Tuesday, February 22, 2022 by Daily Titan

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

The Student Voice of California State University, Fullerton

Volume 111 Issue 4

CSU chancellor resigns amid misconduct complaints JESSICA CHOI SPENCER OTTE Editor

Joseph Castro, the CSU chancellor, resigned on Feb. 17 following allegations that he mishandled sexual harrasment investigations against a senior administrator while he was president of Fresno State. The resignation comes after the CSU board of trustees announced its intention to launch an investigation into Castro’s behavior. A USA Today investigation revealed that while Castro was the president of Fresno State, he declined to discipline senior administrator, Frank Lamas, for at least a dozen sexual harassment, bullying and retaliation complaints against him. According to USA Today, Castro knew of at least seven complaints, but he continued to praise Lamas’ performance as Fresno State’s former vice president of student affairs, endorsed him for a lifetime achievement award and authorized a $260,000 payment from the school to Lamas to settle the matter. Allegations against Lamas date

back to 2014, but no formal investigation was launched until an employee filed a formal Title IX complaint in 2019. “I have been honored to serve the California State University for more than eight years, including as its eighth chancellor, and the decision to resign is the most difficult of my professional life,” Castro said in a CSU press release. Castro said that he was disappointed in the media reports and commentary, but that he felt it was necessary for him to resign. Castro served as the eighth CSU chancellor, being the first from California and the first person of color to hold the position. He was appointed as chancellor in September 2020 and formally assumed the role in January 2021. Prior to being chancellor, Castro was the president of Fresno State since 2013. “I wholeheartedly support this announcement by the board and look forward to continually strengthening our campus commitment to provide a safe workplace that is free of harassment, intimidation, discrimination or

retaliation,” said Fram Virjee, the Cal State Fullerton president, in a press release. The CSU press release stated that the board, which adopted regulations and policies governing the entire university system, intends to launch an initiative to strengthen Title IX innovation, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education programs and addresses sex-based discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct. Chris Brown, president of CSUF’s California Faculty Association and assistant professor of criminal justice, said the entire situation was a systematic failure. “We think this is a systematic thing, where not only in the private industry, but in the universe that the systematic abuse is real, and the people that are doing it need to be held accountable, and we need real change. There needs to be an investigation and there shouldn’t be this standard crisis management approach,” Brown said. “We need accountability.” SEE UNIVERSITY 2

Joseph Castro served as president at Fresno State before being appointed as CSU chancellor. (Cal State University)

Titans sweep weekend contests Softball dominates

at Purple Classic

E.J. Anosike scores his 1,500th college career point against Northridge after facing UCSB. DAVID GOODKIND

Megan Delgadillo and Deshea Hill led the series with eight runs and seven RBI’s, respectively.

Asst. Editor

CSUF held off the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos in a 67-58 win on Feb. 17 and followed up with an 81-73 victory over the Cal State Northridge Matadors two days later on Feb. 19. The two road wins paired with a Long Beach State loss to UCSB on Feb. 19 have the Titans currently sitting in second place in the conference standings and only one game behind first-place Long Beach State. CSUF completed another season sweep with its victory over CSUN. A higher scoring affair than the previous outing against UCSB, the Titans were led by an explosive offensive performance from senior forward E.J. Anosike, who collected his 1,500th career point and seventh double-double of the season. Anosike finished the game with 24 points, 11 rebounds and four assists while going a perfect nine-for-nine on field goal attempts. CSUN guard Atin Wright led all scorers with 28 points, but the Titans were able to clamp down defensively on practically everyone else, with only one other Matador scoring in double figures.

JACQUELINE ROSALES CHRISTIAN AGUILAR Staff Writers

E.J. Anosike goes for a layup over CSU Bakersfield defenders on Feb. 5 in Titan Gym. (Marisa Palmerin-Flores / Daily Titan)

The Titans came out with more offensive firepower in the first half of this game and took a 42-36 lead into the break, after having led by as many as 11 points. A dunk by Vincent Lee in the

second half extended the Fullerton lead, 49-39, and Milstead followed up with a layup after a steal by Anosike to make it 51-39. SEE TRIUMPH 8

Review: ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ a bloody delivery

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The Cal State Fullerton softball team finished the Purple Classic in Arizona with a commanding 14-1 win against Santa Clara University on Sunday, which moved them to 7-3 this season. From Feb. 18-20, the team competed in five games in the tournament hosted by Grand Canyon University at their softball stadium. Fullerton faced Long Island University and Idaho State on Friday before taking on Idaho State for a second time and Grand Canyon the following Saturday. The Titans capped off the weekend with the route over Santa Clara. On Sunday, the team forced a mercy after the fifth inning when an 11-run outburst by the Titans led to a 14-1 score. CSUF held a 3-1 lead going into the fifth off of a Deshea Hill home run in the second inning, a Peyton Toto RBI double in the third and a wild pitch that scored Megan Delgadillo right after. With two on base in the fifth, Hannah Becerra broke the game open with

a three-run home run that expanded the Titans’ lead to 6-1. With two outs and Santa Clara threatening to get out of the inning, Daisy Munoz and Alexa Neil reached on back-to-back errors to extend the inning. Fullerton still had 11 batters hit with two outs in the inning. Lefty Staci Chambers moved to 3-0 on the season after allowing three hits, one run and one walk while striking out three on 69 pitches in four innings of work. Sunday’s game related more to Friday’s opener against Long Island, which saw the Titans claim a 9-2 win. Down early at 1-0, Fullerton rebounded in the third with a Toto two RBI single, Becerra two RBI double to deep right center, an RBI sacrifice bunt from Jessi Alcala, and an Alyssa Hernandez RBI single up the middle. Toto and Becerra each added another RBI in the fourth inning and Ellie Zellien collected an RBI off of a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to cap the scoring at 9-2. Chambers got the win by allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits while striking out six in four innings. Zellien came in for three innings of scoreless relief and struckout two for the save. SEE SUCCESS

Waste management needs government prioritization

The infamous horror franchise fails to give substance beyond the repetition of gore and death.

