UT
NIVERSITY IMES
Nov. 2, 2015
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 210.6
2nd Annual Crime Scene Simulation takes place Crime scene simulations prepare Cal State LA students for the real world. Hannah Jacobsen Staff Reporter
A murder occurred in Room C-99 of the Applied Gerontology Institute. The female’s body was found face down on the couch, in an apartment covered in white powder, blood, and knocked-over furniture. This was the crime scene that criminal justice, criminalist, and journalism students faced on Wednesday, October 28th from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Cal State LA’s interdisciplinary crime scene simulation brought together students from three different disciplines. For both Dr. Donald Johnson’s criminalistics students learning to work in CSI, and Dr. Lisa Graziano’s criminal justice students learning to go into law enforcement, the crime scene simulation taught students to cooperate and communicate in the field. Journalism students learning from Dr. Suzanne Regan and the University Times Business and Advertising Manager, Jim Munson, were also brought in to understand the challenges of covering sensitive crime stories. Harkmore Lee, Director of the Center on Child Welfare, directed the simulation program. “Part of our goal is to break this concept that CSI shows develop: cases getting solved in 43 minutes,” Lee said. “Through this simulation, we show what it takes to solve a crime and prepare
INSIDE: LA ONDA: PELIGRO, CARNES PROCESADAS CAUSAN CÁNCER PG 6
Crime scene simulation | Photo by Pablo De La Hoya
students for the real world by applying what they are learning in class.” Students were walked through the entire process of investigating the crime scene, questioning witnesses, and preparing a press release. Los Angeles Police Department homicide detectives Mitzi Roberts and Grace Thorington were present to assist and answer questions throughout the process. Both detectives believe that this simulation is a great opportunity for hands-on experience, career preparedness, an edge to the students’ resumes, and also to give them insight into the stresses and emotions of the homicide division. “The way that a lot of officers deal with this kind of stuff is to bottle it up and go home, and that’s harmful,” Roberts said. “I learned to disassociate myself from the scene and the body.
Later, learning more about the victim, it’s crushing, but we have to keep going and support each other.” Criminalist students were tasked with documenting and collecting evidence at the scene. Professor Johnson, who guided the criminalist students and explained their actions to the audience, acted as criminalist for the case that this simulation was based on twenty-five years ago. He used stories from his long history of working in the LAPD to lead students through their work. “Criminalists often work alone. We can be at the scene for ten hours, or even the whole day,” Johnson said. Though the criminalist students weren’t able to spend ten hours processing the simulation
STAY TUNED FOR A CAMPUS PRODUCED WEB SERIES
DR. BETTCHER HIGHLIGHTS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE TRANS
PG 2
PG 3
evidence, Professor Johnson was pleased with the activity.
information out of the increasingly annoyed “witnesses.”
“The wonderful thing here is that we can simulate the entire process,” Johnson said. “Other simulations don’t involve these diverse interactions, and we get to see here how this alters the scene and the dynamics.”
“The witness side of investigation is really difficult because you have to go around and piece together what is going on,” one journalism student said. “A lot of the time, you don’t have much information and people aren’t willing to give it to you.”
While future criminalists processed the scene, criminal justice and journalism students were learning the difficulty of interviewing witnesses and preparing for a press release. The Applied Gerontology Institute’s hall was transformed into an apartment complex, with faculty and staff acting as apartment residents with assigned characters: the nosy neighbor, the suspicious guy who doesn’t trust the police, and a man who kept to himself and didn’t know much. The actors played their parts well as students rotated from door to door, trying to get
MISSED THE HARVEST FESTIVAL? READ ABOUT FOOD, WITCHES AND MORE PG 4
At the end of four hours of hard investigative work, students were nowhere close to solving the case. It was a startling realization to see how time consuming and difficult it is to find culprits when presented with only a body and a room covered in blood and powder. However, many students left with a new appreciation for their field. The simulation will be hosting one more session of students in the next week before shutting down to prepare for the next session of crime-solving.
MEN'S BASKETBALL RELEASE THEIR SCHEDULE OF GAMES PG 5
2
University Times
Nov. 2, 2015
Campus web-series, The Hill, set to launch Golden Eagle Productions prepares to premiere Cal State LA’s first drama series. Contributor
On Nov. 13th, 2015 at 7:00 p.m., Golden Eagle Productions will be premiering their very first original series, The Hill, in the University-Student Union Theater. Over three hundred actors auditioned for parts, but only six were chosen.
