UT
NIVERSITY IMES
Nov. 17, 2014
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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
Issue 207.8
INSIDE:
LA ONDA: PERIODISMO EN ESPAñOL
Cal State L.A.'s Health Insurance Education Project provides information to students about the new health insurance system and their options under the Affordable Care Act.
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NEW CHIEF OF POLICE ON CAMPUS HAS IDEAS PG 3
I-10 FREEWAY RENAMED PG 2
SPORTS: INTRAMURALS, WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL, PG 9
NO SHAVE NOVEMBER PG 12
NEW CAMPUS WIFI PG 15
BROADWAY'S RENT AT CAL STATE L.A. PG 6/7
Alta Med, an enrollment entity experienced in helping undocumented individuals obtain health services. With this strong partnership, the goal is to educate students and their family members— to ultimately empower and promote the well-being of this large underserved population.
Eidref Laxa Kristen Mar Daniela Nina Dr. Walter Zelman
Contributors The new health insurance law, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), was passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in 2010. Among other things, the new law expands Medicaid, the nation’s program of lowincome individuals and families to include adults without children. The new law also offers substantial financial assistance to individuals who earn too much to be eligible for Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid, but not enough to afford the cost of insurance. To implement the new law, especially the provision offering financial assistance to individuals, California created Covered California, a new online marketplace where people could learn about their options and enroll in the insurance plan of their choice. The CSU Health Insurance Education Project (HIEP) was created to assist CSU students in learning about their new insurance options. Funded by a grant from Covered California, and housed at CSULA, CSU HIEP has been educating CSU students about the new insurance system and their options under the ACA. According to a Public Affairs’ article “CSU Insurance Enrollment Project Reports Dramatic Reductions in the Numbers of Uninsured CSU Students,”during the first open enrollment period, the project achieved considerable success, reducing the numbers of uninsured students on the 15 largest CSU campuses by about 60%. That was great progress, but
Photo Courtesy | CSU Health Insurance Education Project at least 10% of students are still uninsured. This number doesn’t include new transfer students. More importantly, limited funding forced the project to focus on the largest CSU campuses, meaning that the project was unable to educate students on almost half of CSU campuses. The larger campuses were staffed with student coordinators to hold classroom presentations, run educational forums, plan enrollment events, and participate in other educational activities. Cal State LA was included in this group, with coordinators holding educational forums and enrollment events in the newly established Dream Center located inside the EOP office. Last year, Cal State LA was faced with the challenge
of having the campus with the highest rate of uninsured students (19%). With a large population of lowincome students, as well as undocumented individuals, campus coordinators are faced with the same objective of raising awareness for health insurance options, except with less time. This year, CSU HIEP coordinators at Cal State LA will work closely with the Dream Center in order to reach out to more undocumented individuals to inform them about their health insurance options. The aim is to raise awareness for AB-540 students who have received DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). Effective this year, those students are now eligible for full-scope Medical. The coordinators will also collaborate with
In the spring of 2014 HIEP conducted a poll on seven of the campuses on which it had placed student coordinators. Results found that about onethird of CSU students on the staffed campuses signed up for Covered California or Medi-Cal. About one-third of students reported that at least one family member signed up for Covered California or Medi-Cal. The poll also found that the main reason students had been uninsured was affordability, a problem the Affordable Care Act may resolve. It was also clear that many students were still uninsured because they were thinking, ‘I do not know enough about insurance or how to get it.’ As campuses gear up for another open enrollment period, November 15 to February 15, HIEP wants to try to reach all CSU students on CSU campuses. Campus enrollment services will be available this year on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 12:30p.m. to 5p.m. Student Affairs (EOP), Room 214, 2nd Floor, Dream Resource Center beginning on the week of open enrollment. HIEP encourages all students to learn about their new opportunities to access insurance and about Covered California and to discuss the new options with their families. The new system may be of great value to them as well. You can learn more at www.coveredca.com/ and at the special CSU website at www.calstate.edu/coveredca/.
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University Times
Nov. 17, 2014
Keep your eye on the I-10 I-10 freeway named in honor of murdered Cal State LA Alumni and LACHSA co-founder. Timmy Truong
Managing Editor Driving down the I-10 on your way to Cal State LA you may notice a new sign on the highway. A stretch of the San Bernardino (10) Freeway between the Long Beach (710) and the Golden State (5) has recently been named in honor of Joseph Gatto, a Cal State LA alumni and one of the founders of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA).
To Mike Gatto, Assemblymember of the 43rd Assembly District and son of the late Joseph Gatto, November 12th, 2014 is a very special day. One year ago to that day, Gatto’s father Joseph was murdered in his Silver Lake home. No arrest has been made since then but Gatto felt it was important his father have a memorial to celebrate the accomplishments achieved during his life. News media and spectators gathered on November 12th, the anniversary of the murder in front of LACHSA’s mural of Joseph Gatto to unveil the Joe Gatto Memorial Highway. Peter McAllister, Dean of Arts and Letters at Cal State LA, Malaika Latty, LACHSA Chair of Visual Arts and former student of Joseph Gatto, and California State Assembly members Ian Calderon and Mike Gatto were all in attendance and spoke at the podium to share stories of Joseph Gatto.
that a good education is the freeway to success, and it’s only fitting that the highway that he drove on each day to provide students with that education is now named after him,” said Assemblyman Mike Gatto. The late Joseph Gatto graduated with a Bachelors, and Masters in Design from Cal State LA. In 1985 he returned to the CSULA campus to help found the LA County High School for the Arts and served as the Dean of the Visual Arts Department until his retirement. The Joseph Gatto murder case is still undergoing investigation. There is currently a $50,000 reward for information about the murder. The police are confident they are close to closing the case but are in need of one good witness to provide information to assist them.
Photos By Timmy Truong
“My father always said
School's Out
on Friday at CSULA Offering more Friday classes could help ease the parking struggles. Al Castro
Contributor To make it to her 4:20p.m. class on Tuesday, Stephanie Gutierrez comes to Cal State LA an hour and a half early. She circles around and around in Lot #5 at the northern end of the campus. “If you’re late, it’ll take you at least 20 minutes, maybe even more to find parking.” Gustavo Mariscal’s experience is totally opposite. On Friday's Mariscal finds a space with ease. The problem of parking may go deeper than parking permits, in-
creased number of freshman, and overcrowding. The real problem may be scheduling. The University packs nearly 25,000 students into a fourday school week, leaving Friday open. According to Student Enrollment the University’s Fall 2014 Schedule of Classes lists 3,416 courses. Only 129 courses are scheduled on Friday and 56 fall on a Saturday. Long Nguyen, junior, parked his car on campus Friday and didn’t realize this. “If they spread the students around better maybe we would appreciate better parking conditions and improved space and lines on the campus.” According to the Office of Student Enrollment, as of the Fall Quarter there are 24,486 students attending class; 7,613 of them are new students, which may contribute to the parking deficit. The University Office of
Nearly empty lot on a Friday | Photo By Al Castro
Communications and Public Affairs said in a statement that “the University is committed to the success of all its students. We offer a sufficient amount of classes and will continue to do so in the future.” But Caius Chickanis, CSULA transfer student, doesn’t think so. He usually parks in a nearby neighborhood Monday to Thursday and skateboards to campus. This Friday, Chianis decided to park in a campus lot because he knows the lots are empty on Friday. Chickanis figured he’d have no trouble parking, only to return to his car to find other problems. His car was ticketed $48. “Even though the ticket is a pain, this is why I am so glad I park my car off campus [Monday through Thursday], “ he says, pointing to the ticket he just took off his windshield. “I don’t have to worry about getting a ticket let alone finding an empty spot.”
