Going home for the holidays: cheer or drear?

COURTESY // darkimp.com

Winter break is just around the corner for all of us burnt-out college students. Returning home can be a nice change of pace from school but stressful situations are bound to arise. Whether that be navigating through old friendships, getting overwhelmed by family members or worrying about overspending on holiday gifts. 

This is not an uncommon occurrence, this season is notorious for rises in stress levels. A recent study done by the American Psychiatric Association found that, “31% of adults say they expect to feel more stressed this upcoming holiday season compared to last.” The question is; how do we combat this unwanted stress?

Alyssa Samuli, a fourth year at SSU, shared her tactics for staying sane through winter break, “I really just do things that I enjoy. Although it’s important to make time for friends and family, I think it’s even more important to do things for yourself. I make a lot of time for myself to recharge because before you know it, the next semester begins.”

Making time for yourself can be as simple as going for a walk around the block while taking in the fresh air. Going for a drive and listening to music can also be an effective way to recharge. Watching your favorite comfort show or movie can also bring on some peace. You can even try something new and treat yourself to a movie. It’s important to find a method that works best for you. 

Another difficult part of returning home for the first time in a while can be navigating through old friendships. College allows students to gain new perspectives and grow as individuals. Sometimes this can mean outgrowing hometown friends. 

In an interview with the STAR, Hutchins major Amanda Lewis shared her experience with friends. “I think it’s important to remind yourself that you are constantly changing and adapting to your environment, which looks different for everybody.” Lewis then goes on to offer some advice. “I would definitely say to cut yourself some slack when it comes to losing friendships. It’s meant to happen, and outgrowing past friendships allows you to pour more energy into your current, evolving friendships.” 

Despite the increasing stress levels around the holidays there is still much to look forward to. Christmas movies playing on many channels all month long. The return of holiday themed Starbucks cups. Going to buy a fresh pine tree with your family or friends. And who doesn’t love seeing all of the houses decorated festively with Christmas decorations?

The holidays can still be a fun and relaxing time, regardless of stressful situations that can arise. Many students miss their families when they are away at school, so try to make the best out of the time you have with your family. College goes by quickly so make the most out of every moment including vacations. 

CAPS: Blanket treatment in need of patches

Sonoma State University’s Counseling and Psychological Services department (CAPS) has been made a catch-all for students struggling with their mental health but multiple students perceive CAPS as a performative band-aid. While there are numerous students with CAPS success stories, there are also many students who feel they were allowed to slip through the cracks of the mental health system leaving them worse off than before.  

This was the case for a now second year communications and media studies student. At the end of the Fall 2021 semester, the student was at an all time low with their mental health so they turned to CAPS. “I had high hopes going in, just relieved I’d have someone to talk to about what I’d been going through, but my counseling session went horribly. I talked to her about how depressed and upset I was and she said that in this one session I’d have to pick one thing to discuss and we’d resolve it by the end. Not only was I limited, that one issue did not get ‘resolved’,” the student said. 

The student left the session visibly upset and feeling mentally worse off than when they’d gone in. “No one reached out about another session, no referrals for long-term therapy or a therapist in the area were made. I was left completely alone to deal with my mental health. It’s such a shame because therapy outside of the school even with insurance is often unaffordable to the point that people don’t seek treatment. And the resources that we have here free to us (that we pay for with our tuition) are not helping. I have hope for CAPS at SSU but they need to wake up and realize that serious reform needs to happen,” they said. 

In an email exchange with the STAR, Andrew Kerlow-Myers, Ph.D., CAPS Clinical Coordinator & Licensed Psychologist wrote, “We sometimes do brief periodic check-ins with students in concurrent therapy just so they feel they are connected to someone here on campus who could help them in a crisis.” Unfortunately, the sophomore communications student didn’t receive these check-ins. 

Another student explained that the negative experience of a former roommate has dissuaded them from considering turning to CAPS themself. Third-year business major Mark Oshiro explained that their former roommate had turned to CAPS at a difficult time. Initially, CAPS was helpful, but eventually the roommate began to feel harassed by the service. Oshiro said, “Because my roommate didn’t pick up their call, CAPS sent someone over to my dorm even though my roommate clearly told them he wasn’t gonna be home. After hearing how invasive they were I was like, fuck, then I ain’t gonna go to them if I need help.” 

Fourth year sociology student Ryan Harris described their experience with CAPS as complicated. Harris met with two separate therapists during his time with CAPS and while he did feel they helped, he felt frustrated with the service’s policies. Previously, Harris had been seeing a therapist through Kaiser but at the time, wait times were long and he needed immediate help. “Even after I told the therapist wait times through Kaiser suck and I didn’t want to wait six weeks to talk to someone, she told me the allowed amount of sessions I could have was cut in half. It was something about their increased demand I believe. It was kind of a ‘your next one will have to be your last’,” Harris said. As soon as CAPS found out Harris had the opportunity to see a therapist through Kaiser, despite the lack of convenience or unrealistic wait times, the amount of sessions he was allowed was cut leading Harris to feel cast aside. 

According to CAPS, if a student has an ongoing relationship with an external therapist, the standards of the field state that they should not provide therapy to a student. Kerlow Myers wrote, “If a student will not be able to have appointments with their home therapist during the semester, they can have individual therapy here (sometimes we will need to consult with their home therapist to ensure they are in agreement).” However, many SSU students, like Harris, have been diverted away from CAPS and instead toward those other services, despite the student not currently receiving external treatment. 

The CAPS website explains the number of individual therapy appointments a student is entitled to is ‘limited’ because CAPS operates on a short-term model. CAPS determines the amount of sessions a student can be allotted based on what they deem they think the student needs, how much they want services, and their available resources. “Clinicians often have a discussion with students about session expectations at their first appointment, unless the student is in crisis in which case other topics take priority,” Kerlow-Myers wrote. 

It appears this short term model leaves many students feeling discarded, however in true crisis situations it’s effective. 

Senior history major Elysha Ozanian got the help she needed when she turned to CAPS. “During spring semester I had a really hard time and found myself on the door steps of CAPS in tears. From the woman who helped me get a same day appointment to the man who helped guide me to the appropriate level of help after our appointment I am so thankful for the CAPS team on campus,” Ozanian said. 

