get connected to your latino ancestry or would love to support the latinx community M.E.Ch.A hosts meetings every Thursday in the Alexander Valley Room. For more information and updated events follow them on Instagram @mecha_de_sonoma.
‘Denim Day’ honored at SSU
Last Wednesday’s Denim Day aimed to spread awareness about sexual assault. In collaboration with Student Involvement, OPHD interns Shelby King and Kenya Robles coordinated Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The purpose of this event was to highlight resources on campus and give students an opportunity to participate in the worldwide movement.
Verity, Sonoma County’s Rape Crisis, Trauma, and Healing Center had set up a booth displaying patches of denim with messages of strength for victims. Passerbys could write messages on empty denim patches and clip them onto the lines strung across the table. Those stationed at the booth spoke to anyone who was interested in learning more. Berenice Mendez, a sexual assault advocate from Verity said “the event has been very popular so far.”
Mendez described the long complex history of how Demin day started. It originated in Italy in the 90s with an infamous rape case. An eighteen-year-old student driver was assaulted by her driving instructor. The young girls instructor then told her he would kill her if she told anybody. When the girl told her family what happened and it
all came out, it went to court, where things somehow got worse. The Italian court had ruled that the victim had to have given consent because she was wearing tight jeans. They believed the jeans couldn’t be removed without the victim’s help. Regardless of all the ways this claim didn’t prove consent was given, an excuse was found and the court dismissed the rape charges.
Despite the complicated process of numerous attempts to appeal the ruling, it took over a decade for the decision to be overturned in the Italian Supreme Court. It sparked the now National Denim Day. This day is observed worldwide and is held every April 26th and it is acknowledged by over 20 out of our 50 states. It wraps up the tail end of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, by encouraging others to wear jeans and bring attention to the victim blaming that leads to situations like this.
Evelyn Munguia, who also represented Verity, described how in years prior the event has had similar turnouts of people coming by to learn about the day and its significance. Munguia described the different methods
of spreading awareness about “how consent works” such as the acronym FRIES. FRIES stands for: Freely given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic and Specific. This is just a fraction of what Verity can offer as a resource for victims of sexual assault. The big picture for them is providing “Compassion. Safety. Support.”
The whole day a variety of students came and went, some stopping by just briefly and others wanting to engage in conversation about awareness. Susan Palido, a confidential advocate for SSU, spoke about the event saying, “This was a collaboration with Student Involvement, you know, Mo Phillps and OPHD (office of prevention of harassment and discrimination), Shelby King…and all we wanted is for students to be helped and supported so that they can succeed as students.” She went on to add, “The advocacy office supports 130 students per academic year.” Shelby King, head of OPHD described the groups role as such, “We handle any complaints about sexual harassment and discrimination.” Denim Day not only raised awareness about sexual assault but also the campus resources to combat it.
Seawolves picnic on Person Lawn
Thursday April 27 Seawolves enjoyed the end of the semester picnic with the “Lunch on the Lawn” event hosted by Associated Student Productions (ASP). This event featured professionally styled sitting arrangements, a DJ performance, a photo booth and lawn games.
Maia Madrigal, a fourth year student who works for ASP had the vision for “Lunch on the Lawn.” Madrigal is the event director for ASP who collaborated with a vendor known as “Picnic Potential” in order for this event to come to life at SSU.
According to Madrigal, “A total of 60 students were expected and about 70 were there”.
It was also the first time this event took place on campus. In an interview with the Sonoma State STAR, Madrigal was asked if “Lunch on the Lawn” would be a recurring event. She said, “It was our first time working with [Picnic Potential]... it was amazing working with them so we would love to do this again.”
Madrigal is not the only one who wants to see this event happening again. Carl Rubin, a first year student who was present at the picnic said, “I thought this event was a great way to increase student involvement on campus, meet people and make new friendships. I would definitely take part in this event again and think
events like these should occur more often.”
Students interviewed by the STAR all had the same feedback about the event. Azucena Ferrusca, a fourth year student who also joined the event said that she “loved the event and would definitely love to do this again”.
Overall, most Seawolves had a great time relaxing in the sun. According to the vendor, Picnic Potential, a lot of students went to thank them for the event.
Rubin and Ferrusca both loved the event so much that they wished it was advertised more broadly so more people could enjoy it the way they did. Ferrusca said “I would advertise more on campus because not a lot of people knew about this.” Which was confirmed by Rubin as he said “I never heard about the event until I saw the tables and blankets out near Persons Lawn.” Rubin also hoped the event lasted longer, “time constraints were the main factors that caused some of my friend to not attend this event”
With all this positive feedback, the STAR asked Madrigal if another similar event was put in place for the remainder of the semester. She stated “We don’t have an event exactly like this planned, but as.Sonoma.edu has a list of all our events for the rest of the semester.”
