RAMPAGE March 4, 2015 Vol. CXXVI I S S U E 3
Student-Run Newspaper of Fresno City College
RAMS CRASH OUT
Coach Ed Madec, as the Men’s basketball team loses to Foothill College, 72-64, at the Fresno City College Gymnasium on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015. Photo/Ram Reyes
PLIGHT OF ADJUNCT EQUITY TASK FORCE SCRAMBLES TO ALLOCATE FUNDS FACULTY EXPOSED BY PATRICK FORREST
News Editor pforrest@therampageonline.com
“Even though we have the same educational background and academic achievements, we get paid significantly less.”
-Kellen Prandini
Part time Anthropology intstructor
Fresno City College faculty -- parttime and full-time alike, participated in the first annual National Adjunct Walkout Day outside of the Business Education building, Feb. 25 to raise awareness about the disparity in the treatment of full and part-time faculty employed by the State Center Community College District.. Throughout the day, multiple faculty members gathered at a booth outside of the Business Education Building and handed out information to all of those that would stop. The teachers union, State Center Federation of Teachers, organized the event. “Part time instructors don’t get the same perks as the full time instructors, said Sheila Martin, business instructor who is employed fulltime. “But they make less than half or what the full timers make. Yet they have to have the same qualifications, the same backgrounds and the same
l SEE NATIONAL WALKOUT DAY ON PAGE 2
POLLS VIDEOS
BY CRESENCIO RODRIGUEZ DELGADO Editor-In-Chief crodrigezdelgado@therampageonline.com
News of additional funds being added to the $1.3 million that Fresno City College received last year from the $79 million allocated for college equity is creating pressure for the task force charged with deciding how best to apportion the original grant. FCC Vice-President of Student Services, Chris Villa announced the new funding during the first meeting by the task force in the Old Administration Building on Feb. 27. “We are going to get more,” Villa said. “On top of the $1.3 million we got this year.” If the additional funds are approved on July 1, the college will receive a greater allocation for the year ahead, Villa said. But members of the task force are facing “a good problem” -- pressure and severe time constraints to apportion the money and spend it wisely. “We are under a lot of pressure
“We are under a lot of pressure to do this, and we want to do it right.”
-Chris Villa
Vice President of Student Services
l SEE EQUITY PLAN ON PAGE 5
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PHOTOS STORIES
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NEWS
RAMPAGE STAFF Editor-in-Chief Cresencio Rodriguez Delgado News Editor Production Manager Patrick Forrest Arts & Entertainment Editor Copy Chief Jasmine Yoro Bowles Opinion Editor Charlotte MacKay Sports Editor Keaundrey Clark Photo Editor Daisy Rodriguez Ramuel “Ram” Reyes Reporters Albertina Rodriguez Delgado Alyssa Garza Angela Tuttle Caleb Owens-Garrett Ceasia Green Chad Horne Christopher Del Castillo Chueyee Yang Corey Parsley David Chavez Elias Cardenas Kageanna Garza Kathya Castro Savanna Manzo Tylisha Riley
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expertise.” According to a document handed out by the State Center Federation of Teachers, the highest paid adjunct faculty earns only 58.9 percent of what the lowest paid full-time faculty receives for equivalent work. “ O n e thing that I would like to see is equal pay for equal work,” Kellen Prandini, Part time Archeolog y instructor and union representative said. “Even though we have the same educational background and academic achievements we get paid significantly less.” The pay differential forces many part time faculty to find other jobs which affects their availability to meet with students either before or after class. “Part time instructors are forced to take lots of different jobs in different district. So, [they] teach two to three classes, and they teach at COS, Porterville; a lot teach at Fresno State,” said full time ESL instructor, Sally Potter. “What happens is you’re just driving around a lot, going from campus to campus.” The other factor that affects a part time instructors’ availability is that they are not given office space nor are they required or paid to hold office hours. “They don’t have a place where they can sit and prep,” Potter said. “There are spaces where the divisions make available for them, but they are shared spaces; they don’t have the ability to go in there any time they want.” Other concerns include that adjunct faculty have little job security and are perpetually worried about
Rampage Advisor/Instructor Dympna Ugwu-Oju dympna.ugwu-oju@fresnocitycollege.edu Contact Us Tip Line: 559.442.8262 Send Questions or Letters to the Editor to: editorial@therampageonline.com
Kellen Prandini, Mark Trezza and Sheila Martin out at the Adjunt booth. Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Photo/ Daisy Rodriguez
“A is for Adjunct” button given to faculty on campus by the State Center Federation of Teachers union. Photo/ Albertina Rodriguez Delgado
being brought back for another semester. “We don’t know if were going to get a class or not before school starts, so you can imagine the nightmare like planning for a class,” said Part time ESL instructor, Jennifer Rios. “It’s very stressful to get situated, and being a new teacher and having to build up the curriculum, a week isnt enough time.” Given all of the concerns that part time teachers have, many have raised concerns about SCCCD’s dependency on part time faculty. Nearly 65 percent of the faculty in the district is employed part-time and they account for 40 percent of the classes taught. “That’s true across that state for just about all of the community colleges, UCs and CSUs,” said Fresno City College president, Tony Cantu. “The funding just isn’t there to always hire full-time faculty.” Though the worst school in the district is the Clovis Community College Center which has 80 percent part time faculty teaching 60 percent of the offered classes. Alyssa Garza contributed to this story.
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Entrepreneurs Center Opens
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3.4.2015
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BY CHUEYEE YANG
Reporter cyang@therampageonline.com
The new Entrepreneurs Center opened its doors during a two-day open house event on Feb. 24 and 25 in Room 137 of the Old Administration Building. A presentation by Saul Huicer, vice president of Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization [CEO] club created an encouraging environment for the students who attended the opening. “You need to find out what your strengths are, what you need to improve; you need to find out anything that will get you over the hill,” he said. The Entrepreneurs Center resulted from years of planning by the business division of Fresno City College. Although located on the FCC campus, the center welcomes both students and members of the community can take advantage of the opportunity to expand their entrepreneurship and financial skills. The Entrepreneurs Center is scheduled to create programs, provide mentors and hold approximately 20 workshops from spring 2015 to spring 2016 and be a place where entrepreneurs can generate ideas, network and grow. Mentors will help students create a goal, plan how to achieve that goal, launch their business and possibly have a chance to run their student business outside of the Entrepreneurs Center. “I encourage you to set up every goal. If you feel like you ever need improvement, set a goal and start handling it,” Huicer said. Huicer will help students during the workshops every third Wednesday of each month. The focus of the workshops will be on time management, creating a mindset, communication and more. The new center will have an entrepreneur guest
Fresno City College student Keagan Echols speaks with CEO club president Eric Perez during club rush Wednesday Feb. 25, 2015. Photo/Albertina Rodriguez Delgado speaker on every second Wednesday of each month. The speaker will be sharing how they turned their idea into an ongoing business. “This is the place where they [students] can pick up the tools and skills to achieve their dreams,” says Marianne Dunklin, CEO club adviser. The center will also provide students with business books, computers and a meeting area to help expand student business. Dunklin hopes the center acquires a 3-D printer so students can create prototypes of their products.
The Entrepreneurs Center will hold its official open house for advisory committees in April and another for students during the fall. The Entrepreneurs Center does not have set office hours yet, but Dunklin will be using her office hours on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to aid students. “Students let their imagination go, let their dream grow,” she said, “and then create a map to achieve that.”