Photo courtesy | Golden Eagle Productions
attending ‘Hill State University,’ as they face difficult life challenges and the struggle to accept themselves. “I was inspired to make this se-
ries happen because I feel others can relate to the life journey these characters face,” Duffey said. “The characters are based off real people I have met and encountered during different periods of
No Más Bebés: Race, Gender, & Reproductive Health
President of Golden Eagle Productions, Orlando Bedolla, majoring in Television, Film and Media Studies, was more than satisfied with the work of his organization. Since his initiation into Golden Eagle Productions, his goal was to produce a drama series. “I am very proud of the writers, production team and the amazing cast,” Bedolla said. “We are lucky to have such a great cast because they are professional and very
der, and reproductive health are still hot topics in today’s society and No Más Bebés showed how these issues are still important. “I want to do it and support people from other countries so they will not go through what I went through,” Hermosillo said. “I think that every woman has the right to decide what they want with their life and what they want to do.”
A lesson on the importance of women’s rights. Mohammad Maidin Contributor
The Cross Cultural Centers’ Independent Visions hosted a screening and a Q&A panel for the documentary No Más Bebés on Oct. 29th. Directed by Renee Tajima-Peña and produced by Virginia Espino, the film detailed the events of ten Mexican women who became sterilized without consent at the LAC+USC Medical Center during the 1970’s. These women unknowingly signed contracts to become sterilized while in the midst of their childbirth, resulting in unwanted sterilization. The documentary explored reproductive rights, feminism, and civil rights and how these ideas are still just as important today as they were back in the 70’s.
Diana Cruz, actor and fourth year student majoring in Theatre Arts with an option in Drama, plays Ariana Hernandez, one of the main characters facing the universal college struggles of relationships and betrayal. “It was interesting working on set because I was exposed to a lot of new experiences,” Cruz said. “I learned a lot about behind the camera duties that I never knew before, such as camera work and audio. I love the cast and crew, everyone was very welcoming and I felt like I was at home with family. Getting into character was not very difficult since my character and I share a lot of similarities.”
Andrew L. Beltran
“The Hill is an original series produced and made possible by GEP members, Cinematic Visions members, Cal State LA students/alumni and other freelance filmmakers,” said creator and executive producer, K.J. Duffey, a second year student majoring in Television, Film and Media Studies. “The Hill is about six students
my life.”
No Más Bebés will air on PBS on January 25, 2016.
| Photo courtesy colorlines.com
Espino answered. Espino wanted to drive home the idea that despite these events occurring decades ago reproductive rights were still prevalent today and that these also tied in with race and gender issues.
Producer Virginia Espino, one of the panelists at the screening, was asked why she wanted to create the film.
One question that was raised was how feminism for women of color was still a relevant topic today and how race was connected to the issue of reproductive health. Laura Jimenez was among the panelists and has worked for organizations such as California Latinas for Reproductive Justice.
“When I heard about the case it was so many years later, and I was shocked and outraged and I wanted to learn more about it and it became my principal project,”
“White feminists were not wanting to talk about anything but abortion and contraception,” Jimenez said. “I think that women of color have come to the ta-
ble saying they wanted to have control of their bodies and their fertility. I want to be clear that as women of color when we talk about feminism it tends to encompass everything and not just point out sexism in our society. We’ll call you out on it [sexism] but there are a lot of things in our community that we need to talk about as well.” Two other panelists present were Melvina Hernandez and Consuelo Hermosillo. Hernandez and Hermosillo were among the numerous women who had undergone unwanted sterilization and described their experiences on this ordeal. They both explained that these issues were still important to them to this day and wanted to help spread the word in any way they could. Race, gen-
committed to the project. This is what I call passion and dedication. I see The Hill as my baby.” Maikhoi Nguyen, Executive Producer, Co-Creator and fourth year student majoring in Television, Film and Media Studies with a minor in English, expressed the difficulties in creating a show with a limited budget and juggling everyone’s schedules, but also the sense of accomplishment the crew acquired afterwards. “Working on The Hill has been such an awesome learning experience,” Nguyen said. “I’ve learned so much from [the] crew about certain technical aspects of filmmaking. Everyone from the cast and crew has worked so hard and a lot was accomplished in the last four months. I can truly say that every single person I’ve worked with are not only talented and passionate people, but they’re also genuinely nice and loving.” You can support Cal State LA’s very own Golden Eagle Productions team by attending the event, or watching the series on Channel 8 in Housing. For more information, follow the series on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ thehillseries or Instagram at @ CSULAGEP or @thehillseries.
