UT
NIVERSITY IMES
March 9, 2015
INSIDE:
LA ONDA:
LA INDIA TRATA DE ENCUBRIR A SUS VIOLADORES.
PG 6
THE DRESS: BLUE AND BLACK? WHITE AND GOLD? PG 4
CONFESSIONS OF THE QUEER AND UNDOCUMENTED PG 2
MARCH FASHION FAVORITES YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS PG 5
STUDENT'S REACTIONS TO QUARTER TO SEMESTER PG 7 STUDENT'S GEAR UP TO COMPETE IN ECO CAR 3 PG 3
www.csulauniversitytimes.com
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 208.10
Ten Years at the Bott m
Angeline Bernabe
Staff Reporter Faculty members on campus are racing to find answers in the CSU system’s failure to provide salary raises. According to the California Faculty Association (CFA), evidence from the past ten years shows the California State University (CSU) system has failed to increase salaries of faculty members on all CSU campuses. In response to the lack of a salary increase on all CSU campuses, CSU faculty members have decided to unite and release a four-part series titled, “Race to the Bottom,” to show the magnitude of the situation. In the first paper of the series, released on March 3, 2015, CFA revealed how the CSU system is the only university system that has shown stagnant progress in terms of increased salary wages for faculty members. Compared to University of California (UC) campuses, which have consistently increased salary wages, CSUs have actually experienced a loss on all 23 campuses. Similarly, CSU faculty members earn less than many other occupations including car sale reps, K-12 teachers, and truck drivers. The top motive behind the problem is the CSU’s inability to keep up with the cost-of-living. For faculty members who have invested many years in higher education to obtain their teaching degrees, current salaries can’t support families, or fund housing and other costs that are often increasing in the state today. Most CSU faculty members are forced to take on multiple jobs to make ends meet, but it isn’t enough. In a media conference over the phone that happened last Tuesday, struggling to make ends meet on a CSU faculty salary with years worth of experience is a situation many faculty members know all too well. Cal State L.A. CFA Chapter President, Molly Talcott, shared in the conference,
Faculty members take action against stagnant salaries.
$ $87,480 $ $79,000
$ $75,870
$ $73,396
Comparison between UC avg. salary wages and CSU avg. salary wages “I have not received anything like the kinds of increases needed in the several years I’ve now been serving at Cal State L.A… My friends in the UC system literally gasp in disbelief when they hear how much I am paid.” According to the first paper of the “Race to the Bottom” series, the average salary of CSU faculty is $45,000 per year. In 2013, the average salary of tenured/tenure track faculty members in UC universities was $130,031—nearly over 85,000 dollars more than what CSU faculty members earn. Moreover, faculty members are holding CSU administrators accountable for their failed attempt to recognize the need to increase salaries. Along with faculty members taking on multiple jobs to make ends meet, there is
advertisement
no denying the fact that CSU faculty members are doing as much as they can in terms of engaging their students in their coursework. In the new CSU campaign, “Class of 3 Million,” many students paid tribute to past professors who helped pave their paths to success. Although CSU administration appreciates the fact that faculty members help guide students, they’ve neglected to do anything about it. There is no word yet about a resolution to the problem. More information about CFA’s work about “Race to the Bottom” and the full document of the first part of the series can be found on www. calfac.org/race-to-the-bottom.
$55,000
2
University Times
March 9, 2015
Health Care Management Association Draws the Future of Healthcare Management
Students network with promising experts in the healthcare field. Samir Ramirez Contributor The Cal State L.A. Healthcare Management Association held an event on Monday, March 2nd, in which they gathered alumni speakers working in the healthcare field to share their pathway to their successful career. The night was open to both undergraduate and graduate students who were curious to learn from the alumni’s experiences and was held in the Golden Eagle Ballroom. One notable speaker of the night was Shweta Sharma, a Cal State L.A. alumnus who currently works at Cedars Sinai Medical Center as a business analyst.
Free Income Tax Preparation At Cal State L.A.
Get your taxes done before April 15th or Uncle Sam will want you to pay up. Norma Domiguez Contributor
Sharma spoke about the importance of ‘selling yourself,’ a skill she claims ultimately landed her numerous internships that led to employment. While Sharma admits that she applied to various internships throughout her journey, even if she wasn’t exactly sure what employers were looking for, she made sure to tell them that, “I am ready to learn. I have this background (in healthcare) and I can apply what I know.” Sharma also emphasized the importance of being seen. “I made sure to take up every opportunity I could. Every team meeting, I would go even if they were at 7:30a.m. in the morning. I wanted to make sure they knew I was willing to work.” The night proved to be a suc-
cess, as undergrad and grad students got the opportunity to expand their network of both collegiate and professional contacts. Jessa Caños, senior Public Health major and executive administrator of the Healthcare Management Association, got the chance to network with aforementioned Sharma. “I approached Dr. Sharma because her story was really inspiring. She showed how persistent and driven she was to get into the field,” Caños shared and continued, “She gave me her contact info and invited me to contact her at any time to help jumpstart my healthcare career.” One of the notable aspects of the event was the unique opportunity to join a prominent health organization, for free. Normally, the healthcare organization offers membership for about a whopping, 100 dollars a year.
