UT
NIVERSITY IMES
May 1, 2017
www.csulauniversitytimes.com
C A L I F O R N I A S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y, L O S A N G E L E S
Issue 214.14
2017 ASI Election Results
The Associated Students have a new president Erron Franklin Copy Editor On Thursday afternoon in the University-Student Union plaza, the elections results for Associated Students Incorporated were announced and students applauded the new and returning campus leaders. The student body now has a new spokesperson, President Elect David Zitser. The presidential race garnered the most votes with approximately 1100 students casting ballots for two hopefuls for the top spot. Zitser will finish his term as College Representative for the Natural & Social Sciences before being sworn in as the new President of ASI. He will now be representing and speaking on behalf
of a diverse student body
with differing views but he is
excited nonetheless.
(Continued to Page 3)
State Finds Overcompensation of CSU Managers 15 percent, while the number of non-faculty support staff grew by six percent and the number of faculty grew by seven percent. Similarly, the rate of total compensation for management exceeded the rate of total compensation for other employees – compensation for management increased by 24 percent over the nine years. This rate surpasses the compensation for executives which has increased by 14 percent, for non-faculty support staff which increased by 13 percent, and for faculty which increased by 10 percent.
State audit reveals high rates of hiring and compensation of CSU management officials Mimi Li Staff Reporter A state audit released last week examined the increasing rates of the hiring and compensation of management personnel at six CSU campuses, including Cal State LA. The findings of the report showed that between fiscal years 2007-08 and 2015-16, the CSU hired new managers at over double the rate of other employees within the decade. CSU managers are also receiving the highest increases in compensation, with rates greater than executives, nonfaculty support staff, and faculty. The audit also called CSU for their lack of budget oversight and accountability. The audit, titled “California State University: Stronger Oversight is Needed for Hiring and Compensating Management Personnel and
Cara Gonzales
The Cal State LA sign in front of the entrance to the Administration Building
for Monitoring Campus Budgets,” was prompted by the CSU Employees Union and requested by Assemblywoman Shirley N. Weber (D-San Diego), who backed the audit due to “a huge growth in middle management and increase in executive compensation.”
In a letter to the Governor and legislative leaders, California State Auditor Elaine Howle expressed concern for the growing numbers of CSU management officials, as well as the increase in compensation for CSU executives, specifically for their relocation and home
FEATURE
NEWS Page 3 --
"The University Times Says Enough"
sale expenses. According to Howle, the audit found that all six CSU campuses visited, “frequently could not justify the growth in the number of new management personnel.” Over the nine year period of the audit, the number of management grew by nearly
Additionally, none of the six campuses had written policies that included the “extent and timing of their budget oversight,” the audit states. Cal State LA was the only campus to provide auditors with documents from their campus budget office, which entailed policies and procedures for the performance of budget reviews. However, this did not satisfy the auditors, who stated in the report that these documents did not describe the (Continued to Page 2)
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Page 7 --
"Sexual Assault Awareness Month"
Page 14 --
"Student Dancers Spring On Stage for Annual.."
2
University Times
May 1, 2017
NEWS
Pat Brown Anniversary Marred by Covino’s Remarks While Pat Brown celebrated its 30th anniversary at Biltmore Hotel, President Covino makes disturbing comments.
Gabrielian, Pat Brown Institute Board member and President of the Board of Trustees at Glendale Community College, presented the Public Service Award to Dr. Drew Altman. After founding the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, his creation would go on to have an impact on health care policy for many decades. Altman is viewed as an innovator in the world of foundations and a primary professional on national health policy, who circulates and expresses his opinions on various health issues. His work has been widely recognized. Altman has been awarded with many honors by various sources.
J. Aaron Delgado Photo Editor The Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs marked its 30th year at Cal State LA during their Annual Dinner to promote civic and community engagement. The annual dinner took the time to not only recognize the supporters and sponsors of the Pat Brown Institute but also honor individuals who have been identified as great supporters of the public good. The Institute honored Dr. Drew Altman, President and CEO of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation with the Public Service Award and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon of the California State Assembly as the Public Servant of The Year at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. William Covino, President of Cal State LA, kicked off the program by welcoming all the guests with an ad lib about federal efforts to withhold funding from sanctuary cities that left the audience with mixed reactions.
“A lot of you have
J. Aaron Delgado
Honoree Anthony Rendon's Certificate of Recognition from the City of Los Angeles
been asking this question,” said Covino. “We did pay a surcharge to the Biltmore so that we have sanctuary status.” While some applauded, there were many individuals who felt that the comment was inappropriate for the occasion. “Covino’s comment was like a stab in the back to all the people he recognized in the past,” said José Trinidad Castañeda III. “How can the Cal State LA community expect to build trust with someone who so callously throws vulnerable populations under the bus like that?”
extent of its budget reviews.
and implementation of a policy that prohibits campus presidents from receiving foundation funds.
The audit proposed recommendations for the CSU, which included suggestions for annual reports on CSU activities to determine whether it meets the state’s goals for student success, written justifications for any proposed new management positions,
In response to the audit, CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White said that the report failed to mention four employee groups that grew twice the number of management over the same period. These four employee groups are: academic student employees, academic support,
(Continued from Page 1)
The University Club FOR RESERVATIONS PLEASE CALL: (323)343-6777
HOURS OF OPERATION MONDAY - THURSDAY FRIDAY 11AM - 3PM 11AM - 2PM
DAILY FRESH PREPACKAGED ITEMS PREPARED BY THE UNIVERSITY CLUB ALSO AVAILABLE AT THESE LOCATIONS:
KING COFFEE
S ALAZAR C AFE
Monday - Thursday 7:30am-8:00pm
Monday - Thursday Friday 7:30am - 8:00pm 7:30am - 12:30pm
Monday - Thursday Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm 7:30am - 2:00pm
In response, Covino sent out a Universitywide email the following day apologizing for the misunderstanding of his statement while opening the program and dinner. “It was intended to be a statement in solidarity with everyone at Cal State LA and beyond who are deeply concerned about such policies,” said Covino. “Supporting Cal State LA Dreamers, as well as all our students, faculty, and staff during these uncertain times remains my highest priority.” health care support, confidential employees.
and
Stating that the term “management personnel” is a “broad label that applies to employees who perform a wide variety of functions in the CSU,” said White, “as referenced in the audit, almost 60 percent of management personnel are classified as professionals or supervisors and many provide direct support to students to increase graduation rates, shorten time to degree, and close achievement gaps.” Students for Quality Education (SQE), a grassroots organization on campus that advocates for higher education affordability and accessibility, criticizes the findings in the audit, claiming that the CSU prioritizes administrators over students amongst the lack of student services, “abysmal” graduation rates, and rising tuition. “It is becoming increasingly apparent that the CSU does not serve its students, but exploits them,” reads a statement from SQE to the University Times. “Administrators reap the benefits, while students pay
Covino carried on the dinner by mentioning that Cal State LA has been recognized as number one in the nation for upward mobility based on a study published in The New York Times. The President believes that Cal State LA’s achievement on the top rank of upward mobility is only a confirmation in which Pat Brown always saw public universities as giving much more than education but opportunity for any individual to pave a successful journey regardless of their background.
