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APRIL 2018
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Citrus gleaner Chandra Mudiyanselage makes her daily rounds collecting recycles while her daughter stays in class PAGE 14
contents
APRIL 2018 Issue 1
CULTURE 10 A helping hound: Staff writer Alana Daly shares her experience having a service dog 22 Goodbye to comforting media: Fans of the celebrity men accused of sexual misconduct no longer feel ethically empowered to consumer their content 24 Feed me see more: Money hungry game developers are trapping gamers in with early access and pre-orders
OPINION 05 Dating on a budget: Staff writer Matthew Smith talks talking your date to the Huntington Library 06 Deal breakers: A set of vignettes that highlight staff writer Xela Quitanas dating deal breakers 08 Wake up call: Staff writer Matthew Smith kicked his unhealthy drinking habit after a family crisis 28 Food review: Waffa’s Kitchen is a mediterranean oasis that breaks from neighboring standard food businesses
FEATURE 14 Disposable income: Chandra Mudiyanselage walks around collecting recyclables while her daughter is in class all day
14 disposable income
CHANDRA USUALLY ARRIVES AT 8 A.M. WITH HER DAUGHTER. SHE READIES HERSELF FOR A DAY OF GLEANING AHEAD OF HER AS NIRANJALA HEADS TO THE LIBRARY TO PREPARE FOR HER FIRST MORNING CLASS...
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APRIL 2018 ISSUE 1 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/ ART DIRECTOR Darius Johari MANAGING EDITOR Bianca Valenzuela SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Destiny Dominguez COPY EDITOR Alana Daly STAFF WRITERS Xela Quintana Matthew Smith Sarosh Zuberi CONTRIBUTORS Daniel Escamilla Jacqueline Torres Charity Wang ADVISER Margaret O’Neil Logos is produced by communications students and is distributed every semester. Views expressed herein do not represent those of the adviser, faculty, administration, Associated Students of Citrus College or the Citrus Community College Board of Trustees. © 2018 Logos Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.
0 logos@ccclarion.com f /logosmagazine T @_logosmagazine
Cover Image Yachi Rivas Photo by: Connor Phillips
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Tel 626.914.8586 Logos Magazine 1000 W. Foothill Blvd VA 236 Glendora, CA 91741 Printed By American Foothill Publishing 10009 Commerce Ave Tujunga, CA 91042
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letter from the editor
Welcome everyone to Logos Magazine. For those who do not know me, I am the Darius Johari and I am the editor-in-chief for spring 2018. This is my fourth semester working with Logos Magazine and my third and final semester serving as editor-in-chief. Logos is still fairly new as it was brought back in 2016 from a sevenyear hiatus after budget cuts back in 2009. Logos Magazine basically started from scratch after its recover but as a student publication, Logos has been a part of Citrus College since the ‘70s. I remember first starting out as a staff writer and junior art director when the magazine made its successful comeback. I have had great pleasure and honor working with the student publications at Citrus College. My time serving with the student publications at this campus is coming to an end, but my journey is just beginning as I still have lots to learn in the field of journalism. This semester we took the approach as publishing two issues, one digital and one final “best of” print issue. We are always looking for ways to expand and try new things during production. This issue we tackled some fun and interesting topics that I believe many students can relate to like how from how to date on a low budget to talking about dating deal breakers and video games. Other content inside includes a food review on a local Mediterranean restaurant down the street from citrus and a guide on service dogs. For our feature section, we meet with Chandra Mudiyanselage. She is well-recognized as the day-gleaner who collects students forgotten recyclables, but her story is more than that, as it tells of an unbreakable connection with her daughter and the hustle of trying to make a living in the U.S.
Our next issue to come will be our print issue which will include some work from this issue and new content that we think are our students would be interested in hearing. In the future, we hope to reach out to other departments for collaborative work. Logos Magazine is about campus, culture and lifestyle and with everyone on board we could truly make Logos a student publication that everyone can appreciate. Every student and faculty member has a story to tell and our goal at Logos Magazine is to be the storytellers through words, art and photography. This is only the beginning as the saga will continue for many years to come. I appreciate the hard work and dedication my staff, the photography contributors and my advisers have put into making this magazine a reality. Thank you to all of the administration and thank you to Citrus College for believing in the communications department. Yours truly,
Darius Johari Editor-in-Chief djohari@ccclarion.com
opinion
Dating on a Budget It is no secret that most students do not have the disposable income for lavish dates.