Student
MAY 2 - MAY 8, 2023 sono MA stAtestA r co M 6
Life
CÉLIA ALINE AMARAL STAFF WRITER
STAR // Malia Teran Banda la Congora performing in Ballroom A
COURTESY// @seawolfliving on Instagram SSU students enjoying a sunny picnic on Person Lawn.
A trio of Seawolves win CCAA awards
COOPER PERRY STAFF WRITER
SSU Golf has continued to impress this season with freshman Talia Gutman and seniors Griffin Pace and Jules Lavigne each receiving All-CCAA honors for their play this year.
Gutman was named CCAA Freshman of the Year and selected to the All-CCAA First-Team, becoming the third Seawolf to win the former and the third in the last four years for SSU.
Gutman said, “I worked really hard this past year to improve my swing and mentality on the course, so it feels like my hard work is paying off. I know there were probably a good number of excellent freshmen this year, so it means a lot to me that I was picked.”
Looking to build on the strong start to her career, Gutman is determined to improve her game in the off-season. She said, “I’m planning on doing speed drills this summer to increase my driving distance while maintaining my accuracy. I’m also planning on practicing a lot of putting. It has always been my greatest weakness in golf, so I want to turn it into my greatest strength. “
Pace earned his second straight AllCCAA First-Team selection after an excellent season for the Seawolves. He recorded
his first career win this season at the Wildcat Classic in October, hosted by Chico State, scoring a career-best 11-under-par. Pace is ranked in the top-20 in all of Division II for individual golfers after putting up impressive numbers in both the Fall and Spring campaigns.
Pace has also recorded a team best six top-10’s, five top-5’s, and three top-3’s performances, leading all Seawolves. Over a 26 round span, Pace averaged a score of 71.19 to lead all Sonoma State golfers this year.
Fellow senior, Lavigne, finished his season with the second lowest average score per round on the Seawolves with 73.00, earning an All-CCAA Honorable mention. He was the only Seawolf to finish inside the top-30 in every tournament this Spring, showing remarkable consistency in his game.
Lavigne was surprised to receive honors because of his slow start in the fall. “Going from not making the line-up to being an all-conference honorable mention is something that was unexpected.”
After graduation, Lavigne plans to return home to France to pursue
his dream of playing professionally in Europe. He said, “Hard work pays off. I’ve struggled over the last few years but kept working, always believing that I would find success. This spring season my work was rewarded with good results.”
On Friday, the men’s golf team was announced as the #2 seed in the NCAA division II South Central/West Regional tournament. The Seawolves will also play host to the tournament for the
second time in program history and the first time in 15 years. SSU has won two NCAA regional championships, with the first coming in 2008 at Adobe Creek Golf Course the last time the Seawolves hosted.
The Regional tournament will take place Thursday, May 11 at Foxtail Golf Club, where the Seawolves claimed first place in the Fall Preview back in September. The team will hope to reclaim that same success from seven months ago.
‘We are the champions’; SSU takes home title
toric season for the program, being at the top of their league and pitching the program’s first perfect game, earning a multitude of weekly CCAA player awards from start to finish of the regular season, and now being named the best in their conference. The coaches’ and players’ hard work is finally paying off.
ELIAS KAPLAN STAFF WRITER
History has been made yet again for the Sonoma State Softball program as they have now been named the California Collegiate Athletic Association regular season champions. This has been a his-
‘Be the one,’ is a saying on the team and they have upheld it throughout the season, “It means to be the one to get the job done, be the one that gets the winning run across the plate, be the one to get the sacrifice bunt done… I think it’s really cool we were the ones that finally did it,” said junior infielder Giana Hays when asked what it felt like to be crowned champions of the conference.
Head Coach Jennifer Bridges was reluctant to win their regular season title, as any coach would be, but she clarified that winning it with this team was something remarkable. With
nine seniors on the roster, these players have been through the grind and finally reached the goal they’ve been striving for since freshman year.
When asked about factors she believed played a role in winning their conference, Hays mentioned how great the team chemistry has been, also attributing it to psychology. “For the past 2-3 years we have been working with a sports psychologist twice a month. Actively working on our mental game and being taught the proper tools on how to deal with high stress/pressure situations has been a complete game changer.
