THE
RAMPAGE
The Student-Run Newspaper of Fresno City College
FALL 2018 | ISSUE 7 | NOV. 28, 2018
DISTRICT SUED AGAIN
The State Center Community College District is being sued by a former employee of the Fresno City College Police Academy for medical and gender discrimination.
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NEWS
NEWs
Three rampage reporters share their #Metoo Stories.
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The RAM PAntry Receives a $5000 donation for #fccgivingTuesday
SPORTS
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@FCCRAMPAGE The rampage online
Men’s soccer reaches the final Four in Ventura.
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Vigil Memorializes Transgender Victims Larry Valenzuela | Multimedia Editor lvalenzuela@therampageonline.com
THE RAMPAGE
The student-run newspaper of Fresno City College
STAFF Editor-in-Chief Tommy Tribble
News Editor
Paulina Rodriguez Ruiz
Art Director Ramuel Reyes
Sports Editor Anthony De Leon
Entertainment Editor Anjanae Freitas
Multimedia Editor Larry Valenzuela
Reporters Ben Hensley Ben Rodriguez Blake Evans Bryan Beltran Christian Hurtado Conner Stevens Eric Benjamin Ham Gage Carmichael Joanna Murrieta Joseph Deal Karl Cooke Kellie Clark Kendall Woods Mara Thornton Margarita Albarran Peter Lopez Sara Humphrey Sarah Chavez Stephanie Ocampo Tamika Rey Toni Woodruff
Business Manager Ashleigh Panoo
Adviser/Instructor Dympna Ugwu-Oju
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Letters to the Editor editorial@therampageonline.com
Celine Walker, Ciara Minaj Freazier and Viccky Gutierrez are some of the names of the transgender victims honored during the Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil held in the Old Administration Building room 114 on Nov. 20. The Transgender Day of Remembrance is an annual international event to memorialize the victims of antitrans violence. The Fresno City College LGBTQ Spectrum Club brought this demonstration to the campus. Plastic candles were placed along the walls of the room and photos were displayed of the victims that were being honored. Student and club member Daniel Lopez said the slide show featuring the victims and
their stories shows only a small fraction of the transgender victims this year. “I feel like now, more than ever, people are feeling isolated,” Lopez said. “Whether it’s because of politics or just people in their life. It’s important to have this to give people a place to be loved and accepted.” Juan Guzman, English instructor and LGBTQ Spectrum adviser, said he put this event together to allow people to take a closer look at the transgender community and remember the people lost. “It’s a special day to not only bring visibility to the transgender community,” Guzman said,“but to also memorialize the people that were killed, just for being who they were.”
Daniel Lopez signing a card for the victims of transgender violence during Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil held in the Old Administration Building room 114 on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. Photo/Larry Valenzuela
CALENDAR November 29
Book Sale -Library Foyer 7:30 am - 7:30 pm -Cheap books that fit in your last FAFSA check budget. Winter Dinner -FCC Cafeteria 4 pm - 6 pm -A free holiday meal for all the hungry FCC college students Ram Jams -OAB Auditorium 7:30 pm -Tickets sold at the door -A Musical event to raise money for the music department
December 3
FCC Child Development Scholastic Book Fair -FCC Child Development Center 12 am - 12 am Student Holiday Art Sale -Art Space Gallery 12 am - 12 am -Come to the Art Space Gallery to admire student artists at FCC who are selling their art work PorchTalk -Old Administration Building 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm -“We listen, we accept and we support you.”
November 30 Student Music Recital -MS-132 Recital Hall -A concert to feature FCC music majors. Commer Music Showcase -Recital Hall 7:30 pm -Free Admission Patience Opera -FCC Theatre 7:30 pm -A concert to showcase FCC’s operatic performers
December 4
Holistic Support for Black Male Learners -Old Administration Building 126 11:30 am - 2 pm -FCC hosts the replay broadcast of Black Minds Matter. An event that took place in the fall of 2017 which depicted the experiences and realities of black males in education. Woodwind-Brass-Perscussion Concert -FCC Theatre 7:30 pm -Free admission
NOV 29 - DEC 11
December 1
December 2
Patience Opera -FCC Theatre 7:30 pm -Another concert to showcase FCC’s operatic performers
Fresno Community Concert Band: Winter Magic -Shaghoian Concert Hall 3 pm and 7 pm -Tickets: $10 General $5 Children under 12
December 5
December 6
Annual WILPF Crafts Faire -FCC Cafeteria 10 am - 4 pm. -Fresno Branch of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Annual Peace Community Crafts Faire
Free DACA Assistance and Immigration Consultations -Dream Center Oab 137 9am-12 pm -Immigration Consultations; Know your rights information; Naturalization Pre-Screening Wind Ensemble Concert: The Wonder of Winter -FCC Theatre -Tickets: $8 General $6 Staff and Seniors $5 Students
Patience Opera -FCC Theatre 7:30 pm -Another concert to showcase FCC’s operatic performers
FCC String Ensemble -FCC Recital Hall -Free Admission
Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Singers -FCC Theatre -Tickets: $8 General $6 Staff and Seniors $5 Students
Corrections media@therampageonline.com
Any correction needed for an article should be brought to the attention of the staff of The Rampage. The Rampage is committed to accuracy and should be made aware of any mistake in an article that appears in this paper. Views expressed in the opinion pages are those of the individual writer and not of the newspaper. The Rampage is produced by students of the Journalism 11 A, B, C, D class.
December 7
Student Recital -FCC Recital Hall -Free Admissions Extreme Registration Spring 2019 -You can meet with counselors to registers for classes and prepare yourself for the Spring Semester Walking the Winter: A Musical Journey of the Season -OAB Auditorium 7:30 pm -Formal Concert
December 8
Walking the Winter: A Musical Journey of the Season -OAB Auditorium -Enjoy the music with your families!
