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October 9, 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
Issue 215.08
EXECUTIVE SALARIES
INCREASED Richard Molina Deputy Copy Editor
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mid cuts from state funding, ever-increasing fees, continual growth of enrollment, overcrowding of parking lots, an underpaid faculty and an increase in tuition earlier this year, the CSU Board of Trustees decided the best way to work towards solving these (and other) issues is to raise their salaries. After a two-day meeting Sept. 1920, the 25-member California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees unanimously voted to increase the salaries of top executives including chancellor Timothy P. White, vice chancellors and the system’s campus presidents. The meeting is just one of six the board is scheduled to meet annually. This particular meeting was set to address budget shortfalls, enrollment growth and protections for immigrant students following the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The Board decided on a salary increase of 2.5 percent for the 20172018 cycle to be appropriate. The decision comes after the trustees voted to increase tuition by 5 percent in March of this year. Before that, the trustees agreed on executive salary increases of 3 percent for the 2014-2015 year, a 2 percent increase in 2015-2016 and another 2 percent in 2016-2017. According to the Los Angeles Times, this last 2.5 percent
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increase brings White’s salary to a total of $450,345. President’s salaries increased starting from $274,601 at the Maritime Academy and are as high as $428,645 at San Diego State. This does not include the home and car allowances granted to executives. Records of total salaries and benefits for public employees are accessible via TransparentCalifornia.com. The decision raised concerns considering a state audit released in April this year titled “California State University: Stronger Oversight is Needed for Hiring and Compensation Management Personnel and for Monitoring Campus Budgets”. The audit found that the CSU system had been hiring managers and administrators, and providing them salary raises at rates that far surpassed other employees. The number of administrators, supervisors and other professional staff grew by 15 percent, while faculty and non-faculty support staff rose by 7 and 6 percent respectively, all within the fiscal years of 2007-08 and 2015-16. To explain the necessity of the recent raise, White told the trustees, “Attracting, recruiting and retaining quality leadership at the CSU is of significant importance to us. The leadership of our campuses and the executive office is critical to the overall success of our students and the university.” The University Times then contacted the Office of the Chancellor, and Manager of Public Affairs Elizabeth Chapin, who spoke on behalf of the CSU, reiterated the Chancellor's statement adding, “CSU faculty and (Continued to Page 2)
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October 9, 2017
University Times
NEWS
Recounting a night of violence Survivors of the Las Vegas describe how they made it out alive. Ricky Rodas Investigative Reporter For fans attending The Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas, the last thing they expected was for their experience to end in bloodshed. However, on the final evening of the festival, a shooter fired at a crowd of attendees, killing 58 and injuring over 500 others. Throughout the constant gunfire, concertgoers struggled to find cover, as the gunman, later identified as 64 year-old Stephen Paddock, sprayed the crowd with bullets from a window in the Mandalay Bay Hotel. The attack lasted for 10 minutes, before the shooter encountered hotel security. As families are grieving the loss of loved ones who perished in the attack, survivors are being encouraged to tell their stories. Cal State LA alumnus Joe Brizzolara, explained the situation as his grandparents, Vickie and Jack Russo, attended the 3-day event and escaped without injuries. In a joint interview with the University Times, the couple recounted the days leading to the shooting. “We arrived on Thursday; we were laying by the pool during the day, everyday,” they said. “Then, in the evening we would go to the concert.” On the last night, the Russos recalled having a great time as country music duo Big & Rich led the crowd in a rendition of “God Bless America”. It was during singer Jason Aldean’s performance that Paddock began firing into the crowd. “When the first couple of shots rang, we all just kind of looked and said, ‘what was that sound?,” Vickie said. “Then it happened again and everybody was screaming ‘get down, get down’, because then we knew it was gunfire.” Concertgoers quickly ducked down for cover, and Vicki’s husband threw her to the ground and laid on top of her body for protection. “We were lying on the ground and we could hear all the firing going on. ‘We don’t want to die here, we love each other,” said Jack. Between pauses in gunfire, Russo and others continued to
Tribune News Service
Families of the victims and those affected by the massacre at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival on Sunday Oct. 1, 2017 held candle vigils throughout the week on Las Vegas Blvd. in memoriam of those lost from the shooting.
scramble for safety. Deciding not to run towards the festival entrance, like many others, Jack spotted a toppled down fence in the concert vicinity, allowing the two to escape. Originally they took shelter in the Tropicana hotel, but uncertainty of the shooter’s whereabouts prompted them to leave. “We were inside the casino and everyone was screaming and yelling; but then it started to calm,” said Vickie. “All of a sudden, someone starts screaming, ‘they’re in here, they’re shooting, it’s coming this way!’ Then, mass panic broke out again.”
The Russos eventually ended up in the MGM Grand hotel, but had to leave again. “We tried to get some taxi cabs and empty buses to give us a ride, but when we were running from the Tropicana to the MGM, no one would stop,” said Jack. The Russos were fortunately able to get a ride outside of the MGM. “We begged for our lives and said, ‘please give us a ride; there’s shooting all over the place,” said Jack. “The guy said, ‘come on in, I’ll give you guys a ride out of here.” They asked the driver to get them out of the area and they were taken to Henderson, the
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFE1YLOST AND FOUND SALE WHEN: Wednesday, October 25, 2017 TIME: 9:00am - 12:00p,m WHERE: Front of PE Bldg. All items will be SOLD AS IS/CASH ONLY For additional information, call Lost &Found Office (323) 343-3700
next town over.
