Spring Issue 216.17

Page 1

UT

NIVERSITY IMES

May 21, 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 216.17

Who

killed David Josiah Lawson?

Humboldt State scholar Josiah Lawson was murdered over a year ago; his death remains unsolved.

"Key pieces of evidence have not been examined"

Jordan Hansen Contributing Writer

Ms. Lawson is certain that racism within the APD and other agencies is hampering the investigation into her son’s death:

David Josiah Lawson, a 19-year-old criminal justice major, was stabbed to death last year in the Northern Californian city of Arcata in Humboldt County. The investigation into the Black student’s death, conducted by Arcata Police Department (APD), has so far yielded no convictions, prompting allegations of incompetency and racism at the small-town Police Department.

Lawson’s mother, Charmaine Michelle Lawson, attended the event, alongside his brother and sister. Ms. Lawson addressed the crowd and described the night she found out that her son had been killed: “On April 15, 2017 at around 3:37 a.m., I received a phone call from my son’s

APD records indicate that an arrest was made in connection with the case, but when contacted by the University Times, APD refused to provide any further information. Local media named the arrested man as Kyle Zoellner, who was charged with Josiah’s murder. After a five-day preliminary hearing, insufficient evidence was found to take Zoellner to trial. “This is insane,” said Ms. Lawson, speaking of Zoellner’s release. “Key pieces of evidence have not been examined.”

Cal State LA students and the Lawson family gathered around the Golden Eagle Statue on Tuesday, May 15 to bring awareness to the “Justice for Josiah” movement.

Tuesday’s event, which began around 12:30 p.m., opened with chants of “Justice for Josiah!” and “Black lives matter!” from students. Some of those in attendance had created posters and display boards depicting Josiah. Terrence Robinson, a secondyear theater major, sang gospel hymns as the rally got underway.

department.”

“If the situation was reversed and my Black son was accused of stabbing a white man, he would have been sentenced already.”

J. Aaron Delgado

Cal State LA students and faculty join the Lawson Family on Tuesday, May 15 during a campus rally for the #JusticeForJosiah movement.

friend, crying and screaming that Josiah had been stabbed,” she said. Pausing to collect herself, Ms. Lawson went on, “I woke up my 17-year-old and said that we needed to get to the hospital in Humboldt. Less than thirty minutes later, I received a phone call from the doctor saying ‘Ma’am I’m sorry, your son didn’t make it,’” she continued. “I was shocked. I felt numb. I screamed for my child.”

Josiah is believed to have been attending a house party when the stabbing took place. According to APD records, police were called to the 1100 block of Spear Ave. at 3:02 a.m. on the morning of Josiah’s death. An altercation reportedly took place between a number of students before Josiah was found bleeding from stab wounds. Speaking to a now silent audience, Ms. Lawson voiced

her anger and suspicion at APD, who she feels is responsible for the failure of Josiah’s homicide investigation: “There is a systematic problem taking place in Humboldt County. Chief Chapman of the APD resigned on April 9, 2018. I’m not buying this. There are suspicious behaviors in the department; two of the officers that responded to the call that night also have left the

Ms. Lawson spoke to the University Times, urging Cal State LA students to sign an online petition to reassign a former FBI agent to the case. Tom Parker was assisting APD in their investigation but stepped down in April this year, claiming that APD was withholding information pertaining to the case, according to local news sources. Dr. James M. Thomas, a Cal State LA Professor who organized the rally, told the University Times, “It’s a harsh reality for students that coming to university isn’t this panacea. You need to be just as vigilant on a college campus as you would be where you come from.” For information please visit www.justiceforjosiahlawson. com


2

May 21, 2018

University Times

NEWS

Students Showcase Research at Competition

Throughout his involvement in the undergraduate research through NASA Direct Stem, Joseph collaborated with University of California Irvine and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in order to attain research opportunities in scientific computing and data analysis.

Students from various CSUs came to get complete and present research in their career fields.

“My biggest mentor has been Dr. Sonya Lopez, who is a collaborator within the Direct STEM program,” said Lucey. “She gave me the direction I needed and I worked really hard to be successful and make the most of those opportunities.”

