UT
NIVERSITY IMES
Nov. 3, 2014
INSIDE:
LA ONDA: PERIODISMO EN ESPAñOL PG 10
RECAPPING MIDNIGHT MADNESS PG 6/7
THE CIA VISITS CAL STATE LA PG 3
CAL STATE LA IS THE NEW DEN FOR THE LIONS CLUB PG 2
TAKING THE RIGHT STEPS TO BEING GREEN PG 11
STAYING ON TOP OF FASHION PG 8/9
IS THE CONSTRUCTION ON CAMPUS A SAFETY HAZARD? PG 4
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Issue 207.6
C A L I F O R N I A S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y, L O S A N G E L E S
The Return of the Brotherhood
With a promise of exemplary principals, Sigma Nu marks a second beginning on the campus after two years of suspension. Angeline Bernabe
Staff Reporter We all believe in second chances; few things are as appealing as a ‘rise from the ashes’ story. Well, Cal State LA may just be about to witness the same. After being suspended for two years due to hazing in the past, Cal State LA’s Sigma Nu Fraternity is re-launching on campus, and this time around, they are making sure to lead and become a positive example in the university Greek system by advocating for a zerotolerance on hazing policy. Sigma Nu’s former president and recent graduate, German Arteaga, explained, “There’s a big movement in the Greek system where if you get caught hazing, you face criminal charges.” When asked about how did the university know there was hazing involved in the first place, Artega replied, “We really don’t know what happened and how it was caught. But rumors suggested that when one of our candidates got dropped because he didn’t meet the requirements of headquarters, he went to the University and spilled the beans, where we got dinged for more University Policy violations.” Arteaga, who has been helping Sigma Nu re-build their chapter even after graduating last spring, shared that he too, was one of the new pledges of Sigma Nu that got hazed in 2012, along with current Sigma Nu President, Michael Lopez. After investigations took place in 2012, the Sigma Nu chapter at Cal State LA was convicted for depriving new pledge members of sleep. While this incident may hint the actual face of hazing, this term can be much broader and could involve anything from wearing a specific color to tasks
that may prove physically or mentally endangering. Arteaga described the memory of being hazed as a new pledge member in late 2011 saying, “They would make all the pledges or the candidates at Sigma Nu stay up all night, get tested on questions about Sigma Nu history, and throw stuff at them when things weren’t going right.” Although no one got hurt, Arteaga explained that the university saw them going against their fraternity’s values of life, honor, and truth. Even though they weren’t being recognized by the Cal State LA community for the last two years, the fraternity has been able to re-evaluate what being a part of Sigma Nu really is about, and how to promote qualities of excellent leadership on campus. Michael Lopez, the present Sigma Nu President, said that to promote qualities of leadership on campus, the chapter is focusing on many philanthropic activities to leave a legacy behind, which hasn’t been the easiest task to do. Lopez explained, “The hardest thing during the two years was staying away from campus and keeping a low profile during the suspension phase. We weren’t allowed to recruit during the period.” Arteaga added to Lopez’s statement saying, “The main difficulty was thinking about how to get new members
Photo by German Artega
to participate in aspects of chapter operations without offering the opportunity to do stuff on campus.”
Over the course of the week of October 27th, 2014, Sigma Nu was able to finally recruit on campus, and has received an overwhelming amount of interest from students on campus. Many in the community on and off campus have been acknowledging their persistence to re-build their chapter and start up again. Arteaga says, “We’re getting support from those that stayed around to engage our members in the organization, and who have also helped spread the word that Sigma Nu is back on campus.” Sigma Nu member, Vince Ibarra, who took part in hazing new pledges two years ago explained how the past two years has changed his outlook on hazing and has focused more on the foundation of why he wanted to be in a fraternity in the first place. He says, “A reason why I joined Sigma Nu in the first place is brotherhood and networking.” Since their re-launch, Sigma Nu members have been very open about their chapter’s past indiscretions, and are only doing so to shed light on an issue that has affected college campuses around the country. Arteaga expressed,
“I think we’re not trying to hide our past because we all know it happens in the Greek community… And now we’re trying to better the Greek community here at Cal State LA by eliminating hazing in any way we can.” With ‘zero-tolerance on hazing new recruits’ as a definitive policy, the fraternity is assuring that they will not use the same practices in the past, but instead will reestablish on the foundation of brotherhood. As the organization gets ready to test the waters again, only time will tell how smooth will they sail! What brought the fraternity suspension at Cal State LA may be just the hint of what hazing can be. Hazing, referred by many different terms around the globe and can go far beyond ‘sleep deprivation’. It is the practice of rituals and other activities involving any kind of harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group. Hazing may end up causing a permanent physical or mental damage. If any student at Cal State LA is put under any of such circumstances, it is strongly recommended that they call the campus police or 911 for immediate response or report the authorities about the incident.
2 Lions Welcome New Cubs University Times
Nov. 3, 2014
at Cal State L.A. Looking for some community service clubs to join on campus? Check this new organization out! Taylor Preza
Reporter California’s District 4-L2 Lions Club members were welcomed with open arms as newly recognized lions at Cal State L.A.’s Lions Club Charter Night and Installation of Officers Banquet on Thursday, October 30th. After dinner was served, District Governor Alberto Montes De Oca conducted the induction of the new charter member officers including President Daniel Lee McDonald, first and second Vice Presidents Matilde Pedraza and Jennifer Ruiz, Secretary Elisha Santos (not present), Director Aldwin Joaquin, Treasurer Vivian Aviles and Membership Janice de la Cruz. Lions Club is a community service organization created in 1917 to serve their designated neighborhoods. It is open to the public and there are other chapters nationwide. There are 53 Lion
Clubs within the district with 1,530, and 1,384,934 members in 210 countries worldwide. High school and colleges have their very own Lions Club too.
Cal State L.A. is officially the second campus club to be recognized in this district, ranging from the mountains to the beach, from the Long Beach freeway to the Orange County line. Whittier College and Cal State L.A. are the only campuses that are a part of Lions Club within the 4-L2 district in California. Shortly following the reception, Lion Immediate Past District Governor Kenny Shu conducted the installation of charter officers. Each officer stood proudly on the stage and took their oath of promise to do their respective duties as new Lions Club members at Cal State L.A.
were present with their club spirit and high energy. Among those were second Vice President District Governor of Norwalk, Manuel Sanchez, and Lion member of Montebello, Monica Ling.
“From the beginning, I believe it was May of 2013 when we started to recruit members and I’m really happy that this second campus club became our fifth new club within this past year,” said Shu.
Sanchez and Ling are both active mentors for the Lions Club at Cal State L.A. and will guide the members to fulfill their responsibilities of successfully leading the rest of the club in starting off their year with a bang!
Shu addressed the audience with kind words praising the growth of the charter with the addition of Cal State L.A.’s new members. “This addition resulted in almost 20% growth in the state of California and I am so proud of you all,” shared Shu.
After the speeches, club President of Cal State L.A.’s Lions Club Daniel McDonald, addressed the club with positive closing remarks. “Thank you to everyone for coming out and showing your support. I really hope to lead this new club and improve our numbers, if not by members, then by pride, participation and the willingness to
Members from all over the district
CSULA's Lion Club officers with Lions Club district members | Taylor Preza
serve others,” said McDonald. There will be a service event coming up lasting until December on campus. Lions Club will collaborate with Cal State L.A. EPIC’s Toy and Food Drive in accepting donations and wrapping them to give to one or two low-income families. Don’t forget to be on the look out for some boxes around campus specifically stationed for collecting donations! The club is still open for any student on campus to join. If interested, email the club at csula.lionscampusclub@ gmail.com or attend their meetings every other week on Thursdays in room 243 at Salazar Hall.
Cal State LA Forensics Speech and Debate An inside look in a competitor's mind during a Speech and Debate competiton. Pablo De La Hoya
Contributor It’s a normal sunny day in San Diego, but for Brian Hy, it is the beginning of an ending. Last minute preparations for his speeches take up his morning of the tournament. Eight years ago, he would never see himself doing that, like many others in forensics. Without forensics he would just be here for school; forensics has given him an activity leading to job opportunities. This all started when his eldest brother inspired him to join simply because he was winning a lot of trophies. And all Brian wanted to do was win.
