Week of Monday, October 18 by Daily Titan

Monday, October 18, 2021

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

Volume 110 Issue 9

Queens in drag dazzle Cross country lands in top three and rock the stage Women’s cross country earned their second victory of the season while men’s finished in second at Highlander Classic. ANTHONY BAUTISTA Editor

Drag queens dazzled crowds of students with stunning dance performances at the Housing Plaza on Oct. 14. (Matthew Keyser / Daily Titan)

In an event hosted by Rainbow House, queens took center stage after a year spent online. NICOLE MARIONA Asst. Editor

The first year in college can be seen as a time for exploration where a person can explore their true selves — possibly as a drag queen. Cal State Fullerton’s LGBT Queer Resource Center provides safe spaces to be whoever you want — a space that the Drag Show in the Housing

Plaza provided on Oct.14 from 7-9 p.m. Julio Hernandez, first-year business major, who uses she/her pronouns when he’s in drag, volunteered in his first public performance in the CSUF Drag show. He progressed from wearing wigs and dancing in front of his friends to performing before crowds of students at the drag show, who waved their pride flags in support. He said he felt the nerves breaking down on him, but he loved performing regardless. Hernandez flaunted his golden

NEWS

flapper dress that glistened under the show lights as he danced in the center of the crowd with other drag show performers, known as queens, whose drag names are Nikki Licious, Cassie Love, Katalina De Isla and Xotica Erotica. Hernandez said he was able to participate in the event because he attended a prior event hosted by the Rainbow House, where he was introduced to the Diversity Initiative Resource Center. SEE PRIDE

In the penultimate weekend prior to the Big West conference championships, Cal State Fullerton men and women’s cross country teams had a strong outing at the Highlander Classic on Oct. 16. Led by the women’s team who finished the 6K race in first place with 35 points, 53 more points than second-place UC Irvine which finished with 88 points, while New Mexico State University rounded out the top three with 112 points. The men’s team nearly completed the second half of the sweep in the 8K race as the team finished with 78 points — just three points shy of first place Cal Baptist University. Grand Canyon University finished in third with 113 points. The women’s race featured 25 different colleges and universities, with a field of 262 participants. The men’s race had 26 colleges and universities participate, with 290 athletes who took part. Fullerton had four top 10 finishers in the women’s race, starting with senior Trinity Ruelas who wrapped up the race in second place individually with a time of 20:04.7. She finished just under six seconds behind first-place finisher and

LIFESTYLE

Associated Students celebrates food pantry with grand opening

graduate of San Jose State, Jennifer Sandoval. “We have a young team, but they certainly do not race like one. I am really excited to see how we perform at conference, and I just want to continue to contribute to the team as we will be sure to surprise people,” Ruelas said. CSUF sophomore McKaylie Caesar ended in sixth place and clocked in at 20:51.7. Titan freshman Mia Bergman came in eighth and junior Dana McGrath placed in ninth. The pair finished within two seconds of each other, at 20:56.6 and 20:58.1, respectively. For the men’s squad, senior Sam Ayala led the team as he finished in fourth place with a time of 24:04.3 The next Titan to cross the finish line for the men’s squad was sophomore Alexis Garcia, who came in fifth place with a time of 24:10.1. Senior Jacob Smith was the next finisher for the Titans with a time of 24.22.7, which landed him in 12th place in the individual rankings. After the race, head coach Marques Barosso said, “Coach Tebbe is doing a great job peaking the athletes at the right time and we are looking forward to how the team performs at conference and regionals.” Next up, Fullerton will host the Titan Invite on campus at the Titan Track Complex on Oct. 22, before competing in the start of the Big West championships on Oct. 29 at Wildhorse Golf Club in Davis, California.

OPINION

‘Spongebob’ musical serves up super-soaked fun for everyone

UFC abuses interim titles for publicity despite fighters’ dissent.

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CSUF to offer 80% of spring classes in-person AMBER JUAREZ Editor

Cal State Fullerton’s spring class schedule has been released, with 80% of classes being offered in-person compared to the 60% of undergraduate classes offered in-person this semester. In an email sent to CSUF students regarding the spring class schedule Carolyn Thomas, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, and Vice President for Student Affairs, Tonantzin Oseguera said the university will be offering more in-person classes during the spring semester for its students rather than online classes “This spring, about 80% of our courses will be offered in-person, while the remaining 20% will be

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offered online or hybrid,” the email said. “This means that this spring, while there will be some online courses, most courses will not be offered in an online modality and accordingly, it will be quite difficult for students to register for a completely online schedule.” Jordyn Seward, a freshman psychology major, said she prefers in-person classes over online classes. “I feel like I can’t study well alone, so I need to go in person to force me to actually study and understand,” Seward said. Before the pandemic, 90% of the classes were in-person, but the university shifted to online learning in March 2021. During the semester, the university continued to provide some classes virtually in order to ensure flexibility in case health and safety

guidelines demanded it. Seward said the university should continue to provide in-person classes and online classes for students because everyone works differently. “Some people work better in different ways. So like, I work better in-person but other people might work better with zoom,” Seward said. Due to continuous improvement in health and safety guidelines in the area, the university is now planning for a regular spring semester on campus, according to the email. Online and hybrid classes will also be available during the spring semester for students and faculty members who prefer to work online rather than in person. “We have doubled the number of online and hybrid offerings for spring when compared to pre-pandemic offerings going from 10% to 20%,” Thomas

and Oseguera said. “It is our expectation that we will continue to adjust and possibly increase the offering of online and hybrid options in future semesters, depending on demand, the increased effectiveness of online and hybrid modalities, and other factors.” Freshman and studio arts major, Kylie Nguyen, said the university should continue to offer both in-person and online classes to accommodate all students. “I think it would be best to compensate you know for people who don’t really want to be in class for COVID reasons,” Nguyen said. The email said that the university is not planning on providing more online or hybrid classes for two reasons — classes must be approved beforehand and the university believes the Titan way of learning is done in-person.

