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Blue Line rolls into campus See Page 3 CeeJay Willis | Guest Photographer
Measure A
Universal Transit Pass depends on student vote News, Page 3 ISSUE 1 Fall 2015 Student voice of CRC since 1970
New President Arrives Dr. Bush shares his vision for campus Features, Page 4
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Shooting Alert
Delay in notifying students draws criticism Opinion, Page 6
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Soccer Preview
Women’s soccer confident about new season Sports, Page 8
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September 17, 2015
>>News
Students respond to Sac City shooting By Tyler Santana tsantana.connect@gmail.com Following a fatal shooting that occurred on the Sacramento City College campus on Sept. 3, which left two people injured and one dead, students and staff shared how the incident has affected them. Students from Cosumnes River College and Sac City shared their thoughts about the shooting and how it was handled by the Los Rios Police Department and the Sacramento Police Department. Los Rios Community College Chancellor Brian King issued a statement on Sept. 4 about the shooting to LRCCD faculty, staff and students. “I am proud of our faculty, staff and students who reacted admirably in the midst of this unthinkable and sense-
less ordeal,” King said, in that day like Brittany Giles, didn’t inform my best friend an email sent out to LRCCD 19, a liberal studies major. about the shooting until 40 faculty and staff. “A special “I was really scared for minutes after the incident had thanks to our Los Rios Police my best friend and all the stu- occurred, and that was very officers for their professional dents at Sacramento City Col- upsetting,” Giles said. and compassionate response lege,” Giles said. Several students said they to the first shooting ever on a Sacramento City Col- felt the same way Giles did Los Rios college campus.” lege’s Public Information Of- about the response time. Some CRC students said ficer Rick Brewer said in an Others suggested that they are conthere could tinuing to feel be some more I am proud of our faculty, staff and students affected from simple imthe consequencp r o ve m e n t s who reacted admirably in the midst of this unes of the shootto the campus thinkable and senseless ordeal. “ ing because of security. the close prox“If I was -- Brian King imity of the inin charge of LRCCD Chancellor cident. our school “I was surprised, I didn’t interview with Capital Public safety, I’d make sure that there think it was real, it was so Radio that the first response was a stronger security presclose by and I went there last went out via email to faculty ence at all the schools,” said semester,” said 20-year-old and staff at 4:18 p.m. 19-year-old psychology major communications major MaritThe text message didn’t Francisco Saldana. “Being a za Carilo. reach students until 4:40 p.m., security guard myself, I know Other students said they Brewer said. how effective that is.” feared for their family and “What surprised me the “I would suggest to school friends who attended Sac City most was that the school officials to place more armed
“
security guards around key points on campuses and some who are also in plain clothes, so that we know that we are safe and protected,” Saldana said. King has also since sent out a district-wide email to inform the entire Los Rios faculty and staff that there would be a review of the response time and actions taken iduring the ocurrences of the campus shooting. “To that end, I have directed our General Counsel, J.P. Sherry, to coordinate an external review of the timeline of events last Thursday and propose recommendations to strengthen preparation for possible future incidents as we move forward together,” King said. Staff writers LeShea Munoz and Matt Johnson contributed to this story.
Campus undergoes major renovations to AC system By Nicole Goodie ngoodie.connect@gmail.com Walking through campus, it is nearly impossible to miss the construction that has left giant trenches throughout the grounds with little information as to what their purpose may be. The $1.7 million construction project, nicknamed the Big Dig, is focused on replacing the main hydronic infrastructure pipes surrounding the inner core of the campus. These pipes control the college’s heating and cooling systems connected to the A/C, or the HVAC system, as well as the temperatures for the sinks and showers on campus using water flow, said Director of Administrative Services Augustine Chavez. The pipelines, which are the same ones from the origianl campus, need to be replaced because of rust buildup, leaks and they have passed their lifespan, Chavez said. “If we can increase water flow then we’ll have better control of temperatures,” Chavez said. “The other thing is to be green and ensure that we’re not leaking any water as well. It would make us more energy efficient.”
Nicole Goodie/The Connection
CRC is spending $17 million on a major construction project to repair A/C and HVAC systems.
