The voice of Sacramento State since 1949.
ISSUE 5, VOLUME 72
SEPTEMBER 27, 2017
WWW.STATEHORNET.COM
WHAT’S
THAT
SMELL? Sewage, garbage and ... trees? The smelliest spots on campus, explained PAGE 6
+
COPS DEPICTED AS PIGS IN CAMPUS ART EXHIBIT
FOOTBALL GOES 2-1 ON 3-GAME HOMESTAND
OPINION: A LIGHT ROAST OF CAMPUS COFFEE
PAGE 4
PAGE 10
PAGE 19
facebook.com/statehornet
@TheStateHornet
@statehornet
state.hornet
3
www.StateHornet.com
FORMER SAC STATE LINEBACKER MAKES NAME IN NFL page 13
ALUMNUS’S SCRIPT CHOSEN FOR FILM FESTIVAL page 16
In a response to last week’s article on Hornet Stadium introducing a beer garden, reader Darleen Saunders commented that she’s disappointed, as it seems more like a poor way “to make money off college students and promote bad behavior.” Follow us at Facebook.com/StateHornet The State Hornet’s Dayla Cook attended the 2017 City of Trees Festival on Sunday, one of Sacramento’s biggest musical festivals. She tweeted footage of performances from the likes of Isla Vista-based alternative-reggae group Iration to indie-pop act Bleachers. Go to @DaylaPearl for more from the event and follow us @TheStateHornet It was almost like RuPaul’s Drag Race at Sac State on Sept. 19 as a collection of local drag queens strut the University Union Ballroom Stage lip-synching to pop divas’ biggest hits while donning colorful elaborate ensembles. Follow @StateHornet for features of similar campus events.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
CULTURE EDITOR
FACULTY ADVISER
MANAGING EDITOR
OPINION EDITOR
ADVERTISING INQUIRIES
Barbara Harvey editor@statehornet.com Kameron Schmid editor@statehornet.com
Sharlene Phou culture@statehornet.com Khanlin Rodgers opinion@statehornet.com
DIGITAL EDITOR
PHOTO EDITOR
NEWS EDITOR
COPY EDITOR
Vu Chau vkchau2020@gmail.com Claire Morgan news@statehornet.com
SPORTS EDITOR
Angel Guerrero sports@statehornet.com
ads@statehornet.com
Tyler McElmurry tylerjmcelmurry@gmail.com
FACULTY PAY RAISE: On Tuesday, the California State University announced that it had reached an agreement with the California Faculty Association about extending its existing contract through June 30th, 2020. Faculty will receive a 3.5 percent general salary increase in 2018 and another 2.5 increase in 2019, which CSU Chancellor Timothy White said would allow the CSU to “collectively engage in long-term efforts that are critical to achieving our ambitious student success-related goals, as outlined in Graduation Initiative 2025.” To stay up to date, go to statehornet.com/news
In Volume 72, Issue 4 of The State Hornet, the following corrections are listed: On Page 16, Chad Opitz’s name is misspelled as Chad Optiz.
Cover photo by Molly Berg // Modeled by Jess Gemignani
Robert Todd
DESIGN EDITOR
CLERY REPORT: On Sept. 15, Sacramento State released its annual Clery Report detailing campus crime. On-campus incidents of burglary, motor vehicle theft and liquor and drug arrests all increased from 2015-16. Sexual assaults, meanwhile, have dropped significantly in recent years. Read the full story online.
Stu VanAirsdale stvcsus@gmail.com
Matthew Nobert mdnob40@gmail.com
robert.bernard.todd@gmail.com
SAC STATE SAYS page 8
all views expressed herein are the responsibility of the state hornet and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Sacramento state journalism program, the communications studies department, administration, student body or sqe unless otherwise noted. The state hornet is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced in whole or part without the express permission of the state hornet.
Readers who
notice an error in the state hornet may send corrections to editor@statehornet.com. for advertising inquiries, please contact ads@ statehornet.com
4
The State Hornet
CLAIRE MORGAN - The State Hornet ‘Fuck the System,’ a piece by Sacramento State student Jacob Lewis, is one of the paintings that some have deemed controversial for its depiction of a pig wearing a police uniform.
ART EXHIBIT SPARKS CONTROVERSY STUDENT WORK DEPICTS COPS AS PIGS, READS ‘FUCK THE POLICE’ Raul Hernandez @raul_hdez04
An art display by Sacramento State senior Jacob Lewis is getting attention for depicting the contro-
versial subject of police brutality. Some of Lewis’s paintings and drawings contain overweight pigs wearing police uniforms while shooting guns and holding money bags. One piece contains the phrase “fuck the police.”
Lewis said he was influenced by the deaths of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, as well as other acts of police brutality that occurred in 2016. “Not all cops are to blame for the situation, but I’m basically just trying to bring attention to the fact there are a lot of bad cops out there,” he said. For Lewis, art can be an avenue for expression, especially when it comes to controversial issues. He
said art like his has always been around as it is a testament to people’s freedom to express their opinions nonviolently — a way that can spark conversation and ideas. Some students thought the art was offensive, including graduate student Arianna Perez. She said that Lewis’s work shouldn’t be considered art because she takes law enforcement “seriously.” “Police officers put on a uni-
form and go out to work every single day, and to view them or perceive them as something like this, it’s pretty upsetting,” Perez said. Art education major Tamara Duran attended the Thursday night reception at the R.W. Witt Gallery and, unlike Perez, Duran said she did not feel offended by the pieces on display. “I do admit that the police in our country are not acting the
www.StateHornet.com
5
ALL MAJORS
CAREER FAIR 2 DAYS
Tuesday, October 3th &th Wednesday, October 4 10 am - 2 pm University Union Ballroom
FULL-TIME JOBS, PART-TIME JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS OVER 170 EMPLOYERS EXPECTED
CLAIRE MORGAN - The State Hornet Above, ‘The State of Our Country’ by Sacramento State senior Jacob Lewis contains the words ‘fuck the police.’ Below, Lewis discusses his art with a gallery reception guest. His art has been gaining attention for tackling controversial subjects.
