Spring Issue 216.06

UT

NIVERSITY IMES

February 26, 2018

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 216.06

Aliens and monsters to invade campus for Eagle-Con 2018.

Read on Page 2.

Industry Vet Pays it Forward NBC4 reporter Beverly White gives career tips to future journalists.

Miami and New York because large markets hire journalists who have had extensive experience working in small markets.

Melorie Cruz Contributing Writer

Student journalist Jennifer Murua shared her thoughts on White’s visit: “I think it was a valuable experience. She gave us a lot of information about what to expect in the industry. Speaking with her one on one allowed me to ask more personal questions about my career goals.”

On Feb. 19, 2018, veteran NBC4 News Reporter Beverly White was invited to Cal State LA to speak to students in the journalism department.

Professor Joanne Lightford arranged the speaking engagement for her journalism class as well as the Television News Studio Production class in the music building.

Accompanied by her husband Xavier Higgs, who is a writer and photojournalist, White discussed her experience working with NBC Universal for 25 years as an assignment reporter.

Through a combined 40 years of experience in the news industry, White has covered various breaking local and

White explained why visiting campuses to talk to students pursuing journalism is important to her:

Erron Franklin

From Left to Right: JoAnne Lightford, Beverly White, Anthony Cox, and Robin Guess

national stories for NBC4. These stories include: the Northridge earthquake, the theater killings in Colorado, the death of music icon Prince, floods, wildfires and the disaster in Montecito.

FEATURE

Students had the opportunity to interview White, asking for advice regarding the state of the current news workforce, as well as tips for new journalists.

White advised students to

gain experience as a reporter or journalist in a small market in Iowa, Kansas or even Palmdale in order to position themselves.

However, she warned students to avoid reporting in big markets like Los Angeles,

LA ONDA

“I think it’s humbling to be surrounded by folks who want your job. I recommend my colleagues to do it all the time because I try not to take it for granted; it’s a blessing to have this job, not everybody who wants to do journalism gets that chance and if you don’t come back and pay it forward I think you’re doing yourself a disservice.”

CULTURE

Page 4 --

Page 6 --

"Behind the Expert"

"No Más Tireoteos"

Page 8 --

"The Illuminating Case of Benjamin Bateman"

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February 26, 2018

University Times

NEWS

Trump to Cut Billions in Food Assistance Nutritional Science at Cal State LA gave her opinion on the proposal:

SNAP, the U.S. Food Stamps program, may soon be overhauled.

“We need to expand the program, not limit it with silly boxed foods. As a mother, I should be able to decide which foods my family needs, not the U.S. government. President Trump’s suggestions will likely cost a lot more, and leave families with fewer options.”

Mike Nelson Staff Reporter The Trump administration is considering overhauling the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamps program. However, the new legislation would still have to be approved by Congress.

SNAP recipients would now get a “USDA Foods” package instead of money loaded onto an EBT card. According to the USDA, the package will include “shelf-stable milk, cereals, pastas, peanut butter, beans and canned fruits and vegetables”.

The package will serves as a non-perishable food basket for low-income Americans who do not normally have access to fresh food.

USDA proposes that it will cut the cost of the SNAP

program by $129 billion dollars over the next 10 years.

According to Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, President Trump’s 2019 budget proposes to cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) by more than $213 billion over the next ten years; nearly a 30 percent cut.

Douglas

Greenway,

the

President of the Women Infants and Children (WIC) program, which provides food for low-income families with children, is opposed to the proposed change: “Removing choice from SNAP flies in the face of encouraging personal responsibility.”

There are also concerns that

the new SNAP food package will have foods that some people will not know how to prepare. According to Miguelina Diaz from Hunger Free America: “We deal with different people of different backgrounds. Limiting them by providing them a staple box would limit the choices of food they can prepare for their families.”

Dr. Kathryn Hillstrom, an Associate Professor at the School of Kinesiology and

The SNAP Program makes up 80 percent of the USDA’s budget with an annual cost of $70.9 billion. In 2016, 44 million people benefitted from the program each month.

