therunneronline.com California State University, Bakersfield
Oct. 6, 2021
Vol. 47, No. 3
Students shoot for fun
at Runner Hour See pg. 2
Students adapt to class on Zoom See pg. 3
Which French fry reigns supreme? See pg. 7
Squid Game is a gruesome watch See pg. 8
Photo by Yvette Meza/The Runner
ASI members Divyang Motavar and Tiffany James were the first to play “The Big Shoe” outside the Student Union on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021.
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Oct. 6, 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.
Students shoot for fun at ASI’s Runner Hour By Yvette Meza Multimedia Producer Runner Hour successfully gave students and staff members a way to be involved by playing “The Big Shoe,” an event hosted by CSU Bakersfield’s ASI on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. This event was outside the Student Union and allowed CSUB students and staff members to shoot some hoops. ASI’s Vice President of Campus Life Divyang Motavar stated “This week we are having a collaboration with the SRC, an inflatable basketball game for all. To try not to stress about school or life, just come play basketball with
us and have fun.” SRC staff member Paul Barretto who helped set up “The Big Shoe” stated, “On Wednesdays from 12 to 2 p.m. we’ll be doing The Big Shoe, which is an inflatable basketball court. Thursdays from 12 to 2 p.m. we’ll be doing cornhole and at the end of the semester for The Big Shoe, if you get the highest score you’ll be able to get a photo with our championship belt.” The time heading from class to class allowed many students to play against their friends. There were also shirts being provided for the winner of the game. Everyone had fun before heading to
Photo by Yvette Meza/The Runner
Students shoot basketballs into “The Big Shoe” during Runner Hour on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. their classes or work. They seemed happier leaving the game, especially the winners who won free shirts. The event brought people together, and with the pandemic it was nice to get students and staff members
interacting. ASI Director for Arts and Humanity Tiffany James stated, “It was a fun and competitive game.” and many other students and staff members said the same as they played.
ASI Report: Vaccine record submission continues to be a struggle for students By Anahi Lomeli Copy Editor On Friday, Oct. 1, Associated Student Inc. had their weekly meeting discussions regarding various departments across campus and student concerns. More than one student was concerned about financial aid from the GI Bill not going through because they had a hold on their record due to not uploading their vaccination record. The issue, however, is that they had already uploaded it through the CSUB portal but now have to upload it through a third party named “Complio.” Complio charges a fee to upload vaccination records, so he asked the question, “why pay the fee when I already have uploaded my record on the CSUB portal.” The ASI member’s response was that the health center would be in further contact to help resolve the issue. Sarah Hendrick, from Alumni Engagement, reported having three successful Runner Alumni Mentor Program information meetings. The meetings were facilitated by the chair and President of RAMP. Hendrick also announced the need to fill a part-time student assistant position with RAMP inside the Alumni Office. She lastly reported
that all those who attended the informational meetings would be in touch with mentees about matches soon. The President’s report mentioned special guest speaker Dr. Gina Garcia who was present last Friday and thanked her for visiting the campus. Dr. Lynette Zelezeny also mentioned that students who did not upload their vaccination records received a hold on their CSUB portal. Those who were exempted from the vaccine for medical or religious reasons should have received an email about getting regularly tested on campus. Zelezeny also announced that the flag committee approved ASI’s request for a Pride Flag to be set up in the quad. A few grants were received to help out three different programs on campus. The first being a $5 million STEM grant over the course of five years. A $100,000 grant was given for the Runner from Alumni. The nursing program also received $6 million to expand its program. The ASI building now has new office hours due to lack of foot traffic. Monday through Thursday will be open 7a.m.-9a.m. Friday will be open 7 a.m. to-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday will be closed.
Screenshot from CSUB.edu
Students, staff and faculty at CSUB can use the Health Center portal at csub.edu/vaccines to upload their vaccine record or request an exemption. The Student Recreation Center will be hiring student positions for marketing. They will also be hosting a virtual 5k event this week. Some student issues that came up in the meeting were problems uploading their vaccination. Some students feel the exemptions are too easy to use. They understand they want to go to class, but they will not feel safe. The CSUB police reported that they had captured a stolen vehicle on campus. The vehicle was not stolen from campus but from a tire shop. The suspect would not state their reason for coming onto campus. A vending machine was broken into on campus, the police suspect this will become a reoccurring incident. Chat with a Chief will be
pushed to November 9 for anyone wishing to speak with Chief Williamson about safety or suggestions. A new campus officer started their first day Oct. 4. The University Police Department is also recruiting community service officers. A new student nonprofit organization called Relief Shopper presented at the meeting. The organization offers free delivery services of groceries and essentials for elderly people. They offer two-hour appointments with a 15item list and reimbursed gas. They are sponsored by Wells Fargo, receive grants from Pomegranate Co., and are partnered with InHome Supportive Services. The Cal State Student Association is in search of the next Student Trustee 2022-2024.