The Undocuqueer Manifesto: A Right to Love and Life Without Fear Insightful confessions by undocumented queer individuals stuck in hetero America. Hannah Jacobsen Contributor On March 4th, the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center brought up the story of being undocumented and queer in America. The stage of the U-SU Theatre, lit by soft glows of red and blue, displayed a mix of video documentaries on the undocuqueer experience with an intermix of stimulating, student-performed poetry. “We reached out to active people in the undocumented community and asked that they donate their stories. We pieced together these stories for the performance tonight, as well as displaying some of the amazing work of our own performers,” said Carlos Vidales, program coordinator of the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center.
In alliance with groups such as the Queer Undocumented Immigrant Project -- which calls on Congress to develop immigration reform that treats all member of the LGBT community with dignity through preventing racial profiling, incarceration, and increased border militarization – the stories displayed both personal struggle and the political deprecation of a minority demographic. Both forms of performance describe the intersection of these two marginalized groups as creating the most vulnerable American demographic. The conversation touched on struggles resulting from the lack of rights for either identity. One particular piece, speaking on a gay, undocumented man who was attempting to find a center which would test him for HIV, honed into the issue of health care inaccessibility. “The life of the poor, queer, undocumented people did not matter. I’m done feeling like I’m too Latin, too black, too gay, too easily mispronounced to deserve proper health care,” said performer Romello Bernstein. Additional performances cov-
ered fear within their own family and community structures: not wanting to come out of the closet for fear of losing their only support group, fear of being deported to openly and physically homophobic countries, and fear of having their sexual orientation mocked while inside detention centers. Vidales concluded the show with the undocuqueer manifesto: the right to love and be loved by the people of their choice and the right to act as their true selves and define their own sense of home without persecution or deportation. “We need to acknowledge that ‘isms’ exist in our society,” said Vidales while describing the solution to the present issues which conflict with this manifesto. These ‘isms’ – whether they be defined as the racism that has been so bluntly displayed in recent cases of police brutality, the misogynism that prevents women from being acknowledged as equals in the professional and political sphere, or the heterosexism which insists on only one definition of love – greatly affect the lives of individuals who fall within the many categories of discrimination.
Every Saturday Cal State LA’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is offering free tax preparation assistance to low and moderate income individuals that qualify for a tax refund. VITA is a program ran by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that allows people to file their taxes. The tax service event is held in Salazar Hall room C343. Important documents to bring to this event are: Photo ID: License, Passport, CA ID Social Security Cards: taxpayer, their spouse & dependents if any Birthdates: primary, or secondary dependents Wage & Earning Statement(s): Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R from all employers Interest & Dividend statements Form 1099 A copy of last years California & Federal returns Bank Account and Routing Number for direct deposit of refund money Additional Documents if applicable: Total Amount Paid For Day Care, per child, Day Care providers name, address, & phone number CA Rent Credit landlord’s name, address & phone number
Other Income/ Expense Info such as tuition credit, student loan interests bring forms 1098-T, 1098- E Augustin Esparza, a qualified reviewer for VITA said the program is free and for anyone in the community that’s worked and paid taxes. He also said they offer multilingual services in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Spanish. Esparza said, “We want to make sure every application gets submitted properly and accurately so it’s a three step process that all customers go through, the interview room, the tax preparer room and finally the reviewing room.” For those who wonder how accurate this VITA program works, according to Sasoon Yousefin, junior Business major and a certified tax preparer at Cal State L.A. said, “Cal State L.A. has the lowest rejection rate for returns that the IRS does when compared to other universities.” Sasoon also states that they aren’t getting paid and they want to help its clients reach their highest refund credit. VITA has worked with Cal State L.A. for several years and more people are becoming aware of the program. Community resident Jafet Suarez said, “I found out about this event through my sister and I’ve told people like co-workers and friends about this place.” Suarez has filed for taxes with VITA two years and said he likes the program because it’s quick and easy. VITA operates on a first come first serve basis and is available until April 12th. Families and individuals can attend this event on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Be sure to file for taxes by April 15th to avoid government fines.
Advertisement
University Times
March 9, 2015
UN I V E R S I T Y T IMES
Distributor Carol Venegas
Editor-in-Chief Yzzy Gonzalez
Staff Reporters Gerardo Amezquita Angeline Bernabe
Managing Editor Timmy Truong Production Manager Taylor Preza
Columnist/Intern Roxana Hernandez Contributors Taryn Bettenhausen Tierra Booker Norma Dominguez Tania Garcia Fernando Hernandez Hannah Jacobsen Samir Ramirez George Rodriguez Donis Solano Lauren Walther
Web Editor Carol Venegas Copy Editors Gerardo Amezquita Nidhin Patel Carol Venegas Business/ Advertising Mangager Jim Munson
Fashion Reporter Row
Faculty Advisor Suzanne Regan Journalism 391 Professor Josef Sawyer
Photographer Timmy Truong
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.