The majority of recipients are children, seniors and disabled people. The government is trying to save money, but it is unclear if it will pass in Congress.

“What I'd love to see is more money being suggested for farm boxes full of fresh and locally sourced fruits and vegetables. Now that's a plan most dietitians and advocates of SNAP would get behind,” said Hillstrom.

Holy Zombies, Monsters and Aliens!!! will be returning with their installation of various artworks from film, television and comic books. Opening Saturday, this year’s event will expand their exhibition hall to the Golden Eagle Ballroom, making room for merchants and vendors from Frank & Son Collectible Show, Southland Ghostbusters and several guilds.

Eagle-Con 2018 is anticipating many attendees, cosplay, surprise guests and a weekend full of fun.

J. Aaron Delgado Managing Editor - Print

The final day of Eagle-Con will feature a Zombie Crawl, which is similar to San Diego Comic Con’s annual zombie walk.

Eagle-Con returns to the University this year from March 8-10, offering educational opportunities and engaging activities.

“It’s not a race,” said Sharp.

“It’s who can be a shambling zombie through the event.

We’re going for style, costume and makeup.”

This year’s Eagle-Con is implementing a Science Fiction approach to the convention experience with the theme of Monsters, Aliens and Others... that fit into the realm.

Patrick Sharp, the faculty director of Eagle-Con, integrates the theme of Science Fiction in a way that invites students to look at aliens and monsters from a new perspective: “Science Fiction and Fantasy has always been a way of questioning the assumptions we have about the people that we sometimes see as other or alien or as monstrous. We've got panels this year looking at trans identity and science fiction; looking at disability in relationship to science fiction and looking at race in relationship to the concept of the alien and the monstrous.”

Sharp strategically planned

J. Emilio Flores

Dr. Patrick Sharp cosplaying Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender.

the date of Eagle-Con to be after the Academy Awards so guests from various guilds in the entertainment industry would be free of any commitments and could attend the event.

The star-studded guest lineup will feature the writers for television shows and comics such as Arrow, Marvel’s Agent Carter, Daredevil and the new installation of Vampire Hunter D.

Other guests include Deborah Nadoolman Landis, the founding director and chair of the David C. Copley Center for Costume Design. Notably, Landis was the costume designer for Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark. Special Guest Nalo Hopkinson will be receiving this year’s Octavia Butler Award.

Eagle-Con is also implementing contests aimed toward student creativity with

the student film festival and the student writing contest.

“We've got a good four or five entries for both those contests who will be able to highlight creative student science fiction work for the first time,” said Sharp. “We're going to have the film and animation faculty judge those and then there’ll also be guild members there to give feedback.”

The Art Directors Guild

Being in costume is also an important characteristic of any convention and Sharp is encouraging attendees to come dressed as their favorite characters. Eagle-Con will be hosting two separate cosplay competitions for kids and general attendees who come dressed as their favorite characters on Saturday.

The first two days of EagleCon will hold free panels and discussions on the third floor of the University-Student Union (U-SU).

Admission for Cal State LA faculty, staff, students, and alumni and their family members on Saturday will be $5. Admission for other guests will be $10 and children under the age of 10 attend for free.

3 NEWS

University Times

February 26, 2018

ASI’s Struggle with Voter Turnout ASI is planning new approaches to increase student participation on campus.

Adriana Sanchez Contributing Writer Student participation in the ASI elections has staggered significantly in the last five years. Currently, voter turnout

is being reported at a low ratio in comparison to campus population.

In Spring 2012-13, 2,152 students voted electronically via GET. The following year dropped dramatically with only 951 students. The following year increased to 1,936 voters and decreased by more than half for the election of 2015-16.

