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February 20, 2017
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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
What’s Wrong with These Elevators?
How Safe is ‘Sanctuary’?
Hundreds arrested in Los Angeles in the wake of Trump’s immigration battles
Elevator malfunction in King Hall leads to questions about overall maintenance
Ani Nalbandian Staff Reporter
Ricky Rodas Managing Editor
Despite being classified as a sanctuary city, Los Angeles was unable to avoid the deportation of hundreds of undocumented people this past week. Approximately 160 were arrested during Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, which kept in tune with many of the operations conducted over the past decade.
On Tuesday, Feb. 14, an elevator in the King Hall building malfunctioned and stopped on the 2nd floor , trapping 10 individuals inside. Public Safety officers arrived on scene to assist the situation, and the fire department was called to get the people out safely. However, a service technician showed up before the firefighters and successfully opened up the elevator. As soon as the doors opened, those trapped quickly filed out. One of the trapped elevator passengers was professor Steven Jones, who was late to class. One of his students, Valerie Lesser, saw the officers at the scene and asked if professor Jones was in (Continued to Page 2)
Issue 214.05
Ricky Rodas Technician opening the stuck elevator door in King Hall
The “routine” operation, as ICE’s statement says, mainly targeted those with felony convictions. Trump tweeted: 'The crackdown on illegal criminals is merely the keeping of my campaign
promise. Gang members, drug dealers & others are being removed!' Trump’s shaky presidency so far has been a far cry from routine, given his approval rating of 39 percent as of these raids. However, Obama was very active in deporting undocumented persons, reaching a significant number of 2.5 million people during his presidency. Classifying a city as a sanctuary does not technically mean that no undocumented persons will be deported, but rather the city will not provide extra funds to carry out any arrests or deportations. Many have speculated that the classification is only in its name, and does not provide extra protections to any person who has immigrated around the proper channels. During the Travel Ban protests across the Cal State (Continued to Page 5)
Stories Told on the Tip of Toes Ballet Hispánico wows audience at Luckman Theatre Sylvia Valdez Intern From arabesque, to croisé, to tour en l’air, the Ballet Hispánico wowed audiences at the Luckman Theatre on last Thursday night. Having performed in 11 countries, across three continents, and a total audience number of three million, there is no doubt as to why this company has been around since the 70s. The New York citybased group performed three times, each more spectacular and whimsical than the next. The production was made possible by 24 highly skilled performers and technicians. The first
phase of the night was an act titled, ‘FLABBERGAST’, choreographed by Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, whose resume speaks for itself. He directed proyecto ‘TITOYAYA’ in Valencia, Spain for four years, first place at the Ricard Morages competition in Barcelona, and most recently, was on Dance Magazine’s ‘25 to Watch’ list 2012. ‘FLABBERGAST’, is inspired by Sansano’s experience while traveling to America for the first time. Their 1930s inspired dresses and bulky faded luggage set the tone. The performance touches on war and violence. He does this masterfully, by integrating majestic hand guns and body spasms that gracefully counteract. Nothing short of art. Each performer manipulated their body to flow with the rhythm
J. Aaron Delgado Act I of Ballet Hispanico
of the music while telling a story. The second performance was the most striking.
Choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. The Belgium-Colombian started freelancing in 2003. She has several awards under her
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
FEATURE
NEWS Page 2 --
"Let's Smash Every Friday
belt, including, third Prize in 2002 at the Hannover’s Choreographers competition for “Clair/Obscur.” A year (Continued to Page 4)
Page 4 --
"With Great Love Comes Great Vulnerability"
Page 8 --
"'Jammin' at Harpo's Juke Joint"
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University Times
February 20, 2017
NEWS
Let’s Smash Every Friday
receives 60% of the pot, second place receives 30%, and third place receives 10%. In the event that there are more than 30 entries, first place receives 50% of the pot, second place receives 30%, third place 10%, and fourth & fifth place receive 5% each. Once the tournament starts, all eyes are on the competitors in person and online, as they stream the tournament on Twitch, a video game streaming service website.