A NOTETAKER BENEFITS NEEDY, SELF BY COREY PARSLEY
Reporter cparsley@therampageonline.com
Ryan Blodgett is a counselor in the Disabled Students Program & Services. Photo/Daisy Rodriguez
Helping people in need, gaining better study tactics and having priority registration are all perks of becoming a note taker for the Disabled Students Programs and Services at the Fresno City College campus. DSPS is responsible for the many tools that are accessible to students with disabilities. One of those tools happens to be recruiting able-bodied students to help students in need by taking notes for them during class. A note taker is someone who writes down a second copy of notes for a student who may need assistance. Terra Newt, an 18-year-old student lauded the service. “[Note taking] actually benefits me more, because history is not really a strong point for me, Newt said. “I’m taking the notes twice, so it helps me and helps them too.” Priority registration is also an incentive to become a notetaker as they are first in line during registration for classes. This means notetakers’ priority exceeds everyone, including athletes. The advantages are win-win for both sides -for the student with disabilities as well as the notetaker. To become a notetaker, a student must go to the DSPS department and speak to Ryan Blodgett, a counselor. Blodgett who has been with the disabled students services explained that DSPS students participate in the process. “A DSPS student would meet with their counselor and based on their accommodations, if a note
taker was appropriate, we would mark on a form ‘Note Taker’,” he said. “We would fill the form out for each individual class, each individual instructor and then there is a separate notetaker agreement form.” The best part about this program is that it respects those in need by making it completely confidential for the DSPS student. The DSPS student would simply present the necessary forms to his/her instructor who would ask the class if anyone would like to be a notetaker, getting the ball rolling. This program has helped needy students in the past and continues to help more today, providing opportunities for students who ordinarily would have an uphill battle in their classes. If a student is having trouble with math, history, science or any other course, then taking notes multiple times will certainly increase their retention of the material. This results in better grades and better attitudes when coming to class. Blodgett said some of his best memories serving DSPS students include helping students succeed. “When a student comes in when they were having an issue on campus and things weren’t going well and leave happy and we’re able to resolve their problems,” he said, “that’s one of the most rewarding things and is completely satisfying.”
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3.4.2015 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM
DROUGHT IS “SERIOUS SITUATION”
Lake Success in Porterville, Calif. on Feb. 19, 2015. Rain totals for Lake Success are at 0.00 as of January. The California drought drags on into, possibly, its fourth year. Photo/Cresencio Rodriguez Delgado
BY CRESENCIO RODRIGUEZ DELGADO Editor-In-Chief crodriguezdelgado@therampageonline.com
Four showers a week per household. No watering of lawns. No water in swimming pools. No water for farmers which means, very little produce. Sounds like something out of a doomsday movie? No. The situation is here and real -- the new normal in California because of the below average rainfall totals, four years in a row. “We have only received a fraction of what would normally be our average,” said Fresno City College Geography instructor, Jeannine Koshear. “So we are definitely looking at a fourth year of drought.” The most recent rain totals recorded at the Fresno Air Terminal suggest Fresno got only .21 inches of rain in January which was also the warmest and driest January on record since record-keeping began in San Francisco in 1849. The last drought of this sever-
ity according to Koshear, was in 197677, when California had approximately 14 million fewer people. January recorded rainfall totals for Lake Success Dam in Porterville at 0.00 inches, according to the National Weather Service. “We are definitely in a serious situation,” she said. California is not alien to droughts, in fact; it has suffered serious droughts in the past, but with global climate change, higher frequencies are impacted by the change in climate as well as durations and severity of droughts, Koshear said. Population growth increases the demand of water and depletes water resources that may not always be there. NASA satellites show that the ground levels in the Western portion of the San Joaquin Valley are actually deflating measurably from the pumping out of ground water, according to Koshear. “Ground water is a limited resource, it is renewable,” Koshear said.
“But when you pump out an aquifer, the space that the water occupied then collapses; it is not the same.” Communities such as Porterville are under a lot of stress due to the severity of the drought that continues grow, Koshear said. “There are communities East of Porterville, people on private wells, households that are without water now for over a year and it’s a pretty desperate situation,” Koshear said. “I’m not sure we are not going to have more droughts,” said Diane DeFreitas, economics instructor. She said even though California is experiencing one of its worst droughts, the state, as a whole, would not suffer greatly, given its diversified economy with the tech industry in the Bay Area and the entertainment industry in the South. “We would need to spend a lot of money, billions of dollars, to improve our infrastructure,” De Freitas said. “I think that is really important to do, economically.”
SEXUAL ASSAULT RULES CHANGED TO MEET FEDERAL GUIDELINES BY PATRICK FORREST
News Editor pforrest@therampageonline.com
Administrators at Fresno City College came together on Feb. 26, to change the rules surrounding sexual assault on campus and become more in compliance with Federal statutes, including the Violence Against Women Act. The sexual assault prevention task force spoke on the different requirements under the law and how the campus need to adjust to the changes by the July 1 deadline. Before that deadline campus leadership must conduct climate surveys which are recom-
mended at least once per year and put out an advertising campaign to help explain the new regulations. “Now we know exactly what we have to do and how we have to do it,” said State Center Community College District Police Chief Bruce Hartman. “And we have six months to do it.” Also by that day there must be an administrative policy in place that includes “specific detail on student discipline”. It’s really just a matter of now we finally have the rules as to what exactly
has to go in there,” Hartman said. Back in may, lawmakers in California passed a law to require colleges and universities across the state to adopt policies regarding sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking to receive state funding. Federal regulations of the clery act are similar. According to the clery act regulations, the campus must inform victims of available medical services whether on or off campus. “This is an effort that is taken on by the whole school,” Hartman said.
“We’re pretty ahead of the curve, it’s just a matter of fine tuning things.” Also the department of education will be conducting program reviews where the punishment could be as much as $150,000 per violation. According to a suggested compliance timeline changes to the conduct code will be l by the summer of 2015. “We will get this done in time,” Hartman said. “I have zero doubt about that.”
