1r= Speaker focuses on I) The Renegade Rip 1--1@the_renegade_rip Law enforcement black music as protest CJ @bc_rip vs. Fire Department Feature~~ Pa9e 3 www.therip.com Guns 'N Hoses, Page 8 ene BAKERSFIELD COLLEGE Vol. 87 · No. 9 Thursday, February 18, 2016 Vigil in honor of student By Mohamed Bafakih Contributing Editor Whether it was what he did for Bakersfield or what he meant to the community of Delano, the loss of 19-year-old fonner Bakersfield College student Ali Sakr shook the surrounding areas. Sakr died after colliding with a semi, which set his car on fire near Seventh Standard Road and Cheny Avenue on Feb. 6, as he was return­ ing home to Delano after refereeing a junior high basketball tournament at Liberty High School. The success through basketball allowed him to still be involved with the game, and while ref­ ereeing gave him an extra chance to give back to the game, it was just pa1i of hi s se lflessness of giving back. "He [Sakr] was a great kid, it's a shame," Ba­ kersfield College head basketball coach Rich Hughes said in regard to the passing of Sakr. Hughes briefly coached Sakr during pre­ season practice of the 2015 basketball season after Sakr's stellar prep career at Robert F. Ken­ nedy High School in Delano. "In fact he was officiating JV games during the high school season ... how many 19 year PlTOTOS BY MASON .T. ROCKPELLOW / TTIE RTP olds do that?" Hughes said. " He was mature for his age, and he was a very good player and was Friends and family show support at the vigil a very good player at Kennedy. It's just sad to for Ali Sakr on Feb. 12 (top photo). Candles see." surround memorabilia for Sakr at the vigil Please see VIGIL, Page 5 held at Robert F. Kennedy High School. Veteran's parents mourn By Marcus Castro never see my son again." "He loved to dance. If music Contributing Editor Legget was a first semester was on, he would just randomly student at BC. He was discharged dance," said Christopher. Bakersfield College suffered from the Anny in September Christopher explained that a loss on Feb. 4 when a student, 2015 and came home from North during the first month and a half Timothy L. Legget Jr., 25, took Carolina in October. since Legget was home, he was his own life. Legget's stepfather of 12 more involved with everyone. He He was a U.S. Anny veteran years Christopher Summers and went on to say that it was around who was in the military for four Sharown explained that Legget Thanksgiving when Legget re­ years, eight months. was a happy guy in the past. ally retracted. Legget's mother Sarown Sum­ "Tim was fun loving and help­ "He was j ust in his room. He mers spoke to The Rip about her ful to everybody. He just always would come out though, and tell son the week after he died. had a smile on his face. When he me 'hi' every day. Sometimes we "There have been a handful of was yoW1g, we called him cat­ would have a little conversation, occasions where I knew that this fish because his mouth was so and sometimes he would j ust go could be the last time conversa­ big from his big ol' smile," said back. He just mentally was not tion, but I felt confident that he Sharown. there. He just changed," said was going to continue on," Sum­ Christopher explained that his Sharown. mers said. "But this North Caro­ stepson loved to play sports, in­ BC Veterans Club president MASON .T. ROCKFELLOW / THE RTP lina trip, when he came home, I cluding football and basketball Benjamin Lindqui st explained The flag is being flown at half-staff in honor and memory of U.S. Army veteran Timothy thought that was when he was go­ at Highland High School. He that Legget was very quiet and L. Legget Jr., 25, and Ali Sakr, 19, who were both BC students. ing to hurt himself, and I would also said that he loved to dance. Please see VETERAN, Page 5 FEATURES Page 2 The Renegade Rip I www.therip.com Thursday, February 18, 2016 Pantry is back to helping students By AK Pachla ing co-coordinator in October of ter for a place like BC to host the ones that have been coming donating directly, while local Of course, students who are Copy Editor 2015. In that time, the pantry's students with pressing survival for hygiene kits have needed it grocer Smart & Final organizes interested are always welcome operations have expanded from needs, but over the pantry's six­ as a necessity to help them out," a customer food drive for pantry to contact Student Life and vol­ The Renegade Pantry is in full monthly groce1y distiibution to year tenure, the reality is that the said Guinto, adding, "As well as donations. unteer time or donate goods to swing once again for the spring include a farmer's market and more it provides, the more need the clothing, too." Pantry staff also contacts local the pantry. 