“When we got to the hotel in Henderson, we gave him a big hug and a thank you,” said the Russos. “He wouldn’t take any money; he was the nicest guy.” When they were finally safe in their room, they took in what happened and cried. The Russos had friends and family who also attended the concert, and they suffered gunshot injuries. Fortunately, they made it out of alive. As a result of the chaos and terror, the Russos have come away with a valuable lesson of gratitude. “All this other stuff isn’t important, little arguments aren’t important. My husband and I were together during the shooting, and we want to be together for life. I never want to be parted from him.” (Continued from Page 1) staff also recently received salary increases, with faculty receiving a 4.5 percent increase this budget year.” However, the California Faculty Association (CFA) had been in negotiations for increased wages for faculty and staff for over seven years and a 5 percent general salary increase was finally agreed upon after the possibility of a statewide faculty strike loomed over the heads of the trustees in the Spring of 2016. According to Molly Talcott, Los Angeles Chapter President of CFA and Associate Professor of Sociology, “Budgets are moral documents. Last year, the trustees voted 11-7 to raise tuition on students, while knowing that 20% of CSU students are food insecure and 10% are homeless.” As a statewide organization, however, CFA has yet to take
Jack (left) and Vickie Russo (right) would arrive moments before The Route 91 Harvest music festival would start throughout the 3 days.
an official position on the Board’s decision. “If it were my decision to make as a CSU executive, I would certainly freeze my own six-figure salary until higher education was restored as a fully funded (that is to say tuition-free) public good and human right for all,” said Talcott. “If I were a CSU executive, I also wouldn't take a penny more while lecturer faculty are barely scraping by, with some living in their cars.” Master’s of Interdisciplinary Studies student and CFA Office Manager Daniel Osoy shared his concerns in an interview with the University Times, “There is no correlation between pay raises for administrators and an increase in student success. The chancellor’s statement is misleading and disingenuous.” Osoy has attended Board
of Trustees meetings in the past with student organizers addressing their concerns to the Board and shared some of his experiences, “I’ve gone to a couple, it’s very clear that the Board doesn’t care, they really don’t,” said Osoy. “There’s been times where we’ve caught them on their Facebook, playing video games on their computer, sometimes even just sleeping during a Board of Trustees meeting.” The Board of Trustees meetings are held at the Office of the Board of Trustees in Long Beach and are open to the public where attendants are able to engage in the public comments section. A schedule of these meetings as well as archives of past meetings are accesible at https://www2. calstate.edu/csu-system/boardof-trustees/Pages/default.aspx.
Guns out of control Vegas Shooting Sparks the Gun Control Debate. Michael Levitsky Contributing Writer Tragedy struck the nation last week, as the United States suffered their worst mass shooting in modern history. A lone gunman fired away at thousands of people attending a country music concert in Las Vegas, leaving 58 confirmed killed and wounding more than 500. The gunman, Stephen Paddock, opened fire from his room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel Resort and Casino. Law enforcement later discovered that Paddock had 23 firearms in his room. This is the most devastating mass shooting to date, just 2 years after the Orlando nightclub carnage that killed 49. Many Americans, outraged by the recent tragedy, are calling for Congress to reopen the gun control debate. Josh Horwitz, Executive Director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
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October 9, 2017
(CSGV), said, “When gun violence happens in neighborhoods across the country, we mourn and move on. When a gunman ambushes legislators at a Congressional baseball practice, we mourn and move on. When hundreds are shot
official statement on last week’s shooting. Josh Meyer of Politico, noted that this is not the first time the NRA has delayed on
at an outdoor concert, we are angry and outraged and call for change. We mourn. But this time, we cannot move on. We must take action.” As one of the world’s developed nations, the United States lead the way by far in most gun related homicides. According to the Human Development Index, the U.S. has nearly four times as many gun related homicides as the country with the second most–Switzerland, and nearly six times as many as Canada. On the other end of the spectrum, the gun rights group, National Rifle Association (NRA), has yet to release an
shootings.
still ignore them. When an incident such as this occurs, the NRA’s approach involves rigorous fact finding before releasing any statements. They
normally tend to search for facts such as possible motives, whether the suspect is psychologically stable and how the individual obtained his or her firearm(s).
releasing p u b l i c statements after mass
T h e question now remains: where does the U.S. go from here? The firearm control debate has been a prominent issue in the 21st century and will certainly continue to be as long as mass shootings continue to happen. Should Congress hold tighter regulations on gun laws, or do away with the 2nd Amendment altogether?
