UT
NIVERSITY IMES
March 5, 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 216.07
Celebrating Diversity &
Culture Students celebrate diversity at the International Cultural Night and Dinner.
Celebrating Diversity through Education, Culture and Food on Cal State LA.
State LA campus to welcome international students and help make them feel safe, comfortable, celebrated and welcomed.” The program began with a celebration of food from different continents. Specifically, the dinner menu ranged from hummus and pita chips, chicken and beef kabob, Asian stir-fry, beef fajitas and lasagna.
Mary Pace Contributing Writer Last Tuesday, The College of Professional and Global Education (PaGE) continued to bring diverse and global educational experiences to the University through their International Student Dinner.
Vegetarian and vegan options included: vegan fried rice, lentil penne pasta, Mexican rice, vegan ceviche, vegetable potstickers, egg rolls, blackened seared tofu, naan and tzatziki sauces.
The event provided an opportunity for domestic and international students and scholars, including those returning from study abroad, to mingle, network and learn about each other’s culture. Talking about this event, Amy Wong, the Director of the International Office, highlighted the opportunity to celebrate the diverse student population and cultures: “We have about 1500 international students representing 21 countries on our campus,” Wong said. “That brings a different set of diversity, thought, and culture that we don’t normally see.”
Erron Franklin
Local perforner doing traditional Chinese umbrella dance.
PaGe integrates an innovative curriculum to life-changing experiences by helping students gain new perspectives, become more informed and ready for the challenges ahead. “This event is an opportunity for our students to meet our international students and
learn what the culture feels like; the food, the music, the dance and all!” said Wong. Tasha Willis, an Assistant Professor for Social Work and Faculty Director for Internationalization, explained the event’s importance: “This is a visible way for Cal
The meal was followed with culturally enriching performances ranging from the Mariachi Academy of Carson to The Alohas performing dances from the Pacific Islands. Their performances demonstrated unique instrumentations, methods, singing styles, and clothing varieties from across the world. Students expressed excitement in learning about the diverse cultures on campus. Tuong Tran, a graduate student studying Rehabilitation
Counseling, looked forward to sharing his experiences with the University community: “I am passionate about international student cultures,” Tran said. “I’m expecting to have a good time, learn about different cultures and enjoy the food!” Medrik Minassian, a graduate student in marketing and international business, attended the event to promote a new student club on campus: “I am the President of the International Students Organization, which aims to bring professional and academic networking among international and domestic students while learning about their fields of interest in an international spectrum.” Willis highlighted the key idea of celebrating Cal State LA’s unique and diverse cultural communities: “I would say that this event is really important in these times given the cultural shift that’s happening in our country. I think most people in the United States will be willing and eager to celebrate our global communities, and this is Cal State LA making a stand to welcome our international students.”
2
March 5, 2018
University Times
LOCAL NEWS
Local Theater Fights to Stay Alive create many opportunities for Boyle Heights residents to try their hand at performing in front of a crowd.”
A local theater in Boyle Heights faces eviction amid rent increases.
However, the community is concerned about Casa 0101 potentially closing down. Arnulfo Tejeda, an employee at Breed St. Elementary school in Boyle Heights, expressed his thoughts about how it would affect the community if the theater were to close down:
Melorie Cruz Contributing Writer Casa 0101 Theater, the local theater servicing the neighborhood of Boyle Heights, has recently announced it in danger of closing due to rent increases. The theater has been able to keep its doors open until now because the landlord has given the owners, Josefina Lopez and her husband Emmanuel Deleage, free rent for a few months.
“For the locals that want to get into the acting career, that would be their only chance to perform and to get exposure and if it closes down; it won’t work out for them anymore”. Castro further mentioned why keeping the doors open is important for the community:
The owners and staff of the theater have come up with a fundraising campaign to resolve the theater’s financial dilemma. The goal is to get 350 people to donate $25 a month, through June, to meet its annual goal of $105,000. So far, 115 people have committed to help Casa 0101.
“Casa is one of the only places in the community that really provides free and low-cost performance classes. We also provide stage for people’s stories, anyone can come and work on their story and see it come to life and that’s not something that’s anywhere else in Boyle Heights.”
Guadalupe Arellanes Castro, Director of Communications and Outreach of Casa 0101, discussed why they aren’t able to pay the rent: “The owners of the theater recently bought a restaurant and so that kind of Bohemian Nights, Karaoke Nights and
J. Aaron Delgado
Casa 0101's current location on the corner of First St. and St. Louis.
