The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton
Tuesday December 6, 2016
Volume 100 Issue 48
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Tuition increases could raise $77.7 million for potential funding gap
CSUF holds ‘Las Posadas’ event
Mexican holiday represented with crafts and food. JILLIAN SALAS Daily Titan
NATALIE GOLDSTEIN / DAILY TITAN
Because the California State University system only expects to receive $157.2 million of the requested $324.9 million in new revenue from state funding, it will possibly try to close the potential funding gap by increasing student tuition fees. Some of the numbers used above are not concrete, only expected amounts that are rounded.
CSU Board of Trustees will meet in January to discuss the potential spike in student fees before the vote in March. JAYNA GAVIERES ZACK JOHNSTON Daily Titan
The California State University system is considering raising tuition fees for the first time in six years. A proposal from the office of Chancellor Timothy White outlines the reasons for a possible tuition hike and possible alternative solutions to
closing the university system’s funding gap. The potential increase will be up for discussion during the CSU Board of Trustee’s January meeting and won’t be voted on until March. However, the proposal is already receiving much criticism. Demonstrators
protested at board meetings last month where the trustees approved the 2017-18 Support Budget, which calls for $343.7 million in total revenue increase—$324.9 million coming from the state in general funding. SEE TUITION
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Like the stations Mary and Joseph visited in their journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, Mesa Cooperativa de CSUF created their own stations to commemorate the journey of “Las Posadas.” The traditional Mexican and Latin American holiday celebrates the religious symbolism of Mary and Joseph searching for shelter up until the birth of baby Jesus. “Las Posadas,” translated in English to “the hostels,” is the nine-day Catholic festival leading up to Christmas Eve. However, Mesa Cooperativa strayed away from the religious side to concentrate on the cultural aspects of the holiday, said Mesa Cooperativa Chair Paola Leiva. “Our purpose as a council is not to only host events, but to educate the community about the Latinx communities,” Leiva said. The event found its home in the Humanities Plaza Monday evening, and the CSUF community participated in the four stations hosted by Mesa Cooperativa. SEE POSADA
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E-sports provide player scholarships Gaming club advances to tournament finals. ERIC DOMINGUEZ Daily Titan Thomas Gideon, Alex Hernandez and Matthew Kelly beat out 55 other teams to make it to the Tespa “Hearthstone” tournament championships in January. Instead of competing on a pitch or on a court, the members of the Cal State Fullerton Gaming & eSports club competed in front of their computer screens for a chance to win collegiate scholarships of up to $6,800 each. “There’s a lot on the line,” Hernandez said. Under the name “Titan Kings,” Gideon, Hernandez and Kelly competed in “Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft” a free virtual card game developed by the Irvine-based Blizzard Entertainment. The trio took first place the Western group stage this November. “It feels like, ‘this is it, this is where we lose’ but we kept
going,” Hernandez said. The Tespa tournament awards the top eight finalists with scholarship amounts that vary depending on the team’s final seeding. With a final four appearance, the players have already solidified a scholarship award, but a firstplace finish for the Fullerton team would mean each member would earn the largest scholarship available. According to its website, Tespa is a system of college clubs who promote, compete and participate in e-sports competitions and events. Founded in August 2010 at the University of Texas at Austin, Tespa has grown into an organization with 191 chapters and over 15,500 members and alumni across North America. Since its inception, the company has given out $1.29 million in scholarship money to top competitors. E-sports is quickly growing on the world stage as an exciting form of entertainment. Although still in its early stages, e-sports is already drawing big crowds through live streaming services. SEE VIRTUAL
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GRETCHEN DAVEY / DAILY TITAN
Alex Hernandez, Jeremy Wan, Thomas Gideon and Matthew Kelly (left to right) meet up in their practice space. Hernandez, Gideon and Kelly are gearing up to compete in the Tespa “Hearthstone” tournament championship as the “Titan Kings.”
Poetry anthology to be read on campus
Graduate student travels to Germany
Psychotic solution feeds off desperation
The “Open Doors” reading event aims to honor poets who have contributed their work to a larger collection.
A study abroad opportunity during intersession provided one woman with a chance to learn and to teach.
Parents with autistic children are given false hope by being told there’s a solution that will cure all, when really it’s just bleach.
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PAGE 2 DECEMBER 6, 2016 TUESDAY
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Participants of Mesa Coorperativa’s “Las Posadas” holiday event played La Lotería (Mexican Bingo). In this game, beans are used as markers. Money, food or other objects are also commonly used for this game.
