April 22, 2015
Softball wins one Page 6
Vol. 40, No. 19
DROUGHT
therunneronline.com facebook.com/runnercsub
@csub_runner
@runnerphoto
FREE
Must-haves for spring Page 4
One copy per person of each edition is free. Additional copies 50 cents each.
ANSWERING THE CALL
CSUB’s plan to respond to the California drought includes a reduction of watering and alternative landscaping methods
AJ Alvarado/The Runner
Left: A dried up canal resting behind Sam Lynn Ballpark in Oildale now houses shopping carts, weeds, and sand instead of water. The drought has caused many bodies of water to completely dry up and give the appearance of a barren wasteland, just like this former canal. Right: Meanwhile, in front of Student Union, a large puddle soaks into the grassy terrain. CSUB plans to reduce water usage on campus by 25 percent this year.
By Steven Barker News Editor
In response to California’s worsening drought and concerns surrounding perceptions of excessive water consumption, CSU Bakersfield has pledged to reduce its water use by 25 percent this calendar year. The decision is in accordance with a state executive order issued and authorized on April 1 by Gov. Jerry Brown, which requires urban water usage to be reduced by that same amount. Associate Vice President for Facilities Management Patrick Jacobs said the university has developed and begun work on solutions to reach the 25 percent required reduction. Since irriga-
tion accounts for approximately 80 percent of CSUB’s water consumption, Jacobs said the university will reduce irrigation for lawns and replace unused and difficult-to-maintain turf fields with low water-use vegetation. “I tried to identify areas where people don’t currently use the grass,” Jacobs said. “In other words, it’s green, it’s grass, but it’s not areas where students either play or have activities. I tried to find areas where there was grass, but it wasn’t really traversed a lot.” In particular, Jacobs said the university is planning to construct four demonstration zones on campus. Demonstration zones refer to spaces in which turf and grass lawns are removed and replaced with low-use plants and plant materials. The four areas chosen to become
demonstration zones include the east-, west-, and south-facing sloped areas in front of the Walter Stiern Library, a strip of land south of Science III, the lawn in front of Peet’s Coffee between Science I and Dorothy Donohue Hall and, if funding permits, the hilly area immediately adjacent to the Cashier’s Office. Jacobs said these areas were chosen due to their central locations on campus. “I wanted these areas to be in areas where people go so that people would observe these,” Jacobs said. “I want them in the center of campus so that people can see them and they could also become cognizant of what this non-grass landscape would look like, so it would encourage people on their own, in their own houses, to do stuff
like this. The construction of the demonstration zones is being funded by a $243,000 request made by CSUB and approved by the Chancellor’s Office. Construction is expected to begin during fall quarter, after the grasses in the listed areas are allowed to die during the summer. Currently, Jacobs added the university has also started removing turf areas on campus that have been difficult to maintain. “We’ve undertaken a program where, in five areas, we’ve either taken out grass and replaced it with less water using vegetation or taken out grass and completely eliminated water use,” Jacobs said. The five areas where turf has been removed include the northeast strip of
turf in Parking Lot H, the northwest strip in Parking Lot I, a rectangle of grass near the Facilities Building, a plot on the east side of Parking Lot G and the small zones of land surrounding parking permit machines. In each of the locations, grass has either been replaced with mulch, water-reducing plant material or hardscapes. According to a memo provided by Facilities Management, these changes are expected to result in an approximate savings of 1,407,993 gallons of water. While a number of students expressed displeasure with how many years it has taken CSUB to respond to the statewide drought, they approved of the university’s actions. [See DROUGHT, Page 2]
“Grad checks” cause extra stress for students GRADUATION
By Nate Sanchez Senior Columnist
With commencement only seven weeks away, many students’ joy is being mired by a minor hindrance with heavy ramifications, graduation applications. “Grad checks,” as they’re known among students, are a mandatory application for all California State University students preparing to graduate. “It’s a way to check that students are on track to graduate,” said CSUB Director of Admissions and Records Ben Perlado. “It’s how we’ve made sure that they’ve completed all their requirements.” While this final checkpoint should be an easy step in the graduation process, some students are finding it to be a major source of stress. “I actually finished in the spring of 2014,” said philosophy major Nick Nicita. “I took the CBEST instead of the GWAR and they didn’t see that, so my status read that my graduation was pending me taking the GWAR.” Nicita, among other students, has expressed contempt at the slow
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
News
Showing off: Inaugural Research Excellence Day a success. Page 2 Seeds we sow: CSUB experiments with alternatives to grass. Page 2
process and unclear deadline. Nicita knew he had to turn it in two quarters in advance, but missed the deadline by three days. Because of this, Nicita has had to wait a year to get his diploma. “When I turned mine in in October, I didn’t hear back until March,” Nicita said. “They should make the deadlines clearer. I missed the deadline by three days, and they didn’t recognize my CBEST and now I’ve had to wait a year for my degree on this stupid technicality.” While some students wait to get over the repercussions of the system, others patiently hope they don’t suffer the same fate. “I turned in my grad check within the deadline and for a long time I didn’t hear back,” said senior geology major Allison Burich. “So I emailed my evaluator two months later and she said she’d just started the grad checks in December. I got mine back the first week of April.” According to Perlado, the wait stems from the high volume of applicants. “It’s important to turn in the application before the deadline,” he said. “It’s an overwhelming number of applications so it’s important to get yours done as soon as possible.”
Features
I am what I am: Rachel Hollis OK with viral photo. Page 3 Fatality: Mortal Kombat kontinues franchise with new game. Page 4
Opinion
The sound of silence: Free speech zones ruins college life. Page 5 Return the favor: Our EIC says we should offer to help. Page 5
“If they can’t get it before the last quarter, they need to either move up the deadline or hire more people,” Burich said. The wait may be an annoyance to some students, but the price tag is universally abhorred. “I don’t know why I’m paying extra for something I can check on myCSUB,” Burich said. “You can see that I’ve done all my requirements there.” “The $55 is a simple processing fee,” Perlado said. “It pays for the amount of time and analysis that goes into the evaluation process. A part of it also goes toward ordering the diploma.” Students also question why this sort of process cannot be done during quarterly advising. Burich said that students’ familiarity with their advisers and their specialty in major requirements would minimize the number of evaluations sent back with mistakes. The application process, according to Perlado, runs parallel to the advising process. He said the students and advisers make the academic plan, while the evaluators are the final checkpoint on the road to graduation, making sure the proper requirements are fulfilled.
