A student-operated publication at Santa Rosa Junior College.

The Oak Leaf
A student-operated publication at Santa Rosa Junior College.

The Oak Leaf
A student-operated publication at Santa Rosa Junior College.

The Oak Leaf
The Oak Leaf Magazine Spring 2024

The Oak Leaf Magazine Spring 2024

May 14, 2024
Interns Bailey Glashan and Natalie Kozlowski work as a team when sampling bees at Pepperwood Preserve. They recall bonding during a biology class visit to Pepperwood over a dead frog that Kozlowski found and wanted to keep.

Under the Oaks

Parker Stagnoli, Reporter
May 14, 2024
The SRJC Softball team poses with Yna Bollock at home plate at Santa Rosa's Marv Mayes Field on Saturday, April 20, 2024.

From the Bottom of the Bottle to the Bottom of the Ninth

Yna Bollock, Sports Reporter
May 13, 2024
"Rocky" is an iconic film that brought not only boxing movies, but also lead actor Sylvester Stallone, to the forefront of modern cinema.

Feud of the Fighting Flicks

Juan Botello-Martinez, Reporter
May 13, 2024
Pitcher Hekili Robello stoically walks out to the mound ahead of his start against Sierra College at Santa Rosa’s Cook Sypher Field, Thursday, March 21, 2024.

Bear Cubs Spotlight: Hekili Robello

Oliver Kindt, Sports Reporter
May 13, 2024
Kenny Hotchkiss, SRJC student and member of the Second Chance Club, a student-run club for formerly incarcerated students, compares his life to a caterpillar’s. Since he’s become sober after almost a lifetime of struggling with addiction, he now can break free from his cocoon and show the world he is a butterfly.

Growing New Wings

Michael Combs, Editor
May 12, 2024
The Oak Leaf reporter Sal Sandoval-Garduño and the manifestation of his inner Bigfoot confront each other after Sandoval-Garduño realized that Bigfoot was in his heart all along.

I Went Searching for Bigfoot and Found Myself

Sal Sandoval-Garduño, Reporter
May 12, 2024
Three Aesthetics You've Seen on Tik Tok (And Three You Haven't)

Three Aesthetics You’ve Seen on Tik Tok (And Three You Haven’t)

Natalie Emanuele, Reporter
May 11, 2024
The best part of diamond painting is watching the final piece come together. Sure it's a time consuming wrist injury waiting to happen, but at least its shiny.

Chronicles of a Compulsive Crafter

Natalie Emanuele, Reporter
May 11, 2024
Bad Movies Worth the Watch

Bad Movies Worth the Watch

Sam Guzman
May 10, 2024
Genaveve Clendenen, a student worker, poses in the entrance to Doyle Library, where she works to loan students laptops, chargers, books and chargers, among other resources.

The Perks of Being a Bear Cub

Max Millan, Editor
May 10, 2024
The exterior of the SRJC planetarium dome with Maggini Hall and the soccer fields in the background. The planetarium entered service in 1980 and closed in 2018.

(please) Save the Planetarium

Rosemary Cromwell, Reporter
May 9, 2024
SRJC student employees start with an hourly wage of $16.50 an hour, and can be raised to $17.50 after an evaluation and 600 hours of work. International students start even lower, at $15 an hour.

Students battle for living wages

Amy Moore, Reporter
May 9, 2024
Indiana Jones: Series Retrospect

Indiana Jones: Series Retrospect

Jaime Jauregui, Reporter
May 9, 2024
The Oak Leaf Magazine Fall 2023

The Oak Leaf Magazine Fall 2023

December 15, 2023
Lourdes Jimenez wears a cap that reads Hogar de la Educacion y la Personalidad, Sabiduria, Respeto, Jubilo, Corazon, which translates to Home of Education and Personality, Wisdom, Respect, Rejoice, Heart.

HEP HEP Hooray!

Bryan Fructuoso
December 15, 2023
Cheer is a physically demanding sport. Constant conditioning and weightlifting prepares the team to pull off elaborate stunts, basket tosses and flips.

Cheering for change

Hana Seals, Editor
December 14, 2023
A signle SMART train car travels through the rural crossing between Cotati and Petaluma. My return journey on the train was filled with riders, including two boy scouts who sat across from me while I worked at one of the tables on the train. They got on the train in Marin and left at the downtown Petaluma stop. This area of the route seemed to have the most riders entering and exiting.

Getting wise about SMART

Rosemary Cromwell, Reporter
December 14, 2023
Fans of Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi Vert, Ice Spice and Doja Cat should check out up and coming Atlanta rap artists OsamaSon, Molly Santana and Tylerfuckinjai. Courtesy OsamaSon, Molly Santana, Tylerfuckinjai

Atlanta underground rap rundown

Jordan Atallah, reporter
December 13, 2023
Soccer is life for SRJC Women's Soccer coach Crystal Chaidez, who grew up playing the sport. She's proud that this October and November, her team wasn't scored on for six consecutive games.