Casa 0101 will provide shows for audiences throughout early March; attend a showing and support local business in the community.
3 NEWS
University Times
March 5, 2018
Student Jobs on the Chopping Block Student support services apply for funding that exceeds ASI’s budget and student jobs could suffer. Jordan Hansen Contributing Writer Representatives from eight student support services presented their respective cases for funding in front of the finance committee of Associated
to their Board of Directors regarding allocation of the ASI budget. This includes deciding where an annual $200,000 of funding for student support services will be spent.
Students Incorporated (ASI) on Friday, March 2, in the hope of securing grants. However, the meeting exposed troubling possibilities regarding the future of some student jobs as the ASI’s Vice President for Finance, Aaron Castaneda, conceded that not all services that applied will receive full funding.
At Friday’s meeting, many essential student support services including the Dreamers Resource Center, Public Safety, the Anna Bing Arnold Children’s Center and the Food Pantry applied for grants totaling $362,629; roughly $150,000 more than the ASI will fund.
“The bottom line is, we don’t come here with the intention of getting rid of jobs. It could happen but that is never the intention,” Castaneda said.
UN I V E R S I T Y T IMES
Editor-in-Chief Erron Franklin
Investigative Reporter Ricky Rodas
Managing Editor- Print Multimedia J. Aaron Delgado Journalist Michael Griego Managing Editor- Web Carlos Gomez Photographers Aileen Espitia Production Manager Thomas Rodas Hector Cruz Joshua Mejia Camille Jessie Chief Copy Editor Brian Delgado Kyle Frizol Allen Flores News Editor Richard Molina
Graphic Designer Kimberly Pena
Photo Editor Cara Gonzales
Contributing Writers Yamani Wallace Melorie Cruz Adriana Sanchez Richard Tzul Mary Pace Jordan Hansen
Advertising Representatives Alberto Perez Daisy Villalobos Faculty Adviser Pablo Baler Staff Reporters Anthony Karambeles Mike Nelson
Allen Flores
ASI Vice President of Finance Aaron Castaneda.
The problem stems from an ASI funding cap. ASI is a not-for-profit, student run organization, intended to
give students a voice in the operation of the University. The organization's Finance Committee is responsible for making recommendations
Another funding issue was revealed at the meeting: U-Pass users are being hit in the wallet due to a dispute between the University and ASI. The U-Pass program is a subsidized, semester-long ticket that provides students with discounted travel on Metro busses and rail. It came to discussion that U-Passes are more expensive than they should be, as neither ASI nor the University wish to subsidize them further. “U-Pass is a great program and the ASI has no issue with it,” Castaneda said. “The problem we have is, who should be paying for this service, students or the University?”
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.
Castaneda explained that if ASI partially funds the U-Pass program, then this will be at the expense of other students:
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.
www.csulauniversitytimes.com calstatela.ut@gmail.com Calstatelaut facebook.com/CsulaUT Calstatelaut
“We hope not. When we look at funding proposals and we see that some of them have student staff positions, we take that into very serious consideration. As long as I’m still in this position, that will never be an area that we look at.” Of course, this last statement may be of little comfort to student employees, as ASI student elections will be held next month.
Distribution Daisy Villalobos J. Aaron Delgado
Cal State University, Los Angeles 5151 State University Dr. - KH C3098 LA, Ca, 90032 Office 323.343.4215 Advertising 323.343.4270
For many applications, a large portion of the funding requested is intended to be spent on student salaries. For instance, EPIC requested $30,000 from ASI to help fund 15 part-time student employees. Castaneda was asked whether this lack of funding would have an impact on such jobs:
Jefa de Redacción: Claudia Landeros Editores:
Yeraldín Estrada
Eduardo Ramos Consejero de la Facultad: Pablo Baler
“Each student pays $54 for their ASI fees every year. We do not believe that three ASI fees should cover the cost for one person to get their U-Pass”, he said. “Even if we decide not to fund anything on the U-Pass, the program will still be provided. It will just be provided at a higher rate; still cheaper than the standard cost.” At a time when parking availability is such a prominent issue for many students, some are sure to question why ASI and the University are locking horns over funding, making the U-Pass less economically viable to students. The ASI finance committee is to hold another meeting in two weeks, where they will conduct a more in-depth analysis of the funding applications
4
University Times
March 5, 2018
FEATURE
The Doc Who Gives Back
Dr. Wendie Johnston is the Lab Director at the Pasadena Bio Collaborative Incubator and director of the Los Angeles/Orange County Biotech Center. She was recently honored for her contributions to the bioscience community at Cal State LA with the first LA BioStar Award.
