Sonoma State Star

H1N1 (swine) flu slows

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Two deaths from the H1N1 flu have been reported in the U.S. as of May 8, and a total of 1, 639 cases have been confirmed in 43 different states, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

California currently has 107 confirmed cases, and both deaths from the H1N1 flu, previously called the swine flu, were in Texas.

Henry Rollins set to inspire graduates at commencement

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Focus, clarity and honesty are difficult things to come by from public figures. However, Sonoma State University found those qualities and a whole host more when they decided to invite Henry Rollins as this year's commencement speaker.

Known for his candid take on the world at large, Rollins will be addressing SSU seniors, faculty and guests at graduation on Sat.

ASI members take office; Speaker of the Senate elected

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

After a year in office, the 2008-2009 Associated Students Inc. (ASI) Senate has passed the torch and welcomed the newly elected officials into office.

On Wed., May 7, this year's ASI Senate began their final meeting, each of them saying a few parting words before retiring from their place at the table and welcoming the newly elected officials to take their seats for the first time.

Crime alert notifies students of sexual assault on campus

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

On Fri., May 8 SSU Police Services issued a crime warning through e-mail to students and faculty.

According to the e-mail sent by Susan Kashack, associate vice president for communications and marketing, a sexual assault incident occurred sometime between 10 p.

Police Services announces new safety initiatives

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Police Services announced new initiatives and programs last week that will help them better serve students and the campus community.

These new systems and initiatives will assist police dispatch in receiving 911 calls from cell phones, as well as allow Police Services to announce emergency information to a wide audience through immediate text messaging or e-mail messages.

Survey seeks student feedback to increase SSU's retention rates

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Another e-mail from Susan Kashack, associate vice president for communications and marketing reached the students Fri., May 8. Unlike the customer service surveys that students may be accustomed to, this survey was created and sent to directly benefit the students.

Sustainability Enterprise Conference explores the future of sustainable technologies

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Inside the solar-powered Event Center at Sonoma Mountain Village some of the brightest minds in the environmental industry met last Friday at the 2009 Sustainability Enterprise Conference to discuss the status and future of sustainable technologies.

The day followed a theme focusing first on the larger issue of sustainability in the United States as a whole, later funneling into California and the North Bay in particular.

Graduating in 2009? A blessing in disguise

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The graduating Class of 2009 is without a doubt entering a different world than the generation before us. Mention words like "economy" and "unemployment," and there is no need for an explanation.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers 60 percent of all graduates return home from school unemployed.

Children lose with Prop. 1D

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Dear Editor,

Last week, I attended the monthly meeting of the Sonoma County Child Care Planning Council (SCCCPC), an advisory body charged with determining the care and education needs of children living in Sonoma County and making recommendations concerning how those needs should be met.

No on 1A

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Professor Rick Luttmann sounds off on Prop 1A

Save First Five; No on Prop. 1D

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Are you smarter than a five year old? While you may be, Proposition 1-D is not.

The proposition, to be voted upon statewide May 19, is solely focused on the funding of First-Five California. The proposition would redirect around $268 million from First Five's fund into the state General Fund for five years.

All reality is not created equal

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The current trend in television seems to be reality show after reality show. Maybe it is because they are cheaper to produce and you don't have to pay the people who star in them anywhere near the amount of a real actor.

Or maybe it's just a moronic television fad.

X:Men Origins: Claws, diamonds and hot, hot gender stereotypes

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Recently I dropped by the theater to see X-men Origins: Wolverine.

Entertaining enough, there was one part of the movie, and the entire series for that matter, that stuck out to me. I was completely oblivious to it when I saw the first three originals, but in this one it was particularly apparent, although oddly easy to overlook.

Nightlife in Cotati: An inside-look at the "crawl"

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Going out in Cotati consists of overindulging in alcohol, conversations you'll never remember the next day, and socializing with people from your classes that you never talk to at school. Prior to turning the legal drinking age of 21, I only heard stories about the "Cotati crawl.

Professor Joe Tenn retires after serving 39 years to physics and astronomy students

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Very few people recall the first stages of the Salazar Hall's construction, or what the campus may have looked like when it was comprised mainly of open fields. However, for Physics Professor, Joe Tenn, these early images are all too familiar.

