It is my wholehearted belief that the end result of this debacle is the best possible result for all parties involved. For the uninitiated, I will try and provide a brief summary of the situation. In...

I am giving myself lots of compassion these days to support my mental health. Today I told myself how far I have come and that I am capable of writing this article. Writing is challenging when I have so...

With Santa Rosa Junior College President Dr. Frank Chong’s retirement looming at the end of the Spring 2023 semester, The Oak Leaf is proud to endorse Dr. Angélica Garcia to replace him in Fall 2023,...

Californians will vote in the California General Election Nov. 8, and The Oak Leaf Editorial Board has researched each proposition and formed our recommendations on how to vote on this year's propositions. Proposition...

Have you ever tried to talk but your words came out different than you intended? Have you ever wanted to share your many ideas but could not? This is my daily conundrum. I like to rise to tell others about...

Ever since “Fortnite” dropped in 2017, battle passes have become a staple in “games-as-a-service” and free-to-play games. Conceptually, they work, but battle passes are becoming more disruptive...

Disney theme park fans have lit up social media griping over Disney's new paid line-skipping service, Genie+, but the service is an effective way to save time in the theme parks.  Genie+ debuted Dec....

With COVID-19 variants giving us false starts about when and how it’s safe to get together again in large crowds to enjoy live music, reviewing health and safety regulations at live concerts has become...

The Oak Leaf Editorial Board fully supports the Board of Trustees’ Sept. 14 decision to require vaccines for all students, staff and faculty for the Spring 2022 semester, but believe the Santa Rosa Junior...

The result of the Sept. 14 recall election will determine whether California continues to navigate the COVID-19 crisis using science, support public programs like expanded early childhood education and...

Just weeks ago, UCLA Men’s Basketball played Gonzaga in the Final Four, a particularly sweet accomplishment for a storied program that hasn’t reached the semifinals since 2008. Those particular Bruins...

There’s no return to education normalcy in our immediate future, thanks to an abysmally slow vaccine rollout that at the current rate would take as long as two years to vaccinate everyone in Sonoma County....

A confession: when I started voting, I entered the booth and filled out bubbles because I felt I was expected to. At first, I submitted my ballot incomplete and left what I didn’t know blank, but...

Inauguration Day is typically heralded as a beginning and while, yes, this year’s installment represents a welcome change in federal leadership, Americans would be foolish to assume this beginning implies...

As we leave behind 2020, let’s reflect on what we’ve learned from the worst year of the century—so far. The pandemic has forced us to change how we live and while we would love to leave that all...

The Oak Leaf Editorial Board is vehemently opposed to the events that unfolded on Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol Building. Yesterday, the president directly incited an insurrection against the United States...

After suffering a compound leg fracture on Nov. 18, 2018, Washington Football Team’s Quarterback Alex Smith was facing a life or death battle with sepsis after his fracture became infected.  “At...

Since the pandemic started, Sonoma County classrooms have switched to online learning. As college students, we think we have it the hardest by trying to teach ourselves this entire semester while Zoom...

As per usual, people are up in arms regarding several decisions the Grammy Awards made this year. From nominations and snubs to subtly racist behavior and categories, the Recording Academy is getting a...

Living in a right-handed society as a left-handed person has become a physical burden. It’s time to stop instilling myths and discriminatory ideals against left-handed people. Ten percent of the population...

Concern over Trump exercising his presidential authority was a common talking point among the political left, where many believed he wouldn't concede to a peaceful transfer of power if he were to lose...

A former classmate of mine once told me, “Your vote doesn’t even matter. It’s the Electoral College that ultimately chooses our president.” As a young student, I was taken aback. His statement...

This is a time of great social upheaval. A time where the world’s most militarized police force is exacting violence on Black people across the country.  During a global movement, it can be hard...

I never realized how much I loved the American way of life until COVID-19 took away our civility, our mutual respect and our sense of normalcy. When the country does eventually open back up, I will never...

When it comes to pursuing education after high school, everyone wants to be in California. The state is home to a broad assortment of college options both public and private, and California graduates...

Getting on a plane from Florence, Italy back to San Francisco wearing dish gloves was not how I thought my study abroad experience would end. At 4 a.m March 11, I arrived at the Florence airport with...

As a temporary employee for Whole Foods, working as an Amazon Prime Now shopper, I have a front-row seat to the end of the world, or at least the end of convenience. A recent Whole Foods customer caviled...

I can’t think of an event I have more mixed feelings about than this; the day I finally finish school and walk with my peers, in robe and cap, down the aisle. I can almost hear my friends and family...

  I’m a walker. Growing up in the ’70s and ’80s I walked long miles to school and home (by choice) and by high school I regularly walked from my home in the Silicon Valley sticks to downtown...

The older folks in our life, despite not always being politically appreciative of the plight of their youngers, are an invariable source of wealth, knowledge and culture. Though our time with our elders...

The rise of Zoom and the steady decline of the empire have forever changed the face of collegiate learning. As the world fails faster than we can keep up with the news, distance education is here to stay.  But...

