The Reedley College Reading and Writing Center Presents... Table of Contents Commemoration 1 or Intimidation? Savanna Duncan LGBT History 2 Hadley Ciceroni National Disabil- 3 ity Employment Awareness Month Commemoration or Intimidation? Maddie Dominguez National Arts & 4-5 by Savanna Duncan Humanities Month ia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican tradition and is Hannah D Kleinkramer st nd celebrated from October 31 through November 2 . While the name of this holiday may Black Poetry Day 5 sound quite morbid and leave some rather dark images in one’s head, its true purpose and Lucio Rodriguez Leif Erikson Day 6 definition is one that is quite the opposite of its ironically dark name. Dia de los Muertos Alexiz Molina is meant for people to gather in celebration to remember their deceased loved ones while Mary Shelly 6 Rosa Corcoles embracing Mexican culture traditions. With the emotional significance of this holiday, it’s RC Human 7 no surprise that two days are needed in order to fully encase it. Library Iman Alamri This holiday differs greatly though from the more commonly known October 31st My First Loss 8 Evelyn Felipe holiday in the USA, Halloween. Halloween is the number one holiday for those who Train Your Brain 9-10 enjoy the feelings of petrification and panic; the holiday is immortalized every year Day Annie Bautista through thriller-based movie marathons, haunted house circuits, and most epically, Dropout 10 costumes and masks. Prevention Rosa Corcoles Masks are actually the most common aspect that these two holiday’s share. Grammar Corner 11 However, the masks worn in Dia de los Muertos are vibrantly colored and light-hearted Annie Bautista Madness Rises 12-13 while the ones typically worn for Halloween are concocted with only the idea to scare and When Darkness Falls terrify in mind. Another more obvious difference between these two holidays would be Laura Hand that Dia de los Muertos focuses on bringing people together, unlike Halloween, which RC Tutoring 14-15 Services leads to a near compulsion of people scaring others to a degree that makes them run away Rafael Macias-Gutierrez manically. Of course, all is done in great fun. While both traditions are revered warmly by Upcoming Events 16 many, it is safe to say that the two are not meant to be mixed unless there is a way to RC Library Events 17 combine doses of adrenaline and adoracion. Clubs & Services 18-19 Calendar 20 1

LGBT History

by Hadley Ciceroni

This October will be the 25th anniversary of the are many events, speeches, articles, and commemorations that LGBT History Month in the United States. It started in 1994 occur all over the United States and Canada to publicize the by a Missouri history teacher by the name of Rodney Wilson importance of this vast community. This celebration of pride who felt that it was important to spotlight the history of and equal representation would not have occurred if it was lesbian and gay individuals. The movement quickly grew to not for one high school history teacher coming out to his include bisexual and transgender as well, thus adopting the class through a discussion concerning the Holocaust in 1994. LGBT acronym. The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Rodney Wilson was an immensely influential individual within Network (GLSEN) organization heavily supported the start this movement. Beyond starting the history month, he was of LGBT History month. This is an important celebration, as also the first openly gay K-12 teacher in the state of Missouri, the LGBT community is the only international community and he founded the first GLSEN chapter outside of whose history is not taught in schools, religious institutions, Massachusetts. In his youth, Wilson found his place or within many homes. researching what little information was available on gay October was selected due to the many other LGBT history, and this led to not only a career, and a master’s related traditions that already take place within the month. degree in history, but also an international movement. October 11th is National Coming Out Day, which Closer to home, Reedley College displays its support celebrates the community members’ coming out experiences. for the LGBTQ+ community all year through the Safe Space October 17th is Spirit Day where millions show their Club. The intention of the club is to provide a comfortable support by wearing purple as a stand against bullying of and supportive space for LGBTQ+ individuals to feel at LGBT youth. October 26th is known as Intersex home on campus. They also educate allies of the community Awareness Day, which commemorates the first public on how to effectively provide support and an inclusive demonstration of intersex individuals in North America. environment for LGBTQ+ individuals. The Safe Space Club Lastly, October 22nd to 28th is Asexual Awareness week, a has earned multiple accomplishments since its start in 2017. campaign designed to educate the public on the asexual They earned the 2017-2018 Reedley College Outstanding community and their experiences. Moreover, October was an Club of the Year award and were also recognized with influential choice, because the National March on outstanding involvement for the 2018-2019 academic year. It Washington for lesbian and gay rights was held on October acts as another superb resource for LGBTQ+ history, 14th, 1979. Later, the Second National March on Washington inclusivity, and representation. for lesbian and gay rights would also be held in October in 1987. The purpose of the LGBT History Month is not only to provide awareness and education-friendly materials on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history, but also to put a spotlight on the role models within the community. Each October on the LGBT History Month’s website, thirty-one new icons are chosen to represent the LGBTQ+ community. These idols range from writers to entrepreneurs, to congressmen, to actors. Additionally, within the month, there

