Week of March 22, 2021

Monday, March 22, 2021

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

Volume 109 Issue 10

COMMUNITY UNITES AGAINST HATE

People showed support for the Asian community on Saturday at a press conference at Fullerton City Hall organized by Assembly Member Sharon Quirk-Silva. (Andre Gomez / Daily Titan)

ROBERTO ROMERO Staff Writer

After the recent surge in hate crimes against the Asian community, Orange County residents gathered in solidarity outside of Fullerton City Hall on Saturday.

Assemblywoman Sharon

Quirk-Silva led a press conference alongside other elected officials and Asian and Pacific Islander advocates.

With nearly 100 people gathered outside of city hall to watch the press conference, Quirk-Silva began the meeting by declaring solidarity with the Asian community with one simple

message, “We’re gathering to stand up together to stop Asian hate.”

“One of the things we know for sure is enough is enough,” Quirk-Silva said.

“We are tired of the attacks on our Asian American communities, we are tired of attacks on our Latino and Black communities, and we are simply

tired of hate.”

Elected officials took turns addressing the rise of hate crimes against the Asian community as a result of the pandemic.

People across the country have rallied after eight people — Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Yong Yue, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre

Chris CSUF prepares for Vo trial in-person semester delayed MICHELLE IBAÑEZ

The former CSUF employee is charged for the fatal stabbing of his coworker.

LETICIA PEREZ Freelancer

The preliminary hearing for Chris Chuyen Vo, former Cal State Fullerton employee and suspect in the fatal stabbing of coworker Steven Shek Keung Chan, was rescheduled to April 8. Vo was present at the Santa Ana Central Justice Center Friday morning for his original preliminary hearing, but it was pushed to a later date at the request of his attorney, T. Edward Welbourn, from the Corrigan Welbourn and Stokke law firm.

This has now been the second time the preliminary hearing is pushed.

Late in September 2019, the Orange County DA’s office added the charges of embezzlement and alleging murder for financial gain on Vo’s case.

Though it is an ongoing investigation, the embezzlement charges are associated with his work at CSUF, said Kimberly Edds, the DA’s public information officer.

SEE CASE

2

Editor

Cal State Fullerton is still anticipating a primarily in-person fall 2021 semester, according to an email sent out by university President Fram Virjee on March 15.

Virjee said that CSUF is hopeful that next semester will be almost all in-person

instruction, including student services and student housing.

With vaccine distribution happening all over Orange County, Virjee said that the transition would only happen if students, faculty and staff have had access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

“We will only execute our plans for a fall return if and when all Titans who choose to receive the vaccine have had

equitable access to it, and public health guidelines and CSU policy support the transition,” Virjee said.

In February, the university said that vaccination would not be required to return to campus, and that it was already taking preliminary steps to accommodate for in-person instruction.

SEE FALL

4

Softball takes series against UC Davis The Titans gave up only four runs in the weekend sweep at home.

ADAM MALDONADO Editor

In their first weekend of Big West conference play, Cal State Fullerton softball maintained a strong defensive front in their three home contests against UC Davis, and completed the sweep against the Aggies with a 3-0

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win on Sunday.

The Titans only gave up four runs through three games, while their offense erupted for 23 runs total, as they won two of three games via mercy rule. The win on Sunday also marked Fullerton’s fifth victory in a row, and gave them an 18-11 overall record.

“We’ve been working really hard on being aggressive, but being aggressive within our pitches,” said Caitlin Grimes, the assistant coach.

“They’re coming up and putting runs on the board and doing what they need to do, but being smart in their atbats. The quality at-bat is what we’re trying to aim for and that’s been helping us especially in run-producing.”

In addition to picking up their fifth-straight victory, Sunday’s meeting also extended the Titans’ streak of recording at least seven hits to 12 games.

SEE RUNS

10

Michels, Xiaojie Tan and Daoyou Feng — were shot and killed at three different spas and massage parlors in Atlanta, Georgia on March 16.

The 21-year-old white man now faces four charges of murder that many believe were motivated by racism.

SEE SUPPORT

2

OPINION

Meghan’s race should not cause petty controversy over British royal bloodline.

SEE PAGE 9

LIFESTYLE Pop culture fans will experience the magic of WonderCon 2021 virtually on Friday and Saturday.

SEE PAGE 5

NEWS A coalition calls for justice after a fatal officer involved shooting in 2020.

SEE PAGE 3 VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

2 News

WEEK OF MONDAY, MARCH 22

Assembly Member Sharon Quirk-Silva spoke at Fullerton City Hall on Saturday. (Andre Gomez / Daily Titan)

Support: Atlanta shootings rattle cities nationwide 1 The attack also sparked a local and national conversation of the history of Asian hate and hypersexualization of Asian women in the United States as well as the ongoing rise of hate crimes against the Asian community in the country.

“President Trump’s rhetoric blaming Chinese Americans for the coronavirus has coincided with the alarming surge in anti-API hate crimes,” said Dave Min, California State Senator.

Min attributed this attack and others that went unreported to an epidemic of fear and a lack of response by elected officials.

“You may have seen they described these attacks as not racially motivated despite the fact that the shooter was targeting Asian American women CONTINUED FROM

specifically and they chalked up these murders to the fact that the shooter was having a really bad day,” Min said.

Min asked the public to declare their public support for the Asian American community, and celebrated the unanimous passing of a bill that condemned anti-Asian hate crimes.

“The murder of six Asian women in Atlanta was my final straw. Racialized misogyny and hypersexualization of Asian women. I think about my aunties who work as nail techs and are surviving off of their tips. My aunties who were dentists and nurses, but stripped of that when they came to this country,” said Kim B. Nguyen, the mayor pro tem of Garden Grove.

Several other Orange County elected officials took the

opportunity to note that although the Asian community has seen an increase in hate crimes, the racism they are experiencing is not new and has been embedded in U.S. history for decades.

“This history has been mired in anti-Asianess and you can see that through systematic policies such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, Japanese internment, the killing of Vincent Chin.

There are so many things that have happened throughout history that have been anti-Asian.

So, this is not new,” said Hong Alyce Van, councilwoman for the city of Stanton.

Ting Angeles, a Yorba Linda resident, said he wanted to show his support by attending the press conference. As a Filipino American, Angeles said that the racist acts the speakers listed was something he

YOU SEE A SOLUTION. WE SEE A LEADER.

has experienced before.

“It’s not new to me — you’ve been labeled with different names, you’ve been discriminated, implicit, explicit, you know, you name it,” Angeles said.

Quirk-Silva said she wanted to hold the conference to stress the importance of solidarity between communities and denounce hate. She also said that education is the first step to teaching younger generations to appreciate other cultures.

“This has been going for far too long and we have to stand together and support one another,” Quirk-Silva said.

She advocated for ethnic studies programs as a path towards a better and safer future for all.

“Once kids are in school, really allowing them to learn about other cultures, allowing

them to embrace other cultures, and allowing them to understand that there are so many similarities and that we’re better together,” Quirk-Silva said.

Other council members stressed the importance of education through ethnic studies courses as a way to educate communities about other cultures to help put an end to hate crimes and work towards a better future.

“I think if we can get our school board trustees to make sure we push that and advocate that,” said Fullerton council member Jesus Silva. “Let’s start educating our younger people about how we’re all the same and let’s start giving them the history of the United States from different perspectives so they can learn no one’s better than another.”

