Sutro Review 2024
The Interruption Issue
Stories of Disruption and Empowerment
Cover Art: Caitlin Darke
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Dear Readers, We're thrilled to present the newest issue of Sutro Review: SF State Journal for Undergraduate Composition. The theme of this year's issue is "The Interruption Issue: Stories of Disruption and Empowerment." This has been a year of particular uncertainty, of injustice and unspeakable violence in the world, and we believe it's more important than ever to tell stories of disruption. These stories remind us that change is possible, that our voices matter and that interruptions--strikes, protests, cease fires and pauses of all kinds--are sometimes necessary. They can lead to change, growth and empowerment. We're grateful to the talented student writers, artists, and editors who contributed to this issue. Their work is a testament to the power of storytelling and the importance of using our voices to make a difference. Thanks to Maricel Santos and the English department at SFSU for being champions of Sutro Review. We’d also like to thank the SFSU Instructionally Related Activities Fund for making Sutro Review possible. We hope you enjoy this issue! |
Editors
Caitlin, Gabriela & Niyara
Faculty Advisor
Caroline Casper
Caitlin, Gabriela & Niyara
Faculty Advisor
Caroline Casper
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Personal Narratives
Ajani De Roock – Yucky Squid
Brian Tran – My Fight with Special Education
Friday Pearl Rena – Broken Pencils
Nathan Yang – Life and Games
Tiberius Lai – My Reflection in Watercolor
Zane Lowe – Sacred Dishes
Essays
Chloe Caneday – Popular Media and Anti-Female Body Hair Rhetoric
Gabriela Pires – A Boiling of the Blood: Tracing Anger and Revenge Through Literature
Mae Perrin – My Thoughts on the American Dream
Melanie Magallanes – 13th Amendment: The Change That Kept Racism in the Prison System
Poetry
Jenny Castanon – To Anyone and Everyone With a Heart
Keri Azevedo – Rancho Rats
Tolu Ogunlesi – Nothing to Declare
Zaina Batniji – Dear Gaza & My Mother Tongue
Photography & Artwork
Gabriela Pires – Misrendered, Think!, La Pena
Grace Scerni – Nervous Breakdown
About the Cover
I drove up to Twin Peaks on a dreary, foggy day filled with anger and grief. The cease-fire protests were just beginning on campus and I felt helpless. We care so much and have so little power. I was stuck on a windy road behind some tourists in one of those little yellow go-carts. I wondered, do they know what's happening? The pain and suffering? The end feels nigh and they're just cruising up the hill at a cool 15 mph. Once I finally reached the top, I took this shot of the Sutro Tower. It felt ominous and foreboding. It felt reflective of my sentiments. When I got back to campus later that day, I joined arms with my schoolmates as our incredible fellow students set up the encampment. I realized I was wrong. We do have power. I was witnessing history in the making. The sun shone through the aforementioned clouds and my anger toward the tourists dissipated. It's ok to feel joy. It's ok to go slow, to even pause sometimes-- as long as we keep going. I am proud to help amplify the voices of these beautiful, powerful students in this journal. Keep going. Keep screaming. FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA. Take care of yourself in the process. The students united will never be defeated. All power to the people-- Caitlin Darke.
I drove up to Twin Peaks on a dreary, foggy day filled with anger and grief. The cease-fire protests were just beginning on campus and I felt helpless. We care so much and have so little power. I was stuck on a windy road behind some tourists in one of those little yellow go-carts. I wondered, do they know what's happening? The pain and suffering? The end feels nigh and they're just cruising up the hill at a cool 15 mph. Once I finally reached the top, I took this shot of the Sutro Tower. It felt ominous and foreboding. It felt reflective of my sentiments. When I got back to campus later that day, I joined arms with my schoolmates as our incredible fellow students set up the encampment. I realized I was wrong. We do have power. I was witnessing history in the making. The sun shone through the aforementioned clouds and my anger toward the tourists dissipated. It's ok to feel joy. It's ok to go slow, to even pause sometimes-- as long as we keep going. I am proud to help amplify the voices of these beautiful, powerful students in this journal. Keep going. Keep screaming. FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA. Take care of yourself in the process. The students united will never be defeated. All power to the people-- Caitlin Darke.
Misrendered (2017) by Gabriela Pires.
Personal Narratives
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Ajani De Roock
Yucky Squid About the Author I am a first-year student studying for a BA in International Relations and wrote this essay for English 104 with Professor Caroline Casper. The assignment was to select an item to write a 'Letter of Recommendation' about, and it honestly took me a long time to think of what to write. I finally settled on something that is a little bit weird, but close to home. I feel like this essay shows a lot about who I am as a person, and I am excited to share it! |
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Brian Tran
My Fight with Special Education About the Author Brian Tran is a first year student studying BIOL concentration in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Science, and wrote this essay for English 104 with Prof. Christy Shick. He was encouraged to submit this essay to Sutro Review because of its relatability. |
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Friday Pearl Rena
Broken Pencils About the Author Friday Pearl Rena is a first-year student majoring in English with a minor in Cinema. When in the process of writing this essay, she drew heavily from her experiences as a first generation college student and woman of color. |
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Nathan Yang
Life and Games About the Author Nathan Yang is a first-year student. He wrote this essay for a "Turning Away from the Explosion" essay assignment in English 104 with Prof. Caroline Casper. When he wrote this narrative about his mother and his love and understanding of video games, he knew his own life held stories waiting to be witnessed by others. |
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Tiberius Lai
My Reflection in Watercolor About the Author Tiberius Lai is a first-year student majoring in computer science. This essay was written for his English 104 class with Prof. Caroline Casper, the assignment being a "Letter of Recommendation" for something unusual and special to the author. A few creative liberties may have been taken. |
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Zane Lowe
Sacred Dishes About the Author Zane Lowe, located in the Bay Area, is a part of the Creative Writing program at San Francisco State University. He is studying to be a writer. |
Nervous Breakdown by Grace Scerni.
