Fall Week 7 Issue 210.07

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Nov. 9, 2015

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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 210.7

CFA votes

“yes” to strike Photo by Tony Romo

Need a break? Check out LA Hookah Lounge Cal State LA alum opens lounge walking distance from campus.

Nico Triunfante Copy Editor

Inhale. Exhale. Cal State LA students are now able to enjoy a quick hookah and, if of age, alcohol run at LA Hookah Lounge. Located on 5468 Valley Blvd, a five-minute walk from the dorms.

Upon entering the lounge, you’ll be welcomed by modern hip-hop music, black lighting, cloud white couches, and a working staff that supplies nothing less than a fun time.

Since their recent opening on Oct. 24st, LA Hookah Lounge has grabbed a lot of attention from Cal State LA students and other hookah lovers simply by word of mouth. If you’re a tech savvy person, make your way to Yelp and feel relieved by the fivestar, two-dollar bills signs that make it more appealing.

The University Times spoke with one of the three owners, and a recent Cal State LA alum, Mohammad Haye.

Haye lived in the dorms during his time at Cal State LA, and expressed his thoughts upon specifically open-

INSIDE:

ing a hookah lounge near the campus.

“A sports bar can only cater to 21 and up,” Haye said. “A hookah bar is 18 and up. [Students] 18 and up can enjoy themselves.”

Haye and the other owners paid homage to Garfono’s Pizza, the pizzeria that previously owned the space, and wanted to make a more community related hangout spot.

“I want to give back to the community that gave to me. I lived here and I didn’t have anything, but now we have something,” Haye said. “Garfono's was amazing, but I wanted to perfect that. Garfono’s was a pizza spot where kids came to hangout, but I wanted to make it where you guys can have parties here, functions here, and fraternities and sororities can come here.”

Haye plans to have the televisions filled with live broadcasts, while supplying his own Xbox One and Playstation for anybody to enjoy. For University organizations, fraternities, and sororities, fundraising opportunities will be available upon request from the lounge.

LA Hookah Lounge is open on Sunday-Wednesday from 4:00P.M.2:00A.M., and Thursday-Saturday from 4:00P.M.-4:00A.M. Everyday, Happy Hour will occur between the times of 2:00PM and 7:00PM, where anyone can enjoy a beer and shot for $5. Additionally, the most expensive hookah is priced at $19.99, and all hookah prices during Happy Hour will be cut in half.

Graphic by Pablo De La Hoya

Faculty Union prepares for January walkouts since negotiations have failed.

Gerardo Amezquita Managing Editor After a ten-day voting period in October, the California Faculty Association (CFA) has voted by 94% of total ballots to allow the CFA Board of Directors to call a strike. Results were announced on Nov. 4th, in San Jose State University, and with the presence of CFA President Jen Eagan, Bargaining Team Chair Kevin Wehr, other California State University (CSU) chapter presidents and faculty members.

The CFA is calling a strike after the CSU Board of Trustees denied their 5% salary hike, in what the CFA’s campaign call the “Fight for Five,” and instead the CSU have reciprocated with a 2% raise offer.

This comes after faculty’s sharp criticism of the CSU’s approval of top executives 2% salary increase in July of this year. Last year, however,

there was a 3% salary increase for the very same executive positions, while faculty salaries have remained fairly the same over the years.

At the San Jose news conference, CFA President Jen Eagan commented a rallying call after the results saying, “We are ready to act if necessary and for as long as it takes.

This fight is about the bread and butter issue of salary, but that’s not all.

The vision of what the CSU is, who it serves, and what it can be in the future is at stake.”

Eagan went on to say, “The faculty envision[s] a CSU that educates students without driving them into debt, honors the faculty as the valuable professionals that they are, and elevates California by facilitating the next generation of creative, thoughtful, and brilliant citizens who will sustain the state for generations to come. That’s our vision, and we’re willing to fight for it.”

Now that the votes have been cast and salary negotiations have ended without any compromise, the next phase is a fact-finding investigation by a neutral third-party, according to the Los Angeles Times. A report is expected by January 2016, which would be the decisive factor for the CFA to call in strikes and walkouts.

While CSU’s faculty compensation lags behind those at UC and community colleges, the average CSU executive makes $285,000350,000 with San Diego President Elliot Hirshman making the highest of all CSU Presidents, not including any supplementary income from campus foundations, according to data gathered by the CFA’s ‘Race to the Bottom’ report. In contrast, faculty make somewhere between $56,000-$95,000 with reports of low purchasing power and increased commitment to part-time staff, according to the CSU’s employee profile.

This strike authorization vote is not new and has been voted on before by the CFA for four times since 2007. The only thing to come of it was a one-day strike on Nov. 17th, 2011 on the CSU campuses of Dominguez Hills and East Bay, regarding similar contract negotiations with the CSU. Next, the CFA will conduct a march and rally at the CSU Board of Trustees general meeting on Nov. 17th at the Chancellor’s Office in Long Beach. If you would like to participate be sure to sign up at http://www.calfac.org/form/faculty-rsvp-nov-17.

