Men’s basketball looks ahead to conference play See Page 12 Alicia Ilaga | The Connection Dario Lizarraga|The Connection
Academic Senate Big shake-up in faculty government’s future News, Page 5
Issue 4 Fall 2018 Student voice of CRC since 1970
Equal Opportunities
Student shares his story and goals after incarceration Features, Page 7
FACEBOOK /crcconnection
Migrant Caravan
Newsroom weighs in on the asylum seekers at border Opinion, Page 9
TWITTER @crcconnection
Soccer Season Recap
Team looks back on the trials and tribulations they faced Sports, Page 11
INSTAGRAM @crcconnection
December 6, 2018
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>>News
Report says graduation rates among Latinx could benefit California economy By Summer Lomendehe slomendehe.connect@gmail.com
Summer Lomendehe | The Connection
Sources: Campaign for College Opportunity, The Puente Project, CRC Research Office
Latinx college completion will be key for California’s economy, according to a report released by the The Campaign for College Opportunity on Nov. 14. The report emphasizes how the Latinx community will continue to grow but is continuously underrepresented in the academic setting. “They were part of the history of California,” said Student Success and Support Specialist Oscar Plascencia Mendoza. “They’re part of the future of California.” Forty-five percent of California’s population will be Latinx by 2060, which is a five percent increase from today’s Latinx population, according to the same report. Despite the increase in population, English Professor Jose Alfaro said that graduation rates among Latinx students don’t necessarily reflect that. Alfaro said this could stem from the fact that Latinx students are first-generation students and as a first-generation student
himself, he said he felt “alienated” because he didn’t know how to reach out for resources. “A lot of Latinx come into community colleges,” Plascencia Mendoza said. “We need to focus on community colleges.” The report states that Latinx are also significantly underrepresented in faculty and leadership positions at California public colleges and universities. “Representation matters,” Plascencia Mendoza said. Fifteen percent of fulltime faculty on campus are Latinx, according to Cosumnes River College’s Research Office. “When you’re in class and you’re not represented in faculty and staff you’re there with, your background is not adequate to be in those spaces,” Plascencia Mendoza said. Plascencia Mendoza added that Latinx students feel more connected to faculty who look like them. “When you see yourself in the classroom, you see yourself graduating,” Alfaro said. Plascencia Mendoza said
faculty and staff of color lean toward certain educational fields. “Minority faculty and staff tend to be in certain majors,” Plascencia Mendoza said, further noting their lack in “hard sciences” like chemistry and math. “Those departments are less diverse,” Plascencia Mendoza said. Plascencia Mendoza said that when you diversify those departments, students will be encouraged to follow the same career path. The Puente Project is a student service on Latinx that tries to help Latinx students be academically successful. The Puente Project aims to “increase the number of educationally underserved students who enroll in fouryear colleges and universities,” according to the Puente Project webpage on the school website. “We need something like Puente that needs to be institutionalized,” Plascencia Mendoza said. “It needs to be the fabric of the campus.” Professors can reposition themselves in the classroom, Alfaro said. He further added that could mean “ac-
knowledging your privilege as a professor.” “It’s important for us to create safe spaces of belonging and safe spaces for dialogue,” Alfaro said. Alfaro further said professors should see themselves as mentors, which is the most “important” part of their job. Alfaro emphasized that while many academic institutions are diverse now, diversity is a “tally mark in our institution.” “We need to see our students beyond tally marks and statistics,” Alfaro said.
“When you’re in class and you’re not represented in faculty and staff you’re there with, your background is not adequate to be in those spaces. ” —Oscar Plascenia Mendoza, Student Success and Support Specialist
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Climate change brings the heat By Lilianna Ordaz
lordaz.connect@gmail.com The National Climate Assessment released their yearly report in November and emphasized the damaging effects of climate change and where our nation is headed if change doesn’t happen soon. President Trump was quick to dismiss the finding in the report saying that he doesn’t “believe it.” California has had the deadliest wildfire season this year with 88 fatalities as of Monday and 25 still missing from the Camp Fire in Butte County. “Last week was a great example of the effects of climate change,” said Biology Professor Eli Carlisle. What do these fires mean for California and the rest of the world? One of the findings of “Based on the the NCA was that “people data collected who are already vulnerable, including lower-income and by scientists and just in other marginalized commugeneral looking at the nities, have lower capacity to prepare for and cope climate change with extreme weather and around me, climate-related events and are expected to experience I believe climate change greater impacts.” is real.” The Camp Fire has —Naseer Adel destroyed approximately Cell Engineering Major 14,000 homes and 153,000 acres and officials expected it would take months to extinguish the fire but the heavy rains over the holiday weekend helped to get the fire 100 percent contained on Nov. 25, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s office. While changes need to happen on a national and global level, Carlisle said there is still plenty you can do in your dayto-day life to help combat climate change. “It’s all in how you live, there is plenty of ways for you to be active,” said Carlisle. Carlisle said that driving more fuel efficient cars, eating local food and less meat, and using your air conditioning system less, are all ways people can help the planet. “I truly believe we are “I truly believe we are ruining our world,” said biology major ruining our world. I try 24-year-old Kiana Mooney. “I try my best my to only use reusable water and to always recycle best to only use reusable bottles, so I don’t waste.” water bottles, and to Carlisle urges students to become politically active always also. recycle so I don’t waste.” “The way climate change is portrayed is wrong and in—Kiana Mooney correct,” said Carlisle Bioloy Major Naseer Adel, 21, cell engineering major, said politicians who make climate change a political topic are ignorant. “Based on the data collected by scientists and just in general looking at the climate change around me, I believe climate change is real,” said Adel. Adel added he only has hybrid cars now, in hopes to burn less fuel. Fighting climate change may be hard, but it is the most important thing in our lifetime, said Carlisle. “It’s all about finding ways to decrease our impact and looking at the bigger picture,” Carlisle said.