CLASSIFIED AD
University Times
Nov. 2, 2015
UN I V E R S I T Y T IMES
Distributor Taylor Preza
Editor-in-Chief Yzzy Gonzalez Managing Editor Gerardo Amezquita
Staff Reporter Hannah Jacobsen
Production Manager Taylor Preza
Contributors Oscar Alanis Cheyenne Elizondo Juan Galvan Solomon Kirven Mohammad Maidin Danny Verdin
Web Editor Pablo De La Hoya Copy Editors Dylan Gun Alex Phuong Nico Triunfante
Photographers Pablo De La Hoya Dylan Gun Timmy Truong
Business/ Advertising Mangager Jim Munson
Interns Andrew Beltran Carlos Gomez Allison Nava-Holstein Tony Romo Marrian Zhou
Faculty Advisor Suzanne Regan Journalism 391 Professor Josef Sawyer
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 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 calstatela.ut@gmail.com
Para La Onda: Jefa de Redacción:
Xanni Valentin Chavira
Editores: Graciela López Martha J. Orellana Gerente de publicidad:
Martha J. Orellana
Consejero de la Facultad:
Pablo Baler
3
“Baby, I was born this way!” Dr. Talia Bettcher talks about transgender discontent. Cheyenne Elizondo Contributor
At the University-Student Union on Oct. 22th, Dr. Talia Bettcher, Philosophy professor and Center of the Study of Genders and Sexualities fellow, gave a presentation titled "From Emobodiment to Empersonment: Starting Points for a Theory of Trans Gender Discontent." Dr. Bettcher prefaced the dicussion by saying, “First of all, this is a beginning of a theory, this is not the end of a theory.” “When I talk about gender unhappiness, discomfort, dissatisfaction, I’m talking about something specific to gender that plays some sort of a motivational role in a trans person transitioning from a man to a woman or a woman to a man,” Dr. Bettcher said. Dr. Bettcher talked about the different changes one might undergo in gender transition.
The first one she mentioned is the change in public gender presentation, the gender one chooses to present and identify themselves with. This can be done with a change in choice of clothing and the way one uses body language to communicate.
She emphasized the difference between gender presentation and gender expression. Gender expression is the attitude or behavior one portrays that can be differentiated between masculine and feminine. Many people may recognize transgender people as those who go through some type of surgery or hormone treatment, or other bodily changes. However, Dr. Bettcher said that there are some transgender people who do not undergo any changes at all. A change in conscious selfidentity is when one realizes the gender they once identified with is no longer the one they identify with now. Studies have shown that most transgender people know they are trapped in the wrong body at the early age of two, however this is not always the case. Some do not discover until later in life. “This is a process of discovery,” Dr. Bettcher said, adding, “Your internal body image may not match your external realities at a
given time.”