As he prepares his Interpretation piece, all the adrenaline hits as the first round approaches. Interpretation is a speech comprised of literature, which is acted out to give an argument. His piece critiques how minorities have to adopt American names. For example, his name is Xing Xing, but his American name is Brian. Hy exclaims, “Often times, losing contact with their cultures”. Brian explains the assimilation of foreign names issue has stuck with him ever since his parents revealed to him his “real” name. His interpretation includes a performance from the Key and Pele show. A comedy show using laughs to emphasize how names are pronounced differently depending on their cultures. This piece helped the team win third place on that sunny San Diego day earning him second place in the event. However, he didn’t win the team award alone.
Other members like Brian Hy are veterans of the speech team but for Danielle Soibelman, it’s still a whole new world. Today is her biggest test yet. Soibelman, at one point, was afraid of speaking due to the high caliber speeches she saw. Intimidation is something many new competitors face. In particular for Soibelman, it is at an increased level as she nears the competition’s event. Impromptu is a challenging mode of speech even for a veteran. For Soibelman, it was haunting because she had to prepare and give a speech in seven minutes, leaving her with only two minutes to prepare it. “You have to think on your feet, otherwise you will have nothing to say and lose the round,” Soibelman said. Soibelman further explains, “The only truly intimidating factor about the team was the talent of the other members”. She quickly got over this as Brian told her, “Not too long ago we were in your shoes, but now look at us”. This motivated her to achieve the
same level, if not surpass it as she prepares for the next tournament. “San Diego showed me exactly what forensics is, giving me more confidence in my abilities”. She gave much ado credit to the new level of confidence by simply being able to conduct impromptu speeches outside of practice, where it mattered. She went further to explain that her first tournament was a roller coaster of emotions. Starting with fear, followed by high surges of adrenaline, and finally happiness when it was all over and she managed to survive. But thanks to that experience her confidence level with public speaking has dramatically increased. “Forensics has changed my life, further concreting my career choice in communications”. Detailing, “Forensics like many activities is intimidating, but with the help of the coaches and veteran members it is very easy to overcome those [public speaking] fears”.
University Times
Nov. 3, 2014
UT
NIVERSITY IMES
Editor-in-Chief Yzzy Gonzalez
Distributor Carol Venegas
Managing Editor Timmy Truong
Staff Reporters Gerardo Amezquita Angeline Bernanbe
Production Manager Taylor Preza
Contributors Tierra Booker Pablo De La Hoya Guadalupe Garcia Desmond Hall Noelle Halter Colburn Junus Emmanuel Nunez George Rodriguez Tony Romo Row Ethian Ting Christine Tran Crystal Zhaler
Production Assistants Roxana Hernandez Timmy Truong Web Editor Carol Venegas Copy Editors Gerardo Amezquita Nihdin Patel Carol Venegas Business/ Advertising Mangager Jim Munson
Columnist Roxana Hernandez Photographers German Arteaga Pablo De La Hoya Taylor Preza Timmy Truong
Faculty Advisor Suzanne Regan
All opinions and letters in the University Times represent the opinion of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the UT or the university. Letters to the editor should include an address, telephone number and identification. Letters may be edited for grammar and length. University Times display and classified advertising should not be construed as the endorsement or investigation of commercial enterprises of ventures. University Times reserves the right to reject any advertising. University Times is published every Monday. Copyright 2014 University Times. All Rights Reserved. Cal State University, Los Angeles 5151 State University Dr. - KH C3098 LA, Ca, 90032 Office 323.343.4215 Advertising 323.343.4270
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Para La Onda: Jefes de Redacción:
Xanni Valentin Chavira
Editores: Meliiza Guzman Mindy Galindo Sergio Soto Gerente de publicidad:
Martha J. Orellana
Consejero de la Facultad:
Pablo Baler
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Classified TOP SECRET Joining the CIA might not be as difficult as you think. Gerardo Amezquita
Staff Reporter We all remember that iconic scene from Mission: Impossible when Ethan Hunt, played by Tom Cruise, cruises down the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) air ducts to acquire classified information with that cunning theme song playing in the background. Sorry to break it to you, but the CIA does not function like that on a daily basis. To unveil the shroud of mystery, students got an exclusive inside look into the most enigmatic and elusive occupation in the nation. On Wednesday, October 30th, Francis, a regional recruiter for the CIA discussed the plethora of jobs available within this covert agency. One of his first debunkments was the highly regarded concept that the agency is run by ‘super-human’ individuals, testifying it was an utterly fabricated stereotype created by films. Francis mentioned the CIA holds a certain standard of skill that attracts highly intelligent and capable individuals from varying majors to “collect, analyze, and disseminate information.” While listening to his presentation, the sensation of either intimidation or eagerness for employment with the agency were bound to occur. However, Francis shared a positive insight to make students feel less discouraged to apply. Whether it was for an internship or job, Francis mentioned his prior work as a dog groomer. Yes, a dog groomer and he was not kidding. Francis applied to the field when he saw a classified ad in the newspaper. This led him to his present occupation as a CIA agent.
photo courtesy | www.totpi.com Francis made it amply clear that the CIA exhibits flaccidity on the fields of study it is interested in, from Political Science and STEM majors to the least associated majors like Liberal Arts and Library Sciences. What makes a person stand out when trying to apply is their knowledge of foreign languages, especially highly valued ones like Persian/Farsi, Mandarin, Arabic, Korean, and Russian. Not knowing these languages is not a deal breaker, rather what the CIA seeks is if you are capable of learning various languages. Another important quality cherished by the agency is a strong passion for international affairs. It could be as simple as being interested in the affairs of Syria by reading it online or joining a mock United Nations club. Since a lot of what the CIA does is absorbed on a global basis, one strong characteristic that one should have is an interest in worldwide subjects. For example, it could be that once you have applied, they might post you in an embassy in Podgorica or Budapest. Towards the end of his presentation, Francis touched upon an imperative point that applies to not just those trying to work for the CIA, but to everyone who seeks employment to any government agency. The government seeks applicants who are model citizens; meaning they abide by all laws no matter your relaxed attitude towards the issue.
Francis also stressed the top two reasons applicants get denied employment. First, illegal drug use is a primary deterrent for government employment because most applicants have used drugs in the past 12 months, specifically cannabis. Second, the illegal downloading of media and other electronic files is a constant issue. In fact, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) reports that 75% of computers hold at least one illegal download. If you are guilty to one or both of these crimes and seeking government employment, you must be panicking. Before you hyperventilate, there are straightforward solutions to each problem. Francis mentioned that to be considered suitable for employment you must of have not used drugs within the past 12 months of application admittance. For illegal downloads, you should delete all music, games, and software that was acquired through illegal means. Say goodbye to that music collective you consider your masterpiece. Overall, the presentation was informative and motivating because it repealed deviated perceptions of the agency and brought new information to light. If you wish to know more about CIA employment, such as the application process and the application itself, visit the agency’s website at www. cia.gov.
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Nov. 3, 2014
University Times
Safety First But what about when there is an on going construction on campus?
