December Issue #4

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN BERNARDINO SINCE 1965

Coyote Chronicle COYOTECHRONICLE.NET

2024/25, Issue #4

Coyote Day One Textbook Access

December 3rd, 2024

CSUSB’s Initiative to End the IE’s Journalism Drought

Students Did Not Want It

The Inland Empire is a vast, diverse, and growing community with 4.7 million residents. This year Riverside County alone added 13,800 residents. Yet local news is limited and heavily underfunded. This leaves our local communities without a voice and lacking crucial information. CSUSB’s media and communication faculty aim to change this through an initiative that supports struggling newsrooms and invigorates students to pursue journalism with viable resources.

Page 4 A Call to Action Historic San Bernadino Building Catches Fire Again

By Olga Salcedo Staff Writer At the start of the academic year, CSUSB announced the Coyote Day One Textbook Access (CDOTA), a textbook cost saving program. But to many students, this was anything but a cost saving program, it was more like a headache.

According to the CSUSB site, the CDOTA is a program that offers undergraduate students access to course materials prior to the start of classes, for a flat fee of $21.50 per credit hour, regardless of the students’ major. This program claims to offer students affordable access to all class materials, it claims to ensure faculty that students have the required materials before classes begin, but most importantly, it claims affordable course materials for all

students. But regardless of the program’s claims, many students were upset that this decision was made without their consent.

Without the students’ knowledge, the CDOTA program charged the students account for the materials needed for the classes they registered for before the semester began. But that is not the worst of it. Students had an option to opt-out of the program allowing students to get a refund for what was charged but, just opting out did not guarantee the student the refund. After opting out, students still had to email the bookstore or go to the bookstore in person to request a refund, which is not explained in the instructions when opting out.

Why not state this next step?

Some students believed that they would automatically receive a refund once they opted out.

A student attending CSUSB, who does not want to be named stated, “I opted out of

the program before the deadline thinking I was going to receive my refund, but my one of my COMM professors told me that I still had to go in person and request the refund or else they just keep my money, I was like, really! I wouldn’t have known this if my professor didn’t tell me, I was angry!” (Anonymous Student).

Many students stated they did not like the program because most professors offered the necessary textbooks and materials for free, or they were able to get the textbooks or materials at a more affordable price elsewhere. They also did not like the fact that the opt-out option did not explain the extra step needed to get the refund.

Why not mention this essential information?

The opt-out option is misleading, making students have to go through a tedious process just to get their money back. A Communication professor at CSUSB stated that the faculty did not approve of and were against this program, but it was implemented anyway.

It seems like many of the students and faculty are not pleased with this program, so why is it being implemented?

Who is it really benefiting?

Follet Corporation is an American technology program and is one of the ones behind CDOTA and who are benefiting from this program. To opt out, the school website offers the student a link, this link sends the student to a site where the student has to make an account that is connected to Follet Co. While the CDOTA program may seem helpful to some students, to many other students and faculty, it has brought more stress. It is hard to see the benefits from this program. Not giving the students the option to join the program in the first place is bad enough. To opt-out of the program is misleading and tedious. To many students, there are better and more affordable ways to get textbooks and materials.

I reached out by email to the Follet Co. for further information regarding this program but have not received a response.

Page 8 Coyotes on Rotation

Get to know Coyotes on Rotation, our emerging playlist club here at CSUSB...

Page 9

CSUSB Page 2

Coyote Chronicle

Contributors Editor in Chief Evette Gallardo Copy Editors David Lara Jacqueline Flores Mathew Pacheco

Graphic Designers

Matthew Vinson John Gray

Faculty Advisor

Gregory Gondwe

Gregory.Gondwe@csusb.edu

Department of Communication and Media commstudies@csusb.edu

Staff Writers Alexandra Blakeley, Issac Castillo, Alyson Chan, Nicholas Cordoba Alvarado, Amari Cotton, Pricila Gordillo, Olivia Hoar, Alison Marshal, Ashley Mejia - Salazar, Marco Rimicci, Samuel Rodriguez, Luis Romero Olga Salcedo, Daisy Torres Staff Writers are comprised of students enrolled in COMM2391 Practicum: Print & Online Journalism taught by Dr. Gregory Gondwe.

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Mail California State University, San Bernardino University Hall Room UH-037 5500 University Parkway San Bernardino, CA 92407

The Coyote Chronicle is published every other Thursday during the academic session by the Communication department. The opinions expressed in the Chronicle are those of the student writers and editors and do not reflect the views of the university, its faculty, or any other person or institution unless expressly noted. The appearance of any advertisement in the Chronicle does not represent an endorsement of the products or services advertised.

The Chronicle reserves the right to edit or reject all materials submitted to the paper.

December 3rd, 2024

A Campus Trashed Students Speak Out on Litter and Accountability cans, reveals a deeper image that goes beyond students being untidy.