In order for a class to be approved to be taught online or as a hybrid, the class must be reviewed so the university can know that the classes offer students a high-quality learning experience, according to the email. “The classes students take are, of course, an important part of the experience of higher education that transforms your life,” Thomas and Oseguera said. “Also important, however, are the co-curricular opportunities offered on campus, the relationships that form on campus, and the exchange of ideas that happens, often unplanned, on campus. For these reasons and others, even as we embrace more online and hybrid learning options, we will continue our primary focus on in-person education experiences.” Registration for spring classes open on Monday, November 1.

2 News

WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 18

Years later, professor returns to alma mater JESSICA BENDA Asst. Editor

On a hot Friday afternoon, the Clayes Performing Arts Center is still busy. Piano drifts through blue-tinted hallways of the second-floor as someone sings opera, while others rifle through sheet music or paint their faces with stage makeup. We bypass these doors to travel to a door lining one of the center’s outer hallways — Dustin Barr’s office, the director of wind studies and associate professor of music. Diplomas cling to the far wall, a desk snug in the room’s middle. Books spill on the shelf to the side. On the left wall, a picture of his son, who is newly three and already fond of his own toy trumpet. The most prominent part of the Cal State Fullerton office is the man who stands in it. His words are polished and genuine, an audible echo of how he conducts. Like the students he teaches, he left CSUF with an undergraduate in trumpet performance and a masters of music in instrumental conducting. Barr now leads within the same halls he walked as a student. All because of a risk.

The Risk

Fresh out of graduate school, 24-year-old Barr landed a teaching job at Mount San Antonio College, which turned into a full-time position. After four years, he was on the brink of tenureship, but something tugged at him that he wasn’t done with his personal growth. He said he was faced with a choice: to stay at a successful job he loved or pursue a doctorate. Just as he was tenured, he resigned. Barr left sunny Southern California for the midwest, planting new roots at the University of Michigan to pursue his doctorate of musical arts. He recalls how people called him crazy for leaving Mount San Antonio, but he has no regrets. “There was a part of me that just still felt like I wasn’t done,” Barr said. “I still felt like there was more for me to learn about my art. And though I could probably have spent my career there and been happy there, I don’t know that I would have been as artistically fulfilled. So, I decided the risk was worth it. And again, was told I was crazy — and may have been.”

Dustin Barr, director of wind studies and associate professor of music, has many years of experience conducting. (Dustin Barr)

Barr said his risk paved the path for a teaching position at Michigan State’s College of Music just after Barr’s graduation, where he worked happily until returning to the more merciful winters of California. When he received the job at CSUF, he said returning was a wonderful homecoming. “I couldn’t be happier to have found my way back to Southern California, back to Cal State Fullerton, to this place I love and to be working here to teach a whole new generation of students who I very much see myself in,” Barr said. “Because I think my story, my background is very quite similar to many of the students that walk through these hallways.” From a rural area in high desert California, Barr and his brother were the first in their family to pursue college. The reputation of CSUF’s School of Music caught his eye, and when he was awarded a presidential and music scholarships after his audition, he was hooked.

The Choice

Years before, one relative played a substantial part in spurring Barr’s future. Barr’s grandfather was untrained

in music, but passionate all the same. Instruments were scattered around his home, and while he was not very accomplished at any of them, he loved them deeply anyway. When Barr visited as a child, there was always some sort of “very unstructured” music-making. What seemed like simple visits were planting the seeds of Barr’s appreciation for music. When Barr was 10, he tried out the trumpet in his school’s music program. He had a knack for it, and as years progressed, so did his skills. By the time he hit high school, he played in various ensembles or another every night of the week. “Music was my safe space,” Barr recalled. “And I think it was always a place that I found warmth and comfort and safety and fulfillment and challenge, and all of those things combined.” His true passion may have been music, but Barr and those around him anticipated his future in engineering. But as college applications arrived, Barr wondered if he was only going down that path because it would provide a financially stable future.

Just as he would a decade later, he had two paths, one riskier in the other. When he came face to face with deciding his major, he knew. It had to be music.

The Outcome

Barr sits in his CSUF office — the payoff of such risks — accompanied by a staggering to-do list. Among these tasks, and perhaps the most important, is shaping students. While early music often emphasizes correct and incorrect — like playing the right note in the right place — Barr said it goes beyond producing the right outcome. “I think my primary job as a music educator is to be able to unlock the potential to hear possibilities,” Barr said. “There’s so much more to sound and art in music than that the depth of the note, the sonority of the note, the certain inflection of a note, all these things that actually can’t be put on paper that can’t be notated are incredibly important.” He explains it as getting students not to just hear what is but to imagine the possibilities of what could be right. Barr said his most proud teaching

moments are when he sees evidence of that happening, when students go beyond just the notion of music being sort of right or wrong, correct or incorrect, and instead, seek out the notion of best possible. Such tactics seem to have been successful. Nationally ranked, CSUF’s wind symphony was one of eight groups across the United States and Canada invited to perform at the 2019 College Band Directors National Conference, which was a first in a 60-year history. Their last concert, at the beginning of October, Barr said they performed a piece written by an alumnus — a musical reflection about the havoc of 2020, including the pandemic and political discourse. The concert’s bottom floor filled so tightly that it was standing-room only. In his office, Barr remembers the risks he took and how they got him here. “There’s a certain element of the profession where you have to kind of go away in order to come back,” Barr said. “If not for taking that risk, I don’t think I’d be here today.”