Administrative Services worked with the contractors and project managers in the Facilities Management Department, to make sure the impact of the construction to the campus as well as the effect on its students were handled appropriately. Chavez said their biggest challenges were related to student access on campus as well as the safety of students and staff. “Particularly, the dig along the quad was very sensitive,” Chavez said. “We wanted to make sure we maintained access.”
He said there was a rush to lay down the concrete on the main walkway between the library and the Community Athletic Center before the beginning of the fall semester, specifically so student access would not be impeded. Despite the Administrative Services’ efforts, some have said they were still inconvenienced by the construction. “I think they can do a little better,” said 18-year-old kinesiology major Chavnair Stocker. “A few more signs would be nice and behind the old basketball court there’s no signs so I had to turn around.”
In an attempt to keep students safer and more aware when they are walking around, fencing was placed around each trench, along with various caution cones and signs. On the construction sites themselves, workers were supposed to make sure heavy machinery was being monitored by a flagger on the ground to keep an eye out for pedestrians. These were all precautions that have been put in place by CRC and some students have said this was enough to keep people safe.
“Everything is pretty blocked off and secure,” said Chris Mejia, a 22-year-old biology major. “It’s not like anyone can hurt themselves unless they go out of their way.” Others voiced their concern with the lack of caution by the workers. “They had a crane to dig up the dirt with and it blocked the back pathway,” said 18year old undeclared Julie Wright. “They almost hit a student.” Chavez is in charge of campus operations, so that means he would be the one to speak to with any complaints or comments on the impact of the construction around the campus. “If there’s ever any issues then just let me know,” Chavez said. “I’m happy to see what we can do.” The estimated date of completion for the project is Nov. 1, but students should expect all of the trenches to be filled by mid October. With this project and the recent light rail construction, there are no other major projects planned for the rest of the semester. Staff writers Quincie Pruitt and Mariah Rios, contributed to this story.
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Students will vote to keep fares low By Emily Lotz elotz.connect@gmail.com
Ceejay Willis | Guest Photographer
A Blue Line light rail train arrives at the recently-finished campus light rail station.
Regional Transit Blue Line extension to campus opens By Emily Lotz elotz.connect@gmail.com The much-anticipated Blue Line light rail extension to Cosumnes River College opened Aug. 24. The Blue Line extension runs every 15 minutes from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., and students and residents can now take the light rail directly to CRC from Sacramento City College, the Pocket area and downtown Sacramento. The entire project was completed ahead of schedule, as well as approximately $10 million under their $270 million budget, according to a Regional Transit press release. “As for Los Rios, RT was extremely fortunate to work with this organization and their vision of providing transportation options to their students,” said RT Project Management Director Ed Scofield. “There was a time about 30 years ago where transit was not typically welcomed at college campuses in the Sacramento region. However, fast forward to today and the Los Rios leadership has taken the lead of not only allowing transit on their campuses, but actually encouraging it.” The pre-opening on Aug. 23 was teeming with families and future passengers. The event hosted booths, games, food trucks, live entertainment and preview train rides. The grand opening event on Aug. 24 included refreshments, giveaways and the arrival of the inaugural train, complete with Valley High School’s marching band play-
ing for the very first riders who were getting off at CRC. Although the CRC Light Rail is ready to ride, there is still work to be done on some of the individual stations. The bulk of unfinished construction lies with the pedestrian bridge at CRC, which connects the parking garage with the Light Rail station, in an effort to eliminate pedestrian traffic. These last bits of construction should be finished within the next couple of weeks, Scofield said. The new Blue Line also brought four new stations with it at Morrison Creek, Franklin, Center Parkway and the CRC campus. There are still construction touch-ups to be done at each station, but three of the four stations are in use. The Morrison Creek station, which is located in the undeveloped area in South Sacramento, won’t be finished until 2017, when “future development occurs in this area,” according to an RT press release. Though it might take longer to sort out all the kinks of such a large project, most students said they were excited about the light rail line they have waited so long for. “It’s great and I love it, I’m glad they’ve done it,” said sociology major Sabra Comer. “It makes it a lot easier. I had been waiting, and I’m surprised they finished ahead of schedule. It’s perfect for me because I live right by 59th and Folsom.” CRC’s Universal Transit Passes work with the bus and
light rail lines, but the cost of the pass varies based on amount of units students are enrolled in. CRC has also encouraged passengers going to other locations to use the 2,000 Park and Ride spaces located in the new parking structure. The general public, students and employees of the entire Los Rios District can park on campus with any of the approved permits: Daily pass, Semester Student Pass, Employee Pass, [or the] Regional Transit Monthly Pass, said Director of Administrative Services Augustine Chavez. RT and Los Rios Police Departments have joined together to increase the security presence and make the new line as safe as possible, said CRC Public Information Officer, Kristie West. “[Security] is a top priority for the college and RT,” West said. “We want our students to ride light rail and the bus and feel this is a great benefit to them and the college. We want to encourage students, employees and the community to try it out.” With the extension project coming to a close, Scofield confirmed that it will not be the only one. “RT’s next major light rail extension could be going out to the airport,” Scofield said. “It seems to have significant support throughout the region and is high on the priority list of elected officials throughout the County. Having said that, going further into Elk Grove seems like a natural step for a future extension from CRC.”
