Fall 2017 Issue 5

THE

RAMPAGE Student-Run Newspaper of Fresno City College

Fall 2017 Issue 5 Oct. 25, 2017

CAFETERIA JAM Limited Options Mean Longer Lines for Food

Samantha Domingo | News Editor sdomingo@therampageonline.com

S

ince the Pacific Cafe closed at the end of the spring 2017 semester, students are more limited to their dining options on the Fresno City College campus. Currently, the only places to get food are the cafeteria, bookstore, the cart by the fountain and vending machines on campus. Administration is also considering having food trucks on campus in the future.

In the cafeteria, staff noticed long lines at the beginning of the semester because of the influx of students coming in since the Pacific Cafe closed, said Rudy Rangel, a chef at the Fresh Seasons Cafe in the cafeteria.

“Since this is the only place to eat, they come,” he said. “We added two more employees and an extra person on the line during rush hours.”

The cafeteria serves about 1,200 students a day, according to food services director Anita Handy.

Despite the addition of more employees, during rush hours, the line can still take up to 30 minutes, according to some students.

“I don't get food on campus a lot this semester, but I have a couple times,” said Sydney Glenn, a student majoring in pre-law at FCC. “The cafeteria just always seems crowded now. Last semester I would chill in there and it didn't seem as crowded.”

“

Photo Illustration/Ram Reyes

The cafeteria just always seems crowded now. Last semester I would chill in there and it didn’t seem as crowded.”

-Sydney GLenn Pre-Law MAjor

Even though it’s crowded, Glenn says she would rather get food from the cafeteria because of the affordable prices and “actual food cooked right there.”

Another student, Marianna Lemieux, said she often goes to the cafeteria for lunch on the days she has classes.

“I get food on campus two to four times a week because it’s convenient,” said Lemieux.

“The waiting time in the cafeteria is bearable, but I feel we need more cashiers and more selection of food in the cafeteria.”

In an effort to fix the problem of long lines, the cash registers were updated in mid October and a third register was added, according to Rangel.

“What was taking longer was swiping cards,” Rangel said. “Now we’re up to date.”

There are signs at the new touchscreen registers that say cards can’t be swiped for purchases of less than $2. The new program charges 40 cents per swipe, Handy said, and the company loses money if cards are used for less than that.

As for adding more food options for students, Rangel said the cafe brought out a new Chinese bar for the fall semester, adding to the Mexican bar and lunch and breakfast menus.

Rangel also said the cafe might start

Continued on Page 4, FOOD

News| Page 5

Entertainment| Page 9

Sports | Page 15

What would you do if a shooter came onto campus?

Which of these highlyanticipated films are you excited to end the year with?

Women’s soccer on the road to a state championship

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THE RAMPAGE

The student-run newspaper of Fresno City College

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Ashleigh Panoo News Editor Samantha Domingo Art Director Ramuel Reyes Sports Editor Jorge Rodriguez Enterainment Editor Marco Rosas Broadcast Editor Julease Graham Opinion Editor Frank Lopez REPORTERS Omari Bell Seth Casey Paige Cervantes Anthony De Leon Alejandra Flores Michael Fulford Mariah Garcia Jimmy Heng David Hernandez Melissa Moua Noah Villaverde 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.

“Nobody wants to strike. it is not good for anybody. Not just the teachers, but students, parents and the community.”

-Hilary Levine Fifth grade teacher at Manchester GATE ELementary

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FUSD Teacher Strike Could Impact Fresno city college Seth Casey | Reporter scasey@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College students as well as many communities in Fresno may suffer hardship if the threatened Fresno Unified School District teacher’s strike proceeds.

A majority of the approximately 4,300 members of the Fresno Teachers Association union voted during an Oct. 3 meeting to approve a strike in response to a negotiating stalemate between them and FUSD administrators.

The FTA has been negotiating with FUSD officials to obtain new contract terms after the previous contract between the union and the school district expired in July of 2016.

According to Hilary Levine, a fifth-grade teacher at Manchester GATE elementary school and former member of the FTA’s bargaining team, the main objectives the teacher’s union seeks to obtain in the new contract would decrease class sizes, and improve the teacher’s healthcare plans.

Levine says many of the union’s negotiating objectives have been achieved, and the FTA is taking this opportunity to call the district’s attention to additional suggestions, some of which have already been enacted. “[The FTA’s bargaining team] has already made great strides,” Levine said. “The district has implemented several of the ideas already, like additional funding for special education, and hiring more nurses.”

Should the negotiators fail to come to terms and Fresno teachers go through with the strike, many substitutes will be commissioned to oversee classroom activity.

While this may allow schools to resume classes, many school functions outside the classroom will be impacted, and in many cases suspended.

The absence of teachers with roles in extracurricular activities such as coaching sports or supervising before and after school programs, would result in the suspension of many programs

that not only serve the students, but provide an extended period of childcare for parents.

The temporary suspension of extra-curricular programs could affect parents’ pick-up and drop-off schedules, as well as the students’ education experience.

Students at FCC may be forced to make a choice as well, should the strike take place.

According to Cheryl Goodson, a professor in FCC’s Education and Child Development department, students enrolled in FCC’s educational work experience program at Fresno Unified K-6 schools may have to decide whether or not they will participate in the strike should the time come.

“Our work experience students will have to make their own personal decision as to whether or not they are going to choose to continue during the strike,” said Goodson. “We as a department of Fresno City College’s social science division, we are not taking a stance to make them decide either way… I don’t think there’s a whole lot of pressure for non-tenured [FTA] members, and what would be our students if they decide to cross the picket line.”

Although the teacher’s previous vote did not achieve a majority decision, the possibility of strike is still very real.

Following a process of factfinding beginning Nov. 6, during which a state-appointed auditor will verify the teacher’s requests, the final decision will be at the discretion of the FTA’s executive board.

For many teachers in the FTA, the strike is not something they hope will come to pass. Should the teachers strike, they would do so without pay, sick leave, or even access to the school’s premises.

“I do not want to go on strike,” Levine said. “Nobody wants to strike. It is not good for anybody.

Not just the teachers, but students, parents and the community.”

A vacant playground at Starr Elementary School on Oct. 22 may be a common sight should the FUSD teacher strike take place.

Photo/Seth Casey

The Rampage Bags Journalism Awards Samantha Domingo | News Editor sdomingo@therampageonline.com

The Fresno City College Rampage staff won several awards at the Journalism Association of Community Colleges NorCal conference at De Anza College in Cupertino on Oct. 21.

The Rampage won a total of 14 awards, including general excellence and an honorable mention for editorial writing.

Work sent in from the spring 2017 semester also won awards in news story, editorial cartoon, profile feature, webcast/ broadcast news and sports action photo categories.

Opinion Editor Frank Lopez won second place in the feature profile category for “9/11 Responder Spreads Message of Love and Hope” and Editorin-Chief Ashleigh Panoo won fourth place in the same category for “The Revival of Ruby Red.” News Editor Samantha Domingo won second place in news writing for “Campus After Hours: Do Students Feel Safe?” and first place in webcast/

broadcast news along with Art Director Ramuel Reyes and Opinion Editor Frank Lopez for their video “The Parking Problem.”

Former Broadcast Editor Larry Valenzuela was awarded third place in the sports action photo category for his Fight for Water boxing match photo.

Rampage staff also participated and won in on-the-spot competitions at the conference, with Opinion Editor Frank Lopez receiving an honorable mention for his editorial cartoon, Editorin-chief Ashleigh Panoo winning fourth place in news writing, reporter Seth Casey winning first place in news writing, and Art Director Ramuel Reyes winning first place in news photo. ”I’m very proud of what my students accomplish year after year,” said Dympna Ugwu-Oju, adviser of The Rampage. “It just tells me we’re doing something right.”

Donations Needed for Hope for the Holidays David Hernandez | Reporter dhernandez@therampageonline.com

With the holidays right around the corner, students and faculty are getting into the spirit of giving with the Fresno City College’s Hope for the Holidays program.

The program’s goal is to help spread holiday cheer to students who are less fortunate through donations from students and staff.

Students will be nominated by different departments on campus and they will receive gift cards.

The gift cards can be used to help that student put food on the

table for their families this season.

Last year, 243 students were awarded a holiday gift card.

To donate, you can take your donation and fill out a basic information form and deliver it to the FCC Business Division office.

The deadline to deliver a donation is Nov. 29, 2017. If you donate before that deadline, your name will be put on a “thank you” recognition list.

If you have any questions, call Maile Martin in Student Activities at 559-443-8688 ext. 8928.

FCC Earns Top Spot for Increase in Transfer Degrees Ashleigh Panoo | Editor-in-Chief apanoo@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College will honored in December for increasing the number of students earning an associate’s degree for transfer in the past year.

A total of 585 associate degrees for transfer were earned in the 2015-2016 year, an increase of 314 from the previous year, according to the Campaign for College Opportunity. More than 850 students transferred into the CSU system from FCC. The college made the second largest gain of the 114 California Community Colleges, only behind Santa Ana College.

The Campaign for College Opportunity announced the names of nine California community colleges that significantly increased their number of transferring students who enrolled at a CSU with

junior status.

Although FCC did not produce the largest amount of transfers from its 17,000 student body, the campaign awarded the school with an excellence in effort award.

According to the campaign, most students enter a community college with the goal of transferring to a university, but only 4 percent end up transferring within two years.

Legislation passed in 2010 created an easier path to earn a transfer degree and admission as juniors into the CSU system.

Since then, 69,000 students have graduated with an associate’s degree for transfer, according to the Campaign for College Opportunity.

Twelve other colleges and universities will be honored on Dec. 5 in Los Angeles for supporting the ADT program.

10.25.17 NEWS 3

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PRESIDENT GOLDSMITH

Fresno City College president Carole Goldsmith.

Photo/Ram Reyes

Seth Casey | Reporter scasey@therampageonline.com

Carole Goldsmith became president of Fresno City College in August 2016. Now just over a year into her tenure, she has begun to make her own mark on both the operations and the culture of the school.

“Our vision is to transform lives through education,” Goldsmith said. “We need to create an environment that reflects the grandeur and the educational excellence that is offered through Fresno City College.”

