therunneronline.com California State University, Bakersfield
Nov. 3, 2021
Vol. 47, No. 5
Game Time Basketball season takes flight at Blue-Gold scrimmage See pg.10 Vaccination deadline is pushed back again See pg. 2
Girls Kill Nazis See pg. 5
The Struggle for Size Inclusivity See pg. 8
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California State University, Bakersfield 9001 Stockdale Highway Bakersfield, CA 93311-1099 661-654-2165 runner@csub.edu FACULTY ADVISER Jennifer Burger jburger1@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.
ASI Recap: Vaccination deadline nearing to register for classes By Anahi Lomeli Copy Editor Last Friday, Associated Students Inc. received several reports from campus divisions at its weekly meeting via Zoom. Kristen Watson from the President’s Office reminded everyone needs to submit vaccination records in order to register for classes starting Nov. 8. Watson urged all seniors to go to csub.edu/vaccines to upload their proof of vaccination. If the deadline is missed, it could be detrimental to students’ status for graduation. Watson also reminded all students who have religious or medical exemptions to have their weekly COVID testing completed. If you are a student who opted for administrative exemption, it will not prevent you from enrolling in an in-person class next semester; however, you will receive a follow up email about steps to take. Watson encourages everyone to continue practicing daily screening. Director of Campus Programming, Emily Callahan, reported that 84.14% of students have uploaded their vaccination status. Lori Blodorn from Human Resources also reported that 95.7% of faculty have uploaded their vaccination status. She made clear that students will not be the only ones to receive consequences if their status is not uploaded. Faculty will have their own as well. Those who have not
uploaded will soon be put on progressive discipline which could potentially lead to termination. Executive Director Ilaria Pesco said about 2,000 students still have not uploaded their vaccination status. The Alumni Engagement Office reported they successfully matched 69 of their students to mentors. They also reported a strong fundraising year last year and wanted to give more than $25,000 worth of scholarships which were awarded in the spring. They announced that they were able to clear 32 student holds through their scholarship. Campus Programming also commented on International Education Week. It is scheduled to come Nov. 15-18. Expect to see a variety of food, a culture show, and fashion show. Sign-ups are now available. To participate in any of the events, contact Afaf Aldhulay at aaldhulay2@ csub.edu. Aldhulay also revealed that Campus Programming is working on the Runner Nights concert for this upcoming spring. Anyone who wants to help may contact her and be added onto the committee. Thomas Wallace from Student Affairs reported that the edible garden has produced over 3,000 pounds of produce this year which has all gone over to the food pantry. Concerned student, Alexandra Brown, expressed her worry about the cat feeding station on campus.
Cats are becoming road kill on Camino Media Avenue. Chief Information Officer Faust Gorham explained that it is against policy to set up these stations. He reports that it is not only causing cats to live on campus and further breed, but also is disrupting the way of life of kit foxes. The kit foxes are also consuming the cat food, which is causing them to be lazy and not go after their natural prey of squirrels. The preventative measure that will be taken will be to report these stations to the facilities division in order to have a dispatch team remove that station. Whomever is identified as creating these will be spoken to by either Faculty Affairs or Student Affairs. Student Jaad Bahaaldin suggested that ID cards should work in pair with the online screening in order to more successfully enforce the use of the daily screening. He then suggests that the ID cards will be the way students and faculty can enter buildings. Faust reported that while the idea is worth considering, the sophisticated technology is not available to the school at this moment. Eventually, after some time and funding, this is the route the school is planning on heading. The Dean of Academic Programming Debra Jackson and Department Chair of Kinesiology Brain Street are both leading the project regarding the Western Association of Schools
and Colleges (WASC). Jackson explains, “It is our institutional accreditor/Institutional accreditor. They came to visit our campus in fall of 2019. And in February of 2020 they reaffirmed our campus’ accreditation for a period of seven years.” She goes on to say, “They also specified a number of recommendations which are areas that they want us to focus our efforts on, strengthening our institution. And one of those areas has to do with academic support services. What they asked us to do in this recommendation was to ensure consistency effectiveness and quality of academic support services including advising, tutoring, supplemental instruction, and course scheduling to enhance student success for all students.” WASC plans on returning in the spring of 2023 to provide date on many areas including effectiveness of academic support services. For a more detailed explanation of this project please click on the ASI recorded meeting link as this is only a short recap. Scott Franselly from the athletics department wants to remind all CSU Bakersfield students that all games are free to attend. He is also excited to mention the men’s soccer team are now in third place for Big West division. Lastly, ASI welcomed Ginger Laynes as the new Director of Business and Public Administration.
