The following Sonoma State University professors are available for commentary on issues surrounding same-sex marriage as state Supreme Court Justices, in addition to deciding whether or not to overturn November's Proposition 8 which banned gay marriage in the state of California, will rule next Tuesday whether or not to invalidate an estimated 18,000 same-sex marriages that took place last year.
Please feel free to contact:
Don Romesburg, Acting Chair of the Women's and Gender Studies, explores the political, legal, cultural and ethical stakes involved in same-sex marriage. He can speak to several key concerns:
"First, in the past decade, for better and for worse, marriage equality has become the principle action item for the advancement of LGBT rights today. Since October 2008, it has exploded into a mass movement that entails diverse grassroots efforts, formal advocacy by civil rights organizations, specific legal strategies, and growing legislative courage to embrace full marriage equality. Energies continue at local and state levels but are beginning to also be focused nationally.
Second, the core issues involved with marriage equality in terms of civil rights are securing access to healthcare, protecting property and relationship rights, and extending equal access to full citizenship to same-sex couples. Beyond this, marriage equality ensures LGBT couples protection from second-tier status within American political, legal, and social structures. Marriage equality alone, however, cannot solve these complex challenges.
Third, stakes for LGBT rights beyond marriage equality include affirmation of not just same-sex couples, but of the integrity of all people to be able to live healthy lives free of harassment in a dynamic, socially diverse society. Recent trends signal that LGBT people are eager to look beyond marriage equality to more expansive visions of meaningful democracy that could, potentially, benefit far more than just LGBT people."
Main Office: (707) 664-2840
Direct Line: (707) 664-2574
Email: romesbur@sonoma.edu
David McCuan, associate professor of political science at Sonoma State University, is available for comment on the politics of Same-Sex Marriage and Same-Sex Unions (SSM/SSU) in both California and across the country.
McCuan is an expert on California state and local politics. He has written extensively in this area, including a specific focus on the rise of nationwide bans across the U.S. in his book, "Initiative - Centered Politics: The New Politics of Direct Democracy" (2004).
He has closely followed the politics of same sex marriage across the country and how the "culture war" battle over SSM/SSU has affected the politics of both the Democratic and Republican parties especially in the wake of 2008 election results.
Dr. McCuan can speak to the broader issues affecting politics based on actions taking place in San Francisco, across the country, and in Washington, D.C. As one example, his analysis includes a focus on the rise of ballot box movements to ban SSM/SSU and more recent legislative attempts to loosen such bans.
The issue of SSM/SSU was first tested in Hawaii and in Alaska in 1998 and in California in March 2000. From these victories, proponents of this issue moved inland placing the issue on ballots in Nebraska and Nevada
where they both passed handily giving rise to the chances that this reform is here to stay and likely to flourish as a battle on ballots across the country.
McCuan has provided commentary and analysis to CNN, The Wall Street Journal, as well as regional and national news outlets on the politics and practices of state politics.
McCuan teaches in the fields of state and local politics, campaigns and elections, and political behavior. He is also graduate coordinator of the Master's in Public Administration program at the University.
Main Office: (707) 664-2179
Direct Line: (707) 664-3309
E-mail: david.mccuan@sonoma.edu
Eric Williams has a Ph.D. in Political Science with a specialization in Legal Studies. He teaches classes in Constitutional Law and Civil Liberties as well as the politics of the Supreme Court. He can speak to the decision of the California Supreme Court on Prop 8 as well as the implications it has for the state of same-sex marriage in California. He is also well versed in Supreme Court doctrine and decision making and can discuss the ramifications of this decision for federal law and the possible steps the United States Supreme Court might take and the Constitutional issues involved.
He says:
"I believe that the California Supreme Court has been trying to force the U.S. Supreme Court into making a ruling on same-sex marriage from the start. First, the reasoning of their original ruling offered far wider protections for homosexuals than similar rulings in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa. Second, unlike Connecticut, the California court refused to impose an injunction on gay marriages until the election. This meant that if the voters passed Prop 8, as they did, there would be serious constitutional issues, since some same sex couples were allowed to be married while others were not. I strongly believe that, politically speaking, the California Court has done and will continue to do everything it can to insure that the U.S. Supreme Court can no longer duck this as it has so far, since this has become an issue that invokes the United States Constitution, rather than just a state constitutional matter."
Main Office: (707) 664-2934
Direct Line: (707) 664-2159
Email: eric.williams@sonoma.edu
SSU Students, Faculty and Staff:
Today, Chancellor Charles Reed sent an electronic message to all California State University employees. A portion of that message focused on student fees. Earlier this week, the California State University Board of Trustees reluctantly voted to increase student fees by 10% for the 2009-2010 academic year.
As Chancellor Reed states below, this was a difficult choice for the system to make - but also a necessary one. The portion of Chancellor Reed's letter referencing fees is below:
The CSU has implemented several cost-savings measures to protect our students, faculty and staff, and to preserve the quality of our universities. This week, the CSU Board of Trustees took another action to mitigate our budget shortfall.
The Trustees voted to increase student fees for the 2009-10 academic year. The student fee increase was included as part of the 2009-10 budget adopted by the legislature and the governor.
It is always a difficult choice to raise fees and it is a decision that the Trustees and I contemplated very carefully, understanding that there are consequences to our students. But we are in a dire budget situation that requires us to look at all the options we have to operate our universities.
Information about fees and financial aid is available on our Budget Central website: http://blogs.calstate.edu/budgetcentral/.
