The voice of Sacramento State since 1949.
ISSUE 15, VOLUME 71
JANUARY 26, 2017
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Hello, 2017
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housing.
• For some students, entrepreneurship starts early. Many are coming up with their own business ideas, including a virtual reality lounge and a coffee shop that employs only people living in transitional
• Sacramento State experienced a campus-wide power outage on Jan. 19 when winds of 40 to 60 mph also took down a tree behind The State Hornet’s new home in Del Norte Hall.
• What is the most extreme approach you’ve taken to saving money? Let us know at Facebook.com/StateHornet.
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Joel Boland editor@statehornet.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Barbara Harvey barbaraapharvey@gmail.com
MANAGING EDITOR John Ferrannini jferr1995@gmail.com
DIGITAL EDITOR
SPORTS EDITOR
DESIGN EDITOR
CULTURE EDITOR
VIDEO EDITOR
Angel Guerrero sports@statehornet.com Lanea Florence culture@statehornet.com
PHOTO EDITOR
Matthew Dyer enjoyablezebra@gmail.com
COPY EDITOR
Vu Chau vkchau2020@gmail.com
Will Moon williamtmoon18@gmail.com
NEWS EDITOR
DESIGN EDITOR
Kameron Schmid news@statehornet.com
Pierce Grohosky grohoskyp@gmail.com
• LEAD: Several water sources on the Sacramento State campus were found to have excess levels of lead, according to a new study, and some water sources still remain untested as the university waits for direction. Fountains found to contain excess lead have been turned off. These were located in the Sierra and Sutter residence halls, the Shasta Theater, Placer Hall, Folsom Hall and Eureka Hall. Today from noon to 1 p.m., a physician will answer questions during a town hall in the Redwood Room in the University Union. • DACA DISCUSSION: Immigration attorney Marcus Tang gave a presentation on Monday about what undocumented students can expect from President Donald Trump. Tang focused his remarks on students who are currently shielded from deportation by Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which was instituted by former President Obama. DACA allows certain undocumented immigrants a two-year renewable deferment from deportation. While during the campaign Trump pledged to end DACA, Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Monday that deporting undocumented immigrants who’ve committed crimes is a greater priority. To read the full story and more, go to statehornet.com/news
Rin Carbin bearnoona@gmail.com Sami Soto samijosoto@gmail.com
In Volume 71, Issue 13 of The State Hornet, there are no corrections listed.
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FACULTY ADVISER Stu VanAirsdale stvcsus@gmail.com
Cover photos by Barbara Harvey
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Trump climate stance invites CSU pushback SAC STATE FACULTY, ADMIN ASK TRUMP TO HONOR CLIMATE TALKS
John Ferrannini @jferrnews
Some administration and faculty are taking a hard line on President Donald Trump’s positions on climate change, with Sacramento State President Robert Nelsen signing an open letter to the new administration and a professor debating Fox News host Tucker Carlson. Nelsen was one of six California State University presidents to sign an open letter urging the new administration to support the Paris Climate Agreement, which President Trump said he wanted to “cancel.” “The upcoming transition of federal leadership presents a unique opportunity to address head-on the challenges of climate change by accelerating the new energy economy and creating strong, resilient communities,” the letter, facilitated by the nonprofit Second Nature, states. “We stand ready to assist your incoming Administration and congressional representatives to embrace this opportunity for the nation to meet these unprecedented global challenges.” President Nelsen said that he signed the letter to show Sacramento State’s commitment to sustainability. “We don’t want to deviate from the pathway now. Instead, we want to lead,” Nelsen said. “With the Paris Agreement, the world took a step in the right direction. As many are, I am concerned that we will not continue moving forward. I hope that I am wrong.” Nelsen’s move was lauded by history professor Joseph Palermo. “It makes me proud to be a member of the Sacramento State faculty to see President Nelsen join
Screenshot of ‘Tucker Carlson Tonight’ on Fox News Professor Joseph Palermo, right, was invited on the Fox News program ‘Tucker Carlson Tonight’ after he wrote an op-ed in The Huffington Post, saying that ‘If Trump and his cohort believe the science of global warming is bogus then they shouldn’t be allowed to use the science of the internet for their Twitter accounts, the science of global positioning for their drones, or the science of nuclear power for their weaponry.”
his colleagues among educators in defending the science of climate change at a time when it’s coming under an orchestrated attack,” Palermo said. Palermo was in a controversy of his own over the winter break after he wrote an op-ed in The Huffington Post on Dec. 27, in which he said that Trump shouldn’t “be allowed” to use Twitter because he tweeted that the “concept of global warming” was created to bolster Chinese national interests. “I’ve always believed that people who dismiss science in one area shouldn’t be able to benefit from science in others,” Palermo wrote. “If Trump and his cohort believe the science of global warming is bogus then they shouldn’t be allowed to use the sci-
“I’ve always believed that people who dismiss science in one area shouldn’t be able to benefit from science in others.” - Joseph Palermo Sacramento State professor
ence of the Internet for their Twitter accounts, the science of global positioning for their drones, or the science of nuclear power for their weaponry.” Palermo insisted that his comments were not intended as an attack on the president’s freedom of speech. “What students should under-
stand … about this case was that The Daily Caller, The Blaze, and other right-wing news sites ran sensational and false stories about my original Huffington Post article to attract clicks and views with a total disregard for the truth,” Palermo said. Palermo was subsequently invited on ‘Tucker Carlson Tonight’ on the Fox News Channel, where Carlson questioned Palermo’s assertion that “98 percent of the world’s scientists” believe in climate change. “How do you know that? Are you a scientist, have you polled other scientists of what, where did you get that figure?” asked Carlson. “The essence of science and of journalism is skepticism.” “Science is not just what I
believe, Tucker,” responded Palermo. Palermo didn’t cite a specific study to answer Carlson’s question, although “97 percent or more of actively publishing climate scientists” believe in manmade climate change, according to NASA. Palermo said that he feels that he was invited on by Carlson so that he would “look bad on his show.” “Like the fake news blogs attacking my original article, he wasn’t interested in engaging the ideas or arguments of what I had written,” Palermo said. “I did get the impression that he even he knows he’s misinforming his two million viewers by denying human-caused climate change.”
