Wednesday, November 2, 2016

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The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

Wednesday November 2, 2016

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Film talks global shift

Volume 100 Issue 33 INSTAGRAM & TWITTER @THEDAILYTITAN

Prevailing gender gap

‘Before the Flood’ explores climate change crisis. KALEB STEWART Daily Titan “Before the Flood” does everything in its power to convince non-believers that climate change is a very real issue and that immediate action is necessary in order to reverse the effects. The film is very similar in its message and execution as Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” just with the star power of Leonardo DiCaprio and more sensational editing to keep potentially wandering minds locked into the subject matter. It is manipulative and frequently self-congratulatory, but the message it delivers is so important that in this particular case, some of the discrepancies in terms of editing style are forgivable. It may not be a great documentary in its execution, but it does not have to be.

NATALIE GOLDSTEIN / DAILY TITAN

A study done by the Office Institutional Research and Analytical Studies showed the disparity between male and female students in the College of Engineering and Computer Science based on the fall 2016 undergraduate admissions numbers.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science has a largely disproportionate representation of female-to-male students. ASHLYN RAMIREZ Daily Titan

SEE FLOOD 5

While there has been a massive outreach to increase admissions to all STEM majors on the Cal State Fullerton campus, there are still not nearly as many females as males in the College of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS). This phemonmenon is not

only felt on CSUF’s campus but across the nation. According to a study done by U.S. News/Raytheon STEM Index, the gender gap in STEM related employment and education is consistently wide in all states. The gender gap in the CSUF college is significant

and while the rate of women in the field has increased by 3.5 percent over the past five years, it has barely dented the male-dominated area, according to data from CSUF’s office of Institutional Research and Analytical Studies. SEE GAP

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Dia de los Muertos brings festivity

Cal State Fullerton celebrates the Day of the Dead. SARAH WOLSTONCROFT Daily Titan

Freshman electrical engineering major Alexis Barillas held back his tears and put on a brave smile to honor his cousin who died last May, by creating an altar memorial during Tuesday’s Dia de los Muertos event. “In the picture (displayed on the altar), he looks very alive and happy, like he’s here,” Barillas said. Among pictures of his cousin and grandfather, the items on the altar included some of his cousin’s favorite things such as various fruits, a Corona bottle and a t-shirt for the band El Haragan, who Barillas and his cousin enjoyed listening to together. “We went to a lot of shows together. I’ve been going to shows since I was six, and he would always be there with us. He would take care of me. We would always dance,” Barillas said. SEE MUERTOS

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GRETCHEN DAVEY / DAILY TITAN

The Movimiento Estudiantil Chican@ de Aztlan club (MEChA) hosted a Dia de los Muertos event Tuesday where dance groups such as Ballet Folklorico de CSUF (above) and Danza Azteca performed at the 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. event. The event had face painting, and cultural items such as sugar skulls were for sale in the central Quad.

Field regulations debated at meeting

News

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Public comments bring up use of Fullerton fields. Council approved to review the issue with Parks and Recreation.

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‘Twin Peaks’ novel will entice loyal fans

A&E

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Mark Frost brings viewers of the cult classic television series enticing new content, but will bewilder new readers.

Aleppo needs more than condolensces

Opinion

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American isolationism is the cause of the opposition that citizens have toward allowing refugees in the country. VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM


NEWS

PAGE 2 NOVEMBER 2, 2016 WEDNESDAY

Public debates field policies

Fullerton City Council passes soccer issue to Parks and Recreation. SULEYMI RECINOS Daily Titan

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youth soccer teams. The OCCYSL has made attempts to appeal the fees but hasn’t been successful. “We went through the whole appeal process with them and they did not favor on our side because the league has 1,200 kids. Out of those 1,200, 400 are from Fullerton and we only have one field for one day, one field on Sundays,” Sigaran said. “The city of Placentia has 100 kids that play in this league and they give us three fields and they only charge us $12 dollars an hour.” Other things the OCCYSL has requested are for the lights to be on when children are practicing on the field. “We were at the community center one night … That’s when I noticed the kids carrying the field goals and putting it on the truck … and carrying it across the street when it was already dark,” Vazquez said. “I know they have been carrying lights before to light up the field.” Although safety was mentioned as a concern, the main point the OCCYSL and Fullerton residents were making to the Fullerton City Council is to have field access be more affordable. The council voted four to one to send the issue over to the Parks and Recreation Department to review the policy.

Gap: Engineering is male-dominated CONTINUED FROM

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For fall 2016 undergraduate admissions, 203 Hispanic, 60 international, 63 Caucasian, 24 multiracial, less than 10 African American and 153 Asian females entered into the College of Engineering and Computer Science. In comparison, there were 1075 Hispanic, 583 Caucasian, 102 multiracial, 45 African American, 488 international and 785 Asian males admitted at the same time. Fall 2013’s transfer students to the college only saw slightly above 7 percent for females, while males were 92.9 percent of admissions. Sharda Hebbalkar, a thirdyear mechanical engineering major and chemistry minor, is the only female in the Titan Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Club, an organization she is actively involved with. Hebbalkar works on the analysis of plane wings, testing to see what the maximum carrying load is. Through equations, she tests the stress and strain on different wings. Hebbalkar said the female-tomale ratio in her college is massive, to the point that she often ends up being one of two women in an entire lecture hall. Hebbalkar said she feels like one of the few females in her large lecture classes, speculating the ratio may be two to 40 at times. Hebbalkar said while the experience she is getting from the engineering college is intimidating, it’s also really “cool.” For her, it’s essentially about girl power. Rubi Raymundo, a second-year mechanical engineering major, has the same sentiments as Hebbalkar. Raymundo, who also felt intimidated going into mechanical engineering, said that “it’s weird, but little by little you get used to it.” Both women jumped into the field because it interested them. Hebbalkar’s father and sister are both engineers, which also had an influence on her choice of major. Raymundo said that if the

