Spring 2018 Issue 2

THE

RAMPAGE Student-Run Newspaper of Fresno City College

Spring 2018 Issue 2 Feb. 7, 2018

DISTRICT SUED Coaches from FCC and Reedley allege gender discrimination and Title IX violations

Ashleigh Panoo & Anthony De Leon

apanoo@therampageonline.com | adeleon@therampageonline.com

Three female coaches, one from Fresno City College and two from Reedley College, are suing the State Center Community College District for gender discrimination.

Rhonda Williams, FCC softball head coach and the assistant coach for women’s golf; Kathleen Kuball, head coach for softball at Reedley College; and Shannon Jefferies, Reedley College women’s volleyball head coach, allege the district is paying them less than men who work in similar positions at the colleges.

The women say the colleges in the district are in violation of Title IX, which prohibits discrimi-

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“

SCCCD’s practices have harmed female coaches in terms of compensation, as well as the involved athletic programs.”

- Lawyers For rhonda williams, Kathleen Kuball and Shannon Jefferies

nation based on gender at schools that receive federal financial assistance.

Williams, Kuball and Jefferies, all of whom were hired in the mid to late 90s, say they have never been subject to disciplinary action and have performed their jobs “in an exemplary manner,” according to court documents.

The women say although they perform comparable and sometimes more job duties than their male counterparts, they are paid less. This is in part because the district assigns male coaches more work days, for

Continued on Page 5, TITLE IX

Entertainment| Page 6

Opinion | Page 7

Will students flock to the new Manchester Mall?

Why I hate Valentine’s Day as a married woman

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2 NEWS 2.7.18

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THE RAMPAGE

The student-run newspaper of Fresno City College

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Ashleigh Panoo News/Multimedia Editor Larry Valenzuela Art Director Ramuel Reyes Sports Editor Anthony De Leon Enterainment Editor Noah Villaverde Social Media Editor Omari Bell Opinion Editor Frank Lopez

James E. Watson speaks about his experience at President Barack Obama’s inaguration at the Black History Month opening cermony in the Old Administration Building auditorium at Fresno City College on Jan. 1, 2018.

REPORTERS Claudia Chavez Anjanae Freitas Andrew Leal Loren Marcotte Jamila McCarty Gabbi Micheli Paulina Rodriguez-Ruiz Sasha Saunders Jose Serrano Tamara Torres-Leguizamon Tommy Tribble Tasha Turner Business Manager Maria Aguilar Adviser/Instructor Dympna Ugwu-Oju

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Views expressed in the opinion pages are those of the individual writer and not of the newspaper.

The Rampage is produced by students of the Journalism 11 A, B, C, D class.

Photo/Larry Valenzuela

Speaker Shares His Lived Black History in Opening Ceremony Omari Bell | Social Media Editor obell@therampageonline.com

Students and faculty of the FCC community listened to stories about the civil rights movement from guest speaker James E. Watson during the opening ceremony for Black History Month on Feb. 1 in the Old Administration Building auditorium.

Watson told stories of his involvement over the past 73 years in the fight for equal rights for African Americans, particularly the 1963 march in Washington, D.C. with Martin Luther King Jr. “There were so many people there; I won’t see a crowd that big for the rest of my life,” Watson said. “It was tremendous.”

Beginning with an opening prayer, music, and public speaking, the morning addressed

what February meant for individuals.

Frank Hernandez, a member of the Pan African Student Union, said that Thursday’s events were very meaningful.

“February is really just a month,” he said. “We need it to be a whole year of recognition and to restructure our education system to teach what needs to be taught in the classroom, rather than us going out after school to do our own research about our past.”

He added that he has always wanted to be a part of the community and to educate himself.

“It’s another month, but it doesn’t describe the challenges, the obstacles, or all of the success that we have overcome as African American people,” said Alexandria Benn, president of the Pan African Student Union.

“February is a month that we have to show remembrance of our ancestors.”

Watson said the Feb. 1 event and Black History Month are a culmination of the fight he has been involved in. He also attended Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009 where he saw a lot of people that were not African American supporting the first African American president of the United States.

Watson said, “We’ve worked our lives for this.”

The African-American Faculty & Staff Association hosted the event and has a lineup of seven more throughout the month of February.

Feb. 7 -- A financial success panel will be held in Room 135 of the Business Education Building from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Feb. 13 -- The Historical Black Colleges and Universities Caravan will recruit students interested in transferring to one of the colleges in the cafeteria between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Feb. 20 -- An African American writing workshop will be held in Room 284 of the Old Administration Building from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

Feb. 21 -- A panel on political activism will be held in Room 251 of the OAB from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Feb. 22 -- A screening of the 2016 film: “I Am Not Your Negro”

by Raoul Peck will show in the Forum Hall, Room 101. The film will begin at 5 p.m. and end at 7 p.m.

Feb. 24 -- Gospelfest will be held in the OAB auditorium from 5 to 7 p.m.

New ASG Senate Member Plans to Create Deaf Awareness Tasha Turner | Reporter tturner@therampageonline.com

A newly appointed senator of the Associated Student Government said she will use her service to help deaf students and inform non deaf students on the American Sign Language culture.