December 10
Finals Week -Good Luck! Textbook Buyback -Patio behind the Bookstore 8am2pm Porch Talk -OAB 126 -Talk. Be supported. DACA and Naturalization -Dream Center OAB 137 “Centro La Familia Advocacy Services offers assistance for your immigration needs.” Jazz Composers Orchestra -Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theatre -Enjoy an authentic FCC performance while eating
December 11
Counseling on the Green -Last chance to meet with counselors on the green to work through any questions you have about your education Advancing Black Male Policy, Support and Research -OAB 126 11:30am-2pm -Learn more about the Black Lives Matter movement. Advancing Black Male Policy, Support and Research -OAB Auditorium -Tickets: $8 General $6 Staff and Seniors $5 Students
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Highlighting the People of our Community
SPOTLIGHT SERIES
Fresno City College Art Professor Ricardo Rivera in front of a mural in Fresno City College on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. Rivera poses social commentary on racism, classims, and discrimination through his artwork. Photo/Paulina Rodriguez-Ruiz
Posing Social Commentary Through Art Paulina Rodriguez-Ruiz | News Editor pruiz@therampageonline.com
A career in art wasn’t in the books for Fresno City College art instructor Ricardo Rivera, but he was drawn, magnetized, to the mystery behind it after taking his first drawing class at 24 years old. “I was not interested in art at all; it was like a foreign language to me, and I thought it was dumb and a waste of time,” he said. “[It was] the weirdness in a way that attracted me because I find that I like things that are not necessarily the normal way of doing things.” Rivera grew up in Courtland, California, a small town 30 minutes from Sacramento, with an estimated 250 people at the time. Common themes in his works include social justice, discrimination, and classism -inspired from his experience with racism and the difficulty growing up as a minority [MexicanAmerican]. “As artists, we are not necessarily going to solve it, but we could bring attention to it rather than sweep it under the rug,” he said. “That’s one thing that artists do, not necessarily create solutions, but create situations where they expose a feeling an idea so that it can be talked about.” Rivera recalls that language was the inspiration behind his earlier work. This was because of his inability to effectively communicate with his teachers as a child, he said.
“My speech pattern was different in Spanish than it is in English, so I couldn’t say s’s or r’s in English.” Rivera said. “The miscommunication between my teachers and me was really frustrating, and I think it was mostly because my teachers didn’t want to hear my intonation.” On another project, he dressed up in a reflective suit composed of mylar. He was in a small town in Switzerland and wanted to recreate the idea of an alien crashlanding. He came down from the mountains (Alps), and made his way into town. “What happens when I cover myself with mylar is that it reflects everything around me,” he said, “and it takes away my image, so you can still see me as a form, but you can’t tell who I am.” He says people were fascinated when he had the suit on, but became suspicious of him when he took the suit off. He said he wanted to explore the relationship people have with outsiders, their xenophobia, and fear of difference. “That idea of being scared of outsiders or xenophobic as opposed to if it is like Sasquatch, one is OK, but if it’s a hundred, it’s not,” Rivera said. Rivera received a bachelor’s and master’s from the San Francisco Art Institute,and has taught at UC Berkeley, Sacramento City College, the California College of the Arts, Stanford University, City College
of San Francisco, and the Community College of Rhode Island. However, his career in art was not a linear one. Before enrolling in college and pursuing art, he worked in the fields, and then in a warehouse. He says he decided to enroll in college after being fired from his job at the warehouse. “I didn’t want to work in that kind of job where it was a 9 to 5 job, so that’s when I committed myself to school, and that’s when I enrolled at school at 24 years old,” Rivera said. “I didn’t want to work because it was making me hate what I did, and I wanted to live.”
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He said when he enrolled, he imagined himself getting an engineering job like his parents would tell him, but eventually decided to pursue art after his friends convinced him to take a drawing class. He says the teacher walked him to the registrar office to ensure he enrolled in the class after seeing his drawings. Coming from a MexicanAmerican family made pursuing art revolutionary. Rivera said his parents didn’t think he would be able to make a living out of his career. He remembers telling his parents at a Super Bowl party that he had to go home in order to do homework, and being ridiculed for it.
When I’m walking, driving, running, I see art everywhere. I see possibilities, and I try to remember those experiences because if it catches my attention, then something like that is going to catch the audience’s attention.”
“I thought that was strange,” Rivera said. “I was thinking, I’m trying to do something different, something for myself, but this education is not necessarily valued over hard work and perseverance.” As a professor, he tries to create experiences for his students where they discover art on their own. “I don’t really ever tell students what to make art about; I want them to make art about what they know, because what I know is very different,” Rivera said.“ My experiences are very different, so I want them to understand that the art has to come from them.” He believes fostering intuition is important in the creative process. “What art does is -- give you a way to express yourself without having to do it in a verbal way, and also to share your ideas visually with other people that might have a relationship to what you’re experiencing,” Rivera said. “It’s a way to be human I think.” Rivera says art has retained the same allure it had since his first drawing class. “It’s a way for me to be alive, and to experience the world.” Rivera said. “When I’m walking, driving, running, I see art everywhere. I see possibilities, and I try to remember those experiences because if it catches my attention, then something like that is going to catch the audience’s attention.”
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The Ram Pantry Is Perfect for All Your Food Needs
Carole Goldsmith receiving a check for $5,000 donanted by The Foundation for the Ram Pantry for the Fresno City College Giving Tuesday on Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. Photo/Larry Valenzuela Ben Rodriguez | Reporter brodriguez@therampageonline.com
Fresno City College kicked off its 2018 Giving Tuesday campaign by encouraging students, staff and the community to donate to the funds for the Ram Pantry. This is the college’s first time participating in Giving Tuesday, a global event that follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday, falling on on Nov. 27. It is widely understood as a day of charity and giving back. The Ram Pantry is a studentrun food bank that offers a variety of options -- from canned foods to fresh produce -- all to help alleviate food insecurity in the student body.