The fee increase for in-state undergraduates will amount to $306 per year. At Sonoma this results in the following fee structure:
Undergraduates (per semester)
1-6 units: $1604. (includes $632 of campus-based fees)
7+ units: $2309. (includes $632 of campus-based fees)
Graduate/Post-Baccalaureate (per semester)
1-6 units: $1832. (includes $632 of campus-based fees)
7+ units: $2699. (includes $632 of campus-based fees)
Credential Students (per semester)
1-6 units: $1760. (includes $632 of campus-based fees)
7+ units: $2579. (includes $632 of campus-based fees)
For more detailed information (including fees for MBA and non-resident students as well as a breakdown of campus-based fees), go to:
http://www.sonoma.edu/ar/registration/Fees.shtml
As always, one third of the increase is set aside to enhance financial aid grants. More than half of CSU's 450,000 students receive financial aid, and many pay no fees at all. Of the students who receive need-based financial aid, 80 percent will not pay any fee increase.
This is an extremely difficult budget time for the students, faculty and staff of Sonoma State University and its 22 sister campuses. We will continue to do our best to meet the needs of students, faculty and staff.
Sincerely,
Ruben Arminana, President
Sonoma State University will award diplomas to the largest graduating class in its history - 2242 students - at its 48th annual commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 23. Approximately 1,500 are expected to participate with their families and friends. The event historically draws more than 10,000 people to Commencement Lawn on the Rohnert Park campus.
Ceremonies are scheduled at 9 a.m. for the School of Arts and Humanities, School of Business and Economics, and the School of Education and 3 p.m. for the School of Science and Technology and the School of Social Sciences.
The top ten degrees awarded are in Business Administration, Psychology, Liberal Studies (Hutchins), Sociology, Communication Studies, Education, Environmental Studies, Kinesiology, Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies and History.
During and after, the ceremony can be viewed by visiting SSU's Streaming Media website from any location with Internet access for those who wish to view the ceremony from home or some other location.
Keynote speaker for both the morning and afternoon ceremony is Henry Rollins, a Grammy-winning musician, activist, spoken-word artist and former lead of punk band Black Flag.
Student speakers are Sterling Nicholaus Jones and Adam Williams. Jones has earned two bachelor's degrees - in Sociology and in American Multicultural Studies. Williams, with his degree in Environmental Studies and Planning, plans to contribute his experiences in restoration ecology and conservation biology to environmentally-based projects as a volunteer for the Peace Corps in Latin America.
An Honorary Degree will be presented to Dr. Claude Ganz, a Bay Area philanthropist who has been the tireless driving force in an establishing the new Jewish Studies Program and raising the funds to support its permanent endowment. A survivor of the Holocaust, he is an advocate for Jewish education as a way of promoting interfaith tolerance. He was also President Bill Clinton's Special Representative to oversee the Economic Reconstruction of Bosnia.
At 72, Deborah Kakalik will be the oldest member of the 2009 graduating class as she accepts a diploma for a Bachelors of Arts in Music. A retired SSU education professor, Kakalic returned to school to realize a lifelong aspiration to study piano.
"When I was teaching, I often thought how wonderful it would be to take music classes. I never had time. As retirement drew near, I began to rekindle my childhood dreams," she said.
Madrone Williams graduates at the same time as her 28-year-old son, Jeremiah Grim. Williams first attended SSU in the 1980s and brought Jeremiah to class with her as a young mother. On Saturday, he graduates with a degree in Environmental Studies and Planning with a focus on Urban Planning. Williams earns a Masters of Science in Nursing with an emphasis in Management and Leadership.
For further information, visit the Commencement 2009 Web site.
"I loan because people need to first have boots before they can pull themselves up by their bootstraps," said Amihan Makayan, a student who has found a novel way of reaching out to help people all over the world.
Through San Francisco-based micro lending company Kiva, Makayan created an internet-based Sonoma State team that would allow students to lend collectively to entrepreneurs in developing countries who are trying to start small businesses. Since starting the team at the beginning of the semester, she has recruited over 20 people and inspired many SSU students to lend individually. Because Kiva's minimum contribution is $25, it is means of reaching out that is uniquely accessible to college students.
"I can loan to one person with $25, upon repayment I can loan it to another person. One individual, with a mere $25, can help an infinite amount of people over time. Or I can simply take back the money into my account! It's pretty remarkable," said Makayan.
Makayan discovered micro lending in her junior year when Sonoma State University's Hutchin's program exposed her to the Grameen Bank. She subsequently discovered Kiva through a friend when she made micro lending her senior project, which is the first micro lending program to connect the individuals to the entrepreneurs via the simple website.
"It's been exciting to hear back from the entrepreneurs through updates. I get to learn how they've used the money and/or if they continue to struggle. It really makes the whole [process] very human," said Makayan
Makayan was born and raised in the Philippines. Her grandmother never finished grade school but nonetheless started a successful bakery, initially selling baked goods directly out of house. Over time, with her profits, she bought land and began to grow and sell fruits. As her business became even more profitable, she bought more land and expanded her business to coconut plantations and a processing plant.
"In a way, I see a lot of my grandmother in the poor all over the world. Many of the world's poor are poor through no fault of their own. But societies are not equipped to help them. Even if, like my grandmother, they are clever and determined, they have no capital to help them get that little push to develop a sustainable living," explained Makayan.