Taylor Chumley, a deaf education major, who is also deaf, was voted into the Associated Student Government senate during the Jan. 30 meeting in the Senate Chambers.

“I wanted to join [ASG] because I noticed there seemed to be a low percentage of representation for those with disabilities on campus,” Chumley stated in an email. “So I wanted to step up and inspire others, as well as to be in a position to encourage positive changes around campus.”

Chumley said she wants to

help her peers have a better understanding of deaf awareness by having a deaf accessibility awareness event.

The still unnamed event will be held on Feb. 13 at the main fountain from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

It was unanimously approved by the ASG and will help bridge the communication gap between the deaf and hearing by teaching general signs and cultural awareness.

“I’m very excited for this event in mid-February,” Chumley stated. “I hope to be able to continue helping the deaf and hard of hearing by listening and being an accessible representative that they can speak to in their native language.”

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Proposal for New Math Science and Engineering Building Fails to Fix Current Demands Paulina Rodriguez | Reporter prodriguez@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College faculty and students from the Math, Science and Engineering division addressed the State Center Community College District board of trustees regarding the proposed $50 million MSE building on Feb. 6.

Seven speakers addressed the board during the 30-minute open forum, urging trustees to reconsider the current allocation of funds. Students and faculty say the proposed plans for the new building will fail to meet the standards of current and future student populations.

Every seat was taken, and students crowded outside the building wearing red Fresno City College shirts to support the cause.

Reasons for New MSE Building Plans to build a new MSE building came to fruition when Measure C, a $485 million capital improvement bond by the district was approved by voters in June 2016.

The current building was built in 1973. Its infrastructure is deteriorating, and it has a history of gas leaks and plumbing issues, according to faculty.

“The infrastructure is literally breaking down,” chemistry instructor Seth Yates said in an interview with The Rampage.

Mark Betterson former Fresno Community College student, now pastor and community organizer adresses Board of Trustees during an open forum to speak on behalf of the Math Science and Engineering divison on Feb. 6,2018. Photo/Paulina Rodriguez

In 2013, a pipe broke in the dionized water system before the semester started and flooded several classes, creating extensive damage and resulting in the relocation of several classes.

“I remember when I got here, for the very first time, eight years ago, I was kind of shocked and thought the building needed to be replaced then,” Yates said. “I brought that up with the facilities committee, and in the facilities master planning process of 2012, and it was like old news to everybody in the room.”

Balogh notes that the MSE division has outgrown the current building.

“We used the old administration

building, we use parts of social sciences and applied technology.

We fill spaces that aren’t designed to be science classes because we don’t have enough room in this building for the classes that we’re offering,” said Balogh.

Yates said the engineering department doesn’t have their own lab space. “They’re storing all of this equipment in shelves in the back and just carting it all over campus wherever they’re trying to do their work,” she said.

The board has proposed a budget of $227 million towards FCC projects such as parking, a new MSE building, a West Fresno campus, and a police and fire academy. Of that budget, $50

International & Non-Resident Students to Pay More in Tuition Loren Daniels | Reporter lmarcotte@therampageonline.com

Students who are not California residents should expect to pay a higher tuition starting in the fall of 2018.

A proposal to increase fees for nonresident and international students for the 2018-19 fiscal year was approved by the Board of Trustees of the State Center Community College District during the Jan. 9 meeting with a vote of 4-3.

For students who are not California residents, out-of-state tuition will go up by $24 next year, increasing the current cost of tuition from $234 to $258 per unit for enrolled students who are not California residents.

The $46 cost per unit for California residents registered in 12 units, will total about $552 in enrollment fees for the semester. For nonresident and international students registered in the same amount of

units per semester, raising fees to $258 per unit means paying for the same amount of units would total an estimated $3,096.

According to the board agenda, the 4 percent increase of nonresident tuition fees is expected to generate approximately $2.3 million in the next school year.

John Leal, one of the three board members who voted against the increase, believes the raise in nonresident tuition should be sought through alternative means, and not straight out of students’ pockets.

“This is an increase which may negatively impact a student who had chosen community college as opposed to a state university, for those very reasons.” Leal said.

“For that small number of people, for those students, we need to care about them as well.”

A raise in tuition for nonresident students could increase thew

Courtesy of SCCCD.

financial burden many students already endure by struggling to pay for college. Those with campus leadership positions add that increasing tuition might undermine efforts by the college leadership to raise the retention rates of international students on campus.

“With SCCCD hiking [prices] up, it would also put a freeze on students getting their classes because they will have to pay in advance - unlike our national students,” Chuck Rodriguez, a senator in the Associated Student Government, said.

Rodriguez, who is also a member of the ad-hoc committee for international students on campus, said approximately 90 international students are expected to be detrimentally impacted by the tuition increase.

While acknowledging that there are valid arguments to justify the tuition increase, especially since nonresident students don’t contribute to a local tax base, Trustee Leal said it is important to provide fair access to all foreign and outof-state students.