With Cosumnes River College’s student elections coming up on Sept. 22 and 23, the Los Rios Community College District is calling all of its students to vote on a new proposal called Measure A, which would determine whether the Universal Transit Pass with Sacramento Regional Transit will be renewed. The UTP is a sticker pass on the Los Rios ID card, for students to take any form of regional transit, for free each semester. “I saw the signs around [for Measure A], it’s a very serious thing,” said computer science major, Aaron De Lara, 18. “I live down in Elk Grove and it’s pretty far away. I don’t have a car and I have no other way to get here.” Nearly 30,000 students across LRCCD used RT buses and light rails, adding up to 4.4 million rides total in 2014, according to the CRC Voter Guide, located in the Elections section of Student Services. The number of students who use the UTP means that the vote could have major benefits if passed or major consequences if it fails. It will be the difference between paying $8.40-$31.50 and $500, per semester. All students who are enrolled in three units or more at any of the Los Rios District campuses can vote on Sept. 22-23 by going to the ‘Elections & Surveys’ tab within eServices. “The college encourages students to vote ‘yes’ on Measure A during the special election to approve the Universal Transit Pass,” said Public Information Officer Kristie West. “The contract with Regional Transit is about to expire and it’s time to negotiate a new one.” If this vote fails, the current UTP system remains in effect until November 2016. After that, students would be required to pay the Single Pass fee of $2.50 for every ride, the $6 Daily Pass fee, or an $100 monthly fee. “I would vote,” said video game design major Chris Ortiz, 22. “To really get this
going, we need to make sure that people still pay $8 for that transit ticket because it’s cheaper for people [who] don’t have money.” If the vote passes and the UTP is renewed, eligible students would pay $2.10 per unit, capped at 15 units. This means that a student taking four units a semester pays $8.40, 12 units a semester pays $25.20 and 15 or more units pays $31.50, according to the Voter Guide.
HOW TO VOTE: What: Students will vote on Measure A, which could keep transit fares low. When: Sept. 22-23 Where: The ‘Elections & Surveys’ tab after logging into eServices online. RT has transfer agreements with other RT agencies, so there are connections to Davis, Folsom, Roseville, Sacramento Airport, and Sacramento and Woodland regions. These can change if RT’s cost needs aren’t met, according to the Voter Guide. If they change, there will be a major effect for commuters. This vote could be a big change students may not be prepared for financially. Hannah Elabbassi, a 20-yearold business major said, “students would be discouraged to come to school at all.” If Measure A were to pass, it would begin in the spring and continue until Dec. 2021. This would require another renewal vote in 2020, according the the Voter Guide. However, if the vote doesn’t pass now, UTP may not return at all. “After several years partnering with RT, who has kept the cost very low for our students, there was a need to raise the fees slightly due to the rise in operational costs,” West said. “However, it is still an extremely good deal for CRC students saving them more than $900 a year off the regular RT pass. Continuing this program is a win-win for our students and our effort in keeping cars off the road.” Staff writer, Mariah Rios, contributed to this story.
