therunneronline.com California State University, Bakersfield
Double Victory
March 9, 2022
Vol. 47, No. 9
Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams pull off wins on first day of Big West Tournament
A cohort of CSUB students, staff, and faculty celebrating the ‘Runners victory in game one of the Big West Championships. By Madalyn Powers Sports Editor After the first day of the Big West tournament both CSUB Men’s and Women’s basketball teams will be moving on after dominating against CSUN. The women’s basketball team started off The Big West tournament fired up. During the first quarter, they lead with a score of 18 to 7. CSUB stayed strong throughout the first three quarters, keeping their lead. They tied 52 to 52 with one minute left of the game, causing the game to go into overtime. In overtime, CSUB and CSUN went back and forth both scoring 10 points. Vanessa Austin then rebounded and made the game winning point with .8 seconds left on the scoreboard. The final score was 63 to 62. During the post game press conference, when asked what his mindset was when they went into overtime, Head Coach Greg McCall said, “Stay poised, stay calm, and execute both sides of the court,” and that is exactly what they did. Photo provided by Big West Conference Vanessa Austin expresses her excitement after making the game winning point.
Their next match will be March 9 at 12 p.m. versus the #1 seed in the division Hawai’i. In the men’s basketball game CSUN took an early 6 to 4 lead against the CSUB Runners, but it didn’t last long. Both teams did not let a point slip, continuously playing point by point. At the end of the first half, Kaleb Higgins scored a basket and took the lead, 24 to 23. When the second half started, the men came out ready to play a defensive game. With six minutes left in the second half, Justin McCall completed his signature two handed dunk, pushing the Runners even further ahead with a 46 to 37 lead. By the end of the game, CSUB won by a 58 to 45 win. Their next game will be Mar. 10 at 12 p.m. against #1 seed Long Beach. During the post game conference, excitement and inspiration had filled the room. Higgins stated, “ Anytime my father gets to watch me play, its a big moment for me.” Coach Barnes couldn’t emphasize enough how proud he was of his team and how ready they are to play the next game.
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Photo by Carlos Hernandez/The Runner Justin McCall completes uncontested dunk in the second half of the March 8 game.
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The Runner
March 9, 2022
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 PUBLICATIONS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Vada Hepner vunderwood2@csub.edu DIGITAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ellice Richman erichman@csub.edu ARTIST Faith Okoli WEBSITE EDITOR Marlene Garcia SECTION EDITORS Ernesto Leon, Xochitl Martinez, Madalyn Powers, Sydney Williams COPY EDITORS Guadalupe Avalos, Kennadi Burke, Vanessa Hernandez, Frankie Nadal DIGITAL TEAM Camila Arambula, Brizna Fregoso, Autumn Layton, Melisa Magana, Adriana Toledo, Claire Welch SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM Haydee Brahona, Paige Calvin, Jessica Espinoza Diaz, Victoria Zaragoza REPORTERS/WRITERS Graciela Aguilar, Adeli Arvizu, Fatyma Cendejas, Giselle Gamez, Joselyn Green, Carlos Hernandez, Marlene Herrera, Ambria King, Nick Lopez, Yasmin Marcelo, David Mendoza, Alexis Shofner, Ashley Soren, Kiara Zabala, Alexa Zepeda 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 seeks applications for student elections By Graciela Aguilar Staff Writer The Associated Students Inc., student government at CSU Bakersfield, has started taking applications for all of the open positions for the 2022-2023 Board of Directors. Application deadlines will close Mar. 25 at 11 a.m. ASI will be hosting election programs each week up to the application dead-
line to help students learn more about ASI, how to run a campaign, and what positions are available. The first program, Let’s TACO about Elections, will be on March 9 at noon on Zoom. The next program, Picture yourself in ASI, will be on March 23 at 1 p.m. on the Student Union patio. The final program, ASI Trivia, will be on March
23 at 3 p.m. on Zoom. A campus wide email was sent out to all campus students with information about ASI elections and a link to begin the application process through Google forms. There are various positions up for election this 2022-2023 year. These positions included president, executive vice president, vice president of campus life, director of
social media and marketing, and many more. ASI offers an election packet that lists the open positions available as well as the organization’s mission and what rolls directors are set to follow if elected on the CSUB Student Life tab, on the school’s website. For more information, contact ASI Elections Coordinator, Jason Watkins at jwatkins4@csub.edu.
