Piper Haitsuka

Piper Haitsuka, staff writer

Piper Haitsuka is an investigative news beat writer for The State Hornet. She joined The State Hornet in spring 2020 as an arts and entertainment features beat writer. Piper is from the Big Island of Hawaii and loves to incorporate photography into her work.

All content by Piper Haitsuka

CRIME MAP: Police arrest driver with stolen gun on campus

Sac State crime from Nov. 15-28

Piper Haitsuka
December 3, 2020

Sac State’s police arrest driver with stolen gun on campus. Three other non-violent crimes took place on campus over the last two weeks.

President Nelsen testifies about COVID-19 impacts on Sac State to California State Assembly

Layoffs across CSU system and ‘digital divide’ discussed

Piper Haitsuka
November 12, 2020

Sac State President Robert Nelsen said he is making sure everyone has the resources to move forward with their higher education during COVID-19 while testifying in front of the California State Assembly’s Higher Education and Budget committees Thursday.

Sac State professors discuss misinformation in the 2020 election

‘The actual president of the United States is engaging in this disinformation’

Michael Pacheco and Piper Haitsuka
October 30, 2020

Sac State’s Friends of the Library hosted a webinar led by political science professors to help with making sense of the 2020 election on Zoom.

Friends remember the life of Sac State grad Mulwa James Sumbi

‘He was the joy of Sac State’

Michael Pacheco and Piper Haitsuka
September 22, 2020

Mulwa James Sumbi’s friends are all able to recount similar experiences with him: “He had a way to become friends with anyone and make everyone feel like they could open up to him,” childhood...

How Sac State arts students are transitioning to online classes

Many struggle with virtual arts classes

Piper Haitsuka, Dylan McNeill, and
May 6, 2020

Many Sacramento State arts students have reported difficulty transitioning from in-person to online classes due to California’s shelter-at-home order. Sac State senior Maia Pheng is working on getting...

Starbucks voted ‘Best Coffee Shop’ in 2020 Best of Sac State poll

Does Starbucks have the best drinks on campus?

Piper Haitsuka and Brooke Uhlenhop
May 4, 2020

To no one's surprise, Starbucks was voted the “Best Coffee Shop” on Sacramento State’s campus in The State Hornet’s annual Best of Sac State poll. Although campus eateries closed in March...

‘She Kills Monsters’ voted ‘Best Campus Performance’

2019 drama production explores the world of Dungeons and Dragons

Piper Haitsuka
May 4, 2020

Themes of acceptance and queer visibility are shown through “She Kills Monsters,” a drama production based on the game Dungeons and Dragons that ran from Oct. 23 to Nov. 3, 2019 at Sacramento State’s...

Sacramento arts and entertainment businesses adapt to virtual formats

B Street Theatre, Crocker Art Museum offer free entertainment

Olivia Laroa and Piper Haitsuka
April 28, 2020

Two Sacramento arts businesses, B Street Theatre and Crocker Art Museum, made the switch to online events and classes due to statewide orders on March 16 given by CA Gov. Gavin Newsom to close all non-essential...

Q&A: Bobby Brackins’s new song unintentionally reminds people to stay clean

‘Wash My Hands’ features Marc E. Bassy, Collett and August 08

Piper Haitsuka
April 11, 2020

Grammy-nominated artist and Bay Area native Bobby Brackins, who also performs under Lata Harbor, released a new song called “Wash My Hands” featuring Marc E. Bassy, Collett and August 08 last month Since...

Sac State’s annual Out of the Darkness Campus Walk goes virtual

Participants aim to promote suicide awareness and prevention

Piper Haitsuka
April 10, 2020

Sacramento State’s ninth annual Out of the Darkness Campus Walk to promote suicide awareness and prevention took place virtually Thursday, using social media platforms as a replacement for an in-person...

‘Gender-blind’ Romeo & Juliet play canceled amid coronavirus concerns

All theatre productions cancelled for the semester

Piper Haitsuka and Laura Tang
March 19, 2020

Sacramento State’s production of “Romeo and Juliet” was intended to break gender boundaries in a unique rendition of the popular play by William Shakespeare, but it was cancelled in an effort to...

Sac State’s ‘A Deeper Look’ art gallery showcases underwater perspective on adversity

Kadema Hall’s R.W. Witt gallery displays a new student’s work weekly

Piper Haitsuka
March 2, 2020

"A Deeper Look" by Sacramento State student Carmen Tham will be on display in the Raymond Woodrow and Joyce Witt gallery in Kadema Hall Monday through Friday. Exploring themes of happiness and beauty...

Focused on ending gender-based violence, ‘A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer’ returns to Sac State

Performance set for Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.

Piper Haitsuka
February 24, 2020

“A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer” will return to Sacramento State for the second year in a row Thursday. Coordinated by Sac State's UNIQUE Programs and The Women’s Resource Center,...

‘Neon and Nostalgia’ lights up as first University Union Gallery exhibition of 2020

Photographer René Domingo showcases Sacramento’s vintage attractions

Piper Haitsuka and Tara Gnewikow
January 31, 2020

The University Union Gallery at Sacramento State held the opening reception for “Neon and Nostalgia” by photographer René Domingo on Thursday. The exhibition is the first one of the spring...

Load More Stories