Sports
Things are changin’: Grimes finds niche in javelin throw. Page 6 Evolution: Fan of the House wants baseball purists to stop. Page 6
Multimedia
Check out our videos and audio at therunneronline.com
2
News
CSUB celebrates student, faculty work at Research Excellence Day CAMPUS
By Esteban Ramirez Sports Editor
Students and faculty were recognized for their hard work at the inaugural Research Excellence Day 2015 at CSU Bakersfield on April 16. The event was a chance for students and CSUB professors to present all of their research that they have done and the importance of student research at CSUB. “It’s definitely really exciting getting to show my research,” said Josh Ward, 22, who is a computer engineering major. Ward won first place in the Student Research Competition in engineering and computer sciences with his project of a remote-controlled lawn mower. “Last year, we had two people in my department under the Student Research Competition, and this year we have upwards of 10, which is a great gain we made in such a new department,” Ward said. The day started off with keynote speaker Robert A. Lucas, who is the director for the Institute for Scholarly Learning. Lucas’ talk was entitled “Pursuing Research and Scholarly Activity at a Comprehensive University.” Afterwards, the event featured
“It’s great to see the light bulb go off in student’s eyes in terms of how validating their research was.”
Robert Negrini Professor of Geology
AJ Alvarado/The Runner
Dr. Cruz, a computer science professor (left), Josh Ward (center), and Marcoantonio Salazar (right) explain their idea behind their research and development of a remote-controlled lawnmower.
three breakout sessions with geology professor Robert A. Negrini, psychology professor Steve Suter and anthropology professor Robert Yohe. Negrini’s session was titled “Three Decades of Published Research and Grant Procurement by Faculty and Students in a Teaching – Heavy Environment;” Suter’s was named “Doing Research with Human Subjects at CSUB;” Yohe’s presentation was titled “Prehistoric Mammoth Hunters on the Snake River Plain: New Evidence from Owl Cave in Southern Idaho.” Negrini added that he felt that this day is very important. “There is a lot more potential for academic research at CSUB
than what happens,” he said. “I like doing my part to help promote that. I’m very much looking forward to the student poster session that will be a highlight for me because I’m used to seeing my research, so it’s good to see something new. It’s also great to see the light bulb go off in student’s eyes in terms of how validating their research was.” The day ended with the Student Research Poster Competition. Geology major Zachary Martindale, 34, who won first place in the competition for physical and mathematical sciences, said that this experience has been very motivating. “It has been really good,”
WATER
Martindale said. “It has been very helpful in motivating me to get the actual presentation ready because I have to defend my thesis so this has been a great preparation for it. It’s just a really good experience.” Martindale’s research was on the possibilities of an earthquake hitting the Kern County Fault, and if it would break the Lake Isabella Dam. Martindale said his research proved that it was very unlikely for an earthquake big enough to break the dam would actually hit it. “I would say a lot of people are relieved – a little skeptical but relieved as well,” Martindale said of the reactions he has received.
SHORT TAKES
April 22, 2015
Campus news in brief
Throughout her career on the CSU Bakersfield women’s basketball team, Tyonna Outland has broken record and accomplished a lot of her goals but on April 16, she achieved her biggest goal. Outland, who grew up in Compton, signed with the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association. She became the first CSUB women’s basketball player to be signed to a WNBA team. “I was just really excited and didn’t really know what reaction to do because there was a lot through my mind,” Outland said. “My dream was actually coming through. It just makes me believe that faith and hard work works. “A lot of people didn’t think I would be able to do it because the situation of the small school and everything. It just proves to me that I can keep proving people wrong if I keep working hard.” In her final year at CSUB, Outland averaged 19.7 points per game, 5.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. She ended as the school’s all-time scorer with 2,078 points. Outland is also the school’s leader in field goals made (722), field goals attempted (1743), free throws made (528), free throws attempted (709) and games played (132). “It was weight-lifting, happiness, joyfulness and a lot of praying to God for the opportunity that she has gotten,” CSUB women’s basketball coach Greg McCall said. “It’s such a huge blessing because this young lady has faced a lot of adversity in her life, and for her to fight through every bit of it to have the opportunity to become a professional player is huge for her and for our program. “She’s the best player that has come through this university. There have been some good ones that come through here, but she has been the best hands down.” The WNBA season starts in June, and Outland is expected to report to the Sparks’ training camp in early May. --Esteban Ramirez ***** In conjunction with a California State System resolution, CSU Bakersfield’s library has discontinued purchasing online journal access from publisher John Wiley and Sons. The resolution, which was passed by the CSU Academic Senate in March 2015, opposes the publisher’s bundling of unwanted or extra content with coveted research, a practice that raises the cost of purchasing research. Curt Asher, interim dean of the Walter Stiern Library, said that the impact of the CSU resolution would be negligible for students. “We have purchased alternative subscriptions to the Wiley journals and have subscribed to some individual Wiley titles that are needed by our students,” Asher wrote in an email. “The library’s view is that the non-renewal of this subscription will have minimal impact at CSUB.” Asher said that, although CSUB paid $385,000 last year to provide research access, Wiley’s pursuit of higher costs exceeded what the CSU system was willing to offer. Asher added that he was thankful that the CSU Academic Senate approved the measure. “Every CSU student ... should be able to use their library to find a rich array of resources on the subjects their campus teaches. The Senate clearly stands with the library on equity.” --Steven Barker
LANDSCAPING
University seeks feedback on Students approve of CSUB’s drought response potential landscaping changes [DROUGHT, Page 1] “The one thing I was very embarrassed about when I first came here was how over-drenched these fields were, and that was two years ago,” said Paul Georgi, a senior psychology major. “I think this is long overdue, but I think that ... it’s showing that we can be part of a system that is progressive and more socially conscious. I think it’s awesome.” Jayme Reyna, a sophomore biology major, agrees with Georgi. “For the university to finally do something – granted, the government is telling us to do something about water use – but for us to finally do something about the drought is really good,” Reyna said.
