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Theater Department presents play about the struggles of ex-convicts See Page 6
Greg Beyrer receives Educator of the Year Award See Page 2 Issue 2 Fall 2019 Student voice of CRC since 1970
Hawks take a W for the first volleyball conference game
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October 17, 2019
>>News
Distance education coordinator receives national award By Allesandra Sarantopulos asarantopulos.connect@gmail.com
Allesandra Sarantopulos | The Connection
Gregory Beyrer discusses his role as long distance coordinator. He was awarded Educator of the Year from Instructure over the summer.
The campus Distance Education Coordinator was one of the six national winners to receive the Educator of the Year Award. Gregory Beyrer, who coordinates long-distance learning for students, received the award in July from Instructure, the company that created Canvas. Distance Education can also be known as long-distance learning for students whom are enrolled but choose to take their classes online. Canvas is an academic communication device for students, professors and faculty. In addition, students can use Canvas to keep track of assignments, grades and incoming or outgoing messages from other students or faculty. “The main benefit is the expansion of access for students who have the desire to attend college but have a hard time attending in-person classes,” said Beyrer. “There is also a benefit for instructors, as the online mode gives us ample scope for innovation. For me, it is a lot of fun to find solutions to the challenges of
helping students achieve class outcomes in this mode.” Beyrer has been teaching online classes for 17 years and using websites to support in-person classes for 22 years, after teaching in-classroom courses for seven years. Beyrer said that Melissa Loble, senior vice president of customer success and partnerships at Instructure, was the person who presented the award to him. The award was presented during a keynote presentation at InstuctureCon in Long Beach. Ken Cooper, a District Office IT Analyst and coordinator for Canvas, nominated Beyrer for the award. Cooper said he has worked with Beyrer for four and a half years. Last spring Cooper cotaught a course with Beyrer through “@ONE,” focusing on online practices involving other faculty coordinators and training in regards to how to use Canvas. “The aspect of his approach that sets him apart from many others is that he consistently strives to better teach, interact and inform everyone through cutting-edge technologies and methods,” said Cooper in his nomination letter.
Biology Professor Jena Trench said she has been working with Beyrer for 10 years. The first committee she served on was Distance Education Instructional Technology during her second year on campus. “At first I was just attending meetings, but since then, we’ve started to work more and more together,” said Trench. “I took workshops from him and he helped me learn how to teach online.” Trench said that outside of education, people generally tend to move from company to company and different roles or positions. However, Trench said faculty in academic institutions tend to stay within their role and get into a continuity, which helps build significant relationships among their fellow colleagues. As Beyrer has continued to be the coordinator for distance education on campus, he has been able to train and work with faculty who may be new to using Canvas. “While it is nice to be recognized for my hard work, I also feel gratitude for the opportunity I have at CRC to do work worthy of recognition,” said Beyrer.
Space where students can meditate reopens this semester By Michaela Graves mgraves.connect@gmail.com The Meditation Space has reopened this semester to offer students the opportunity to meditate, reflect, and learn other relaxing techniques in hopes of excelling their academic performances. Meditation space volunteers said the purpose of the space is to give students an area where they can quietly reflect, meditate, or pray in an inclusive and safe environment. “We see students who are stressed out and just need a quiet space,” said Panagakos.“We had heard from some veterans who might be suffering from PTSD who say that they will go and sit in a single user bathroom by themselves just to have a quiet space.” She added that muslim students are praying in hallways and understaircases. “It isn’t really safe, given the climate,” said Panagakos. “It just breaks your heart.” Individuals or groups of up to five people may use the space on a drop in basis or sign up for 15
minute slots at a time. Students can access meditation space with a student ID card, said Panagakos. Jazmyne Wallace, a 20-year-old undecided major, said she has a busy life outside of school and she likes how there is a space that is quite that she can use while she is at school. “I do so much throughout the day I get tired and unmotivated super quick,’’ said Wallace. “Taking time out of my day to recollect my thoughts and relax my mind would help me stay in the zone.” Panagakos said faculty, through the social responsibility committee, spearheaded this latest manifestation. The first attempt at the space was a pilot project, she said, fully sustained by volunteers. There have been many faculty members over the last 10 years that have tried to initiate a meditation space on campus, Panagakos said. “We only really got traction a couple of years ago when there was a resolution passed through the academic senate,” said Panagakos. As time went on, Panagakos said it just wasn’t sustainable. Volunteers worked with administration to have some faculty still supervise if they wanted to, but the rest would were filled with student ambassa-
dors who served the majority of the time. With the reopening, the committee is hoping to hire student workers for full-time positions to sustain the space more efficiently, said — Anastasia Panagakos Panagakos. Alicia AlAnthropology Professor dama, 28- yearold Early Childhood Education major, said she likes to get away and that is why she enjoys using the space. “I go through personal stress and struggles at home and the meditation center helps me clear my mind and gives me time to get away,’’ said Aldama. The Meditation space was closed last semester and recently reopened this Fall for students to utilize this semester.
“We had heard from some veterans who might be suffering from PTSD who say they will go and sit in a single user bathroom by themselves just to have a quiet space.”
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Health Services office provides free flu shots By Jacob Peterson jacobpeterson.connect@gmail.com
Marcelo Hernandez Castillo gave a reading and testimonials on Oct. 15 based on his poetry book “Cenzontle: Poems.” The book highlights his before and after of crossing the U.S border and his struggle and revelations about his sexuality. “Getting Out” strays from the typical theater acts on campus, this one in particular depicting a woman who was released from prison after serving 8 years. The play tackles difficult subjects about incarceration and life after. The production opened Oct. 11 and the last showing will be on Oct. 20.