Voter turnout spiked again for the 2016-17 school year with

UN I V E R S I T Y T IMES

Editor-in-Chief Erron Franklin

Staff Reporters Anthony Karambeles Mike Nelson

Managing Editor- Print J. Aaron Delgado Investigative Reporter Ricky Rodas Managing Editor- Web Carlos Gomez Multimedia Journalist Production Manager Michael Griego Hector Cruz Photographers Chief Copy Editor Aileen Espitia Kyle Frizol Thomas Rodas Joshua Mejia News Editor Camille Jessie Richard Molina Brian Delgado Allen Flores Photo Editor Cara Gonzales Contributing Writers Yamani Wallace Advertising Melorie Cruz Representatives Adriana Sanchez Alberto Perez Richard Tzul Daisy Villalobos Mary Pace Faculty Adviser Pablo Baler

Distribution Daisy Villalobos J. Aaron Delgado

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.

Aileen Espitia

ASI President David Zitser holding a board members meeting.

“No, I haven’t voted and honestly it’s because I don’t know when they are, who runs for it and I would just say I’m not very informed on it."

1,766 students participating, but experienced another loss with 1,214 voters in the 201718 election.

Election Commissioner, Adriana Navarrete explained the discrepancy in voter turnouts: “I believe the reason for voter rates dropping goes back to how we must make ASI more transparent. It is important that students know who we are as a non-profit auxiliary organization,” she said.

As a commuter school, it is difficult to spread campus

information to every student.

According to US News, Cal State LA has a total population of 27,827 students. With voter rates only reaching roughly around 2,000 students, a vast majority of the campus is not involved.

Gera Medina, a third-year Communication major said, “No, I haven’t voted and honestly it’s because I don’t know when they are, who runs for it and I would just say I’m not very informed on it.”

So, what is ASI doing to increase voter participation?

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Letters may be edited for grammar and length.

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Para La Onda:

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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

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Jefa de Redacción: Claudia Landeros Editores:

Yeraldín Estrada

Eduardo Ramos

Consejero de la Facultad: Pablo Baler

According to Navarrete, “Candidates will have a meet and greet later on this semester.

I’m going to make sure they will get the attention they need from other students by hosting the event during the highest peak in student traffic. This year we will also have free food such as In-N-Out meals and Baja Cali Fish and Vegetarian Tacos.”

Free food is a creative way to increase voter participation. It has enticed some students in the past.

Third-year television and film major, Jenn Nguyen said, “I voted only once before, and it was only because free tacos came with it. I’ve never heard anyone talk about it. I don’t think anyone I know really pays attention to what they do.”

Navarrete thinks “They, the students, must also know that we are more than free blue books and scantrons. That we are the voice of the students.

ASI cares and is willing to do whatever it takes to implement and establish new policies and ideas that will benefit students in the long run…”

This year, ASI candidates will begin campaigning on March 12. Students can vote in the election on April 25-26 at 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. on GET. Results will be revealed the following day at 4PM in the U-SU Plaza.

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University Times

February 26, 2018

FEATURE

Dr. Ramani Durvasula is a Clinical Psychologist and has been a Professor of Psychology at Cal State LA since 1999.

When Dr. Ramani is not teaching or helping out patients she is in the limelight as an expert psychologist on various television shows, such as History channel’s "Stanley's Super Humans" or "My Shopping Addiction" on Bravo. She is the author of “You Are Why You Eat: Change Your Food Attitude, Change Your Life” and “Should I Stay or Should I Go?: Surviving a Relationship With A Narcissist”.

Behind the Expert

She received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Connecticut and later attended University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where she got her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Clinical Psychology. In 2002 Dr. Ramani was a recipient of the prestigious Emerging Scholar Award from the American Association of University Women, and in 2012, she was named Outstanding Professor at Cal State LA.

Dr. Ramani Durvasula

J. Aaron Delgado, Managing Editor - Print

Q: When did you realize that you wanted to study in the field of Psychology?

A: My high school didn’t have a Psychology class, so when I first went to my undergraduate at the University of Rochester they had a very interesting hybrid program that brought together Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Literature, and Psychology. It was a special track I applied to and got in, and so I got forced into a psych class very early in and I thought “Well, this is intriguing” and then I just kept going. It was fascinating and I happen to love literature and I thought psychology, in some ways, was sort of that perfect hub discipline to understand all of that.

