THE SKYLINE VIEW The Voice of Skyline College, San Bruno, Calif.
November 10, 2021
theskylineview.com
Issue 3
Skyline aims towards creating a smoke-free campus SFCHC works with Skyline College to create the OnlyFog project By Izzy Herrera Staff Writer
The San Francisco Community Health Center (SFCHC) and Skyline College’s Health and Wellness Department are heading towards making Skyline a smokefree campus. SFCHC received a California Tobacco Control Program grant in 2019 and they decided to partner with the San Mateo Community College District to create the OnlyFog Project. SFCHC collaborated with Skyline’s Sociology and Social Justice studies Professor Rika Yonemura-Fabian Ph.D. to help create a smoke-free campus at Skyline College. The OnlyFog project’s main purpose is to adopt a policy to remove all nine smoking zones currently on campus and make it 100% smokefree by March 2022. The root of this project is to combat the social justice issue at hand, tobacco use among young adults within the community. According to the California Tobacco Control Program, groups such as minorities, people with mental health problems, and the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to be influenced by tobacco use. 81% of Skyline’s population are people of color, which are the most vulnerable to being affected by tobacco use not only within the community but in their homes. “Lots of people consider tobacco in a very narrow way, that it’s a personal choice,” said Professor Rika Yonemura-Fabian Ph.D. “What people may not be familiar with is that more tobacco shops are found in lower-income areas. In higher income, more white areas very few tobacco shops are found while areas such as predominantly Black, Latino, and Asian neighborhoods you can find one on every block.”
Andrea Sto. Domingo/The Skyline View
Skyline College is currently working towards building a smoke-free campus.
The project’s first steps were to take a poll of Skyline students and see how they felt about the use of tobacco on campus through secondhand smoke. Mark Heringer, a former Skyline student who now works at SFCHC, remembers his time on campus and how frequently his classmates would use the smoking zones, especially times under stress. “When I was a student I remember hearing a lot of complaints that there was a lot of smoking during finals near the library,” said Heringer. If the policy were to pass, some students would defy the rule. Yonemura-Fabian and Heringer are choosing an educational approach rather than a punishment method. “There are smokers on campus and they are addicted and addiction is not a crime,” said Yonemura-Fabian. “I really think the main solution would be a lot of resources and sources of education for students which will be provided on campus. I always talked about the nicotine patch and put them in dispensary machines as a remedy so you can
fight the urge to pick up the cigarette. Also, things such as counseling and info sessions would be what we would provide.” “One of the things we want to ensure is that we get our message across that the big tobacco industries are targeting people of color, low-income individuals, and also the LGBTQ+ community,” said Heringer. “If you are caught smoking on campus by the police you know well enough that they fall under the targeted community. What we want to do is prevent that type of discrimination, that’s why we do not want to go with the punishment approach. We do not want to cause another unnecessary interaction. One thing we want to do is focus on education enforcement.” Anthony Herrera, a kinesiology student at Skyline, who is a smoker stands on the neutral side of the project. “I am neutral because I know it is a place for people to smoke and relax,” said Herrera.“I myself do not use the smoking zones so if they get rid of them it will not affect me at all.” However, Anastasiya Garanchuk, a nursing major at Skyline
who is not a smoker agrees with the OnlyFog project idea. “I agree to remove all nine smoking zones on campus because the fewer chances people have to smoke, the less they will actually smoke,” said Garanchuk. I do understand the principle of freedom, every person has the right to choose to smoke, but a school campus should teach right and healthy values.” The main takeaway that Professor Yonemura-Fabian and Heringer want Skyline students to take from OnlyFog is that Big Tobacco industries do target the minority communities and that it is a social justice issue. “We want everyone to remember to protect themselves, something we talk about is harm reduction,’’ said Heringer. “Harm reduction does not mean you quit cold turkey, it means that you take it day by day and set small goals that will get you eventually to your big goal.” The outcome of the OnlyFog project has not been determined but has been set to vote on the outcome in November.
The District moves forward with vision for student housing
SMCCCD works towards a future plan to provide student housing for the three community colleges By Derian Lopez Staff Writer
The San Mateo County Community College District is in the process of moving forward with a student housing plan that will take place within the next couple of years. One of the challenges for adding student housing is the cost of constructing and purchasing facilities. District officials have discussed how several different options have been explored to help fund student housing, but applying for the State budget is what they’re going with. “With funding included in the State budget for the construction of student housing projects, SMCCCD will apply for a grant from the State which if received, would provide a significant portion of the funding needed to construct student housing facilities,” said Dr. Richard Storti, executive vice chancellor of Administrative Services. The California Department of Finance released guidance for how districts with “shovel-ready” projects can access the initial round of
funding amounting to $500 million. SMCCCD is fastidiously working towards having their final application sent in by the October 31 deadline. District officials are working on a plan to include housing at all three of the community colleges. “The first project is anticipated to be located at College of San Mateo because of its central location within the district,” said Storti. “Students attending any of our three colleges will be eligible to stay at student housing located at CSM.” SMCCCD has its staff ready to help students obtain resources for student housing so that they can keep moving forward with their education. “Student housing is known to enrich campus life and provide many students with the opportunity to complete their educational goals,” said Storti. “It would also provide many students with an opportunity to complete their educational goals in a shorter period of time.” Housing at the three community colleges can impact things such as
commute time, cost of living and home location for students. “It would take away that extra commute that can sometimes hinder getting to class on time or at all,” said Jovelyn Marinas, a communication student at Skyline College. “When people don’t have to stress about where they have to move or if they can pay their expensive rent or be in a dangerous situation, they can focus more on their academics instead of those stressors.” “It’s already well known that housing in the Bay Area is extremely expensive,” Marinas said. “It brings up the conversation of how affordable ‘below-market-rate housing is. Just because it’s ‘below-market-rate doesn’t mean that it’s affordable for college students.” It’s still unclear if they’re going to use ‘below-market-rate units. If they were to use the units, 2,000 of them would go to the College of San Mateo. The units could be up to 2,551 if the housing would be available at below-market-rate, according to a 2020 survey study by The Scion Group.
Students have expressed their concern as to whether or not it is challenging to obtain a spot for housing. “What are the criteria?,” said Marinas. “How much of it is (actually) need-based?” Students’ eligibility for applying to SMCCCD housing is not yet available. State funding is providing housing for full-time students (12 units or more) and ones that are in need financially. Students such as Marinas believe that part-time students should also be eligible for student housing on the campuses. “I think they’re really leaving the students out who aren’t able to commit to being a full-time student because of factors like work or having to take care of family members, children,” Marinas said. “ I think there are also cases where those who study part-time while working full-time, are those with housing insecurity.” “District officials are currently exploring options for part-time students,” said Storti.
There are currently discussions being held as to whether international students should also be eligible for the SMCCCD student housing plan. “International students are still students of Skyline College,” said Marinas. “They can suffer from housing insecurity as well, and I think it can be especially hard for someone to find housing when they’re not familiar with the area. I think this also sends a very negative message that international students are only seen as “temporary”, and therefore, shouldn’t have a chance to claim a spot in housing.” The deadline for this state application is Oct. 31. Vice-Chancellor Mitch Bailey shared that they may have a proposal by the next meeting on Oct. 27. The final decision on the application will be made between May and July of next year. “If we are successful in receiving State funding, construction would begin as early as 2023 with occupancy available as early as 2025-2026,” said Storti. If approved, future SMCCCD students can look forward to eligibility and application resources.