College of ECS wants more women, they need to put more effort out there. Fall 2016 admission saw an influx of 3,720 undergraduate students into the college, with 86 percent of the students being male and 14 percent being female. In 2015, 3,455 students entered the College of ECS with 86.7 percent male and 13.3 percent female admission. 2014 had a 12.9 percent female to 87.1 percent male undergraduate ratio entering the college. When looking at the data over a five-year period, the number of women who enter the school has risen, but still remains under 20 percent, currently making the

You’ve got these male-dominated professions, and it’s completely unnecessary. Females have just as much to offer.

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Last night the Fullerton City Council addressed concerns from the Orange County Community Youth Soccer League and local residents about the affordability and access to fields for youth soccer teams. Some Fullerton residents are upset with the process the city currently has in place to give the teams access to the fields. The Youth Sports Policy was established in 1977 and was last amended in 2010. This policy is what allows priority status for the youth soccer teams to utilize the fields for games and practices. “It’s not an issue about taxpayers, it’s an issue about equitable policies and access to our park space, and that’s something that our kids need,” said Jeanette Vazquez, Fullerton resident and elementary school teacher. Some concerns shared by Jorge Sigaran, head coach of the Blue Stars futbol club, and other Fullerton residents was the need for renovations on Richman School’s field. “I’m here to speak to get

better fields, not the pile of dust at Richmond School and not the dark side of Richmond,” Sigaran said referring to the need of Richmond School requiring renovations. The Orange County Community Youth Soccer League (OCCYSL) asks that the fees for the use of the fields be lowered from the current rate of $22 an hour. “It’s working for them, It’s not working for us. These are financially challenged families, 400 of them,” Sigaran said, referring to the 400 Fullerton children on teams within the OCCYSL. The current policy for teams to use the fields deals with four main group criteria. To have access to the field, a group must use it for recreation-based play, must be affiliated with a state or national sports governing body, must be a Fullerton-based nonprofit organization or 80 percent of the team must be made up of Fullerton residents. The city must first give priority to the local nonprofit, non-competitive Fullerton recreation-based groups, according to the policy. After those groups are given priority, others that want to use the field pay different levels of fees. A background check is also required of all the coaches and volunteers that are part of the

BRENT FOSTER Interim director for the Office of Undergraduate Studies and General Education college over 80 percent male. Both Hebbakalar and Raymundo said that in their college careers, they have almost never come across any women professors in the College of ECS. Hebbakalar said she feels that while she has no problems being in a male-dominated field, she still sometimes can come across some individuals who refuse to see alternate perspectives. “If you’re trying to prove your techniques, it’s harder to convince them I guess,” Hebbakalar said. Other factors that could be holding women back include work and family but it’s not to say that there’s a lack of interest in STEM majors. “Here’s the bottom line. You’ve got these male-dominated professions, and it’s completely unnecessary. Females have just as much to offer,” said Brent Foster, interim director for the Office of Undergraduate Studies

and General Education. Foster said it’s about debunking myths that STEM majors are only for men. “Quite frankly, (for) the female student that can overcome all of these obstacles and barriers, the sky is truly the limit,” Foster said. Hebbakalar agrees that women might have the misconception that working in engineering requires hefty labor and strictly building. “I think that’s what it is. You just go into the machine shop and then just make the parts for the car and whatever, but it’s really not that. I’m just sitting on the computer designing it, designing the parts, and that’s fun,” Hebbakalar said. Sang June Oh, Ph.D., interim associate dean for the College of Engineering and Computer Science, said that perception is a key factor in why the field is still male-dominated. Oh wrote in an email that the U.S. government and CSUF is putting strong efforts to promote STEM education to underrepresented groups, especially for women who are part of underrepresented minority groups. As for what’s currently being done to improve the gap and encourage women to partake in engineering majors, there have been efforts by the College of ECS to get women more involved. For example, organizations such as Women in Computing and Engineering, Society of Women Engineers and the Association for Computing Machinery-Women are all student organizations geared toward ensuring that women become involved in STEM. Raymundo and Hebbakalar also said that exposing girls at a young age to STEM majors through more efforts like the collaboration between the Girl Scouts of Orange County and CSUF on Oct. 30 are what will help the future of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “It’s not all just manufacturing, there’s so (many) options you can do with engineering,” Raymundo said about the lack of females in the college. “You don’t have to limit yourself ... That shouldn’t hold you back.”