Students’ dissatisfaction As students walk to with campus cleanliness suggests their classes on campus, an a need for greater personal unexpected sight greets them, responsibility and respect for litter is scattered throughout shared spaces. The result of campus, including beer cans litter risks the disintegration and fast-food wrappers. Despite of campus culture ultimately efforts to promote sustainability affecting students’ sense of pride and campus pride, visible signs in their university. of neglect have left students The problem goes beyond and faculty questioning the campus grounds. Studies reveal respect for shared spaces. This that university cleanliness investigation explores how influences perceptions among students feel about the images students, parents, and alumni. presented, their encounters with According to campus survey litter on campus, and solutions data, visible litter negatively that promote cleanliness across affects the university’s public campus. image, impacting prospective When asking students student recruitment and even how they feel about the images alumni donations. As Tayana, a presented, Sarah Morales, a junior at CSUSB, emphasized, senior at CSUSB shares, “It’s “It feels like people don’t care really disappointing, specifically about where we study. It’s not to see beer cans across campus hard to find a trash can, so it’s along with fast-food wrappers disappointing that people don’t is just off-putting. We all pay make the effort.” tuition to be here, and I wish Future CSUSB students tour people took more pride in campus throughout the school keeping the campus clean.” year, and with that student Sarah is not alone in her enrollment could potentially frustration. Interviews across be affected. This issue requires campus echo her sentiment, more than occasional cleanups. describing a campus that feels For CSUSB, increasing disrespected. Eddie Martinez enforcement of litter policies, agrees stating, “It’s no secret expanding waste disposal that college students drink, but options, and conducting regular it’s not something I would want awareness campaigns could be to see on the floor on the way to vital in sustaining a respectful class.” Litter, specifically alcohol and clean campus.

By Sylvia Salinas Staff Writer

CSUSB’s Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) hosted a “Trash Talk & Walk” event on October 1, 2024, to address the litter issue. Outside the west entrance to SMSU South, students gathered near the Wild Song Statue, to learn about sustainable practices while participating in a campus cleanup. The event, featuring free food and prizes, aimed to educate students on waste management while fostering pride in their campus environment.

The “Trash Talk & Walk” initiative also highlighted the importance of collaboration among students, faculty, and campus organizations in making a sustainable impact. By coming together for a shared cause, participants not only addressed immediate litter concerns but also strengthened community bonds and awareness about environmental responsibility.

Events like these serve as a platform for students to learn about their role in reducing waste and the power of collective action. As CSUSB aims to continue expanding its efforts to keep the campus clean, students must meet them in doing their part individually.

The issue of litter, especially the presence of alcohol containers, not only damages CSUSB’s image but also undermines the campus environment that students and staff strive to maintain. CSUSB can transform its campus into a cleaner, more respected space by prioritizing a culture of responsibility, awareness, and consistent enforcement.

Ultimately, addressing these issues is key to building a university community grounded in pride, respect, and accountability.

Discarded beer can lies amid wrappers outside the SMSU South entrance.

Photo by Sylvia Salinas

Community Page 3

Coyote Chronicle

December 3rd, 2024

Frosted Faucets

By Amari Cotton Staff Writer

Limescale is a common buildup on faucets or other sites where water is transported. It is a sign of “Hard Water” which indicates the water’s mineral content.

indicator displaying “red, yellow, and green” lights to show how dirty the filter is (green being clean and red being dirty).

Information about the regular cleaning of these machines was not available however, excessive build up or the lack thereof can be an indicator of the maintained cleanliness of the machine.

While this does not apply to all machines around CSUSB’s campus, machines that are used more than others tend to look the part.

Why should you be worried about limescale buildup on Hydration Stations? In small quantities limescale is not a health risk, however; areas with buildup can create “a

“

breeding ground for dangerous bacteria” according to O’Connor Plumbing. This may lead to “Legionnaires Disease” which manifests like a common cold but can become fatal overtime if

students feel as though the hydration stations they frequent could be “a little cleaner” and “more sanitary” with one student advising others to let the machine “warm up” until you

In small quantities limescale is not a health risk, however; areas with buildup can create “a breeding ground for dangerous bacteria”

not treated. Consistent ingestion of hard water can also cause “discomfort or indigestion” from the minerals mixing with stomach acid and overall increase risk for kidney stone development “which are painful mineral deposits that form in the kidney” according to PureIt, a company specializing in water filters.

3 Students who choose to remain anonymous that work and frequent CSUSB’S SMSU North say they “barely” see custodial services throughout the day. When they do, it is usually to “sweep the halls” about “every 4 hours”. These

“

Hydration Stations have become popular in universities and other public spaces such as malls and libraries. These stations provide an easy way to refill water bottles which saves people time and money when trying to keep hydrated on the go. CSUSB is fortunate enough to have these stations scattered around campus in every building for student convenience. While the availability of these machines provide a reliable source of water to those who may not have a lot of time in between classes, they also provide students with calcium and magnesium which can physically be seen on the outside of most faucets when examined. The accumulated white crust as seen on the exterior and sometimes the sensor of hydration stations is known as “Limescale”. Most people who utilize these machines might be unaware of what this build up is or the effects it can have on their health if ingested in large quantities over time which is a change that should be implemented over time on CSUSB’s campus.