Goldsmith said that the moment she set foot on the FCC campus, it was evident to her that the school embodied and reflected a culture of tolerance, acceptance and respect. She saw it everywhere she looked, leading her to her goal of leading the college community beyond cultural sensitivity to a “culturally competent” and “culturally humble” institution.

She said when she came to campus to interview for her position last year, she observed students lined up at the Ram Pantry -- an example of the desire for social justice and equality by students and faculty.

Now, Goldsmith is working to expand the Ram Pantry program,

ONE YEAR LATER which offers free food for students. She is in negotiations with local produce suppliers to provide fresh produce for students. She is developing partnerships with other organizations to begin offering hygiene necessities free of charge at the Ram Pantry.

In her young residency at FCC, Goldsmith’s administration has undertaken a number of projects on and off campus, from the development of a new FCC campus in West Fresno, to a complete restructuring of the college’s website.

She says that in all these projects, her focus is to meet the needs of the student body and the Fresno community, by first listening and understanding in order to formulate and expand programs and initiatives that can better meet and fulfill those needs.

“It’s not always about ‘my way or the highway’,” she said. “It’s about how do we work together to get to a common goal.” Goldsmith said she devotes a great deal of time listening “passionately and deeply to the community” so that decisions truly reflect what is in everyone’s best interest.

Although Goldsmith saw many accomplishments in her first year, it was not without its challenges.

Not all of Goldsmith’s pro-

posed projects have been met with unanimous approval, for example, the proposed west Fresno campus was met with some resistance. However, through open forum meetings with the community she learned that the disagreement arose from a concern over a lack of housing included in the

“

That’s been one of the biggest challenges— trying to continually change the narrative of ‘well, we have always done it this way.’”

-Carole Goldsmith FCC President

proposal. Goldsmith says these disagreements lead to productive discourse and then more comprehensive and valuable administrative decisions.

“That’s been one of the biggest challenges— trying to continually change the narrative of ‘well, we have always done it this way’,”

Goldsmith said. “I think the misunderstandings that may have happened along the way have been able to be resolved through honest and upfront, transparent communication.”

Goldsmith’s dedication to inclusiveness, fairness and respect have been exhibited in her administrative actions and demonstrated by her hands-on involvement such as her presence at community action events.

“I saw her at the “Rally Against Hate” in the Tower District in August,” Thomas Martin, executive vice president of the Associated Student Government said. “She cares about people and is willing to literally stand in solidarity with those striving for a better world, not just talk about it.”

Goldsmith’s administrative policies have also shown her dedication to education, and she works to expand the accessibility and availability of educational programs throughout Fresno.

Her goal is to further this accessibility by expanding programs such as FCC’s partnership with local high schools like Sunnyside, which offer night classes to adults on their campus, and extending the college’s community with the addition of a west Fresno campus.

During her time, Goldsmith

has worked to fill interim positions in the administration. She says she seeks to not just fill the vacancies, but to find top candidates who will further the college’s culture of acceptance and equality.

FCC’s online course offerings have doubled during her first year, according to Goldsmith. She says she is also proud of the dual-enrollment program which allows high school students to take classes for college credits at FCC, which has doubled in size during her tenure.

Goldsmith’s career in the educational field spans more than 25 years, including several years as vice-principal of Cesar Chavez Adult School. She was president for three and a half years at the Coalinga campus of the West Hills Community College District prior to her current role at FCC. Goldsmith told the Rampage in August 2016 that she has lived in the FCC neighborhood for most of her adult life, and that working at the college was something she had always wanted to do.

“We are a learning institution, so it is not just about learning for our students, it is about learning for all of us,” Goldsmith said. “It’s about evolution, and sometimes revolution.”

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Fire Chief Jacob McAfee: A Life Lived in Service Samantha Domingo | News Editor sdomingo@therampageonline.com

With more than 17 years of experience in the government, ranging from the U.S. Marine Corps to the civilian department of defense, Fire Chief Jacob McAfee is more than qualified for his position as the new director of the Fire Academy at Fresno City College.

McAfee officially started as director of the fire academy on Sept. 15 and describes his transition into academia as “culture shock” and “an avalanche of information.”

“I think I’ve learned a lot from them [the fire academy staff] in these first few weeks, to learn the ins and outs of the academy and what we do,” McAfee said. “That allowed me to dig a little deeper to see how we can improve the academy.

With the team we have here, with what we’re doing, it makes it a lot easier to transition.”

McAfee said he looks forward to his career at FCC and inspiring the students of the Fire Academy.

Fire Chief Jacob McAfee was appointed as Director of Fire Academy on Sept. 15, 2017.

Photo/Samantha Domingo

in the marines, and that he was happy to be “a part of an organization that prides itself in serving the community and being the best.”

“I was always seeking the biggest challenge,” said McAfee. “The marine corps was the hardest service to pass; it’s the service with the most pride, the most honor, so it just seemed like the biggest challenge.”

After his first tour in Iraq, McAfee was stationed in Oceanside, California, for a few years before he returned to Iraq for a second time. Once he had come back from his second tour, McAfee had the goal of getting into the federal government as a firefighter.

“I decided that I was good, I did my time,” McAfee said. “I

“

The number one highlight in my whole career is knowing I’ve impacted people.”

-JAcob McAfee Director of Fresno City College’s Fire Academy

McAfee grew up in Ridgecrest, California, and soon after graduating from Burroughs High School, he went to Bakersfield College to play for their football team. However, his dreams as a football player would soon be swayed. It wasn’t long until a friend of McAfee’s convinced him to join the U.S. Marine Corps.

“Before I went into the Marine Corps, I was just a college kid who wanted to play football.

I didn’t really have a drive other than football,” McAfee said.

“What the Marine Corps did to me was instill their values in me, made me who I am, and started my journey to where I am now.”

McAfee enlisted in the military and began his service in December 1999, with firefighting as his primary occupation.

He was stationed in Yuma, Arizona for his first four years, and then was deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

McAfee says that he was always interested firefighting but never pursued it until he was

loved it, but my wife was kind of tired of all the deployments and all the traveling.”

McAfee started out as a contract firefighter in Palmdale, California, but after six months he got his first federal job as a firefighter at China Lake, California. He served as a firefighter and battalion chief at China Lake for three years, then returned to Palmdale and served as the assistant chief in fire prevention for three years.

McAfee says this provided him with plenty of experience and exposure to the fire prevention side of firefighting, but he wanted to get back into operations.

“I was really passionate about operations and on-the-calls,” McAfee said. “So I decided to get back to doing that.”

In 2014, McAfee and his wife moved across the country so he could work at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, as assistant chief of operations.

McAfee worked at West Point for two and a half years, then

took a promotion as fire chief at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey. After more than a year of working there, he and his wife returned to California.

“Being able to work hard enough and strive for more every day and being able to achieve the rank of fire chief was a crowning moment of my career,” McAfee said.

He served as the fire chief at the Naval Air Station Lemoore for approximately six months before he found the opportunity to apply as the director of Fire Academy at FCC. In addition to his many years of service, McAfee also has his master’s degree in both occupational safety and emergency management from Columbia Southern University.

He is also pursuing his doctorate in emergency management through the School of Public Safety Leadership at Capella University.

McAfee’s goals for the future of the fire academy include developing a new five-year strategic plan and mission statement, and infusing more of the fire service culture into the academy setting.

“One of the things I enjoy the most is just mentoring, training, and coaching people just to be better in the fire service,” McAfee said. “So I thought what better way to do it than in the academy setting, where you get to have some sort of an impact at a younger age and help develop the character and values and skills necessary for them to start their career and be successful.”

He also hopes to expand the academy and eventually have Firefighter-2 offered at the school, which is the next level of certification in the career path of a fireman. Currently, the curriculum for Firefighter-2 within the state is still getting approved by the accrediting body.

“The number one highlight in my whole career is knowing that I’ve impacted people, that I’ve helped people enough so that they can be better, to strive to do more and achieve more than they thought they could,” McAfee said. “The thing I love most about the fire service is that it is similar to the marines with the camaraderie. It is all about the relationships that you build with people.”

making to-go dinners for the cart near the fountain, which is open until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

He said that adding extra cafeteria hours wouldn’t be feasible for Taher, the food services management company. Rangel said in prior years, they tried to stay open until 6 p.m., “but there weren’t many people coming.”

For now, the cafeteria operates Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday until 2 p.m.

“We added extra staff,” Rangel said, “so hopefully, that’s going to work out.

To avoid the long lines in the cafeteria, some students opt to load up on snacks from the bookstore.

“I get in and out of the bookstore fairly quickly,” said Adam Hernandez, a student at FCC. “It beats waiting in line at the cafeteria.”

Hernandez very rarely purchases food on campus, he doesn’t mind spending a little extra money at the bookstore for food to avoid the long lines at the cafeteria.

“I know it’s a little more expensive, but I usually don’t get food on campus too much anyway so it’s alright, ” said Hernandez.

The bookstore, which is open

from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m Monday through Thursday and until 3 p.m. on Friday, sells a wide variety of snack foods including granola bars, candy, chips, and bottled beverages.

Even though food options on campus are limited now, students can look forward to more variety in the near future.

“We are in the last stages of finalizing a process to have food trucks on campus,” said Cheryl Sullivan, Vice President of Administrative Services. “The initial plan is to have two on campus that rotate.”

The two food trucks will be located by both the Health Services Building and near the small fountain and are anticipated to be open Tuesday through Thursdays, according to Sullivan.

“We are hoping for a soft open in mid-November for the Ram Pantry, but that assumes we don’t have any other unforeseen construction delays,” said Sullivan. “Once these two items are more fully launched, we will begin discussion with the student body, faculty and staff about what type of food option will be available in the former Pacific Cafe area.”

Editor-in-chief Ashleigh Panoo contributed to this story.

DHHSC hosts Deaf Social Nights Event Alejandra Flores | Reporter aflores@therampageonline.com

The Deaf & Hard Of Hearing Service Center hosted a Deaf Social Night at the Starbucks in Riverpark on Oct. 12.

Individuals from around the Fresno area gathered to meet new people, interpreters and counselors to improve their communication skills.

During the event, attendees introduced each other to interpreters and to each other, sharing their stories and coffee.

The DHHSC provides many core services to assist individuals with difficulty interacting with others. The center also assists with advocacy services and communications services, including interpreting and counseling.