Q: How were you notified or approached when you were invited to be a guest on TV for the first time? When and what show?

A: I tried to break into TV. I got an agent and I couldn't get into the business in this town because of the nature of the beast. This was before YouTube was this big thing, so I couldn't even start my own channel because it was back in 2009. I had a bit of a stroke of luck which was at the very last minute a television show on Bravo was searching out

for an expert. They had to replace someone and that's when I was chosen to be the psychologist on a show on Bravo based on weight loss. They needed someone quick and I think if they'd taken their time to find me, they would probably not pick me because I didn't have a lot of experience, but since they had to fill it quickly, that's how I got the job. From there I got a lot of facetime on television which led to doing more talking head stuff on CNN, ABC, CBS and NBC.

Q: What is your most memorable experience on television?

A: I would say my most memorable experiences were two of them. One was a show I did one episode for the History channel called "Stanley's Super Humans". That probably got me more global traction than anything I'd ever been on and because it showed all over the world and it was about these people who had like sort of superhuman abilities. That was probably one of the cooler things I've done. The other was being the host of "My Shopping Addiction" because we shot that in New York, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. Unlike in my usual clinical practice, I actually got to be with a patient for 12 to 14 hours a day for four days. I got into their

Clinical Psychologist, Professor

lives and looked in their closets and went shopping with them.

Q: From all your years teaching students and being a guest on TV, what is something you learned from these experiences?

A: Tell a story. Everybody wants to hear a story. If I go into a class, I'm telling them a story. I had to become very on point and tell the good story and keep them engaged and have many examples. I'm all of those things come together in both situations. When I teach a class it's almost like that's the persona on television. You also have to care about what you're talking about.

You've got to care about when you have to be interested and engaging.

You have to be more excited about it than anyone else in the room.

Q: When you’re not teaching, conducting research, or being a guest on TV, what do you do for fun/free time?

A: I have two daughters that I try to spend time with. When I can I do whatever little things we can do together. I have a magnificent sister that I enjoy talking to, she is the strongest, bravest woman I know and she's my laughter. My partner is actually a professor here at Cal

State LA in the Department of Art, Professor Wearn, and he's just a source of joy for me. I'm lucky because I also get to travel a lot for my work. Another thing I do for fun is travel; often times I have more fun in other cities so I'll go to museums or hike. I'm also a big reader!

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: Hopefully retired. My girls will be out of the house and I came here [to Cal State LA] pregnant 18 years ago and so it'd be nice to not have to worry about who's picking up who. I’m hoping by then that my sixth and seventh book will be out.

I'll also keep reading books. I'd love to keep working with clients. I'm going to be a little old for the TV game but I'm sure someone might want to hear what I have to say. I'd like to, more than anything, expand my international work: more work in Johannesburg and in India. I honestly hope that Cal State LA develops its international programs more so I could stay involved in that because I'll be more flexible to go back and forth. My partner is from New Zealand so I could easily see retirement going off quietly to the very, very, very far south reaches of the country.

February 26, 2018

University Times

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February 26, 2018

University Times

LOS ÁNGELES

“Se vale soñar” Le cantan “Cielito lindo” al astronauta Joe Acaba

LOS ÁNGELES

¡No más tiroteos!

Por Claudia Landeros A través de la iniciativa “se vale soñar” del canal 34 de Univisión, Los Ángeles, los alumnos de la escuela preparatoria “Para los Niños” han tenido la oportunidad de participar en proyectos relacionados con la ciencia y la tecnología.

“Para los Niños School” es una escuela localizada en una zona muy poco favorecida del condado de los Ángeles, rodeada de desamparados viviendo en las calles y escenario continuo de delitos.

Aunque eso no es un factor que afecte la calidad educacional de la escuela y mucho menos que limite las aspiraciones profesionales de los estudiantes. En entrevista con el canal 34, en días pasados, algunos jóvenes expresaron sus anhelos de estudiar una carrera universitaria y con eso ayudar a sus familias y a su comunidad.

