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LETTER EDITOR from the
Choosing to identify as a Latinx individual is representative of more than just being inclusive of all genders. It is a word that marks a shift in the way we think about personal and collective identity. It is a word that carries a history in which power has favored a patriarchal system. It is a symbol that communities of our generation have embraced in order to change an oppressive narrative. Latinx is a term that defies the same language we use in our everyday lives, which is why so many people may not welcome the term, but it is an alternative to encourage open-mindedness and to blur the differences that may exclude individuals from having equal opportunities to succeed in life. I was born in Mexico City and lived there all my childhood. As a native Spanish speaker, I didn’t question the gendered nature of the language, nor did I question the racial background of my parents — given that my mother’s side of the family had more evident European traits than my father’s, who was more dark-skinned or prieto. I became aware of these differences once we emigrated to the United States and in my teenage years began developing a sense of identity. In a place like the San Fernando Valley I learned that many people have intersecting identities that highlight the complexity of our gender, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. As a result, the existing terms are not fit for the new ways people are choosing to present themselves as. Therefore, the Latinx community has come together to help simplify our diversity and ensure that every individual is treated with equal respect. The stories presented in this community issue are aimed to show the diversity and its rich, ever-evolving cultural heritage. It speaks to the problems and solutions of the most importance to CSUN and the San Fernando Valley Latinx community.
SUNDIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief
Madison Parsley editor@csun.edu
Managing Visual Editor Joshua Pacheco photo@csun.edu News Editor Gillian Moran-Perez city@csun.edu Assistant News Editor Kimberly Silverio-Bautista city@csun.edu Chief Copy Editor Ivey Mellem copydesk@sundial.csun.edu Copy Editors Munina Lam Sarah Shabbar copydesk@sundial.csun.edu A&E Editor Ivan Salinas ane@csun.edu Assistant A&E Editors Kayla Fernandez Deja Magee Moss ane@csun.edu Opinion Editor Raychel Stewart opinion@csun.edu Sports Editor Bryanna Winner sports_sundial@csun.edu Assistant Sports Editor Andres Soto sports_sundial@csun.edu Photo Editor Logan Bik photo@csun.edu Social Media Manager Natalie Fina sundialsocialmedia@sundial.csun.edu Graphic Designers Ewan McNeil Elaine Sanders Natalie Miranda Illustrator Joelena Despard Audio Editor Pejvauk Shahamat sundialpodcast@gmail.com Video Editors Andrea Esparza Elaine Sanders Noelle Nakamura Assistant Video Editor Brendan Reed-Crabb Web Developer Rugved Saurabh Darwhekar online@csun.edu
Thank you,
Sales Representatives Pathik Patel Kelly Salvador Olivia Vakayil Estefano Vasquez
Ivan Salinas Arts & Entertainment Editor
Sales Support HaoWen Hsueh
CONTENTS “Stop Silencing Communities of Color” Page 4
Gillian Moran-Perez
“Latinx21: Diversity in Film” Page 12
Deja Magee
“What it Means to be Central American” Page 15
Michael Meneses
Why we need to start paying attention to what the supporters of enthnic studies are fighting for. The first annual Latinx21 film festival dedicates their event to representation in the indie film community.
A reflection on Central American culture.
Distribution Lead Brendan Reed-Crabb Distribution Nicole Benda Emilio Bravo Publisher Arvli Ward arvli.ward@csun.edu General Manager Jody Holcomb jody.doyle@csun.edu
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Rushing Waters by Ivan Salinas Cover photo of Levi Ponce by Ivan Salinas.
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LATINA CLOTHING LINE EMPOWERS WOMEN Viva La Bonita promotes representation and celebrates Latinx women through fashion.
Rachel Gomez stands by a rack of her clothing in her Viva La Bonita warehouse in San Fernando on Nov. 15.
by Kimberly Silverio-Bautista / Photography by Shae Hammond San Fernando Valley resident Rachel Gomez realized there was a lack of Latina representation in the fashion industry. She noticed that not only were there were no brands that targeted Latina women, but most importantly, there were no brands that empowered them. This is why Gomez decided to create her own brand in the hopes of closing this culture gap. She came up with the idea of a streetwear clothing brand called Viva La Bonita, a line where Latinas feel comfortable in their own skin and identity. “The idea of Viva La Bonita is a brand that encourages you to be proud of yourself, doesn’t matter where you come from or what your story is or what you’ve gone through,” Gomez said. The idea of the line began in 2012, but Viva La Bonita’s path to success was rocky. Gomez worked over 50 hours a week at a Tillys in Burbank. She couldn’t quit her retail job at the time because it financially supported her family, and she was the only member who had a well-paying job. During her days off or after work, she’d work on the Viva La Bonita brand regardless of how tired she was. Initially, she had difficulties connecting with the community. Almost three years into the
SUNDIAL
NOVEMBER 20 - 24, 2019
brand, she would post every day on social media and wouldn’t have a single sale. Gomez doubted herself, but the support of her fiancé, Fredo Tovar, her family, and her purpose of the brand kept her going. She knew it wasn’t going to be an easy path, but she persisted, and from day one Tovar has believed in and supported her efforts. Gomez recalls him telling her: “I know you really want this, I know you’re a really hard worker and I know you’re gonna make it happen, so I have your back because I know you deserve it. I believe in you and we are gonna make this happen.” Her family, especially her grandmother, Margarita Sanchez Duran, didn’t understand the purpose of the brand at first. Gomez grew up in a traditional immigrant family and told her grandmother she wanted to quit her job to sell T-shirts, but all Sanchez Duran understood was Gomez wanted to quit her job. Once Gomez had a better understanding of her brand’s direction, she was able to explain it her grandmother thoroughly. This led to her grandmother to fully understand and support her granddaughter; Sanchez Duran even wore a pink tie-dye shirt from the brand in a recent Instagram story Gomez posted on Nov. 17.
Family plays a big part when it comes to her brand. Gomez grew up speaking Spanglish, where English and Spanish words are combined, which was how her grandfather Pedro Duran spoke, too. She implements Spanglish quotes into the brand, like “Mujeres are magic,” “Be The Cabrona Que No Se Dejo” and “Allergic to Pendejadas,” which led women to connect with the brand. “Because of the authenticity of these quotes and how organic, women started to connect to the brand even more,” Gomez said. Viva La Bonita currently has more than 200,000 followers on Instagram, and the follower count continues to grow as the brand becomes more well known. Gomez feels the journey has been long, and mistakes have guided her to figure out the brand as it is today. She envisions the brand’s continued growth within the next five years and traveling more with their pop-ups within the U.S. She wants to leave a legacy for people to go after their dreams and support one another in unveiling their magic. “We were put here to live our life. Don’t live life like it’s permanent because life is temporary and we are only here for a certain amount of time,” Gomez said. “Help people along the way and encourage someone to believe in their magic.”