Rico Guerrero, the executive director of the State Center Community College Foundation, said the Ram Pantry is a “need that isn’t funded like it should be.” He and the foundation partnered with FCC to recruit donors to achieve the campaign’s goal of $50,000. As of Monday, Nov. 27, the campaign had raised $20,000, said Guerrero. Gina Cuttone, President of State Center Community College Foundation, presented FCC with a $5,000 check, matching the largest donations, which were given by anonymous donors. “No donation is too small,” said Carole Goldsmith, president
of FCC. Goldsmith vowed to match students’ donations, up to $1,000. “It’s about taking care of our students,” Goldsmith said. Carlson Herbert, an FCC student, said he doesn’t necessarily rely on the pantry, but it helps with providing a few snacks to get him through the day, especially when he’s on a budget. Larry Mechum said he utilizes the pantry on a regular basis. For Mechum, a student, the pantry is more than just a place to grab a snack. It is a place to see familiar faces and get what he needs to get him through the day. Cindy Dunn, coordinator of the pantry, said she is familiar
with Mechum’s situation. In a touching exchange on Mon. Nov. 26, Dunn surprised Mechum in the middle of the pantry with a box full of Thanksgiving leftovers from her own family meal. Mechum was brought to tears by the kind gesture. “I didn’t know what to do for Thanksgiving. My children are grown and have their own lives,” Mechum said. He said he is enrolled at FCC because it gives him something to do and a reason to get up in the morning. “It’s really great to have this place, it really is,” Mechum said, as he accepted Dunn’s offering, adding that the Ram Pantry is a convenient resource for him, as
other food pantries are too far away. Dunn said the Ram Pantry couldn’t happen without the help of other agencies. The Ram Pantry buys most of its food from the Central California Food Bank and receives free donations from Cornerstone Church and Fresno Metro Ministry. All of the money raised during Giving Tuesday will be used to buy new food for students. The pantry even allows students to make a wish list of the foods they would love to see see. Located next to the bookstore, the Ram Pantry is open MondayFriday from 10 a.m - 2 p.m.
Student Accused ASG Senator of Taking Part in Attempted Drugging Larry Valenzuela | Multimedia Editor lvalenzuela@therampageonline.com
A Fresno City College student accused an Associated Student Government senator of attempting to feed her marijuana infused candy without her knowledge or consent. Elaine Hudson, a student who also works as a secretary in the ASG office said that about a month ago a member of the ASG, Kristina Silva and an identified friend of Silva’s approached her when she was sitting at her desk in the office. Hudson said that Silva and her
friend asked her if she knew what Pop-Rocks were. Hudson said she did and that's when she said the friend reached out to offer her some candy. They told Hudson that it was Pop-Rocks both of women attempted to try and talk Hudson into eating it. Hudson said she could tell that the candy was infused with marijuana the two women denied it and insisted she try it. Hudson at that point told the women to get it away from her. “They both told me to try it and put it in my mouth.” Hudson
said. “ I told them I knew that it was marijuana and your going to get me in trouble get that out of my face right now.” Hudson said the two women then began to laugh about it and make jokes then left. Student Trustee, Carlos Rodriguez said that he was in the back offices and over heard the incident take place but did not see the alleged marijuana infused candy. Silva, when asked, said that she was there when the candy was offered but denied being part of incident saying that it was only
her friend offering it to Hudson. In an interview Hudson said that she had told her advisor Ernie Martinez during her progress report review about the incident and he asked if she wanted to pursuit it but she said she wanted to wait because she was scared of the repercussions. But a week after the interview she said she was not sure if she did in fact tell Martinez. Martinez said he had no knowledge of the event taking place.
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I told them I knew that it was marijuana and your going to get me in trouble get that out of my face right now.” Elaine Hudson ASG Secretary
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COVER STORy
District Sued for Discrimination
The State Center Community College District is being sued by a former employee of the Fresno City College Police Academy for medical and gender discrimination.
Frank Lopez | Contributor
T
he State Center Community College District is being sued.by a former employee of the Fresno City College Police Academy for medical and gender discrimination. According to documents filed on Nov. 5 2018 at the Superior Court for the County of Fresno, Tami Martin, who held the position of Defendant’s Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) night coordinator for the Police Academy, filed a complaint for damages for discrimination based on disability/medical condition, failure to provide reasonable accommodation, failure to engage in good faith interactive process, discrimination based on gender, failure to prevent discrimination, and retaliation. Martin claims that she underwent surgery for breast cancer in August 2017 and was not allowed to return to work and subsequently terminated from her position in late January 2018 by the POST, Gary Fief, “after 10 years of loyal service” with SCCCD. According to the documents, Martin claims she suffered and continues to suffer from economic damages; non-economic damages; attorneys’ fees and costs and expert fitness fees and is suing to be compensated for her substantial losses.
E-FILED 11/6/2018 FRESNO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
By: J. Nelson, Deputy
18CECG04089
Timeline
Martin was hired as a part-time adjunct instructor at the FCC Police Academy in June 2008 and through most of her career, worked under her final position of POST night coordinator. She was the only female POST coordinator at the academy. In 2011, Martin was diagnosed with breast cancer underwent treatment and surgery for cancer which caused her to be off work for nearly five months and returned to work at SCCCD in or about February 2012. In August 2017, Martin again underwent surgery related to her previous one and, in September, was released to return to work by her treating physician with some restrictions that prohibited her from lifting, pulling, or pushing over 10 pounds. She requested reasonable accommodation but was told by SCCCD that she could not return to work unless she had a full release.
According to the documents, Martin claims she suffered and continues to suffer from economic damages; non-economic damages; attorneys’ fees and costs and expert fitness fees and is suing to be compensated for her substantial losses.