Super Smash Club broadens the future of gaming on campus J. Aaron Delgado Photo Editor
Button mashing and joysticks hitting videogame controllers are the sounds heard throughout the halls of the third floor student union building on Fridays, from the newly formed Super Smash Club. Founded by Javier Garcia, a junior Mathematics major, the Super Smash Club was first thought of and created in Fall Semester of 2016 as a special interest organization to grow their local community at Cal State LA, and to provide a place for members to play Super Smash Bros. The group meets every Friday in the San Gabriel Room from 5 to 9 p.m. Super Smash Bros. is a popular multiplayer fighting videogame where people can play against each other as various iconic characters from Nintendo and other third party franchises. The game is very popular amongst gamers and is featured in the Evolution Championship series- the largest and longest running fighting game tournament. Prior to creating the Super Smash Club, Garcia’s experiences in the Smash community had greatly influenced the success and overall purpose of the club at Cal State LA. “I saw that I made a lot of connections with other students on different college campuses and in the real world. This allowed me (Continued from Page 1) elevator. The officer banged on the door and confirmed it. “The police responded promptly to the emergency call that was made on the elevator phone, and the service technician was there shortly afterwards and successfully opened the doors so we could leave,” Jones said. “I have nothing more to add regarding what turned out to be a fairly routine elevator malfunction.” Students like Child Development major Cassandra Rivas, however, weren’t too pleased with being confined to a small space full of people.
J. Aaron Delgado Gamers playing Super Smash Bros. Brawl
to get a support system on my academic work when I needed it the most,” Garcia said. “I felt compelled to create an environment like this for Cal State LA students since it interconnects video games and the real life world in a unique way.” It did not take long for Garcia to organize the Super Smash Club on campus as the process of creating the club was rather simple; the challenge was promoting the club and getting their presence known on campus so they can raise attendance rates at their weekly events. The way they got around this obstacle was to invite their main target audience - which is the Smash community, while their secondary audience is to cater to any gamer that is into console video games such as Super Rivas commented on the University Times’ video of the elevator incident, writing she and the nine others had been inside for 30 to 40 minutes. She elaborated more on her discontent with the situation in an interview. “Being in a confined space with nine other people for such a long period of time was not my favorite experience about this campus,” Rivas said. “With tuition being so high I would expect the university to at a minimum keep basic facilities such as working elevators operational and up to date. There are other elevators on campus I am not comfortable using, and with this experience
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Mario Bros. Garcia describes the club’s foundation as one that will carry itself as more people recognize their presence on campus, which has been successful due to the high turnouts at their events thus far. With attendance of more than 60 people at their first tournament event, Garcia found himself stressed managing the club’s first ‘tourney.’ To accommodate the needs of the event’s attendees, Garcia made sure to provide enough televisions and game consoles for anyone who wished to participate in the tournament and outside the tournament for leisure. Tournaments run weekly at their events and winners are rewarded with I am more afraid to use [them] now.” Other students commented on the video, sharing Rivas’ frustrations. “All the elevators get stuck. The admin building always has ‘temporarily out of order’ signs. Why aren’t they being fixed,” Kayla Pena wrote. Ryan Wells, a Cal State LA alum, commented, “Nothing has changed in 10 years.” Also, the officer present during the incident expressed that elevators tend to stuck when too many people take it together. However, the issued permit stated that the elevators are able to take 23 persons and up to 3,500 pounds. While students are dismayed by the state of elevators on campus, Dana Twedell, Facilities Services Director, assured that they will be fixed, and are maintained regularly. “One of the elevators is currently red-tagged, and that has been red-tagged because it needs a $50,000 repair; we will be replacing one of the major mechanical functions of the elevator,” Twedell said. “The moment that was brought to my attention, I seeked funding from my senior management, I have the funds, the materials are ordered, and I hope that will be up [and running] within the next two-to-three weeks.” Inside each elevator on campus, there is a permit that shows when it was last inspected; the permit inside the elevator that malfunctioned was issued on Nov. 9, 2015 and expired on Nov. 9, 2016. When asked about the expiration date, Twedell said, “Since the