CSUB Children’s Center partners with Cal Ivy Prep By Somiah Alkobadi Staff Writer CSU Bakersfield Children’s Center has been closed since July 1, 2021 due to the pandemic; however, they have partnered with Cal Ivy Prep to offer student parents another place for their children. EJ Callahan, Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, states that CSUB Day Care will still offer virtual education for those interested. Cal Ivy Prep is a preschool and infant center. According to their website, “children learn and develop best in an envi-
ronment that allows for hands-on interactive activities.” They take in infants as young as six weeks, providing care and providing them with tools to stem their education at a young age. There is not a set date on when the Children’s Center will reopen, but Cal Ivy Prep is now taking in students who qualify and need the help. Cal Ivy Prep is located at 2301 Ashe Road, open on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Christina Ramirez, an academic advisor at CSUB, had her children enrolled at the daycare before closing. At first, she did not mind staying home since
Illustration by Kelsey Peters/The Runner
many were doing that due to COVID-19 but then realized that she needed to learn how to balance work and being a mother. Ramirez is currently on the waiting list for Cal Ivy
Prep, but they are yet to open on campus. Ramirez also stated that the student workers were let go, but Cal Ivy Prep has them on a list when they open on campus.
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Tips to keep online information safe By Jacqueline Gutierrez Staff Writer With more resources growing online, it is important to know how to keep personal and sensitive information safe. There are at least 2,200 cyberattacks per day, according to the Norton website. Whether it is creating a new account, shopping online, or inputting personal information online for work, it is important to keep cyber security in mind. Here are some tips to keep personal and sensitive information safe from cyberattacks. Do not use the same password for every account: If someone uses the same password for every account that they own they run the risk of allowing people into their “whole digital life,” according to the
Best Reviews website. For example, if one uses the same password for their Instagram and Twitter if a hacker were to gain access to one of those accounts, they can easily gain access into the other. One can get more information on this topic at the Best Reviews website here. Check if the website is secure before inputting personal or sensitive information: During the COVID-19 pandemic businesses and started inputting applications online to reduce the spread of the virus, but while inputting personal information it is important to check if the website is secure. Although many of the websites that businesses use are secure, it is always a good idea to double check when one is dealing with their personal or sensitive information.
A few ways to check if a website is secure is, there is an “s,” in “https,” because the “s,” means that the site protects sensitive information, another way to check is looking for the websites Privacy Policy, which is usually at the bottom of the page, if the Privacy Policy is there that usually means that the website owner complies with website safety laws, according to the Site Lock website. One can find more information about this topic here. Be aware of phishing and scams: From time to time most people receive text messages from strange numbers or email addresses that contain links, and it may seem like common knowledge, but it is important not to click on these links. According to the Federal Trade Commission website
a phishing message may look like a message from a legitimate website or business. Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself from phishing, which are updating devices to the latest software, use multi-authentication for accounts, such as a enabling a passcode to log in or using a fingerprint, and backing up your data, according to the Federal Trade Commission website. One can find more information about this topic here. Making sure Wi-Fi or internet connection is secure: At home one can ensure that their internet connection is secure by checking if their router is a newer model such as a WPA2 or WPA3, and ensuring that both the Wi-Fi network password and router admin password are secure, according to the Federal
Illustration by Faith Okoli/The Runner
Trade Commission website. The difference between the Wi-Fi network password and router admin password is that the Wi-Fi network password is the password that people need to use the Wi-Fi and the
router admin password is the password that allows the owner to change the settings, and this includes the password, according to the Federal Trade Commission website. One can find more about this topic here.
Campus police chief gives update on stolen bicycles By Anahi Lomeli Copy Editor On Oct. 13, University Police Chief Marty Williamson sent out a schoolwide email regarding the recent bike thefts on campus. Two bikes have been stolen within 60 days and each have happened at Student Housing East. There have also been two attempted thefts near the library and the Student Recreation Center. The preventative action being taken by the University Police Department includes analyzing data, re-watching video footage,
and old-fashioned stake outs. It has been difficult to see the thief on camera because it only takes a few moments to snap the lock. Also, most of these thefts are happening in the early morning hours of the day. The chief strongly advises students who bike to school to register their bikes at the UPD office. The bike registration program is a way to trace your bike if it is ever lost or stolen. The office will place a serial number sticker on the bike and, if it is found, will make the process of returning it easier to the student logged as the owner of that bike.
Williamson also suggested picking up your own free U-Bolt bike lock from the UPD office. This lock will make it much more difficult for a bike thief to steal unlike the locks easily snapped using wire cutters. He recommended students to use a high-quality lock and to make sure it is secured properly. He also asked students to be aware of where they choose to lock their bikes since there have been instances of wheels and seats being stolen as well. There have been no more reports of stolen bikes since Aug. 31.
Photo by Anahi Lomeli/The Runner Bicycles near the Student Recreation Center are locked and ready for students to check out for personal use.
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Workers resign for own mental health By Alondra Roman Staff Writer For many people the COVID-19 pandemic rearranged their perspective on life. People have adapted their priorities and many are beginning to put themselves first. According to the Suicide Prevention Center, although suicide rates did not increase during the pandemic, the rates of depression and anxiety did increase. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has also “disrupted or halted critical health services in 93% of countries” (World Health Organization). This disruption in health services is influencing people to take matters into their own hands and compelling them to remove aspects of their life that are affecting them negatively. One manner in which people are prioritizing themselves and their mental health is by removing themselves from negative work environments. According to CNN, “a re-
cord 4.3 million people quit their jobs in August ... the highest quit rate since the report began in late 2000.” Rosendo Del Toro, a CSUB junior, found himself resigning from his position at Charley’s Philly Cheesesteak after a year and nine months in the beginning of the pandemic.
