‘Finish in Four’ turns 1: Has it been effective?

This article was originally published on StateHornet.com on Sept. 13, 2017. Featured photo was by Nicole Fowler for The State Hornet. I created the infographic below by using Canva. Sacramento State President Robert Nelsen said in his fall address Aug. 24 that the Finish in Four initiative has positively affected the university’s graduation rates despite the program …

Pelosi, Matsui, local officials call for Dream Act passage at Sac State conference

This article was originally published on StateHornet.com on Sept. 19, 2017. Claire Morgan received co-byline, with additional reporting by Will Moon. All photos were by Matthew Nobert. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Congresswoman Doris Matsui joined a group of local legislators and Sacramento State leaders for a news conference Monday urging Congress to pass the …

More power for electric vehicles?

This article was originally published on CapitolWeekly.net on Oct. 4, 2017. It may soon become a lot easier for California drivers to get plugged in. Legislation on Gov. Brown’s desk would allow city officials and private property owners to install charging stations for electric vehicles on curbsides of public streets. Brown has until Oct. 15 …

Sac State alum’s art in new Golden 1 Center inspired by local rivers

This article was originally published on StateHornet.com on Oct. 19, 2016. When it was announced in early 2015 that an $8 million sculpture called “Coloring Book” by renowned artist Jeff Koons would be the centerpiece of downtown Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center, the community was shocked that it wasn’t a piece commissioned by one of the …

Student-athletes, expert discuss LGBT issues faced in athletics

This article was originally published on StateHornet.com on April 13, 2017. When Abby Wambach leapt over the crowd to kiss her wife after winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup against Japan in 2015, the world was treated to a moment rarely seen in athletics. For some fans, the now-retired U.S. soccer star’s high-profile victory kiss …

Sac State’s public art: A history lesson

This article was originally published on my Medium profile on Dec. 13, 2016. Featured photo by Michael Zhang. There’s a room at a far end corner of the University Library Gallery at Sacramento State that not many people tend to take notice. Its door was painted white — so white that a blink of an eye can lead you …

MusicLandria: A library drumming to its own beat

Couple operates nonprofit that rents out musical instruments

Sacramento Archives Crawl will celebrate the city’s historic oddities

This article was originally published on SactownMag.com on Oct. 3, 2017. Feature photo courtesy of Center for Sacramento History. In honor of National Archives Month, four local institutions will display rare artifacts and treasures from their collections for the seventh annual Sacramento Archives Crawl on Oct. 7. During the free event, the California State Archives, …

Specialty Coffee Week returns for its fourth year with a bevy of buzzy events

This article was originally published on SactownMag.com on Oct. 11, 2017. Featured photo courtesy of Sacramento Specialty Coffee Week. Get your buzz on from Oct. 15-21 as the fourth annual Specialty Coffee Week hits the capital city for seven caffeinated days of events, including brewing classes and a boozy coffee drink competition. Organizer Edie Baker, …

Kick off the holiday season at one of these 11 festive tree-lighting ceremonies

This article was originally published on SactownMag.com on Nov. 22, 2017. Not feeling the holiday spirit just yet? There's nothing like a good old-fashioned tree lighting ceremony and copious amounts of marshmallow-topped liquid chocolate to warm the cold hearts of even the sourest Scrooges. Behold our list of 11 of the region's most spirited celebrations. Old Sacramento Nov. 22 On …

MLK at Sac State: 50 years later

This article was originally published on StateHornet.com on Oct. 11, 2017. Ashley Nanfria wrote the story. Featured photo courtesy of The State Hornet. I created the timeline. (Go to StateHornet.com/MLK50CSUS for more related stories) Click here for timeline. On Oct. 16, 1967, more than 7,000 people gathered on the grass field at Sacramento State’s Hornet …

PRIDE Center celebrates 10th anniversary on campus

This article was originally published on StateHornet.com on April 12, 2017. It was written by John Ferrannini. Featured photo by Matthew Nobert. I created the timeline. Click here for the timeline. Of course, LGBT students have been attending Sacramento State since its inception. Yet it was only about 10 years ago that the school provided …

MAP: Students find campus hideaways to take catnaps

This article was originally published on StateHornet.com on May 15, 2017. It was written by Sharlene Phou. I produced the map included. Featured photo by Joel Boland. (Follow the map here for specific locations) As the semester begins to wind down, students’ stress levels heighten. During this time of the year, students tend to be …

Hundreds gather for Sac State eclipse viewing party

This story was originally published on StateHornet.com on Aug. 21, 2017. Hundreds of people gathered on the American River levee across Sacramento State's Hornet Bookstore for a solar eclipse viewing party Monday. The event, which started at 9 a.m. and ended around 10:30 a.m., was hosted by physics professor Rodolfo Barniol Duran and the physics …

Meet the entrepreneurs: Sacramento State students build own empires

This video was originally published on The State Hornet's official YouTube channel.

CSU to eliminate remedial courses, aims graduation rates increase

This article was originally published on StateHornet.com on Aug. 30, 2017. Featured photo was by Nicole Fowler for The State Hornet. I created the infographic below by using Infogram. The California State University system plans to eliminate all math and English placement exams along with remedial courses by fall 2018 in an executive order issued …