John Montoya Contributing Writer The California State University (CSU) recently held their 32nd annual Student Research Competition in Sacramento. Both undergraduate and graduate students came together to showcase their research on current popular issues. Students were given the opportunity to work among University faculty and professional researchers. Furthermore, students were able to engage and network with those currently in their future career fields. Here at Cal State LA, senior civil engineer student Joseph Lucey participated in the event. He presented a statistical model between groundwater,

Other California Universities had students attend and present their research projects. From studies such as research on stroke survivors to cellular biology that reduces climate change. Both research studies were successful during the event and won prizes.

California State University (CSU)

Cal State LA Students who are the next generation of professors, scientists and artists.

precipitation and surface inundation, which provides a

general understanding of how flooding developments happen

across the world.

The CSU will continue to hold this annual event for interested students. For those undergraduate and graduate students that are doing research, be sure to get involved and present your work. Attending events like this helps students network and get experience in their field of study.

Roaches Continue to Raise Concerns Housing Services assures that there isn’t a cockroach infestation; students are saying otherwise. Kenneth Cyprian Contributing Writer Ricky Rodas Investigative Reporter Before students move in for the new school year, Cal State LA has received certification that their housing community is a pest-free environment. Students, however, are not the only residents living in the school dorms, as cockroaches have been consistently spotted throughout housing facilities. Various students shared their experiences about dealing with these pests. Second year Cal State LA student Jessica Chavez had issues with cockroaches multiple times last year: “I started to see them around winter break last year [2016]; there were quite a few of them. The roaches came again during spring semester, they were those nasty, big ones.” Since the arrival of Assistant Director of Facilities Mark Facio in 2014, Cal State LA’s partnership with Isotech pest management has strengthened. “We have them come four times a year to physically check activity levels of all pests, lay traps and do preventative spraying,” said Facio.

However, out of more than 30 work orders to fix cockroach problems that the University Times obtained, four were sent in by residents within the first 10 days of the 2017-18 academic year. The earliest one made was August 19. Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the names of the residents involved were redacted from the work orders. The work orders listed the residents’ complaints; one resident described a particularly shocking experience: “I found a cockroach in my room at 1 a.m. It was crawling on my shoulder and I woke up screaming. I did not sleep well and needed to be up on my feet early in the morning. Please help me safe-proof my room. I’m willing to do all that’s necessary.” In an interview with the University Times, Cal State LA Housing Director Rebecca Palmer and her Director of Facilities spoke about the steps Housing Services take when dealing with pests; Palmer declined to be recorded for the interview. According to Facio, setting sticky traps is the first level response to signs of pests, while the next step is closing off any potential cracks and crevices found in the living quarters. Sticky traps are used as monitors to determine levels of roach activity. However, they do not stop the roaches from coming. Multiple work orders show that preventative cracks and

crevices measures were taken as well as drainage pipes covered to combat the roach situation. Another work order from a resident described their situation: “The pest traps that were placed a couple days ago are not working.” As current preventative methods are failing to control the situation, students still have to live and sleep in this environment. Financially, living on campus is not cheap either; the average student pays anywhere from $6,169 to $9,883 to dorm for the full academic year. The price variance is determined by how many roommates an individual has. According to Palmer, cockroaches are attracted to the dorms as a result of students’ sanitary habits. Though this may be a factor, students like Jessica Chavez keep their dorms clean. She and her roommates had to deal with cockroaches during her Winter 2016 and Spring 2017 semesters at Cal State LA. “We were excessively clean from the beginning,” said Chavez. When asked how many cockroaches constitute an infestation in housing, Palmer said that she refers to experts’ opinions and asserted there is no current infestation. However, there are various signs that indicate that an infestation may be present. According to the Department

of Pesticide Regulation cockroach fact sheet, they are nocturnal creatures and are mainly active at night; if they are seen during the day, there is an infestation. Five of the work orders sent in by residents detailed seeing cockroaches in the morning and afternoon respectively. According to Penn State’s Department of Entomology page, Cockroaches are also usually found in dark, warm and moist areas of basements and crawl spaces, and are attracted to damp environments. Cockroaches are resilient creatures; it is reported that they can live up to 3 months without food. Furthermore, work orders show that Isotech found American cockroaches. According to the cockroach fact sheet, this species typically lives in sewers and basements and come through drain pipes. There are also health risks associated with being around cockroaches. “Diseaseproducing organisms such as bacteria, protozoa and viruses have been found in cockroach bodies,” the entomology department page said. “Different forms of gastroenteritis (food poisoning, dysentery, diarrhea, etc.) appear to be the principal diseases transmitted by these cockroaches.” Due to these health risks, California legislature has health codes set in place in case an infestation is indeed prevalent. Section 12 of Health and Safety Code 17920.3 states that infestation of insects, vermin, or rodents can be determined by a health officer or code enforcement officer.