Academic Senate discusses higher education bills DARIUS JOHARI Asst. Editor

During Cal State Fullerton’s Academic Senate meeting, Senator Irene Matz, College of Communications and chair of faculty affairs, voiced the concerns of the academic senators in the passing of the recent state bills involving higher education. “We, as senators, need to do better in talking to the people in Sacramento about these bills before they are created,” Matz said. “So they have our input, especially when it refers to our curriculum.” Gov. Gavin Newsom visited Cal State Northridge on Oct. 6 where he signed a $47.1 billion higher education package and a series of bills aimed at higher education. The bills have raised concerns about how the school systems will need to adapt and how they could affect future transfer students. The biggest concern that Matz brought up during the meeting was the passing of Assembly Bills 928, 927 and 1111. According to the Chair’s Report, AB 927 is designed to increase the number of bachelor’s degrees offered at California Community Colleges while AB 928 creates a single undergraduate VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

General Education pattern and program for the University of California, Cal State University and California Community College systems to follow. AB 1111 requires the CCC system to adopt a common course-numbering system that ensures that similar courses align with transfer requirements for CSU and UC systems. As far as the impact of the passing of these bills, the Chair’s Report stated that the impact this will have on the General Education packages in the school systems is unknown, but the UC system has the ability to opt out of it. “The Academic Senate of the CSU passed resolutions in opposition to these pieces of legislation and is disappointed in the outcome,” the Chair’s report said. “We will continue to monitor but also work to make the implementation of AB-928 match the curriculum and values of the CSU as much as possible.” After a unanimous vote, the Academic Senate also passed the CSUF Resolution on Course Retirement Academic Year 2021-22, which would suspend the course retirements for the academic year 2021-22. According to the CSUF Resolution, the University Policy Statement

411.100, Section IX D prescribes that any course that has not been offered in four years shall be retired from the university curriculum and the university catalog by the Office of Academic Programs. The suspension was first implemented during the August 2020 Academic Senate meeting in response to the coronavirus pandemic, given that a number of courses were only offered in the virtual setting. The resolution states that given the nature of some courses, having them be offered in a virtual setting was difficult or impossible and some courses were, therefore, not offered during the 2020 spring and fall semesters and during this fall semester. Meyer voiced his concerns about the academic retirement of courses in relation to the College of the Arts Department of Theatre and Dance. Meyer teaches a seminar in technical production as part of the Master of Fine Arts and technical production. He said that it’s not uncommon for the class to have very few students in that program. “If we don’t have new students coming in, this class that’s offered every other year might not be offered for four or five years,” Meyer said. “If we have the course eliminated, you’ve eliminated the program. So we need to find

a way that we can keep courses for smaller programs.” Stanley said that she would like to hear students’ opinions on the subject. She said that some other campuses

have rotation plans and courses that are laid out four years in advance so that students can get an idea of what’s really feasible for their time period

The Academic Senate passed a course retirement resolution at their meeting on Oct. 14. (Eliza Green / Daily Titan)

News 3

WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 18

ASI food pantry celebrates with grand opening

A grand opening ribbon cutting took place on Oct. 12 at the TSU. (Frank Portillo / Daily Titan)

Upcoming university events for the week of Oct. 18 TRAVIS JEPEWAY Staff Writer

TEDxCSUF Conference Cal State Fullerton will have a TEDxCSUF conference on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. in the Titan Student Union Pavilion. TEDxCSUF will host events and conferences to showcase the ideas of CSUF’S faculty, students and community leaders. Maria Angelica Hernandez, a first-generation CSUF college graduate, will speak on the importance of students seeking mentorship to help build their career and lives. Hernandez landed an internship with NASA and then went on to work for IBM in New York City. The event is free for CSUF students. More information can be found VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

and fulfill the role of graduating with a college degree. But in order to achieve that, it’s important that they have the necessary resources to promote that academic excellence; sustain a healthy mind and body, and minimize the stress and anxiety,” Bartlett said. Jennifer Ramirez , an assistant with the food pantry, said that she has also benefited from the pantry’s existence and that it has saved her money on groceries. “There are eggs, there’s milk and there’s even produce. This has really helped me and my family,” Ramirez said. As a commuter, she said sometimes the commute is an hour-long drive and that it helps to have a snack because sometimes she has headaches. “My family is also really grateful that our university is offering assistance like this. Not only for me, but for other students who probably need more help,” Ramirez said.

The networking event, “Dinner with 12 Titans” begins on Oct.18 and will run through Oct. 21 for the virtual sessions. The in-person event will be on both Oct. 23 and Oct. 24. Students will have the chance to meet industry professionals and ask questions over a casual dinner. A list of the hosts attending is available online. Students can visit the CSUF website news page and find more information under the events tab.

Forest Bathing Arboretum

the

Visit the Arboretum Oct. 23 from 8-10 a.m. and 4 - 6 p.m. to join in the activity of forest bathing. This event will consist of a guided mindfulness experience to help reduce stress and enhance health. The cost is $25 for members and $30 for non-members; the tickets are available through advanced registration on the Arboretum’s website.

Tonantzin Oseguera, the vice president for student affairs, said that this mission was personal to her as someone who faced food insecurity during her college years and as a child. She said that roughly 73% of students are non-traditional, which means they attend college part-time while being employed full-time and are financially independent. “Food insecurity has doubled among our Cal State Fullerton students since the pandemic began in spring of 2020. Given these challenges, these students find it difficult to support themselves while also attending college,” Oseguera said. CSUF President Fram Virjee thanked the current ASI leaders for voting to fund the pantry and the former ASI leaders for getting them to this moment. “I’m so excited to have the food pantry open. It’s been a long time coming. We’ve been working hard for a number

of years and we had a bunch of impediments but now we’re finally here. Our students deserve this and I love that this is a student-led initiative,” Virjee said. Virjee spoke about visiting Cal State Fresno during his time as General Counsel for the CSU system almost 10 years ago and meeting ASI students who first introduced him to the topic of food insecurity. At the time, he didn’t know what they were referring to, he said. “Then they started telling me what they really meant, which was, students were hungry. Not only were students hungry, but their families were hungry too. I had not focused on that; that we had students and families in the CSU who were hungry. And I was shocked,” Virjee said. He said the plan is to expand in a way that allows the pantry to serve way more students in the future.

