C o nne c t i o n THE
Guided Pathways offers community support See Page 2 Campus welcomes 50,000year-old skeleton
Theater Department presents ‘The Servant of Two Masters’
See Page 4 Issue 4 Fall 2019 Student voice of CRC since 1970
See Page 8
Follow our social media @crcconnection
December 12, 2019
Page 2
>>News
Program integrates academic communities on campus By Summer Lomendehe slomendehe.connect@gmail.com Through the Guided Pathways Program, a California-based project that aims to help community colleges increase college completion, the campus has implemented several institutional changes since its introduction in 2017. This semester, the program established academic-based communities, where students are grouped together according to their major. Guided Pathways Dean Alex Casareno said that Career and Academic Communities, which are also called “communities,” acts as a “house” where students can engage with faculty and peers in related fields, as well as get the support they need in order to be successful. “Our concept here is that the students will see themselves as part of these communities,” Casareno said. While Casareno said it’s still too early to determine how students will truly react to the houses, he said the communities will help the
campus intentionally address students’ needs and concerns. “We’re just trying to see how we can best serve our students that’s going to give them the most relevant support and not just generalize them anymore so it’s more major-specific,” said Julie Olson, the success specialist for the Arts, Media and Entertainment Department as well as the Social and Behavioral Sciences Department. Last spring, Casareno said they held a seminar with students and discussed the idea about themed-general education requirements, which will continue to be a focus for the program in the future. While the implementation of the communities rolled out this semester, Olson said the role of success coaches on campus were implemented last year and was tested with the first-time new students at the time. Olson said that student success all depends on an individual’s educational goal, which differs from person to person because not everyone on campus is always a traditional student. She said some
students have family obligations, where they can be fulltime parents or have full-time jobs to support their family. “We have to be respectful for that and understand that not every student is going to fit into a 15-unit semester,” Olson said. Casareno also said non-traditional students include formerly incarcerated students. He said putting them on a path that would provide a future they want to have so that future does not include returning back to being incarcerated is another goal of the program. “If you’ve been incarcerated, if you’ve been in prison, your life trajectory is taken a different route and will take a different route because you can’t be in just any profession because not all professions will allow someone to come in with a felony background,” Casareno said. Aside from improving outreach to new students, Casareno said they are also improving how they inreach to current students, who could have been in college longer than two years. He said
they’re focusing on case-managing students who have 30 units or more, since ideally, within 30 more units, those students should be on a path to transferring or graduating. Olson said the implementation of the communities is just the beginning. “We’re not completely done rolling out Guided Pathways at all, but I think it’s going pretty well,” Olson said. “We just have to wait and see how the students respond to it, especially with our firsttime new students.” In addition to the houses, teaching-learning leads were also established this semester. Lisa Abraham, the professional development coordinator, said that TLLs are professors who are interested in talking about and altering the kinds of things they do in the classroom to help students be more successful. “What we decided to do as an institution was to start focusing on the classroom experiences of students and the different kinds of teaching techniques and learning environments that help students become successful in their ac-
“We’re just trying to see how we can best serve our students that’s going to give them the ost relevant support and not just generalize them so it’s more major-specific.” —Julie Olson
Success Specialist for Arts, Media and Entertainment
ademic careers and then set them up for their professional careers,” Abraham said. Abraham said that the more effective professors are in the classroom, the more effective the students are going to be in their jobs as students. Ultimately, Casareno said that Pathways provides students with the option to do things and offers support and resources for students. “Having students control their own lives and giving them the opportunity to do that would be a goal of Guided Pathways,” Casareno said. “We’re going to guide you to a path you want to have.”
Thecrcconnection.com
Page 3
Bill lets voters register same day as elections By Jacob Peterson jacobpeterson.connect@gmail.com
Senate Bill 72 will allow voters to register at all polling places on Election Day for both local and national elections. The bill was authored by State Senator Thomas J. Umberg of Santa Clara and will give unregistered voters the chance to register or cast a provisional ballot at all offices and polling places within two weeks of the election, according to the official webpage for the bill. “Voting is the foundation of our democracy,” said Gov. Newsom in an official statement on Oct. 8. “It is critical that we expand access to the ballot box for all eligible voters, while strengthening the integrity of our elections.” Previously, this registration was only required of election officials at their main offices while being optional at other locations, according to the Office of the Governor’s website. With the signing of the bill, California will now join 11 other states and the District of Columbia in making Election Day registration available at all polling places. “No one should have to travel long distances, and wait in lines for many hours to exercise their right to vote,”said Umberg in a press release. Political Science Professor Elizabeth Huffman said this is a part of a larger program that California has been employing to increase voter participation. “California has lowered barriers to voter participation in numerous ways over the
past few years,” said Huffman. In addition to expanding on ballot access, Newsom also signed bills regarding campaign accountability and strengthening local elections. There are over five million unregistered voters in California, according to a report from the Office of the California Secretary of State on Feb. 10. These unregistered voters are disproportionately younger, lower income and people of color, according to information collected from surveys on the Public Policy Institute of California’s website. Huffman said she wasn’t completely sure whether or not the bill would impact the statistics. Eighteen-year-old undeclared major Jenni Sakakura said she thinks one of the reasons people don’t vote is due to the locations of the polling places. “There is often only one place to go, and it really puts people off of registering,”said Sakakura. While this may bring in new voters, added Huffman, they would still need to figure out where to go and be ready to spend some time at the booth. “I might mention it to some people I know who aren’t registered yet,” said 19-year-old nursing major Catherine Vang. “Ultimately, though, whether they want to vote or not is going to be up to them.” Huffman said that while unregistered voters should take advantage of the changes made by the bill, a better idea would be for them to register early. Register to vote online at https://registertovote.ca.gov/.
Lucy Vang | The Connection
Senate Bill hopes to increase number of registered voters in hopes that more people will poll on election days. For people with limited polling locations, the bill will allow for more room to register and vote same day.
