THE
RAMPAGE
The Student-Run Newspaper of Fresno City College
SPRING 2019 | ISSUE 2 | Feb. 13, 2019
PUSHED OUT? Her choice was to resign or be fired. PAGE 5
Former ASG President Angela Van Gilder resigns after ethics board finds grounds for dismissal. Van Gilder was ASG president from Nov. 6, 2018 to Feb. 5. Photo/Ram Reyes
NEWS
03
ENTERTAINMENT Hungry? Find out where to eat around campus
OPINION
05
The Most Anticipated Games of 2019
SPORTS
09
Vaccination is a Choice, So Make the Right One
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FCC BASEBALL TEAM LOOKS TO STAY HOT
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THE RAMPAGE
The student-run newspaper of Fresno City College
STAFF Editor-in-Chief Tommy Tribble
News Editors Ben Hensley Tamika Rey
Art Director Ramuel Reyes
Sports Editor Ben Hensley
Entertainment Editor Peter Lopez
Opinion Editor Gage Carmichael
Assistant Opinion Editor Sarah Chavez
Social Media Editor Omari Bell
Reporters
Alfredo Rodriguez Angel De Jesus Blake Evans Conner Stevens Derek Bullis Emily Perez Gisella Luna Hannah Lanier Kellie Clark Leticia Leal Ramon Castanos
Photo/Rampage File Photo
New Veterans Club Seeks Members, Community Involvement Derek Bullis | Reporter dbullis@therampageonline.com
A small group of veterans at Fresno City College have teamed up with the Veterans Resource Center to ease the transition from military to civilian life. The Veterans Club aims to bring together veteran students at FCC and get them involved in volunteer work in the community. The biggest efforts that the Veterans Club has been making is bringing the men and women who have served in the military together to build a community on campus in order to promote brotherhood and Esprit de corps. According to the president of the club, the veterans club has
had difficulties recruiting and membership participation in the last few semesters and has just been recently reinstated. William Coleman said that even though the club only has a few members, he prefers “to not go out and recruit guys for the club.” Being a veteran is not a requirement to join the club. Coleman said he hopes to bring together people that have a passion for service to country and their communities. Coleman and fellow club member Kevin Robbins volunteered to sell newspapers at last year’s Children’s Day at Clinton and Fresno avenues near the VA
Hospital in order to raise money for the Valley Children’s Hospital. “Willie disappeared on me for a minute but came back stepping off the FAX bus, he was working selling those papers. Willie and I sold almost 100 newspapers that day and just imagine if we had the extra help how much more we could of done that day,” Robbins said. Coleman explained that more than 250 veterans are currently enrolled at FCC, but most “just want to focus on their education, and not have to stress about everything else that is going on.” Veterans Club will be conducting a quarterly peace memorial
False Alarm Hits Math, Science Building
Business Manager Tamika Rey Joanna Murrieta
Peter R. Lopez | Entertainment Editor plopez@therampageonline.com
Adviser/Instructor Dympna Ugwu-Oju
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Any correction needed for an article should be brought to the attention of the staff of The Rampage. The Rampage is committed to accuracy and should be made aware of any mistake in an article that appears in this paper. 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.
clean-up coming up on Feb. 23 at 10 a.m. The club gathers volunteers interested in paying respects to those that have served by make sure the Veterans Memorial at the Free Speech Area is regularly cleaned and maintained said Coleman. The Veterans Club wants to encourage anyone who is interested to get involved and their new goal is to gain some traction through the club’s community involvements.
The door to the Tutorial Center. Photo/Gisella Luna
Tutorial Center Unlocks Door to Success Alfredo Rodriguez | Reporter Position arodriguez@therampageonline.com
If you are one of the Fresno City College students looking for ways to keep your grades up, the Tutorial Center is just the place to go. The center may make the difference between success and failure this semester. Open on Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 8 p.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed Sundays. The Tutorial Center provides tutoring for a variety of subjects and helps students with their class work when needed. “We’ve been finding ways on how we can improve the tutorial center,” Odalis Frausto, a Tutorial Center staff, said. Frausto said the center is conducting a survey of students
on how to improve or better their experience. The center uses the students’ feedback and recommendations to better their next visit and accommodate their needs Frausto says the center tries hires as many tutors as possible to ensure students can get help in most courses offered here at FCC. Subjects areas covered include Spanish, physics, psychology, math, English, science, history, biology, computer science, economics, engineering, history, Philosophy, japanese history, poli-sci, and accounting. “It would help me a lot for my math class,” Karen Soria, a second year student said. “I would wake up every morning just to go to tutoring.” Soria was failing her math class for nine weeks before she
decided to get tutoring help. She said the sessions were very helpful with her homework and she got the help she needed and finished her class with a C. Jesus Mendoza, a mechanical engineering major, said he too was not doing well in his classes and did not know where to get help until a friend told him about the the Tutorial Center. “I got the help I needed for my math class because I was struggling a ton,” Mendoza said. The Tutorial Center helps tutor students here at FCC with a variety of different subjects, students in need of help with a particular subject they don’t understand and if in need of tutoring you can check out the tutorial center.
An emergency call was placed in the morning on Tuesday, Feb. 12, which led Fresno City College students to evacuate the math and science building. “Apparently there was some smell of exhaust,” Kathy Bonilla, Public Information Officer, said. The cause of the evacuation was due to the grounds department, which at the time was servicing campus nearby. Fumes from mowing machines were thought to have entered through the southwest portion of the math and science building’s ventilation system. According to Nancy Gross, an administrative aide, two faculty members placed the call and the event lasted approximately 20 minutes. The names of said individuals were not offered to The Rampage. “I toured the labs, [and] there’s nothing up there that we can tell,” Seth Yates, chemistry professor said. Professors and students in labs did not detect any strange odors present at the time of the evacuation. An emergency announcement was heard via classroom telephone speakers, email and a text message was also sent to those who have opted into the emergency text service with FCC.