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Posada: Culture, games and food CONTINUED FROM
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Each station was representative of traditional Mexican culture, starting with piñata making, leading into “La Lotería” (Mexican bingo), creating “Papel Picado” (paper cutting) and ending with learning how to folk dance with the Ballet Folklórico club. After visiting each station, participants were greeted with complimentary champurrado and tamales. “I actually came here out of respect for my roommates who are also Hispanic and Latino,” said freshman Lindsey Diethelm. “I started at the bingo table, and I had a lot of fun, and I kind of just got hooked, especially with this (papel picado).” Artist and ethnic studies historian Marcelino Bautista Sifuentes led the workshop that taught people how
to cut papel picado which is an art of the Aztecs. This craft has grown in the tourist market where complex designs now grace the cuttings of the thin colored paper. Sifuentes’s said his personal goal is to “revitalize the dying artform of handmade papel picado.” The traditional holiday is usually celebrated in neighborhoods where one group goes door to door asking for shelter through song: “En nombre del cielo os pido posada / pues no puede andar mi esposa amada,” which translates to “in the name of heaven I ask for shelter / for my beloved wife can go no farther.” The responding neighbors reply in verse rejecting their plea: “Aquí no es mesón, sigan adelante, yo no puedo abrir no sea algún tunante,” which translates into “this is not an inn, continue forward, I cannot
open the door you might be a rogue.” Until the last day, when the pilgrims finally find “posada,” neighbors come together and celebrate with candy, food and music. Diego Reyes, one of the core artistic directors for Ballet Folklórico, said that through their skirt dancing workshop, participants can enjoy and learn the different dance styles of the different regions of Mexico. Through the twirls of the ranchero dresses and stomps of the zapateados, the dances are those of courtship and energy. Reyes, who said he began with “two left feet,” also welcomes anyone who is interested to join their club. “Ballet Folklórico is more than just a dance, it’s more of a way for us to appreciate our culture and really show what we are about,” Reyes said.
Poetry event to ‘open doors’
Anthology editors will honor poets with live selection reading. KALEB STEWART Daily Titan
The “Open Doors: A Celebration of Poetry & Anthology Launch” will be bringing together Cal State Fullerton students for an event coordinated by the editors of the anthology right on the heels of the semester’s end. The event will be on Dec. 8 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The readings, which will take place in CSUF’s Pollock Library Atrium Gallery, will include poetry readings not only from the anthology’s editors, but from CSUF staff and students as well. Jie Tian, one of the co-editors of the “Open Doors” poetry anthology, will speak at the event. “This event is created to celebrate the national Poetry Reading Series at Cal State Fullerton that began in about 2002,” Tian said. “I was one of the original organizers for this event ... On Dec. 8, the event is to celebrate the reading series and also to celebrate the book that I co-edited.” Editors for the anthology are Tian, Irena Traitis and Natalie Crahar. The intent of the reading is to honor poets who have read on campus, Tian said. “We reviewed all of the poems that came to us and choose the poems to include in this anthology,” Tian said. “I also, in collaboration with a colleague
The eastbound 91 freeway near Tustin Avenue closed for nearly an hour and a half Sunday after an unclear incident occurred which left two motorcyclists hospitalized, one with a gunshot wound and one with a stab wound, according to the Orange County Register. Calls came in to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) around 5 p.m. regarding gunfire, and when officers arrived at the scene, they found the first motorcyclist shot in his left forearm. The second motorcyclist, Antonio Garcia, 47, checked himself into a local hospital about 20 minutes later. Anyone with information about the incident has been asked to contact the CHP Santa Ana bureau at 714-567-6000 or CHP investigator J. Kelley at 714-240-3752. - JASON ROCHLIN
3,500 SoCal workers may see layoffs Clothing giant American Apparel warned 3,500 of it’s Southern California employees that they could lose their jobs as soon as Jan. 6, 2017, according to the Los Angeles Times. The layoffs will reportedly depend on the likely sale of the company to Canadian clothing maker Gildan Activewear. The company sent a letter notifying 332 workers in Garden Grove, 959 in South Gate and 2,166 at the company’s headquarters in downtown Los Angeles of their potential job loss. American Apparel has already laid off at least 500 workers this year due to a decrease in production. - BRANDON ROSS
Disneyland brings back 1972 parade
KALEB STEWART / DAILY TITAN
The Pollak Library Atrium Gallery, where the “Open Doors” poetry reading event will be held, currently houses “A Country Called Syria.”