2016 semester. Pantry co-coor­ community closet, as well as the it uncovers. Pantry programs also actively hotels to ask for donations for However, one of the most im­ dinator David Guinto is happy Daily Bread program and dis­ Two of the newer programs, seek to involve the communi­ the hygiene, as well as curating portant things students can do with the ongoing results. "It lthe ttibuting personal hygiene kits. regular clothing and hygiene ties it is a part of, both on and an infonnation cleaiinghouse for to help the Renegade Pantt-y is pantry] has been very effective at The pantry also holds fundrais­ product distributions, have al­ off campus. "Generally, it's very students looking for affordable spread the word. "We 're finding helping out students." ing bake sales to support their ready made an impact on the stu­ connected with everything," says rentals close to school. "We like out every day that new students Guinto started volunteering various initiatives. dent body. Guinto. Area businesses are in to involve the community," said fhave l never heard about it be­ for the pantry last spring, bccom- It may seem out of charac- 'Through what we've seen ... on the act, with Panera Bread Guinto. fore." said Guinto. Attorneys talk on Kern refugees Top 10 Majors The Rip's Chris Miller has asked 50 students on campus what their major is. The results have been compiled into the Top 10 answers based offof student opinion. 1. Nursing rnEGUARDINAN.coM Number of votes: 4 A photo of a boat full of refugees traveling over seas was used during the ''Refugees in our Backyard" presentation. "I like having the stability of always having a By Crystal Valdez Central American refugees have job." Features Editor been or will be admitted. -Raul Leon, 18 "We've already registered to In recent years, the world has the world [that we are] turning a witnessed one of the biggest hu­ blind eye," said Cooper. man 1ights crises since World She went on to add that when War II. The ongoing refugee we choose not to admit individu­ .­ crisis has become an epidemic, als, those individuals begin to ,- ·.~, involving 60 million refugees on migrate in search of safety. In ,,._ ' the march from countries all over that search for safety, vulner­ ,, :- "''' r1 1, the world. ability and exploitation reigns "-, , On Feb. 5 the Levan Center at supreme. IL is because of this Bakersfield College hosted a dis­ that Cooper believes that when cussion titled "Refugees in our refugees anive and seek asylum Backyard," which addressed the in the US, they anive as "half­ issue from a global, national, and brokcn spirits." local standpoint. The policy states that asylum UC Davis Law professor seekers must be detained until Holly Cooper, along with two their case has reached closure; of her students, gave a presenta­ this includes children. tion focused on various aspects After Cooper's introduction, of refugee crises, including de­ Anita Bai·ooni, law student at UC mographics, asylum seeking, de­ Davis, helped navigate listeners tainment, and the privatization of into understanding the details of detention centers. this crisis. JOE BERGMAN / THE RIP Cooper shared an experience Barooni began her section of Holly Cooper discusses the topic of refugees in the Kem she had with her first assignment the present;ition by discussing County area during "Refugees in Our Backyard." in 1999 as an immigrntion law­ the three main crises that have yer. She was asked to work at the occurred in recent history: Eu­ human rights record, which is a gangs, prostitution, maniage, Aiizona-Mexico border, and her ropean (now), Central American little bit concerning because you and escape from prosecution first task was to work with unac­ (2014), and African (ongoing). already have a population that based on religion, family hist01y, companied minors from all over Barooni discussed the demo­ is vulnerable, and they're mov­ and sexual orientation. Many of the world who were detained in a graphic and nume1ical aspect ing into counllies that ai·en't best these children also come to the local jail. She recalled that there of the crisis. She stated that the equipped to take care of them," US in search of their parents. EDUCATIONCAREERARTICLES.COM were at least 16 minors in every global refugee population, since said Barooni. The presentation continued, jail cell. mid June of last year, is 15 mil­ Cooper shifted the focus to and UC Davis Law Student Cooper said, "I remember lion and has likely increased.