2
News
The Staff Editor-In-Chief Steven Rissotto News Editor Andrea Sto. Domingo
November 10 , 2021
SAGA holds annual National Coming Out Day The student-run event was District-wide and held virtually By Steven Rissotto Editor-in-Chief
Focal Point Editor Anoush Torounian Arts and Entertainment Editor daniela Ossa-Lopez Opinions Editor Zachary Navarra Sports Editor Arman Archouniani Chief Copy Editor Steven Rissotto Photo Editor Andrea Sto. Domingo Graphics Editor Zachary Navarra Social Media Editor Daniela Ossa Lopez Staff Writers Adriana Hernandez Anthony Perez Armando Reynoso Derian Lopez Izzy Herrera Mark David Magat Phil Ho Faculty Adviser Nancy Kaplan-Biegel
Want more news? www.theskylineview.com Or maybe you have news for us? (650)738-4302 Want to yell at us? theskylineview@gmail.com Or use snail mail: The Skyline View c/o Language Arts Room 8-8110 Skyline College 3300 College Drive
San Bruno CA 94066
The Skyline View is a First Amendment Publication. The Skyline View is published bi-weekly during the spring and fall semesters by the journalism students at Skyline College. The Skyline View is a member of the Journalism Association of Community Colleges. Opinions expressed in the paper are those of the writers and should not be interpreted as the views of Skyline College, SMCCCD, the faculty, administrators or the newspaper adviser. Additionally, the paper does not endorse any of the products or services advertised. The Skyline View welcomes Letters to the Editors; letters must include full name, address, and phone number for verification. The Skyline View reserves the right to edit letters for length, libel, clarity, and taste.
In connection with LGBTQ+ History Month and collaboration with the Intercultural Center, the Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) hosted their annual National Coming Out Day event on Oct. 25. In a virtual Zoom meeting that was opened up to the entire District, roughly 25 individuals participated in the student-run event, which featured in-depth stories from different panelists consisting of faculty, staff, students, and community members. In those discussions, the panelists touched on gender, sexual, racial and ethnic identities across numerous generations. “Whenever the Intercultural Center has the opportunity to support students in exploring their identities, finding community, and working towards social justice, we are always able to witness the effectiveness of the events we co-host with them manifest throughout the event; especially when levels of engagement and vulnerability increase throughout the event,” said Allen Ocampo, Skyline’s Program Services Coordinator. The event featured conversations that reflected painful trauma and personal narratives among many other themes. Some of the certain talking points raised awareness on dealing with different cultural mindsets, the process of coming out publicly as LGBTQ+, media representation of the community. Considered a safe spot and a place for confidential and emotional conversations, the meeting wasn’t recorded nor could the personal
Kassidy Corbin/The Skyline View
SAGA works with the community to increase understanding and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community.
information be shared outside of the space. “At the beginning of each Intercultural Center event, we go over our community agreements to establish a certain culture for the space,” Ocampo said. “Additionally, we let participants know that we value their vulnerability and we explicitly mention that we don’t record any of our events that open the floor up for personal sharing.” Before the last two years ––– where Coming Out Day was a virtual event ––– the function was hosted in the quad on Skyline’s campus and was a rather large and visible demonstration. SAGA President Oliver Tinoco wasn’t available to attend the event until the District moved to distance learning in the Spring of 2020. As a goal, Tinoco’s hope is for Coming Out Day to serve as a reminder to students across the District’s three campuses that they could rely on the safe space for resources that were unique and exclusive. “It has always been about helping others for me and I think that events
like this help in putting those aspirations to action,” Tinoco said. “In terms of how it helps the college community, I think it provides an example as to what student leadership and initiative can do for the campus.” SAGA’s mission statement emphasizes the club’s goal to work together with the college and the community to increase understanding and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community at Skyline and in society. Another goal they have is to provide safe spaces to support, educate, and assist all students and promote constructive conversation about topics related to gender and sexuality around campus. The alliance recently scored a big gain when Skyline recently introduced a new LGBTQ+ focused course, Social Justice 130: Introduction to LGBTQ+ Studies. The campus will offer it every other semester. Further down the line, they’re hoping to create a Pride Center, an idea that was in negotiations between the Intercultural Center and the Skyline Equity Department as recently as Spring 2020. “Whether it is issues with pronoun usage or a lack of sensitivity with issues
relevant to not just the LGBTQ+ community, but all minoritized identities that exist here on Skyline, there have been enough instances to give us more reason to push for visibility so our students and staff know that they are respected and there are initiatives keeping them in mind,” Tinoco said. “We have also gotten a lot of positive feedback from staff who have touched on the fact that if they had had something like this when they were still in school, it could have made their journey just a little bit easier,” Tinoco said. There will be another Coming Out Day event hosted by SAGA on Wednesday, Nov. 3 at 4 p.m. on Zoom. The club has made it clear that the events are safe and inclusive to all, regardless of how one identifies themselves. “We have also gotten a lot of positive feedback from staff who have touched on the fact that if they had had something like this when they were still in school, it could have made their journey just a little bit easier,” Tinoco said.
The District is ready to welcome students back fully in-person
20 months ago was the last time we have had in-person classes By: Armando Reynoso Staff Writer
The spring 2022 semester is ready to welcome back all students fully in person. All three campuses are set to transition back into in-person classes and services starting spring 2022, with rules that every student must follow. Every student must be fully vaccinated in order to participate in in-person classes and services. Students won’t need to bring in their vaccination cards, instead they will have to verify that they are vaccinated against COVID-19 on the WebSmart home page. Log into Websmart and go to the student services tab and click on the COVID-19 vaccination link at the very top of the page. Then students will need to select fully vaccinated and snap a picture of their vaccination card. Students should get an approved or declined email within a day or two when they have submitted. Every employee, student or visitor entering the campus is required to wear face coverings in an indoor public setting. If you have misplaced your mask, you can ask any campus facility and one would be provided to you. Campus employees will help keep the students safe by cleaning and disinfecting heavily student-populated areas at least once a day. Areas such as the classrooms, workrooms, and conference rooms, etc. Heavily interacted surfaces such as elevator buttons, and door
Andrea Sto. Domingo/The Skyline View
A movie poster for the premiere of in-person sessions.
handles. The District advises that students should stay at home if they are feeling sick or have any COVID-19 symptoms. Both Jonathan Zaragoza and Samay Tandel, who are Skyline College students, explained how safe they feel going back to classes in person after months of going online. “I do feel safe because as long as everyone is taking the safety precautions necessary then there shouldn’t really be a problem,” Zaragoza said. “I feel safe going back to in-person classes. I think with the vaccine and mask (mandate) in place most students feel safe attending classes in person,” Tandel said. In-person services and classes can help get more students involved in campus clubs. The tran-
sition to online learning was tough for the clubs because they weren’t able to meet in person and needed to have their meetings online. The expectation is that classrooms will be filled with students having their professors right in front of them to ask any questions they may have. “We are able to get help face to face instead of waiting for an email from a professor. We will also be able to interact with our classmates instead of doing independent work most of the time,” Zaragoza said. Some students prefer to learn in-person more than online because they are visually looking at their professors and not at a computer screen. “Some pros of going back to school is being able to learn visually and having less distractions,” Tandel said. “Some students are visual learners and they learn better by experience and having to stay focused
in class.” Online learning presented challenges for professors as well. Professor Lindsey Ayotte explained the challenges she had while teaching remotely. “It has been challenging as an instructor to create a sense of community in asynchronous courses. I also feel like I’m working three times more teaching online than I did when face to face,” Professor Lindsey Ayotte said. “I will say that the pandemic has challenged me to re-examine and re-imagine the way I teach.” The transition from learning online to in-person learning can be difficult but the district is doing its best to ensure everyone feels safe. “I am looking forward to the transition back to campus and looking forward to interacting with humans and not tiny blank black zoom boxes on a screen,” Ayotte said. “I think the district is doing their best to ensure a safe return.” Students of the district can look forward to next semester’s plan towards bringing the community back together on their campuses.