Editor-in-Chief Taylor Arrey Managing Editor Michelle Ibañez News Editor Lily Lopez News Deputy Emily Godinez News Assistants Jasmine Raine Rivera Jessica Benda Emily Melgar Sports Editor Anthony Bautista Deputy Sports Editor Marisa Palmerin-Flores Sports Assistant David Goodkind Jeseny Escobar

Opinion Editor Vanessa Siguenza Opinion Assistants Kryrstin Huxtable Hugo Rios Nollyanne Delacruz Lifestyle Editor Nicole Trinidad Deputy Lifestyle Editor Jessica Choi Lifestyle Assistants Eder Ramirez Darius Johari Layout Editor Amber Juarez Deputy Layout Editor Frank Portillo

Layout Assistant Therese Lim Copy Editor Stepheny Gehrig Deputy Copy Editor Jessica Bernal Copy Assistants Guadalupe Rodriguez Stephanie Jasso Dimitra Doiphode Photo Editor Eliza Green Photo Assistants Danica Huynh Jon Buzdar Daniela Navarro

Director of Sales Isabel Cambiaso Marketing Manager Dakota MacDonald Marketing Coordinators Norma Vazquez Connor Hedges Annie Kuo

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Distribution Manager Kim Pham Graphic Designers Josephine Tang Allison Nishi Faculty Adviser Michelle Kurland

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on the TEDxCSUF instagram (@ TEDxCSUF).

Dinner with 12 Titans With Cal State Fullerton entering the midway mark of the fall semester, university organizations continue to offer a wide variety of activities for students to take part in. Here are three upcoming events for students to check out:

ASI president Josh Mitchell (left) and ASI board of directors chair Mary Chammas (right) speak during the ceremony. (Frank Portillo / Daily Titan)

EDITORIAL

In an effort to combat food insecurity on-campus and students’ homes, the Associated Students food pantry — which took four years to bring to fruition — was celebrated with a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Titan Student Union. Since opening on Aug. 23, the pantry has helped over 1,200 students and their families by providing them with essential foods like milk, eggs, pasta and tuna, among others. The pantry is currently open to all students who are in need of food. There ar no requirements or qualifications to use the resource. Students can visit once a week by appointment or as a walk-in. “We are thrilled that the pantry will provide a positive impact for students in need by lowering barriers to food access. Most students who experience food insecurity have a strong negative impact on their GPA and diminishing academic outcomes. With the help of our food pantry, we’ll be able

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to provide healthy food sources for students in need, in hopes that this will impact their academic and personal wellbeing,” said Mary Chammas, the ASI board of directors chair. Among those in attendance were fifth district supervisor Lisa Bartlett and former ASI leaders who have supported the food pantry opening. “Food insecurity, as you know, continues to be a very serious issue among not just residents of Orange County, but in particular with students and when you think of the thought of going to class and you’re hungry and your stomach is growling, that’s just never a good thing because it’s really hard to concentrate,” Bartlett said. While many colleges have introduced food pantries on campus, the growing number of students seeking assistance not only speaks to the effectiveness of having a pantry available, but it also shines a spotlight on a growing problem, Bartlett said. She said that students should never be forced to choose between a textbook or a healthy meal. “We all want students to be successful and enjoy the college experience

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4 Lifestyle

WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 18

Pride: Resource Center empowers queer community CONTINUED FROM

He was then welcomed by the LGBT Queer Resource Center after reaching out to their coordinator to perform at the annual drag race show. “I loved performing tonight, tonight was honestly one of my fun moments here on campus,” Hernandez said. Nat Betancourt Arellano, coordinator for the LGBT Queer Resource Center, said the event was an example where students could play with gender and their sexuality and have fun, while feeling empowered. They said that as a non-binary bisexual person, they feel safe and affirmed. Arellano said that the LGBT Queer Resource Center collaborates with student housing, where the LGBTQ community housing resides — the Rainbow House — to set up the Drag Show events. They said funding towards these events are from both student housing and from donations given to the resource center. Arellano said the donations also fund the Ericksen LGBTQ+ Grant Program, where they’re awarded up to $500 for those in the community experiencing a sudden emergency crisis. The center has also accepted clothing donations to upkeep the gender affirming closet, and money donations to purchase chest binders for students who want a flat chest and to have a better experience with their bodies and expressing who they are. The queens at the drag show also accepted money donations as bills passed to them while the queens made their way to the crowd. They also had the help of the center’s crew that signaled a QR code for anyone who wanted to donate to the queens electronically.

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Students cheer on the performers by waving pride flags in the air to celebrate the drag queens’ return to the stage. (Matthew Keyser / Daily Titan)

Another amenity included at the event was the exuberant music vibes played by Titan Radio. Shelby Stancliff, fourth-year CTVA and entertainment and tourism major, said the way she and her Titan Radio co-workers went about choosing the music was by thinking about what would “pop” or get people to start dancing. “We just think gay classics and what is high energy,” Stancliff said while the song, “Promiscuous” by Nelly

Furtado and Timbaland was playing in the background. “We made a playlist of some gay hits that we know everyone will love.” The queens provided their own music to dance to while performing at the event. Students were feeling themselves to the music the four featured queens were performing along to, like the go-to hip-swaying song “Lady Marmalade’’ by Christina Aguilera. Students said the drag show was an “impressionable experience,”

especially for those who are attending their first show. Jaron Ramos, third-year business major, said he attended a drag show before the pandemic as a firstyear student and was excited to attend the show. He said since he went to car shows where drag people performed before going to class in-person, he said the center’s drag show had the same amount of community and enthusiasm. The last drag show that the center

hosted was before the COVID-19 pandemic, and RJ Absamis, firstyear American Studies major, said it was nice to see the ongoing support for the community. Absamis said that drag shows are an embracing space that will motivate people to get in depth with the process of drag and how important it means to queer history. “To have this during LGBTQ+ coming out week, it’s a really big deal,” Absamis said.