of mine Steve Whiteman, worked on interior design and layout of the book.” It is a collaboration between many departments on campus, primarily English, Asian-American and African-American studies, Tian said. “We will read some poems ,but at the same time, we will also be united with some of our faculty and students to join us,” Tian said. Trish Campbell, the exhibit coordinator for the Pollak Library, spoke of the event, which will be inhabiting the gallery that holds “A Country Called Syria.” As the poetry reading happens, the art found within the exhibit will be on display for those who participate and
for those who listen in. “We are short on space this time of year,” Campbell said. “The event is only going to be an hour and a half. I was approached by one of our librarians who was coordinating it and asked if they could use the gallery.” The writers of the anthology include “emerging and accomplished poets who have garnered honors such as MacArthur ‘Genius Grant’ Fellowship, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Walt Whitman Award, a Best American Poetry selection, Poet Laureate of the United States, Poet Laureate of Arizona and more,” according to the “Open Book” page on the Pollak Library website.
Disneyland announced through the Disney Parks blog Monday that the Main Street Electrical Parade is set to make its return in January, according to the Orange County Register. The parade premiered in 1972 and was initially a huge hit up until its conclusion in 1996. In 2001, the electrical parade was reintroduced in Disney’s California Adventure and was in commission until 2010. Some of the original floats can be expected to be seen once again as well as a host of classic Disney characters. The park announced a special premiere party for Jan. 19, 2017 that will be open exclusively to those purchasing event tickets. The tickets will go on sale Tuesday for passholders and Dec. 13 for the general public. - ALYSSA MARTINEZ
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NEWS Tuition: Trustees to vote on increase CONTINUED FROM
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While the Chancellor’s budget proposal indicates that “these priority areas would require investment of $346 million in new revenue,” the 2017-18 support budget is a more recent document which uses a total revenue increase of $343.7 million. Therefore, this is the number that has been used. This new funding would support the cost of the CSU’s enrollment growth effort, academic facility and campus infrastructure, employee compensation, mandatory costs and the Graduation Initiative 2025, according to the proposal. The intent of the Graduation Initiative 2025 is to meet California’s growing workforce need in a timely manner. “This initiative affirms our system-wide commitment to eliminate achievement gaps, improve time to degree and ensure that every student has access to the tools, resources and guidance needed to achieve,” according to a message from Chancellor White on September 21, 2016. The $75 million of the new revenue, along with the $35 million in one-time state funding, would be going toward the initiative to significantly boost graduation rates by 2025. However, the initiative itself does not call for a tuition increase. Projects involved with the initiative include reforming graduation procedures, reviewing drop-for-nonpayment policies, implementing microgrants, increasing sections for high-demand courses, re-evaluating courses with high rates of drops, failures or withdraws and launching two new online academic dashboards. As of the writing of this article, the CSU anticipates receiving $157.2 million in new funding from the
governor’s January budget proposal, leaving a $168.8 million state funding gap. The proposed potential tuition increase would take away an estimated $77.7 million from that gap. The maximum increase in tuition costs per semester would be $270 for undergraduate students, $438 for graduate students and $312 for those in credential programs. The increase would be in effect by fall 2017. Students receiving state grants or waivers, institutional grants or federal grants or loans would see little to no effect from the potential increase, according to the proposal. In order to afford the increase, students participating in a work-study program to cover their tuition would need to work approximately 33 additional hours per academic year, or one extra hour per week, according to the proposal. Almost half of all CSU students graduate with some loan debt. With a $270 tuition increase, monthly payments for loans would increase around $13 to $19, depending on how long it takes the student to graduate. For example, if a fulltime student were to begin a five-year graduation plan in fall 2016, tuition and book fees for an academic year would equal $8,458 whether the student commutes, dorms or lives off-campus, according to the 2016-2017 standard nine-month student budget and cost of attendance for full-time undergraduate students. Assuming the tuition fees stayed the same, after five years, a student would have a student-loan debt of $42,290, based only on tuition fees and the approximate cost of books and supplies. On the Federal Student Aid website, a hypothetical monthly loan payment estimates that a student who
is graduating with a bachelor’s degree after five years in college with $42,290 in student-loan debt would have to pay approximately 120 payments of $486.67 a month–before interest. An increase of $13 to $19 a month could potentially be a significant difference the higher the monthly payment is for a graduate. The proposal also states that along with the tuition increase, the CSU would continue its effort to get full funding from the state. The CSU is considering alternatives to fund the support budget. One is to continue advocating for the state to fully cover the support budget request. The CSU is committed to pursuing this option first. Another option is to reduce university programs and services. This could ultimately lead to even fewer available course sections and would make reaching graduation even more difficult for students. Cal State Fullerton’s Associated Students Inc. (ASI) Board of Directors passed a resolution last month denouncing the potential tuition increase. “At Cal State Fullerton, (the increase) will affect students very negatively because we are the lowest fulltime equivalent student. We are the lowest funded out of all 23 CSUs,” said Kayleigh Bates, chair of ASI Board of Directors. Full-time student tuition fee rates increased at least 10 percent each year from the 2007-2008 fiscal year up until the 2012-2013 fiscal year, according to the historical tuition rates page on the CSU website. Undergraduate and graduate tuition rates have stayed at $5,472 since November 2012 when Proposition 30 reset the tuition fee rates to the 2011-2012 fiscal year, but that can potentially change in the 2017-2018 school year.