During the COVID-19 lockdown, CAPS was the only form of counseling fourth-year communications student Ana Fingerson could get. “I was already super limited because of my insurance but in desperate need of just talking to a professional. Thankfully, I had CAPS who also gave me resources while I sought out a better fit,” Fingerson said.

Alexandra Troia, fourth year early childhood studies major, had a similar experience to Fingerson where she received help from CAPS during COVID. Troia adored their therapist, who was knowledgeable about the areas she needed help. It was a perfect match. Troia said, “I learned a lot about how to cope with my experiences, and it felt like I was really cared about and prioritized so I feel lucky on that end for sure!”

Troia’s only complaint about CAPS was consistent with the complaints from other students, that sessions are limited and communication about the limits can be lacking. Troia was informed of the session limit after she’d already begun therapy. “I found out after a few sessions that there was a limit, the therapist told me that they were just starting the limit because they were having an increase in students seeking out Services. She did however allow me to keep going with our schedule because I was not aware of this when we started so I got some extra sessions. The process of finishing my sessions was a little abrupt and I didn't get much of a follow-up from her after,” Troia said. 

Kerlow-Myers explained in the email that SSU clinicians have served 403 unique students, for a total of 1463 individual and group therapy appointments. Additionally, CAPS’ most recent annual satisfaction survey found 96% of student respondents felt their counselor demonstrated care, concern, and respect for them. The surveys also revealed 91% of respondents would recommend CAPS services to other students. 

Addison Smith, a former news reporter for the STAR, heard some interesting insights in interviews with students while researching for an article during the Fall 2021 semester. “A lot of people I talked to said they just kind of clicked through their surveys so I don’t know how accurate those stats are,” Smith said. 

While CAPS has provided fulfilling services to some students, there appears to be a disconnect with the department's perspective towards struggling students. This disconnect has led to worsening mental health and stress in many cases and considering $66 of every SSU student’s tuition pays for CAPS services, no students should be in a position where they feel they can’t get help or talk to someone. 

Election results are in, was your voice heard?

COURTESY // canva.com

Last week, citizens all across the United States went to the polls to vote and have their voice heard in the midterm election. As usual, all House of Representatives seats were up for election as well as 35 Senate seats. Results are not final yet, but with a majority of votes counted, many races have been called.

Democrats now control the Senate, with 50 seats. One seat is still up in the air until Georgia’s runoff election in early December. If the Republican candidate wins the runoff election, Democrats will still have a majority, since the tying vote goes to Vice President Kamala Harris. 

In California, voters reelected Gavin Newsom and he will remain Governor of California, serving another four year term. 

California also voted on many different propositions in this midterm election. According to the Associated Press, California voters voted yes on Proposition 28 increasing spending on art programs in the U.S. This means that an estimated $1 billion will be set aside for funding music and arts education. 

Both propositions involving sports betting failed to pass, as well as a proposition that would’ve imposed a tax to support the purchase of electric vehicles. Proposition 29, which would have regulated staffing at kidney dialysis clinics also did not pass. This is good news as the proposition would have required clinics to hire more physicians, which would increase costs and could cause reduced hours or clinic closures.  

A majority of California voted yes on Proposition 31, upholding state laws that ban the sale of flavored tobacco. This protects the youth in California since many kids who start using tobacco start with a flavored product. According to Cal Matters, “This law would prevent companies from targeting kids and teens with advertising for flavored products.” 

Arguably, one of the most important propositions on California’s ballot this year was Proposition 1, which guarantees abortion rights in the state constitution. California voted yes for Proposition 1, securing the right to abortion and contraceptives. The overturning of Roe v. Wade in June left it up to individual states to decide whether abortion is legal or not. 

California was one of five states that had abortion referendums on the ballot. California, Michigan and Vermont all voted yes on adding explicit protection to abortion access. Kentucky voted no on amending their constitution to state that there is no right to abortion, which would have allowed for more restrictions. According to the New York Times, the measure in Montana “would criminalize health care providers who do not attempt life-saving care when an abortion results in a live birth, a very rare circumstance.” A majority of Montana’s citizens voted no on this measure.

SSU senior, Jessica Valdez, who was nominated to represent Sonoma State at a White House roundtable discussion with the Vice President to discuss abortion rights, said in an interview with SSU news, “It’s very terrifying when someone doesn’t have control over their own body. And taking abortion rights away means people are no longer in control of their own bodies. Simple as that. Abortion is a survival tool. And a lot of birthing people around the country suddenly don’t have access to that basic right anymore.”

The outcomes of these elections impact millions of people, so it is important to get out there and vote, even for midterm elections. According to day-after estimates from the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), “27% of young people (ages 18-29) turned out to vote in the 2022 midterm election.” This is likely the second highest turnout rate for young voters since 2018’s historic 31% turnout rate.

Times are changing...

STAR// Javier Hernandez

This past weekend most states in the United States moved back their clocks one hour when the time hit 2 a.m. to “fall back” and conclude the end of “daylight savings” for the year. With the exception of Arizona and Hawaii, the U.S. is back in standard time for the next four months until we “spring forward” in March. This is a yearly tradition that was first observed in the U.S. over 100 years ago in 1918. 

Recently, the topic of whether or not we should continue with this tradition has become a debate, with the Senate passing the Sunshine Protection Act in March of 2022. This new act would get rid of the yearly time changes and Americans would no longer have to move back their clocks. The United States would permanently stay in daylight savings time. 

Although as of today this act still needs to be approved by the House as well as President Biden to become a law. There is still an interesting discussion to be had on whether this is a good idea or not. 

The STAR asked students about how they felt about the debate, “I support the Sunshine Protection Act because it would make things consistent. We would no longer have to worry about changing the clocks. I really hope the President and the House pass the bill soon so it becomes a law,” said fourth-year John Bayer. 

An argument that is made by those opposing the bill is that the sun wouldn’t come out until very late in the morning. The main worry of this is that it could lead to more accidents in the morning when people are commuting to work in the dark. People who work outside could also be impacted by the dark mornings as they wouldn’t be able to start until the sun comes out.