Lifestyle 5

WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 18

Musical REVIEW

The Little Theatre production based off the hit Nickelodeon show is a must-see for both newcomers and longtime fans. FRANK PORTILLO Editor

Bikini Bottom was brought to life in an incredibly fun and charming performance of “The SpongeBob Musical” in the Little Theatre this weekend. The musical, based on the animated hit Nickelodeon series, was a great show for an audience of all ages and brought the house down with humor, emotion, amazing vocal performances and great musical numbers. This production, directed by alumna Sarah Ripper, hit on all aspects of production and was especially elevated by the wonderful student performers in the company. The plot followed impending doom for the fictional town of Bikini Bottom as a seamount is about to erupt. With only a day left to live, Spongebob, Patrick and Sandy set out to save the day while Plankton capitalizes on the doomsday scenario by plotting one of his evil schemes. All the lead characters were perfectly cast by actors who embodied the

‘Spongebob the Musical’ makes a splash on the CSUF stage

spirit of these iconic characters. Leading the show as SpongeBob was Wyatt Hatfield, whose seemingly effortless portrayal of the character’s childlike innocence and amazing voice made for a memorable performance as he smiled, danced, sang and shimmied his way through the night. He’s a truly wonderful performer who is featured in many of the show’s songs and he delivered on each and every one with such charm and charisma integral to his role, never breaking his smile that lit up the auditorium. The show began as a typical Spongebob affair, through the lens of a musical, and then became a poignant message about coming together in the face of chaos and the importance of community. This message is brought home by Hatfield’s fantastic performance of “Best Day Ever.” Hatfield wasn’t alone in his excellent performance, as Kainoa Miller rocked a pink wig while playing Spongebob’s best friend Patrick Star. The two had great chemistry and really sold some of the more emotional moments in the show, evoking audible gasps from the crowd. He played Patrick in a humanizing way, giving the character emotional depth while also nailing the comedic moments the character is most known

for. Audrey Lyn Crabaño rounded out the friendly trio as Sandy Cheeks. Her performance was certainly one of the stand-outs in the company as she commanded the stage with authority, which is perfect for her character. She embodied the strong female that Sandy is, while also tapping into her more vulnerable side, by displaying amazing physicality with her high kick and cartwheel skills. The trio’s performance of “Hero is My Middle Name,” was easily one of the most memorable in the show. All that being said, the standout performance came from Tylor Jenkins, who played Squidward. All throughout, his wonderful voice and wry presence sat in the background like a predatory cat stalking its prey. But, it’s his performance of “I’m Not a Loser,” that won over the night and had the audience roaring with applause and cheers. The musical number delved deep into the character’s psyche in an allout tap-dancing routine that Jenkins masterfully pulled off along with the rest of the ensemble. It was truly a sight to behold and is easily the most memorable part of the show thanks to the

Tylor Jenkins’ (middle) drew a roaring applause from a sold-out crowd with his tap-dance routine and singing. (Cheryl Savala / CSUF Department of Theatre & Dance)

Kainoa Miller (left) and Wyatt Hatfield carry Audrey Lyn Crabaño during one of their trio performances. (Cheryl Savala / CSUF Department of Theatre & Dance)

amazing choreography from Courtney Ozovek. Kristian Acruz (Plankton) and Audrey Forrester (Karen the Computer), were hilariously charming as the antagonistic couple. Seeing Karen brought to life from the screen to the stage was a real treat and was made even better with the vocal performance of Forrester, who absolutely nailed the voice. Braxton McGrath (Mr. Krabs) and Layla Elefante (Pearl), had some memorable moments as the father and daughter duo. During their performance of “Daddy Knows Best,” Elefante’s amazing voice took center stage and blew the audience away. Madeline Rae Delgros was great as Perch Perkins, occasionally interjecting in a humorous way while Jonah Meyer made a great cameo as Patchy the Pirate. While the lead performers managed to carry much of the plot, the entire ensemble did an exemplary job of bringing this play to life. During most of the song-and-dance numbers, it was the ensemble that brought a lot of energy to the play, filling out the stage in the Little Theatre. The music, which has writing credit

from hit artists like Panic! At the Disco, Cyndi Lauper and John Legend are great and brought to life by the talented voices of the performers and music director Sarah Grandpre. The technical aspects of this play are also what made it a fun experience for fans of the animated series. Large cutouts of each character’s houses established the setting early on in the play and were a beautiful sight to see along with the decorated curtains adorned with flowers from the show. Spongebob’s pet Gary even made a cameo, being rolled onto the stage. One of the great moments featured Hatfield kissing Gary in what was a prime example of his heartfelt performance. For fans of the series, there are many inside jokes that are hilarious nods to the long-running show. But even people who weren’t fans of the show, or accompanying their children were enjoying the show immensely. With a runtime of two hours and 30 minutes, the show flew. It’s a bummer that this show only ran for a weekend, but those lucky enough to be in the audience this past weekend will never forget this show. These performers have a bright future ahead of them.