Sales tax increases by one percent By Stevie Gutierrez sgutierrez.connect@gmail.com Sacramento voted yes on Measure U in November to replace the previous half-cent sales tax with a full-cent tax that will be in place indefinitely, raising the tax from 7.75 percent to 8.75 percent. The sales tax increase will go into effect by April 1 of next year and will be used to assist in youth programs, affordable housing, homeless support measures and other community issues, according to an impartial analysis report from the Sacramento City Attorney Susana Alcala Wood. “The city of Sacramento has since found that we can’t live without this half-cent sales tax, in fact we need more than a half-cent sales tax increase that we passed in 2012,” said Business professor Man Phan. The sales tax increase is expected to bring in an estimated 95 million dollars annually in revenue compared to the previous halfcent tax revenue, which brought in around 47.3 million dollars annually, according to an article from the Sacramento City Express. Opponents of the measure believe that the sales tax increase will hurt the poor and that it will increase the city’s pension cost, according to an article from The Sacramento Bee. Sandra Jelkes, a 52-year-old human services major, said that she hopes that the money made from the tax increase will go towards building more shelters for the homeless but didn’t expect it to actually happen. “They’ve been saying and promising stuff year after year after year and nothing’s happening, they’re taking more money from the people and not doing enough,” said Jelkes. Computer science major Jacob Corino, 21, said he hoped that the money was going to go towards infrastructure. “There should be the precedent of fixing the roads and building new ones because near where I live the roads are in pretty rough shape, so I feel that the money should go towards something like that,” said Corino. Kenneth Chan, a 22-year-old biology major, said he didn’t mind a sales tax increase but wanted the money to go towards homelessness and education programs. “The homeless population has greatly increased which is important but the money should go towards helping support education that will help people get jobs as well,” said Chan. Phan said he wanted to emphasize his concern about the policy’s indefinite existence and how that was going to affect everyone. Phan also said that the measure that is replacing the previous sales tax increase and will continue to exist indefinitely was a “big question mark” to him. “Those with a lower income will be hurt because they will have to pay more for essentials,” said Phan.
Stevie Gutierrez | The Connection
Sources: Sacramento City Attorney, Sacramento Bee, Sacramento City Express
December 6, 2018
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City gets money to curb homelessness By Skyler Maclennan smaclennan.connect@gmail.com Sacramento County has applied to get a part of the 553 million dollars in state funding intended to help California’s homeless crisis, according to the Mayor’s Office of Civic Engagement. Sacramento declared a homelessness crisis on Oct.15 and will receive $20 million of the state funding, according to an article by Capital Public Radio. “The money can help by actually offering the development of housing, increasing shelters, and other needs the homeless community might have such as taking showers and appropriate medical and dental opportunities,” said Sociology Professor Donnisha Lugo. The money will be used to help the unsheltered population And the city is receiving the federal funding plan to expand housing programs and emergency resources, according to the California State Association of Counties. 12 million would go to Sacramento Steps Forward which is a non profit program
dedicated to ending homelessness in the region of Sacramento, the city would receive 5.6 million, and 1.6 million would be available for housing and community programs. Since 2015, the homeless population has gone up 30 percent, according to a report by the Sacramento State University. “We need more public housing and counseling resources,” said Brad Markwic, a 21-year-old theater arts major. The city plans on adding 40 more additional beds to Sacramento’s scattered site shelters and a new triage. There is also plans to create more host homes as well as increasing shelter capacity and rental subsidies, according to The Sacramento Bee. The problems is due to constantly increasing rent prices and low stock housing marking and wages that are not growing fast enough, according to a study by Sacramento State University. In the U.S. productivity has been increasing dramatically since 1940 but wage increase has been nearly stagnant since 1970, said Sociology Professor Thien-Huong Ninh. “We have a lot of students
Stevie Gutierrez | The Connection
The showers in the mens locker room in the Physical Education building are available to students who are unsheltered. An estimated 13 to 14 percent of community college students are homeless.
on campus that are homeless but the ones that are able to help can contribute by donations and anything that can help get the word out like where to find resources, people who actually need it don’t know about it,” Lugo said. About 13 to 14 percent of community college students are homeless, according to a survey by the Wisconsin HOPE Lab. The campus has several resources for students who are
homeless. The Hawk Spot, which is located in T-108, is a place where any current Los Rios district student with an ID in need of food can come and get a bag of non-perishable food items. The Hawk Spot is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and Wednesdays by appointment only. Unsheltered students can also use showers in the PE 113 thru PE 117 Monday through
Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Any students in need of finding shelter is encouraged to go to EOPS and there they will be given resources and lists of places they may be able to stay.EOPS also has food and snacks available for free at any time. “Promote the programs we have now so more people know what’s available,” said 18-year-old Graphic Designer major Uriel Reyes.
Campus closure affects student services By Marysol Olvera molvera.connect@gmail.com The deteriorating air quality that was hitting the Sacramento region caused by the Camp Fire in Butte county, forced the Los Rios College system to close all their campuses on Nov. 14 for the following week. The decision came via Rave Alert on Nov. 14. “Regional air conditions have not improved as antici-
“ I felt really sick,
honestly never felt like that before.”