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Oct. 6, 2021
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Students adapt to class on Zoom By Victoria Cipres Staff Writer Being a college student at any point of your life is stressful. Adjusting and adapting to classrooms, professors, the student body, and of course, working toward a degree takes time, and there are things students can do to set themselves up for success. However, since March 2020 students have had to adjust and adapt – not only to a worldwide pandemic but, most importantly, to virtual delivery of their classes during the unchecked spread of that pandemic. Most students have the basic necessities to be successful in their college career, such as a backpack, notebooks, pens and pencils, and either a laptop or a tablet to help them take notes or access online resources. Many students realized they could still use those tools to survive college when a quarantine caused by the COVID-19 virus shut down CSU Bakersfield three months into the Spring 2020 semester. Although some students found it difficult to maintain academic success when CSUB switched to distance learning, others were able to adapt and succeed. Some of those who
Students enjoy being back on campus and socializing in person. adapted made some investments for their education, such as the purchase of technology or a change in academic mindset. Some students found distance learning easy because they were already familiar with taking classes online. Senior Allison Fields took several online courses at Bakersfield College prior to transferring to CSUB. During her first semester at CSUB in fall 2019, she took an online class in addition to the in-person courses that shaped her campus experience.
“It was easier for me to adapt to having to schedule my own work time and navigate through courses,” Fields said. For Fields, distance learning helped her with time management and to stay on top of her assignments. For others, some adjustments were needed. Percy Ednalino, a CSUB alum, also took an online course during his first semester on campus – fall 2019. When he heard that CSUB was switching to distance learning several weeks into the spring 2020 semester, he said he felt “very
Photo by Victoria Cipres/The Runner
depressed” that his campus experience was about to change. Both Fields and Ednalino said they had the things they needed to be successful but some investments were made, such as a desk, PC cameras, access to WiFi, and headphones to help them study and follow along with Zoom lectures. Like many students, they experienced zoom fatigue and struggled to find motivation to survive Zoom university. Investing in material things was important, but so was investing in one’s mental well-being in order to be successful.
. “If it wasn’t for a few friends I was able to lean on during distance learning, classes would have been very hard,” Ednalino said. It is very hard, even today, to not fully check-out during a Zoom lecture and find the means to do more online work. Fields had to “create a routine within a routine” because Zoom burnout was happening way faster than she has anticipated, and she struggled with coming back out of the burnout. Life does not stop for college students. Successful
students must overcome a lot in the pursuit of their degrees. Fields and Ednalino offer some suggestions that aided them during this trying time, and those who are new to the Runner family may find the tips especially helpful: -Take advantage of the programs that the campus offers. -Try to find ways to be on campus whenever possible. -Write down all assignments and due dates from your course syllabi. -Focus on a subject or a class each day so you don’t overwhelm yourself. -Create your own space for learning – preferably one with few distractions. -Also include things you enjoy in your learning space so it provides you with some peace of mind. -Spend time outside whenever you can; get some sun. -Don’t overwork yourself. -Email professors and classmates with any questions you may have. -Try to be early to your classes, both in-person and online. -Don’t get lost in side conversations via chat on Zoom. -Do the assignment, even if it is due in two hours, because turning in something is better than nothing.
CSUB Food Pantry provides free groceries By Jacqueline Gutierrez Staff Writer The CSU Bakersfield Food Pantry is open Monday through Thursday, and CSUB students, staff, and faculty can get free food. On Mondays and Wednesdays, the CSUB Food Pantry is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-6 p.m. On Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the CSUB Food Pantry and Edible Garden set up a Pop-Up Produce Pantry where they distribute produce. Most of the produce is grown in the Edible Garden at CSUB or is donated from Grimmway Farms, according to Jason Watkins, the Assistant Director of Basic Needs. Although CSUB students and staff can only go to the CSUB Food Pantry once a
week, they have 16 points to shop around. Snacks or side dishes are one point, soups and canned items are two points, and larger items such as cereal and pasta are three points, according to the CSUB website. One program the CSUB Food Pantry offers that is not limited to CSUB students, staff, and faculty are the monthly distributions. There are two ways community members and CSUB students, staff, and faculty can pick up their food box. According to Watkins, one is a drive-up option where they drive to the back of the multipurpose room, and the pantry staff will take the box to their vehicle. The second way is picking up the box in the multipurpose room. “It’s really great because for so many of our students their family members are
able to come by and get food, and so we know that we are contributing both to our student’s wellbeing
Partnership of Kern twice a month to shop around and get the items they need. Other than these CAPK
folks in the community, for example, the other day, there was an elderly couple they come by all the time,
Photo by Destinee Sims/ The Runner
File photo from Oct. 21, 2020 of food items on the shelves in the Food Pantry and their success but also the wellbeing of their family,” Watkins said. To keep the CSUB Food Pantry stocked they go to Community Action
visits, the pantry relies on donations from community members. “We got staff and faculty that will make regular donations. We got some
and they bring different things,” Watkins said. If anyone can donate items to the CSUB Food Pantry, any donations are accepted, but they are
looking for cereal, oatmeal, bar body soap, shampoo, and diapers, wrote Watkins in an email sent to CSUB faculty. “Researches tells us repeatedly that 40% of our students are food insecure, so on our campus that’s like 4,000 - 4,500 students ... that’s a lot of students... going to the pantry should just be as common as going to the library, you’re not going to go pay for that book when you can check it out at the library, don’t go to the grocery store to pay for groceries that you can come get at the pantry at no cost,” Watkins said. If CSUB students and staff would like more information about the CSUB Food Pantry, they can visit the website at https://www. csub.edu/sustainability/ foodpantry/index.html.
