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Nov. 30, 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 210.10
Black Student Union lists demands for President Covino culture to the school, of course.”
Funding, support and justice for Black students.
Pham also raised the idea that by implementing a Master’s program for Pan-African Studies, it would attract students toward the major and, therefore have more people involved and aware about the culture.
Nico Triunfante Copy Editor
“It would be nice to have a Master’s program in Pan-African Studies because most of the people I’ve met have said there haven’t been enough classes for it,” Pham said. “I think it’s a nice change if we do offer it, but at the same time it’s just budget deficits that prohibit people from taking the classes. And if we do have it, I think it would bring more people into the school that would study that.”
Cal State LA is home to over 20,000 students, with about 60 percent being Hispanic/Latino and only 4 percent being African-American. The Black Student Union (BSU) is making moves toward creating a campus that is more welcoming of that small portion in hopes to attract more African-Americans to our university. The University Times spoke with Sesley Lewis, the President of the BSU, in order to get more insight about the issues that correlate with African-American students on campus, and her plans for future students. Lewis was encouraged by incidents such as the 2012 Trayvon Martin murder, the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown, and the recent controversy from the University of Missouri (Mizzou). This fueled the fire for Lewis’ presidency for the BSU, where she seeks to create an atmosphere that is geared toward fairness, attention, and justice for the African-Americans on campus. Aside from their recent walkout on Nov. 12th – where students dismissed themselves from their classes in order to support the #BlackLivesMatter movement toward bringing awareness about the Mizzou incidents – the BSU comprised a list of demands to President Covino. “We have demanded that we meet with [President Covino],” Lewis said. “An in-person meeting going over the demands and make sure that they are implemented to see a change in a lot of different areas on campus, primarily retention, recruitment and outreach, making sure the
INSIDE: LA ONDA: POLICÍA ATACA A MAESTROS Y PERIODISTAS PG 6
Students rally for the youth of Baltimore on April 30, 2015. Photo by Timmy Truong
Black/African American students feel comfortable and safe on campus.” The BSU encouraged this meeting on Nov. 23rd demanding – though not all mentioned - the following: The creation of a Master’s program in Pan-African Studies at Cal State LA. A freshman and sophomore requirement to fulfill a two ethnic studies courses minimum, with one course being a Pan-African Studies course. An anti-discrimination policy due to the racist behavior that occurs on campus grounds. - The hiring of ten tenured track professors in the Pan-African Studies Department, Black faculty across all academic disciplines, and Black counselors at the Student Health Center, along with Black representation on the Board of Directors, public safety and police officers. The hiring of more black students for on-campus, student assistants, and work positions. Black scholarships geared toward athlete/non-athlete black students. $500,000 toward the out-
STUDENT ORG PUSHES FOR POLITICAL AWARENESS AND BERNIE SANDERS PG 7
reach programs on campus that will focus on the recruitment of specifically Black high school and transfer students. Implementing a $30 million endowment to help support Black students financially in order to enhance the “diverse” culture at the University. $20,000 per quarter allocated to the BSU. “We don’t have resources to help provide the black community fully safe,” said Lewis in regards to the $20,000 allocation. “This would go toward implementing more programs, providing more resources, making sure the organization continues to stay up and running, and other black orgs that would provide great resources to the student body, stay functioning, and have the proper resources to succeed.” Though Cal State LA claims it stands upon its diversity, only 3 percent of incoming freshman are African-American. With the lack of Black student recruitment, Lewis notices that she is one of two, if not the only, African-American student in her classrooms. She believes the BSU demands will provide tunnels
of opportunity for African-American students. “Every demand has the same amount of intensity and priority. We expect that every demand is met, that is our goal,” Lewis said. “The retention rate needs to increase, graduation rate needs to increase, recruitment outreach needs to increase, funds for the PAS department needs to increase.” The lack of diversity at the University is an ongoing issue. As expressed in their email to President Covino, “This University has a history of a poor racial climate, and we, as the Black Student Union and Black student body, will not take it anymore,” entices the idea that the BSU is ready to push the pedal toward change. Kannie Pham, a senior Biochemistry major, believes that one way to bring diversity into the school is to start with reaching out to high school students. “Reach out to high school students that way the demographics would be fair for other cultures to go to the school,” Pham said. “It brings more
She also sparks the notion that it would allow Cal State LA to stand out from other universities, and possibly entice high school and transfer students to major in a unique program. “How often do you have schools that offer a Master’s in Pan-African Studies?” Pham said. “There’s not much, not that I know of. But if they offer something that is different from other schools, it would bring in more people.” Though the outcome of the meeting was not confirmed, the BSU seems ready to stand by their demands one way or another. “When you can identify with someone, when you have the encouragement by seeing someone who looks like you or has to go through those same struggles, it encourages you to go and succeed more,” Lewis said. “Our goal is to be able to provide those resources and we can’t do it without anything; without having the proper funds and the things to be able to make these things happen.” Lewis and the BSU will continue to create a campus that is welcoming of African-American students, strike the issue of safety, and continue to raise awareness for the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
LIBRARIANS ARE READY TO HELP WITH LIBRARY ARCHIVES
COLLEGE PROFESSOR GETS PENALIZED FOR ASSIGNING CHEAP TEXTBOOKS
WHY ARE STUDENTS GRADUATING IN FIVE TO SIX YEARS?