New college website allows for better functions By Allesandra Sarantopulos asarantopulos.connect@gmail.com A new website for Cosumnes River College launched this semester and has officially become live for student and faculty use. Kristie West, the campus’ public information officer, said that in addition to the visual overhaul, the website now provides new functionality and features. West said the new website will fit all computer screens and includes a fully integrated search feature. There is also the addition of page translations into dozens of languages and content that is universal across the district, helping with the consistency, accuracy and efficiency. Elisa Wilson, an 18-year-old focusing on her general education, said she thinks the new website has been very accessible since the launch. “I do like having all of the tabs on the homepage,” said Wilson. “It’s nice having everything in one “With any new overhaul, it place.” In addition, West takes some time for people said there is also a catalog course with elab- to figure out where to find orate degree and cer- information. But the retificate information, as well as a new and de- sponses has been good and tailedway to search for generally, most people like classes. There is also an up- the way it looks and the dated searchable facul- way it functions.” ty and staff directory, and a new notification —Kristie West feature that will highPublic Information Officer light new content and filters on calendars to easily download events to your smartphone, said West. Jennifer Yamada, a 23-year-old business accounting major, said the website itself was a little confusing when she first saw the new changes. “It’s my fourth year here so it took me a minute to navigate and find everything again,” said Yamada. Yamada said a new student may be able to access the website easily, but for students who are used to the previous website, the new features could come with some re-adjusting at first. “With any new overhaul, it takes some time for people to figure out where to find information,” said West. “But the response has been good and generally, most people like the way it looks and the way it functions.” West also said there has been very positive feedback from students and employees on the new website since it’s release.. In the end, West said they have been very pleased so far with the new website and look forward to adding features. West said that the campus is always looking at the websites content and keeping it updated to make sure the funtionality is working. “The website will always be something that is dynamic and we are going to continue to improve it for our students,” said West.
Page 4
December 12, 2019
Full size “Neander-Paul”gives students a glimpse into the past history of humans By Mason White mawhite.connect@gmail.com The Anthropology Department acquired a full-size, nearly complete Neanderthal over the summer. The department held a contest on Oct. 15, which was Anthropology Day, and voted on names to call the new skeleton, with the winner being “Neander-Paul.” Anthropology Professor Amanda Paskey said Neander-Paul was acquired by the department through funds that were granted to Cosumnes River College by the California state lottery. Isabel Araujo, the anthropology department instructional assistant, said Neander-Paul is approximately 50,000 years old and is modeled after La Ferrassie Neanderthals, an archaeological site in France famous for multiple fossils. These Neanderthals lived between 130,000 years ago to 30,000 years ago.
Neander-Paul was discovered in 1909, and stands 5 feet 2 inches tall, which is about three inches shorter than the average male Neanderthal at that time, Araujo said. “I think the new Neanderthal is really neat because it’ll be a crucial resource when studying our human relatives,” said Anjelica Valencia, a 33-year-old Spanish major. “I am excited to have this Neanderthal be provided as a visual aid at CRC and look forward to learning more about Neanderthals in lab.” Araujo said Neander-Paul is stockier, sometimes referred to as barrel-chested, likely due to cold climate adaptation. He also has a broader nose, and an elongated cranium. “Their cranial capacity was actually around 1,500 cubic centimeters which is actually sometimes bigger than ours,” Aurajo said. The new skeleton is an important tool for giving students a good idea of what Neanderthals might have looked
Mason White | The Connection
50,000 year-old Neanderthal, recently named “Neander-pPaul,” stands in the Anthropology Lab ready to be studied. He was modeled after La Ferrassie Neanderthals, an archaelogical site with multipleancient fossils.
like, Araujo said. “This is really cool that we actually have an articulated one, I think it just gives you a better idea of what they were like,” Araujo said. “It’s hard to get a really good impression of what they might have actually looked like and stood like.”
The fully articulated skeleton does more than just show the height and bone structure. “Because he is complete you can also look at other parts of his morphology like his pelvis, his femur, you have all that,” Aurajo said. “You can do other comparisons, not just with his skull.”
Neander-Paul and his fellow Neanderthals practiced Mousterian culture, which involves making and using stone tools by chipping away at rocks until sharp. Neanderthals at this time had shelters, used fire, wore clothing and jewelry, making necklaces out of animal fangs and talons.
Faculty address gun violence and safety on campus By Allesandra Sarantopulos asarantopulos.connect@gmail.com There have been 501 incidents of gunfire on school grounds since 2013, which resulted in 196 deaths and 383 injuries, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, a non-profit dedicated to protecting communities from gun violence. With the ever-rising concern for public safety on campus grounds, campus police held an active shooter training this fall semester to discuss taking precautions as well as other safety features. “The training included instructions on how to evacuate the building when there is an active shooter
“One of the ways students can increase safety awareness on campus is to let professors and school administrators know about any safety concerns they have. ” — Jason Newman
President of the Los Rios Federation of Teachers
in the area,” said Jason Newman, the president of the Los Rios Federation of Teachers. “We were given instructions on how to not only evacuate ourselves but how to evacuate others as well,” said Newsom. While Newman said the campus had redesigned some of the doors to have the ability to lock from both the inside and outside, there are still classrooms that lack this function. Newman also said another step to increase safety awareness is adding the installment of approximately 100 cameras on campus. “With those cameras being the latest technology, it will change a lot since we only have a few cameras right now,” said Newman. Los Rios Police Chief Larry Savidge said there were videos given during the training in regards to reacting to an active shooter on campus. The videos have been released for public view on the Los Rios Police Department’s website. Savidge said that various senates requested the training to occur for faculty before the semester began. He also said he is unsure if this will be an ongoing training because it has yet to be approved by various senates for continuation. Eighteen-year-old computer science major Gavin Cable said that he feels safe on campus.