Case: New preliminary hearing date CONTINUED FROM

1

Vo previously overlooked the finance department of the Student Services and International Programs, while Chan was the director of budget and finance for Student Services and Extended Education before retiring in 2017.

Chan returned as a consultant in 2019 to do a financial audit of Vo’s department and was killed in the College Park parking lot in August of that year.

Vo was arrested at his Huntington Beach home and has remained in custody at the Theo Lacy Facility, a maximum-security jail complex in the city of Orange.

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Chris Vo at Santa Ana Central Justice Center in 2020. (Jonathan Phan/ Daily Titan) FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @THEDAILYTITAN

News 3

WEEK OF MONDAY, MARCH 22

Coalition pushes for accountability after officer involved shooting

Donna Chadwick, Hector Hernandez’s mother-in-law, holding a sign honoring Hernandez’s life at Fullerton City Hall on Tuesday. (Garett Troutman / Voice of Orange County)

Over 20 organizations have united to bring justice to Hector Hernandez, a 34-year-old Fullerton resident who was shot and killed by a Fullerton Police officer on May 27, 2020.

Hernandez’s death has sparked outrage among the Orange County community, with many arguing his death was unjustifiable.

On Tuesday evening, multiple people gathered outside of Fullerton City Hall to protest and demand answers as to why Officer Jonathan Ferrell shot Hernandez.

According to a news briefing from the Fullerton Police Department, at the night of Hernandez’s death, officers responded to a family disturbance from a 15-year-old who said his step-father, Hernandez, was intoxicated and threatening family members with a knife and had armed himself with a gun.

The briefing said officers gave Hernandez orders to safely detain him, but Hernandez walked back and forth between the front of the door and the street. Ferrell said he feared the safety of a 9-year-old inside the house, so he released his police dog to assist in an arrest.

“While it was unknown to officers at the time, Mr. Hernandez used the knife to stab K9 Rotar, with K9 Corporal Ferrell in close proximity as he was attempting to release K9 Rotar and facilitate an arrest,” according to the briefing. “This action resulted in an Officer Involved Shooting (OIS). Mr. Hernandez later passed away at area hospital.”

The shooting is currently being investigated by Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer and Hernandez’s family has hired their own attorney, hoping to obtain more information about the shooting, according to a Voice of Orange County story.

The Justice For Hector Hernandez! Coalition consists of multiple local organizations such as Law Enforcement VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

of education, but still felt it was important to get involved with the movement.

“SQE wants to maintain and build alliances with community organizations and community members. This is why we wanted to show up for the folks who are in need of support, and be in solidarity with them,” Lugo said. “This is something that SQE does in other neighborhoods and communities surrounding other CSU campuses like up in NorCal as well.”

Lianni Cruz, a human services and Chicana and Chicano

studies major at CSUF, is a member of MEChA de Cal State Fullerton, a political, social, educational and cultural organization.

Cruz said the club felt it was important to join the coalition to be there for the community and that it is also within their vision that police be defunded, demilitarized and abolished.

“Police continue to get slaps on the wrist at the expense of the lives of our communities and we have had enough,” Cruz said. “We hope that the impact of the coalition results in the demands that were asked for.”

EDITORIAL

Editor

As great as it could be in a situation that is as difficult as this.”

Ileana Lugo, a senior human services major at CSUF and member of Students for Quality Education, also known as the SQE, said she believes Hernandez deserves justice and spread awareness. She clarified that the coalition specifically focuses on bringing justice for Hernandez and keeping Fullerton Police accountable.

Lugo said the student organization focuses on issues within the CSUs and works toward equity, affordability and quality

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Four Cal State Fullerton organizations have also joined the coalition, including the College Progressives of CSUF, College Democrats of CSUF, Students for Quality Education and MEChA de Cal State Fullerton.

In a letter to the Fullerton City Council, the coalition listed demands that included the immediate firing of Ferrell.

They also want them to release the full, unedited sources of the body camera footage from the night of Hernandez’s death per AB 748.

The coalition also urges the city to immediately end its contract with Lexipol, a private firm that determines Fullerton Police Department’s procedures. The letter said the company lacks public oversight and limits community input on the policies officers must follow.

The coalition also wants the council to “form a task force by the end of April 2021 to investigate resources that can be diverted from the Fullerton Police Department budget to other preventative agencies, such as emergency response teams, that will promote community health, not police violence.”

Carolina Mendez, a fourthyear political science major and the president of College Progressives of CSUF, said the members of the coalition not only want to secure justice, transparency and accountability for Hernandez’s death, but also demand that the city addresses deeper systemic issues with policing.

“That’s what really caught my attention and so we started looking into it, and we developed a call to action that we presented to the city in the letter,” Mendez said. “They’re a step in the right direction, and so while we have short-term goals, we also have long-term goals that we’re fighting for.”

Mendez said that Tuesday’s rally at city hall went great as members from the family spoke along with other community members.

“It was a very touching moment of solidarity for the community expressing that unity with the family,” Mendez said.

“It was just a great atmosphere.

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CONTACT

Hector Hernandez was fatally shot by a Fullerton police officer in 2020.

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4 News

WEEK OF MONDAY, MARCH 22

Black community faces vaccine barriers Efforts to vaccinate minority communities are challenged by mistrust.

CAMERON WINSTON Staff Writer

Vaccination efforts have increased across Orange County, but recent health reports have showcased a disparity in communities of color, specifically the Black community, when it comes to vaccination.

As of March 15, Orange County has administered approximately 1.1 million doses. Black people make up 1.6% of the county’s population, yet only 0.3% have been vaccinated.

Fear and mistrust are monumental factors as to why these disparities are prevalent in the Black community, said Austin Nation, an assistant professor for the school of nursing at Cal State Fullerton.

“I think that there has been some sort of historical atrocity done to African American folks that has sort of been handed down throughout history that still plays to our mistrust around participating in any kind of treatment,” Nation said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s timeline, this ongoing rift of mistrust and fear can be dated back to the 20th century. In 1932, the U.S. Public Health Service infected hundreds of Black men with syphilis under the guise that they were being treated for “bad blood.”

The CDC states that the research was supposed to last for six months, but went on for 40 years, and the subjects did not know they were infected with the disease nor were they treated for it. This notorious incident is known as the “Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male.”

A COVID-19 vaccination site located inside a CVS in Lake Forest, California. (Danica Huynh / Daily Titan)

California has 3.5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, resulting in 56,118 deaths. Black people make for 6% of California’s population and account for 6.2% of reported COVID-19 related deaths in the state.

“I think one of the things is obviously getting more folks who are Black and brown out in the healthcare professions to be out there, so that people can see us in there when they come to show up and places and spaces to get the care that they feel they need,” Nation said.

With numbers that high in the community, skepticism still follows due to the history of distrust within the medical field.

During slavery, experiments by James Marion Sims, who is credited as the father of modern gynecology, used enslaved Black women as subjects without using any form of anesthesia.

Nation added that there have been medical experiments on

prisoners, primarily Black and brown people, that have reinforced that stigma. There has also been evidence found where the government forced communities to sterilize black women, he said.

“So, these kinds of things are not that far in our history,” Nation said. “To me, it’s no surprise when I think about all of the health disparities we have in our communities, why people don’t go to the doctor, sort of the white man with the coat, right? I don’t know if I would either.”

The Food and Drug Administration has a series of steps, and four main phases, that must be followed in order to get drugs approved prior to its distribution. The COVID-19 vaccine was approved under Emergency Use Authorization.