Students line up to buy food at the cafeteria on campus with their meal cards and coffee cards. Photo/Ramon Castanos
Best Bites on Campus Ramon Castanos | Reporter rcastanos@therampageonline.com
Food truck vendors, the Ram Pantry, Campus Cafe and offcampus restaurants are providing food and discounts to the hungry students of Fresno City College. Students can make choices based on cost, availability as well as variety of foods offered. The Campus Cafe, located in the same people as the student lounge, is usually the first port of call for most students. The eatery tries to be competitive by its costs and deals. The Campus Cafe offer varied types of food like pizzas, sandwiches, hot dogs, bugers, and many more meals. Jaime A. Jaramillo, interim director for food service, said the cafe is charging the same prices as it did last semester. The cafe offers a “buy 10 get one free” deal with coffee cards. A new meal program rewards a student who buys seven $7 meals
The cafe offers a “buy 10 get one free” deal with coffee cards. A new meal program rewards a student who buys seven $7 meals with a free one, if it costs $5 or more.
with a free one, if it costs $5 or more. “Most of the time, I eat before school, but on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I eat in the cafeteria during my break,” Daniel Armenta, liberal studies major, said. Armenta said that sometimes the prices in the cafeteria are expensive, even for a slice of pizza. Sara Xiong, communications major, said she mostly makes her own food, but sometimes buys food when necessary. She said making her own food is a “smarter way to save money.” Another option is the Ram Pantry which is free for every student. Cindy Dunn, coordinator of Ram Pantry, says donations come from Fresno Metro Ministry, Coca Cola, Community Food Banks, Cornerstone Church, and a Lutheran church group. Food from the pantry is available on Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. It reopens from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday to Thursday, so “evening students have an opportunity to come in and get food, as well the athletes,” Dunn said. “The busiest days right now is Tuesday and Thursday; Friday isn’t quite as busy because not many students are on campus,” Dunn said. Many evening students and student-athletes had schedule conflicts with the earlier hours. To heat frozen food from the Ram Pantry, students can use the microwave in the Associated
Student Government office (ASG) which is located on the second floor of the bookstore building. The microwave is available for every student from MondayFriday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m,. but hours vary depending on the availability of the senators, according to Eldine Hudson, ASG office manager. Students can also buy their food from the food trucks which are available Monday-Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.at the small fountain near the library; the back patio behind the bookstore and near the Health Sciences Building. Students can find the food truck schedule on the FCC website, said Carla Walter, interim vice president of administrative services. “The locations are appointed [to vendors],” by the administration, said Jeff Lewis, co-owner of Rubia’s Churro Parities. Lewis said some locations are not as busy as the Health Science Building location. The schedule for the food trucks is updated frequently through the administrative services office, Walter said. Prices of food vary by vendor. Students with an FCC ID card can get discounts from restaurants, including Dutch Bros, Carl’s Jr., Denny’s, Mings Restaurant, Piemonte’s Italian Delicatessen, Bobby Salazar’s, Loving Hut, Happy Joy, Pho 75, Flower Tea, and Froyo & Ice Cream that are near to FCC.
Discounts with your FCC ID Card • Carl’s Jr 10 percent discount (not offering with stacking coupons or combo meals) • Denny’s 10 percent discount (not offering with beverage orders) • Flower Tea five percent on bubble tea and food • Happy Joy 10 percent discounts on any drinks • Mountain Mike’s 20 percent discount on any pizzas (not offering with stacking coupons or promotions) • Piemonte’s Italian Delicatessen 75 cent off on any sandwiches • Mings Restaurant one dollar off on any $10 purchase • Teazers 10 percent discount on any items • Pho 75 10 percent discount (not offering with stacking coupons) • Bobby Salazar’s 10 percent discount • Dutch Bros one dollar off on any drinks (not offering with stacking coupons and one per card per visit) • Loving Hut one dollar off on anything on the menu • Froyo & Ice Cream 50 percent on second yogurt (not offering with stacking coupons, promotions, or loyalty reward and the FCC ID card only works Monday - Friday at 11:00 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
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Pushed Out? ASG President Facing Removal Resigns
Local Medical Pioneer Speaks at Opening Ceremony for Black History Month at FCC Tamika Rey | News Editor trey@therampageonline.com
California’s first open heart surgeon told a packed room during the opening day ceremonies of Black History Month on Feb 1 to work together to better each other’s lives. Dr. Fitzalbert Marius told the audience in Room 251 of the OAB that the best thing they can do is to “continue to migrate towards [not away] from each other.” Marius who was the first African American medical intern in Fresno in 1958 at the old Valley Medical Center, said it was, “easy to be first when blacks were denied inclusion in society.” He said he was determined to acquire as many skills as he could and was a tailor at seven years old and played the violin and bass guitar as well. Speaking on “migrations of blacks in history”–the theme of his keynote address–Marius explained that black Americans often did not have a choice in their geographic movements. “Circumstances, and situations
cause change,” he said. “Modern day blacks are a result of ancestry of the slave trade.” Marius said it is important to remember that today’s black Americans are still “absolutely subject to the past, present and future.” In the first recorded migrations of black slaves, the slave traders required “absolute obedience [from the slaves]; a sense of personal inferiority to cause a sense of awareness of the inherent power of the master; and to completely depend on the master for everything,” Marius said. The emancipation brought black people to the level of a human being, Marius said, but that blacks failed when they “attempted to assimilate in a society that didn’t operate to accommodate them.” Black lives were not valued, and killing a “negro is not considered murder,” Marius explained. The ceremony was sponsored by the African American Faculty and Staff Association and began
with opening prayers followed by “The Pledge of Allegiance” then “The Black National Anthem” and a few other spiritual songs such as, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Monique Kelley, President of the AAFSA, gave a brief overview of the program and introduced Carole Goldsmith, president of FCC. Goldsmith commended Dr. Marius for being a “leader and an example of what you can do” when you listen to that divine spirit within. She also spoke about her excitement for the higher education that is coming to West Fresno through Measure C. Goldsmith conferred an honorary Ram to Marius and the members of the AAFSA association gave him a sash. The Pan Afrikan Student Union also attended the event; the club’s former president, Alexandria Ben, went into a poem reflecting on how society tries to, “dilute our melanin,” in reference to the racism that black Americans face.
Tommy Tribble | Editor-in-Chief reporter@therampageonline.com
President of the African American Faculty and Staff Association, Monique Kelley and Dr. Fitzalbert Marius at the Opening Day Ceremonies for Black History Month, Friday, Feb. 1, 2019. Photo/Tamika Rey
Damon H. Dandridge singing, “I’ve Been Changed,” for Walk in Peace: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History Month, Friday, Feb. 8, 2019 Photo/Tamika Rey
Choral Groups Celebrate Memory of Dr. Martin Luther King
Tamika Rey | News Editor trey@therampageonline.com
The Fresno State Choral singers and the Fresno City College Choral group partnered to present, “Walk In Peace: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History Month” on Feb. 8 in the OAB auditorium. Fresno City College Singers, Clovis North Women’s Chorale, Clovis North Chamber Singers,
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COVER STORY
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Fresno State Chamber Singers, and Fresno State Concert Choir all paid homage to Martin Luther King, Jr., the fallen civil rights leader through music. Jewel Riversmith, business facilities assistant, narrated excerpts from Dr. King’s historical speeches as the choirs and soloist sang, or in between sets. Riversmith also read quotes from historical figures such as Maya Angelou, Frederick
Douglass, Rosa Parks and Abraham Lincoln. The women in the choir were dressed in navy blue satin dresses while the men wore black tuxedo. The affair was very formal. Such pieces as, “Ain’t No Grave Can Hold My Body Down,” “I’m Gonna Sing ‘Til the Spirit Moves In My Heart,” “Amazing Grace,” and “I Know I’ve Been Changed,” were belted out by vocalists whose voices carried well out of the auditorium.