“Not all cops are to blame for the situation, but I’m basically just trying to bring attention to the fact there are a lot of bad cops out there.” - Jacob Lewis Artist way we would think police should act, but there are still some good policeman out there,” Duran said. “I think this really brings awareness to people about what police do and what they should be doing.” Duran said she has also observed that more people are noticing the political statements that artists are making. She said she thinks it is important to “get to
know what that person is thinking and seeing another point of view.” While people may consider the paintings controversial, the Dean of the College Arts and Letters, Sheree Meyer, said Sac State supports the art being displayed. “Art often prompts dialogue and conversation and expresses a variety of opinions,” Meyer said.
Get your free professional portrait at the Fall 2017 Career Fair!
Photo Booth October 3 & 4, 2017 10:00 am - 2 pm University Union, Lobby Suite No RSVP needed! Professional Dress Required
@sacstatecareer
www.csus.edu/careercenter
6
MOLLY BERG - The State Hornet
The State Hornet
7
www.StateHornet.com
WHAT’S THAT
SMELL? A
n inordinate amount of calls, emails and internet buzz began since the end of the last spring semester centered around one question: the good ol’ olfactory system, also known as your sense of smell, was picking up some harsh scents all over campus. So we went looking for the sources of these specific smells, why they’re smelly, and why they’re here. Is it a sewage line? Is it trash compactors? No! It’s … both? Exiting the University Union towards the center of campus on a hot day, which might as well come in Costco-sized 200 packs in Sacramento, a stench can be picked up that is quite possibly the single worst smell on campus. “Oh, that shitty smell?” Yes, Pavel Chipak, senior computer science student. That one. A thread at Reddit.com/r/csus seems to be divided on the source of the smell; a “poorly designed sewer pipe,” or trash compactors that are placed across the walkway from the outdoor patio of Round Table.
YOU ASKED, WE ANSWERED: WHAT IS THAT SMELL, AND WHY IS IT SO SMELLY? BY KAMERON SCHMID // @KAMERONSCHMID
“I walk through it five days a week. (I) try not to think about, try not to breathe.” - Pavel Chipak Senior
Whatever it is, consensus was, it’s getting worse. User LazyBuhdaBelly commented, “I’ve been at sac state for a long time and for some reason the smell is stronger than usual this semester.” When asked for clarification on what the source of the smell is, or whether both could be true, multiple sources within Facilities Management at Sac State did not respond as of press time. For now, the smell remains a gag-inducing mystery, though not as severely putrid as the temperature drops throughout the semester. “I walk through it five days a week,” Chipak said. “Try not to think about, try not to breathe.” Trees that smell like … um ... Chipak is one of the lucky ones on campus. He’s never encountered the Pyrus calleryana.
No, there’s no ancient Greek monster lurking campus. They’re big, beautiful trees that bloom white, five-petaled flowers in the spring, which also happen to smell like chlorine … or, you know, the sex stuff. Depends on who you ask. Commonly known as the Callery pear tree, this species of tree hails from China and Vietnam and was first brought into America in the early 20th century “for development of fire blight resistance in the common pear,” according to “Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas” by the National Park Service. Now this tree is valued for the ornamental nature of its white petals, and when those white petals bloom in the spring, we politely pretend not to have smelled anything and go share memes on the CSUS Reddit about how it smells like semen. On one of those posts, titled, “Oh god...spring at Sac State is al-
most here,” user “nattopowered” replied, “Oh man I thought I was the only one, I’ve been calling them ‘cum trees’ since my days at city college.” The only Callery pear trees this author has ever found are next to the walking intersection of Brighton and Humboldt Halls. For now, the trees are a deep red and smell like nothing. Best enjoy them while you can, and steer clear come next March. The unwashed masses Sometimes, it’s not things that smell bad. Sometimes it’s people. Though the worst of the heat is gone for now, the beginning of the semester featured triple-digit temperatures nearly every day, and when combining that with a typical long day, things can get a little stanky. A post titled “Are CSC majors allergic to bathing or something?”
by transfer student RasterDasters explained that multiple times a day, members of their Computer Science classes were distractingly “rank.” There are options if you fear your smell has become noticeable during the school day. Showers are available at The WELL whether you’d like to work out or not, open from 6 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, and only slightly less long Friday through Sunday. For those hoping for intervention from a professor, none will likely come. Matt O’Connor of Student Affairs said in an email that while the university has a policy on disrupting behavior, smell is not included in that, and any faculty member approaching a student about their odor would be doing so in concern for the student’s wellness. “The question of disruptive ‘odor’ raises complex issues of personal identity and personal choice, so it is difficult to make general statements on policy and best practices,” O’Connor wrote. If you continue to fear smelling another person’s body odor, csusboy123 on Reddit has a tip. “I just hold my breath when people walk super close to me... hope I’m not the only one :)”
8
The State Hornet
SAC STATE STINKS
What is the worst thing you’ve smelled on campus?
Whether it’s other students after their dash to class or the great outdoors by Round Table, there are plenty of smells at Sacra-
Rin Carbin
mento State that could use some Febreze. We asked students
@ss_horo
to describe the worst thing they’ve smelled on campus. Join the conversation with #SacStateSays.