Correction: In the April 2 issue of the University Times, the cover story was about an infestation of roaches in the Cal State LA housing units. The article stated that “thousands of unwanted guests have moved into Cal State LA’s housing.” Although there have been a number of work orders requesting help in dealing with the roaches, the amount never reached a thousand. One source used for the article was Miguel Mota and in the article his last name was spelled as Mata. The article also stated that the dining hall was forced to close because of Gastroenteritis, when in fact the school voluntarily closed it because of Gastroenteritis. Finally, ISOTECH Pest Management does routine spraying in housing. The follow-up article, in this issue, goes into more detail about their scheduled visits. However, the April 2 article stated that “In an attempt to control the situation, the University has hired exterminators as reinforcements.”


May 21, 2018

3 NEWS Primaries are Coming

California’s Primary Election is approaching; important dates and information is enclosed. Mary Pace Contributing Writer On June 5, 2018, the California Statewide Primary Election is happening.

University Times

Residents can cast their votes from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents seeking to vote in the primary elections must be registered to vote by Monday, May 21, 2018. Residents can register by going online to the website California Online Voter Registration (https:// registertovote.ca.gov). They can also go to the DMV and register through the TouchScreen Terminal or by renewing their IDs. Their information is then automatically directed to the

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 Ashlee Navarec

Advertising Representatives Alberto Perez Daisy Villalobos Faculty Adviser Pablo Baler Staff Reporters Anthony Karambeles Mike Nelson

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.

Erik Hersman

The California Primary elections open June 5th, 2018.

Secretary of State’s official website. If one decides to vote by mail, they can register and submit a vote-by-mail ballot request by May 29, 2018. The qualifications for the privilege to vote in the State of California are: one must be a United States Citizen, their residence address is in California, be at least 18 years old or older during Election Day and be in good standing.

Voting Registration. According to the California Secretary of State website, a person can conditionally register to vote 14 days prior to or during Election Day. This process is completed by conditionally registering to vote through the completion of an affidavit of registration (also known as a Voter Registration card). Once received, a voter is given a provisional ballot to vote.

According to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), one is disqualified from voting if they are “currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court” or if one is “currently in state or federal prison or on parole for the conviction of a felony.”

The Secretary of State website has made voting registration an easy task. If an individual would prefer to register to vote in another language, registration is also offered in Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai and in Vietnamese.

If one has not registered to vote by the May 21 deadline, they can apply for Conditional

Voter guides are very important, and the Sacramento Bee Guide is helpful in assisting

Letters to the editor should include an address, telephone number and identification. Letters may be edited for grammar and length. University Times display and classified advertising should not be construed as the endorsement or investigation of commercial enterprises of ventures. University Times reserves the right to reject any advertising. University Times is published every Monday.

Para La Onda:

Copyright 2017 University Times. All Rights Reserved. Cal State University, Los Angeles 5151 State University Dr. - KH C3098 LA, Ca, 90032 Office 323.343.4215 Advertising 323.343.4270

www.csulauniversitytimes.com calstatela.ut@gmail.com Calstatelaut facebook.com/CsulaUT Calstatelaut

Jefa de Redacción: Claudia Landeros Editores:

Yeraldín Estrada

Eduardo Ramos Consejero de la Facultad: Pablo Baler

with what propositions and representatives to vote for. They take one’s zip code and then notify voters about the important propositions happening in their neighborhood. They also have a complete list found on their website: http:// c3.thevoterguide.org/v/ sacbee18/candidate-index.do. The California Secretary of State’s Power Search website can also be used to quickly search for contributions to candidates and ballot measures, as well as contributions from individuals, businesses and other campaign committees. It can also be used to search for independent expenditures made to support or oppose candidates or ballot measures. This feature can be found on http://powersearch.sos.ca.gov. After a qualified voter has registered, they can check their registration status by going to the California Secretary of State’s “Check Your Voter Registration Status” webpage. As the Primary Election approaches, it is important to remember that it is a privilege to be able to cast a vote and be a part of the decision making process that will benefit and affect citizens and residents of California. If you are voting online, the polls open on June 5, 2018 at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. For personally delivered ballots, they must be delivered by the close of polls on Election Day. For mailed ballots, they must be postmarked or on or before June 5, 2018. They must also be received by county elections no later than June 8, 2018. Primary’s are approaching; plan ahead and be ready for voting day!