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Financial woes and ‘political climate’ both dominate in Spring Address Nelsen, Dorsey refer to era of uncertainty post-election Kameron Schmid @kameronschmid
Sacramento State President Robert Nelsen and Associated Students, Inc. President Patrick Dorsey spoke about the current political climate, efforts to improve the university and the forthcoming battle against budget cuts during the annual Spring Address. A packed University Union Ballroom listened as Dorsey, then Nelsen, spoke of the results of the 2016 U.S. presidential election without directly mentioning President Donald Trump. They chose to do so, said Nelsen, because of both personal feelings about Trump and the overall negative campus reaction to his victory. “Many of the students have talked to me about it,” Nelsen said. “The forums that we had after the election, a lot of people expressed their concerns there.” Dorsey, who opened his speech talking about his background as a struggling community college transfer student who had trouble coming to grips with his identity as a gay man, said it is a main focus of his and of ASI to improve and sustain inclusivity on campus,
no matter who is U.S. president. “I think it was the right thing to do,” Dorsey said. “I think we need to reaffirm what we stand for.” Said Nelsen: “I want everyone to feel that they are safe here and this is a great university and a great place to be.” Both presidents admitted in their speeches, however, that a more urgent problem faces the university and the CSU system, as Nelsen referenced an estimated $7 million deficit if the California legislature does not improve upon its expected payout to the CSU. Nelsen somberly warned the audience that, if more money does not come from the state, the proposed tuition hike by CSU administrators will still not protect Sac State from budget cuts. The current level of funding “would require every division to cut their budgets by 4.9 percent. With these cuts, we’ll have no money for new facilities, for infrastructure repair, no money to extend the graduation initiative, and no money for enrollment growth,” said Nelsen, who called the school’s finances “my biggest worry.” Both Nelsen and Dorsey were
SAMI SOTO - The State Hornet President Robert Nelsen gives his 2017 Spring Address on Thursday, January 19. Nelsen and ASI President Patrick Dorsey both gave speeches, with Nelsen’s warning of a potential $7 million budget deficit.
“I want everyone to feel that they are safe here and this is a great university and a great place to be.” - Robert Nelsen Sacramento State President present last December at a forum on the proposed tuition increase, where students voiced concerns about the rising cost of CSU educations. Both expressed optimism at the prospect of campaigning for more state financing, with Dorsey saying that ASI will work on “making our voices heard in the capitol.” Nelsen also updated the audience on the ongoing process to increase timely graduation rates. He announced that 65 percent of this year’s freshman class took 15 or
more units in their first semester, the highest percentage since Sac State began keeping track of that statistic, and staggeringly high compared to the 11 percent that Nelsen cited from 2007. More progress is being made to adding courses and faculty for the students. Nelsen said that the new faculty members will show an “increase in number of people of color who have been hired — and the number of women.”
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BARBARA HARVEY - The State Hornet The Women’s March on Sacramento drew 20,000 to the Capitol Jan. 21 while an estimated 3.3 million marched simultaneously on all seven continents.
Weekend of political protests Historic Women’s March draws 20,000 to State Capitol
John Ferrannini @jferrnews
Swaths of people — including Sacramento State students, faculty and staff — marched on downtown Sacramento in two separate demonstrations on Friday and Saturday to protest the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States. The first protest, the January 20th Day of Action, brought several hundred people to the State
Capitol. The following day the Women’s March on Sacramento brought 20,000 people to the Capitol Mall, according to Sacramento police. Linda Ann, a Sac State student and the co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America, helped to organize Friday’s protest. “We hope to achieve, one, sending Donald Trump a message that we’re not just going to stand by as he destroys our community and our country,” Ann said. “We hope to gather support for local efforts
here in Sacramento to kind of pad our city and make sure that the negative effects of his presidency are going to affect our community a little bit less.” The event began at noon with protesters gathering in four locations around Sacramento and converging on the Capitol around 2 p.m. The demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Not my president” and “No Trump, No KKK, No fascist USA,” which have been heard at similar protests around
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BARBARA HARVEY - The State Hornet Left, a protestor’s sign reads a common phrase used during the campaign by Hillary Clinton: “Love Trumps Hate.” Right, a protestor wears a sign offering a tongue-in-cheek definition of feminism.
the country in the wake of the controversial billionaire’s surprise victory in the presidential election two months ago. Sac State professor Kathy Martinez attended the protest with her two dogs, Osi and Kona, both adorned with signs reading “not my POTUS.” Martinez echoed the sentiments of many demonstrators, who said that they were concerned with the rhetoric, character and policy proposals of President Trump. “Everything that Trump stands for, I am opposed to,” Martinez said. “I can’t begin to state the discontent I have. He did not legitimately win, he is not qualified, and so many of his policies are going to be a catastrophe.” Several demonstrators gave political speeches from the West Steps of the Capitol, facing the Mall and the Tower Bridge. Among those was Russell Rawlings, a Sacramento State student and candidate for mayor in last year’s election. Rawlings said that “the solution to Trump-ism is socialism.” “We will not allow our brothers and sisters to be deported or attacked unnecessarily,” Rawlings
said. “We need to find and show that there are alternatives to the policing model that is keeping so many people down. The police system only serves capitalism.” Tensions at times ran high between protesters and police stationed at the demonstration. Some demonstrators said that they were made uncomfortable by the heavy police presence. “It doesn’t look like (the police) were here to support us,” protester Anure McGee said. “The only reason it would go out of hand is the cops. I feel like I’m being hoovered over.” Trump supporter Blake Stigerts had a different view of the police presence. Stigerts said he decided to come to the protest after seeing riots in Washington, D.C. earlier today. “I have a lot of family in law enforcement,” he said. “If anything gets out of hand, I want to help identify the suspects and bring them to justice.” Tensions peaked when Stigerts waved a “Don’t Tread on Me” Gadsden flag — often utilized by the right-wing Tea Party Movement.