“I feel like it’s good that they’re taking action just in case something will happen because you never know,” said Cable. Cable said he’s heard about a few incidents over at Laguna Creek High School, where there have been threats written on the bathroom walls. Because of those incidents, Cable said he thinks it is a good thing there has been a training given to faculty in case there is an active shooter. Newman said the campus safety is brought up by faculty quite often as an issue to work on with the college management. The safety issues will continue to be discussed next semester, added Newman “One of the ways students can increase safety awareness on campus is to let professors and school administrators know about any safety concerns they have,” said Newman. He also said that students should put the campus police number in their cell phones. The phone number for campus police is (916) 558-2221 and press zero.
What do you think about this piece? Let us know on Twitter @CRCconnection.
Thecrcconnection.com
Page 5
>>Features
Greenhouse shifts to incorporate food production By Jacob Peterson jacobpeterson.connect@gmail.com The campus’ greenhouse, formerly home to a full nursery program, is in the process of being revamped over the next few years. Horticulture Professor Dave Andrews said the facility originally hosted the program from 2012 until 2017. Andrews said that due to a lack of enrollment over the last two years, the building is significantly emptier than it was in the past. “Before, we would have around 30 students working in the greenhouse over the semester, but as time went on we started to only get about 12 to 13,” Andrews said. “If we don’t have enough people, we can’t really maintain it at the level it was at before.” Andrews said a lack of career opportunities in the area is largely to blame for the downturn in the program’s enrollment. He said there are not enough jobs in the market, and therefore not as many
people working towards degrees in agriculture. “You have to shift with the changes and needs of the community,” said Andrews. “Things are shifting towards sustainability and food production.” In order to reverse this decline, Andrews said the Department of Horticulture and the Department of Nutrition and Food have teamed up to develop a Certificate of Proficiency in Plant-Based Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture. Nutrition Professor Timaree Hagenburger said this program was “the only one like it in the world.” “There is a lot of money in plant-based foods,” said Hageburger. “You see very big companies investing in these plant-based businesses.” Hagenburger said the program for the certificate started in fall 2017. She said the curriculum for the program was developed by Nutrition Professor Dana Wass-
Jacob Peterson | The Connection
The Certificate of Proficieny in Plant-Based Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture began in 2017 through the Department of Horticulture and the Department of Nutirtion and Food.
mer, who saw it through the approval process. Kip Baumann, a former student who participated in the program, said the experience of working in the greenhouse was new, but an enjoyable one for him. “It goes hand-in-hand,” said Baumann. “Nutrition naturally involves food, and that food has to come from somewhere.” Andrews said he thought
the program would help revitalize the greenhouse, bringing in students who are working on their nutrition degrees and teaching them about where their food comes from. Andrews also said that in the future, he wishes for the greenhouse to collaborate with the campus’ food pantry, the Hawk Spot, and the culinary arts program by providing fresh food to them. He said they are already pro-
viding some ingredients to the culinary program this semester. Andrews said in the next few years he also wants to establish a farmers market near the greenhouse. The market would sell food to both students and the local community, with the former getting some sort of student discount. “My goal within the next two years is to have this place full again,” said Andrews.
Club hopes to highlight Filipino culture and heritage By Michaela Graves mgraves.connect@gmail.com This semester, the Filipino Club made its debut as one of the newest clubs on campus, where students can learn more about Filipino heritage and culture. The Filipino Club’s official constitution, which was written by 19-year-old Club President Isabel Angeles, states that the club aims to “encourage cultural awareness and excellence through various social and educational activities.” “This is a club where you can make lifelong connections with each other and the Filipino community as well,” said Angeles. “Everyone in the club
is a ‘kasama,’ a Tagalog word usually meaning ‘together.’” Angeles said the club defines “kasama” as a “companion, comrade or partner.” She said the purpose of having a “kasama” in the group is to give club members a strong sense of togetherness. Angeles said she has many responsibilities that she must fulfill to make sure the club is as strong as it can be. One of her first tasks is appointing board members and the official spokesperson for the club. Angeles said the club will have activities, games and presentations in the future. While being in the club, students can expect to watch videos and movies, go on field trips, en-
gage with guest speakers and do fundraising for the club. The Filpino Club will also collaborate with other Filipino organizations in the area. Angeles said that the club wants to be active for people in the Filipino community but is for everyone, not just students with Filipino heritage. Club Faculty Advisor Paolo Soriano said his goal is to offer support and provide ideas and suggestions to promote the club with. “My job is to work with the club members to make sure the club stays engaged and meaningful as it pertains to their goal,” said Soriano. While enjoying her position as the Filipino Club Rep-
resentative, 22-year-old Dana Mendoza said that it is her job to try and get students to join the club. “The Filipino Club is actually to enlighten and cultivate everyone around us,” said Mendoza. Mendoza said the club will educate people who don’t know about Filipino culture and traditions or anything about the Philippines in general. Mendoza said the Philippines is almost a hidden country, so it is nice for students to join, allowing more people to learn about the history and the people of the country. The Filipino Club meets every Friday from 11 a.m. to
12 p.m. in Winn-225. During the meetings, the club discusses traditions, Filipino holidays and many other activities and discussions that are related to the Philippines and Filipino culture. For those who want to join, Angeles can be reached at her email riangeles28@gmail. com.