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Oct. 6, 2021
Suicide Awareness spreads throughout Kern By Rhyan Nile Staff Writer September was the month for suicide awareness, and Kern County participated in many ways. Suicide awareness starts with recognizing the signs and knowing what resources are available. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 10-34 year-olds and is the 10th leading cause of death overall. Due to COVID-19 the rate of suicide increased by 50%. Kern County takes suicide immensely serious and offers multiple resources and events bringing awareness and education to every individual. The White Wolf Wellness organization, located on the Kern County river, on the west side of Heart Park, has created health and wellness on wheels. Stephen Winters, co-founder of the organization, has helped create the Ombulance. The Ombulance is a retired ambulance, flipped to be used for preventative care and to build community. “We wanted a vehicle that can start the conversation of mental health and create
a mindful experience for those in need,” said Winters. The organization offers yoga, movement therapy, meditation, and sound baths. The services they offer help with stress, anxiety, depression, and physical well-being. “Practice helps build self-awareness. The better we understand ourselves, the more effectively we can heal ourselves. Being an active participant in mental health will help people stay clear of the edge,” Winters expressed. The Ombulance is free and available to the public, and on their website whitewolfwellness.org you have access to over 100 videos to help you get started. Suicide can affect anyone; that’s why it’s crucial to be aware and be there for each other. Tess Mallory lost her brother Mike Mallory, on Oct. 15, 2015 to suicide. “On the surface, he looked fine. He was an overachiever, handsome, and hard working. He was good at putting on this facade for people,” Mallory said. Tess and Mike were very
close siblings, and they confided in each other often. Mike expressed to Tess his suicidal thoughts and how he wasn’t feeling himself. Mike was a father; he had recently been divorced, and was extremely happy in his career as a police officer. Tess noticed her brother’s demeanor changing. “He began to have this sort of Eeyore complex, melancholy, very blue,” said Mallory. Her brother’s job started to take a toll on him due to the day-to-day death he had to see. He was always sad and put so much pressure on himself. The opinions of others weighed so heavily on him; that it cost him to lack self-confidence. It was raining that afternoon when Tess got the call from her mother. Tess was overcome with grief. She thought she could save him, and the worst part of it all was that she knew she’d never get answers. This traumatic experience changed her life forever. “Only way to honor him, is to commit myself to being an advocate for suicide awareness. I’ll never stop talking about it!”
Photo Provided by Kern Behavioral Health & Recovery Services The Kern County Behavdrugs get information for adult ioral Health Center offers • Feeling of being services and children’s resources and events to trapped, helpless, and services, get training, tickeducate people on suicide. hopeless. ets, and more. They also Ellen Eggert is the Pro• Understanding that help families with their gram Support Supervisor suicide isn’t about dying, funerals. and has a non-profit called it’s about getting out of “We have to find the S.A.L.T - Save A Life unbearable pain. good. If I can help one Today. She has lost two The best way to help is by person, then it wasn’t all brothers and two cousins first asking the question; for nothing” said Eggert. to suicide. She herself Are you thinking about The national suicide numhas had suicidal thoughts suicide? They want you to ber will change to 988, and before. be aware. there are 13 crisis hotlines Eggert shared tips on how The Kern County Behavin California that are availto recognize the warning ioral Center has people like able 24/7 to help. signs. Eggert willing to educate Local (800)-273-2255 • Suicide is individual, and spread awareness all Suicide prevention and 52% can be impulsive throughout the year. The Substitute (866)-266• Isolation/disconnected resources can be found at 4898 - Quit alcohol and from the world kernbhrs.org/community, drug use • Substitutes: Alcohol/ where people can sign up, Crisis (800)-991-5272
Veterans Success Center at CSUB offers valuable resources By Rhyan Nile Reporter The Veterans Success Center at CSU Bakersfield offers a substantial amount of resources for our veterans and their dependents. With military benefits and the resources that CSUB offers, these services will allow veterans to make the most out of their college experience. The Veterans Sucess Center hosted a workshop on Sept. 29, informing its students of the resources and benefits. Josh Dhanens, the director of the Kern County Veterans Service Department, was the instructor for the workshop. Dhanens was a veteran himself. He served in the US Army as MP Police, and decided to leave in 2001. However, he didn’t want to completely stop serving, so he joined the National Guard and started to go back to school. He was a math major at CSUB and didn’t know about the Veterans Success Center and all they offered. After he got out of the National Guard, he decided to change his major to philosophy. Once he graduat-
ed from CSUB, he went to graduate school in Oklahoma to pursue his master’s in philosophy. Dhanens finished his education and decided to move back to Bakersfield to teach. He started off his teaching career at CSUB and taught for three quarters. In 2012 he found himself working at the VA and in 2018 he became director and is currently still working hard to help our veterans and their dependents. The most important thing Dhanens said he has learned from his experience is to “treat the military life as a chapter in your life. Starting school is another chapter. Take a holistic approach, and use every chapter in your life, not just one.” Jamie Pacheco is the coordinator for our VA success center, and has been since 2017. When Pacheco was first hired, the VA center did not have much to offer. She pretty much built the center from the ground up and made it the phenomenon it is today. The military has always been a part of Pacheco’s life, so her job is very per-
Left to right: Andrew Alba (US Air Force Veteran), Erick Ramirez (US Army reservist), Robert Hunt (US Marine Corps Veteran), Serenity Sanchez (Veteran Dependent) picture taken by Nicole Thurman.