Private trash collection companies cannot profit off of unsustainable consumption practices.

Lifestyle

Opinion

2 News

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2022

University: Faculty wants transparency in new hires CONTINUED FROM

Irene Matz, an associate professor at CSUF and chair of the faculty affairs committee for the CSU academic senate said that this scandal has damaged the reputation of the CSU. “We all work far too hard on maintaining standards for our university to have this happen,” Matz said. Several faculty members, including Matz and Brown, have called for a more transparent hiring process for CSU executives. Currently, candidates for top positions like chancellor or university president are not announced until someone is hired. “We should have an open and transparent process when we hire future chancellors and presidents,” Brown said. “They did this in a closed, secret way and the public wasn’t able to vet it, so this is what happens.” Stephen Stambough, a professor of political science at CSUF said that he thinks the investigation

should continue despite Castro’s resignation. “I think the hope is that the investigation is not complete and doesn’t end with a resignation. There needs to be an investigation systematically of what worked and what didn’t work, and there seems to be a lot that didn’t work,” Stambough said. According to a CSU press release, a succession plan is being finalized by the board. Steve Relyea, the executive vice chancellor and chief financial officer of the CSU will serve as acting chancellor until an interim has been named. On Feb. 18, the Caififornia Faculty Association released a statement calling for state legislature to investigate mishandling of sexual abuse on CSU campuses. Several CSU campuses, including Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Long Beach, San Diego State, Cal State Stanislaus, Fresno State and Sonoma State, drafted resolutions calling on an independent investigation into Castro’s behavior and for him to take leave without pay

CAMILA VELLEGO / DAILY TITAN

Campus events for the week of Feb. 22 AMBER JUAREZ Deputy Editor

Cal State Fullerton continues to offer in-person and virtual events for students throughout the semester. Titan Table Talk: Resiliency in the Black Community This month’s Titan Table Talk centers around the narratives of people from various highlighted cultural heritages. They will be discussing their experiences with resiliency during the COVID-19 pandemic and throughout their lives. This Titan Table Talk will feature current Titans and community supporters speaking about how they, their communities and the country have had to be resilient. This event will be taking place via Zoom on Tuesday, Feb. 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Drop-in Workshops at TSU Grand Stair Studio Associated Students is hosting free art workshops for students. On Tuesday, they will be hosting a DIY dad hats workshop from 2-3 p.m. and a DIY totebags workshop from 3-4 p.m. On

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Wednesday, there will be a DIY felt succulents workshop from 2-3 p.m. and a workshop on how to paint watercolor minimalist flowers from 3-4 p.m. The final two workshops will be on Thursday, a tissue paper feather pens workshop from 2-3 p.m. and a DIY felt leaf wallet 4 -5 p.m. Conflict Resolution 101 Conflict resolution managers Lucia Galante Johnson and Leanna Jasek-Rysdahl will be facilitating Conflict Resolution 101. This event provides skills on how to resolve conflict. There will be interactive games, scenarios and helpful tips to prevent disputes from escalating. This event will take place via Zoom on Feb. 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Time Management: Reduce Stress to Reduce Conflict Lucia Galante Johnson, conflict resolution manager, will be facilitating a workshop on time management skills to reduce stress. This event will take place on Feb. 25 from 10-11 a.m. via Zoom. Men’s and Women’s Basketball Men’s basketball will be playing against UC Irvine on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. in the Titan Gym. On Feb. 26, women’s basketball will face off against UC San Diego at 6 p.m. in the Titan Gym.

News 3

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2022

Free groceries on campus as student food insecurity grows The program will partner with the Arboretum and Tuffy’s Basic Needs to keep shelves stocked. AUDREY PARAYNO Staff Writer

The first permanent food pantry at Cal State Fullerton, which opened in August 2021, continues to serve students experiencing food insecurity. Since March 2020, food insecurity doubled among Titans from 16% to 31% of students. The food pantry allows students to come in once a week to collect up to 10 free grocery items. “This food pantry has been kind of a response to that, to try and help people out. And it’s been a blessing to see a lot of people come in and get a lot of good food,” said Connor Capo, a food pantry employee. The first week that the pantry was open, it received visits from 98 students.