President’s forum covers COVID, graduation, health app and more By Joselyn Green Staff Writer California State University, Bakersfield held a presidential forum with President Lynnette Zelezny and other faculty through Zoom on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2022. The first thing that was covered was the president’s updates followed by COVID-19 protocols. According to these protocols, there will be daily self-screening, vaccinations, boosters, as well as wearing facial coverings. The campus president said that “we look forward to in-person commencement graduate students you’ll commence on Friday, May 20 and undergraduates there will be two ceremonies on Saturday, May 21.” Vice President Dr. Vernon Harper covered academic affairs. Harper relayed that the next campus visit will be institutional research. Harper went over the data initiative. According to CSUB, “the first of these dashboards will be ready this term.” Also, the School Evaluation Exploratory Committee has been holding meetings and expects results by the end of this term. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges visit will take place in spring of 2023 and more information will be provided by Dr. Jackson. Harper also spoke about how there will be an upcoming diversity cluster hire for fall 2023
President Lynnette Zelezny and this initiative will be the campus’ first hiring process focused specifically on diversity. Student affairs were covered by Dr. Thomas Wallace. YOU at CSUB, an online wellness program, was introduced and shown. The program is available for students 24 hours, seven days a week. Nicole Halcomb talked about the program and how it helps students in many ways. The program has resources that students can reach out to for different things such
Photo provided by Aaron Wan/CSUB
as sleep problems, work through crisis, stress management, and more. Along with the support from that YOU at CSUB, there’s additional resources available such as the Runner’s Scholar’s Mentor Program. This program runs between the faculty, staff, and students. Using this program, mentors are assigned to mentees twice per semester. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund will be distributed to students for mid-March.
According to CSUB, The funding received has been $80.6 million. On Feb. 9, 2022 the governor has extended SB114 for supplemental paid sick leave until Sept. 30, 2022. This will be offering 40 hours for some COVID-19 related reasons, and an additional 40 hours with a doctor’s note for immediate family that has positive COVID-19 cases or even an employee. The daily amount that can be paid to an employee to no more than $511 a day.
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The Runner
March 9, 2022
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Media Arts Center delayed to 2023 Former Performing Arts Building will house departments of Communication and Art
This is a photo of the main corridor of the new Media Arts Center building at CSUB.
By Graciela Aguilar Staff Writer CSU Bakersfield is set to finish its renovations to the Performing Arts Building by spring 2023 following delayed construction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The newly renovated building, set to be the Media Arts Center, will have new services available to the Department of Communications, and the Department of Art and Art History within the upcoming year. “The two-year long process was set to be done by the first week of the fall 2022 semester, however, due to supply chain demands delayed due to the pandemic, it is taking longer than expected. We do plan on having construction completely done by the fall 2022 semester and the internal extremities sometime later in the semester,” said Robert Frakes, the Dean
of the School of Arts and Humanities. Frakes said that the Media Art Center is set to be an exciting feature for the students who are majoring in communication, art, and art history. There will be newly added services to the Department of Communications including, sound rooms, a broadcasting studio, a computer lab, communication faculty offices within the building, as well as a conference room with smart capability for Zoom and in personal meetings. For the Department of Art and Art History, a renovated dark room for developing photography, print making lab, and a digital printing room all new for students. The new renovations to the performing arts building will be an exciting new feature on the CSUB campus and for its communication and art students, Frakes said.
Photo by Samantha Cazares/The Runner
Photo by Samantha Cazares/The Runner This is a photo of the future Art Lab in the new Media Arts Center building at CSUB.
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The Runner
March 9, 2022
Faculty working to form new Ethnic Studies Department for fall By Adeli Arvizu Staff Writer CSU Bakersfield’s Academic Senate approved the addition of an Ethnic Studies Department on Dec. 2, 2021. According to Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies Jorge Moraga, the areas of focus that will be included in the department are Asian American Studies, Black Studies, Latinx/Chicanx Studies, and Native American Studies. The department does not have a permanent location now; however, it is currently being held in the School of Social Sciences and Education. It is anticipated to start in the fall of 2022. The Ethnic Studies Department Proposal for CSUB states that Assembly Bill 1460 was signed into law, making it a requirement for all students attending California State Universities to take at least one three-unit ethnic studies course to graduate. This requirement contributed to furthering the approval of the making of the Ethnic Studies Department.
“I am beyond thrilled that the many hours, conversations, and labor that went into drafting and revising the Ethnic Studies Department proposal was unanimously approved by the Academic Senate,” Moraga wrote in an email. He went on to say that the effort made to help create the department was through the contribution of various individuals who played pivotal roles in helping make the department a reality. Moraga will be teaching Latinx/Chicanx Studies, Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies Tracey Salisbury will teach Black Studies along with being the Women Studies representative in the department, and Jeremiah Sataraka will teach Asian American Studies. “It is going to be a very powerful learning tool for our students, and our faculty, as well as the community because one of the things about Ethnic Studies is it requires a relationship with the local community and community activism, so I am excited about that,” said Dr. Salisbury. She further explained that internships, research
Photo provided by Tracey Salisbury
File photo by Alexis Lynde/The Runner
Tracey Salisbury will teach Black Studies and Womens Studies in the new Ethnic Studies Department.