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STOP SILENCING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR Why we need to start paying attention to what the supporters of ethnic studies are fighting for. by Gillian Moran-Perez / Photography by Raychel Stewart Ethnic studies has gained momentum after reaching its 50th anniversary as students, faculty and educators are fighting against the threats to remove the program. Stevie Raymond Ruiz, a professor in the Chicana/o studies department at CSUN, recently published an article called “Another University is Possible: Student Activism Against Colonial Education in the California State University System” as a message to his colleagues and administrators that have tried to dismantle ethnic studies within CSUN. “My message is to have our faculty governance be restored for the administration to understand that the students have a very diverse understanding of student success, and they need to start listening to the students instead of targeting them and labeling them as disruptive,” Ruiz said. For Ruiz, the fight to keep the program has brought up some questions about the role of faculty governance and the presence of a democracy on campus, because administrators have continued to mandate their policies over the votes of faculty on issues such as implementing Executive Order 1100-R that would change the requirements to General Education in the CSU system. Ruiz says that all the changes made by the administration that strive for student success has pushed faculty governance out of the way, and because of that administrators should be held accountable. “You cannot get away with this and not think people will hold you accountable,” Ruiz said. His paper points out that colonial education disempowers students of color from learning about the wealth of knowledge their
communities’ history have to offer, and creates a lack of culture in the Eurocentric curriculum. That’s why ethnic studies teaches students the histories of African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans and Chicanx/Latinx. Ruiz explains that ethnic studies usually houses faculty of color, “not only reflecting the students of the communities they come from but that actually can empower students to see themselves potentially as an educator in the future.” According to Ruiz’s article, as of 2016, 43% of students in the CSUN system identify as Latinx but only 10% of the faculty identify as Latinx, whereas 63% of white faculty members are tenured. He says it’s the first time for many students of color to see themselves reflected in the curriculum, when at first they had to search for their own history, like an egg hunt. “That’s a true injustice for our students, so I see ethnic studies as a form of advocacy for students,” Ruiz said. Assembly Bill 1460, the bill to mandate ethnic studies as a graduation requirement for all CSU campuses, is still being processed through committees within the California Senate. Ruiz is also part of outside efforts to pass Assembly Bill 331, proposed by Assemblyman Jose Medina, to make ethnic studies courses a high school graduation requirement. The bill was authored by high school teachers and college experts, including CSUN Professor Theresa Montaño from the Chicana/o studies department, in efforts that will lead to Assembly Bill 2016: California Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, a bill that has been criticized by
other communities. Starting in September, assembly members, teachers and other ethnic studies groups have created a Save Ethnic Studies Coalition Speaking Tour, traveling to different college campuses throughout California and Arizona to unify different ethnic studies groups. R. Tolteka Cuauhtin, a speaker for the campaign and teacher from Los Angeles Unified School District, has said that the ethnic studies curriculum recognizes the genocide of California Indians and Native Americans and urges legislators to pass bills in favor of ethnic studies. With the support of California Governor Gavin Newsom and other stakeholders, Cuauhtin said that ethnic studies has found support on “educational justice” where “communities of color and Ethnic Studies expert practitioners must remain at the center of leading this project moving forward.” “Bottom line is that ethnic studies can help save lives and help transform the situations communities of color find ourselves in,” Cuauhtin said. Back in the fall of 2018, CSUN protesters were rejected from entering a Faculty Senate meeting in the Oviatt Library, including Ruiz and other faculty, and were forced to sit on the steps in the rain. Ruiz said that despite silencing them and trying to block them out, his paper is his way to communicate with his colleagues and that there will be more papers coming from different professors. “We will not be quiet, we will not be silent because we have done nothing wrong, it’s very important to know that,” Ruiz said. “And if you have done nothing wrong you should not be apologetic about it.”
Professor of Chicana/o studies Stevie Ruiz stands next to a poster on student activism for ethnic studies.
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SUNDIAL
NOVEMBER 20 - 24, 2019
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FAR FROM HOLLYWOOD,
DANNY TREJO MADE HIS OWN NAME by Andres Soto / Photography by Tim Strong At 6:30 a.m. Danny Trejo arrives at the soccer field to begin his training session. He goes through a series of individual drills, working on his finishing and ball technique as the sun begins to rise. Most college students struggle to get up so early in the morning, but Trejo isn’t like most college students. He reminds himself of his upbringing that was far from Hollywood, despite his A-List name. Trejo recalls his high school days when he would get up at 5:30 a.m. to work the grapevines in Mendota, a city 34 miles west of Fresno. He would spend eight hour days picking grapes under the blistering Central Valley sun, just so he wouldn’t ask his parents for money. “I want to make my own and I just feel like that really shaped me into the person I am today,” Trejo said. “I want to earn everything I do. I know nothing’s given so everything I want, I want to work for.” To truly understand Trejo, you have to understand where he comes from. Get off the 180 freeway and take Belmont Avenue all the way down through the vast melon fields and you’ll find yourself in Mendota, a small rural city of 11,000, nearly half of whom live below the poverty line. That aside, Trejo beams with pride when discussing his hometown. Everybody knows everybody in Mendota, and he credits seeing the people in his community work through their circumstances, which in turn motivated him to work even harder. “They had no excuses for anything they did,” he recalled. It was this close, tight-knit sense of community that caused Trejo’s popularity to boom while he made a name for himself on the soccer field. Trejo was more than just a high school standout, he was a local icon. “These kids don’t look up to the actual stars like LeBron James or Ronaldo,” Juan Magana, Trejo’s high school coach, said. “What they’re looking for in this small community is someone just like them.” Trejo was all but 16 years old when he was first approached by local kids for autographs. The autographs soon turned into him giving away his captain’s band after games, and soon enough they started rocking Trejo’s signature haircut, a mohawk with blond highlights. Most people would let something like that get to their heads, especially high schoolers, but Trejo isn’t most people. He saw himself in those kids; he saw Mendota. It served as a reminder to himself that he needed to keep working to get to the level he
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wanted to be at. “I’m still a kid at that age. It’s a cool thing,” Trejo said. “But at the same time, it motivated me ... to now make it everywhere. If these kids want my autograph, I want everybody to want my autograph as well.” Trejo’s local celebrity status didn’t come unwarranted. One could argue that he was one of the best high school soccer players ever in California. Through his four seasons on varsity for Mendota High School, Trejo scored 200 goals, a state record. His 65 goals as a senior in 2016-17 surpassed the previous record of 56 set by Javier Trejo, his older brother. It was a special moment for Trejo to break his brother’s record. He vividly remembers Javier telling him beforehand, “You can do it, do whatever it takes.” They were able to share the moment being proud of keeping the record within the family. Family is everything to Trejo. He grew up the youngest of four brothers, and soccer was the common bond they shared not only with each other, but with their father as well. His dad is an avid soccer fan whose favorite teams include Toluca of Liga MX, Barcelona and Manchester City. The Trejo brothers found themselves playing soccer, and Danny took an instant liking to it. He recalled going to the local park every day and just kicking the ball day-in and day-out, dedicating himself to his craft when he was just a child. What had started as a way for Trejo to bond with his family turned into his motivation to make sure his parents are taken care of and ensure that his dad wouldn’t have to work in the fields again. It was this same fire to succeed that almost led to disaster in Trejo’s final high school game, the state championship against Santa Clara. Magana recalls Trejo running circles around everybody for the first 10 minutes of the game before a slide tackle took him down and caused him to get up limping. Magana tried subbing out his star player, but Trejo refused to come off the field in his final game. “I wanted him out, I didn’t want him to get hurt because he’s obviously going to go to college. Forget about the state championship,” Magana said. “But he wouldn’t come off, and I can’t take that away from him.” Trejo stayed in the game with a partially torn meniscus, determined to not let his injury stop him. “The only thing on my mind was winning the state championship, so
Daniel Trejo during a home game against LMU on Sept. 22. Trejo scored nine goals this 2019 season.