It’s difficult being a hippie survivalist. I should know. I have a foot in each camp, but belong to neither. It’s like this: I go to the shooting range and I meet friendly and capable people,...

The International Olympic Committee announced Tuesday that the Summer Olympics will be postponed to July 23, 2021. While this news is surely heartbreaking to many athletes whose strict training schedules...

Every 10 years, the U.S. government counts the country’s population to determine federal funding and congressional representation for every state. Californians — a word that for the census means...

The Oak Leaf Editorial Board, considering the interests of Santa Rosa Junior College students and faculty, endorses Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont to be the 46th President of the United States because...

History was made earlier this year when women made headlines on  coaching staffs in two professional sporting leagues. On Jan. 9, Alyssa Nakken took her place as the first female full-time coach in Major...

I’m 51. This is my Metal Decade and I have the scars to prove it. They might not all be visible, but I assure you it took everything I’ve ever had for me to make it this far in life. I’ve been...

I went down to the homeless encampment on the Joe Rodota Trail yesterday and handed out a case of candy bars. It was a good excuse to get out of the house and do something worthwhile for a change. I talked...

The City of Santa Rosa and the County of Sonoma are failing their homeless residents, again. Despite the “hunger for change” and a community that is “on board and invested in solutions,” as...

I had tears streaming down my face and my hands were shaking — I feared what would come next. Healdsburg was under mandatory evacuation. I wondered if it would burst into flames and if I would return...

The rules: my digital diet will last 24 hours, during which time I will forgo cell phone, laptop, internet, debit/credit card and electronic key-fob usage. I will, however, use analog technology as usual,...

The first time my mom was incarcerated — for vandalizing public property — I counted the approximately 730 days until she’d get out. Every weekend I got used to the dehumanizing routine. I checked...

It’s in the back of our brains, omnipresent as we walk from building to building, the unusually torrid October breeze slapping against our skin. Climate change is real. It’s happening all around us...

Note: This story contains vulgarity  Nothing we do in this college, in this society, with the approval of old and evil people will save the world. But they were never going to save the world. They...

I did not want to jump, yet I wanted more than ever to feel the crisp Oregon water swallow me whole. The rocks were uneven, my feet’s grip on the perforated cliff shaky and apprehensive. My heart raced...

              WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS CHEMICALS KNOWN TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO CAUSE CANCER...

My brother Julian and I have completely different minds. He is fascinated by the world of 1980s VHS tapes and has shelves upon shelves of colorful cardboard boxes, while I am more of a Netflix person....

I may not surf, smoke pot, be transgender or ride a skateboard, but by Goddess I’m as Californian as you can get. I spent my privileged and misguided youth hiking the open, Oak-studded coastal foothills...

Just because you’re broke doesn't mean your heart has to be. Valentine's Day is here, along with the opportunity to have a great day with your sweetheart. There’s just one issue: Your brain says...

Valentine’s Day is fast-approaching. With so much love in the air you may ask yourself, “Why am I still single?” But honestly: it’s not that bad. Every year I hear the same complaints from...

Abraham Fuentes Returning to college after several decades in the work world can be tumultuous and often a little crazy-making, to put it mildly, especially after earning a Bachelor of Science in media...

Olivia Mulligan You unload an enormous backpack, shoulders throbbing and head pounding from another day at Santa Rosa Junior College. Before you can dart into your room unnoticed, your parents are already...

“Slut!” he called me. I’d only been logged in for a minute. “You suck at this game because she takes no skill to play,” he taunted, after I chose the character I wanted to be. “You’re teaming...

Thanksgiving week is the best week of the year. Not because of Black Friday. Not because of the short work week. Not because of the long weekend. But because of Thanksgiving Day itself. That’s right--Thanksgiving...

“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” is nowhere near as fantastical as its predecessor nor its legacy. The movie moves at a snail’s pace without any resolution in sight as it follows the...

This is a simple question with a seemingly simple answer: to inform a community. Why then, am I asking this? My answer is that I am afraid to be a journalist. I wanted to be a physicist—to study the...

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson’s native understanding of California’s 5th Congressional District and his broad institutional knowledge of Washington position him to best represent Santa Rosa Junior College...

Before we explain our reasoning for endorsing John Kelly for Sonoma County Junior College District Board of Trustees Representative Area 1 (East County), The Oak Leaf editors would like to thank and congratulate...

Sonoma County resident Dorothy Battenfeld is running unopposed for re-election to her seat on the SRJC Board of Trustees. The Oak Leaf endorses Battenfeld to serve Santa Rosa Junior College students,...

Maggie Fishman is running unopposed for her second term as a Santa Rosa Junior College Board of Trustees member and wants to continue pushing SRJC to serve student concerns. The Oak Leaf endorses her...

The midterm elections are next week, and Democrat Jared Huffman of California’s 2nd Congressional District deserves your vote. Huffman has served as U.S. Representative for Marin, Humboldt, Del Norte...

Getting around in this sprawling conurbation that fills the collection of valleys and highways we call Santa Rosa is difficult and dangerous on a bike, but there are ways to survive and—hell—even thrive...

Though road construction can be annoying, isn’t it worth it to drive on freshly laid pavement? If yes, then it’s imperative to vote “No on 6” this November. Proposition 6 proposes to repeal...