“I’ve had people with BO, they smell like trash. I’ll be in line for a class and (other students) won’t want to say anything. I guess it’s sweat from bikes, and the first week of school was really hot.” - Vanessa Kmetz Psychology
#SacStateSays
“It’s probably that garbage dump by Round Table. It smells like a rotten toilet. Just move it someplace else not by the food.”
“Right in front of Parking Structure I, if you walk in front of it, it smells bad.”
- Yasmina Batakji Health science
- Rebeca Escobedo Psychology
“It smells like rotting garbage by the lunch area by Round Table. That’s gross — they’re taking all my money for nothing.” - Lelan Wells Communications
“Sometimes when I walk by Kadema, the palm trees smell like a dumpster, which is weird because I don’t think there’s anything there.”
- Matthew Alkakos Economics
9
www.StateHornet.com
OBAMA-ERA TITLE IX RULE RESCINDED GUIDELINES FOR HOW UNIVERSITIES HANDLE SEXUAL ASSAULT SET TO CHANGE Liam Braddy @yeeeitslee
United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has formally announced her plan to rescind portions of the Title IX law, which is designed to help federally funded schools and universities like Sacramento State handle sexual assault. DeVos’s announcement on Friday struck a chord with students, parents and education professionals across the country. “I just feel disgusted,” said public relations major Nicole Marin. “I wouldn’t want to continue attending a university that doesn’t care about my safety or protect my rights as a student.” DeVos said the main portion of the Title IX law being repealed is the “Dear Colleague” letter issued by the Obama Administration in 2011. Additionally, the 2011 “Dear Colleague” letter required schools to allocate funds for Title IX officials and support services for students across the board. Responsibilities of university officials, in terms of investigative practices, intervention protocols and disciplinary actions to be taken against offenders, were also outlined. Any university that failed to meet these expectations could effectively lose their federal funding. Along with the removal of the 2011 “Dear Colleague” letter, DeVos released her own “Dear Colleague” letter that explained some of the other significant changes, including guidelines for how long sexual assault investigations can take, as well as “mediation” as a form of conflict resolution. Earlier this month, DeVos criticized the guidance laid out by the Obama administration by arguing that it put expensive constraints on universities,
GAGE SKIDMORE (CC BY 2.0) United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has formally announced her plan to rescind portions of the Title IX law which are designed to help federally funded schools and universities like Sacramento State handle sexual assault.
and that the system, as it stands, doesn’t provide justice for women or proper protection for young men facing accusations of sexual assault. “I don’t think the way things are set up are is flawed at all,” said Harley Morse, a 24-year-old communications major at Sac State. “Sexual assault on college campuses is a serious issue, and we need systems in place that protect female students.” Title IX was first signed into effect by former president, Rich-
ard Nixon, as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. At the time, these amendments aimed to ensure equal disbursement of women’s athletic scholarships, as well as funding for women’s collegiate sports programs. The amendment stated that no person in the United States could be discriminated against, excluded from or denied the benefits of any federally funded educational program on the basis of sex or gender. From 2011 to 2016, the
amount of reported Title IX cases on college campuses increased by 500 percent, according to the US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. The State Hornet contacted CSUS Title IX coordinator William Bishop for more information about the CSU’s response to DeVos’s announcement. Bishop was, however, unable to comment on the university’s position and advised that any questions on the matter be directed to the CSU Chancellors Office
in Long Beach. The California State University Chancellor Timothy White made a formal statement promising that the CSU would protect its students and employees. “Our comprehensive policies comply with federal and state laws and regulations -- and remain in full force and effect, White said. Today’s letter from the OCR does not change CSU’s approach because compassion and fairness to all parties is a bedrock of our existing policies.”
10
The State Hornet
FOOTBALL
LIAM BRADDY - The State Hornet Sacramento State junior quarterback Kevin Thomson races down the field for a 59-yard rushing touchdown against Southern Utah Saturday at Hornet Stadium. Thomson finished with 14 carries for 149 yards and four touchdowns while throwing for 256 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Hornets subdue Southern Utah 54-27 Thomson’s historic night opens up Big Sky Conference play
Angel Guerrero @AngelGuerrerooo
Sacramento State opened Big Sky Conference football play with a 54-27 victory over the visiting Southern Utah Thunderbirds Saturday night at Hornet Stadium. This lopsided win was powered by Sac State junior quarterback Kevin Thomson’s historic
performance. He finished 14-of26 for 256 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception. However, it was his rushing totals — 14 carries for 149 yards and four touchdowns — that helped him tie the school record for most touchdowns (seven) in a single game. “I think someone asked me about (tying the touchdown record) on the field and it feels good, but regardless of the stat line, we
won the game,” Thomson said after posting the second most rushing touchdowns in a single game in program history. “So as long as we win the game, I’m happy.” It took less than a minute for the Hornets (2-2, 1-0 Big Sky) to make a big play as junior safety Austin Clark began the game with an interception on an errant pass from Southern Utah sophomore quarterback Aaron Zwahlen. Seven plays later, Thomson hit
www.StateHornet.com
11
FOOTBALL
LIAM BRADDY - The State Hornet Sacramento State junior safety Austin Clark, center, attempts to tackle Southern Utah sophomore running back Janiero Green Jr. on Saturday at Hornet Stadium.