Limescale is a common buildup on faucets or other sites where water is transported. It is a sign of “Hard Water” which indicates the water’s mineral content. In this case, calcium and magnesium are to blame for these frosted faucets. After students and staff use hydration machines, the left behind water evaporates overtime leaving behind mineral residue.

According to Maintenance Custodians at CSUSB who choose to remain anonymous, the hydration stations require a water filter that needs to be changed around every “3 months” and have a light

hear a vibration sound indicating the filtering of the water. Another recalls her water from these machines being “cloudy” which aligns with excess buildup on the dispensing portion of Hydration Machines and can travel in water coming through the limestone coated faucets.

Overall these students spoke on the concerns of many who get their water from Hydration Stations around campus and advocate on behalf of those who notice the overall uncleanliness of water machines wanting better machine maintenance to ensure their water remains untainted by an overgrowth of minerals.

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CSUSB Coyote Chronicle

December 3rd, 2024

CSUSB’s Initiative to End IE’s Journalism Drought

By Issac Raymond Castillo Staff Writer The Inland Empire is a vast, diverse, and growing community with 4.7 million residents. This year Riverside County alone added 13,800 residents. Yet local news is limited and heavily underfunded. This leaves our local communities without a voice and lacking crucial information. CSUSB’s media and communication faculty aim to change this through an initiative that supports struggling newsrooms and invigorates students to pursue journalism with viable resources.

All over the U.S. physical newspapers have dwindled substantially. A third of U.S. newspapers have closed in the past 20 years, resulting in two-thirds of journalists losing work. Advertising revenue has dropped due to large tech giants such as Google and Facebook monopolizing the digital market advertising realm. This loss of revenue has created many areas in the United States without local news and some with only one or two at best, which can be described as a news desert.

The Inland Empire faces its own additional problems. Alden Global Capital, a hedge fund

and the nation’s third largest newspaper owner, has the rights to numerous local Inland Empire dailies (The Press Enterprise, The San Bernardino Sun, Etc.).

Due to Alden’s vulture-like business practices which sees numerous newsrooms being overseen by only one editor, a phenomenon described as news mirages, which is news that is duplicated and packaged to multiple news outlets with the same content, has emerged. This creates the dilemma of whether the current state of local news is even viable or sustainable.

Thomas Corrigan, a professor in the Department of Communication and Media at CSUSB, is at the forefront of this issue. Professor Corrigan specializes in digital media, media history, and the Inland Empire news ecosystem. He is currently collaborating with other communication and media professors on the CSUSB Local Journalism Partnership Initiative.

Local news is vital for the basic idea of providing the public with information on their daily surroundings. Without it, people are less informed about important topics that affect their daily lives and their surrounding environment. Professor Corrigan emphasized the importance of local news and the public

being informed. He mentions the repercussions from lack of local journalism which include a heavier reliance on national news, leading to polarization.

Other risks include higher risks of corruption and waste of funds.

However, students, faculty and independent local news outlets are trying to change the scope of local journalism.

The Local Journalism Partnership Initiative is a pipeline for students pursuing journalistic skills and opportunities. “After doing interviews and focus groups with local journalists it was recommended that we should try to create a hub for local news and bring together a group that would study and advocate for local journalism in the IE,” Professor Corrigan stated.

Through a support pipeline this initiative seeks to help mold the next generation of journalists, provide quality work for newsrooms, and give students direct experience to pursue a journalistic career.

The CSUSB initiative is not a standalone project, but it is in collaboration with the Journalism Innovation Hub+Fund. In short, this innovative plan is designed to support community news, expand reporting on essential

conditions, investing in local news and civic information. The goal of this project is to foster partnership and investments into media infrastructure to ensure the sustainability of local news.

As discussed with Professor Corrigan, he details the work that students and faculty here at CSUSB are committed to supporting an important project. “We have been having conversations with the publishers and journalists from the hub and we found that our best position was to focus on local news research.” By local news research this would include towns and communities that are lacking in local news coverage, specific demographics of marginalized communities and other essential types of research such as content analysis and mapping. Both CSUSB’s initiative and the Hub+Fund share a common goal, helping the local news ecosystems return to a viable state and to ensure that the public has access to news that impacts their daily lives.

To emphasize the impact that the CSUSB Local Journalism Partnership Initiative would be giving students who are from these communities the opportunity to write about topics that directly impact people from

their communities. There’s a term mentioned by Professor Corrigan called Information Gardens in his newsletter California’s Inland Empire is a news mirage posted on Inland Empire Media Watch. In short, Information Gardens is a space where organizations can cultivate and organize. In this instance, Professor Corrigan provides a plethora of local news outlets that have been holding down the local journalism realm. Some of these include The Frontline Observer, Community Forward Redlands, and Black Voice News amongst the many listed.

