Issue 4 Spring 2019

THE

RAMPAGE

The Student-Run Newspaper of Fresno City College

SPRING 2019 | ISSUE 4 | March 13, 2019

A DEPARTMENT ‘IN DISARRAY’ Sixth Technology Support Services Director in 3 Years Resigns PAGE 5

“The high turnover of directors of technology over the past few years has placed the division in disarray. TSS staff are constantly in a reactionary mode, doing the best they can to maintain a semblance of prioritized service to FCC students, faculty and staff,” said a technology support staff in the office.

NEWS

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ENTERTAINMENT Volunteers Give Back to Valley Children’s Hospital on 32 Annual Kids Day

OPINION

09

08

The latin Jazz ensemble flies to the moon

SPORTS

The Green New Deal Is Important – Why Aren’t We Talking About It?

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Rams Defeat Yuba College in Home Finale

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2 NEWS 3.13.19

THE RAMPAGE

The student-run newspaper of Fresno City College

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PASS Center Marks International Women’s Day

STAFF Editor-in-Chief Tommy Tribble

News Editors Ben Hensley Tamika Rey

Art Director Ramuel Reyes

Sports Editor Ben Hensley

Entertainment Editor Peter Lopez

Opinion Editor Gage Carmichael

Assistant Opinion Editor Sarah Chavez

Social Media Editor Omari Bell

Reporters

Alberto Granados Alfredo Rodriguez Angel De Jesus Blake Evans Conner Stevens Derek Bullis Emily Perez Gisella Luna Hannah Lanier Kellie Clark Leticia Leal Ramon Castanos

Business Manager Tamika Rey Joanna Murrieta

Adviser/Instructor Dympna Ugwu-Oju

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Any correction needed for an article should be brought to the attention of the staff of The Rampage. The Rampage is committed to accuracy and should be made aware of any mistake in an article that appears in this paper.

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

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

Members of the FCC body rally to recognize International Women’s Day 2019 with a march from the PASS Center to the Free Speech area Thursday, March 7, 2019. Photo/Tamika Rey Tamika Rey | News Editor trey@therampageonline.com

PASS center coordinator, Jennifer Dorian, would not allow the Fresno City College community to forget the significance of the International Women’s Day or the importance of women in society.

Staff and students from the PASS center marched from the east side of the library to the free speech area on campus in recognition of the 2019 International Women’s Day on March 8.

“Today is important because it’s a way of saying we aren’t where we need to be yet,” Dorian said. “So let’s keep making change.”

Marchers carried handmade signs; one participant held bright pink and yellow paper flowers; many spotted bracelets which they received beforehand.

“My body my safety,” chanted the marchers, waving signs that read, “Stop trafficking women,” and “Stop the violence against women.”

“We need to remember the women who are beaten, who are abused physically, sexually, and emotionally,” Dorian called out to onlookers from the grass at the free speech area.

“International Women’s Day is just one day out of the year but we invite you and remind you to respect women 365 days a year,” Dorian said. “Today’s march was in recognition of International Women’s Day, a day that allows us to pause and recognize the plight of women while giving us time to consider what part we can play in making the world (and our campus) a better place for women.”

She said the day was important because, “I don’t

know a single woman who hasn’t encountered some hardship or mistreatment simply because of their gender.”

“For those working and attending here, FCC is a second home in many ways,” Dorian said to students who may wonder if the march mattered to them. “We can continue to make FCC a safe place for women, our bodies, our minds, and our leadership. The work always starts at home.”

According to Internationalwomensday.com, the campaign theme for 2019 is #BalanceforBetter, which is geared at highlighting that “a balanced world is a better world,” and how to help forge a more gender-balanced world; celebrating women’s achievement; raising awareness against bias and taking action for equality.

“The biggest problem women

face in society is the oppressive narrative about women,” Dorian said, adding that these narratives inform negative behaviors against women and encourage them to believe they don’t deserve complete safety, freedom and respect.

In order to facilitate change, people have to get involved.

“Start by talking about it and educating yourself and others.

Thoughts and ideas inform actions,” Dorian said.

“As we change the narrative about women, we are also helping to reduce unconscious biases and practices on our campus and in our world,” Dorian said. “Changing the narrative helps individuals stop and ask themselves, ‘Am I truly honoring and respecting the women around me just as I want to be honored and respected?’”

ASG Adopts ‘Vision for Success’ Plan Hannah Lanier | Reporter

hlanier@therampageonline.com

The Associated Student Government approved the “Vision for Success” plan presented by Carol RainsHeisdorf, coordinator for Fresno City College’s institutional research, during their meeting in the senate chambers on March 5.

Rains-Heisdorf ’s proposal was the focus of the meeting that dealt mostly with reports, unfinished business, and new business. The plan for Vision for Success has been on the agenda for the last two weeks.

The plan aims to shift the focus of educators to the success rates of the students. For instance, “instead of getting paid for you

guys [students] showing up, we [FCC Faculty] will be getting paid based on how you do,” Sean Henderson, dean of students, explained.

Heisdorf, as well as Henderson, stressed how important the success of FCC students will be from here on out.

Furthermore, with the idea of students’ success in mind, the closing of equity gaps in GPA is an additional benefit of the financial plan. Equity gaps: implying that success rates in certain subjects vary based on gender, age, and ethnicity, according to Heisdorf.

“There will be set goals with the intention of meeting them,” said Heisdorf, adding that “timelines and framework”

will be provided to meet the independent needs of students.

Heisdorf also explained that the financial plan will close equity gaps and result in the increase of graduates and students who transfer. As little as 20 percent of enrolled students successfully earn their degrees due to gaps in equity, according to Heisdorf.

Heisdorf described the goals of the Vision for Success as representing an action taken

by FCC faculty to ensure that students achieve what they came to FCC for.

“We’re coming to you instead of waiting for you to come to us,” Henderson said.

The plan also implies a sense of community, and the dependence

of student’s success based on the success of the surrounding community.

“If every person in our community does not succeed, our whole community does not succeed,” Henderson said.

The presenter also reported that the states and universities which have already implemented this plan have had a positive response, “Evidence in other states with this funding service shows serious change,” Heisdorf said about a college in Florida.

The funding service is set to be a national movement with the hope that more students will benefit from the change.

Henderson said, “We’re going to bug you to death [about succeeding] because we care.”

3.13.19 NEWS 3

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Volunteers Give Back to Valley Children’s Hospital on 32nd Annual Kids Day

Rammie, FCC’s Mascot, standing out on the corner of Blackstone and McKinley asking for Kids Day donations for the newspaper Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Photo/Leticia Leal Leticia Leal | Reporter lleal@therampageonline.com

People from all around the Central Valley came together for the 2019 Kids Day March 5 to sell Kids Day edition of the Fresno Bee to raise funds for the Valley Children’s Hospital (VCH).

Volunteers stood out on the street in orange vests, asking for donations and passing out papers to help save the lives of children with serious medical conditions whose families are unable to afford their treatment.

Cruz Gonzalez, student at

CSU Fresno, said his fraternity Kappa Sigma has been camping out on Chestnut and Shepherd.