“We’re not going to stand for bigotry, misogyny, racism. We’re speaking out against the rhetoric legitimized by the election.” - Jayme Richards Academic advisor, College of Business Administration
A man wearing all black grabbed the flag, sparking a brief confrontation before police asked Stigerts and others to leave as anti-Trump demonstrators chanted “we want peace” and “KKK Nazi.” A much larger crowd gathered Saturday morning at Southside Park on T street between 6th and 8th streets, participating in the Women’s March on Sacramento — one of hundreds of similar marches around the world that collectively brought 3.3 million people to the streets, according to data accumulated by professors at the University of Colorado and the University of Connecticut. “I think women want to have their voices heard,” said Jayme Richards, an academic advisor in the College of Business Administration. “We’re not going to
stand for bigotry, misogyny, racism. We’re speaking out against the rhetoric legitimized by the election.” The marchers set out from Southside Park at 10 a.m., walking north before making a right on the Capitol Mall, which by noon had swelled to contain 20,000 people. Protesters carried signs advocating for equal pay for women, opposing President Trump’s anti-abortion views and referencing the 2005 videotape that surfaced during the campaign in which he spoke about women in vulgar sexual terms. Many demonstrators wore pink cat-eared hats — referred to as “pussy hats” — or beanies. Physics professor Laura Lege said that she was motivated to show up to the protest by Trump’s nomination of Betsy DeVos to lead
the Department of Education. “I’m appalled by his education secretary pick and how she wants to gut public education — which used to be the jewel of the world,” Lege said. “Women’s rights isn’t just about being equal. It’s about giving women an equal chance to succeed.” Senior Jessie Richard said that she was “marching for all the people who don’t have a say.” “I’m trying to make a difference in their lives,” Richard said. “We have four years and we have to stick together. (Women will) have a big role. We’re trying to make a point.” At noon the crowd listened to remarks by Mayor Darrell Steinberg, who used the opportunity to ask demonstrators to oppose Trump administration policies. “You don’t need to be elected to be special and to make a difference,” Steinberg said. “While we lost one national election, we did not lose our fight. We did not lose our values, our community, nor our ability to actively resist policies that discriminate and divide.”
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JOEL BOLAND - The State Hornet Construction began in the University Union this month, with the dining commons renovations expected to be completed in October. Right, Housing II is expected to open in fall 2017.
To make a university a home
Campus expansions aim to entice more students to live at Sac State State Hornet Digital Academy @TheStateHornet
Sacramento State has long been known as a commuter campus, but the university hopes to transform that culture over the next few years. Construction is currently taking place in the University Union, with the dining commons renovation completed in October and new living spaces being built. Samuel Jones, the director of campus housing, said he hopes that the expansion will increase student activity on campus. “Our goal is to get as many students on campus as possible, so when you’re thinking about the basketball games or the football games, you see all the students going over there from the halls,” Jones said. The growing student population on campus is part of a larger movement that began over a decade ago.
In 2004, former Sac State President Alexander Gonzalez launched “Destination 2010” — an initiative aimed to create a more inclusive, welcoming campus. Developments included the construction of the Upper Eastside Lofts in 2007 and the WELL in 2010. Following the execution of the initiative was the 20-year Master Plan — most recently revised and approved in 2015. The first developments to be implemented include the Union expansion, a new residence hall and a parking structure with over 1,700 spaces. The new residential hall is located across from the American River Courtyard and will house about 416 underclassmen. The hall’s completion date is set for May and will be open for the fall 2017 semester. Despite the upcoming increase in housing size, many students still cannot afford the cost of living on campus. Recent transfer student Patrick Seller-Downey, a business finance
major, said that he chose Sac State because the campus is roughly a 40-minute drive from home. “Since I do work in Rocklin and don’t want to really move around jobs, I figured this would be the easier way to go for both school and work,” Seller-Downey said. With the majority of the approximately 30,000 students commuting to campus, Sac State is making an effort to increase the number of out-of-state residents. “Admissions and recruitment have been recruiting a lot of out-of-state students over the last couple of years so our population of students outside of the state of California has increased our on-campus population,” Jones said. One of those students was Jacob Burke from Elmwood, Wisconsin. Jacob came to Sacramento two years ago to pursue an education in music. Having lived on and off campus, Burke said he can see the difference in student involve-
ment and the efforts the university makes to engage the campus community. “It was definitely a lot easier to learn about things that are happening because everyone was talking about it, or just about everybody is talking about it,” Burke said. “There (are) a lot of signs everywhere, and your RA is like, ‘Hey, are you going to this?’ ” The WELL Director Kate Smith said she has seen an increase in student demand to keep the gym open during Sundays and holidays, and attributes this to the influx of students living and hanging out on campus. With students often competing for machines and locker rooms, the university has also planned to break ground on a WELL expansion project shortly after the first phase of the Union renovation. As the campus undergoes renovations and improvements, Victor Takahashi, director of planning, design, and construction on campus, said that Sac State’s urban location may prevent it from ever
fostering a close community similar to Chico State or UC Davis. However, he also said that the new facilities coming to campus will help shift the school’s culture to a more welcoming and engaging environment. Still, the new J street parking structure proposed to open by winter 2018 indicates the university will continue to invest in its current student population, even if most of them live off campus. This story was produced by the students of the State Hornet Digital Academy: Sami Soto, Itzel Gutierrez, Will Moon and Mariano Gomez.