The CSUSB Local Journalism Partnership initiative gives students the opportunity to become journalists for local news outlets such as the ones listed above. This allows the coalition to flourish by giving students the chance to speak on matters that directly impact themselves, their families, and their community. This gives the newsroom the much-needed resource of fresh and enthusiastic students ready to provide quality work for these organizations, in the hope of revolutionizing the local news realm.

“The loss in newspapers has ironically created the needed research to understand how this happened,” says [Thomas Corrigan, Professor at CSUSB]. Photo credit: Issac Castillo

Investigative

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Coyote Chronicle

December 3rd, 2024

Unplugging from Hardware?

Exploring Microsoft’s Xbox Strategy Shift

By Nicholas Cordoba Staff Writer Prior to the recent shift in strategy, Microsoft’s Xbox brand largely relied on traditional console sales and exclusive game titles to compete within the gaming market. Starting with the original Xbox launch in 2001, Microsoft prioritized hardware innovation and exclusivity. Console sales were driven by major franchise titles like Halo and Gears of War, which became iconic exclusives that underscored Xbox’s appeal among gamers. According to The Xbox Hub, exclusive games were “key to establishing Xbox’s identity” in a market led by brands like Sony’s PlayStation and Nintendo.

The Xbox 360 was a significant success for Microsoft, achieving around 80 million units sold globally by 2013.

This success was supported by a robust library of exclusive titles, such as Halo 3 and Gears of War, which helped Xbox secure a top position in the U.S. gaming market. According to GamesIndustry.biz, the Xbox 360 “consistently led in monthly sales”, thanks to both exclusive releases and strong partnerships with third-party developers. This kept the console’s software

library competitive and fresh.

As the Xbox One entered the market, Microsoft’s focus shifted towards core franchises, while Sony doubled down on expanding its catalog of high-quality titles exclusive to the PlayStation 4. This strategic gap led to Sony dominating the console generation with a stronger emphasis on exclusive content With Microsoft changing their business model in recent years, transitioning from a console-focused approach to a service-centric model centered on Xbox Game Pass and cloud gaming. According to GamesIndustry.biz, Xbox hardware sales fell by 30% in fiscal Q3 2023, highlighting a growing emphasis on digital services rather than physical consoles. Microsoft CFO Amy Hood attributes these declines to a “weaker-than-expected” console market and ongoing hardware shortages. While Xbox’s initial success with the Series X|S consoles established a strong foundation, recent years have seen fewer hardware innovations as Microsoft turns its focus to accessibility across devices, leveraging their prolific cloud gaming to reach a much wider audience.

Additionally, Xbox Game Pass has grown rapidly, with over 25 million subscribers as of

2023. Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, emphasized that the Game Pass strategy reflects their new market model to “break down barriers to gaming,” enabling users to play on multiple platforms, from consoles to smartphones. This strategy aligns with a generational shift, as younger gamers increasingly prefer accessible, cross-platform experiences over traditional console exclusives.

TrueAchievements reports a “record number of monthly active users” across Xbox services, highlighting the popularity of

this more flexible approach.

Yet, this industry move has drawn criticism from fans who feel the Xbox console isn’t a priority anymore. Windows Central explains that Microsoft has invested heavily in cloud gaming and has even committed Xbox Series X consoles to support cloud servers, leaving fewer units available for retail, further impacting hardware availability. Fans worry this could make PlayStation the “default” choice for consoleexclusive titles, particularly as Xbox’s relationship with

(Picture Credit: Thibaut, Instant Gaming News)

major developers like Square Enix has seen high-profile games like Final Fantasy XVI skip Xbox altogether.Despite these challenges, Microsoft has doubled down on Game Pass and its recent acquisitions such as Bethesda signal a commitment to enriching the Game Pass library with exclusive content. Windows Central notes that this content focus could offset hardware declines, potentially positioning Xbox as a robust gaming ecosystem where services outweigh traditional console boundaries.

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Community December 3rd, 2024

Coyote Chronicle

Ontario International Airport’s Record-Breaking Growth

By Luis Romero Staff Writer In September and October, the Ontario International Airport had its busiest months yet.

These record-breaking numbers have not been seen since 2005.

With many upgrades to routes, infrastructure, and a spike in passenger traffic, the airport has made itself a popular hub in Southern California. However, as the airport surpasses new levels, the community surrounding the airport has some mixed feelings of optimism and concern.

Officials and residents both ask the question: Is this growth sustainable? Or are there costs that are beneath the surface of the new status of Ontario’s airport?

The Ontario International Airport has seen a growth that has brought many great economic benefits such as bringing more business to local businesses and job creation.

According to recent reports, the increased volumes of passengers led to more demand for hotels, restaurants, and shopping malls in the area. Stacey, an employee of Via-Mar Grill located five minutes away from the airport explained, “I have seen many businesses around the area getting filled up and it has been about a few weeks of non-stop people coming into our restaurant, so we hired two new employees.” However, some experts point out that economic growth needs to be supported by long-term infrastructure investments to balance this new height of activity.