PAGE 3 TUESDAY DECEMBER 6, 2016
Campus Calendar Taco Tuesday
• Tuffy Lawn • Tuesday, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Collegium Musicum
• Clayes Performing Arts Center • Tuesday, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
ASI Productions Winterfest • Titan Walk • Wednesday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Titan Recreation: Are you a slacker? • Student Recreation Center • Wednesday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Piano Ensembles
• Clayes Performing Art Center • Thursday, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Men’s Basketball
• Titan Gym • Saturday, 6 p.m.
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FEATURES Student discovers passion in field of education PAGE 4 DECEMBER 6, 2016 TUESDAY
Graduate program provides a chance to travel and impact lives. NIKKI NADVORNICK Daily Titan
For Tabitha Espineli, 25, the best way to spend her free time away from teaching is traveling the world. “I went on like 23 planes this past year, and I just got back from a trip last weekend,” Espineli said. Espineli is pursuing her masters in education with an emphasis in special education at Cal State Fullerton. However, a focus on teaching was not always the educational track she thought she would take. Espineli originally completed her undergraduate degree in communications with a minor in psychology from Vanguard University in Costa Mesa in 2013. It wasn’t until she interned at a transitional homelessness facility in Orange County that she changed her mind. “I wanted to be a career counselor for awhile or go into public relations (PR), and so I interned at the Orange County Rescue Mission,” Espineli said. “They have a lot of children with intense behavioral issues because of the nature of the facility, and I just loved working with them, so I changed to education.” Not only was Espineli not planning on going into the field of education, but she wasn’t even planning on continuing her education beyond a bachelor’s degree. Once she realized that she wanted to continue her
educational path, she decided to do it at CSUF. “The credential program is one of the best in the state, and I wanted a state school. I went to a private school for undergrad, so I wanted something different for my masters and from the credential program. I loved the credential program, and so I came here and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it,” Espineli said. Finding time to travel must be strategically planned with the tight schedule that Espineli currently has. Not only is she finding the time to focus on her studies, but she also works in two different areas of teaching in Santa Ana. “I teach K-8. I teach at a charter school most mornings. I’m an itinerant teacher, so I teach at two different schools. So in the mornings I teach K-5 as a resource teacher and then in the afternoon, I teach eighth grade math and eighth grade language arts,” Espineli said. During the last intersession, Espineli had the opportunity to put what she’d learned about teaching into practice in Germany through a study abroad trip that was offered through the College of Education’s Special Education Department. “We had 18 students that went, and Tabitha stood out amongst all of them. They were all amazing, but she was one of the clear leaders in the program, the most reflective, the best problem solver and was able to handle some really diverse situations,” said Melinda Pierson, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of
AMY WELLS / DAILY TITAN
Tabitha Espineli, 25, is pursuing a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in special education. When she isn’t in school herself, she also teaches K-8 at two Santa Ana schools.