LA ONDA: CANCELACIÓN DEL MAÍZ TRANSGÉNICO EN MÉXICO

STAY ON TOP OF GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICATIONS WITH S.T.A.R.S.

UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS FEEL IGNORED BY ADMINSTRATION

A MURDER, MANSION, AND MAYHEM IN ALHAMBRA

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM VICTORIOUS AGAINST RIVALS

PG 8

PG 4

PG 2

PG 5

PG 6

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University Times

Nov. 9, 2015

Dreamers continue to stay in the shadows at Cal State LA

“The more that we make this a more visible priority and we succeed at it, to me that’s the best way we can help,” responded Dr. Mahoney when Peralta raised her concern to her.

Student-based proposition was the groundwork to help open the Dreamers Resource Center and has shown success in its time here. Peralta says, “We are proud to say that we are from Cal State LA but is the institution proud to say that we are its students—we don’t know.”

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Photo courtesy | Calstatela.edu

Dreamers raise their concerns about the University’s care for its future students.

Lupe Garcia Contributor

“We are still invisible,” says Gabriela Peralta, AB540 and graduate student, in an open discussion with the Provost of Cal State Los Angeles, Dr. Lynn Mahoney. On behalf of the undocumented community at the university, she addressed a mutual feeling shared among the students.

In an intimate interview with the University Times, Peralta, who is also a peer mentor advisor at the Dreamers Resource Center, elaborated on the negligence felt from the institution.

“The reason I made that comment was because when the first Dreamers center opened at Cal State Fullerton, as AB 540 students, we were very excited,” said Peralta. “The administration, as well as the President, acknowledged their commitment and the student[s] fight to make it happen. We wanted to receive the same support, but unfortunately we didn’t.”

The fight here at Cal State LA has been ongoing since 2006 to open a facility that can provide resources and tools for undocumented student success. In other universities the overwhelming support from the

administration and student body to attain one, has been the pillar to open a Dreamers center.

“The only reason we were able to open it here is because there was money involved from the big donation that Erika Glazer was so gracious to donate. Once there was money, the University President was able to meet with us—in no time,” suggests Peralta.

These students had longed to communicate with him for a very long time to advocate the need for a center but were unsuccessful.

“He might say no and his cabinet too, but they do not see the undocumented community as a very important group,” said Peralta.

In Oct. 2014, the Erika J. Glazer Dreamer’s Resource Center opened at Cal State LA from the endowment of more than $1.6 million made by philanthropist, Erika J. Glazer, a person many of the students see as their guardian angel.

Prior to this, any help to the undocumented community was underground work from Luz Borjon, who is now the coordinator and has worked with the undocumented community on her own time. Alongside Borjon, Surge!--a support network for undocumented students and allies, and Frank Cornelio, club advisor, were able to push for a platform where students can be referred to.

As of now, many departments at the university are still unaware of their existence.

“The president hasn’t even

stepped foot in here,” said Peralta, who has been attempting to reach out to President Covino.

It is crucial that the administrative staff works with the Dreamers Resource Center to gain the proper knowledge to know how to help these students. They offer ally training that provides information on the resources illegal students need in regards to laws, admissions, financial aid, and employment. As of now, training by university departments has been minimal because of its lengthy process of completion. Without the proper training, students will continue to be misinformed.

To promote their existence, they have taken to social media, events, partnered up with the Dreamer Resource Center Coalition and have mouth-to-mouth references.

They are allied with Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute for Public Affairs and the Cross Culture Center on campus, but it’s still not enough exposure to promote the undocumented community on campus.

The future of the Center still remains very obscure.

“There’s no word on other funds coming in the future, donations from private vendors or if the institution is going to put money aside to provide for these students,” said Peralta, which is a big reason why they need President’s Covino advocacy. They want to ensure that these resources will continue to be tangible to future Golden Eagles.

University Times

Nov. 9, 2015

UN IIMVEESR S I T Y T

Editor-in-Chief Yzzy Gonzalez

Distributor Yzzy Gonzalez

Managing Editor Gerardo Amezquita

Staff Reporter Hannah Jacobsen

Production Manager Taylor Preza

Contributors Taryn Bettenhausen Juan Galvan Lupe Garcia Solomon Kirven Ani Nalbandian

Web Editor Pablo De La Hoya

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Congressman to pay campus a visit

Photographers Pablo De La Hoya Darryl Dennis Juan Galvan Hadley Meares Tony Romo

Copy Editors Dylan Gunaratne Alex Phuong Nico Triunfante Business/ Advertising Manager Jim Munson

Graphic Designer Pablo De La Hoya

Faculty Advisor Suzanne Regan Journalism 391 Professor Josef Sawyer

Interns Andrew Beltran Carlos Gomez Allison Nava-Holstein Tony Romo Marrian Zhou

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.

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Photo by Pablo De La Hoya

Congressman Becerra to speak during Veteran's Day ceremony.