For the record:
THE RUNNER editorialstaff Volume XL, Issue 18
The Runner California State University, Bakersfield 9001 Stockdale Hwy. Bakersfield, CA 93311-1099 Telephone 661.654.2165 Fax 661.654.6905 E-mail runner@csub.edu therunneronline.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Josh Bennett
MANAGING EDITOR Robin Gracia NEWS EDITOR Steven Barker
OPINIONS EDITOR Richard Garibay
FEATURES EDITOR Heather Hoelscher
In last week’s issue, The Runner ran a graphic in which it showed how many CSU Bakersfield students attended the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournaments in Las Vegas and how much it cost to do so. There was a misunderstanding in the number of students and the money. It was previously reported that 53 students attend-
SPORTS EDITOR Esteban Ramirez PHOTO EDITOR Diana Olivares WEB EDITOR Cassie Sandrini
ART DIRECTOR Eric Garza
MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Michael Wafford
COPY CHIEF Andrea Calderon
Other water directives This latest reduction mandate is the second of its kind for the university, which had agreed in February 2014 to reduce its water usage by 20 percent by 2020, an announcement necessitated by a CSU mandate issued by the Chancellors Office urging schools to reduce their water consumption. Severity of the drought While January is historically California’s wettest month, this January was the driest one in California record, a record that has existed since 1895. Snow packs have been similarly low. According to the California Department of Water Resources, California has received only 5 percent of its average annual snowfall.
ed the tournament and it cost CSUB $30,000, but in an email, Spirit Coordinator Arthur Smith wrote that there were 118 students at the tournaments. Smith wrote that the extra 65 students were from CSUB’s cheer team, dance team, mascot team, pep band and staff that served as chaperones. Smith also added that the final price tag was actually $21,500 and not $30,000.
businessteam
ADVERTISING MANAGER Maisy-Jane Raper DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Monica Martinez
ADVISER Jennifer Burger jburger1@csub.edu
By Steven Barker News Editor
While California State University, Bakersfield administrators contemplate ways of making the campus more waterefficient, one official says the university is actively seeking students’ responses to possible changes. Patrick Jacobs, Associate Vice President of Facilities Management, said he has created a demonstration area on campus that features two alternatives to grass landscaping. The zone, which is located on the north end of Parking Lot I, features both a thin parking barrier with artificial turf and an adjacent plot with mulch and low-water vegetation. Jacobs said the intent behind the zones was to help encourage students to provide commentary on landscaping decisions the university is contemplating. “I want to get feedback over the next five or six months, and then, hopefully, based on the feedback, proceed with one or the other or both in a lot of other areas next winter,” Jacobs said. Jacobs added that neither artificial turf nor mulch and other plant materials would be a substitute for grass throughout the
ABOUT
The Runner is a laboratory newspaper published weekly, in conjunction with the Communications Department at California State University, Bakersfield.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Send letters to runner@csub.edu. All letters must be signed and verified and be no more than 300 words in length. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.
DISCLAIMERS
Views and opinions expressed in The
“I want to get feedback over the next five or six months, and then, hopefully, ... proceed with one or the other or both in a lot of other areas next winter.”
Patrick Jacobs AVP of Facilities
entire campus; rather, either option would be considered in smaller installments across campus. Jacobs also said that the university would considering going with hardscape arrangements in some areas. Hardscape generally refers to rock or stone designs; some hardscape arrangements can be seen near the parking permit dispensers near the Stockdale Highway entrance. Students interested in providing feedback can reach Jacobs at pjacobs@csub.edu. Facilities Management can also be reached at their Facebook Page, Facilities Management CSUB. Runner are not necessarily those of the editors, staff or the Communications Department. The staff of The Runner reserves the right to refuse or omit any advertising or material which advocates illegal activity, or which many be considered libelous, irresponsible or tasteless. The Runner does not accept tobaccorelated advertising.
COPYRIGHT
Copyright belongs to the Communications Department at California State University, Bakersfield.
April 22, 2015 COLUMN
To wax, or not to wax
Runner in the Sheets
By Robin Gracia Senior Columnist
Beauty is pain. This common phrase can be attributed to the lengths that women go through in order to maintain their outward appearance. Women pay others to dye their hair, to paint their fingernails and to scrape the calluses off of their feet during pedicures. They also pay people to pour hot wax onto their vaginas and rip their public hair out by the root. Wait – what? Yes, you read that right. Getting a wax for down there, more commonly known as the Brazilian wax, has become a norm in society. Being completely bare was largely brought to the masses through pornography, which needed women to be bald in order to get better close-up shots of the action occurring on film. Skin flicks’ point-of-view camera style had quite an impact on men and women’s perceptions of sex. According to Ogi Ogas, author of “A Billion Wicked Thoughts: What the Internet Tells us About Sexual Relationships,” what is seen in pornography affects people early. “Let’s take a 13-year-old boy. If he’s masturbating and
COLUMN
looking at porn with hairless women, that will certainly have a strong influence of what he’ll find arousing.” So in other words, monkey see, monkey do. There is a war being waged on the lowly pubic hair, and it is making me wonder: do women do it for themselves, or because they think they should? “The first time I got a wax, I was dying with embarrassment,” said Sydney Garza, 24. “I didn’t know you were supposed to trim up first, so I went into that situation hella unprepared… and I didn’t expect it to hurt as much as it did... It felt like my vadge had a [expletive] headache…but my boyfriend loved it, so it was worth it, I guess. The hair didn’t come back for a couple weeks.” Fellow waxing enthusiast Brittney Cochran shared Garza’s sentiments about the benefits of the Brazilian. “I am all for waxing,” said Cochran, 22. “Shaving can give you those little red bumps all over the place that itch like crazy and it’s a lot to keep up with… Besides, what guy likes a chick with a giant, stinky bush? It’s not clean…You can get little pieces of toilet paper stuck in it. Waxing makes it all clean.” While some women are all for #TeamBare for reasons ranging from looks, hygiene and their lovers, other women aren’t so keen on the idea and aren’t shy about why. “I will never wax, ever,” said Ashleigh Reed, 25. “Women grow hair on their vaginas during puberty, literally mark-