“We’re here to socialize with other ASL students,” signed Bailey Matney, a frequent participant of the Deaf Social Nights event. “We also want to help anyone who has any questions and basically guide anyone who needs tutoring or mentoring.”

DHHSC’s mission statement is to advocate, seek equality, and promote self determination through empowerment for those who seek their assistance; and to enhance the awareness and understanding of deaf culture and unique communication needs of the deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

Within the next five years, DHHSC’s goal is to provide a wider range of social services to

deaf and hard of hearing people and their families in the Central Valley.

“I just want to be able to help people who are unaware of the type of resources DHHSC provides,” Serigo Anguiano, an interpreter who frequently participates in the Deaf Social Nights event, said.

DHHSC hopes their agency will become financially stronger and more stable through improved staff and public relations that will build a broader visible presence in order to provide a successful communication access to the entire community.

“Deaf Social Nights is an important event because it allows individuals from our community to come together and meet other people that can help each other out,” says Anguiano.

Jane Datsko, an ASL interpreter, is in charge of organizing the Deaf Social Nights. There will be another event on Oct. 26 at Dutch Bros Coffee on W. Shaw Ave. If you have any questions regarding the event, you can call 559-2253382 for more information.

“We need more people to become involved in ASL,” Anguiano said. “I feel like it’s important to be able to communicate and interpret sign language; socializing and becoming aware of ASL is needed.”

are you prepared Here’s what you should do in an emergency Jimmy Heng | Reporter jheng@therampageonline.com

Do you have a personal plan for survival?

José G. Flores, chief of police for the State Center Community College District begs this question.

If your answer is no, you are not alone.

Many Fresno City College students say they are yet to solidify a plan in the event of an active shooter.

Flores said that everyone must think of that eventuality.

He emphasized that students and staff have a greater chance of surviving an active shooter incident if they are aware of exits, places to hide, places to run, and their general surroundings.

“If you don’t think about those things before the event, you’ll freeze,” Flores said. “The guys that become superheroes are the people that thought about it and trained for it.”

Flores said that if a shooting occurs, individuals should find cover. He stressed that cover -concrete, bricks, and cement -will stop a bullet. He added that if cover is not available, people should hide, barricade entrances, and dial 911, or 5911, for the campus police.

“I’m not sure what I would do in the moment,” said Sky Hinrichs, a student at FCC. “I suppose I would try to run or hide or fight if it came down to it.”

?

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Flores said everyone needs to be ready to fight for their life if they are forced to. He suggests that attackers will always want to choose the path of least resistance, so resisting through biting, scratching, or eye-gouging, will save your life. Anything can be improvised as a weapon for self-defense.

“I do always have the fear,” said English major, Amelia Gill, “that someone on campus might do the same thing that the guy did in Vegas.”

The Las Vegas shooting in which 58 people died is a reminder that danger exists around every corner.

According to a New York Times article, between 2000 and 2006, mass shootings on average occurred 6.4 times each year.

From 2007 to 2013, it increased to 16.4 shootings per year, more than doubling the number of casualties from mass shootings in America.

The increased number of mass shootings in America makes students more fearful.

Flores said the police department has taken measures to train all staff and students in the district on how to act and react in the possibility of a shooting.

“We all have to become heroes,” He said.

He reiterates that shootings can happen anywhere and that one always needs to be prepared.

This mental exercise should be

practiced for any circumstance. Shootings are not the only emergency that people must be ready for. He said even law enforcement must train constantly and differently.

Flores said officers used to be trained to secure an area and wait for backup, but that these situations are treated differently now.

“We will run to the threat and we will do everything we can to neutralize the threat,” he said.

The campus also has an emergency notification system that will inform students about emergency situations.

Flores says that not enough students are using this service which ensures students are kept away from danger.

Every classroom at Fresno City College features a poster which explains what to do with several hazards such as fires, chemicals, earthquakes and active shooters. The poster shows a map of the campus with the buildings and their location and layout.

Awareness and understanding of this poster when on campus allows civilians to provide law enforcements with the necessary information to locate and assist those in need. Emergencies can come when one least expects it.

“It can happen anywhere. Don’t fear the school,” Flores said. “Have a holistic plan for survival, something that would work anywhere you are-- not just for active shooters, but all kinds of hazards.”

Former Rampage Editor Launches Poetry Book Ashleigh Panoo | Editor-in-Chief apanoo@therampageonline.com

Joseph Rios, a former Rampage editor-in-chief and Fresno City College student, returned to Fresno Oct. 19 for a poetry reading, launching his first book, “Shadowboxing: Poems and Impersonations.”

The unique reading took place inside a ring at the Heartbeat Boxing gym in southeast Fresno. Dozens of people gathered to hear Rios, as

“

It was the first time I really read poetry intensely that was from fresno.”

-Joseph Rios

Poet & Former rampage editor-in-chief

well as six other poets, including FCC instructors Marisol Baca, Juan Luis Guzmán and Lee Herrick, read.

Rios attended Fresno City College from 2005 to 2010 and went on to graduate from UC Berkeley.

The Clovis native, who now lives in LA, spent some of his day back at Fresno City College, where he visited Herrick’s creative poetry class. Rios said he was first introduced to Fresno poetry when he was Fresno City College alumnus Joseph Rios reads from his new book “Shadowboxing: Poems and Impersonations” during his book launch at writing a story for The Rampage Heartbeat Boxing on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. Photo/Ashleigh Panoo in 2008 that led him to Herrick. downtown library and started his writings in the fourth grade found time to write. “[Herrick] sent me over this pulling books off the shelves and enjoying people’s reactions.

“I was always trying to find a list of all the readers that were with all the names Herrick gave “When I was a little kid, my gig that would allow me at the going to be included in the him. “It kind of set me off on grandpa bought one of those time to write, or leave, or take journal [he was covering], and this long journey,” he explained. shoulder cameras with the off, or do anything.” it became this sort of who's who “Shadowboxing” follows VHS tapes,” he laughed. “They Poets who stepped into the of California poets,” Rios said.

Josefo, a Chicano adolescent would record me doing all the boxing ring during the event “It was the first time I really growing up in the San Joaquin SNL skits and I would stand all congratulated Rios, who read poetry intensely that was Valley, and borrows language there and do all the voices.” said the book was written over from Fresno; that was from the from the “Rocky” films, which Since graduating from several years. valley.” influenced Rios as a kid.

Berkeley, Rios has juggled odd “It feels like so long ago,” Rios then went to the Rios remembers acting out jobs, but, through that, always Rios said. “It’s been a long run.”

6 NEWS 10.25.17

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Fox Disses Trump, lauds NAfta

Ashleigh Panoo | Editor-in-Chief

Frank Lopez | Opinion Editor

apanoo@therampageonline.com

flopez@therampageonline.com

Former president of Mexico Vicente Fox gave a lecture on U.S.-Mexican economics and immigration Oct. 18, filling nearly every seat in Fresno’s William Saroyan Theatre.

His appearance was part of a series of lectures hosted each year by San Joaquin Valley Town Hall, which aims to bring nationally and internationally known speakers that inform and educate the public to the Central Valley.

Fox’s lecture, “Building Bridges: Fixing the Immigration Issue and Strengthening U.S.-Mexico Relations,” focused on the history of U.S.-Mexico economics, NAFTA (North American Free Trade Act), and the future that may lie ahead for both countries with President Trump’s stance on immigrants and his desire to end the NAFTA trade deals.

Fox was an outspoken critic of Trump during his presidential campaign, making headlines with his strongly worded comment, “I am not going to pay for that fucking wall,” when asked about Trump’s proposal to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border.

In response to Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again,” Fox said during the lecture that America has always been great.

“All of you come from migrant parents,” Fox said, bringing applause from the crowd. “Your families come from somewhere: Africa, Europe, Asia— that’s what has made this nation great.

It’s been great since the very beginning,” Fox spoke about the rising trend of populism and nationalism in Europe and how demagoguery defined much of Latin America in the 20th century.

In a tongue-in-cheek jab at Trump, the former president described dictators that promise people the government will provide them with jobs, healthcare, and fix the economy, and how they discourage people from following their own initiatives— “does that remind you of somebody?” Fox asked the crowd.

Fox voiced his support for students under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, saying society should respect the sacrifices they make and the hard work they do to become productive members of society.

“If that guy in the White House doesn’t want them [Dreamers], send them back to Mexico. We will take care of them,” Fox said, eliciting strong cheers, and closing his speech.

After the lecture, the floor was opened for a question and answer session with the former president.

A larger part of the lecture was devoted to providing details and praise for the North American Free Trade Agreement deal of 1994.

The NAFTA treaty involves

California Offers Free College to First-Time Students Gov. Jerry Brown signed a new bill Oct. 13, promising the first year of community college in California will be free to all incoming students.

The California College Promise will waive fees for one academic year for students enrolled in 12 or more units. Students must fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or a California Dream Act application to qualify.

Although Brown signed the bill Oct. 13, its funding is partially contingent on the 2018-19 budget, according to Ed Source. It’s predicted to cost $30 million to $50 million a year and will help 19,000 students who were not covered under the former Board of Governor’s fee waiver.

The California College Promise replaces the BOG fee waiver and its income and other require-

ments, according to the bill.

Currently each unit is $46 at the 114 community colleges in the state. A full-time student taking 12 units at $46 a unit would rack up $552 a semester, on top of books, the health fee and other supplies.

Community college leaders hope the new waiver will usher in more high school students who wouldn’t otherwise attend college because of the high costs.

“The California College Promise will help foster a stronger culture of college participation that will enhance upward social mobility in California,” said Eloy Oakley, California Community College Chancellor.

Oakley said the BOG fee waiver has covered tuition for over a million students since its inception more than 30 years ago.

Former president of Mexico Vicente Fox gives a lecture about immigration and U.S.-Mexico relations to a packed house inside the William Saroyan Theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017.

Photo/Frank Lopez

the U.S., Mexico and Canada, and created a trilateral trade bloc in North America—effectively removing trade barriers between the three countries.

Fox said the “U.S.’s brilliant and visionary minds,” along with Canadians and Mexicans in the last 25 years have brought the “NAFTA dream” to reality and it is a “success,” adding the U.S. now has a richer Mexico for a neighbor.