Gerardo Amezquita Managing Editor

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

In the spirit of remembrance of our red, white and blue service men and women, Cal State LA will hold a flag ceremony honoring our campus veterans on Tuesday, Nov. 10, the day before Veteran’s Day. U.S. Representative Xavier Becerra of California’s 34th Congressional District will be in attendance, as well as Cal State President William Covino.

The event is slated to be hailed at the University-Student Union Plaza at 12 P.M. Students are invited to attend and witness Congressman Becerra’s address as he presents an American flag once flown in the U.S. Capitol to Cal State LA student veterans.

There will be student veterans in uniform, the Valley Veteran Memorial Team Color Guard, and staff from our campus’ Veteran Resource Center.

Besides

Congressman

Becerra’s expected speech and offering of the flag, Cal State LA President William Covino will speak to the audience, and include speaking turns from student veterans from all branches of the military.

With more than 500 student veterans on our campus, some of those same veterans will speak including Thomas Lawson, master of ceremony and Louie Guan. They will discuss what it means to serve in the military force and how it has impacted their life as students.

Executive Director for Communications and Public Affairs Robert Lopez described the reason behind the event saying, “Cal State LA is proud of its veterans and now they are serving our University and their going to go out and do great things after they graduate, and serve our community.”

Food will be served at 11 A.M. on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last. In an emailed announcement, the University decided to hold the event a day before Veteran’s Day because campus will be closed on Wednesday, Nov. 11th.

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University Times

Nov. 9, 2015

S.T.A.R.S. prepares students for grad school season

S.T.A.R.S. coordinator Diana Victa works with Dr. Karin Brown to prepare undergraduates for the next step in their education.

Hannah Jacobsen Staff Reporter

The last year of college goes by in a blur. School and work combined with the technicalities of graduating leaves seniors with little time to wonder what happens after they have a diploma in their hands.

For seniors looking to apply to M.A. and Ph.D. programs, there is no time to waste. This is why, on Nov. 4th, a Cross Cultural Center initiative called Students Taking Action for Retention and Success (S.T.A.R.S.) sponsored a presentation by the Dean of the Office of Graduate Studies, Dr. Karin Brown. The session was called “Choosing the Right Graduate Program,” held in the Alhambra Room of the University-Student Union.

Dr. Brown, who has a dual doctorate and earned a six-year full ride to a Ph.D. program when she was only 20 years old, introduced the most important components in knowing what you want from a graduate program and how to make them want you.

Her discussion points involved knowing yourself, being aware of the specific requirements for each program, and giving yourself the opportunity to evaluate your own fit in that program.

While ‘know thyself’ is often used in a more meditative sense, it is also vital in creating a balanced personal statement.

“You don’t want a personal statement that only focuses on one aspect, such as your challenges,” Dr. Brown said. “I’ve read too many applications in social work that are all about dysfunctional families; three pages about your family doesn’t make you qualified.”

Students should take time to understand how their challenges and strengths have led to involvement in their field. Dr. Brown used herself as an example, seeing what social workers did in her childhood neighborhood inspired her to become actively involved in the field that she wanted to pursue.

While

these

personal

Photo courtesy | publish.illinois.edu

statements may be formatted to be a basic framework for every graduate school application, Dr. Brown stresses that each program has specific qualifications that must be addressed, as well as different dates that students easily get lost in.

“Begin by searching every program’s website to see what they want, and create a checklist,” Dr. Brown said. “Then, create a matrix of all of your school’s due dates and start planning now.”

This includes a timely and organized request for recommendation letters.

Students should meet teachers

in their office hours armed with a Curriculum Vitae (CV), a personal statement, a short write up on how that professor knows them and their accomplishments, and a timeline for when the letter is due.

“Who you get the letter from makes the program understand that you know what they’re looking for,” Dr. Brown said.

“Try to get a letter from someone with the Ph.D. that you’re seeking, because they are credible to evaluate you.”

Determining which degree and program you want is a whole other, more complicated matter.

“I just talked to a former student who got a full ride to a Ph.D. program, went for a month, and then left because they felt so uncomfortable there,” Dr. Brown said. “No one wants to see themselves staring down a fiveyear road in a place or program that they hate.”

Students have to do research ahead of time to avoid finding themselves between a rock and a hard place. Don’t just look at the ranking of the university, look up the ranks of the program, the topics of study that the program focuses on, and the research interests and personalities of the faculty that you’ll be working

with as a grad student. An even better strategy is to go on campus visits.

“You should use campus visits as an opportunity to introduce yourself to faculty and solicit your own interviews,” Dr. Brown said. “Create those opportunities for yourself or take advantage of opportunities given to you.”

Application season is upon us, with many applications due in early December and January.

Arm yourself with the words of Dr. Brown and approach the next step prepared, and self-assured, ready to be a graduate student.

University Times

Nov. 9, 2015

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Murder House in Alhambra: The Pyrenees Castle “I think I killed somebody,” he said.

Marrian Zhou Intern

Photo by Hadley Meares

If you look at the Northeastern direction from King Hall, you can see Pyrenees Castle on the top of the hill.