On Oct. 16, the CRC Orchestra honored American composer and pianist Scott Joplin with a performance that showcasehis music. The performance, held in the recital hall in the afternoon, was a one-time event in honor of Joplin’s compositions.
Women Escaping a Violent Enviornment (WEAVE) held a Purple Ribbon event during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Los Rios WEAVE advocate was in attendance to inform students on the different types of domestic violence.
“Empathy” is the current art galley on campus, running till Nov. 21, based around compassion and the welcoming of diversity. The gallery hosts art pieces from various artists, and invites those who attend to record their thoughts on the artwork to help future empathy galleries.
With fall in full swing and the weather getting colder, the Health Services office is offering flu shots for free to students. The supplies for the shots are limited, with Campus Nurse Michelle Barkley saying she has reached out to Allied Health program, like the EMT and medical assisting program, to have more shots available. “The vaccine I receive is specifically for people in need,” said Barkley. “The benefits are tremendous, as long as there are no contra-indications, you should probably get them.” Barkley described the flu shot as a sample for the immune system to use to prepare itself for a specific strain of influenza. She recommended students look up the website of the Center of Disease Control for info on the influenza vaccination. “I highly recommend the shot for those around six months of age, pregnant and the elderly,” said Barkley. “Those are the people who are the most at risk.” While the vaccination is available for students on campus, 18-year-old agricultural business major Agnes Budge
“The flu shot is recommended to decrease the chances of the flu but also to prevent people from transmitting the flu to others,” — Cori Burns does not plan on getting it. “The only real concern I would have would be maybe be about getting sick from it,” said Budge. A survey for the 20182019 flu season by the National Opinion Research Center shows this is a common concern, with 41% of the people surveyed having no intentions to get a flu shot that season. The survey also states that roughly every three out of ten adults surveyed were concerned the shot would make them sick. “I’ve never really gotten the flu,” said 19-year-old Kinesiology major Josh Wilcox. “I have kind of been conditioned to feel it would make me sick.” The flu vaccination does not carry the risk of spreading the flu, according to the information from the CDC website regarding questions about t. “The flu shot is a dead virus,” said CRC Medical Assisting Professor Cori Burns.
“You cannot get the flu from a dead virus.” Burns added that while the shot does temporarily lower your immune system, you are unlikely to catch the flu but another sickness like a cold. If you do get the flu, she said it is likely you were exposed to the virus before getting the shot. While they are similar viruses, the cold has less severe symptoms than the flu, usually being a runny or stuffy nose. The cold also doesn’t lead to as many serious health problems, such as pneumonia, as the flu, according to the CDC. “The shot is recommended to decrease the chances of the flu but also to prevent people from transmitting the flu to other people,” said Burns. The vaccination uses parts from four different strains of the influenza virus. For the 2019-2020 season the shot is updating components of swine flu, according to the CDC. Burns said flu season typically happens mid-October to March. “Usually we recommend getting the shot in mid to late October,” Burns said. The shots are available for students to get from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday, in OPS-126. Students are able to get the shots via either walk-in or appoint-
Jacob Peterson | The Connection
The current shots are offered at the Health Services office from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The shots are available for free for CRC students, regardless of whether they have insurance.
October 17, 2019
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Revisions to homeless bill highlight several concerns, pushing back its implementation By Halimeh Edais hedais.connect@gmail.com Assembly Bill 302, sponsored by Assemblymember Marc Berman in January, would allow homeless college students who are enrolled and in good standing to park and sleep in their vehicles overnight. However, changes to the bill have prolonged the process, according to a Sept. press release. AB 302 would have, in its previous form, provided security for thousands of homeless community college students whose only reliable shelter is their car. These new changes, however, make it more difficult for students to access these features. “The recent amendments delay implementation an additional 15 months and weaken the bill to the point that it fails to address the reality that our students are facing today,” Berman said in the press release. Twenty-three-year-old accounting major Soukaina Haddache said when students are asked why they are homeless or why they have trouble finding a place to sleep, the systematic issues are ignored. “It’s a serious issue,” said Haddache. “I will transfer soon and, as an international student, one of my main concerns is where am I going to live.” Malisha Blakes, the student personnel assistance for basic needs, said the campus is working to have more resources for students that are looking for housing. “Any type of affordable housing for students, just to help them,” said Blakes.
Homelessness has risen 19% in Sacramento County, according to a 2019 study conducted by Sacramento Steps Forward, a non-profit looking to end homelessness. The study stated that 5,570 people experience homelessness on a given night. Lack of sufficient income, affordable housing and poverty are the three most cited reasons of homelessness, according to the Family Promise, a non-profit dedicated to family homelessness. “It’s already hard going to work and school,” said Haddache. “Now, some students don’t have the luxury of having a bed to sleep on.” One of the revisions to AB 302 would exempt community colleges located within 250 feet of an elementary school from allowing the bill to be enacted on their campuses. “Homeless students are not pedophiles that need to be kept away from children,” Berman said in his press release. “They are men and women, many of them barely adults themselves, who are trying to improve their lives by obtaining a better education.” Berman said they should be celebrated, not stigmatized. Seventeen percent of households with a student in community college experience food insecurity, according to a study done by the United States Government Accountability Office on Jan. 16. College President Ed Bush said the campus has many options for homeless or hungry students. “We have the Hawk Spot open a couple of days of the week,” said Bush.