“This is a club where you can make lifelong connections with each other and the Filipino community as well.” —Isabel Angeles
Filipino Club President
December 12, 2019
Page 6
California attempts to decrease usage of single-use plastic By Cameron Werblun cwerblun.connect@gmail.com With environmentalism being an issue in recent years, California attempted to pass legislation this year meant to change the way California handles and recycles plastic to better help the environment due to the damage it is doing to the environment. Assembly Bill 1080, for example, aimed at banning single-use plastic and having it reduced to 75% by 2030. The bill, proposed in February, would have additionally made it mandatory for single-use packaging and products to be recyclable or compostable, but ultimately failed to pass. Similarly, California Senate Bill 54 was working to also ban single use plastics. Some of the evidence about the damage to the environment included in SB 54 and AB 1080 state “Evidence now shows that even our own food
and drinking water sources are contaminated with plastic. Microplastics have been found in tap water, bottled water, table salt, and fish and shellfish from local California fish markets.” Megha Khanna, a 20-yearold business major, said she supports the legislation that the California government attempted to pass. “I think it is a good thing,” Khanna said. “Decreasing the use of plastic is good for the earth.” California’s recycling rate has decreased from 50 to 44% since 2012, according to “The State of Waste in California,” a 2018 report published by non-profit organization California Public Interest Research Group. Khanna said one way that would encourage more people to recycle better is to increase the number of recycling bins and have clear labels. “By informing others of the importance of recy-
Summer Lomendehe | The Connection
Single-use plastic such as plastic cups and utensils have been the subject of several California bills this year that would reduce it in the upcoming years. Recycling, in general, will help reduce waste in the state.
cling, we as a society can recycle better,” Khanna said. “Recycling is a way to help conserve resources,” said Geography Professor Debra Sharkey, but she believes there are ways to recycle better. “Recycling is important because it allows us to reuse things we have extracted from the earth and uses less energy than extracting materials from
the earth,” Sharkey said. Sharkey said that people are actually not supposed to put mixed materials such as coffee cups in the recycling bins, instead separating the cup, cardboard sleeve and lid before throwing it in the recycling bin. Rober Margelin, a 32-yearold film studies major, said he also thinks there needs to be stricter policies on littering.
“Maybe it will teach everyone not to just throw their trash everywhere,” Margelin said. Sharkey believes that educating people on how to recycle better is a way that people can help protect the earth for the next generation. To learn more about how to properly recycle, visit https://www.calrecycle. ca.gov/.
Does eating on a vegan or vegetarian diet have to take a crunch out of your pocket? By Priscilla Garcia-Pargas pgpargas.connect@gmail.com When it comes to having a vegetarian or a vegan diet, there are some misconceptions that people have about them. This diet has been referred to as a privileged diet since it’s more costly to eat healthier. Beyond Meat, for example, is a plant-based alternative to meat and has been seen making its way into some of your favorite fast-food chains such as Carl’s Jr and Burger King. The retail price of it, however, can range up to $8.99 per pound. However, there are ways you can cut the cost of your groceries and improve your quality of life which is price-
less. The biggest misconception is that you have to buy only organic products. Sky Lomendehe, an 18-year-old biology major, has been a vegan since March because she was concerned about health issues. She used the 21-day kickstart diet app and it told her what to eat every day. “As someone who hasn’t had meat in a while Beyond Meat, it does taste like meat,” said Lomendehe. “I think it’s good but it’s still not healthy so I try to avoid it.” She thinks that meat and even meat substitutes like Beyond Meat can still be pricier than when she makes her own salad. Thrive on Plants, also called the TOP Club, invites
students to WINN-102 every Wednesday at noon to discuss various topics relating to veganism. Timaree Hagenburger, a nutrition professor who oversees the TOP Club, said going vegetarian or vegan is actually cheaper because you can actually buy food like beans for cents at the grocery store in bulk. Hagenburger has been on a food plant-based diet for the past 9 years and said she went from being an omnivore to a vegan because of her job as a dietician, where she understood the science behind it and made the change. “It made no sense to eat dairy or any of that because the risks to your health are very significant,” said Hagenburger.
Hagenburger said this diet is cheaper because the basic staples are whole grains and fruits and vegetables that you can grow your own. She mentions a TED Talk she saw which said if you grow your own food it was like growing your own money at that point. “Many people pass by the grocery store on the way to the fast food,” said Hagenburger. “You can go to the produce section of a grocery store and get a hand full of food that you can eat right away and it seems to last longer.” During one of the TOP Club’s cooking demonstrations, the guest speaker and chef addressed how people assume that you need meat or chicken for protein but plant-based foods like beans
are a great source of pro-
tein. Alex Rojas-Gaal, a 19-year-old nutrition major, who attends the TOP club meetings has been a vegetarian and is trying to become vegan. He said his nutrition class has really helped him towards that. “It can be expensive but I look at what I’m buying pricewise,” said Rojas-Gaal. Rojas-Gaal also said meal prepping was key to a healthier diet. If you can make everything in bulk it would make it easier to eat your meals on a busy schedule. This diet, in the end, can still be just as filling as eating a burger but it won’t have you feeling sick after.
Thecrcconnection.com
Page 7
Sketch class teaches students human anatomy By Alicia Lopez allopez.connect@gmail.com The figure drawing course on campus are classes that focus on anatomy, proportion and the relationship the human figure has to space and composition. Taught by Department Chair and Professor Jeffrey Kimbler, these classes can be taken either at a beginning or intermediate level and are attended by students living as far as Modesto. “I think anyone can take the class no matter how bad they draw,” said Ashlyn Lewis, a 19-year-old costume design major who is taking the beginning class. “As long as you pay attention, take it to heart and try your hardest, it’ll look pretty good.” The prerequisite for the beginning figure drawing class is Drawing I, which is taught by Kimbler as well as several other art professors. Although Kimbler recommends taking this course, if a student feels like they have the skills to bypass this prerequisite, the student can present a portfolio or a really strong sketchbook to the in-
structor. Kimbler said he previously had students show him an online portfolio, but they still have to demonstrate some competence in drawing. Oceanna Lewis, a 22-yearold undeclared major, said she is from Rio Vista and commutes about an hour to attend the Intermediate Figure Drawing class. Lewis said she prefers the art classes on campus as opposed to American River College or Folsom Lake because of the teachers. “I love Kimbler’s classes,” said Lewis. “His way of teaching is easy to understand.” .Kimbler said the way he prefers to teach is with a strong focus on anatomy because only then can students really process and understand exactly what they are seeing. “People kinda look down on art as a whole, but classes like this teaches you really basic things,” said Steel Bungato, a 21-year-old studio art major who is taking the beginning class. Bungato said the class gives artists a general basis on drawing anything that looks humanoid and with that skill, the artist can make their drawing look hyperrealistic
Alicia Lopez | The Connection
The beginning figure drawing class surrounds two models to sketch portraits of them from all angles. The class emphasizes the use of physical anatomy to draw.