Fox claimed in his lecture that since the signing of NAFTA, the income gap between workers in Mexico and those in the U.S. has been reduced in half. He said in another 25 years, that gap will disappear.

According to a report published by the Council on Foreign Relations, “NAFTA’s Economic Impact,” Mexico has not experienced the promises made by many people who supported the deal—such as rapid growth, raise wages, and reduction of emigration.

However, while both the U.S. and Canada have seen some strong gains from NAFTA, According to the report, since the signing of the agreement in 1994, Mexico’s unemployment rate has risen, poverty remains at the same levels and the “wage convergence” between Mexico and U.S. workers never occurred.

Wage convergence is an economic theory that holds the hypothesis that poorer economies will grow at faster rates than rich economies, and that eventually, all economies should converge together.

NAFTA has also garnered criticism for exposing Mexican

farmers to competition from U.S. subsidized agriculture.

Fox dismissed these criticisms on NAFTA when asked about them at a press conference held after the lecture, and said that the countries should continue with NAFTA and improve it.

“Anything that was originally thought about NAFTA has not come true except the many many good things that NAFTA has brought to the U.S. economy, the Canadian economy, and the Mexican economy,” Fox said.

The report does note however, that most studies show that the trade pact had a positive boost on Mexican productivity and consumer prices.

Fox was a little more liberal with his language during the press conference.

When asked if he had ever personally met Trump, he responded with, “¿ese guey?”, which can be loosely translated to “that idiot?” or “that asshole?” in Spanish.

There were 700 local middle and high school students attending the lecture, and a couple were awarded money from Fox’s charity for education programs.

Emerson Valenzuela, a freshman at Edison High School, attended the lecture and said she enjoyed it.

“He gave lots of insight on a whole bunch of topics I was curious about,” said Valenzuela.

“Mainly immigration, especially since thats a big issue right now.”

The San Joaquin Town Hall will host its next speaker, political cartoonist Kevin Kallaugher, on Nov. 15, 2017.

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10.25.17 NEWS 7

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North Korean Defector Shares Eerie Tales of Home Ram Reyes | Art Director rreyes@therampageonline.com

North Korean defector and human rights activist Yeonmi brought awareness about the inhumane conditions within North Korea during her speech in the OAB Auditorium on Oct. 19.

In a speech sponsored by Fresno City College’s Speakers Forum, Park spoke about her life growing up in North Korea.

She escaped North Korea in 2007 when she was only 13, traveling through China and then crossing the Gobi Desert into Mongolia, until finally settling in South Korea in 2009.

Park, now 24, tours the country to share her story and the oppressive conditions within the North Korean regime. She hopes to create awareness. “[I'm not here] to talk about the weapon Kim Jong Un has,” Park said. “I'm here to talk about how the people live there, [people] like us, right now in this moment."

Despite the escalating and difficult relationship between the U.S. and North Korea, Park said she was not there to warn about how dangerous Kim Jong Un is, but about how the North Korean people are living under Kim Jong Un’s regime.

Park contrasted North Korea’s technological stagnation with the rest of the world’s. She said electricity is tenuous and not constant; the country is the darkest area on Earth as seen from satellite photos, and Park joked that Earth Day was everyday in North Korea.

She described her time trying to watch a pirated copy of “Titanic” and how it took her months to watch because the power would

only be on for a short while once a month, and she could only watch bits and pieces at a time.

For Park, the romance in the movie was a revelation. She could not comprehend the concept of love for other people as they were only taught to love the regime— to love the Dear Leader.

"We don't have love songs in North Korea,” Park said. “You cannot hold your lover's hand. We don't even have the vocabulary for love. How can person value something other than the regime?"

Yeonmi Park signs a fan’s copy of her book “In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey to Freedom” in the OAB West Courtyard on Park detailed her childhood Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, after her talk detailing her life and escape from North Korea in the OAB Auditorium. Photo/Ram Reyes growing up in the North Korean “How can you be surprised by Korea, there is no hope in any slave, if you don’t know what’s out countryside, including her experoutine things?” Park said. “See- progress with their situation. She there, how can you fight for it?” rience during the North Korean ing those dead bodies were so said it’s just politically safe to just Park said. “People don’t know that famine from 1994 to 1998. Deaths routine that I didn’t feel anything.” blame the looming trouble. life could be like this.” are estimated at 300,000 to 3.5 She and her mother made the “We cannot challenge ChiOne of the questions she anmillion. trek across China safely but fell na because they’re so powerful. swered was what she thought of “It was routine life for me to see into the hands of human traffick- All the businesses have [ties] to President Trump’s tweets directed dead bodies on the streets,” Park ers in China, where she watched them,” Park said. “No politician is at Kim Jong Un. her mother being raped. They going to challenge them.”

“At least with North Korea, he were later sold so they could stay Park explained that once she has the right approach. He says in China. escaped North Korea, she had a he's going to try and convince “I lost my faith in humanity,” hard time grasping how differ- China to join us and solve this Park said. “I could not trust a hu- ently people thought outside of problem,” Park said. “But where man being again, especially men.” the influence of the North Korean I disagree with him is that he She said China is a critical regime. doesn't really have a policy, and piece in the North Korean issue "The biggest thing for me was he doesn't have any plans. It's very that is often overlooked. North not learning about the internet disappointing.”

Korean refugees under the 1951 or learning to use credit cards or She said the North Korean Refugee Convention, which how to take a taxi. It was not all crisis can be solved by bringing -Yeonmi Park China is bound to, are considered that. It was about thinking,” she awareness about the human rights North Korean Defector political refugees and cannot be said. “Critical thinking -- I never violations. forcibly returned to their country learned that."

“Most people know that North of origin.

Park said people often ask Korea has a crazy weapon and a said, “seeing dying neighbors, dy“China does not follow this law. her how North Koreans could crazy dictator with a funny hairing friends.”

They catch us,” Park said. “It’s like possibly believe that Kim Jong Un cut, and that’s all we know; I think Despite seeing this, Park said slave hunters back in America. In was a god and how they could be we have to talk about it; we have she never learned compassion. She China right now, if you catch a so “brainwashed.” People told her to raise awareness,” Park said. “To compared it to feeling joy when North Korean defector and turn how they thought North Koreans this day, we learn about the Hoshe saw electricity, clapping and them in, you get the money.” should just rise up against the locaust so we can make sure that cheering at the rare sight, but she Park said that without China’s regime. this doesn't happen again; but that felt nothing for the dead bodies. withdrawal of support of North “If you don’t know you’re a is happening in North Korea.”

“

I lost my faith in Humanity”

Technologically Minded Converge At DevFest Marco Rosas | Entertainment Editor mrosas@therampageonline.com

California’s Silicon Valley may be well known for being a hotbed for tech startups, but the Central Valley is no slouch when it comes to uniting tech savvy and ambitious people.

At least a hundred of those people were present at the fifth annual Valley DevFest on Oct. 22 at BitWise Industries in downtown Fresno.

“DevFest is a tech conference; it is also the largest Google event in the Central Valley,” conference director Nancy Mohamed said.

According to Mohamed, DevFest season is in effect, meaning several conferences similar to the Valley DevFest are happening around the world from now until December.

The event is meant to help spread knowledge among Goo-

gle Development Groups, like the one in Fresno, on the latest in the tech industry through presentations known as sessions.

“Speakers all applied to speak and our committee sat down and reviewed all the sessions and voted on which ones would be most appropriate for our event,” Mohamed said.

This year’s DevFest kicked things off with a presentation in BitWise’s auditorium by Speechless Learning Experience Designer Claire Slattery.

Speechless is a startup based out of San Francisco. Their mission statement is to help improve a business or individual’s presentation.

“Whatever the scale, you’re a performer, and so we want to empower you with the skills, techniques, and preparation to be able to rise to the occasion,” Slattery said.

Slattery led the audience members in the auditorium in a series of exercises meant to loosen them up, emphasizing the importance DevFest attendees follow keynote speaker Claire Slattery in a superhero pose exercise in BitWise Industries’ of preparing for auditorium on Sunday, Oct. 22. Photo/Marco Rosas presentations and tendee and business entrepreneur at 3 p.m. letting go of inhibitions.

Melody Boates. “She was very exLibrarians, software engineers, “Improv allows us open up perienced and able to get all of us tech support specialists and peothose creative, iterative, innova- engaged.” ple of all different background tive parts of our brain and really Following Slattery’s opening were all present and appreciated shut down self criticism,” Slattery speech, a series of sessions were at this year’s DevFest. said. held in various rooms throughout “It’s really an honor and I’m so The entire auditorium, includ- the building. grateful to have a tech event that’s ing Slattery, joined in a series of Ranging from how to create so inclusive, not just in with genverbal and physical exercises that revenue streams, to augmented der and race but also professionconsisted of making funny faces, reality for the classroom and de- al backgrounds,” Mohamed said. meaningful conversations with veloping with cyber security in “After all, it takes many different strangers and imaginary scenari- mind, attendees had a wide vari- types of professionals to run a os at Chuck E. Cheese. ety of sessions to attend. tech company.”

“She got all of us riled up to The event closed with a raffle get the day going,” said event at- drawing and conference wrap up

8 ENTERTAINMENT 10.25.17

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The crowd cheers during TrapFest at the Rainbow Ballroom on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. Photo/Paige Cervantes

TrapFest Revisits Rainbow Ballroom Paige Cervantes | Reporter pcervantes@therampageonline.com

It’s time to dance the night away, thanks to Trapfest, which made an appearance at Rainbow Ballroom on Oct. 14. from 8 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Trapfest is a musical event where people ages 18 and older can feel free to dance, sing and dress however they please, while making new friends and having a great time.

Brianna Ellis, 20, said that she enjoys going to Trapfest because it’s like a “warmup” for the big events.

“Local raves are a good way to experience what raving is

all about, but I’m excited for Electric Daisy Carnival,” she said. “These other raves are like mini practices before the big event.”

Ellis said her favorite part about Trapfest is the people because everyone has great intentions and positive attitudes.

“This event was actually sold out which is huge for a local rave,” she said. “I’m excited to see and meet a lot of new people.”

Joseph Hernandez, 21, said Trapfest is his favorite local rave because of the type of music they play.