Makayan's Kiva profile (http://www.kiva.org/lender/amihan5812) lists the 25 entrepreneurs she is currently loaning to, including a bakery in Lebanon, a cattle ranch in Cambodia and a restaurant in the Dominican Republic.
"The Hutchins program at Sonoma State provided me with a huge awareness of interconnectedness. I understand now that socio-economic and environmental issues are complex and can't be solved locally, but globally. I understand that many of the poverty issues in some African country for example, may not seem
to affect us here in the Bay Area. But when you really think about it, issues of immigration, environmental issues (i.e. poor people chop down trees without regard because that is the only means of survival); they do have much more impact in us all," explained Makayan.
Though Makayan is leaving SSU, she plans to continue her involvement with Kiva past her May 2009 graduation.
She will be joining Kiva's official speaker's bureau and continuing to do outreach for the organization. In Fall 2009, she plans to start San Francisco State's Master program in Public Administration with a concentration on Public Policy/ Urban
administration.
"I want to continue to investigate and work on ending poverty through new ways, like micro lending," concluded Makayan.
For more information abut Kiva, visit the company's website at www.kiva.org. Visit Makayan's lender profile at http://www.kiva.org/lender/amihan5812.
A ground-breaking foreign language program, coordinated by Justina Montano and Sonia Casteneda, has been honored with the 22nd Annual Jack London Award for Educational Innovationk.
The Sonoma State University School of Education presents this award to an outstanding K-12 school program that involves students, teachers and the community.
The "K-8 Dual Immersion" program at Flowery Elementary and Adele Harrison Middle Schools in Sonoma Valley educates native English and Spanish speaking students to be bilingual and bi-literate citizens.
The program enables students to become successful in an increasingly global society.
The program began with one kindergarten class of 20 students in 1990 and has expanded to include over 380 students from kindergarten to eighth grade. Many program alums are now taking advanced Spanish classes in grades 9 and 10 at Sonoma Valley High School. The successful program is now considered a model for innovative, foreign language programs.
One judge commented, "They are making a difference in ways that are no longer very common." Another judge noted that the program demonstrated a "tremendous amount of collaboration among teachers, students and community."
The program sets the stage for students to become involved in their local and global communities Dual-immersion students support the Sonoma Ecology Center, Glen Oaks Ranch and Bouverie Preserve, participating in stewardship activities.
Students are encouraged to engage with the world community as well; many correspond with Spanish pen pals from countries including Costa Rica and Guatemala.
This year's other finalists were the "Spring Creek School Garden" project at Spring Creek Elementary coordinated by Carole Geier, the "Health Career Pathway" project at Casa Grande High School coordinated by Kelly Holly and the "Vineyard Academy" project at Windsor High School coordinated by Marie Ganister.
ABOVE: Standing from left to right - Justina Montano, Joyce Schipper, Dora-Aldina Chavarria, Amber kalcic, Mary Ann Spitzer, Karla Conroy, Pamela Martens, Sonia Castaneda, Maria Moreno, Gene Ventura
Seated or kneeling on floor from left to right - Krista McAtee, Ana Martinez, Paula Salazar, Lucia Chavez-Goodman, Alicia Sardoch, Katie Logan.
Dr. Claude Ganz is known for his business acumen as well as for being a strategic advisor for start-up businesses.
At Sonoma State University he was the tireless driving force in the formation of a significant new Jewish Studies Program.
The Sonoma County man will be awarded an Honorary Degree at SSU's Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 23 at the Rohnert Park campus.
A survivor of the Holocaust, he is an advocate for Jewish education as a way of promoting interfaith tolerance.
His time and vision not only resulted in the well-received Jewish Studies Program, but he raised funds to support its permanent endowment.
Dr. Ganz emigrated to the United States from Europe. After fleeing Germany with his family during the Hitler regime, he went to France where he was placed in a deportation campus from which he and his family escaped to Switzerland in 1942. After four years of Swiss internment as a refugee, he came to California in 1947.
From 1951-1954, he served in the U.S. Army Intelligence Service. Two years later, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Berkeley in Industrial Management.
Dr. Ganz has enjoyed a highly successful career and a distinguished professional life. From 1956 to 1978, he was the chairman and Chief Executive Officer for DYMO Industries, a multi-national company.
In 1962, he received the President Kennedy Award for Export Expansion. In 1987, when his European-based company was bought out by the Swedish government, the King of Sweden honored Dr. Ganz with a medal for his contributions to the Swedish economy.
In 1996, Dr. Ganz and his wife Lynn were appointed Special Envoys by President Clinton to aid with the peace process in war-torn Bosnia.
On his return from Bosnia, Dr. Ganz founded BDi, a non-profit foundation to provide entrepreneurship education in the Balkans. He was awarded the Peace Prize by the Bosnian Government for that effort.
NOTE: A digital photo of Claude Ganz is available upon request.
The Sonoma County Registrar of Voters has asked the Associated Students, Inc. to host a polling location for the upcoming Special Election on May 19.
The voting place for all on-campus residents is Cooperage 1.
Off-campus students, faculty, and staff may locate their polling places by visiting the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters .
Polls will be open from 7 a.m.- 8 p.m.
The special election includes several propositions related to the California budget.
The official Voter Information Guide can be found at http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/.
Commencement Events
SECOND ANNUAL RAINBOW GRADUATION CELEBRATION - A time for the queer, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, intersex, questioning, same-gender-loving people and their friends, family and allies to come together to celebrate the accomplishments of the last year and to recognize those moving on to the next chapter in their lives. Thurs., May 21, 7 - 9 p.m. Student Union Multi Purpose Room. Julie Greathouse. julie.greathouse@sonoma.edu.