“It’s not just tuition: it’s also book, transportation, food, in some cases clothing, lodging. All of those things factor in affordability for students,” Leal said. “As a former FCC student myself, I understand how difficult it is. Every chance we have, we should make it more affordable, not less.”

million is the current allocation for the new MSE building.

“When they were first sort of planning on the bond before it was even put on the ballot or anything someone came up with this number for $50 million for the building and it want based on anything in particular it was just sort of a good idea,” said Yates.

“It wasn’t meant to be the final answer it was just meant to be a starting point for the discussion, and that money just sort of carried through and it never really got examined,” said Yates.

Current plans are to put the new building across the train tracks by Blackstone Avenue, and to refurbish the old building.

Rodney Olsen, a biology instructor, told board members, “the under-allocation of the project would result in a new building that would not adequately meet our spatial needs and would result in the splitting of our division between the new building and old.”

“The future of science is integrated science, of getting biology and physics and chemistry and engineers all in the same page to meet the challenges of the future,” says Balogh,” You can’t do that when you’re physically separated across the train tracks right and have it be any kind of smooth integrated process.”

Rising Construction Costs

Construction costs have increased 36 percent over the last five years, with experts predicting an 8 to 11 percent increase in the upcoming years, according to Christine Miktarian, the vice chancellor of Operations and Information Systems for the district.

Plans for the proposed building show a rough estimate of 46,000 square feet which is 10,000 square feet smaller than the current building.

“If you look at the money that they dedicated, and what it costs per square foot to build a new building with mostly lab rooms... we’re probably in the 30,000, 35 to 38,000 square feet,” Yates said.

Yates addressed the Board: ”Last year costs went up. CSU Chico built a 105,000 square feet science building for around $69 million in construction costs.”

“If you use that $69 million in construction costs as a starting point, factor in rising construction costs, design costs, land acquisition, secondary effects such as moving the districts operations and a partial remodel of the current science building then compare that to the $50 million dollar budget amount you can see that we’re grossly underfunded on this project,” said Yates.

Continued on Page 4, MSE

Weed is Legal in California, But What About on Campus?

Tommy Tribble | Reporter ttribble@therampageonline.com

Despite the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state, cannabis is still classified as a schedule II controlled substance, and is therefore barred on the Fresno City College campus under the California Health and Safety Code.

“Because it’s been legalized doesn’t mean it’s not a substance,” said Sean Henderson, the Dean of Students.

“The one right here that’s most sacred, if you will, is the right to an appropriate learning environment. So that’s what we’re trying to protect. Everybody’s right to learn,” he said.

It falls to police to enforce the prohibition on marijuana on campus, Henderson said, explaining that police will usually tell students they need to take their smoking somewhere else.

“I don’t know that our students are being cited for it,” Henderson said, adding that he will only meet with a student over marijuana use if they were arrested, normally for selling it

on campus.

While students at Fresno City College are enthusiastic about the benefits of marijuana legalization, they generally agree that it doesn’t have a place in college.

“After hearing from my economics teacher about how she’s had to remove students from her classroom because they’ve come in, essentially reeking of the telltale smell, I don’t believe it necessarily has a heavy usage place in the classroom,” Qohle Martinez, a Fresno City College student and occasional recreational smoker, said.

“I feel smoking at school shouldn’t be tolerated as legal. It’s still a public area, and it makes people uneasy to be around it or to smell it,” Alexander Arias, another student and former medicinal marijuana user who doesn’t smoke anymore, said. “When I smoke, I prefer to be discreet as I don’t want to upset other people’s days; it’s a courtesy thing.”

4 NEWS 2.7.18

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The new Bus Rapid Transit will feature off-board fare purchase, shorter wait times and reduced travel time at the same price as a regular FAX bus. Photo/Loren Daniels

The Q Offers Solutions to Cost and Congestion in Fresno Gabbi Micheli | Reporter jmicheli@therampageonline.com

The Fresno Area Express and the City of Fresno on Feb. 19, will launch their latest project, the Q. It is expected to help Fresno City College students who have trouble finding parking on campus and students who have FCC or Fresno State student identification cards will ride free, according to Esmerelda Soria, City Councilwoman for District 1.

According to a promotional video, The Q is a cost-effective solution to increased traffic, and population and air quality problems and will provide comfort and reliability.

During the launch there will be free rides from Feb. 19 through the 25, as well as ambassadors at each station to assist passengers who have questions or concerns.

During a community meeting on Feb. 23, City Council Member for District 1 Esmeralda Soria said she believes the Q is critical for the environment. “If we drive a little less, we can all contribute to making our air quality just a little better,” she said.

Jim Schaad, the director of the Department of Transportation, shared the new features of the Q during the meeting.

There is wheelchair access and fifty-four lit-up platforms with

MSE, FROM PAGE 3

In the fall 2017 semester, FCC had about 12,000 full time equivalent students enrolled in the MSE division, with hundreds placed on the waitlist.

Shirley McManus, dean of Math, Science, and Engineering, addressed these concerns at a Board of Trustees Organizational meeting on Dec. 5, 2017.