Yep, we’re telling young people to vote. If you’re reading this article right now, stop and register to vote. Right now. Go to this website and take five minutes to register to vote. Today is the...

  So you say you don't listen to country music? I've got a question for you: why not? If you don’t respond right away, is it because you’re unfamiliar with country music? Could it be that...

Student Government Assembly (SGA) member Sean Young puts it plainly, “Voter apathy is not an option. We know what’s been happening in this country for the past two years or even further. Whatever side...

There is absolutely no reason, excuse or rationale for being a band-wagoner. They are disgraceful and an utter disrespect to all true sports fans. Bandwagon fans are defined as “sports fans” who...

It started with a click. And $150 later I was off to see Taylor Swift at Levi’s Stadium. What felt like years in the making had transpired into the anticlimactic click of a keyboard. In the...

Luther Burbank was an innovative horticulturalist who lends his name to buildings throughout our community. He was also the secretary of Santa Rosa's Chinese Removal Project. As Santa Rosa Junior College...

Many sexually active people do not conform to a gender and may have sex outside of the heteronormative encounters referred to in this article, and that sexual coercion happens to these groups as well....

Welcome to The Bark, The Santa Rosa Junior College Oak Leaf student media podcast. This episode is about menstrual cups. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k0pfcTDujY 5 women and 1 man sit down to...

Warhammer Fantasy, Warhammer 40k, HeroScape, BattleTech and War Machine are games I heard about but never touched. I got into wargaming after I found a number of fan fictions and was offered an army from...

The word “bitch” ran in one of my recent Oak Leaf opinion articles, and it sparked controversy and conversation. What was said has been said. Judge but only the writer for her diction. But, averting...

Dear Willow, How do I ask a new sex partner about their sexual history and request safe sex practices? -Safe Sex   Dear Safe Sex, Don’t shy away from bringing up this conversation...

Parking on the Santa Rosa Junior College campus has caused many difficulties for students and there have been too few solutions to solve it. Now students are asking the age-old question: what next? According...

*This is an opinion article endorsing a candidate for student government president. Although the author is the co-editor-in-chief of The Oak Leaf, this endorsement is a personal opinion and does not necessarily...

*The Oak Leaf incorrectly listed Burbank as secretary of the Anti-Chinese Committee based on information from Gaye LeBaron’s Press Democrat articles published in 1999 and 2004. Since this article was...

2018 was a tumultuous year for our community, our nation and our world. We would like to inform you of the oppressions, disasters and the suffering we survived during the 100th year of this college’s...

Santa Rosa Junior College named an art gallery after the school’s fourth president, Dr. Robert F. Agrella when he retired in 2012. However, in the spring of 1996 the only art former-SRJC President Agrella...

I was eating breakfast on April 2 when I saw on my phone that President Donald Trump tweeted “DACA is dead.” Anger and fear grabbed ahold of me. I felt lost and hopeless. That day has haunted me since....

Guns are an easy target for activists. They’re loud, scary-looking and they account for just over 70 percent of multiple homicides. But the issue of school shootings stems less from guns, and more from...

Bad driving. Tailgating. Middle fingers. All can be found on any city road. However, Sonoma County drivers take it to the extreme. Driving in the area’s hazardous traffic, brought on by mindless...

Editor’s note: To receive updates on stories like this, please download the Oak Leaf mobile app for Apple or Android. For many Santa Rosa Junior College students, the recent announcement of proposed...

A quick disclaimer before we start: I am not fully-vegan. I’m vegetarian, though I avoid dairy and make sure that the few dairy products I do eat are sustainably sourced.  This response talks about...

Dear Willow, How do I help a suicidal friend? -Scared   If you or a friend are experiencing suicidal tendencies, please seek professional advice immediately.   Dear Scared, Helping...

What do we want? Coffee. When do we want it? Now. Starbucks churns through 4 billion disposable cups globally per year. Fast food restaurants feed 50 million Americans daily. Twenty percent of all...

Dear Willow, How do I get through group work without losing it over my lazy partners?  -Frustrated group worker Dear “Frustrated group worker,” Group assignments are the bane of many...

It will come as no surprise to me if every African-American in this country goes to see Marvel’s new “Blackbuster” film, “The Black Panther,” which has a nearly complete black cast. That’s...

Our ability to debate and defend, argue and counter argue has boiled down to a tribalistic extremism. Like so many issues today, there’s a general consensus to disagree based on political affiliation....

Dear Willow, I don’t like online dating, but I’m trying to find someone. How do people meet each other in real life these days? -Alone   Dear Alone, Although online dating is...

The #metoo movement was a full-fledged storm in 2017 and fueled a new fire in 2018 with just two simple words: Time’s Up. However, the fiery passion and determination that was prominent at the Screen...

During last year’s winter break I went on a mind-bending trip to Israel to discover perspectives of life. One of the many places I visited was an Arab village about 45 minutes outside of Jerusalem. The...

The vegan diet is similar to a vegetarian diet, but excludes dairy products and any animal by-product. Veganism has been marked as the animal-friendly diet, as it’s made up of plant-based products. The...