"When I got here in 1970, there was only half of Salazar: no dorms, no library, and just a bunch of empty fields all around the campus," said Tenn.

Schulz Library extends Finals Week hours

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

If you have not heard, this semester the Schulz Library will be extending its hours on the first floor for 24-hour studying beginning Fri., May 8, and continuing through Fri., May 22, one week more than in the past.

After midnight, the second and third floors will be closed.

Senior Send-Off Fair attracts larger number of attendees than previous years have seen

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The sun finally broke through the clouds last Thurs., May 7, as students began to gather in the quad between Stevenson and Darwin Halls for Senior Send-off.

Some passed by with puzzled looks on their faces as they emerged from the library. Why was there a giant, inflatable obstacle course set up on the lawn? Yet most students knew that this event meant free food and games for everyone-not only seniors.

Sex and the Suburbs

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Summer is almost here and with the arrival of spring, the flowers are blooming and flings are starting to blossom.

Everyone is excited by the rays of the sun, the freedom to wear less clothing, and knowing that summer is quickly approaching. Watching and hearing stories about people's hook ups and adventures has led me to discover that women are just as much out on the prowl for action as guys are.

Student creates new clothing line

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

This year's hot new fashion line has finally come to SSU-Tenacious Clothing. Freshman, Stephen Conrad created Tenacious clothing for people who want to rock their style with comfort and�pride.

�"We decided to name it 'Tenacious' because when we build a t-shirt we not only incorporate ink, a blank tee, a tag and a design, but we incorporate our lifestyle," said Conrad.

"Star Trek" lives long and prospers

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The first Star Trek movie I saw, I was dragged to kicking and screaming to by my parents.

There were some tears involved as well. The thought of sitting through a Star Trek film was worse than sitting through Arnold Schwarzenegger's tour de force "Jingle All the Way.

Arboles branches out

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Call them indie, call them folk rock. Call them what you will, but local band, Arboles, is nothing if not versatile.

And with a distinctive and unique sound that has been described as "new urban folk", their music is anything but ordinary.

With hints of blues, hip-hop and even a dash of hard-core, their new album, "The Arboles EP" delivers a smorgasbord of acoustic delights that virtually any listener can dig into.

Kloceck's comedy comes back to SSU

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

As finals week approaches, most students are finding very little to laugh about. But this Thursday, ASP's Free Pizza Comedy Series hosts a night with comedian Joe Klocek, self-proclaimed look alike to "heroin addict David Spade."

Klocek's name may not sound as familiar as Louis C.

Movies as hot as summer

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The summer of 2009 movie season, expected to be a record breaking money earner year despite the recession, is bringing you a selection of characters so wild you probably couldn't imagine it if you tried.

Of course, the 2009 lineup includes everything one expects from the summer film season, sequels ("Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs,"), remakes ("Land of the Lost"), gross-out comedies ("The Hangover") and Eddie Murphy ("Imagine That").

2009 NFL Draft

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The NFL is a couple weeks removed from its 2009 Draft, and people are still abuzz over the selections and surprises that surrounded the stage. For weeks the sports world builds up the ambience of the NFL Draft. Reporters and analysts spend every article breaking down the details of each individual college player, giving their opinion as to which team should draft them, and why.

Men's Golf Team to play in NCAA Championships

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

To an outsider, the NCAA West/Central Regional Championship appeared to be a success for the Sonoma State men's golf team, as they sealed their spot in the NCAA Championships by finishing tied for second in the tournament and saw senior, Jarin Todd place first individually.

Softball season ends with West Region Championship

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

The Sonoma State softball team's NCAA Division Two West Region tournament run has ended due to back-to-back losses to Cal State Stanislaus on Sunday.

The Seawolves put up a valiant fight during this double-elimination tournament in Arcata, CA, making it to the West Region Championship game for the first time ever, but lost the first game 2-1 and the second game 7-1 to the fourth ranked Cal State Stanislaus Warriors.

Sonoma's Carey to compete for women's USA Roller Hockey Team

Tue, 12 May 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Sonoma State's very own Amber Carey has been selected to represent our country on the Women's USA Roller Hockey Team this June in Varese, Italy for the World Championships.

Carey's original specialty was ice hockey, which she played for 10 years starting at the Tri-Valley minor hockey league, an ice hockey team she competed with for most of her childhood.