sonal to her. She was not only a military kid but she is also a military spouse. Pacheco noticed that the vets needed a lot of help when getting out of service. They needed help transitioning from military life to civilian life, so Pacheco decided to do something about it. She decided to make the veterans office at CSUB a community for not only the veterans but for their dependents included. These resources include a safe space, computer lab,
free printing, tutors, work study, job opportunities, hang out lounge, support and resources from the county, and Kern Patriot Partnership. Students have expressed to Pacheco how grateful they are for the VA center allowing them to come in and be themselves. “Get involved on campus. Embrace the college experience. Vets have really come to life by doing this, so make the most of your time,” said Pacheco. Community is a huge
part of VA success. Kern County Collaborative meets once a month with over 200 participants and Pacheco is the chair. Discussing more ways to help and reach out to our vets and their families. These resources are such a huge attribute to our veterans’ success. Veterans come to our institution for the resources and support we provide. Robert Hunt is the prime example of why the veteran community is so im-
portant. Hunt is a transfer student and is in his first year at CSUB. COVID-19 forced him out of Camp Pendleton in San Diego. After Hunt graduated high school, he went straight into the Marines striving to prove that he could make it in life without college. Hunt served nine years in the Marines and retired in 2020 right before the pandemic happened. Hunt decided to go back to school and pursue a career in teaching social studies. He is going to school using benefits including a Post 9/11 Bill in the form of a fee waiver and VA work study. Hunt found out about most of the benefits CSUB offers through emails Pacheco sends out. He says he is having one of the best experiences of his life, while making a bright and promising future for himself and his family. “Try to be on campus as much as you can. Come to the Veterans Office. When you receive emails about ways to get involved, Do it! You don’t appreciate it until you have to pay for it,” said Hunt.
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Features Oct. 6, 2021
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Yoga provides alternative stress management for college students By Ana Dominguez Staff Writer Stress is an inevitable part of life, especially if you are a college student. College students suffer from stress because of the increased workload, inconsistent lifestyle, interpersonal conflict, and other factors such as little sleep, inadequate diets, and poor time management skills. Research on students shows that “excessive stress affects overall academic performance negatively,” according to the International Journal of Yoga by Kauts & Sharma. CSU Bakersfield’s campus offers students multiple resources for stress management. One holistic alternative that few know about is Yoga. CSUB’s wellness program offers yoga workshops at the Students Recreation Center. “The word ‘yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’, meaning ‘to join’ or ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite,’” said Leah Banks,
Leah Banks leads a yoga class inside the Student Recreation Center at CSUB in September 2021. fitness and wellness coordinator and yoga instructor at the SRC at CSUB. Sarah Mebane, wellness student manager at the SRC, talked about how yoga brings harmony between mind and body. “Yoga is a holistic alternative that provides overall well-being of their body and mind without the necessity to use pharmaceuticals,” said Mebane. CSUB student and yoga class
attendant, Alison Baker stated that, “Yoga has been amazing for managing my stress, it gets me a couple of moments out of my day to just stretch and breathe, just be in that moment and not worrying for anything else.” Kaleb Higgins, CSUB student, yoga class participant, also believes that yoga has helps him manage his stress and improve his basketball moves. “Yoga has helped me a lot with
an email interview. Weekly cancellations due to COVID-19 are a common occurrence for her. “It definitely hasn’t been the easiest thing being my own boss, even though it’s the best, it’s not easy and comes with so much work,” wrote Altamirano. For Altamirano, being her own boss means the pressure falls completely on her. “I am everything, the employee, the manager, the marketer, customer service, everything!” Despite her business being relatively young, it has grown. “I started in a small room and am now the owner of TrueBeauty Studio, a salon and training academy,” writes Altamirano. Her goals are to make her business “a worldwide known name.” Altamirano has since trained and inspired other artists to embark on their own journey as brow artists. Jennifer Catano, 28, took Al-
tamirano’s course last June and has since begun her own brow business, Brows By Goodlove. Faced with the challenge of losing her job due to COVID-19 and having her first child, Catano welcomed the opportunity to learn from Altamirano. “I was so nervous when it was my turn to do my model’s eyebrows, but Julie was so patient with me, walking me through each and every step,” writes Catano in a direct message on Instagram. “Even after taking her course, she continues to support me by answering any concerns or questions whenever I reach out,” Catano wrote. Another of Altamirano’s students, Betty Mosqueda, 31, has also begun her own brow business, found as @luxbrowsbybetty on Instagram. “My experience learning from Julie was amazing! She has so