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HORNETS LOOK TO MAKE FIRSTPLACE LEAP
Noah Alvarez @SuperNoVa_57
After three consecutive seasons with top-three finishes in the Big Sky Conference, the Sacramento State softball team is looking to get over the hump and win its first conference championship. A young but experienced softball team is bringing back 14 returning players in the 2017 season including six positional starters and three pitchers. After finishing last year 28-22 (15-6 Big Sky), the Hornets were picked to finish in second place in the Big Sky coaches’ preseason poll on Jan. 19. “We’re a younger team this year,” Sac State coach Lori Perez said. “With that comes a lot of culture shift and change. But on the field, we have added a lot more power to the lineup and in the circle we’ve gotten stronger.” Despite the youth on the team, a large amount of the current players have been a part of the team’s recent success. Of the 14 returning players, five of them received all-league recognition last year including Big Sky Conference Pitcher of the Year Celina Matthias, who finished with a record of 20-13, a 2.94 ERA, recorded 131 strikeouts and six saves. The other four players consist of starting infielders: Jessica Ravetti (first base), Zamari Hinton (second base), Sydney Rasmussen (shortstop) and Kailey Olcott (third base). But not all of the accomplishments are limited to individual success, as the Hornets have posted a 42-16 Big Sky record in the past three seasons, including back-to-
back 15-6 seasons. Sac State has had to deal with unfavorable weather conditions over the past two months, which have limited its on-field practices this offseason. However, Perez expects the off-the-field work to carry over on the diamond. “Last year, there was some off the field things that stopped us from really being focused and ready for a game,” Perez said. “This is an area we are addressing and our leadership is reinforcing the message.” One of those leaders is senior first baseman and team captain Ravetti. She began her career at Sac State as a true freshman, the same year Perez began her head coaching tenure. “It’s really cool to transition from looking up to the upperclassmen my freshman year, to being that upperclassman who is looked up to,” Ravetti said. Ravetti had her best season at Sac State last year hitting .324 while leading the team in doubles (16), RBIs (35) and was named to the all-Big Sky second team. During the Big Sky Tournament, Ravetti topped her regular season average (hitting .500) and earned a spot on the all-tournament team. Another leader for the Hornets that came up clutch in last year’s Big Sky Tournament was second baseman Hinton. Hinton finished the regular season hitting .356, scored 27 runs, drove in 17 RBIs while earning an all-Big Sky honorable mention. “The area we’ve stressed the most this offseason is hitting,” Hinton said. “We did not have timely hitting last year. Our goal this year is if we get a runner on second
SOFTBALL
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MATTHEW DYER - The State Hornet The Sac State women’s softball team is projected to finish in second place by the Big Sky coaches’ preseason poll. Sac State finished last year with a 28-22 overall record and 15-6 in back-to-back conference seasons.
base, we’re going to score.” Perez and Ravetti both added that finishing games strong was a point of emphasis this offseason. “I noticed at times our team would coast once we got to the seventh inning,” Ravetti said. “Us captains are emphasizing on playing hard through the end of every game.” The Hornets have a difficult schedule to start the season on Feb. 9 as they participate in the Paradise Classic in Hawaii, followed by the Libby Matson Tournament (Feb. 24) in Stockton, the Fresno State Tournament (March 10) in Fresno and the Loyola Marymount Tournament (March 17) in Los Angeles with only four home games before conference play. “Last season, our start was really rough,” Hinton said after the Hornets began last year with a 2-8 win-loss record. “We’ve worked really intensely this offseason to prepare for hard preseason schedule. This year we want to start off hot right from the jump.” “I’m really looking forward to learning more about this team and guiding them throughout the season,” Perez said. “These girls are really good, they just need to buy into how good they are and carry themselves that way.”
MATTHEW DYER - The State Hornet Sacramento State junior Celina Matthias won Big Sky Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2016 with a 20-13 record, 131 strikeouts and a 2.94 ERA.
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MEN’S BASKETBALL
Basketball team nears bottom of Big Sky Angel Guerrero @AngelGuerrerooo
Entering the Big Sky men’s basketball season, Sacramento State was selected to finish eighth in the conference by the preseason media poll, and so far this prediction has held true. Sac State (6-12, 3-4 Big Sky Conference), which is in danger of finishing with less than 14 wins for the first time since going 10-18 in the 2011-12 season, entered league play with three straight losses. The Hornets’ struggles can be found in a scoring offense that averages only 70.4 points per game (ranking ninth out of 12 Big Sky teams) and a defense that allows a conference-high 40 percent conversion rate from the 3-point line. “We just got to guard the ball better,” junior guard Marcus Graves said of a defense that ranks 337 out of 347 NCAA Division I teams in 3-point field goal percentage defense. “When they penetrate and get past our initial defense we
have to help because that’s what leads to the open threes and to the kick-out threes so if we clean that up and guard the ball a little better, I think that’s going to help us out in guarding the three better.” Of late, Sac State has reemerged to eighth place in the conference after winning three of their last four games — two of which were on the road despite a previous 0-6 away record — thanks in large part to an offense averaging 51.8 percent from the field, 47.3 percent from beyond the arc and 79.7 points per game in that fourgame span. “I think in the last four to five games we’ve kind of figured out our identity,” Sac State coach Brian Katz said following his team’s 92-83 win over Montana on Jan. 21. “We’re going to play inside-out through post spacing through our bigs and we’re going to focus on that, and we want to get more paint touches.” This sentiment has been echoed by the Hornets’ frontcourt senior duo of Nick Hornsby (25 points)
and Eric Stuteville (18 points) who are coming off of a combined performance of 43 points on 14-of-18 shooting and 11 rebounds against Montana. “One thing we’ve emphasized over the last couple weeks is getting paint touches,” Stuteville said after increasing his conference-best 64.9 field-goal percentage. “Getting paint touches is how we win the game, and just being on the same channel. (Hornsby) hitting me when I’m open, him hitting the high lows on the post. Me and Nick are best friends so we’ve got that chemistry together so it’s a duo. Justin (Strings) and Marcus are going to get their shots, but if we get our shots down low and in the paint, it’s going to be even harder to beat us.” The Hornets, which are 4-3 in Big Sky play when scoring more points in the paint, are also tough to beat when Stuteville, Hornsby, Strings and Graves score at least 10 points each in a single game. Sac State is 3-1 in the Big Sky when these aforementioned statis-
Matthew Dyer - The State Hornet Sacramento State junior guard Marcus Graves drives past several Montana defenders for a layup in the Nest on Jan. 21. Graves had 18 points, 13 assists and two blocks to help the Hornets to a 92-83 win.
tics are reached by the foursome. “You’ve got to have multiple scorers,” Katz said. “In a perfect world, you’d love to have five guys in double figures … you can stop one or two, but you can’t stop four so that’s really a key.”