Fourth-year student Jaden Reiter said, “I personally am against the Sunshine Protection Act because of dark mornings. There will be so many people impacted including students, commuters and people who work outside that need sunlight to be able to do their jobs. I also can’t forget to mention the impact this could have on mental health with seasonal depression because of the longer, dark, cold winters.”  

Letters to the Editor

We, the students of the Chicano and Latino Studies Department (CALS), are writing to address the importance of student advocacy, faculty support and to clarify any misinformation regarding the ongoing changes in the Department.

This past week, we collaborated in drafting a Call to Action (CTA) Letter, addressing our concerns regarding the quality of education provided by the former Chair Professor Dr. Ronald Lopez of the CALS department.

The dignity and respect of our community members is of utmost importance. Our intentions in addressing departmental areas of growth, demonstrate our commitment and care
to the CALS department discipline, students and faculty. Being a traditionally marginalized field of study, we have to consciously and critically understand the possible negative repercussions upon our department.

Sonoma State STAR must be held accountable to accurately relaying information to the Sonoma State Community. We asked the STAR to maintain discretion, to allow us the opportunity to address our experiences and concerns in response to the Call to Action; they instead decided to publish their narrative regarding the ongoing events, consequently misrepresenting our intentions.

The SSU STAR must respect our efforts in maintaining discretion regarding internal affairs between the department. The publishing of this article has jeopardized our accountability efforts by publicly misrepresenting our intentions and perpetuating a harmful image of the department without recognizing their endless efforts of support.

It is important to acknowledge that the efforts and actions of one individual person are not representative of the entire department and discipline. Since addressing our concerns, the CALS department has continuously demonstrated their commitment in supporting and amplifying student voices.

The Ethinic Studies Discipline and Curricula already lacks priority throughout the American Education System and Academic Institutions, a field of study primarily upheld by student activists. In our efforts of institutional and departmental accountability we understand the severity of addressing growth and development within our department in correlation to the possibility of more “budget cuts''. In our commitment in advocating for an equitable education at Sonoma State University, we must acknowledge and value the existing limitations of our marginalized field of study, like perhaps the CALS department barely affording printing paper.

To the former students of the Chicano Latino Studies department who have actively advocated for department accountability, thank you for your advocacy and support, we could not have carried forward with this action without you.

In Lak’ech,
Students of the Chicano Latino Studies Department

We voted; you should, too

The Star editorial board came together to look at this election's propositions and help inform undecided voters. For more information on our recommendations head to sonomastatestar.com

Prop 1: Guarantee Abortion Rights In State Constitution [YES]

Vote Yes on Proposition 1: Proposition 1 looks to secure abortion rights in the state of California. It will embed the right to choose whether or not to have an abortion and whether or not to use contraceptives, along with a promise that the state cannot act on constituent’s reproductive rights into the California constitution. With all of the uncertainty after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the more protections we instill now, the less we will have to worry about our rights being taken away down the line. This proposition is backed by supporters like Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Diane Feinstein, and Hilary Clinton. 

Prop 28: Arts and Music Education Funding [YES]

Vote Yes on Proposition 28: Proposition 28 requires California to allocate money from its public school and community college state budget to fund expanded arts programs in schools. This funding will prioritize low-income students. 80% of the funding given to schools will be used to hire new art and music teachers and staff. This proposition is backed by famous names like Barbara Streisand and Sylvester Stalone. Putting money into creative programs such as music and art will hopefully help to support mental health among students.

 Prop 31: Uphold Flavored Tobacco Ban [YES]

Vote Yes on Proposition 31: Proposition 31 will put into action a law which was decided on in 2020. Senate Bill 793 bans the sale of flavored tobacco products and other associated items. It is important to put the health of the people, especially our youth, before the money these sales could generate. The goal of this bill moving forward is to lower smoking rates in general, along with trying to bring down the data on young smokers. 80% of youth smokers start smoking with a flavored nicotine product. This proposition is supported by the American Lung Association, American Heart Association, and the California PTA. 

Prop 30: Tax Millionaires for Electric Vehicle Programs [YES]

Vote Yes on Proposition 30: Proposition 30 will create a new fund which will assist California in lowering its greenhouse gas emissions, hopefully no later than 2043. This fund will be created by introducing a new tax on high income Californians. High income Californians will be required to pay an additional 1.75% tax on any income over two million dollars. The money will be used to fund Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV), as well as support wildfire prevention. 80% of the money will go towards ZEVs and assisting to create more infrastructure for ZEVs, and 20% will go towards wildfire response, including hiring and training new firefighters. This proposition is supported by Cal Fire Local 2881, California’s largest fire department and the second largest fire department in the USA, as well as California Environmental Voters.

Prop 26: Sports Betting at Tribal Casinos [YES]

Vote Yes on Proposition 26: Proposition 26 will allow in-person sports betting at tribal casinos and horse tracks in California. This proposition will also introduce new forms of gambling at tribal casinos that were previously illegal. With the money that these businesses will be taxed to offer these new services, tens of millions of dollars will be generated for the state, as well as more money coming in for tribes. Patrons will now also have the option to sue a casino or race track if they feel gaming laws are being violated. These lawsuits may also generate money for the state. This proposition is supported by 27 tribes and tribal organizations, led by tribes with casinos including Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, the NAACP, California-Hawaii state conference, and State Treasurer Fiona Ma. 

Vote No on Proposition 26: Proposition 26 will allow in-person sports betting at tribal casinos and horse tracks in California. This proposition will also introduce new forms of gambling at tribal casinos that were previously illegal. While this proposition would generate more money for California, it will do so at the cost of promoting additional gambling. Some casinos allow adults as young as 18 years old to participate, which could encourage gambling among a very young demographic. Also, horse racing is currently on a decline in popularity, something that animal groups are happy about. With the introduction of sports betting at horse tracks, it could spur a new interest in an industry that would be better off slowly fizzling out. This proposition is opposed by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals chapters and local humane societies, as well as the California Black Chamber of Commerce and California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Prop 27: Allow Online Sports Betting [NO]

Vote Yes on Proposition 27: Proposition 27 allows tribes and online gambling companies to offer online sports betting. Those participating tribes and online gambling companies will be required to pay regulatory fees to the state, along with payments into a new fund to address homelessness. This new fund would be called the “California Online Sports Betting Trust Fund”, which is used for state regulatory costs first, then the remaining money will be split: 85% to fight homelessness and gambling addiction, and 15% to tribes who are not involved in sports betting, so that they can still benefit from these new changes. In order for gambling companies to operate this new service, they will need to make a deal with a tribe. The proposition will create a new division in the Department of Justice in charge of regulating online sports betting; they will receive power both to watch over illegal betting, as well as to decide whether or not to add new forms of betting on different areas of entertainment, like video games. This proposition is supported by FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM and four other gaming companies, which are funding the measure; three Native American tribes; and the mayors of Fresno, Sacramento, Oakland, and Long Beach.