Anita
Quiñonez
the price. When will the CSU start supporting its students? Not through increased compensation to higher ups, not through naive initiatives and projects, and definitely not through increased tuition that is intended to "benefit us." California Faculty Association (CFA) Los Angeles Chapter President and Cal State LA Sociology Professor Dr. Molly Talcott shares the same sentiments as SQE on the matter. “The CSU's own data shows that, as of 2016, Cal State LA has 52 percent more administrators than it did in 2012 – a massive change!” said Talcott to the University Times, referring to the CFA analysis of the CSU Management Personnel Plan database released this month. “Of all 23 campuses, the administrative bloat has increased the fastest at Cal State LA over the last five years … This indicates that Cal State LA has been prioritizing hiring managers over hiring faculty that can serve students … Students need teachers and counselors, not more highly paid university managers they
Presenting the award of Public Servant of The Year was Gaddi H. Vasquez, the senior vice president of Government affairs for Southern California Edison, to Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. He is the 70th speaker of the California State Assembly and represents the 63rd Assembly District encompassing the cities of Bell, Cudahy, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Lynwood, Maywood, Paramount, and South Gate. Prior to being elected to the assembly in 2014, Rendon led major non-profit organizations. Educated in California, he went through school from community college to Cal State Fullerton while working graveyard shifts in warehouses and factories. Through his commitment of leadership, Rendon also honors Pat Brown. will likely never meet,” said Talcott. On the contrary, Robert Lopez, Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Cal State LA, emphasized that the increase of hiring in management is for the benefit of the students, which helps to provide additional managers on campus to expand student services. “We are pleased that the audit found that Cal State LA has policies in place for the review of budgets and management personnel hires,” said Lopez in a statement to the University Times. “During the period studied, the University hired 181 faculty members, 38 staff members and 39 management personnel. The hiring of management personnel was undertaken because of severe understaffing in student success areas such as academic advising and enrollment services. Other management personnel were hired for University Advancement to increase our fundraising efforts, and have helped produce the highest philanthropic support in our history.”
3 NEWS
University Times
May 1, 2017
The University Times Says Enough Legal action will be taken against any trespassers Carlos Gomez Web Editor Cal State LA is home to many different clubs and chapters of various organizations; each with its own schedule and events. While there are many places individuals can post their flyers for their own events, the University Times boxes are not the proper, or legal area for these flyers. The University Times is a non-profit student-run newspaper, funded only through advertising revenue and some Instructionally Related Activity (IRA) funds. The UT has boxes all over campus, where the newspaper is placed for students to read for free. Ever since these boxes have been around, clubs, organizations, and individuals place their flyers or advertisements on or inside them. While some may be more innocent than others, the University Times has always recorded these incidents and seeks out the group responsible, asking them to cease and desist. Mainly, these flyers promote an event on campus funded or sponsored by a campus organization. There are always those stubborn groups who ignore this warning after multiple times of reiteration. After staff are sent out to remove the items from boxes, more flyers seem to appear. Now, the
J. Aaron Delgado
University Times newspaper box near the Golden Eagle Statue
University Times has come up with a solution. The boxes in place on campus for distribution are considered private property, since they are owned by the University Times and not Cal State LA. This means that any laws that govern private property apply to these boxes. Namely, a specific California penal code applies: 556.1. In short, this code states that it is a misdemeanor for any individual to post any flyers, advertisements, and/or signs on property that they do not own, i.e. private property, regardless of what is on the flyer/advertisement.
% APR
Spring into Summer Auto Loan Sale! Put some savings into your spring and some fun into your summer! To help you celebrate this fun-in-the-sun season, your friends at Cal State L.A. FCU have come up with an amazing auto loan sale for you.
For a limited time, get a 1% rate discount off your approved vehicle loan!*
Rates as low as 1.79% APR*
+
No Payments for 90 days!
Applying is easy—Call us at 323.505.2600 or apply online at www.calstatela-fcu.org/auto
Federally insured by NCUA
Frangelo Aryan, Assistant Dean of Students, assured the University Times that clubs and organizations would be informed of this. He included the following message in an email to clubs and organizations: “University Times newspaper boxes should not be utilized for publicizing organization events, meetings, or activities.” (Continued from Page 1) “I'm very excited for what's to come next year, and I can't wait to get started. I realize that the students are relying on my team and me to advocate for them on several issues, but I'm confident that we will accomplish our goals in representing the student body,” Zitser Said.
w as Rates as lo *
1.79
While individuals may say that they were not previously informed, the University Times has been working with both the office of the Dean of Students and Campus Police to ensure that students are aware of this penal code violation in the future.
*APR=Annual Percentage Rate. **Rates and terms will be based upon applicants credit score. Subject to credit approval. Receive 1% rate reduction when you finance or refinance an auto loan with Cal State L.A. Federal Credit Union. All rates and terms may vary depending on credit worthiness and the amount and percentage financed. This offer is limited to vehicles 10 years old or newer. Existing Cal State L.A. FCU loans do not qualify for this offer. Offer not valid in conjunction with any other programs. Standard underwriting criteria, terms and conditions apply. Interest accrues from day of loan disbursement. Auto Loan offer expires July 31, 2017.
The President Elect’s inauguration will take place on Tuesday, June 20 at the University-Student Union. During his first month in office, his focus will be on recruiting students who are dedicated to service. “During my first 30 days, which start in the Summer, I plan on building up the A.S.I. team by recruiting students who are dedicated to serving the Cal State LA Community. That includes filling up the many University Committees which are essentially the way that A.S.I. represents the Student Voice.” Zitser will pay special attention and exhaust all avenues to reach Cal State
Lieutenant Larry Bohannon of Campus Police spoke with the University Times in an interview regarding whether the penal code applied on campus, since most of the Cal State LA campus is considered public grounds. “Since those boxes are the property of the University Times, [The University Times] has the right to not have their property messed with.” In addition, Frank LoMonte, Executive Director of the Student Press Law Center, offered a second opinion regarding the penal code. “Anyone who places an ad on any property that is not theirs, LA Students. “I believe that I can only make progress on such a task by first building and fortifying the networks that connect A.S.I. to the student body such as the Club Councils, our A.S.I. Lobby Corps, more events that allows us to reach out to students, etc.,” said Zitser. The Vice President for Administration is charged with coordinating the activities of all administrative units and presiding over the Cabinet Commissioners. Approximately a thousand people voted and elected Political Science major David Garcia into office. Garcia, like Zitser, is also a College Representative for the Natural and Social Sciences, who has learned from his current position and plans to use that as the new VP. “It’s important to direct ASI in a good direction where we are providing the best services, best resources for the students. We need public agencies to provide internships for students,” said Garcia.
without consent, is committing a misdemeanor.” In order to spread the word and ensure that anyone, on or off campus, is aware of this law, the University Times will begin to place disclaimers on the boxes. These disclaimers will be placed visibly on the boxes, and contain the penal code and the consequences of posting on them With the continued support of administration and campus police, The University Times hopes to see a decrease in the posting of flyers, and the pursuit of criminal charges against any offenders on campus. The other Executive Board members elected into office are as follows: Neyda Umana, Vice President for Academic Governance; Timothy Achinger, Vice President for Finance; Marcos Montes, Vice President for External Affairs and Advancement; and Jazmin Ortiz, Secretary/Treasurer. In a statement read during the Elections Announcement Party, elections officials praised and thanked all who participated in the process. “The Elections Commissions and [Judicial Review Committee] JRC would like to thank all of the candidates for their efforts to increase student involvement in the General Elections process.” All the newly elected candidates will participate in a mandatory ASI Winners Roundtable Friday, May 5. Summer Training for the new campus leaders begins Tuesday, June 13 and will continue until August 14.