I didn’t really care about my knee at that point,” Trejo recalled. “I’m sure it wasn’t the right thing to do. But me as a small kid at that time, and I was a lot younger ... I just wanted to win so bad.” Trejo may not have won the state championship, but he also avoided a potentially catastrophic injury that night. He closed the chapter on his legendary high school career as he prepared to embark on a new one, one that would take him from Mendota to Northridge to play for CSUN. In his three years as a Matador, Trejo has earned several accolades and recognitions, most recently winning Big West Offensive Player of the Year for 2019, he also spent
the beginning of the season tied for the nation’s lead in goals and points. Through all his success that he has earned in the Greater Los Angeles area, he still keeps himself grounded by remembering his roots. “Looking back to where I come from, I’m just very grateful to be able to come from a very humbling family, a very humbling community,” Trejo said. “I’m just grateful for everything that’s happening to me and I just want to continue to make everybody in Mendota proud.” Wherever Trejo’s journey takes him next, he will always keep Mendota with him, and Mendota will be rooting for him every step of the way.
SPORTS@CSUN.EDU
Amor a Primera Vista
Itotiani
Los Angeles Azules ft. Belinda
Submitted by: @matadorama
Submitted by: @aracastillo_
This summer jam mixes classic Mexican cumbia elements with hints of reggaeton. Well known Mexican musician Belinda collaborated with Descemer Bueno and Palencia to write “Amor a Primera Vista.” They wanted to reveal a story about two people meeting each other during a night out on the town and instantly having a romantic connection. Having a crazy night with someone you just met is probably something many people would like to experience. It’s the classic love story you would see on the movie screen packed into an easy listening track that everyone will love at a party.
Submitted by: @eliii.gz
For non-Spanish speakers, Bad Bunny’s song “Callaíta” is about a closed off introverted girl who likes to party like crazy and live her life to its fullest potential. With it debuting at No. 8 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart back in June, fans seem to be loving it. This party hit is dedicated to all the shy girls who love to unleash their wild side once the night comes around.
Submitted by: @leslieiggie18
LA T
Norma Monserrat Bustamante Laferte, who is professionally known as Mon Laferte, is a Chilean-born Mexican dual citizen singersongwriter. Aside from singing she is also an actress. Mon Laferte is currently the most listened to Chilean artist on Spotify all around the world. The talented musician began playing the guitar at the young age of 10, and later started a music conservatory when she was 13. From working hard at a young age she achieved even more accomplishments and has become one of the most successful Latina artists in the world today.
Submitted by: @snappedbykay
American-Venezuelan singersongwriter Devendra Banhart spoke to Pitchfork in old interview, stating: “In Spanish, I can have a lot more flexibility. I have a limited vocabulary — in English and in Spanish — but with Spanish I can get more into the sound of the words, I can have more fun with it. I can even get more autobiographical in Spanish. I feel comfortable revealing more, expressing something sincere about trauma or pain, which is not really a space I’m comfortable occupying.” All throughout Banhart’s musical career he has had a funny way of expressing love and heartbreak through his lyrics. Heartwarming and melancholy at the same time, he has it all.
La Camisa Negra Juanes Submitted by: @andrews_drinks22
“La Camisa Negra,” which translates into “Black Shirt,” was written and recorded by Juanes but inspired by Colombian singersongwriter Octavio Mesa. While the song received much success, it was controversial when it was used to support neo-fascism in Italy. Aside from that it is a club favorite if you are in a Spanish speaking country. The song is actually not about a black T-shirt; instead, Juanes is talking about a love that didn’t work out and how his soul feels empty and black. Heartbreak is a common theme in every genre of music, but the way Latinx artists express their feelings and creativity pulls at people’s heartstrings, and having a deeper connection with fans.
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AVOR F X I N I
Mon Laferte
Devendra Banhart
Bad Bunny
In a Facebook post, Chicano Batman said that Itotiani meant “Aztec dancer” in the Nahuatl language. Taking the time to listen to the song, you might think that the track is about a girl. The song emulates the feeling of your heart beating rapidly and the intense energy of your soul being reborn. The band continues by describing this female as mystical and beautiful, her soul spreading love. They are simply hypnotized by the spiritual being standing before them.