junior receiver Andre Lindsey for a six-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead with 11:47 remaining in the first quarter. “I know (Southern Utah was) in a really physical game last week and I thought we jumped on them early,” said Jody Sears, the Hornets head coach. “I thought we looked fresh, they didn’t and the numbers show.” Southern Utah (2-2, 0-1 Big Sky) — which defeated the thenNo. 18 FCS ranked Northern Iowa Panthers 24-21 on Sept. 16 — struggled to get its offense going early in the game. However, an interception by senior cornerback Jarmaine Doubs Jr. set up the Thunderbirds with a oneyard touchdown rush by sophomore running back Janiero Green Jr. to tie the game at 7-7. The Hornets responded with
a five-yard touchdown connection in the corner of the end zone from Thomson to sophomore receiver Johnnie Rucker for a 13-7 lead with 13:32 left in the second quarter. This score was set up by way of a 45-yard pass from Thomson to Lindsey — who finished with four receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns. A little over five minutes later, Sac State junior linebacker Malcolm Thomas snatched a Zwahlen pass for his second interception of the season. This interception made it 10 on the year for the Hornets, which leads the Big Sky. “That’s our emphasis,” Clark said after leading Sac State with 12 total tackles. “You create turnovers and when you create turnovers, you give a great offense the ball more and you put yourself in
a position to win games, so we’re going to keep on stressing that.” Thomson then threw a 33yard pass to senior tight end Stone Sander to set himself up for a oneyard rushing touchdown. However, Thomson wasn’t finished as he threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Lindsey to take a 27-7 lead with 4:08 left in the first half of play. “He’s long, he’s fast and he can catch the ball,” Thomson said, referring to Lindsey’s knack for getting open. “That’s a weapon right there. We’ve been connecting, so far, this year and we hope to continue to do that.” Zwahlen, who finished 24-of38 for 188 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions, answered right back with a 25yard scoring pass to sophomore receiver Isaiah Diego-Williams to
reduce the Hornets lead to 27-14. After adding a pair of Sac State field goals to the scoreboard on the leg of junior kicker Devon Medeiros, Thomson decided to use his own feet for a 59-yard rushing touchdown to bring the lead to 40-14 with 6:09 left in the third quarter. Southern Utah added two straight rushing touchdowns of its own with scores from sophomore running back James Felila to help bring the Thunderbirds deficit to 40-27 with 10 minutes remaining in the game. However, Thomson responded with his legs again on two back-to-back rushing touchdowns to down the Thunderbirds 54-27. “I’d like to think that he can be the (FCS) National Player of the Week; the Big Sky Player of the Week,” Sears said, referring to
Thomson’s historic performance. “He’s a good player, he’s a great kid and we had to knock a little bit of the rust off of him in the first couple of weeks and now he’s really starting to show up.” The Hornets offense, which entered the game last in the Big Sky with an average of 315 yards per game, finished with 586 yards of total offense with a balance of 253 passing yards and 333 rushing yards. Southern Utah ended the game with 318 total yards of offense while throwing three interceptions and allowing three sacks. Sac State will continue conference play against Eastern Washington — which defeated Montana 48-41 on Saturday — at 1:35 p.m. Sept. 30 at Roos Field in Cheney, Washington.
12
The State Hornet
FOOTBALL
Carter is cut from a different cloth
Former Sac State receiver chases NFL dreams with SF 49ers Shaun Holkko @HOLKKO23
After the preseason, NFL general managers and coaches cut their rosters down from 90 players to 53 — former Sacramento State receiver DeAndre Carter knows this feeling inside and out. “Humble” is the word Carter chose to describe how it feels to be released from an NFL team. “I just have to continue to work on my craft and believing in myself that I can be great,” Carter said. “God always has a plan, just got to keep working.” God’s plan seems to have taken Carter on quite the journey so far. After graduating from Sac State in 2015, he went undrafted and signed with the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent. Carter found himself in a great situation as he played alongside future NFL Hall of Famer, Steve Smith Sr. “It was great; I grew up looking up to Steve,” Carter said. “We’re similar players, same height, (he) approached the game with a mentality that he’s the best player on the field. I feel like I play the same.” Unfortunately for Carter, he was among Baltimore’s final roster cuts going into the 2015 regular season. On Sept. 16, he returned home to the Bay Area for a brief stint with the Oakland Raiders practice squad but was released Dec. 1. Two weeks later, Carter was signed to the New England Patriots practice squad. Carter got the opportunity to play under five-time Super Bowl champion coach Bill Belichick and alongside players like Tom Brady, Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski. Carter spent the rest of the 2015 season on the Patriots practice squad. However, he was released following the 2016 pre-
FILE PHOTO - The State Hornet Former Sacramento State receiver DeAndre Carter is a member of the San Francisco 49ers practice squad. Carter has spent time with the Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots and 49ers in his three-year NFL career.
season as part of the final cuts. “It was an eye-opening experience,” Carter said, referring to his time with New England. “I felt like I learned what it takes on a day-to-day basis to be great. The attention to detail focusing on each team, every week. It’s a great place for a young player to go, a class-A organization.” Carter’s former head coach at Sac State, Marshall Sperbeck, said he finds him very comparable to one of his former New England teammates. “He reminds me a lot of Julian Edelman because of his size, quickness and toughness,” Sperbeck said, referring to Carter’s 5-foot-8 stature. One year later, Carter’s childhood dream came true when
“I just have to continue to work on my craft and believing in myself that I can be great. God always has a plan, just got to keep working.” - DeAndre Carter Former Sacramento State receiver he signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 24. He grew up in the Bay Area and went to high school in Fremont. However, Carter was once again a part of final roster cuts going into this season, but the 49ers wanted to keep him around and signed him to their practice squad for this upcoming year. “It’s great,” Carter said, referring to his practice-squad life. “You’re in the NFL, a part of an
organization that wants you. You have an important role getting the first team defense ready.” Carter’s most well known physical attribute is his quickness, but his knowledge of the game is his best overall attribute, Carter said. “(Carter) is probably the hardest working player that I’ve been around,” said Jason Pollak, Carter’s former receiver coach at Sac State. “He’s a very smart football player who can pick something up
just like that. He’s a student of the game.” If Carter hopes to make it on the San Francisco 49ers 53-man roster, he’ll have to continue his long track record of working hard and studying the game. “At Sac State I developed my work ethic,” Carter said. “The mentality you have to approach the game with every day; someone is always trying to take your job.”