—Joanna Lopez
Early Childhood Development Student
pated, so Los Rios colleges are canceling all classes effective immediately and through the end of the week,” according to the alert posted on social media. Because of the closures, it left the campus at a standstill for a week. All counseling appointments were cancelled, the campus’ food pantry Hawk Spot was closed and student employees lost hours of work. Other institutions such as Sac State and UC Davis were closed for two weeks following the start of the fires. Los Rios initially made a decision to stay open despite many requests by students and faculty to close because of the health hazards that were present. Hawk Spot Student Am-
bassador Freddy Mande said that the closure did put a slight setback in their plans. “Normally towards the end of the year, we try to get some more donations for people during the holidays and Thanksgiving,” said Mande. Mande also said that since Hawk Spot wasn’t open for a week, he had a couple requests by students for food pick ups. He said he could only take appointments after the school opened on that following Monday. Early Childhood Education student Joanna Lopez, 20, was also affected by the school deciding to close. Lopez said that she felt that the closure was necessary because the smoke was making it hard to breath.
“I felt really sick, honestly never felt like that before,” Lopez said. “It was hard to breath, at one point I had to stop driving because it felt so suffocating in my car.” Lopez is a student employee for Upward Bound and First Year Experience, which were both closed during the campus closure. She said that her hours and pay were affected because both organizations were on the non-essential list which did not allow her to continue work. “Upward Bound had to cancel a field trip on that Saturday, and we lost a lot of hours because of it,” said Lopez. The campus closure not only affected students and student workers but it had a great
impact on professors. English professor David Weinshilbom said, “I think the campus closing was beneficial, we’re doing the best we can, there was no way we could’ve stayed open. On that last Wednesday, in my class it was unbearable, even I was coughing. It wasn’t a safe environment.” While the campus closed for the safety of the faculty and staff, professors are trying to catch up students before the end of the semester. Psychology Professor James Frazee also said, “No one could have done anything, we pretty much had to close campus, but I did wish that they could’ve let us change in class work to online, it would’ve been easier.”
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Academic Senate gets new leadership By Lilianna Ordaz lordaz.connect@gmail.com
Academic Senate President Shannon Mills announced her resignation from her campus leadership position on Nov. 30. Mills, who is also an anthropology professor, will serve through the end of the fall semester when Vice President Constance Carter will become the Academic Senate President. The Academic Senate is the faculty government on campus, and is responsible for making recommendations that will result in student and faculty success. This includes approving curriculum and grading protocols as well as program development and policy implementation. The Academic Senate is considered “the voice for the faculty in the shared governance process,” according to the school website. “The faculty ultimately
decides what happens in the classroom,” said Psychology Professor James Frazee. Carter, an English professor, has been involved with the Academic Senate for more than 15 years. In that time “there has always been a certain degree of hostility amongst Senate members,” said Carter. In November, members of the faculty began circulating a petition to recall Mills. “I knew things were brewing and I know they were questioning whether to attempt the recall,” said Carter. Sociology Professor Donnisha Lugo, who is also the Academic Senate secretary, sent an email to staff members in early November expressing her critique of the Academic Senate and efforts to recall Mills. “The people who are responsible for this act of collusion have individual, personal vendettas against President
Mills and have found a way to circumvent a fair recall process,” Lugo wrote in an email to faculty members that was shared on Twitter. Mills explained that the primary initiative of the Academic Senate is to improve student success, but with faculty having “abnormal amounts of stress,” faculty cannot focus on a common goal. It has become a “deplorable mess that is no longer functioning,” Frazee said. The Academic Senate is specifically for faculty members, but students are encouraged to attend Academic Senate meetings, too. Journalism major Halimeh Edais, 20, attended the Nov. 30 Academic Senate meeting where Mills announced her resignation. “I’m very sad to see Mills leave, but I understand why,” said Edais. Faculty members say the ambiance of the Academ-
ic Senate meetings has been troublesome. Mills described the meetings as “uncivil” and “hard to be self-reflective.” Frazee described the meetings as lacking of participation from faculty. “They lacked unity, but not professionalism,” said Edais. Edais was the president of the Associated Students of Cosumnes River College from September 2017 to September 2018, and has attended various Academic Senate meetings. “They all are concerned about students, they just have different ideas and sometimes they argue on who’s right,” Edais said. In the last year, the Academic Senate has helped with the implementation of Guided Pathways as well as the Meditation Space in the BS Building, Edais added. Carter plans to fulfill the remainder of the Senate’s semester goals, which include
the implementation of pathways and Assembly Bill 705. “I just want to fit myself into the structure of the senate,” said Carter. Carter plans to help facilitate the Senate’s goals, which they already have in place for the semester. But “with interpersonal predilections, the senate is no longer a functioning body,” said Frazee. There are also impacts beyond the senate meetings as well. “Students will always be impacted, especially in the classroom,” said Mills. It gets to a point where you get burnt out and it’s harder to come into work, she continued. Carter described the lack of participation in the senate as a perennial problem, with a large amount of senate committees being understaffed. “We exist to serve the students and the minute we lose sight of that we have to sit down,” Carter said.
Students prep for flu season By Skyler MacLennan smaclennan.connect@gmail.com The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published an article on Nov. 20 about the preventions people need to take in order to avoid getting the flu. College Nurse Michelle Barkley emphasized how important it is for students to get the flu shot, which can either be administered through a nasal jet injection or needle. “Thirty-six thousand people a year die from influenza,” Barkley said. The flu is a respiratory disease known as influenza and it spreads through physical contact and through the air, said Barkley. She said it is very contagious. Between 9 million to 49 million people get sick with the virus every year and the flu has resulted in between 140,000 and 960,000 hospitalizations each year since 2010, according to the CDC. The flu vaccine protects against the three or four viruses that research suggests will be most common. The CDC recommends on-going flu vaccinations as long as the influenza virus is circulating. It takes two weeks for the body to respond to the
Stevie Gutierrez | The Connection
For a limited time, CRC Health Services is offering free flu shots in OPS 126. Flu season accounts up to 49 million deaths every year.
vaccination and for the body to be fully protected.