events. The seasonal items can include patio or outdoor furnishing and summer clothing. Home Depot is currently holding several Special Buys on their outdoor patio furniture and impressive grills. Retail stores such as Old Navy are marking down lightwear and summer fashion with an additional 30% off all clearance. Kohl’s is also marking
down their merchandise offering $8 tees for men or $40 Adidas shoes for women. A few pieces of storage and organization prices have dropped as well as their home decor (perfect pieces for your dorm or room) since plushy pillows and scented aromas never go out of style. Bedding does not surpass $80 on the JCP clearance event online giving
stress and have more mobility when I play basketball,” said Higgins. Banks also mentioned that they have a very inclusive program. Students of all levels are accepted in their classes. However, Banks said more female students attend than male students. “We extend the invitation for males and people of all ages to attend yoga classes. There are some myths about yoga: some-
Photo by Yvette Meza/The Runner
times people feel intimidated for the factor that they are beginners, believe that they need to have more flexibility or have previous experience (such as headstands or difficult positions); however, you will gain more flexibility little by little,” Banks said. Banks said yoga provides a way for students to connect with one another. Students can also access SRC Wellness virtual videos from the comfort of home.
Brow artist raises plans to grow business By Alondra Roman Staff Writer During the COVID-19 pandemic many small businesses were created, including cosmetic businesses. Entrepreneurs such as 22-year-old Julie Altamirano, began her journey as a brow artist approximately a year ago. She is now the owner of TruBeauty Studio. Her experience as a makeup artist and consultant for Macy’s encouraged her love for eyebrows and permanent makeup to grow. Despite the pressures of a pandemic, Altamirano opened her business in her home located in Bakersfield. She provides permanent and temporary eyebrow services to her clients. Clients can chose services with results that can last weeks up to years. “The pandemic has affected my business,” wrote Altamirano in
Photo provided by Julie Altamirano
A before and after photo of Julie Altamirano’s brow work. much knowledge when it comes to brows and shaping,” wrote Mosqueda in a direct message on Instagram. “Her work definitely influenced me to want to become a brow
artist,” Mosqueda wrote. In the midst of a pandemic Altamirano gained the courage to pursue her dream and continues to motivate others to do the same.
you a decent range of choices for a new bedspread. If none of those stores appeal to you nor do theyhave the items you are looking for, consider subscribing to student discount websites: Unidays, Studentbeans, and Brokescholar. Each of these websites offers coupon codes for things like Ray Bans (get up to 50% off for prescription glasses)
or percentages off of helpful programs like Grammarly (get 20% off) or up to half off of select Dell items. These websites are easy to join and cost nothing to subscribe to. Some ask for student verification and others you simply have to create an account. We are all out here struggling to afford that degree so, it’s about time students can catch a break.
Deals and subscriptions for broke students By Anahi Lomwli Staff Writer
We are approaching the holiday season now that it’s October. While there may not be Black Friday deals yet, there are some bargains this month to look out for. Since the weather is changing some stores are beginning to roll out their end of season
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The Runner
Oct. 6, 2021
‘The Full Monty’ spices up the stage By Yasmin Marcelo Reporter The Empty Space’s production of “The Full Monty,” the theater’s first indoor in-person performance, successfully ran from Sept. 3 to 25 and ended with a bang. Ariel Clark, who fabulously played Vicki Nichols, said The Empty Space put a lot into ensuring the vaccination status and health of the actors, the staff, and the audience.. Kristina Saldaña, financial director of The Empty Space and director of the musical, said “it was really important that the cast remain dedicated and cautious of everything they were doing in addition to learning the show...” to guarantee that their castmates would stay safe. She also said they had a “little bit of extra time to account for if anybody got sick” to allow quarantine time. The musical production had everything from family, friendship, and, of course, male strippers. Apart from all the raunchiness, profanities, and
sexual innuendos, the musical went over a lot of topics that people can universally relate to. The Full Monty tactfully covered the issues of unemployment, co-parenting, toxic masculinity, homophobia, body image, suicide, and death. The show’s plot mainly revolves around Jerry (Alex Mitts), a recently unemployed steelworker, who is trying to bond with his son, Nathan (Ciaran Lollar). Jerry, struggling to co-parent with Pam (Missy Lonsinger) and to make ends meet, gets his friend, Dave (Nate Pugh), and decides to gather four other men as fellow dancers in on a striptease act. The four other stripper characters were delightfully brought to life by Trenton Benet, Jordan Fulmer, Tevin Jolsen, and Eric Lempinen. The production was great at not losing its heart amidst all the humor in the story. Mitts’s Jerry and Lonsinger’s Pam both effectively convey where they are coming from in their disagreements as co-parents.