Special Education. Espineli’s teaching abilities really shone through during her experience in Germany. “Before we left on the trip, we had all of the students create their own lessons to work with the students in Germany, and many students were very nervous about it because they’re very new to the field of education,” said Pierson, who also directs the Center for International Partnerships in Education. “Tabitha was able to get right into a secondary classroom and lead a very dynamic and engaging lesson with a group of ninth graders that lasted for about an hour, and it was
wonderful to watch.” Once the study abroad trip was over, Espineli realized she wasn’t done with Eichstätt, the small town she had been staying in, and decided to extend her visit. “I actually stayed an extra week in Germany with my dad. My dad flew out because I was out there and we explored more of Germany than just the small town and Munich that we went to,” Espineli said. After being back home for a few months her itch for Germany continued. “I fell in love with the little town I was in and I was like, ‘I’m not saying goodbye forever.’ So I went back in June to the
same town and then I ended up exploring Munich a little bit more,” Espineli said. “If I hadn’t gone back, I wouldn’t have known how wonderful the actual city was.” Being able to experience traveling through the study abroad program really enhanced the passion she had for traveling. “I learned how to travel. I was very sheltered, and the department heads who took us were just so amazing and helped make my experience so great that now I’m brave enough to travel on my own,” Espineli said. During the study abroad trip to Germany, Espineli established a friendship with another student
who also shares her love of traveling. “My favorite experience was just going from complete strangers to now – she’s one of my best friends. Our personalities mix well together, and she’s also a really good colleague that I can go to with any type of questions in the field of special education or the credential program as well,” said 24-year-old CSUF alumna Jenna Eshom. Their connection and friendship has led them to travel together once a year. Espineli and Eshom’s next great adventure will be when they travel to New York this upcoming January.
EMILY DIECKMAN / DAILY TITAN
Student pursues passion for animation through Disney. NIKKI NADVORNICK Daily Titan A Cal State Fullerton student migrates from Colorado to California with the help of the Walt Disney Company. “I came out to California with the college program, which is an internship that Disney offers for college students. It’s a semester-long paid internship and you can also take classes through the Disney company that count for credits at school. While you’re doing the internship, you’re still considered a fulltime student,” said Jessica Potter, a 22-year-old FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @THEDAILYTITAN
transfer student majoring in entertainment/ animation. Potter used Disney as her main reason to move to California in hopes of eventually being accepted to Cal State Fullerton. The internship program lasted eight months and once the internship was over, Potter transferred from her previous location as a custodian to guest relations where she works currently. “I love it. I’ve been in guest relations now for a little over a year,” Potter said. “I feel like there is such an amazing atmosphere at Disneyland that even if it is a hard day or something is not going right at work, you can look around and say, ‘Wow, I’m at the happiest place on Earth.’” While being in guest
relations, Potter has had the ability to learn helpful skills that she can apply toward her personal life. “I’m very happy now with my job since I just became a tour guide, which is very exciting. I feel like it’s very helpful with learning how to become a storyteller and knowing how to get the story across to other people in a way that’s meaningful to them and to yourself,” Potter said. “So I feel like that skill is something very important for both animation and for working guest relations at Disneyland, but essentially via networking and everything else, I would love to meet with animators from Disney.” Potter hopes to apply her experience at Disneyland toward her passion for animation in the future.
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OPINION
PAGE 5 TUESDAY DECEMBER 6, 2016
TITAN TOONS
NATALIE GOLDSTEIN / DAILY TITAN
Reports have surfaced concerning the way that a large amount of the pipeline protestors took advantage of the situation and used it as a drug oasis. With the success of the protest, hopefully these vagabonds can find another cause to pitch a tent at soon.
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OPINION
PAGE 6 DECEMBER 6, 2016 TUESDAY
Autism’s ‘cure’ has a stain in reason Giving bleach to children is a new low for humanity. PRISCILLA BUI Daily Titan Parents are giving their children bleach in a desperate attempt to get rid of their autism. It sounds like a really messed up joke, like a lot of things in 2016, but it’s not. Sadly enough, parents of autistic children have turned to Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS), a product sold on the internet that claims to cure AIDS, malaria, cancer or autism, according to 2016 articles posted by Vice News, The Huffington Post and other news outlets. With the 2009 death of Sylvia Fink from a lethal dose of MMS, this abominable act needs to get some serious public attention. If chlorine dioxide is promised as a cure to any ailment, it should be garnering a violent reaction because the consequences of MMS are near child abuse. It’s a violation against humans who already have trouble speaking for themselves. However, proponents for MMS reason that because it contains chlorine dioxide, pathogenic stressors and diseased tissue are destroyed through oxidation while healthy tissues and cellular structures in the body are, in theory, spared. This would help those with autism get better. They also say that chlorine dioxide is not the same thing as chlorine bleach since the former is an oxidizing agent that accepts electrons while the latter is purely used for
disinfectant purposes. Essentially, advocators for MMS are differentiating the two without actually differentiating them. Parents are not giving their children some miraculous cure to autism. This isn’t holy water. They are giving children 28 percent sodium chlorite, which is used for stripping tiles and industrial water treatment, according to a warning issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Industrial bleach, everyone. Additionally, MMS is recommended in high oral doses, even though consuming such amounts can lead to nausea, life-threatening low blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea and severe dehydration. Nothing screams miracle like diarrhea, vomiting and life-threatening low blood pressure. The FDA also warns that since MMS is distributed through websites and online auctions by multiple independent distributors, the products that are sold may share the MMS name but can also vary in labeling. Parents may be getting knockoffs for something that probably doesn’t even work in the first place. They might as well be buying other miracle cures from Craigslist. Jim Humble, a former member of the Scientology sect, is the founder of MMS. The fact that parents are buying a product invented by Humble is daunting, considering most people know that Scientology is a little out there. Another loud mouthpiece for MMS is Kerri Rivera, who encourages hourly doses of chlorine dioxide to autistic children. Rivera’s website sells books on how to heal autism,
NATALIE GOLDSTEIN / DAILY TITAN
Parents refusing to accept that there is no cure for autism, as of now, should not fall for false promises and labeling. Rather than falling in the trap of fear mongering, they must be more aware of the harm this “cure” brings.
