The final meeting of the year for the Associated Students was filled with laughter on Friday as the student leaders reflected on the hard work of the past year, just before the new senate was sworn in.

“My heart and prayers go out to everyone who was hurt by the earthquake,” said sophomore history major Kat Cahill. “It makes me wonder what will happen if one shakes here. It seems like we’re always told, ‘you’re next,’ after destructive earthquakes like this one.”

Sonoma State University Police Services  reported on Monday a suspect has been arrested in the recent burglaries on campus. The suspect, Joshua Travers, 32, of Santa Rosa, was booked in Sonoma County Jail on felony and misdemeanor charges. During the arrest, authorities also found numerous items from prior burglaries during the planned police operation.

Rolling Stone magazine issued an apology earlier this month for publishing a false report in which a student at the University of Virginia claimed she was gang raped by members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. After further investigation on this case, it was found the article was a journalistic failure. The alleged victim appeared unreliable, yet the reporter and editors failed to verify the details, resulting in a national controversy. 

“Beyond all that sort of technical information, what is equally as important is love, compassion [and] empathy. Can you project that into the world? Is that something we do? Could you feel love from across the room from somebody? I think we can. I think we can project our love across the country. I think we could project our love across the world if it’s strong enough. So, start practicing; practice a way of love and harmonizing.”

Associated Students presidential Candidates, Brandon Mercer and Nicole Dominique, faced off in their first official debate in Ballroom B of the Student Center on March 3.

Rent costs in Sonoma County have reached high levels, increasing 30 percent in the last three years alone.

The seven-year hiatus of the women’s track and field team at Sonoma State University is finally over.

Junior global studies major and member of the returning women’s track and field team, Maria Hurtado is looking forward to the team’s upcoming race on Saturday.

Sonoma State University will join more than 1,500 other universities nationwide to enforce a smoking ban throughout the entire campus on July 1. The policy took a transitional effect on Feb. 1 and smoking is currently only allowed in designated parking lots across campus.