DTBRIEFS Pre-Election voting hits record highs Early voting numbers this election season rose in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and has broken pre-election voting number records from 2012 in Los Angeles County, according to The Orange County Register. “We are encouraged by the turnout at the early voting locations and appreciate the patience and participation of Los Angeles County voters,” said Dean Logan, Registrar-Recorder and LA County clerk, in a news release. Voting-by-mail has increased by 2.68 percent in Orange County compared to 2012, with more than 261,000 ballots sent in as of Monday, Oct. 31. Republicans constituted 40 percent of the ballots returned, while Democrats made up 32 percent. More than 18 million people are registered to vote in California this election season. - SARAH WOLSTONCROFT

Young Kim’s campaign office looted Assemblywoman Young Kim’s Buena Park campaign office was broken into over the weekend, with thieves stealing 30 tablets and a laptop computer, according to CBS Los Angeles. Kim’s staff realized a break-in had occurred when they arrived to the campaign office, located on the fourth floor of the building Sunday. “Somebody had to know that that office was up there and had to specifically target it,” said Dave Gilliard. “It wasn’t somebody walking down the street.” The stolen electronics were worth about $10,000. Kim addressed the incident in a letter where she prompted supporters to donate to her campaign and insisted that she “will not be deterred by these dirty tactics.” - SARAH WOLSTONCROFT

Protest fundraiser exceeds goal A fundraiser meant to aid the protesters of the North Dakota Oil Pipeline far surpassed its initial goal of $5,000, according to CBS news. The Washington Times reported that the Sacred Stone camp collected $1.3 million, while its legal defense fund collected $1.2 million. Another camp also collected $142,000. The money funded is being used for the needs of protesters, but North Dakota Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley said the money was being used for an ongoing criminal enterprise. The donations have become more frequent as more protesters are arrested, with over 400 people arrested so far. - ASHLYN RAMIREZ

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NEWS

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GRETCHEN DAVEY / DAILY TITAN

Festivities such as dance performances and face painting were a part of the all-day Dia de los Muertos event. Dia de los Muertos translates to Day of the Dead in English as the holiday is a two-day celebration of loved ones who have died. Altars and crosses are used to honor individuals and were a part of the CSUF event.

Muertos: Lost loved ones remembered CONTINUED FROM

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“The night that he passed, was the night that we went to see this band, and he told us he was going to meet us there. So I guess he met us there in a different way. It was special,” Barillas said. Other items on the altar were intended to fight fear in the face of death and to guide deceased loved ones on their journey as they travel between our realm and the spirit realm. Water is included to help them back on their path to the holy land, salt to purify their souls and candles to light their way, Barillas said. “The significance of (the sugar skulls) is you eat it and it’s sweet because life is sweet and you’re laughing at death because death is seen as bitter. You’re telling death, ‘I’m not scared of you, I’m not going to be bitter,’” Barillas said. “That’s kind of the theme for today, be happy. The mourning is over for now, and for now we’re just enjoying it.” The event, which lasted from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., was coordinated by the Movimiento Estudiantil Chican@ de Aztlán club (MEChA), which translates to a student movement of Chicanos from Aztlan. MEChA was unable to hold

the event last year due to a lack of funding and membership. However, this year they became recognized by the CSUF Intercultural Awareness Organization (ICA), who provided them with the funding to carry out the event. They also increased membership from three to 25 active members, said Leslie Molina, a fifth-year human services major, financial director of MEChA and one of the coordinators for the event. “For Mexican culture, this is a day of remembrance,” Molina said. “We want to bring it on to campus and educate others who are not aware of what our event is because sometimes it’s confused as a Mexican Halloween- and it’s upsetting because it’s not a Mexican Halloween, it’s a culture. It’s an event that you provide your culture to remember your loved ones who passed away.” In addition to altar displays, the event featured a face painting station, an area to paint sugar skulls, a photo booth and a display of crosses commemorating undocumented individuals, females from Juarez, minority victims of police brutality and members of the LGBTQ community who lost their lives. “The whole idea of face painting is representing death

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but not so much fearing it. It’s more about embracing it because it’s part of our life cycle. You’re taking in that it’s okay to die,” Molina said. Performers also brought attention to the Quad, highlighting the talents of dance groups Ballet Folklorico de CSUF, Danza Azteca and the inclusion of a spoken word. Vendors were also present, selling cultural clothing, dream catchers, incense, ceramic sugar skulls, bracelets, earrings, posters and even hand sculpted paper mache dolls, which take four to five days to create. Over 100 students walked through the displays in the first hour to view the handmade items with the sugar skulls being the most popular, said vendor Marco Galicia. Molina said that Nov. 1 is the Dia de los Muertos day dedicated to children who have died, while Nov. 2 is dedicated to the adults. An event to celebrate the second day of Dia de los Muertos will be held in the Quad in front of Humanities from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. “It’s not a stop right here, it’s a continuation. You can move forward from this, and it’s something to embrace and that’s what this day is dedicated to- embracing our loved ones,” Molina said.

GRETCHEN DAVEY/ DAILY TITAN

Alexis Barillas, a CSUF student, made an altar for his cousin who died earlier this year. The candles, salt and water are a part of a traditional Dia de los Muertos altar.

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A&E

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90s TV show spinoff satisfies fans “The Secret History of Twin Peaks” will scratch a familiar itch. KALEB STEWART Daily Titan There are many ways to describe “The Secret History of Twin Peaks,” a novel based in the same world as the David Lynch and Mark Frost series “Twin Peaks” from the early 1990s. It is a really nifty piece of grade-A fan service, giving fans more of what they love with little touches of the unexpected. However, it fails to offer a good hook for those just getting into the series. Frost penned the novel with all of the strange detours and loopy narrative one would expect from anything with the “Twin Peaks” name on the cover. He doesn’t let the supernatural and earthbound mysteries become overcooked as he reveals just enough new information to be a worthy addition to fans. Newcomers will likely blink in confusion before running to their Netflix accounts to witness firsthand what is missing. What is most interesting about “The Secret History” is the unusual formatting, which Frost goes about divulging the fictitious town’s history. He sprinkles in sections during real world conspiracy theories and American history into the mix, featuring figures as varied as Lewis and Clark, President Richard Nixon and L. Ron Hubbard. Since the novel is structured like a dossier, complete with notes from a fictional FBI investigator who fact checks and voices concerns throughout, readers expecting to find a more structured mystery will find themselves disappointed. The main overarching question of the novel is: Who wrote the dossier chronicling the history of the small town of Twin Peaks and why? This leaves readers with many false leads and tangents involving subjects

