Lessons I learned from my autistic brother
Riley Palmer, Staff Writer
May 14, 2019
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. He has a mysterious fear of dogs, but I welcome any that show up on our porch. He has no concept of an...
In favor of secession
Mark Fernquest, News Editor
March 7, 2019
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 bordering Silicon Valley, in the shadows of Koko the sign language-speaking gorilla and the atom...
How to do Valentine’s Day on a budget
Edgar Soria Garcia, Illustrations Editor
February 14, 2019
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 Cheesecake Factory, but your bank account says Taco Bell. There’s no need to worry. Here are f...
Single people rejoice, you are alone this Valentine’s Day—and that’s a good thing.
Staff writer, Raul Ojeda
February 13, 2019
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 friends. They complain about how stressful Valentine’s Day is and how, in the end, they didn’t ...
Back in the saddle again
Lenita Marie Johnson, Staff Writer
December 13, 2018
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 during the wild and crazy mid-70s. Now I spend hours in a classroom and even more in the newsroom at The Oak Leaf, Santa Rosa Junior College’s student news media. I’m taking c...
College students’ survival guide for living at home
Riley Palmer, Staff Writer
December 13, 2018
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 nagging about the FAFSA and whether it was your day to chauffeur your little brother to school and back...
Don’t call me an e-girl: What it’s like being a woman in the gamer world
Eileen Rodriguez, Reporter
December 13, 2018
“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 with your male friend. You must be an e-girl,” he laughed. According to Urban Dictionary, an e...
Thanksgiving: the best time of year
Mark Fernquest, Staff writer
November 22, 2018
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 rocks. Truth No. 1: It’s people oriented. Thanksgiving is a day to spend indoors (or outdoors...
“The Crimes of Grindelwald” is a fantastically boring entry to a beloved franchise
Jordan Allums, Staff writer
November 19, 2018
“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 protagonists through spiraling twists and dull world-building. “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwa...
Fear of fake news in the Trump era
Abraham Fuentes, Photo Editor
November 6, 2018
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 universe and the laws of physics. I didn't have any aspirations of being a journalist. I thought I was a...
Oak Leaf Endorses Incumbent Mike Thompson for House
Lauren A. Spates, Features Editor
November 1, 2018
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 students and their interests in the House, which is why the Oak Leaf recommends you cast your vote f...
John Kelly: Board needs new eyes
October 31, 2018
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 incumbent Area 1 trustee Jeff Kunde for 12 years as a devoted servant of Santa Rosa Junior Co...
May 16, 2019 • No Comments
https://issuu.com/theoakleafnews/docs/master_copy_oak_leaf_2019_magazine_
Seamus Reed, Assistant News and Arts & Entertainment Editor
May 16, 2019 • No Comments
Sonoma Coast State Park Take Highway 1 north past Bodega Bay, and you’ll find yourself at Shell Beach,...
Mark Fernquest and Michaella Peake
May 16, 2019 • No Comments
A promising new health product with much-touted medical benefits is gaining both a national and statewide...
May 16, 2019
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May 15, 2019