or cartoony. Kimbler said his students have spent the beginning of the semester constantly drawing different poses and learning the fundamentals. He emphasized that they are not copying, they’re processing and thinking very critically. “There’s a lot of students that want to get into animation or illustration, and espe-
cially in animation, they have to learn to draw quickly and they have to learn how to visualize it quickly,” said Kimbler. Kimbler also stated that some of his students have gone on to study at the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, which is known for animation. He said a lot of big industries like Pixar hire out
of there. Ultimately, Kimbler said that drawing the human body is the greatest embodiment of art one can create. “Studying the human figure goes back hundreds of years and depicting the human form in art has always been the highest form an artist can accomplish,” said Kimbler.
2020 MOVIE LINEUP Compiled by Summer Lomendehe and Priscilla Garcia-Pargas
Like A Boss
Birds of Prey
“Girl’s Trip” star Tiffany Haddish and “Bridesmaids” actress Rose Byrne star in “Like A Boss,” a comedy premiering on Jan. 10 about two best friends who sell their joint beauty company to a corporation after facing financial difficutly.
The Gentlemen Matthew McConaughey plays the man behind a marijuana empire Mickey Pearson in “The Gentlemen,” a movie where the man’s fortunes makes him a target as he tries to buy out of the business. The movie premieres on Jan. 24.
The Assistant
Sonic the Hedgehog
This indie film comes from the recent controversy relating to Harvey Weinstein that sparked the #MeToo movement. This drama follows the life of a woman in the production industry and its secrets, and premieres on Jan. 31. Harley Quinn takes center stage in the highly anticipated “Birds of Prey,” where she breaks from the Joker and bands with superheroes Black Canary, Huntress and Renee Montoya in order to save a young girl from evil crime lord Black Mask. The movie will premiere on Feb. 7.
Gretal and Hansel The movie is another take on the classic “Hansel and Gretal” story you might have heard as a child. Gretal leads her little brother Hansel into the woods where they stumble upon a great evil, a truly grim fairytale. The film premieres Jan. 31.
Wendy Inspired by “Peter Pan,” the kids follow Wendy onto an island where they do not get older, but the story ,ainly focuses on Wendy and the lost boy’s adventures until they start to realize they need to escape. The film premieres Feb. 28.
When the first trailer for “Sonic the Hedgehog” dropped, many were quick to judge the blue hedgehog’s human-like features. The movie, now with a re-designed Sonic, centers around evil scientist Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) on a journey to capture Sonic, and is set to premiere on Feb. 14.
Onward In a land of magical creatures, these two elf brothers voiced by Tom Holland and Chris Pratt are on a quest to uncover whether there is still magic left in their world in Pixar’s “Onward.” The film is set to premiere on March 6.
Page 8
December 12, 2019
Theater brings comedic approach to classic play
Courtesy Photo
Courtesy Photo
“The servants of Two Masters” is about a sister who disguises herself as her brother to find who killed him.
By Halimeh Edais hedais.connect@gmail.com “The Servant of Two Masters,” a wacky and colorful play filled with drama, humor and the occasional fourth wall break, debuted on Friday. The comedic play, written by playwright Carlo Goldoni, is about Beatrice, a woman of noble blood who disguised herself as her late brother, Federigo. Once disguised, she tried to collect money from her brother’s betrothed and
Originally written by Carlo Goldoni, the Theater Department took a colorful, homrous approach to the old play.
looked for the man who killed him. Beatrice’s servant, the always hungry Truffaldino, also pledged his service to another master who just so happens to be Florindo. Cue the funny, the crazy and the heartbreak. The actors and actresses were mesmerizing, giving a wonderful performance and bringing to life the real-time struggle of heartbroken maidens, sword fights and a gluttonous servant. “It was a delight to work on this show,” said Theater Department Chair Cheri For-
tin. “The student actors were fantastic and really dedicated. I think they did a beautiful job of incorporating all the traditional commedia skills.” Fortin said that commedia dell’arte is the way an actor primarily plays stock figures in masks. During the play’s two hours and thirty minutes, the cast engaged in the energetic broad comedy style with the crowd. The play embraced a minimum amount of vulgarity, with a risque spanking scene and dirty jokes. “I didn’t expect the play
Courtesy Photo
The two hour and thiry minute play had a cast full of energetic actors who performed in a broad comedy style.
to be as funny as it was,” said 17-year-old Vimal Pratap. “I originally came to see my friend perform in the play and ended up having a good time.” The hard work that the cast and stagehands put towards the production of the play showed throughout the performance. “The play was really fun to work with,” said 19-yearold English major Keven Boult, who played Truffaldino. “To see it brought to life in front of an audience makes this a rewarding experience.”
Boult said the cast already had fun with the performance and now they get to see the reactions to their performance and it is a bit more personal. He said it allows every show to be special. “We got hot and sweaty every night but it was worth it for the audience,” said Alex Mugge, a 19-year-old journalism major who played the patron, Floggozzo. The theatre department will be presenting “The Servant of Two Masters” at the Black Box Theatre until Dec. 15.