RAZA GRADUATION - Special celebration for Chicano, Latino and Native American students and their families that honors Raza graduates' heritage through a message delivered by the keynote speaker, the student speakers, the cultural entertainment and food. Fri., May 22, 7 p.m. Person Theater. Michael Grant. grantmi@sonoma.edu.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN GRADUATION -The 16th Annual African-American Graduation Celebration applauds success of Black students and their families. Members of Black Scholars United provide musical and poetry entertainment. Guest speaker is Jonathan Pollulard, Dean of Students at the University of California, Berkeley. Pollulard is a nationally recognized leader in Student Affairs and in diversity training. Refreshments served after the program. Fri., May 22, 6 - 8 p.m. Cooperage. Chuck Rhodes. (707) 664-4033.
COMMENCEMENT -Sonoma State University's Class of 2009 graduates in a Commencement ceremony on the Commencement Lawn by the Lakes. The keynote address will be given by Grammy-award winner Henry Rollins and the student speakers will be Adam Williams and Sterling Nicholaus Jones. Sat., May 23. School of Education, School of Arts and Humanities and School of Business and Economics, 9 a.m. School of Science and Technology and School of Social Sciences, 3 p.m. Each ceremony will last approximately two hours and 45 minutes.
Lectures
THE HOLOCAUST BENEATH OUR FEET - Native Americans Multicultural Professor and Tribal Chairman Greg Sarris explores the legacy of the often overlooked, brutal, and, ultimately, genocidal, colonialism of the Southern Pomo and Miwok Indians in Sonoma and Marin Counties. 26th Annual Holocaust Lecture Series. Tues.,May 19., 4 p.m. Warren Auditorium, Ives 101.
Galleries
ANNUAL BFA EXHIBITION 20009 - BFA Exhibition 2009 features the work of six students in the Art Department who are graduating this Spring with their Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), an advanced degree requiring an additional year of focused study in their chosen medium---Lily Cain (painting and printmaking), Abelardo Cruz-Santiago (mixed media printmaking), Itzul Gutierrez (sculpture/print installation), Johnny King (printmaking), Logan Stocksdale (ceramic sculpture), and Emily Wiseman (painting). Open Thurs., April 30 - Sat., May 23. Tues. - Fri., 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sat. & Sun., noon - 4 p.m. Carla Stone. (707) 664-2295.
Earlier this semester, President Ruben Arminana's three-year review by the California State University Board of Trustees began.
The review took the form of summarizing letters and comments from campus and from the external community. The CSU Board of Trustees discussed the review on May 12.
Below is a link to the summary letter.
http://www.sonoma.edu/uaffairs/arminanaLtr.pdf
For further information, contact Susan Kashack, Associate Vice-President for Communications and Marketing, (707) 664-2122.
Greg Sarris, Endowed Chair in Native American Studies, explores the often-ignored legacy and tragic history of the Native Americans in southern Sonoma County and Marin County on Tues., May 19 at 4 p.m. in Warren Auditorium.
His lecture is entitled "The Holocaust Beneath Our Feet: A History of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria." It is part of the 26th Annual Sonoma State University Holocaust Lecture Series.
Sarris, who teaches writing at SSU and is tribal chair of the Graton Rancheria, will discuss the history of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, once the Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo Indians of southern Sonoma and Marin Counties.
"The impacts of a brutal, and ultimately genocidal, colonialism that decimated thousands of local native people and significantly altered the native environment continues to be ignored," he says.
"As a result, the local non-Indian community, including politicians and scholars, know little if anything of the local Holocaust and its horrible legacy for survivors who are currently in the midst of a cultural and political revival that promises to impact profoundly Sonoma County."
Jimmie Briggs, a writer/photographer who has followed in a long-standing tradition of "compassionate journalists" through his focus on child soldiers speaks about the tradition of social justice in journalism at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12 in the Cooperage.
Brigg's will present a slide-show and host a discussion on "compassionate journalist" photographers from the 1930's to today, including his own work on child soldiers.
Briggs, a former reporter for LIFE magazine, is a New York- based writer, teacher and freelance journalist. Over the last decade, he has written for publications including "The Village Voice" and "The Source."
In 2005, he published "Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go to War." He is a National Magazine finalist and the recipient of many honors.
This event is sponsored by the North Bay International Studies Project.
For more information, contact Miriam Hutchins, (707) 664-2409.
Spanish Professor Jeffrey Reeder has been named the Sonoma County Bicycle Commuter of the Year for 2009 for his dedication to commuting to the campus by bicycle.
Since 1998, Reeder has been traveling 20-27 miles round trip on his bike four to five days a week from Santa Rosa to his job as Chair of the Languages Department on the Rohnert Park campus.
He encourages his students to cycle more often by working it into his language lessons. They learn how to calculate their carbon offset and how much is saved by cycling instead of driving to work.
Visit Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition's website to read an interview with Reeder at
http://www.BikeSonoma.org/Bike2Work.html.
SSU is joining in the countywide effort to promote bicycles as an healthy, earth- friendly alternative to commuting by car on Bike to Work Day, Thurs., May 14.
Bike to Work Day is the premier bicycling event taking place in all of Northern California with all nine Bay Area counties participating in the celebration.
Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to commute to campus using means other than their cars to promote alternative forms of transportation that benefit the
entire community.