Two months ago, Keaton Jones brought bullying into the national spotlight. His heartbreaking video went viral and his words were shared by thousands across the country. Many celebrities spoke on the subject,...

Louis Vuitton or a plane ticket? I’d opt for the latter. I thought I was a unique snowflake, but apparently I’m just a millennial. Seventy-eight percent of my generation chooses experiences such as...

Introducing “Ask Willow,” a new advice column from the Oak Leaf Student Media. To send your own question to Ask Willow, email [email protected]. You will remain anonymous.  Dear Willow, How...

You do not need to succeed to be happy, but you need to be happy to succeed. But what do we need to be happy? The answer is much simpler than it seems. Happiness is about making good daily choices. Happiness,...

It’s clear. Hollywood has a problem with racists and rapists. One thing I would like to make clear: Quentin Tarantino is not one of them; despite what the growing fervor surrounding the director would...

Introducing “Ask Willow,” a new advice column from the Oak Leaf Student Media. To send your own question to Ask Willow, email oaklea[email protected]. You will remain anonymous.  Dear Willow,...

Dating sites offer instant gratification, especially if one is looking for casual sex. While I wade through a sea of endless potential matches, whose primary desire are no-strings-attached encounters,...

The following is a satirical article that contains explicit content. Reader discretion is advised.   Let’s face it, some people hate Valentine’s Day. It’s the day couples display their...

I was not on campus last December to hear “Cry to God’s” righteous message. I didn’t know what I was missing until, by the grace of God, the group returned on Tuesday to inform students of the...

Introducing "Ask Willow," a new advice column from the Oak Leaf Student Media. To send your own question to Ask Willow, email [email protected]. You will remain anonymous.  Dear Willow, I live...

Did you ever think insects would be the next main food source for the world? Insects contain high amounts of vitamins and protein, while their carbohydrate and fat levels are low. They are a sustainable...

¿Sabía que hay cerca de 11.3 millones de inmigrantes indocumentados viviendo en los Estados Unidos? Se estima que entre 7,000 y 13,000 están matriculados en universidades. Ya sea que crea que...

As the Tubbs fire neared my home, I had a close encounter with another episode with fire. When the wildfires broke out, I noticed more and more stories in the headlines, television and radio news reports....

Did you know there are close to 11.3 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States? An estimated 7,000 to 13,000 are enrolled in colleges throughout the U.S. Whether you believe DACA should...

Even Santa Rosa Junior College has not escaped the ongoing cultural reckoning in America. Since the news broke around allegations of sexual misconduct by Harvey Weinstein this fall, women (and men) have...

In the era we live in, it’s important to continue on a path of progression rather than one of regression. It’s time to change gender roles and expectations so men no longer expect to get whatever they...

The internet is a marvelous place. With it, access to all human knowledge is at our fingertips. We can express our thoughts and ideas, good or bad, to thousands, if not millions, across the globe. However,...

The history of the Black Student Union (BSU) on campus is a story of ups and downs. In the past few years, the group was active with a very significant presence among black students. Now there is only...

It finally feels like fall in Sonoma County. The leaves have changed colors, the temperature has dropped and the word “basic” has resurfaced as pumpkin-flavored-everything season is in full swing. For...

Sexual assault and rape are severe problems. Statistics show one in every four women are sexually assaulted in college, women and men between the ages of 12 and 34 are at the highest risk of sexual assault...

For more than a month my life has been consumed by the Tubbs Fire here in California, Wine Country. The initial shock and fear were poignant and soon morphed into disbelief and horror. Many people I know...

Do egotistical people seek power? Or do powerful people become egotistical? When people use their position of power to leverage unwanted touch or an unwilling audience to a sexual encounter, the victims...

I’m in my second year at Santa Rosa Junior College. I see people laughing and playing around in front of the library. Everyone looks normal and comfortable, the same way I looked when I first arrived...

Like every major Hollywood disaster movie, every major natural disaster isn’t complete without an effective tagline. The tagline must be equal parts inspirational rallying cry and shrewdly marketed advertising...

Dating isn’t the same as it once was. In a generation wrapped up with technology and fast-paced lives, it’s no wonder relationships for millennials have morphed. With new apps and dating sites...

The administration responded admirably to last month’s wildfires for at least one of the following reasons: it was the right thing to do and/or to prevent mass disenrollment that would devastate the...

I didn’t believe my roommates when they woke me to tell me we were advised to evacuate on the morning of Oct. 9. When reality set in, I was torn between the desire to follow my friends to safety and...

It started out as any other normal Sunday. On Oct. 8, I woke up at a reasonable time, ran my normal errands and started my scheduled shift at Hooters in Rohnert Park. Little did I know this would be the...

When the Tubbs Fire struck the city of Santa Rosa late on the night of Oct. 8, the city was literally torn apart, thrusting its citizens into peril. The Oak Leaf staff was not spared this terror. Many...

I watched in horror as the fire rolled over the hills, ripped through trees and devoured everything in sight. It left nothing but a skeleton behind, the ashen bark, stark against the flames. Sitting in...