Sac State will look to exceed early season predictions in its last 11 conference games including a matchup with Portland State, which defeated the Hornets 83-76 on Jan. 7, at the Nest on Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
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Former walk-on scores high among NCAA rankings
Johnson goes from quiet shooting guard to leading scorer Christopher Bullock
Matthew Dyer - The State Hornet
@CWayneBull
Sacramento State junior shooting guard Maranne Johnson has built her way up from a quiet freshman to a face that the rest of the NCAA may come to remember. Not bad considering that she wasn’t a highly-ranked recruit coming into her college career. Johnson, who is currently ranked in the top 20 in the NCAA Division I in three categories (tied fifth in 3-pointers made per game, tied 13th in 3-pointers made and tied 19th in steals per game as of press time), says that the growth of her game has just been a matter of applying herself all the time. “Honestly, it’s the transformation coming in from high school,” Johnson said. “As a freshman, I understood that it was going to be more competitive. So coming in, watching Fantasia Hilliard, playing with Adella (Randle-El), it showed me that I had a lot to improve on.” The transformation that she speaks of has been noticed
Matthew Dyer- The State Hornet Sacramento State junior guard Maranne Johnson dribbles the ball down the court against Cal Poly at the Nest on Nov. 13. Johnson is currently ranked in the top 20 in three different NCAA Division I categories.
by those who have shared time with her on and off the court, including Sac State coach Bunky Harkleroad. “Her improvement has been at a nice, steady rate,” Harkleroad said. “Her shot and handles were good when she got here, but now she’s getting better. She’s also become a better teammate. Not that she was ever a bad one, but going from being a freshman who walked on the team, she has genuinely become one of the faces of Sacramento State athletics.” As a four-year letter winner at Deer Valley High School in Antioch, she was the Bay Valley League MVP and all-East Bay selection after leading Deer Valley to a 10-0 conference record as a senior in 2013-14. However, Johnson was not necessarily a top priority for local colleges. It was an unplanned call from Harkleroad that led to Johnson becoming a Hornet. “We had some recruits on campus and we had heard about Maranne, so we invited her to play against the recruits as basically an unofficial visit,” Harkleroad recalled. “Maranne came over, and she was better than some of the recruits we had, so she stood out.” As a result of that show of faith, Johnson has rewarded the team with consistent effort and
at times, star-level play. Last season, as a sophomore, Johnson ranked fourth in the Big Sky with 75 steals, the seventh-most in Sac State program history. In the Big Sky Tournament, she scored 31 points in a first-round win over Southern Utah, then scored 25 in a near upset of Eastern Washington. This season, Johnson has taken the reigns as the leader on the court. On Nov. 29, she scored a career-high 37 points against Stanislaus State (ninth-most in a single game in program history), then set the single-game record for steals in a game on Jan. 12, when she recorded nine against Southern Utah. According to Johnson, stepping up was just something she knew she had to do for the sake of the team. “Last year, when we lost Brianna Burgos, knowing she was number three in the nation (at time of her injury, she was third in 3-pointers made per game), I understood that I had a lot more shoes to fill,” Johnson said. “I knew that once I got the ball, I had to let it fly. So every time if I catch it and I’m open and I feel like I can get the shot off, I pull it. I have to give huge thanks to our point guards for giving me the opportunity and trusting in my shots, because without them I wouldn’t
be anywhere near ranked.” As of press time, Johnson currently has the second most 3-pointers (189) and third-most steals (214) in program history. Johnson’s progress, according to senior forward Gretchen Harrigan, is just an indictment of the work she has put in during her time at Sac State. “Every season you grow, and she’s going into her junior season, which is a big season to have,” Harrigan said. “She’s picked up everything she’s learned from her first two season and applying it, and that’s huge. To be a player and to be able to look at your own game and see the progress, and then apply the things you learned, it’s what makes good players great.” For Johnson, being a great player isn’t enough. She’s seen the impact that playing for Sac State has made on her life, and does her best to be a good example in all aspects of life. “In high school, I came in with a tough past,” Johnson said. “Coming in, knowing I‘m going to be at a higher level, I had to pick it up because I had younger people looking up to me, as well as my team. By doing that, I try to push my teammates to be the absolute best.”
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WOMEN’S TENNIS
Sac State projected to finish first in Big Sky
MATTHEW DYER - The State Hornet
Women’s tennis team looks to return to NCAA Tournament Will Moon
Sacramento State women’s tennis coach Clarisse Baca watches senior Alina Soltanici practice her backhand at the tennis courts on campus. Sac State was selected to finish first in the Big Sky women’s tennis preseason poll.
@MoonMan0305 With a new head coach and three true freshmen on its 10-player roster, the Sacramento State women’s tennis team is still projected to maintain its dominant reputation. The Hornets, now coached by former team captain (2008-2012) and star Clarisse Baca, were selected to finish first in the Big Sky Conference in the 2017 Big Sky women’s tennis preseason poll this January. The program amassed 113 total points in the poll with five firstplace votes from league coaches. Northern Arizona landed just behind Sac State with 111 total points and five first-place votes, while Idaho placed third in the poll (106 points) with two firstplace nods. “We’ve always had a pretty solid team — during the season we’re beating most of the teams in the conference so I think it’s pretty normal for the girls to be chosen number one,” senior Alina Soltanici said. “We have some new girls on the team that are very good so we’re trying to combine their power, their ambition and their desire to help with (the) experience of the juniors and seniors.” Sac State has won either regular season or conference tournament titles for the last 15 straight
seasons. This spring, the team will look to win the conference tournament and return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2013-14 season. The Hornets’ 2013-14 season marked the end of a winning era under former coach Dima Hrynashka in which the program clinched 13 consecutive conference titles, beginning in 2002. After finishing 10-1 in conference play last season, Sac State boasts five returning starters this year, including Soltanici, a threetime all-Big Sky selection who played in the No. 1 singles spot exclusively for the past two seasons. The Hornets enter this season at a disadvantage with two of its strongest veteran performers, Soltanici and senior Deimante Bulatovaite sidelined with injuries. According to Baca, both players will foreseeably sit out for roughly another month. “We’re practicing and just waiting for the moment when we’re able to play again,” Soltanici said. “We’re obviously cheering for the girls and we really want them to win.” Despite the Hornets’ early setbacks, Baca expects her players to compete and win matches. “It definitely hurt us but it’s not an excuse for us to say that
we lost because we don’t have our two best players,” Baca said after Sunday’s loss to Fresno State. “We are all a team and we need to step it up.” Junior Ana Loaiza Esquivias has escalated her game in Soltanici’s absence, and played No. 1 for the first time in her collegiate career against the University of San Francisco on Jan. 20. Last season, Esquivias had a perfect record in conference play (11-0) and a 16-6 overall record in singles competition. As of press time, she has a 2-0 record in No. 1 singles play this spring. “She’s a junior (and it is her) first time playing as a No. 1 player, so there’s a lot of pressure,” Baca said. “She really battled it out as a No. 1.” Fall 2016 marked an adjustment period for the Hornets, as the squad adapted to playing with freshmen and a new coach at invitational tournaments in the Bay Area. Since then, Baca said she has watched the team progress on the court in practices. “We’ve improved a lot,” Baca said. “I think the girls took it really serious and we’ve just been working hard. My goal as a coach is to improve every match, every practice, not so much looking at winning or losing.”