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University Times
Nov. 30, 2015
The library database: Your savior for finals week
CLASSIFIED AD Photo Courtesy | calstatela.edu
Library Electronic Resources Coordinator Holly Yu walks the UT through the usefulness of Cal State LA’s Library Database. Hannah Jacobsen Staff Reporter
As students struggle onward toward a finals week full of project and essay due dates, a not so secret savior lies waiting in the wings of the Cal State LA library website--the library database. Cal State LA’s online library database is a collection of resources and data, which include over 190 electronic databases that contain scholarly journal articles, magazines, newspapers, e-books, image databases, business/ company data, and much more. “The database is where the resources are, for completing assignments, for research projects, and in any situation that requires information,” said Holly Yu, the Library Electronic Resources Coordinator for Cal State LA. “The library database covers all subject disciplines and provides peer review articles that students cannot get when they are googling.” The library pays for 140 of these databases annually while the rest are paid for by either the CSU Chancellor’s Office or by database vendor donations. Annual subscription payments
cost the school over $1 million a year and are managed by the library electronic resources coordinator, serials librarian, and electronic resources assistant to consistently ensure uninterrupted access to students. “Part of the funding that we pay for these subscriptions come from student tuition, and they are high quality research resources that are based on the student and instructional needs,” Yu said. “These needs are determined based on subjects of discipline, professor suggestions, core curriculum standards, and accreditation requirements.” Google is often a close competitor for student attention when it comes to finding sources for the various requirements of higher education. On the surface, it sounds like a simpler option than the more official database, but this strategy actually hinders research and inconveniences the student. “About half of the students who we see come up to the desk for help that started with Google,” Yu said. “While Google can be used to find background information, it is not helpful in obtaining high-quality, peer-reviewed journalistic articles. Students need to start at the library website for this kind of information.” In order to make research easier for Google-savvy students, the library launched a streamlined multi-search tool in fall 2012, which allows students to utilize the online library in the same way that they would use a common search engine.
“This is a Google generation of students, so we designed this tool to be easy to use,” Yu said. “It’s a single search box, you type in your keywords, and you get a list of scholarly articles rather than the list of non-vetted, nonacademic resources that Google provides.” Let’s say a student needs to write a ten-page paper about wolves in Alaska, using seven peer-reviewed outside sources for their final assignment. Rather than spend hours Googling in frustration, they can simply go to the Library homepage where the handy Multi-Search tool is the default search option. After typing “Alaska” and “wolves” into the search box, the student will find a results page with options to narrow down their search to scholarly only and by categories such as topic, publication, date, and more. “If these articles are not enough because they’re doing very obscure research, students can also add results beyond the database selection with the “find it” button, and then request an interlibrary loan,” Yu said. “It’s all a very streamlined process, we truly try to make the search process simplified and user friendly. We do a lot of usability studies with students from different age groups, grade levels, backgrounds, and with students with disabilities to make sure that our resources are available to everyone.” Students interested in learning more about the library system can find elective classes on library intermediate research; find information on the library’s
homepage —http://www. calstatela.edu/library— through one of their much informational resource sites, or simply walk into the library and ask a librarian at the Reference Desk.