Guadalupe Garcia Contributor We come to think of campus as an environment of health and safe learning, but do construction projects conducted while school is in session jeopardize the safety of students and staff? The question becomes relevant for Cal State LA under the light of the ongoing construction on campus. Our campus has undergone several renovation projects these past years. There’s been the completion of the Wallis Annenberg Integrated Science Complex, the revamping of the Simpson Annex Lecture Hall Ramp and currently it is undergoing the Union Plaza Project. This began shortly after commencement week and it aims to complete the original plans drafted 5 years ago, plus, additional improvements to enhance the area. The Student Union Plaza is currently fenced off due to the construction. These new ventures always bring excitement to the campus. However, not only can the fabrication of new facilities bring health and safety hazards to the local community, but in the occurrence of a natural disaster, projects like these can at times interfere with ones security. Recently our state held the Great California Shakeout, an annual preparedness for earthquake drill. Millions of residents participated, including our university. For some campuses like Arcadia High School, the drill highlighted the negative impact construction can have on a site. Attempting to evacuate buildings became a troublesome experience, since there were a limited amount of routes that led toward the football field. One of the Regional Occupational Program counselors commented that if a real earthquake were to strike, this would result in total chaos. Ivette Morales, fourth-year student and Psychology Major at Cal State LA, was relieved that she was not located at the U-SU during the drill. She exclaimed, “I would be scared during a real earthquake, the whole construction zone is a safety hazard. There’s no way to freely exit the student union because of the fences blocking it.” According to a report prepared by the New Jersey Work Environment
Licensed to Kill: Alcohol Awareness
Council, it claims that hazards typically associated with renovation include dust, lead-contaminated debris, asbestos fibers, noise, fumes from equipment and from toxic products such as paints, roofing cements, and glues etc. Precautions need to be taken to prevent everyone’s well being. So are we at risk as students and staff members when our campus is going through a multitude of renovations? Well, you’re about to be relieved! Radell Hutchen, Facilities/ Project Manager for Facilities, Planning, Design and Construction here at Cal State informed me that all construction on campus is monitored by the Cal State LA Department of Environmental Health and Safety, to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations. In regards to the use of dangerous chemicals he responded, “Any chemicals used on our construction projects would be minimally to moderately hazardous in terms of health or flammability. And the public would not come into contact with these under normal circumstances.” These protections are implemented during the course of construction to ensure students’ safety. He added by saying he’s not concerned about the Union Plaza project having a negative impact on emergency escape. Hutchen says, “ The construction areas are enclosed by boundaries to keep people out of the area and precautions for seismic safety and emergency egress are a part of every construction project. It is mandated by state law.” He is confident that our campus is prepared in case of an earthquake. Lucia Gamez, Lead Dispatcher/Accreditation Coordinator at the U-SU, informed UT about the communication that occurred between Public Safety and a representative of the student union the day of the drill. ”Student Union staff, students and visitors were directed to evacuate to the Golden Eagle Loading Dock. Parking Services provided barricades for this area to ensure evacuees remained safe and free from any vehicular traffic during the drill,” said Gamez. Campus-wide preparedness drills such as the California Shakeout serve as a tool to remind us of the emergency procedures to follow in the event of a crisis. In any event, it is reassuring to know that our campus has taken the necessary measures needed to secure one’s safety. You’re in good hands with Cal State LA.
Photo courtesy | studentrights.eku.edu
It's important to never forget the first rule of partying: don't drink and drive. Jaclyn Mac Donald
Contributor On Monday, October 27th, a crashed car exhibit was provided by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to kick off the start of our very own Alcohol Awareness Week. Many students gathered around the wrecked car, shocked at the damage. Jennifer Castro, 21, a Kinesiology major was deeply saddened by the wreckage. Castro explained how as a child, her father would drive drunk with her in the car. “Too many people drive drunk! And too many people drive buzzed! Buzzed driving is drunk driving,” she stated. When asked how she felt seeing the car, she immediately responded. “This is great! People need to see how reckless, stupid, and selfish they are! Not only is the drivers life in danger, but other innocent people as well.” While many students were glad to see the violent reminder of drunk driving, others were not as moved. For example, Emanuel Leyva, 23, a Sociology major wasn’t surprised by what he saw. “I work in a hospital
so I see much worse. Especially on drinking days (Friday and Saturday),” he stated. While he was glad that campus put together a week for Alcohol Awareness, he said there needed to be a longer extension of Alcohol Awareness. “Instead of one week out of the year, I feel like it should be a month. This is a great temporary ‘fix’, but more resources need to be invested into saving lives.” Along with the crashed car, an Alcohol Awareness Speaker provided a presentation, where a person shared their tragic loss of a personal loved one and showed students how to help stop others from choosing to drink and drive. To conclude the week, the campus put together tips to learn the signs of alcohol poisoning, which include but are not limited to: vomiting, confusion, seizures, pale skin, hypothermia, and passing out. The tips also included how to sober up, and when to take the keys away from an intoxicated friend. While there is no quick fix to sober up, as it takes the body about one hour to oxidize one ounce of alcohol, it is important to drink water. Drink water before your first alcoholic beverage; drink water while you consume alcohol and 90 minutes before your last beverage. Hydration is key; however, time is the only real cure. With the holidays quickly approaching, MAAD says it’s important to learn the facts about drunk driving, as it may save your life and the lives of others. The organization encourages you to dial 9-1-1 if you see or suspect a drunk driver.
University Times
Nov. 3, 2014
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Career Conversations: Tech Take One Honors College and College of ECST team together for a discussion series.
Ethian Ting
Contributor “High tech jobs are financially and emotionally rewarding,” said Alan Kan, the first featured guest speaker of the CSULA Tech Career Conversations, jointly sponsored by the Honors College and the College of Engineering, Computer Science & Technology (ECST) on Monday, October 27. Mr. Kan majored in Electrical & Electronic Engineering at the University of Hong Kong before pursuing his graduate studies in the Unit-
ed States. In order to save money, he worked part-time on campus and completed his Masters degree in Computer Engineering at Syracuse University in a short span of just one year. Since graduating from Upstate New York and moving to Southern California about 27 years ago, Mr. Kan has worked his way up in high tech industry; from a junior engineer and individual contributor, to team lead, then on to top managerial positions in several companies. This included a startup, and for the last eight years, as Vice President of Engineering at Western Digital, a global and Fortune 500 company headquartered in Irvine. Mr. Kan congratulated Cal State Los Angeles College of ECST for being ranked among the nation’s best undergraduate engineering programs by U.S. News & World Report
for more than a decade. He encouraged about 150 students in the audience who are mostly juniors and seniors to polish on their resume and interview skills. As a veteran hiring manager, Kan said he would first pay attention to the GPA of a new college graduate, because a student’s job is to perform academically well. He seeks applicants who are team players and fast learners who can express complex matters in simple terms. During a typical interview, Kan usually discusses with the applicant on a keyword or phrase from the resume and quizzes them with a self-made programming test. “Everyone is called to be a problem-solver in the high tech industry.” Mr. Kan summarized the ingredients of success in his world as teamwork, time management, continuing education, and positive attitude. He introduced an acronym F.I.N.A.O. – Failure Is Not An Option, and wanted to
instill mental tenacity and relentless pursuit of excellence in the students’ minds. Mr. Kan reminded the audience that high tech is a business world where money matters. Patience and perseverance are imperative in the competitive high tech research and development realm. Mr. Kan retold the classic story of Thomas Edison, whose first 8,000 experiments in developing a light bulb failed. The genius inventor sweated but never gave up. The success after long hours of arduous work is always exhilarating. He once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Mr. Kan compared the joy of finding something new and something unknown to the joy of reaching the peak of Mt. Everest. Many students were so engaged by the wealth of the practical knowledge that they forgot to take any carefully
prepared refreshments. Dr. Trinh Pham, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Associate Director of the Honors College, unveiled the Tech Career Conversations as a series of seminars featuring a wide range of early-career to veteran high tech professionals, in an effort to expose Cal State Los Angeles students to the industry and enable them to interact with the practicing professionals. Also in attendance was Dr. Michelle Hawley, Director of the Honors College, also attended the event and was most pleased by the “sellout” turnout. Alan Kan has two daughters, Carolyn and Carina, who are Golden Eagles in the Honors College through the famed Early Entrance Program. If you are interested in future Tech Career Conversations, please email honorscollege@ calstatela.edu for further details and updates.
Should I Buy Organic
Fruits and Vegetables? Explaining the mysterious debate between organic and conventional produce.