Jóvenes protestando contra el uso de armas de fuego Crédito de fotografía: Lorie Shaull. https://commons.wikimedia.org

de la ciudad no se mostró indiferente ante el dolor de las familias de los afectados y lo que buscaban era tratar de forzar al gobierno a utilizar medidas factibles para parar este tipo de agresiones.

Jóvenes angelinos exigen control de armas Por Yeraldín Estrada Después del tiroteo en una escuela de Florida que dejó 17 muertos este 14 de febrero, muchos jóvenes y padres de familia se preocuparon por el problema con las armas que tiene el país ya que todo apunta a que la situación no cambiará debido a que el gobierno no ha podido poner punto final a los ataques de este tipo.

El pasado lunes, 20 de febrero en la ciudad de Los Ángeles, jóvenes y padres de familia se reunieron para exigirle al gobierno de Trump una solución con respecto al control de armas. Estudiantes de la ciudad de Los Ángeles se mostraron muy preocupados por la falta de protección en las escuelas y los padres de familia no quieren que sus hijos sean las próximas víctimas.

Los participantes de la reunión llevaban carteles que decían que los políticos no tenían carácter o que la violencia era algo que no se podía normalizar. La gente

El congresista de Monterey Park, Judy Chu dijo que este tipo de casos ocurren por la facilidad que tienen los jóvenes para obtener un arma. También culpó a los republicanos por hacer que las legislaciones en contra de las armas no puedan proceder.

Estados Unidos, en el año 2017, registró más muertes de este tipo que en años pasados con un total de 345 tiroteos y en lo que va de este año ha tenido alrededor de 18 tiroteos dejando muertos y heridos. En Washington también muchos estudiantes fueron a protestar por la misma causa, algunos de ellos se tiraron al suelo para representar su enojo e impotencia ante el terrible atentado en Florida.

Tanto los estudiantes como los padres de familia esperan que las escuelas sean lugares seguros pero para eso necesitan que el gobierno actúe con mano firme y que les ofrezca una solución que los tranquilice; de lo contrario continuarán protestando por el control de armas.

Contáctanos en:

UT CSULA La Onda

laonda.newspaper@gmail.com LAONDACSULA

Como parte de este proyecto, la semana pasada, algunos jóvenes tuvieron la oportunidad de conectarse en

Astronauta Joe Acaba.

Crédito de fotografía: https://www.flickr.com

vivo y en directo con la estación espacial donde se encontraba el astronauta de origen latino Joe Acaba. La conexión duró 20 minutos y los jóvenes tuvieron la oportunidad de formular al astronauta todo tipo de preguntas, desde cuestiones cotidianas como qué comía o dónde dormía, hasta preguntas sobre su carrera para lograr ser astronauta. El objetivo de este proyecto es motivar a los jóvenes a que estudien carreras relacionadas con la ciencia y la tecnología y hacer énfasis en que no hay razones de peso para no alcanzar los sueños.

La experiencia tuvo que

haber sido de mucho impacto para ambas partes. Los estudiantes vieron de cerca un mundo que para muchos parece inalcanzable. Ser astronauta es una meta que pocos creen posible de alcanzar, pero un acercamiento tan inmediato como lo fue esta conversación en vivo con Joe Acaba, motiva a los estudiantes a permanecer en la escuela y a explotar sus capacidades. Por su parte, el astronauta Acaba fue reconocido por su labor y para demostrarle el agradecimiento que le tiene la comunidad latina, lo despidieron con música de mariachi a ritmo de “Cielito lindo”.

NOTICIAS DE MÉXICO

Terremoto en México 13 muertos por el desplome de un helicóptero Por Eduardo Ramos A escasos 5 meses del temblor de 7.1 con epicentro en el estado de Morelos y que provocó la muerte de 369 personas, el pasado viernes 16 de febrero se registró otro fuerte temblor con magnitud de 7.2 en el estado de Oaxaca, México. La región más afectada por el sismo, según se reporta, fue el área de la costa del estado de Oaxaca.