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National Disability Employment awareness month by Maddie Dominguez National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is held in October every year. Approximately thirty years ago, it only lasted a week, but in 1988 Congress made a decision to extend it from one week to a whole month. This national campaign raises awareness to any employment issues peo- ple with disabilities may be experiencing. Its purpose is also to celebrate their contributions in the workforce because they play a major role in our society. NDEAM allows everyone to understand that just because someone has a disa- bility does not mean they cannot get things done. Instead, it means they will accomplish the job in a different way. This year’s NDEAM theme is “The Right Talent, Right Now.” This theme is intended to demonstrate how important their contributions are to workplaces across America. People with disabilities truly make a positive im- pact in our society because they are very determined and capable of doing so many things that others may not be able to do. For instance, the U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexandra Acosta pointed out, “Individuals with disabilities offer employers diverse perspectives on how to tackle challenges and achieve success. Individuals with disabilities have the right talent, right now.” As can be seen, they bring in new ways of approaching a situation and help with coming up with innovative ideas. Moving forward, in order to spread awareness something employers can do during NDEAM and through- out the year, is educate their employees through informal educational events on disabilities because there are many misconceptions out there about people who are disabled. This educational event will promote inclusion and help create a positive working environment where everyone feels comfortable. Another thing that could be done is re- viewing the company’s policies so that commitment to an inclusive workplace is being followed. So, now that you know a bit more about National Disability Employment Month, I hope you keep in mind that just because someone has a certain disability does not mean that they are not capable. In reality they are fully capable, determined, and strive to be successful just like anyone else.

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National Arts & Humanities Month by Hannah Kleinkramer National Arts and Humanities month, or NAHM, is celebrated in October. The purpose of NAHM is to bring awareness to humanities and to encourage individuals to be involved in the arts. It started as a small celebration, but it has become the nation's largest celebration of the arts. It started in 1985 with National Arts Week but multiplied in size in 1993 after President Bill Clinton declared it a national month -long celebration. In 2016, President Obama announced National Arts and Humanities month is for the importance of NAHM. He said, "The arts and everyone. An abundance of programs focus on getting humanities reflect our national soul. They are central to youth interested in arts. For example, the University of who we are as Americans-as dreamers and storytellers, Florida recently joined in on NAHM by getting students creators and visionaries." President Obama encouraged to submit artwork in contests and to post about every person to join in on the celebration of the arts community events. The president of UF the college said, because it represents the culture of Americans. Engaging with the arts and humanities National Arts and Humanities month has many piques our curiosity, challenges our goals, like getting everyone to understand and support assumptions and urges us to see the the arts. The main objectives of NAHM are: world with new and different eyes. This

FOCUSING on the arts at local, state, is essential to the reasoned search for and national levels; truth that is at the core of higher education. Such engagement also ENCOURAGING individuals and expands our mental toolkit, helping us to organizations to participate in the arts; think both seriously and originally about ALLOWING governments and our purpose and pursuits at every stage businesses to show their support of the of life. arts; and There are programs everywhere that support the arts. So RAISING public awareness about the many states and towns have begun investing more time role the arts and humanities play in our into the celebration of NAHM. Even our own Reedley communities and lives. College is hosting the San Francisco Shakespeare All these goals help support humanities and arts by Festival as a way of celebrating National Arts and bringing people together to celebrate and remember Humanities Month. On October 24th they are who we are as Americans. performing Macbeth in the Forum Hall at 7:00 PM. 4