Paisaje Japonés
Mi Negrita
Callaíta
Chicano Batman
By Kayla Fernandez
A STUDENT CURATED PLAYLIST
Enamorada de Ti
Lo Que Siento Cuco
Selena
Submitted by: @snappedbykay
Submitted by: @thedailytitan
Possibly the youngest and most successful Latinx artist thriving in the music industry right now is Cuco. In this Spanglish song, Cuco expresses how he daydreams of that one specific person, but he has been hurt so much in the past it is hard for him to let his guard down. In an interview with Genius he said, “‘Oye cariño, solo pienso en ti’ — ‘carino’ is like an endearment term for like dear, or sweetheart. ‘Solo pienso en ti’ means, ‘I only think about you.’ And then, ‘When I wake up in the morning until I go back to sleep’ — it kind of says it within itself. It’s like, ‘Hey dear, I just think about you day and night, I can’t get over you.’ It’s how I am. If I’m into you, I’m pretty obsessive. I kind of hate that about myself. I’m super emotional.” Perhaps the reason why Cuco is so loved by a young Latinx audience is because he is making his dreams come true when he had very little, and he makes simple lyrics about love that most can relate to.
Frío
La Bamba
Submitted by: @tyewrite
Submitted by: @brendanreedcrabb
Omar Apollo
Ritchie Valens
This track is Apollo’s first song written entirely in Spanish. When he was back in his hometown for his brother’s wedding, he was making up beats in the attic he used to live in. From his interview with NME magazine, Apollo stated, “Once I was back in LA I brought it to my homie Kenny Beats. The song is about not wanting to repeat the same cycle of emotions — but also about being stuck in that cycle too. Coming in and out of the cycle of a relationship.” Apollo is a young Latinx artist that is emerging rapidly in the mainstream media, exploring new depths with incorporating Spanish lyrics to appeal to a bigger audience.
Pacoima native Ritchie Valens created a smashing Mexican folk song that continues to thrive decades after his tragic death. The lighthearted hit is extremely popular among mariachi bands and played at weddings. The lyrics, “Para bailar la Bamba se necessita una poca de gracia” means “To dance La Bamba you need to have a little grace.” Valens talks about having big ambitions, being willing to climb to the heavens and being filled with optimism. It resonated with the young teens during his time, especially with the Latinx community. Valens left a huge impact on the Latinx culture and audience, and united, the community was able to catch a glimpse of becoming the first Mexican rock star.
“Enamorada de Ti,” which translates to “In Love with You,” was written by A.B. Quintanilla III and Pete Astudillo. In 1989 Selena was signed to EMI Latin Records and soon released her debut album under their label. Around that time her brother, Quintanilla, wrote and produced a lot of her tracks. As you listen closely to the lyrics Selena is singing about how crushed and lost she is by her love interest leaving her. She wants to express to her lover that she simply cannot live without him and without him she is nothing. In 1990 Selena performed the song at the Tejano Music Awards with her three backup dancers, matching dance moves that were popularized by Michael and Janet Jackson in American pop culture around the same time. She ended up taking home the award for the Tejano Music Award for Female Vocalist of The Year.
Check out the full playlist on Spotify THE SUNDIAL
SUNDIAL
NOVEMBER 22 - 24, 2019
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RUSHING WATERS A mural that celebrates the history of Pacoima.
Story and photograpy by Ivan Salinas What was once a giant gray wall, and a favorite spot for local graffiti artists, is now becoming the home of a new mural made by Levi Ponce and his team of artists from the San Fernando Valley. “Rushing Waters,” the name being given to the mural, will depict life in the neighborhood of Pacoima and a few of the landmarks significant to the community. Locals
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from the neighborhood had suggested to Ponce that he should paint the wall, which runs parallel to San Fernando Road near the 118 west freeway ramp. He didn’t take much interest in it at first due to how complicated it would be to get this project going, which has been in the making for roughly five years. That changed when property owners were on board with the project of a mural. Ponce first met with LA Councilman Felipe Fuentes and Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra to fund the project, which didn’t work out initially. It wasn’t until he met with
Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who currently represents Council District 7, that she allocated $100,000 dollars to complete “Rushing Waters.” “Shortly after I got elected I knew this wall has been a historic frustration to members of our community,” Rodriguez said during a brief interview on the site of the mural. “While other people have always dreamt about doing something like this it was my passion to get this through and work with Levi to help create an image that would capture the spirit of who we are.” While Rodriguez’s cabinet gathered all the resources necessary, Levi and his team were able to focus solely on the mural. “When it comes to painting Pacoima I tend to paint
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Red Ortiz is an artist in the San Fernando Valley. He is on the team of artists working with Levi Ponce to complete “Rushing Waters.” He is also a barber and has other creative work highlighted on Instagram. @reddortiz
the same motifs. I tend to paint Pacoima. The same neighborhood inspires me,” Ponce said. “This mural is no different. Here, we depict the freeways; Pacoima is surrounded by the 118, 210, 5, 170.” Other LA landmarks that will be in the mural are Hansen Dam, Whiteman Airport and the Sylmar Aqueduct. Ponce commented on the meaning of the name Pacoima, which is rumored to mean “Rushing Waters,” but after speaking to local Fernandeno Tataviam Tribe, he found that wasn’t the case. “Nonetheless, water is a huge theme in this mural,” he said. The artwork is meant to celebrate the Native American Heritage local to Pacoima lands, too. Ponce spoke with Tribal President of the Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, Rudy Ortega Jr., to ensure an accurate representation of the Tataviam woman depicted as its centerpiece. More cultures will be highlighted on the left side of the mural, which features Scorpion grasses and flowers commonly known as “forget-menot flowers,”
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NOVEMBER 20 - 24, 2019
Levi Ponce graduated from CSUN with a degree in 3D animation. He then joined the special effects teams on films like “Interstellar” and was hired by Disney. Throughout his career, he has always had time to paint murals, now dedicating to it full-time. “Rushing Waters” is his latest mural in Pacoima.
which is symbolic of the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in 1915. In this way, Pacoima is shown as a culturally diverse neighborhood. Prior to the mural installation, this area was already frequented by locals. Graffiti artist Gorey Stein, who is on the team of artists working alongside Ponce, said he used to hang out in the area since he was a teenager. “This wall means a lot to me,” he said. Artist Erica Friend is also on the team working on the mural. As a female artist, she recognizes some of the additional struggles female artists have to get through to work on a mural — namely that most people only seem to look for male artists. But being a part of this project has been an opportunity to share her skills as an artist of the community. “Rushing Waters” will be one of the largest artworks in the San Fernando Valley. A project of this scale has not been seen in the San Fernando Valley since Judy F. Baca’s halfa-mile-long mural: The Great Wall of Los Angeles. It was installed in 1978 and it was painted on the walls of the Tujunga Wash stream below ground level, running parallel to Coldwater Canyon Avenue between Oxnard Street and Burbank Boulevard. Baca’s mural
Erica Friend is a muralist in the San Fernando Valley. She is on the team of artists working with Levi Ponce to complete “Rushing Waters.” Photos of her artwork are available on Instagram @insomniart.