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EQUITY PLAN
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to do this,” Villa said. “And we want to do it right.” He also said that the focus is not on spending the money as quickly as possible, but rather on spending it right. The equity funds will be split into three areas -- counseling, coordination and instructional support, according to Elizabeth Davitian, accounting technician in the student services office. Student equity plans have become mandated in California community colleges after a policy was adopted in 1992 by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors to create equal access for students from groups that are historically underrepresented in higher education. According to Office of the California Community College Chancellor, the goal is to provide American Indians or Alaskan natives, Asians or Pacific Islanders, Blacks, Hispanics, Whites, men, women, women and person with disabilities equal opportunities in access, success and transfer. This means that the equity plan is made to address and bridge academic disproportionalities with different student groups on campus. The plan ensures students have access to the education and are completing and satisfying their college goals and in the end, transferring or acquiring a degree. A guideline for state colleges receiving the equity funds is that recipients not return any of it to the state; this leaves the task force with the monumental task of figuring out exactly how to allocate the funds and spend it wisely. Villa made clear to the task force that if decisions are not made soon, “we are going to return money.” The FCC Student Equity Plan was finalized in November and approved in December of 2014. Villa presented a proposal, listing certain categories from which college representatives can be chosen from -academic and classified senate, ASG,
Geraldine Santos amoung members of the student equity task force. Friday, February 27, 2015. Photo/Daisy Rodriguez community members, etc -- to create the committee that will make final decisions on how the funds appropriated by the state will be spent. “We will rely heavily on the advice of this group as to which positions to fill and what to prioritize,” Villa said. Villa also ordered the task force to meet monthly, effective immediately, so “we can move quickly to form the committee.” A position for “equity coordinator” has been created and was recently advertised by the State Center Community College District human resources office. The position will start on May 6 and is funded by the same equity funds. The selected coordinator is expected to ensure all expenditures within the FCC Student Equity Plan conform with California Community College Chancellor’s Office expenditure guidelines and will monitor the plan so that equity outcomes are achieved, among other tasks. During the topic of ensuring that all disproportionalities are being bridged and equity is being executed, the matter of student success
was brought up by Geraldine Santos, counselor at FCC, as to the amount of counselors being hired for African-American students. She reminded the task force about the disproportionalities among African-American students which was presented in the Feb. 18 publication of the Rampage. Santos then asked, “How are we bridging that disproportionality in our hiring practices, so that these students can get some benefits of the equity funds?” Gennean Bolen, English instructor at FCC and co-chair of the task force said both she and Santos understand that “just hiring the same number across the board so that it all looks fair, is not equitable.” Bolen and Santos were referring to a recent hiring of 17 adjunct counselors in January at FCC. According to Monica Cuevas, Dean of Counseling at FCC, of those 17 counselors that were hired, nine of those hires being funded by student equity funds and the other eight, by Student Support Services Program. According to a source, out of the
17 adjunct counselors that were hired, none of them were African-American. At the meeting, Santos raised concerns about not having African-American counselors hired, saying that students may feel more comfortable seeking help from people who “look like them.” Villa responded to that by stating that the current student equity plan which was approved in December contains language about funding a counselor for IDILE and SYMBAA, special programs for African-American students. According to the plan, the district looks to fund “a full-time counselor assigned to work with the IDILE and SYMBAA students to provide coordination and support.” Villa says that is the only funding given to an ethnic group on the current student equity plan -- other groups that were disproportionately impacted that were ethnic, did not get such positions. Villa said, “There are a lot of groups that need to be addressed.”
3 Inducted to ‘Wall of Honor’ BY CHUEYEE YANG
Reporter cyang@therampageonline.com
State Center Community College District inducted three to the Wall of Honor at the African American Historical and Cultural Museum on Feb. 26. LeRoy Candler, Jr., Terance Frazier and Birt Reid were recognized as the 2015 inductees to the Wall of Honor, recognizing their contribution and impact in the community. Before the inductees were presented with their plaques, speeches were presented by Interim Chancellor, Bill F. Stewart and more. Stewart described said the annual event is wonderful and that the inductees were great choices. “I love them,” he said. Former board of trustee member, Dorothy “Dottie” Smith introduced the inductees. Candler graduated from California State University, Fresno, with a Bachelor of Science degree in construction management. He spent 20 years employed at Caltrans and volunteered on projects to help the homeless, worked on substance abuse
cases and helped senior citizens. Candler is now serving as the president of the Fresno branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People [NAACP]. He said his purpose in life is to give back to the community. “I want to live where I can help other people,” Candler said. Frazier moved out of Oakland, California to play baseball for California State University, Fresno where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in criminology. Then, he was drafted to the Oakland A’s and St. Paul Saints of Minnesota where he played as a professional baseball player. However, four years later, he returned to Fresno to establish TFS Investments, LLC, a real estate and investment company as well as the nonprofit organization, Central Cal Baseball Academy. Frazier is now developing different projects for the lack of infrastructure and schools in the com-
munity. “I see problems as opportunities,” Frazier said. “So when there is a problem and I feel like my heart desires to go in that area and go help fix it, that’s what I do.” Spending more than 34 years serving SCCCD, Birt Reid was an academic and employment counselor at FCC from 1971 to 2007. He established and coordinated FCC’s Career and Employment Center in 1973 which was dedicated to him by the counseling department on April 24, 2008. For six years, he served as the chair of the counseling department and spent 33 years as an instructor at FCC. Reid said there should be more teachers and counselors who truly care about this generation. “I really enjoyed my work at Fresno City College,” Birt said. “I think that students are our future.”
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CAMPUS RALLIES FOR SICK CHILDREN BY CHARLOTTE MACKAY
Opinion Editor cmackay@therampageonline.com
Bundled up and wearing orange smocks, Fresno City College students surrounded the college campus Tuesday morning to honor Valley Children’s Hospital and sell Kid’s Day special publications of The Fresno Bee. Despite having to wake up early and stand in the cold for several hours, FCC students and faculty urged donations with smiles on their faces. “To be honest...as long as we are earning money, for kids that are ill, and for cancer, that’s all that matters” said FCC Game Club member Tiffany Amesquita. Student Activities ordered 7,200 newspapers in anticipation of selling all of them. While it has not been released as to how much money FCC raised, the clubs who participated set individual goals to increase their number of sales; proving to be extremely successful. “I’m not sure about what the rest of the people have, but I guess my goal is to sell all of the newspapers at my corner,” said Student Activities representative Shiney Thao. In an effort to increase sales, clubs showed their enthusiasm by dressing
up in costumes and dancing in traffic. “When cars pass by me I just start wagging my tail and it makes people smile,” said Game Club member Chrystian Major. “I’ve gotten three people to stop their cars and laugh...and say, [that] they’re...‘going to go get some money out of the bank.’” He and Amesquita occupied the intersection on McKinley and Van Ness with their fellow club members. To promote their gaming club and increase their sales, the members of the organization dressed in some of our cultures’ favorite gaming characters. Major sported a Yoshi costume and Amesquita danced along the median as Toad. Not only did loud music and adrenaline from fear of getting run over excite participating students, but coffee and good company kept their minds off of the cold weather and early morning. “We [all] had a lot of fun,” said Thao. “We were all drinking coffee; we were all hyper so of course we were happy; we just danc[ed] on our own corner and I think it was really fun.”
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A&E
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FCC Community Symphony Orchestra FCC Community Orchestra performing in the OAB Auditorium on Feb. 24. Photo/Albertina Rodriguez Delgado BY ELIAS CARDENAS
Reporter ecardenas@therampageonline.com
Fresno City College Community Symphony Orchestra held a wonderful performance on Feb. 24 in the Old Administration Building. Leading the performers was Jeffrey T. Sandersier, conductor of 26 years. The program featured works of three different composers-- Giuseppe Verdi, Johann Nepomuk Hummel and Dmitri Shostakovich. Verdi’s Giovanna d’Arco (Joan of Arc) which premiered in 1845, consists of three parts and is his seventh opera. He enlisted Pierce Yamaoka, the principle of the trumpet section, as the soloist during Johann Nepomuk Hummel “Concerto E flat major for Trumpet and Orchestra”, the cherry
on top of an already perfect performance. Closing the performance with Dmitri Shostakovich film score for “Five Days, Five Nights”. The five part sections was “inspired by the tracking down and recovery of priceless Dresden Art by Soviet troops in 1945.” As a Fresno premier, Sandersier chooses the music on a few criterias. Thinking full circle for the performers to the audience members. He wants his students to have a new experience and challenge themselves with unlikely composers of the early 20th century. Also giving the audience exposure to new music that they might not hear in other places. Sandersier wants everyone to leave the fantastic performance with the sense of emotion from the
music and to be moved emotionally, “going away feeling like that was a really beautiful experience.” Jacqueline Campos, trombonist, said being on stage “feels amazing, it’s one of the most euphoric feelings ever!” Campos also finds that “one thing I find in this group that always happens, we just rock it on performance nights,” said Tammy Jackson, violinist. From the young to the highly experienced, music is an ageless sport. “It’s a community, I feel there has to be a place for musicians. When you learn an instrument in college or school and you want to still play, this is providing an opportunity to play, develop, and grow.” said Sandersier. “Performance time is to make music and enjoy it!”