4
May 1, 2017
University Times
Black April
Cal State LA
R. Bui Jr., H. Thang Nguyen, A Cau Tsu, K. Chinh Nguyen, M. Triet Dao, N. Dao, D. Lien
UN I V E R S I T Y T IMES
Editor-in-Chief Marrian Zhou
Managing Editor Ricky Rodas Production Manager Hector Cruz
Staff Reporters Anthony Karambelas Janice Peregrina Marcela Valdivia
Web Editor Carlos Gomez
Illustrators Valerie Lesser
Copy Editors Ani Nalbandian Erron Franklin
Photographers J. Aaron Delgado Cara Gonzales Juan J. Palma Thomas Rodas Psymily
Photo Editors J. Aaron Delgado Cara Gonzales Business/ Advertising Manager Jim Munson
Interns Eunjong Kim Sylvia Valdez Alfredo Gutierrez
Legal action will be taken against any trespassers Kannie Pham Contributor On the evening of April 27, the Asian Pacific Islander Student Resource Center (API) and the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) co-hosted a commemorative event for the 42nd anniversary of the "Fall of Saigon" also known as Black April. The event started with music major, Jenny Tran, singing beautifully both national anthem of Vietnam and
the Star Spangled Banner. Later, a screening of “Journey from the Fall,” written and directed by Ham Tran, who studied at UCLA Film School, was shown. The movie was about a family’s struggle for survival post Vietnam War. “The movie only showed the story, not everything that has happened,” commented A Cau Tsu, a former South Vietnamese soldier. Panelists included Kieu Chinh, a famous Vietnamese actress known for being in movies and television shows such as “Joy Luck Club” and “M*A*S*H”, Long Nguyen, a survivor of the war, A Cau Tsu and Richard Bui Jr., another former South Vietnamese soldier. Black April is a dark history for many people and is hardly spoke of until this very day. When asked, several students on campus did not know what it was, including some Vi e t n a m e s e - A m e r i c a n students. On April 30, 1975, North Vietnam won victory over Saigon, capital
Classified Ads
Contributors Advertising Assistant Kannie Pham Alberto Perez Malerie Wilkins Cal State LA Athletics Faculty Adviser Suzanne Regan Journalism 3910 TA Robert Elsworth Distributors Xavier Jones Carlos Gomez
Pregnant? Free counseling & services. We come to you. Holy Family Services, Adoption & Foster Care CALL 1-800-464-2367
All opinions and letters in the University Times represent the opinion of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the UT or the university. Letters to the editor should include an address, telephone number and identification. Letters may be edited for grammar and length. University Times display and classified advertising should not be construed as the endorsement or investigation of commercial enterprises of ventures. University Times reserves the right to reject any advertising. University Times is published every Monday.
Para La Onda:
Copyright 2017 University Times. All Rights Reserved. Cal State University, Los Angeles 5151 State University Dr. - KH C3098 LA, Ca, 90032 Office 323.343.4215 Advertising 323.343.4270
www.csulauniversitytimes.com calstatela.ut@gmail.com Calstatelaut facebook.com/CsulaUT Calstatelaut
Jefa de Redacción: Claudia Landeros Editores: Lissette Flores Eduardo Ramos
Consejero de la Facultad: Pablo Baler
NEWS of South Vietnam, which led thousands of Vietnamese people to escape the country from falling into the hands of communism. Bui and Tsu were on the battlefield when they heard the news of the fall from the former President. Due to immediate evacuation, Bui flew a helicopter along with other refugees and soldiers to the Hancock ship across the South China Sea. Tsu left on the last Vietnamese Navy ship that ran on one engine that took three hours to fix. Tsu described how his entire family went to look for him the next day. They turned over every corpse on the street making sure none of them wasn’t him. Bui was the only member of his family who was able to come to the United States even til this very day. “My mom, dad, brother and sister are still in Vietnam. I went to go back once and I am never going back again,” said Bui. Tsu was in the United States for twoyears until he was able to reconnect with his family. After his reconnection, he was able to sponsor his family to come to America. Prisoners who fought against the Communist were put into re-education camps where they were tortured and abused. Huu Thang Nguyen, a former South Vietnamese soldier mentioned he was in the re-education camps for four-years before he was released. Long Nguyen left Vietnam in 1983 along with other 12 refugees in a boat. “It was painful. I felt like I was already dead. I don’t want to go back to Vietnam but I’m already dead and who cares what is next,” he said. All 13 people survived a grueling month long and painful boat ride which ended up being caught by pirates. The survivors were later set free and ended up landing in Indonesia. At the event, there was not a dry eye in the room. After the movie, Tsu exclaimed, “We feel like we did not do our job during the war. To American soldiers, they lost the war. To us, we lost more than that; we lost a country, we lost our family.”
5 FEATURE
University Times
May 1, 2017
Let’s Paint the Town Red Keli Garza gathers students for an informational session on menstruation Janice Peregrina Staff Reporter When is the last time you talked about your period in public? Students gathered in a “red tent” at the U-SU to do just that. The Cross Cultural Centers hosted the event, called “The Red Tent: Shedding the Stigma of Menstruation”, a reference to both the Biblical tale of Dinah and Anita Diament’s 1997 novel “The Red Tent.” In the novel, women who are going through their monthly cycle spend their time in a red tent, a meeting place where everyone takes care of themselves and supports each other in a welcoming environment. The Cross Cultural Centers set up the Alhambra Room with chairs in a circle with everyone facing each other, with some students even sitting on the floor from how popular the event was; reflective of the red tents in the novel. Not only was the title of the event a reference to these meeting places, but it also referenced the period itself, with “shedding the stigma of menstruation” symbolizing the shedding of the uterine lining. Guest speaker Keli Garza headed the talk about the stigmas associated not just with menstruation, but being
Cara Gonzales
Garza starts discussion about Shedding the Stigma of Menstruation
a woman in general. She is the founder of Steamy Chick Inc., a line of vaginal steam saunas, and has an M.A. in International Development from American University. “Why do you think there’s such a stigma about it? Why is it so covert?” Garza asked of the audience. To this, she had one answer. “Men. Men are in power. We live in a patriarchal world.” She further explained that women are expected to assimilate into this world by attempting to mirror what men do, and that this is considered empowering in some circles.
Since men do not have periods, and will not understand the process of going through a monthly cycle, women feel pressured to hide this natural part of being alive from the public eye. Garza explained that by doing this, “we’re not making ourselves the target of otherness.” The consequences associated by not embracing the menstrual cycle as something natural rather than something to be swept under the rug has some unexpected and harmful effects. Garza spoke about the fundamental differences
Cara Gonzales
Kelly starting off the discussion of Shedding the Stigma of Menstruation
between gynecologists and midwives, and how today’s gynos are trained to disregard the advice of old when it comes to menstrual problems. Garza lamented that when women are experiencing negative side effects of periods, especially cramps, gynecologists jump to suggest chemical forms of birth control, like the Pill, to shorten or eliminate the period altogether. In more extreme cases, hysterectomies, the surgical removal of the uterus, are suggested. She called the Pill a form of “period suppression,” and that women are expected to be okay with changing the natural chemistry and anatomy of the female body to not feel pain. “Just make yourself not female,” said Garza, emulating these opinions. Garza told a personal story about how her ideas of what a normal period is changed when she researched traditional Chinese medicine practices regarding women’s health. Medically, the menstrual cycle is when the uterine lining is shed through the vaginal canal in the event that an egg is not fertilized. “The body sends the blood to clean that stuff out,” she said. Garza shared that for years she had a period that consisted of mostly brown discharge, and that her doctor said that this was normal. After reading more about Chinese tradition, she found that this type of period signified old blood, which meant that the normal shedding of the uterine lining was going through a
circulation issue and that her lining was not completely being shed away. Menstrual cramps signify the body trying to release that residual lining. “You’re actually having a contraction” when you have cramps, according to Garza. “It’s a sign that something got stuck.” Garza then listed some solutions to irregular and abnormal periods that have worked through her experiences with herself, her customers, and through her readings. Eating foods high in protein to facilitate blood production during your cycle will ensure the body doesn’t tire itself out while shedding blood. Garza stressed the importance of resting during the entire week. “The more that you rest during your period, the more energy you have during the whole month.” For ridding the body of residual uterine lining, cramp relief, and many more symptoms, Garza recommended vaginal steaming. Her website, steamychick.com, provides more information about how and when to steam, as well as first-hand reviews from buyers about the effectiveness of the treatment. “The Red Tent: Shedding the Stigma of Menstruation” was an event not only to promote the embrace of the menstrual cycle in the public eye, but a place for both women and men to learn about what they can do to better themselves and their relationships with the period.