Due to this lack of funds, many spend their date nights with old reliable: Netflix. Fear not fellow students, there’s hope. Dating is about having fun and getting to know each other. An excellent location to take your date would be the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens as it offers about a dozen varying landscapes all within a 120 acre spread, from tropical jungle themed sections to the opulent rose garden. Upon entrance, visitors are greeted warmly by staff, whom are both knowledgeable and friendly. After collecting an entry wristband notice several paths leading in various directions. Each path guides the guest to a separate part of the gardens yet they all converge throughout the grounds. The path to the right will lead guests to the Conservatory, a greenhouse that is kept humid to maintain ideal temperature for the verdure. It is host to a multitude of tropical plants like cacao trees and orchids. After leaving the Conservatory, one of the most captivating yet laborious walks is to the Japanese Gardens. The iconic garden offers various plants and trees local to Japan, such as azaleas and Japanese cherry blossoms, as well as stunning depictions of traditional Japanese architecture, like the moon bridge and the Japanese House. This garden leads to the bonsai collection and the zen court which includes ancient viewing stones known as suiseki and native landscapes that once evolved in traditional temple gardens. The garden was heavily inspired by Japanese culture and imbues the guest with a peaceful state of mind. There is an expansive lawn where peacocks and geese gather. Here, visitors can relax, read, play catch or even sunbathe. The library contains a unique experience for the philomath in your life, with exhibits on astronomy, literature and art. Although the botanical garden is a lengthy walk, there are many key locations for visitors to simply sit and enjoy the day together. If you make plans in advance, the first Thursday of every month is free. To obtain a free ticket you must visit www.huntington.org and reserve a spot. Pack a lunch and take in the day! L
The moon bridge in the Japanese Gardens at the Huntington Botanical Gardens, San Marino, CA. The water underneath is home to many species of fish, including giant koi.
Estimated Costs
Gas Price from Citrus College: $5.00 Student tickets: $23 per ticket with Student ID, or free on the first Thursday of every month Total Cost for 2: $5-$50
We hope you enjoy our first suggestion. Submit your own! Tweet us @logosmag or Visit http://www.logosmagazinecc.com to stay tuned for the next installment of: Dating on a Budget. TEXT & PHOTOS BY: MATTHEW SMITH
Lavender plants swaying with the breeze on May 17, 2017, at the Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino, CA.
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: n o i n i p O
As a single person staff writer Xela Quintana has had the pleasure and more often displeasure of trying to foster romantic relationships. TEXT & PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY: XELA QUINTANA
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PICK UP LINES
top using them whether ironic, as a joke, with complicit intent, just stop using them. They are tacky, unoriginal, and incredibly dull. As soon as I receive a pick up line I am cancelling the app while I scoff and roll my eyes to the gods of mediocrity and monotony. The amount of times I have received an ironically sent pick up line followed by a “lmao” is maddening. I am not “lmao”-ing.
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KEPT BIRDS
s soon as I walked in, one, two, five. Five birds is too many birds. Two birds is one too many birds but she had five. She would incessantly sing with those whole five birds and those beautiful aggravatingly irksome nonsensically chattering and chittering birds were eternal in the sound they produced. She ate it up. She adored their endless fluttering and chirping over any movement, sound, stillness, anything at all. She loved those five birds so dearly and I hated those five birds so ardently.
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BREATHING TOO LOUD
t was all night. It was not quite a snore. I can deal with snoring. A good kick in the middle of the night will wake a snorer long enough for me to sneak into a deep sleep during the intermission of the worst white noise a human can unwittingly make. It really was only loud when it was quiet. Never noticed it until it was just us and her fast, shallow, labored breathing.
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BAD DREAMS
wake up early. She did not. I decided to make breakfast. She rose as I finished preparing said breakfast. I am immediately questioned as to where I was when she was having a bad dream. She called for me, why didn’t I answer? She said my name several times what had happened. Yes, exactly, no credit for making her breakfast. Absolutely, no gratitude for cooking the quietest breakfast in the world to allow her to sleep, which by the way was very late. As if I did not have any plans for the rest of my day which I did not but she didn’t know that. It was not a complicated meal. I did not labour over popped poached eggs or the ratio between wet to dry ingredients for the full fluff of pancakes. It was a vegetarian version, in order to accommodate her dietary restrictions, of a chilaquiles recipe I had perfected from the age of fourteen. It is a meal I can and do cook while half asleep.
I cooked that breakfast slowly too, so she would catch me in the act in what I thought was a very romantic gesture but she just kept right on sleeping. And once she rose I was in trouble, because a grown woman had a bad dream.