COMPUTER VS. CONSOLE: GAMING AFFORDABILITY BY COREY PARLSEY
Reporter cparlsey@therampageonline.com
When it comes to relaxation, most students will usually playing video games. Standing in long lines to buy that new gaming console after saving up the money is exciting. However, it can be quite pricey which is why computer gaming is ideal and within everyone’s budget. As price tags rise, it gets harder to keep up with the latest technology, especially if your only motivation is simply to be seen as cool or have envious eyes on you. With a laptop, a student can play decent games through Steam which gives them a profile so they can level up, gain achievements, have friends, play with others easily, chat and get all the seasonal or weekly deals. Lenovo laptop is a good computer for gaming. It is able to run games such as Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Dishonored and the Borderlands series without a
BY COREY PARLSEY
Reporter cparlsey@therampageonline.com
problem. Plus, it saves money on games as long as someone is willing to wait for the deals. These sales include 25, 60, 75 or sometimes even 90 percent off. This would surely allow a student to have plenty of games in their library that they can pick from at their leisure. Steam is a social network for gamers and is superior to the console community. The point is that not everyone can afford a new console, let alone the $60 games that go with them. If someone is a student then they should already have access to a decent laptop. If not, then they can get discounts from a multitude of stores such as, Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart and Apple. With the discounts that are available for students it is easy to get a good computer for less than $300. Console gaming can cost anywhere from $400 $600, not to mention they are fairly limited in what they can do. It is true that main consoles such as the Xbox One and the Playstation 4 have hardware
STILL LIFE WITH IRIS
“Still Life With Iris” is a family-fun centered play filled with color, imagination and left little to be wanted. It follows the story of a young girl who lives in a world where all their memories are stored in a coat. When she loses her coat she goes on an adventure to find it. The Fresno City College theater department opened their new play on Friday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. The play was directed by acting teacher and director, Janine
Christl. The play is aimed at an audience from early grade school to late adulthood. The sets were well constructed and were completely utilized throughout the play. The lighting and sounds for the play were spot on and added to the theme as intended. As for the cast, the acting was well rehearsed. The actress who played Iris, Olivia Stemler, did great in inspiring a child-like enthusiasm to the play. Something that often one does not see in any sort of media today. Nathan Cates, the actor who played Mister Matternot, was equally portrayed with the cold, mysterious adult persona someone would find in a children’s production. Some more notable characters that added life and energy to the show would be the actor and actress that played Annabel Lee, Thuy Duong, and Mozart, Gage Cornwell. Their stories sparked much interest and matched on tune with Iris and allowed the play to stay afloat. What is a play without the antagonists? Actor Aaron Gomes and Actress Marikah Christine Leal were just the right pick to play the parts of the Great Goods. They provided comical relief and the character concept was reminiscent of certain characters from The Hunger Games series. Along with the supporting cast integrating the feeling of community and family this play is sure to be a hit and bring in some good profit for Fresno City College’s Theater. Five coats out of five coats! Still Life With Iris will be playing on March 5 at 9:30 a.m. and March 6 and 7 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
that is similar to desktop computers, but they are hardly customizable and lack the complete freedom that an actual computer offers. The only thing that consoles seem to be going for them is convenience and exclusive games. Now consoles are not all bad, not completely, because there are exclusive games that one cannot ever hope to play on their computer until they have the proper console. But until then, they should be happy to have a laptop where they can keep all their photos and video files, where they can write essays and complete other homework, send emails, listen to music, watch Netflix, customize their desktop as well as any programs and play all their favorite games with their friends on Steam. PC gaming is the more affordable choice as well as the more functional one. PC is the master race of gaming.
ART HOP BY ANGELA TUTTLE
Reporter atuttle@therampageonline.com
Art Hop is an all-night event every first Thursday of the month where artists are given an opportunity to showcase their talents, ranging from painting to sculpture, some venues even host live music. What many don’t know is that Fresno has a massive art community as well, but because it’s often looked past, Fresno’s Art Hop doesn’t get as much attention as it should. Murals cover sides of buildings, and fantastic works of art are displayed in various places, from the Tower District to the heart of the downtown mural district. Artists are on hand and mingling with patrons, making for a truly fantastic experience. Art Hop has received a remarkable response from the Fresno community and is something everyone should experience at least once. It’s a look into Fresno’s vast and ever growing culture. Fresno City College’s Art Space Gallery is also a part of the Art Hop community so that students can show off their work to the community.“Over 50 participating artist studios, galleries, museums, and other venues exhibit art and artists reception during Art Hop,” said fresnoartscouncil.org. “It has become both a cultural and special event for the community with a great deal of media coverage.”
FCC ART HOP The next FCC Art Hop is in the Art Space Gallery on March 4 from 5 p.m. For more information visit: fresnoartscouncil.org/arthop
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NAPALM DEATH
Veterans of punk heavy metal slay at Fresno show BY JASMINE YORO BOWLES
Arts & Entertainment Editor jyorobowles@therampageonline.com
Napalm Death first came together during the late ‘80s, although they are no longer the original lineup, the British band currently consists of Mark “Barney” Greenway for vocals, bassist Shane Embury, drummer Danny Herrera, and their guitarist Mitch Harris; however, a guest guitarist played with them due to his absence. Openers Black Crown Initiate, Phobia, Iron Reagan, Exhumed, and penultimate performers Voivod were the West Midlands, UK, natives’ support acts for their Through Space and Grind tour date at Strummer’s, Fresno, on Feb. 21. There is no doubt that Napalm Death, know how to put on a killer show. Through technical difficulties delaying slots, each band kept the crowd entertained and amped up for the headliners; especially a “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” esque appearance during the show. Napalm Death and Voivod were by far the most notable, there is something about the pair that creates a live music nostalgia and leaves you yearning for more. For more on this therampageonline.com
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For more information on Strummer’s shows, visit strummersclub.com
Napalm Death performing at Strummer’s in Fresno, on Feb. 21 with guest guitarist (pictured second from the left.) Photo/Daisy Rodriguez
3.4.2015
THE LAZARUS EFFECT
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One of the biggest dissapointments of the year so far
BY JASMINE YORO BOWLES
Arts & Entertainment Editor jyorobowles@therampageonline.com
The Lord giveth and taketh away; 83 minutes of my life that I will never get back. From the producers of “the Purge,” “Sinister,” and “Insidious” came “the Lazarus Effect”. Olivia Wilde stars as Zoe, one of five researchers (Clay, Frank, Eva and Niko) performing unimaginable animal trials in an underground university lab. They are thought to be playing God as the medical students procure and test a serum that is intended to bring dead patients back to life; but not as they once knew. The scariest thing about “the Lazarus Effect” was that it had a straight-to-DVD, lowbudget, amateur-ish feel. The biggest disappointment of was that Zoe was like a demonic and or possessed version of Scarlett Johansson’s character Lucy (“Lucy”, 2014); plus the “Cujo” esque theme did not fit well-- Stephen King does it (somewhat) better! The overall quality was as if Blumhouse Productions had a limited amount of money and an even more limited amount of time to spew out a new thriller flick. The $3.3 million budget must have been mostly spent on casting big names, despite that
horror movies aren’t about big actors; however they nailed the notorious not-so-great acting. The many plotline gaps could have been filled with more in-depth essential backstory on the characters, Zoe in particular. Zoe and fiancé Frank (Mark Duplass) had a less than convincing chemistry that really set an awful tone. On a (small) positive note, the fact that it was only 83 minuutes long would make up for, at least 10 percent, of the horrors that Blumhouse Productions unleashed upon their unsuspecting audience. Wilde, although beautiful, is not known for her incredible acting, which is clearly shown during the simplest of tasks: not breathing when playing dead. The scene came off as nothing more than an excuse to see Miss Wilde almost topless. “The Lazarus Effect” follows the majority of the cliche, a-typical horror movie happenings; kicking off with the black dude dying first. Evan Peters (American Horror Story) playing Clay cheated him out of an example of his good acting skills that TV knows and loves; it’s safe to say this thriller is not reputable for anyone involved. Movie theatres will be filled with more laughter than screams.
