therunneronline.com California State University, Bakersfield
Sept. 22, 2021
Opening Act
Vol. 47, No. 2
Latinx Heritage Month kicks off with music, food and festivities See pg. 3
CSUB’s return to campus pg. 2 Celebrating Latinx culture pg. 3 Reviewing movies, books and more pg. 4 Discussing Ethics with the KIE pg. 5 Photo by Carlos Hernandez
Las Caliope kick off Latinx Heritage month with a variety of performances.
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The Runner
Sept. 22, 2021
The Runner Staff The Runner California State University, Bakersfield 9001 Stockdale Highway Bakersfield, CA 93311-1099 661-654-2165 runner@csub.edu FACULTY ADVISER Jennifer Burger jburger1@csub.edu EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Damian Lopez dlopez57@csub.edu DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR Ellice Richman erichman@csub.edu ART TEAM Faith Okoli, Kelsey Peters, Jessica Rosas ADVERTISING & MARKETING Zackrie Agnew, Genisis Delgado WEBSITE EDITOR Liliana Hernandez ASSISTANT EDITORS Kennadi Burke, Xochitl Martinez COPY EDITORS Teresa Alcantar, Taylor Ayala, Charline Delgado, Marlene Garcia, Anahi Lomeli DIGITAL TEAM Camila Arambula, Joe Bejarano, Taylor Budshaw, Jaycee Fivecoat-Long, Carlos Hernandez, Alexis Lynde, Yvette Meza, Natalie Page, Ariane Skeggs, Ian Tash, Vada Underwood REPORTERS/WRITERS CJ Alcala, Somiah Alkobadi, Guadalupe Avalos, Juniva Bojorquez, Jennifer Chavez, Victoria Cipres, Rebekah Corral, Ana Dominguez, Alea Gaona, Jacqueline Gutierrez, Guadalupe Leon, Nick Lopez, Yasmin Marcelo, Vincent Ortiz, Rhyan Nile, Alondra Roman, Lily Shaffer, Leah Truitt, Dionna Woolfolk ABOUT US The Runner is a laboratory newspaper published daily online with a biweekly PDF e-edition, in conjunction with the Department of Communications at CSU Bakersfield. DISCLAIMERS Views and opinions expressed in The Runner are not necessarily those of the editors, staff or the Department of Communications. The staff of The Runner reserve the right to refuse or omit any advertising or material which advocates illegal activity, or which may be considered libelous, irresponsible or tasteless. COPYRIGHT Copyright belongs to the Department of Communications at CSU Bakersfield. CONTACT US Send corrections requests, letters to the editor, op-ed submissions and press releases to runner@csub.edu. Send advertising inquiries to Faculty Adviser Jennifer Burger at jburger1@csub.edu.
COVID-19 notifications not slowing down progress for in-person classes at CSUB By Rebekah Corral Staff Writer Since August, CSUB has sent out notifications for 31 on-campus cases of COVID-19, which is one more than the university sent for the entire year prior, from July 2020 to July 2021. Despite the spike in COVID-19 cases, CSUB President Dr. Lynnette Zelezny says the university has no plans for returning to virtual-only classes. She said the cabinet, comprised of top administrators at CSUB, would be the final decider of when to go virtual. “However, it is not very likely they will do so since the protocols are working well. The plan now is to stay the course,” Zelezny said in an interview with The Runner. According to Zelezny, positive cases are among less than 1% of the students on campus. She explained that the university had created a dashboard tracker showing the total number of positive cases so students and staff could access that information. Zelezny reassured that the
campus is nowhere near a crisis. She said the Kern County Public Health Department has not given CSUB an official number of cases that would stop in-person classes. However, the school did create its own limit of “nearing 2%” of the on-campus population, Zelezny said. At that point, the university’s Emergency Operations Center would reevaluate and make a recommendation to the cabinet. The center is chaired by University Police Chief Martin Williamson. When someone tests positive with COVID, the information is sent to Erika Delamar, the assistant director for Student Health Services and the case manager handling contact tracing She begins to track down and notify people who have been in close contact with the infected person. Zelezny said the staff handling these cases are working 24 hours a day to get notifications out to potentially exposed students or faculty within hours. There have even been additional staff added in case it may be needed, she said.