The castle is very easy to spot: the signature red roof, the white walls, and the Himalayan deodar trees. It almost seems out of place sitting in the neighborhood of Alhambra because of its gigantic size. The castle’s walls are 3-feet thick at the foundation and 1-foot wide at the eaves. It has 10 bedrooms, 8 fully-tiled bathrooms with Italian marble floors, a game room, a breakfast room, an office, dens, service and utility rooms, a large basement, an extensive balcony, covered patios and a large wine cellar.

The three-acre property also includes tennis courts, playgrounds, and guarding towers at each corner.

The Pyrenees Castle was planned and built by Sylvester Dupuy in 1926. He and his wife, Anna Dupuy first came to Southern California from the Pyrenees area of France in the 1870s and developed their 80,000 sheep ranch.

Their first house was located at the base of the hill, where Cal State LA is now sited.

Mr. Dupuy always dreamed of building his own French chateau like the ones in the Pyrenees Mountains. Therefore, he hired architect John Walter Stuart to design the chateau in 1924 and they finished in March 1926 at a cost of $40,000. Unfortunately, Mr. Dupuy lost most of his money in oil investment and died soon after of a stroke in 1936.

After the Dupuy family, the castle was converted into eight departments by E.T. Bondurant, then owned by R.W. Wilson for about 20 years, and sold to Chinese industrialist Todd Hsu in 1985.

The castle also had many legends about its ownership: a wealthy motor magnate who never let himself be seen, eastern gangsters who built secret entrances that required passwords, and an anonymous woman with 25 dogs who never moved in. However, none of the tales could compare to its recent owner: Phil Spector.

Phil Spector had a successful career as music producer, sharing many memories with the Beatles at the Pyrenees Castle. However, he was addicted to alcohol, pills, and obsessed with firearms after his son’s death of leukemia

in 1992. With the profound loneliness inside him, Spector often became paranoid and locked the gates to prevent the guests from leaving the castle.

But he had been sober for quite some years and slowly began to socialize that is before he was convicted of second-degree murder on April 13, 2009.

On February 2003, Spector met Lana Clarkson at The House of Blues VIP Foundation room in Hollywood.

Clarkson was a B-movie actress who worked as a hostess to make the ends meet. When Spector invited her to come back to the castle with him and have one more drink, naturally she agreed. At 5 a.m., Spector’s driver Adriano De Souza saw his boss come out of the gate with his bloody hand and say, “I think I killed somebody.”

Clarkson died from a single gunshot wound inside her mouth. She was sitting on a chair near the castle’s front door with blood covering her face when the police came in. Nobody knew what exactly happened besides Spector himself but he never talked.

The police didn’t find his fingerprints on the supposed murder weapon nor the identity of its owner. There were also conflicting interpretations of blood spatter patterns and gunpowder residue, which further confused the case. They couldn’t be sure if Spector was anywhere near Clarkson when she died. Spector’s lawyers also found another piece of evidence unsettling. Clarkson was 40 years old, 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighed 160 pounds and Spector was 5 feet 4 inches tall and in his 60s.

She could have defended herself easily before the gun was pointed in her mouth. The case remained a mystery.

The conviction was mainly based on his driver’s testimony on Spector’s quote and his female acquaintance’s past experience with his obsession for firearms. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Spector’s young wife Rachelle still lives at the castle nowadays. Although she is trying to free him, there’s no guarantee he will ever see his castle again. And what truly happened on the night of February 2, 2003, only Phil Spector knows.

Throughout the years the Pyrenees Castle has become a spooky spot in the neighborhood and the rumors continue to leave people with curiosity and goosebumps.

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University Times

Nov. 9, 2015

CAL STATE LA SPORTS Golden Eagles volleyball grinds out key win over crosstown rival

Volleyball rivalry is settled with a Golden Eagle victory.

Solomon Kirven Contributor

Women’s Golden Eagle volleyball team earned a tough home victory (25-19, 25-19, 21-25, 2518) over Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros on Thursday night at the Eagles Nest Gym. Cal State LA improved to 16-7 overall and 8-6 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).

Dominguez Hills dropped to 7-16 overall and 5-10 in the CCAA. Despite being in 10th place in the CCAA, Toros challenged the Golden Eagles during every set even though they were down two sets. All-American senior Iona Lofrano lead the team with 16 kills and 13 digs, junior Middle Blocker JaimeAnn Bero had 11 kills and seven blocks, and junior Right Setter Taylor Kushner contributed with 7 kills, 4 blocks, and six digs.

Defeat is not an option

Photo by Darryl Dennis

tournament opener.

The Golden Eagles have qualified for the CCAA Tournament for five straight seasons, with 2013 being the last time they won the tournament. Prior to that, the Golden Eagles managed to win the title in 2011 by beating Cal State Stanislaus 2-1.

The 2015 CCAA Tournament is being hosted by their rival and

Photo by Darryl Dennis

Cal State LA battle for CCAA title and NCAA qualification.

Tony Romo Intern

Lightning flashed, lights turned on, temperatures dropped below 60 degrees, and the Golden Eagles men’s soccer team took the field for the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) tournament. The Golden Eagles. who hosted UC San Diego on Tuesday, Nov. 3rd for game one, looked to impose homefield advantage and

get off on a good start.