Dr. Wendie Johnston Lab Director
Both programs in Pasadena and Los Angeles are designed to provide students with hands-on lab training and work experience in the biotechnology industry. In addition, she has recently retired from Pasadena City College after 44 years of teaching. Adriana Sanchez, Contributing Writer
Q: You were one of few women in the field of science when you graduated with your Ph.D in zoology in 1968. Did gender impact your academics? A: So in my intro to paleo class when I was a senior, they had a field trip out to the marble mountains. It was a small class and most of the guys wanted to go into the oil industry. The professor asked how many of you were going to go so I put my hand up. He said, ‘Ok, Miss Beasley, this is flat ground. There are no bushes. Now, how many of you are going?’ I raised my hand again and then finally he said, ‘I'm sorry, you cannot go.’ I was stunned. I also used to work on an oceanographic vessel that University of California owned, called Valero, and women couldn't go out overnight; even the woman who I worked for as an undergrad. She was world famous
in the science department—world famous. She couldn’t even go out at night. I was fortunate in that for the gentleman that I chose as a major advisor. His wife was a scientist, so I was in a really nice place. I didn't get any flack, but also, that was a tumultuous time with marching. I'm not a peace and freedom marcher, but I have strong convictions. I just don't care to make myself a target because it distracts me from what I really want to get done.
Q: What does your typical day at the Pasadena Bio Collaborative Incubator look like? A: My typical day has lots of interruptions. It has lots of questions. We have 21 companies as tenants, so that means there are 21 sources full of questions. ‘Where is the…’, ‘how do I get…’, ‘do you know this’, etc. The real name of my job is lab
director, but to be quaint it’s actually lab mom for all those reasons.
Q: In addition to your scientific achievements, you are also a part of an Emmy-award winning documentary, ‘Story of Eric,’ about your first born son. How did that come about? A: Well, I didn’t get inspired to do it. I was just pregnant. I was trying the Lamaze natural childbirth. I chose that physician because he was one of few that would let my husband in the delivery room at the time. I went for a visit when I was about eight months along. He explained to me that he was part of a group of physicians who was raising money to do a video to show to parents to show them what the real natural childbirth experience was. They filmed me at work. I worked up until my due date and was three weeks late.
I called the proder Dave Seltzer on April 1, and joked that he missed it, so they took me in. Eric was born on April 2.
Q: Where do you see biotech advancing in the future?
A: I would like to see science create more peace. For Christmas, my husband gave me and himself one of the DNA kits.We gave one to each of our kids and their gals. One came in and she’s totally excited about how different she is. She’s got this huge spectrum of things! I think in the knowledge that science gives us, you get a chance to actually examine our internal likes and dislikes and philosophies and things. I really like you. If I found out that you were a partly a Gremlin that wouldn't be as big a deal as if I didn't know you. So I think knowledge can be used in peaceful ways.
5 OP-ED/LOCAL NEWS University Times
March 5, 2018
Stand Up and Fight College student voting is suffering at a campus and national level; never before has activism been so critical to change. Kyle Frizol Chief Copy Editor When it comes to student government at universities and colleges throughout the country, elections held to nominate leadership can be lacking, in more ways than one. This is the case at Cal State LA, where the Associated Students Inc. (ASI) struggle with student voter turnouts year after year during their general elections. Yet, with a total enrollment of nearly 28,000 as of fall 2016, only a fraction of students actually make the move to vote. In 2017’s ASI General Election, just 1,214 students voted for their student body government–less than 5% of the overall student population. The issue of student voting lies deeper than in the argument that students do not know of these elections; it’s a testament to this generation’s deeprooted feelings of the democratic voting system as well as the power of the individual’s voice. At the University, ASI advertises its General Election each year through newsprint ads, posters and sandwich boards placed along high-traffic walkways on campus, and via social media channels. However, many students do not know more than the time and date of the election. They do not know what each candidate stands
for, their political background or even what they want to do for the University if elected. It seems that the most critical information is the information that requires the most digging. During its election campaign, ASI allows candidates to campaign from March 12 to April 25 this year. Throughout this period, there are various events scheduled to allow students to meet with candidates. However, these opportunities are severely limited. For example, ASI’s
student population; even if they reach the students, they aren’t creating an incentive to get out and vote. To increase the dull 5% voter turnout each year, there needs to be a shift in how the student voting process works. As of now, it’s clear that the system in place now is ineffective. In order to understand the mind of a student voter, it's important to look at the bigger picture–state and federal voting behavior.