Since August, it has been visited over 3,000 times. Cristina Truong, the assistant director of Titan Student Union Services and Food Pantry, and Kristen Johansson, the pantry graduate assistant, said about 920 CSUF students regularly visit the pantry. “Each student is going about three times a semester, but we’re anticipating more students coming in spring time just because there’s more students enrolled or not enrolled, but coming back in person for this spring semester,” Truong said. Capo said about half of visits to the pantry this semester have been from new appointments. The food pantry receives supplies and resources from donations, and is partnered with the Second Harvest Food Bank, which delivers to the food pantry weekly based on the supplies that are available to donate. The pantry requests for more

supplies is based on the amount of students that come through for the week. “We get a large selection of foods. So we get produce, fruits and veggies, shelf-stable things like rice, pasta, oatmeal, and then refrigerated things — some milk, eggs, various frozen food items that are easy for students to take. They’ve been a wonderful partner,” Johansson said. Along with the donations by the Second Harvest Food Bank, Johansson said the pantry just recently partnered with the Second Harvest Food Bank grocery rescue program, which will allow them to reach out to local Ralphs and Sprouts to receive donations from any of their order excess that they have. “We get a ton of array of food, we get produce and milk, and really cool items that you would see on the shelves,” Johansson said. Johansson said the food pantry also

recently partnered with the Arboretum. If there are any foods that can’t be distributed to students but can still be used for compost, the food pantry donates it to the Arboretum. In return, the Arboretum will donate some of the fresh produce they harvest to the pantry. “It’s a local program we’re working on. And we’ll start doing that really, really soon within the next week or two. So that’s really cool to also keep fresher produce on the shelves for longer for our students,” Johansson said. The food pantry is always accepting donations. According to the ASI webpage, the food pantry has a wishlist of items that they would like to have donated for students. Since the pantry limits the amount of items a student can get per week, they provide students with different resources and information on other food banks in Orange County and Los Angeles County under their additional

resources section on their webpage. “It’s difficult to get a whole week’s three-meals-a-day worth of food from that one trip. And so supplementing that with other resources is something we try to offer on our website,” Johansson said. They have also partnered with Tuffy’s Basic Needs, a program which exists to help students through financial hardship, to help provide other resources for students. “I think definitely we’ve seen in the past couple of weeks, the increase of more students coming through the pantry. So we can tell that more students are finding out about our services. So that’s great. We love to see the students there,” Truong said. The ASI Food Pantry is completely free for any CSUF student to use. To set up an appointment, students can visit the PantrySoft website. Students are welcome to come back once a week for food supplies.

Project SAFE helps students in need MATTHEW KEYSER Staff Writer

of temporary emergency shelters and additional housing resources. Katie McGill, executive director of Development for Principal Gifts, Student Affairs and College of Communications for University Advancement said that in 2020, Project SAFE saw a spike in donations due to the effects the pandemic had on students. CSUF donors contributed larger grants and major gifts in support of students who faced difficult challenges. “Especially during COVID, it was one of the areas donors were really

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For the last several years, Cal State Fullerton has been raising money for students through its Student Assistance Fund for Emergencies (SAFE) –– which continues to provide food, temporary housing and financial support for those in distress. Unexpected circumstances such as loss of jobs or family emergencies have resulted in certain basic needs not being met. Established as part of CSUF’s contribution to Giving Tuesday — a global generosity movement — Project SAFE raises money through charitable donations that specifically go towards supporting the Tuffy’s Basic Needs Services Center. The center’s resources include food assistance programs, referrals, temporary housing with the help of CSUF’s Housing and Residential Engagement and a Basic Needs grant for students who are unable to resolve their financial difficulty through scholarships, loans or financial aid. “So this is intended for students who are having some unforeseen crisis,” said Victoria Ajemian, coordinator for Tuffy’s Basic Needs Services Center. “It could be a catastrophe, anything that might just be impacting them financially, which could in turn, impact their ability to stay enrolled.”

Students can go online and submit a request form on the Tuffy’s Basic Needs web page in order to seek any of the services provided. Food assistance services can include a two week access to the Gastronome provided by students who donate their guest meal swipe. It also includes referrals to full service pantries, including ASI’s own food pantry. For special cases, students can receive a guest card to select ASC restaurants for those in need of an immediate meal. These restaurants include Pieology, Starbucks, Carl’s Junior and Baja Fresh. “So that’s to help provide an immediate meal to students if they come into the center or they share with me during a meeting, ‘I don’t have food. I haven’t had a meal in a while,’” Ajemian said. “We can get them connected immediately to the meal while hopefully, still again, connecting them to maybe the Gastronome.” The center has also been working closely with Housing and Residential Engagement by providing temporary housing for CSUF’s students in need of shelter. Students can be eligible for up to two weeks of temporary housing in one of the on-campus apartments while searching for long term housing of their own. Ajemian said that due to current CSUF health and safety guidelines, the Basic Needs Center has not been able to provide temporary housing for students this semester. The center’s online request form, however, does provide a list

EDITORIAL

University initiative offers food, temporary housing and financial aid.

passionate about giving to, so they can support students in need as much as possible,” said McGill. This increase allowed Project SAFE to expand its reach. McGill added that in 2020, the Titan Emergency fund was created, allowing additional support for emergency needs throughout campus. In 2021, McGill said that donations were just shy of $6,000 and with money now supporting multiple funds, the support for student basic needs continues to grow. On March 9, both Project SAFE and

the Titan Emergency fund will be participating in CSUF’s third day of giving as part of #TitansGive. McGill says she encourages faculty, staff, students and alumni to participate in supporting the project phase. “We actually have a challenge grant from an anonymous donor for $5,000 to support Project SAFE, during Day of Giving,” McGill said. “Gifts to the Student Assistance Fund for Emergencies will be matched up to $5,000 if they are giving to that because of our anonymous donor.”