ranging from UFO investigations to the origins of Scientology. While many of these elements may seem random to even the most passionate of fans, the ways in which they all tie together at the end is both satisfying and true to the show’s legacy. Nothing here spoils the mysteries of the TV show but rather deepens them. The rather loopy dossier format allows Frost to introduce many accounts written directly from the show’s characters, giving fans a little taste of the characters they had been separated from for so long. The best of these sections is an excerpt from a document written by agent Dale Cooper, the leading man of the original series, as he digs deep into the personal dramas which surround him during his time at Twin Peaks. While the narrative of the “Twin Peaks” television series primarily focused on the murder of a teenage girl named Laura Palmer and the subsequent investigation, the novel is far more ambitious in terms of its scope. Character insights and histories previously untouched will no doubt excite fans as they ponder what threads are bound to lead to the upcoming Showtime revival season next year. However, certain key elements that make the TV show so special are absent due to the change in format. Primarily, the haunting Angelo Badalamenti soundtrack that made every frame on screen feel as though it were haunted isn’t there to elevate the creep factor. Needless to say, it is lacking some of the nightmarish qualities found in the show’s best episodes. Reading stories about individuals becoming abducted by entities of unknown origins and forever being changed for no concrete purpose is sure to give some the willies. However, it is just a stroll in the park for those who had braved through “Twin Peaks” in its original format.

KALEB STEWART/ DAILY TITAN

Those familiar with the 90s cult show “Twin Peaks” will find a tremendous amount of value in the mysterious novel “The Secret History of Twin Peaks.” It promises a deeper look into the lore of a beloved classic with its unique presentation but may baffle newcomers.

It is exciting to see that Frost is not satisfied as a writer who merely falls back on nostalgia, which is good news for those looking forward to the new episodes coming next year. Considering that no one outside of the show’s sizable cult will likely purchase a copy, it hardly seems like an effective advertisement. In many

respects, it can be likened to preaching to the choir. The novel’s ending, which includes the reveal of the dossier’s author and the name of the FBI agent investigating it, is like a cup of hot coffee at Twin Peak’s Double R Diner. While the haunting musical score and Lynchian cinematography isn’t there to bring the material to the

same drowsily frightening peaks as “Twin Peaks,” the presentation is immensely clever and hardly feels like a cash-in. While its audience is very specific, for fans and fans only, this is not to be held against it. “Twin Peaks” belongs on television, but both the feature film “Fire Walk With Me” and this new novel offer fine

supplements. “The Secret History of Twin Peaks” is a very smart book in both its writing and execution, and fans will eat it up like a delicious piece of cherry pie. In terms of piquing interest for what is to come, it is brilliant. It isn’t for everyone, but then again, neither was “Twin Peaks” the television series It is damn fine fan service.

‘Pride & Prejudice’ set to impress

Cal State Fullerton’s Theatre tackles an American classic. PRISCILLA BUI Daily Titan

Lovers of Jane Austen and theater will definitely have something to look forward to once “Pride and Prejudice” makes its debut this week. Although Cal State Fullerton’s production promises a rejuvenating take on the classic, the story will remain the same. The ever-independent Elizabeth Bennet does not consider finding a husband very high on her list of priorities, but coping with the social pressure to marry is difficult when dealing with a demanding mother and a herd of men unsuited to her tastes. When Bennet and Mr. Darcy inevitably meet, the two characters are bound to clash with the severe differences in their personalities and their social upbringing. The question remains on whether or not Bennet will allow her initial bad impression of Darcy to influence all of her subsequent interactions with him despite his increasing attraction towards her. Jon Jory, who adapted the play from the book of the same title, has been directly involved in plays such as “Crimes of the Heart” by Beth Henley, “Dinner with FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @THEDAILYTITAN

COURTESY OF JORDAN KUBAT

Kelly Rosales (left) and Casey Bowen (right) will share their interpretations of Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy in CSUF’s production of “Pride and Prejudice,” opening Friday at the Young Theatre.

Friends” by Donald Margulies and “The Gin Games” by Donald L. Colburn. With the many successes Jory had under his belt, he was eventually immortalized in the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 2000. The leads, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, will be played by Kelly Rosales and Casey Bowen, respectively. The

duo will be accompanied by a multitude of CSUF theatre students for the production as well as a small ensemble The whole production will be directed by Mark Ramont, a professor of directing at CSUF, who has worked on other campus plays such as “Loose Ends,” “Don’t Dress for Dinner” and “The Night Thoreau

Spent in Jail.” “Pride and Prejudice” will premiere Friday in the Young Theatre at the Clayes Performing Art Center and will run until Nov. 20. The production will have 8 p.m. showings until it ends, as well as 2 p.m. showings on varied dates. Tickets are $12 for Titan students and $14 for general admission. VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM/AE


A&E

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Netflix original is a societal thinkpiece

Series presents viewers with difficult moral quandries. JAYNA GAVIERES Daily Titan