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CAMPUS EVENTS March 5
Art Hop 5 p.m.- 8 p.m., Art Space Gallery Frequency and the FCC Jazz Singers 7 p.m.- 9:30 p.m., Tokyo Garden
March 6
“Cycles and Sets” Advanced Voice Recital 7:30 p.m., FCC Recital Hall
March 10
Gary Soto Literary Museum Tour 1 p.m., OAB 139 Latin Jazz & Jazz Singers 7:30 p.m., FCC Main Stage Theatre
March 11
FCC Concert Band 7:30 p.m., FCC Main Stage Theatre
March 13
Let Your Light Shine (Choral World Music Concert) 7:30 p.m., OAB Auditorium
March 14
FCC Renaissance Festival (March 14 and 15) 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., FCC West Lawn The Lazarus effect film poster. Photo courtesy of google.com
Grade:F
March 19
City Jazz Festival 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., Fine, Performing & Communications buildings
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A&E
3.4.2015 THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM
ROGUE FESTIVAL Teaser Show
The Rogue Festival Teaser variety show that included song, dance and one-woman shows on Feb. 27. Rogue Festival will be running until March 8. For more information go to roguefestival.com Photos/Daisy Rodriguez
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The first electronic cigarette is thought to have been invented in 1963 by Herbert A. Gilbert, but “modern e-cigarettes were invented by the Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik in 2003,” according to projectknow.com. A vape pen consists of a battery, a vaporizer and an e-liquid tank or cartridge. The battery activates the atomizer to heat the the e-liquid into a vapor which is then inhaled like smoke; some have the option to choose the battery voltage which creates different densities of vapor. The long term effects are not yet definitive because they haven’t been around long enough, but they are an effective way to quit smoking. Whether one is weaning or going cold turkey, vape pens allow people to choose how much nicotine they take in through the e-liquids. Vaping can minimize many dangers and vices of regular smoking -- fires, aesthetic damages to your home from smoke, and most importantly, first and second-hand smoke. No more being subject to all the harmful chemical compounds in tobaccos and cigarette smoke, just the e-liquid vapor. E-liquid is composed of propylene glycol, glycerin, flavoring and occasionally nicotine. Most vape pens use e-liquids, which are available almost anywhere. These can range from different measurements of nicotine, nicotine free, and tons of different flavors, for example, tobacco, candy, fruit, baked goods, and popular beverages. Vape pens are also versatile for many smokers as herb cartridges and wax/oil tanks are also becoming more popular and more accessible . Vaping is also more affordable than smoking. With growing trends come hundreds of new businesses, and with these businesses, come an array of products and prices. A small bottle of e-liquid costs around the same as a pack of cigarettes, and it lasts a short while depending on consumer smoking habits.
PRO
BY JASMINE YORO BOWLES
A&E Editor jyorobowles@therampageonline.com
The tank is also subject to varying life spans due to consumer care and usage, but they are interchangeable with almost any battery; however, the battery can last a long time as they are re-chargeable, which means less waste. With n o
3.4.2015
TO VAPE OR NOT TO VAPE?
s m o king ban in most places both indoor and outdoor, most venues will still allow vaping, making it somewhat more convenient for parties; although it’s always best to be considerate. Aesthetically speaking, vaping puts you in the clear of tasting and smelling like an ashtray, yellowed nails, hacking up lumps of grey nastiness, and the dental monstrosities that can occur. Although vaping isn’t the healthiest alternative to smoking, it is healthier.
OPINION
CON
BY CHAD ARMBRUSTER
Reporter carmbruster@therampageonline.com
Smoking is historically an American plague; vapors are the new future death stick. Pictures of celebrities using vape pens advertise an idealistic image of coolness connected towards smoking these pens. They show multiple falsities of people that smoke an electronic cigarette and the acumulative response that comes with a c e r t a i n type or status for popularity. Reali s t i c a l l y, stressf ul factors in life lead us to lower our standards and, unfortunately, to indulge in dangerous activities. Classifications associated towards vaping have already decreased in stores. To be a smoker or non-smoker is like accepting to deal with a lifestyle in transition. A lifelong choice for a person to decide which is worse, without common knowledge of the chemicals inside. Newer additions to the smoking classifications are increasing too fast to keep up appropriate monitoring. Marketing towards a newer generation without encouraging under age groups to join is redundant. When it comes to vaporization of nicotine, vapor is technically a faster way to release the carcinogen and toxins that contaminate your body, this causes wrinkles and pre
11
aging signs, exactly like the cigarette. The exact count of chemicals and effects are still under studies. Some vapors cause the need to have a bigger “rip” (heavy puff) to exceed the previous “toke” (longer hit than normal). Smoking faster and quick is not a smart choice. Smoking is not a functional way of relaxing, constant demands on your pocketbook for supplies will always leave a student on a budget eagerly wanting more. Abstinence should be encouraged as a point to smoke less or if not at all. With modest consideration to American history , slavery was behind the growth tobacco industry’s in early America’s and smoking now is nothing more than being a slave to the industry, the man will take your money and your life. Flavors and tastes of these new vapors are changing the classic into something more club orientated to cater towards a younger clientele. A younger class of we want more, better, newer and not to take the time to consider what your new age technology will have as a repercussion on the future ie immediate gratification. Overcoming differences the cigarette industries are dedicated towards increasing sales regardless of deaths associated. Vapors are already banned in some stores, regardless of how safe the company says they are , the pen does not get in. This country has endured so many struggles, now the attack of the vaporization has began. A cheaper option available for people it is called not smoking.. Smoking vapors create a more at risk youth, who are being targeted with smoking vapor pens as a popularity contest. New underage complications, such as sales to minors are still a legal issue to be pursued with legal classifications.
AMERICAN ROOTS LIE IN PAGINISM
BY CHRISTOPHER DEL CASTILLO Reporter cdelcastillo@therampageonline.com
When people think of the word “pagan”, most would have an image of the old religions of the ancient world. Some might even believe that all pagans are heathens who worship too many gods and goddess.
The word “pagan” has been broadly defined as anyone involved in any religious act, practice, or ceremony which is not Christian, according to allaboutspirituality.org. Most Americans are uneducated about the true origins of paganism and believe the U.S. was founded in 1776 upon Christian ideals. They’re wrong. Democracy and republicanism are historically pagan ideals, directly opposed to churchly authoritarianism. The very history of our nation has deep roots in pagan ideals which strike at the very hearts of most Americans.