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LITTER BUG
am in her car. It is the Normandy beach landings equivalent of garbage. She apologizes for the debris of old fries from late night McDonald’s runs, layers of empty water bottles, old assignments from a school she did not even attend anymore. Honestly, I don’t really care. It is Southern California and most people spend more time in their cars than in their actual homes, so there is an expectation that cars are going to get disorganized quickly. I understand that it is a small space, whatever. She parks at our final destination and she starts to clean her car. Too little too late but it is endearing that she is trying. I really did not mind the mess, it was how she dealt with it that my fondness of her started to diminish. Her process of cleaning her car was to just push the trash out of the car. Letting the limitless supply of dated copies of Cosmo, receipts and crumbs dusting every horizontal surface of her car hit the ground instead of taking it all to an actual trash can. There was one available. Okay, so it was not an arm’s distance away but with our combined efforts it would have taken two trips at most to get the trash in its appropriate vessel. She just swipes it out straight onto the concrete. Her car was surrounded by a grimace inducing halo of months long accumulation of crap. I offer to help to avoid the littering of public spaces and she brushes me off in some valiant effort of chivalry, which was a disorienting gesture because the real chivalrous maneuver would have been to have a clean car from the outset. In that moment I am in conflict. I do not want to nag anyone especially a potential romantic partner. I am struggling between shaming her car cleaning habit versus trying to be a charming date that finds the whole situation terribly funny. But as adult beings living on a slowly dying planet of our own making, other adults should not have to remind their peers that littering is unacceptable. It is destructive to an environment that is already in a bad way and ill-mannered first date etiquette. L
TWEET US @LOGOSMAG WITH YOUR DEALBREAKER STORIES! APRIL 2018 | LOGOS | 7
OPINION: OPINION:
L L A C P KE U P CALL A W OPINION: AKE U W opinion
WAKE UP CALL
hew tt a M r e t i r w ff Sta ickedtehrisMatthew h kaff SmitSt wrinking y dri kicked his unhealthSm ithamily af habit auftnehrea ng drinkiMatthew lthywriter Staff crisitis.after a family hab Smith kicked his crisis. drinking unhealthy habit after a family crisis.
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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY: DARIUS JOHARI TEXT BY: MATTHEW SMITH
“ I’m a , R ROCK “SI’m a TA
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, R ROCK STA
“I’m a rockstar,” I said to myself as I leaned out the door of my 2006 Honda to vomit. After all, I had just played a show, got free drinks and partied all night. Aside from the massive hangover and the fact that I slept in my truck overnight, I may as well have been Slash. I was a young college student playing guitar in a rock band. I was barely 21-years-old. I should not even have been drinking before then, but there I was, in bars and venues getting drunk with the big boys. I felt invincible. This went on for two years. My mental health deteriorated fast. There was a time when I stood up drinking all night and woke up late in the afternoon. I had the usual “breakfast beer” and went on to record some guitar for the album that was “for sure going to score us a sweet record deal.” Suddenly my sister was in the hospital again. She was diagnosed with diabetes at a young age, and now her condition had worsened. Her kidneys were failing, and her heart was weak. Her hospitalization was a wake-up call for me. I was a few years of hard partying from being the one in the hospital bed, wondering if I would live to see my nephew graduate from high school or dance at my wedding. She needed a kidney and the waitlist was long. In order to be tested as a potential donor I had to quit smoking, lose some weight and improve my overall health. I took this opportunity to get a hold of my life. My sister had to deal with the consequences of a life she did not choose and night after night, I was pouring beer down my throat because I was afraid to deal with my own truths. I was depressed, anxious and too scared to do anything about it. I never would have taken my life seriously without being given a good reason. Mine came in the form of a loved one’s dire state, but for some it is a lifelong endeavor. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that “more than 15 million people struggle with an alcohol use disorder in the United States, but less than eight percent of those receive treatment.” College students in particular feel the pressure of drinking excessively. It is no surprise that alcohol has become as integral to the college experience as finals week or club rush. Research conducted by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows
that “four out of every five college students consumes alcohol to some degree.” Many students reach for that first drink to give them the creativity to write that essay, unwind or simply to get drunk. That is where the problem starts. So many students are doing this on their own time that it becomes as normal as a cup of coffee in the morning, leading to the need for more and more alcohol to maintain that feeling. SAMHSA estimates that “50 percent of students engage in binge drinking, which involves consuming too much alcohol in too little time.” Decisions made in college can affect the rest of your life, so it is important to take these risks seriously. If you choose to drink, know your limit and don’t drink to blackout. There is no excuse for drunk driving. Getting a DUI can ruin your life, or end someone else’s. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports an annual 1,059 drunk driving related fatalities in California alone. With services like Lyft and Uber a ride home can be safe and inexpensive. If you have money to drink, you have money to get home safely. The facade of alcohol is the brief feeling of heroism and confidence that inevitably leads to the desire to feel dauntless regularly. While that tequila may make you feel untouchable for a short time, the reality is that the underlying confidence issues will still be there once the liquid courage wears off. Sure, that beer may seem to de-stress you at the end of a rough day, but all it is ultimately doing is becoming a crutch to deal with other problems. The truth is that alcohol will always be present in society, and very much so in college. Alcohol does not have to be the definitive factor of a good time. The question of sobriety is an eternal struggle that can make or break a person’s life. The simple answer is that no matter what the choice is, the outcome is up to you. Choosing to drink does not have to mean choosing to rely on alcohol; choosing not to drink will not exclude you from the full spectrum of emotions life has to offer. My sister received a transplant from another donor, and is staying strong to this day. I hold the lessons I learned during this time close to my heart. Moderation is key. Your health should be a priority. There is more to life than partying and getting drunk. Life is precious. Don’t waste it. L
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culture
These cute and cuddly animals are more than just pets, they are a lifeline. Staff writer Alana Daly shares her experience having a service dog.