6
May 1, 2017
University Times
La onda
CINE
Encontrando a Óscar La masacre que arrasó un pueblo Por Eduardo Ramos Todo ocurrió entre el 6 y el 8 de diciembre de 1982 en la comunidad Dos Erres del Petén, un departamento del norte de Guatemala. El ambiente había sido tenso en la región desde que en septiembre varios guerrilleros de las Fuerzas Armadas Rebeldes mataran a 17 soldados en una emboscada. En respuesta, el gobierno de facto de Efraín Ríos Montt (19821983) intensificó la presencia militar. Según testimonios, el ejército pidió a los campesinos de Dos Erres que ayudaran a patrullar las zonas aledañas. Al negarse, el gobierno los acusó de proteger a los insurgentes y la noche del 6 de diciembre un comando de kaibiles atacó la aldea. En los tres días siguientes los soldados interrogaron a los vecinos, los torturaron, violaron a las mujeres, y terminaron fusilando a decenas, incluyendo niños, para luego lanzar sus cuerpos a un pozo de 12 metros de profundidad. Todo esto fue comprobado años después a través de excavaciones que un grupo de antropólogos forenses argentinos hicieron. En el pozo se encontraron los huesos de aproximadamente 160 personas, siendo 67 de ellas menores de 12 años. Después de más de treinta años, en un esfuerzo por parte de la fiscalía de derechos humanos de Guatemala por reclamar justicia, se inició la búsqueda de sobrevivientes. El esfuerzo dio frutos y comenzó a desenmarañarse una de tantas historias: Usted no me conoce", es la
frase que encabezaba el correo que cambiaría la vida de Óscar Alfredo Ramírez, uno de los sobrevivientes de la masacre en la aldea Las Dos Erres. Se lo había enviado Sara Romero, de la Unidad de Casos Especiales del Conflicto Armado Interno de la Fiscalía de Derechos Humanos de Guatemala, quien había dado con él tras años de investigación. Oscar vivía como indocumentado en Boston, MA creyéndose hijo de un guatemalteco, del que heredó el nombre, hasta que descubrió su verdadera identidad y la razón de su estatus migratorio. Gracias a pruebas de ADN, Oscar supo que el hombre que era su padre y que falleció en un accidente de tráfico cuando él tenía cuatro años, Óscar Ovidio Ramírez Ramos, fue en realidad su raptor. Ramírez Ramos fue kaibil -un ala de operaciones especiales de las fuerzas armadas de Guatemala entrenada por EE.UU. para combatir el comunismo-, participó en la matanza y, al ver al niño de 3 años de edad, decidió tomarlo y criarlo como su hijo. Este caso inspiró al conocido cineasta Steven Spielberg, quien a manera de exigir justicia, produjo el documental Finding Oscar ("Encontrando a Óscar"), recién estrenado en EE.UU. En el 2013, Efraín Ríos Montt, fue sentenciado a 80 años por genocidio, pero el máximo tribunal guatemalteco anuló el fallo por un error de procedimiento. Además, sus abogados aseguran que padece demencia. Sin embargo, el pasado 31 de marzo, dos semanas antes del estreno del documental Finding Oscar, la jueza Claudette Domínguez ordenó otro juicio contra Efraín Ríos Montt, por su posible rol en la masacre, aunque no se le aplicará pena alguna debido a su condición.
Les extiende la invitación a estudiantes de la universidad, principalmente de la carrera de español, a ser parte del equipo de escritores y editores. Los animamos a que escriban y compartan sus publicaciones con la comunidad estudiantil. Si desean obtener más información, nos pueden escribir a: laonda.newspaper@gmail.com
TEMAS DE INTERÉS
Se acera el terror de los exámenes finales Cinco consejos que pueden ayudarte a sobrevivir la última semana del semestre
que debes estudiar y dividirlo entre varios días. Con más días de anticipación que estudies podrás tener mejor conocimiento y recordar más información.
Por Marcela Valdivia
2. Evita utilizar las redes sociales: Tienden a ser una gran distracción para los estudiantes. Lo más efectivo es apagar el celular a la hora de estudiar para poder enfocarse cien por ciento en la materia. Otra opción es borrar algunas aplicaciones de las redes sociales durante la semana de exámenes finales para evitar tener la tentación de perder el tiempo en el celular.
Faltan tan solo unos cuantos días para que termine el semestre de primavera, con ello la preocupación de los estudiantes aumenta. La última semana consiste en prepararse para los exámenes, los proyectos y las presentaciones. Todas estas actividades causan en los alumnos mucho estrés; por esa razón, les recomendamos los siguientes cinco consejos útiles para sobrevivir esa semana de exámenes finales: 1. Empieza a estudiar desde hoy: Es muy importante prepararse desde días antes de los exámenes finales y no una noche antes de un examen. Lo mejor es organizar un calendario de lo
3. Descansa lo suficiente: Es esencial dormir bien para tener mucha energía porque desvelarse todo la noche estudiando es contraproducente. El cuerpo debe descansar para recuperarse y poder continuar con el siguiente día. Al dormir el cerebro podrá retener mucho más información valiosa.
4. Utiliza los recursos de la universidad: Si tienes un ensayo que completar visita el “Writing Center” localizado enfrente de la biblioteca. Ahí te podrán ayudar a mejorar tu composición y darte nuevas ideas. También visita a los profesores en sus horas de oficina si tienes algunas dudas sobre un tema de la clase. 5. Mantén una mentalidad positiva: Hay que empezar la semana de exámenes finales con una mentalidad positiva. Al tener una buena actitud te sentirás mejor y verás que podrás alcanzar el éxito. Estos son algunos consejos sencillos que ayudaran a los estudiantes a tomarse con más calma esa última semana. Los exámenes finales están programados del 15 al 20 de mayo. Para obtener más información acerca de horarios y fechas visita la página: http://www.calstatela.edu/ academicresources/spring2017-final-exam-schedules
Fotografía. Crédito: https://vimeo.com
Contáctanos en:
UT CSULA La Onda
laonda.newspaper@gmail.com LAONDACSULA
Fotografía. Crédito: http://teenagehack.com
7 FEATURE
May 1, 2017
University Times
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
People gather to bring awareness to the plight of sexual assault
Curry and Nicole then treated attendees to a collaborative spoken word and musical performance, spread out into two parts. The first act dealt with the rage induced from sexual assault and how victims often convert that feeling into shame and selfhatred. The second part was about victims treating that rage and being able to get to a place where they see themselves as beautiful.
