The music program at American River College, headed by the chair of the music department Eric Chun, is helping students delve deeper into their musical creativity and develop polished songwriting skills to generate all styles of music.

Nine songwriters have been selected from two songwriting classes in the ARC music department to perform their original songs for the ARC Acoustic Cafe, a series of three performances. The next performance is scheduled for April 11 at 12:15 p.m. in the Student Center during Beaver Week, and the last performance will be on April 26 in the Fine and Applied Arts building in Room 547.

The Acoustic Cafe will feature many styles of music, including rap, R&B and country. All performances will be in the singer/songwriter’s style with acoustic instruments, light percussion and harmonies. The performance will be in a recital format and is free to the public.

Chun’s classes, MUSM 120 and 121, have a strong focus on the technicality of songwriting, and center on what makes a song sound a certain way and how it all ties into the overall musical style.

The classes focus on every aspect of the song, such as scales, rhythm, keys and tempo. Many different pieces go into the creation of a song, and according to Chun, when every part is well-balanced, musicians have achieved the goal of commonality and have given the song meaning.

“Songwriting can be anything,” Chun said. “Whatever the topic of expression, whether it’s romance, love, depression, suicide, negative energy, jobs, cars — there’s no limitations to the song topics.”

Chun said his classes are conversational and loosely structured. Students are invited to share their input, ask questions at any time and Chun demonstrates many songwriting possibilities in his instruction.

Students are in a somewhat “School of Rock”-type setting while learning with Chun. His Tuesday and Thursday class experiments with blues writing, and students generate their own ideas and verses for Chun to perform as a demonstration of the songwriting process.

“As an instructor I have to be involved with some of the songwriting process,” Chun said. “Students will come [to my office] for evaluations and even cowrite.”

During class, Chun said students will learn to write songs in groups for projects and that students who find songwriting compatibility with each other will often collaborate and co-write songs together.

Linda Alvarez, a music recording major, is a first semester songwriting student and a featured performer for all the Acoustic Cafe performances.

According to Alvarez, she has worked on her song, “Berago,” for nearly a year now, and feels ARC’s songwriting classes have helped sculpt her song and bring it together with more precise rhythm and melody.

“Berago” is a song about her Aunt Kim’s old horse, of the same name, that had to be sold. Berago was a high-energy, Mexican dancing horse with unpredictable tendencies, Alvarez said.

“[My aunt] loved this horse. He was so sweet and proper,” Alvarez said. “He would let you pet him, feed him, brush him, and as soon as you’d try to ride him he’d go berserk and buck you off. He bucked my aunt off three times!”

According to Alvarez, “Berago” is a fun, yet sentimental song that only her and her aunt can understand. They both cherished the horse, and the song reflects the deep bond that was formed.

Alvarez said her father taught her guitar chords at a young age and she began writing songs at age 13.  She said she is used to performing, but still deals with nerves.

“I always get nervous before performances,” Alvarez said. “It depends on my mood and [how] I’m feeling that day, but if I just close my eyes and forget about everything else and just focus on my song, then I’m ok.”

The more she performs, the more she learns, and Alvarez said she is appreciative of all opportunities given to share her original music with people.

“Every time I perform, it challenges me and I learn something,” Alvarez said. “I need all the experience I can get. That’s why I’m doing this.”

According to Chun, the Acoustic Cafe has been around since 2012. Chun said that this performance is not similar to an open mic night, and that all songwriters must audition and be an active student in the ARC music department, like Alvarez. This allows the Acoustic Cafe to maintain consistency and quality. Chun said he wants to achieve a talented, professional music atmosphere at ARC.

Chun also said that the performance is not a part of the music department’s regular concert series and that it is a unique circumstance.

“We’re supporting extra-curricular activities that students here can participate in while they’re taking music department classes,” Chun said. “It’s unique because it was a voluntary creation where I decided to formulate a way to serve the singer/songwriter talent at ARC.”

Music students prepare for Acoustic Cafe

Research analysists Leslie Fung (left) and Natalie Croul (right) from the University of California, San Francisco are seeking to enroll 74 female students in a college health study to collect data for UCSF’s women’s health department, in American River College’s Student Center on March 5, 2019. Fung and Croul will be in the Student Center until March 14, 2019. (Photo by Ariel Caspar)

Photo of Day: March 5, 2019

Let’s talk about food.

Food insecurity has become a hidden crisis among many college campuses, according to the Washington Post in April 2018. Here at American River College, a committee of students, staff and faculty are working hard to provide for these basic hunger needs to students through the Beaver Food Pantry.

According to Brett Sawyer, Student Life Supervisor at ARC, the Beaver Food Pantry was a student-driven idea.

“The idea derived from the Student Senate and they passed a resolution in 2016,” Sawyer said. “The Hunger Resource Committee was very passionate about this idea. They met with the Student Senate and said ‘Let’s do it.’”

The Hunger Resource Committee, made up of ARC staff and faculty, opened the pantry with a desire to give students easy access to free, fresh food; a small step to making a difference for any students on campus quietly dealing with the burden of hunger and food insecurity.