captures the history of Los Angeles, and she worked alongside hundreds of local youth and artists to complete it. The current push to beautify the streets with more public art has been more present during Rodriguez’s term. According to a press release statement, apart from allocating funds to the completion of the mural, she has also reserved half a million dollars to be invested into mural art projects across the seventh district. This is a continuation of the efforts Ponce himself envisioned when he began painting. “I wanted the San Fernando Valley to be known for the arts. I set out to create a body of work that will make the difference,” he said. Pacoima is home to more than 20 murals stretched out across Van Nuys Boulevard known as Mural Mile. Eight of these murals were made by Ponce in collaboration with Pacoima and other San Fernando Valley locals. “There’s always been artists in Pacoima. What separated my work from others was that I didn’t paint a single mural, they were a collective body,” he said. The mural is scheduled to be completed and has an opening reception on Nov. 25. Angelenos will be able to admire the completed mural from the window of a Metrolink train. It will be a sight for many coming home as they exit off the 118 freeway, and briefly accompanying those walking along San Fernando Road.
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Protesters on the Chicanx House Lawn of CSUN. as the walkout comes to an end. Photo by Sonia Gurrola.
Students hold up flyers that were passed out by volunteers as they move toward the Federal Building in Downown LA. Photo by Geovanni Botticella.
A student is lifted into the air by his peers during the protests in Downtown LA. Photo by Geovanni Botticella.
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Kelly De Leon, 22, lists the demands of the protest group on the Oviatt Library steps on Nov. 12. Photo by Sonia Gurrola.
Protesters hold a sign that reads “You’re On Tataviam Land”. The group took their signs and chants to the top of the Oviatt Library steps. Photo by Logan Bik.
CITY@CSUN.EDU
STUDENTS UNITE IN SUPPORT OF DACA Across the U.S., students held protests and walkouts as the Supreme Court decides if the program will proceed. By Raychel Stewart, Kimberly Silverio-Bautista, Gillian Moran-Perez and Madison Parsley A Supreme Court hearing that will decide the fate of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals spurred national student walkouts in support of keeping the program, which protects nearly 800,000 undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children. On Nov. 12, walkouts organized by student clubs and immigration organizations from CSUN to Los Angeles gathered crowds of hundreds of protesters who carried signs that read “Abolish ICE” and “Support DACA students.” Protesters at CSUN, led by members of Movimiento Estudiatil Chicanx de Aztlán, Dreams To Be Heard, Central American United Student Association and the Students of Color Coalition, marched through Sierra Hall and Jerome Richfield, disrupting classes and encouraging fellow students and professors to join the movement as they held up signs and chanted “ICE has got to go!” and “The people united will never be divided!” The crowd gathered in front of the Oviatt Library to read a list of demands directed at the administration. “Will CSUN support undocumented students?” said Kelly De Leon, a member of the Students of Color Coalition, to the crowd of supporters. Students chalked up the Oviatt steps with phrases such as “Defund campus police and fund students,” “AB1460” and other statements that represented what they were protesting for. Student protester Ruben Ramos explained that the protest would also voice support for Assembly Bill 1460, the bill to make ethnic studies a requirement on all CSU campuses and oppose a quantitative reasoning requirement that would require students to take four years of math classes which would be a disadvantage to minority communities. Faculty and administrators followed the students around campus, watching the protest from the sidelines. William Watkins, Vice President for Student Affairs, said, “We are proud to be a part of a nationwide effort to bring attention to the desires to retain DACA as a program. The university and administration is clearly in support of that. I think the leadership here and faculty and staff support the existence of the program and we hope that the Supreme Court comes to the right decision.” CSUN Chicana/o studies professor Martha Escobar, while not present at the protest, encouraged the community, especially students, to get involved. She expressed that students protest as a way to create the world they envision and to be treated in a humane and dignified way.
SUNDIAL
NOVEMBER 20 - 24, 2019
“Our students, even if they are not undocumented themselves, have family members who are undocumented and these issues being about DACA, greatly impact them and their ability to just be here,” said Escobar. She explained that it takes a toll on students who are working towards their degree, while also worrying about their loved ones. “How can we expect our students to show up and be ready to learn when they’re concerned about, you know, their parents being on deportation?” she said. Escobar also explained that CSUN and Cal State LA have the highest population of undocumented students. According to CSUN Today, former DREAM Center director Dario Fernández estimates there are about 1,400 undocumented students at CSUN.
“When (I heard) that I couldn’t apply for DACA, I felt uncertain of who I was in this country.” - Roxeli Garcia
An email sent by President Dianne F. Harrison on Nov. 12 stated: “CSUN is committed to educating, supporting and protecting all students regardless of immigration status. We stand in solidarity with DACA-protected students and all other undocumented students.” From the Oviatt, the protesters marched through Bayramian Hall, eventually ending at the Chicanx House where students gathered in a circle and expressed their need for support for undocumented students and recited testimonies. Meanwhile, students from 11 high schools in the Los Angeles area took to the streets of downtown LA along with organizations from USC and UCLA during the DACA walkout demonstration, which was organized by the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. The walkout began on the steps of the Federal Building where students, college alumni and organizers spoke about the importance of DACA and the impact the program had on their lives.
“I rose up so my undocumented voice can be heard!” said Roxeli Garcia, a 16-year-old high school student who arrived in the United States with her parents when she was three months old. “I was three days away from qualifying for DACA. When (I heard) that I couldn’t apply for DACA, I felt uncertain of who I was in this country.” Diana Escamilla, CHIRLA organizer for downtown Los Angeles, said the support from high school students is very important because they are the next generation of voters. “This reminds us that our fight continues,” Escamilla said. “Students in high school that are here today don’t qualify for DACA but if they had it, it would greatly benefit them. They’re our allies.” These protests were in response to the arguments heard by the Supreme Court from three cases that challenge President Trump’s decision to terminate DACA that would leave nearly 800,000 recipients unprotected. In 2017 the Trump administration pushed to end the program, but lower courts ruled that current recipients could renew it until the Supreme Court made their final ruling, according to The New York Times. In 2012, former President Obama established DACA to temporarily protect children brought into the U.S. and receive a work permit that lasted two years but could be renewed. The program does not give legal status to applicants nor a pathway to citizenship, according to CSUN’s EOP DREAM Center. Out of the 3.6 million DREAMers, or undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. before turning 18, only about 800,000 have received DACA status, leaving nearly 2.8 million unprotected. A recent bill passed by Congress in March of this year, named the American Dream and Promise Act (H.R.6), could potentially give over 2 million undocumented immigrants permanent residence in the U.S. and provide temporary humanitarian protection, The Sundial previously reported. If the bill passes, it would be the largest immigration bill since 1986, but it has yet to make it through the Senate. While DREAMers continue to face uncertainty as the Supreme Court weighs in on the decision to end DACA or reinstate the program, Cecily MyartCruz, NEA Vice President of United Teachers Los Angeles, expressed a message of hope and encouragement to the crowd as the LA walkout concluded. “We stand in support of the immigrant youth movement,” said Myart-Cruz. “Now is the chance to stand before the Supreme Court.”