ing the change from girl into woman. I’d never wax that off – for what? So I can look like a little girl to my husband? It’s not right for a grown ass woman to look like a child…If you do it for yourself, that’s one thing…but I’m never waxing. I trim, but I don’t get people who wax.” Reed’s anti-wax feelings were echoed by her friend Gabby Wegner, who also believes that all a vagina requires is upkeep rather than a wax. “I heard this saying once that the only places a woman should have hair are on her head and her eyebrows,” said Wegner, “and I thought, ‘That’s stupid. I don’t need to be some hairless cat to be sexy.’ I trim down there…and it’s all good.” According to a recent poll conducted by the Journal of Urology, more than 80 percent of female college students remove all or at least some of their pubic hair. These numbers were also reflected in a 2014 poll conducted by Cosmopolitan magazine, which found that more than 90 percent groom or wax their bikini line. Of those women, 71 percent go total Brazilian, 13 percent “just keep it neat,” and 6 percent of women who go for the gusto with a “deep wax.” A deep wax is when hair on the inside of the butt cheeks gets an eviction notice. Now that’s some serious anti-hair dedication. As with all things, there is misinformation being spread about waxing. For instance,
Stage and Screen
The Chic Girl makes a difference
By Shelby Parker Senior Columnist
You might not know the name Rachel Hollis, but by now you’ve probably seen her famous bikini picture that has gone viral. The photo people can’t stop talking about has been featured on sites such as People.com and E! Online, as well as has been reported on by the likes of The Today Show. Hollis posted on Instagram, proudly showing off her post-baby stretch marks and loving the skin she’s in. Hollis, a Bakersfield native and former party plannerwho now runs The Chic Site, says that many of her posts on Facebook and Instagram have contained the same realness and honesty. “I try to be really honest about my life and where I am, and what I’m struggling with, because I think that women, too often, are only showing the best side of themselves and when you do that, it sort of alienates you from other women who could be your tribe and your community and kind of lift you up,” said Hollis. Was this the kind of response she was expecting? Not exactly. “Everybody asks, ‘Oh, were you planning this?’” she says, but her response was simply, “How could I have planned this?” Hollis added that when she was at the beach, she really liked her bathing suit and asked her husband to take a few pictures. In the first few, she felt “super awkward,” but found one she liked, which happened to show her smiling and laughing at how ridiculous she felt about it. While she had thought about cropping around the stretch
marks, she ultimately decided than everyone else, drinks a lot of against it. caffeine and takes care of herself by “I’d never seen that before, anoth- exercising. Hollis accepts that every er woman post her stretch-mark day is going to tilt back and forth in photo and thought, ‘Well, gosh, I’m different directions, and that’s okay. sure some of my other mom followFor those of us who don’t quite ers have these, too,” said Hollis. have the career or life figured out, As soon as she posted the picture, her main advice for 20-somethings the response was “instantaneous.” is to stop obsessing over what life is There were 100 likes within five supposed to be. minutes, which seemed to be pretty “Whatever you’re going to have, special, and the numbers continued whatever life is going to be, wherto grow from there. ever you’re going to go career-wise, The picture isn’t to say that she’s or in your relationship, whoever gone without her struggles of body you’re going to become, you’re not image, though. She acknowledged going to become that person tomorthat the past eight years have been a row, or next week, or even next constant process and involved her month,” she said, “You become that trying to love and accept her body person over time.” the way it is. The bottom line is, it all takes time. “As a woman, you know your “There’s only one time in our lives body is going to change, but you when we get that freedom to expedon’t know until you’re actually in rience and grow into who we’re that place,” she added. going to be. And there’s nothing Posting this photo has stirred a lot wrong with it taking awhile.” of conversation with women all Hollis is proof that being deteraround the world, even as far as the mined and having a vision for your Middle East, which she calls, life will pay off later on, but is a “amazing, humbling and so inspir- reminder that it doesn’t happen ing.” There have been many com- overnight. ments on the Facebook page, but Visit her website at http://thechicthe ones she has received in emails site.com or follow her on Twitter have been some of the most heart @msrachelhollis. wrenching stories, from both women and men. There’s a lot more to the girl behind the picture than many would realize. The former party planner-turned lifestyle blogger is not only an entrepreneur and author, but a wife and a mother. Like many women, she’s able to do it all, thanks to finding Photo Credit from People.com a balance. She gets up earlier Rachel Hollis in her online viral photograph
according to Amy Stoddard, an assistant professor of gynecology at UCLA, “There is nothing unclean about pubic hair. Shaving and waxing make skin more vulnerable, making it easier to contract – and spread — STI’s.” There’s also the myth that all men want their partner to be waxed. While no study could ever speak for every person, a 2013 poll conducted by hair removal company Nad’s surveyed 1,000 men and found that more than half of participants prefer a groomed lady garden to a full-on Brazilian. “If she’s naked and I’m naked, it’s going down,” said Samuel Mendez, 23. “No man is walking away from sex because she ain’t all waxed… I’m not gunna be like, ‘Ay, you need to get dressed and get gone, you got that gorilla feel.’ No one does that.” Not everyone who walks out of a waxing salon feeling like Victoria’s Secret model – some women could potentially walk out feeling like Mr. Bigglesworth. But from what we can see, a majority of men don’t care if you’re waxed, just groomed. We’ve also found that there’s no hygienic reason to annex your pubes, debunking any cleanliness myths. So ladies – whether you choose to go Brazilian or ladyscape at home, the choice is all yours. Whatever your choice is, celebrate it. Rock that landing strip, or sport a bush if you so choose. Experiment with yourself. Who knows? You might like it.
COLUMN
Features
Curious Kitchen
3
Leave Gwyn Alone!