like it’s some self-help concept consumers can get over easily on their own. Since Rivera is one of the few who believes that autism is made up of bacteria, viruses, yeast, heavy metals, inflammation, food allergies and parasites, the solution is to obviously cleanse autistic children’s bodies of pathogens through Humble’s pseudoscientific holy water. But inflammation, food allergies and heavy metals aren’t pathogens, so Rivera’s knowledge of biology and biochemistry should be questioned right along with her sanity. There have been no clinical trials to test whether or
not MMS can cure autism. The claims that the world does know of only come from unreliable reports and from Humble’s book, “Breakthrough: The Miracle Mineral Supplement of the 21st Century,” according to the FDA. So the verdict: Chlorine is bad for people. What a shocker. MMS is not promising a cure–it’s promising false hope. What’s worse is that MMS preys on parents who truly believe it can take away their children’s autism. MMS brainwashes parents into thinking that mixing sodium chlorite with citric acid to produce chlorine dioxide would
be a healthy detox for their children. Bleach is great for killing germs in the household, but it can also be dangerous to the environment and one’s health if it isn’t properly ventilated, according to a 2008 Live Science article. Just being around bleach is hazardous and yet the parents of these children are still shoving MMS into their children’s bodies either orally or through enemas. Parents are giving their autistic kids poison and there isn’t a kinder way to rephrase this. There doesn’t seem to be any concrete regulations on
MMS, but Rivera signed an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with the state of Illinois in 2015, agreeing to stop the selling of MMS as a treatment for autism. Also in 2015, Louis Daniel Smith was convicted by a federal jury for “conspiracy, smuggling, selling misbranded drugs”–MMS–“and defrauding the United States,” according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Having autism doesn’t negate the fact that these children are human, not an experiment. Don’t use something just because it has “miracle cure” slapped on it.
Tech giant’s ventures marred by sensationalism “Autopilot” mishaps should not hinder Elon Musk’s vision. ANTHONY BAGHDADY RISHU BHARDWAJ Daily Titan At the beginning of the month, U.S. advocacy group Consumer Watchdog called on Tesla to recall its “autopilot” feature. While these instances are nothing to look over, they are tainting the revolutionary vision that Tesla founder Elon Musk has been working toward for the last decade. Musk is changing the auto industry, one of the largest industries in the world. With Musk’s’ announcement of building a second Gigafactory while the first is still in production, his reach is the farthest America has seen since the likes of Henry Ford. Tesla could be one of the greatest companies in the
world one day. But only if Musk is able to maintain his confident stride without being deterred by the media’s sensationalism of the “autopilot” tragedies. Back before Musk was an innovator the company was taking some heavy losses. German automobile giants BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Porsche were laughing at Musk and his small-time electric car company, Tesla. Then, the electric industry started picking up and Tesla became one of the most popular luxury cars in America, leading to Musk being named “Innovator of the Year” by The Wall Street Journal. Finally, the world is beginning to realize that Musk may be one of the most vital minds alive. Musk currently has a net worth of $11 billion, according to Forbes.com, and it will most likely grow in multiplicity when the
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electric car industry really kicks into gear. It is estimated that there will be 2 billion cars on the road by the year 2035, according to greencarreports. com. However, with emissions regulations not doing enough to solve the carbon footprint the industry is leaving, Tesla seems to be the only beacon of hope for the environment. Tesla is one of the best equipped automotive companies for the coming decades, and their greatest asset will be the Gigafactory. Tesla’s Gigafactory is going to be the manufacturing plant for all lithium ion batteries that Musk is going to require to power his new Tesla Model 3s, the most affordable in the line, at around $40,000. The expansion of the electric automotive industry has been hindered by the expensive price of lithium batteries in the past, hence the Gigafactory.