“MSE typically fills to 98 percent on opening day with still around 2,000 students on the waitlist,” she said.

Balogh said none of the depart-

ticket vending machines to purchase faire. These machines will include sound for the visually impaired, as well as ADA Compliant informational booths. Machines will be programmed in English and Spanish, and patrons can expect more languages in the future.

“The buses are a bit more luxurious than the traditional or fixed route buses,” strategic and creative director for the Q, Suzanne Bertz-Rosa, said. “The analogous colors, colors next to each other on the color wheel, communicate harmony and are approachable shades of greens and blues. We wanted to make the BRT system approachable and friendly.”

There will be 18 FAX officers to extend security for Q Passengers.

The buses include accommodation for cyclers by holding up to three bikes, and Wi-Fi will be installed at all Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) busses within the next six months.

“Once at the platform, riders can buy tickets ranging from 31day passes, to single day or ten day passes...once the ticket is purchased it will be good for up to 90 minutes,” Gregory Barfield, Assistant Director of the Department of Transportation in Fresno, said.

The buses will be active from 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. There will also be the advantage of tracking the arrival time of each bus using the

Fresno Transit App and by using Google Maps, marked as Route 1.

The app will provide a countdown of when to expect the next bus.

According to Barfield, approximately $33,000 worth of bus rides per month are from students in Fresno. Students also utilize bus passes with their student identification card to ride the bus for free.

Audience members spoke up and brought out possible issues regarding the new transportation system. For instance, it was noted that problems may arise when dealing with passengers with low vision in regards to sun glares off the screens.

Due to the limited bus stops primarily being at major streets, citizens with mobility impairment may have trouble in regards to walking the distance exceeding the stop.

Questions also emerge when regarding help for the homeless with transportation, bus driver feedback, and the unsafe extended wait time of sixty minutes from the hours of 9pm to 1am.

The audience also disagreed with the busses stopping at 1:30am, as it affects the night life of citizens. Expansion of the Q is also in the works for future projects.

The new schedule guides for the BRT with be available Feb. 12.

ments have their own lab rooms.

“We have entirely filled every conceivable spot, which puts students in this tricky situation of not being able to get into classes they need to meet their family care obligations,” said Balogh.

“We have people that work in the afternoons that need all their classes in the morning,” Yates said. “We have people that work graveyard that need all their classes in the afternoon, and we can’t do that.”

Aaron Cuevas, a Clovis Community science graduate and FCC physics tutor, told

board members, “The reason why I ended up getting my associate’s at Clovis Community College is because there wasn’t enough classes here at FCC. I was waitlisted most of them, and I had to go out to Clovis, about a 45 minute drive from my house.”

Yates said,” People are starting to realize how big of a deal it is and are starting to try to find a way to make that happen. I don’t think anyone is out to get us, I think they’re for us and we just didn’t know how big of a problem it was until recently.”

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Coach Salaries in 2016

TITLE IX, FROM PAGE 1

no other reason than their gender, the women allege.

The three say the district has a long-standing practice of gender discrimination, where male coaches and teams are given better employment conditions, compensation, treatment, facilities, equipment, travel and transportation.

The scheduling of games and practices, locker rooms, uniforms, funding, publicity and support staff are also in men’s favor, according to court documents.

Williams’ salary was $124,919 in 2016, according to the Transparent California Database.

Jefferies made $97,463 and Kuball made $113,829. In comparison, FCC’s head football coach Anthony Caviglia made $142,372 in the same year, and head baseball coach Ronald Scott made $133,930.

Women’s head soccer coach Oliver Germond’s salary was $101,514 in 2016, and head volleyball coach Kieran Roblee made $37,985.

Germond said he supports all coaches in the FCC Athletic Department. “We all devote many more hours than are required to maintain successful athletic teams, so I’m confused in how the district can come to the conclusion that some coaches deserve higher salaries than others,” Germond stated about pay discrepancies within the district.

Williams, Kuball and Jefferies filed claims with the California Fair Employment and Housing

NEWS 5 *

Anthony Caviglia

$142,372 Ronald Scott FCC Head Baseball Coach $133,930 Brian Tessler $126,219 FCC Head Football Coach

Rhonda Williams. Courtesy of FCC

Act in December 2017 and were issued right-to-sue letters the same month, court documents say. The lawsuit against the district was filed in Fresno County Superior Court on Jan 16.

“SCCCD’s practices have harmed female coaches in terms of compensation, as well as the involved athletic programs,” Warren Paboojian and Todd Barsotti, the women’s attorneys, stated in a press release. “It is unfortunate that litigation is necessary simply to cause an employer to follow laws which have been in place for decades.”

Lucy Ruiz, a spokeswoman for the district, said the district is aware of the lawsuit. “ I can state that State Center Community College District is committed to gender equity and abiding by the law,” she said.

A court date is set for May 16 at the BF Sisk Courthouse.