Senior pitcher Nichole Sarra spoke about how helpful the level of comradery is for the success of the team. “It is rare to find a team where everyone genuinely gets along, but we have been able to build that culture of the last few years,” Sarra said. The senior also brought up the amount of dedication to both the sport and to each other that everyone on the team must demonstrate
in order for the team to make it farther than they have before.
The Seawolves finished their last regular season series against CSU Dominguez Hills on Saturday. The team fell short in the first game on Friday, ending it 3-2, and came up with a quick and easy win in game two, the final score being 12-1 to conclude day one of the series. That same day, senior catcher Jordyn Martinez set a new school record that same day by achieving 148 career RBIs. Unfortunately, on Saturday SSU lost their last two games against CSUDH, ending the first one at 2-0 and the later game 6-2.
So what comes after the softball team’s regular season? Hayes said they call this “The Road to the Show.” At this point in the year, the team works from winning their conference to looking at regionals. Here they get a chance to progress to super regionals, and then finally get to The World Series in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Coach Spotlight: John Goelz
Head coach of Sonoma State’s baseball program, John Goelz, has transformed the Seawolves into a perennial powerhouse since he took over in 1986. Goelz is a legendary figure in the world of college baseball. He has established himself as one of the most successful coaches in the region. Goelz’s ability to develop talent and create a winning culture has made him a sought-after mentor for young athletes. He has over 1,100 wins, 10 conference championships, 11 NCAA tournament appearances and one
California Collegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year award in 2016. Goelz’s Impact on the sport of college baseball is undeniable.
Having spent almost 40 years at the helm, Goelz’s influences spread throughout the diamond like wildfire. One of the things that makes him such an influential figure is his commitment to excellence. He has always demanded the best from his players on and off the field. He instilled a sense of discipline, focus and determination
that has helped them achieve their goals and successes.
Goelz is known for his ability to con nect with his players on a personal level. He has always been a mentor and a role model to the young men and women he coaches, and has helped to shape their lives in profound ways. He is a beloved figure in the community and has touched the lives of countless people over the years. Sonoma State alumni and ex-baseball player Jake Hernandez said coach Goelz is one of the best coaches he’s played for, but also one of the most caring.
Senior outfielder Ryan Wilmoth also said that Goelz is one of the best coaches he’s had and makes the environment feel like a family. “This team is like a second family. I think that’s what this program does very well. This team has a fantastic bond that you rarely find. It’s going to be difficult to part ways with this team,” Wilmoth said.
Under Goelz leadership, the program has experienced unprecedented success both on and off the field. The Seawolves have qualified for the NCAA tournament 11 times in the past 19 sea-
sons, including the year 2013 when Goelz coached Harmen Sidhu, the team’s star pitcher who received the Tino Martinez Award. This prestigious award is given annually to the best baseball player in Division II, equivalent to the Heisman Trophy in Division I football. Sidhu not only earned this honor, but he also became the 2013 NCAA Division II statistical champion for his impressive 0.98 ERA in 82.2 innings of work. In recognition for his outstanding achievements both on the field and in the classroom, Sidhu was named the CCAA’s Male Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Goelz is a coach who has a talent for getting his players to perform at their highest level. He has always been able to motivate his teams to perform at their best, and has instilled in them a sense of pride and determination that has helped them to overcome even the toughest challenges. Oftentimes you would hear the saying “Just how we like it” throughout the ballpark. This chant is a mantra for the Seawolves that reminds them to face any adversity head on, to endure and overcome it.
Sports MAY 2 - MAY 8, 2023 sono MA stAtestA r co M 7
TITO FUENTES STAFF WRITER
COURTESY// @sonomaseawolves on Instagram
Talia Gutman won CCAA Freshman of the Year, Griffin Pace earned his second staight AllCCAA First Team and Jules Lavigne took home an All-CCAA Honorable mention.
COURTESY// Kieran Friedman Daniel Beglin dodging on Michael Trujillo down the right alley.
COURTESY// @sonomaseawolves on Instagram Softball won their first regular season title.
Photo 8 MAY 2 - MAY 8, 2023 sono MA stAtestA r . co M
share their passion with end of semester showcase STAR
Flowers have began to bloom across Sonoma State Campus. STAR
Allergen and pollen levels will be moderate to high this week.
Even people who typically don’t experience allergies are being effected this year.
Allergies are worth it this year
Students
// Dennae Taylor
// Dennae Taylor
STAR
// Dennae Taylor
STAR // Dennae Taylor
Roy Zajac directing the clarinet choir in the Chamber Music Showcase in Schroeder Hall on April 27.
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STAR
// Dennae
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