11/6/2018
J. Nelson
The Court Summons document informing the District they are being sued. Courtesy of Fresno Superior Court
In December 2017, Martin was released to return to work with no restrictions and kept in communication with Fief from November 2017 through January 2018 about returning to work. She released a copy of her full release doctor’s note but Fief still did not provide her with a schedule and didn’t allow her to return to work. Martin was fired on or about Jan. 26, 2018. “MARTIN could have performed her essential functions of her job with the restrictions provided by her treating physician had DEFENDANTS (SCCCD) engaged in the good-faith interactive process and provided MARTIN with reasonable accommodation requested,” the court documents read. “Instead, DEFENDANTS summarily, rejected MARTIN’S request and required MARTIN provide a doctor’s note with no work restrictions.”
Discrimination
According to the documents, SCCCD knew of Martin’s disability and medical condition and refused to engage in the good-faith interactive process required by California Government Code 12940 and refused to provide Martin with a reasonable accommodation and refused her to allow to work for the district.
Martin claims in the suit that SCCCD permitted and condoned the conduct of Fief and others to engage in discriminatory conduct towards Martin on the basis of her sex or gender. The documents describe that SCCCD treated male employees differently and allowed them to return to work without any medical release for their disability/ medical condition, but required Martin to take time off from work when she exceeded her allotted working hours for the semester while allowing male employees to bank their excess hours to be used for time off at a later date. While Martin was employed with SCCCD, she frequently raised concerns to the district about the treatment of the female cadets in the academy, issues of gender at the academy, discriminatory, inappropriate and sexual comments and conduct by male employees at the academy and the “good ol’ boys club” hiring practices for instructors. The documents state that such harassment and discrimination included loss of tangible benefits, creating a hostile work environment and eventually termination.
An ongoing issue?
This is not the only lawsuit facing the SCCCD in regards to gender discrimination or disability/medical discrimination. On Oct. 5, 2018, a lawsuit filed against SCCCD by an ASL/Interpreter Training Program Instructor, who was born deaf, claims that the district discriminated against her due to her disability and denied accommodations during her employment. The ASL instructor filed complaint for damages for discrimination based on disability/medical condition, failure to accommodate and failure to engage in the Good Faith Interactive Processes, and failure to prevent discrimination. In January of this year, three female head coaches for SCCCD filed a lawsuit alleging gender discrimination and unequal treatment. SCCCD and a Title IX officer for FCC refused to comment on the matter since it is pending litigation. A case management conference is scheduled on March 4, 2019. The full lawsuit can be read here: https://publicportal.fresno.courts. ca.gov/FRESNOPORTAL/Home/ WorkspaceMode?p=0
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“One person is raped every 2.7 minutes in the U.S.” According to the U.S. Department of Justice “One in three women and one in six men experience some form of unwanted sexual contact or sexual violence within their lifetime in the U.S.” According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest Network (RAINN)
I Wished I Could Hav Tamika Rey | Reporter trey@therampageonline.com
Where Are We Safe? I sat there and watched her suffer from involuntary facial tics, while her eyes were wide open and glazed over because they had been open for so long without blinking. The family had decided to remove her from life support because after suffering from a heart attack, she was clinically brain dead after losing oxygen for 30 minutes. The room smelled horrid. She had had her last bowel movement. As they removed the breathing tube, she began to gag and gasp for air. I should have been hysterical in tears, this was my mom after all. But everyone in the room understood my serene demeanor. Everyone in the room knew, she was my most significant #METOO story. Throughout my childhood it hadn’t really occurred to me how much abuse I had sustained. It wasn’t until I started attending therapy that all of the memories and emotions that I had suppressed resurfaced and manifested themselves in the form of rage and perpetual sadness. My clinician attributed my gaps of memory to either head trauma or a defense mechanism and diagnosed me with PTSD as a
result of childhood trauma. Trauma like waking up in the middle of the night, on a hardwood floor in a strange house, naked from the waist down, with only a sheet to cover my six or seven-year-old body. Mommy where are my pants? Don’t worry go back to sleep. She didn’t break a sweat when it came to prostituting her child for drug money in a trap house. But it wasn’t just other people that she allowed to abuse me. I can now remember a game of shadow puppets getting darker than the room we played in. The room was only big enough to hold a full size bed in a corner with about two feet around the two exposed sides of the bed. We were making bunnies with our hands to reflect on the wall. Then she pointed out one bunny was a girl bunny, and one bunny was a boy bunny. Their shadows kissed. Then she gestured for our hands bunnies to kiss. Then she told me to kiss her like they do in the movies. I don’t remember much after that. I watched as my brothers yelped in pain, and yet felt nothing. I had spent so long hating her, I couldn’t feel pain for her. I did however feel guilt for hating
#Me
Three Rampage reporters share their expe
An Open Message to My Rapist Anjanae Freitas | Entertainment Editor afreitas@therampageonline.com
The original letter I wrote you was sealed. I feared writing to you would cause me to relive the trauma, so I quickly burned it. As a result, I tried cleansing my body with every bath salt and lavender that exists. I scrubbed and scrubbed until I could wash you away. I swallowed any drug that would numb me from your abuse. I drank myself to the end of every bottle to understand why. I malnourished and deprived my body from it’s own home. I inflicted permanent scars that I will never heal from. I tried to understand what made you entitled to my body. I tried to understand what gave you permission when I did not. I tried to understand why. I tried. And I tried. And I tried. Although I try, all the attempts to come home to my body, never seem to be strong enough to wash away my trauma. Before the abuse, I use to have many afters. After thanksgiving After school
After dinner After laughing. Now, my life is split into the before and the one, single after. Before the rape and after the rape. I told myself I should have said no louder. I told myself I shouldn’t have never been left alone with you. I told myself I should have known to tell someone. I told myself that your dysfunctional childhood was an excuse for your behavior. But I never told myself sorry. I never hugged the little girl who needed it. I am constantly swallowing the lumps at the back of my throat, because seeing you is like sea sickness. I lose the sense of balance and equilibrium. My brain receives conflicting messages about motion and your body’s position in my space. Muscles tightening, teeth clenching together, hands clamping, a hot flush runs through my face, down through every part of my body. Across the room every holiday, I fight every urge that comes up to silence you. Ruminating your Axel smell and your superior voice. Narrowing my attention at the dinner ta-
ble, because ultimately these impulsive urges always result in my own self-destruction. Incompetent, breathless, palpitations, urge to scream at the top of my lungs, yet it still feels like sleep paralysis. I yearn for the day the compartmentalized boxes I built to keep me safe will no longer feel like brick walls. I yearn for the day that I can be in confined spaces with men that do not bring thoughts of panic. I yearn for the day when I do not freeze each time I see you, just like I did each time I said no. Perhaps this letter is not seeking your apology because I do not think there is a card that can erase the PTSD. I’ve learned that blood is not thicker than water. And I do not think being related to me excuses your behavior. In fact, it makes it worse. For so long, I put your abuse into locked boxes with broken keys. I write you the new letter to tell you those boxes have been locked again for my own protection. I do not want to be a victim, I do not want to be a survivor. I do not want to be anything that reminds me you have taken parts of me that I cannot get back.
