Country Artists Gather to Honor Merle Haggard
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Kit fox investigation Get The Rip App The Renegade Rip BC represented at concludes with DA @bc_rip @bc_rip Delano Relay for Life News, Page 2 www.therip.com Features, Page 4 The Renegade Rip Vol. 88 ∙ No. 13 Bakersfield College Wednesday, April 19, 2017 BC elects Von Manos as SGA president By Brandon Cowan informing students during the elections in order to Reporter increase voter turnout. She said, “We could have done a little better on Dezi Von Manos has been elected the Student the outreach toward the students on informing them Government Association president for the 2017-18 about the elections. I know that when I was cam- school year. She won the president election with paigning, a lot of students had no idea that elec- 265 votes ahead of the runner-up Daniel Mechem, tions were taking place. So on top of campaigning, who received 246 votes. I found myself informing them of elections, in- There were also 40 votes for none of the above forming them of questions they had pertaining to and 28 votes for unanswered. The voter turnout SGA, so I think that that’s probably why [voter was 2.81 percent with 579 total votes out of 20,606 turnout] was so low.” students in Spring 2017. Winners for the BCSGA Another policy that Von Manos is going to work election results were announced in the Fireside on is to prohibit smoking anywhere at Bakersfield Room on April 6 at 5 p.m. College. Von Manos said that she wants to inform stu- “There are designated areas right now because J.R. HENSLEY / THE RIP dents before the elections take place, instead of Please see ELECTION, Page 8 Dezi Von Manos awaits the SGA election results with her husband Jose and her son Joey. Country artists Health center gather to honor would offer abortion pills Merle Haggard under new bill By Jesse Najera hand to mingle among the mu- By Morgan Park Reporter sic lovers. Several professional Editor-in-Chief entertainers made themselves The Kern County Museum available to meet and greet fans, A new bill introduced to the state senate in hosted the Haggard Boxcar Fes- such as country music singer March (SB 320) would require UC’s, CSU’s, and tival on April 9 with the grounds Rudy Parris, who joined the cast community colleges with health centers to offer inside the museum providing as a contestant on the NBC show abortion pills to students seeking them. a venue for live country music “The Voice” in its third season. The bill, named the “College Student Right to performances. Parris performs a wide variety Access Act,” was introduced on March 17 by Sen. Several performers and bands of music but counts the music of Connie M. Leyva (D) with the intent to “benefit were playing among the histori- Merle Haggard as having a huge college students who may become pregnant and cal homes and buildings. A cen- influence on him. On his debut seek to terminate their pregnancy within the first ter stage in front of a grassy area album, “Makin’ My Way” from ten weeks,” read the press release following the was used to host performances Warrior Records, Parris per- bill’s announcement. such as country music perform- forms country music in the style “It is important that college students have ac- er James Carothers and groups of local legends like Haggard cess to safe and reliable reproductive health care like Merle Haggard’s sons, Ben and Buck Owens. He recorded on campus, including early pregnancy termina- & Noel Haggard. Ben & Noel his album at the Capitol Records tion. If a UC, CSU or community college already performed on stage with Merle’s recording studios in Hollywood. has a student health center, it makes sense that original band The Strangers. “We recorded in the same JESSE NAJERA / THE RIP they provide this health care service within that Several other musical per- room that Buck and Merle re- Country music singer James Carothers performs his set at the Kern facility so that students do not have to travel many formers and bands were set up corded many of their hits in,” County Museum Boxcar Festival for fellow artists and attendees. miles away from their work and school commit- to play directly on the porches of Parris said. ments in order to receive care,” Sen. Leyva said the historical homes or in front “He explained the importance in the release. of the structures located on the of being able to continue making Bakersfield College would be one of the museum grounds. music in the sound and style of schools directed to carry abortion pills in the Stu- The festival drew a sizable local music legends like Hag- dent Health and Wellness center under SB 320 in turnout