Social media campaigns are a way to get involved from social media, there are other ways to celebrate in National Arts and Humanities Month. In October, NAHM. Ways to join in on NAHM are to go and try some social media challenges have been created to something new. You can celebrate by supporting local promote the arts. One social media campaign in museums, art galleries, poetry, and dance. You can even October is called Inktober. Every October, artists all write a letter to your congressman telling them about the over the world take on the #Inktober drawing challenge importance of the arts and humanities, or just facilitate a by doing one ink drawing a day the entire month. These creative outlet for yourself and others. These are all ways Inktober drawings are posted on social media to help to be a part to NAHM. promote the arts by encouraging others to join. Aside Black Poetry Day by Lucio Rodriguez Miles Hodges is a spoken word artist from New York City. His performance history includes appearances at The Apollo Theater, Kennedy Center, and more. A former Youth Slam Poet Champion, Miles was profiled in the 2008 Russell Simmons HBO Documentary “Brave New Voices”. His work has been added to writing curriculums throughout academia and accessed by more than a million viewers online. Recommended video: https://youtu.be/7UTrEDWJ-ds

Joshua Bennett is the author of The Sobbing School, winner of the National Poetry Series and a finalist for the NAACP Image Award. Some of his other well-known books include: Algorithm and Blues and Being Property Once Myself: Blackness and the End of Man. Recommended video: https://youtu.be/ Q9TWj3kb4cA

Maya Angelou was an American poet, singer, memoirist, and civil rights activist. While being active in the Civil Rights Movement, Angelou worked along side with Martin Luther Kung Jr. and Malcolm X. Some of her most well-known autobiographies consist of events from her childhood to early adulthood. Recommended video: https://youtu.be/ lhRlCY0_JNg “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou

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Leif Erikson Day by Alexiz Molina Do you know what holiday falls on October 9th? both part of Canada. Well if you guessed National Leif Erikson Day then you Although it is not proven, it is are correct! Leif Erikson was a Viking explorer who was believed that he also traveled recorded as the first Nordic person to have set foot on into what is now known as North America. He was born around 970 C.E. in Minnesota. So you may ask yourself why October 9th? Icelandic Commonwealth and is believed to have come Well that day was chosen because it is the anniversary of from a family of explorers and outlaws. His father the day that the Restauration, a ship, arrived to New founded two settlements in Greenland. He was married York, October 9, 1825. The ship departed from to a beautiful woman named Thorgunna and the two Stavanger, Norway. There were 52 Norwegian Quakers had a son, Thorkell. His exploration journey began on board. This voyage became the first organized when he came back from working for King Olaf of immigration from Norway to the United States. Our Norway. He bought himself a boat and began to explore country was founded upon exploration and discovery, Newfoundland, known as part of Canada today. Other so it is only right that we celebrate and remember those places he visited include Baffin Island and Labrador, discoveries that impacted our world. Mary Shelly by Rosa Corcoles Mary Shelley was an English novelist, remembered for having written the gothic novel Frankenstein. She was the daughter of two famous and influential figures. Her father was the political philosopher William Godwin and her mother was the philosopher and early feminist Mary Wollstonecraft. Despite her mother’s early death, Shelley’s father made sure she received a rich education. At the age of 18, Shelley began writing The Modern Prometheus, later known as Frankenstein. She came up with the concept after a long conversation about death and the supernatural, which later gave her nightmares that further inspired the novel. Two years later, in 1818 the novel was published anonymously in London. The thrilling story of a young scientist’s unorthodox experiment and the resulting creature has been considered the start to the entire genre of science fiction. It has since received worldwide recognition and has influenced countless adaptations of plays, movies, and TV series. Despite the recognition for Frankenstein, Mary Shelley’s other accomplishments tend to be overlooked in favor of the successful novel. Shelley is noted for her radicalism, having been strongly influenced by her mother’s feminist principles. She was a fervent writer, having written a variety of works including several other novels such as Valperga (1823) and The Last Man (1826), as well as children's books, short stories, poems, and bibliographies. “The beginning is always today.”—Mary Shelley 6