“Some students are visual learners and they learn better by experience and having to stay focused in class.”
3
Opinions
November 10, 2021 Feb. 24, 2021
Editorial
Skyline students should support net neutrality The students of Skyline College should urge their representatives to support the nomination of Gigi Sohn In a world of salacious headlines and provocative political narratives, the mundane policies of our everyday lives often are left unnoticed. The Biden administration has recently announced the nomination of Gigi Sohn for FCC commissioner, a move that the students of Skyline College should support. If Sohn is approved then there is a strong possibility that Title II net neutrality rules will be re-established in the United States. This is because Sohn is both the key swing vote in a currently deadlocked FCC commission and a strong proponent of net neutrality. Advocating for Gigi Sohn is synonymous with advocating for net neutrality. The Oxford dictionary describes the policy as “the principle that internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites.” In essence, this is the idea that all websites should be treated equally by internet service providers. net neutrality is essential to a fair and consumer-friendly internet. This is especially important for college students since much of our work and education relies on quick and easy access to a large variety of online resourc-
Zachary Navarra/The Skyline View
A pathway forward without net neutrality is one where internet providers can slow connection speeds and raise prices unfairly.
es. The potential for websites vital to college students being intentionally slowed down is dangerous. The danger of internet inequality is exactly why we used to have this regulation. Title II net neutrality was first enacted in the latter years of the Obama administration. However, it was repealed early during the Trump years via FCC chairman Ajit Pai. During the
past four years, our country operated without any guard rails towards internet equality. It’s time to stop tempting fate and put them back on. The students and broader community of Skyline College have the ability to help ensure net neutrality is brought back to our country, to ensure Gigi Sohn is confirmed as an FCC commissioner.
Calling or emailing our representatives, in this case, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla is an easy way to voice your concern and potentially influence their vote. Engaging in democracy is not always voting in high-profile elections or debating over the day’s headlines. Sometimes it’s as simple as calling a senator.
California Senators Alex Padilla S.F. Office: (415) 981-9369 D.C. Office: (202) 224-3553 Dianne Feinstein S.F. Office: (415) 393-0707 D.C. Office: (202) 224-3841
Local governments need to scrutinize international real estate investment Local governments need to scrutinize international real estate investment By Anoush Torounian focal point editor
Foreign investment in Bay Area real estate may be contributing to a more competitive market and urban displacement of local communities. Home prices in cities like Austin, Texas have been driven up by Californian buyers, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. Given this phenomenon, foreign investment in real estate may be contributing to the crazed market in the Bay Area. Foreign activity in the U.S. real estate market has predominantly been viewed with a veneer of xenophobia. This fear-based prejudice inhibits local and state governments from calling attention to the net impact of this activity for fear of coming across as bigoted. However, this scrutiny is not to persecute international investors and fear monger; it is important to look at the real impacts foreign investment has on Bay Area communities. Middle-class Bay Area natives in search of a home are met with astronomical prices that may prevent them from ever penetrating the market. The 1990 U.S. census recorded a drop in the homeownership rate for the first time since 1940, and this trend has only ballooned in the post-dot com boom Bay Area. Moving from a buyers market to an expanded renters market is diminishing oppor-
Andrea Sto. Domingo/The Skyline View
The local and state governments should not ignore potential factors of housing displacement.
tunities for Bay Area natives to capitalize on equity earned on properties. Faced with steep rent, hardworking families that have added value to this community for generations are forced out of the neighborhoods they once thrived in. High population density and inflation are established factors of the competitive market. However, the data on foreign investment’s impact on the competitive market is less extensive — a disservice to Bay Area families. The California Association of Realtors estimates that international buyers are more than
twice as likely to pay in cash as domestic buyers. All-cash offers, or a 100% down payment, are attractive to sellers because they are not contingent on loan approval and appraisals. Unless the offer is significantly higher, an all-cash offer will pull ahead. Redfin, a popular full-service real estate brokerage, estimates that between January and April 2021, around 20% of home transactions in San Francisco were made with all cash offers. This means around a fifth of the City’s crowded housing market was likely unavailable for middle and lower-class fam-
ilies. This is likely even more apparent in cheaper suburban areas like San Bruno where the median home price is lower. Unfortunately, middle-class families often do not have the cash on hand to compete with these international offers. These offers set an unattainable precedent — attempt strenuous loans higher than competing cash offers or pull funds from retirement savings to have a chance at gaining a foothold in the market. If they can not compete, they either scrap for undesirable properties, succumb to rent or flee their communities.
According to SFGate, nearly half of international buyers planned to use their property as a vacation home or as an income-generating rental—or both. At a future date, these investors throw the property back on the market for a much higher price, while the native renter is snubbed of that increase in equity. Bay Area natives should not be at risk of displacement for the sake of a foreign investor’s portfolio. They should benefit from the stability of owning property that increases in value. While not all of these allcash transactions are made by non-residential international buyers, foreign investment may be contributing to extra competitive market conditions and rising housing prices. For this reason, California’s local and state governments need to research and scrutinize the effects of international home-buyers.
“Middle-class Bay Area natives in search of a home are met with astronomical prices that may prevent them from ever penetrating the market.”
4
Opinions
November 10, 2021
Hold their feet to the fire By Zachary Navarra Opinions Editor
The former horse stables at 650 Cape Breton Drive are now in the process of becoming a mega church.
Steven Rissotto/The Skyline View
Park Pacifica does not need a mega church
The city of Pacifica made a grave mistake in approving the Iglesia Ni Cristo Church By Steven Rissotto editor-in-chief
The City of Pacifica needs to do better to ensure the safety and happiness of its residents. Allowing the placement of a mega church in the middle of a residential area isn’t a smart idea and doesn’t help the development of the area. The problem is not with the religious building itself, but the lack of forethought and consideration towards a community that cannot support another large social institution.The real issue that has caused local neighbors to be outraged and stunned ––– and rightfully so ––– is Pacifica’s inability to deploy common sense knowledge and decent communication with residents. Late in 2020, rumors swirled that the new owners of 650 Cape Breton Drive, Iglesia Ni Cristo Church, had plans in place to swap historic horse stables and riding academy into a mega-church. Little had been done to include residents in this process.