www.StateHornet.com
13
FOOTBALL
Former Sac State LB bounces around NFL Sankey aims to make name for himself in professional career Alex Daniels @DanielsAlex_
Every week, athletes in the NFL fight for the undetermined opportunity to play in the country’s most popular sport — former Sacramento State All-American linebacker Darnell Sankey faces this uncertainty everyday. Sankey, who played for Sac State from 2012-15, has bounced around the league through six different teams during his two-year career. He has spent time with the Denver Broncos (2016), Oakland Raiders (2016), Kansas City Chiefs (2016), Carolina Panthers (2017), Minnesota Vikings (2017) and now the Indianapolis Colts. “The journey has been a blessing”, Sankey said. “One person could look at it and say, ‘Oh, I keep getting cut,’ but at the same time, I look at it glass-half-full. I have been fortunate enough to play with six teams — some weren’t the right fit. I was on some practice squads, but it has definitely been a blessing traveling the world, do what I love to do, change people’s lives and spread the gospel. I have no complaints over here.” Sankey, 22, battles for a spot on the 53-man roster of an NFL team like so many practice squad members do on a daily basis. Being on a team’s practice squad means that the player is signed to the team but is not technically
on the team. These players act as scout team members who help emulate the opposing team for the week, so their team is prepared for what the opponent’s plays might look like. Leading up to week two of the NFL season, Sankey learned that he would be called up from the practice squad to the 53-man roster of the Indianapolis Colts, but for him, it was just another day. “They had told me a week in advance there was a possibility I would be called up because we have had some injuries,” Sankey said. “They told me to be ready to go. My routine was the same. It was a normal day for me. I want to start in the NFL and make pro bowls, and making the 53-man roster is a big step, but nothing changed with my mentality.” Although Sankey’s reaction is professional, his former linebackers coach at Sac State, Tyler Almond, couldn’t be happier for him. “I actually just finished our game and got back to my cell phone and saw the text and said he got called up to the 53-man (roster), and I was elated,” Almond said. “He has worked his tail off and has persisted through adversity. It couldn’t happen to a better guy.” After Sunday’s game in which he played 15 snaps against the Cardinals on Sept. 17, Sankey was waived by the Colts, but he said he was aware that might happen.
Photo courtesy of Bob Solorio/Sac State Athletics Former Sacramento State linebacker Darnell Sankey is a member of the Indianapolis Colts practice squad. Sankey has spent time with the Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings and the Colts in his two-year career in the NFL.
“Everybody on practice squad knows how the business is. At any time, you can be cut. Sometimes they come for a day and get cut, sometimes a week, couple weeks or a month.” - Darnell Sankey Former Sacramento State linebacker
“Everybody on practice squad knows how the business is,” Sankey said. “At any time, you can be cut. Sometimes they come for a day and get cut, sometimes a week, couple weeks or a month. You want to stay on the practice squad, but at the same time, you want to make that move.” “You don’t want to stay on practice squad your whole career.
You want to get activated; that’s the goal. If you’re not on a $10-15 million contract, your job is on the line everyday.” Sankey, who finished second in the country with 13.9 tackles per game during his senior season at Sac State, said he expects to resign with the Colts within the next few days and has two goals he wants to complete during the rest of the
season. First, he wants to spread the gospel to others through his belief in God as a Christian man. “Other than that, I want to get my name out there,” Sankey said. “By the end of this year, I want to let people know I can play. I want every coach in the league to know that Darnell Sankey knows what he is doing. Just keep performing and making a living.”
14
The State Hornet
Sounds from another world World Music Series to feature South Indian carnatic music Marivel Guzman @akashma
The School of Music will bring the ancient sounds of classical South Indian music to Sacramento State as part of its annual World Music Series, which features one guest each year. School of Music director Ernie Hill said the annual concerts held at the Capistrano Concert Hall, such as the New Millennium Series, Piano Series and World Music Series, are meant to introduce different cultures to the campus community. “These concerts, along with those given by our students and faculty, provide a significant cultural resource to the greater Sacramento region,” Hill said. This year’s guest, G. Ravi Kiran, specializes in carnatic mu-
sic that originated in South India. Kiran’s vocals will be accompanied by a violin and a mridangam and ghatam, which are Indian percussion instruments. Kiran said carnatic music is based in the concept of “raga;” short musical notes typically used in improvised classical Indian performances. “I see carnatic music as a type of freestyle singing,” Kiran said. “Only that we use the ancient Indian art of carnatic style. You learn this music through a guru who is a special teacher of ancient music.” Kiran said he and his music ensemble rarely rehearse their performance, and a characteristic of carnatic music is its impromptuness. Hills said he worked closely with the South Indian community in Sacramento and was able to bring Kiran to Sac State through the help of the event’s co-sponsor,
Sacramento Aradhana. Panch Kasiviswanathan, founder and president of Sacramento Aradhana, said in an email that the non-profit organization is dedicated to preserve and promote South Indian music in the Sacramento Region. “We work closely with other carnatic music organizations throughout US and Canada to bring artists to Sacramento,” Kasiviswanathan said. Kiran said he was invited to perform a series of concerts in the US to promote and expose South Indian music to American audiences by Vijay Ganesh, a mridangam player. “Ravi Kiran is a well known vocalist in India,” Ganesh said. “He performs carnatic music in an attempt to raise awareness and promote this ancient art.” Kiran will perform alongside
Photo by Subramanya Shastri / Courtesy of G. Ravi Kiran G. Ravi Kiran in front of the Marundeeswarar Temple in Chennai, India. He will open The World Music Series at Capistrano Concert Hall Oct. 7.