By Alex Ripepi Senior Columnist
Here at the curious kitchen, I try to keep things light and concentrate on getting out recipes as regularly as possible. But, this week, I’d like to discuss something slightly more serious. Gwyneth Paltrow has recently been getting a ton of flak for attempting and failing the challenge to live on $29 a week, the average budget of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that was popularized by the hashtag #FoodBankNYCChallenge. Her attempt wasn’t what made people angry, it was the fact that, to the public eye, Paltrow’s purchase seemed very out of touch. Consisting of kale, parsley, cilantro, one avocado, one onion, one garlic clove, one jalapeno, one yam, one tomato, one ear of corn, a bag of black beans, a bag of brown rice, a package of corn tortillas, a dozen eggs and seven limes – no you’re not reading that wrong – the list of meal options for a week seemed rather small. However, she still managed to produce three meals that she felt should be advertised on her website, goop.com. The whole “brouhaha,” as Paltrow calls it in her post about the challenge, reeks of an inability to relate to the common people
(a phrase which should be ridiculous to even think about using, but seems almost necessary here). But she still manages to bring about a decent message about the current state of food affordability in the United States. In her self-reflective post, Paltrow grades herself a C- on the challenge – her reasoning for such a grade remains unclear – so she can’t be seen as completely detached from reality. She also brings up some good points about the gender pay gap and what that means to single mothers who have to squeeze by for themselves and their children with such a meager budget. Essentially, the public seems to have dismissed the challenge simply because Paltrow is known for having eccentric habits and saying strange things. But the fact that she tried to do this at all speaks to at least a wish to help those who don’t have the power to broadcast their thoughts and evoke real change. It also is being overlooked by many that if Paltrow had completed the challenge, the movement would have most likely been damaged indirectly at best. If she had strolled into a grocery store and walked out with enough to feed her family comfortably for the week, people wouldn’t take the attempt at advocacy nearly as well. Although not all of what she says and does is down-to-earth and applicable to the everyman, this foray into advocacy should not be ignored, and those who would dismiss a cause simply because a single person endorses it should take a step back and evaluate the cause, not the woman, man or group publicizing it.
4
Features
April 22, 2015
Women’s must-have accessories for spring By Crismat Mateo Senior Reporter
Fashion shows may only last about 15 minutes, but the runway never stops. After all, every day is like a fashion show and our campus is our real-life runway. However, what is it that makes and breaks an outfit? Accessories. So here are some accessories that you should have in your wardrobe this season.
Backpack While top handle, tote, and shoulder bags are classics, backpacks are practical and stylish. “I wear a backpack to school because I can throw my gym clothes, lunch and books in it. More importantly, though, it’s for back support,” according Bianca Barron, senior communications student at CSU Bakersfield. This makes the backpack a must-have in the spring.
Gladiator Sandals It is time to put the combat boots away and replace them with sandals. To match the leather backpack, a similar colored gladiator sandal completes a chic outfit. “I have this obsession with shoes so I’m always trying to wear different types all the time,” said Rene Chow, CSUB public relations student. With this sandal, style is not compromised for comfort—
Marisel Maldonado/The Runner
Kendyl Chavez, a junior communications student at CSUB, protects her skin from the sun with an Express sun hat, and her eyes with Fendi statement sunglasses.
best of both worlds. These brown leather MIA sandals are available at the newly opened Nordstrom Rack in Bakersfield for $40.
Sun Hat Protection is essential to survive this valley heat, and what better way to protect yourself than with a stylish hat? Especially for the countless spring outdoor activities.
“A hat is a must to protect that beautiful skin of yours,” said Chriselle Lim, a YouTube fashion guru and stylist. In this story, Kendyl Chavez, a CSUB junior communications student, is wearing a sun hat from Express available for $40.
Statement Sunglasses “I get happy when spring comes around. It means that I get to wear my sunglasses
longer,” said Carly Cristman, a YouTube fashion guru and model. Sunglasses are also my favorite accessories when the sun beams brighter than ever. Not only do they protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, they also act as the icing on the cake—except they are the sunglasses to your outfit. They’re even more fun when they have unique details to them.
Marisel Maldonado/The Runner
Kendyl Chavez also sports matching leather accessories this season — Mia gladiator sandals and Isa backpack. Styling by Crismat Mateo.
Klassic fighting game returns with killer fun REVIEW
Michael Wafford Multimedia Editor
“Mortal Kombat X” brings the longrunning franchise to kurrent konsoles and manages to make a 10-game franchise feel fresh, but fails to live up in some ways to its immediate predecessor. Taking place over 20 years after the 2011 version of “Mortal Kombat,” the story revolves around a new generation of fighters saving Earthrealm from otherworldly forces. While long-time favorites like Liu Kang, Scorpion and Sub-Zero return, the game is focused on new kharacters. Some are related to previous kharacters such as Cassie Cage, the daughter of Johnny Cage and Sonya Blade, others are kompletely new like the insect-like
D'Vorah or the Mayan Sun God Kotal Kahn. Each character now has three variations to choose from with small differences in each. For example, Ninjitsu Scorpion can use a sword, while Inferno Scorpion can summon hellfire to attack. The differences appear small on paper, but during gameplay can lead to one variation playing kompletely differently than another. These changes let the two-dimensional fighting feel new while still feeling familiar to fans of previous entries in the series. The story revolves around these new fighters trying to prevent the resurrection of an evil god. While the story itself is entertaining, the story mode is both a step forward and a step backward for the series. In the 2011 game, the story mode