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LATINX21: DIVERSITY IN FILM The first annual Latinx21 film festival dedicates their event to representation in the indie film community. By Deja Magee / Photography by Tim Strong
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On Nov. 16, Latinx21, a Latinx-centric video sharing platform, hosted its first short film festival at the Toolbox LA space in Chatsworth. The festival had 20 honorable mentions, an Audience Choice Award, and the first and second place winning films of the night. According to the festival’s mission statement provided by its founder, Dinah Perez, Latinx21 is named after the 21 Spanish-speaking countries in the Latinx diaspora, and that it “is committed to engendering Latinx pride and expression while encouraging creativity.” Perez created Latinx21 because of the “negative political discourse about immigrants since the 2016 election.” “My parents were immigrants. My mom had a seventh-grade education, and I don’t know what my father had,” Perez explained. “They came here with nothing ... They were uneducated, and they worked their butts off. Because that’s what immigrants do when they come to this country: they come here for a better life. They don’t come here to live off welfare or to be criminals, or to not better their lives, otherwise why leave where they are? Why leave the comfort of their native language and their family? So, I felt it was important to create something that was representative of who we are as the Latinx community.” Perez went on to describe how she started the process of creating the video-sharing platform. “I just thought that the things they were saying about the Latino community is not the Latino community I know,” she said. “And being from LA, we all know someone who is undocumented. So I felt like my community was under attack, and that if you don’t know a Latinx person, you may have an impression of them that is completely erroneous. And what happens when people have the wrong impression of people? Ignorance spreads, and violence starts, and racism starts, and I just thought, 'Well, I want to create a space where the Latinx community can come and shine and feel safe to share who they are and connect with other people.’” IntersectLA, a student-led service brand and
creative strategy agency, helped with designing everything that had to do with Latinx21, both in branding and platform. “IntersectLA is always looking for projects that help our students learn and grow,” Joe Bautista, a faculty member of IntersectLA, said. “The whole purpose is for them to work on these real-world projects and then ultimately graduate with this sense of experience.” According to Bautista, he met Perez through a fellow faculty member who recommended he speak to her. From there, they discussed her plans for a website, and the idea just took off. “The more we learned about the scope, the more we got excited about what it stood for and what it represented,” Bautista said. “It’s a really big challenge for us to build something this big. It’s been about a year in the making, the site is up and running, and we decided that we were going to do a film festival because we can get films and get videos onto the site. What better way to do that than to have our own film fest?” Films that were featured in the film festival were not all Latinx-centric, but were representative of the message of diversity that Perez is preaching. Among the movies that were featured at the festival, three notable movies were “Denim,” “Con Esperanza” and “Ally 3000.” “Denim,” directed by Daryen Ru, starred Jazz Jennings. Jennings became famous after appearing on a “20/20” interview with Barbara Walters as being one of the youngest publiclydocumented people identifying as transgender in 2007. The movie focused on Jennings’ character Micayla getting outed as transgender by a mean girl at her high school. “Con Esperanza,” directed by Kyle Provencio Reingold, was another contender among the 20 honorable mentions because of the content of the story. The film is based on true events, following the story of a young boy who must choose between his aspirations for his and his cousin’s band and fulfilling his mother’s wish for him to go to college. However, one of the great short films to come
out of the festival was “Ally 3000.” Directed by Giovannie Espiritu, the film won the Best Screenplay Writer award at the Culture and Diversity Film Festival of 2019. The film discusses what the perfect ally to a person of color would look like and sound like. According to Espiritu, the short film is based around a tech firm that is coming up with a way to alleviate white guilt. “The question that I had in my head was: What do I need as a woman of color to move forward in the world? What would a perfect ally look like?” Espiritu said. “I need somebody to amplify my thoughts and ideas in a way that will not offend the majority population, and what else could they address.” Espitiru went on to explain a situation in which she was slated to have a certain role, but then it was given away to a white male instead. “He was totally nice and awesome and great,” Espiritu said, “but the fact is that he has so many different opportunities that women of color don’t have.” Although the Latinx21 film festival only just had its debut and is still small in size, Perez believes it will grow in the coming years. For her, Latinx21 is about not only creating a community, but also bringing communities together to share their culture with the world. “Latinx21 is a place where I can connect with people from Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina and Mexico and we can learn about each other,” Perez said. “Learn what makes us different. Learn what makes us interesting and maybe bond by sharing those experiences because there are strengths in numbers. That was one of the other things that really got me going: How do I unite all of these people from the 21 Spanishspeaking countries who share a common language but may have very different underlying experiences? That really motivated me. And I also hope that there are other people out there that aren’t Latinx who want to learn about us. Latinx21 is for anybody who wants to support the Latinx community.”
Joe Bautista, the head of IntersectLA, focuses on branding and creative strategy for Latinx21.
Dinah Perez, the founder and CEO of Latinx21. The Latinx21 website is a bilingual platform for Latinx people to view and share online media.
Filmmaker Giovannie Espiritu received an Official Selection by Latinx21 for her film "Ally 3000."