Some players sprinted the sidelines, some waited for their opportunity to contribute their sweat and stamina in efforts to advance to the semi-final round. Cal State LA, who faced UC San Diego at home in the regular season and lost 1-0, attained revenge with a 3-1 win. Cal State LA advanced to the semi-final stage leaving UC San Diego out of the race.

“To have another home game is a treat because we have been on the road for a long time,” said Coach Chris Chamides after the game. The Golden Eagles played five away games before coming back to Jesse Owens Track for the

Lofrano continued her great season, getting kills to end the first two sets. One of Lofrano’s skills is setting the momentum 2014 champion Cal Poly Pomona.

Coach Chamides spoke about the defending champs.

“They are a very good team and they have beaten us a few times recently, we feel like we are playing better now than we have earlier in the year. I’m sure they feel the same way,” Coach Chamides concludes.

Cal State LA is not only fight-

early over their opponents as key to winning games at this point.

“We have been practicing using the momentum of earned points to intimidate the other team by celebrating great points and the easy ones,” Lofrano said.

The Toros were able to steal the third set and kept the momentum going as they had a 13-10 lead.

However, when JaimeAnn Bero gave the Golden Eagles some great all-around play that helped seal the deal. Her 5 kills and 4 blocks were clutch to gain back the momentum.

Lofrano knew the Toros were going to come out firing but also knew that it was going to take a great deal to beat them.

“Our opponents know that they have to play their A-game against us for a chance at winning and every team steps up to the plate,” Lofrano said.

The Golden Eagles ended up going on a 9-0 run, which would ultimately determine the match.

Cal State LA will return home with scheduled matches against Humboldt State and Sonoma State this weekend. ing for CCAA supremacy, they have to perform well in order to obtain a ticket to the NCAA tournament. Currently, the Golden Eagles are ranked fourth in the West Region Division II NCAA polls.

The top six seeds will be granted acceptance, the announcement on which schools qualified will be posted Monday on the NCAA website.

University Times

Nov. 9, 2015

E.P.I.C. hosts 44th annual toy & food drive

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E.P.I.C.’s Center for Engagement, Service, and the Public Good needs your help this holiday season in helping low income families in the greater Los Angeles area.

Hannah Jacobsen Staff Reporter

In 2014, data by the American Community Survey painted a bleak picture of Los Angeles County. With one in four Los Angeles children living below the poverty line, this truth hits hard as many of us begin shopping for presents and looking up our favorite Thanksgiving recipes.

Operating under the Education Participation in Communities program (E.P.I.C.), the Center for Engagement, Service, and the Public Good has been working all quarter to make the pains of poverty a little less difficult during the holiday season with their 44th Annual Toy & Food Drive, which give food and toys to low income families.

The Toy & Food Drive is run under the leadership of Victoria Mosqueda, Director of the Center for Engagement, Service, and the Public Good; Anh Hong, the Community Service Learning Coordinator; and two Cal State LA students working as Special Projects Coordinators: Sandra Diaz and Daniel

Vasquez. Along with a team of dedicated staff and volunteers, the team is working together to improve and maintain a campus tradition of service to the community that began long before their time.

“The idea for this Toy & Food Drive began with the students,” Hong said. “Independent Cal State LA students wanted to help their community, so they went around collecting canned food. My predecessors took their idea and turned it into a campus tradition of community involvement.”

This year’s drive is placing festively decorated boxes throughout the campus, in Housing, in our campus-associated high schools, and in about eighty different offices throughout the quarter.

Non-perishable food and new or like-new quality toy donations will be going to families chosen by agencies that partner with E.P.I.C. and the University as service placement sites for classroom courses throughout the year. E.P.I.C. is currently partnered with more than one hundred agencies that serve the

demographics of Los Angeles. The number of families that the drive has served increases every year and the team hopes to continually increase their range of impact.

“I’ve been working with E.P.I.C. for four years and I’ve helped to coordinate the Toy and Food Drive for three [of those years]. In that time, we’ve gone from serving 80 families to serving almost 180 last year,” Diaz said. “We’ve also worked to get the entire campus involved through special programs and collection volunteering.”

This campus involvement event is not strictly limited to extracurricular activities. As is the E.P.I.C. mission, the drive has become a co-curricular activity. This is the second year that Professor Lorna Reed’s Health and Human Services (HHS) 101 students are required to do three hours of community service for the Toy & Food Drive.

“With the co-curricular program, it’s all about getting students involved,” Director Mosqueda said.

“We have a variety of programs for different interests, so our goal is to

EPIC’s 2014 Toy and Food Drive Source Photo courtesy | @CSULAEngage Twitter Account

plant a seed that will not only involve a student in service, but develop deep values that will inspire them to continue serving the community after graduation.”

The Adopt a Family program began this year to allow clubs to adopt a specific family for the drive, through LAUSD elementary school partners, this is an extracurricular version of fostering a long-term commitment to low-income families in the community.