“I highly enjoy attending

raves because I can let go and express myself,” Hernandez said. “It’s not just a bunch of random sounds, but actual lyrics everyone has heard of before just remixed into dancing music.”

Hernandez was so excited about this event and was one of the first people to purchase a ticket.

“Trapfest has always been big but I heard that it was going to be really popular this year,” he said. “As soon as the tickets went on sale, I grabbed my credit card and ran to my computer to buy my ticket.”

The building was filled with people to the point where you

could barely move.

Everyone was dressed in their own style, dancing and singing to the music with their arms raised high in the air.

Silver fans were attached to each corner of the ceiling because of the amount of people and body heat that occurred in the building.

A water station was set up on the right side of the building so that everyone who was exhausted from dancing could stay hydrated.

Mariah Calvert, 22, said she was especially excited for this event.

“Today is my birthday, and I wouldn’t want to spend it any

other way. I have my friends, good music, and I feel like the prettiest girl in the room. What more could I ask for?”

Calvert’s friend, Mariana Tukia, 21, said that Trapfest is one of the best raves she’s been to in a while.

“I’ve been to several different raves before, including Trapfest in the past, but this year was like no other,” Tukia said.

“The energy in the room was incredible. Everyone was looking for a good time. and it was a very successful Saturday night.”

Jazz Ensemble Tricks and Treats Audience Jimmy Heng | Reporter jheng@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College’s Jazz Ensemble displayed their Halloween spirit and surprised their audience in the College Theatre on Oct. 18. An all-female singing group, Femme Fatale, also debuted its performance that night.

Mike Dana, director of jazz studies, and Julie Dana, director of choral activities and voice, directed the performances.

The night opened with a solo by Alayna Clarno, a Femme Fatale singer. Clarno performed a song called, “All of Me.” The performance set the mood and the expectation for the rest of the night.

All members of Femme Fatale, which is French for “Dangerous women,” sang a soft soothing piece that filled the theatre with life. The purple and pink lights reflected off the cheeks of the singers as they per-

formed, and the audience swayed back and forth to the tune.

The singers performed six songs.

Mariah Caudillo and Zoey Turney each performed solos. Caudillo sang partially in Portuguese, a language her grandmother spoke.

“After a couple of months of preparing, it’s just feels really relieving and exciting,” Caudillo said. “It kind of sets the tone for the rest of the performances.”

Singer Zoey Turney performed “Old Fashioned” by Ella Fitzgerald, famous American Jazz singer. Turney’s performance provided a sense of romanticized nostalgia and took audience back to the 1940s.

Femme Fatale performed their final song “Moon Ray,” also by Fitzgerald. Each singer had a solo, and they finished in unison. The singers were powerful and they exude excitement and joy as they sang and moved to the music.

The jazz ensemble also performed

six songs. The loud and energetic music provoked a toe- tapping sensation.

Mike Dana composed an original work called “Carving the Pumpkin” in spirit of Halloween. As Dana explained the tune, the musicians surprisingly took out costumes, fully ready to perform.

The trombone section was dressed as ninja turtles and baritone saxophone player, Blake McAllister, performed his final song with a horse mask. As they played, a surprise performer with black robes and a pumpkin head played an electric guitar solo.

The night ended with energy, laughs and applause.

“I thought it was really great. These guys work so hard and they’re so dedicated,” Mike Dana said, “and for the vocal group, same exact story.”

He added, “Sometimes people say, ‘Jazz is dead’ or ‘Jazz is for old people,’ but I don’t see how you can go to this concert and say that.”

Baritone sax player Blake McAllister dons a horse head costume during the FCC jazz ensemble performance on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017.

Photo/Melissa Moua

10.25.17 ENTERTAINMENT 9

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the final films of 2017

Chris Hemsworth in “Thor: Ragnarok”

Noah Villaverde | Reporter nvillaverde@therampageonline.com

James Franco in “The Disaster Artist”

The final quarter of the year is filled with numerous films of different genres and budgets that will compete for audience’s attention.

Films that range from the big blockbusters and potential awards contenders are set to hit the big screen, giving audiences a diverse array of entertainment at the cinema.

November boasts the release of not one but two comic book blockbusters.

“Thor: Ragnarok,” the latest sequel following the titular hero finds him teaming up with the Hulk on a quest to rescue Asgard from certain doom from the villainous Hela.

“Thor: Ragnarok” opens in theaters on Friday, Nov. 3.

Fresh off of their first critical success of “Wonder Woman,” DC unites their iconic heroes with “Justice League.”

The film has been subject to a tumultuous production following director Zack Snyder’s departure following the death of his daughter.

Since then, “The Avengers” director Joss Whedon took over the reshoots and post-production process.

Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg will unite for the first time on the big screen when “Justice League” opens on Nov. 17.

Arguably, the most anticipated blockbuster of the year is “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”

The eighth chapter of the Skywalker saga will reunite audiences with Luke Skywalker and General Leia Organa.

The film is also actress Carrie Fisher’s final film role. Fisher died of cardiac arrest last December, months after com-

Daisy Ridley in “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”

pleting the filming of her role.

Audiences will return to the galaxy far, far away when “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” opens in theaters on Dec. 15.

For moviegoers looking forward to films that will compete for awards, the independent company A24 has some contenders after their film “Moonlight” won the Best Picture Oscar this year.

Sean Baker’s “The Florida Project” is one of the current frontrunners of the season.

The film is set on a stretch highway just outside of Walt Disney World and follows a 6-year-old girl’s summer adventures.

Willem Dafoe stars alongside newcomer Brooklynn Prince in the film, and has been deemed Oscar-worthy in Best Supporting Actor category.

A24 will also release James Franco’s “The Disaster Artist,” based on Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell’s book of the same name.

“The Disaster Artist” tells the true story of the making of the infamous cult classic, “The Room” - a film widely considered one of the worst ever made.

Franco both directs the film and stars as the eccentric Tommy Wiseau - the writer, director, producer and star of “The Room.”

Franco has received considerable awards buzz for his performance as Wiseau, with some hailing his work as more than a mere impersonation of the famed “Disaster Artist.”

Whether it is a Hollywood blockbuster or an upcoming independent film that will satisfy your entertainment needs, the last quarter of 2017 boasts some exciting options.

Willem Dafoe in “The Florida Project”

FCC Raises a Glass to Fund the Arts Marco Rosas | Reporter mrosas@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College’s plays, music concerts and dance recitals offer many people the chance to watch the shows staff and students work so hard to put on.

But it takes more than hard work to make sure these shows take place— it takes success in fundraising to get things going.

In an effort to raise funds for FCC’s fine arts and communication programs, Friends of the Arts and FCC put together the thirtieth annual Toasting The Arts formal dinner and auction fundraiser in the OAB courtyard on Oct. 20.

“Our mission is to help, support, fund and promote the arts at FCC,” Friends of the Arts’ board president Julio Treviño said.

The fundraiser offered many items donated by members of the community and faculty that attendees could bid on at any point throughout the evening.

The items at the silent auction varied from handmade teddy bears to home-cooked pastries and even a season pass to the Selma Arts Center.

Faculty and community members mingled in their Sunday best to show their support FCC’s arts.

“It’s nice to gather with people you know, people who share your values for the arts, people who put on the performances and enjoy all of that together,” said Jackie Ryle, who emceed the occasion and has worked with several departments at FCC. Friday night was her first role as master of ceremonies.

“They asked me if I would be the emcee at the auction and I said absolutely,” Ryle said. “I didn’t know about it before but now that I’m aware of it I will always come back.”

Ryle brought much enthusiasm to the event and along with Treviño, made sure the night went as planned without a hitch.

The evening began with appe-

Fresno City College hosted “Toasting The Arts,” an event to celebrate and fundraise for the Fine, Performing and Communication Arts division at the Old Administration Building on Friday, Oct. 20, 2017. Photo/ Jorge Rodriguez

tizers and wine at 6 p.m. as attendees were serenaded by FCC’s Jazz Combo and Guitar Ensemble lead by directors Mike Dana and Kevin Cooper.

Following the Jazz Combo and Guitar Ensemble’s performances. Attendees were asked to take their seats for dinner and a show as the City Singers lead by Ju-

lie Dana and the New Wrinkles Chorus took the stage.

After the last performance, attention was brought back to why so many faculty and community members had come together in the first place: to raise funds.

A live auction was held in which several unique items, such as a personal performance by the

City Singers, were auctioned off in real time. Some items were sold at $650 or more, adding toward the fundraiser’s ultimate goal.

“Last year we raised $15,000$16,000, which is great,” Treviño said. “and we’re hoping to match that this year.”

10 OPINION 10.25.17

Campus Voices How Do you Feel about Halloween?

Omari Bell | Reporter Julease Graham | Broadcast Editor

Mitch Brunfield Social Science

“Halloween is pretty cool; I like going trick or treating still.”

Alexis Figueroa Air Conditioning

“It’s free candy. That’s how I feel; I just like the free candy!”

Online Dating: Should you Swipe Left or Right?

Paige Cervantes | Reporter pcervantes@therampageonline.com

Online dating has expanded and more sophisticated in the most recent years, and more people are logging on for it.

Tinder and Bumble are two of the most popular dating apps right now.

If a person stumbles upon someone that they would like to talk to, then that person swipes right.

If they don’t wish to start a conversation with a certain person, then they swipe left.

The only difference between Tinder and Bumble is that only the girl can be the first to message a match. For example, if a girl and guy match with each other, then the girl has 24 hours to start a conversation or that match automatically disappears. The guy also only has 24 hours to reply.

Most women like the fact that they are the first to start the conversation because there’s some type of empowerment that goes with it.

Usually males make the first move, but with Bumble women are forced to.

Making a first impression is a big deal and no one wants to mess that up, so some women might find it difficult to to be the first to start a conversation.

Many young adults count on these apps to meet people, but are they truly safe?

Melissa Moua | Reporter mmoua@therampageonline.com

Olivia McKray Child Psychology “I love halloween. I decorate my apartment every year.”

Izzy Navaro Kinesiology

“Halloween is my favorite holiday, mainly because of the candy. I love the idea that people get to dress up and be something that they’re not.

I think it’s cool.”

therampageonline.com

Yes, a lot of detailed information goes into creating a profile and finding a perfect match to that person’s interests, but how do you really know that person?

