Opinion – Page 6 – The Connection

College taking steps in right direction to address student poverty

Editorial Staff

October 1, 2016

With the start of a new semester, a new program to help those in need arose on campus and with the help of the Elk Grove Food Bank, students who financially struggle to afford food can now get access to a food pantry at no cost. The food pantry, under the name of “The Hawk Spot”, is stocked with necessities and incre...

College campuses must learn how to deal with sexual assault

September 29, 2016

When Brock Turner received a six-month prison sentence for sexual assault, the light sentence angered many...

We must exercise vote to make change

September 14, 2016

The 2016 presidential election has left many voters discour- aged by the two primary candidates fo...

Liar, Liar Trump you’re fired

Matt Johnson, Editor in Chief

September 1, 2016

The 2016 presidential election could be described as one of the ugliest in recent memory. Between all the controversies, press conferences and speeches, Americans aren’t happy with their options. Hillary Clinton held a 53 percent unfavorable rating and Donald Trump held a 61 percent unfavorable rating amongst registered ...

We need to open up about mental health issues

Editorial Staff

May 5, 2016

For college students, stresses come easy because good grades don’t always. An inability to sort through these stressful feelings can manifest into symptoms of depression, or worse. Even something as simple as venting to a friend can go a long way in relieving tension. But as with fight club, the first rule of mental health ...

Doctors are the only safe providers of birth control

Oksana Barrios, Staff

May 5, 2016

Access to birth control may now be as easy as taking a trip to the pharmacy, skipping a doctor altogether. But obvious benefits are outweighing the unclear costs. California State legislature originally passed the law SB 491, allowing females of all ages to pick up hormonal contraceptives from local pharmacies without having t...

How we reacted to Prince’s death says a lot about how we think

EJ Aguayo, Editor

April 23, 2016

Post Malone said it best: “You gon’ love me when I’m gone.” Early Thursday morning, the world lost an iconic artist. Singer Prince was found dead in his Minneapolis home due to unknown causes, according to CNN. We saw Prince as a musical innovator, a no-holds-barred trendsetter and visionary. Also, his music sold...

Ted Cruz and Donald Trump share more than a debate stage

April 21, 2016

While much of the media attention has focused on Donald Trump, largely seen as the most radical and divisive Republican pre...

Why are we easing up on water conservation efforts again?

EJ Aguayo, Editor

April 20, 2016

As the weather begins to heat up, it’s not uncommon to see car-wash fundraisers with water left running aimlessly, or overflooding lawns as the result of someone forgetting to set a sprinkler timer. Stubbornly wasteful habits were large contributors to the coping difficulties California residents faced when emergency water use ...

Re; “Scholarship opportunites available on campus”

Cameron Crouch, Reader

April 13, 2016

Dear Editor, Many students neglect to take advantage of this great opportunity to help raise funds for their continued education. I am personally a success story of applying and receiving one of CRC’s student scholarships. The entire process took less than an hour and was well worth it! Not only do you receive the monetary...

Re; “Students still need free college tuition”

Jenna Pulanco, Reader

April 13, 2016

Dear Editor, Hey. Thank you for putting out an opinion piece regarding free college tuition. I think that tuition should be free and that education should be free. Hopefully Obama's plan, America’s College Promise proposal, even though it fell through during his administration will be revived during whoever wins the next...

Gender-neutral bathrooms a step forward for gender equality

LeShea Munoz

March 17, 2016

Gender-neutral restrooms are the hot topic right now. Should anyone, regardless of gender, be allowed to use the restroom of their choice, no matter what anatomical figure is welded on the outside of the door? Beginning in January 2016, some universities such as University of California, Davis have begun to phase out single...

Sexually-transmitted diseases increases a dangerous result of dating apps

Erica Trujillo, Staff

March 16, 2016

Sexually transmitted diseases are a growing problem among young adults in particular. STDs are a topic people don’t like talking about because the thought of having one is unnerving. Today, many young adults have the mindset that casual sex is acceptable because everyone else is doing it. Peer pressure is a noteworthy facto...

Whose lives matter?

EJ Aguayo, Editor

March 10, 2016

The U.S. was founded on principles of theft through the genocide of its natives and the stolen labor of African slaves, but its citizens stand on pledges of freedom, liberty and justice for all who choose to settle on its soil. Depending on the skin color of whom you ask, those promises have been maintained. However, we sti...

Society submits to rape culture

Courtney Fong, Staff

March 10, 2016

Rape culture is an environment in which beliefs and practices encourage behaviors leading to rape, normalizing sexual violence. Recently, many have taken a stand to shine light on the issue. At the 88th Annual Oscars Awards Show, Lady Gaga sang “Till it Happens to You” as several survivors of sexual assault, branded w...

Editorial: Colleges should not undermine accomplishments of skill builders

Editorial Staff

March 10, 2016

Community colleges exist to help students further themselves. Whether it’s in pursuit of a degree, transferring to a university or just looking to better themselves for their career, success should be measured in different ways. Currently, students who want to enhance their professional skills for employment, referred to ...

Editorial: Students still need free college tuition

Editorial Staff

March 10, 2016

Most students would jump for joy if free community college tuition actually became a reality. Between rent, living expenses and transportation, many people give up on the idea of going to college, believing that incurring debt from tuition costs isn’t worth it. In January 2015, President Barack Obama unveiled the America’s...

Women in politics are disturbingly objectified

Courtney Fong, Staff

March 6, 2016

Women have played an essential role in American politics from the beginning, both behind-the-scenes as influential wives and directly as policy-making senators and governors. But in 2015, only six of the nation’s 50 governors were women, despite the fact that the first female governor took office nearly 100 years ago, acco...

The Apple that won’t crack

Matt Johnson and EJ Aguayo

February 26, 2016

News of Apple’s non-compliance to the FBI’s court order to bypass encryption of an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters has caused an uproar, sparking arguments of privacy versus limitations of national security. The case reintroduced a growing debate: should personal privacy be sacrificed in order to satis...

Split Decision: Will a higher minimum wage do more harm than good?

EJ Aguayo and Ashley Navarro

February 26, 2016

Pro: EJ Aguayo For many first-timers out in the job market, especially young adults, starting at minimum wage may not seem so bad. The plan is to move up a position or two, savor even the smallest pay raise and to eventually pursue better employment opportunities as that low wage was only supposed to be temporary, jus...

Oscar nominees lack diversity but not talent

Kayleen Carter, Staff

February 17, 2016

The 20 actors nominated this year for an Oscar award are white, which has brought into question the diversity of the awards. About 94 percent out of the nearly 6,000 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, those who determine the winners through votes, are primarily white, according to an article from The E...