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a helping hound TEXT BY: ALANA DALY PHOTOS BY: JACQUELINE TORRES
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It’s 8:30 a.m. and my alarm goes off. My mind is awake, but my body is slow to react. I cannot move. Unable to open my eyes, the world is dark. After a vivid dream, the darkness and alarm is jarring. Luna immediately comes to the top of the bed and paws at me gently. I remember I am not alone. When this doesn’t wake me, she begins to shove her face under my pillow and root around, snuffling. This helps me not to panic, I start to chuckle and remember to wiggle my toes. The sleep paralysis begins to lift, and I’m finally able to turn off my alarm. I adopted my dog as “Miss Sassy” from the Pasadena Humane Society on July 2, 2016 to be my emotional support animal. After training at home and in classes, she learned tasks to help me both at home and in public as a psychiatric service dog. Last semester I began taking Luna with me to school. An official at Disabled Students Programs and Services stated that there is at least one very active service dog on campus, and many that are not registered with the office. Monica Christianson, Ed. D. of the Veterans Success Center said, “We don’t have any right now, but we have in the past.” As service dogs are becoming more common, students and teachers have asked for some guidelines on how to interact with the dogs and handlers. The main issue is that people see pets in public, instead of working dogs on duty. Though these dogs are cute and well behaved, distracting service dogs is more serious than it seems. When the dogs lose focus, they can no longer alert the handler properly to health issues. Hailey Ashmore, a 17-year-old from Dallas, could have died when she visited her dad at work and an employee ignored the red “STOP” patch on her service dog Flynn. Flynn usually
alerts Ashmore ten minutes before a seizure, but because of a stranger’s affection he wasn’t able to alert his handler; she suffered a severe seizure and sustained rug burns on her face. Flynn was in training, a process that never truly ends with service dogs. Many dogs are incredibly friendly, but giving them too much attention can be dangerous to the handler and detracts from their work in a public place. To be designated a service dog, the dog must be individually trained to perform tasks to assist the disability of their owner. This could be a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. Service dogs are not required to have any identification. Always assume a dog on campus is working, and act respectfully by giving them space. Legally, only two questions can be asked of a handler. “Is the animal required because of a disability?” And “What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?” Asking further questions about a person’s disability is often offensive, and frankly nobody’s business. Last year, I took Luna for a quick trip to the grocery store. We had no issues until I was in the checkout line, where I overheard the couple behind me arguing on whether or not it was acceptable to approach us. Without asking, the husband began petting Luna and insisted it was “part of her training.” This is false, as any contact without clear permission from the handler breaks protocol. Luna instantly rolled over for belly rubs, something not acceptable and difficult for me as her handler. The couple further reinforced this behavior by cooing over her, the husband giving her even more attention, all while peppering me with questions about my disability. Luna is a friendly and submissive dog, and this behavior makes it more difficult to distinguish when she is working. While admittedly adorable, Luna submitting to affection from a strange man in a grocery store is not a habit to encourage.
Though these dogs are cute and well behaved, distracting service dogs is more serious than it seems. When the dogs lose focus, they can no longer alert the handler properly to health issues.
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Luna sits in front of the Monrovia Library Park on March 27, 2018. Luna has been under the care of Alana Daly since 2016.
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Luna lays under the table at Blaze Pizza in Monrovia.
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Who let the dogs out? There are a variety of service dogs that many may not even know about. Below is a list of service dogs and their functions. GUIDE DOG
Trained to lead the blind.
Q E s
HEARING/SIGNAL DOG
Trained to alert its deaf or hearingimpaired owner to sounds. This includes a doorbell, alarm, or telephone.
PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE DOGS Trained to assist their handler with a psychiatric disability such as post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder.
DIABETIC ALERT DOGS
Trained to alert diabetic handlers in advance of low (hypoglycemia) or high (hyperglycemia) blood sugar events before they become dangerous, according to the Diabetic Alert Dogs of America.
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS
B
Also known as ESA. Any animal whose presence helps mitigate the emotional or psychological symptoms associated with the handler’s condition or disorder. The animal does not need to be trained in specific tasks to help the owner. A doctor’s note allows these animals to legally live in homes despite “no pets” regulations by landlords. These animals do not have the same protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act to be in all public areas like service dogs.