University Times
Nov. 30, 2015
UN I V E R S I T Y T IMES
Editor-in-Chief Yzzy Gonzalez
Journalism 391 TA Robert Ellsworth
Managing Editor Gerardo Amezquita
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Staff Reporter Hannah Jacobsen Contributors Lupe Garcia Michael Gonzalez Ani Nalbandian Nailah Phelps Alex Phuong
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Para La Onda: Jefa de Redacción:
Xanni Valentin Chavira
Editores: Graciela López Martha J. Orellana Jessica Magaña Gerente de publicidad: Martha J. Orellana Consejero de la Facultad:
Pablo Baler
OP-ED
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The average student’s struggle to afford textbook The cost of textbooks adds to the ballooning of national and individual debt. Ani Nalbandian Contributor
Professor Alain Bourget of Cal State Fullerton made national headlines recently for nearly losing his position as a math professor at the university. He is facing criticism from colleagues and university administration for providing low cost textbook alternatives to his students. In a phone interview with Professor Bourget, he explained to the University Times why he chose to take a stand for his students. “I’m trying to do what is best for the students, trying to give them the best education possible,” Professor Bourget said. “I want to provide them with the textbooks that will be most conducive to teaching them the correct methods. I’m not going to assign expensive materials when there are better quality textbooks for cheaper prices.” The Linear Algebra textbook in question stands at $180 and is coauthored by Chairman Stephen W. Goode and Vice Chairman Scott A. Annin of Cal State Fullerton. The phrase “conflict of interest” comes to mind when considering that the same administration handing out the punishment to Professor Bourget also stands to benefit the most from the assignment of that textbook. History tells us that the ancient Persian Empire developed Linear Algebra, leading me to question the necessity of a book that is outrageously overpriced, but took little to no research to develop. The book in question made no significant strides in the field and most people agree that Bourget had the right and obligation to accommodate his students. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly half of all U.S. youth between the ages of 16 and 24 are unemployed – 52.7 percent of young people were employed in July 2015. State schools are designed to be low cost and students enter these schools with the understanding that it will be cheaper than a private university. As a struggling student at Cal State LA, I find it difficult to understand why a professor
would be reprimanded for providing low cost alternatives to assist those students who are both unemployed and attending a state school.
According to CollegeBoard. org, a student pays an average of $1,200 a year for books and supplies. After four years of education, that amounts to about two semester’s tuition at a state school in California. Although it may be easy to brush the extra $5,000 under the rug with the rest of your student debt, when having to pay off those loans in the future, the cost of textbooks will make a big impact on finances. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York has calculated national student debt to be from $902 billion to $1.2 trillion, with about $864 billion being from the federal government. In 2012, the average individual student debt was calculated to be $24,301. When breaking it down to an individual level, the $5,000 cost of textbooks for an undergraduate degree is more significant. On Nov. 12th, students across the country stood in solidarity to protest student debt in the United States. The movement, dubbed The Million Student March, has drawn hundreds of schools like Texas State, Depaul University in Chicago, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Twitter caught fire and was trending worldwide with #MillionStudentMarch. The students posted placards on buildings showing their individual student debt at the University of California, Berkeley, ranging from a few thousand to more than $100,000. The movement is demanding tuition free colleges, student debt forgiveness and $15 hourly minimum wage on campuses. The idea for the march came from a quote by Bernie Sanders given in an interview with Katie Couric back in June. “If a million young people march on Washington they [say] to the Republican leadership, we know what’s going on, and you better vote to deal with student debt. You better vote to make public universities and colleges tuition free, that’s when it will happen.” If a student were to pay for one year’s worth of textbooks with the income made from a minimum wage earning job, it would amount to about 135 hours of work. Cal State LA has a contract agreement with Barnes & Noble to provide new and used books to students. According to Academic
Senate minutes from March 2012, the “price of books is reflective of the national industry average.” They go on to explain that prices are allowed to have up to a 25 percent gross margin including restocking fees and other surcharges. Textbooks with strict return policies from publishers can have a 30 percent gross margin price. The campus bookstore offers a couple alternatives to save students money such as selling the books back for cash, or offering printed versions of textbooks with no binding for a lower price. Desperation demands creativity, so I found some options. There are a few alternatives to buying books from our contracted out bookstore on campus. You can buy from textbook rental companies like Boundless who offer built-in study tools like flashcards, quizzes and chapter summaries. And if you save your receipts the American Opportunity Credit helps you with a maximum annual credit of $2,500 for academic resources and accompanying expenses. Universities such as the University of Minnesota have put together open source textbook websites for their students. If Cal State LA wants more affordable educational resources, students should advocate for open source websites. Talk to your department heads, administrators and even President Convino to demonstrate how such a website would benefit all students. For those students about to graduate with little employment opportunities who will not be able to afford the monthly loan repayments, there are a few options as well. Students can visit the Department of Education’s online repayment estimator that assesses your expected monthly payments. Students can also work in public services and receive loan forgiveness. Working for a nonprofit organization, the government or another full time public service job can qualify former students toward a zero balance while they work. Be sure to avoid private debt consolidation companies that will promise to assist with free government programs in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Wherever there is debt, there are debt sharks. Lastly, former students saddled with debt can apply for an Income Drive Repayment plan, which offers lower monthly payments and will forgive loans after about twenty-five years.