Even though healthcare workers have battled the virus since the beginning of 2020, some were still hesitant because of how fast it was developed, as was the case for

Kaneesha Juanetta Williams, a nurse practitioner at Playa Vista medical office in Los Angeles.

“You gotta be kidding me that in less than 12 months, you got this figured out,” Williams said. “It just didn’t make sense to me. Like I just, it didn’t make common sense to me, and it also just had too many unanswered questions.”

Williams was very skeptical in the beginning, she said.

But it was seeing her mom, a cancer survivor and a woman from Birmingham who witnessed the injustices and racism done to Black people, that made her decide to get the vaccine.

She said she wanted to do everything she could to support her and show her it was OK. Though there has been a high percentage of people in the community against getting the vaccine, some are confident in it and want to get it.

“And then, after going out of my way to learn about it, like research about it, like actually read articles, talk to black doctors and health experts that I personally know, and I’m close with, like, my prophyte, or my grandmother, or just people. I just listen to people on social media, like people talk about it,” said James Leassear, CSUF alumni. “I personally knew I was a little bit more confident in it.”

Nation said he blames poor judgement in providing adequate information to communities of color, specifically when they’re the most affected by it.

“I think that if people had their awareness raised about the severity of the pandemic, particularly a pandemic that’s in your backyard, perhaps you might do some different behaviors, if you know that it impacts you, versus just impacting people in general and the way that it has been,” Nation said.

Fall: Class availability to be prioritized 1 Although CSUF urged students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated, Virjee said it would still not be required, but if vaccinations throughout the campus community did not reach a certain goal, the university would have to rethink its plan for the fall.

“Students, faculty and staff who elect not to receive the vaccine will likely be required to undergo regular mandatory COVID-19 testing in order to return to in-person teaching, learning and working,” Virjee said.

In an email to the Daily Titan, Ellen Treanor, the associate vice president for strategic communications, said the university is optimistic about offering 60% to 70% of classes in person, but has not decided on how the university will track COVID-19 testing on campus.

Treanor said that the university wants to first ensure the campus community’s privacy, while also protecting them from exposure.

CONTINUED FROM

About 60-70% of fall classes are to be on campus. (Isaias Ruelas / Daily Titan) VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

“We have not worked out the best way to keep track of testing. Our sister campuses in the CSU have various programs, and we are working with vendors and the Orange County Health Department for the best system,” Treanor said.

Treanor said the university has also issued letters to all faculty and staff to verify that they work in the education sector in order to allow them to get vaccinated.

In another email, the Dean of Students Office specified that the university has created different choices for students when signing up for classes in the fall. The fall 2021 schedule goes live on March 22, and registration opens April 9.

Classes will appear as Web-Of for fully online instruction, Web-Oh for hybrid instruction and WebOc for online with required course meetings when students begin to register through the portal.

“Our plan to provide you with a substantial in-person learning experience in

the fall assumes, of course, that vaccines are available,” the email said. “We expect that by May or June, all adults who desire the vaccine will have access.”

The email said that individuals who cannot or choose not to attend an in-person class will be accommodated to the extent possible.

Treanor said that the university’s first priority is to determine class availability and student services such as resource centers, study spaces, food options, health and recreation spaces will be decided upon the number of those able to return.

“Some fear a fourth wave of infections and we see what is happening in Italy with great concern, but the picture in the U.S. is much stronger,” Treanor said.

“We are a public school and must adhere to state guidelines. Guidelines are changing as case counts drop and the effect of the vaccine allows for the relaxation of some of the most strict rules.”

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Lifestyle 5

WEEK OF MONDAY, MARCH 22

Costumes, comics and computer screens WonderCon 2021 will be held virtually on Friday and Saturday.

ANTHONY ROBLES Asst. Editor

Comic books, collectables, art and costumes as far as the eye can see — this what fans expect at an in-person comic book convention.

Seeing thousands of people dress up as their favorite superheroes or comic characters in a space where everyone wants to talk about their love for pop culture is an annual experience in Anaheim, but not this year.

Comic-Con International announced on its website that its annual social event WonderCon will be converted to an online format this year.

Over the past few years, the event has been held in person at the Anaheim Convention Center. This year, it will be held as an online experience called WonderCon@Home on March 26 and 27, and it will be free for all fans to attend.

The San Diego Comic Convention or Comic-Con International is a nonprofit public corporation dedicated to “creating the general public’s awareness of and appreciation for comics and related popular art forms.” A recent announcement from the corporation declared that its in-person summer event, San Diego Comic-Con, will also be postponed, with Comic-Con@Home taking place from July 23-25.

“The challenges of this past year and the postponement of our two largest events have left us with limited financial resources, therefore WonderCon@ Home will be a two-day celebration instead of the usual three days as we continue to marshal our resources for Comic-Con this summer,” according to theSan Diego Comic Convention website.

The announcements forced fans and convention-goers to the realization that the in-person mega-events will not occur for another year. After the complete cancellation of

the 2020 conventions, fans did not participate in their usual celebrations, including cosplaying as their favorite characters, buying and selling merchandise or attending exclusive studio panels.

In the past, WonderCon attracted many Orange County residents as well thousands of people from out of town. The event has been known to reach an attendance of around 40,000 to 50,000 people over the course of the 3-day experience.

Cal State Fullerton alumnus and healthcare worker Ralph Serranilla said that comic conventions are a great way to socialize and meet people.

“They’re actually really great places to make friends, network and actually do some business if you’re in the business of selling products or even buying some collectables, so I would firmly say that conventions are an amazing place to socialize,” Serranilla said. “I know I’ve met a lot of my friends through comic and anime conventions throughout the years.”

However, as a healthcare worker, Serranilla said that he also understands the reasoning behind conventions going virtual.

“Coming from the healthcare perspective, especially cause I’m working as a registered nurse right now, I believe virtual meetings and conventions are by far the safest way for everyone to meetup and socialize until the vast majority of the populous has been vaccinated,” he said. “So, I do welcome the virtual shows because I have attended some like Anime Expo late last summer in July and Comic-Con@Home as well.”

Fellow alumnus Arthur Dayot said he also enjoys conventions as well as cosplaying, having experiences with larger cons and CSUF’s own TitanCon. “I’ve been a major fan of anime since the start of college. I always viewed cosplaying and conventions to be one of the biggest things a fan can do, though I never had the finances to do so until I transferred in. Once I

WonderCon, typically held at the Anaheim Convention Center, will take place online on Friday and Saturday.

(Anthony Robles / Daily Titan)

learned of TitanCon 2019, I took the opportunity to start from there,” Dayot said in an email.

Another major part of WonderCon and pop culture conventions are the merchants and artists who participate in them. Many have experience working in the industry with well-known publishers like Marvel, DC and Dark Horse Comics.

Some artists and illustrators like Ken Meyer, Jr. have participated in comic conventions as far back as 1989.

Meyer said that the process of participating in conventions can be tricky, and that the online formats of WonderCon and Comic-Con will have an effect on his success.

“I have some degree of success, but not as much as a lot of people. I can only speak for my personal experience. It may work out great for some other people who are more well established, they’re going to do better at any event. Someone like me who’s a little more of a lower echelon of that sort of group, sometimes it can seem not worth the time spent and setting up any kind of presence,” Meyer said.

However, Meyer also said he has been able to establish himself with the popular collectible card game “Magic: The Gathering,” and he anticipates that he will return to the conventions when it is safe to.

For fans of comic

conventions, cosplaying and all things pop culture, the foreseeable future of all events looks to be virtual until Comic-Con International gets the green light to hold in-person events.

“It’s not the same, unfortunately, but in a way it also keeps the spirit alive and keeps us fans engaged at least through an online outlet, and I got to say for the time being it’s acceptable,” Serranilla said. “Of course I’d rather be meeting in person, seeing my friends, meeting new people but the realities of our situation forces us to make sure we keep each other safe rather than indulge in our wants.”

WonderCon@Home will take place online on Friday and Saturday.

People purchased pop culture merchandise at WonderCon 2018, held at the Anaheim Convention Center. (Anthony Robles / Daily Titan) VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

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6 Lifestyle Movie

REVIEW

“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” debuted on Disney+ on March 19.

ANTHONY ROBLES Asst. Editor

High-flying action sequences, explosions, epic fight scenes and superhuman powers are everything fans expect when Marvel Studios delivers a new installation to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What makes Marvel stand out is its ability to tell stories beyond intense action and superpowers with narratives that feel grounded and inspired by the world around us.

This unique storytelling continues with Marvel Studios’ newest original series, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” which premiered on Disney+ on March 19, only two weeks after its previous hit, “WandaVision” streamed its finale.

While fans may feel like the new show rides the coattails of “WandaVision’s” success, it is an entirely different experience — one that feels more grounded and less mysterious. The series’ action

WEEK OF MONDAY, MARCH 22

Marvel delivers a small-screen success sequences and plot were front and center in the first episode, while “WandaVision” took a slow-burn approach to storytelling.

While Marvel fans theorized about the plot of “WandaVision” until the last couple of episodes, “The Falcon and Winter Soldier’s” first episode leaves no time for theory as the plot dives straight into expository dialogue and the world’s state after the shocking events of “Avengers: Endgame.”

The series begins with Sam Wilson, also known as Falcon, played by Anthony Mackie, reminiscing over the iconic red and blue starred shield of Captain America that was gifted to him by Steve Rogers. Viewers will immediately recognize the internal struggle of a hero who is hesitant to call the shield his, ultimately feeling “like it’s someone else’s,” even with Captain America reminding him otherwise.

Bucky Barnes, also known as the Winter Soldier, played by Sebastian Stan, struggles to adapt to society. Barnes played an important role as Captain

America’s best friend throughout different adventures in the Marvel universe. However, fans will quickly remember that the Winter Soldier served as a villain for some time, aiding in terrorist schemes after being brainwashed by the Nazi terrorist group “Hydra.” After being rehabilitated, Barnes toils with the memories of the terrible missions he performed as the Winter Soldier.

While the premiere episode doesn’t immediately unveil the plot’s entirety, it’s safe to assume there will be plenty of twists as a new threat emerges called the Flag-Smashers — an organization focused on maintaining an idealized world that keeps the people unified without borders.

It’s an interesting concept and makes for an outstanding antagonist. Fans will agree that the best villains are ones that are relatable.

They have goals that are almost sympathetic,and are multi-dimensional.

It’s been confirmed that Baron Zemo, played by Daniel Brühl, will join the show, making this his first Marvel universe

appearance since 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War.” Zemo had a sympathetic motive as a villain in that installment, losing his family due to an event that the Avengers caused. His genius plan to divide the heroes and make them fight each other made for a compelling antagonist and fans will have to wait to see how Zemo uses his wits against the Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

While Marvel pulled out all the stops for its television projects, the one major drawback for the Disney+ Marvel shows is their inability to make regular fans feel informed or in the loop.

“The Falcon and Winter Soldier” is the second Marvel series on Disney+, released after “WandaVision.” With dates set for even more series such as “Loki” and “Hawkeye,” viewers have to be caught up on all the events in the Marvel universe to fully enjoy them.

While that may seem like a lot to ask from fans with a collection that involves over 20 movies, if they are willing to put in

the screen-time, the payoff is high. Marvel never misses out on the opportunity to give fans clues and Easter eggs from its other movies, which can make the viewing experience that much more enjoyable for eagle-eyed fans who love to theorize where Marvel is taking its future stories.

At its core, “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” feels like a grounded military-style adventure that sets up more of what is to come for the Marvel universe. Even further than that, Marvel gives fans time to explore these complicated characters in a way that seems more intricate than if they were to make this story a solo two-hour movie.

The series will follow these characters and introduce new ones as fans expect huge turning points.

It’s also safe to say that fans will ultimately understand the legacy of Captain America.

“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” will be a six-episode event with new episodes each Friday streaming exclusively on Disney+ until the final episode on April 23.

Disney+ VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

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Lifestyle 7

WEEK OF MONDAY, MARCH 22

STEM clubs plan first campus hackathon TuffyHacks invites students to learn about hacking and programming this weekend.

ALEXANDRA RODRIGUEZ Staff Writer

Cal State Fullerton’s STEM clubs such as acmCSUF and Theta Tau are hosting its first-ever hackathon starting March 27 at 11 a.m., where students from all over the world virtually participate in learning the latest innovative technologies.

This event was brought up by Rushi Sharma, Head of Logistics for TuffyHacks, Sam Sandoval, the CEO, and Ethan Davidson, Head of Technology, to create something different for computer science majors, and students from different majors.

“We have 40,000 students at our school and what do we have to lose to throw something like this together and bring in students who are interested in technology or networking or whatever skills, and put that to the test, and build something awesome,” Sandoval said. “We know our schools tried to do something like this, but struggles with logistics kind of got in the way.”

This free experience offers students the opportunity to learn how to build

programming systems for different platforms such as web, mobile, virtual reality and gaming among others. The hackathon will be broadcasted via Twitch and their website where students can watch the livestream and register.

The opening ceremony will be streamed and will allow for students to convene during the event, Davidson said.

To participate in TuffysHacks, students need to apply to receive an RSVP email to secure their spot and access to the event. With students registering from all over the world, the directors need to verify that they are from high school or college.

Hackers don’t need to have any experience with programming or hacking. There will be many resources for students who are beginners. The STEM clubs will be providing beginner workshops, such as Intro to Design and Create Your Own Discord Bot. There will also be mentors in the event who will be able to help individuals and teams with their projects during their designated shifts.

“There’s a specific Discord channel where a hacker can ask their question and they’d be assigned to a specific chat platform on Discord where they will be part of the chat platform with all the mentors then get

Clubs from the College of Engineering and Computer Science plan CSUF’s first 24-hour hackathon filled with workshops, contests and prizes. (Isaias Ruelas / Daily Titan)

assigned a mentor and they can go forward and have a conversation there,” Sharma said.

Mentors will be able to apply to be a mentor through the application process on TuffyHacks’ website separately from students. Students can create their programming systems individually, join a team with up to four members or be placed with a group of individuals where they get to meet people to start a project with.

“We do have a system where people can participate as a team of four, so they can either come with their own team of four people or we’ll have our team formation sessions

during the beginning part of the hackathon where they’re able to communicate and meet with potential people with similar skills and discuss and figure out a project topic,” Sharma said.

The STEM club has also created five challenges that will have extra resources, sponsored challenges and other events for hackers who want to boost their own project or need inspiration finalizing their system.

“We also have challenges that aren’t related to the projects that are individual based that are social media challenges, a meme challenge and a drawing contest,” Sandoval

said. “There’s plenty of ways people can compete either as an individual or as a group for their projects.”