3
Students Get Into Top Gear Cal State L.A. enters a prestigous competition with Ivy League schools. Donis Solano Contributor The first year of a four-year competition for the EcoCar 3 comes to an end in May. The EcoCar 3 competition consists of sixteen schools nationwide redesigning a Chevrolet Camaro to reduce its environmental impact, while maintaining the muscle and expected performance from this iconic American car. Currently, Cal State L.A.’s EcoCar 3 team is preparing for their biggest competition in Seattle from May 29th to June 5th. The judges will score their presentations and rank them against 15 teams in competition. “Year one was the planning stages, which sets us up for year two where we will actually receive the Camaro around late December and begin bench testing,” said Communication Manager and Graphic Communications major,
EcoCar2 before color changes | Photo By Timmy Truong
Carol Mamon. Graduate student in Electrical Engineering, Ary Alvarez, said he benefits from being involved with the EcoCar 3 team by gaining hands on experience. Alvarez said the EcoCar 3 project allows students to use software like Autonomie, a software that is used to intricately design a vehicle. The Cal State L.A. team prides themselves on being the most diverse team competing. They also feel that being in this competition allows Cal State L.A. to elevate its status. Cal State L.A. is the only school within California that is competing. Notable schools in the competition are Virginia
Tech, University of Alabama, and Georgia Tech. Teams are being tasked to enhance the vehicle even further by applying the latest cutting-edge technologies and incorporating new innovative ideas. Teams have four years (2014-2018) to harness those ideas into an ultimate energyefficient, high performance vehicle. This is not a pure grudge match between the 16 universities. Many schools have had constant contact and support on social media platforms. Cal State L.A.’s EcoCar 3 is always looking to grow. In order to take part in the project students have to visit www.csulaecocar3. org and answer the questionnaire on the website.
University Times is published every Monday. Copyright 2015 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
www.csulauniversitytimes.com csula.ut@gmail.com
Para La Onda: Jefes de Redacción:
Xanni Valentin Chavira
Editores: Martha J. Orellana Mindy Galindo Sergio Soto Gerente de publicidad:
Martha J. Orellana
Consejero de la Facultad:
Pablo Baler
Students Open Q & A Q: Is it weird to be ever mistrusting of people you just met at school?
A: I definitely did some consultation and online research to answer this question. In fact, my protective brother manages to tell me, what I consider his quote, “Be careful, everyone is a suspect.” And when I think about this, it applies to any aspect in life. In general people are pretty trustworthy, for example when a cashier hands you change, there is some level of trust in the person to give you the correct change. On the other hand, as a traveler, I’ve learned that tourists can be picked out from crowds while traveling in a foreign country, and even really sweet old ladies will rob you. So there should always be some caution with people who’s background is a mystery. It’s okay to open up, and it’s definitely a case-by-case basis, but usually students in college are people who are filtered out from society and those students enrolled can be trusted – to some extent. I believe you’re not weird or insincere if the person you just met isn’t given much information as to whom you are. Just remember to be aware, be kind, as kindness and respect should be reciprocated.
Ask Tania for your Q for A at: advice.universitytimes@gmail.com
4
March 9, 2015
University Times
“The Dress”
Don't panic; you are not going blind. The reason behind the controversial dress color explained. Tierra Booker Contributor Black and blue. The dress is black and blue. Following the weekend long social media debate, the actual dress in question made its television debut on the Ellen DeGeneres show last Tuesday, March 3rd. Created by British retailer Roman Originals, the picture was first posted on a Tumblr account “swiked” in which the user shared
our perception of color can vary. Since the colors in the dress aren’t close to pure red, green, or blue receptors in the retina, people instead get a combination of different responses from different individuals, hence the debate.
that her friends could not agree on the dress color. After making its way from one social network to the next, even celebrities such as Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber have chimed in on the debate.
“It has to do with the tiny cones in the back of our eyeballs that perceive colors in a slightly different way depending upon our genes,” said CNN Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen. “The cones in our retinas — the fine layer of nerve tissue that lines the back of our eyes — detect the blue, green, and red in an image. The cones and your brain mix those colors to make other colors.”
Throughout the weekend many different versions of the photo have surfaced in reference to the original. However, there is a chance that one viewer may see a different dress than another. There are a few facts effecting color perception, one of them being the sensor involved. This could be the camera sensor, the computer or phone screen display, etc. The cones in our retinas are able to detect red, green, and blue in an image and the brain along with the cones later mix to make other colors.
So go apologize to your best friend that you called a lunatic because it may truly be possible for two individuals to see a matching image differently without anyone being colorblind. If optical illusions are an interest of yours, visit grand-illusions.com for more.