“The NRA made no public statement for days after the 2012 Sandy Hook shootings,” says Meyer. He continues to state that the NRA’s eventual response included blaming rap music, films and video games, and lack of armed guards at the school. The NRA has previously argued that strict regulations on firearms will only harm gun owners that abide by the law, because criminals will
Breaking down domestic terrorism In the wake of the recent Las Vegas shooting, controversy arises as to whether the act should be labeled domestic terrorism. Alexandrea Bell Contributing Writer After the recent scene of the Las Vegas Route 91 Harvest mass shooting, there is controversy among individuals. Some believe that it should be considered domestic terrorism, while others believe that it justifiably should be labeled just that: "a shooting." Regardless of opinion, the details of The Patriot Act state that domestic terrorism is an attempt to, “intimidate or coerce a civilian population; to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or to affect the
Sandy Hook shooter, Adam Lanza.
conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination or kidnapping.” Specifically, Nevada defines terrorism as, “a person who intentionally commits, causes, aids, furthers or conceal an act of terrorism to commit, cause, aid, further or conceal an act of
Pulse Nightclub shooter, Omar Mateen.
terrorism.” According to a recent NPR report, “To be charged with terrorism, a person has to be suspected of acting on behalf of one of nearly 60 groups that the State Department has declared a foreign terrorist organization. Some are well-
Virginia Tech Shooter, Seung-hui Cho.
known, including the Islamic State and al-Qaida, while others are far more obscure. Most, but not all, are Islamist.” Each states a slight variation of the other– that is that terrorism is defined by specific binding principles such as
affiliation, influence to commit the crime, and motive. However, regardless of what the Las Vegas shooting should be classified as, the fact of the matter is that dozens of lives were lost at the hands of a single shooter.
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October 9, 2017
University Times
NATIONAL NEWS
Gov. Brown signs bill protecting undocumented immigrants Senate Bill Declaring California “Sanctuary State” Signed By Governor Anthony Karambelas Staff Reporter Last Thursday, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a landmark
piece of legislation, which will designate California a “sanctuary state” as well as vastly limit the authority of state and local agencies to enforce federal immigration law. The Senate Bill 54, which officially recognizes the entirety of California as a “sanctuary state,” will do more than serve as a ceremonial
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recognition of immigrant contributions. It will shield more than 2.3 million immigrants from unsolicited investigation, interrogation, detention, detection, or arrest for purposes of immigration enforcement.
“California has always been ahead of every state. The Pat Brown Institute often said that California was ten years ahead of the rest of the nation. So this is another chance to show that our state is shining more than ever,” said Jose Guevara, peer adviser and student assistant at the Glazer Family Dreamers Resource Center at Cal State LA. For many police and sheriff ’s agencies, not much will change. Several law enforcement agencies within California have already adopted protocol’s prohibiting their interaction or cooperation with federal immigration agents. Other local agencies that have not yet complied with new “sanctuary state” rules will have to make numerous adjustments. They will have to effectively cut off all ties with federal immigration agencies and will be prohibited from asking about a person’s immigration status or arresting based on civil immigration warrants. There are a few exceptions to this policy, however. State prisons and local jails will continue to provide the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security with electronic fingerprint records of convicted immigrants. In addition, police and sheriffs will be able to transfer inmates to immigration authorities if they have been convicted in the last fifteen years of one of 800 crimes
Tribune News Service
California Governor Jerry Brown signed the Senate Bill 54, which officially recognizes the entirety of California as a “sanctuary state.”
described in the Trust Act. Effectively, this will allow police and sheriffs to continue protecting California against criminals, whilst protecting innocent immigrant families. Another exception to the SB 54 is that it does not inhibit the jurisdiction of federal immigration authorities such as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E) or the Department of Homeland Security. Recent rumors of I.C.E.’s presence on the Cal State LA campus have been determined to be false, according to Robert Lopez, Executive Director of the Office of Communications. However, a visit by Homeland Security has been confirmed.
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On September 26th, two internal affairs investigators reportedly visited campus after being invited by an adjunct faculty member who spoke against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “The complaint was not connected to Cal State LA. The investigators spoke to the adjunct faculty member in an office,” said Nancy WadaMcKee, Vice President for Student Life. However, Associated Student Incorporated (A.S.I.) has declared their fervent support of the bill. In fact, A.S.I.’s Lobby Corps group traveled to California’s capital in an effort to encourage their representatives to vote in favor. “When we took our advocacy trip to Sacramento in March this was one of the bills we were asking support for. This bill has a tremendous impact on students. It tells students that they are able to attend our campus without fear,” said Marcos Montes, VP for External Affairs and Advancement at A.S.I. In spite of the protections granted by SB 54, students should have a solid plan of action when facing immigration enforcement agencies on or off-campus. Though expected to meet with resistance from Trump administration officials, the SB 54 is expected to take effect in January.
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University Times
October 9, 2017
The power of freedom and expression disrupt the free expression rights like those of BLM.
Jody D. Armour speaks on Freedom of Speech and Expression
Armour addressed his experience in answering questions about the title for his latest book that he is writing, his documentary, and twitter handle as “N***A Theory”. “That word is about as radioactive as you get in the English language,” said Armour. “It is a word, again, that wounds but also I think it’s a word that can suture the same places that blood flows if used by people positively.”
J. Aaron Delgado Managing Editor - Print
expression by maximizing it and recognizing how critical language can cause damage. “Words can lacerate– they can be jagged edged,” said Armour. “But if you’re a believer in the power of language like I am, you also know or believe that words can
suture the places where blood flows.” Members of the Movement express themselves in various ways, while others see their motives as “too transgressive”. Armour responded to reactions by asking how people can handle words that do not
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“You’ve got to teach people to think both ways or people can’t be affective,” said Armour.