The CSU system is requiring all students, faculty and staff coming to campus for work or class to submit their COVID-19 vaccination record or a request for exemption by Sept. 30th. For those who are not vaccinated, beginning on Oct. 1. they will be required to submit to weekly COVID-19 tests. The university will prompt students with a reminder that they will need to get tested in the Stockdale Room from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday. In the event that a student with an exemption does not get tested, the Student Conduct Office will reach out to them. English Professor Brad Ruff is still teaching classes synchronous classes via Zoom, however he’s looking forward to returning to campus for in-person classes in the spring. “I cannot wait until I can return to campus for in-person classes. We have accomplished a great deal during the Zoom hours, but they do not compare to one productive face-to-face class sessions,” he wrote in an email.
Ruff said he feels positive about the school’s COVID response. “I am quite confident in the CSUB response to the pandemic,” he wrote. “All stakeholders must simply follow the guidelines for CSUB to get back to some sense of normal.” Some students are happy to return to more in-person classes. CSUB junior Esmerelda Ochoa said, “I would feel more relieved if I could return to in-person classes. COVID is one of my most minor concerns when going back to school. I feel very safe returning to in-person classes.” Zelezny will host an open forum via Zoom at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 22. A link was emailed out to all CSUB faculty, staff and students. The forum will focus on health and safety, COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, the budget and more. She will also be hosting the virtual ‘Runner Walk and Talk Monday Sept. 27. This is a forum to allow students to share their voices, questions and feedback with campus leaders.
ASI Meeting: Provost Vernon Harper encourages return to face-to-face By Alondra Roman Staff Writer On Sept. 17 Associated Students Inc. met up to discuss current topics, among them CSUB’s audit and classes for the 2022 Spring semester. Provost Dr. Vernon Harper reported faculty is currently working on developing Spring schedules. Modality decisions are determined at the department level. Harper encourages an increase in face-to-face classes for the spring. Harper asked the Academic Senate to take a look at the academic structure at CSUB. Historically and currently, CSUB has been one university with multiple schools. Harper hopes the Academic Senate will consider “[elevating] those schools to colleges”
which will give the university more flexibility structurally. The Financial Statement Audit Report for 20202021, done by Andy Maffia and Jennifer Seifert from Aldrich, did not identify any material deficiencies in their report. Expenses were primarily made to support student services. Dr. Lynette Zelzney reports that CSUB has been recognized for its commitment to social mobility. CSUB has received a $5 million STEM grant from the Department of Education. Zelzney encourages students to get vaccinated as those found critically ill and hospitalized due to COVID are the unvaccinated. Dr. Dwayne Cantrell, Associate Vice President for
Enrollment Management and Chief Enrollment Officer, reminds students dropped due to non-payment of balances owed to the campus that they have until Sept. 20 at 11:59 p.m. to submit course reinstatement forms. “On Oct. 1 we open, believe it or not, we open applications for Fall ‘22 admissions to our campus,” said Cantrell. Cantrell reminds students that the application for FAFSA and the California Dream Act both open Oct. 1. Students should look out for the Roadrunner Scholarship Universe for the 2022-2023 school year. “We have opened our brand new Transfer Resource Center,” said Cantrell. This center is open for all transfer students.
Scott with Athletics informs students on Oct. 6 beginning at 6 p.m., CSUB will host a soccer game, Viva Los Runners, as part of Latinx Heritage Month. The event is free and “All students will receive free churros at the game,” said Scott. Ilaria Pesco from the Alumni Engagement reminds students that the “deadline to sign up for Runner Bridge is coming up this week.” There is a surplus of mentors and students are encouraged to sign up. There will also be a teacher read-aloud series upcoming this Wednesday via Zoom. Dr. Gina Garcia is expected to speak via Zoom next week. Sign-ups for Paint Night are open and will close Oct. 23.