Because our retinal sensors and brains are slightly different,
Designer of the Week: Patchara Burapathana “I never thought I would do this for the rest of my life and I’m thrilled I chose fashion design.” Roxana Hernandez Columnist The seed of inspiration planted in Patchara Burapathana, a Fashion Design student, was through her multiple sustainability projects she worked on. Last Thursday, March 5th, the Fashion Association of Design Student’s put together a Guerilla Fashion Show where Burapathana showcased three of her sustainability inspired designs. With a color palette of lilac, black, and pink, this emerging designer brought femininity, romance, and interesting detail to her garments. Patchara Burapathana wasn’t always passionate about fashion; as a matter of fact, she only liked to mix and match things as a young child. Born in Bangkok, Thailand and raised there for seven years she later moved to Los Angeles. “When I moved to Los Angeles the scene in fashion was very different. People in L.A. wore more outgoing clothes with crazy prints, and in Thailand everything would be very plain and simple for casual clothes.” Barapathana said, “Although I have to say, times have changed, and
I’m sure right now the fashion here and there is very similar, it has become global.” Through her years in the states, her likability for fashion only remained a hobby that sustained stable through the years. It wasn’t until she attended Cal State L.A. that her interest in fashion cultivated and bloomed. As an undeclared major during her first year in college, she could not find her calling. Soon enough her older sister, whom she looks up to, suggested she take fashion courses on the basis of her unwavering interest in the past. After taking a few courses, she fell in love with fashion design, and ever since she has nurtured that path as her future career. As an established Fashion Design student at Cal State L.A., she has grown to love the Fashion and Textiles Program and mentioned, “I learned how to sew here at Cal State L.A., but I did use to experiment before, and I still experiment now.” When asked about her design aesthetic she didn’t hesitate to say, “I like evening wear and bridal, so I tend to make gowns that are geared toward that kind of design.” A question asked to every Fashion Design student when interviewed for Designer of the Week is what misconceptions about fashion students or members of the fashion world bother them the most. In the past, responses like ‘we’re dumb,’ ‘it’s easy,’ ‘it’s insignificant and superficial,’ have been thrown around.
Fashion Designer Patchara Burapathana models her designed garment on first and third image, and one of her models wearing another of her desgned garments in the center. Burapathana mentioned some of those and specifically spoke of the general public’s perception of a fashion designer to be negatively associated. “They think our career is useless and easy, when in reality it is a lot of work and a lot of creative thinking. There is so much more to fashion design than superficiality,” Burapathana claimed. For instance, costume designers give us more than a garment, they help create a story, honor true stories and perhaps even craft works of art. It would be cynical to believe that fashion is only about making money and being superficial when there are many people who live their life to promoting self expression, sustainability, charity, and history through clothes. Burapathana, who has showcased multiple times at Cal State L.A., is passionate about fashion and its further significance to the world. Currently she is inspired by fifteenth century fashion that embodies intricate details; she admits that she has had a longrun relationship with costume design, specifically period TV and film fashion design. It is that same passion she has for intricate
detailing that leans her to the evening wear and bridal branch of fashion design. “After graduating I want to intern as a fashion assistant and maybe later I could work for a designer. Ultimately, working with my fashion idol Elie Saab would be a dream come true,” Burapathana expresses.
As a fashion designer, Patchara Burapathana wants to create gowns that not only are beautiful to look at, but beautiful to feel in. Trying to capture the hearts of women throughout her career, she will persevere and make her dreams come true.
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 Café Located at Salazar Hall Sandwiches, Salads, Burritos, Coffee and more!
Monday–Thursday, 7:30am-7:00pm
University Times
March 9, 2015
March Madness From fashion and food and everything nice, my mood board will entice you. Row Fashion Reporter Bowls on Bowls on Bowls It looks and tastes better than ice cream, and it contains only about 100 calories. It’s what breakfast dreams are made of. Yes, it is the infamous word that people have trouble-pronouncing, acai (pronounced a-sigh-ee). It’s a smoothie blend topped with oatmeal, nuts, peanut butter, and other ingredients. Many people are starting to consume this amazing fruit because it satisfies your taste buds without packing any weight, and with summer coming up, that is absolutely the last thing people want. In L.A. especially, people seem to not eat anything but fruit!
Shaken Not Stirred ‘Can I get a dirty gin martini, up. Extra olives,’ is what I order every time I approach a bartender. I’ve been ordering this drink since I could remember, reminiscing about my favorite show as a kid, “Friends,” where Monica, Rachel, and Phoebe’s drinks were always martini’s. Having one makes me feel like I’m in their shoes. This famous James Bond drink has been very popular nowadays, especially in Los Angeles. Ordering one correctly will not only impress your bartender, but it will also represent you as a strong individual. I make it dirty by adding a splash of olive juice. With spring break around the corner, order that martini and enjoy the sunlight.