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Understanding ideas and situations is something that Armour emphasizes with his students. He wants people to understand both sides of ideas rather than simply understanding one side.
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Just as Armour thought that the guards would leave him alone, they came back to asking for the person’s name that he was there to see. At that moment, Armour saw this situation as one that many black people find themselves in because of symbolic communication in the way they express themselves through appearance and through actions. If the name didn’t match who he was looking for, then the guards would identify him as a trespasser.
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“Sir, don’t take it personally,” said a guard.
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Armour started the discussion by using President Trump’s recent tweets as examples of freedom of
J. Aaron Delgado
USC Professor of Law Jody D. Armour speaking to a crowd of students in the USU about the power of language and his experience with it.
Armour described an experience when he was in the lobby of the J.W. Marriott in Downtown L.A., which involved communication that is nonlinguistic, and three guards approached him and asked if he was there to see someone. He affirmed their questions. Following up with his answer, Armour then questioned why they didn’t ask anyone else within the vicinity. The guards said, “Sir, we’ve been having a problem with transients.” Armour knew exactly what the answer he got meant, but he wanted to hear the guards
“So you’re saying I look like a transient?” Armour asked the guards.
CATHOLIC
On Sept. 28, Cal State LA’s Democracy in Action series hosted University of Southern California (USC) Professor of Law, Jody David Armour, to speak on the topic of freedom of speech. Armour aimed to make sense of what is going on in Washington D.C. and how it affects the student body. Armour is a widely recognized scholar and also the author of “Negrophobia and Reasonable Racism: The Hidden Costs of Being Black in America” (New York University Press). His book touches three central concerns of the Black Lives Matters (BLM) movement: racial profiling, police brutality, and mass incarceration.
explicitly say it.
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LMU Graduate Open House Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017 Loyola Marymount University graduate.lmu.edu/openhouse2017
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October 9, 2017
University Times
INMIGRACIÓN
California se convierte en estado santuario INMIGRACIÓN
#UnitedForDreamers Inicia una campaña para apoyar a los jóvenes soñadores Por Marcela Valdivia Al principio de este mes, la actriz mexicana Salma Hayek y el locutor ‘Piolin’ Sotelo iniciaron una campaña nacional para apoyar a los Dreamers. El movimiento #UnitedForDreamers consiste en llamar al presidente de la cámara de representantes Paul Ryan. Al hacer la llamada, se debe dejar un mensaje de apoyo, pero sobretodo, ser explícito en resaltar la importancia de una reforma para los Dreamers. En la entrevista que tuvo Salma Hayek con el locutor de Los Ángeles ‘Piolin’, explica la importancia de salir adelante como una comunidad unida. Ella desea que millones de personas se animen a hablarle al congreso para que nuestra voz sea escuchada. Piensa que podemos ayudar a los Dreamers al dejar muchos mensajes expresando lo vital que son para nosotros, ellos y sus familias. Su meta con este movimiento es que el congreso escuche nuestra voz y tome acción salvaguardando los derechos de los Dreamers. La
actriz
Salma
Por Lissette Flores
El jueves pasado, el gobernador de California, Jerry Brown, firmó la ley SB 54, sobre “las ciudades santuario” que amplía las protecciones para todos los inmigrantes se encuentran en Estados publicó un video en su cuenta que Unidos ilegalmente. de Instagram, donde le llamaba directamente a Paul La ley será efectiva a partir Ryan. Ella exigió que apoyen del primero de enero, y con a estos jóvenes soñadores, ella, la policía no podrá en nombre de la comunidad cuestionar a personas sobre su y en nombre de los miles de estatus migratorio, ni tampoco inmigrantes que han perdido podrá participar en acciones la vida en el ejército apoyando contra la inmigración ilegal. y defendiendo la soberanía de los Estados Unidos. Salma La medida del gobernador Hayek espera que se saturen las llegó el mismo día en que líneas con llamadas y mensajes se cumpliera la fecha de para que el congreso se dé renovación para los permisos cuenta de lo fundamental que del programa de DACA. La SB son los Dreamers en este país. 54, le da otro recurso más para resistir la ofensiva del gobierno Varias personas del medio de Donald Trump contra los del espectáculo han unido indocumentados. sus voces a esta causa, entre ellos se menciona a Enrique Dentro de la nueva ley, los Iglesias, Angelica Vale, Diego funcionarios carcelarios no Luna, Omar Chaparro, Adriel podrán entregar a prisioneros Favela, Eugenio Derbez, a las autoridades federales de Gabriel Iglesias y muchos inmigración, a no ser que los más que ya han publicado presos hayan sido declarados videos en sus redes sociales apoyando al movimiento #UnitedForDreamers. A través de las redes sociales se espera que el movimiento se haga aún más grande y más personas decidan actuar en pro de esta gran causa.
Para ser parte del movimiento #UnitedForDreamers hay que llamar al número 1 (202) 225-3031 donde contestará un maquina detallando el directorio. Luego se debe seleccionar el número 6 para dejarle el mensaje en ingles al presidente de la cámara de Hayek representantes Paul Ryan.