Noelle Halter
Contributor The increasing rates of obesity and diet related diseases have prompted the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to campaign for the promotion of the health benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables. When shopping for produce, consumers can choose between “conventional” fruits and vegetables or USDA Organic certified products. Americans’ consumption of organic vegetables and fruits that are grown without the use of pesticides and herbicides, is on the rise. A 2002 survey in the academic journal Risk Analysis revealed that consumers are concerned about pesticide residue contaminating their food. A profile on the organic food industry from MarketLine conducted in 2012 indicated that the market value
of organic food in the United States is expected to increase by 59% between 2011 and 2016, reaching “a value of $46,473.8 million.”
Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP), they audit all farms to ensure sincerity, safety, and integrity.
Consumers may choose USDA Organic produce to avoid pesticide residue, but there are microbial risks linked to organic produce. Microbial pathogens, like bacteria, viruses and parasites, naturally occur in manure used as fertilizer on farms leading to contamination of fruits and vegetables resulting in foodborne illness outbreaks. To avoid manure, traditional farmers can use synthetic fertilizers, but organic farmers do not have this option.
According to the top premiers of medicine and food science like the Annals of Internal Medicine and the Institute of Food Technologists, there is no significant nutritional or safety difference between organic and conventional foods, including fresh produce.
To address the microbial safety of fresh produce, the US Department of Health and Human Services published, “Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.” It summarized important safety standards for farmers regarding agricultural water, bio-solid treatments, and worker hygiene. In order to verify that farmers are following the USDA guidelines called the
Ultimately, if consumers choose certified USDA Organic or not, they will reap the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Thanks to our food regulatory system, America has the safest food supply in the world. Research scientists, government agencies, and the agriculture industry all work toward ensuring the safety and nutritional value of our food supply. To learn more about food safety and other topics related to food science, visit: www. ift.org, http://fstcsula.com/, www.usda.gov, www.fda.gov
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University Times
Nov. 3, 2014
SPORTS
Midnight Madness
Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams Look to Shine at Midnight Madness
Desmond Hall
teams and gave students, faculty, and fans a glimpse of the upcoming season. The event included individual scrimmages from the basketball teams, a Slam Dunk Contest, giveaways, and other fan friendly activities. The men’s basketball team will begin the season with an away game at the Galen Center against USC on November 8th, while the women’s basketball team will play Hope International University at the gym on November 15th.
ASI presented the official kickoff to the basketball season, the annual Cal State LA Midnight Madness, on Thursday, October 30th. Midnight Madness showcased the university’s basketball
Both the men and women’s team have high hopes for the upcoming season. The men’s team looks to build on their season from last year as they bolstered a record of 15-12 but lost in the first round of the CCAA tournament.
Eagle athletes and students brought their pride to the school's favorite campus event. Contributor
The Battle for Pride Cal State LA Men’s soccer team put up an appreciable fight against Broncos Tony Romo Contributor
Cal State LA men’s soccer team fought to the end Thursday night, October 30th against Cal Poly Pomona but suffered a 2-1 defeat at Kellogg field (Cal Poly Home Field), making the Broncos CCAA regular season title winners. It was a tough game; both the teams were strong on the pitch and the first half got off to an entertaining and suspenseful start. The Golden Eagles raised the tension for the Bronco defense with quick three touch pass getting them good distance in the field. The Broncos on the other hand appeared to be opening the field more, moving the ball from left to right but not being as effective in terms of strikes at goal. With 12 minutes left to go on the first half, Golden Eagle Christopher Gardea received the ball past midfield clear of defenders. As he pushed the ball forward and shot high off the mark, it concluded the end of the first half. From its very commencement, the 2nd half showed both the teams eager to score, but none seemed to be open-
ing the mark. At minute 28, forward Halil Tozar delivered a center pass over the top to forward Sigifedo Torres, who headed it in making it 1-0 Eagles. Minutes after, Forward Christian Gonzales Diaz of the Broncos opened himself up on the right wing inside the danger zone and gunned a shot past the goal keeper making it 1-1. A few minutes after Ian Trantow of the Broncos got fouled in the penalty box and drew a penalty kick. Number 23 Cory Hodge delivered the finishing blow scoring the penalty with the final score 2-1 Broncos. Golden Eagle Player Able Teferi commented after the loss saying, “We tried to preserve the lead. We had to change tactics and play a little bit more defensive. (But) we should have attacked more.” Head coach Yossi Raz of the Broncos appreciated Golden Eagles saying, “A team like (Cal State LA) are very good. We adjust to what we thought they going to do, and we tried to highlight what we can do better. It’s (always) about staying focused and finding solutions.” The eagles remained unable to beat the Broncos in the regular season, with another 1-0 loss that was seen in early September. But we still have a reason to rejoice as Cal State LA advances to the CCAA championships semi-finals. Keep an eye on Cal State LA Athletics for the announcement of the game!
Now with a new head coach, Dieter Horton, and newfound confidence, the team has their eye on the CCAA Division Championship. Aaron Alston, forward player, said, “We’re excited for the start the season and I’m very confident in the team we have.” Center player Xavier Jones added, “This team is going to be better than it has been in a long time.” Sophomore transfer, Dustin Watts stated, “I believe we’ll have a real good season. Coach Horton has done a nice job coaching us and he has us prepared for the season. We’ll be a hard team to beat.” The men’s basketball team has not won a CCAA championship since 1959 and wants to add a second title to
its records very soon. Just like the men’s team, the women’s team also looks to bring home a CCAA Division Championship. Also bringing in a new head coach Carter Shaw, the women’s basketball team looks to build on a semi-successful season as they had a 17-11 record, with a first round win in the CCAA tournament. Guard player Shanice Jackson admitted the team started off shaky but they are coming together. Jackson mentioned, “We have high hopes for this season. We had a rough start with team chemistry but now we are connecting as a team.” Jackson also said, “We are looking to win conference and bring a title to Cal State LA.”
University Times
Nov. 3, 2014
Photo collage
Photos by Pablo De La Hoya
The University CafĂŠ Now Open in SALAZAR HALL Monday-Thursday 7:30AM-2:00PM Sandwiches, Salads, Coffee, Burritos, and More!
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University Times
Nov. 3, 2014
Passion
Streetwear Taking over the Streets of L.A.
L.A.'s underground clothing lines are making waves through the city. Row
Fashion Reporter If you haven’t walked the streets of Fairfax, you’re missing out on the trendiest fad that’s been flourishing in Los Angeles. From Diamond Supply to Odd Future it’s a pool of self-expression and individuality that has erupted in the downtown LA area. Streetwear began in the surf and skate culture with Shawn Stussy, when he created its soul. Today, it’s influenced by various creative outlets including pop culture, hip hop, high fashion, and many more. From cartoons and dazzling colors to darker tones flirting with themes of undertoning and symbolism, street wear is eclectic and has something for everyone to enjoy. There are numerous streetwear brands in Los Angeles, let alone the world, and most of them have come up well and spread their brand throughout the city, even the whole country. To diversify their products from the male-dominated merchandise, streetwear has expanded into the women’s brand. Following in that direction, new companies arose that cater to women streetwear like Dimepiece or Hellz Bellz. Not only that, but streetwear is more than just clothes; it’s shoes, hats, beanies, it’s about the accessories too. It’s an entire industry in its own. I was at the Stussy store in La Brea this past weekend and just the look of the store was so appealing. It was crisp and laid out perfectly. They even have a Kaws mural on their walls. You might want to check it out, art
fans.
I decided to survey a wide range of students from Cal State Los Angeles to see how much the streetwear industry has an impact on the students. I had the students circle the street wear brand they knew or heard of from the list I generated, providing the most common Los Angeles brands. Then I had them write down any other brands they knew. Based on my calculations, the Diamond Supply won… by a lot, 93% to be exact. Right behind them was Crooks and Castles with 67%, Supreme at 63% beating the Hundreds by 3%, and Dimepiece (the only women’s streetwear brand on the survey) with a whopping 47%. Considering how they’re less than a decade old and solely a women’s brand thats a pretty good achievement. With the help of models like Cara Delevingne and actresses like Selena Gomez rocking the pieces, girle are more aware. Looking at what the students wrote out, a number of them also knew about Stussy. There was one student that stood out to me and that was Lauren Cardona, Communications major. She wrote many other streetwear brands that she was aware of such as Stussy, Dope, Publish Brand, LRG, and Undefeated which most have expanded their brand out through Los Angeles and was a little bummed out that many other people did not know of these brands. Another brand that came up a lot was Young And Reckless. I completely forgot about this brand because I never had MTV which it was widely recognized through, from the founder, Chris Pfaff or “Drama. Young and Reckless” came up from students, Daria Ingram, fashion merchandising major; Natally Guarrete, fashion merchandising major; and Gloria Morales, communications major. Thanks girls!