“We feel that, through having our elementary school sites partner with Cal State LA organizations with Adopt a Family, this is just the first quarter of continual involvement for clubs that adopt,” Mosqueda said.

Diaz, who was able to meet some of the families last year, when al-

most fifteen families visited to pick up boxes, described the impact of actually meeting the children.

“There was this three year old girl among them, and she looked into the box and picked up a can of beans,” Diaz said. “And she was so excited!

She asked to go right home to cook them.”

For students, faculty and organizations wanting to become involved in the 44th Annual Toy & Food Drive, stop by the E.P.I.C. office or call at (323) 343-3380. You can help with banners, tabling and promotion, or by giving monetary donations to a drawing where prizes include: four Disneyland tickets, two AMC tickets, and a smart phone. Food and toy donations will be accepted until December 11th.

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University Times

Nov. 9, 2015

NOTICIAS DE LATINOAMÉRICA

Paro del gigante transgénico Monsanto, el cultivo genético canceroso, ha sido suspendido temporalmente

INFORMATIVA LOCAL Justicia para mis hermanas Encuentran dos cadáveres en Montecito Heights Por Xanni Valentín Chavira La violencia contra la mujer es una prueba de la misoginia que se vive en todo el mundo. Los asesinatos en Estados Unidos son más comunes contra las mujeres. El pasado 28 octubre, la policía de Los Ángeles encontró dos cadáveres en un parque de Montecito Heights. Las autoridades confirmaron que los cuerpos pertenecían a Gabriela Calzada de 19 años de edad y a Briana Gallegos de apenas 17 años.

La autopsia determinó que las chicas murieron a causa de trauma, específicamente por un golpe en la cabeza. Una vecina

que paseaba a su perro por la tarde de ese miércoles encontró a las víctimas en el parque Ernest Debs.

De acuerdo con CNN, los jefes de policía anunciaron que las jóvenes mostraban golpes y que estaban vestidas. Sin embargo, no se encontró ninguna señal de que hayan sido sexualmente abusadas.

También informaron que Gabriela Calzada fue reportada como perdida horas después del hallazgo de los cuerpos.

El 5 de noviembre, la comunidad organizó una vigilia para ofrecer tributo a estas muchachas. Más de cien personas acudieron al evento que fue creado por Mujeres de Maíz, East Side Mujeres Network y The School of Ecological Conciousness and Action. Esta tragedia está siendo investigada como un caso de homicidio.

Por Martha J. Orellana El permiso que había otorgado el ejecutivo Sagarpa a la gigantesca compañía Monsanto para la siembra de soja transgénica en México, fue suspendido este pasado miércoles por la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación (SCJN).

Tanto la Constitución mexicana como la Declaración de las Naciones Unidas que abogan por los derechos de los pueblos indígenas, exigen que los gobiernos consulten a las comunidades afectadas sobre los riesgos y peligros que ocasiona esta plantación.

La corte mexicana decidió suspender las operaciones de la plantación ya que la institución gubernamental que establece los permisos, pasó por alto informar a los residentes de dichas áreas acerca de la autorización a Monsanto.

La corte ha exigido que se organice una junta con las comunidades indígenas aledañas a la plantación. El propósito es consultarles sobre los peligros de la cultivación de este producto en sus territorios.

La producción de soja transgénica afecta directamente a la población indígena del sureste de México, en especial a

Maíz transgénico Fotografía | Crédito: econcientiza.blogspot.com

los agricultores y a los apicultores de las zonas de Campeche y Yucatán.

Estos cultivos afectan la producción de miel debido a que las abejas que polen las flores de estas plantas genéticamente modificadas, transmiten estos elementos a la miel que más tarde resulta no sólo en la pérdida de su calidad, sino también en un sabor muy particular de este producto natural.

México exporta el diez por ciento de la miel que se vende en el mundo. Los apicultores de Campeche y Yucatán exportan un noventa por ciento de la producción de miel a Europa. En el 2011, la Unión Europea declaró sentencia a los productores de miel interrumpiendo la venta de este producto que presentaba una alta taza de polen genéticamente modificado.

Se estima que unas 25,000 familias y aproximadamente unos 11,200 productores de miel que residen en estas regiones mexicanas son afectados por las plantaciones transgénicas.

Representantes de las comunidades nativas como miembros de la ONG (Organizaciones No Gubernamentales), Greenpeace, Indignación y LITIGA OLE señalaron que los perjuicios de la siembra de soja transgénica son económicos y a su vez dañinos para la salud debido a la alta presencia del herbicida glifosato que causa cáncer. Además, el abogado de los grupos indígenas señaló que los daños al medio ambiente que causan estas actividades de Monsanto no fueron consideradas por la decisión de la Suprema Corte mexicana.

CIENCIA

De izquierda a derecha: Gabriela Calzada y Briana Gallegos Fotografía | Crédito: www.laopinion.com

CULTURA Abren tumbas sagradas Egipto busca despertar el interés turístico Por Graciela López Después del trágico accidente del avión ruso en donde murieron más de 200 pasajeros, Egipto decide abrir las tumbas de personajes importantes en la historia del país egipcio: Huy, virrey de Kush; Amunemonet, sacerdote de Amenhotep III; y Amunemhab, guardián del ganado del templo del Dios Amun Re. Las tres cámaras funerarias se encuentran en la antigua ciudad de Luxor y se abrieron por primera vez el pasado jueves, 5 de noviembre. La tumba de Huy es la más significativa puesto que este virrey ejerció su poder bajo el

reinado del faraón Tutankhamun.