Another aspect Dr. Bettcher focused on was sexual body parts. “When we are thinking about worldly engagement, how do our breasts and our genitals get worldly engaged?," Dr. Bettcher said. They’re generally not available publicly, first of all. So they actually don’t see a lot of worldly engagement.” The only times they do is when going to the bathroom or are engaging in sexual activity. Focusing on empersonment, she started talking about interpersonal spatiality and its theoretical notion, including all of our sensory and encounters with each other whether it be closeness or (non)intimacy. All of this is based on moral boundaries. There are certain things we cannot look at or show, and there’s certain things we cannot say about ourselves with unfamiliar company around. Touching someone or even telling someone something personal is showing intimacy. Dr. Bettcher pointed out that boundaries are important in these circumstances to distinguish Continues on page 4
4
University Times
Nov. 2, 2015
Golden Eagles celebrate the Harvest Festival Carnival games, witches, and animals for all, all for fall! Juan Galvan Contributor
On Oct. 28th, Cal State LA students gathered in front of the University-Student Union to enjoy the Harvest Festival, a spooky and fantastic event. They participated in carnival games, DIY crafts, ate free food and more. “I enjoy that our school always plans this kind of events, I take it as a stress [reliever] after midterms,” said Amy Joya, Biology major, “I fell in love with all the animals, and I was able to hang out with my close friends since we don’t see each other much due to exams.” The event also featured Hocus Pocus, a film symbolic of this time of the year and nostalgic of our early childhood memories of Halloween. Photo by Juan Galvan
Continued from page 3 when you are close to someone. She said boundaries also work to protect the subject from receiving too much information from people oversharing. In our culture covering up our genitals is a cultural thing. However, other areas of the world are very different. People may stand close together or have different greeting customs. For example, if someone is getting undressed and someone is watching, it is a privacy violation. Just because it is culturally relative, doesn’t take away from its morality. When someone asks about your genitals it is typically an invasive question. “Your gender presentation is your proper appearance. In trans sub-cultural context there is no relationship between a proper appearance and your intimate appearance. It is to that extent that a different system of interpersonal spatiality, which sort of ruptures the way in which the physical person is constituted into the mainstream system of interpersonal spatiality,” Bettcher concluded. After Dr. Bettcher finished her enlightening speech, a Q & A followed. A member of the audience asked: “You grow up having a sense of yourself as a boy and either that seems wrong to you and one day you wake up and you don’t think of yourself as a boy anymore. You don’t change anything, ever. You don’t change your body. Is that a kind of transgender?” Dr. Bettcher: “If you don’t have a background story, I would say no. I would say minimally you would need to either
Photo courtesy | lgbttobacco.wordpress.com
change your public gender presentation, or want to. Audience member: “What if I say if I’m a woman trapped in a man’s body and I’m okay with it?” Dr. Bettcher: “If a person said ‘I’d like to transition, but on political grounds I am not going to…’ If there was some type of story, there would be leeway.” Audience member: “So being transgender isn’t just psychological?”
a
Dr. Bettcher: “Not really, no.” What Dr. Bettcher wanted to get across to the audience is the difference between gender presentation and gender expression, the systems of interpersonal spatiality, and empersonment. Someone who is transgender can go through different processes at different times in their life and certain discomforts may cause them to go through physical changes.
“Oh my God, the only reason why I’m staying this long is for the fact that Hocus Pocus is playing,” said Christina Teng, Art major, “It’s my favorite Halloween movie, I honestly watch it every single year.” For freshman Lauren Kawai, Math major, this was her first big event on campus. “I know Cal State LA is commuter school and we don’t have events like UCs,” Kawai said. “But the fact that we can enjoy free stuffs and have fun, makes me want to come stay and make new friends in order to find that college experience everyone talks about.” This event was beyond successful. Some students came with costumes, while others just walked by to stay. Center for Student Involvement (CSI) faculty helped plan the event. “I feel this exposes students to something they’re not familiar with,” said Sydney Torres, Campus Involvement Coordinator. “I know everyone is busy with exams and going home or work, but this is a change to celebrate Halloween for free and safe.” CSI has events going on every quarter where students can learn while they engage with classmates and enjoy a great time for free.
University Times
Nov. 2, 2015
CAL STATE LA SPORTS Men’s basketball season preview
leaders in opponent’s scoring. They ranked 14th in the country, allowing opponents to just 62.9 points per game. Cal State LA also ranked among the national leaders in field-goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to a field goal percentage of just 41.7%. Defense wins championships. The Golden Eagles look to improve this season and build off the strong defensive performance that they held throughout the 2014-15 season. Coach Horton had a busy offseason, hauling three transfers and one freshman to his recruiting class: Geoffrey Frid, Tahron Morrison, Bobby Miles, and Brandon Hitchman.