There will be prizes distributed for each individual or team who wins any of the event’s challenges. Since the hackathon is 24 hours, the hosts will be putting on different events throughout the night to keep everyone awake, Sandoval said.

“This could be something that unites all the school and all the different clubs in the student life in this whole virtual setting,” he said.

The deadline to apply is March 25 at 11:59 p.m.

Column: Grieving without a goodbye COVID-19 restrictions cost us quality time with my late grandmother.

CLARA UTTENTHAL Staff Writer

Losing a loved one in a pandemic makes it impossible to say the thing that most people crave when they lose someone — a proper “goodbye.” The weight of unspoken goodbyes has left my family and I with grief, unpredictable anger, sadness and worse, guilt.

In January 2021, my grandmother passed away due to a non-coronavirus-related illness, but the pandemic took a toll on her passing, which still affects her closest ones today.

For many years, my grandmother had been unable to take care of herself,

so she lived in a nursing home where she was under 24-hour care. She suffered from various blood clots in her brain and lost all mobility in her right arm and leg.

However, these permanent constraints did not keep her from spreading joy and sharing her quick, unfiltered and often inappropriate comments while wearing a smile that managed to brighten the lives of even the crankiest people.

In September 2020, the nursing homes in Denmark adopted strict visitation rules to shield the most vulnerable populations from the fast-spreading COVID-19 virus. At my grandmother’s nursing home, only one individual resident was allowed to visit on a weekly basis.

It was not an easy task to choose who got to be “the

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CLARA UTTENTHAL VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

visitor” because my grandmother’s closest family consists of 12 members, but of course, we had to adhere to the rules for everyone’s safety.

A little before Christmas, my grandmother started to act differently. Her quirky comments became rare, and she started to seem confused about her surroundings. It was very unlike her usual social attitude, but we understood that it was probably the result of being stuck in the nursing home for three months without stepping outside. We decided that may be the reason she was not herself.

As COVID-19 cases continued to move through Denmark, we officially went into another lockdown before Christmas. My brother is in the military, and he

got called on duty to help at a testing center. He was able to bring COVID-19 tests home for all of us so we could get tested, celebrate Christmas together and visit our grandmother with a clean conscience.

My grandmother was extraordinarily quiet and tired on Christmas Eve. She passed away two weeks later.

Fortunately, her three children were by her side when she took her last breath, but due to the coronavirus, her children and grandchildren felt we had not been there for her in the months leading up to her passing.

We were not allowed to take her for a stroll around the block or invite her to our homes for her favorite meal and a glass of “carousel oil,” which is what she called

alcohol. For these missed moments, we feel guilty.

It’s a guilt that follows us around like a heavy shadow, and it’s impossible to get rid of. We walk around feeling that something is missing, and that absent piece is the head of our family.

We also feel guilty for not holding the funeral she deserved. The funeral was a rather impersonal experience with less than 20 people in the church, a “choir” consisting of two people and a quick “thanks for coming” message after the ceremony.

There were no festivities. It wasn’t what she would have wanted.

Dealing with death is never easy, but a funeral where you get together with people from near and far, share stories about the deceased and remember the good and the bad times is so valuable.

It’s the right way to say final goodbyes.

Hopefully, COVID-19 will be under control and most of the population will be vaccinated in the summer, so her closest family can gather and celebrate her life the way she would have wanted.

I know it is a cliché, but it’s so important to appreciate what you have because it may be gone tomorrow.

Take your grandparents for a stroll and have them tell you about their younger days.

It’s the small moments like these you will look back on when you do not have them anymore. If your grandparents live far away from you, give them a call or send them a letter to let them know you’re thinking about them, as I mourn the loss of my grandmother and the goodbye I didn’t get to say.

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8 Opinion

WEEK OF MONDAY, MARCH 22

EDITORIAL

As women in journalism, we don’t ask for much — just equality This semester, all three of the Daily Titan newsroom executives are women, and we felt we couldn’t let Women’s History Month slip by without addressing the hurdles that women face in the industry.

As the editor-in-chief, managing editor and digital managing editor, we virtually run a newsroom of over 70 people. Aside from the expected concerns as executives, being women brings additional obstacles.

While we are fortunate to have a progressive work environment that’s respectful and collaborative, there are collective struggles that female journalists have to overcome in their careers.

As female journalists, we worry about things our male counterparts never have to. We clutch our keys walking to our cars after a late shift at the newsroom. We speak to the occasional patronizing source who stares a little bit too long during an interview. We deal with a catcall or two while walking to cover an event, despite the press passes hanging off our necks.

In press conferences, we are shoved aside by larger men and forced to fight for our spot, both literally and figuratively. When covering events, we know that what we wear can often make or break if we get the quote. Our appearances will often be put before our voices.

We also recognize that women of color, women from the LGBTQ community and women with disabilities have their own set of struggles within the industry, often erased from the conversation of diversity and feminism. As if maneuvering the world as a woman-presenting person is not hard enough, racism, ableism and homophobia creates a greater distance between us and the door to inclusivity.

As we move into the workforce and out of the newsroom environment we have cultivated, there is always the fear of being reduced to our gender by others within and outside of the job.

A quick Google search will show countless articles detailing what female journalists face on the job — sexual harassment, stalking and sexist comments. Conditions have absolutely improved both in and out of the newsroom, but the double standards that women face daily are alive and well.

Two of us have worked as news editors, a niche that is historically dominated by men. While magazines and lifestyle pieces are often led by women, there are far fewer of us in political press conferences, city councils or court cases. As we wrestle with gender expectations in the

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realm of journalism, we know there will be extra hurdles.

Men may speak about the challenges women face within the industry without realizing they are talking over us. It is pivotal to recognize the subconscious participation people have in the system, and men should be elevating our stories rather than trying to dominate them.

Furthermore, as three women in power, we know that we face subconscious biases that even we ourselves carry. We are carefully walking the thin line between pushover and ice queen, and are subconsciously held to higher standards than our male predecessors.

Women in power, in every industry and field, have to worry about shallow concerns like the facial expressions they carry. If they don’t smile, there’s a possibility they might be perceived as angry. Yet, if they smile too often, they could be seen as too soft and ill-equipped to manage the workplace. Battling the internalized stereotypes that come with being in charge can leave us and the women that have come before us stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Across 200 news outlets in 10 different markets, only 23% of the top editors are women, according to a 2020 study conducted by Reuters Institute. In the U.S., women accounted for 41% of the top editors observed.

While these numbers have improved since years past, there are still significant improvements to be made as women across all industries slowly but surely achieve higher positions of power.

The women who came before us, from investigative journalist Ida B. Wells to TV broadcaster Robin Roberts, paved the way for us to occupy these spaces. We celebrate the women today who work in the industry despite the obstacles they are presented with.

Women in media — past, present and future — will continue to prove the importance of our voices.

Happy Women’s History Month.

Signed, Jessica Benda, Editor-in-Chief Madeline Gray, Managing Editor Karina Gutierrez, Digital Managing Editor

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Opinion 9

WEEK OF MONDAY, MARCH 22

Generation Z should value today’s resources KIM PHAM Asst. Editor

Generation Z is the demographic cohort for people born around the mid1990s’ to the early 2010s’, which also encompasses the age group who complain the most, oftentimes about technological advancements other generations weren’t so lucky to have in their younger years.