"In 2008, 21% of young people ages 18-29 said they weren't registered to vote... 6% said they didn't know how." Candidate Meet and Greet offers a great opportunity to speak with candidates. Yet, it is only offered on one day throughout the campaign–from 2-4 p.m at the University-Student Union (U-SU) Plaza. If a student is busy during that time slot, then their one chance to actually meet each candidate is lost. Alongside the Meet and Greet are other events for students to attend, namely the Candidate Debate and Q&A Sessions. There are a total of three sessions in which a different group of candidates will debate: college representatives, academic senators/ reps-at-large and presidential and executive officers. These sessions serve to be a bit more impactful, but still are not reaching the majority of the
According to the Campus Vote Project, which works to solve campus voting issues, many students aren’t voting across the United States and many aren’t aware of the process: “In 2008, 21% of young people ages 18-29 said they weren’t registered to vote because they missed the registration deadline. 6% said they didn’t know where or how to register.” These statistics are signals of a larger issue in student participation. In recent election years, students fell behind the national trend in voting. However, according to The Boston Globe, during the 2016 national election student voting spiked throughout the country:
“The divisive 2016 national election coincided with a surge in activism on college campuses around the country, as students protested against racial injustice and highlighted such problems as campus sexual assault and the high cost of college.” The impact that activism had on campus involvement was critical as “turnout among college students in 2016 increased by more than 3 percentage points, to 48.3 percent, over turnout in 2012,” according to The Boston Globe. Perhaps this trend can be reflected in the current stagnating turnout in student government elections; there just isn’t activism and feeling of motivation to get involved. The call to action isn’t there, and students are withholding their ethical duty to vote. The 2018 General Election at the University is currently underway; students should come together and voice their concerns. In a time where DACA funding is critical for undocumented Cal State LA student security, where innovation is limited by shallow budgets allocated to student activity and where candidates aren’t representing the needs of the collective student body, it is critical to consider that any improvement at the University goes well beyond voter turnout; it is a shift in the attitude of students. Look at Majory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, where students have come together as a collective and began a national conversation on gun control. Change can and will happen when students come together and fight for change— stand up.
50 Years Later: ELA Walkouts Relived Recent University panel discussion highlights the legacy of 1968 ELA walkouts. Yamani Wallace Contributing Writer In the late 60s, Los Angeles housed a school system entrenched in blatant racism, discrimination and prejudice. Lack luster facilities and constant underestimation of student capabilities by teachers and administrators translated into a hostile learning environment. The oppressive conditions, paired with the unwillingness to make changes, compelled student activists and teachers to band together and discuss their situation. They decided the best way to be heard was to make their issue public and pressure the school board to comply with their demands for equal opportunities and education. During the Educational Legacy of the 1968 ELA Walkouts: Walk-in to Cal State LA Academic Conference, Margarita Cuaron, a retired educator and 1968 Garfield High School student said, “The only weapon we had was our voice.” Other student leaders like Paula Carisostomo, Victoria Castro, Racheal Ochoa and Cassandra Zacarias along with Teacher Sal Castro and organizations like United Mexican American Students (UMAS) and the Brown Berets developed 36 demands to present to the Board of Education.
The demands included: bilingual education, bicultural education, smaller class sizes, Latino teachers and administrators and the revision of textbooks to include correct Mexican American history. Unfortunately, their demands failed to be met. This this lef students to walk-out—to show their passion and willingness to do anything for equal education and change in the education system. After being shut out from academic equality for so long, they took it upon themselves to make a change. On March 1, 1968, the walkouts began and went on for several days. 10,000 students from each of the fivemain East Los Angeles high schools participated. 50 years later Cal State LA’s Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity and Engaged Learning held a two-day conference commemorating the 50th anniversary of the East LA Walkouts. Dolores Delgado Bernal, a professor of Chicana-o/Latina-o studies, moderated the Women as Participants, activist, and Leaders in the 1968 Blowouts panel. She wants students and participants to walk away with confidence and willingness to make a change. “Part of bringing them here is to educate and inspire the college students who are listening,” Dr. Bernal said. “I think the opposition that was faced back then continues today,” Cesar Ramirez-Gamino, senior theater major said. “The opponent may look the same, but the opponent has expanded and there are many more variables that youth are facing.”