As an example, plans the magnitude of this one aren’t shared to the public openly, meaning residents are stuck doing their own research to try and figure out the ongoing updates about their city. If Pacifica actually listened to their residents they would understand and change to communicate with their people better. Even worse, the amount of traffic a church would produce in the planned location is a horrendous thought to comprehend. Smack in the middle of a quiet residential neighborhood, the roads are fairly narrow and Iglesia Ni Cristo Church allegedly would have activities six days a week, which would increase the need for space for cars. The parking in the lot is limited and residents fear that parishioners would be forced to park on the streets as a result, leaving little parking for neighbors. It’s not like Pacifica can handle an uptick in traffic either.
Zachary Navarra/The Skyline View
Iglesia Ni Cristo mega church is located on 650 Cape Breton Drive.
There are two schools within a mile and a half radius of the planned location: Ortega Elementary and Terra Nova High School. Since the schools are prone to clog up Park pacifica’s main roadways, the addition of another major social gathering would likely cause back ups and jams throughout the residential backroads. One of the perks of living in the back of the valley is the peacefulness and quiet nature of the location. If cars are contin-
uously driving back and forth every day, the admirable features of the area diminish with the possible addition of non-stop traffic. Overall, a mega church entering the back of the valley wouldn’t be an ideal scenario and the lack of warning from the City is frightening. If Pacifica isn’t willing to speak on behalf of their residents, there’s really no point in having any representation.
We hold the power, but are we brave enough to wield it? It is a commonly held sentiment that politicians like to smile for the pictures while planning their next vacation. It feels as if public officials are allergic to doing work, at the very least they do their best to appear this way. Yet there is one near surefire way to make those fat cats dance, hold their feet to the fire. Give them two options, start working or start packing. Take Gavin Newsom for example, despite the democratic supermajority in the state legislature, our governor had failed to enact many of his policy platforms during his first few years of office. This is in stark contrast to the 16 major bills Newsom has signed into law since September 15. So what changed, what pushed Newsom into high gear? On Sept. 14 Newsom survived a recall effort aimed at removing him from office. Despite the fact that 62 percent of voters chose to keep the Governor in office, there was a large stretch where Newsom seemed especially vulnerable. The fear of losing his seat in office compelled Newsom to pass an ambitious slate of legislation including bills altering single-family zoning and new requirements for ethnic studies and mental health education. Voters hold real power, the power to make the suits sweat and get the cogs of government moving. The keyword is voters. Just existing does nothing in a democracy, it does nothing to create change. During the recall, only around 16 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds voted. Only 16 percent. Even in the 2020 presidential election which was hailed for its youth turnout, only 46 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds voted. How can we expect to put pressure on politicians if we refuse to engage in the most basic aspect of our democracy: voting. We can do better than 46 percent and we damn sure can do better than 16 percent. There is no reason why the students of Skyline college should shy away from their powerful voices. All it takes is the courage to vote, the courage to voice our opinions. It’s time for us to hold their feet to the fire.
The Halloween blue buckets trend does more harm than good for autistic children Good intentions aside, blue buckets are a bad idea By Adriana Hernandez Staff Writer
Halloween is the day where kids go trick or treating dressed up in costumes surrounded by spooky decor. This year blue Halloween pumpkin buckets have become an unofficial signifier for kids with autism looking to trick or treat like everyone else. While the sentiment is understandable, the idea is less than praisable. Autistic kids are not always aware of danger, especially the danger that can be associated with trick or treating at night. The blue bucket paints a target on young children’s backs marking them as a potential easy mark. I believe it is irresponsible and potentially dangerous for children to be branded in this manner.
One goal of the blue bucket is that in theory, it would allow children to remain safe while their parents are out of sight. This makes little sense given that no child should be left alone. An adult should always be present while kids are trick or treating. There is also the question of who it is actually for. Is it a message for those giving out candy, to be kind and understanding towards your child? If grown adults don’t muster compassion for children in general, a blue pumpkin is not going to help. It’s really for parents to levitate the judgemental eyes on them. Many parents are tired of having to explain why their child isn’t saying please or thank you so the blue buckets become alleviating.
Adriana Hernandez/The Skyline View
Blue trick or treat buckets will be used by some parents with autistic children.
It also forces kids to disclose their neurological status to strangers and peers which could possibly place them in uncomfortable situations. The blue
buckets further separate them from other children and label them. Why should children be asked to disclose their diagnoses
in order to receive candy? Kids shouldn’t have to present themselves a certain way in order to get a candy bar. Blue buckets create a noninclusive Halloween.
Nov 10., 2021
5
6
Features
Nov. 10, 2021
College students enjoying the fall while remaining productive
2021’s fall season features cold weather, fun activities, and COVID-19 By Steven Rissotto Editor-In-Chief
The season of summer has the hearts of millions of Americans for a variety of different reasons. The children are off and running away from school, the weather is enjoyable, the days seemingly last longer and the air lacks gloomful energy. As youngsters, there was always something about chasing the ice cream truck, hoping the glorified vehicle would stop to add even more flavor to the everlasting fun. After the transition to young adulthood begins, the calendar shifting gears away from summer and towards fall is generally a welcoming sight for many college students. Schools have now resumed classes, eliminating some schedule flexibility. The exceptional weather has naturally transitioned to a cooler feel; not too warm and not too cold, but just right. And the holidays ––– oh the holidays ––– always seem to arrive at the perfect possible times starting with Halloween. The surplus of entertainment dwindles in the fall compared to the summer but that doesn’t mean there’s not much for people to enjoy. There are plenty of activities and aspects of fall ––– many recurring annually ––– that have proved to be personal favorites of countless college students across the country. Bundle up! The weather in the Bay Area routinely features a decent amount of sunshine, no matter the season. It’s often dry, too. However, fall is the ideal time to prepare for the colder temperatures and stormy forecast. Yes, that means time outdoors could possibly be held at a minimum but some positives emerge from the adjustment. “The cold weather is honestly something I enjoy if I can curl up into a blanket and watch shows,” said Madison Haverland, a sophomore at Skyline. “If I can’t, I feel a little sad but it’s still beautiful to watch the rain.” In late October, the Bay Area witnessed a large storm that featured strong winds, non stop rain, feet-high flooding, and massive power outages. California is often in a drought ––– and was during this particular storm ––– so the sight of some fiery weather may have caught some people off guard. However, Jared Perez, a student at Skyline, isn’t phased by anything the local meteorologist may suggest. “Being born and raised in Daly City, I am not exposed to extreme temperatures such as snow or 100-degree heat,” Perez said. “However, Daly
City is something that I am used to and it doesn’t affect me that much. My closet is mostly jackets and hoodies, so the cold weather ensures that I utilize them.” I’m on my way! The weather isn’t always subpar in the fall season, certainly not enough to cancel every single plan in the book. “Usually I do pumpkin carving and watch scary movies,” Haverland said. “There’s this really cool pumpkin patch back where I grew up and I go there during the fall.” From The Great Pumpkin Patch in San Francisco to Lemos Farm in Half Moon Bay, the Bay Area is filled with highly rated venues to select the perfect pumpkin and enjoy the leaves on the ground with some friends. In recent years, pumpkin patches have become a go-to place for young couples to hang out. Meanwhile, Perez has found a way to work on his golf game at local courses ––– a sport he played in high school ––– while also finding the time to utilize the time to work on college applications for a Fall 2022 transfer. College applications are infamous for sneaking up on students quickly, forcing them to smash the gas pedal at the last second to complete them. For schools in The California State University (CSU) sector, they are due on Nov. 30 for any Fall 2022 hopeful. Pandemic still looming Just when everything seems to be getting normal again, the COVID-19 pandemic takes another wild turn and produces more cases, deaths, and shockwaves throughout the country. Luckily, numbers are spiraling down for the time being, but it’s never safe to assume another surge isn’t in future plans. That’s why it’s important to take all the proper precautions and protocols while enjoying the fall season. “It feels great and refreshing to go outside, but I still remain vigilant with the habits I had developed due to the pandemic,” Perez said. “This includes carrying sanitizer with me, washing my hands more frequently, and keeping a mask on.” For Haverland, there is some frustration when it comes to the ongoing battle against the pandemic that has been present in the United States for almost two years. “Honestly, I’m at the point where I feel like I’ve been missing out on my whole life because of COVID,” Haverland said decisively. “So for me, I’ve just started going out more and living because that’s what’s important.”