Nearly full lot on a weekday | Photo By Pablo De La Hoya
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University Times
Nov. 17, 2014
New Chief of Police, New Ideas
UT
NIVERSITY IMES
Editor-in-Chief Yzzy Gonzalez
Contributors Desiree Caro Al Castro Raymond Chavez Pablo De La Hoya Julian Garcia Tania Garcia Desmond Hall Eidref Laxa Jaclyn MacDonald Kristen Marr Daniela Nina Samir Ramirez Jessica Ramos Albert Reyes Claudia Reyes Litza Roumeliotis Kelly Tran Marcela Valdivia Dr. Walter Zelman Crystal Zhaler
Managing Editor Timmy Truong Production Manager Taylor Preza Web Editor Carol Venegas Copy Editors Gerardo Amezquita Nihdin Patel Carol Venegas Business/ Advertising Mangager Jim Munson
Photographers Al Castro Pablo De La Hoya Yzzy Gonzalez Jaclyn MacDonald Taylor Preza Samir Ramirez Litza Roumeliotis Timmy Truong
Faculty Advisor Suzanne Regan Journalism 391 Professor Josef Sawyer Distributor Carol Venegas Staff Reporters Gerardo Amezquita
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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Chief Wall talks about the safety of student lives. Pablo De La Hoya Contributor Alarms sound and the news arrives; there is an active shooter on campus. This is a situation the new Cal State LA Police Chief Rick Wall hopes to never face. In fact, he’s trying to stop it from happening at all indicating, “Prevention is the best way to save lives.” With campus shootings on the rise in the United States, “unfortunately we have to be prepared,” says Lt. John Hernandez. However, Chief Wall has a history with prevention and plans to implement that here at Cal State L.A. Chief Wall has a background in the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and spent the last year in the University of Texas. He created a program focusing on prevention as opposed to response time in worst-case scenarios. With that in mind, Cal State L.A. has been nationally accredited to responding to such sit-
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
LAPD Captain Rick Wall (left), Riverside Police Chief Sergio Diaz (center) | Photo Courtesy Blogdowntown.com
uations, according to Lt. John Hernandez. In the University of Texas at Houston from January to September there were 18 people suspected of attempting suicide. Of those 18, only 11 were caught in the act of committing suicide. Chief Wall explains, “We need to be ready, but we have other opportunities by getting ahead of the curve.” Suicide prevention is directly correlated because “Many times active shooter situations are acts of suicide and they have no intention in getting out.” Chief Wall also emphasized how societies respond to active shooter situations is incorrect. Most times when family and friends are interviewed, they say they never would have known; referring to the person as being a good citizen. However, Chief Wall refutes this claims because he believes there are always em-
inent signs. In the recent shooting in the state of Washington, Jaylen Fryberg opened fire killing five teenagers. Prior to the shootings, his twitter account was filled with very dark messages. A behavior that should have been caught but wasn’t. Chief Wall used this as an example when analyzing, “As a society we look at the person, not the behavior.” Often time’s behaviors such as Fryberg’s tweets signal warning and show someone in need of help. Chief Wall firmly believes the future of the campus police department focus is in prevention. His work in Texas has helped him save lives and he hopes to bring that to Cal State L.A. Lastly, Wall concludes his objective revealing, “I aim to help CSULA become a leader of safety and focus on suicide prevention.”
Using Social Media To Land A Job "@futureboss please #hireme!" How to properly link with employeers. Raymond Chavez Contributor
Para La Onda:
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Daniel Barajas, Television and Film major, landed an internship this summer by simply using Twitter. Barajas went to a career-fair workshop on campus and learned how to use social media to his advantage. “I would use Twitter frequently, but after talking to a career counselor I learned just how important it was to keep a professional approach.” Barajas, who interned with an entertainment
blog, said the internship coordinator went through his Twitter feed to get a feel for his personality. It was his CNN retweets and following numerous news profiles that landed him the internship.
Clean and engaging profiles are two things employers look for, Barajas mentioned. “Companies want to see that you will represent them well on and off the job. Removing inappropriate images and explicit statuses is a way to start in keeping your profiles presentable,” said Erika Vian, an Internship Coordinator for VianLLC.com. Vian also said that even though you might not log in to your social media accounts it still pops up in search engines, and to go back and delete inappropriate pictures and updates. Barajas added that engaging
with companies is also helpful for employers to see what your interests are. “Who you follow, tweet, or pages you like, give us an understanding of who you are and if you’re going to fit in our work environment,” Vian said. Vian also added to be careful what pages you follow, as it could hurt your chances when employers are doing their research on potential employees. Vian encouraged students to keep social media profiles clean and presentable since they play a huge part in the hiring process.
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University Times
Nov. 17, 2014
Increasing Second-Hand Smoke Prompts Change The dangerous effects of second-hand smoke marginalize students with respiration problems. Desiree Caro
Contributor Sarah Garcia is winded as she makes her 8a.m. trek across campus to class. The red asthma inhaler in her hand helps but second-hand smoke doesn’t. Garcia is one of many students on campus to whom second-hand smoke is a big problem. Sarah Garcia, 19, Mathematics/Theater Arts double major, suffers from asthma and encounters second-hand smoke on a daily basis. Garcia says, “I think [second-hand smoking] is very dangerous and as a person who has asthma, that affects me a lot. Since I’ve moved it’s gotten worse.” Karen Millan, 21, Psychology major, is also concerned about the same problem. Millan states, “The people that don’t smoke shouldn’t have to inhale other people’s cigarettes.” According to No-Smoke.org, “53,800 people die every year from secondhand smoke exposure.” Cal State L.A. has three commonly cited designated smoking spots recognized by people like Millan and Garcia. These smoking spots are indicated by the presence of the smoking receptacles in the form of a small pole. There are more strategically implemented smoking spots in areas throughout campus where second-hand smoke will not reach a student like Karen Millan, walking to her 1:30p.m. class in the open King Hall courtyard. Yet according to Millan, there are still smokers around. The designated smoking locations are not as distinguishable as some smokers and students would like. Under the shady tree in front of the Engineering and Technology building at Cal State LA, a young man sits on a bench before his next lab. He smokes a cigarette near one of the designated cigarette receptacles available. Matthew Dressler, 28, Mechanical Engineering major has been smoking for seven-years now. When asked about the smoking policy, Dressler states like many students at Cal State LA; “I’m not really familiar with what the smoking policy is. I just know that you can’t smoke within 25 feet of an entrance.” Dressler observes, “I feel like some buildings or majors have more smokers than others. There are a lot of smokers
in Engineering.” Dressler expresses concern about smoking near students, “Everyone draws a line. If I’m not close to a group of people or just passing by, I feel that’s okay. I think a decent middle ground is to just have designated areas that are really well known. Maybe the thing to do is to put the information out.” Across campus, there are designated smoking areas in many places that students commonly pass by. For instance, there is a smoking receptacle near the bank ATMs outside the campus library. Despite Dressler’s conscious decision and courtesy to follow smoking policy rules, he has noticed increasing sentiment towards smokers. “I can definitely tell there are some strong feelings especially with people not wanting to be around it whatsoever,” Dressler explains, “...but you can’t say for sure how much second-hand smoke can cause cancer—that probably depends on that person’s genetics or other environmental factors.” He goes on to add, “I can understand people not wanting to be exposed to it [second-hand smoke]. The only concern I have is a ban.” Talk about smoking bans across all CSU (California State University) campuses are gaining attention. The smoking policy is meant to strike an agreeable medium between allowing smokers to smoke and non-smokers to be free of smoke. Cal State LA does have a smoking policy but many students are finding that the policy is difficult to find. In the Administrative Procedure available online through the Cal State website, the outline for the smoking policy created in 2007 can be found. In the policy, a few key rules are cited for smokers. Smoking is prohibited within 25 feet of an outside entrance to a building opening (i.e. windows and doors), inside a building, or a mechanical ventilation system air-intake. Smoking is prohibited in designated outdoor non-smoking areas or inside any State vehicle. Violations of the smoking policy, as stated in the Administrative Procedure, “May result in disciplinary and/or legal action against the offender.” However, the Administrative Procedure does not specify the type of disciplinary and/or legal actions that may occur. As for Sarah Garcia and her red plastic inhaler, she states, “Less second-hand smoke would be nice, but like most new projects or a new attempt at change, big changes take time.” The push for a stricter policy, potential ban, or simply a campaign to bring second-hand smoke awareness is up to the student body.