“Thirty-six thousand
people a year die from influenza. ”
— Michelle Barkley
College nurse
If somebody sneezes on an inanimate object the virus can live there for up to two hours, Barkley said. She also said anybody who touches that surface
and then touches their face will most likely contract the virus. “Avoid touching your face at all cost during cold and flu season,” Barkley said. To avoid contracting the virus, students should wash their hands as much as possible said Barkley. “I don’t get the shot, I just get sick. I feel like if you get the shot you still get sick,” said Kira Hawkins 18-yearold sociology major. Drinking and eating right, exercising, getting 8 hours of sleep a night and maintaining good hygiene are all things students can do to avoid catching the flu, said Barkley.
If a student contracts the flu they should stay home and isolate themselves from everyone. Symptoms can be taken care of by over the counter medicines Barkley said. “I get my flu shot and I drink a lot of tea and herbal drinks,” said 19-yearold Red Weld computer science major. “I also have an oil diffuser that cleans my air. Cosumnes River College has received a limited number of vaccine from Sacramento County Health Department. They are available for free at OPS 126, all that is required is a student ID, paperwork is given at the time of service.
December 6th, 2018
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‘Patriot Act’ is engaging but light on the laughs By Max Connor Mconnor.connect@gmail.com
Hasan Minhaj and his new Netflix show “The Patriot Act” brings a new voice to the landscape of political satire which is fast paced, intelligent and charming yet can leave the viewer puzzled and unfulfilled. The show is built around Minhaj’s unique delivery and perspective, which while entertaining and provocative, can at times be so niche and obscure that many of the jokes fly by without much audience laughter and can leave the viewer scratching their head. The show breaks from the typical “Daily Show” and “Last Week Tonight” convention of a man in a suit behind a desk. Instead, the former “Daily Show” correspondent stands wearing his own casual, stylish attire. Minhaj delivers his 20 plus minute monologue on a stage that doubles as a screen and is surrounded by screens, reminiscent of a modern day rock concert. Minaj even jokes in his first episode that he is doing his show “from inside an Apple Watch.” Episodes are released on Netflix every Sunday and they typically feature Minhaj focusing on a single topic for the entire 20 to 25-minute show. The first five episodes have covered issues ranging from talked about the evils of Amazon, the hype around the brand Supreme. Minhaj dives into each topic delivering detailed, researched information and layering it with satire, jokes and pop culture references. One of the exciting things about the show is it gives a platform to an Indian American who is Muslim and came of age during and after 9/11. It is a voice mainstream America doesn’t get to hear
from often. Minhaj is also really charming and likable. Whether or not you understand his random and slightly manic pop culture, NBA and air Jordan sneaker related references, he is naturally entertaining. Where the show falls short is in two places. First, his references are so closely tied to his point of view and life experience that he doesn’t allow much room for those who don’t relate to his generation or experience much room to laugh and learn. More than that, the show falls short on the amount of comedy he adds to his topics. Most political satire shows bring close to a 50/50 split of news and information and comedy. At times “Patriot Act” seems to be 80 percent news and information and 20 percent comedy. Minhaj delves almost too deeply into the information hoping to blow your mind and then attempting to make you laugh. His show may be more effective if he simply cleared the bar of informing the viewer and then striving to make them laugh more often. Frequently, strong jokes barely land with his live audience because they often follow a long thread of information that the audience is still trying to process while he is delivering a punch line. The show certainly lives in the right venue of Netflix where ratings and broad appeal are not nearly as important as adding content and seeing what creates its own buzz. This may allow Minhaj time to gain more of an audience and for his unique voice to find a way to inform and delight all types of people whether they understand all of what he is saying or not. Viewers may not laugh out loud and they may be often confused yet one can bet that they will be waiting excitedly for the next episode to drop.
Courtesy Photo
Love Seats
It’s ‘U’ before ‘Us’ By Nekita Smith nesmith.connect@gmail.com In any relationship, it’s important to keep in mind that you each had a life before starting one together. Before you met, you both had family, friends, hobbies and traditions. Spend time and get to know each other of course, but don’t be that friend that goes M.I.A. when they’re in a relationship. Too much time together for too long can put a strain on any couple and and tensions might might build, leading to unnecessary arguments. Continue to have time out with your friends, and don’t get mad when your partner does too. Enjoy your solo time to catch up on Netflix shows or mindless reality TV. Yes, of course, the beginning of any new relationship is the smitten stage. You know, that new feeling when all you see are the hearts in your eyes. Although the “honeymoon phase” is bliss, it’s important to not make rushed or long term decisions based on the feelings and emotions of a new relationship. In most cases, people don’t typically get into a relationship just for the fun of it, or with the intention to break up by a certain date, so don’t be afraid to have be serious conversations early on. Be clear of your intentions, expectations and boundaries. Maybe not during the first three months but early enough to not waste your time six months to a year down the line, with someone who may not be the one for you. It’s also important that by the first six months,, you should know or at least have an idea of your partner’s future goals. If they see marriage in their future, or if they want kids. What their religious beliefs are and where they see themselves in 5 to 10 years. These are factors that can change the entire direction and can be the complete opposite of
your personal goals. It’s better to know sooner than later. “Us” is spelled with “U” first. Staying true to yourself in a relationship will not only make it stronger but will also keep it genuine and long lasting. Keeping a healthy balance between who you were before and who you are during the relationship is key. As with any relationship,, there’s going to be ups and downs but being honest with yourself and your relationship will make those bumpy roads feel less traveled.