Thicker, Longer Lashes Ladies, it’s time to throw away those fake lashes and buy an exceptionally good mascara to volumize your lashes. It makes you look like a goddess. Every gal in L.A. wants to look as natural as they can, so a quick brush of the lashes before heading out gives you that look of a bad girl. Dark eyes are always sexy. I have three different mascaras for different occasions. I wear my Givenchy on an everyday basis, like for school, work, etc; my Yves Saint Laurent mascara when I’m going out with friends, networking, etc; I save my best mascara, Chanel, for those special occasions where I need to look extra glam. Leather Weather Alright ladies, spring break is around the corner and we’re all getting bikini body ready. What better way to show off that amazing bod than in a Triangl swimsuit. I have the two-piece, black, and micro mesh swimsuit of the Australian brand and I love it. It’s brand focuses on neon colors and micro mesh designs. Australian models are raging over the brand and that obsession came to the U.S. and now everyone’s wearing it. Go grab yours asap! Boyfriend Jeans Meets Bad Bae Those UNIF jeans (shown on the board) are the most comfortable and stylish pair of jeans I own. It’s about two sizes bigger than my normal denim size and it has rips and tears in the right places. Gives it a chic look, and I’m sure there is about a thousand other girls that would feel the same way. Every single women’s wear site carries boyfriend jeans including UNIF, Nasty Gal, Misguided, H&M, etc. Who wouldn’t want to look chic and comfortable
Ultimate LA: Echo Park
at the same time? Grab ‘em till they’re gone! Sneakers vs. Monstrous Heels I am obsessed with my Riccardo Tisci x Nike sneaker boots. They’re relaxed, unique, and just bad as heck. I wear it with long jersey shirts, shorts, skirts, leggings, pants, well you get the picture. They sold out in less than a day when they came out, and I immediately made my way to Undefeated and grabbed the $400 pair. Yes it broke my bank, but it was worth it. I love them, and everyone around me does too. Nevertheless, I’ve been wearing my Topshop chunky heeled booties countless times. The fashion gods have answered my prayers. The chunky heel makes it extremely easy to walk in and surprisingly, to run in. It’s one of the most stylish pieces that people wear nowadays. Girls want that height without wearing pumps or stilettos in the middle of the day or even at night, but they want that bad babe meets fashionable diva look. breakfast foods and baked goods in the boathouse, or just walk
Lauren Walther Contributor
About fifteen minutes from campus is Echo Park. Once considered the ‘sketchy side’, the neighborhood is now a popular place to spend a day, grab some
Accessorize Appropriately Every time I see a transparent clutch on a runway during fashion week, my body gets goose bumps. It’s the most chic and sophisticated looking accessory I’ve seen yet. The little clutch can have a model stun on the runway and I have got to get my hands on it. All the runways are having it, and pretty soon everyone on the street will, too. I have just one thing to say about the huge hat you see on the board: the bigger the hat, the trendier the look. Long Tees Make You a Steez The street style industry is raving over long tees for the gals, and it’s the best invention ever. Why? When the temperature rises, the pants are out of the picture. Every blogger in the world rocks long tees; allows you to show off them legs. Match it up with your favorite sneakers or your chunky heel and you’re good to go.
one of the best places to admire the downtown L.A. skyline. For an unexpected flavor in Los Angeles, make sure to head to Masa of Echo Park on Sunset for Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. The amazing smell hits you before getting inside. With a thick, hearty crust, juicy toppings, cheese, and chunky tomato sauce (layered in that order), this pizza is a gooey, stretchy, cheesy and immensely satisfying experience.
The Hitchhiker's guide to the depths of Los Angeles. This week, we have Echo Park.
Cal State L.A.’s campus affords students access to a number of neighborhoods within a fifteenminute drive, but the trick remains knowing where to go.
5
Photo Courtesy | fineartamerica.com
great food and bar hop.
out to the docks. For $10, you can strap on life vests and rent paddle boats to cruise around the lake. The recently restored park is a beautiful urban oasis with an arched wooden bridge, large lily pads and bellowing ducks; it’s
If students have a lazy afternoon and want a different kind of view of the city, grab a friend and head to Echo Park Lake and walk to the boathouse. You can stop for fresh
Down the street from Masa is a classic Echo Park bar, The Gold Room. Wear your Dodgers gear and come early if you want an easy time finding seats. Available every day is ‘The Special’, which is $4 for a pint of beer and a tequila shot. There’s even a secret free food menu not posted anywhere - ask for beef or bean tacos with your drink order, and in 10 minutes they will find you with your free tacos.
Haute Off The Press If you fashion lovers haven’t read The Karl Daily, a newspaper by Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel and Fendi god, then you are definitely missing out. It is one of the most creative platforms I’ve ever seen a fashion designer take that steps outside of apparel. If you are anything like me, you would give anything to be in the presence of Mr. Lagerfeld. Sadly we do not live in Paris, nor do we work for Chanel or Fendi so his newspaper will have to do. It reflects on everything Karl, from a look into his daily life to being able to creating your own ‘Kartoon’ for the newspaper. It is a genius execution to raise the bar in the fashion industry. You can be in on the latest buzz by going to Karl.com and checking out his next newspaper edition, first time in digital, coming out at the end of March. Au revoir my fashionistas.