6
March 5, 2018
University Times
TEMAS NACIONALES
Temporada de Impuestos Los indocumentados también tienen que hacer su declaración
TEMAS NACIONALES
¿Locura o fanatismo?
Crédito de fotografía: Tac6 Media
oscuro, además todos llevaban coronas doradas o plateadas, y por supuesto, sus armas. Hubo incluso una pareja que se hizo su corona en forma de carrillera llena de balas.
Las armas y la religión: Una combinación muy peligrosa Por Claudia Yanderos Las heridas aún están muy abiertas por la masacre en la escuela de Florida, del pasado 14 de febrero, y en esta ocasión, como no se había visto antes, los estudiantes y los padres de familia se han manifestado a lo largo de todo el país para exigir el control de armas de fuego. El ambiente general por este tema ha generado mucha conmoción, pero sobre todo mucho enojo con las autoridades que no han querido sacrificar sus intereses políticos y enfrentarse a la Asociación Nacional del Rifle para tomar medidas al respecto. No conformes con lo que está viviendo, aparece una iglesia que adora y bendice los rifles AR-15 porque cree que simbolizan la “vara de hierro” que menciona el libro del Apocalipsis. El pasado 28 de febrero, miembros de la iglesia World Peace and Unification Sanctuary, en Newfoundland, Pennsylvania, se reunieron en una celebración para renovar los votos matrimoniales y de paso, sus AR-15. Todos iban vestidos acorde a la celebración de un matrimonio. Las mujeres vestían de blanco y los hombres con traje
El evento sirvió para defender la segunda enmienda de la constitución que otorga el derecho de portar armas de fuego para la defensa personal. El líder de la iglesia, Sean Moon, elevó sus oraciones pidiendo por "un reino de paz policial y de milicias donde los ciudadanos, a través del derecho que el Dios todopoderoso les da para guardar y portar armas, puedan protegerse mutuamente y proteger el florecimiento humano". Este evento despertó muchas emociones y por supuesto que no faltaron los manifestantes en contra. Algunos de ellos portaban carteles diciendo que “era un culto religioso armado”. Aunque había revisión de las armas para entrar al recinto, asegurándose de estar descargadas, el evento no deja de ser desconcertante y muy preocupante. Una escuela primaria que está cerca de la iglesia se vio en la necesidad de reubicar a sus alumnos en otro lugar ese día de clase por la amenaza que sintieron al saber que había tantas armas juntas en ese lugar. Es lógico actuar y pensar como lo hicieron los directivos de la escuela, si una sola arma fue capaz de matar a tantas personas, de que no serán capaces decenas de rifles AR-15 en manos de fanáticos religiosos.