“The cold weather is honestly something I enjoy if I can curl up into a blanket and watch shows” - Madison Haverland
Daniela Ossa Lopez/The Skyline View
Fall foliage: the month of October brings warm colors, cooler weather and all things pumpkin related.
Nov. 10, 2021
SMCCCD students weigh in on toxic gaming communities Online gaming chat rooms are notorious for toxicity By Derian Lopez Reporter
LegendsofWarcraft78 spends the day furiously pounding his greasy controller in his parents’ garage. Socially deprived, he patiently waits for his next victim to join the chat room. So-called trolls like LegendsofWarcraft78 often come to mind when people think of the online gaming community. How much of that stereotype is true? Toxicity in gaming is familiar to Courtney-Lane Holman, a student at Skyline college who partakes in gaming communities. “So, I play mostly on a PC, and all of the communities I have been a part of were all PC game communities,” Holman said. “As of right now, I mainly play Riot games, such as League of Legends, Valorant, and TFT.” Riot Games are free-to-play competitive online games that are said to be for hardcore gamers. League of Legends is a 2009 multiplayer online battle arena game, and Valorant is a popular FPS game that was released this past year. The main games where Holman has been introduced to toxicity are CS:GO (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive) and Valorant. “Someone could be silent the entire game, but once they hear a female talk in voice-chat, that is when the harassment will begin,” said Holman. “ … I get a lot of backlash simply because of my in-game name. These people have no idea about my gender or how I identify, but simply because they perceive it as a feminine name, they will typically comment on it.” Holman explains that harassment in gaming is disproportionately targeted towards women. This toxicity creates a narrative that excludes and ostracizes women in the community. “Some people will just straight up tell me that girls don’t play video games unless they are “ugly”, or that I sound like a man, or that it makes sense that I am bad because I am a female,” said Holman. However, this toxicity extends beyond attacks on her femininity. “Others are simply toxic because they make me uncomfortable,” said Holman. “[They tell] me they will let me win if I add them on social media or do XYZ, or make other invasive comments towards me. I still consider this as toxicity that is relevant in the gaming community, because it makes it harder to feel comfortable in that space.” On the other hand, Anthony Martin, a student from Canada
College, is someone that does not participate in online gaming communities partially due to its exclusionary and toxic nature. “I don’t like how toxic it can get,” Martin said. “A lot of really harsh things can come up and people can be isolated quite quickly.” In terms of online gaming communities, Martin and his friends tend to not involve themselves in because they just want to enjoy the game. He notes that community gaming can be either fun or toxic depending on the people in the chatroom. “You can run into a really good group of people and then you can also have the complete opposite,” Martin said. “It’s unfortunate; that seems to be how these gaming communities are.” This uncertainty deters Martin from partaking in these communities. Meanwhile, there are also gamers like Dylan Young, a student at Skyline College. He has been playing PC games his entire life, mainly League of Legends, and was a part of the toxicity culture 8 years ago. Since then he has learned to mellow down and focus on advancing in the game. “Learning to mute people has helped improve my performance, as well as state of mind,” said Young. “Sure, sometimes I am still toxic, but I think it’s a large part of the gaming culture. The challenge is to not take things too personally and try to see things as banter. If I don’t think I can handle the toxicity, I just mute people.” Young thinks that sometimes people make the mistake of being toxic in a game and that the game serves as a form of escapism. “Sometimes, people forget that they are playing with other people, so they say things they wouldn’t say in real life,” Young said. “That’s just how I see it. It’s not okay to be toxic, but it happens, so I can’t do anything to stop it.” Students like Chance Nix, a student from the CSM, use online gaming communities as a way to avoid personal problems. “What got me really into [gaming communities] was when my parents split up when I was 9. I had just gotten into Call of Duty,” said Nix. “It was sort of my main coping mechanism.” Nix reiterates the stigma surrounding Riot Games and how they have developed a toxic community. “The main game that I play is League of Legends. The main company is Riot Games, the game is toxic and they are trying to address the issue, but failing miserably. It’s pretty toxic overall.”
Adriana Hernandez/The Skyline View
Discord is an online chatroom with over 300 million registered users.
7
Features
Adriana Hernandez/The Skyline View
Highlands Christian Schools San Bruno during a Friday afternoon pickup.