Relationship Columnist Nekita Smith Marysol Olvera | The Connection
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Aspiring student entrepreneur is here to become the change he wants to see By Victoria Blanco & Dario Lizarraga dlizarraga.connect@gmail.com At Cosumnes River College, services and opportunities are available to everyone wishing to pursue a higher education. Twenty-six-year-old Jonathan Dena currently attends CRC as a business major, with plans to transfer to UC Berkeley. “It’s not a matter of when or how, I just know that I’m going there,” Dena said. When he was 16, Dena was incarcerated for accessory to a crime in Santa Clara county. He served nine years. “I was a young juvenile delinquent with no guidance, without a plan, I didn’t really have a lot of supervision at that time,” Dena said. “I was like 16 and just thinking wow, everything just turned so real, it wasn’t no fun and games anymore, out here running the streets like it’s a video game.” Dena grew up in Sacramento and arrived at CRC the second day after his release to enroll for the fall 2017 semester. “I knew I needed to go to school, I was already going to school in prison,” Dena said. “This is my community, this is my home.” Dena applied for scholarships during the 2018 season and was awarded two: the Gordon P. Nguyen Schools
Financial Credit Union Scholarship and Los Rios Supervisors Scholarship. “Dena came in and saw me a couple times because he wanted to be sure he was doing the right things as far as the application process and getting the recommendations,” College Relations Specialist Elizabeth Starbuck said. “He followed through on everything.” Business professor Lisa Marie-Mederos had Dena as a student for the 2018 Spring semester, in the class “Managing Diversity in the Workforce.” In this class, students discuss on how to manage different groups and unique characteristics in a work environment and later on, society as a whole. “Jonathan would come to class well-prepared and having completed the readings,” Professor Marie-Mederos said. “I do think his background and what he’s gone through made him a very good asset to have in that class.” Extended Opportunities and Services counselor Denise Marshall-Mills met Dena through the EOPS program in Spring of 2018. All students in the program are required to meet with a counselor twice every semester. “Jonathan is a special spirit and a very kind person. The minute I first met him, it was apparent that he knew what he wanted to do with his life: he knew he wanted a college education and he knew he was worthy of one,” Marshall-Mills said.
Liliana Ordaz | The Connection
CRC student Jonathan Dena arrived at CRC the second day after his release from county prison to enroll for the fall 2017 semester.
Marshall-Mills continued, giving her thoughts on a person’s backgrounds and what drives them. “We show up as we are; some go down this road, some down that. I think whatever one’s past is, in particular Jon’s, it just served to motivate him even more,” Marshall-Mills said. “He’s highly motivated and focused because of the time he wasn’t in college.”
Dena continues to attend CRC and in the future, hopes to help others who have been in similar predicaments, according to the fall 2018 issue of Los Rios magazine. “I hate who I used to be but I understand kids who are in that predicament now, so I don’t hate them,” Dena said. “I feel so strongly about what they’re going through and who they think they are.”
You are what you eat By Skyler MacLennan smaclennan.connect@gmail.com Pressed Juicery opened Nov. 16 in the Downtown Commons. They sell yogurt with custom toppings, pressed juices and blends, as well as lattes and tonics. A freeze, which is a sugar-free, almond milkbased yogurt, starts at $5. Customers have the option to add toppings to their freezes, which range from fruits to candy. The juicery also sells pressed bottled juices for $6.50. In addition to those listed, they also sell shots which
are smaller concentrated versions of the juices for $2.95 . They also sell bottled blends for $8 that are made out of a variety of ingredients. The three main ingredients are almonds, dates and coconut water. You’re allowed to sample their blends. If you’re someone who doesn’t drink sugary drinks, you may be in for a refreshing surprise. The juices are very healthy and natural. It’s a small but intimate, aesthetically-pleasing location with no seating area except a small standing bar at the front window that gives a beautiful view of R street. It is also quaint and quiet,
with few workers. Even on a Saturday, you can relax in knowing you don’t expect to wait in long lines. The staff was very helpful with a full understanding of the menu. It makes the whole process simple and convenient. Pressed Juicery is the perfect stop to make while spending time with friends downtown or hanging out enjoying a nice sunny day. If you sign up and become a member of Juice you get a point for every dollar spent and once a customer reaches 75 points they get a free juice of their choice. They also have another
Courtesy Photo
downtown location in the Ice Blocks at 1710 R St. Suite 170. They are open Monday
- Thursday 7 a.m. - 8 p.m., Friday - Saturday 8 a.m. - 9 p.m., and Sunday 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
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December 6, 2018
19 resolution ideas for 2019: Set goals, challenge yourself and strive to be a better you in 2019 Compiled by Nekita Smith
1. Create a gratitude journal
Take time every day to write three to five things your are grateful for and see what you’ve written at the end of the year.
2. Break a bad habit
10. Go Vegan/ Vegetarian
Try it for 30 days to see what the hype is all about. You may end up feeling amazing and never want to go back to meat.
11. Turn your phone off!
It takes 21 days for something become a habit, replace that bad habit with a good one.
Challenge yourself to unplug at a certain time everyday. It’s good for the mind, body and soul.
3. Give up something for 30 days
12. Walk more
4. Stop paying off a debt
13. Organize your life
Coffee, smoking, alcohol, bread, etc.
Focus on one major debt you want to get rid of and knock it out. Don’t forget about your other bills, just put more towards that one main bill.
5. Do a 30 day challenge
It’s good for you!
Organization is the key to a clear mind and energy.
14. Practice random acts of kindness
There’s so many to chose from that you can challenge yourself to do a new one every month!
Lead by example even when it’s hard. Kill hate with kindness.
6. Spend less money on dining and takeout
15. Donate more often
Cooking at home is healthier and can be made in larger quantities to stretch longer, and save you money in the long run.
Time to get rid of those clothes don’t fit well or are completely not your style anymore. Someone else can benefit and you’ll feel so much better.
7. Face a fear
16. Volunteer
You are stronger than you think and will feel that much stronger conquering a fear.
8. Meet new people
Volunteering isn’t just for the holidays. There are people and families who can use your help any day of the year.