To secure their coveted spot, the fraternity camped out from 10 p.m the night before.

“Kids day is important because it brings the community together and helps give back to a community resource that’s given to us,” he said. Gonzalez said his organization has participated the past three years.

“Right after I was born my lungs weren’t fully developed and my chance of survival was very slim,” Gonzalez said, explaining

Jiayi Shen and Chelsea Pittman standing in the rain selling Kids Day newspapers on Weldon and Blackstone near FCC Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Photo/Leticia Leal

that VCH has always held a place close to his heart.

The staff cared for him until he made a full recovery. Gonzalez said that he will always do what he can to give back to VCH due to how much of a difference this hospital has made in his life.

“Kids Day hosts over 7,000 volunteers from more than 20 communities selling a special Kids Day edition of The Fresno Bee in exchange for a donation to the Hospital,” according to the Valley Children’s Foundation.

According to VCH, the hospital’s mission has always

been, “To provide high-quality, comprehensive healthcare services to children, regardless of their ability to pay, and to continuously improve the health and wellbeing of children.”

Rammie the Fresno City mascot along with many students were out selling papers as early as 4 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

Chelsea Pittman said she has been selling Kids Day papers for eight years and that her fundraising experience began at Hoover High School and has carried into her college experience at FCC.

“It’s a chance for these kids’ voices to be heard, and allows us to support them in their recovery,” Pittman said.

Lisa Souphone, nursing student, said she heard about this opportunity at work and knew she had to volunteer. “Started giving out papers at 4 a.m.,” Souphone said at the corner of McKinley and Blackstone, across the street from the college.

“Kids are our future,” she said.

“We are out here today to raise money for the kids who just want to be kids.”

Rammie alongside Lisa Souphone (right) standing on the corner of McKinley and Blackstone selling the Kids Day edition of the newspaper in rainy weather Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Photo/Leticia Leal

4 NEWS 3.13.19

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Native American History ‘You Aren’t Always Told in School’ Leticia Leal | Reporter lleal@therampageonline.com

The government rips you away from your family.

You are forced to grow up in a school; unfed, you eat what is left out for the dogs.

You are tied to a chair while your beautiful Native American hair is cut.

They ignore your howling and screaming that hair is only cut to honor and respect those who have passed, that your hair has meaning.

You are punished if you dare speak your native language, but you are just a kid.

Dovie Thomason, a Lakota/ Kiowa Native American and award-winning storyteller, told her story to a Fresno City College audience in the OAB auditorium on March 6.

“There must be accountability for the abuse of children,” she said. “All of us are here today because somebody protected us.”

Thomason, grew up learning old Native American stories which her grandmother and her ex father-in-law also known as “Dad” shared with her. She said she also learned from the Kiowa Apache along with her Lakota relatives.

The story highlighted the lives of Native American children who were ripped away from their families back in the 1870s. They were mistreated at the schools they were forced to live in.

“Families signed documents they were unable to read in exchange for rations of food,

unknowingly signing a document for the removal of their child,” Thomason said. This is how her grandmother lost her two sons, along with many others from the village.

Thomason explained the little known history of the schools where the kids were kept. She told the story of “Dad” growing up in the Mt. Elgin Indian Residential School and explained how children went to school for two to four hours a day and worked in the fields for eight hours a day.

The boys would sneak off to the barn together to speak their language, so they wouldn’t get caught and beaten.

When children fell ill because of the horrible living conditions in the schools, “Officials moved them off campus so the residential wouldn’t accommodate the body,” Thomason said.

“The children were eating crumbs of bread left out for birds, fighting the rats for scraps,” Thomason said her father-in-law told her. “They ate chicken, [the children] ate what they threw out the window for the dogs.

Half of the kids went blind from malnutrition.”

Thomason stressed the issue of present day schools not teaching students about all the abuse her people have encountered.

“I’ve visited high schools all the time,” she said. “I used to teach at more than one; we don’t teach this at our high schools or at many of our colleges.”

“

There must be accountability for the abuse of children, all of us are here today because somebody protected us.”

-Dovie Thomason

Dovie Thomason, speaks at the Fresno City College Auditorium March 6, 2019.

Photo/Leticia Leal

Adjunct Instructors Carry Heavy Load with Few Benefits Gisella Luna | Reporter gluna@therampageonline.com

In California, 68.9 percent of faculty at community colleges are part-time/contingent faculty.

At Fresno City College, that number could be higher, depending on the program.

Adjuncts represent the highest percentage of associate faculty working at California’s community colleges in over three decades, according to the website, Supporting California’s Community College Teaching Faculty.

Adjuncts are paid by the hour and are only allowed to teach a maximum of about nine units or nine hours a week, and while they can apply for a full-time position, there are very few guarantees.

“So long as teachers need money to live, they will continue accepting jobs as adjuncts,” said an adjunct instructor in the

humanities division who wishes to remain anonymous.

Adjuncts live with their families, carpool, and take additional jobs; they moonlight as substitutes and work in other fields related to their diplomas and expertise.

Many of the instructors interviewed for this story have asked to remain anonymous because they are afraid of termination or some other reprisals.

Adjunct instructors are paid hourly compared to full-timers who are paid a salary. Even something as basic as office hours are being paid by the hour. Just recently, some instructors were allowed 10 paid office hours a semester. In an 18 week semester, an instructor who is teaching two classes a week and offering more than an hour of office hours is not paid for that extra time.

Cody Hoover, who has been an English adjunct instructor

for two years at FCC, has had to teach at West Hills College at the same time plus snag a tutoring job at the writing and reading center.

“As an adjunct, you can only work two-thirds of a full load,” Hoover said. “So I am maxed out on teaching hours there and here.”

Current and former adjuncts say it shouldn’t have to be like this. “The system is unfair and ought to be re-examined in order to treat adjunct professors with dignity, respect and equanimity,” a former adjunct instructor said.

“I think that it’s important that our students know, [that their instructors are adjuncts]," Hoover said, “because they are getting taught by part-time people; a lot of us are transitory.”

Hoover and other professors say they believe it is important to tell their students that they are adjuncts and how the system is set up with adjuncts and full-

timers.

Hoover paints a picture of an adjunct traveling from school to school, here one semester, and there another. Such a life lacks consistency which serves as a problem for those who want to write letters of recommendation or for mentoring.

Adjuncts are having to travel between different community college campuses during the week to rack up enough pay to support themselves and whoever else depends on them. Those interviewed for this story said they would prefer to travel less and have the opportunity to teach full time at one college, doing what they love and what they went to school for.

“It is not fair that some are chosen as full-time faculty due to alliances carefully created while other hardworking and talented applicants are shunned,” said an adjunct instructor from the humanities department. “But that

will be the case so long as there are not enough positions.”

The same adjunct instructor added, “We need daring journalists who will call for an end to tenureship and favoritism.”

Adjunct instructors are not eligible for any benefits and are barred from teaching more classes because the Affordable Care Act mandate would have required they be given benefits.

Some professors who have gotten full-time positions after being an adjunct for many years, say they want a change for the rest of the adjunct instructors who have not received the same chance.