So, are you liking what you hear? There are thousands of street wear brands that you can explore and find the ones that fit your personality. I have generated a list of street wear brands that I believe are the most inspiring and feel have used their skills to the fullest with all their content. There are many others that I love, especially ones that have just recently come up but this list is comprised of those that spent years developing and perfecting their brand. Enjoy and stay chic!
PRIMITIVE http://www. primitiveshoes.com ORIGINAL FAKE http:// www.original-fake.com/#/ archives/2013ss/ BLACK SCALE http://blackscale.com WTAPS http://www.wtaps. com MISHKA https://mishkanyc. com UNDFTD http://undefeated. com HELLZ BELLZ [WOMENS BRAND] http://hlzblz.com MARRIED TO THE MOB [WOMENS BRAND] http://mttmnyc.com HUF http://www.hufworldwide.com DIAMOND http://www.diamondsupplyco.com 10 DEEP http://10deep.com CROOKS http://crooksncastles.com SSUR http://shop.ssur.com DIMEPIECE [WOMENS BRAND] http://www.dimepiecela.com THE HUNDREDS http://thehundreds.com A BATHING APE http:// us.bape.com SUPREME http://www.supremenewyork.com STUSSSSSY http://www.stussy. com
Crooks Beanies
The Hundreds Sweater
Diamond Store
Dimepiece Hat
Nike Hightops
Streetwear Store Display
Dimepiece Muscle Crop
University Times
Nov. 3, 2014
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for Fashion November Mood Board Looking for inspiration this November? The latest fashion news, food trends, and pop culture will give you enough to work with.
Roxana Hernandez
Columnist
ing top and bottom, set, bold lip, and fancy bob.
It’s a One Woman Show The biggest news here, I must say, is the eagerly expected The Study of Pose by Coco Rocha. This groundbreaking exploration of 1,000 movements and flexibilities has brought Rocha to the
tion for almost anything. It’s not every year that flowers are the main attraction of autumn fashion--time to find your vision.
Edgy Booties Talk about versatility! Edgy black boots are the to-go shoe for many different types of style and types of occasion. On
November brings a lot of attention to detail to comfort; so much that it has been translated in relevant ways to fashion. From books to food, great talent to great style, all these in one way or another encompass what fashion is about—what fashion is about this November. These 9 items hope to lead you into fall inspiration and show you what to embrace these 30 days of refined comfort.
in Germany. With their brand growing and their style flowing, it seems we should be on the lookout for their next big move. Keep your eyes open!
Red Lips Turn Hips Ladies and gentlemen, bright and bold is back. There is absolutely no way that you could not detect the confidence in a woman when she wears red lipstick. She’s cool, she’s assertive, she’s ready to go and make the sidewalk her runway. Expect a lot more red this month. As the It color of the month, plenty of red will bleed through the streets.
The It Book Lena Dunham has packed a 288-page book of candor grandeur. Not That Kind of Girl is a #1 New York Times Bestseller in which Lena Dunham gives raw details of her life: the good, the bad, and the ugly. This funny and surprisingly sentimental page-turner has been hashtagged by so many fashionistas and significant fashion figures that it would be a sin not to stay in the loop.
Everyday Braids This mundane hairstyle has traveled ages and still looks effortless. The versatility of the braid allows virtually any outfit to look composed and unforced. Whether a woven mane is tight and polished, or loose and messy it’ll always be one step away from comfortable glamour.
Warm, Savory, and Delicious
T-Swift Style Taylor Swift might as well get the Style Icon Award already; she’s definitely got the popular vote. Who ever said ladylike wasn’t stylish was dead wrong—clearly Taylor Swift has got this fashion thing under control. Everyone is talking about her style, her album, her new NYC home, and everything else that’s made us go crazy for her. Over the years she has found her style and embraced it fully. If you want to borrow a bit of inspiration from her, try a feminine silhouette with match-
peak of her career. Both, the book of photographs and the interactive 360o program thoroughly sets the vision Coco Rocha was looking for. As talented as she is as a supermodel, her fashion sense doesn’t fall far behind. Following this distinctively outstanding woman should be at the top of your list this November.
Vibrant Vision Whether it’s peonies, tulips, or hydrangeas, these vibrant flowers are excellent to find inspira-
a casual outing for lunch wear them with some skinnies and a cozy sweater. On a fun night out with your friends wear it with a leather skirt and a crisp white top. The key to instantly looking edgier is simply pairing up with these sharp black boots.
Chic2 Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen remain the most stylish twins out there. Between their drop down black hue style and their iconic photo-shoots, the beloved twin designers are becoming even more prevalent now that they are
Now that the weather is cooling off—and may I say dark clouds nearing us, it’s time to find the perfect snack for those days. Rising in popularity all over the United States are none other than soft pretzels. Cuddle up with Netflix to watch a movie with one hand on the control remote and the other with a warm pretzel. Drooling already? Head over to Taza in Arcadia for an interactive experience, or Tom Bergin’s in Mid-Wilshire for the complete European experience.
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University Times
Nov. 3, 2014
Teotihuacán: Secretos descubiertos en la “Ciudad de los Dioses” Por Xanni Valentín Chavira
Las computadoras podrían afectar la fertilidad en los hombres ¡Hombres! Usar la computadora en sus piernas es dañino. Por Nataly García Conforme va aumentando el uso de la tecnología es común que la mayoría de los jóvenes universitarios poseen una computadora. Sin embargo, pocas son las personas que saben que el mal uso de estos aparatos electrónicos trae consecuencias negativas para la salud sobre todo en los hombres. Muchos de estos jóvenes están poniendo en riesgo su salud al utilizar laptops sobre sus piernas. Hace cuatro años Yelim Sheynkin, urólogo de la universidad estatal de Nueva York hizo una investigación la cual se publicó en la revista “Fertility and Sterility” y encontró que la temperatura de las computadoras afectan la fertilidad de los hombres. “Millones y millones de hombres usan ahora laptops, especialmente aquellos en edad reproductiva. En 10 ó 15 minutos, la temperatura de su escroto está por encima de lo que se considera seguro, pero ellos no se dan cuenta” – Exclamó Sheynkin. De acuerdo a la Asociación Urológica Americana, cada una de seis parejas en Estados Unidos tiene problemas para concebir y muchas veces se debe a la infertilidad del hombre. Sheynikin aclaró que todavía no hay un estudio concreto sobre cómo la temperatura de las computadoras afectan la fertilidad de los hombres, solo se ha descubierto que si el escroto se calienta más de un grado centígrado es suficiente para dañar el esperma.