Dance classes foster a sense of community for dancers By Michaela Graves mgraves.connect@gmail.com The dance classes on campus aren’t just comprised of students taking them to only receive credit, they are actually a community of dancers sharing their passion and talent for dance. While there is no designated dance department, some of the students enrolled in the school’s dance classes said they feel like there’s a dance community because of Kinesiology and Athletics Professor Michelle Green-Clark, who has been working at Cos-
umnes River College for over 10 years now. “Our teacher is very accepting of people of all dance levels,” said Emily Curtis, a 23-year-old communications major. “She works with everybody no matter what your skill level is.” Curtis said that these dance classes are different than the ones she has taken before. She said she appreciates how nice everyone is in her dance classes. “Everyone is so supportive, and Michelle is an amazing teacher,’’ said Curtis. “I am able to try new things,
fail and continue to get better because everyone uplifts and supports your dance journey.” The dance classes are held at the Elk Grove Center each semester, and different genres such as jazz, ballet, hip hop and modern dance are offered. Ericisha Burkhalter, a 20-year-old business administration major, said she feels like the students of the dance classes are definitely a community. Burkhalter has been dancing with the people in the community for almost six years now and said she and other alumni, along with people in the class, are so close
they’re like a family. “The dancers and alumni are constantly supporting one another, as well as the department,” said Burkhalter. “Many long-lasting friendships and dance crews were formed through CRC dance classes.” Through the classes, Angela “AJ” Charles, a 31-yearold American Sign Language major, said that she has grown and has made new friends and relationships through it. “Our teacher is very, very helpful in facilitating good relationships and fostering good talent that provides a
safe place for dancers to come and explore their talent and to grow their skills,” said Charles. Charles also stated how much she appreciates GreenClark’s ability to work with all dance students at different skill levels. “It’s very awesome because she makes everyone feel comfortable and you can do everything at your own level,” said Charles. “She pushes you to always try harder and be better and that is how we all come together to motivate and support each other so we can all do our very best.”
Thecrcconnection.com
Page 9
>>Opinion
Grades don’t determine how smart students really are By Kellie Bevins kbevins.connect@gmail.com The word “smart” is often synonymous with “good grades.” It’s the golden ticket into the real world; alphabet letters meant to represent of hundreds of hours of hard work, an indicator of being effectively prepared for adulthood. One might consider this system of grading efficient when anticipating the workforce due to long days, the dedication and perseverance it takes to finish the work and the foundation of knowledge it takes to profit from it. Certain occupations and degrees require a level of tenacity and competition that not all people, however, are capable of. While there are some benefits to traditional styles of learning and many who thrive in a “sit-down and be-quiet” kind of environment, the rest of us feel like square pegs in round holes. Students said that stress negatively impacted their grades more so than drinking,
physical sickness, or even loss of sleep, according to a 2017 study from the American College Health Association. The pressure to achieve certain grades, make a certain grade point average and still take hardcore and required state testings is one of the attributing factors in mental illness problems amongst young people. Low self-worth can be traced back to fears of a low GPA, and how that might disastrously alter the outcome of the future. On Tuesday, two lawsuits were filed on behalf of the Compton Unified School District demanding for University of California campuses to drop required testing requirements because of “unlawful discrimination against disabled, low-income, multilingual, and underrepresented minority students,” the lawsuits allege. The lawsuits cited the UC Berkeley Center for Studies in Higher Education based on their research that standardized scores are strongly influenced by parents’ income and education, as well as race
and pre-existing high school grades. As students, especially those of us who come from less-than-ideal living situations, it can be a struggle to balance the difficulties of everyday life with the burden of expectation to maintain good grades. A lot of these concerns stem from early problems in school that set the standard for many students futures. For me, I found that the fears and concerns that I carry inside me have been long fed and groomed by school institutions from elementary school on. As a kid, I was particularly free-spirited. I was disinterested in anything on paper, from books to homework and studying. All I cared about was playing and pretending. One of my early elementary school teachers found this concerning, however, and decided for my betterment to put me in a “lower-learners” classroom due to my troubles with reading and paying attention. I was compared and contrasted to other young kids
who seemed to get it all right. My move to a new class made me observe my previous classmates closely, noting how much easier it was for them to sit still, to finish the multiplication worksheets and do the readings. Instead of inspiring me to improve, I was instilled with the concern and shame that I now associate with a lack of academic achievement. Looking back, my problem was never reading, and by middle school I could read at a college-level. Rather, the problem was the obvious comparison and pitting of me against other children, and being too young to process what that really entailed. This would set me up for a future of anxiety surrounding school grading, a deep-rooted fear that wasn’t about actually learning, but about passing and being the top of my peers. The system’s dependence on memorization over actual learned information means young people often spend more time stressing and cramming and less time retaining and reflecting. From a young
age, we’re not allotted the time or the ability to explore areas that naturally interests us. A 2007 study in the official Journal of Pediatrics on the importance of play and creativity found that many schoolchildren are given less free time to play and fewer physical outlets at school by “reducing time committed to recess, the creative arts, and even physical education in an effort to focus on reading and mathematics.” Some children, the same study noted, have less time for exploratory play as they are hurried to fulfill adult roles and begin preparing for their futures. So how does this translate to higher education? In the forms of crippling anxiety, stress, intense pressure that diverts away from self-care, and being ineffectively prepared for the real world. My elementary, middle, and even high school grades had very little impact on any success or knowledge I gained from actual experience in my life.
The fate of Google’s gaming service was already determined before its launch By Jacob Pterson jacobpeterson.connect@gmail.com Google released their newest project, the Stadia video game streaming service, to a less than positive reception on Nov. 19. After paying close attention to the development of Stadia leading up to its release, this wasn’t surprising. From the beginning, there were concerns about whether the service would have proper support due to Google’s track record of killing projects, such as Touring Bird or Google Bulletin. To date, 184 services and pieces of hardware have been
dropped by Google, according to Killed by Google, a website that keeps track of the projects the company has stopped supporting. There’s also a legitimate concern about what will happen to your games if the service shuts down. It doesn’t help that Google themselves were incredibly evasive about the subject. Google eventually updated their FAQ in June to say players will still be able to play their games if support for Stadia was cut, but the FAQ specifies “unforeseen circumstances” could change that for certain games. As “unforeseen circum-
stances” could mean a lot of things, the statement is still vague enough to be worrying. Even if the threat of losing support wasn’t looming over Stadia, many of the claims about the performance of the service drew concern. In particular, Google Vice President of Engineering Madj Bakar claims that Stadia reaching high speeds by predicting inputs was worrying. This method could easily lead to Stadia entering incorrect inputs. If it does this enough, it could ruin the player’s experience. While the actual hardware for Stadia is significantly cheaper than its main compet-
itors, what it offers is lacking in comparison to similar services. “Destiny 2,” for example, is the only game that comes free with the premium subscription, which is already free to play on all other platforms. While Google has said they plan on having more games available for free in the future, customers currently have to pay full price for the rest. In this regard, it doesn’t have the value of streaming services like PlayStation Now and the Xbox Gamepass, which offer various games for free under a subscription fee. The size of Stadia’s cur-
rent library is also a problem, with only 22 games currently available. While Google has promised to add more, their catalog is still highly outnumbered by those of the PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch, each having built significant libraries over several years. Now that Stadia has been released and the reviews are in, it has become apparent that many of these concerns and criticisms were valid. While it’s still up in the air whether Google will support the service in the long-term, for now, it’s hard to call the whole situation anything less than a disaster.