RC Human Library by Iman Alamri

On October 15, 2019, Reedley College will be often will judge a book by its cover. When we pick up a hosting its third annual Human Library event on book, we determine if it looks visually appealing and if campus. The event will be held in the Quad area from so, assume its content must be just as appealing. If not, 10 am to 12 pm. This event was organized by Instructor we make a judgement about the book before even Rebecca Al Haider. Al Haider teaches English as a opening it. We do the same with each other. Whatever Second Language (ESL), and she was inspired by the our physical appearance or label may be, we tend to many students she works with due to their unique make stereotypical assumptions before even learning backgrounds and experiences. She designed it to be about what is on the inside. Every human is like a book, similar to “speed dating,” where the readers will sit they are just waiting to be opened and read. “Maybe down at what’s called a bookshelf, and the humans will participants will see that we’re more alike than they act as books, and the readers get to interview them and thought, and where we’re different can be celebrated,” ask questions about their stereotypes and prejudices. said Al Haider. The human library concept was introduced This year, we can expect to have many new roughly 20 years ago by activists protesting violence in books. Some of the stand outs are a Syrian refugee, a Denmark. Ever since then, it has grown into a former gang member who lost two of his adult children movement taking place all over the world. Events are to gun violence, and a sex trafficking survivor. This held in dozens of countries and cities across the U.S. event is open to everyone on campus who is interested The purpose of the human library is to expose people to in learning more about a certain culture, religion, the various types of different life experiences. This is sexuality, profession, etc. The event is like a library, full what Al Haider hopes to achieve with this event. of various genres just waiting to be explored. The “One day a Sikh student told me about a number of “books” is limitless, whoever is interested in situation where a woman confronted him thinking he participating is welcome to jump in on the fun. was Muslim,” Al Haider states. “This made me think, if “Participants do not need to sign up. It is open to the only she knew my student the way I do. If only she public,” Al Haider states. “Anyone can participate, and I could see that he was a typical teenager that loved video hope they do!” games and procrastinated doing homework.” Like the past Human Library events, Al Haider hopes this year’s event will spark some dialogue among the people on campus. As humans, we often judge groups of people that we do not know and tend to make assumptions about them. This event is meant to help expand our minds on the ever so changing world we’re living in. The whole concept of the event is how we

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My First Loss by Evelyn Felipe

You never think it would happen to someone after I woke up. I saw that someone posted a message you know or someone in your town, or at least you saying something along the lines of “Keep him in your don’t want to imagine it. It happened to someone I prayers,” along with a picture of the boy I no longer know. A boy I went to high school with, a boy who was spoke to. Through a couple posts later and a text one of the few people I considered a friend to me. This message I received from my cousin, I put all the pieces boy was 18 years old, sweet, and someone who could of a dreadful puzzle together. My old friend was shot easily get along with anyone. We had lost touch after I with a gun, amongst all the other popping sounds that transferred high schools, but I would often see him occurred from the fireworks. The boy I once would around my small little town and recognize his familiar ditch high school with and laugh about almost getting face. He was not much taller than me, had short brown caught by the staff, was in the hospital fighting for his hair, and a memorable face. It’s an uneasy feeling when life. you see someone you used to associate with, but don’t I won’t go into detail about how this horrific anymore. I didn’t know what to do in these moments, event occurred. I could only imagine how it unfolded Do I say hi? No… I wouldn’t say hello, for no reason though. He was with his family, at his house, celebrating other than the fact that I hadn’t talked to him for a long July 4th just like we all were that day. When that time. happened, that thing that you’d never think would Then, it happened. The thing I was talking about happen to someone you know, you can’t imagine it. The in the beginning. It was July 4th, 2018. We all know what ambulance I had saw on July 4th, was the ambulance that this holiday, Independence Day, looks like. Smoke from was going to my dear friend. family barbeques filled the air, as well as the smoke The next day, it was confirmed that the boy did emitted from the fireworks. Despite the ugly smoke, it’s not make it. This was my first time experiencing a loss. a beautiful scene; lights of different colors in the air, Although we hadn’t communicated, the fact that I would forming different shapes and then dissolve as their ashes never get another chance to regain that friendship hurt fall to the ground. I was on the North side of town, at me. I can’t describe the exact feeling though: a mixture my aunt’s house. The night was going fine. As I was of guilt, sadness, and failure. sitting in a lawn chair watching the lights in the sky with my loved ones, I saw an ambulance pass by. Lights flashing and that intimidating sound of sirens were coming from it. That was all though, no more commotion. The night went on, and soon after, I left back to my house. The next morning, I checked my social media 8

about challenging ourselves and exercising the full

capacity of our brain. Although Train Your Brain Day

doesn’t sound like the most fun holiday to celebrate in

October, *cough* Halloween, there are still some not-so

-boring ways to go about participating in this holiday.