“I appreciate adjunct professors because I was adjunct, so I know their sacrifice and suffering,” a former adjunct instructor said. “And I appreciate all adjuncts and the work they are doing on the behalf of students.”

3.13.19 NEWS 5

COVER STORY

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TSS Seeks New Direction Following Departure of Director Ben Hensley | News Editor

“We have to store them [computers and other hardware] somewhere. So we run into issues of storage because turning physical space into storage for computers means that we can’t use them for classrooms,” Don Lopez, interim TSS director, said. Photo courtesy of anonymous TSS staffer.

bhensley@therampageonline.com

Brand new as well as used, non-working computer towers and screens stack high in the already cramped cubicles in the Technology Support Services office in the LI building.

Extension cords and mice and their cables hang out from boxes which, both empty and full, reach from the floor nearly to the ceiling.

Empty water jugs add to chaotic workspace that accommodate 15 technicians who call the building their office.

Clutter is just one of the numerous challenges plaguing TSS, the department which is responsible for everything from faculty computers and workstations to students’ access, plus Wi-Fi connectivity and Canvas accessibility -services which are pivotal to the operations of Fresno City College.

At the moment, the office is without a director, and seemingly without a clear direction, according to claims by several employees of TSS.

Filling the Musical Chairs

What is known is that with the Feb. 28 departure of Nathan Zierfuss-Hubbard, most recent director of TSS, the department is once again led by an acting director. This is the sixth change in TSS leadership in the last three years.

“The high turnover of directors of technology over the past few years has placed the division in disarray,” said a technology support staff in the office.

“TSS staff are constantly in a reactionary mode, doing the best they can to maintain a semblance of prioritized service to FCC students, faculty and staff.”

Numerous TSS staff said they were voicing their frustration about the high turnover rate of the director position anonymously because of fear of reprisal.

The departure of ZierfussHubbard after less than two months as director leaves the direction of the department uncertain for the time being.

Zierfuss-Hubbard, whose last day was Feb. 28, said he resigned to take a position with a university

within the CSU system; however, TSS has its most important role unfilled.

The high turnover in the TSS director position leaves the department without an acting director for the sixth time in three years.

Don Lopez, vice president of instruction has now added the interim director of technology to his responsibilities until another interim is found. Lopez held the position from 2005 to 2015 when the revolving door of TSS directors started. Harry Zahlis succeeded Lopez but left in 2019, giving way to Dante Alvarado.

FCC President Carole Goldsmith said that the administration intends to conduct a national search for Zierfuss-Hubbard’s replacement in order to stop the high turnover rate in the position.

Lopez added that the administration is searching for a replacement, but acknowledges that it will take the rest of the semester to find a full-time replacement for the TSS Director position because the vacancy is about a month away from being officially announced, and the hiring process itself typically takes about 60 days to select the right candidates.

“We are looking at candidates,” Lopez said, regarding the search.

“Our classification study with the district has just finished up so they’re in the middle of looking for about 90 positions for the entire district that are unfilled currently or that we’re working on.”

Lopez gave a positive outlook on the situation. “I would think that they would be ready to start announcing for that position in the next 30 days or so,” Lopez said about the search for Zierfuss-Hubbard’s replacement.

In the meantime, administration is searching for a part-time replacement to fill the space left following ZierfussHubbard’s resignation earlier this year in February.

The Space Issue

The constant turnovers in the director position is not the only problem handcuffing the TSS department’s ability to work

efficiently. The clutter in the state of the TSS office clearly demonstrates the situation.

“We’re just not good at the processing side of it,” Lopez said of the complicated process of storing outdated equipment. “We should be better at receiving and distributing those materials.”

Regarding the old equipment in the TSS office, Lopez explained that ordering new equipment and processing old equipment it is a balancing act. He added that the State Center Community College District’s lack of storage creates an ongoing problem for the department.

“We have to store them [computers and other hardware] somewhere,” Lopez said about the clutter. “So we run into issues of storage because turning physical space into storage for computers means that we can’t use them for classrooms.”

Lopez said the TSS department is looking to potentially rent space from the Fresno Unified School District to help alleviate some of the storage burden on the FCC campus.

Lopez also said that storage could be improved from within the department and the college administration.

Lopez said old resources must first be shipped off to the “boneyard”-an off campus site designated for equipment that is no longer being used-before they can be discarded.

Unfortunately this process takes time because old equipment cannot be tagged for disposal until new equipment has been purchased to replace the old ones.

“This fall, we deployed 800 [new] student computers,” Goldsmith said of new orders that the TSS department is responsible for. They are also in the midst of deploying 100 new faculty computers.

Goldsmith also said that the cause of the problem extends beyond the college.

“The district technology plan recognizes that we probably need to restructure and work better as a district,” Goldsmith said about the space issues plaguing TSS.

How does this affect students?

Many of the issues do not impact FCC students in a directly visible way, except for the perpetual connectivity problems with the Wi-Fi on campus.

Connectivity issues have plagued the campus at FCC for years now. Lopez says the college looks to alleviate the problem by starting an on-campus help desk as an offshoot of the primary help desk.

“We’ve been discussing following a model similar to what Fresno State does,” Lopez said.

“We would have a centralized point help desk on campus that could assist students in connecting to the Wi-Fi or answering a Canvas question, or showing them how to load Office 365.”

Currently there are three different campus based help centers across the district, but none is resident on the FCC campus.

“The way I’ve looked at it is to have it manned by students who would then be trained in how to do all of these different kind of things,” Lopez said. “It would be very similar to standard corporate environment where level one kinds of things could be handled by the technician on site; level two could be handled by our TSS staff members, and level three potentially to the district for those that we can’t seem to get answered.”

Lopez said that in addition to an on-campus help desk, the administration has hired an outside contractor to evaluate the on-campus network.

“We’ve got to do a better job in designing a way that the network hands off students from one side or one AP (access point) to the next as you go around campus,” Lopez said.

Despite the growing list of technology problems faced on a daily basis by the TSS staff, Goldsmith has high hopes for the future of the TSS department.

“I look forward to the districtwide technology plan that will probably shed some light on the fact that the colleges need more resources as it relates to technology.”

Technology Support Services Director Chronology

Don Lopez, Director of Technology (2005 –2016), promoted to FCC VP of Instruction yet remains direct supervisor of Director of Technology and of Technology Support Services division.

Harry Zahlis, Former FCC Network Coordinator, Temporary Director of Technology (1/ 2016 – 1/2018)

Dante Alverado, Director of Technology (1/2018 – 8/2018)

Doug Schreiner, FCC Systems Technician, Temporary Director of Technology (8/2018 – 9/2018)

John Bengtson, Retired D.O. Director of Information Svcs, Interim Director of Technology (10/2018 - 1/2019)

Nathan Zierfuss-Hubbard, Director of Technology (1/19 – 2/2019), resigned.

Icon by Putra Theoo, ID from The Noun Project

6 ENTERTAINMENT

3.13.19

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Three of the five inspirational books highlighted in this feature that are well worth a read. Illustration/Peter Lopez Peter Lopez | Entertainment Editor

W

plopez@therampageonline.com

hether you want to be a freelance writer in the video game world, master a Hispanic recipe or two, or learn how to finally clean up your act and cast aside personal demons, books can definitely be the answer and your saving grace.

Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Write

by Nathan Meunier

“Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Write: The Freelance Guide to Video Game Journalism,” written by seasoned freelance writer Nathan Meunier, is a wonderful book which aims to educate the aspiring freelance writer who wishes to conduct business within the video game spectrum.

Meunier’s book, which currently sells for $14.99 via Amazon, includes 32 informative chapters and 230 humorous yet absolutely essential pages, ranges from getting started as a freelance writer to conducting business as an industry professional.

Not knowing how to begin a freelance career can be incredibly daunting and may stray aspiring writers away from their hopes and dreams, but “Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Write” provides the reader with a simplistic approach to the profession which can eliminates the initial fear of getting started.

The book will hold your hand and guide you towards success if utilized properly.

It’s absolutely worth a read and is mostly, although not exclusively, meant for those who want to write for large video game publications.

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

by Jordan B. Peterson

Life is a struggle, and it’s even worse for those without a complete sense of direction. “12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos,” written by the controversial Jordan B. Peterson, is a book which provides structure for those who are without.

Although this book requires a bit of reading comprehension, as it takes a little time to digest and wrap your head around a few of Peterson’s examples, it does manage to hit home and serve as an eye-opener for those with whom it resonates.

As the name suggests, there are 12 rules, or chapters, included in this book which are meant to lead lost individuals down the right path while avoiding “chaos.” Chapters like “Standing up straight with your shoulders back” and “Pet a cat when you encounter one on the street” are simple chapters to understand but impact life greatly.

Peterson’s book is a #1 national bestseller and #1 international bestseller.

Although some of the following may require a bit of time to comprehend, each of these books are absolutely worth a read. Without further ado, here are five books that will warm your heart, heal your soul, place your life on the right track and more.

Recovery: Freedom From Our Addictions

by Russell Brand

English funny man and actor, Russell Brand, has written a book called “Recovery: Freedom From Our Additions” which takes a honest, yet witty, stroll down recovery lane.

“Recovery,” is retailing on Amazon for $16.07 and takes a derivative yet helpful and honest approach through the 12 steps of recovery found within the organization, Alcoholics Anonymous.

Brand’s approach to the 12 steps of recovery can tend to be comedic at times, but this perspective often provides a more pleasurable and digestible read. Rather than supplying the reader with a boring “this is what you did wrong and here’s how to fix it,” attitude, Brand manages to take a more down-toearth slant on recovery by implementing personal examples and behaviors.

This, in essence, allows the reader to feel a sense of community, as they are not alone in the struggle and gridlock that is addiction.

The Red Sea Bride

by Sylvia Fowler

Although riddled with typos, “The Red Sea Bride,” written by Sylvia Fowler, is absolutely worth a read.

This 20 chapter book, which sells on Amazon for $14.99, includes a tale of love, trust, family, oppression and more, as a young Western woman converts to Islam for the love of her life and moves to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for roughly 20 years.

As a young woman with dreams and strength of her own, and a young child to boot, Sylvia must choose between a life of oppression or independence, which the latter is definitely hard to come by for women in the Middle East.

Like Water for Chocolate

by Laura Esquirel

“Like Water for Chocolate”, written by Laura Esquirel and sells - at the time of this writing - for $9.70 via Amazon, is quite the love story which takes place over the course of a year.

This Hispanic novel highlights a young and spirited girl named Tita who is very much in love with a young man named Pedro. Although they wish to be together forever, completely enchanted by love and lust, alternative events prove otherwise which makes for a spicy yet delicious read.

This book also provides the reader with original and tasty Mexican-style dishes, ranging from baked goods to turkey mole with almonds and sesame seeds. There are 12 recipes in all, each for every month of the year.

3.13.19 ENTERTAINMENT 7

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Sean Stoll as The Aviator and Anthony TeNyenhuis as the Little Prince discuss their experiences as they’re stranded in the desert. Photo Courtesy of James Knudsen

‘The Little Prince’ Hits Center Stage at FCC Blake Evans | Reporter bevans@therampageonline.com

The Fresno City College Theatre Department’s play “The Little Prince,” by Rick Cummins and John Scoullar began its run on Friday, March 1. The play ran until Saturday, March 9.

“The Little Prince” is an experience that simply can’t be missed. While unusual by today’s standards, it’s unconventional nature is a reason to see it. The play is also a great experience for anyone who wants to reconnect with their inner child.

“The Little Prince,” based on a children’s book by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, is about an aviator stranded in a desert who meets a young alien boy, named The

Little Prince, who tells the man his history in a series of vignettes.

Though not explicitly a “children’s” play, the show is family-friendly and kid appropriate. What particularly stands out is its surrealist atmosphere. “The Little Prince” is reminiscent of stories like Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” or Roald Dahl books in terms of atmosphere.

In a landscape of subversive children’s media, the earnestness of “The Little Prince” is where the play truly shines. “The Little Prince” feels very different from modern children’s media, in that it lacks the pop cultural references, snarky dialogue, and jokes for the parents that have

become routine in kid’s films like “Shrek” or “The Emoji Movie.”

Yet the absence of these elements makes the play feel remarkably fresh and recaptures a childhood innocence.

The story is largely told in self contained flashbacks told by the Little Prince. In effect, the play is far less narrative focused and more character driven.

The play focuses with the zany characters the Prince meets in his adventures. For example, the Prince’s attempt at taming a fox.

Luckily, the side characters of the play truly shine.

Much like “Alice in Wonderland” much of the story largely chronicles the Little Prince meeting wacky and

interesting characters in his travels. The actors deliver hammy and over the top performances of these characters which really helps root the story in the children’s storybook tradition.

Particular standouts were Quincy Maxwell’s King, and Geovany Calderon’s Conceited Man. What made these performances notable were the actors’ ability to immerse themselves in the role.

Additionally, the great comedic timing of these two actors managed to help their jokes land.

In addition to the exaggerated characters, the unique staging decisions of the play created the dreamlike atmosphere.

For example, the twinkling

sound effects and the minimal usage of music felt mystical, yet eerie due to its scarcity.

During scene transitions, the play uses stage hands carrying streamers to indicate the start of new scenes. This abstract representation of a transition only adds to the play’s weirdness.

One smart directing choice was the portrayal of the drawing scenes. A major plot point is that the Aviator character is also a bit of an artist, and enjoys drawing in his sketchbook. In the play, the drawings of the Aviator are created and shown on a projector so that Aviator’s drawings are visible to the audience.

Tioga Sequoia hosts 4Th Tim Burton Tribute Art Show Angel de Jesus Jr. | Reporter adejesus@therampageonline.com

Fans of Tim Burton were treated to an art show on Saturday March 2, organized by Henry Contreras of the Fresno Underground Art Collective.

Tioga Sequoia in downtown Fresno was filled with not just fans of Tim Burton’s art, but vendors, artists showcasing their work, as well as fans of his eclectic style that appeals to our dark and sinister side while still reminding us of our inner child.

Open to all ages, catering trucks were on hand providing tacos, and for those of drinking age a selection of unique cold drafts were supplied by Tioga Sequoia.