Editor-in-Chief Lily Lopez Managing Editor Anthony Bautista News Editor Spencer Otte News Deputy Amber Juarez News Assistants Elena Hanna Michelle Ibañez Heather Eyre Opinion Editor Vanessa Siguenza Deputy Opinion Nollyanne Delacruz Opinion Assistants Hugo Rios Jillian Devine

Sports Editor Marisa Palmerin-Flores Deputy Sports Editor Navtej Hundal Sports Assistants Jeseny Escobar David Goodkind Bryan Corrales Lifestyle Editor Jessica Choi Deputy Lifestyle Editor Eder Ramirez Lifestyle Assistants Genesis Pavia Catherine Norby Layout Editor Frank Portillo Deputy Layout Editor Alexander Alvarado

Copy Editor Stepheny Gehrig Deputy Copy Editor Jessica Bernal Copy Assistants Dimitra Doiphode Stephanie Jasso Michelle Ibañez Photo Editor Jon Buzdar Photo Assistants Connor Hedges

Director of Sales Isabel Cambiaso Director of Marketing Dakota MacDonald Assistant Director of Sales Tyler Costa Sales Manager Isabela Veloro

Social Media Manager Annie Kuo Marketing Coordinators Chloe Lau Ivan Calderon Lauren Le Accountant Doris Henriquez

Account Executives Kevin Garcia Clerise Yumul Jay Song Senior Graphic Designer Josephine Tang Graphic Designer Allison Nishi

Editor-in-Chief News Line Sports Line Advertising

Social Media Editor Jessica Benda Head Illustrator Gabriela Mendoza-Legorreta Illustrator Assistants Cassidy Molina Tiranjini Pillai Faculty Adviser Walter Baranger Distribution Manager Brianna Rodriguez Distribution Coordinators Omar Lopez-Deniz Aurora Chavez Faculty Adviser Michelle Kurland

(657) 278-5815 editorinchief@dailytitan.com (657) 278-4415 news@dailytitan.com (657) 278-3149 sports@dailytitan.com (657) 278-4411 ads@dailytitan.com

FOR THE RECORD It is Daily Titan policy to correct factual errors printed in the publication. Corrections will be published on the subsequent issue after an error is discovered and will appear on page 3. Errors on the Opinion page will be corrected on that page. Corrections will also be made to the online version of the article. Please contact Editor-in-Chief Lily Lopez at (657) 278-5815 or at editorinchief@dailytitan.com to report any errors.

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The Daily Titan is a student publication, printed every Monday through Thursday. The Daily Titan operates independently of Associated Students, Inc. College of Communications, CSUF administration and the CSU. The Daily Titan has functioned as a public forum since inception. Unless implied by the advertising party or otherwise stated, advertising in the Daily Titan is inserted by commercial activities or ventures identified in the advertisements themselves and not by the university. Such printing is not to be construed as written or implied sponsorship, endorsement or investigation of such commercial enterprises. The Daily Titan allocates one issue to each student for free.

4 Lifestyle

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2022

Column: Tuffy’s Book Nook reconnects with emotions Five books amplifying the power of storytelling and the intricacies of human nature. JESSICA CHOI Editor

A book: a compilation of thousands of words, laced thoughtfully together, conveying a story that imprints on the mind. The power of words can easily become unappreciated when the only articles of writing you read are soulless academic papers. However, these emotional reads reconnect with the diversity and beauty of language and storytelling. “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” by Ocean Vuong “Ma. You once told me that memory was a choice. But if you were god, you’d know it’s a flood.” This poetic novel takes form as a letter from a son to an illiterate mother. The narration envelops the reader through the emotional, mental and physical turmoil of a Vietnamese boy growing up in America. It explores the constructs of race, class, sexuality and identity through the narrator, Little Dog’s, coming-of-age storyline. The significance of his mother’s inability to read is why this story was written in such a raw fashion. Little Dog’s discussion of parental abuse, his Vietnamese-American experience and sexual identity through the use of language dedicated to the parental figure who would never be able to understand it, is poetic in itself. Although this is a smaller book, its humanistic contents are articulated so beautifully that it becomes painful to read at times. It may be difficult to understand Vuong’s writing as he combines poetry with prose; however, rereading his uniquely crafted sentences is extremely rewarding in the end. “Pachinko” by Min Jin Lee “Living everyday in the presence of

those who refuse to acknowledge your humanity takes great courage.” This historical fiction novel is a generational story following a Korean family exiled from their country and seeking success. A wealthy, dubious stranger impregnates the main character Sunja, which alters her family life for generations. Opening in the early 1900s in Korea, it captures the turbulence of wartime, immigration hardships, familial bonds and the harsh realities of love. A wonderful centerpiece of the story is an underlying emphasis on womanhood and the structural importance women play within families. Lee writes with a powerful yet straightforward style that leaves a firm impression on the reader. “Pachinko” is an homage to the imperfection of families, which unpacks the baggage of generational trauma and how its effects are far more intense than a trickle-down perspective. “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah “In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.” This story is another historical fiction novel following the lives of two French sisters during World War II, highlighting women’s lives in wartime and how their contribution goes unrecognized. The older sister, Vianne, is left to care for her young daughter and hold down the home as her husband goes out to the frontlines of battle. On the other hand, younger sister Isabelle is filled with reckless passion and joins the Resistance to fight for what she believes in. This dual-perspective storyline following the lives of two starkly different women exhibits a common theme of grit and what one is willing to do for the sake of loyalty, love and passion. Hannah writes with tenderness and abundant description, allowing this devastating story to play out like a