The 2019 Point-In-Time Count Survey, conducted by Sacramento Steps Forward and written by Sacramento State Institute for Social Research, found that 5,570 individuals experience homelessness in Sacramento county on any given night. Out of those individuals, 1,670 were sheltered, while 3,900 were not.
“Our showers are open at all times.” The Basic Needs program on campus released a survey in hopes of better understanding students living circumstances. Ultimately, Bush said the campus is looking to do more for students, faculty and staff. Yolanda Garcia, the dean of student services and enrollment management, said in an email that Home for Hawks, which will serve as a “housing resource hub” for students. “The growing homeless problem is heartbreaking,” said Inna Pulukchu, a 23-year-old business major. “I think
our campus is going in the right direction by supporting this bill.” Blakes said the campus has a plethora of options for low-income and homeless students like the Hawk Spot food pantry and the showers open on campus. “I think there is a greater sense of awareness of the challenges our students face, in terms of housing and food insecurity,” said Bush.
Have you experienced homelessness? DM us on Twitter @CRCconnection.
Data was compiled from students on campus regarding their housing, income and occupational status in the Homes for Hawks’ Housing Resource Proposal, published in spring.
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>>Features
‘Joker’ laughs its way to the top of October box office By Cameron Werblun cwerblun.connect@gmail.com Todd Phillips (“The Hangover” Trilogy) directed a psychological thriller where a man gives in to madness as he becomes one of Batman’s most iconic villains in the highly anticipated origin story. Premiering on Oct. 4, “Joker” became Warner Brothers’ highest-grossing film of the year worldwide to date, breaking the box office record for a movie’s opening weekend and the biggest second weekend gross for October. “Joker” had a lot of hype surrounding it before it debuted in theaters with regards to the lead performance and the violence in the movie. It lives up to the hype simply because of Juaquin Phoenix’s (“Gladiator”) performance as Arthur Fleck. The movie follows Arthur Fleck, a mentally unstable man who is trying to be a stand-up comedian. Later, he experiences tragedies that turns him into the Joker. Fleck’s laughter in this iteration of the character is the result of a neurological disorder in which he breaks out into
uncontrollable fits of laughter that seem to cause him pain when he tries to stop. Because of Fleck’s disorder, people are uncomfortable around him and tend to avoid him. This makes Fleck feel as though he has been forgotten and disregarded by society. Fleck’s descent starts with his first act of violence on a subway against three men. He continues to become increasingly violent as the movie goes on when he discovers secrets about his past. His violent behavior reaches its height when Fleck’s idol, talk show host Franklin Muray, played by Rober De Nero (“Taxi Driver”), triggers Fleck into committing a heinous act on live T.V. While the movie can use the tragedies that happen to Fleck and his mental illness as an excuse to justify his increasingly violent actions, it does not happen. The movie is violent at times and does not pull punches when it comes to showing the violence, however, there are not as many heinous scenes in the movie as the hype made it seem. Even though Fleck is the main character and the story is
Courtesy Photo
In the movie, Arthur Fleck dances his way to becoming Joker. The movie premiered in theaters on Oct.4.
told through his eyes, he is not portrayed as a hero or as anyone that people want to win in the end. During the movie, some people within Gotham City take Fleck’s actions and use them to lash out at the rich, whom they feel have let other people in the city fall into poverty. The audience watches the consequences of Fleck’s actions unfold resulting in violent riots that lead to Bruce Wayne’s parents being murdered and how people see Fleck, now fully presenting as the Joker, as their hero. The movie portrays how twisted Fleck’s view of reality has become and how the peo-
ple who believe him to be their hero have also lost touch with reality. While Fleck may not realize he has lost touch with reality, everyone watching the movie does and is shocked and horrified at what he has done and how he feels no remorse for his actions. Phoenix earned the praise he has received for playing Fleck and deserves an Academy Award for his performance in this movie. He lost a lot of weight for this role so he looks emaciated on screen and that only adds to Fleck’s persona. He is unsettling and terrifying as both Fleck and the Joker, and by the end, there
is no Fleck, only the Joker. Phoenix plays the role so well that he makes almost makes the audience forget that there used to be Fleck. Phoenix developed two laughs for his role. One is for when he genuinely laughs and one that he uses for Fleck’s uncontrollable laughter. Each laugh makes the audience feel uncomfortable every time he uses them. Overall, the movie is amazing. It’s well-acted, directed and tells an interesting story that grips the audience and doesn’t let go until the credits start rolling. If there was a way to sum up this movie in one word, it would be this: Intense.
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Lucy Vang |The Connection
The production begins with a flashback of young Arlie, played by Lenora Callins, sitting in her jail cell, having no one to communicate with but the prison guards. The play revolves around Arlie returning to her home and readjusting to life outside of prison.
Lucy Vang |The Connection
The play was originially written by novelist and playwright Marsha Norman in 1979. The current production, directed by Theater Professor Cheri Fortin, is being performed at the Black Box Theatre through Oct. 20.