Jorge Moraga speaks at the Latinx History Month kickoff event in September 2021.
opportunities, minors, majors, and expanding one’s understanding of other cultures in one or more of the offered studies are some of the many opportunities that will be available to students through the department. However, with the thrill of welcoming the department, there are also concerns about who will be teaching Native American Studies. “I just hope it is instructed by people with a back-
Chow expressed her enthusiasm for the department and felt it was much needed, yet the importance of having a Native American instructor is so that students receive accurate information and understanding of the culture. Furthermore, so that Native American students on campus can feel comfort, acceptance, and inclusion. She hopes students can and will embrace their backgrounds and identity through the addition of the
ground of the cultures that they are teaching for those study groups,” said CSUB Student and Chairwoman of the Chalon Indian Council of Bakersfield Arianne Chow, “That is my biggest concern, so for the Native American Studies, it should be a Native American instructor that has been brought up with the background, tradition, and the culture so that they can understand not only the book part of it but the spiritual aspect.”
Ethnic Studies Department. Currently, it is still not decided who will be teaching Native American Studies for the Ethnic Studies division. “Long term goals also include hiring more faculty, especially a specialist in Native American Studies, (...)and help steward a more equitable and inclusive future,” wrote Dr. Moraga regarding some of the many goals he hopes will be achieved with the department.
The Runner wins 12 awards for student journalism By Sydney Williams Opinions Editor This past weekend, the staff of the student-led news organization, The Runner, brought home 12 awards from the Associated Collegiate Press conference in Long Beach. The conference included awards for state and national college-level journalism. Six students from The Runner drove to Long Beach to attend workshops and meet with well-skilled journalists for skill building and career development. The Runner staff got to have conversations with other student-led news organizations and gather ideas of what they would like to see happen with The Runner. As part of the conference, The Runner was recognized in the Best of Show competition for the Runner Online and the
magazine Converge. Along with the conference, The Runner was rewarded 10 statewide honors in the California College Media Association’s annual student journalism contest. The Runner overcame the challenge of producing virtually and was awarded two first place plaques for design - cover page and overall design. “Even though the newspaper hasn’t printed an issue in two years, the students still strive to create the best publication possible every two weeks,” said Jennifer Burger, faculty adviser to The Runner and a lecturer in the Department of Communications at CSU Bakersfield. Other awards included coverage on social justice and sexual assault awareness. The staff focused on these issues in 2021 along with the impacts of COVID-19 at CSU
Photo by Jennifer Burger/Adviser to The Runner
The Runner staff shows off their 10 awards won in the California College Media Association contest. Bakersfield and in the community. The Runner would like to congratulate the students who have won the following awards, along with the whole staff of The Runners’ challenging work, including story developing, editing, designing, and publishing. Associated Collegiate Press – Best of Show
Awards Category: Four-year campus, 10,000 students or fewer Fourth Place, Best Website - The Runner Online Eighth Place, Best Feature Magazine – Converge California College Media Association – 2022 California College Media Awards Category: Four-year
The Runner’s first place winning cover page from April 14, 2021.
campus, 15,000 students or fewer First Place, Newspaper Overall Design – Damian Lopez and Vada Hepner – April 28, Oct. 20, Nov. 17 issues First Place, Newspaper front Page Design – Damian Lopez and Ellen Kommel – “Full Court Press,” April 14 issue First Place, Best Magazine Story – Graciela Agu-
ilar – “Here, We Learn First Place, Best NonNews Video – Vada Hepner and Joe Bejarano – “Vossler Farms” Second Place, Social Justice Coverage – Zeltzin Estrada Rodriguez, Joy Gamble and Ellice Richman – “Asian American Students and Responses to Hate” Second Place, Best Special Section – Zeltzin Estrada Rodriguez – “Sexual Assault Awareness” Second Place, Best News Video – Carlos Hernandez – “CSUB is all in for OUTober” Third Place, Best Feature Photo – Alexis Lynde – “Via Arte” Third Place, Best Magazine Spread Design – Lilliawna Shaffer – “Business Ingenuity” Third Place, Best Sports Photo – Carlos Hernandez – “Game Time” (Nov. 3 front page)
The Runner
Features March 9, 2022
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CSUB celebrates
Women of Shakespeare By Sydney Williams Opinion Editor The weekend of March 3 to 6, CSU Bakersfield’s theatre department put on an exciting show celebrating some of Shakespeare’s best female characters. “Shakespeare Unmasked Celebrating Shakespeare’s Women” kicked off Women’s History Month at CSUB. The show started with all the actors dancing around the stage taking off their masks. The actors then stood in a line and shared that they were not there to discuss the controversy and conspiracy that revolves Shakespeare and his life. They acknowledged that Shakespeare had a troubled past but explained that they were only there to talk about the women that he wrote into literary existance. One by one the actors described the various kinds of women in Shakespeare plays from noble to evil. Then the show began. The actors had to switch from character to character in a short amount of time. I thought that they did a brillant job of transitioning from their narrator role to their Shakespeare character. Those participating in the play made sure to be clear when it came to their diction and articulation. As someone who has read and preformed Shakespeare, I understand how hard it is to follow sometimes. The cast all did a fantastic job of making sure their words were well enunciated. I was especially moved by the performances by Charlotte Smith playing Lady Macbeth from ‘Macbeth’ and Molly Jiron playing Portia from ‘Julius Caesar.’ Both actors were powerful in their monologues. The actors were loud and emotional, and expressed their characters different emotions. Therefore, the audience was able to appreciate some powerful performances.