movie in readers’ heads. “Miracle Creek” by Angie Kim “Good things and bad — every friendship and romance formed, every accident, every illness — resulted from the conspiracy of hundreds of little things, in and of themselves inconsequential.” This murder mystery goes beyond the clichè investigation and integrates the intense questioning of social taboos such as lust, assimilation, caregiver’s guilt and resentment. Kim uses her writing to strip down her characters to their truest forms – imperfect humans. The book is an impressive balancing act as the stories of each suspect and victim are thoroughly analyzed but not fully explained until the end. This withdrawal of information keeps readers burning through pages and devouring each word. Although “Miracle Creek” is a mystery at heart, Kim draws in experiences from her own life to create a surprisingly personal narrative that connects to the unseen skeletons within us. “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak “Like most misery, it started with apparent happiness.” A beautiful tragic story following the life of a young girl adopted into a poor family in Nazi Germany. This story is an emotional lens into the lives of German natives during World War II and draws on the power of books and their capability to transport the reader away from reality. Watch Liesel’s life become impacted by the tragedies of war and how it shapes her identity and moral codes. This story will make readers question what lengths they would go to for their own beliefs, even if the consequences are terrifying. Zusak personifies Death as the narrator in a witty, yet charming writing style that can pull at the heartstrings in an unconventional way.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JESSICA CHOI

Four Aloha Java drinks to suit every taste palette Aloha Java is an inconspicuous coffee stand tucked on the southeast side of campus, but for those who are not fans of Starbucks, this coffee spot is a competent alternative that competes with the coffee giant. At Aloha Java, customers can move past those Seattle-based corporate flavors. Still, visitors can expect all of the cafe essentials such as espressos, americanos and mochas. That said, if those don’t suit your taste, they also have non-coffee drinks on their menu. With over 50 hot, iced and blended drinks to offer, picking the proper brew for your preference will take some taste testing. To help you decide, here are four different drinks for various taste buds.

tea lovers, the iced matcha green tea from Aloha Java offers a different flavor for a different palate. This iced drink is smooth, sweet and creamy. In addition, the matcha provides an earthy flavor note. Like other flavored drinks from Aloha Java, all of the elements are evenly balanced. While not as sweet, this drink tastes similar to green tea ice cream. However, unlike other matcha teas, which are often overly sweet and artificial in flavor, this version is subtle and tastes natural. The light matcha green tea is a perfect alternative to a strong coffee. This version from Aloha offers a fresh, natural and refreshing teabased experience. Like most other drinks at this tasty coffee stand, you can order the matcha cold or hot.

Red Eye If you appreciate the untainted taste of coffee, the red eye might be the drink for you. The red eye is regular coffee with one shot of espresso. Don’t expect anything flashy with this drink. The classic flavor is fresh and simple. If one did not know better, they might think the red eye is nothing but regular black coffee. Fortunately, there is espresso in this concoction. While the red eye has more flavor than watered-down drip coffee, don’t expect a robust flavor profile. However, a trained palate might pick up the muted espresso flavor. Alternatively, if one shot of espresso isn’t enough to wake you up, the black eye, a modification of the red eye, may be the drink for you as it comes with three shots of espresso. Although, the espresso flavors are

Blended Oreo Mocha Some of the best things on earth are coffee, chocolate and Oreos. Aloha blends these three ingredients and creates a beverage that is hard to put down. That said, the blended Oreo mocha is more akin to a caffeinated milkshake than a coffee. The most prominent flavor is chocolate, followed by the familiar creamy Oreo filling. If you have ever tried Oreo cereal, this tastes familiar. The blended ice adds a nice refreshing crunch, making this drink perfect for a hot day. While it does lean heavily on sweetness, it is a refreshing perk- up after a tough day. With the smallest size starting at $5, the Blended Oreo Mocha is one of the pricier items on the menu. That said, it is worth the premium price.

TIM PETERSEN Staff Writer

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Whether coffee or tea is your preference, Aloha Java has over 50 drinks to choose from . (Tim Petersen / Daily Titan)

more noticeable in this version. Orange Mocha The orange mocha is one of the more unique coffee brews on the Aloha Java menu. Imagine dipping an orange creamsicle into a steaming hot mocha, and you got yourself an orange mocha. If you’re looking for hints of

natural citrus, you will not find that in this drink. That said, the subtleness of the artificial orange balances nicely with the chocolatey flavor of mocha. This drink is perfect for those who dislike the flavor of black coffee or espresso. The orange and chocolate flavors cover it with a sweet and creamy mask.

So, if you’re tired of the standard cafe fare, try the orange mocha. This drink adds a twist to a familiar cafe favorite. If iced mochas are your style, they also have an iced version of the orange mocha. Iced Matcha Green Tea Not everyone is a fan of coffee. For

Lifestyle 5

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2022

Movie

REVIEW

‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ sequel delivers bloody style over meaningful substance

Netflix’s latest foray into the legendary slasher franchise ultimately fails to live up to the allure of its predecessors. JAQUELINE ROSALES Staff Writer

A dark history that once plagued the town of Harlow re-emerges in cinema on Feb. 18, as the infamous Leatherface returns to the screen. Unfortunately, his latest killing spree is one that wasn’t worthy of a big-screen appearance. While the Netflix adaptation of the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” instantly satisfies gore and horror fans alike, it strays too far from the allure of the original slasher film series established. Each victim walks into the mouth of the beast or, in this case, is attracted to the sound of a revving chainsaw. The film introduces a brand new set of characters to the series with no legacies lining up to regain their life back, diverging from the basic formula most newly-rebooted slasher sequels have seemed to follow as of late. The biggest gripe of the film is that it strays away from its original roots, as director David Blue Garcia makes it appear that he has never seen the movies and brushes the surface with characters, and ignores the need for a plot. Promisingly, the film begins with the original actual crime footage that creates the premise of the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” series. However, this entry immediately drops the need for a plot and sloppily replaces it with a mindless, incoherent blood bath, accompanied by a reprised role of Leatherface. Protagonists Melody, played by