MATTHEW DYER - The State Hornet
Sacramento State freshman Carolina Chernyetsky backhands the ball during a doubles match with senior Andie Mouzes against the University of San Francisco at Spare Time Indoor Tennis Center on Jan. 20.
In October, some players admitted the team lacked the same cohesive bond teams of the past had shared. After the team’s first match, Esquivias said the team has grown closer as a unit. “I think definitely we’re closer,” Esquivias said. “Everyone, the teammates (are) more together. It was amazing to see everyone cheering for each other (during the match against USF).”
Though Sac State played its first two matches at the Spare Time Indoor Tennis Center due to rainy conditions, the team will play on campus against UC Davis on Saturday at 1 p.m. after playing at the Rio Del Oro Racquet Club for over a decade “I think we all enjoy playing on campus because we feel (like) part of the school now,” senior Andie Mouzes said.
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The State Hornet
TOP 10 (PERFECTLY NORMAL) WAYS TO BE CHEAP State Hornet Digital Academy @TheStateHornet
1. “Borrowing” food from your roommates Sharing is caring after all, and to avoid roommate drama, you could also be better friends with your roomie so they’re more likely to share or replace what you have borrowed. If your roommate turns hangry, take a short trip together to the WELL, which offers roommate counseling (also already included in your tuition).
2. Parking off campus When prices for parking permits keep skyrocketing, and the upcoming campus construction a-park-olypse rears its dreadful head and promises to make you late on most days, the parking lots of religious buildings, businesses and restaurants close to campus sing sweet hallelujahs of free parking and spaciousness. Worried about the long walk? Don’t. Instead, think about the $171-$222 you save every semester and the daily exercise you’re going to get.
3. Learning to fix up your daily struggles There’s no room in the budget for failure, so think about duct taping your broken daily devices or using a spare tire until it pops off. But if you’re a student biker and smartly utilizing ASI Peak Adventures, which is located in The WELL, then you’d know that it offers discounted rates for tune-ups, repairs and maintenance on your two-wheeler, as well as free or discounted classes that teach everything from basic repairs and biking skills to breaking down and reassembling your own bicycle.
SEE 5 MORE WAYS TO BE CHEAP
4. Sharing textbooks with classmates Even if the Hornet Bookstore offers rentals and can match prices with Amazon, Barnes and Noble or another competition, one textbook can cost as much as a full month of meals for a hardy cheapskate. So why not befriend a classmate or take classes with a friend? You can either go dutch on the required reading or get them to send you photos of the necessary material.
5. Taking advantage of campus internet “SaclinkSecure” is Sacramento State’s official Wi-Fi connection. And the fee’s already included in everyone’s tuition. So you should definitely take advantage of that and use it to do your homework and binge “Stranger Things” on Netflix for hours. Happy browsing!
ONLINE! www.StateHornet.com
This story was produced by the students of the State Hornet Digital Academy: Rin Carbin, Barbara Harvey, Matt Lucas and Adilene Guzman.
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The State Hornet
Take a seat on new breezeway furniture Vu Chau @vchau2020
If you haven’t already noticed, the University Library breezeway was transformed over the winter break. A total of 49 sets of tables, chairs and benches were installed last December in a space that was previously occupied by nothing other than one long metal picnic table, which was removed in early 2016. These new permanent seatings are a collective result of the yearlong mission by Library Dean Amy Kautzman, Associated Students, Inc. and several other campus organizations to reoccupy the desolate areas in both south and
eve
“Call Your Corners” Art Exhibit Thurs. Jan. 26 UU Art Gallery
into a social hub. “I was kind of shocked to see these tables when I was on campus the week before school starts,” Russell said. “Students and myself now have even more spaces to get fresh air.” Ryan Pierce, a junior computer science major, said he has to send some photos to his alumni brothers and cousins to show off the new “dope” tables and chairs. “I know that they will go like, ‘Oh what the heck, (Sac State) didn’t have these when we were there,’ ” Pierce said. As students begin familiarizing themselves with the new furniture, Kautzman is already thinking about how she can do even more to the space. New lighting for those late-
Special Movie Screenings Thurs. Jan. 26: “Moana” Thurs. Feb. 23: “The Birth of a Nation” UU Ballroom
MATTHEW DYER - The State Hornet The Library added 49 permanent sets of tables and chairs to its breezeway.
night study sessions will be a must. If enough money is raised, electrical outlets for each table set will also be installed eventually.
“We’re building our potentials here and we’re making the campus better everyday,” Kautzman said. “So yes, one project at a time.”
Cirque Zuma Zuma Africanstyle Acrobatics Thurs. Feb. 2 UU Ballroom
Game Tournaments Fri. Feb. 3: “Mortal Kombat X” Fri. Feb 17: “NBA 2K17” UU Valley Suite
“E. Clark & Friends” Comedy Show Thurs. Feb. 9 UU Ballroom
“Love Your Trans Body” Tues. Feb. 14 PRIDE Center
“The Vagina Monologues” Wed. Feb. 16 UU Ballroom
“Sacramento Black Art of Dance” Wed. Feb. 22 – Mon. Feb. 26 University Theatre
Our picks of eight can’t-miss campus events in January and February!