Essays
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Chloe Caneday
Popular Media and Anti-Female Body Hair Rhetoric About the Author Chloe Caneday is a 4th year student majoring in English Literature with a minor in Classics. After graduating in the Spring of 2024, she will continue her studies in SFSU’s English Literature graduate program. This paper was originally written for a Women’s Health class, but became a larger research paper upon uncovering several intricacies within this very gendered and widely accepted societal demand in relation to the policing of the female body. |
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Gabriela Pires
A Boiling of the Blood: Tracing Anger and Revenge Through Literature About the Author Gabriela Pires is a senior majoring in English Literature, set to graduate in Fall 2024. Her next step involves pursuing a master's degree at SFSU. Gabriela penned A Boiling of the Blood for her senior seminar, exploring themes of anger, forgiveness, and forgetting through literary history. Additionally, she holds the roles of co-chair for SFSU's Graduate Literature Association and technology editor for this year's Sutro Review. |
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Mae Perrin
My Thoughts on the American Dream About the Author Mae Perrin is a first year transfer student studying towards a psychology degree. Mae wrote this essay, about the Great Migration, for AFRS 400. This paper is an encapsulation of the module on the Great Migration and some material from Crime and Justice 435. |
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Melanie Magallanes
13th Amendment: The Change That Kept Racism in the Prison System About the Author Melanie Magallanes is a first-year student at SFSU majoring in biology with a concentration in physiology with a minor in Latina/Latino studies. She wrote this essay for English 216 with Prof. Jason Jackl, who asked students to write about a social justice issue highlighted in a film. Melanie feels very passionate about this topic and hopes this essay will raise awareness about the injustices within the U.S. prison system. |
THINK! (2017) by Gabriela Pires.
Poetry
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Jenny Castanon
To Everyone and Anyone with a Heart About the Author Jenny Castanon is a first-year student studying BS in Criminal Justice, and wrote this poem as a form of protest. Throughout the poem there are different messages to different audiences; for leaders to reflect on their actions and for the general public to get together to fight for a ceasefire. |
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Keri Azevedo
Rancho Rats About the Author Keri Azevedo is a Creative Writing Major, minoring in Critical Social Thought, and on track to graduate Spring 2025. She was inspired to write this poem for Steve Dickison's CW 301 - Fundamentals of Creative Writing Class in the Fall 2023 term as a part of a multi-week and assignment journey exploring hometown roots. |
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Niyara Gray
Hotel Reality About the Author Niyara Gray is a second-year student pursuing a BS in English Literature, and wrote this poem in February of 2023. As she reflected on the inspiration of this poem, nothing came to mind as it can’t be tied to a particular event. It reads as a quiet reminder that the callousness of life is inescapable and sometimes succumbing to unstoppable forces is the only option. She hopes that this piece will sit deeply with every reader, finding warmth in its honesty, and taking pride in the resilience it reflects in each of them. |
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Zaina Batniji
Dear Gaza & My Mother Tongue About the Author Zaina Batniji is a first-generation Palestinian-American pursuing a Professional Writing and Rhetoric degree. When she's not writing or sleeping, Zaina enjoys going to the beach, listening to music, cooking, and spending time with her loved ones. |
Photography & Artwork
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Grace Scerni
Nervous Breakdown About the Artist Grace Scerni is a fourth-year student about to graduate with a BA in Studio Art. When creating Nervous Breakdown she wanted the viewer to be able to detect the feeling or stress or nerves that people feel everyday in a visual way, which is why the piece emulates the look of a nervous system found within the body. |
La Pena (2017) by Gabriela Pires.
About the Editors
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Caitlin Darke
Caitlin had so much fun last year, she's back again to continue her work as social media editor for the Sutro Review. She is a senior in the Professional Writing & Rhetoric program and her love of words is second only to her love for her two feline children, Lucifer and Zoe. Caitlin is a Bay Area native who is passionate about social justice, uplifting voices, humor, and music. She is over the moon about becoming a San Francisco State University alumnus this May (!!!). |
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Gabriela Pires
Gabriela (she/her) is a part of the English Literature Scholars Program. She is a fierce defender of many maligned genres, and can be found enjoying pithy, character driven stories with her dogs on a good day. Hailing from Brazil, Gabriela has made the US her home for the past decade, honing her skills in baking, wielding sarcasm, and impeccably pronouncing the word 'world'. A passion for literature and its power to comfort and transport has led her to join the Sutro Review team. |
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Niyara Gray
Niyara is a sophomore at SFSU, where she enjoys tormenting her professors with her in-depth analyses of Fyodor Dostoevsky. When she's not busy dusting her comic books or rewatching the film 'Fleabag' for the umpteenth time, she can be found listening to nu-metal or reading some form of occult literature. She refined her analytical and grammatical abilities as a copyeditor for a student-run newspaper in South California, where she utilized her creative vision and literary zeal to bring integrity to journalism. Her desire to communicate realness through literature led her to join the wonderful Sutro Review team. |
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Caroline Casper
Caroline Casper is a Lecturer in the English department teaching Composition courses at SFSU. She also teaches Literature and Creative Writing courses in the Bay Area. In addition to teaching and advising on Sutro Review, she enjoys reading and writing short fiction and exploring the city, where she's often seen chasing her two young daughters, who are always on wheels. |