Contáctanos en:
UT CSULA La Onda
laonda.newspaper@gmail.com LAONDACSULA
Por Eduardo Ramos La temporada para la declaración de impuestos ha comenzado y expertos animan a la comunidad indocumentada a hacer su reporte anual. Señalan que una buena razón para ello es establecer bases comprobables del tiempo de residencia en el país, por si se da la posibilidad de una reforma migratoria. Priscilla Wilcox Rodríguez, abogada de inmigración, asegura que “Si llega a venir un cambio en un futuro parecido a lo que era DACA, los impuestos pueden comprobar que ha estado en los Estados Unidos”. Por esta razón, aunque no se ha aprobado ninguna propuesta hecha por el presidente Trump, la abogada recomienda estar preparados con documentación, y los impuestos bien servirían como comprobante de la estancia en el país. Otros expertos en preparación de impuestos opinan que independientemente de cómo esté la situación migratoria, como residentes de este país, es nuestra responsabilidad hacer la declaración anual de impuestos. Además, aseguran que si en sus cheques hay una retención de impuesto federal, podrían ser elegibles para un reembolso. Saben que muchos indocumentados temen que la información proporcionada en su
Fecha límite para hacer la declaración de impuestos. Crédito de fotografía: https://www.flickr.com
declaración de impuestos sea mal usada e incluso los lleve a una deportación. Sin embargo, para su tranquilidad, los expertos sostienen que la información compartida con ellos es privada y solo es compartida con el Internal Revenue Service (IRS, por sus siglas en inglés). “Hay varias agencias que están dentro del gobierno”, dijo Wilcox Rodríguez. “No necesariamente todas las agencias se comunican una con la otra” agregó. Por su parte la experta en impuestos Grace Williams, manifestó que los inmigrantes deberían considerar que una deuda de impuestos también puede llevarlos a la deportación y por lo tanto deben tenerle más miedo al Servicio de Rentas Internas (IRS) que a ICE. “La mayoría de los inmigrantes, especialmente los indocumentados, no presentan impuestos porque creen que tienen que pagar,
pero en muchos casos no es así, por el contrario, pueden estar perdiendo la posibilidad de recibir miles de dólares en devoluciones”, asegura la experta a Mundo Hispánico. Las leyes de impuestos establecen que toda persona que haya trabajado de manera independiente, ganando más de 400 dólares al año, debe declarar impuestos. De igual modo, si es empleado y ganó más de 12,500 dólares debe reportarlo al IRS. Las personas indocumentadas también deben declarar impuestos aun si están utilizando una identidad falsa, como el seguro social de alguien más. “Reportar ingresos con la identidad de otra persona es ilegal, pero se puede corregir con una identificación para impuestos (Tax ID). Además, una identificación para impuestos podría agilizar trámites migratorios”, agregó Williams.
TEMAS NACIONALES
DACA sigue con vida El tribunal supremo rechazó la apelación de Trump Por Yeraldín Estrada El pasado lunes 26 de febrero, el tribunal supremo permitió que se continuara con las renovaciones de permisos de DACA, rechazando así la apelación hecha por la administración de Trump. El gobierno de Trump está claramente en contra de la renovación de permisos bajo el programa de Acción Diferida (DACA) y decidió llevar este tema a corte, pero después de varias semanas analizando la situación, el tribunal supremo no aprobó la apelación de los funcionarios republicanos dándoles una esperanza a los Dreamers. Si el tribunal supremo hubiera aceptado la apelación, lo más probable es que la decisión se hubiera dado a conocer hasta junio. Ante esto, el gobierno de Trump señaló que no se ha dicho la última palabra y que no aceptaran la decisión del tribunal supremo, lo que quiere decir que no se quedarán con los brazos cruzados y que muy
Crédito de fotografía: Rhododendrites.
probablemente apelarán de nuevo en contra de DACA. DACA provee permisos de trabajo y un sinnúmero de beneficios del gobierno para inmigrantes, por lo que el fallo a favor de los Dreamers es alentador, ya que por el momento el gobierno no les retirará ninguno de sus beneficios. Fue una reacción de alivio para los Dreamers. Alrededor de la cuarta parte de ellos viven en California y por ello , el fiscal Xavier Becerra aplaudió que el tribunal supremo rechazara la apelación. Para él, la decisión fue una significativa “victoria”.
El fiscal también afirmó que la organización DACA, es plenamente legal y que la forma en que el gobierno de Trump había llevado el caso no lo era. Por el momento, tanto la administración de Trump como los Dreamers continuarán con su lucha. La casa blanca seguirá tratando de quitarles todos los derechos y la protección que tienen los jóvenes en el país, y por el otro lado, los Dreamers continuarán su lucha con protestas pacíficas, como medida de presión para que no les quiten sus beneficios. Se espera que estas protestas puedan tener un gran impacto ante la corte y el país.
March 5, 2018
7 NATIONAL NEWS University Times
Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands talking about, that we’re too young to understand how the government works, we call B.S.”
After the recent shooting at a Florida high school, students have spoken up and sparked national debate about firearms.
The students have even had to endure several additional attacks after the tragic shooting, this time from rightwing media outlets and internet trolls. These attacks range from reducing González to a “brown bald lesbian girl”, to claiming some of the outspoken survivors to be paid actors.
Richard Molina News Editor
After Parkland survivor and student journalist David Hogg rapidly and eloquently responded to the tragedy, the conservative website Gateway Pundit claimed “it appears he was heavily coached on lines and is merely reciting a script.”