Remember the week following 9/11? When it seemed like every car you saw proudly displayed an American flag decal on the bumper? Or how every house had a flag planted in the front lawn? The entire country...

I was depressed with my life before the wildfires reduced a vast majority of Santa Rosa to scorched earth. I questioned whether studying journalism was the right career path for me. My parents are both...

Many students at Santa Rosa Junior College feel their needs are not being met by the counseling department. I’ve had my fair share of bad experiences with counselors, but the department overall is not...

Congratulations Los Angeles. Your Dodgers finally made it back to the World Series after a 29-year hiatus from Major League Baseball’s fall classic. The same Dodgers franchise that jettisoned their...

I’ve learned a lot about my neighbors during the North Bay wildfires: I now know they have guns and I’m a little scared. I’ve never owned a gun. I’ve never even held a gun and I’ve never...

Women are posting “#metoo” on social media to indicate they’ve experienced sexual harassment and like every advancement towards gender equality, #metoo is another example of women being tasked with...

Three months ago I was living in Long Beach, California. I made a life for myself in the area. It’s where all my friends and family live. I had my own studio apartment, a girlfriend and the beach within...

The Tubbs fire is now one of the five deadliest wildfires in California’s history, but may end up being the worst. We live in a world of hazards. There are hazards associated with driving a car. There...

In Hidden Valley Lake, we watch and wait. After experiencing the Valley Fire in 2015, it isn’t any less distressing to be surrounded by the Sulphur Fire to the north, the Pocket Fire to the west, and...

Consent is defined as follows in the Merriam-Webster dictionary: “to give assent or approval.” That being said, consent is one word that is often confused or misunderstood; especially in cases of...

“It” has a whole lot of “It” and not much else. The latest adaptation of Stephen King’s 1986 horror novel allows the demonic clown to take center stage for the majority of the two hour and...

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Remember posing that question to your friends when you were a kid? More often than not, the answer was invisibility: to be present yet remain unnoticed....

We’re living in a time of great re-evaluation in regards to nearly everything we’ve come to know in society—and it’s for the best. Transgender people are shaping the way we think about sexual...

  Congressman Mike Thompson (D) says the Democrats will not stand down if President Donald Trump repeals the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program at the Santa Rosa Veterans...

The growing housing crisis is a hot topic in Santa Rosa these days. Rent control is on the Santa Rosa city ballot in a June 6 special election and voters will decide whether or not to pass Measure...

What you want may not be what Sonoma County needs, especially when it comes to uncertain cannabis laws. While California celebrated the legalization of cannabis, many voters are unaware they opened...

Spring has sprung and you know what that means. As flowers begin to bloom and the sun starts to heat up, the hormones of college students run rampant in attempt for an unforgettable spring fling. But...

Sometimes I feel like I know the whole of the transgender community of Sonoma County. This is, of course, an exaggeration. However, there’s no lack of weight to the meaning behind that exaggeration,...

Women’s issues are undeniable. Women aren’t equal and continue to be marginalized politically, economically, culturally and socially. In the United States, Latina women—the most underpaid demographic...

Fake news, alternative facts and presidential Twitter wars. It’s an interesting time to be alive in the United States. As the truth becomes scarce, it’s hard to distinguish between real and fake media. As...

It doesn’t matter if you've never cared about politics in the past. It doesn't matter if this your first time voting. It doesn’t matter if you're a professional athlete, an Uber driver or work at...

Intolerance is the greatest threat facing our country. Violent protests broke out in Berkeley Feb. 1 forcing Milo Yiannopoulos to cancel his planned talk promoting hate speech. Yiannopoulos is an editor...

Donald Trump’s presidential campaign has been one confounding statement after another. For women, none has proven more infuriating or frightening than the leaked 2005 video of his declaration that his...

For many, the holiday season is a time of joy and reunions with family. Unfortunately, life isn’t a Hallmark holiday movie. For some of us, the holidays are a time of separation and choosing sides. ...

We’re living in an age where it’s easy to hide our opinions. We can rant and rave anonymously without taking any accountability for our words or actions. But accountability is key. We’ve seen...

It’s been a little more than a month since president-elect Donald Trump’s shocking victory over Hillary Clinton, and some people still won’t accept reality. With President Barack Obama leaving...

If you have muscle soreness, and you’re having trouble treating it, I want to challenge you to rethink a significant aspect of the way you may visualize how your body heals. It’s not magic. I used...

Trying to become a journalist is hard; trying to become a journalist while having ADHD is a thousand times harder. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is something I’ve lived with since I was...

“We are the only advanced democracy that makes it deliberately difficult for people to vote,” said President Barack Obama in an interview with the student newspaper at Rutgers University. Every...

What does it mean to be “sitting on the fence?” This phrase refers to typically indecisive or “wishy-washy” people. But in this case, the “fence sitters” are the undecided voters in the current...

Vibrators and handcuffs are common instruments in the porn industry, but after this November’s election, a new prop might be mandatory on all California sets. Proposition 60 requires X-rated performers...

A new gun law is on the ballot, and the same players are playing the same old games. National Rifle Association members are screaming, “They’re going to take away our guns!” Gun-control groups are...