Attendees gathered to see the collection being showcased by various local artists using a

variety of materials from oil, acrylic, screenprints, and even sculpture. All were there to share how Burton’s works inspired their lives.

Each of the 17 artists were carefully selected for their individual style and flare for the event by Henry Contreras, a long-time Burton fan himself since watching the 1982 short film entitled “Vincent.” “I have to have that reaction. I have to see it and go, ‘Whoa, that’s nice,” said Contreras.

Henry and his wife Juliet were both there, not just displaying their work but selling her beaded jewelry and screenprints, while other artists like Caroline Vecchio sold prints of various sizes as well as cards.

David and Caroline Vicchio prepare their 5 foot tall sandworm at Tioga Sequoia Brewing Company at a Time Burton art tribute, Saturday, March 2, 2019. Photo/Angel De Jesus Jr.

Caroline and her husband David, who are veterans to the event, showcased their various art pieces both on canvas and sculpture, including a 5 foot tall sandworm. Inspired by her father who was an artist himself, Caroline has been a fan since watching the 1988 film “Beetlejuice.”

Other artists like Brandy Medina, who contributed for the first time, recalled being a Burton

fan since she was a kid. Medina’s work was displayed mostly in acrylic. But prints of her work were on hand for those interested for purchase.

“I’ve been a Tim Burton fan since ‘Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure,’ it was one of his first movies, back when he was working for Warner [Bros]. A lot of people don’t realize that,” tattoo artist Zoombie Laurel said. He operates a local tattoo studio called

Zoombie Nation between the Tower District and downtown Fresno.

Regardless of the canvas used, whether it was oil, acrylic, or skin, each artist brought their own individuality to the event, uniting everyone through their enjoyment of Burton’s list of works, style, tacos, and cold beer, and showing how one artist can inspire so many more, and ourselves through his work.

8 ENTERTAINMENT

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Collaged Text Gives Human for Scale Life Tamika Rey | News Editor trey@therampageonline.com

Philadelphia based artist, Jibade-Khalil Huffman partnered with Fresno City College to bring his showcase “Human for Scale” to the Art Space Gallery from March 4, 2019 until April 11, 2019.

As you enter the gallery, the distinct artwork can be observed in motion, as it is projected onto every wall, portraying what is seemingly general text. But upon closer look and observation, the art tells a story unlike any of the other contemporary art that has been exhibited thus far.

“I guess the best place to start is with the idea of wall text. If you think about the last time you went to a museum or gallery there’s usually some writing like a text panel on the wall that will kind of give you information about what you are looking at,” Elena Harvey Collins, the gallery curator, said.

“And what he’s done with this exhibition is take that idea and kind of play with it so we don’t really have a kind of explanation of what’s going on. Instead you

have in the place of that this poem which is in these kind of fragments that kind of travel around the room,” Collins said.

Script containing thought provoking text such as, “‘An Ampersand,’ a trampled and sanded down Tasmania a tailwind on the surface a sure fire didactic,” can be observed and interpreted by art enthusiasts.

Huffman, who was a 201516 artist-in-residence at the Studio Museum in Harlem has won multiple awards and has an MFA from Brown University in Literary Arts and an MFA from the University of Southern California, according to Collins.

Huffman was able to incorporate FCC’s students into his art as a monologue scene.

Students are observed in scenes that jump from one perspective to the next quickly, which was inspired by the 1977 movie “A Piece of the Action” starring Sidney Poitier, Bill Cosby, James Earl Jones, and Sheryl Lee Ralph.

“Sheryl Lee Ralph is railing against what she describes as boogie black folk basically and them kind of judging her and looking down on her,” Collins

said. Ralph takes on class and colorism as well, Collins said.

“He is interested in the kind of gap between images and words.

So in a lot of his work he’ll pair text with film; with (stationary) images and moving images of some kind and when you do that your brain kind of starts to fill in the space,” Collins said. The images don’t correspond with the text or the audio, she said.

“For me when I look at this I just get lots of kind of different ideas resonating and some things which kind of are sort of disturbing or strange or some things which are really beautiful and kind of flow together,” said Collins.

In other pieces he’s looked at our [White] culture’s relationship to blackness and black cultural production and what it means to consume that,” Collins said.

“And I don’t think that’s as big of a theme in this show but that’s certainly like a thing about his work and that’s kind of what is coming through in some of his sound on this video.”

Huffman will be back March 28 to do a performance in the gallery.

An abstract piece by artist, Jibade-Khalil Huffman displayed at the Art Space Gallery on Thursday, March 7, 2019. Huffman is a New York based artist whose work will be on display from March 4 through April 11, 2019. Photo/Ben Hensley

Renaissance Feast scholarships Change lives The Latin Jazz Ensemble Flies to the Moon

Ramon Castanos | Reporter rcastanos@therampageonline.com

Fresno City College hosted a Renaissance Feast on Saturday March 9 from 6-9:30 p.m., which helped raise scholarship money for students reaching the goal of $115,000.

The feast, which has been around for 15 years, included theater performances provided by students, Greek music provided by faculty, food for attendees, and the opportunity for Renaissance enthusiasts to cosplay as ancient Greeks.

The Renaissance Feast theater performances have been around for two years and have increased attendance, according to Coordinator of Performances, Neil Becker.

“We made considerable more money than last year for student scholarships,” said Becker.

SCCCD employees also came to the event in effort to help raise money for students in need of scholarships. Funding for endowments also came from ticket sales, sponsorships, and live auctions.

FCC President Dr. Carole Goldsmith, who has attended the event for the past three years, was also in attendance and helped during the fundraiser.

“We believe transforming life for education,” said Goldsmith, “the issue is that some of our students have barriers and events like this helps out with scholarships.”

Don who has attend the Renaissance Feast for 15 years said, “I want more money for scholarships because every dime we raise helps somebody to get

Gisella Luna | Reporter gluna@therampageonline.com

A student doing a performance of an ancient Greek in the FCC library, March 9, 2019.

Photo/Ramon Castanos

through school.” He encouraged his friends, family, and colleagues to go the event to help raise money for students’ scholarships.

According to FCC Scholarship Specialist Josephine Llanos, “Students can apply to scholarships online.” The school looks over the academic scholarships, and later they pick students to go to the Renaissance Feast to receive their rewards.

Gina Cuttone, State Center Community College Foundation Board President, showed up to the event and helped present scholarships to students.

According to Cuttone, the

Foundation Board matches donations $5,000 or greater.

The Central California Community Foundation gave $25,000 for the scholarship donation.

Reedley college student, Austin Salazar, received a scholarship from the event and presented a speech to the crowd. The scholarships helped her to buy her books. Salazar has five children, which makes purchasing expensive learning materials difficult.

“It is an amazing thing to get a scholarship which it allows me to go to school still,” she said.

The division of fine, performing and communication arts performed their Latin Jazz ensemble, Jazz singers and Jazz combos concert at Fresno City College on Tuesday, March 12 in the theatre to an audience of enthusiastic music lovers.

The performance was a collection of different jazz musicians from FCC’s music department with a couple special guests. The night was intended to be uplifting and fun.

And uplifting and fun it was.