the general prize pot for the evening. The event is free to play, while the club requires everyone to bring their own controllers. It is a great way to meet others in the community, but once the tournament starts all the monitors and consoles are reserved for the competitors who paid to enter. The fee to compete in the tournament fluctuates since the club is still young, so the prices can range from $5 to $10 with combinations of discount opportunities such as bringing a student ID at the door, or bringing a console (Wii or Wii U) or TV monitor. Depending on how many enter, the general pot prize disbursement runs at different percentiles of the winnings. If there are less than 30 participants in the tournament, first place state has to issue permits to not only our elevators but every elevator, they are routinely late in issuing their permits. But I assure we have all the service records to validate that those will be certified, and usually those are six months late; it’s not just typical of our campus, but it’s typical of every campus i’ve been in.” A validation delay may be responsible for the expired permit, but is there repercussions for facilities services if someone complains? Twedell said no. “There wouldn’t be any consequences because as long as we have the service records in which we do, the state will not fault for not putting up a piece of paper that they were unable to give to us in time,” Twedell said. “The elevators are very old, and that we do campus wide have an aging infrastructure. We do have different maintenance items around campus, not just elevators but boilers, chillers. every piece of major equipment here typically has a lifespan of 20 years; those elevators are much older than 20 years.” When asked why the school hasn’t replaced all their outdated appliances, Twedell replied, “Money, it’s the same issue the CSU (Cal State University System) faces. It’s coming up with the funds to put it into major repairs, and to be honest with you, we do get money but it’s never enough, so we maintain our focus on the absolutely critical item, and then the money goes downhill from there.” Twedell added
The club currently emphasizes Super Smash Bros. but has plans to branch out to other popular games such as the Street Fighter series, the Mortal Kombat series, and the highly acclaimed Overwatch, which took the title of Game of the Year at the Game Awards in 2016. The Super Smash Club has plans to collaborate with Cal State LA eSports, TESPA, the League of Legends club, and many others. Plans for an annual “Game Con” or game convention on campus in April are in the works for their members and students to look forward to. Until then, the club’s success looks to move forward the gaming and eSports community on campus. “In the end, it is very rewarding to know people had a good time with their friends,” Garcia said. “Every event that I put out reflects on my passion for the game and how I want others to have a great tournament experience and college experience.” People interested in more information about the Super Smash Club and its events can join their Facebook group “Smash 4 at CSULA”. that, “King Hall is scheduled for a complete renovation, but before that I have to do Physical Science [building], then I have to do admin [administration building], then I have to do Library North, and then I have to do King Hall.” When will King Hall be expected to be renovated? “I hear 10-20 years, so in the meantime what we continue to is maintain service that we have, and when we do have a major mechanical failure, that’s when we have to pony up [work hard] and get the fix,” Twedell said. Aside from concerns about the elevators, The University Times found a water fountain on the 6th floor of the Administration building was producing water with a brownish orange tint. In response to this particular case, Twedell said, “In regards to brown water, that’s typical infrastructure problems. I’ll tell you it’s the same thing in your homes, before you put a cup to the faucet you let it run for about 10-15 seconds for the system to purge itself. Our water comes from the city, it’s checked and verified that we’re within all the safety requirements.”
When asked if he would drink the water coming out of this fountain, Twedell said, “ Personally, I don’t like tap water myself, period; I don’t even drink it in my home. But in regards to if that water is deemed safe and for consumption, the answer is ‘yes’; it’s provided by the city utility company and it is safe for consumption.”
DIY event on Valentine’s Day Kelly Vasquez Newsroom Assistant This past Tuesday, Feb. 14, the Cal State LA University Student Union Plaza was adorned with several red heart balloons and tents filled with arts and crafts, food, and more, celebrating the day of love known as Valentine’s Day; the DIY Valentine’s Day event was put together by the Center for Student Involvement (CSI). They are known for putting together special activities and events on campus. At this event, there were four booths you could attend. One was filled with popcorns and sodas free for everyone, another one where you could write a Valentine’s Day card for your loved ones, and another booth where you had the opportunity to make bracelets, hand-written notes on heart-shaped post-its, and specially themed heart stamps. Lastly, there was a booth for CSI regarding
3 NEWS
University Times
February 20, 2017
Love is In the Air
upcoming events on campus.
The festivities were in full swing with students forming a line to make a card for their significant others. Katherine hopped in line because she “absolutely loves arts and crafts.” Another student who stood in line, Diana, a Freshman, said, “It seemed fun and a great way for me to interact and meet new people.” Even the student volunteers were enjoying the event. Volunteer Students, faculty, and even children could be spotted at the red tables carefully constructing crafts for their loved ones. Would it be easier though to just buy something at the store rather than making something yourself? DIY Valentine’s Day coordinator Isabel disagrees, “I think that making something for a loved one is much more meaningful, it’s less money and is specialized.” Many others agreed as they also took the time out of their day to do so as well. The most popular booth
Juan J. Palma Students take advantage of the Valentine's Day themed DIY event on campus
was in fact jewelry-making. Many enjoyed hand picking the pink, red, and purple colored beads to decorate their bracelets and necklaces. Another favorite was the
felt hearts and post-it notes available with several different colored markers. All in all, the DIY Valentine’s Day event was a
success. CSI is now focusing on their next event: “Mardi Gras,” which takes place next week om Thursday on Feb. 23, at 6p.m. at the University Student Union.