Vote No on Proposition 27: Proposition 27 allows tribes and online gambling companies to offer online sports betting. Those participating tribes and online gambling companies will be required to pay regulatory fees to the state, along with payments into a new fund to address homelessness. While generating new money to support this major problem in our state would be nice, it would be at the expense of gamblers, and those addicted to gambling. Online gambling can be tricky as it becomes difficult to verify the age of the user, and will essentially turn every phone and computer into a gambling device, a main concern of those opposed. This proposition is opposed by 50 Native American tribes and tribal organizations, Governor Gavin Newsom, and the California Teachers Association. 

Prop 29: Impose New Rules on Dialysis Clinics [NO]

Vote No on Proposition 29: Proposition 29 will impose a set of new requirements on California dialysis clinics. These include requiring clinics to have new staff on hand, such as a physician, requiring clinics to report data to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and requiring clinics to get consent from the CDPH if they want to close or reduce hours. While additional regulations on such an important service seems like it would be the best option, opponents state that these new obligations will be dangerous for dialysis patients, as the need to hire new staff will cost money, and this could force clinics to reduce hours or shut down altogether. Dialysis clinics are already highly regulated, and have trained and licensed staff on hand. This proposition is opposed by the American Nurses Association, and the California Medical Association.

Students troubled by current state of the world

COURTESY // flickr.com

Impending doom. How does one cope with the absurdity of life? College students are not only dealing with school but are also having to consider the state of the world. The idea is that after obtaining a degree, we finally get ‘real jobs’ and start a life for ourselves. We are sold this idea that a degree will secure a bright future. This idea however, is not taking into consideration things like a global pandemic, climate change or a faulty economy. 

In an interview with the STAR, Alyssa Samuli, a Hutchins liberal studies major shared her thoughts on the future, “It’s been really stressful to be so close to graduating and thinking about the future when the state of the world is dwindling right in front of me.” Samuli is a fourth year student at SSU. “While I want to be excited for life beyond college, I am often plagued by the uncertainty of what’s to come.”

The majority of incoming college students are part of Generation Z, which has oftentimes been noted as the coddled generation. Deemed as sensitive, it’s actually because of their transparency when it comes to mental health. Instead, the reason ‘zoomers’ have created less of a stigma around seeking treatments for mental health could be due to the popularity of social media. 

With this access to technology at everyone’s fingertips, it is not only easier to access information but to also express one’s emotions more openly. This creates a space for people to share and connect with others who are going through a similar situation. 

Amanda Lewis, a fourth year at Sonoma State voiced her concerns with the STAR, “Due to all the conflict that is happening across the world, I have definitely experienced more anxiety about what life will look like after college. I believe that a lot of college students, myself included, feel nervous about the consequences of certain events that have recently occurred, and how this might play into obstacles we will face in the near future. It feels like there is so much unease and anger, and I really hope that there can be solutions that prioritize the mental and physical well-being of groups that are affected by all of this tension.”

The spread of COVID-19 was a life changing event. No one could have predicted that we would be living through a global pandemic in our lifetime. It’s important to acknowledge that we have shown incredible resilience. One of the most important things to do in these uncertain times is to preserve one’s mental well-being. Whether that be through seeking professional help or taking periods of time to step away from current events. There are simply some things that are beyond our control.

Emilia Torres, fourth year communications major said “It’s difficult being reminded of the many issues going on in the world on a daily basis. While they are obviously all important, it feels like a daunting challenge to be up against because the issues are so huge.” 

We must continue to live every day as we see fit. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by ‘impending doom’ but take solace in the fact that we are living through these events as a collective. The state of the world is not resting on your shoulders alone. 

Sonoma sets benchmark for student voting

STAR // Nicholas Roth

The right to vote when a person turns 18 is not something that is always exercised as an American citizen.  We as the student body have the power to make collective change in the right direction with the power of voting.  In the 2016 Presidential election the national student voting rate was 52 percent.  In the 2020 presidential election there was a significant rise in voter turnout on the student level to 66 percent of the 83 percent registered to vote, according to The Institute for Democracy in Higher Education (IDHE) at Tufts University.  

Here at Sonoma State however, the voting rate of registered students smashes the national average with 88 percent of registered voters casting their ballots in the 2020 election according to Tufts University NSLVE Campus Report for Sonoma State.  This was a massive increase from the 2018 midterm election turnout of 57 percent.  There were especially large jumps in voter turnout between 2018 and 2020 in the age groups of 18-21 and 22-24.  For 18-21 year olds it increased from 37 to 76 percent, and for 22-24 the jump was from 44 to 73 percent. 

“It is a big deal to have voting rates above 80 percent – the country doesn’t have that. Research shows that people who vote in college will continue to vote for the rest of their lives,” said Merith Weisman, SSU’s Director of Community Engagement and Strategic Initiatives in Professor Aja Laduke’s Blog about Sonoma’s voting turnout.  Getting people to actually utilize their right to vote is far easier when as a government and society we are willing to remove the barriers to cast ballots. 

One major block for many people to get their vote cast and voice heard is having a convenient place to vote or cast a mail-in ballot.   At Sonoma State we have a mail-in ballot box right here on campus for the use of anyone looking to mail-in their ballot, not just students. This accessibility is one of the reasons Sonoma State’s voting numbers are so high. “I am so proud of our students for getting out there and making their voices heard. Voting is an important indicator of civic responsibility. Let’s set an ambitious goal and increase our numbers in the next election.” Said Weisman in Dr. Laduke’s blog.  