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north entrances to the Library. The materials required to build the furniture cost approximately $111,500 in addition to thousands more spent on hiring contractors and other expenditures. Kautzman said she hopes that by putting furniture in the breezeway, students will find the Library as a campus social destination once again, rather than just a spot to study or borrow books from. “(The breezeway) is a walkthrough space — a social space,” Kautzman said. “I’m hoping that we’re going to (maybe) have impromptu arts and music performances to make a tighter connection with the students.” For child development senior Felice Russell, it was refreshing to see the bare, open space turned
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Reggae with harmonizing messages Roots Man Project brings humanitarianism to own tunes Rin Carbin @ss_horo
Vacaville-based band Roots Man Project, while only in the local music scene for two years, prides itself on being unique by preaching to and educating audiences with messages of unity and human struggles. This all-male, reggae quintet will make its Sacramento State debut on Feb. 1 in the University Union Redwood Room as the second performer of UNIQUE Programs’ weekly Nooner concert series. Members of the group include lead vocalist and founder Curtis Walker, drummer Jimmy Toor, guitarist Derrick Briggs, bassist James Yokoi and keyboardist Wendell Fishman — all of whom aim to promote peace and love through their music. “We have band members from all different walks of life: Japanese, white, Mexican (and) Jamaican,” Walker said as he explained how his band’s name derived from the structure of a tall-standing tree. “That’s the root. The man part of it is us all men standing together to come out into this music. The project is going (on) right now (with) each limb bearing new fruit … giving that message of peace, love and unity.” At the Feb. 1 concert, Roots Man Project, whose sound and purpose have been highly influenced by Bob Marley, will perform a mix of the famous Jamaican musician’s covers as an ode to his Feb. 6 birthday, as well as some of the band’s own original tunes. “I think reggae music and Bob Marley really influenced me and the band as far as being able to take (suffering and hardships) in and use it as a positive energy,”
When:
Photo Courtesy of Roots Man Project Reggae band Roots Man Project performs at The Boardwalk in Orangevale in October 2016. The group will headline a Sac State Nooner on Feb. 1.
Walker said. “It’s just a thing that I think is common to a lot of different people’s lives and reggae music helps bring everybody together and help understand that.” Walker said he believes that his band’s audience can benefit from not only the sound and vibe of Marley’s music, but also the moral and political messages as well. While guitarist Briggs only joined Walker and the other three members last July after a chance encounter at a bar in Vacaville, both men share similar interpretations on what the Caribbean-hailed genre truly means to them. “Reggae to me, it’s always been the music of the suffering people
Feb. 1 @ noon
— the people who have to work real hard and they’re by no means privileged,” Briggs said. “But reggae music also is a spiritual music. It’s a music of praise to the Most High as well because no matter how or what the circumstance is, with faith — faith can move mountains.” As a former rap music enthusiast, Walker said the genre has changed in its messages. Today, rap lyrics are infused with tones of gang violence, selling drugs and belittling women as if the rappers are praising and glorifying these actions. For Walker, reggae is an alternative to those messages.
Where:
UU Redwood Room
Like Briggs, the frontman said that reggae transcends its own familiar objective of being a foot-tapping, head-bobbing music genre. “I think that’s what’s different with reggae music,” Walker said. “Reggae music is trying to bring you out of that and lift you up. (It) opens your eyes and let(s) you realize you don’t have to be that stereotype. You can be so much more (and) so much better than that.”
Cost: Free
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Don’t dream it:
MEME IT Joel Boland @shmoland
Everyone has seen a meme so relatable that they laughed out loud in public. Or they’ve seen text over a picture of Kermit the Frog, scratched their head and wondered what was wrong with today’s youth. But how many people have risen above the rest and turned themselves into a meme? Sacramento State student Riley Peeler was inspired to go ice skating after watching “Yuri!!! on Ice,” a Japanese anime television series that aired at the end of last year. “It didn’t go as well as maybe I imagined it would,” Peeler said. “I was trying a little bit too much for
my skill level.” Peeler said they were left with a few bruises after trying to recreate some of the animated figure skating, but was otherwise unharmed. They decided, however, to use the opportunity to turn themselves into a meme, one that has now reached over 50,000 likes on Facebook and over 35,000 notes on Tumblr. “I didn’t think it would spread; I was just putting it on there for my friend to see it,” Peeler said. “But it caught popularity really fast.” It’s hard to say what makes one meme stand out above the rest, especially when the internet is flooded with so many every day. Peeler attributed their 15 seconds of internet fame to the rising popularity of the anime that inspired
it.
“I think a lot of people who watched the show felt the same as I did,” Peeler said. “They saw the ice skating and it looked pretty and it looked fun to do. So they felt like, ‘I have to go ice skate right now.’ ”
Peeler’s boyfriend, Evan Lucero, was there for the infamous, anime-inspired ice skating and took the photos. Lucero’s theory for the popularity of memes in general is that they are like an inside joke for the whole world, and everyone likes
to feel in on the joke. “There’s a kind of attitude, I think, on the internet, of everybody being sort of interconnected,” Lucero said. “Everybody who’s on the internet is, in some weird way, friends with everybody else on the internet.”
How to make 1. yourself a meme:
2.
3.
Not sure if anyone will relate to you if you turn yourself into a meme? Try it anyway! Don’t feel obligated to work within the confines of the standard meme templates. When inspiration strikes, screenshot that perfect photo of yourself ! You’ll know when it’s your time to shine.
Next, you can Tweet it from an anonymous dummy Twitter account, and screenshot that, if you want a meme like the ice skating one above. Alternatively, you can add your custom photo to a meme making app, such as MemeGenerator, and add your caption right on the photo, but that’s none of my business.
Success, kid! Now shout your meme from the rooftops. No one likes or reshares it? Try, try again. You’re a beautiful, misunderstood snowflake. If nobody got the joke, it just means you’re too good for this world and your talents are wasted on today’s youth. Besides, it’s not all about the fame, it’s about – You know what, nevermind. It really is all about fake internet points, the only real validation that matters anymore.