In 2015, Netflix green-lit the production of more episodes for the British sci-fi series “Black Mirror.” On Oct. 21, after a three-year hiatus, fans of this anthology series were finally grace with a third season that included six new episodes all in the hands of our binge obsession. Satirical screenwriter and “Black Mirror” creator Charlie Brooker gave us another season portraying the frightening impact that technology has on society. It’s a dark sci-fi thriller that tells multiple stories of the vast possibilities of technology that are both astounding and horrifying. Think of the film “Ex Machina” but in a short episodic format with even more creative ideas. Season three opens up with “Nosedive” co-written by Rashida Jones and Michael Schur and starring Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World” and “The Help”). The episode is visually striking with its pastel colors and prevalent use of the color white. “Nosedive” shows the effects of social media and how people can become dependent on how many “likes” one receives. Every social encounter is ranked, and that ranking determines each person’s overall status that contributes to their likeability in the

community. The less likes one person has, the fewer people want to engage with him or her and vice versa. All in all, this episode ignites skepticism in the credibility of influence that “InstaTwitter- and Vine- famous” people have. “Playtest” is, without a doubt, the most frightening episode on a more immediate and external level. Cooper, played by Wyatt Russell (“22 Jump Street”), is an American tourist who decides to participate in a test phase of a videogame concept to score some extra cash while abroad. The game Cooper is testing is supposed to tap into the player’s deepest fears, essentially augmenting the reality of the game. “Playtest” shows the idea that videogames can become so much a part of one’s life that it becomes hard to decipher what’s real and what is not. It shows the terrifying potential that upcoming virtual reality may have on its most interested victims. The season’s third episode “Shut Up and Drive” could be the darkest episode of the season in regards to the power of the secrets behind technology and what they can do to people. A seemingly innocent teenager, who partakes in what was supposed to be a private sexual act, is secretly recorded through his webcam and is blackmailed into doing illegal things just to keep his secret hidden. But who are the people blackmailing him? The answer doesn’t matter because those

people represent the faceless beings online that relish in the sufferings of others. Unfortunately, they are out there. Despite the fact that the characters in “San Junipero” develop a romantic relationship in another virtual reality-type world, the episode presents a deeper meaning about love that is conceived in the hands of technology. This episode allows viewers – of whom have likely experienced defeat or loss of love – to dream of an ultimate universe where fantasies can become true and escaping pain is somewhat possible. “San Junipero” reminds viewers of the heartbreak in the first season’s episode “Be Right Back” and how loss can sometimes be unbearable to the point of becoming desperate to be rid of it. Shot in a visually chilling hue of grey, the message behind “Men Against Fire” hauntingly relates to military control and how the media can influence the way society reacts toward each other. A soldier begins to question who the “good” and “bad” people are in his missions to kill enemy “Roaches.” This causes friction between what he is programmed to believe and what is actually real. The last episode of the season, “Hated by the Nation,” clocks in at almost an hour and 30 minutes stealing the title of longest episode from “White Christmas.” The dangerously colossal power and influence of social media and hackers have uncanny similarities to the world today. At the end of

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

“Black Mirror” impresses viewers with its intense perspective on the potential consequences of extreme technological advancement. The third sesason manages to maintain the series’ somber thoughtful tone.

the episode, the participants are the ones to blame for creating the violence and fear. The new season doesn’t bring nearly flawless episodes like “The Entire History of You” or the special episode “White Christmas,” but Brooker presents familiar yet new ideas that still threaten relationships and human existence. He forces his viewers to question the true meaning of life and the

choices of our actions. After three seasons and 13 episodes, Charlie Brooker’s “Black Mirror” is still an invaluable TV series that brings awareness to the dark side of technology that is very close to our lives today. This series will fascinate those who are most suspicious to the effects of technology, which can be anyone and everyone. The technological

advances in the sci-fi world of “Black Mirror” are either currently in development or are ideas being cultivated in today’s society. Though it may be exaggerated in this sci-fi series, the brutal honesty is that the technologically advanced world of “Black Mirror” isn’t as far away from the world today as some may think it is. That is a daunting reality to comprehend.

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Both DiCaprio and director Fisher Stevens have clearly achieved their goals. Those who are already in the know will find very little new information, but they are not the expected recipient of the message. DiCaprio, who not only hosts the film but was a producer on it, sought to target those who may not entirely understand. In his eyes, the conversation hasn’t been thorough enough, and he in no way belittles those who are not educated on the issue. In fact, he fully admits to not understanding what Al Gore was talking about during a meeting with him in his early 20s. DiCaprio being the figurehead for the entire “Before the Flood” film is both the film’s greatest strength in terms of delivering its message but also its biggest shortcoming as a documentary film. While DiCaprio travels the world talking to

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many experts and leaders across the planet on the ongoing climate change crisis, his questions often feel overly-simplistic. While the information given from the sources is clear and concise, it is obvious that DiCaprio is not a professional reporter. However, there will be many viewers who will watch the documentary simply because they follow DiCaprio’s work. No doubt, DiCaprio is aware of the strength of his star power and while he lacks the authority Al Gore had while speaking of the subject, he will likely reach just as many, if not more, people because of his contributions to the film. Similarly, the film’s editing can border on being manipulative, quickly cutting between footage of overpopulated cities and towers of gas pouring into the atmosphere between the interviews. It moves at a much quicker clip than most films of its type. The cinematography often feels more like

a fully budgeted feature film than the grit found in many documentary productions. Every scene feels as though it was strategically shot to gain a look that is simultaneously cinematic and persuasive. Whether this is a flaw or a quality will depend on the viewer’s definition of what a documentary film should be, but it remains visually appealing. “Before the Flood” has its heart in the right place and when it comes to the subject of climate change, getting a conversation going is more than enough. While it lacks the timeliness and authority Al Gore had brought to “An Inconvenient Truth” years before, it is likely that an entirely new generation of Leonardo DiCaprio fans will become educated on a subject that may have previously vexed them. Regardless of the frequently manipulative editing, there is no other subject that warrants getting just a bit preachy like the subject of saving the planet.