The United States Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active and healthy life. Suffering from food insecurity doesn’t necessarily mean one is suffering from hunger. Food insecurity specifically refers to a lack of financial resources to provide enough food for the amount of individuals in their household.

According to the health and hunger organization Feeding America, most of the time, food insecurity stems from a multitude of overlapping issues such as affordable housing, social isolation, health problems, medical costs and low wages. Food insecurity especially affects college students, since a college student may be balancing both school and work, all while trying to remain financially stable to provide themselves basic needs.

Jessica Beaver, a small business major at ARC, said she has had her fair share of struggles. Beaver said she applauds the pantry for how accepting and positive the atmosphere is every time she goes.

“It’s very open. I don’t feel any discrimination when I walk up,” Beaver said. “I didn’t feel less than. We were all in the same boat.”

Beaver is a mother to a 7-year-old daughter and says the Beaver Food Pantry has been very beneficial to her whole household. According to her daughter, English muffins from the pantry have been a household favorite.

Beaver said the volunteers are always nice and caring, and even gave her recipes. She also said it’s very easy to sign up, and the food is always fresh.

According to Sawyer, a new customer must fill out an intake form from the Sacramento Food Bank, for their records, including basic household information. The Sacramento Food Bank is the Beaver Food Pantry’s main partner and distributor. After the one-time sign up, students may receive food at any time the pantry is open after presenting their student identification number.

Beaver said her greatest appreciation of the pantry is their acknowledgement of the student struggle when it comes to food insecurity. The pantry acknowledges students in ways that other pantries or food banks are failing to do.

“I’m going to work, and I’m going to school. There’s a food pantry at my school. It’s all so convenient,” Beaver said.

Convenience for students is a main concern among the Hunger Resource Committee. According to Sawyer, the committee is working towards providing a permanent location, open three days a week. This will make it easier to receive food donations, it will give them room to store food on campus and will make it more convenient for students to receive food more frequently.

According to Sawyer, the pantry is serving roughly 250 to 450 students in one day. Many of these students are regular customers from households of all sizes.

“There’s no shame in coming to the food pantry,” Sawyer said. “If a student is nervous or insecure about coming, talk to a counselor, staff member or faculty member about getting help. They’re definitely not alone.”

Sawyer said the Beaver Food Pantry is a volunteer effort, which includes students, Universal Engaging Inclusive Transformative Education (UNITE) interns and staff and faculty members.

Arlene Clarke, a faculty member in the English Department, has volunteered for the pantry since last semester. She said volunteering is a fun task and the volunteers try their best to create a positive atmosphere for students who come through.

She also said it’s important for faculty to get involved because it shows they really do care about the issue and want students to be provided for in regards to food.

“The starving college student has become kind of a mythical character. All of us have been there at some point though,” Clarke said. “Sometimes we need help from our friends. There’s no reason not to come by.”

The Beaver Food Pantry is open twice a month. Dates include Feb. 27, Mar. 13 and 27 and Apr. 10 and 24. Students are encouraged to bring their own bags.

Beaver Food Pantry combats food insecurity at ARC

Valentine’s Day is coming soon. For some, Valentine’s Day can be that one holiday out of the year that can either trigger every romantic bone in your body, or cause you to cringe out of annoyance — or maybe even hopelessness.

No matter how you feel about Valentine’s Day, you can still treat it as a day when you do at least one special thing for one important person in your life.

So why not give them a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers? Conveniently enough, you can buy them on campus during a floral sale in the American River College Student Center on Feb. 14, and support the college’s Horticulture Program.

For some, flowers have long been considered a cliche Valentine’s Day gift, but not according to Christen Hollingsworth, a student intern in horticulture at ARC.

“It’s so cool to give a gift to somebody that’s living, and needs caring for,” Hollingsworth said. “Flowers are also something so beautiful that occurs naturally, as opposed to buying jewelry.”

According to Hollingsworth, flowers are such a traditional gift that you can’t go wrong. You could go with more traditional flowers in your arrangement such as roses and peonies, she said, and if you’re feeling more adventurous or your recipient appreciates going outside the box, you could go for softer, lighter, earthy tones like peaches and browns.

Currently the Horticulture Department is getting its flowers from a wholesaler, but Hollingsworth is working with other horticulture students to start growing flowers on campus. Hollingsworth says they are working hard to get flowers into the ground and towards the end of the semester they will have their own small flower farm on campus.

Hollingsworth said she hopes everyone will consider buying their Valentine’s Day flowers at ARC because it is a much more affordable option as opposed to going to other florists.

If you’re looking for a meaningful gift to give someone on Valentine’s Day to show you care, consider stopping by the horticulture floral sale on Feb. 14. They will continue with their floral sales once a week every Thursday. There will be a variety of different, beautiful flowers and greens that are sure to make your recipient feel happy and loved.

Horticulture gives the gift of flowers

The American River College Associated Student Body met on Friday to discuss spring semester funding, and plans for spending.