Musk originally intended to finish the first factory in the year 2020, but his beautifully megalomaniac vision sped it up to 2018. Once it’s done, it will be the largest building in the world, according to CNN. “By 2020, Tesla (TSLA) hopes to be producing more batteries at this one factory than were produced in the entire world in 2014. With that flood of batteries, Tesla says it can drive down their cost by over 30 percent,” according to CNN. By the year 2040, electric vehicles will account for 35 percent of all new vehicle sales, according to a 2016 article by Bloomberg. Although Tesla has not sold many cars because of the high price tag, its numbers continue to grow each year as more people make the switch from gas to electric, and these new affordable cars will only expedite Tesla’s proliferation. Yes, the automotive
industry would’ve gone electric with or without him, yet his genius has brought the future everyone was dreaming about into a reality. With a 2016 Fortune article hailing Musk’s endeavors as “changing the world,” the controversy surrounding the “autopilot” feature seems to be less important as we see the progression his vision has led to. Tesla’s cars, which are only electric, are drastically reducing emission pollution and not all by themselves. Since Tesla’s sales are so good, other car companies are being influenced to focus on electric car production as well. Tesla was founded a mere 13 years ago and is now competing against the largest automotive brands in the world, some of which have been around for over a century. Tesla’s growth in the next 50 years could be unmatched by any other
automotive company, let alone any other company. Everyone knew the automotive industry was going electric, yet Musk was the only one with enough resolve and confidence to bet everything he had on it. Thirteen years later, the company’s stock trades for almost $200 on the NASDAQ, while General Motors, one of the largest automobile companies in history, currently trades for about $34 on the New York Stock Exchange. If there ever was a living role model for generations, it is Musk. His awe inspiring view is worlds beyond anything society has seen in Steve Jobs and even Bill Gates. While those two have done some amazing feats for modern technology, Musk seems to be working for the next thousand years and that should be enough to forget a few mishaps from the “autopilot” feature.
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LEISURE
PAGE 7 TUESDAY DECEMBER 6, 2016
RIDDLE
This Week on Campus
PROVIDED BY Riddles 1 APP
My first is in window but not in pane, My second’s in road but not in lane, My third is in oval but not in round, My fourth is in hearing but not in sound, My whole is known as a sign of peace, And from noah’s ark won quick release.
•TUESDAY DEC 6: ASI Farmer’s Market: 10am – 3pm TFF Taco Tuesday: 12pm – 1pm
O Y I T I I V D R M E F H C E
•WEDNESDAY DEC 7: ASIP Presents Winterfest: 1pm – 4pm University Band: 8pm – 10pm
HINT 1: First Letter is D HINT 2: Last Letter is E HINT 3: Number of Letters is 4 LAST RIDDLE’S SOLUTION: GLOVE
SOLUTION WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEXT ISSUE.
•THURSDAY DEC 8:
SUDOKU
Piano Ensembles: 8pm – 10pm
PROVIDED BY dailysudoku.com
9 6
•FRIDAY DEC 9: The Drowsy Chaperone: 8pm – 10pm
Quote for the Day
2
5 7 2
8 4 9 3 5 1 6 4 2 7 4 1 8 8 3
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence
and determination alone are omnipotent.”
1
3 7
9 1
- Calvin Coolidge
5
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The Drowsy Chaperone: 8pm – 10pm
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WORD SEARCH
WHERE IS TUFFY?
PROVIDED BY thewordsearch.com
WEATHER: SUMMER, BLIZZARD, HOT, FROSTY, FALL, WINDY, COLD, RAIN, NIGHT, WARNINGS, HEATWAVE, BLACKOUTS, SNOW, TORNADOS,
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ICY, HURRICANE, STORMS, HUMID, FREEZING, WARM.
HOROSCOPE PROVIDED BY tarot.com
ARIES
(Mar. 21 - Apr. 19)
The world appears foggy as you look through your subjective lens today, and it’s hard to separate what is real and what is not. You may find yourself completely lost in thought, encountering hopes and fears that arise from your blind spot.