4

University Times

May 21, 2018

NOTICIAS DE MÉXICO

López Obrador puede llegar a ser el próximo presidente de México TEMAS DE INTERÉS

La Pompeya de América

Parece ser el candidato favorito para los mexicanos, dentro y fuera del país Por Yeraldín Estrada A semanas de las elecciones electorales en México, que serán el 1 de julio, parece que los mexicanos ya tienen a un candidato favorito. A juzgar por las encuestas, el próximo presidente podría ser Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Payson Sheets. Crédito de fotografía: http://www.cultura.gob.sv/

Un sitio arqueológico en El Salvador Por Eduardo Ramos En 1978, mientras realizaba una investigación en El Salvador, el arqueólogo Payson Sheets, se topó por coincidencia con una estructura cubierta de ceniza volcánica en una excavación hecha por una empresa dos años antes. De momento, el profesor Sheets pensó que tal vez se trataba de una erupción reciente, de no más de 100 años. Sin embrago, su natural curiosidad de arqueólogo lo llevó a conducir una pequeña excavación, en busca de algún diario o contenedor de metal. Para su sorpresa, lo que encontró fueron artefactos antiguos clásicos. Según él, aquello no tenía mucho sentido, considerando que todo estaba a 5 metros de profundidad. “Era un enigma", cuenta en una entrevista. Tomó algunas muestras para someterlas al método de datación por radiocarbono, el cual sirve para determinar la edad de materiales, y los resultados indicaron 1400 años. “No recuerdo cuánto tiempo estuve con la boca abierta", describe. Después de ello, el profesor Sheets continuó efectuando numerosas excavaciones en el lugar, y en los últimos cuarenta años se encontraron diez edificios en el lugar. "Me di cuenta que no había un lugar en el mundo moderno con una preservación de este tipo", agregó. Los especialistas coinciden en que es un lugar

único y uno de los sitios arqueológicos más importantes porque muestra los restos de la aldea prehispánica mejor preservada en Mesoamérica. Joya de Cerén es el sitio arqueológico al que algunos llaman la 'Pompeya' de América, situado dentro del departamento de La Libertad, al noroeste de San Salvador. Era una aldea habitada por una comunidad maya en el año 600 cuando la erupción del volcán caldera de Ilopango los sorprendió. La comparación con la ciudad de Pompeya surge porque al igual que en esa ciudad, en Joya de Cerén dicha erupción volcánica causó la preservación de la arquitectura y los artefactos de los antiguos habitantes. Sin embargo, según evidencian los descubrimientos arqueológicos, "En el caso de Joya de Cerén, la gente no tuvo tiempo de llevarse sus cosas. Tuvieron que escapar por la erupción volcánica, a solo 600 metros al norte de ellos", explica Sheets. Entre las estructuras descubiertas, hay bodegas para almacenar alimentos, y utensilios de trabajo como cuchillas de obsidiana y piedras de moler. Otras de las estructuras son cocinas, donde se han desenterrado cuchillas, piedras de moler, vasijas con restos de comida y semillas, platos de barro y un fogón de tres piedras. Aunque a simple vista parecerían simples construcciones que fueron enterradas por la ceniza volcánica, su valor cultural e histórico es considerado “una joya". En 1993 la UNESCO declaró al extraordinario sitio precolombino, Patrimonio de la Humanidad.