Photos by Samantha Cazares/The Runner Charlote Smith as Lady Macbeth, left, looks distraughtly out at the audience in this scene with Divyang Motavar, right, as Macbeth.
Gissela Zelaya, left, playing the role of Desdemona, holds tight to the arm of Vanessa Beltran, right, playing the role of Emilia.
Oliver Love, far left, as Lysander from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with Molly Jiron, middle, as Hermia and Gissela Zelaya, right, as Helena.
The cast of the show toast as they close out the final scene.
The costumes were simple and because of this the actors were able to add different elements that related to the distinct characters they were portraying. Costume is a big way for an actor to get into character, and with the quick changes, I was able to see how easily the actors could become their characters. Along with the simple costumes, the set was also quite simple. With only a few different pieces, like a bench or a podium, added to the stage throughout every monologue. Although both the costumes and set weren’t over the top, it was still easy for me to create a detailed picture of where the actors were. According to a Folger Education Blog, “Is It Harder to Act Shakespeare?” Shakespeare is difficult to perform. From the complex use of language that would be considered outdated in today’s world, to the graphic scenes in some of the plays, it is tough to present to an audience and make them fully grasp what is happening throughout the show. Blogger RGYoung explains it best by saying “It is harder to act Shakespeare. The language can be more challenging, requiring more effort to get the message in the text across to an audience.” I think that because the actors clearly vocalized their lines and expressed the emotions behind thesm, the audience had an easier time understanding what was happening as the show progressed. Personally, the production surpassed my expectations, leaving me thoroughly impressed. A powerful message was shared in a show that celebrated how strong women are. Lastly, I’d like to congratulate the talented cast and crew on a job well done; I look forward to attending more theatre events in the future.
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The Runner
March 9, 2022
Representation increases for women first responders By Ernesto Leon Assistant Features Editor For eight weeks it was nothing but constant studying and a job to do. Studying trauma and medical assessments there was a goal to become an EMT and join EMS. It was her dream to become a first responder, and in January of 2022, she did it. She was now going to serve the public and become synonymous with the ambulance siren that is known throughout the country. A sound that has importance because it carries the significance of people trying to save a human life. Megan Romasanta is a 19-year-old EMT here in Kern County as well as a student at Bakersfield College. She attended BC’s EMT program and did the accelerated training that ended with her passing the exam in October of 2021. This allowed her to get her license and begin her work as a first responder. She describes the program as extremely difficult and constant studying because she wanted to make sure to pass all her course exams as well as be prepared for her state and county exams to get her license. “I would be studying non-stop. I would have study groups with friends at the riverwalk. I would literally wake up studying as I went to work, and go to bed studying too,” said Romasanta. A fellow student in the EMT program, Pablo Flores also went through the training and passed the exam in December of 2021 gives his experience, “It was fun and hard. You need to put the time to learn all the important stuff they teach you and will be using in the field,” explained Flores. Romasanta also discussed the gender ratio between women and men in her classes. She explained that at most there were just a few women compared to the number of men. She continued by talking about how the classes and workplace are male-dominated, but she has always felt treated fairly by her classmates, coworkers, and teachers. Diversity is important to see and represent to Romasanta which is why she explains she is so inspired to see and meet women who are also first responders. “There were a lot more men in
Megan Romasanta, 19, is one of a growing number of womeen becoming EMTs in Kern County. my classes and now workplace. I remember meeting women who work in the fire and rescue, and those moments inspired me so much. My professors also meant so much to me, and make me a better person. I ran into one the other day on the field and we gave each other the biggest hug,” giggled Romasanta. According to a study by The National Fire Protection Association in 2020, women make up about 21% of the workforce when it comes to EMTs and paramedics, but there is a slow increase happening within the field. Romasanta discussed how passionate she felt about always wanting to work in the E.R. room, and how working as an EMT can give her insight and experience. She first began working in January as an E.R.-based EMT,
Romasanta’s EMT license. but now works with 911. The differences between the two. E.R EMTS are more fast-paced, get to work with doctors and nurses, and are constantly on their feet. With 911 it starts by getting a call by dispatch on where to go and is just her and her partner which is a lot more independent.