Tessa Ogles’ Georgie andPugh’s Dave beautifully depict the inner struggles of a long-term relationship, the insecurities a couple can face, and the importance of good communication in a marriage. Clark’s Vicki wonderfully showcases her patienceand devotion to her husband. Although it was a side story, Benet’s Malcom and Lempinen’s Ethan do a lovely job illustrating the connection and giddiness people feel at the early stages of a relationship. All the nudity in the show was well executed and not too obscene for the audiences. They did not distract from the plot at all and their scenes were played out with their relevance to the story in mind. From the audition process, The Empty Space was very transparent about the fact that the six lead men would be in scenes that require full nudity. Saldaña’s co-director, Jeremiah Heitman, a trained intimacy director, held separate rehearsals for the six men and worked closely with them to help them get comfortable with the de-
Courtesy of The Empty Space (From left to right: (Top) Jeremiah Heitman, Nick Ono, Tevin Joslen, Trenton Benet, Eric Lempinen, Matilyn Powell, Katelyn Evans; (Middle) Victoria Olmos, Salvador Vidaurri, Nate Pugh, Alex Mitts, Ciaran Lollar, Emily Thompson, Julia Rios; (Bottom) Eric Miranda, Tessa Ogles, Julie Gaines, Jordan Fulmer, Missy Lonsinger, Ariel Clark
mands of the scenes. The directors and choreographer were also mindful of the final dance number, which involved a striptease that ended in full frontal nudity from the six male leads, and approached them with sensitivity. Jennifer Skiby Plunket, the choreographer of The Full Monty, interpreted the show’s upbeat songs well with all the fun and capti-
vating dance numbers. Clark states, “Skiby... is really good at running things over and over again, and... fixing little moments to really match what’s best for [the performer].” She also said the vocal director, Jill Burdick, and Skiby were both helpful in the performers’ learning process of simultaneously executing the choreography and the song. Both Saldaña and Clark
said “Big Ass Rock” is their favorite scene to watch as it exhibits Mitts’s, Pugh’s, and Benet’s comedic timing and talent in carrying out the irony and humor in the song. Saldaña’s favorite scene to direct, “The Goods,” is Clark’s favorite scene to be in because of the women’s heavy involvement in the number, their amazing costumes, and sassy choreography.
Disney transforms for spook effect Universal Studios goes full horror By Kennadi Burke Assistant News Editor
By Juniva Bojorquez Staff Writer
After being closed for over an entire year, theme parks have fully reopened and will resume their Halloween festivals. Taking a look specifically at Disneyland’s Oogie Boogie Bash, the event operates a little differently from previous years. The Disneyland Resort is focused on the safety of its guests during this time, so all theme park goers are required to wear a facial covering indoors anywhere on the property. While they are optional in any outdoor setting, it seems to be split evenly between guests wearing or choosing not to wear facial coverings. Also, any characters that are out during the night are kept at a distance, and guests can pose with them in the background. The event itself is separately ticketed and after hours. It will run through Halloween on select nights after the park finishes its normal operating hours. It features many of the
I attended Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights for the first time ever, and it did not disappoint. The mazes this year are The Exorcist, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, The Hunting of Hill House, and The Bride of Frankenstein. The event runs from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., but early access to Halloween Horror Nights begins at 6 p.m. One thing I should mention is on the Universal Studios website, it says “Warning: Event may be too intense for young children and is not recommended for children under the age of 13,” so if you are planning on going be aware it is quite terrifying. Universal Studios, requires guests either wear face coverings when they are indoors, or have completed their vaccines, or have a negative COVID-19 test. The majority of people were wearing their masks indoors and outdoors. Actors who were out scaring peo-
Photo Provided By Disneyland Resort Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion decorated for the holidays.
popular Disney Villains with photo opportunities and treat trails. Each treat trail features a different Disney Villain and handfuls of candy. As it is considered a costume party, guests are encouraged to dress up and trick-or-treat around the park. There are professional photographers stationed in popular photo areas, and all photos taken during the night are included with the ticket price. One of the major highlights of this event is the
parade that runs through the theme park because the Disneyland parade has not returned since the closure. Some park attractions are open to guests during the night, and the park is decorated extensively. There is also exclusive food and merchandise specifically for the bash. This event has an extremely fun Halloween atmosphere without being scary. It is a great option for those who love Halloween but are not a fan of horror.