Anjanae Freitas, Tamika Rey and T
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ve Trusted You her. So I forgave her. For whatever it was worth, she was my biological mom and although she was the origin of the majority of pain throughout my life, I had forgiven her. I left before she took her final breath. I had an assignment due in my journalism class after all and I had to meet my deadline, so to speak. A few days later I got an email from a cremation company for me to OK the burning of her corpse. I wasn’t reluctant. It made me feel resentful however, to have to be included in the desecration of her body, after life. Why did they need my signature? Why wouldn’t they just leave me alone with her already? Apparently it was protocol. As a living child of hers I had to give written permission. I felt like she had gotten away with everything she had done to me, and she enjoyed every moment of it. All of my innocence she had destroyed. I find solace to know, that her ashes will be spread in the San Francisco Bay, the city where I was born. I don’t think she’s visited since my birth. Seeing her in such a vulnerable state, helped me to release all of the hate that I held. Her ashes being spread where it all most likely began,
gave me my much needed closure. If you have ever been a victim of sexual abuse, sexual assault or sexual exploitation, you are not alone. Whenever you gather the strength to tell, that is the right time to tell. Rather you forgive these monster or not, is up to you. But healing begins with therapy, and putting self-love first. Rape is a pandemic that has been used as a means to control women. Toxic masculinity has perpetuated a rape culture that has been normalized. The trivialization of rape is why many victims don’t report. These parasitic gender biased attitudes towards sexuality and violence structured this generation of men to ignore their role in the desensitization and trivialization and enduring harms of misogynistic values. Our position in society is overlooked, underappreciated and taken for granted in a cultural society that sees us as material. Disposable goods or replaceable property whose sole value can be compared to money, therefore if we no longer hold value, we can be disposed of as wares not accruing revenue. Women cannot continue to be treated as a commodity and an amenity not equal to men.
“77 percent of rapes/ sexual assaults were perpetrated by someone known to the victim (a non-stranger) 47 percent are a friend or acquaintance, 25 percent are an intimate partner, 5 percent are a relative.” According to RAINN
eToo
eriences with domestic and sexual abuse.
Toni Woodruff, three Rampage reporters sharing their #MeToo stories. Illustration/Paulina Rodriguez-Ruiz
To the Quiet Girls Toni Woodruff | Reporter twoodruff@therampageonline.com
My mother once told me, “Don't let love blind you from what you deserve.” That night daddy’s fist sank into her cheek bone like quicksand, she was blind. She let her cries for help crawl back into her throat like a scared kitten, fearing his power would triumph her confession, she was blind. When she made up stories and drowned in the lies to cover her broken bones, she was blind. My own vocal chords had been stripped by daddy’s rage, I was quiet. No answer became my only answer to the police, I was quiet. His anger sewed my mouth shut, holding my truth hostage, I was quiet. The fear of never being enough for him fueled our lives,
Don't ask too many questions or talk too much, he’s had a long day at work, Let him speak to you when he's ready, Always have a beer the way he likes it awaiting his arrival on the table, Everyday became an opportunity to earn his grace, Silent submission, But that's not my mission. To the quiet girl I was, save your mother. To the quiet girl I was, start screaming. To the quiet girl I was, break the chain of control; his abuse is not to be tolerated or flattered. To the quiet girls still out there, stop clinging to your silence like a safety net; it won't make him stop. To the quiet girls, saying nothing says it’s okay; your silence is enabling. To the quiet girls, set yourself free.
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Did We Skip Over Thanksgiving? Kendall Woods | Reporter kwoods@therampageonline.com
“Should FCC Give Students Thanksgiving Week Off?” By Peter Lopez Photos by Peter Lopez
Joao de-Oliveiva Social Science
“Yes, the whole week off!”