Este nicho contiene murales que representan el gran dominio en la civilización antigua.

Este país espera que con la apertura de dichas tumbas el turismo aumente ya que es una de las principales fuentes de ingreso para Egipto. Se decidió abrir las urnas funerarias para aprovechar que los ojos del mundo entero están puestos en la nación a causa de la tragedia aérea.

La probabilidad de que el avión accidentado haya sido causa de un acto terrorista por parte del Estado Islámico es alta. Por el momento se están haciendo las investigaciones pertinentes para descubrir la verdadera razón. Si estos grupos resultan responsables de la tragedia, se declararía a Egipto como un lugar inseguro para turistas.

Nuevas revelaciones sobre Marte Se encuentra lo que pudo haber causado su estado actual Por Jessica Magaña Marte es conocido como “el planeta rojo” y se cree que era similar a la Tierra en cuanto a la existencia de precipitaciones.

Investigadores han encontrado evidencia de la posible presencia de vida antes de que pasara a ser un astro seco y estéril. ¿Pero por qué se ha convertido en un desierto frío?

Este pasado jueves, 5 de noviembre, científicos de la agencia espacial estadounidense National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA por sus siglas en inglés) comunicaron en una conferencia de prensa que una tormenta solar pudo haber devastado la atmósfera de este planeta, transformándolo hasta llegar a su condición actual.

Los

investigadores

agregan

Viento solar impactando al planeta rojo Fotografía | Crédito: www.nasa.gov

que esta capa se fue desgastando a través del tiempo por la falta de protección de la atmósfera marciana. El científico que dirige el Programa de Exploración de Marte en la NASA, Michael Meyer, explicó que están “ante las primeras pruebas contundentes que revelan el factor principal del cambio climático que sufrió Marte en el pasado”.

La NASA basó sus conclusiones en los datos reunidos por la sonda MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution). Tras estos antecedentes, ellos determinaron

el ritmo de la pérdida de gas en la atmósfera por causa del viento solar. También se registró que la erosión de la capa protectora de Marte aumentaba cada vez que las tormentas solares ocurrían.

Todo esto afectó drásticamente su envoltura gaseosa al debilitarse su campo magnético que lo protegía de los rayos solares que transmitían radiación ultravioleta, explosiones de gas y partículas magnéticas. Esto causó un cambio climático que pudo haber sido el causante del estado actual del planeta.

University Times

Nov. 9, 2015

Protect yourself, protect your health

Photo courtesy | unomaha.edu

Is your health covered for anything and everything?

Taryn Bettenhausen Contributor

It’s officially November and that means it’s time to get insured

if you aren’t already.

If you’re one of the millions of Americans that don’t have health insurance through a job, Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), then the Health Insurance Marketplace can help you find the insurance that’s just right for you and thankfully, enrollment is open!

One of the biggest factors for determining exactly how much you’ll pay is your income.

Depending on your income you may acquire some savings on outof-pocket costs like copayments and deductibles, and most people also qualify for a premium tax credit that will lower their monthly insurance bill.

All of the plans are offered by private insurance companies that

give a range of prices and features so that you can pick the one that’s right for you and/or your family.

However, all plans cover essential health benefits, pre-existing conditions, and preventive care.

Essential health benefits include things like ambulatory patient services, emergency services, hospitalization (surgery and overnight stays), pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care, prescription drugs, laboratory services, pediatric services, and preventive and wellness services.

In regards to pre-existing medical conditions, no insurance plan can reject you, give you additional charges, or refuse to pay for essential health benefits for any condition, including pregnancy, that you’ve had before your coverage started. Also, once you are enrolled, the plan cannot deny you coverage or raise your rates based only on your health.

Dental plans can be added to a health plan. However you can’t buy a dental plan unless you enroll in a health plan.

There are four different ways that you can apply for coverage.

Depending on which one works best for you, you may apply via online, by phone, in-person, or with a paper application.

If you don’t have health insurance by the end of the enrollment period, you may

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have to pay a fine with your 2016 federal taxes. If you don’t have coverage in 2016, you’ll pay a penalty of either 2.5% of your income, or $695 per adult ($347.50), whichever is higher.

However, in some cases, you might qualify for an exemption from the penalty.

Here are some important dates to keep in mind for 2016 enrollment: Nov. 1, 2015: Open Enrollment started— this was the first day you could begin to enroll in a 2016 insurance plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Coverage can start as soon as Jan. 1, 2016.

Dec. 15, 2015: Last day to enroll in or change plans for new coverage to start Jan. 1, 2016.

Jan. 1, 2016: 2016 coverage starts for those who enroll or change plans by Dec. 15.