Ricky Rodas Managing Editor The month of April is officially recognized in the United States as Sexual Awareness Month thanks to the efforts of advocates pushing for more focus on sexual assaults. On Wednesday, April 26, The Gender & Sexuality Department hosted its annual “Take Back the Night” event at the U-SU Plaza. The festivities featured speakers, spoken word artists, informational booths, musical performances, and a march which were all meant to draw awareness to all forms of sexual assault. The event opened with the Cal State LA Choir singing as they marched from the universities housing complex to the U-SU plaza. The Choir performed “I Can’t Keep Quiet”, considered by many to be the Women’s March anthem. The rendition garnered significant applause from the audience. Afterwards, undergraduate Psychology major and “Not
Thomas Rodas
The California State University Choir Performing in front of An Audience
A Fairytale” Author Roxana Preciado took to the stage to recite her poem “Easy”. Her poem delved into the trials that women face regarding selfworth, various forms of sexual assault, and how ignorant men belittle their struggle. Preciado concluded her poem with a poignant line about empowerment, saying, “They say we are easy because they see our strength and they
fear us. We are not who they have written us about to be, together we can rewrite who we were meant to be… we will do more than survive, we will conquer.” The Keynote Speakers were TVF Lecturer and Media Done Responsibly (MDR), Executive Director Shaunelle Curry and former Soul Fege lead vocalist Kelly Nicole. Curry opened up with a
startling statistic, that “1 in 5 women on college campuses experience sexual assault, and over 90% of these cases go unreported,” Curry said. “Rape is the least reported crime because there is so much shame associated with it.” Curry continued to talk about the communities that are affected greatly by sexual assault. They include the transgender community and many communities of color.
After their moving speech, the stage was open to attendees who signed up to recite their own poems. Three women recited their poetry, recounting somber personal stories of sexual assault. The crowd applauded their performances, offering encouragement and praise for sharing their deeply personal stories. The event closed out with a musical performance by music collective In La Kech, who are also founding members of activist group Mujeres De Maiz. Take Back The Night organizers then rallied the attendees into a marching procession and began to walk around campus chanting, “rape culture has got to go.”
GET Ahead Today.
Summer Registration Opens May 15 Degrees | Transfer | Certificates
www.citruscollege.edu
8
University Times
May 1, 2017
FEATURE
Chemerinsky Visits CSULA
Dean of UC Irvine Law School talks Supreme Court cases Ani Nalbandian Staff Reporter
Dean Erwin Chemerinsky of UC Irvine Law School gave a lecture at Cal State LA on April 26 for the Democracy in Action series, “Presidential Power in an Age of Uncertainty: A Conversation with Erwin Chemerinsky.” The Pat Brown Institute arranged for the distinguished professor, who has argued before the Supreme Court on multiple occasions, to lecture about his stance and arguments in regards to President Trump’s reforms. University President William Covino kicked off the event by reaffirming his commitment to Cal State LA’s undocumented students. “Forums such as these are not only relevant, they’re really crucial to trying to transform an era of divisiveness into an era of heightened learning,” said Covino.
Dr. Raphael J. Sonenshein, the Executive Director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs, was the moderator for the event. Sonenshein began by highlighting notable accomplishments in Chemerinsky’s career which included: teaching at USC School of Law and DePaul University College of Law for over 25 years, and becoming the founding Dean of UC Irvine School of Law. In a few short years Dean Chemerinsky was able to transform UC Irvine School of Law into a top 30 University. During his time as Dean, he also authored the books, “Enhancing Government”, “The Conservative Assault on the Constitution”, and “The Case Against the Supreme Court.” The Harvard Law School graduate has also argued in Supreme Court cases including, Scheidler v. NOW, Tory v. Cochran, Van Orden v. Perry and Lockyer v. Andrade. The nearly 250 students and faculty members who were present at the discussion were treated to substantive
arguments by Chemerinsky regarding immigration, arbitration clauses in consumer and employment contracts, and the future of the Supreme Court.
Chemerinsky is outspoken about presidential executive orders, and is particularly astounded by the number of orders President Trump has signed so far. “President Obama used executive orders towards the end of his presidency because he was a Democratic President with a Republican Congress… President Trump has a Republican Congress, so one would think that the need for governing by executive orders would be much less. He is impatient; he wants to achieve his agenda as quickly as possible.” On the future of the Supreme Court, Chemerinsky said, “Neil Gorsuch is going to be a very Conservative justice. He’s going to be very much in the mold of Antonin Scalia… He is 49 years old. If he remains on the Supreme Court until he is 90 years old, which is the age that Justice
John Paul Stevens retired, he will be a Justice for the next 41 years.”
“As we are together today, there are three Justices which are 78 or older. Ruth Bader Ginsburg turned 84 a little over a month ago…Anthony Kennedy will be 81 in July… and Steven Breyer will be 79 come August…How likely is it that all three of these Justices will still be on the Court on January 20, 2021, assuming Donald Trump is a one term president. If any one of these Justices… leaves the Court and is replaced by a Conservative it will be the most Conservative Supreme Court we’ve had since the mid-1930s.” However Chemerinsky is optimistic, stating that, “We have so much more freedom today…we take freedom of speech almost for granted… so I believe that the pendulum of history very much goes towards more equality and more freedom.” Chemerinsky addressed the recent decision by the Supreme
Court to refuse the stay of execution of eight prisoners in Arkansas which will be killed in 11 days. “The United States is the only Western country that has the death penalty. One of only seven countries in the world that use the death penalty and the others aren’t countries you want to group together with…” “Arkansas supply of this drug midazolam is set to expire; the drug only has so much shelf life. What Arkansas is choosing to do is to execute a large number of people in a short amount of time before the drug’s shelf life expires. Last week, the Supreme Court 5 to 4 refused to stay the execution, and Gorsuch cast the fifth vote in that direction.” The veteran of the Supreme Court and teacher of young minds has plans to continue fighting any unconstitutional laws imposed by the government. If you would like to read more on his opinions and experiences, read his book, “The Conservative Assault on the Constitution.”
#YourVoiceCounts
•
Evaluate your instructors
•
Improve your classes
Download the Cal State LA GETMobile app and take the Student Course Evaluation Survey May 1 through May 13
9 FEATURE
May 1, 2017
University Times
From the University Times to the Los Angeles Times had absolutely no idea what career path to follow. After taking a journalism class he became managing editor and later editor-in-chief of the University Times.
Hector Becerra shared his journey as a journalist at the Los Angeles Times Marcela Valdivia Staff Reporter
“I would not have been a journalist at [the] LA Times or really anywhere had I not come to Cal State LA , I had no plans to be a journalist,” said Hector Becerra.
On Tuesday, April 25, the Golden Eagle Ballroom welcomed Hector Becerra, writer for the Los Angeles Times and Cal State LA alumnus, for the 4th Annual Distinguished Lecture on Engagement, Service, and the Public Good. President William Covino gladly welcomed back Hector Becerra to the place that was once his home. The Distinguished Lecture was born after the establishment of a partnership with the Academic Senate to invite colleagues as speakers. President Covino touched upon how the United States is currently under a time where news is seen as alternative facts and fake news. He added that journalists are seen as enemies in the media when in reality they are simply
Cal State LA
CSULA Alumnus Hector Becerra speaks to an audience
doing their job. Therefore, this lecture came just in time for attendees to engage in a conversation about today’s issues. “It is especially timely to hear from a journalist of Hector’s caliber, especially because this lecture comes in a time when journalism is a hot topic and
when the best journalism is undervalued,” said President William Covino. Hector Becerra grew up in Boyle Heights and his passion for journalism sparked at Cal State LA was writing for the University Times. He attended Cal State LA as an undergraduate and
Hector Becerra’s father came to the United States in 1965 with only a sixth grade education. His father left his small town in Mexico due to the corrupt government in his country to search for better opportunities for his family in the United States. His father was an immense part of his inspiration in reading and writing. Despite his father only having a sixth grade education, his father was self-educated because he read book after book. However, Hector Becerra did not have his parents to guide him throughout his college career. He was on his own as he did not have anyone to tell him what classes to take or what
tests to take to be accepted into a four-year university. “Cal State LA was the greatest education I could have ever had; it actually prepared me for a world of professional journalism,” said Hector Becerra. Based on his hard work at Cal State LA and ethical stories, Hector Becerra got an unpaid internship and later got an internship at the LA Times as a student where he got hired. Hector Becerra mentioned how the diversity of Cal State LA taught him to talk to people, be professional, and cover numerous stories. The Los Angeles Times writer mentioned the importance of acknowledging mistakes. He emphasized to be critical and self-aware in being a journalist because it is one of the toughest fields. However , a journalist has to be prepared for criticism because copious people either love or hate the work of journalists. Nevertheless, the perks of being a journalist include meeting important people in the industry and celebrities.