M.S. Ananthakrishnan on violin, Srinath Bala on mridangam and Chandrasekara Sharma on ghatam at Capistrano Concert Hall on Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. “The concert will be a great opportunity for Sac State community, students and Indian community to
integrate their culture,” Hill said. “We know that a great number of people emigrated from India to Sacramento, and this is such a wonderful, different kind of music that is very important for the people of that culture.”
College Town Apartments We are accepting applications for low-income families for our 2BD and 3BD townhouses.
Rents start at... $695/2BD $895/3BD Please call us for more information 916-383-5943 Or visit us at
7725 College Town Dr. Sacramento, CA 95826 Open Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:30pm (lunch 1pm-2pm)
15
www.StateHornet.com
SHARLENE PHOU- The State Hornet Members of the psychedelic pop band Petaluma hold a practice session in their garage studio on Sept. 20 ahead of their performance at City of Trees music festival. The band halts practice by 9 p.m. so as to not disturb their neighbors.
Float on psychedelic waves at Nooner Five-piece band Petaluma brings experimental sounds
Ayah Abukhazneh @TheStateHornet
Originally an electronic duo, Petaluma has evolved into a full 5-piece band that produces hiphop sounds and psychedelic vibes. Petaluma was co-founded by lead vocalist Rob Habel and guitarist Pat Sweeney and is made up of drummer Melissa Garcia, keyboard player David Baez and guitar player Ty Marshall. The band specializes in what Habel described as experimental, psychedelic pop music. “We never really set out to make a specific sound,” Habel
said. “We just decided that here’s a bunch of things that we like, here’s some old-school drum and bass from the ’90s and early experimental hip-hop, how about we throw in some crazy psychedelia, and everything just took off from there.” The band released its self-titled debut album in January, and it is available on Bandcamp, Soundcloud, CD and digital download. The unique artwork found on the album’s cover depicts a distorted human face with eyes and mouths floating in different spots. It was produced by Marina González Eme, an artist from Madrid to whom the band personally
reached out to over the Internet. Eme created the art after listening to Petaluma’s music. “When you think of some of your favorite albums, I’m sure you can picture what the album art looks like--and when listening to something--that art is going to be your go-to thought every time you hear it,” Habel said. Garcia, who is also a junior environmental studies major at Sac State, said she looks forward to performing on her own campus and showing off the band to her friends. As a student, Garcia balances her classes with band practices and performances held over the weekend.
“It is hard, but I haven’t had any issues so far,” Garcia said. “We practice two days a week, sometimes three- We have shows on the weekend and other things that we do for the band that do take up some time, but I feel like I’m able to manage it. It does take some sacrifice and master scheduling as with any band, but it’s worth it.” The band meets for practice every two weeks at Habel’s home in a makeshift garage studio complete with instruments and homemade sound absorbing panels. Per an agreement with his neighbors, Habel and the other members of Petaluma stop playing by 9 p.m.
“I’m amazed that everyone is so on board (with the band),” Sweeney said. “It’s important as members to have a commitment to the band and to set aside time from work or school, and just make things happen.” Petaluma recently made its City of Trees debut on Sept. 24 where they performed original songs from their new album--written by Habel and Sweeney--at the popular Sacramento music festival. Some other local venues where Petaluma has performed include The Press Club and LowBrau. The band is set to perform an outdoor Nooner concert on Oct. 4 at Serna Plaza.
16
The State Hornet
Photo courtesy of Adam Chollet Cinematographer Stephen Chollet, left, and Director Adam Chollet, right, shoot a scene for “Postponed.” The short film tells the story of a man who wishes to deliver a letter he found in an old military jacket to the writer’s lover.
Alumnus captures Sacramento life in new film
Adam Chollet will debut his short film, ‘Postponed’ at Crest Theatre Gabriela Mascoll @gaby_mascoll
Sacramento State alumnus Adam Chollet had his original script chosen to be in “A Place Called Sacramento” Film Festival, a scriptwriting and short film production for local writers and producers. Chollet’s script, “Postponed” was chosen out of the 40-70 submissions received to be in the top ten finalists and turned into a 10-minute film. PCS invites local scriptwriters to tell stories aboutof what life in Sacramento is like by holding workshops thatto help applicants with their scripts and filmmaking process. “Postponed” tells the story of Tyler, a young man living in Sacramento. While on his daily bike ride, Tyler comes across an old military
jacket hanging on a real estate sign. Tyler finds a letter in theits pocket, and after reading it, comes to the conclusion that the man who owned the jacket died without the chance to deliver the letter to his lover. He feels it is his mission to deliver the letter, that was addressed to a person named Anne. “The letter signifies that in life, sometimes, we don’t get a chance to change our mind,” Chollet said. “It brings an idea of closure and love lost. The character felt like words were left unsaid, and that he would help him by delivering the letter.” Chollet said he never thought to be a scriptwriter while he was attending Sac State. Instead, he chose to major in business administration. He soon realized after graduating that he liked writing and started working on producing his own scripts.
According to Gary Martin, the director of PCS and Access Sacramento, each film selected needed to be family-friendly so they that it could be shown to the people of all ages on their cable TV channels. Their mission is to allow a film to be shown tofor everyone, which was one of the reasons why Chollet’s film got chosen. Martin said that the script submissions were reviewed three times bythrough different sets of judges, which included professional filmmakers from the Sacramento area. The judges looked for scripts that were well-presented, met the 10-minute requirement, included no adult content and were personally picked for their target audience. “Everything is a process,” Martin said. “The beautiful part of PCS is that it celebrates local filmmakers, actors and technical crew.