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September 17, 2015
>>Features
New president settles into campus community By EJ Aguayo eaguayo.connect@gmail.com Cosumnes River College welcomed Dr. Edward Bush as college president on July 1. During a speech to faculty and staff in CRC’s Recital Hall in August, Bush, 42, addressed his colleagues for the first time. He emphasized working towards higher rates of student success and a desire to make CRC “the preeminent college in the nation.” Vice president of Instruction and Student Learning Whitney Yamamura served as interim president after former CRC President Deborah Travis retired in December, and he described Bush as intelligent and committed. “Every candidate can say they believe in our core values, but you can tell those aren’t just words for him,” Yamamura said. Bush previously worked as the vice president of student services at Riverside City College, and has been a college administrator for nearly 17 years. Bush said he carries a commitment to students as his top priority and to uplift those who have been “historically marginalized in society” and economically disadvantaged. Bush said he also wants to improve on current educational structures for all students including those who are more well-off. “I’m a student advocate,”
Bush said. “Although I've been president for two months, that's really been my job for 20 years. My position is just a different role I play.” It was his time as an undergraduate at University of California, Riverside that Bush said he began to see that perspective take shape, but there were obstacles beforehand.
“I think Dr. Bush is the right man at the right time. He’s who we need right now.” --Dr. BJ Snowden RTVF Professor At the beginning of his sophomore year, Bush was placed on academic probation for failing to maintain a 2.0 GPA. After a letter was sent to his home, and knowing that his mother found out, Bush recalled this time as a “wake-up call.” “I remember feeling horrible,” Bush said. “Just knowing that my mother was disappointed was enough.” With the advice of his older brother, Bush dedicated an extra two hours after class each day to study. By the next semester, he went from failing to meet academic requirements, to the dean’s list with a 3.6 GPA. Bush would go on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in po-
Courtesy Photo
Dr. Edward Bush became the college president on July 1. Bush says he brings a strong commitment to students who have been “historically marginalized in society” and economically disadvantaged.
litical science from UC Riverside, a Master of Arts in public administration from California State University, San Bernardino and a Ph.D. in Urban Educational Leadership from Claremont Graduate University. “What I've been exposed to, those experiences have shaped me to be strong,” Bush said. “Resilience will allow me to get through any situation that I face.” Bush grew up in a tough neighborhood in Pomona, Calif. that he called a “ghost
town.” Bush said his father, a head football coach who later transitioned into a high school administration, and his mother, a substitute teacher turned stay-at-home mom, maintained a strict household as strong disciplinarians with clear expectations for Bush and his three other siblings. Because many of his friends did not have that same stability at home, Bush said his home became somewhat of a safe haven to those in need with his father acting as a sur-
rogate parent. “When I reflect back on it, I knew I wanted to do something with my life that would impact those who represent who my friends were,” Bush said. With CRC’s recent expansion and growth, including the new light rail station, many say that Bush is poised to help the campus grow further. “I think Dr. Bush is the right man at the right time,” said Dr. BJ Snowden, a radio, television and film professor. “He’s who we need now.”
Online videos encourage student self-learning By Sean Pastrana spastrana.connect@gmail.com The library has launched a series of do-it-yourself videos this fall semester for students and faculty. Not only do these library videos offer study tools, but they also provide new students with information on how to utilize their student ID cards, how to reserve books, how to engage with library staff and how to use their Los Rios universal login. “These videos were designed to be a lesson which
introduces basic library knowledge,” said Public Service Librarian Andi Adkins Pogue. “We are in the process of re-working our tutorials so those longer format videos will all be changing.” These videos can be accessed from the school’s library website menu on the left side under tutorial. They provide students with a virtual tour of the library and explain the basics in gathering information for research papers through the library’s databases. The Cosumnes River Col-
“These videos were designed to be a lesson which introduces basic library knowledge.” --Andi Adkins-Pogue Public Services Librarian lege library has its own YouTube channel, where there are several videos that offer short and concise information about the library. These videos are
to the point and were created with a cartoon style to give the viewer a more visual aspect in learning. “When the videos are revised within the next year, they are going to be short, engaging and dynamic with visuals,” said Public Service Librarian Emily Bond. Quizzes on Desire2Learn were issued last fall to see how the library videos affected CRC students. “Statistics have shown that 3,335 tutorial quizzes were completed,” Bond said. These stats provide the
public service librarian staff with information to see if the videos are helpful to students and provide the necessary room to improve future videos. CRC student Ronald You, 19, a business and entrepreneurship major, is aware of the videos on the CRC website and believes they can be great assets for students. Although he has used the reference desk to answer some of his questions this semester, You said the videos do “help significantly” and are great tools for students to use.