When now former ASG President Angela Van Gilder entered the senate chambers on Feb. 5, she didn’t expect to face an ethics hearing seeking to justify the body’s removal of her. Surprised, unprepared and fed up, she chose instead to resign. “I thought this Tuesday we were voting whether or not to have a hearing,” Van Gilder said. At the last ASG meeting, the ethics committee found the complaints against Van Gilder credible, and gave the go ahead for a hearing and a vote for her removal from the presidency. Van Gilder prepared for that eventuality. Extensive, color coded notes respond to each and every charge against her. Black text for the charges against her, blue for her justifications, and green for requests for more information. But she anticipated one more vote and one more session before the hearing. She didn’t have her notes with her on Feb. 5. “In a way, I kind of felt cheated,” Van Gilder said. She felt misled by Sean Henderson, dean of student services. At the Jan. 29 ASG meeting, there was some confusion about the order of events; whether Van Gilder would have her chance to testify before the ethics committee voted to move ahead with a future removal vote or after. Henderson clarified that the board would decide whether or not the hearing and subsequent removal vote could happen, according to the minutes for the Jan. 29 meeting. “They’re just saying that they see that there’s enough evidence from what people have brought to them for the charges that they’re going to present,” Van Gilder said. “They’re voting whether or not to accept the charges.” She asked him if the Jan. 29 vote was just for the charges, then would the Feb. 5 vote approve a future hearing. “He replied with a simple yes,” Van Gilder said. The Jan. 29 vote approved the charges so that a hearing
could take place on Feb. 5. The ethics committee voted 6-1 yes, according to the minutes. Van Gilder calls it a miscommunication. “I kept it very professional. I never accused him of anything.” But Van Gilder argues that the minutes were provided by the communications officer at the last minute, just before the agenda was due, not giving her time to read them. The final agenda was not the one she had prepared and submitted, but one that was altered by ASG adviser Ernie Martinez. Her original agenda doesn’t include the vote to remove the president, the new one does, because the ethics committee voted 6-1 approving the hearing and the removal vote. This wasn’t the first time Van Gilder was embattled as an ASG executive. She previously served as vice president under former ASG President Christopher Washington, who is serving a one-year jail sentence for dissuading a witness. Prior to his arrest, Washington repeatedly tried to remove Van Gilder from the vice presidency, citing a “conflicting working environment.” The pair had a fraught relationship and even had a verbal altercation during an on-camera interview with the Rampage. That video was significant in the charges against Van Gilder, according to the resolution detailing the allegations against her. One charge alleges that she “has been disrespectful in her interactions with the media, faculty, and fellow students [...], leading to their differences being publicized in The Rampage, including a recorded interview conducted by a Rampage reporter.” But with Washington gone, Van Gilder hoped for a clean slate. “He was the main person driving for my removal,” she said. “Nobody had thought of that until he pushed the whole idea.” Van Gilder still isn’t sure why senators continued to seek her removal weeks after Washington’s tenure as president ended. After she became president and was sworn in, she assumed all was
“
She thought she knew brown act and robert’s rules.”
-Carlos ROdriguez
Student Trustee
Angela Van Gilder and her service dog Sassy. Sassy was called “out of control” in a memorandum. Photo/Ram Reyes
behind her, but conflict continued. “I would get dirty looks and be told, ‘Well, you’re not my mom,’” she said. She frequently clashed with senators and advisors over Brown Act–legislation that regulates government proceedings even at the student level. Among the many charges against her are accusations that she failed to include votes for her removal from the vice presidency on the agenda. She argues that this is because the removal attempts were in violation of Brown Act, as there was no ethics committee formed to approve a hearing or removal at the time. For this latest removal attempt there was an ethics committee and substantial claims against Van Gilder. She was charged with failing to fulfill the responsibilities and duties of the ASG president, specifically, “To attend...ASG sponsored functions,” such as club rushes, the Fall Carnival, and Ram Slam. “She wasn’t showing up for any of our functions,” said Carlos Rodriguez, student trustee, who also accused Van Gilder of failing to maintain her office hours. Van Gilder maintains that she was kept out of the loop about events and that she was frequently told, when she was vice president, that her presence wasn’t needed. She said the events sometimes conflicted with her classes. She was accused of behavior unbecoming of an ASG
officer, “repeated and ongoing failure to perform promised obligations,” as well as, “excessive and willful behavior that is counterproductive to the goodwill and productivity of the ASG and student body.” That charge is the result of a “verbal altercation” between Van Gilder and ASG adviser Ernie Martinez regarding another senator’s actions, which delayed a meeting. At the time of this writing, Martinez is at a conference and could not be reached for comment. Rodriguez said that Van Gilder interfered with attempts to train new ASG senators. Van Gilder allegedly interrupted Henderson’s attempts to clarify ASG bylaws in a meeting when those clarifications seemed to turn into a full training. “I can’t allow a full-on training to go on,” Van Gilder reportedly told Henderson. “It’s not listed in the agenda as an agenda item.” “She thought she knew the Brown Act and Robert’s rules,” Rodriguez said. “It’s not against Brown or Robert’s rules to train. It doesn’t have to be on the agenda. [Henderson is] just there to make sure our meetings run smoothly.” Van Gilder paints a different picture. She recalls a meeting between herself, Henderson, and Martinez, where Henderson confronted her with a memorandum about her conduct; it accused her of acting like a bully, accused her
service dog Sassy of being out of control, and criticized her interpersonal conduct with ASG members. “As he [Henderson] would read each one of them off I then went to give my response to it, and he literally told me I’m not allowed to speak,” Van Gilder said. She said she tried to defend herself, her dog and her actions again. “And he [Henderson] turned to advisor Martinez and said, ‘Haven’t I told her a few times now that she’s not allowed to speak and this is a one way conversation?’ And at that moment, I really did feel bullied,” she said. Henderson disputes the account, but refused to go into details on the record because of confidentiality. At the Feb. 5 ASG meeting, Van Gilder faced her removal hearing. She didn’t have her blue inked arguments. She felt ambushed by her dean, unsupported by her adviser, and rejected by her senate. She elected to resign. She said she had too much respect for herself to continue working in an environment where she feels disrespected. She left the room and Henderson followed. “And he told me I couldn’t just walk out like that and quit,” Van Gilder said. “And I said, ‘Actually I can. Anyone can resign at any time.’”