In fact, many of the building blocks of our early government rest on pagan philosophy. Paganism is deep rooted in the natural and spiritual world in all its concepts. Like all religions, paganism reaches higher connections to divine, mostly a connection to ancestor worship. Many Pagans have very personal relationships with their gods and goddesses and how they perceive them is very personal and individualistic. Most Americans are unaware that even the days of the week and the folktales of
human past have pagan origins. Did you know that all the days of the weeks are pagan, that Wednesday, Thursday, Friday are named after Odin, Thor and Frey over a thousand years ago? Even today, most college students are unaware that there are pagans still around us. At least one-fourth of the population of the U.S. practices some form of non-Christian tradition. Many students are educated enough to understand that the concepts of Christianity got some of its ideals from pagan theologies, but are
still unaware that pagans are around. Here’s one example -if you ever look at the Fresno City College library or the Old Administration Building, you will see ancient Greco-Roman art structures that has its origins in pagan construction. So when you think of the “pagan”, think of the ancient ways of our ancestors had held true many years ago as well as about any person who believes in all paths to a higher power. Paganism is another form of understanding the world around us and about holding a sacred meaning to life.
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OPINION
RAM’S TALE
3.4.2015
THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM
GAY AND CHRISTIAN
BY COREY PARSLEY
Reporter cparsley@therampageonline.com
lot. I came across a website called The Gay Christian Network and to much surprise found a community of people with helpful, supportive reassurance that there really wasn’t anything wrong with me. At first it was hard for me to wrap my head around the idea of being gay and Christian because I was conditioned to believe those two things contradicted each other. I came to the conclusion though, that everyone is imperfect, including the men who translated the Bible. It cannot be expected of people to perfectly and infallibly translate ancient Hebrew and Greek into English. They are bound to get things wrong. Not to mention the word, “homosexual” was not coined until the eighteenth century. I discovered that whenever someone used the Bible to condemn LGBT people those verses would only be speaking of violent sexual acts such as: gang rape or pedophilia. Those verses never mention loving, same sex, monogamous relationships. While I could continue on, the point is that I believe in Christ’s truth and what he
sacrificed for everyone. I believe that love is love, no matter who one may be attracted to, and that homosexuality is not a sin. There is a large number of men and women around the world, including Fresno City College, who struggle with their sexuality. As a college student, it was hard for me to pick a group to which I wanted to associate myself. I knew the christian group would most likely not accept me as a gay man, but I also feared that the LGBT group would struggle to understand my faith; I felt like there was no happy medium. So, until I can find a comfortable setting to express my sexuality and religion, I choose to stand as a beacon of hope for those who are LGBT and Christian, waning in their faith. I have seen far too many LGBT people turn away from God because of family or churches and it saddens me deeply. I want to help people and inspire them, but most of all I want them to know that God does not hate them, nor does he condemn them. There is no sin in being a gay Christian.
“Being Gay is a choice.” “Those in that lifestyle are freely condemning themselves” “Hate the sin, not the sinner.” Those are just a few phrases I have heard growing up in a Christian home. I have always felt attracted toward the same sex, but never wanted to admit it. My parents and church had instilled in me that being gay Illustrator/Bobby Brown was wrong and I was sure that they would reject me. I wanted to be normal and I did not want to go to hell, but I struggled with the concept that I had to suppress my “unnatural” attractions; rules by which I was forced to abide while growing up. Through middle school and high school a part of me BY RAM REYES hid from everyone. On the Photo Editor outside I was lovable, fun and rreyes@therampageonline.com conservative, but on the inside I was completely torn. It was a cloudy Wednesday for 40 days, after which they I pretended to like girls to morning. As I was making my can go back to doing methamthe point that I began to beway to the Rampage office, phetamines. lieve my lies. passing all the beautiful fac In my family, typically I spent many nights prayes of my fellow FCC students, the only real Lenten tradition ing that God would take this I noticed something weird; a we have is that every Friday struggle away from me, but few of those beautiful faces we do not eat meat. Instead we he only showed me what I were sporting massive black eat fish. I asked my mom if she needed rather than what I smudges. was giving up anything spewanted. He had convinced Something resembling cific and she replied that she me that there was nothing dirt was smeared across their was going to stop shopping 2-18_Distribution_final.pdf 2/3/15 9:36 AM wrong with me and that he 1 foreheads, and they looked for herself. This conversahad made me just the way I like they had been working in tion happened three days afwas. a coal mine and neglected to ter Lent began, showing how I never wanted to give up wash up. Then it hit me -- it good Catholics we are. on my faith and I still havwas Ash Wednesday and Lent I decided that I should en’t. When I lost my mother had begun. probably stop watching porn in May 2012, I swore that I Being a Filipino, I for the whole Lenten season. I would continue to love God was automatically initiated thought it was going to be easy, and chase my dreams of beinto the the Roman Catholic but it wasn’t. I lasted as long as ing a writer. This forced me to Church and forced into an I expected, which wasn’t very find comfort in my own skin; eternity of Sunday masses. long. Now I’m back to square to be the man I really am. I used to hate going when one, and I still haven’t picked So I searched the internet, I was younger, but either they what to give up for Lent. Illustrator/ Adrian Martinez read the Bible and prayed a put something in the wine or I I decided to go to the had truly found God’s grace; I one place I can truly count on find it ok now and have even in times of trouble. I googled told myself I thoroughly enjoy “what to give up for lent.” Lo STUDENTS & TEACHERS going. and behold, I found statistics SAVE AN ADDITIONAL Lent is probably one of my on what people are giving up 20 % EVERY THURSDAY* THRIFT STORES favorite Christian traditions this year, according to Twitter. because I love seeing everyThe list is an amazing statewww.teamamvets.com one fail in their lenten reso- ment about the human condilutions. For those heathens tion as well as our generation. • WOMEN’S CLOTHING 2 LOCATIONS: out there, Lent honors the 40 Number one is school. I would C • MEN’S CLOTHING 4125 E. Shields Avenue days Jesus Christ spent in the love to give up school, but my Fresno, CA 93726 wilderness, fasting and saying anxiety about becoming a joy• ACCESSORIES M (559) 222-2622 “nah” to each of the Devil’s ful hobo, stops me from going • SHOES Daily: 9AM-7PM temptations. down that path.; I would rathY • HOUSEHOLD GOODS I don’t really understand er be writing for a newspaper, 758 Broadway Street • VINTAGE FINDS what is expected of CM me during than sleeping on one. Fresno, CA 93721 the Lent season, as some of Scanning down the list, • COLLECTIBLES (559) 457-0240 the tradition has MY been lost there were just too many • JEWELRY Monday - Saturday: 9AM - 5PM through the evolution of mod- things I couldn’t see myself CY or • ELECTRONICS ern society. The idea, however, giving up (chocolate, twitter, Shop Online • FURNITURE is to give up something for 40 fast food) and some too unwww.teamamvetsthriftstores.com CMY days . realistic (coffee, homework, • BEDDING & MORE Some people give up eat- F**kboys). At this point, God is K ing chocolate or red meat, but telling me to say something or most people just chooses one he’s going to give up on me. arbitrary activity or thing, like I don’t have anything $ $ fast food or soda, that God to give up except Lent itself. might like for them to give up I give up on trying to find EXPIRES MARCH 04, 2015 for 40 days. I say, if they want something to give up for Lent. their faith really tested, they And that will probably last for Valid on In-Store Purchases Only. Pre-tax total must be $30 or more. Excludes can give up meth, but only more than 40 days. Fine Jewelry and Direct Purchases. One coupon per customer. Must surrender
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coupon for savings. Other restrictions may apply.