The Runner
Features Sept. 22, 2021
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Latinx Heritage Month kicks off By Victoria Cipres Feature Writer Sept. 15, 2021 is the first day of Latinx Heritage month. CSU Bakersfield is kicking off the celebration in front of the Student Union Patio with food, music, and keynote speaker Dr. Jorge Moraga. Students began to fill the front of the Student Union Patio once the performance began from the vibrant and lively trio, Las Caliope, Bakersfield’s first all-woman Mariachi versatile group. The kick-off also provided free food from locally owned, Latinx restaurant, El Pollo Riko. For some, this may have been the first time since the pandemic to see the campus come to life. Keynote speaker, Dr. Jorge Moraga, who is the assistant professor of interdisciplinary, ethnic, and Latina/Latino/Latinx studies here on campus. Dr. Moraga is a long-time contributor and supporter of Latinx Heritage Month. Dr. Moraga speaks about the importance of “how to best implement these institutional interventions, how do we hold each other accountable, and what does transparency and visibility look like with these kind of changes”. For most, the term Latinx is inclusive to all who choose to use. That does not mean everyone may feel represented by the term if “they are not willing and ready to engage with the critical work required to use the term Latinx,” Dr. Moraga expressed. The “X” in Latinx simply showcases how the Latinx community can be more inclusive and the importance of representation.
Photo by Alexis Lynde
Las Calliope preforming at the Latinx Heritage Month Kick-off at California State University Bakersfield. Wednesday, September 15, 2021. trio, Las Caliope, closed the kickoff. The Dr. Moraga contends that “Words reflect trio is made up of Celene Ruelas on violin, power, language matters, and that togethRosanna Valadez on guitar, and CSUB’s er, the politics of naming can create new very own junior, Targacy Valdez on bass. forms of belonging but also new forms It is not common to find an all-woman of invisibility” in which why students at mariachi group. Valdez expresses that it CSUB have worked endlessly behind the “feels great knowing that we’re doing scenes to make the change of Hispanic something different than what is expected Heritage Month to Latinx Heritage month as females in mariachi”. here on campus. Las Caliope was formed in April of 2021 Bakersfield’s first all-woman versatile
and their name says it all. It is from the Greek music muse, Kalliope; Ruelas said that “since we are Latina and we are versatile, we wanted to add a versatile twist to the name.” When asked how CSUB reached out to them, Ruelas said, “CSU Programming emailed us and reached out after coordinator Afaf Aldhulay was tagged in a video of ours.” The woman of Las Caliope express how much of honor it is to represent the Hispanic community. When asking Ruelas how it feels to bring the group together and play at the kickoff, she stated that even though it is not easy being an all-woman trio “but it is something new and I’m super proud of all of us. It feels good to bring something new and what we have to bring to Cal-State and I am super honored to do so.” When asking junior and Human Biology major, Tagacy Valdez how she feels about being not only a young educated woman, but a Latina representing her college and community, Valdez eagerly said, “It’s such an honor to have such a unique opportunity to be able to represent the Hispanic community while working hard in school to be able to work closer towards my future career…the girls and I love sharing our talent with other people and we hope to inspire other young girls and women.” CSUB has a month filled of great events in celebration of Latinx Heritage Month with student run activity and keynote speakers. The event calendar is available online and at the CSUB programming on Instagram.