was significantly longer, around six to seven hours to komplete, kompared to “Mortal Kombat X” where I was able to komplete the story mode in about three hours. However, the story mode was much more forgiving in MKX; while in previous games it was very possible to get stuck fighting a particularly tough opponent, in this game you are able to skip a fight you find too hard. For single player kontent there is the story mode and a series of towers players can go through. Some are similar to arcade mode in previous games where you fight through a legion of enemies to unlock a kharacter-specific ending; some give you random khallenges based on a series of modifiers. The 2011 “Mortal Kombat” khallenge
towers had more variety to them in terms of what the khallenges were. But, the online-konnected living towers are konstantly updating with new khallenges to komplete every day. The game is, however, focused on multiplayer. There is the klassic one-on-one multiplayer mode as well as a variety of online modes including ranked battles, freeplay and rooms, where players wait in queue to play the winner of the most recent match. The online can be a hit and miss. The matching system could use some work as it's not unusual to play someone with a record of 83-4 and then against a player with a 2-57 record. After a recent update, the online is relatively smooth and komparable to offline, assuming your opponent isn't halfway
across the kounty or the world. Players will find plenty of depth in these modes as having a potentially infinite amount of opponents who will keep the game interesting for months and years to kome. Ultimately, “Mortal Kombat X” is an entry in the series that plays great and manages to make multiplayer feel more interesting than ever. It doesn't succeed at living up to the single player experience of previous games, but overall the game provides plenty of kontent to keep players koming back. 4 heads with spines attached out of 5
For me, it’s all about the Greek-style protein Health and Fitness
Protein is a word you might hear frequently when you first start exercising and eating better. Protein is what promotes cell growth, feeds your muscles by building them up and repairs damaged tissues. High-protein foods that come to mind are usually grilled chicken, grilled fish and lean-cut beef. However, there are many other sources of protein to build muscles. Below is a By Athena Skapinakis list of my personal favorite high-protein Senior Columnist food sources. As a Greek girl, you’ll quickly see why I chose my selections. Get Your Greek Yogurt On Ranking as my No. 1 source of protein aside from lean meats is Greek yogurt. How I love it, let me count the ways. Greek yogurt easily trumps regular yogurt with its 17 grams of protein and the fact that it has less carbs and sugar. It’s also chock-full of probiotics. Probiotics are good bacteria that keep your gut in check by wiping out the bad bacteria that causes nasty infections and such. They build up your immune system and help out with your digestive system, ensuring that your body is balanced and working effectively. There is no need to take vitamin B12 supplements if you incorporate Greek yogurt into your diet. That’s one less horse pill to swallow if you rely heavily on supplementation. (Yuck.) The American diet usually
involves heavy sodium intake, so it helps to balance it out with potassium—and guess what Greek yogurt offers you plenty of? Iodine and calcium are other vital nutrients your body needs. Iodine supports efficient thyroid function, which in turn helps increase your metabolism. You’ll see that your weight isn’t fluctuating ridiculously and that you’re on the fast track to greater weight loss. Calcium assists in regulating cortisol output and fat production. To regenerate muscle tissues and repair fiber damage after a workout, mix your Greek yogurt with some granola, a banana, blueberries and some honey. You can also make delicious and nutritious smoothies with it if Greek yogurt alone isn’t exactly your cup of protein. Amino acids for days, my friends. That’s Ok—I’ll Make Lamb Talk about high-quality protein. A three-ounce piece of lamb contains about 21 grams of protein. Lamb’s got you covered in terms of B vitamins as it is able to give you 100 percent of your daily intake. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, thiamine, copper, manganese and selenium. It gives about 20 percent of men’s daily iron intake and about 12 percent of women’s. Because lamb is a red meat, the iron is more easily absorbed by the body. Selenium is an antioxidant that helps boost the immune system immensely. With its unsaturated fat content, also known as monosaturated fat or healthy fat, lamb can help reduce heart disease as well as cholesterol. If you’ve ever heard of the Mediterranean diet, lamb is a major staple. I prefer to eat lamb Greek style, seasoned with oregano, extra virgin olive oil, lemon and garlic. Leg of lamb and rack of lamb are savory
favorites.
Find Yourself in a Bowl of Lentils One cup of lentils has about 18 grams of protein. Lentils almost look like peas or capers with their small size and green coloring. Lentil soup is low in calories, sugar, fat and sodium while it is high in potassium, folate, dietary fiber, iron, vitamin B-6 and magnesium. Its high soluble fiber content reduces blood cholesterol, lowering the risk for heart disease and strokes. Your arteries will be grateful you ate a bowl of lentils. So will your heart. The folate found in lentils will help wipe out risk factors of heart disease by lowering homocysteine levels. The magnesium will promote greater blood flow and oxygen as well as nutrient passage throughout your body. All the fiber is going to keep you from getting constipated and help protect you from things like irritable bowel syndrome or diverticulosis. Coupled with the fiber lentils provide, complex carbohydrates work to produce slow-burning energy. The iron content will assist in oxygen transport and energy production, keys for a faster and better-working metabolism. Those with diabetes, either insulin-resistant or hyperglycemic, can benefit exceedingly from lentils because their soluble fiber traps carbs and stabilizes blood sugar. Lentils are ideal for vegans and vegetarians, but you can definitely be a meat lover and still enjoy a hot steamy bowl of lentil soup. For lentil soup, I recommend adding carrots and onions to give it that extra flavor. I also personally like adding vinegar to the broth.
Opinion
April 22, 2015
R UNNER O N T HE S TREET
5
By Karina Diaz, Photographer
This week, The Runner asked, “Does CSUB waste too much water?” Roman Hunter 22 Criminal Justice
Desiree Garcia 19 Psychology
David Kwasman 18 Pre-engineering
“Honestly, I think we do a decent job. I don’t really see people lining up for water fountains and there isn’t a lot of water usage that I see.”
“The sprinkler system is a big waste of water. Some of them are broken and go on at night, which I don’t see the point of it.”
“I have no idea if CSUB waste too much water. I don’t even see sprinkler on. I don’t even see how we waste water.”