As soon as the doors open you are greeted by students and staff with a program and any information you need. As you walk into the theater the stage is lit up with blue and purple lights and a still image of “Jazz Bubbles” shining onto the inner walls of the stage.

There are instruments of all kinds from a piano, a bass, a drum set and a saxophone in the middle of the stage surrounded by microphones, music stands, speakers and lots of wires.

The show started at 7:30 p.m.

When doors opened at seven there was already a line of 10 people waiting to go in. By 7:20 the theater was comfortably filled with families, friends and supporters. When the show started, the director of jazz studies, Paul Lucckesi, stepped

on stage greeted the audience and gave information about future concerts happening at FCC. The opening performance was put on by the jazz combo, performing songs like “West Coast Blues” by Wes Montgomery and “Bye Bye Blackbird” by Ray Henderson/ Mort Dixon. The first saxophone solo drew thunderous applause.

The set changes could have used a little house music to make the theater less quiet and awkward but once the band was ready and started performing it made up for it. When the jazz singers came out with their band, they were ready to show off their vocals and were in great harmony.

Nhi Nguyen, a singer from the group, sang “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra, along with the band, which gave the jazz singers’ performance a sweet and lighthearted ending.

The concert’s end left you wanting to jump up and grab a dancing partner. The conductor, George Ramirez, was very excited to show the audience. “This is gonna be fun, hang on to your seats,” Ramirez said, as they performed music that made you feel like you were in Cuba singing and dancing with the street musicians.

3.13.19

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CAMPUS VOICES

OPINION 9

The Green New Deal Is Important – Why Aren’t We Talking About It?

Sarah Chavez | Assistant Opinion Editor schavez@therampageonline.com

Are you worried about climate change and how it will affect your future ?

Image courtesy of Flickr.

Angel Valdez

Communications Major

“Personally, yes I am. I am really worried about the air quality especially for people who are sensitive.”

Cathel Grealy Undecided

“No, I am not really worried about it. Whatever the climate is my future is still going to be my future.”

Ruby Medina Nursing Major

“Yes, I think it really affects the agriculture and animals which will affect our food sources.”

Sandy Valdez

Kinesiology Major

“Yes, I’m worried about it, but the only thing that worries me is the polar bears.”

Sarah Chavez | Assistant Opinion Editor schavez@therampageonline.com

The Green New Deal is a program aimed at lowering our carbon footprint, eliminating our dependency on fossil fuels, producing jobs and building infrastructure to avert climate catastrophe. I believe by implementing this proposition we would be able to positively change and eliminate our carbon emissions.

It is not a new concept, actually first mentioned in 2007 by Thomas Friedman in The New York Times, but only started gaining real attention when Alexandria OcasioCortez started talking about it in detail and calling for a real plan.

We are running out of time, so we need to have a plan such as the GND in order to ensure the safety of our future especially since we are the ones that are going to have to endure whatever environmental and financial crisis that we will ultimately inherit. It is no longer an option to try to ignore the dire situation that we have created for ourselves.

Young activists have tried and tried to get the one political party that would likely

agree to sit down in the future to talk about a plan for the GND to make it a reality, but the Democratic party seems to be avoiding any talk of the GND and climate change all together.

Personally, I am very disappointed that there are so many Democrats willing to ignore this serious topic that we all need to be paying attention to and working together to try and solve.

According to a report by the IPCC, “Global Warming of 1.5°c” we have just a little over a decade before we change the very nature of our world.

Ocasio-Cortez is one of the few people in the Democratic party who has been willing to take a stand and speak out in favor of the matter. The activist group for the GND has made it clear that they just want a commitment from the Democratic party to make a plan in the future, but OcasioCortez has other plans.

Ocasio-Cortez wants to speed things up by asking for a committee on the GND’s behalf which is already proving to be difficult with Republican pushback.

One of the agreements for

said committee would be that no one who accepts the fossil fuel industry’s money should be allowed in the committee.

This would mean that a chunk of the Democratic party itself would not be able to be part of the GND committee.

On Feb. 7, Ocasio-Cortez and Ed Markey released a 14 page resolution stating their plans for their idea of the GND. They would like to influence the U.S. into using only 100% renewable and clean energy. They would focus on investments to electric cars and high-speed rail systems.

Their resolution would be that we would reduce our carbon footprint as much as we possibly can.

This may appear like the matter is out of the civilians hands and that there is little for us to do at the moment, but the fact that we are able to talk about the matter should be good enough.

The people in charge are going to dictate the future they won’t live to see. That is our problem. That should raise a lot of eyebrows, especially for the majority of Americans.

It may be “too political” or “stressful” to take time out

of your day to pick a stance, but the GND brings up a lot of questions for the future of where our energy comes from, how it affects our environment, and how it will affect the economy.

There are a lot of younger people who would rather not get into politics for fear it might cause some disturbance between friendships and family members, but this affects our very livelihood and the livelihood of the next generation that we would bring into this world.

Many who are afraid of change argue that if the U.S. took on the Green New Deal and dramatically changed our economy, not only would it be an outrageous expense but the U.S. would be alone in the world--sacrificing everything for everyone, getting nothing in return.

Even if we were the only country implementing this proposition it would still make a difference because our country leads the world. And in a situation where life as we know it is rapidly approaching a cliff, no expense is too high.

The Central Valley Feeds the Country and The World Emily Perez | Reporter eperez@therampageonline.com

The Central Valley is often looked past. It doesn’t seem like much. What it does, not only for California, but for the rest of the country--and world--doesn’t seem to be acknowledged.

When someone thinks of California they do not think of Fresno, Bakersfield, Madera, etc. and those people may not know what these cities and towns produce or provide.

California continues to set the pace for the rest of the nation as the country’s largest agricultural producer and exporter, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

According to the U.S Geological Services the Central Valley supplies eight percent of U.S. agricultural output and produces 1/4 of the nation’s food, including

40 percent of the nation’s fruits, nuts and other table foods.

According to the USGS website, more than 250 different crops are grown in the Central Valley, and it holds an estimated value of $17 billion per year.

The valley was almost made to become what it is today, one of the leading producers of various types of foods, with the world’s largest patch of Class 1 soil, the best there is.

Not only does the Central Valley agricultural business feed the country, it also provides jobs to those living here.

A study done by the University of California has shown that the total number of farmworkers employed in agriculture is 829,300.

With almonds becoming a big industry in recent years, according to the Almond Board of California, the almond industry contributed about 97,000 jobs to

the Central Valley.

According to the California agricultural exports, almonds rank first among the agricultural commodities exported from California, accounting for more than $5 billion in 2015, exporting to destinations such as Spain, China, India, Germany and Japan.

Stated by the CDFA, California is the country’s biggest exporter of many agricultural commodities, supplying more than 99 percent of almonds, artichokes, dates, dried plums, figs, garlic, kiwifruit, olives and olive oil, pistachios, raisins, table grapes and walnuts.

The foods the Valley produces and exports are vital to not only maintain trade, but the economy.

So when you watch a movie and think Hollywood, its equivalent to when you eat an almond and think of the Central Valley.

Image Courtesy of Flickr.