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February 20, 2017
University Times
FEATURE
With Great Love Comes Great Vulnerability Cal State LA students hold intimate discussions around the table Janice Peregrina Staff Reporter The Center for Gender and Sexualities and the Cross Cultural Centers organized the very first “Conversations at the Dinner Table” event in the University Student Union’s Los Angeles Room. The room had Valentine’s Day themed tables with red tablecloths fully set for a fancy dinner, colored mason
jars and love-themed poems by Rupi Kaur. Students opened up about their feelings on life and loving. The concept for the event came from the Cross Cultural Centers Gender and Sexualities Resource Center. Alejandro Muro, coordinator at the Resource Center, explained that students were “really interested” in having a space to have “difficult or uncomfortable conversations on certain topics” in a safe, comfortable space. “So today, because it is Valentine’s Day, we decided to talk about love, dating, and relationships,” Muro said. “What does love look like, what [do] relationships look
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like, especially in the age of Tinder and all these different social media apps?” The event was a social affair, with breaks for food and conversation punctuated with activity cues from the coordinators. This is where the mason jars came in. Each table had four mason jars marked “Love,” “Communication,” “Vulnerability,” and “Self Worth.” Each jar had a few papers folded up with a question pertaining to the subject on the jar. Some examples included “What is the difference between saying and showing love?” and “How do you know when you reach or experience selflove?” Some of the questions also referenced the Rupi Kaur poetry on the tables. For the first activity, students were encouraged to discuss the questions with the people around them. Though some students came to the event in groups, this forced everyone to speak intimately with others they were not familiar with, and from the first round of questions it was clear that there was some initial awkwardness. There was a brief awkward silence when one of the coordinators asked what came up in the conversation, but some students did step up and discuss out loud, answering questions anecdotally and honestly. The topics were a bit difficult, but the shy air noticeably lightened as everyone got more familiar with the event.
Juan J. Palma Converstions at the Dinner Table Series
like there’s so much pressure to have a Valentine, and there’s so much pressure to be in love or be in a relationship, so we wanted to have a space where we talk about those things, but also ‘what is self-love, and how does that look like?’ and how we can communicate with each other,” he explained. “We were specific with the poems we chose and how can we talk about love in different ways, right? And it can be romantic, it can be a partner, but how do we practice it with ourselves, with our friends, with our community.”
Coordinators had tables switch the jars and moved people around to other tables in the second and third rounds. The conversations became livelier, and many students expressed their answers in more than just romantic love, but also self and platonic love. The event was this way for a reason, according to Muro. “We felt
When asked if the campus had enough events that focused around expressing emotions such as the ones that day, Muro disagreed. “I think we have some classes that talk about emotions, or we have some lecturers or guest speakers but...there should be more, because this conversation could have kept going.” Muro was surprised
(Continued from Page 1) later she won first place and public’s prize with “Replay” at the International Choreographer ’s Competition of Bornem. Her latest achievement is “Best new production” by the South Bank Sky Arts Awards, and has been nominated for an Olivier Award 2012.
Through Flamenco cogency, ‘LíNEA RECTA’, proves to me a breathtaking piece. Flamenco dancing is a passionate dance form with hand clapping, percussive footwork, intricate hand and body movements. Red and white filled the stage, as the audience straightened
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by the large attendance and engagement of the student body. “I’m really glad people enjoyed it.” Conversations at the Dinner Table was advertised in the university events calendar, but there were more reasons why students attended. A student of Animation major, Majid, explained that he went to the event to “be more open with people.” “There are also some things you’re not comfortable speaking about with family,” and he felt the event helped him express his feelings well. In the final round of the event, each attendee was asked to stand and “give an affirmation to themselves.” Students affirmed they would be more self-confident, more vocal in their love for their partners, and be less critical of themselves. Conversations at the Dinner Table was more than a safe space to discuss love, but also a space for selfgrowth and self-confidence. their backs to fully emerge themselves in the performance; the definition of allure. The final performance of the night, ‘DANZÓN’. Choreographed by Eduardo Vilaro. This cuban infused piece was nothing short of chévere. As described in the program, “Danzón is used throughout Latin America as a term of celebration, a coming together of community and a way of maintaining identity. Fusing Afro-Cuban social dance movements with contemporary and classical dance forms, Vilaro… reinvented it as a joyous celebration of music and movement.” Each of these performances tell a different story. A different slice of our Latin American history. Through music, costume, and tone, Ballet Hispánico accomplishes it’s purpose of art as it captivates audiences and leaves a sense of wonderment.