With more traffic at the airport, some residents have noticed a spike in noise pollution and congestion. Resident Mike, who lives just over a mile from

Ontario Airport Interior - Photo Credit: Inland Empire Buisness Journal

the airport shared, “The noise from the early flights has become so disturbing that my dogs wake up and start barking.” Besides all the annoying noise there has been a concern over the traffic that comes with more passenger flow. Routes that come to and from the airport, especially around peak hours, have seen much more congestion which is affecting commute times and road safety. Ontario’s city planners are taking into consideration some solutions like improved public transit links to try to lower these problems but

that may take some time.

While the Ontario International Airport has been given sustainable development grants, some questions remain about the airport’s environmental footprint. The recent runway expansion project included measures that were aimed at lessening emissions, but critics argue that many of these steps may not address the environmental impact of continued growth fully. “We need more environmental monitoring from these airports,” says Lisa, a local environmental

advocate. With the increase in passenger numbers, the infrastructure of Ontario like water and energy sources, will most likely face much more strain, which prompts many folks to talk about the reliability of sustainable practices in city planning.

Ontario International Airport’s record-breaking

months show a huge success in their expansion goals which signals the potential for more economic growth. However, the airport’s impact on the community raises questions about balancing prosperity with quality of life. Whether through enhanced infrastructure, more strict environmental policies, or community engagement this will all shape the future of Ontario as both a transportation hub and a community. As Ontario keeps growing, the community will continue to watch to see if the benefits truly outweigh the costs.

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Arts & Entertainment Coyote Chronicle

Wicked

December 3rd, 2024

A New Chapter in the Story of Oz

By Samuel Rodriguez Staff Writer A tornado whisks a girl from Kansas to a magical land of vibrant color and strange creatures. Despite the awe of this fantasy, she embarks on a long and turbulent quest to return home while making friends along the way.

This story is L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz which became popularized in 1939 with the release of a film adaptation starring Judy Garland. Arguably the most iconic movie of all time, The Wizard of Oz is timeless and continues to enchant audiences to this day.

As the film celebrates its 85th anniversary this year, moviegoers will have the chance to return to Oz in Jon M. Chu’s upcoming film, Wicked. Based on a 2003 Broadway musical

by Stephen Schwartz which in turn was inspired by a novel published in 1995, Wicked tells the origins of The Wizard of Oz’s primary antagonist, The Wicked Witch of the West.

The original story of Wicked can be traced back to a man named Gregory Maguire.

Maguire watched The Wizard of Oz as a child and found himself intrigued by the film’s villain.

While most viewers understood that the character was simply an obstacle for Dorothy and friends to overcome, Maguire recognized the potential for nuance to this caricature of evil.

It was this epiphany that led Maguire to conceptualize and publish Wicked: The Life and Times of The Wicked Witch of the West in 1995.

The book, written as a mature biography, gave a name and history to the Wicked Witch.

Elphaba, a name that derives from the initials of L. Frank Baum, who wrote The Wizard of Oz, is a girl that is born with green skin, sharp teeth, an aggressive disposition, and a fear of water. The story explores how Elphaba’s peculiarities make her a social pariah as she grows up. Elphaba is further alienated when

her political views stand in direct opposition to the Wizard of Oz himself. Propaganda orchestrated by the Wizard brands Elphaba a wicked witch and essentially declares her to be public enemy number one to the citizens of Oz. The book concludes with the death of Elphaba as it is shown during the events of The Wizard of Oz in which she melts after Dorothy Gale spills water onto her.

Much like The Wizard of Oz before it, Wicked’s true success came when it was adapted beyond the page. Famed composer Stephen Schwartz developed a Broadway stage musical from the story which was released in 2003. The musical deviates from the original story in that it is heavily condensed for the sake of time, cuts and replaces many of the darker elements to promote a family friendly experience, and heightens the relationship between Elphaba and her college roommate Glinda in order to push themes of sisterhood.

Broadway’s Wicked opened to critical and commercial success including the acquisition of three Tony Awards, seven Drama Desk Awards, and a Grammy Award. Since 2003 the stage show has expanded to performances all throughout North America, London, Mexico, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand among many touring productions. As of 2017, Wicked is currently the second highest grossing Broadway musical of all time having accumulated over $1,664,397,148. As of 2023, Wicked has become the fourth longest-running show on Broadway with over 8,000 performances. The Gershwin Theater, the building that housed the first Broadway performance of Wicked, continues to be the home of the original production with weekly performances of the show being put on to this day.

Talks of a film

adaptation for the Broadway musical version of Wicked have circulated for years with the earliest confirmation of a movie being developed

The Original Promotional Art for The Stage Musical Adaptation of Wicked

in 2012 by Marc Platt, an entertainment producer who also served as a producer for the stage musical when it debuted in 2003. Despite confirmation of development, lack of any real progress in the years since the announcement made the Wicked movie seem like a pipe dream. It wasn’t until 2021 that the project started to gain momentum by firmly attaching a director, cast and crew to the film.

On November 22, 2024, over a decade since the movie was first announced, fans will finally have the chance to see

Wicked adapted for the silver screen. The catch is that the movie’s true title is Wicked Part One. It will not be until a full year later in November 2025 that audiences will see Wicked Part Two which will complete the cinematic version of the story.