marks designated smoking areas | www.calstatela.edu
Photo By Yzzy Gonzalez
OPEN FORUM Question & Advice Q: I feel unsupported by my family in regards to my educational endeavors. Neither of my parents attended college, and only one of my siblings is actively pursuing higher education. When I’m asked the generic, “How is school going?” question, I don’t feel like they are as genuinely interested as I would want them to be. How can I immerse my parents into my educational world, and become sincerely appreciative of my college activities? A: Awareness is the primary dilemma in this situation. Many students encounter the same situation with people who don’t recognize the struggles and achievements students encounter. Try approaching your parents, for example with a current assignment, and ask for their input or bounce off some ideas in order to involve them. If you feel more courageous, don’t wait until they ask you how school is, a direct conversation explaining the importance of education to you and how you would appreciate more support will definitely get your point across. Also, there are many on-campus clubs and organizations composed of academically dedicated students who are concerned in educational successes. These students are conscientious of the efforts necessary from those responsible enough to pursue a degree, and involving yourself in this atmosphere will provide the attention and consideration you want to feel. Ultimately, no one is a mind reader; so say with honesty what is on your mind! Submit a Q for A to Tania Garcia @: advice.universitytimes@gmail.com
University Times
Nov. 17, 2014
Class Registration Terror for Freshmen Cal State L.A. freshmen students failed to get their classes for the Winter Quarter 2015.
site itself and the other is to log on My CSULA Portal and launch GET by clicking the icon. What students do not know is at the time of registering for classes, the least effective way to access GET is through the portal system because GET tends to be slower according to an anonymous staff member.
Marcela Valdivia
Kemberley Vallejo, Social Work major, stated, “College classes are already stressful enough and it is ridiculous that we have to stress each quarter on whether or not we will be able to be a full time student because of the slow GET system.”
Contributor On Thursday, November 6th thousands of freshmen students had all their classes ready in their shopping cart for winter quarter 2015, ready to proceed to the next step of the class registration process at exactly 6A.M. Little did they expect that the GET website would be extremely slow due to the thousands of students connected at the same time. Who would ever imagine registering for classes could be so complicated? When freshmen registered for the fall quarter 2014, it was a piece of cake because everyone had registration dates separated by their colleges on specific time periods. There are two ways to connect to the GET website: one is to simply log on through the GET web-
Registration for classes was critical during six and seven in the morning because thousands of students sat next to their computer trying to get the courses they needed into their schedule. This created traffic within the system where nothing could be done to improve the issue. Not only did this frustrate students, but the slow system resulted in copious classes becoming closed as other students were able to enroll in them. Mariely Pozuelos, Communications major, said, “I pressed continue at 6a.m. and ended up getting only two classes because the site was slow and
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Photo Courtesy | www.calstatela.edu made everything extremely difficult. I think next time I should try to use two devices just in case I need another reliable source.” The main issue freshmen encountered was proceeding to ‘step 2 of 3’ because it would take the site a long time to continue onto the next page. Yocelyn Castellanos, English major, mentioned, “The page took forever to load which made it harder to sign up for classes.” In addition, Narla Luc, Child Development major, addressed “the loading icon was spinning constantly and the page was very slow when proceeding to the next step,” as this was one of the central obstacles most students confronted. Even though registration caused terror within freshmen students, there are
various options for prior registration, such as student government involvement, working in the disability center, becoming a member of Honors college and being a part of the EOP program. Natalie Alcala, Communications major, expressed she had no problems with class registration on October 27th because she mentions that she “got priority registration with EOP and I only needed to fill out an application with two letters of recommendations from teachers to be accepted into the program.” Undoubtedly, improvements need to be made for the Spring Quarter 2015 registration period because it is impossible that the GET website can handle thousands and thousands of freshmen students at once.
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University Times
EPIC is coming to town!
Nov. 17, 2014 “There is only now, there is only here…"
“… Give in to love or live in fear.”
Broadway’s beloved RENT arrives at Cal State LA Albert Reyes Contributor
The smash hit musical RENT makes its way to Cal State LA. As the curtains were raised at the State Playhouse last Thursday November 13, one of the Broadway favorites RENT was brought to life once again to enthrall more hearts. The 7th longest running show in the history of Broadway theatre is being mounted on Cal State LA stage, and here is our chance to have a piece of La Vie Bohème.
EPIC Toy and Food Drive at Cal State L.A. | calstatela.edu
Your chance to give back EPIC’S annual Toy and Food Drive is here, and so is our chance to spread some joy this Holidays
Albert Reyes Contributor
The Educational Participation in the Communities (EPIC) Center at Cal State LA is kicking off their annual Toy and Food drive. EPIC, a community outreach program, is working together with many organizations at the university to help out local families in need. The Toy and Food Drive is one of their many successful initiatives. The Drive started more than four decades ago and has benefitted more and more families with each passing year. Last year alone EPIC helped out 75 families. They hope to almost double the amount this year with a set goal of 120 families. “One of President Covino’s focuses is community outreach and engagement which pushes us to set the bar up high for the number of families we need to help.” said Sandra Diaz, special projects coordinator for EPIC. To ensure the same, they have already contacted several nonprofit organizations and asked each of them to pick five families. One of the special parts about this year’s Toy and Food Drive is that the
Greek societies on campus are teaming up together to adopt more families and bring awareness to this cause. It’s not common to see all the fraternities and sororities to come together as one in this magnitude for such a cause. “I’m really excited to work together with my bothers and help out families in need. I want to let them know we care about their personal struggle,” Vaughn Viernes, senior and a member of Zeta Beta Tau said. For some this is an eye-opening experience. “Working on a project like this really puts things into perspective,” Anna Bobadilla, a member of the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority shares, “It makes me think about how blessed I am when there are so many other people out there that don’t have it half as good as I do.” During November 24-26, EPIC will host an event where anyone can come and support the cause by writing letters or decorating ornaments for the families that are going to be helped. Anyone can come by and drop off any non-perishable canned food or non-violent toys to support the cause at this event to be held at the U-SU Main Walkway. Food will be sold and any money collected will be used to buy more food and toys for the drive. Local businesses have also stepped in and made donations as prizes for raffle tickets. Some of the prizes include 2 hotel accommodations, tickets to Disneyland, movie tickets and even and Inand-Out gift basket. The raffle tickets go for one dollar and whatever funds are collected in the end will be used to being in more donations for the families that are being helped. So remember, EPIC’s goal is help 120 families and we can help them take it even higher. Don’t miss the chance to do your bit and spread some joy.