"The fact that I commute by bike brings our family closer together," says Reeder. "There are three of us - my wife, my son, and myself. We share one car, so anything we plan to use the car for - that's not part of the workday - we do together."
He says "We save money, we save hassle, have a closer family, and we save space on the street so that other people can park their extra cars there."
On Bike to Work Day, Energizer Stations will be located throughout the county to hydrate and encourage those participating on their way to SSU.
At the final stop, SSU hosts a station at the south entrance to campus (near the flagpole near East Cotati Avenue) with free gifts, food and refreshments and a chance at raffle prizes.
Police & Parking Services is registering bicycles free during the Bike to Work Day activities. Bicycle maintenance and repair will be available at this location for SSU
students, faculty and staff.
For those who do not own a bike, there are other options available. Visit the Sonoma County Transit web page for information on bus schedules and stop locations.
Visit SSU Bike to Work for more information.
The 'Bad Boy' of the Food Network, Guy Fieri, will be speaking on Weds., May 13 at 7 p.m. in the Cooperage about the cultural phenomenon of his rise to TV celebrity.
After winning the reality TV competition 'Next Food Network, the Santa Rosa restauranteur became a ubiquitous presence on the station and brought his young energy to a new generation of home chefs. Fieri will discuss his humble beginnings at a pretzel cart and his rise to national celebrity, the creation of multiple successful and truly unique restaurants, how he came to know his own success, and how SSU students can come to know their own.
The event is free and open to SSU students, faculty and staff only. Tickets are available at the Student Union front desk on a first-come, first serve basis with a valid SSU ID. Limit two per person with ID.
For more information on this and other ASP events, please call (707) 664-2382 or visit online at www.sonoma.edu/as/asp.
Grammy winning singer, actor, social commentator, activist, and former front-man of Punk Rock band Black Flag, Henry Rollins is coming to Sonoma State University to deliver the 2009 Commencement address on Sat., May 23 next to the University Lakes.
The schools of Education, Arts & Humanities, and Business and Economics will participate in the ceremony at 9 a.m. while the schools of Science & Technology, and Social Sciences will participate in a separate ceremony at 3 p.m.
Rollins began his rise to fame in the 1980's hardcore punk music movement as the front man first for the band State of Alert, and next for Black Flag. He became known in punk scenes for his intense on-stage antics, hard-hitting attitude, and a voice called "A compelling, raspy howl" by leading music journalists.
After the break up of Black Flag in 1986 and the release of several solo albums, Rollins began touring with his new eponymous Rollins Band. The band released over a dozen albums and recordings and appeared at Lollapalooza in 1991, Woodstock 94, and subsequently began to release Rollins' own spoken word albums as Rollins discovered yet another avenue of musical creativity.
For more information on this and other events, call (707) 664-2382 or visit online at www.sonoma.edu/as/asp.
Cindy Sheehan, famous for her high profile "Camp Casey" Iraq war protests outside former- president George W. Bush's Crawford, Texas home, comes to Sonoma State University on Fri., May 15 at 7 p.m. in the University Gym.
Her lecture will focus on how individual action can help President Barack Obama end the wars and occupations in the Middle East.
Known worldwide for her determined efforts to promote peace, Sheehan has been called "the Rosa Parks of the antiwar movement" and nicknamed "Peace Mom" by the mainstream press.
In 2007, she challenged California State Representative Nancy Pelosi for her Congress seat, based on what Sheehan called Pelosi's failure to attempt impeachment of Bush. She has also spoken of ambitions to run against California senator Diane Feinstein.
Sheehan's oldest son, 24-year old Casey Austin Sheehan, was killed on April 4, 2004 while serving in Iraq. Austin was a Specialist in the First Cavalry Division in Sadr City, and was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star posthumously for his valor in combat.
In response to the loss, Sheehan founder Gold Star Families for Peace in January 2005. The organization is comprised of family members who have lost relatives as a result of the war and is dedicated to ending the occupation in Iraq and bringing the troops home.
In August 2005, camped outside Bush's Crawford home during his five-week vacation, resolving to remain there until he granted her request for a personal explanation of the "noble cause" for which her son died. She was joined by other peace activists and the encampment, dubbed "Camp Casey," swelled to include hundreds of protestors.
Suggested donation is $10 at the door as a fund-raiser for Project Censored, Students for Democracy and Media Fee Foundation's Investigative Research Fund. SSU students admitted free.
For more information, contact Peter Phillips at (707) 664-2588 or peter.phillips@sonoma.edu.
Lectures
THE LEGACY OF CESAR CHAVEZ - The granddaughter of civil and labor rights activist Cesar Chavez, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, lectures. Rodriguez was introduced to the farm worker movement at an early age and throughout her life, she has played an active role in the fight for social justice, human rights and the rights of working people. Chavez Rodriguez is currently the programs director for the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation, where she spearheads the National Youth Leadership Initiative, an effort which addresses academic and civic engagement among today's youth. Associated Student Productions. Mon., May 11, 7:30 p.m. Cooperage. (707) 664-2382.
THE PERSONAL IS HISTORICAL: NOTES FROM THE SONOMA COUNTY WOMEN'S ORAL HISTORY PROJECT- History Professors Michelle Jolly and Emilie Roy explore oral interviews with women and men who participated in the women's movement in Sonoma County during the 1970s and 1980s. Interviewers in the project have focused particularly on the lives and work of lesbians who were involved in the movement. School of Social Sciences Brown Bag Lecture Series. Tues., May 12, noon - 1 p.m. Stevenson 2011.