One method of training our brains that isn’t

typically thought of right away is training through visual

art. Although it may not seem like it, visual art is a

practice that takes a lot of concentration and brain

power. There are many different forms to choose from by Annie Bautista like painting, sculpting, and drawing. Each of these

Our bodies are machines; if our parts are not forms requires a lot of planning and calculating in being taken care of we cannot operate properly. Our order to achieve the finished product. lungs help us breathe so that the machine doesn’t While on the topic of art, another fun practice overheat. Our liver keeps us clean so that no oil leaks. could be through music. For those who are music

Our heart keeps blood pumping so the machine can driven, a great way to train could be through learning a keep running. It’s important that all these parts operate new instrument or improving the skills that you may accordingly which is why we have one organ that already have with a particular instrument. If you want to controls them all: the brain. There are a lot of different take it a step further you could write or compose a song. ways to train our lungs, liver, and heart to become In college we have to do a lot of reading, and a stronger but on October 13th, Train Your Brain Day great way to train our brain could be through the deeper wants us to focus on doing exactly as it is named. exploration of reading. Reading for classes could be

One might think “If the brain commands my difficult and uninteresting. The benefit of training our every move, then am I not already training my brain brain through deep comprehensive reading on our own everyday by just breathing or literally doing anything?” free time is that we get to pick any book we want from and the answer is, well, no. Our brains are constantly our favorite genre. Two ways you could train your brain sending commands subconsciously through our bodies through reading could be by learning a new subject or to do these simple tasks; we do things like breathing picking up a piece of writing with advanced language to without really thinking about it. Train Your Brain Day is expand your vocabulary. Both methods are great for

9 brain training. It all depends on which option seems more desirable to you.

As you go about your day and get all your body parts working and running, think about how you like to spend your free time. Does it involve art? Music? Reading? Whatever your answer may be, there is always room for you to improve on these skills and get the gears in your brain to start running.

Dropout Prevention by Rosa Corcoles

October is Dropout Prevention month. It is a national effort aimed towards lowering school dropout rates. This month calls attention to the many different factors that contribute to students dropping out of school and pushes for greater efforts at reducing those rates.

People without a college degree are twice as likely to be unemployed than someone with a college degree.

Its estimated that over half of the students enrolled in college fail to finish after six years. About 43% of community college students drop out before obtaining a degree. A study by Public Agenda reveals that the main reason for college dropout is that many students are going to school and working to sustain themselves and balancing the two becomes too much to handle. Other reasons include the cost of tuition and books being too high and the classes being too much to handle.

To combat these grim statistics, we’re doing our part in Dropout Prevention by encouraging students to persevere and seek out help and resources on campus or elsewhere to overcome whatever might be pushing you away from completing your education.

There are many excellent resources available on campus. There are various counselors available to answer

any questions about classes and whether you’re on the right track. If you worry about

paying for classes, the financial aid office is available to help navigate that area. If you’re

struggling in classes, the Reading and Writing Center (HUM 58), Math Center (FEM 1),

and the Learning Center (LRC 111) all offer different tutoring services.

Join the Reading and Writing Center’s Canvas Page!