CSUB takes initiative during water drought EDITORIAL
As any number of CSU Bakersfield students could attest, the university is often slow in making decisions. From eventually deciding to switch from a quarter-to-semester system (CSUB is one of six schools in the system still operating on a quarter schedule) to receiving responses to our grad checks, CSUB is often behindthe-curve in implementing systemic policies or responding to students. However, when it comes to responding to California’s
worsening drought, the same cannot be said. In an interview with The Runner, Associate Vice President of Facilities Management Patrick Jacobs said CSUB is pursuing a number of solutions to reduce its water consumption by 25 percent this year, an amount mandated by an executive order issued by Gov. Jerry Brown. Those solutions include: reducing irrigation throughout campus, removing patches of turf in areas that are unused or difficult
to water, installing more waterefficient faucets and motionsensors for sinks and killing off grass to plant low-use vegetation. Some of these are already being implemented. On areas in campus, grass has been replaced with both artificial turf and plant materials, removals that are resulting in water savings in excess of 10,000 gallons. Given the dire water crisis California is facing and the need for consumers to immedi-
ately conserve water, we commend CSUB for both its comprehensive consideration of varied solutions and immediate action toward reducing its water use. While the drought and irrireductions will gation inevitably strain vegetation and create a potential fire hazard in some areas, the need to preserve water transcends concerns about our campus aesthetic. We similarly applaud the university for actively seeking student feedback regarding aesthetic changes that are being
COMIC
made. In the same interview, Jacobs said that feedback regarding the use of artificial turf or mulch in areas of campus would be used to determine which of these alternatives to grass would be installed on campus next winter. Since a university’s aesthetic inherently makes a statement about a campus’s values and personality, we appreciate that university administrators are encouraging students to contribute to decisions regarding CSUB’s future appearance.
For more information on CSUB’s solutions to the drought and how students can get involved with providing feedback, see pages 1 and 2.
The Runner editorial board consists of Josh Bennett, Robin Gracia, Steven Barker, Michael Wafford, Heather Hoelscher, Esteban Ramirez and Richard Garibay.
CHIEF THOUGHTS
Pay it forward By Josh Bennett Editor-in-Chief
On Thursday April 16, I was driving to fill up my car with gasoline, but I didn’t make it to the gas station and my car stalled, causing me to pull over to the side of the road on Calloway Drive near the Westside Parkway. I know it was stupid and that I could have filled up my car earlier in the day, but it happens, and my lesson was learned (if you wish to ridicule me, please email us at runner@csub.edu). After calling AAA and waiting for about a half hour in the blazing sun for some roadside assistance, I noticed how many cars just drove right by me while I roasted in the sun awaiting my gas delivery. Only four cars rolled their window down and asked me if I needed anything, and two of those were BPD officers, so they were just doing their jobs. Two people, out of hundreds of cars zooming by me or keeping their windows up, offered some assistance to me. The first person offered to drive me to a gas
station to get some gas and the second person offered me some bottled water while I waited outside for help. I was very grateful and thankful that they did this for me. If you do the math on that, that’s a very low percentage of people that offered to look out for me when I needed it. Now I’m not advocating for people to pull over to the side of the road or to hold up traffic to check on every person that’s broken down, but if traffic is stopped, like it was when I was checked on by these fantastic people, what does it hurt to put your window down and just ask if they are fine. I’m not saying I have always, or ever, done this, but I will start doing it now, knowing that there are still good people in this world. Even though my sample size produced a very small result, I think that if I can ask someone, then the seed might spread and more people will start asking others if they need any help. It has to start somewhere, so why can’t it start with me and you.
Free speech zones ruin the college experience By Steven Barker News Editor
As college students, exercising our freedom of speech is fundamental to an enriching, rewarding college experience. Why, then, are university administrators creating policies to handicap such expression? At CSU Bakersfield and countless other universities across the nation, administrators have implemented free speech zones, areas on campus in which students and organizations are allowed to pamphleteer, protest and advertise clubs or causes. These zones have recently come under fire, both among students and in legal cases; Cal Poly Pomona is currently being sued for infringement of speech, and Citrus College in Los Angeles County was fined $110,000 after a student sued
the university for disallowing a student to protest while in the free speech zone. CSUB would be wise to abolish its free speech zone before such a grievance arises. But more important than the legal issues posed by the zone is the message communicated by these zones. By limiting expression to areas selected by campus administrators, these zones quarantine expression and violate the dialogic purpose of the university. Advocates of free speech zones would surely disagree with this assessment, for such spaces seem practical to them. The existence of an area for politicking, they argue, is convenient for students and organization leaders who want to publicly advertise their clubs and causes. And, since the zone would be dedicated to the dis-
cussion of ideas, supporters say where students may organize students would feel safe to and distribute information. This express themselves in that is doubly problematic; first, space. administration could theoretiBut this argument is absurdly cally relocate a free speech zone ironic. Free speech allows for to limit the circulation of inforfreedom of expression and loca- mation that the college opposes. tion. A The regzone by Additionally, free speech ulation definiof where tion is a zones discourage stustudent f i n i t e dents from openly voicing e x p r e s space. s i o n their perspectives. If free occurs is speech also one on campus is limited to only a step away from determining select area, is our speech truly when students can gather, free? which is a devastating infringeRather than enable free ment of our freedoms. speech, these zones instead proAdditionally, free speech vide campus administrators an zones discourage students from opportunity to stifle student openly voicing their perspecexpression. tives. If free speech is only Since officials decide both the allowed within the confines of a size and location of free speech designated space, this inherentzones, they effectively control ly suggests that our expression
beyond that space – our advocacy of social causes through brochures, pamphlets and other means; our perspectives on issues of social, cultural and historical import; our ability to discuss different perspectives – are unwelcome. Beyond the boundaries, then, we are encouraged to be silent. This oversight, expression of regulation and discouragement of free speech all stand in fundamental opposition to the dialogic spirit and purpose of a university. As we are often reminded, it is during college when we confront new ideologies, broaden our perspectives on relevant issues and ultimately decide on our stances. Then why not allow these ideas to be expressed freely? What harm is it to students if a Green Peace advocate
approaches them with a brochure of their cause? What new hardships must students overcome if an InterVarsity member or non-profit representative approaches us to discuss their organization? The exchange of ideas itself is harmless – and while students may dislike the idea of being approached with brochures and pamphlets, their distaste does not nullify another student’s constitutional right to provide such information. Above all else, a university is a marketplace of ideas. Let us address and respond to ideas wherever we encounter them on campus. Implement the CSU Free Speech Handbook’s encouragement and make the “entire campus open to free speech.”
April 22, 2015
COLUMN
TRACK AND FIELD
Fan of the house Photo by Avry Photography
Track and field athlete Karnell Grimes is now currently seventh on CSUB’s all-time top 20 list in the javelin throw.