Crédito: www.tourismexique.com/_lib/Images/Atracciones/Teotihuacan.jpg
El deseo inédito por explorar un México profundo fue lo que llevó a los integrantes de Tlalocan a excavar en el templo de la serpiente emplumada. Durante la excavación se descubrió un túnel que mide más de 150 metros, atraviesa 25 muros y toneladas de roca y tierra. El túnel fue creado por nuestros ancestros quienes solo lo re-abrieron una vez desde hace más de mil 800 años. A pesar de la corta longitud del conducto, este grupo de arqueólogos ha encontrado más de 50 mil objetos de diversas clases y tamaños. Los artefactos encontrados fueron principalmente: esferas, esqueletos de animales, bastones, ofrendas y semillas. El arqueólogo
mexicano y jefe de la excavación, Sergio Gómez, manifestó la magia de los objetos encontrados en el túnel, “Tenía que ser muy importante lo que había al final para introducir todo eso. Nunca habíamos visto nada parecido”. Este hallazgo fue gracias a la tecnología ya que se introdujo un robot entre las grietas para explorar el lugar, mientras que la estructura del túnel fue determinada por un radar y con la ayuda de un láser. A lo largo de la excavación se encontraron distintos metales y objetos alarmantes, como restos de pirita o magnetita, que parecían polvos brillantes y un extractor de radón que contenía un gas
Moda otoño-invierno 2014
Los investigadores descubrieron que cuando un hombre tiene por más de una hora la computadora en sus piernas, lo que requiere mantenerlas cerradas y quietas, la temperatura se eleva hasta 2,5 grados. Sheyniki agregó, “Yo no diría que si alguien empieza a utilizar laptops vaya a quedar estéril” pero que si el uso es constante podría ser una de las razones a la infertilidad del hombre porque “al escroto no le da tiempo para enfriarse.” Prevenir es mejor que lamentar, así que hombres procuren evitar usar sus laptops sobre las piernas por más de una hora. Parecerá muy incierto pero se ha comprobado que la temperatura de las computadoras sí afecta la fertilidad del hombre. Es un buen momento de poner mucha atención a este detalle.
En la actualidad, solo el 5 % de lo que es considerado Teotihuacán ha sido sondeado, aunque son 23 kilómetros cuadrados los que la recorren. Esto aumenta la posibilidad de que en esta exploración se encuentren restos humanos. En dado caso de que esto suceda se analizara el ADN de los muertos para hallar rastros de figuras gubernamentales ancestrales, ya que no se ha encontrado información alguna de ellas. Todavía queda un nuevo mundo por descubrir, la ciudad de los dioses es definitivamente una de las raíces del México profundo.
Poema al ser inalcanzable
Por Daisy Baez Fotografías: Nataly García
contaminante.
El cambio de clima ya se empieza a notar y con esto las nuevas tendencias en la moda ya se pueden apreciar. En La Onda te mostraremos los nuevos estilos para este otoño-invierno 2014. Toma nota y ¡No te pierdas nada!
Abrigos “oversize” y capas
Por Martha Orellana
Eres la luz que alumbra el universo, la emisión que ilumina mi ser Eres, como el sol que nos da su calor Tu, la energía que alimenta mi amor
Los abrigos largos al igual que las capas se utilizaran de todos colores y estampados, logrando así que tu look sea simple y cómodo. Los podrás combinar con pantalones o con los famosos “leggings.”
Eres como las aguas cristalinas de la mar, el ingrediente que sacia mi sed, Eres la naturaleza que brinda serenidad a mi pensamiento que me da tranquilidad
Botas XL
Eres la combinación de dulces melodías el susurro que endulza mi oído tu, el calmante que tranquiliza mi ser con la alegría que me ha hecho nacer
Esta temporada las botas hasta la rodilla causaran conmoción. Las botas largas con o sin tacón te harán lucir más alta y con piernas mucho más estilizadas. Las puedes usar con pantalón, mini falda o vestidos cortos.
Look totalmente negro
El negro nunca pasa de moda y esta temporada no será la excepción. Se llevara desde los pantalones hasta las blusas. Te hará lucir elegante y a la moda.
Eres el paisaje más hermoso que he visto, la melodía más agradable que he escuchado Eres el aire puro y fresco que respiro y el alimento que me ha sustanciado
CSULA La Onda LAONDACSULA
Cortesía- modélicas.com
UT
laonda.newspaper@gmail.com
University Times
Nov. 3, 2014
Leaving our footprints behind… …is not always good when the prints are the ‘Carbon Footprints.’ Read on to find more on the cycle of inefficiency we create by ignoring few simple practices. Crystal Zahler Contributor Going green is not a thing of the past, but a thing of the future. As our state fights a severe drought, anything that can be done to help should be taken into consideration. ‘Recycling’ is one weapon we all have and is promoted campus wide at Cal State LA, but still is not always practiced. With that in mind, UT looked into the footprint we are leaving behind on the Cal State L.A. campus.
Some of us are moving on to the virtual world of newspapers, books and other media, while others still practice the habit of using physical copies. For either group however, the habit that still needs cultivation is recycling paper. The environment is becoming more fragile each year as greenhouse gas emissions rise. Recycling is a way that even college students, such as us, can make an impact with. It reduces air and water pollution, energy consumption and saves water. Many of us believe that just turning off water while you brush your teeth or taking quick showers are the keys, but recycling can be just as useful if not more. With every pound of paper we recycle, we are saving 3.5 gallons of water. Our campus also has quite a few recycling bins, but they often remain unused. Jessica Wong, a Junior, Nutritional Science major, knows about the available resources
on the campus for recycling. “I’ve seen a lot of cans around where they mark where to throw each piece,” she confirms. Wong also understands the seriousness of the drought and how our campus not recycling enough and properly can be problematic, “I am aware that we are in a drought and it scares me because we aren’t using our resources well.” Most of us use the cans, but often we throw pieces into the wrong places or throw trash into the recycling bin or vice-versa.
around campus. However, this was a problem because the weight of the newspapers in the bin would be too much for a facility worker to carry. So the UT distributor and CSULA’s facility workers agreed to not place the newspapers in the recycled paper bin, but in the black dumpster behind King Hall. This way Facilities and the UT Distributor do not have any conflict and it is easier on the facilities workers. However, the leftover newspapers now might not be recycled because of this arrangement.
Either way, it creates a cycle of inefficiency in the recycling process on our campus.
Based on the EPA, the Environmental Protection Agency, in 2012 Americans recycled 65 percent of the paper they used. That number can and should be improved upon because of the impact recycling has on water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. There are ways to use less paper, such as online websites and eBooks, but the truth of the matter is, that at the end of the day paper
The University Times newspaper is distributed weekly and always has a fair amount of leftover copies. Those leftover newspapers need to go somewhere and in the beginning, the UT distributor tried to place the leftover newspaper into the recycled paper bin
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will be used. What better way to create more paper than by just reusing the old paper? The recycling bins on our campus are separated for disposing paper, cans, bottles and trash. Make sure to maximize that resource and not to throw trash in those bins. That way you can save trees and save some water during this horrible drought. Just keep in mind that the average person creates about 4.5 pounds of trash per day, and the EPA estimates that about 75 percent can be recycled where only about 30 percent is actually recycled. Being in college is change in itself, so think about going green and doing your best to recycle. You can start with this newspaper itself: When the times comes to dispose of this newspaper, make sure to leave it a recycling bin and not in the trashcan.
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University Times
Nov. 3, 2014
From the Diary of a The Unseen Side of the Change Maker Asian American Experience However small, a change is a change, especially if it’s about paving others’ way to college
Emmanuel Nunez
Contributor Cal State LA is founded on providing diverse communities access to higher education. It is understood that a collegiate degree can greatly impact a person’s salary prospects in the future. Not to mention that campus life offers plentiful opportunities for growth, leadership, and community to students. However, high school students from low income communities can lack access to consistent help with the scholastic assessment test (SAT) and college admissions process. CollegeSpring was founded to create potential possibilities for high school students. The CollegeSpring program provides a combination of professional instruction, nearpeer mentoring by current undergraduates. They diagnose SAT testing to help students increase scores and understand the college admissions process. The program focuses on the SAT because this score will play a significant role to determine if students will attend college and whether or not they will graduate. Since 2008, CollegeSpring has helped more than 7,000 students in the Bay Area and Los Angeles improve their SAT scores an average of 180 points and pursue college degrees. A mentoring location is at the south side of Cal State Los Angeles campus. Alliance Marc and Stern Math and Science High School focuses on rigorous academic curriculum in a student-centered environment that teaches self-advocacy, social empowerment and college-readiness. The most rewarding aspect was working with youth. Each mentor assists 5 students during a session, going through the lesson plan of the day. Collaborating with other
mentors can be effective in getting students motivated or refocused on the lesson plan. Earlier this spring, I mentored students at Alliance Media Arts and Entertainment Design High School, conveniently located 10 minutes away. I worked every Tuesdays and Thursdays for a couple of hours that worked well with my schedule. Not to mention, CollegeSpring pays for two hours of lesson planning every week, greatly improving my performance over time. However, I needed some experience in how the mentoring sessions work. That’s where training weekend came in handy, prior to the first day of mentoring. CollegeSpring gets students up to speed on your mentoring skills and knowledge on the SAT. Training also serves to teach you the CollegeSpring curriculum and future opportunities with other non-profit organizations, like Teach for America. I set up a carpool with a fellow Cal State L.A. student named Towan Adams. Adams and I both mentored students at Alliance Media Arts and Entertainment High School. In Towan’s view, “One positive experience as a CollegeSpring mentor is the opportunity to get to bond with the students, not only as their mentor, but in many cases, being the one positive role model that can provide them with guidance and advice for the educational path that they would like to take. The best part of the experience is to see their excitement when they learn something new and apply it to the CollegeSpring SAT diagnosis test. Students would show their progress on these practice tests, and as mentors, we would understand how to work with them to improve their scores.” Our mentoring efforts improved the student’s outlook of their goals as their hard work caused them to bloom positively. I was saddened to see our mentorship sessions come to a close for the Spring, but the growth that Adams and I experienced is a memory I know I will never forget.