1. ) In your web browser, type in this address: https://scccd.instructure.com/enroll/LN9B8C

2.) Click the “Enroll in Course” button

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Grammar Corner

by Annie Bautista For almost every paper you will write in college, what this would look like is: Joyce, James. Ulysses. you’re going to have to cite sources. The connection you London. Bodley Head, 1969. For APA format, you will make between quotes and your paper is important. list in this order: the author’s last name, first and middle Quotes cannot be thrown in a paper without some form name initial, the year of publication, the title of the of explanation. Also, pulling information from texts book, the location of publication, and the publisher. An won’t always come in the form of a direct quote. example of what this would look like is: Pavlov, I. Another form of citing is paraphrasing which is when (1927). Conditioned reflexes. New York, NY, US. Oxford you take what the author is saying and put it into your University Press. All your sources should be cited and own words. Whether you are using direct quotes or listed in alphabetical order, no matter what format you paraphrasing, you must include citations. are using. There should also be an indent for each line

In-text citations vary depending on what format that comes after the first which is known as a hanging your paper is written in. For MLA format, the most indent: common format that is required in English classes, in- These three sentences are an example of how citations text citations must include the author’s last name and should be formatted on your works cited page. the page number from which you pulled the quote. For Some citations may be longer than others and take example, if you are quoting James Joyce and found a up more line space. If this occurs then just make quote on the second page of his writing, your in-text sure that all the lines after the first line are indented citation would look like this: (Joyce 2). This in-text like this. citation will come at the end of your quote or Citations are complex and there are many more paraphrased sentence. For APA format, a format mostly formats in which citations could be written in besides used for research papers, the rules are pretty much the MLA and APA. For more information on citations visit same except instead of adding the page number next to the Reedley College website, click the ‘Library’ tab, then the author’s last name you will put the year of click on the ‘How To Cite’ tab. publication. For example, if you are referencing from Ivan Pavlov’s study that took place in 1927 then your in- text citation will look like this: (Pavlov, 1927).

Once your essay is complete, you’ll have to include a works cited page. For MLA format, you will list in this order: the author’s last name, the author’s first name, the title of the book, the city of publication, the publisher, and the date of publication. An example of

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by Laura Hand It’s been a hard week. I’m exhausted. I don’t know if it’s glowsticks and drinks.” We park along the curb, and I hesitate just a coincidence or if it’s because it is Halloween, but I have to get out of the car. They tell me there is nothing to be afraid been having nightmares all week. I am terrified of falling of as we make our way through the headstones towards the asleep and feel as if I am going mad. My dreams are filled mausoleum. I can hear music thumping from within like a with shadowy figures and shrill, bone shattering screams. thousand fists pounding on the walls. Nicole hands me a Sometimes the screams are just in my head and sometimes glowing necklace, bracelet, and a few sticks, which are the they are my own. My roommate Nicole says that she can hear only lights besides the faint glow of a laptop and Bluetooth me at night, screaming like Death himself is there in my speaker. I see James and a two of his friends. I’ve seen one of room. It must be Death that I see in my dreams; a tall, dark them with Nicole before; I think his name is Brian or maybe figure who is just out of focus walks through my mind and Ryan, but the other one I’ve never seen before. James darkness follows behind him. I try to run, but introduces us; “this is my cousin Luke” he yells my feet are anchors that won’t budge; over the bass. They are all bobbing to the writhing and clawing at the ground beat holding red solo cups filled with until my fingers bleed, I try to fight, whatever jungle juice they brought. to get away, but I can’t. The Nicole gets us drinks, and after a few darkness begins to swirl around sips, I begin to loosen up. me; it licks my skin and lights it At the bottom of cup number two I on fire, and I am overcome with find my feet and am dancing with my intense pain and then nothing; friends as is if I had nothing to be complete and total oblivion. I can afraid of. Luke seems nice and kind of not see, but I can feel, and it feels like flirty, but I need another drink if I am going my skin is being stripped away. Just when I to follow where he wants to lead. I leave the feel like I am about to die, I wake up drenched in dance floor to get that drink feeling happy that my sweat with my heart racing. Five nights now of this horror nightmares are temporarily forgotten. At the makeshift bar, I and no sleep. My friend Claire tells me it will pass; Nicole says feel a strange sense of déjà vu making its way up my spine, I should try sleep aides, but I can’t help but feel that this is and when I turn to see what is causing the sensation, I see it, not just a nightmare because it feels so real. Claire has invited or Him, or whatever the darkness wishes to call itself. I must Nicole and I to join her and her boyfriend James for what she be hallucinating; the alcohol has gone to my head; it can’t be calls “a little get together” because she thinks some fun will real. The darkness envelops Luke, who had lit up cigarette in take my mind off my nightmares. I tell them I would rather the corner, and I can’t see him anymore. I drop my cup, and I stay in, but they insist. They pick me up at eight; they are push my way across the floor to where the he was—all I find dressed up and are not impressed by my jeans, hoodie, and hi is a smattering of sticky, sweet iron on the wall and floor. -tops, but “no one will notice because it will be dark” says Something is wrong—terribly wrong. I find my friends on the Claire. Nicole drives us to the outskirts of town, and it is at dance floor, and I scream at them “We have to get out of that moment that I realize where we are headed. “Where are here, NOW!” But they won’t listen because they don’t know. we going?” I ask. “Oh, the old mausoleum in the cemetery” All around me, the darkness is thickening. I can’t help them; I says Claire. Nicole adds “It’s going to be great; we brought scream and push, but none of them will budge. I try to get to