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University Times
Nov. 30, 2015
Students graduating on their own time What's your graduation plan?
Nailah Phelps Contributor
In the past, it was the standard for most students to attend college and graduate within four years. These days, students are going against the standard and taking their own graduation pace. “I am actually a transfer student,” said Marcus Castro, 20, junior Psychology major. “I knew that it would be cheaper for me to go through community college before entering into a four year. I knew that it would take me longer to graduate.” As some students take the financial aspects into consideration as to why they take their time to graduate, other students use college as a pathfinder to learning about who they are. “This is my fifth year in
Photo Courtesy | niarestaurant.com
school, and it’s honestly taken me this long, because when I was a freshman and sophomore I switched majors every quarter, but now I’m a Television, Film and Media (TVF) major and getting ready to graduate in the spring,” said Paige Miller, 22, senior, TVF major. “I honestly still don’t really know what it is that I want to do exactly, because I am all over the place with my passions. I am passionate about too many things that it is hard to focus on only one.”
A lot of students use this time to their advantage and don’t want to rush entering into the real world. There are many students scared of failure, and not having the right job after they graduate, so they stay in school because that is what they are comfortable with. “I have so many friends that [have] graduated and are not even into their careers or what they went to school for,” said Ketia Moore, senior Biology major.
“I don’t want to be that person to graduate, and not practice my skills and do what I’ve learned all this time in school. I can’t drive Uber forever.”
While other students struggle with fear, some take it head on and believe in themselves even more as it takes them longer to complete school.
Other than taking more time before graduating, Evelyn Espinoza, an advisor for the College of Arts and Letters, believes that it is better to graduate within the four-year plan. As an advisor for hundreds of students, Espinoza has heard it all with why students may be taking their time to graduate.
“There is honestly nothing wrong with me taking my time,” said junior Joe Renalds. “I hate standards and always have, and I don’t think that people will see me as a failure if I don’t graduate in four years. They see me still pushing and working even harder for my degree, not rushing through it.”
“I think the four-year plan is better because the longer you are out of the job market, or the longer it takes you to get that secondary degree, whatever it may be, the longer it takes you away from your career,” Espinoza said. “Students start to incorporate jobs in their lives once they start to get to higher level courses in school and schedule their school around their job, instead of their jobs around their school. Some other cases are that they might have a family to take care of, classes can be impacted and push students back a quarter, or some students may start off in remedial levels and don’t attend summer school to make up for the time.”
Other than students rushing to get out, or enjoying the extra time spent in school, there is one major benefit. “One of the benefits of taking your time with your degree is that you can finish stronger and have a higher GPA, rather than piling up your classes to graduate in time,” said Espinoza. These days most would argue that school is nothing to be rushed when entering into a professional career. After all, you are not penalized for taking your time to graduate.
University Times
Nov. 30, 2015
OP-ED
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Silent minority National attention is crucial for police brutality awareness. Lupe Garcia Contributor
This year alone, police have gunned down three unarmed Mexican immigrants. The three took place as separate incidents in California, Texas and Washington state. The time span of these shootings occurred after the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, which bolstered a national conversation of the relationship of police enforcement and minorities. Yet, these incidents which are very similar to those that initiated the #BlackLivesMatter movement did not garner much attention by the press, nor provoked nationwide protest and government intervention.
after the homeless man threw rocks at the officers. He was fired at 17 times. A witness caught the shooting on video. Ruben Garcia was gunned down after a short car chase in Grapevine, Texas. According to his brother-in-law, Garcia stopped, exited the vehicle and holding his arms up, approached the officers and said, “Are you going to kill me?” and was shot twice in the chest. Officers in Santa Ana, California killed Ernesto Canepa, a suspect in a robbery, after a confrontation. According to the Southern Border Communities Coalition, Border Patrol Officers have killed 17 Mexicans since 2010.
The incidents go as follows:
These occurrences are not seen important at a national level and the sad truth is that they go largely unnoticed. The deaths of Zambrano, Garcia and Canepa did not spark social unrest the way Ferguson did and here’s the difference.