Photo contribued by Megan Romasanta
She works part-time, being 36-50 hour work weeks, and she also explains that EMTs can have crazier schedules than most are accustomed to. “Working as an EMT, the hours are different. We can be on a lunch, but if there’s no one to take the order from dispatch we need to go. It could be a minute before your shift ends, and if you’re needed then you have an obligation to go even it will take another hour,” said Romasanta. She also talked about the responsibilities she holds as an EMT. There’s driving, talking to dispatch, patient care, and lots of documentation. Patient care is talking to the individual to figure out what’s going on. As an EMT you are trained to give basic life support through interventions. This term means to stop a patient’s condition from getting worse.
“If there’s a patient and it’s a drug overdose, we would administer Narcan. It’s not a permanent fix, it’s just to help the patient become more conscious and be able to move so we can help them get to the hospital,” said Romasanta. Romasanta needs 3 more pre-requisites before graduating from BC and obtaining her Associate’s degree. She plans to transfer to a fouryear university to get her nursing degree and continue her work in the medical field. She explained that she would love to be an E.R. nurse and got all her passion from becoming an EMT. “I wasn’t even passionate about school before starting my first EMT course. Now I have so much passion and goals. I’m so grateful to everybody that has helped me here,” she said.
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March 9, 2022
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Opinions
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The Runner
March 9, 2022
Live to make memories, not die trying By Kiara Zabala Opinion Writer Concert season is back in full swing as the world is beginning to lift the COVID-19 restrictions, that once shut us all inside. With concert season back during such a delicate time, the attendees and outside world cannot help but wonder if these concerts will do more harm than good. Many fear that concerts will cause Covid cases to rise once more. This is why some artists and venues have informed concert goers that masks and a negative COVID-19 test will be required to attend. However, this has upset some states and concert goers. This past month, on Feb. 22, I attended a concert for pop-punk band, Mayday Parade at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles. It was my first of several concerts for the year and was very memorable. The venue was all general admission, so I was able to slither my way to front row. Being back in a concert environment was amazing. I found myself in a mosh pit and got kicked in the head by a crowd surfer, I felt alive for the first time since this pandemic hit. However, looking around, I noticed that my fellow concert-goers were not all wearing their masks right.
Photo provided by Kiara Zabala/The Runner
Opinions writer, Kiara Zabala takes a selfie at a concert at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, showing she’s the only one wearing a mask. The vast majority weren’t even wearing masks at all. This caused me to feel a bit wary. These masks, although inconvenient at times, have become a security blanket for some of us that we are not all ready to take off. With the masks situation becoming much more relaxed as certain states lift their mandates, not all artists feel the same. World pop star, Harry Styles, mandated that all attendees of his concerts
were to wear masks or get a negative Covid-19 test result 48 hours before the concert happened in order to attend his “Love On Tour” tour. However, when Styles got to Florida for one of his several tour stops, the state was not happy with him. The Orlando Weekly wrote, “Styles’ concert was an event that was singled out individually for potential violations, in addition to the probe into other events at the Amway
Center.” The state of Florida is not the fondest of masks and has been filing lawsuits to people that have been forcing the masks onto the general public. Styles was one of those individuals that received a lawsuit from the state of Florida. All he wanted was to bring concerts back in a safe way that could guarantee everyone’s safety. It has become very apparent in our society that not everyone feels
the same about the masks. Some hate them while others cannot imagine a time before them. But when it comes to concerts, I believe that we should be wearing them, at least during these times. Being in that pit on that Tuesday night, with hundreds of people pressed up against me, I felt rather safe despite it all. Not everyone will agree with me, but I do not see any harm in masking up before concerts.
If wearing a mask and being vaccinated helps me attend all six of my concerts that I have this year, it is just what I will do. Wearing a mask to ensure both my safety and the fans and the artists, it is a small price I can manage to pay. So yes, I will be attending my next two concerts on March 12 and March 13 of this month, with my mask over my nose. And I still will manage to have the time of my life.