www.thecrcconnection.com
Page 10
The real price of convenience By Summer Lomendehe slomendehe.connect@gmail.com
Courtesy Photo
While shopping online can be the easiest route to avoid going to stores in person, some shoppers risk the possibility of having their information exposed to third-party sources. Cyber security should be taken more seriously.
The moment I found an envelope from EyeBuyDirect on my study desk one day, I immediately felt the urge to plunge into retail therapy, thinking I had gotten a discount code for a new pair of eyeglasses. I didn’t expect to be greeted with a formal letter from the Texas-based online retailer essentially saying that my personal information might have been compromised. Despite the initial disappointment, the horrific thought of my information being vulnerable wasn’t particularly foreign to me. Throughout the year, I have gotten several emails from websites and service apps telling me they had been hacked and that the details I willingly gave them might have been shared with non-authorized, third-party users. From DoorDash and Yahoo to my beloved infographic-making website Canva, it seems like being online jeop-
ardizes my security. Risk Based Security, an organization that offers information and analysis on cybersecurity, said that 2019 is en route to becoming the “worst year on record” for data breaching-related activities. In Risk Based Security’s “2019 MidYear QuickView Data Breach Report,” the organization states that 3,813 breaches were recorded through June 30, which exposed over 4.1 billion records. They also stated that three breaches from this year “made the list for the ten largest breaches of all time.” Evidently, the implications of that can be scary. Being “plugged in” to the online world is highly convenient, with the instant joy and gratification that comes from social media as well as the perks of two-day shipping and deliveries that go straight to your doorstep. However, like many things that are too good to be true, convenience definitely does come at a highly inconvenient price. Like others who constant-
ly try their best to benefit from the convenience of being online, I never factor the consequences of buying into that. A $10 off sushi roll from DoorDash didn’t seem harmful when I ordered it during a stressful study session that one time, nor was creating an infographic on Canva about something issue-based. A 2017 report conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 49% of Americans think their personal information is less secure than it was five years ago. Despite this, the organization states that many “fail to follow cybersecurity best practices in their own digital lives.” In the report, for example, they state that 54% of adults who are online say that they use public Wi-Fi networks that could possibly tamper with their devices. It shouldn’t have to take a data breach incredibly damaging and revealing of our personal information for us to take cybersecurity seriously. Stay connected, but stay secure.
HAWK TALK
Starting in January, minimum wage in California will increase to $13 per hour. What do you think about this? Compiled by Lucy Vang and Jacob Peterson
Kadorri Butler Auto Mechanic, 18
Rebecca Martin Art, 26
Amr Mohamed Computer Science, 20
Mason Tremaine Dance/Theater, 25
“It sounds like a good idea, but I’d be afraid about possible backlashes with taxes. People would have more money then they did before, but could also mean more to tax.”
“It would be nice that people can earn a wage that’s a bit more suited to todays bills. People say minimum wage jobs are just for teenagers but that’s not really true.”
“I think it’s overall a good thing, though prices will rise to match the increase. For someone working half the day it will make a big difference.”
“I have to ask if it will really make a difference. How much of a difference it will make will depend on where you’re living and what your expenses are.”
Page 11
Thecrcconnection.com
‘Star Wars’ women forever define the franchise By Cameron Werblun cwerblun.connect@gmail.com While “Star Wars” is one of the most famous and successful franchises ever, most of the series’ characters are male. There is a part of the “Star Wars” fan base who believes that Disney, who owns Lucasfilm, is ruining the franchise because there are too many women in their opinion. Disney purchased Lucasfilm in 2012 and the first new movie they produced was a continuation of the original “Star Wars” storyline. This time, the movie featured a woman as the main character and focused on a new generation of characters. This is when the backlash for Disney started. People were not happy that a woman was the main character or that women were giving orders to men. Some people directed their hatred at Daisy Ridley and Kelly Marie Tran, who played Rey and Rose Tico respectively in the new movies.
“Some will say that these women were the main characters and that there are more women characters than just those two, but the problem is that these characters are often sidelined.”
Editor in Chief: Summer Lomendehe News Editor: Kellie Bevins Features Editor: Summer Lomendehe Photo Editor: Lucy Vang Faculty Adviser: Rubina Gulati
Photos courtesy of HiClipArt
From left to right: Natalie Portman, Carrie Fisher and Daisy Ridley all played leading roles in the “Star Wars” series. However, not fans of the franchise are happy that women are in the series at all.