Kickin’ It

Jaime Jauregui, Reporter
December 13, 2023
Matt Farren performs at the Peppermint Club in West Hollywood on Nov. 11, 2023

‘The End Of Act One’ North Bay Native Drops Debut Album

Nick Vides, Editor
December 8, 2023
The sun shines through the rafters at Wembley Stadium as FTR wrestles the Young Bucks for the AEW Tag Team Championships on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023 in London, England.

Wrestling Renaissance

Cameron Romanik, Editor
December 5, 2023
SRJC student and Resident Advisor for SRJC's Polly O'Meara Doyle dormitory Jayce Kaldunski maximizes space in his room with a couch and study area surrounded by his carnivorous plant collection under a bunk bed.

SRJC’s 30-second commute

Michael Combs, Editor
December 5, 2023
Toby Carter, a French bulldog-corgi mix, takes his person Samantha for a walk at Spring Lake Regional Park in Santa Rosa, Calif. on Oct. 21, 2023.

Four Great Dog-Friendly Trails in Sonoma and Marin

Samantha Carter, Reporter
November 30, 2023
Max Millan’s abuelito, Gonzalo, a native of Toluca, holds him up as a toddler as they look towards an early 2000s Mexico City sky. Along with his wife, Millan’s abuelita Teresa, Gonzalo remains a fixture in his grandson's memories. From suffering from the vices of alcoholism to evolving into a faithful Christian, Gonzalo's life has inspired Millan, even more so now that he’s become his last living grandparent.

Dreaming in Limbo

Max Millan, Reporter
November 30, 2023
Leilany Sosa sits on her dad Wilfredo's lap next to her mom Lourdes at a party at a friend's home.

Fading in and out

Leilany Sosa, Reporter
November 28, 2023
Five SRJC students tell the Oak Leaf how they selected their majors and what they hope to accomplish in their careers. Clockwise from top left: Sarah Barnett, nursing; Gabriela Andrade, psychology; Meghan O'Leary, nursing; Langley Durham, mechanical engineering; Mandy Miller, filmmaking.

Major decisions

Lucas Cadigan-Carranza, Editor
November 28, 2023
The Oak Leaf Magazine: Spring 2023

The Oak Leaf Magazine: Spring 2023

May 19, 2023
As SRJC’s first president of color, Dr. Chong feels he came to the right place at the right time, when the community was starting to change. He arrived with plans to make Latino, first-generation, homeless, LGBTQIA+ and veteran students feel indispensable to the college community.

So Long, Dr. Chong

Michael Combs and Sean Young
May 19, 2023
As a college president, Dr. Garcia looks forward to connecting with students. She kept sneakers in her office at Berkeley City College so she could walk the campus to socialize throughout the day.

Gabbing with Garcia: An interview with SRJC’s incoming president

Michael Combs and Sean Young
May 19, 2023
Maia Kobabe’s first book “Gender Queer: A Memoir,” published in 2019, is already hailed as a queer comics classic. It is also the most-banned book in the country. The controversy and the accolades both catapulted Kobabe into the public eye, leading to a second book deal and an invite to speak at the Library of Congress.

Maia Kobabe: America’s most banned author won’t be silenced

Chelsea Kurnick, Reporter
May 18, 2023
Waste Diversion Technician Guy Tillotson manages trash, recyclables and compost, and is notably responsible for campus “waste installations.”

SRJC’s Steps Toward Sustainability

Dharma Niles, Editor
May 18, 2023
Mitote Food Park, located in Roseland, is open all week from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and represents the local community.

Mitote food park: tacos, tunes & tequila

Roland Petty and Jaden Burris
May 18, 2023
Streaming services like Netflix and Hulu provide a diversity of content that ensures something for everyone.

Streaming services worth keeping during inflation

Javi Rosas, Reporter
May 17, 2023
Clockwise from top left: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3, Blue Beetle, The Marvels and The Flash are among this year’s superhero blockbusters, but with a decline in both box office and critical reception the future looks uncertain for both the Marvel and DC’s Cinematic Universes.

The future of superhero movies

Erina Corl
May 16, 2023
Sophie’s 2015 revolutionary electronic project created a new frontier for electronic music.

Three albums that inspired modern music trends

Cameron Romanik, Reporter
May 16, 2023
A pair of raccoons get caught red-pawed as they break into a closed bank in Redwood, California.

Raccoons and Chopsticks: Six Ways To Ensure Your News is Legit

Lucas Cadigan-Carranza and Peter Morales
May 16, 2023

The dangers of AI in media and three non-controversial ways to use ChatGPT

Stephen Howe and Malek Madani
May 16, 2023
Stress from assignments and exams can lead to burnout. Try implementing new study tips into your routine, and make a difference in your school performance.

The Next Step: Recovering From Burnout

Leilany Sosa, Reporter
May 16, 2023
She doesn't want to use her real name, because she's afraid 'they'll' find her. "Zen," a Santa Rosa Junior College student who fled her life in China, still receives threatening phone calls.

Living in hiding

Sam Guzman, Reporter
May 13, 2023
Homelessness is not a uniquely American problem, but visitors from other countries may find it jarring to witness the disproportionate amount of the population that are unhoused in America.