Crédito de fotografía: www.youtube.com
Contáctanos en:
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Jerry Brown aprueba ley para proteger a indocumentados
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Crédito de fotografía: Tribune News Service
culpables de ciertos delitos graves. Además, la SB 54 limita el acceso de las autoridades federales de inmigración a escuelas y universidades públicas. Se prohibirá también, que las agencias estatales y locales, incluyendo policía escolar y departamentos de seguridad investiguen, interroguen, detengan o arresten a personas con propósitos de inmigración.
De acuerdo a Jerry Brown, la nueva ley no prohíbe que el ICE opere en California. Según el gobernador “Ellos son libres de usar sus propios vastos recursos para aplicar las leyes federales de inmigración en California”. Sin embargo, síconsidera que la nueva medida ayudaría a brindar un poco de alivio a las familias que ahora viven momentos inciertos por temor a ser deportados.
TEMAS GENERALES
A contracorriente: lucha de los grupos LGBT Leyes que favorecen la identidad de género
Por Eduardo Ramos Considerando que los movimientos progresistas a favor de los grupos LGBT (lesbiana, gay, bisexual, transexual) solo han podido concientizar a las nuevas generaciones acerca de su aceptación, no es extraño que sea noticia el hecho que un maestro ahora sea maestra. Es decir, esta persona que nació varón se sometió a una operación quirúrgica para dejar de ser Tomás y ahora ser Quimey. Aunque, también podría ser que la noticia se deba al hecho de que no se trata de cualquier varón, sino de un docente de inglés transgénero (trans) de una escuela de La Plata, provincia de Buenos Aires. Quimey Ramos, decidió cambiar su identidad de género en medio del año escolar. En una mañana típica para los alumnos de esta escuela, la maestra se presentó para darles la noticia. "Ustedes me conocieron como el profe Tomás, pero a partir de ahora voy a venir como la profe Quimey" dijo ante el asombro de los presentes. "Yo soy lo que ustedes vulgarmente conocen como una travesti, eso significa que yo no nací mujer pero elijo
ser mujer". Según el periódico La Nación, de Argentina, cuando los padres se enteraron, sólo hubo dos familias que llegaron a la escuela para quejarse y proponer cambiar a sus hijos de escuela. Estas fueron recibidas por el director del plantel, quien a su vez les dijo: "Acá no hacemos nada más que cumplir con la ley de identidad de género. Si quieren cambiarlos no tengo problema, lo que no les puedo garantizar es que en la otra escuela no haya otra profe como la profe Quimey". De acuerdo con el artículo, la aceptación que Quimey tuvo en esta escuela, no coincide con la situación que viven las mujeres trans de la región. Aunque la ley de identidad de género, aprobada en el 2012, indica que todas las personas que lo deseen pueden "solicitar la rectificación registral del sexo y el cambio de nombre de pila e imagen, cuando no coincidan con su identidad de género auto percibida", parece ser que algunos aún no están preparados para este cambio social. Según Quimey, ella tuvo que auto administrarse hormonas por el simple hecho de que en las clínicas ni siquiera la recibían para hacerle análisis de sangre y así iniciar su terapia de reemplazo hormonal. “Eso no respeta la
ley porque te ponen trabas.” explica Quimey. Aparentemente aún hay trabajo que hacer por parte de los movimientos pro LGBT. El proceso de cambio es lento y la aceptación completa de estos grupos parece estar aún lejos de ser una realidad. La tarea no es fácil, considerando que se está luchando contra toda una vida de estructuras sociales que han fungido como la norma de muchas generaciones en todo el mundo, no solo en Argentina. De lo que todos deberíamos estar conscientes, generaciones nuevas y pasadas, es que los tiempos cambian, y en el caso de los grupos LGBT lo que fue aceptado anteriormente hoy en día es ofensivo. Ya es un hecho, debemos respetarnos como seres humanos, independientemente del color de piel, la nacionalidad o la preferencia sexual. Siguen muchas preguntas en el aire, en este caso para los padres de familia: ¿aceptaría usted que alguien perteneciente al grupo LGBT educara a sus hijos? Si usted piensa que sí, entonces muy probablemente comprenderá lo absurdo de publicar noticias como el caso de Quimey, de otro modo, tal vez le parezca un verdadero escándalo. ¡Juzgue usted!
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CULTURE Seeking help
idea of ego,” said Smith. “Ego meaning self-focus, how we think we represent ourselves or how we think we are supposed to present ourselves in relation to the idea or act of asking for help.
Students discuss the factors that prevent them from asking for help in difficult situations.
Donovan Saddler, communications studies major shared how he is always the only person of color in various spaces, and by default feels like a representative for Black people. In the work environment, he feels he has to be a good example to others, cannot ask for help because he will be seen as unintelligent.
Marcela Valdivia Staff Reporter Last Tuesday, a conversation sparked regarding the importance of seeking help as a critical skill to academic, personal and professional success. The event, “4:44 Chat: Pride and the Act of Asking for Help”, focused on how pride and fear are barriers in seeking help from somebody. The discussion was part of the Men of Color Success Network at Cal State LA that promotes academic excellence, personal development and leadership opportunities for Black and Chicano/Latino men students. “It is a network that we created to pull people together to think about academic and social success at Cal State LA,” said Frederick Smith, Director of the Cross Cultural Centers (CCC).