FCC Women’s Head Basketball Coach

Rhonda Williams

$124,919

Eric Solberg

$122,869

Paul Keysaw

$124,919

Kathleen Kuball

$113,829

Shannon Jefferies

$97,463

FCC Head Softball Coach FCC Men’s Head Soccer Coach

FCC Head Wrestling Coach Reedley Head Softball Coach

Reedley Women’s Head Volleyball Coach

*via Transparent California

M.E.Ch.A Plants the Seeds of Tomorrow in Upcoming Youth Conference Paulina Rodriguez | Reporter prodriguez@therampageonline.com

Members of Fresno City College’s Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan’s autonomous chapter will host their fourth annual Chicano Youth Conference on April 21 in the Old Administration Building.

The college’s M.E.Ch.A chapter started its own Chicano Youth Conference after Fresno State’s chapter failed to receive funding for its annual conference in 2014. ”The Chicano Youth Conference is a conference inviting middle school and high school youth to get a glimpse of what it is like in college,” Jose Luis Mendoza, member of M.E.Ch.A, said, ”but at the same time providing you a lot of information about your culture, and stuff that you’re not exposed to at those levels.”

The theme of the 2018 Chicano

Youth conference is Semillas de Mañana (Seeds of Tomorrow).

The first Chicano Youth Conference was held in Denver, Colorado on March 23, 1969, and was a fruit of the civil rights movement sweeping the country.

It was the first time MexicanAmericans throughout the country gathered on such a large scale to discuss issues such as oppression, discrimination, and injustice. M.E.Ch.A was founded a month later in Santa Barbara as a nationwide student organization working to promote higher education, culture, and history for people of Mexican descent.

“M.E.Ch.A overall is just an organization that is just trying to make students culturally aware of the impact Latinos, people of color, have on the community,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza said his involvement in M.E.Ch.A began in high school when he attended his first CYC.

Current members of Fresno City College’s Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán (M.E.Ch.A) club. Photo/Paulina Rodriguez

“I came back with a completely different view of who I was as a person, and that my culture was valuable too, and that I could take a part in that,” Mendoza said.

“I grew up in the hood, that was all I knew,” Mendoza said.

“You see what people fall into; it’s always drugs, violence.”

Josie Madrigal, first year M.E.Ch.A member said, “Sometimes it’s hard coming to institutions like this and not seeing yourself represented.”

Students attending the CYC

“are more than likely going to be first generation students,” Madrigal said. “When they see us, when they see a Chicana, they’re going to be like I can do that.”

She wants students to know that, “We [Chicanos] can pursue higher education; we can pursue bachelors degrees, master’s degrees, doctorate degrees, just anything we really set out to do.”

Madrigal says the CYC tells students, “There’s a community that exists here [FCC], and we’ll help you; we’ll support you; we’ll provide

you with any resources that you may need to be successful here.”

A first generation college student, Madrigal said her involvement in M.E.Ch.A has transformed her life.

“I’m gaining so much more than my Associate’s degree at the end of this,” she said. “I’m also gaining a community, a family.”

Regarding this year’s CYC students, Madrigal says , “I want them to sentir como estan en casa, they’re among family.”

6 ENTERTAINMENT

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Manchester Mall Renovations Bring More Options for Students Sasha Saunders | Reporter ssaunders@therampageonline.com

A lot of changes are taking place at Fresno’s Manchester Center in 2018. With its location in the heart of central Fresno, it’s easily accessible to the community, including students at Fresno City College.

The mall, which has been in business for over 60 years, is adding a plethora of new tenants to the New Manchester project, according to Ominent Capital, the center’s owner, Morel Bagunu, general manager of the mall, has been a part of the New Manchester project for six years and says he understands the role it plays for people in the community as well as the advantages of the center’s location.

“We sit on some of the best real estate in the city,” said Bagunu.

“We knew that we could revitalize the shopping center and bring the customers back to our tenants because of that.”

Not everyone is optimistic about the success of the project.

Kelvaughn Few, a sophomore at FCC, said, “The renovations being done at Manchester look well, but I don’t think it’s going to give

that flare back.”

To bring some of that flare back, the project consists of an entirely new entrance, a renovation of the whole exterior facade and a two story dining court. Other plans include an outdoor plaza for concerts, art shows, and weekly farmers market.

Other FCC students say they are excited about the New Manchester plans. “The renovations being done to Manchester are great and long overdue,” Briana Maxwell, a sophomore, said. “We need better food choices between classes because right now all we have is crappy, greasy fast food places.”

With the help of local food trucks like Yummyz Street Treats and popular restaurants like Rocket Dog Gourmet Brats & Brew, the dining experience at Manchester is going to give students more food options between classes.

The food court is going to be transformed into an area called the Marketplace, which will be home to food trucks that Bagunu says “are creating a brick and mortar space for themselves.”

A large part of bringing life back to Manchester had to do

with getting international tenants south of Shaw Avenue, Bagunu says.

With the addition of the already up and running Habit Burger, Chipotle, and Rita’s Italian Ice, Central Fresno can finally get a taste of some of the well-known eateries the city has to offer.