COURTESY OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Leonardo DiCaprio uses his personal stardom to enlighten audiences on the topic of global climate change with his latest film “Before the Flood.”

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OPINION America inhumanely refuses refugees

PAGE 6 NOVEMBER 2, 2016 WEDNESDAY

History repeats itself as USA turns a blind eye to displaced Syrians. ASHLYN RAMIREZ Daily Titan

When the topic of Aleppo is brought up, most people ignorantly react like Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson when he asked, “What is Aleppo?” Aleppo is one of Syria’s oldest cities and has been under siege by Russia and the regime of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad since 2012, thanks to the Syrian War. Although Aleppo has tried to resist the violence, it unfortunately took about a year before the city succumbed to the constant bombing. The most harrowing news comes from the Kremlin when Russia, the main contenders of the bombing, suggests a reinstitution of the bombing quickly after a “humanitarian pause” was set in Aleppo. The pause was a “goodwill” sentiment by Russia after the bombing was met by national criticism, but it seems their gratitude was short lived. The citizens of Aleppo are being grievously deprived of the basic human right to live, as Assad has repeatedly come into question for slaughtering its own citizens, yet nobody in America seems to notice or care. America became aware of the Assad regime back in 2011 and turned a blind eye to it. Unfortunately, the regime got backing from Russia and Iran, keeping it afloat. Over 470,000 people have died and continue to die because of the Syrian War. 50,000 of which were innocent children, according to PBS. Civilian casualties are sadly

NATALIE GOLDSTEIN / DAILY TITAN

Aleppo has been at the center of the Syrian War for years and is on its last limb. Even though they offered refuge for people after World War II, America and most of Europe are ignoring Aleppo’s dire need for help.

the norm in war. While Aleppo is in the news almost every day for the atrocities committed against its residents, America is largely ignorant, jaded and lacks the attention span to care about anything besides the things that are in their lives at the moment. America has evolved into a vapid society that focuses solely on superficial aspects. It can be referred to as the dumbing down of the country where “their addiction to digital “crap” via social media.,” is their downfall, according to a Psychology Today article. The sad truth is that Americans can’t relate because Syria

isn’t in our own backyard. If it were us in the same position, we would be outraged that nobody was paying attention. The Nice, Paris terrorist attacks in November are a sad example of this ethnocentric culture we live in. California State University, Long Beach student Nohemi Gonzalez, 23, was killed during the attacks on November 13, and people who heard mourned by updating their Facebook profile pictures to include the France flag. While Aleppo gets bombed every single day with an incredible amount of fatalities, never was a single Syrian flag

put over any profile picture, which rightfully caused some backlash on the Internet, according to the Observer and Huffington Post. While America has brought some refugees in, compared to others our efforts are minimal. The United States has accepted 10 thousand refugees thus far, according to the New York Times, other countries like Canada have brought in upwards of 30 thousand. While Canada is providing homes for the refugees and sending the Syrian children back to school, America is seemingly going through another red scare, but this time

with anyone who fits the description “middle eastern.” The United States could also go into Aleppo and help relocate civilians. We have military forces out there already, but since Russia is involved and heavily invested in Assad, it seems to have become a situation that America is having no trouble avoiding. Look at how long America waited to get involved in World War II. Countless lives could’ve been saved if America had reacted faster. While America and Europe seem to do little for the Syrian crisis, both are quick to forget

how Syria welcomed refugees after WWII, offering them food, medical inspections and vocational training. When Europeans were fleeing from their countries, Palestine, Egypt and most importantly, Aleppo, were all safe havens for them. America has a history of turning a blind eye to the suffering of other people in the world, choosing to be inhumane in favor of protecting itself. While this is strategic move, The United States needs to take a chance and provide refuge for these innocent people simply trying to survive.

NFL has opioid problem

Marijuana should be used in tackling addictive pain killers. BRYANT FREESE Daily Titan

The National Football League’s (NFL) stigma against marijuana and its constant testing for the drug incite a narrative that prefers detrimental, prescribed pain medication over a somewhat controversial option that could effectively tackle all of the players problems. Football is in the business of pain. On Sundays, when fans tune in to watch the NFL, the players are putting their bodies on the line during every single play. To nobody’s surprise, it is a tremendously exhausting and violent game, so alleviating the pain is essential. But liberally giving out prescription pain pills whenever someone is hurting in the slightest is an extremely ignorant and damaging habit. After a 60-minute game in which grown men are running full speed into each other trying to inflict as much pain as possible, it’s not uncommon for these men to be illegally given opioids by the team doctors to momentarily sooth their pain. However, they are forbidden to use medical marijuana as an alternative pain remedy. The first step to solving this problem is to stop testing for marijuana, thereby eliminating the negative connotation surrounding the drug. People with apprehension towards marijuana for treatment may imagine players recreationally smoking weed and abusing the treatments. But that doesn’t have to be the case. There are many alternatives to smoking marijuana and, those developments can ease the stigma behind medical marijuana. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @DTSPORTSDESK