Thanksgiving is a holiday where there are no presents to buy and no one to impress. It’s a time to be present, and enjoy time with family, cooking to watching football, whatever it may be. It used to be a time of simplicity, sort of the calm before the Christmas storm. Did something change? Schools, restaurants and businesses are usually only closed a few times a year-- particularly federal holidays, or public holidays. In the U.S., these are some of the only times that those who work five or six days a week get a glimpse of vacation. Over time, Thanksgiving, however, has become an exception. The third Wednesday of November is when the emails begin. “See our Black Friday deals!” or “Members get a head start!” There is no waiting in line or fighting your way through a crowd anymore. The typical online shopper doesn’t even have to wait until Cyber Monday anymore, because it all begins on Wednesday evening. Suddenly, email after email,
or commercial after commercial, it’s the urge to shop for everyone on your list, put up the tree, decorate the house and then wrap everything just bought in the matter of a few days. The local Target is already a zoo during the holidays, usually. But on Black Friday, (or should it just be called Black Thursday?) it is a maze of shopping carts and their anxious drivers, looking for the best deal they can get. Most Targets opened at 6 p.m. Thursday Nov. 22, to extend six hours of headless, discounted shopping, before opening back up at 6 a.m., Friday, Nov. 23. Cyber Monday has become ‘Cyber Week’, with apps and websites featuring deals starting the Monday after Thanksgiving, for their customers who have already bought enough from the previous week of sales. It’s a booming time for business owners and consumers alike, just to enjoy the shopping traditions of the holiday season. As for employees, it’s a different story. People fear being employed in retail jobs during the holidays enough already, but working on one of their only holidays is
Photo courtesy/Pixabay
the cherry on top of an already annoying job. Parents are missing out on being with their children, all so that the average shopper can consume their annual 40 percent off. People are rushing through dinners, or even worse, missing them, just to get to work before opening. And forget requesting that weekend off, because it is most likely not going to happen. Keep in mind that these same stores who are forcing their
employees to work a holiday are holding the same sales online, some even including free shipping. But, people still feel the need to go shopping on Thanksgiving day. Becoming more and more of a consumer society, it is easy to get lost in the concept of having material things. Remember that the stores will be there tomorrow, the sales will always be online, but your family won’t be there forever.
Why Concern for CTE isn’t “Hoge-Wash” Tamika Rey | Reporter Trey-w@therampageonline.com
Eyasu Betwos
Computer Science
“Yes. I wanted to spend the whole week off with my brother, but I couldn’t because we only had two days.”
Rosanna Villar Psychology
“We should have the week off and spend it with family. That way, we don’t have to worry about leaving Wednesday night”
Francisco Pantoja Accounting
“I feel like the whole week off makes you enjoy more of that Thanksgiving feeling.”
Here at Fresno City College we take pride in our Ram’s Football team. We go to the games, sporting our school colors, shaking pompoms, enjoying the excitement of our players cracking a player from the other team, head on. Does anyone take time to think about those players’ futures and the hazards of brain injuries they may sustain during their college careers? CTE. Yes, we all better be concerned about it. It is real and scary, no matter how much we would rather look the other way and enjoy our football. CTE, better known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, is an Photo Illustration/Patrick Forrest Alzheimer’s and dementia-like nation. CTE is not just an NFL disease that has been attributed issue. to repetitive hits to the head, While credible studies causing brain injuries that result reveal the link between CTE in a build up of a protein called and the NFL, no one is trying tau in the brain. There is no to dismantle the league. The treatment or cure for CTE, and scientists are only doing their it can only be diagnosed after duty to inform society of the death. possible aftermath of excessive Considering all of the concussions, whether sustained profound scientific evidence in football, other sports or even from numerous studies, sport during service in the military. enthusiasts are intent on Recently, the football curtailing the legitimate concerns community is in a hysteria over about the severity of this CTE. Merril Hoge, a former problem. NFL player, recently published CTE isn’t pseudoscience, and “Brainwashed: The Bad Science we cannot turn a blind eye. Behind CTE and the Plot to Just a few weeks ago, destroy Football. ” His novel researchers at Boston University tries to debunk the connection found that 147 college football between concussions and the programs had at least one player development of CTE in NFL with CTE. At least three cases players. were found in 26 schools. Despite many football fanatics’ Georgia had nine cases, argument that CTE is not a presenting the most prevalent cause for concern for athletes, example of CTE reported in the
it actually truly is. Not only is it a cause for concern for those who play football, but it’s also a concern for those who play any contact sport involving the head, and it is of special concern for those who begin playing sports at a younger age. Hoge prefers to “not come down too hard on football.” Ironically, he actually had to retire after only receiving two concussions. He later won a lawsuit against a Chicago Bears team doctor for not informing him of the risks of concussions. Pretty ironic considering the basis for his book right? Hoge’s book thwarts scientific evidence from a study done by Dr. Ann McKee of Boston University who discovered that 110 out of 111 brains examined had CTE. Hoge claims that the CTE study is pseudoscience and
the media has a sensationalist agenda to destroy America’s beloved game. People like Hoge are mainly focused on capital. The fact that he went from suing the league for not informing him of the hazards of head trauma to ridiculing accredited scientists and their studies confirming the link between CTE and the League is evidence of his motives: a bankroll. Hoge may have a point in saying that CTE is not just a concern for those who play football but for other sports, such as soccer and ice hockey and even for those who have served in the military. He should not, however, deny its prevalence by claiming that the medical findings are false. In a 2015 study done by the Mayo Clinic, McKee had tested brains that had never been involved in contact sports. Of the 198 brains, not even one had any signs of CTE. This would be the control group. Jeff Miller, executive vice president of health and safety for the NFL, acknowledged a link between football and CTE in a statement made before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee in 2016. The league also issued a statement acknowledging the same -- “The comments made by Jeff Miller yesterday accurately reflect the view of the NFL.” This issue matters a great deal. Players may argue that they play for the love of the sports, but the price is too steep -alzheimer’s, dementia, and even depression so severe that they commit suicide -- I say we speak out now.