ple also their distance but still attendees.My favorite maze was Halloween 4 because Michael Myers would come out of nowhere, and it was when I least expected it. The lighting and setup of the maze were well put together. The Bride of Frankenstein was great, the actors who played her were into their characters, and their outfits were outstanding. Whoever did hers and Frankenstein’s makeup did an amazing job. The Terror Tram, which is usually the Studio Tour, was The Ultimate Purge. I was not expecting to get off in the middle of the Tram and walk. It was dark and I could not see much. The scare zones throughout the park were terrifying as the creatures would come out of nowhere and they had chainsaws. The chainsaws were real, as a matter of fact, but for safety precautions they removed the chain. My favorite section was the Día de los Muertos. There was delicious food, great music, drinks, and the decorations were
Photo by Juniva Bojorquez/ The Runner
amazing. A woman was dressed as La Catrina, and she walked with so much grace and elegance. A man was dressed as a skeleton, and he was scaring people when he was not taking pictures, very mischievous. Overall, Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights is a 10 out of 10, you will get scared out of nowhere when you least expect it, and it is remarkable to be there after hours.
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The Runner
Oct. 6, 2021
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Which French fry reigns supreme? By Lilliawna Shaffer Opinions writer After wondering which fast-food french fry I would pick to eat if it were my last day alive, I decided that it would be best if I went out and created the ultimate fry tier list. Given the fact that I’m still a broke college student and fast food prices are becoming outrageously expensive, I had to narrow down the list to four places instead of the ten that I wanted to do. I compared four different types of french fries from four different fast-food restaurants. I tasted each fry to see which is the best based on these four categories: taste, price, visual appeal and longevity of freshness. The four places I decided to go are Raising Canes, Carl’s Jr., McDonald’s and Jack in the Box. Given the opportunity, I would have included Wendy’s, The Habit, In-N-Out and other chain restaurants to increase competition. Because the popularity of Chick-fil-A is so high, I feel as though it is
necessary to include why it is not in my top four. Currently the Bakersfield location is closed for construction. Such a tragedy. In first place we have Raising Cane’s crinkle fries, which quickly became an unexpected competitor. This was the first place I ordered from which worried me because I did not know how fresh the fries would be once I arrived home after ordering from the three other places. Surprisingly, these were the second-most-fresh batch of fries out of all four. The taste became a subtle yet satisfying sensation. It was not overpowering, but it was enough to be tasty. The price was the most affordable at $2.15 including taxes. Visually they were plain and simple. They weren’t all that special looking but they appeared clean and delicious. Although Raising Cane’s is relatively new to Bakersfield, I feel as though these fries held their own. In second place we have McDonald’s regular fries. I genuinely thought
McDonald’s would win first place, but the lack of freshness is what killed these fries. I went to this restaurant third, so the fries had a chance to survive the short 15-minute wait until I arrived home. Unfortunately, by the time I got home they were soggy and dry. They still tasted decent and they were still as visually appealing as they normally would be. Another downside of these fries was the price. A large fry is $3.99 plus taxes, but luckily the McDonald’s app had a $1 fry deal that I was able to use. Had the deal not been available the fries would have been less appealing. I want to combine Jack in the Box’s curly fries with Carl’s Jr.’s Crisscut fries because I believe that they taste the exact same, making them tie for third. A medium curly fry at Jack in the Box was a bit cheaper at $3.24 with taxes than the one size available Carl’s Jr. at $4.21. Although their shapes made them both more visually appealing than Cane’s and McDonald’s the taste was far too salty for my liking.
Photo by Lilliawna Shaffer/The Runner (Top Left To Right) Containers of of McDonalds, Carl’s Jr., and Jack in the Box Fries, and (Bottom) a container of Raising Cane’s Fries. important to note as well. predicted to win, but I’m The Carl’s Jr. fries were Overall, Raising Cane’s certainly pleased to see quite soggy by the time was not the place I had that it did. I arrived home, which is
Get your fill at Fil-Bake Shop in Delano By Juniva Bojorquez Reporter The Fil Bake Shop in Delano, California first opened its doors on Aug. 1, 1981. It’s is a one-ofa-kind shop, and it is the only place where you can get sweet Filipino delights for an amazing price. The current owner of the Fil Bake Shop is Teresita Gabisan Patricio, and she has dedicated so much of her time and effort into her bakery and to the Delano community as well. The Fil Bake Shop recently got awarded the 32nd Assembly District’s Small Business of the Year by Assembly member Rudy Salas. My favorite to get at the Fil Bake Shop are lady fingers because of the soft dough and the sweet yet creamy taste of the combination of cream cheese, butter, and sugar. It is delicious, especially with a nice warm cup of coffee. Ithzel Nunez, who is a Sophomore at CSUB communicated “The lady
Lady fingers at the FilBake Shop.