Expression Night colors their return By Vada Underwood Multimedia Producer On Sept. 16, 2021, Campus Programming hosted their first of many in-person Expression Nights since before the shutdowns from COVID-19. The event was hosted at the Stockdale Room Patio and included free pre-packaged ice cream available for everyone that attended. Expression Nights is an open mic night for students to express their selves through art, spoken word, dance, or any other artistic talents. When asking, Viviana, the host of the event and a team member of campus programming what Expression Nights is, she said, “Expression Nights is expressing yourself as a student, as a person, as an individual... personality, even family... Maybe an expression of dance or art.” Expression Nights is also a part of CSUB’s celebration month filled with events in celebration of the Latinx Heritage Month. It, along with the Latinx Heritage Month Kick-Off, was one of the first in-person student social event to happen this semester. The excitement upon attendees' faces as a result of being back and of socializing face-to-face was very clear to all. Take for example, Julian Carrea, a student at CSUB. Carrea was happy to share his
Photo by Carlos Hernandez
Campus Programming Coordinator Afaf Adullay introduces the return of Expresenthusiasm for the nights in person debut, stating “I’ve been kind of dying to do some events in person, so actually being in person feels great.” It seems that Carrea's desires for fun outside of the screen rang true throughout the event’s attendees As the night began, it started off with two preregistered displays of art before the mic was opened to anyone who wished to strut their stuff. After some time and many calls to approach the mic, one brave student decided to take the mic and share a poem in hopes of breaking the ice.
When this didn’t result in more students approaching the mic, the host decided to engage the audience with an ice breaker. The mic was passed around and everyone had to introduce themselves and provide an interesting fact about themselves. After all the laughs and getting to know each other, the audience seemed very comfortable, which resulted in many students approaching the mic. From learning new dances together to sharing emotional memories, the event’s vibe was extremely dynamic and constantly shifting. Expression Nights is an event that will
Photos by Carlos Hernandez
Students participate in the first Expression Nights of the semester. be hosted monthly by Campus Programming, so there will be many more to attend throughout this semester. Contact Campus Programming at campusprog@ csub.edu or visit them in The Student Union for more information.
Features
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The Runner
Sept. 22, 2021
Bilingual musician breaks boundaries in ‘Princesa’ By Xochitl Martinez Assistant Features Editor
Amid the chaos of the pandemic, an up-and-coming artist from El Centro, California rose to become the future of the Chicano music scene. At the age of 18, Jaylene Terrazas, also known by her stage name “Jay Roxxx,” gained a large social media following and went viral on Tik Tok for her unique, rich voice and original music. The creation of her debut album, “Princesa,” began with an audition with MC Magic that resulted in a record deal with Nasty Boy Records, a Latin Hip-Hop label, according to an interview Roxxx had with CBS 13 news. The album explores a wide range of topics and genres in both English and Spanish. Roxxx expressed that the purpose of her debut album was to showcase that Chicana artists did not have to be limited by any boundaries and could do any genre of music. “Princesa” was released Feb. 19 and consists of 12 songs. The first track, “Mi
Amor,” serves as an introduction to the wistful vocals of Roxxx. The lyrics tell of a story of lovers separated by betrayal with a moody beat and guitar. This track flows perfectly into “Princesa,” a remake of the original by MC Magic. “Princesa” is a romantic duet that expresses the desperate longing between lovers and combines both hip-hop and mariachi. This song stands out among the rest with its passionate vocals and grand instrumentation. The next track, “Mi Diamante,” a cumbia, is injected with raw emotion as the lyrics tell of a love lost. The vocals immerse the listener into a nostalgic experience. Roxxx does this genre so beautifully one would have thought this was her specialty. “Psycho,” a pop song with a dark twist reminiscent of the 2000s , is the very antithesis of what has been done so far. The lyrics reject the admirer in a tongue-in-the-cheek style. “Destrampada,” a reggaeton track, continues the fun mood with a sensual twist.
“I Belong to You,” the first English track, shows a completely different side of Roxxx in an R&B love song that shows off her soulful voice. “Hyper” returns the album to a fun, light mood with an EDM beat. The next track, a cover of “Como La Flor,” pays an homage to the late singer, Selena Quintanilla, an inspiration for many Mexican Americans. The cover demonstrates how Roxxx can make any song her own. The next song, “My Demons,” is the most personal. It describes the
depths of depression and is amplified by the haunting vocals. The intro of this song explains the events that inspired this song and lets the audience know that Roxxx is a talented songwriter. The final track, “Lagrimas,” concludes the album with a wistful Spanish-rock heartbreak ballad similar to the mood of the first track, “Mi Amor.” From beginning to end, this album is a beautifully executed introduction into the artistry of Roxxx and highlights her versatility, one-of-a kind voice, and unapologetic songwriting.