5 OPINION University Times
February 20, 2017
Gentrification: A Way to Improve Local Communities Or the New Face of Colonization?
has had quite a history of displacing minorities. The “Battle of Chavez Ravine” which lasted approximately ten years (1951-61) is a prime example of such activities. Post World War II, the city was compelled to find land for public housing projects. While some residents left voluntarily after payment, many were reluctant to leave their homes which the city combated with eminent domain.
Cross Cultural Center hosts discussion “Decolonizing LA” David Czinner Intern Gentrification has been a topic of debate for decades, yet discussions on the matter have been on the rise in recent years since Los Angeles has seen a huge increase in new housing and developments. On Thursday, Feb. 16, the Cross Cultural Center held an one-hour discussion on gentrification, with a panel comprised of members of local activist groups fighting against the gentrification of minority communities such as Boyle Heights and East LA. “I think [these discussions] help [people] understand what [gentrification] is, what it looks like, and hear both sides of it, because I think a lot of people are unsure of what it is or whether it's a good thing or bad thing,” commented Lorena Arias, a senior Child Development major earning her credential and Bachelor’s Degree. “Talking about it and knowing how it affects people that live in these communities will help in figuring out what (Continued from Page 1) LA campus last week, many student leaders demanded the classification of our university as a sanctuary. However, regardless of whether the CSU system rebrands itself, it will likely bring about moral change rather than concrete legal change. President William Covino
to do.” Many community members and activists argue that new expensive housing and businesses damage the local community as they displace low income families from their homes. “I’ve seen it happen, but I never realized how people have been kicked out of their homes for these new fancy places to be built,” remarked Rafael Gutierrez, a
senior Jazz Studies major and South LA resident. “After sitting in on this discussion, I see gentrification as really bad [for the community].” Landlords in low income neighborhoods sell their property to wealthy developers, who in turn kick out renters from the property, demolish it, and build new and expensive residences. “I feel like it's damaging
Thomas Rodas Discussing about Boyle Heights.
because it’s just pushing people out of their home[s],” commented Denilson Cruz, a Television, Film and Media Studies major. “It’s unjust and unfair.” While it appears that new housing and other developments are being constructed in historically lower income and Latino areas such as Boyle Heights and East LA, Los Angeles
The public housing plans were scrapped after the election of a conservative mayor who opposed public projects. And instead after years of vacancy, was controversially sold to Walter O’Malley, the then owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The land is currently home to Dodger Stadium. This echoes the recent expansion of the Gold Line, which displaced families who were living along that route. This, coupled with new housing developments being built next to or very near public transportation, is indicative of politicians and wealthy developers working together in the gentrification process; seeking to serve the new wealthy residents moving in.
explained to the University Times that, “I understand why some members of our community would like for us to declare ourselves a sanctuary campus; however, the term is ambiguous. Its use could confuse and mislead our community. But our support for our Dreamers, as well as our international students, faculty and staff, is clear. As I have said, we will
James Tourtellotte U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers wielding the H&K UMP
not support any measure that targets or casts suspicion on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual
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orientation, national origin, or immigration status.” There are certain amendments to policy that come with the sanctuary campus classification. It means that the campus will not cooperate with ICE officers without a warrant, will not share student information with ICE will not gather immigration status information, and will provide tuition support for students with DACA status.
There are contradictions here, however. How will the university provide tuition assistance to students without legal immigration status if they do not actively gather that information? And the University is likely not to comply with ICE without a warrant either way. The classification of a sanctuary campus would basically be a political stance; an advertising platform without any responsibility attached to it.
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February 20, 2017
University Times
ACONTECIMIENTOS NACIONALES
Un día sin inmigrantes Actos solidarios para protestar en contra de Trump Por Lissette Flores
EVENTOS MUSICALES
Los Grammys con sabor Latino Jesse y Joy y Vicente Fernández fueron galardonados Por Marcela Valdivia El pasado domingo, 12 de febrero, se llevó a cabo la entrega anual de los premios Grammys en el Staples Center de Los Ángeles. La cantante Adele fue quien arrasó al llevarse cinco Grammys en las categorías álbum del año, canción del año, récord del año, mejor álbum vocal pop y mejor actuación pop. Entre las presentaciones más destacadas estuvieron las de la multipremiada Adele, Bruno Mars y Beyoncé. Hubo varios tributos a grandes de la música. Bruno Mars puso a todos sus fanáticos a bailar con un tributo a Prince. Adele destacó con una presentación en honor a George Michael. Otra que resaltó fue Beyoncé, que apenas hace unas semanas anunció su embarazo de gemelos. Su estado no fue impedimento para brillar en el escenario cantando "Love Drought" y "Sandcastle". El poder latino no podía faltar en esta celebración a la música. El dúo de música pop, Jesse y Joy ganaron su primer Grammy en la categoría de mejor álbum pop latino. El dúo aceptó el premio con mucha emoción y expresaron su agradecimiento,
“Queremos agradecer a Dios, a nuestros fans y a la academia. Esto significa mucho para nosotros. El beso al que se refiere el título del disco es para nuestro padre que falleció. Estamos orgullosos de ser México Americanos. Esto es para todos los hispanos de este país y para todas las minorías. Estamos con ustedes,” dijo Joy.