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Why you should go local Eric Ham | Reporter
eham@therampageonline.com
Red Robin for lunch again? Really? Okay, I understand. Red Robin is not a bad place to be. It’s got food. It’s got ambience. There’s plenty to go around. But, at the same time, Red Robin is everywhere. In Los Angeles, you can eat as many bottomless fries as you can in Sacramento. Want one of those classic Red Robin burgers? Well, it doesn’t matter if you are in Portland or in Phoenix, because you’ll find one in both. The same could be said of all household brands that you know and somewhat love: Starbucks, Chili’s, Olive Garden, Panera Bread and Peet’s Coffee have locations almost everywhere. So why do we, here in Fresno, choose to constantly feed these major franchisees? A prevailing theory is that we don’t have a choice; Fresno is devoid of good local business and the only places to enjoy a good meal, or a good cup of coffee, are these major franchisees. And yet, this theory fails when considering the following. While it is true that many locals maybe haven’t heard of Fresno’s local establishments, Fresno is teeming with local businesses that are popping up every day. As citizens of Fresno, it’s crucial that we are made aware of these businesses, and that we
make an effort to support our local picks as much as we can. Firstly, when we support our local businesses instead of empower franchisees that have already found their success, we empower individuals that live in the same city that we do. These business owners go to our grocery stores, visit our dentists, and are members of our churches. Why do we support megabrands when we could support our neighbors? Why do we choose to support corporations over our own community members? Our friends and families? While it’s true that franchisees are managed by local individuals, the support that local business receive is still greater than that which a simple manager receives who has no control over the brand and product of these big franchisees. Additionally, we often will have a far better experience at local businesses than we would have at one of these major franchisees. This is due to the demand for local business to be as courteous and high quality as possible. When you own a local business the stakes are at their highest, and so follows the demand to have excellent service, quality product, and enjoyable atmosphere. If I go to my local Chili’s and
have a bad experience with my waiter, it doesn’t hurt Chili’s as a franchise very much. They may have to fire that employee, and I may complain to a few of my friends, but ultimately this incident is a speck on the record that Chili’s has developed for its hundreds of stores. However, if a local business begins to build up a reputation for bad service, then the business will eventually bite the dust. The result will not only hurt the business owner, but Fresno as a whole. This is due to the fact that support of local business helps to grow Fresno culture and pride. As more businesses grow and thrive, Fresno continues to come into its own as a place to be celebrated and appreciated for its local establishments. Such businesses include CharBurger, Hi Top Coffee, and HoP Pk, which all have opened up in the past year. There’s Butterfish, Farm Fresh Bowls, and Two Cities Coffee Roasters to name a few more that all reside in Fresno and Clovis. And the list of great local business doesn’t stop there. It’s so important for us to recognize the value and quality of our local restaurants, coffee houses and ice cream shops. We need to promote their success, and donate to their growth as paying customers and patrons.
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Volleyball Preps for Final Four and Looks to Take Championship Crown
Caption. Photo/Photographer
Marina Gonzalez spikes the ball for a kill against San Mateo College at the Fresno City College Gymnasium on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018. Photo/Larry Valenzuela Anthony De Leon | Sports Editor adeleon@therampageonline.com
The path for two state titles in the past three years has the Fresno City College women’s volleyball team continuing their dream season with a trip to Solano College as the CCCAA State Championship Tournament quickly approaches. FCC made it to the next round as they defeated Hartnell in the second round of the North Regionals with 3-0 set victory of 25-16, 25-23 and 25-22 on the road. The Rams were led by both
sophomore Mia Corripo who finished as the day as the highest Ram scorer with 14 total points-all of them kills--and freshman Marina Gonzalez, who had 13 points of her own with 12 kills while adding 17 digs to her stat line. Star middle blocker Keri Leake contributed as usual as she had 10 points with 9 coming by way of kills. FCC has continued its impressive stretch of dominance, winning 42 out of their last 44 sets dating back to the beginning of October. Although this past game the
last two sets were closer than usual for the Rams, they were still able to move on to the next round of the CCCAA State Championship Tournament which begins later on this week. The format for this year’s tournament is single elimination taking place over a three day span, unlike the two day event from the past several years. As the new seeds came out FCC is the No. 3 seed in the North region and has their opponent set as they will be facing the No. 2 seeded Bakersfield representing the South region who are boasting a
19-match winning streak coming into the Nov. 30 matchup. The Rams have a formidable opponent in Bakersfield as the Renegades finished their season with a regular season record of 23-1 and 8-0 in conference winning the Western State Conference South Division. Bakersfield’s last two matchups saw a convincing sweep of No.15 Mt. San Jacito and much closer affair against No. 10 San Diego Mesa in a matchup that played out to the full 5 sets. Award season rolled around this past week and to no surprise star middle blocker Leake
garnered recognition from the American Valley Coaches Association being named second team All-American and first team All-State by the California Community College Women's Volleyball Association. Earlier in the month Leake announced that she will be staying home as she signed a letter of intent to continue her playing career at Fresno State. The star Ram middle blocker will be moving from one successful program to another as Fresno State is having a standout season at 21-10 overall.
Congratulations
Fresno City College Women’s golfer Tammy Lim. Photo/Fresno City College Women’s Golf
Fresno City College women’s golf ’s Tammy Lim shot an impressive 70 on Monday to record the lowest score on the day, as the sophomore finished third overall in the CCCAA Women’s Golf State Championships. Lim finished with a two-day total score of 146, good for third overall individually. She
finished two-under-par on Monday, recording five birdies. Lim’s strong state championship showing follows an impressive sophomore campaign for the Rams. She was named Central Valley Conference Most Valuable Player and an All-Conference selection last month.
Under the guidance of head coach Paul Keysaw and staff, the FCC Rams (12-0) were able to outwrestle Cerritos College (10-1) 33-6 at the state dual championships hosted by FCC. FCC’s regular season has concluded but will take the mats on Dec. 1, 2018 to begin North Regional tournament.
