Every November, along with Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, there is another special day that is meaningful to those that care about spending time with those they care about and giving back to the community. While Black Friday and Cyber Monday are more so considered “consumer holidays”, Giving Tuesday is a special day that lands every Tuesday after Thanksgiving. This year, Giving Tuesday fell on Nov. 30, and it is a national movement in which a number of international and national nonprofits participate to raise funds for their different organizations. This global day of giving started back in 2012, and has since generated more than 1.9 billion dollars for nonprofits all over the United States.

Many first-generation students experience anxiety and fear while attending college for the first time. Being the first in the family to set foot in a new environment can be nerve-wracking for most, especially when the first instance of the campus that they see comes from brochures or online tours. In honor of November being first-generation month, SSU screened a film, "First Generation", presented by Sonoma State TRIO Pre-Collegiate Programs and Student Support Services.

With registration for Spring 2022 beginning this week, students are often overwhelmed with navigating the proper classes to add to their cart. With all of the General Ed and major courses, labs, and upper divisions, it can definitely be a challenge for all students. However, the Social Sciences department is offering a social justice course for students, titled SSCI 320, optimized for students who hope to make a change in the future.

Associated Students Productions (ASP) is Sonoma State's biggest student-led group on campus, and they provide a ton of programming to enhance the college experience for all students. In the upcoming weeks of November, ASP will be hosting a number of social events for students, as well as community service opportunities.

This past week, Sonoma State partnered with other on-campus organizations to host a number of events for Alcohol Awareness Week. These events were presented by the SSU Alcohol and Other Drug Committee, and were held to inform students of the dangers and realities of alcohol and drug abuse. The committee also aimed to give students safer alternatives, and provided many fun and interactive events throughout the week.

The Residential Housing Association is a student-led organization on campus at SSU, focused on providing opportunities for residents to engage with the campus community, while encouraging a more pleasant residential life. RHA represents the students on campus and advocates for their residential needs, and there is currently an open application for students that would like to be a part of RHA. Anyone can join whether they are a first or fourth-year student, but it is helpful if the student resides on campus.

This past Fri., Oct. 15, the Dance, Music, Theater and Arts department held a free recital in honor of their supporters and donors. The event showcased the different pitches that these Seawolves could reach, as well as the gracefulness of their dancing, the realism in their acting, and the great musical talents of all of the participants.

Sonoma State is home to a multitude of clubs ranging from Academic, Greek life, Faith/Spirituality, Gaming, Music, Identity, Sports, and more. Among those is the Sonoma State University Black Student Union. SSU’s BSU aims to create a safe space for those of Pan-African Diaspora. The club also focuses on empowering, supporting, and achieving higher education.

To students, Rohnert Park is where they make some of their most iconic memories. It is a student's first time away from home, or even the first time buying their own groceries. It is all an exciting experience as they begin the new chapter of their adult lives. But, some of the residents of the friendly city don’t view the college population with the same excitement. Some complain of loud parties, excessive drinking, and feeling disrespected.