SMCCCD graduates of local evangelical K-8 speak on religious fundamentalism A breakdown of Highlands Christian Schools fundamentalist curriculum
By Anoush Torounian focal point editor
Just a four minute drive from Skyline college, firstyear Trojan Sheryll Estipona peered down at the required text for 8th grade Bible class — six baby chicks innocently glanced back underneath the bolded title “Love Your Neighbor.” The teacher promptly instructed her to turn to Chapter 14: Homosexual Sin. Espitona’s alma mater, Highlands Christian School, sits proudly on the hilltop overlooking the Skyline community. The K-8 school strives to embed evangelical values into their students through their curriculum. Evangelical Christianity is characterized by its fundamentalist approach to the bible, meaning the text is interpreted in the literal sense. Each chapter of “Love Your Neighbor” introduces a social issue through a spiritual and secular lense, ranging from euthanasia to cloning to pornography. At the end of these chapters resides a short “Christian Response” to the issue. The Chapter 14 response states: “The Bible condemns homosexual sin. Homosexuality is a perversion of God’s gift of sex.” “Why be bothered by someone’s own sexuality?” said Estipona in response. “The literal name of the book is ‘Love Your Neighbor.’ If you love your neighbor, wouldn’t you respect who they’re attracted to? I feel like some Christians just blindly believe everything in the Bible.” For Michelina Ng Solano, a student at CSM and Highlands Christian Schools graduate, the impact of this mindset shook her family indefinitely. “My half-brother was gay, and he was raised in a Catholic household. He passed away 16 years ago from HIV and AIDS,” said Ng Solano. “It wasn’t until my brother
was on his deathbed when my dad just accepted the fact that homosexuality is valid … [The stigma is] exactly the reason why he didn’t reach out for help. I think by the time he came out, it was already too late. He was already very sick.” But not every HCS alumni perceives its curriculum to be harmful or sanctimonious. Skyline student Marion Fuller believes Highlands Christian Schools and “Love Your Neighbor” gave him the necessary foundation to extend love and respect to others in his personal life. “Highlands was definitely a place where I grew a lot as a Christian. I’m proud to say that. … A takeaway from Highlands I really emphasized in my life is loving your neighbor as your friend or as yourself. Especially today, there’s a lot of hate going around. Stop hate, you just gotta love,” said Fuller. Highlands integrates its fundamentalist viewpoints into every aspect of its curriculum, not just Bible class. In music class, students sing hymns and songs with biblical messaging. In geometry class, students write papers on biconditional statements in the Bible. The history textbook is written through the Christian lense. However, Estipona remembers something missing from science class. “In our science textbook, there was an evolution chapter. We would go through every chapter in that science book except the evolution one,” Estipona said. “The teacher wouldn’t really tell us the reason why.” For Estipona’s developing mind, this meant accepting the evangelical belief of creation at face value and without scrutiny. “My friends and I were in a science museum for our DC trip. We were in the evolution section and we were
making fun of the entire idea. We were like, ‘oh my god, we came from chickens, we came from gorillas,’” Estipona said nostalgically. We were so close minded. We were against whatever Highlands said.” Ng Solano also feels the environment created a feedback loop not conducive to an open marketplace of ideas. “They say if you say these words you go to hell. If you don’t believe in this, you go to hell. It’s to the book with them. I do believe that there is a God, but there are some flaws in trying to tell someone what to believe in.” While Estipona still remains spiritual, she carries deep guilt and shame for straying from the evangelical interpretation of faith. “Every time I would forget to pray, I thought I would die that night. I would convince myself that ‘oh my god, I’m gonna die tonight because I didn’t pray to God that much today,’” Estipona said. “I still fear that I’m going to hell.” Alternatively, Fuller credits Highlands’ emphasis on scripture for his ability to lead a well-rounded life, whether that be in relationships or within himself. Initially, he viewed memorizing long Bible verses as boring. “As I got older, I realized that these Bible verses have more meaning,” Fuller said. “It makes it easier for me to understand what is actually being said in the Bible verse and why we analyze what we read.” While the Highlands alumni may not share the same beliefs, they all agree that keeping an open mind is imperative. “I had friends who canceled me for being Christian and believing what I believe in, because I was everything that they were against, you know, and that’s just life,” Fuller said. “But why can’t we just accept that everyone has their own opinion?”
8
Arts and Entertainment
November 10, 2021
Back 4 Blood brings modern taste to zombie hunting
Successor of Left 4 Dead impresses with new storyline expansion By Mark David Magat Guest Writer
Imagine with me for a second; it’s the late 2000s, you turn on your Xbox 360 and you load up the now-infamous “Left 4 Dead 2”. You join a game of “Versus” and you’re having the time of your life with a bunch of your friends screaming at each other killing zombies! Even by today’s standards, Left 4 Dead is a special game in a lot of gamers’ hearts. It hit the perfect blend of chaos, cooperative gameplay and just pure fun. But now the same developers, Turtle Rock Studios, come out with the titled spiritual successor to such an infamous game; how does this new take on the classic formula hold up? It holds up pretty well, but only if you’re into the modern format of games nowadays. First the gameplay, it’s basically a modern Left 4 Dead. You go from point A to point B, trying to conserve ammo and health and killing; a lot of killing. I’d say it loses a bit of the Left 4 Dead feel from how many zombies you’re supposed to kill upright. In Left 4 Dead, there were zombies where it’s going to be a pain if you shoot them, such as the witch and boomer. There are game elements that prefer you not shoot, but a lot of them aren’t as clever as Left 4 Dead. The card system is a net addition too. I personally didn’t like it, I prefer different mechanics but I can see a lot of cooperative strategies coming from which perk card to pick and not doubling
Dune movie trailer QR code.
Dune is 2 hours I will never get back By Zachary Navarra Opinions Editor
Back 4 Blood was released on Oct. 12, 2021 on all platforms.
down on a perk which renders a card slot wasted. And the AI’s set of cards also lend itself to new gameplay opportunities making each run-through through the game feel different, it really helps replay value. Now Left 4 Dead didn’t really shove a story down your throat. It had a lot of context clues and environmental storytelling. In both the original Left 4 Dead and the sequel, the characters were memorable with their own distinct personalities. Here in Back 4 Blood, there is a very lackluster story. I just felt like it took itself just a tad bit too seriously and lacked the funny and a bit crazy story beats of Left 4 Dead. And the characters are lacking any real personalities. Everyone is pretty stereotypical and not in any real fun way. But the good thing is the gameplay is
really tight. Back to the gameplay, the shooting and running through of maps feel good. The addition of aiming down sights is amazing and the variety of weapons and gameplay mechanics make Left 4 Dead seem like child’s play. The addition of attachments to weapons breathes new life to old weapons. And crescendo moments are done a lot better with varying goals and context. Now, the elephant in the room; how’s the versus mode, arguably the best part of Left 4 Dead? Just right off the bat, it’s not as good as Left 4 Dead. A lot of the zombies you take control of lack movement and general mobility. Back in Left 4 Dead, even the tank, the big and slow zombie, controlled well being slightly slower but still can hall butts.
Turtle Rock Studios
And the restriction that the only games you can play in versus was some form of defense gameplay for the survivors don’t help. I get that they made the survivors more defensive, but when a patch comes out, I’d definitely add some updates to the survivors’ gameplay to help them move away from defensive gameplay a bit and into more of a campaign versus. Now at the end of the day, if you’re coming from Left 4 Dead and just want a modern interpretation of the classic, this hits pretty damn close to that, if not on the money. Yes, it sacrifices some of the “Left 4 Dead”isms, but what you get in return makes up for most of it, barring the versus downgrade. I’d say it’s worth $60 if you have a few friends who are hankering for some zombie killing.
Airlines continue their battle to enforce COVID-19 mandates
International travel still a challenge for many flyers By Daniela Ossa Lopez
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Ready to walk down the aisle? What you need to know before your trip, now that some things are “ opening up” . With more people traveling and the country trending back to normal, I can’t stop thinking if it is safe to travel. If we wind back to March 2020, we were unsure about what to expect with COVID-19. Countries around the world took drastic measures, including border closures in an attempt to control the virus transmission. Air travel during the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging for travelers, the airlines, health authorities, and governments. The Public Health Emergency found that flights went down by 43% compared to 2019. Hygiene practices, mask mandates, and social distancing is said to be effective, while temperature screening is unreliable. The risk of in-flight transmission is considered to be low, estimated at one case per 27 million travelers, confirmed in-flight cases are reported. Some models exist and predict minimal risk, but don’t take into account human behavior and the variety of airline procedures. When the Trump Administration ended the international travel ban in November 2020, the new
Kevin Dooley/ Creative Commons
Airlines have risen fares significantly over the past 20 months.