La invitación a la huelga de inmigrantes, que círculo por varios días en las redes sociales convocando a indocumentados, residentes, ciudadanos e inmigrantes de todo el mundo, lastimosamente no logró paralizar al país como se
Aunque muchos apoyaron la huelga no asistiendo a clases, no trabajando, no comprando en tiendas y cerrando las puertas de sus negocios, la huelga no fue lo esperado; hubo establecimientos que sí permanecieron abiertos y personas que sí asistieron a la escuela y trabajos . Dentro de las ciudades que apoyaron la protesta fueron: Filadelfia, Boston, Houston, Nueva York, Chicago, Los Ángeles y Washington. En esta última, también hubo una marcha pro inmigrante que recorrió las calles de la cuidad con pancartas alusivas al movimiento de “no odio, no miedo. Todo el mundo es bienvenido aquí”, “Yo
contribuyo a la economía de este país” entre muchas otras que conforman los emblemas de la huelga. Sin embargo, “un día sin inmigrantes” como se le llamó, aunque no logró su cometido, aparentemente solo fue el inicio de una gran movilización prevista para el 1 de mayo, donde se espera que activistas y sindicatos se unan para una manifestación masiva a nivel nacional. Por otro lado, la vocera del sindicato SEIU comentó para un noticiero que para el mes de marzo se está planificando llevar acabo una caravana de protesta en todo California para apoyar a la comunidad inmigrante que vive en el estado
Entre los nominados también a la misma categoría estaban Laura Pausini, Diego Torres, Sanlejo, y Gaby Moreno. Hubo también otros ganadores en otras categorías. Vicente Fernández ganó como mejor álbum regional mexicano con su disco en vivo, “Un azteca en el azteca”. Entre los nominados también estaban Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga, Joss Favela, La Maquinaria Norteña y Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea. En su cuenta de Twitter, Vicente Fernández agradeció a sus fans de haber ganado el premio, “Muy feliz y agradecido con @RecordingAcad por este premio Grammy ¡pero sobre todo con mi gente! #UnAztecaEnElAzteca #ChenteSigueSiendoElRey.” Cincuenta y nueve años de los Grammys y siguen cosechando éxitos con presentaciones y ganadores de alto nivel.
Fotografía. Crédito: www.infobae.com
NOTAS DE OPINIÓN
Celebración de amor
Un día anormal
Por Eduardo Ramos
Fotografía. Crédito: www.vibe.com
Contáctanos en:
UT CSULA La Onda
El pasado jueves, 16 de febrero, se llevó a cabo una huelga de inmigrantes en todo el país, buscando demostrar el descontento hacia las políticas migratorias del presidente Donald Trump.
tenía pensado.
laonda.newspaper@gmail.com LAONDACSULA
El pasado 14 de febrero se celebró en muchas partes del mundo el día de San Valentín. Como es de esperarse, muchas parejas aprovechan este día para demostrase cuanto se aman. Las expresiones amorosas son en muchas formas, desde algo tan simple como compartir un helado hasta algo tan extravagante como regalar un automóvil. Otros son más románticos y comparten una cena o una noche amorosa juntos. Unos versos, unas flores, un oso de peluche, en fin, las demostraciones de amor pueden ser innumerables y todas tiene el propósito de consentir y demostrar cuanto se ama a la pareja.
en cuenta ciertos detalles. El esmero por consentirse debe de ser reciproco, es un día para celebrar el amor que existe entre ambos. El amor no entiende de géneros ni de lo que significa social o culturalmente pertenecer al uno o al otro. Si el trato, los regalos o cualquier gesto de afecto se hacen en arras del amor, estos no deberían ser exclusivos para que se hagan solo por parte de uno hacia el otro. El amor es un sentimiento natural y por lo tanto quien sea lo puede experimentar y fomentar.