3.4.2015
THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM
OPINION
13
IS ASG ANYTHING MORE THAN FREE SCANTRONS AND A MICROWAVE? BY THE RAMPAGE EDITORIAL BOARD
Every spring semester the Associated Student Government at Fresno City College holds its elections. And it seems that no matter how many people run or how much the candidates try to interest students, only a fraction of the population -- no more than a couple hundred from a 24,000-plus-student campus, participate in the voting. ASG insists on holding these elections every year to represent “the voice of the student body”. But that voice is screaming loudly and clearly that they don’t care about student government or the elections. In an effort to better the upcoming elections though, ASG will have representatives for different segments of campus, including all of the divisions. With this improvement, senators will have more knowledge of the areas they represent, improving the effectiveness of their job.
While this plan reflects optimism, the adjustment will not matter unless the ASG finds a way to bring more people into the electoral process and incorporate more opinions into the decisions they make. After multiple years of less than satisfactory election results, those in the college student government have a chance to show that their process of choosing student leaders is not antiquated, and that when given the opportunity, the campus will care about who is representing them. It is seriously doubtful that many on this campus know the ASG offices, who holds them and what each member of the the ASG does. If the constituent group that they claim to represent cannot recognize the organization or what it is that they are doing for our school, then they have failed as a representative for the student body.
It is not as if members of the Associated Student Government don’t already know that they should always keep constant communication with the student body. Nearly every semester “better” or “increased” communication is upon the list of goals that they come together to improve upon those that came before them. The goals never change, and neither do the results. The only way that the ASG will be able to raise the number of people voting in their elections is to get out of their office and make themselves visible to the public. It is important they reach out to the student body to better understand the concerns of the school and take real steps towards alleviating those concerns. The constraints on time are understood, as every member of the ASG is also a student, but it expected of them to
execute the office that they signed up for. With the elections for the 2015-16 academic year approaching, the members of this student government have an obligation to further the name and set the example for any person willing to sign up and take their place. Everyone who wants to occupy a seat in student senate must remember why it is that they sought the position in the first place. Student leaders need goals, goals that they can execute and which will have true lasting purpose on campus. If they do not have such ambitions, then the student body must take note of that and not elect those who lack ambition. The people who are only interested in the title that comes as a student senator should not be elected. If this is something that interests students who believe they can legitimately accom-
plish the tasks our current student government has neglected, then the student senate is something that we ask those individuals to seriously consider. Being a member of the ASG should be held with some sort of esteem, and those who hold those positions should feel a sense of pride. As a senator or executive board member of the Associated Student Government and individual is obligated to be a voice for students on committees that meet to vote and potentially change all sorts of policies on this and other campuses. If the Associated Student Government cannot fill itself to a functional manner then they should execute the dissolution clause of their constitution and give “all net assets and trust funds to Trustee/ Successor.”
CAMPUS VOICES
Do You Know What ASG Is?
Natalia Marshall
Cathy Vang
Nursing
Radiology Technician
“No.”
“No.”
Kevin Aguilar
Don Nulick
Gurpreet Brar
Radiology Technician
Welding Technician
Econ
“No.”
“No.”
“Nope.”
Tiana Taylor Kinesiology “No.”
14
OPINION
3.4.2015
WE ARE NOT ALONE BY CHRISTOPHER DEL CASTILLO Reporter cdelcastillo@therampageonline.com
Illustrator/Bobby Brown
Albert Einstein the famous American-German Physicist, once said, “Given the millions of billions of Earth-like planets, life elsewhere in the Universe without a doubt, does exist. In the vastness of the Universe, we are not alone.” If life can exist on earth, there is possible evidence that we will find some form of intelligence on other planets. No matter who or where you are, if you ever look up at the night sky on a clear evening, you sense that other presence and have many questions. Who am I? Who are we? Why are there so many stars in the sky? Are there stars with worlds like our own? The questions seem to be endless if you really think about it. In these modern times, many people believe day human beings will go to faraway worlds and discover new lands on other planets. Now, we see that humanity’s future is in the heavens in space. It sounds like a journey into the Death Star like in the
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Star Wars sagas or an adventure in the Lost in Space just to name a few. The question has been in everybodys mind since the dawn of civilization over thousands of years ago . Every ancient culture from the around the world had some form of belief that their gods and goddesses came from the heavens and to help our early ancestors developed. The Maya codices, Norse sagas, and even the early Biblical writings explain that of other life forms in different worlds have exist in the remote past. According to the new survey, 50 percent of Americans think that there is some form of life on other planets, while only 17 percent think there’s none with another 33 percent saying they aren’t sure. Today, scientists are discovering new galaxies all throughout the universe with many forms of earth-like stars. If you really look at all the evidence written by thousands of scholars, it’s only a matter of time. We will find some form life on other planets in our lifetime. Just recently, NASA Curiosity rover suggests that microbial life could have survived on Mars in the distant past, when the Red Planet was a warmer and wetter place. Evidence shows Mars did have life over millions years before ago. With so many stars up upon the heavens, it’s a hard to say that there is no one out there or that we are the only ones in the universe. It is impossible
to say that with so much in our night sky that there is no one out there. Most people have already accepted what we have learned in the ancient text of our early ancestors, that thousands of years ago, there was visitation from outside forces. One only has to look at pyramids from all around world. It kind of blows the mind if you really think about. Some day in the near future, scientists will find some extraterrestrial life in our solar-system. The likely area of life might be on the moons of Jupiter. Europa, the fourth largest, has a shell of water ice, parts of which could be liquid, showing some form of biologic life underneath its crust. It has given hope to those who believe there is some form of life on other worlds beyond our own. It has always been humanity’s dream to fly into the heavens to find new places to explore and go to the great unknown. It is the human race that we will find our true origins in the cross galaxy. Some say it is impossible that is life could exist on other worlds. In today’s world with all that is possible because of our advancement, why does the concept of life on other planets seem so taboo? All one has to do is look at the stars and wonder, with some many stars up in sky is, how can there not be other lives out there? Sound a bit insane? You might be surprised by the answer.
Breaking the Silence for Undocumented Students
BY CRESENCIO RODRIGUEZ DELGADO
Editor-in-Chief crodriguezdelgado@therampageonline. com
After uncertainty of whether or not I would have the opportunity tow attend college, I made every effort to quietly educate myself of the possibilities. I seeked help, did research on my own, made phone calls and sent emails. I began at Fresno City College in August of 2013. But why was there uncertainty? Why did I do all of this quietly and in the shadows? I am an undocumented student. In high school, I was completely unaware of the resources available. It was extremely difficult to commit to the college workshops and scholarship nights, and it was nearly impossible to dream of a college education. I am now in my fourth semester at FCC and what once seemed as only a dream is now
my reality. I knew I wanted to study journalism before I left high school, but I was eager to get involved with different groups -- namely, immigrant rights groups. At one point, I served as the vice-president of the Students Without Borders club at FCC. SWB is a club designed to welcome, assist and empower FCC students who are undocumented. I don’t leave behind the memories of those days. While I focus on my career and education, I encourage others to take that step towards change and join the movement. Having taken part in actions that have led to change for the better within the immigrant communities, I have been empowered and most importantly, I have become unafraid. I invite you, the undocumented Fresno City College student, to become unafraid and challenge the invisible boundaries you may have set for yourself. There is a lot of work to be done in all aspects surrounding immigration. I encourage you to step into the world of change, to get involved with an immigrant rights group in your area, and bring change for yourself and your community. As an order made by the
U.S. President Barack Obama, Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) and an extension of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), makes its way through the courts in a legal battle between both major political parties, Democrats and Republicans, we must not forget how we got here and who made this possible. Blood, sweat and tears of young and old immigrants has been splattered on the streets, steps and gates of this country in an effort to improve the lives of the 11 million that are here in search of a better life. We don’t need a police force that will have us deported for simply reporting violence. We don’t need a mother to shed tears day in and day out when her sons are deported to a country she deemed unsafe and uncertain for her family. We don’t need a family mourning the loss of a family member due to not having access to affordable healthcare. We definitely don’t need our mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters left out of relief for some and not all. We need something permanent. We need families reuniting. We need health care for all. But we need the help of you, the student, brother, sister and friend. We need you to
Illustrator/Adrian Martinez join the movement and bring this much needed change. As undocumented students, we must stand up and make our voices heard. We prevailed by having the opportunity to attend college, now we must take that and empower ourselves to create something bigger -- a future. A future where we live without borders, and a future where we don’t have to make the choice of abandoning our birthplace.