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(Screenshot)

Sarah Yakin, and her sister Lila, played by Elsie Fisher, are introduced to the series as the newest victims to reignite the killing spree of Leatherface. With little to no prior background established, the main characters are only known by the given screen time, which immediately casts them away from any kind of audience connection. The two sisters escape their city life to gain off the marketability of aesthetics and influencers that lead them to Harlow, where its longest resident gives them a warm greeting. Reminding the audience that the original “final girl” of the series Sally Hardesty from the 1974 film, now played by Olwen Fouéré, is still out for revenge for the original killer and waiting patiently alongside him for his need to return. Assuming that this character

would be a significant part of the film, the audience seems to forget about her until her reappearance, which raises a lot more questions regarding her inclusion by the end of the film. As mentioned earlier, the audience forms little to no connections with the protagonists, making it difficult to root for their survival since Leatherface is the only familiar face in the film. The movie constantly ignores the need for anticipation. Instead of one satisfying kill that leaves the audience wanting more, the film lines up kill after kill and predictable character survivors and deaths. The film is filled with cringe-inducing pop culture references to ensure the audience knows the time stamp, and the awkward dialogue only creates eye-rolling reactions. With a missing

plot and dialogue that fails to grab focus and attention, the trail of blood is the only aspect to keep the movie going. If one is searching for a film to watch for a brief 90 minute runtime or simply introducing new fans into the series or the horror genre in general, this film does an adequate job. But for those seeking to watch Leatherface once again take hold of new victims, it’s disappointing, to say the least. The new adaptation could easily fall into the ignore pile, along with a couple of other films that have shamelessly latched onto the prestigious series title. One takeaway from this adaptation is the newfound passion for killing off sequels and remakes that have no correlation to the franchise name and hurting

the reputation. Although Netflix has been taking over the entertainment industry with binge-worthy shows and original films worth the wait, this film does not fall into that category. The 2003 adaptation of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning” are currently streaming on Netflix, which are two good films that are well worth the watch for those wanting to look into the origins of Leatherface. Both films constantly creep up with anticipation, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats the entire time. Netflix’s sequel to the original 1974 “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” film is rated R for the violent nature and acts recreated on screen.

6 Opinion

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2022

Privatized waste collection should be trashed Garbage management must be the government’s responsibility to prevent excessive landfilling. ZIMRY HERNANDEZ Staff Writer

America has a huge waste production and management problem. The federal government, local and state governments must handle trash, instead of allowing private companies to take over. The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, reported that the total build up of municipal solid waste in the year 2018 was 292.4 million tons, for an average of 4.9 pounds per person every day. A family generates about 18 pounds per day and in an entire year, one person is responsible for 1,642 pounds of waste while a family is responsible for 6,570 pounds. The U.S. produces more than 12% of the planet’s trash, even though it is only home to about 4% of its population. America is at the top of the waste leaderboard. Across the Atlantic Ocean, the average person in Europe generated about 487 kg of municipal waste in 2017, which is about 1,074 pounds. Most of our waste ends up in landfills. From the 292.4 million tons of waste generated in 2018, about 146.2 million tons were landfilled, according to the EPA. Our materialistic economy contributes to negative impacts on our environment. Roughly 42% of greenhouse gas emissions are created during every process of extracting resources, producing and transporting goods and disposing of waste, according to Frontier Group. About 16.5 million tons of

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plastic end up in the ocean and pose a threat to sea life and its biodiversity. Leachate from landfills can end up in our water supply while incinerator emissions contain harmful toxins that contaminate the air. As a nation, we need to stop prioritizing consumption and encouraging waste disposal and promote other ideals such as recycling and reusing. One way to do that is to stop the privatization of landfills and have cities and states take control over them.

Brian McCabe, a geography professor at Cal State Fullerton, explains how private landfills prioritize consumption over proper waste management because that generates energy. “There’s a rat in the system,” McCabe said. “And that is they want you to keep throwing stuff away like you do to maintain the status quo in order to generate more energy, which is really how they’re making money.” If states and cities take control

(TIRANJINI PILLAI / DAILY TITAN)

of landfills, then they can prevent this cycle and promote more environmentally friendly alternatives. McCabe said that cities that deal with their waste directly are more proactive in terms of encouraging their residents to recycle, put certain waste in the correct bins, and overall promote better waste management. This change in priorities needs to start in local and state arenas. States can pass laws to place more pressure onto producers to make

products that are built to last and can be recycled or reused. Eight states have passed laws banning single use plastic bags, including California. States can make recycling and composting mandatory, and make it accessible to everyone. In 2020, Vermont banned materials that are compostable to go to landfills. States can pass laws that require producers to use recycled and reused materials and to be in charge of their products during their entire life cycle. We can also learn from European nations. “If you go into a coffee shop, and you want coffee to go, they’ll ask you ‘Where’s your cup?’ They’re not going to have stacks of paper back there,” McCabe said. Ultimately, states need to create a shift from a linear economy that starts with finding resources, creating products that generate waste, into a circular, zero-waste economy where recycling and reusing become the favored outcome. This requires that federal and state governments take control of landfills again to ensure they provide a service, and not look for profit. A zero-waste economy is possible, according to Frontier Group. For this to happen, we need to reduce our consumption levels and promote reusing materials, which should be at the top of our waste hierarchy, McCabe said. “Our particular problem in America is that we probably consume more than we need to, thus we generate more waste. Thus, we sort of feed that cycle,” McCabe said. “If we could all just get by with using less and consuming less and eating less, we would have fewer waste problems in this country.”