Things I wish I had been told before moving to America

Tom Healy, Reporter
May 13, 2023
A mock dorm room sits in the corner of the SRJC Student Housing Leasing Office so students can preview before signing up to live in Polly O’Meara Doyle Hall, which will open Aug. 11.

Crashing on campus

Christian Vieyra, Sports Editor
May 12, 2023
Santa Rosa forward Rose Nevin drives to the basket and scores in a 81-39 victory over Napa Valley in the first round of the CCCAA playoffs on Saturday, Feb. 25 in Santa Rosa.

Women’s basketball team makes history

Tony Moeckel, Sports Editor
May 12, 2023
Judine Mayfield spends most of her adult life in the Bay Area, caring for and providing a home for many family members, including myself.

Living with my 89-year-old great grandmother Judine Mayfield

Jaden Burris, Reporter
May 11, 2023
Bear Cubs pitcher Austin Ehrlicher throws a solid five innings against College of Marin on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023, in Santa Rosa.

SRJC baseball star faces big decision

Alex Cambron Padilla, Reporter
May 10, 2023
A Santa Rosa Junior College golf team member shows perfect form during a match in 2012. The men’s golf team was discontinued in spring of 2019 because of budget reductions in athletics.

Opinion: SRJC should bring back Golf program

Trevor Lee, Reporter
May 10, 2023
Lisa Amaroli produces award-winning, certified organic and biodynamic wines at Benziger Winery.

Breaking the glass bottled ceiling

Nick Vides, Photo Editor
May 9, 2023
The Oak Leaf Magazine: Fall 2022

The Oak Leaf Magazine: Fall 2022

Oak Leaf Staff
December 31, 2022
Top 3 TV Adaptations of Video Games

Top 3 TV Adaptations of Video Games

Stephen Howe, Editor
December 31, 2022
The latest entries in famous video game series like “Call of Duty,” “Kirby” and “God of War” are several of the top video games of 2022. The diversity of gamestyle ensures something for everyone.

Top Five Video Games of 2022

Cristian Garcia, Reporter
December 31, 2022
Bennett Friedman continues to perform for audiences of loyal students and SRJC community members with an annual performance of his current jazz ensemble, The Bennett Friedman Quartet. The SRJC legend has backed up megastars like Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson

The Performer and The Professor: Bennett Friedman plays among giants

Sean Young, Co-Editor in Chief
December 30, 2022
SRJC football team punter Seth Vernon practices his punts at Bailey Field on Nov. 16, trying to stay ready for any opportunity.

Former SRJC punter is ready for next call: A stint with Atlanta Falcons showed Seth Vernon what it’s like to play in the NFL

Christian Vieyra, Editor
December 22, 2022
SRJC football coach Lenny Wagner (center) under the Bailey Field lights with Swiss-born strong safety Nils Lehmann (left) and France-born Malian tight end Dodji Dahoue (right).

A new kind of ‘beautiful game’: A tight end from West Africa and a strong safety from Europe take a chance on American football

Christian Vieyra and Jonathan Cangson
December 22, 2022
Flipping the script: Creative instructors found new ways to educate during the pandemic and are implementing them permanently

Flipping the script: Creative instructors found new ways to educate during the pandemic and are implementing them permanently

Peter Morales and Lucas Cadigan-Carranza
December 17, 2022
Firefighters on Mountain Hawk Road fight devastating flames as the Glass Fire moves in on eastern Santa Rosa Sept. 28, 2020.

“That’s what I need to do”: Sonoma County residents feel compelled to join SRJC Firefighting Academy

Nick Vides, Editor
December 15, 2022
24th U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón thinks the pandemic was a time where it was easier for Americans to be numb and hopes poetry can help us remember we are thinkers and feelers.

Songs of Sonoma: U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón reads select poems from her life in Sonoma County

Michael Combs, Editor-In-Chief
December 14, 2022
Legendary climber Kevin Jorgeson scales the wall at his new climbing gym, Session, his latest passion after a life spent clinging to natural walls including Yosemite's storied Dawn Wall, which he and his climbing partner, Tommy Caldwell, were the first to summit.

School of Hard Rocks: The Story of Kevin Jorgeson

Michael Combs, Editor-In-Chief
December 13, 2022
Ukrainian Hennadyi Balabonav walks among the burnt remains of his home, burned down by Russian forces in revenge for his son's military service, in Malaya Rohan on Aug. 10. 2022.

24 Hours in Kharkiv

Aryk Copley, Former Oak Leaf Reporter
December 12, 2022
A photo sent to Yana Kalmykova shows a high-rise building burning moments after a Russian artillery strike that Yana was hiding from one block away in her mother's basement

Waking up to War

Sam Guzman, Reporter
December 11, 2022
From top left: SRJC's new security infrastructure includes emergency buttons in some buildings that initiate a classroom or building lockdown when pushed; SRJC District Police Chief Robert Brownlee; campus security added.fixed and updated all call boxes on the Santa Rosa campus.

Mass shootings on campus: Is SRJC prepared?

Hana Seals, Reporter
December 11, 2022
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