If you haven’t registered to vote, do so as soon as possible to let your voice be heard this November for the midterm election. Let’s see if we can top our previous record and be a standout campus for student voting once again.

Bars need to do more to protect customers

STAR // Willow Ornellas

For most college students, turning 21 is a right of passage and this newfound freedom is often celebrated with going out to bars. However, these new environments also introduce risk; risk that’s supposed to be intercepted by security present at establishment doors. Unfortunately, security can’t catch everything. 

Of course, it’s not the fault of the bar when customers get drugged inside their establishments, but bars have a responsibility to do their best to protect beverage consumers. 

Spiked drink incidents can be dangerous and often lead to sexual assault, rape, or worse. A 2014 study from The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) found that more than 11 million women have experienced alcohol or drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) over the course of their lifetime. 

College students being drugged seems to be an increasing trend as well. A 2016 study published in Psychology of Violence released survey data taken from three universities of 6,064 students. The data revealed that 7.8% of the sample size, or 462 students, had been nonconsensually drugged. The survey also revealed that 1.4% of respondents, or 83 students, admitted to 172 different accounts of intentionally drugging another person. 

Some Sonoma State University students have also become victims of being drugged at local bars, as reported in a recent STAR news article. All of the bars students alleged they were drugged at, do have security present at the door, however students’ drinks are still getting spiked. 

The reported victim accounts were all consistent with consuming a date-rape drug with symptoms like gaps in memory, loss of bodily control, and excessive drunkenness after a drink or two.

After reports of multiple druggings were reported by the San Francisco Chronicle last spring, Duke’s bar in Healdsburg took the actions they deemed necessary to protect their customers. 

According to bartenders, Duke’s invested about $40-50k to upgrade their security system. There are cameras with every corner of the establishment in view. Law enforcement has access to all the footage from the cameras at any time and these cameras are enabled with facial recognition technology. On busy nights, there are six security guards on the premises and everyone who enters the building gets their ID checked. At the door, there’s also a security camera that captures footage of all the IDs checked so there’s a record of every person who enters the bar. 

Duke’s bartenders will pour out any unattended drinks to ensure someone doesn’t accidentally sip a spiked drink and most of Duke’s bar staff are female. Also, every employee has completed training courses from The SAFE Bar Network. 

Most area bars have not taken the same precaution as Duke’s so for anyone who wants peace of mind while ‘out’, there are some products available that can help with that. However, the reliability of these products is questionable. 

A popular product on the market is a drug detection card from Drinksafe. The test areas of these cards change color when exposed to date-rape drugs like Ketamine or GHP. The Amazon reviews for this product were revealing. One user reported the cards inconsistently tested positive, even with water. Another claimed the cards arrived with already altered colors. An additional reviewer claimed to test the cards with real Ketamine and the cards still didn’t react to the drug. 

TEST MY DRINK is an Amazon seller marketing nearly the same product as Drinksafe. TEST MY DRINK also sells beverage drug test strips intended to detect Ketamine and GHP. The reviews for this product are better, claiming it works, but one reviewer also had defective strips and strips react to water. 

The highest rated product to test if a drink was drugged, SipChip, is no longer available for purchase. The website doesn’t appear to provide a reason for the lack of stock but still claims the single-use, coin sized drug testing kit was 99.3% effective at detecting the most commonly used date-rape drugs in seconds. 

The NightCap Scrunchie appears to be the most reliable anti-drugging product on the market. Also, this product is actually in stock, unlike SipChip. The NightCap Scrunchie is an operable scrunchie that can double as a drink cover. The cover protects the drink, while allowing the drinker to still sip with a straw. 

At the end of the day, no one deserves waking up with a stack of unfamiliar Ubers on their phone, six to eight hours of lost memory, or in a hospital because they became a victim of a crime worse than a spiked drink. In some cases, being drugged can be a matter of life or death and bars need to be doing as much as they can to protect their customers from this fate. 

Two or four year? The price may decide

COURTESY // housing.sonoma.edu

Is college for everyone? This is a pretty ironic question to ask in a college newspaper. As ironic as this is, many high school students debate whether or not they want to pursue higher education once they graduate. There are many factors that come into play when deciding whether it is the right decision but one of the biggest is if they can even afford to go to a four-year institution without drowning in debt. 

College can be very expensive especially when you consider the price of  tuition, board and meal plans. A more affordable option for high schoolers looking to further their education is to first attend a local junior college and then eventually transfer to a four-year institution. Transferring from a junior college is the only option for millions of students in the country. 

This reality can be seen right here on our own campus. An influx of transfer students over the pandemic has contributed significantly to Sonoma State’s student body as enrollment numbers are down nationwide. This has all come down to not being able to afford to live on campus as a first-time student. According to the school’s website, the cheapest dorm that Sonoma State has to offer is a triple suite for $11,938 a year. If you break this down to monthly payments it is almost $1,500 to share a room with two other students. One of the reasons why this number is so high is that first-year students that live on campus are required to get the all-access meal plan that allows them to eat at The Kitchens as many times as they want, as long as it is open. The all-excess meal plan is $3,033 a year and that is automatically added to all first-year students’ tuition that live on campus. ​​​

Third-year transfer student, Alexis Madrigal said this regarding why he didn’t come to Sonoma State straight out of high school, “The reason why I went to the Santa Rosa JC instead of Sonoma is because of the price, even though I had FAFSA, that still wasn’t enough to cover my board and tuition. I didn’t really understand why I was forced to get the most expensive meal plan, as that added another $3,000 to my fees. If I had the option to pick a different meal plan I would have definitely leaned more towards coming to Sonoma State than the JC”. 

Sonoma State, along with thousands of other universities nationwide are suffering from low student enrollment. This is a huge problem and whether it’s from similar reasons mentioned above or because of pandemic related reasons it is a problem that they hope can be solved very soon or the future of many schools may be murky. 

Work your wage

Putting in too much effort at work? Try quiet quitting, a new idea spreading around social media. The name is misleading, as it doesn’t actually mean quitting your job. The term means doing the bare minimum of what is expected of you at work and not putting extra effort into your job. 