Athletes can use cannabidiol (CBD) oil, which is one of the main chemical compounds found in marijuana but does not have the effects that marijuana typically has. It is completely non-psychoactive. The players can use the oil to reduce inflammation, as well as ease chronic pain. Interestingly, 17 of the 32 teams in the NFL are owned and operated in states that allow the medicinal use of marijuana, and two teams, the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos, are in states where marijuana is legalized for recreational usage. Opioids are not legal, yet NFL players paint a bleak picture of a vicious, endless series of addiction. Former NFL player Calvin Johnson said in an interview on ESPN’s “E:60” in July that until recently, doctors would hand out addictive opioids to the players “like candy.” Many players go as far as to take painkillers prior to playing a game in order to not feel pain. This addictive form of sedation is incredibly disheartening, considering that they are doing this for the public. Essentially, the American public are the ones enabling this type of behavior. Former NFL offensive lineman Eugene Monroe wrote in a story for The Players Tribune about what players call the “T Train,” which is a line of players waiting to get a shot of Toradol prior to kickoff each game. Monroe writes that these shots help play through the pain and can last up to two days. Toradol shots often help athletes completely block out the pain. This in turn leads to the injuries worsening, causing players to rely on opioids both after the game and throughout the entire season. It’s an incredibly harmful cycle that isn’t garnering the attention it needs. The dependence of prescription pills doesn’t stop

when these players retire from the NFL. Often times it intensifies due to the build up of countless injuries accrued throughout their career combined with that natural process of aging. On March 9, Monroe became the first active player to advocate for the use of medical marijuana in the NFL. Interestingly, just three months later, Monroe was released from the Baltimore Ravens. While the Ravens said the termination of Monroe’s contract had nothing to do with his public stance, the announcement of this decision on the Ravens website suggest differently. No other team signed Monroe and subsequently, he decided to retire from the NFL altogether. This shows the stigma associated with marijuana in the NFL, primarily from owners of the teams. A majority of the owners in the NFL are older caucasian men, who may not understand all the benefits that can come from marijuana. Players are going through the same epidemic that a lot of the country is with prescription pills and educating them with alternative pain remedies like marijuana is the only solution to the problem. The NFL needs to look into the benefits of marijuana for athletes as a substitute for prescription pain pills to treat chronic pain and injuries. NFL owners may not want to do this because they believe the league will be less marketable if it allows the athletes to use marijuana. The league’s greedy agenda is harming the players that devote so much to the game. Though coming around to allowing marijuana as a proper medical treatment is something that is farfetched, it’s still a possibility to substitute the pills with CBD oil which would decrease the side effects the players face. The main concern should be the health of the athletes.

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LEISURE

PAGE 7 WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2016

RIDDLE

This Week on Campus

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Toss me out of the window, You’ll find a greiving wife, Pull me back through the door, And watch someone give life!

•WEDNESDAY NOV 2: Economic Forecast Conference: 11:30 – 1pm

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•THURSDAY NOV 3: Titan Recreation: Neon Night: 5pm – 9pm

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Pride and Prejudice: 8pm – 10pm

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“When we meet real tragedy in life, we can react in two ways - either by losing hope and falling into self-destructive habits, or by using the challenge to find our inner strength.” - Dalai Lama

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“Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools.” - Napoleon Bonaparte

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2

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7 4 2 3 9 8 1 6

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AUTUMN FUN: HALLOWEEN, BONFIRES, PUMPKINS, CANDY CORN, SCARECROW, ACORNS, SQUASH, THANKSGIVING, LEAVES, SWEATSHIRTS, FOOTBALL, SOUP, CIDER, HARVEST, SQUIRRELS, HAY RIDES, GOURDS, RAKE.

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ARIES

(Mar. 21 - Apr. 19) Although the central plot of your story may be unfolding as expected, you still need to take the time to reassess your plans for the next few months.

TAURUS

(Apr. 20 - May 20)

You might think you can cleverly skip over the most intense parts of a conversation with your close friend or lover. However, reality has other plans for you today.

GEMINI

(May 21 - Jul. 20) It’s no fun when someone you respect fails to support your actions. You might misread the signals and believe that he or she is on your side only to uncover a significant source of negativity. CONTACT US: ADS@DAILYTITAN.COM

CANCER

(Jun. 21 - Jul. 22)

LIBRA

(Sep. 23 - Oct. 22)

Maintaining your daily rhythm is more critical now if something isn’t going just right. It’s not the time to experiment with alternative methods or turn your world upside with a radical solution to a lingering problem.

Your morning will likely be totally different than your afternoon. Expansive energy encourages you to initiate lots of activity early in the day.

LEO

You can be your own harshest critic, especially if you fall short of your plans to finish a specific project this morning. You may have too many things you want to accomplish, only to see the list grow longer rather than shorter throughout the day.

(Jul. 23 - Aug. 22)

You might be short on presentation magic, but your performance can still be awesome if your information is in order. Don’t let the lack of fiery energy derail your success now.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)

SAGITTARIUS

VIRGO

(Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)

You might hold your feelings a little closer to your chest today. Your insecurities are peaking at a critical point; your anxiety can actually prevent you from being as effective as you imagine.

You actually believe that nothing is different and others are making a big deal out of a minor issue. Sooner or later you realize it’s in your best interest to change some variables on your trajectory.

(Aug. 23 - Sep. 22)

http://www.dailys CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22 - Jan. 19)

Your current malaise is not apparent to those closest to you. In fact, the heavy Saturn-Moon conjunction falls in your 12th House of Invisibility, masking your emotions from the world.

© theword

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) Unfortunately, interrogating others won’t help you learn anything useful; it’s probably better to just back away from social interactions until tomorrow if you’re not feeling welcome today.

PISCES

(Feb. 19 - Mar. 20) Don’t make any changes impulsively. It’s wiser to stick it out for now while you continue to consider all your options. The results won’t be favorable if you initiate action too soon.