“A record 4.3 million people quit their jobs in August.” – CNN Report “I [kept] thinking to myself: ‘I have to take care of myself during the pandemic and focus on school’, because there are customers that are ruthless ... and it’s not healthy.” wrote Del Toro via a Direct Message. Del Toro mentioned that working in the midst of the pandemic affected his mental health; he wrote, “that job was too toxic for me to work there.”
Julia Ramos, a junior at CSUB, worked at CAPK WIC for 14 months before recently making the decision to turn in her resignation. “My biggest motivation for leaving was treatment and pay. I felt I deserved better treatment from my employer and better pay for the work I was doing,” wrote Ramos via a Direct Message. Although Del Toro and Ramos had their motives for resigning, fear was still a factor in their decision. Del Toro wrote that he was worried about how he would earn his money and whether he would find another job. When asked whether they felt appreciated in their job, both disagreed. Ramos wrote that she “definitely did not feel appreciated.” When she and her coworkers expressed their concerns little change occurred. Despite being understaffed, “there were no rewards for our hard work. I make barely above minimum wage for a job that
Photo provided by Julia Ramos
requires some college,” wrote Ramos. Although in the beginning he did feel appreciated, “a couple of months later it started to spiral downward with people either quitting on the spot or resigning,” wrote Del Toro. While making the decision to resign was not an easy one, it was a decision both Del Toro and Ramos made for their own well-being. Del Toro encourages those facing similar circumstances to his own to “go for it, don’t overthink it too much.” “I think it’s just real-
Photo provided by Rosendo Del Toro
ly important for employers to know it’s not just about the bottom line . . . I would have happily taken the smaller pay for a better work environment. Being treated like I matter, that I was appreciated, and that
my hard work was noticed would have gone a long way to keep me not only in that position but happy and continuing to do good work,” wrote Ramos.
Relief Shoppers help elders get groceries By Anahi Lomeli Copy Editor The COVID-19 virus has numerous effects, from schools being moved online to new contactless ways of shopping. Perhaps the group that is least reliant on this method is the elderly population. That is where the Relief Shoppers comes into play. The Relief Shoppers is a non-profit, volunteer-based, free grocery delivery service aimed to aid the immunocompromised. This organization allows call-ins rather than making online grocery lists. The founder of Relief Shoppers is Ulysis Baal, who felt a call to action to help the elderly in his community. His organization was established in 2019 with the help of his parents who are, “really well known and respected by the elderly,” says their outreach coordinator, Monisha Lewis. The success of the journey has been quite remarkable, given they were only established two years ago in the toughest of times.
The organization has a large workforce in Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles and Orange County. Home base is here in town and currently holds 30-40 volunteers with over 100 recipients. Lewis also mentions that the organization is trying to strengthen LA’s base just as much as Bakersfield. Relief Shoppers’ mission statement very much captures the compassion and love the affected so desperately needs. According to their website, “our mission is to lend a helping hand to the most vulnerable in our society during these trying times ... By doing the shopping for vulnerable individuals, our volunteers enable independent older adults and immunocompromised individuals to lessen their interactions with large gatherings, long lines, door handles, buttons—all potential platforms through which the virus can spread.” It should be emphasized that this service can be used by anyone who feels the need for it. While most
Illustration by Jessica Rosas/The Runner
of Relief Shopper’s clientele are elderly folk, anyone from pregnant women to people with diabetes are more than welcome to take advantage of the service. The organization also stresses the importance of
cleanliness and carefulness during the transactions between shopper and recipient. Masks are made mandatory to wear by both parties, groceries and carts are wiped down, and a strong suggestion to be
vaccinated is urged. Lewis gladly reports that no cases of reported illness have arisen yet. She also explains that, “there is lots of trust between volunteers and home base when it comes to be-
ing vocal about being sick.” Lewis also excitedly reports that close to 400 hours of volunteer work have been recorded since the kick-off of the organization. If you or someone you know would like to volunteer, please note that anyone 16+ with a valid driver’s license is urged to help. If you are a college student with a busy schedule, don’t worry. There is no commitment or contracts that need to be made by volunteering. Accommodation to your availability is very much prioritized. Click on this link to volunteer. If you cannot offer your time but would still like to help, a donations option is on their website. Continue to spread the word as another way to help the organization if donations are not the best option for you. If you think you know someone who could benefit from the service, contact Monisha Lewis at monishalewis5@gmail.com.