At school, Luna is training to alert me to take medication or discreetly leave class before having a panic attack. Training varies depending on the type of service dog and the animal’s disposition. On campus, I have seen a handler with two dogs; this is common, as a trained service dog often teaches a younger dog in training how to act in public. After 2 years of obedience training, seizure alert dogs are taught to remain close during a seizure, prevent an injury by staying close to the owner, or fetch a telephone or medication. Psychiatric service dogs are often taught deep pressure therapy, applying their body weight to the handler to physically relieve anxiety and calm the handler. Service dogs in public are expected to be able to sit on command and be well mannered. Remember that service dogs are trained, but this training never ends and is a daily process of correcting and reinforcement. Please respect the boundaries handlers impose on their dogs. It is important to note that it is never OK to offer food or too much attention to a service dog. Many dogs are treat motivated, and this can reinforce bad behavior. Luna, on the other hand, is attention motivated and friendly people can easily break her focus. By asking ahead, you can even help reinforce training and good behavior. Approach with caution and ask the handler if you can pet the dog, perhaps after class. Speak to the handler directly, and avoid prolonged eye contact or baby talk with the dogs as this often switches them away from “work mode.” For further education, I have compiled a list of things you should and should not do when a service dog is on duty. Do and Do not: Please do not distract the dogs at work. Students are in class to focus, and this includes the handler. Service dogs are still animals getting accustomed to constantly changing environments with many distractions. Do ignore service dogs in class. This may seem cold, but the dogs are there to assist a student and not for show-and-tell. Do not stare at the dog during the entire class. If the class is boring you, find a different distraction. She will notice and expect attention; prolonged eye contact will change her focus. Do not touch service dogs without permission. It’s okay to ask- especially if there is an “Ask to Pet” patch. Sometimes it can help training to reinforce good behavior with attention or a treat after class. Prepare to hear “no.” Answers will vary with every handler every day, depending on the behavior of the dog- don’t take it personally. Do continue discussions in class with the handler. This is still a fellow student hoping to participate equally in class. Please treat handlers with sensitivity and respect our personal space. Do not offer food to a service dog. Dogs, like people, have varied diets and allergies. Food is the ultimate distraction for working dogs. Do speak up if you have an allergy or fear of dogs. We don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable or unwell, and can arrange seating to accommodate everyone without offense taken. L APRIL 2018 | LOGOS | 15
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CHANDRA MUDIYANSELAGE collects recyclables throughout the day, separates plastics from aluminums at night and finally arrives at the nearest recycling center to cash in on California’s Redemption Value.
PHOTOS BY: DANIEL ESCAMILLA TEXT BY: XELA QUINTANA
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She is a recognizable figure on campus. Her long black braided hair, baby blue gloved hands, metallic green extended grabber and rolling cart to carry cans and bottles are a constant like the white ‘A’ branded onto the side of the San Gabriel Mountains. Chandra Mudiyanselage, 58, a ‘day shift’ gleaner has been collecting students’ forgotten recyclables for as long as her daughter, Niranjala Mudiyanselage, 22, has been enrolled at Citrus. What started as a way to keep busy while her daughter was in class has become a familial obligation. There is a lack of recycling bins on campus which attracts individuals that collect recycling materials from dispersed trash cans, colloquially known as gleaners, salvagers or recyclers. Benjamin Macias, campus safety supervisor, is not concerned with the non-student foot traffic. The gleaners only create a problem when their presence becomes a “health issue or a sanitary issue” Macias said. He recognizes that they will “come through campus,” zip to and from trash cans to eventually peacefully depart. Chandra usually arrives at 8 a.m. with her daughter. She readies herself for a day of gleaning ahead of her as Niranjala heads to the library to prepare for her first morning class. They will later meet by early evening to depart together to repeat the routine the next day. Before she started collecting recyclables on a daily basis she would wait idly in the car she rode in with her daughter. She would try to pass the time anyway she could, mostly taking naps or thumbing through her phone. It was not until her doctor’s recommendation she become more active that coincided with Niranjala and her friend’s idea that Chandra should take up gleaning that she would become a silent part of the Citrus community. She arrived in the United States in 1985 when she was 19 years old. The Sri Lanka native immigrated with a neighboring family with which she had no close ties. Since her arrival she has been a house cleaner, waiter, cook and medical assistant, sometimes forced to work for free in exchange for shelter. She was a housekeeper without pay besides the exchange of her service for a bed to call her own every night. Chandra met her husband of twenty-two years, Jay Mudiyanselage, 63, in 1990 and eventually married while she was three months pregnant with their daughter. “It was love at first sight” explained Niranjala on her parents’ chance meeting at a party they were hired to cater. Jay was cooking while Chandra was waiting tables.
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Chandra Mudiyanselage pushes her cart to the nearest trash receptacle to collect recycling materials looking out to spot any other nearby collecting opportunities, March 27 on Citrus College campus.
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Chandra Mudiyanselage and Niranjala Mudiyanselage pose together, wrapped around the other displaying their close relationship, March 29.
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Chandra Mudiyanselage takes a break from the heat and makes a phone call to maintain daily contact with her family, March 27 on Citrus College campus.