‘Getting Out’ reflects modern-day problems ex-convicts still experience in today’s society By Lucy Vang lvang.connect@gmail.com Friends and families filled the Black Box Theatre on opening night of the play “Getting Out” on Friday. “Getting Out,” a play originally produced by novelist, playwright and screenwriter Marsha Norman, is about Arlie, a female prisoner who was recently released and returns to her home in Kentucky, only to find her past experiences are haunting her, making it difficult to settle back in. “This play brings to light real problems that people are facing in the world,” said Cheri Fortin, the department chair of Theater and the director of the play. “It’s timely, it’s relevant, and although it’s written in 1979, it’s still an ongoing issue today.” From gloomy-green lighting and a realistic jail cell, the audience was already feeling
the tension of the setup before the play even began. The play starts with a scene of young Arlie sitting in her jail cell, conversing with a prison guard and sharing stories about her life before being put in prison. Already, violent language was used to portray Arlie’s experience in prison, giving the play a sense of authenticity. Shortly after being released from prison, she begins
“I feel like I relate to Arlene so much because I’ve already lived her story and I can connect to who she was before and who she is now.” — Lenora Callins
Theater and digial media major
referring to herself as Arlene, in hopes that it’ll help her forget her old, misbehaving and trouble-making self. Fortin said the Theater Department was aware that the play has some scenes that may be uncomfortable for some people, which is why the Women Escaping A Violent Environment program was involved. WEAVE provides crisis intervention services for students, faculty and staff who have experienced sexual or domestic violence and stalking. “We’ve partnered with WEAVE and have slips that guests can fill out and talk to them about at any time if they feel any type of way,” said Fortin. Not only was the message behind this play powerful, but students performing in this play have an even stronger connection to it.
From memorizing their own lines to late-night practices, students like 29-year-old theater and digital media major Lenora Callins said she put a lot of time and dedication into this play. Playing the lead role of Arlie, Callins said this was the most challenging role she’s ever taken on. “I feel like I relate to Arlene so much because I’ve already lived her story and I can connect to who she was before and who she is now,” said Callins. Callins said that growing up, she was a foster child and had gone down the wrong road with the wrong people, just like Arlene. “I go in over my head a lot but I have to put what happen to me in real life aside every time I step on stage and just learn to stay present,” Callins said.
It was a challenge to be in character for students like 22-year-old theater and mathematics major Jake Barber. “I am definitely not my character,” said Barber, who plays the prison guard Evans. Yessica Rodriguez, a 21-year-old theater and humanities major, plays the role of young Arlie’s principal. “It was hard because in one of my scenes I had to argue with Arlie and get physically pushed down but I think we have it down,” said Rodriguez. The play ended with Arlene somewhat finding comfort in herself and in her home, leaving the audience with a sense of curiosity and awe. “They really brought the play to life,” said Annie Morales, a 26-year-old English major who watched the play during opening night. “It’s one of the best ones yet.”
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Super-M jumps into future with ‘The 1st Mini Album’ By Summer Lomendehe slomendehe.connect@gmail.com With successful careers in South Korea, K-pop groups like BTS and Blackpink were two of many looking to establish themselves in the U.S. market before they found the most success in the country. Retro-futuristic supergroup Super-M, in contrast, is looking to find the same amount of success through a different path, showcased in their debut album that charted No. 1 on The Billboard 200 Albums Chart on Monday. K-pop label SM Entertainment recruited various members from their most popular male groups to fulfill their ambitious concept of Super-M, uniting several members from Shinee, EXO and NCT. Self-described as the “Avengers of K-pop,” the group’s U.S. equivalent would be like a fusion between the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC—talk about unfair. Super-M’s first mini-album proves that the collaboration is anything but unfair, however. The album, released on Oct. 4, clearly indicates a
Courtesy Photo
Super-M is a male K-pop group comprised of various artists under SM Entertainment. The group’s first album, titled “The 1st Mini Album,” was released on Oct. 4.
confident sound determined to stand out from other K-pop artists who have promoted their work in the U.S. “Jopping,” the group’s title song, introduces Super-M as a cool, unfazed ensemble ready to take on the world in a futuristic-looking music video, insistent on making a lasting impression. The track is a hard-hitting, edgy pop song
with several key high notes and striking choreography that reflects how sharp and calculated they are. “Opinionated, but I’m always spitting straight facts,” Mark, one of the group’s rappers, said during the song. “Throwback, I might throw this on an eight-track.” The album itself pays homage to the members’ re-
spective groups and makes no apologies for its overt enthusiasm. “2 Fast” and “No Manners,” though on different sides of the musical spectrum, shows how the album celebrates each member’s individual strengths, which ultimately led to the album’s diverse yet cohesive sound. “I Can’t Stand the Rain” highlights the group’s in-
credible vocal range in a way “Jopping” undeniably tried to, singing the entire chorus in falsetto. Unlike other K-pop artists, Super-M has yet to plan any promotional work in South Korea, so the exclusivity of performing in the U.S. gives the group a distinctive quality no one else has. As a genre, K-pop was known for its ability to blend all types of music into one song, no matter how unrelated those genres were. Any K-pop song circa 2013 easily emulates this, from Psy’s “Gentleman” to Girls’ Generation’s “I Got A Boy.” With K-pop now becoming more and more adjacent to the songs on a U.S. Top 40s playlist, Super-M’s unique approach of retrospectively staying in the now. Super-M’s album may be far from perfect and the group’s overall success might not be as defined at the moment, but their clear-cut ambition and determination have fans and fans-to-be jumping and popping—jopping, if you will—to every song on the album.