Sin pérdidas humanas, se reportaron varios edificios con daños severos dentro de los municipios de Santiago Pinotepa Nacional, San José del Progreso, Jamiltepec, Huazolotitlán, Río Grande, San Pedro Tututepec y Santa María Zacatepec.

"Estamos acostumbrados a los temblores, aquí pasan mucho. Pero este último fue terrible, creímos que se iba a caer todo", dice una habitante de Pinotepa Nacional. "Las casas son viejas y humildes, quedaron muy mal" añadió.

En Pinotepa algunas calles quedaron imposibles de transitar debido a los derrumbes. Ladrillos, vidrios, cables tirados por todas partes.

El pánico continúo sintiéndose en estas comunidades ya que una hora

Desplome del helicóptero en Oaxaca.

Crédito de fotografía: www.gettyimages.com

después se produjo otro sismo en el mismo estado, en ese caso, de magnitud 5.8. Luego, según el Instituto Semiológico de México, hubo cientos de réplicas, aunque muchas no se sintieron. Por ello, muchos de los habitantes de las zonas más afectadas decidieron acampar fuera de sus hogares en camas y tiendas improvisadas, por temor a ser aplastados mientras duermen.

Irónicamente, mientras los habitantes tomaban medidas de seguridad para proteger sus vidas, un helicóptero militar se desplomó en horas de la noche matando a 13 personas en una zona de Jamiltepec.

En el helicóptero viajaban el secretario de Gobernación de México, Alfonso Navarrete, y el gobernador del estado, Alejandro Murat.

Los funcionarios se habían dirigido al lugar para inspeccionar los efectos del sismo. Los

dos funcionarios resultaron ilesos. Se desconocen las causas del percance, pero el ministro Navarrete dijo que aparentemente el piloto perdió el control de la nave durante el aterrizaje.

El helicóptero se desplomó sobre un grupo de personas que habían buscado resguardo en sus camionetas para protegerse de las posibles réplicas. Habían elegido un lugar abierto para evitar que les callera algún escombro encima. La Secretaría de Gobernación originalmente informó de la muerte de dos personas que se encontraban en tierra, pero más tarde la Fiscalía General del Estado aumentó la cifra a 13. Dentro del mismo comunicado también se informó de la recuperación de los cuerpos de 12 de las víctimas: cinco mujeres, cuatro hombres, dos niñas y un niño.

February 26, 2018

7 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT University Times

NAAM Show 2018 Recent NAMM show highlights the music product industry.

Jim Munson Contributing Writer The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Show took place last month in Anaheim, CA with 115,085 registered industry professionals gathering to advance the industry forward over four days of the annual conference, according to the NAMM.org website.

7,000 brands and nearly 2,000 exhibiting companies were at the Anaheim Convention Center spread out across the two convention center buildings and multiple levels.

This was the largest NAMM Show yet with a 9% overall growth of exhibitors at the show. The layout of the exhibitors was different this year as show organizers had arranged the various categories of music displays into like groups. This made

Jim Munson

Jim Munson

NAMM 2018 with over 115,000 attendees.

Rickenbacker bass guiter in natural wood.

it much easier to navigate the show and to target specific areas of interest for the attendee. International attendees increased by 8% with representation from over 100 countries totaling 19,356 registrants.

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is the not-for-profit association with a mission to strengthen the $17 billion music products industry. NAMM is comprised of approximately 10,300

members located in 104 countries and regions. NAMM events and members fund The NAMM Foundation's efforts to promote the pleasures and benefits of music, and advance active participation in music making across the lifespan.

For more information about NAMM, you can visit www. namm.org, call 800.767.

NAMM (6266) or follow the organization on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Black Panther Pounces into Theatres Hollywood trend seen in the past year. “Moonlight”, a coming of age film about a gay black man, won best picture at the 2017 Oscars. “Wonder Woman” became the highest grossing female-directed film, and “Get Out”, a horror film of a black man visiting his white girlfriend’s parents, was the most profitable film of last year.