Photo by Timmy Truong
Golden Eagles basketball team’s key to success: defense. Oscar Alanis Contributor
After missing the playoffs in his first year as the head coach of the men’s basketball team, Dieter Horton looks to build upon last year’s success on the defensive end of the court. For the first time since their 1215 record in the 2008-09 season,
the Golden Eagles failed to make the playoffs. They finished 10-16 overall and 8-14 in conference play last season. Although the men’s team missed the playoffs, they did improve on defense. The Golden Eagles were one of the national
Frid, who comes over from Northern Arizona University is a 7’1” center. He brings over a strong presence in the middle. Morrison joins Cal State LA after a season at Solano Junior College, where he acquired the Player of the Year Award. The 6’8” Morrison can play both small and power forward positions. Bobby Miles is a 6’1” guard that transferred from the University
5
of Hawaii. He adds depth and experience to the point guard position. Hitchman, the 6’8” forward out of England, spent last season at Tennessee Martin, but did not see playing time and only redshirted. His ability to shoot the ball will be very valuable to the Golden Eagles. Cal State LA’s leading scorer is gone, but the Golden Eagles still have senior guard Joshua Munzon. Munzon was last year’s second leading scorer with 8.7 points per game. He also averaged the third most assist on the team at 1.4 per game. Look for him to continue to be amongst the leaders of the team. The Golden Eagles will open the season with an exhibition game against the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion Friday, on Oct. 30, 2015. Cal State LA’s home opener is, Nov. 17, 2015 at 7:00 PM PST. Other notable games include: at North Carolina State (Exhibition game) on Nov. 8; Washington State on Nov. 24; at Cal Poly Pomona on Dec. 2; at Humboldt State on Dec. 5; Chico State on Dec. 31; Cal Poly Pomona on Jan. 1; Humboldt State on Jan. 15; and Chico State on Feb. 27.
6
University Times
Nov. 2, 2015
¡Adiós deliciosa carne!
SALUD
RESUMEN DE LA SEMANA Por Graciela López Propuesta para futuros cambios en Cal State University: El comité de las Universidades del Estado de California ha propuesto un incremento en la colegiatura de las veintitrés instituciones de este sistema de educación superior. Los miembros del comité señalan que la razón por la cual los universitarios pagarían más por sus carreras y maestrías es que el presupuesto del estado no es suficiente para ampliar el número de inscripciones cada año y para proporcionar nueva tecnología en los planteles así como ciertas remodelaciones necesarias. El debate de la proposición se llevará a cabo en noviembre y se dará a conocer más información en enero del próximo año. Por el momento se espera que con la aprobación de dicha propuesta cada alumno pague un pequeño aumento que vaya acorde a la inflación anual.
Logo del comité de las Universidades del Estado de California Fotografía | Crédito: goldenwestcollege.edu
Propuesta de remodelación del coliseo de Los Ángeles: La Universidad del Sur de California, USC, anunció su plan para remodelar el famoso coliseo. Dicho plan consiste en un presupuesto de 270 millones de dólares aunque todavía no cuentan con los fondos necesarios. Si se logra recaudar la cantidad
deseada, el proyecto comenzaría el 2017 y duraría un período de dos años. Entre los cambios programados al magno estadio se encuentran el reemplazo de cada asiento, ampliar el espacio entre estos y la construcción de palcos y habitaciones lujosas. Con el resultado final, la capacidad se reduciría de 93.000 a 77.500 personas.
Carnes rojas y procesadas Fotografía | Crédito: www.cnnmexico.com
Estudios indican que las carnes procesadas causan cáncer Por Xanni Valentín Chavira
La entrada del coliseo de Los Ángeles Fotographía | Crédito: goldstar.com
“Cuarto de lluvia” en LACMA: El Museo de Arte del Condado de Los Ángeles esta presentando una nueva exhibición que sorprende a sus visitantes. El llamado Rain Room o Cuarto de Lluvia, fue creado por los diseñadores Hannes Koch y Florian Ortkrass. Este consiste en una tormenta dentro de cuatro paredes que no moja a las personas que caminan bajo el aguacero. La instalación cuenta con sensores que detectan a los individuos y permiten que la lluvia pare en el punto en que se encuentren. El sonido que implementa la obra de arte es una característica esencial que cautiva al sentido auditivo y hace que la experiencia sea única.
para conservarla y hacerla más apetecible se considera “procesada”. Algunos ejemplos de éstas son salsas a base de carne, carnes secas y en lata, jamones y salchichas.