Leisure 7

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2022

WRITTEN by Stepheny Gehrig

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ARIES You might find yourself relying too much on others. This week, speak up about your wants and needs. Try to refrain from depending on others to tell you what you need to do.

TAURUS You may feel as if you’re lacking stability. To bring that stability back into your life, try to give yourself a set routine through a schedule. Plan a day to write in a planner or make a to-do list.

GEMINI Moving on can be difficult, and finding better ways to do it can help you out. Reaching out to those close to you can allow you to ask for advice and find new ways to move on.

CANCER You might stumble on a rough patch this week, Cancer. Sometimes things become overwhelming or too much. Give yourself some time to feel those emotions and let them go. Let yourself cry, or indulge in your favorite food or movie. LEO A favorable week lies ahead. Feeling of romance will rule your week; you’ll be a flirt with everyone you meet. Don’t get in over your head.

VIRGO The new you is emerging. Although you might not feel it, this week will help you shine. Use this week to focus on yourself and recognize the ways that you’ve changed and grown.

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LIBRA Working on yourself can be difficult, but the outcome is something to be proud of. Working to better yourself will bring you energy and ambition. It can stomp out bad habits and pick up beneficial habits can help you grow. SCORPIO You might feel very vulnerable, this week. Try not to have others influence your thoughts and feelings; stay true to yourself. Keep yourself grounded by talking to trusted friends and family, taking some time to relax, and journaling. SAGITTARIUS A new journey awaits you. Your ambition will take over this week and lead you on new paths., Whether it’s something small, like a new outing, or a big change, like a new career, this new journey will be exciting. CAPRICORN Finding balance might be a struggle for you this week. Making a schedule might be of help, but also learning what your limits are is essential. Aim to recognize what things are feeling overwhelming and adjust your schedule accordingly. AQUARIUS Confidence will grace your week. Embrace this surge in confidence and keep it growing by writing affirmations, taking a day to yourself and starting new routines that will promote positive energy. PISCES This week, you’ll be in a very talkative mood. It would even seem as if you don’t have a filter when speaking. Some relationships may be at stake as your words can be hurtful. Keep in mind to think through what you say before you speak.

A Moment of Magic A Moment of Magic is a national nonprofit organization that provides medically vulnerable and underserved children with unique programming to improve their quality of life. Members who decide to go through an audition process are provided with a high-quality costume and training to help them portray a character such as a superhero or fiary. Whether or not a person decides to become a character, it is still possible to bring joy to these children out of costume as a Magic Maker. We recently volunteered for Olive Crest, a foster care organization in our community, and gave children the opportunity to meet princesses and even villains from popular kid’s television channels and movies. Follow us on Instagram @amomentofmagiccsuf to learn more. For your club or organization to be featured, email production@dailytitan.com with photo(s) and a description with no more than 125 words.

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8 Sports

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2022

Baseball initiates season with series at Stanford CSUF faced Stanford in Jason Dietrich’s debut as head coach. JESENY ESCOBAR Asst. Editor

Cal State Fullerton’s baseball team kicked off its 2022 season this weekend going 1-2 against Stanford University at Stanford’s Klein Field at Sunken Diamond. The Titans suffered an 11-1 loss against Stanford on Sunday after a dominant 11-0 victory and a 1-0 loss on Saturday and Friday, respectively. The Titans now have an overall record of 54-65 against Stanford. The last time these two teams played against one another was when Fullerton opened their 2020 season in a three game series from Feb.14 to Feb.16. The Titans won two of three games in the series, but failed to return home with the series victory for the 2022 season Fullerton used nine pitchers during Sunday’s game and allowed 15 hits, two home runs and 11 walks. Both Fullerton and Stanford were scoreless until Stanford took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Drew Bowser scored on Carter Graham’s double down the first base line and Graham scored on Brett Barrera’s triple to right field. Graham batted 2-3 as he had three runs, a double and one RBI. Fullerton’s lone run came in the top of the sixth inning when Damone Hill scored on a wild pitch.

Trailing by one, the Titans had a chance to take the lead in the sixth with bases loaded and one out, but they were not able to make it back to home plate. The Cardinal responded to Fullerton’s solo run in the bottom of the sixth inning as Braden Montgomery homered to left center, hitting a two-run homerun, extending Stanford’s lead to 4-1. Stanford added five more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and scored two more in the eighth, giving them the 11-1 advantage over Fullerton. The Titans earned their first win of the season as they swept the Cardinal, 11-0, on Saturday. Zach Lew had two runs and an RBI, Caden Connor had four RBI’s, two walks, and one run, while Austin Schell and Jackson Lyon had two RBIs each. At the top of the third inning, Fullerton scored three runs. JT Navyac scored on Damon Hale’s single RBI, giving the Titans their first run of the afternoon. After Lew’s single RBI, Nate Nankil hit a sac fly to left-center and Hale scored to give the Titans a 2-0 lead. Connor advanced to second and Lew scored to make the lead 3-0. Fullerton had an outstanding six runs in the fourth inning. With bases loaded and one out, Lew singled to right field, allowing Lyon to score from third base. Connor then hit a grand slam to right field, which put the Titans up