Regardless of whether it is a book, a stage musical, or a movie, Wicked honors the past while embracing contemporary ideas of creating realistic character motivations. It captures the essence of what made The Wizard of Oz so popular with a world of vivid fantasy yet

conveys deeper themes.

Stories have antagonists but the characters who are painted as villains are protagonists in their personal narrative. In humanizing an iconic villain, Wicked asks its audience to consider the circumstances that shape a person for better or worse. If we can learn to empathize with a character literally called The Wicked Witch, then surely we can come to understand the people who exist in the real world around us.

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Community Coyote Chronicle

December 3rd, 2024

A Call to Action

Historic San Bernardino Building Catches Fire Again

Almost a week after the fire, fences have been put up around the Harris Building to deter potential and returning squatters from entering the building again. [Photo by: Alexandra Blakeley]

By Alexandra Blakeley Staff Writer On October 24, Harris Building located on North E. Street in historic Downtown San Bernardino was ignited into flames for the second time this year. The Harris Building was home to a department store from 1927 to 1999 and has remained vacant ever since. Concerns have spiked as this building has caught fire for the second time under the same conditions.

Police and officials confirmed the first fire took place on July 4th where squatters caused a fire on the fourth floor of the building. The most recent fire, though still under proper investigation, was confirmed to have also been human-caused and ignited on the fourth floor.

City officials did not take proper action during the first fire where the roof had already begun to collapse with additional damage inside. Public concern remained unanswered waiting for the damaged building to be saved from its burned state

for the past four months. This raises the question on what San Bernardino officials are going to do to either protect or demolish this archival building in order to keep control of the downtown area. With this new occurrence, the future is hazy for this building as a San Bernardino spokesperson shared to KTLA5 that “no concrete plans” for this historic building have been set even after this second wave of blazing destruction.

City officials are not putting the Harris Building incidents at the top of their list of priorities and furthermore have shown no interest in maintaining the integrity of the city’s history.

With this landmark barely recovering from the first tragedy, residents express their concerns with this recent fire escalating into a hazardous site for pedestrians and firefighters if another incident were to occur.

Even if removal of the Harris Building is decided, demolition will also be a compromising task for the environment affecting residents of the Downtown area.

San Bernardino County

Fire stated in a report that “Fire crews were challenged by compromised stairwells and areas of structural collapse from earlier damage.” Measures for a proper plan concerning this building need to be taken into consideration so firefighters are not placed in such dangerous situations. This could be avoided by taking action to improve what is destroyed in a timely manner.

This is a prolonged safety hazard for the city of San Bernardino and a call to action is needed to alleviate these concerns and take necessary precautionary measures for downtown.

As of Monday October 28, The Harris Building can be seen with fences around the perimeter to block unwanted guests from entering, though such measures are not long term. The common occurrence between both fires is centered around people in need who find shelter in abandoned buildings like the Harris Building. According to a report from the San Bernardino County Homeless Partnership, homelessness has increased “1.4%” since 2023.

This is a critical point that city officials must take note of as the percentage of homelessness is rising and unregulated.

Homelessness is a prominent issue manifesting in downtown San Bernardino specifically.

Such incidents like the Harris Building fires were preventable had the city man made an effort to re-establish the abandoned building with purpose for the people.

The Harris Building is near well-known locations like San Manuel Stadium and various official buildings for the city of San Bernardino. These spaces serve as a common spot for residents and visitors. The state of Downtown San Bernardino and other cities alike need to be properly addressed

to evolve downtown into a safer, more community serving area. At such a location, the city can ask locals what they can do to improve the city and make efforts to revamp the comfortability that has been robbed from the city by lack of investment. It is crucial that city officials make a change to complete their plans for the Harris Building and connected matters like homelessness to help rejuvenate and protect downtown.

CSUSB Coyote Chronicle

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Beyond the Charts Coyotes on Rotation

By Ashley Mejia Staff Writer Get to know Coyotes on Rotation, our emerging playlist club here at CSUSB; started by Adrian Mendoza after transferring from Norco College. It is further stated by Mendoza that they were curious to hear what other students were listening to here since they felt that the college radio station had more local bands, which in their opinion were great, but wanted to focus more on the student’s music to be able to discuss the genres and tastes that they like and engage in a conversation about them. Through curating the club, Mendoza was able to reach around 114 members who actively participated and shared their music tastes.

How does this group stand out to others, or what experiences can these members have?

To gain a better understanding of why people would join this club, Sam Aguba, the Treasurer of the

The Cover of Volume One of Coyotes on Rotation playlist (Design by Coyotes on Rotation Club

it provides a chance to start a conversation, and that’s the kind of thing that makes me want to be a part of this,” Aguba said.

they will begin to charter at CSUSB, which means more opportunities of branching out throughout campus. This leaves

“I started this playlist that anyone could add to and it blew up a bit. I thought immediately that we needed to create a Discord server for this.