“Black Panther” further pushes this envelope.

Superhero film "Black Panther" breaks financial records while furthering the shift of Hollywood public consciousness of race and gender.

Richard Tzul Contributing Writer

“This is the Pan-African

Roaring into theaters, “Black Panther” is shattering records left and right all while making an impact on the U.S.’ political and social climate.

Many Marvel films experience massive popularity, but “Black Panther” in particular has struck a chord for its representation of people of color and women. It’s also the highest grossing film by a black director–Ryan Coogler.

“It shouldn’t take a movie like this to let us know people of color are capable of amazing feats of filmmaking and acting,” said Dan Deleon, a Cal State LA film major. “I think this is the time now for more of these type of movies to come out.”

The film is the latest in the ongoing trend of superhero films. If so-called superhero fatigue is a real thing among audiences, “Black Panther” displayed immunity to that as it’s gone on to have the biggest box office opening for a February release. It’s also the fifth biggest opening weekend ever behind films that include: “The Avengers” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”.

Tribune News Service

Chadwick Boseman portrays heroic figure Black Panther.

Currently it holds the highest critic rating for a superhero film on Rotten Tomatoes tied with “The Incredibles” at 97%.

It’s also adored by audiences who graded it a rare perfect A+ on Cinemascore.

The movie follows Black Panther, whose alter ego is T’Challa–the newly appointed king of Wakanda. Wakanda is a fictional African country that is wealthy in culture and resources, and has state-ofthe-art technology. The film reveals that Wakanda has always been isolated and thus untouched by colonialism and racism. Wakanda not only has the advancements of a western nation, but firmly maintains and boasts its’ African roots.

“I believe it is an empowering

movie by showing the pride in African culture, dress and dance,” said Cross Cultural Centers’ Front Desk Manager Tuandre’a Beasley.

The film boasts a predominantly black cast largely composed of women of color playing strong female characters.

“There are no gender biases in this film. I don’t know if I’ve seen that,” said Pan-African Studies assistant professor Aminah Bakeer Abdul-Jabbaar.

“You don’t see the female characters stop and become girls when they fight…and to see black women in this position of just… basically kicking ass!”

The

film

accelerates

a

dream,” said Bakeer AbdulJabbaar. “As a freaking PanAfrican studies professor that for over a decade has taught about race and gender biases in American cinema, I am uberexcited. This film dismantles the myth that black actors, black people, black storylines are not able to bring in global money. I’ve known for years that wasn’t true, we’ve seen it with other films but this was on a definitive level.”

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University Times

February 26, 2018

CULTURE

Out of This World University dancers present "Latitude Crossings," their first show of Spring.

Cara Gonzales Photo Editor The International Day of Dance Company enters its ninth season this spring showcasing a variety of pieces choreographed by students, alumni and director Seonagh Kummer. The show, Latitude Crossing, hit stage on Feb. 23 and 24 at the A.R.C (A Room to Create) in Pasadena.

Latitude Crossings uses the body to create new lines and angles that break from tradition and barriers created by borders. It raised questions about race, gender, immigration, and what it means to be human. Each piece reveals a unique message that relates to life today, how people are treated, referring to mass shootings using choreography to communicate a feeling.

In this particular concert, the cast consists of current students, alumni, and dancers that have a passion for dance.

“In my concerts I try to bring

students together with alumni choreographers and dancers, which helps them bridge to the professional world,” Director Seonagh Kummer said.

surroundings, but as soon as I hit the stage, the world does not matter. I am there to show you who I am, and I just wonder if you’re ready to see me,”Rosarelly Cruz on what inspires her to dance said.

Dancers have prepared since the beginning of Fall 2017, practicing every week and creating new material for the show. Seonagh explains how it all started:

“As soon as I hit the stage, the world does not matter.”

“We first create the structure of the piece, and then I work with them to draw out the meaning more clearly. I guide them through improvisation and visualization choreography exercises, which helps to create movement that communicates more clearly to the audience.”