Courtesy of the Cross Cultural Center
Pride and the Act of Asking for Help" organized by Men of Color Success Network focused on help-seeking and personal development.
The discussion opened by addressing barriers in asking for help. Multiple students mentioned being shy and finding it difficult to start a conversation when seeking help. Also, students felt shamed for not knowing something because of the possibility that they could be judged by others. Laura Tejeda, CCC Program
Coordinator, discussed the different forms of assistance available to students. Specifically, she mentioned mental health assistance and how people are taught not to ask for help when feeling emotional. In other situations, people are vulnerable and need help knowing how to do something around the house or find a location on campus. In a working environment,
for example, people may not ask for help because they are expected to already know how to perform certain tasks. “Different types of help can provoke different types of emotions and fears,” said Tejeda.
“When we were researching this topic to present, we were thinking about this whole
“Overall I think it is a great event that gives a platform and space for people to have conversations about things we normally don't have,” said Donovan Saddler. “I like that we get to know what other people are thinking by hearing their stories and hearing where they are coming from because there are different perspectives.” The next Men of Color Success Network is “4:44 Chat: The ‘Man Box’ and Relationships” on Tuesday, October 24 at 12PM in the Los Angeles Room C.
Old school vegans The Cross Cultural Centers teach students of the Latinx community the nutritious culinary options available to them. Ashley Reyes Contributing Writer On Tuesday Oct. 3, the Cross Cultural Centers (CCC) invited students to the University Student Union (U-SU) for a free food demonstration and discussion entitled “El
Veganismo Indigeno: Before It Had a Name.” The event was an opportunity for students to participate and learn about the history of their indigenous ancestors, the Latinx community and the role veganism played in their daily diets. Enrique Ochoa, a professor of history and Latin American Studies, was one of the lead speakers at the event. As students gathered on the forest lounge patio, guest speaker Cinthya Gomez provided attendees with a free demonstration on how to make Esquites, a Mexican
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snack of toasted corn. Contemporary veganism is rarely associated with the Mexican community. By offering alternative vegan recipes to popular Mexican dishes, Gomez hopes to encourage others to think twice about what they eat. “Being a vegan in the Mexican community is very tough,” said Gomez. “We kind of have been brainwashed into thinking that if you don’t eat chicken or meat, then you’re going to be super malnourished.” Throughout her demonstration, she explained the benefits of eating a plantbased diet and the role it plays in maintaining everyday health. She also discussed the link between modern day veganism and its ties to gentrification and expensive prices. “Veganism has been present since way back in the days,” said Gomez. “A lot of traditional Mexican dishes are vegan. Just because it doesn’t have the word vegan stamped in front of it doesn’t mean it’s not vegan.” As students observed how the dish was made, Gomez was happy to share various tips about veganism as well as advice that she’s picked up throughout the past year. Some tips included only becoming part vegan at first before diving straight in, as well as looking at shopping alternative to Trader Joe’s.
Thomas Rodas
“El Veganismo Indigeno: Before It Had a Name" allowed students to participate and learn about the history of their indigenous ancestors and the Latinx community.
“If you don’t know where you’re shopping, it can be really hard,” said Gomez. When addressing the history presented at the event, sophomore, Angel Gomez, shared her thoughts. “I’m really glad it was prefaced that way because it gives context to what we’re doing.” said Gomez. “I’m vegetarian but I do want to transition to being vegan so this was perfect.” Sophomore, Sam Velasco, also shared what she enjoys about coming out to CCC events. “They’re really informative and they go
beyond what they teach us in K-12 education about colonization.” After samples of Esquites were handed out, attendees lined up to add toppings such as Tajin, chile, and vegan cheese. “It’s more accessible than people think,” said Gomez. “They think that it’s really expensive and that you have to get high-end brands, but what we just demonstrated was only 3 ingredients. That’s it.” For additional Mexican vegan recipes, visit Gomez’s website at mexvegana.com
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October 9, 2017
University Times
Pillars of Black Community celebrated Pan-African studies department hosts its 4th Black Community Honors to award those making the biggest difference in the community. Carlos Gomez Managing Editor - Web On Friday, Sept. 29, the Pan African Studies Department held its fourth annual Black Community Honors. This years honorees included individuals who have worked hard to create a better world for black people to live in. Department Chair, Dr. Melina Abdullah, was the Master of Ceremony. The evening began with the singing of the Black National Anthem, originally a poem written in 1899 by James Weldon Johnson. Dinner was provided by the Watts Coffee House, who served potato salad, green salad, fish sticks and fried
Aileen Espitia
The Pan-African Studies Department hosted its 4th Annual Black Community Honors which awarded (left to right) Donald Bakeer, Patrisse Cullors, and Jelani Hendriz on Friday, Sept. 29.
chicken. Among those receiving an honor from the Pan African Studies department was Cal State LA alumnus, acclaimed poet, actor and author, Donald Bakeer. He received an Arts as Activism award, and spoke about his sudden change in life
after graduation. The film “South Central” recently celebrated its 25th year since it was released. It was based on the book “Crips: The Story of the L.A. Street Gang,” which Beeker authored. Following
Bakeer’s
acceptance of the award, Simeon Carson recited a poem that highlighted, “You can cage a revolutionary, but you can never cage a revolution.” This, according to Carson, was a reference to all the times Black people feel that they experience unjust killings or arrests.