Contáctanos en:

UT CSULA La Onda

laonda.newspaper@gmail.com LAONDACSULA

Si llegara a ganar en las elecciones, AMLO propone traer un cambio histórico en muchos aspectos, una transformación radical en la política mexicana que terminaría con la corrupción y desigualdad que se ha vivido en el país con el control político del PRI y el PAN. En las encuestas hechas en México, el partido de Morena tiene un alto porcentaje de popularidad, lo que significa que AMLO cuenta con el apoyo de muchos mexicanos, en su mayoría jóvenes. En estas elecciones electorales, se cree que un mayor número de mexicanos votará en Estados Unidos que en elecciones pasadas, y para saber qué candidato es

Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Crédito de fotografía: Eneas De Troya. https://commons.wikimedia.org

el favorito de este lado de la frontera, Latino Decisions con la ayuda de expertos en política mexicana, hizo una encuesta en Los Ángeles y en San Diego que arrojó que el candidato a la presidencia Andrés Manuel López Obrador es también el favorito en Estados Unidos. AMLO lleva una clara ventaja con un 40% mientras que otros candidatos como Ricardo Anaya obtuvo un 8%, Margarita Zavala un 5%, y José Antonio Meade un 4%. Los mismos candidatos presidenciales se han percatado

de la popularidad y del cariño que la gente siente por Obrador. Tal vez por eso, la candidata a la presidencia Margarita Zavala ha decidido dejar de buscar la presidencia dejándole a Obrador menos rivales. La posibilidad de que el candidato del partido de Morena sea este 2018 el presidente de la republica es muy alta ya que es considerado, por muchos, la mejor opción pero la última palabra la tendrán los mexicanos al ir a las urnas a votar por su candidato favorito en unas semanas.

NOTICIAS DE INMIGRACIÓN

México formaliza queja por insultos de Trump Trump llamó “animales” a los inmigrantes Por Claudia Landeros El pasado miércoles 16 de mayo, Donald Trump recibió en la casa blanca a líderes republicanos de California que comulgan con sus políticas de inmigración. Hablaron específicamente sobre las leyes de inmigración y sobre las “ciudades santuario”. Tachó de pésimas las políticas del estado, considerándolas más permisivas que las federales en cuanto al tema. De ahí se agarró para mostrar una vez más su desagrado por la comunidad inmigrante, particularmente por aquellos que no tienen documentos legales y que cruzan la frontera clandestinamente. Trump declaró que México no coopera con su gobierno para controlar la situación de la frontera. En su tono muy particular, y con mucho dejo de desprecio, llamó “animales” a las personas que cruzan a Estados Unidos ilegalmente. Estas palabras resonaron negativamente en los oídos

Donald Trump en la reunión con líderes de California para hablar sobre las ciudades santuario. Crédito de fotografía: Olivier Douliery. Tribune News Service

de los mexicanos y trajo como resultado el enojo del gobierno mexicano el cual decidió poner una queja formal por considerar que esas palabras lastiman la integridad de los mexicanos. El canciller mexicano, Luis Videgaray, anunció que se haría formal la queja a Donald Trump por considerar que “sus aseveraciones son contrarias al respeto de los derechos humanos y vulneran el principio de responsabilidad compartida que debe regir a la relación bilateral." El secretario de gobernación mexicano Alfonso Navarrete, también

manifestó su molestia diciendo que los comentarios de Trump son racistas y generan aún más tensión de la que ya hay en los compatriotas que viven en Estados Unidos. Hay mucho enojo e indignación de los mexicanos a ambos lados de la frontera. El tono de las declaraciones de Trump no son nuevas, pero él sigue generalizando que toda la comunidad inmigrante es parte del grupo de delincuentes y esto atenta al estado de derecho que todo ser humano posee.


5 NEWS Sanctuary: A Country Divided University Times

May 21, 2018

California cities fight back against sanctuary laws, creating a rift between parties.

divisions of opinion were found across geographical lines, with the LA County, San Diego County and San Francisco Bay Area largely in support of sanctuary laws, and the Orange County, Central Valley and areas in Northern California in opposition.

Anthony Karambelas Staff Reporter

Trump has applauded those jurisdictions who have expressed support for his lawsuit. He has consistently tweeted about sanctuary cities as a “ridiculous, crime infested & breeding concept” and has targeted California policies for “releasing violent criminals back into our communities, putting all Americans at risk.”