Performers costumes brought another aspect of the story to life. Dancers that represented more joy in life wore colorful, open, flowing clothing that expressed freedom with the body, mind and soul. Props were used to suggest being in a certain place and time whether it was surrounded by people or alone.

Alumnus, Daniel Jacob Glenn, who has been a dancer for 12 years, said, “Cal State LA was a big step in my journey for dance and it’s been a pleasure to be back with the same teachers and type of learning environment. It's really inspiring aspect to come back and work with new and artists, always keeping fresh ideas flowing.”

Pieces like Teresa, Last Pulse and Duality, left a standing impression on the audience, never wanting to take your eyes off the stage.

“I dance because living in the city, I constantly have to be alert, aware of my

Cara Gonzales

No Soy Mujer, No Soy Hombre choreographed by Alicia Moseley.

As a graduating student, Tomoko Waki, who recently changed majors from Kinesiology to dance, loves that, “The Cal State LA dance department is not all about technical people, so we have different levels of people.

Instead of making it a more technical piece, we can make it a more emotional and expressive piece.”

The Illuminating Case of Benjamin Bateman University professor encourages students to find their passion.

Mary Pace Contributing Writer

“Gays, bisexuals and lesbians are seen as inferior because they do not contribute to the reproduction of the ‘race,’”

Last Thursday, Cal State LA’s Professor Benjamin Bateman presented his book “The Modernist Art of Queer Survival”.

“The Modernist Art of Queer Survival”, then, returns back in time to look at a set of writers who we call today “gay and lesbian.” At the moment of writing, none of the authors identified as “gay.”

Bateman’s goal is to enlighten readers about the connection between eugenics and its influence on the heteronormative idea of good, capitalized citizens:

The CCC’s series highlights cultural, gender identity and justice-focused research by Cal State LA faculty, staff and administrators.

“Gays, bisexuals and lesbians are seen as inferior because they do not contribute to the reproduction of the ‘race,’” he said. “This creates an impact in modernist ideas and literature.”

Professor Bateman’s book focuses on modernism and queer survival, specifically using literature from 18801940 produced by writers who worked on modernism and on national boundaries.

Bateman recalls the struggles of finding his voice as an undergraduate writer while pondering an interest in queer studies and theories. At the time of his attendance, his university did not offer classes on LGBT literature.

While his focus is on British modernism, he also notes that social Darwinism was a rising discovery that engages in surviving-fittesttakes-all mentality. This idea became tied to a society that is heteronormative.

“Think about the kind of person that’s desirable in that scenario: someone who is selfish or incredibly ambitious, someone who is organized, efficient and laser-like focused in everything they do,” said Bateman.

“If you want to survive,” he added, “you prioritize those who you deem fit to continue and suppress those that you don’t want to.”

“I had to do it for myself to do side reading,” said Bateman. “I had faculty who were eager to read them with me. Over time, I became comfortable talking about queer studies.”

Allen Flores

Professor Benjamin Bateman presenting his book "The Modernist Art of Queer Survival".

As a result, he was able to find an archive of literature he was passionate about:

“You have to find what interests you and allow them to synergize with your work.”

Bateman also highlights the importance of having genders, sexualities and ethnic studies: “We need to be able to have somewhere to go that’s fostering you as an individual.”

Sonia Cruz, an English graduate student, highlights the value of having a community: “What spoke to me as a graduate student is it’s important to build a community around you,” she said. “I spend the most time with my friends and we are learning a new way of writing for academia as something that’s completely new and challenging.”

Bateman did not realize the impact of the work he was doing: “I do think now, in 2018, the literature I was reading was very much about my survival as a gay man,” he said. “I recognize that it was important for me that these ideas take shape as me beginning to understand myself a little bit more.”

Jessica Somers, also an English graduate student, found the event to be insightful: “I thought this event was illuminating. I always find Dr. Bateman’s research to be highly provocative and inspiring.”