17. Take a random road trip
You’ve heard it before and it’s true, networking is a great way to meet new people with your same interests. Networking can turn into lifelong friendships and even successful business ventures.
Ride solo or with friends, either way, you’re sure to come home with new memories.
9. Start saving
18. Take a class
Take ten percent or $50 per paycheck and watch your money build throughout the year.
Learn to dance, take martial arts, an art class, or a cooking class.
19. Enjoy everyday, live every moment like it’s your last!
Wake up with a grateful heart that you saw another day. No matter your situation, it could always be worse. Fix what you can and accept what you can’t with the mindset that you will resolve it when you can.
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>>Opinion EDITORIAL
False rhetoric on immigration is as harmful as tear gas President Donald Trump launched his presidential campaign by saying offensive, inflammatory and untrue statements about illegal immigrants pouring into our country, bringing drugs and violent crime to our neighborhoods. More than two years later, he continues that narrative and even acted on those beliefs by supporting the use of tear gas against a group of migrants, which included women and children, who were rushing the border. Some of those migrants were reported to be throwing rocks at the heavily-armed border patrol but the images of children running in terror showed how inhumane that type of excessive force is. The migrants, mostly from Honduras and Guatemala, are from the a group of nearly 5,000 people looking to seek asylum in the United States to escape violent and impoverished situations. It should be noted that seeking asylum is legal and proactively assuming these people are looking to cross the border illegally is incorrect. Perhaps just as damaging as the treatment of those migrants is Trump using them to further a false, damaging and racist narrative, which many Americans continue to believe. A 2017 study by the Pew Research Center showed that about 45 percent of Americans view Asian and European immigrants positively but drops
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to 26 percent when people are asked about African and Latin American immigrants. Not only is Trump’s narrative about immigrants pouring over the borders offensive and dehumanizing, it’s just plain incorrect. Numbers from the Pew study showed that the total number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. has declined since 2008 and that there are currently more Mexican immigrants leaving the U.S. than coming in. The Pew study also showed that the number of immigrants apprehend-
ed at the U.S.-Mexico border declined 70 percent in 2017 when compared to 2006. This suggests that either the Trump administration is doing a terrible job of apprehending people or that the idea that people are streaming across the border is simply not true. Additionally, a report released by the Congressional Budget Committee in 2015 showed that nearly half of all illegal immigrants came to the U.S. legally and then overstayed their visas. While Mexican immigrants do currently make up the largest population of immigrants, the Pew study showed
that in 2017 more people immigrated from India than anywhere else, with Mexico coming in second. There is lots more research involving immigrants coming in by boats and cars, which also refutes Trump’s narrative about migrants sneaking across the border on foot. What is more important is the betrayal of American ideals of life, liberty and freedom that the narrative supports. Presumably, all Americans would like to live in a neighborhood where if they were in danger or had an accident they could knock on someone’s door and ask for help. Yet Trump and those who support his callus views on immigration evoke an image of a man who points a shotgun in your face when you knock on his door and ask for help. Immigration is obviously a sensitive and politically-charged issue and politicians should listen to those who feel that illegal immigration is a major problem and continue search for solutions to make sure that large percentage of Americans feel safe and heard. But those solutions should come from a place of understanding, humanity and empathy, not from a place of fear, falsehoods and ignorance. As Americans, we should strive to be the friendly neighbor who is happy to help and not the suspicious and cranky one who sticks a gun in your face, even when you are a woman or a child.
Defining womanhood under patriarchy By Summer Lomendehe slomendehe.connect@gmail.com
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If someone asked me to define myself, this is how I would answer: I’m 21 years old, I’m a nice Gemini and I’m a college student just trying to make it to the end of the semester. This is how I’ve been defining myself lately: I’m a woman who just got diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome. Office on Women’s Health says that PCOS is caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones and affects one in ten women of “childbearing” age, which begins at twelve. Let’s be real for a second and recognize the difficulty in seeing yourself as anything but your diagnosis when you first get diagnosed with something. When I
look at myself in the mirror, sometimes all I see are my symptoms: The depression and anxiety, the acne, the inability to conceive a child. I started thinking about internships recently but panicked at the idea of being in a work environment with my red-flaring hormonal acne. Am I really going to learn how to do my own makeup because I’m embarrassed of how I look? I saw pictures of Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas at their wedding ceremonies and almost bawled, picturing myself as a bride at my own wedding. I don’t even want to get married. I convince myself it’s the hormones. It’s definitely the hormones, right? The patriarchy is funny that way, in the sense that you have to really look at yourself and how you de-
fine yourself in a world that gives you a list of said definitions. Why does my womanhood fall under the patriarchy despite my best efforts for it not to? I was thirteen when I knew I never wanted to have children of my own and a little older than that when I decided I never want to get married. Why do I feel like I’ve been robbed of my future because I can’t have children, then? Is that really all that I am? Am I just a future wife and mother? The truth is that I don’t know. I thought I knew who I was, but now I don’t even know how to define my womanhood anymore. Part of me is disappointed that I’m going through this crisis of second-guessing myself as a woman. I had always prided myself
on how strongly I identify as a woman. I am a woman and part of my worries come from a place of sexism. However, my womanhood is mine regardless of and I will continue to tell myself this until society starts telling me this, too.