Take this from an introvert, being alone is not so bad By Sydney Williams Opinions Editor The idea of being alone has always sounded so daunting. With social media, there seems to be a constant need to show off what you are doing and who you are with. However, there are people out in the world that do not always long to be around people. The personality theory of being introverted or extroverted was thought of by Carl Jung. Someone who is extroverted would be described as talkative, sociable, action oriented, enthusiastic, and outgoing. These people are not afraid to answer questions
in class or talk to people at a party. Most extroverts are ready to be sociable.They get their energy from being around people. Introverts are the opposite. They are quiet, shy, timid, and nervous. They will not answer questions in class and have a challenging time talking to new people. A social setting might be overwhelming for them. An introvert feels more comfortable being alone and will gain energy through alone time. People might see introverts as rude because they do not go out of their way to make conversation, or they avoid social settings when they can. Which is not always true. Introverts need more
time to re-charge and wind down from a social event. Their brains work slower than extroverts when coming home from being out. According to the Insider article, “What everyone gets wrong about introverts,” Lindsay Dodgson states “... for an introvert an event is never just an event. While extroverts can just immediately respond and react to environments, introverts cannot because so much is going on in their head.” There are a lot of positives from being introverted. Introverts are good listeners, make close connections, observe, they think before they speak, and they are compassionate. Extroverts are people
that want to jump conversation to conversation, whereas an introvert is more comfortable with having one more meaningful conversation. “Introverts are especially skilled at noticing introvert qualities in others... They can tell when a person is thinking, processing, and observing, and then give them the space to do so, which makes people feel much more comfortable,” said Carly Breit in her Time article “The surprising benefits of being introverted.” Because introverts are observant and compassionate, they will always give the best advice and tell you about their opinion from an outsider’s perspective. They can read the room. It is like a silent super-
power. When introverts are asked what it feels like to be introverted, they respond happily that they enjoy being alone, says Ellen Vrana on a Quara question who describes herself as “happily introverted.” “Almost all the time I would prefer to be alone,” Eris Bolt says “I’m not one of those introverts who get really (and I mean really) nervous around people, especially strangers. In fact, although I do get nerves, I can actually socialize quite well. Its just that I would very much rather not.” I am an introvert, and I am perfectly content with it. Sometimes I feel like people might assume I do not want to participate in social activities because
they are aware I am introverted. But this is never the case, I enjoy spending quality time and having fun with my friends, it just might take me a little while longer to break out of my nervous shell. Sometimes I wish I were able to make friends and close connections as quickly as someone who is extroverted or has the gravitational pull that brings people towards an extrovert, but I am glad that the connections I have made are strong and meaningful. At the end of the day, I would rather have one close friend that I know cares about me than a group of people I do not know as well.
Opinions
The Runner
March 9, 2022
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Master Duel brings Yu-Gi-Oh to life By Ashley Soren Opinions Writer Yu-Gi-Oh is a complex card game that has recently seen a lot of play thanks to the release of Konami’s Yu-Gi-Oh: Master Duel. Based around the physical card game, Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel brings the game to life in a virtual format with integrated rules and unique summoning animations. The days of having to keep track of complicated rules and combos are long gone, as the game enacts the mechanics of the card game automatically. This allows people who were intimidated by the physical format to jump in and learn mechanics quickly. Additionally, since the cards are electronic instead of physical, players do not have to pay upwards of $100 to acquire the cards they need for their deck. One of the best cards in the game is known as forbidden droplet, and many decks run them in order to negate the effects of an opponent’s cards. It can be an integral part of many decks, and in the physical format, the card is worth anywhere between
$98 and $141. On top of that, since the card is not limited, a single deck would normally run three copies of the card, which leads to players having to pay roughly $300 for three cards out of their forty-card deck. Thanks to Master Duel’s electronic format, it is easy to pull rare cards out of a pack with in-game currency that is gained through playing the game. Completing daily in-game missions gives the player currency to buy the packs they need to acquire rare cards. Joe Parlock from Thegamer states that, “The kid gloves have been taken off to give us a complex, deep game full of exciting plays and powerful combos, but presented in a sensible and readable way.” The combos in Yu-GiOh Master Duel are very satisfying when pulled off, especially when one is able to annihilate their opponent in a single turn. While it can be difficult to summon a powerful unit with many cards negating effects and summons, it always feels good to bring out a nearly invincible unit. Pcgamer’s Donald Borenstein, who has logged in
This is an example of an animation that appears after summoning a monster in Yu-Gi-Oh.
over one hundred hours into the game, claims that Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel is, “One of the most exciting online CCG’s [competitive card game] released yet. It could use more single player content, but for PvP [player vs. player], it’s tough to beat.” If a potential competitor is itching for an online competitive card game, this is the game for them, as it is easy to jump in and build a deck. Since Yu-Gi-Oh Master
Duel’s release, I’ve logged roughly twenty-four hours into the game, and have hosted a six-hour, sixteen competitor tournaments of the game. While I think it is the best way to play competitive Yu-Gi-Oh, Master Duel is a lot slower than the physical format of the game. Some matches in the tournament lasted roughly thirty minutes since the card effects would have to trigger, and animations also slowed down the
Screenshot from Yu-Gi-Oh
Screenshot from Yu-Gi-Oh This is the play area that the player will see most of the time.
process. The cons of the game do not outweigh the positives, however, as Master Duel allows Yu-Gi-
Oh fans to play online with multiple friends for the low cost of nothing.