To barhop after your fill of tequila and free tacos, Little Joy is a cocktail lounge a couple of blocks away. The dimly-lit bar offers pool and a roomier space with more seating compared to The Gold Room, though that doesn’t mean the place is always empty or calm. After the bars close, there will always be an L.A. Danger Dog cart outside of the Gold Room. When it’s 2 a.m. and you haven’t eaten since 8p.m., these can be godsent miracles. For the price of a Gold Room Special, a sizzling hot dog wrapped in bacon, topped with sautéed onions and peppers with ketchup, mayo and mustard can be yours. If you need more than a hot dog, Brite Spot is a coffee shop on Sunset that is open until 3 a.m., offering all the diner classics you would want, expect, and require after a night out at the bars.
LA
6
University Times
March 9, 2015
POLÍTICA Alto a las violaciones sexuales La India trata de tapar el sol con un dedo para proteger a sus violadores
Por Martha J. Orellana
CULTURA El neobarroco: una cosmovisión hecha de retazos Néstor Díaz de Villegas: “Escribir es importante”. Por Mindy Galindo El lunes pasado, el poeta cubano Néstor Díaz de Villegas impartió un interesante seminario a la clase de Literatura Contemporánea Latinoamericana, invitado por el profesor de la clase, el Dr. Pablo Baler. El evento se llevó a cabo en esta universidad y tuvo gran repercusión entre los alumnos de la maestría en español. En una atmósfera de confianza y sencillez, Díaz de Villegas dictó el seminario con la finalidad de profundizar sobre la novela leída en clase, Cobra de Severo Sarduy y para transmitir sus conocimientos sobre José Lezama Lima, quien se cuenta entre los precursores del neobarroco latinoamericano. Durante el seminario, Díaz de Villegas destacó que para entender la obra de un escritor, hay que dividirla en “cajitas” que determinan el tipo de literatura que el escritor produce. Para esto sugirió la importancia de situar geográfica y culturalmente la obra de Sarduy. Agregó que, de esta manera, se logra una aproximación más rica a su cosmovisión. En este caso podemos apreciar cómo la cosmovisión de Severo Sarduy, incluye desde la historia de la independencia cubana en
1898, hasta la religión yoruba, la intervención norteamericana, la cultura de la homosexualidad, la inmigración china, los experimentos literarios del grupo Tel Quel y la influencia incontenible del neobarroco y Lezama Lima, entre tantos otros elementos que remiten a la mezcla interétnica y transcultural de Cuba. Néstor Días de Villegas es autor de “Che en Miami”, “Por el camino de Sade”, “Confesiones del estrangulador de Flaguer Street”, entre otras obras de poesía. Pasó cinco años en prisión por haber publicado un poema contrario al espíritu de la revolución cubana y desde su liberación en 1979, fue exiliado de la isla y ahora vive en California. Para concluir, como parte esencial de su aporte, Néstor Díaz de Villegas exhortó a los alumnos que cursan la maestría en español a que se involucren en la escritura y que vayan más allá del análisis y la crítica. Señaló que aunque algunos orienten el ejercicio de sus estudios a la docencia, es recomendable que desarrollen, en la práctica, la creatividad literaria porque ésta se constituye en una herramienta para ampliar criterios en la proyección de la enseñanza. Por su parte los estudiantes se sintieron inmensamente agradecidos por las enseñanzas adquiridas en dicho seminario.
En el año 2012 en la India, múltiples manifestaciones surgieron en reacción al descabellado asesinato de Jyoti Singh. Esta joven estudiante fue asesinada en un autobús de Nueva Delhi por un grupo de hombres que abusaron de ella. La sociedad India reaccionó rechazando este acto intolerable de violencia sexual. Impactada por esta atrocidad, la famosa cineasta británica, Leslee Udwin, decidió dejar a su familia por dos años para viajar a la india y trabajar en su documental India’s daughter. La película fue programada para presentase en el “Día de la mujer”, domingo 8 de marzo juntamente con el lanzamiento mundial contra la violencia sexual. En un artículo publicado en el País, Natalia Quiroga explica sobre los esfuerzos de las autoridades indias para prohibir la publicación del documental. Esta decisión fue dada a conocer el pasado miércoles 4 de marzo en la televisión india por un tribunal de Nueva Delhi. Esto fue debido a que el documental tiene entrevistas realizadas en la cárcel Tihar de varios hombres acusados de violación. Entre los testimonios, se encuentra uno de los asesinos de la joven Jyoti. De acuerdo a las autoridades indias, publicar este filme es una violación a los derechos de estos reos. El martes por la tarde la prohibición fue emitida después
Fotografía | Crédito: static-smoda.elpais.com
de que la policía presentara una denuncia argumentando que este filme contiene testimonios “que ejercen daño, quebrantan la paz y crean… problemas de orden público”. A esta prohibición del portavoz de la policía, Rajan Bhagat, se unió el Ministro indio de Asuntos Parlamentarios, Venkaiah Naidu, quién ha pedido que la cinta también sea prohibida fuera de la India. Tras conocer la prohibición de su documental, Udwin reaccionó diciendo “Siento profunda tristeza por el intento de silenciar la película India’s Daughter y por descarrilar este apasionado llamamiento por la igualdad de género”. Después de haber adelantado la transmisión de este filme al miércoles por la noche y que tuvo una audiencia de aproximadamente 300.000 personas, Udwin abandonó la India por temor a ser detenida y a las reacciones negativas que puedan suceder contra este país. Las declaraciones reveladas en el filme estremecen tanto como la brutalidad de las violaciones hechas. Estos violadores se justifican diciendo que “Una
mujer decente no deambula por ahí a las 9 de la noche. Una chica es mucho más responsable de una violación que un chico”. Para Udwin, la atrocidad de los testimonios explica que el problema radica en una enfermedad de base social. “La desigualdad de género es el tumor principal a la violación…”, ella considera que el problema de abuso a las mujeres no tiene solución y dijo que “hasta que la mentalidad no cambie, el cáncer seguirá creciendo y extendiéndose”. Por su parte, la cineasta, dijo que obtuvo todos los permisos requeridos para las grabaciones y entrevistas. Explica que todos dieron permiso para que sus testimonios se presentaran en la película y que estuvieron de acuerdo incluyendo al Director de la cárcel Tihar, que a su vez, tenía que consultar al Ministro de Interior quién también sabía el propósito de su trabajo. La prohibición al rodaje de este documental, limita el progreso a los esfuerzos por eliminar el abuso de violencia sexual contra la mujer.