In recent years, California has become synonymous with “sanctuary.” Home to nearly 25 percent of the country’s immigrant population, the Golden State certainly has reason to stand in solidarity with our international friends; or, so one would think. Not all communities are on board with the SB 54 sanctuary law, also known as the California Values Act, signed in October of last year. The law officially prohibits local authorities from inquiring about immigration status and prevents local officials from executing the work of immigration agents. This decision was met with a lawsuit from the Trump Administration in March. The suit challenged two other sanctuary-related laws besides SB 54 that were complicating the work of federal immigration officials to protect undocumented immigrants. “Federal agents must be able to do the job that Congress has directed them to do,” said Attorney General Jeff-Sessions in a statement. “Although we would welcome the positive assistance the majority of jurisdictions in America provide, ICE agents do incredible work every day. They will not be deterred. We are

Thehowleronline.org

Students show support for a proposed ordinance declaring the city a sanctuary for all residents regardless of immigration status at Santa Ana City Council meeting Tuesday.

simply asking California and other sanctuary jurisdictions to stop actively obstructing federal law enforcement.” Though the suit was met with immediate resistance from California, in recent months that resistance has transformed into unprecedented support. As of Tuesday, Santa Clarita became the first Californian jurisdiction within Los Angeles County to sign on to Trump’s lawsuit, joining a various other Orange County and San Diego jurisdictions. The lawsuit targets the unconstitutionality of these California laws, claiming that they violate the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution

that designates precedence to federal legislation.

one of the most liberal states, represents a threat to the left.

Whether the suit is effective or not is really up to interpretation. Many California communities, like Costa Mesa and Santa Clarita, have expressed their support through non-binding, superficial resolutions. The point, according to Councilman Allan Mansoor, is to show the Legislature that “we support upholding our laws.”

“It doesn’t mean that the City Council has the power to change anything right now,” said Raphael Sonenshein, Executive Director of the Pat Brown Institute. “But it elevates the issue and certainly Republicans see it as an issue that might bring people to the polls.”

But this support, however non-binding, should not be treated lightly. Conservative forces are easily motivated over anti-immigration issues and any discord in California,

At the moment, most Californians are in support of pro-sanctuary policies. The Jack Citrin Center for Public Opinion Research at UC Berkeley found that “56 percent of voters favor it, while 41 percent of voters are opposed.” Additionally,

This is America “Black identity extremists”; the latest excuse in America’s war on Blacks. Richard Molina News Editor Since the death of Trayvon Martin and rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, individuals throughout the Country have seen video after video of police violence against African Americans. But in the last month, many have seen the other side to this ugly truth—the civilian side. In the past month alone, numerous online videos have gone viral documenting Black people being perceived and treated as threats. The first of these videos to go viral involved two black men waiting for a friend inside of a Starbucks in Philadelphia on April 12. The police were called on Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, who had not yet ordered anything as they awaited their friend’s arrival.

Facebook

Rakem Balogun.

Days later, another video surfaced of an incident at a Starbucks, this time in Torrance, California. Brandon Ward asked to use the bathroom before making a purchase and was told it was reserved for customers. Shortly after, Ward filmed a white man walking out of the bathroom and asked if he had made a purchase, to which the man answered “no”. Several more stories of police being called on black people minding their own business surfaced in the following weeks. Lolade Siyonbola “looked suspicious” for napping in the common room of a Yale University dorm. Michael Hayes, a black real estate investor, was mistaken for a burglar while inspecting an empty home in Memphis, Tennessee. A group of black women on a Pennsylvania golf course were “playing too slow” and were removed. A group of black professionals were also mistaken to be burglars when checking out the AirBnB they had rented. It seems both civilians and government officials will find any reason to castigate black people, but as actor Will Smith put it, “racism is not getting worse, it’s getting filmed.” The distinction is important to make and critical in understanding

Ironically, research has shown that sanctuary cities are statistically safer. The Center for American Progress found that “there are, on average, 35.5 fewer crimes committed per 10,000 people in sanctuary counties compared to non sanctuary counties.” But not only are sanctuary cities safer, they also boast higher median household incomes, lower poverty rates and lower unemployment rates. The Center for American Progress recently released a statement: “Altogether, the data suggest that when local law enforcement focuses on keeping communities safe, rather than becoming entangled in federal immigration enforcement efforts, communities are safer and community members stay more engaged in the local economy. This in turn brings benefits to individual households, communities, counties and the economy as a whole.”

the historical trajectories of racial discrimination in the United States. Perhaps the most alarming of these stories to surface is that of Rakem Balogun. Armed agents in tactical gear stormed into Balogun’s home on December 12 to the shock of himself and his 15-year-old son. Balogun later found out he was under FBI investigation for “domestic terrorism”, part of an initiative to root out what the US government has marked as “black identity extremists”. Balogun was targeted by this initiative after participating in protests against police brutality. He also took to Facebook and “vented”, condemning both the police and government for racial profiling after the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. Disgusted with the media’s justification of the killings, Balogun said, “I just mimicked their reactions to our killings.” Balogun’s story doesn’t come as much of a surprise when recalling the legacy of COINTELPRO, the FBI program started in the 50’s, which was responsible for surveilling and dismantling civil rights organizations of the time.