I want people to be able to reach out with other people that have similar interests because I was noticing some trends and it would be good to have that environment to foster friendships and more.”

club, provided us with an insight into their own experience as a member of the club.

“I initially found the club a little bit later because I had just found the playlist from just talking with Mendoza and it was a perfect chance to make connections. Because I am a commuter, I always felt a bit disconnected here and I appreciate something like this to help me feel more connected than ever before. This is music,

Illustration By Ashley Mejia

For Vice President Desirae Sandoval joining this club meant connecting with others who have similar tastes, since they felt like they couldn’t find individuals who could connect with them musically.

“It can connect people from all over campus just from music and possibly can give an opportunity for them to create new friends. It’s all about trying something new,” Sandoval said.

Beginning in Spring 2025

us wondering…What will the next steps be for this group moving forward?

“A big push for connecting with individuals who are commuting specifically. As many know this is more of a commuter school, so we know that we don’t have much on-campus presence. So we want to change that by having listening parties and having the opportunity for people online that can’t participate because of other responsibilities which is a big for me to provide since I understand how difficult it can be,” Mendoza said.

Another plan that this club has is to collaborate with other clubs such as creating spotlight playlists to create another level of connection. Furthermore, the club states ways for students to not only discover but also connect with this club currently through their Spotify and Discord which can be found through either CSUSB’s discord or on their Instagram “CoyotesonRotation”.

December 3rd, 2024

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Coyote Chronicle

December 3rd, 2024

Artificial Intelligence Shaping the Future or Raising Alarms?

Artificial Intelligence begins to have an effect on how we shape our lives day to day.

Pic by: Gottlib

By Johnny Portugal Staff Writer When discussing Artificial Intelligence and its varied responses to its impact on society, whether for better or worse, the opinion is negative, although it should be applauded.

One must comprehend how it has breached different aspects of everyday life, which is frightening. It is favorable for entertainment, academia, healthcare, transportation, and customer service. Artificial Intelligence has always been something people have dreamed about, even since the 80s when robot assistants such as R2D2 and C3P0 were used in the pop culture classic film Star Wars. Now, with Tesla’s robots powered by AI called ‘Optimus Bot,’ which were almost slower copies of those robots in the movie, given a few decades, society may have such robots to help as assistants.

In entertainment, artificial intelligence has been used

to help create digital assets, whether characters or backgrounds or even plots in some blockbusters. At the same time, the quality term for some of these productions seems lackluster; it has only recently become an industry standard to some degree to have AI help the output, whether technically or not.

The following quote demonstrates how Artificial Intelligence demand is being sought out by the major tech players that help integrate their products into consumers’ lives: “[Brett Grow]holds global patents that have been cited by Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Samsung, and Spotify amongst many envisions a future where if AI were to surpasses, certain vectors human capacity intellect, it could usher in an era of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)”.

This is just another aspect of how this technology has slowly crept into modern lives and is even foreshadowing what the future holds, from smartphones to washers and even music curated

truly for yourself.

Artificial Intelligence is shaping the future, although not by choice.

There seems to be a choice for its implementation for all aspects of a Joe’s average life, hopefully creating a positive impact of change. Although there has been backlash and even outcry for how these technologies are in the wrong hands, these technologies can benefit the world immensely as well. An example of how it has been used to demonstrate its function is within sunglasses and its integration of facial recognition and other bits of intelligence to help crossreference people in real life in a few seconds. Perhaps this could be used to help capture people who are wrongdoing, or it could be used and modified to help those with nefarious forethought.

In healthcare, thorough and rigorous documentation is often made accessible with programs that help make such mundane and time-consuming tasks much more manageable. On the other

end, this intelligence is being used to create robots that use articulated intelligence that can do much more practical and precise work than humans can sometimes offer.

Although companies may have safeguards for data breaches, are they ever doing enough to help safeguard their information, which might be fed into a machine algorithm to learn from, such as the meta glasses?

The following article quotes, “The smart glasses have already reportedly led to a college football spy scandal, and reviews describe the LED light indicating the camera is on as a gentle white light that’s easily overlooked in broad daylight”.

Although these safeguards, such as these Meta glasses, as previously mentioned in another scandal, have an LED light in the corner, is that enough to offer as a safeguard? Or perhaps there need to be more regulations as humanity finds a safe balance between machine and human interaction as it only becomes more integrated with

our lives? For example, many consumers will soon have such in their phones such as Apple Intelligence or even Galaxy AI from top, respective companies for phones in the United States demographic.

Hopefully, this implementation is creating a positive outcome further down the line as there will be many naysayers as we as a society currently stand and must adapt to the changes that are being subjected onto the population which is for the betterment.

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December 3rd, 2024

Beyond a Cup of Coffee

By Alexandra Blakeley Staff Writer With a steady rise in coffee demand and the continual growth of new cafes, it’s clear that coffee isn’t just an energy boost for Californians—it’s an essential part of their lifestyle.

For Leo Salmon who has been in this environment for 26 years, the sound of grinding espresso and the warmth of freshly steamed milk will continue to provide a sense of purpose, community, and connection for years to come.