‘Love is Blind’ argues that love is actually blind By Gisselle Gamez Opinions Writer Imagine choosing your life partner without even knowing what they look like. Fifteen men and women participate in this experiment to find love without seeing their potential partner in order to find out if love is truly blind. The participants go on dates and talk to each other through a wall so that their looks remain unseen. They have to make the decision to propose before they even get to see each other. Participants have ten days to decide on a potential partner and get engaged. Once they’ve made their decision they are sent on a honeymoon to a tropical location where they have time to bond on a physical level. They then go on to live out in the world with their
new partners, where they find out if they are compatible when it comes to living together. They make their final decision on their wedding day at the altar. The anticipation and suspense gave me goosebumps as I watched each couple contemplate their decisions. Married couple, Nick and Vanessa Lachey host the Netflix series and they guide the couples through the stages of their new relationships. According to an article by Distractify, The Lacheys were ecstatic about the idea of hosting this specific TV show because the start of their relationship was done long-distance, so just like the couples on the show, they didn’t get to know each other fully. They said that their relationship was based more on personality rather than looks, which makes them
perfect guides for the new couples on the show. Many people get to see
Image from IMDb
their potential partners before even getting to know what their favorite type of
food is. These potential couples dive straight into the hard conversation topics, quickly developing an emotional bond. They are able to find comfort in one another through shared experiences and similar interests, rather than playing it safe and pursuing someone that looks like their “type.” Couples are forced to jump into relationships and trust that it will work out. Not only is the concept of the show interesting, but the participants and the drama they bring to the show is probably the most interesting part. Reality TV show drama is some of the best types of drama one can consume. With the drama also comes some cringe-worthy moments. In season one, after being proposed to by Damian Powers, Giannina Gibelli gets down on one knee and proposes right back.
Many might say this is a power move in breaking gender norms, but I couldn’t help cringing as I watched. Another extremely cringe-worthy moment of the season was when Cameron Hamilton and Lauren Speed confessed their love to one another after only half an hour. Not only had they just met, but they had no idea what the other person looked like. Along with the cringe-worthy moments of the show, there were also beautiful moments where viewers got to realize that maybe love is blind. At the end of season one, two couples out of six ended up happily married. It was a beautiful sight to see two couples commit to one another at the altar. They are still married today. Love may not be completely blind for everyone, but it is for some.
Sports
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March 9, 2022
The Runner
CSUB basketball competes Barnes is proud of his guys
With the Big West tournament in Henderson, Nevada underway, the stakes are high with the CSUB Men’s Basketball team (7-17,2-11 Big West) and head coach, Rod Barnes. The torunament kicked off Tuesday, March 8 at the Dollar Loan Center with the expectations of large crowds to light a spark at the games. When discussing their season, he brought up the
need for more consistency in wins and the number of close games they have played. As Barnes stressed, “We fight to the end. Our program is built on hard work.” For now, he sees those close games as hope to do better with not leaving as many 3-pointers wide open, and having the players ready to respond during crunch time. As for Barnes’ views on
the season it has been a battle but they are working really hard to get to where they need to be. Barnes stated, “They show up every day and give us what they got.” Barnes looked forward to his team playing their hardest, saying they were “giving me hope and encouragement because the kids are doing it right.” And more importantly, “This is the proudest team
I have had since I got to CSUB.” Barnes could not be prouder of the men the seniors are, highlighting how well rounded and high character these guys are. The players have gone through a lot but always keep their heads up. “I’m confident these guys are going to be successful” on and off the court when this season is finished, Barnes said.
Player Spotlight Justin McCall
Photo provided by Isaac Comelli/CSUB Athletics Senior guard/forward Justin McCall driving toward the hoop during the team’s season-opening game at No. 2 UCLA on Nov. 9 at Pauley Pavilion.
Senior forward Justin McCall naturally gravitated towards basketball when he was three years old. There are many reasons McCall chose CSUB’s program. For him, it genuinely felt like home, because his dad is the head coach of the women’s basketball team at CSUB. Along with that, the coach, Rod Barnes was committed to the program. With the COVID shut down, McCall could not be more thankful to be back on the court. The unknown of never
being able to play in front of friends and family again was a large possibility so having this opportunity to play in the environment has been amazing. With the ups and downs of the season, McCall couldn’t emphasize enough how amazing winning felt after a losing streak. McCall feels the team is headed towards the right direction and ready to play a defensive game at the tournament. McCall’s momentum is high and he is encouraged as he closes out his last season.