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Cartel takes over in new series ‘Narcos’ By Matt Johnson mjohnson.connect@gmail.com In 1975, a petty criminal entered the cocaine trade, changing Colombia forever. “Narcos” tells the story of Pablo Escobar’s ascension to the top of the drug trade–making billions per year, causing hundreds of deaths and running for office all at the same time. Brazilian director Josè Padilha, known for directing the “RoboCop” remake, has teamed up with Netflix to create, what they hope, is the next must-see Netflix series. While it’s hard to reach the success of “House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black,” “Narcos” has the plot lines and character development to do so. “Narcos” was released on Aug. 28 and depicts the real-life story of Escobar, played by Wagner Moura. Padilha throws you into the violence immediately, as we see men and women dancing to music, then suddenly the atmosphere is shattered as a storm of bullets burst through the bar. Padilha introduces the characters and develops unique storylines early on. The different character perspectives immerse you into the beginning of the Colombian drug wars in the 1980s. “Narcos” has the makings of a fascinating television series–violence, insight and a protagonist. The writers do an excellent job portraying Escobar in a variety of ways,giving to the poor, being a business-
American River Music Festival
The ninth annual event will be held on Sept. 18-21 in Lotus Park in Coloma. Gates open at 10 a.m. Performances from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets range from $15-$75
Alleluia! The Devil’s Carnival
The fantasy-musical film franchise will make its way to the Colonial Theatre in Sacramento on Sept. 21. General admission is $20. Courtesy Photo
Wagner Moura stars as the infamous Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar in the new Netflix original “Narcos.”
man and being a ruthless cartel boss. While the show is about Moura’s character, it’s narrated by DEA agent Steve Murphy, played by Boyd Holbrook from “Gone Girl.” He is joined by fellow DEA agent Javier Peńa, played by Pedro Pascal from “Game of Thrones.” Holbrook serves as the show’s omniscient narrator, introducing the audience to every detail of the story. It seems like an attempt to follow the narration in “Goodfellas,” but it doesn’t pan out as well on television and is overplayed. It plays a helpful role in
the premiere, but is a nuisance as the storylines within nine more episodes unfold. The characters and writing have shown great ability to tell this story in an entertaining, understandable manner, making omniscient narration unnecessary. What makes “Narcos” unique is its bilingualism. Unlike some movies you’d see in Hollywood, the actors playing cartel members speak Spanish fluently. English subtitles play below, so the audience can follow along with the dialogue. It adds a layer of realism to the series and makes the characters more believable.
“Narcos” is the next can’tmiss Netflix show that everyone will be talking about. At a time when everyone loves to binge watch an entire season, the first 10 episodes will hook you in and you’ll never want to let go.
Folsom LIVE
This Folsom music festival returns to Sutter Street for one night only on Sept. 26. The gates open at 5 p.m. General admission is $30 and includes free local shuttle and RT rides.
Movie Premiers
Score out of 5 stars For more TV reviews, visit thecrcconnection.com or follow the Connection on Twitter @crcconnection
Maze Runner - The Scorch Trials: Sept. 18 Hotel Transylvania 2: Sept. 25 The Martian: Oct. 2 Steve Jobs: Oct. 9 The Walk: Oct. 9
#TrendingNow YouTube vlogger and comedian Nicole Arbour made headlines after a video she posted about how fat-shaming isn’t a real issue went viral. “I think she’s a horrible person. She might have some issues. I used to be a bully because I was insecure about myself. She’s probably insecure and going off on people,” said business major Christian Zuniga, 20.
ildfires With wildfires taking place all over Northern California burning hundreds of thousands of miles and displacing people from their homes, a state of emergency has been declared in many places. “It’s terrible. It’s not just the homes, it the animals, and acres, The Butte mountain is on fire and it’s just getting worse. I’m hoping they’ll get it contained,” said 19-year-old biology major Josanna Korcz.