RENT is one of Broadway’s beloved musicals spanning a run of 12 years with 5,124 performances according to the Associated Press. The show first opened in the winter of 1996. Jonathan Larson, a struggling playwright in New York spent most of his life living in poverty working dead end jobs hoping to make his big break in Broadway. Living in poor conditions and surrounded by people living of impoverished conditions
helped Larson to pull from inspiration for RENT, which follows a group of bohemian impoverished artists living in New York City at the height of the AIDS scare of the early 90’s. RENT won the Tony Award for best musical in 1996 and went on to become an unforgettable success on stage. Why RENT? “Why not RENT,” replies Meredith Greenburg, a faculty member and the Director of RENT on asking why she chose to revive this particular musical. She said, “It’s a play about 20-somethings and this is a school of 20-somethings. It’s an urban play and it’s a musical that celebrates life. The music is also contemporary, which can appeals to the young audience of Cal State LA.” She also mentioned that the message behind the musical is also one of the reasons why it is an appropriate choice. “This play celebrates life in the face of some really horrible stuff. Just like the characters going through difficult times, students here go through difficult times, so it’s relatable.” This production is perfect for the kind of talent and theater space at Cal State LA. The idea of bringing RENT, which is a ‘Rock Musical’ to the State Continue on page 7
University Times
Nov. 17, 2014 Playhouse also came from the fact that we have a talented rock band on campus called the 444. They have been a beneficial addition to the production. Greenburg was excited that “this ensemble is able to do it. They were given really heavy music and heavy issues to work with and were still able to do it and be real about it.” She hopes people consider the message of the play to live for today. Kate Harmon, who plays one of the leads, was happy to push her limits to bring the best out of herself. “I vaguely remember the only production of RENT I have seen years ago, but that was fine with me because I was able to create my own interpretation of Mimi. No one knew I could dance or sing like this because I’m not always doing this kind of work. This role had pushed in so many ways as performer,” says Harmon, who successfully took on the challenge to embody the character of Mimi, a club dancer and an HIV positive drug addict. Jon Lee, another Grad Student at Cal State LA,
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had somewhat the same challenge while trying to step into the shoes of an HIV positive recovering drug addict Roger who is also emotionally guarded. “I’ve seen Roger being portrayed as fairly one dimensional,” he says, adding, “But I didn’t see him like that.” Lee, who also is a member of a band called Bicycle, feels like his interpretation of Roger can help the audience see that when people are given a second chance they can evolve, “There is hope. Don’t give up. No day but today,” Lee, quotes one of the famous lines from the show. Thursday night’s performance of RENT at the State Playhouse met every expectation. The cast, with the strength of their acting and singing abilities, did a justice to an already acclaimed show. Brenda Perez, who played Joanne, surprised the audience with her solid vocals. Angelino Simbulan also gave a convincing portrayal of Angel, the fearless drag queen. Angelino demonstrated dedication and focus that his character demanded. The ensemble overall made it worthwhile with their dedication, focus and professionalism to bring this story to life and the audience was left to believe in life and love “No Day But Today.”
Tom Hayden: Life in the 60s
Photos By Timmy Truong
Renowned activist visits Cal State L.A.
RENT can be seen at Cal Gerardo Amezquita State LA’s State Playhouse Staff Reporter from November 13-15 , 1820 and 22. Prices for general audience is $15; for students Malcolm X, Martin Luit is $10. All we can add is, ther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez, you don’t want to miss it! William F. Buckley; These are legendary men known for political critique and reform. Nonetheless, another name that should be included in the list is Tom Hayden. It would be much simpler to describe him for what he hasn’t done for the last seven decades of his prolific life. Hayden has been an outspoken liberal activist, organizer, author and politician that has been described by The Atlantic as the “father of the largest mass protests in American history [implementing a radicalization] that changed America [during the 1960s].”
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On Thursday, November 13th, CSULA Professor Anne Reid invited guest speaker Tom Hayden to discuss the impact of his first publication the Port Huron Statement and his experiences with the various movements of that decade. Mr. Hayden who stands at an impressive age of seventy-four
conversed about his involvement with the civil rights and anti-war movements in America. Hayden first began as a writer for Michigan Daily, the campus newspaper at the University of Michigan. He was exposed to a suppressed climate of civil liberties for students and African-Americans. Through this medium, Hayden was sent to cover various stories, including an interview with Martin Luther King, Jr. while he was at a picket line. Getting a first hand look at the plagues of society, Hayden grew disappointed by the lack of activism from his campus, so he co-founded an ambitious left-wing student group called, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). The creation of the SDS set the foundations for the “Agenda for a Generation” in the Port Huron Statement. It promoted civil disobedience to counter the problems facing American society in what became known as ‘participatory democracy.’ The coined term calls for a general participation of citizens to partake in a compassing of all political institutions. After graduation, Hayden journeyed on to Newark, New Jersey to help poor city residents as part of the Newark Community Union Project. While living there he had the misfortune to witness the infamous race riots of 1967. Hayden proclaimed, “I began to see a pattern. Usually, the
racial fury was brought on in areas with harsh police brutality. Something similar to today like in Ferguson.” He goes on to add an important element of his community-organizing project that was a well-known black nationalist at the time, Malcolm X. Unfortunately, his assassination marked a missed chance to develop the project to its full potential. Later in 1966, while traveling to California Hayden got involved with the workers rights movement. Along the way, he got the chance to directly work with Cesar Chavez over discussions of state legislation for farm workers. He continued to participate in Chavez’s organized protest Hayden’s life endures to be exceptionally eventful filled with celebrated encounters with political messiahs, famed celebrity lovers, and an ongoing passion for activism. However, his generation shares parallels with our own in the manner it is described as ‘apathetic and hopeless.’ Hayden advises students that whatever catastrophes (nuclear or climate) are presently threatening, we have the power to change the system through sound judgment and negotiations. He assures us this change is possible based on the basis of his experience stating he’s done it himself. Finally Hayden disclosed his honest opinion, “There is a murky future left by the elders that must be cleared out by the new generation.”
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University Times
Nov. 17, 2014
CAMPUS ENTERTAINMENT
Shake It Off! Some of Cal State L.A.’s finest dancers came together at 2014 Dance Wars. Samir Ramirez Contributor
Cal State LA’s Dance Wars for fall 2014 brought together several talented dancers and dance crews as they wowed the audience on last Wednesday evening, November 12th, in the U-SU Theatre. Everyone present in the theater had an entertaining evening as the
talent stepped in their dancing shoes and put on their best show! Amongst the competitors were solo acts Dominique Pompa with an urban dance routine and Nicole Davis with a belly dance routine, as well as groups DiverCity and the Fedora Boyz. After a nail-biting dance off against the Fedora Boyz, DiverCity proved to be the ultimate winners of the night. The captain of the champion crew, Ryan Barbonio, spoke about the unique role Cal State LA played in the making of DiverCity. “We were put together thanks to the Hip Hop class at the Xtreme Fitness Gym,” he says. “What
makes us unique is that we all grew up with different backgrounds of dance,” shares Barbonio, adding, “For example, our members can dance ballet, hip hop, breakdance, jazz, and more. We all use those skills in our routines.” While the audiences gravitated towards the night’s high energy dancers, some of the most inspiring stories were off the dance floor and in the audience. Monica Lopez, a freshman and English major on campus was both inspired and touched by the dancers, as it hit close to home. “My brother was a professional dancer, I was 7 and I would watch him practice at home and I would copy all his moves,” she says, adding further, “Unfortunately, a knee injury at 13 stopped me from dancing. But seeing the dancers on stage tonight, it’s really inspiring and I feel
Photo By Samir Ramirez like I could live vicariously through them,” Lopez states, with a smile on her face.
and soul into it, especially in front of their peers, it is appreciable.”
For others, Dance Wars was simply opportunity to have fun and enjoy a show. Carlos Ortega, a Television and Film major, said, “I can’t dance to save my life, but there’s something to be said about people who are on stage. Doing what they love, and putting their heart
While Dance Wars will surely continue to grow and expand, the night brought to light one overall theme, to always follow your passion and dance like no one’s watching.