You might be able to see what someone looks like and where they live, but how do you truly get to know a person and what their interests are from just an app?

Even if you do communicate with someone and have a connection with them, how do you even know if that person is real or not?

The term “catfish” is used to describe someone who falsely uses someone else’s information and photos to pretend to be what they are not.

There is a television series called ‘Catfish’ aired on MTV, about two brothers that have experienced being catfished by

someone before, so they help other people unite with their online dating lovers to see if they are real or not.

Most of the people they meet up with weren’t telling the truth and ended up being someone else.

These dating apps can be dangerous because a person can easily be tricked into liking someone and then meeting that person at a location to find out that they aren’t telling the truth.

A person can easily be taken advantage of or even murdered because the app lead those two people to meet.

According to The Guardian, Warriena Wright met Gable Tostee on Tinder before she died from jumping off Tostee’s 14 story balcony on August 7, 2014.

Wright was in Australia for a

friend’s wedding, where Tostee lived. She met up with Tostee and they grabbed a case of beer before heading to Tostee’s apartment.

They then had sexual intercourse before a massive argument broke out. The fight lead to Tostee locking Wright out on his balcony with Wright so frightened and intoxicated that she plunged to her death.

People have become so trusting to technology and don’t even realize that anything could happen.

Young adults need to become more cautious and think situations through. They need to think about exactly what they are doing before they regret doing it.

No one plans to be taken advantage of or murdered, but it happens all the time.

“You look a lot different from your Facebook profile.”

Illustration/Frank Lopez

What is the Age Limit for Trick-or-Treating?

2017 Halloween Statistics

Growing up, Halloween was that one time of the year that parents would allow their kids to knock on strangers’ doors and ask for candy.

When it comes to trick or treating, only kids are expected to go around the neighborhood to trick or treat.

The minute a teenager hits puberty and enters middle school, it feels as if it is not cute anymore to be dressing up, walking around the neighborhood and asking for candy.

So should there be an age limit to trick or treating?

Trick or treating is a fun activity that just about every kid in the United States has done once in their life.

Unlike other holidays like Christmas, where everyone still gets gifts, Halloween seems to strip these teenagers of the fun and onto the next generation of younger kids.

According to a survey, a 2016 Today News story by Terri Peters, “73 percent of those surveyed

agree that somewhere between the ages of 12 and 17, kids should call it quits.”

Jasmine Buenavista, a Fresno City College nursing major agrees. “I feel like it is a bit odd seeing an older person asking for candy, but I still give it to them.

I feel like if you are going around the neighborhood as a college student, then you are pushing it.”

Another TODAY News article by Chloe Aiello, cites a law in New Brunswick, Canada which will fine teenagers 16 and older $200 if they are out past 8 p.m.

“The law,” Aiello wrote, “passed in response to a spate of Halloween mischief.”

Maybe the world is not ready or comfortable with those that are 12 and older, going around the neighborhood asking for candy in fear that they could be of harm to the children near them or their home.

Ashley Darcey, mother of two, said she feels a little uneasy with teenagers and adults trick or treating.

“I am not sure if they are little kids that are just really tall, or

actual older teenagers, but it is just weird handing out candy to them,” Darcey said. “I won’t say anything to them, but it is just weird.”

Candy is something that everyone, young or old, enjoys, its just that the older the person gets with this holiday, the more it is expected to hand out candy, hang out with friends, or even go to parties.

“I like to say that I am trick or treating to my parents, but I just like to walk around with my friends,” Bryan Amaya, 13, said.

Amaya likes to dress up and be able to have fun with his friends even if they don’t trick or treat.

“I just like being out of the house,” Amaya said.

That could be why parents and older adults are not used to seeing older teenagers going around the neighborhood asking for candy.

It is the only time of the year that they are able to dress up and ask for candy and their parents are OK with it.

There are still many things to do like pumpkin carving or apple bobbing that older teens can enjoy on this spooky holiday.

Source: Wallethub

$3.35 billion is the amount americans will spend on costumes.

48.2% of Americans plan to dress up in a costume.

1927: the year that “trick or treat” was first used in America.

70% of Americans will give candy to trick or treaters. $2.67 billion will be spent on candy.

2 times the amount of children are killed on Halloween than the average day.

860 is the average number of U.S. house fires on Halloween 62% of parents admit to secretly eating their kid’s candy.

10.25.17 OPINION 11

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From Ale’s Side

Why I’m Not Afraid of Attending Music Festivals after Las Vegas Anthony De Leon | Reporter adeleon@therampageonline.com

On Oct. 1, 58 innocent people were killed and hundreds of others were injured while attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival on the Las Vegas Strip.

The bullets that took the lives of those festival goers came from above, and now the fear of being a sitting target at an open-air festival should cross the mind of every festival attendee for the foreseeable future.

But should this mass shooting stop those attending festivals in the future from feeling safe?

This past year I attended numerous music festival including the Hard Summer Festival, Coachella and Life is Beautiful, which took place in Las Vegas one week before the Route 91 Harvest Festival.

In the days following the shooting, the public was stunned as more information became available. According to several news sources, in the weeks leading up, the shooter, Stephen Paddock, had booked a hotel room overlooking the Life is Beautiful festival and also booked a room overlooking the Lollapalooza Festival

in Chicago a month prior.

Just as I felt relieved that I had just missed out on an event of horror, my focus began to shift on the fact that my life could have easily ended up like hundreds of those festival attendees.

When attending festivals, you are surrounded by tens of thousands of people in an area where now your biggest fear is a shooter in the crowd or a bomb going off.

In the past, the thought of a shooter raining bullets down at you from above is a thought so terrifying that it never even crosses your mind. From now on, festival goers will find it impossible not to think about the reality that someone could take shelter above and begin shooting at will.

After the shooting, the only thought that crossed my mind was how relieved I was that this terrifying event did not happen while I was in Las Vegas, and I am thankful that while I was attending the Life is Beautiful festival, that my life was not taken from me prematurely, and that day was not the last time I spoke to my loved ones.

The atmosphere at every festival I have attended has been full

of youthful energy, joy, happiness and the constant rhythm of music, which is why so many people just want to experience that freedom even if only for one weekend. In a place full of joy you do not expect it to be overshadowed by such an act of evil.

Those planning on attending festivals in the near future should not be crippled by the fear of this one off incident. If anything positive has come out of this tragic event, it’s that festival goers will now be more aware of their surroundings and mindful of what to do in case of an emergency in order to protect themselves and others.

I am not afraid of a possible bombing every time I walk into a federal building; I am not afraid of a sniper opening fire every time I step on campus, and I will not be afraid to attend a music festival after the events of Oct. 1.

I will feel safe attending the upcoming Camp Flog Gnaw Festival in Los Angeles at the end of October, and I, along with many other festival goers, should go about our business, carefree and fearless.

Pumpkin Here, Pumpkin There, Pumpkin Everywhere Photo Illustration/Ram Reyes David Hernandez | Reporter dhernandez@therampageonline.com

With autumn in full swing, the big thing on people’s mind is pumpkin.

Pumpkin is everywhere -- you see them in grocery stores and in drinks from coffee shops -- and it seems like every commercial item has pumpkin tied to it. Why do people rave over this orange squash and the flavors and colors it brings to this time of year?

The pumpkin is commercially portrayed as the mascot of the fall season. You see stores add fall decor by bringing in pumpkins and brown leaves. Businesses try to put it in everything.

Being a seasonal item, coffee fans eagerly await the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte that comes around this time of year.

“The pumpkin spice from 7-Eleven has to be one of my favorite things,” said Miranda Belmonte, a psychology major at Fresno City College. “My brother and I have always gotten one for as long as I can remember.”

If you go to the mall, you can find pumpkin scented candles,

pumpkin lotions, and even pumpkin hand sanitizers. If you are out grocery shopping, it is definite that you will find different edible items that contain pumpkin.

For example, if you head over to Sprouts Farmers Market, you are bound to find pumpkin cider, pumpkin snap cookies, and even small pumpkins used for baking pies.

“I love fall and I love everything pumpkin. The flavors, the smells and all of the changing colors make me happy,” said Justine Campbell, a child development major. “I always buy pumpkin scented items from Bath & Body Works because the smells just makes me feel at home, and I get this warm sense of nostalgia.”

There are people who do not give into the hype and are quite bothered by how far people take the pumpkin.

“It is kind of annoying and it is not my favorite,” said Eryka Tate, zoology major. “I feel like people talk too much about the pumpkin spice latte and it is very off-putting.” Businesses try to put the fall

icon in our faces everywhere we go.

In the timespan from October to November, everyone is heavily focused on pushing pumpkin products. However, from December all the way until next October, nobody seems to care and the pumpkin is forgotten.

“The only reason people get lost in pumpkin is because it is so advertised,” said Julien Srey, a food service management major.

“You can buy a can of pumpkin and make a pie any time of the year, but people always think it is special because of how businesses put pumpkin on a pedestal to commercialize.”

With the weather cooling down, having a pumpkin spiced latte to warm up cannot be that bad. Seeing the leaves change color, visiting a pumpkin patch, and baking a pie are activities that one can partake in at this time of year. As we await the full swing of the holiday season, pumpkins are going to be here and we have the choice to partake in every little thing that comes out of them.

Happiness Comes From Within Alejandra Flores | Reporter aflores@therampageonline.com

You Don’t Need Someone to Be Happy I hear it, you’re in a relationship and your significant other makes you feel nothing but happiness and you use the utmost cheesiest line ever: “They make me so happy.”

Well, I simply don’t believe it takes a person to make you truly feel “happy”

“

Happiness is an emotion that YOU and only you can control. ”

Call me bitter or cynical, but there’s an explanation as to why I feel the way I feel.

Happiness is an emotion that you and only you can control.

Regardless of who you’re with -- the greatest person in the world, a billionaire, a person who finds you beautiful even when you don’t think you are, -- you are in control of all the feelings you perceive.

Take this scenario for example, your crush gives you roses for Valentine’s day. Now, of course this sort of action will make you happy because the roses came from someone that you’ve been crushing on for a while and you admire this person.

Now what if you got roses from the creepy guy at work who’s been bothering you for a couple of weeks. It’s the same sort of action, it’s just not coming from someone you like.

You’re obviously not going to feel happy, just creeped out.

