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Making Roadrunner History

By Cameron Hertzog

Photo courtesy sportsday.dallasnews.com John Gurzinaki

The ball left his hands, and time seemed to stand still with .2 seconds on the clock. The score was tied; if he scored this basket, they would win. The entire stadium held their breath as they watched the ball drop through the air towards the basket. It was all net. They had won.

Cal State Bakersfield’s Bastile scored the winning 3 point basket, breaking the 54-54 tie with New Mexico State at the WAC tournament in Las Vegas thus sending CSUB to NACC tournament, March Madness, for the first time in history.

The historical game was certainly one for the books. The entire game, fans were on the edge of their seats. Bakersfield seemed to have the leg up in the first half of the game with a comfortable 10 point lead for most of it.

Bakersfield ran into some foul trouble in the second half with their usually calm and collected point guard, Brent Wrap, committing 4 personal fouls. Eventually, he took an elbow to the face and had to sit out the rest of the game with a bandaged eyebrow.

The energy of the Runners seemed to shift after that, and New Mexico with their super star and potential NBA draftee, Pascal Siakam, started to make a comeback. Still the Roadrunners held their ground and a slight lead.

With only 15 seconds left on the clock, New Mexico tied up the game with 2 free throws off a foul committed by CSUB senior, Ahmed. With only 13 seconds left, CSUB called a timeout.

The CSUB team gathered around their coach Rod Barns. Coach Barns himself had made it to the Round of Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament when he attended Old’ Miss. He seemed cool under the pressure.

Coach Barns gave them one last talk before one last play: a play that won them a game, a shot Bastile took, a shot that paid off, a shot that made history.

Coach Barns told the Bakersfield Californian, “I felt he could get the last shot off. They had trouble guarding him once he came off the screen. I thought he’d make it . . .  I didn’t know it would be that kind of shot. But I knew he’d make it.”

This game made history for the Runners. It was the first time CSUB had beaten New Mexico, and the first time they won the WAC tournament sending them to the NCAA tournament. It was all like something out of a movie.

Coach Barns told the Bakersfield Californian that during the timeout, “I told our players, ‘We’re going to the Big Dance.’”

And that they are.

Where the Horses Come First

Bit-O-Heaven Ranch: Where the Horses Come First

By: Ellie Hilliard

Since 1997 Tracy Totton-Martin has made it her life’s mission to provide a safe, loving, and forever home for over one hundred rescue horses throughout the San Joaquin Valley. As an equestrian with over fifty years of experience, Totton-Martin has put her heart, soul, and living into the development and upkeep of Bit-O-Heaven Ranch. It is because of her commitment and passion that Bit-O-Heaven has been able to continuously function as a successful, non-profit equine rescue.

Tracy Totton-Martin and rescue horse Chief

Over the past twenty years of the ranch’s operation, countless numbers of abandoned, abused, starved, and neglected horses have been brought to Bit-O-Heaven to receive a last chance at a contented life. The horses are saved, loved, and given a purpose for the remainder of their existences. Irish Rose is just one example of how Tracy Totton-Martin, Bit-O-Heaven, and its numerous volunteers are able to make a difference in the lives of rescue horses. Found abandoned and nearly starved to death, former racehorse, Irish Rose, was taken in by Bit-O-Heaven and completely rehabilitated. She currently resides at Bit-O-Heaven along with thirty-three other rescue horses.

Irish Rose before

Irish Rose after

Unfortunatley Irish Rose is just one of the many horses, needing rescuing and rehabilitation, that happened to be found and taken in by Bit-O-Heaven Ranch. Without the admirable actions of Tracy-Totton Martin and the countless volunteers at Bit-O-Heaven Ranch over a hundred horses would never have been rescued from abandonment, neglect, and abuse. As a non-profit, Bit-O-Heaven relies on contributions through donations and volunteerism. For more information regarding Bit-O-Heaven Ranch, check out their website at www.bit-o-heavenranchinc.org.

Turning Point USA

By Alberto Muro

Two representatives from Turning Point USA set up their booth outside the Taft College library and asked students if they think “big government sucks.”

Founded in June 2012 by Charlie Kirk, the goal of Turning Point USA is to “educate students about the benefits of limiting the size of government and promote a free market.”

Part of a student movement, Turning Point USA is an opportunity for young conservatives to come together and share ideas.

Turning Point USA chapters began opening throughout campuses including a recent one established here at Taft College with Raegen Sorensena appointed as the group’s president.

With the 2016 election approaching, Turning Point USA is one of many student based political organizations aimed at enlightening students in search of a political affiliation.

How to Be Single: Movie Review

By Sandra Merino

What is the true meaning of being single? Some people may say loneliness. However that’s not the case.

Being single means you’re just having a good time in figuring out who you really are. It’s the time where you’re trying to make yourself happy and you’re enjoying the little things in life that really matter.

Being single means a person is only trying to please themselves and trying to figure out what they really want in life. If you want a better description of being single then How to Be Single is the movie for you.

The film How to Be Single tells the life of four very different gals. The film stars Dakota Johnson as Alice, Rebel Wilson as Robin, Leslie Mann as Meg, and Alisson Brie as Lucy. All four of them have different goals they want in life; however, they somehow have something in common: they’re all single. This film is rated R. This film has great humor.

Lucy is portrayed by Dakota Johnson who leaves her partner and tries to start a new life but somehow she keeps returning to him. Until one day, he breaks her heart, and she finds out who she really is.