Photos by Timmy Truong
Documentarian reveals the gritty side of Chinatown and its infamous nightclubs. Christine Tran
Contributor When it comes to living in a city, curiosity becomes a child’s middle name. With a plethora of buildings and life everywhere you look, the curiosity one has had as a child luckily stays with them as they enter adulthood. This is what happened to Arthur Dong, an American documentary filmmaker from San Francisco, California.
On October 29th, Cal State LA students and faculty were invited to listen to a presentation Dong gave on his book he released this April called, Forbidden City, USA: ChiFor more information about nese American Nightclubs, CollegeSpring, please visit 1936-1970. This book becollegspring.org. came a follow up on the documentary he released in 1989
titled, Forbidden City, USA. Known for his motion picture academy acclaimed documentary, Sewing Woman (1983), Dong decided to make a documentary based on a nightclub he passed as a child during the 60’s called, “Forbidden City” that was located in San Francisco’s Chinatown. In his presentation, he talks about these nightclubs that start to emerge in Chinatown that become a place where Asian American’s get to break the stereotypical role of the “Asian nerd” or the “quiet, subordinate Asian girl” and freely take part in the American pop culture.
tation as an Asian American was a great eye-opener for me personally. It gave me a sense of joy knowing that there were Asian Americans who lived over seventy-six years ago whom were not afraid to step away from occupations that were and still are today considered as “traditional norms”. We had the opportunity to meet Author Dong himself and when asking if he will close this chapter of “Forbidden City, USA” after already creating a documentary and book, he simply replied, “I’ve been researching this since 1985 and I don’t think I’m ever going to stop.”
From typical singers and dancers, to acrobats and exCLASSIFIED otic artists, this was unheard ADVERTISEMENT of for Asian Americans at the time to be doing. This is exactly what drew Dong into finding people who use to work in these nightclubs all over the country and make a Free counseling and services. documentary and book dedWe come to you. icated to this whole area of Holy Family Services, Asian American history that never got its moment in the Adoption & Foster Care spotlight. Going to Dong’s presen- CALL 1-800-464-2367
Pregnant?
Nov. 3, 2014
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Holy Snapchat!!! Here is a look back at two recent events that explains why you need to think twice before you bare it all to your phone camera. George Rodriguez
Contributor “Change your passwords, change your usernames,” Apple executives warn all their customers. The statement does not come as a surprise in the times; from celebrities to a commoner, no one is spared by the world of hackers. If you have ever hit the ‘click’ and ‘send’ on your phones, then it’s highly likely that your photo is somewhere out there at a hacker’s mercy. The celebrity photo-leak was just the beginning. What is now referred to as “Celebgate” began on the afternoon of Labor Day, 2014. A collection of almost 200 private photographs of various celebrities - mostly consisting of women, and many contained nudity – were posted online and on various websites and message boards. Most notable celebrities that caught the attention of the public included Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence, Model Kate Upton and The Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Jennifer Lawrence called the leak a “sex crime” and a “sexual violation.” Lawrence added that anybody who looked at those pictures are perpetuating a sexual offense and that they should cower with shame. Once the images hit social networks, they spread like wildfire. The images were allegedly obtained via a breach in Apple’s iCloud services. While many onlookers took a glimpse at what all the fuss was about, like any other story, it faded away, and people moved on. For the general public, “Celebgate” was nothing more than a good laugh at the expense of a celebrity, but the tables have now turned, and it is the general public, who is in danger of having our most private photos exposed and leaked all over the internet. On Sunday October 12, hackers took a break from invad
ing the privacy of celebrities, and decided to go after the general public. Hackers appear to have posted account info for 4.6 million users of quickie social-sharing app Snapchat, making usernames, phone numbers and most importantly, pictures, available for anyone to see online and all over the internet. Snapchat lets its users share pictures, which disappear within a few seconds the receiver opens it. Hackers have made it possible for these images to stay online forever, making its intended purpose obsolete. The problem with Snpachat getting hacked is that users can and share very personal and sexually graphic pictures with each other. The party responsible for this hack claims that they did it solely for the purpose of tightening security measures within the app. They issued a statement saying their motivation behind the release was to raise the public awareness around the issue and also put public pressure on Snapchat to get this exploit fixed. The hackers added, in the same statement given to the technology blog TechCrunch that, it is understandable that tech startups have limited resources, but security and privacy should not be a secondary goal and security matters as much as user experience does. Whatever the reasoning, people should use this as a learning experience. Technology is great, it can take us to many places we’ve never been to but it can also ruin us with the snap of a picture, click of a mouse, or push of a button. So all you app users out there, be careful what you post, be careful what you send, and if you are going to send a naked picture of yourself, never show your face in the picture.
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University Times
Nov. 3, 2014
Scammers gonna Scam, Scam, Scam… So shake it off any chance of being the victim. With more and more youth being at both the ends of the scenario, UT takes a closer look the growing genre of crime. Colburn Junus
Contributor E-shopping and telemarketing scams are now a common social phenomenon and with college students having to take out loans and pay hefty tuition fees, students will look for anything to sustain and make money for life’s necessities. Unfortunately, some aren’t bounded by ethics and take advantage of this desperation. Whether looking to sell or buy items from Craigslist to trying to find jobs, scammers will come up with any scheme to take advantage of you and leave you in a worst state. Telemarketing continues to remain an easy trap in the world because people instinctively like to trust others, especially those with money. You get a call and someone makes the infamous ‘exclusive’ offer to entice you. Whether you’re broke or looking for something to make things a little bit better, these scammers will simply manipulate you into giving them money. Albert Reyes, Television, Film, and Media major, was called several times by someone who offered to clean up his computer for a fee of $50. “They contacted me and said they were from Microsoft. They supposedly got a lot of notifications from my computer saying that it was infected and that they and were going to clean it up.” Reyes accepted the service from the supposed technician. When he saw that the computer had not improved, he refused to continue taking their service when the supposed technician asked for more money. “In order to uninstall the program, I let them gain access to controlling my computer and they damaged it. He told me, ‘This is what happens when you don’t pay.’” Be wary of classified ad websites. These websites have
pages with different sections devoted to selling or buying items, finding housing, looking for jobs, networking, and many more. Anyone is eligible to post, so you wouldn’t know if someone you’re contacting is a genuine individual or a schemer. Gabriel Alejos, third year and Kinesiology major, was in dire need of a new phone. He spotted a listing giving a good price for an iPhone. “I met with him and he handed me the phone and once I gave him the money he got in his car and sped off. I then knew that there was something wrong with this phone.” To his dismay he had brought the phone to a provider to get activated and it was locked and belonged to someone via iCloud. Diane Ramirez was posting to babysit on care.com. She was then contacted by a man who wanted her services for his child who was getting an operation in India and was willing to hire her and have her care for the child once they came back. “We were emailing and he seemed like a very caring individual and I sympathized with him and the struggle his son was going through. Then he told me (since he was in India) he was going to send me a check of $3,050. I keep $225 for first week’s pay and then I put the rest of the money on prepaid cards and wire the money to him through those cards so he could purchase a wheelchair for his son (which all will supposedly be paid back once they come back to the United States). When I got the check in the mail it just didn’t seem right.” Mark Hao, a representative for Wells Fargo has come across this case on a number of occasions. “People fall for these [scams] and receive checks that seem real even to us bank tellers. People will deposit these counterfeit checks and by federal law, we are supposed to give them the money. It will take a few weeks until the check is processed and bounced due to the account being a fake. The person who deposited the check will then owe money. If they don’t have the funds to cover what was taken from the bank, they are charged with fraud.” Fortunately Ramirez figured this out, otherwise she would have ended up owing money she had just given to a thief and ended up in prison.