Scholars speak on Asian American inequality The graphic memoir, “They Called Us Enemy,” by George Takei, raises discussion about Japanese Americans in WWII. JON BUZDAR Asst. Editor

One Book, One CSUF held their first event of the semester, “Beyond ‘They Called Us Enemy,’’’ which highlighted the experience of scholars who were profoundly affected by the Japanese American incarcerations during World War II. Panelists Craig Ihara, Arthur Hansen and Thomas Fujita-Rony discussed the graphic memoir “They Called Us Enemy” by George Takei and talked about the lives of Asian Americans during World War II. This event was hosted in conjunction with the Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Equity Programs and the Asian American Pacific Islander Faculty & Staff Association. “They Called Us Enemy” follows the life of a young George Takei as he and his family are forced into an internment camp during WWII and the life he lived within those walls. The book is an insightful and eye-opening graphic memoir that sheds light on what it means to have courage, hope and loyalty even in the face of racism and discrimination. VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

The event’s moderator Dr. Karen Yonemoto, a lecturer of Asian American Studies, started the event by discussing the recent anti-Asian sentiment and hate crimes that were brought about following the outbreak of the coronavirus. “By re-remembering the experiences of Japanese Americans during WWII, we can better understand our nation’s past as well as its current climate, and advance our efforts toward racial justice, interracial solidarity and social change,” Yonemoto said. Ihara, the founding coordinator of the Program of Asian American Studies, was born in the Rohwer Concentration Camp. His account of the life within the concentration camps gave the audience an inside look into a world that many are not aware of. His discussion began with photographs of his family inside the concentration camps. Ihara’s parents were married two weeks before being sent to the Rohwer Concentration Camp, and he was born within the center. Ihara talks about how his parents didn’t express anger or bitterness when talking about the camps. He states that his parents likely did this because they didn’t want their kids to grow up bitter and angry toward the United States but rather wanted their kids to look toward the future, be well educated and not dwell on the past.

Ihara also said that this was also likely the result of being treated as “other” or non-American in a country they loved and respected — a sense of shame and humiliation felt deeply in the hearts of Japanese Americans at the Rohwer Concentration Camp. The second panelist, Hansen, Professor Emeritus of History and Asian American Studies, discussed the Japanese American resistance movement. Hansen has been researching, writing about and speaking on the WWII Japanese American mass eviction and incarceration experience since 1972. His primary focus has been on the resistance mounted by Japanese Americans on the west coast. According to Hansen, about 120,000 people were relocated and placed within concentration camps during WWII. Hansen gave a historical and very informative speech about the lives of those who resisted the efforts of the American government. His research has been compiled into a volume of articles titled “Barbed Voices: Oral History, Resistance, and the World War II Japanese American Social Disaster.” The final panelist, Fujita-Rony, associate professor of Asian American Studies, discussed the lives of Japanese Americans living in Hawaii during WWII and the identity of Japanese Americans in the post-war era. Fujita-Rony talked about his

perspective as a Japanese American living in Hawaii and his feelings about the war. He left Hawaii to attend college in the continental United States and gained a new perspective on the conditions that Japanese Americans were subjected to outside of Hawaii. According to Fujita-Rony, this experience served as a huge contradiction for him and helped him understand what happened in the continental United States. Fujita-Rony said this experience propelled him to start studying the works of Hansen and others who researched the lives of Japanese Americans during WWII. Fujita-Rony’s realization that the narrative he was fed

his whole life was not entirely true deeply impacted him. He said that he sought to understand the lives of Japanese Americans better and made a conscious effort to learn the entire story and not be limited to the one that was told to him in his upbringing. The panelists finished their discussions and answered questions from the audience as the event came to an end. One Book, One CSUF’s “Beyond ‘They Called Us Enemy,’” truly encapsulates a relevant discussion in America regarding inequality, racism and identity in the ongoing fight for justice. The graphic memoir, “They Called Us Enemy” is available at the CSUF Pollak Library.

George Takei, author of the book, is known for being in “Star Trek .” (Jon Buzdar/ Daily Titan)

6 Sports

WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 18

Volleyball sweeps UC Irvine at home

Sophomore outside hitter Julia Crawford (second from right) claimed her tenth double-double against the CSU Northridge Matadors on Oct. 8. (Marisa Palmerin-Flores / Daily Titan)

The Titans followed up a 3-0 upset win against Irvine at Titan Gym with a 3-1 loss to UC San Diego on the road.

MARISA PALMERIN-FLORES Editor

JESENY ESCOBAR Asst. Editor

Cal State Fullerton’s volleyball team continued to battle it out in Big West conference play over the weekend as they swept UC Irvine and lost to UC San Diego. The Titans had an exhilarating start to their weekend as they swept UC Irvine 3-0 on Friday night at home. This is the first meeting between the conference rivals this season as they have not faced each other since November 2019, where Fullerton won, 3-1.

The victory moves Fullerton to 3-4 in the Big West and 6-8 overall. The loss put Irvine at 4-3 in the Big West conference and 11-6 overall. Although Irvine struggled throughout the three sets, Umeh Joy led the Anteaters with 15 kills and Carly Richter led with 11 digs. Titans Nicole Shuhandler, Julia Crawford and Gabrielle Barcelos had an outstanding game as they each had 10 kills. Sophomore setter Elizabeth Schuster led the team with 39 assists and 15 digs. Crawford also had a great game as she recorded her 12th double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs. In the first set, both teams struggled to break away from each other, as they had a total of four ties before the Titans finally got an 8-7 lead on a UCI service error. Fullerton won the opening set, 25-18. In the beginning of the second set, Irvine tried to cut into Fullerton’s lead as they made the score

10-7. However, this was not enough as Fullerton went on an 8-2 run and built a nine-point lead. The Titans ended their dominant set with a kill from junior middle blocker Haley Carmo, which made the final set score 25-15. Going into the third set, the score remained fairly close as they had a total of 10 ties. However, a kill by Shuhandler broke the fourth tie and made the score 13-12. Later in the third set, the Anteaters cut the