El placer de comer hamburguesas, tacos, tortas de jamón y cecina preparada ya no será el mismo. El pasado 26 de octubre, la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) declaró que la carne procesada causa cáncer si se consume en exceso o diariamente. Esta institución añadió que las carnes rojas posiblemente sean cancerígenas y afecten el colon y el recto.
La Agencia Internacional para la Investigación del Cáncer (IARC, por sus siglas en inglés) clasificó la carne procesada como cancerígena. Esta asociación mencionó que el consumo de cincuenta gramos al día de carne preservada aumenta en un 18% la posibilidad de obtener cáncer de colon. Asimismo, agregó que las carnes rojas en general pueden producir resultados similares si se consumen más de cien gramos al día.
Toda carne que haya sido transformada con ahumado, curación, sal y otros procesos
El estudio que la IARC publicó en The Lancer Oncology, una revista clínica en la red, fue
realizado por veintidós doctores de diez países diferentes. Estos especialistas aseguran que ambos tipos de carne están relacionados con morbosidades de la próstata o del páncreas. El jefe del Programa de Monografías de la IARC, Kurt Straif, declaró que “para un individuo, el riesgo de desarrollar cáncer colorectal por comer carnes procesadas sigue siendo baja, pero el riesgo incrementa dependiendo de la cantidad que se consuma”. De acuerdo con las evaluaciones de la OMS, alrededor de 34.000 muertes al año son debido al alto consumo de carnes procesadas. Esta cifra solo muestra una mínima porción de las 8.2 millones de personas que fallecieron en el 2012 debido a este mal.
POLÍTICA No más ley de “hijo único” El Partido Comunista permite a parejas chinas tener dos hijos Por Jessica Magaña
La exhibición de Rain Room en LACMA Fotografía | Crédito: Latimes.com
La Onda hace una cordial invitación a todos los estudiantes de español que deseen publicar artículos, noticias, anuncios o cualquier otro escrito sobre temas relevantes para la comunicad estudiantil. Nuestro objetivo es mantener infamados a los alumnos de esta Universidad y nuestra misión es conservar el legado de nuestra página periodística en español con la participación de ustedes. Nota: tener trabajos publicados no solo le ayudará a reforzar su español, sino también a construir un currículo más fuerte, además, si está trabajando su licenciatura, puede agregar sus publicaciones y crear un portafolio más convincente.
El pasado 29 de octubre, el Comité Central del partido Comunista de China por fin concordó con el decimotercer plan quinquenal. Este es un proyecto que tiene como propósito lograr una meta en un plazo de cinco años. Después de treinta y seis años bajo la estricta ley de “hijo único,” el Partido Comunista aprobó la procreación de dos hijos por cada pareja china. Hoy millones de familias festejan el derecho de poder tener más de un primogénito legalmente. Esta nueva ley fue establecida con el fin de beneficiar el desarrollo
económico y social de este país durante los próximos cinco años. Dicha norma se impuso en 1976 y redujo la población. Se estima que durante estas últimas décadas se previnieron alrededor de cuatrocientos millones de nacimientos. El experto Yuan Xian de la Universidad de Nakaid señaló en el diario China Daily que “la nueva política aliviará el problema de envejecimiento en China pero sus efectos no serán notables a corto plazo”.
Bebes chinos recién nacidos en el año 2014 Fotografía | Crédito: www.mexico.cnn.com
De acuerdo al noticiero CNN México, los expertos estiman que la mano de obra se ha reducido en los últimos tres años. En el 2012, la cifra de trabajadores era de novecientos cuarenta millones y en el 2014 se redujo a novecientos treinta millones. Aunque se espera prosperidad en esta nación, tomará tiempo remediar estos efectos negativos en los que se encuentra el país hoy día.
Contáctanos en: CSULA La Onda
UT
laonda.newspaper@gmail.com
LAONDACSULA
Nov. 2, 2015
University Times
7
Starting Your credit history: College Edition Quick tips to establishing your credit as a college student. Danny Verdin Contributor
What is credit good for anyway? We’re college students! We have more important things to do like preparing for midterms, typing essays, and going out to parties to drink until we puke our guts out. We don’t have time to think about building a good credit history. Unfortunately, by not establishing credit before leaving college is one of the biggest mistakes students make. We live in a world where credit is the key to buying a car, a house, or even landing a high profile job. Without your own established credit you will have to depend on others to cosign for you on major credit transactions. Nothing says independence more like “Hey bro, you think you can cosign for me?” So how do you start establishing credit? The best way to start building your credit is by applying for a personal credit card from
Photo courtesy | iheartraves.com
your bank. You can also establish credit by paying your own cell phone plan and even getting student loans, but they won’t have as high of an impact as a credit card. Banks such as Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America offer credit cards to their customers. If you have a checking and savings account with your bank, chances are you are more than likely to be approved for a credit card.