Let’s get Craftin' Chicano Education Students continue having fun at the DIY series organized by CSI. Crystal Zahler Contributor
No matter how old you get, ‘DIY’ crafts is something you can always enjoy. The creative art of Do It Yourself not only brings back memories of middle school, but also leaves you with a useful item that you have made by yourself! That’s why lot of us at Cal State LA look forward to CSI’s DIY events every quarter. Center for Student Involvement (CSI) organizes between three and four DIY sessions every quarter. Every quarter also comes with a new theme for these events, and Fall 2014 has two – Getting Organized and The Holiday Season. The first DIY Crafts for this quarter, organized on October 22, had students creating a Vision Board, which was a good way to create a physical representation of your goals. The second event of the series was held this past week, and had students creating their very own planner. The session had
an incredible vibe and everyone was excited to get started. There were provided with a plenty of scrap booking papers, tapes, scissors, and decorations to go around (and not to mention, all of it was free). Everyone was able to come up with a personalized planner, have plenty of fun and indeed take a break from the increasingly busy schedules at school. Isabel Vasquez, a Biochemistry major and coordinator for the events, enjoys being able to craft as part of her job, “I’ve always loved crafting so this just gives me one more of a reason to do it.” She also shares plans for next quarter saying, “We want to do graphic design t-shirts and also Cal State LA charm bracelets. We had jewelry making before, and a lot of people wanted us to bring it back.” Although the ideas haven’t been approved yet, at least we have a good guess at what next quarter will be featuring. This week’s will be making personalized snow globes and cookie-in-a-jar recipes for the holiday gifting season. This next DIY Craft will be held this week on Wednesday, November 19th, from 4 to 6 p.m. at U-SU. Make sure that you have signed up as soon as you can.
Speaker Series
Dr. Daniel Solorzano guides Chicano Education discussion. Claudia Reyes Contributor
The Department of Chicano Studies Teacher Education Prep Program hosted the Chicano Education Speaker Series on Wednesday, November 12. The event focused on how a small percentage of Latinos in California graduate high school, make it to college, and get a degree. Guest speaker Dr. Daniel Solorzano, professor at UCLA said, “only fifty-eight percent of Latinos graduate high school, ten percent get B.A. degrees, and only three percent get graduate degrees.” Dr. Solorzano also said many Latinos drop out of school to work full time and help support their families. Because society says that they can’t have success in their education, they feel intimidated. Lauren Gomez, a Political Science major, agrees.
Photo Courtesy | www.calstatela.edu
“We Latino’s are always getting judged because they think we don’t care about our education, but in reality it’s what many of us strive for. Sometimes it just takes longer for some people to get over road blocks.” Other topics discussed were how, U.S. Latinos do better educationally than Latinos who are not born in the U.S. According to Dr. Solorzano, immigrants who come to America have more disadvantages because they feel more discouraged by society and are expected to fail. Another issue discussed was the cultural deficit theory, which Dr. Solorzano says attributes Latino students lack
of educational success to their parents who neither value nor support their child’s education. But Professor Solorzano was also quick to note, “Ninetyfour percent of Latino parents expect their own children to go to college someday. So why does society continue to put the blame on parents?” As Dr. Solorzano presented his findings he said the way forward is still through the classroom. “I came to you all today to present this important information so that Latino students can go out and start making a change for themselves and prove society wrong.”
University Times
Nov. 17, 2014
SPORTS
Women's Volleyball
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Intramural Sports
Are Back In Play at CSULA Photo By Taylor Preza
Team connectivity keeps women's volleyball team strong. Desmond Hall Contributor
After a 10-2 start, the women’s volleyball team looked like the favorites to win conference and hold a number 1 ranking in the NCAA West Regional rankings. Their momentum stalled as they lost 5 out of the next 7 games. “We lost focus and became complacent with winning,” said Senior Yesenia Ibrahim. “We did not have the individual leadership to snap out of it and get back on track.” The middle of their season was rocky but they pulled together and are now riding a four game winning streak bringing their current record to 16-7. This year’s volleyball team is tight knit group. Most of the girls played together last year for the first time when the team finished 16-14 overall. This season they have more camaraderie. “Some of
us live together and are good friends and that has helps with the chemistry of the team,” Ibrahim said. “Our communication is much better on the court because we have such great communication off the court.” They’ll need to continue to hold up that chemistry and communicate effectively as the playoffs approach. They are looking for their first playoff appearance since 2010 and with the way the team has played recently they should reach the playoffs barring any late season setbacks. The volleyball team has looked good as of late. They are ranked 3rd in the CCAA conference and ranked 10th in the NCAA West Regional standings with two games left before the West Regional Tournament. Coach Randi Smart has contributed to their winning ways and has the team back on track. Senior Bethanee Boggs said, “Coach has us mentally prepared so we can come into games fired up and ready to play. That helps us get off to hot starts and not come into games slow.” Their next two games won’t be easy as they face Cal State San Bernardino and Humboldt State respectively, two teams that have beat them in the last times they’ve faced off.
Lunch
Monday - Friday 11:00am - 2:00pm
Breakfast
7:30am - 10:00am
Call (323) 343-6777 to place orders to go. Breakfast Burritos Fresh Brewed Coffee Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice Danish and Muffins
Visit the new University Cafe located at Salazar Hall Sandwiches, Salads, Burritos, Coffee and more! Monday-Thursday 7:30am-2:30pm
Photo By Litza Roumeliotis
Come one, come all! Intramural sports are for anyone and everyone. Colburn Junus Litza Roumeliotis Contributors
If you’ve ever had an interest in competitive sports and want to get involved on school campus, then you should look into intramural sports. Each quarter Intramural Sports are organized for students, where they can make teams and compete. Basketball, football, soccer and European handball are just to name a few, with several other sports that are part of the games. Ruben Zesati, a kinesiology professor at Cal State LA and the manager of intramural sports believes it helps build a stronger sense of community amongst the students. “It brings people who’ve never played any sport or want to play a sport an opportunity to show up and make a team or join a team,” he adds, “My objective is to have everyone have fun, participate and feel
included.” Intramurals are a great way for all students to meet, come together, and to relieve stress. Jason Fuller, third year, says it’s a good way to help students relax who are under a lot of pressure. He says, “It takes us away from everything that worries us from time to time. We come out to play and to distress from everything going on in our life, especially school. We have midterms and tests to worry about, and when I’m out there playing I don’t worry about studying or my test later that week.” Ian DeSilva, Engineering major and a member of Phi Sigma Kappa also agrees and says that because of how stress relieving and fun it is, there has been a dramatic growth in student participating each year. DeSilva Mentions, “I’ve told my fraternity brothers how much it helps me relieve stress especially around midterms and finals so we decided to come out and make our own team together each year. You can just tell when the game is over how relaxed everybody is because they just took out all their anger on the field.” Many of the school’s organizations participate each quarter including, Greek life, The Fire Academy, and even the Kinesiology Department comes out
ready to win. “It brings great sense of sisterhood,” says Sharon Aleman, who is a part of Delta Zeta sorority, “It’s a good feeling being out on the field playing sports with my sisters. It brings a lot of pride and it really unites us.” Flag football has officially kicked started CSULA’s 20142015 intramurals program and takes place every Thursday night at CSULA’s baseball field. All students participating in the intramurals program are eligible to receive one unit of school credit if desired. All CSULA students are encouraged to participate, and everybody is welcomed to come cheer on their favorite team. Robby Gomez, one of the many students who participate in the intramurals program every quarter says, “We definitely don’t come out to lose, everybody feeds off the competition and it motivates us. Everybody needs to be giving their all when they step on the field.” For those interested in participating intramurals you can get more information by contacting Zesati at rzesati13@gmail.com and visiting upcoming games at CSULA baseball field. To register students must come with at least 8 players and participation is free.