“Now you have three different places where you’ve never had the chance to eat before,” Bagunu said. “People still neglect that Starbucks, Panda Express and Deli Delicious are on the property as well. That is also a part of Manchester.”

The rebirth of Manchester can also help students financially.

New tenants moving into center will open up more employment availability and at a good speed. “Habit Burger has hired 30 new people, and Chipotle has hired 15 to 20 new people,” Bagunu said. “It will continue to grow as more businesses open.”

Construction schedules make it hard to nail a date, but Bagunu said the New Manchester will be worth the wait. “When we finish our whole renovation,” he said, “they’re gonna find this place an extremely pleasurable place to be.”

A sign hangs outside the Manchester Mall on Tuesday Feb. 6, 2018.

Photo/Larry Valenzuela

Onion Founder Humors Crowd At FCC Noah Villaverde | Entertainment Editor nvillaverde@therampageonline.com

Scott Dikkers, a founding editor of the satire news satire organization The Onion discussed his career to uproarious laughter at the Old Administration Building on Tuesday Feb. 6.

The audience, which was mostly comprised of Fresno City College students listened to Dikkers’ account of his career in comedy and satire as well as the origins of The Onion.

Dikkers’ speech was different

“

storytelling.

Through the use of selfdeprecating humor, Dikkers recalled his earlier years as an aspiring satirist.

Dikkers cites MAD Magazine as a major inspiration to him and spoke about how humor became an outlet for him.

“If you make the bullies laugh, they wouldn’t beat you up,” said Dikkers.

Dikkers discussed his early work as a cartoonist in which he earned notoriety for his comic

“If you make the bullies laugh, they wouldn’t beat you up.”

-Scott Dikkers Founder of the Onion

than traditional speeches from numerous visiting speakers.

While some past speeches have had elements of humor here and there, Dikkers approached this speech akin to a stand-up comedy performance with a balanced legitimacy in straightforward

strip, “Jim’s Journal,” which became a syndicated strip in college newspapers from 19871997.

He then discussed how he met Tim Keck and Christopher Johnson, who approached him about beginning a satire publication.

This satire publication became The Onion.

The publication received its name given the layers found in an onion as well as the fact that Johnson would eat raw onions on a slice of toasted bread.

Dikkers bought The Onion from Keck and Johnson and eventually hired numerous satirists from different areas in life.

With a tinge of sarcasm, Dikkers described his earliest hirees as “bitter” and “hateful” with “no prospects in life.” With much of them now working as professional writers for comedy shows such as “The Daily Show.”

Dikkers also discussed how there is a place for satire through numerous mediums.

“Different people prefer to receive information in different ways,” Dikkers said. “Some enjoy movies, TV, radio, podcasts, pictures and written work.”

Dikkers told the audience that The Onion covered all those bases and nearly put together a stage show in Chicago.

Dikkers concluded his presentation by discussing one’s fears when expressing comedy due to the possibility of offending people.

“You can be shocking and offensive, as long as they are laughing.”

Scott Dikkers, founding editor of satire news site The Onion, speaks at the Old Administration Building on Feb. 6, 2018. Photo/Paulina Rodriguez

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OPINION 7

Democrats Should Look Back at 2013 to Avoid Another Shutdown Andrew Leal | Reporter aleal@herampageonline.com

Another day, probably another government shutdown looming for the second time in 2018. Yes, the U.S. government could possibly be back to square one since a Feb. 8 deadline to pass another short-term funding bill is near.

In no circumstance should legislators allow a government shutdown. On Jan. 20, the blame for the shutdown was on Senate democrats, but any party with that kind of power should remember that party legislative agenda comes second to country because of the cost of not funding our government.

Senate democrats should come together with their republican counterparts to pass a long-term spending bill, not these weeks long, sometimes days long continuing resolutions bringing both parties to butt heads every time a deadline approaches.

On Jan. 19, senators had the simple task of passing a short-

term funding bill that would have kept the federal government running; the House had already passed it with a comfortable majority of 230 - 197. Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer led senate democrats to filibuster the legislation and keep it in debate.

A filibuster is a tactic used in the Senate to keep a bill from a vote by keeping a debate going on to discuss the legislation. By Senate rules a simple majority of 51 votes is needed to pass a bill, however, a 60 vote threshold is required to end a filibuster.

As it stands right now, republicans in the Senate have a 51 majority seat count over a democrat 49, therefore, 9 democrats would have been needed to end the filibuster on Jan. 19. As such Senate democrats do have some power without a majority and that is what they exercised on Jan. 19.

Democrats wanted the Dream Act in the short-term funding bill and would maintain a filibuster until its inclusion by Majority

Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell.

There was no agreement to include immigration reform in the bill.

A three-day shutdown resulted, causing loss of money, even though figures for the 2018 shutdowns cost are not yet determined. If we go by previous incidents, it is obvious shutdowns are costly.

During the second term of Barack Obama’s presidency, a 16day shutdown, initiated by the

“

Freedom Caucus, a conservative group of Congress, led to losses in both revenue and government waste. $2.5 billion alone was retroactively paid to frouglouged federal workers when including work benefits, according to Politico. Pay was given to federal employees who did not perform work for those 16 days, meaning we gave tax dollars for nothing in return. Even worse, $24 billion in lost economic output occured, according to the Standard and

Poor’s rating agency.