¡Gracias “Pepe”! Termina el mandato presidencial de José Mujica. Por Sergio Soto
Fotografía | Daisy Baez
Contáctanos en:
CSULA La Onda
UT laonda.newspaper@gmail.com
Mujica deja la presidencia de Uruguay con altos números de popularidad local e internacional. “No soy pobre, soy sobrio, liviano de equipaje, vivir con lo justo para que las cosas no me roben la libertad”, esta frase la reconoce como el lema de su vida de acuerdo a lo que mencionó en una entrevista con Carmen Aristegui, en Montevideo. José Mujica durante su presidencia conservó un estilo de vida sencilla, optó por no vivir en la residencia presidencial y decidió vivir en su casa de campo. Mujica siempre expresó que los políticos con fines lucrativos se deben de quitar del poder. Para Mujica la figura ideal de un político es aquel que sirve al pueblo de día y de noche.
Bajo su mandato hubo cambios importantes. En el país se despenalizó el aborto, se legalizó el matrimonio homosexual y el cultivo, distribución y venta de la marihuana para luchar contra el narcotráfico. En los últimos años también se ha observado que el PIB (Producto Interno Bruto) ha crecido de manera significativa de lo cual el país sudamericano se ha beneficiado. Su gabinete informa que bajo el mandato de Mujica la pobreza disminuyó un 11.5 por ciento y el desempleo un 6.6 por ciento. José Mujica reconoce que no pudo cumplir todas las metas que se propuso en su presidencia. Agregó que la educación debe de
tener mayor apoyo del gobierno, pese a que se mandó a construir una universidad más en Uruguay. De igual manera reconoce que el país necesita que se complete una infraestructura, en especial en el sistema ferroviario. El ex guerrillero comentó en una entrevista reciente que le quedaron cantidad de cosas por hacer, pero espera que el gobierno que venga sea mejor. El ahora ex mandatario de setenta y nueve años, fue elegido como senador el pasado octubre del 2014. Existe la posibilidad de que siga contribuyendo con algunos proyectos que beneficien a la población. De esta manera José Mujica continuará trabajando en la política de su amado Uruguay.
University Times
March 9, 2015
Students React: Q2S The quarter to semester change is coming, how are students responding? Taryn Bettenhausen Contributor Time flies, and before we all know it Cal State L.A. will no longer be a quarter term school, but rather a semester run university. So, how are students feeling? University Times interviewed several students and there were mixed reviews to say the least. Cal State L.A. freshman, Valerie Lizarraga, feels left out in the cold. “They’re not explaining what is going to happen. I feel like we’re just being left in limbo.” Advisors have begun to speak to various classes about the change, but the exact specifics students should take haven’t been released because the school doesn’t even know yet. Advisors begin their training in early March and from there each department will choose the route they feel will best suit their undergrads, whether it’s an IAP (individual assessment plan), seminars, or group training. Campus junior, Dre McPhail, isn’t too fond of the quarter set up. “Quarters go by too fast. It seems like it is time for midterms right after the quarter starts. There’s not enough time if you’re struggling in the class to get any help from your professor. With the change to semesters there will be more time to break down the material so that we (students) can really understand it.”