From mound to field
Former pitcher Karnell Grimes excels in javelin throw By David Kaplan Reporter
Karnell Grimes came to CSU Bakersfield to be a student athlete, but being a javelin thrower on the track and field team was never on his radar. Track and field wasn’t the sport Grimes came to CSUB to play. He came to play baseball. He was a pitcher and outfielder, but after redshirting his freshmen year, friends and coaches thought track and field was the sport for him. A friend suggested that he try out for the CSUB track and field team. He then made the move to track. They thought that specifically the javelin throw would be a natural fit for him as he had a strong arm being an outfielder and pitcher. Grimes said the coach’s thinking of the idea of him playing for the track and field team was, “let’s see if this kid is possibly someone who could be good at javelin.” Sure enough he had the goods. Last season as a redshirt junior, he earned Western Athletic Conference All-
Conference honors. This year in his senior season he has improved on his career best from last season. On April 4 at the PomonaPitzer Invitational, Grimes improved on CSUB’s 2014 best mark for the javelin throw, 199 feet, 10 inches. That was the second straight week he broke his career best, and the third time this season. Grimes is now 7th on CSUB’s all-time Top 20 list in the event, and second in the WAC for this season. Grimes said that time wise the practice time for track and field was much easier than for baseball. Grimes said that once he got involved with javelin and hammer throw he fell in love with the sport. He started out running on the relay team, but now in his senior year he concentrates only on the javelin and the hammer. Grimes’ father is a baseball coach in his hometown, Rosamond, Calif. Since he hadn’t been raised with the javelin and the hammer, the only person he’s had for guidance on the sport has been track and field coach, Alan Collatz. Collatz was a javelin and hammer Olympic qualifier for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
“He’s a phenomenal javelin thrower,” Grimes said. “He’s my coach, so I am learning from him”. CSUB track and field coach emeritus, Alan Collatz, a CSUB alumnus still holds the school’s all-time record for the javelin throw with his 267-1 mark he set back in 1985. When Grimes made the switch from baseball to track and field, Collatz knew that Grimes’ natural athleticism would help his transition. Collatz added that all athletes go through highs and lows, but it’s been Grimes’ persistence to get better after the lows that has helped him achieve so much success. “He was going to work until he became good. He’s been able to overcome the bad times. There’s not a lot of athletes that are willing to work extremely hard,” Collatz said. “Very few work as hard as he does.” In addition to Grimes’ WAC AllConference honors last season, he was also named to the WAC All-Academic Team. “Not only has he had success in track and field and been one of the leaders on the team, but he’s a good person as well,” Collatz said. “That’s going to translate into life.”
Roadrunners lose two in series versus Aggies SOFTBALL
Kabria Dodley/The Runner
Sophomore infielder Karsyn Guzman hits the ball against New Mexico State University at the CSUB Softball Complex on April 17.
By Emily Vose Reporter
CSU Bakersfield women’s softball took to the field this weekend as they battled it out against New Mexico State University in a Western Athletic Conference series. CSUB (17-22, 5-7 WAC) played two games against New Mexico State on April 17 and another on April 18. The Aggies beat the ’Runners 1-0 in the first game and then 7-2 in the second game. However, on April 18, the Roadrunners bounced back by beating the Aggies 3-0. Despite losing two out of the three games, the ’Runners came away with a positive mindset. CSUB coach Chrissy Buck-
Ziegler said her team is playing very well at the minute. “They do a great job of being behind each other, they do a fabulous job of being a family and they fight together which is all I have ever asked of them,” Buck-Ziegler said. Senior pitcher Kelsie Monroe said that she felt really positive about the game. “I think we did good today,” Monroe said. “I feel as though our energy needs to stay high throughout the entire game, but I feel really good about this team.” Monroe showed courage during the first game by pitching a complete game with four strikeouts and zero earned runs on April 17. On April 18, Monroe stepped on the mound once
again for CSUB, and she pitched another complete game but this time she had seven strikeouts and didn’t allow any runs. Monroe (13-9) also earned the win. Junior outfielder Sydney Raeber, who had three hits and drove in one run over the weekend, expressed how good she felt going in to the game. “I think that we knew it was going to be good competition, but I think we knew we were going to beat them,” Raeber said. “After the game it’s a little upsetting that we didn’t win. However, we have another game so I think we are going to come out hot.” CSUB will play at Seattle University from April 24 to 25 to end the regular season.
Sports
Keep flipping those bats By Nate Sanchez Senior Columnist
...Attention baseball purists. There is nothing wrong with bat flips. I read last week that Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig decided to cut down on his use of the gesture, and I was a little heartbroken. A player of the game I love has decided to minimize an aspect of his personality in order to appease those who say he disrespects baseball. Let’s talk about that word for a minute. Respect. Who and what should a man or woman respect? Your peers, parents, the president, the flag and … a game. If a game meant to be played by children commands your respect, stop; take inventory of your life and re-establish your priorities. Contrary to what you may believe about the world we live in, it is no longer the 1940s. We live in the 21st century, and baseball is a completely different animal. Like the game they play, the boys of summer have changed with the times. As for the fans, well, they haven’t seemed to
6
change. A majority of baseball’s fans are older white men, clinging to the antiquated notion that every baseball player is supposed to be Ward Cleaver with a stick and a helmet. To ask of every man who wears a Major League Baseball cap on a field of play to act the same is not only laughably impossible but childishly stubborn. “But Nate,” you say, silently admiring my handsomely rigid jawline. “What about ‘class?’ I should be able to criticize a player if his actions don’t match up with my values, right?” “Wrong,” I reply. Lisa Doris Alexander quoted the New York Amsterdam News’ Marcus Henry in her book, When Baseball Isn’t White, Straight and Male: The Media and Difference in the National Pastime, “Rarely does anyone ever talk about Ty Cobb’s racist views. Nor do they emphasize Mickey Mantle’s problem with alcohol addiction or allegations that Bobby Cox is a wife-beater.” All of those things are horrible. Yet, those three players are hailed as immortal beacons of baseball’s shining light of greatness. So let’s go back to the topic at hand: flipping a bat in celebration of a home run. So what if a guy’s got some flare and enthusiasm? Other sports encourage that and are doing a lot better than baseball. Evolve or die.