Titan’s lead to 21-20, but they failed to take the lead. After a nail-biting set, the Titans managed to score four straight points, which led them to victory and won the set, 25-20. The Titans, unfortunately, could not keep the momentum going into their Saturday match against the UCSD Tritons where Fullerton took a 3-1 loss. The loss drops Fullerton’s record to 6-9 overall with a 3-5 conference record. San Diego improved to 12-6 and 5-3 in conference. Consistent defense from both teams allowed for a close 10-8 score in favor of the Titans in set one. Unfortunately, San Diego then went on a five-point scoring run with middle blocker Emily McDaniel at the back line to serve. The Titans came back to get a set point over the Tritons at 24-23 before San Diego stopped them in their tracks and claimed the first set. The second set went much like the first for the Titans as they had a 15-13 lead halfway throughout, but San Diego’s communication allowed them to come back, 22-20, over the Titans. A final block from San Diego’s opposite hitter Trinity Castaneda allowed for a Triton win in set two. The Titans did not let up despite the first two sets, kept fighting into the third set and tied the score with San Diego eight times throughout set three. Fullerton managed to add a four-point scoring run with Crawford at the back line, 15-11. A kill from the Titans’ junior outside hitter Makena Ala’ilima-Daley at set point claimed the third set for Fullerton. Unfortunately for the Titans, the Tritons would not go down so easy in set four. San Diego’s senior libero Susanna Limb served at the back line for the Triton’s five-point scoring run ending at 17-10 for the Tritons. At set point for San Diego outside hitter Ava McInnes put up a solo block that snatched the win for the Tritons. For the Titans, Crawford made the leaderboard with 13 kills and added 17 digs for her 13th double-double this season. Meanwhile, junior libero Neena Dimas added a game-high 21 digs against San Diego. CSUF will enter their ninth conference match of the season against UC Davis on Oct. 22 at Titan Gym.

Men’s soccer ends with draw against UC Riverside The Titans went to double overtime with the Highlanders after taking an early lead at Titan Stadium with the match ending in at 1-1. ALYSSA ORTIZ Staff Writer

Following a 2-0 loss against Cal Poly Pomona on Oct. 13, Cal State Fullerton’s men’s soccer team returned to the field on Oct. 16 in a pivotal conference match against UC Riverside that ended in a 1-1 draw. Neither team was able to create a lot of separation throughout the match and had many opportunities to score. The 110-minute game ended in a tie after two 10-minute overtime periods. The Highlanders had three shots on goal in the first half, and the Titans had four shots on goal with one successful goal. A goal in the 40th minute by defender Noah Dollenmayer put the Titans on the board. It was Dollenmayer’s first goal of the season and came from a corner kick pass by teammate Alex Pimental, which Dollenmayer perfectly headed into the goal. He came into the game in the 33rd minute and had a total of three shots on the goal throughout the game. This lead lasted through the half, until UCR’s midfielder Oscar Penate scored in the 71st minute to tie the game. Penate’s goal came on a pass by Federico Ucar, where Penate dribbled by three Titans in the box VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

to tie up the game. The game went into overtime, consisting of two 10-minute halves with not much occurring in most of the first overtime half until the very end. After the extra 20 minutes, the Titans and Highlanders failed to score, and ended the game at 1-1. Despite UCR having more scoring opportunities throughout the match with corner kicks, the Titans had more shots on goal. Both teams had multiple scoring opportunities — 13 shots in total with four shots on goal by CSUF and 11 shots with two shots on goal by UCR. The Titans received 16 fouls while the Highlanders received only nine, indicating that CSUF lost more possessions and turned the ball over more than they would have liked. UC Riverside recorded three total saves on goal while CSUF recorded one. The Big West is currently topped by UC Santa Barbara, which sits 4-0-2 in league play. There are three conference games left for the Titans with Cal State Northridge, Sacramento State and UC Irvine. Sacramento and Irvine are higher in the standings, while CSUN is tied with CSUF for eighth place. This tie moves the Titans to a 1-4-1 record in conference play and makes their overall record 3-8-3. The Highlanders are 3-2-1 in conference, moving their season record to 8-5-1 and fourth in the standings. The Titans will look to break their tie against Northridge on Wednesday night with a scheduled kickoff at 7 p.m. at Matador Soccer Field. FOLLOW US: @THEDAILYTITAN

Leisure 7

WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 18

WRITTEN by Stepheny Gehrig

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ARIES Grey skies might plague your week, Aries. Push through the gloomy week ahead; great things lie in store for you.

TAURUS Lake some time this week to show appreciation for those around you. Your friends and family might feel a little neglected, so spending time showing your appreciation will be fruitful to improving your relationships.

GEMINI This week you might feel a bit sluggish. Everything might seem to move in slow motion. Take things one day at a time; don’t push yourself too hard this week.

CANCER You will be full of energy this week, Cancer. Take that energy and put it into some fun activities, like crafting or exercising.

LEO You might find yourself lending a helping hand to those close to you this week. Reaching out to those around you to offer help will not only make them feel less alone, it will also strengthen your relationships.

VIRGO Heavy emotions might hinder your week, Virgo. Feeling down might make it harder to accomplish your weekly goals, but reaching out for help or letting others know how you’re feeling might make it easier.

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LIBRA Finding inner peace should be on the schedule for the week. You have been dwelling on issues that have already passed. Seek advice from others on learning to peacefully move on. SCORPIO This week, focusing might be hard for you. You will maybe find yourself forgetting to finish tasks, or forgetting to respond to messages. To help you out, make a to-do list this week. SAGITTARIUS You might find yourself falling head over heels for everyone who passes you by this week. Love will be present throughout your entire week. Embrace it!