HIDDEN CHILDREN DURING THE HOLOCAUST - Jeannette Ringold, chair of the Bay Area Hidden Children's Group, examines the lives of children who went into hiding during the Holocaust. 26th Annual Holocaust Lecture Series. Tues., May 12, 4 - 5:40 p.m. www.sonoma.edu/holocaust/center.htm.
ONE CAMPAIGN- Made famous by Bono, ONE is a grassroots campaign and advocacy organization backed by more than 2 million people from around the world and every walk of life who are committed to the fight against extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. ONE is non-partisan and works with activists to protect families from preventable diseases like AIDS and malaria, putting kids in school, providing economic opportunity and stabilizing communities. Tues., May 12, 7 p.m. Student Union Multi Purpose Room. (707) 664-2382. www.sonoma.edu/as/asp.
COMPASSIONATE JOURNALISM: FROM THE 1930'S TO TODAY - (left) "Compassionate journalism" emerged through the work of WPA/FSA and artists such as Gordan Parks, James Agee and Dorothea Lange. It led to documentary work that highlighted a social justice tone in the 80's and 90's. Jimmy Briggs, a former reporter with LIFE magazine and National Magazine Award finalist, hosts a slide-show discussion of photographers from the 1930's to today, including his own work on child soldiers. Tues., May 12, 7 p.m. Cooperage. North Bay International Studies Project. Miriam Hutchins. (707) 664-2409.
TAKE A BITE OUT OF LIFE WITH GUY FIERI -Guy Fieri, the 'Bad Boy' of the Food Network speaks about the cultural phenomenon of his rise to TV celebrity. After winning the reality TV competition "Next Food Network," the Santa Rosa restauranteur became a ubiquitous presence on the station and brought his young energy to a new generation of home chefs. Fieri will discuss his humble beginnings running a pretzel cart business, his rise to national celebrity, the creation of multiple successful and truly unique restaurants, how he came to know his own success and how SSU students can come to know their own.Weds., May 13, 7 p.m. Cooperage. (707) 664-2832. www.sonoma.edu/as/asp.
"PEACE MOM" CINDY SHEEHANCindy Sheehan, famous for her high profile "Camp Casey" Iraq war protests outside former president George W. Bush's Crawford, Texas home, comes to the University Gym on Fri., May 15 at 7 p.m. Her lecture focuses on how individual action can help President Barack Obama end the wars and occupations in the Middle East. Sheehan has been called "the Rosa Parks of the antiwar movement" and nicknamed "Peace Mom" by the mainstream press. Suggested donation is $10 at the door as a fund-raiser for Project Censored, Students for Democracy and Media Free Foundation's Investigative Research Fund. SSU students admitted free. Peter Phillips, (707) 664-2588.
Films
KARMEN GEI - (2001) "Joseph Gai Ramaka has taken Bizet's Carmen and, in his own words, "plunged it into the magical and chaotic urbanity of an African city in the twenty-first century." Karmen Gei is a breathtakingly lavish spectacle, eloquently translated into ancient and contemporary Senegalese musical forms, the elegant cinematography offering up a parade of vivid images." - PFA (86 mins., in French and Wolof with English subtitles) Thurs., May 14, 7 p.m. Darwin 103. Fri., May 15, 7 p.m. Warren Auditorium, Ives 101. (707) 664-4332. http://www.sonoma.edu/sfi/.
YES MAN - (right) Carl Allen is at a standstill. No future... Until the day he enrolls into a personal development program based on a very simple idea: say yes to everything! Carl discovers with amazement the magical power of "Yes", and sees his professional and romantic life turned upside down overnight: an unexpected promotion and a new girlfriend. But he'll soon discover that better can be good's enemy, and that all opportunities shouldn't be taken. Scene It Movie Night. Sat., April 16, 9 p.m. Cooperage. (707) 664-2382. www.sonoma.edu/as/asp.
Galleries
ANNUAL BFA EXHIBITION 2009 - BFA Exhibition 2009 features the work of six students in the Art Department who are graduating this Spring with their Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), an advanced degree requiring an additional year of focused study in their chosen medium---Lily Cain (painting and printmaking), Abelardo Cruz-Santiago (mixed media printmaking), Itzul Gutierrez (sculpture/print installation), Johnny King (printmaking), Logan Stocksdale (ceramic sculpture), and Emily Wiseman (painting). Open Thurs., April 30 - Sat., May 23. Tues. - Fri., 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sat. & Sun., noon - 4 p.m. Carla Stone. (707) 664-2295.
Dr. Georgia Schwartz, Director, SSU Student Health Center, sent this message to the campus on Friday, May 1.
The current swine flu virus has been re-named the H1N1 Type A Influenza Virus. Why? Because some people have incorrectly reacted to the word "swine" and banned pork imports or started slaughtering entire pig populations.
In contrast, reactions and behaviors based on sound public health and scientific information are our best tools for responding to H1N1 flu.
H1N1 Swine flu is not transmitted by eating properly cooked pork, and there is no need to kill pigs.
Contrary to rumors circulating locally, there are no confirmed, probable, or suspected cases of H1N1 Type A flu at SSU at this time and no confirmed cases in Sonoma County. With increased surveillance and testing, new cases will be identified world wide, possibly locally.
An increase in confirmed cases will not necessarily mean that the illness caused by H1N1 has become more severe. Whether this virus will produce milder or a more serious illness in the future is unknown.