Latinx films to watch this month By Anahi Lomeli Sports Copy Editor With the film industry slacking in the Latinx department, “City of God” uncovers raw material regarding the class system in modern-day Brazil’s dayto-day struggle for survival. The movie largely zooms in on the city’s rival gangs, which eventually break out into war, thus killing many innocents and guilty parties. Step away from the popular and recognizable Latinx movies like “Selena” with Jennifer Lopez, “Instructions Not Included”-with Eugenio Derbez, or hit shows like “Narcos Mexico,”- and indulge in a foreign film with lots of heart and agony. The theme of classism and gang presence is something heavily shown in “City of God” but not overdone. We, as the audience, can either sympathize or relate to the events on camera. Our community is heavily scattered with gangs in some areas of Bakersfield and non-existent in others.
Our country can also arguably be defined as government ruled through classism. Although the film takes place in a country far from ours and in a tongue unrecognizable to our own, some scenes emote similar events that happen in some of our lives. If, for some reason or another, foreign films are just not your cup of tea, here are a few other movies and shows you may like: “Crimson Peak” by Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro. “Dolores Huerta” a documentary on her life and accomplishments. “Jane the Virgin”, a TV show that won five different awards, including two Golden Globes.
Spooky September reads to prepare for scare season By Leah Truitt Features Writer While many may think it preposterous for Halloween to already be on our minds, October is less than a month away. For those who are already in a mood to be spooked, here are three recommendations that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat and fearful of flipping the page. We will start with a story that many of you have most likely heard of, the chilling classic, “Misery,” written by the infamous Stephen King in 1987. Even though it was published over 30 years ago, it still holds up as a terrifying tale. Stephen King voices his own worst fears in this novel. He depicts the story of Paul Sheldon, a famous writer, who after getting in a terrible accident, is saved by his number one fan. Annie Wilkes will do any-
thing to hear his next story, even if it means turning from his savior to his captor; however, while you may have heard of the terrifying tale, there is a little-known fact that may give you more than a bit of a chill. Annie Wilkes, the horrifying antagonist in the novel, is written to have come from our very own city, Bakersfield, California. Spooky indeed. If you are not a fan of gore, this is not the book for you. Prepare to be scared when you enter the world of
“Coraline,” written by Neil Gaiman. While many of you have most likely watched the 2009 movie adaptation, were you aware that it was originally a tale that Gaiman wrote for his daughter? His intention was to cre-
ate a novel that would be just as scary for children as it would be for adults, and he most definitely succeeded. Enter the world of Coraline Jones as she discovers a delightful world of treats and wonder that exists behind a tiny door in
the wall of her new house. There, she finds parents that appreciate her, neighbors that interest and amaze her, and what seems to be a child’s paradise; but, this delightful paradise is far more sinister than it appears. If you are a fan of the classic zombie novel and dystopian novels and worlds on the brink of collapse, then I highly recommend “The Girl With All The Gifts,” written by the British author, M.R. Carey. Enter a zombie novel with a twist; the world has been overtaken by a ter-
rible infection that turns people into “hungries,” humans who have lost their humanity and wish only to gorge themselves on human flesh. Humanity has only one hope left, Dr. Caroline Caldwell. She is a woman who will do anything to find a cure, even if that means forfeiting her own humanity in the process. This novel centers on the quest for a cure as well as the few hungries that are outliers, those who still have the ability to learn and to speak. Follow Melanie, a hungry who wishes to be more than the monster everyone sees her as. Prepare to be entranced by a novel that will have you questioning what it truly means to be a monster and what it truly means to be human as M.R. Carey blurs the lines between morality and the common good, love and fear, and humanity and depravity.