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‘Girls Kill Nazis’ artistically approaches white supremacy at The Empty Space By Yasmin Marcelo Staff Writer Girls Kill Nazis brings on the blood, action, humor, and suspense to local Bakersfield theater just in time for Halloween. Playwright James Kopp, a Bakersfield native, wrote the play “in response to the political environment and white supremacy problem happening in this country.” Furthermore, it is a “cautionary tale about what could happen if we continue down that road,” Director David Rock explains. Its first staging took place in San Jose. Initially, Rock wanted to direct the show at The Empty Space just in time for the 2020 election season because “it would give the show some real bite to it.” Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, the show got delayed. “But just because the election was over,” Rock states, “didn’t mean that the white supremacy went away.” The play depicts the story of four women who set out on a mission to kill as many Nazis as they could. The women, all feminists and passionate activists, masquerade as a book club in the local library, their hideout. Despite the production being pushed back, the story still holds relevance as it deals with very real issues such as racism, misogyny, and corruption of power. Hence, it deserves to be heard and seen. Maya Blackstone skillfully portrays Diana’s angst and intensity. She describes the character as a “rock, emo, biker lesbian chick” who is a “yoga instructor who attends book club by day and Nazi killer by night.” Elizabeth Bomar captures Sydney’s wide-eyed enthusiasm and youthful charm while conveying her fearlessness and strong sense of camaraderie.
Photo courtesy of The Empty Space The cast of “Girls Kill Nazis”: Claire Rock (top left), Kate Gill (top right), Maya Blackstone (bottom left), Elizabeth Bomar (bottom right)
Kate Gill wonderfully gives life to Betty, the group’s most maternal member, and maintains the character’s optimism throughout the play. As Gill says, “Even in the darkest times, she is loyal to her friends and cause, and keeps looking for the positive in
everything. Claire Rock does a great job at balancing Ruth’s leadership skills, determination, protectiveness, and vulnerability. Although playing a secondary role, Ed French is a standout performance with his emotional
portrayal of Bob. He masterfully depicts Bob’s heart, sensitivity, and kindness without losing sight of his political beliefs. Gill expresses that she became interested in auditioning because of it being a dark comedy, showcasing strong female leads,
and the stage fights. She also mentions being drawn to the plot because it has “an undeniable message that resonates with anyone who has been frustrated and stressed out by the state of the politics over the last 6 years or so.” One of the fight sequences was Rock’s idea that he pitched to Kopp. Rock calls it a “Nazi Killing montage” that showed “the women killing Nazis in different ways.” Blackstone states the first fight scene as her favorite part of the show since “no one sees it coming.” The stage combats were wonderfully choreographed and really showcased how, with the right motivation, women can be just as lethal, if not more so, as any man out there. The show’s casting process is a testament to the unexpected nature of theater and acting. According to Rock, he chose “the guy who cast him in [his] very first role” to play the character of Bob. Additionally, he cast the woman whom he “taught theater workshops to from the age of 9 through 13” as Sydney. Blackstone details how the rehearsal process “was a very safe environment to work through fight choreography and to build that bond between [the] girls.” She also discusses how Rock’s detailed directing and specific ideas on the characters’ traits helped her find her character’s voice. Aside from the all-around grittiness and badassery the cast bring to the stage, the production also features a great soundtrack that many music lovers can enjoy. The songs “Living in America,” “This is a Man’s World,” and “Bad Reputation,” are played to compliment some of the show’s most violent scenes. Girls Kill Nazis has one weekend left and has its last show on Oct. 30 at 8 p.m.
SHARE YOUR VOICE One of our missions at The Runner is to facilitate dialogue and create community by sharing the diverse voices of our campus. Do you have an opinion or experience you’d like to share with readers?
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CAMPUS VOICES These longer op-eds allow you to express your viewpoints on important issues in our university, community, and world. Op-eds should be 500-700 words and include supporting facts from credible sources. Letters and op-eds may be edited for clarity, grammar, spelling and length. Send your submissions to runner@csub.edu.
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Crumbl mixes scary with sweet By Jennifer Chavez Staff Writer This week, I took it upon myself to taste test the Halloween themed Crumbl cookies. Crumbl Cookies are freshly baked gourmet cookies that are on a weekly rotating menu, with their staples, of course, milk chocolate, served warm, and sugar cookie, served chilled. There is only one location in Bakersfield at the moment, located at 10530 Stockdale Highway, Suite Q100. This week’s menu featured five Halloween cookies: pumpkin roll, sugar featuring Mother’s Halloween circus animal, dirt cake, monster, and sugar (pumpkin candy). The pumpkin roll cookie is a classic take on the dessert of the same name, the pumpkin roll. This cookie is served warm, spiced, and iced with a generous amount of cream cheese frosting. The sugar cookie featuring Mother’s Halloween circus animal, is a sugar cookie with sprinkles, a layer of melted white chocolate, and is topped off with a circus animal cookie. Dirt cake is a chocolate cookie served warm topped with a rich chocolate frosting coated in cookie crumble and the nice touch of a gummy worm on top. The monster cookie is a peanut butter oatmeal cookie served warm, with chocolate chunks and m&m’s incorporated in the mix.