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University Times
Nov. 17, 2014
Un pueblo que grita a un gobierno sordo
¡Únete! Ya no más miedo Por Nataly García El pueblo mexicano lucha contra su gobierno y busca que se les haga justicia a las 43 familias que perdieron a un ser querido la noche del 26 de septiembre. Este devastador acontecimiento se ha dado a conocer a través de los medios de comunicación y ha trascendido a nivel mundial. Miles de personas se han solidarizado con las familias de los desaparecidos por medio de protestas. Los parientes de los jóvenes normalistas han estado recorriendo varios estados de México. Esta marcha tiene como fin buscar apoyo para obtener la verdad de lo sucedido en Ayotzinapa. Esta movilización dio inicio el jueves 13 de octubre y
terminará el 20 de noviembre en la ciudad de México. El estudiante normalista Omar García, sobreviviente de la noche de la tragedia, hace un llamado universal a todos los estudiantes para que se unan a esta causa y no tengan miedo de luchar por sus derechos. ¡Compañeros estudiantes! Unámonos este jueves 20 de noviembre a las marchas que se llevarán a cabo a partir de las cuatro de la tarde en La Placita Olvera y El Consulado mexicano…No podemos pasar por alto la muerte de 43 estudiantes que como nosotros, tenían la meta de obtener una mejor educación y un mejor nivel de vida.
Fotografía | www. google.com/images
Venta de recaudación de fondos: Este lunes 17 y miércoles 19 de noviembre, Chapter Gamma Psi de Sigma Delta Pi, llevará acabo una venta de comida y bebidas para recaudar fondos para beneficios de la asociación. Se venderán refrescos, agua, café, churros, chips, popusas y tamales. La venta estará por el corredor del edificio de King Hall desde las 8 de la mañana hasta las 6:30 de la tarde. ¡Todos están cordialmente invitados a la venta, no se les olvide pasar por el corredor!
Fotografía | Mexico.cnn.com
Por Mindy Galindo Por primera vez, en la historia del México moderno, un presidente de la república podría renunciar a su cargo. El caso de los 43 jóvenes desaparecidos hace mes y medio en Ayotzinapa, Guerrero, ha desatado la ira de los mexicanos y de la comunidad internacional. La presión para que se imparta justicia se incrementa a medida que pasan los días y la renuncia del presidente Enrique Peña Nieto podría ser posible. A los verdaderos dueños del país como lo son las diferentes corporaciones televisivas, industriales y comerciales, la banca y a su propio partido político “PRI”, poco les importaría que se fuera el actual mandatario. Total, él ya promulgó la reforma energética; ya dejó los puntos estratégicos de la economía en manos del capital extranjero. Asimismo fracturó a las organizaciones sindicales combativas y promulgó una
reforma laboral con salarios mínimos. El escándalo más reciente es el de la compra de una mansión que sobrepasa los siete millones de dólares, por parte de la pareja presidencial, noticia que hizo pública la periodista Carmen Aristegui de MVS noticias. Los voceros de la presidencia deslindan a Peña Nieto de la compra y señalan que la casa pertenece a Angélica Rivera, la primera dama. Por supuesto, esta versión le parece ridícula a los mexicanos, quienes saben que con un salario de actriz de televisión no le permite generar esta cantidad. Las redes sociales se saturan cada día desde hace un mes y medio, con un “renuncia Peña Nieto”. Este mismo clamor se repite en cada manifestación, acto de protesta en las calles y en la capital. Las protestas y las demandas de justicia brotan en todo tipo de eventos deportivos, culturales, en los parlamentos europeos, etc. Los encabezados de los periódicos hablan por sí
solos: “Fracasa Peña en seguridad y respeto al estado de derecho” -The New York Times “Caso Ayotzinapa visibiliza la realidad dramática del narcotráfico” - Papa Francisco El último presidente de México en renunciar a su cargo, fue Pascual Ortiz Rubio en 1932. Después de dos años de gobernar, enfermo y por la presión de gobernar un país en crisis, tuvo la honestidad de reconocer su incapacidad y capituló. El pueblo mexicano no cree que Peña Nieto sea capaz de esto. A los verdaderos dueños del país les preocupa que alguien con tan mala imagen y falta de capacidad para gobernar continúe en el poder. Ante la dinámica de inversiones que se viene encima a consecuencias de las reformas, sobre todo la energética, necesitan de alguien que les garantice la paz de sus negocios, es decir Peña Nieto les es desechable.
Activando la memoria estudiantil Seis alimentos que mejoraran tu desempeño académico
Por Xanni Valentín Chavira
de acuerdo con estudios de nutrición de la universidad de Harvard te ayudarán a mejorar tu memoria y tu rendimiento académico.
Los finales se aproximan, las tareas y los proyectos se acumulan durante todo el trimestre; las noches son largas, solo has dormido cuatro horas, tratas de concluir tu ensayo pero ya ni siquiera recuerdas la tesis. Estos son muchos de los retos que los estudiantes enfrentan día a día.
-Arándanos: contienen vitamina C y anti-oxidantes que activan las enzimas protectoras del cerebro.
Los trabajos escolares y los deberes personales absorben mucho tiempo, pero ¿qué hay de los alimentos? ¿De dónde sacamos la energía apropiada para lograr nuestra metas universitarias?
-Tomates: la substancia del licopeno ayuda a combatir la demencia y a mejorar la memoria.
La solución es rápida y sencilla. A continuación, una lista de alimentos que
-Aceite de Oliva: sus bastos antioxidantes mejoran las actividades cognitivas.
¡Advertencia! Esta lista no hace milagros, asegúrate de estudiar las horas adecuadas.
-Salmón: su contenido de Omega 3 mejora la concentración y el aprendizaje. -Nueces: su alto contenido en fósforo mejora cualquier tipo de actividad intelectual.
-Huevo: los aminoácidos que se encuentran en la yema mejoran la capacidad de atención y la memoria a largo plazo.
Fotografía | www.gettyimages.com
CSULA La Onda LAONDACSULA
UT
laonda.newspaper@gmail.com
University Times
Nov. 17, 2014
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Communications 150 Workshop: A Tool for Success Students gain confidence from public speaking workshops. Pablo De La Hoya
Contributor Many classes taken in the first year of college are considered stepping-stones. Communications 150 is no exception, with 1,100 students taking the class on average per quarter. The class is an introduction to oral communication, embarking on a path of writing and performing speeches. For many students, fear of public speaking arises due to a lack of confidence. However, along with the material learned in class, students have a course specific workshop as a tool for success. The Comm 150 workshop began in the Fall quarter of 2013, after a couple faculty members came up with the idea. Professor Frances Chee stated, “We realized that our students would benefit from having a time outside of class time to work on COMM 150 assignments.” Furthermore, this workshop gives students a space to work on their speeches and outlines whatever level of experience they have. Chee further explained, “While we have a full team of
volunteer TA’s and forensics students to help them, students are welcomed to bring in their laptop, headphones, and work at their own pace.” With all the help available, there has been a lack of students partaking in the workshop. Robert Black is a current Teaching Associate and is teaching two sections of COMM 150. With a total of 52 students, “only one of my students has even came to the workshop, but his informative speech after was a definite improvement on his cultural artifact speech.” Chee further explains, “They absolutely scored better on their speech performances,” after attending the workshop. Another concern is the number of students taking advantage of the workshop. “Understandably it might be scary to think about spending a Friday morning with your professor,” Frances adds. “It’s not what we think of as fun on a Friday morning, but it can be.” Students not only have the opportunity to work on their speeches and assignments. They can also speak to their instructors in a more intimate level. “Its also a place for students to know their instructors, and find out they're real human beings.” Many times after attending, students return because they see the benefits through their work. Danielle Soibelman took the class
Photos By Pablo De La Hoya in the spring quarter of 2014. After attending the workshop for her persuasive speech she went on to win the showcase competition held at the end of each quarter. Its main purpose is to showcase the hard work of the students. However, depending on how well they do, students can opt out of their final. Soibelman was one of Chee’s students, but the relationship between
them didn’t stop there. Chee went on to introduce Soibelman to the Speech and Debate Team. Today, Soibelman partakes in tournaments in an activity she was not comfortable during the beginning of the spring quarter. When asked if the workshop had anything to do with her success, Soibelman replied, “I won’t say yes, I’ll say absolutely!”