While, the 2018 government shutdown is not a close comparison, history can repeat itself if senate democrats try again to include immigration reform into a short-term funding bill.

A deadline to fund the federal government is set at Feb. 8. Time will tell if the Senate can come together to fund the government again or a worse shutdown could be on the horizon.

Senate democrats should come together with their republican counterparts to pass a long-term spending bill.”

Campus Voices: How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day?

Ezra Wright

Blake Evans

Music

English

“I beg my ex to come back to me. P.S.-- I still love you, Lisa.”

“I buy myself a box of chocolates and pretend it’s for someone else.”

Gabriel Venegas

Amanda Fiske Art

Joanna Guerrero

Networking

“I get drunk and cry myself to sleep.

“I dress up really cute and celebrate with my friends.”

“I usually stay at home unless the family throws a pity party.”

Art

Valentine’s Day? No thanks Stefanie Verdugo-Tholen | Reporter stholen@therampageonline.com

I am married, and I hate Valentine’s Day. The only day that I should be obligated to be romantic is my wedding anniversary.

I have been married for 14 years, and when I think back to my days as a young, single woman, I realize that Valentine’s Day did not bother me as much as it does today.

At least when you are single, you have an excuse to be bitter and rude, if you so choose, but when you are married, one person could be in a bad mood because they had a bad day at work, or got a flat tire on the freeway, or just a bad hair day.

A bad day could also result from a poop-filled disaster involving the toddler you are potty training. So, by the time

your husband arrives home with a card and flowers, you are in no mood to be romantic, nor should you feel obligated to do so.

When my husband and I started dating, he took me to dinner at a fancy restaurant and bought me a beautiful gold necklace, which he could not afford and flowers and a sappy card. I was so overwhelmed, but I appreciated everything, and I remember telling him that he did not have to do so much.

That Valentine’s Day doesn’t hold any significance in my book.

But, after 14 years of spending Valentine’s Day on the golf course, I’d say he appreciates my not caring about Valentine’s Day. Three types of people hate Valentine’s Day. It’s not just the tired, over-stressed married wife or husband or the sad, spiteful single guy or girl. How about the unfortunate child born on Feb. 14? Imagine that.

I have a male friend who was born on Feb. 14. He enjoyed his birthday until he started dating his first serious girlfriend. On his birthday, he had to take her out to dinner, buy her gifts and make it about her. Poor guy.

In the years that followed, he had to ignore his own birthday to give his girlfriend a great Valentine’s Day. But one day, he knew he had met the woman of his dreams when she asked what he wanted to do for his birthday. They are married with two children and never celebrate Valentine’s Day. I applaud them.

It truly makes me feel bad, well not that bad because I have bigger things to worry about, but I do not want to be a V-Day ba humbug, but who decides that every person in a relationship should be romantic or go out of their way to show their significant other love on Feb.14?

Illustration/Tasha Turner

I mean, I would make a point to be romantic on any given Tuesday night, if my husband cooked dinner, took out the trash, gave our daughter a bath, brushed her teeth, put her to bed, all without

having to be reminded.

That would be cause for a romantic gesture. Not because some little chubby, flying cherub told me I had to be.

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SPORTS 2.7.18

therampageonline.com

Jones’s Career Day Helps Rams Get the Win Omari Bell | Social Media Editor obell@therampageonline.com

Sophmore guard Randazia Jones prepares for a free throw during the first half of the women’s basketball game in the Fresno City College gym on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2018.

Photo/Omari Bell

After Erasing Double-Digit Giants Lead, Men’s Basketball Faces Upset in Overtime Jamila McCarty | Reporter jmccarty@therampageonline.com

Coming off a 14-game winning streak, Fresno City Men’s basketball team was upset, 80-79, at home against College of the Sequoias on Jan. 31.

College of the Sequoias came into the game with two-game losing streak and a chip on their shoulder. The Rams were not able to keep up in the first half and were close to 20 points down.

Even though the Giants averaged a 36.2 percent three-point average and a 45.3 percent field-goal, their shooting was a force to reckon with.

“We made a few mistakes,” said Rams freshman guard Drew Cobb. “We came out flat, like we weren’t ready.”

According to Cobb, FCC came back with “more intensity” after

halftime. The Rams were able to set points on the scoreboard that permitted them to tie the game 56-56 with 10 minutes left on the clock in the second half.

The Rams managed to maintain that same pace for the remaining of the second half which pushed them into overtime against COS. This was the Rams fourth time playing against Sequoia and with a two time winning streak.

“It was do or die,” Cobb said.

The Rams had to find a way to step on COS’s throats.

Unfortunately FCC Rams fell short by one point, ending the game with a close score of 80-79.

According to sophomore guard, Tommy Nuno the men’s basketball team’s goal for the rest of the season is to, “keep the streak of college championships going.”