H1N1 flu has, for the most part, been a relatively mild illness so far with symptoms similar to regular seasonal influenza. Thousands of complications and deaths result every year in the U.S. from regular seasonal influenza -- without the attention that the 9 confirmed H1N1 related deaths worldwide to date have received.
The deaths in Mexico reported by the media included suspected but not confirmed cases of H1N1 flu. The Phase 5 World Health Organization alert means that there are now clustered cases in more than one country, which indicates a potential for further spread. It was not prompted by an increase in the virulence of the virus.
According to Sonoma County Public Health, all confirmed cases of H1N1 flu have had fever. Public Health experts have stated that "if you don't have a fever of 100 degrees or more, you don't have this flu."
The incubation period range for H1N1 (formerly swine) flu is 1-7 days, and it is well past this period for those who went to Mexico during Spring Break. There is no CDC recommendation that healthy people returning from Mexico be tested or stay home. This applies only those arriving in the last 7 days who also have fever and other flu symptoms.
Nevertheless, H1N1 flu must be taken seriously from a public health and prevention perspective. Campus leaders remain in communication with Public Health Officials, are following their recommendations and guidelines, and are proceeding according to the SSU Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Flu Response Plan.
Just as importantly, we are calling on all members of the campus community to use the following time-tested tools and sources of information. These work equally well for H1N1 (formerly swine) flu, regular seasonal flu, and other respiratory infections.
1. Keep it clean:
- Cover coughs and sneezes. Use your elbow, shoulder, or a tissue.
- Dispose of used tissues in the trash, and wash hands immediately.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds each time.
- If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand rub - available at any drug store.
- Don't share drinking or eating utensils or other mouth-contaminated items with others.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth, as germs from your hands can enter your body this way.
- Avoid close contact with others who are ill. Their germs are not your friend.
2. Help out your immune system:
- Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke and other inhaled or environmental respiratory irritants.
- "Just say no" to substances that can interfere with immunity.
- Get 7-8 hours of sleep a night - more if you'd like.
- Eat regular balanced meals which can include appropriately cooked pork if you're not a vegetarian.
- Drink plenty of fluids. Stay physically active.
- Avoid stress, including anxiety that can come from relying on media reporting rather than reading prevailing public health information about H1N1 (swine) flu - see links below.
3. If you get sick with fever, cough, sore throat, body ache's etc:
- Keep following the guidelines listed above:
- If you have the flu, stay home and limit contact with others. Stay in a different room or at least 6 feet away. Wear a surgical mask when you can't avoid being near others, and don't share a used mask with someone else. Masks are not currently recommended for people in the community who are not ill with flu symptoms.
- If symptoms are mild, follow self-care guidelines including getting lots of rest, healthy fluids, and taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever. You don't really need to see a doctor.
- If you feel very ill, fever above 101, have difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, persistent dizziness, disorientation or headache, can't eat or drink, are getting dehydrated, or have other symptoms of concern, seek medical attention promptly.
- Call your health care provider BEFORE coming for a medical visit, because it might be better for you to stay home or your provider might need to prepare for your visit to prevent transmitting infection to others.
Get your information from:
The World Health Organization (WHO): www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu
Sonoma County Health Department: www.sonoma-county.org/health/ph/news/index.htm
The SSU Student Health Center: (707) 664-2921
Your personal off-campus health care provider
Thank you.
Lectures
BOOK RELEASE CELEBRATION: FIELD DAYS: INTO THE FUTURE OF FARMING AND FOOD - Communications Professor Jonah Raskin presents his newest book Field Days. Raskin reads from his book and performs some poems about farms and farming. Book sales and signings will be available. Live music. Sponsored by The Star, The Communications Department and Slow Food SSU. Mon., May 4, 7 p.m. University Art Gallery. Jonah Raskin. (707) 664-2507.
HUNGER BANQUET - Join JUMP in the Student Union for dinner and a discussion about world hunger. Mon., May 4, 5 -6:30 p.m Student Multi Purpose Room. (707) 664-4277. www.sonoma.edu/as/jump.
THIRTY-NINE YEARS OF ASTRONOMY AND PHYSICS - Physics Professor Joseph S. Tenn concludes his career with some reflections on his activities and the changes he has seen. Mon., May 4, 4 p.m. Darwin 103. http://www.phys-astro.sonoma.edu/wpd/.
THEY GOT IT RIGHT... THE GODS ARE CRAZY: A VIEW OF CHANGE FROM THE KALAHARI - Psychology Professor Gisela Wendling talks about her experiences with the Kalahari Bushmen during her visit to southern Africa last summer, and how aspects of their belief system and practices challenge some of our most deeply held assumptions about change. School of Social Sciences Brown Bag Lecture Series. Tues., May 5, noon - 1 p.m. Stevenson 2011. (707) 664-2112. http://www.sonoma.edu/socsci/get_involved/brown_bag_lectures.htm.
THE ROAD TO RESCUE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF SCHINDLER'S LIST - Viktoria Hertlin, director of the Center for Holocaust, Genocide & Peace Studies at the University of Nevada at Reno, explores the often overlooked players who were integral to Schindler's famous story. 26th Annual Holocaust Lecture Series. Tues., May 5, 4 - 5:40 p.m. centerh@sonoma.edu www.sonoma.edu/holocaust/center.htm.
BEYOND OUR DIFFERENCES - Ever wonder about various viewpoints of religions worldwide? Motivated by the unified message of hope, the film "Beyond Our Differences" portrays the multiple dimensions of faith's impact on positive change in the lives of others. Tues., May 5, 7 p.m. Student Union Multipurpose Room. (707) 664.2382. www.sonoma.edu/as/asp.