The Runner
Features Sept. 22, 2021
The best chocoflan you’ll ever eat
By Jennifer Chavez Staff Writer Jump into fall with this delicious recipe for how to make a captivating chocoflan, also known as “The Impossible Cake.” A chocoflan consists of a chocolate cake and a flan baked together to create a creamy and chocolatey bite all-in-one. Personally, it is one of my favorite desserts to bake for my family with all of the holidays coming
up. It’s a dessert that you definitely want to see at your next gathering or even if you want to give it a try and experience the goodness all for yourself. Prep Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 90 mins Servings: 10-12 Ingredients: Chocolate cake: -1 chocolate cake mix box (your favorite kind) -3 eggs -1/2 cup of oil -1 ¼ cup of water Flan:
-4-5 eggs (add 5 eggs for a firmer texture) -1 can of condensed milk (14 oz) -1 can of evaporated milk (12 oz) -splash of vanilla -1 ¼ cup of sugar Directions In a saucepan over medium heat, pour your sugar and closely watch it as it begins to melt and slowly stir. This is an important step that can quickly go wrong. As your sugar begins to melt it will turn into
a light brown color which is exactly what you want. Turn off the heat and carefully pour into your bundt pan. This is your caramel sauce for the flan. Preheat your oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine the ingredients of your cake mix until thoroughly mixed. Pour the batter into your bundt cake pan. In a separate large bowl, place your desired number of eggs and beat them until smooth, afterwards, add in
your evaporated milk, condensed milk, and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Once this is done, carefully pour in this mixture over your chocolate batter. Cover the pan with a piece of foil that is sprayed with a bit of cooking oil to prevent the cake from sticking. Place a large aluminum tray in the oven and fill it about halfway with water. Then, carefully place your bundt pan in the center of the tray.
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Bake your chocoflan in the oven at 350°F, for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until a toothpick cleanly comes out of the chocoflan. Once completely cooked, let it cool. Once cooled, slide a spatula along the edge of the pan to loosen the cake for clean removal. Then, refrigerate the cake for at least 5 hours, but preferably 24 hours to let the flan firm up. Enjoy!
Photos provided by Jennifer Chavez/The Runner
CAPk’s Traco Matthews discusses ethics in leadership By Somiah Alkobadi Multimedia Producer Kegley Institute of Ethics member Mr. Burroughs presented a virtual discussion on Zoom with Traco Mathews, chief program officer at Community Action Partnership of Kern. Bringing leadership and communication connections with Kern County’s official anti-poverty agency, his greatest passion is encouraging and coaching others. “Traco Matthews teaches business courses at both Bakersfield College and here at CSUB. Provides mentoring for leaders on diversity, equity inclusion,
and belonging; and serves as a social pastor and community advocate” stated Mr. Burroughs. CAPk is one of the largest non-profit organizations in Kern County, with over nine hundred employees and 16 programs. National network of community action agencies dedicated to the same purpose which is leading efforts to alleviate the conditions of poverty, giving individuals and families the support they need to thrive. When Mr. Burroughs asked, “Who in your life has been an influential exemplar for you of ethical leadership and what ways
have they influenced you in your career?” Matthews replied, “Being a man of strong faith, Jesus has had a big impact on his life and in his purpose along with historical leaders; MLK Jr., Mandela, and Gandhi. They all have courage to see what the law says today, and where we should be going today, which is what the heart of ethics is.” Matthews said, “It is one thing to get results, but it is another to get them the right way. For example slavery made money, but it was not ethical.” Matthews continues to add what he thinks leadership pillars are; “genuine care-people
Photo provided by Kegley Institute of Ethics Ethics in Leadership discussion via Zoom on Sept. 15 with KIE host Dr. Burroughs(left) guest starring Traco Matthews(right).
only follow those they trust, only lead those you truly care about. Humilityalways grow and be open to feedback, all feedback is a gift even if you do not agree you learn about it.” A student asked him,
“What do you do when you are challenged or set back?” Matthews said, “Sometimes you do the right thing and still get pushed back, you need to learn to ground yourself. Breathe, vent to someone,
do not act out in the moment due to what someone says. Remember you are a leader. Everything starts with courage.” The discussion it is now available on the Kegley Ethics Youtube page.