Pero hay que ser cautelosos con lo que se regala y con el trato inusual en este día. Muchas veces, tal vez inadvertidamente, salen a relucir sentimientos de vanidad e hipocresía. Quien busca dar un regalo caro puede estar enviando Para que el día de san el mensaje equivocado. El Valentín no sea nunca un día amor no se mide con dinero. ordinario, deberían de tomar Los realmente beneficiados
en este día, son los comerciantes, los cuales siempre se aprovechan para aumentar sus ventas. También, hay quienes tienen todo tipo de atenciones con su pareja solamente el día de San Valentín pero el resto del año es todo lo contrario. El amor requiere de atenciones todos los días del año. Algunos podrían decir que de no ser así, se muere el sentimiento. En el mejor de los casos la pareja continua, a pesar del enfriamiento en la relación; pero se dan casos en que el amor no muere, solo se muda. Entonces, Para no correr el riesgo de ser parte de un aparato comercial en este día, hay que preguntarnos cuál es el verdadero motivo al obsequiar algo caro, y para que no termine la flama del amor hay que procurar brindar el mismo trato especial a la pareja todos los dias.
February 20, 2017
7 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT University Times
Holler If You Hear Me: Black and Gay in the Church Department clinical social worker Antar Bush.
BET documentary explores the intersections of sexuality, race, and faith for Black LGBTQ Christians
Cane began the discussion by expressing sorrow for the passing of one of the film’s subjects, Del Antonio, last weekend. “I just never thought that we would lose somebody,” said Cane. “We captured a small piece of his life when he tried to commit suicide at 18 and he dies at 36. It was shocking to me and just shows how important the fight for love is. He’s no longer here and I’m just grateful we could capture a moment of his life on screen.”
Mimi Li Staff Reporter The church doors have been crucial for Black liberation as a vital ground for the civil rights movement and a continuous space for community in the past and present, but for Black LGBTQ church goers, this space becomes a place of deep conflict as they struggle with reconciling their spiritual beliefs with their sexual orientation, which the Christian bible calls a sin. The 2015 documentary, Holler If You Hear Me: Black and Gay in the Church, directed by Clay Cane for Black Entertainment Television (BET), explores the intersections of sexuality, faith, and race for Black LGBTQ Christians in Atlanta, following the lives of young Black LGBTQ Christians, their parents, church pastors, and community members. The event was hosted by Cal State LA’s Cross Cultural Centers as a part of the Independent Visions film series last Thursday at the University-Student Union Theatre. The documentary, which
was filmed in six days on a tight budget, was BET’s biggest digital original documentary. It received support from Black transgender celebrity Laverne Cox and former first lady, Michelle Obama. Obama held a screening of the film at the White House, which had an audience full of Black LGBTQ community members. The film, which acknowledged that the church plays a crucial role in the lives of Black families, explored the lives of various Black LGBTQ Christians as they try to express their true selves while holding onto familial and church ties. Some parents, like Tonyka’s mother, loved their children and stayed in their lives while disapproving of their sexual orientation. Other parents, like those of Hannah and Spencer, kicked them out of
Louis Ayala Independent Vision
the house after finding out about their sexuality. Hannah, Spencer, and many other Black LGBTQ Christian young adults sought refuge at Lost and Found, a homeless shelter which houses a large population of Black LGBTQ Christians. Some Black LGBTQ Christians in the film discussed feeling depressed and resorting to bodily harm and attempting suicide. Others ventured out of their home churches into Black LGBTQ churches, which became safe haven for those who wished to continue practicing their faith and be their authentic selves. There was a Q&A panel discussion following the film with director Cane as well as the film’s associate producer Smriti Mundhra and Philadelphia Health
When asked about his inspiration for the film, Cane said, “As a Black gay man, you really can’t avoid the discussion of the church. It’s the intersection of faith, sexuality, and race. One of the things I’ve noticed a lot in church is that there is always homophobia and there are always gay folks there. When it comes to Black churches and white churches, white folks will leave but we stay in church culture, so I wanted to know why we had these invisible people and narratives that were not being discussed.” Cane also emphasized the film’s message of acceptance by stating that he “met people where they were at.” Several of the film’s subjects had different views regarding sexuality and the church, and Cane offered his support to all. For example, Del Antonio, who was molested as a child, had truly believed
that he turned out gay because of the abuse. Cane, who disagreed with this belief and comforted Del Antonio, acknowledged that this was how Del Antonio felt and did not try to change his views. Similarly, when talking to Tonyka’s mother, who did not support her daughter’s same-sex relationship and did not attend Tonyka’s wedding, Cane sought to understand her responses instead of passing judgment. “I thought the film was amazing,” said Tamia Morrow, a Sociology major who is involved with the school’s Sociology Club and Black Student Union. “I actually cried. It made me really open my eyes to see what people in the LGBT community go through.” Davona Watson, who is a board member in the Black Student Union (BSU) and a member of the Pre-Law Society, resonated with Cane’s message of acceptance. “I found it important that they addressed the fact that we’re all in need of liberation but we’re meeting people where they’re at. We’re addressing the small problems before we can address the big problems.” Cane encouraged audience members to keep an eye out for his upcoming book, “Live Through This: Surviving the Intersections of Sexuality, God, and Race.” Associate producer, Mundhra, will also be debuting her documentary, A Suitable Girl, on Indian arranged marriages.