10 SPORTS 3.13.19

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Rams Heating up and in Playoff Form

Rams Advance in Playoffs Following Win Over Sacramento City College Alberto Granados | Reporter agranados@therampageonline.com

The Fresno City College men’s basketball game was one to watch on a rainy Saturday night on March 2, seeing the Rams eliminate Sacramento City College in the second round of the CCCAA Northern Regional playoffs.

Sacramento City finishes the year 16-14, while the Rams move on to the third round with an overall record of 26-3.

Both teams were on fire from beyond the three-point line, with SCC hitting 10 of 17 from downtown, compared to the Rams’ eight out of 20, led by sophomore guard David Rico, who shot five for five from three-point land.

The beginning of the game was a nail biter, with both teams scoring left and right.

SCC seemed to have a game plan in mind, trying to get Ethan Richardson to the free throw line.

Richardson was a 63.6 percent

free throw shooter on the year.

Richardson went on to hit seven out of eleven free throw shots which was good news for FCC. Foul trouble hit SCC hard early, totalling 10 fouls in the half, five of which coming within the opening five minutes.

SCC came out with an intensity and seemed to score at will despite the foul trouble. The Rams, who trailed early, caught fire near the end of the half, leading to a halftime tie game 42-42.

The Rams came out of the locker room firing, with Rico shooting back to back threes putting the Rams ahead.

Rico had 17 points on the night. Richardson led Rams’ scoring with 33 points, and sophomore guard Georgie Dancer totalled 21 points.

The defense for the Rams turned solid in the second half,

with the Rams able to keep SCC in a scoring drought and also giving them an advantage in scoring on the fastbreak.

Both teams played hard but FCC was able to finish of the game with a final score of 91-77.

“We got to give them credit, they hit some amazing shots,” head coach Ed Madec said after the game. Madec gave credit where credit is due. SCC gave FCC a run for their money but in the end the Rams came out on top.

With this win, the Rams advance to round three of the playoffs. They will now face a tough opponent in Yuba College, who are 25-4 and are the 7th seed in the playoffs.

Round three of the playoffs for the Rams will be held on Saturday March 9, 2019 at 7 p.m. in the gymnasium at FCC.

Jared Small goes in for a layup against Sacramento City College during the Rams’ 91-77 win on March 2, 2019. Photo/Ben Hensley

Rams Defeat Yuba College in Home Finale Ben Hensley | Sports Editor bhensley@therampageonline.com

The Fresno City College Rams’ basketball team improved their overall record to 27-3 and advance to the CCCAA elite eight in the playoffs following an 81-72 win over Yuba College on March 9, 2019.

Georgie Dancer and Ethan Richardson totalled a combined 45 points on the night as the Rams fought their way past Yuba on the heels of a high scoring second half, seeing the teams combine for 92 total points in the second frame.

“I don’t think we stopped them,” head coach Ed Madec said following the win. “I think they scored every time. I think we just kept scoring back and forth. Neither team could stop either team.”

Starting the game with height on the floor in the names of sophomore forward Carn Snyder and Richardson both on the floor.

“Game plan going in was to wear

them down and be tougher,” Madec said following the game. “At the end of the day, our game plan is just to be tougher and more fundamental and defend and rebound.”

The first half kept the score tight, seeing both teams exchange blows early. Dancer caught fire early in the game, knocking down both of the three pointers he attempted.

Eventually the Rams pulled away, leading by seven at halftime, 34-27.

“I love my teammates man,” Dancer said following the win. “It’s our last game on this court we’re never gonna play on again. It was a special two years here.”

Dancer along with Richardson led the scoring, along with sophomore forward Carl Snyder who had 11 points on the night.

“Those are our leaders. Those are our guys,” Madec said about his star players Richardson and Dancer after the game. “We’ve rode them all year long. Those guys are our big dogs.”

The Rams were in good defensive form with five blocks paired with 25 total rebounds, led by Richardson with nine.

Yuba did their best to come back in the second half, only being outscored by two points in the second half, but it was too little too late. Both teams scored in bunches in the second half, ending the half 47-45 in favor of the Rams.

“You gotta give them credit. They played really hard,” Madec respectfully said of Yuba.

With the win, the Rams advance in the playoffs as one of the final eight teams from the CCCAA. They look to move on to the state final four as they face Chaffey College on Thursday March 14 at 3 p.m. Chaffey College comes into the game with a record of 23-7 after defeating West Los Angeles College 82-77 in overtime on Saturday, March 9.

Georgie Dancer dishes a pass to Ronald Agebsar during the Rams’ 81-72 win over Yuba College on Saturday, March 9, 2019. Photo/Ben Hensley

Playoff basketball is underway as Ronald Agebsar elevates to gain posession at the tip off during the Rams’ 81-72 win against Yuba College on Saturday, March 9, 2019. Photo/Ben Hensley

3.13.19

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SPORTS 11

Women’s Basketball Falls to CCSF 86-74, Ending Season With Back-To-Back Losses Omari Bell | Reporter obell@therampageonline.com

Rams’ womens’ basketball coach Alex Fletcher meets with his team near the bench during their game against Merced College on Jan. 30, 2019. Photo/Ben Hensley

Freshman Guard Jordyn Brown rises above the defense for a shot against Reedley College on Feb. 20, 2019. Photo/Ben Hensley

At one point in the third quarter, the Rams led this game by three, playing well enough on both ends of the floor, maintained their energy, charged back from any CCSF run, in hopes of advancing to the second round of the NorCal Regional playoffs, and lost; ending their season with a three game losing streak on the road.

Despite the loss, the Rams played well throughout the season, with an overall of winning 18 games and 12 losses.

Averaging 74.9 points per game, 37.1 rebounds per game, and 13.8 assists per game, the Rams only downfall was height and a higher three point percentage, only averaging just above 30 percent for the season.

Forced to adapt to the height and quality of each team, sophomores Jerrene Richardson, Liz Parker, and freshman guard, Jordyn Brown, stepped up their roles on the team. Richardson averaged 16.8, Parker 8.2, and Brown 9.3 points per game to end the season, but found

themselves with first year head coach Alex Fletcher, turning a corner towards the end of February going into the month of March.

FCC, who grabbed their 18th win of the season against West Hills-Lemoore, headed into their final three games with a chance to end their season off on a high note.

The Rams, ended their conference play losing to Reedley College 76-73 and Merced College dominated the women with a 90-55 win on the road.

After trailing most of the first round playoff game, FCC had its most productive third quarter, scoring 29 points on 43.9 percent shooting from the field, heading into the fourth quarter with a 61-58 lead.

Failing to execute the game plan on defense, the Rams lost all momentum towards the last few minutes of the game when CCSF began to pull away, scoring 28 points in the fourth quarter compared to FCC’s 13.

Moving forward, and with the Rams having eight returning players next season and a whole

new recruiting class, FCC looks to keep a familiar mindset going into this upcoming fall.

Penelope Kastsaridis and Jordyn Brown both earned second-team all league in the Central Valley Conference.

“Jordyn Brown had a good freshman season,” head coach Alex Fletcher said.