6

University Times

May 21, 2018

COMMENCEMENT


7 SPORTS

May 21, 2018

NBA The NBA Conference Finals are currently underway, which means that four teams are competing for their spot in the NBA Finals. In the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets are tied 1-1. The Warriors won the first game 119-106. The Rockets won the next matchup 127-105. Specifically, the Warriors have been in the NBA Finals for three straight years, so it would be a surprise if they lost this series. The Rockets haven’t been in the NBA Finals for over 20 years—the last time was back in 1995. In the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 2-0. The Celtics won the first two games: Game 1 108-83 and Game 2 107-94. The Cavaliers came back in Game 3 116-86. It would also be a surprise if the Celtics win this series, because the Cavaliers have competed in the NBA Finals for the last three years. The Celtics are looking for their first Final’s appearance since 2010. Coincidentally, 2010 was the last year that Cavaliers star LeBron James did not play in the NBA Finals; from 2011 on, he has appeared in every series either with the Miami Heat or the Cleveland Cavaliers.

University Times

Sports Roundup MLB: The Dodgers have really struggled. They are 17-26 and are in fourth place in the NL West. They snapped a 6 game losing streak on Thursday with 7-0 win over the Miami Marlins. In their three-game series with the Washington Nationals, the Dodgers won Friday 4-1, Saturday 5-4 and Sunday 7-2.

MLS:

Charles Trainor Jr

LAFC has looked very good at the start of the season. They are 6-2-2 with 20 points and are sitting in 2nd place in the Western Conference. LAFC lost to the Portland Timbers Saturday 1-2. The LA Galaxy have started the season very poorly. They are 3-6-1 with only 10 points and are sitting in ninth place in the Western Conference. They are two points short of a playoff spot and will have to turn it around soon to have a shot. L.A. Galaxy will play Montreal Impact Monday at noon.

The Miami Heat's Josh Richardson leaps past the Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (21) for a basket .

CAMPUS NEWS Social Media’s Adverse Effects Research finds that long-term exposure to social media may have negative effects on mental health. Adriana Sanchez Contributing Writer Social media dominates our everyday lives. It is everywhere we go and it is, in large part, what we focus on for most of the day. From scrolling through photos on Instagram to catching up on the latest news on Twitter, spending time on social media can do a lot more than just pass time. As more research is conducted, evidence is now suggesting that social media can have extreme effects on mental health. A study conducted at the University of South Wales found that spending more than one hour a day on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest have adverse effects on women’s selfesteem. The photos on these platforms typically highlight thin women in happy moments that are seemingly perfect. As a result, viewers often find themselves comparing their image to these photos. This leads to a negative impact on body image and self-esteem. Consequently, in an article on the Tech Times, Dr. Ramani Durvasula from the Psychology Department at Cal State LA noted that insecure women may use social media as an outlet to feel better about themselves. These women could be suffering from anxiety, depression or even eating disorders. Professors at San Francisco State University (SFSU) further discovered

J. Aaron Delgado

Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter serve as the top social media apps.

that there is a strong link between smartphone dependency and anxious or depressive tendencies. Those who simply spend too much time on their smartphone may also find themselves suffering from symptoms of mental illness. Third-year anthropology student Brianna Aviles said, “I do think that people can be addicted to social media. We are affected daily, for instance when we’re bored, we scroll through stuff instead of doing something productive. We revolve everything on social media — we post all our life to get likes.” The San Francisco State study suggested that when individuals slouch

or lean over their phones, it causes the body to adapt to a position that it is usually put in when one is feeling hopeless or depressed. Further, it found that body posture could have an effect on one’s overall mood and that screen brightness can impact sleeping patterns. The study also suggested that people spend more time consuming media; consequently, they spend less time exercising and staying active. To counter this, they suggest engaging in more physical activity as it is proven to improve mood and combat depression. Nowadays, it seems as though everyone is on their phone; as a result, it is critical to understand the effects that social media has on individuals’

health. Connecting online is fun, but it is important to consider one’s mental well-being first. In addition to exercising and sitting up straight, SFSU’s Dr. Erik Peper recommends limiting notifications and phonetime in exchange for being present and connecting to people in real life. Taking a break from social media will ultimately allow for others to engage in real relationships and decrease loneliness. Taking these steps will allow for individuals to be more conscious of their screen time and understand the impact that social media may be having on their mindset.