Center offers assistance to student veterans on campus 3. Ding Tea’s Signature Milk Tea Ding Tea is known for its golden boba, but one drink that really knocked me off my socks was their Signature Milk Tea. From one sip, you can tell that the tea was properly brewed with a mixture of fresh milk, leaving the mouth with a creamy and refreshing taste. This drink’s a 4.2 out of 5. 2. Tea Culture’s Butterfly Galaxy Tea of Raspberry The Butterfly Galaxy Tea of Raspberry is one of the best fruit-infused tea drinks I’ve ever had, not to mention the fact that it’s an Instagram-worthy drink. The way the beautiful blues and pink complement each other in the drink really lives up to its name. This drink’s a 4.8 out of 5.
1. Tea For U’s Caramel Milk Tea Caramel milk tea is a classic in most boba places, but not every place can perfect it. Tea For U’s version of the carefully-blended caramel with the milk and tea alone is such a satisfying taste, one that can’t be explained until you’ve tried it yourself. This drink’s a 5 out of 5.
By Samuel Williams swilliams.connect@gmail.com The Veterans Resource Center provides student veterans with the resources they need for transitioning to civilian life and college. The VRC helps students with accessing educational benefits, completing the college enrollment process, registering for classes, food pantry support, printing and computer access, as well as emotional support, according to the VRC brochure. “This gives them a place to be around other veterans andf e e l comfortable,” said Ken Walker, the VRC student personnel assistant.
Walker added that veteran students can receive help on how to manage assignments and homework, and that the services are available for veterans only. “The Veteran Center being on campus is great,” said James Sealzitti, an 82-year-old undeclared major. “This veterans’ association should be open the same amount of time as the school is open.” Walker said what makes the Veteran Center different from any program on campus is that it’s a shared space with the veterans who have gone through unique experiences that only veterans have gone through. To be eligible for the
VRC’s services, Walker said students must bring a form called DD-214, which proves their years of service. Once the forms are turned in, the veterans will start navigating college processes with a staff member who understands the unique nature of the military experience, according to the VRC brochure. Pong Lor, a 24-yearold kinesiology major, said that the VRC gives him a good place to study, adding that he uses his benefits from the military and to socialize with other veterans. For more information on the VRC services, visit their office in L-103 or call 916- 691-7422.
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October 17, 2019
>>Opinion EDITORIAL
Will a law stopping stop police violence change anything? By Mason White mawhite.connect@gmail.com
A set of bills that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law aim to prevent police shootings. Newsom signed Assembly Bill 392 into law in August and Senate Bill 230 in September, with both taking effect January 1, 2020. AB 392, otherwise known as the police use-of-force bill, has been a controversial issue debated among politicians, police unions and civil rights groups since its introduction in February. Police unions and associations were in strong opposition to the assembly bill, as it attempted to restrict the way officers can use lethal force. They said it makes their job even more dangerous and lobbied for a counterbill of their own, SB 230, which had a focus on officers training and not on changing the existing language in the law. Lawmakers on both sides of the isle worked together and ensured that if AB 392 passed, SB 230 would automatically pass along with it, which appeased law enforcement for the time being. What AB 392 does is it changes the language of the existing law in hopes of putting stricter perimeters around how police can use their “The text in any law can service weapons, which turn would make law be amended in hopes of in enforcement departments rethink the training they changing a problem in undergo. the real world as time The text in any law can be amended in hopes goes on, but the changes of changing a problem to language used in a law in the real world as time on, but the changes doesn’t always make that goes to language used in a law doesn’t always make that real change in society.” real change in society. So that begs the question; will it really change things? The truth is we don’t know yet, as the law didn’t have an emergency declaration attached to it, so it won’t take effect until the new year. We will have to see what future actions prosecutors take when an officer kills someone and the community feels strongly that it was unjustified. Will they side with the community or will it be the same way it always has, with an officer being cleared? Either way, people are upset, especially those in the black community, and they have reason to be. In 2018 police killed 1,164 people in America, according to Mapping Police Violence, a group that tracks police violence, because the government does not have a comprehensive database. Among all of those cases, the group says an officer was charged with a crime only 1.7% of the time and 25% of the victims were black. All too often it’s an unarmed black person killed. The community calls it an injustice, protests and marches ensue, city councils hold hearings, the police back their own and the deep divide is once again reignited. Bills have been passed to right our wrongs in society before, but as the saying goes, laws were meant to be broken, and until the physical changes actually hit the street, we won’t know. We can just hope this particular bill will actually be effective in solving what it aims to do, for once.
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In an attempt to prvent wildfires from plauging California again, PG&E shut off the power it provides to homes.