TAKING POWER IN CREATING IMAGES: CRASH PAD PORN - (left) Shine Louise Houston, pioneering producer and director of Pink and White Productions, is dedicated to producing sexy and exciting images that reflect today's blurred gender lines and fluid sexualities. Houston will discuss how Pink and White Productions creates porn that exposes the complexities of queer sexual desire, inviting viewers into a world of butches, bois, femmes, transfolk and more, with a focus unlike any other in the adult industry, focusing on the authentic passion between two (or more) bodies. Gender Lecture Series. Tues., May 5, noon. Carson 68. Don Romesburg. (707) 664-2574.
BETTER, FASTER CHIP - Joel Nelson demonstrates kinasases at the chromatin and beyond. Biology Colloquium Lectures Series. Tues., May 7, noon. Darwin 101. (707) 664-2189. www.sonoma.edu/biology/home/colloquium.shtml.
USE OF THE GRADIENT VECTOR IN CONSTRUCTING A SOLAR ELECTRIC SYSTEM - Chad Griffith discusses mathematical applications used by a project manager in the solar industry highlighting specific examples of Calculus, algebra, geometry, and financial mathematics in the job place. M*A*T*H* Colloquium Lecture Series. Weds., May 6, 4 p.m. Darwin 103. (707) 664-2368. http://www.sonoma.edu/math/nsf/colloquium.shtml.
DANCE AS A MULTIMODAL FORM OF WRITING AND KNOWING: EXPANDING THE REPERTOIRE IN CLASSROOMS AND COMMUNITIES - English professor Mira Katz explores the value of dancing as a creative tool. Arts & Humanities Research & Creative Forum. Thurs., May 7, noon. Schulz 3001. (707) 664-2146. www.sonoma.edu/a&h/AHForum.htm.
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & ECONOMICS SENIOR GRADUATION CELEBRATION - Graduating business and economics majors are invited to join in a graduation celebration. Sat., May 9, 3 - 5:30 p.m. Cooperage. Shalyn Eyer. (707) 664-2220. www.sonoma.edu/sbe.
Theater
SPRING DANCE PERFORMANCE- (right) Spirited dancing by SSU Dance Ensemble and stunning choreography by critically acclaimed guest artists from the San Francisco Bay Area and resident dance faculty Kristen Daley and Nancy Lyons. $15 general, $12 faculty/alumni/staff, $8 seniors/students, free SSU students. Fri., May 1, 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 2, 7:30 p.m. Tues., May 5., 7:30 p.m. Weds., May 6, 7:30 p.m. Thurs., May 7., 7:30 p.m. Fri., May 8, 7:30 p.m. Sat., May 9, 7:30 p.m. Person Theater. http://www.sonoma.edu/performingarts/perf.
SSU CHAMBER SINGERS - Music Professor Bob Worth directs the SSU Chamber singers, with organist David Parsons, in a reconstruction of Mass for Corpus Christi, including William Byrd's famous Mass for Four Voices, motets from his Gradualia, works for organ and plainsong. The concert features the music department's new Klop positiv organ. Thurs., May 7, 8 p.m. Fri., May 8, 8 p.m. Sat., May 9, 8 p.m. (707) 664-2353. http://www.sonoma.edu/performingarts/perf.
Films
RIALTO $1 MOVIE NIGHT: SUGAR - Miguel "Azucar" Santos, a Dominican pitcher from San Pedro de Macoris, struggles to make it to the big leagues and pull himself and his family out of poverty. Playing professionally at the Kansas City Knights baseball academy, Miguel finally gets his break at age 19 when he advances to the United States' minor league system. Miguel travels from his tight knit community in the Dominican Republic to a small town in the Iowa corn country, where he and his few Latin American teammates become the only Spanish-speaking people in the area. As Miguel struggles with the new language and culture, despite the welcoming efforts of his host family, he is faced with an isolation he never before experienced. When his play on the mound falters, he begins to more closely examine the world around him and his place within it, and ultimately questions the single-mindedness of his life's ambition. Sponsored by Associated Student Productions. Tickets available at the front desk the Student Union. Weds., May 6, 7:15 p.m. Rialto Theaters in Santa Rosa. (707) 664-2382. www.sonoma.edu/as/asp.
CARMEN JONES - (left) (1954) Bizet's opera Carmen was transposed and transported from Spain to Jacksonville, Florida army base in the forties, the libretto rewritten by Oscar Hammerstein II for an all black-American cast. (105 minutes). Sonoma Film Institute. Thurs., May 7, 7 p.m. Darwin 103. Fri., May 8, 7 p.m. Warren Auditorium, Ives 101. (707) 664-4332. http://www.sonoma.edu/sfi/.
Galleries
ANNUAL BFA EXHIBITION 2009 - BFA Exhibition 2009 features the work of 6 students in the Art Department who are graduating this Spring with their Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), an advanced degree requiring an additional year of focused study in their chosen medium---Lily Cain (painting and printmaking), Abelardo Cruz-Santiago (mixed media printmaking), Itzul Gutierrez (sculpture/print installation), Johnny King (printmaking), Logan Stocksdale (ceramic sculpture), and Emily Wiseman (painting). Open Thurs., April 30 - Sat., May 23. Tues. - Fri., 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sat. & Sun., noon - 4 p.m. Carla Stone. (707) 664-2295.