A S S O C I AT E D S T U D E N T S , I N C .
S T U D E N T G OV E R N M E N T
OPEN POSITIONS A PPO I N T M EN T S E A S O N 17–1 8
T h e r e i s s t i l l t i m e f o r y o u t o j o i n t h e 2 0 1 7-2 0 1 8 A . S . I . A d m i n i s t r a t i o n & Co m m it te es . A p p li c ati o n s a re ava i la b le n ow fo r t h e B o a rd of D i re c to rs, Co m misio n e rs, S e nato rs, J u stices, a n d U nive rsit y Wid e Co m mit te es .
—A P P LY O N L I N E—
W W W. A S I C A L S TAT E L A . O R G /G E T- I N V O LV E D
10
University Times
May 1, 2017
IDAN RAICHEL MAY 6 8 PM
One of Israel’s most celebrated musical icons. A multi-ethnic tour de force.
RODRIGUEZ MAY 19 8 PM
The subject of the Academy Award-winning documentary “Searching for Sugar Man.”
, CHUCHO VALDES MAY 20 8 PM
The Grammy Award-winning Cuban jazz legend returns to the Luckman stage! Cal State LA students: $20 tickets max 2 tickets, upon presentation of valid Cal State LA ID card
Cal State LA staff & faculty: 20% off DISCOUNT upon presentation of Cal State LA ID card MORE INFO:
LUCKMANARTS.ORG
TICKETS ON SALE NOW:
323-343-6600
11 FEATURE
May 1, 2017
University Times
Convictions and Exonerations
Cal State LA’s Forensic Institute hosts forum that examines California’s wrongful convictions Sylvia Valdez Intern
Cal State LA’s Forensic Science Institute hosted a Civic Engagement Forum last Friday. The seven-hour event was sponsored by the California Forensic Science Institute at Cal State LA in association with the California Innocence Project, San Diego. The goal of the forum was to raise awareness of wrongful convictions. The forum seemed to be another lecture-type event until the presenters started sharing the findings of their case studies. “The D.A. charged a man with murder in a notorious Palmdale killing. A decade later, the same office seeks to toss his conviction,” said a news article as posted on the Los Angeles Times, by columnist, Richard Winton and Marisa Gerber. During the forum, a District Attorney presented this case in great detail. The case was the People v. Raymond Jennings. “Michelle O’keefe was an 18-yearold American college student and aspiring actress who was murdered in Palmdale, California on her way home
Psymily
A Depiction of a man behind jail fences
from appearing in a Kid Rock music video… In 2005, Iraq-war veteran Sgt. Raymond Lee Jennings was arrested for the murder, and after three trials he was sentenced to life in prison. After serving 11 years of his sentence, Jennings was exonerated [clear (someone) from blame for a fault or wrongdoing] and freed from prison,” as stated on Michelle O’Keefe’s Wikipedia site.
Take a GE class for less this summer at GCC! Glendale Community College offers the same general education classes as Cal State LA! • • • • • •
The D.A. who presented the case during the forum expressed the daunting and tedious amount of work that goes into these cases. His detective work has to be top-notch to make sure he doesn’t miss a single detail. As he presented the case, each PowerPoint slide contained disturbing and real information. He went into detail about the policies for opening cases such as, People v. Raymond Jennings. “Who can request a conviction to be reviewed?” he asked rhetorically. “The defendant can request a claim, like an insurance company, he requests a claim,” he clicks for the next slide, “claims that won’t be reviewed are cases of self-defense, someone who has pled guilty…” He clicks again. “the next step is a consolation case and then the wrongful investigation begins. The subsequent
review is next; [the investigation starts from the ground up], thanks to the innocent project, we’re able to interview new witnesses and old witness, we’re able to collect new data about the case.” After a deep breath, he continues, “after the investigation is completed, we present something similar to what i’m doing now, to the Chief Deputy, the chief then reviews it and writes a letter to a judge, who ultimately, makes the final decision.” In the case of People v. Raymond Jennings, Jennings was found factually innocent. In other words, due to lack of evidence, Jennings was set free. Though for many, this line of work may seem glamorized by television and film, but when someone is murdered, there are always repercussions. The forum was intense and an eye-opener to just how long the trails can go for, surly a task not many can do.
$46 per unit Summer session: June 19—August 25, 2017 Freeway-close location Top-notch faculty and student services Beautiful, friendly campus Easy registration process
APPLY ONLINE AT WWW.GLENDALE.EDU/APPLY 1500 N. Verdugo Road • Glendale, CA 91208 • (818) 240-1000
Let’s be friends! /glendalecollege
/gccpio
/glendalecollege
/glendalecollege
Cal State LA
Civic Engagement Forum Flyer
12
University Times
May 1, 2017
OPINION
Sorry Kid, They Don’t Advertise That On the White House
Trump admits that this job is harder than he thought
home boys, and having the whole golf course to yourself. After all, you do have to run an entire country and make actual progresses. Bummer.
Marrian Zhou Editor-in-Chief
The New York Times credited Trump’s first 100 days as “the least successful first 100 days since the concept existed.” Perhaps nobody wants to get out of the White House as much as President Trump right now, but there’s just so much more work compared to being a businessman who inherited everything from a development mogul father. With Trump himself being the most powerful man in the U.S. at the moment, and a very red Washington D.C., he actually hasn’t made much progress with his administration.
Saturday, April 30 marks the 100th day of Trump’s presidency. According to NBC News, Trump has signed 29 executive orders, 28 pieces of legislation into law, confirmed 25 appointees, one Supreme Court nominee, has so far received an overall job-approval rating of 40 percent. In an interview with Reuters, Trump expressed that being the President of an entire nation was, surprisingly, more difficult than he thought. “This is more work than in my previous life; I thought it would be easier.” As shiny and sparkly as the White House might look, apparently they don’t tell you how much responsibility and complexity the title of “President of the United States” comes with. It is actually a lot more than just on-camera opportunities, dining with foreign diplomats, smoking cigars with your
President Trump might be clueless as to why people are so angry every time he tries something. Look at the new tax reform proposal, which was supposed to be his strength and priority. The proposal reduced tax rates for large and small businesses to 15 percent, and the individual income tax brackets would shrink from seven to three- 10, 25, and 35 percent, according to New York Times. It will
also eliminate the estate tax and alternative minimum tax, which was used to limit the wealthy, including Trump himself who paid “$31 million under the alternative minimum tax [in 2005],” which is enough money to send 730 students through public high schools, calculated according to NPR’s data.