CITY@CSUN.EDU
COMMUNITY VOICES
CAMPUS ORGANIZATION GIVES STUDENT DIRECTION How finding a sense of belonging can help open doors to the future. Andy Escobar, academic chair of Hermanos Unidos
When I first came to CSUN as a freshman, I felt lost and isolated. As a first-generation MexicanAmerican, going to college was something new to me. I didn’t have a role model or anyone to look up to or follow as an example. Every day, I would go to class, then straight to my dorm after, which people would assume is normal since CSUN is considered a commuter school. But that is the worst thing a firstgeneration student could do. I didn’t
have much exposure to the school, and knew so little about what was available to me. Throughout my first year, I felt distant and not a part of CSUN at all. I started experiencing feelings of impostor syndrome, like I simply didn’t belong in this school. I didn’t want to keep feeling like this, so I finally chose to do something about it. During my second year, I started looking for clubs to join. I knew with time, at least one would stand out. It wasn’t until my third year that I found Hermanos Unidos. Hermanos Unidos is a non-profit organization on campus that strives to empower young Latino men to graduate and seek higher education. There are three pillars in the organization: academics, social and community service. Through this organization, I have learned leadership skills, improved my public-speaking skills and have formed great friendships. The organization and its Hermanos help CSUN by supporting events such as Matador Day of Service and Dia de la Familia. Through
these workshops, I have learned to love and help others. By joining the club and participating in good deeds for others, I found what I wanted to do as my career, so I declared a major in sociology. Throughout my time in Hermanos Unidos, I eventually took up a board position as academic chair, which has led me to grow a lot as a person. I found role models that guided me to be a successful college student. I finally began to feel like a part of the CSUN community. This isn’t an advertisement telling you to join Hermanos Unidos, but me simply giving advice to readers to get involved. Find that club, organization, fraternity or sorority that will make you feel like you belong. They can provide many resources and help you grow as a person. Hermanos has come a long way for me and now, as a spring 2020 graduation candidate, I can honestly say that I will miss it. I would like for everyone to find that place where you feel you belong, like I found mine. The sooner you find one, the better.
Photo courtesy of Andy Escobar
HELPING FIRST-GENERATION LATINX STUDENTS Lack of campus inclusivity can result in a tough college experience. Yessenia Perdomo, a member of Latinas Rising
Being a first-generation college student, I feel an enormous amount of mixed emotions. There are days when I feel lonely and out of place, days when I feel determined, and other days when I feel as though I couldn’t care less about anything. I, along with several other LatinX students, struggle with homesickness. Being away from our families for such a long time and moving into an environment where we are required to be independent is extremely difficult. We are no longer reminded of the old days, like those Saturday mornings we’d wake up listening to music and clean the house, or when we had a rough day and needed someone to talk to. We no longer have these foundations to
exert from. It’s sort of like we’re expected to just deal with it and move on. Only once at CSUN did I feel welcomed and embraced. It was a breezy, lonely Friday on campus, and there was an interactive club giving free hugs near the Oviatt Library. I usually walked passed the library to get to class, but that day I was approached by a young club member. I was so surprised when she walked up and gave me a hug. She opened up with ease and I knew I needed a hug that day. It was the first time I had ever felt a sense of inclusiveness here at CSUN. The campus staff here has failed to provide students with spirit. Although we are all here for an education, we also want/need a sense of
belonging and cheerfulness. An inclusive environment can result in students feeling optimistic throughout their day. Without it, several students will continue to dislike attending CSUN.
Illustration by Joelena Despard
SUNDIAL NOVEMBER 20 - 24, 2019
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COMMUNITY VOICES
THE ATTACK ON ETHNIC STUDIES A response to the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.
Raven Freebird, member of Students of Color Coalition (SCC) Martin Luther King Jr. once said: “Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.” We all have the right to critique; it could be seen as trying to uplift a certain position out of darkness, or to keep the position from lowering itself to its former state. It is fair to also question the experience and validity of a person when they critique something they may not have a full understanding of. Before we dive in, we need to ask: What is ethnic studies? Dr. Theresa Montaño, a professor in Chicana/o studies at CSUN, defines it
as an “interdisciplinary study of racialized communities of color emphasizing their social, historical, political, economic and cultural stories and their contemporary experiences in the US.” To summarize, it is a version of history taken for granted by the mainstream population. Ethnic studies allow healthy dialogue to be had with a space that would not ordinarily have these types of experiences. I use the analogy, “just because you have not seen a million dollars, does not mean a million dollars does not exist” to express the idea of universal knowledge over experience. Most Americans are taught that a million dollars exists, it just may be that you have never witnessed it yourself. I will
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also mention that it is widely accepted by people who have not seen a million dollars that a million dollars exists because we have the many experiences of people who have had a million dollars, we even can go as far as to say over time we can look over the data of the many people over time who has had a million dollars.
Illustration by Joelena Despard
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WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CENTRAL AMERICAN A reflection on Central American identity.
Michael Meneses, co-President of Central American United Students Association and Vice President of Dreams To Be Heard In recent times, the Central American community has faced a negative spotlight on an international scale. Central America is receiving more than just the United States government’s attention, but its citizens as well, on a scale that has not been seen since the 1980s during the region’s various revolutions and civil wars. Despite the seemingly-new controversial discussions surrounding it, Central America is not new to negative attention. During the Reagan administration, Central America was shown as America’s next fight to stop the spread of communism. American media painted the isthmus as a fragile region whose fragmented government systems are in danger of being overrun by communist rebels. The United States’ military support of the armies of Guatemala and El Salvador and its training of the Contras at the School of the Americas in Georgia was seen as a noble effort, helping locals protect their honest ways of life and prevent the total collapse of society while defending “America’s backyard” from a “Soviet invasion.” While the United States government was set on protecting its overseas interests, it failed to realize the long-term effects of their actions, which would forever leave its mark on the people of Central America. United States interference in the Northern Triangle (Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras) led to an international diaspora that continues today, with millions having been — and still being — displaced from their homelands to escape violence, poverty and political turmoil. A majority of these refugees arrived in the United States, with Los Angeles being one of the most popular destinations for new arrivals. Now, Central American enclaves can be found throughout the city. MacArthur Park is known unofficially as “Little Central America,” and Pico Union is home to the El Salvador Community Corridor. In the San Fernando Valley, neighborhoods such as Pacoima, Van Nuys, North Hollywood and Canoga Park are home to thriving Central American communities. Despite their growing presence, Central Americans today are still struggling to find and nurture their identities in a Mexicandominated, Latinx society where they are just starting to gain visibility. The trauma experienced by war and migration leaves many of those of the diaspora hesitant to tell their stories. Cultural and