6 ENTERTAINMENT
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2.13.19 ENTERTAINMENT 7
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Tower District Hot Spots For UnderAge College StudentS Hannah Lanier| Reporter Hlanier@therampageonline.com
Courtesy of From Software
Most Anticipated Games of 2019
Peter Lopez | Entertainment Editor plopez@therampageonline.com
With the new year now in full swing, a slew of awesome video games are coming which have gamers chomping at the bit. From across the board, major publishers are set to launch some of their most anticipated titles to date. Without further ado, here are the top five video games to keep an eye out for in 2019. Animal Crossing - Nintendo Switch - 2019 Although Animal Crossing for Nintendo Switch has yet to receive an official release date, video game developer and publisher, Nintendo, has been confirmed the game for 2019, which is why it landed a spot on this list. Even though Nintendo has not shared many details regarding the release of Animal Crossing for Nintendo Switch, seasoned Animal Crossing fans can expect to complete virtual chores -- guilt free -- and more this year! But what is Animal Crossing? Well, this particular game allows users to complete errands for local town inhabitants, create a
custom home of their own, and develop relationships with the local township. It can take many hours to complete a town as you see fit, but the Animal Crossing series does provide individuals with a sense of satisfaction that does nothing but feel rewarding at the end of the day. Gears 5 - Xbox One - 2019
Revealed during Microsoft’s E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) 2018 presentation, Gears 5 places individuals into the role of Kait Diaz, a badass female soldier from Gears of War 4, who must journey across the world with her team to uncover the origin of the Locust, the franchise enemy. Gears 5 is a third-person shooter that will provide both single and multiplayer gameplay, and will be part of Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass, which allows subscribers to download Microsoft titles without paying the full $60 price tag in retail stores. The subscription price for Xbox Game Pass varies, ranging from $29.99 for 3 months and $59.99 for six months.
Yoshi’s Crafted World Nintendo Switch - March 29
When it comes to developing amazing games with adorable aesthetic, Nintendo absolutely nails it on the head, which is why Yoshi’s Crafted World is a title to have on your radar in 2019. The story in Yoshi’s Crafted World involves the evil wizard Kamek and Baby Bowser, as they attempt to steal artifact gems and it’s up to Yoshi and his friends to save the day. Coming to the Nintendo Switch on March 29, Yoshi’s Crafted World allows players to side-scroll throughout levels, both in single player and multiplayer, in a world which consists of everyday items like cups, paperclips, and boxes. Levels in Yoshi’s Crafted World are said to rotate backwards, which offers more exploration to the player in order for them to uncover hidden items. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Multiplatform - March 22 From the creators of Bloodborne and Dark Souls, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which takes place in Japan during the 1500s, is coming to
Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on March 22 and means to be difficult and nail biting. This hack and slash game, developed by From Software, places individuals into the role of a man known, according to PlayStation, as a “one-armed wolf ” who must protect a young lord with an ancient bloodline. Though he sadly fails and the young lord is captured, the one-armed wolf must rescue the young lord and regain his honor. Days Gone - PlayStation 4 April 26
Although the gaming market is completely saturated with zombie-infested video games, Days Gone, developed by Sony Bend (SIE Bend Studio), appears to be a really cool exclusive to the PlayStation 4, launching on April 26. According to PlayStation, “Days Gone is about survivors and what makes them human: desperation, loss, madness, betrayal, friendship, brotherhood, regret, love - and hope.” In Days Gone, which is a third-person shooter, individuals assume the role of Deacon St.
John, a motorcycle riding bounty hunter who is struggling to survive in an expect wasteland, set within the Pacific Northwest, against against enemies like drifters, wildlife, and freakers -the zombie-looking monsters. Honorable mentions with unconfirmed 2019 release dates: Battletoads - Xbox One, PC Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night - Multiplatform Dragon Quest Builders 2 PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch Dragon Quest XI S - Nintendo Switch Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Remastered PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch Fire Emblem: Three Houses Nintendo Switch Luigi’s Mansion 3 - Nintendo Switch Mario Kart Tour - iOS, Android Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order - Nintendo Switch Ori and the Will of the Wisps Xbox One, PC Pokemon - Nintendo Switch Wolfenstein: Young Blood Multiplatform
College, the best of times and the worst of times. In Fresno, there are several places that host events meant specifically for college students, but sometimes these locations forget that not every college student is over the age of 21. With that said, here are some of Tower District’s hot spots for those who might not be 21 and over. Spectrum Gallery — Olive Avenue, Tower District Spectrum Art Gallery is a place where both local and non-local artists display their artwork. For the month of February, Robert Cochran, a valley native and self-proclaimed artist, not to mention a photography professor at Madeira Community College, is displaying his compilation of projects titled, “Nihil Sanctum.” The display includes a variety of specific titled projects which primarily focus on the naked female body. “There's a number of different projects,” said Cochran. “If I displayed one project at a time, it would take me years to get them up.” He also explained that this display gives him an opportunity to “get multiple ideas out into the world sooner than later.” Jeff Nicholas, a member of the gallery, explained that the exhibit is mainly a location that FCC students visit to work on school projects. He mentions that Art Hop, as well as other independent events hosted by the gallery, draw in a large amount of students. Should you wish to see more of what the gallery has to offer, the exhibit’s official website provides a list of upcoming events Hi-Top Coffee - Wishon Ave, Tower District Tower District is rich in coffee hang out locations, and Hi-Top Coffee is one of them. From open to close, 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday - Friday and 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. on the weekends, FCC students pile into the quaint
Image Courtesy of Microsoft
Image Courtesy Nintendo
Image Credit Courtesy of SIE Bend Studio
shop to grab a quality cup of joe, catch up on their favorite book, or to study for an exam. “There are plenty of outlets and space for college students to come here [and study],” said Alan Bedoya, Hi-Top barista and FCC Alum. Bedoya also stated that he constantly sees both FCC and Fresno State students come to study. While Hi-Top Coffee is fairly new, just a little over a year old, it has quickly become the go-to place for college students. The coffee location can be rather busy at times and it can often be difficult to find a table. Due to the communal-style seating, including group tables and lengthy stool bars, there are some parts of the day that may want to be avoided if a more quiet location is desired. Bedoya said that their busiest hours range from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Various choices of vinyl records waiting to be purchased from Tower District Records on Feb. 7, 2019. Photo/Hannah Lanier
Tower District Records -- Echo Avenue, Tower District Tower District Records is a local gem that has provided Fresno with various forms of entertainment since their opening four years ago. Everything from classic vinyl records, live music by local bands, vintage clothing, record players, and nails courtesy of Bel Does Nails, can be found at this one Tower District location. The store also buys used records of quality and trades. Tower District Records has also been known to collaborated with other well known Tower District shops such as Strummers and the newly reopened Full Circle Olympic for music ventures. “There's people that come over from both the high school and FCC,” said Nick Navarro, Tower District Records store manager. Navarro encourages FCC students who enjoy music to check out Tower District Records to enjoy the hundreds of records that they have in their selection, as well as their live music which occurs once a week, according to Navarro.