As for the sugar (pumpkin candy), it is the same as their usual chilled sugar cookie with the iconic pink frosting, the only difference is the vanilla buttercream frosting, and it is topped off with a pumpkin candy on top. Of the five cookies I purchased and tasted I would have to say dirt cake was by far my favorite, with pumpkin roll in a close second, the monster cookie trailing behind, followed by sugar featuring Mother’s Halloween circus animal, and the sugar (pumpkin candy) falling in last. The dirt cake cookie was ranked at 11/10 for me, I am a big chocolate lover, but in the sweet yet subtle way. This seems contradicting considering it is a whole chocolate cookie covered in chocolate frosting and topped with a chocolate cookie crumble, however, it is not an overpowering sweetness of chocolate, it is enjoyable. The gummy worm was just the cherry on top. The pumpkin roll has to come in a close second for me. I highly debated which cookie would rank supreme, but the dirt cake just really put me over. The pumpkin roll cookie was the epitome of what fall feels like to me with the perfect blend of pumpkin, spice, and everything nice (that’s the cream cheese frosting of course!). It was also the softest cookie of the bunch and overall had a nice flavor that was not overwhelming. Rating: 10/10.
Photo by Jennifer Chavez/The Runner Crumbl Cookies gets spooky with these Halloween treats.
kles inside. As I went to split the cookie in half, there was a good amount of crumbs that were conjured up. As I took a bite, that’s where it got me. This cookie was surprisingly dry and the sprinkles inside the cookie were a big miss for me. This cookie had so much potential, but fell flat. The only upside was the bonus circus animal cookie that it was topped with. Rating: 7/10. Last and most certainly least, the unoriginal sugar (pumpkin candy) cookie. As I mentioned, this is another recreation of their chilled sugar cookie. This cookie was nothing special for me it was soft and the buttercream frosting was good, but just that. The thing that really put me over the edge had to be the candy corn like pumpkin candy. I can’t say that I’ve ever liked any thing candy corn related even if it is in the shape of a beloved pumpkin. Rating: 6/10. Although I expected a much spookier lineup of cookies on the week this menu, I enjoyed most of what they did have. A singular cookie will cost you around $4. A box of half a dozen is about $22 (what I purchased) and although that does seem pricey for cookies, the size and flavor make up for it. I would say that it is definitely worth a try and hopefully after this review you will choose wisely. You can also watch me review these cookies on The Runner’s TikTok account @therunner_csub.
Monster cookie definitely lives up to its name with all the ingredients thrown in there. This was a peanut butter oatmeal cookie with chocolate chunks and m&m’s. This cookie was soft like the dirt cake cookie, and had a good ratio of all ingredients in the mix. I am not a personal fan of oatmeal, but I can’t say that
I hated this cookie entirely, the m&m’s and chocolate chunks made up for it. Rating: 8/10. Sugar cookie featuring Mother’s Halloween circus animal… if there is anything scary about this week’s lineup would be how dry this cookie is. This cookie is also a take on their sugar cookie, with sprinkles those terrifying sprin-
nuts, as well as eight donut holes if you want to cook them as well. If eight donuts are too much, the biscuits can be frozen raw. Now, you can now deep fry them in the oil or pop them in the air fryer with space in between them at 325 degrees for 10 minutes. Make sure you spray the
Photos by Somiah Alkobadi/The Runner pan and the biscuits when putting in the cinnamon sugar while they them in the airfryer. are still hot for coating. If you decide to deep fry the There are many glazes one donuts, flip them when you see can make for donuts, but I find them becoming golden brown; cinnamon sugar to be the one that is when you know they are everyone has on deck. done. Now enjoy! Once they are done, plop them
Transform biscuit dough into DIY donuts By Somiah Alkobadi Staff Writer Hungry for something sweet, but you don’t have much in your fridge? Maybe your spending is limited so you can’t splurge on that cake you wanted. Maybe you should try this recipe. This biscuit recipe can be sweet or salty depending on your toppings and it calls for a few ingredients you probably already have in your fridge. Maybe not the Pillsbury Dough but that won’t cost more than a couple dollars. Also, this easy recipe can be air fried or deep fried depending on what you have on hand. Ingredients: 1 16 oz. can of flakey Pillsbury Dough 1 cup Vegetable oil (If you are deep frying) ½ cup Cinnamon sugar (for coating) Cooking spray (for air fryer) Optional: 8 oz Chocolate chips for glaze/drizzling, powder sugar, cocoa powder, sprinkles.