California has 17 propositions on the ballot this year along with 23 county and municipal measures. These are not unsavory presidential candidates or local officials you know hardly anything about. These...

Cookie cutter monogamous relationships are running rampant in American culture; The idea of “the one” tricking lovers into exclusive partnerships when there are so many fish in the sea. Some people...

Both presidential candidates say they want to invest in us. But in reality, they want to invest in a manufacturing economy that's shrinking. They want to invest in a minimum wage that's way behind its...

For women on birth control, the medication is part of their daily lives. From their teens until they decide to start a family, they jack their bodies up on hormones to prevent them from doing what they...

Since 1937 the United States has been celebrating Columbus Day as a national holiday. However, our nation’s indigenous people—the people here before Columbus’s arrival—have often felt left out...

Students have two choices: a guaranteed state-of-the-art facility or a chance at a sub-par, decaying classroom. Here at Santa Rosa Junior College we face this choice, and we're making the wrong one. The...

Your life is busy. There’s school, family and maybe work. Finding time to maintain an intimate connection with your lover can be difficult. Here are seven quick tips to help you make the most of minimal...

The message and the reasons behind San Francisco 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest are obscured by the symbolism of the act itself. Kaepernick is protesting the American flag...

Some would say this was not a wise decision. I exhausted my bank account on party supplies and gas. I ditched the second week of school even though I am completing my certificate requirements this semester....

When it comes to relationship advice, nothing bears repetition like “communication is key.” It’s not just about getting what you want in bed or deciding who cooks and who cleans. One instance of...

As an immigrant from Brazil, I juggle both American and Brazilian politics, which generally leaves me drained and hopeless. Brazil and the United States share some dark similarities. Both countries were...

Our greatest right as citizens of the United States is to vote for our commander in chief. Our voice. Our President. But when this infinitely important decision is reduced to a choice between the lesser...

A series of damaging incidents within the student affairs department has snowballed into a catastrophic end to the school year, leaving administrators and student government officers scrambling to tie...

It took a pregnancy scare for me to go from pro-life to pro-choice. As a baptized Catholic, I was raised to believe that abortion is a sin. Protesters outside of Planned Parenthood buildings continue...

A lusty night in heaven can quickly inflict a hellish state of contemplation. Itchy sores unlike any ingrown hair radiate pain and foster fear in your psyche. A few blisters in your crotch will forever...

I’ve seen hundreds of bands live. I’ve traveled thousands of miles across the states to see bands play in hole-in-the-wall venues because their music means something to me. Music gave me my first...

It was 1 a.m. – the only time I had free as a busy college student. As I sat in the gym, overwhelming anxiety sprung upon me. Suddenly my mind raced, thinking of escape plans and possible items I could...

There is an unspoken idea in U.S. culture that women owe sex to men, and that men are within their rights to take sex regardless of women’s desires. This is called “rape culture.” This is not to...

I was standing behind two of my peers when I first heard “lol” used as an adjective. Shortly after, I found myself repeating the same lingo at a party in response to a story told by a drunken friend. “Lol,”...

A recent police brutality case involving a Santa Rosa Junior College student sparked a heated discussion, prompting Sonoma County residents to question who’s at fault: the civilian or the officer. The...

Our culture continues to shun the butthole. Yet this taboo part of the body is often the main focus of people’s sexual fantasies and is glorified in porn and rap songs. Yet society imposes the idea that...

I am Palestinian. I am American. My family is Muslim. Over the years I have come to realize I am in a world where I constantly have to defend my family’s culture. This feeling of hesitation before I...

Gender-neutral restrooms are a reality at Santa Rosa Junior College, but in states like North Carolina, using the restroom or locker room for the gender that identifies them is illegal for transgender...

Take it from me, there’s not a fat person alive in this country, from infant to ancient, who hasn’t been told they should lose weight to be healthy. This is a lie. Numerous medical studies have found...

On Sept. 2, 2015, 3-year-old Alan Kurdi drowned after his Syrian family tried to cross the Mediterranean Sea from Turkey to nearby Cyprus. A picture of his body on a Turkish beach shocked the world: facedown...

A minimum wage increase to $15 sounds great to Santa Rosa Junior College students who make low wages and can barely scrape by. Yet the issue is more complex than a quick pay raise.  Worries about company-wide...

“Oh baby, f*** me harder! Oh! Oh!!” Phrases like this are probably what you think of when dirty talk comes up. A big-breasted, overly eye-lined blonde and a tribal-tattooed buff bald guy getting...

Science Journal The Lancet recently published a conclusive study revealing shocking statistics about the global obesity epidemic. According to the data collected from 1975 through 2014, obesity rates...

In early January this year my father chose to go into hospice care at home. As his only child, I’m his primary caretaker. No one expects the loss of a loved one to be easy, but I was surprised the ways...

After several years of study at Santa Rosa Junior College, it’s grown apparent to me that this institution is different from the average university or community college. If one were to survey students...

Though we have a full month dedicated to the accomplishments of strong, powerful women throughout history, there is still an overwhelming lack of representation of women in history textbooks. Women’s...