administration opened the door to vaccinated tourist airlines, expecting to recover what they lost during the first few months of the pandemic. Tourism, hospitality, and the food industry will benefit from the end of the restrictions, and this is a relief for the families taken apart with travel restrictions. “It’s a day that we wished would come sooner but after 604 days of not being able to travel to the U.S. we’re delighted to be back,” said British Airways
CEO Sean Doyle, who was on the carrier’s first flight to the U.S. after the restrictions were lifted Monday. This means that Canadians and other visitors flying internationally from China, India and Brazil can come into the country with their vaccinations records, (check the vaccines approved by the US beforehand), their masks and visas (for noncitizens) up to date. However, airline unions are at their breaking point. They are ex-
periencing shortages, overworked crews, and altercations over passenger’s refusal to follow the mask-mandate on-board. Masks mandates have been an ongoing issue for the crews. American and Southwest recently reported not having enough pilots and flight attendants. Just a month ago, Southwest had a cancellation that cost them over $75 million due to bad weather conditions. Aside from the inconveniences because of the safety precautions and mandates, the fares have been rising ridiculously, there are fewer flight options, and there’s a shortage of airport employees and on-air crew. During this time, I have traveled several times, local and international. I have tried to take measures like wearing my mask, maintaining my 6-feet social distance, and waiting for my lane’s turn. The airlines and travelers expect this to get worse, and if we want or need to travel we will have to adapt to this new “normal” until the situation normalizes… if they ever do. Now with more restrictions lifted for the holidays, perhaps we should be ready for what is coming. Each airline has its guidelines, each destination has its documentation, and it changes constantly. My advice is to check with your airline beforehand and to strategize if things went away. Safe travels.
I was promised Star Wars meets Lord of the Rings featuring the likes of Zendeya and Aquaman, instead, I watched two slow hours of Timothée Chalamet excreting exposition. Dune did not feel like a movie in its own right, but the drawn-out first chapter meant to kick start the rest of the book. Dune Part One fails to create the captivating plot that an aspiring franchise needs for its opening debut. The pace is slow and the action is lacking, a death sentence for a movie that is nearly two and a half hours long. The narrative that is set in place feels like a means to an end, a way to set up the next movie. Exposition and forced worldbuilding takes precedent in the first two-thirds of the movie, something that at best slows down the pacing and at worst confuses the viewer. If you plan on watching the movie for Zendaya or Jason Momoa then you will be sorely surprised. Momoa plays the role of a simple side character with little development throughout the movie. Dune does little to make you care about what Duncan Idaho, Momoa’s character, experiences throughout the movie. You are not given a reason to care, you are just expected to. If Momoa’s character was a disappointment, Zendaya’s character, Chani, takes it to a galaxy far far away. Chani is featured in only a fifth of the movie, most of which lacks dialogue. This is not to take away from Zendaya’s acting performance, she simply didn’t have much to perform. The biggest failure of Dune is that there is no compelling reason to care about the main character, the supposed figurehead of a blockbuster franchise, until the final 20 minutes of the movie. With that said, in the final 20 minutes, there is a reason to care about Paul Atreides. It also just so happens that Chani is fully present in those final minutes. If all of Dune Part One is spent setting up Part Two, then maybe there is hope after all. I recommend that you skip Part One and hold out for Part Two which is set to release in 2022. If you are worried about missing major plot points, youtube it. Dune Part One is a crap movie, but it clears the way so that Dune Part Two doesn’t have to be.
9
Sports
November 10, 2021
sports opinions
Archouniani: My first game back at Levi’s Stadium since COVID Stormy weather proved to be a challenge for both players and fans during the contest By Arman Archouniani Sports Editor
After a long two years of not being able to go to Levi’s Stadium because of COVID, I finally went back to the home of the San Francisco 49ers. In recent history, there has not been a lot of success since moving to this stadium but win or lose the fans are always rocking for their team and giving everything they have as a fanbase. It was four hours before kickoff and you can already smell the barbecue fired up, the roar of the faithful fans, and can sense the joy from everybody around you in the tailgating parking lots. There have been some rough patches lately for the 49ers but one thing you can never question is the loyalty of the fanbase. On a day where the storm was at its worst, you can see the smiles of many people while partying before the game. With 25 MPH winds and heavy amounts of rain, the 49er faithful was still up for the game and were anticipating a win going into the Sunday Night bout with the Indianapolis Colts. Going into the game, everybody knew it was going to be a wet and nasty night on the field with a lot of ground and pound attacks from the offenses. After a very convincing first drive by the 49ers, the fans were roaring and excited and couldn’t care less about the weather as the spirit of the team fired up the fans. After a great first quarter, the atmosphere around the stadium was a noise we had missed out on for the past two years. Things started to change as it went into the second quarter and the rain started pouring down even harder and fans were starting to get a little restless at the way plays were
Arman Archouniani/ TheSkylineView
The home of the San Francisco 49ers since the 2014 season.
being called. Going into the halftime intermission the 49ers went down 13-12 but the fans were still hopeful after an amazing start to the game and could not believe the team was losing at halftime. With a struggling Colts team that was 2-4 going into this game, this was the time the 49ers had an opportunity to turn things around after a slow start to the season. After going through the second and third quarter without scoring, the crowd did not like what they were seeing and the Colts started
to grow throughout every quarter and many penalty calls were making the atmosphere even more agitated. Many fans were still hopeful the game could turn around in the 49ers’ favor and after an amazing drive by Jimmy Garoppolo and Deebo Samuel, it led to a touchdown and a sudden roar came out from the fans and the momentum seemed to have shifted. Deebo Samuel showed the fans again as to why he has been one of the most improved players in the NFL over the past season and the fans were really feeding off his
energy and performance. The fans were active throughout the whole game with many roller coaster emotions in the crazy weather but it was not enough as the 49ers fell to the Colts 30-18 putting the 49ers at a record of 2-4. The 49ers travel to Chicago to face the Bears and it is an opportunity to gain some ground and after playing two home games against division rivals, Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams, the crowd will play a huge factor in those games and they will be up for the challenge.
Health protocols to know before attending a Bay Area sporting event Warriors and Sharks are eager to have fans fill stadium for first time in over a year
Upcoming Games Men’s Basketball
By Armando Reynoso
vs Modesto 11/13 3:00p.m at Solano 11/17 5:00p.m at Alameda 11/19 5:00p.m vs Napa Valley 11/24 5:00p.m at San Jose 12/3 5:00p.m
Staff Writer
The San Jose Sharks and the Golden State Warriors are having their first full capacity games this season, something that hasn’t happened in over 18 months. SAP Center is the home of the Sharks and Chase Center is the home of the Warriors. Both venues hold more than 18,000 seats and every single one is expected to be filled up with fans. Both venues will still follow COVID-19 protocols and have the same rules. The venues require proof of full vaccination before entry and the second vaccine dose has to be administered two weeks before the event date. Ages 12 or older need to be fully vaccinated while guests 11 years and under don’t need to be vaccinated, but if you’re attending Chase Center, children 11 years and under need to show proof of a negative test 72 hours before the event’s starting time. This does not apply to the Sap Center. The arenas require a physical copy of a vaccination card or a digital copy on the Health Pass app ––– the latter being easier for a faster entry. On the app, you just put your ID information and a picture of your face. They will then give you a QR code which you will scan before entry and then you’re
Overall, the experience of being back at Levi’s Stadium was surreal after such a long time of not being able to attend a game. From the second I went into the parking lot and tailgated for hours until the game, I felt the energy I used to feel going to every game. Taking everything into consideration with the weather conditions and not getting the win, it was truly a place I missed and will be looking forward to the next home game against the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 7 on a Sunday afternoon.