Justin Edler Davis Senior guard Justin Edler Davis didn’t imagine playing basketball when beginning to play almost twenty years ago at age five. It was actually football that had his peak interest until his sophomore year of high school. His friends and his mom got him into basketball, after much convincing. Now, one of the main highlights of Davis’ games is being able to see his mother and grandma cheering him on in the stands. With all the uncertainties that COVID brought into the sport, Edler Davis stated, “honestly put everything into perspective, with all the little hurdles it’s
worth it to be able to go out and play on the court.” Davis brought up the faith that Coach Barnes and the previous Coach Conoro had in him. The dedication they showed by being at all his games led to him choosing CSUB’s basketball program. That feeling hasn’t dwindled since coming to CSUB and Davis feels confident on the team. After many close games this season, the team looks forward and hopes for future wins. As for the Big West Tournament, Edler Davis is simply excited for one last shot.
Photo provided by Isaac Comelli/CSUB Athletics Senior guard/forward Justin Edler Davis stretching his arms before the start of the team’s season-opening game at No. 2 UCLA on Nov. 9 at Pauley Pavilion.
The Roadrunners putting hands in the handle during the team’s Big W ton, California.
Stories by Ma Sports
Top left to right: Associate Head Coach Exavier Johnson, Assistant Co Kayla Morris, Hennie Van Schaik, Jayden Eggleston, Soli Herrera, As Bottom left to right: Andie Easley, Tatyana Clayburne, Aaliyah Seuell, Johnson, Lexus Green, Jasmin Dixon
The Runner
Sports March 9, 2022
in Big West championship McCall keeps hopes high
Coming off of two losses against the Tritons at UC San Diego and the UC Irvine Anteaters, the CSUB women’s basketball team (4-19, 3-11 Big West) headed to the Big West Tournament in Henderson, Nevada on Tuesday. After previous wins against Cal Poly and UC Davis in February, they had finally found a rhythm and were excited to play, according to Women’s
Basketball Coach Greg McCall. In their desire to finish as strongly as possible before the tournament, McCall juggled the starting lineup, however it wasn’t enough to win. McCall’s history began at Cal State as a grad assistant during the ‘97 National Championship, then he went on to be an assistant coach for four years, and now has been
here for eleven years. Now as the head coach of Women’s Basketball he couldn’t emphasize enough, “This is home.” When discussing his team, McCall couldn’t stress enough, “We can be a really scary team since we know we can win.” The four outstanding female basketball stars currently dominating the court are Miracle Saxon, Andie Easley, Jayden Eggleston,
and Vanessa Austin, who have definitely found their place on the scoreboard. Regarding the tournament, McCall said the team needs to keep the high energy and execute both ways, defensively and offensively. McCall emphasized, “We’re trending in the right direction.” The team was looking to take high hopes into the tournament.
Player Spotlight Jayden Eggleston
Vanessa Austin Senior center Vanessa Austin’s love for basketball came from her dad who played overseas professionally then in the NBA making Austin want to be just like him. “My craft is tailored after his,” Austin states. And her reason for choosing CSUB’s program isn’t far off, between Coach McCall playing basketball in college with her dad the family atmosphere came naturally to her. With this season not being the record, they wanted that doesn’t mean the team hasn’t been putting in the
Photo provided by Isaac Comelli/CSUB Athletics West Conference road game at Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 5 in Fuller-
adalyn Powers Editor
Photo provided by Isaac Comelli/CSUB Athletics oach Ty Outland, Garrisen Freeman, Miracle Saxon, Vanessa Austin, ssistant coach Ciarra Ford, and Assistant coach Zack Grasick. , Sage Bridges-Bey, Head coach Greg McCall, Sophia Tougas, Simone
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work. Austin couldn’t speak higher by saying, “We come in everyday and try hard.” With fans back in the stands, emotions have escalated and the fans are now the ones bringing all of the energy. Austin emphasized, “Now with fans it’s a crazy feeling getting to feel that energy again.” Intense feelings are now underway as the players head to Nevada this week. “Nevada is just a great atmosphere and we have not lost faith,” exclaimed Austin.
Photo provided by Isaac Comelli/CSUB Athletics Redshirt junior guard/forward Jayden Eggleston is excited to return to Nevada for the tournament.
For Jayden Eggleston basketball came at the age of four thanks to her step dad. Who in turn helped her grow as a player, loves the competitiveness and to win. One of Eggleston’s main reasons she chose CSUB’s program is because it is close to home and has a family-oriented atmosphere. “Coach wants you to do your best on and off the court,” Eggleston said. With a little bit of a rocky season the team has been able to grow and come together. Being able to have fans
in the stands this season has been an amazing experience by bringing in so much energy and as a result they as a team get to put on a show for the crowd. However, Eggleston acknowledges that adversity can be a challenge. “To win you have to know how to lose,” Eggleston stressed. When it comes to the Big West tournament in Nevada next week, the excitement is high with Eggleston being able to showcase not only her skills but the teams to her hometown is a plus.
Photo provided by Isaac Comelli/CSUB Athletics Senior center Vanessa Austin says she feels energized by the return of fans.