It all gets featured on the big screen and sometimes starts their professional careers.” Chollet’s work in filmmaking has become somewhat of a family affair. His father helped him with actor auditions for “Postponed,” and his cousin, Stephen Chollet, served as the film’s cinematographer. “It feels great to see my film come together,” Chollet said. “Film is a very collaborative art form. The actors have their own way of portraying the characters, (and) everything that was shot came pretty darn close to the way I saw it, which was great.” Verona Mhoon, who portrays the role of Anne, found Chollet’s way of directing different from other directors. “(Adam is) a very good guy. Unlike most directors, he would tell you what to do, whereas others would tell you to portray the
character yourself,” said Mhoon. “He is very calm, self-spoken, has no tension when directing, and is a perfectionist. I would love to work with him again.” Chollet had to cut out a lot of scenes from the film in order to meet the 10-minute running time, something he said was hard for him to do because of how well he believed his original script was. “I had numerous people come up to me and tell me that it should be a feature-length film,” Chollet said. “It was challenging because there was about 14 to 15 minutes of footage that I wanted to keep. The story moves along quickly, but the audience will understand it from beginning, middle and end.” “Postponed” marks Chollet’s third film to be submitted to the PCS Film Festival and will premiere on Oct. 7 at the CREST Theatre.
17
www.StateHornet.com
RIN CARBIN - The State Hornet Caiti Chan stands with her work “You Can’t Make Them Stay” which is made with ink, paint powder, isopropyl alcohol, sea salt and pastel. Her exhibition, “Right Now (and Yesterday)” will be displayed in the Union Gallery until Oct. 19.
Exhibition symbol for alumna’s change Artwork represents artist’s transition from student life to real world
Rin Carbin @ss_horo
A Sacramento State alumna’s transition from school life to the world beyond the classroom is the theme of the Union Gallery’s newest exhibition: “Right Now (and Yesterday).” The colorful, abstract art exhibition will display Sac State alumna Caiti Chan’s artwork from the past year, ranging from her last semester of classes earning a master’s degree in painting, to now working as a full-time artist and at a retail job. Chan said the exhibition’s name is a reflection of the changes in her life after graduating, and how they affected her art. “Right Now” represents her current work after finishing her degree, while “(and
Yesterday)” represents the work she did in her last semester at Sac State. “(The work from “Right Now” is) very new, it’s very raw, it’s not looked at by any professors — not looked at by really anybody except some of my Instagram followers (and) some of my friends,” Chan said. “The new work’s not based in academia.” Ian Harvey, a painting and drawing professor whom Chan cites as her mentor, said her interactions with other art students in class helped her grow as an artist . “I’m just one voice and one pair of eyes; in class there’s twenty voices and twenty eyes and she took full advantage of that,” Harvey said. “She was always out there looking for advice. She really built a community for herself and used that community, which is really hard to do at this university, a drive-in
drive-out university.” “Right Now (and Yesterday)” will be Chan’s first solo exhibition as a new graduate. Union Gallery Director Rebecca Voorhees said that she invited Chan to open the exhibit out of her appreciation for Chan’s style, method and medium of choice. “I just really enjoy her style and ideas, and I felt that, as a recent master’s (degree) graduate, she’d be a great candidate for a solo exhibition,” Voorhees said. Chan combines saltwater and isopropyl alcohol to create moving explosions of color by using squeeze bottles to squirt paint and ink onto a canvas laid on the ground. Chan said the movement and transformations of the substances’ inability to mix together remind her of growth and being alive.
To add more texture to her abstract paintings, Chan lays cellophane on top of the painted canvas. A method she developed over summer is reusing the same sheet of cellophane across different canvases, causing remains of paint to be transferred for a new piece and calling it a “sister painting.” Chan said she thinks of reusing the cellophane as another part of growth and life, comparing it to an abrupt end to a friendship she experienced over the summer. “I kinda felt discarded in a way from that friendship,” Chan said, “so when I was using this cellophane in my studio, and I was thinking about it as garbage, I was like ‘no, I want to give it a second chance’ — like a second life.” The exhibition also acts a personal journal for Chan, who writes about her thoughts and emotions
while working on each piece in her studio. For each piece, Chan chooses the colors of the paint and ink based on her mood and creates the title based on a phrase she wrote in her journal. However, Chan said she does not expect attendees to feel the same emotions she felt while working on each piece. Instead, she finds abstract art to be uniquely interpreted by each person. “I really love when people look at an abstract painting, and they feel a certain way because it’s special to them,” Chan said. “The point of it is to share in this universal, maybe spiritual, viewing of this work that makes you think of your own human experience.” The exhibition will be open until Oct. 19, and there will be a reception on Thursday, Sept. 28 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
18
The State Hornet
EDITORIAL
JOSEPH DANIELS - The State Hornet Sac State President Robert Nelsen speaks at the Fall Address in August. Graduation rates improved minorly over the first year of Finish in Four, but the truly important mark is 2020.