The term quiet quitting began to spread after TikTok user @zaidleppelin posted a video explaining the term. “You’re not outright quitting your job but you’re quitting the idea of going above and beyond. You’re still performing your duties but you’re no longer subscribing to the hustle culture mentality that work has to be your life.”

Many comments on the video point out that this is the way work should be. This idea is also known as working to rule, meaning employees do only what is stated in their contract or in written rules. The rebranding of the idea from working-to-rule to quiet quitting is strange. It seems to imply that setting boundaries with employers about your work duties is almost equivalent to quitting. 

So, why is this an issue? Gen z is constantly being criticized for a lack of work ethic. Older generations believe that young adults are lazy and unwilling to put in the work needed to succeed. The problem with this is that the older generations were able to live off of the money they made. In today’s economy, many people are living paycheck to paycheck but are getting criticized for not being further ahead in life. 

A Sonoma State University student that wanted to remain anonymous said, “I think older people have a harder time subscribing to the ‘work smarter not harder’ mindset because they were sold the American dream, hook-line-and-sinker. Every GenX aged person I’ve talked to about the quiet quitting concept cannot let go of the idea that this is the employee being lazy.”

This criticism by older generations is unwarranted. People are working, they are just avoiding extra stresses that make it harder to manage a healthy work-life balance. 

The anonymous SSU student added, “I think quiet quitting as a concept is good and having a work life balance ensures the employees have better mental health over all.”

Why is doing the above and beyond the expectation in the workplace? Quiet quitting is about employees pushing back at their employers who are expecting them to complete extra work without compensating them fairly. The work is still being done, employees are just no longer putting in extra effort that just leads to burnout.  

Many part time jobs from large corporations do not value the work or time put in by their employees. If a job is not going to value their employees, why would employees value the job? Most jobs do not pay a high enough wage for employees to live off of, and they should not be expected to put their job before their mental well being. 

Why does growing up have to be so scary?

STAR // Montana Lahey

The transition from high school to college can be a trying time for many students. The many unknowns that go along with this ascension into adulthood can be met with unwanted anxiety. At the ripe age of eighteen, students are expected to leave home and fend for themselves. This can mean applying for jobs, paying rent for the first time or simply just learning to budget money. It’s understandable that these things are learned with hands on experience but shouldn’t high school have better prepared us for adulthood?

Adulthood is a tricky thing to maneuver through, especially without any preparation. High school courses are made to prepare students academically for college but the material lacks any practical application. Elizabeth Orona, a third year at SSU, offered her thoughts on the topic, “I wish high school would have taught me about everyday/adulting things. For example learning about budgeting. I feel like the sooner I would have learned about managing money, the more comfortable and confident I would be with my funds and spending. Especially because as college students we have to put money aside for things like housing, textbooks, groceries and more.”

College life is different for everyone and there can be many different questions that arise regarding what it is really like. At times it also seems that high school teachers put unrealistic ideas of what to expect from college. There are these stereotypes of severely strict professors and mountains of homework that accompany each course. But the reality of attending a university is far from bleak. It is a space to expand your horizons and study topics you may genuinely enjoy. 

In an interview with the STAR, Hutchins liberal studies major Alyssa Samuli, discussed what it was like applying for college, “There was a lot of fear around it.” Samuli continued, “at times, my teachers and counselors were so negative about college admission I didn’t even think I would get in anywhere. If they had been more positive and supportive I think my classmates and I wouldn’t have been so stressed during senior year.” 

Students are not only stressing out about life after high school graduation but they may also have a negative perception of what it means to be an actual college student. All around, it seems that high school’s should alter their curriculum to ease looming anxiety about what the future may hold for their students. There are some programs, that are offered as electives, put in place to better prepare these teenagers for university life. For example, many schools offer AVID programs, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. 

Irania Guerrero Diaz, a post-grad student at Sonoma State, talked to the STAR about what AVID taught her, “During high school I participated in AVID and my then teacher taught my class and myself how to be successful in our college careers. I learned how to search for financial aid and how to start the college application process.”

Seeking a higher education should be a fruitful experience, one full of promise and overall excitement. If high schools attempted to teach practical skills like; balancing a checkbook, budgeting money, how to pay taxes, or even how to properly use a credit card, there would be less scary unknowns. High school teachers should also stay more in touch with the times and paint a happier picture of what college may look like. Adulthood wouldn’t be so scary if we had an accurate understanding of what’s to come. 

A chat with the Chief

COURTESY // afd.sonoma.edu

What is the first thing you would think of, if you came back to your vehicle after class and found the window smashed, possibly even missing some of your belongings? For most, the first thought that comes to mind is, “Did anyone see what happened, or who did this?.” Oftentimes, when a crime is committed, it is a crime of opportunity, meaning there most likely will not be a witness to help you get to the bottom of the incident. This example is perfect in illustrating the importance of having a good camera system in place, especially when considering the hustle and bustle one finds on a college campus. 

It’s not just about the cameras, though, we learned from University Police Chief Nader Oweis. When considering the safety of our campus, Oweis has a plan to overhaul the SSU system and introduce new forms of physical security, as he calls it, forms that he has already put to the test at his previous campuses. “The issue we are trying to improve upon, first and foremost, [is that] system-wide, the chancellor's office created a policy on cc cameras a while back. It was okay, it allowed for some cameras, but it wasn’t necessarily the most robust policy out there. I’ve been working with other chiefs in the system, and we are trying to get some of that language improved upon,” Oweis said via Zoom interview. 

Our campus does currently have cameras in place, in places one would expect, like the GMC, the Student Center, and the Rec Center. However, the system that Oweis has in mind, one that will mirror the changes he was responsible for at his last campus, UC Santa Cruz, is much more connected. At UC Santa Cruz, under Owies’ leadership, the campus went from 100 cameras to 1200 cameras by the end of Oweis’ time there. “None of this happens overnight. I was there for 10 years, and it took 5-6 years to get the system where I wanted it to be. I see the same [timeline] here at SSU,” Oweis said when asked about the parallels between the systems at UC Santa Cruz and SSU. 

The key to successfully installing cameras on the SSU campus starts with the infrastructure needed to run a system like this, thinking about how it will be powered, as well as preparing for cases where backup power would be necessary, “... Do we have the right cabling, do we have the right storage; [it’s about] all the bits and pieces to ensure if we put cameras up they will work properly and function well,” Oweis said. 