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February 20, 2017
University Times
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 20
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Democracy in Action series
Love Your 12:00pm Pet Resource Fair Golden Eagle Ballroom 2 12:00pm U-SU Plaza
U-Lead: Authentic Leadership 3:15pm U-SU, 3rd Floor, Montebello Room
It's Queer Mingle
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"Global Warming Demystified"
5:00pm King Hall Lecture Hall 2
Decolonize Your Body
6:15pm 3rd Floor, University-Student Union
3:00pm Los Angeles Room, 3rd Floor, U-SU
Pan-African Studies Film Series: Soul On Ice
Orion Saxophone Quartet
6:00pm U-SU Theatre
7:30pm Music Hall
ASI Farmers Market
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Happy Hour In The Pit 12:00pm U-SU, Basement
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Fe
Cal State LA Baseball vs. Cal State San Bernardino
br
6:00pm Reeder Field
Minute To Win It 3:00pm U-SU, Basement
Cal State LA Tennis vs. Holy Names
Jean Burden Poetry Reading
Preserving the Self as an Artifact
1:30pm Cal State LA Tennis Complex
5:30pm Golden Eagle Ballroom
ua r
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12:00pm U-SU Theatre
Cal State LA Baseball vs. Cal State San Bernardino
6:00pm Reeder Field
‘Jammin’ at Harpo’s Juke Joint Pan-African Student Resource Center celebrates history through music
to pick yo afro daddy, cuz it’s flat on one side,” followed by “yesss” from the crowd, quite pleased with the repertoire. It happened again when ‘Sangindiva’ dared to ask what seemed to be a silly question: Anybody in here like Lauryn Hill? As one would expect from the crowd, the room erupted with multiple “Yes!” and the beat to Hill’s “Ex-Factor”. The crowd sang along putting all of the effort during the chorus to hit the notes. “No matter how I think we grow you always seem to let me know it ain’t working.”
Erron Franklin Copy Editor On Friday night, ‘Harpo’s Juke Joint’ transformed the University Student Unions Los Angeles room into a scene straight out of the “The Color Purple”. In the days prior, it was marketed heavily by the organizer, Shanique Davis, an Engineering major and Program Coordinator of the Pan-African Student Resource Center which is a part Cal State LA’s Cross Cultural Centers. “We are making our own juke joint to celebrate where black folks began music in America,” said Davis. “So come in your best 1920s style and let’s celebrate our history.” From the unique yet inviting set lighting, to the two amazing songstresses ‘Sangindiva’ and Andrea Jones, a Cal State LA alumna to the soul food feast with all the fixings, the event did not disappoint. From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., event attendees were entertained by the two singers, who sang alongside a band, which included
a woman on drums, one gentlemen on base and the other one on saxophone. After devouring a second helping of the feast: greens, yams, fried chicken, fried fish, cornbread and a peach cobbler dessert, which was all catered by the Watts Coffee House, the people moved from the tables to the dance floor.
Erron Franklin The Juke Joint Blues logo on the projector
The singers sung a number of blues hits from back in the day that had the crowd moving. However, when they covered more contemporary songs from the likes of Lauryn
Hill and Erykah Badu, you better believe that the crowd joined in for the fun. When the band began to play the tune of Badu’s hit “Afro”, the crowd joined in. “You need
In between songs and sets, event goers were grabbing food outside, taking lots of photos and updating their social media stories, and most obvious, fellowshipping with other students and a few Cal State Alumni who came to support the event. The energy among those who attended the event was inviting and positive which reflected the vibe of organizers.
Erron Franklin The band playing music throughout the night