As California has been labeled as the state that consumes the most coffee annually, cafes are an essential business to many. With a major competitor like Starbucks in almost every city and small coffee shops trying to make it, it is definitely a competitive industry for those involved.

Being in the industry for over 26 years, Leo has seen these changes and increases in supply and demand as he has been the general manager of multiple Southern California locations of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is a coffee company that was established in 1963 in Southern California and has even expanded its coffee internationally. There are currently 127 stores throughout California with this number growing at a very steady pace.

It wasn’t until 1998 that Leo Salmon had involved himself in the culture of the coffee service industry.

Originally from the

Philippines, Leo had been recruited to work at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at a donut shop he had been working at to make ends-meet. As his second job, he didn’t expect much from it until many opportunities were presented to him within the company. It didn’t take long for him to climb up the ladder and eventually became a general manager at his first cafe in Los Angeles. Leo has managed 10 different locations in Southern California, all of which have been within the top 10 best-selling and most frequent returning customers.

What makes all of the stores that he has managed so successful? Leo shares that “It’s all about the people. If I hire good people who reflect my ideals for the store, then I have nothing to worry about.”

Consistency with such a team will produce sales and keep customers happy with the quality in the cup and within the baristas because at the end of the day, coffee is more than just a drink, it’s about making a connection with people around you. And to Leo, he is convinced that, “That’s why people keep coming back to us [The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf] because we offer that connection and experience in their day.”

Leo Salmon is currently the general manager for the location in Menifee,

which is one of the best performing stores since its opening in 2019. It has stayed among the top 5 in the company ever since its first year of business, further proving Leo’s expertise in the industry.

Though as new coffee shops are always appearing, what makes a corporate company like The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf stand out from the competition?

“Innovation” is the keyword that Leo highlights when expressing his thoughts. When the company first started in 1963, it was just a cup of coffee, but innovation in the company has kept it’s relevancy and expanded upon these

changes. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf were the innovators behind the concept of blended coffee when a manager in 1987 accidentally invented it and the concoction became a hit.

Despite the company going through changes and innovation, “Quality is what ultimately keeps us relevant.” The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf uses powders for their flavors versus syrups which is what the majority of their competitors use. This is one of the ways that their drinks stay consistent with quality as the powder flavors create extra

depth to the sweetness and creaminess of any of their drinks. This is one of the key components that Leo believes sets them apart from other coffee shops till this day.

Coffee continues to prove that it remains a staple in many Californian’s everyday life, whether it be as an energy boost or an afternoon pick-me-up, it shows the importance and relevance of cafes. Though to Leo Salmon, a cup of coffee goes beyond what it actually is, “Coffee is a medium of connection with people.”

Leo Salmon, general manager of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, constructing the perfect latte by steaming milk to perfection for the customer.

[Photo By: Alexandra Blakeley]

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December 3rd, 2024

Coyote Chronicle

Strike Out

The Absence of a Baseball Field at CSUSB

By Daisy Torres Staff Writer The lively campus of California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) is home to a variety of facilities for student activities. A baseball field, however, is a conspicuous omission. The causes of this omission, its effects on the student body, and the implications for the university’s athletic programs are all explored in this investigative piece.

The difference is noticeable when CSUSB is contrasted with other CSU institutions. There are established baseball programs with dedicated fields at several CSU campuses. Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Fullerton, for example, are well known for their outstanding baseball teams and facilities. These universities’ baseball programs have been successful in obtaining funds and support, which has enhanced their athletic standing.

The sports department at CSUSB, on the other hand, has had to get by with fewer resources. In addition to limiting the possibility of a baseball team, the lack of a baseball field also restricts the number of leisure options for students to participate in this well-liked activity.

The history of CSUSB athletics shows a

persistent difficulty in striking a balance between financial limitations and the want to build more facilities. Funding for a baseball field has not yet been allocated by the institution, despite multiple recommendations throughout the years.

Dr. John Smith, a longtime faculty member, says, “The idea has been floated multiple times, but

Student-Athletes wonder if they’ll ever be able to practice on their own baseball field.

Photo Credit: Daisy Torres

other priorities always seem to take precedence.”

Students and athletes nowadays are acutely aware of the lack of a baseball field. “We have to travel to a nearby park for practice,” Dylan O’Connor, a student-athlete, explains.

“It’s frustrating and limits our ability to build a strong team presence on campus.” Baseball fans now lack a home base as budget reports from the athletics department reveal that funds have been allocated to other sports and educational facilities.

The main justifications given by university officials for not having a baseball field are financial limitations and land use objectives.

Jane Doe, the athletic director, says, “We have to make tough

decisions about where to allocate our limited resources…while we recognize the importance of a baseball field, other projects have taken priority due to their broader impact on the student body.”

The lack of a baseball field at CSUSB is a visual reminder of what the lack of funds and respect for student growth looks like. It is still hoped that baseball players will eventually have a field of their own as the university grows and changes.

The vacant field serves as a reminder of what might be until then.