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SAC STATE SAYS
What is your semester resolution for spring 2017?
Every new semester brings with it new personal and academic challenges. So we decided to ask students about some of their
#SacStateSays
resolutions to overcome those challenges. Join the conversation online by posting your answer on social media by using the
Sami Soto
hashtag #SacStateSays.
@sami_joe8
“Living more healthy, eating better and working out more. I’m actually playing soccer so I’m trying to be healthier.”
“It’s definitely to be more sociable ... in my classes, and also talking to professors. (As an introvert), it’s hard for me to interact with new students and meet new people.”
“To have a more positive outlook in life. Enjoy the journey, even though I’m graduating — not to focus on getting it done fast and actually enjoying it.”
“To manage my time better so I can get more sleep (and) not (be) so tired. Then, I can actually concentrate in class instead of trying to skip it and get some sleep.”
“To stop spending my money on unnecessary things because I spend my money too much.”
- James Rendon Biology
- Jomari Gabriel Biology
- Tatyana Grib Gerontology
- Brizia Morales Ethnic Studies
- Joshua Gonzalez Communication Studies
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The State Hornet
EDITORIAL
Time is running out on Obamacare A cloud of uncertainty hangs over the future of affordable healthcare as the country waits to see what President Trump and a Republican Congress have planned for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Sacramento State students, and all Californians, should pay special attention to what decisions are made about the ACA in the coming months, because 4.6 million Californians receive health insurance through the Act, either through Medi-Cal or by buying their insurance plans through Covered California. Congressional Republicans have been vowing to “repeal and replace” the ACA, commonly referred to as Obamacare, for the past seven years. Nevertheless, they have not coalesced in that time around a particular replacement plan. President Trump has said conflicting things about Obamacare. At times Trump was vocal about his intentions to dismantle the ACA, but he has also spoken of providing “insurance for everybody.” Shortly after winning the election, Trump told the Wall Street Journal in an interview that he
It is clear that Republicans in Congress have it out for Obamacare, but there is no clear idea as to what will replace it.
wants to keep at least two parts of Obamacare: allowing children to remain on parents’ plans until the age of 26, and preventing insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. Even just those two provisions of Obamacare would not be possible to maintain for long without two key ingredients, which Republicans in Congress have vowed to do away with: the penalties for not having insurance, and the hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to subsidize low-income Americans to help them buy coverage. If there is nothing requiring the healthy to enroll, and no funding in subsidies, the sick will be the ones who foot the bill as health insurance costs inevitably rise. It is clear that Republicans in Congress have it out for Obamacare, but there is no clear idea as to what will replace it. Without that final and crucial step of crafting healthcare legis-
lation to replace Obamacare, the war against it is unethical and nonsensical. Many college students in California will probably be safe from the changes and reductions to the ACA. California legislators could keep Medi-Cal expanded for those with incomes 138 percent or lower than the federal poverty level. People on subsidized exchange plans, however, should be concerned; even if California keeps Medi-Cal expanded, those on the financial borderline may have to start paying a lot more for their health insurance. Although the local representatives in the Sacramento region are mostly Democrats, it is still worthwhile to contact them and voice your concerns. Even if you yourself are not a beneficiary of the Affordable Care Act, there is likely someone you know and care about who does need the care afforded them by Obamacare to survive.
34% 6.5% 294K
*Stats from HHS.gov
of the 8 million people who enrolled in a marketplace plan during 2014 were under age 35.
the percentage drop of uninsured American adults aged 18-25 from 2013-2015.
young adults in California have been able to stay on their parents’ health insurance plans up to age 26.
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Farewell, 2016: see you in heck Joel Boland @shmoland
It was the night before New Year’s Eve, the end of what social media had unanimously declared as “The Worst Year Ever,” and I was out to dinner with some friends, and one of the friend’s parents had tagged along. The topic of conversation turned to New Year’s resolutions and saying goodbye to 2016. Everyone wanted to eat more and run less, and the general consensus was to wave a big, fat, double-middle fingered farewell to the previous year. All except for one man, a Baby Boomer. “All in all, I think 2016 was a pretty good year,” Friend’s Father said. Pierced ears turned red in outrage. Sleeve tattoos danced as the muscles beneath clenched in anger. The head of every Millennial at the table turned slowly to
glare at this staunch but quiet Republican. How dare he speak fondly of 2016? How dare he indeed. In 2016, the world watched as protesters and police forces clashed across America, from the Dakota Pipeline project to the deaths of Philando Castile, Mario Woods and others killed at the hands of police officers. Most of the “eff you” cloud over 2016 centers around the presidential race, and the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States. There were protests on Nov. 9 and Jan. 20, election results and inauguration days, respectively. In times between protests and family dinner filibusters, there were widespread grumblings of “Can you believe this shit?” But let us not forget that half the people who actually voted voted for President Trump. After the election results came in, there was also jubilation, relief, and even smug satisfaction. Across the country, thou-
The Hornet has a new home!
Del Norte Hall, 1006 After months of striving for a space on campus, The State Hornet is happy to announce that its newsroom will be relocating to Del Norte Hall! With a central space on campus, especially one so close to Mendocino Hall, where most of the journalism classes are held, we hope the Hornet will receive a lot more visitors. We always encourage feedback and reader engagement. We also welcome story ideas from the campus community. This is your newspaper, funded through student fees; if
there’s a story you think The State Hornet should cover, please come visit our newsroom in Del Norte 1006. If you’re at all interested in getting involved with The Hornet as an ad salesperson, photographer, writer or designer, we encourage you to visit and check out our newsroom. If you enter through the automatic doors on the south side, next to the Wells Fargo and Golden1 ATM’s, our newsroom is all the way in the back, on the right-hand side.
sands of bright red “Make America Great Again” hats were unearthed from the backs of sock drawers and the bottoms of closets to be worn publically and triumphantly. For both sides, for the red-hatted and the sign-waving, I think it would be healthy to put on some rose-tinted glasses and look back fondly on 2016. Let us never forget the power of positivity, and that negativity breeds yet more negativity. And if this pessimism persists on all sides, family dinners will continue to be stressful minefields.
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