Communication: we do it every day. But one place where communication is essential is in the bedroom — wink, wink. It’s something we probably could all learn to do better, including myself. Talking...

February 15, 2016 Repeated Mistakes  We’re all human beings. We’re all different in our own ways.No matter whether we have a different skin color or legal status, we’re all the same; therefore...

The pharmaceutical industry doesn’t want the public to know there’s a range of treatments for depression, anxiety, insomnia and even muscle pain. These treatments do not require swallowing a pill or...

America is no longer the democracy our Founding Fathers envisioned. This country is no longer a republic — it’s an oligarchy. The United States isn’t “run by the people, for the people,” but...

While couples celebrated Valentine’s Day, dedicated members of the Santa Rosa community gathered at Old Courthouse Square to march towards Santa Rosa Junior College to speak out against rape culture. A...

The Food and Drug Administration is currently trying to avoid descending a slippery slope into granting the pharmaceutical industry permission to research and manufacture a range of drugs to treat the...

Feet, legs, bondage, spanking, sexual role-play—we all know these are some of the more common fantasies. But have you heard of formicophilia, emetophilia or stimming? Fetishes are the  stranger side...

Some people call them sheep. Others call them drones. I just call them idiots. To be clear, I am talking about the virus going around that turns humans into mainstream media zombies who get their news...

In July, parents will be forced to allow their family doctors and nurses to inject their children with more than 40 doses of federally recommended vaccines. Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 277,...

A common perception persists among the nation’s informed public: consistently declining trust in federal and state government officials.   While this phenomenon is nothing new, recent public distrust...

Being healthy is important and one thing that is healthy is masturbating. Masturbation is a way to stay healthy for men and women. It can take a few minutes or a couple hours, if you want to go that...

The Zika virus is quickly being recognized as a global pandemic. But what is it? The Zika virus is a member of the virus family Flaviviridae, and it’s spread by Aedes aegypti mosquitos. The virus is...

God(s) are not real. By God, I mean a supreme being that people believe is the creator of all things. Religion, as a whole, is a way for certain institutions to act as shepherds herding their sheep followers...

While many friends of mine like to toss around the, “I’ll move to Canada if Trump gets elected” hogwash, I refuse to go that far. How many of those people actually followed through on their promises...

Is anyone alive anymore? Are we all paralyzed by fear? Why text when we can just call? How many poor souls have perished behind a “lol”? How many relationships have been severed by the Facebook samurai...

Casual sex has lost the taboo it once held. Two people can have some sweaty fun, then may not see each other ever again. This is fine, but it doesn’t mean that we should abandon all courtesy. It has...

Surprise! Sometimes college students drink alcohol when they’re not supposed to. In what amounts to predictable circumstances, an inappropriate use of alcohol embroiled four student representatives...

No two humans are the same, yet we continue to treat them like they are. Recently, people treated members of certain religious groups based on the actions of a few. I am Christian, and because of this...

The Nov. 13 Paris attacks had a greater effect on French society than most outsiders realize. To fully comprehend what fomented these attacks, it’s necessary to understand how Arabs and their varying...

You see girls wearing yoga pants a lot. Believe it or not boys, it’s not just for you. So if it’s true that girls don't just wear leggings because they look great to us, I had to figure out why they...

“Yeah, but I still wouldn’t get a flu shot” she almost needlessly exclaimed at the conclusion of a conversation a friend and I were having concerning her ability to receive healthcare. “WHAT?!?...

I’m finally off of academic suspension after two years of dealing with dispassionate office workers, being told to submit, resubmit, then unsubmit missing paperwork that I wasn’t given to begin with...

Few people knowingly go into a relationship with a controlling partner. The behavior is subtle, especially in the beginning, and can be hard to spot. Most commonly the controlling person is a man, but...

Thank you Mario, but our independent female character is in another game. Video games have been an integral part of American culture for nearly 50 years and young girls have been enjoying them just as...

It is a holiday tradition practiced around dinner tables throughout the country.  What are you most thankful for this year? Last year a brave man sitting at my holiday get together very plainly and matter-of-factly...

Let’s talk about GMOs for a second. The phrase is becoming ever more of a hot switch in pop culture, because it’s an issue that affects everyone. Everyone has to eat, and with the shocking variety...

A paradox hangs over this country. The United States, the wealthiest nation on Earth, has more capital in its economy than any point in history, yet income inequality now parallels the Great Depression....

Most U.S. college students have heard some variation of “LGBTQ.” The acronym commonly stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/Transsexual and Queer. This is a good start, but there are many...

Another gun-involved tragedy has gripped America, this time in Oregon. President Barack Obama communicated disgust in his belief Americans have become insensate to mass shootings in U.S. schools, while...

I’m a big guy. It’s OK, I can admit it. I’m overweight. Some would even say fat. That’s not really what’s important here. The important part is: I’m male. As someone who identifies as such...

When we meet someone wearing a dress and heels, it is automatic to think of that person as a ‘she,’ whether or not they identify as a female. This is a problem. With the LGBTQ community getting...