Robin plays by Rebel Wilson is the complete opposite. She knows who she is, and she doesn’t care what anybody thinks about her. Robin is the party girl who is just looking to have a great time.

Now, Meg which is Lucy’s older sister is a workaholic. Meg is a doctor. She is always busy, and she is eager to start a family. Meg really wants a baby but she hasn’t found the right guy. Until one day, she thinks about doing artificial examination. Meg’s wish comes true, and she becomes pregnant.

Lucy really wants a husband so she searches for the one. She has her life planned out which she tends to scare men away because she comes off as very strong. Then Lucy realizes that she doesn’t have to keep trying to find the one. Instead, she focuses on herself. She realizes that she doesn’t have to keep searching anymore because when the time is right a man will come in her life.

At the very end, these ladies learned a very important lesson. They learned that they should not dwell on the past and just live their lives. They learn that they should enjoy the moment while it lasts. They learn that they should enjoy the time they have to themselves because one day that time will end.

This film is great. I definitely give it a thumbs up. I would encourage people to go see this film especially women because they can relate to these four women.  The challenges they face in this movie are very relatable .What they go through in this film is what some women are going through in their everyday lives.

Financial Aid Day

Cougars Lose Series Against Archrival West Hills

By Nick Kawano

On Friday, Taft College hosted the series rubber match against West Hills of Coalinga. Robby Brewster took the loss conceding 4 earned runs on 8 hits while striking out 6. Seth Sorensen kept the Cougars close getting his team out of a bases loaded, no out jam in the eighth and cruising through the ninth unscathed. 

Taft had a fair amount of hits but could only put up 4 runs. 

Richard Ortiz led the way hammering 4 hits in 5 at bats. Ortiz had 3 singles and a 2-run home run. 

Luke Lubiniecki, Brendan Halstrom, and Ricky Sottile each had 2 hits apiece. Lubiniecki and Halstrom also collected an RBI. 

The Taft Cougars will look for conference redemption next week against Reedley who is currently in first place. 

Meet Renae Ginther

By Ashley Renteria

Renae Ginther has recently been hired at Taft College as a full-time math tutor after having previously been a part-time Supplemental Instructor specializing in math. Renae is from Taft and graduated from Taft Union High School and Taft College, from where she transferred to CSU Bakersfield to obtain her bachelor’s degree in art along with a single subject credential in art.

Now that Renae is a full-time math tutor instead of a part time SI, she says the only difference in the amount of hours she works and all the extra time she has to dedicate to students who need her help. When asked what specifically is her favorite part of being a math tutor, she responded, “My favorite part is that I have enough time to accomplish what is expected of me”.

Many of students have probably received help from Renae or have seen her around the library or on campus. What many students do not know is that Renae used to be on the cheer leading team for Taft College in 1993.

Renae Ginther (right) with her cousin Missy Paine Gibson in 1993

Renae while she attended TC pictured with Craig Graupman, the nephew of Gary Graupman TC journalism and speech professor

Not only was Renae on the TC cheerleading squad, but she also used to model in her spare time. When she wasn’t raising her eldest daughter Madison, she was modeling in Los Angeles and New York. However, she found and made a living in education rather than modeling.

Even though she no longer models, Renae still loves art along with gardening, animals, doing home projects, and spending time with her family. She has a daughter Madison who is 24, a son Connor who is 20 and is an active duty US Marine, a son Aiden who is 11, and a granddaughter Audrey who is 5.

Renae with her daughter, granddaughter, and two sons at Connor’s wedding

You can find Renae in the library at her desk or in the learning center almost all day Monday and Friday;she is available for help or even just to chat about her interesting, surprising life.

To Vote or Not to Vote, That Is the Question

By Etelvina Castillo

The most talked about event in the media and among people is the presidential election of 2016.

We have all at least heard something about this year’s election, whether it is about the controversial Donald Trump and his hair or Hilary Clinton, who is running to be the first female president of the United States.

The media has managed to make 2016’s presidential election top news.

Some of Taft College’s students are on board with this year’s presidential election and this is what they had to say.

Jackie Flores said she favors Hilary Clinton. What Flores wants the next president to focus on is creating more jobs.

Kennedy and Raegan Sorensen both agreed that the run for the presidency is intense.

On the other hand, some students are not so interested in who is running for the presidency or participating by voting in the election.

Lauren Pena said the only thing she hears about related to the election is bad talk about Donald Trump and good comments about Hilary Clinton. But she has no interest in voting, Pena said.

Student Yvonne Rivera, said she has no interest in voting because “the presidential election is a joke.”

Some students who preferred to remain anonymous said things such as, “I feel like my vote doesn’t matter” and “I’ve never voted so I don’t think I will this year either.”

The fact is that as a citizen of the United States not only is voting a right but it is also a privilege and it should be your responsibility to vote in this year’s presidential election.

Who you vote for this November will have an impact in your daily life and most importantly in your future. It is important that our voices are heard, and that on election day, we make a difference for our country and for future generations.

You should make sure you do your research about the presidential candidates and know who you will be voting for this November. Don’t let others make the choice for you, vote. 

If you are a resident of California, a United States citizen, 18 or older and don’t have a criminal record, you are eligible to vote in the California primary in June and the general election in November. All you have to do is be registered.

If not yet registered to vote, you may do so without even leaving your house. You can register by mail or online. The following websites will give you more information on registering to vote: http://www.canivote.org/pdfs/NVRA_Updated_Version.pdf, http://www.vote411.org/register#.VUpZS_lVgSU, http://www.rockthevote.com/rtv_register.html.

Nominations Open for Hall of Fame Class