It’s not just cameras that are in Oweis’ vision for a safer SSU, “... We want more physical security systems. That includes access control, like swipe cards, [as well as] upgrading fire alarms, and burglar alarms… a whole physical security program… we are trying to better the physical security program and make it more robust so that there are deterrents…”

Physical security encompasses more than one might assume, with standards for lighting, pathways, signage, and wayfinding through Google. It can even include landscaping, something that was more unexpected to hear. “Physical security also means landscaping [crime prevention through environmental design]… there are certain principles around landscaping that we followed, we trimmed up trees, we purposely didn’t put trees, and we didn’t put certain kinds of landscaping because it would create other problems for us,” said Oweis.

With tangible results shown at previous campuses when adding cameras, it is safe to say that SSU is heading in the right direction considering these additions and updates, “ [At previous campuses], it gave us more visibility, it was a huge deterrent for people who might want to commit a crime… What it really did was it gave us a whole bunch of investigative tools, so that after the fact, we could go back and look at all of those cameras and see if we could capture anything.”

Looking at the big picture, Oweis is not sure exactly what number of cameras will hit the sweet spot at SSU, and says that the infrastructure will come first, and from there, his team will evaluate how many cameras that infrastructure can handle. Most importantly, the addition of cameras will provide peace of mind for everyone that attends, works, visits, or even passes through our campus, “... From a crime prevention perspective, [this system] helped reduce crime, and it made people feel safer,” said Oweis.

Welcome back! can we talk?

STAR // Nicholas Roth

Students are back at Sonoma State and the campus is bustling with life and energy with orientation week, the start of classes and the start of many of SSU’s sports teams’ seasons starting.  A feel of normalcy has fallen over campus due to the higher percentage of in-person classes with the fading of Covid and more students returning to campus. 

As incoming freshmen drove with their parents down Redwood lined Sequoia way to enter Sonoma’s campus they were greeted by construction vehicles and metal plates all over the road.  According to an email sent out by the University: the construction is: “...the work includes an underground electrical switchgear conduit that will extend from the existing utilities tunnel (south of Veterans’ Grove), through the flagpole median and crossing South Redwood Drive and East of the Sequoia Way road section.” This construction will run through Sept. 24.

Sonoma State sports are back in full force this fall which include volleyball as well as mens and womens soccer.  Volleyball has been off to a strong start going 7-1 in their first games including a 4-0 weekend here at SSU for the Seawolves/Penguins Classic tournament.  Mens soccer picked up its first win of the season beating St. Martins University 3-0.  Women’s soccer is also coming off a big win against tenth ranked Western Washington 2-1, their first victory against them in four years.  

In addition to returning to campus for a new year, we also have a new interim president at the helm for Sonoma State, Mike Lee, who jons SSU after the fallout of complaints about former SSU President Judy Sakaki and her husband, Patrick McCallum.  The Press Democrat and Los Angeles Times as well as the STAR reported on the the $600,000 settlement that was paid to former Executive Vice President Lisa Vollendorf for retaliation after Vollendorf reported McCallum’s sexual harassment.  This also led to former President Sakaki and McCallum splitting up, it also led to a vote of no confidence by SSU faculty late last spring that passed with ease. 

Another large story that we may still see the ramifications of was the leaked budget advisory group document that proposed drastic funding changes that would cut funding for many of the programs and schools within Sonoma State.  When this story came out the STAR received pushback from many levels of the university on why we ran a story about something that wasn’t necessarily going to come to fruition even though the title of the document read “Final Report.” This story and more so the document scared a lot of staff as well as students on campus who had come here hoping to stay in their program for four years. 

One lesson we as a campus should have learned after last semester is that transparency and the truth are of the utmost importance on a college campus.  Not being transparent allows for speculation leading to misinformation, and for a place that molds minds it’s not a good practice.  Avoidance of difficult topics and subjects creates the issues that arose last semester because in this day in age if something is covered up it will more than likely be discovered.  We as a student-run paper are going to work hard to find relevant and important stories again this semester.  We hope that with the new energy and student presence as well as more conversations among the SSU community, we’ll see more of the transparency that was missing last semester and that current times demand.

Students working on campus struggle financially with monthly paychecks

Learning to budget and juggle financial responsibilities is no easy feat, especially for young adult college students being faced with the harsh reality of the expensive world we live in. Working on-campus is a great opportunity for students, complete with easy access as they are often able to walk from their dorm or directly from class to start their shift. However, students quickly learn that they are faced with financial difficulties when they don’t receive bi-weekly paychecks like many other nearby workplaces.

Sonoma State University, along with all other California State Universities, pay many of their student employees once monthly, and for many, this is not frequent enough. According to the Labor Commissioner’s Office, part of California’s Department of Industrial Relations, this once-a-month payment system is not uncommon for state employees. 

As stated on the California State University Student Employment page, “CSU policy permits students covered under the FIC exemption to work in a part-time capacity, up to, but normally not in excess of 20 hours per week during periods when classes are in session and 40 hours per week during recess periods.” 

At Sonoma State University, hourly, intermittent, and student employees can expect to be paid once a month on the 15th. For many SSU students who find themselves taking jobs on-campus, this once-a-month paycheck is viewed as quite a frustrating obstacle.

Alma Gonzalez, a third-year Art Studio major, is currently working on campus as a Learning Community Mentor for the SSU's Learning and Academic Resource Center. Gonzalez expressed that getting paid only once a month can be quite stressful when it comes to trying to keep up with bills and budgeting. 

“I am not a fan of getting paid once a month. Given that I am a full-time student and work part-time, getting paid once a month is pretty impractical. There are several payments I have to make every month so getting paid twice a month would help a lot, especially considering I get paid on the 15th of every month so not even at the beginning,” said Gonzalez, “Although my paychecks would be smaller if I got paid every two weeks, it would help pace myself when I have to spend money.”

Many SSU students seem to share this sentiment that they would rather receive two smaller paychecks in a month than just a single paycheck at the end of the month. Ryan Harris, a 20-year-old Sociology major, used to work on campus at the Recreation Center. Harris explained that part of the reasoning behind his decision to stop working on campus and look for employment elsewhere was because of the once-per-month payments. 