Antonio Zambrano was shot and killed in Pasco, Washington
In the Latino community there is a big deterrent that holds
them back. The undocumented community will not protest and stand up against police because of the risk of deportation. The fear of being kicked out of their home and separated from their families keeps them from having their voices heard. The immigration debate continues to center around the political atmosphere with many potential presidential candidates expressing their plans and stances. But, many fail to see that immigration reform is a matter of civil rights. Mexico’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs says that in the span of a decade U.S. authorities have killed around seventy-six
Mexicans. The criminalization of undocumented immigration has spread from the border to other parts of the country. In these cases, the officers were not punished. Officers Adam Wright and Adrian Alaniz, who were involved in the shooting of Zambrano, returned to work immediately after being on administrative leave. Police in Grapevine, Texas argued that Garcia disobeyed officer’s commands during a traffic stop after a high-speed chase and the family argued that there was no reason to open fire. The Texas police officer didn’t face any criminal charges in the shooting. In Canepa’s circumstance, the lawyer involved said this was the
Photo Courtesy | hngn.com
first time a policeman publicly admitted to killing someone and not knowing why. This has left the Latino community to question the rule of law in the killing of these three Mexican men. The fact that these questions will not be left answered, a lack of political acknowledgement and brief media coverage has made it apparent that undocumented immigrants are invisible. When it comes to police brutality all minority groups are targeted, but undocumented immigrants can’t speak up for their rights. That is why they are a silent minority.
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University Times
Nov. 30, 2015
NOTICIAS DE LATINOAMÉRICA
Fuerte ataque contra periodistas y maestros
RESUMEN DE LA SEMANA Por La Onda Estudiante de USC es acosada por un chofer de Uber: Una estudiante de la Universidad del Sur de California (USC) fue víctima de acoso por parte de un chofer de Uber que la llevaba a su dormitorio, localizado dentro de la escuela. La joven declaró que al bajarse del coche sintió que el conductor le tocaba los glúteos. La universitaria usó la aplicación LiveSafe de inmediato y se comunicó con la policía escolar que llegó en diez minutos a donde ella se encontraba. Después las autoridades arrestaron al malhechor al encontrarlo rondando por la zona. USC ha invitado a todos los estudiantes, maestros y personal del campus a que bajen esta aplicación móvil. Con sólo presionar un botón, la policía puede tener acceso al lugar exacto en donde se encuentren las 24 horas del día.
años, España da la bienvenida a los judíos que guardaron la lengua, las costumbres de España y en especial, el cariño por la antigua patria”.
Enfrentamiento de maestros y policías en Veracruz. Fotografía | Crédito: revistaproceso.mx
Sr. Solomón Gaón recibiendo el Premio Principe de Asturias de la Concordia Fotografía | Crédito:fpa.es
Volkswagen, fácil solución a su vil engaño: La compañía multimillonaria Volkswagen dice tener la solución al problema de emisión de óxido de nitrógeno en los motores diesel. La empresa hizo una propuesta para solucionar este defecto y fue aprobada por las autoridades alemanas de transporte. Según declaraciones por parte de dicha entidad, el motor no tendrá efectos adversos. De acuerdo a representantes de esta compañía, la solución a la falla no afectará el consumo de combustible ni al rendimiento de esta máquina.
screenshot de la aplicación LiveSafe de USC Fotografía | Crédito:atvn.org
El judeoespañol toma vida: El pasado 12 de noviembre, ocho académicos especialistas de la comunidad sefardí fueron elegidos para representar el judeoespañol en la Real Academia Española (RAE). Esta lengua es también conocida como sefardí. Por primera vez, la RAE reconoce oficialmente esta lengua hablada por los judíos descendientes de hebreos. Estos sefarditas vivieron en la península ibérica antes de su expulsión en 1492. El reconocimiento de esta unirá a la comunidad judía dispersa por el mundo, además ayudará a mantener esta variedad castellana medieval viva.
El grupo Volkswagen dijo que la reparación tomará menos de una hora. La adaptación de los propulsores para que evite el falseo de las emisiones necesitará dos trabajos paralelos. El primero modificará la programación que controla el motor. El segundo, será una adaptación que requerirá el motor para reducir el consumo de combustible y la contaminación que afecta al medioambiente. Volkswagen parece tener una simple solución a este defecto. La corporación explicó sobre los avances en el desarrollo de sus motores que facilitará las reparaciones de las cuatro marcas afectadas. Los representantes alemanes aseguraron que empezarán con los arreglos de estos motores en enero del año 2016.