The backlash Ridley received drove her off of social media. While the original trilogy had the iconic Princess Leia Organa, the story itself focused more on Luke Skywalker. The prequel trilogy had Queen Padme Amidala, and those movies focused on Anakin Skywalker becoming evil. Some will say that these women were the main characters and that there are more women characters than just those two, but the problem is
Staff: Alicia Lopez, Cameron Werblun, Mariana Sanchez, Jacob Peterson, Priscilla Garcia-Pargras, Michaela Graves, Tairiq Marshall, Halimeh Edais, Mason White, Allesandra Sarantopulos
that these characters are often sidelined. In the case of Padme, she had to die so that Anakin could become Darth Vader. After the end of the prequel trilogy and before Disney bought Lucasfilm, the franchise focused more on television with their “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” animated show, where the character of Ahsoka Tano was introduced to audiences and became a fan favorite. Her character opened the door for more female char-
Letters to the Editor must be typed, signed and include the first and last name of the author and a phone number. They must be 200 words or less and may be edited for length, clarity or taste.
acters, and while she has a larger role in the story, she is also sidelined to focus more on Anakin or other male characters. After Disney purchased Lucasfilm, they produced the new “Star Wars” animated television series “Star Wars: Rebels,” where two new female characters were introduced that had their own journeys. It expanded Ahsoka’s story and made her more of her own character. Despite the backlash Dis-
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.
ney and their actors received after “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” they did not stop putting more women on screen. The first spin-off movie “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” had a woman as the main character. “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” for example, added new characters, and received more backlash for their additions. Still, Disney did not stop the addition of more women. The upcoming “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” will have two new female characters. The newly launched streaming service Disney+ has the live-action television show “The Mandalorian” set within the “Star Wars” universe that will introduce a new female character to fans. The addition of more women on screen is important, but it is also important to note that “Star Wars” is also adding more women behind the screen as well. Deborah Chow (“Jessica Jones”) was the first woman to direct any project connected to “Star Wars” with “The Mandalorian.” This show will have two women directing episodes. Disney is also producing a new live-action “Star Wars” television show for Disney+ and all of its episodes will be directed by a woman. These additions are why Disney has been improving on the franchise, despite others that say they ‘re ruining it.
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
Page 12
December12, 2019
>>Sports
Athletic counselor hopes to aid student athletes on campus By Cameron Werblun cwerblun.connect@gmail.com The athletic counselor has finished his first year on campus helping student athletes. Matthew Wohl had been brought on to be the campus’ full-time athletic counselor in December. Wohl helps many athletes, and said the number usually hovers around 200 students, but despite the large number of athletes, Wohl tries to meet with all the students. “It’s my goal to meet with every student athlete every semester,” said Wohl. When he meets with an athlete after they are recruited for a sport, Wohl said he will meet with the student and discuss their major and classes,
educational goals and whether they want to transfer as an athlete among other topics relating to the student’s future and time at community college. Sophomore volleyball middle blocker Deziree Mckee said Wohl is a really supportive counselor and has helped her understand the transfer process and the transition from a different community college to Cosumnes River College. “I transferred from another college too,” said McKee. “I’m transferring to another college after this and he’s been really helpful with that.” Wohl also said he makes sure that his student athletes know he is there for them outside of sports. “I love supporting my
Halimeh Edais | The Connection
Matthew Wohl, the athletic counselor on campus, aims to meet with every student athlete to help have a successful semester. He said he can help up to 200 student athletes.
athletes academically,” said Wohl. “I go watch their games so they see that I’m not just here for them at school.” Sophomore volleyball outside hitter Taryn Oberle said she appreciates how Wohl is there to support the
athletes. “He gives us help on whatever we need,” said Oberle. “Aside from athletics and academics, he’s super approachable.” Freshman volleyball defensive specialist Ainsley
Backman said they can talk to Wohl about different things in their lives and not just sports. “Wohl is super understanding,” said Backman. “His door is always open and you can talk to him about anything.”
Volleyball outside blocker is acnowledged for teamwork By Allesandra Sarantopulos asarantopulos.connect@gmail.com Freshman Kaley Dosier is an outside blocker on the women’s volleyball team and has been noticed for her work ethic and teamwork. However, Dosier didn’t immediately see herself playing volleyball. Dosier said that during
middle school, her mom suggested to tryout for the volleyball team because she didn’t want to play anything else. She said she ended up loving it, and she’s been playing the sport for six years now. Dosier started off as a middle blocker and now holds an outside blocker po-
Allesandra Sarantopulos | The Connection
Freshman outside blocker Kaley Dosier, number 2, in a home game on Oct. 23 CRC Hawks vs. Santa Rosa Bear Cubs. The Cubs won 3-0.
sition. She has gone through a transition of teams after playing for her high school in Linden, Calif. “It’s definitely been different,” said Dosier. “I’ve had bad experiences with all four of the high school teams that I’ve played on and so this was definitely different from a playing aspect and as a team and attitude aspect.” Dosier said that she’s been having a good experience on the team because of the vibes she gets from the other players. “I had tried basically every single sport before volleyball,” said Dosier. “I used to hate volleyball.” As an outside blocker, Dosier said she has improved in several areas, such as passing the ball and being in front of the net. “I’ve actually improved on the outside,” said Dosier. “It was really discouraging
at first because I had never played it before, I’ve been a middle since I started.” Assistant Coach Olivia Sowles said Dosier has great work ethic and she works really hard, not only in the weight room but on the court as well. Sowles said Dosier is very strong with her swings and she is always willing to try something new. “She puts everything that we’ve been working on in practice into the game,” said Sowles. Sowles said off the court, Dosier is really good when it comes to bringing together the whole team to hang out outside of practice. Dosier is known to bring confidence and teamwork to
“I know I’m a good player and I know that I can do a lot more than what I think I can.”
—Kaley Dosier
Freshman outside blocker
the team. “She’s pretty confident, she’s super nice and she’s friendly with all the other girls,” said Sowles. “She plays well with the team, she’s been one of our starters. ” Ashanti Cason, sophomore and opposite hitter, said it’s a lot of fun being on the team with Dosier. “I adore Kaley,” said Cason. “She’s very motivating, she always has your back and when she gets down you can tell that she’s trying really hard to get back up.” Carson said when Dosier makes a mistakes, she doesn’t give up easily. Dosier said before a game, she really tries to keep a positive attitude and to keep thinking that anything could happen at any time in regards to whether the team will win or lose. “I know I’m a good player and I know that I can do a lot more than what I think I can,” said Dosier.