Ram’s freshman guard Drew Cobb drives down the court against College of Sequioas on Jan. 31, 2018. Photo/Jamila McCarty

Fresno City College women’s basketball dominated the floor in the first quarter of the game Feb. 3 at home against Taft College. So much so that the Rams scored 16 of their 22 points driving to the basket and at the charity stripe by the end of the first.

Time and time again, Randazia Jones and Mikayla Mabie drove to the basket, finishing at will. At the end of the quarter, the Cougars trailed by 11, and it was apparent that they had no answer for the Rams on defense and offense.

Thanks to a few Deja Derrell layups, Taft was able to stay afloat in the first quarter. Once the second quarter began, the Cougars appeared to come out with confidence.

Eventually Taft started finding easy baskets. Slowly but surely, they managed to draw fouls,

which got them easy points from the charity stripe. Seven minutes into the quarter, the Cougars inside presence began to diminish, giving the Rams the advantage and control of the game.

From start to finish, Jones was on her game defensively. The freshman guard led all scorers with a career-high 18 points – at times she was unstoppable. She opened the contest with six points in the first quarter, making quick work in the Rams’ full-court press.

By game’s end, Jones was near perfect from the both the field and the charity stripe; she went 6-9 from the field and a near perfect 6 of 7 at the line.

Before the break, the Rams continued to get the best of the Cougars offense along with their defense, giving them a 53-18 advantage to end the first half.

At half time, instructors Car-

ole Sullivan, Diana Decker, Shana Munoz, Teresa Patterson, Colby Linder, Michelle Patton, and Travis McDonald were honored for the 2018 Ram Teacher Appreciation Game.

With less than nine minutes to go, the Rams’ Hannah Fong knocked down two shots from behind the arc. Once again, before the three minute mark, the Rams were enjoying themselves with unselfish passing and great ball movement, searching for the best shots to take.

The Rams finished the game beating Taft College 99 to 35.

Although the Cougars lost the game, they were able to finish with a better field goal and 3-point percentage, leading the Rams by four percent in both.

This win marks the Rams’ second game in a row after tough loss against Merced.

It’s NOT Always Sunny in Philadelphia Anthony De Leon | Sports Editor adeleon@therampageonline.com

If there was ever a moment since the advent of “The Purge” trilogy becoming a reality, it would have to be around 11 p.m. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Super Bowl Sunday 2018. Streets were filled with what police estimate as “around 100,000” Eagles fans who were looking to create total chaos and anarchy all in the name of “celebration.”

Before the Super Bowl, the prediction of a Patriots repeat may have been off the mark, but the prediction of all-out debauchery by the Philly faithful if the Eagles were victorious was Nostradamus-like.

All eyes were on Philadelphia to see how the fans were going to react and how they were going to take the internet by storm. The craziness did not disappoint.

While the streets of Philly were filled with the huddled masses of a championship-depraved city that decided to release all inhibition and burn their city down, a question arose -- can the actions of a fan base go too far?

Post Super Bowl social media was set ablaze, no pun intended, with video of fires around the city alongside the action of petty looting and pole climbing. Poles that were greased beforehand with industrial strength hydraulic grease that would supposedly make it near impossible to climb had no effect on the Philly faithful.

There were scenes of cars being overturned and businesses being looted for the sake of fun

with Meek Mill serving as the soundtrack of their night. The day went from a dream to a complete nightmare where, if the fans wanted to, they could have freed Meek from prison themselves.

But instead, chants of “Fly Eagles Fly” and “Free Meek Mill” rung in the air, showcasing the actions of a fan base who told a different narrative to onlookers.

It may confuse many as to why citizens of a city they cheer for would cost that same city tens of thousands of dollars in property damage, leaving the city in ruins.

Does the end of the longest championship drought for every major sports city justify the actions seen Sunday night?

As a sports fan, there should be a limit most are willing to go to in “celebration” of your favorite team, no matter how many lifetimes you have been waiting to say that your franchise are world champs.

The passion that is seen in the actions of football fans seem to dwarf those of basketball and baseball fan bases when it comes to pregame tailgates and post game celebrations. Even when it comes to championship wins in those sports, there are rarely cases of anarchy such as was seen on Sunday.

The thought process of most Philly fans was one of justification with the help of inebriation. This was exemplified tenfold when beloved comedian and Philadelphia born Kevin Hart was rejected on national television from walking on the podium during the Lom-

bardi Trophy presentation.

Hart was quoted as saying, “When alcohol is in your system, you do dumb stuff.”

And if that was not the rallying cry of the Eagles fans with more than the legal limit of alcohol in their system, the city would not have to clean the 56 years in the making mess left Monday morning.

“

When alcohol is in your system, you do dumb stuff.”

-Kevin Hart The city will be hosting an official Super Bowl victory parade on Thursday where an estimated two million people will attend, nearly doubling the attendance of the 2008 World Series parade for the Phillies.

Let us hope for the sake of all small businesses in a 10 mile radius of the parade that fans keep things civil and do not turn another joyous occasion into a scene from “Lord of the Flies.”