“A lot of these people are good at hiding their tracks,” explains officer Gerald Stephenson of the Alhambra Police Department. He goes on saying, “Untraceable emails are used with prepaid phones that make triangulating their positions hard, and also fake shipping addresses. We do our hardest to find the slightest slip up, but a lot of these people don’t get caught and will continue doing what they’re doing.” Just be wary and follow your gut. Know if something is too good to be true and you’ll be spared the injustice these scammers bring.
Death via Craigslist: What brings back the issue in attention?
Craigslist is a popular and generally a harmless source for selling all sorts of things. Most of the time dealings go smoothly and both seller and buyer are satisfied with the overall experience. However, this can be precariously different in some cases. When the young Cal State Northridge Student Abdullah Alkadi posted his Audi A6 for sale on Craigslist, he had no idea that it will lead him to his death. The 23-year-old was stabbed and killed September 17 while meeting a potential buyer – allegedly, 28-yearold Agustin Fernandezm – in Alkadi’s apartment complex. The man sought to steal the luxury vehicle and keep the money. The 23-year-old student’s body was later found on Oct. 17, a month after he was last seen, alongside interstate 10 near Palm Springs. Abdullah Alkadi’s murder is part of a long string of crimes associated with such dealings, from murder, theft and scams of all varieties. It is surprising only because some very basic precautions can easily ensure safe transactions. Perhaps the biggest deal is to meet in a public place and never go alone when doubtful. – Ray Guerra
Prevention is better than the cure - Don’t send money to someone you don’t know - Don’t agree to deposit a check and wire money back - Don’t reply to messages asking for personal or financial infor- mation - Don’t play foreign lottery - Check for Federal Trade Commission Certification
University Times
Nov. 3, 2014
‘FOCUS’ is key Here is one more theory on surviving your college midterms without losing peace of mind. Jennifer Carrillo
Contributor ‘Fall midterms fall nicely between two holidays, Halloween and thanksgiving,’ – said no one ever. Midterms week is the time of the year that hardly any student looks forward to. Professors prepare these life-changing exams and go through hours of grading. Don’t forget the students who are left to worry, lose sleep and spend hours studying.
Although they clearly do not bring cheer or joy, they can certainly be less painful if you are well prepared. There are ways to lighten the workload and are efficient to survive midterms week or any heavy hitting exams. University Supervisor and Mentor Dr. Michael John Domino from the Florida Gulf Coast University, suggests various techniques to prepare for exams. Most importantly, Dr.Domino urges not to procrastinate. There is no point in cramming heaps of material hours before an exam. Dr. Domino advises students to ‘FOCUS’ for success on midterms exams. That is F-OC-U-S, an acronym he suggests students practice and ultimately make second nature.
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Here is how it goes:
Focus on the syllabus and study guide. Open your text, your notes daily and become familar with the content. Condense notes to form study sheets. Understand the material you are unsure of by reviewing. Study in a quiet place, such as the library. Study ute.” with a partnet, in a group and quiz one another Ramirez also suggests her based on the syllabus and own practices that include studying the guides from inthe study guide. Several Cal State L.A students agree with Dr. Domino and already use some of those techniques. Claudia Ramirez, sophomore and Anthropology major, said her first college midterms were overwhelming. She goes on to say, “Before you know it, midterms are here. Don’t wait the last min-
structors and asking questions when you do not fully understand it. This also seems to reflect the ‘reviewing’ step. Dr. Domino explains those who did not review their notes were unable to recall even 50% of the information after one day and only a little more then 20% of information after
Photo by Timmy Truong nine weeks. This is the cause for panic and late nights filled with gallons of coffee and studying. There are some of those lucky students who do not have to study and still manage to get a passing grade. Unfortunately, that is not the case for most students. Hopefully ‘FOCUSing’ may come handy at that. Good luck to everyone on exams!
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University Times
Nov. 3, 2014
EVENT Calendar TUESDAY 4th
NOV 3rd - NOV 7th WEEK SIX
WEDNESDAY5th
An Evening with Evren Savci 6:30pm, U-SU Theatre
University Times Meeting 3:30pm, King Hall 3098
The Prize is Right With CSI 11am, U-SU Walkway Writing A Winning Résumé 2pm, Career Center “New Meal Plan, New You!” 7pm, Phase II Lounge, Housing Ser
FRIDAY 7th Operation Gratitude Available from Nov 7-14th,Veterans Resource Center, Physical Sciences Building 113 Veteran/RCA Mixer 6pm, Golden Eagle Ballrooms
THURSDAY 6th CSGS Forum: Childbirth in Tang China– Perception, Practice, Reality 3:15pm, U-SU Alhambra Room
Thesis Formatting & Submission 3:15pm, Graduate Resource Center (Library North A-124)
Ladonna Harris: Indian 101
6:15pm, U-SU Los Angeles Room
SATURDAY 8th Csula_UT facebook.com/CsulaUT
CsulaUniversityTimes
CSULA Volleyball vs. Chico State 6pm, Eagles Nest Gym
CSULA Volleyball vs. Cal State Stanislaus 7pm, Eagles Nest Gym Seu Jorge 8pm, Luckman Theatre
CSU Media Arts Festival Celebrating the creativity of all the CSU campuses! Tierra Booker Staff Reporter
For the first time Cal State Los Angeles will be host of the 24th annual CSU Media Arts Festival on Saturday, November 8th. The event was created by Golden Eagle TV in aid with the campus organization Cinematic Visions. It gives television, media, and film students throughout the CSU system an opportunity to have their work critiqued by industry professionals. The festival will feature submissions from four of Cal State LA’s own students. These students have earned finalist spots in the Documen-
tary, Music Video, and Short Screenplay categories. The deadline to submit your work was October 3rd. Successively, over 160 submissions were received. Out of the 160, only 30 were chosen by a panel of judges to move on to the finals. Finalists selected from Cal State LA were Ya Go, Yadi Zhao, Todd Leiser and Erik Boccio jointly partnered with Morgan Sandler. The submission judges are made up of distinguished professors and industry leaders. Current festival Director, Shannon Pringle says, “I’ve been the production manager for the festival for years, and each is equally exciting. My favorite part is the Rosebud Awards ceremony and watching the students support one another.” Pringle adds, “one of the deciding factors in choosing Cal State Los Angeles as a host was the school’s continuous support of the festival”. Submission categories for
the films are: Animation, Documentary, Experimental, Interactive Media, Music Video, Narrative, Television, Feature Screenplay, and Short Screenplay. The “Best in Show” award is the festival’s highest honor, and was last won by a Cal State L.A. student back in 2001 to Van Pham for A Different Corner. The festival begins at 1 PM with an immediate industry mixer of lucrative media moguls. This is where students interested in a career in the entertainment industry could benefit with networking. At 3PM there will be a keynote address by Tobin Armbrust, President of Worldwide Production and Acquisition of Exclusive Media. In the evening, they conclude with screening and awarding of the student films. If you are interested in attending this event make sure to RSVP at the Cal State L.A. webpage dedicated to the festival.
Photo by Timmy Truong