While we can not vote as undocumented students, let’s take part in voting campaigns to elect the right people for the job. Let’s educate ourselves and push for officials we deem worthy. Politicians, after all, are put in their positions to work for us, why don’t we put them to work? Stand up! They don’t say how we should live, we say how we should live. Let’s tell them.
THERAMPAGEONLINE.COM
3.4.2015
SPORTS
15
Men’s Basketball Team Crashes out of Playoffs
Fresno City College Men’s Basketball coach Ed Madec collaberates with the team during a time out. Saturday, February 28, 2015. Photo/Ramuel Reyes BY KEAUNDREY CLARK
Sports Editor kclark@therampageonline.com
Five, four, three, two, one, buzzer! Just that quickly, the Fresno City College Men’s basketball team crashed out of the California Community College Athletic Association playoffs in the second round, with an unexpected 7264 loss to Foothill College, Saturday, at Fresno City’s home gym. The No.1 seeded Rams were highly favored to advance to the state Final Four and take home the state title. Entering the game on a 19 game winning streak, their last loss in early December of last year, the Rams look destined to make a run at the title. Ed Madec coming into the game with
a home record of 14-2 in the playoffs, had not suffered defeat at an FCC home playoff game since Santa Rosa College last year. Seeded No. 17, the odds were not in the Owls’ favor. Showing very little mercy though, Foothill destroyed FCC with 11 three pointers in the game, 7 of which were in the first half. “We did what coach asked us to do,” said Sophomore guard James O’neal.” “We were mentally prepared; I just feel it wasn’t our night.”. Fresno City opened the game with a 9 to 3 advantage and leading at halftime 29-27 on Freshman forward Liam O’Reilly’s putback with seconds left. The Rams were down early in the second half by as many as seven points, but
fought back as Dejon Burdeaux scored four consecutive points, giving FCC a 52-49 lead with 9:47 minutes left All-Conference guard Burdeaux finished the game with 13 points “They played their best game,” said a dejected Budeaux after the loss. “I don’t think any team will ever play like that ever again.” The Owls regained the lead with 7:43 remaining. The gym was tense as everyone knew the rams would need a basket to stay in the game. FCC cut the late down to just one point with back to back Nick Hilton three pointers. Winning was on the horizon. The Owls stopped the Rams’ comeback with a three pointer from Janvier Alaby and didn’t look back as they end-
ed game and the Rams’ season “We ‘threw the kitchen sink at them’ as Coach Madec would say,” said O’neal, trying to make sense of the shocking upset O’neal, the Central Valley Conference player of the year finished with six points and two steals The Rams ended the season with a record of 28-4, including going undefeated in conference play, and captured their 14 straight Central Valley Conference title. “‘I’m really proud of our sophomores for leading us this season,” head Coach Ed Madec said. “They’ve been wonderful, absolutely wonderful.”
Alvarado Determined to Win Championship BY KAGEANNA GARZA
Reporter kgarza@therampageonline.com
Jorge Alvarado, all-American pitcher on the Fresno City College’s baseball team for his second year, is more than determined to bring his team to another State championship. Alvarado has been playing baseball for 12 years. He said his family were all baseball players and fans when he was growing up. “I liked it,” Alvarado said. “My whole family played, so it was kind of traditional.” But having a whole family incredibly into baseball has some down side and overwhelming with pressure. This was not the case for Alvarado.
“I liked it, so it was whatever,” he said. “I never questioned playing.” Being one of the top pitchers for the baseball team can come with many responsibilities. Not once did Alvarado feel he had pressure on him during games from his coaches or teammates. He said that once he walks out to the field and pitch, all the nerves disappear. Alvarado considers himself as a leader for his team, and his goals for the season are to bring home wins and win the conference title for his teammates. “Be a good team and be the best that I can be,” he said. Alvarado is more than confident he can achieve his goal on earning a
scholarship at the end of this season at FCC. “I would imagine he will have one,” said Ron Scott, head coach of the FCC baseball team. Alvarado said that playing for the baseball team is a privilege. The team is already 10-2 this season and ranked No. 6 in NorCal by CCCAA and is more than likely heading to state playoffs.
Jorge Alvarado Career Stats 11-2 Career Record 87 Career Strikeouts 1.64 Career ERA
Fresno City College Pitcher Jorge Alvarado. Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Photo/Daisy Rodriguez
16
PORTS
3.4.2014
Women’s Basketball on Track for Final Four BY KEAUNDREY CLARK
Sports Editor kclark@therampageonline.com
The Fresno City College Women’s basketball opened their playoff run with a thrilling overtime game dominating Foothill College, 61 - 56. Coming into the playoffs, the women’s basketball coach Brian Tessler was confident that his team’s goal of advancing into the final four teams in the state championship was still in tact. “I don’t think we could be playing any better than we are right now,” Tessler said. “So I’m happy with that.” Coaching a team of all freshman has been a first for Tessler, as this is his first season without second year college athletes. While leadership and maturity has been tested among the newcomers, the girls have upheld Tessler’s expectations. Seeded No. 9, the Rams entered the playoffs with momentum having won eight of their last nine games. “Doesn’t matter if it’s pre-season, league, or playoffs, we try to approach each game the same way regardless,” said a nervous Tessler Freshman guard Toni Edwards, who didn’t record a
point in regulation, scored 10 points in overtime to lead the Rams to victory. She gave the Rams a 1 point with 1:50 to go in the extra period. “When you’re down, you have things, sacrifice yourself to get the lead back,” said Edwards FCC led by as much as 10 early in the second half, fueled by the three-pointshooting of freshman guard Sara Vasquez. She hit five three pointers throughout the game. Vasquez finished with a game-high of 17 points. The Rams controlled the glass, pulling down 51 rebounds and forced the Owls to commit 20 turnovers. “We’re not a physical team, but we played like one tonight,” said Tessler The Rams will have to face College of the Sequoias on Wednesday. COS finished ahead of FCC for the Central Valley Conference title. “This team has been resilient all season, fighting through adversity,” said Tessler. “Their mental approach from high school to the college level has improved .”
Sierra Dominici (#25) fighting off the opposing players during their game against Foothill College at the Fresno City College Auditorium on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015. The Fresno City Rams won, 61-56, after going into overtime. Photo/Ramuel Reyes
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