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University Times
We are Family
Nov. 17, 2014
Movember: Grow a ‘Stache Save a Life
Photo Courtesy | abettermedaybyday.com
November, the Military Family Appreciation Month, is our time to acknowledge all who fight dayto-day life to support those on battlegrounds. Jessica Ramos Contributor
“Our nation owes each day of security and freedom that we enjoy to the members of our Armed Forces and their families. Behind our brave service men and women, there are family members and loved ones who share in their sacrifice and provide unending support,” stated President Obama. Since 1993, the month of November has been dedicated to military families. This year, President Barack Obama once again signed a proclamation declaring November as Military Family Appreciation Month. This annual proclamation is a way of honoring the families of those who sacrifice their lives to defend this nation. Throughout the month of November, the military families are celebrated and honored for the commitment and sacrifices they make to support this nation’s service members. During Veterans Day last week, we were reminded of the fact that military families are the strength behind the brave women and men that protect our freedom. The issues any soldier or veteran
faces such as deployment and rehabilitation are as tough of challenges for their entire family, too. Spouses and partners are left to deal with matters of the home without their significant others for long periods of time. Wives and husbands are forced to learn acting as single parents while also adjusting to new routines and schedules in order to effectively parent and manage the household. Children also sacrifice and face a lot of uncertainty during their parent’s deployment. The families deal with increased stress and added responsibilities while juggling day-to-day life and hoping that the spouses stay safe while at duties. There are several veterans that attend Cal State LA and we often ignore how our support can help not only them but also their families. By acting together as their Cal State LA family, there is something or the other we all can do to support those who sacrifice for us. Even by acting more responsible as their classmates or peers, we can make their transitions from their duties to their civilian lives much smoother. All the Golden eagles out there who want to get more involved in serving our veterans, the Cal State LA’s Veterans Resource Center is in Physical Sciences Building 113 is the place for you to visit. Another easy way to show appreciation would be through social media; simply use the hashtags #MilitarySpouse or #MilitaryFamily to send a thank you via Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Let’s express our appreciation loud and clear and let them know the Golden Eagles value their service to our country.
Bringing awareness to men's health, one hair follicle at a time. Jaclyn MacDonald
Contributor November is the 11th month out of the year, but for some, the term “Movember” is more appropriate. Movember is a month where men and women come together to raise awareness for men’s health, specifically for testicular and prostate cancer. To create awareness, men grow out their beards, while women are encouraged to let their mustaches and leg hairs grow for the entire month. However, not many CSULA students are familiar with the association of the catchy slogan “No Shave November”. Christian Espinoza, 24, Sociology Major, said, “I didn’t really know what Movember meant. But it’s now nice to know now that both men and women can participate for men’s health.” She also said, “I think I’ll participate. It gives me a reason to not have to shave my legs for once. I hate having to shave! And if anyone notices, and if they get grossed out, I can voice why I’m doing it. Spreading this kind of awareness sounds fun now!” That is exactly what
the Movember Foundation aims for; to change the way of thinking by putting a fun twist on a serious issue. Movember originally started in Melbourne, Australia back in 2003. Travis Garone and Luke Slattery were discussing fashion, when they joked about bringing back moustaches. A friend’s mother, who was fundraising for breast cancer at the time, quickly inspired them. That is when they decided to “grow the mo” in order to campaign for men’s health and prostate cancer, thus creating the Movember Foundation. What started with 30 men, or Mo Bros, literally grew to 4 million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas by 2013. The Movember Foundation has raised nearly $559 million since 2003 and is constantly funding programs in efforts to “achieve an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health.” Eric Perez, 21, Chemistry major, and Jesus Capuchino, 22, a Kinesiology major, are
Photo By Jaclyn MacDonald
both active members of SAE (Sigma Alpha Epsilon), a nationally recognized fraternity here on campus. “When I met Eric as a pledge he had a beard. He was just a kid and he already had a beard. It made me want one,” Capuchino laughed. “But as I got to know him during his pledgeship, I learned why he grew his beard.” Perez has been an active Mo Bro since his junior year of high school. He explained, “I’ve had family members who have had cancer. Not necessarily testicular or prostate cancer; however, I know how it feels as a family member to have someone very sick. It’s emotional to me because I’ve lost family members to illnesses. So I like to show support to others in any which way I can.” There are many ways to get involved this Movember. If interested in donating or want to learn the rules, log on to www.Movember.com. They also have a style guide to help you craft the ‘stache.
Nov. 17, 2014
University Times
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University Times
Nov. 17, 2014
Live at the Luckman
Acts at the Luckman attract all types of concert goers. Julian Garcia
Contributor For 20 years, the Luckman Theatre has offered concert goers an eclectic mix of music to entice the eardrums. This quarter has been no different. On October 25th, the Luckman played host to African-blues act Tinariwen. The audience was swept away to the deserts of Mali, Tinariwen’s home country, with hypnotic African drum rhythms, emotional guitar licks and funky bass lines.
Concert goer Isabel Zialcita said, “Tinariwen’s music speaks to the soul and makes you yearn for the desert. It makes you become one with the band.”
This was not the last event on the Luckman’s stacked schedule for the quarter. The acclaimed Luckman Jazz Orchestra Combo Session played on November 1st and Seu Jorge on November 8th. For those unfamiliar with Seu Jorge’s work, watch the Wes Anderson film, “The Life Aquatic” featuring Steve Zissou. Jorge is the one who does all the soulful David Bowie covers in Portuguese. Teaming up with radio stations 90.7 KPFK and 89.9 KCRW, the Luckman brings music from across the world to our campus. “The music and arts programming at the Luckman speaks directly to the inquisitive mind of the KCRW listener, and performances by Tinariwen and Seu Jorge opens a door to compelling world music right here in Southern California,” said KCRW Music Director
and host of Morning Becomes Eclectic Jason Bentley. Maggie LePique, Music and Promotions Director of KPFK, said that the Luckman is a great intimate venue with a helpful easy going staff. For those who pass by the Luckman everyday but have never been inside, think of the venue like a miniature version of The Wiltern, on Wilshire Blvd. The Luckman provides an “intimate experience with a welcoming environment,” said concert goer Suzanne Ross. She also said, “The Luckman has no bad seats and clean acoustics.” Creating a comfortable environment is something that the Luckman’s staff prides itself on. “We create a welcoming environment by having a calm atmosphere with our ushers and crew. Having a clean and pleasant environment really makes our audience feel at home,” said Executive Director Wendy Baker. Having the audience in a comfortable mood makes it easier for the acts to feed off the audience’s energy.