Finish in Four grade? Incomplete In his fall 2017 address on Aug. 24, Sacramento State President Robert Nelsen said that the “Finish in Four” initiative is positively affecting the university’s graduation rate after just one year in effect. This claim sounds more like an exaggeration by Sac State officials to save face, as the school’s graduation rates remain low compared to other California State University campuses. Since the program was introduced in fall 2016 and has only been in effect for one full school year, how does Nelsen know that it’s already a success? As The State Hornet reported at the address, the graduation rates for four-year, six-year
and transfer students have all improved. According to Executive Director of University Initiatives and Student Success Jim Dragna, during that first year a total of 64 percent of freshmen signed the pledge to take at least 15 units per semester to be on track to reach the 120 unit threshold to graduate, while 84 percent signed this fall. The university also offers incentives like discounts on summer classes and campus products, as well as more academic advising sessions to attract more freshmen and transfer students to sign the pledge. On top of that, a total of six new academic advisors were
hired in addition to 89 new faculty members, and more than 12,000 added seats in 658 new course sections throughout all departments were added to help accommodate the program’s students. Dragna said “the plan is working” and the university is reaching that CSU-wide Graduation Initiative 2025 objective as there was a 12.5 percent increase from 51.6 percent to 64.1 percent of freshmen enrolling in more than 15 units during their first semester. These numbers, although promising, lack the element of time. Declaring a graduation plan that bears the name “Finish in Four” is progressing successfully after just one year only further
confuses students. Instead, the university should wait until the fall 2020 semester — Finish in Four’s first four-year cycle — to determine the program’s effectiveness. Dragna said the university is being more proactive by constantly updating data of how many students, including the 2,347 freshmen who committed to taking at least 30 units during the 2016-17 school year, are on track for their second year. Being proactive is applaudable, but being premature isn’t. The fact is, only 50 percent of the total freshmen enrolled completed 15 units for fall 2016; only a 10 percent increase in the number of those who are progressing
into their second year this fall. Improving? Yes. Successful? Too soon to tell. It is clear; the longer you stay, the more you pay. Though Sac State has a cheaper bill than most universities, the attention to schoolwork needed to take fifteen or more units every semester can be prohibitive to students attending while they work on the side to support themselves. Students should be rewarded with things like priority registration and discounted summer classes for academic success regardless of unit load. Then, Sac State can truly help students graduate on their time.
www.StateHornet.com
19
OP-ED
Allow me to espresso myself A light roast of Sac State’s terrible campus coffee Dayla Cook @DaylaPearl
Some people simply aren’t morning people, myself included. I need three essential things in order to get a jump-start on the day: a hot shower; an internal pep talk; and a decent cup of coffee. As a non-morning person, I can only do so much in the sliver of time I have before I bolt half-dressed out the door. I have the hot shower part down. The internal pep talk begs to differ day to day. The coffee part? Well that’s where Sacramento State’s assorted caffeine options come in. With National Coffee Day coming up on September 29, I originally set out to compile a list of the best coffee drinks available on campus. I quickly realized that they’re all garbage. As a disclaimer, let it be known that I am not a picky person. I’d like to think my coffee preferences are reasonable. I like to keep it simple: iced coffee with a splash of almond milk. It’s pretty straightforward. So can someone please tell me why it is so difficult to provide a satisfying cup of coffee on campus? Of course, there’s a variety of
ways we can get our caffeine fix. We have Java City, Eco Grounds in the Union, The Grumpy Mule by the library and Starbucks in all its various locations, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ordered a cup of coffee from any of these vendors just to take a sip and toss it in the garbage. No matter where you go, the coffee is bitter. Almost as bitter as I am. While some students are grateful for the general presence of coffee on campus, there are some who share the same sentiment as myself. Megan Rutlen, a frequent coffee drinker and senior at Sac State said “There’s certain spots where it’s not too bad, like the Grumpy Mule and Starbucks, but It’s really not great. It tastes weak and too bitter and not much like coffee.” On any given morning I can browse the long lines and watch students as they fiddle their thumbs and check the time, silently praying for the line to move just a bit faster. All the while, I’m rolling my eyes as someone orders a triple, venti, half sweet, non-fat caramel macchiato that may or may not be made correctly. Can I get a fastpass? Even if they could somehow muster up a passable cup o’ joe, we’d probably have to wait almost
No matter where you go, the coffee is bitter. Almost as bitter as I am.
TYLER MCELMURRY - The State Hornet
half an hour to actually get it. “Starbucks is ridiculous,” Rutlen said. “You have to allow at least 20-25 minutes to get your drink.” The long wait times alone are enough to make anyone consider kicking the caffeine habit. Sac State senior Heather Brady occasionally grabs her coffee on campus when the need arises. “The lines are definitely al-
ways long,” Brady said, “but I guess that’s to be expected on a college campus.” Well, buckle up, buttercup. We’re raising expectations around here! We put up with a lot here at Sac State. We’ve got crowded classrooms, cramped parking lots, contaminated drinking fountains, foul smells and potentially dangerous buildings. We’re con-
HEY SAC STATE!
stantly being shuffled around and scrambling to get on class rosters, just so we can be shoved out in four years. We are exhausted. The least we can do is establish a standard for a drinkable cup of coffee. These aren’t yawns, they’re silent screams. Look, it’s nothing personal. I love you a latte, Sac State. I just haven’t had any good coffee today.
Now that you’ve heard our opinion, let us know what you think! Send letters to the editor to editor@statehornet.com or submit them in-person at Del Norte Hall, room 1006. Letters must be signed and may be edited for length and clarity. Use the hashtag #SacStateSays to weigh in on social media!
New!
Now serving fresh and tasty bagels, bagel sandwiches, and shmears in the River Front Center. Have a Breakfast Bagel Sandwich or a Signature Sandwich to start your day, for lunch, or as a snack. Want it your way? Build your own sandwich with your choice of bagel, shmear, protein, and cheese with three toppings. Monday – Thursday 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Friday 7:00 – 2:00 p.m. Be sure to check out Nutzo, the eatery’s squirrel mascot, on your next or your first visit!