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He works as a valet driver, liquor store attendant and frequents swap meets on the weekends to scrounge up extra cash. He is the sole breadwinner of the household. Chandra collects recycling materials everyday for an estimated end of the week profit of about $50. It can “sometimes take a whole day” said Chandra just to fill up one trash bag. Both work hard to provide the luxury for Niranjala to focus on her studies and to remain a full time student. Niranjala is part of the Citrus registered nursing program hoping to graduate soon and enter the job market to alleviate her parents’ economic struggles. Since the California Redemption Value act’s beginnings in 1987, “more than 300 billion aluminum, glass and plastic beverage containers have been recycled.” On Citrus, the recycling opportunities are an untapped market. “There is money to be made” Jeff Eichler said. Eichler works at the environmental health & safety programs as a supervisor. Everyday in the year 2012, Fred Collett collected 21,000 lbs of recycling materials and earned “about $8,900 tax free dollars,” Eichler said. However, besides the economic and ecologic benefits of gleaning, Chandra and Niranjala are aware of Chandra’s reputation on campus. Chandra used to feel shame for this recycling routine not for her own sake since she is no stranger to manual labor but for her daughter’s. She noticed students would laugh or stare when the two interacted on campus and she would keep away from her daughter to avoid similar events from re-occurring too often. Mother and daughter are inseparable, barely exchanging words in order to communicate effectively. Chandra speaks in Sinhala while Niranjala responds in English. They smile and giggle amongst each other sharing whole stories in the arch of an eyebrow or the widening of eyes. While Chandra was working towards her citizenship in 2013, she failed the first two times. Her third opportunity she begged the test administrator to allow her daughter to sit alongside her. The pair were reminded of the strict no helping, cheating or talking policy but even he could notice the bond between the two. Once Niranjala was allowed to sit in with Chandra, she passed the test proving just the presence of her daughter severely diminished her anxiety. Niranjala digs into her past of isolation of always being the odd one out and how her close relationship with her mother would sometimes unsettle or frustrate potential friends because of her devotion. However, Niranjala views her mother as an extension of herself, that to reject her mother is to reject her own identity. “Why am I gonna be embarrassed about myself? It’s my mom,” Niranjala said. “That embarrassed girl has passed away.” The recycling routine keeps Chandra close to Niranjala during a regular school day. Niranjala gestures between herself and her mother, “I have you and you have me” and Chandra nodded solemnly in complete veneration. L APRIL 2018 | LOGOS | 23
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Goodbye to Comforting Media TEXT & ILLUSTRATION BY: XELA QUINTANA
Fans of the celebrity men accused of sexual misconduct no longer feel ethically empowered to consumer their content.
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he eruption of sexual misconduct scandals seemed to take down all of the entertainment I had once loved. The accusations ranging from the arbitrary, like Aziz Ansari being too pushy in a club, to the catastrophically harmful like the Kevin Spacey allegations of the molestation of his young costar. These men are charismatic. It is hard not to find them charming, funny and lovable, most of them have made whole careers on these qualities. The characters they play are relatable, the stories they tell are heartwarmaing, and the voices they uplifted were sometimes minorities in the mainstream media. However, all that goodwill is poisoned because it feels like a shattered illusion. It because it feels like a shattered illusion. It feels like a simple smokescreen intended to be banked on later when the truth was to will out. I became disillusioned with the entertainment industry when reading about the sexual misconduct allegations against Louis C.K.
scenes that would make me laugh then are now tainted and rewatching his shows are a dark easter egg hunt of all the warning signs his audience missed. Jokes then read as confessionals now. This show that I would return to regularly is now burned from my view list. It is not entertainment anymore after his detailing of the events it became an inside look into the mind of a sexual opportunist. Unable to think of nothing than his apt observation: “the greatest threat to women is men.” The entire entertainment network built on open secrets revealed that not only was it the perpetrators themselves that took advantage of this broken system, but the people around them that turned a blind eye for the ultimate goal of profit. Dan Harmon, co-creator of “Rick and Morty”, admitted to his own sexual harassment transgressions in the workplace when he was writing, producing, and directing his NBC show Community. Megan Ganz was a young new staff comedy writer that caught his interest. It was unrequited and Harmon proceeded to actively make the workplace a hostile one for her. Amidst the many sexual misconduct allegations being reported at the time, she took the opportunity to recount her own experiences in the writers’ room with sexual misbehavior and power dynamics by taking to Twitter to communicate with Harmon directly. Harmon responded and the two proceeded to have an open dialogue about their sides of the story. Harmon apologized on his podcast Harmontown where he elaborated on his state of mind around the time of the incidents. Ganz explained how the conversation between herself and Harmon helped her. The interaction alleviated most of her harbored pain. It validated her experience and though she did not forgive him outright at first she explained that she was trying to, highlighting that forgiveness is a process. This whole conversation just confused me more. I found myself flip flopping. I can no longer consume the media created by these individuals without feeling like I am part of the problem. That in supporting the art they produce, I am supporting the lifestyle in which they feel He was a personal comedy hero of mine, his honest and entitled or powerful enough to take advantage of their status gritty stand up surprised me. His on stage persona was or the women around them. fearless where no subject was considered taboo, even I have stopped watching “House of Cards”, “Louie”, any donned a “comedy genius” at the peak of his career. and all Woody Allen films, “Master of None”, “Parks and I had the scene from an early episode of his show on Recreation”, any cooking videos of Mario Batali, all films repeat as I read his apology letter he had sent to the New produced by Harvey Weinstein, and stopped listening to the York Times. The scene was a young, fictitious Louie as he compositions of James Levine, Chris Brown, or R. Kelly. talks to his classmate crush and she requests that he “whip However, I still watch “Rick and Morty”. An example of my it out.” own hypocrisy that I get to pick and choose who I write off He was accused of and