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Let’s get it straight: women don’t need your unwanted input By Lilianna Ordaz lordaz.connect@gmail.com Recently I was working my regular serving job when one of the new employees needed help with an order. I explained where to find what he needed and made sure he understood what I had just shown him. I felt good knowing I had just helped him learn something when seconds later a male coworker appeared to re-explain everything I had just said, but in his words. Therefore, a prime example of the worldwide phenomena known as “mansplaining.” Mansplaining is when a man tries to explain something, typically to a woman, in a patronizing or condescending manner. But why is it so hard for men to comprehend there is a difference between simply explaining something and mansplaining? It is so simple, that there is even a diagram you can check out to see if you are a mansplainer yourself. While some may argue this is just reverse sexism, I hate to break it to you, it isn’t. The term “mansplaining” may seem nonchalant and comical, when it really is just meant to call attention to the frustration women, and some men, have with sexist norms. It may seem like a simple fix by just “responding the way men respond,” but in reality that doesn’t solve the issue. Men far too often acknowledge their wrongdoings but fail to actually enact any change to prevent it from continuing to happen. But change is what needs to happen for mansplaining to end. When you think about it, mansplaining is a social norm that is enforced in a variety of cultures. Men are always viewed as superior in every way, so it makes sense they try to dominate something as simple as a conversation. So how does society go about this much needed cultural shift? Well for starters men can come to terms with their mansplaining tendencies. Society also has to stop rewarding men for their male communication norms, like mansplaining, and stop punishing women who develop the same tendencies. And the one that is most crucial, is to teach the new generations proper communication skills. It may seem simple, but society needs to learn how to respect others while talking. This can be accomplished by not interrupting whomever is speaking, actively listening, and not mansplaining.
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Audiences have had enough with remakes, reboots and sequels By Stevie Gutierrez sgutierrez.connect@gmail.com The movie industry has discovered a never-ending cash cow with the current wave of remakes, reboots, and sequels that keep bringing in the flow of money in the hundreds of millions and sometimes billions of dollars.. Is it fair to completely disregard all remakes, reboots, and sequels? There are always going to be hidden gold nuggets amongst the piles of dirt. Some great examples are 2010’s “True Grit,” 2015’s “Mad Max: Fury Road” and 2017’s “Blade Runner 2049.” Unfortunately, these aren’t enough to hold back the tide of schlock that comes barreling into the theaters. Some of the more noticeable dumpster fires that came out within the last few years include 2015’s “Fantastic Four,” 2016’s “Ben Hur” and 2018’s “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” all box office bombs. Disney has found themselves a big safety net with their upcoming releases, based on already popular movies that have been made and contain their own dedicated audiences. Disney plans to release live action versions of “Dumbo,” “Aladdin,” and the “Lion King” in 2019 after the successful and positive receptions of their live action remakes of “Beauty and the Beast” and the “Jungle Book.” They plan to also release a live action movie of Mulan in 2020. It’s difficult to imagine a time when there was a movie that wasn’t a part of
an already existing cinematic universe or wasn’t based off of something that had already been done. When it comes to asking “what was the last, completely original movie that I saw?”, chances are there will be a pause before a thought appears. It’s easy to take advantage of a market that is powered by nostalgic memories of past movies that already established themselves in grand releases. I wonder when this trend will eventually meet its end, before people are completely sick and tired of the endless lack of creativity that is demonstrated by movie executives. The change might be coming sooner than expected. According to Box Office Mojo, total domestic box office in the United States went down by almost three percent in 2017, compared to a two percent increase in 2016.
“It’s easy to take advantage of a market that is powered by nostalgic memories of past movies that already established themselves in grand releases.” This isn’t a guarantee that big changes are coming, but depending on how 2018 performs financially this might hopefully be the beginning of the end for remakes, reboots, sequels and introduce a fresh breath of creativity within the film industry.
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>>Sports
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Freshman forward Dom Maestretti (above) is one of many freshman who led CRC to the playoffs this year.
Men’s soccer looks forward to next year after playoff loss By Max Connor mconnor.connect@gmail.com The men’s soccer team ended their season with a hard fought, first round playoff loss to Butte College on Nov. 17. The Hawks finished the season with a 108-4 record and returned to the playoffs as a #11 seed for the first time in several years. “That was one of our big goals was we wanted to make the playoffs,” said Head Coach Ron Preble. While the Hawks season was a little uneven at times, the overall results were impressive given the adversity the team faced mid-season. “I think our record didn’t show how good we actually were,” said freshman defenseman Dom Maestretti. “We had some key guys that weren’t with us for the rest of the year that left in the middle.” Coach Preble revealed in a post season interview the reasons for the departure of two of their best players. One chose to try out for a professional league, knowingly forfeiting his college eligibility, while the other simply quit. “His comment to us was, ‘coach I’ve been playing since I was a youth player and I’ve never had a break from it and I’m just tired,” Preble said. “So we basically told him look, if your heart’s not in it, it’s probably better that you go,” Preble said. That information gave context to a team which had the ability to suffocate their opponents with precision execution but at times could also look out of sorts. The team was also very young, starting the year with only five sophomores and 20
Editor in Chief: Max Connor News Editor: Stevie Gutierrez Jr. Features Editor: Nekita Smith Sports Editor: Max Connor Opinion Editor: Lilianna Ordaz Copy Editor: Summer Lomendehe Faculty Adviser: Rubina Gulati
freshman, which contributed to the teams up and down performances. “We didn’t really know what to expect, especially being a bunch of freshman,” said freshman midfielder Julio Leal Ruiz. “The four sophomores that we had told us it was going to be a hard long season so just buckle down.” It proved to be a challenging season for the Hawks, particularly in conference play where they went 2-5-1. However, the talent the players and coach Preble touted shined through at times with wins against Fresno and San Francisco City college, both of whom ended the season in the state semi-finals. The team was forced to continually rebuild their chemistry through the ups and downs, including after a game in which three players had been suspended for receiving red cards the previous game. “We went through a few games where we only had two or three subs available to us to play,” Preble said. That type of strain is something that could cause a team’s morale to crumble but the Hawks were able to stick together and continue to get better. Ruiz said that the team bonded quickly which allowed them to weather the stormy season and still reach the playoffs. “Ever since the second week we all acted like we’d known each other for a really long time, so it was a good experience,” Ruiz said With so many players returning Preble said that “the outlook for 2019 is good” and his players share that enthusiasm. “Now that we know what it takes and now that we have experienced it, I expect to go a lot farther next year in the playoffs,” Maestretti said.