Last semester, a motion, introduced by Senator Eduardo Anguiano on Jan. 29, was passed to allocate up to $1,000 to be spent on expenses for Club Days and events during the spring 2019 semester. ASB has not determined how funds will be spent at this time.

According to Brett Sawyer, student life supervisor at ARC, ASB also has approved funds last semester to install new water bottle refill stations, and to refurbish the old ones throughout the campus. Locations for the new fixtures are still being decided.

ARC’s Election Day packets will be available on Monday, Feb. 25. All positions are available and ASB encouraged student interest and participation.

Sawyer also said that the Beaver Food Pantry will reopen on Feb. 13, from noon to 3 p.m. and that it will be the last day the pantry will be distributing bags. Students are encouraged to bring their own bags.

During the meeting, ASB received a public comment from a Sacramento State University student, Sandeep Singh, who requested that they work to change the current policy of not acknowledging a transgender person’s affirmed name on roll sheets.

“I remember one student talking about how the district had a way to change their preferred name when they signed up for courses, but teachers were still provided with their legal name and opted to use their legal name in classes,” Singh said. “I think that’s created an environment where they did not feel recognized or welcomed.”

Singh said that colleges need to enforce respecting transgender rights, by calling them by their affirmed name. ASB recognized the comment and expressed interest in proposing changes.

The next ASB meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 22.

Public comment brings affirmed names to ASB’s attention

Food. We need it to survive. We use it to heal and strengthen our bodies. We use it to connect with others and build community. When we’re upset, food becomes a comfort. We spend most of our lives in the kitchen either watching a loved one cook, or cooking ourselves. We try new recipes, and bring back old ones that we learned from our own family traditions. We cling to food not only for survival, but as a source of identity that connects us to our lifestyle and culture.

For Jana Gonsalves, a nutrition professor at American River College, food is an absolute passion. At the College Hour Honor Reads on Tuesday, Gonsalves discussed the 1989 novel, “Like Water for Chocolate,” and how she thinks its symbolism and message pertain to the relationship between food and culture.

Although Gonsalves delivered her speech to a small group of people, she still maintained the poise and energy as if she were delivering her speech to a large audience, by smiling, speaking with an enthusiastic tone, and cracking jokes. The small audience made her speech seem like more of an interactive discussion with much encouraged commentary from the audience. Gonsalves was well prepared with knowledgable explanations of nutrition, foods around the world, and she provided a thorough analysis of the novel. 

She began with the well-known phrase “you are what you eat,” which she explained was physiological. The quality of one’s food intake reflects the quality of one’s health. She then transitioned into a not so well-known phrase, “you eat what you are.”

“Food is really something that helps people identify who they are and where they came from,” Golsaves said.

Gonsalves’ said her family came from the Azores, a group of people that dwelled in the Archipelago Islands off the coast of Portugal. She said she strongly identifies with her Portuguese roots. Gonslaves mentioned several favorite Portuguese dishes that reminded her of distant times when her grandmother used to slave over Portuguese dishes, such as Caldo Verde, the national soup of Portugal.

Gonsalves also discussed that food is a connection for many people to their parents, families, and home countries.

“When people immigrate to a new country, they might start adopting a new way of life,” Gonsalves said. “But one of the last things that they ever let go of, for generations, is their food patterns and habits.”

Because food is such a strong factor in identity, Gonsalves also brought up the point that food is a comfort. Comfort can be found in rich, delicious foods, such as mac and cheese or desserts baked from scratch, but according to Gonsalves, comfort food is defined as those old family recipes that have been passed down through generations. These foods are what define a person’s family and what connects them to important family members.

For Josh, a nutrition major at ARC, food is a major connection to his father. “On my birthday we’d go to this Mexican place,” Josh said. “And so after my dad passed away, I found myself eating there more often. It was a way I could connect with him just being there.” Every week, Josh said he orders a chimichanga at a simple Mexican restaurant, but to him it’s so much more than a meal.

Gonsalves described “Like Water for Chocolate” as all about finding comfort and expressing emotion through food. The phrase refers to the traditional recipe for hot chocolate in Mexican culture, where chocolate is melted in boiling water. The boiling water represents violence, anger and passion.

“Like Water for Chocolate” is set in Mexico during the Mexican Revolution in 1910, and the author, Laura Esquivel wrote in the the style of magical realism, as many of the events in the book are over exaggerated and blur the lines as to what is real and what is fantasy. The book follows Tita, who was born in the kitchen, raised by a cook, and forbidden to marry her true love, since her culture does not allow the youngest daughter to marry. The book is told in a series of recipes. When Tita cooks, she pours all of her emotion into the food and when others eat her food, they feel her emotion. 

When connecting this story to the intersection of food and culture and the book’s profound relevance today, Gonsalves brought up the point that people will always hold on to their food traditions.

“Food patterns can change over time, but there are some things that just don’t change, that are so deeply engrained in us.” Gonsalves said. “Food is identity, and that transcends time.”

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Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton