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NIVERSITY IMES
October 10, 2016
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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 213.08
Historic Senate Debate hosted at Cal State LA (yes, Sanchez dabbed)
Ani Nalbandian Staff Reporter California’s race to replace the first open Senate seat in 24 years featured its first and only debate on Wednesday at Cal State LA in the University-Student Union Theater. Excited students, media and political aides watched as the hour-long debate unfolded into policy discussions and an eventual ‘dab’ by Congresswoman (D) Loretta Sanchez. A very prompt moderator, KABC-TV’s Marc Brown did not allow candidates to speak over their allotted time and continuously had to interrupt and cut off an intense Sanchez, to which she once replied “Try.” The two Democratic nominees for Senate, Kamala Harris and Sanchez,
did their best to distinguish themselves from one another. Back in 2010, California signed off on proposition 14 which established a “jungle primary,” essentially eliminating the two party systems. This means that Californians were able to vote for any candidate in the June primaries and the top two candidates, regardless of political parties, would run in the general election. In this year’s June primaries, State Attorney General Kamala Harris received 40 percent of the total vote. While Congresswoman Sanchez advanced to November with 18 percent of the vote, coming in at nearly double the most favored Republican candidates. If Sanchez wins, she would be first Hispanic Senator in history, while if Harris wins, she would be the first black woman to be in Senate since 1999.
Photo by Ani Nalbandian
The debate covered a variety of topics; immigration reform, the state drought, prison reform, and abortion rights, to name a few. They agreed that pathways to citizenship had to be established, that non-violent criminals had to be charged more leniently, and that every woman deserved the right to choose
her own fate and called for increases in spending for abortion services. Harris and Sanchez disagreed on Proposition 57, which will be up for vote in November. The proposition, called the Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act, would make non-violent offenders eligible for early parole, with some
exceptions for sex-related offenses. The reason this proposition is important is because the state prisons are at capacity and the necessary relief should be in the form of people who have little to no reason for being in prison. Sanchez explained her position; “If you give guns (Continued On Page 5)
ASI welcomes CSU student trustees for special meet-and-greet Janice Peregrina Staff Reporter Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) held a special Board of Directors meeting at the end of the seventh week of the semester on Thursday, October 6th.
While the whole of ASI attended, along with a few special guests from the CSU Trustees Board and California State University Association, regular Cal State LA students did not seem to make an appearance. This is an unfortunate fact, as the meeting was
greatly informative about issues that are important to college students, including homelessness on campus, building renovations, and tuition prices. California State Trustees Maggie White and Jorge Reyes were introduced to the ASI at
the beginning of the meeting, and they both took some time to illuminate on what their responsibilities as trustees are, and what a trustee actually does. “The board of Trustees is actually our highest governing body in the CSU, and in case you didn’t know, the CSU is
the largest higher education system in the country, so this is actually a pretty important governing body,” Maggie White explained. White is a voting member of the board and is currently pursuing her Masters in Public Administra (Continued On Page 6)
Green Party’s Jill Stein Visits Campus Katelin Petersen Contributor Students waited eagerly by the Golden Eagle Statue for the Jill Stein rally to begin. “I am interested to hear what she has to say,” said TVF senior, Steven Whittrock. “I am voting third party, so I am look-
ing forward to see what my vote will be going toward,” added another TVF major, Oscar Mendoza. Biology major Nancy Chen stated, “I admire her persistence and by not giving up.” In the afternoon of Wednesday, October 5, Stein spoke
to Cal State LA students in front of the bookstore about her promises to create real change in America. Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate continues to speak out to voters around America. She wants millennial voters to know that there is another choice beyond Hillary Clinton and Donald
Trump. “We’re really seeing the cracks in the two-party system and the two-party system has presented Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump as our only ‘viable candidates,’” Jose Trinidad Castaneda told Annenberg (Continued On Page 11)
FEATURES
NEWS Page 2 -- Stu-
dents share personal stories behind their powerful messages
Photo by Katelin Peterson
EVENT Page 7 -Pulitzer Prize winning author tells all.
Page 4 -- An interview with Sommers to discuss feminism and P.C. culture
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October 10, 2016
University Times
NEWS
Dear World, this is my story... Students share personal stories behind their powerful messages Marcela Valdevia Staff Reporter On Tuesday, the Dear World organization came to Cal State LA with a mission for students to create powerful messages and share personal stories with their colleagues. Students and faculty participated in the photo shoot in the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library. The portraits consisted of several unique messages with a recurring theme of love. Out of the stories, six students shared their personal stories for the Dear World Photo Reveal and Storytelling Event at the University-Student Union Theatre. Dear World is a project Jonah Evans started in New Orleans after the devastating Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The goal of his project was for people to write love notes to their city. After traveling around the world, he took approximately 60,000 portraits and listened to countless stories behind each portrait that share where people come from. “One of the things that really amazed us and inspired us today were these stories of struggle of how hard you fought just to be here today and the belief that you have to be able to take this education and what you are going to do with it to achieve these dreams,” Jonah Evans said.
Danielle Hernandez, Psychology major, grew up with a mom addicted to meth and heroin. As the eldest, she had to raise her two little brothers and focus on school despite the barriers in life. Throughout the difficulties of being homeless and living in a car she had a best friend to push her to be the best she could. Danielle’s best friend was an immense impact as he was by her side at all times and financially supported her. Tragically, her best friend committed suicide two years ago and has become a major motivation to continue pursuing her dreams. Her portrait read, “Keep going, it gets better” because every odd was against her and now she is attending a four-year university. Jasmine Salgado, Television and Film major, wrote "In another world" on her arms. When she was in high school, she went to an indoor tennis court surrounded by warehouses with her sisters. On the way back, her sister passed a light on red and a trailer that was coming barely missed hitting them. All they saw was bright lights in their face and the sound of the trailer beeping. They could not believe what happened to them and were in shocked that they almost died. Nevertheless, her little sister brings to her attention that they indeed died, but in another world where many different things happen. After the incident, they created a new motto to try new things because life can end in a
blink of an eye. Nutritional Science major Errol Cabrera talked about the struggle of accepting his sexuality at a young age. He always saw being gay as something normal, but he later realized that it was not the social norm, so he started to hide that part of his life. This lead to dealing with anxiety that only got worse until he went to therapy. Errol’s arms stated, “It does not define me, it's only a piece of me” because his sexuality and anxiety are part of his story. “Coming here to Cal State LA a year ago has made me learn so many more things about myself, meet new people who influence me in so many ways, and bring out the best parts of me,” said Cabrera. Gabriela Cherbony, Broadcast Journalism major, flashbacked when she was five years old recalling her parents divorce. Her mother fell into depression and could not handle the divorce. As a result, at a young age she had to learn how to clean, cook, and wash. This slowly stressed her out and her mom started controlling her life. She felt her identity hidden to the point where she could not find herself. Gabriela looks back at her life and fears getting married and having children based on the experience she lived. Her message was "Your past is not your future" because her parents should not define her.
Alberto Hernandez, Social work major, comes from a single parent household of seven siblings. He never met his father and his mom was raised in an orphanage in Tijuana with her sixteen siblings. In his family, homelessness and poverty has immensely affected their life. His mom had eight kids evicted going from shelter to shelter and living on Skid Row. Alberto began to foster an intense hatred for life, leading him into gangs and drugs. When his older sister got married, his brotherin-law completely changed him and offered him a home. Nevertheless, when he was in high school his brother-inlaw passed away in a construction work-related incident. He is even more motivated to excel in life by being the first person in his family to graduate from a university. His chest expressed “Risen from poverty” because poverty and homelessness have always been a part of his life. “One of the things we found is that the desire to share your story really knows no boundaries of race or religion or geography,” said Jonah Evans, the curator of the event. The courage of these students to share their stories is admirable and people around the globe can identify with their messages. To see more portraits and videos from Dear World visit dearworld.me.
Michael Curry, Sociology major, wrote, “Be phenomenal or be forgotten” on his arms because anything is possible if a person believes it. He shared how his mother is his inspiration and motivation. As a single mother raising three kids, Michael took time off college and financially assisted his family. Nevertheless, his life took a turning point when he tore his meniscus and ACL playing basketball. The incident completely changed his life because his nine-month recovery was slow. This experience taught him patience when he started using crutches, upgraded to a cane, and finally started walking again. As time passed, his family became economically stable and he returned to college. Michael became a board member of the University-Student Union, resident assistant on campus, and a straight-A student for spring quarter 2016. “Optimism is a disease I developed through my life and has made me who I am today,” Curry said.
Photo by Joseph Delgado
October 10, 2016
(1984 – 2016) J. Aaron Delgado Photo Editor In the late evening of September 10, Cal State LA graduate student Sevak “Sam” Ghazarian was taking a stroll in Atwater Village near Glendale Boulevard and Revere Avenue when he was fatally shot multiple times, according to the L.A. County Coroner’s records. The homicide of Ghazarian, 32, is still at large and the whereabouts of the suspects remain unclear. The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the homicide report and arrived on the scene at 10:45 PM and found paramedics assisting Ghazarian from the wounds. At 11:20 PM, the coroner pronounced Ghazarian dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Many colleagues, classmates, and family of the well-known chemistry graduate students mourned the loss of Sevak as many of them described his personality with such adjectives as hardworking, friendly, and caring. “We constantly feel his absence,” Dr. Feimeng Zhou, professor of Chemistry, said. “Sam” started as an undergraduate student at Cal State LA when he first joined Dr. Zhou’s research group. “Sam” was an individual who seemed like an unsung hero because he performed a lot of the work that many other research students would not volunteer to do, such as moving instruments in the lab and buying supplies while doing research work with Dr. Zhou. Though his hard work did not go unnoticed as it was recognized throughout the staff in the chemistry department.
3 FEATURES Remembering Sam’s Chemistry University Times
“He was very kind to all the staff members. He was always helpful running errands for different people,” Dr. Zhou said. “His death was a big loss to my group and we were really devastated.” Ghazarian was very interested in the sciences, especially chemistry, as he was committed to working with Dr. Zhou on a research project in converting solar energy into electricity. His passion for the research led him to stay and work late nights, even coming in to work in the lab on weekends. “He [Ghazarian] published two papers with me. Not many undergraduate or even graduate students could do that,” Dr. Zhou said. “Those papers were published in prestigious journals.” As a graduate student in chemistry, Ghazarian was close to receiving his
Masters degree – approximately finishing his masters program by spring semester 2017. “Sam” was finished with all his projects in Chemistry and finishing up his final classes, he just needed to write and defend his thesis, which Dr. Zhou describes he could simply accomplish. Elen Badalyan, a Cal State LA graduate student and friend of Ghazarian for two years, commemorates their friendship and appreciates all the help that she has received from him as a classmate and friend. She also shares the many laughs they had with the chemistry equipment. “This [machine] is a Rolls-Royce, but not on wheels,” Badalyan laughed after remembering Ghazarian’s joke.
Above: Photo courtesy of CSULA Chemisty Dept.'
Right: Photo courtesy of Manan Darbinian
Graduate & Professional Schools Recruitment Fair Discover graduate programs and schools from throughout the state and country Connect with admission counselors and recruiters Inquire about application requirements Cal State LA Main Walkway October 27, 2016 10am–2pm Hosted by Cal State LA OfÞce of Graduate Studies 323–343–3820, www.calstatela.edu/graduatestudies
Dr. Zhou and Badalyan, along with many other friends, faculty, and family, miss “Sam” and wish him a peaceful rest. His hard work is a catalyst of influence to many Cal State LA Chemistry students for the years to come. Dr. Zhou along with many other faculty in the chemistry department are attempting to establish a scholarship in Ghazarian’s honor. If anyone has any information regarding the homicide of Sevak “Sam” Ghazarian, they are asked to contact the LAPD Northeast Division detectives at (323) 561-3321. For those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
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October 10, 2016
University Times
YAF hosts Christina Hoff Sommers
An interview with Sommers to discuss feminism and P.C. culture Matt Lopez Contributor
The Young American Foundation, also known as YAF and best known for inviting Ben Shapiro to speak on campus, which caused near chaos, has invited yet another speaker, Christina Hoff Sommers, to speak at Cal State LA on the topic of Feminism and where it went wrong. Though the topic may not seem as controversial as Ben Shapiro’s speech titled “When Diversity Becomes a Problem,” it is already stirring the emotions of some students at Cal State LA. A video has surfaced of one student, a middle aged woman who appears to be wearing a bra on her head, ripping down flyers for the event. When confronted in the video the woman explains that she is ripping down the flyers because they are “offensive” and justifies her actions by claiming it is her right under
freedom of speech to do so. But not all students agree with her argument. After watching the video, one Royce Roque, a Political Science major at Cal State LA stated, “there is never a good reason to encroach on someone's freedom unless that person was encroaching on the others' freedom. And putting up posters does not justify encroaching on someone's freedom. So tearing them down is not warranted. And is merely childish.” Though this may seem apparent to people like Roque, other students, like the woman taking down the posters, had a far different opinion. One student posted on Facebook, “I can't believe Young Americans For Freedom have a chapter on our campus and that they invited Christina Hoff Sommers to speak. Like nobody wants that evil, regressive piece of garbage on our campus except for those like five people who are apart of the YAF cult. I hope she gets protested and instructed just like Ben Shapiro did.” For members of YAF like Polk Strisermpoke, this comes
as a big scare. “The idea that someone would want to obstruct an event just because they disagree with an opinion is worrisome,” said Strisermpoke. “Life is filled with different opinions and we must learn to respect them even if we may not agree them and to combat them with conversation rather than physical obstruction like what was done when Ben Shapiro came to campus.” So what is so controversial about Sommers? Her views, which tend to go against what is seeming to become the norm on college campuses, such as safe spaces, trigger warnings, and the idea of rape culture in America. In a 2014 online article for TIME, Sommers wrote, “Sexual assault on campus is a genuine problem—but the new rape culture crusade is turning ugly. The list of falsely accused young men subject to kangaroo court justice is growing apace.” Going on to say, “Students at Boston University demanded that a Robin Thicke concert be cancelled: His hit song Blurred Lines is supposedly a
Photo by Marrian Zhou
rape anthem. (It includes the words, “I know you want it.”) Professors at Oberlin, University of California, Santa Barbara, and Rutgers have been urged to place ‘trigger warnings’ on class syllabi that include books like the Great Gatsby—too much misogynist violence. This movement is turning our campuses into hostile environments for free expression and due process. And so far, university officials, political leaders, and the White House are siding with the mob.” With views that obviously cause a great deal of uncomfortable emotions with students, especially millennials,
why invite such a controversial speaker to campus? When asked what the intention of bringing Sommers to Cal State LA was, president and founder of the Cal State LA’s YAF chapter, Mark Kahanding responded, “Christina Hoff Sommers is a well respected feminist who provides a different view on feminism rather than the feminism that is taught on college campuses. The feminism that is currently taught is spewing lies about everything and teaches women that they are oppressed but in reality they are free living in America. We hope to seek a dialogue among students to (Continued On Page 5)
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October 10, 2016 (Continued From Page 4) make them question Feminism and seek out different opinions.” The University Times had the chance to speak with Sommers on why she felt her opinions were so controversial. “[Because] hardline grievance feminism is entrenched in the universities, in many of the women’s groups, certainly in the Internet (Continued From Page 1) to gangs, you can get out of jail free, if (California’s Proposition 57) passes. If you do a drive-by shooting, you can get out of jail free, if Proposition 57 passes. If you discharge guns on a school yard, you can get out of jail free." Although Congresswoman Sanchez isn’t explicitly lying, she is stretching the truth according to PolitiFact. Inmates convicted of one of 23 violent crimes, listed in Penal Code Section 667.5 (c) including murder, robbery and kidnapping, will not be considered for release at all. Prisoners who are not convicted of any violent crime will be considered for release pending a review by a parole board. In other words, those who commit the gun crimes Sanchez listed would not necessarily be released. An important distinction between the candidates came on the issue of for-profit universities. Sanchez wants to vet for-profit schools for legitimacy, but supports the industry overall. Harris on the other hand has initiated investigations against for-profit universities including Corinthian Colleges. She eventually sued Corinthian colleges and shut them down. Harris also pointed out that Sanchez has taken a $5,000 check from Corinthian and has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from these for-profit colleges overall.
University Times and it’s apparently, to some people, an attractive idea to think of themselves as captive to a patriarchal oppressive system,” Sommers told the University Times. Sommers argued, “It’s absurd to describe the United States that way, but they do. [...] Here’s the thing, it's not that things are perfect with women, they’re not, there is always room for improve-
ment. If you can persuade your fellow citizens that there’s a continuing inequity, we will listen. If you persuade us you will affect change, its called democracy. So we have a system for change, they can use that, but they seem to want to detour around that, because in a democracy, to change people’s minds you have to persuade them. To show that you have better arguments, to show that you
The campus department of public safety was there in numbers, so as to avoid repeating a similar incident when Ben Shapiro spoke on
campus. While the event was a full house, many visited to protest the feminist speaker through Q&A. Christina Hoff Sommers spoke at Cal State LA on October 4th at 3:00 in the University-Student Union Theater.
Both candidates tried to undercut the other, and Harris spent a considerable amount of the debate criticizing Sanchez for a poor attendance record in Congress. She explained that Sanchez had the third worst attendance record in the House and never showed up for any anti-terrorism task force meetings, a committee which she chairs. The candidates also discussed Proposition 64 and marijuana reform for the upcoming election. Attorney General Harris believes that Prop 64 will pass in November, making recreational use legal for those 21 and older. On a federal level, she wants to move marijuana from a schedule one drug to two, and wants to end the mass incarceration of disproportionately black and Hispanic marijuana offenders. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez also wants to move marijuana off the Schedule one list of drugs and wants to introduce better regulations to make the industry more mainstream and transparent. She explained that banks are hesitant to work with dispensaries because of conflicting federal regulations, creating an all cash industry. Sanchez helped to shut down 119 illegal shops in Santa Ana and opened 19 legal ones, while helping to unionize the shops in her district. Sanchez stated her position on a few more topics. She wants to fund
Photo by Ani Nalbandian
water distilleries and recycling plants to aid in California’s drought. Sanchez also explained that she was currently carrying a bill through Congress to double Pell Grants for students and offer funding for summer classes and programs. Notable moments in Sanchez’s Congressional voting record include a “no” vote on the Iraq war and the Patriot Act. Attorney General Harris outlined her position on the drought, stating that the future of California will include water wars if there is no action taken. “We need reliable sources of water,” Harris said, who was recently endorsed by the United Farm Workers, and wants to end the Delta Smelt dilemma preventing
October, October, Beware of Witchcraft Gender anxiety conveyed through witch trials in the 1600s Marrian Zhou Managing Editor
Photo by Marrian Zhou
have evidence-based research to prove that women are second-class citizens […] they haven’t made the case. So now what they seem to want to do, not everywhere, but on some campuses, is to not let the discussion take place.”
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“A man was walking along one day and looking for a witch, he believed his penis was used for Maleficien and it was stolen. When he found the witch, he asked, ‘Please, please, can I have my penis back?’ And she said, ‘Alright, keep walking ahead and you will see a bird nest. Take any birds you want, just don’t take the large one, because it belongs to the High Priest.’”
It was one of the stories noted in the book Malleus Maleficarum by Heinrich Kramer regarding witchcraft and how to hunt them down. Broomsticks, murmuring in Latin, pacts with the Devil, boiling potions, and dirty robes- all obvious signs of a witch in the Middle Ages on European continent. It surely was a difficult time for women who lived in poverty and of course, made some enemies in the neighborhood. Sarah Eckert is a Ph.D. (Continued On Page 12)
water usage in the Central Valley. During the debate’s closing remarks, Sanchez made sure to pander to the millenial vote by doing the ‘dab’, a dance move popularized by Migos. Kamala Harris’ dumbfounded face was an accurate depiction of others in the room. It was a strange sight to see and has not yet gone viral, so it doesn’t look like Sanchez got the reaction she was hoping for, but is definitely a first for Senate history. Current California Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein have publicly endorsed Kamala Harris. In fact, they endorsed her early Wednesday, shortly before the debate. Harris
has also been endorsed by President Obama, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Governor Jerry Brown. A recent September Field Poll resulted in 42 percent support among likely voters for Kamala Harris and 20 percent for Loretta Sanchez. As of September about 26 percent of voters remain undecided, mainly due to the absence of a Republican candidate. Many neglected California Republicans may sit out the general election out of fear of casting a vote for the other. To watch the full live stream of the debate, you can visit Cal State LA’s YouTube upload at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=z-Ld4FJTra0.
See page 11 for this week's column Introducing the Anonymous Eagle The Anonymous Eagle can answer your questions or give advice about love, relationships or sex. You can email the Anonymous Eagle with your questions and expect an answer in next week’s issue of the University Times, where your name, email, or any other information will not be revealed. When submitting questions, feel free to make name changes. Your age and major would be appreciated
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October 10, 2016
University Times
(Continued From Page 1) tion from CSU Stanislaus. “All of the trustees, except for one, are appointed by [California] Governor Brown.” Trustee members serve twoyear terms, with their first year as a non-voting member (Jorge Reyes is currently a non-voting member), and there are also alumni and faculty trustees on the Board. White commented that the Board is “pretty diverse” in terms member backgrounds, and they come from many different major types. There are different committees within the Board that focus on different issues and progresses within the CSU system. Jorge Reyes, who is pursuing his Masters in Communication Studies from CSUN, said that his focus is both on commentary provided both by ASI, as well as “students who are not very privileged to be ASI” because he “really wants to get the students’ perspective” from across the board. And that they did. Cal State LA’s ASI Board members then asked a few questions of the trustees. Marcos Montes asked about what kinds of system-wide solutions the CSU is pursuing regarding the homelessness and food security crises on campuses, and White and Reyes respond-
ed that the CSU is currently pursuing drawing attention to resources such as food banks and Cal Fresh programs on campus, like making the card available to students. “The way we can help with food security is through the individual campus,” said Reyes. He also mentioned that focusing on Cal Fresh and community organizations to help provide extra housing for students in need would be the key to progress in that area. Both White and Reyes lamented that they couldn’t do more to address issues that require extensive outside funding from the state of California. ASI member Timothy Achinger asked about the trustee’s role in land improvements on campuses, and White explained that most change happens in the finance committee branch, but that the full board provide loans and approve public and private partnerships. However, she brought up how hard it is to actually get actions to go through by the huge amount of deferred maintenance requests on campuses, and how this delays change. White noted as well how “fifty percent of the buildings are 40 years old or older in the CSU,” White and Reyes went on to answer more questions about the inner workings of the CSU
Board of Trustees, and then representatives from the California State Student Association (CSSA) went on to speak for the rest of the meeting. They were quick to introduce themselves because they had a huge bombshell to drop: There is talks about a possible CSUwide tuition increase scheduled to be voted on by the Board in the next meeting in November of this year. It will be an action item for the CSU system in January 2017, the maximum raise for tuition will be $270 per year for resident undergraduates, and $396 for non-resident undergraduates. CSSA mentioned the importance of the election in terms of this item and how there are three options regarding this problem: either CSU gets fully funded by the state (as was proposed by a couple of the presidential candidates in the past and now), programs must be cut from the CSU, or tuition must increase in order to keep the CSU system running, what with the recent influx of new students across all campuses. This is still just a possible scenario, but if you are concerned about what option might come to pass, CSSA will hold its November meeting at Cal State Long Beach, which will also be open to the public.
Photos courtesy of CSULA ASI
October 10, 2016
University Times
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Pulitzer Prize journalist Sonia Nazario tales of child refugees Pulitzer Prize winning author tells all. Kyle Frizol Intern What does a Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times reporter and an 11-year-old boy have in common? As Sonia Nazario, the woman who found that answer learned, the necessity and desire to be loved is shared throughout the world. Without it, boys and girls grow up cold and let evil take over their hearts. From suburban metropolises to corrupt and undeveloped cities deep within South America, we all share the same humanity. When Sonia Nazario, author of Enrique’s Journey, first began her exploration into social issues, she had no idea that it would lead her to experience the horrors of a reality in immigration and corruption that she would later write about. Her interest in social issues had its conception when she began attending college. Her university—Williams College—that was esteemed for its rigorous and exemplary education happened to be overwhelmingly white. The population on campus was nearly all white students, except for, “around 4 or 5 Latino students,” Nazario described. As a result, she made it her goal to represent her nationality and pushed herself to become cum laude of her graduating class. Her penchant for social issue did not stop there, but rather grew exponentially as she began her career. As Nazario graduated and was tasked with figuring out her career, she accepted a job offer at The Wall Street Journal. Later she learned that she was the youngest person at the publication to ever be hired. Nazario quickly began to build her reputation alongside the publication.
children at home while she traveled to America to provide for them. She had not seen her children for nearly 11 years, and the pain of being unable to be there for them was beginning to make her regret the decision. This shocked Nazario, as she hadn't the faintest notion to why a mother would leave her children and go to another country. However, the answer to her question was soon answered. Once she learned of this common occurrence, Nazario decided to investigate what was going on in countries like Mexico and Guatemala that forced mothers to leave their children in search of work. Not long after, Nazario found herself in the dangerous cities within Guatemala, asking children and mothers what was happening in the country to illicit such a heartbreaking phenomenon. The sad answer lay within the dangers of living in the country itself. Rather than having to raise their children in these cities, mothers decided to travel to America in search of jobs that could support their families. The goals of these mothers was to pay the hefty $10,000 fee to have their children smuggled to America, where they could live together, “safely”. As Nazario discovered, obtaining this money was nearly impossible for them, as they were still surviving on barely livable wages in the U.S. With the inability to smuggle their children to America, the young boys and girls began taking action into their own hands. The only form of transportation that would allow them to escape their endangered lives were the freight trains that ran through the jungles and into Mexico.
Rather than focusing on the nuances of tracking the qualitative and quantitative trends of business and the economy, as the majority of WSJ reporters tended to do, Nazario wished to continue following her blooming interest in covering social issues.
Once Nazario discovered this method of transportation, she decided to travel on it herself and experience its harsh realities. The expedition, which Nazario described as, “...a 12,000 mile journey that took 122 days, many of which were hungry, cold days,” was an equally dangerous and punishing journey.
One afternoon, as Nazario was standing in the kitchen, her maid came in crying hysterically. As she learned from the maid, originally a Guatemalan citizen, she had left her
“Each train would house hundreds of children and migrants that lived on the tops, and they held fast onto anything that they could,” Nazario said.
Boys, ranging from as young as ten years old to teenagers, lived on the tops of freight trains for months on end. They would encounter bandits and gangsters who patrolled the train and demanded money in exchange for their permission to ride. If a child did not have any money to pay the bandits, they would be killed or thrown off the train, which would consistently be moving at 40+ miles per hour. Rapists would traverse the train, beating and nearly killing any child that resisted them. It was this very character that Nazario built her novel, Enrique’s Journey, on. However, Enrique was an actual boy who Nazario met on the top of a train making this exact trek. Enrique, who was eleven years old at the time, described his life story, which included his mother leaving him behind to work in San Diego. He wished to find her, as the dangers of his city were growing quickly upon him.
Weighing his options, he decided to use the freight trains to attempt to get to America. His efforts were met eight times with failure, as he was beaten up and thrown off of trains, nearly caught by immigration officers, and forced to try and get back on the train again. Nazario noted that Enrique described one of his scariest moments, and how “A bandit grabbed me on the train and beat me, punching me over and over in the face, and then threw me off of the moving train.” “Once he came to in the morning, he was covered in blood that was dripping from his eyes and had nothing but underwear on,” said Nazario. Finally reaching America after his countless efforts to overcome immigration, bandits, gangs, and the dangers of the train itself left him physically and mentally exhausted, Enrique ultimately reunited with his mother.
“The determination of these young boys shows how harsh the reality of migrants is,” said Nazario. After discovering the realities with which hundreds of thousands of children are faced each year, it only made sense that Nazario continued following her interest in social justice, by writing her novel, Enrique’s Journey. Living alongside Enrique for three months, experiencing the ups and downs of their journey, and seeing just how migrants are treated, Nazario’s passion for investigative journalism led her to creating her novel, which has since become a national bestseller. The result of her continuous work in social justice and in removing the transparency of a contentious topic such as immigration is seen throughout her published work, which has reached thousands of eyes and minds that would have otherwise been blind to such atrocity.
Career Fair| Fall Semester 2016
Wednesday, October 19
Golden Eagle Ballroom 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Network with employers who are seeking candidates for full-time, part-time and internships across all majors. Research companies before event, bring copies of résumé and dress professionally.
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October 10, 2016
University Times
NOTAS BREVES
El presidente colombiano es galardonado con el premio Nobel de la paz 2016
NOTICIAS LOCALES Premio Nobel de química para los creadores de las máquinas más pequeñas del mundo Tres científicos europeos trabajaron en la construcción de máquinas moleculares Por Lissette Flores La Real Academia de Ciencias de Suecia otorgó el miércoles pasado, el premio Nobel de química al francés Jean-Pierre Sauvage, al británico Fraser Soddart y al holandés Bernard Feringa, por diseñar y sintetizar las llamadas máquinas moleculares (o elementos mínimos, entrelazados capacitados para transmitir movimiento) El trio trabajó durante años en el desarrollo de cadenas, ejes, dispositivos de memoria, motores e inclusive un coche nano, a escala diminuta. Estas máquinas son moléculas con movimientos controlables que pueden realizar una tarea cuando se les proporciona energía. Normalmente, las moléculas se unen cuando los átomos comparten electrones, sin embargo en 1983, Sauvage desarrolló una cadena molecular formada por eslabones que rotaban de forma controlada al aplicarle energía. De igual manera, en 1991,
Fraser Stoddart se centró en la formación de moléculas que pudiesen encajar unas con otras y, por tanto, transmitir movimiento. Pero en el 2011, el científico Feringa construyo el coche más pequeño de la historia, consiste de cuatro ruedas formadas por moléculas que giran y se encuentran unidas a una especie de chasis molecular. De acuerdo a los jueces del premio Nobel, los hallazgos de los tres científicos son considerados como un gran avance que “demuestra como la miniaturización de la tecnología puede conducir a una gran revolución”. Por otro lado, Feringa explicó que estos diminutos robots podrían contribuir grandemente a la curación de enfermedades como el cáncer ya que podrían inyectarse en las venas y buscar células cancerígenas o administrar algún medicamento. Los galardonados estarán trabajando en el desarrollo de nuevos materiales, sensores y sistemas de almacenamiento de energía, esto representaría un cambio en la industria y “un inicio de una nueva era electrónica” palabras de Sara Snogerup Linse, presidenta del comité de Ciencia de los premios Nobel.
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Por Claudia Landeros Colombia tiene una historia de lucha armada que supera las cinco décadas. Un gran número de muertos, desaparecidos y desplazados han sido las víctimas de la guerra civil. El presidente Santos tiene más de cuatro años intentando llegar al dialogo con los
guerrilleros y tras muchos esfuerzos y negativas logró por fin un acuerdo histórico de paz con el grupo armado. Desafortunadamente, la propuesta fracasó en las urnas. El comité organizador del premio Nobel, reconoció en el presidente Santos, su dedicación y el acercamiento
tan importante que ha logrado para obtener la paz en su nación, y es premiado por su esfuerzo en terminar la guerra en su país. El comité destaca que el presidente colombiano se "ha acercado de forma significativa hacia una solución pacífica del sangriento conflicto”.
Una más de Mr. Trump: Patadas de ahogado o acusaciones verídicas Es conocida la singular característica de Donald Trump por lanzar acusaciones al aire y especular de todo y de todos conforme le sea posible. No es un hombre que tiene pelos en la lengua para decir lo que piensa y tal fue el caso de la sospecha que ahora tiene en contra de la patrulla fronteriza de permitir el ingreso ilegal de inmigrantes para que voten
en las elecciones. Trump no mostró ninguna prueba que respalde sus acusaciones, son meros rumores que han llegado a sus oídos, pero de fuentes verídicas, según él. De ser cierto, este fraude afectaría significativamente los comicios de noviembre. Cabe destacar que toda persona que vaya a las
urnas a ejercer su derecho al voto, tiene que haberse registrado para votar. Esto va más allá de abrir las puertas de par en par para que todos los inmigrantes vengan a participar en las elecciones. Por otro lado, si son inmigrantes “ilegales” es imposible que voten, ese es un derecho que solo los ciudadanos estadounidenses tienen.
CIENCIA
Circo, maroma y teatro en las redes sociales y en las calles Payasos bromistas siguen atemorizando a la sociedad Por Eduardo Ramos Todo comenzó como una broma para un canal de YouTube y, según otras fuentes, para darle publicidad a una película de terror. Broma o publicidad, el hecho es que el fenómeno de “los payasos asesinos” se ha apoderado no solo de las redes sociales sino también de los noticieros. Ha sido tanta la multiplicación de estos bromistas, que se ha extendido en varios países sembrando terror entre los ciudadanos y movilizando a las autoridades en algunos casos. Lo peor de estas payasadas es que la gente se lo ha tomado en serio. Los payasos se arriesgan a jugarle al valiente y las consecuencias son mortales. En Ecatepec, Estado de México, el viernes pasado mataron a dos payasos por estar asustando mujeres y niños. Aquí, en Estados Unidos, El gobierno de Georgia, el de las Carolinas y de otros estados está
en alerta por temer que estos payasos sean secuestradores y estén merodeando en las escuelas locales. La mayor preocupación de las autoridades y de la ciudadanía es que realmente se estén planeando actos delictivos bajo las máscaras. Las autoridades deben tomar medidas drásticas, en Francia, por ejemplo, en el 2104 se prohibió rotundamente salir a la calle vestido de payaso, precisamente porque ya otros habían causado el temor entre la gente. Es incomprensible y reprochable el hecho de que hasta los medios de comunicación le dediquen espacio a estas bromas dentro
de sus agendas y contribuyan a alimentarles el morbo de gente payasa y desocupada. La ciudadanía no necesita más temor, sino confianza y seguridad. Actos como este son completamente inadmisibles. Suficiente tenemos ya con el temor generado por ataques terroristas alrededor del mundo. Existe un número inimaginable en el mundo de más gente buena que mala; de otro modo este mundo sería un verdadero caos. La sociedad está mal porque se siguen alimentando sentimientos innecesarios, especialmente aquellos que son fomentados por hechos que carecen de seriedad.
Photo por www.elanormal.com
October 10, 2016
University Times
'Women, Gay Bars & Theology' Dr. Cartier touches on how gay bars acted as a supportive environment for gays and lesbians Erron Franklin Copy Editor Dr. Marie Cartier, an artist, queer activist, theologian and professor of Women’s studies at Cal State Northridge, had students in the department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at rapt attention while lecturing on the importance of America’s gay bar’s in the LGBTQ community. In a small classroom of about 20 students in the Physical Science Building, Dr. Cartier began her lecture with a discussion about the book she authored: Baby You Are My Religion, which, “examines how these bars became not only ecclesiastical sites but also provided the fertile ground for the birth of
the struggle for gay and lesbian civil rights before Stonewall.” Stonewall was a gay bar in New York City that would allow “touch dancing” between the same sex, which was rare, however, it was often raided by police. One student asked, “So what would happen if you guys like touched each other?” “If the cops came you would be arrested and at that time period if a gay person was arrested, very likely their names would be in the paper. If your name got in the paper you could legally lose your job, lose your apartment, and if you’re a woman lose your kids.” In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969 the police department raided the Stonewall Inn and the club goers stood up in revolt, however, it wasn’t the first time.
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Dr. Cartier explained, “What makes Stonewall so significant is that for first time LGBT people were on television rebelling for a long time.” In June of each year America along with the LGBT community celebrates Pride month, which commemorates the Stonewall Rebellion of ’69, but this past June, America witnessed the worst mass shooting in its history when a lone gunmen opened fire with an automatic weapon at Pulse Nightclub, a popular gay bar in Orlando, Fla. When the gunfire was over 49 people, gay and straight, had lost their lives. Dr. Cartier interviewed over a hundred people, primarily pre-Stonewall gays and lesbians, while her writing her book who all agreed that, “The gay bar was an alternative church space, I postulate, for those who were exiled from all other churches, major and
Photo by Marie Cartier
minor, and all other public space. The gay bars were a sanctuary and as we saw with Orlando, they often still are,” said Dr. Cartier. The importance of the gay bar has been recognized by White House following the mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub
with President Obama labeling them as places of “Solidarity and Empowerment.” For information on the book Baby You Are My Religion please visit: http:// babyyouaremyreligion.com
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Para La Onda:
October 10, 2016
University Times
Jefa de Redacción: Claudia Landeros Editores: Lissette Flores Jessica Magaña Consejero de la Facultad: Alejandro Solomianski
OPINION
OP-ED: Christina Hoff Sommers’ twisted brand of feminism Mimi Li Staff Reporter Sommers, who was invited to speak at Cal State LA by Young Americans for Freedom, argues for feminism theory without regard to race, gender, or class. Here’s why her views are detrimental to the feminist movement. The self-described ‘Factual Feminist’ Christina Hoff Sommers lectured at Cal State LA last Tuesday, hosted by the conservative student organization Young Americans for Freedom. As time passed, I thought, for a so-called ‘Factual Feminist,’ she sure spends a lot of time making jokes about trigger warnings and childishly insulting intersectional feminism, rather than presenting facts. In fact, I was rather amused by her circular reasoning. She frequently argued that intersectional feminists lack logic and reason… by reiterating that they lack logic and reason. Additionally, the event was hostile to the few students who had challenged Sommers’ views during the Q & A session. Audience members, consisting of mostly YAF members, some even coming from as far as San Diego, loudly mocked the students and laughed alongside Sommers. Sommers herself had mocked the students as well, at times choosing to pick on them instead of giving serious responses. So what is intersectional feminism and why is Sommers, a self-identified feminist, against it? Intersectional feminism, or third wave feminism, is the type of feminism that is championed in the current feminist movement. It is distinguishable from the first and second wave for its emphasis on not only gender, but race, class, and other identities that one may have. All women do not share the same struggles. A wealthy white female celebrity may center her fight to have equal pay in Hollywood, but a low-income immigrant woman’s priority within the movement may be simply to advocate for a living wage for domestic workers. Sommers attacks intersectional feminism, specifically for its inclusion on identity politics, and instead advocates for what she calls ‘equity feminism.’ She defines equity feminism as a concept that “stands for the moral, social, legal equality of the sexes, and the freedom of men and women to employ their equal status to pursue happiness as they choose.” When explained further, the feminism she argues for denounces the existence of patriarchy, which is a system in which men hold more power in society and women are disadvantaged as a result. Women in the U.S. are not oppressed, she argues, pointing to the worse oppression that women in third world countries face. The brand of feminism that Sommers advocates for is similar to the goals of the first wave feminist movement, which advocated for equal rights under the law. Though
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intersectional feminists today are still fighting for equal rights, they are also identifying patterns of oppression in regards to their intersecting identities and applying it to their advocacy. In contrast, Sommers’ proposal is simplistic – Women should gain legal rights equal to men, and then everyone will live happily ever after. However, as history shows us, it is not only laws that change the lives of women, but social change must occur and attitudes towards women must progress as well. For example, yes, women are now permitted into the fields of science and technology, but their success will be impeded if their male colleagues and employers do not take her seriously or sexually harass her. Take the famous example of Rosalind Franklin, a female chemist and x-ray crystallographer who made vast contributions to our current understanding of DNA, RNA, viruses, and much more. She was a woman who, despite the gender discrimination of her time, made important scientific discoveries. However, her male colleagues, Francis Crick and James Watson, were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1962 using information from her discoveries, while she was never even nominated. Only years after she had passed away did she receive recognition. While Sommers agrees that sexism and racism exist in our society, it is not the norm, therefore women are not oppressed. Sommers states that intersectional feminists should not focus on oppression, and should focus on liberation instead. I believe this is where Sommers goes against her argument. If she argues for women’s liberation, then what do women need to be liberated from? In order to be liberated, women would have to look at what is holding them back. Therein lies the need to examine patriarchal oppression. Lastly, I argue that Sommers not only has a different brand of feminism, but that she is not a feminist at all. Her views clash with almost everything that both past and present feminist movements are fighting for, such as for equal pay and against rape culture.