confessed to this exact sexual for actions that they admit remorse for and who I continue to misconduct. It does not feel quite as fictitious anymore but support by simply feigning ignorance of wrongdoing. rather is a twisted fantasy in the mind of man given too much I devalue the statement of this choice constantly. This does power, too much access, too much creative freedom. not count as activism for it is too passive in nature to be so. He aligned himself with feminist ideology by joking about It is in no way supporting or helping the victimized women. I the risks women take when dating men, his role as a father am not doing this for them, to keep my feminist badge nice to two young girls, and even off stage promoting and and shiny, or even for revenge no matter how small. supporting women comedy performers like Pamela Adlon I am doing this because it clears my own conscience. It and Tig Notaro producing both of their shows that center a appeases me. This course of action is completely selfish. female It is to make myself feel better that at the end of the day protagonist. I can hopefully say, “Well, no sexual predators benefitted I cannot watch his show “Louie” anymore without feeling from my viewership in any way.” However, the reality is that guilty, without questioning if he misbehaved in some way statement will never be concretely true for any kind of media with the women behind or in front of the camera. The consumption. L
The scenes that would make me laugh then are now tainted and rewatching his shows are a dark easter egg hunt of all the warning signs his audience missed. Jokes then read as confessionals now.
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OPINION:
FEED ME see
MORE Don’t fall for the hype. Money hungry complanies are trapping gamers with early access and pre-order scams.
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TEXT & ART BY: CHARITY WANG
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O OUR NEW AND TO OLD GAMERS, LET US NOT BUY INTO THE PREORDER/ EARLY ACCESS SCAM SYSTEM.
Sure, gamers have become more sophisticated in their skill to sniff out new worthy games, but the industry’s ability to manipulate gamers to disregard their judgment is greater. For many gamers the moment a new indie game has been announced, the first response is to research it. However when some major game companies announce their newest product, the hype is so massive that it could possibly break the sound barrier. Some people may press the “buy now” button due to sheer devotion to a game company. Many of these games are released under early access or pre-order status in order to entice consumers to be the “first” to play, no matter the current state of the game. The game may have bugs and glitches that can make ratings go from ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ to ‘Mostly Negative’ on Steam, a digital distribution platform, in a few hours. The reason I buy games in early access or pre-order status is because I don’t want to be excluded from the novelty of a new game that everyone else is playing, especially in an online multiplayer based game that mostly requires social gaming for it to be passably entertaining. It becomes boring to play alone. However I realize that as a college student, unless I want to completely fail all of my classes, I do not have the time or the money to constantly play every released game that is hyped up. continued >> APRIL 2018 | LOGOS | 27
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It is incredibly expensive to buy a game before it fully releases. Market prices for new games can range from $20 if they are an indie game to $70 if released by a well known company. Usually there is no price difference between pre-order/ early access and the full release. Besides, most of the time, those games will go on sale in response to a holiday or summer break. An exception to this would be “ARK: Survival Evolved.” This game started out at a low price during early access and then hiked up the price when it was out of early access. Originally the game was around $30. It was even cheaper with the occasional Steam sales and Humble Bundle, a charity platform where people pay $12 to $15 for a bundle of games, apps, books or software. When the creators of the game decided to lift the early access status, the price went up to $60. Another reason is that sometimes you may have to judge a video game by its cover. The game may not be what is advertised. When the hype of a game increases, the disappointment does as well. The biggest example of that was the game “No Man’s Sky.” At the time, many potential players saw videos of this revolutionary game, being able to explore a neverending universe with procedurally generated planets that contained unique fauna and flora. Many people dropped $60 and pre-ordered “No Man’s Sky” with the hopes of it being how it was portrayed. The developers of “No Man’s Sky” used screenshots and video game play that were not part of the game’s final form and made promises they could not keep, such as the implementation of multiplayer. The game’s release was met with immediate criticism and backlash due to the public deception of the game’s image. Not only that, the developers had cut communication with the community for an extended period of time. That caused Valve, the company that owns Steam, to completely refund people even after their refund grace period, extending to a few months. The last thing you want when you get a game is to think it was a big waste of time and money. Games are not cheap. What happens when you buy a game, play it for about three hours and finish? You can’t refund it anymore on Steam because the grace period is two hours. Most game companies will ban your account if you attempt 28 |
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to chargeback. In the event of a multiplayer game, sometimes servers crash from all the people trying to get into the game. Even worse, coming back from class on release day and being placed on a never ending login queue. Now all this time is being wasted from sitting in front of a screen, waiting for the number to tick down. Be skeptical of all screenshots and gameplay videos that are showcased by the company before
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the game actually releases. Wait until all the prominent Youtubers and Twitch streamers leave reviews about the game. Most likely they will be the first people to start playing that game. Let other people spend their serious money first, then decide whether or not you still want the game. Don’t play an “Early Access” game expecting it to be amazing, when it’s meant to be a slightly polished rough draft. Do not buy a game
that you don’t have a real interest in playing just because everybody else is playing. Also, don’t buy a game just because you own almost all the company’s games believing all their games to be good. *cough* EA *cough* There is nothing wrong with buying and playing a game or two, but it is an issue when you use your hard earned money to buy something that likely won’t last a few hours. L APRIL 2018 | LOGOS | 29
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Waffa’s Kitchen opinion
The mediterranean oasis of a restuarant is a nice break from neighboring standard food businesses.