Gen Z exists in a world of modern technology and solutions, with access to resources so vast that they will likely never experience a shortage of basic needs in their lifetime. And yet, they’ve found a way to turn their first-world problems into daily struggles.

According to a 2019 Voice of America article, “Gen Zers are the first digital natives, born between 1997 and 2012, into a world of vast technological advances and innovations. They are unlike other generations, who either grew up without or came into adulthood during the rise of social media, smartphones and instant accessibility of information.”

With this generation’s upbringing occurring at the same time as the emergence of modern technology, it is apparent that these youngsters are not as appreciative of recent technological advancements as they should be.

For example, while

COVID-19 is not the first biological mutation to cause a world-altering pandemic, unlike other generations, Gen Z has been fortunate to continue their education in the face of a crisis due to the privilege of online learning. Yet, complaints from Gen Z about receiving an education virtually have yet to cease.

If this pandemic had occurred even a decade earlier, accessing education at all, let alone remotely, might have been close to impossible. It is important for Gen Z to recognize their blessings with online learning before taking it for granted.

With access to online cheat sheets and study platforms like Quizlet, Chegg and the depths of Google, Gen Zers have had academic success practically handed to them. There is no excuse for being unable to do the bare minimum, especially when students can do it in bed or while watching TV. Similar to the phrase, “Not all men,” it is only fair to address the fact that not all of Gen Z are ungrateful, privileged and lazy. But enough have

exhibited these qualities where a victim mentality is starting to look normal for anyone who identifies in this cohort.

Surrounded around the normalcy of accessibility and ingratitude, Gen Z has plagued itself with a victim mentality, often encouraged through the generation’s humor.

That being said, Gen Z can easily overcome this mindset through exposing themselves to more positive influences. Though there is no tutorial to life, there are foundational ideas and attitudes that Gen Z currently lacks to ensure bright futures for themselves and

JADE MCINTYRE / DAILY TITAN

the generations after them.

Gen Z needs to show more resilience, and they will do exactly that as they conquer this pandemic and use the things they have learned living in a remote world to help them live a better non-remote life.

Additionally, they need to refrain from smartphone reliance. Although Gen Z can leverage technology to find information in seconds, this has also become a major distraction.

It is easy to become emotionally detached from the world and complain about minor inconveniences when their eyes are locked to their phones. The cure to this addiction is quite simple: Gen Z needs to go outside.

Gen Z did not choose to be the center of this technologically driven world, but they should acknowledge that they are lucky enough to be raised by it. They should take advantage of these modern tools rather than let it control or distract them.

As a star t, Gen Zers can work toward altering their pessimistic, victim-oriented mentalities, and society can acknowledge that this generation didn’t choose to be born into such a technologically advanced era. By appreciating the technology many have misused and taken for granted, this generation might have a shot at redemption.

Royal family fails to recognize diversity Meghan should not have to endure racism from British news outlets.

KORIN CHAO Staff Writer

Days after Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, which aired on CBS on March 7, the statements and allegations made during the interview continue to make waves.

Finally opening up since they announced they would step away from the Royal Family, both Meghan and Prince Harry divulged information about life as royals — from the libelous tabloid articles, to not receiving help for mental health issues.

Meghan also broke her silence regarding her lack of freedom and experiences of racism within the Royal Family and media.

With this interview, Meghan highlighted a long unaddressed issue: women of color in high positions aren’t given the respect they deserve. Meghan stated that members of the Royal Family have allegedly had “conversations about how dark” her son, Archie’s skin would be when he was born. This type of discussion is not only a blatant display of colorism, but is racist as well.

Meghan said the Royal Family refused to give Archie a title, removed their security detail, put their family in danger and refused to help Meghan during her difficulties with mental health.

There was a point where Meghan rarely left her home and was told to lie low because of all VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

the horrible tabloid articles written about her, soon prompting her to consider suicide, she said. Despite telling the family this, she was not given the help that she asked for.

Meghan and Prince Harry did the right thing by choosing to step away from the Royal Family, rather than enduring this racist and neglectful behavior toward Meghan and Archie.

Meghan’s interview served as her speaking out about her mistreatment, making it clear that it is unacceptable.This mistreatment isn’t merely an invasion of privacy or misogyny from the press, but it involves racially charged behavior.

Meghan is the first woman of color in the Royal Family in modern times, and the difference in the way she is treated compared to her white counterparts is clear. The most common comparison made is between the U.K. press’ treatment of Meghan and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. There were times where the press wrote stories about each of the duchesses doing similar things, but the headlines would have noticeably different tones and connotations.

In one instance, there were stories written by the Daily Mail about Meghan and Kate holding their baby bumps during each of their respective pregnancies.

The headline about Kate stated, “Not long to go! Pregnant Kate tenderly cradles her baby bump while wrapping up her royal duties ahead of maternity leave — and William confirms she’s due ‘any minute now.’”

Meanwhile, the headline about Meghan said, “Why can’t Meghan Markle keep her hands off her bump? Experts tackle the questions that has got the nation talking: Is it pride, vanity, acting, or a new age bonding technique?”

Kate’s headline is positive in tone and expresses excitement for her, while Meghan’s headline insinuates that she is vain for holding her baby bump often. Any expecting mother would do the same, revealing the bias behind the attacks against Meghan specifically.

It comes as no surprise that a woman of color joining the Royal Family, an institution that is practically the poster-child for imperialism and colonialism, is met with prejudice and racism.

Meghan represents the people who the Royal Family have historically and systemically discriminated against.

While many publications were subtle in their attitudes towards Meghan, other headlines were blatantly racist, calling Meghan “monkey-faced,” using racial slurs, and even referred to her as a “trailer trash American.”

There were also headlines stating “Meghan’s seed will taint our Royal Family,” and that Meghan was “Straight Outta Compton.”

There is no way that anyone could deny that these headlines are racist. Racists have always seen people of color, especially those of African descent, as dirty, and the headline about tainting the Royal Family’s bloodline isn’t subtle about it.

While the Royal Family and

their team are usually willing to go out of their way to defend their own against the media, they don’t seem to have the same attitude when it comes to Meghan and the unrelenting attacks against her.

Leaving the family means freedom in several ways, from being able to speak out in an interview like Meghan and Prince Harry have done, to the ability to raise their family in an inclusive and accepting environment. It also allows time and space for Meghan’s mental health to improve.

Even now, the news and media are demonizing Meghan for speaking out about the lack of protection for her against the untrue stories being written.

It’s not right for the media to be so quick to demonize a woman of color while discussing

experiences she had, especially when it comes to her addressing her mental health and the racism she has faced. It’s diminishing and erases the struggles of women of color in favor of their white counterparts.

The media needs to learn to give women of color the same amount of respect as they give to others. More often, stories about white women are flattering and put them on a pedestal, while women of color are slandered and painted in a negative light.

The media needs to allow these women to tell their stories without erasing or downplaying their experiences. It takes a lot of courage for women like Meghan to speak out, and acts like these teach younger generations to speak out against discrimination.

JADE MCINTYRE / DAILY TITAN

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10 Sports

WEEK OF MONDAY, MARCH 22

Runs: CSUF wins twice via mercy-rule 1 Fullerton pitcher Sophie Frost got the nod for the Titans in the first and third games and earned victories in both outings. In game one of Saturday’s doubleheader, she pitched four innings and gave up three runs and six hits. Frost improved in her efforts on Sunday, as she tossed a complete game shutout in the series finale.