Was the PG&E outage justified? Over 800,000 people in Northern California had their power shut off on Oct. 9 after being notified last minute by utility company Pacific Gas and Electric the afternoon prior. The power outage, characterized by the company as a “public safety power shutoff,” was a hasty decision made in an effort to prevent incidents like the Camp Fire from happening again. PG&E has since been criticized for how they handled the situation. Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a letter that the company’s power shutdowns were dealt with “astounding neglect and lack of preparation.” In the letter, he also asked the company to reimburse families and companies who lost power. With fire season still ongoing, the amount of wildfires this year has been low in comparison to the previous year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center and many are questioning the reasoning behind these shutdowns. PG&E stated they were trying to avoid causing a fire due winds that swept through the north of the state last week, but did shutting off the power actually prevent wildfires? While PG&E said in a statement that there were 23 systems in which the winds had damaged, they declined to provide evidence. Ultimately, the utility
company said the decision to cut power came as a hardship. Last year during the Camp Fire, PG&E debated on whether they should shut off the power but eventually decided against it, the result ending in tragedy. PG&E CEO Bill Johnson said that this time around, they “chose safety.” The safety they chose, however, cost many California residents just that—their safety. A tweet sent out by the City of Berkeley said that “if you are power-dependent and in a potential shutoff area, please use your own resources to relocate to an unaffected area.” Those with access to the internet were in fits of rage over the idea that people who need electricity for life-saving equipment were being told to use their own “resources” to help themselves. While the narrative is that residents should be grateful that PG&E made a call that could have potentially saved thousands of homes and lives, with barely a 12-hour warning and with insufficient maps that continued to crash the more people using the website, “inconvenience” is a major understatement. In the end, it was PG&E that failed to maintain their systems, many outdated and in potentially fire hazardous areas that have not been cleared, according to Mercu-
ry News in the bay area. Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric, other utility companies, also shut their power down in response to the winds. Roughly 21,000 and 200 customers respectively lost power, a huge decrease from 800,000 with PG&E. SDG&E hired meteorologists, fire experts and data scientists to better serve their customer base of 3.6 million people after a fire sparked in 2007. They spent $1.5 billion to update their devices and implement more advanced weather monitors, according to the Associated Press. Newsom said that PG&E has been “mismanaged” with “lousy communication,” and compared them to SDG&E, stating their services are “exceptional, at another level.” While the overarching message PG&E was trying to send was one of caution, the overall panic and distress they caused cannot be undone. Despite that not all cities in Sacramento county were affected by the power shutdown, the general anxiety resulting from the power shutoff has shown that, in potentially life-threatening situations like this one, there needs to be better preparation, communication and effort by companies like PG&E who have the resources and power to do just that.
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HAWK TALK
Senate Bill 395, which was passed on Monday, will allow California drivers in select regions to eat their own roadkill, such as elk and deer. What do you think about the bill? Compiled by Mariana Sanchez and Alicia Lopez
Taylor Simpson Business, 21
Jesse George Army Rank SFC, 37
Jason Dhami Biology Science, 18
April J. Austin Librarian, 40
“I think it’s fine. I mean, what else would you do to the animal anyways? I don’t think it’s doing any extra harm.”
“You have no idea what that animal has eaten on the streets. I’m a hunter and that’s why it’s a turn off for me.”
“I disagree with that bill because it’s unsanitary for our evolving society.”
“I do not want to eat a deer or elk that I hit, but I don’t see a problem with it. Better than having the meat go to waste.”
Is nostalgia ruining the chance for new stories? By Cameron Werblun cwerblun.connect@gmail.com One of the current trends in Hollywood is to revisit a movie or television show that ended, using nostalgia as the selling point. Does this trend mean we will never see original stories come to life on the big or small screen anymore? Are we now only going to see reboots and remakes? People often confuse reboots and remakes as being the same thing, however there is a difference between a “reboot” and a “remake.” A reboot starts where a story left off, like the new “Star Wars” movies, but a remake, however, retells a story in a different way, like the 2019 version of “The Lion King.” This trend extends to television shows as well, and sometimes they do it well, but other times they do not. The “Murphy Brown” reboot, for example, lasted one season. The new “Star Wars” trilogy picks where the
trilogy that began in the 70s ended and have been very successful. Some have voiced concerns that these reboots and remakes are ruining their childhood memories or that stories continue to be recycled, with no new ideas being released for people to enjoy. The other argument is that big companies such as Disney are preying on nostalgia only to make money. Well, Disney is a company that needs to make money in order to stay in business. Everything they produce is intended to make a profit and they are going to use what they can in order to get people to go see the content they release. There are those who enjoy seeing their favorite stories come back to life, be it on the small screen or the big screen, in a new way. We get to experience the same feelings that we did when we were children, when times were simpler and easier. That’s where nostalgia comes in. Aside from that, reboots and
Lucy Vang | The Connection
Movies that were first relseased on VHS tapes can be where ideas are pulled from for a new reboot or remake to be made so Hollywood can try to capture some of the orginal magic.
remakes introduce a new generation to classic stories that parents and grandparents get to share with their kids and grandkids, connecting in a different way. Nostalgia is not a bad thing. It makes people smile and brings back happy memories.
Nostalgia makes us feel good on the inside because it reminds us of our happiest times in life and that brings a smile to our faces. Remakes released this year by Disney have each made $1 billion (“Aladdin” and “The Lion King.”) They must be doing something right.
October 17, 2019
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>>Sports Women’s volleyball at home O ctober
23 vs Santa Rosa @6:30 p.m. 30 vs Sierra @6:30 p.m.
N ovember 1 vs Modesto @6:30 p.m. 8 vs San Joaquin Delta @6:30p.m. 19 vs Sacramento City @6:30 p.m. Overall: 8-10
Home: 4-2
Kills per set: 10.23
Away: 1-6
Hitting pct: .152%
Neutral: 3-2
Women’s soccer nearly upsets third ranked team in Big Eight By Halimeh Edais hedais.connect@gmail.com The women’s soccer team lost their third game in the Big 8 conference on Tuesday against the Sierra College Wolverines, 1-0. The Wolverines are ranked third in the Big 8 with a 5-1 conference record. “We played a good team,” said Head Coach Cesar Plasencia. “It happens but my team played well, they’re also a good team.” The Hawks offense was pushed to their limits with the Wolverines defense not allowing them to maintain possession of the ball. “We rushed our shots a little bit,” said sophomore defender Taylene Bristle. “We just weren’t able to put the ball in the back of the net, but overall I thought we played really well.”