Directions: Pop open the can of biscuits. Separate them from each other and decide if you want to cut out the center to make donut holes and stretch the center out with your hands until there is a hole in the middle. This makes eight full-size do-
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Why ‘You’ is Johansson fights for female power streaming in Marvel Studios number one on Netflix By Somiah Alkobadi Staff Writer
By Rhyan Nile Staff Writer “Sometimes, we do bad things for the people we love. It doesn’t mean it’s right; it means love is more important.” This quote exemplifies exactly what the hit television show “You” on Netflix is all about; Love. And what leaps and bounds one is willing to take for the person they love. The show just released the third season on Oct. 15, 2021, creating a substantial amount of buzz on social media. Everybody wants to know how Joe Goldberg, the sweet, obsessive, psychopath, is settling in being a new father and husband. The reason people have become so invested in this show is due to the twisted plots and intriguing events that always seem to arise. The plot thickens, and everything gets a lot more interesting when Goldberg meets his newfound love in season two, who might be even crazier than he is; Miss Love Quinn. This show represents just how far a person is willing to go for the person they love. Even though we all want to hate Joe Goldberg, we can’t because of how caring and loving he can truly be. “When he’s alone, Joe Goldberg is this obsessive monster, but when he is around people, Joe Goldberg is caring and helpful to those he cares deeply about,” said Bre Williams, from Showbiz CheatSheet. Joe and Love Quinn both believe that love has no limits. Joe’s insane dialogue with himself persuades him into believing that regardless if his actions are wrong, it’s
Film still of ‘You’ by Netflix
always reasonable. Joe tends to overthink, causing him to have internal conflict, whilst Love doesn’t tend to think enough making her irrational and impulsive. Love Quinn has a revelation about who she is and what she needs out of life. And that’s what makes the series so exciting to watch. On “You,” viewers are encouraged to root for the bad guy. And I too, as a viewer, root for Joe every season, despite him being a murderer. Joe is extremely articulate and smart about his decisions. His thoughtfulness and care are exceptional compared to most people whether it’s for love or revenge; but Joe definitely met his match this season by marrying Miss Love Quinn. Love tends to go a little overboard for the love of her life, so much so that she puts not only her family in danger, but she puts the whole town in danger. Joe thought he was the only person who valued love as much as he did, but
Love quickly reciprocated his kindness. What I love the most about the show is it represents every perception of what it takes to make love work. It shows the good, the bad, and the ugly, with no sugar coating. You can easily relate and empathize with the characters. Anybody who has been in love before has most likely done something they never thought they would do, all in the name of love. After being dropped by Lifetime, “You” has been thriving on Netflix and continues to grow as it has been announced that there will be a season four. Samantha Bergeson from the IndieWire says that “season 3 stands as a commentary on marriage, the definition of feminism and conformity for capitalism,” thus making the harsh realities of these topics easy to watch and show empathy for. Overall, “You” has caught everyone’s attention and raised a significant amount of empathy and realization of what that four-letter word truly means.
Scarlett Johansson has been in contract with Marvel since 2015. Johansson agreed to do a role that was not based primarily on her body; she wanted her character to have a story. Her character Black Widow was first introduced in“Iron Man 2”, according to StudyBreaks.com,“Within the first few moments of her first appearance onscreen, Natasha is objectified and sexualized, unfortunately setting the tone for the rocky treatment of her character throughout the rest of the franchise.” Johansson noticed her character was just an object in the film; being in tight clothing which was not practical for fighting. Johansson stated, “you look back at Iron Man 2 and while it was really fun and had a lot of great moments in it, the character is so sexualized, you know? Really talked about like she’s a piece of something, like a possession or a thing or whatever —like a piece of ass, really.” Black Widow was the first female role that made an impact in Marvel Studios. They killed her off in “End Game,’’ and she did not receive a funeral like Iron Man.
Promotional material by Disney
Ten years later, after her character had already died, they gave her a solo movie that aired this year. However, she had to sue the productions to get her own movie; it was not handed to her. Brie Larson, who plays Captain Marvel, received mistreatment for not being “hot enough.” Fans were not happy with the actress, according to Scmp.com, “Captain Marvel is meant to be a celebration of female empowerment. But in China, plenty of discussions online isn’t focusing on the character’s actions or the film’s plot --it’s focused on the looks of star Brie Larson.” Fans are trying to create a separation in the female roles based on the wom-
en’s looks. Scarlett Johansson’s character did die, but she made an impact after she left with her own film airing. “Black Widow”was about Natasha Romanoff’s upbringing, which was terrible. She was given up for money and was raised in a fake family until she was old enough to escape the torture she was put through. Her boss had taken girls from around the world and made them his little minions, which included her sister. Her story was very worthy, deserving its own film. Even though it came after her death, Scarlett Johansson made an impact not only in the film industry, but to women.
The Kern City Poltergeist By Ian Tash Podcaster Bakersfield, like most cities, has a fair collection of ghost stories. Bakersfield High School, for example, has a number of ghost stories, from cast and crew in Harvey Auditorium, students at the football field, and even an old lady in a boy’s bathroom. However, the stories of ghosts in Bakersfield can be based on scant evidence, and are on levels of folk tales told around the campfire. More than likely, they’re tales made up to
entertain. But if a professor presented you with scientific evidence, published in a journal no less, would that story not hold a bit more credibility? Retired CSUB professor, Dr. Stafford Betty, wrote “The Kern City Poltergeist” to recall an incident here in Bakersfield back in the 1980s. A woman’s home had allegedly been terrorized by a poltergeist, providing a perfect time for a scholarly academic to study the afterlife. I first came across this piece just as COVID-19 shut down CSUB when I
QR Code for the podcast made on QRTiger.com
took Betty’s Meaning of Death class, and it stuck with me. In this special Halloween episode, I perform a dramatic reading of The Kern City Poltergeist with Betty’s permission.