The two wins over the weekend move Frost’s record to 8-3 for the season and gives her a respectable 2.36 ERA. The win on Sunday also gave Frost her fifth-consecutive win in games she has started.

Sunday provided a competitive matchup between the two conference opponents, but the Titans broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning with a pair of runs and added an extra insurance run in the fifth inning to seal the lead.

Irie Siofele registered the first run for the Titans with an RBI single, which was followed by a sacrifice groundout by Peyton Toto to extend the lead.

Julian Valenzuela, who led the Titans at the plate batting 2-3, brought in Fullerton’s third run off an CONTINUED FROM

RBI single of her own. The senior currently leads the team at the plate with a batting average of .385 through the season.

On Saturday, the Titans opened the series as they won both contests by the run-rule and ended their afternoon slate early.

The bat of Daisy Munoz proved to be lethal throughout the afternoon, as the sophomore first baseman went 3-3 in game one and 2-3 in game two.

She contributed five RBIs in the first game and added another RBI in the Titans’ second victory.

In game one, Fullerton took a seamless 7-0 lead over Davis before the Aggies registered a three-run frame of their own in the fourth inning. The Titans swiftly quelled their efforts in the bottom half of the frame, and tacked on four more runs to claim an 11-3 lead.

Although the Aggies scored a run in the fifth, Fullerton earned a run themselves which brought the game to its conclusion at 12-4.

In addition to the play from Munoz, freshmen Peyton Toto had an exceptional afternoon as well, as she

batted 2-3 at the plate and provided two RBIs. The second game of the doubleheader followed a similar script as the first, however the Titans were anchored by an exceptional pitching effort by freshman Savannah Serrata who held the Aggies scoreless, and threw a six-hit shutout in Fullerton’s 8-0 victory.

The game marked Serrata’s first complete game shutout of her collegiate career, while bringing her record on the mound to 5-5 for the season.

Bailey Wallace provided half of the Titan’s runs in game two, as they went 2-4 batting and with four RBIs. She brought in runs in the third and fifth innings before she put the final nail in the coffin with a two-run RBI double in the sixth inning to wrap things up early.

“They came out ready to go. This whole weekend we prepared and they came up and they put up a really good fight,” Grimes said.

Fullerton will travel to UC Riverside over the weekend for another three-game conference matchup on Friday and Saturday at the Amy S. Harrison Softball Field.

Women’s golf places Women’s tennis 12th at Red Rocks takes second Invitational straight 7-0 victory Brittany Shin led Fullerton and finished in sixth place individually in the tournament at Sedona, Arizona.

TAMEKA POLAND Asst. Editor

Cal State Fullerton women’s golf finished the Red Rocks Invitational in Sedona, Arizona in 12th place on Sunday with a score of 66-over-par 930.

After nearly two weeks away from the greens, the Titans ended the first round of the tournament on Saturday in eighth place with a score of 19-over-par, but struggled to make the top 10 in rounds two and three.

The Titans went into Sedona with a team of Brittany Shin, Hakuka Koda, Lisa Djerf, Kayle Hunn and Sara Camarena.

Right out of the gate, Shin proved to be a force to be reckoned with, taking second place after the first round while shooting 2-under-par 70 — just two strokes behind leader Payton Fehringer of Grand Canyon University, who had a score of 4-under-par 68.

Koda tied for 28th place with a score of 8-over-par 77 and Djerf tied for 50th with a score of 12-over-par 79. Both Camarena and Hunn ended the first day tied with a score of 16-over-par.

With the second round moved to Sunday due to the dark skies, Fullerton looked to regain momentum individually and as a team in hopes to move up on the leaderboard, however that was not the case.

Shin finished the invitational tied for sixth place individually with a score of 4-over-par 220.

Koda kept her scoring consistent throughout the tournament,

tying for 36th place with a score of 16-over-par 232.

In the second round, Djerf shot 9-over-par 81 before improving in the third with a 5-over-par 77, placing her in 56th with a 21-overpar 237. Hunn improved on her first round score of 84 to shoot 8-over-par 80 in round two and 9-over-par 81 in round three, giving her a final score of 29-overpar 245 and tied for 83rd in the tournament.

Camarena finished her second round as she improved on her round one score by one stroke, but did not have a good final round on the greens as she shot an 18-overpar 90, bringing her three-round score to 35-over-par 251 and tied for 97th.

While the Titans finished in 12th place, there was a two-way tie for first place between Gonzaga and Grand Canyon. Both finished with scores of 20-overpar 884. Fehringer maintained the lead individually for Grand Canyon and Quynn Duong, with Gonzaga, came in second place individually.

Fellow Big West competitor UC Riverside also played in the invitational, coming in 13th behind Fullerton by six strokes.

The Titans will have another two weeks before they will travel to the Wyoming Cowgirl Classic.

The Wyoming Cowgirl Classic is set to take place April 5-6 in Maricopa, Arizona at the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club.

The Titans defeated the Fresno Pacific Firebirds on Saturday, improving their home record to 5-1 for the season.

DEVIN PUENTE Staff Writer

On Saturday, the Cal State Fullerton women’s tennis team made the most of their home court advantage as the Titans swept the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds for a 7-0 victory.

This victory marks the fifth home victory for the Titans as they hold a 5-1 record when playing at Titan Courts.

Fullerton has now won two-straight matches, both sweeps, as the Titans look to enter Big West conference play with confidence and a winning streak.

With the crucial doubles point in the balance, the Titans were able to get to a fast start in their three doubles matches.

Fullerton’s YuSeung Suh and Natalie Duffy grabbed the Titans’ first doubles victory against Fresno Pacific’s Daimy Paula and Alice Marques, 6-2.

Camila Garcia and Jadie Acidera secured the doubles point for the Titans as the pair defeated Fresno Pacific’s Sanne Brull and Alice Di Matteo, 6-2, which gave Fullerton a 1-0 lead going into singles-play.

In the final doubles match, Fresno Pacific’s Mariia Borodii and Lea Falentin played a tight set against Fullerton’s Eira Tobrand and Misaki Kobayashi.

Tobrand and Kobayashi were able to secure the victory without going to a tiebreak set as they won 7-5 to secure a Titans sweep in doubles play.

With a 1-0 lead in hand, Fullerton needed to win three of the six singles matches to secure their fifth home victory of the season. The Titans took the first point of singles-play as Suh only dropped two games in her 6-2, 6-0 victory over Marques.

Fullerton’s Juliette Daries sealed the Titans second singles victory, as she defeated Paula in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1.

The Titans sealed their second-straight victory as Kobayashi only lost three games in her 6-1, 6-2 win against Borodii. Despite gaining the four points needed for a victory, Fullerton and Fresno Pacific played out the remaining three singles matches.

The dominant singles play from Fullerton continued as Duffy was the next Titan to secure a win. Duffy’s 6-2, 6-2 victory over Di Matteo was the fourth singles victory for the Titans with two matches remaining.

After a close first set, Garcia did not drop a single game in the second set of her 6-3, 6-0 victory over Fresno Pacific’s Brull. Garcia’s victory moved the Titans one victory closer to their second-straight 7-0 sweep.

In the final singles match, Tobrand and Fresno Pacific’s Falentin battled in a tight straight sets match. Tobrand prevailed 6-4, 6-3 as the Titans completed their second-straight sweep without dropping a single set.