Kegley Institute talks ethics of ‘Iron Man 3’ for movie night By Somiah Alkobadi Multimedia Producer CSUB programming hosted the virtual movie night on the 2013 film,“Iron Man 3” on Sept. 14 with the Kegley Institute of Ethics co-hosting the discussion. students discussed their ideas of how the film related to ethics along with issues going on in the world. KIE social media coordinator Sonia Rodriguez said, “I believe documentary style movies are geared to getting you to think about things more critical-
ly… to make you question the history of incarceration in our society.” Issues should be talked about to spread awareness, and make a change. The film brought awareness to post-traumatic stress disorder, xenophobia, and military/foreign policy themes. In the film, Killian the villain manipulated the world into believing the terrorist was another man, so he gave the world a face to target knowing they would look no other way. Afaf Aldhulay stated, “Tony Stark’s weapons being stolen and
used for evil, relates to the Taliban taking over Afghanistan with U.S. military’s weapons.” The film showed similarities to issues going on in the world today that students were able to connect. KIE hosts events to help spread awareness on ethics. Their motto is,“To inspire our community to recognize the value of thinking about and engaging in ethics.” Join in this week for more discussions on their instagram page located @kegleyethics.
Ethics in Film post discussion via Zoom on Sept. 14. With CSUB Programming Afaf Aldhulay and Co-Host Dr. McCullough.
Opinions
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The Runner
Sept. 22, 2021
Social media is harmful to humans By Lilliawna Shaffer Staff Writer Social media is a highlight reel of our happiest moments, half of which are construed to look better
than the moment itself. Easy access to editing programs caused millions of people to compare their lives to the fake lives they see on platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and Insta-
gram. Sensitive issues like self-esteem, body image, and mental health are being challenged by the incessant hours we spend scrolling on social media.
Illustration by First Last/The Runner
We scroll endlessly looking at “perfect” pictures of the people who seem to have “perfect” lives. Their pictures are photoshopped to have smaller waists, flawless skin, smaller stomachs, less arm fat, whiter teeth, and bigger butts. Because of society’s reinforcement of this image being ideal, this idea is displayed on a loop in the minds of people to the point that they believe they must have this body type, even though it is nothing but photoshop. My bikini post was taken hours before I looked in the mirror sideways, sucked in my tummy, then cried the second I let it out because “it’s too big.” An Illinois State University article suggests that “Social media can then hurt your body image by constantly exposing yourself to the ideal body type, leading to constant comparison of yourself to unrealistic standards.” These pictures are telling part of a story that aren’t always as happy as the fake smiles and laughter in the photo. They are sad attempts at trying to convince the world that our lives are better than they actual-
ly are. Some of my happiest looking pictures are the ones taken hours before I spent countless nights crying myself to sleep because I was so depressed I could barely get out of bed to make it to work that morning. HelpGuide.org describes how “we’re all aware that other people tend to share just the highlights of their lives, rarely the low points that everyone experiences” in an article that talks about how social media use and mental health correspond. I’ve spent years resisting the urge to edit my body in photos, but that doesn’t mean some of my pictures are any more real than those who chose to edit their photos. I’ve posted some of my happiest looking pictures during some of my darkest times. I get comments like “you’re glowing” and “living your best life” but that couldn’t be further than the truth. About a month ago, I decided to take a break from Instagram and TikTok because the two became too toxic and overwhelming for me. I spent over 8 hours every day not enjoying so-
cial media, but also not being able to stop scrolling because I felt the need to compare my sad life to those who looked like they were so much happier. While doing this I came across other people who scrolled aimlessly comparing their bodies to other’s. This is when I had the realization that the girl’s I was comparing myself to also compared themselves to other girls. This endless cycle deteriorates our mental health one post at a time. The National Eating Disorders Association writes “Before social networks, we mostly had images of impossibly perfect celebrities. We would pass these images on billboards, watch them on TV, flip through them in magazines, but we weren’t sitting around staring at them for hours every day.” For this, I am asking that any person who is in a cycle of toxic social media use to the point that it harms their own mental health to delete it. Come back to it when your scene of self is strong enough that an influencer’s post doesn’t send you into a downward spiral.