Corporations also don’t have to pay taxes on their foreign profits. According to CTV News’ map, President Trump owns 17 domestic properties and seven international properties spreading through North and South America, the Middle East, and Asia. Just imagine how many millions and billions of dollars Trump and his pals will save if this proposal is passed. Perhaps only one percent of Americans would not be angry about this. The Trump administration is also attempting to revive the American Health Care Act, which failed miserably in March. The new proposal will “allow states to waive three big Obamacare rules,” according to New York Times. The three rules include: Obamacare keeps insurance to a minimum standard and
make it useful for people who need it, its “community rating” prevents people with existing conditions from being charged more than healthy customers, and its “age rating” lowers premiums for the elders. States could pursue waivers of the above rules but they would be required to have special programs for high-cost patients. Either way, if this proposal is passed, any state will have the chance to waive these rules and a considerable population will lose affordable health care.
Don’t even get started on the wall. Trump might not have found his funding source for this massive wall yet, and he might never find one. But the Department of Homeland Security apparently has already started planning for building more detention centers and hiring more Customs and Border Patrol officers. According to the Washington Post, “the agency has already found 33,000 more detention beds to house undocumented immigrants… speed up the hiring of hundreds of new [officers], including ending
polygraph and physical fitness tests in some cases.” The Post also mentioned, “Republican leaders have proposed delaying a decision on Trump’s initial request of $1.5 billion for the wall and an additional $2.6 billion for more border security next year.” Big talk on lowering the US’s debt yet adding so much more to it, perhaps Trump lost his calculator on the golf course. In addition to all the scandals and executiveorders-gone-wrong, Trump’s administration is still under staffed. According to New York Times, President Trump has made 50 nominations for the executive branch, where there are 553 positions that need to be filled. The bad thing about this would be obvious he doesn’t have enough people to push forward his priorities. However, this could also be a silver lining if you look back on his policies. So there you have it, President Trump’s first 100 days of hardship in a nutshell. It's probably the most hardship he has ever experienced in his entire life. Boo hoo.
GET Working Today.
Summer Registration Opens May 15 Degrees | Transfer | Certificates
www.citruscollege.edu
13 FEATURE
May 1, 2017
University Times
Drag Culture Meets Mainstream Culture Drag culture is becoming mainstream Malerie Wilkins Contributor For most people, when they hear the word “Drag Queen” or “Crossdresser,” a stereotype will naturally come to mind. However, with judgments put aside, this type of entertainment is more than watching a man dress up like a woman, it’s an art that is forever evolving. With the popularity of RuPaul’s Drag Race on television, drag has arguably become mainstream.
dressing up in drag can be an act of resistance to the male gaze against the pressure of ideal beauty standards. Cal State LA, Communications Major, Nick Owen stated, “Drag queens may be the clowns of the LGBTQ community but they are the ones who are fearless in what is going on if they speak up for people who can’t.”
While many people may see drag culture as a fake aspect of femininity, what mainstream culture does not see is the fun aspect of this type of art and entertainment. There are Many terms used on drag queens who aren’t super shows or RuPaul’s Drag feminine like the others. Race are very similar to the Also, another aspect of slang words people might drag culture that is not well use on a daily basis. Drag known is “Bio-Queens.” queens have been using These are females who these terms for years, but the enjoy dressing up in drag. sayings have just recently gained popularity, thanks to Catuih Campos, English social media websites like and Rhetoric Major at Cal Twitter and Instagram. State LA, says that she It has been established that has been confronted by
SS2017-AD-UT-hp-bw-May1-outlined.indd 1
feminists about this because of the fact she is involved in the Drag Queen community. She claims that “Drag associates intelligence and wit with femininity, and there aren’t a lot of people who are open and accepting to make that connection in an open and positive way.” Those who are faced with challenging gender expectations feel like dressing up in drag allows them to freely express themselves. Owen shares his viewpoint on identity and expected gender roles made up by society. “Drag is anything that explores identity in any way and tricks the expectations of gender roles I see it as a huge slap in the face for those who mistreat and disrespect the culture of drag,” Owen said. While our gender may begin with the label of our sex, it doesn’t end there. A person’s gender is the complex interrelationship between three dimensions:
body, identity, and expression. Our body, our experience of our own body, how society genders bodies, and how others interact with us based on our body. For identity, a deeply held, internal sense of self as male, female, a blend of both, or neither; who the person internally know themselves to be, and lastly, expression on how Queens present gender in the world and how society, culture, community, and family perceive, interact with, and try to shape a specific kind of gender.
Campos shares her experience in what it is like being a female and dressing up in drag, “People make fun of me for liking to dress up but I don’t care, I do it for me and no one else. Feminists are always talking down on me calling me a hypocrite, I just don’t see it as making fun, but I can totally see why people may think of it like someone who is making fun of the idea of it.” Drag queen culture has influenced American culture for many years without most people realizing it.
Gender expression is also related to gender roles and how society uses those roles to try to enforce conformity to current gender norms.
Drag, in its most commonly understood form, might be defined as gay men portraying sensationalized women for entertainment purposes, but those who Each of these dimensions do drag describe it as can vary greatly across a something more significant. range of possibilities. A Each queen has their own person’s comfort in their personal reasons for doing gender is related to the drag and expectations degree to which these three for what they hope can dimensions feel in harmony. accomplish beyond making an audience laugh.
4/24/17 1:40 PM
14
University Times
May 1, 2017
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Student Dancers Spring On Stage for Annual Showcase
out about auditions through an email from the TAD department chair. Starting in a beginner’s dance class, she quickly accelerated to an advanced modern dance class after being spotted by Hae Kyung Lee, the director of the Spring Concert. Soon after, Lee recommended her to audition in front of the concert choreographers, and Becker instantly found herself in two different showcase pieces.
Luckman Intimate Theater Hosts 2017 Spring Dance Concert Anthony Karambelas Staff Reporter Spring season is upon us. It’s that time of year when trees dance in the wind, animals dance in the wind, and people dance on stage. If you don’t believe it, all you had to do was attend the 2017 Spring Dance Concert. Over the past semester, students interested in dance - majors and nonmajors alike - were grouped into five different dance numbers, all choreographed by awardwinning professionals. Last weekend they performed their final pieces at the Luckman Intimate Theater. Choreographers included: Bruno Louchouarn, who directed the dance entitled “Ebb’s Flow”, James Gregg “Lift the Veil”, Chisa Yamaguchi “Infinite”, Alesia
“Dance kind of grew on me, especially modern dance. Taking the first class, I got hooked and I had to take another class this semester because you’re able to lose yourself in it. You don’t have to focus on everything else in your life,” Becker said. “It takes up so much focus that you can just breathe it all out. It’s kind of like screaming... but with your body!” Cara Gonzales
Dancers in the opening act of the Spring Concert 2017
Young “When We Travel This Road Again”, and Hae Kyung Lee “On the Way”. All
five
performances
were visually and technically unique. While all choreography was based on modern and contemporary styles, performers wore different
Sign up now for the JOUR 3910 University Times class and help provide the summer content for the UT’s website, www.csulaunivertitytimes.com
Days & Times
Room
Instructor
Meeting Dates
Tu 6:00PM - 8:30PM Class #61081-Lecture
KH C3098
Munson
05/30/2017 - 08/05/2017
Days & Times
Room
Instructor
Meeting Dates
Tu 2:30PM - 5:00PM Class # 61278-Lab
KH C3098
Ellsworth
05/30/2017 - 08/05/2017
Write stories that YOU want to read, improve your grammar by helping to edit stories, and have the unique opportunity To learn the backend of the UT website at the same time you are earning 3 units!