Meeting the basic criteria for getting a credit card at your bank is very easy so long as you have a job and regularly deposit money into your account. If that doesn’t work you can always have your parents cosign for you to help you get that credit approval. Once you receive your first credit card all you have to do is use it. Use your card for small purchases like groceries, clothing,
basic school supplies, and emergencies. You won’t be getting a high credit limit (about $500 or less) and interest rates are high. You want to be able to use only what you can pay back without struggling. Don’t overdo it by buying that limited edition Michael Kors purse that will only match with one outfit or that killer sound system for your 92’ Honda Civic. The point is to use your credit card to build good credit
history, not bury yourself in debt. A few simple rules to follow once you get your credit card are to pay on time, pay above the minimum amount due (i.e. if $25 is your minimum payment pay $50, $75, or $100, if possible), and the golden rule: NEVER PAY LATE. By the time you graduate you will have established credit and applying for other forms of credit will be a lot easier.
8
University Times
Nov. 2, 2015
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS EVENT CALENDAR MONDAY 2 WEDNESDAY 4 TUESDAY 3 nd
EPIC’s Annual Toy and Food Drive 8:00 a.m. Campus Wide Cereal Mondays 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., U-SU Plaza, 1st Floor, U-SU Love Wins - Now What? 6:15 p.m., Los Angeles Room BC, 3rd Floor, U-SU
How to Apply to Graduate School 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Career Center 2015 Midnight Madness “Nightmare Before Christmas” 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Eagles Nest Gym
One Campus, One Book Panel Discussion 3:15 p.m., Golden Eagle Ballroom Independent Visions: Dances of Life 6:30 p.m.,
Farmers Market 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Main Walkway Wait, What? You're Not Chinese? 12:00 p.m., Alhambra Room, 3rd Floor, U-SU Creating Professional Résumés and Cover Letters 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Career Center
FRIDAY 6th
THURSDAY 5th Identities: Caitlyn and Rachel 3:15 p.m., Alhambra Room, 3rd Floor, U-SU
th
rd
Calstatelaut EPIC’s Annual Toy and Food Drive
facebook.com/CsulaUT
until Dec 31st 8:00 a.m., Campus Wide
Calstatelaut
U-SU Theatre, 1st Floor,
Cal State LA Volleyball suffers tough defeat on road Volleyball team seeks to bounce back from loss against Humboldt. Solomon Kirven Contributor
The Golden Eagles took a tough four set loss to Humboldt State last Friday, Oct. 23rd in Arcata at Lumberjack Arena. With the loss, Cal State LA dropped to a 15-7 overall record and 7-6 record in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Humboldt improved to 8-10 and a 6-8 record in the CCAA. The first set belonged to Cal State LA with a score of 25-22 and held the momentum going into the second set with a lead of 19-18. Humboldt responded with a huge rally to take the set and the next three with 25-20, 25-23, 25-18. Junior Middle Blocker JaimeAnn Bero, who had 11 kills, said the team’s inability to adjust to the game flow cost the Golden Eagles in the long run.
“We had trouble adjusting to changes we had to make mid game,” Bero said. “We had control of the first match and had trouble maintaining that control when their game picked up from the first match.” In the third set, the Golden Eagles had a chance to gain back the momentum as they came back from a 18-12 deficit and only trailed 23-22. Junior Outside Hitter Lauren Gomez and Senior Outside Hitter Iona Lofrano had key kills to keep the set close, which put the score to 24-23. However Humboldt ended all hope as they got the last kill to win the set. Bero knows that Cal State LA can play way better and knows they must be consistent offensively and defensively. “When a team isn’t playing, ideally, communication gets worse and that was an issue for us that night,” Bero said. “We struggled to finish plays as well. We ran a decent offense but couldn’t put a ball away.”