Barista Alan Bedoya creating Hi-Top Coffee signature drinks on Feb. 7, 2019. Photo/Hannah Lanier
Images featured in Robert Cochran’s exhibit “Nihil Sanctum” at the Tower District Spectrum Art Gallery which began on Feb. 7, 2019. Photo/Hannah Lanier
8 OPINION 2.13.19
CAMPUS VOICES Hannah Lanier | Reporter hlanier@therampageonline.com
What’s the ideal Valentine’s Gift?
Eduardo Mota
Automotive Tech
“Depends on the person.”
Christian Tapi
Engineering Major
“Chocolate is always a good idea. I like chocolate.”
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Saving the environment means saving money Sarah Chavez | Assistant Editor schavez@therampageonline.com
Seeing how bad the environment has gotten is heartbreaking and should motivate all of us to take charge with this problem that we created. Everyone is a part of this problem. I made this mess, you made this mess, we all made this mess. And we can all be part of the solution. Right now people are concerned over the Grammys, celebrities, or what album is actually better than the other. Are we not going to care about the one thing that will determine life and death for everything on earth? You have to ask yourself what you can do to help, even if it’s something small and seems insignificant. If thousands of people do one small thing then it would have such a remarkable impact. I understand that money is tight especially for college students. The only focus of a college student would be passing classes and figuring out where the next meal is coming from, but is there something that we could do despite our lack of
money? There are many ways that help the environment as well as helping ourselves, which would be our main concern. Apparently saving the environment will ultimately save us money. California passed proposition 67 in 2016 which states that plastic and paper bags would be given to customers upon request for 10 cents. That would mean that the average American would spend $50 per year on grocery bags. It would make sense to spend at least $20 on reusable bags that can last more than a year. Let’s say that you spend $30 on reusable bags and they last three years. That would mean within those three years you would save $120 on grocery bags alone. If you are a college student living on your own paying your own bills and paying your own rent then saving as much money as you can is a priority, so these simple easy ways to save the environment will also save you the extra cash. Water and electricity bills can be expensive, so you should consider cutting down on how much water and electricity you actually use.
Take shorter showers and turn off the water while you’re brushing your teeth so that you don’t use as much which means not paying as much. The same goes for electricity, the less you use the less you ultimately pay. Recycling is also important especially since recycling the cans and bottles that you drink from every day can actually give you money. If you live in an area that other Fresno City College students live in then talk to them about doing a carpool. You would save so much money on gas, and you wouldn’t have to pay $30 each for a parking pass. When you are walking around anywhere and see pieces of the garbage on the ground then pick it up and put it in a nearby trash can. It costs you nothing to do a good deed. If you often go to restaurants, but are not always able to finish all of your food then you can bring a reusable container from home which would completely eliminate the need for wasting more plastic. This would apply to places like Dutch Brothers and Starbucks. Wouldn’t taking pictures of your drinks look more aesthetic if it
2.13.19
therampageonline.com
Vaccination is a Choice, So Make the Right One from highest rated to lowest rated,
Editorial Board
editors@therampageonline.com
are religious reasons, personal
Due to vaccination administrations within the U.S., many life threatening diseases such as polio and measles have been eradicated in the U.S. Unfortunately, many parents within the U.S. are
Jonathan Bryant
Multi-Purpose Welding Major
“I can’t say what I got. Someting good, though.”
Elianna Torres Undecided
“Something meaningful that comes from the heart.”
Belisity Contreras Nursing Major
“Something that you can make.”
Every year, like clockwork, February marks the start of Black History Month. First celebrated in 1926, Black History Month was created to recognize the underrepresented history of African-Americans. Nearly a century later, is Black History Month still necessary? More importantly, has AfricanAmerican history been better integrated into school curricula? To answer this we asked students across campus about their position on Black History Month. Atiya Thomas, a 20-year-old psychology major, says coverage of black history is still lacking. “I like Black History Month, but black history shouldn’t just be one month,” she said, adding that there is too much emphasis on the negative aspects of black history. “We always learn about slavery but I want to learn about more positive things like African civilization,” Thomas said. Thomas’ desire to learn more about African civilization stems from her Nigerian grandmother and her activist aunt. “A lot of people have no idea about Africa; there’s a lot of lies about the continent,” she said. The lack of in-depth coverage
vice-versa.” Though Demeke had never heard of Black History Month, he was familiar with some aspects of African-American history. “In Ethiopia, we heard about Martin Luther King and slavery as part of world history,” Demeke said. After learning what it was, Demeke says Black History Month is still relevant today, due, in large part, to the racism that still persists in the US today. “I had heard about racism in America from TV, but never expected to be so out loud,” Demeke explains. According to 53-year-old social work major, Carolyn Walker, there’s still a lack of black history in schools today. Walker, who has a daughter at Bullard High School, said, “They [her daughter’s school] still don’t teach enough black history now,” Walker says schools should teach more about black inventors and the sacrifices of black historical figures. Some students like 18-yearold biology major Nancy Zermeño, even say that Fresno City College should do more to bring awareness to Black History Month. “I’d like to see more forums and more events to promote Black History Month on campus,” Zermeno said. Zermeno says she specifically wants to see more in-depth
more information from healthcare
vaccinated. They have also presented
the pertussis vaccine. Three years
providers.
signs of fever, nausea and vomiting
prior to using this vaccine 400
after being vaccinated.
cases and 10 deaths were recorded,
Vaccinations are especially
Her children have never had any severe adverse reactions to any of
began work on a new pertussis vaccine. One that would help build immunization to the disease, and
(German measles) are just a few on
not have as many of the nasty side
the long list of preventable diseases
effects.
due to getting vaccinations.
The process that a vaccine
The first vaccination was created
undergoes before it is administer to
in 1796 by doctor Edward Jenner.
the public is a safe one, a sound one:
This first vaccine was made to help
licensing, recommendation then the
create an immunity towards the
determination of requirement.
smallpox virus. The last smallpox
Every parent has the right to
outbreak in the U.S. was in 1949.