En 1990, la comunidad sefardí obtuvo el prestigiado reconocimiento del Premio Príncipe de Asturias de la Concordia. En la entrega de este galardón, el Sr. Solomón Gaón dio un discurso donde señaló que “este acto muestra que después de quinientos
Protestas por el engaño de Volkswagen Fotografía | Crédito: abc.es
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Policías del gobierno de Duarte causan revuelo en Veracruz Por Xanni Valentín Chavira El pasado domingo, 22 de noviembre, maestros de la Coordinadora Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (CNTE) y del Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación (SNTE) protestaban en los municipios de Boca del Río y Xalapa. Estos fueron agredidos a patadas, macanazos y toques eléctricos por los Elementos de la Fuerza Civil y algunos policías municipales vestidos de civiles. Esto fue durante una manifestación donde los docentes mostraban su rechazo a la evaluación educativa, proceso que determina si los maestros se quedan con el puesto de educadores. Reporteros también fueron agredidos por la famosa “policía de élite” del gobernador de Veracruz, Javier Duarte. Los
periodistas se encontraban realizando una cobertura informativa sobre los casos de represión que profesores viven en México.
Melissa Díaz, fue correteada y arrinconada por policías para quitarle su teléfono celular donde portaba imágenes del abuso de la autoridad.
Los docentes de la CNTE informaron que tres educadores estaban gravemente heridos, por lo tanto tuvieron que ser transportados al Centro de Especialidades Médicas “Doctor Rafael Lucio”.
“Ocho policías me arrinconaron pese a que me identifiqué como reportera, me arrebataron el celular y delante de mí lo destruyeron, me jalonearon, me decían que me fuera” declaró Díaz.
En Boca de Río, policías vestidos de civiles negaron el paso a la Arena Veracruz, lugar donde se encontraban docentes trabajando en el proyecto de evaluación. Esto fue con el fin de que los manifestantes no causaran disturbios y los docentes bajo el poder de Duarte trabajaran en paz. Mientras tanto, en el fraccionamiento Virginia, los grupos de choque o policías vestidos de civiles arrearon a profesores y a la vez los elementos de la Fuerza Civil mantuvieron un perímetro de “seguridad”.
Ese mismo día, el gobierno de Duarte manifestó un comunicado en el cual pide una disculpa por las agresiones a periodistas en Veracruz ya que su propósito era garantizar la evaluación magisterial:
De acuerdo con la Revista Proceso, los cronistas Hugo Gallardo e Iván Sánchez resultaron golpeados por policías estatales. Sánchez presentó heridas profundas en los pómulos y las cejas. Mientras éste estaba siendo agredido gritaba: ¡Soy prensa, soy prensa… analfabetas!”. También, la reportera del Diario en Xalapa,
“La Secretaría de Seguridad Pública expresa de manera categórica que en ningún momento fue voluntad de esta institución afectar el desempeño profesional de los comunicadores que cubrían la nota y ofrece una sentida disculpa a quienes se hayan visto afectados durante el desarrollo del operativo de seguridad”. Hoy en día, un grupo de informadores exigen una investigación por los ataques que sufrieron contra su persona en las protestas registradas durante la evaluación docente.
MEDIO AMBIENTE
El Niño traerá desgracias Se estima que miles morirán en países tercermundistas Por Graciela López Hemos escuchado hablar numerosas veces de El Niño, en especial porque ya se acerca al sur de California. Éste es un fenómeno climático que ocurre en las aguas del Pacífico, por lo regular a finales de diciembre y trae consigo cálidas lluvias. El investigador especial de Scripps Institute of Oceanography, David Pierce, dice que las temperaturas más calientes se encuentran cerca de Indonesia. Pero cuando esta tormenta tropical ocurre, las aguas se mueven hacia el este del océano y se forman grandes tormentas, a veces hasta huracanes. A causa de esto, las lluvias se concentran en las costas de América occidental trayendo inundaciones. Mientras tanto, los países que
Agricultor de India en los campos secos Fotografía | Crédito: lopezdoriga.com
dependen de tales aguaceros tienen que sobrevivir en una sequía devastadora. Entre estas regiones están el sureste de Asia y África. Miles de personas que subsisten gracias a los campos que cultivan, podrían verse frente a una escasez de alimentos por la falta de agua en la temporada de lluvia. De hecho, en el siglo pasado hubo cerca de treinta millones de muertes por la tremenda hambruna que se registró durante El Niño. Otro problema que podrían enfrentar esas regiones es el alto riesgo de incendios. También se han registrado tragedias en tierras agrícolas cada temporada de El Niño desde 1982. Miles de personas se
han enfermado y por lo menos 19 han muerto por estas catástrofes en Indonesia, declara Mike Davis en su libro “Late Victorian Holocausts: El Niño Famines and the Making of the Third World”. El humo se ha propagado por Singapur, Malasia y las Filipinas, dispersando dióxido de carbono, un gas que tiene efecto invernadero. Además de traer escasez de comida, dicho fenómeno provocaría una epidemia de cólera, tifoidea y otras enfermedades similares. La razón es que el agua de la inundación va transportando bacterias peligrosas después de haber pasado sobre desperdicios fecales de animales y personas.