TAURUS
(Apr. 20 - May 20)
Fortunately, an energetic Mars-Uranus connection provides the electricity you need to wake up from your daydream and plug into the source of your passion. Stop wishing and start doing.
GEMINI
(May 21 - Jul. 20)
Try not to get too lost in an illusion, as your feelings could hijack your logic when it’s time to make decisions. Stay alert; a fresh and original insight may come out of nowhere, slicing through the haziness that colors the day.
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CANCER
(Jun. 21 - Jul. 22)
There is a spiritual vibe lingering in the air today. The mystical mood resonates with your sensitive disposition, allowing you to move through the day feeling connected to your intuitive power.
LEO
(Jul. 23 - Aug. 22)
Your generous heart is in the driver’s seat today as you see those you love through rose-colored glasses. It’s difficult for the rational mind to steer when ceaseless visions of transcendent intimacy occupy your head space.
VIRGO
(Aug. 23 - Sep. 22)
You may be preoccupied with wondering what others think of you today; in fact, you might be concerned that they don’t even know you exist.
LIBRA
(Sep. 23 - Oct. 22)
You could even feel sorry for yourself while delusional Neptune mingles with the emotional Moon, especially if you’re working too hard and not being appreciated for your contribution.
SCORPIO
(Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)
You could drift on autopilot today, paying so little attention to your surroundings that hours fly by before you realize it. The haze seeps down from your head to your heart, and you might daydream about a perfect romance.
http://www.dailys CAPRICORN
(Dec. 22 - Jan. 19)
It’s best to just go with the flow rather than trying to control every little thing today. A nebulous MoonNeptune conjunction fuzzes your neural pathways and trips up your tongue.
AQUARIUS
(Jan. 20 - Feb. 18)
Radical Uranus shakes things up with the help of energetic Mars, and before you know it your vision could manifest in ways you never imagined.
PISCES
SAGITTARIUS
(Feb. 19 - Mar. 20)
It’s prudent to get in touch with your emotions now, because they’re going to flood your psychological basement anyway. You start the day with a plan, but it’s soon washed away by Neptune’s mystical waves.
Your grandiose notions sparkle with originality, but may lack a solid foundation to stand the test of reality. The good news is practical inspirations strike when you least expect it if you continue to push the creative edge.
(Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)
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SPORTS Virtual: Gaming team thrives on campus
PAGE 8 DECEMBER 6, 2016 TUESDAY
CONTINUED FROM
1
The 2015 “League of Legends” championship match drew 36 million unique viewers, according to a Riot Games press release. To put that number in perspective, Game 7 of the 2016 NBA finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors drew about 30.8 million viewers, according to an ESPN release. The high viewership hasn’t gone unnoticed as broadcasting companies like ESPN and Turner are set to air live e-sports events on their respective networks. ESPN and Turner also provide websites dedicated to e-sports. ESPN.com’s e-sports section and Turner’s ELEAGUE website report on tournament results, top players, teams, events and other news. With e-sports’ capability of drawing viewership, the Fullerton team has an opportunity to gain recognition. “Since we’re doing so well, I think more sponsors will attract attention for Cal State Fullerton to get more sponsors so we can even broaden our horizons with our e-sports club,” Kelly said. The club said they are sponsored by Gigabyte, a computer hardware manufacturer and distributor, and Twitch, a live streaming video platform. “We’ll start out with a couple of sponsors,” Wan said. “We’re only going to get bigger and better.” The potential growth of the club is a mirror of just how influential e-sports have become. Since 2013, the U.S. Government has recognized professional gamers as “individual athletes,” allowing video game players from other countries to qualify for P-1 visas, according to Forbes. Despite the potential future growth of e-sports,
GRETCHEN DAVEY / DAILY TITAN
Alex Hernandez, Thomas Gideon and Matthew Kelly (left to right) will have an opportunity to compete for a $6,800 scholarship in January after winning the Tespa tournament western regional, representing the Cal State Fullerton Gaming and eSports club.
not all members of the club plan to pursue a professional gaming career. “I want to teach,” Gideon said. “It’s hard to support yourself as a
pro-gamer.” The team’s first-place West Region finish is an impressive feat, considering the three members were
complete strangers at the start of the semester. “We were thrown together and we didn’t do well on our first game,” Kelly said.
Hernandez, Gideon and Kelly advanced to the final four of the tournament where they will go head to head against the top teams
representing the south, east and north regions. The finals start in January and will be available to stream live on Twitch.
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