of all ages. Joe Schaffran gard. its current form. brought his daughters, Bettie and “He was my main influence. BC’s health center focuses on individual over- Mable, to the enjoy the festival. If it wasn’t for Merle Haggard, the-counter medical care in the way one might “I want them to enjoy and I wouldn’t be singing. I had no expect to get at an urgent care center or depart- appreciate music that has local interest in singing, but when I ment store convenience clinics, as well as mental roots in Bakersfield,” Schaffran was about 18 years old, I was at health counseling for students. said. a party. It was late and somebody “We’re an important student support service,” Margaret Billy, who has been had put on his album. His voice said Ray Purcell, Health and Wellness Center di- a fan of Merle Haggard since she came emanating out and it was a rector. was a kid, traveled all the way magical, life changing, moment SB 320 is still in early stages, needing approval from Arizona to attend the Box- for me. I asked a friend who the from health and education committees before car Festival. singer was. They told me his voting on the Senate floor. Purcell hasn’t been Anna Reading-Carey has been name is Merle Haggard and that able to study the bill thoroughly, partly because a country music fan her whole the song was called ‘Misery and he awaits the amended version that can result life and spent the day enjoying Gin.’ I listened and it was like the from committee changes. the music and getting autographs whole world closed off. It was Though, rather than enforcing the carrying of on her guitar and other objects. just me and Merle Haggard’s abortion pills, Purcell would rather approach the Several dignitaries and politi- subject differently. voice. Right then and there I told JESSE NAJERA / THE RIP cal figures, such as Bakersfield mayor Karen Goh, were on Please see HAGGARD, Page 8 A memorial table for Merle Haggard was set up outside his boxcar home. Please see ABORTION, Page 8 New policy would make BC tobacco-free by next fall By Megan Fenwick to SGA president Matt Frazer, other groups the Classified Union,” says Collier. “We are Reporter on campus, such as Allied Health, Student currently waiting to hear from the Faculty Health and Wellness, Student Nurses Asso- Union, however they have previously been in Bakersfield College may be on track to ciation, and Public Health Science students favor.” The plan will be presented to the Col- implement a tobacco-free policy by the Fall have been making headway with combating lege Council, which helps advise the college 2017 semester, according to Cindy Collier, smoking on campus. president, on April 21. the dean of Allied Health. The proposed procedure was drafted by a BC has also been awarded a $7,500 grant Currently, BC follows state law regarding task force comprised of BC faculty and staff from the Truth Initiative, a non-profit or- smoking, which requires smokers to stay 20 such as Ray Purcell and Nicky Damania, as ganization whose focus is to stop tobacco feet away from any entrance, exit, or window well as student representative Alexa Romero. use. Ray Purcell, the director of the Student of a public building. However, talks of cre- The group was headed by Collier to tackle Health and Wellness Center, said the grant ating a new smoking policy for the campus BC’s smoking issue. The policy, if enacted, has been used for informational purposes, have been underway for years. Although the will ban all smoking, tobacco products, and like the “Imagine #BCtobaccofree” signs Student Government Association has had to smoking devices from campus. placed around campus. J.R. HENSLEY / THE RIP put the issue on the back burner for the last “This procedure has been successfully “We are working with California Youth A student smokes while posing near “BCTobaccoFree” ad. semester to focus on Measure J, according vetted through the Academic Senate and Please see SMOKING, Page 8 NEWS Page 2 The Renegade Rip www.therip.com Wednesday, April 19, 2017 Column Apps used ‘Day of Visibility’ celebrates trans people By Ambria King Reporter for sex, The Dolores Huerta Founda- tion’s Teens 4 Equality program, in collaboration with the Bakers- field LGBTQ, held a rally March 31 at the intersection of 24th not dating Street and L Street in celebration of the International Transgender The Gay Agenda: Life and Day of Visibility. times of a modern gay man. The International Transgender Day of Visibility is an an annual If there is one thing gay holiday dedicated to celebrating men have done, it is find a transgender people and raising way to streamline their pur- awareness of the discrimination suit of sex.