Illustration/Gage Carmicheal
In 1980, smallpox was officially declared eradicated by the World Health Assembly. It takes some time for a population to become so vaccinated that a disease is eradicated. That kind of victory requires a population
In an article titled “Exploring the Reasons Behind Parental Refusal of Vaccines,” Chepra Mckee writes, “...reasons
overarching categories.” These four categories, in order
decide if they vaccinate their child or not. But every parent has a
vaccinations are utilized to help
these vaccines. Their vaccinations
duty to their children--a duty to
ensure the safety of one's family.
have been maintained in a timely
protect them, to provide a healthy
Not all children can receive certain
matter, and in spite of their
environment for them to grow and
vaccines, particularly those with
weakened immune systems, they
thrive.
specific allergies--those children rely
have been able to thrive in a public
on the vaccinations of every other
school environment.
child. They rely on other parents to
In the article, “The Benefits of
Every parent has the right to choose. But there is a wrong choice. At the end of the day it comes
Vaccination Outweigh the Risks,”
down to Occam’s razor: the simplest
presented by The Children’s Hospital
answer is most often the right one.
their children chooses not to, certain
of Philadelphia Vaccine Education
Better safe than sorry. Just vaccinate.
families would be at risk. A member
Center, the first pertussis vaccine is
of our editorial board is part of
used as a case study.
do the right thing.
possible to the disease in question.
they can be encompassed in four
Ministry of Health halted use of the
the Japanese Ministry of Health
(polio), measles, mumps and rubella
vary widely between parents, but
and three years after the Japanese
After this report was released,
(whooping cough), poliomyelitis
coverage of black activism during Black History Month. Despite all the agreement, not all students see Black History Month as still relevant. Alec McCandless, a 21-year-old biology major, believes that while black history is important to study, there doesn’t need to be an entire month dedicated to it. “I feel like black history is all about equality and designating a month for it just does the opposite,” McCandless said. McCandless also finds Black History Month to be too American-centric. “I would like to learn more about African culture as a whole, not just the Civil Rights movement”, McCandless explains. McCandless attributes his opinion to his experience being white. “I don’t want to say black history isn’t important. It’s just that I can’t relate since I’m white,” McCandless added. A common theme emerges in students; despite a century of Black History Month, American schools are still lacking in their coverage of the African diaspora. Across age groups, genders, and even national origins, interest in black history grow, yet the coverage problem remains the same. Only time can tell if we’ll improve, or if we’ll still be having discussion with future generations.
Although, there is a necessity for
reported with 113 deaths.
of vaccines. Tetanus, pertussis
were in a prettier cup which you could use more than once? Doing all of these things will not only save you money, but will give you money. Therefore we would all be able to live a healthier and wealthier life.
vaccine.
vaccine a startling 13,000 cases were
longer exist due to the effectiveness
Is Black History Month Still Relevant Today? of black history is a perception held even more strongly by older students, like Terrie Santos, a 45-year-old criminology major, who agrees that Black History Month isn’t enough. “There shouldn’t be just a month,” she said. “Black History should be integrated with all the other history.” Santos, who is Hispanic, explained that when she was growing up in Arizona, she only heard of white historical figures. “Everyone has a right to know their own people’s history,” Santos said. Santos explains she’s still learning more about black history. “I’ve learned a lot about black history from documentaries,” she said. Selam Demeke, a 21-yearold computer science major, provides a unique perspective on Black History Month. Demeke, an Ethiopian, said he had never heard of Black History Month before coming to the US. Nevertheless, Demeke identifies with the African American struggle and history. Demeke spoke about the historical affinity between his country and African Americans and how after Ethiopia’s win in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, “We heard of Black Americans celebrating our victory. When you hear that, you feel “our struggles are your struggles and
but they can’t be attributed to being
Diseases such as smallpox no
Illustration/Kellie Clark
fever after administration of the
safety concerns and a desire for
vaccines cause autism.
a population that is as immune as
bevans@therampageonline.com
She has children who have
fever and seizures accompanied with
presented autistic character traits,
weakened immune systems and
vaccines, falsely believing that
calls this “herd immunity.”
beliefs or philosophical reasons,
necessary for children with
fearful of the side effects of such
completely dedicated to vaccination,
Blake Evans | Reporter
OPINION 9
If a parent who could vaccinate
one such family–a family that can’t
In 1975, the Japanese Ministry
medically accept every vaccinate,
of Health stopped using this old
and is protected by those who can,
version of the pertussis vaccine, due
and do. The medical community
to inconsolable crying, 105 degree
Why Kamala Harris Will Be a Great President For 2020 Ramon Castanos | Reporter rcastanos@therampageonline.com
The charismatic former Attorney General and Sen. of California, Kamala Harris is running for the presidential race in 2020. She is probably the only person in the Democratic Party that could face President Trump in the election. Back in the 2016 election, the Democrats had a difficult time defeating Trump due to the disconnect between the people. The people didn’t like Hillary Clinton. Kamala Harris will help the Democratic Party get minority voters to help her win in the election because many people see her as an inspiration for change in the country. Harris’ ethnic background is African-American and Indian descent, and she is fluent at speaking Spanish. She can relate to those cultures that strongly support the Democrats and make up their base.
Harris strongly supports renewing and protecting DACA.The program deferred deportation for young undocumented immigrants who were brought to this country as children. President Trump canceled the DACA program in 2017, and many students on campus fear deportation as a result. The way Harris argues for helping DACA is very passionate because she understands how parents will feel when they will be separated from their children. Harris responded to a question from a DACA recipient that USA Today reported back in Jan. 29 of 2018, “We should not be trading on your life for the sake of the political games that this president is playing in trying to vilify young people like you who are doing nothing except being productive and believing in and living the American dream.” She comprehends how students are scared of being deported because they wouldn’t have the same education as they would in the United States.