Mass shootings, unfortunately, are nothing new in the United States, going back as far as 1949 when 28 year old Howard Unruh shot and killed 13 people while taking a walk through his Camden, New Jersey neighborhood. The recent tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that left 17 people dead at the hands of 19 year-old Nikolas Cruz has, once again, sparked national debate over the accessibility of firearms. This time, however, the youth are taking it upon themselves to speak out against idle politicians who continually receive donations from the National Rifle Association (NRA). Before politicians had the chance to send their “thoughts and prayers” student-led anti-gun rallies were launched across the nation. Survivors of the Parkland tragedy held a rally in Fort Lauderdale and even met with local lawmakers, demanding they take immediate action.
Michael Laughlin
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Emma Gonzalez wipes away tears during a CNN town hall meeting
“If all our government can do is send thoughts and prayers, then it’s time for victims to be the change that we need,” began 18 year-old Parkland survivor Emma González, who now has more followers on Twitter than the NRA, in an eloquent, impassioned speech that
has trended widely on social media. “To the politicians who sit in their gilded house and senate seats funded by the NRA telling us nothing could have ever been done to prevent this, we call B.S.” González said . “They say that us kids don’t know what we’re
Editor-in-chief for the Daily Wire and darling among conservative youth Ben Shapiro added to the conversation, stating: “the whole reason that young people are generally less capable of strong decision-making is that the emotional centers of the brain are overdeveloped in comparison with the rational centers of the brain.” Advocates of gun rights have come up with a plethora of solutions aside from tighter gun control, such as setting up metal detectors in schools or hiring armed security details. President Trump, who claimed he “would have run into school during a shooting even without a gun”, has even suggested (Continued to Page 8)
8
University Times
March 5, 2018
OPINION
Q: What do you think about President Trump's idea to arm educators in the wake of the recent Florida shooting? The fact that more people are getting access to weapons it is becoming a problem. People might say that the actual weapons are not the problem but it is the people themselves. I see that access to weapons makes it easier for stuff like this to happen and if educators get access this could still be a problem. In my opinion this is just not a good idea.
Christian Aaron Mora Anthropology
I really don’t think it’s good that he wants to decide to arm the educators because what if like kids backfire on the educators because they have easy access to getting the gun. So I don’t think it’s a good idea.
I think that’s something that is very dangerous, it could be a double-edged sword maybe they do have an arm to protect their classroom but teachers are humans. They may be going through something in their life to cause them to be emotionally unstable so I also think it’s very dangerous because they have a weapon in their classroom. Also a student might know how to access it, students are humans too they can be unstable so it’s something very dangerous.
Yasmin Velasco Psychology
Cassandra Sandoval Business Management
(Continued from Page 7) training and arming educators. Some of these strategies, however, have already been tried and proven ineffective. In September of 2014, a teacher at Westbrook Elementary School in Taylorsville, Utah accidentally discharged a firearm and shot herself in the leg. Metal detectors have long been employed in urban schools and schools with a student of color majority, yet these tragic school shootings continue to happen in mostly rural areas with a majority white population The NRA is easily the most well-known and powerful gun advocacy organization in the United States. Throughout much of the association’s history, it has been at the
forefront of combating gun control reform, but during the 60s, when the Black Panther Party of Oakland, California took defending their communities from police brutality into their own hands by openly arming themselves, the NRA supported the 1967 California Mulford Act, effectively banning the carrying of loaded firearms in public. Exact interpretations of the second amendment right to bear arms have been a point of contention ever since the amendment’s implementation, and even more so in today’s political climate. The 2nd Amendment states, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” For some, the word “militia”
is the key component, suggesting the right of a community to establish an armory of weapons accessible to all its constituents, and not necessarily the right to privately own firearms. Gun advocates tend to focus on the “shall not be infringed” aspect, claiming it to defend the individual right to own and amass firearms. While a solution to prevent mass shootings remains to be seen, one thing is for certain— the youth will once again be the agents of change. While the work Parkland students are doing is important and deserves to be recognized, it is equally important to note that black teens have been doing gun reform activism for years, particularly within the Black Lives Matter movement, without the mainstream support now given to the Parkland survivors.
University Club Restaurant Order Online Now!
Monday - Thursday 11 - 3 Friday 11 - 2 For additional information please contact UAS Food Services 323-343-6770