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Opinions Nov. 3, 2021
The Runner
The struggle for size inclusivity By Lilliawna Shaffer Staff Writer
Finding clothes that fit comfortably is already a challenge, and when clothing brands have limited options and a small range of sizes to pick from, shopping for clothes can become a very frustrating and upsetting process. One company that does an amazing job of advertising and promoting size inclusivity and diversity is American Eagle Outfitters. It is a trendy and popular company that sells jeans and other clothing items, but is known for its size-inclusive jeans that comes in a wide array of styles to better fit different body types. They offer 14 different styles of jeans, ranging from ‘Mom jeans’ to ‘Curvy jeans’ to ‘Cropped jeans,’ and these jeans are offered in sizes 000 through 24. In addition to this, they offer a variety of jean length options ranging from X-short to X-long. Their tops are sold in sizes XS through XXL which is still more inclusive than other brands who only sell XS through XL, but not as inclusive as they could be if they were to offer more plus-size options for tops. “One inclusive size range: 000 through 24. Because no two people are the same, and no two people wear their #AEJeans the same way,” states the American Eagle website.
Illustration by Faith Okoli/The Runner Another size-inclusive comclothing item there are three pany that has recently regained different sized models wearing it, popularity because of TikTok is allowing shoppers to get a better Old Navy. idea of how the item will look depending on their body type. The company embodies body equality by promoting size incluIn addition, they have a large sivity through its use of diverse selection of plus-sized clothing. models who are different sizes Their regular tops range from and ethnicities. size XS through 4X, which is more ideal for plus-sized people, With five different types of rather than struggling at many straight-leg jeans, three types of skinny jeans, and five other types stores that only offer a size XL. of jeans Old Navy offers a total Another amazing thing about of 13 different jean styles. this company is that their plussized items are the same price as Their sizes not only range from the regular-sized items. Oftenregular, tall, and petite, but they times, companies will charge also offer sizes 00 through 30 in more for plus-sized items, which their regular-sized jeans. My all-time favorite thing about is completely unfair to the shopper who is considering spending this company is that for each
their money at that store. “Dear women everywhere, Let’s start a fashion revolution. Now in all stores, online, wherever you find us, you’ll find all styles, all sizes, same price. (That’s right — the same style is the same price, no matter the size!) Because you deserve it, and your friends do too,” states the Old Navy website. On the other hand, one company that is lacking in the size-inclusive department is Urban Outfitters. All of the models that represent the company, while ethnically diverse, are very similar to the ideal vision of what fashion models should look like: skinny. Of course, there is nothing wrong with being skinny, but skinny people are not the only people who shop for clothes. Companies’ models need to show a diverse range of sizes so that more people feel comfortable shopping there. Urban Outfitters jean sizes are available in size 24 through 34,which is equivalent to a size 0 through 12 and 14. Its tops are offered in size XS through XL with no option of plus sizing. As someone who finds the clothes from Urban Outfitters trendy and cute, I rarely buy things from this company because I typically have a hard time finding my size.
A Huffington Post article describes an incident that took place in 2017 when Urban Outfitters hired a plus-sized model but did not sell clothes that fit her. The model was Barbie Ferreira and she had a 33.5-inch waist at the time, which is .5-inches larger than the size recommendation for an XL. This is extremely disappointing for the company to single out this model just to attempt to promote their failed diverse agenda. What is even more disappointing is that this incident happened nearly four years ago, and their sizes have not changed. After the incident got media attention the company released a statement saying they were working on extending sizing, however, there has been no evidence proving whether any action is being carried out as promised. Shopping for clothes can be hard enough as people’s sizes vary from store to store, but having a limited option of sizing can make matters depressing and can have a huge impact on one’s self-esteem. Body image issues are a growing epidemic, so supporting brands that are more size-inclusive and representative of different body types is important to our mental health. Most importantly, remember that clothes are meant to fit you, not the other way around.
Sports
The Runner
Nov. 3, 2021
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From student athletes to entrepreneurs Nick Lopez Sports Reporter On June 30, 2021, all three divisions of the NCAA changed the name, image, and likeliness (NIL) policy by removing the limitations that were set by the NCAA for years. This means all current and incoming NCAA athletes on all sports are now able to benefit from this new ruling. Student athletes are now allowed to take on their own endorsements as well as sponsorships from brands without the school system being involved. This is an amazing first time opportunity for college athletes to participate in receiving their own benefits and revenue. For the first time college athletes who do not get much coverage from television are happy to gain exposure. Examples of these benefits include being paid for autographs, appearing in advertisements, or providing social media shoutouts. I reached out and found several of our very own
and has been featured on their Instagram page. Austin said that she started to get a lot of recognition after she was featured on The Barstool Athletics Instagram page. The Barstool Athletics page has a wide audience of over 185k followers. Barstool Sports is a well-known sports media company. They created an Instagram page that allows student athletes to be posted on their page and to represent their company while receiving branded merchandise. Using their large platform to showcase student athletes across the nation. Austin has also received endorsements deals with Liquid IV, a popular Electrolyte mix, a company that has 290k Instagram followers. As an endorsed athlete Austin posts advertisements to her Instagram page, using her stories to show her support for Liquid IV. She also has sponsorships with Maax, a caffeinated gum company. As well as Nebraska Supplement, a
Freshman diver Maya Stefanski gets ready for a dive at CSUB.
explained her marketing role as an athlete. Austin said, “They send me some products and I either have to make an Instagram story or I have to post it on my actual feed.” When asked to give advice on student athletes interested in receiving their own sponsorship Austin responded, “If you want to represent a company or you’re interested in their products. Reach out to them on don’t be afraid to DM them and put yourself out there.” CSUB freshman diver Maya Stefanski is a Roadrunner athlete who already has sponsorship. Her sponsorship comes from Jolyn swimwear, an active swimsuit and lounge wear company that has over 263 thousand followers on Instagram.