Sommers insists that there is no wage gap along the binary gender lines. Her argument is a common one – Women are paid less because they chose to go into lower paying fields or take up jobs that are family friendly, while men take on higher paying jobs that are sometimes dangerous. However, this assertion has been proven false – Women are paid less than their male counterparts even in the same position in the same field. According to the National Women’s Law Center’s 2015 study on the wage gap, women are paid 80 cents to every dollar that their male counterparts made. When factoring in the earnings of women of color, the percentages are much lower. For every dollar that their white male counterpart made, Asian women made 85 cents, Black women made 63 cents, Native American women made 58 cents, and Latina women made 54 cents. Sommers also holds views of rape that are contrary to what the modern feminist movement is fighting for. She says that many women lie about getting raped, that it is merely sex that they regret having or drunk sex. She argues that rape is not an epidemic on college campuses. However, sexual assault is indeed an epidemic, as more and more female students are coming forward against their assailants. But since her core belief is that women are falsely alleging rape, then of course it will never be an epidemic to her. I interviewed Nghia Nguyen, one of two students who challenged Sommers to a short-lived debate due to time scarcity. Nguyen is a transgender activist and intersectional feminist who disagrees with Sommers. Her response sums up my argument. “Her claim to be fighting for equality is patently false when you look at what she advocates,” says Nguyen, in the interview. “You cannot claim to be fighting for equal rights while denying women equal pay. You cannot claim to be fighting for equal rights while denying the right of women to be free from sexual assault and rape. Sommers is hostile to the real feminist movement that is actually fighting for equality.”
October 10, 2016
University Times
Column: Let's Talk About Sex Anonymous Eagle Contributor
because men are naturally competitive. Men are scared to see another man please their girlfriend better Why are guys usually than themselves. A man only opened to having will usually also say no to threesomes with two other having a threesome with women and not a man another guy because they and a woman? are scared to get embarrassed at the fact that they The main reason is bemight have a smaller penis cause of the double stanthan the other guy. Rememdards between men and ber, experimenting can be women. Girl-on-girl action fun. is quite a popular fetish, but when it comes to a guy Can I get checked for experimenting with anothSTDs on campus? er guy, it is seen as taboo because of the perception Students on campus can other people will assume visit the Student Health that the guys are either gay Center and apply for The or “less of a man”. It is California Family PACT possible to have sex with Program at no cost or for a someone in the same genvery low price depending der as you and still consider on your family’s income. yourself heterosexual. Some of the benefits of this program include STI/ Another reason why guys HIV screening, STI manare opposed to having a agement, and pregnancy guy in their threesome is
testing.
friend gay?
What are the Do’s and Dont’s of oral sex?
The truth is, a man’s g-spot is actually the prostate, which is easier to access through their anus. Many men will not let anything close to their anus because they are afraid that it will be seen as gay or “less of a man”. Your boyfriend wanting to try new things in bed does not make him gay, especially if he knows that these acts will stimulate his orgasms.
Many people don’t like the idea of oral sex for hygienic reasons. Keeping the pubic area cleaned is important for oral sex because it will make it more enjoyable for both people. Teeth during oral sex is a rookie mistake many make when being new to oral. This goes for both men and women. Although some people can be into feeling like their parts are being scratched and bitten, it can be very uncomfortable for many. Don’t make your girlfriend swallow. If your girlfriend doesn’t want to swallow, respect that and appreciate the job. –Anonymous Eagle Is penetrating my boy-
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will bring a connection to you and your partner and will also make the sex last longer. Is it bad to have sex while my girlfriend is on her period?
Ultimately the answer is up to your girlfriend. Although many women feel dirty, tired, and are in pain while menstruating, many also find that it alleviates their menstrual pains. Many see this as an opportunity Sex is sometimes boring for more oral and anal sex, with my partner. How can but take note that it also provides a natural lubricant our sex life improve? for intercourse. A myth about sex while a womIf you’re trying to spice things up in bed, try differ- an is on her period is that she won’t be able to get ent positions. Remember, sex is not a job, don’t forget pregnant or won’t be able to catch STIs. This is still to have fun. Not all of the possible so always make times is it about the actual sure to wear a condom. sex. Role-playing is a big part, as well. Role-playing
Christina Hoff Sommers Event Op-Ed for a feminism that is solely based on equality between the sexes.
Theresa Ann Yugar Contributor This week, The Factual Feminist, Christina Hoff (Continued From Page 1) Media. “I’m deeply concerned if either of those two candidates are elected.” Stein began her speech by touching on current issues. She spoke about the country’s police force and the Black Lives Matter movement. Stein believes the police force would not need as much support if children were given chances to succeed. She wants to take some of the police force salary away and put “… a portion of that money into after school programs to be sure that schools are quality, not high stake testing schools, used as an excuse to shut down schools in poor communities,” urged Stein.
Photo by Marrian Zhou
Sommers, spoke on our campus as a guest of the CSULA Young Americans for Freedom group. She advocated “I am a human being, I have a right to be here!” shouted Stein, as she disclosed her promises to end the issues on immigration. She explained that every human being has the right to fight for security and a better life. Stein also spoke about the war on drugs and how the legalization of marijuana should be a federal decision. Stein promised to “pardon all those hundreds of thousands of people currently in prison for the recreational use of substances that are safer [marijuana] than alcohol and nicotine.” Stein announced this with confidence, as she continued to explain that pardoning these marijuana offenders would solve the problems with over-
Moreover, Ms. Hoff undermined an intersectional approach which takes into consideration overlapping oppressive structures that include race, sex, class, ethnic background, gender orientation, etc. Her argument is limited, as it does not take into account social determinants and influences on the capacity to exercise equality, especially race, class, gender, sexuality, ability, etc. In my Women’s, Gender
& Sexuality Studies class, many of my students found her approach to the theme of women's rights problematic, primarily because her worldview seems solely based on her personal experience as an advantaged white woman. From this position, she exhorted that she does not need to think about intersectional issues. As an educator, I wholeheartedly disagree. I believe that our role as educators is not to "invalidate [sic] our students' experiences." These experiences are unique and wholly their own based on their
individual life experiences coming from a multiplicity of global cultures, both locally and internationally. If Ms. Hoff Sommers truly believes that intersectional feminism is inconsequential, I deeply worry about the next generation of scholars -- man, woman, multi-gendered -- who are not thinking holistically in the application of their own academic disciplines in order to achieve an understanding of the pluralistic diversity that each of their professions brings to the academic table in which they partake.
loaded prisons. She promised that those particular offenders records would be wiped clean so that they would still have a chance to succeed. “We would send them home with a new job, not just job training, as part of the Green New Deal,” persisted Stein. Stein spoke out against the pipeline and how the world needs solutions to climate change; like ending the use of fossil fuels by 2030. Stein spoke about the wars in Iraq and Syria and the trillions of dollars wasted on war. “The longest war in our history is the Afghanistan war, and it’s a war we’re not winning; in fact, the Taliban have only gotten stronger,” said Stein.