SHARE YOUR VOICE One of our missions at The Runner is to facilitate dialogue and create community by sharing the diverse voices of our campus. Do you have an opinion or experience you’d like to share with readers?
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CAMPUS VOICES These longer op-eds allow you to express your viewpoints on important issues in our university, community, and world. Op-eds should be 500-700 words and include supporting facts from credible sources. Letters and op-eds may be edited for clarity, grammar, spelling and length. Send your submissions to runner@csub.edu.
Sports
The Runner
Sept. 22, 2021
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Hillman Aquatic Center reopens bringing relief to CSUB swimmers By Nicklas Lopez Sports Reporter When the 2020-2021 college sports season was postponed due to COVID-19, Student athletes’ routine filled lifestyles were derailed across the country. Making this one of the longest off seasons athletes had ever faced, they also had a new set of obstacles. CSUB Senior swimmers Autmn D’Arcy and Loren Gillilan who both competed in the 2021 Olympic trials, described the effects of the unexpected long break with cancellations to their 2020-2021 collegiate season. “This offseason was really long, the only offseason I have had before was only two weeks, this was almost three months of absolutely no swimming.” said D’ Arcy. In the offseason CSUB swimmers had a tough time finding facilities with pools that were suitable enough to workout in due to COVID public pools and other facilities were closed to the public. The offseason is important time in an athletes’ year where they usually spend that time getting better at their sport, because of COVID 19 this was a challenge. Athletes had to look for places to get ready for season. D’Arcy explained that she has even at times resorted to using apartment pools at times to train, “I tried to use apartment pools at first, but they were freezing, and they are only about 10 yards.” “There’s a certain aspect to swimming you have to get a feel for the water and if you’re not in the water you’ll lose that no matter
Photo provided by CSUB Athletics
Loran Gillilan swimming at the J.R. Hillman Aquatic Center. what you do outside of water, you won’t be as good as you once were before.” Gillilan describes being out of the water for so long this off-season Now, CSUB swimmers are finally back in the campus pool and are excited as ever to prepare for their first full season since 2019. “Once I got back into it, it feels like I just started swimming for the first time again in my life.” Gillilan explained what it felt like to be back in the pools on campus and fully practicing again. “The longer break made us a lot more excited and ready to get back into it, I think the meets this year will be a lot more exciting” said D’ Arcy.
Autumn D’Arcy swimming at the J.R. Hillman Aquatic Center.
Photo provided by CSUB Athletics
Bakersfield native pitches no hitter in major league By Nicklas Lopez Sports Reporter Former Bakerfield native and current Milwaukee Brewers Ace is setting his sights on winning this year’s National league Cy Young Award. Corbin Burnes, 2013
Centennial High a graduate, who then went on to play at Saint Mary’s College, where was later drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB draft. Corbin Burnes played a key role in Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians, the 26-year-old
right hander hurled eight shutout innings while striking out 14 batters. He threw 115 pitches in his impressive outing, a new career high for the starter and only allowed one walk. Josh Hader, a lefthanded reliever came into the game to seal the
deal in the ninth inning, one of the MLB’s elite closing pitchers. Burnes is currently having a breakout year and is currently a top contender for the MLB National League Cy Young Award. Corbin became the sixth pitcher in Brewer’s
franchise history to record 200 strikeouts in a single season. With his electric cutter, he has shown himself to be the Brewers Ace, despite having a down year in the 2020 season. So far, he has recorded an MLB leading 2.25 ERA
with a record of 10-4 when he starts. Burnes has not lost a game since May 25 that loss was against the San Diego Padres. With this solid performance in his record, the Bakersfield native is making his case to win this year’s National League Cy Young Award.
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The Fun Page Sept. 22, 2021
The Runner