Like I mentioned before, you get to decide whether to be happy when it comes to a certain situation or a significant other. Happiness comes from within. You are entitled to your own happiness.

At the beginning of the year, I was facing some personal problems myself. I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to continue to study the major that I fell in love with my first two years at Fresno City College. I had also

just been hired at my very first job and I was a mess because I wanted to be the very best I could be which caused me to become super anxious and stressed.

I started to feel pressure to suddenly become a completely different person because I didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin anymore. I was facing some sort of existential crisis at the age of 21. Stress and anxiety became an everyday experience for me.

During this difficult time, I was in a relationship, and a good one (at least I’d like to think it was). He was amazing and made me feel great. However, I was unhappy... this of course had nothing to do with him— it was me.

I began to feel unhappy with myself, regardless of the fact that I had an amazing boyfriend. For me, being happy doesn’t mean having a significant other, it means being in a good place with yourself, mentally and physically, focusing on yourself and achieving your goals.

Now don’t get me wrong, having someone supporting you, buying you food, and sweet talking you is great. It feels like you have to be happy because you have this astonishing person right by your side, but nevertheless you feel unhappy. At least, that’s how I was feeling.

After we broke up, I started to focus more on myself, started managing my stress, and

“

Regardless of who you’re with [...] you are in control of all the feelings you perceive.”

became more comfortable with myself. I didn’t need anyone to do that but myself.

Maybe I wasn’t ready to be in a relationship and I needed time to focus on myself. I’m aware of the fact that people can be happy in a relationship, but that happiness comes from inside you. They have nothing to do with that.

You are in charge of your own happiness.

12 SPORTS 10.25.17

therampageonline.com Fresno City College running back Khai Williams gets through Chabot College’s defensive line during the homecoming game at Ratcliffe stadium on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017.

Photo/Jorge Rodriguez

FCC Blows Out Chabot In Homecoming Matchup Jorge Rodriguez | Sports Editor jrodriguez@therampageonline.com

Coming off of a great win against Reedley College that saw Fresno City College take home the coveted “Pump” trophy, the Rams were set to face the Chabot College Gladiators at home. The game marked the end of homecoming week on Oct. 14. — and the Rams didn’t disappoint their fans and took a decisive victory 42-14.

The Rams, who had the week off due to a bye week, were fresh and ready to face a tough Chabot team.

FCC used pink socks and towels during the game to show support for breast cancer awareness month.

With much expectation from the fans, the game got off to somewhat of a slow start with both teams making mistakes. It wasn’t until quarterback Trey McJunkin threw a 30-yard pass to wide receiver Anthony Stewart that FCC got the first points of the game.

Chabot answered with a touchdown of their own just before the end of the first quarter, tying the game. The quarter ended with a 7-7 tie, and even though FCC had more chances to score than the Gladiators, they missed their opportunities.

The second quarter got underway, but it was more of the same.

FCC missed more opportunities due to penalties or just making bad decisions on the field. The Ram’s defense shone through

with good play and not letting Chabot take advantage of the opportunities given to them by the offense.

Just before the end of the half, FCC managed to find the endzone once again when McJunkin threw a 66-yard pass to wide receiver Coltin Velasquez to make it 14-7. The first half ended with FCC not looking like they had in the past weeks— making too many errors.

Once the second half began, the Rams looked like a different team, as if whatever head coach Tony Caviglia said to the players during halftime really stuck with them.

The first touchdown in the second half by FCC came quick, when wide receiver Terry Toler

caught a 18-yard pass by McJunkin that ended in the endzone.

This gave a significant lead to FCC of 21-7, which FCC did not take for granted this time around.

FCC dominated the quarter and just before it ended scored again thanks to a 15-yard run by running back Khai Williams.

The third quarter ended with an overwhelming lead of 28-7 by the Rams.

Starting the fourth quarter, the Rams scored once again, thanks to McJunkin who connected with Toler for a 27-yard touchdown making the score 35-7. FCC began to make some changes in the field, giving their bench some playing time.

Chabot took advantage of the changes and finally scored anoth-

er touchdown in the game, closing down the lead to 35-14. However, this wasn’t enough because just before the end of the game, running back Wesley Graves scored another touchdown off of a 10-yard run.

The game ended with backup quarterback Chris Dye taking a knee in the middle of the field, giving FCC their fourth win of the season and their second win at home.

“I think we got better during the off week and these kids really played better today,” said Caviglia.

“We had to get better in the second half— they were doing some things we hadn’t seen, but we played better in the second half.

Golfers Keep Strong Focus on the Green Jimmy Heng | Reporter jheng@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College golfer Katelin Eickholt drives the ball off the tee during a tournament held at Sunnyside Country Club on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. Photo/Jimmy Heng

Imagine a blaring sun beating down while trying to escape a sandpit with only a stick. When Fresno City College’s Women’s Golf was in this trap, they managed to win against competing colleges at the Sunnyside Country Club on Oct. 12, putting them first in the Central Valley Conference.

The participating colleges were West Hills, Reedley, and Taft. Although they were opponents, golfers showed great sportsmanship and respect for one another.

Although golfers play individually, they work together to get better. It’s an individual sport that asks for much respect.

Head coach Danny Paniccia expects good things from this season. “We’re going to make it to regionals,” he said. “After that, go to state. That’s our goal right now.”

Destanie Blair’s stroke count was a 90, which was the lowest stroke count of the FCC golfers. Paniccia commended Blair on her performance, saying Blair is “our

number one” player.

“She’s pretty consistent,” Paniccia said.

“I think she’s fourth overall in the league right now.”

FCC’s other golfers stroke count follows Blair’s with Alyssa Geiger’s stroke count at 96, Katelin Eickholt’s at 97, Zakira Jones’ at 103 and Maddie Kizirian’s at 111.

The team’s combined performance made them victorious at this CVC tournament.

Paniccia said the team’s greatest strength is “driving the ball off the tee.”

He says the team is improving, especially with their short game. “We do a lot of work on that and we have our practices,” Paniccia said. “That’s our main focus.

I think we tend to waste some strokes around the greens.”

FCC’s total stroke count amounted to 386 and they had a score of four.

“We’re working the hardest that we can,” Paniccia said, “to see if we can improve and peak at the right time.”

10.25.17 SPORTS 13

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UFC fighters (From Left) Brian Ortega, Alex Perez, and Cub Swanson meet with media to promote their upcoming Dec. 9 UFC Fight Night matches during a luncheon at the Elbow Room on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. Photo/Jorge Rodriguez

UFC Promotes Upcoming Fights With Media Luncheon Marco Rosas | Entertainment Editor mrosas@therampageonline.com

Top featherweight contenders Brian Ortega and Cub Swanson meet with several members of the media to answer questions about their upcoming UFC event that will be held at the Savemart Center on Dec. 9.

The luncheon to promote the event was held Oct. 19 at The Elbow Room in Fig Garden Village. Both headliners were present, along with UFC flyweight and Central Valley native Alex Perez.

Perez was born in Hanford, originally trained out of Lemoore and will be making his debut in the UFC on fight night.

“I wrestled for West Hills College Lemoore at Fresno City College and the Selland Arena a couple of times,” said Perez. “It feels good to finally fight in the

UFC and now it’s in Fresno, so it’s exciting.”

Perez was also featured on the UFC Fight Pass original series, “Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series”, where he earned his shot to fight in the UFC. A lifelong wrestler, Perez is an impressive grappler who is quickly becoming a wellrounded elite fighter.

“I wrestled in high school and junior college as well,” Perez said.

“I don’t just practice one thing, we practice Muay Thai, boxing, wrestling and Jiu Jitsu all the time.”

Swanson and Ortega spoke about their upcoming matchup and the implications of either of their victories.

Swanson is a long time UFC veteran who has faced the best of the best in the UFC’s competitive featherweight division. Riding a

“

I think we’re both California guys who like to throw down, so that’s exciting.”

-Cub Swanson UFC Fighter

four fight win streak, Swanson believes that an impressive win over the undefeated Ortega could earn him a featherweight title shot.

Swanson also remains open to fighting in the UFC’s lightweight division to pursue matchups.

“I’ve definitely seen myself doing 155 in the future, but I’ve been doing so well at 145, I see myself here for a while,” Swanson said.

“He’s an undefeated fighter, so he’s [Ortega] got a lot of confidence and that’s always huge,” Swanson said. “I think we’re both California guys who like to throwdown, so that’s exciting.”

Ortega boasts an impressive undefeated record of 12-0 with four finished in the UFC. The young, up-and-coming fighter looks forward to facing the seasoned Swanson in Ortega’s

first five round fight in the UFC. “This is a huge step up,” Ortega said. “Cub has fought the best of the best, so for me to share the octagon with someone like that is a huge honor and pleasure.”

Ortega is known for his outstanding submission and ever-expanding MMA game and while Swanson may have a fully developed arsenal from years of fighting, both are always seeking to improve in the octagon.

While no fists or even verbal jabs were thrown at the luncheon, the two California fighters said they’re ready to put on a show Dec. 9 for the people of Fresno.

“I’ve been asking the UFC to fight closer to home,” Swanson said. “They promised me a couple of fights ago, and then I fought in Toronto. This year I get to be closer to home.”

Penalty Kick Helps FCC Take Victory Alejandra Flores | Reporter aflores@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College men's soccer team defeated West Hills College Lemoore at home on Oct. 24. FCC got another win against a tough opponent with a score of 3-1.

During the first half of the game, FCC and West Hills kept the ball in the middle of the field with no control from either side.

It wasn’t until the 20th minute when forward Johnny Rodriguez scored the first goal, allowing FCC to move up 1-0.

The remainder of the first half consisted of FCC maintaining control of the ball. West Hills tried to take the ball from FCC, but it was mostly the Rams who were managing the ball up and down the field.

Rodriguez headed the ball and it came close to the net, but West Hills goalie Cristopher Sanchez dove for the ball last minute and ended up saving the goal.

The first half ended with FCC taking the lead of 1-0 into the locker room.

The second half of the game consisted of West Hills playing catch up to FCC. Both teams kept on the attack, but with only FCC having success.

Midfielder Alex Covarrubias scored the second goal of the game making the score 2-0 and FCC taking a larger lead.