Photo by Gerardo Amezquita
Referring to Clinton and Trump, Stein concluded, “It’s time for a voter revolt, these are the most disliked and untrusted candidates in our history. A majority of voters are now calling for a new independent third party. There’s only one way forward, to have
jobs, to have climate, to end the wars, and to deal with the nuclear weapons.” The rally ended with numerous speakers and supporters of Jill Stein and the Green Party. ABC7 was also on site reporting on the excitement.
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October 10, 2016
University Times
SPORTS Forensics Speech & Debate Team starts the season off with a big victory
Forensics team blows competition out of the water at first tournament of the year Anthony Karambelas Staff Reporter Cal State LA is accredited for numerous clubs, one of them being our stellar Forensics Speech and Debate Team. You might remember back to last year, when they claimed the title of first place in Division B in the nation, with only six students on the team. Highlights included Lane Schwager, who won fourth in the nation for her hilarious After Dinner Speech (ADS), and now coaches for the team. In a Facebook post, Cal State LA Forensics projected to double the number of students on the team. This year, they accomplished just that. Having inducted eight new team members so far for this season, the team is twelve competitors strong. They have been busy at work since the start of fall semester, preparing their individual events. Now fully prepared to rock the competition, all that was left to do was compete. (Continued From Page 5) candidate in History of Early Christianity from Claremont Graduate University. On Monday, October 3, she brought to the students of Gender in Science 3860 her sophisticated knowledge in the phenomena of witch trials and delivered an intriguing presentation on witchcraft imagery and women sexuality. Eckert helped the students familiarize with the subject through a painting of Henry Fuseli in 1783, with three elder women in hood facing the side in linear motion. The title was obvious enough, “The Three Witches”. This image was a widely accepted perception on witches in the Middle Ages: old women in hoods with long triangular noses and rough skin, who made a pact with the Devil. However, were the witches really who they were perceived to be? “By definition, a witch is someone who practices Maleficien- harmful magic, they were usually women of lower class who suffered some kind of disfranchisement in the society,” said Eckert. “Thousands of women were sentenced to death by fire at witch trials.”
Last weekend, the Cal State LA Forensics Team participated in their first speech tournament of the year, a twoday swing consisting of the Aztec and Mills Invitationals. Carrying on the tradition of excellence, this fully-fledged team took home second place overall in Individual Events for both days. Every competitor on the team made it to finales, and several took home first place in their divisions. Suffice it to say, they were “speechy keen.” Each member has a unique story. Third-year Alex Zhou recalled his COMM 150 experience with Professor Frances Chee and how she inspired him to join the team. “While I started off a little scared of speaking in public, I ended up really enjoying it and competed in the speaking showcase. From there, Frances recommended I join the Forensics team and I've loved it ever since,” said Zhou. But this is not the only way to join Forensics. Eric Orozco recounted a humorous story that many can relate to. “I joined the team by accident. I was majoring in Communication Studies at
Any innocent women who disobeyed the Church or a powerful individual, or were simply suspected by their neighbors, could be accused of doing witchcraft. Trials with mother and daughter prosecuted together also existed. Sabbath- witches’ annual meeting, was a common belief in the 1600s where witches ate babies, covered themselves in blood, and had sex with the Devil. However, most scholars nowadays agree that Sabbath was only a fantasy instead of actual historical occurrence, according to Eckert. The vivid images of Sabbath were mostly deluded and made up by prosecuted women under torture. “If you were prosecuted of committing witchcraft, the goal was to confess as soon as possible to eliminate the amount of torture and pain they will put you through,” said Eckert. “So the Sabbath was very likely a product of intense torture- tell them what they want to hear so you could get off the interrogation. And on wild accounts, they would make up extremely specific details.”
ELAC and I saw ‘forensics’ listed as one of the classes. I thought that meant forensics science, the CSI stuff, and wondered what dead bodies had to do with communication. So my curiosity got the better of me and I joined the class. I thought it was going to be about how we can identify what went down in crime scenes by looking at things like body placement and bullet hole trajectories.” Orozco continued, “I show up to the class and the teacher/director of forensics comes in. First thing he said was, ‘Welcome, everyone, to forensics. Just to let you know, you are all now part of the speech team.’ It was fun, so I've been doing it ever since.” There is more to speech than the name would have it. It doesn’t just involve the ability to recite articulately, although that is a key component. Speeches need to be impactful and grounded in truth. Rashad Freeman, who brought Prose and Poetry pieces to the tournament, described the larger problem his pieces seek to draw attention to. In his prose, he uses his own experiences as a black parent to shed light on
There was no distinction between sex for pleasure and sex for reproduction purpose. The idea that scared the ruling people was female out of control; it was the demonization of female sexuality, according to Eckert. The imagery of witches was the opposite of an ideal woman, who cared for children, stayed at home properly, and practiced abstinence. The first theorist on witchcraft was Heinrich Kramer. His book, Malleus Maleficarum, became the judge’s manual for witch trials. It described in details and defined what counted as witchcraft, and Kramer was the first to indicate that witches were specifically women. One common belief was that women were more acceptable to Devil’s charms than men. “Scholars have said that you hear a lot of gender anxiety in Kramer’s book,” said Eckert. “Although Kramer never said himself that they were quite worried about women, you could hear it in his tone and his text.” Somehow the male penis had always been a major
Photo courtesy of Cal State LA Forensics Speech and Forensics Facebook
the father-son relationship. “As far as the poetry, it’s about police brutality. It doesn’t take rocket science to see what’s going on to not just the black community, but the marginalized community, including poor white men and women as well,” said Freeman. Freeman added, “I’m not just an advocate on problack. Everyone is equal, so I definitely want to represent that through my piece.” Alan Diaz noted how his prose sheds light on the correlation between a sense of belonging and depression. “I believe that everyone has been in a lonely place where they concern when it comes to female sexuality, that it would be compromised if women abandoned abstinence. The sex discourse inherited from such practices could still been witnessed today. The witch trials and witchcraft eventually died down in the Enlightenment Era, because the existence of Devil was challenged and doubted. And if the belief of Devil was shaken, witchcraft could no longer be committed.
feel like they can connect with no one. My piece generates that sense of loneliness and is able to connect everyone in the room without actually saying anything to each other.” At its core, Cal State LA Forensics is a family. Daisy Villalobos put it perfectly when she said, “Without a doubt, the time you spend with the team will be unforgettable no matter what.” Make sure to like the Cal State LA Forensics Speech & Debate Facebook for continued updates throughout this year. They expect great things from their team on their journey to Nationals.
“Witchcraft was a stereotypeit was an assumption applied to people who generally did not fit in society,” said Eckert. “It was a manifestation of gender anxiety during that time and a test of human nature. Whenever we feel threatened by something we don’t know, our first implication is to take it down. I think the message here is, don’t judge a book by its cover, or else it will lead to a witch hunt.”
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