12 the door before the darkness gets me too, but I slip and fall send all available units to the mausoleum outside of town; get on the remains of my friends. I make it to the door, but it forensics out there too. It may be our primary crime scene.” won’t open. A black fog swirls around me, and I feel the fiery A nurse enters quickly, called by the rapid beeping of the grip of terror claw at my back. It pulls me into the darkness machine, and checks my vitals. “Your heart rate and blood and drags me back into my nightmare. I black out. Beep, pressure are high. I am going to give you something to calm beep, beep, beep. My alarm sounds, and I wake up in my bed you down and help you sleep.” The officer looks unhappy soaking wet. “It was just another nightmare” I say as I stagger that I can’t answer any more questions. The drugs work fast, to my bathroom. Turning on the light, what I see causes to and I drift off… me shriek in terror—there on my counter is a red solo cup I am ripped from the first peaceful sleep I have had all and the glowing necklace I had been wearing and staring back week by the officer cuffing my hand to the bed rail. It’s been at me in disbelief is my reflection, soaked not in sweat, but in hours; night looms outside my rooms window. Before I can blood. “It wasn’t a dream…” I stutter as I fall to the floor fully comprehend what is happening, the officer is reading me and deeper into madness. my rights, and I don’t understand. “What. What is going on?” After what feels like a thousand years, I crawl back to my I stammer. He says “officers were dispatched to the bed; my sheets are stiff with rust colored smears. I reach for mausoleum, and they found four bodies and a male victim in my phone on the nightstand, but my fingers can’t bear the critical condition. We identified him as Luke Douglass. He weight, so my phone falls to the floor. I am shaking too much was in and out of consciousness and had a deep puncture to dial… “Siri, call 9-1-1” and my phone blinks into action. wound and severe abdominal bleeding, but the EMT’s were “9-1-1, what’s your emergency?” I can barely hear the voice able to stabilize him. On the way to the hospital, he uttered through the pounding in my head. “Dead. All dead. So much ‘Isabella. She killed them. It was her.’ Now why do you think blood” I mumble to myself. I hear “Who’s dead ma’am?” and he would say that…Isabella?” I don’t know. This can’t be; I “Are you in a safe location?” I don’t know. I can’t tell what’s had nothing to do with this. Hundreds of thoughts swirl real and what is imagined. Anxiety grips me, and just before I around my head making me dizzy and sick. “I didn’t…the black our again, I hear “We are sending officers to your darkness…I saw It…from my nightmare…It killed them… location; please stay on the line…” Beep, beep, beep, beep. not me…I couldn’t…” “We recovered Luke’s phone at the Again, I wake to the sound of an alarm, but its not an alarm; scene; the camera app was open.” He shows me the evidence it is a heart monitor. I am in a hospital. The overpowering bag with Luke’s bloody phone inside. “There were a few new smell of sanitizers, bright florescent lights, and squeaking photos taken last night in his camera roll” and holding the shoes assaults my senses as the delirium wears off. An officer phone where I can see, he shows me one of the photos. I is standing at the foot of the bed looking down at me. “What can’t focus. My mind doesn’t want to focus on the picture in happened?” I ask. “Dispatch traced your call, and when we front of me, the picture of me, blood spattered and wide-eyed entered your apartment, we found you unconscious on the standing over Nicole with a broken bottle in my hand. At floor covered in blood that doesn’t appear to be yours. first, I think it is fear I see in the blacks of my eyes, but the EMT’s brought you here to be examined. Now it’s your turn harder I stare into them, the easier it is to see the truth, for in to tell me what happened and whose blood is all over you.” I my eyes, I can see the Darkness. It begins to well up inside of can’t think; the pounding won’t stop, and my heart races; the me and my vision blurs; as I fade out, unable to process what flashing of the lights triggers flashes of memory. “The I just saw, a doctor walks in and I faintly hear him say “it mausoleum…we were at the mausoleum when It appears that she suffered from a schizophrenic break” and happened…my friends…they’re dead…all dead…the that is the last thing I heard before the Darkness overtook darkness, It took them…” I can see that I am not making any me. sense, but the officer clicks his radio and says, “Dispatch,