West Hills stepped up their game trying to make the game closer and bringing some hope for a comeback. They began to have more success in the midfield.

West Hills’ hopes for a comeback became a reality when FCC

got called for a foul inside the box, giving a penalty kick and a sure goal to West Hills.

Momentum was on West Hills’ side, but FCC was not giving up their lead and decided to make it larger. It was in the 73rd minute that midfielder Matheus Araujo scored the goal that put the game away for FCC. FCC won the game 3-1, putting them one step closer to a conference title.

“I feel like we played pretty poorly; we were lacking energy, we played lethargic-- but sometimes you gotta win ugly,” said head coach Eric Solberg. “The season is going pretty well so far, we’re level 1 in 5, we’re one of the top teams in California. To some degree, I think they gave it all their best.”

Fresno City College defender Estevan Rangel passes the ball during a game against West Hills College Lemoore at home on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017 Photo/Jorge Rodriguez

14 SPORTS 10.25.17

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The Fresno City College women’s soccer team poses for a photo outside locker rooms after their practice on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. Photo/Jorge Rodriguez

FCC Women’s Soccer: On The Journey To A State Title Jorge Rodriguez | Sports Editor jrodriguez@therampageonline.com

Great seasons don’t just come out of nowhere, they are worked on even before the season begins. The same can be said about great teams. It takes the hard work and sweat of team members and coaches to make something special happen during the regular season.

No one knows this better than the Fresno City College women’s soccer team and their coach Oliver Germond.

“Last year was frustrating, we lost in shootouts to Delta College and it was kind of a heart breaker because we had such a good season,” said Germond.

“We only gave up five goals all season last year and to lose in shootouts was really disappointing.”

Germond has been head coach at FCC for 17 years and his level of success with the women’s soccer program has brought him 11 conference coach of the year awards. In 2014, he was recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as coach of the year.

“We try to play the best teams we can to see where we are before the season starts,” said Germond. “We like to test ourselves with strong teams as much as we can.”

With an overall record of 16 wins,

zero defeats and one tie, the Rams have outside attention. dominated overwhelmingly and are “At first it kind of got to us, but getting ready to make a deep playoff then our coach talked to us and made run. us realize everyone wants to beat us, The 2017 season because we’re on has been similar to top.” Defender and others in that they team captain, Alyssa had great success, Damian said. but it’s also different She spoke in the fact that they about how have defeated topbeing nationally level teams like recognized affected Cerritos College, the team. “If we who were ranked want to reach our number one in the final goal, we have nation at the time to give 100 percent they faced each all the time.” other.

A big part of Before the season what makes this started, the Rams team so great is were ranked 18th the bond between in the nation by all the players the NSCAA and that the team has they only went up created. The team from there. After is comprised of 28 the Cerritos victory players who are Head Coach, Women’s Soccer always battling for the team received the biggest boost playing time but in rankings, taking this doesn’t mean them all the way to the number two spot that they don’t get along. in the nation.

This year the team took a team Becoming the number two team in building retreat to the Kings River where the nation came with a great boost of they camped and went whitewater confidence for the team, but also a lot of rafting.

“

Every year our goal is to get to the final four and put ourselves in a situation to win a state championship.”

-Oliver Germond

“I feel like the girls get along really well, almost too well, because they tend to get a bit goofy at times,” said Germond. “Any time you have overnight trips or spend a lot of time in the bus for a game, there is always time to bond.”

“We always hang out, we’re always talking,” said center and team captain Jasmine Garibay. “Whether it’s about school or soccer or personal life, we’re always in touch.”

The team is focused on achieving their goals of going to the playoffs and winning the state championship that has been so elusive in previous years.

With that state championship in mind, FCC will have to finish the season strong and in order for them to have home field advantage in the playoffs.

“The state championship is always in our mind, but you have to put in the work in order to get there,” said defender and team captain Danielle Pacheco.

It’s been a long road for the FCC women’s soccer team, but the most intense part is still to come and there is still more they want to achieve.

“This being my 17th year, I feel that this is the closest of a team we ever had,” Germond said. “Every year our goal is to get to the final four and put ourselves in a situation to win a state championship.”

NBA 2017 Team Additions and season Predictions Mariah Garcia | Reporter mgarcia@therampageonline.com

Offseason for any sport is always filled with trades, new contracts and new draft picks, and the NBA is no exception.

The Oklahoma City Thunder has added two big names to their roster this offseason: Small forwards Paul George, who is a Fresno State alumnus and former player of the Indiana Pacers, and small forward Carmelo Anthony, formerly of the New York Knicks.

Kevin Durant, small forward

who now plays for the Golden State Warriors, was a big help to the Thunder during his time on the team. After Durant’s decision to leave was announced in 2016, fans of the Thunder wondered if their guard Russell Westbrook was going to be able to show his full potential without his trustee teammate.

Despite the absence of Durant, Westbrook received the NBA 2017 Kia Most Valuable Player award and broke records during the 2017 season.

With the help of George and

Anthony, the Thunder went 3-1 this preseason. Last year, the Thunder ended with an overall record of 47-35. Having these two big names thrown in with Westbrooks could lead the team to a possible 60 plus wins.

Former Cleveland Cavalier point guard Kyrie Irving, now of the Boston Celtics, had eyes on him during this off season.

The former Cav player pleaded a trade request to head to Boston in order to “fill his own potential,” according to NBA.com.

In return for Irving’s departure,

the Cavaliers got point guard Isaiah Thomas, small forward Jae Crowder and center Ante Zizic, as well as two draft picks to Cleveland.

The Golden State Warriors added previous Los Angeles Lakers small forward Nick Young as he was a free agent. Young is known for his high scoring abilities.

For this upcoming season’s finals, The Cavaliers and Warriors seem to both be heading toward another matchup against each other.

Both teams are the best of their divisions, with the Warriors being the best in the west and the Cavaliers the best of the east.

Both teams have strong leaders and teammates. This matchup has been done before and will not be a surprise if it happens again.

Regular season kicked off on Oct. 17 in a matchup of games that included a couple of interesting ones between the Celtics and Cavaliers and the Rockets and Warriors.

10.25.17 SPORTS 15

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Women’s Water Polo Falls Short of Goal Noah Villaverde | Reporter nvillaverde@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College’s Women’s Water Polo lost 7-15 against Sierra College in a game played at Fresno High School on Oct. 19.

The Rams fell short, despite a valiant second half effort.

FCC struggled throughout the first half of the game with Sierra’s offense dominating throughout this period.

Thankfully for FCC, goalie Candice Islas blocked a few potential goals against Sierra during the first half that would have made their lead even more significant.

FCC was down 0-9 by the end of the first half, but thankfully two meter Alison Baker scored the team’s first goal early on during the second half of the game.

In response to FCC’s first goal, Sierra attacker Mairi Jo Jones scored another goal for the visiting team.

Baker went on to score FCC’s second goal, following Jones’ goal.

The second half was where FCC pushed through with their momentum during their offensive

plays. Collaboration within the team was at a more elevated level compared to the first half.

This was the case when FCC attacker Shelby Seybold scored the team’s third goal of the game,

“

We struggled getting the ball around the perimeter, but we can learn a lot from this game.”

-Gianna Rossi Women’s Water Polo Head COach

followed by two more goals from DR’s Aneesha Nagra and Margaret Walsh.

Despite their strength

continuing to build throughout the second half with more goals, Sierra’s lead was already too significant for FCC to sufficiently catch up.

Sierra continued to add more goals to their scorecard, ultimately scoring four more points to increase their lead against FCC. Towards the end of the game, Nagra scored a point with attacker McKenna Davis scoring FCC’s final goal of the game.

“We had a big defensive presence in this game,” said head coach Gianna Rossi.

“Margaret Wash in particular is always helping out her teammates playing defensively.”

Coach Rossi also stated that the team has room for improvement in regards to dealing with the opposing team’s pressing.

“We were a caught a bit off guard from Sierra’s pressing,” Rossi said. “We struggled getting the ball around the perimeter, but we can learn a lot from this game.”

Fresno City College attacker McKenna Davis prepares a pass during a match against Sierra College at Fresno High School on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. Photo/Noah Villaverde

Fresno City College defender Precious Gorostiza gets ready to confront her Reedley College opponent during a game at home on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017. Photo/Alejandra Flores

Rams Roll Over Reedley with Ease Marco Rosas | Entertainment Editor mrosas@therampageonline.com

The Fresno City women’s soccer team defeated Reedley College 15-0 at home on Oct. 24.

The Rams displayed sheer dominance as they destroyed the Tigers in a one-sided contest.

This year is Reedley’s first year with a soccer program, leaving them with a distinct disadvantage that the Rams took full advantage of.

The Rams came out very aggressive in the early moments of the game, making it very clear they would show no mercy.

“One of our goals was to pressure a little better and try to keep them from getting past midfield,” head coach Oliver Germond said.

In the opening minutes of the game, left wing Sophia Zertuche set up forward Anissa Wilson for the Ram’s first goal after a brief struggle to establish control.

The Rams went on to score four more goals in the first thirty minutes of the game and nine total in the first half.

“Reedley is a new program and they’re just trying to do their best,” Germond said. “We beat them pretty handedly last time so for us today was just about working on different things.”

Germond said the team wanted to work on being aggressive and pressing forward, which according to him, is a risky and difficult strategy but very effective

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if it works.

During the second half, Reedley showed determination and grit, putting forth a visibly stronger defense.

Unfortunately Reedley’s aggression would backfire, there was a collision of heads in the second half leading to Reedley’s player Karissa Gilmore being helped off the field.

Reedley continued their attack hoping to put forth some sort of offensive, leading to the team finally scoring a goal, on itself.

The Rams scored five more goals for a grand total of 15, but the team’s win was far from satisfactory.

Germond thinks it would have been better for the Rams to have faced a harder opponent in order to challenge themselves and improve.

“It’s to stay motivated when you play games like this,” Germond said. “Usually we would play against top tier teams right now to get ready for playoffs, and it’s unfortunate not to have that to get us ready for next month.”

The victory was bittersweet for the Rams, but the season is not over yet and the coach still has high hopes for the future.

“Every game our goal is to get better,” Germond said. “Some things we want to work on are making quicker decisions, changing the point of attack and move better when the opposing team defends us well.”

16 SPORTS 10.11.17

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