Nov. 30, 2015
Cal State LA students feel the Bern A co-founder of CSULA Students for Bernie Sanders discusses their rising organization and the importance of student involvement in the presidential campaign. Hannah Jacobsen Staff Reporter
The 2016 Presidential Election is approaching, and according to a 2015 study by the Pew Research Center, the voting population with the largest potential impact is the millennial generation, a group made up of 18 to 34 years old who are projected to surpass the Baby Boomer generation this year. This makes one of the most determinant
University Times factors in the presidential race the question of whether who will the millennial generation vote for. Inspired by the potential impact and increased political population of younger Americans, Nicholas Carrillo – a Communication Studies major at Cal State LA – got together with a group of friends to establish CSULA Students for Bernie Sanders. The club, which was officially recognized last month, has fifteen active members and a Facebook page that is up to 100 likes and growing in numbers every week. “Our mission is to promote civic engagement and increase awareness of Bernie Sander’s political campaign,” Carrillo said. “We want to encourage dialogue with the campus as a whole on politics, whether or not people support Bernie for President.” The idea began when Carrillo and a few of his fellow students – including Political Science and Public Administration major Cecilia Villarreal and Communication Studies graduate student Alex Dejean - got together this past summer with a passion for politics and a wish to get more young people involved in the discussion. “We started this group because we noticed that there were Bernie groups popping up all over L.A., especially over social media,” Carrillo said. “People are excited about this election, and we wanted to bring that excitement to Cal State LA.” The club is working its way up in the Cal State LA community through events and tabling in the time leading up to the Presidential Election. Members are also
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CSULA Students for Bernie Sanders get together for the first democratic debate party Photo Courtesy | CSULA Students for Bernie Sanders Facebook Page
learning hands-on politics by reaching out to local businesses, unions, and legislators for Bernie endorsements, providing volunteers to the Bernie Sanders Campaign for L.A. events, and partnering with national and local coalitions – College Students for Bernie and Northeast L.A. for Bernie. Their most ambitious project is a proposal to get Bernie Sanders himself to take a trip down to the Cal State LA campus. “We have encouraged our members to get the word out in any way they can,” Carrillo said. “A few members even chalked out our campus! We’ve put fliers all over Cal State LA, and we plan on having more debate parties, such as the one we had for the first democratic debate, where we hosted 30 people.” While the immediate goal of the group is to get Bernie noticed and students engaged
in the presidential campaign, the group is already planning out a long term plan for their organization: a college progressive party that will sustain Bernie’s messages on campus, no matter who gets elected. “The Bernie Sanders campaign doesn’t end when the presidential campaign does; this is a movement,” Carrillo said. “Students need to be aware that this is a very unique presidential election, and the direction our country will go in will be drastically changed depending on who gets elected. We need to pay attention and get involved.” To get involved in the political discussion or the Bernie Sanders campaign, students may email csula4bernie@gmail.com or go to the Facebook Page “CSULA Students for Bernie Sanders” to receive information on future events.
The happiest place on earth now costs more Disneyland Signature Plus Passports will be sold for over $1000. Michael Gonzalez Contributor
Visiting Disneyland, the happiest place on earth, is going to make your pocket book just a little bit sadder. In February, Disneyland raised the prices of their annual passes and now have done it again this past month. Disneyland introduced their new all-access Signature Plus Passport with no blackout dates for a whopping price of $1,049. “I have always loved Disneyland,” said Stephan Alanis, Biology major at Cal State LA. “But I was a bit upset with the ridiculous new prices! They make it impossible for college students like myself to go and enjoy Disneyland, and the experience without having to get a second job!” Don’t rush to checkout just yet. With this you will also get an unlimited amount of printed professional photos any time. Once you pay your monthly payment for the Signature Plus Passport you can go take a picture of your empty pockets, next to Mickey himself. With this change, Disney also introduced their second highest passport of yet another stealing price of $849 with just 50 blackout dates. With the addition of these two new passes, Disneyland shamelessly eliminated their Premium pass that went for only $799
with no blackout dates. Don’t worry folks, Disney kept their SoCal Select passport for $329, though you can’t go on weekends, holidays, summer months, or any other ideal time of the year. “I hate that there are more blackout dates and they are charging more,” said Ashley Madrid, a Health Science major at Cal State LA. “But I am probably still going to renew my passport.”