Women’s Basketball
Chase Center ready for its first full year of attendance after construction.
good to go. Everyone attending an event would need to wear a mask at all times unless you’re eating or drinking. There are hand sanitizer stations throughout the venues, along with social distance markers on the floor that you can follow for a safer experience. Both venues encourage people that if they are not feeling well it will be best to stay at home to keep everyone safe. Chase and SAP center has moved to a cashless environment, moving more toward card kiosks. They allow you to order your food on your own
and pay on your own with the kiosks ––– or you can skip this and order your food on the mobile ordering app. Dealing with less cash is safer for employees as well, who wouldn’t have to continuously touch random pieces of money. I went to Chase Center and SAP Center last week to two sports events and everything that was said on the COVID-19 protocols was enforced. At SAP Center. I waited in one of two lines to get checked for proof of my vaccination. One line was for your physical vaccination card and the other line was for if you downloaded the clear health pass app.
Armando Reynoso/ TheSkylineView
After they scanned the tickets on my phone and let me in, I noticed the frequent appearance of the hand sanitizer stations and the masked employee. When I arrived at my seat, some people had masks on and some didn’t. When I went to Chase Center, they also followed the same rules as the SAP Center by checking for my vaccine card or if I had the app. With new venues such as the Chase Center, there will be learning curves as the season goes on, but overall it was a very safe environment.
at Merritt 11/11 5:30p.m vs Solano 11/18 5:00p.m vs American River 11/19 5:00p.m vs Merritt 11/20 1:00p.m at Folsom Lake 11/24 5:00p.m vs De Anza 12/3 6:00p.m
Last Games’ Scores Men’s Basketball
at Marin 11/2 81-76 W vs Diablo Valley 11/5 85-75 W
Women’s Basketball
vs Diablo Valley 11/5 78-48 W vs Lassen 11/6 78-44 W
10
sports features
Sports
November 10, 2021
The captains speak
Arman Archouniani/ TheSkylineView
The home crowd at Chase Center cheers during a warriors game.
Curry, Draymond lead Warriors to fast start The impressive play will improve with three reinforcements on the way By Arman Archouniani Sports Editor
The Golden State Warriors led by veterans, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, are off to a fiery start to the 2021-2022 season. The Warriors are currently 8-1 and making a bunch of noise in the daunting Western Conference. With big wins against the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers to start the season, many heads were starting to turn their attention to the Warriors. It seemed as though the Warriors were clicking on all cylinders. Most recently, the Warriors took on a young and upcoming Charlotte Hornets led by Lamelo Ball on national television. In what was arguably the most convincing win of the season, the Warriors went on to win 114-92. A game where Curry did not shoot the ball well was not a factor due to Jordan Poole’s play on the offensive end where he tallied a season-high 31 points on 11-21 shooting. Gary Payton II has shown great signs of maturity and his defense has been very impressive. One of the main reasons the Warriors won against the Hornets was because of his play as he finished with a +18 plus-minus. Many games last season were won or lost depending on the play of Curry, their franchise player. Teams were starting to figure out there was no stand-out number two option on the team and would bottle him up in the second half of games. With the well-waited emergence of Poole, he has been showing signs of being a go-to option when Curry is struggling to shoot the ball. The bench was always a major problem. Bob Myers, general manager of the Warriors, went out and got some very key pieces to solidify the roster for a championship run. A big improvement has been made throughout the whole team and it all starts with the recruitment in free agency. The veteran leadership of Nemanja Bjelica, Otto Porter, and Andre Iguodala was an area that was well needed after a roller coaster year. These three signings have been some of the standout players and will play a very big impact throughout the rest of the season. Curry and Green are the two leaders of this team and they have been playing some great basketball on both ends of the floor. Curry is averaging over 25 points a game and 6 assists per game but has also looked very good on the defensive side, where he has usually been a player that has been targeted by the opposition. Green’s offensive ability has been underlooked because of his stellar play on the defensive end. His playmaking ability is what has made this offense so efficient where he is averaging over 6 as-
sists. The league-leading defensive rating belongs to the Warriors and Green is the anchor that holds this team together on that end of the court. One of the best two-way players in the league, Andrew Wiggins, has been under the radar so far but is averaging over 15 points per game and has consistently been one of the top perimeter defenders in the league. An aggressive Wiggins on the floor will most of the time bode well for a very exciting Warriors offense. The former 1st overall pick will not have to be tasked with a heavy workload now that Jordan Poole has taken the weight off his shoulders. This team has a great amount of potential with what they have shown so far but they will be getting some reinforcements in the next month or two. The second pick in the 2020 draft, James Wiseman, is recovering from a meniscus injury in his right knee that ended his rookie campaign early last season. He has been recently cleared to begin full practices for the team which is great news for the Warriors as he will be back in the near future. The long-awaited return of one of the greatest shooters to ever play the game, Klay Thompson, has been getting ready to come back to the Warriors and has ramped up his recovery process. He has been shooting the ball in pregame, doing several workouts and a return can happen in January. The best backcourt in the league will soon be reunited and this will only get the Warriors even more depth. Thompson’s return means the world to this squad and his presence back on the court will give them a great boost. He is arguably one of the best two-way players to ever step on the court because of his lethal shooting and his ability to guard anyone on defense. If the Warriors keep up the great start to the season and get healthy, the sky’s the limit for this team. The Warriors started the season on fire, many of these games might have been lost if they were played last season due to all the injuries throughout the year. This season’s team has firepower all over the place and if everybody stays healthy, they can cause a good amount of damage in a very tight and powerful Western Conference. Every win means so much in the West, with fans being back in the stadium, all these wins will matter for seeding in the playoffs to try and get home-court advantage. With Thompson and Wiseman set to return soon, the team will need to be able to adjust and if the chemistry is found, this team will have a serious chance to make a championship run.
Skyline Trojan’s womens basketball team captain Nicole Brunicard.
Anthony Perez/ TheSkylineView
“My name is Nicole Brunicard, I’m a sophomore now. I’m pretty excited for this season, it’s really nice to get back after such a long break. We have such a dynamic team this year where we support each other already we’re very comfortable. We’re working hard together and we’re competing together so if you keep that up and it’s going to look good for conference which is coming up in January, I think we’re using our time right now to really nail our defensive and offensive struggles. I think we’re taking all these upcoming preseason games seriously and I think we’re going to be rewarded in the end.”
Skyline Trojan’s womens basketball team captain Jaylen Paranga.
Anthony Perez/ TheSkylineView
“Hi my name is Jaylen Paranga I’m a sophomore… this upcoming season i’m really excited, we have a completely different team this year. we’re guard heavy so it’s a different feel from 2 years ago, but I’m really excited with the outcome that we’ve come out so far. seeing that we didn’t have a year and just coming out and playing hard. Hoping to win conference again this year and so yeah I’m excited.”
Skyline Trojan’s mens basketball team captain Elijah Flowers.
Justin Piergrossi
“My name is Elijah Flowers and I am one of the sophomore captains this year. I am very excited about our upcoming season. We have a great group of guys who come everyday and work hard to get better. Even though we have a team of majority freshmen, I think everyone can make an impact and help us achieve our goals. As I said before, I am very excited to see what this season brings and ready to work this year with a hardworking team and very insightful coaches.”