8

University Times

May 21, 2018

FEATURE

Aces on the Court

Elizaveta Sokolova Tennis Player, Student

Originally from Moscow, Russia, Elizaveta Sokolova has been playing Tennis since the age of 4 and has competed in various tournaments back home as well as in international tournaments. Since she discovered Tennis, her life has revolved around it and motivates her everyday life. Elizaveta is a graduating senior who is studying computer science with an interest in data science.

Raised in a small town in Ontario, Canada, Snezana Ivanovic has been playing Tennis for eight years, which was greatly influenced by her family’s background in athletics. Back home, she used to play in the snow that was built from the trucks and was a gymnast. Sports have shaped her life as she is a senior Kinesiology major that is exploring the option in exercise and human performance.

Snezana Ivanovic Tennis Player, Student

J. Aaron Delgado, Managing Editor - Print

Q: What influenced you to become a Tennis Player? Elizaveta: When I was four years old, my parents took me to a tennis club and that's how it started. Then since day one I fell in love with Tennis and I never wanted to stop playing tennis and it's been my passion, my life, my, everything. It made me want to be better and better every day. Practice hard. Then I had to give up social life to focus on tennis and I would love to practice from early morning till late night. I just loved being on the court. Snezana: I realized tennis was, this was my sport after an injury that ended my tenure, gymnastics career. Since I could no longer compete in gymnastics, I needed another sport. My brothers were into tennis, so I trained with them. Being of athletic background, I needed to pick up another sport and tennis was it. My family and my brothers were my biggest influence when it comes to tennis. My brothers played tennis before me and that's what

influenced me to play.

Q: Who are some Athletes that you look up to?

Elizaveta: Roger Federer because the way he is on the court; he's so professional. He's respectful. His sportsmanship is great. Just the way he presents himself is beautiful. Snezana: I look up to Rafael Nadal. I really enjoy how he plays tennis and how intense he is on the court. And my favorite female tennis player is Bethanie Mattek-Sands. I love her style and I like how she plays as a tennis player and I've also colored my hair a few times because she has influenced me to do that. She makes you do crazy things such as dying my hair pink.

Q: Are there any other activities or hobbies that you enjoy?

Elizaveta: I love taking pictures. I love modeling. I like cooking, going to the beach, listening to music. I love nature, like a lot of all the ocean mountains, the sky,

the stars, everything just amazes me. Snezana: Hobbies I enjoy are any athletics and sport. I spend most of my time working out at the gym. I also have a passion for art, painting, sketching and drawing. I like doing oil painting of landscapes.

and support.

Q: How has Cal State LA helped you pursue your dreams and Career?

Elizaveta: I've learned so much and I've grown as a person. I've grown as a computer scientist, as a tennis player. I've made some connections and friends. I have Q: What brought you to Cal done a lot in four years, so I hope State LA? all of that will pay off eventually. Elizaveta: Back home We don't Snezana: Cal State LA has helped have college sports so I had to me pursue my dream to work choose either tennis or computin the athletics field. I originally er science and I could not, but chose to major in a language, I knew that if I came to United in Spanish, but Cal State LA States I will be able to do both, has shown me my true path to pursue both of my dreams. That's change my major to kinesiolowhy I came to California and I gy. So I may further pursue my selected Cal State LA because career in the field that I have of its outstanding engineering enjoyed my whole life. program and great team. Great coach. Q: What is your dream job? Snezana: The warm weather and Elizaveta: My dream job is to beautiful climate of California become a famous model! brought me to Cal State LA and Snezana: I do not have a dream I'm forever thankful for my most job in mind. I will explore my caring, compassionate coach, options upon graduating. Sandy. I would not be where I am today if it wasn't for her guidance


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.