The Hawks sophomore goalie Tanayjah Tamano kept the Wolverines at bay, not allowing a single shot to get past her in the first half. The Wolverines shot two shots on goal, not able to break through Tamano’s defense. “We worked pretty well together this game,” said Tamano. “My team didn’t allow any balls to come towards me.” The Wolverines were able to get past Tamano in the second half but next time they won’t, said Tamano. The Hawks offense was able to break through the Wolverines defense and attempt a goal, with one shot attempted and one SOG in the first half. Neither team was able to get a shot off early, ending the first half with a 0-0 score . The second half saw the most action with a goal by the Wolverines in the first twelve minutes.
The Hawks didn’t hand the game over to the Wolverines easily with the offense going in to attack and attempted five shots. However, even with stellar defense from the Hawks and an active goalie, the Wolverines still managed to steal a goal, winning the game. “I thought my team was very good today,” said Plasencia. “It’s a long season, despite this loss, we’ll be ready to go for the next game.”
“We just weren’t able to put the ball in the back of the net, but overall I thought we played really well.” — Taylene Bristle
Sophomore defender
College athletes balance physical demands with academics By Alicia Lopez allopez.connect@gmail.com
Halimeh Edais| The Connection
Sophomore right forwad Obioma Onejeme number three steals the ball from Sierra College defender. Onejeme, who started in eleven games, has scored five goals, one being a game winning goal.
Being a college student can be stressful, and adding in hours of sports training can make it that much more hectic. Freshman midfielder Bradley Moorhouse said he devotes his life to soccer and all that comes with it, keeping himself busy by meeting with trainers before and after practice as well as coaching children in his free time. “I’m on the field all the time, so I don’t have time to get a job, buy a car and go out to eat with friends,” said Moorhouse, the men’s soccer team captain. “I basically just go to school, go to practice, eat, sleep then all over the next day.” Obioma Onejeme, a sophomore right forward, said her social life has taken a toll since joining the women’s soccer team. “I don’t socialize with friends as much as I used to,” said Onejeme. “I work a lot less hours and if people ask me to cover shifts, I can’t.” Onejeme said that ev-
ery single day in her week is packed and that she is always staying busy, whether it’s soccer practices or games, school or work. She said she plans on staying organized by writing everything down in her agenda, making sure to prioritize the things that need to be done first as well as the things that are most important. “I plan on taking everything day by day, just so I don’t overwhelm myself,” said Onejeme. Onejeme said she does not plan on continuing soccer at a 4-year university but is hoping to transfer to Sacramento State and continue her education by joining the schools nursing program. Moorhouse, however, is planning on transferring to a state school and continuing his soccer career there. “The dream is to go pro, but my fall back plan is to become a math teacher,” said Moorhouse. “I’m talking to a few schools right now. I’m looking at Chico State, Sonoma State and a few other CSU’s.”
Cesar Plasencia has been coaching women’s soccer at CRC for 15 years and has witnessed plenty of student athletes balancing all of their responsibilities. “It is not easy being a student athlete,” said Plasencia. “It’s not easy for them to handle all that, so I admire those who find a way to maintain a high GPA and also success on the field as well,” said Plasencia. Plasencia said time management, taking care of your body and then also trying to get yourself mentally ready to compete all throughout the course of an entire semester can be extremely difficult.
“It’s not easy for them to handle that so I admire those who find a way to maintain a high GPA and also success on the field as well.”
—Cesar Plasencia Head Coach
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thecrcconnection.com
A lesson learned for the Major League baseball By Tairiq Marshall tmarshall.connect@gmail.com
Halimeh Edais| The Connection
A former student athlete at CRC, coach Preble is making an impact on the soccer field as well as off. Knowing the importance of academic success, Preble is just as passionate about teaching other subjects as he is soccer.
Coach shares passion for soccer game By Samuel Williams swilliams.connect@gmail.com The men’s soccer coach entered his 19th season as the head coach for the men’s soccer team this fall. Ron Preble, who was a student athlete at Cosumnes River College, played on the soccer team from 1985 to 1987 and won several accolades such as the Most Outstanding Student Athlete and Team MVP. Preble said he had the opportunity to be coached by Travis Parker, a notable coach at CRC. “He was very old school, pragmatic, and no-nonsense coach,” said Preble. “I fit right in with him because of my background as a military brat.” During Preble’s sophomore year, the men’s soccer team
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held the best record until 2003, according to his biography page on the CRC Hawks’ Athletics website. Preble said when he transferred to Sacramento State, his team was much more technical with their play and the players were a lot bigger and faster. Preble said he sat off his second year due to getting knee surgery and his third year they were ranked in the nation. After graduating from college, Preble began coaching at Homestead Air Base, where they had a local club in the base. Preble said he began coaching college soccer in 1988, where he was the assistant to Parker. Preble was then hired in 2000 as the full-time head coach at
Staff: Alicia Lopez, Cameron Werblun, Mariana Sanchez, Jacob Peterson, Priscilla Garcia-Pargras, Allesandra Sarantopulos, Michaela Graves, Halimeh Edais, Mason White The Connection is an award-winning newspaper published by the Journalism 410 & 411 media production class. Editorials and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the students, staff or faculty of CRC or Los Rios Community College.