Photo provided by Derek Crawford Track athlete Derek Crawford’s Instagram advertisement with Unhyped Athletics.
CSU Bakersfield athletes who currently have sponsorship or endorsement deals. Even though CSUB is still considered a smaller school, our student athletes are still gaining exposure on their own. I spoke with CSUB women’s basketball player Vanessa Austin, who is currently a senior. Austin is a part of Barstool Athletics
Nutritional company that sells workout accessories, supplements and multivitamins. “To be honest I never was really interested in marketing myself before, but after being presented with all these opportunities, why not do it? I’m definitely excited about it.” Being a sponsored or endorsed athlete comes with duties of their own. Auatin
I asked Stefanski how the process was like getting a sponsorship deal with Jolyn and she said “I’ve worn their suits for about 5 years now and I saw over social media they posted about their collegiate ambassador program, and I applied.” She was already well familiar with social media and involved with using social media as a tool. Stefanski explained her responsibilities to Joylyn swimwear as a brand ambassador, “I’m required to promote and post two times on two different social media sites a month.”
She said she has been posting her sponsored posts using her Instagram stories as her advertisements. Stefanski said she likes to include her teammates in her advertisements for Jolyn, trying to keep things fun with her posts. Stefanski is not only benefiting from endorsement deals, she also stated she feels she is gaining valuable real world marketing experience, she explained, “I feel like it gives me a background and experience in working with different brands on social media.” CSUB senior track athlete Derek Crawford has worked with and is currently working alongside a couple of different organizations. These organizations include Barstool Athletics and Playbook. Playbook is a company that helps student athletes reach out to brands for endorsements and sponsorships. Crawford has been featured in different Instagram posts for different organizations. This includes Unhyped Athletics, a brand that aims to support overlooked athletes who may not be publicized as much. Unhyped also have their clothing merchandise for their athletes to wear. Unhyped Athletics has over 43 thousand followers on Instagram, reaching a broad audience. The exposure from Unhyped Athletics led to Crawford getting an en-
Photo provided by Maya Stefanski
dorsement deal from Smart Cups, an energy drink company that has over 37 thousand Instagram followers. Crawford has also done endorsements with Connect 2 Colleges. Connect 2 Colleges is a platform for athletes who are in the recruiting process help gain more exposure from collegiate programs. When asked about his role as an endorser Crawford responded, “Making sure my image stays good as well as keeping their business well.” Crawford credited his social media presence
for some of his success in gaining interests from these companies. “If I wasn’t active on social media before I wouldn’t be in contact with the brands I am now.” He gave great advice for current and incoming college athletes who are interested in receiving their own endorsements or sponsorships. “Don’t reach out to everyone and everybody, take time to look at what they’re offering and what they promote to see if that aligns with your own personal brand.”
Photo provided by Vanessa Austin CSUB basketball player Vanessa Austin displays Liquid IV products.
The Runner
Sports Nov. 3, 2021
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Basketball fans return for Blue & Gold By Joe Bejarano Photographer The Blue-Gold Scrimmage introduced this year’s men’s and women’s basketball teams at CSU Bakersfield’s Icardo Center on Thursday, Oct. 28. The women set the tone by going first. Split into two teams, they faced off against each other and played with tons of heart and energy.
Photo by Joe Bejarano/The Runner CSUB men’s basketball guard Shaun Williams airs up for a slam dunk during the Blue-Gold Scrimmage.
They demonstrated teamwork by focusing on their passing game, working the ball around the court and having a good time. The men’s team followed, displaying dunk after dunk mixed with some alley-oops and a few three pointers. The game ended with a halfcourt buzzer beater as the time expired. At the end of each scrimmage, the teams competed in 3-point
contests, which really got the crowd cheering. The women’s basketball team will play an exhibition game against Dominguez Hills at 7 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Icardo Center. The men’s basketball team will play an exhibition against San Diego Christian at 7 p.m. Nov. 6, also at the Icardo Center. Both games will air on ESPN+. Admission to games is free for students with ID.
Photo by Joe Bejarano/The Runner CSUB women’s basketball guard Sage Bridges-Bey looks to score off a fast break at the Blue-Gold Scrimmage.
Photo by Carlos Hernandez/The Runner CSUB men’s basketball forward Antavion Collum warms up before the Blue-Gold Scrimmage.
Photo by Joe Bejarano/The Runner CSUB women’s basketball point guard Simone Johnson goes for a layup.