Photo Courtesy | Disneyland.com
Although the park’s passports have gone up tremendously and Disneyland lovers voice their frustration, renewals and new pass holders are still expected. Disney has yet to make a statement as to why prices have gone up twice in one year, but the assumption is due to the very high visitation rate the park receives. Cutting down on the amount of annual pass holders eliminates lines, crowds and parking. Plus, annual pass holders aren’t spending as much in the parks on food, souvenirs, and snacks as the one-day ticket holders are.
Photo Courtesy | Pinterest.com
It has also been mentioned that having so many guests visit the park at any time they wish takes away the magic of Disney. If you’re going multiple times a week, you probably aren’t feeling the magic anymore. “Having a season pass only enhances my love for the Disney theme parks because I have access to them at my leisure,” said Allyssa Serrano, Marketing major at Cal State LA. “Disneyland will always be magical to me, regardless of the cost.” Nonetheless, Disney is still open and adding new attractions to their parks this coming year.
Photo Courtesy | Pinterest.com
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University Times
Nov. 30, 2015
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS EVENT CALENDAR MONDAY 30 WEDNESDAY 2 TUESDAY 1 th
Professor for a Day 3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Salazar Hall E184 ACP Pop Up University: Children's Literature, Literacy, and the Question of Value
6:30 p.m., Contact Dr. Maria Karafilis at MKarafi@ calstatela.edu for location New Music Ensemble Early Music Ensemble 7:30 p.m., Music hall
nd
st
Farmer’s Market 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Main Campus Walkway
Dance Event: Choir Concert 7:30 p.m., State Playhouse
Moonlight Breakfast 8:00 p.m., Golden Eagle Ballrooms, 2nd Floor, U-SU
Kwanzaa Karamu and Ceremony 3:15 p.m., Los Angeles Room, 3rd Floor, U-SU
FRIDAY 4th
THURSDAY 3rd Men of Color Success Network: How Are You Doing & What Do You Need?
3:15 p.m., Los Angeles Room A, 3rd Floor, U-SU Dance Event: Moving Dance Images 7:30 p.m., King Hall Studio 1
Calstatelaut facebook.com/CsulaUT
Calstatelaut
Music Event: Jazz Orchestra 7:30 p.m., State Playhouse
CCC Finals Week, Study Hours, and Study Assistance (All day) Cross Cultural Centers, 2nd Floor, U-SU Music Event: Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble 7:30 p.m., State Playhouse
A fitting conclusion to an epic series ing. Additionally, the filmmakers dedicated The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 to Hoffman, although that type of tribute appears to be absent in the second part. Nevertheless, this new film Photo Courtesy | Kiddnation.com
May the odds be ever in your favor... to get a ticket to Mockingjay - Part 2. Alex Phuong Contributor
The beloved series that made Jennifer Lawrence a pop culture icon comes to an end as The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 flies into theaters just in time for the holiday season. The film series, unfortunately, has declined in terms of box office revenue since the premiere of the first film in 2012. Nevertheless, this final installment is a fitting conclusion to a film franchise that explores the nature of politics and war in a way that appeals to both modern readers and moviegoers. Jennifer Lawrence once again excels as Katniss Everdeen, who is perhaps one of the most popular characters in modern-day entertainment, second only to the
Harry Potter characters. It is true that Lawrence is currently one of the biggest stars in Hollywood at the moment, thanks to her roles in films like Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle, both of which were collaborations with the Oscar-nominated director David O. Russell and three-time Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper. Lawrence has the unique talent of delivering strong performances that make the audience truly understand the trials and tribulations of the female protagonists that she portrays. The chances of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences nominating her for this particular film are really slim, simply because the Academy tends to avoid nominating popular franchises that appeal to young adults. Furthermore, the film appears to be a fitting tribute to the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, the Oscar-winning actor who plays Plutarch in the series. Some of the other characters, like Effie Trinket, had to deliver some of Hoffman’s lines in order to accommodate his unfortunate pass-
showcases the talents of many of the actors in the series, which includes outstanding performances from Julianne Moore’s portrayal of Alma Coin to the famous role of Peeta that made Josh Hutcherson a Hollywood heartthrob. Finally, it is unfortunate to say
that the film series has come to an end, but the enduring legacy of Suzanne Collins’ characters will live on as long as audiences are willing to “march together” and “turn [their] weapons to the Capitol.”