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RC Tutoring Services

by Rafael Macias-Gutierrez

Reedley College currently offers tutoring services through the Learning Center, Reading and Writing

Center, and Math Center. This month is particularly significant for the Reading and Writing Center since it is celebrating its 16th anniversary of the establishment. Initially, Reedley College began offering tutoring services through the EOPS center in 1971. After three successful semesters of operation, the Tutorial Center was relocated to the Student Services Center which at the time was also known as the Financial Aid Department. This new location was more spacious and offered assistance in most subjects. The Tutorial Center proved to be a success due to the preparation it gave to students who had the aspiration of transferring to a university.

Later on, the college decided to expand these tutoring services by making separate centers that would specialize in certain subject matters. This devotion for specialized tutoring services led to the creation of the

Reading and Writing Center. In 2003, the Reading and Writing Center was made with the intention of providing reading and writing assistance to the students of Reedley College. This center allowed for students to specifically develop their literacy skills throughout their community college experience.

Shortly after the establishment of the Reading and Writing Center, the Tutorial Center was moved once more due to the expansion of the school library. In 2005, the South end of the Reedley College library was expanded, and the tutorial center acquired a moderate portion of it. This part of the library became the permanent and current location for the Tutorial Center and later adopted the Learning Center name it is known by today. Due to the progress seen from the Learning Center and Reading and Writing Center, a specialized center for math soon followed. In 2009, the Math Center was made to specifically suit all the mathematical needs that students had.

Together, the Reading and Writing Center and Math Center provide assistance in the subjects their titles imply, while the Learning Center provides support for any other subject that is not addressed by the first two centers. With these three student resource centers, Reedley College strives to provide a gratifying learning experience for students who plan on transferring to a university or starting their career after graduating.

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Academic Service Centers...Just ASC!

Center Hours Location Contact Info.

Phone: (559) 638-0300 ext. 3619 Reading & Writing Center M-Th: 8 am - 4 pm E-mail: HUM 58 rc.writingcenter_reedleycollege.edu Coordinator: F: 8 am - 12 pm Deb Borofka @ReedleyCollege_RWC

Phone: (559) 638-0300 ext. 3158 Math Center M-Th: 8 am - 4 pm E-mail: Coordinator: FEM 1 F: 8 am - 12 pm [email protected] Rebecca Reimer @RCMathCenter

E-mail: Learning Center M-Th: 8 am - 5 pm [email protected] Coordinator: LRC 111 F: 8 am - 4 pm Jim Mulligan @RCLearning

Follow AGS on Instagram Receive all of the latest updates on club activities and events.

@Reedley_AGS

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Date(s) Event Location

October 2 Healthy Relationships Workshop Student Center

October 14-19 Homecoming Week Campus Wide

October 15 Pizza with the President Student Center

October 15 Human Library Quad

October 22-24 Career Week CEC

October 23 Disability Awareness Event Student Center

San Francisco Shakespeare Festi- October 24 Forum Hall val presents Macbeth

October 30-31 Halloween Club Rush Quad

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October Calendar

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

1 - International Coffee Day 3 - National Boyfriends Day 4 - Taco Day 6 - Mad Hatter Day 7-11 National Tutor Appreciation Week 9 - Yom Kippur 10 - Angel Food Cake Day 11 - National Coming Out Day 14 - Indigenous Peoples’ Day 15 - RC Pizza with the President 16 - Boss’s Day 25 - World Pasta Day 31 - Halloween 20