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Compiled by Kayleen Carter & Nichelle Heu All photos are courtesy photos
Adds Dislike Mark Zuckerburg recently announced that Facebook would be adding a “dislike“ button to accompany the social media site’s “like“ feature. “I think it’s just going to be another way for people to go against each other. It’ll turn into more conflicts rather than expressing opinions,” said 20-year-old anthropology major Meghan Scurti.
September 17, 2015
Page 6
>>Opinion EDITORIAL
Delays in emergency alert concern students By now, word of the tragic Sacramento City College shooting, which took one student’s life and left two others injured, has spread well beyond the Sacramento area. What has concerned many is the slow notification to the Los Rios student body after the shooting. Faculty, staff and district officials were notified by email at 4:18 p.m. while students were sent text alerts at 4:40 p.m., nearly an hour after the incident, according to Capital Public Radio. That was enough time for rumors to spread and to cause panic. An earlier alert could have kept students and faculty safer since they could avoid the surrounding area. Those who were close to campus could have had the ability to keep an eye out for suspicious persons or activities, leading to the arrest of the perpetrator who remains at large. Sacramento City College’s Public Information Officer Rick Brewer said that the alert to students was delayed because his office was sorting out conflicting information, according to Capital Public Radio. The text alert read: “Students and Staff: SCC main campus currently locked down due to gunshots fired. Shelter in place until further notice.” Since the previous email alert to the staff was nearly identical, students should have been notified at the same time. While Brewer said the delay was due to conflicting information, Los Rios Community College District Chief of Police Cheryl Sears said officials tried to send out an alert sooner but ran into technical “glitches.” Whether it be from a lack of information or a technical glitch, the Los Rios district still failed to alert students of the danger in a timely manner. The Campus Security Act of 1990 states that it is required for “colleges and universities to provide timely warnings to the campus community of certain crimes reported to law enforcement, which may represent a continued threat to other students and employees.” The Sacramento Police Department first tweeted about the shooting at 4:13 p.m. They continued to tweet updates of the investigation, and corrected old tweets as they received new information. Los Rios officials could have followed suit instead of worrying about giving students half of the information. If the safety of students is a priority, getting those students to safety should trump worries of the inevitable rumors. Sears also said that police considered the campus to be safe since the gunman fled campus immediately after the shooting, according to The Sacramento Bee. Just because the gunman was no longer directly on campus did not mean that every student was safe. A shooter on the loose can still pose as a threat to innocent bystanders. Information is now accessible within minutes, so this should be used to the fullest extent in emergency cases such as this. It seems that LRCCD used the fact that the gunman fled immediately and posed no threat to students directly on campus as a cover-up for their failure to alert the student body more promptly. Los Rios Chancellor Brian King said because of the shooting, emergency procedures would be reviewed and changed if needed, according to The Sacramento Bee. Fortunately, the district is realizing their mistake and making an effort so that it won’t happen again. Agree? Disagree? Let us know at connection.crc@gmail.com or thecrcconnection.com
HAWK
TALK
Since the shooting at Sacramento City College, how do you feel about your safety on campus?
Joseph Shipley 29, liberal arts
“There’s only so much you can prepare for. That type of thing is going to happen, unfortunately. We’re on the outskirts of Sacramento and not much is around us so we won’t get as much attention as Sac City being that they are closer to the center of Sacramento.”
Leigh Ann Rogers 33, internship developer
“As a guy, I trust the campus police. I feel like there needs to be more security around for night classes, but for the daytime I feel pretty safe.”
Kevin Phillips 19, criminal justice
“I feel that in every emergency situation, the individuals we have in charge do the best they can. I feel protected and I know these types of things happen even with the best security in place. It hasn’t taken away my sense of security.”
“I don’t notice any flaws with security. It feels pretty safe here.”