CRC. “He really pushes us and makes us work really hard,” said freshman forward Alexis Gamez. Some of Preble’s coaching accolades include NorCal Coach of the Year and BVC Coach of the Year. “I think any player that wants to go to the next level needs to develop skills if they didn’t have it,” said Preble. Freshman defender Jose Mejia said he likes Preble’s coaching style. Preble said soccer is one of his passions but he also enjoys teaching additional classes and subjects aside from the sport. “I actually like my job at CRC very much,” said Preble. “The fact that somebody pays me to do what I love doing, I think that is very enjoyable.”
The Connection Cosumnes River College 8401 Center Parkway Sacramento, CA 95823 Telephone: (916) 691-7471 Fax: (916) 691-7181 www.thecrcconnection.com connection.crc@gmail.com
Dave Roberts’ late inning blunder during game five of the National League Divisional Series is the latest example of why bullpen depth will always take precedence over firepower in the batting order, especially during the postseason. In the top of the seventh inning with two outs and two on, the Los Angeles Dodgers skipper subbed his young fireballer Walker Buehler out for Clayton Kershaw, who has been the club’s undeniable ace for nearly a decade during the regular season. For a moment, the switch appeared to have paid off as Kershaw worked out of the jam, striking out Washington Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton, leaving two base runners stranded. Then came the top of the eighth, and with Kershaw still in the game, the Dodgers fate felt inevitable. Up by two runs with only six outs remaining to seal the NLDS, Kershaw delivered a pitch to Anthony Rendon which would subsequently get driven into the left field seats for a solo homerun, cutting the deficit to one. One pitch later, Kershaw gave up a game tying big fly to Juan Soto that made its way halfway up the pavilion which would eventually send the game into extra innings. Fast forward to the top of the tenth, however, the Nationals took full advantage of the Dodgers abysmal postseason bullpen the same way that the Houston Astros and Boston Redsox did in seasons prior. With an 0-1 count and the bases juiced, utility player Howie Kendrick sent a ball into deep center field for a grand slam, ultimately ending the Dodgers season with one healthy stroke of
the bat. The Dodgers demoralizing defeat was a warning issued to the 29 other ball clubs looking to make a run for the pennant as well. Yes, a lineup loaded with electrifying bats is always exciting and will contribute tremendously to an organization’s success. But it’s pitching depth and versatility that will take a ball club over the top, especially when it gets to mid to late October. Some of the most stacked teams have been proven susceptible to postseason struggles despite having potent offenses to show for, the Dodgers being the most recent. The Chicago Cubs were contenders with Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez in the same lineup alone but it wasn’t until after the acquisition of Aroldis Chapman in 2016 that the Cubs hoisted the World Series trophy. The next two World Series champs brought excitement at the plate but also pitching prowess and dominance on the mound as well. The Houston Astros were sizable underdogs in the 2017 World Series but it was Lance McCullers, Justin Verlander and Dallas Keuchel’s versatility that played the equalizer in the series. Last season, it was combination of David Price’s versatility, Chris Sale’s dominance and Craig Kimbrel’s six saves in the 2018 playoffs that defeated the Dodgers in the World Series. And here we are, a year removed from the 2018 World Series where The Dodgers early postseason exit should provide impetus for all teams to add quality arms to their 40 man rosters. moving forward.
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October 17, 2019
Halimeh Edais | The Connection
The Hawks defeated the Diablo Valley Vikings at home on Oct. 15. The Hawks have struggled in conference play this season and this was their first victory in conference.
Hawks’ volleyball team wins first conference By Halimeh Edais Hedais.connect@gmail.com The Hawks volleyball team served a loss to the Diablo Valley Vikings on Tuesday, taking all three sets, consecutively, of the game. We held our energy high for the most part,” said Assistant Coach Olivia Sowles. “We dipped in the third set but we were able to bring it home, which was nice.” The Hawks cut their losing streak, going into their seventh Big 8 conference game of the season with a 1-6 record, and an overall 9-10 record. “We were looking for a win right now and we were able to get that,” said “We were looking Sowles. “It was our first confor a win right ference win so now and we were we’re happy.” T h e able to get that. ” Hawks dominate their home —Olivia Sowles games standing Assistant coach at 5-2 but 1-6 in away games and 3-2 in neutral.
The team puts in a lot of work for their games, they train a lot and they hype each other up, said Sowles. The Hawks, adorned in pink in honor of breast cancer awareness month, doubled the Vikings score in the first set ending the set 25-11. Sophomore middle blocker Deziree Mckee said she is proud of her team for the shut out. “I’m confident in my team and our ability to play,” said McKee. “We put a lot of effort in the game, and the first set was just the beginning.” The Vikings had trouble keeping up with the Hawks setter who connected the ball to the players with precision, allowing them to spike the ball over the net. Our setter did a good job passing the team the ball on point and when we needed it, said McKee. The second set saw a different play when the Vikings were able to minimize their loss to just under ten points finishing the set with a final score of 25-17. “We just competed is all,” said McKee. “We brought the heat and won, my team played excellent today.” The last set was a close one with the Vi-
Halimeh Edais | The Connection
The Hawks get ready to counter a serve from the Diablo Valley Vikings. The team is now 1-6 in the Big 8 conference.
kings losing the last and final set, 21-25. The Vikings weren’t a bad team, because the Hawks were there before too. The Hawks were 0-6 before this game, said
freshman outsider Kaly Dosier. “They worked hard but so did we,” said Dosier. “The win today was earned, and we earned it.”