Another important figure in the Black community, Patrisse Cullors, Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter (BLM), received an award from the PAS department.
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October 9, 2017
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Clams and jams
The Music Tastes Good Festival celebrates its second year with new culinary treats and eccentric music. Valerie Lesser Contributing Writer The Long Beach based Music Tastes Good Festival (MTG) celebrated its second year running in honor of its late founder, Josh Fischel. True to its intention, MTG 2017 provided the city of Long Beach with two days of music and food.
Valerie Lesser
Of Montreal's lead singer, Kevin Barnes.
Valerie Lesser
Vinyl Williams performed as the opening act on the New Orleans Stage.
Food vendors lined the lengths of the Marina Green Park in tents and trucks, and were intercepted by music stages and secret culinary operations behind them. Over forty bands and artists took to two stages over the course of two days. Headliners, Ween and Joyce Manor, brought September to a close just in time for Sleater-Kinney and Dr. Octagon to ring in the first of October the following night. Fans gathered around the Long Beach stage in awe of the rotating platform that presented performers one after another, which effectively prevented the delay of cleaning up the stage between acts. Of Montreal’s members walked their way around and onto stage as their fellow Polyvinyl Records band, Alvvays, were rotated away. Although Kevin Barnes strutted on stage in a mini skirt and wig associated with their “Innocence Reaches” album, the band performed an older album in full, celebrating the 10th anniversary of “Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?”
Valerie Lesser
Crowds gathered at various stages of the The Music Tastes Good Festival.
Ben Collins and John Fossum of Minihorse shared that their band had been added to the festival with the help of Chris Watson, the owner of their record label and creative director of the MTG Festival. They noted that Josh Fischel himself had taken an interest in their music the prior year. “It’s totally insane that there’s a show that has Broncho, Alvvays, Ride, Ween and Dr. Octagon,” expressed Collins.
“It’s like someone took one of my Spotify playlists and made it real life,” he joked.
dishes that included: Cajun, Greek, Mexican and Southern Thai cuisine.
The Taste Tent featured renowned chefs from Long Beach and New Orleans, each offering pearls of wisdom from their corner of the country. Those particularly culinarily inclined in preparing seafood, like Arthur Gonzales and Melissa Martin, only seemed fitting for the coastal city. Attendees with clearance were offered a menu featuring
Balloons resembling sea bubbles lined poles of the Taste Tent, and soon enough the ruler of the seas himself made an appearance. Trident in hand and marching band in tow, a figure resembling Poseidon led performers of the “Magical Musical Parade” as they danced down a walkway lined by food trucks. Dressed as glittering sea creatures, their
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Valerie Lesser
Of Montreal's drummer, Clayton Rychlik.
costumes glimmered in the sun. Days before the festival, creative director, Chris Watson, expressed that he hoped for the festival to be, “as culturally diverse as Long Beach is and representative of all the different types of people, backgrounds, and personal culture that Long Beach represents.” All things considered, it’s safe to say their mission was accomplished.
Thursday, October 26, 2017 10am-2pm
GRADUATE & PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS RECRUITMENT FAIR Outside of John F. Kennedy Memorial Library North Wing , Cal State LA
October 9, 2017
11 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT University Times
Bidding farewell
Remembering the life and music legacy of Rock Legend, Tom Petty. Toni Reveles Contributing Writer Rock Legend Tom Petty passed away on Monday, Oct. 2 following his international tour with The Heartbreaks, commemorating their 40-year anniversary. He was 66. He had many hits like “Free Fallin”, “Breakdown”, “American Girl” and “I Won’t Back Down.”
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“I Won’t Back Down” became an anthem after the September 11th attack on the U.S. in 2001. With lyrics such as, “Well I know what's right, I got just one life, in a world that keeps on pushin' me around, but I'll stand my ground, and I won't back down.” Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers got together for the “America: Tribute to the Heroes” telethon and this was the song they chose to sing.
Tribune News Service
Rock Iconoclastic Tom Petty performing with the Heartbreakers at the Hollywood Bowl on Sept. 21, 2017 during their 40th anniversary tour.
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“That song frightened me when I wrote it, There's not a hint of metaphor in this thing. It's just blatantly straightforward,” said Petty in an interview with Rolling Stone. He also stated that George Harrison from the Beatles, said that one of the lines from the song was dumb and suggested he changed it, and Petty did. Petty, of Gainesville, Florida and the Heartbreakers influenced music beyond their years. Petty originally wanted to do country music but didn’t fit the mold of a country star. Petty then started to write rock music and added guitar solos in his music.
Petty is survived by his wife, Dana York Epperson, daughters Adria and AnnaKim, his stepson, Dylan, his brother, Bruce, and granddaughter, Everly.
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Mayer tweeted when the news broke, just a day after the Las Vegas shooting, “You hang in there, Tom Petty. At least long enough to make it past this horrible day. You deserve a better sunset.”
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He was an inspiration for many current artist like Adam Levine, Jake Owens, Ed Sheeran, and John Mayer.