Fullerton’s impressive start to the season continues as the Titans currently hold a 6-3 record with a 1-0 record in Big West conference play after their March 6 victory over UC San Diego.

Fullerton will attempt to match their season-high three-game winning streak in their final non-conference match against Azusa Pacific University. The Titans will look to use their strong run of form at home to their advantage as their next two matches are at Titan Courts, including a Big West conference matchup against UC Davis.

The Titans will return to play at Titan Courts on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. against Azusa Pacific University.

Misaki Kobayashi and Eira Tobrand won their doubles match against Fresno Pacific on Saturday at Titan Courts. (Andre Gomez / Daily Titan) VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

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Leisure 11

WEEK OF MONDAY, MARCH 22

WRITTEN by Stepheny Gehrig

Do you know where Tuffy is?

Follow @thedailytitan and submit your answer on Instagram for a chance to win.

Follow us @thedailytitan

An upcoming event may turn out to be less than what you expected. Try to make the most of this event as the people you meet there might turn out to be people who will be in your future.

This week will hit you with the want for a partner, however this desire may have you falling for the wrong person. Don’t let yourself fall for someone who does not have your best interest at heart.

This week will bring you the motivation to try new things and finish up old tasks. Taking up new tasks that have been weighing on your mind will make you feel more free. Use this week to your advantage.

This week will be full of distractions. It may be difficult to do any schoolwork or any work around the house. To combat these distractions, try making a to-do list to keep yourself on track.

For you, this week will be full of excitement. Whether it is with an unexpected adventure or a new renovation, this week is full of exciting changes and events.

This week, you’ll be more sociable than ever. You may find yourself making new friends or even making small talk with people.

Reach out to new people, you never know who might be a life-long friend.

In a working environment, you might find yourself challenging yourself and comparing yourself to your coworkers. Keep in mind that you work at your own pace and that comparing yourself to others will not benefit you.

This week you are likely to remain energetic and the week will be favorable for you. Many relationships and friendships which you feel have gone stale will become more exciting during this week.

This week might prove to be a little challenging for you in regards to work and school. However, if you keep a positive mindset through this week, you might find yourself entering next week with an even better attitude.

You might feel like a background character this week, but those around you notice you.

Some of your distant friends may enter your life again -- keep your guard up, they might not have the best intention.

This week, you may feel more down or blue than usual. Dwelling on these feelings may drag you down. Allowing yourself to feel these emotions, but also moving on from them will be more beneficial for you.

This week, you might want to focus on your health. Try to focus not only on your physical health, but make sure that your mental health is good too. Give yourself a much needed break.

ON IG: FOLLOW yclub ciolog @csufso

Sociology Club

AKD Sociology Club is dedicated to applying Sociology in the community and providing valuable opportunities to students through workshops, community service, and opportunities networking with the faculty at CSUF. We provide students of all majors a safe hub with an emphasis on Sociology.

CSUF Sociology Club is part of Alpha Kappa Delta the International Sociology Honor Society. We hold our club meetings every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 4:15pm. On April 14th and April 15th, we will be holding our Sociology Week, discussing racism in the 21st century with prominent speakers. Our goal is to provide students at CSUF an opportunity to learn and discuss race, racial injustice, systemic racism, and start an educational conversation.

For your club or organization to be featured, email production@dailytitan.com with photo(s) and a description with no more than 125 words.

DIY Jamba Juice at Home Craving Jamba Juice? Have a blender at home? Make some of Jamba Juice’s most popular drinks at home now with these recipes. Just blend them together and enjoy!

Strawberry Surf Rider: 1/2 cup Peaches, frozen 1 cup Strawberries, frozen 1 cup Lemonade 1 cup Ice 1/2 cup Lime sherbet

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Razzmatazz: 1/2 Banana 1 cup Raspberry, juice 1 cup Strawberries, frozen 1 cup Ice 1 cup Sherbet, orange

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Strawberry Wild: 1 cup Apple-strawberry, juice 1 Banana 1 cup Strawberries, frozen 1/2 cup Vanilla nonfat frozen yogurt 1 cup Ice

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12 Sports

WEEK OF MONDAY, MARCH 22

CSUF baseball wins in extra innings Isaiah Garcia’s sacrifice RBI gave the Titans the victory at home over UC Santa Barbara on Sunday.

MATTHEW COOK Staff Writer

Cal State Fullerton baseball began their Big West conference slate this weekend, as they split a four-game home series against the University of Santa Barbara that gave the Titans a 6-12 record on the year.

Fullerton managed to split the series against UCSB, thanks in part to their extra inning efforts which gave them a 10-9 victory on Sunday. Isaiah Garcia gave the Titans the go-ahead in the 10th inning with an RBI flyout to win the game.

The Titans dropped the first two games of the four-game series, but rebounded in the following contests with two victories of their own.

The series began on Friday at Goodwin Field with a rough start for Fullerton as they scored only two runs in the game.

UCSB jumped out to a quick start against senior pitcher Tanner Bibee, as they scored six runs in the first three innings on their way to a 9-2 victory.

With nothing much to celebrate in the first game, the Titans attempted to even the series on Saturday against the Gauchos in a doubleheader.

Once again, Santa Barbara jumped out early in game two with back-to-back home runs in the first inning. The Titans managed to take the lead after scoring four in the second inning, but a late game surge for Santa Barbara allowed them to win the game, 114. The Gauchos had four total home runs in the first game of the doubleheader.

In game two the Titans turned the tables and took the lead in the first inning and did not look back. A dominant combined pitching performance by Landon Anderson, Jake Vargas and Cameron Repetti held Santa Barbara to only one run. Anderson made his first start of the season, struck out seven batters and took the victory. Vargas and Repetti closed out the game from the bullpen and did not allow a single run on only one hit.

Fullerton came into Sunday and looked to split the series. It was an intense back-and-forth game, but the Titans came out of it with a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 10th inning.

The Gauchos jumped ahead in the second inning, taking a one-run lead but the Titans answered right back with a two-run home run by Brendon Bobo in the bottom half of the inning.

Santa Barbara then hit a two-run home run, regained the lead in the third inning and added another run in the fifth to extend the lead to 4-2.

Jake Gentry responded in the bottom half of the fifth for the Titans by blasting a two-run double to tie the game at four runs each.

UCSB continued to score as they put up three runs in their half of the seventh, taking a 7-4 lead. The Titans battled back and put up five runs in the seventh themselves, with a big three-run RBI double by Jason Brandow as the highlight of the inning.

Going into the ninth inning, the Titans held a 9-7 lead and it seemed promising to obtain a series split against a good Gaucho team. Fullerton failed to close the game in the ninth as Broc Mortensen of UCSB hit a two-run home run to tie the game again.

With no outs recorded by the Gauchos in the tenth, the Titans had the bases loaded. Garcia came to the plate and hit a fly ball to right field, and a nice diving play by the Gauchos right fielder preserved the out, but it was deep enough for Zach Lew to score and win the game, 10-9.

Although 6-12 is not an ideal start for the Titans after 18 games, there is still a lot of season left to get back on track.

Some notable play by both Zack Lew and Caden Connor of the Titans helped them split the series. Lew went 6-15 at the plate this weekend while Connor went 8-18 with four runs batted in.

The Titans continue their Big West conference play against UC Riverside next week in another four-game series that starts on Friday.

Carter White batted 3-5 against UCSB on Sunday at Goodwin Field.

(Cristina Zapata / Daily Titan) VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

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