“I got a decent amount of hours so that wasn’t so much of an issue - but when we add utilities, car insurance, food and groceries, and a little money for hanging out with friends, being paid once a month made it harder to ration and budget. When I get paid every other week, at least I have a little bit more consistency,” said Harris.

With the campus still not fully operational, there are fewer job opportunities available on campus for students. Despite the large gaps between paychecks, on-campus positions are often the only jobs that accommodate students' class schedules. Other students who work on campus also find themselves having to pick up second jobs in order to make ends meet.

Sean Kenneally, a fourth-year double majoring in Communications and Media Studies and Geography, Environment, and Planning (GEP), has been working on campus at SSU’s Welcome Center since his freshman year. Kenneally specifically spoke on the underlying issues of working on campus, citing that it has a lot to do with where everyone’s financial situation originates. “For some, [getting paid] once a month can’t pay bills or buy groceries. They can’t get an on-campus job because it won’t cut it, yet it is the only option. For others, like me, your part-time job is your part-time job: beer money and utilities. Each summer up here I’ve worked other jobs to front-load me for rent and help my folks out,” Kenneally explained. 

Kenneally also went on to express that he thinks there are two larger issues to be looked at. The first is the overall lack of hours that students, who are already being paid minimum wage, are allowed to work in a week, and the second is a lack of resources for students to become more educated on budgeting and overall financial literacy.  

Drew Davis, a fourth-year Psychology major, works on campus for SSU’s Associated Students, one of the only on-campus organizations that pays their student employees twice a month.

“I can’t imagine being paid only once a month. I already struggle sometimes with getting paid twice a month. Even with living on campus, finances always come up, whether that be groceries, gas, or medical expenses, it’s reassuring to know I have a consistent paycheck every two weeks,” said Davis. 

Following high school graduation, students are excited for the transition to college life as the first step of individual responsibility. However, when students are faced with these once-monthly paychecks, financial difficulties start to fall in the balance of this already stressful transition to adulthood. While the college experience is stressful in itself, it becomes abundantly clear that many students working for SSU would much rather find their paychecks being direct-deposited into their accounts on a bi-weekly basis as opposed to monthly.

COURTESY// admissions.sonoma.edu

Kanye West goes to social media to air personal drama and promote abusive behavior

The latest pop culture scandal to exponentially capture the media’s attention, surrounds the drama between American rapper Kanye West, his estranged wife Kim Kardashian and Kardashian’s new partner, Pete Davidson. West, who now goes by Ye, took the internet by storm with his attempts to win back Kardashian with several alarming social media posts attacking and harassing Kardashian and Davidson.

It is important to note that West is diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, but the subject of this social media drama goes beyond mental illness. West airing his personal drama to his 14.1 million Instagram followers not only creates widespread negativity, it also promotes harassment, and physical and emotional violence, especially towards women. 

This type of posting and usage of social media brings awareness to how vital it is for celebrities to use their media platforms more cautiously, as they are setting an example for their millions of fans. As their following grows, there is more of a spotlight put on their actions, so it’s imperative that these celebrity figures are more aware of what they are spreading out into the world. The scary reality is, West is using his influence and platform to glorify his toxic relationship, and the media can’t help but to take a front row seat on the action.

Through West’s social media postings, we are watching a domestic abuse situation unfold, in which Kardashian is harassed and stalked online by her ex-partner. West is clearly unable to accept the reality of his failed marriage, and in his twisted attempts to win Kardashian back, he’s trying to play the “hero” in a sweeping public romance. Kardashian has pleaded with West to stop sharing their private conversations, and in a screen shot of their text messages, she wrote to West, “Why can’t you keep any of our conversations private???” With West responding, “because I got a text from my favorite person in the world, I’m your number one fan. Why wouldn’t I tell everyone!!!” 

In West’s eyes, he might think that he’s doing Kardashian a favor by being obsessively romantic, but these actions are clearly alarming to fans. One social media user expressed, “Kanye West’s behavior is abusive, not romantic. It’s not romantic to refuse to let your ex-partner move on, to use kids as emotional manipulation, to reveal private conversations, and then to claim you do it all from love.” We can see that he is very publicly displaying manipulation and emotional abuse to not only his wife, but his entire family. 

Kardashian filed for divorce from West last January, and the rapper still refers to her as his wife, which makes it apparent that West is in denial and cannot respect the boundaries of his ex-partner. Some Twitter users are thinking critically about his patterns of abusive and manipulative behavior towards Kardashian, with one stating, “Kanye is just showing the world how scary it can be for a woman in Kim’s situation. Now imagine someone not having security, financial independence, or a way out.” This response brings up a vital point. Kardashian is lucky to have the means of financial and personal security for herself, and the unfortunate reality is that most women in abusive relationships don’t have these resources. West’s bizarre postings showcase what it’s like for a woman to be trapped with a partner who believes they have much more power.

West has a massive impact, his influence and image is seen by millions, and the rapper is known to promote his brand by portraying a “god-complex,” in which he believes his actions won’t face consequences. This image appeals to his fan base, and some of his fans are even encouraging West’s behavior in his attempts to reconcile with Kardashian. West recently prompted more harassment against Kardashian’s new partner by posting, “IF YOU SEE SKETE IN REAL LIFE SCREAM AT THE LOOSER AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS AND SAY KIMYE FOREVER.” This demonstrates that the music artist is taking advantage of his platform to encourage more violence and harassment to win back Kardashian, and believing he can get away with it.  

West is arguably one of the most popular American rappers of the generation, with a net worth of over 1 billion. He undoubtedly can obtain the resources to better his mental health and lead a better example, but instead uses his resources to publicly display his brutal family drama. West is using his fame and wealth to directly inject his unhappiness into our mainstream media, which in turn, is promoting unacceptable violent behaviors. This dramatic spotlight of him and his family has captured our attention for all the wrong reasons, and opens up the conversation of what’s actually going on underneath the surface. West isn’t just having another episode, he's abusing his celebrity platform to cause havoc and emotional pain, and the media is indulging in every second of it.