Fresno City College Wrestling team after winning state duel meet. Photo/CCCAA
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Madison Fisher fighting for the ball against an opponent from West Valley for control of the ball at Fresno City College Soccer Field on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Photos/Larry Valenzuela
Rams Shocked at Home in Playoff Opener Connor Steven | Reporter csteven@therampageonline.com
A game that started with a 30 minute delay due to poor air quality left the Rams stunned after a 1-0 loss to the 13th seeded Vikings of West Valley College this past Saturday, Nov. 17. The fourth seeded Rams of Fresno City College came out with intensity, but a goal coming in the 4th minute by WVC would put the Rams on their heels early on. The Vikings would score from a fast break counter attack that didn’t look threatening to begin with, but would lead to a ball in the back of FCC’s net, and more importantly a 1-0 deficit that they would not overcome. The scoreboard didn’t tell the whole story for the Rams as they had many opportunities to
tie the game up throughout the remaining 86 minutes. FCC would have 10 shots on goal through both halves along with five corner kicks in which they didn’t convert. The game was dominated by the relentless offensive attacks coming from the Rams but multiple clearances and a few good saves by Vikings goalkeeper Samantha Coelho would hold them at bay. The game would come all the way down to the wire as FCC would get a corner kick with just a minute of extra time awarded by the referee. The Rams would send everyone in, including goalkeeper Ruby Campa, to give themselves a chance to put a head on the ball but the opportunity would come out to nothing as the ball went wide of the left goal
post. “I thought we created a lot of chances in the first half,” Coach Oliver Germond said after the game. “Soccer is tough when it comes to scoring and today just wasn’t our day.” The defending state champion Rams had made an impressive run after losing 16 players from the previous season and having to rebuild from the ground up. Germond will face the same challenge going into next season as 13 sophomores were rostered on this year’s team. The Rams who came in as the fourth seed in the NorCal Regionals ended the season with an overall record of 17-3-3. West Valley College (13-4-5) head to Tahoe College on Tuesday Nov. 20 as they take on the fifth seed Coyotes.
West Valley celebrates a win over Fresno City College in the NorCal Regionals on Saturday Nov.17, 2018. Photo/Larry Valenzuela
Rams Falter in Oakland, but Future Looks Bright Anthony De Leon | Sports Editor adeleon@therampageonline.com
In a season that started off with much uncertainty after a 1-2 start, an offense that was near unresponsive to mid-season quarterback transition the Fresno City College (9-3) football’s improbable run finally came to an end in Oakland at the hands of Laney College (10-2) on Saturday, Nov. 24. The journey for this young Rams team was one that saw a team that had to play on the same page, but once the rhythm was found with switch to eventual Central Valley Conference offensive player of the year Jonah Johnson. FCC road that rhythm to an impressive seven game
winning streak, a CVC title and a win in the first round of the playoffs against Butte. On Saturday the journey came to an end as the Rams fell a game short of the CCCAA state championship game, losing to Laney College 24-7 in the NorCal championship. The Rams kept the game close for much of the first half after an early touchdown from Laney the Rams came back with a score of their own early in the second quarter as Jonah Johnson connected on a big play to his favorite target Malik White for an 82 yard strike. But unfortunately that would be all the Rams got as Laney struck back quick
with a touchdown of their own making it 14-7 and shutting out a Rams offense that coming into the game was averaging 28.5 per game, holding them to zero in the second half. The Laney defense gave Johnson fits as they held him to 13-27 with 192 yards and the lone touchdown. The Rams lack of passing game was a microcosm of an offense that was having fits and the oft stout running game was held to under 100 yards for the game and ending up with 70 net rushing yards led by Wesley Graves with 45 yards. On the other side of the ball the defense had a tough time defending the Laney rush attacks as their game plan called for
pounding the ball head on against a very tough Ram defense. All three of the Laney touchdowns came by way of the ground attack and Laney finished the game with an even 200 yards on the ground on 37 attempts. Even though the season did not end the way this Rams team wanted they have a lot to look forward for next season as this very young Rams team seems to have finally gotten over the growing pains that plagued them throughout the season. Next year this Rams team should have more than half it team returning to build upon the success this season and ultimately finish the job that was started this season.
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Chris Amaro scores a goal against Lake Tahoe in the Nor Cal Finals at Fresno City College Soccer Field on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018. Photo/Larry Valenzuela
New Year Same Result, Final Four for Ram Men Anthony De Leon | Sports Editor adeleon@therampageonline.com
The defending state champion Fresno City College Rams will be returning to Ventura once again to defend their crown as they advance to the final four for the third straight year in the Nov. 27 matchup against No. Lake Tahoe in the NorCal finals. After a thrilling overtime win against De Anza on Saturday,
Nov. 24, the Rams men’s soccer team was once again in a dog fight against Lake Tahoe. And once again they were saved by the foot of Chris Amaro leading them to another 1-0 victory. Amaro scored the game winning goal in the 110’ minutes of the Rams first round matchup and the magic seemed to carry over as he connected on a goal in the 66’ minute of their second
round matchup. For most of the game Lake Tahoe was on the offensive looking to sneak in anything past a good defensive effort from the Rams, but the constant pressure from Lake Tahoe gave them the confidence to continue taking shots. Coming back from the half it was still knotted up 0-0 the Rams began to work on their
overall execution on offense and needed to push the ball forward in order to get more shots on goal. They were able to correct what they lacked on the offensive side of the ball, coming out more aggressive in the second half. More shots opened up with attempts from both Matheus Araujo and Deqwan Sykes early on. After Amaros go ahead goal
in the second half the Rams tightened up their defense in order to make sure that they had a seat at the table in Ventura on Nov. 30 and Dec. 2. The Rams look to make it back to back state championships but will accompanied by opponents in the form of Cerritos College (20-1-2), City College of San Francisco (14-4-4) and Golden West College (13-5-5).
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REGISTER NOW! Check the online Open Class List for courses that start in February and March.
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