If you’re driving too fast, you might just miss it. Located in a strip mall about a 10 minute drive from Citrus College, it is truly a hole in the wall. Upon entering, I was greeted by the owner, Waffa Massih who standing behind the cash register. She immigrated from Syria to the United States almost 47 years ago and opened Waffa’s Kitchen in 2006. She has been dishing out homemade Mediterranean food to Glendora patrons since. Waffa’s is popular for catering and to-go orders.
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TEXT BY: BIANCA VALENZUELA PHOTOS BY: DARIUS JOHARI AND BIANCA VALENZUELA
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Baklava is a mediterranean sweet dessert pastry made of layers of filo filled with chopped nuts and sweetened honey.
side from the occasional ringing from the phone, Waffa’s Kitchen was quiet on a Tuesday afternoon. The restaurant is intimate and quaint with a total of four tables. Waffa’s is popular for catering and to-go orders. Each table is decorated with a vase of flowers, napkins, salt and pepper shakers, and my personal favorite -a bottle of sriracha. I ordered a little bit of everything; falafel, boualbakieh, kefta kabob plate, and of course, I had to finish the meal with some baklava. I ordered a piece of boualbakieh and a falfafel as appetizers. Boualbakieh, also known as meat pie, is made from ground beef, onions, tomatoes and pomegranate molasses, all tucked inside a small pocket of dough. As yummy as it looked, I thought it lacked flavor. I probably wouldn’t order this again. However, the falafel was fried perfectly, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The falafel was mealy and crumbled in my mouth. It came with a side of zesty tahini sauce which traditionally contains yogurt, dill, mayonnaise and cucumber. I was debating between the chicken kabob and the kefta kabob, but decided to step out of my comfort zone. I’ve never heard of kefta, let alone ever tried it. Massih explained that kefta is made of ground beef mixed with onions and spices. The preparation process of kefta compresses the loose ground beef into solid portions of meat. The plate came with three pieces of kefta, rice,
hummus, salad, grilled vegetables, two generous pieces of pita bread and amazing garlic spread. If you like garlic, you will fall head over heels for Waffa’s spread. I substituted my salad for tabouleh and I had absolutely no regrets. The tabouleh was definitely the highlight of the plate. Tabouleh is a vegetarian salad comprised of parsley, tomatoes, onions tossed with lemon juice and olive oil. The tabouleh was light and fresh, a great complement to the other components of the plate. The hummus was sprinkled with chili powder and olive oil which paired deliciously with the pita bread. For dessert, I had a piece of baklava, a traditional Middle Eastern dessert made of phyllo pastry filled with chopped nuts and drizzled with honey. This baklava was extremely sweet compared to ones I’ve tried in the past. It’s usual nutty flavor was masked by an overwhelming amount of honey. If you want to try one for yourself, check into Waffa’s Kitchen on Yelp for a free piece! My order took a little long to come out, but the slow service was justified by the food being cooked with fresh ingredients. In total, I only spent around $13. I was pleasantly surprised because I found it pretty inexpensive for the amount of food I ordered. By the time I was getting ready to ask for a to-go box, the previously quiet restaurant came alive with the late afternoon rush. I waved good-bye to Massih and went on my way. L
Location: 221 W. Foothill Blvd. Glendora, CA 91741 (626) 914-3500 Hours: Tue - Sat: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sun: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
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APRIL 2018 ISSUE 1 ”.NRAEL OT YTILIBA EHT ROF TPECXE GNIHTYNA TA DOOG YLLAER REVEN SAW I“