Photo By Timmy Truong Opening act for Tinariwen, The Harpoonist and The Axe Murderer’s lead singer, Shawn Hall had this to say about playing the Luckman, “It’s different than playing in bars, you know. You have to project energy differently inside of a theatre and tonight’s crowd really responded well to us tonight.” The Luckman not only offers great music it also offers great deals for students. Tickets for CSULA students are $15. Executive Director, Wendy Baker also said that she wants to keep the ticket prices as
low as possible for students at CSULA. “I invite the student body to take advantage of the diverse artist offered by the Luckman this season. We try to provide a world class experience to the students and the community of CSULA in hopes to help broaden their horizons,” said Wendy Baker. For more information on concerts and ticket please go to: www.luckmanarts.org
University Times
Nov. 17, 2014
Culture, Not a Costume As we observe November as Native American Indian Heritage month, now is the time to abandon those racial consumes forever and works towards preserving cultures
Jessica Ramos
Contributor As everyone hangs up their superman capes, cat ears and broomsticks after another successful Halloween, one can’t help but remember the overthe-top ensembles of various ethnic and racial stereotypes that still continue to be famous themes for costumes. Even more surprising is the fact that these satirical stereotypes are even considered accurate representations. Many believe that it is not racist to wear a kimono to resemble a Geisha, a traditional ghutra and egal to resemble a Muslim, a traditional headpiece to resemble a Native American or even donning blackface. But there are also
those who fight against this type of racism, as they believe that it is not okay to reduce a culture to a mockery. In 2011, a group of students from Ohio University started a campaign that fought against the stereotypical imitation of cultures during Halloween and everyday life. They had stated that the best way to get rid of stereotypes and racism is to have a discussion and raise awareness. As November is observed as Native American Indian Heritage month, it is important to bring up how their culture, possibly more than any other one in the United States, has been relentlessly stereotyped and torn apart through popular culture. Through old western films and cartoons, Native Americans have been characterized as savage villains with an inferior civilization allowing the viewers to adopt this type of negative representation. Costumes not only show how Native Americans have been misrepresented, but they also hint how deeply those adults were impacted by the stereotypical and racist cartoons and films they grew up watching. Films like Poca-
hontas and Peter Pan rely upon stereotypes, depicting Native characters as dangerous attackers or as apathetic, wise mentors. The deconstruction of the Native American culture is not new. It dates back to the colonization of Virginia where one tenuous iconographic tradition depicted American Natives as cruel, bloodthirsty aggressors. Often, such images represented indigenous people as cannibals. This made it easier for the conquerors to explain their mass murders of the indigenous people. Rumors such as those spread through word of mouth and writing, leaving everyone to believe and trust those who wrote it and said it. Thankfully, in the modern world is waking to the fact that rumors and gossip cannot be the basis of a view on any culture. The media may be responsible for allowing the racial portrayal of Indigenous people alive but it is up to everyone to change that portrayal to a positive and accurate one. It is important for future generations to become aware that cultures are not meant to be ridiculed or imitated for fun, but they are to be respected and preserved.
15
New Quarter,
New Wifi
Photo Courtesy | www.calstatela.edu
More challenges emerge from wifi connectivity. Kelly Tran
Contributor This year Cal State L.A.’s students experienced the frustration of dealing with a WiFi network that was unable to connect and could not understand why. According to CSULA’s International Technology Services department, a new Gigabit Wi-Fi Network, 802.11ac was released on September 18, 2014. On the CSULA website, ITS said they are, “Committed to staying ahead of the curve by providing reliable, comprehensive network coverage for Cal State L.A. students, faculty, staff and guests.” Although it is claimed to be faster, some students are having problems with the new Wi-Fi and there have been mixed feelings about the new system while others felt that they were not aware of the change. “I like it because we do not need to login every single time when I open my devices like before, but even though [it’s] claimed to be faster, I keep having to refresh the page because it keeps improperly loading,” said Vincent Tieu, Senior and Business Administration major, and and goes on to say, “I know it isn’t a user error because it happens on all three of my devices.” Tieu learned how to connect to the school’s new Wi-Fi network by word of mouth from students and got help to connect all three of his devices by a classmate. The first week of the new
fall quarter is generally busy at the ITS department, but this year was a bit busier. Kimberly Mendez, Senior, works as a student-worker for the ITS help desk. Mendez experienced her first week of assisting those who had issues connecting to the new Wi-Fi. “It was chaotic during the first week; not only was it [ITS Services] helping students and staff connect to the new Wi-Fi, but we also helped those who needed to recover their passwords and unlock their CSULA accounts.” Victor Hernandez, a full-time IT-tech staff, worked during the first week of the new quarter understands what it was like during the newly released Wi-Fi network, “It was really busy, but definitely manageable.” Hernandez continued to say this WiFi network has an increased speed with higher gigabits. Although the new Wi-Fi network claims to be much better, Celia Truong, Junior and Marketing major, recalls a time that she had a situation with the new Wi-Fi network not connecting to her device. “I’ve used my laptop inside the MLK lecture hall many times before, but during an important assignment, my Wi-Fi network completely crashed on me. My Wi-Fi icon said I was connected, but my Internet page was completely blank. When I brought it to the ITS help desk, it suddenly, automatically connected after having struggled with trying to connect to the network for an hour or so.” Although to some it may be frustrating to adapt to new changes without being fully aware of the issues, ITS department staff are available to assist any students or staff in connecting their devices (3 devices at max per student) to the new and improved, updated and high-speed campus WiFi network.
16
University Times
Nov. 17, 2014
EVENT Calendar
NOV 17th - NOV 21st WEEK EIGHT
MONDAY 17th
TUESDAY 18th
Lowriting: Shots, Rides & Stories from The Chicano Soul 3:15pm, U-SU San Gabriel Room
Preparing the Résumé and CV 3pm, Graduate Resource Center (Library North A-124)
"Celebrating Innovation”
Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling 3:15pm, U-SU Alhambra Room
University Times Volunteer Meeting 3:30pm, King Hall C3098
5pm, U-SU San Gabriel Room 313
3:15pm, U-SU Pasadena Room 307
"Startup Success”
THURSDAY 20th U-LEAD: #KEEPITCLASSY: Maintaining and Managing Your Social Media Image 3pm, U-SU, 2nd Floor Student Club and Organization Offices Trans* Day of Remembrance 3:15pm, U-SU Forest Lounge
WEDNESDAY 19th Self Care for the Graduate Student 12pm, Graduate Resource Center (Library North A-124) Women Entrepreneurs Leadership Panel 5pm, U-SU Pasadena Room 307
FRIDAY 21st Csula_UT facebook.com/CsulaUT
StartUp Weekend at Cal State L.A.
Nov 21-23rd, U-SU Los Angeles Room
CsulaUniversityTimes
A.S.I. “Poets Night” Open Mic 7pm, Phase II Lounge, Housing
Services
27th ANNUAL GEOGRAPHY AWARENESS WEEK (Nov. 16-22) CONTEST Maybe your job hasn’t been shipped to Cambodia or Mexico, and you now register your credit card in New Delhi and get your meds wholesale from Canada. Yet you can still dine on a cornucopia of food products from around the big, fat world. So where in the world is your munchies coming from? Instead show off your GI, Geographic Intelligence, in the 26th Annual Geography Awareness Week Contest. This year's theme is: The Future of Food, or is my meal gourmet or just road kill. This year’s quiz features geographic clues that will lead you around the world seeing how global our foods are. Identify as many of the locations from the clues below as you can. Winners of our FABULOUS prizes will be those who identify the most correctly using the clues below. Bon appetite!
Clues: 1. You can dole out a lot of pineapples here:____________ 2. Strawberries originated in this region: _____________ 3. Europe was saved from starvation in the 17th and 18th Centuries by this tuber_________, which originally was cultivated here___________. 4. Largest organic farmer in California is ____________. (OK, not a place but a who) 5. Leading banana exporter____________________(country). 6. Leading cotton grower____________________(country). 7. Leading exporter of tea______________________(country) Name the country, state (or city) associated with each of these: Pizza___________ Chow mein __________Tacos___________Hoagies_____________ Manhattan (are you kidding me?)___________Perogies___________Pisco__________ Brennivín aka “Black Death”____________Ouzo_________Bangers and mash__________ Callaloo____________Palaczinta____________Haggis___________Pho_______________ Ackee and saltfish__________Spanikopita________Po boy____________Papusa__________ Turn in your entries to the Geosciences Department office, KH-C4067, by Thurs., December 4th and be a winner of our FABULOUS prizes too wonderful to mention. Sponsors: Oxford University Press, Rand McNally, Hammond, Prentice-Hall, Thomson Learning, McGraw-Hill, Bedford, Freeman & Worth, Brooks/Cole & Wadsworth, Cengage, and John-Wiley & Sons. Name _______________________ Major _________________________ Phone/email_________________________ Credit card #______________ (jus kiddin)