When Harris speaks to the Hispanic community, she dedicates herself to solving the issues of immigration. She won’t let Trump to get his way by building the wall or by separating immigrant families. To me, it shows that she isn’t conforming to President Trump’s policies because she won’t allow Trump to get away with separating families. Harris played a pivotal role in the confirmation hearings for now Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. She has a passion for stopping injustice, owing Illustration/Gage Carmicheal to her background as a prosecutor. She grilled Kavanaugh about the sexual assault allegations against him on a national stage. In the era of the #MeToo movement, many women can see that Kamala supports them to the end. Harris supports Medicare for All and the $15 minimum wage. She’s a passionate champion for working class Americans who speaks charismatically in their defense. She is the only one who can beat President Trump in 2020. Photo Courtesy of Kamala Harris for Senate
10 SPORTS 2.13.19
therampageonline.com
FCC Men’s Basketball Add On Another Win
2.13.19
therampageonline.com
SPORTS 11
Rams Break It Open Late in Win Against Chabot
Alberto Granados | Reporter agranados@therampageonline.com
Fresno City College men’s basketball team improved to 20-3 on Monday, Feb. 4 2019 against West Hills Coalinga, who are now 8-14. David Rico came out on fire with back to back threes quickly making the game 6-0. Quality defense was played by both teams early, but the Rams kept forcing West Hills to shoot from the 3-point line where they struggled to knock down many shots. In the first half the bench all played good quality minutes as Coach Ed Madec kept rotating them in the game. At the half it was 45-33, but FCC was able to go on a run to finish the game with a final score of 81-60. Ethan Richardson provided 13 points and 10 rebounds. David Rico also played well with 18 points on the night, shooting five for seven from the 3-point line. As a team they hit 13 3-pointers giving them a great advantage while
Derek Bullis | Reporter
West Hills went four of twenty from the 3-point line. “We didn't want to play down to the level of our competition and we did exactly that and it showed in the second half,” Madec said of the teams performance. FCC ended up with 14 turnovers in the game while defeating West Hills Coalinga by 21 points. “We got complacent because we lack maturity,” Madec said of the Rams’ ball security. The Rams have a tough opponent next game. In preparation, Coach Madec stated that their “preparation mentally has to go to another level.” The Rams expect to be ready for that game. Coach Madec and the Rams will be searching for a win against Cerro Coso on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 6:00 p.m. The next home game for the Rams is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 5:00 p.m. in the FCC gymnasium.
dbullis@therampageonline.com
Sophomore guard Jared Small battles through the defense on the way to the basket in the Rams’ 81-60 win over West Hills Lemoore on Feb. 4, 2019. Ben Hensley/Photographer
“
Probably the biggest thing is I’m amazed at how fast it went.” -Alex Fletcher on his first year as Rams’ head coach
Rams’ coach Alex Fletcher meets with his team during a timeout in the Rams’ game against Merced on Jan. 30, 2019. Ben Hensley/Photographer
Fourth Place Rams Looking to Make Final Push Towards Playoffs Ben Hensley | Sports Editor bhensley@therampageonline.com
The Fresno City College women’s basketball team currently sits in fourth place in conference standings heading into the final four games of the regular season. Following the tough 81-65 loss to first place Merced, the Rams tough luck continued on the road against COS on Wednesday, Feb. 6, dropping the contest 75-62. Freshman forward Shondra Roberts went down in the contest against COS, and is likely to miss playing time moving forward into the playoffs.
“We’re not sure what it is yet,” coach Alex Fletcher said of Roberts’ injury. The Rams were however able to get back on track on Saturday, Feb. 9 with a commanding 106-53 win, seeing sophomore forward Alyssa Roberson scoring 23 points and sophomore guard Hannah Fong scoring 28. The Rams’ final two home games are against fifth place West Hills Lemoore, and third place Reedley. Both teams are within one game of the Rams, putting pressure on the team for both of
their remaining home games. Fletcher looks to motivate the teams with aspirations of the playoffs moving forward. “We can still set ourselves up nicely for playoffs, and we can win a couple games and make a run at the elite eight and the state championship,” Fletcher said of his team’s motivating factor. The playoffs are set to begin Feb. 27, 2019. The Rams next face West Hills Lemoore at home. Previously in their matchup, the Rams beat West Hills Lemoore 76-53 on Jan.
23, in a game which saw sophomore guard Jerrene Richardson rack up 17 points, paired with 6 rebounds and 3 assists. “They did a very good job of handling our pressure,” Fletcher said of the previous matchup. “Defensively they played a couple different zones that gave us a little bit of trouble early on, but we were able to figure it out in the second half.” This is Fletchers’ first year as head coach of the Rams. Sitting at 16-9 (4-4 conference), Fletcher looks to build on his first year as
head coach. “Definitely learned a lot on things I’ll do differently and things I’ll keep the same,” Fletcher reflected on his first year as head coach. “Going to have to find ways to slow it down and just enjoy the ride,” Fletcher said leading into the final weeks of the season. The Rams’ next home game is on Saturday, Feb. 16 against West Hills Lemoore at 6:00 p.m. in the gymnasium at FCC.
The Fresno City Rams continued their winning streak after Saturday’s game at home against the Chabot Gladiators. Saturday’s game was Freshman Alec Gamboa’s first time standing on the mound as a starting pitcher for the Rams. Giving up four hits and three earned runs in the first three innings of the game the Gladiators took a 4-0 lead before Gamboa was relieved by Jack Reitsma. The Rams' comeback began in the third, when Rams' shortstop Tyler Littlefield hit a routine ground ball to second. Chabot's second baseman missed the throw to shortstop sending the ball into left field, and a ball that may have been an inning ending double play led to the Rams' first two runs. In the fourth inning the Rams sent in Mikell Chavez to pitch against Chabot’s Mitch Benson for three innings. Chavez only gave up two hits and one earned run with his time on the mound, managing to stop the Gladiator offense after a hot start. Chabot made a pitching change in the seventh inning and the Rams took advantage. Noel Bustos was able to drive in two
runs early in the inning on an error by Chabot’s third baseman. With the bases loaded, Chet Allison drew a walk, Adam Munoz singled, Khol Simas was hit by a pitch, and Noah Perez reached on a fielder’s choice, each of which resulting in runs for the Rams’ who saw a 4-run deficit disappear after the third out of the inning. It was Ian Ross’ sacrifice fly sent out to center field that sent home Travis Moore to gain the lead for the first time in the game over the Gladiators. Before the end of the inning Chet Allison earned himself another RBI single for a 7-9 lead. The Gladiators made an attempt to comeback with a hit, sacrifice bunt and ground out to shortstop earning them a run. With the tying run on second, it was Rams’ closing pitcher Justin Henry that locked in the win for the Rams. The Rams will now hit the road for a two game road trip against Sacramento College Feb. 15 and 16. Cabrillo College will play the Rams at home on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 6:00 p.m. Rams’ pitcher Jack Reitsma stares down the runner on first in the Rams’ 9-8 comeback win against Chabot College on Feb. 9, 2019. Ben Hensley/Photographer
Rams Suffer Weekend Sweep at the Hands of Ohlone and San Joaquin Delta College Omari Bell | Social Media Editor
Tamika Rey | Reporter
The Fresno City women’s softball team started off their February campaign with a 0-4 non-conference loss to #3 Coast-North Conference ranked, Ohlone College on Saturday, Feb. 9 at home. Ohlone shut out FCC, scoring an early run in the top of the first inning. Ohlone Sophomore Gabby Moreno hit a single on the ground to Rams freshman shortstop Teya Vincent. Batting right after Moreno was freshman Alynna Ramirez as she hit a line drive to left fielder Daci Tovar – Moreno scored early from that. The Rams watched the game slip away from them before the finale was rained out at the top of the seventh inning as Ohlone College put three more runs on the board. The loss was FCC’s third of the season. With a record of 1-4, FCC softball has dropped to the fifth spot in the Central Valley Conference ranking. “I think we need to get our confidence back,” Head Coach Rhonda Williams said. “We’re kind of swinging defensively, and going out of the zone a little too much but we just need to get our composure back offensively so we swing at good pitches.” It was a forgetful weekend for the Rams, who entered with an uncomfortable start in the CCCAA standings, but now find themselves with a lot to work on to be successful in conference play. The Rams hope that the four run blowout will not reflect an inability to find success in the important games later in the season. “We need to just carry over our solid pitching, and defense. We just need to get our offense going into the games to come,” Williams said. The Rams next home game will be this Thursday, Feb. 14.