Emerald Nash 18, computer engineering
Compiled by: Sean Pastrana and Kalaisha Totty
Editor in Chief: Nicole Goodie Features Editor: Nicole Goodie News Editor: Emily Lotz Opinion Editor: EJ Aguayo Sports Editor: Tyler Santana Faculty Adviser: Rubina Gulati
Staff: Kayleen Carter, Alec Gonsalves, Coy Granderson, Nichelle Heu, Matt Johnson, Cole McCarthy, LeShea Munoz, Taunika Ogans, Sean Pastrana, Quincie Pruitt, Mariah Rios, Kalaisha Totty
The Connection is an award-winning newspaper published bi-weekly 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 District. The Connection is a member of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges and California Newspaper Publisher’s Association. 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.
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
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>>Sports
Men’s soccer falls short against San Francisco to back. More pressure on the ball drove the Hawks to their first goal, made by Renteria. “We have a lot of energy. Everyone wants to win, everybody goes after every ball,” said 18-year-old midfielder Juan-Carlos Flores. “It’s just a matter of following up.”
By Kalaisha Totty ktotty.connect@gmail.com The Cosumnes River College men’s soccer team lost 3-1 to City College of San Francisco on Sunday. After starting off the season with 3 losses and 2 ties, the Hawks continued to put up a fight in hopes of winning the first game of the season at the last day of the Nor-Cal Community College Showcase. “We have to win this,” said 18-year-old goalie Shoneel Kumar. Starting the game with a lot of pressure on the ball, the Hawks missed on connecting the ball to make the goals. After the game paused a few times because of players injured from CCSF, the Hawks attempted shots at the goal. By half-time CCSF was up 2-0. “We made a lot of mistakes on the field that costed us goals. We’ve got a lot of individual talent, our chemistry has gotten a lot better,” said 19-year-old forward Alejandro Renteria. “Hopefully we get on the right path soon.” Players ran drills during the half with Assistant Coach Brandon Evangelista. “We weren’t connecting as well, made mistakes on defense,” said 18-year-old defensive player Greg
“We just need to be better and attack.”
— Greg Gulseth Defender
Taunika Ogans | The Connection
CRC middlefielder Juan-Carlos Flores, right, takes command of the ball against City College of San Francisco on Sept. 13. The Hawks went on to lose the game 3-1.
Gulseth. “We just need to be better and attack.”
During the second half, the Hawks attempted three shots at the goal back
As the game came to a close, the Hawks continued fighting for a goal. “One of our strengths so far is strong communication. We haven’t really found anything too big to build on,” said 21-year-old team captain Fernando Meza. “That perfect pass that we need to make isn’t there yet.” Head Coach Ron Preble gave the team individual feedback after the game. He stressed that the team gets decent scores but plays with confidence with no substance. “We’re coming in at second half stronger, I feel like we’re a second half team,” Meza said. The Hawks will play Hartnell College at Hartnell Sept. 15 at 6 p.m.
Volleyball’s new roster serves up wins By Alec Gonsalves agonsalves.connect@gmail.com The Cosumnes River Hawks hit the ground running since their backto-back wins in August against Simpson University at the Sixth Annual Alameda Classic, hosted at College of Alameda. According to the statistics found on the official CRC Hawks website, the team performed 359 kills, 329 assists, 545 digs, and 487 points within nine matches. “They are tactical, on and off the court, and they listen to all the information needed for their volleyball and strategic skills, processing and performing well when they need to,” said Cassie Baxter, 28, head coach for CRC’s women’s volleyball team. With a season record of 6 wins and 3 losses, the Hawks have already produced 4 more wins than last season’s ending record of 2 wins and 24 losses. The team is mostly comprised of freshman athletes and are led by four returning veteran players: outside hitter Paige Castleberry, 25, defensive specialist, Justice Cooper, 20, and middle blockers Mercedes Dangerfield, 21, and Tierra Collier, 20. “We all get along, we all do a lot
of bonding things. We all talk to each other, so I guess you can say we are ‘meshing’ well when it comes to communicating,” said seventeen-year-old
“The players to look out for are our defensive specialist Keilani Gaithier, who is mopping up all of our mistakes, and we are looking forward to the return of Olivia Sowels in the next couple of weeks to fill out our aggressive offense.”