The Connection Cosumnes River College 8401 Center Parkway Sacramento, CA 95823 Staff: Marysol Olvera, Dario Lizarraga, Skyler Maclennan
The recent political dona- vative billionaire who sent out tions of the principal owner of donations, somewhat blindly, the San Francisco Giants has to Republican causes and cambeen a great example of the good paigns. and bad that came come from What is so interesting about politics bleeding into sports. this story is that Johnson supCharles Johnson and his ports and owns a team that is wife donated $5,400 to the Cin- loved by a limitlessly diverse dy Hyde-Smith campaign for fanbase which embodSenate in Mississippi back in ies the values of its city. early November. That donaThe Giants have themed tion was reported after Hydenights for LGBTQ rights, Smith made obscene comments AIDS research, heritage hypothetically attending a nights for all sorts “public hanging.” of different cultures Max Connor Fans from one of the most and even The Grateful liberal cities in the country Dead. started renouncing their fanThe unfortunate light shed dom, saying they would return on Johnson is actually a great their season tickets and branded opportunity for fans to engage Johnson as a racist because of his in conversation about the tough donations. political reality of our country There is nothing wrong with today. A reality where people fans being upset or feeling let sit, entrenched in their corners, down by the owner of their team unable to listen and spew outnot holding their same political rage at any opportunity. beliefs. There is a problem with Johnson comes from an enfans immediately giving up on tirely different generation where their team because of misplaced he can be a staunch Republican anger and disgust over the do- but isn’t defined by his ideology. nations from an owner many of He owns a progressive sports them had likely never heard of. team, and according to the San I do not personally agree Francisco Chronicle he and his with Johnson’s political leanings foundation have given $180 and I find his statement that Re- million to non-politcal causes publicans create better oppor- ranging from homelessness to tunities for African Americans children’s hospitals over the last than Democrats ludicrous. three years. With that being said, I reThrough his recent blunder, spect his right to donate money Johnson has given us all a wonto whatever party he chooses derful opportunity to examine and I accept Sports that Johnson real-give ourthe ownfan bigotry towards editor view of others ized his mistake and asked for beliefs and to converse as Giants current sports topics his donation to be returned. fans about all sorts of difficult Johnson stays out of the topics that lie outside of their spotlight and has slowly ac- echo chambers ensconced in orquired 26 percent of the team ange and black. since his intially modest investBecause fans can have a ment in 1992. hard conversation with the safeThis was not a Donald Ster- ty of knowing they can always ling situation, where you had go back to their shared love of well known owner caught on their team and that is something tape using racial slurs. This was that should be celebrated and an 85-year-old, white, conser- encouraged.
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
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December 6, 2018
Dario Lizarraga | The Connection
Sophomore guard Kenneth Cooley goes up for a layup and scores two of his 6 points against Merced on Nov. 30. The Hawks won 80-62 by shooting 48.5 percent from the field, went 13 of 15 from the free throw line, showed their depth with contributions up and down the roster and had sophomore guard Khari Hutt lead the team with 23 points.
Hawks are hoping for a conference title this year
With four returning sophomores and a full squad of 15 players, coaches said they are excited and optimistic By Nekita Smith nesmith.connect@gmail.com The men’s basketball team suffered some unfortunate losses last season but they are ready and optimistic for this year. Head Coach Jonathan James, who also played when he attended Cosumnes River College, believes he has a team full of stars. “We’ll definitely be better than last year, I can say that,” said James. James said he is excited to work with sophomore players guard Khari Hutt, forwards Paul Ohiri and Drew Buggs, who returned this season. “It’s always good when you have guys who have already been in the system,” said James. “They know what to expect from you, and what to expect from the level of competition.” Even with the experience of returning players, the team has had to build chemistry pretty fast this season. “We’ve got a lot to clean up;
we’re still a young team together, we haven’t played with each other that much yet but every time we play we get better,” said Buggs. “We don’t have a lot of time to create that chemistry so practice is key.” Freshman guard Terrell Gardner said that being positive “motivating each other to keep getting better everyday” has been quickly helping them build that chemistry. “Our guys get along well on and off the court,” said James. “We have a good group and a good cohesive unit and everybody contributes.” Gardner and Buggs agreed that the teams style is to “push the pace and run up and down the court.” “We’re sort of an attack and get to the rack team,” Gardner added. Assistant Coach Mat Bradley said he has his mind set to compete for the conference title and said they should have success in the playoffs.
“That is my 100 percent expectation,” said Bradley. Assistant Coach Tony Champion added that everyone is gunning for state title because “it’s always been a goal.” With 15 players on the roster, James said this year feels different and they’re all “super excited and optimistic for the season.” James said the team hopes to see the support of our school this season. “The more support we have as a team, I think the better we play; it excites the players to see the school supporting them,” said James. “We try to make our fan experience here at CRC much like a four year college, we try to bring that energy with our mascot and giveaways.” The team hosted the 40th Annual James Clark Classic from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 but unfortunately they lost two out of three games in the tournament. “The other two games (we lost) we were holding the ball a little two long, we were a little
stiff.” said Buggs. “Towards the end we would pick it up but that’s gotta be the whole game.” Cosumnes River will play
their next home game on Dec. 21, at 5:30 p.m. against Diablo Valley, which will begin their Big 8 Conference schedule.
Dario Lizarraga | The Connection
Freshman guard Terrell Gardner streaks down the court against Merced. Gardner described the team’s style as “attack and get to the rack”