Jan. 15, 2016: Last day to enroll in or change plans for new coverage to start Feb. 1, 2016.

Jan. 31, 2016: 2016 Open Enrollment ends. Enrollments or changes between January 16 and January 31 take effect Mar. 1, 2016.

Don’t delay, enroll today and take care of yourself and your health.

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University Times

Alpha Phi Omega saves trees

Nov. 9, 2015

Fraternity volunteers with Los Angeles Forest Restoration.

Juan Galvan Contributor

On Nov. 1st, Cal State LA’s Alpha Phi Omega took a mission to restore Los Angeles National Forest.

During the event, students had the opportunity to work with the TreePeople organization, who work to inspire and support the people of Los Angeles to come together to plant and care for trees, harvest the rain and renew depleted landscapes.

“Our mission is to unite communities to grow a greener, shadier and more water-secure city at homes, neighborhoods, schools and in the local mountains,” said event coordinator Jim Hardy. “We work with volunteer leaders using our unique Citizen Forester model and we influence government agencies for a healthy, thriving Los Angeles.”

Some students like second year, Public Health major, Polly Tong participated on the path to save trees.

“Los Angeles Forest Restoration is a service that helps our community to plant trees and take care of them,” Tong said. “This service is my favorite because you feel like you are doing something to help nature as a whole, I will go again without hesitation.”

Photo by Juan Galvan

Freshman Emily Hu, Nutritional Science major, who also volunteered for this event, feels that giving out to the community is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“We all get busy with our lives and we don’t get many chances to do something for our community and if the chance to change our planet comes by,” Hu said. “I will take it no matter how small, because I know it will lead to something big.”

Los Angeles Forest Restoration is open to all students to volunteer.

For more information visit: www. treepeople.org

Nov. 9, 2015

University Times

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University Times

Nov. 9, 2015

THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS EVENT CALENDAR MONDAY 9 WEDNESDAY 11 TUESDAY 10 th

EPIC’s Annual Toy and Food Drive until December 31, 2015 - 8:00a.m.

Campus Wide Udall Scholarship Information Session 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

King Hall D1047 Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Japanese Studies Center 3:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

Music Hall

Operation Gratitude 10:00a.m. to Nov. 13, 2015 - 5:00p.m.

Veterans Resource Center, Physical Sciences Building

Fundamentals of Interviewing 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Career Center Veterans Day Ceremony 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

U-SU Plaza

Veteran's Day All Day (campus closed)

U-Lead: Interview Tips 2:00p.m.

San Gabriel Room, 3rd Floor, University-Student Union

FRIDAY 13th

THURSDAY 12th Arrive Alive Tour 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Main Walkway Internships 101 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Career Center Men of Color Success Network: How Are You Doing & What Do You Need?

3:15 p.m.

th

th

22nd Annual Policy Conference

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Calstatelaut

The L.A. Hotel Dowtown, 333 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles 90071

facebook.com/CsulaUT

Calstatelaut

26th Annual Distinguished Educators Award Dinner 5:00 p.m.

Golden Eagle Ballroom Theatre Event: Clybourne Park 7:30 p.m.

State Playhouse

San Gabriel Room, 3rd Floor, U-SU

CSU Media Arts Festival returns to Cal State LA CSU students from win awards and gain priceless experience during the 25th annual Media Arts Festival.

Ani Nalbandian Contributor

On November 7th, Cal State LA was lucky enough to host the 25th annual CSU Media Arts Festival. This event was an opportunity for students across all CSU campuses to submit – for peer and professional review – their independent films, shorts, and related media.

As members of the Panel Discussion began to present their ideas to the room full of students, I found myself in complete disbelief of how these seasoned veterans of Hollywood had struggled for years to achieve their dreams.

I arrived at the University-Student Union, where the festival was being held, at 10 A.M. The

Panel Discussion consisted of a group of 5 industry professionals informing students on how to get a job in entertainment.

Rob Ford, CEO of The Creative Mind Group and member of the panel, informed the room of students that an essential way to break into the entertainment industry is to do an internship. He continued, citing that persistence in networking as well as independent development of media was how he set himself apart from his peers.

A second member of the panel, founder of Leveraging Up, Stacy Milner, posed an interesting question for students to assist them in networking with Entertainment professionals. She asked, “If you are in an elevator with Opera Winfrey for 30 seconds, what would you want her to know about you?”

After the discussion, students were allotted time to network with panelists, peers, and other professionals. I had the opportunity to speak with panelist Mark Register, former Head of Production at The Young Turks, who gave me invaluable advice on how to be-

Photo by Pablo De La Hoya

come a professional journalist.

Students then made their way over to a discussion with keynote speaker and Cal State LA alum, John Lynch, Head of Production and Operations at Amazon Studios. His priceless advice on

persistence and valuable content resonated with students who were hanging on his every word. Lynch discussed his current projects with Spike Lee and Transparent as well as his former productions with The Andy Dick Show and Jackass.

Finally this incredible festival concluded with the Rosebud Award Ceremonies which awarded our own Robert Elsworth of Cal State LA first place for his screenplay “The Sect”.