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SPORTS

PAGE 8 NOVEMBER 2, 2016 WEDNESDAY

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Scioscia to be featured at fundraiser Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia will give the keynote speech at the Dinner With the Titans baseball fundraiser on Jan. 27, 2017. Scioscia played for the Los Angeles Dodgers for 13 years and has been the Angels skipper since 2000. Actor Kevin Costner was the keynote speaker at last year’s event, which generated more than $160,000. Costner, a Cal State Fullerton alumnus, also participated in the 2016 Alumni game at Goodwin Field despite never playing on the Titan squad. Tickets for the event range from $150 to $5,000. - HAYLEY M. SLYE

KATIE ALBERTSON / DAILY TITAN

Shimen Fayad (left) and Kyra Smith (right) go up for a block in Cal State Fullerton’s 3-1 win over UC Riverside on Sept. 24. The conference victory was the Titans’ only one of 2016, and one of three since 2014.

Long Beach squelches Titan offense

Volleyball bested by first-place 49ers for ninth straight loss. HAYLEY M. SLYE Daily Titan

Cal State Fullerton volleyball has only won three conference games since 2014. At 1-8 in the Big West this year, the squad went into Tuesday’s match looking to upset first-place Long Beach State. Instead, the Titans were easily crushed by the 49ers in three sets. Long Beach went into the game tied with Hawaii for

first place with a conference record of 9-1. On the other side of the court, the Titans could lay claim to only one Big West win, tied for last place with UC Riverside.

First set The 49ers jumped out to a quick lead, digging Fullerton into an early 10-2 hole. 49er Nele Barber recorded six kills in the first set. Barberwent into the game leading the conference in kills by far, with 34 more than the next-best hitter. She was aided by a balanced Long Beach effort behind her, as two other teammates put up four kills

in the first set to outhit the Titans 20-7 and win the set 25-12. Leading Titan hitter Shimen Fayad was limited to three kills on eight attempts in the first set. Second set The 49ers were solid on defense, making several strong digs to prevent Fullerton from gaining on them while limiting their errors to six through the second set. Long Beach absolutely dominated the Titans in the second, limiting Fullerton to 11 points. Through two sets, the 49ers outhit the Titans

38-13. Kyra Smith and Summer Kerins led the Titans offensively with four kills apiece.

Third set The third set was a closer contest as the Titans went point for point with Long Beach to begin 7-7. Kills by Barber and Yizhi Xue ignited a run that allowed the 49ers to pull away to 20-12. The balanced offensive effort continued to serve Long Beach well, with Barber, Ashley Murray and Kjersti Norveel each racking up nine or more kills through the third set.

Despite the opposition, Fullerton did not go down without a fight. They pushed the set to 24-20, exploding for six unanswered points before Barber came up with another kill to end the game. It was her 14th of the night. The 49ers took the match in straight sets, commanding the game offensively with a .376 hitting percentage compared to Fullerton’s .103. They also bested the Titans in kills 50-25 and digs 59-38. Next, the Titans look to right the ship against UC Riverside on the road Friday at 7 p.m.

Titans to end regular season in San Diego Men’s soccer looks to pad overall record before playoffs. ANDREW SALMI Daily Titan Sitting in second place in the South Division of the conference with a spot in the Big West Tournament, Cal State Fullerton men’s soccer will close the regular season with a nonconference match against the

University of San Diego (57-3) Wednesday. The Titans (8-8-3) have gone six straight games without a loss, 3-0-3 in that stretch, with their last defeat coming on Oct. 8th in a 3-0 road loss to UC Davis. Titan standouts Fullerton senior forward Alex Heilmann and senior defender Ricardo Covarrubias were selected as members of the 2016 AllBig West Conference First

Team Tuesday for their stellar play throughout the year. As the Titans’ standout player on the season, Heilmann has tallied a teamhigh 10 goals in 21 games and is tied for first in the Big West in goals with UCSB midfielder Kevin Feucht. Four CSUF players are tied for second on the team with two goals each: Ross McPhie, Ronaldo Pineda, Corentin Ohlmann and Nicolo D’Amato.

Ohlmann has risen to the occasion as of late. He scored the first goal of his career on Oct. 19 before netting another against CSU Northridge last Wednesday.

Torero rundown With a 2-3 record in West Coast Conference play this year, the Toreros significantly regressed since finishing with a 105-3 overall record last season, taking first place in the conference.

On the season, senior Michael Turner leads the Toreros with 14 points, which includes a team-high five goals and four assists. CSUF has struggled on the road this season with an away record of 3-52. Wednesday’s match is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Torero Stadium. Following their last regular season game, the Titans will host UC Davis in the first round of the Big West Tournament Saturday at Titan Stadium.

Women’s basketball defeats Hope Cal State Fullerton women’s basketball took control of an exhibition game against Hope International University in the second half to win 88-49 Tuesday. Fullerton outscored Hope 31-17 behind Jordan Jackson’s 16 points in the third quarter. Jackson finished the game with 23 points, while Iman Lathan added 14. Senior center Dhanyel Johnson controlled the boards for the Titans, nearly putting up a double-double in the first two quarters of play with eight points and 10 rebounds in just 11 minutes of game action. Johnson finished the game with 10 points and 16 rebounds. The Titan defense stifled Hope, forcing 24 turnovers. Last season, Fullerton went 3-27 overall. “It was a hard spring and summer, so we’ve really been excited to have the opportunity to start this new season,” said Head Coach Daron Park CSUF begins regular season play at the University of San Diego Friday, Nov. 11. - BRYANT FREESE

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