Register Now! Classes begin May 30, 2017.
costumes in each performance and imparted different moods. In “When We Travel This Road Again,” dancers moved to a myriad of abstract noises, rustling, bass drums and employed many lifts. The final piece in program, on the other hand, began slow with dancers inching across the stage and quickly transitioned to front handsprings and frontflips. “There isn’t really any piano or anything classical that you’d expect for a dance concert. It’s mainly background noises, so you hear a little rustling of grass or woodwinds and then it’s like weird bass drums. It’s really specific to the piece and a lot of the pieces within the show are very abstract, but they do tell a story,” said Mary Becker, who performed in “When We Travel.” Due to the lack of a proper soundtrack, dancers had to learn to sync together on more than just visual cues. They began to sense each other’s presence through breath. “Honestly, the only way I can keep up with everyone and see where we’re all at is just to focus on everyone’s breathing. Because the great thing about the intimate theater is we’re so close together so you can hear everyone else breathing and so you go with everyone’s step and movements. We change it up each time, we don’t really focus on the time and the music, it’s the people themselves,” Becker said. This improvisational aspect of the Spring Concert made it different from standard performances. By allowing for artistic expression, the choreographers enabled their dancers to craft a truly unique performance for each audience, making each new show as exciting as the last. For many students, the Spring Concert served as their first experience with the dance department. Becker found
One of Becker’s dance partners was psychology major Maria Rodarte, who fell in love with staged movement. In high school she joined the Color Guard, and has since found herself returning to the stage. However, Both Becker and Rodarte agree that people don’t often notice the hard work and talent required for modern and contemporary dance. “You think modern dance, everyone kind of pushes it to the side and laughs a little bit, and it’s understandable; I used to do the same exact thing when watching it. But now I understand the amount of work that goes into it, the passion and just because something doesn’t have a straight up plotline or words, the great thing about that is it’s universal,” Becker said. While it may be difficult to follow thematically, every dance has an inherent story. As audience members, there are some key ways to get the most out of a performance. “Watch for the beauty behind every single movement. If they [dancers] are just moving one arm up, what does it mean to the person doing that or in relation to the people around them? What does the lighting mean for that? Just relate it back to something that’s familiar to you,” said Rodarte. Rodarte and Becker advise those who are interested in dance to get involved as soon as possible. Even if it’s just a hobby, taking one dance class certainly won’t hurt. “ Based on my experience, if you see a class that looks cool, take it. Because just knowing faculty will give you another connection, which will help you meet another person. And that’s how I got into the production, just talking to my professor and having her tell me, ‘Just come here on this night.’ It’s amazing how much just showing up can do,” Becker said.
May 1, 2017
University Times
15
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
DAVID ZITSER
DAVID GARCIA
AARON CASTANEDA
NEYDA UMANA
JAZMIN ORTIZ
PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADMINISTRATION
VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE
VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC GOVERNANCE
SECRETARY/ TREASURER
MARCOS MONTES VICE PRESIDENT FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS & ADVANCEMENT
REP-AT-LARGE & SENATORS
YESSENIA VILLACORTA
JOSHUA SALAZAR
JACQUELYN ACOSTA
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS REP-AT-LARGE
CAMPUS AFFAIRS REP-AT LARGE
UNDERGRADUATE ACADEMIC SENATOR
COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES
JESUS MOR A
KENYA PINEDA
DEBORAH ASCENCION
LILY NGUYEN
COLLEGE OF ARTS & LETTERS REPRESENTATIVE
CHARTER COLLEGE OF EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVE
COLLEGE OF NATURAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES REPRESENTATIVE
COLLEGE OF NATURAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES REPRESENTATIVE
TUE
IGNAURATION DAY JUNE 20 • 4:30PM LOS ANGELES ROOM, 3RD FLOOR • U-SU
16
University Times
5 1/
May 1, 2017
SPORTS MAY
M
Summer Scholarship Strategies Info Session 12:00pm King Hall, 1st Floor, D1053
T
Glazer Family Dreamers Resource Center Support Group w/CAPS 2:15pm Student Affairs 214 Researching Postgraduate Programs in the UK & Ireland 3:15pm King Hall D1053 Eat Healthy, Be Active: Physical Activity is Key to Living Well 3:15pm Student Health Center, 2nd Floor, Room 213 Stepping Out of the Shadows 3:15pm U-SU Plaza Pop Up D-STRESS 6:00pm Main Campus Walkway/ Salazar Hall Quad Exploring the Stakes of Critical Inquiry 6:15pm San Gabriel Room, 3rd Floor,
W
Democracy in Action series 12:00pm U-SU Theatre API Representation in Media 6:00pm U-SU Theatre Pop Up D-STRESS 6:00pm Main Campus Walkway/Salazar Hall Quad
H
Men of Color Success Network-Prepping for Finals Week 3:15pm U-SU, 3rd Floor, Los Angeles Room C International Student Recognition Celebration 5:30pm Golden Eagle Ballroom Independent Visions: East LA Interchange 6:15pm U-SU Theatre Die Fledermaus, an Opera by Johann Strauss Jr. 7:30pm Cal State LA State Playhouse
F
Honors Convocation: CCOE 5:00pm Die Fledermaus, an Opera by Johann Strauss Jr. 7:30pm Cal State LA State Playhouse Jazz Combos Concert 7:30pm Music Hall
Made by Eujong Kim
Cal State LA's women's tennis team has made a nice climb in the latest national rankings Cal State LA Athletics Contributor The Golden Eagles checked in at No. 17 in the Women's Tennis National Rankings administered by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and released on Wednesday. Cal State LA (13-8) was ranked 23rd in the previous rankings, but that was before big wins over Hawaii Pacific (No. 5 at the time), Sonoma State (No. 17 at the time), Point Loma (No. 19 at the time) and Azusa Pacific (No. 21 at the time). Cal State LA finished its season on Saturday after an impressive showing in the PacWest Conference Championships. The Golden Eagles edged Azusa Pacific, 5-4, in a five-hour quarterfinal match before stunning No. 1 BYU-Hawaii by winning two of the three doubles points in a semi-final match. The Golden Eagles then fell to No. 9 Academy of Art, 5-3, in the third-place match to finish fourth in the conference. Cal State LA's No. 1 doubles team, Nozomi Matsuoka and Kayleigh Hall, moved up to No. 13 in the nation. They were No. 14 in the country in the previous national poll.
Cal State LA Athletics
The Cal State LA Women's Tennis Team celebrating their victory
The end-of-the-season national rankings will be published on May 31. Cal State LA was also ranked fifth in the final NCAA Division II West Region poll. The top three teams from the West – BYU-Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific and Academy of Art – qualified for the NCAA playoffs.
Cal State LA is in line for its sixth consecutive national top25 finish and its third top-20 finish in the past six seasons. The Golden Eagles were 23rd in 2016, 17th in 2015, 21st in 2014, 22nd in 2013 and 15th in 2012. The national ranking of 15 in 2012 was the best for the program since being No. 15 in 1995.
Cal State LA is on pace to be nationally-ranked at the end of six consecutive seasons for the first time since 1991-96. Cal State LA has a storied women's tennis program that has celebrated success recently with its string of top-25 ITA national rankings. The Golden Eagles have competed in the
NCAA Championships nine times and Edna Olivarez won national titles in singles and doubles, with partner Jennifer Choi, in 1990. The program's most famous alumna is legendary tennis pro and women's rights activist Billie Jean King, who played for Cal State LA from 1961-64. The athletics complex on campus is named in her honor.