Cassie Baxter — Volleyball Head Coach
kinesiology major Alanis Lemley. The team may have had a bad winloss ratio last season, but future business major and outside hitter Castleberry said the team dynamic has never been better. “With such a young team, the newly added players are showing their team captains the utmost respect and attention when it comes to communication, whether it is on or off the court.
They are always open to advice and coordination,” Collier said. On-court communication is exactly what both the crowd and Ohlone College experienced first-hand at the CRC classics on Sept. 4. Although the Hawks did not pull through with a victory, the lack of communication was not their falling point. “The players to look out for are our defensive specialist Keilani Gaithier, who is mopping up all of our mistakes,” Baxter said “And we are looking forward to the return of Olivia Sowels in the next couple of weeks to fill out our aggressive offense,” Baxter said. With two more wins than last season, better communication and a returning right-side hitter to fill out the roster, the Hawks are starting the season strong.
Alec Gonsalves | The Connection
Middle blocker Tierra Collier winding up an ace against Ohlone College’s defense on Sept. 4
Page 8
September 17, 2015
Team strong despite injuries, coach says By Cole McCarthy cmccarthy.connect@gmail.com Last season was the closest the women’s soccer team had been to the championship title since 2009. “This year we’re a lot stronger,” said 19-year-old center forward and newly-appointed co-captain Erica Lim. Lim is a returning sophomore this year. She secured the Hawks their position in the semi-finals last season with a solo goal scored against Modesto Junior College during second overtime. Because of a concussion she received from an indoor tournament, she was only able to participate for one week of the three-week conditioning period prior to the beginning of the season. Going into a new season, team members said they always feel a need to top what was previously accomplished the last season or to make up for any mistakes or shortcomings that may have occurred. For most of the team’s players, this is their first year playing for the Hawks. Co-captain Vanessa Curtis, a 19-year-old center defender, said the team was “not as in sync as we need to be but we’re still trying to figure each other out. We’re all meshing really well. We have a very talented group.” Curtis said that her job as captain is to get the team ready to play, make sure that everyone is in the correct uniform, knows where they are going and to let them know they need to be ready to play. Both of the co-captains as well as head coach Cesar Plasencia said there was some concern for the high number of injuries that have already occurred thus far during the season. Lim added that the team merely needed to “get our injured players back and healthy.”
LaShea Munoz | The Connection
Defender Jessica DeAnda goes for the tackle on the ball and defends the goal away from the Folsom Lake Falcons on Sept. 2.
Lim said the team was “getting to know how everybody plays.” She also said the team was “getting better with each practice and each game.” Lim said that as far as playing soccer goes
Women’s Soccer
the team had clicked easily. Plasencia has been the head coach of the team for 11 years. He said he intends primarily to “reinforce concepts and principles.”
Women’s Volleyball
His expectations are the team being able to make it back to the final four. The co-captains affirmed that this goal would be reached as well and met with success.
Men’s Soccer
Sept. 18
Lake Tahoe
4 p.m.
Sept. 18
Canada
1 p.m.
Sept. 19
@San Diego
4 p.m.
Sept. 25
@Sierra
4:30 p.m.
Sept. 18
Redwoods
3 p.m.
Sept. 20
@Mira Costa
4:30 p.m.
Sept. 29
Diablo Valley
3:30 p.m.
Sept. 18
Columbia
5 p.m.
Sept. 22
@Delta
3:30 p.m.
Oct. 2
@Santa Rosa
3:30 p.m.
Sept. 25
@Feather River
2 p.m.
Sept. 25
American River
2 p.m.
Oct. 6
@Modesto
3:30 p.m.
Sept. 30
@Modesto
1 p.m.
Sept. 29
Modesto
1 p.m.
Oct. 9
@Delta
7 p.m.
Oct. 2
Delta
6:30 p.m.
Oct. 6
@Sequoias
4 p.m.
Oct. 13
Sac City
3:30 p.m.
Oct. 7
@Sierra
6:30 p.m.
Oct. 9
Taft
4 p.m.