The Fresno City College Softball Team weren’t able to make it on the scoreboard in a game halted after five innings in against the San Joaquin Delta Mustangs Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019 at the FCC softball field. After starting for the Rams’ tough 4-0 loss to the Ohlone Renegades earlier in the day, freshman pitcher Katie Delgadillo was once the starting pitcher for the Rams in game two, and struggled early, giving way to freshman pitcher Emily Puente, who pitched for most of the remainder of the game. San Joaquin Delta’s freshman pitcher Jenna Nauta pitched 5 scoreless inning, allowing only four hits and striking out one batter. The Rams did not lack hustle at bat, striking out only once, but were unable to score and rarely reached base, collecting only four hits and failing to draw a walk. Overall, the Mustangs’ Nauta pitched mainly for contact into a tough defense which ultimately led to their win. “I felt like our offense didn’t do as well as we would have hoped it could have,” sophomore outfielder Daci Tovar said following the game. “I feel like our defense was there and we were coming out strong no matter the outcome of the game.” This game won’t shake the Rams’ determination though. “I think we have a pretty solid team that can lead us to some good outcomes in our future games. We have some pretty solid hitters and a really good defense which can help us win some games in league,” said Tovar. Delta collected 18 hits compared to the Rams’ four. The final score was 16-0, with Delta taking the win in five innings. Despite this minor setback, the Ram’s have intentions of making it all the way this season. “Everyday we are working hard to go and win the CBC conference and hopefully take us to state,” said Tovar. The Rams next play the Sierra Wolverines at home on Thursday Feb. 14, 2019 at 2 p.m.
obell@therampageonline.com
trey@therampageonline.com
Rams’ Freshman pitcher Emily Puente delivers the ball to the plate in the Rams’ Feb. 9 game against San Joaquin Delta College. Ben Hensley/Photographer
12 SPORTS 2.13.19
therampageonline.com
Rams Open February With 6-0 Win Streak At Home
Freshman Alec Gamboa pitching in the top of the seventh inning of the Rams’ game agasint Folsom Lake College on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at home. Omari Bell/Photographer Omari Bell | Social Media Editor obell@therampageonline.com
The FCC men’s baseball team struggled closing out January going 1-3. The team has turned things around in February, with impressively starting off with a 6-0 streak at home. FCC easily swept Folsom College 10-1 on Wednesday, Feb. 6 and 8-3 on Tuesday, Feb. 12. The entire rotation for the Rams, specifically the three sophomores and two freshman that have powered the lineup have been on the same page these past 12 days. Sophomores Chet Allison, Ian Ross, and Adam Munoz are three of the spark plugs on the team, along with the Rams freshman pitcher, Eddie Rios and infielder, Tyler Littlefield. On Wednesday night, Falcon’s left-handed freshman Zack Jedlowski pitched into the fifth inning, but allowed seven earned runs and four walks that would prove too much to overcome – especially because of the pitch-
er in the Rams jersey. Rams freshman Eddie Rios, baffled Folsom hitters, striking out 10 in just under 5.2 innings while only allowing one ER, and his offense lifted him to a 7-1 lead before being switched out by Darran Jansen. “Eddie Rios is throwing really well,” said Pitching Coach Eric Solberg said. “He had his breaking ball going, so that just changed everything, making him a complete pitcher.” Rios was solid early, allowing only one run in the second inning. Falcons’ sophomore Anthony Misklinski homered on a fly ball to left field on the first pitch of the second and that would have been the only chance they had while Rios was on the mound. “It’s a blessing to know that our team has each other’s back,” Ross said. “We’re back in it!” On Tuesday, facing left-handed sophomore Jiovanni Saavedra, in the top of the first inning, Folsom struggled to put runs on
the board early. That did not stop Ross, doubling on a line drive to right field, Allison singling on a line drive to left field, and both of the star sophomores stealing on on throw, bringing Ross home and advancing Allison to second. Shortly after that, Munoz hit a hard ground ball towards the shortstop, where he reached on an error allowing Allison to score. Folsom played sloppy defense with three errors, that brought in six runs, out of a total 40 pitches by the end of the first inning. “I felt like the whole team was hitting well today, so I thought that in any inning we could have put in a lot of runs,” Sophomore Chet Allison said. “We’ve been getting better and better every game, and we’re getting on a really good hot streak.” The Rams will be traveling to Sacramento for a weekend two game series against Sacramento City College Friday, Feb. 15 - 16. The Rams’ next home game will be Friday, Feb. 22 against Santa Rosa at 6 p.m.
SPORTS CALENDAR 2/14/19 2/16/19 2/18/19 2/18/19 2/20/19 2/20/19 2/22/19 2/22/19 2/23/19 2/23/19 2/26/19
Softball vs. Sierra 2:00 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs. San Joaquin Delta 6:00 p.m. Softball vs. Sacramento City 10:00 a.m. Softball vs. Hartnell 2:00 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Merced 5:00 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs. Reedley 7:00 p.m. Men’s Tennis vs. Modesto JC 1:00 p.m. Baseball vs. Santa Rosa 6:00 p.m. Baseball vs. Cabrillo 2:00 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Reedley 6:00 p.m. Women’s Tennis vs. Sacramento City 1:00 p.m.
Freshman Antonio Noriega at bat agaisnt Folsom Lake College on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at home. Omari Bell/Photographer