Presented by the Cross Cultural Centers, University-Student Union, and student fees. For more information, or to request accommodations for a disability, call (323) 343-5001.
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October 9, 2017
TRENDING/SPORTS Running and screaming guys; I am pretty sure you guys want to do this– come on!”
Cal State LA students celebrate popular anime by mimicking character’s running and power up poses.
In response, three more Cal State LA students joined the group at the Golden Eagle statue. The participants all waited for the moment to start and soon after loud screams could be heard. After a couple of screams, Andrew, a Computer science major, decided to do a set of pushups. A student observer reacted to Andrew’s loud scream.
Daisy Villalobos Newsroom Assistant Anime themed events are trend on college campuses around the nation and the fever finally reached Cal State LA on the afternoon of Oct. 2. The gatherings known as, “Scream like Goku” and, “Run like Naruto” were both independently created by Cal State LA students through Facebook. The “Scream like Goku” event started the day’s chain of events at 2 p.m., when three students gathered around the Golden Eagle Statue with a radio waiting for the moment to scream. The event was inspired by the protagonist of Dragon Ball Z, Goku, when he powers up and releases his channelled energy. Students wanted to capture that same energy as Goku at the event.
Another round of screams occurred while the crowd of student applauded the participants. J. Aaron Delgado
Students starting the themed run at the Golden Eagle statue to dash across the campus like popular anime character "Naruto."
Diego Hernandez, a computer science major, organized the scream event after seeing fellow Cal State LA student Jennifer Velasquez, Criminal Justice major and Japanese minor, create the “Run like Naruto” event. “I decided to make a scream like Goku primarily because I am a Dragon Ball Z fan, but
also because many people and even new students see our school as boring and without spirit, so events like these help gain school spirit.” stated Hernandez. Christian Melgoza, music education graduate student, encouraged bystanders to join the fun. “There are a bunch of you
“I feel like it was my destiny to participate,” said Art major Rachel Kjellberg. Kjellberg wished that more participants would have joined. Andrew also shared similar thoughts. “By having events such as ‘Scream like Goku’, students feel as an anime community. Overall the event was fun and I really enjoyed it,” said Andrew. “It’s all about capturing the audience as I did by ending my participation with pushups and taking off my shirt”.
After the “Scream Like Goku” event concluded, a group of students and participants lingered until 3 p.m. at the Golden Eagle statue for the “Run Like Naruto” event. Hostess Jennifer Velasquez left a Wikihow link on how students can run like Naruto. The link instructed participants on how they should run, including tips on what to wear, getting into proper form and bending their torso forward with a straight back, all while holding their arms straight out behind their back. When the run began, students dashed over to the gym across the Fine Arts building, through the library walkway and finished at the Golden Eagle Statue. While the runners were catching their breathe, students gathered near the Bookstore steps were cheering. Following the events, students and participants uploaded videos and pictures to social media to share their experiences from the event.
Unity after tragedy Women’s Volleyball comes together after Hurricane Maria’s devastation to Puerto Rico leaves the island in ruins. Mike Nelson Staff Reporter
Hurricane Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, and other islands the day before in the Caribbean. Hurricane Maria has left 78 people dead, including 34 in Puerto Rico where the damage has been the worst, and has left the majority of the island with no electricity. 95% of the island is still without electricity as of Oct. 4, according to ABC News.
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Women's Volleyball team members (Left to Right) Karla Santos, Head Volleyball Coach Juan Figueroa, Libero Jeshmarie Suarez, and Alejandra Negron all have ties to Puerto Rico, which was affected by Hurricane Maria.
Hurricane Maria has also left thousands of residents homeless and is considered to be the worst hurricane to hit Puerto Rico since 1928, according to The Washington Post. The disaster has touched the Cal State LA Women’s Volleyball team. Interim Head Coach Juan Figueroa, outside hitters Karla Santos, Alejandra Negron and Libero Jeshmarie Suarez, all have ties to the region. The team recently dedicated one of their matches to the victims of Hurricane Maria, wearing red and blue ribbons, which are the colors of Puerto Rico. Santos, who is from Manati, Puerto Rico, said, “I played for my family and all of Puerto
Rico. I don’t think only of my family, I play for the whole island of Puerto Rico”. Negron is from Bayamon, Puerto Rico and described the destruction of the hurricane. “It’s really bad. All the trees are down and you can see everything,” she said.
The Cal State LA Women’s Volleyball team can be a great example on how to act in a time of need. They have got together and supported their teammates and have also compiled a winning record in the process.
Suarez who is from San Juan, Puerto Rico, talked about her feelings: “To play and win, I think that’s the only thing I can do for my island.”
It is important to support these players in these times of need. Go out and watch a volleyball match and support the Golden Eagles this Friday night, Oct. 13, where they’ll be supporting another cause Breast Cancer Awareness.
The team has rallied around the tragedy and have been there for their teammates. “This is the most united I’ve seen the team. It’s brought the team together; they are fighting together,” said Coach Figueroa.
If you attend you can win prizes and indulge in free food, Pink's Hot Dogs. Cal State LA shirts for the Women’s Volleyball Pink Game will also be given out. The game starts at 7 p.m. inside the Cal State LA Gymnasium.