However, Jake Lagana feels the opposite of McPhail. “I don’t know if I’ll be finished before the school switches to semesters in Fall 2016, but I hope so because I really like the quarter system. I’ve only ever been on the quarter system for two quarters now, but I like it a lot better than semesters. The classes move a lot quicker, but I like it because unlike semesters they don’t drag on.” There was two resounding concerns found among the masses: cost and time. Is the switch going to cost any more money and will my degree now take longer to finish? Well, according to the pledge Cal State L.A. is making to students the answer is no. While it may look as if semesters cost more than the quarters students have to account for the fact that there are three quarters a year compared to two semesters. So, while the cost compared side by side don’t match up, in the year-end students will not pay any additional costs. Finishing as planned, on schedule is just as important to many others. The good news is students will have options. They’ll get to choose whether the quarter or semester plan works better for them. So, even though you’ll get fewer classes on a semester run year compared to the quarter, the amount of units required to finish a degree reflects that in the change. Students aren’t the only ones to have frustrations and apprehensions about the big change, but it’s coming whether we like it or not. So, prepare yourself if you know you’ll definitely be here after the fact and meet with an advisor to discuss any and all options.
Reflection Room Students should deflect stress by reflecting. Fernando Hernandez
Contributor Nowadays, students know that stress is inevitable and if you don’t manage it, it will poke at you every waking moment, eventually dragging you down into a bottomless pit with no exit and no Wi-Fi! Okay, that might be an exaggeration, but all jokes aside, stress is really damaging for the human mind and body. A simple way to reduce stress is to clear your mind by airing out whatever is bothering you. For whatever rea-
sons, women tend to share their feelings a lot more than men. On that note, studies have shown that women also live longer than men, by an average of 5 years. There may be a link between women discussing their problems and living longer, and men avoiding their problems and not living as long. There might be an argument that says, ‘Well, that’s genetics and it’s out of our control,’ but if we look at facts, we see that men suffer a lot more heart attacks and strokes than women do, both of which can be triggered by stress. We no longer live in a society where the men must be ‘macho’ to be viewed as ‘real-men.’ For those who have major trust issues should at least try writing in a journal. Another method that can help with stress is to not talk at all, or in other words ‘meditate.’
7
Q2S
KEEP CALM AND
QUARTER ON UNTIL FALL 2016
Meditation is an effective way to relieve stress and for those of you who didn’t know it already, Cal State L.A. has built a space just for meditation. It is located on the 3rd floor of the University-Student Union (U-SU) in Monterey Park Room, ideally called the Reflection Room. This room is perfect for students who want to unwind after a long day or want to prepare mentally for the long day ahead. The Reflection Room was opened on November 24th, 2014. According to John Ortiz, Director of Operations, “Students presented the need for a space to pray or meditate.” The room itself is empty, with the exception of a water fountain that provides the room with a soothing tone of floating water. Ortiz explains the reason behind the room not having any
furniture saying, “I did some site visits in the summer to different campuses and in general, most meditation rooms have just an empty space.” Another reason why most reflection rooms lack furniture is because people tend to use the couches to take naps. The ideal time usage of the room is 15 minutes and electronics are prohibited. Although some students do use the Reflection Room, it still hasn’t become popular on the campus. Fourth year student Lupe Flores said, “I wish I would of known sooner because sometimes I want to reflect and gather myself and so I head to the library, but there is too much going on at the library and this room is perfect for relaxing.” If people are not interested in meditation, two of the most popular methods are yoga and sports, which are seen as definitely ef-
fective in reducing stress. Coincidentally, the Xtreme Fitness Center offers classes for yoga, kickboxing, Pilates and many more if you want to unwind. Go to their website or go in the basement of U-SU directly to check the schedule and availability of this classes. Now while eliminating stress completely from your life would be a herculean task, the goal shouldn’t be to eliminate, but to reduce. As a matter of fact, some stress is good for us; it activates our flight-or-fight response and with finals just around the corner, you don’t want a complete nonchalant attitude. Stress management is all about finding the middle ground. Once you find the perfect-balance, stick with that technique until adjustments are needed.
8
University Times
March 9, 2015
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS EVENT Calendar WEDNESDAY 11 TUESDAY 10 MONDAY 9 SR-710 North - Extend or Not? 6pm -8:30pm, Golden Eagle Ballroom
The De-Stress Study Fest 7pm, Main Lobby Library North
University Times Meeting
Charter College of Education (CCOE): Coffee @ Sunset
"Women in Mariachi: Past and Present"
University Bands Concert
Opera Concert - Orpheus & Eurydice by Gluck
4pm-6pm, King Hall Stage/Patio
7:30pm, TBA
3:30P.M., King Hall 3098
Csula_UT
Jazz Orchestra 7:30pm, State Playhouse
Mariachi Concert
12pm, State Playhouse
3:15pm-4:15pm, Music Hall
7:30pm, Music Hall
FRIDAY 13th
THURSDAY 12th CCC Finals Week, Study Hours, And Study Assistance All day, Cross Cultural Centers, 2nd floor, U-SU
th
th
th
facebook.com/CsulaUT
18th CSU Symposium on University Teaching All day, U-SU third floor
Biomedical Sciences Seminar
CsulaUniversityTimes
1pm, Annenberg Sciences Complex Lecture Room or the Biological Sciences Lecture Hall 144