Brown finished the season off with a field goal percentage of 30.5 and shooting 26.0 from behind the three-point arc, and scored 19 points in her first collegiate state playoff game.

“But we play everyone.

Everyone has a job on the team,” Fletcher said. “Coming into my first season as a head coach, my goals were to run a good program, create a safe environment for my players where they could succeed and get better. Really focus on development throughout the whole year, and also doing everything with respect, holding one another accountable as well as a high standard.”

“Definitely will be good to continue to work and get better,” Fletcher said.

Rams Back in the Win Column Against Taft Connor Stevens | Reporter cstevens@therampageonline.com

The Fresno City College baseball team had a bounce back game against Taft College, Friday March 8. The Rams were able to put on an offensive show for their fans and come away with a 12-8 victory over the rival Cougies at Euless Park.

It was an absolute rollercoaster of a game in the pitching department in which both teams combined for 19 walks while also striking out a combined 23.

Though pitching wasn’t the main headline whatsoever, the Rams got a quality start out of Eddie Rios. Rios worked five innings of four hit ball, allowing three runs and striking out five.

FCC was able to get some major run support for their starting pitcher as four different players had a multi-RBI game, led by outfielder Josh May who went 1-3 with 3 RBIs of his own in the win.

Though the bats were hot for the home team, the Rams were also able to take advantage of the early pitching struggles from Taft. The first two men who came to the plate for FCC were walked. A Kohl Simas single later in the inning would bring in two runs and give the Rams an early 2-0 upperhand.

FCC waited a few innings before their monstrous eight-run 4th inning in which 12 men came to bat. The Rams would spread out six hits and receive some help from the opposing side with five base-onballs, including a hit-by-pitch.

That was more than enough room for starting pitcher Rios to work with.

“

“We just need to win tomorrow, that’s the main thing.”

-Ron Scott Rams’ Head Coach Starting pitcher Eddie Rios mid-windup against Taft College Friday, March 8, 2019. Rios would get the win on the day as he pitched five innings of four hit ball while striking out five in the Rams 12-8 victory. Photo/Conner Stevens

Rios played a key part in the FCC win as he followed the first inning run support with a shutdown inning of his own, getting the Rams back up to the plate. Rios put in five innings on the day allowing three runs on four hits, while striking out five.

The Rams went back and forth with the Taft the rest of the game. Each team scratching across a run here and there, but the away Cougies could not overcome the huge deficit.

Besides the four run ninth inning Taft was able to put together, with the help

of 6 walks given by FCC and a single to left field, there was no real threat of a comeback and the Rams were able to seal the deal and walk away with a 12-8 win and force a decisive rubber match.

“It was a good bounce back because we played really bad yesterday,” Coach Ron Scott said after the game. In the prior game, the Rams played anything but their best ball on the year, suffering an 11-2 loss to Taft.

An offensive showing like this one could be just what the Rams needed to get back

on track after their previous struggles.

Scott put it plain and simple when asked about his thoughts on a rubber match against Taft, “We just need to win tomorrow, that’s the main thing.”

With the win, the Rams improved 1-1 in conference to go with a 12-6 record overall before defeating Taft 10-4 on Saturday afternoon in Taft. The Rams continue conference play this week with a three game series against current conference leading Reedley College.

12 SPORTS 3.13.19

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Rams Get the Upper Hand Against Reedley in First Game of Three Ben Hensley | Sports Editor bhensley@therampageonline.com

The rain poured, the strikeouts racked up and the Fresno City College baseball team came away victorious 11-5 on Tuesday night in their game against the Reedley College Tigers.

Fighting not only the opposition, but the weather as well, the Rams’ starting pitcher Jiovanni Saavedra pitched seven very strong innings of two hit baseball, striking out nine and walking only one.

“He pitched well. It was what we needed,” Rams’ head coach Ron Scott said following the win.

“I was hoping he wouldn’t be flat.

It’s kind of a rival game [if] you know our district so we needed him to pitch like he did and he did a great job.”

Not to be outdone, the Rams’ bats also came into the game with a lot of firepower, scoring four runs by the end of the second inning, and piling on seven more by the end of the game.

The scoring started right from the start of the game, with leadoff hitter Chet Allison blasting a triple to deep center field, landing him 90 feet away with no outs. After Chase Prieto popped out to first and Ian Ross struck out, Kohl Simas walked on seven pitches and Adam Munoz singled, driving in the first Rams’ run of the game.

With a 1-0 lead, the Rams would tack on three more runs in the bottom of the second, the most dramatic of which coming off the bat of an Ian Ross triple which plated both Chet Allison and Chase Prieto.

Following a fielding error by Saavedra in the top of the fourth allowing Tigers’ second baseman Deagan Risnes, the Tigers got their first run off a sacrifice fly off the bat of third baseman Henry Degnan, bringing the score to 4-1.

And then the rain came.

Fans and players alike sat for nearly 40 minutes as the skies opened up and showered Euless Park with a steady rain. With the tarps on the mound and plate, the pace ground to a halt.

That all changed as soon as the tarps came off when Rams’ shortstop Antonio Noriega reached on a double after Tigers’ shortstop Alex Ortiz misplayed a popout allowing Noriega to reach safely.

By the end of the inning, two more FCC runs had come across the plate.

“After the rain, we just wanted to get a run or two just to try to let everybody know we were still playing here,” Scott said of the Rams’ offense.

Offensively, FCC ended with 11 runs on 12 hits and added six walks to the basepaths.

“We did a good job hitting,” Scott said of the Rams’ offense.

“Prieto had three hits. Rocamora had a good night. We did well.”

Saavedra continued to pitch strong, finishing the game with 114 pitches, nine strikeouts and only allowing two base hits. He walked one in the game.

FCC catcher Noah Perez tacked on the final blow from the Rams-a home run leading off the bottom of the eighth innings, putting the Rams up 11-3.

Rams’ pitchers Justin Henry and Joel Bustos closed out the game on the mound for the Rams, who saw their lead cut to six following two unearned runs in the top of the ninth.

The Rams look to extend their three game winning streak when they face Reedley in the second game of the series on Thursday at Reedley.

With the win, the Rams move to second place in the Central Valley Conference of the CCCAA, with an overall record of 14-6, and a conference record of 3-1, trailing COS who is an undefeated 4-0 in conference play.

The Rams look to continue their winning ways this Saturday at Euless Park when they wrap up their three game set with the Tigers at 1 p.m.

Jiovanni Saavedra goes into his delivery against Reedley College during the Rams’ 11-5 win on a rainy Tuesday March 12 performance. Photo/Ben Hensley

Travis Moore drives the ball into center field during the Rams’ 11-5 win against rival Reedley College on Tuesday March 12, 2019.Photo/Ben Hensley

SPORTS CALENDAR 3/14/19 Softball vs. West Hills Coalinga 3/14/19 Men’s Tennis vs. Foothill

3/16/19 Softball vs. Butte 3/16/19 Softball vs. West Valley 3/16/19 Baseball vs. Reedley 3/19/19 Softball vs. Taft 3/19/19 Softball vs. Taft 3/21/19 Baseball vs. Porterville 3/26/19 Baseball vs. COS

2:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

11:00a.m.

3:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.