8-0. This is his first career home run. Schell also hit a home run to put up the sixth run in the fourth inning and extend the lead to 9-0. The Titans ended the game with two more runs in the seventh inning as Lyon doubled to center field with two RBI’s allowing Cole Urman and Schell to score. The Titans fell short, 1-0, in Friday’s opening game. Stanfords shutout victory came in over a run in the first inning on an unearned walk due to a fielding error by the Titans infield. Fullerton had many opportunities to take the lead throughout the game, especially in the top of the eighth inning as bases were loaded with two outs. Stanford’s Tommy O’Rourke inherited a run at first base and then loaded the bases on a single and a walk. He ended Fullerton’s chance of scoring after striking out Nate Nankil. The Titans out hit Stanford, 5-2, but were not able to plate a run. Cameron Repetti had an impressive season debut — in six innings, he only gave up two hits and one run, while striking out three times. Stanford’s Alex Williams pitched for three innings and allowed two hits with one strikeout. Fullerton will look to earn a series victory against Gonzaga this weekend in a three-game series. First pitch from Goodwin Field is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m.

Cameron Repetti heads to the mound against Arizona State in 2020. (Omar Sanchez / Daily Titan)

Success: Titans conquer weekend in Arizona 1 The Titans’ lone loss of the tournament came in the second game against Idaho State on Saturday. Fullerton won the first game against Idaho State, 4-3. Friday’s game against Idaho State went nine innings. In the bottom of the ninth inning, a wild pitch moved Becerra to third base with no outs. With runners at the corners and one out, Sophie Guevera reached on a fielder’s choice to second base and Becerra scored the walk-off run. The Titans rode the pitching trio of Myka Sutherlin, Raci Miranda and Alexia Silvas to victory. Sutherlin pitched five solid innings. In relief, Miranda tossed three innings while allowing one run, unearned, on four hits with two strikeouts. Silvas picked up the win after an inning of work. The next day wasn’t as kind for the Titans in their 4-3 defeat to Idaho State. Fullerton came from behind multiple times again to tie the game in the seventh, but Idaho State won the game with a walkoff home run in the bottom half of the inning. Hill picked up two RBIs in the CONTINUED FROM

Alyssa Hernandez observes the Ole Miss defense on Feb. 11 at Anderson Family Field. (Jon Buzdar / Daily Titan)

game while Becerra contributed one. Silvas picked up the loss after allowing four runs on 105 pitches in 6.2 innings of work. She struck out six and had no walks. The second game of the Saturday doubleheader came against hosts GCU. The Titans fell down

3-0 early, but put together a sixrun third inning again, leading in a 7-4 victory. Toto and Hill each homered in the inning, Delgadillo hit a two RBI double and Mitchell gave the Titans a three-run lead with an RBI single of her own. Munoz hit a home run in the fifth inning to

extend the lead, 7-3. Miranda picked up the win and went six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out two on 112 pitches. Silvas earned the save after a scoreless inning. The Titans were led at the plate by Becerra and Hill, who each

collected seven RBIs over the span of the tournament. Cal State Fullerton will next take the field for the Mary Nutter Tournament in Cathedral City from Feb. 24-26. The Titans will play five games beginning on Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. against the University of Arizona.

Triumph: Men’s basketball keeps competition at bay 1 Wright cut the lead to five with a three-pointer just under the 13-minute mark, but CSUF went on another run to make it 65-50. The closest CSUN would get would be an eight-point difference, but Fullerton rolled with the punches and countered with made free throws and defensive stops. The Titans controlled the final minutes of play and closed out the 81-73 victory. The win at UCSB came after a tight CONTINUED FROM

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defensive back-and-forth battle that saw several opposing runs and each team holding a lead no larger than 10 points. With just under six minutes left in the first half, Fullerton found itself down 22-12 before coming alive offensively. The two teams went into halftime tied at 27. The Gauchos jumped out of the gate in the second half with a quick 33-27 lead. The Titans wouldn’t score their first points of the half until the 17:21 mark,

but that basket would start a 9-2 run that led to a Fullerton lead nearly three minutes later. Senior guard Damari Milstead put the Titans up for good with a three-pointer with just under 13 minutes left in the game. Fullerton would extend the lead to 10 points with around 8 minutes left. After being down 52-42, the Gauchos began to claw their way back and made it just a one-point game with 3:11 left.

Fullerton guard Tray Maddox Jr. responded with the first of two clutch threes to extend the Titans’ lead to 59-55. He once again made it a two-possession game with a three at 1:16 that made the score 62-57 in favor of CSUF. The Titans converted at the free throw line to finish the game and held on for the 67-58 win. The victory gave the Titans a season sweep of the Gauchos. Maddox Jr. came off the bench

and led all players in scoring with 15 points. Three other Titans scored in double figures, as senior guard Jalen Harris contributed 12 points off the bench, junior forward Lee scored 11 points and Anosike also tallied 10 points. CSUF will take the court next on Feb. 24 at Titan Gym against UC Irvine at 7 p.m. The Titans won the previous matchup in upset fashion, winning 65-63 on Jan. 20. FOLLOW US: @THEDAILYTITAN