CAPRICORN Don’t look to other people to notice things -take initiative and tell others about your achievements. This week, speak up about the things you want other people to notice. Even if it is a small accomplishment like rearranging your room, let others know about your accomplishments, don’t make them guess. AQUARIUS High tension between you and your friends might be on the horizon this week.

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Do you know where Tuffy is? Follow @thedailytitan and submit your answer on Instagram for a chance to win.

PISCES Things from the past may replay in your mind this week. Although you might feel haunted by this, learn to let go. Let go of the things from the past because they are out of your control. Letting go will definitely lessen your stress.

titan titan titan trivia trivia trivia rivia • What is globophobia the fear of? A) Boogers B) Glue C) Balloons D) Globes •When is National Chicken & Waffles Day? A) October 18 B) October 20 C) October 22 D) October 24 • Where did pumpkins originate from? A) Spain B) Canada C) Ireland D) Mexico

*Answers on bottom of the page

Submit a song request: https://tinyurl.com/dtsongoftheweek

Titan Communications: Cal State Fullerton’s Digital Media Center Interested in producing, writing, editing, and more? Titan Communications is just the place for you. Students are provided a living-learning classroom experience with plenty of opportunities to work and learn about television, radio broadcast management, and blogging. Titan Comm offers students an environment that supports academic achievement with opportunities to work on television and radio programs and learn the broad range of skills necessary to succeed in a broadcast career. Since 1998, Titan Communications has grown into a full-scale television studio, control room, editing labs, voiceover booth, and radio station. You can get involved in anything that is Titan TV, Titan Radio, and Titan Universe. Feel free to stop by! We are located in the basement of the Pollack Library South. For your club or organization to be featured, email production@dailytitan.com with photo(s) and a description with no more than 125 words.

Titan Trivia Answers: C,B, D VISIT US AT: DAILYTITAN.COM

8 Opinion

WEEK OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 18

Interim belts have no place in UFC

Alternate titles have been an inconvenience for the promoter and fighters for too long. ANGELO ESPINOZA Staff Writer

With the unification bout between current heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and interim champion Ciryl Gane being targeted to be the first payper-view in 2022 on UFC 270 card on Jan. 22, fans are reminded yet again that interim belts do more harm than good for fighters. The interim championship belt was originally created by UFC for current belt holders who were unable to defend their title due contract disputes, injuries or other reasons. With the creation of the interim belt, the current champion is given time to come back while not having to vacate their title. However, controversy arose after Ngannou won the heavyweight championship on March 21 and originally wanted to defend his belt in September due to visa issues and concerns involving his contract. When negotiations with the promoter turned bitter, UFC then set up an unnecessary interim championship fight between title contender Derrick Lewis and now interim champion Ciryl Gane in August. With one fight left on his contract, Ngannou said that the promotion was trying to corner him into signing an extension by creating an interim belt, enraging the fighter for not having a sufficient amount of time to celebrate his success with his home country. “Why was the rush so bad? In the past two years I have fought twice and suddenly I have to defend my title after two months? What is the rush? What’s

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GRISELDA RUIZ / DAILY TITAN

wrong? Why can’t I have the average time as everybody, three or four months?” Ngannou said. This is one of the many examples of interim belts disrupting the division they are involved in and shows how the world’s biggest MMA promotion treats their champions when they decide to take their careers into their own hands. At this point, interim belts are used mostly for promotional purposes and is only a noteworthy accomplishment because of the value placed on these senseless belts by the media, the fans and the UFC itself. Take the classic five-round interim championship slugfest that took

place on the UFC 236 fight card in 2019 between lightweight title contender Dustin Poirier and then featherweight champion Max Holloway, for example. UFC President Dana White infamously defended himself against Yahoo Sports boxing and MMA columnist Kevin Iole about whether or not interim title fights are good for MMA. White insisted that the Dustin Poirier versus Max Holloway fight could only happen for five rounds if it was a title fight of some sort and that in order for them to receive pay-per-view buys, they would need to create an interim belt in order to justify paying them that

much more. Funnily enough, White seemingly reversed his stance from previous claims as UFC 262 marked the first time a main event was guaranteed five rounds despite not fighting for a title. Regardless, the UFC attaching an interim championship to ensure that two fighters go head-to-head reveals that the promotion heavily values monetary gain versus title legitimacy. Former UFC lightweight champion and current ONE Championship lightweight Eddie Alvarez has been vocal on the absurdness of interim belts, but also recognizing that everyone involved including fighters are responsible for today’s heavy

promotion of these belts in MMA promotions. “When an interim title is given and the media makes a big fuss of it and a fighter makes a big fuss of it and if fans make a big fuss of it, an interim title has value. That’s the saddest thing that can happen in the sport,” Alvarez said at an ONE Championship media day in 2019. With interim belts having so much impact on the sport, the official championship titles are slowly losing their significance and are becoming more of a commodity for fighters leading to the ruining of the promotion itself. “It almost diminishes the value of the title, because they’re just throwing it out there — it’s like, ‘You can fight for an interim title, sure,’” said UFC welterweight fighter Stephen Thompson in 2018. Recipients of these interim belts, like UFC legend Carlos Condit, have also come out to speak up about the title and how insignificant it made them feel despite winning a piece of UFC gold. “It would be the pinnacle of my career,” Condit said. “I’ve had the interim belt before and that little interim specification bothers me. My belt is in my son’s room and for me that’s not the real belt.” Moving forward, UFC should eliminate interim title fights altogether and focus on solving disputes once champions are crowned. Fighters and fans both feel cheated on having essentially two belts for no reason other than to generate publicity. The company should also reevaluate their values and do what’s right instead of trying to find ways to avoid paying fighters. Once the right amount of changes are made, more focus would be placed on the actual belt and the UFC will add more purity to the sport.