Every fall, Columbus Day controversy stirs a national conversation about the ugly legacy of European colonization. This evaluation does more than address past injustices, it underscores how elusive the...

Festivals are getting a little overrated. Or are they? Sure, the droves of trailblazers that got these massive musical movements going probably had more fun than any of us ever will (hipster joke),...

I was raised Catholic and told that I should wait until marriage to have sex and that virginity was important. Sorry mom, that went out the window in my teens.  Being sexual was seen as inappropriate...

On April 17 Attorney General Kamala Harris’ office received a proposed initiative for California’s 2016 ballot designed to threaten and shame transgender people. The Personal Privacy Protection Act...

Any morning visit Monday through Thursday will expose a glaring transportation problem at this college. Thousands of students from the reaches of the North Bay and Wine Country flock to the Santa Rosa...

An old, unattractive bearded man enthusiastically hollers at me as I walk down the street, “Hey nice ass!” I say, “F**k you,” right back and he excitedly yells from his rusty truck, “What time?” What...

You’re with a couple of classmates in a library study room. You have a political science paper or a math assignment due tomorrow, and three or four of you are working together to power through; amid...

Millions of Americans suffer from poor body image. Media reports 70-80 percent of women and 40-80 percent of men view their bodies negatively . Poor self-image is an immense problem and leads to an intense...

Whether you have an intimate partner or are saving yourself for marriage, there will probably come a time you share physical pleasure with someone. With my 25-plus years of sexual experience, here are...

It comes down to one day every four years, the first Tuesday of November. Election Day. In one simple exercise, millions cast their preference for the presidency of the U.S. That’s all; one day, one...

At 18, Americans attain permission to vote, among other rights. Voting can be daunting for many. It’s often hard for high school seniors and college freshmen to follow the quick and complicated world...

Over the past few months, an overwhelming number of people have braved a perilous journey through makeshift rafts and near-starvation from the Maghreb and Middle-East to Europe, or what many Americans...

  There is an appeal to autonomous cars. One can simply walk out to the car, get in and go. Yes, they promise to bring safety, convenience and independence. No need to go through driver’s ed,...

  Self-driving cars, like those being developed by Google, promise to usher in a new age of safety, convenience and independence. While some people lament the loss of control over their vehicle...

  You may worry that your partner will think you expect too much or they’ll think you’re some kind of freak. There’s only one way to get what you want. Ask. You should find out as soon...

  Is it fear or sincere ignorance that consumes the mind and actions of Donald Trump? Probably both. The issue isn’t his disregard for critical thinking, but rather that he is leading in the...

What do you know about stem cell research? Does the phrase leave a bad taste in your mouth? Does the concept make you anxious about scientists’ ability to manipulate the human condition beyond the...

American college culture is at a critical point where adherence to political correctness threatens to undermine the sanctity of free speech, a supreme value of higher education. This conflict intensifies...

Meeting new people can be awkward, and never more so than when you’re trying to figure out whether that cute guy or gal is interested in you. Chances are they’re already telling you, whether they know...

https://soundcloud.com/the-oak-leaf-news/srjc-dream-center-and-immigration

https://soundcloud.com/the-oak-leaf-news/feministsareugly-discussion-the-oak-leaf

https://soundcloud.com/the-oak-leaf-news/avengers-age-of-ultron-critical-review-and-discussion

When Governor Jerry Brown signed the California DREAM Act in 2011, it was a step forward for the U.S. in terms of immigration reform. In 2012, the Obama Administration enacted Deferred Action, designed...

A two-party system is an absurd design of government. Political ideology does not divide naturally into two generalized halves: it’s a nuanced and overlapping array of values and vantage points.  A...

The little girls looked no more than 6 and 8. The youngest one, with her hand on her hip, swayed to the beat as the eldest sang along to the lyrics. At first, their pastime seemed innocuous. It had...

I can remember every detail of it. Sitting on her bed in complete silence, staring at her, knowing I would never see this room again. She was talking, but by then I stopped listening. I just couldn’t...

When you turn 18 in the United States you can vote, be in the army, buy a gun, get a tattoo, get married and buy cigarettes, but one thing you can’t do is drink alcohol. Let’s be honest: we all drank...

My name is Craig, and I’m a survivor of sexual abuse. I was 13 at the time. It was that awkward time of life when my voice was changing, my hormones were raging and hair was growing in places I’d...

Playing musical chairs to park your car every morning at SRJC should not have to be an inevitability. A more fun and healthy method is possible to start your studious day. Leave your car, take a breath...

Do you think America is the greatest country in the world? For today’s politicians, the answer to this question doesn’t reveal their reflections on American history; it falsely validates their patriotism....

For a single adult, the average monthly expense for housing in Sonoma County is $850, transportation is $285, and food is $242. The hourly living wage is $10.69, according to the Living Wage Calculator. The...

Sober diplomacy should be the baseline to all foreign policy; this seemingly obvious and sensible mindset is frequently ignore. Iran is currently polarizing the United States’ leaders on foreign policy....

It’s a sad state of affairs when it’s basically a requirement for women to carry pepper spray whenever they walk alone. It’s even sadder because I don’t need to tell you the reason why. You already...