Photos by Juniva Bojorquez/The Runner
Fil-Bake Shop is a popular Filipo bakery located in Delano, California. fingers, they’re amazing.” Mary Zapien said, “I like the lady fingers because the filling is so creamy, and they taste way better when they’re freshly baked.” Dean Agcaoili, who is a senior at CSUB exclaimed
“Pandesal is good with coffee. It’s also really good because it’s so soft. And lady fingers are good because I love the sugar on top and the cream filling, they have inside them. Good baked goods for
early mornings.” Rosemarie Carino vocalized “Pandesal is my favorite because it is an all-time favorite in the Phillipines. But out here in Delano’s Fil Bake Shop, it brings back memories. I
feel like I am back in the Phillipines every time I have pandelsal. It’s also what I have with my coffee before I go to work in the fields.” Sean Carino said “Siopai is my favorite because not
only is it just bread, but it has a sweet meat filling that makes you feel a little fuller.” I recommend arriving early to the Fil Bake Shop before the bakery runs out of their baked goods. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas my family and I would go early in the morning to Fil Bake Shop to get some lady fingers It is our tradition now because if we don’t have lady fingers its does not feel the same. If you ask anyone from Delano about the Fil Bake Shop, they would tell you the baked goods are out of this world.
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Squid Game is a gruesome watch By Jacqueline Gutierrez Reporter Netflix released the suspenseful series “Squid Game,” on Sept. 17 and it is currently Number One in the “Top 10 in the U.S. Today,” category on Netflix. “Squid Game,” is a Korean Netflix series, available with English subtitles or voice-overs, where 456 people come together to play a series of childhood games with a twist. The prize for the winner of these games is 45 billion Korean won or $38 million U.S. The 456 individuals, who are
in large amounts of debt, are thrilled when they find out they can pay off their debts by playing six childish games, but once they discover the wager the games are not as easy as they seem. In every episode there is a huge build up to the climax, which is usually the game or the discovery of new information about characters and the game. Sometimes the climax happens at the end of an episode which will have the audience rushing to click the “Next Episode,” button. Everything from the background music to the cues and
body language displayed by the characters builds up the plot toward the climax. Along the way there are plot twists that will leave the audience confused as characters reveal their true colors. One episode the audience should emotionally prepare for, and maybe get a tissue box, is the sixth episode where true friendships are displayed through sacrifices and others mischievously betray their true friends. The series is surging across various media platforms. On Tik Tok creators are making trends
based off the games, their own theories about character backgrounds and predictions for the second season. But beware, some of these videos contain spoilers. Although this new series is bloody and displays some gruesome and chilling scenes the suspense and plot make it worth watching. The series currently has a 100% Tomatometer score with an 87% Audience Score on the Rotten Tomatoes website. “Overall, this is still a savagely entertaining slam dunk from Netflix Korea, which is likely to be embraced around the world as its
ing animals, and in particular, cats, continue to be a societal challenge in North America. In addition to significant health and welfare problems of the animals themselves, there are public health and safety concerns with free-roaming animals, and key environmental concerns.” Animal Shelters services “offer cat trap rentals, enforce animal laws in the community, and investigating animal cruelty cases, neglect and/or abandonment with the collaboration of law enforcement agencies,” according to the Animal Control: Shafter California official website. Most shelters have sterilization and immunization programs available for the community. Other service that animal shelters offer is follow-up bite reports to provide important details relevant to the prosecution and the defense of a dog bite case. Also,
they have public educational programs for people in the community to create awareness and increase involvement in animal care and animal control in their community. According to Jennifer Thomsen, in her article “Social Enterprise as a Model to Improve Live Release and Euthanasia Rates in Animal Shelters,” states, “the number of dogs and cats entering U.S. animal shelters each year significantly declined over the last decade, with ~6.5 million dogs and cats entering U.S. shelters in 2019, down 9.7%.” How can you help? You can join animal shelter volunteering groups that spend time with stray pets to help them transition back into home life. Reducing the cost of hiring staff members and helping pets integrate into a foster family easier. Animal Shelters make sure
animals receive compassionate, humane and high-quality medical care, and dignity in death. You can show your appreciation for these animal shelters by spot-
predecessors were,” wrote Pierce Conran in an article for South China Morning Post, which can also be found on the Rotten Tomatoes Website. Conran gave the series a score of 4.5 out of 5. According to an article posted on the GQ Magazine website, this series may triumph over “Bridgerton,” another popular Netflix Original Series released in late 2020, as Netflix’s most popular series of all time. This thriller is worth watching once, maybe even twice to pick up anything that was missed the first time.
Open your heart to a four-legged friend By Ana Dominguez Staff Writer Few people know the importance of an animal shelter in their community. People assume that animal shelters are created to reunite pets with their owners or help them get adopted. However, animal shelters provide many other services for their community. Animal shelters keep streets clean by preventing the spread of infectious diseases from animals to humans. Animal control personnel in association with law enforcement officers pick up, impounds, and disposes of stray animals that irresponsible owners release in the streets. According to the journal “Animal Shelters and Animal Welfare,” Patricia Turner, Jim Berry, and Shelagh MacDonald stated, “stray or unowned, free-roam-
Illustration by Faith Okoli/The Runner
lighting the value they bring to your community, donating time or other resources. Your support can help your facilities improve their services in the community.
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