social disconnect between the diaspora’s two affected generations — those who fled and those whose parents fled and were born in their new homes — further drives this hesitation, and first-generation Americans are often left on their own to discover their roots and their place in the complex Central American story. But what does it mean to be Central American? Does it mean to praise our home countries with blind respect? Does it mean to criticize our home countries, their leadership and this country that supplied the wars? Is it to acknowledge indigeneity and reject colonizer culture? Support revolutionaries or the military? Migrate north for work and send remesas, or remission payments, to family back home? Wake up every morning to a breakfast of huevos volteados, casamiento and queso fresco? Is it to speak Spanish with the accent of the campesinx, or to be fluent in a Mayan dialect? Is it keeping a small sculpture of Tikal’s temples in the living room and hanging a Mayan calendar in the bedroom? Is being Central American leaving your past behind and assimilating to your new home and new identity? I don’t know. What I do know is that my mother was a student and my father was a soldier. I know that my mother heard the death squad’s trucks drive through her hometown every night and prayed alongside my grandmother that my uncle wouldn’t be taken by the military. I know that my father once ran out of his barracks in just his underwear, fleeing an ambush by the FMLN, and was one of just three of his platoon’s survivors. I know that my mother’s brother had to change debate topics at school to avoid attracting the government’s attention. I know that by my age, my father had left his country with bullet fragments big enough to still be seen in his hand today, lived in Mexico for a short period of time and migrated to Los Angeles alongside his sisters. I know that my mother was in college, studying to become an accountant. I know that my father is American, but on occasion Salvadoran. I know that my mother cut her hair short soon after arriving because she was worried about looking like a chola. I know that before my father learned English he never wore a watch because he wouldn’t be able to tell someone the time. I know that my parents met during a bible study at my aunt’s house, which my father had never planned on attending. I know that my mother’s Tap
Card is her key to the city, and if she calls my father can navigate to wherever she is without a map. I know that my parents speak in Spanish and my youngest brother replies in English. I know that I played Call of Duty with headphones on growing up because I didn’t want to trigger my father’s PTSD. I know that when I played Hielo Ardiente out loud for the first time, my father’s face lit up as he began to tell me about his teenage years. I know that I was one of a handful of Central Americans in my middle and high schools and was usually labeled “Mexican.” I know El Carrusel in Van Nuys has some of the best Pupusas in the Valley, but my favorite spot is Mis Raices in Reseda. I know that my speech is peppered with Chicano slang and coated with a Central American accent. I know I can rap alongside Gang Starr and Ice Cube and dance to Hermanos Flores like nobody’s watching. I know the Colón and Quetzal bills in my wallet are more valuable than my debit card. I know that every month I send money to my uncle in Guatemala from the same place my mother has been sending from since my childhood. I know I am not Salvadoran, not Guatemalan, but Central American. I know I am not fully Criollo nor fully indigenous. I know that I am a product of a diaspora and the results of U.S. imperialism. I know that my documentation and education is a privilege and my voice speaks for many. I know that the Central America I visited two years ago is not my parents’ Central America. I know that my community is struggling not to keep surviving but to start thriving. I know that el agua no se vende, se cuida y se defiende and el pueblo unido jamás sera vencido. Central America’s history is a long, painful and beautiful one. It is the modern-day genocide of an indigenous population and their national government recognition. It is the story of neighbors, siblings and loved ones taking arms against each other and the establishment of a transnational community. It is a struggle for indigenous, afroLatinx, workers, and women’s rights and the international effort to stop it. It is working-class revolution and government oppression. It is two generations separated by war and geography and their attempts to define themselves. Being Central American is being ni de aqui ni de alla. It is having one foot in each room and figuring out your next step. It is not knowing how to explain it when you haven’t even figured it out for yourself.
Illustration by Joelena Despard
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SPECIAL TO THE SUNDIAL
Neighborhood
local food guide
Feeling hungry? Get your grub on with these local eateries.
Halal House
Presto Pasta
9514 Reseda Blvd., Northridge, CA 91324
17923 Chatsworth St. Granada Hills, CA 91344
Halal House is one of Northridge’s newest eateries. It’s only been open a little over a month, but it’s already become a hit spot for college students on a budget looking for a variety of flavors. The menu includes foods from many different parts of the world. They combined the original Greek concept with sauces that come from India and Pakistan, Afghan-style rice made with various spices, and food from all over the Middle East. You can even order US-inspired Crispy chicken sandwiches and House burgers. Owner Omar Kabir says, “there are less than 10 halal options in the San Fernando Valley. A restaurant being certified Halal assures me that animals are treated ethically and humanely. Being someone that follows a Halal diet, I’m excited to provide popular options to people like me who either miss or struggle to find popular foods that are halal in the area. I’m excited to see all of the young minds coming up with different and creative ideas, and believe that Northridge will soon cement itself as a Mecca of the foodie movement in LA.” One of Halal House’s best features is the option to build your own plate with a number of delicious choices. Each order is made according to the customers’ liking with different proteins, toppings and other delicious sauces. "The build your own plate allows everyone to bring out their inner artist and create their own masterpiece,” says Omar. Having family members who are CSUN Alumni and staff, Halal House is open to supporting and collaborating with all student organizations with their initiatives. They are passionate about providing a sense of community and feel that food is the best way to bring people together. Make sure you bring your appetite and get a taste of home on the go! Instagram: @halalhousela | Facebook: @halalhousela
We’re honored. Since 1948, we’ve been committed to making great-tasting, made-to-order burgers, fries, and shakes for our guests. It’s all part of our dedication to quality, freshness, and service. Thanks for thinking so highly of us. We look forward to serving you again. For location information, call us at (800) 786-1000 or visit In-N-Out.com
In-N-Out.com
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©2019 In-N-Out Burgers
Presto Pasta proudly supports CSUN Sports Teams and the surrounding community. You'll see Presto Pasta's on-campus presence in the Matadome and on the sports fields. With our close proximity to CSUN and college-conscious budgets, experience real low prices and Real Italian cuisine! Daily News Readers voted Presto Pasta, BEST Italian Cuisine for the 6th consecutive year, 2014 through 2019! Presto Pasta introduced what has become a popular addition to our menu—Zoodles! Hand-spiraled, Fresh Zucchini Noodles! Gluten-free, Low-carb, and Keto Friendly! Presto Pasta in Granada Hills is known for its college student budget affordability, extensive menu,and the family-owned personalized attention. Our "fast-casual" concept refuses to compromise the flavor and quality of a sit-down restaurant, due to locally-sourced fresh ingredients prepared daily in our Scratch Kitchen. Presto Pasta's Signature Dish is Chicken Piccata. Sautéed chicken breasts in a lemon white wine butter sauce with capers, served with fettuccine alfredo. Salad or veggies may be substituted for pasta too! Presto Pasta restaurants are community-oriented and philanthropic, having held fundraisers for nonprofits and schools for over 20 years. Presto Pasta Granada Hills, near the CSUN campus, on the corner of Chatsworth and Zelzah. Order Online at PrestoPasta.com!